Volume 13 Issue 02

FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER

VOL 13, ISSUE 2

26 SEPT 2011

Manhunt Under Way after Vicious Assault on NUI Galway Student

By Fionnuala O’Leary Gardaí are still investigating the assault on an NUI Galway student that occurred at 2.30am on Thursday, 8 September. A man is said to have pulled the girl into nearby bushes at Dun Na Coiribe as she walked home unaccompanied. On hearing her screams, two men came to assist the young woman causing her attacker to flee the scene. It is believed that the girl’s identification cards have been taken

into Garda custody for further examination.

This is not an isolated incident around the area in question: in September last year another girl was also attacked near her home in Dun Na Coiribe but managed to get away from her assailant. The girl, who went to great lengths to warn others after the traumatic experience on boards.ie, said the following on the forum regarding the circumstances of the attack “I didnt think that it would be dangerous to walk there at 10.30pm

at night.” However, it has not been established that the two incidents are connected.

Campus Security and Alice Daly (Health & Safety Officer) have declined to comment on the incident.

Numerous Gort na Coiribe residents have also alluded to two daytime attacks having taken place in the locality however these incidents have not been confirmed. According to Students’ Union President Emmet Connolly, Gardaí “may not want to escalate the fears of

people living in Gort.”

This event three weeks ago has resulted in widespread alarm for student residents in the surrounding area, but a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána has stated that there is no need for panic, or basing fear on mere speculation, but rather for students to be aware of the risks.

The perpetrator is said to be of a slim build and wore a baseball cap during the attack, thus concealing his features from the victim. “A number

Michael D. Higgins speaks at Lit & Deb event

7

Conan T. Barbarian hoax on TCD website

9

Out and About during Freshers’ Fortnight

12

Mary Gavaghan shares her 17 Gaisce Gold experiences Des Bishop in NUI Galway 19 Pg 20: WIN! Tickets to five 20 Roisin Dubh gigs of lines of enquiry are currently being pursued,” according to a garda representative, but no suspect has been named as of yet. Gardaí declined to comment

on what measures were being taken to prevent a similar attack from being committed in the vicinity again.

Continued on Page 2

Gardaí Crack Down on Anti-Social Behaviour from NUIG Students

By Brian Grant, Welfare Officer and Students’ Union Vice-President On 14 September members of the Gardaí met with university officials, including the Students’ Union, Student Support Services, and vice-president of Student Experience Mary O’Riordan, regarding student conduct. Gardaí informed officials that anti-social behaviour had been recorded by Galway Gardaí in the week 5 to 9 September. Gardaí have issued a stark warning to members of the Students Union that they are clamping down on anti-social behaviour, implementing a zero tolerance policy.

The message from

Gardaí is simple: if any drunken student is participating in any disorderly behaviour that breaches the law, they will be arrested. After last year’s incidents during College Week students have burnt any bridges with Gardaí, who claim they will no longer be willing to show students any leniency.

The repercussions of arrest and conviction are enduring and include, but are not limited to, not being able to apply for a J1, or any other foreign work visa, and putting oneself at risk of exclusion from public sector work.

In addition to this warning from Gardaí, university authorities have been given details of tenants in areas surrounding the campus

who have been the subject of noise complaints in recent weeks. This includes two separate groups of student tenants who have been called to sit in front of the Disciplinary Committee and may expect a penalty in the form of a reprimand and a disciplinary fine.

Mary O’Riordan, head of the Disciplinary Committee has stated that if this type of anti-social behaviour is to continue throughout the year harsher penalties will be incurred, including suspension from sitting exams for a full academic year, or even expulsion from the university. The subject of eviction would be at the discretion of private landlords.

Continued on page 2

Archery Club member Carl Bryne convinces first years Mairead Clancy and Claire Flynn to join up on Clubs’ Day

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Manhunt Under Way after Vicious Assault on NUI Galway Student Continued from Page 1

C o n s e q u e n t l y, NUI Galway Students’ Union is taking action against this sort of crime by actively encouraging the students themselves to take a more assertive approach to personal safety.

The SU, alongside the International Centre for Security Excellence (ICSE) will be drawing special attention to pressing student safety issues for Mental Health week this October.

The talk and training organised by Assistant Manager Joanna Brophy, will begin at 7pm on Tuesday 11 October with a “Per-

sonal Safety Seminar” being held in IT250.

The seminar will focus exclusively on the everyday dangers posed to students and how they can lessen these risks. The advice given will be based on the most up-to-date Irish statistics and the talk is free of charge.

On Friday 14 October a “Student Personal Safety Training Programme” will be held in The Space, Áras na Mac Léinn.

The training will deal with prevention and de-escalation tactics and also escape and release techniques.

Places for this particular training are limited so students

are required to register with the S.U office and pay the €20 fee in advance.

The Students’ Union shop is also selling Personal Safety Alarms for €3.50 which students are being especially encouraged to purchase in the aftermath of the recent assault; the shop is located in the basement of the library building.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses who may have observed any unusual activity in the Dun na Coiribe area on 8 September to contact Mill’s Street Garda Station at +353 (0)91 538 000.

Gardaí Crack Down on Anti-Social Behaviour from NUI Galway Students Continued from page 1

On the following evening, 15 September, a group of enraged residents from housing estates surrounding NUI Galway, including Greenfields Residents Association, met with Students’ Union President, Emmet C o n n o l l y, l i s t i n g offences caused by students in the same week. These offenses ranged from playing loud music late at night, to urinating on neighbours’ private property, and breaking glass bottles outside residents’ doors in the early hours of the morning. The various residents’ associa-

tions informed Mr Connolly that they will not accept this behaviour and are pressuring university and SU representatives, landlords, and the Gardaí to persecute these students.

As Welfare Officer and Students’ Union Vice-President I have been calling door-to-door with Emmet Connolly in the past several evenings, warning students who have already been noted this year for causing disturbances to their neighbours. We wish to make clear the repercussions drunken behaviour can have. I was and always will be partial to a bit of craic as a

student, but I shamefully admit I had to learn about the consequences of my drunken behaviour the hard way when I was once escorted to Mill Street Garda station on a night out. I have also come across cases of students who have ended up in court and lost their part-time jobs on account of their drunken actions.

We all want to have a bit of fun, but please have a bit of cop-on as anti-social behaviour has consequences, and serious ones at that, so don’t let things get out of hand. Respect your neighbours, respect your community, and respect yourselves.

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Let ter to the Editor Dear Editor,

for a break down on the where the funding goes. Does it go directly to the people in need? The second point is Martina mentioned she picked up a leaflet on campus about an organisation.

NUI Galway does not in any way endorse or recommend particular organisations.

Often external groups drop leaflets and posters on campus but no external group is officially legitimised

by NUI Galway. That means it’s up to you to research the group fully and decide what’s a right fit for you.

Don’t worry though we know what its like out there! ALIVE to the rescue, pick up our Guide to International Volunteering in the Hub, Aras na Mac

I really enjoyed reading Martina Maughan’s feature piece on volunteering in Africa. She clearly had a positive experience, reflecting on her personal growth and a few laughs along the way. Which is what it’s all about! I have two points of information for students hopping to travel abroad and give their time to a community or with an organisation. First, there are two types of organisations: forprofit companies and non-profit charities.

It doesn’t really matter which organisation you decide to volunteer with just to be aware that are differences out there. You can always ask an organisations

Leinn which outlines all the things to consider before taking the plunge overseas.

Like did you know it’s important to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ who helped Irish people during recent events like the Christchurch earthquake? Finally, Martina came back to Ireland all inspired!

Overseas volunteering can be really challenging and emotional though so prepare before you go and plan to get support for when you return.

Martina I hope you get your ALIVE Certificate for Volunteering!

Chat soon,

Lorraine Tansey, Student Volunteer Coordinator

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Editorial This week Sin is suffering from split personality disorder.

We have just concluded Freshers Fortnight, two weeks of academic and social hysteria. The library was busier than it will be at any time in the next year save the exam period. Returning students have buckled down with renewed vigor. New students are frightened into getting an early start by post-graduate tutors, well meaning lecturers, and the rumour of Paddy from Castlebar who has been in college since 2003 working on an Engineering degree for which he has repeated every year at least once. It was also one of the busiest weeks in the social calendar.

The postgraduate community, of which I am a member, has a different perspective on September. For one thing, we never actually left. Some of us wish we were young again. Some of us cackle cruelly at the Freshers’ reckless budgeting, and comfort ourselves in the knowledge that they’ll all be as broke as we are by October. Some of us are frustrated that we have to queue for coffee. Some of us enjoy having a bit of life on campus again.

Some of us wish we were young again, again.

Issue two looks back on Freshers’ Fortnight, and ahead to Volunteering week, Equality week and Postgrad week. Being slightly biased, I have included a few special treats for postgraduate students.

Sin is very proud to present PhD Comics! We are the first National University paper to syndicate the strip, which will be familiar to many postgraduate students as a means to procrastinate. Also, if you are feeling inspired by the Volunteering Fair, remember we are always looking for new writers. Come along to any of our weekly meetings on Tuesdays from 7 – 8pm in AC203 on the Concourse to get involved.

What Freshers’ Fortnight does best is encourage us to reflect on the lessons we have learned in the past, and look to the future.

Our cover stories this issue highlight the importance of protecting yourself, as well as respecting yourself and your community both on and off campus. I encourage you all to be careful, stick together, and remain vigilant. Don’t let each other walk home alone.

— Rosemary

p.s. I made Paddy up, but am curious to see if I will recognise him if/ when he comes back to me as an urban legend at the end of the year.

Mairead Scahill, Chloe Stone, Neasa O Callaghan, Aoife Noone and Oryana Farrell-Hickey from DramSoc acting out at Societies Day.

Congratulations to Tracy Hynes, Winner of the Connacht Rugby 2011/2012 Season Ticket. Up Connacht!

Designer’s Den: Typing — like a Boss For someone who loves typography, I’m not a particularly accomplished typist. But when you work with type a lot, you learn a whole bunch of other tricks to save time, and they’re useful no matter what your typing level or needs.

The Alt-Gr Key: once you figure this one out, you’ll never look back. It’s the right-hand “ALT” or “OPTION” key, and it’s like the SHIFT key on crack: use it to unlock a whole other set of characters on your keyboard.

Most useful are the acute accents (á, é, í, ó, ú) and their capital variants, which can be typed by pressing the ALT-GR key or adding the SHIFT key.

You can also use “ALT-GR + 4” for a Euro symbol.

Google “ALT-GR” for more useful symbols.

Find the character map. It’s the only reliable way to find all those odd accents, math and currency symbols, and different lengths of dashes (the -hypen, –endash, and —em-dash: all have their proper place.

Don’t trust MS Word to figure it out for you.) All operating systems have one built in, and so do most word-processors.

To make life easier, character maps are divided into sections: the Basic Latin, Currency, Punctuation and Math Symbols should cover most of what you need.

Get click-happy: in most applications, a double-click selects a word; a triple-click selects a sentence, and a quadruple-click selects a paragraph. It might seem like a lot of effort, but if

you make a habit of it, it will become a very instinctive way of selecting text.

Get busy with the HOME and END keys: these are great for navigating. HOME takes you to the start of a line, and END takes you to the end... add CTRL and you can move to the top or bottom of a document, and add SHIFT to start selecting text as you go.

Also, the DEL key works just like the backspace key, but deletes a letter in front of the cursor.

CTRL-X, CTRL-C, CTRL-V. These are the most important keyboard shortcuts, in the world, ever: CUT (X), COPY (C), and PASTE (V).

Why CTRL V for paste?

Because it’s next to the other two, and they’re all right beside the left

control key, meaning you can get busy with your mouse at the same time.

Set yourself up some AutoCorrect hacks.

If you’ve got a whole bunch of awful citations for an essay or some weird chemical compound to name, take a few letters you can remember easily, but that you’d never type otherwise, and tell MS Word to change them for you.

For example, you could tell it to AutoCorrect “CHX” as “cyclohexane” or “HDNK” as “Albert E. Humperdinkle”. Google “AutoCorrect” to learn how to set this up.

Next time: some dos and don’ts in MS Word, including the arcana of headers, footers, page numbers and the horrors of working with section breaks...

Editor: Rosemary Gallagher | editor@sin.ie Layout: Shannon Reeves | Contact via Ed. Features Editors: Orla Reilly and Arthur Walsh Foreman | Features.SinEd@gmail.com Fashion, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Ashling O Loughlin | ArtsEntertainment.SinEd@gmail.com Sports Editor: Marian Clohosey | Sport.SinEd@gmail.com Photography: Ciara Holmes unless otherwise specified Contributors: Dami Adebari | Mohit Agrawal | Barnacle | Colleen Ní Bhaistir | Rory Bowens | Aoife Brennan | Eistear de Búrca | Richeal Burns | Ian Colgan | Fiona Curran | Darcy | Ronan Doyle | Maria Dylan | Sinead Farrell | Lisa Fitzgerald | Erika Fox | Louise France | Martina Gannon | Fiona Gillespie | Peter Glynn | Brian Grant | Mary Greene | Evin Keane | Mark Kelly | Ciaran Kelly | Gerard Madden | Ciaran Monahan | Dylan Murphy | Cian Murray | William O’Brien | Fionnuala O’Leary | Ashling O Loughlin | Fiona O’Maille | Marése O’Sullivan | Roisin Peddle | Barbara Preston | Colette Sexton | Ultan Sharkey | Lorraine Tansey | Jessica Thompson

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Irish Scientists Assemble in Galway for Pan-European Event

By Ciaran Monahan On Friday, 23 September, Irish scientists joined researchers from across Europe at the European Researchers Night, an event aimed at giving the public, particularly young people, the opportunity to meet researchers in a fun and festive atmosphere. The Irish event was themed ‘Sea2Sky’, and was Ireland’s first participation in the evening. Taking place in Galway, Sea2Sky was one of over 800 venues around 320 cities in 32 countries all around Europe. Organised by NUI Galway in collaboration with the Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria, this free event hosted at Leisureland in Salthill offered a unique opportunity for people to experience research facilities not usually open to the public, such as specialised equipment and technologies, as well as guidance of expert scientists on the day.

Exhibits contin ued throughout the day allowing children and adults alike to learn more about whales and dolphins, take a 3D tour of the universe, tour the Gal-

“

26–09

NUIG Lecturer Shortlisted for Anti-Torture Committee

By Evin Keane

Members of the growing army of volunteers signing up for Sea2Sky are Caroline Hoade from Oranmore, Co. Galway Oisín Robbins, from Clara Co. Offaly. The NUI Galway students were at the launch of the programme for the event which took place on 23 September. Photo Aengus McMahon.

Also on display was the mini-sea exploration vehicle which was used by scientists in the recent discovery of hydrovents deep in the Atlantic.

Doors to the Galway Atlantaquaria were also open throughout the day, allowing visitors to explore Ireland’s largest splash tank and huge ray pool. Guests got the chance to see the 60 foot long Fin Whale skeleton as well as getting their hands wet in the Touch Pool where aquarium experts helped the curious and brave to handle real starfish and crabs. Representatives from the

The jam-packed programme offers

something for people of all ages, and

”

gives children and adults alike the

chance to be a scientist for one day

way Atlantaquaria, check-out scientific demonstrations, and take part in a variety of other hands-on activities. Other areas of the main exhibition hall housed demonstrations in areas of science ranging from marine life and climate change to the study of the solar system.

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Irish Whale and Dolphin Group were also on hand to talk about their work. The route between the two venues, Leisureland and Galway Atlantaquaria, saw amateur astronomers and experts alike with their telescopes in position along Salthill’s famous Promenade eager for the prospect

of some study of the sky after dark.

“This is a very unique opportunity for the public to participate in experiments and demonstrations.

The jam-packed programme offers something for people of all ages, and gives children and adults alike the chance to be a scientist for one day” said chief organiser, NUI Galway’s Dr Andrew Shearer.

The occasion saw participation by several research groups from NUI Galway, including the NUIG Centre for Astronomy and the Ryan Institute. Other groups such as the GMIT, Discover Science & Engineering, the Galway Astronomy Club and ALIVE, also had strong turnouts. The Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C-CAPS) who’s main research focus is in the area of air pollution interactions with climate change and ecosystems and biogeochemical cycling of atmospheric constituents, also had nine members at the event, and displayed some of their real-time meteorological data (cloud radar, lidar etc)

and atmospheric composition data which is webcast every 10 minutes (www.macehead. org) and their volcanic ash forecast system along with answering many questions about their work in climate research.

Prof. Colin O’Dowd, Director of C-CAPS said “the event gave us the opportunity to promote the diversity and extent and international profile of our research. It was a good opportunity to publicise our world-leading Mace Head Research Station and our climate, air pollution and volcanic ash forecasting model. Despite the economic downturn, we continue to procure significant research funding for this import a n t r e s e a rc h a n d continue to produce significant research outputs. I expect this level of performance to attract new researchers who will underpin our research advances and sustainability into the future” The event is expected to highlight the appeal of pursuing a research career and give a significant boost to interest in environmental science across Europe.

Don­ncha O’Connell, lecturer and law graduate of NUI Galway, is one of three nominees for the Irish seat on the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture, according to last Saturday’s Irish Times.

Mr O’Connell, who was Dean of the Faculty of Law from 2005 to 2008, was deemed by the Irish government to have met the stated requirement that members “shall be chosen from among persons of high moral character, known for their competence in the field of human rights or having professional experience in the areas covered by the convention.” If elected, Mr O’Connell must act as an informed, impartial judge of conditions in jails, psychiatric institutions, police stations and all other sites in Europe where people are held against their will.

O’Connell’s professional and academic background would suggest that he is perfectly positioned for the role. He is currently the Senior Irish Member of

the expert legal advisory group for the EU agency for Fundamental Rights, FRALEX, and is a member of the Board of Directors of INTERIGHTS – The International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights. He is the editor of the annually published Irish Human Rights Law Review. His past achievements in human rights, discrimination and other related fields are staggering. He took leave of NUI Galway in 1999 to act as the first full-time Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties before returning to the university in 2002. He has been on the National Council of the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) and the Executive Committee of Amnesty International-Ireland. The list goes on.

Undergraduate students will recognise Mr O’Connell from his classes in Constitutional Law and European Human Rights. He also teaches Processes of Law Reform and Equality Law: Principles & Thematic Application on the LL.M in Public Law.

Donncha O’Connell: nomiated for the Irish seat on the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

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Ireland’s first Slutwalk for NUI Galway Equality Week

by Gerard Madden The Students’ Union is to organise a “slutwalk” as part of the University’s Equality Week. The event, which is supported by the Rape Crisis Network Ireland and the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, will take place on Wednesday, 5 October at 1pm, assembling on campus and then proceeding to the Spanish Arch. A Slutwalk is a march against the use of a woman’s appearance to explain or excuse rape, where some females participate scantily clad, as “sluts”.

The slutwalk originated in Toronto, after

a police constable, Michael Sanguinetti, stated that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised.” Feminist activists organised a march, ironically labelled a “slutwalk” in reference to Sanguinetti’s misogynistic turn of phrase, and “slutwalks” were held in many international locations, such as Cape Town, Berlin, Delhi, and now, in a first for this island, in Galway.

Speaking to Sin, the march’s organiser, Students’ Union Equality Officer William O’Brien, argued that the Slutwalk is necessary because

something visually provocative is needed to raise the issue of rape in Irish society. O’Brien feels that “the Slutwalk will propel the issue of rape into the national zeitgeist, sending a message to broader society as well as the state.” “Rape is still a very taboo subject, in Ireland more so than elsewhere,” he continues; that the problem of sweeping rape under the carpet is particularly acute here is illustrated by the fact that Ireland has the highest fall-out between reporting the crime to getting to court in Europe.

The planned event prompted a heated

debate on the website thejournal.ie, with some advancing the view that dressing provocatively does make women more likely to be a target of rape. O’Brien dismisses these claims, stating that rape victims should not be made to feel guilty for what they wear or don’t wear. “Wearing a Burqa is common in the Middle East, yet rape is no less prevalent in those societies,” he argues.

“Dressing provocatively no more provokes rape than wearing a Celtic jersey on the streets of Glasgow justifies a sectarian assault. The blame lies exclusively with the perpetrator.”

A protestor at the Toronto Slutwalk

Glór Ghaeltachta: An tAcadamh

“They’re serving chips in paper cones!”

Le Colleen Ní Bhaistir

By Jessica Thompson

An tAcadamh, cén áit ina bhfuil sé sin? Sin an chéad rud a bíonn le cloisteáil agam gach am a luaim le duine éigin an áit ina bhfuil mé ag staidéar faoi láthair agus cuireann sé isteach orm!

Is brainse d’Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh é Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Ní dóigh liom go raibh sé sin ar eolas agat!

Tá ceithre ionad ag an Acadamh timpeall na tíre –Carna, Gaoth Dobhair agus an tAcadamh ar an gCeathrú Rua, an áit na bhfuil mé féin lonnaithe. Tá cúrsaí sa siúl sa Spidéal freisin leis ag an Acadamh – cúrsa ceoil i gcomhar le Stiúideo Cuan.

Chomh maith leis sin tá lárionad Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in Áras na Gaeilge ar champas Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh.

Sin ráite, céard é an tAcadamh? Bhuel, mar a dúirt mé cheana féin, is brainse é d’Ollscoil

na hÉireann Gaillimh.

Déanaimid ár gcuid staidéir ar fad trí mheán na Gaeilge. Anseo san Acadamh tá seacht gcúrsa lánaimseartha ar bun agus chomh maith le sin tá cúrsaí páirt aimseartha ann.

Bíonn duine ag rá go bhfuil an áit an-bheag agus gur dóigh nach mbíonn aon chraic againn, ach bíonn a dhóthain craic againn.

Gach seachtain bíonn ar a laghad rud amháin eagraithe againn, uaireanta is bus atá ag dul isteach chuig an cathair nó amanna eile bíonn tráth na gceisteanna againn sa halla.

An rud is fearr faoin Acadamh ná mar gheall go bhfuil muid ‘chomh beag sin’ tá muid cosúil Foclóir: Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge: The Academy for University Education through Irish An tAcadamh: The Academy ag plé: discussing

le clann agus bíonn aithne agat ar gach duine, ní dóigh gur féidir le aon duine ar an bpríomh champas é sin a rá!

Mar sin, gach duine, is páirt d’Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimhe muid agus tá muid chomh maith le haon duine ar an príomh champas! Agus más rud é go bhfuil lá saor agat, tar ar cuairt agus beidh deoch nó dhó againn!

Beidh an colún seo i ngach eagrán den pháipéar ‘Sin’ go deireadh an tseimeastair agus beidh muid ag plé taobh na Gaeilge d’Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimhe arís. Mas rud é go bhfuil aon tuairimí agaibh seol isteach chuig an bpáipéar iad. brainse: branch lonnaithe: situated lárionad: central place príomh champas: main campus cúrsaí lánaimseartha: full-time courses tráth na gceisteanna: table quiz

The quality of food in the canteen has dropped, according to students’ reports, without a corresponding drop in price.

Bizarrely the canteen has started serving chips in paper cones, putting the paper cone on a plate, and handing the plate to students. So what do the students think of the quality of the canteen food? “I asked for salmon, and I got salmonella,” one student joked when asked his opinion on the food.

When I say “joked”, I mean “lied outright” (he didn’t actually get salmonella). All jokes aside, the quality of the food in the canteen is a serious matter to the students who are buying their lunches there. I asked a few canteen regulars – and a few who choose not to eat there due to overpriced food – for their opinions on the drop in quality, and here’s what I found: “[The food] is alright, but it’s kind of expensive for what you’re getting.

A swanky new layout, without the swanky new meals!

Plus, they really should have a loyalty card! But I haven’t noticed any change in the quality, really.” – Darren Conneely, 2nd year Arts.

“I agree [with Darren], it is quite expensive considering it’s a student canteen!” – Oryana Farrell, 2nd year Arts.

“I think the quality of the food is definitely as bad as it was. Last year it was so bad that my friends and I stopped eating there. They gave us all surveys asking what they could do to improve the food – feedback forms, but they didn’t really change anything, or take any of the feedback on board. All they did was do up the Bialann a bit, and they tried to trick us into thinking that the food is a bit better

than it was, but they haven’t changed anything. I think the price has gone up. It’s now seven euro for Spaghetti Bolognese. In the college bar you would get a full, proper dinner for that price, which would keep you going for the day.” – Katie Finnegan, MA Journalism student.

So what’s the solution to this? According to the Bialann website, “We value your comments!” so feel free to send in a feedback form to the canteen.

Alternatively today’s students could take a leaf out of the book of students in 1982, who held a catering boycott of the restaurant.

Terms included a freeze on prices, and an 8% increase in the size of chip portions.

{6}

G a lway N ews

13–02

{sin} 26–09

Reaching the Shortlist

By Eistear de Búrca, Undergraduate Awards of Ireland NUI Galway Ambassador The Undergraduate Awards of Ireland were founded in October 2008 to reward Ireland’s most innovative students, to encourage and facilitate the development of the brightest undergraduates, and to inspire all undergraduates to achieve their potential.

It is now in its third year and has established itself as a quality institution; talented students are awarded annually for their excellent work and it has become an enviable and valuable part of many students’ CVs. This year 190 entries came from NUI Galway and 11 of those reached the shortlist in various categories. Among these were Alexander Hart and Trevor Glavey.

Alexander entered

the Awards on the recommendation of a lecturer, who suggested he submit one of his course-work essays which had received a good result during the year. “I thought it would be very good for my CV but I was also interested to see how I would fare against others in the country,” says Alexander. The essay was entitled “Actuopalaeontology of the Holocene Extinction: Implication for Extinction Rates, Resolution and Completeness in the Fossil Record” and compared past extinction events with the current loss of species happening today.

He got a grade of 70% for this essay and was delighted to reach the Shortlist for the Natural

Sciences category.

Trevor, a law student, also entered on the recommendation of a lecturer and his entry was entitled “Enforcement of EU Competition Law and Respect for Human Rights.” In it he evaluated the approach adopted by the European Court of Justice in relation to the procedural right of legal professional privilege and how it has been applied to legal persons. It received a first class honours and landed him with a position in the Law Category for potential “Top Law Undergraduate of Ireland.” He hopes to continue with a career in law and intends to pursue the L.L.B. next year.

Both Alexander and Trevor highly recommend the Awards: “The fantastic thing about the Awards is that they

Last Year’s Winners at the Royal Irish Academy. Image ­courtesy of Undergraduate Awards of Ireland.

are based on actual coursework completed throughout the year, therefore one need not worry about taking time out from their final year studies to participate,” says Trevor. “There’s a lot to be gained from the experience, regardless of whether you are the eventual winner or not.”

Alexander also adds that

Park & Ride Bus Service Ride Bus Service Timetable - Semester 1, 2011 PARKPark&&RIDE BUS SERVICE Peak Morning Service from 1, Dangan Carpark (every 15 minutes) Timetable - Semester 2011

Timetable - S

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,

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

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

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, 10.00, 10.15, 10.30, 10.45, 11.00 Peak Morning Service from Dangan Carpark (every 15 minutes)

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

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

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.

13.15, 13:45

Lunchtime Shuttle From Dangan Carpark

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.

University is providing a free EMERGENCY taxi shuttle from Orbsen to the Dangan carpark (only).

The night time The 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

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,

gories for the Awards and they are awarded yearly.

We wish Trevor, Alexander and the nine other shortlisted students all the very best on Friday when the final results are released. Whatever happens, they have done extremely well and no doubt this accomplishment will stand to them in the future.

Park & Ride Bus Service

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)

“if you know before you write the essay/research project that you will be submitting it, then choose a topic that you are interested in yourself, as you will be able to put a lot more energy into it.” Both are very grateful to their respective lecturers for encouraging them to take part.

There are twenty cate-

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

QR code timetable

{sin} 13–02

G a lway N ews

{7} 26–09

Professor Michael D. Higgins addresses NUI Galway students Presedential candidate describes his vision of a new Ireland

By Mohit Agrawal A wandering fresher would have been excused if, upon walking into Kirwan Theatre last Thursday evening, they had thought they had found their political theory lecture.

Instead, they would have heard Michael D. Higgins, the Labour Party candidate for President, outlining his vision of a new Ireland, rebuilt from the ashes of a society “consumed by its own consumption.”

Michael D. gave a stridently academic address to the audience of more than fifty students, sprinkling references to Max Weber, Friedrich Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, and John Maynard Keynes in a speech that criticized Irish consumerism and described his vision for

the country. Michael D. further referenced Slavoj Zizek and Amartya Sen in the question and answer period.

None of these philosophers were in the original text of Michael D.’s speech, which was provided to Sin by his campaign.

Michael D. is an academic at heart; the essayist and poet served as lecturer of sociology and political science at NUI Galway before embarking on a thirty four year career in local and national politics, including service as TD for Galway West and as Minister for Arts, Culture, and the Gaeltacht. Michael D. is a graduate of NUI Galway, where he was auditor of the Literary and Debating Society and president of the Students’ Union.

Indeed, Michael D. was

invited to campus by the current auditor of Lit & Deb, Timothy Morrow.

Vice-auditor Sean Kearns explained that the society had approached campaigns for the announced presidential candidates months ago with intentions of organising a debate. Early last week, however, other candidates declined to participate, leaving only Michael D. to attend. Morrow decided against canceling the event, though, saying to sustained applause from the audience that “Michael D. should be given the time to talk because no one else could be bothered to come.”

In his speech, Michael D. stressed that the Presidency in Ireland is more than symbolic. “I would like to reject the notion… that the Presidency is of lit-

tle or no substance…that it is no more than a retirement home for politicians… if elected, I intend to bring a verve and a dynamism to that Office which will fully complement the efforts of Government in overcoming our current difficulties.” He said that the President both safeguards the constitution and has a discretionary role in shaping Irish society. Michael D. explained that he would seek to see Irish society rebuilt on four pillars: radical inclusive citizenship, a creative society, building a real Republic, and being proud to be Irish in the world.

Michael D. answered nine questions from students; in his responses, he stated that he was healthy enough to serve as President; that he would not stand for reelection; that he would accept the salary

Embracing a Culture of Transition

By Mary Greene Welcome to the ‘Sustainable Campus’ column – a brand new addition to Sin. Here you can keep up to date on what’s happening as both students and staff in NUI Galway work together to make our university a more sustainable place to study, socialise, work and learn in. Each edition will include a timely and relevant article on NUI Galway’s efforts at working towards sustainability. You will also be kept up to date on what’s going on in the world of eco-activism more generally and the events, workshops and fun-filled

events being organised by the many societies on campus that are working towards sustainable goals.

So what is a sustainable campus anyway, and what role have universities got to play in the move towards a sustainable future? As key sites of social and cultural innovation, universities have a major role to play in the transition towards a more sustainable, low carbon future. As nations around the world are urgently working towards finding ways to transform the institutions that underpin society towards more sustainable goals and objectives, the role of universities and colleges as

Image courtesy of Geography Department, NUI Galway

critical leverage points for change becomes ever more apparent.

In becoming aware of the unsustainability of current ways of living and social organisation, the growing concern over the twin issues of climate change and widespread resource depletion, the gross inequality between developed and developing nations, as well as the environmental challenges within our own local communities, it becomes apparent that third level learning institutions have a central role to play in shaping our future. Campuses represent a huge investment in buildings, land and people and how we build and maintain our physical infrastructure, engage in buying practices, manage our waste and consume energy is crucially significant to the environmental wellbeing of wider society. Third level learning institutions are inextricably interwoven into the communities in which they are located and their connec-

tions, commitments and codes of conduct, if harnessed positively, can make a difference off campus as well as on campus. Perhaps most importantly though, universities are spaces where the bright young minds of the future can exercise their full potential.

It is these people - you and me - who will play a crucial role in helping our society move towards a more sustainable future.

Across Ireland and the world, universities are recognising this challenge and making positive moves towards greening their campuses. Green Campus initiatives are popping up across Europe, North America and further afield.

These initiatives represent exciting and challenging opportunities for students and staff to embrace a culture of transition and come together to lay the foundations for sustainability in their colleges and universities. Working creatively and collaboratively and using a mixture of approaches, students

for President as determined

by Government; that he may not be independent of party but was “independent of mind”; and that his legacy would be to forward a discourse on reconnecting economics, ethics, and politics.

After the event, Labour TD for Galway West Derek Nolan stated that “Michael D. merges politics and thought” and that “no other candidate has that breadth of insight.” Nolan predicted that “Galway would be good for Michael D.” Most students expressed support for Michael D., though one said that Michael D. was

too intellectual and that he would prefer someone with business experience instead.

In addition to Michael D., the announced candidates in the presidential race are Mary Davis and Seán Gallagher as independents, Martin McGuinness for Sinn Féin, and Gay Mitchell for Fine Gael. The election will be held on Thursday, October 27 and is the first competitive race for Áras since 1997, when many students were young children. The Students’ Union has urged students to vote in the election and held a voter registration drive on Monday, 26 September.

and staff are putting innovative ideas into practice to inspire people to minimise their energy use and reduce the environmental impact of their university.

Schemes such as car pools, bicycle co-ops and workshops, college allotments, composting schemes, swap shops, carbon neutral menus and zero waste initiatives are transforming the landscapes of campuses throughout the world.

Last March NUI Galway registered for the Green Campus Programme with the goal of empowering students and staff and engaging the campus community to work towards reducing environmental impacts and increase awareness about matters of sustainability. The seven-step Green Campus Programme, based on the highly successful Green Schools Programme, offers a model for cultivating environmental awareness in a manner that enables everyday activities and learning to be linked, as well as addressing the operational requisites of running and maintaining a complex third level institution. Green Campus

strives to make environmental awareness and action a fundamental part of the ethos and culture of a college or university.

By engaging a wide set of participants including students, academic and non-academic staff, the media, local council and businesses it seeks to extend environmental learning and action far beyond the confines of the classroom to everyday living at college, at home and in the wider community.

To put these goals into effect a Green Campus Committee has been set up to provide a forum by which students and staff can come together to network and discuss ideas for working towards making NUI Galway a more sustainable university. These meetings are held from 1-2pm on the last Tuesday of every month in the Alexandra Anderson Boardroom in the Quad and anyone who wants to get involved in working towards making NUI Galway a more sustainable campus is encouraged to come along. Contact greencampus@nuigalway.ie for more information.

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{sin} 13–02

N ationa l N ews

{9} 26–09

Barbarian Seeks Quiet Academic Life

By Peter Glynn Trinity College Dublin had an unusual new addition to its English Department on Wednesday 14 September when an unknown computer prankster uploaded the phoney profile of one ‘Dr. Conan T. Barbarian.’ The bogus profile consisted of a personal biography, which pictured Arnold Schwarzenegger from his début film role in Conan: The Barbarian (1982).

Caoimhe Ní Lochlainn, a spokeswoman for Trinity College, commented on how the university’s website had never been disrupted like this before.

She then confirmed that the College is convinced that this was an inside job, and not the work of

a hacker.

The profile was eventually removed at around 9:30am the next morning, but not before many people had saved a screen shot of the page and its contents.

Dr. T. Barbarian is accredited with several academic achievements throughout his career, including a Ph.D. from UCD, entitled “To Hear the Lamentation of Their Women: Constructions of Masculinity in Contemporary Zamoran Literature,” an F.T.C.D. (Fellow of Trinity College Dublin) and a B.A. from Cimmeria – The Doctor’s fictional homeland. According to his profile, he offers several courses to students, including “The Relevance of Crom in the Modern

Anti Social Behaviour during UCD Fresher’s Week

By Colette Sexton The anti social behaviour of UCD students on the Monday night of the university’s Fresher’s Week forced Dublin Bus to temporarily halt its services between the university and Dublin city.

Dublin Bus said that a number of incidents took place between students and bus drivers on the way into the city on the 12 September. The company resumed their full timetable of services between the college and the city the next day but they have warned that there will be a permanent withdrawal of services if any future disturbances occur.

The UCD Students’ Union appealed for calm after the anti-social incidents. This request appears to have worked.

Gary Fox, Media Officer for the UCD Students’ Union, confirmed that there were no further problems between students and bus drivers for the rest of the week.

The UCD Students’ Union are satisfied that

there were no additional incidents during Fresher’s Week but they are taking action to ensure this sort of behaviour will not happen in the future. The SU now plan to release a campaign which aims to help students realise that they must respect others as they go about their daily lives.

Gary Fox, speaking on behalf of the UCD SU said: “We are going to launch an awareness campaign and a respect campaign in order to make people realise that their actions have consequences to others. People get the bus into town for a night out but they also have to realise that Dublin Bus serves the campus every day of the week from morning to night. It’s not just them that they are affected but all students that are coming here from across the city to study and to do other things.”

A similar situation occurred in the University of Limerick several years ago and night time services linking the university with the city were permanently cancelled.

World,” “Theories of Literature” and “Vengeance for Beginners.” The profile even gave an account of his motivations behind becoming a contributing member of academia: “Dr. Conan T. Barbarian was ripped from his mother’s womb on the corpse-strewn battlefields of his war-torn homeland, Cimmeria, and has been preparing for academic life ever since.” Conan’s bio goes on to explain how he ended up becoming a member of staff at UCD after “successfully decapitating his predecessor during a bloody battle which will be long remembered in legend and in song.”

Ms Ní Lochlainn went on to say that while the prank is being viewed as

“quite humorous,” investigators are still working to find the prankster. She said that the punishment of the person responsible would depend on “the full facts of the case.”

In a related piece of news: UCD, historically Trinity’s rivals, have just received a boost to their reputation when it comes to fighting cybercrime. They have recently awarded an MSc in forensic computing and cybercrime investigation, the first qualification of its kind, to twenty-eight police officers from sixteen different countries. The graduates included officers from Germany, Italy, the UK, Malta, Bulgaria, Latvia and Spain, as well as three from An Garda Síochána.

The twenty-eight police

officers were trained in basic computer science, to understand where evidence can typically be found on hardware or within software programs.

The course also covered the process of digital forensics, so that any evidence found can be deemed admissible in court.

Earlier in the year, UCD was also chosen to host the 2Centre project, a four million euro initiative supported by the European Commission to fight against cybercrime by supplying research, training and digital forensic tools to police forces that require them.

What’s in a Name?

By Barbara Preston The recent announcement by Trinity College to ‘internationalise’ the academic titles of its teaching staff has created a considerable amount of discussion among the faculties of Irish universities.

Following the system in the United States, TCD’s lecturers and senior lecturers will now be given the title of ‘Assistant Professor’ and ‘Associate Professor’ respectively. According to John Drennan’s article in the Sunday Independent, as well as some online comments, the “inflation” of academic titles is not going down too well in ‘cap and gown’ circles.

TCD insists that the changes are merely a “standardisation” matter and that the job title does not give junior academic staff the right to call themselves Professor – they have to stick with Mr/Ms/Dr until they make the grade as full professors. However, one commenter noted that access to funding in the US will be improved because many grants will only be given to those with the word ‘professor’ in their job title.

Is this issue going to

affect NUI Galway? Well, first of all, prior to the Universities Act of 1997, a Senior Lecturer in the (then) University College Galway was known as a Statutory Lecturer, because the post was specified by statute in the 1908 Act, so title changes are nothing new in academic circles.

In fact, as far back as 2006, Warwick University in England was the first (and only) UK institution to lead the way in harmonising its staff titles with the US. As Trinity College’s changes have been made unilaterally, without HEA input, it is unlikely that we’ll find the campus suddenly without lecturers and flooded with professors.

John Drennan’s article suggested that suddenly calling all lecturers ‘professors’ would be insulting to existing professors who have earned the title through hard work. Sin spoke to Professor Dan Carey, one of NUIG’s newly appointed professors – congratulations to him and Prof. Rod Stoneman, Huston Film School of Film and Digital Media – to find out his views on the matter.

Prof. Carey, coming from a US background,

is well-placed to see both sides of the story and feels there is something to be said both for and against the TCD proposal. He agrees that “titles in Ireland and Britain don’t translate very well in America” and that the debate is “more of an issue of why you would accept that American titles are the single currency.” He expressed concern about a unilateral change by TCD, saying “a decision of this kind has to be taken at national level by the HEA because, if you don’t take it at that level and one institution decides to change its academic titles, they appear to outrank the other institutions on the island”.

Prof. Carey believes that “the HEA should take a view on what it thinks are the appropriate titles for academic staff in [Irish] universities”. So far, no official statement has been made by the HEA on the matter.

Speaking to visiting students from across the Atlantic, Sin learned that many of them do find it strange that we don’t address our lecturers as ‘professor’ and that, to them, the America terminology “sounds right” but, in general, the feel-

ing seems to be that once they get used to the idea of addressing them by first names or titles, it’s just a matter of semantics. As one student put it, we have a “different lingo over here” but the meaning is the same. Or is it?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the title of professor as: “a university teacher of the highest rank.” Historically, each university department would be headed by a professor who would hold a ‘chair’ in his or her particular field of study.

Nowadays, more than one professor may be appointed within departments, recognising senior staff with high academic and research achievements. In the US, academic titles are also a mark of where members of staff are on the tenure ladder. This is where it gets complicated – in a nutshell; each type of professor is immediately recognised by title as to what level of the pecking order they are on. In Ireland and the UK, merely changing the name of the job description will not equate to tenure in a similar way, and therefore Trinity’s so-called “standardisation” of titles is, well all I can say is ...academic!

{10} 13–02

N ationa l N ews

{sin} 26–09

Five Star Rating Human Rights Conference Comes at a Price Takes Place in Dublin

By Mark Kelly Two of Ireland’s top universities have stated that the tens of thousands of euro paid to QS to receive “star ratings” to attract foreign students is worthwhile.

Both University College Cork (UCC) and the University of Limerick (UL) have revealed that they paid €22,000 for their ratings. UCC paid €7,035 for an audit fee and three annual licencing fees of €4,893 each.

UCC’s audit included an on-site visit by a QS official who collected data, but the rankings are based on the university’s own data submission to the authority. UCC achieved five stars in many important fields such as research, infrastructure, internationalism (amount of international students studying at the university), innovation and life science, which helped it gain its five star rating, but received only three stars in teaching and engagement.

UCC hopes to raise its international stu-

dent base from 13% to 20% of total students.

Trevor Holmes, vicepresident of UCC said “Should UCC’s participation in QS Stars result in attracting a single additional, full-time international student to study at UCC then the costs of participation are covered.” UL’s audit did not include an on-site visit, but it received five stars in all six of the categories it was submitted for and an overall rating of four stars. UL refused to comment on the cost negotiated, or to verify if the college is paying for more benchmarking audits in partnership with QS, citing commercial sensitivity.

While UL said it was happy with its four star rating, President Don Barry dwelled more on its top marks for both employability of graduates and innovation, he cited this as an important factor for attracting potential students to UL. Whilst these were the only Irish Universities to take part, many more are expected to apply in the next year.

By Marése O’Sullivan 130 human rights activists from all over the world gathered in Dublin Castle from the 14 -16 September for the sixth Front Line Dublin Platform.

The biannual human rights conference was established by the Dublin-based NGO, Front Line, founded in 2001.

Their aim is to safeguard, support and protect nonviolent human rights defenders.

The Dublin Platform provides a safe environment, where issues can be debated, knowledge dispensed, and experiences shared.

The Chairperson of NUI Galway’s Irish Centre of Human Rights, Professor William Schabas, praised the Dublin Platform for its outstanding contribution to the defence of human rights. “The Human Rights Conference organized by Front Line is one of the major events on the human rights calendar, and it is a great credit to Ireland that this is held in our

Trinity Provost Calls for More University Funding

By Colette Sexton In his inaugural address, Dr Patrick Prendergast, the new Provost of Trinity College Dublin, appealed to the Government to take a fresh look at the way it funds higher education in Ireland.

The appeal comes as many of the top universities in the country have fallen in the world rankings, as reported last week

by Mark Kelly in Sin. In the address, the Provost claimed that Trinity will not be able to compete on the world stage in higher education if government funding continues to be allocated to each university based on the total number of

students in all the other universities: “It’s only about numbers. So much so, that one commentator talks about ‘headage’ payments.”

Instead he proposes that universities be encouraged to act in terms of quality, not quantity. This will prevent the practice of ‘herding’ in students without having the resources to cater for them.

In response to these comments, Galway West TD Sean Kyne defended the current system of university funding: “The Provost would be looking from TCD’s point of view that because they are the highest ranked university so they should get more money. The present sys-

tem of allocation is more C true and fair rather than basing it on world rankM ings. World rankings are Y difficult to validate or verCM ify. It would lead to other universities having reducMY tions in their allocations CY and that would be unfair.”

CMY The Provost believes that only when presiK dents of Irish universities are granted “flexibility and decision making powers” can their institutions compete internationally and generate employment.

Dr Prendergast advocates the re-introduction of university fees for those who can afford them. He claims that the public has no right to burden future generations with today’s university fees.

country. The gathering brings together some of the heroes of our time, selfless individuals who campaign for human rights, often at great danger to themselves.

We at the Irish Centre for Human Rights have long been associated with Front Line and its

“

refugee living in France, Tadjibaeva received a bouquet of flowers at the opening ceremony of the Dublin Platform from Ms Lawlor: a symbolic gesture, as when Tadjibaeva had been imprisoned she had received flowers for her birthday from Front Line to keep her hopes

The Irish Government supports

Front Line because... it is hugely

”

important, as a country, that we support human rights defenders

dynamic leader, Mary of freedom alive.

Lawlor.”

Renowned human Present at the Conrights activist Shirin ference was human Ebadi, from Iran, also rights activist, Mutabar spoke. Her dedication to Tadjibaeva, who was the human rights cause – imprisoned in 2005 and opposing discrimination subjected to psychologiin her home country, cal abuse a psychiatric especially with regard 251atNeil Delamare AD.pdf 3 21/09/2011 17:38 hospital, due to her outto the minorities of Arab spoken criticism of the speakers – led to her Karimov regime. Now a remarkable achievement

as both the first Iranian and Muslim woman to achieve the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.

An Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore, speaking at the conference, highlighted the Government’s involvement in the defence of human rights and, in particular, their strong relationship with the Front Line organisation. “The reason that the Irish Government supports Front Line is because of the enormous commitment and bravery that is shown by human rights defenders, who take very courageous stands – sometimes in very lonely and isolated circumstances – to defend human rights and to take up causes that often put them personally at risk. It is hugely important, as a country, that we support human rights defenders.”

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N ationa l N ews

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High Salaries for Some at Irish Universities

By Mohit Agrawal In response to a parliamentary question submitted by Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan, the Department of Education reported that 191 individuals have salaries in excess of €150,000 at Irish universities, including 100

individuals who earn more than €200,000. The Department’s figures indicate that 31 individuals have salaries of €150,000 or more at NUI Galway. Earlier this summer, the Sunday Times reported that more than 1000 university employees earn in excess of €100,000, including 110 at NUI Galway.

NUI Galway disputes the numbers from the Department of Education; a spokeswoman told the Sunday Independent that “NUI Galway only have three people who earn more than €200,000, the president (€202,117) and two medics (these salaries are composed of two elements

Threshold Advisory Seeks Reform in the Administration of Rented Accommodation

By Orla Reilly Threshold, the national housing organisation, published its advisory to Government on Budget reforms on 16 September.

Chief amongst its recommendations to Government is the establishment of a deposit protection scheme.

Such a scheme would see deposits held by an independent body, like the Private Residential Tenancies Board (“PRTB”), as opposed to the individual landlord.

Independent administration would be a welcomed move especially where there are disputes between landlords and tenants.

At its press release, Threshold’s Director Bob Jordan made it clear that such a transfer is not antilandlord “Where tenants are in arrears or have damaged a property, landlords are obviously perfectly entitled to retain some or all of their deposit. Introducing a deposit scheme would minimise such disputes and lead to greater efficiencies all

round.” It is reported that up to 50% of Thresholds cases to the PRTB relate to deposit retention where it can take up to a year for a case to be processed.

The proposals are equally welcomed by the NUI Galway Accommodation Office who work closely with Threshold and finds them to be extremely helpful in assisting students in such housing matters. Teresa Kelly of the Accommodation Office confirms there are often difficulties regarding the return of deposits to students, whether it be on the landlords or tenants part “issues arise as a result of breaking a contract/lease, damage to property, leaving accommodation early, not paying rent. It would be a very positive move to have an independent body manage deposits to protect the rights of both landlords and tenants.”

Threshold also welcomes the Government’s commitment to transfer the administration of rent supplement from the Depart-

ment of Social Protection to local authorities. A move equally supported by the Accommodation Office on campus. The Minister for Housing and Planning Mr. Willie Penrose, TD has indicated that such a transfer would take place as soon as practicable but no date has yet been announced.

Threshold believes that the transfer would offer an opportunity for local authorities to address a number of issues in the private rented sector. “First and foremost, it should be incumbent on local authorities to ensure all landlords offer good quality accommodation and are fully compliant with their housing, legal and tax obligations.

Additionally, more should be done to make it attractive or all landlords – and not just those at the lower end of the rented housing market – to make their properties available to tenants in receipt of rent supplement” Bob Jordan added.

For more information and advice on rented accommodation see www.threshold.ie.

partly from the university and partly from the HSE)… and four who earn more than €150,000.” The source of the discrepancy in the figures was not immediately known.

The Union of Students in Ireland has lambasted the government for the high salaries, saying that salaries should be cut rather than student fees increased. Students’ Union President Emmet Connolly, however, said that

“[Students] could end up seeing talented young lecturers taking up jobs abroad instead of teaching students here,” if salaries are cut.

Indeed, Dr. Gianluca Pollastri from UCD has seen this effect firsthand: “In these three years my department has lost 7 of its 36 members.

These were some of the brightest, who simply went abroad.” That is because academics have faced three pay

cuts in the last three years, totaling more than 15%.

Prof. William Reville from UCC adds that academics bring in outside research grants that provide jobs for 3000 research staff, thus lifting the Irish economy. He also points to a 2009 report from the European Commission that says that spending in tertiary education is more efficient in Ireland than in Germany, France, or the US.

Far Right Leader to Speak at Trinity

By Roisin Peddle British National Party leader Nick Griffin is to visit Trinity College on the 20 October next to speak at the college’s Philosophical Society.

The motion which Mr Griffin will be proposing, is “This House Believes That Immigration Has Gone Too Far.” The Irish Times reported on Monday that plans for the debate have been thrown into disarray with the withdrawal of former Guardian journalist John Palmer, who was opposing the motion. Mr Palmer stated that unless the invitation to Mr Griffin was rescinded he would not participate.

Mr Griffin is no stranger to controversy. A former member of the far-right National Front, he has been leader of the BNP since 1999 and was elected to the European Parliament in 2009. The BNP is one of a number of far-right parties which have risen to prominence across Europe in the last number of years.

The BNP wish to stop immigration into Britain in all but the most “exceptional cases.” While Mr Griffin once stated he would offer immigrants to Britain £50,000 to return to their country of origin, but the Irish were welcome to stay as “the Irish are part of Britain and are fully entitled to come here.”

Mr Griffin has been accused by his opponents of racism and supporting fascism, and was convicted of inciting racial hatred in 1998. Perhaps most controversially of all, he is on record as stating that “I am well aware that the orthodox opinion is that six million Jews were gassed and cremated and turned into lampshades. Orthodox opinion also once held that the world is flat.”

The Union of Jewish Students and other groups have spoken out against Griffin’s proposed visit to Trinity College. Aidan Rowe, a former auditor of NUI Maynooth’s Literary and Debating Society and anti-fascist activist, says “The Phil’s decision

to invite Nick Griffin to debate immigration is irresponsible, dangerous and wrong... We believe in free speech but it is not the only right nor is it inalienable.

Organisations like the Phil have a responsibility when organising debates not to allow fascists a platform to spread hate against ethnic and racial minorities and to recruit people to their cause.”

In a statement Trinity Philosophical Society said “The Phil is a neutral forum for discussion. We do not endorse the views of any of our speakers. Nick Griffin has been invited to speak solely on immigration. He is a prominent speaker on this issue. The debate will be balanced with two guest speakers on each side of the motion.”

The controversy about Nick Griffin’s visit to Trinity echoes a controversial plan to have historian and Holocaust denier David Irving speak to NUI Galway in 2009. The debate was cancelled due to security concerns.

“Termination of Pregnancy” Lecture Causes Tension in NUI Maynooth

By Martina Gannon On Friday 16 September, the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM) allegedly denied access to a group of pro-life activists from a lecture entitled “Termination of Pregnancy: a lawful choice.” The series of lectures was run by the Department of Adult and Community Education in NUIM and is supported by the Health Service Executive’s Crisis Pregnancy

Programme, this particular lecture was given by Sherie De Burgh, a former employee of Planned Parenthood. It focused on counselling women in crisis pregnancy. Protesters from various pro-life organisations such as Youth Defence claimed that the university had hired security and had physically locked the doors to the lecture. Many of them perceived this action as a direct attempt to silence any dissenting opposition to

the lecture.

When Sin contacted Mary Ryan, lecturer and course manager of Adult Guidance and Counselling from the Department of Adult and Community Education of NUIM, she said that the lectures were “no secret” and that anyone who wanted to partake in the lectures could do so by registering for them on the NUIM website. She claimed that if anyone was denied access it was because they

had not registered.

“It was absolutely ridiculous,” commented Youth Defence spokeswoman Íde Nic Mhathúna. “They obviously don’t want to hear any opposing views and believe that the pro-life beliefs of the majority of Irish people should be excluded while they push to establish abortion as a ‘positive option’ and a ‘lawful choice’. And our taxes are paying for all of this.”

Mhathúna claimed the

masterclass had served as a “wake-up call to the nation, who were now keenly aware that their taxes were being squandered in funding agencies that openly campaigned for abortion and that were part and parcel of the abortion industry.”

Evelyn Fennelly who is currently acting as auditor from the Pro-Life society in NUI Galway said of the ‘masterclass’ that she would welcome any counselling services from the HSE’s

Crisis Pregnany Programme and that she does not believe it was a masterclass on abortion. She believes it was ‘poorly named’ and said she would hope if abortion was mentioned it was followed up with a discussion on the detrimental effects of it for women.

She claimed that “Ireland is the safest place in the world without abortion to give birth, be pregnant and it has the lowest maternal mortality rate.”

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The Secrets to a ‘Successful’ First Year

By Eistear De Búrca Why are you here at NUI Galway? Ask this question and you get a variety of answers: to have fun, make new friends, experience life, become an adult, widen horizons, and get a degree... Yes, ultimately you are here to learn and to study so that you can put some extra letters after your name. It’s a tough world out there, and the quality of your achievement is going to matter when you apply for a job or look for a career some time in the future. What you do now will affect your end result.

To be successful there are some trade secrets.

And because I like you and I want you to reach that amazing potential that you are wonderfully capable of reaching, I am going to let you in on a few of them. Some may mean extra work, but hey, no pain, no gain...

1. Go to lectures and tutorials. This may seem an obvious statement to make, but so many make the fatal mistake of skipping lectures, and worse still, not turning up at tutorials. If you want to succeed, you need to keep on top of lectures; otherwise you will simply lose the plot. Lectures will no longer make sense when you do go, and furthermore, they do get you to sign in at tutorials.

2. Fill the awkward silences! Did you know that the longer a silence gets, the harder it becomes to say anything? Answer questions, express your opinion, say the most random things: who cares if your voice shakes and you go bright red? Lectures and tutors love a student who comes prepared and is ready for a bit of discussion. Practice it! It is difficult at first, but will become second nature after a while, and do you know what? Everyone else

will think you’re really cool and copy you, and your class will become the most interesting place on campus.

3. Read books. When you are writing your essays and assignments, don’t use just the sources that everyone else is using. Go off the beaten track a little and do some personal research. Find related books in the library or journals online, and throw in some sophisticated references – just make sure they are relevant! This shows that you have really put effort into your work and might just nail you that A. 4. Go to extra talks and special events. These can be very interesting and are great opportunities to meet intriguing people.

Your presence there often gets you more brownie points too. Also check out the departmental societies.

They provide great opportunities to meet people studying the same subjects as you, and lifelong friends can be made. Older students are wonderful for giving you advice about courses and options, and the events on offer can often be great fun and worthwhile at the same time.

5. Spell-check and proof read everything you write. Do this more than once if possible. Also exercise care when writing to lecturers by spell checking emails and making sure you get names and titles right. Go to the Departmental websites if you are having difficulty remembering if your Biology lecturer is a Doctor or a Professor. These things really matter and make a difference.

Finally, patterns you set in this semester will most likely stick with you for the rest of your university life, so make sure they are good ones. Be independent. Do different things.

Most of all do not be a sheep. All the best!

{sin} 26–09

Emmet Conn and Con olly, Brian Gra nt or Students Healy from th e ’ Union goodies hand ou at the F reshers’ t Fair

al , Miche zpatrick on Aoife Fit acey Hutchins r e T d t n a a ugh th Duffy oking to Zone. lo ) ts r A tion (1st Demoli Human

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Nathan S and Cath weeney al Kelly at the Fres hers’ Ba ll.

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F eatures

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A letter to my Fresher self

ert Alfis ay: Rob rt Soc D s e ti Socie from A ge Daly and Pod

By Valentina Dylan

India D aw Elizabeth son and Brady a t the Fres hers’ Ba ll.

on yan ­Dalt Day: Br s s e ti ti c a ie r c p So McHale es at c & James fa poker ing their ociety table.

S r e the Pok

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d Kelly an Aleisha y at the e n Alex Fee ’ Ball.

Freshers

Clubs D ay: Bren dan & Chris Walsh d Wilas em strating Tae Kwo onn Do

Dear Me, I write you this letter, as I thought you could do with some advice from a wise old sage like me (I don’t know how much wiser I am, but I am a year older).

Long gone are the days of being spoon fed information over and over again, of being forced to memorise six page essays on a poet who never bothered to turn up on the Leaving Cert paper (yes Eavan I’m talking about you!) or to learn formulas you may never use. No more aimlessly searching in the bag for homework you didn’t do.

No more sitting through maths classes thinking up hypothetical situations that are never going to happen, just to pass away the time. No more daily Berocca to help you cram in that extra half hour study. No more listening to the man on the Irish tape “Leamh anois go curamach na treoracha agus na ceisteanna a roinn le cuid A.” Even writing with a good old fashioned pen and paper is now a distant memory.

You now live in a land where you are given the information and it’s your own responsibility to learn it, where you choose your own subjects. A place where everything is done on Blackboard with a laptop and not a whiteboard with a marker.

The first week was all about meeting “strangers” - some stranger than others; like the couples who insist on wandering around campus so wrapped around each other that walking up the stairs to the concourse could potentially result in death. The same couples who insist on cuddling in the library, causing bouts of nausea for any unfortunate onlookers.

Then you have the people from the random places you never hear of, like Leitrim or Louth. You meet the messy ones, the

neat freaks, the party animals, the party poopers, the loud ones, the quiet ones and the ones who are obsessed with The Inbetweeners. Then there are the poor Arts students who are all forced into lecture halls like steam rooms big enough for half of them.

Even though the college experience will be fun, it must be said that useful lessons have been learned. For example, always eat as much as you can when you can because you don’t know where the next meal is coming from. Join the gym to avoid the dreaded ‘fresher’s fifteen.’ Be sober in front of the bouncers: they have standards here.

Try not act like a psycho to your housemates or it will be a very long year (the same applies for scoring a housemate).

In general, try to hide any weird habits you may have ... for a while anyway. Bring cash on a night out. The ATM machine in CPs is not your friend as some of us have learned the hard way! Stop locking your key into your room. You will have to pay the fine the next week. Always steal the essentials from home (you already knew that). Hang your teabags on the line after use to ensure a few cups of tea out of every bag. Turn your knickers inside out after every wear to ensure multiple wears out of each pair. Buy an umbrella. It will get a lot of use in Galway! And don’t forget keep emergency numbers at hand ... Dominos, Pizza Hut, and a sensible friend.

So, all in all, Fresher’s fortnight has was an experience to say the least!. People may been met and lessons may have been learned (probably not the lessons you were sent to college to learn) but at least you have something to tell the grandkids!

Yours Truly, —Me

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Equality Week Festival

By Will O’Brien Hello and welcome to all old and new.

Next week heralds the beginning of the Students’ Union Equality week festival! We have been very busy over the summer making sure that this year’s Equality week will be fun, memorable and all inclusive.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Equality Campaign centres around 5 main focuses; Students with Disability, Gender E q u a l i t y, I n t e r n a tional Students, LGBT Students & Mature Students. I believe that this does not go far enough to promote true Equality. Socioeconomic status I feel is a very important issue here, especially at a National University Campus during a recession and this is an area I hope to work focus on, not exclusively of course, during my term as Equality Officer.

To celebrate Equality week this year the Students’ Union will be hosting a range of events and activities and I hope that there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

There will be a soapbox put in place outside the College Bar where everyone will be welcome to get up and speak about any issues they wish to address. Its similar to London’s Speakers’ corner in Hyde Park. We welcome any political issues, social issues, poetry, prose, song, dance and more.

I myself will be making as much use of this platform as you lot can stand!

The highlight of the week will probably be Ireland’s first ever Slutwalk event.

This is expected to be a large event with groups from all over Ireland being involved and travelling from all over the country. [See

Gerard Madden’s article, page 5 – Ed]. Have a look at the facebook event for this and share it, if you have any queries please feel free to email me. The Slutwalk takes place on Wednesday the 5 October and starts at 1pm outside the college bar and I hope to see as many boys and girls out as possible dressing up (or down as the case may be) and supporting this cause. Dressing up is of course optional but I’m sure you’ll agree its half of the fun!

We will be collecting money for this year’s SU charities which include the Galway Rape Crisis Centre at the beginning and end of the walk.

After the Slutwalk the College Bar will be playing host to the legendary Natty Wailer of Bob Marley and the Wailers who will be playing all your favourite Marley tunes as well as some of his own originals backed by The Reggae Vibes. This gig is free and is being organised with the help of Love Music; Hate Racism Ireland. There will be a raffle to raise money for future LMHR which will be hitting the College Bar and venues in the City come Christmas.

Thursday will see a junglist take-over of the College bar in Blackboard Jungle. I will be appearing as DJ=ity and DJ Welfare and will be spinning an all vinyl set. With the support of NUI Galway’s own DJ Soc this looks to be the first proper Bring along any clothes or other items you no longer want and swap them. On the same day we hope to be launching a new service on the SU website, the “SU Trading Post” where students can list anything they wish to sell to other students. This will

operate similarly to the online bookstore but will be linked to your emails and you will be dealing with transactions your selves.

Equality week will also involve a series of lectures on various subjects from same sex marriages, gender equality in industry and many more subjects yet to be confirmed. A full timetable will be available soon, keep your eyes peeled for posters.

I hope that this festival features something for everyone and I am looking forward to it greatly. I would like to extend thanks to everybody on the organising committee and all of the societies involved for making this possible. You are all wonderful and this week simply could not happen without you.

That’s all from me, I hope you enjoy the week.

Much love, Will O’Brien, Equality Officer su.equality@nuigalway.ie If you want to be in with a chance to win a €50 SU top up voucher email me with your answer to the following question: “What does equality mean to you?”

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An Invitation to Postgrad Week, 3 – 7 October

By Richeal Burns T h e S t u d e n t ’s Union are organising the Annual “Postgrad Week” from 3 to 7 October with events aimed at postgraduate students. The main focus of these organised events is to promote integration across different disciplines and also to assist postgraduate students to cement friendships with their peers. Being a postgraduate student, with all the restrictions on both time and finances, can be very stressful at times and entering a postgraduate course where you don’t know anyone and are in unfamiliar surroundings can be daunting to say the least; these are some of the main reasons why the Students’ Union provide a Postgraduate Officer who helps in organising activities specially aimed at the needs of postgraduates. The main thing to remember is that everyone is new at one time or another and so we can all relate to the overwhelming nature of adjusting to a new environment where the demands on you

are far greater than you have ever experienced before. The Students’ Union have also set up a Facebook page called “NUIG postgrads” which is updated daily with scheduled events and also handles postgraduate queries.

Kicking off “Postgrad Week,” (excuse the pun) is the Annual Postgrad Soccer Tournament which runs over the full week.

Registration is now open and places are limited so please sign your team up at the SU office before Wednesday 28 September.

Matches will be held from 1pm-3pm and 5pm-7pm each day Monday to Thursday, with the final being held on the Friday.

The entry fee is €50 per team of ten (seven players and three subs).

When registering your team be sure to highlight which day would be most suitable for your team to play the qualifying matches.

On Monday evening (3 October), the SU presents PhD Comics “PhD The Movie” at 7pm in the IT Building, Room IT125.

For those of you who have not yet delved

into the weird and wonderful PhD Comics this worldwide phenomenon has been syndicated by Sin! There will be a minimal €2 admission charge to assist in covering the costs of securing the rights to this movie and for those of you who don’t have to be up and at it early Tuesday morning a few drinks in the College Bar afterwards might be an idea!

Equality Week will be running congruent to Postgrad Week and there are a number of events taking place in aid of promoting Equality through the application of music appreciation. Keep an eye out for posters around campus as well as the SU webpage for a full detail of events Finally to close the week off the College bar will definitely be the place to be on Friday night!

There will be prizegiving for the Soccer champions, Giant Jenga- which proved to be immensely popular with the Postgrad’s on the 1st night out of the semester and back by popular demand: Postgrad-aoke! So start practising those Adele and Journey numbers in the shower folks.

The SU have also coordinated with the College Bar to continue the Pizza and Pitcher €10 deal every Friday night. See you all there!

S E G A P U THE S

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www.su.nuigalway.ie

and promote, rs be em m s it t en es pr re to all be "The mission of the Union sh vels of society." le l al at rs be em m s it of ts gh defend and vindicate the ri ts’ Union — Constitution of the Studen

203 SU A5 Flyer.pdf

On now: Equality and Postgraduates Week Welcome to the second issue of The SU Pages, your guide to what’s happening in the SU. This week is both Equality Week and Postgraduates Week in the SU, so be sure to check out the articles in the rest of Sin which details all the events, campaigns and highlights of the next few days.

24/02/2011

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What the SU’s Been Up To...

The past few days have been hectic in the SU. Here’s some of what we’ve been up to: Sold out the Freshers’ Ball and Des B ­ ishop gig

Ran Speed Dating Rented over 800 lockers

Lowered the price of dinners in the College Bar to Elected over 100 class reps Distributed Wel- €5 each day Opened a Arranged come to College new café in the a Toga Party guides to Corrib Hub – S­ tudent Issued over a thousand travelcards

Village residents Organised the Gave out Freshers’ Fair 3,000 Freshers’ Packs Organised a voter regHanded out istration drive for Mon- Held SU Sesover 10,000 SU sions around day 26th September Diaries the campus

­Common Room

Stay Safe!

Stay safe on the walk home at night.

• Get a taxi or walk home with friends • If you have to walk home, use well-lit and busy roads • Get a Personal Safety Alarm from the SU Shop • Tell your friends when you’re walking home

REVEAL YOURSELF!!!

AND BECOME A ‘SUPER’ CLASS REP!!!

Talk to Education Officer Conor Healy in the Students’ Union for information

• Save these numbers into your phone: Mill Street Garda Station (091) 538000, Campus Security (091) 493333

Remember, there’s no better ­ defence than common sense!

You are invited to take part in the Galway Slutwalk!

Girls and boys, it’s time to demonstrate our freedom of expression and show the city that we will NOT tolerate sexual inequality.

Slut walks are a form of protest for womens’ rights and originated earlier this year in Toronto, Canada in a response to remarks made by a police constable who suggested that to remain safe, “women should avoid dressing like sluts.”

This caused much rage and in response the Slutwalk was born to illustrate that a woman’s dress should in no way provoke unwanted sexual attacks, name calling or any other form of negative attention.

The idea has been picked and emulated up all over the world in the past few months in order to drive the point home that a low cut top is NOT an invitation to be raped.

Please invite everyone you know, this is the Ireland’s first ever slut walk and it would be great to have a huge turnout. http://www.slutwalktoronto.com/ for more info

Want to represe n t M ature

S tude n ts ?

The SU Mature Students’ Officer will represent mature students on Campus and promote their full involvement in the academic and social life of the University.

All students will be voting for the new SU position of Mature Students’ Officer on Thursday 6th October, in Smokey’s and Áras na Mac Léinn.

Nominations will open at 10am on Thursday 22nd of September for the position, with nomination forms available in the SU. Nominations close at 5pm on Wednesday 28th September.

Canvassing is not allowed until Monday 3rd October.

If you are interested in this position but need more information, call up to the SU offices in Áras na Mac Léinn and talk to Emmet.

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,

The Ache for Galway Life

By Cian Murray Cian graduated from NUI Galway in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts. He has recently moved to Cardiff, where he is pursuing a MA in Journalism. He misses Galway something awful.

“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned”. These powerful words written by Maya Angelou weren’t about Galway, nor was she speaking of an early twenties Irish male. Not for one second would I begin to equate the American civil rights movement with my own struggle to feel comfortable in my own skin, but people will always search for a place where they feel like they belong.

When I read this quote out of context I immediately thought of Galway and my imminent departure.

Galway city is known for many things, such as being the only place in Ireland that thinks it is in France. It has also been described as the graveyard of ambition, due to the comfort zone it provides for those who need it and those who lethargically grasp it. These descriptions may be in part due to one of the main characteristics of the city, namely that it doesn’t question the choices one makes as long as these choices aren’t hurting any other party: A city that provides the benefit of any doubt to all. Whether it be stroll-

ing along Shop Street by a dread-locked didgeridoo player or patiently wading through a poetry reading in The Crane Bar, there is one thing that people within Galway don’t seem to have any issue doing and that is expressing themselves.

It seems apt that a former Arts student would be writing an article about finding himself. Arts is the where vagueness regarding life ambitions seems to resonate most. One of the added benefits of studying for a BA is how few hours you actually have to spend within the walls of a lecture theatre.

This helped me, in no small way, to explore all that Galway had to offer - from a beautiful play by such tremendous local theatre groups as Fregoli or Mephisto to spending hours in Charlie Byrne’s getting lost among the greats; not to mention those lost nights in bars discussing the frivolous and the deep. This city moves slowly at times, but what better pace to have a look around.

When I arrived in Galway I wasn’t sure who I was and where I was going and being in a city where that wasn’t considered to be anything outside of the ordinary gave me the space to grow into myself. I’ve been finished my undergraduate over a year now and have spent most of my time since as a paper pushing civil servant in a sleepy midland’s town. An unfortunate

characteristic of monotonous work is that it makes you feel numb; not sad, not angry, but nothing, nothing at all. Weekend trips to Galway and all its life made getting up on a Monday much easier.

While in Galway I have often felt that the upcom-

Cian Murray graduating from his BA in 2009. ing hours could produce almost anything; while in my home town I have often felt that every detail could be predicted within a degree of accuracy. I needed routine weekend trips to Galway to get away from my routine.

I’m twenty four now and I am crossing the Irish Sea to study Journalism – an industry which is incredibly difficult to break into, or so I’m told, but one in which I am happy, and if there is one thing Galway has taught me it is that happiness is the most important thing and fuck the begrudgers.

Within me the ‘ache’ for Galway life will never vanish.

Sin Sanctioned Procr astination This Week: Catherine Emerson, French Dept.

What was the first album you bought, and when was the last time you listened to it?

I think it was “Like a Virgin”, which was later chewed by my car tape deck in an act of musical criticism. I haven’t had much to do with Madonna lately, especially since she started writing children’s fiction.

Who should our next victim be?

Jerome Sheahan, in Maths.

Dear Darcy, I’m a postgraduate student in the writing up stage of my PhD. Freshers’ Week nearly broke me. I cannot get a coffee anywhere on campus. There is no quiet space. They all yap all the time, and play their loud music. I miss the quiet days of summer. I think I might snap. How do I avoid snapping at the noobs? —Doctor Agoraphobia Dear Doctor Agoraphobia, Writing up a PhD must be so stressful! Definitely not the best time to have your space infiltrated by all these “noobs” but I think I might have a solution. Right now you need to be surrounded by people who share your level of commitment and understand what it means to be passionate about something. You do not need to be surrounded by people who don’t understand how stressful college can be at times. For some quiet time out of your office I’d recommend the benches next to the Corrib River or secret gardens on the other side of the quadrangle but to get a cup of coffee there are still plenty of places to go on campus likeThe Wall Café in the Kingfisher, Moffetts in the Orbsen building, Rush in the Hub or even the College Bar during peak lecture times when all of

Dear Doctor Agoraphobia, I’m really sorry to hear you are having such trouble but I’m afraid I missed the memo about the world revolving around you and your PhD. The campus is not conspiring against you, there was no big meeting where it was decided that you couldn’t get a coffee in peace.

I hate to state the obvious but you are not the only person in this situation. Next time you realise it’s really noisy maybe you should stop and look around, is it noisy because people are having fun with their friends? If you can’t handle that maybe you should be alone. Make coffee at your desk and stay there if you value silence so much!

Now if you really think you are going to snap for the few short spurts in your day when you have to be around them there are a few things you should consider before

the students are hidden away! It might be a bit of a trek depending on where you are located on campus but it is worth it for a quiet coffee. Believe me after a few visits to a quiet space where you can get a good coffee and a muffin you’ll be much more able to deal with the yapping, music and never-ending swarm of noobs. But remember that these new students are just trying to find their place in a big new world of University life. In about two weeks they’ll be skipping lectures like pros and they’ll be avoiding campus like the plague so you will get some quiet time back. Good luck with writing up your PhD! Hugs!

Darcy

exploding! You got to where you are by being one of the “noobs” you so readily complain about.

When you started college there were probably plenty of grouchy postgraduates that didn’t want to be around you either and they never snapped at you. If you do snap you will seem like a crazy person and people will whisper when you walk past, I mean the University is big but it’s not that big, news spreads like wildfire on this campus. Unless you want this to happen I suggest you build a bridge and get over it but don’t fret too much you can still own the campus during weekends and holidays!

That’s life, Barnacle

For more advice please e-mail advice.sin@gmail.com!

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Misconceptions and Their Origins

By Ultan Sharkey I like lists, but not as much as I like being right. Here is my topten list of common misconceptions which you can use to win bets and lose friends.

History: we never thought the earth was flat.

Columbus had difficulties in getting funding for his voyage not because it was thought he would fall off the edge of the earth, but because he had misjudged the distance to Asia. Had the Americas not been there, he and his crew would have found themselves without enough supplies.

Worse still, he would

“

teachers he didn’t get along with. In 1935, on being shown a clipping from Ripley’s with the headline “Greatest living mathematician failed in mathematics”, Einstein replied “I never failed in mathematics, before I was fifteen I had mastered differential and integral calculus.”

Firearms: a magazine is not a clip. A bullet is not a round.

In firearms, a magazine holds a number of cartridges, popularly referred to as “rounds”.

A clip is a device which holds the cartridges until they are loaded into the magazine. The bullet is the part of a cartridge that hurts like

The lemmings were filmed and then

”

brought to a cliff and thrown off

into the sea by the evil Disney crew.

only have realised his mistake when he had passed the point of return.

In 240BCE, Eratosthenes, the librarian of Alexandria suggested that the Earth’s circumference was 250,000 stadia (approx. 23,000 miles) but this was widely seen as too big.

Strabo and Ptolemy were responsible for a more widely accepted estimation of 180,000 stadia at the time. By the time Columbus was hitting up Queen Isabella of Spain for his gap year trip, Eratosthenes’ estimation was thought to be correct and the experts were advising Columbus not to set sail. Incidentally, Eratosthenes was pretty damn close to the actual circumference, which measures 24,901.55 miles at the equator and a tad less through the poles.

hell when it hits you at 2,300ft/s. It is contained within the cartridge which also holds the primer and gunpowder in the casing. A cartridge without a bullet is called a blank. One that is inert is referred to as a dummy.

Education: Einstein did not fail mathematics in his early schooling.

Nature: Lemmings do not leap from cliffs in suicidal mass hysteria.

Like any kid, he had trouble with a few

Christianity: the Immaculate Conception has nothing to do with Jesus’ birth.

The Immaculate Conception refers to the proclaimed dogma that the mother of Jesus was conceived without original sin. Mary herself is accepted as being conceived of a human mother and father, traditionally St. Joachim and St. Anne, whereas Jesus is said to be the product of a miracle virgin birth, involving no natural father but brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Some lemming species migrate when their

population becomes too dense. Fluctuations in lemming populations induces large numbers of the furry rodents to traverse rivers too wide for some of them to manage and venture into other less familiar territory, resulting in accidental deaths. The 1958 Disney film White Wilderness depicts a faked lemming migration where the poor little creatures are seen diving off a cliff into a river. The lemmings were filmed on a white last-Susan type turntable from a series of angles to showcase a lemming migration and then were brought to a cliff and thrown off into the ‘sea’ (actually a river, shot at a tight angle) by the evil Disney crew.

Islam: there are no virgins waiting for martyrs.

The idea that Muslim martyrs would marry 72 virgin maidens on entering heaven appears to stem from a mistranslation of the word hur to mean ‘pure companions’ rather than meaning ‘white raisins’ in reference to a bountiful paradise teeming with rare fruits. The interpretation has been likened to Christian myths of walking on clouds bedecked with wings and golden harps.

Medicine: vaccines do not cause autism.

Fraudulent research published in The Lancet 1998 by Andrew Wakefield claimed a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism. The uptake of the MMR vaccine, protecting people against measles, mumps and rubella slumped as a result. In England and Wales, there followed an increase in confirmed measles cases from 56 in 1998 to 438 in 2003. A plethora of independent major studies to reproduce the findings were unsuccessful. In 2004, The Sunday Times reported a number of financial conflicts of interest undisclosed by Wakefield. The Lancet immediately and fully retracted the article. An inquiry by the British General Medical Council in January 2010

found a number of charges proved against Wakefield including subjecting developmentally challenged children to unnecessarily invasive procedures such as colonoscopy and lumbar puncture.

In May 2010, Wakefield was struck off the Medical Register. Vaccination is one of the most effective prevention tools available in the fight against infectious disease. Greater numbers of vaccinated people in a population increase what is referred to as “herd immunity”, which protects the weaker members of the population from exposure in the first place.

Chemistry: glass is not liquid at room temperature.

It is an amorphous solid. The misconception seems to have stemmed from the prac-

tice of installing glass panes with the thicker end at the bottom, often cited as evidence for the slow flow of glass. The unevenness is a result of earlier glass production techniques and there are examples of glass panes which were installed with the thicker edge at the top or to one side.

Physics: When flushing a toilet in Australia, the water doesn’t drain in the opposite direction.

The direction of draining water flow is largely determined by the construction of the plumbing. The Coriolis effect refers to the influence of the earth’s rotation on moving objects. Its influence is insignificant in toilet flushing but it does help explain larger phenomena such as cyclones, hurricanes and ocean currents.

Serious Pharmacy Savings for Students!

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Genetics: Redheads are not going to be extinct within 100 years.

In 2005 and again in 2007, a number of news organisations began reporting that our ginger friends would become extinct within 100 years. The recessive trait for red hair is brought about by a mutation of the MC1R gene. As such, it requires both parents to carry a mutated MC1R to conceive a red haired child though neither parent need be afflicted.

Related, gingers don’t have souls, but redheads do.

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INTERVIEW: Mary Gavaghan, Gaisce Gold Award Winner

By Marése O’Sullivan Fourth-year NUI Galway student, Mary Gavaghan, was recently presented with the prestigious Gold Gaisce Award at Dublin Castle by President Mary McAleese.

The Gaisce, or President’s, Award is given to self-motivated young people aged fifteen to twenty-five, who successfully complete the challenges of the individual awards scheme. Over a period of seventy-eight weeks, Mary – along with the advice of her President Award Leader (PAL) – developed her abilities through the five main challenges for the Gaisce Gold Award: Community Involvement, Personal Skills, Physical Recreation, Adventure Journey and a Residential Project.

Not only was earning the renowned Gold Gaisce Award a fantastic accomplishment after all her hard work, she tells Sin, but it was also a huge personal achievement in her own life. “I was absolutely thrilled to accept the Gold President’s Award in Dublin Castle. The whole day is very special, both for yourself and the people you get to bring with you.

We shared our different stories and what we had learned: Gaisce is as much about overcoming your challenges as it is learning new skills, some of the most difficult being time management and organisation!”

Mary has already had a number of triumphs with Gaisce, having Bronze and Silver Awards under her belt before even stepping foot in NUI Galway.

“During Transition Year in Secondary School, my friends and I participated in the various aspects of Gaisce, volunteering within the school environment and the wider community, so when I came to college in Galway, I decided to finally go for the Gold!”

Her previous experience with the scheme encouraged her to constantly expand her horizons and dedicate herself to the challenge over the two years that it took her to complete it. “You decide the goals and overcome the barriers yourself. Although you must do a minimum of an hour a week – sometimes more – to fulfill your Gaisce requirements, you’re motivated because it is fun and enjoyable. I found that it was kind of like a hobby for

me: I enjoyed it so much, the motivation was just there.”

As part of her Community Involvement exercise, she joined the President’s Award (Gaisce) Society in NUI Galway as a volunteer committee member during her first two years of college. “Through the society, I got to take part in so many other volunteering opportunities around campus. The Gaisce Society really encourages its members to get involved. I did everything from gardening to head shaves to putting up posters for the Archaeology Society! That’s what Gaisce is about: a young person gaining personal development and benefiting the wider community.”

She recommends joining the Gaisce Society if you are interested in volunteering, as the meetings will get you “talking to people for more ideas… you can add them on www. yourspace.nuigalway.ie if you didn’t join up on Socs Day!” Mary had many adventures on her Gaisce journey: despite her initial dislike of languages, she decided to undertake a two-year parttime Diploma in Irish for her Personal Skill qualification, through the Acadamh

So Here’s to You, Diageo Ian Colgan investigates the marketing agenda behind Arthur’s Day Like a grandparent’s 50th wedding anniversary, the first Arthur’s Day in ’09 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Guinness brewing company wasn’t without

purpose, or even merit.

But not many young relatives would get giddy at the prospect of having to return for the 51st, 52nd, and God knows how many more years to come, to

Seamus O Donnell, Megan Glynn and Daniel Boland in the College Bar on Arthur Guinness Day

toast the ever-loving hearts of their grandparents. It would take a lot of booze and fine music to cope with that kind of scene, so it’s fortunate that these are the two things Arthur’s Day revolves around.

Last Thursday marked the third annual Arthur’s Day, and whatever you might think about its virtues or meaning, even the pessimists have to admire it as a dark, frothing tribute to the realms of achievement in marketing.

This is not a particularly good thing to dwell on in the midst of a celebration in honour of the great

na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, which is based here on campus. “It was an incredibly rewarding experience,” she recalls. “I had great nights out with na cailíní in An Cheathrú Rua!” She also cycled in and out of college five days a week throughout the academic year, for her Physical Recreation challenge.

Her participation in a two-week ‘Potential Non Commissioned Officers’ course for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) earned her a Residential Project mark. Her final part of the Gold Award challenge was her Adventure Journey, which she completed by planning and organizing a week of her travels around New Zealand’s South Island.

“My goal was to take in as many walking and hiking routes as possible to meet the standard required of Gaisce. That was demanding on both a physical and emotional level – with many ups and downs – but I got through it with the support and help of others.”

Mary’s favourite part of her involvement with Gaisce, she states, has been forming lifelong friendships with other volunteers and members of the com-

munity. “I enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life, often in the funniest or most stressful situations.

The challenges you choose to undertake are very beneficial, because you often help so many people.

That’s a great reward!”

Her own success with the Gaisce scheme has inspired Mary to apply to be a President Award Leader here on campus: she will act as a mentor, encouraging and supervising fellow students as they too undertake the challenge. “Throughout my entire Gaisce journey, I have tried to attain my personal goals. Being a PAL means I can continue to have a link with the organisation and the people who gave me so much, as well as helping those new to Gaisce to keep on track of their aspirations!”

Mary advises students to share their skills with the community, particularly in the upcoming Volun-

teering Week. “Giving your time to volunteer is great fun. Not only is it a valuable asset to have on your CV, but it will help you develop transferable skills that you can use for the rest of your life. The opportunities available here in NUIG are fantastic: the ALIVE programme – which is recognised locally and internationally by the university – has it all. Not to mention all our amazing Societies and Clubs!”

Should you choose to volunteer, you will be awarded a Certificate for your contribution to the ALIVE programme. [See “What the heck happens in… ALIVE” pg. 18 — Ed.] Check out NUI Galway’s Community Knowledge Initiative on http://www. nuigalwaycki.ie/ for further information. You can also register for the Gaisce Gold, Silver or Bronze challenge on the President’s Award website, www. gaisce.ie.

philanthropist, Arthur Guinness. The possibility that you’ve been duped by the PR arms of self-assured capitalists is the kind of thinking that can quickly drive a party into a slump, but any company behind something like Arthur’s Day that didn’t attempt to reproduce it would not last very long.

“Due to the success of Arthur’s Day in 2009 and 2010, and consumers’ overwhelming response,” says a Senior Brand Manager at Diageo Ireland, “we are once again celebrating Arthur Guinness and his remarkable legacy in 2011”.

2011 has been a good year for the Guinness brand, which has meant a good year for its owners, Diageo, who used two state visits as giant product

placement opportunities, pulled off a third successful Arthur’s Day, and achieved almost €3bn in pre-tax profits.

The Irish market, though, has not been as healthy, with sales of Guinness, typically viewed as an older person’s drink, falling: a problem that Arthur’s Day meets head on with an aggressive spear tackle.

Part of this offensive is the music: a key aspect to the day, and critical to pulling in the younger crowds that Guinness, as a brand, struggles to do on its own.

“The aim of Arthur’s day is to generate buzz and interest, particularly among a younger audience,” says Dr. Ann M. Torres, a lecturer in marketing at NUI Galway’s J.E Cairns School of Business and Econom-

ics. “The music [is] a means through which to connect to younger people.”

But not all of the target demographic are buying into it. Conor Comerford, a twenty-two-year-old who works in market research, remains unconvinced: “Arthur’s Day seems to be a very successful marketing campaign masquerading itself as some sort of newly discovered national holiday,” he says.

“Personally I would feel quite stupid celebrating an event that Diageo has simply invented in the last few years to sell a few thousand more pints of Guinness.”

Happily, for the denizens who chose to participate in the festivities, by the time this kind of grim thinking hit them they were too drunk to care.

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What the heck happens in… ALIVE?

Windowsill Herbs

With Lorraine Tansey

By Fiona Gillespie

So, what the heck happens in ALIVE? ALIVE is NUI Galway’s student volunteering programme. We provide students with specialised volunteering opportunities with schools, charities, hospital programmes and NGOs in Galway, nationally and internationally.

Voluntary work? Sure what use is that to me?

Whether it is a change of scenery, to have some fun, develop a skill, challenge yourself, engage with a cause you believe in, meet new people or to fight boredom, volunteering has something for everyone! It is a great opportunity to build career experience too. Why not test drive a career and gain some work experience, making contacts for future references, or have something to talk about in your CV, application forms, personal statements or interviews.

It takes loads of time, doesn’t it? I have studying to be doing.

If you have one hour a week spare then you can fit in volunteering. Expectations from organisations range from a few hours a week to a few hours a month, and from one semester to two semesters.

The more you volunteer the more you will gain for the experience, but you are not expected to sign up for life! We also have a calendar on our website of once-off volunteering opportunities especially for those students who want to dip in and out of volunteering when they have a chance to fit it in.

What would I have to do?

We can connect you with over 300 organisations including Special Olympics, Voluntar y Service International, Childline, Scouts, and Barretstown each offering opportunities that you will be able to help with. You get on site train-

ing where necessary and ALIVE offers support and training too. ALIVE volunteers are homework club assistants, they build websites, talk to older people, care for animals, befriend people with disabilities, garden, and steward at concerts like Electric picnic.

Really, you can volunteer for Electric picnic?

Absolutely! Plus coming up in June you can volunteer with the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway and be kitted out head to toe in free Puma gear. We have some really exciting opportunities that get you behind the scenes and often come with great freebies. But those ones go fast – so sign up to our regular email update and you will be in the know.

Email us at alive@nuigalway.ie to keep your finger on the pulse.

What about volunteering internationally, isn’t it really expensive?

Did you know you volunteer in Italy developing youth policy, in Turkey with a environ-

“

the ALIVE Certificate.

All volunteering is recognised by NUI Galway because we know your extracurricular activities are important learning opportunities. Awarded in March by President Jim Browne the Certificate is that little extra edge that is so important to have.

Go for it!

Are there many involved?

Each year over 2,000 students engage off campus with volunteering.

Nationally students from across Irish Higher education give time to gain experience. You can read their volunteering stories online at www.wevolunteer.ie

I heard you were in The Hub? What is that anyway?

The Hub is a common area in Áras na Mac Léinn that all students can avail of. There are pool tables, a café, wi-fi, comfy seating, self-catering facilities, books, vending machines, games and much more.

Throughout the year various events will be held in the Hub, from gigs and acoustic ses-

You can volunteer for Electric Picnic, plus coming up in June you can volunteer with the Volvo Ocean

”

Race in Galway and be kitted out head to toe in free Puma gear

mental project, in Sweden with an anti-racisim programme and in Poland with a sports and media group, all for FREE. You can apply through ALIVE for a bursary to volunteer with the European Voluntary Service which covers your flights, accommodation, and pocket money!

All the details are on the ALIVE website.

sions to table quizzes.

Why not hold your own event here! There is also a TV where you can watch anything from soaps to sports. The ALIVE Volunteer Programme Office, the Wellness Centre and a one-on-one meeting room are located at the back of the Hub. It’s your common room make the most of it!

Is there something about a Certificate?

So who are you?

If you volunteer through ALIVE or in your home county be sure to apply for the NUI Galway Presidential award for volunteering,

I’m Lorraine Tansey, Student Volunteer Coordinator. The ALIVE team are all former and current ALIVE volunteers trained to help you find your ideal volunteering opportunity

and support you. Kate has volunteered with the GSPCA and Riding for Disabled, Lorna and Sinead have volunteered in youth clubs and homework clubs and Conor is our on-campus volunteering guru. This year you will also meet ALIVE Leaders, our student-community liaisons. In the Hub you can drop in to say hello to Geraldine and Lorraine.

How can I sign up?

Check out the range of volunteer opportunities on our website www. nuigalway.ie/alive They are broken into categories with the details of the days and times. Find out what suits your interest and matches the time you have to give and sign up right then and there online – the organisation will be in touch, it’s that easy!

Or come to the Volunteering Fair on Tuesday 27 September in the Bailey Allen Hall, Aras na Na Mac Leinn from 1 to 5pm.

There is also an Introduction to Volunteering on Tuesday 4 October at 5pm in Meeting Room 2, Áras na Mac Léinn.

Through the Organic Gardening Society, Fiona learns the skills to grow her own. Come visit the garden any Tuesday between 1 and 2pm to help out.

Growing herbs is a very simple task that can be done in any space, whether sprawling garden or teeny tiny apartment.

All it takes is some compost, seeds, a few pots and a small bit of your time... and light, of course, you will need natural light.

Sow your seeds in small containers (old yoghurt pots work well) using good quality compost.

You can find Irish organic seeds at Brown Envelope Seeds (www.brownenvelopeseeds.com) and Irish Seed Savers (www.irishseedsavers.ie). Place on a windowsill and water well, ensuring that the compost doesn’t dry out. Once the seeds have germinated and the seedlings are large enough to handle, carefully separate them into larger pots or replant in the garden. Water only as instructed on the specific herb packet. Enjoy the fruits (or herbs) of your labour! For tasty dinners, a few great herbs to plant are parsley, sage, thyme, mint and basil. To learn more about planting herbs, visit www.grow-your-own.ie.

Basil and thyme growing in an old drawer

Diary of a Masters Student

By Roisin Peddle Do you remember how you felt on your last day of primary school? Or for that matter, the day you finished your Leaving Cert?

When you think back on the day, was it sunny? Is a popular hit of the time playing in your head? You felt alive, young, full of promise with a delicious fear at what lay ahead. It was the start of the summer.

That feeling hit me all over again this May as I finished my last ever exams in UL. Some friends would be staying on to do Masters and even PhDs in my alma mater; others hit the emigration train. Some even got jobs (though rumour of paid employment is unsubstantiated and may, in fact, be an urban legend). But I moved to Galway.

I had four very interesting years in UL but I was absolutely sick of the place. Fourth year was a long slog as my QCA at the end of third year was pretty awful. The library staff knew me by name and I hardly went out, but it was all worth it when I came out with a 2.1.

Just enough to get me into NUI Galway and well, here I am. My first proper visit to Galway was just over a month ago. I fell in love. It is hard to define what exactly is so great about the city, but its busyness has to be a factor. Going shopping in Limerick city centre is a rather depressing exercise, wandering past countless “For Sale” and “To Let” signs before packing it in and getting the bus to the Crescent Shopping Centre. Galway’s city centre is vibrant and alive. I loved

the walk to the college from town, passing the gurgling Corrib and the striking Cathedral into the beautiful Victorian university itself. I love that it is quicker to walk to the bus station than wait for a city centre bus. The difference with UL could not be more pronounced.

Any complaints? Well, there’s the unbelievably bad weather and the chaotic traffic system, and the lack of orientation for us Masters students. On the plus side, there’s terrific nightlife where everyone is up for the craic, the high standard of guys (you’d be lucky to spot one looker in three nights in Limerick), the friends I’ve made already and the fact that I’m doing something I really enjoy.

I think I might have that summer feeling all the way through September.

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Review: Des Bishop has a ball in NUI Galway

By Louise France As droves of students piled into the O’Flaherty theatre on Monday night, the air of anticipation was tangible. One thing was absolutely certain: this crowd wanted to laugh, they were eager to be entertained and Mr Des Bishop certainly delivered. Welcomed on stage by the sound of hundreds of hands beating desks, Des must have sensed it was going to be a good show.

The room was full to the brim with people who he described as a “comedy gift from Heaven.” Being Freshers’ week, first years were everywhere.

Within minutes one such gift was discovered right under his nose. A fresher from Ballygar was the source of a litany of jokes: from his B.I.S degree, which in his words was like a BCom degree with a “bit” of I.T (a description which Des referred to as like having a little “bit” of salt with your

chips), to the necessity to find him a good camogie playing partner with whom to create a bright GAA future for Ballygar! This poor bloke provided Des with inspiration the whole way through! On the upside Des kindly obliged him by introducing him to some lovely girls. These poor girls were hauled from the back as penalty for their late arrival, recreating that cringeworthy moment when you’re late for mass and some well-meaning individual “kindly” points out a couple of seats free up front.

Suddenly all eyes are on you as you plod red faced up the aisle!

Entertaining a crowd of young impressionable college students, Des was aware of the unique opportunity to pass on some hard earned wisdom from his time in college.

Arts students, he proclaimed should prepare for one question that would define the rest of their college days and beyond, “And

what exactly do you hope to do with that?

Become a librarian?”

Yet more importantly, a real pearl of wisdom which should adorn the Freshers’ packs of all colleges, “Sex is not like the C.A.O., there’s no change of mind form!”

While we were initially eased into what was to be a rightly entertaining hour (and a bit) there was one thing that Des really wanted to talk about: His balls.

“

lost his best friend and how the landscape of Des’ manhood (later eloquently referred to as “wrinkled turkey gizzard sack of love!”) changed for life. At the ripe old age of 24, Des found a lump on one of his testicles. After a consultation with a good friend who had been cured of the same disease and coercing an even better friend to firstly examine his own balls and then

Des passed on some hard earned wisdom from his time in college:

”

“Sex is not like the C.A.O., there’s no change of mind form!”

Yep, that’s right, balls! Dressed in navy skinny jeans and blue shirt Des was certainly looking well. Indeed he looked the picture of health, which says a lot about his balls.

“Men’s health” was the clear theme to the show, so Des told us the story of how his two balls suddenly became one ball. How one ball

examine Des’ balls (yes, it was apparently very awkward), Des decided that it was time to get sorted. The operation was a total success and today Des could be a pin up for men’s health promotion. Despite an offer from the surgeon, his remaining ball’s best friend could not be replaced by a silicone substitute but Des suffi-

ciently reassured us that everything is in perfect working order. So guys: check your balls! (Preferably in private, this doesn’t licence you to walk around with your hands down your pants.)

Des’ comedy flowed ver y naturally. He seemed to enjoy the gig almost as much as the audience. He kept the crowd laughing by leaping from men’s health, to men’s grooming habits (down there) and female over use of fake tan, resulting in what looks like “the shroud of Turin” on the bed sheets the morning after. The serious message of men’s health promotion was punctuated with hilarious moments like the “comedy lapdance” he gave to a girl who’s red hair brought out the Gaeilge in him. Honestly, I’ll certainly never think about Irish in the same way. I never thought I’d hear the words “An bhfuil tú fluiche anois?” I guess that’s the joy of a Des Bishop gig: he’s a come-

dian, an entertainer, a human beat box and he really gives a damn about his audience.

Testicular cancer wasn’t the only men’s health topic on the agenda. He gave a prophetic warning to all the men in the audience that at some stage their manhood might refuse to “perform,” particularly when they might need it most. The taboo topic of erectile problems was thrown out there so if or when that day arrives, the men of Ireland will know it’s not unusual and it’s no big deal. Oh and by the way girls, be assured it’s nothing to do with us so never utter the words “what’s wrong with me?” because Des has confirmed 100% that the answer is nothing at all!

So if that moment should befall you, don’t panic! There’s nothing wrong with either of you and hey, if all else fails, Des tells us there’s a “reset button” but I’ll allow ye to ponder over that one...

Continuing Collaboration at the Galway Arts Centre

By Lisa Fitzgerald

Feedback, a multimedia exhibition currently running at the Galway Arts Centre, echoes the emerging trend for collaboration, where the gallery space allows all practitioners: curator, artist and audience engage with the project on an equal footing.

Curator and Writer, Chris Fite-Wassilak working alongside artists, David Beattle and Karl Burke have created a space examining how we as individuals experience our surroundings and relate to our environment.

The audience for the exhibition have also merged with the

artists in the creation of a piece as of yet unfinished. Distributing an empty book sleeve at the opening, the volume is to be compiled from public responses to the work with the finished product launched as the exhibition closes. The relationship between the artwork and the viewer is explored with the tone for that examination set by the influence of phenomenology and the subjective experience, in particular the work of Merleau-Ponty.

Our connection with our surroundings is one of inequality and, “the most an artwork can do,” according to curator, Fite-Wassilak, “is express its limita-

tions, to attempt to articulate that it is already entangled.”

Using photography, sculpture, video and sound, the exhibition runs over two floors, featuring single pieces by each of the artists and two collaborative pieces involving all three practitioners. The work, some more successful than others, responds to, “the hidden processes of the natural world” and our position of otherness in relation to these processes.

Some pieces struck me as quite reminiscent of the work of the Land Art movement, in particular David Beattie’s beautiful and evocative series of black and white photographs entitled,

Solid Air (2011). The exploration of the intersection between nature and culture is a dynamic and cur-

rent exchange and overall the exhibition displays a sensitivity to the natural world and a deep awareness

of humanities position in relation to it.

Feedback is running until the 1st October.

{20} Arts & entertainment {sin} 13–02

26–09

Review/Interview: In conversation with B. Dolan

By Dylan Murphy Performers such as B. Dolan reaffirm the fact that Galway citizens really are lucky when it comes to the variety of acts that play here, even if many of us don’t realise it. Over the last ten years the prolific Rhode Island-born rapper/spoken word artist/ activist has earned a distinguished reputation for his work, which ranges from creating expert-crafted hip-hop to exposing corruption (check out his consumerist website KnowMore. org) via the odd vicious rant (Youtube his Open Letter to Justin Timberlake). When Sin went to interview him on 18 September before his first ever gig as a Roisín Dubh headliner, it was surprising to discover that the Rhode Island native is in fact a soft-spoken, polite, truly passionate individual who does what he loves and if anyone else seems to like it too, all the better.

Sin: How has life change since the last time you played Galway supporting Dan le Sac VS. Scroobius Pop in April 2010?

B.Dolan: Life’s gotten ill man! When I was here last year my family was going through a really crazy time and my father had just been diagnosed with lung cancer and he ultimately died this time last year. 2010 was just a really grimy, taxing transformation period

“

my a** right now. I mean there’s a million hip-hop influences; De La Soul, Chuck D all the eh...sacred heads (laughs).

Tell us about your website KnowMore. org

KnowMore.org is a website that allows people to enter the name of any brand, product or company and see a rapsheet on them and see a report card on their ethic and how they treat their workers.

”

In Ireland I really like how the crowd likes to stay after the gig and talk

for me. Career wise I was at an all-time high but at the same time I was at an emotional low.

Who inspires you as an artist?

I’m inspired by lots of people, not just in a musical sense, actors, comedian. Bill Hicks is always great, Louis C.K. is really kicking

How are Irish crowds as opposed to American ones?

Honestly? I might get in trouble for saying this. By and large it’s different from city to city in the US, I mean it’s a big place.

Parts of it are like different countries in a way.

Not to make a sweeping generalisation but the European crowds

are more generally responsive. In Ireland I really like how the crowd likes to stay after the gig and talk. Places like this don’t always get good performance art or good hip-hop so there’s more of a sense of appreciation you know?

Wearing a hangman’s noose, Dolan took to the stage in front of a staggeringly sparse 30 people and stated that the poor attendance didn’t dishearten him, for he was going to give the same show he’d give to a packed house.

Accompanied by DJs Buddy Peace and the fantastic Dan le Sac, Dolan spent the next hour performing a blistering array of raps/ spoken word pieces with themes ranging from agoraphobia to the murder of Marvin Gaye and left the crowd wanting more.

Truly one of the gigs of the year...even if practically nobody attended.

Overheard in NUI Galway...

Jordan Greene On bridge outside NUIGa couple looks into the river, they see several traffic cones.

Guy: “I wonder why they’re there?”

Girl: (totally serious)

DUUUH, it obviously used to be a road....

Some people really have to been seen to be believed!!

Donal Hanley Guy 1: I’m going to go

get a pancake.

Guy 2: Get me a condom!

Shannon Reeves Two girls with Northern accents: Girl 1: I think they

Competition The Roisin Dubh has very kindly offered Sin readers the chance to see five amazing shows.

“Hello and welcome back to another college year from the West Of Ireland's finest music venue. To celebrate another year full of live music, free late night DJs, Silent Discos and comedy, we have a great competition for you.

We're giving away a pair of tickets for five shows to one lucky person.”

The gigs are: The Kanyu Tree (6 Oct), Jape (8 Oct), Fred (14 Oct), Emmy the Great (15 Oct) and Strange Brew’s 450th with Squarehead, Tiernanniesaur, Daithi and more.

To win, just tell us the name of the debut album by The Kanyu Tree.

Email your answers before midnight, Tuesday 4 October to editor@sin.ie with “COMPETITION” in the subject line.

Remember to include your name and phone number.

Don't forget to sign up for the Róisín Dubh mailing list at www.roisindubh.net to become a member and get discounts and information about upcoming shows.

Heard something ridiculous? Let us know on the Facebook page: Overheard in NUIGalway!

said most of my lectures are in Block H Girl 2: Oooooh...

Dirty!

Oisín McDonagh It’s not so much funny as it vomit-inducingly

ignorant, but... “sure like Queen only had two good songs”.

Sin Editor: Physics Corridor, (outside Sin Office) Girl 1: How old are

you?

Girl 2: I’m 21.

Girl 1: I’m 23 like. Its soooo depressing. I feel like such a granny!

Sin Editor: *ANGRY FACE*

{sin} Arts & Entertainment {21} 13–02

26–09

Interview: ‘Music to Murder By’ with Mark James

by Rory Bowens Mark James is a second year Arts student in NUI Galway. He recently released his debut E.P, Scream Orange Sky to much critical acclaim securing the coveted pick of the fortnight in Hotpress magazine whose own Jackie Hayden commented “Clout, moody, he means business.” The E.P is an eclectic mix of Soul, R n’ B, HipHop and Folk, yet James manages to incorporate these genres to produce a cohesive signature sound which runs through the whole E.P. Rory Bowens met Mark for a coffee and a chat last week, here are the results:

Sin: You’ve got your fingers in many pies, to use a very clichéd expression, being a published poet, arts student, radio host and of course a songwriter, but linking all these things is a love of language. Would you say language and lyricism is the primary focus of your music?

MJ: Yeah, I never came from a literary background or anything like that, and I don’t read a massive amount of novels or poetry. I think more, it became for me, my expression, more so than a huge love of

Mark James. Image ­courtesy of the artist.

language. I spent a lot of time developing my own style, not necessarily comparing it to other people’s or saying “I want to write in a style like that.” I think it’s more the importance of wanting to say something than of language itself … wanting to say something that either expounded

“

Collapsing at the door of a secluded cottage in the midst of a raging storm, fleeing young woman Jane Eyre recalls to the concerned occupants her troubled upbringing and the tale

Sin: What are you listening to at the moment?

MJ: James Blake, Death Grips,

I thought, a white ginger man from West Clare doesn’t do Hip-Hop. And that

”

restricted me a lot until I thought “No, f**k that, I can do what I want.”

something from the depths of me or something that someone else can relate to. Not necessarily to influence someone or provide them with anything but just to say, “This is how I feel about it”.

Tyler the Creator, a lot of Hip-hop and Electronic stuff not so much Rock n’ Roll or Indie or Singer-Songwriter stuff, very few in fact.

Sin: You have two monikers as such, Kynewolf and Mark James. Are these separate entities? Do you have Kynewolf songs and Mark James songs or are they interchangeable?

MJ: It was recorded in Westland in Dublin: a studio my auntie owns, so that was very handy. It allowed me to record it to a decent enough quality which I really couldn’t have afforded otherwise. Then I was able to spend a bit of money on getting some extra players in such as Gavin Glass who has done a lot of Lisa Hannigan stuff.

MJ: Well there are actually four monikers at this stage. (Laughs) Two more gestated over the Summer. I just started a band called “Oils” with Rob McOmish who used to be in “The Bull Monroe” and one with Niall Conway from “Nouveau Noise”, there’s no actual moniker on that yet but there will be soon enough. It started definitely as Mark James. And “Kynewolf,” I suppose I thought in some respect that a white ginger man from West Clare doesn’t do Hip-Hop. And that restricted me a lot, you know, definitely until the last couple of years when I thought “No, f**k that, I can do what I want.” The “Kynewolf” stuff is sort of acoustic Hip-hop and it’s very personal, whereas the “Oils” stuff is much darker and it’s not necessarily personal. When I’m writing lyrics for it, it’s very kind of stream of consciousness allowing whatever comes to come and recording stuff really quickly. Then the other stuff I’m doing with Niall is very much

Review: Jane Eyre

By Ronan Doyle

“player” Hip-hop. So, I’m kind of trying to allow myself to express all these elements because I know they’re all in me somewhere.

of her time as governess of Thornfield Hall under the austere and secretive Mr Rochester.

Long have cinematic adaptations of classic novels played host to the hopes of those aiming to avoid page after arduous page of syllabus

Sin: Tell me about the recording process for the E.P

Sin: Any advice for young musicians in NUIG or elsewhere?

MJ: I feel funny giving advice to anyone you know? (Laughs) But if you’re already doing what you’re doing just keep doing it. Also keep trying different things, it can be so fulfilling. If you want to be somewhat successful, my advice would be work hard, it’s definitely a craft that’s learned.

Download Scream Orange Sky for free, for a limited time only on: www. mark-james.bandcamp.com/ Last year Mark James did a live acoustic session and interview on Rory’s show “The Slip with Rory and Emma” on Flirt FM. Stream the show on: http://www.mixcloud.com/TheSlip/ the-slip-on-flirt-fm-1013-with-rory-andemma-feb-17th-2011/

texts. It’s a familiar situation for the less driven among English students: skip the book; see the film; write the essay from that. Fortunate for them, then, that this most recent take on Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre never strays far from its source material. As the dual leads Mia Wasikowska and

Michael Fassbender excel, fully realising the intricacies of their respective characters as well as the relationship between them.

Judi Dench and Sally Hawkins head off a respectable supporting cast of some of the very finest in up-and-coming British screen talent.

A former cinematog-

Review: The Pipe

By Evin Keane Generally, Irish citizens take pleasure in complaining about their government and police force. When these groups are under such constant scrutiny, and we’re so happy to point our fingers, one might fear that we can be a bit harsh. They’re only human. But then you watch The Pipe, and you find yourself shaking your head in bewilderment. The authorities really are out of their minds.

Or so the filmmakers would have you think; this movie does everything it can to draw sympathy from the viewer for the Rossport citizens who were affected by Shell’s attempts to lay oil piping through their land. A sensationalist opening shows dramatic coastal scenery interspersed with footage of police violence against peaceful protesters, backed by weepy orchestral music.

The Pipe wears its opinions on its sleeve.

A pity, because the material speaks for itself.

We follow four or five Rossport locals: fishermen, farmers, teachers.

Watching their desperate struggles against Shell, the police and the government is all the more painful following the intimate access we’re given to their daily activities early on in the film. These people all love their lives and their jobs; when something comes and threatens this, it’s fascinating to watch each of them respond differently, with differing degrees of extremity. Some try reason.

Some try to keep going as if nothing’s changed. Some take to drawing as much public attention as possible, whatever the cost.

But the laying of this pipe seems unstoppable. The government and the police are intent on paving the way for Shell, without providing any justification to the locals.

One of the problems with being sympathetic, t h o u g h , i s t h a t i t ’s not made hugely clear exactly what the pipe’s consequences would be.

Occasionally someone might mutter that fish will die, or that it will have an adverse effect on the local ecology and society. It’s all a bit vague. If the filmmakers could have found anyone with the legal or environmental expertise to comment on the situation, it would have helped clarify things. Instead the film rigidly follows the local people, with no narration or comment from outsiders.

Given the sort of documentary it is, The Pipe is enjoyable visually. The sweeping aerial footage of the wild coast can be breathtaking. A highlight is when an enormous pipe-laying ship, Solitaire, plonks itself in the middle of the bay that one of the locals fishes for a living.

The ominous vastness of Solitaire alongside the local fishing boat sums up the film’s David v Goliath theme in dramatic fashion. The guy on Solitaire’s radio system even has an intimidating Eastern European accent - it’s like all of a sudden you’re watching a Bond movie.

The Pipe was screened

by EcoSoc on 20 September with a visit form director Risteard Ó Domhnaill. EcoSoc will be screening documentary film regularly throughout the year, so keep your eyes peeled for more.

rapher, director Cary Fukunaga brings to the mix a striking darkness, accentuating the Gothic nature of the story and making all the more effective the infrequent moments of jumpy horror. If there is a flaw to be found, it lies in screenwriter’s Moira Buffini’s decision to tell the narrative via

flashback, a technique which is all but abandoned halfway through, and which seems merely a redundant effort at some sort of innovation.

A strong take on a classic novel despite minor narrative hiccups, Jane Eyre boasts crafted emotional performances and an appealing visual palette.

{22}

F ashion

13–02

Team America

by Ashling O Loughlin

It is often the mistake of young people to be led astray by big brand designers.

Paying far too much money for average quality clothing is one of our major fashion faux pas; especially when it comes to American labeled casual wear.

Lacking in imagination and diversity, these clothes do little to distinguish any sort of personal style.

T-shirts and hoodies screaming out brand names and logos can be seen everywhere on campus. Just as we have gotten rid of our compulsory secondary school garb, we must brandish another prescribed outfit: the American Label Uniform.

The opening of the popular surf wear

store Hollister in the Dundrum Shopping Centre in Dublin, highlights the fact that we are being swept away by the Americanisation of clothing. T-shirts that retail in the U.S for a few dollars are now being sold on demand for as much as fifty euro in Ireland. And judging from the eager clatter of youths queuing outside Hollister the morning of its opening, it seems as though we can’t get enough of this over priced, mass produce.

On entering the Hollister store, you are welcomed by two male “Greeters,” sporting little else but a pair of red boxer shorts and a gleaming smile. The Greeter is an infamous American marketing tool.

Often hired for their looks, a Greeter’s role is to delude custom-

eye crease.

Some cultures believe that the eyes are the gateway to the soul. The best way to make your soul look more appealing is by mastering the art of the smokey-eye.

This look is the ultimate seduction tool, seen for decades on femme fatale icons like Ann Savage, Angelina Jolie and Mila Kunis. To get this look, you will need white, grey and charcoal eye shadow; black kohl eyeliner; an eyebrow pencil and black mascara.

To start off, make sure you put on your moisturizer and foundation first. The eyes should be the last place you apply make-up as the rest should be done first as a base.

2. Add depth to the crease by putting black eye shadow across it.

Put a slight point to the outskirts of the eye.

1. Put on the white eye shadow from the eyebrow down to the eyelashes. Then sweep grey eye shadow from the eyelashes up to the

3. Draw on the lashline with black eyeliner.

To get to the very base, pull the eyelid across and draw on the roots of the eyelashes. Don’t be afraid of not drawing a perfectly straight line, as you will smudge the line anyway so that you can blend it into the eye shadow.

4. Highlight the bottom line by drawing on the bottom eyelashes with black eye liner.

Frame the eyes by going over the brow with an eyebrow pencil. If you have blonde hair, do not use a dark eyebrow pencil. Very few natural blondes have dark eyebrows, so if you don’t want to look like Cleopatra, stay away

26–09

Style Spotter ers into thinking that if you buy into their clothing range, you too, can look like someone from the set of Laguna Beach.

And of course, this technique works like a charm on customers.

The quality of the clothing is OK – labeled t-shirts, cosy tracksuit wear – but nothing really special.

Nicer clothes can be found for less money in other high street shops, such as New Look or H&M. However, our generation does not appear to be concerned with quality or price; as long as the logo on the shirt can be seen from outer space, then that is all that matters.

The Hollister store is soon to be joined by fellow American clothes giant Abercrombie and Fitch in Dublin this autumn.

Just like Hollister, its arrival is greatly anticipated amongst the label hungry youth of Ireland.

The influx of American stores onto Irish streets has created a loss of individuality in the way young people are dressing. With so many people buying into “the label look,” the American uniform seems to be spreading rapidly throughout universities. Despite hundreds of unique clothing websites and cheap vintage shops, the love affair with American casual wear continues. As a former Greeter, I would advise spending your hard earned money on clothes that show your personality, rather than a brand name. Why wear a uniform when you no longer have to?

5 Steps to a Smokey-Eye

by Fiona Ní Mháille

{sin}

from the dark eyebrow pencil unless you have dark hair yourself. Your eyebrows should be the same shade, or a shade darker to your hair.

5. Finish this look off with lashings of black mascara. My favourite mascara is the Bad Gal Lash by Benefit, available nationwide in Brown Thomas. The best way to apply mascara is to look downwards into the mirror and put the brush through the lashes in a zig-zag motion. Repeat this step as often as possible without getting the spider-leg look.

For a more dramatic look, and for ultimate expansion of the eyes, apply fake eye lashes.

I rarely wear false eyelashes as I have a tendency to glue my eyelids together (squinting and twitching all night isn’t hot), but the best way to apply

false eyelashes is to put the lash glue across the fake eyelash, wait for a few moments until it starts to clump (it will turn white at this stage, right before it dries) and apply to the roots of your own lashes. Press down until the false lashes are attached to your real lashes and stay on them. If the false lashes are too long, they won’t sit right, so cut any excess off before you start. False lashes are available nationwide in Pennyes from €1.50.

When applying false eyelashes, put a light behind the mirror so you can see what you’re doing properly. Cheryl Cole, Adele and Kim Kardashian don’t go anywhere without their false eyelashes. If every second star gracing the red carpet wears them, they probably work!

Read Fiona’s blog at fionaforfashion. blogspot.com

with Erika Fox Photographs by Tanith McGrath

Name: Natalie Begley What are you wearing today?

Floral runners, shirt, cardigan and bag from Penneys.

Black jeans from Topshop.

Scarf from Awear.

Name: Shannon Finnan What are you wearing today?

Dress, Cardigan and bag from Penneys.

Socks and Boots from Urban Outfitters.

Headband: DIY!

{sin} 13–02

S ports & Fitness

Eggs are a nutritious, tasty, inexpensive and convenient food. However, there has been lots of controversy about eggs in nutritional research and government guidelines for many years now so I’d like to clear up a few things about these delicious little nutritional powerhouses.

Firstly, what is in an egg? The white of the egg is pure protein with a few minerals such as potassium and sodium. The yolk contains most of the vitamins, minerals and all the fats. Many years ago eggs got a reputation as being high in cholesterol and therefore bad for your heart health. However, the past 40 years of research revealed that there is no evidence to show that eating eggs as part of a healthy balanced diet raises blood cholesterol levels or contributes to heart disease. Furthermore, eggs have been shown to be 14% lower in cholesterol that previously thought, believed to be due to improvements in hens’ feed. It is a popular misconception that what you eat has a major effect on blood cholesterol but that said a low fat diet is healthier for other reasons and it is recommended that we eat less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day and get less than 11% of our energy from saturated fat. Two-thirds of the fat in eggs is the healthy unsaturated kind and they contain none of those nasty trans fats. To keep this healthy balance we should be careful how we cook eggs, limit-

ing the amount of fat added during cooking.

The protein in eggs has been considered the standard against which all other protein foods are measured because their protein composition is so ideal.

Egg protein is a “complete protein,” containing all of the eight essential amino acids that cannot be made in our body so we need to get them in our diet. One egg provides 6g of high quality protein, one-sixth of the daily requirements of an average woman and one-eighth of the average man’s. Eggs are also high in a wide range of important nutrients such as vitamins A, B6, B12, E, D, folate, iron, selenium, phosphorous and zinc.

Vitamin D, often called the sunshine vitamin, is made in the skin when exposed to sunshine. As the days shorten, it is important to get enough vitamin D to maintain strong healthy bones and eggs are one of the few good sources of vitamin D along with oily fish and liver (you all eat liver regularly, right?).

Eggs are also a “functional food” meaning has health promoting and/or disease-preventing properties beyond the basic function of supplying nutrients.

Eggs contain lutein and zeaxanthin (two newly-recognised nutri-

26–09

Recipe: Quiche

Not a bad Egg

By Aoife Brennan

{23}

ents) as well as choline that have been shown to help maintain eye health as we age as well as being involved in muscle strength, brain function, heart disease prevention and healthy pregnancy.

Another advantage of eggs is that they can contribute to weight loss due to how nutritionally dense they are in proportion to their low calorie count (around 70, only 3% of our daily calorie requirements).

As they are high in protein, they keep you feeling fuller for longer, cutting down on the need for unhealthy snacks between healthy meals.

So start the day with eggs rather than sugary cereal, which will leave your tummy grumbling within the hour.

So, after all that, how many eggs should we eat? On average Irish people consume about 3-4 eggs per week while many other European countries eat twice that amount. One egg a day or 7 in a week is the general guideline from Bord Bia and other such agencies. Know that the colour of the shell or the yellowness of the yolk has no relationship to nutritional value but a nice thick egg white does mean the eggs are fresher as the protein hasn’t had time to break down and become watery.

Don’t store your eggs in the egg tray in the fridge as the shell is designed to absorb from the atmosphere and you may end up with funny-tasting eggs. Finally, don’t forget to go all out and celebrate World Egg Day on the 14th October!

Ingredients

• 200g ready made shortcrust pastry

For the eggy base:

Serves 6-8

• 5 eggs Preparation time: 20 mins • 100 ml milk • 200 ml low fat creme fraiche Cooking time: 30 mins • Salt and black pepper • Grated fresh nutmeg (optional) • 2 tsp dried dill and or thyme (optional)

Suggested filling: Choose 2-4 of the following depending on how big a quiche you’re making: • 100g mushrooms • 2 shallots or half an onion • 150g cheese (smoked cheese is real good) • Handful of spinach, wilted with a little water in a hot pan • 100g broccoli • 100-200g bacon (chop up some rashers) • Half a courgette • 100g smoked salmon • 2 tomatoes sliced • 3 small potatoes cooked and cut into small cubes • 3-4 asparagus spears

Instructions:

1. Roll out the pastry big enough to cover whatever nice deep dish you’re using.

2. Cook in the oven for 20 mins at 190C. Pre-cooking it prevents it becoming soggy.

3. Meanwhile whisk together all the ingredients for the eggy base.

4. Prepare whatever fillings you’ve chosen 5. Once the pastry is cooked, toss in the prepared fillings.

6. Pour over the eggy base.

7. Cook at 160C for 30-40 minutes or until the mixture is set and no longer watery.

8. Serve with a nice salad!

N U I G a l way C L U B S PA G E I n t e r C o l l ege G a m es !

1.

The whole concept of Inter college games was born due to the small population of students that participate in sport on the NUIG campus. The purpose is to eradicate the concept that sport clubs are solely there for competitive purposes and elite athletes, and to emphasise the participative aspect of university clubs 2. NUIG will proudly introduce the inaugural Inter-college games in October 2011. This competition will involve the five colleges of the University: • • • • •

College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies College of Science College of Engineering and Informatics College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences College of Business, Public Policy and Law

3. They will compete against each other for the prized Inter college cup. A series of blitz’s and introductory events will run for approximately two weeks beginning in early October.

• There will be scoreboards placed throughout campus for people to keep track of how their college is doing and encouraging friendly rivalry!!!!! :-P • You earn points for your college just through participating, i.e. the more events you’re involved in, the more points you earn! Events will be organised by the individual sports clubs who have already expressed avid interest in the project.

4. Ten games reps will be elected by each individual college. These games reps will serve to liaise between clubs and the wider student community. They will serve to promote both the inter college games and UNI.F.I.E.D programmes. Games rep activities will be overseen by College Convenor. Each college has one college convenor that will carry out a number of roles.

G ui d e l ines f o r I n t e r C o l l ege g a m es a s y o u r c l ub c a p t a in !

As you know the Inter College games will take place this year. The games shall be launched on Mon October 10th to coincide with mental health week and during this time clubs will have the opportunity to advertise their events. The competition shall commence on Mon the 17th at 12pm. The games will run for two weeks and end on Wed 26th at 12pm of October in time to coincide with Halloween celebrations.

The following are just a few guidelines on what we would like each club to observe:

• During this period, individuals taking part in your normal training sessions will earn ONE point for their college.

• Ideally, we would like each club to select one of their training sessions to run an event. During this event, individuals participating will get TWO points for participating. Alternatively, clubs can organise an event outside of their training times.

–– This ‘event’ can be for example a blitz, an introductory skills session, or anything that gets students involved in your discipline.

–– In addition, clubs may organise more competitive events for more experienced members.

(They must make this clear in their event description so beginners don’t turn up).

• Points will be allocated by scanning student numbers in the usual way.

• Clubs may wish to award prizes to winners of their event. However, we’d like emphasis to be put on participating and the overall goal of earning points for your college to win the Intercollege Cup.

We’d like you to submit your training sessions (as per usual) and your TWO point event to the Clubs calendar, and also a copy to the clubs captain Eamonn Flynn (e.flynn6@ nuigalway.ie) by September 29th.

This is important as we need a final list of events to advertise by this date. If you have any questions guys, please don’t hesitate to give Dee a call on 0872316496. (preferably after 6pm).

The Sports Unit is based in the Kingfisher Club.

Kathy Hynes: Development officer for Clubs and Participation Gary Ryan: Development Officer Elite Sports Ellen Kelly: Administrative staff

F i v e Asi d e S o cce r C l a ss Le a gue Only 50 cent inclusive fee Guaranteed 7 matches in Semester 1 140mins of soccer, fun and friendships In the cages Corrib Village.

All welcome represent your class!!!!!

Contact Kevin Cassidy by e-mail: nuigcages@kingfisherclub.com or text 086 177 2589 Futsal the indoor game – Leagues – starting end of September!!!

E-mail nuigcages@kingfisherclub.com/text Kevin 086 177 2589

C a ges C l a ss l e a gues Start : Tuesday 4th October 8 week league.

5 aside leagues in the Cages Corrib village( Floodlit) All inclusive – unnamed squad – just have to be your class.

Take it in turn to represent your class – €50.00 per class Or enter a 2nd fixed named squad for €30.00.

Enter as many as you want!

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 12 - 2pm & 4-6pm Contact Kevin Cassidy 086 177 2589 email nuigcages@kingfisherclub.com

Excellent Sponsored Prizes Kevin Cassidy is the facilitator for all your recreational soccer.

Most capped player for Galway United, Manager/Coach with Galway District League.

C a l l ing a l l s o cce r p l a y e r s We are pleased to announce the return of the Futsal Leagues!

F u t s a l 5 a si d e Le a gues Start date: Monday 3rd October, Kingfisher Club. 8-10pm — 8 week league

Registration: €50.00 per team – Squad of 8 players.

Register on line at www.otc.nuigalway.ie All teams to be registered by 8pm Thursday 29th September.

Fees to be paid by Monday 3rd October 2pm.

Contact Kevin Cassidy 0861772589

Substantial prizes — Great fun!

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S ports & Fitness

NUI Galway FC The Importance Colts V St Helens of Exercise

By Barry Phelan, Kingfisher Club

by Dami Adebari Soccer in NUI Galway has officially commenced and an exciting new season awaits us all. With a revived atmosphere and an enthusiastic set of players, who all bring new talent and energy to the squad, both management and players are looking forward to the year ahead. A lot is expected from NUIG FC Colts this year, having lived up to expectations last year, just barely missing out on silverware.

The Colts faced a tough test on day one of the season.

Their opposition, St Helens, a team from the west, were physical in nature, high in expectations and extremely tough competitors. They definitely showed this spirit on the day. Kick off was at 1:30 and the match quickly got underway. The Colts got off to a flying start on the wings, controlling and dominating the game. They played a mixture of simple one touch passes and long balls. It seemed that St. Helens just couldn’t keep up.

Perhaps, it was the long drive or the typical Irish weather: rain, wind and sunshine all at once. Whatever it was, the Colts were in control right from the start.

Soon enough, The Colt’s hard work paid off. A magnificent charge down the right wing by one of NUI Galway’s star players, John Brennan, saw the ball land right at the feet of Joe Monaghan. Joe, a keen sportsman, looked up and saw two defenders in front of him. He knew he had work to do. He faked left, then charged right, beating the first defender and then getting the better of the second defender as a result of his quick pace, smashed the ball past St Helen’s goalkeeper. NUI Galway took a well-deserved lead and the

score reflected the effort the players had put in, in the first half of the match. The score now stood, 1-0 to NUI Galway.

Half time came and both teams got a well-deserved rest. Even though the Colt’s were 1-0 up, there was a serious team talk on the NUI Galway side of the pitch. The only instruction given to the players, was to “keep doing what ye are doing lads, keep it up.”

The second half got under way and the Colts were off to another cracking start.

St. Helen’s poached and poached for a goal, but just could not find an end result.

Things began to look shaky now for NUI Galway, as both fitness and concentration levels started to drop. Their only threat in the second half was a free kick by Liam McMorrow, which hit off the crossbar. Two minutes to go and calamity struck. The referee awarded St. Helens a penalty as a result of a reckless foul by a Colt’s player.

The St. Helen’s captain stepped up, picked his spot and calmly slotted home.

The score now stood at 1-1.

All of a sudden, the game had hit the 90th minute mark and it was all over.

Having spoken to the NUI Galway players after the match, they could only describe the game in one word, ‘’frustrating.’’ It must have been extremely hard to be leading the game up until the last minute. The season continues and the players can’t wait for the next game.

They have being given their homework and the message is clear: attend training and win the next match. One goal and one point on the scoreboard, NUI Galway are only getting started and excitement is already brewing in the camp for the next match.

September is often thought of as a time for new beginnings, with young and old starting or returning to NUI Galway. It may also be a time to embark on a new personal beginning and what better way then by getting fit and healthy by joining the Gym or one of the many University Sports Clubs.

The University offers some of the best facilities in Ireland with one of the largest Gyms in the country, an international standard swimming pool and sports hall, astro-turf pitches in Corrib Village, running rrack at Dangan, numerous pitches, walking and running trails, rowing and water sports facilities as well.

Health Benefits of Regular Exercise.

There are several health benefits to regular exercise. One of the most common reasons is to help lose weight. Another reason is for cardiovascular fitness – to strengthen your heart. Other reasons include building strength, increasing energy levels, promoting self-esteem, and relieving stress, improving flexibility, and strengthening your immune system. Additional health benefits of regular exercise include reducing depression, decreasing the risk of Osteoporosis and some of the less obvious ways to build up your immune system. For example, by repeatedly using a swimming pool, a steam room, and dry sauna, the repeated exposure to heat and cold can gradually make you more resistant to temperature and environment changes.

This in turn makes you more resistant to sickness and disease.

Regular exercise through the gym, swimming or sports clubs will give you: Increased energy: The right combination of exercise and nutrition creates the optimal environment for fat loss, increased muscle strength and increased energy. When your body is working at peak efficiency, your energy levels soar!

Increased Self-Esteem: Gain-

ing control of your body size and weight through fitness is an amazing way to increase selfesteem. You look better and are more confident which empowers you in everything you do. You will find that the self-discipline required and learned through regular exercise spills over into other areas of your life and you will be better able to make other necessary and desirable changes.

Increased Mental Focus: Did you know that the latest research shows that exercise helps keep the brain sharp well into old age?

Anything that involves mental acuity (focus and concentration) is improved. You also stand a much better chance of avoiding such diseases as Alzheimer’s and senility.

Decreased Risk of a Heart Attack: By exercising regularly and making positive changes in your diet, you lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and greatly diminish the chances of having a heart attack.

Decreased Risk of Osteoporosis: Regular exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, and can even reverse it buy building bone tissue!

Increased Strength and Stamina: Every physical thing you do becomes easier which is immensely useful in everyday life.

Reduced Depression: The production of Endorphins (Feel good hormones) is increased through exercise. Nothing improves mood and suppresses depression better than those endorphins.

Decreased Stress Levels: The worries and stresses of everyday living can remain with you long after the work day is done. Exercise right after work is the perfect natural therapy that can change your mood and help you sleep better.

If we look at our timetables and our diaries we will find that there has never been an easier time to get involved in fitness and sport. If you exercise, you get the benefit and you will feel better.

Connacht GAA Announces Fifth Bursary Awards Scheme

By Michael O’Connor, Gaelic Games Officer Connacht GAA have announced the 2011/12 Bursary Awards Scheme in support of the National Student Bursary

Scheme. As part of its ongoing commitment to Player Welfare the scheme awards bursaries of €1,000 to students in full time Higher Education, who actively participate in Sports Clubs.

Connacht GAA have announced that they welcome applications from students in Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo, regardless of whether they attend a college outside Connacht.

Further information and application forms for this year’s scheme are currently available to download from www.connachtgaa.ie. The closing date for application will be October 14th, 2011.

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S ports & F itness

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SportsFile: Eamonn O’Flynn, NUI Galway Clubs’ Captain

By Sinead Farrell

Less than two years ago, the badminton club at NUI Galway was struggling to survive.

Eamonn O’Flynn was enlisted at a time when the association was craving revival: a mission not for the faint hearted.

Eamonn doesn’t belong in that category. His resourceful and innovative attitude emerged as vital assets in reinvigorating the badminton scene and it wasn’t long before the sport began to flourish.

“Myself and the other team mates decided that something had to be done so started focusing on getting the attendances back up and now the club is one of the biggest in the college” he revealed.

This achievement

formed the foundation upon which his appointment as Clubs’ captain was formed. After serving as a badminton committee member for three years, he’s ready for an upgrade in responsibility. “I decided to run for Clubs’ captain because I love working with people. I’m interested in sport and I think it’s important that a club is given every opportunity to enjoy their sport and that everyone feels equal within the team.”

Eamonn confessed that he likes to challenge himself.

Incorporating the functions of Clubs’ Captain will provide Eamonn with a test that many would shy from. For Eamonn, i t ’s j u s t a n o t h e r obstacle to be conquered. In addition

to the various duties associated with his new role, Eamonn is also contending with the daunting academic commitments of a final year Science student. He exudes positivity when he talks about this prospect. “I think the job is actually helpful in terms of structure. If I know that there are certain places I have to be I’ll adjust my schedule so that I can study as well.”

If a club is faced with a problem or they have a grievance that needs to be addressed, Eamonn is the first port of call. He is partnered with Sports Unit chief Kathy Hynes and the pair will sit and discuss the issue with the interests of the club taking precedence. Should the issue require further action the SRU will

assist in resolving the matter. “I will meet with the club captains every three to four weeks and if they have any problems Kathy and I will examine it and try to come up with a solution. I’m very approachable which is essential when you’re representing people. Every week is different, the last few weeks were busy with all the clubs restarting again but I love the work and that’s important. I’m interested in all sports so I don’t find the work tedious,” Eamonn stated.

Eamonn’s proactive instincts can be dated back to four years ago in his hometown of Miltown, Co. Clare.

He recognised that there was a void in his locality that could be occupied by a badminton club.

With the support of his parents and surrounding residents, Eamonn formed and expanded a badminton club, which now boasts a membership bank of almost 90 players. “My parents run it really and keep me updated regularly.

At the moment it’s the biggest juvenile badminton club in the county and it consists of players ranging from between 7 to 18 years of age”.

You need only trawl through Eamonn’s family album to identify where his sports administration qualities come from. His Father is an avid soccer enthusiast who manages a local team and is a committee member. His sister is a member of the Students’ Union in U.C.C and his penchant for badminton he inherited from his

mother.

The 21 year old holds ambitions of removing the compulsory €2 admission charge for players when they join clubs and is intent on designing a gym membership contract that will satisfy the student body throughout his term as Clubs’ Captain.

Could Eamonn see himself progressing with this line of work after he completes his degree? “Well I’m doing a science course so naturally I would want to get a job in that line of work but if something came up in administrative work for a club, there is a possibility that I could consider it. For now this is part-time work and my aim is to serve the clubs in the best possible way and ensure that all members feel included.”

zil is experiencing an economic boom, the league is in no way comparable to the U.S., China and UAE for mercenaries. Thus, the turning point in Ronaldinho’s recent career came on 19 June, 2011. During the 0-0 derby against Botafogo, Ronaldinho was hauled off on 88’

by Luxemburgo for the sole purpose of giving him the brutal jeering wake-up call that had evaded him in Europe.

Remarkably, along with Luxemburgo’s use of Ronaldinho as a second striker, it has had the desired effect and Ronaldinho, who has dropped his needless showboating, has been reborn.

Instead of relying on Ronaldinho for his once trademark bursts of magic, Lux-

emburgo knows that Ronaldinho made his name at Grêmio as a second striker for scoring goals as much as anything else (72 in 145 games from 1998-2000). This timeless attribute is one trait that is yet to desert Ronaldinho and he has netted an impressive 12 goals in 20 games in the Brasileirão for Flamengo.

With a new-look Brazil stuttering, following a poor Copa América, Mano Menezes is under immense pressure and in an act of desperation, considering his previously youthful selections, he has turned to an old A Seleção favourite. For Ronaldinho, though, the dream of an ultimate renaissance lives on: winning the 2014 World Cup at 34 years old.

Ronaldinho’s Renaissance?

By Ciaran Kelly

When Ronaldinho left Milan for Flamengo in January, without his once trademark “flick of the switch” ability, beaming smile and lean frame, few expected the 31 year old to rediscover the umbeatable form that had made him the greatest player of his generation.

H o w e v e r, u n l i k e when the vastly-overweight and seasoned Ronaldo moved to Corinthians in 2009, it has proved a premature homecoming.

Ronaldinho has since shown renewed vigour and has defied his critics by earning himself a place in Mano Menezes’ Brazil squad.

Such was Ronaldi n h o ’s b r i l l i a n c e

between 2002 and 2006 that he provided some of the most memorable moments of the decade, from lobbing David Seaman 40 yards from goal in 2002 to earning an unprecedented standing ovation at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2005. However, niggling injuries, an increasingly damaging lifestyle and the emergence of Lionel Messi saw what should have been Ronaldinho’s peak 2007/2008 season scrutinised for his fluctuating weight.

The arrival of Pep G u a r d i o l a ’s s t r i c t regime saw Ronaldinho depart for Milan in 2008, but the writing was on the wall once Massimiliano Allegri took over at the San Siro in

2010. After Ronaldinho’s partying habits began to cost him a place in Milan’s matchday squad, he was left with little choice other than to make a January move home. At Barcelona and Milan, Ronaldinho was unveiled to 35,000 fans in the amphitheatres of the Camp Nou and San Siro so after his welcome of ‘just’ 18,000 Flamengo fans, it surely registered in the Brazilian’s mind that this was the last competitive chapter of his playing career.

Despite this, the first six months of his time at Flamengo saw Ronaldinho, while curling in the odd brilliant free-kick, disappoint and drift through games. He failed to dazzle in his traditional roaming

role and any hopes he had of mesmerisingly dribbling past seemingly inferior full-backs soon evaporated. Flamengo, who in tandem with Traffic Sports Marketing Company were paying Ronaldinho over £100,000 per week, a figure unprecedented in Brazilian football, were beginning to lose patience.

While Frank Rijkaard never held back in substituting Ronaldinho after a below-par performance in the 2007/2008 season, the Brazilian had too much of an affinity with the Barcelona crowd for them to boo him. However, Ronaldinho had become Flamengo’s highest-paid footballer in their history and even though Bra-

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Last W ord

{27} 26–09

What’s Happening in Galway: 26th of Sept. – 9th of October Monday 26/09/11: Art Classes with Art Soc. 19.0021.00. Art Room, Áras Na Mac Léinn Tuesday 27/09/11: NUI Galway 10th Annual Volunteering Fair. 13.00-17.00.

Bailey Allen Hall.

Wednesday 28/09/11: Under water chess with Chess Soc. 21.00-23.00. Galway Bay Hotel.

Thursday 29/09/11: Isaac Burke (pianist and NUI Galway Student) and Eadaoin The NUIG Comic Soc Presents…

Ni Mhaicin (All Ireland Lilting Champion) play classical pieces ranging from Mozart to Gershwin. Free admission.

1: 2pm. The Cube Theatre, Áras Na Mac Léinn. Part of Arts in Action Lunchtime Series.

Friday 30 /09/11: ‘Citog presents’ three acts play.

Free entry. 21.30 till close.

Cellar Bar. Saturday 1/10/11: Liam Jones exhibition launch.

2pm. Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery, Liosban Retail Park.

“The Only Reasonable Option”

by Leigh Ashmore

By Ashling O Loughlin, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Sunday 2 /10/11: Claregalway Family Market.

10.00: 17.00. Just 7 miles from Eyre Square. Clothing, food, electrical goods and much more to be rummaged though.

Monday 3/ 10/11: First day of Students’ Union Equality and Postgrad Week.

Numerous events around campus.

Tuesday 4 / 10/11: Healthy lunch with Vegetarian Soc. 13.00-14.00, at the Hub. Wednesday 5/10/11: The Slut walk. Starting from

NUI Galway at 13.00.

Thursday 6/10/11: “B for Baby” presented by Abbey Theatre. 8pm. Town Hall Threatre. Contact Socs Box for tickets.

Friday 7/10/11: ‘Shack Up’, upstairs at Kellys Pub, with resident DJ Graham. From 23.00 till close.

Saturday 8 /10/11: ‘Envy’ @ Club K. Resident DJ’s playing commercial chart and dance. 22.00 till close.

Sunday 9/10/11: Karaoke at Coyotes’ Bar, Forster Street. Free admission.

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Hot Classic Chicken

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Cajun Chicken

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Tuna Twist

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Get more with our 3rd level student account

Talk to us today about all your banking needs Drop into our NUIG branch Call Kevin Burke 076 624 1304 www.bankofireland.com/studentmoney

Terms and conditions apply to the 3rd level student current account. A full set of terms and conditions is available from any Bank of Ireland branch. Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.