http://citsu.ie/publications/backissues/volume10/may2009 by CIT Students' Union

CIT Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union Magazine Volume Ten - Issue Eight

Year in Review

Summer Job Options

Editorial

Opinion

CITSU Safety Week 2009

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 Gearóid Buckley Eoin O’Loingsigh Elizabeth McCarthy David Perez-Lopez

Adam O’Brien Aoife Kelliher Vicky O’Sullivan Niall English

CIT Students’ Union President - Gearóid Buckley (supresident@cit.ie) Vice President Education - Adam O’Brien (sueducation@cit.ie) Vice President Welfare - Thomas Lynch (suwelfare@cit.ie) Entertainments Officer - Rebecca Liston (suentertainments@cit.ie) Projects Officer - Chris Scanlon (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.

Hi All, Well it’s the last issue of the year, but what a year it’s been! I hope ye all had a great year and that I’ll see you all back next year for another year of great craic. To the fourth years I wish you the best of luck in your exams and in the future and hope you do well in life. As for the rest of you best of luck also in your exams, you know the drill so let’s get them done. Any of you that have a failed a subject or two, I hope you do a bit of study over the summer and get that exams in august and I’ll see you in September. I hope the summer is a good one for you all, God knows we need it and if you do anything interesting why not write an article or two and send them on and we’ll get them in the first issue next year. In closing I would like to say a big thank you to all the people who took part in all the CITSU events without you they just wouldn’t have been any fun. Have a great summer and please God we’ll see you all back in September. And if you see me during the summer make sure to say hello. Again thank you to all and have a good one,

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.

We Need You! If you would like to contribute to expliCIT please contact Philip in the Publications Office, 1st Floor, Student Centre or email: info@expliCIT.ie

Your friend Killian Hughes SUCommunications ☺☺☺

Latest News news in brief

CITSU Safety Week 2009

CITSU President to Fight Fees as Labour Party Local Election Candidate CITSU President, Gearóid Buckley recently met with Labour Party Leader, Eamon Gilmore to discuss strategic plans to fight government plans to reintroduce college fees and also hit the education sector with further cut backs. Gearóid vehemently stated that “it is important the fight against batty government policies is continued well into the summer. The government sees this period coming up to examinations and during the summer as key dates to further launch anti education policy in Ireland. So far we have signed petitions, campaigned to our local TD’s, marched on the streets of Cork and Dublin, and held many demonstrations on and off campus, however I believe it is now time to take it to the next step. Such a step involves entering the political arena and taking on this country’s fat cats on their playing field.

Students are an easy target as it is widely known that we don’t vote. However it is now time to hit this bewildered government where it hurts, at the polling station”. Gearóid carried on to say that “students should spend a few minutes getting to know each candidate in the upcoming local and European elections, thus ensuring they make an informed choice.” Fees weren’t the only items on the agenda as the frozen grant, and the increase in registration fees were also discussed in conjunction with further cutbacks proposed by government. The Labour party has stood by students since such cutbacks began last year, and has vowed not to change party policy as they believe investing in education can only strengthen our long term commodity in attracting industry and developing local businesses.

Cork Institute of Technology Students’ Union hosted their fifth annual “Safety Week” on campus on Monday 21st April 2009. With over 8000 full time and 4000 part time students and staff in CIT, the Union believed that it is apt to highlight issues of grave concern such as road, fire and personal safety. Thursday was the highlight of the week, which began with the symbolic laying of 279 crosses on the Courtyard Circle to represent the lives lost on Irish Roads in the past year.

Student Centre Cease Fire CIT Students’ Union have temporally ceased fire with college management over plans to relocate administrative functions to the . Talks are on going and all parties involved have realised that the best way forward is relook at the over all plan. For economic and market trends the possibility of a bar is now off the cards. However with such an opportunity to develop the Bishopstown campus as a social hub lost, the space may be used for another purpose. The Students’ Union are now looking for suitable alternatives for the remainder of the units in the Students Centre. If you feel the Student Centre should offer a particular service or commercial outlet please let the Students’ Union know. Whatever your ideas are, no matter how wacky or off the wall, as long as they enhance student life in CIT. Please forward any ideas to supresident@cit.ie, or drop them into the SU office.

OFFICIAL CIT Students’ Union END OF EXAMS BBQ - Tues 26th Bus and Admission to Nightclub for a paltry €6... Starts off at McCarthys Bar and Bistro from 8pm Tuesday 26th May Tickets from SU Office. Valid 18+ IDs Essential. ROAR.

Latest News International Students Society Win National Society of the Year On the 15th of April, CIT International Student Society took centre stage at a Gala Ceremony in Athlone where they were awarded National Society of the Year by BICS, the Board of Irish Colleges Societies. The Society, which was awarded with the CIT/AIB Society of the Year, is a previous winner of the National Award in 2006 when the event was hosted by CIT. Throughout the year the society organised such events as an International dinner, cultural trips to Dublin, Belfast and Galway, dinner on Christmas

Day, as well as many charitable and sporting events. Congratulations to the hard working committee of Marta Kramarek (Chairperson), Marta Blaszczyk (Vice-Chairperson), Michael Lazarczyk (Secretary), Arun Sheel (Treasurer), Berta Carballido (IT Officer) and Ezgi Muderrisoglu (Public Relations Officer). Also many thanks to the ISS society members who attended and supported the events so well throughout the year. Aoife Kelliher Societies Office

CITSU Launches Second Hand Book Shop Service CIT Students Union has launched a second hand bookshop scheme to cater for the urgent need for not just budget books but also second hand texts. Students who have no more use for their old academic texts may bring them into the SU office. Here they will be stored and sold on behalf of the Student. Once the book is sold. The student can claim the cash from the sale of the book from the SU office. CITSU President, Gearóid Buckley, stated that “as the college has failed to supply a service that is long over due, we feel it is now more than ever such a service is an option to students”, “currently all sales of second hand books is done on an adhoc basis and sometimes the full value of the books are not realised as stu-

dents are under pressure with their studies.” CIT Students’ Union are calling all students whom are finishing with their academic texts to bring them into the Students’ Union office and get cash for them. Gearóid continued “At the end of each academic year, the very last thing a student will want to do is try and sell their books, so after the exams I would urge all students to drop in their books to the office for resale.” The sooner you bring the book in the faster you’ll have the cash. It also means someone looking for the book will have it sooner.

€10,000 Raised for Charity During RAG Week 2009 Congratulation and thanks to the students and staff of CIT whose generosity is once again evident by the substantial amount raised during Rag Week 2009, as well through other charitable events and fundraisers throughout the year (including the Coomey Headshave where over €750 was raised for the Irish Guide Dog Association and the ‘Catering Students Beard Shave’ which raised over €1,000 for the Baby Alanna Appeal). Below I have outlined the worthwhile charities who will receive donations from the Rag Week fund this year: Sonas (Donation - €1,500) Sonas Special Junior Primary School caters for children with autism and currently caters for twenty four students aged from three to five years. The donation given will go directly to the funding of social outings for students which is vital for children with autism. Brothers of Charity – Southern Services (Donation €1,000) The Brothers of Charity provide a range of age-appropriate services to over 600 people with intellectual disability in the Cork & Kerry Region. These services include day, residential, multidisciplinary support services respite and family support services. They also provide an adult respite facility to adults in the region. They aim to enable each service user to access the highest standard of service based on their individual requirements. East Cork Parents & Friends of the Mentally Handicapped (Donation - €1,000) ECPFMH are a voluntary organisation and self support group for parents and families for the mentally handicapped of the East Cork are. Their projects include a summer school which offers the parents and families of the mentally handicapped a well deserved break and also provides on going companionship, education and fun filled summer for the mentally handicapped. School of the Divine Child – Lavanagh Centre Cork (Donation - €1,000) The Lavanagh Centre recently installed a wheelchair accessible roundabout in the school garden using monies from various sources including from previous donations from Rag Week funding. Patricia Harrington, principal stated, “You cannot imagine the sheer joy the children experience when playing on the roundabout”. The money donated from this year’s Rag

Week fund will go towards the installation of a wheelchair accessible swing. The Special Olympics – Munster Region (Donation €500) The mission of Special Olympics Ireland is "to provide yearround sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community." Special Olympics athletes benefit socially, emotionally and physically as a result of participation in the programme. Childrens Medical and Research Foundation, Crumlin (Donation - €500) Children are our future. The Children's Medical & Research Foundation is dedicated to the improvement of children’s health. Their function is to inspire and support the philanthropic spirit in individuals and organisations. They invest our donations in outstanding paediatric care, research and education to help children at Our Lady's, and throughout Ireland. All donations that made will have a lasting effect on the care and treatment and prevention of childhood illnesses. Kisses from Katie (Donation - €500) Alan and Vickie Manning are an Irish couple now living in the US. This is their story. “On May 19th 2008, our first daughter, Katie, came into the world. Unfortunately, on May 21st our brief euphoria was interrupted by the news that our Munchkin had a rare congenital heart defect, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). The next 175 days were draining yet uplifting, heartbreaking yet inspirational. After an intense battle Katie passed away on November 9, 2008. While she may be gone in body, Katie’s impact will be felt for a lifetime. Vickie and I hope to honour our daughter’s life by creating an organisation that supports other families that need to spend extended periods in the hospital. Vickie and I are a couple left mourning the loss of our angel. However, we are also a couple that has been inspired by our daughter to make a difference. This is our celebration of Katie’s life”. Threshold, Cork (Donation - €1,000) Threshold was founded in 1978 and is a not-for-profit organisation. Cork Threshold provides information and advice to stu-

dents who seek support to resolve their housing problems which range from deposit retention, illegal eviction, repairs, to landlord/agency breach. The Cork Deaf Association (Donation - €500) The Cork Deaf Association is committed to the empowerment of deaf and hard of hearing people in Cork city and county through the provision of information, advocacy and support services. They aim to achieve a more inclusive society, where deaf and hard of hearing people enjoy equality of opportunity, independence and full citizenship. The Irish Pilgrimage Children’s Trust (Donation - €500) The IHPCT, each year, pilgrimage to Lourdes with young people with special needs. The children are cared for by voluntary helpers, including CIT students, doctors, nurses and chaplains, most of who pay for themselves, and travel at their own expense. Cork ARC Cancer Support House (Donation - €500) This is a voluntary organisation established to provide a holistic centre in which people with cancer and their families can find emotional support and practical help. Their aim is to provide therapies that complement the medical model, so as to make a difference to the lives of those affected by cancer. Spina Bifida – Individual Case (Donation - €500) A teenager who has batted with Spina Bifida and scoliosis since her infancy and against the odds has learned to walk. She is now in need of long term medical assistant for which she has to travel abroad. This donation will help in some small way to relieve the financial pressures which she and her family face. Chernobyl (Donation - €1000) This donation will contribute towards medical, humanitarian and development programmes to communities and families affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Thanks you to all the magnanimous sponsors and supporters of CITSU Rag Week, particularly to CIT Societies Office, CIT Students Services Co (canteen), The Bank of Ireland, The Outpost, Eden Hall, Parchment Square, Deans Hall, Centra, Cubins and The Bailey. Vicky O’Sullivan, CITSU General Manager.

Union Address CIT Students’ Union President CIT Students’ Union recently set up camp outside the gym for a few days with bouncy castles to help alleviate exam stress. Alas the final countdown is on. Space in the library is a luxury and the glorious weather is a student’s worst nightmare at this moment in the academic year. An academic year which for the most part has flown, protesting on the streets of Cork seems so far behind us now. The issue of batty government policies is still on the cards as many other local issues haven’t been resolved. It is probably very easy for me to go on one final rant of the year and speak once again on how CIT has failed to meet the needs of the modern student, however as this is my final address for this year I’ve adopted the more pleasant approach. The cancellation of Christmas day, demonstrations against management and heated arguments are now behind us and we should take a look at how CIT has improved over the past year. We’ve seen the development of the student IT infrastructure this year, which is heavily accredited to a lot of hard work and vision from both Ger Culley and Philip O’ Reilly. CIT has said good bye to one of its founding fathers Dr. Brendan Goggin, and his replacement will be appointed by the time you come back in September. We’ve seen a CIT student Aiden O’ Halpin don the honour of Miss Cork. The sports office and the societies office have against the strains of Semesterisation delivered National and International awards. We’ve come along way and this must be accredited to a number of staff and students Institute wide, thank you and congratulations to all. Examinations & Semesterisation As this is exam season I’d like to remind you that there is a grinds list available from our office. If you need to talk or just release some stress please call up to see us. If you find yourself in a situation where you are feeling ill, missed an exam or are facing personal issues, don’t forget we are here for you, just call up, normally issues can be solved easily enough. It is widely known my thoughts on Semesterisation are quite negative, however I hope I’m proven wrong in June when examination results come out and show an upsurge in success rates. Many students feel aggrivated that they are guinea pigs for the new system and feel their education is put on the line for the sake of the long term future of the Institute. I can assure you such treatment is not in vain as the management have tried to fix issues as they arise. Let’s

hope, I will be prepared to inform first year students on the benefits of Semesterisation next September. Final Curtain for some students For many of you this is the very last ExpliCIT you will pick up from the canteen. As you all face the final curtain there probably isn’t much time to reflect on the past three or four years. You may think that CIT will live on after you have gone and you were only a number, but I can gladly say such a mentality couldn’t be more further from the truth in particular taking in mind the cohesive class groups that we have developed over the years. As most of you know I should be graduating this year with my fourth year business class. The canteen, the corridor and library will be a different place, new faces, new friends etc. Yet I hope the same community spirit will flourish with next years first years. To all of you who are graduating, I wish you the very best of luck and may your future bring you great fortunes. At the recent Students’ Union Class Rep Awards night I was honoured to announce that I would be proud to work with any CIT student in the future. Over my years as a student here I have learned that unlike other third level colleges, CIT students are unique, they care about their studies, and their friends and can also encompass a bit of craic into their everyday business. Entertainment & Christmas Day Next year we want entertainment to be fresher, bigger and better. We need new inventive ideas, so please forward them on during the summer, no idea is too weird and all will be considered. During election season Christmas Day was hot on every candidate’s tongue. I can assure every student, Christmas Day will go ahead next year. Before I sign off, I would just like to thank everyone who has made this year so memorable, in particular, all those who helped out with campaigns, entertainment and most importantly the executive. It has been great to work with Adam, Thomas, Killian, Becky and Chris this year, and I look forward to working with next year’s team. We’ve already started work on my manifesto plans for next years so I envisage CIT will be a better place next September. For those of heading away for the summer, enjoy yourself and be careful. Everyone who is staying around for the summer, make the most of it. Take advantage of what Ireland has to offer. Gearóid

CITSU Projects Officer Well all! It’s a sad day! My last explicit article. (AWW!!) I hope everyone is good. Exams time is here! Everyone is stressing out my advise . . . don’t sweat it. Just put a bit of work in and ye will be grand. A big thank you to everyone who has helped out during the year! It was much appreciated.

Opinion

Also I hope everyone had a good year themselves. If ye have any ideas on improvements or anything like that just give them to the next bunch of people stupid enough to do this (HAHA only messing). Any way lads enjoy the summer wherever you end up, be it home or abroad and I look forward to seeing you all on the corridors next year. G’luck Chris

CITSU Entertainments Officer As the year is coming to a close, and so too is my time as an officer, I would like to thank all the people in the union offices for all their help throughout the year. I would also like to wish all the officers the very best for the up coming year. The experience I have had, and the friendship I have formed this year will stay with me for life. I must give special mention to one of these friendships, for this person’s help and advice enabled me to do my job and really has had a BIG impact on me this year. Thanks Mick!

Opinion

Thanks to you all for the help and support you have given this year and I really appreciate it all. Good look in the exams and when they are done, don’t forget to hit the town hard and make it a night to remember before you all move back home or go away for the summer!! Fact of the day: 85% of men, who die of heart attacks during intercourse, are found to have been cheating on their wives. Becky Liston Entertainments Officer Cork Institute of Technology

Class Rep Awards

CITSU Honours Hard Working Volunteers Cork Institute of Technology Students’ Union paid tribute to Class Representatives and the Student Entertainments Crew at an evening held at the Oriel House Hotel on 28th April 2009. In total, six special achievement awards where given to students who have volunteered throughout the academic year.

CITSU also acknowledged Mr. Sean McIntyre who retired this year as Returning Officer of the Students’ Union. Mr. McIntyre provided essential guidance and oversight to the SU elections over the past seventeen years. He was presented with a specially engraved cut glass piece by Mr. Ken Curtin, former Students’ Union President, who took over as Returning Officer this year.

No J1, No Job, No

A guide to help you find work this summer Last month we featured a survival guide for those whom are leaving for what Borat would call the “great US and A”. In response to this feature article we received many emails from students asking the question, why stay in Ireland for the summer. Quite frankly a summer here in Ireland is what you make of it. It’s quite easy for many to dismiss the chance to cut turf in Carrisigveen or weather permitting sell ice creams to Corkonians in Youghal, especially now as summer jobs have become somewhat of a luxury. However my experience has taught me to make the most of all opportunities, and to be fair Ireland does have a lot to offer the average student or adventure enthusiast. While researching for this article discoverireland.ie threw a lot activities into the mix, Take a look, although most of the adrenaline bursting activities come with a price tag, there are many adventures for the budget or paupers pocket. I can understand how hill walking may sound unattractive, but climbing up Carrantuohill is no mean feat. If you and your friends set aside two or three days a month for full activities, you’d be amazed to see the accumulation of experiences coming back to college in September.

If you have a job at all you are one of the lucky ones. If you have a stable job you can count yourself extremely lucky. But what happens if you suddenly find yourself unemployed? Many of us literally cannot afford to sit and wallow in it, recession or not there are still bills to be paid and food to be bought. So how do you get a new job in the middle of a recession? And can embarking on a job hunt at such time actually be a blessing in disguise? Whilst there are no guarantees to finding a new job, there are some steps that you can take which may help to put you on the right track and could result in a resolution to your recession woes. What do you really want to do? Before you embark on a job hunt it is really worth thinking about what you want to do. Yes, these may be difficult times but it doesn't mean that you can't at least try to get some enjoyment out of your working life, after all those eight working hours are a large chunk out of your day. So assess the situation.

Be open minded

As well as the abundant of indigenous entrepreneurs trying to satisfy both the adventure junkie and sedate student, there are numerous one off events. The list is endless but I suppose three that are on many of your calendars already are Oxygen, the Crosshaven Regatta and the Bandon Music Festival.

This really is the key to finding a new job in the recession. So often we put ourselves in a box as far as jobs are concerned and block ourselves from embracing new possibilities. For example, thinking that because you have only ever worked in an office you can only do office work or because you have been trained in a certain way that you can't ever break away from that and try something different. Break free from the mould!

Headlining Oxegen this year are the Killers and Kings of Len, however with ticket prices up to €244 for a 3 day camping pass, there is a direct saving by attending Bandon’s free music festival where both Mundy and Mick Flannery will steal the show. Also locally will be the Crosshaven regatta, so make sure your boat shoes are scrubbed and your Tommy Hilfiger shirt is cleaned as crowds will land at the shores of Corks very own D4.

There are many skills that are transferable and valued in a variety of careers. So you dealt with customers working on a shop floor? Similar people skills are used serving customers in a café or dealing with guests in a hotel. You articulated and explained new ideas and concepts to colleagues in presentations and meetings? Similar communication skills are vital in a teaching career. A bubbly personality can lead to a career in sales.

What ever you do this summer, ensure you do so in a safe manner taking all the precautions that are necessary, but as I said above, make it your own make sure you don’t wish your summer away, as a couple of years from now you’ll be lucky to get a two week break. I understand to take part in a lot, one will need quite a bit of money, and jobs are too and far between in this current climate. After first year I worked in a Spanish bar for the summer. A Dubliner who ran her own employment agency frequented this bar every weekend, and I recall her boasting at how busy she was. Her big claim was that clients would arrive in on a Monday morning looking for job, be in work for Wednesday and be back at her doorstep on Monday. However this couldn’t’t be further from the truth today.

Before you start you need to look at your CV. This is an essential tool and more often than not is the first impression that any potential future employer will have of you. This is not the time to be modest. In these tough times a good CV is critical. You need to sell yourself and your skills, making your CV stand out from the crowd. There is plenty of help out there, from online CV services to careers advisers to books, which offer tips for an effective CV. Check out www.careersandcounselling.com for more CV tips.

So when your looking for a job over the next few weeks be open minded, use your initiative and don’t forget your rights.

So your unemployed for the summer? The closure of many businesses in addition to recruitment freezes are just two factors which contribute to the fact that there are very few job vacancies around.

Make sure you buy a paper Naturally, once you have thought clearly about what it is you might like to do and started revising your CV you need to see what is available out there. It may seem obvious but so many jobs are still advertised in the local papers and this is no different in Cork. Each week, the Evening Echo advertises a variety of jobs available all over the county. The Internet is possibly one of the greatest resources for jobs. There are many online recruitment agencies, which are easy to join and you can upload your CV at the click of a button. It is also a good idea to look up companies that you fancy working for and browse their website. If you are

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Many company websites have their own job section where current vacancies are posted and often this is one of the best ways to see exactly what is available. Also, unless they have also advertised in the newspaper or through recruitment websites, company websites will reach a smaller audience, therefore decreasing the competition and increasing your own chances of success.

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Drop in It is extremely difficult to get a true impression of someone from their CV so if you can go in person with your job application, whether it be speculative or not, it is always a good idea. After all personality counts for a lot and if a prospective employer gets to see you as well as your application it could just enhance your chances. However, if you are going in person you need to remember three things: style, conduct and conversation. Make sure that you are suitably dressed, are polite and considerate to everyone you meet and that your language is appropriate. First impressions go a long way; all the qualifications and skills in the world can't make up for bad language and a lack of manners!

Be your own boss When we think about job hunting we usually think about being employed but how about being the employer? Your own boss. Never having to answer to anyone but yourself ? Well, believe it or not the recession may provide you with the opportunity.

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Many entrepreneurs have often looked at periods of economic meltdown as opportunities, the chance to find a gap in the market, to introduce a new business idea or concept. Be creative, sometimes it can just take unique idea that can fill that gap and can be marketed to the buying public. And these days many businesses can be started online in the initial stages, saving on renting or buying premises. You can work from home fitting your work around your family or lifestyle. However be realistic, have a plan, speak to business advisers as well as others who have taken the plunge and survived. See how financially viable your plan is and whether it really does stand a chance in the current climate. At the same time have courage; nothing great was ever achieved without it! Activity, perseverance and determination can pave the way to success but only you can make it happen. So go on - get out there and just see what you can achieve! Although the whole world seems to be closing in, there are still opportunities for students to enjoy the summer. So get out there and find one and above all enjoy your summer

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Year in Review Exclusive

CIT ‘08/09 Year in Review by CIT Political Society Chair Eoin O’Loingsigh

An awful lot of things are planned and are working in the background around CIT. Very often the student body doesn’t know about items until they are either fully operational (wifi) or fail miserably (crèche). This is my few cents on what has been happening, and what will be happening around CIT.

part of the project, so it hasn’t really been hit by to the economic turmoil. Secondly, that plan intends on implementing the park and ride system within the next two years. That timeline was confirmed in late April this year. It’s coming, slowly, but its coming, and despite the best efforts of some CIT elements we may actually have a park and ride in 2011. . .Yay! And for all ye doubters, even the opposition parties actually agree with the timeline on this one!

Parking and all that jazz Okay, I’m going to start this by quoting a long standing local politician, who has been working with CIT student reps and local residents for many years now. “CIT currently has 15% paid parking… this time next year it is generally expected that that will be 20 – 25 %, with that increasing in coming years.” All of the local councilors are opposed to the imposition of parking charges in CIT. Recently a motion has been put to the City Council by Cllr. John Buttimer which, would require any business or institution with over 25 parking places to have included with their planning permission any intention to charge for parking. This is to rectify the situation currently where the Council is powerless to restrict any increase in pay parking in CIT in the interest of students, etc. So the City Council is trying, but pay parking is here, and no one but the college head management is in any position to change that or restrict an increase in the number of paid spaces. Bet we’re all jumping for joy on that one. On the upside, there is a major infrastructural project planned for the area between the Carrigrohane Straight and the South Link. (Basically from the greyhound track and passing somewhere on the Ballincollig side of Edenhall, and on to the Straight Road. Bad news, it’s a 15 year project. What it will include (hopefully) is a link straight from the South Link to the Straight Road, a turnoff from that link to CIT, coming in somewhere around the tiered car park, a large enterprise park with CIT, UCC and the City council all involved, and the long awaited park and ride. Now, I know we’re all doom and gloom, and that’ll never go ahead/affect me, etc… but this will. At the moment they are in the public consultation period, finding out what people actually want/need. This is the cheapest

Finally, I guess it wouldn’t be parking in CIT if I didn’t finish on a bad points - paid parking/disc parking/residents permits only… yup. A selection of those lovely words will be on signs on a few roads and residential estates around Bishopstown in the coming year. Students who reside in a house on any affected street during the college term will be able to get permits, but it’s the start of a clamp down on parking in residential areas around CIT. It’s happening whether we like it or not, after all it is a residential area. It makes sense, but only if some alternative is found to replace the affected spaces until the park and ride is up and running. Fortunately, park and ride will be online before anything like a large proportion of Bishopstown is disc parking. To sum up, some people are going to be looking for some money in coming years for parking around CIT, but the truth of the matter is NO FEAR, PARK AND RIDE WILL BE HERE!!

Super-IT-men Here are just some names and if you meet these people, shake their hands. • • • •

Ger Culley (IT Computer Services Manager) Aidan McDonald (Head of Networking) Padraig Sugrue (Administration Banner MIS) Philip O’Reilly (SU Publications Manager)

There have been significant improvements to the IT infrastructure in CIT over the past year. From Smart Cards to wireless internet and of course the universal student email system. These are just a few projects that were undertaken this year to drag us from the disgraceful position we were at to now being almost on par with other colleges. Of course, there is a lot more to be done, given what was achieved this year instills confidence that no other department in CIT has ever shown.

Year in Review Smart Cards that can do more than get you a fiver off entry to Cubins, now have so much more easily accessible potential. Thanks to Ger and Aidan we have an integrated computer print/copy station network. Ger and Aidan also gave us Student Wireless and next year you’ll see other projects IT staff have been working on including the full use of our student blackboard system. Notes, exam papers, assignments, results, will all be available in the one place, on your own personal blackboard. The SU had been promised a free student email system for years. Similar systems have been in place all over the country for years. They have been essential in increasing, and in some cases creating, communications between the college administrators, lecturers, the SU and students. With the introduction of the email system, you are now personally alerted to all major goings on, be it the Bealtine Festival, or the Semester 1 repeats – it’s all there. Also, posing questions to a lecturer or Head of department is no longer a matter of camping outside an office for a few days. It’s simple, straight forward, and it’s accessible to everyone. I suppose a quick note on how this all came to order is needed. It was quite simple in the end; six words from the SU. “You do it, or we will.” The SU got completely fed up with constant promises and no action on these issues. Last summer, the SU Publications Manager, Philip, was instructed to start work on an email system for all students. Early in Semester 1, an email went out to all the departments in the college offering all the students in their departments an email system. As ever, certain people in certain places saw this as an affront, and got annoyed. Ultimatum time – “if CIT doesn’t have a student email up and running by end of semester one, the SU will launch theirs…” Ger Culley, IT Manager, is a new addition to the college. He didn’t go down that old “this Presidency will never negotiate with students” route; instead he encouraged the SU to work with the college. Ger was instrumental in identifying experienced personnel within the Institute in the IT department, administration & MIS, and the Students’ Union. This was the first major IT project undertaken with these various departments and the Students’ Union. In Ger Culley, we have an IT manager who got the Students’ Union, College IT department and administration department working together. Then he stepped it up a gear, and brought a huge range of experienced staff together to deliver everything else. Working together is not something any set of public service departments would struggle with. These projects were completed by many talented people in this Institute, but the success of this story is how they were all brought together with the assistance of the new IT Manager. He did that in a very short space of time, and it is something most others in the college still can’t master. What an example to the rest of CIT management, staff and students. Top marks on pulling the preverbal finger out and bringing CIT from an IT disaster area with “closed access”, to now being somewhere on a par with the rest of the Irish 3rd level education system. I know there are many others involved, from Adam and Gearoid in the SU for constantly chasing after people to get stuff done, to the guys who plugged in the photocopiers, staff who created each email account, and everyone in between, just wow. There has of course been a kink or two, but its there and working. Well done. They just dragged CIT’s student’s facilities kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Now those are the people who deserve the €22,000 portraits on the college walls.

Our ‘Student Centre’ Our Student Centre; between it and parking there’s always something to give out about. Most of us have heard of the recent ‘issues’ surrounding the vacant units in our Student Centre. Management wanted to put admin offices in, i.e. transfer them from the purpose built admin building to the purpose built Student Centre, giving us 1.5 admin buildings, and half a Student Centre. If that had happened, then without a shadow of a doubt, student input over the affairs of our Student Centre would not have lasted very long. That, in fact, you can be absolutely certain about. So, good news, it hasn’t happened. Well done Students’ Union.

However, the question then arises, if the vacant spaces are now truly vacant again, what do we do with them? I believe the obvious suggestion is we use them. The plan has always been to provide some form of service or facility that the student body of CIT could do with. Bar or book shop, offices or outlets, common room or computer room, society room or sobriety room… the list of possibilities is exhaustive. The list of probable’s, not so much. First things first, the bar; the Student Centre will never truly become a Student Centre if it isn’t naturally the first place people go to for any big event. Be it Christmas Day (fingers crossed), or Artsfest, we need somewhere which is the heart of CIT. We need a social centre. At the moment the social centres are a friend’s apartment or one of the bars at the extremities of the student residential area. I believe that sentiment is echoed by the Student’s Union and to some extent by the College’s board of management. Sentiments are great, but the reality differs somewhat. Unfortunately the bar would cost €500,000 to put in place, before ever becoming a viable business. That sort of money is not available at the moment. If it was there, there are far more urgent things on the list. It’s just how it is. So we can’t have a bar. A book shop then? It would make sense, right? The college doesn’t have one, it’s a pretty mundane thing to have on campus; I mean you’d almost expect it to be here already. So far many major firms have expressed interest, but over the last four to five years or so, they have all fallen by the wayside. So the way forward now is for a smaller business to grab the opportunity. It’s a pretty safe investment, to be fair. It’s a college for flip sake; surely a book shop on a college campus is a no-brainer, no matter what the national economics are. Either way, I would expect to see the hard work by both management and SU paying off pretty soon, and a book shop materialising in some form, in one of the ground level units. Apart from that, there are a few offices which could, understandably, be admitted to some part of our Centre. The International Students Office or the Disability Office are purely student services for example, and if push came to shove and offices had to come in, I can’t see anyone objecting to them. Either way, we need to fill those units and bring a bit of a buzz to the place, day to day, not just on the big weeks. The addition of furniture to the ground floor goes along way towards that as well. It is a way of breaking up the large open space, and creating an atmosphere. It would make our Centre more of a focal point. Alright, so we get ourselves a book shop, and some important offices for students get a new home. That still doesn’t make it our Student Centre. It makes it the Student Centre. There is a very big difference there. The Student Centre has had more or less input from the student body into its physical appearance. The problem with the Student Centre is you could put admin offices in there. It’s entirely imaginable to have the remaining, or even some of the existing units used by the admin office, or some function of the managing structure in CIT. That should not be the case. It should be ours, and the suggestion that management of the college could move offices into the social and general heart of the college should be laughable. We need to make it our own. Having a second common room down stairs might help. That empty unit beside Bank of Ireland. The room is wired, but no electrical fittings, but apart from that, it’s a blank canvas. Even if it is used as just that, a blank canvas, during Artsfest? Give it a theme, and give to those who want to try. One wall sports and societies, divide one wall up between the departments, one wall to sports, hey presto, a few chairs and tables, wifi is already in the Student Centre, the shop is ten feet away, open the doors and let it spill out into the main open space. Hey presto, a genuine CIT Student’s Centre. It might not be the perfect idea, but I think it’s along the right track. The staff have shown us what they can do with slim resources – wifi, print stations, and the works. Why can’t we have a go? Right now it’s a building; make it a home for CIT. Overall By and large, I have to say that CIT has come some way this year. Bad timing to do all the improvements during a recession, but hell, it’s worked so far! There are a lot of little things left to do, but for the first time in my three years here, I can honestly say I think we’ll get there. Eoin O’Loingsigh, CIT Political Society Chair

Your Letters

Erasmus Student Exchange Experience at CIT I’m David Perez-Lopez, an Erasmus student coming from the University of Cordoba, Spain. I’m going to write some lines about my experience here. I hope you don’t get too bored with it. Perhaps you think I must be nuts for changing Spanish weather for Irish one but I think that the oportunity of going abroad with an Erasmus grant was worthy enough to do it, and I encourage you to have a try if you meet the chance. I came with a main target in my mind, doing my final degree project in Computing, and in the course of time, I’ve been adding some new goals to my to-do list; coursing a couple of interesting modules, visiting as many places as possible, improving my English as much as I can, meeting people from all countries, doing exciting activities… To tell you the truth, the first day I put a step in Cork in February was as I had expected, though I couldn’t help that feeling of surprise that overwhelmed me; grey sky, drizzle, people driving on the left side, different outlets in the wall, everything in English! I know you will be at least smiling by this time, but imagine that in Spain it’s the other way round so it was kind of weird for me until I got used to. Anyway, I had the luck of sharing the first month and a half here with the unquantified assistance of Luis del Moral, a Spanish classmate from my University that had already been here since September. He played a perfect guiding role for me, helping me to get on my bearings around CIT and the city centre for the first weeks.

and enjoyed a lot of funny situations trying to find the very well-known Charles Fort, do you remember folks? At this point, I’d like to thank specially the International Students Society (ISS), because of all the activities organized during this semester, pointing out the Quasar (lazer gun fighting) and Bowling, both of them rising-adrenaline activities, that later would lead us to the Old Oak pub, where I would meet Angelique and Lene for the first time. The International Dinner in 7th March, made possible for everybody to taste different dishes from all over the world enriching our gastronomic culture. Moreover, the trip to Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara & Kilemore Abbey was an unforgetable experience for all of us as well as paintball. We will never forget the party nights carried out in Parchment Square appartments or in the city centre, where a good atmosphere was always present at the same time as Guinness pints, although I must confess that I will be more remembered by my like for orange juice than for my booze-drinking aptitudes. Besides, I couldn’t imagine how it would have been my stay here without our ping-pong matches every Monday and Wednesday. I think I’ve even improved my technique thanks to all the different playing styles that met in the sports hall those days. And good news, I assure you that Chinese boys are not unbeatable at this sport. Turning back to my main target at CIT, I couldn’t miss to mention my project mates Kristian, Luke and Steve that helped me a lot with the achievement of our project application under the review of our cordinator Gemma McSweeney. Also the SSWD and Mobile Apps classes with Rob Miller and Karl Grabe as lecturers, and the classmates always in the mood to give a hand if it was requiered.

It didn’t take much for me to meet other Erasmus students since we had our welcome meeting by Margaret Mulderrig and Carmel Collins on February 2. As always, you tend to join other people closer in origins to you, that is how I met Rosana and Jordi, and later Emilio, Victor, Charo and Raquel also Spanish students at CIT, as well as the Spanish teachers Luis José and Ana, or the rest of all the huge Spanish community in Cork. But I knew that if I wanted to improve my English I’d better talk to people from other nationalities. In this way I met some Italian lads; Enrico, Davide, Michele, Giovanni and his friends and some days later, Baptiste from France, and Marcin and Gabriel from Poland. The two latters are classmates in a couple of elective modules which I chose at CIT.

Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude with this lines to my flatmates Chris and Killian that, since the first day, have always been giving me a good hand when I need it. I feel satisfied you have reached this paragraph, in this little tribute to all the people I’ve met here, most of them are not mentioned with names but you know who you are, and I won’t forget you guys for all the good times we have enjoyed and the ones that are still to come.

By the way, my first trip with them was to Kinsale where we did some trekking

David Perez-Lopez

Your Letters Darina Allen Visits CIT’s Bealtaine Food Festival 2009 "It's gives me great hope for the future to see the passion in these students" Despite the unpredictable Irish weather the Bealtaine Food Festival, held by Bar Management and Culinary Arts year 3, was a huge success. It was obvious to be seen from the beginning of the festival that the rain wasn't going to prevent any of the people from experiencing this wonderful event at CIT. Key industry figures such as Darina Allen, Peter Ward of Country Choice, Nenagh, Josef Finke of Ballybrado Organics, Kay Harte of the English Market, and many others brought a unique and exciting insight to Cork's forever growing traditions. Students from CIT and public alike got the wonderful opportunity to meet, greet and eat the huge range of the fantastic local fresh produce available from here in Cork and other counties within the Irish Industry. The aim of the event was to break down the barriers between the Artisan traditions and the contemporary lifestyles that surround the college. With today’s conscientious consumers it is important to establish sustainability in the Irish Industry to ensure future growth of Irish producers. On behalf of the class I want to give a special thanks to Darina Allen for taking the time out of her busy schedule to participate, the wonderful variety of stallholders that attended the Bealtaine Festival and the Students Union especially Gearoid Buckley, Mick O'Mahony and Killian Hughes for their continuous help throughout the event. And most of all I want to thank the students and the public for attending the event. It wouldn't have been the success it was without your participation. Elizabeth McCarthy

Smart Card, Not So Smart Planning... One may think it is great news, CIT launching an all in one ID card. Printing, identification and access are just one of the many features of the new chipped ID card. However in typical CIT style no improvement is without its short and long term problems. Although great offers and numerous emails from computer services have tried to ensure the smooth introduction of the new service, the lack of forward planning elsewhere has once again left the service much to be desired. The very first day the new card system was implemented, there were a number of issues that management refused to acknowledge.  There was no provision for students whom hadn’t topped up their ID cards. College management assumed that every student not only had a minimum of €10, but also had access to a credit or laser card. Students whom came to college with just enough money for lunch and a bit of photocopying were helpless. Management, however did finally understood such a provision and allowed student to pay cash for a limited time.  Secondly it appears CIT’s eagerness to catch up with WIT is once again evident. Management believe students have the spending power and plastic facilities that accompany their overpaid salaries. Students

could only top up their cards through the online system and not with traditional cash. WIT has a cashless campus, and it appears management believe such a policy can be forcefully implemented overnight.  Another sticking point was that the card office was only opened on a part time basis for week one of the new system. Student services management failed to grasp the reality of organisational management as once again they offered a part time service during peak service times. Imagine if the examination office closed next week. Nevertheless the problems accompanying the new card service will hopefully be outweighed by the long term benefits to all in CIT. CIT Students’ Union President, Gearóid Buckley complimented Ger Culley in Computer Services for his dedication and commitment to delivering to students. “Since Ger’s appointment last summer, IT services and facilities have developed and enhanced the student experience in CIT. mycit.ie, student wifi, and the new card system are a testament to his vision and belief in making CIT a better place for all. We must also reserve praise for Stephen in the card office, he has done all he can with scarce resources and is ensuring any individual problems students faced are quickly solved”. Gearóid Buckley

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Sport News

CIT “Balls of Sponge” Dodgeball Compete at Champs in the UK! The CIT “Balls of Sponge” dodgeball team is hoping to score the ultimate prize at the Doritos Dodgeball Challenge in London on 4th May. Answering a call to all dodgers to take part in the challenge, the CIT team has stepped up to the plate and will pit themselves against 26 teams from the UK who will compete throughout the month of May. The overall winning team from the UK Challenge will be crowned the Doritos champions and receive a £10,000 prize fund plus a trip to Las Vegas to play a one-off World Series match against the US champions, the San Diego Crossfires. Not only that, but the top team from the Irish teams will walk away with the title of “Irish Doritos Dodgeball Champions 2009” and win a fantastic trip for the six players to Las Vegas.

In a twist from the norm, the CIT “Balls of Sponge” will be facing a team of six lean, mean Dodgeball-firing cannons, built to battle the cream of UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man dodgeballing talent. A technological marvel, each cannon will be controlled by a member of the public (on their PC and from the comfort of their home via the Doritos website www.doritos.ie). The six cannons will be set up in a unique Doritos Dodgeball court located in Central London whilst the team from Cork ducks and dives in a bid to win the ultimate prize. Adam O’Brien, captain of the CIT “Balls of Sponge” team, showing the team’s fighting spirit says; “We are the cream of Munster, the best lads for the job at hand. We will win and beat everyone mercilessly!!!” For further information log on to www.doritos.ie

Fat Penguins Winners of CITSU Soccer Tournament ‘09

The road to the final was no easy one. The Fat Penguins had to come from behind in both their Quarter-Final and Semi-Final matches. The quarter final saw them nursing a serious hangover but they still managed to come from one down to win 2 – 1. The semi-final was a similar story. Although the team did look a little fresher, they again got off to a slow start, finding themselves two down in no time at all. However the Fat Penguins consistency and work rate paid off, as in the last 10 minutes of the match, “Player of the tournament” Paul O’Sullivan somehow managed to score a hat-trick against what seemed like an impenetrable defence. The match ended 3 – 2. The day of the final was an exciting one. An eagerly anticipated match was about to begin between the Fat Penguins and Huge-Ass United, who made the final with relative ease. The final got off to a slow start with both teams testing each other out. But it was Hugh-Ass United who broke the dead lock to go one up. This visible rattled the Penguins who found themselves 2 – 0 down within moments. However the second goal acted as a wake-up call as they finally started to play some real soccer. Again their hard work paid off against a much more physical team as within minutes of each other the score was all square at two a piece. This is where the game took a turn as Hugh-Ass started to use their physical presence to their advantage and took control of the match. Three goals without reply sent Hugh- Ass United on their way to an easy victory. The score was 5 – 2 with a mere 10 minutes to go, a look of resignation had come across the Fat Penguins faces. There shear heart could not be faulted as they never gave Huge-Ass’s defence a chance to catch their breaths.

It was determination that led the Penguins to find a gap in defence that lead to their third goal. This changed the match as the players and fans alike broke their silence. The safe hands of the “Keeper of the tournament” Damien O’Hea, allowed the Penguins to go all out attack and somehow, to the amazement of everyone, managed to score two goals in quick succession in the dying moments of the game to tie the game at 5 – 5. With a blow of a whistle the match was distend for penalties. There was no doubt the Fat Penguins had the advantage with nothing to lose after comeback bigger than Michael Jackson. Both teams circled around. The first four penalties went in, to the relief of both sides. With the Fat Penguins scoring their third, it took a finger tip save from O’Hea to deny Hugh-ass’s effect. However it didn’t last long as HughAss, their next penalty and Fat Penguins Jamie Hodnett lost his composure hitting the cross bar and what only can be called a moment of madness, pushed the goal posts over. After both teams collected themselves, they both managed to score their fifth penalty. This meant sudden death and with only five out-field players each it was the keepers who stepped up. First up was Hugh-Ass. And after a short run up, it was O’Hea’s chest that stopped it and sent the crowd into frenzy. After that, it all came down to one shot and it was Damien O’Hea who stepped up. The tension could be cut with a bread knife. And after a moment to collect himself, shot the ball, low and hard into the bottom left hand corner of the net to seal the deal. The fans cheered and chanted and swung their tops above their heads. They knew they had witnessed something special. Eat your heart out Manchester United! The Fat Penguins are the new comeback kids. This truly was the stuff of legends. The team was as follows: Damien O’Hea, Dan Murphy, Brendan Weathers, Dan Goulding, Paul O’Sullivan, and Jamie Hodnett.

Drop in your competition entries to the Students’ Union office before 20th May 2009 in SAE. Winners Listed on www.citsu.ie Forums

Fun Stuff

expliCIT Cross Word - Win Free Cinema Tickets! DOWN 1. Net 2. Zulu warriors 3. Lie down 4. Considerate 5. Detective 6. Clenched hands 7. Leaf of the talipot palm 8. Deprive infants of mother's milk 9. Sixty-eight in Roman numerals 10. Planning a time and place for events 11. Vassal 12. Brother of Moses 13. Brag 21. Seats oneself 25. Where birds live 26. A long narrow opening 27. Ore deposit 28. An ancient city in Asia Minor 29. The property of being smooth & shiny 30. An impressive display

31. Colored cloth 34. A blemish or scar 36. Dwarf buffalo 37. Amount owed 38. Nature of being 40. Note 45. Panache 48. Become bony 50. Whirlpools 51. Direct to 52. Memorable saying 53. Anagram of "Timed" 54. Timber uprights 57. Singer Fitzgerald 58. Trim 59. Expect with desire 60. In a little while (archaic) 61. A city in France 62. Signals in Morse code

Correctly complete the crossword and Return in an Envelope with Name / Contact Details to enter draw for a double pass for the Gate Cinema / Cinema World.

ACROSS

1. Exploits as much as possible 6. Poultry 10. A thick slice 14. Electronic letter 15. Genus of holly 16. Italian greeting 17. Backbone 18. A people of eastern Europe 19. Queen of the gods (Greek

E C E T C M I U S V S I V V R

S N O I T A N I M A X E V I N

S T I N Z H R S P P B T B E H

Z O L Z Q X Y S Q O E L T D R

P H C B A A S R R C I R C Q E

D A U I D G Q D H I T H M J X

mythology) 20. A form of Hindi 22. Psyches 23. It is (poetic) 24. Blanks at the start of a new paragraph 26. Very little 30. Farewell 32. Bum around

U C R I E K A N Q U I I C Y O

B R L T R T O M N O C N I A Q

O O A O Y L I I A A I S T M E

H P C F O X O E Y K L T S Y K

M J M G G N H L S J P I U O S

D V Y G R E M M U S X T Z W M

S T U D E N T S D A E U U O B

K M S Q I E N J O Y K T U B Z

33. Nimble 35. Cave or ravine 39. A peculiar form of expression 41. Mineral bearing rock 42. Prongs 43. Playfully harass 44. A young abandoned animal

Q U K K F M U O E I T E Z P P

46. Toffs 47. Hazy 49. An official emissary 51. Wireless devices 54. Mat 55. Biblical garden 56. Used 63. Renown 64. Sicknesses

65. A region of western Asia Minor 66. Breastplate 67. Skim or dart 68. Long period of time 69. Drenches 70. Barks 71. Western Samoan monetary units

This Month’s Prize:

MAY EXPLICIT MAGAZINE CORK INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS UNION CITSU PARTY SOCIETIES EXAMINATIONS ENJOY SUMMER HOLIDAYS

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.

Last Month’s Wordsearch Winner: Philip Whooley, DSE1