16 OPI NIO N
SIN Vol. 21 Issue 09
Why Flirt FM Feeling Under the Weather? needs more support By Katie Barragry
By Aaron Deering Anyone that volunteers with Flirt FM will know that the station needs more funding, as, currently, the station is suffering from outdated equipment and lack of space. Flirt FM has two studios, an office and a computer room. The two studios are tight on space and this creates a problem for when certain shows will have up to 4 people in the studio. You’re crammed in and almost feel claustrophobic. The computer room is tiny in comparison to the two studios and all the equipment in it is extremely outdated. For example, the other day, when I was in the computer room receiving training, there was no HDMI port on any of the computers to try and connect it to the TV. Currently, Flirt FM receive a little over €70k from the student levy, €5k from the DSP for a Wage Subsidy and €1k for studio hire. This works out at about €4.92 per student form each individual’s student levy. In total, the station only gets roughly €76k a year, which isn’t much considering it has to pay 2 full-time staff along with some part-time staff. Even if Flirt FM received an extra 10k in funding a year, it could mean the station could do so much more, such as replace their ageing computers, operate the station 24/7 and keep the pre-recording studio open over the weekend. It could also improve the equipment used for outside broadcasts, which, at the moment, is very outdated and takes too long to set up. These are just a few examples of what Flirt FM could do if it received more support and funding. Flirt FM is very important, as it offers students the chance to have hands-on experience with radio, and with a station that is fully registered with the BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland). Flirt FM is also available for all students as well. I’m not a journalism student and yet, I can still avail of the facilities that Flirt FM has to offer, so, at least as students we get some value for our money. Contrast this with the Kingfisher which we pay a fee to as part of our student levy, but still have to buy a membership on top of this. Is that value for money? I don’t think so. I recently did an interview with Fergal D’Arcy, a presenter with Today FM, and he highlighted how important Flirt FM was by saying it was one of the best student radio stations in the country, because, to quote, “it’s run like a god damn proper station”. If a top national radio presenter like Fergal D’Arcy is praising the station in its current state like this, then just imagine what the station could be like if the University made more of an effort to support it and provide further funding. Fergal also highlighted the amount of opportunities Flirt FM has given to people that have gone onto be successful in national radio stations. “The amount of talent we received when I was at iRadio that came from Flirt FM – It’s just amazing. Chris Greene (RTÉ 2FM), Peter Ganley (RTÉ 2FM) and Louise Clarke (iRadio) all came from Flirt FM and I could mention them all day. They’re all brilliant presenters and they all came from Flirt FM. That’s where they got their home ground from”. This just shows how important Flirt FM is as an outlet that drives creative talent and allows students to be given a crucial base from which they can learn and gain important experience, that they can then use to go on and be successful in the radio business. It’s vital that not only does the University continue to fund Flirt FM, but increases this funding and show more support to what is a crucial asset to the University and student body.
Picture this. It’s Wednesday morning and your first lecture doesn’t begin until one in the afternoon. You have all the time in the world to make breakfast, have a cup of tea, take a long luxurious shower and spend hours preening yourself in front of the mirror. For the occasion, you’ve blow-dried and straightened your hair followed by a carefully applied face of makeup. You leave for college with plenty of time to spare. It’s not a bad day out, it’s cold, but the sun is shining. You look half decent and you’re feeling good about yourself. You’ve been walking for about ten minutes when the heavens open out of nowhere. In true Galway fashion, it isn’t even a drizzle or a simple mist. No, it’s a lashing, pelting combination of rain and hail. Did I think to bring an umbrella? Or wear a jacket with a hood? Or even a hat? Of course not, why would I? It was glorious out seconds ago. After trudging your way through unavoidable puddles and soggy wet grass, you finally arrive on the Concourse looking like a dejected, drowned rat. Your hair is sopping, your shoes are squelching and you are shivering with self-diagnosed, early-onset pneumonia. Ideal. A great start to your day.
You think about the content, optimistic person you were just five minutes ago in comparison with the bedraggled, poor excuse for a human that is now glaring back at you in the bathroom mirror. Mascara is running down your face, your once pristine hair is now a frizzy,matted mess and you begin to dread the next five hours of sitting in damp clothes in a lecture theatre. Your mood has well and truly deteriorated. What is about the weather that can instantly change our mental state? Everyone reacts differently to changes in weather, some worse than others. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a state of depression dictated by the change in seasons. It mainly affects people during the winter months when sunlight is limited but is also known to be prevalent during the transition to summer. Those affected by SAD often suffer from low energy levels, severe mood changes, sleeping problems and concentration difficulties. It is interesting to note how the weather can impact our state of wellbeing. How can you even begin to imagine having a good day after opening your curtains to the doom and gloom of January weather? Alternatively, why do bright sunny mornings make it so much easier for us to jump out of bed, ready to tackle the day? Does the sound of rain hit-
ting off your roof trigger or relax you? And what is it about the humidity that leaves everyone in edge? In Ireland, what excuses us to take a national holiday when the temperature rises above 25 degrees? For the majority of people, I would imagine that sitting at the Spanish Arch drinking cans in May sounds more appealing than clutching a pint in a dark, cold pub as a brewing storm howls outside. Likewise, playing a football match on soft ground on a sunny afternoon sounds better than being left destroyed head-to-toe in dirt after a disastrous game in the lashing rain. While walking along the beach in November wrapped up in a hat and scarf would surely “blow the cobwebs out,” a relaxing summer’s day at the seaside does sound a bit nicer, doesn’t it? While the weather evidently can affect our mood and mental state, factors such as geographical location, average temperatures and altitude of an area must also be taken into consideration. However, it is worth soaking up an extra bit of Vitamin D when the opportunity arises. To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” On the rare occasion that the weather picks up and the sun begins to shine, get up, get out and see if your mood improves.
‘Claire Byrne Live’ on campus triggers protests By Siobhan Brew NUI Galway’s Áras na Mac Léinn was recently the location for the ‘Claire Byrne Live’ leaders’ debate for the General Election just past. The event occurred 27th January, and prior to the broadcast, students were made aware via email of the early closure of the building in order to facilitate the security arrangements necessary for such an event. Although it was considered great exposure, not just for the University but the city in
beginning the day before at 8am, societies like DramSoc and the Musical Soc GUMS lost two days’ worth of rehearsal time due to their rehearsal spaces now being occupied by RTÉ. The college did not feel it necessary to consider the student body in relation to the event, and the short notice they did receive on the matter meant they could not find an alternative space. The likes of the View in Áras na Mac Léinn provides a great open space perfect for rehearsals, while lecture halls and classrooms are not always guaran-
political leaders on campus. The Galway Housing Support Group, a housing activist group, urged students to join them in a protest directly addressing the government regarding the housing crisis that affects hundreds of students every year in the city. “I went to the protest because I wanted to be part of sending a message to the politicians at the debate that we want to see change in the country, in particular, to do with housing and climate policy,” says protest attendee Conor McGowan, who has struggled for the
With set up for the event beginning the day before at 8am, societies like DramSoc and the Musical Soc GUMS lost two days’ worth of rehearsal time due to their rehearsal spaces now being occupied by RTÉ. The college did not feel it necessary to consider the student body in relation to the event, and the short notice they did receive on the matter meant they could not find an alternative space. general, especially with Galway’s current status of European Capital of Culture, students felt in the dark about this decision to have student services such as the Student Health Unit, Socs Box, Students’ Union Office, Flirt FM and the Hub close early for an non-student related event such as a political debate. Some students remained unbothered by the debate, as Áras na Mac Léinn was closed for only one night. For others, however, losing this space for one night meant much more than not being able to play foosball with the lads after a lecture. With set up for the event
teed for the duration needed and are limited in space due to furniture. With college stress, societies like these can be a great hobby and stress reliever for students. Although I did not personally attend the protest because of how little the takeover affected me, I understand the other side to the argument. For this recreational period to be removed for the college’s own interest and profit is disappointing and gave the protest validity and reason. Meanwhile, others took advantage of the debate and the presence of influential
four years of his undergraduate with finding accommodation. “It was a success in gathering a varied group of people all with different objections to the current government.” Although the protests never garnered any coverage from RTÉ per se, there are videos of leaders entering the Bailey Allen Hall that have the satisfying booming voice of protesters in the background. The leaders were not the only ones voicing their opinions that Monday, and now it is up to the government and the University to listen and make a change in future decisions.
