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CIT Students’ Union Magazine Volume Eleven - Issue Six
Ragweek & Ball Pics
Elections 2010
Illustrations Inside
Latest CIT News
Facebook Generation
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Editorial
Opinion Ragweek Wii Competition
CIT Students’ Union Rossa Ave, Bishopstown Cork, Ireland. Telephone: 021 493 3120 Fax: 021 454 5343 Email: info@expliCIT.ie expliCIT Staff Editor - Killian Hughes Design & Advertising - Philip O’Reilly Contributions John Lane Gearóid Buckley Killian Hughes John Power Urban Art Society
Deirdre Conroy Philip O’Reilly Mary Purcell Miriam Deasy Business Society
CIT Students’ Union President - Gearóid Buckley (supresident@cit.ie) Vice President Education - John lane (sueducation@cit.ie) Vice President Welfare - Deirdre Conroy (suwelfare@cit.ie) Entertainments Officer - Kelvin McLaughlin (suentertainments@cit.ie) Projects Officer - James O’Toole (suprojects@cit.ie) Communications Officer - Killian Hughes (sucommunications@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.
Hi Guy’s It’s another month down and only a few to go. I hope you all enjoyed Rag Week and have started on all your projects and assignments. Last month you saw the kick off of the Society Balls and what a blast they were. Rag week also took place, and I hope you all gave to the charities. For all that went to the Tramps Ball in the Oriel House Hotel, fair play for making it a great night and well done to all of you that dressed up. Don’t forget to use your vote on Thursday 11th March – this is when you get your say as to who should represent you in the Union next year. See inside for more details. I hope you all had the opportunity to visit some of the stands, courses and demonstrations which took place during safety week and that you take away something worthwhile from the week. Watch out for a full report on this year’s €urostar in next month’s issue. It was an amazing competition and well done to all the contestants who performed so brilliantly throughout the heats and the final. This is short and sweet but like you, I have to get my college work done and dusted ☺. Have a great March and I’ll be talking to you again next issue. Until then... Shake it easy Killian
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The Facebook Genration More and more often, it is commonly recognised that we are of the facetube generation. Upon opening an internet window, more and more of us are compelled to open up facebook straight away – to see who is online, what is happening, who has commented and liked your recent posts. This has become an obsession for some, an addiction to others, and a frustration to many. Facebook has over 400 million users and 350 million ACTIVE account holders, over half of which log on every day. The company employs merely 1000 staff. This can be seen by the incredibly slow process of updating formats, fixing problems, uploading pictures and connections that just don’t work to the frustration of the entire facebook population. A few stats I was surprised at included that the average number of friends is 130 and that the average user is joined to only 13 groups. From observation, I have noticed that Facebook has killed our communication skills with real friends, while it has opened up new avenues to communicate with friends abroad, college acquaintances, classmates and friends of friends. I have seen people IM (Instant Message) housemates to get them a drink, turn down music or even change the channel. Too far in my opinion. But I have also seen people stay close with friends in different parts of the world through facebook, and skype as well it has to be said. FACT: Nobody has 869 friends. If you think you do… sorry, but no. Research has shown that although girls may have between four and six really close friends, guys can usually have up to two, and are even considered lucky if they have one really good friend. Facebook friends are not friends, they are acquaintances. The more friends you have does not make you more popular, it just shows the time you put into social networking. To give credit where credit is due though, facebook has allowed us to see what is going on in other peoples’ lives, sometimes even though we don’t want to know. As you are all aware, profile statements range from the correlation between tickle wars and sex, to people complaining about having no food at home or a hangover. It is always handy as a reminder tool for birthdays, anniversaries, parties and what not. There will NEVER be an excuse for forgetting again (obviously this is only aimed at men, because women remember these kinds of things anyway). Quite a disturbing trend is “Facebook stalking”. This is defined by Wikipedia as – 1. A covert method of investigation using facebook.com. Good for discovering a wealth of information about people you don't actually know.
Quite disturbing in my opinion, but most people can accept that it happens. Boys looking up girls, girls looking up boys, people looking up ex’s and their new partners, the list is endless. The danger of obtaining info about someone is that if you let something slip that you discovered via facebook, that you had no other way of knowing, you’re caught. I do believe though that it is fair to say that everyone does it, and we should come to accept it and just be more careful about what level of information disclosure we choose on these open sites. But students beware! Facebook isn’t all about fun, games, friends and flirting! More and more commonly, prospective employers are looking at candidates’ facebook accounts, and don’t think that just because you have privacy settings on that they cant access your information. Simple programmes can be used to open pages where they can see everything you have online, including that photo of you passed out and cuddled up next to your dog after projectile vomiting against a closed window while still wearing that hooker dress from the Halloween Party. While researching this article, a group of my friends came up with simple facebook rules that are a good idea to adhere to: 1. No photos of you kissing someone – EVER 2. No photos of anyone doing illegal drugs (we don’t judge) 3. No comments relating to personal subjects 4. No medical diagnosis 5. If your relationship status moves from taken to single, a grace period should be given in between where no relationship status shows 6. No racist comments, even if they are in jest After a while, the monotony of facebook will emerge. You will begin to realise that some peoples’ lives are so dull they need to put up how hungry they are just because it is a highlight of their day. You will see a trend of the weekend alcoholics dying every Saturday and Sunday. And you will get envious of people who are constantly travelling / shopping / going to matches, and feel that the entire facebook community need to know. You will also realise that over 75% of photos posted by Irish people are of them drinking or drunk. So next time you log on I hope you take note of this, and just to finish on a quote a lecturer told me years ago: “Facebook is like sex, you are going to do it either way, so I’m going to show you how to do it safely” John
2. The use of Facebook (in particular the image galleries) for the intention of gaining self gratification.
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Latest News expliCIT Advice:
Saving Money Right boys and girls times are tough and you need to save money. Here are some short tips to do so.
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1. Stop Buying on Impulse Impulse shopping can be very tempting while out and about. The problem with this is that you end up blowing money on stuff you don't really need, and sometimes on stuff you don't really want. Before making a purchase, make sure it is truly necessary.
CITSU Election Fever 2010 As you can all see, the elections should be in full swing. Buntings in the canteen, posters EVERYWHERE, and trust me, come Wednesday and Thursday, you will be so sick of sweets that you will be pushing people away. It’s all part and parcel of election week. More importantly, you are voting in fellow students who, for the next 12 months, will be working for your interests. When I took the Education Vice President role I thought it would be a good half-way between work and college. And it has been, but the amount of work that came with it is colossal. This year when you vote, take note and vote for the person you feel will do the best job for you. In reality, part your registration fee goes towards paying the officers wages, so they need to report to you. The SU is all about representation. Every board in this beureaucratic college needs a student representative, to make sure that all decisions made are in your best interest. When something goes wrong for you, your class or your course, we are here. We are here unconditionally, like a mothers love. But most importantly, we are here to see that your time in CIT is enjoyable. Its not all about drinking and partying (although some like to think it is), but its about getting to know more people, making friends, enjoying yourself, and in some cases, finding yourself.
All week you will hear people saying... “Vote for _____”. Each and every vote counts. Last year a recount was ordered and a position was decided over three votes. Make sure the candidates know you, know your problems, and know what you want done. The Students’ Union has the power to make changes when backed by the students. Last October, the students of CIT proudly marched into Cork City to voice their concerns over third level fees. They won that battle, as four days later the Green Party negotiated a new programme for Government which didn’t include third level fees. Now unfortunately, there are rumblings from Dail Eireann that they are being considered again, so the war is far from over. On Thursday next, make no decision based on sweets or freebies. Make an informed decision, and don’t vote for someone who you have NO idea who they are. If someone wants to get elected, the onus is on them to talk to you! So, please vote, vote sensibly, and have a good week. There’s usually an election party that night so if you want to come along, ask the candidates about that too.
2. Hide the Credit Cards Many students give into the temptation to buy now and pay later. Unfortunately, these spending habits can come back to bite you. If you find that you can't charge responsibly, hide the credit cards until you learn a little restraint. 3. Give Up Bad Habits Everyone has at least one bad habit. Maybe you smoke, drink Cosmos like no tomorrow, or buy expensive coffee before class. Whatever it is, cut it out. You'll be surprised at how much money you save. 4. Stop Keeping Up with the Joneses Just because your roommate or your pals down the road have a seemingly endless allowance, it doesn't mean you do too. Try to avoid keeping up with them. Just because they go out every night doesn’t mean you have. Stay in watch TV. You’ll save a lot in the long run. 5. Find Bargains When shopping, look for clearance items or two-for-one bargains, buy used books instead of new, and order the special instead of something off the menu. If you can find a bargain every time you go shopping, you will save more money than you ever imagined. 6. See a Matinee Going to the cinema with a few friends can be an expensive outing. Instead of going at night, try catching a matinee. Daytime shows are usually half the price of their night-time counterparts and can be just as much fun.
John
BE HEARD ON CAMPUS! If you would like your letters, articles, reviews or photos printed in expliCIT... Email: submissions@explicit.ie or contact the SU Publications Office
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Union Address CITSU Vice President Education Hope March finds you well. As I’m sure you can see, the Students’ Union Elections should be in full swing. St. Patricks Day is next week so remember to enjoy yourself and stay safe. Only in Ireland is the National Day automatically assumed a session. In the States, Independence Day is about barbecues and neighbours. In France, Bastille Day is about food. In Ireland, the publicans clean up. Its only one day off remember, so college will be going ahead the next day.
Okay, news. CIT are currently looking into proposed changes to the Academic Calendar (the time you are in college). Two real considerations were taken: 1. Leave the calendar as it is, having no mid term in Semester 1 and a week of exams before and a week of exams after Christmas 2. Change the calendar, giving you a week off at the end of October to concentrate on projects and the like, and having all the exams in January. In turn, this would mean one less week off in January, which in theory will help students settle back in easier as many students found January quite drawn out.
Opinion
This motion was put to union council last Wednesday and they voted nearly unanimously to keep the system as it is. Gearoid and I will inform management of the Union Councils’ vote, but if anyone has any opinions or views on the issue, please let us know. Also, as a lot of you are aware, the grant application process has gone to the dogs. There are STILL people waiting for a response from the various VEC’s. In my opinion this is BS! Anyone who is still waiting, please please please contact us in the SU because if we don’t know we can’t do anything. On a lighter note, I would like to thank the Business and Accounting Soc for a brilliant night in Rochestown Park last month at their Annual Business Ball. Being a business student myself, I had a great time, met friends and colleagues who I hadn’t seen in ages and I must say, thoroughly enjoyed myself. I think the place was pretty close to capacity and all the students I have been talking to had a great night. Also thanks to EVERYONE who organised the Mix n Match Ball. I was a little nervous going as I had never gone to this Ball before, and I must say I was overwhelmed by the amount of people I knew there. I always say that college is about meeting people, and the Balls really help. To see people all dressed up and smart looking is an absolute pleasure. The next Explicit won’t be out until after Easter so I hope you all enjoy yourselves, take a well earned break, and I will see you all after the holidays. Best of Luck, John
Voting Procedures - FAQ Who can vote? All members of the Students’ Union as set down in article 3.1 of the constitution of the Students’ Union are eligible to vote in the referenda: Extract from the Constitution “3.1 Full Membership: All registered students of the college, whether full, part-time, day or block release or any combination of these shall be full and equal members of the Union on payment of the fee as specified by the Union annually.”
What do I need to vote? You need a valid college ID card or acceptable form of Identification to vote.
How do I cast my vote? You need to call to the polling station closest to you. (A schedule of
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polling station locations and time will be available in the what’s On and from the Students’ Union Office). Present your ID to the election officials who will give you the ballot forms. You can indicate your preferences in numerical order i.e., number 1 is your first preference; number 2 your second preference, and so on.
How do I make up my mind? In order to find out more information, to help you to decide which way you wish to vote, talk to the candidates, read their electioneering material and attend the official husting the day before the votes are cast. For any further information on the election process, rules and electorate eligibility, please call into the Students’ Union Office or go to the Students’ Union Website, www.citsu.ie Vicky O’Sullivan, Assistant Returning Officer
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Elections 2010 Extract of CITSU Constitution
SCHEDULE B – Elections General: 1. A Returning Officer, who shall not be a member of the student body, shall be appointed by the Union Executive. The returning officer shall be responsible for the good conduct of elections for one year. 2. The election of the Executive shall take place in the second term of the academic year. 3. The dates of all elections and a copy of the election regulations shall be posted on the Union Notice Board at least three working weeks before the election. 4. All full members of the Union shall be entitled to vote and/or contest all executive positions. 5. It will be the responsibility of all the outgoing Full Time Officers if requested, to make themselves available to all candidates for information purposes. Nominations: 6. Candidates for executive posts must be nominated by 40 full Union members including at least two Union Council Members. As well as signing the nomination form the nominators must also print their names and ID numbers on the nomination form. 7. The official nomination papers must contain, as well as the required number of nominees, the candidates name as registered with the Institute, his/her Institute I.D. number, course and the name of the candidate’s agent/campaign manager (if any). 8. The election for all positions shall take place four working days after the close of nominations.
appropriate to govern the canvassing or other activities of candidates, or their agents, in seeking election.
26. No electioneering or pamphleting may take place within the red perimeter line circumferencing the polling booth(s).
13. All canvassing must be confined to campus grounds. All canvassing must be carried out in keeping with the laws and regulations of both the institute and the state.
27. Voters must be able to identify themselves before being allowed to vote.
Hustings: 14. All official hustings or public debates with or between candidates or interestedparties in an election shall be convened by independent chairpersons. 15. Candidates shall hust in alphabetical order and shall sum up in reverse alphabetical order. 16. Candidates shall have equal time for their main speeches and not less than a third of that time for summing up. 17. Points of information shall not be allowed. Points of order may only be made by the Candidates and shall only be related to the running of hustings. 18. Questions from the floor shall be subject to inspection by the Returning Officer and/or the Chairperson. 19. Parliamentary language must be observed at all times during hustings. Voting: 20. The system of voting shall be proportional representation with the single transferable vote, as operated under the various Electoral Acts of Ireland. 21. Votes will be cast in sealed ballot boxes.
9. Nomination forms signed by the candidates shall be returned to the Returning Officer no later than 5.00 p.m. on the day of close of nominations. 10. Candidacy will be invalidated on the basis of tampering or defacement of the official nomination form. 11. The decision on valid candidacy is at the discretion of the Returning Officer, his/her decision is final. Canvassing: 11. All candidates are expected to treat all other candidates with dignity and respect and abide by basic rules of fair play. 12. Where an election is in progress under this constitution the Returning Officer may at his/her discretion make such regulations as may be
22. Voting slips shall bear the name of each candidate alphabetically and the office being contested. 23. The Returning Officer shall publicise the location and arrangements of polling station(s) and shall make arrangements whereby provision is made for all full members of the Union to vote in advance of Polling Day. 24. Polling stations will be situated in areas giving greatest convenience to the voters and their opening hours shall be determined by the returning officer with a view to catering for the highest possible voter turnout. 25. No other polling station can be opened other than those on the Institute campuses authorised by the Returning Officer.
28. Any vote on which a clear preference is shown will be considered valid. 29. If a candidate wishes to use on the ballot paper a name other than the one, which appears on their institute registration, they must seek prior approval from the returning officer. Counting: 31. The counting of votes shall take place after the closing of the polling stations at a time and in an area designated by the Returning Officer. 32. The order of the count after ascertaining total poll shall be President, Vice President Education, Vice President Welfare, Communications Officer, Entertainment Officer, Projects Officer with the official results being declared by the Returning Officer after each count. 33. Campaign managers/candidates have the right to call a recount after the result of the count has been announced. If a campaign manager/ candidate for any reason is absent from the count result announcement he/she may still request a recount within one hour of the announcement being made. The Returning Officer alone will make the decision as to when the recount will take place. Grievances: 34. Any corrupt practice e.g. attempted double voting, will be disciplined using all the medium at the Union’s disposal. 35. Any candidate/campaign manager/ordinary member of the Union who has reason to believe that there was an irregularity of any kind regarding the conduct of the elections shall have the right to lodge an objection with the Returning Officer within one Institute day of the alleged irregularity taking place.
Copies of the full CITSU Constitution in both english and irish are available from the SU offices or online at www.citsu.ie
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CITSU Ragweek & Societies Business Ball 2010
Glow Party @ Cubins
Tramps Ball 2010 Oriel House
Jon Kenny - Ragweek Launch
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CITSU Ragweek 2010 - Glow Party / Student Centre / Tramps Ball Photos: Killian Hughes & Philip O’Reilly
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Keaveny, of Chris Scanlon, Florin Organising committee antha es, Killian Hughes, Sam Sara Healy, Gordon Forb ra Hayes Sand and ty Kea n Brya Minihane,
O'Donovan, Sadie Ho, Lorna Fennelly, Eimear na Fogarty Aisling Coakley and Sho
Stephen Buckley and Grace Finn
Gary O'Donovan and Michelle O'Sullivan
Noel Dorey, Adrienne Desmond, Elizabeth Cummings and Bryan Keaty
Jonathan O'Donovan, Chris O'Shea, Shane Moloney and Barry O'Donnell
Ron Carroll, Tara Livin gstone, Ruth Kelly and David James
Niamh Cronin, Emma O'Shea, Laurie Crean and Bernadette Murphy
Shane Crowley, Anne McCarthy and Dave McCarthy
James O'Toole and Karen Ho
CIT Business & Accounting, Tourism & Hospitality Societies Ball at the Rochestown Park Hotel. Wednesday 10 Feb 2010 Photos: Neil Danton
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CIT’s Sustainable Campus
Green Campus CIT is managed by the Buildings and Estates office and supported by the Clean Technology Centre. The project focuses on all areas of sustainability, and with your help aims to reduce CIT’s carbon footprint. CIT has huge annual electricity, gas, water and paper usage and this project will reduce these resources significantly. These reductions will have obvious environmental as well as economic benefits. Your continued support is essential for this project to succeed and we want everyone to get involved in making this project a real success. CIT hope to raise the bar for environmental improvement on campus. Let’s make CIT leader in environmental actions and an example to other third level institutes. Check out the website at www.greencampuscit.ie. This website functions as a portal to keep you informed of our progress and also has some interesting news and facts about CIT. The Newsletters will keep you up to date with any upcoming events and offer tips on how you can get involved in greening CIT. What is happening now? The Department of Tourism and Hospitality are members of the Green Hospitality Awards and last year received the Silver award. This year the main canteen also joined up to the Green Hospitality Awards and really need your support in achieving the eco label. Please help your canteen become one of the first college canteens to achieve this label. Watch out for some changes occurring in the canteen in order to achieve the eco label. What can I do? You may have already noticed the lighting changes taking place around the campus and you will soon be asked to separate your food waste, along with the dry recyclables. It is important to choose reusable cups, plates and remember the 4 R’s – Rethink, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle your waste. EWWR During the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) Food Waste Reduction Fair 26th – 28th November the Hospitality students created a zero waste meal which went down a treat. They reduced the quantity of waste generated by 34.5% compared to the industry standard (as measured by the Clean Technology Centre). Waste A waste survey has been carried out on campus. This survey weighed
1.2 tonnes of waste and sampled 125kg of waste from CIT’s Bishopstown campus for a day. We found that the segregated materials (clear bags) were contaminated with 5% organics (food etc) and 19% liquids! This means that some segregated waste is contaminated and sent to landfill instead of being recycled! Energy A lot of energy wastage and unnecessary emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere is a result of failing to switch off appliances and lighting when not in use. There is a high energy usage at evenings and weekends at CIT, where obvious savings and reduction of CO2 emissions can be made. A weekend energy audit found that 34% of computers were left turned on and 8% on standby. We urge everyone to turn off electrical equipment when not in use. Plug out computers or switch off at the wall. Turning off equipment will save a lot of energy. For example, a photocopier left on overnight uses enough energy to produce over 1500 copies. That is a lot of energy wasted in a week! It’s not just you who likes to switch off at night! Always print and photocopy on both sides of the page. Water In 2009 CIT used more than 41,000 m3 of water! That is enough water to fill 50 Olympic size swimming pools. A major leak detection and water use optimization project is also under way. Flow rates from taps, showers, kitchens, changing rooms etc. have been documented and a plan is underway to improve water usage at CIT. It is important that we conserve water and reduce the generation of wastewater by reporting any leaks or dripping taps. Did you know that a dripping tap can waste up to 90 liters of water a day! (That’s almost 2 beer kegs full!). How can I get involved? Being part of the Green Campus Project will enrich your experiences at CIT. Everyone at CIT can get involved in the Green Campus CIT project. By being more aware of energy efficiency; by turning off computers and lab equipment when not in use and switching off lights that are not needed; as well as using the correct bins for your waste - you can make a huge difference. For more information or suggestions on Green Campus CIT, please contact the Green Campus Facilitator, Dr. Mary Purcell at Mary.Purcell@cit.ie. This project is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) Programme 2007–2013 under Phase 4 of the EPA Cleaner Greener Production Programme (CGPP).
The Management & Staff of the Rochestown Park Hotel would like to wish all new and returning students to CIT the best of luck with the year ahead. Thank you for once again making us your Number 1 Ball Venue for 2010
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The Illusion of Perfection (Why photo-shopping is killing our self esteem) Recently I was flicking through a magazine when I happened upon a photograph of reality head-wrecker Heidi Montag. The article spoke about her recent cosmetic surgery ventures and how she felt “pressured” by the Hollywood ideals to make herself as close to “perfect” as she could. Even if it meant hours of invasive and potentially life threatening surgeries and weeks of painful recovery.
Kardashian and I have yet to meet a guy who can say that they “wouldn’t”. Just to prove a point, I looked up Kim Kardashians measurements. She is only 5ft 2”, weighs 125lbs and measures 3426-39 and if she took a UK dress size she’d be about a 10-12. I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer to have her figure than that of an emaciated runway model.
She stated that she now feels closer to having the “perfect” body and face. I got so angry reading it I have to admit. Who is this girl, (she’s only 23) to define what “perfect” is? I think she looked gorgeous at the very beginning of the hills when she was natural and not surgically enhanced. She looks, in my opinion, like an alien now.
The most important thing I think is to be healthy. If you are eating right, and exercising, your body will usually come to a size that is healthy and normal for YOU.
Everyone has their own opinion of what perfect is. So why are people so eager to conform to these unrealistic standards? I went through a few more magazines, mainly focusing on their covers and the celebrities or models featured. I wondered how many of these people actually looked like this and how much the magazine people had messed about with the photos. There is an amazing video on YouTube; you may have seen it, by Dove. It is called “evolution” and it goes through the process of how photos are altered. The model to begin with is pretty, but after hair, makeup, lighting and a HELL of a lot of airbrushing, she looks like a completely different person. So, why do we compare ourselves to these altered images in magazines when they are not even real? With photo-shopping programs you can whiten teeth, slim down body parts, highlight eyes, cover up blemishes and even out skin tone. In my opinion, with the right program on your computer, we could all look like a Victoria’s secret model. I think it is so unfair that magazines put these warped images out there, knowing full well that people like me look up to these celebrities and often aspire to be like them. One example that sticks out in my mind is a Campari photo shoot featuring Jessica Alba. If you Google it you can see the before and after images of this Hollywood hottie. These pictures were taken just months after she had her baby and I think she looks fantastic in the before pictures. So why did the editors feel it necessary to; darken her skin tone, make her look about two sizes smaller, make her boobs bigger and make her look like she was sucking on a lemon at the time of the photo? Mere mortals like me then look at this photo and think that this is what she really looks like when it’s not. I doubt it made Jessica Alba feel very good about herself either to see that they felt she was so imperfect that they had to do so much work on it. It’s horrible. A lot of the most beautiful girls I know are by no means stick figures. In fact, the most stunning girl I know is easily a size 14. Which, by the way, is the average size of a healthy Irish woman. Curves are sexy! Ask ANY guy! So why do magazines keep photo shopping models to look like sticks? One of my favourite celebrities of the moment is Kim
You need to learn that if you take care of your body it will take care of you. There is no point trying to compete with a person who has a different body type to you. Pick things about yourself that you like and focus on that. Some people have great legs, others have gorgeous hair or a bootylicious bum, whatever it is we all have positives and we should learn to love them. Make the most of your best assets and try not to pay much attention to the magazines because they are not realistic. What’s real is you. We are all human and we all have flaws, celebrities included. But it is our flaws that make us special and unique. To be honest, when it comes to guys, I like a guy with flaws. A guy with a few scars who looks like he has lived a bit is much more appealing to me than someone who is so sparkly and perfect that they look like they have spent their life locked up in a room moisturising. When you look in the mirror, pick something about yourself that you like. For example, “Oooooh, these jeans are mint on me”, “My boobs like fab in this!” So what if you are being a little conceited, it’s not like you’re shouting it about. These little affirmations to yourself can make such a difference to your self esteem. Always remember that when it comes to the opposite sex, that everyone has a different “type”. Some people prefer a partner with dark hair, some prefer blondes. Some people like tall partners, some prefer petite. No matter what your appearance, you ARE someone’s type, so don’t forget that! Confidence in yourself is the key, so don’t pay any mind to those magazines and television ads. (They have me so angry!) You are gorgeous, you are fabulous and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise! Deirdre Conroy
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Sport & Societies
CIT Photographic Society
CIT Urban Art Society
Hello from CIT Photographic Society. We are pleased to say that last semester was a great success, with many newcomers joining us. You may have seen our exhibition, VERTICAL, in the main corridor, with the work of our members proudly displayed on the ceiling. Thanks to the rock climbing club for the opportunity to take photos of them in action.
A combination of Crawford and Bishopstown based CIT students who have come together to share and express themselves through different mediums such as graffiti.
We hope to have another exhibition towards the end of this semester, with a theme of CIT students for the photos. As well as this we hope to complete a few day trips to some nice scenic locations. New members are always welcome to our meetings. The meetings take place in B132 @6pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Hope to see you there! John Power PRO
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We already completed two major projects. The first, a large wall located on Crawford grounds. Each member had a section for themselves to work with. The second project was in CIT’s Radio Station on the Bishosptown Campus – many of you may have seen
this while passing, if not check it out. We have a few up and coming events scheduled for the next few months including more work on the Bishopstown Campus. New members are welcome from all campuses within CIT. Urban Art is a new way of expressing yourself and it is really good fun. If you are interested, please contact the Societies Office.
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Sport & Societies Bree Downhill Intervarsities
This, the first year of the Downhill Intervarsities took place just outside the town of Enniscorthy, in a village called Bree. Conditions were good considering the fact that there was torrential rain just a day before, which cause the nearby river Suir to flood half the town of Enniscorthy and surrounding areas. The weather was a bit unpredictable but did in the end hold for the weekend. The way in which the Intervarsities were setup this year was by piggy-backing the official Downhill Winter League. One of the biggest advantages of this is the fact that it didn’t interfere with anyone who is part of an existing club outside college (most of which are) and also will not effect those who are sponsored by companies or manufacturers for racing, amongst other things. Having travelled down on Friday the 15th of January the CIT MTB team began their practise runs on the following day. While conditions remained clear the track did slightly deteriorate after a number of the final 175 entrants had completed a few practise runs of the track. With the track having become quite greasy it had become a little controversial about which lines would be the best to take on a number of parts of the track. Sections, particularly the near the top also presented the question whether it would be feasible to use certain jumps on the track as it had become increasingly difficult to make the landings, so many chose not to. With few injuries, the practise day went well. There were a number of rivalries present which added a bit of excitement to the overall weekend, as the first race of the Downhill calendar it was the race to set the standard. The following day started well. With few clouds in the sky, conditions were bright and suitable. The track not having changed much from the night before, still posed the same issues as found the previous day. The remaining practise runs ran until 11:00am which then gave marshals an hour to check the track for any obstructions or issues which may arise during the race runs. The race runs began at 12:00 with the first of the CIT riders starting their race runs at approximately 12:30 in the sports category.
The results of the runs for CIT’s entrants came as follows: Connor Nevin-Maguire Run 1 - 2:46.467 Run 2 - 2:31.593 Final place - 13 David Lewis Run 1 - 2:34.221 Run 2 - 2:33.917 Final place - 14 Gary Walsh Run 1 - 2:42.794 Run 2 - 2:46.098 Final place - 16 Brendan Duggan Run 1 - 2:51.042 Run 2 --Final place - 18 Eoin Dee Run 1 - 3:09.650 Run 2 - 3:53.432 Final place - 22
In the senior category we had two racing for college who placed as follows:
Business Ball 2010 We would like to thank all the students for attending the Business & Accounting, Tourism and Hospitality Ball that was held last month in Rochestown Park Hotel. The night got off to a great start with 330 people sitting down to a delicious meal, and we were then happily joined by another 1200 students for the afters. The night began with Big Generator and we rocked on ‘til the early hours with our favourite local DJs. From all accounts, everyone had a brilliant night (and possibly a painful morning). Over €700 was made for the Haiti Fund, and we hope that this will continue through the other various Balls over the next few weeks. We hope to host another few events before the year is over, so anyone with ideas feel free to approach us directly, or through the Societies Office. Again, thanks for all your support; you were the ones who made the difference.
Paul Lenihan Run 1 - 2:00.591 Run 2 - 2:01.978 Final place - 12 David Galvin Run 1 - 2:06.568 Run 2 - 2:09.489 Final place - 17
The while these were the overall results for the whole race the college results were taken from these and then the best college was chosen which in turn DIT was. Seanan O’Riordan (ADIT) took the men’s first place; Karl O’Riordan (DIT) took second while Richard Smith (DCU) was then put in third place. The overall results show that the team did finish in a good position. It was a good weekend with few scares with regards injury. With one racer having to be escorted via ambulance to hospital (who in turn was alright), it was more the overexcited ambulance driver who made it appear much worse than it was. Other than that it was an excellent way to start the annual event and hopefully there’ll be plenty more to come.
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Sport & Societies Munster Racquetball Intervarsities Championships “...racquetball offers a great alternative to the more popular college sports as it’s a game that can be played by all...” Tralee was the venue for the 2nd Munster Racquetball Intervarsities Championships where four Third Level Institutions from around the province battled it out for the honour of having their name etched on the trophy. Although it is a minority sport, racquetball is a rapidly growing indoor sport within the province and the success of this event will further enhance the growth and development of the sport within the most southern six counties. In an era where the participation in some form of recreational activity should be paramount amongst our young adults, racquetball offers a great alternative to the more popular college sports as it’s a game that can be played by all, irrelevant of their age, gender or standard of play. 49 Players from University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee gathered in the seaside town in a bid for honours in the 3 different divisions while the Munster colleges challenged for the overall trophy which was kindly sponsored by TJ Goodtymes. The top division was won by International Junior athlete, Ruaidhri O Rourke of BIT. In the final he had a tie-breaker victory over the competition’s reigning division 1 champion and former International Junior captain Johnny O Keeney from CIT. In the division 1 semi finals were Adrian Cronin and Ronan Kinane, both from CIT.
L S M G S L V T U N I O N V F
U L V A R T U A A A O F R Z X
T L C K R A N C Q S V B B C B
A A R W M C X E N H C J F I W
D B A P K F H O D A D E X N S
S O C I E T I E S U X Y O E Y
V S D J U T K T W V T Q F U P
H X Y S C N P I M G O S J W M
N S T E B N H C H W S M E V J
N I L K O T H I X S X B S X K
C E B Y N P U L B U S L X W Z
H P K J L U A P G I V N E L I
L S T J I S S X T T I G V V D
U Z C V N H F E I I A F T B K
X K X S E I D D A P P B P B H
CIT athlete Michael John O Sullivan ruled supreme in the division 2 grade outscoring Connor Keane from ITT in the final encounter which the final was a strong contender for match of the competition resulting 11-9 in favour of the away team, while the beaten semi-finalists were Ailbhe Gill from ITT and Michael McCormack from CIT. The division 3 title was battled out from both players locally from the Kingdom County who were Steven Guilfoyle and Gavin O Reilly. The semifinalists of the division 3 were Chris O Mahoney and Rob Coleman, both from CIT. When the overall scores were tallied, CIT were named as the winners for the second year running ahead of ITT in second place and WIT in third spot. The winner’s trophy was presented to the victorious captain of CIT, Chris O Mahony. FINAL RESULTS WERE: 1. 2. 3. 4.
CORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TRALEE WATERFORD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK
69 POINTS 34 POINTS 23 POINTS 17 POINTS
This Month’s Prize: € 30 BALLS CITSU ELECTIONS EXPLICIT MARCH ONLINE PADDIES SOCIETIES STUDENTS UNION WEBSITE
Competition Rules: All Entries to be returned by deadline to the CITSU Office, 1st Floor Student Centre on official form. Open to CIT Students only and one entry per student.
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Last Month’s Winners: Fiona Buckley ELXE 1B (Spot Difference - €20 Voucher Class Cuts) & Ronan Kenny S1A (Wordsearch - €30)
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Drop in your competition entries to the Students’ Union office before 26th March 2010 in SAE. Winners notified and listed next issue
Fun Stuff Find
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Win â‚Ź20 Voucher for Class Cuts: Circle 5 differences in the top photo to enter
Competition Rules: All Entries to be returned by 26th March to CITSU Office on official form. Open to CIT Students only and one entry per student.
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