Holocaust Survivor Read all about Tomi Reichental’s visit to NUI Galway. Page 7
As Gaeilge
Autumn Scenes
Read our exclusive interview with Seo Linn. Page 22
Check out some of PhotoSoc’s top Autumnal images. Page 27
NUI Galway Launches Sexual Health Campaign ‘Smart Consent’ initiative aims to provide support to victims of sexual assault By Mark Laherty
FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER | VOL 17, ISSUE 05 | 10 NOV 2015
Students encouraged to talk about mental health with new video campaign Minster launches mental health initiative in NUI Galway By Neil Slevin Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Primary Care, Social Care and Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch TD launched a series of video clips of NUI Galway students discussing mental health issues on Tuesday 3 November. Last year alone, over a thousand NUI Galway students attended the University’s Student Counselling Service, their most prevalent issue being anxiety which, since 2014, has overtaken depression as NUI Galway students’ number one mental health issue. By launching a series of short video clips in which NUI Galway students speak publically about mental health issues, NUI Galway’s Counselling Service hopes that each video’s willing participant will lead the way in de-stigmatising mental health issues amongst their fellow students, and motivate them to seek help as and when they need it to overcome any difficulties they may encounter. Organised by NUI Galway’s Student Counselling Service, with financial support from the University’s Students’ Project Fund, the five short video clips portray students speaking directly to the camera about their experiences of mental health difficulties and how they overcame their problems with help from the counselling service. “These videos convey a powerful message of hope for students, which is that whatever challenges they face, they can be overcome,” said Bea Gavin, Head of NUI Galway’s Counselling Service. “The students who took part demonstrated a deep commitment, not only to caring for their own mental health, but they have also used their experiences to help others. They are role models with whom students can both identify with and be inspired by.” Chloe Lappin, an NUI Galway student who has risen to what, for many, is a significant challenge by speaking openly about her own mental health issues, is an advocate of the
Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Primary Care, Social Care and Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch T.D. today launched a series of video clips of NUI Galway students discussing mental health issues. Minister Lynch is pictured with NUI Galway student Chloe Lappin. Photo: Aengus McMahon. ‘Please Talk’ campaign on campus (subject of Sin’s recent article ‘Art is a wound turned into light’). Speaking about the campaign, and her own video clip on perfectionism, Chloe said; “Each time I am given the opportunity to speak openly about my mental health challenges, my confidence increases in terms of my ability to speak openly about an issue I once kept hidden for many years: I hope my video appearance highlights the fact that, if you choose to seek support, and make a commitment to addressing your challenges, change can occur, and that there are plenty of people around you to help make those changes possible.” This initiative sets out to encourage NUI
Galway’s students to discuss their difficulties relating to a range of mental health issues – including depression, anxiety, procrastination and perfectionism – openly in a concerted effort to reduce the stigma about these issues amongst students, and to increase their awareness of the help available to them on campus. Speaking at the launch, Minister Lynch said that “21st century technology has obviously enhanced many aspects of our daily lived, and this process will inevitable continue”. The minister continued; “However, we all must be conscious that societal change does not impact negatively on our core human needs, by contributing to isolation or increased mental health pressures generally. Continued on page 2
NUI Galway launched the ‘Smart Consent’ Sexual Health and Support initiative in the Aula Maxima on 3 November in response to growing concerns for student safety. The initiative aims to provide information on the support services available to students affected by sexual violence. ‘Smart Consent’ workshops are being held parallel to the initiative. NUI Galway is the first university to hold this training, and is working with other Higher Education Institutes to put them in place across the country. “There is support available to all students on campus. If anyone experiences any form of sexual assault or is affected in any way, NUIG is supporting students on this matter and taking it very seriously,” said Aine Gallagher, volunteer and MC of the launch. Charlotte McIvor, lecturer in Drama, Theatre and Performance, said that the campus isn’t safe yet; “Our statistics around sexual assault here are still one in five. We’re not safe yet, but it’s an aspiration.” A representative of the Galway Rape Crisis Centre pointed out that while universities claim to take sexual assault very seriously, the rate of reports of assault is very low: “Unbelievably low, because we know there is much more out there than what is being recorded.” Elaine Byrnes of the Psychology Department felt that the popular understanding of sexuality in terms of orientation is not the most useful perspective. She defined human sexuality as “an interplay of gender, gender roles, preferences, and orientation, and how all of that impacts on us physically, emotionally, and spiritually”. A community liaison guard explained some of the practical proceedings of a sexual assault report, specifically with regard to the victim knowing the assailant. She said that it could be assumed that “the person may know the person who has attacked them”. According to the panel, 93% of sexual assault victims know their assailant. They also made it clear that it is still sexual assault if the victim knows the perpetrator. Dr Padraig McNeela of the Psychology Department was involved in the organisation of the consent workshops. He defended the divide of the workshops into male and female groups on the grounds that different perspectives could be gained from different people. Further, different views could be expressed in groups with different dynamics. “What men might think to sometimes be acceptable and what they would talk about with other men could be different,” he said. “There’s a lot of gender coding that goes on. We saw this with the focus groups we did, where it was very obvious from the kind of talk that was going on. I just couldn’t picture that happening with a mixed audience.” Continued on page 2
2 NEWS
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
Students encouraged to talk about mental health with new video campaign Continued from page 1 “In developing solutions to address emerging change, I very much welcome the new Student Counselling Ser vice initiative being launched in NUI Galway today. This will ensure that no student has to face mental health issues on their own, and the initiative being rolled out today may prove beneficial for other colleges.” Speaking in response to Chloe Lappin’s comments, and on the campaign as a whole, Jimmy Mc Govern, Students’ Union Welfare Officer in NUI Galway, said; “I applaud this attitude and, in my opinion, any issue that affects your wellness or that prevents your student experience from reaching its full potential, is an issue you should address.”
For advice on mental health issues, or to view the video clips mentioned in this
article, please visit www.nuigalway.ie/counsellors/ or email counselling@nuigalway.ie.
Launching a series of video clips of NUI Galway students discussing mental health issues today was Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Primary Care, Social Care and Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch T.D. Minister Lynch is pictured with (l-r)Dr Pat Morgan, Vice-President for the Student Experience, NUI Galway; Dr Jim Browne, NUI Galway President; Chloe Lappin, NUI Galway student; and Bea Gavin, Head of NUI Galway’s Student Counselling Service. Photo: Aengus McMahon.
Unseating a Senator? USI will consider running a candidate against Senator Rónán Mullen By Dean Buckley The Union of Students in Ireland has announced it will consider running a candidate against Senator Rónán Mullen during the next general election if he continues to advocate for what they described as “hateful views”, including his opposition to marriage equality and access to abortion. The announcement came after Senator Mullen attempted to delay the passage of the Marriage Bill 2015 with a filibuster amendment, a tactic often used to prevent the passage of legislation in the United States, though it is impossible to do so in the Seanad, where the Standing Orders permit, at most, a delay of a couple of hours. The bill legislates for the results of this year’s referendum on marriage equality. Senator Mullen is a member of the Seanad Panel representing the National University of Ireland, and is well-known for his vocal opposition to marriage equality and the legalisation of abortion. He has also advocated for the Nordic model of decriminalising sex work and supports the development of more robust end-of-life care in Ireland, including the facilitation of palliative and hospice care. His proposed amendment claimed to prevent the bill from requiring religious marriage ceremonies to use genderneutral language, though Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald clarified the bill already did not require the use of gender-neutral language, and the amendment was not accepted. Acknowledging that Senator Mullen is “no stranger to controversy”, the President of
the Union of Students of Ireland, Kevin Donoghue, said in a statement that Senator Mullen is “not representing the people who elected him” and described his particularly strident views on hot-button issues such as access to abortion and the Children and Family Relationships Bill as “extremely damaging and hurtful to young people”. The Union of Students in Ireland is the national representative body for the 354,000 students in third level education on the island of Ireland. The Students’ Union of NUI, Galway is a member of the Union, along with the Students’ Unions of most other universities on the island, North and South. Mr Donoghue went on to say that his organisation and its members “do not want to be affiliated with hateful views” and that, as a consequence, USI “will consider running someone against Senator Mullen if he continues to represent hateful and outdated views”. Graduates of the National University of Ireland elect three members of the Seanad at each general election. Senator Mullen was first elected in 2007 with the second-highest number of first-preference votes, and reelected in 2011 with the highest number of first-preferences. Later, he unsuccessfully contested the 2014 European Parliament elections for the Midlands–North-West constituency, finishing eighth after being eliminated in the fourth count. Senator Mullen’s colleague from the National University of Ireland Seanad Panel, Senator Feargal Quinn, voted against the referendum bill in March
and voted against the referendum itself in May, though he was absent from the Seanad during the vote on the Marriage Bill. Speaking after the passage of the Marriage Bill on 22 October, Senator Mullen asked those who had supported the Yes side of the marriage equality referendum to show “magnanimity in victory” and those who supported the No side to show “magnanimity in defeat”. Senator Mullen himself campaigned on the No side with members of the Iona Institute, an association that Mr Donoghue criticised, saying that Iona’s use of “invalid interpretations of data to back their claims” undermined Senator Mullen’s “credibility as a public representative”. His proposed amendment came under fire from some of his Seanad colleagues, including Senator David Norris, who described it as “a mare’s nest” and “a complete virago of nonsense”, and Senator Cáit Keane, who said she thought that Pope Francis’s interpretation of the bill “would be much fairer” than Senator Mullen’s. His only support in the chamber came from Senator Jim Walsh, who expressed concern that “well-funded gay ideological groups” would attempt to force churches to provide them with marriage services contrary to their beliefs. If it follows through, this will be the first time the Union of Students in Ireland have actively sought to unseat a Senator from a university constituency since its founding in 1959. At time of writing, no statement had been released by Senator Mullen.
NUI Galway Launches Sexual Health Campaign Continued from page 1 He admitted that they were “pitching it at a heterosexual script… We have to start somewhere.” Dr McNeela expressed surprise as to the degree to which participants of the workshops were “immersed in quite traditional gender roles. The man is always going to be pushing to get more, and the woman is going to be the gatekeeper. When non-
consent happens, that’s where that kind of thing breaks down. People can take different views of the same event. We didn’t want to offend anybody.” He also noted that in University surveys, different responses about consent were given by people who were in relationships than to people who were single. The launch was accompanied by a screening of The Hunting Ground, a documen-
tary by Kirby Dick about sexual assault on college campuses in the United States. The University has also created a hashtag campaign, #NUIGsafecampus, to ensure that all students know how and where to get help. For more information on The Hunting Ground and a more in-depth feature on sexual assault statistics in NUI Galway and further afield, turn to page 14.
NEWS 3
November 10 2015
Meet the team By Jessica Thompson Sin would be nothing without its contributors, and it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you the editorial team that will make the rest of the Sin year one to remember. First up is News Editor, Niamh Cullen. Niamh is an MA Journalism student and barista by day, and a pen-wielding crime fighter by night. It’s her first year in the college, with Sin and in Galway. Niamh would talk the hind legs of twenty donkeys, and so far this year, I have found myself listening to (and enjoying) her nonstop chatter, so I know that if you were to approach her with a story idea, she would be more than willing to help out. Jenna has been with Sin almost as long as I have. So far she has edited the lifestyle section and the news section, but this year, she’s trying her
hand at the features section, where she’ll be overseeing the fantastic work our writers are doing. Jenna is a massive fan of all cute animals, but especially dogs, and especially pugs. I’ve learned this over the past three years I’ve worked with her. She’s brilliant at coming up with ideas, and ways to make sure those ideas come to fruition, so be sure to drop her an email with any good ideas you may have. Sorcha O’Connor is in charge of the lifestyle section this year. She’s been involved with Sin for just over a year now and has always shown a great interest in fashion and lifestyle. She’s got a great eye for fashion and will spot you a mile away if you’re wearing something that would look good on our Style Spotter page. Neil Slevin has come to my rescue on several occasions over the past five issues, coming up with excellent content on the spot if necessary. He also came up with the idea for our Resonate column, which is very popular with the creative writers among us.
So it is with great pleasure that I can introduce him as this year’s Entertainment Editor. He’s the man to go to if you’ve got an idea for music, film, theatre, arts-related articles. And as for sport, I’ve appointed Aonghus Ó’Maicín to that all-important role. Sport has never been my strong point, so it’s good to have an avid sports fan to help me out.
Now that you’ve met the team, let me introduce you to issue five of Sin. We’ve got some great stories for you this issue, including our cover story on the new video campaign, which encourages students to talk about and de-stigmatise mental health issues. Our second cover story deals with sexual consent and the ‘Smart Consent’ campaign that has been
launched in NUI Galway. Last week was SHAG Week and it dealt with all things sexual health. We’ve got a report on events on page six. And on the topic of consent, Neil has written a very informative article on sexual assault in US campuses, comparing them to Irish statistics and referring to the screening of The Hunting Ground on campus last week. For more, turn to page 10. But we have plenty of other content to get through too. Cathal Kelly had an exclusive interview with popular Irishspeaking band Seo Linn, which can be found on page 22. The Awkward Vegan is back this issue with a bit of advice on how to get enough protein into your diet if you’re cutting out the animal products; we’ve got plenty on
Movember, paying tribute to the hairiest month of the year; and in sport, we’ve got plenty of club updates to keep you on top of campus activities. Exams aren’t too far from anyone’s mind at the moment, and least of all ours. We’ve got you covered for exams in our double-page spread on pages 14 and 15. Need to relax? We’ve got some great tips. Procrastinating? Don’t worry about it – it will pass. Too tired to doll yourself up for college? Be not afeared, our ‘exam wear’ article has got your back. Exam season is tough, but look on the bright side: this ‘exams’ issue of Sin means we only have one more issue until Christmas holidays… Until next time,
Jess @Jessicadotie
PhotoSoc Competition
‘Autumn’ by Janet O’Donnell was the winning snap in our PhotoSoc competition this week, which had an Autumn theme. The theme for the next issue is ‘Winter’, so if you’ve got a photo you’d like to share, email editor@sin.ie.
Editor: Jessica Thompson editor@sin.ie Layout: Shannon Reeves | contact via Ed. NEWS Niamh Cullen | localnews.sined@gmail.com FEATURES Jenna Hodgins | features.sined@gmail.com LIFESTYLE Sorcha O’Connor | fashion.sined@gmail.com ENTERTAINMENT Neil Slevin | artsentertainment.sined@gmail.com SPORT Aonghus Ó’Maicín | sport.sined@gmail.com
GOT A STORY? We’re always looking for great student-related content, so if you’ve heard some news, contact us on editor@sin.ie and we’ll cover the story for you! Or, if you’d like to try your hand at writing, send us your article and we’ll review it for publication.
Find us online:
www.sin.ie Upcoming Sin Meetings Anyone and everyone is welcome to our Sin meetings. The next meeting is:
Monday 16th November – AC203 Bring your ideas, or even just your enthusiasm, and we’ll give you the ideas!
4 NEWS
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
Croí to host training day for medical students By Mark Laherty Croí, a Galway non-profit organisation for fighting heart disease, will hold a Healthcare Provider training session for medical students in NUI Galway on Wednesday 11 November. The training will teach students to the level required for those who intend to apply for internship with the HSE. Entry costs €35. A place can be booked at croi.ie. Croí was established in 1985 to fight heart disease and stroke in the Galway area. It is financed exclusively through fundraising. As a registered charity, it is run by a Board of Directors which serves in a voluntary capacity and receives no remuneration or expenses. According to their website, their vision is to “improve the quality of life for all through the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease”. This organisation exists in the context of largescale cardiovascular health concerns. More people die in Ireland every year from heart disease than any other disease. It accounts for 36% of all deaths and is a major cause of disability. This has created a huge burden on the country’s healthcare system. Heart Disease is not immediately obvious. It can develop inconspicuously over the course
of several years. In most cases, by the time any symptoms are perceived, the disease is extremely advanced and it may already be too late. As a result of this difficulty in spotting Heart Disease, people usually die from it before medical care is sought. However, Heart Disease is curable. Croí says that up to four-fifths of the incidence of Heart Disease can be prevented through the modification of risk factors. There are obvious factors, such as smoking. But other causes include cholesterol and blood pressure. As such, it is most appropriate to undergo an appropriate test or procedure. You don’t need to give up anything that might be unhealthy to avoid Heart Disease. Staying safe can be as simple as keeping physically active. Croí says that exercise strengthens the heart, reduces angina, lowers risk of Heart Disease and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, moderate consumption of tea and coffee can reduce your chance of death from a heart attack by at least a fifth, according to the University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands. “Our results found the benefits of drinking coffee and tea occur without increasing risk of stroke or death from all causes,” said Dr. Yvonne van der Schouw.
Postgraduate Open Day By Dean Buckley The NUI Galway Postgraduate Open Day will take place on Wednesday 11 November in the Bailey Allen Hall in Áras na Mac Léinn from 12pm until 4pm. There will be over 80 stands on display, showcasing over 400 of the university’s postgraduate programmes, including full-time and part-time courses, taught and research masters, and doctoral research options. The stands will give prospective students the opportunity to meet lecturers and postgraduate students, as well as staff from Postgraduate Admissions, the Career Development Centre, Graduate Studies, the Research Office and a variety of other student support services. Information on scholarship schemes such as the Hardiman Scholarship and the Taught Masters Scholarship will also be made available to prospective students on the day. In addition, there will be a detailed presentation on the practicalities of how to apply to a postgraduate course, a presentation from the SUSI Grants Authority on postgraduate grants and how to negotiate the applications process, and a presentation on the availability of
research funding and how to apply for it. Over 91 percent of NUI Galway graduates are currently employed or in further study within six months of graduating, which is higher than the national average for Irish postgraduates. The number of postgraduates in employment has grown consistently in recent years, thanks in no small part to NUI Galway’s well-established links with relevant industry. As well as the traditional university research areas that are widely studied at undergraduate level, the university has a number of innovative research centres in areas as diverse as Biomedical Science and Engineering, International Human Rights, Digital Media and Film Studies, Bioethics and Regenerative Medicine. Some of the new courses being introduced for the 2016/2017 academic year include an MSc in Biomedical Genomics and a part-time MSc in Medical Technology and Regulatory Affairs. Students interested in attending the Open Day can pre-register their attendance online or register upon arrival on the day. Queries regarding the Open Day can be directed to Celine O’Donovan in the Schools Liaison Office.
Pictured are two NUI Galway Postgraduate Scholarship recipients (l-r): Sravathni Bandla, PhD student in Biomedical Science, who received a Hardiman Scholarship; and Colin O’Riordan, MSc in Marketing Practice, a Taught Masters Scholarship recipient.
ILAS stages Food Fair in preparation for Saol café’s official opening By Neil Slevin On Thursday 29 October, SCCUL Enterprises Ltd. (managers of the new Saol café on the ground floor of the ILAS building) invited the campus-wide and local community to sample the best of locally-sourced food and produce at a Food Fair from 12.30pm to 2pm. All present were provided with complimentary tea and coffee, and had the opportunity to sample delicious food products from local suppliers who specialise in a wide range of food and produce. ILAS staged the informal event to give its staff a flavour of the type of food the new
café will be serving over the coming months, and the opportunity for staff to invite their key stakeholders and community partners to enjoy what it has to offer. Saol café, which is scheduled to open this month, November, is a unique social inclusion project. The café will be the first of its kind in the country – most of the people employed by the café will face some barrier to employment, and almost all of the food and drink served by the café will be produced and/or sourced locally, thus providing a further boost to the local economy. ILAS hopes that you will visit Saol café in its opening weeks and that you will enjoy all that it has to offer for years to come.
NEWS 5
November 10 2015
Galway to host Science THE�PERFECT and Technology Festival This year’s Galway Science and Technology Festival kicks off on Monday 9 November and runs until Sunday the 22 November culminating in a large scale Science and Technology Exhibition to be held at NUI Galway. The festival, part of National Science Week is organised in conjunction with its main sponsors Medtronic with the help and support of other partners such as NUI Galway, GMIT, the Marine Institute and other local companies. Now in its 18th year, this year’s festival will explore and celebrate “Science Week 2.0 – Design your Future” in this International Year of Light through a series of technology shows, workshops and competitions for primary and secondary schools throughout Galway city and county over a two week period. The ‘Sunday Funday at Galway Atlantaquaria’ kick-started the Science Week celebrations on 8 November with workshops and tours of the Aquarium. This year’s festival also sees the return of Kitchen Chemistry – The Amazing World of Chemical Wonders which always proves to be a major hit with the younger generation.
“We are looking forward to a wonderful two week celebration learning how to Design Our Future and invite everyone to join us on our final day Exhibition on Sunday 22 November at NUI Galway. During the two weeks students the length and breadth of the county will be participating in demonstrations, shows and workshops all geared towards inspiring the students to develop an interest in the STEM subjects.” Other shows include Bug Doctor which introduces students to insects, bugs and much bigger creatures; Lego Education Workshop will introduce robotics to young children and Little Cells is back again introducing junior and senior infants to the concepts of cells that form the body. Secondary schools can also avail of many brilliant shows that bring science to life including Dr Ken’s Circus, which reveals the scientific
principles used by circus performers using gravity in their stunts. True Physics shows students how to launch rockets and students can learn about flight pressure and perform live experiments in Scientific Sue’s Chemistry Show. A transition year workshop will also be hosted by WhizzKids. Scientists from NUI Galway are participating by offering both school roadshows and on-campus events. School visits include the much sought after Cell Explorers workshop and Fantastic DNA during which children prepare DNA from bananas. New events at this year’s festival include Under the Microscope – an introduction to microscopy for primary school students, a Biomaterials Workshop presented by the CURAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices and a Scrapheap Challenge in which participants build a model car from everyday materials. Visitors to the outdoor classroom in the Terryland Forest Park will have opportunities to plant a new wildflower meadow and to learn about local habitats, conservation and biodiversity. On-campus events include tours of the Geology, Marine Biology and Computer Museums. Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli will attend GMIT’s new Game Zone initiative on Wednesday 11 November. In addition, the GMIT Scientist in Residence and Plastic Oceans workshops will also visit schools. The Marine Institute in Oranmore will host an Open Day for Transition Year students on Thursday 12 November where students will have the opportunity to meet the scientists and see the work of the Institute. This year’s Reel Life Science NUIG video competition will be judged by Astronaut Cmdr. Chris Hadfield, Prof. Aoife McLysaght, Trinity College Dublin and BT Young Scientist’s Ian O’ Sullivan and Eimear Murphy. The competition was extended nationwide in 2014 and a selection of this year’s videos will be screened in the City Museum on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November in addition to CURAM’s art exhibition. Speaking at the launch of the festival, Galway Science and Technology Festival Chairman Tom Hyland said; “We are looking forward to a wonderful two week celebration learning how to Design Our Future and invite everyone to join us on our final day Exhibition on Sunday 22 November at NUI Galway. During the two weeks students the length and breadth of the county will be participating in demonstrations, shows and workshops all geared towards inspiring the students to develop an interest in the STEM subjects.” Teachers can book a workshop or show for their school by completing the booking form on the website www.galwayscience.ie. All shows and workshops are free to the school. Booking details for events at NUI Galway and GMIT are available on the website. The final day Festival Exhibition takes place on Sunday 22 November from 10am to 6pm. Tickets for the shows and workshops will be available for booking on www.galwayscienceeventbrite.com from Saturday 14 November.
STEAK
Try it out for yourself every Monday at our weekly Steak Night!
FOR 2 PEOPLE 12oz Striploin Steak or Irish Angus Rib-Eye with homemade peppercorn sauce & our famous fries! Not a steak lover? No problem! You can choose from any of the delicious main course dishes on our menu.
WIN!
Share a post with #McGettigansGWY on Instagram or Twitter to win a steak night meal for 2!
9-11 Prospect Hill, Eyre Square, Galway. T: +353 91 331010 E: galway@mcgettigans.com www.mcgettigans.com
6 NEWS
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
NUI Galway’s Earth and Ocean Sciences to host BBC presenter lecture By Niamh Cullen The much anticipated lecture by BBC Science programme presenter Professor Iain Stewart will be held in NUI Galway this Monday 9 November. The public address, entitled ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place: communicating geology to society’ will see the BAFTA nominee explore geoscience’s connection with public engagement. The lecture comes as a collaboration between Galway Earth and Ocean Sciences Student Society, Galway Geological Association and NUI Galway’s Earth and Ocean Sciences. Stewart is a Professor of Geoscience Communication with the University of Plymouth and has worked on numerous science programmes for the BBC, including the BAFTA nominated Earth: The Power of the Planet. His research spans Earth hazards and natural disasters, and the Scotsman has been noted for broadcasting live from the active Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii. Dr Alessandra Costanzo, of NUI Galway’s Geofluid Research Group and Earth and Ocean Science said; “Professor Stewart is world renowned for his ability to communicate the fundamental principles of geological science to a wide audience of both technical earth scientists as well as the lay audience. It is indeed an honour
to welcome such a high profile communicator to NUI Galway. “Geological science affects us in ways we might not think about, from its contribution to the production of IPhones and laptops to its construction in buildings for aesthetic use. It is all around us, and so it is relevant to a variety of disciplines and interests.” The lecture intent is to explore a decade of experiences in popularising geoscience to assess how geologists can make the subject connect better with the public. It will be held in the Colm O’hEocha Theatre, Arts Millennium Building at on Monday 9 November at 7pm. Places are limited and places can be reserved at www.eventbrite.ie.
Poster_a3_Layout 1 13/01/2014 12:58 Page 1
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU? CV, Interview Skills & Personal Statement
Work Placement
Careers Connect
where it is an integral part of your course
Register with Careers Connect via our website! www.nuigalway.ie/careers
Jobs Get targeted emails by registering on Careers Connect
Meet Employers at our Fairs, Events and Presentations
Drop in
to get information. You don't need an appointment
Career Development Centre Arts Science Building, National University of Ireland, Galway Tel: 091 493589 | Email: careers@nuigalway.ie
By Stephen Corrigan The Union of Students in Ireland has launched a stinging attack on Ógra Fianna Fáil’s proposal for an income contingent loan scheme for the Irish third level education system. Under Ógra’s plan, students would see an upfront increase of €2,000 in fees but they would not be required to pay this fee, which would stand at €5,000, for a number of years. They suggest that graduates would repay this through PAYE as is the case in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. However the USI has stated that “the federal third level loan system did not work in the UK or the USA”. According to the body, which represents 354,000 students in Ireland, it would be illogical to implement such a system in Ireland. They claim the student loan system in the UK has crippled their government and is leading to the privatisation of education “which will undoubtedly have dire long term consequences.” Ógra’s belief is that the current method of funding the third level system is no longer fit for purpose and so a pragmatic approach must be found. They want a system that provides a “good quality education that is free at the point of access,” whilst keeping education affordable for Ireland’s students”. For the USI, this is a step too far and they fear it could leave further education intimidating for students given that debt would be accumulating throughout their college life; “For many young people, the lack of financial security will deter even more students from applying to college,” said USI President Kevin Donoghue. In the document released by Ógra, reference is made to the need for a maintenance
loan scheme in addition to the fees loan in order to cater for the costs of attending college. President of the USI, Kevin Donoghue warned against heaping debt on students when they leave college. He says the difference between an income contingent loan in order to fund the sector and a loan aiming to improve the affordability of education for students is important. Mr Donoghue points out that “college is not at all free at the point of entry”. He believes it would be “a dangerous path to go down – deliberately suggesting that we fund education by increasing the fee by 66 per cent” and fears that this would have the effect of an increase in fees every time there is a shortfall in funding for the education sector. According to Ógra, their suggested system would create easier immediate access to college for prospective students as well as providing the institutions of education with the increased funding that they need. For the USI, this burden should not fall on students. “Increased public contribution needs to be looked at in line with international partners,” according to Mr Donoghue. He advocates a greater contribution from corporations reliant on college graduates for their success. For him, this could be achieved through an increase in the percentage of employers PRSI that goes towards education. “We always use ‘highly educated workforce’ as a selling point but [we] don’t invest enough in that.” For Ógra Fianna Fáil, their suggestion is a simple solution to the funding problem that exists for both students and the third level education sector as a whole. The USI is in complete agreement that this problem needs a solving but they fundamentally agree on the form this solution should take.
NUI Galway hosts successful SHAG Week Events
Our services are Free to all registered NUI Galway students
USI: Ógra Fianna Fáil putting us on a dangerous path
Pick up a copy of our latest events list and kick start your career.
Career Guidance Appointments Book via Careers Connect
...You can do it
www.nuigalway.ie/careers
OPEN TIMES
twitter.com/NUIGCareers
Mon - Thurs: 9.00am - 5.00pm Friday: 11.00am - 5.00pm
facebook.com/Careers.NUIGalway
By Jenna Hodgins This semester’s SHAG Week, or Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance week, took place over the course of Monday 2 November to Friday 6 November, and lived up to its promise of promoting sexual health with a bit of craic. SHAG week kicked off on Monday with the Students’ Union Welfare crew giving out free condoms, and challenging students to apply a condom on a dummy penis in order to demonstrate how they are used properly and effectively. Also at the stand were free flyers which illustrated how to check your breasts for abnormalities and encouraged regular breast checks. A twin flyer was also available but with a guide on how to check your testicles, as SHAG week also runs at the same time as the beginning of Movember, a charitable monthlong challenge where men (and women, too) are sponsored to grow their beards in aid of
cancers which men are at risk such as, prostate, testicular and penile cancers. Later that night, “SeX Rated” Comedy Hypnotist Michael McCoy entertained/made a fool out of his audience in the O’Flaherty Theatre in a sold out show. Tuesday saw the first of two Consent Workshops, which was female orientated. The male Consent workshop was held Thursday evening. Both seminars discussed the issue of consent: how to say ‘no’, highlighting the idea of a verbal agreement, what constitutes consent and what does not. In conjunction with the topic of consent, there was a free showing of The Hunting Ground, a critically acclaimed documentary that shows how student activists used legal methods to challenge injustice and the under-reporting of sexual assaults in major universities in the United States. Afterwards there was a panel discussion on sexual consent, harassment and support services available at NUI Galway.
NEWS 7
November 10 2015
Holocaust survivor visits NUI Galway Mr Tomi Reichental, a survivor of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, gave a talk about his experience of the Holocaust in the Seminar Room of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway on Sunday 8 November. Tomi Reichental was born in 1935 in Piestany Slovakia. In 1944 at age nine, he was captured by the Gestapo in Bratislava and deported to Bergen Belsen concentration
camp with his mother, grandmother, brother, aunt and cousin. They were taken to detention camp Sered in Slovakia where the elusive Nazi War Criminal Alois Brunner had the power of life or death. When he was liberated in April 1945, he discovered that 35 members of his extended family were murdered. His grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins all died in the Holocaust.
Managing the Winsor of Ireland: Galway’s Town Council from 1603 - 1653 Public talk explores one of Galway’s most outstanding treasures, the ‘Liber A’ manuscript, which is preserved in the James Hardiman Library at NUI Galway NUI Galway and the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society will co-host a talk about Galway’s famous ‘Liber A’ manuscript, one of Galway’s most outstanding treasures, which holds records of Galway’s Town Council dating from 1603 to 1653 when it was a very wealthy town. In this public talk, Dr Bríd McGrath from the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society will explore the membership of Galway’s town council and the men who controlled and managed the city in the first half of the 17th century. She will investigate the members, how many of them came from Galway’s famous tribes, how they dealt with the pressure to appoint protestant mayors and bailiffs, and what we know about these men, their wealth and role within and outside the city. Dr McGrath will also discuss recently discovered letters from the famous Galway lawyer, Patrick Darcy now held in the Huntington Library, California. The ‘Liber A’ manuscript, based in the James Hardiman Library at NUI Galway, preserves Galway Corporation records from 1485. Few towns have records as old as this. It features stunning decorations commissioned by the corporation every year from
1613 onwards and evidence of Galway’s wealth and culture in the early 17th century. No other Irish town is known to have similar decorations in its records. Dr Bríd McGrath said: “Galway’s ‘Liber A’ is a truly unique manuscript and one of the town’s most precious treasures. While working on it, I was able to discover how Galway was managed by its wealthy, cultivated merchant elite in this period and the key role played by Galway men in Irish political life, in parliament and the Confederation of Kilkenny.” Dr McGrath is a Research Associate in the School of Social Work and Social Policy in Trinity College Dublin and this talk is based on research undertaken as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Moore Institute in NUI Galway and at the Huntington Library, California. The public talk is sponsored by the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society and will take place at the Harbour Hotel, Dock Road, Galway, on Monday, 9 November at 8pm. All are welcome and admission is free. ‘Liber A’ is available online and features beautiful pen and ink drawings at: http:// archives.library.nuigalway.ie/LiberA/html/ LiberA.html
Recounting the sights and smells at the concentration camp Tomi Reichental said: “Typhoid and diphtheria were the biggest killers, but people were dying of starvation and cold in their hundreds. First the bodies were removed and burned, but later they were just piling up in front of our barracks, there were piles of decomposing bodies. “The soldiers who liberated Belsen in April 1945 said they could smell the stench for two miles before they reached the camp. In the camp I could not play like a normal child, we didn’t laugh and we didn’t cry. If you stepped out of line, you could be beaten up even beaten to death. I saw it all with my own eyes.” Professor Ray Murphy from the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway, said: “Tomi is one of the last surviving witnesses to the Holocaust. As such, he feels compelled to speak out so that the victims are not forgotten and we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. “For most of his life Tomi did not speak of the atrocities he bore witness to, but in recent years he has become an advocate for tolerance and compassion. His story is a story of the past. It is also a story for our times. The Holocaust reminds us of the dangers of racism and intolerance, providing lessons from the past that are relevant today. One of the
lessons we must learn is to respect difference and reject all forms of racism and discrimination.” Reichental has lived in Dublin since 1959. In 2004, for the first time in 60 years, Reichental broke his silence and began to speak about his experiences during the Holocaust. Thousands of students in schools all over Ireland have heard his story, and an RTÉ documentary film called I Was a Boy in Belsen was based on Tomi’s life. The film was directed by the Emmy award winning producer Gerry Gregg and retraces the events that swept away the Jewish presence in Central Europe from the point of view of a boy who couldn’t understand why. To mark his 80th birthday on the 26 June 2015, the Board of Trustees of HETI (Holocaust Education Trust of Ireland) established a scholarship in Reichental’s name. It will be awarded annually in perpetuity to a deserving candidate to enable her or his participation in one of the Holocaust education programs. The scholarship is in recognition of Reichental’s immense contribution that he has made to Holocaust awareness and education over the years. The talk at NUI Galway was followed by a Q&A session and Reichental signed copies of his book I Was a Boy in Belsen.
8 NEWS
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
NUI Galway to Deliver New BA in Children’s Studies New programme is first of its kind to be offered in Europe NUI Galway has announced details of a new Bachelor of Arts in Children’s Studies degree. This new and unique programme puts NUI Galway in the forefront of the emerging field of Children’s Studies, offering a course that currently is not available elsewhere in Europe. The programme, hosted at the University’s School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, is an inter-disciplinary programme delivered by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies and the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. This unique collaboration ensures that the programme addresses every element of children’s lives, from culture to health. The new degree programme which will study the development and well-being of
children across the globe as well as the ways in which childhood and adolescence have been constructed over time, is child-centred and rights based, and it is underpinned by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child The aim of the new degree programme is to prepare graduates for the labour market, and particularly to work with, or for, children; through the development of an inter-disciplinary undergraduate degree, informed by research, and immersed in civic engagement. Dr Lindsay Myers, Director of the BA Connect with Children Studies said: “We are delighted to see the programme shaping into a full degree. Since the Connect programme was introduced seven years ago Children’s Studies has been one of
the most popular subjects in the University, and it is great that Irish students can now finally register for a full degree in Children’s Studies, a specialism that was previously only available in the United States and Canada.” Dr Michal Molcho, Codirector of the programme, added: “We are particularly excited to see the commitments from both the College of Arts and the College of Medicine, a collaboration which allows us to offer a truly unique programme.” This newly-established degree programme which is already attracting considerable interest both nationally and internationally will have its first intake of students in the academic year 2016/17. For further information: http://www.nuigalway.ie/ courses/undergraduatecourses/childrens-studies. html
The SU held the launch of Movember on before the hairiest month of the year hit, allowing several of NUI Galway’s moustachioed males to have a free shave before they start their road to moustache madness.
Untitled-9 1
05/11/2015 11:01:03
FEATURES 9
November 10 2015
We are no better than the animals By Ruaidhrí O’Doherty No, we are not quadrupeds. We have opposable thumbs. They make us better, do they not? We are not ungulates. They are merely useful tools in the world of kings and queens in which we preside. Let us all sit around in ivory towers consuming Beluga caviar, discussing the audacity of the beasts beneath us. Isn’t being human just the best thing ever? Most, if not all of us, were raised by humans. We cannot learn anything beyond the scope of humanity as we live under its thumb. Do not misunderstand me, it’s a lovely, shapely thumb, but there is more, isn’t there? We were born into, raised in and live in a hierarchical world. We were taught that some creatures are above other creatures. More importantly, we were taught that some things are very much beneath others, in the grand scheme of it all. We placed ourselves at the top of this self-proclaimed pyramid of justice. ‘This is fair because this is how things are. We are being honest and being honest is good, and… scene!’ Have any of us stopped to consider that we may be bad human beings? I do not mean, ‘Murder is bad. This person committed murder. Therefore this person is bad.’ I mean, are any of us bad at being human? This is not my opinion, I state this as fact; The Lion King is an unbelievable film. A single thread of its genius is Mufasa (voiced by the man with the most silken of vocal cords, James Earl Jones), the king of the pride, and therein lies the question. Mufasa was an exceptional lion. He was brave, loyal, just and wise. He encapsulated all that a great leader is, and all that an aspiring leader wishes to be. How many of us can claim to be better than Mufasa? Lions, being caged by man, are considered to be beneath us on the food chain. Humans are better than lions. We are above them and they are beneath us. Yet few humans are better humans than Mufasa was a lion. ‘Was’, yeah, spoiler, Mufasa dies. So does Dumbledore. The very worst of it all is that this mindset has pervaded our lives. It is not that we believe ourselves to be above the furry ones; it is that we know we are better. The typical Irish Mother has exclaimed in frustration to the typical Irish teenager ‘Your room is a pig sty!’ We do not attempt to defend this assault on our room-keeping endeavours. We accept what Mother has said as fact. Consider this response: ‘Well you see Mother, pigs are also sentient beings. Pigs consider the world around them. They consider their peers. They think and feel and live lives that are all to them, neither beyond nor quite within the human perception. Thus living a life akin to that of a pig is not beneath living a human life because we too are animals.’ I applaud those you brave or stupid enough to respond to a livid Mother in this fashion. I wonder if a sow has ever squealed at her piglet in delight ‘Your sty is as tidy as a human’s bedroom!’ Some things we believe. Some things we wish to believe. And some things we must simply accept are not true.
There are few situations outside of Charlotte’s Web where the be-snouted have gained acclaim. Abhorrent creatures, and though their cooked selves do dance somewhat on the palate, they are not humans. Most humans do not see the value of rolling around in the mud. Being clean is important because people like cleanliness. And yet, the world we have created is dirtier than ever
Romulus named the city ‘Rome’ after himself. He named the city after himself. At the deepest of levels, the darkest inner sanctum, in the chasms of Romulus’ mind, all he wanted was to be remembered. There is the gulf. The divide is here. Humans want to be remembered. We may never know if animals have this desire. Those that own dogs revel in the moments upon returning home. Your dog bounds up to you, pawing Mufasa was an exceptional lion. He at you, yearning for – nay, needing – your attention. was brave, loyal, just and wise. He ‘I remember you’ they say. And we love it. We encapsulated all that a great leader is, want to be wanted, need to be needed and we will and all that an aspiring leader wishes forever chase the desire to be desired. Do animals to be. How many of us can claim to feel this? George Orwell was be better than Mufasa? Lions, being quite an intelligent fellow. His most famous novella caged by man, are considered to be Animal Farm serves as a reminder that some peobeneath us on the food chain. Humans ple see things that we, the unspectacular, simply are better than lions. We are above cannot. George Orwell had vision. In a censored them and they are beneath us. Yet few time when words were more powerful than bul-
humans are better humans than Mufasa was a lion.
with impure thoughts and ideals. Imagine a world where you think you are the saviour. You are the one pouring water on the maelstrom of a fire that rages on around you, only to discover that it’s gasoline you’re pouring. We are no better. You are no better. And neither am I. Avoiding superlatives and the ‘Mongol Empire/Roman Empire’ squabble about which was greater I shall say that Rome was one of the greatest empires history has seen (Rome was smaller but cooler. Julius would agree. Genghis would dispute. Que sera sera). In any case, the legend of Rome was that it was founded by Romulus. One of two brothers, Romulus and Remus, brothers that survived trials no creature should ever have to endure. Cast down the Tiber River the brothers were saved and suckled by a shewolf and fed by a woodpecker. Yes, animals. The brothers were found and raised by a shepherd and his wife and the legend becomes exactly that. One of the most famous myths to reach our undeveloped yet eager ears as children. The Tallest of Tall Tales. These titans of men, these founders of empires, they were kings of animals before they became kings of men. I think that fact escapes us a lot of the time. We saunter around sun-streaked gardens, our noses in the air, clutching cheap champagne glasses, our pinkies aloft. We forget or we ignore it. We are animals. Our desire to be more – to be sophisticated and respected and thought well of denies us this insight into ourselves as organisms, as creatures that lived in mud once upon a time. The legend of the formation of Rome does not elude the mankind concept of desired longevity.
lets, Orwell critiqued Joseph Stalin himself in the most artistic of fashions. I wish to share two quotes from this novella with you. The first is this, “All animals are equal.” A commandment the characters of the book were to abide by were they to live in peace and harmony. Circumstances and animals being not dissimilar to humans lead this quote to become something else entirely by the close of the novella. The second is this, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Need I say more? In the end, the disparity between humans and animals is not so great. Let us accept that which is. We are indeed animals. Yes, we stand on two legs. We wear clothes and speak in the tongues of languages we created, in cities we built with our hands that are indeed opposably-thumbed. We are not better though. Quite the contrary, we are the same. We feel hunger and sadness and pain. We love and love to be loved. We protect those we care for. We give our all to the world and hope with the strongest parts of our hearts that the world will give something back. They say ‘Never kick a dog when it’s down’; well you probably shouldn’t kick it when it’s up either. Poke it with the big toe of your favoured foot, just for giggles.
10 FEATURES
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
Campus Sexual Assault among US university students: are there European parallels? By Neil Slevin As part of NUI Galway and the University of Limerick’s Gender Arc Research Seminar Series on Wednesday 21 October, the ILAS (Institute for Lifecourse and Society) centre hosted a research seminar presented by Dr Bill Flack, and moderated by Dr Vesna Malesevic of NUI Galway’s School of Political Science and Sociology. This was seminar that was both intriguing and highly topical particularly in the context of Ireland’s social climate, and in third level education. Dr Flack, a critical clinical psychologist and traumatologist, is Associate Professor of Psychology at Bucknell University (and a US-UK Fulbright Scholar at Ulster University) who specialises in research on violence against women, focusing on sexual assault among university students, who in turn work with him as research trainees and collaborators on the Bucknell Sexual Assault Research Team. Dr Flack conducts annual web-based surveys on sexual assault among Bucknell students, focusing primarily on social factors related to assault victimization and perpetration. He is also a member of the AdministratorResearcher Campus Climate Collaborative
€250 NUI Galway
091 570 800
(ARC3), which is developing a survey on sexual assault and related factors for general use by US colleges and universities, and is collaborating with his colleagues at Ulster University in research on dating violence as a Fulbright Scholar this autumn. In opening his presentation, Dr Flack highlighted that one in three women are victims of violence worldwide (World Health Organisation, 2010); a statistic he compounded with the revelation that approximately 20 percent of female students in US universities are sexually assaulted during their time in third level education. This figure only includes cases of rape or attempted rape, neglecting unwanted physical contact such as groping, inappropriate comments; and various other unwanted sexual behaviours. The statistic is one that has experienced limited variation over the past four decades of research. The fact that these figures have experienced little or no change across such a period of time – despite the vast cultural and societal advances during that period – suggests that something needs to be done. Thankfully, campaigners are campaigning vociferously and using those cultural and societal advances to further their campaigns (via the everincreasingly influential platforms of the press and
Student
Membership
*
It’s easy, join online now! www.kinggsherclub.com * Terms & Conditions Apply
social media) to pressurise the US Government to take action, resulting in the formation of a White House Task Force in January 2014. However, as these unchanging figures would also suggest, this process of affecting change and progression is both a slow and a difficult one. Dr Flack highlighted that one of the White House Task Force’s most telling findings was that disbelief is the most common response to a victim’s opening up to being sexually assaulted by another. This response is one fuelled potentially by outdated research indicating that only 10 percent of the male population is responsible for all sexual assaults; and the distressing reality that many victims ultimately recant accusations of rape or attempted rape against their assailant – many doing so because of the harrowing nature of the judicial process, low conviction rates, and the pressure that is often exerted on a victim by the accused and/or his or her social group… resulting in a distorted overall figure of false reports of rape and/or sexual assault. It is also unfortunate that new research relating to sexual assault is not public enough to become common knowledge; the modern world is not yet ready to sit up and pay attention to incontrovertible evidence of sexual assault and this all-too-often results in our passive and often not-so-passive refusal to acknowledge it in the form of data and statistics. Instead, it is the bravery and determination of sexual assault survivors who are willing to share their story that is serving to improve the situation: The Hunting Ground, a startling documentary film exposé of sexual assault on US campuses, institutional cover-ups and the brutal social toll on victims and their families; author of The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold’s Lucky, a memoir of Sebold’s own life, her rape and pursuit of justice for and recovery from it; and many article and opinion pieces published nationwide in the US, in which victims detail their traumatic experiences first-hand, such as ‘The Amherst Student’ as highlighted by Dr Flack, are all survivor accounts of their experiences which may be upsetting and uncomfortable to read, but ones that are paramount to shifting age-old, deeprooted misconceptions as to the nature of sexual assault, both in terms of those who perpetrate and the victims. Extreme bravery and determination of this nature deserves to be rewarded and, as Dr Flack pointed out, the US is making some progress. Recent research suggests that US universities are actually more likely than the judicial system to take action against those accused of sexual assault. But many issues remain. The fact that other surveys available in relation to sexual assault have differing results to ARC3’s Campus Climate Survey makes it more difficult to ensure that its findings are widely accepted; however, the majority of its data is consistent in showing a positive correlation, thus making it much more likely to be recognised as accurate. Greater challenges lie in Dr Flack’s realisation that, at present, the survey does not garner enough information relating to the LGBTQ community; and, perhaps even more significantly, that the survey is seen by some academics as a PR issue and met with resultant institutional reluctance – something Flack
co-founded (and currently serves on the leadership team of) Faculty Against Rape (FAR) in 2014 to work against. Also, further afield, ARC3’s survey and those similar in nature face an anti-feminist backlash, and sexual assault survivors and survey advocates are often attacked for supporting it. So, are there European parallels to CSA research in the US? In an Irish context, serious sexual assault cases stemming from incidents on Irish university campuses are relatively unheard of in comparison to those analysed by US-based research. However, more recent research reported by Irish media suggests that both sexual harassment and sexual assault are becoming more and more prevalent in Irish universities. In June 2015, The Irish Times reported that “11 percent of female students believe they were sexually assaulted” in the past year alone at NUI Galway and University College Cork. Reading further into this report, the article suggests that both male and female students are unsure as to what constitutes consent as well as the attitudes of their own gender towards casual sex. Meanwhile, a separately conducted survey by Trinity College Dublin reported the figure of female students who believe they were sexually assaulted to be as high as one in four. Both of these reports were then compounded by recent articles detailing increasingly overt, sexualised behaviours on Irish streets, such as the Irish Independent’s recent ‘He pointed at me, turned to his friends and said: “I fancy that one”’ article, and, when considered in tandem, they suggest that Ireland has a real issue with the notion of consent and, at the very least, pockets of overly-sexualised behaviour. Having recognised that there is indeed a problem, Irish universities are now working collaboratively to address its root cause and to prevent it from spiralling out of hand. This is a process that starts with revising and re-drafting each university’s code of conduct and drawing up a policy outlining the course of action and steps to take in dealing with an incidence of sexual assault involving a university student. Numerous universities, including NUI Galway and Trinity College, are also staging sexual education classes focusing on the idea of consent and encouraging students to take responsibility for their sexual behaviour by considering its impact on both their own selves and on others. As with Dr Flack’s work and research in the US, these are initiatives that will take time to embed and have impact, but our talking about and raising awareness of them through constructive dialogue and education will help. In concluding the Q&A section of his seminar, Dr Flack highlighted his belief that all forms of sexual consent should take verbal form; that people should seek permission verbally from others before making physical contact with them. For many, this may seem like a step too far, but surely with something this important, there is no room for confusion or ambiguity. It is this ambiguity around sex and sexual behaviour – this lack of knowledge and understanding – that has caused this issue to become such a significant one. Only direct, positive pre-emptive action will solve it.
FEATURES 11
November 10 2015
I moustache you a question…
but I’ll shave it for later By Sinéad O’Callaghan The hairiest month of the year is finally upon us. Thousands of men up and down the country will be pruning and grooming their moustaches to epic proportions in order to raise money for a worthy cause: Movember - the month when it’s ok to be the creepy guy with the moustache. As an Irish nation, we are all too familiar with the age-old expression ‘ah sure I’m grand’. Males especially are culprits of this, choosing to get on with their day rather than stopping and taking a minute to ask ‘is my health actually okay?’ The Movember Foundation is trying to raise awareness of Men’s health – focusing on areas such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity. What facts is Movember Ireland putting out there? 1. Well, following recent studies, Prostate Cancer is the second most common cancer in Irish men. The Movember Foundation in Ireland is hoping to raise awareness of this through funding major organisations such as the Irish Cancer Society. 2. Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among young Irish men aged between 15-24. Through doing Movember you can help raise awareness of this, as young people tend not to get checked out as much as the older generation. 3. Every minute, a man dies globally from suicide. Movember Ireland, through your co-operation, is helping to break down the stigma present around mental help and fund services that promote help and awareness to help prove that there is no shame in accepting help. 4. Only 41% of Irish adults took part in moderate or strenuous physical activity for at least 20 minutes three or more times a week last year. Don’t you know that sitting down is the new smoking? It increases risk of cancer and health complications such as diabetes. Movember is hoping to invest in funds that increase our understanding of what works to change men’s behaviour and help them move more! So what can everyone do to get involved? Girls, I hear ya – there’s no way you’re letting the fuzz under your lip even peak the surface of visibility – but you can still all help with this great cause. This Movember, the Movember Foundation is launching the ‘Move’ challenge! Using another witty pun, the team are asking you to sign up and promise to move for thirty days. Whether that move is taking thirty minutes out of your day to go on a stroll along the Salthill prom, go on an epic bike ride, play a game of ping pong or merely drag yourself on foot to college – no move is too big or too small! What Movember is trying to do is promote and raise awareness of male illnesses. So think of your dad, your brother, your uncle, your friend! It’s not that hard for you to get on yer bike (physically or metaphorically) and make some moves and shakes for them. Make the experience even more fun by challenging the males in your life to take it up with
you – killing two birds with the one stone and all of that. And for all you moustache-lovers out there, here are some great shapes and tips of how to keep that mo’ in tiptop shape over the next thirty days. GROOMING: 1. Make sure to shampoo regularly: as epic as they can be, if you don’t shampoo you could end up looking like something out of Roald Dahl’s The Twits. The last thing you want happening is some gal pulling away from your face screaming about Electric because they found remnants of last weeks Boojum resting above your upper lip. 2. The hair in your mo is quite coarse. So if you want it to be smooth as velvet, use a dollop of conditioner once in a while. Throw some in and then rinse thoroughly. You’ll feel like the new L’Oreal superstar. 3. Itchy and dry skin around your mo’? Never fear. Wash your face with a hot towel to help steam and cleanse the skin. Plus it feels really nice. WHAT STYLE IS FOR YOU? 1. Choose a style that suits your personality. Whether it is a Chuck Norris-esque tashe, or one that resembles the lines on an aftereight logo, choose a style that best represents you. Remember, this is under your nose for a whole month – even longer if you like it – so make sure it’s a style that you can stick with and groom easily. 2. Be brave. Endure that itch. Shape your moustache using the proper grooming implements. 3. Nurture it and keep it clean. A moustache is like a plant, or a baby or something. You have to nurture it and encourage it in order for it to reach its full potential. THINGS TO AVOID/BE CAREFUL WITH IF YOU’RE SPORTING A MO’: 1. Soup 2. Spaghetti Carbonara 3. Actually, anything with spaghetti 4. Yogurt 5. Cappuccino (Frappuccino, Macchiato – basically every milk-based coffee drink) 6. Stinky BBQ ribs. Sticky Wings – it’s all gonna accumulate up there. 7. Donuts 8. Tacos/Burritos/Boojum (extremely difficult considering the vast growing Mexican cuisine in Galway) 9. Guinness, Ale, or any fine brew served with a creamy mousse (AKA the good stuff) 10. Glass of Milk (use a straw) 11. Candy Floss 12. Soup The most important thing is to embrace the tache. Raise awareness and know that it will all be worth it in the end (in both tache impressiveness and raising money for a good cause.) All details can be found at: https://ie.movember. com/?home. Don’t be afraid to grow the mo.
A case for Free Education By Feidhlim Seoighe In 1995 Niamh Breath nach, then Labour Minister for Education, introduced radical reform in the Higher Education (HE) system, by abolishing fees for third-level colleges. Today students pay a €3,000 contribution charge. Other costs which directly affect whether a student can continue in college are also ever increasing – from accommodation rent, to the cost of course materials and books. Since 2013, when students across the country voted in the Union of Students in Ireland preferendum on the Union’s stance on the funding of HE, the USI has had a fully free fees stance, ensuring that education is seen as a public good, and not something that can be co-modified. Ensuring that HE is available for free at the point of access is a priority of the union, and understanding that on average graduates contribute 75% more tax than non-graduates over the course of their lifetime (according to NERI). The public benefits of HE greatly outweigh the private benefits of the individual such as enabling social mobility, breaking poverty traps, empowering the individual including those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Following the Nordic model of HE, and more recently, the Germanic and Danish models,
where free education was seen as something that was important, the decision was to make tuitions fees a thing of the past. The results speak for themselves, and these countries have developed socially, cultural, and economically, to improve the lives of all its citizens. In comparison to the United States, where students pay the highest tuition fees of any country in the world (upwards of $50,000 to $200,000 per year), which leaves new graduates crippled with debt. Senator Bernie Saunders, one of the Democratic candidates contesting the Presidential primaries, has indicated a preference for the elimination of Undergraduate tuition all Public Colleges and Universities. By utilising a ‘Robin Hood Tax’, his plans for free education for all those who desire it could become a reality. Back home, a real debate needs to happen regarding the future of HE in Ireland, and in the coming months the Higher Education funding group, led by Peter Cassells. It is an expert group to examine future funding for higher education in this country, and it will determine what actions the Government will make regarding how it is funded in the coming years. “A decent society wouldn’t push millions of students into debt. It would recognise that higher education isn’t mainly a personal investment… It’s a public good.” - Robert Reich, Political economist and Professor.
welc om
e
To a n e state- wly enhan ced c of-the a and e xcitin art buildin mpus with g new gs, w for 20 or 15-20 resea rch p ld class fa 16 rogra mme cilities s
u o y k n a th
r their wide fo d rl g o w i in fundin lumn Galway ts To our a I U N r c n fo jor proje ambitio ese ma th f o y man pus on cam
stay
connected With the Alumni Association and support NUI Galway’s vision for the future For more information on priority projects, events & activities contact Galway University Foundation. Visit us @ www.guf.ie l www.nuigalway.ie/alumni l T: 091 493536 Find us on Facebook and join National University of Ireland Galway on LinkedIn
12 FEATURES
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
Michael D. Higgins for second term as President? By Neil Slevin Four years on from the night of his landslide election, and claiming that he would only serve one term as President of Ireland, the man known affectionately to many as ‘Michael D.’ has said that, at this stage of his presidency, it would be “premature” of him to rule out a second term. Speaking at an event in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley during his eight-day visit to the US’s west coast, Mr Higgins said he was yet to make any firm decision on his running for a second term as President. By the time of the next election in 2018, he will be 77; to date, Ireland’s oldest president is Eamon de Valera, who was 90 when he completed his last term in 1973. Mr Higgins, a Galway West TD for three decades, a former Labour Party minister and party President (from 2003 until 2011), said he would make a decision “in the fullness of time”, indicating the possibility of a U-turn on his initial plans. Mr Higgins has overseen a series of historic events since being elected to replace Mary McAleese as President with more than one million votes in 2011.
To those who have known and worked with him over the years, particularly at NUI Galway, the possibility of a re-think may come as no surprise: Michael D. Higgins is renowned nationwide as a political voice, a poet and writer, academic and statesman, human rights advocate, promoter of inclusive citizenship and champion of creativity within Irish society; he has served at almost every level of public life in Ireland, including as Ireland’s first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Furthermore, he has been associated with NUI Galway for over 50 years, and does not make any commitment to public service lightly. Michael D. Higgins first attended the University as a mature student in 1962, before serving as President of its Student Council, and went on to become a highly-regarded lecturer in Sociology & Politics for many years. Currently, he serves as Adjunct Professor at the University’s Irish Centre for Human Rights, having been appointed in an honorary capacity in 2006. As a lecturer in political science and sociology at NUI, Galway, and in the US, Mr Higgins was a passionate pro-
ponent for the extension of access to third level education beyond the walls of established universities. He was centrally involved in the development of extra-mural studies at NUI Galway, and he travelled extensively across the West of Ireland to provide accessible evening classes for interested citizens. His desire to work more directly for equality and justice led him to enter public life and he went on to serve as a public representative at many levels from Councillor and Mayor for nine years in the Seanad and a further twenty-five in Dáil Éireann. Michael D. Higgins has also, like many in Ireland, seen generations of his family emigrate. He has a strong interest and solidarity with the Irish abroad and has been a regular visitor to Irish Centres in Britain. Throughout his life, he has campaigned for human rights and for the promotion of peace and democracy in Ireland and in many other parts of the world, from Nicaragua and Chile to Cambodia, Iraq and Somalia. In 1992, he was the first recipient of the Seán MacBride Peace Prize from the International Peace Bureau in Helsinki, in recognition of his work
for peace and justice all over the world. As Ireland’s first Minister for the Arts in 1993-97, his achievements included the reinvigoration of the Irish film industry, the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge, now TG4, and the repeal of censorship under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Acts. He also established a rich network of local arts and cultural venues which brought a crucial access to citizens across Ireland to these facilities. Moreover, he drove the revitalisation of Ireland’s canal network, resulting in over 1,000 kilometres of navigable waterways, supporting thousands of jobs, and creating wealth in many rural and economically-deprived areas of the State. Returning to his recent visit to the US, Mr Higgins said he was very happy about how his presidency is progressing, and that he has received positive feedback on it from other heads of state. However, he has been criticised occasionally for making thinly-veiled political comments, an issue any president is meant to avoid as they represent the State instead of political groups – but one he might well be forgiven for given his passionate political
nature, and the turbulent political climate both at home and abroad during which he has served as Uachtarán na hÉireann. Mr Higgins concluded his U.S. trip by meeting emergency personnel who came to the aid of Irish students after the balcony tragedy in Berkeley, California, during the summer, and by planting a memorial tree in honour of those who died. It is perhaps noteworthy that, in his poem When Will My Time Come – a poem hinting at his desire for a quieter life, for retirement – Mr Higgins wrote of his wondering when his time would come, and of his living ‘for that moment’: When my time comes I will have made my journey And through all my senses will explode The evidence of light And air and water, fire and earth. I live for that moment. Michael D. Higgins’ time certainly has come; and his recent comments suggest that it is only just beginning…
Hairdressing 5 ★Salon
Heavenly hair at down to earth prices
Avail of your 20% discount!
Unleash your inner Goddess!
Upstyles with Zenith Hairdressing. Galways premier 5 star salon
Experts at precision cutting & fashion colouring
call us on -
091 533 680
33 Eyre Street, Galway / www.zenithhairdressing.ie / Find us on
/ @HairByZenith
FEATURES 13
November 10 2015
The Leaving Certificate: A barrier to success? By Jack Noone Here I am, sitting in my lab in college, scanning through potential employers and the graduate programmes they offer. There is an array of companies that appeal to me on the GradIreland jobs page. However, there has been one thing that has irked me greatly whilst applying for these jobs: Leaving Certificate points and subjects taken. Why must exams that I sat 5 years ago as an immature, naïve, and indecisive 17-year-old matter? At 17 I did not know what path I wanted to go down in life; I was too young to make such a big decision. I decided to take the “easy” choice and do a Bachelor of Arts, a degree that does not require many points to get into it and a degree with a huge amount of variety, which is what appealed to me the most. Languages, Economics, Social sciences, Legal studies, History, Geography, Psy-
chology, IT, etc., are a wonderful mix of opportunities for a teenager who has no idea what is best for him. Going back to my Leaving Certificate, knowing I did not require huge points for my chosen degree served as a way to de-motivate myself to work extremely hard like some of my peers may have had to, for a course they probably did not even want to study. One could say I took the easy path and went for a course with low-entry requirements so that I would not be too stressed for the Leaving Certificate. Don’t get me wrong here, I did work hard for the Leaving Certificate, but could I have pushed myself harder for no real apparent gain at the time? Yes, yes I most certainly could have. Was it worth putting myself under stress I could have done without and causing my Dad to worry about all the time I spent in the books? No.
The alternatives to a night on the tiles How to have a good, sober night By Dean Buckley If you don’t drink, or even if you do, it’s nice to be able to take a break once in a while without feeling like you have to ditch having fun or hanging out with your friends to do so. Here are some alcohol-free alternatives to scoops in the local. LATE CAFÉS: If you want to be out in the city
but far away from the alcohol, Galway has several cafés that stay open past nine and later, like Java’s or Café Express. They have the relaxed, social atmosphere of a pub, with music that’s just as good and cheaper drinks. Of course, the greatest thing about going to a late café is that drinking caffeinated drinks means your night out can last longer than if you were drinking alcoholic drinks, as alcohol is a depressive agent, whereas caffeine is a stimulant. FREE GIGS: Believe it or not, some free gigs
aren’t held in pubs, but in locations where alcohol is neither sold nor routinely consumed. Always keep an eye out. In addition to free gigs, Galway is home to open mics, poetry slams and other events typical of a literary city. Most of these are free to enter, and worth a try. SOCIETIES: The University has lots of socie-
ties with weekly events, most of which are both alcohol-free and free to attend. There are movie screenings, seminars and guest lectures, workshops and sessions of both the jam and meditation variety. Hit up a debate! Skate or bike or roam the hills! Whatever you do, take full advantage of the wide variety of societies available, and the free membership. There’s even a Sober Society that specifically organises alcoholfree events.
NIGHTS IN: The most obvious way to have
fun without alcohol is to stay in without it. Many students are nowhere near appreciative enough of how enjoyable a night in can be, and need to begin to explore the full range of possibilities available to them in their own homes. Get friends together for a movie marathon! You don’t need the excuse of Back to the Future Day, you can do a movie marathon whenever you like. It takes exactly 666 minutes to watch all seven Saw movies, so there’s a multi-night movie marathon series just waiting to happen. Or watch some disaster movies next time someone announces the apocalypse. Equally, you can binge watch some television. TV shows are particularly great for a regular activity, like meeting up every Wednesday to watch three episodes of Gilmore Girls, but don’t knock the value of a good miniseries like Thief or Secret State. Organise a video game tournament! A well-played contest of skill in FIFA or Call of Duty is a treat for both players and spectators. Personally, for maximum entertainment value for all, I don’t think you can go wrong with Bulletstorm, a game that rewards you for killing your enemies by drop-kicking them into giant alien cactuses. Card games, board games and role-playing games are equally good lo-fi ways to have fun, whether you’re more blackjack or backgammon, dungeon or dragon. Unlike the others, banter is an expected part of the activity and won’t potentially ruin anyone’s concentration. Finally, the most controversial option for a night in that I could think of. So what you do is, basically, you and your friends sit in a room together, usually quite near each other, and you all just talk to each other about your lives and tell stories and make jokes and share secrets and argue about your beliefs and rag on each other about your crushes. I think it’s called “socialising”.
Many people have highlighted that the Leaving Certificate is an out-dated model of assessment, not a real reflection of how smart or how well they would do in a working environment and needs to be revamped, but then why do so many companies insist on me disclosing my results? I am well aware that for these graduate programmes, companies are inundated with job applications from year-to-year, but why would an exam that is practically meaningless to the job you are applying for, mean so much to them? Many companies use your Leaving Certificate as a method to filter out CVs from their applications. A simple program would just throw your CV to the trash, before a single person has seen it because you wrote 380 points and their criteria is 400 points. Recently, at a graduate job event, an employee of the company that organised the event had said to me that my application would not even be seen by a recruiter because I did not meet their illustrious criteria of 400 points. This is a company that preach that their number one requirement is having a good personality. He was right. 12 hours later: “Dear Jack, unfortunately you did not meet some of our criteria”. I can only assume that this was due
to my Leaving Cert points. I spent hours upon hours filling out the application, got current employees to read over my application and even attended an event with them to help give me an edge on other candidates. No good. Not 400 points. Despite already having completed a degree where I earned a 2.1 Honours Degree and currently studying a Masters (where my Leaving Certificate results were not taken into consideration when I applied), I still feel that I am being discriminated against for not having performed to a high enough standard at the age of 17. What a surprise that is. Under-performing when you have not fully matured as an adult. God forbid. It is time for the Leaving Certificate to be removed from a company’s minimum criteria; in fact, it’s time for a transformation in the examination method at a secondary level. I am aware that some companies have already taken this step, but it needs to be rolled out across the board: a complete eradication of the Leaving Certificate as a basis to judge a person. After all, the personality should be the most important factor. Hopefully, for future graduates in my situation, they do stop giving so much importance to the Leaving Cert, and they land their dream graduate job.
14 FEATURES
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
EXAM WEAR: How to look good during exam season By Sinéad O’Callaghan It’s exam season: the time of year when sleep is a myth and sweatpants and hair piled on top of your head is the go-to option when you pull yourself out of bed at half five in order to bag a coveted seat in the reading room. It doesn’t have to be that way, you know. Personally I like to adopt the mantra, if you feel good, you’ll do better.
We all know how bleak the reading room and library can get. You need that
STICK TO THE BASICS:
Keep it simple. Never underestimate the power of a simple white tee, paired with a good pair of jeans and Chuck Taylors. It doesn’t have to be complicated you know. Casual is always best. You’re comfortable and at least you aren’t wearing those fatman pants you bought in the boy’s section of Penney’s. Pair your look with the ever-so-in topknot and a clean face. You’ll feel so much better and feel prepared if some guy pops out of the vending machine from Electric two months ago.
to every outfit, as well as being warm and practical
LAYER, LAYER, LAYER:
There’s nothing worse than feeling self-conscious in the reading room because you see that guy that you were with two weeks ago and you panic and throw a book over your head in the hopes that he doesn’t notice you and the hair you haven’t washed since last Monday. It’s Thursday. Here are some simple tips in battling the ‘sure what does it matter’ attitude when it comes to appearance around exam time.
We all know how bleak the reading room and library can get. You need that extra bit of TLC, something to wrap around you when it gets a little bit cold, or sad, or hopeless. Layering is your friend: long cardigans with a simple white tee, runners, and skinnies looks very street style ready, plus its extra cosy too. Layering isn’t just limited to clothes too. It’s all about the accessories. Grab yourself a nice blanket scarf – it immediately adds to every
to wrap around you when it gets a little bit cold, or sad, or hopeless. Grab yourself a nice blanket scarf – it immediately adds
HATS FOR BAD HAIR DAYS:
Hats are your friends. Believe me, I know. And this year they are even more on trend than ever. Whether you choose a fedora hat, a bowler hat, or a snuggly fluffy one, they are a great way to hide yesterday’s greasy hair as well as looking effortlessly chic.
FLATS ARE NOT THE DEVIL:
We’re all fond of a bit of a heel. Those black boots you picked up with the block heel make your legs look so good with your skinny jeans… I’m aware of that, actually, I salute you. However, when you’re in college all day, your feet are going to get tired. Embrace the flat, whether that is a cute pair of brogues or the forever-classic ballet flats. There are plenty of other options too, such as converse, or the new trend hitting college girls these days – the runner and jean combo. Own it, and wonder why you didn’t listen to your mum sooner, when she told you how much better you would feel in shoes with ‘good support’.
extra bit of TLC, something
outfit, as well as being warm and practical (we all know how unpredictable the Galway weather can be). Tartan, Paisley, Big prints – all are in this year. So pick up a scarf to personalise your look, without having to make a huge effort.
STAY WARM:
A good coat is always a sound option. Galway weather is one that can never be fully prepared for, but if you have a good waterproof coat you’re already half way there. A parka is a great alternative from the waterproof jackets you buy for a tenner in Dunnes or Penney’s. Although a little more pricey, it is a style staple, coming in year after year. It’s also extra cosy, so your 6am walk-ins won’t seem so bleak.
Keep it simple: We are all fond of makeup. It gives us that extra boost and bit of confidence when we need it. However, during exam season we may not necessary have time to sculpt and contour like the next up-and-coming Kardashian. Keep it simple. Keep your skin moisturised and only focus on problem areas. A BB cream, concealer and mascara are your friends at this time. And a good eyebrow brush. Makeup doesn’t have to be complicated to be gorgeous. Embrace the natural you. Plus, you are halving the amount of time you spend taking your make up off in the evening. Extra sleep? Yes please!
Relaxing By Jessica Hannon Everyone knows the struggle of exams, as deadlines loom and the pressure really kicks in regarding study, it’s easy to ‘lose your head’ and give in to exam stress. University is no different. Regardless of how much you thought finishing secondary school meant leaving exams, stress and cramming behind, the dreaded testing is back to haunt once peaceful dreams. But fear not, by adhering to a few simple rules and a pinch of common sense when it comes to taking time out, you’ll be sailing through exam season with ease and a cool head in no time. DON’T CRAM: I know it makes sense to study
the night before an exam but don’t overdo it. A little stress is good in the run-up to exams as long as you keep it ‘healthy stress’. An easy way to do this is by making a plan and sticking to it. By taking a few hours out a day to focus on some study in the run-up to exams will ensure you’ll not only feel like you’re cutting your workload down, but in terms of cramming, you really are. BE REALISTIC: You really need to be realistic
when it comes to realising what you’re capable of studying in a certain time frame. Plan out days or perhaps weeks in advance what exams you have and what topics/modules need to be covered. Try not overestimate how much study you can achieve in a few hours. Avoid running the risk of bringing unwanted added stress on yourself in the event you don’t reach your study goals. This will help you relax while also helping you to feel on top of your work. REMEMBER EXERCISE: You’re already in the
driving seat when it comes to relaxing during exam time being students of NUI Galway. You are in an ideal position to avail of the fantastic equipment and sports facilities the
Dear Diary: the trials and tribulations of a student during exam time By Dean Buckley
“Explain the term ‘NIMBYism’ and its implications for land development.”
DAY 1: Thus begins that unhallowed period of
eleven days and nights, when such shivering horror from the beyond the frayed and fraying edges of human reason presses upon the limits of our world, whereupon every tongue trembles with the profane and occult name of one of the dark everythings that dwell in the hopeless chasm between magic, madness and sadness. Thus it commences, with French at quarter past four.
Thus begins that
DAY 8: They thought they’d
of eleven days
DAY 4: I have found some respite in an alcove
before the next trial begins. Here, I shall write my memories of this world long gone in the maddening blood of some vain and horned viper whose eyes remain as the blurry impossible colour out of space burned into my being. Here, I shall write the words of that ancient prophecy in which my triumph is foretold. Introduction. Thesis. Body. Summation. Conclusion. Repeat.
DAY 3: Know ye such fear and awe as I know?
Though one of trial lies behind me, each of its brethren crucibles endure, stretching infinitely before me into the oblivion of a fleshless peace in which we shall scrape the life from our bones as offering for that elusive shibboleth whose utterance shall grant us passage through the fire and the flames and the far dimming of time.
No one will be permitted to enter once the exam has started.
DAY 5: Oh, no! No, no, no, I have slumbered
too long and too deeply, giving myself over to the silken sad embrace of the night-time shores where nevermore was there even the solace of pallid masks gleaming in the light of black stars rising beneath an orchid moon. All is the crawl, the scramble, I run so fast my fingertips fall away into the dust.
beaten me. Who are they, you ask? I want you to close your eyes and lie back and imagine there’s someone in the room you didn’t notice, someone hiding in such a way that they can emerge and reach you. Now imagine no body occupies that space, yet the vague menace of a threatening force still lingers, still waits to pounce. That, dear reader, that malevolent invisible intelligence, is an exam. But fear not, for they have not yet defeated me, and they shan’t today. For I have just a spark of the
unhallowed period and nights, when such shivering horror from the beyond the frayed and fraying edges of human reason presses upon the limits of our world
mischievous old alchemy of Faustus, a shadow of a shade of a shimmer of the philosopher’s stone, the last debris of what once was eternal life. I found a Berocca. DAY 11: At last, I am free! No
more the cobweb kisses of this deep and darkly dreamt pit of pitched pitch black nightmare songs of evil and omnipotence. No more the soft cold. I can feel the sun alight upon my skin. I can hear the whispers of contended children and smell the sleeping rose of winter’s warm and welcoming heart. Until we meet again, beasts. Until we meet in summer.
FEATURES 15
November 10 2015
During Exam Time How to exam ‘good’ – minus humorous grammatical errors Kingfisher gym offers on campus. Exercise is so important when it comes to relaxing around exam time and releasing those feel
MAKE LISTS: Although similar to the first point,
leaving exams, stress
lists go a long way in helping to reduce the seemingly beneficial aspects of cramming. By making a list of things to do you’re also subconsciously allocating time to complete these tasks and effectively recognising the importance of completing them. Make the scrap piece of paper and pen your best friend when it comes to exam preparation (you can also avail of the extremely satisfactory feeling when you rip up and throw away a sheet of plans and notes you no longer need).
and cramming behind,
TIME OUT: One of the most crucial aspects
Regardless of how much you thought finishing
secondary school meant
the dreaded testing is back to haunt once peaceful dreams. good endorphins in order to keep you going. If the gym is not for you however a walk or a jog will do the job just as much. At the end of the day, you do whatever exercise suits you best.
of studying and relaxation is knowing when enough is enough. It is imperative to know when to take a day off and away from the stress of exams to focus on your mind, wellbeing and anything else that may need your attention (perhaps that show you’ve been binge watching on Netflix). It may feel like a waste of time when you’re sitting around spending an entire day doing… well, nothing. But trust me, you will reap the benefits of waking up the next day feeling refreshed and ready to face the world’s challenges again.
Pro-active procrastionation By Dean Buckley We all need to start being a little honest with ourselves, and a good first step would be to just admit that we all procrastinate and there’s nothing wrong with that. Most of the time, procrastination is just a way of building up mental and emotional stamina before we embark on a draining task, and a little bit of procrastination is not just okay, but actively helpful to getting the work done. We only need to be concerned when procrastination crosses the line into consuming time we need to work, especially when there’s a pattern of procrastination undermining the quality of whatever work we’re not doing just yet. And if we’re going to be procrastinating anyway, we should try to maximise the activities we use to procrastinate to make them the most helpful and productive ways of not doing any work possible. REFRESH YOURSELF: Figure out the kind of
activities that build up your stores of mental and emotional energy, not those that drain them. It is important to recognise that activities you love can do either, so this will require some thought. For example, I love writing, but I find it quite taxing, whereas reading is like plugging in my charger. Even when you’re done procrastinating, these activities can be an important part of your study and work routines, as you can take some time to recharge if you feel yourself getting a little wiped out.
DO SOME CHORES: I’m sure you’re all long
enough in the tooth that you’ve seen one of the dozens of repetitive memes describing the phenomenon whereby an individual, seeking to avoid doing any work, will clean and rearrange their bedroom from top to bottom in the name of getting their space ready for work. If you’re going to procrastinate anyway, consider using the time to get some housework out of the way. Put on a load of washing, clean your windows, rehang the sitting room door so it doesn’t squeak. Just because you’re not doing the work you’re supposed to be doing doesn’t mean you can’t do any work. BRAIN TRAINING: Procrastinate with activi-
ties that stimulate the mind. Watch some quiz shows, particularly Pointless or Only Connect, the premier example of quiz shows that are both challenging and enormously entertaining. Memorise all the state capitals in the US or the flags of the world or the opening and closing lines of every Fall Out Boy song. These activities get your brain into the kind of mode it needs for college work, and particularly exams, which reward an ability to remember and recite information. Procrastination is something we all need to be mindful of taking too far, but it can be worthwhile, and considering how best to maximise its helpfulness is a skill we can all stand to learn now, so we can enjoy as many of its benefits later. After all, I wrote this article while procrastinating on an essay proposal.
By Dean Buckley There are lots of strategies that lots of people employ to make sure they do well in their exams, including incredibly calculated study routines, detailed recordings of all their lectures and nearritual abuse of wakefulness-promoting drugs. All these things are totally okay ways to do well in your exams, but only if they work for you. And the fact of the matter is that nothing works for everyone. Well, except for the tips I’m about to give you, because that’s the entire point of this article. DON’T BE THAT EEJIT THAT FORGETS THEIR STUDENT CARD: You can’t take your exam unless you have your student card! If possible, put your student card inside something else that you definitely won’t forget to bring with you, like the back of your phone. If you lose your card, report the loss immediately to the Student Information Desk (SID) in Áras Ui Chathail. Your lost card will be deactivated so no one can use it to take out library books under your name and such. SID will issue you a new card for €20. PLAN TO BE AT THE EXAM CENTRE VERY EARLY: Yes, if you aim to be at the exam centre very early, it will absolutely cut into some potentially useful last-minute study time. But, just as you can never be bothered to back up your files until you’re the jackass whose laptop died with his essay on it two hours before submission, you need to be prepared for the day of your exam to be the most unlucky day of your life. Buses will break down. Alarms won’t go off. There’ll be an earwig in your Coco Pops, so you’ll have to run to a garage for a breakfast roll and eat it, or else you’ll have hunger pains sapping away at you concentration. None of these problems will hurt your exam performance if you have a free hour to absorb all the delays. Losing an hour of study time will hurt your exam less than not making it to the exam centre in time because a truck flipped on the Seamus Quirke Road. EAT REGULARLY AND EAT WELL: We all understand the temptation to default to quick easy food when the exam times come knocking, but it’s not worth it. Good food gives good energy. I promise that any time you think you’re saving by just throwing on a tray of fish fingers is time that you will lose later on when your energy collapses because you’re eating junk.
Be especially mindful of the importance of vitamins and minerals in maintaining the body systems that convert food into energy and then spend that energy efficiently on body functions. You might not feel the effects of not getting enough Vitamin C on the first day, but add all the days together and I guarantee you’ll feel it when your metabolism slows down. If you’re prone to forgetting to eat, for whatever reason, you need to plan measures to make sure you do. Set alarms and let a friend know so they can enforce the alarms if you’re prone to saying “I’ll do it in a minute” and then turning around and discovering that it is past midnight and you still haven’t eaten lunch. Enforcement methods can include standing in your doorway saying, “ah go on, ah you will” in their finest Mrs Doyle accent, until you comply or locking you out of the Internet with an anti-distraction program like ‘StayFocusd’ so you don’t really have a choice. SLEEP REGULARLY AND SLEEP WELL: Late-night study is wasted study and I think we all know that deep-down. I don’t remember the end of a movie if I’m dozing off and you don’t remember what happened in the case you’re studying if your brain spent the last three pages screaming in protest and looking for a parachute. Drop the books at least an hour before the time you want to be asleep and enjoy some light entertainment to wind your brain down. I recommend some above-average young adult fiction or a TV show that’s good, but not great. You don’t want anything that will stimulate your brain too much, either by being breathtakingly impressive or infuriatingly terrible. Look into sleep hygiene to make sure your sleeping environment is arranged to give you the most refreshing night’s sleep you can get. This can include something as simple as keeping clocks out of sight and out of reach, so your mind doesn’t focus on the passing of time. Counting backwards from one hundred can help you nod off. REWARD YOURSELF APPROPRIATELY: You don’t have to follow the “work hard, play hard” rule, but give yourself a pat on the back when you’ve earned it. Save the latest episodes of your favourite TV shows until you’ve reached studying bench marks, treat yourself to a postexam burrito. You’ve earned it.
18 LIFESTYLE
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
SHOULDERS OF GIANTS: The true heroes of today Let’s honour them not hamper them By John Mulry This issue of ‘Standing on the shoulder of giants’ is shifting slightly from individual giants that have inspired me to a collective of giants who inspire me everyday. This collective of giants is anyone who is in business for themselves, has started a business and succeeded, has started a business and has sadly fallen flat and everyone in between. Small business owners are some of the hardest working, under-valued, under-appreciated collectives in society, and I believe that we are the real driving forces behind everything that’s good. Like the TV advert for AIB that aired last year suggests, it’s the entrepreneur who takes all the risk; day in day out, he or she gets up early (I get up as early as five most mornings) every morning, creates jobs, momentum and money moving in the economy. No matter what industry, whether butcher, baker, candlestick-maker, printer, coffee shop owner, painter or window-cleaner – anyone who’s running their own business deserves to be commended and I for one salute you. On the outside looking in, it all looks like plain sailing and easy but it’s far from it. There’s
the constant worry about cash flow, getting and keeping customers, hiring (and firing) of staff, dealing with vendors, suppliers, deadlines, revenue, maintenance and everything in between. It’s a lot to take in and manage on a daily, weekly, monthly basis so I’m writing this today to you, the future leaders of society, the future entrepreneurs, the future employees of companies large and small to not take it for granted, to take some time to appreciate what it is that the one-man band, small business owner do for you and for society. It isn’t all doom and gloom though and for anyone thinking about starting their own business after college, there are a lot of positives. Running your own business has some amazing perks too by the way and for me, the pros far outweigh the cons. I never imagined running my own business when I was in college but I wouldn’t have it any other way now. The next time you’re in work whether it’s a part-time job, a full-time job or even a work placement, remember that someone is putting their neck on the line to give you that job and a small token of appreciation will go a long way. The business-owner put their faith in you when they hired you and, believe it or not,
it has some serious knock-on effects when selves a proper wage since they started the that faith isn’t repaid. Nothing irks me more business. than seeing employees skiving off when they This isn’t a cry for help or recognition, it’s should be working, I’m encountering it more merely a piece to remind you – remind everyand more regularly. Texting while at work, one – that it’s the business owner who’s the disinterest in their job, sub-par customer ser- real hero, and without them, Ireland and the vice, stealing (of time, resources, product and global economy would crumble. Sometimes money) and is rampant unfortunately. people need to be reminded of that. This may seem ok, and like you’re ‘stickSo the next time you go into work or the ing it to the man’ and sure what does it matter, the business owner’s The next time you’re in work probably making loads of money so you can afford to skive off here, and whether it’s a part-time job, ignore that customer yhere, ‘forget’ to clean that mess or borrow some a full-time job or even a work product for personal use. This in every example and placement, remember that instance is stealing, not just stealing personally from the business-owner someone is putting their but also robbing yourself of future prosperity. Chances are that busi- neck on the line to give you ness-owner who you think is making loads of money is up to his or hers that job and a small token of eyes in debt, rent payments, is chasing invoices to be paid, has invoices appreciation will go a long way. they must pay, has fires to put out left, right and centre, has staff wages to worry next time you apply for a job, keep that in about, staff happiness to worry about, has to mind; show appreciation, do the job you’re deal with disgruntled employees, somehow supposed to do and do it so well that it cannot manage to manage and advertise consistently go unnoticed and you’ll find you’ll get more and profitably and probably hasn’t paid them- than you bargained for.
The Ultimate Destination for Occasion Wear Rentals & New Purchases For Debs, Weddings & Special Events
facebook.com/F.A.B U Liz Call Liz @ Quiff Hair Studio on 091 528000
LIFESTYLE 19
November 10 2015
STYLE SPOTTER By Sorcha O’Connor
Name: Victoria Chimumura
Name: Al-Amin (Ali) Sanusi
Outfit: Jacket – Forever 21 Jumper – H&M Jeans – Penney’s Runners – JD How would you describe your style? Casual but it depends on the event and my mood! What’s a staple item in your wardrobe? Shoes. I’m obsessed with runners, I can’t get enough of them. Pet fashion hate? Straight jeans that aren’t skinny.
Outfit: Jacket – ASOS Jeans – ASOS Shirt – River Island Runners – Footlocker What’s your favourite trend at the moment? Anything. I just wear anything, man.
Name: Betty O’Brien
Name: Robert Canavan
Name: Colin Norton
Outfit: Jumper – handmade, passed down from parents’ friends who made it for them. Runners - Adidas Stan Smith’s Bag - ASOS Tights and earrings – Penney’s
Outfit: Jacket – Next Scarf – Penney’s Jeans and shoes – Dunnes Stores Is there anything you would never wear? Tight Adidas tracksuit bottoms! And Roche runs – unless you actually run. What’s a staple item in your wardrobe? Jeans, always.
Outfit: Shoes – JD Jeans – Public Romance Jacket – H&M Scarf – Topshop What are your favourite clothes? Sunglasses.
What’s a staple item in your wardrobe? Oversized jumpers or jackets. What’s your favourite trend at the moment? All the vintage stuff that’s back in – oversize coats and platform shoes.
Do you have any pet hates? Plaid. What is your style inspiration? I don’t know – anything unique and colourful.
FASHION TRENDS: wearing clothes we thought we wouldn’t By Sorcha O’Connor Has it ever happened that when something comes into fashion, you first think; ‘Ew, not my style.’ And then a few months down the line, there you are, wearing the very thing you swore you’d never wear? If we’re honest with ourselves, the answer is probably a resounding yes. We are all guilty of being a bit of a sheep at times – or simply prone to changing our minds, as us humans tend to do – and so we give in to some fashion trends we thought we never would. The other side of this is also ending up wearing something you first wore as a child. As a six-year-old, I was a big fan of choker necklaces (God knows why) and was also the
proud owner of several pairs of dungarees and a denim jacket, things I now regularly see on girls around campus. Trends certainly come and go and with my own sudden realisation a few weeks back that over-the-knee boots are here to stay for at least another winter, I thought I’d put together a list of trends that many of us now wear when we probably thought we wouldn’t.
school skirt style is in high demand. There’s definitely a bit of a 70s/90s mash up going on in skirt world – the suede numbers are very 70s chic and the tartan skirts I’ve seen are very similar to that rocked by Clueless heroine, Cher Horowitz. Regardless, I’m glad to see skirts such as these back in action – they’re so versatile and can transition effortlessly from day to night wear. OVER THE KNEE BOOTS: Last year, I
THE REVIVAL OF SKIRTS: I’d say in
the recent past nearly every girl reading this has bought a skirt that is either suede, quite short, has a zip or buttons down the front or all of the above. For a good while there, the body-con and skater skirt had taken over, but now this more old-
affectionately called these hooker boots and the only way you’d get me into a pair would be if I was dressing up as Vivian from Pretty Woman. This year, I’ve changed my tune and have several outfits planned out for when I save enough money to purchase a pair…
COLOURFUL RUNNERS: So amongst friends I’m known for being pretty scathing towards someone wearing a pair of luminous yellow runners but I have to say I’m pretty partial to my maroon and blue New Balances. In years gone by runners were strictly for exercise but now there’s no denying they are the basis of nearly every college student’s outfit day to day. They’re comfy for the walk into college and we’re all so accustomed to how they look we don’t think twice anymore about someone wearing a clunky sports shoe with a tight pair of jeans. FLARED JEANS: Yes, they’re back.
And although many girls still favour their trusty skinnies, the flared jean is definitely a current staple in many
a wardrobe. They can look a lot better than one would imagine (I think perhaps we all just associate them with 70s popstars) and can be teamed with a blouse, fur gilet and clunky heels or wedges for a very on-trend look. SHEEP-SKIN JACKETS: Although
leather and denim are always going to be a safe bet, sheep skin jackets are actually gaining a lot of popularity which goes to show that people are more into this 70s revival than I first thought. I imagined noses being turned up at the light brown colour but it seems many people are embracing their inner Penny Lane from Almost Famous and working this trend both in college and on nights out.
20 LIFESTYLE
The Awkward Vegan
Chickpeas are an excellent source of protein. Photo via Flickr: Mattle Hagedorn
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
Protein Power! One of the most awkward things about being vegan is nutrition. It’s not difficult to get it from food, it’s more awkward when people are continually asking you (either with concern or scepticism) “… but where do you get your protein/iron/calcium/etc. from?” Neither I, nor any vegan friends of mine would actually push unwanted information on anyone or try to ‘convert’ them. I know it can often be fruitless, particularly from the merciless teasing I get from one of my brothers at every meal time when I go home, even after six years of vegetarianism. So therein lies the ongoing awkwardness of my vegan life, because you obviously want to promote peace and alleviate animal suffering and help people to eat better and reassure them that you’re not about to collapse at any moment, but you don’t want to make anyone feel lectured. Hard, isn’t it? It’s worth noting too, that it’s not just vegans who need to look after their diet. Just because you’re an omnivore doesn’t mean you have a healthy diet and are nutritionally fulfilled. Again, as college students we’re restricted by cost, lack of information and, well, lack of effort in the evenings! So this meal is full of protein, as well as lots of other healthy bits. All the nutritional information and costs are below; you can now inform people of exactly how rich your diet is in protein, whether you’re a vegan or not!
the beginning of the cooking process if you’re eating this on the day, or well in advance of heating up your portion on a subsequent day.
CURRY Tesco is my one-stop-shop for this meal. Not all organic this week, but only because I’m a creature of habit and don’t like to change something once I know that I like it. So I encourage you to get all organic ingredients obviously but these are the costs I go with… INGREDIENTS
COST
3 bell peppers 1.20 1 red or white onion (your 30c preference) 1 sweet potato 80c 1 1 tin ⁄2 tin of chickpeas (or a whole one instead of half and half) 1 ⁄2 tin of red kidney beans 1 tin (or a whole one instead of half and half) 1 1 bag = (whole bag would ⁄2 cup brown rice do 10+ servings so only for this meal) 1 can of coconut milk 1.50 1 carton of tomato 1.20 passata 4 tsp curry powder Bottle of curry powder: (bottle will do 3-4 curries) 4 tbsp garam masala Bottle of curry powder: (bottle will do 3-4 curries) 1 Bottle of curry powder: ⁄2 tsp cumin (bottle will do minimum 20 curries) 1 ⁄2 tsp cayenne pepper Bottle of curry powder: (but add more if you like (bottle will do minimum it spicy! 20 curries, at 1⁄2 tsp per meal) Servings: 6, at 2 ladles Total (for this meal): per serving. That’s a approx. 8-10 euro whole week of food again. You can freeze this too. Note: you can add whatever you like to this, e.g. courgette, peas, corn, carrot, pineapple, apple, etc. It’s completely personal taste! METHOD
NUIG Students! Don’t forget to use your free €15 travel vouchers in the coming weeks! Make sure you travel with Bus Éireann this student year. With great value fares, Ireland’s most extensive travel network, comprehensive timetables and total convenience, no matter where you study this year, we’ll get you there.
1. Par-boil (half cook) the sweet potato while you chop the other vegetables (ten minutes in boiling water should do. They’ll cook the rest of the way in the curry sauce). 2. Fry the peppers and onion in oil (I use coconut oil but anything is fine). When they’re tender, add the chickpeas and kidney beans and fry for another three minutes. 3. Drain the sweet potato and leave to one side. 4. Move the vegetables to a saucepan (if you’re not already frying in one) and add the spices to the vegetables. Fry on a low heat for another two or three minutes to allow the flavours to absorb. 5. Pour in the coconut milk (it probably needs to be stirred in the tin first until it’s smooth), add the passata and stir. 6. Add the sweet potato. 7. Leave to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes and then leave until the next day for the best flavour (you can eat it right away too. It just thickens overnight and the flavours come out more). For the rice, bring a saucepan of water to the boil, pour in the brown rice and turn down to a simmer for about 20 minutes. You do it at
Preparation time: 7 minutes. Cooking time: 30 minutes
Why is this curry so great? Firstly, it’s packed with protein: 1. Kidney beans: They’re cheap and easy to find, plus they’re full of cholesterollowering fiber, as are most other beans. This high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after meals, so they’re great for diabetics! When combined with whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, etc), kidney beans provide virtually fat-free high quality protein (woohoo!) They’re brilliant in burritos or fajitas, plus they have 15 grams of protein per cup. 2. Chickpeas: 6-8 grams per half cup and a great way to bulk up chillis or curries (and we all know how delicious hummus is!) Secondly, it’s full of vitamins and other excellent nutrients: 1. Bell peppers: full of vitamin C and E, which are great for protecting skin from the sun (I realise that is highly irrelevant during an Irish winter); vitamin E also helps with brain function and is great for smooth muscle growth (see the tomato soup recipe for vitamin C benefits!) 2. Brown rice: Where to begin?! It’s rich in selenium which helps to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and arthritis. It’s high in manganese (to synthesise fats and benefits our nervous and reproductive systems) and naturally occurring oils (to lower cholesterol). Not only that, it promotes weight loss because it’s high in fiber which keeps you feeling full and helps to prevent colon cancer. As a whole grain, it reduces the build up of plaque in arteries and reduces the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol. Last but not least, it helps to regulate blood sugar (again, great for diabetics).
Top 5 easiest foods to find with high protein content 1. Lentils: great in curries and chillies to bulk them up; they add nine grams of protein to your meal per half cup, along with almost 15 grams of fiber! 2. Tofu: good for basically everything (I’ll explain another day) and a cup adds 10 grams of protein to your meal. 3. Kidney beans: They’re cheap and easy to find, plus they’re full of cholesterol-lowering fiber, as are most other beans. This high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after meals, so they’re great for diabetics! When combined with whole grains (rice, quinoa, etc), kidney beans provide virtually fat-free high quality protein (woohoo!) They’re brilliant in burritos or fajitas, plus they have 15 grams of protein per cup. 4. Quinoa: a great alternative to rice and pasta and full of magnesium, antioxidants and fiber, as well as 8 grams of protein per cup! 5. Chickpeas: 6 to 8 grams per half cup and a great way to bulk up chillis or curries (and we all know how delicious hummus is!). Other easy sources: soy milk, green peas, broccoli and soy milk
ENTERTAINMENT 21
November 10 2015
Resonate Edited by Neil Slevin Resonate is Sin’s very own culture section seeking NUI Galway-based
The Laugh There once was a laugh and that laugh had traveled through time and space trying to find a home that would suit her tastes. To the laugh’s great misfortune, she found herself lodged in the throat of a man, one without joy. There, the laugh was unwanted and no matter how hard he tried, he could not rid himself of her relentless tickle. The man’s name was Henry Hubble. Henry was very unhappy – yet this was the life he had become accustomed to, and to change it in any way might lead to sudden death; for to exert himself with even a smile would cause the rusty vessels of his heart to turn faster, resulting in its ultimate failure. Every day, Henry walked with chains wrapped around his shoulders, chains that weighed them down to his knees. And as he trudged through the street, the heavy block of lead in his right shoe dragged behind his every step. Henry worked at Hinkley Pharmacy as a cashier. Each customer who came to his desk held within them a tale of woe which they unloaded promptly onto his countertop. With absolute solemnity, Henry would listen to their ailments and so, when the customer left Hinkley Pharmacy, they walked a little lighter. But that was only because Henry stored all of their little marbles of woe in his pocket. On that fateful day for Henry and the laugh, the laugh had traveled from Grangewood down Highway 49, taken a right at Ashman Street and passed the street lamp. Unfortunately, she was distracted by the neighbourhood’s resident nudist before bouncing off Mrs Burdine’s rather outrageous hat. As she was sent flying, she found herself inhaled by the sighing Mr Hubble. Henry gagged and gasped, choked and sputtered, until he realized that the unwanted joy that clung to his throat could not be dislodged. Charlie Grass, the street sweeper, noticed Henry’s unnatural posture. The squirrely little man lifted his broom and walked over to Henry. “Henry, are you all right?” Henry’s eyes watered. “Do you have anything to drink? I seem to have something caught in my throat.” Charlie began to dig through his backpack. “Sure I do. I get thirsty all the time.” He pulled out what appeared to be a bottle of Vernors. “Drink up,” he said, offering it to Henry. “Take as much as you need.” Henry sighed and shook his head. “I can’t drink carbonated drinks. They give me indigestion.” “That’s too bad, Henry,” said Charlie. “That’s too bad.” Henry agreed sadly and coughed his way down Ashman Street. The laugh grew annoyed as Henry scratched his throat. He was experiencing the strange sensation of an
students’ creative work to showcase and share with our readers in each edition. We welcome submissions in all genres of writing and/or visual art, and each week select the work that we think will reach out to and ‘resonate’ most with our student readership. emotion he’d long forgotten; but the laugh knew better than to think that Henry Hubble would let go of her without a little help. Mrs James, an older woman of great influence in the town, caught sight of Henry’s discomfort. She tapped furiously on the window of her coffee shop; Henry noticed and stepped into the building. “Mr Hubble, I can’t help but notice you’re having a minor disturbance in your throat.” “Yes, that’s what it seems to be.” “Well, sit down, sit down,” said Mrs James, shoving Henry into a well-cushioned chair. “What you need is a nice, hot cup of ginger tea and honey.” Henry grimaced: ginger was never his favorite flavour – but who was he to turn down help? Mrs James returned with a rather large mug. Its front had a clown and the words ‘Smile. I know where you live…’ emblazoned across it. “This was a gift from my son Barney; he’s got a strange sense of humour.” Henry nodded and accepted the tea. After listening for ten minutes about Mrs James’ son, his pockets had grown heavier but his tea had finally cooled enough to drink. “Well, Mr Hubble, you always make me feel a little lighter; I certainly hope that tea has returned the favour. There’s loads of honey in it.” Ah, thought Henry. That makes more sense. His tea needed more chewing than sipping. “Interesting, thank you!” coughed Henry, although he didn’t feel thankful. The nowdrenched laugh screamed and pounded her sticky fists against the inner chambers of his throat. “Let me out!” she yelled. Standing to leave, Henry plumped the cushions before moving towards the door. “I don’t want to be late for work,” he spluttered. Mrs James agreed and helped him out of the café. “Hope you feel better soon,” she said and waved him off. Doubtful, Henry thought as he entered the pharmacy next door. After slipping on his Hinkley Pharmacy vest, Henry stood behind the counter ready for his next customer. With a struggle an hour passed as Henry tried his best not to find every story that came his way amusing, especially a young lady who often self-diagnosed based on her reading of online articles: today, she had asthma and was asking for alternatives to an inhaler because her doctor refused to provide a prescription. Another customer leaned over the counter and whispered that his wife snored and was “there any way to shut her up?” Henry couldn’t understand what was happening. Normally he’d listen closely to everyone and scoop up the marbles of sadness that fell on his counter, giving them a home in his pocket. Today he could not pay
This week’s featured student is short story-writer Rebecca Spicer. Rebecca is from Battle Creek in Michigan, USA. She has a BA in English-Writing from Adrian College and is now continuing her studies in the MA in Writing programme at NUI Galway. I hope you enjoy reading her story. attention. Today, the woes of the customers hit the counter and rolled off. All that was on his mind was the horrible cheer lodged in his throat. The laugh wasn’t so happy either. She didn’t choose him; all of this was an accident. And so, the laugh planned her escape. She would shake and jolt Henry until he was forced to open his mouth and release her. She would do the rest. At 17:00, Henry’s shift ended and it was time to go home. Once again, he trudged his way down the street towards the bus-stop. He was close to tears. He hadn’t felt so ill since he’d gotten the flu last winter. Henry’s whole body felt tingly, as though it were trying to release something that might prove dangerous to his well-being. Up ahead, the bus arrived early and waited patiently for its passengers to board. To Henry’s right, Charlie Grass whistled happily as he swept; to his left was Mrs James, who was serving coffee to a customer.
If you are interested in having your work featured in future issues of ‘Resonate’ – or if you have requests for further work by any of our selected contributors – please contact Neil at ArtsEntertainment.SinEd@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you. Suddenly, remembering that he’d forgot his keys at Hinkley Pharmacy, Henry turned around. But as he turned, he caught sight of the neighborhood’s nudist walking his way. The sight of a naked man caught Henry by surprise, causing him to drop his guard. The laugh took advantage of Henry’s open mouth and squeezed his lungs, forcing him to expel her laughter. The wheels of his heart began to creak as they moved faster and Henry’s eyes watered, obstructing his view of the pavement. Down he tumbled, tripping over loose pavement. Still laughing, Henry felt the marbles roll from his pockets and the chains fall from his shoulders. Away the laugh soared higher and higher into the atmosphere. Finally, she was free – free to roam the universe. Henry Hubble began to cry, relieved of the heaviness that had once surrounded him. He was still alive. Thank God.
091 569336
Galway Shopping Centre, Headford Rd, Galway
www.planethealth.ie
STUDENT YEAR
€175 EXPIRES MAY 31 , 2016 st
STUDENT RATE
€219 FOR 12 MONTHS
Direct Debit from €22 per month
TO BOOK YOUR FREE
TRIAL TODAY CALL: 091 569336
8000 SQ FT EXTENSION NOW OPEN
22 ENTERTAINMENT
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
An Interview with: Seo Linn The Irish language is far from dead By Cathal Kelly Avicii, James Bay, Mumford and Sons, and Hozier; not a bad repertoire at all, is it?! These are just some of the illustrious and renowned musical acts that Seo Linn has covered and sung in Irish. The band started out as 14-year-olds heading to the Gaeltacht, like many other youngsters hoping to improve their Irish for the Junior Cert, and became a nationwide sensation with nearly five million views on YouTube.
Stiofán wants to show that Irish is “modern in its own right and it has its own qualities”. The members of the band had very little connection with the Irish language, and began like so many other kids heading off to the energetic and vibrant rough country of Connemara to get a grasp of the somewhat stubborn Irish language.
Little did they know that they would become one of the most popular and recognisable aspects, especially among the younger generations, of a subject and a language that they often groan and whine about learning. When talking about the bands major leap to success, lead vocalist Stiofán Ó’Fearail, was slightly modest about the band’s success. “We all started off as students ourselves in Coláiste Lurgan. As 14-year-olds we were sent to the Gaeltacht like many Irish kids to help out with the junior cert results. None of us grew up with Irish, none of us had any relation to it until going to Coláiste Lurgan before, we entered all the song competitions and talent shows and all the different things that were going. “We got to a point then, after a number of years, where we realised we had enough songs put together over the last number of years where we could actually preform a lot of them as we all had a number of instrument thats we can all play between the few of us, and we said we’d give it a crack. “We started doing gigs and stuff in colleges around Dublin more so for Cumann Gaelach and things like that, and in Maynooth. We fully enjoyed it and said we should
keep doing it. We put the band together and put up a Facebook page and kept doing as much as we could.” The summer after that the band had their big break with their cover of the Avicii hit ‘Wake Me Up’ in Irish. In a short space of time the video enhanced the band’s profile. It received a lot of praise and garnered a lot of attention. The video, which is just shy of five million hits on YouTube, exploded across social media, especially among young people. The band, who had collaborated with students form Coláiste Lurgan, produced more Irish covers of popular songs. Among the most popular were (and continue to be) ‘Uptown Funk’ by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson, ‘Shake it off’ by Taylor Swift, ‘Can’t Hold Us’ by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and the annoyingly catchy summer hit ‘Cheerleader’ by Omi to name but a few. The Avicii hit, however, was the hit that catapulted the band into the spotlight. “The Avicii video and ‘The Cup Song’ came out. The attention was put on us from that. So we had to step it up a bit, going from the college gigs to playing much bigger stages, and coping with that,” Stiofán explained. “It was a journey, a lot was happening in a small period of time. It was hectic enough but we’re just coming out of the other side now. Were fulltime now, we’re focusing entirely now on the music and doing workshops around the country. So its exciting stuff. “The reaction was and still is extremely positive. One thing is it opened people eyes to the Irish language in a modern context, and in the context of music and modern music, it showed people that the Irish language is relevant. It has had the greater impact on young people. The biggest thing for us was all the younger people that were involved in the video. It was like a massive collaboration, with huge energy in the room. It was a good night of craic and a good night of craic for the Irish language that was captured in a video.” It’s quite obvious that Stiofán’s native language and culture is extremely important to him and is an integral component of the fabric that makes up not only who he is, but what makes all of us who we are, as a nation.
The most important aspect of trying to make people learn anything, be it language, sport or skill, he stresses, is to “make it available in the areas of life in which people live in from day to day”. Stiofán wants to show that Irish is “modern in its own right and it has its own qualities”. For Stiofán the videos are about making Irish available first, and then making it available at a very high standard. Last year the band made a huge leap, as they went from singing covers of popular pop songs in the charts to producing their very first single entitled ‘Ar Scáth a Chéile’. It was recorded when the band were abroad doing voluntary work in Uganda, on a voluntary trip with Self-Help Africa in October 2013. The video features; students, teachers, and staff of the Ndeeba Senior Secondary School in the Kayunga district. Self Help Africa is an international charity that promotes and implements long-term rural development projects in Africa. “We’ve all been individually writing different things ourselves, so writing a song wasn’t a brand new experience. What we were doing in Coláiste Lurgan was taking songs and music that people recognised, and put Irish lyrics to that and put our own spin on it and do something new with it,” said Stiofán. “But when you’re writing yourselves, you have to try and create a song of good enough standard to evoke people to listen to it regardless of language, on music alone. The thing we tried to get across was the happiness and positivity. We see nothing but the more desolate side of Africa in ads. But when we were over there we noticed the children were extremely happy. They were extremely easy to work with and we wrote the song in that vein. It was received really well.” The future looks bright for the band. They have now gone full time and next year they are releasing their first studio album, in their own words that will be their first “record of original material”. The band hopes to kick on from there and open a few doors with the album. The band also aims to make it big in the United States by reaching out to the diaspora. They want to keep even the Irish on the other side of the planet involved in their great achievement. But whatever direction the band goes, the future looks bright. Watch this space!
ENTERTAINMENT 23
November 10 2015
REVIEW: Spectre Does the latest Bond film live up to the hype? By Kieran O’Brien By the end of Spectre’s opening, James Bond has seduced a beautiful woman, shot dead several men, blown up at least two large buildings, and had a fistfight in a helicopter. So this is Bond. The formula is there and, if it never agreed with you, the chances are that this movie won’t either. I’m not saying that this is forgivable; that you should have to either accept or reject it: Skyfall managed to implement the Bond formula, but it never bowed to it, and it gave us one of the best Bond flicks of all time. However, if you enjoyed 007 films before Skyfall, and can push away thoughts like “Where the f**k did he get that plane from?” or “Did he just have sex with a woman he widowed barely five minutes ago?”, then you’ll probably enjoy this film. Spectre’s opening is a delight. We are treated to a delicious unbroken tracking shot of Bond that goes on for minutes, as he forces his way through Mexico City’s Day of the Dead parade, filmed on location with thousands of extras. It’s a spectacle to watch, and the festival drums mixed in with some orchestral undertones work wonders to build tension; it’s one of the film’s highlights. So, what is 007 doing in Mexico City of all places? On Judi Dench’s M’s orders from beyond the grave, tracking a man linked to an organisation (SPECTRE) headed by Christoph Waltz’s Franz Obenhauser, who has some mysterious connection with Bond’s past. There’s also a subplot involving Irishman Andrew Scott’s Max Denbigh, whom Bond jokingly dubs ‘C’, the head of the ‘Joint Intelligence Service’ wanting to merge MI6 with surveillance agencies around the world, with a view to shutting down the ‘00’ programme (Could the A and B stories be linked? *insert shocked gasp here*)… On his adventures, Bond meets Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), daughter of another someone else from Bond’s past (Mr. White, from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace), with whom he makes a deal to protect her in exchange for information. He is aided by MI6’s delightfully dorky quartermaster, Q, played by Ben Whishaw, M’s assistant, Ms Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris), and the new M himself (Ralph Fiennes). Spectre maintains a brisk pace throughout its
two-hour-plus duration, punctuated by some welltimed moments to draw breath during – so kudos to the filmmakers for its tight pacing. And, besides a few clichéd turns of phrase, (examples including ‘We always have a choice!’, and ‘This isn’t over!’), the film’s dialogue is smart and efficient. For a film of such dark intent, Spectre also contains a surprising amount of effective comic relief, largely thanks to Q (although there are some unforgivable duds – watch out for the airbag-goesoff-too-late gag…). Q turned out to be one of my favourite parts of the film; and he receives a lot more screen time than I was expecting. However, this seems to have been to Moneypenny’s detriment, who is reduced from her prominence in Skyfall to a mostly background role of supporting secondary characters, especially in the latter half of the film. Furthermore, speaking of characters afforded all-too-little screen time, Christoph Waltz is criminally underused in Spectre, which is such a pity, especially given his sheer magnetism and charisma as an actor on-screen. In an unfortunate case of a script failing an actor, ultimately Waltz is a cartoon-esque villain; something that has been mercifully absent in Daniel Craig’s Bond reign to date. His character’s first appearance is brilliant: mysterious, powerful, and purposeful, he catches a snooping Bond completely off-guard, and creates an atmosphere of uneasy suspense that really works (before the tone shifts awkwardly and abruptly to typical Bond escape scene). Returning to the man himself, it feels as if, unfortunately, that every time Spectre reveals something new about his character, I grow to dislike him: Bond, as a character, endures various twists and turns designed to sustain the wider audience’s attention, but said twists aren’t earned by the film as a whole; they lack impact and don’t add anything of real substance to its overarching plot. Overall, Spectre is a confusing experience for Bond aficionados. There are plenty of fun references and nods to previous Craig films in the franchise that only they will understand; but they are the very people that will be most disappointed by at least some of these too-late-in-the-game twists, thanks to how poorly they are executed. However, Spectre certainly isn’t all bad. What the film lacks in terms of its villain, it makes up for in its
The betrayed women and me By Declan Jones Veronica Broderick will be my third play – the second of my writing to be seen, but the first that goes beyond solely having a personal attachment to myself. I think now, more than ever we can understand how modern Irish theatre represents women in quite an unfair way. Considering the Abbey Theatre’s horrendous reaction towards the uproar that has surfaced following the release of their ‘Waking the Nation’ season for next year, it has come to a point where we must consider that our centenary celebrations might pass peacefully in our streets – but not in our theatres. The play will premiere in an interesting time in our history; alongside these betrayals to the talented female writers and actresses in Ireland, we can see ever-developing desire for a change to the
eighth amendment in our constitution. The play, Veronica Broderick, focuses on a similar desire towards a much needed change in our society, not just the need for women to have the right to their own bodies but for women to have the right to live their lives how they please. Instead of focusing on how far we’ve come during these hundred years – should we not celebrate by breaking these misogynistic links to the past? Being raised by three powerful women, I owe my ability to write to them; and in this way, those three women will be heard through me. But there are already so many other women shouting out to be heard all over Ireland – when will we ever truly listen to them? Veronica Broderick will run in the Bank of Ireland Theatre from Tuesday 10 November to Friday 13 November at 8pm. Tickets €5/€8.
atypical Bond girl Madeleine Swann (although, if I had the option to choose, I’d much prefer a well-developed villain to a well-developed love interest); she can take care of herself, questions many of Bond’s motivations and survival strategies, and does not want to sleep with him – at least not immediately anyway. Although her character arc isn’t that exciting, Léa Seydoux is fun to watch, though she’ll never break our hearts like Vesper Lynd did in Casino Royale. Fistfights are a further highlight: their editing isn’t lightning-paced, and one train-set fight scene is particularly memorable for its intensity (even if the way the enemy is dispatched in the end is, again, cartoonish), and something I really love about Daniel Craig’s Bond is that he makes every brawl look like a real struggle. His fights with Dave Bautista’s henchman character (whose name is credited as
‘Mr Hinx’, though I don’t recall it being mentioned at any point during the film) are painful to watch, but in a good way. However, while these fight scenes are gripping viewing – both visually and choreography-wise – they lack any real emotional punch. Spectre received so much hype and build-up long before its release, most of it due to Skyfall’s record-breaking success – a film with which I have tried to avoid too much comparison – because, by comparison, almost any action film, let alone a Bond one, pales. This film never quite lives up to its billing, mostly thanks to an underdeveloped and underused villain, but it is still an enjoyable watch; and, if we are to believe that this is Daniel Craig’s last outing as 007, then it’s good to know that he went out with all guns blazing.
SPORT 25
November 10 2015
CLUB UPDATES The Ladies Volleyball team after winning the Association Cup win last April.
NUIG Ladies Hockey won the plate of the intervarsity competition, beating out CIT in the final with a comprehensive 8-0 victory. This result secures NUIG’s place in the top tier of the varsity competition next year. The win was comprehensive, overcoming DIT by a scoreline of 6-0, NUIM by 11-0 and defeating RCSI in the semi-final 3-0.
NUIG Ladies Basketball are 5 and 0 in the D1 National League and top the league so far having also won the national pre-season tournament.
NUIG womens rugby secure their third Kay Bowen title in as many seasons.
NUIG Kendo Club has more than doubled its number of regular students. NUI Galway Sailing Team achieve third silver in IUSA Easterns in Dingle on 16/17 October 2015. NUIG Ultimate Frisbee Club girls winning Trinity Tea Party; guys in third and fourth place.
Our men’s and women’s lacrosse teams won both their games in UCD against Dublin City Avengers and Munster and UCD Blue and Dublin respectively.
26 SPORT
Sin Vol. 17 Issue 05
Club championships make up for lack of Summer magic By Tadhg Evans It’s an irony that the GAA might want to take a look at. As the mist descends more frequently as the year nears its end, some of the most illuminating stories of the GAA season are finally brightening an otherwise cheerless year for the organisation. Those scorching summer Sundays should mark the zenith of the football year. In recent years, they’ve done more to dampen the zeal of the game’s followers than any drenching in November ever could. The club championships are supposed to be an afterthought on the national front. Though we all invest great interest in our own clubs, to a greater extent even than we do with our county teams, once your parish perishes so too does your engrossment. It can even be something of an errand to look over your shoulder at the journey of your neighbouring club - and if they do triumph, what you offer them might be the opposite of acclaim. But if you’re a diehard follower of all things GAA, you’re sure to be rewarded for your effort. The intercounty football season has been dwindling in terms of relevance in recent times, with the last three championships all ranking amongst the worst ever played. The disgusting benefits afforded to Dublin in terms of finances and guaranteed home advantage have felled the traditionally competitive Leinster Championship, to the degree that ten counties and their supporters now advance towards summer in terror as opposed to fervour. Munster’s Kerry-Cork duopoly has only been offended once in eighty years, and Mayo have won the last
five Connacht titles in relative tranquillity. Ulster might now be the last great remnant of what once was the highlight of the Irish sporting year. One weekend of GAA club action can now provide more in terms of what the inter-county season used to churn out in loaves over a four month period. With its boundless capacity to provide joy, magic, and indeed eccentricity, the Club Championships are everything that the search for Sam Maguire used to be, and still could be if such commodities were more alluring to those at the helm than finances and self-interest. Imagine trying to single out the apex of a Club Championship weekend rich in great storylines. Might it be the narrative that had two younger brothers playing each other in a Mayo County football final? That could be described as unique, if the Kilkenny senior hurling final hadn’t offered the exact same storyline; O’Loughlin Gael’s defensive lynchpin Brian Hogan was marked by his brother Keith as Clara won the right to represent the county in the Leinster Club Championship. On the same field, another set of brothers, the O’Ryans, embraced their mother Lily as they celebrated winning a Kilkenny medal, nine months after their father was tragically killed in a farming accident. The day before saw Portlaoise named as Laois’s football champions. That night, the cup was filled with chlorine-laced water as opposed to the more customary additive of beer, as their troops visited their local swimming pool to celebrate. The reason? Hours later, they were back in action as farcical organisation had them starting their provincial campaign against Carlow’s Palatine, with the pains of fatigue just surfacing. In
typical club championship style, they still won. Galway’s football champions Corofin are currently rated as favourites to retain the All-Ireland title that they won so impressively last year, while the teams that win the county’s hurling championship always figure strongly when national honours are awarded. But it’s not necessary to focus solely on what concerns the Tribesmen, or even the many NUIG hurlers and footballers sprinkled all over the country. The Club Championships are magnificent whether you’re praying for Crossmaglen to win their seventh All-Ireland senior title, or lighting a candle with the aim of guiding Lios Póil to their first ever novice title in Kerry. The competition provides stories, incite controversies, and it seems as if every club in the country has something meaningful to aim for on an annual basis. Making trips down backroads in expectation is certainly more enticing than taking the motorway towards your county’s Leinster Championship perdition.
CLUB PROFILE: NUIG Kendo Club What is Kendo? Kendo is the traditional Japanese martial art of fencing. Practitioners use bamboo foils to strike armoured targets on their opponent’s body. In appearance it is a loud, intense, physically violent activity. Despite this image, the aim of kendo is to achieve a state of awareness and inner clarity that will allow you to face life’s challenges decisively and associate with others with sincerity, both inside and outside of the training hall. To see what kendo looks like, YouTube search ‘The Empty Mind – Kendo at the Budokan’.
What is Kendo, really? Kendo is shugyo: a lifetime disci-
pline of self-cultivation. Training is built on a foundation of basic technique and etiquette. This foundation is the basis for one’s cultivation, not just within kendo, but as a human being. The three avenues of pursuit – competition, form and grading – all serve as means to test one’s technical and spiritual development.
Why should it interest you? Modern kendo is accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Very safe when practiced correctly, it is an authentic expression of Japanese culture, and a fantastic workout. Strength, fitness, speed and agility are products of training, but not ini-
tial requirements: you rely on good technique and mental fortitude to succeed. Kendo can a be highly competitive or highly spiritual pursuit; the two aspects are not mutually exclusive. You can train through both competing as well as mastering the forms to improve yourself.
The History of Kendo Kendo is an outgrowth of the ancient Japanese swordsmanship schools of kenjutsu. For safety reasons these ancient schools dispensed with live blades; to accommodate an all-out approach to training the katana came to be replaced by lightweight bamboo foils and armour.
Success against UCC NUI Galway Ladies continue winning streak The NUI Galway ladies soccer team maintain their undefeated status so far this season following their third win in as many games. NUI were lucky to be drawn at home for this fixture, with UCC this time having to make the long 3 hour journey. With both teams on 14 goals each and with 2 clean sheets, this was undoubtedly going to be the Galway side’s toughest opposition yet. UCC had the better chances in the first half with both teams threatening to score, however center-backs Shauna Fox and Rosa Shine were strong in every tackle and difficult to beat. NUIG had numerous attacks down the right wing with great link up play from full-back Aoife Walsh and winger Eimear Foley, and alternating on the left side with newcomer Laura Carroll and third year Paula McGrory. Despite some dangerous attacking play, neither side was able to break the deadlock with the halftime score staying 0-0. It only took five minutes however for the first and only goal of the game to be scored, and thankfully it was
the home side that stuck the ball in the back of the net. Following some intricate passing from captain Jennifer Byrne and striker Lisa Casserly, Byrne slid a through ball to McGrory who finished this swift move with a smashing finish to the top of the net. The game remained pretty even for the next 20 minutes with both sides still pushing forward, however NUI had their backs to the wall for the last 20 with Maebh Coleman, and substitutes Rachel Keyes and Ciara Lynagh all having to work hard in the middle of the park. Nevertheless, keeper Louise Craven was secure in goals throughout and saw the game through with another clean sheet giving a final score of NUIG 1 - 0 UCC. Managers John Hynes and Padraic De Burca could be nothing short of elated following this outstanding performance by the NUI ladies. With the most promising and talented squad in many years, this victory means the Galway side are top of the league in the Premier South Division, a position they have not occupied before. 9 points taken from a possible 9, this team could go very far in the upcoming season.
Kendo has grown worldwide in line with the concept of bushido or chivalry, and maintains a culture of respect and self-cultivation that springs from Zen and Confucian philosophies. It has been practiced virtually unchanged for nearly a century and a half. Although it has been somewhat streamlined since World War II, to this day it retains the serious mindset of the war-hardened samurai. Kendo has been practiced in Ireland since the mid 90s, and in Galway since 2010. NUIG Kendo Club was established in Spring of 2014.
nuigalway.ie. Just find Kendo under ‘the Clubs’ and click the ‘Join Today’ button at the bottom of our page. Also, you should definitely visit our Facebook page at ‘NUIG Kendo Club’ and give us a like. We will be posting kendo-related content and updates on major events. Don’t worry about keeping up to date though; as a member you will receive weekly emails reminding you of training times and venues. Finally, come along to training whenever you can! We train Tuesdays 6-7 in the Kingfisher, Hall 3, and Fridays 12-2 in the Dangan Pavillion. You will need clothes you don’t mind sweating in, an open mind and a commitment to improve yourself; we’ll help you with everything else.
What you should do? If you are interested in giving kendo a try, sign up as a member on the Clubs website: www.clubs.
Back Page Banter Dear Agony Uncle, There’s something really bothering me lately, as in really, really bothering me. It upsets my mornings, ruins my library breaks and even spoils my downtime in the evening at Smokey’s. I can’t settle nor relax because of this issue: The plastic lids barely fit the coffee cups in Smokey’s anymore. It’s a struggle to press the lid down without scalding myself and wasting some of my precious morning coffee. It’s a health and safety hazard. It’s forced me to start drinking from the cup without a lid at all! How on earth am I meant to look and feel classy? It’s the only time a woman of my age can drink through a sippy cup and maintain that I’m more mature than a three-year-old but still, younger than 90. I’m afraid I’ll give into temptation and start going to Starbucks. Please save me from becoming a basic pumpkin spice latte b*tch. My purse can’t handle it. Ok, first off thank you for coming to me with this, that was a very brave thing to do and you’re stronger for it. I have noticed this problem and in my off-time have begun wandering through Smokey’s, offering guidance to those with this problem. Just in case we can’t solve this problem quickly, start wearing gloves, it is winter so you can get away with it and your hands will be safe. Apart from this, forget all notions of coffee being a classy drink; it used to be, once upon a time. But now… now coffee has become a friend; that friend that tells you that it’s ok to wear trackies with a jersey all the time, or that a beret makes you look indie and cool. My recommendation to you dear reader; forget about the coffee, you don’t need it. Take hold of your roots and go back to the loving tea. I’m happy to help you, I did help didn’t I? Dear Agony Uncle, I have a dog at home. He knows where his food is going to be every day, but he doesn’t know anything about the wider world of dog food, like the whole manufacturing process or that I buy the cheaper brand. My question is, are we just dogs? We think our problems and pleasures are big, but are we actually surrounded by a bigger existence we can’t understand? And if so, does existence as we perceive it matter at all? Oh dear, my first reader in an existential crisis… I knew this would happen someday; oh lord I’m not prepared! Ok first off, treat your dog every once in a while with the more expensive stuff or maybe a pigs ear or something. Next, deep breaths buddy, deep breaths. No, we’re not dogs. Basically, there probably is a greater existence out there that we’ll never know about; the kicker? Nothing ever mattered, our own existence is fleeting and pointless, so go do what you want! Streak naked through the concourse, ask that crush out, go on a holiday and meet some new people. Ah, feels good to help. Dear Agony Uncle, Are you really my uncle? I have memories of you stretching back to my early childhood, but nobody else in my family knows who you are or why I keep mumbling your name as I gaze vacantly into the mirror of the empty unlit bathroom in the dead and aching hours of the morning. Dear God no! I’m sorry, I’m not actually anybody’s uncle; I’m from the organisation of Aunts and Uncles. As for your own problems there, I really don’t know. However the college does have a fantastic set of therapists. If you want my two cents on it though, you’re fine buddy, don’t worry about it.
Your biweekly page of satire, humour and random entertainment.
Diary of the SMOKEY’S PIGEON Aaah exam time… This is a great time of year. People everywhere are procrastinating until their procrastination is merely a way to procrastinate from more procrastination. If you keep saying procrastination, it becomes a meaningless word – as meaningless as your study will feel when you’re procrastinating.
But with that procrastination comes procrastineating, which means extra crumbs for me. And as people tend to comfort-eat at this difficult time, it also means extra delicious crumbs. Salty snacks… Sugary treats… Chocolate muffins… Rocky Road… Taytos… My feathers are puffing up with excitement just thinking about it.
BRING ON THE EXAMS! NUI Galway PhotoSoc
The theme for this week’s competition was ‘Autumn’. The winner is Janet O’Donnell with her photo of mushrooms growing in the moss.
‘Autumn’ by Janet O’Donnell.
‘Light Painting’ by Lily Blackadder.
‘Autumn Tree’ by Lily Blackadder.
‘Underneath a Horse Chestnut’ by Orla Kemple.
‘Tree mushrooms in Barna Woods’ by Janet O’Donnell.