Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
JON WALTERS AND ROBBIE BRADY DISCUSS IRELAND'S VICTORY OVER BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA.
DIT GRADUATE SPEAKS ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE FROM RWANDA GENOCIDE PAGE 14
SPORT PAGE 26
TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY UPDATE
DIT's one step closer to becoming a University TU4Dublin celebrates as the Technological Universities Bill has been approved for publication by Cabinet. The date the legislation Bill will be enacted is unknown but students are encouraged to be a part of the next step. Patrice Brady EDITOR
CHRISTMAS has come early for DIT, IT and IT Blanchardstown, with the announcement that the Technological Universities Bill has been approved by the Cabinet for publication. The approval is a major development in the project as it was feared that if the Bill was delayed until after the General Election next year, the project would lose momentum with a possible change in Government.
The Technolgical University Bill was present to the Dail early last week and it was announced on Friday that the legislation had been pproved for publication. DIT, IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown have welcomed the announcement as a stepping stone in achieving a overall goal...
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NEWS Lecturers at DIT protest Cuts DIT see's 44% cut backs since 2008
Change to J1 visa laws Students to find work before travel
DIT X Why?
Society to hold talk to end violence against women
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Full Steam Ahead for DIT
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Change to J1 visa laws
College received good news from High Court Students to find work before travel
DIT Hollywood Star Honoured
John Moore conferred last month
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Santa's Little Helpers As DIT's annual Christmas Appeal gets underway, Societies across all campuses are out in force to help their chosen charities; Pieta House, SVP and The Irish Cancer Society
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LIFESTYLE
CULTURE
Christmas Window Shopping
Bieber V One Direction
16 Christmas Partywear 20 Christmas Appeal 12 Checkout our favourite stores festive windows
Tis the season to be stylish
DIT Socities out in force to raise money for charities
Pop Princes fight it out in the charts
Xmas & NY Gigs Festive chear is rife and Dublin town alive
Chrismas with the Coopers Festive film flop
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SPORT
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Weighlifting Club Opens
24 DIT Hurlers Defeated 26 DIT Ultimate Frisbee 27 DIT's newest sport club DIT seniors lose to IT Carlow in semi-final
DIT make history at Open InterVarsities
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THE EDITION editorial staff Editor Patrice Brady editor@edition.ie Deputy Editor Sinéad Farrelly sports@edition.ie Culture Editor Rachel D’Arcy culture@edition.ie Photo Editor Lauren Mc Colgan photo@edition.ie Online Editor JP Kiernans online@edition.ie Sports Editor Sinéad Farrelly sports@edition.ie Production Editor Maggie Gethings Production@edition.ie Contributers: Jessica Martin Nicola Murphy Nick Moloney Donal Healy Lauren Mc Colgan Iona Shearer Rachel D’Arcy Catherine Devane Seraphine Habimana DIT Nutrition Soc Sorcha Lynch Deirdre Hynes Scott Howe Danú Connolly Fanning Bekah Molony Rian Mooney Paul Hyland Sinéad Farrelly Donagh Corby Mark Donlon Grace O’Kelly Matthew Colfer
Editorial So Christmas is finally here although it could be seen around plenty of shops since early October and with this Edition we got festive with DIT Nutrition Soc advising us on Christmas's deadly sins and our report Sorcha Lynch evaluating Dublin's best Christmas Windows, some of which include the Visual Merch students. On the upside DIT has received an early Christmas present with the news that TU legislation being approved by cabinet and fully this will get the ball rolling on the future of DIT as the Technological University. Unfortunately this is our last Edition for 2015 but we will be back next semester with a few changes and if you want to get involved just email; editor@edition.ie. Merry Christmas from all at the Edition.
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
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Two Language based media courses to be abolished Rachel D'Arcy TWO courses in the School of Media are set to be abolish from next year onward due to a lack of funding in the school. Journalism with French or Irish and Film & Broadcasting with French or Irish were emitted from the 15/16 DIT prospectus for incoming 6th year students, making this years first years the last to take on both courses. Journalism and Film & Broadcasting without a language are still set to continue, and are due to make the move to Grangegorman in 2017. It is also unclear what will happen if current first year students are to repeat a language module, as they are the last to take on the course. Students on the current course are upset with the lack of consultation they received prior to the course being abolished, with many students we spoke to saying it had great potential, but that the funding and planning wasn’t afforded to the course. “They shouldn't scrap the language option from these media courses. DIT only gives us 4 hours a week of Irish classes and wondered why our Irish has gotten worse...it's because we go from having an Irish class 5 times a week in secondary school to hardly having it at all when we get to third level,” Megan Kennedy, a 3rd year Film and Broadcasting with Irish student told The Edition. Some understand the decision taken by the School of Media, however, but still believe that they could have made improvements to the course as opposed to eradicating it completely.
“I think it's a good thing, I understand after talking to one of my lecturers that it will be added as an option to standard journalism. If students wish to take it up officially, they can in third year. As a language student, I know how small the classes are. I also know some of the students in my class regret picking the language. “However, saying that, I think it would have been much more effective to increase language hours on the course as it currently stands at 4 hours a week, which in my opinion is way too short. If you want any fluency in any language you need to practice it everyday. We should have been given at least 6-8 hours a week of language,” said Sorcha McManigan, a current 3rd year on the Journalism with French course. Josephine Gallagher was the only student for the Journalism and a language, Irish, to graduate last year while speaking to the Edition she voiced her concern’s about the backlash this may have in Irish journalism. “With any course I think it’s open to amendments and changes. I think that when it comes to language courses everyone has a different standard of the language and knowing the basics is essential - so I think when going into a course like that some students would need revisit the basics in terms of grammar and spelling before anything else. “Well personally the cutting of the course, I find, is really hard to believe. I think for any aspiring journalist it’s a massive asset that provides a longer list of
opportunities to have a second or third language. Working in the media industry it’s invaluable and it opens far more doors. It’s very sad to hear it’s going to be cut but I hope that the demand for such a course will increase in the future and it will makes its return on the DIT prospectus list. In my opinion, as it stands not enough is being done on a national scale to promote and advance the Irish language and I think this can only
act as another blow to Gaeilgeoirí, the Irish speaking community or anyone for that matter that has any respect for our native tongue. An Irish media service – in print, radio or television – is essential to keeping the language afloat and this news of the course being cut is just another blow. It limits the options for future journalists who would hope improve their Irish skills and have the option of working on both Irish and English media platforms.”
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DIT's one step closer to becoming a University The date the legislation Bill will be enacted is unknown but students are encouraged to be part of the next step Patrice Brady EDITOR
Christmas has come early for DIT, IT and IT Blanchardstown, with the announcement that the Technological Universities Bill has been approved by the Cabinet for publication. The approval is a major development in the project as it was feared that if the Bill was delayed until after the General Election next year, the project would lose momentum with a possible change in Government. The Technolgical University Bill was present to the Dail early last week and it was announced on Friday that the legislation had been approved for publication. DIT, IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown have welcomed the announcement as a stepping stone in achieving a overall goal of a Technological University in Dublin. Speaking earlier last week before the legislation was approved President Norton said the passing of the Bill would bring certainty to the project. “We are now waiting for the formal publication of the legislation which has been approved by Cabinet
and will be published shortly online. Preparations for our joint application for Technological University designation with IT Blanchardstown and IT Tallaght are continuing, but publication and enactment of the legislation will enable us to plan our joint future with renewed certainty.” Since 2011, the three institutions have been working under the TU4Dublin umbrella with a view to coming together as one, and applying to be designated as Ireland’s first technological university. In a message to staff and students today, the three Presidents said “While we now await the enactment of the new legislation, we are delighted that the announcement means we can continue to plan our joint future with renewed certainty.” In preparation for application for Technological University designation, some colleagues in each of the three institutions have been formally seconded to the TU4Dublin Support Team, while many others have volunteered in working groups, and have attended seminars and conferences to explore how to maximise the opportunity to create an exciting new kind of
university for the students of the future. Encouraging further involvement by staff and students in the preparations over the coming months, the Presidents said “It is important that the future shape of the new institution builds on what we now do well as three separate institutions, and adds a further dimension , making it identifiable as the kind of institution students would aspire to attend; in which colleagues are proud to serve; and which will earn the loyalty of our respective graduates. Your input will be extremely valuable in achieving this aim.” Speaking directly to all DIT students via email President Norton said, ”As you know, DIT, IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown have been working together since 2011 with a view to forming one institution and applying to be designated as Ireland’s first Technological University. “We have just been informed that the Cabinet has considered the draft Technological Universities Bill and has approved it for publication. This is really good news as it will enable us to plan our joint future with renewed certainty. We expect the
In Numbers €1307 The current amount raised for RAG charities by the SU.
100% (Well technically) of class reps now in Kevin St, according to College Officer Adeel Kaider
Bill to be available online shortly. “While we don’t yet know by what date the legislation will be enacted, it is now time to accelerate our preparations to ensure that we are ready with a comprehensive submission that meets all the criteria for TU designation. “We would like to encourage all students to become involved in these preparations. It is important that the future shape of the new institution builds on what we now do well as three separate institutions, and adds a further dimension making it identifiable as the kind of institution students would aspire to attend; in which colleagues are proud to serve; and which will earn the loyalty of our respective graduates. Your input will be extremely valuable in achieving that aim. “The TU4Dublin website is being re-designed to provide the kind of information that students and other audiences are seeking at this point. In the meantime, if you would like to get involved in the TU4Dublin project, please make contact with your Students’ Union as we would welcome your input.”
90 minutes Of a delay in submitting plans for the new DIT campus, which brought about a high court injunction
15 Colleges around Ireland with a radio station, with plans for DIT’s radio station at Aungier hoping to start over Christmas.
1 Article from the last Edition that was picked up in a national paper last week.
Quote of the day
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Our job is not be mammy and daddy–
Gareth Walker-Ayers at the Student Council meeting last Tuesday.
Full steam ahead with DIT student campus Patrice Brady EDITOR
The High court has ruled in favour of the DIT’s latest campus development to get underway after initial set backs. Eriugena, the winner of the multi-million euro campus project has been cleared to continue with the project. The initial problems with the project occurred when Netherlands based joint venture BAM PP PGGM Infrastructure Coöperatie UA (BAM), put in an application to halt proceeds on the college campus due to an unfair tendering process. BAM was suing the Department of Education and the National Treasury Management Agency after they lost out on a €200 million tender, and wanted the court to set aside the decision to award the contract to Eriugena. Mr Justice Max Barrett refused an application for an injunction from BAM. The company claimed the tendering process was not lawful because Eriugena did not submit it’s tender proposal before the deadline, a fact
Credit: Flickr
the defendants disputed. Eriugena’s bid on up-loaded files were submitted 90 minutes after the deadline, however they did start uploading the files within the set deadline.
If the High Court had ruled against Eriugena the development of the Grangegorman campus could have been delayed until 2019. Speaking about the new developments to the case and campus pro-
ject, President Brian Norton said,” “While there has been considerable progress on the Grangegorman campus to date, progress on the two major PPP quads has been delayed as a result of a court challenge by
an unsuccessful bidder against the awarding of the contract. The NDFA, with the support of the Department of Education and Skills, and on behalf of GDA and DIT, asked the Court to allow the contract to proceed. This was done under new legislation which can only apply in exceptional cases where there is a major public good in proceeding with the award of contract. “I am delighted to tell you that the Court found in favour of the NDFA in this matter. The plaintiffs have been given a very short time to indicate if they will further appeal this decision. Subject to no further appeal this judgement will allow the project to resume. “While we have lost a number of months' progress, we can now look forward to the project getting back on track once the contract with the successful bidder has been finalised. This is not only great news for DIT, but also for the large number of people who will be employed in this next construction phase.” No starting date for the project has been announced yet.
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DITSU to lobby USI on Refuge Motion Support Last Tuesday saw Student Council members voting to pass the motion presented by VP for Education Gareth Walker-Ayers to support Refuge Support Policy. Now the motion has been passed by Student Council, Walker-Ayers will lobby USI to get on board to support the policy as well and then the USI would lobby the Government. Speaking to the Edition, the VP for Education explained the need for the motion. "By supporting refuge we improve their chances, they are at such a disadvantage in any country where they are not an equal standing resident. "I spoke to a number of TD's over the summer and these are the people who really listen where there is a vote to be won. "Concerning to the motion, I can see opposition coming up. People who say things like 'we have to look after our own', and 'charity begins at
home' and while I'm not disputing that, but charity shouldn't be limited to home. "Support is something that other countries are doing and the need to integrate people. For people coming from Syria, a war torn country, the threat is them is the threat of death. They have no other option. "I get annoyed when people use the word immigrant because an immigrant is a broad term. Immigrants are people coming to live and work in another country. It's a choice done for any number of reasons. A refuge leaves because they have to. There is no alternative. "We need to be providing opportunities for everyone and this is critical. People dismiss this need to be reminded, but we don't have bombs dropping on us everyday. "I think students are more sympathetic because we've grown up in a generation more connected than any other."
PSG offers Graduate Programme PSG Communications announce the opening of Ireland’s first multi-agency public relations graduate programme. The PSG Graduate Programme will give one top prospect the structures and assistance needed to gain paid experience in two of the Group’s leading independent agencies. PSG, who employed several DIT graduates last year as encouraging students to apply for this year's paid graduate programme. One graduate with relevant Bachelor or postgraduate degree will have the opportunity to spend six months gaining hands-on PR experience in a fast-paced and diverse work environment. The chosen graduate will select two PSG agencies to work with during their programme, enabling them to gain experience in multiple areas of PR practice. The programme will offer a choice between PSG Plus (Corporate PR and Reputation management), Notorious PSG (Consumer and Brand PR agency), PSG Sponsorship (Sports PR and Sponsorship) and New/Slang (Digital and Social Media strategy and activation), providing real insight into the many specialist
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PR skills of the agency group. Mick O’Keeffe, CEO of PSG Communications said, “At PSG we believe in a culture of excellence and our values of integrity, insight and innovation permeate every part of our organisation. People are and will always be at the heart of our business. “This PSG Graduate Programme allows us to put the right structures in place to develop talent and foster enthusiasm for the many growing specialisms in PR so that we can continue to lead across our four agency group. It is important that Communications agencies recognise young professionals and provide clear career pathways to encourage communications as a career choice. "My advice is for students to do what they love and they will have an interest in it." The PSG Graduate Programme is encouraging applicants to get in touch via graduate@psgcomms.ie. Applications are open until December 4th and the first PSG Graduate will begin in February.
editor@edition.ie
Hollywood Director receives DIT Honorary Doctorate DIT graduate and Hollywood film director John Moore was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate last month “ in recognition of his outstanding achievements in cinema and the arts”. The honour was conferred in St. Patrick’s Cathedral at the graduation ceremony for DIT media students. Moore, who was born in Dundalk, studied communications at the College of Commerce in Rathmines (now part of Dublin Institute of Technology). Graduating in 1990, he began his film-making career directing commercials and short films, including the award-winning short “He Shoots, He Scores” which won Best Short Film in 1995 at festivals in Berlin, Brest, Ludwigsburg and the Galway Film Fleadh. He worked abroad in South Africa, London and the USA before being offered a contract to direct his first major Hollywood film, Behind Enemy Lines, which starred Gene Hackman and Owen Wilson. He has since gone on to direct many major box office successes, including The Omen and A Good Day to Die Hard with Bruce Willis.
In his citation, Director and Dean of the College of Arts and Tourism, John O’Connor described Moore’s early introduction to photography in primary school; how he developed his craft as a director; and how it led him to Hollywood and international success. He added, “Now, with several major films in his repertoire, John Moore remains a firm believer in the principle of giving opportunity where you can and of helping the next generation to move forward with their careers, so they can achieve all that they are capable of achieving. This is something that particularly resonates with us as educators.” Conferring the Award, Professor Brian Norton, President of DIT,
said John Moore is a most worthy standard bearer for DIT students who are embarking on their own careers. “As a student John Moore was already fascinated by film, by its possibilities as a means of storytelling, by the energy of an emerging Irish film industry. "He and his classmates used their ingenuity to stretch limited budgets and resources to make innovative work. John has since gone on to make action films his art form, working with huge budgets, with actors who are household names and garnering worldwide audiences that are counted in the millions! " We are delighted to recognise his very considerable achievements and to welcome him back to DIT.”
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DIT sees 44% cut backs since 2008 Patrice Brady EDITOR
Lecturers across DIT rook to the picket lines last week to protest the severe cuts made to the sector and ensure that quality education in IT’s are protected. The protests were organised by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), who said that the numbers of students in IT have risen by one third since 2008 yet the number of lecturers have dropped by 10 per cent in the same periods. Speaking to The Edition reporter Gerry Quinn, President of TUI said that the Government is damaging the quality of education if the issues are out on the long finger. “What’s happening today is that there are 14 Institutes of Technology nationwide with TUI members in those IT’s that are involved in the campaign today. The campaign includes today’s protest and can be explained by one important fact, student numbers have increased by over 20000 but at the same time the numbers of lecturers have de-
Credit: Edition
creased by over 500. “It’s unfair and unsustainable and it will damage the education quality that IT’s are renowned for. What we’re saying to the Government is that this problem needs to be addressed and it needs to be addressed urgently. This can’t be put
on the long finger, this problem can be and should be addresses and our campaign will address it before the general election. “We’ve told Government and we’re making it clear that the campaign will intensify in the run up to the general election. Next week our
members, as part of the campaign, will be balloting for industrial action up to and including strike action and if necessary, if the Government won’t talk to us about how to resolve these problems there will be a strike before the general election,” said Quinn.
Student Councilors split over 8th Amendment Stance Jessica Martin & Nicola Murphy The debate continued last week at the Student Council meeting with DITSU’s stance on the 8th Amendment being questioned again. Before the motion was debated the Exec decided not to participate in the debate on whether DIT should take a stance on this issue or what that stance should be to get an overall feel on what Student Councilors thought on the issue. While Councilors continued to debate the issue no agreement was made, with suggestions that DITSU should run a campaign on informing students from both prolife and pro-choice sides, or DITSU should take a stance and then run the campaign. Another option sug-
gested was a referendum should be held within DIT to let the students decide. Nothing was official decided on and the debate will continue next semester. The 8th Amendment states that, "The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right." Abortion Rights campaigners have coalesced with other major prochoice groups in Ireland. They are asking the people of Ireland to sign a petition to call for a referendum on the repeal of the 8th Amendment to the Constitution of Republic of Ireland. Amnesty International have also started a campaign. They say that it is a breach of “Human Rights”
and "denies access to basic health care". Amnesty recently shared a letter addressed to Taoiseach Enda Kenny and have added a trending hashtag to the title, “She is not #notacriminal". Abortion in Ireland is a criminal offence, carrying a sentence of it up to 14 years in prison if convicted. Since the 1980s over 150,000 women have travelled to Britain and Europe to terminate their pregnancies. The argument to decriminalise abortion is met by the Pro-Life Campaign and they consider this repeal as a "threat". Talking to Edition’s reporters about the Repeal the 8th, students had this to say; 19 year old student, Zoe Murphy, said, “If I think it’s wrong because first of all if you had a relationship, got pregnant and it didn’t work out,
why should your baby not live just because your relationship didn’t work out? “Also, there’s plenty of other women out there that can’t get pregnant; that pay lots of money for IVF. If someone’s pregnant and really doesn’t want their baby, why not put it up for adoption? “It is murder. It’s not only about the women’s rights. What about the man that was part of it? That man that made that baby with that woman? It’s not about if things ended up bad or if she got raped or anything, what about if it is a happy relationship and they’re still together but she just doesn’t want a baby yet? What about his rights? That’s part of him. What’s in her, is his body. It’s part of him.” Where as 18 year old Jack Cavaliero, said, “I certainly think that
The TUI’s protest also highlighted the cuts made across DIT since 2008 and how this is affecting the college’s standards. “As you can see there have been a particular cut in the budget of DIT of 44 per cent since 2008 and in many respects that sums it all up, because that’s a cut in terms of services that can be provided to students and that’s wrong. “I understand DIT has been extremely successful educationally and in terms of apprenticeships and in the whole range of courses that are being provided and we want that quality protected.” A spokesperson from DIT, stated that they acknowledge the efforts made by DIT staff, when dealing with the education cutbacks. “DIT recognises the huge efforts made by staff of all grades, academic and non-academic to minimise the effects of reduced resources on delivery of teaching, research and administration. While all areas of education have been affected by budgetary changes (including public sector salary reductions), DIT seeks to maximise other income sources to augment resources.” women should have the right to do whatever they want with their body. I think it should be legalised but at the same time they should regulate things like smoking when pregnant and alcohol as well. With abortion, killing the child is not as important as killing the foetus developing, it's more to do with if they're going to keep that child and abuse it or not treat it right. That's the issue, not the issue with the actual issue of abortion.” On the other hand some students still felt they needed more informstion before taking a stance on the amendment. Medical student, Angus Tam who is 19 said, “I can't say I know enough about it. It really depends on the situation. Everyone has their own reasons for wanting an abortion so I can't really say whether it's the right or wrong thing to do in this case.” The debate is set to continue at the next Student council next year and the Law Society is working on having a debate on the issue next semester with both pro-life and prochoice sides.
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Abrupt end to right of passage? Nick Moloney Students who plan to travel to America on the J-1 work visa will be forced to find work before they travel because of changes made to the visa laws. The J-1 programme, which is extremely popular among students in Ireland and viewed as a right of passage, could see a large reduction in students applying because of these changes. With 8,000 students travelling on one each year, will this new policy affect students’ ability to obtain their J-1s? The new changes to the J-1 are the first time Irish students will have to look for a job before they can travel over to America. According to SAYIT, one of the independent visa company where a numerous amounts of students apply for their J1 visa say this change has been brought in to make the student’s experience safer and more culturally fulfilling. Independent visa companies have now made it a compulsory measure for students to secure a job Michael Doorley, managing director of the Shandon Travel Group which oversees the Irish J-1 agency SAYIT, stated “It will be much better for the students to have all of this work done before they depart so they won’t have to worry about what they’ll do when they get to the U.S.” However Irish Officials disagreed and have expressed concerns that numbers for the visa may drop by anything from 60- 80 per cent Taoiseach, Enda Kenny also voiced concerns on the new changes to the
plications.” Students can receive help in looking for a job from their independent visa company, but some only offer this option at an additional cost to the already expensive J1 package. According to coalition of Ireland and immigration centres (CIIC) this change only applies to the J-1 summer and travel programme and do not affect the 12-month J-1 travel and intern programme, more commonly known as the Grad visa. A representative of the American embassy also said that there has being no changes to the Graduate programme and there is no talk about
J-1 in a visit to the States last month, remarking that the changes would tie students to one area in America and not give them freedom to see other states, saying, “I am not keen on a situation where there could be an abrupt ending to the J-1 system as we know it, through the dramatic introduction of a requirement for pre-employment. “There should be a transition period during which young Irish people would be able to go to many different places in the United States and not only be congregated in one or two locations, which has its own im-
changing it in the near future. Celine Kennelly, CIIC Board President, said, “The US sponsors are seeking suitable employment opportunities for students in summer 2016, but it is critical that the students plan early this year and contact their sponsors with questions about the new regulations and program process. Historically, participation in the J1 program has been a significant personal development experience for Irish college students and an integral part of their college education, and we want to ensure that it remains as such for future generations.”
Silence is Golden (Well for Some)
iStory to take place this week
As part of the DIT Societies Christmas appeal 2015 DIT Sign Language Society and News Society paired up to do a 24 hour sponsored silence last Wednesday and Thursday. Sign Soc used it as a perfect excuse to use their signing skills while News Soc used the event to symbolise the silencing of the media. Together the societies raised over €350 for DIT's chosen charities. As part of the DIT Societies Christmas appeal 2015 DIT Sign Language Society and News Society paired up to do a 24 hour sponsored silence last Wednesday and Thursday. Sign Soc used it as a perfect excuse to use their signing skills while News Soc used the event to symbolise the silencing of the media. Together the societies raised over €350 for DIT's chosen charities.
iStory 2015 will take place this week, with Film & Broadcasting and Journalism students presenting and producing shows ranging from magazine programmes to music shows and more. A yearly event for media students, iStory is broadcast live online as well as throughout the School of Media in the Aungier St campus. Kicking off on December 7th for 5 days, iStory will be streamed on iStory.ie from 9am until 5pm each day, with the full schedule available on the School of Media’s brand new website that will launch to correspond with the event. The iStory broadcast schedule is led by content produced by Film and Broadcasting students. Review shows, magazine programmes, music and more will be produced by the 3rd year students, catering to all tastes for those who’d like to listen.
Rachel D'Arcy
editor@edition.ie
Rewards for Designated Drivers this Christmas
Hoping to prevent loss of life on Irish roads this year is co-operation Coca-Cola. The company has launched their 11th annual “Designated Driver Campaign” this year to encourage responsible and safe driving. Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC) Ireland is encouraging responsible and safe driving practices this Christmas with the 11th annual ‘Designated Driver Campaign’. The 2015 campaign is set to be bigger with new ambassador Vogue Williams and Northern Ireland comedian Shane Todd taking to the streets to encourage party-goers to take care getting home this Christmas. The campaign was launched by the Minister for Transport,Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, who warmly welcomed the innovative. “I wholly endorse the Coca-Cola Designated Driver Campaign which has successfully promoted road safety for more than a decade by offering free soft drinks and water to designated drivers. “The fresh and fun approach taken this year will further incentivise and reward those who take responsibility for driving friends and family on nights out over the Christmas period, and is to be applauded. This campaign is an example of corporate social responsibility at its best and while it is celebratory nature, it carries a serious message demonstrating how we can all play a part in ensuring our roads remain safe this Christmas. I thank Coca-Cola for their continued investment in this campaign and wish everyone a safe and Happy Christmas.” Campaign ambassador Vogue Williams said: “We want to celebrate designated drivers and are asking friends and families to nominate those drivers in their lives who deserve to be rewarded. The Coca-Cola Christmas Jumper Car is sure to bring some smiles to drivers across the country, and we look forward to hearing stories of those who have gone the extra mile by sticking with soft drinks to ensure their loved ones get home safely.” The Designated Driver campaign was launched by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe T.D. and is supported by An Garda Siochána and the Road Safety Authority. Designated drivers can claim their free drinks by logging on to www. DesignatedDriver.ie and downloading a voucher.
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Too late now to say sorry Patrice Brady EDITOR
Apologies from DIT, but students still facing difficulties following 380 closure The College Forum was held on Wednesday November 18th to address the lack of computer available in Bolton Street since the revamp of Room 380. Room 380 was an open access computer room, which was upgraded over the summer with the numbers of computers in to room being reduced. Prior to the Forum DITSU reps met with Dean and staff at the College of Engineering and Built environment to look into possible alternative to address the lack of computer facilities and software since the computer was repurposed over the summer. Speaking at the college forum, organized by DITSU, was Professor Gerard Farrell, Dean of the College of Engineering and Built Environment, Avril Behan, Assistant Head of School of Multidisciplinary Technologies, and Kevin Kelly, Head of the School of Multidisciplinary Technologies who addressed the steps being taken to remedy the issues. Apologising to student, Dean Farrell, said there is short term, medium and long term solutions to the problem and the lack of facilities will be highlighted to lecturers before as-
signment submissions. “I know that some of you have had difficulties with computer room access and I’m sorry that, that happened. It’s important to say at the opening, sorry on behalf of DIT. “There will be open access in a range of rooms, Room 390,390.1 and 390.2. They all have spare capacity there is 79 computers in there if you go to use them now you’ll find the keypads don’t work anymore because you don’t need the keypads for entry you can walk straight in.” These rooms will be left open and
DIT X Why? Society host end gender violence talk. "Women aged 15-44 are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, car accidents, war and malaria" - UN's UNiTE Campaign DIT X why? Society are hosting guest speakers Tom Meagher and Avril D'Arcy from the White Ribbon campaign to end gender based violence tomorrow, Wednesday 9th. The White Ribbon movement is the world’s largest male-led campaign to end men’s violence against women. White Ribbon is Ireland’s only national, make-led primary prevention campaign to end men’s violence against women. Tom Meagher is the National Advocate for White Ribbon Ireland and has travelled to several countries to deliver talks on GBV, its roots and causes, and what men can do to assess the social roots of GBV. Tom has delivered trainings on prevention, gender conditioning and victim support to the Defence Forces, Development NGOs, the Irish Parole Board, many schools and colleges and has presented his work to the European Parliament in Brussels. His article, The Danger of the Monster Myth has received over a quarter of million
White Ribbon is Ireland’s only national, male-led primary prevention campaign to end men’s violence against women. hits and has been reprinted globally He continues to write on GBV issues for the Huffington Post UK and the White Ribbon Blog. Avril D'Arcy has been working with the White Ribbon Campaign Ireland since September 2014. A contributing blogger and active committee member, Avril draws on her own experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse. She aims to highlight the consequences of emotional and psychological abuse and breakdown cultural stereotypes of those who are affected by abuse. She has also worked with Women's Aid and her articles have been shared by various organisations, who have praised the realism with which she portrays her experiences. This event is free to attend and the society is inviting everyone to come along and be part of the movement.
the college has block booked the open spaces so student and staff can use the rooms as an open access room, a list of open access rooms will be developed also because of feedback the Dean received. “One of the thinks I took back from the feed back by the Students Union was that when you (students) found you couldn’t get an opening to open access you were left with a long time moving around the building.” DIT Bolton also plans to develop a common sign around the college to let students know if the room is available
as well as putting the information on the app. Medium and long term goals for the college is to introduce a laptop scheme and to look at increasing computers in the library to address the demand for access to computers and software in the college. However these solutions cannot be introduced immediately. “We run 150 software packages in this college, its not all Microsoft Word as you might imagine,” explained the Dean, “The situation is not ideal.” Although both staff members and
students engaged throughout the forum, with solutions to help students being implemented immediately, some students felt the whole situation could have been avoided if DIT had ofplannedbetterbeforetherepurpose of Room 380. Speaking to The Edition, Bolton St student, Sarah Ryan explained student’s annoyance. “Everyone has access but there’s classes on and we can’t interrupt them, with 380 there would be a class at the back of the room, there was 60 computers and the class would have 20 and you could use the rest, you just walked in and you had respect to just be quiet because everyone was there for the same reason; to work. “They asked the programme committee did they want improvements to the room, did they need this space and they said yes they did. But they could have put it somewhere else.” Amy Monahan from Bolton St also said that it was poor planning on DIT’s behalf. “They should have done this instead of walking in and taking half the computers out. People didn’t ask for that they asked for a refurbishment. The way they should have gone about this was to open up the other labs first before taking away 380.” VP for Education, Gareth Walker-Ayers encouraged students to continue imputing their problem to the SU.
DIT to become Ireland's first Herbicide-fee Camus? Motion for DITSU to lobby DIT and GDA about herbicide free Grangegorman passed earlier this semester DIT to become Ireland’s first Herbicide-free Campus? DIT’s Grangegorman could become one of Ireland’s first Herbicide free campus according to Green Soc member Steve Doody. The Motion , which involves VP for Welfare, Lysette Golden. Steve Doody told the Edition that it’s one of the initiatives that Green Soc are working on to make DIT a greener campus. “One of the things Green Soc did last year was to change the way emails are sent within DIT, it use to be every time you printed out an email, you’d be getting a second page instead of the one page you need. Through working with the President’s Office over the summer we changed the way emails we’re sent to save more paper. “So if you take that each students prints one email a year its 20,000 pages and if you multiply that by 10 cent a page, we save student money, college resources. “That’s just one email per one stu-
dent a year and over a decade that expands a huge amount of paper, ink and money saved.” Steve explained that if DIT decides to ditch herbicides, the Grangegorman Campus could become Ireland’s first Herbicide free campus. “We, (Green Soc), are working on several projects, such as a green nursery, a community garden and one project that could make the largest different to everything else was the induction of a herbicide free campus . “At the beginning it was just me and rather than just me being there saying ‘Stop spreading’, I decided to get the student union on side and to get it mandated to lobby DIT and the GDA. “But then my first step was to get a green policy put in place, it was a serious lacking considering DIT has the oldest environmental courses and to get a Green Flag for our campus the Student Union had to be involved. “We should use DIT as an example,
no other college has done a herbicide free campus yet and we should be at the forefront saying this is how you do it. "So if we're looking at a time frame, we stop spraying now, well we don't spray during the winter months anyway. This gives DIT the winter to looking into changing the contracts for ground maintenance. The last ground management went into liquidation. "Also DIT needs to decide if they're goingto set their own ground management company, as this is the first DIT that has a large green area. Students should also be involved, we should stop leaving these projects in a notebook and start using them to help DIT. So what happens next? Well currently VP for Welfare Lysette Golden is lobbying DIT and GDA, to stop herbicide sprays and look at alternatives to grounds maintenance.
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NEWS
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 News:
editor@edition.ie
Dancing their socs off... Donal Healy & Lauren Mc Colgan The Dance Soc show case late last month proved to be a massive success showing off DIT's talented society. Speaking to the Edition, Vice Chair of the Society, Murali Rajendran explained the time and effort that went into the performance. "Well the dance showcase has been a priority for dance soc over the past year. This has been in the planning since December 2014. However, the showcase was originally supposed to be a competition rather than a showcase. We wanted to prove to everyone that DIT has such an abundance of performing talent and we wanted to showcase that talent along with other performances. "But due to commitments and time constraints, we weren't able to hold the competition. And so we used the Christmas Appeal as a prime opportunity to showcase the various talents that are present in DIT. This was a win-win situation for us as it allowed us to work towards two of our objectives for the year. "The Dance Showcase was the final event of our dance week, which also comprised of a Salsa Workshop, a Guest speaker night and a movie night. All students, staff and mem-
bers of the public were invited to the events. There were plenty of amazing performances on the night from our very own members and friends, who put together their own choreographies.The performers spent countless hours coming up with their routines and put in some serious effort to perfect time in time for the showcase. "A wide range of styles were performed on the night including Irish Dancing, Ballet,Contemporary, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop, a style the Dance Society in DIT is renowned for. "With the help from Photo Society, Event Society and The Edition, we made this a fun and meaningful experience. We were able to kick-start and contribute to the Christmas Appeal, run by the societies of DIT, to help raise funds for the chosen charities of the year, Pieta House, SVP and Irish Cancer Society! It is for a great cause and Dance Soc are proud to be a part of it. It was pleasing to see the dedication showed by all the performers and this only means that we can look forward to our next big event for the year, the Dance Intervarsities. The event was success. With such a dedicated committee in Dance Society this year, we were able to fulfil one of our biggest dreams."
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
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FEATURES
Dear Mr President The Edition's Editor, Patrice Brady, caught up with Graham Higginbotham, DITSU President about how he feels looking back at semester one and the issues that effected DIT students in the last four months, including the infamous Radio Station in the first part of our exclusive two apart interview. Patrice Brady EDITOR
It’s an undisputed fact that the DITSU President is always busy. Running around 6 campuses, siting in the never ending development meeting in Grangegorman, overseeing DIT’s students overall college experiences it’s understandable that we at The Edition may not always get talking to President Higginbotham as often as we would like, so when we sat down last week we were hopefully it would not be a quick yes/no interview and we were not disappointed. “Looking at the view I had when I came in, it was all about the fact that we do certain things well and some simple stuff we don’t do as well. So one of the biggest things we done at the start of this year was to rebrand the Union. The way you would see it now, is that we have a different colour scheme, we have on site signage, graphically designs over email as well as we use the blogs a lot more to be more interactive. “Branding has been quiet a massive one from the very outset. We saw how societies did a fantastic job last year by capitalising on the students interest with their signage and banners and stuff. There were fantastic and I thought we really missed a beat in that last year so when I came in as President my priority was to say ‘This is where we are, this is where to find us.’ Another one of the President’s highlight of the first semester was the Lobby document and marketing package, which now has a department if commercial activities should occur.
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I said at the very beginning that in principal DITSU supported the establishment of a radio station. Any services that students can benefit from is good
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“It means we don’t just have companies coming in looking for promotions of the student body which is a very influential body of people. This is a step-by-step guide that our staff would walk them through. They, (external companies), might be saying they have a 10% discount but that’s still 90% and its free advertisement, that the student’s are benefitting and the company is really getting the better end of the deal.” This year DITSU has also re-established the Leadership group, which was a key factor in solving the Radio Station dispute that was an issue earlier this year. “This year I’ve been able to establish the Leadership group with a
role, function and purpose and even something as simple as the misunderstanding about the student radio station. I was able to speak directly with the President of the College, bring him into this forum and have a robust discussion with all the parties involved. Directors and management of campus life, along with ourselves, as student representatives hashed out where the concerns where and where the misunderstanding was and now we have official recognised that this is a fantastic opportunity. “I said at the very beginning that in principal DITSU supported the establishment of a radio station and I think any services or amenities that
students can benefit from in terms of academic performance and extra curricular involvement and interest is good and now that all that has been really communicated in a language that everyone understands the ambiguity is gone and DITSU supports it and it is happening. “That forum has been really influential so far and even though we did only have the one meeting this year it did exist last year but it broke down and now we’ve re-established it as a main forum for concerns that students may have on all aspects of their college experience and I’m quiet proud of that in that respect.” Another issue that effect students across all DIT campuses was this
year’s Budget and the Government’s lack of commitment towards third level education. “Its something that came on our radar quiet quickly once everything was announced. How much change happened? You’ll argue very little if anything there were a reduction in quiet a lot of the services. Is it of concern? Of course we have students who struggle. “I remember a poignant campaign that happened a couple of years ago in the USI where the slogan was ‘Can you live on €7 a week?’ and that was stark reality that students we’re living on €7 a week. We had tragic circumstances and stories coming to us at different times where students were buying an industrial bag of spaghetti or rice and the only flavour they could put on it was ketchup from a wholesalers that horrid. “It’s not healthy, as well for mental health, it would drain you and for somebody who is trying to excel at college and better their life. It’s something that has stuck with me ever since. This year we didn’t see a huge amount of change there was not increase in the adjacently grant, no grants put back in place for the post graduates no support aids, no huge increase in any type of service that they may have provided and the student contribution charge has not gone down. “Now DITSU and USI advocate for free fees so anything contrary to that means in our eyes it’s a disappointment and it is a lack of commitment from the Government. There was no march this year and the student movement was moving forward with the agenda through TD’s. We recognise that, over the last couple of years, marches don’t work. “We know from speaking to TDs, they acknowledged the marriage referendum and equality and the 30,000 student that went on to the register has far more of an impact than 30,000 people who may not be registered to vote, out on the street marching so tactically USI have decided that the only way to influence the TDs is to register students, who buy into the concept of what USI is doing and what their student unions are doing and that, when it comes down to the voting time, they make their vote count. “It went from a time where marching got things done to seeing the marches fall be the way side for varies reasons,” explained Graham... See the next Edition for the second part of our interview with DITSU President, where we spoke about DITSU's repeal 8th stance, future Technoligical University and gender quotes.
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OPINION
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 Opinion:
editor@edition.ie
A dark day for shopping The Edition's reporter Iona Shearer looks at the the mindless consumption involved in Black Friday, the American holiday that has washed up on Irish shores and stores.
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ike pumpkin-spiced lattes and turkey dinners, Black Friday is another questionable thing that Ireland has inherited from the United States. The day following the US's Thanksgiving celebrations supposedly marks the first Christmas shopping day in the American festive calendar. A little bit of research on my behalf reveals that no one is certain as to why this momentous day is referred to as "Black" but presumably it equates to the colour of a person's soul when they rugby tackle some old dear in order to steal her cutprice food processor. Because like most things based around massive consumerism, Black Friday is pretty bloody grim. This year's event culminated in a slew of viral videos depicting deranged Americans mauling each other to get to bargains offered by the retail corporations that probably invented this day in the first place.
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Credit:Google Images
Search the Internet for "Black Friday Brawl" and you'll find any number of clips showing in-store punch-ups that'll have you simultaneously laughing at people's stupidity, whilst also crying out "Why America? Why?!
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Search the Internet for "Black Friday Brawl" and you will find any number of clips showing instore punch-ups that will have you simultaneously laughing at people's stupidity, whilst also crying out "Why America? Why?!" Much like the Grinch who stole Christmas I find myself, every year, resolutely shocked at the greedy nature that the festive shopping season invites. While I cannot deny that I am myself partial to a present – and I am not about to tell you that Christmas "is about Jesus" – I still feel that some of the meaning of Christmas, whatever that may be, is lost in the mindless consumption that occurs on Black Friday. That is America though, and in true Hollywood tradition, everything that happens there during Black Fri-
day is bigger and badder than what happens across the Atlantic. I think I started hearing the phrase "Black Friday" being thrown around during the holidays a couple of years ago. I was living in the UK and I can't say that I took much notice of it, knowing as I did that most of my Christmas shopping would happen approximately 24 hours before the blessed event. However as each year has passed the whispers of "Black Friday" have grown into shouts, and it is now impossible not to acknowledge that a. Christmas is coming and b. you need to start buying shit. Like right now. Regardless of its increasing popularity in the retail sector, other countries still tend to offer a comparatively diluted version of the American shopping bonanza. Despite Ireland's close relationship with the States, the mass hysteria that occurs there each year isn't quite as duly replicated as many of the other American traditions this country has adopted. Arguably this is because the Irish are that bit more down to earth than their effervescent Americancousins, however I also believe that if there is one thing that’s going to eclipse consumerism in today’s capitalist western society, it’s the glorious Irish weather.I walked down a quiet Grafton Street at about 2pm on Black Friday and, frankly, it was pissing it down. Reportedly the day had got off to a slow start for many retailers, with practical Irish shoppers apparently refusing to leave their warm beds at 5am just to buy a €10 set of pyjamas – thank the lord.
Credit:Flickr
Certainly the people I’d spoken to the day before expressed little interest in the shopping event, presuming – as many do – that any decent discounts will be repeated at some point later in the festive season. As such, it seems pointless to join the throngs of manic shoppers unless you’re a sadist – which I am led to believe many Americans are. Nevertheless, despite a reported drop in footfall in Dublin city
centre last Friday, the Irish Examiner reported a 5% jump in sales on the day and says retailers are expecting the best Christmas in seven years – with sales forecast to reach €4 billion. And despite society magazine Vanity Fair snootily pronouncing the shopping event “dead”, Black Friday and its counterpart Cyber Monday – don’t even get me started – have still managed to pull in the
profits that have retailers dribbling happily on their turkey sandwiches for the week following Thanksgiving. So I must, with a heavy heart, conclude that although I am more than willing to condemn Black Friday as an exercise in capitalistic greed, the fact of the matter is that people love a bargain – and my moral high ground isn’t going to change that.
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
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OPINION
Why Taboo Pornstars and Rape?
Rachel D'Arcy
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n 2015, it’s safe to say there’s very little that’s left to be considered taboo in western media. Websites like Vice and publications like Nylon and Dazed have opened up the floor for the public to consume content that before could only be found in the deepest depths of the internet’s seediest message boards. While there’s definitely a more open forum for conversation on topics such as sex, drugs, gender and more, two topics still considered highly sensitive found their way into the New York Times, Nylon Magazine, Huffington Post and more over the weekend: porn stars and rape.
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One interesting remark I read through all the coverage on this over the weekend is that sex workers, females in particular, are almost considered to put themselves in a line of danger due to their work.
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Activist, business woman and porn star Stoya became one of the first individuals to break her silence on her mistreatment by a collegue, her ex-boyfriend and self-proclaimed “feminist” James Deen. On November 28th, Stoya took a step that many women before her, and sadly many women after her, will be afraid to take. “That thing where you log in to the internet for a second and see people idolizing the guy who raped you as a feminist. That thing sucks. James Deen held me down and fucked me while I said no, stop, used my safeword. I just can't nod and smile when people bring him up anymore”. Her language is simple, but her message is clear – this is a woman who has reached the end of her tether. One interesting remark I read through all the coverage on this over the weekend is that sex workers, females in particular, are almost considered to put themselves in a line of danger due to their work. Basically, women in the porn industry are afraid to bring their story to authorities or even to porn producers and the media because they’re told that this is their fault for their job. Is it a war journalist’s fault that they’re shot in a warzone, because it’s their job? Is it a firefighters job to receive third degree burns because it’s their job? Tell me that a woman deserves to be raped because her chosen profession, because let me tell you, nobody decides they want to be sexually assaulted. There is a culture of ‘slut-shaming’ and victim-blaming in our society, and in particular the sex workers industry. In an essay for Nylon magazine, Stoya’s business partner Kayden Kross said the following: “There are a lot of cons to bringing a rape incident to light. There are even more for a sex worker. For a glaring example
All of them have said the exact same thing – they considered going to the police, but knew that they wouldn’t be taken seriously because of their profession, and because of the treatment they received from directors and others related to the industry. “Theft of Services.” Since Stoya went public with Deen’s assault against her, seven more women had come forward to say Deen had also assaulted them at the time of print. All of them have said the exact same thing – they considered going to the police, but knew that they wouldn’t be taken seriously because of their profession, and because of the treatment they received from directors and others related to the industry. In an article for Mashable, Adult Actress Nicki Blue said that Deen assaulted her with a beer bottle, and urinated in her mouth during oral sex. “After the assault, Blue says she wrote about her experience on an internet forum for Kink [a porn site Deen regularly worked with], but got a rude awakening. ‘They not only deleted my post but kicked me out so I unable to post in the forum," she says. "After that I gave up, I thought 'whatever, nothing is going to happen. When you're an adult actress, especially in BDSM, and you go to a cop and say 'Oh I've been raped by this guy after doing a scene,' they are not going to take you seriously, like if you were a normal person," she says.” In an interview with The Guardian, adult actress Sydney Leathers said that “the industry is so marginalised that people get fearful of talking about its problems, because we already feel so attacked in so many different ways,” highlight-
ing the stigma that the general public have attached to the profession of these vulnerable women – and men – and why these actors believe they can never voice the shocking assaults they fall victim to. What’s baffling to the mind is that these cops, these adult directors, and the people on these message boards are all sons of women, related to women, involved with women and wouldn’t even be alive without women. A woman’s profession does not define her, nobody’s profession does, but these “authorative” figures are deeming these women, Tori Lux, Ashley Fires, Nicki Blue, Kora Peters, Amber Rayne and Stoya (and definitely hundreds more) to be porn stars, and nothing more. These are men that have no doubt watched a porno or two in their time as well, choosing to remain blissfully ignorant to the horrid abuse that is beginning to seep through the cracks of the industry. A shining beacon of light through
the whole thing is the mainstream coverage of Stoya’s statement. Whilst her and Deen are the two ‘household names’, for lack of a better word, of the porn industry, her bravery is encouraging other girls to come out and say “hey, this guy abused me, and I know he’s in a position of greater fame and everything, but it’s not okay”. Deen inherently denies the claims, and for the first time, publications like The Guardian, The New York Times and other respectable names in the media industry are taking the side of the woman. They are speaking about sex work, and those involved in it. While Stoya aimed to protect other females with her 55 words against her ex-boyfriend, nothing more and nothing less, what she has truly started is a revolution. One that could end the last taboo our media has hidden away beneath it’s bed away from the eyes of others. About damn time.
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LIFESTYLE
www.edition.ie
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
DIT Christmas Appeal
Catherine Devane This year’s Christmas Appeal was officially launched on the 23rd of November. Running till the 4th of December, societies across DIT come together to raise as much money as possible for three chosen charities. The three chosen charities this year are SVP, Irish Cancer Society and Pieta House. The charities were voted for by societies in DIT, with SVP already decided upon because of it being new society in DIT. “All societies filled out a form choosing three charities they’d like to raise money for and reasons why. Then the top five charities were taken and at a societies forum there was an official vote from those top five. Each
society had a vote on which two charities from those five would be picked.” Explains Róisín O’ Donovan, volunteering chairperson. “The hope is to raise €7000, the same as last year”, adds O’ Donovan. DITSU President Graham Higginbotham is also backing the appeal and encouraging students to get involved. "DITSU has historically supported the Christmas Appeal and is proud to do so again this year. Fresh off a month of Raising and Giving (RAG November) where we encourage students to raise money for charity and create awareness for the charities cause, DITSU will be lending support through the Student Advisers (SA) offices to facilitate the collection of gifts, while also spreading the word about the Christmas Ap-
peal through the Class Reps / Student Council." So how to get involved now? You can still donate to the appeal and the SVP shoebox appeal. Take a tag from the decorated Christmas tree. It’ll give you all the information you need to know, for example Girl 0-3 Years. Then pop down to the shops and buy a child a present for Christmas. Place your lovely (unwrapped) present under the tree. You’ll leave feeling good about yourself and you’ll make a child very happy this Christmas. Where can I find these trees I hear you speak of?: They’re all over DIT campuses for example the tree in Aungier St is located in the foyer So what are you waiting for? It won’t break the bank and you may end up on Santa’s good list!
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
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giving it Socs
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LIFESTYLE
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
www.edition.ie
LIFESTYLE
A need not a want The Right to education is too often take for granted by students. Seraphine Habimana, sufferer of the Rwandan Genoicide and winner of the M.A. Journalism Dr. Michael Foley Award tells her story about the struggle for education that people in war torn countries face.
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My life has been profoundly affected by the genocide of 1994, even before the Genocide life was never easy as we began to suffer from 1990. My siblings could not find schools in the area, and in fact they hated going to school, fearing that when they were studying their teachers would put them in front of the class, describing the body parts of Tutsi. This sort of treatment was designed to cause them to feel rejected from society. Losing both parents tragically at a very young age is something that always hurts my heart. It took many years to accept that life would continue without them. Indeed there were many temptations could stop me from continuing my studies. After the Rwandan Genocide, we had no one who could look after us except our elder (oldest) sister who dropped out of school in senior 4, we had nowhere to go, we had nothing … we started life at zero. We moved from Ruhengeli (North) to Butare (South), there we were offered a house by the priest and we lived together. My elder (oldest) sister got some support and she went back to school, my other sister could not get support and she went to look for a job as a maid, and my brother too. Unlike other children, I started school at age 8. I lived with my sister and my younger brother. As we were in primary school, we shifted, and we managed the works in the house. That’s how I survived until I passed the national exam and went to secondary school. Though every student needs some basic materials, for me it’s very hard to find one notebook or pen. I felt hopeless often and I could not see the end of such life. I used to think about how the day at the end of the semester would look, how I would escape but I couldn’t find any answer. So I avoided thinking about it, and just concentrated on my studies as I thought that the best day in my life would be when I will have finished secondary school. It was like a dream come true.
Secondary school In Rwanda, before getting to secondary school everyone has to sit the national examination, and the government then allocates pupils to boarding schools depending on their preferences and marks. When I passed the national exam after primary school, I was sent to Gikongoro (now Nyamagabe district) to attend Groupe Scolaire Benjamin Tito Robert de Rwamiko. Whilst at primary school, as I said, I lived with my younger brother and older sister but when I went to start secondary school I went with my
older sister, who had been delayed after finishing primary school looking for financial support to attend secondary school from the Genocide survivor fund. By now the year is 2000, when I was 12 years old. My younger brother, who was in the second year of primary school at this time, could not stay where he was alone so he was unfortunately forced to drop out of school to look for work as a maid. At this time, he was paid RWF 1000 per month, and he gave this each month to someone who could give it to us at the school visiting day, and this arrangement lasted a couple of years. In 2002, by which time I was 14, my elder (oldest) sister finished secondary school, got married and moved to Ruhengeri. The result of this was that my sister Rose and I effectively became homeless in that we did not have anywhere to live during the school holidays. So we joined our older sister Fabiola who worked in an old man’s house in Taba, Huye district in the Southern Province of Rwanda. When it rains it pours. My two sisters quickly fell pregnant by this
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When it rains it pours. My two sisters quickly fell pregnant by this man despite their young ages and he immediately chased them away.
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man despite their young ages and he immediately chased them away. We never thought that one day he would dare to chase us away, after getting my two sisters pregnant. My sister stopped school when she was only in the second year of secondary school. This really devastated me and completely shocked me. I could not find the money to pay to get to Ruhengeri, where I could have joined my oldest sister. At this time I had just finished my ordinary level schooling, and I needed lots of things to go to Cyangugu where I was due to continue senior 4 after passing the ordinary examination and secondary school was due to commence again the following day. But I had nowhere to start. So that is how we effectively became homeless and orphans for the second time. I used to say to me: why it’s us who were born to suffer, what’s the real meaning of life if it’s
worse than disgusting… I lost hope and felt there was nothing more left for me in this world. The school in Cyangugu was in the far upcountry where the roads were often impassable and transportation was very difficult.However in those trials and tribulations my siblings tried to find some money for my transport to get to Cyangugu saying that the most important thing was that I could get to school. I arrived at school empty handed. The school required everyone to bring a mattress and bed covers, but I didn’t have any and it was not easy to convince the headmaster that I could not afford them. Arriving at school, I shared a bed with someone I met when I arrived. She helped me with some basic materials and I started with one notebook, though we were supposed to have 15 notebooks each. It was a very bad start to senior 4. I cannot explain how I got soap or sorted out female needs through the semester but I made it through it all. (The full story of how I survived during advanced level in secondary school in Cyangugu is for another day). With a very little they had, my siblings have been incredibly supportive throughout my studies. There’re so much pain in our lives and it always hurts too much to survive from day one after becoming the orphans. I am very thankful for my siblings’ support, they’ve always been there for me despite the painful lives. They gave me what they had, they kept pushing and motivating me believing that one day one of us would be happy or find different life. Now I am a Master’s Degree holder in International Journalism.
My experience in Ireland It’s been 1 years since I have seen proper winter and felt true cold, and after some -1° morning. Without forgetting changing the clock where it gets dark at 4pm and the sun arises at 7AM! This is very different Rwanda where the high is 80° and low is 60° and the average daily temperature is about 21°C 365 days/year. During my time in Ireland I have stayed in Wicklow town. I had to travel to DIT in Dublin every day. Despite spending many hours on the bus to/from Dublin/Wicklow town, I walked freezing because of the cold rain and wind to the college, and sometimes rain was over me at the bus stop waiting for the bus. At the beginning, I always had the cold and flu and I had to see a doctor quite often. To be honest, this one got to my nerves and I felt gutted but I tried to be in class on time and attend all weekly classes. However, Rwanda being a third world country English is not the first language (in fact it’s the second or third language), I’d say that would be a big challenge to complete this Masters: to be honest it wasn’t easy as I had to work very hard, days and nights ... and pray often. Even though for much of our lives we have not had a chance to grow up around the parents my siblings and I have tried to live in the way that we think our parents would have wished. My father used to tell us to work hard saying that those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. And my mother taught us to be brave and bear any burden. I think I have followed their advices and it totally helped to be who I am today. I have always strived to be success-
ful and competent in everything I do, which is why after secondary school I finished my undergraduate studies at the National University of Rwanda in Butare with the highest grade in my class. I had been crowned best student of the School of Media at Dublin City University, Ireland, as I completes my Master's Degree in Journalism. From survivor of the Rwanda genocide in April 1994 as a seven year old to the Dr. Michael Foley Award for the Best Student on Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland's MA in Journalism 2014-15 a little over 21 years later. That is some journey. I am very proud. This is something best that has ever happened to me. I’m very glad that I made this happen. It adds up to the pride of my country, Rwanda. But also it gives hope to other desperate Rwandan orphans proving that life is not always that hard and that it can be better despite the suffer. I felt relieved. I really appreciate all I have learnt from the creators and lecturers on MA programme. During my one-year stay at DIT I have acquired a broad range of skills as the DIT has very experienced and highly versatile lecturers and balances practical, theoretical, technical and analytical elements. Everything they brought to us was very important and I will use all the skills I have gained from here to contribute to developing media content and practice in my country. I deeply appreciate and thank everyone who helped me to get here and continue to support during my stay in Ireland, I hope to welcome you all to our beautiful land of thousand hills, Rwanda.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
LIFESTYLE
The 12 sins of Christmas Tis the season to be jolly, and with the Christmas cheer unfortunately comes those extra few winter pounds. Not to worry DIT's Nutrition Soc is here with their guide of Christmas Sins to avoid this year. DIT Nutrition Soc
1. Wine
2. Mince Pies
Sure, what other way to herald in the big day of the 25th of a large, well deserved glass of vino? However, with close to an average of 600 calories in a bottle of your festive red wine, these are calories easily “sipped” away over the Christmas feast. While still enjoying this Christmas treat, the option of toasting with a glass of sauvignon blanc over the festive days to follow cuts back to only 100 calories a bottle and allow you to partake in festive merriment.
Nothing says Happy Holidays like the welcoming, comforting aroma of fresh minced pies with a cheeky dollop of cream. Naturally, it is easy to lose track of just how many of these festive treats we eat. Recent statistics show each person eats on average 27 mince pies over December – this amounts to over 8,500 calories! While we wouldn't encourage you to avoid these Christmassy delights, maybe consider tucking into one a day, before realising you guzzled half
3. Turkey Sandwich
4. Butter
5. Tin of Roses
6. Selection Box
There is no doubt that if most of us missed out on the glorious post-Christmas Day turkey sandwich; we might have a Ross Geller moment! To get the optimum healthy balance while still achieving the ultimate turkey sandwich experience, why not make your sandwich with brown bread and add a salad filling to pack in more festive turkey noms!
I’ll admit it, mashed potatoes with a healthy drizzle of gravy is one of my favourite parts of Christmas dinner, and to be honest, the more buttery the better. But when most people add 4 table spoons of butter to a pound of mashed potatoes, try to avoid adding even more butter to your potatoes when they are served in a mouth-watering mound on your plate.
Nothing signals the start of Christmas quite like the arrival of the first tin of Roses to the local shops! While it’s both hard to resist reaching for yet ANOTHER strawberry cream, piling up your Roses wrappers in front of you instead of tossing them back in to the box is a good way to keep an eye on just how many sweets your enjoying (and helps make the tin last longer!)
Yet another festive treat dished out by aunties, uncles, Kris Kindles, grandparents and the man in red himself, leading to a Christmas Day tradition of the “selection box brekkie”. With each one of us receiving a generous 9 selection boxes each year, saving the selection box breakfast is a good idea to keep to Christmas Day so the others may be enjoyed more extensively over the holiday break.
B
reak at those Penneys’ Christmas Jumpers and clear your December calendar for pantomimes, shopping and the 12 Pubs of Christmas – the holiday season is upon us! Finally us college students can put away the notes, log off webcourses and put our feet up with a tin of roses to indulge in the festive season. Sure feck it, we all deserve it!! But when the Christmas euphoria has ebbed away, the tree goes down and exams grow ever nearer, most of us find that the bathroom scales are more terrifying than the prospect of last-minute cramming. The average person is said to gain between 1-2.5 pounds over the festive month of December. Although this may not seem like a hugely significant figure, in time, it could make a difference not just to physical appearance but to overall health. It is vital that we watch out for these sly extra pounds that “mysteriously” deposit themselves on our physique and make sure they do not become the foundation stones to further, post-festivity weight gain. Now, we dieticians of the Nutrition Society are by no means discouraging the holiday indulgence of mince pies and mulled wine. But, acting as your Christmas guardian angels of wellbeing and positive health attitude, we are giving you a list of 12 common “Christmas Sins” that, if avoided, may avoid that extra holiday weight gain while still enjoying the festive “noms”.
7. Beer
8. Hot Chocolate
Christmas is a time for friends, partying and basically enjoying the craic! However, over the Christmas break, whilst having as much fun as possible, being drink aware is encouraged more than ever. Not only will opting for a “light beer” option still ensure top banter but it cuts back on half the calories beer normally provides.
With hot chocolate consumption doubling in December alone, it is one of the best parts of getting cosy by the fire to watch Home Alone for the 5th time that week. Why not try making hot chocolate with some seductive dark chocolate and using low fat milk so as to not only cut back on calories but create and more indulgent chocolate experience?
9. Cream
10. Egg Nog
Whether it’s lashing a bit of cream over Christmas pudding or dolloping a generous amount onto a mince pie, cream really finishes off any festive dessert. Over the days after Christmas, while the last sad remains of the pudding and cake are being eaten, choosing a low fat cream is the way to go to cut back on any sneaky calories in fat.
While it may not be everyone’s favourite festive drink, there is something about egg nog that smells Christmassy. Considering it is the only time of year suitable to enjoy such a drink, a glass or two is no harm. But in the lazy days after the 25th, it is important to be aware that the full fat cream and milk used to make this creamy treat may bump up your calorie and fat intake that little bit more.
11. Walking
12. Moderation
Something so simple, yet usually undesirable after a glorious Christmas dinner. A brisk walk for an hour could burn up to 200 calories. Considering people eat on average 6000 calories on Christmas day, a quick festive stroll will certainly get the metabolism going after a day of spoiling your stomach with luxurious food.
Basically, we here at the Nutrition Society want you all to have the happiest, most banter-full and healthiest Christmas possible this year. While Christmas is the time of just that little bit extra indulgence, it’s no harm over the days following the height of the celebrations to pay attention to just how much we’re eating in order to avoid the bathroom scales teetering up too much.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
www.edition.ie
LIFESTYLE
Christmas Window Shopping Sorcha Lynch
River Island
I
Score: 4/5
t’s finally acceptable to discuss Christmas without being given out to, and one of the best bits about the holiday season is all the fabulous Window displays. Stores really go the extra mile at Christmas to have the most eye catching windows to drive sales and after all it’s the time of year they take in the most money. Some of the second and third years from the Visual Merchandising course helped to install Christmas this year in the majority of the shops listed below, Here is a selection of all the best windows and how well they rank.
Known to be non traditional, River Island didn’t disappoint this year. Their shocking neon pink and orange windows definitely have the wow factor. The slogan ‘Style is not just for Christmas’ plays on the issue of dogs being dumped after Christmas ‘A dog is not just for Christmas’. This is a fun take on a serious problem. The mannequins are grouped at different height levels while walking their dogs. Very powerful message while also delivering a splash of style.
Chanel
Zara
Score: 4 /5
Score: 2.5/5
The story created in this window display just oozes luxury, glamour and sophistication. The mannequins appear to be in a high end hotel or cafe and are styled amazingly. The use of the doors, chairs and table props bring the window scheme alive. The accessories draped over the back of the chair echoes the care free attitude of Chanel.
Brown Thomas
In typical Zara fashion the clothes are left to do the talking. Very simplistic window with a Christmas tree being the only prop used. Mannequins are grouped nicely giving us a sense of movement. The window loses marks because of the merchandise, the mannequins are dressed too similar and there is no wow outfit in the window.
House of Fraser
Score: 5/5
Score: 3.5/5
The Brown Thomas windows are arguably the most anticipated of the year and this year was no exception. They are a feast for the eyes with numerous different stories being told in each window. Their is a steam train window, a woodlands window, a poodle window, a mannequin with an owls head, a giant size globe, and a huge Christmas cracker window. The windows are over the top dripping in luxury and completely capture the madness of Christmas in a fab way. The over sized props and crazy coloured wigs send festive chills up our spines.
House of Fraser opted for a more paired back window with the merchandise being the main focus. They brought in a touch of Christmas sparkle by covering the floor of the window in sparkly confetti. All of the six mannequins in the window have the same blonde wig with baby pink ends adding a strong visual impact and a fresh and youthful vibe. The sale signage in the right hand corner informs the customer of the current promotion without taking away from the subtle theme.
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
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Louis Vuitton
M&S
Score: 4.5 /5
Score: 3/5
The concept for this window is so simple but so effective. The sparkling lights that change from different shades of purple and pink draw our eyes into the centre of the window to the main focus which is the handbag. The lights almost mesmerise you and definitely stop you in you’re tracks.
M&S Christmas windows are fun and playful with the mannequins having red flowers as their heads. The sparkling outfits and green backdrop covered in lights adds the festive feel. The graphic ‘The Art of Christmas’ is on the centre of the window tying the whole theme together nicely. They are what’s to be expected of M&S nonetheless, visually they work.
LIFESTYLE
Debenhams
Kilkenny
Score: 4.5 /5
Score: 4/5
The Debenhams windows somewhat fit in with the expression ‘it does exactly what is says on the tin’. Debenhams pack their windows with merchandise and toys to entice customers but ultimately it ends up looking cheap and too busy. The graphic on the window says #foundit encouraging customers to shop in store implying they have what it is you’re searching for. Typical red and white Christmas colours with tacky light up stars bring the window scheme down also.
Kilkenny possibly surprised the most, as they went away from what they usually do. This year’s windows are reminiscent of the likes of Selfridges or Harrods and are a breath of fresh air. Each window has a different colour scheme but the white windows in particular are the most dazzling with some of the mannequins wearing masquarde eye masks and the centre mannequin having fabulous white wings. The sense of fantasy incorporated into the theme results in a fairytale Christmas.
Arnotts Score: 1.5 /5 Arnotts were probably the biggest let down out of all the Christmas windows this year. Each window is telling a different story but none were all that nice. There is a strong artificial look but not for the right reasons. There is no elegance or Christmas glamour as was there with previous windows. The windows are full of toys and teddy’s sending out a message that Christmas is just about material items.
Avoca
H&M
Score: 4/5
Score: 3.5 /5
Avoca has the magic gift of being able to place tons of merchandise in the window all at once and somehow manage to make it look fabulous. The white fabrics draping across the table and the cosy lights on the Christmas trees send a warm glow onto the street. The placement of props and merchandise is executed perfectly allowing the customer to view so much in just a quick stroll.
H&M are known for having very basic and clean cut windows. The cut out props of candy cane and bobbles emerging from the H&M bag is a fun concept and fits in well with their usual style of windows. The signage displaying the price of some of the cheaper merchandise is enticing for customers looking for a bargain. The pop of green in the balloon and merchandise gives some depth to the overall white colour of the window.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
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LIFESTYLE
Method:
RECIPE
Preheat the oven to 180°c. Grease a baking sheet with a little butter and line with greaseproof paper.
Now aren't you a smart cookie
In a bowl mix the butter and sugar together until combined.
Deirdre Hynes Christmas is a feast Day that lives up to its name, with so many festive favourites its hard not to eat more than your fill and develop quite a substantial food baby. So, if you’re planning on celebrating this festive season around a table heavily laden with yuletide treats we at the Edition aim to help you out with this quick and easy recipe These little biscuits are amazingly quick to make and are sure to fill your kitchen with the warming scent of cinnamon and spices. They are a perfect nibble while you cram for those dreaded exams and they make a love-
ly homemade gift...if you can bare to give them away! Feel free to mix and match flavourings with whatever you have to hand, use orange zest and dried cranberries or substitute 25 g of the flour with cocoa for a chocolate variation, the possibilities are endless! If you haven’t any cookie cutters to hand, roll the dough into a log and cut 1 cm thick slices. Wrap the uncooked dough in cling film and will keep for a few days in the fridge allowing you to have fresh baked cookies whenever you like. This recipe makes 24 biscuits.
Sieve the flour, mixed spice and cinnamon together and stir into the butter and sugar mixture, it should be quite crumbly, add the tablespoon of milk and mix until it forms a dough.
Christmas Spice shortbread Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes
Roll out on a floured surface until 1cm thick and cut into shapes using whatever cutters you have to hand . Place on the baking sheet and bake for 10-12 mins until lightly golden.
Ingredients: 200 g butter 100 g caster sugar 300 g plain flour 2 tbsp milk ½ tsp of cinnamon ½ tsp of mixed spice
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes on the tin before transferring to a wire rack to cool fully.
The best bird you'll pull all year Bae and Brunch
Scott Howe There she is, sat as bold as brass in the kitchen, she’s got that golden brown colour down to a tee. She smells so good she reminds you of that kebab you got from the Charlie’s at 4.00am last Tuesday morning and you’re nearly hopping across the table to get a piece of the action. You pluck up the courage to have a grab of her leg and with your parents still in the kitchen too. It’s like all your Christmases have come at once. Then you old man starts carving her with a knife and your whole world comes crashing down because you’ll never see a bird with better legs in your life. That’s when you realise your imagination has got the better of you and that you seriously need to have a look at yourself in the mirror. Christmas dinner isn’t quite as thought evoking an occasion as it may have just been made it out to be but it definitely is one of the happiest days of your life. Take your traditional Christmas dinner, you’ve got your turkey, slow roasted and seasoned to
perfection. Then you’ve got your ham, it could be left to soak in a pot for a week before Christmas and someone will still complain about how salty it is, scrooges. Next up it’s the potatoes, no Christmas dinner would be complete without the accompaniment of potatoes, and a rather large accompaniment at that. Often perceived as the native emblem of culchies, even those in the pale warm to the spud around Christmas. Vegetables are a necessity at Christmas, purely just because you want to eat until your brand new pair of Christmas jeans burst but your mother won’t give you any more meat. That’s where the carrots and the peas and the brussel sprouts come in. You don’t like them, but you eat them, mainly because you didn’t buy your mother a Christmas present and her little one eating vegetables without making a scene is one of the greatest gifts a mother can receive.
Stuffing is one of life’s greatest treasures and isn’t used often enough as far as The Edition is concerned. Stick it in the turkey, lob it in the ham, and put it in the roast potatoes for god sake. Stuffing is just so unappreciated sometimes. Dessert is a must on Christmas day and despite the fact, that at this point ,you have eaten 8 chocolate Santa, 4 selection boxes and half a tin of Roses or Celebrations (or Quality Street, hey, we won’t judge) you just want to dive into whatever cake and ice cream (that happens to have been defrosted too much because your little brother got overzealous and took the ice cream out before the first Christmas cracker was even pulled). After the pleasantries are over and you’ve pretended to like your family for long enough to eat a nice meal together it’s up to you, but we here at The Edition can’t recommend an after dinner viewing of Finding Nemo highly enough.
Danú Connolly Fanning
“
Enter SW Miller, South William Street’s hidden gem, and its fantastic lunch deal.
”
South William Street. The first thing that springs to mind when you hear the name? Cafés, bars, restaurants. No doubt all serving delicious food and drinks, but at a price which a student, such as myself, doesn’t even want to think about. Enter SW Miller, South William Street’s hidden gem, and its fantastic lunch deal. Tucked away near one end of the street, SW Miller is a small and quirky café. Formally known as Calzone Café, its menu is mainly Italian inspired sandwiches, salads, and the ever popular calzones (pizzas folded in half ). Inside is a mish-mash of different chairs and tables as well as strange decorations covering the walls. Old red cinema seats are opposite wooden chairs, a small aquarium is above the front door, bottles of wine are suspended beside the head of a (fake) boar. The effect is oddly charming and very different to anywhere else I’ve eaten before. When I say that SW Miller is small, I don’t exaggerate. At most about 15 people can be seated inside, maybe 20 if everyone squashes up. But rather than being claustrophobic it’s cosy. The staff were friendly and very laid back, there was a mixture of Ital-
ian music and classics from the 50’s on in the background, the atmosphere was peaceful, pleasant. Even if the food had been sub-par I think I would have been satisfied. But the food was far from sub-par, and affordable. The lunch deal, available between 12-4pm, costs €8. For that €8 you get either a sandwich, a salad or a calzone, along with chips and a soft drink. The portions are decently sized and delicious. After much internal debate I got a ‘Pesto Mayo’ sandwich, which turned out to be a large panini, stuffed to the brim with chicken and mozzarella and spinach and pesto. The chips were skinny and perfectly salted, in a little bucket at the side. It was a struggle to finish everything even though I was starving going in, but I pushed through, earning a smile at the cleared plates from our waiter. The only complaint I could make about my trip to SW Miller would be the fact that, since I went with two of my friends and the other larger tables were taken, we ended up sitting in the corner on a bench. Rather like a picnic table actually, right beside the till. It was comfy enough, and it did mean that I got to stare around at everything, but it highlighted the fact that there is no way a large party of people could fit inside. There are outside tables, compete with cute little flower arrangements, but it would be a bit cold in the middle of winter. Or the start of winter. Or the end of the winter. Or on rainy days. Three words to sum up SW Miller? Affordable, quirky, tasty. I’ll definitely be returning again. Potentially multiple times. Only €8, for all that you get. One word. Fantastic.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
LIFESTYLE
PHOTO OF THE MONTH Photo soc competition
Winner Daniel Vegera
“
Throughout the semester the Photo society have planned to run a photo of the month competition. Each month there will be a theme and photography teacher Mark Hill will pick out a winner as well as 2 runner-up pictures. This month the theme was "Wild Colour" Photo Society meet on Thursdays at 6pm in Aungier St normally in the Blackbox. Its a great environment where you can get to know your camera and learn how to capture and process that jaw dropping scene - all the while making friends with some of the most creative, friendly and enthusiastic individuals in DIT. Photo Soc is open to all! Daniel Vegera Second Place - Left
The extreme depth of field matched with the desaturated colour of the overall image reflects for me the coming of winter and of dusk. The highlighted colour in a sea of muted tones draws the eye around the image and gives the viewer a lot to appreciate. Really nice work.
”
"A more original take on the title of the competition, the long cylinder of light and colour set against a dark urban landscape gives a huge depth to the image. The technical thought process that must happen been taken shows exactly where Daniel is going with his work. Great job!"
Brian Fitzpatrick Third Place - Right "Simply put this is a beautiful, striking image. It pains me not to mark this higher as it is a brilliant image, for me, but the patches of pavement on the bottom right and mid left of the photograph distract my eye in a negative way. ''
Appsolute must haves Scott Howe
1. Whatsapp
3. Last Message
5. Groupon
7. Tinder
9. Dublin Bus
All the cool kids these days are on all you can eat data packages these day and what better way to keep your phone bill down than with WhatsApp. Send pictures, videos or voice notes to a group or an individual without the cost of sending a text. How anyone can have a smartphone with no WhatsApp is crazy, especially with them blue ticks making ignoring someone impossible!
It’s always the way just as your supposed to meet up with someone or call them back your phones dies leaving you trapped with no access to anyone, a bit like your folks back in their day. However with Last Message, the app will text, email or Facebook message your selected friends letting them know when your battery dies, making life easier, God technology theses days
If its money you’re after, I can tell you that they have none, what they do have is a particular set of offers that make them a dream come through for students. Get great value tickets to the hottest concerts in town or just get a half price pizza delivered to your house and Netflix for the night.
Everyone needs some loving every now and again. If you’re one of those shy people that don’t like face to face flirting, this is the app for you. It has reinvented the dating scene. Join the rest of the sly dogs who sit at home swiping right all day and you’ll find that Mr or Mrs Right in no time at all.
Traversing the concrete jungle that is Dublin City can be daunting. Stay on top of your travel arrangements with the Dublin Bus app which shows you real time information for any of the bus stops which serve the many routes in Dublin.
2. Snapchat
4. Messenger
6. DIT Timetable 8. Simply Yoga
All the cool kids these days are on all you can eat data packages these day and what better way to keep your phone bill down than with WhatsApp. Send pictures, videos or voice notes to a group or an individual without the cost of sending a text. How anyone can have a smartphone with no WhatsApp is crazy, especially with them blue ticks making ignoring someone impossible!
Social media is all the rage these days and like its counterpart, WhatsApp, Messenger, without the cost of texting or calling, allows you to keep in contact your classmates, mate mates and that ‘significant other’ that you met outside Diceys last Monday after a few too many €2 pints.
If you’re like me and you have a head like a sieve, this is a great app for finding out what class you’re in. granted it doesn’t take into account changes in the timetable, but hey, who’s perfect?
Having spent 12 hours a days in the library worrying about the upcoming exams any of us would be stress as well as stuck for time to fit everything in. Introducing Simply Yoga. This app will help you squeeze in a 10, 20, 40 or 60-minute yoga workout wherever you are, allowing for physical activity as well as stress release.
10. Hailo Nobody wants to be stuck down in some door way at four in the morning in the lashing rain with nothing but your garlic cheese chip to keep you warm. Download Hailo and you’ll have the perfect app to order a taxi to get you in and get you out of town.
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LIFESTYLE
www.edition.ie
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
Christmas Partywear Bekah Molony
T
is the season to be stylish, with the Christmas parties, staff nights out and season celebrations all around the corner. If you're hitting the town and looking for the ultimate party get up, look no further as we have the best buys right here. Pair dresses with opaque tights to stay warm or dare to bare and wear some faux fur to glam up your outfit. You can’t beat a cute dress, and you never know, a bit of an investment in a good get up may take you places on the night… Merry Shopping! 1. Black Bardot Dress, River Island €40 2. Silky Plunge Skater Dress Rust, Missguided €49 3. Red Layered Waterfall Dress, Penneys €14 4. Tinsel Wrap A-Line Dress, Topshop €68 5. Lily Allen Collection Detailed Black Dress, Vero Moda €44.95 6. One Shoulder Split Midi Dress Camel, Missguided €35
T
he perfect accessory can transform any outfit, so you don't have to go for a sparkly dress or a printed blazer to stand out. Try keeping it simple in the clothes department while still making a statement with a killer necklace or bold nail and lip. We're loving all things red this season, and there's plenty of accessories out there in this lovely colour. Check out these for some inspiration. 1. Lace Up Barely There Heeled Sandals Red (Missguided €35) 2. Red Long Tasselled Earrings (H&M €14.99) 3. Leather Bag (Vero Moda €34.95) 4. Colour-Block Fedora Hat (Topshop €38) 5. Burgundy Red Stone Necklace (Penneys €4) 6. Metallic Zip Top Clutch Bag (Missguided €21) 7. Lasting Finish Lipstick (Rimmel €6.99) 8. Extra Soft Scarf Burgundy (Zara €17.95) 9. Red Strappy Lace Up Heels (River Island €80)
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
LIFESTYLE
Street Style
Name: Aoife Kearns,18
Name: David Beattie, 18
Name: Brian Hearn, 26
Name: Brian Lyng, 18
Course: Journalism
Course: Journalism and French
Course: Retail and Service Management
Course: Creative and Cultural Industries
Aofie wears: David Wears: Hat from Penneys Turtle neck from Dunnes Stores Jacket from ONLY Jeans from Folkster Boots from The Shoerack Bag from Dune
Shirt from TK Maxx Coat from Stradvarius Jeans were a gift Boots from TK Maxx Scarf from a Charity Shop Style icon: Lana Del Rey
Style icon: Audrey Hepburn Christmas Go To essential: Turtle Neck
Christmas Go To essential: Scarves
Brian wears: Shirt from Lefties Jacket from H&M Jeans from H&M Shoes from Zara Style icon: Conor McGregor Christmas Go To essential: A big fluffy Santa claus jumper
Brian wears: Beret from Dublin Vintage Factory Polo jumper from COS Jacket is vintage Cullottes from Folkster Shoes are Doc. Martins Style icon :Lara Dawson Christmas Go To essential: a Beret
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CULTURE
Report
Music, Film & Play reviews
cards
Exit the King Lauren McColgan
Enter the king, stage left, barefoot. The king searches about the room. Exit the king, without utterance. So went the introduction of the play’s hero. A tittering audience teetered on their seats trying to grasp at the situation presented to them in this bizarre play. Continuing as it began, Exit the King is a thought-provoking exploration by the playwright Eugene Ionesco into the stages of death through the demise of a king. DIT’s Fintan Lawlor managed to di-
ALBUM Rachel D'Arcy November 3rd was a big day for the pop music world. The former prince of pop, Justin Bieber, dared to take on current teen pop titans One Direction, with both releasing their third and fifth albums respectively on this chosen Friday. A day so important, Twitter even commemorated it by giving #MadeInTheAM and #Purpose, as well as the respective tracks on each album, their own emojis. Bieber has become better known for his extra curricular shenanigans in the last few years, neglecting to release any new music apart from ‘Journals’, a collection of b-sides that was released with little fanfare. One Direction, however, were selling out stadiums worldwide and topping album charts with consistent singles. The November 3rd Battle of the Boys was a testy one – with 1D’s ‘Made In The A.M’ their swan song before a year long hiatus, and Bieber’s ‘Purpose’ his big comeback, the battle for the number one spot was rife with sly digs and challenging words, with Bieber’s ‘Purpose’ ultimately winning the crowning title, both in the eyes of the public and here at The Edition. The thing about boybands is that there’s always a set formula. While One Direction stepped out of the box with a non-conventional approach, forgoing the choreography in favour of Harry Styles’ dad dancing and Mulingar boyo Niall Horan’s skills on the guitar, they kept very much in line with tradition. ‘Made In The
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rect a level of coherency into this otherwise muddled and scatterbrained play while maintaining the fun silliness of its surrealism. The performance of the mad king was dynamic, jumping from euphoric childishness in one moment, to philosophical contemplation about the depth and meaning of life, to a floppy vegetable state in minutes. Costume design was clearly on a student budget but suited the absurdity of the play perfectly. The King’s guard donned two wedge box épaulettes and armour made of the finest tinfoil. Similarly, the queens (as there appeared to be two) were blinged out with paper clip chain necklaces. The King himself brandished a toilet plunger sceptre and official Burger King paper crown. Drama Soc have to be commended for their strong team supporting the show who toiled away to built the set and rigged a brand new set of lights just hours before opening. The set was simple, a regal chair raised on three steps and some fancy wall paper to create the idea of a throne room. The small budget of the show only served to exaggerate the surreal nature of Ionesco’s story. The opening night was a clear success for Drama Soc’s rendition of Exit the King.
Lights fade. Enter cast for final bow. Audience applauds warmly.
PLAY
Posh Lauren McColgan Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall at a dinner party attended by rich D4 Trinity students? No, me neither. However, Posh plonks us down in the private dining room of a restaurant hired out by a group of students from Oxford University. Drama, lechery, corruption, and disgusting opulence play out on the stage before the audience in an entertaining performance from the ten Drama Soc lads who must have been hanging around the Pav recently for inspiration. The Riot Club, a creation by the playwright Laura Wade, is a dining club notorious for reckless destruction and bad behaviour. The club’s members are those with bright futures as members of parliament, judges, and other places in high society. Wade’s play is a commentary on the beginnings of corruption which exists in political circles in the UK. For the majority of the play, there were at least ten actors on stage at a time. At the play’s beginning the energy was high and the crowded Black Box stage buzzed with characters
unfortunately as the party took their seats around the table, the lively atmosphere died away to a point. A nervous energy hung about the theatre before the play’s start and I was told that some actors had only gone ‘off script’ the day before. There was never a hint of that uncertainty throughout the performance. If there were any mistakes, the ease and banter of the cast covered it up perfectly. The play had a special guest performance from DITSU’s own Ents Officer 2014/2015, Ciara Murnane, who played the daughter of the restaurateur and who is harassed unapologetically by the club. The turnout for the opening night was a little disappointing for a play which was very well acted and produced on the part of Drama Soc. Next semester’s plays are certainly something to look forward to.
Justin Bieber Vs One Direction
A.M’ maintains a similar vibe to 1D’s last album P.Z (Post-Zayn), ‘Four’, but with a little something missing. (Here’s a hint: it was Zayn). It packs a punch and has gone down a treat with their fans, tracks like ‘Hey Angel’ and ‘Temporary Fix’ bringing a bit of life to the One Direction party before saying their goodbyes to their legions of devotees with the fitting ‘History’, a love-song to the bands half-decade career squeezed into 3 minutes. Lyrics like “we can live forever” and “this is not the end” offering a thinly veiled reassurance to the millions of young girls, and guys, crying into their Larry Stylinson fanfiction and 1D blankets the world over. Made In The AM is good, by boyband standards. There’s some bangers on there for sure, but then
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Credit: Island Records
Both albums have their high points – at some points literally, with Harry Styles and Justin Biebers’ vocals reaching heights only dogs could hear (in a good way).
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Credit: Redbrick
there’s ‘Purpose’. It’s Biebers first album post-Jelena, post-Monkey abandonment, post-“I don’t recall” meme fame…post-Biebers“bratty”stage, to say the least. Every single released from the album has made it’s way to the top of charts world wide, and every track on the album could stand on it’s own as a single. Every track even managed to find its way onto the Billboard Hot 100 without being released as a single anyway, so who even needs traditional when you’re already breaking The Beatles’ records without even trying? Tracks like ‘The Feeling’, featuring alt-pop-star Halsey and ‘Love Yourself’ are a far cry from the ‘Baby’ and ‘Boyfriend’s of Bieber past – in the best way possible. Taking on a more R’N’B edge, this new thing Bieber is trying out
is decent, the way he’s growing up alongside his fanbase garnering him new listeners, whilst still satisfying those of old. Not bad for a 21 year old fella who started out on Youtube over a decade ago. Both albums have their high points – at some points literally, with Harry Styles and Justin Biebers’ vocals reaching heights only dogs could hear (in a good way). They both have their lows as well, but at the end of the day, Justin Bieber had a purpose, and by god did he succeed with it. Both Made In The AM and Purpose are available now on iTunes and Spotify, and in all good retailers.a prodigious talent with the style and sound necessary to fulfill his obvious potential.
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Christmas with the Coopers
2FM Xmas Ball
Paul Hyland
Credit: Youtube
The parents, played by John Goodman and Diane Keaton, fight for the whole film. There exchanges are drawn out and repetitive. Some levity is granted by the expletive grand-
It gets really bad when the whole family comes together. An Impromptu sing along scene as well as a dance scene are hard to watch; bordering on cringe-worthy. daughter, and eccentric aunt (aunt fishy, bloody hell!) who accompany them. It gets really bad when the whole family comes together. An Impromptu sing along scene as well as a dance scene are hard to watch; bordering on cringe-worthy.
There’s an off putting three-way love triangle as well between: the grandfather in the film (Alan Arkin), his grandson (Ed Helms) and a waitress they have both fallen for (Amanda Seyfried). It’s a shame this film didn’t work out better because it has good actors. The story is too clunky however, it tries to be happy, sad, uplifting and over the top funny all at once. It sways uncontrollably from one emotion to the next without hitting its marks. The good news is The Night Before, written by Evan Goldberg (Superbad), and starring Seth Rogen, comes out December 4th and it looks like this year’s Christmas comedy hit. come along with us if you know what I mean. “But it’s still Raglans. It’s just us on steroids basically.”
MUSIC
Adele Rachel D'arcy
In the four years Adele has been away, it’s clear she’s done an almighty amount of growing. While her last album featured songs of heartbreak, ‘25’ details how the London lass managed to move on – a “hello from the other side” of her 25. Now 27 years old, ‘25’ features songs written by Adele during her four year hiatus. While the songstress initially planned on going out “on a high note” after the success of her Grammy award winning record ‘21’, she found her muse in a happy marriage and raising her son, the redheaded vocalist managing to capture a new essence for life and love in true Adele style. She begins the record with comeback single, ‘Hello,’ a perfect taster of what’s to come. Best known for her stunning vocal and ability to carry across a ballad like no other, ‘25’ is jam packed with what the Londoner does best, along with the occasional pop powerhouse track for good measure. Standout tracks on the album include second single ‘When We Were
CULTURE CHRISTMAS & NEW YEARS GIGS
FILM
If you’re looking for a festive film to get you excited for Christmas this isn’t it. Director Jessie Nelson who has worked on comedies such as: Fred Claus and Hope Springs, tries to do too much here, and in the end none of it works. The plot revolves around the Cooper family, all of whom are struggling in their personal lives, and their desire to appear happy for Christmas. Nelson tries to weave five storylines together in the hopes that the audience will become enamoured to the individuals and rejoice when they eventually reconcile their differences. It’s a familiar format many for family and romantic comedies. While it works well in films like Love Actually, it’s failed in this instance and it gets a bit strange in truth. Olivia Wilde’s and Marisa Tomei’s are the two passable storylines but really because of the acting and not the writing. They are believable, and they work well with their male counterparts: Anthony Mackie and Jake Lacey. But in both cases neither the jokes nor the patter are great.
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Credit: Youtube
Young,’ ‘River Lea’ and ‘Remedy’, all songs that manage to carry across who Adele is now at age 27. The beauty of Adele and her ability as both a vocalist and a songwriter is that her music grows with her. While on the surface ‘Hello’ appears similar to her previous singles, when you delve beneath the surface you
‘25’ is jam packed with what the Londoner does best, along with the occasional pop powerhouse track for good measure. discover just how different it is to debut ‘Chasing Pavements,’ and indeed her best known track ‘To Make You Feel My Love’. Her debut is a morose ballad about the longing for a lover, and now seven years later, Adele sings of fondly remembering someone she once loved, how happy she is
in herself and her life, and that she’s in the best place she could be. ‘25’ has broken an insane number of records in the short time since its release. Adele managed to snatch records from N*Sync, Take That and Taylor Swift with the album – becoming the most widely distributed, pre-ordered and bestselling album of the last decade. These smashed records are a true testament to Adele as an artist and an individual. Her loveable personality transpires into her art, leaving over 30 countries falling deeply enough in love with her to bring ‘25’ to number one globally – the only album to do so through sales alone in the last five years. ‘25’ is not available on streaming websites, but can be purchased from all good retailers, iTunes and Amazon.visit Irish soil. They don’t have to worry about waiting to shine anymore - their star is truly one of the brightest in pop.
On Wednesday 23rd of December, some of Ireland’s biggest acts will be taking to the 3Arena stage together to raise funds for the ISPCC. In it’s inaugural year, the 2FM Xmas Ball sees Hozier headline. Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster now for €45, and with the enterity of the proceeds going to the children’s charity, you’d be mad not to tag along for a bit of pre-christmas banter.
Tis Christmas break, and all throughout town, every creature is stirring, no one with a frown. Festive cheer is rife, and Dublin town alive, so check out what’s good in the city here in our guide.
Rachel D'Arcy
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New Years Eve Fest The New Years Eve fest has become somewhat of a staple in Dublin on New Years Eve, with some of the best performers Ireland and the UK have to offer taking to the stage of the 3Arena for the Countdown Concert. Of course, there’s more events going on around the city on December 30th, 31st and January 1st, but this is the crown jewel in the festival’s tacky glittering New Years Eve tiara.
Dragged Up Ball Not everyone is into the mainstream entertainment that Dublin is offering during the holiday period, but Dragged Up have something extremely special planned for the more alternative of us. The legendary drag queen Lady Bunny will take to the stage of Break for The Border alongside Trinity K Bonet, one of Rupaul’s Drag Race’s top queens from Season 6. Dragged Up always put on a good show anyway, showcasing the best of Ireland’s queens as well, so you’ve no excuse not to go have a (drag) ball.
Mary Poppins There’s nothing like a classic at Christmas, and Bord Gais are delivering just that in the form of Mary Poppins. Not your usual Christmas panto, the touring West End production made their way into town last Thursday and will be here until the beginning of January. Of course, if the West End and all it’s musical glory aren’t your thing, the ‘ol faithful Gaiety and Olympia pantomimes will also be running from early December.
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SPORT
Weightlifting club opens in DIT Traditionally a boy's club, Edition's Sport's Editor, Sinead Farrelly , looks to DIT's newest club, it's 50/50 gender ratio, shrugging of male sport labelling and one of the world's oldest sports at college competition level. Sinéad Farrelly
One of the oldest sports in the world has finally become DIT’s newest sports club with the introduction of Olympic Weightlifting to the college. Backed by an enthusiastic committee with some very competitive and committed athletes already signing up in their droves to the club, they held their first training session at CrossFit Green in Sandyford last Wednesday. With over 15 new members coming to the first training session, the club committee are hopeful to grow the number even more once students get out of the busy exam season. Traditionally associated with being a “male” sport, DIT’s weightlifters were throwing off the notion of a “boy’s club” with a perfectly even split of male to female athletes. For many of the women in attendance, this was not their first time trying the sport with several of them being keen weightlifters outside of the college. One of the key athletes that the club has training with them is Kevin St student and DIT sports scholar Declan Fitzpatrick. Declan recently represented Ireland in the Junior under 23 European weightlifting championships in the Junior U23 category in the 77kg weight category where he placed in 12th overall. Declan began weightlifting as a sport in June 2014 coming from a CrossFit and GAA background. As well as the club here in DIT, he also trains with his club in Bray. This was his first international event and he is relishing the opportunity to represent his country again. Speaking after the first training session last week he was happy with the turnout for the club, particularly considering it was so early in the life of the club and at a time surrounding assignments and exams.“I think it went well numbers wise 11 was a good amount for the size of the space we had, particularly at this time of year. In the future Green are looking to add in more platforms in the new year so we can add more members in the future and front today we can work in bigger groups.” “The space is very good and well equipped and the location was good and accessible for students coming from town. I think it really is suitable for a weightlifting club. We’ve a great coach Cian who is very experienced and who knows what he’s doing and he’s very helpful towards us” he said. DIT are one of the newer colleges to establish a weightlifting club, which have been running for many
years in other colleges around the country, however last year was the first year that DIT entered the weightlifting intervarsity competition in April when Declan participated. “Other colleges have some very strong weightlifting club, DCU in particular have invested a lot into their weightlifting club, it’d be one of their top clubs and they have many sports scholars who would be weightlifters, whereas I’m DIT’s first weightlifting scholar. It’s an Olympic sport which goes way back in time and is a great sport for people to get involved with as it’s one of the oldest sports going.” Club chairman Cass Du Berry said that the committee who founded the club wanted to set it up so that DIT would be able to measure up to the successes of the likes of DCU and the other competitive weightlifting colleges. They knew that the initial interest in the sport would be there as Olympic weightlifting has become huge as of late, for both males and females. It was also a passion of all of the founding members.“It really is a sport for everyone. It bleeds it
to all other aspects of life too, be it for another sport or just to develop strength and flexibility. It increases confidence, gives you goals to aim for, develops strength, speed, agility and flexibility” Cass said. He was also keen to stress that weightlifting need not have an intimidating feel to it with regards to a person’s ability and strength to lift, particularly with the friendly atmosphere that is created amongst weight-
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It increases confidence, gives you goals to aim for, develops strength, speed, agility and flexibility
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lifters in the gym.“It makes strength training that bit less intimidating and provides a really healthy atmosphere to get stronger and try new things. There's always a good atmosphere amongst weightlifters. Literally every single person in the world who takes up the sport initially is not a good lifter, because of that, the vast majority of weightlifters are very humble and respectful, we have
all been there.” The club has been given the green light to continue training weekly at CrossFit Green throughout the year and they hope that it can only increase in popularity as time goes on. One of the first major events that the club will be focusing on will be competing at the intervarsity competition in April where they hope to improve upon Declan’s result last year with a large increase of participants.
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Sports Scholarship interview For most athletes one sport is enough but not for Conor Verbruggen it's not the case. The triathlete spoke to the Edition about his success in running, cycling and swimming, while still protesting he's "not really not that good at any of the sports!" Sinéad Farrelly
Most athletes struggle to excel at one sport, however 22 year old Conor Verbruggen is DIT’s leading triathlete as he takes on running, cycling and swimming. “I’m not really not that good at any of the sports though!” He laughs when asked if he feels if he would do better by focusing on one sport as opposed to all three. “I’m a good cyclist, I’m okay at running but I’m nowhere near good enough at swimming to be able to compete as a swimmer.” Conor took up competing in triathlons two years ago after entering into a local triathlon in Bray. He had always had a keen interest in the three individual sports and was actively participating in each when he decided to try competing in triathlons. Two years ago Conor competed in one race, the following year two and this year, to date, he has competed in twelve races in a mixture of triathlons, duathlons [a race consisting of cycling and running] and aquathons [a race consisting of swimming and running]. Last year was the first time that DIT entered a triathlete into the intervarsity competition, with Conor giving a good return to the college; despite only hearing about the competition 2 weeks prior, the then third year nutraceuticals student managed to beat out 24 other students across the country to finish in the top three. He was DIT’s only entrant in the race. This year’s intervarsities will be taking place towards the end of the second semester and Conor is hoping to improve upon his third place finish this year. “I’m looking forward to the intervarsities; I’d say I should have much better times this year than last year, I’d be confident enough going into it. But it’s very hard to know who is going to turn up, there are a lot of very good triathletes who are in college but not all of them competed in the intervarsities last year so it’s very hard to know until the day.” Another reason why Conor is looking forward to the intervarsities this year is because the swimming segment of the race has been changed this year from a pool to open water, something which Conor feels will benefit him in the race. “It was a pool race last year but it’s not in a pool this year, I think that will be an advantage for me though. I prefer open water races….they are very cold though! “I definitely prefer training in pools, but when you race in a pool it is very obvious when you’re falling behind because you can see everyone is
gone when you’re still doing your last few lengths, whereas in open water you can kind of see the people in front of you but it’s not as obvious so you just get out and run and try and catch people.” It is not just other racers who Conor has to compete with but also himself, as a solo sport Conor says that he focuses more on his times from a race as opposed to his placing in it as in some races there will be few participants and he has won but not had great times, whereas in other races had good times but against much more participants. “It’s your times you have to focus on; you can’t aim to enter races with less people!” “I think that’s why it’s so enjoyable though [competing with yourself ], you’re constantly watching your times and watching how you do, there’s no training races the same way football could have a challenge match but that’s why it’s so good, you learn on the job at competitive races.” Conor received a sport scholarship from DIT this year for his final year studying nutraceuticals in Cathal Brugha St. The sports scholarship programme also includes a mentor for every student to help them balance their sport with their studies. As a triathlon’s main racing season is during the summer, Conor says that he has not required the mentor too much yet as he is currently focussing on lab work and his dissertation. In the most recent national championships Conor placed second in his age group of 20-14 years old while coming seventh overall. He was keen to stress that the overall results are the more important ones as there may only be a small number of people competing in the individual age group, particularly as Conor tends to be one of the youngest competing triathletes. “The age profile for triathlons is kind of strange, most of the participants would be between 30 and 45, so at 22 I would generally be one of the youngest if not the youngest there. I think maybe more people my age would be drawn to team sports because they’re more social than triathlons.” Said Conor. He continued to say that the age profile is also quite similar with some of the individual sports within triathlons as can be seen with race cycling, despite the popularity of cycling as a leisure activity. Over the next few months the focus for Conor will be on preparing for the intervarsity competition with DIT at the start of the summer and following that, the national championships when the college year ends. He is also competing with the DIT athletics club this year.
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RUGBY
EXCLUSIVE
Jon Walters & Robbie Brady talk victory Donagh Corby & Mark Donlon The Republic of Ireland Mens’ Soccer Team confirmed their place at Euro 2016 a fortnight ago with a 31 aggregate victory over Bosnia/Herzegovina. After a 11 draw in Zenica, Jonathan Walters ensured qualification with a brace at a fullto-capacity AVIVA Stadium. “We played well to get the 11 draw over there [in Bosnia], it was a difficult game and they did a job. But we knew if we got an away goal it was going to be a difficult game for them over here. It was all to play for [in Dublin] and really I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Said Walters to The Edition in an exclusive chat after the momentous victory. Walters put Ireland in the lead on the night and on aggregate with a 24th minute penalty after Senad Lulic handled the ball in the box. “I wasn’t nervous,” he laughed of the kick. “If you’re nervous you end up missing.” When asked about his excitement for potentially spearheading the Irish attack in France, he said: “There’s a long way between now and the Summer, so we’ll see what happens.” Walters 70th minute volley consolidated what was a dominant Irish performance. Provider Robbie Brady had scored Ireland’s crucial away goal 3 days earlier. “It was good that Jonny [Walters] and the lads persisted with me, because I’d hit a few bad ones before that,” said Brady.
HURLING Sinéad Farrelly
The DIT senior hurlers fell to a defeat in the league semifinal losing to IT Carlow by just two points in November. Carlow continued on in the tournament to defeat UCC in the final to win the league for the second year in a row. In the midst of Storm Barney the weather played an integral part in the match with the wind backing DIT in the opening half and going with the visitors in the second. DIT started the match stong and
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“Me and Jonny talked about it and I told him where to run, and when the cross came in he was there waiting on it. The delivery was right and it fell for him... You know when it’s in the right area, and it’s up to the lads to do the rest.” Brady had struggled to find the right ball throughout both games, and indeed in the final game of Group D, a loss to 2ndplace Poland which relegated Ireland from an automatic qualification spot to the playoffs. “You have to stick with it,” he replied when this idea was put to him. “It [the playoff ] is such a massive game and I like to try to get involved as much as I can. I stuck with it and it came off in the end. Brilliant night.” One player who will be knocking
on the door of the Irish squad in the coming months will be PFAI Player of the Year Richie Towell. After a 29goal haul in all competitions from his central-midfield position at League and Cup winners Dundalk, Towell is sure to be in manager Martin O’Neill’s thoughts for at least his extended squad for the tournament. Brady partnered Towell in Noel King’s U21 international team in qualification for the 2013 European Championships. “29 goals from a midfielder in any league is unbelievable,” the Norwich winger acknowledged. “I know Richie since we were young and he’s a top player. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s got a great chance. Hopefully he keeps going... I’d love to see him do as well as he can.”
DIT Undefeated Streak Continues
The DIT men’s rugby team have topped their group after the opening five rounds of the division two league on their way to potentially winning their second title in as many years. After winning division three last year they were promoted to the second division where so far they have been well on their way to gaining promotion for a second year running. They have reached the Christmas break undefeated after having successive wins over University of Ulster Jordanstown, Waterford IT, Athlone IT and also defeated IT Carlow in a replay of last year’s All Ireland final. In the fifth round of the league DIT received a bye as there were only
five teams and not six in their group. These results have ensured DIT a place in the All Ireland final which will take place next April as the league takes a hiatus for a few months. However, the team will still be seen out in competitive action as they begin the O’Connor Cup championship in January. Elsewhere in the rugby club, five new students were recently welcomed onto the DIT sports scholarship programme. These are: Ciara Patrick, James Bollard, James O’Donovan, Robert Lalor, Rory Murray, Sean Moran, Conor Hand, Darragh O’Neill, Fergal Cleary and Matthew Byrne. This was the highest number of sport scholars that DIT has even taken on in the sport of rugby.
Hurlers look ahead to Fitzgibbon Cup were leading by five points at half time. However, despite two second half goals DIT failed to overcome both Carlow and the conditions and fell behind towards the end of the match. Speaking after the match the hurling coach Eoin Brislane was happy with the performance of the team in the league and says that their next main focus will be the pre season Walsh cup followed by the Fitzgibbon cup next semester. “Quite disappointed I suppose,
[with the loss of the semifinal] but we’re only together a couple of weeks, whereas that team there were league champions last year. It was a very good test to see where we are at, it would have been nice to get to our first ever league final though. Obviously with the weather it was a game of two halves, with the wind and against the wind.“I’m happy in one sense that we now know we have a team that is good enough for the Fitzgibbon who can work
together and a few more weeks of gelling together will help and then we’ll really be able to compete in the Fitzgibbon.” “The Walsh Cup is a set of glorified challenge matches ahead of the Fitzgibbon. The final of the Walsh Cup is the end of January but our first match of the Fitzgibbon is also the end of January.In the Walsh Cup DIT have fixtures against Offaly on the third of January followed by their second group match against Kilkenny on January 15th.
Brislane says that DIT will be looking to use those matches as warm ups for the Fitzgibbon Cup, the draw for which is yet to be made. “We’ll use those games as good practice for the Fitzgibbon. We’ll try and have our top 20 players ready for those matches and use our full 20 players so we can have it finetuned ahead of the Fitzgibbon starting later on in January” said Brislane.The team took a week off training after the league semifinal before playing some more challenge matches before wrapping
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
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SPORT
Abandon Ship
SAILING
Grace O’Kelly
On the weekend of the 20th November, the DIT Sailing Team went to Dungarvan to compete in the IUSA Southerns hosted by UCC, the second event which the club have taken part in this year. These events are overseen by the Irish University Sailing Association (IUSA) and different colleges take turns in running the event. These racing weekends are attended by about 200 sailors from all over the country from colleges such as DCU, UCD, Trinity, UCC, CIT and NUIG. The first event away took place in Dingle over the weekend of 16th October. The event was organised by UCD. There were perfect sailing conditions with just the right amount of wind. DIT had one team in the gold fleet and one in the silver fleet but unfortunately neither teams won and UCD were crowned the winners. On the weekend of the 20th November, the DIT Sailing Team headed down to Dungarvan to compete in the IUSA Southerns hosted by UCC for their second competetive event this year. We had two teams representing DIT plus subs so it was the largest DIT Sailing Team we've ever had. There was enough interest to have a third team represent DIT but due to
Frisbee
Ultimate Frisbee Indoor IVs Matthew Colfer DIT Ultimate Frisbee Club made history as they achieved their highest ever finish of third place at Indoor Open InterVarsities in November. The weekend started with two comprehensive wins for DIT1 as they easily overcame UCD2 and TCD3 by more than 15 points each. The first real challenge came against UL2 in their penultimate game of the group stages. UL2 took an early lead but DIT1 fought back to bring it to 22 before both teams traded points until 66. From here DIT1 used their experience and strong defence to take a lead before wrapping the game up with five points to spare. TCD1 had also won their three group games which left both them and DIT1 level on points going into their showdown which would decide who topped the group and automatically qualified for the quarter finals on Sunday morning. Trinity came out firing and em-
ployed an almost flawless isolation play which DIT could not overcome and soon found themselves on the wrong side of a 61 score line. DIT managed to shave a few points off but it was Trinity who came out on top 114 when time ran out. This left DIT1 with a crossover against a young and inexperienced MU2 team with DIT notching 18 points to MU’s 1, comfortably securing a quarterfinal place. Queens was the opposition on Sunday morning and despite another sluggish start by DIT which saw them go 20 down they fought back and turned the deficit around to take the win 97. Despite their deep desire to perform better than last year’s semifinal defeat, DIT1 could not stop he clinical flowing offense or high pressure defence of UCC1 who came out victorious in the semifinal. With the previous day’s defeat still fresh in their minds DIT1 came out with all guns firing in the third place play off against TCD1 and quickly took the lead. Trinity soon found their rhythm and mounted a comeback but it was too late as two hand blocks on the last point gathered possession for DIT who overcame TCD1’s wall defence to slot in the winning score to secure a historic third place. DIT2 beat DCU2 and UL3 on Saturday in the group stage before overcoming TCD2 and MU3 in sudden death to earn themselves a 13th place finish, the highest finish achieved by a DIT2 team.
a lack of funding, we could not bring a third. Unfortunately due to bad weather, most races were cancelled. The DIT team in the silver fleet had two tight races, against the Cork colleges with a win against UCC and a loss to CIT. The second team in the bronze fleet didn't get racing at all due to gusts of 30 knots which were unsafe and unsuitable to competitively race in. The next event is at the end of January followed by the final event of the year which is at the end of February in Kilkee and is being organised by DIT. The DIT Sailing club committee were happy with the weekend overall, particularly with such a high turnout for a college despite the bad weather."Our event over the weekend had a great turn out for DIT! Having two teams and lots of substitutes gave us lots of support just in case of any injury. It was unfortunate we couldn't get everyone on the water though” Said committee member Amy MacWilliam. “It was really unfortunate the weather wasn't on our side but that's the nature of the sport! We still had a good weekend all the same. I can see the team have grown since I first started and we're only improving as we go.”
Sports in Brief Mountaineering club The mountaineering club has had their second trip away of the year travelling to Glendalough last weekend. This was an overnight trip for all members however, was severely affected by bad weather over the weekend.
Law Soc charity tournament As part of the DIT Socs Christmas Appeal Law Soc held a charity football tournament pitting different class groups against each other last week. Some of the groups involved included law, business and management students from different years with over 40 students taking part.
Weekly Flyer Every Tuesday at 5:30pm in the Aungier St SU area Darts and Snooker and Pool combine tohold their weekly flyer event with members of both clubs competing in the sports. Everyone is welcome to join with the cost of €5 to take part.
Credit: Kennan Seno
Sport 28
www.edition.ie
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
DIT Rugby undefeated streak
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Sports Scholarship Interview with Triathlete Conor Verbruggen
26
Ladies lose Quill Cup in Lynch final repeat
Sailing: Bad Weather Cancels Sailing p27 Basketball
Strong Showing By DIT Freshers. Paul Hyland.
Sinéad Farrelly The DIT ladies footballers fell to defeat to DCU2 in the Quill Cup final last Tuesday finishing as runners cup in the league The match was a replay of last year’s Lynch Cup final which also saw DCU2 edging out DIT the O’Connor Cup finals weekend in Cork by six points. On their way to the final, DIT defeated UL2 and NUI Galway to help them reach the semi final. On a harsh night last month where the conditions were not in the favour of good football DIT defeated Dundalk IT to earn a place in their first ever league final. For the opening few matches of the season DIT were missing many of their star players due to club commitments which were still outstanding however, they found themselves back to an almost full strength squad for the final with the coming back of players like Emma McDonagh and Meaghan Dunne.
This young DIT side has been coming on immensely over the past two years, particularly concerning the numbers of players who are consistently training with the side. Two years ago, the college struggled to field a full 15, whereas now, in a team largely made up of freshers and second years, there is a severe battle for places. Earlier in the year DIT also saw some success with the ladies footballers being able to enter the freshers tournament for the first time in the history of the club, with the side finishing top of their group and reaching the semi-final stage of the competition. Next up in the new year for the ladies team will be the championship Lynch Cup, where they finished as runners up last year losing out to DCU2. That title was DCU2’s third in five years of the Lynch Cup. This year they will be hoping to go one better in winning the tournament outright. Speaking to The Edition earlier this year the ladies coach
Pat Stritch was hopeful of winning the tournament due to the high level of talent in this year’s team. “There’s definitely a lot of promise in this team, they’ve only played two competitive games so farbut are already looking well. The trick is to try and get as many games played as
possible, the potential definitely is there though and I would be hopeful of winning the Lynch Cup this year.” He said. It will be announced in the coming weeks which group DIT will be drawn in for the championship.
Three tough games and the loss of some key players proved too much for the DIT men’s fresher’s in the AllIreland tournament. They faced off with Dundalk IT in their first game. An end to end battle that saw both side level on several occasions. Dundalk finished the strongest and claimed a threepoint victory. DIT’s Alex Bowers led the way with 13points. While Thomas Vaughan and Farouq Deji Raheem had good inside performances both on offence and defence. DIT recovered quickly, and a dominant first half performance set them up for a 3833 win over NUI Galway. Robert Heffernan was DIT’s top scorer with 10points. Their weekend ended in disappointment however on Sunday morning. With three players missing they faced a tough and well drilled Carlow IT side in the shield semifinal. DIT played hard but were narrowly beaten by 3points. The DIT Women’s team had a great weekend. The comprehensively beat NUI Galway in back to back victories in the group stage. Anna Pupin dominated for DIT all weekend scoring 40points in total and finishing with a 13.3point average. In the semifinal DIT beat Carlow IT 2522 in an enthralling contest. Anna Pupin lead the way scoring a massive 18points. Their opponents in the final were UCC; who had been scoring freely all weekend. UCC had the highest amount of players with over a 10point average in the tournament. The final was a high scoring contest finishing 5430 to UCC. DIT had played excellent all weekend and did the College proud. It was a fantastic weekend for the basketball club. Runners up medal for the Women’s and a strong showing by the men’s team is proof of the depth of talent in both programmes. Alex Bowers of the men’s team said “The fresher’s weekend was excellent and it was a great chance for basketball players across Ireland to come and play and also to socialise. I would like to thank my coaches Randall Mounts and Ozzy Joe for their time and their tremendous effort. I would also like to thank each member of my team who took part in the tournament for their team effort and spirit.”