CIT Students’ Union Magazine Volume Twelve, Issue 5
• All the latest CIT news • Student Health and Welfare • You think you have problems? and much more...
citsu
Rag Week 14 - 17 Feb 2011
s d a Lo o be
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Rag Week
e t ed r o m firm Con
14 - 17 Feb 2011
• Stevie Starr, the Regurgitator (as seen on BRITAINS GOT TALENT) Launching Rag Week at The Student Centre, Monday 14 Feb 2011. Watch Stevie on Britains got Talent at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ethCJ4bfJkg • Mon 14th Feb – Love Ball to celebrate Valentines Night @ Clancys and Liquid Lounge. Doors 10pm, adm €5 • Tues 15th Feb – Glo in the Dark Party @ The Savoy. Doors 11pm, adm €6 • Weds 16th Feb – Rag Week Weds @ Liquid Lounge. Doors 10pm • T hurs 17th Feb – Tony Black and his Exploding Toilets @ Student Centre • Thurs 17th Feb – Tramps Ball 2011 @ Clancys and Liquid Lounge (whole building open)
Contents 4 Feature Story
The lineup for Rag Week
CIT Students’ Union, Rossa Ave, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
6 SU Exec Notes
Telephone: 021 433 5274 Fax: 021 454 5343 Email: supublications@cit.ie Web: www.explicit.ie
8 Trying to Find a Job
expliCIT Production Keith Brown, Philip O’Reilly
7 Welfare notes 9 CITSU Rag Week Schedule 11 R egister for electives notes
21 Sport
13 Valentines Day
22 Problem pages
Hes just not that into you!
14 Thinking of running for the SU elections?
Vice President Education - Chris Scanlon (sueducation@cit.ie)
17 Music review
Projects Officer - Niamh Hayes (suprojects@cit.ie) Communications Officer -Sandra Hayes (sucommunications@cit.ie) Entertainments Officer - Gordon Forbes (suentertainments@cit.ie) Entertainments Manager Mick O’Mahony (event@cit.ie) Print Barnaville Print & Graphics Ltd. Advertising Opportunities CIT has almost 17,000 full and part-time students with over 1,500 staff. Why not use expliCIT to promote your business to this large audience? Copy deadlines, advertising rates and technical specifications are available from our website www.expliCIT.ie or upon request from the Publications Office. expliCIT magazine is published monthly by CIT Students’ Union. The views expressed in the magazine are those of their authors and are not necessarily those of CIT Students’ Union. All articles and pictures are the property of their respective owners and should not be reproduced without their permission.
All the details you need are here
24 Health
Lose weight - are you serious?
25 Clubs and Societies news CIT Society Balls details
The Regeneration Tour
18 CIT notes
Join the Pedometer Challenge
So, you think you have problems?!
CIT Students’ Union President - John Lane (supresident@cit.ie)
Vice President Welfare - Vicki Fitzpatrick (suwelfare@cit.ie)
9 26 Games
Details of The Hunt Report and the Student Support Bill
Great prizes on offer for successfully completed entries delivered into the Students’ Union office
Green Campus CIT
Well done to everyone for separating your waste in the recycling bins. Our waste recovery rate for 2010 increased by 16% and our overall waste generation was 8% lower in 2010 compared to 2009. Keep up the good work. Let’s continue the Green Campus drive for 2011 by remembering the 4 R’s... Rethink – think before you print, Reduce – print on both sides of the page Reuse – use reusable cups and cutlery, Recycle – segregate your waste in the correct bins around campus. With your support we can take sustainability to a higher degree on campus! The Students’ Union website www.explicit.ie provides useful information on issues that effect student lives. It also hosts a download section, back-issues of expliCIT, student chat forums, photos of Union events, and a search engine to find the information you need quickly from CITSU Online, CIT website, and the entire net. The Students’ Union represents and defends its members on matters affecting their rights and interests as students of the Institute and as citizens and acts as a channel of communication between its members and the Institute and other bodies. The Union is one of the principal conduits for expression of students’ opinions, and is recognised as such by the management of the Institute. All activities and services operate from the Union Offices on the first floor (balcony) of the Student Centre Students’ Union Services. The ethos of the Students’ Union is to provide quality services on a non-profit making basis to students. Whenever possible, services are provided at a lower price than any other retail outlet on campus or in the local vicinity. The Students’ Union and Office/Retail Outlet is open daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm. The range of services available from the Office include: Computer Storage Media/Lab Coats/Stationery/Mobile Phone Credit,USB keys, DVDs and CDs are all available at exceptionally low prices. We also offer a limited range of stationery items at cost price. Lab Coat and goggles are available from September to December. Mobile phone credit is also available.
We Need You!
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Send us your thoughts, articles, advice and pictures. If you would like to contribute anything to expliCIT Magazine, please contact Keith in the Publications Office, 1st Floor, Student Centre or email: supublications@cit.ie
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citsu
Rag Week
Get ready for a
14 - 17 Feb 2011
MON 14th Feb 2011
STEVIE STARR (The Regurigator) @ The The Student Centre, 1pm
CITSU is proud to present Stevie Starr as seen on Britain’s got Talent. A CIT favourite, Stevie is a performance artist who refers to himself as a professional regurgitator. His act consists of swallowing various items (coins, light bulbs, balloons, nails, billiard balls, dry sugar, and goldfish) and regurgitating them. He has never described exactly how this is done, and the implausibility of some of his regurgitations have led some to believe that he is an illusionist. (Although, during an appearance on Howard Stern’s TV show in the 1990s, Starr was shown swallowing broken glass and other dangerous objects and carefully regurgitated most of it, then the camera followed him into a restroom where he stuck his finger down his throat and vomited up the last of it.) Starr has appeared on many television shows, with several appearances on each of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Starr has a busy international touring schedule for his longer solo act. According to his live act and official biography, Starr grew up in Glasgow, Scotland in a children’s home. He claims to have developed his talent in order to hide money. Starr claims to be the world’s only “professional regurgitator”, though similar acts do exist in modern and historical performance related to the geek show tradition. Stevie auditioned for the 2010 series of Britain’s Got Talent. He appeared on the episode broadcast on 24 April 2010, swallowing numbered coins and a billiard ball and then regurgitating them on demand and in order. Having progressed to the semi-finals, Starr appeared on the first live semi-final show on Monday 31 May, though the show spelt his surname with only one ‘r’ (Star). The main part of his act involved swallowing Amanda Holden’s engagement ring, much to her horror, followed by a locked padlock and finally the key. He then regurgitated the padlock—now enclosing the engagement ring—followed by the key. Starr finished fourth in the public vote and so did not progress to the final of Britain’s Got Talent 2010. After being knocked out of the competition, he performed his talent in the German version of the show “Das Supertalent”. He placed 3rd in the semi-finals and managed to advance to the finals. See Stevie on Britain’s Got Talent at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ethCJ4bfJkg and: www.steviestarr.com
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Stevie Starr as seen on Britain’s got Talent. A CIT favourite, Stevie is a performance artist who refers to himself as a professional regurgitator. His act consists of swallowing various items (coins, light bulbs, balloons, nails, billiard balls, dry sugar, and goldfish) and regurgitating them.
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PLEASE SUPPORT DAYTIME FUNDRAISING ATIVITIES for CITSU RAG WEEK 2011
feast of Rag Week Fun... CARNIVAL DAY
- Tuesday 16th 2011 including Zorb Balls, Dunk Tank and Inflatables. From 11am @ Student Centre
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His latest stand up show Somewhere Over the David O’ Doherty opened at the Edinburgh Fringe where it received 5 star reviews.
ZORB BALLS CITSU is proud to bring ZORBING to see CIT for the first time as part of RAG Week 2011 on Tuesday 15th of February- For those of you who don’t know what is, it simply rolling down a hill inside a transparent ZORB ball. As CIT has no hills we will be creating our very own slope.
Check out www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG3pgV8Crzk to find out what it is all about. For those of you who want to take part in the Zorbing, you will need email to event@cit.ie to confirm interest. Tickets will be available for €5 from CIT Students Union.
DUNK TANKS For the first time ever - THE DUNK TANK comes to
CIT on Tuesday 15th of February 2011.This is a classic game where balls are thrown at a target. If they strike the target the volunteer falls into the water. It is great for fundraisers and guarantees fun for all. Basically, a dunk tank consists of a large tank of water, over which a seat is suspended. By striking a target, the seat will tip or fall into the tank of water, thus “dunking” whoever is sitting on the seat. Anyone who wants to volunteer to be dunked or someone that you believe should be volunteered please email: event@cit.ie
Giant Buzzer The game!
Tony Black Hypnotist and Mind Reader Thursday 17th Feb 2011 @ Student Centre 1pm. Tony Black is a hypnotist and mind-reader based in Munster. His hypnosis show is a good deal wilder, and less structured than most, with a heavy emphasis on comedy. Often, he opens the show with one of his mindreading routines, such as Russian Roulette with exploding toilets. Tony has been performing magic for twenty five years, and hypnosis for fifteen. His show has brought him all over Ireland, as well as three tours of the Middle-East. As a magician he has spent twelve winter seasons in Lapland, three summers on the high seas, and been arrested twice for driving while blindfolded. His book Teach Yourself Magic has sold extensively in Britain and America. He also briefly held the world record for the longest public lecture (62 hours 15 minutes). SEE TONY at CIT at http://magicireland.com/2009/03/27/tony-blackhypnotist-and-mind-reader
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CITSU is proud to present
David O’Doherty
(Comedian) Guest presenter of ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ Weds 16 Feb 2011 @ Student Centre,1pm David O’ Doherty, comedian, writer and 1990 East Leinster under 14s triple jump bronze medalist! In receiving The if.com Award (formerly The Perrier Award) at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival, he joined a list of former winners that includes Dylan Moran, Steve Coogan and The League of Gentlemen. He is the author of several books, including co-writing the recent bestselling 100 Facts About Pandas and the forthcoming 100 Facts About Sharks. David first stepped on stage in 1998 and a year later received The Channel 4 ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ Award for best newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival. Since that time he has toured his own solo shows around the world and performed alongside comedians such as Demetri Martin, Rich Hall and Flight of the Conchords. He recently hosted the BBC’s Nevermind The Buzzcocks for the first time. His latest stand up show Somewhere Over the David O’ Doherty opened at the Edinburgh Fringe where it received 5 star reviews. It deals with, among other things, bicycles, Shakira and the idea of happiness. His plans for the next year are: 1. Write the greatest comedy show ever. 2. Write the greatest television show ever. 3. Write a new children’s book. 4. Master and defeat both life AND death. “A tiny keyboard and a giant talent” - The List, Edinburgh “A triumph” - The Montreal Gazette “A national treasure” - The Irish Times www.davidodoherty.com
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President’s Note
A
lthough students were off, the work here didn’t stop!
RAG Week As you can see from this months Explicit, RAG Week is all sorted. This year, we are hoping to raise in excess of €10,000 for charity. We understand this is quite an ask in these tough times, but we are going to make sure that the money stays local to help families and individuals who need it most. For those of you who don’t know, RAG stands for Raise And Give, and this is the week where charities are the focus above all else. By donating to charities who are in need, it reflects very positively on the students and the college (and also keeps us in the good books of many newspapers and residents). Anyone who would like to nominate a charity please let us know as soon as possible. Voter Registration Last Thursday we had a drive to increase the amount of students registered to vote. This was a great success. This goes to show that students are taking more and more control of their futures and that we demand a say in how the country is run. Well done! Results The Christmas results were also released last week. Despite one or two minor hiccups, they all came out suc-
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student who, in spite of his/her best efforts, was unavoidably absent from an examination on these dates, may apply to the Institute for a deferral. This application should be made, either in writing or by email, to the relevant Head of Department outlining: Student ID number, Programme of study, Full details of the module examination(s) not attended (e.g. MATH6015 Technological Mathematics), Date of examination(s), The reason(s) for the application. The deadline for receipt of such deferral requests is Friday 11th February. Note: Where a student has already applied to the relevant Head of Department with the relevant details as outlined above, it is not necessary to re-apply. National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 This well leaked document, previously referred to as the Hunt Report, was officially published in January and led to some interesting reading. There is a full article about it in this issue, which is well worth a read, but in brief. Student contribution is recommended for the future and CIT may be encouraged to join with other IT’s to form some form of Munster Region Technological University.
Students are taking more and more control of their futures and that we demand a say in how the country is done.
cessfully and most students were happy. For those students who may have been surprised if things didn’t go exactly as planned, the repeat exams are scheduled in August. Please talk to your lecturer, class rep, the Students’ Union Education Officer or myself if you have any questions or problems. A number of students were absent from Semester 1 examinations due to severe weather conditions on 18th, 20th, 21st or 22nd of December last. Any such
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Great events planned
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We have spent countless hours going through this report and any questions that are asked will be answered publically on the CITSU website. Ball Season We want to wish good luck to all the students going to the various Society Balls over the next few weeks. These are always a highlight of the social calendar and certainly not to be missed. This years ticket prices are exceptionally low (much lower than the UCC ones
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Wishing good luck to all the students going to the various Society Balls over the next few weeks. These are always a highlight of the social calendar and certainly not to be missed.
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for sure), yet the meals and entertainment in many cases are exceptionally better. What do they even do with that money??? Elections The Students’ Union Elections are being held on the 10th of March. Any interested students can contact us and ask any questions they want. It is a unique opportunity to get really involved in the students movement which is now moving faster than it has in the last 20+ years. Class Rep Awards Each year a number of Class Reps are given awards for outstanding contributions. If you think your class rep has done a great job (or even a terrible job for that matter), please let us know. NMCI Conferrings I would just like to say congratulations to everyone who is graduating on the 17th of February in NMCI. This group is the NMCI Graduates and Special Purpose Award Students. Moving Forward CITSU want to make this Semester as pleasant, enjoyable and as memorable as we can for all the students. We have a number of events planned, but are always open to more suggestions. Our Officers are always welcoming to new ideas so please let us know if there is ever anything we can do. Best of Luck and enjoy the month, John Lane
Welfare Notes
No prescription required
Vicky Fitzpatrick, Welfare Officer
T
he Majority of BOOTS chemists around the country will now be selling the morning after pill over the counter. Emergency contraception has been licensed for use in Ireland since late 2001. However, until now, women required a doctor’s prescription. This means that women will not have to go to their GP (costing around €50) to receive a prescription and then pay another €15 for the tablet itself. Customers in Boots must take the table while there are in the chemist (so no going in getting it for a friend) and you will be explained in detailed about the possible side effects and about other forms of contraceptives you should consider using. Student’s in CIT would still be better off going to the GP here in the college which only costs €10 and getting a prescription. The pill itself will then cost another further €15. However it is good to know that in case of emergencies , for example if you were not able to go to the doctor here that you can still get the pill. I would advise people that it is not recommended to rely on the emergency contraceptive as a form of contraceptive and if you are having sexual relations to choose a reliable form of contraception. When would you need the emergency contraceptive pill? If you have had sex without using contraception or if you think your method might have failed (e.g. burst condom or forgotten pill) you can use emergency contraception. This will usually stop you becoming pregnant. A tablet containing a progestogen hormone is most commonly used. When can you use it? It can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, but it’s best to take it as soon as possible after having ‘risky’ or unprotected sex.
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How effective is the method? The emergency contraceptive tablet is very effective. The failure rate is between 1 and 3%. It is more effective the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex. How does it work? The tablet may stop or delay an egg being released (ovulation) or it may stop a fertilised egg settling in your womb (implantation). Emergency contraception
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The Emergency Contraceptive PILL is now available in BOOTS Pharmacies, without requiring a prescription
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prevents pregnancy and does not cause abortion. Abortion can only take place after a fertilised egg has implanted in the womb. People who believe that life begins when the egg is fertilised may not wish to use this method. Are there side effects? Some women may feel sick after taking emergency contraception but vomiting is extremely rare. If you vomit within 3 hours of taking the tablet you should consult your doctor, as the dose may need to be repeated. The tablet can also alter your menstrual cycle. You may have some irregular bleeding after taking emergency contraception. This is not harmful. Your next period may arrive a little early or a little late. If your period is more than 10 days late, you should consult your doctor because of the risk that you might
it is not recommended to rely on the emergency contraceptive as a form of contraceptive and if you are having sexual relations to choose a reliable form of contraception.
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be pregnant. If emergency contraception fails and you find yourself pregnant, there is no proof that it causes any harm to the developing baby. Who is suitable? Emergency contraception is suitable for most women. If you have any medical condition or are on medications, your doctor will be able to advise you. How often can it be taken? Emergency contraception should only be used in an emergency. It is not suitable for regular use as other methods are more reliable over time. There are many forms of contraception you can use regularly and you should seek advice from your doctor on a method that would be suitable for you. What do you do next? If you were already taking the contraceptive pill you can restart taking it the day after taking emergency contraception. You should also do a pregnancy test at the end of your packet. You can still get pregnant after using emergency contraception if you have further episodes of unprotected sex before your next period. What other issues should you consider? Remember that having unprotected sex puts you at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections. You can discuss the risks of infection and the need for tests with your doctor. This is also a good time to discuss your future contraception. There are many different options and your doctor can help you choose a method to suit you and your partner.
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Trying to find a job? Disheartened by the lack of opportunities present at the moment? Well fear not! Stay optimistic and motivated! Things always work themselves out in the long run. Until then, here is a few pointers that could help secure you that job to tie you over in the meantime or else establish you on the first rung of the careers ladder! Job Search Efficiently With jobs posted on thousands of company sites and job boards, it’s important for every job seeker to be efficient during their search. Using a search engine for jobs like Jobs.ie helps you do this by providing free access, in a single search, to all of these jobs. I recommend creating Job Alerts to receive an email notification when new jobs matching your search criteria become available. This reduces your time spent searching manually, and updates you with the freshest opportunities. Additionally, in the modern world of mobile apps, a number of high profile apps are available for iPhones and Smart Phones. Establish Goals It is critical that job seekers maintain a proactive and positive approach to the job search process by establishing concrete goals and setting aside adequate time each week for searching and applying to jobs. Job searching can be an exhausting experience, even more so than a full-time job, and when responses from employers don’t immediately come flooding in, the natural tendency is to often become discouraged and slow down or even abort the job search process altogether. Now that many job searches are performed online also, it is easier than ever to get distracted. Networking is the Key to Success The key to a successful job search is networking. With more than half of all recruitment done through referrals. It’s critical for job seekers to leverage their professional and social networks to get an inside track on a job. Take advantage of social sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to connect with industry leaders and recruiters, and to show off your unique skills and experience. These online tools are great resources for connecting with recruit decision-makers, or those who can put you in touch with them. Especially in a case where students are looking for part-time jobs, knowing people who work there are vital to get your foot in the door.
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the names of the people you are about to meet with, look at anything they’ve written professionally or any public information on their social networking profiles. You need to be prepared to tell your potential employer why you’re excited to work specifically for the company and for them. If you can connect with a former employee of the company on LinkedIn and ask them questions, that can also help you prepare. Stalk the Company (Almost) There is nothing new here. This has always been the way that Ireland has worked. The behaviour we’re seeing emerge is that before an opening gets posted to a job board the rcruiting manager will try and see if they have any friends or colleagues who might be interested. We see that whether it’s a status update on LinkedIn or Twitter or Facebook, or a blog post, or even an industry event, recruiting managers will try these free and trusted sources first. Before spending money on posting a job or time sifting through hundreds, or at this point of time, thousands of CVs, these social networking (online and offline) approaches to recruitment are starting to represent more than half of all placements. There are now plenty of online tools to find jobs but it’s still important for them to get to events, follow these individuals on Twitter, connect with them on LinkedIn and to really and truly almost “stalk” the companies they’d like to work for. Read their blogs, press releases, Tweets, Facebook pages, LinkedIn updates, because in today’s market, jobs are being filled before the general public even know there are openings.
Get Current Job Listings Sign up for updates of new job openings. Jobsearchers often waste time applying for jobs that are already filled but are kept up on job boards so these sites look “busy”. Local listings are also posted on local media like the Evening Echo as well as the 96fm and Redfm sites.
Follow Up One area that is deficient in many people’s job searches is follow up. Most people just email the CV or submit the application in the hopes that someone will reply, but to be successful you must be proactive. One student told me before Christmas that they didn’t want to follow up as they thought it would seem rude. There should be a least three attempts at following up including phone and email. It should be much more than just checking to see if the CV was received. The voice mail message could be an abbreviated elevator speech, and the follow up letter could summarise all of the ways in which they are qualified. LinkedIn can be a great tool for following up too. Every job sought requires research and its own follow up strategy.
Research the Company Before an interview, research the company online using all means available. Spend at least two hours preparing for a job interview by reading about the company online. Comb through the corporate web site (particularly the “about us” section) and search for articles in Google news to learn more about what’s going on in the workplace. If you know
Go in Person Never disregard physically stepping into the reception area of a company and asking to speak with someone. It will show that not only are you determined, but it will also make you more memorable as you leave an impression and your face will be remembered. Even if a position is not available, hand in your CV directly.
citsu Rag Week Timetable
Mon 14th of February sponsored by Parchment Square Cork and Herlihys Centra 12pm DJ PAT D in Student Centre 1pm Stevie Starr (The Regurgitator) as seen on Britain’s Got Talent in The Student Centre 10pm Valentine’s Day Love Ball in the Liquid Lounge Adm €5 at door Tuesday 15th of February sponsored by Edenhall Student accommodation 11am DUNK Tank in front of the Gym - Watch Celebrity Sports Stars get dunked 11am ZORB Balls in front of the Gym - contact CITSU at event@cit.ie or call in to SU if you want to take part 11am Carnival in Student Centre 11am Giant Buzzer Game
CITSU
All Over 18s events. Garda ID/Passport or Driving Licence required. ROAR
Reces bu sion 2004 sting prices !
TRAMPS BALL 2011
at Clancys’ Complex
12pm DJ MC Fleming 11pm Glow in the Dark Party in the SAVOY - Adm €6 at door
Weds 16th of February sponsored by CIT Canteen Company 12pm DJ Pat D in Student Centre 1pm David O Doherty (comedian) - guest presenter on NEVER MIND The Buzzcocks) in Student Centre 11pm Rag Week Weds in the Liquid Lounge Thurs 17th of February sponsored by CIT Societies Office 12pm M.C. Fleming in Student Centre 1pm Tony Black (Hypnotist) in Student Centre 10pm Tramps Ball featuring J90 in Clancy’s Complex Tickets €8 from Students Union Desk- 2004 prices
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ts. s even rt o ver 18 All O ID/ Passp ce a Gard iving Licen or Dr ired. ROAR requ
All from profits event night-tim s are e to cha donated rity.
Rag Week 14 - 17 Feb 2011
29 Marlborough Street
Mon 14th Feb
Tickets €8 from the Students’ Union Ticket Desk
to celebrate Valentines Night @ Clancys and Liquid Lounge. Doors 10pm, adm €5
Love Ball
Thurs 17th Feb 2011
Starring
J90, MC Fleming, Jackson, CIT DJ Soc, DJ Pat D
Glow Dark Party in the
Tues 15th Feb
at The Savoy Doors 11pm, adm €6
4 Floors, Doors 10pm
citsu
Rag Week 14 - 17 Feb 2011
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GLOW ... 1. Everyone should wear white t-shirts or tank tops to draw on each other during the party. 2. Wear neon colors in some form from neon shoelaces to neon t-shirts, and they will glow in the dark. 3. Glow Painting onto your face, arms and clothes will glow under the florescent lighting. 4. White t-shirts with highlighters will also glow in the dark.
NOTE - The Students’ Union will be selling Glow Paint from The SU ticket stand during Rag Week. Glow Paint also available from the Funky Skunk and mmMad!
Weds 16th Feb
Rag Week Wednesday @ Liquid Lounge, Doors 10pm
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Charity event
Rehab Rebels Come Dancing Friday, 4th March in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Cork.
Rehab Ireland is delighted to announce the return of their annual gala charity event – Rebels Come Dancing. Some of Cork’s greatest rebels are getting set to don their dancing shoes and put their best foot forward at the Rebels Come Dancing extravaganza taking place in support of Cork’s Rehab services on Friday, 4th March in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Cork.
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New to the competition, and adding much spice to proceedings, are Cork Institute of Technology Student Union Vice President Chris Scanlon, and University College Cork Student Union President Keith O’Brien. The CIT – UCC rivalry is only a sideshow, as the boys will face fierce competition from a number of leading stars including Ireland’s favourite celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna, RTE presenter Audrey McGrath, Classic Bar Group’s Adrienne Hickey, sports broadcaster Jacqui Hurley and the voice of Cork 96FM DJ Steve Haze. Having by then endured strenuous training regimes in order to take to the floor, the stars, together with their professional dance partners, will battle it out in the hope of becoming the 2011 Rebels Come Dancing Champion. In addition to the couples dancing everything from the Tango to the Viennese Waltz, audience members will also be entertained by a number of live acts on the night. Judging
the contestants will be Sinead Sheppard, Rona Coulter and Alan Foley, while Emer O’Hea will host the dancing spectacle. To encourage CIT students to come along to the show we are offering a discounted student rate of €15 which will include a drink on arrival and access to the wide range of entertainment that will be on show. So come along and support your Student Union VP as he battles it out on the dance floor alongside Cork’s other great rebels. For all other information look for ‘Rebels Come Dancing 2011’ on facebook or ring 086 1750 919. All proceeds raised from the event will go directly to support Rehab’s Cork services.
CIT Notes
CIT Innovation Week March 7th -11th, 2011
Learn 5 key steps in becoming an Entrepreneur in 5 days! Coming soon.
Enrol for your Electives by 11th February 2011! Are you a Full-time student taking an Elective in Semester 2? If so, you must ensure that you are registered correctly for all modules for Semester 2 by 11th February 2010/11. If you are not enrolled for your electives, the following are the consequences: (a) You will not appear on class lists, and so will not be included on email communications from your lecturer (b) Your lecturer will be unable to enter your assessment marks on the system (c) You will not be set up for access to “Blackboard” elearning for that module (d) You will not be included on the examination schedule for the module at end of semester (e) A fine of €20 will apply for late registration after 11th Feb
Keep an eye on the CIT website www.cit.ie for the schedule of events
Check your CIT email account for instructions on how to check your modules and enrol online for electives. Ask your lecturer for the 5-digit CRN number for the module. CIT Admissions Office
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A Bit lost?
Access Learning Support Service at CIT
ACCESS LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICE:
This service is for students who are registered with the Disability Support Office in the Access Service. The aim of this service is to provide one to one and/ or group supports to students with learning difficulties and a range of other disabilities regarding their assignments, reports and research for their course.
Workshops Series for Students
The tutors in the Access Learning Support Service can work one to one or with groups, assisting students to develop research, planning and writing skills, proofread, edit and organise course work, and manage deadlines and priorities required for their course of study. They will also hold a series of workshops during the academic year for students who are registered with the Disability Support Office. Students in all years and from all departments are welcome to attend. Please see website for details of training, seminars and workshops that may be coming up. Morning, afternoon and evening appointments can be made with tutors in the Access Learning Support Service by emailing: accesslearningsupport@cit.ie - please leave contact details as well as details of the kind of support you are looking for from the service. Location: Opening Hours: Mon 9-1pm, 4-8pm Assistive Technology Lab Next to Bank of Ireland Tues 9-12pm Weds 1-4pm Nexus Thurs 5-8pm. Bishopstown Campus
Becoming an Effective Learner Wednesday, 23rd February @1pm Academic Writing and Referencing Wednesday, 2nd March @1pm
Exam Revision, Study Techniques and Anxiety Reduction Wednesday, 9th March @1pm Effective Presentation Skills Wednesday, 23rd March @1pm Venue: Assistive Technology Office, next to Bank of Ireland, Student Centre, Bishopstown Campus @ 1pm Enquiries to: accesslearningsupport@cit.ie
Student Raceday 2011 Thursday March 31st
• Ticket includes Transport to and from Cork City plus Admission, Racecard and Tipster • Plenty of Activities • Great music after the Racing
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Official CITSU Event!
Tickets €8
Will be on sale @ Students’ Union on Monday, 14 March
Valentines Day, 14th Feb bish! The real reason is that you are not on his mind. If a man leads you to expect he will call and then doesn’t follow through on such a little thing, he will never follow through on big things. Be aware he is okay with the idea he is disappointing you. 4. He’s just not that into you if he’s not dating you. A guy who is really into you is going to want you all to himself. He is going to ask you on a date. He is going to want to be alone with you to see if you have a romantic future together. 5. He’s just not that into you if he’s not having sex with you. Cheating doesn’t just ‘happen’. It’s planned and executed with the full knowledge that it could end your relationship. If he’s sleeping with someone else without your knowledge or encouragement, he is not only behaving like a man who isn’t into you, he is behaving like a man who doesn’t even like you all that much. 6. He’s just not that into you if he only wants to see you when he’s drunk. Having a drink may help you relax on a first date, but don’t confuse an ice breaker with real intimacy. If he only wants to see you, talk to you and have sex with you when he’s drunk, it ain’t love — it’s sport.
Valentines Day is closely approaching and whether you are desperately seeking a hot date for the 14th or currently in a relationship, we believe everyone can benefit from the dating rules revealed in the best selling book “He’s Just Not That Into you”, (also a movie if you need help fast!) Enjoy the sometimes blunt but incredibly true advice and please share with those in need of a wake up call but try be sensitive! 1. He’s just not that into you if he’s not asking you out. If a man is excited about a woman, he can’t stop himself— he wants more. If he’s friends with someone and attracted to her, he’s going to want to take it further. If he’s not making a move, it’s not because he is ‘scared’. The only thing he is scared of is how not attracted to you he is. 2. He’s just not that into you if he’s not calling you. He says he didn’t have a moment in his busy day to call. Rub-
7. He’s just not that into you if he doesn’t want to marry you. Every man you have dated who says he doesn’t want to get married or doesn’t believe in marriage, or has ‘issues’ with marriage, will, rest assured, someday be married. It just will never be to you. 8. He’s just not that into you if he’s breaking up with you. What could be better than hearing from the man who broke up with you that he misses you madly? It’s validating. It’s exciting. It’s irresistible. Yet resist it. Unless he’s ready to get back for good he’s simply finding it hard being alone. 9. He’s just not that into you if he’s disappeared on you. When a man disappears there’s no mixed message. He’s made it clear that he’s so not into you, that he couldn’t even bother to leave you a Post-it. Don’t make contact — he’s not in hospital with amnesia! — it will only give him a chance to reject you all over again. 10. He’s just not that into you if he’s married (and other insane variations for being unavailable). No matter how powerful and real your feelings may be for someone, if that person cannot fully and honestly return them, these feelings mean nothing.
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Thinking of Running for SU Election?
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What does it involve? The Union Executive is elected by the members of the Union and is made of up three sabbatical officers (President, Vice President Welfare and Vice President Education) and three nonsabbatical officers (Projects Officer, Communications Officer and Entertainments Officer). The Executive is responsible for the initiation of policy of the Union subject to Union Council, General Meeting and Referendum. The election campaign will involve promoting yourself, your policies and goals – basically what you envisage, what you wish to achieve, to change and what initiatives you wish to begin. You will have a week to make yourself known to as much of the student body, on all four campuses as you can. It is only by physically talking to people face to face that you can get your message across, but what is even more important, to find out what the students of the college, across every department want. Every department, course, class and student is an individual, and if you are elected, you must serve all of these students to the best of your ability – doing what the students want you to do, as opposed to your own personal agenda. There will be hustings in the main CIT canteen on the Wednesday at lunchtime where you have an opportunity to speak to students and they can ask you questions in a public forum. Be prepared before you start canvassing so that you become familiar with the college workings outside of your course. Anyone interested is strongly encouraged to talk to the current officers who will be able to give you a run down of the job and its demands. What are the terms of employment? For sabbatical officers including the President, Vice President Welfare and Vice President Education, it is a full time job, commencing on the 1st June 2011 and ending 31st May. The pay is set for all Officers and can be found out by enquiry. The hours are generally Monday to Friday nine to five, but due to the nature of the job this can vary considerably from week to week depending on how busy it is, campaigns that may be ran, etc. You will occasionally have to work at night time events during Fresher’s Week and Rag Week and other projects. For non-sabbatical officers including the Projects Officer, Entertainments Officer and Communications Officer, the jobs are non-paid and hours of work will be based around the class time/free time of the nonsabbatical officers.
Could YOU be the next CITSU President? The President is the chief officer of the Students’ Union. They oversee all workings of the Union. They will be the main spokesperson of the students of CIT. They will communicate with local media, political figures and businesses where appropriate. Their main role will be to defend the rights of students on all fronts, as well as representing student views to college management and political figures. The main areas of concern for the president will be finance, representation, organisation, supervision and guidance of policy. The President, along with the rest of the team, organises Freshers Week, RAG Week, Orientations for first years, various events and campaigns during the year, as well as guide and influence the Welfare Campaigns. You will also liaise with other SU Officers from around the country. What qualities are needed in a President? Self Motivated: The Students’ Union Officers’ work for the students so you need to be able to set your own targets and encourage and motivate yourself to work as hard as you can. A well prepared manifesto can keep you to become target orientated. The summer is a great time to learn what you need to know as well as prepare for the year ahead. Responsible: The President must oversee all activities so having a responsible attitude is vital. Keeping things from slipping past you while being responsible for the students’ views is imperative. You will also need to sit on boards that deal with sensitive issues Innovative: New ideas for events, campaigns and promotion will truly benefit the Union as a whole. The President is expected to lead by example.
Confident: The President often has to be able to stand their ground when it comes to all sorts of initiatives, be it stand firm against management, press or on a students behalf. You will also need to be comfortable speaking in public and be able to influence the opinion of others Realistic: The President must be able to assess budgets accurately and determine when students have a case to be fought. Although ideally, every student is always right, an unbiased approach has to be brought to every specific case. Bringing every case to a fight will weaken your credibility when a genuine case emerges. Could YOU Be The Next CITSU Education Officer? The role of the Education Officer is very broad but basically it covers absolutely everything relating to academics, such as course issues, timetabling, lecture problems and exam issues. Some projects include student protest and Class Representative training. The Education Officer also meets with students on a daily basis to assist them with their educational problems. The Education Officer also contributes to the Union’s monthly magazine, Explicit. The Education Officer is a member of the college’s Academic Council, the Student Finance Committee, the Appeals Committee and the Student Disciplinary Committee. This involves attending meetings regularly and speaking on behalf of students in areas which will directly affect them. What qualities are needed in an Education Officer? Self Motivated: The Students’ Union officer
Notice of Elections The Elections for the following Students’ Union positions will take place on 10 March, 2011
Sabbatical Non-Sabbatical • President • Communications Officer • Vice-President Education • Entertainments Officer • Vice-President Welfare • Projects Officer
Nominations will open on 21st February, 2011 (forms are available online at www.citsu.ie and from the Students’ Union Office). For further information, please contact the Students’ Union General Manager, Vicky O’Sullivan.
Nominations will close at 5pm on 4 March, 2011
work for the students so it is essential that you need to be able to set your own targets and encourage and motivate yourself to work as hard as you can. The summer gives you the opportunity to makes plans and preparation for the forthcoming academic year. Empathetic: In order for you to help them you must fully understand the problems of students. Innovative: New ideas for events, campaigns and promotion will truly benefit the union as a whole. Focused: As the job of the Education Officer is extremely broad, you need to write up your own goals for the year. Realistically you won’t be able to bring every idea to fruition so you need to prioritise and focus on what can help students the most. Could YOU Be The Next CITSU Welfare Officer? The main function of the role is to help students with non-academic problems, such as accommodation, sexual health, mental health and general issues regarding emotions. The Welfare Officer meets to either assist with problems or refer on to those qualified to help. Campaigns/ projects include Sexual Health and Guidance Week (S.H.A.G Week), Positive Mental Health Week, Stress Busting Week, Safety Week and General Well-Being Week. The Welfare Officer also contributes to the Union’s monthly magazine, Explicit. The Welfare Officer is also a member of the Institute’s Governing Body, is also on the board of directors for the canteen company and a member of the student assistance fund and safety committees. This involves attending meetings regularly and speaking on behalf of students in areas which will directly affect them. What qualities are needed in a Welfare Officer? Self Motivated: Officers of Union work for the students so you need to be able to set your own targets and encourage and motivate yourself to work as hard as you can. This can prove very tricky in the summer months when there are no students but use the time to plan and prepare for the year ahead. Caring/Non-Judgemental: The Welfare Officer should be approachable, friendly and welcoming to students. They also need to be able to keep their work with students confidential within reason. You must possess the ability to listen sensitively to people’s problems and be able to deal with them in a sympathetic, mature and non-judgmental way. Creative: New ideas for events, campaigns and promotion will truly benefit the Union as a whole. Focused: As the job of the Welfare Officer is extremely broad, you need to write up your own goals for the year. It is important prioritise and focus on what can help students most. Could YOU Be a CITSU Non-Sabbatical Officer? The Communications Officer: They aid in the development of the Union’s information and communication policy. They must be familiar with all the communication policies and all the communication mediums available to him/her and use them to their full potential. They will keep the membership of the Union informed through the provision of a regular Union Publication. The Entertainments Officer: They are responsible for the provision of entertainments and other forms of social and cultural activity for the members of the Union in conjunction with the sabbatical officers and Union Staff. The Projects Officer: They will primarily as a support for the sabbatical officers in the areas of campaigning, Union development and projects. Should you require information relating to election process and rule, please contact Vicky O’Sullivan, Assistant Returning Officer in the Students’ Union Office or by email at vicky.osullivan@cit.e Should you require further information in relation to the positions please contact the Union Officers in the Students’ Union or by email at supresident@cit.ie, sueducation@cit.ie and suwelfare@cit.ie
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STUDENTS Alert! Open until 5am,
Thursday to Sunday (for deliveries only)
Perfect after a night out or ... for all night study sessions!
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REGENERATION TOUR
Music Feature
The Savoy, Cork 30th Dec 2010
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hey said it would never happen in Cork, which is to say The Franks and The Sultans playing on the same bill. It did happen on a cold December day in 2010 in a packed Savoy theatre. Who would headline? A penalty shoot-out took place beforehand. The Sultans won, well specifically Morty of The Ping fame beat Ashley of the Walters.
Legendary reunited Dublin quartet The Power of Dreams opened and after initial sound problems they delivered a killer set making people realise why as a bunch of 17 years old they scored a major recording contract at the start of the 90s. All the classics including Never Been to Texas, 100 Ways, Stay and Cathy’s World were in the set plus a stupendous cover of the Smiths classic “There is a light that never goes out”. Evergreen hometown heroes The Franks were up next - informally dressed in Brown shirts they wasted no time in taking things by jugular playing a twenty year career spanning set ranging
by Mick O Mahony
from “Fashion Crisis” and “After All” right through to “The Parson” including the now customary “We are the Frank and Walters”. The Franks including two young bloods on guitar seemed re-energised and it was truly one of the best shows that I have seen them play. Next up and heading were Corks bubble gum rock gods - (to give them their full title) The Sultans of Ping FC. Would they be up for it? Pride of the
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The power of music is something else and the old stuff still rules
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parish at stake and all that. Singer NOF was in his usually confrontational mood and had the crowd up for it fairly quickly, knocking out Veronica, Mickico, Back in a Tracksuit and one of the greatest love songs ever written in my humble opinion, Two Pints of Rasa. It became very surreal near the end when they played Turnip Fish and had most of the crowd on the backs kicking their legs in the air. The power of music is something else. They finished up with the perennial favourite Where’s my Jumper. We all left, sound ringing in our ears content in the knowledge that the old stuff still rules.
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CIT notes
Hunt Report finally published
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ast January, the National Strategy for Higher Education up to 2030 (often referred to as the Hunt Report) was finally published. This long anticipated, and widely leaked document, sets down the roadmap for where Irish Education is to move to in the next 20 years. This document shows where the Government have to bring third level education, and to say the least, major changes are on the way. The biggest infrastructural change is that the document indicates that the IT system needs a dramatic overhaul. There are too many institutions for a country our size, so it is proposed that instead of having numerous IT’s in an area, that they emalgamate into regional clusters – for example, the Dublin based IT’s – DIT, Dundalk IT, Dun Laoighre IT and Tallagh IT are already in the latter stages of negotiations to join forces to become Dublin Technological University. Similar is likely to happen in the South – a number of Munster IT’s could very easily join up to become some form of Munster Technological University. It is specifically mentioned that under normal circumstances, Universities and IT’s will not combine as a level of diversity amongst institutions is desireable. In a nutshell, in the year 2030, CIT will no longer be CIT, it will more than likely be the Cork based campus of a Technological University. Who we merge with, if we choose to merge with anyone, will be the decision of the Governing Body of the college. A discussion is tabled about the Report in its entirety for the February meeting of the Governing Body, of which both the Su President and Vice President Welfare are both members this academic year. Each year two student representatives are members of Governing Body, one male and one female. This is usually the SU President and a nominee of their choice – usually one of the Vice Presidents where possible. Aside from this, it is also strongly recommended that a student contribution is made to third level education. The report sites that funding in Ireland is slightly be-
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low average when compared with OECD countries, while still delivering results that are slightly above average. The main reason for this under funding seems to the attitude of the Irish towards the funding model of third level. To quote the report: Higher education in Ireland is currentlyheavily reliant on exchequer funding – the most recent OECD data shows that in Ireland 85.1 per cent of funding for higher education comes from public sources, compared with the EU-19 average of 81.1 per cent and the OECD average of 72.6 per cent. In Ireland, household expenditure (by students and their parents)
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In a nutshell, in the year 2030, CIT will no longer be CIT, it will more than likely be the Cork based campus of a Technological University.
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currently stands at 13.2 per cent, and expenditure by other private entities forms only 1.7 per cent. If Ireland wishes to build on existing strengths to meet forthcoming demand and to retain quality, it needs to broaden its funding base. It is notable, for example, that Ireland and the US have exactly the same public expenditure on higher education as a proportion of GDP146 – 1 per cent. In overall spending, however, the US trebles this proportion of GDP, with further spending to the value of 1.9 per cent of GDP coming from private sources, while in Ireland only 0.2 per cent of GDP is added. What is recommended in the report is a form of deferred loans payable when the graduate is employed, and at a rate dependent on the amount of the graduates disposable income. How this is to be assessed is not indicated in the report, but the task of determining how it is to be repayed is to be determined by a specialist group at a future date. This funding is to be additional to the level of funding by the Government at present levels, not supplementary. What this means is that colleges will get more and
more money to spend on resources, staffing, research, facilities, etc. The argument is pretty solid too. There are very tangible benefits of tertiary education. A person with a third level education has an earning potential 69% higher than that of someone without, and also has advantages in attaining a job and career success. There are also indications that they live in better socio-economic conditions, and to ask for a student contribution is not so much a payment, but rather an investment in your future. As to how much this investment will actually be is still to be determined, and be sure that the Student Movement around the country will have a large influence in this. The increased contribution is also expected to lead to students being more interested in their courses as if you have to pay for something you will cherish it and nurture it moreso than if it was free. There will also need to be a complete reform of the grant system A reform which will start from scratch again. A system that will be able to assess students fairly, as the current system has many flaws. A grant system that compliments the proposed student contribution system would be needed. For the students of 2030, it is noted that more broader based courses should be offered in first year, so as the first year experience can help to retain students. This would be a move similar to what CIT have done to the Common Entry Science course it has launched – the initial year one be a broad course and then find a specialised, more narrow field for the following years. Feedback from students must also be considered when making decisions about the curriculum. A much stronger focus must be placed on research in the, what is now, IT sector. Students will learn better in a more dynamic, research driven environment. It also fosters a students ability to look closer at a problem and solve the problems associated with it. For years, this has been the criticism of the second level system, and students must learn how to identify, analyse and solve problems. These changes are all gradual, and will be in place by the time that children born in 2011 will be starting college. All the information you may need are on the HEA website.
CIT notes
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The Student Support Bill ly affect students’ ability to participate fully and reap the full benefits of their college education.
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he Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has welcomed the amendments to the Student Support Bill, as published by the Government recently. As part of the revisions to the Bill, the Department of Education is to set up a centralised grant agency, which will result in a more efficient and cost effective student grant system. USI is renewing its calls on the Government to protect the student maintenance grant from cuts in Budget 2011. Thousands of students are heavily reliant on this financial assistance in the current recession and many will be forced to drop out of their courses if it is reduced. USI believes that the introduction of the Student Support Bill is essential in making vital improvements to the current inefficient grant system. USI President, Gary Redmond, said: “USI welcomes these amendments to the Student Support Bill. However, the Government must implement the Bill as a matter of urgency to deal with the increasing amount of students dependent on grants to see them through the college year. In these recessionary times, more and more students are being forced to rely on the grant to fund their studies. This has put the system under increasing strain, resulting in long grant delays, which can serious-
The Student Support Bill was published in 2008, and since then, there have been three education ministers. It is now time to put the Bill into action to streamline the inefficient grant application process, and in turn, save the Government millions of Euro.” Things to know about the student support bill ... At present without the support bill there is inconsistency between different awarding bodies about the process involved in grants. i.e.: if you apply for it in Cork County and are rejected you could apply for the grant in Cork City and get it. There is a serious delay in the receipt of funding once you have been approved with some students having to wait till as late as March to get their grant. The student support bill would cut down on this waiting time. There is a serious confusion as to which grant scheme you should be on. With the student support bill it would mean that there would only be one standardized system saving confusion and time. It would save the state an average of €5 million per annum on administration costs. At present it costs some awarding bodies up to €500 to process an application and others only €70. It would allow greater flexibility and perhaps down the line the introduction of a
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The main benefits of this bill in relation to students are that the grant system would become one single system reducing administration overheads and confusion as to which scheme you should be on or who to apply for it with. IT also makes the grant system more transparent and common.
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part-time grant would be tabled making learning flexible and more available to a wider bracket of people. Overall the student support bill is an excellent piece of legislation and goes a long way to reform and hopefully to enhance 3rd level education in Ireland. The main benefits of this bill in relation to students are that the grant system would become one single system reducing administration overheads and confusion as to which scheme you should be on or who to apply for it with. It also makes the grant system more transparent and common. The new system means that the thirty five awarding bodies would be joined into one single body with absolute authority for the grant meaning a much fairer system for all people concerned.
The management and staff of Rochestown Park Hotel would like welcome all students at CIT back after the holidays. Best of luck and thank you for making us your number one ball venue.
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info@deanshallbishopstown.com
Your own spacious bedroom and en-suite FREE hi speed WIFI internet connection
Sport
Cit Gym Four Week Pedometer Challenge 2011 Starts Feb 21st The four week active health challenge – take active steps to better health! Individuals or teams of 4 must wear a pedometer for 4 weeks and submit a weekly step count each week for 4 weeks. The goal for each individual is 10,000 steps per day.
Cost: €5 & donations to Irish Cancer Research welcome.
All participants are provided with a registration pack including a pedometer, 10% discount card for Mahers sports, getting started information & log sheets for step count. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: • Highest step count for a team and individual • Most improved step count for a team and individual • Best picture taken during the challenge •P rizes include Ipod Shuffles, CIT Bistro Meal Vouchers and Mahers Sports Merchandise!
Weekly Events: • Every Monday from 1.10-1.50pm Brenda will lead a 40 minute walk. • Every Tuesday from 5-6.30pm John Neville will lead a walk around Bishopstown. • Weekly healthy eating and walking tips will be provided to all participants. Registration packs available from Monday February 14th. Email Brenda Collins or call to Gym staff today to sign up for the challenge. REGISTER by emailing Brenda.Collins@cit.ie now! Tel: 0214326874 Step Ahead of your president - John Lane!! CIT Students Union President John Lane has agreed to take part in the Pedometer Challenge. His weekly scores will be emailed to all participants to give you the chance to top his step count and track his progress.
Sports Roundup Kayaking Intervarsities back after 7 years For the first time in seven years one of the biggest weekends on the student sporting calendar is returning to Cork and it promises to be the best ever. The National Kayaking Intervarsities is being co-hosted this year by Cork Institute of Technology and University College Cork Canoe Clubs. It will be held on the weekend of the 18th-20th of February, following both colleges’ RAG week. Kayaking is gaining increasing popularity for students in Cork year after year. You will usually see students out paddling on Friday afternoons on the weir or the Sluice at Leefields, or under the bridge on the Western Road. The CIT Canoe Club hold weekly pool sessions in LeisureWorld as well as running river trips throughout the year. These are some of the aspects of the Canoe Club, not forgetting the social side and friendships that are formed. If you want to know more about the clubs or find out some more information check out www.kayakintervarsites.com, www.canoeclub.webs.com. You will also us on Facebook, search ‘CIT Canoe Club’. If kayaking sounds like your thing or you are interested in representing the college and taking part or helping out at this years Intervarsities, drop into Sports Office on First Floor of the Student Center and leave
a message or email canoeclub@gmail.com.
Cit Badminton
CIT currently has three teams competing in the Cork County league; there are two novice teams and one division six mixed team. CIT also has two teams representing the college in the CUSAI league (Colleges and Universities Sports Association of Ireland). The teams started back training almost immediately at the start of first term on Tuesday and Wednesday nights under the supervision of new coach Marlies Mooij from the Melbourne club. Anyone who is interested in playing is welcome. Training takes place on Tuesdays at 8pm and Wednesdays at 6pm in the sports hall.
CIT Bank of Ireland Astro League 10 teams entered this year’s Semester 1 Astro League sponsored by the Bank of Ireland. The 6-a-side competition began in early October and ended on November 30th. Each team played each other once in this very competitive but entertaining league. The half hour games were played from Monday to Wednesday from 1pm2pm, refereed by CIT’s soccer bursary recipients. When the league games com-
menced the top four qualified for the semifinals and took a step closer to the €100 prize money along with the CIT/Bank of Ireland hoodies. The semi-finalists consisted of Team Noreen, Chicks Stars, Plumbers FC and Special Olympiakos. Having won the Fresher’s Tournament, Chicks Stars were the favourites and they did not fail to deliver once again. Team Noreen pushed them all the way in the playoff final but Chicks Stars were too strong in the end and emerged as winners. Well done to everyone that participated. Please look out for the February knockout Astro League, entry fee is only €2 per player and prizes include €100 and CIT Hoodies. For more information for any soccer activity in CIT call to Eric in the Sports Office, first floor, Student Centre or text him at 0867816710. Email: soccer.facilitator@cit.ie
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Problem Pages
If you think that he may be cheating there are a number of indicators Does he introduce you as his girlfriend? Is there any friends that he has that you haven’t met? Does he give you reasons why he is spending time with other people instead of you? Does he get irritable when you question what he was doing on a night? To be quite honest, the best thing you can do is ask him straight out. Don’t avoid asking because you may be afraid of the answer. It is better to find these things out straight away. If he isn’t cheating on you though, you really do need to learn how to trust him, otherwise you are just wasting your time together.
Q So You think you have problems? Our male & female problem solvers are here to answer your questions...
Q
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Hi. I am really jealous when it comes to my boyfriend and I can’t help it. We have been together (officially) for three months but I absolutely panic when he goes out without me. I’m really worried he will cheat on me or even flirt with other girls. My friends think I am over reacting and have told me he has never done anything to question him but my gut feeling is that he’s up to no good. I have asked to see his phone in the past (text came in at 3am) and he “accidentally” deleted it and said it was a wrong number. I don’t know if I’m just insecure or if I am actually picking up on something and have been cheated on? Please help before I drive myself completely insane!!
ends and outs of what is going on in your current relationship but my advice to you would be to confront your boyfriend. Tel him how you feel when he goes out, and how you felt when he deleted that text message. Listen to his side of things and again trust your instincts. There is also a chance that if you have had bad experience’s in the past (being cheated on or lied to in past relationships) then maybe you are carrying baggage into your current relationship. If that is the case and you find that you are over reacting or getting very upset over little things then maybe you should think about making an appointment to talk to a counsellor here in CIT. I hope everything works out for you.
Rule number one when it comes to relationships is trust. You have to trust the person you are with and if not maybe you are not with the right person. I am a big believer in trusting your gut instincts so if you feel that there is something going on and your boyfriend is not being honest then there is a very strong possibility that you are right. Now I don’t know what you have been like in previous relationships or all the
If you are in a relationship with someone you need to trust each other. It is very obvious that you don’t trust him. Has he done something to lose your trust, or has someone cheated on you before? No matter what he says, it will not matter – actions are the most important thing here. Have you talked to him about this? If he knows that you are so paranoid he might be able to put your mind at rest.
I am really confused. I think I might be gay. Ok, let me re-phase that, I know I am but can’t bring myself to tell anyone. I am really afraid that my family and friends will all turn against me. I feel really alone and like no one understands what I am going through. I find it impossible to focus on college work and have stopped going out with friends because I feel like I’m living a lie. I don’t know what to do please help. First off you are not alone. There are so many student’s going through exactly what you are now. The beauty of college is that you discover who you are what you like and don’t like and get to know the real you… There are a lot of people here in the college that can talk to you and give you the support you need at this time. The welfare officer is here for you, the counselling depart can help you talk through some of your emotions and feelings and the LGBT society are also here for you. If you want to talk to someone outside of the college (although all of the college services are confidential) I would suggest you contact Gay Cork Project on 021-4304884 You should be proud of yourself for sending in this email and for speaking your truth. I would encourage you to start getting the support you need now and contacting one or all of the above mentioned services. It is not good that you have stopped socialising and staying in. you have nothing to be ashamed about or afraid of losing, trust me everything is going to work out great in the end.
Best of luck over the next while and please stay in touch There is nothing to be afraid of. Yes, it would be a change to be out and honest about it, but everyone is afraid of change. You will still keep your good friends, the people who like you for you – your sexual orientation will not change their opinions of you. Your family may take it as a shock initially, but the sooner they know, the sooner they will get over it and accept it. Try not to make such a big deal out of it though. There is nothing to say that you have to come out now. Wait until you are ready. Many people are homosexual and don’t tell people for a long time. This is not leading a double life. If there is something that you are not ready for the world to know, wait until you are ready. Don’t think that your friends are completely honest either, everyone has secrets.
Q
I am a fourth year student and I am panicking about what to do in the summer. I am freaking out that I will have to move home (small town) and have to sign on to the dole. I have been constantly looking up jobs since September and there is nothing out there. I don’t have enough money saved to move to Australia and I really don’t know what to do. Ok first of all take a deep breath and try relax. The whole country is going through a rough time at the moment and I am sure almost everyone else in your class is in the same boat. You mentioned not having enough money saved to move away, then maybe you should wait a while and save and then move away after the summer. I feel sorry for you that you’re dreading moving home, but at least during the summer months it may not be that bad. If you have school friends at home and if the weather is nice, you might even find yourself enjoying it. I presume you have spent the last four years straight studying so maybe the summer at home is exactly what you need. Time to yourself and time to figure out what direction you want to go next. I think the most important thing people do now is to try remain positive and to look at situations with the glass half full mentality. A wise person once told me “ whats for you, wont go by you” have faith that everything will work out well in the end. I guess it would be a little clichéd to say that you are not alone. Finishing college can be quite daunting. Since the age of four or five you always know what the next step is – secondary school, college, whatever. Finishing college the next logical step would be to get a job, even though now this may not be possible. My advice would be this – it is better to be on the dole in Cork, or any city, rather than on the dole in a small town. There will be much more opportunities in a city. Jobs are far from plentiful at the moment but don’t give up hope. January is now over and that is always the worst month for employment. I am sure that you will fall on your feet and find a job. Contact the Careers Service in the college and get your CV looking awesome! Print off hundreds if need be and start applying then. Follow up everywhere that you hand in a CV after a week or so also. Coming into the Summer you may be able to find seasonal work if nothing else. If you do have your heart sent on moving abroad, when you do get a job, set up a savings account so as to keep you disciplined and focused on your goal. Best of Luck in the future, whatever it may hold.
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www.citsu.ie To avail of free services: • our second hand book service • our grinds list • our car pooling service To view: • all the latest news • Rag Week updates • CITSU election updates • CIT photos • ExpliCIT magazine • Other service information To join us on: • Twitter • Facebook We’d love to welcome you to www.citsu.ie
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Health
Lose weight – Are you serious? This is the time of year when we all think about Summer. We are all becoming aware that pretty soon the hoodies will be off and the bellies will be showing, not to mention a lot of us will be heading over to California, the land of the beautiful, on the J1 and please don’t let them think that all the Irish are fat, beer swilling, bog-snorkling culchies. It’s this time of year that people are becoming acutely aware that we are not exactly as tanned and toned as we may hope. Well I am sure that the gym will be full of weekend warriors for the next few weeks, and that we will all be running off to Garrettstown as soon as we get a whiff of sun, but remember that only two things will control how toned you will look – your intake and your output i.e. your diet and exercise. Fact: Exercise gives you more energy Fact: You can eat more if you exercise Fact: Facebook is not exercise While it is tempting to have chips every night with your dinner and skip on the veg, this is a disastrous move if you ever want to be able to show some skin at the beach while still keeping your selfrespect. Fruit and veg fill you up, giving you that lovely full feeling, without making you a fat SOB. This is the opposite of high carb foods, especially white carbs like white bread, white rice, pasta and potatoes. Of course some carbs are essential. Never rule out the tried and tested methods for looking better. These work, and everyone knows it. Core work like ab-crunches (sit ups), planks and lower back work will pull everything in tighter, making you look even better. Simple everyday changes will always make the biggest difference as they are more sustainable in the long term. Where possible, walk instead of drive. Be it to college, to the shop, or else by finding a partner and going for a walk in the evenings. The most important thing is to enjoy your exercise. Some people swear by Yoga, others would never dream of missing their Wednesday night soccer
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game. That is because once you start exercising you begin to feel better, more positive, and a certain level of social interaction comes with all sports. If you want to lose weight quickly by the summer, please do not crash diet. These do not work. Ever. Join a gym and explain to the instructor what you want and what goals you wish to achieve. A personal plan can then be made out to suit you. Exercise will always take priority in dieting. Low-intensity exercise for at least an hour a day will make a world of difference. Over time, you will be able to increase both the intensity and time as you get fitter. Also, if your body is used to being active and exercising, your BMR, the amount of energy your body needs to keep itself running, will also increase slightly, in turn burning more energy. Don’t be afraid to go a little OTT with drinking water either. Water will flush toxins out of your system and make you look healthy. Although drinking in excess of two or three litres a day can be testing, it will make you feel great and give you more energy and vitality. For losing fat weight, the benefits of water are numerous: • Regulates Appetite • Increases your metabolism (the mechanism which burns energy) • Boost energy levels • Reduces water retention • Helps reduce high cholesterol • Helps reduce high blood pressure • Releases toxic waste products from the body • Visibly improves skin Some people will also have bloating.This is a case whereby the tummy swells, making you look rounder than you actually are. This can cause discomfort for some people. This bloating can be nearly entirely linked with your diet and any food sensitivities that you may have. If the size of your “gut” (particularly your lower abdominal region) seems to drastically change in size throughout the day, or over days, then a big part of your problem may be from bloating.
Bloating is commonly caused by a persons sensitivity to certain foods – wheat and dairy would be the two largest food groups that can cause bloating, but other common foods that react with certain people include broccoli, cabbage and pulses (such as baked beans) as they often cause large build ups of gas in the intestines. Now, back to the original point: Exercise! If you do not exercise you are wasting your time. Most gpeople believe that simply cutting out food is the answer… ‘fraid not’. By leaving yourself go hungry, when you do eat, your body will try to convert as much food as it can to fat as it is in survival mode. Little and often is the key. Try to find a partner who has similar goals also. You will then push each other to exercise (and guilt each other when you mess up). I found a very good example of how easy it is to put on fat weight in the course of my research: Mary’s BMR is 1400 calories and she burns 900 calories in daily activity with regular exercise, walking around and doing household chores. To maintain her weight, she should be eating 2300 calories but, after keeping a food journal, Mary finds that she’s eating 2550 calories every day. By eating 250 more calories than her body needs, Mary will gain one pound every 2 weeks. This example shows how easy it is to gain weight without even knowing it. However, it’s also easy to lose weight, even if the process itself can be slow. You can start by making small changes in your diet and activity levels and immediately start burning more calories than you’re eating. If you can find a way to burn an extra 200 to 500 calories each day with both exercise and diet, you’re on the right track. Taking a lunchtime walk that takes less than an hour burns around 300 calories, which is a lot considering that the normal person only burns les that 1000 calories per day on exercise – while
Clubs and Societies
CIT Society Balls burning over 1200 on maintaining basic bodily activities like breathing. The CIT gym staff are well prepared to help you out in any way at all. The staff are always happy to help assess your BMI and develop a programme. If you check this month on month, you will be able to monitor your progress and this will motivate you once again! Best of Luck. John Recipe | Chicken Korma Servings | 4 Preparation Time | 15 min Cooking Time | 50 min Ingredients 5 sprays low-fat cooking spray, 2 medium onions chopped, 1 medium apple chopped, 4 teaspoon mild curry powder, 450 g skinless chicken breast cut into chunks, 1 stock cube, 25 g sultanas, 1 tablespoon tomato puree, 125 g dried basmati rice, 1 medium banana, 8 tablespoons natural low-fat yogurt, 1 pinch salt, 1 serving pepper, 4 sprig fresh coriander (to garnish) Instructions 1. Mist a large saucepan with spray cooking oil. Sauté onions and apple for 3-4 minutes. Stir in curry powder. 2. Add chicken. Cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes, until sealed all over. 3. Add chicken stock in ½ pint water, sultanas and tomato puree. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer gently for about 40 minutes. 4. Twelve minutes before end of cooking time, put rice on to cook in plenty of lightly salted boiling water. 5. Just before serving, add sliced banana, chopped coriander and 4 tablespoons of yogurt to the curry. Season. Cook for 2 minutes.
The Annual CIT Society Balls will take place in the coming weeks. As ever, a great night is guaranteed so be sure to purchase your ticket early to avoid disappointment. First up on the 10th February is the Business and Accounting, Tourism & Hospitality “Night at the Oscars” Ball. This will be taking place in the Rochestown Park Hotel. The Band Delerento’s will perform live on stage on the night. Delerento’s are a four piece, up and coming Irish band. The band’s debut album’ In Love with Detail ‘was critically acclaimed in Ireland, being nominated for the Choice Music Prize and in the Best Irish Album category at the 2007 Meteor Awards, at which Delerento’s were also nominated for Best New Irish Band. Tickets go on sale 31st January. Have a mad hat that you’ve always wanted to wear? The Pick N Mix “Mad Hatters” Ball on Wednesday 9th March which takes place in Rochestown Park Hotel is just for you. The hottest cover band in Ireland, The Transmitters will provide the music for the night. Tickets go on sale 28th February. The Schemers & Mechanical Engineering “Paddy’s Day” Ball will take place in Silversprings Hotel on the 16th March. The ever popular and entertaining J90 will be performing live. Following on from the success of last year’s event the night is set to celebrate in style, the pride of being Irish. Tickets go on sale 7th March. Tickets for all of the Society ball events will be €25 for a full ticket & €12 for the afters. A full ticket includes a three course meal in the hotel as well as the band and DJ for the night. The afters ticket allows entry to the hotel from 10pm when the Band and DJ’s begin to play. By attending the Societies Balls you will also be supporting a good cause as 50c from each ticket purchase will be donated to Charity. Keep an eye out on the college notice boards & college screens for further details on tickets sales but you can expect them to be on sale in the main corridor between 122pm until they sell out. Looking forward to see you there!
Business & Accounting, Tourism & Hospitality Ball
Thursday 10 February, 2011 Rochestown Park Hotel Tickets: Full €25 Afters €12 Starring
6. Serve curry with hot cooked rice, adding one tablespoon of yogurt to each portion. Garnish with coriander.
os
Delorent
Night at the oscars
Complimentary buses to hotel from CIT 2 Floo rs, 2 D J’s
DJ Fle ming
& DJ C alvin
Valid 18+ ID essential - ROAR - Meal 8pm / Afters 10pm. Tickets on sale at CIT main corridor from Monday 31st January, 12pm to 2pm daily.
Send your Clubs & Societies news to: supublications@cit.ie. Check explicit.ie for publication dates
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Crossword is sponsored by CIT Societies – www.citsocieties.ie (Prize €30 for completed entries into SU shop). Winner last issue: Martina O’Mahony
Games
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