Sin Volume 13 Issue 8 by Student Independent News

FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER

VOL 13, ISSUE 8

30 JAN 2012

100% Graduate Employment in Electronic and Computer Engineering By Mark Kelly Students in the Electronic and Computer Engineering course (GY406) have had a lot of luck in the job market recently. The course has 100% graduate employment rate, one of very few courses in the country to boast this. Even more amazingly, over half the students usually have a

job secured before they are finished the course. While a report in October announced that 96.8% of NUIG Graduates were not currently seeking employment, last year only 47.5% of graduates had secured employment within the first year of graduating. However, 100% of students from the Electronic and Computer Engineering course

had secured employment within 12 months of finishing their course. With hundreds of thousands out of work, many of which are young people, it is surprising and uplifting to hear of such successful rates of employment. Dr. Martin Glavin, coordinator of the course, believes the employment rate is higher than 100%: “The actual rate would

be somewhere between 500% and 1000% because every graduate from the ECE programme now has a pick of five or ten jobs. Some of our graduates had jobs before they even sat their Christmas exams. Most companies are experiencing serious difficulties in recruiting good people in this space, because they simply aren’t there.” Continued on Page 2

Transparency, Accountability and Efficiency: The New USI Constitution By Eistear de Búrca The first major action of 2012 for the Union of Students in Ireland was to vote in favour of a new constitution, which has been developed over the past number of years. Its general aim is to make the work of the USI more efficient and effective, while at the same time anchored firmly in the democratic mandate of its electorate, the students of Ireland. At the SU Council of 16 January, quorum was not met to overturn the SU Exectutive’s decision to vote freely. However the votes that were received indicated a preference for free voting. At the congress the Constitution was passed. According to Colm Murphy, Vice–President of the USI, the Constitution essentially allows for a greater level of accountability. Motions for example will now be divided into two categories, officer mandates and student policies; mandates will be recorded and

always accessible online. “This will ensure that issues won’t be neglected – it will be easy to know exactly what any officer is supposed to be doing.” The Officerboard has been cut down to seven fulltime officers; one reason for this is to provide funds to hire more policy staff for research purposes etc, and thence increase the positive effect of the Union. Concerns have been raised by students that this move indicates a handing over of democratic power to unelected officials, but the USI has assured that Congress and the National Council are still in complete control and that all USI employees are completely accountable to them. Officers’ annual salaries shall now be matched to an equivalent grade on in the Irish Civil Service, and shall be cut by €100; the President shall be matched one grade higher than the other officers and shall receive an extra €400. Some issues have been raised in relation

to Art.5.12.3, which states that any Officer re-elected to a second or third term shall receive a long service increment. Re-elected Officers are deemed to

have more experience and knowledge of their responsibilities and thence due a higher salary – a potential increase of €20 a week. Emmet Connolly, NUIG’s

NUIG Campus Overrun by Bears

University Presidents Refuse Pay Cut

The University Bucket List

J1 Survival Guide

Election Special: ChessSoc Auditor

Style Report from the Commerce Ball

NUIG Student Scales Atlas Mountains

SU president expressed concern over this, saying that while it may be intended to increase institutional memory, “it seems to encourage people to run for multiple

terms, on promise of an increased salary, if nothing else.” However this did not prevent him from voting in favour of the Constitution. Continued on Page 2

Members of Slainte Society during the first day of the Teddy Bear Hospital in the Bailey Allen Hall.

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Construction Resumes in NUI Galway

Letter to the Editor

By Katie Finnegan

Dear Editor, I feel obliged to write to you in complaint about the use of discriminatory terms in the most recent edition of Sin. I refer specifically to piece in the “Overheard in NUI Galway” section on page 19 attributed to some girls chatting on the concourse. The brief conversation refers to “knacker drinking” as a synonym for binge, public or excessive drinking. The term “knacker” is a very generalist and derogatory term aimed at members of the Travelling Community who are regularly extremely alienated and discriminated against in many sectors of Irish society and many people, including myself, find the term offensive in the extreme. The Irish Travelling Community suffer enough discrimination as it is without our campus newspaper perpetuating negative stereotypes

There was a major boost for employment in the West of Ireland last week as NUI Galway announced the beginning of five construction projects on its city-centre campus. An estimated 400 jobs are expected to be created in the construction sector as work begins on five new buildings valued at €75 million. The projects were being developed last year but were forced to come to a standstill when construction company, McNamara went into receivership. Galway-based contractor JJ Rhattigan Construction won the tender for the construction works following a rigorous tendering process for the contract. They have been awarded the contract to complete three of the buildings including an arts, humanities and social sciences center,

beside the existing James Hardiman library, which aims to integrate work in the humanities, digital cultures, creative industries, business, social sciences, human rights, advocacy and public policy. Works will also begin on two buildings dedicated to biomedical science research – one on campus along the river Corrib at Dangan, and one on the grounds of University Hospital, Galway. JJ Rhatigan Co will also be overseeing these projects. All three should be completed by late 2012/early 2013, according to the university. An €8 million extension to the Arts Millennium building, where an expanding school of psychology will be located, is also being developed by the company. Construction on this has already begun, with access to some areas of the college, such as the Arts Millennium car park being cut off.

University President Jim Browne said he was delighted that “strategically important projects” were underway, bringing an immediate benefit to the local construction sector. “Concentrating resources on biomedical science and arts, humanities and social sciences research at NUIG will have a major impact on the medical technologies and the creative arts industries in the west of Ireland,” Dr Browne said. The new infrastructure requirements on campus stem from the rapid growth of research activity, in biomedical science for example, which directly supports the region’s vital medical devices industry. Infrastructure requirements are also being fuelled by dramatic rises in student numbers. Vice President for capital projects at NUI Galway, Keith Warnock says the developments are no longer

victim to the recession. He also said the investment in “world-class facilities” for students involved spending an estimated €750,000 a week on campus development. The University has invested heavily in state-ofthe-art learning, research and recreational facilities over the last number of years including the Kingfisher Sports Complex and the new engineering building that was officially launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny last summer. This four-story building has over 400 rooms and accommodates some 1,100 students and 110 staff. JJ Rhatigan was recently responsible for the redevelopment of the on-campus restaurant “An Bhialinn”. An Bialann is located under the podium slab to the front, or north face of the James Hardiman Library, a protected structure.

100% Graduate Employment in Electronic and Computer Engineering Continued from Page 1 He points out a few reasons as to why the graduates from the course are so appealing to companies “The reasons for it, I think, are many-fold: Firstly ECE (Electronic and Computer Engineering) graduates can find work in a number of industry sectors, and not just in the electronics industry. Secondly, ECE graduates are equally skilled in hardware and software, so they are popular with smaller companies who want

someone who can diversify. Also, the electronics industry is booming in Ireland as is the software industry ... Next, the biomedical, pharma, financial services and other industries that require hardware and software skills are doing very well in Ireland. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, the numbers entering the electronics courses have dropped in recent years in favour of going towards the more lucrative construction-related courses (Civil engineering, law, business,

accountancy etc.) during the construction boom.” Brian McGinley, a graduate of the ECE course feels the lack of IT graduates in this country contributes greatly to the large employment rate. Despite the downturn, the Irish export economy is booming at the moment. This expanding economy is led by companies mainly in the biomedical and technological sector. Unfortunately for the companies, but fortunately for recent NUI Galway graduates,

the demand for engineers skilled in software and hardware far outstrips supply. This means that in Galway alone, there are several jobs for every graduate who has the necessary hardware and software skills. In addition to jobs with multi-nationals, there is huge potential for local innovation arising from the course. With the IT market crying out for more graduates, this course is almost guaranteed to keep its extremely high graduate employment rate in the coming years.

Gearbox, winners of the second heat of Witless. Gearbox will perform in the Witless Final on Tuesday 7 February in the College Bar. Photo by Kieran Durcan.

about them with regard to excessive or otherwise antisocial alcoholism. I believe that such offensive and indeed, racist terminology and enforcement of cultural and racial stereotypes has no place in any newspaper, especially one which is produced by, paid for by and targeted at students. I believe that the Editor should issue an apology for such a transgression and ensure that the use of extremely offensive and discriminatory language is absolutely excluded from the campus paper for future editions. I do not believe that any offence was intended by anyone involved, especially the Sin Editorial Board who otherwise are doing a top class job, I would just like to bring attention to this issue. Kind Regards, Will O’Brien — Equality Officer

Transparency, Accountability and Efficiency: The New USI Constitution Continued from Page 1 A new position on the Officerboard, Vice President for Equality and Citizenship has been created, into which the positions of Equality Officer, LGBT Rights Officer and Environmental Officer have been amalgamated. In the past the Environmental Officer position had not always been filled; furthermore there were difficulties with trying to get individuals to fill these part-time roles and effectively perform their duties. Connolly was in complete favour of this move, saying that an issue can only be taken seriously in a full-time position: “it is much better to have a fulltime officer fulfilling multiple roles than multiple part-time officers who cannot put in the time to run effective campaigns.” Colm Murphy also pointed out that while hundreds of students all around the country willingly give their time to volunteer and help

out with Union activities as class reps etc, “people simply will not take on this amount of responsibility without being paid.” While some SU members were unsatisfied with this move, the USI are confident that the electorate were fully informed and that the decision reached is both efficient and economical. Time will prove whether this new Constitution shall indeed improve USI transparency and effectiveness. Other USI projects currently in progress include the High Court Case concerning the recent grant cuts which will take place on 23 - 24 February, a new Grant Scheme, scheduled for September 2012 which is intended to simplify the grants applications procedure, and the drawing up of a Qualifications and Quality Assurance Bill which is designed to help standardise and improve the awarding of qualifications in third–level institutions across Ireland.

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Editorial

I have a piece of paper tacked to my office wall entitled “Words We Don’t Say.” I came across it reading The 6th Floor, which is the New York Times Magazine blog. Being a dorky editor/ literary type I sometimes peruse the blog while sipping coffee and practicing my pretentious party laugh. It’s delightful. A kind of cascading titter. The laugh, not the blog. “Words We Don’t Say” came to my attention via a blog entry from Hugo Lindgren who took over from Kurt Andersen as editor of New York Magazine when he was fired for giving the publication “too much edge.” It’s disappointingly anemic on swear-words and filthy language, but it is a solid list of annoying words writers and editors sometimes use to sound clever, but come across as pretentious. A few examples and their suggested usage include ‘bigs,’ ‘don’ and ‘sport’ (“I donned my coat which sported a fabulous fur trim then doffed my cap to the bell-boy before heading to a fancy party full of bigs.”); ‘maven’ (“Smokies is a maven for creepers.”); ‘staffer’ and ‘Fin de siècle’ (“Most of the Sin staffers are too young to remember the fin de siècle, bless their cottons.”) However there are some words that slip past us. Not just annoyingly pretentious words, but offensive words. More offensive than swearwords and filthy language

(which can be pretty funny when used sparingly and well). In the last issue of Sin we used a term that caused some upset, and which my colleague Will O’Brien, the Students’ Union Equality Officer called to our attention. It is in fact a term that most of us use in everyday speech, without ever realising its origins. However the term continues to cause very real upset to the people it was originally intended to mock and offend. So while many of us do not mean any intentional harm by saying it, the reality is we are hurting members of our own community. I don’t expect I can have any influence on the usage of this term, but I will make this promise: you will not read it again in Sin. You may read Will’s letter on page 2 to learn more about the origins of this phrase, and I hope you too will consider a creative alternative. I was both embarrassed and upset to have made this mistake with so little awareness of the potential the term held to hurt fellow students and readers. It made me think of another situation, another term which one group of people used easily in everyday speech, which caused huge offence to the other group of people at whom it was directed. Imagine yourself in 1950s Mississippi to guess what it is. Or even just watch The Help (No, don’t watch The Help. I do not wish for a moment to inflict this terrible film on you dear reader. I’m merely trying to make a subtle point). At any rate, to my list of “Words We Don’t Say” I now add ‘knacker drinking,’ with my deepest apologies for any hurt it caused.

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Hundreds of Sick Teddy Bears Rushed to Hospital By Jessica Thompson Operation Ultimate Cuteness took place on NUI Galway’s campus on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 January last, as the seventh annual Teddy Bear Hospital was underway in the Bailey Allen Hall. Hundreds of children, between the ages of three and eight, brought their sick or injured teddy bears to the event, where they were taken care of by medical and science students who took on long difficult hours as doctors and nurses. The event was organised by the Slainte Society, the NUI Galway branch of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations, and up to 200 medical and science students, who

diagnosed and treated the teddy bears. The aim of the event was to allow children to get used to the environment of a hospital and help them to feel more comfortable around doctors and nurses, should they ever end up visiting a hospital themselves. This year, thirty-two primary schools took part in the event, and approximately 1,300 sick teddy bears were treated for sore ears, sick tummies, broken limbs, and all kinds of other weird and wonderful ailments. Commenting on the Teddy Bear Hospital, NUI Galway’s Societies Officer, Riona Hughes, said: “The Teddy Bear Hospital is a wonderful opportunity for the students to engage in a

meaningful way with the children in Galway City and County schools. “It is one of NUI Galway societies’ most colourful and endearing community outreach programmes and we are thrilled with its success. Congratulations to Slainte Society, who invite the children and their teddy bears on to campus for such a great reason.” On arrival at the Teddy Bear Hospital, the children went to a waiting room, which contained jugglers and face painters for the entertainment of the sick teddy bears, as well as their minders. After waiting their turn, the children brought their teddy bears to see a team of Teddy Doctors and Teddy Nurses, who had a range of

medical equipment on hand, should the sick teddy bears need them. The equipment included specially designed X-ray machines, and MRI machines, which helped with the diagnoses of many sick or injured teddy bears. Following the visit to the doctor, the children could take their recuperating teddy bears to the Teddy Bear Pharmacy, which provided medical supplies, as well as a range of fresh fruit from Total Price, and other medical supplies from Matt O’Flaherty. Once poor Teddy was feeling a little better, the children could bring them to enjoy a bouncy castle or visit an Order of Malta ambulance. Sin wishes all the sick teddies a very speedy recovery.

Children enjoying the games at the Teddy Bear Hospital organised by Sláinte Society.

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New Research seeks Patients’ and Publics’ Views on Arthritis By Martina Gannon

Osteoarthritis researchers at NUI Galway are involved in a new European project seeking to engage the views of patients and the general public at the earliest stages of their research. As part of the EUfunded GAMBA project, the researchers are appealing for osteoarthritis patients who would be interested in learning about new therapy approaches and who are willing to evaluate theses approaches from a patient’s perspective. The patients should be resident in Galway, be at least eighteen years old Explore_A5_2_Layout 1 24/01/2012 and be available for four

days in March 2012. The views of the general public will be sought at the beginning of summer this year. Participants will be introduced to the topics of innovative basic research into osteoarthritis during the consultation project, which is based at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine (REMEDI) at NUI Galway. Further information on gene therapy, stem cell research and nanomedicine will also be provided based on participants’ interest. Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease, which can have severe impacts 15:30 Page 1 on patients’ quality of

life. Most patients are affected at age sixtyfive, with women more commonly affected than men. Symptoms such as restricted mobility and pain can be alleviated and the progression of the disease can be slowed, but up until now it has not been possible to cure the disease. Dr Mary Murphy from REMEDI at NUI Galway claimed: “We are really planning to engage with the people who arguably know most about arthritis; the sufferers. What is it that patients need and want? Will it be possible to re-grow bones, to generate cartilage in the body and to stop joint inflammation effectively

in 20 years time? What risks and ethical aspects are associated with such visions? These are just some of the questions we want to discuss”. Dr Murphy added: “Until now, the evaluation of the risks associated with new health technologies are normally left to the experts. New therapy approaches usually don’t come to the attention of patients and society until they are tested in clinical trials or once the products are launched on the market. However, NUI Galway is actively inviting those suffering from osteoarthritis and the general public to contact them, so share their own insights with scientific experts.” Each of these interactive sessions will be supervised by experienced moderators who will ensure all aspects of the research are clearly and comprehensively explained to the patients. Researchers at REMEDI in NUI Galway are involved in developing new methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis as part of the GAMBA project. “The hope is”, Dr Murphy concludes is “that these enriched biomaterials could make a regeneration of the joints possible.” Teresa Gannon, Vice Chairperson of Arthritis Ireland (Mayo) commented on the research initiative: “this research sounds very promising and it is encouraging to know that it is a European project as it should provide a wealth of new experience in the field of arthritis research. I look forward to their findings with great interest.” The application form for participation in this research and further information are available online http://www. gamba-project.eu/panels or can be obtained on 091 49 4276.

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Dramatic New Course in NUIG By Jessica Thompson There is good news for the more dramatic students among us, as a new fouryear degree course is being designed for students with a keen interested in all things drama. The BA degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies will provide students with the chance to study drama from a practical, theoretical and historical perspective. NUI Galway has formed partnerships with Druid Theatre Company, the Galway Arts Festival, and Taibhdearc na Gaillimhe, which will benefit drama students. In addition to these benefits, an NUI Galway week-long theatre festival will be organised annually, in which a number of per-

formances by NUI Galway’s DramSoc take place. These performances take place in a number of the campus theatres, Galway’s Druid Theatre, Galway’s Town Hall Theatre, and Black Box. The course will include a number of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, performances, and internships. Seminars will help students to put what they’ve learned into practice, through acting and directing. Students will have the option of an internship in their third year. NUI Galway’s Patrick Lonergan, who is the programme director, said: “This new course is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore all aspects of performance from theatre to film, storytelling and new media.”

Community Volunteering Opportunities in NUIG By Jane Kearns A programme has been set up to bring pupils from two local primary schools and NUI Galway students together in a fun and relaxed environment. In the NUIG Access Programme, Uni 4 U, primary school children will be given extra help with homework, as well as general guidance from the students taking part in the scheme. Uni 4 U will begin on the 7 February and run for six weeks. Each week the children will meet with their mentors to get help and guidance with homework, as well as an hour of sports and teambuilding games in the Kingfisher. Pupils from fourth, fifth and sixth class in Scoil Bhríde in Shantalla, as well as St Michael’s Boys School and Holy Trinity Girls School in Mervue will be coming and it is advised that volunteers attend the same time slot each week in order to develop positive relationships with the children. Lorraine Tansey in ALIVE explained that the programme focuses on continuity, working with the same group of students over

several years to break the mentality that university is not accessible to everyone. The main aim of Uni 4 U is to help primary school children develop personally by building their self-esteem, confidence, communication skills and social behaviour through team games and sport activities in addition to their educational attainment, especially improvement in numeric and literacy skills. Any students interested in getting more involved in community volunteering or those who wish to work with children or in education might benefit from this opportunity. Training will be provided for prospective mentors before the programme begins. The programme is run by Imelda Byrne (Access Officer) and Rachel Konisberry (Primary Schools Project Support). For more information on how to become a Uni 4 U volunteer visit the NUI Galway Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) website at www.nuigalwaycki.ie and click on the volunteering opportunities section.

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Motion of Censure Against SU Officers Passed By Colette Sexton At the SU Executive Meeting on 26 January, a Motion of Censure against both the Equality Officer, Will O’Brien, and An tOifigeach na Gaeilge, Senan Mac Aoidh was passed. The motion was based on their conduct at the SU Council meeting on 16 January. According to the text of the motion of censure the behaviour of the Equality Officer and an tOifigeach na Gaeilge was disrespectful to the Council Chairperson, Claire Mc Callion: “Their comments and behaviour towards the Council Chairperson were

grossly disrespectful to her, embarrassing for the Students’ Union, and most importantly, they undermined the Standing Orders of the Students’ Union Council, thus bringing the meeting into disrepute.” The President described the motion of censure as a disciplinary measure to highlight and condemn unacceptable actions. On the night in question Officers O’Brien and Mac Aoidh were asked by the Chairperson to stop talking, or they would have to leave the meeting. After continued interruptions the Chairperson asked both officers to leave, requesting the

assistance of Welfare Officer Brian Grant in having the officers removed. In response to this both O’Brien and Mac Aoidh were heard to retort, “good luck.” At the Exec meeting, both the Equality Officer and An tOifigeach na Gaeilge denied that they had acted disrespectfully. The Equality Officer explained that in his view, the motion would “further strengthen divides in the Union.” The motion was accepted with eight votes in favour, none against and two abstentions. Kevin Donoghue, Convenor of the College of

Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies explained that at a meeting of the Arts Class Rep Council there had been complaints about the behaviour of the Equality Officer and An tOifigeach na Gaeilge. Equality Officer Will O’Brien said that he was asked to leave the council after questioning why his motions had been “drastically altered”. He explained that he was repeatedly told to be quiet and was interrupted by the chair while attempting to answer a number of questions that were posed directly to him and about the motions he was presenting. He went on to argue that there are problems with how the SU Council is run: “In my opinion there is a serious, serious problem with how SU Council is run, these examples are just a small indicator.” Speaking about the SU

Council meeting, Senan Mac Aoidh said that he believes the Chairperson should have given him some leeway to speak as he was responding to a comment directly related to his role. However, his working relationship with the SU Council Chairperson has not been affected by the incident: “The SU Council Chairperson and I are on good terms and currently working on a project together. I didn’t think the Chairperson was justified in asking for my removal from the room by the Welfare officer, who I have a lot of respect for and who I work very well with (incidentally, he refused to remove me). However, a censure has been issued by the SU regarding my saying ‘good luck’ on the day, and I don’t have any inclination of wasting my own or anyone else’s time in challenging that. We all have more important

things to be at.” SU President, Emmet Connolly has said that all the members of the SU Council have learnt from the experience: “We have officers who are very passionate about various issues, and we saw them get a bit too passionate at SU Council. They were reprimanded by the SU Executive and we’ve all learned from the whole affair. We’re all getting on fine now, and focusing on the bigger issues for students.” Chairperson of the Students’ Union Council, Claire McCallion, said that she believes she acted well within her rights as chairperson when dealing with the issue and that the SU officers are continuing to work collectively: “This issue has been sorted by the Exec and we are continuing, as always, to work together on various student issues.”

Country’s Top Educators Reject Proposed Salary Cap By Lia Stokes

The Refreshers Traffic Light Party in The College Bar, 16 January. Image courtesy of Lori Humphries.

So far, only one university president has agreed to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s request to cut salaries to €200,000. Provost Patrick Prendergast of Trinity College Dublin has agreed to a loss in his total salary of €1,492 per year. NUI Galway president Jim Browne has been the only other academic to positively acknowledge the request. Last week a spokesperson for the president revealed that he will be “making a positive response in the coming weeks”. President Browne, if he is to accept the cut, will face a total remuneration drop of €2,117 per annum. No further comment on this has been made to date. The Minister’s request for the salary cuts was made in July of last year and followed up again by his Secretary General Brigid McManus in October. Two high-earning academics have refused outright to

accept the request while four others have so far ignored it. The Department of Education spokesperson is unable to reveal who has dismissed the proposal. Public Spending Minister Brendan Howlin has capped all public sector salaries at €200,000 and €250,000 for semi-state bosses. Minister Quinn subsequently proposed the salary reduction for topearning educators. The cap, which would reduce salaries to the same amount as Taoiseach Enda Kenny, only applies to incoming academics and can not be imposed on those in current higher education positions. It was confirmed that there are ninenty-nine employees in higher education earning upwards of €200,000, eighty-nine of whom are academic medical consultants who are paid jointly with the HSE and the universities. Of the top seven universities in the country the

proposed cuts applied to only five institutions with eight individuals eligible for the cut. Four members of staff in UCD are said to earn between €200,000 and €250,000. However, the university has refused to make any comment on staff contracts. Two members of staff at TCD, including Provost Prendergast are earning over the €200,000 cap. U C C p r e s i d e n t D r. Michael Murphy is the highest earning university president, with a little over €232,000. A spokesperson for the university has said “The individuals will make their own decisions in this regard and the university will not be passing any further comment.” Details of the replies received by the minister have come at a crucial time, amid ongoing controversy over the increase of college fees and arguments relating to funding for third level institutions.

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NUIG Initiative to Support Parents By Katie Finnegan A new project aimed at supporting parenting and expecting students in NUI Galway began last week. Nurture is run every Tuesday from 12-2pm in the Wellness Center at the back of the Hub in Aras na Mac Leinn. Expectant students are encouraged to drop into the center and enjoy tea, coffee and snacks in a relaxed environment. Founder of the programme Evelyn Fennelly said she came up with the idea after various experiences: “Some of my friends has babies and I could see the extra challenges they faced doing the job of parent and student simultaneously. I also volunteered at Galway Pregnancy Accommodation Services last year and got to hear about the women’s experiences of

balancing motherhood with other commitments. I wanted to find some way to make being a parenting student in NUIG a little easier.” Students will have the chance to meet with people in a similar situation and be able to share their experiences and concerns. According to Evelyn: “Meeting others facing the same challenges and experiences can really reduce feelings of isolation that sometimes accompany early parenthood.” Babies and children are also encouraged to come along with their mums and dads. Guest speakers will come in once a month and workshops will also be run. These will be on topics such as child nutrition, budgeting and time management. Nurture is a project of the SU Enterprise Awards in collaboration with the

health promotion unit. Evelyn entered the Awards last year and said: “Mine was one of six projects to get through the first round. All of the finalists got to avail of €500 bursary, advice from mentors and a marketing clinic; all of which were really helpful. In June, the project came as a runner up in the Awards, and it received additional funding of €2,000” The reaction to the project so far has been fantastic and parents are very enthused about and really like the idea. Evelyn has received huge support from Lorraine Tansey in the ALIVE office, Cindy the Health Promotion Officer and the Students’ Union. For more information you can drop into the Hub between 12pm and 2pm every Tuesday or you can e-mail Evelyn at nurture. nuig@gmail.com.

Extra Tuition: For Free! By Eistear de Búrca A new initiative, Free Grinds, was launched last week as a collaboration between FEE, the SU and ALIVE and offers subject help, free of charge, to those needing support in their studies. It is completely integrated with the SU Grinds register, the only difference being that these come at no cost to the student. The organisers Evelyn Fennelly and George Kaar devised the scheme as part of FEE’s aim to provide free access to education for everyone. Kaar explains that the growing grinds phenomenon is unfairly taking advantage of those who are wealthy and is helping to create inequality not only at secondary school level, but also at third-level – “academic achievement should not be contingent upon financial means.” As an example of effective help offered by experienced students to those who need help,

Kaar points to the recent workshop held by BizSoc before the Christmas exams; it addressed a topic that has a high failure rate and was attended by a record amount of students, filling a lecture hall for almost four hours. “There is a great appetite out there for this sort of a program, and I would encourage academic societies to follow suit. This is what we need to be promoting on campus, a spirit of solidarity in face of the undeniable economic difficulties that are affecting academic achievement, as well as everything else.” Free Grinds is designed to help students by acting as a safety net for those who have missed out on classes or have fallen behind for any reason. Evelyn Fennelly points out that volunteers will empower students to learn and will not be allowed to actually complete homework or assignments for them. Free Grinds will be

advertised on the SU Grinds Register and those taking part will be clearly indicated. Volunteers will be competent in subject matter and must adhere to the guidelines set down by the SU Grinds Register; training will be given by a suitably qualified individual regarding general procedure and advice as to how the volunteer can best use time and resources. Subject availability depends on volunteers; ultimately it is expected that help will be available in all subjects, and that this will become an integral part of academic support at NUI Galway. Volunteers will be awarded the ALIVE certificate for participation and will also gain experience in teaching. One volunteer, Gerard Madden, says he is taking part for the “feelings of campus community and solidarity that are integral to volunteering, as we will be helping others academically that are in dire straits.”

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Occupy Galway Marks 100 days in Eyre Square By Katie Finnegan

Occupy Galway marked 100 days in Eyre Square with a series of events, including a charity gig for the Simon Community. The charity event was held in Fibber Magee’s on Eyre Square on Sunday, 22 January. The line up for the event included singer/songwriter Seamus Ruttledge, The Rye and ‘Liminal’. The following day Occupy Galway gathered with banners at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation. They formed a blockade to mark the payment of €1 billion to the now-defunct Anglo Irish Bank. They were also opposing the payment of a further €1.25 billion to senior unsecured bondholders.

A spokesperson for Occupy Galway said the money being given to the banks had been stolen from the Irish people: “In our opinion, this is one of the most odious days in recent Irish history. Events are being held around the country to mark these unjust and unnecessary payments. Social services are being devastated in every town in the country to pay for the incompetence of a tiny, greedy minority. This money is essentially being stolen from the Irish people by the international banking elite”. On Wednesday 25 January, the Occupy Galway movement staged a theatrical demonstration to illustrate the situation that the country is currently facing. Politi-

cians were followed by mothers and children, nurses, business people, students, and the elderly were driven down the road by a bunch of whip yielding bankers. They dragged a ball with €2.2 billion written on it - the amount the Government intends to pay the dead bank Anglo at the end of the month. Down at Spanish Arch the slaves revolted against their oppressors and chased the bankers up the street. Before the event, camp spokesperson Liam Heffernan said: “We hope that this will be a lively and entertaining way to show the government that people are aware of their failed, corrupt, methods and that we will not stand by as they sell the country

from under us.” Occupy is a peoplepowered movement that began on 17 September, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the U.S. and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. The Galway movement began on the 15 October; just over one month after the Wall Street group established themselves. This week Fianna Fáil councilor Ollie Crowe said that City Hall was looking at a strategy to evict the protesters from the square, but Occupy Galway said neither the local authority nor the Gardaí have asked them to move. Instead they point out that the Gardaí have been complimentary towards the camp.

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€60,000 in Scholarships for Mature Students By Marie McIntyre

A new scholarship scheme for mature students has been announced for NUI Galway. A total of thirty new scholarships are to be awarded of €2,000 per student for every year of study. This initiative is open for mature applicants aged twenty-three or over, applying through the CAO by 1 February and commencing study in Autumn 2012. The scholarships will be awarded based on merit; interested individuals should apply as normal through the CAO process. The top thirty applicants will be automatically selected for a scholarship and will be notified before September 2012. The scholarships will be apportioned across three areas, via the Mature Student’s Admissions Pathway (MSAP), Access Foundation

Programmes and mature applicants who are entitled to enter the programme to which they are admitted from their school leaving results. There are some limitations on those who will qualify for selection: for example students with Local Authority Higher Education grants or similar awards will not be eligible. With the increase in fees and other financial pressures mounting on students and their families this award is a means to begin third level education. Mature Students make up a sizable part of the student population at NUI Galway, with over 1,200 full-time mature students studying across all schools and disciplines. For more information on studying as a mature student at NUI Galway visit www.nuigalway.ie/mature/scholarships or phone 091-492 695.

Explore your future

Postgraduate Open Day

Wednesday 1st Feb 2012

BOOK YOUR PLACE: www.nuigalway.ie/postgraduate-open-day

Bailey Allen Hall, Áras na Mac Léinn 12 noon–4 pm

Alternatively you can just turn up and register on the day.

Find out more:

postgrad@nuigalway.ie

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N ationa l N ews

13–08

Presidents against New University By Austin Maloney Plans to establish a new university in the south-east have come under attack from tuniversity presidents. First proposed over a decade ago, campaigners had hoped it would give the local economy a much needed boost. Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan and Minister for Public Service Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin are supporting plans to merge Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology and establish a new technological university. The Higher Education Authority is currently working on criteria for the foundation of technological universities, and once these are finalised WIT and CIT will apply for technological university status. Last week Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn stated that any applications for TU status would have to be thoroughly examined before being approved. However, university presi-

dents have come together to oppose the establishment of a new university. In a discussion paper, they claim that any changes to the current system would be reckless “when the survival of the system is under threat.” In the paper, the presidents state that the funding crisis is the biggest problem facing Irish universities today, and any new university would only exacerbate the crisis. “We know that the system is seriously underfunded. Within the system, there are indications that the IoT sector is relatively better funded than the universities. Therefore, any plans to establish new universities cannot result in a further hollowing out or cannibalisation of university funding. The issue needs to be addressed at an early stage with detailed, costed plans for any structural changes and transparency on how [and from what sources] these plans are to be resourced.” Current funding for universities will drop by 6% by 2015,

despite record student demand. The paper demands that the survival of the existing system be given priority: “It follows that priority must be given to the survival of the system, so the policy needs to address this first. Any changes which are introduced need to demonstrably add value. Even before this they must pass the test of first doing no harm to the existing system.” The paper claims that any new changes must recognise the “very poor and deteriorating financial position” of the university system, and also states that new technological universities will “give rise to additional cost and fragmentation of research.” One university president revealed “We are not opposed to new universities per se, but they must be a clear economic and social case-and the funding issue must be addressed.” Another senior university figure commented “The whole process is being driven by local politics instead of education priorities; we cannot allow it to happen.”

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Dementia is Focus of Government National Health Strategy By Marése O’Sullivan

as well as the approximate number of people living with dementia in the country. The accessibility of care and the best practice for care, both in Ireland and throughout the world, is also discussed. The report was a result of collaboration between researchers at the ‘Living with Dementia Programme’ in TCD, the ‘Dementia Services Information and Development Centre’ at St James’s Hospital and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology at NUI Galway. The report was written by TCD Associate Professor Suzanne Cahill, TCD Research Fellow Dr. Maria Pierce, and Professor Eamon O’Shea of NUI Galway. The conference was attended by over 160 people. Speaking on the report, Professor Cahill empha-

Minister for Health James Reilly was in Trinity College Dublin on 18 January 2012, for the publication of a report on establishing Ireland’s first National Health Strategy by 2013, which will prioritise dementia care in Ireland. The report, entitled Creating Excellence in Dementia Care: A Research Review for Ireland’s National Dementia Strategy, was commissioned by the Department of Health and was published on the first day of the ‘Developing a National Dementia Strategy’ conference in TCD. Dementia affects more than 42,000 people, and this figure is expected to rise to more than 58,000 by 2021. The report’s findings indicate the economic and social costs to Ireland,

Park & Ride Bus Service

sised the necessity of the research. “At a time when, across Europe, much progress has been made in mobilising joint action in the fight against dementia, [the illness] remains hidden and largely invisible in Ireland and is a hugely underfunded and underprioritised health issue in the country. The recent government promise of a new National Dementia Strategy for Ireland by 2013 is both opportune and timely. Although the number of people with dementia is set to rise significantly, having an evidence base available to inform the direction of future public policy on dementia makes it a lot easier to design care services supporting the individual and family members to live well with dementia and to die in dignity with dementia.”

Park & Ride Bus Service

Ride Bus Service Timetable - Semester 1, 2011 PARKPark&&RIDE BUS SERVICE

AN TSEIRBHÍS Park & Timetable RidePÁIRCEÁLA Bus Service - Semester& 1, TAISTIL 2011

Timetable - Semester 2, 2012

Amchlár – Seimeastar 2, 2012

Peak Morning Service from 1, Dangan Carpark (every 15 minutes) Timetable - Semester 2011

8.00, 8.15, 8.30, 8.45, 9.00, 9.15, 9.30, 9.45, 10.00, 10.15, 10.30, 10.45, 11.00 Peak Morning Service from Dangan Carpark (every 15 minutes) 8.00, 8.15, 8.30, 8.45, 9.00, 9.15, 9.30, 9.45,

Peak Morning Service from 1, Dangan Carpark (every 15 minutes) Timetable - Semester 2011

8.00, 8.15, 8.30, 8.45, 9.00, 9.15, 9.30, 9.45, 10.00, 10.15, 10.30, 10.45, 11.00 Peak Morning Service from Dangan Carpark (every 15 minutes)

10.15, 10.30, 10.45, from 11.00 Dangan Carpark (every 30 minutes) Mid - 10.00, Morning lite Service

11.30, 12.00, 12.30 Mid - Morning lite Service from Dangan Carpark (every 30 minutes) 11.30, 12.00, 12.30

Lunchtime Shuttle Mid–Morning lite From Orbsen Building 13.00, 13.30

Lunchtime Shuttle From Orbsen Building

Lunchtime Shuttle From Dangan Carpark 13.15, 13:45

11.30, 12.00, 12.30 Mid - Morning lite Service from Dangan Carpark (every 30 minutes) 11.30, 12.00, 12.30

Lunchtime Shuttle From Orbsen Building

Lunchtime Shuttle From Dangan Carpark

13.00, 13.30

13.15, 13:45

Afternoon lite Service from Orbsen Building (every 30 minutes)

14.30, 15.00, 15.30 Afternoon lite Service from Orbsen14.00, Building (every 30 minutes)

lite

8.00, 8.15, 8.30, 8.45, 9.00, 9.15, 9.30, 9.45,

10.15, 10.30, 10.45, from 11.00 Dangan Carpark (every 30 minutes) Mid - 10.00, Morning lite Service

14.00, 14.30, 15.00, 15.30

13.00, 13.30

Lunchtime Shuttle From Orbsen Building

Bus ag Am Lóin ó Áras Oirbsean 13.00, 13.30

17.45, 18.00, 18.15, 18.30, 18.45, 19.00

The night time service is no longer running.

University is providing a free EMERGENCY taxi shuttle from Orbsen to the Dangan carpark (only). The night time The service is no longer running. 9pmaplease telephone 091-561111 to request the Dangan The University isAfter providing free EMERGENCY taxi shuttle from Orbsenatotaxi thejourney Danganto carpark (only). carpark. After 9pm pleasePlease telephone 091-561111 request a taxi journey to the Dangan note: No other to taxi destinations are possible and thecarpark. service is only available from 9pm to 11pm Please note: No other destinations are possible and the is only available from 9pm to 11pm Your taxi staff/student number and name willservice be requested by the driver, for our records.

Your staff/student number and name will be requested by the driver, for our records.

Bus ag Am Lóin ó Charrchlós an Daingin 13.15, 13:45

14.30, 15.00, 15.30 Afternoon lite Service from Orbsen14.00, Building (every 30 minutes) 14.00, 14.30, 15.00, 15.30

Peak Evening Service from Orbsen Building (every 15 minutes) Peak Evening Service from Orbsen Building (every 17.00, 15 minutes) 16.00, 16.15, 16.30, 16.45, 17.15, 17.30, 17.45, 18.00, 18.15, 18.30, 18.45, 19.00 16.00, 16.15, 16.30, 16.45, 17.00, 17.15, 17.30, 17.45, 18.00, 18.15, 18.30, 18.45, 19.00

The night time service is no longer running.

The University is providing a free EMERGENCY taxi shuttle from Orbsen to the Dangan carpark (only). The night time service is no longer running.

Ní seirbhís ar fáil After 9pmana please telephone 091-561111 to request the Dangan The bheidh University is providing freehoíche EMERGENCY taxiníos shuttlemó. from Orbsenatotaxi thejourney Danganto carpark (only). carpark. Afteran 9pm pleasePlease telephone 091-561111 to request a taxi journey toin theaisce Dangan note: No other taxi destinations are possible and ar thecarpark. service is only available 9pm to 11pm Tá Ollscoil ag cur tacsaí ÉIGEANDÁLA saor fáil ó Oirbsean chuigfrom carrchlós Please note: No other destinations are possible and the is only available from 9pm to 11pm Your taxi staff/student number and name willservice be requested by the driver, for our records. Your staff/student number and name will be requested by the driver, for our records.

a dhéanamh ar thacsaí chuig carrchlós an Daingin.Tabhair faoi deara: Ní féidir tacsaí

Dangan carpark. Please note: No other taxi destinations are possible and the service is student number and name will be requested by the driver, for our records.

foirne/mic léinn a lua leis an tiománaí.

Buildings Office, 2011; subject to change Buildings Office, 2011; subject to change

QR code timetable QR code timetable QR code timetable

13.15, 13:45

Lunchtime Shuttle From Dangan Carpark

Afternoon lite Service from Orbsen Building (every 30 minutes)

Peak Evening Service from Orbsen Building (every 15 minutes) Peak Evening Service from Orbsen Building (every 17.00, 15 minutes) 17.15, 17.30, 16.00, 16.15, 16.30, 16.45, 17.45, 18.00, 18.15, 18.30, 18.45, 19.00 16.00, 16.15, 16.30, 16.45, 17.00, 17.15, 17.30,

Lunchtime Shuttle From Dangan Carpark

Buildings Office, 2011; subject to change Buildings Office, 2011; subject to change QR code timetable

QR code timetable

{sin} 13–08

N ationa l N ews

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Job Opportunities for Graduate Teachers By Roisin Peddle

The amount of jobs available for teaching graduates will be boosted in the coming months following the retirement of over a thousand teachers. Up to 1,600 teachers are leaving both secondary and primary schools in advance of changes to their pensions. Changes introduced to public service pensions last year means that teachers’ pensions are now measured on a salary average, rather than pay on retirement. Teachers’ contribution to their pension has also risen. Many teachers have opted for early retirement rather than lose their full pension. There has been a “grace period” until February where teachers who choose to retire will receive their pension under the old scheme. This means that there will be nearly 1,600 vacancies in the education sector in the next

month. This news will be welcomed by the thousands of new teaching graduates who have found it difficult to get employment in the sector. An Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) survey last June found that 12% of graduates would not search in Ireland for teaching posts. Half surveyed believed they would not gain teaching employment in Ireland in the next five years. Many graduate teachers have taken opportunities in the UK where teachers, especially at primary level, are highly sought after. Others have gone further afield to teach English abroad. However, while it may be good news for graduates, there are concerns that the sudden departure of such a large amount of experienced teachers will lead to a loss in services. The loss of such a large amount of public servants such as teachers, gardai and nurses, in one

fell swoop, is estimated to cost the taxpayer €1bn in lump sum payments. Opposition politicians have expressed concern at the pressure the public service will face with the onslaught of retirements. “Frontline services cannot be maintained with this scale of departures. The loss of nurses in particular will mean a serious reduction in services for patients. Particular regions and services will also face major challenges,” said Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. H o w e v e r, t h e j o b vacancies will benefit hundreds of teaching, nursing and other graduates. The JobBridge scheme has been extended to give teaching students the necessary practical placement in order to gain qualification. In spite of the high numbers of graduate teachers available for work, it was reported that over 300 retired teachers were employed as substitutes in Irish schools last year.

Students: Happy Even if We Don’t Know it

Presidential Seminar to Focus on Youth Issues

By Colette Sexton

A new survey has revealed that the majority (81%) of Irish students are happy with their college course. However, just over a third admitted that their course is not what they expected. The survey, carried out by CourseHub.ie, asked students to share their honest opinions on their course and college life. Students ranked the University of Limerick as their favourite third level college in the country. UL received an overall satisfaction rating of an impressive 85%. NUI Galway came in fourth place with 79% of students here agreeing that in general they are satisfied with the university.

Trinity student, Georgie Smithwick (22), set up the site after her own negative experience at third level. The young entrepreneur said: “I chose the wrong course not due to lack of research but due to the fact that the reality of the course didn’t match up to what I had been expecting. “Had I had the benefit of CourseHub when I was filling out my CAO I would have saved a lot of time.” The survey comes at an ideal time as thousands of students across the country are filling in their CAOs for the 1 February deadline. Michael Kelly, former Chairman of the HEA, welcomed CourseHub.ie which he feels is long overdue. According to Kelly, the

website will be of use to colleges and teachers as well as students: “As a former policy-maker and in observing the experiences of my own children, I have long been conscious of the need to provide for better channels of feedback from students both as a guide to colleges and teachers and a rich source of information to other students.” There was a marked variation in the cost of living for students across the country. Trinity College students reported the highest average monthly rent of €470. Interestingly, lowest average rent of €253 was recorded in GMIT. The average monthly rent of NUI Galway students was balanced in the middle, at €345.

President Michael D Higgins has announced that the first of the new presidency seminars will focus on youth issues including education, emigration and mental health. Mr Higgins was awarded a Doctorate of Laws from the National University of Ireland on 25 January. The president said that he is aware that students and graduates are facing uncertainty for the first time in years. Speaking about his teaching career in NUI Galway, the President said that the economic crisis pales in significance to the intellectual crisis and needs more attention: “Are the universities to be allowed and will they seek the space, the capacity, the community of scholar-

ship, the quiet moments of reflection necessary to challenge, for example paradigms of the connection between economy and society, ethics and morality, democratic discourse and authoritarian imposition that have failed, and drawing on their rich university tradition, at its best moments of disputation and discourse, offer alternatives that offer a stable present and a democratic, liberating and sustainable future?” Mr Higgins said that the dominance of Keynesianism over the past decades which makes assumptions that affect universities, students and graduates. According to the President: “A new dominant paradigm emerged. That paradigm has consequences for all institutions including universities. It is a paradigm

that makes assumptions and demands as to the connection between scholarship, politics, economy and society.” “It has fed off and encouraged, I suggest, an individualism without responsibility. It not only asserts a rationality for markets, but in policy terms has delivered markets without regulation.” Intellectuals are challenged, he said, “to a moral choice, to drift into, be part of, a consensus that accepts a failed paradigm of life and economy or to offer, or seek to recover, the possibility of alternative futures. It is hoped that the new seminars will examine how choices have been made spiritually, morally and ethically since the beginning of the twenty first century.

S E G A P THE SU É Gaillimh O n in é L c a M a n s a lt a h Com ion n U ' ts n e d tu S y a lw a G I U N

www.su.nuigalway.ie

"The mission of the Union shall be to represent its members and promote, defend and vindicate the rights of its members at all levels of society." — Constitution of the Students’ Union

y a D n o i t c e l l o C y t i r a h ity Collection Day in C ar h l C a al u u n n an r n u o A at SUers to help out on Saturday 11th of February hours to spare shaking a bucket and con-

volunte ie. If you have two ay.ie with your t. w u al O ig n u u We are looking for n Sp @ n d io an n e u tr ts ay Rape Crisis Cen ge then email studen an ch se o lo pm, or 4pm-6pm. r ei -4 th m town in aid of Galw h 2p it , w m t p ar -2 p m p to , 12 ple of Galway es are: 10am-12pm im T . at p vince the good peo el h n ca u the time slot yo contact details and

Alcohol Awareness: Know the one that’s one too many If you want to drink, do, and if you don’t want to, don’t but make sure it is YOUR decision. Respect other people’s right not to drink. If you decide to drink, then don’t let it take over and do your best to stay in control. This protects your safety and that of the people around you. It’s also good for your cash flow and health.

Ways of doing this include:

• Eat well before you drink, and don’t ‘start early’. • Drink no more than a half-pint /measure of spirits/glass of wine per hour. That’s as fast as your body can handle. • “Same again.” Don’t mix drinks! • Take a glass of water or soft drink between some drinks. • Avoid drinking games. • Three or four drinks should be enough. Less if your tolerance is low. • Never leave your drink unattended.

Risk of Harm Low Moderate High

Men < 21 units 21-35 units 50 units

Women < 14 units 14-22 units 35 units

Excessive drinking can lead to health (not to mention financial) problems. If you often end up having too much, drink alone or crave alcohol, try to cut down or maybe talk to the Students’ Union Welfare Officer in confidence to see what supports are on offer. AlAnon meet on campus and the counselling service includes a drug and alcohol counsellor.

Vomiting

If someone vomits you should: • Try to keep them sitting up. • If they must lie down, make sure they’re in the recovery position and that their mouth and airways are clear. • If they begin to choke, get help immediately.

Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is extremely dangerous. It can lead to a coma and in extreme cases, death. The amount of alcohol it takes to cause alcohol poisoning depends on many factors, including size, weight, age and so on. Teenagers and inexperienced drinkers are particularly vulnerable. Someone may have alcohol poisoning if: • They are breathing less than twelve times a minute or stop breathing for periods of ten seconds or more. • They’re asleep and you can’t wake them up. • Their skin is cold, clammy, pale and bluish in colour. If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, treat it as a medical emergency - call an ambulance. Stay with the person until help arrives.

Are you drinking too much?

The electronic Personal Use Barometer (e-PUB) is a brief self-assessment that provides you with accurate, detailed and personalized feedback on your use of alcohol, and specific information and helpful resources in the National University of Ireland, Galway community. An Irish version of the module, named the e-Personal Use Barometer (e-PUB) was developed at NUI Galway in collaboration with San Diego State University. Click on NUI Galway’s home page and type in e-pub to take the test. For more advice check out www.drinkaware.ie By Brian Grant

277 SU Look Before You Leap.pdf

Class Reps Surveys

19/01/2012

12:47

N U I Ga lwa y S t u d e nt s ’ Un i o n E l e c t i o n s 2 0 1 2

Look Before You Leap

Hi All, As some of you are aware, we are running a survey of the Class Reps system. We have over 40 classes surveyed so far. The survey will be circulated over the next week, and then we will be analyzing the data so as to improve the system as a whole. Thanks to any classes that have already completed the survey. Conor Healy. EXPLORE invites students and staff to work together on innovative projects to build a culture of innovation on campus. The Students’ Union EXPLORE Innovation Initiative is looking to fund mini innovative projects run by students and staff over the next few months. Up to €1,000 of funding is available for each successful project. Closing date for applications has been extended (check your weekly SU email for updates!). Find out more and get an application form at www.su.nuigalway.ie/explore or email amber.walsholesen@nuigalway.ie. EXPLORE is a new initiative by the Students’ Union and NUI Galway that gives students and staff the opportunity to work in equal partnership to enable sustainable innovation and change to take place on campus. Students and staff are invited to team up and work together on an innovative, sustainable project of their choosing over a period of two – five months. Projects can be about any topic that involves NUI Galway campus life – sport, learning and teaching, communications, sustainability, technology…

Election Information Night for potential candidates

6 p m Tu e s d a y 3 1 s t J a n u a r y Cairnes Theatre

CMY

Remember:

S U F u l l T i m e O f fi c e r E l e c t i o n N o m i n a t i o n s

O p e n Th u r s d a y 2 3 rd Fe b r u a r y S U Pa r t T i m e O f fi c e r E l e c t i o n N o m i n a t i o n s

Open Thursday 1st March More info: www.su.nuigalway.ie

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F eatures

13–08

{sin} 30–01

OPINION: Ladies Night By Miceala O’Donovan I agree wholeheartedly with Peter Langan in Issue 6 that Ladies’ Night “needs to be ironed out,” but for different reasons. Clubs hold Ladies Night, not because it “developed from bygone days when women didn’t work,” but as a marketing tool. On Wednesday nights, the promoters of Galway’s most popular club can be heard telling men that “women are free in tonight, so there is ‘plenty of choice’.” Many of the nightclubs in the city hold similar events such as modelling competitions or the slightly less classy wet t-shirt competitions. In the nightclub industry, the apparent theory is that if you get good looking women into your club, the men, and therefore the rest of the business, will follow. Ladies’ Night is not really

about men being expected to “subsidise the night out for their fellow female partiers.” It is a creepy kind of transaction where men are paying for the guarantee of a club full of either attractive or attainable women. In Galway, this is implemented in a fairly subtle way. In bigger cities or in places like Ibiza where clubbing is a huge part of the local economy, it can be far more in-your-face. One Dublin club was criticized not so long ago for holding a night where any woman who gave her underwear to the barman would get a free drink. Just two months beforehand, a fifteen year old girl was allegedly raped in the same club, while attending an end of Junior Cert exams disco there. A Spanish club I worked for during the summer had a special offer where any man who brought five

blonde Swedish girls to the bar would get six free drinks. And this was one of the milder ones. The posters advertising different nights held there all featured pretty hardcore images of half naked women in provocative poses. This trend is slowly being seen more and more in Ireland, the most recent one I’ve heard of being a “Playboy Bunny Night” held in a Galway club. This promotion is making a clear connection with the porn industry. For nightclubs it seems that sex sells, and as in most cases where sex is used as a marketing tool, the representations of gender roles that follow are pretty unhealthy. It is therefore naive to expect politically correct price policies on the door. While some people’s intentions are to just “have a good time”, for

many men and women, nightclubs are the place to meet someone of the opposite sex. And because the women of today are seen to go on the pull just as often as men the way in which they are depicted as unsuspecting cattle at the mart to be sized up and chosen from, is not only wrong morally, it’s just inaccurate. Similarly, I am sure the sleaziness of it all doesn’t appeal to the many men who do not fit this predatory stereotype. Feminism (which promotes equality between the sexes) simply appears to never have reached these places. Unfortunately, the way they market themselves is a reflection on the exacerbation in recent years of the objectification of women in advertising and attitudes as well as the growing pressure on men to take part in it. It is a reflection of

the new “Enlightened Sexism” that is a feature of the past decade, described by Laura Fitzpatrick of Time Magazine as “insist[ing] that full equality for women has been achieved, and therefore we don’t need feminism anymore. So it is O.K. to resurrect retrograde, sexist images of women in the media, all with a wink and a laugh.” But I do agree, it is not only women who get a raw deal from the sexism found in nightclub culture. It seems to still be expected of men to pay for the drinks, the chips and the taxi home. While some men may be happy to do this, I am sure it is frustrating for many when they discover that a girl they have been chatting up was only interested in the prospect of a free drink. This only adds to the perception of a divide between the sexes and the

stereotypes of men as the providers and women as only interested in a man for his money. Feminism is about equality, and equality does not mean getting loads of free shit because you are a girl. We h a v e c o m e a long way. So far that ironically-sexist-makeme-a-sandwich-jokes are chuckled over, as if all that unpleasantness is so far behind us all the thing to do is laugh at it. But we just are not there yet. Worse, we are becoming complacent, as well as hesitant to object to the blatant kind of sexism the women of the newly enlightened nineties would have stamped all over. No wonder there are so many “bad women driver” jokes – we have been reversing non-stop for the past ten years. It’s time to change gear and start going forwards.

The Student Bucket List By Ciara O’Brien Ever since Secondary School I have asked every single, older, wiser or more interesting person than me what they deem to be an essential element to enjoying and making the most of your college years. Therefore when I hit college, I was fully prepared with my extensive list of “must-do’s” while here, thoughts and opinions from everyone ranging from my Grandmother, who never had the privilege of going to college to my Secondary School business teacher. There is a time and a place for everything… it’s called college. College is probably the first time in your life you are living on your own, have little or no responsibility, and there are a million awesome distractions all around you. That’s the problem, with all the distractions and temptations it’s very easy to lose your way in a blur of partying, “society meetings” and all nighters before exams. It’s hard to complete all of your aims and finish

your list, I have personally gotten lost, experiencing things that I never planned to do in college. Galway is a fabulous county, full of things to do and it extends outside of the city. Yet, from talking to people and looking at my group of friends, I believe the only thing being discovered is the well worn trail from Buskers to CPs, where we enjoy an odd sociable drink. So I’m going to take advantage of my creative licence and attempt to inspire you to go and discover the whole county from Kinvara to Oughterard. You never appreciate what’s on your doorstep so with the help of many people around the college this column will gently guide you. Therefore, I’m going to take inspiration from everyone I meet and ask them what they would do if they got the chance again, or the time or money, and, luckily for ye, report back here, in the hopes it will enthuse and spur you on, not make you feel inadequate. Since everyone loves hearing about

The Refreshers Traffic Light Party in The College Bar, 16 January. Image courtesy of Lori Humphries. other peoples’ lives and people do love to talk about themselves, it seems the perfect working relationship. To get the ball rolling and ease us into this our wonderful editor here at Sin, Rosemary Gallagher, will be the first person to give us a taster into her college years and some ideas: “I was very good about getting stuff done in college, even essays. I was always quick to hop on

a bus and do something different, or travel to see friends in other universities around Ireland. When I was in UCD my friends and I had a thing called ‘Random Spontaneous Adventure Tuesdays’ where we would have a liquid lunch and then go do something random and adventurous. My one regret is that we often spoke about taking the ferry to Holyhead and back (our adventures really

weren’t all that spontaneous) but we never did it. We did go to Clery’s on O’Connell St. and fly the carpets once: there may have been more than one pint involved that time.” Everyone has aims when they come to college ranging from getting a 1:1, (ambitious), to hooking up with the babe in your physics tutorial, (even more ambitious), and it’s very rare to

meet a person who is utterly satisfied and content with how they spend their college years. I don’t want to feel like I threw mine away so I’m focusing on my own bucket list, which has far too many “to do’s” and not enough “done’s”. You only have ten years to be in your twenties after all! And just four years to complete your undergrad and your bucket list.

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Galway Legal Eagles Fly High in Dublin By Declan Higgins It all started with a simply worded letter to the Chief Justice to see if I could organise a trip to Dublin for my second B.A. legal studies class. It ended with us appearing before some of the finest lawyers and judges this state has ever known. Here’s the inside story. Fortunately, the Chief Justice, The Hon. Mrs. Justice Susan Denham, saw the value in the idea and was more than enthusiastic. Over the ensuing weeks, a trip was organised that culminated in us coming face to face with a justice system that is a misunderstood as it is relevant to us all. The Courts Service, through the superbly organ-

ised and accommodating Elish D’Arcy, were exemplary in facilitating us. Elish meticulously organised all the details entailed to provide for one of the most informative, inspiring and educational endeavors of our time studying Law. We had the pleasure of meeting with Mrs. Justice Denham, who explained the importance of our system of democracy and our Constitution as a ‘living document’. We were then given a tour of the historic environs of the Four Courts by two judicial researchers before we were whisked to a courtroom to meet with the jovial Mr. Justice Frank Clarke, who imparted his experiences as a jurist with immersing wittiness.

Having sat in on some civil litigation, we journeyed to the Criminal Courts of Justice where we were met by two of county’s most adroit barristers; Brendan Grehan SC (NUIG graduate) and Damien Colgan BL. Grehanspoke fondly of his time in college, adding with a slight chuckle that “they had to kick us out of Galway” when he was finished. Damien Colgan then provided a tour of the courts and spoke about everything from proposed changes to the legal profession to his fascinating experiences at the Bar. For the final part of the trip, we were led to the courtroom of Ireland’s foremost criminal jurist, Mr. Justice Paul Carney. We sat

in on some arraignments while quietly comparing the wigs of barristers in front of us. One young barrister’s wig had seen better days, with a large gaping hole in the back of it, one of my colleagues quietly whispered to me: “I think the cat got hold of that one!” Invariably, the business of the court was serious. A litany of human tragedy was laid bare as person after person was arraigned on some of the most serious charges of the statute books. One could not help but feel entrapped by the sorrow that came with every case, and how so many lives can be ruined by irrevocable actions. We were very fortunate that Mr. Justice Carney,

together with Judge Pat McCartan and Judge Cormac Dunne, agreed to meet with us after where they candidly laid forth their experiences as criminal jurists. Judge McCartan spoke adroitly in defence of the jury system, while Judge Dunne spoke of the often harrowing cases that come before him. In answer to a question from the floor, Mr. Justice Carney told of how one must be detached from the traumatic cases that one comes across in his role. “At 4.10 in the afternoon,” he told us, “I don’t even remember which counsel have appeared before me.” Mr. Justice Carney consumes any court he sits in with his stern demeanour

and no-nonsense approach. However, it was remarkable how he treated us all with unwavering respect and enthusiasm. That being so, not one of us will ever want to appear before him, unless we are in a wig and gown, that is! We have learned much from books, now it was time to see it in action. We needed to look behind the Irish Reports to see that there is so much more to every case; that lives are destroyed by the actions of a few and families are torn asunder irreparably. If anything we take from our own trip to Dublin, it’s that the law must be for the people, by the people and to protect all the people. As aspiring lawyers, lest we forget this.

Members of the 2BA Legal Studies Class with The Honourable Mrs. Justice Susan Denham, The Chief Justice of Ireland, at the Four Courts. Photo courtesy of The Courts Service.

Nósanna Na Mac Léinn Le Séan Ó Flaharta Tá saol na mac léinn sa lá atá inniu ann dian go maith. Bíonn muid as baile agus bíonn an chuid is mó againn as póca chomh maith. Tar éis na gciorruithe agus na rialacha nua ar fad a bhaineann le cúrsaí deontas agus araile, tá mic léinn na tíre seo ag fulaingt. Tá laghdú ollmhór tagtha ar an airgead atá muid i dteideal a fháil agus de bharr na srianta airgeadais seo, tá nósanna na mac léinn athraithe dá réir. Cuir ceist ar mhac léinn ar bith cé mhéid airgid a chaitheann sé/sí in aghaidh na seachtaine ar

chíos, ar bhia, ar charr, ar shaol sóisialta agus araile, ní hionann freagra aon bheirt mhac léinn. D’fhéadfadh costas maireachtála an mhic léinn dul ó €50 go €300 in aghaidh na seachtaine. Ansin áfach, fiafraigh de na mic léinn chéanna, cé mhéid airgid a chaith siad an tseachtain a fuair siad an deontas. Bíonn freagra iomlán difriúil acu an tseachtain áirithe sin. Tá sé seo ar cheann de na nósanna is measa a bhíonn ag mic léinn agus ardaíonn sé sin cúpla ceist: (a) ar cheart deontais na mac léinn a íoc ina ngalaí seachtainiúla nó uair sa choicís? nó (b) ar cheart go mbeadh muidne mar mhic

léinn níos eolaí ar na bealaí éifeachtacha atá ann chun airgead a chaitheamh ar bhealach ciallmhar agus stuama? An bhfuil spéis ar bith againn airgead a choigilt? Faigheann mac léinn €2,000 i dtrí íocaíocht, sin €6,000 san iomlán. Tá daoine ansin atá ag fáil leathdheontais: €850 (€2,550 san iomlán) agus aon cheathrú de dheontas: €420 (€1,260 san iomlán). Is iad seo na daoine a bhfuil an t-ádh leo, tá líon mór daoine nach bhfuil cabhair airgid ar bith acu. Tá an drochnós seo ag go leor againn, aon phingin atá againn, caithfidh muid é a chaitheamh. Nuair a fhaigheann tú deontas,

tá suim mhór airgid i gceist agus bíonn sé caite taobh istigh de thréimhse ama róghairid. Ní córas éifeachtach é an córas íocaíochta seo don mhac léinn agus don tír araon, an bhfuil gá le hathchóiriú a dhéanamh ar an gcóras íocaíochta seo? Ní bhíonn aiste bia ró-iontach ag mic léinn. Maireann go leor againn ar pasta agus wheetabix don tseachtain. Ní hé sin an t-aon rud áfach, roghnaíonn daoine bia mífholláin nuair nach bhfuil an t-am acu rud éigin a réiteach agus suí síos chun é a ithe. Ní thógann sé an oiread sin ama bricfeasta folláin a réiteach duit féin

agus seasann sé duit don lá ar fad. Ní drochnósanna ar fad a bhíonn ag mic léinn ar ndóigh, mar shampla nuair a thagann sé ag coigilt leictreachais. Má bhíonn seisear ag fanacht i dteach, bíonn an bille leictreachais thart ar €200 uair gach dhá mhí. De bharr go bhfuil a fhios ag na mic léinn gur as a bpóca féin a bheidh an t-airgead don bhille seo ag teacht, déanann siad cinnte go mbeidh gach rud múchta acu nuair a bheidh siad críochnaithe leis agus ní fhágann siad aon phlocóid istigh thar oíche agus cuimhnigh go bhfuil sé go maith don timpeallacht freisin!

Tagann go leor mac léinn le chéile trí imeachtaí spóirt. Ní féidir tábhacht an spóirt a shéanadh. Bíonn taithí luachmhar ag an té a bhíonn rannpháirteach in aon fhoireann. Faigheann siad isteach sa chleachtadh agus bíonn níos mó fonn ansin orthu a bheith aclaí agus dá bharr bíonn baint acu le níos mo clubanna agus bíonn siad páirteach in imeachtaí an phobail. Is cuma cé tú féin, tá drochnósanna agus nósanna maithe agat. I ndeireadh na dála, is fút féin atá sé iarracht a dhéanamh na nósanna seo a athrú agus solamar a bhaint as ‘beatha aoibhinn an scoláire’.

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Dear Darcy, I’ve made a huge mistake in choosing my course. I’m doing a general science degree. I wish I’d chosen Arts. I was much better at all of my other subjects in secondary school. I don’t think I could be any more miserable in any other course. I knew I wasn’t mad about it when I started in September but I thought I was just having trouble adjusting. I gave it time and now I know I hate it. I want to quit but I get a grant and this would completely mess it up. It could be years before I could study again. Should I stay in my course or should I drop out without a full time job to support myself? Sincerely yours, Utterly confused any rash decisions go talk to your lecturers and career guidance counsellor. They’ve Dear Utterly Confused, This is obviously something you have seen plenty of students come and go. I’m thought about a lot. I understand you don’t sure you could find at least a few who are like your course, maybe even hate it but I able to provide some quality advice. think you may have more options than Remember a degree will always stand to you realise. There is no shame in leaving you, even if it’s not what you want to study. college if it’s not what you want to study. There are crossover Masters Degrees that You could waste years studying science you can do once you finish your course. only to regret it when you’re 22 or 23 and There was a time when you obviously loved still don’t know what you want because science because you chose to study it in you never took the time out to decide. It’s college. But don’t stay if you are unhappy. almost shocking to think that anyone can Unless you’re happy, or at the very least, make a career decision at 16 or 17. content; it’s probably not worth doing. By admitting you’re questioning your course it seems you are already making positive steps in deciding what you want to do. Well done. It can’t be easy. Before you make

Hugs —Darcy

Dear Utterly Confused I’m not going to be harsh because I think you’ve been harshed enough. However, I do think you should wait the year out. You are just getting back from Christmas holidays. More than likely, you enjoyed your time off and now it’s not as much fun to have essays and tutorials while awaiting exam results. It’s January. Not the best time of the year but at this late stage what have you got to lose by staying in college? Look into doing some online courses as a taster to your options. But for crying out loud – do stop complaining. If every student who questioned their course dropped out I’m pretty sure that there would be about 90% fewer graduates. Do you really hate everything about your course or is it just some crappy

subject that you have to take as a filler for your degree? Every course has them and all you need to do is pass because it’s not going to matter in the end (just don’t become a doctor, I think those filler classes are important in the world of medicine?). So you may have made a bit of a mistake it’s not a big deal. You’re just making it a big deal by obsessing over it. You’ve already made one rash decision. Don’t try to fix it with another.

That’s Life, Barnacle

For more advice please email advice.sin@gmail.com!

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Sustainable Campus: Pet Population By Eileen Keleghan, NUIG Graduate Every year thousands of dogs are abandoned in Ireland. Some are surrendered to a local pound, others are seized by dog wardens, and many are simply discarded at the side of the road to become someone else’s problem. According to the dog control statistics for 2010, 11,065 dogs were either surrendered to, or collected by, a local council. A further 5,008 dogs were seized by local authorities. Of the 16,073 dogs that were surrendered, seized, or collected in 2010, 5,244 of these dogs were put to sleep. These figures are among the worst dog destruction rates in Europe, and a sad reflection on Ireland as a nation of dog-owners. When I first became involved with MADRA, a dog rescue charity based in Connemara, I found it very difficult to comprehend the national dog destruction rates. I had decided to volunteer some time each week to a charity that would benefit from my public relations and marketing skills, and after a meeting with Donncha in the Galway Volunteer Centre it became clear that MADRA was the best fit for me. When I embarked on my first visit to the facility, I was taken aback by the number of beautiful dogs of all ages, shapes, breeds and size that had wound up in the kennels through no fault of their own. I was equally bowled over by the work the volunteers were doing to keep this charity going. I was hooked! After further research on the Department of the Environment website it became clear that the figures that had upset me so much were a marked improvement on previous years, and no doubt testament to the hard-work and dedication of organisations like these. Annually MADRA rescues approximately 600 dogs from Mayo and Galway. All of the dogs are assessed on arrival and treated by a vet. They are

then vaccinated, wormed, de-flead, neutered and micro-chipped followed by temperament testing. The annual running costs are in excess of €100,000 which is why I am calling on my NUIG alumni for their help and support. While financial support may not be an option for cash-strapped college students, there are a number of ways in which students, staff and alumni can help. Those with their own transport and a couple of hours to spare are welcome to take a visit to the beautiful Connemara countryside to walk some of the dogs or help with puppy socialisation; now who could resist the opportunity to play with some fluffy puppies? Training will be provided in advance for those who are interested in becoming a regular visitor to the kennels, where they will be greeted by wagging tails, stunning scenery and lots of gratitude from the fourlegged residents! If dog-walking is not an option MADRA also require ongoing help with citybased fundraising activities. Meeting the annual running costs is an on-going battle, and as the saying goes “every little helps”. Some ways that students can help are to organise events, either on-campus or

off-campus; to volunteer as a steward at existing fundraising events; to shake a bucket on a flag day or help with bag-packing at a local supermarket; or, like me, you can use the skills you’ve acquired during your time as an NUIG student to help raise awareness of the charity and to encourage responsible dog ownership and promote neutering as an ethical solution to the over-population of dogs in Ireland. MADRA are also always looking for people who are in a position to provide a foster home. During my time with the charity I have fostered two dogs; it is an extremely rewarding process and can also introduce you to a new best-friend, as was the case when I fostered seven year old Penny who is now a permanent resident at our house. While she was a little confused with her sudden change in circumstances, she very quickly adopted us and has settled in to her new home! If you are interested in getting involved why not email info@madra.ie or for more information log on to www.madra.ie - a fundraising book and cake sale will be held on campus in early March, so please come out, show your support and meet some MADRA volunteers.

ChaplainCy

www.facebook.com/chaplains.nuigalway.ie

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Clicking and Connecting By Ruth Quinlan New Year’s resolutions are slippery little buggers. They seem like admirable objectives at first but after a few weeks of the January doldrums, the calendar becomes more like a dreaded task list. Did I really need to sign up to Zumba, mountaineering, kayaking, and poetry classes all at the same time? Perhaps not. This year, however, I may finally have found one resolution that I am glad to keep: volunteering. Back in college (MA in Writing in case you’re curious) after spending twelve years working in IT, I had been casting about for some way to use what I had learned in my previous incarnation.

During my first week back this term, the ALIVE volunteering email arrived into my inbox and inspiration struck. The Click & Connect program was looking for volunteers to assist with basic computer skills classes. Emailing Trish O’Connell almost immediately, I plied her with offers of my services. She was delighted to hear that another volunteer was willing to join the ranks and I was scheduled in for the 12 – 2pm class on Thursdays. She assured me that I’d pick things up very quickly and that if I had used a computer before, I was already well prepared. Last Thursday morning, I cycled in from Salthill to assist in my first class. Last year, my classes had

Déjà Vu By Karen Mc Donnell I’ve been here before. No, really, I have. In 19-ahem, I was an innocent seventeen year old, on a new adventure. I had a real tan as a result of a five week exchange in the south of France. The highlights in my hair were due to sea and sun. UGG boots hadn’t been invented. I looked great, even if I say so myself. My father (who had driven the four-year-old me to my first day at school) drove me to Galway, brought me to register, took me to dinner at the GBC and dropped me back at my digs. Fortunately, my best friend was staying in the same house. I won’t divulge the name of the place. Suffice to say, it was well located. It also doubled as a B&B, which may explain the food. We ate fried food six times a week. No wonder I put on a stone in a year! In those ancient days we used pounds – that’s pounds, not punts. The Euro hadn’t been invented. My family couldn’t afford to send me to college. Too young for my own student loan, I opened a joint account with my father. I had a cheque book. Every week I cashed a cheque for

£20.00. Out of that I paid digs of £12.50. Those of you studying maths will have realised that I was left with £7.50 a week on which to survive. The cheapest meal in the Bialann was 0.32p; think sausage and mash. Around then I discovered the culinary delight that is the crisp sandwich. The original Smokey’s was the best place for cheap grub. The atmosphere reeked of fags, damp duffle coats, and veggie soup. Ollie Jennings, later manager to the Saw Doctors, was in permanent residence. Smokey’s was a great venue for concerts. Ah yes, I remember Clannad supported by Freddie White. And there was that Rocky deValera and the Gravediggers gig in the Aula. I remember a gang of us Music Soc folk/ roadies carrying their coffin back to the van in the dark, via a very circuitous route round college. Yep, the band had a coffin. Back then, Neachtain’s was a small pub that seemed to exist solely as a Friday club for the college choir. We rehearsed in one of the old lecture halls in the Quad and would retire afterwards to the pub. We knocked on the door to get in. There was always a fire in the snug and Jim would

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all been within spitting distance of the Concourse, which meant that I had never ventured beyond the great divide of the Quincentenary bridge. For about fifteen minutes, I wandered around like the little lost Arts student I was, trying to find St. Anthony’s building. I finally found it tucked away behind the minimalist monolith of the Cairnes Business School. I barged into the class, convinced that I was late, only to find that I had interrupted the end of the 10 - 12 class. Apologising profusely, I snuck into a corner and shut up. After they had packed up their things, we got the next class in. With me were four other volunteers who all seemed

completely at ease: obviously old hands at this lark. About twelve people filed in and seated themselves at the desks. The vast majority of them were middle-aged women, with three young men being the notable exceptions. The lads planted themselves firmly down the back of the class (how some things never change!) while all the women secured seats at the front. With the ease of someone who has spent a long time teaching, Trish welcomed everyone and launched in. When asked what they wanted to get from the course, the class’s answers ranged from simply being able to turn on a computer to booking flights on the internet. It became obvious that a lot of them felt they were missing out due to their lack of IT skills

and were determined to remedy this. We went through some basic information on powering the various components on an off before moving to applications like Internet Explorer and Word. Correspondence with far-flung relatives was another area of great interest. Even in that small class, the effects of the recession were apparent, with many wanting to communicate with children or grandchildren on the other side of the world. In comparison to the dark times of the 80s, the technology is now there to allow people to see and talk to relatives on webcam and instant messaging. It’s a shame when these tools are not used by people simply because they have never been taught how. It was very encouraging

to see how eager everyone was to learn. It’s true what they say, you’re never too old; there were women in their seventies in the class picking up things faster than I probably would. There were also hushed whispers of the legend of the ninety-five yearold woman who was now almost as internet-savvy as any IT student. Helping one woman in her quest to buy Disney curtains on eBay, and another to right-align text in Word, I was gratified to discover that my IT skills could still benefit others. It was a rather humbling experience to be thanked so profusely for assisting with tasks I had previously considered unimportant. I will be back again, for once enjoying the keeping of my New Year’s resolution.

give us hot blackcurrants for 0.05p when we were broke. But always, always, there was singing. Years later I came back to Galway with another choir, on the last day that Jim was in Neachtain’s. Many ex-UCG singers were there for a final sing-off. Two tourists, who had somehow managed to get in, sat up on stools - drop-jawed – treated to a free concert. At the risk of sounding like an aul’ wan: Neachtain’s ain’t the place it was then. The college was still familiar when I fetched up here as a mature stu-

dent. Sure there were new buildings, but some of the faces were recognisable. Junior lecturers were now Professors. The Physics and Chemistry corridors smelt exactly the same. That brought back a shiver of horror as I was a student who chose the wrong subjects. I studied science for a year and it was a huge academic mistake. I failed ever ything, spectacularly. I felt a failure. My friends stayed on. I left. It broke my heart. One Friday I got the train from Dublin, walked from the station and into the Quad.

Standing outside listening to the choir, I bawled my eyes out. Leaving UCG was like a break up. Three years ago, NUIG and I started a whole new relationship. I was teary-eyed: partly with recognition; partly with fear; partly for the seventeenyear-old who was gone and couldn’t come back. But another, supposedly mature, me is back! Back and having a ball! There is a great freedom in returning on one’s own terms. Whisper it, “I love the lectures.” I hate exams. Essays have resulted in mini-

meltdowns. Still I love it. I have a lifetime’s love of the subjects to bring to my work. It is a joy to be here, in a place that meant the world to me when I was young. It is a joy to be with my peers and share the problems and laughter. And it is a joy when one of my young classmates nods at me on the Concourse, or strikes up a conversation. To anyone who feels out of place here, or that they have picked the wrong course, or leave after a year: remember, there’s always the next time.

The Special Guests performing at the second heat of Witless: Conor Abbott, Michael Doyle, Chris O'Toole, Micheál Ó Mocháin. Photo by Kieran Durcan

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Memories of 'Soixante-Huit' recalled in NUIG By Gerard Madden The late 1960s were a landmark period in history. Across the world people were questioning many of the underlying injustices that were integral to the societies in which they lived. Why should gay sex be against the law? Why should the United States interfere in

Vietnam? Why should some religious and ethnic groups exist as pariahs within their own communities? Throughout the world, it was students who were asking these questions. In the United States, students held occupations and marches against the highly divisive war in Vietnam. They were also heavily

In a famous poster from the 1968 protests, a silhouetted De Gaulle says “Be young and shut up.”

involved in voter registration projects amongst African-Americans in the Deep South. The U.S. student struggle for Civil Rights inspired an Irish one; the People’s Democracy group from Queen’s University which was key in bringing international attention to the sectarian and bigoted nature of the Northern Irish state. Twenty -one year old member Bernadette Devlin became a key leader of the Irish civil rights movement when she became MP for Mid-Ulster in April 1969. However it was the student protests in France that were most notable and remain the historical highpoint of student activism. On Thursday, January 17, a discussion hosted by John Molyneux, a political activist and former professor at the University of Portsmouth, courtesy of NUIG’s Socialist Worker Student Society, was an invaluable opportunity to hear the account of someone who witnessed the protests first hand. The memory of 1968 is seared into the consciousness of France. I happened

The J1 – A Summer That will Surpass all Expectations By Marian Clohosey The J1 experience can be wholly summed up in one word - epic. For those of you contemplating jetting off to America this coming June, all I can say is that you’ll never regret it. It is just one of those things that you have to do to fully grasp the fundamental concept of independence and outright freedom for an entire summer. For me, it was Boston, the summer of 2010. Generally, if you ask anybody about their J1, you’ll be inundated with legendary tales of astronomical hospital bills, eviction notices and the odd encounter

with a member of the law. How could I possibly forget to mention the notorious J1 tonne? Yes, there’s no denying it, the J1 is an unforgettable experience. One Republic’s ‘The Good Life’ emphatically sums up this entire trip. It’s one of the funniest, most exhilarating adventures that some of us are lucky enough to undertake. Organising it however is a whole different ball game. Between the passport fiasco, applying for a visa and trawling through the Internet looking for accommodation, my nerves were truly tested. The minute you get off that plane, reality bites

you in the ass. In hindsight, organisation and a plan of action is key. Do not under any circumstance wing it like we did. Just to warn you, the first couple of days can be tough. If you are as laidback as some of us, you’ll quickly realise that you are officially on your own and the quest for accommodation can be one of the most grueling and agonizing challenges you may ever encounter on your trip. The first thing you need to do is get your phones up and running. Believe me, getting lost (without a phone!) is not fun. From what I hear, if you are interested in all things

to be in the country for a school tour during the 40th anniversary in May 2008, and the newspapers and media were covering little else. It certainly haunts Nicholas Sarkozy, who called for the legacy of 1968 to be ‘liquidated’ during his election campaign for the presidency and who, as a thirteen year old, had to be restrained from joining a right-wing counter-march up the Champs Elysses. The protests began in March 1968 as a small student protest against the university administration of Paris's Nanterre University, involving around two dozen protestors. The movement grew and grew until, by May 1968, it had spread to campuses throughout France and also into workplaces. On 13 May over one million people marched through Paris while ten million were on strike and occupying factories, triggering a near revolution in the country. Dr. Molynieux painted an evocative image of those heady days, describing the clashes he witnessed between stu-

dents and the French riot police, the CRS, as well as the student built barricades that grew up across Paris. De Gaulle eventually weathered the storm, and Dr. Molyneux blamed the French Communist Party for the ultimate failure of the protests; they put their efforts into discouraging strikes. Discussing the links between 1968 and today, Dr. Molyneux asserted that 2011 had been the biggest year for international protest since, citing the Occupy movement, the Arab Spring, and the student movement in Britain and Ireland. He moved to Dublin after his retirement and was aware of the confrontation between police and student protestors at 2010s USI protest, which occurred shortly after his arrival. He strongly criticised the Garda handling of the protest and their heavy-handedness towards protestors, notably Vanessa O'Sullivan who was knocked unconscious. Singling out Chile for special praise, he noted the vibrant student

movement there led by geography undergraduate student Camila Vallejo. This was particularly poignant for Molyneaux after witnessing the brutal regime of Augusto Pinochet who adopted a merciless stance towards political activists in Chile within years of the French Protests. Dr. Molyneux argued that there has been a conscious effort to depoliticise students since 1968, attributing a rightward shift in academia and an emphasis on commerce subjects over the humanities as part of this. Warning that we should not romanticise the past as especially more radical than now, he noted that we only remember the high points; out of the Southampton University to which he attended, only a small minibus could be mustered to attend the great Vietnam protest in London’s Grosnevor Park. Dr. Molyneux concluded by urging students to become politically active, and strongly criticised the status quo at the present time.

GAA and are genuinely prepared to play, clubs in America can be very supportive. Start planning now rather than later. For most, it’s not an option and this is where the real fun begins, you need to find somewhere to live and fast. Unquestionably, a high proportion of landlords are quite apprehensive to rent their houses out to five (more like twenty-five) young, carefree Irish globetrotters. Perseverance and genuine determination will ultimately pay off. Even though it started the moment you landed, the social life can now officially commence. In the first couple of days, you will encounter more GAA jerseys and Irish flags than you ever thought was possible. The undeniable Irish presence in some of America’s most enticing cities is astounding; you’ll bump into more people from home or college than

ever anticipated. Once you have the social security number and a job, nothing can hold you back, even the 6am alarm for work. Whether you’re checking out the Abercrombie models – “did you know our jeans can make you a star” - or hitting the local hot spots, American life will not disappoint. You will encounter more Irish Americans claiming their ancestry and undying idolization for all things Irish, “my great, great, great grandfather was from Cork” or “I am one-twelfth Irish” than in Ireland itself and this never ceased to make us laugh. You will also come to appreciate how much you miss some of Ireland’s renowned gems like Barry’s Tea and the essential Sunday morning fry-up after Saturday night’s escapade. Without question, the J1 is what you make of it and you will undoubtedly meet

some of the coolest characters throughout your time there. As a safety net, more often than not, J1ers, past and present cannot stress enough the importance of exam failure insurance. For three months, the customary apprehension and utter stress levels generally linked to the release of the exam results can be put on hold. One can remain in denial, until Mid August looms its murky head and you realistically prepare yourself for the worst. This is the only time in the entire three months that the panic stations firmly begin to set in. All I can say is make the most of it. If you fancy a road trip, renting a car is serious craic. Travelling around for the month of August was for me, the pinnacle of the trip. The J1 is unquestionably, some of the best experiences of your life. So much so that words can’t do it justice.

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The Genetics Lottery: Living with Down Syndrome By Conor Lane

Life is hard. Saying it to yourself many times over still doesn’t describe it. The Leaving Cert, in particular, is one of the most stressful years of a person’s life. That is why, according to the Irish Examiner, more than 9,000 students drop out every year before the exams take place. Even though we choose to undertake such a difficult task of our own free will and even though we know that whatever happens tends to be the result of the effort that is put in, we still complain about taking them. And that goes for university exams, too, which we complain about no end. There are more than 7,000 people with Down Syndrome in Ireland,

most of whom will never have the opportunity to do that which we complain about. It’s one thing to not want to do something, but to be told that you can’t is completely different. When we come to college we all find it difficult to find our feet: it’s harder still for someone with Down Syndrome. In most cases, it means that the person has a lower cognitive ability, though it’s not debilitating, and in rarer cases, it completely takes away the person’s ability to function on their own. It is estimated that one in every 600 babies born in Ireland has the syndrome, according to Down Syndrome Ireland, although this statistic varies from year to year. Down Syndrome Ireland stresses that it is a chro-

mosomal disorder, not a disease. The chromosomal disorder shows that what could look like a simple disruption of DNA under a microscope can determine a person’s life. Most of us know our own limitations and the things about ourselves that we wish we could change. A great feature of many people with Down Syndrome is that they don’t have that mind-set. For proof, just look at the athletes who competed in the Special Olympics and the qualities of courage, discipline and determination they demonstrated. I’ve made mistakes with my life that cause me distress and even though sometimes I consider my problems to be serious, they are almost trivial compared to what someone who

has Down Syndrome has to go through on a daily basis. Down Syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division called nondisjunction, which occurs during conception. It is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of extra genetic material on the twentyfirst chromosome, usually known as trisomy 21. There is no cure, but early intervention and treatment in childhood can go a long way towards improving the cognitive potential of someone who has Down Syndrome. The first World Down Syndrome Day was held on 21 March 2006. That day, and subsequent World Down Syndrome Days, continue to create more awareness of this condition.

Róisín De Búrca and her perseverance There’s a person in NUI Galway who could remind us all of just what we have and how we tend not to appreciate it. Róisín De Búrca became one of the few people in Ireland with Down Syndrome to complete the Leaving Cert and attain a place at NUI Galway. She followed her six brothers in attending

“

ing on what Róisín could achieve had she not been afflicted with this syndrome is not useful to her and she is testament to the idea that we can only worry about what is in our control and not think about what we are not in control of. She is not being held back. Genetics, much like life, is a lottery, a cruel one, but it doesn’t

the fact that because she was willing to spend all those hours improving her skills - skills that can come so easily to other people - and her efforts paid dividends. This is just one of the many pieces to have been written about her. Being a Connemara girl, it’s easy to see why she is studying Celtic Civilisation and Irish,

She said it best herself, “I think I’m breaking new

”

ground for people with Down Syndrome and for

certain conditions, if we are so lucky. I suppose it’s part of the human condition to be self-critical but if people become too self-critical, they forget to be grateful, too. Róisín sets a fine example of someone who has been dealt their hand and who wants to make the best possible life for herself. She certainly has done that and she has a lot going for her. She’s inspiring and her path is well worth following.

Feeding the Birds By Fiona Gillespie In winter, birds often don’t get access to the food and water that they need to survive the harsh conditions. In spring, their young are hatching and plenty of food will be required to keep them going until the little ones can fend for themselves. Feeding birds is both easy and rewarding and it’ll make your garden / porch / balcony much more interesting. Attracting birds to your garden may also improve pollination of flowers and reduce the spread of aphids and other pests. Common birds to Galway include the blue tit, the blackbird and the robin and they can all be taken care of in the most simple and inexpensive ways. Buy organic bird food, com-

posed mainly of seeds and nuts, in Woodies or another garden centre. Fill a plastic net bag and hang it from a tree, balcony railing or even a windowsill for the least effort in bird feeding. Otherwise, set up a platform-feeder, consisting of an accessible open tray that can be topped with any type of food preferred by the birds in your area. If you’re a bit of a DIY enthusiast and want to be fancy, you could easily make a house-feeder over a weekend. The internet is a great resource for instructions on how to build one and the birds would get shelter from the rain and wind as they feed. Whatever you build, be happy in the knowledge that you’re helping the wildlife and improving diversity in your area.

other people to do something with their life.”

third level. Her journey to NUI Galway included taking her Leaving Cert, having done seven examinations, and completing a Fetac Level 5 course in Business Administration in GTI. She was awarded student of the year for her efforts, and her drive to work as hard as she does in order to achieve what some students may find easy can be humbling for those who don’t have the syndrome. But dwell-

have to limit anyone’s thinking. Concerning ourselves with how attractive others may perceive us to be or wondering how great our lives would be if that one niggling thing that we dislike about ourselves would just go away, can be such a waste of time and energy. Róisín didn’t take the easy way out. She proved that there is no substitute for hard work and she is a living example of

and whatever she ends up doing with her life, what she has achieved already at only twenty years of age will help others in the future to try not to be afraid to take on new challenges. She said it best herself, “I think I’m breaking new ground for people with Down Syndrome and for other people to do something with their life.” Rarely do we remind ourselves of how lucky we are to be free from

Xidava performing at the second heat of Witless: Levi O’Brien, Frankie Kyne, Nathan Cantwell. Photo by Kieran Durcan

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Why Its Great to be Good Craic By Martina Gannon The inspiration for this article hit me on yet another interminably long and bumpy Bus Éireann ride from college to my ‘homehome’ one Friday evening. I was contemplating the ever-present issue of emigration and its temptations whilst surveying the never-ending bog-land scenery. Recent reports from The Irish Times have shown that while our perception of emigration may not be accurate in relation to actual statistics it is still too significant to be ignored. How many times have you questioned a fellow student on their post-university plans only to be met with a reply like “getting the ’effin’ hell out of this country!” It is in times of a such a craicdeficient climate that we need to be reminded why being Irish is a good thing, and the importance of initiating craic. Besides, where else in the world can you:

• Be safe in the knowledge that you can pass off any disaster (even the most catastrophic) by flinging back your head and retorting: “Ahh sure it’ll be grand!” • Enjoy the utter hilarity of our laidback nature as a nation. On a recent overcrowded trip to college on a mini-bus jampacked with more luggage than students, the back doors flew open and bags went flying out. The bus driver swore, reloaded the luggage, and took off again but not before winking at me and shouting “call me if somebody actually falls out!” A similar incident took place in the library recently when the fire alarm went off. A select few people made eye contact with each other, rolled their eyes and chuckled, communicating the shared thoughts of: “ah sure if there was a real fire I’d know

about it. Pfft! They think they can fool me!” Can you imagine the same response elsewhere? • Pass off engaging in illegal activities as the norm. Get a TV licence you say? Sure RTE’s not worth paying for! Full drivers licence, tax and insurance? Are you coddin me? [No. They’re not. Pay your damn TV licence and stop driving! – Ed] • Woo “the foreigners’ with your very sexy Irish accent, apparently they love it. • Be proud of the fact that everybody wants a piece of us and our Irish identity, a prime example being the Americans: “Oh my God I am actually part-Irish you know!” Oh yes is that right “Oh yes my greatgreat-great-great grand...” Ah for flips sake.

• It is acceptable to claim you are an official member of a certain Christian religion and only show up to one festive mass a year, partially or fully intoxicated. • You can pass off any form of indiscretion, from embarrassing to illegal to downright walk-of-shameful with a trusted repetition of: “ah sure ‘twas only a bit of craic!” • You can ask anybody for craic without being arrested and/ or reported. Yes, I’ve laboured this point but damn it, it’s special! • Exploit your native tongue in the company of other Irish friends solely to mock and completely baffle non-Irish speaking people. • Actually consider it possible to die of a hangover.

The very best part about all this craic-loving madness is that you do not have to possess a face full of freckles or alcohol-infused blood to enjoy it. The Irish Experience is open to all who wish to indulge in it even ‘the foreigners’! NUI Galway is certainly no stranger to diversity and being Irish is in no way a limited identity. In what other country can you leave all the windows and doors open when leaving the house (this practice should generally be restricted to the more rural areas)? All in all Ireland is a great place to be. Yes about 99% of the world’s rain falls here and we may not be the sexiest looking bunch but we are professionals in having a great time and seeing life for what it is - a brief time to be mercilessly ridiculed and enjoyed to the fullest possible pint, I mean point. Now why on earth would you want to go to Australia? Stay at home lads. Ah go on, go on, go on...

Gallivanting in Galway A New England Perspective By Amy Curtis I believed I’d find an Ireland of knit sweaters, fishermen in wellingtons, and old Joyce texts. I have been here three weeks and have instead discovered bright green Hollister hoodies and Supermac’s at three in the morning. This column will chronicle my journey in Galway as I attempt to separate my pre-conceived (romantic) notions of the Island from the reality. Although before I begin I must clarify one thing: I desired to meet sea-faring poets, but I was never naïve enough to expect a romance a la P.S I Love You. I’m not that foolish an American. I arrived in Galway during a torrential rainstorm, a proper introduction to the less than Mediterranean Galwegian climate. During the course of my first three weeks I’ve grown accustomed to the unpredictably of the weather (rainy, overcast or intermittently rainy and overcast in one day!) and to appreciate even a glimmer of sunshine. I’ve also grown to appreciate electricity. It’s becoming apparent why Americans contribute excessively to global warming; we take hot showers and expect our dryers to actually dry our clothes. But despite the mediocrity of the climate and the frigidness of my apartment, I’ve already been impressed by the warmth and

charm of Galway. Never have I been to a city with friendlier inhabitants. I cannot yet be sure if the kindness can be attributed to the size of Galway or the Irish in general, but I have already been offered two lifts home from strangers (to escape the rain), free scones at the charming café Food For Thought, and free donuts from Daniel in the city market. Everyone seems excessively willing to give directions and to tell stories of their life. I love the openness of people here, the lack of pretention, and the unabashed love of fun. And did I mention Daniel, the ruggedly beautiful man who gave me donuts for free? I’ve also been struck by students’ attitude towards school; it strikingly contrasts with peers from home. People here seem far less stressed or inclined to spend hours toiling in the library. Teachers start classes ten minutes after specified and students amble in even later. All the Irish students I’ve spoken with seem intelligent, don’t get me wrong, but it’s difficult to think about work when the pub scene seems perpetually lively. Perhaps I’m missing all the scholarly pursuits when I’m constantly regaled with buskers on Shop Street, and talk of finding the ‘craic.’ I’m struggling to understand how much outside reading I’m meant to complete when live

music fills countless pubs on any given night. The Roisin Dubh and Monroe’s are currently my favorite spots for after-school fun. I fell in love with Monroe’s last Tuesday after becoming captivated by an adorable elderly couple, who danced to traditional music the entire evening. The young and the old seem to mingle here far more than back home, I’ve noticed. My grandparents are not hitting the pubs on any night of the week. My Roisin love actualized last Thursday when I saw The Dying Seconds [Read about them on Pg 22 – Ed]. I sat in the front row in awe of the talent of the drummer and the stylistic dance interpretations of the ‘hipster’ seeming twentysomething’s in the front row. I discerned more flannel and less high heels in the dark pub much to my delight. I have noticed the Irish seemingly easy-going attitude about life doesn’t translate into casual going-out attire. The abundance of high-heels and short skirts I witnessed my first night out quickly dispelled the notion that casual attire would pervade. (I see rain: I think sweats). But, I suppose it’s far too soon to make gross generalisations; it’s only been month in the charming little city. Next I’m off with the Mountaineering Club to see Connemara. I expect to find someone in a knit sweater.

Electric Lemon performaing at the Refreshers Traffic Light Party in The College Bar, 16 January. Image courtesy of Lori Humphries.

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SOPA Ireland: OMG! WTF? By Marie McIntyre Many students freaked out on Wednesday 18 January as Wikipedia and other sites partially or fully went dark for a day. Most soon found ways around it (clever kids): pressing ‘esc,’ or pausing the page once loaded. We next saw the acronym SOPA or PIPA (which is much the same) on our Facebook feeds: “Stop SOPA ruining the internet.” But what the hell is SOPA and what it all about? SOPA is the Stop Online Piracy Act, a bill in the U.S. introduced to expand the ability of the US government to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods. Provisions include: request of court orders to ban advertising networks; payment facilities (PayPal) from conducting business with infringing sites; search engines from linking to the sites; and court orders requiring ISPs (your internet provider) to block access to sites. Say you post a Rizzle Kicks YouTube video on your facebook page: the bill would grant them the power to pull your Facebook page and in extreme cases shut down the hosting site (i.e. Facebook or You Tube). In essence this legislation is taking the heart

of the internet and shredding it to pieces. Every user generated content-based site will be under threat. No more Facebook? No more Twitter? Following the arrest of five men, said to be programmers for file sharing site Mega Upload, sites began to go dark, or at least only let users access content they themselves had uploaded. Within days millions of signatures were gathered by people for the anti-SOPA movement, which lead to a quick back down by politicians on the bill. But forget about America we’ve got our own fish to fry with Ireland’s own version of SOPA, dubbed “SOPA Ireland”: an amendment to the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000. There’s also another darn acronym, ACTA (not as catchy) or Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. Ireland, along with other European countries are set to join the U.S., Australia, Korea, New Zealand, Mexico, Jordan, Morocco, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Canada in supporting ACTA. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), superficially, the agreement deals primarily with counterfeit products, such as medicine. However, it will in actual fact have broader scope and in par-

ticular will deal with new tools targeting “internet distribution and information technology.” ACTA will in essence allow copyright holders the right to apply the courts to injunct intermediaries (such as ISP’s) to block access to websites accused of infringing copyright. The language in the document has also been criticised for being vague. Other countries have not had a chance to debate the change, but it can be brought in with the strike of a minister’s pen. Minister for innovation Sean Sherlock insists it will be a debated in the Dail and that this is not SOPA-like situation. He last week became embroiled in a debate about ACTA on Twitter, justifying the reason for the draft legislation, his website was later hacked. Net activists are incensed and have begun an online petition collecting signatures and protests have taken place outside the Dail. Now that the subject has entered the public conscience and the signatures are up to over 60,000 it remains to be seen whether Mr. Sherlock will back down under public pressure. One thing is for certain this discussion is not over; we can no longer take for granted our internet privileges and our blasé use of material created by others.

Sin Sanctioned Procr astination This week, Dr Kevin Davison in the School of Education. You’ve been given an outlandish budget to produce an Oscar-worthy piece of cinema. What’s your movie? The first Martix movie was such an amazing combination of intelligent writing, acting, directing, special effects and action. How they managed to make The Matrix 2 and 3 such useless, flat, boring, and mindless films is a high crime deserving Spanish Inquisitionlike punishment! Therefore, if I had lorry-loads of money I would apply the talent of the Huston Film School at NUI Galway, and remake The Matrix 2 and 3. My Matrix Remakes will appease the multitudes of disappointed film fans and will win me an Oscar (or two) for sure! Take the red pill, man.

Re:

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New Public

On Sexual Health and Communication by Milena Milojicic, in associaton with FemSoc Whether done in the context of a long-term relationship, with someone you just met at the pub, with one person, with two or three, for the purpose of having children or just for plain old fun, sex is an act enjoyed by people all around the world. There are many benefits;

“

tion with an alternative form of birth control. If a condom fails you have 72 hours to get a Plan B emergency contraception pill which drastically reduces your chance of pregnancy. If you are on birth control and choose not to use condoms, talk to your partner about getting tested together. By offering to do it together, it is less likely to seem like a personal attack on your

Unfortunately, communicating about

”

sex is not something that many

people are taught from a young age.

it’s healthy, it’s a stress reliever, and it’s a way of showing your feelings for another person. There are also, as I am sure you are aware, some negative aspects associated with sex: sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, and unwanted sexual advances or assaults. One way of severely reducing these negative aspects of sex and increasing the positive ones is through communication. Communication is rarely simple when it comes to sexuality. Sex is a very sensitive issue for a lot of people in a society where certain sexual practices and preferences are stigmatized. People might be afraid of offending their partner by bringing up the topic of protection in the form of condoms, birth control or getting tested for STDs. However, protecting yourself from STDs is vital for your health. Condoms are one of the best ways to do this and they are strongly recommended for one night stands. Because condoms can break, it doesn’t hurt to use them in combina-

partner’s sexual history. NUI Galway’s own student health center does free STI tests with an appointment. Another critical thing to communicate before sex is the issue of consent. It is important to establish that both partners are enthusiastic about what is about to happen. One way people do this is by reading their partner’s body language - whether they look like they are having fun or are uncomfortable with what’s going on. However, there are often miscommunications when it comes to sex, especially when drugs or alcohol are involved. For this reason it is important to not only pay attention to your partner’s level of enthusiasm, but to actively ask them whether they are okay with what is about to happen. This establishes that both partners know what they are getting into and that they are both consenting. Most importantly, use your best judgment—if a person verbally consents but is incapable of standing due to their level of intoxication you should not be having sex with

them. And if you are the one who is uncomfortable about what is going on, speak up. You are always entitled to end a sexual encounter regardless of how far you have already gone with a person. Communicating about sex is not just about contraception or consent. Communication is about getting what you want out of sex, and in turn, pleasuring your partner. Don’t be afraid to tell your partner how you like it, and don’t forget to ask them how they like it. There are many different ways to have sex which aren’t just limited to coitus. By talking to your partner you may open up your sex life to a whole new world of experiences. Unfortunately, communicating about sex is not something that many people are taught from a young age. Sex remains a taboo subject in many ways and although sexual education does exist, it’s extent is often limited. One resource that can help answer your questions about sexuality is the website: www.sexinfoonline.com. This website is run by sociology students and their professors from the University of California Santa Barbara who have expert knowledge on the subject. I was lucky enough to spend a semester there before I came to NUIG and now I help write for it. It provides people with information they may not get at home about different issues surrounding sexuality—different types of sexual behaviors, how to work around health problems or dysfunctions, and how best to communicate with your partner. Have fun and be a conscientious sexual partner!

K E E L THE “In the Queen’s Gambit ite ns on c4, d4, and e3, the wh formation, with white paw stitution Con Soc ess Ch — ” e2. to bly go Queen should almost invaria

Find Emer 2.0: Search for the Rebound Auditor By the ChessSoc Secretary I have never begun an article with more misgiving. With heavy heart my trembling pen is set to paper, but the story must be told. Emer first came to the Chess Society in the winter of ‘09. She took charge and dragged us out from the dark recesses of the Geography department, and even as far afield as Java’s where we could, if not actually interact with “normal” students, at least admire them

safely through the window as they herded into CPs. Members grew substantially under Emer’s guidance, and we were happy. She was our auditor for three wonderful years, until she cruelly abandoned us a few weeks ago. Ostensibly this was to give her time to study for her final year exams, but she is an engineer and I am a sceptic. I have heard whispery rumours that she intends to run for SU President in March - the next logical outpost on her quest for world domina-

tion. While it may be true that the SU has more money and more members, Emer had something special going for her with ChessSoc. She will realise that soon. I have no doubts that she would do a good job - imagine if she were to revolutionise student politics the way she revolutionised ChessSoc: awareness campaigns underwater; committee meetings using real humans instead of whatever they use now; self-defeating protest placards made out of chocolate;

empty promises delivered from a mountain top... what else could one want from a Students’ Union? I know we’re being selfish, wanting to keep her to ourselves, but Wednesdays from 8pm in Smokey’s will never be quite the same again. However, a university without a functioning ChessSoc is a university not worth attending, so we are doing our level best to find a passable replacement - hence this election. Some of the candidates have potential to show promise. It’s time to move on.

Sometimes it makes me sad, though... Emer being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they’re gone. I guess I just miss my friend. Emer is no doubt thinking seven or eight steps ahead, and may well have calculated the outcome of the elec-

tions already, but no matter whether she pushes for the presidency or who wins, one thing is certain – Emer has great things in front of her. Hustings begin at 7pm in the O’Flaherty theatre on Tuesday 31 January. Candidates manifestos can be found on Twitter: #findemer2 Voting takes place on 2 February, 9am - 9pm, with polling stations in Smokey’s and Aras na Mac Leinn. Students may vote upon presentation of a valid ID card.

Eoghan Page: Has No Recollection Emmet Connolly: Would You Like of Getting a Cheque from this Guy… to Ride With Batman? By Austin Maloney

By Peter Gallagher It was a Saturday afternoon and in front of me was the nervous image of Eoghan Page. A bead of sweat formed on his brow and dribbled down to his mouth. He swallowed it. With a quiver, he asked me: “That money I’ve given you to make sure this makes me look good, that’s just between us, right?” He looked at my face for acknowledgement of the joke but was met by my complete contempt. He dropped his head and stared at his shoes. “Who is Eoghan Page?” was my first question. He seemed confused at first and then replied: “Two key words in my life have been pride and prestige; pride in achievements; aca-

demic and extra-curricular, which I have built on over the years, and the desire to attain prestige through such achievements, for myself and for any groups or societies who I’ve been involved with.” He’d been waiting to say that so I asked: “Do you think your commitments to academia could potentially distract you from your role as Auditor?” He trembled but half-heartedly responded: “Well in truth I’d say I tend to lean more towards societies than my course,” he laughed pompously. “I guess as a student I shouldn’t do that.” I’d got the slippery goat now; baited, hooked, and ready for the family to enjoy with a refreshing Galaxy bar. I laughed: “So you’re a liar?” He replied: “I guess I lied.” “You’re a damn liar Page!” I accused. My mind was racing, in my head I could see him twirling naked over an open flame, oiled and delicious. Now to finish him I thought. “Some of your critics

describe you as, quote, ‘Untrustworthy, inattentive, unqualified, and worthless.’ How would you respond to them?” He took a deep breath. His hand moved to his knee. He leaned in close: “Look you little jerk” he said, “I know your little games and I for one will not take this. No longer can the public be taken in by the elitist media; if I wanted to I could break you. Now if you want to ask me about my proposals to promote ‘x-treme’ chess events like upside-down chess or Guerrilla chess (played in various locations until players are kicked out) then that’s fine. But all this nonsense you spout is irrelevant and you are nothing but pathetic.” I wept into my hands. “Take that communism!” he added now smoking a cigarette. He walked away, scarf blowing in the wind. He turned his head: “Oh and by the way, I’m Eoghan Page and I approve of this message.” Then he shrunk into a ball and flew away.

with too much power, I have one thing to say: how dare you speak to me?

Emmet Connolly is the current Students’ Union President and is now seeking to expand his power base into Chess Soc. Emmet’s manifesto passionately calls for the introduction of go-karting as Chess Soc’s new main activity, allowing no girls except for Girls Aloud, the withdrawal of all Chess Soc troops from Afghanistan, and replacing all pawns with queens. Sin: Is being Student Union President and Chess Soc Auditor too much power in the hands of one individual? Obviously, both roles have truly awesome levels of power: one with the ability to ban RAG Week and the other with the ability to send pawns to their death. To students who question whether these two roles will leave with me

Sin: If you win, will your reign as Chess Soc Auditor involve decision making by consensus, or will you rule with an iron fist? My approach to leading ChessSoc has been inspired by watching the recent Margaret Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady, and particularly how she led Britain in the Falklands War. From this I am convinced that what is needed, is for ChessSoc to invade the Aran Islands to a backing track of Blue Monday. It’ll look great on Reeling in the Years. Sin: How will you deal with the traditionalist element within ChessSoc who say that abandoning chess for go-Karting is selling out the principles of ChessSoc? While the playing of chess is an undoubtedly important role for ChessSoc; it is clear to me that the society can only really infuse the love of chess among the student body by becoming a go-karting club. We must not be restrained in our movements, like a horsey

(or ‘knight’ as the traditionalists would call it) but instead we must be flexible in our movements, like a go-kart. I also wish to introduce a new ‘sudden death’ rule to our weekly chess games, which I think will appeal to students, whereby those who lose will be suddenly killed. It has to be borne in mind that I’m not the only chess enthusiast who has called for these longoverdue reforms. Well-known supporters include Saddam Hussein, Steve Jobs, Amy Winehouse, Kim Jong-Il and Muammar Gaddafi. I also have Rizzle Kicks lined up as part of a special celebrity match on campus. Where were we? Oh yes. Go-karts! Lots of them. Sin: Will you be using a snappy, chess related pun as a campaign slogan? Vote Emmet Connolly The Dark Knight. (Emmet Connolly is Batman). Sin: What are the biggest threats ChessSoc faces today? The rising price of petrol could curtail our future activities.

Megan McGuinness: Now You See Her, Now You Don’t. ninja?

By Martina Gannon Last week I sparred with Megan McGuinness, a self described “semi-pirate, semi-human woman with a caramel filling.” Despite my scepticism at her explicit claim to have literally emerged from the womb kicking, equipped with a samurai sword, I am later swayed by her womanly charms. I sensed a hint of her ninja espionage in the disparaging claims

she made against her fellow candiates: She may well hold mass destruction up her sleeve. Whoever called chess fatally boring had not encountered this fearsome ninja princess. What kind of amazing skills could you bring to ChessSoc that a mere human could not? As we all know, ninjas are highly talented, skilled individuals, capable of mass destruction. I intend to exercise this to hopefully encourage new members to join! A little gentle threatening never hurt anyone, right? Do you believe your status as female ninja will help or hinder you in your quest to secure

votes in the impending election? People have suggested that I should use my female ‘assets’ to my advantage in order to sway voters but I’m hoping the public will be able to look past my womanly charms and vote for me based on merit alone. I also make amazing sandwiches: just sayin’. What changes would you be partial to implementing in Chess Soc to bring it in line with the Ninja Code of Honour, in the event of your being elected? A Ninjas vs Pirates themed game of human chess is high on the agenda. The outcome is already pretty obvious though...

I’d like to make things a little more interesting this year. We could get the fencing and boxing clubs involved and a few of the others - like TKD and judo - and have fencers as the pawns and so on. We may have to elect a Health and Safety Officer. I’d hate for the number of chessrelated deaths to increase on my watch. How strong of an influence would you say the renowned Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have had on you in this election? I’ve always considered their artwork to be much more impressive than their crime fighting skills, Renaissance art just speaks to me.

Do you believe you have been given sufficient time in the run up to this election to reveal the full awesomeness of your ninja-suitability for the position? I’ve always been a firm believer in the mantra “Less is more,” mostly because it involves me doing less work. I’m a regrettably lazy ninja, or as I prefer to call it “extra zen.” What special weapons and/or advantages do you feel a ninja like yourself may hold over say, a pirate? I’m not the kind of person that just blatantly trash talks fellow candidates. That being said I heard one specific pirate

has a grog problem and a ship addiction. Once and for all, why are ninjas better than pirates? We are masters of the night. We have better hygiene. Ninjas have better fashion sense: black is always ‘in’. Pirates have no depth perception. Becoming a pirate is easier than getting an NUIG degree - you just log on to Rapidshare. Ninjas have standards. Chuck Norris is a ninja. I see no merit in even debating the issue. Finally, if one was requested to part with some ninja-like sage catchphrase to storm this fierce election campaign, what might yours be? Vote ninja! Or else…

Diarmaid de Burca: For a Harrrrd Working Auditor.

by Rosemary Gallagher I caught up with Diarmaid last week to discuss his vision for ChessSoc. He is a long-time student of NUIG, first starting here in 2006. He gained his sea-legs growing up on a small island off the

coast of Galway, though he refused pointedly to specify which one, eluding only to cryptic land-marks and ominously muttering 'where no red-head goes'. It was here he started on his pirate path, learning to brew grog, commandeer ships, and, according to rumour, training talking parrots. Since coming to NUIG he has brought piracy to many societies in many forms, including Fansci, Chess, Charades, Physics and others, in addition to completing a undergraduate degree and starting a postgraduate course. O ur en co u nt er w as

awash with innuendo, and I suspect he was winking at me, though it was hard to tell through the eye-batch. Despite this, I drifted away feeling his campaign would hold water. Some consider you the outside-bet. What makes you so certain you can steer this ship? Well, I have both experience as an auditor and a secondary committee member, in a lot of different societies. I know that running the society is a rum business, but I am sure I can sail her into clear waters, and keep the society shipshape

ChessSoc Auditor is a huge responsibility. How do you intend to keep it going full-steam ahead? While I am busy at the moment with my postgraduate degree and with the Charades society, I have always been on two committees all the way through my undergraduate. Also, I feel that it is the auditors job to oversee what happens in the society, rather than do all the work himself. As you negotiate these uncertain waters, what do you see on ChessSoc's horizon? I would like to introduce outside people to chess,

and chess people to water. I envision a lot more events such as building a boat, more underwater chess, and general all round fun for the society. More information can be seen in my manifesto. Your attempts to pillage your opponents campaigns have attracted much media attention. What does a pirate have to offer that a ninja cannot? Pirates are better than ninjas in two ways. Firstly, it is easily seen that ninjas, while greatly destructive on their own, have an inverse destructiveness effect. As

such a society of ninjas would be useless. Pirates, on the other hand only get more destructive as they recruit more people to their crew. Chess pirates would clearly beat chess ninjas. Secondly, I have to ask whether or not you have ever heard of space pirates? You have. How about space ninjas? No? Clearly pirates were able to survive, whereas ninjas were not. This is probably due to the fact that gatherings of ninjas were always wiped out, whereas pirate gatherings are going on to this day, and will long continue. That is why you want a pirate as head of your society.

Caoimhin De Burca: The White Knight.

By Jane Kearns In today’s harsh and unforgiving world we all need that one special person to look to in our times of need. We need a leader, a mentor: A Knight Who could be better than the self-proclaimed Knight himself: Caoimhin De Burca. In this year’s heated race for the cov-

eted position of Chess Soc Auditor we’ve seen corruption, lying and cheating of the highest order, we’ve seen ninja and pirate candidates try to battle their way to the top through espionage, deceit and unparalleled fighting skills, but now we have the man that is surely set to take the title with his own set of honourable beliefs and chivalrous intent. Caoimhin “The C Man” De Burca is an honourable and chivalrous gentleman who is courageous and valiant on the battlefield, particularly when playing chess. He is humble in victory and gracious in defeat; archaic

in manner and timeless in fashion; a connoisseur of simpler and more idealistic times; a noble warrior on a quest for perfection who believes he can improve and change Chess Soc for the better. But if the description of this handsome, charismatic and charming young man doesn’t grab your attention, perhaps his exceptional manifesto, which pushes political thought and intent to the very edge, will sway your vote in his direction. His plans include a reinstatement of the Code of Chivalry, beginning with Chess Soc and spreading throughout

college by 2012, a goal which will surely be a hit with the ladies. He also advocates the installation of a sword within a stone, which will allow all future Chess Soc election candidates to prove themselves worthy, in addition to the formation of an Order of Knighthood restricted to those who display valour in the defence of Chess Soc. In a recent interview with NUI Galway’s only knight we learned why he decided to run for the position, what sets him apart from the other candidates and even what his favourite chess piece is (which didn’t come as a surprise!).

Sin: What prompted you to run for the position of Chess Soc Auditor? So the good people of Chess Soc would have a worthy candidate to vote for and would not find themselves forced to choose between knaves such as a ninja or a pirate. Sin: What sets you apart from the rest of the candidates? An iron will and a stout heart. I have also taken extensive lessons in swordsmanship and unarmed combat so I feel that I would be better suited to defending Chess Soc against enemies of the society in single man combat if called upon.

Sin: What’s your favourite chess piece and why? The knight of course! This oft maligned and misused piece is more powerful than it is given credit for and has to suffer through the inability of most chess players to use him correctly. This is a hardship that the knight puts up with without complaint and will often be found sacrificing itself without a word of protest to protect other pieces. Its ability to jump over other pieces is pretty cool as well. Will de Burca jump over the rest of the candidates, and a bit to the left or right? Only time can tell…

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Galway Gets A Spring Awakening The Dying Seconds Return to Róisín Dubh By Áine O Donnell

The Galway University Musical Society (GUMS) are bringing the Broadway smash hit Spring Awakening to the city next month. The musical is the story of teenagers coming to terms with their sexuality, and is part of the twelfth annual Múscailt Arts Festival at NUI Galway running from 6 – 12 February. The musical has received much acclaim including eight Tony Awards and four Olivier Awards. The original production was adapted from a controversial nineteenth century German play by Frank Wedekind. The play was originally banned in Germany due to the contentious subject-matter, such as homosexuality, abortion, rape, child abuse

and suicide. It was adapted to become a rock musical which infuses the heavy themes with a catchy alternative rock score by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater including the infectious “Mama Who Bore Me” and “Bitch of A Living”. The lead roles in the Broadway production were played by Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff, these roles subsequently launched the actors to stardom with both of them landing roles on the musical television series Glee. The story revolves around Wendla, a teenage girl who is curious about sexuality but is being shadowed from the truth by her mother. Wendla comes into contact with the rebellious Melchior and the plot of the musical tracks their

By Ian Colgan burgeoning relationship and their path to sexual enlightenment. The plot of the play resonates in the modern world regardless of its nineteenth-century setting. The gritty insight into abuse, suicide, rape and abortion remains highly topical over a century after its original publication. Oisin Tierney and Hazel Doyle will play the lead roles of Melchior and Wendla backed up by a talented cast of dancers and singers. The play is the most serious musical GUMS has undertaken to date and undoubtedly they will not

disappoint. The cast have been practising tirelessly to perfect the rock musical with rehearsals taking place up to five days a week. The production was choreographed by Diarmuid Scahill and is being directed by the society’s musical director Megan Lohan. The musical will be one of the highlights of the 2012 Múcailt Festival at NUI Galway. The musical will be performed in the Town Hall Theatre and will run from 7 – 11 February. Tickets are available from the Socs Box and cost €10 for students.

Review: Gnarr By Paul Varley Iceland is best known for its beautiful landscape, music, annoying volcanoes, economic collapse and Eiður Guðjohnsen. Now they may have Jon Gnarr. Released in 2010, Gnarr follows Jón Gnarr Kristinsson, an Icelandic actor and comedian, and well-known character in the country for over twenty years. Fed up after the economic crash in Iceland he started his own political party. In late 2009 Jon Gnarr formed The Best Party with a number of other people with no background in politics, including Einar Örn Benediktsson formerly with the Sugarcubes. Looking for a secure, comfortable and highly paid job, Gnarr also has the absolute power to hire his close friends, getting them all the other important and influential jobs. Everyone I know would love a job like that. The Best Party is a satirical political party that parodies Icelandic politics and aims to make the life of the citizens more fun. Forming originally as a joke to parody politicians but quickly captured the imagination of people, pushing

it onto a legitimate run for office to the frustration and amusement of the leading parties. Turning his story into the question of what the people want out of their leader: someone who is competent for office but also able to lighten the mood. Gnarr believes that the people of Iceland need a leader with a sense of humour. His political program includes “free towels in all swimming pools, a polar bear for the Reykjavík zoo, all kinds of things for weaklings, Disneyland in the Vatnsmýri area, a drugfree parliament by 2020, sustainable transparency (whatever that means), tollbooths on the border with Seltjarnarnes, to do away with all debt and free access to Hljomskalagardurinn (orchestral rotunda park).” Upon being voted in, Jón Gnarr announced that he would not enter a coalition government with anyone that had not watched the HBO series The Wire. The other parties seem to laugh off the comedian as a gimmick until they realise how much momentum he gains with the campaign. He proves to have a serious side, albeit

not very often, as he points out he has a family and isn’t always a comedian when paying the bills and other mundane tasks at home. Gnarr is brilliantly organic and effortless in fashion; criticising politicians and parliament members for their incessant boringness and lack of variety. Showing humour is an important part of eve-

ryday life. It is a human emotion and not a recreational pursuit. It is yet to be seen if he will work out, but regardless if he does it’s a welcome change that I hope and pray might be embraced in our own country.* *If you’re interested in humorous ‘politicians’, check out our ChessSoc Election Special “The Leek” on pg 20 – 21. — Ed

There’s a problem that sometimes comes with the territory of free gigs, where the turnout is poor because people either can’t bring themselves to imagine how anything free could possibly be worth going to, or are kept away by simple fear and cowardice of being the lone eejit dancing.

“

music-loving citizenry of Galway, that by the end of their 12-song set (eight from new album Glimmerers) the crowd had more than doubled in size, whooping their approval to songs such as ‘Lavender’ and ‘Scars’, and small pockets of dancers had formed — something unforeseen. “Thanks to all the dancers”, lead singer David Canton tells the

Each member occupies their

”

own territory within an ambient and melancholic electronica

These were the reasons that myself, and probably the fifty or so other revellers who had gathered for Róisín Dubh’s ‘Strange Brew’ night on January 19 were forced to come up with in a desperate struggle to explain why, ten minutes before The Dying Seconds would start their set, we were the only ones there. We had been nicely warmed up by the catchy jams of summery, fourpiece indie rock/powerpop outfit Bouts. These two Dublin-based bands have played together several times, and it was Bouts’ Galway debut gig this night. We can only hope that the small numbers won’t have deterred them from returning some day. Once The Dying Seconds began, however, it became instantly clear that while January breeds laziness in broke students and ordinarily-diehard fans, it was best not to try and put ourselves inside their heads or understand their flawed logic. We were the ones that had gotten it right, and deserved to enjoy our spoils. This was the second time in three months that TDS have played the venue that they’ve described as arguably their favourite in the country. So it was a good thing for them, and a credit to the

crowd. “We’re not usually considered a danceable band”. So what are they? Since their self-titled debut in 2007, TDS have made the dramatic shift from a two to a six-piece, the dynamics of their music mushrooming whilst evading easy classification and only vague and tenuous links (The National, Radiohead) can be made as opposed to more direct comparisons. Each member occupies their own territory within an ambient and melancholic electronica, which remains the core of their sound without compromising the strong human element. The lyrics are personal; glockenspiel, trumpet, and vocal harmonies feature throughout; ‘All in the Dark’ and ‘Cinnamon Scones’ rely on acoustic guitar, while a single red floor tom placed centre stage is the skinned beating heart amongst a vast network of electronic equipment. Songs such as set-closer ‘Mora Minn’ are heavily driven by live percussion, crescendoing with four of the six members playing a percussive part. This wasn’t exactly a Last-Chance-to-See, but as they’ll be soon lighting out for London it could be a while before they return to Galway. If they do, don’t let yourself miss out.

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Agallamh le Daithí Ó Dronaí Le Jayne Ní Dhrisceoil

ganna sin.

Labhair mé leis an gceoltóir Daithí Ó Dronaí, 21, as Co. Chláir, atá tar éis go leor aitheantais a fháil toisc go raibh sé páirteach sna cláir Must be the Music agus The All Ireland Talent Show. Mar gheall go bhfuil gach duine ag caint ar the Voice of Ireland faoi láthair, chuir mé ceist ar an leaid faoin taithí a fuair sé ar na cláir seo.

Sin: Thosaigh tú amach ag seinm ceoil tradisúnta, cén fáth ar athrigh tú go dtí an ceol teicniúil? Daithí: Nuair a thosaigh mé amach bhí mé á dhéanamh chun mo thuismitheoirí a shásamh, agus mar sin, nuair a bhog mé ar aghaidh go dtí an mheánscoil bhí mo chairde go léir ag tosú bannaí ceoil. Bhí mo chara in ann drummaí a sheinm agus bhí cúpla duine níos sine in ann an giotar a sheinm agus bhí duine chun an dordghiotár a sheint ag teastáil. Sheas mé suas agus dúirt mé go ndéanfainn é. Chaith mé dhá bhliain ar scoil ag foghlaim conas an dordghiotár a sheinm agus conas ríomhaire a

Sin: Cathain a thosaigh tú ag seinm ceol? Daithí: Thosaigh mé ag aois an-óg. Tá baint mhór ag mo theaghlach leis an gceol traidisúnta. Is seinteoir ar an mbosca ceoil mo sheanathair agus bíonn m’aintín ag múineadh na fidile. Mar sin, thosaigh mé ag déanamh na ran-

úsáid chun ceol a sheinm. Agus nuair a críochnaigh mé sa mheánscoil bhí sé ar intinn agam ceol a dhéanamh. Bhí mé sasta, bhí mé in ann ceol a scríobh agus b’shin an rud ba thábhachtaí domsa. Bhí mé ag iarraidh fuaim dhifriúil a chruthú, ceol a mbeidh in ann seasamh amach. Agus mar sin d’fhill me ar an bhfidil agus thosaigh mé ag seinm leis na pedals agus na héifeachtaí. Sin: Chaith tú treimhse i mbanna ceoil, an bhfuil sé níos deacra a bheith i d’aonar nó le banna ceoil? Daithí: Tá buntáiste agus míbhuntáiste ag baint leis seo. Ó thaobh na mbuntaistí de is leatsa an ceol ar fad. Ní chaithfidh tú athrú. Agus nuair atá sé

déanata agat is féidir leat a rá gur leatsa an rud ar fad. Agus ar ndóigh faigheann tú an t-airgead go léir. An míbhuntáiste is mó atá ann na huaireanta bíonn sé cinéal uaigneach. Nuair a bhím ag déanamh gigs bím i m’aonar agus uaireanta bíonn sin cinéal crua. Ach chun an fhírinne a rá uaireanta bíonn sé níos fearr mar bím ag seinm níos fearr agus tá gach rud faoin gceol. Ní bhíonn aon rud ar siúl agat.

daoine go díreach agus a dtuairmí a chloisteáil. Tá cairde agam ar twitter agus níor bhuail mé leo riamh agus fós tá siad an-dílis don cheol agus bíonn siad ag na gigs. Tá an lucht leanúna atá agam ar Twitter agus Facebook an-tábhachtach dom mar ba mhaith leo fháil amach céard atáim ag déanamh an t-am ar fad. Déanann sé sin umhal tú. Anois tá daoine ag dul chuig áiteanna díreach chun mé fhéin a chloisteáil.

Sin: Agus tá lucht leanúna an-dílis agat. Cé chomh tábhachtach is a bhíonn na daoine seo? Daithí: Is aobhinn liom twitter agus an bealach a bhíonn sé ag obair. Tá tú in ann labhairt le

Sin: Faoi láthair tá tú ar thuras leis an Kanyu Tree, conas a fuair tú an deis é sin a dhéanamh? Daithí: Bhuel chuir an Kanyu Tree ceist orm. Bhuail mé leis na leaids ar dtús sa Róisín Dubh nuair a bhí mé ag seinm

ences that will allow them to add their voices to our dialogue.” Events were screened live from www. sundance.org/live with additional content, including the popular Meet the Artists filmmaker interview series also available on the site. As a non-profit organisation, this festival not only

brings new filmmakers to the fore, it is also raises awareness for important situations. The festival opened with a harrowing documentary exploring America’s housing crisis, the fractured American dream and values humbled by today’s economy and over the next ten days more than 100 films

ann. Shínigh Sony an banna agus nuair a bhí siad ag foilsú C.D chuir siad ceist orm remix a dhéanamh. Rinne mé é agus bhí siad an sásta leis agus ó shin ar aghaidh bhí muid an sásta leis agus tá muid an-chairdiúil. Bíonn muid ag seinm sa circuit céanna go minic agus ansin shínigh mé chuig an label céanna agus bhí sé an-éasca. Chomh maith leis sin toisc go bhfuil mé i m’aonar bíonn sé an-éasca tacaíocht a thabhairt do bhannaí eile mar níl ann ach mé fhéin agus mo chuid trealamh. Phléigh muid an t-athrú a tháinig ar a shaol ó 2009 ar aghaidh tar éis na gclár. Faoi láthair, tá Carraroe feat. Elaine Mai, ar fáil ar Soundcloud.

Sundance Film Festival By Katy Quinn So here we are at the end of January, and once everyone is talking about the Sundance Film Festival. But how many of you really know anything about it? I have to admit when I took on this article I thought I was quite sure what it was, but apparently there is a lot I was missing. Firstly it took place over the last ten days in Park City in Utah and it has been an important event ever since 1981. Established by Robert Redford in the mountains of Sundance, the festival according to the website, “acts as a space for independent artists to explore their stories free from commercial pressure.” After its creation, ten emerging filmmakers were invited to a Filmmakers Lab where they were encouraged, away from the demands of the market, to create a film true to their own unique vision. As a non-profit organisation the main aim is to introduce audiences to the work of new and aspiring artists. David Courier is the senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival as well as the writer and producer of the Sundance

Awards Ceremony. He has been part of the Festival for twelve years now and his main focus is on US and World Documentaries. In an interview with Lip.Tv, Courier states: “We pride ourselves on being a festival of discovery,” he goes on to illustrate that Sundance focuses on “fostering directors of film documentaries.” Some of the films that were first introduced at the Sundance Film Festival and then went on to have commercial success include Little Miss Sunshine, Reservoir Dogs, Napoleon Dynamite and An Inconvenient Truth: each one obscure, slightly unusual compared with their counterparts but successful and groundbreaking based on their differences. Not only is the festival focused on new screenings of upcoming documentaries and movies, it also included a performance from ever eccentric comic Eddie Izzard and music from Ice-T. A “From the Collections” screening showcased Reality Bites, an amusing comedy starring Winona Ryder about love in the ‘90s. John Cooper, director of the Sundance Film Fes-

tival, is very aware that not everyone can make it to Utah to experience the atmosphere of the festival. Which is why he released a statement explaining the new online interaction: “We realize that independent film fans outside Utah want to engage with what’s happening here… we’ve built online experi-

and documentaries showcased the efforts of up and coming artists, making the festival an important part of the year for many of those looking to finally break into the film sphere. I for one will be following the new names through 2012. You never know who could be the next Steven Spielberg!

Members of the Art Soc announce their ‘Derelict’ exhibition for Múscailt Arts Festival, 6–10 February.

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Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Customised. By Lia Stokes Ball season is upon us once again and the issue that incessantly raises its head at this time of year is that of what to wear. For the ladies it’s a case of fulllength versus cocktail dress as for the men, the big question is more like “Is my suit clean?” If you’re a bit of a social butterfly or a general party animal, the college ball season can be expensive. Apart from tickets, alcohol and transport there is always the added pressure of looking reasonably presentable, and formal at that, which usually comes at a price. Unfortunately, as students we are infinitely lacking in the fund department and so getting dressed up for these events can often be a pain. But fear not! Dressing for a ball can be surprisingly stress-free.

For the men, there are a number of options. Most guys will opt for a suit over a tuxedo however, both are totally acceptable for a ball. There are a number of suithire stores around the city so you won’t be short of something to wear. Alternatively, all of the high street shops offer a good selection of suits in various colours and fits so you are bound to find something that works for you. If you want to do something a little bit different with your look without going down the comedy tie route, then why not go for a bow tie instead? Vintage and second-hand shops always have a wide range of cheap ties and dickiebows for a few euro each and can add a subtle twist to an ordinary suit. As for the the ladies gown-versus-cocktail-dress debate, anything goes at

these events. Some people go for the full-length ball gown and others go a bit shorter with a cocktail dress. It totally depends on what your preference is and what suits you best. Don’t feel the need to buy something new for each one, there are a number of easy, cost effective ways to look good for less. Recycle. If you still fit in to your debs dress or have something you’ve worn to a wedding or a sports social, the chances are it will be suitable for a college ball. With formal-wear like this, it can be difficult to wear them a few times so this is the perfect to dust them down and get some value for your money. Swap and Share. If you and your friends have the same dress size then instead of buying something new, just borrow a dress form a friend and let

them take their pick from your wardrobe. Chances are they will have something you like that suits you. You can still look and feel great in something borrowed, especially if you have never worn it before. Vintage. If you have some spare cash, and want to buy something special for the occasion, then buying vintage is always a great option. High street stores like Topshop and River Island are beginning to stock some great formalwear, however the risk of buying a dress from the high street is that someone else might be wearing the exact same thing as you. By shopping vintage you can pick up something really unique and often at a lower cost. Not only will it eliminate the risk of spotting your double on the other side of the dance floor, but it will also mean you are

wearing something really distinctive that will set you apart from the more common dress choices. DIY. DIY is a brilliant, cost-effective way to spruce up an old frock. If you have something in your wardrobe that you like but feel is a bit tired-looking or dated, there are some simple ways to give it an instant pick-me-up. Add some bling in the form of a belt, beading or an interesting brooch to breathe life in to an old dress. There are some amazing blogs and websites that give detailed tutorials on how to customize your clothes for little or no money. It is a fun and easy way to give your ward-

robe a new look, and best of all you will have created something completely individual. Rental. While men have always had the option of suit-hire for formal events, it is only in recent years that shops have begun to offer the same service for women. Dress rentals are becoming increasingly popular and can be a fun way to make a serious stylestatement, without the hefty price-tag. In Galway, Daisy Boutique on Eglinton Street has a great selection of designer and high-end dresses for hire so you can feel fabulous without the guilt of buying a dress you may only wear once.

We’re Worth it Too Mark Kelly I have never considered myself fashionable. The height of class in my dress sense is either wearing a suit, or a nice shirt and jeans. Accessories? You mean a watch right? My go to excuse when someone questions my awful colour combinations? “I’m a man.” However, something recently changed my misconceptions of men being hardy and sporty, with no fashion sense, and women being the only ones allowed to know what handbag goes with what dress. Just the other day, I went to get my hair cut. On Shop Street, I happened across a new type of barber. It is one that combines hairdressing, styling and hair care with the traditional old barber style. When I walked in, I was expecting the usual cramped area with uncomfortable, cheap seats. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Lovely, stylish staff were working on other customers whilst I took my place on an

extremely comfortable and expensive-looking seat. Both hairderssers, scissorsin-hand chopped at and styled their customers hair. I was finding this oddly uncomfortable. I wanted to leave, a voice inside my head saying “These people aren’t barbers! They want to style your hair.” However, I waited. My turn came. What happened next, however, was even more odd. I asked for a number 3 all over. The woman looked at me, almost giggled and said “razor?” I felt like saying, no, a number 3 pencil. But I nodded, and she proceeded. The guy beside me was having his hair styled and I thought to myself, “surely this is not what being a man is about.” Then I considered it again. We, as men, have often shyed away from fashion. It’s been alien, or at least seemed alien to some of us. The notion of us knowing what colours match, what doesn’t, how to accessorise, what’s in and what’s out, honestly scares us. We

think if we know all of this there may be something wrong with us, that we may be accused of being feminine or not as hardy as we portray. Even still, the image of the perfect man is a masculine, athletic, funny guy. Not one who can tell his girlfriend whether that dress makes her look slimmer. Being fashionable isn’t fashionable. There is still a massive stigma attached to it. No man wants to be seen as a feminine. We think naming the starting eleven of our favourite soccer team is more important than shopping. We feel threatened by seeming to spend more than ten minutes getting ready for a night out, The question is, though, why should we feel like that? Why should it be wrong to like wearing clothes that make us look good and stand out, or enjoy going shopping for our clothes. The problem is, we don’t have enough role models in the celebrity world at the moment. The media also continues to portray only homosexual

males as fashionable, with a bit of a dig at the straight lad’s sense of style. The only role model we have comes from the oddest of places. Paul Galvin, one of the best backs the Kerry team has ever had, is an extremely fashionable man. He has written about male fashion in Irish newspapers. We need more of this; more men into fashion from one of the most physical sports. Men who we can’t deny are ‘tough’, even though they have an interest in fashion. It seems that many lads might feel uncomfortable owning up to being into fashion. As I left the barbers, with the wind finally touching my scalp again, I couldn’t help but feel like going to pick up an issue of Vogue, reading about all of next season’s fashion and go shopping for some nice new clothes. Whilst I haven’t done it yet, I would like to think I will try in the next few days. Just to broaden my horizons and not fall back on the “I’m a man” excuse.

The Refreshers Traffic Light Party in The College Bar, 16 January. Image courtesy of Lori Humphries.

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How to Work the Velvet Look By Jane Kearns We may be getting back into the swing of things at college, and fun, festive nights are now becoming a distant memory. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make that most of our winter party trends a few more times before we trade in our opaque tights and winter coats for bare legs and summer prints. One trend that proved very popular this party season was velvet, a look that made a massive comeback on this year’s

autumn/winter runways and on the high-street. So if you’re wondering what to do with that velvet dress you bought over Christmas or you’re a velvet virgin, here are ten tips to get you looking your best in winter’s hottest party trend. 1. Velvet is a luxurious fabric that adds a touch of class to any outfit. Plain black velvet dresses are timeless and classic, but don’t be afraid to be bold when choosing what colour to wear. Rich

jewel tones like emerald and amethyst were very popular this year, adding a pop of colour a look without being too over the top. 2. Velvet is quite a heavy looking fabric, teaming it with more delicate materials such as silk, satin or lace can make a velvet outfit seem young and playful looking. Styling your velvet like this is the perfect way to transform your winter party look into a flirty summer style. 3. If velvet is the basis of

an outfit, keep it simple; avoid patterns and bold cuts, instead opt for simple draping and feminine silhouettes: the stretchiness of velvet makes it the ideal fabric for body-con dresses. 4. Accessories are key to a glamorous velvet look: cocktail rings, clutch bags and chunky heels in bold or neutral colours (depending on the colour of your outfit) will enhance your overall look. 5. Teaming velvet with

leather or denim is a great way to add a bit of edginess to a look, and give velvet a modern twist. 6. Velvet dresses aren’t the only velvety things on the high-street at the moment, velvet blazers, tops, skirts and shoes are everywhere, but don’t be tempted to wear velvet with velvet as it will be too much and spoil your overall look. 7. Gone are the days of velvet just being for formal occasions, velvet

tops in any colour look great with jeans and flats, so if you’re feeling casual go for this look. 8. If you want something that really stands out look for velvet dresses or tops with embellishments: this adds quirkiness to your overall style. 9. If you’re still a little dubious of velvet there’s always simple accessories like pumps or handbags. 10. And of course if all else fails there’s always sexy velvet lingerie!

Style Spotting at the Commerce Ball Erika Fox It was that time of year again - Commerce Ball time - and I was there on the night to spot all the stylish guys and gals. I had the very difficult job of

choosing the, Best Dressed it was a lot tougher than I thought. In regards to the best dressed girl, I was on the lookout for someone who had factored elegance and simplicity into their outfit

choice, someone who had not gone to major expense and someone who had steered clear form the typical, “debs style,” dress. The winner, Alison Mc Phail, caught my eye at the very start of the night and I knew after speaking with her that I had made the right decision. “I actually got this dress on sale recently,” a shocked Alison told me. Her fitted cream, floor-length dress was absolutely beautiful and was complimented by an on-trend snakeskin clutch. Alison won a €100 voucher for Born Clothing and a voucher for Elizabeth C’s salon. I also had to choose the best dressed guy on the night (extremely tough job, I know !) and it proved to be a very interesting

task, indeed. Of course, every guy was wearing the usual suit, shirt, tie, etc. so at the beginning of the night I figured I had my work cut out for me. But then along came, Mark Monaghan, with his top hat and cane and it was pretty clear from the getgo that effort had been made and it was about to be rewarded. When asked about his impressive style on the night he said, “My suit belongs to my Dad, so really I didn’t have that much expense at all. I borrowed the cane, hat and pipe from a prop shop in town and I think I’ve achieved the vintage look I was going for.” The thing about fashion, I think, is that sometimes you really do have to think outside the box to get noticed and

Style Spotter Name: Alison Mc Phail What are you wearing tonight? Dress from Warehouse. Snakeskin Bag from New Look. Did you buy the dress especially for tonight? Yes, I did. But I got it on sale, so didn’t mind as I was getting a bargain. Overall opinion of the style on the night? I’m really impressed, people really have went all out: even the guys! Name: Mark Monaghan What are you wearing tonight? My Dad’s Suit. Vintage Cane. Hat and pipe from a Prop Shop. You’re obviously a fan of vintage? Yes, I am. This cane that I have is 100 years old!

Mark, without a doubt, proved that this to be oh so true. Overall, the main thing that stood out to me on the night is that while people have become quite savvy with their money by wear-

ing sale and vintage pieces, it has in no way compromised true style. I’m looking forward to next year already! Check out Erika’s blog at http://retroflame.blogspot. com/

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Exercise for Your Mind, Not Just Your Body By Aoife Brennan

Exercise has repeatedly been shown in research to have anti-depression, anti-anxiety and mood enhancing effects. Also, in some more recent, well-designed trials, it has been noted that in many cases, regular exercise can be as effective as psychotherapy or medication when tackling these conditions. However, if you suffer from any of these issues or even if you’re just a bit down in the dumps, the chances are exercising isn’t high on your to-do list. If something is stressing you out, the last thing you want is an annoyingly chirpy, energetic friend trying to drag you off the couch for a quick 5km run. Often those of us who have the most to gain from exercise are the ones least likely to feel inclined to do it. So what to do? I think one of the most important steps in starting to

incorporate exercise into your day is to not consider exercise as a separate part of your life, with set start and end points. When you’re staring out, it’s more important to get out and be active at anything in general. Start simple with walking. As spring approaches and the days lengthen, it’s the perfect time to grab a friend or two and go for a stroll. It doesn’t even have to be a brisk walk to start with. All you’re looking to do is plant a seed that will grow into a love of action, energy and exercise. If you’re already an active person then I’m sure its not news to you that working out gives you bundles of energy, rather that sapping energy from you. If your mood is holding you back, trust me that getting out and getting moving is a surefire way to lift your spirits and help keep them there through the ups and

downs of life. As with all lifestyle changes, a small amount of change over time is the way to go. Work your way up to more vigorous exercise as it has been shown that it is exercise that challenges the heart and fires up the muscles and that is extremely beneficial. Finally, choose an activity that you love whether it’s training with a team, dancing, surfing or hitting a zumba class. If you don’t like it, you won’t stick at it. If you’re not sure what you like just yet, try out a few things, preferably with a buddy so you can encourage each other to stay going and so you have someone to discuss the whole thing with. Before you know it, you’ll be the annoying friend, dragging others off the couch! But remember, if things are really getting you down, talk to a trusted buddy and go see the doctor.

This workout is taken from BodyRock.tv if you feel like checking out the videos for these routines. This routine is suitable for guys and girls of all fitness levels, just work hard enough to feel challenged. Don’t push through pain or injury and consult your doctor if you’ve never done intense physical exercise like this before. 1. Push up + a pylometric jump: Stand facing your couch. Place hands on ground and jump back into a plank position: do a

push up. Jump your feet back in towards your hands, come to standing and jump up onto the couch (both feet at the same time). Make sure you’ve got a solid couch or chair that isn’t going to move when you power up onto it! Repeat for 50 seconds. 2. Squat jumps: Stand with feet hip distance apart. Squat down and touch the ground (or as low as you can go). Power up into a jump, as high as you can. Repeat for 50 seconds. If you’re strong, you can add extra weight - a few heavy books in a schoolbag held close to your chest would make this one much tougher.

3. Star toe touches: Lie on your back, reach up with your right hand and left leg. Try to touch your toes. Repeat on the other side and continue for 50 seconds.

Preparation time: 5-10 minutes Cooking time: approximately 45 minutes Makes: 2 x 1 lb loaves of bread Ingredients 1 lb of wholemeal flour, any type - coarse, stoneground - as long as it’s wholemeal Pinch of salt 1 generous teaspoon of bread soda (bicarbonate of soda) 1 pint (586 ml) of buttermilk 1 egg (optional) Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, poppy seeds, oatmeal (all optional)

Method 1. Put the flour, salt and bread soda in a big mixing bowel and mix well. Add pumpkin and/or sunflower seeds if you’re using them. A handful is enough (very precise measurements in this recipe!). 2. In a measuring jug, whisk the egg, and then add buttermilk to make the volume up to one pint. 3. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture, add half the buttermilk mixture and mix it up. 4. Add more buttermilk until you have the correct consistency - the mixture should be sloppy and messy but not watery. 5. Pour the mixture into two 1lb loaf tins. If you only have one tin you can make one loaf at a time. 6. Cook at 180°C for 40-45 minutes. When you get that lovely fresh bread smell wafting from the oven, it’s probably done. If you’re not sure, stick a knife down into the centre of the bread. If it comes out clean, the bread is done. If there is some wet dough on the knife, cook for another 5-10 minutes and check again.

Plyometric jump

4. 10 mountain climbers + 10 toe touches: Place a cushion on the ground in front of you. Get down into a pushup position, do 10 mountain climbers. Hop back up and use the cushion for 10 toe touches, gently tapping the cushion with your foot. Repeat sequence for 50 seconds. Repeat this sequence three times for a high intensity 12 minute workout.

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RECIPE: Homemade Wholemeal Bread

WORKOUT: Twelve Minute Interval Training Equipment Needed: Interval timer, set for 12 rounds of 10 seconds (rest interval) and 50 seconds (work interval). A couch (no really). A cushion.

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Ruth Scaling New Heights Taking in What Gaisce Really Has to Offer Registered charity. 1132203

Mark Kelly A challenge from the President of Ireland, to you… the nation’s future. The Gaisce award www.childreach.org.uk is fundraising@childreach.org.uk an initiative unlike all Or (+44) 020 3137 others. In5500order to win most awards, you have to follow a code or excel in a certain field. In this award, all you have to do is be yourself, help your community, take part in something exciting, and push yourself mentally and physically. This was something which Ruth Scales, a current Silver Medal Gaisce holder, mentioned: “I really enjoyed the experience, it encouraged me to do things I would have

trek an 8 day e in Experience h Atlas Rang through the Hig mit the highest sum for Morocco and North Africa mountain in charity LUSIVE

liked to do but maybe wouldn’t have had the motivation to do.” For all you lovely r e a d e r s w h o d o n ’t know what the Gaisce award is, it is an amazing experience. Started in 1986, under the * Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International System (a similar award in the UK), the programme has gone from strength to strength since Mary Robinson raised its profile. The aim of the programme is to “To contribute to the development of all young people through the achievement of personal challenges.” Anyone aged 16 - 25 can apply to take on four challenges, for various for an ALL-INC raising target €1440* Fund TRIP!

With an initial registration fee of €245

durations awarded at bronze, silver and gold level. There are four different categories: learn a new skill, volunteer i n t h e c o m m u n i t y, participate in physical recreation and take part in an adventure challenge. The biggest appeal of the award is the fact you get to choose your own activites, a point which Lorrain Tansey, ALIVE co-ordinator in NUI Galway, was keen to point out. “Participants in the award decide on their goals. In particular a new element is a ‘residential’, which is an opportunity to be in a new community and engage in learning a new skill – such as the Gaeltacht.” This means you can grow in many different ways, physically, mentally and emotionally, in as big or small a way as you deem fit. The participants keep a portfolio of everything they have done and then present it when they finish. If successful, the participants will head to Dublin Castle, to a reception held by The President,

The Polar Plunge A Dip in the Right Direction By Aisling Crowe Two NUI Galway students are involved in organizing a unique, global fundraising event, which is the first of its kind in Ireland. The Polar Plunge is taking place on Sunday 19 February and will see hardy souls brave the icy Atlantic waters to raise money for Special Olympics Connaught. Final year Commerce student Laura Walsh and Maeve Callanan, a final year English and Geography student, have been heavily involved in organizing the icy dip off

Salthill’s Blackrock Pier. Thousands of people across the globe have taken up the sub-zero challenge of this truly international event and the inaugural Galway Polar Plunge takes place on the same weekend as the one in Wisconsin. Both girls heard about the Polar Plunge through ALIVE, here in NUI Galway. Laura gives the reasons why she became involved in the project: “In the past, I have worked with different charities namely Cancer Care West and Croí. When I saw the

opportunity to work with Special Olympics, I felt it was a great cause to get involved especially giving their great success at the World Olympics in Athens last year. “ Maeve explains the selection process involved: “I saw it advertised on the ALIVE website and because it was for the Special Olympics it interested me so I emailed Lydia Rogers (Special Olympics Connacht Fundraising Manager) and she interviewed a few of us and asked for references. She wanted someone with organisational skills.”

who gives them their medal. NUI Galway has a rich tradition of students accomplishing all levels, and has a strong tradition of having Gold award winners. Ruth is now going for gold, has taken up yoga as her physical recreation, is volunteering in homework clubs and learning to crochet (a knitting technique for anyone who didn’t do Home-Ec). She will soon ‘scale’ four of the Atlas Mountains as part of her Adventure Challenge. Whilst the thought does daunt her a little, she is looking forward to not only the challenge, but other things too. “Everything! Morrocco, and the food,” she laughs. “I am just looking forward to the challenge of doing the climb, experiencing a new culture and hopefully I will manage to complete the trek.” Ruth, who is planning to fundraise over the summer to raise the €1,440 needed to go with Childreach International, has encouraged other students from the University to join her. “If

anyone feels like joining the trek they can contact me at ruthscales@gmail.com or getinvolved@atlas. childreach.org.uk. The fundraising target is €1440 with a €295 deposit payable initially.” The University also has a Gaisce Society, which Lorraine points out, is not just about Gaisce, and that taking part can also be great fun: “It’s incredibly fun. You get to meet new people, push yourself, explore new talents, get to meet people who are doing the award and get to go international. There is nothing like climbing a mountain on a wet windy day, and getting that sense of achievement. Gaisce Society organises events, like going to the Burren and the Aran Islands, for a weekend away. Sure, the craic is mighty!” For more information, visit http://www. gaisce.ie, contact the Gaisce Society on Campus or talk to Lorraine Tansey in the ALIVE office, which is situated in the HUB.

Their duties entailed setting up and maintaining a Facebook page for the Polar Plunge. Their tasks also included getting clearance from Galway County Council and organising sponsorship and special guests for the day. The girls also helped secure the backing of iRadio. Polar Plungers can hit the water in fancy dress if they like and there will be prizes for the best costume. Maeve will be taking the plunge with some of her work colleagues from the Loughrea Hotel and Spa but they haven’t decided whether they will dress up or what their costumes will be. Laura too will be jumping into the icy waters of Galway Bay and still

hasn’t picked a costume. “At the moment I don’t know what I am dressing up as and it will probably be a last minute decision. But the option is there not to compete in fancy dress as well so at least if I don’t organise anything in time I won’t feel compelled to turn up in fancy dress,” adds Laura. The best fundraiser and the leading student fundraiser will be rewarded with some fantastic prizes for their efforts. Plungers will be able to thaw out at the Salthill Hotel when they emerge from the freezing waters. Anyone brave enough to take up the challenge of the Polar Plunge can find all the information they need at www.facebook. com/polarplungegalway

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Promising Times Ahead for NUI Galway Athlete By Daragh Small When you meet Paul Hession he doesn’t strike you as a man who has had such success on the world stage. His humility and unassuming nature lets the interviewer in. Talking to him makes you wonder why athletics is so far behind the big three sports in this country. Paul questions “why athletics has turned into a once in

four year’s sport.” Qualification for finals is ignored with the winning of medals being the only way to hit the back pages. With 2012 an Olympic year no doubt the nation will jump on the bandwagon. Eyes will be glued to the TV screens in August and the country will unite behind Paul and his team, but what’s next? Athletes will face three more years in the doldrums. “Now

Paul Hession. Image courtesy of Daragh Small.

the Olympics are upon us a few things come out of the woodwork but I’d be happy to make what a soccer player makes in a week in three or four years.” Despite this, Paul explained how athletics has such a proud heritage in our country, think of the greats from O’Sullivan to Coughlan. He holds Sonia in the highest regard “she’s the greatest sportsperson this country has ever had.” Hession himself began with the traditional route through the community games. “I began in the local club and had a few friends that were doing it at the time, back then you had to be from an area that had a club.” His love for the sport and focus helped him put the important things first, “It’s hard but you make life choices.” Paul was always fast as a teenager and received a sports scholarship to NUI Galway where he studied

Medicine. After a year in the University he finally decided it was time to take on the running full-time and he took a year out to focus on qualification for the Athens Olympics. Paul missed out by 0.02 of a second, but he realised he had something. “I went back to medicine straight after that and I said that if I got my A standard I’d give it another go.” Paul eventually posted an Olympic A Standard time in late ‘06 and qualified for Beijing under new coach Stuart Hogg, “I never looked back.” This was massive for Paul, one thing in particular that stood out for him was the atmosphere and experience of China. The feel good factor also helped. “To be in the mix right the way through was huge, I really enjoyed it.” Last year Paul changed coach to John Coghlan and now trains in Dublin when he’s back in Ireland. He described how the life of

an athlete requires structure. “On a Monday I would get up at 9 and train from 11 until 2.30 and then I get some lunch and go back training again from 3.30 to 5 and then I’d often go and get physiotherapy twice a week.” According to Paul, learning to rest is one of the more testing parts of his training. There’s always something to be doing. “One of the most difficult things when you become an athlete is to try and learn to do nothing.” In 2007, Paul was dubbed ‘the fastest white man on earth’. When I put this to him he didn’t sit back and bask in the glory, “I didn’t really like it, it was a negative title. It doesn’t matter to me what colour you are, everyone’s a competitor.” One of the biggest issues in the past with athletics has been the doping scandals. However, Paul believes athletics is as clean as it has ever been. “Doping is prob-

ably as much of a problem in every other sport in the world. Any sport where money is involved, doping will be an issue.” One of the most fascinating things about the 200m runner is what goes through their mind on the starting blocks. Paul says “you really need to think about nothing other than the very uncomplicated specifics. “You kind of think about the technical techniques, but you want an automatic reaction.” Paul leaves the responsibility here to the preparation he puts in beforehand “things should happen naturally. You’re almost trying to empty your mind except for a few queues that you and your body use, to repeat what you’ve done in training so the less that’s in your mind the better.” Who knows? NUI Galway may have an Olympic hero come the first Thursday in August.

Archery Team may have Do You Have What it Shot at National League Takes to Be a Leader? By Carl Byrne & Callum Conroy NUIG Archery Team hosted the second leg of the archery Intervarsity League, as well as the National Barebow Championships on the second weekend of January. The weekend ended with success for NUIG in a number of categories, with the Archery Club finishing in first place over all in the team intervarsity competition. The team score consisted of the combined scores of Darren Wallace, Oliver Grant, Chris Kelly, Bríd Galvin, and Carl Byrne. Darren Wallace, currently on sports scholarship and National Student record holder took silver in Male Recurve, Bríd Galvin took silver in Female Recurve and Chris Kelly took silver in Male Compound. At the Barebow Championships, NUIG’s Aisling Finn, and Carl Byrne took silver in female and male Recurve categories respectively, while Aisling also

won Gold in the Plate competition. NUIG finished with a score of 2,566, finding a place in the records. This score was over 50 points above UL who came second in the team event. NUIG also saw success the following weekend, as seven NUIG club members took place in the National Shoot hosted by Woodbrook Garden County Archery Club. Lydia Shirley took gold in the Junior Female Recurve Category, Carl Byrne took Silver in the Male-under

500 Recurve Category and Chris Kelly took Bronze in Male-under 550 Compound Category. In total over the two weekends NUIG Archery Team took nine individual medals and Team Gold, with the hope of future success in the remaining Intervarsity Leagues stages, and the years remaining National competitions. Currently the NUIG Archery Club have restarted their beginner training courses which take place on Wednesdays from 4 - 6 P.M in the Kingfisher.

By Sinead Farrell Every group needs a leader. The NUI Galway Sports Leadership Alumni programme awards the clubs who demonstrate that very mantra and the 2012 competition is inching ever closer to the semi final stages. An adjudicating panel consisting of members from the Sports Unit, Student Services, Career guidance and ALIVE office have been overseeing the process and they will determine the six finalists before the end of February. Being part of a team or club is about progression as a collective unit and this programme recognises clubs who display a willingness to facilitate the club’s development. The Alumni Leadership award was first presented to the Ladies Hockey Club in 2010 and last year the Boxing Club was the lucky recipient. In those years, the Sailing club (six firefly boats) and

the Sub Aqua club (off shore rib) were the beneficiaries of the programme. Previous winners have dedicated themselves to nurturing their club’s development and this year’s winner will undoubtedly continue the trend. Development Officer Kathy Hynes stands proudly behind the objective of this programme “This programme will offer solutions and structures in providing longevity to the club, participation in numbers and excellence in performance.” She continued “we are expecting a tough fight for first position with all club entries to date extremely high in both numbers and caliber of projects.” Its inception was inspired by a lack of interest in managing clubs in the University. If this trend were allowed to continue, future sports enthusiasts could be faced with a perilous future. To lose sports leaders now would leave future sports leaders unprepared and

untrained to adopt the role. While some perceive managing a club may affect their college-work, many forget about the advantages of the role. Fulfilling a term as a sports leader helps you to accrue new skills, challenge your abilities and employers applaud accomplishments like this. The Alumni Leadership Programme is accessible to all clubs in the University. The winning club must produce a minimum of two and maximum of five members to represent the club, one of which must be a first year, PRO, treasurer and captain (or substitute nominee). After the preliminary stages, six clubs are selected to progress to the final rounds. This is where the competition really intensifies where the remaining contestants will endure more workshop sessions, presentations and an interview. Finally, business mentors will also allocate them individual assistance throughout this part of the process.

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“A Score or Not a Score – That is Now we wait... the Question!” by Alan Keane

“Mathematical jiggery pokery.” That’s how Liam Kilmartin, lecturer in the Electronic Engineering Department described the process behind developing goal-line technology at a talk in NUI Galway on Tuesday 16 January. In the course of an hour long talk, Kilmartin explained how the various technologies work, including the much talked about Hawk-Eye and the less talked about Cairos system. The latter is an in-ball system currently being developed in association with Adidas. Kilmartin himself is well placed to speak on such matters. He was part of a team who were given the task between 1996 and 1999 to develop a viable “point score detection technology” for the GAA. And develop they did. However there were a few sticking points; the cameras used were

too slow, for one. The GAA themselves weren’t exactly full of alternat i v e i d e a s h o w e v e r. Making the goalposts higher, anyone? In the end nothing was done. Not long after the project was disbanded, a small English comp a n y, R o k e M a n o r Research, had a patent for a system not dissimiliar to the one Kilmartin et al had developed. Its name was Hawk-Eye, the name now eponymous with any discussion on goal-line technology. On the 2 April last, in a National Hurling League game between Dublin and Kilkenny in Croke Park, Hawk-Eye was given a trial run. It worked. The system is very accurate, very sophisticated, and very, very expensive. There is a need for Hawk-Eye engineers to be in every stadium where the technology is installed. Therefore the system is not viable across the board, and if it was only to be available in Croke Park what type

of message would that send out? The only games that matter occur in GAA HQ? Frequenters of Semple Stadium, Pairc Ui Caoimh and Pearse Stadium, to name but a few, would have something to say about that. Across the pond, the English FA has the same problem. Sure, the majority of Premier League clubs could take the financial hit, install Hawk-Eye and have engineers on site. But, as Mr Kilmartin said, what happens in the FA Cup when the likes of Manchester United are drawn to play someone like Kettering? If the tie is in Old Trafford, is Hawk-Eye used? If the tie is in err.... Kettering’s home field, is Hawk-Eye installed so as to keep things on an even keel? Probably not. Unless goal-line technology can be used both in the most majestic stadiums in the world and installed in the jumpers children use as goalposts, then

sport will lose its universality, and the gap between professional athletes and those who support them and dream of emulating them will widen. Anyway, if there were no more controversial goals, what would we have to debate in the pub? Leaving aside goalline technology, there could be many interesting developments in player performance monitoring in the next five to ten years. According to Mr Kilmartin, the current GPS systems used by top teams to monitor everything from fitness levels to how well individuals adhere to tactics may only be the beginning. Star Trek-type headsets may be worn in the future in order to observe brain activity, and see what it is in the pink matter that sets elite athletes apart from the rest. Soon, Mario Balotelli could look like more of a ‘spacer’ than he does already!

Two Galway Colleges to compete in Kayaking Intervarsities By Katie Finnegan

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Castlebar is to host the Irish Kayaking Intervarsities this year bringing an estimated 500 competitors and spectators to the area. The annual event kicks off on 17 February where students from eighteen colleges, including the two Galway colleges will compete for prestigious titles in events such as whitewater, freestyle, canoe polo and long distance kayaking. GMIT Galway will be competing with their counterparts in Castle-

bar and NUI Galway will be entering separately. NUI Galway has been awarded the overall trophy sixteen times in the last twenty-three years with the most recent being in 2007. They also placed second in 2010 when they hosted the event here in Galway. Captain of NUIG Kayak Club, Alan O’Dwyer is looking forward to this year’s event. “This year we’re sending around fifty club members to Castlebar to compete in the varsities. We’ve been training for the last few months and have solid teams in place.

Last year due to internal issues we were not allowed to compete in all events and hence placed uncharacteristically low. This year we will be competing in all events, and are aiming to reclaim our position at the top. Commenting on the event, Stephen Hannon, lecturer on the GMIT BA in Outdoor Education Programme, said: "GMIT Castlebar is delighted to host the Irish Kayaking Intervarsities. GMIT Castlebar is a small campus but is a genuine “adventure-sports hub” with hills, rivers and the sea close by. The Kayaking Intervar-

sities will be a good way to highlight this adventure sports hub and the excellent town centre water sports amenity of Lough Lannagh.” The competition commences on Friday 17 February with the Polo event being held on Lough Lannagh in Castlebar. On Saturday the whitewater event will be held on the Clydagh River, Castlebar, with the freestyle event running in Tuam on the Clare River. On Sunday, the final event will be the long distance race. It will take place at Moorehall just outside Castlebar. The closing awards ceremony and

Fencing Club Primed for Challenging Intervarsities

While fencing may not being one of the more mainstream sports here in Ireland nor a club that would immediately spring to mind for students anxious to try a new sport, the Fencing Club here in NUI Galway has attracted its fair share of talented athletes. Founded in 2004, the NUI Galway Fencing Club is only in its seventh year of existence and yet has proved itself a serious contender among more established clubs around Ireland. Members from the NUI Galway Fencing Club have enjoyed an abundance of success in competitions both in Ireland and abroad with numerous top ten finishes. Recently several members from the club competed in this year’s Schull competition which was held down in Cork in November. The Schull competition is a beginner competition for foilists who have been fencing for less than two years. NUI Galway have done well in this competition in recent years, particularly in the men’s foil. In 2009 a member of the club, Finn Krewer, won the men’s foil competition and in 2010 another member, Fionn

McGowell, came second. NUI Galway foilists continued their success this year with all members who competed doing very well in their category and one member, Fiadhnait McDonough, coming third in women’s foil. Earlier in the year, NUI Galway hosted the 2011 West of Ireland Open and members of the club put up a strong showing in it with Eillison Arroyo coming second in the men’s epee and Fiadhnait McDonough coming third in women’s foil. The next big competition on the horizon for the Fencing Club will be the intervarsities which will be held in TCD this year on 25 - 26 February. The club expects to send a very strong team to compete in the intervarsities and they hope to do quite well. Due to an influx of new members joining and old members returning, the club is currently at the biggest it has been for several years and has a healthy balance of beginners and advanced fencers. Trainings are a mixture of hard work and good fun with members being quick to share a laugh and make new people feel welcome. Based on the amount of progress that the club has experienced this year, I expect that we will see great things from it in the future.

presentation of prizes will take place in GMIT, Castlebar in the afternoon. The public is encouraged to come along to watch the events and can witness the entertaining events from the shore and join the celebrations. GMIT Sports’ officer Nigel Jennings, said: “The 2012 Kayaking Intervarsities will bring the very best kayakers from all the colleges and universities in the country to Castlebar to battle it out for this year’s honours and for our part, GMIT Castlebar is extremely proud to host this prestigious

event. It’s a huge occasion for Castlebar with over 300 competitors taking part in addition to the abundance of supporters, which will obviously be an economic boost to the locality.” The NUI Galway Kayak Club is one of the biggest clubs in the college, and one of the largest and oldest kayak clubs in the country. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Club. For information on sessions, visit www. nuigkc.com. For more information about the intervarsities check out “GMIT Padlling Intervarsities” on Facebook.

By Caoimhín de Búrca

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What’s Happening in Galway

Book 1

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Book 1Intermediate Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad

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26 4 3 8 5 7 8 2 83 9 1 2 8 4 95 2 4 7 4 3 4 9 66 1 7 2 8 76 1 5 6 7 3 8 57 81 3 2 4 36 6 9 8 Thursday 1 7 45 Marése O’Sullivan 17 1 3 1 By 2 February – Touring Exhibition – Celtic Art in Ireland, @ the Galway City 9 Twilight: 8 1900-1945 1 2 4 7 5 5 7 7 4 3 7 Monday 30 January – Traditional Irish Music Concert, Museum, 10am-5pm. Admission free. 2 9 22 8 8 6 Friday 1 6 34February 9 7 8Collegiate – Occupational First Aid Course, Large St Nicholas’ Church,5@ 7.30pm-9pm. €100. SU Alchol Week. 8 65 4 1 Acoustic Room, Áras na7Mac Léinn, 3 59am-5.30pm, 1 1 Awareness 5 9 66 78 7 Tuesday 31 January – Silent Disco, €5, Roisín Dubh, Booking Required. 2 78 4 6 3 @ 10.30pm. 52 6 3 2 9 4 8 1 Saturday 4 February – Music: Acoustic gig with Gemma 9 8 Dubh 9 2 for 12 possible21SU Candidates, 5 Election Information Hayes and Elaine Mai @ Roisin 7 6 4 4 9Night

30TH January – 12th February

©© 2011 KrazyDad.com 2011 KrazyDad.com Cairnes Theatre, Cairnes Building. Wednesday 1 February – Postgraduate Open Day @ "A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad." Bailey pty if you had nothing toAllen regret. Hall, 12 - 4pm. -- Samuel Goldwyn

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CloakRumours The NUIG ComicSoc Presents...

Negative Campaigning By Leigh Ashmore

©© 2011 KrazyDad.com © 2011 KrazyDad.com 2011 KrazyDad.com Comedy: Jason Byrne, ‘Cirque Du Byrne’, @ Seapoint Leisure Centre, Salthill. Doors @ 7.30pm, show at 8pm. "Better a witty fool than a foolish wit." Tickets €20 from www.roisindubh.net and Seapoint -- William Shakespeare

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Commerce Ball attendee “shaken” after mistaking Teddy Bear Hospital for College Bar. Was told his insides were mainly foam and cotton wool. Construction re-commences on projects around campus. Sales of Jumbo Breakfast Rolls increase by 200% in catering outlets. David O’Doherty announced for SHAG Week gig. David releases new book, 100 Sexy Facts about Pandas, to cash in on the occasion. SU Election information night sees huge turnout of people trying to find out who is running for election. No actual candidates attend. Galway Co Council investigates possible water contamination. Source of unusual discoloration traced back to Commerce-Ball attendees showering off fake tan the following morning. Cloakroom staff’s campaign to get a pet giraffe gains momentum. 9 out of 10 Cloakroom customers say being greeted by a giraffe would have a positive impact on their cloakroom experience. University finds buried treasure under Quadrangle. Decides to replace red tiles on Concourse with gold, for the craic like. University President to begin wearing crown. New coffee machine in Smokey’s spurs rash of tongue burns. Lecturers heard talking funny. In run up to SHAG week students found ‘doing it’ in unusual places on campus. Security patrols to increase behind Quadrangle. Students sign petition to turn one of the new construction sites into an Olympic size swimming pool ahead of London 2012. Swimming Club takes action by occupying site with inflatable dinghies and novelty fishing rods. Newest Society on campus, BoxSoc – the Cardboard Box Appreciation Society – to hold Box Social. This promises to be the biggest and best Box Social at NUIG ever, ever and will be a capacity sell out event. BoxSoc exclusive discount card holders can also get 20% of boxes. Panic ensues in Corrib Village as Zoology Department fills Corrib Cages with living zoo.

Leisure Centre Sunday 5 February – Safely Direct Galway International Rally. Runs from 4 - 5 February (Headquarters: the Clayton Hotel). See http://www.galwayinternationalrally. com/ Monday 6 February – NUI Galway Arts Festival ‘Múscailt’ opens; Visual Art by former MA Art Therapy students @ Arts Millenium Foyer, 8am-10pm. Free admission. Tuesday 7 February – Galway University Musical Society presents ‘Spring Awakening’, @ Town Hall Theatre, 8pm. Tickets €14/€10, groups €8 per person (4+), available from the SocsBox or www.tht.ie. Runs until Saturday. Wednesday 8 February – Dance Soc intervarsity competition preview, ‘Hip Hop Till U Drop’, 7 – 8 February @ 6pm, Áras na Mac Léinn. Thursday 9 February – Theatre: ‘The Clean House’ by DramSoc, in the Bank of Ireland Theatre @ 8pm. Tickets €8/€5 from the SocsBox. The Synergy Project Launch in Friar’s Café, Cairnes School of Business @ 5:30 - 7:30pm Friday 10 February – Music: ‘Múscailt Finale with ConTempo’ Classical Music Recital @ Bailey Allen Hall, 1pm. Free Asmission. Saturday 11 February – Valentine’s Ball in aid of NBCRI at Ardilaun Hotel, tickets €100. Champagne reception @ 7.30pm followed by gala dinner. Contact Máirín on 091-526677 or email info@nbcri.ie Sunday 12 February – Last day of Múscailt Festival 2012.

Horoscopes By Myles McKittrick Aries [Mar21-Apr19] Keep your faith. Everyone has hard times now and then but staying positive can really help. Who cares if no one likes you? Taurus [Apr20-May20] Being nice to people is not something you need to do, just something that is nice to do. The moon shines strongest when in the sky. Gemini [May21-Jun20] Ooompa loompa dooodily doo, I didn’t write a horoscope for you… Cancer [Jun21-Jul22] You will receive luck 12 times within the next fortnight. The biggest of people will summon a small gathering within this time. A piano stool sits idle in the corner: will you sit down? Leo [Jul23-Aug22] Someone got big over Christmas! It’s nearly spring now though… Time to join the gym! p.s. if you’re ever looking for a bf - call me?

Virgo [Aug23-Sept22] I think you’re great like… Libra [Sept23-Oct22] You have realised that the government is spying on us all. They have camera’s everywhere. The only logical thing to do is to hide. Scorpio [Oct23-Nov21] Never went for tea. Completely ruined my entire year. Nice one... Sagittarius [Nov22-Dec21] You will discover a passion for the didgeridoo. Capricorn [Dec22-Jan19] Bob Geldolf is my hero. Aquarius [Jan20-Feb18] Thinking of not celebrating your birthday? Check out the film 2012. Pisces [Feb19-Mar20] You absolutely love the fact everyone else is back to college. You will have an amazing six week extension to your Christmas holidays. Oh wait, that’s just me isn’t it?

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F ashion

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Go do your thing Get one of 2,000 FREE return flights to Europe

Offer available when you take out a student credit card or travel loan between 23 January and 30 June 2012. You’ll need to be over 18 and hold a Bank of Ireland 3rd level student account and there are lending criteria, terms and conditions.

Drop into our NUI Galway branch today Call Kevin on 087 7742206 or Bernadette on 087 7811318 Find us at www.facebook.com/smartlounge Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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27/01/2012 11:29