Issue 11 Volume 20

NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL. 20 Issue 11. 12 MAR 2019

Student Independent News

NUI Galway students elect their Students’ Union full-time officers By Áine Kenny The students of NUI Galway have elected their three full-time Students’ Union representatives for the academic year 2019/20. Voting took place on Thursday 7 March and results were announced before midday on Friday 8 March.

Clare Austick was elected as President of NUI Galway Students’ Union in the first round, with 1,283 votes. Eibhlín Seoighthe came in second with 413 votes. There were 16 spoiled votes, and 63 people voted to reopen nominations. There were 1,775 votes in total.

Speaking after her victory, Clare said she was honoured to have been elected the next President of the NUI Galway Students’ Union. “It’s been a long week with a rollercoaster of emotions. I commend all the candidates who put themselves forward and gave it their all.”

“I really hope they are proud of themselves.

I’m excited to lead the Union and hopefully make a positive impact on the student experience for all,” she concluded.

Cameron Keighron was elected as Vice President/Education Officer in the second round of counts, with 869 votes. Sabrina Vaughan came in close second, with 785 votes. Steven Silke and reopen nominations were eliminated in the first round, with 483 and 38 votes respectively.

Cameron spoke to SIN after his election, saying, “I’m delighted to have been elected as next year’s education officer, I ran against two excellent candidates, who put in some stellar work!”

“I’m really excited to start working on my manifesto points and hopefully be a positive influence in the Union.”

Brandon Walsh won the Vice President/Welfare officer race, and he was deemed elected in round one with 1,272 votes. Ciarán Guy received 393 votes.

Brandon said he wanted to thank his campaign team and everyone who voted for him.

“I’m so grateful to all my team and everyone who supported me over the last few months.

I’m so excited to start the role and try to fill the shoes of my phenomenal predecessors.”

Part Time Officer elections take place this week, with polling taking place on campus from 10am-8pm on Thursday 14 March.

If you won’t be on campus to vote, Remote Vote Registration via the Students’ Union Website is open, and you have until midnight of Wednesday 13 March to register.

Students’ Union Council Chair Election nominations will open at 10am on Monday 11 March and close at 5pm Tuesday 19 March. Nomination forms will be available from the Students’ Union Office and website.

The Union still have a number of part time officer positions left to fill, such as Postgraduate Taught Officer, Postgraduate Research Officer, International

Students Officer and Ethnic M ­ inorities Officer.

If you are interested in running for these positions, contact the Union via email: elections@su.nuigalway.ie.

NUI Galway hosts historic Supreme Court sitting

By Martha Brennan Legal history was made at NUI Galway last week when the Supreme Court sat in Aula Maxima from 4-6 March.

It was the first time the Supreme Court sat outside a courthouse since 1932, and the first time Ireland’s highest court sat in the West of Ireland.

It was only the third time the court sat outside of Dublin.

The Court heard two cases while sitting in Galway. One was a highly reported appeal against the decision of An Bord Pleanála to approve the first phase of an €850 million Apple data centre in Athenry. The other case was an appeal by media mogul Denis O’Brien.

To mark the landmark occasion, NUI Galway’s School of Law organised a number of celebratory on-campus events.

On Monday 4 March, Chief Justice Frank Clarke delivered a speech on ‘The Common Law PostBrexit’ to the legal community in conjunction with the Galway Solicitors’ Bar Association.

A free public event, entitled ‘Women on Supreme Courts’, took place on Tuesday 5 March, as part of the University’s programme of events for International Women’s Day. At the event, current, former and international Supreme Court judges spoke about the contribution of women to adjudication in the superior courts.

Speakers included Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, former Supreme Court Judge and Chair of NUI Galway’s Governing Authority, Mrs Justice Matilda Twomey, Chief Justice of Seychelles and a graduate of NUI Galway’s School of Law, Mr Justice John MacMenamin and Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne.

NUI Galway’s School of Law also delivered a series of closed student seminars in conjunction

with members of the Supreme Court over the course of the visit. Students were given a unique opportunity to interact with the judiciary and academic law staff to address current issues such as consent in relation to sexual offences, and other offences against the person, workplace bullying, the role of a Judge, tribunals of inquiry, disability in the courts, separations of powers, restriction and disqualification of company directors.

The School of Law was “honoured to host this landmark occasion” and said that the events provided students with a “unique opportunity to gain an insight into our legal system.”

Dr Charles O’Mahony, Head of the School of Law said: “I would like to thank the Chief Justice and members of the Supreme Court for participating in these events and for giving their time so generously. We are particularly grateful for the Supreme Court’s willingness to engage with our students.”

“This visit is an exceptional learning opportunity for our law students and the Chief Justice Frank Clarke is to be commended for initiatives such as this, which promote greater understanding of the role of the Supreme Court and the important work it does.”

SIN spoke to Ruth Kelliher, a final year Civil Law student, who attended the events.

“It was such a good opportunity to see the judges.

You learn off quotes and judgments for exams and you don’t really think about how it actually is applied in real life situations, you’re just thinking about your exam paper, so it’s cool to see a real court sitting.”

“I had a great day, it was definitely the best day of my law studies so far. It’s not like what you get from a lecture hall; you get to see the law actually being applied which is rare. It was so different from class and it was a great opportunity as a law student.”

2 N E WS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

INSIDE

NUI Galway to host inaugural computer science education summit 4 NUI Galway accommodation site crash leaves students in a two-day panic 5 UCC Students’ Union President impersonated on live radio 6 My experience with Service Learning 7 First year diaries: procrastination 8 ANTI-VAX: a global health crisis 9 Should RAG week be reinstated? 10 Why we need more women in power 12 LIVING HER BEST LIFE: Sophie Turner 15 The best dressed at the Oscars 16 STYLED BY THE SHOW: You 17 The diet that could save the future of planet earth 18 TREND SPOTLIGHT: the white cowboy boot 19 The rise of K-pop in western society 21 REVIEW: Netflix’s Sex Education 22 NETFLIX’S UMBRELLA ACADEMY: the perfect excuse to procrastinate those mid-term essays 23 PETA shamed for criticising Steve Irwin 24 14 medal haul for NUI Galway at Taekwondo Intervarsities 28 Money talks as Donegal’s Croke Park motion is defeated at congress 29 Kepa fiasco just another episode in Chelsea player power drama 30

By Áine Kenny Hello everyone and welcome to the penultimate issue of SIN for this year! It is hard to believe that this year is coming to a close. I have really enjoyed my time as editor, and the best part was that I got to meet so many new people because of this job, something I wasn’t expecting! Thank you to all our contributors, and I can’t wait to see what you come up with for issue 12.

This edition is jam-packed with content, and our front page features our three new full time Students’ Union officers. The campaign was hard fought, and I really enjoyed interviewing all seven people who went for the jobs. I won’t be here to see how their polices play out, but I am sure the SIN team will be keeping a close eye on them and holding them to account!

Our other front-page article was written by Martha and is an insight into the Supreme Court sitting in NUI Galway, which made history. This was of great benefit to law students, because they got to see how the amendments and legislation they study applies to real life. The two cases were incredibly interesting as well, involving Apple and Denis O’Brien.

In news, NUI Galway has been doing some really exciting things this week.

From dressing for success workshops, empathy studies, computer summits

and celebrating Irish Traveller Ethnicity day, there is always something going on around campus!

A really interesting feature in this edition is the article about NUI Galway’s accommodation websites crashing. I remember the stress of being in sixth year, trying to book Corrib Village. I really needed to get it too, as I lived three hours away. I ended up taking a day off school just to book my meagre single room, and I was fortunate that the website didn’t buckle.

When trying to book Gort na Coiribe the next year, most of us suffered the fatal consequences of the buffering online form. My friend and I were the very last people to get a room; we were in the last house’s twin room. The majority of my other friends weren’t so fortunate, and ended up moving out to Westside and renting privately, free from the mercy of internet servers and error pages.

The same thing happens every year.

What this shows is the complete lack of care that these complexes have towards potential students. We are just cash cows. Why is booking accommodation for NUI Galway more difficult than getting an Ariana Grande ticket off Ticketmaster? And why aren’t the University doing more to address this?

Anyway, onto other matters. Opinion this week has some articles arguing the merits of the countryside, later

Photo: Joanna Kavanagh school hours, and scrapping school tests. Who could disagree?

Fashion and lifestyle is especially colourful this week, we take a look at the best dressed at the Oscars, back to basics for spring, and trend spotlight: white cowboy boots (Pulling… them… OFF!).

In arts and entertainment, we have coverage of K-pop, cancel culture, and the beloved Steve Irwin. Is anyone else still not over his death? I found it incredibly insensitive of PETA to slander him on his birthday. Maybe they should stick to what they do best, promoting weird ads that shame and/or objectify women.

Sport as usual offers a multitude of coverage. We have articles on Caster Semenya, Taekwondo, Donegal’s failed attempt to get the Dubs out of Croke Park, the drama at Chelsea football club and much more.

Happy reading guys! We are taking a break for a week so our last issue is out on 2 April. If you want to get involved for the last issue, my email is editor. sin@gmail.com.

NUI Galway to team up with Dress for Success to promote workplace equality

By Harry King

EDITOR: Áine Kenny editor.sin@gmail.com LAYOUT: Shannon Reeves An bhfuil rud éigin le rá agat?

Cur litir chuig an Eagarthóir chuig editor.sin@gmail.com

Find us online:

www.sin.ie

NUI Galway have announced a partnership with Dublin charity Dress for Success to promote equality in the workplace.

Dress for Success is a charity that promotes the economic independence of woman by providing career development tools and a support network.

NUI Galway is the first university to bring Dress for Success to a college campus.

Through the partnership, Dress for Success will advise on CV preparation and interview skills.

Complementing this, they will provide tips on professional clothing and styling to Galway women preparing to enter the workforce or return to it.

The University, in conjunction with Dress for Success, has already hosted a number of events in Galway.

On 7 March a roundtable discussion and media event took place on campus about equality in the workplace ahead of International Women’s

Day on 8 March. The talks focused on issues around the gender pay gap, among others.

The panel featured the founder and director of Dress for Success Dublin Sonya Lennon, Head of the School of Political Science and Sociology in NUI Galway Dr Michelle Millar, and Merit Medicals’ Vice President of European Operations, Mark Butler.

Sonya Lennon also spoke to NUI Galway students about the “First Steps to Success” and “owning your worth and planning the game strategy.”

The event aimed to help students develop their personal brand and understand their worth to try and optimize their career from the beginning.

Ms Lennon said: “As a charity campaigning across all sectors to champion and advocate for workplace equality, we’re delighted to have NUI Galway partner with us for the IWD2019 (International Women’s Day) campaign, the first university to do so.”

“It is great to see the work that NUI Galway have been doing in moving towards full gender equality and we’re

delighted to play our role, joining with them in this effort.”

Professor Anne Scott, Vice President for Equality and Diversity at NUI Galway added: “We are delighted to partner with Dress for Success Dublin to support our communities as we strive for greater equality in the work place and work to address issues such as the gender pay gap.”

Dress for Success has supported over 2000 women since its creation in 2011 with professional clothing, skills and development opportunities to secure employment.

According to the charity, 57 percent of the women who have worked with them have gone on to secure employment and 75 percent are now where they want to be, whether that be in further education and training or working.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day was “Balance for Better” and campaigns surrounding the day will continue throughout the year to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

N UAC HT

March 12 2019

NEWS EDITORIAL

OPINION EDITORIAL

By Martha Brennan

By Tarryn McGuire

Welcome to issue 11 everyone!

I can’t believe we are nearly at our last issue, and I’ve been so impressed with all of the writing for SIN this year I never want it to end.

I hope everyone got a chance to pick up our election special, all of the candidates were amazing and it’s so important to get out and vote on the day. Our Students’ Union does a lot more for us than you might realise!

We have a lot of news for you this week, and this issue’s news section has been one of my favourites to edit so far. From the Supreme Court, empathy studies to election results, there is something for everyone in this edition.

Be sure to check out all of our updates on all things NUI Galway and, as always, if anyone has any news stories please send me an email to deputy.sined@ gmail.com.

Hey everyone and welcome to issue eleven of SIN! With the weeks flying by, it won’t be long before those dreaded exams begin to overwhelm us entirely. So, before we get sucked into the never-ending study sessions, let’s take some time to relax and enjoy this week’s content.

Paddy’s day is coming up and every village, town and city will be celebrating with small and large parades throughout the day. While some of us enjoy the buzz of a city parade, others are used to smaller and more local parades in their hometowns, and Rachel discusses the differences between living in the country and the city in our opinion section.

This issue includes fascinating articles on topics such as why we need more women in power, why schools should start later and why consequences should be more severe for people who mistreat and abandon pets.

With exams approaching, Anastasia speaks out on why school tests are not effective, and I’m sure that by May, we will all be agreeing with her.

If anyone wants to contribute to the next issue of SIN, please just send me an email at opinion.sined@gmail. com.

FEATURES EDITORIAL

By Olivia Hanna Well ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the second to last issue of this year’s SIN. It has been an honor to be on the editorial team and to work with Áine and our amazing contributors.

In this issue I’m particularly proud of Rachel Garvey’s piece about why she writes. I think many of us here at SIN can relate to Rachel’s story about the importance of writing in our lives. For me, it’s a way to connect. Connect with other individuals, with the world at large, and most importantly, to deeper parts of myself.

SIN has been a great way to connect on all of those levels and I will miss it very much!

In addition to Rachel’s piece we also have a great article on the recent anti-vax movement. Since the article was written a decade long study was published proving that there is no link between the vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella and autism. Alice did an excellent job at looking at the anti-vax movement and its consequences.

Sinead Walsh spoke to students about their experience with a website crash while trying to book their accommodation for 2019/2020. It highlights a largely overlooked part of the accommodation crisis. There aren’t enough beds, but students have a difficult time securing them when they’re still available.

FASHION AND LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL

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tary – anything. Let the people read your words!

Now grab yourself a non-fat soy milk caramel latte and put your feet up.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL

By Sarah Gill Hello and welcome to the second last issue of SIN. *fights back tears*.

Since we’re coming to an end, everyone has really been serving up their A-game.

Nithu, as always, has penned an epic movie review, a beautiful poem and a run down of events from this year’s Oscars. Daniel wrote a thought-provoking piece on the idea of ‘cancelled culture’, which exists within our society and asks the question: when is it justified?

Throughout the section you’ll see an ode to Steve Irwin, an introduction to K-Pop and some great poetry.

We’ve also got a review of Netflix’s new series Umbrella Academy, which is definitely worth a watch.

We also have a review of Netflix’s Sex Education, the new British teen comedy that everyone is talking about.

Since the next issue will be our last, now is the perfect time to send in any pieces you’ve been sitting on. Poetry, reviews, critiques, social commen-

SPORTS EDITORIAL

By Graham Gillespie Welcome to the penultimate issue of SIN of the academic year. In this issue’s sport section we have Harry King on Caster Semenya’s efforts to overturn the IAAF’s ruling in relation to testosterone rules.

There is also a couple of articles related to US sports, with Markus Krug looking at whether the NBA and NFL should allow high school players to enter the draft, and Darragh Nolan reflecting upon Colin Kaepernick reaching a settlement with the NFL. Danny Casserly, meanwhile, tries to figure out what the hell is going at Chelsea, and Tomás Keating examines why congress did not pass Donegal’s Croke Park motion at congress.

Finally, there’s news from NUI Galway Taekwondo, who enjoyed huge success at their intervarsities recently.

If anyone want to get involved, just send me an email to sport.sined@ gmail.com.

*One-way only. Online offer. Ends February 24th. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

SPEND LESS. SEE MORE. *

By Molly Fitzpatrick Welcome back to SIN! Spring is finally here, or at least in between the downpours, hail showers and thunder storms. Nonetheless, my wardrobe is crying out for a spring update and this issue isn’t short of inspiration.

In our trend spotlight I talk all about why I love this season’s ‘marmite’ trend (you either love it, or loath it!) the white cow boy boot. If out-there trends don’t inspire you, turn to this issue’s ‘Living Her Best Life’ to read all about how you can steal actress Sophie Turner’s killer style and embody her attitude.

In our styled by the show, Rachel shows us how we can master the cool and casual style of Guinevere Beck from Netflix’s gut-wrenching thriller series YOU. If you’re stuck for something to do this weekend, look no further as editor Áine Kenny counts down her favourite brunch spots in Galway. Five brunches in one weekend?

Sounds doable to me!

Finally we look at the most recent dietary phase that’s a little different to the celebrity fad diets of the past, the planetary diet. This science based diet could save the planet whilst also making us far more healthy, what’s not to like?

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4 N E WS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

NUI Galway study shows young people have high levels of empathy but low levels of civic action

By Harry King A new study published by the researchers at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway has assessed the social values, civic behavior and empathy of young people in Ireland.

The study, funded by the Irish Research Council, sought to understand the values of 700 12 to 16 year olds in Ireland.

It also shed a light on the degree to which these attributes are promoted across Irish policy and curriculum.

One of the many observations drawn from the study found that young people showed high levels of empathy and social responsibility values, but low levels of civic action.

Young people illustrated that whilst it is easy to feel empathy for others in society, it is more difficult to actively help or engage with a societal problem.

One young person, aged 14, said in the study: “If they’re a genuine person, most people would help them, but if they’re a bad person like or something, it might turn you off them.”

Some of the reasons for this inactive approach were not knowing what to do, or fear of showing weakness.

Young people believe that lack of knowledge, lack of access to resources, lack of help from adults and fear of been taken advantage of stops teenagers from showing what they feel.

“We don’t know where to start; we’re like...I really want to help, but how? What will I do that will make a difference?” said one 16 year old.

On average girls scored higher than boys on measures of empathy, social responsibility, and civic behavior.

A young person aged 14 years old explained why this might be case. “I don’t think boys can show their feelings around their friends – their friends will be like, “Oh look, you’re being soft” ...like if you’re a boy you’re supposed to be hard and tough, so that’s the act you put on.”

It also emerged from the study that experiencing an open classroom climate and having parents and friends that endorse pro-social values were found to positively influence the values of young people.

A 14-year-old explained, “If you’re surrounded by a group of people who judge everyone as they pass, then you’re going to learn to be like that....”

The study also made clear that despite the increasing support for social and emotional learning, academic achievement remains the key priority in the formal education sector.

The study found that social and emotional learning in schools falls to a small number of interested teachers and they can be reluctant to use the active methodologies associated with such learning.

“Like if the school situation was changed maybe and they focused more on teaching students not

NUI Galway lecturer wins prestigious award for cancer research

By Amy Blaney A Galway scientist has been recognised for her work in cancer research after winning an award at the 2019 Irish Cancer Society Research Awards.

Dr Ryan, who lectures in Tumor Immunology in NUI Galway’s School of Medicine, won the award for Research Paper of the Year for her vital research in bowel cancer.

Dr Ryan received the prize as an author for the scientific paper, ‘Stromal cell PD-L1 inhibits CD8+ T-cell antitumor immune responses and promotes colon cancer’, which was published in the journal of Cancer Immunology Research.

The paper was written by a team of authors, led by PhD researcher Grace O’Malley of NUI Galway. Other Galway-based colleagues who contributed include Oliver Treacy, Kevin Lynch, Serika Naicker, Paul Lohan, Thomas Ritter, and Laurence Egan.

After receiving funding by the Irish Cancer Society for research into bowel cancer in 2013, Dr Ryan has worked on finding new ways to treat bowel cancer through immunotherapy treatments, which involves booting the body’s natural defenses against cancer.

“Bowel cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths in Ireland, so I feel privileged that my Irish Cancer Society funding has given me the chance to explore new ways to treat this disease and save lives,” Dr. Ryan said.

“Through my Irish Cancer Society fellowship I wanted to give more hope to people going through the most advanced forms of bowel cancer by exploring better treatments. Since then I’ve used this experience to progress my research and continue the fight to stop this disease.”

The Irish Cancer society announced at the ceremony that it is on track to invest €30 million into cancer research before 2020 - which is a massive achievement - thanks to the public’s generosity.

Averil Power, Chief Executive of the Irish Cancer Society, said at the ceremony: “This decade has broken all records for cancer research in Ireland. Thanks to the generosity of the public, the Irish Cancer Society has invested more money in life-saving research than ever before, finding better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer”.

The award ceremony was held in Dublin’s House of Lords on Friday 15 February.

The awards recognise the vital work being undertaken by researchers and support staff throughout the country every year and are funded by public donations to the Irish Cancer Society.

The Irish Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Day will take place on the 22 March. Events will take place around the country to try to raise funds for vital cancer research. To donate or get involved go to cancer.ie/daffodilday.

l-r: Professor Pat Dolan, Dr Charlotte Silke, Cillian Murphy, Dr Bernadine Brady, Dr Ciara Boylan, and Mr Peter Brown. Photo: Jason Clarke Photography only about academics but also how to approach life, feelings, empathy,” said one 15-year-old student.

Overall the research recommends that the older people in an adolescent’s environment should be

aware of the role they play in their cultural, social and emotional learning, and that better policy guidelines are needed to support the promotion of youth empathy.

NUI Galway to host inaugural computer science education summit

By Martha Brennan NUI Galway’s School of Education will host an inaugural Computer Science Education summit this week.

The Irish Computer Science for All (CSForAll) Summit will be held on Wednesday 13 March.

The one-day Summit will focus on curriculums for teaching computer science, national and international trends and the importance of Computer Science in the Irish education system.

The event is hosted by NUI Galway and supported by Google Ireland and will welcome current teachers of Computer Science and Coding, potential teachers and schools interested in offering the subject.

Computer Science is set to become a Leaving Certificate subject with nationwide rollout planned for September 2020.

James Whelton, a co-founder of the Coderdojo Foundation, will be a guest speaker at the event.

Coderdojo is a global volunteer-led community of free programming workshops for young people between the ages of seven and 17. Whelton started the campaign in Cork at just 18 years old. The workshops are now available in over 93 countries.

Whelton said, “Having worked with young people learning to code and my own journey coding from a young age, I’m delighted to support NUI Galway in organising this summit, furthering the cause of education around Computer Science - which continues to substantially empower not just young people’s future, but the future of our collective society.”

“Sharing stories and learnings from the CoderDojo movement with that of formal Computer Science education - this Summit promises to be a great conversation.”

International experts Professor Aman Yadav from Michigan State University in the US and Professor Peter Hubweiser from Technische Universität München in Germany will also speak at the summit about their experience in Computer Science education rollout.

Dr Claire Conneely, CS Education Programme Manager at Google is another one of the featured speakers at the event.

Ireland’s National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) will be represented at the summit and primary and post-primary school students will showcase their work to date in coding and Computer Science at the event.

The event was organised by Dr Cornelia Connolly, a lecturer in NUI Galway’s School of Education.

“The Irish CSForAll Summit amplifies the work of the key stakeholders nationwide engaged in developing computer science education.” Dr Connolly said.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to host the first International Summit and support schools in their provision of CS education in Ireland. Having the key people together in one place is a wonderful opportunity and as the title of the day suggests, we will be ‘Coding the Future of Education’”.

The subject of Computer Science is not only concerned with coding, but it also incorporates networks, data, and the impact of computing on society.

CSforAll started in the US and has since become a global movement and become a central resource for individuals and organisations interested in computer science education.

The mission of CSforAll is “to make high-quality computer science an integral part of every child’s school experience.”

N UAC HT

March 12 2019

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5

NUI Galway NUI Galway acknowledges accommodation site Irish Traveller Ethnicity Day crash leaves students in a two-day panic

By Olivia Hanna

By Sinéad Walsh It’s 8.59am. You wait with bated breath for the link to go live at 9am.

The seconds ticking by feel like years.

Then, that much anticipated moment finally comes, and you feverishly click the application link. You watch the pixels of the loading bar move lifelessly across the screen. Next you see the application queue; you’re applicant 3400 of 3400, it’s going to be a long day.

Most of us have experienced a situation such as this at least once – whether booking accommodation, concert tickets, or some other highly anticipated online purchase.

More than 3500 prospective NUI Galway students experienced exactly this recently as they attempted to secure their on-campus accommodation for the next academic year.

The NUI Galway student accommodation booking system has faced widespread criticism over the years, with last year’s hopeful students being faced with tedious applications during the stress of Leaving Cert mocks.

This year has been no different. Due to the mass amount of traffic on the site the morning of applications, students faced a continuously crashing webpage, with some student’s applications rebooting and taking them further behind in the queue of applications.

Aspiring NUI Galway student John Feeney had five devices at the ready on the morning of Thursday 21 February, prepared for what he had heard to be a highly faulty booking system. Despite his preparation however, John, along with copious other students, were faced with the stress of losing their place in the application queue and a lack of updates on the issue from the accommodation management: “the whole thing crashed and by the time it came back up I was 200th in a queue of about 3000.”

John, and many other students, took to Twitter to express their disappointment and frustration following the failure of the website.

Potential NUI Galway student @ shaunadoherty02 voiced her distress on Twitter; “I can’t even explain the amount of stress I feel at the NUIG accommodation system right now.”

Others leveraged their misfortune to create witty Tweets, one applicant @PaulSearson tweeted: “June 2019, NUIG’s accommodation website is still down. Nobody has any booking.

They are running out of error codes.

Goldcrest is demolished.”

Management eventually closed the site and released a statement on Twitter apologising for technical issues and promising that they would be reopening it the next day with rooms still available. Some fortunate students such as Oisín Roache, were contacted later that evening to continue their application over the phone.

Oisín told SIN how he was one of the lucky few who didn’t have to wait until the next day to book a room. The NUI Galway hopeful recognised that others weren’t so fortunate. “For others though I think the whole process was terrible, I’m sure a lot of people didn’t get the rooms they should have because of the issues.”

Those who hadn’t yet succeeded in their applications had to begin the whole process again the next day, with student John Feeney citing that it was 3pm before his application was finally processed.

Due to the consistently high demand and lack of supply of student accommodation in Galway, the mass levels of applicants should have been anticipated by the accommodation management. Regardless of the numbers of applicants, the responsibility lies with accommodation providers to uphold a fully functioning application process and not add to the escalating pressure on second and third-level students. This issue seems to be just another grain of salt in the ocean of problems that comprise the current accommodation crisis in Galway City.

To acknowledge Irish Traveller Ethnicity Day, NUI Galway held an Access to Nursing and Midwifery Workshop on 25 February.

According to organizer Owen Mac an Bhaird, the aim of the workshop was to “empower members of the travelling community to enter third level education, while being encouraged and supported by NUI Galway.”

Mac an Bhaird partnered with NUI

Galway’s Access Programmes Office, School of Nursing and Midwifery, as well as the Office of the Vice President for Equality and Diversity, and the day was funded by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Fund.

Attendees got an overview of General Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, and Midwifery programmes from Dr Bróna Mooney and Bernard McCarthy.

They also heard from Mature Students Officer Trish Bourke who talked to them about pathways to third-level

education and informed them about the system of supports at NUI Galway.

The workshop was a clear success as Mac an Bhaird shared that “as a direct result from the workshop, five members of the travelling community have begun the process of student registration for the academic year 2019/20.”

Irish Traveller Ethnicity Day is celebrated annually on 1 March. It marks the anniversary of Travellers gaining ethnic status and aims to showcase Traveller culture.

L–R: NUI Galway’s Imelda Byrne, Head of Access Programmes; Owen Mac an Bhaird, Dr Bróna Mooney, School of Nursing and Midwifery; and Tonya Watts, Equality Manager

6 NEWS & F E ATU R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

NUI Galway engineering pipe dream in the works

By Amy Blaney NUI Galway’s college of Engineering and Informatics have successfully collaborated with Galway construction company Ward and Burke Construction Ltd to implement major sewer infrastructure to combat the growing environmental issues with Galway’s sewage system.

The innovative project received the Technical Innovation of the Year Award at the Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards in 2018.

The project was designed to alleviate wastewater from combined sewer overflows in Galway.

The sewage problem is a major pollution issue in the city’s River Corrib, and a source of pollution to Irelands rivers and estuaries.

A new model testing facility at NUI Galway has been built and designed by the partnership between the College of Engineering and Informatics, and Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. The new state of the art facility is one of the largest in Ireland.

In Ireland, the changing climate is resulting in more frequent rainfall and higher temperatures. Along with an increasing population, changes in Irish water systems are more important now than ever.

Anyone living in Galway is aware of the dangers of heavy rain and flooding.

More intense rainfall is a stress to an aging water system and puts pressure on the 150-year-old technology in Galway.

This is a major environmental concern for the existing wastewater collection system. The current combined sewer system is outdated and insufficient.

The 150-year-old system was designed to collect both rain water and sewage water in one pipe system.

However, water running from households and streets tends to fill this pipe system quickly and overflow into natural water bodies before reaching treatment plants.

The old system is not designed to cope with modern day activity, and rivers are experiencing increasing amounts of raw wastewater from combined sewer overflow after short amounts of rainfall.

The proposed solution to this problem is to build a combined sewer overflow interception structure.

This innovative structure operates by collecting wastewater before it discharges and overflows into the environment.

The system will redirect the waste to a wastewater treatment plant for cleaning via a deep tunnel system.

Michael Ward, director of Ward and Burke Construction said the collaboration with NUI Galway has been “very productive for both parties”.

Dr Sean Mulligan, project manager and co-principal investigator from NUI Galway stated a number of alarming facts and emphasised the need for innovative water structures for public wellbeing and protection of the environment.

Dr Sean Mulligan, NUI Galway receives the Technical Innovation of the Year Award from Geraldine Larkin, CEO of NSAI, pictured with Stephen Nash from the College of Engineering and Informatics, NUI Galway, Colin O'Neill, NUI Galway Masters student and Ward and Burke Design Engineer, and members from Ward and Burke Construction Ltd at the Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards 2018. Photo: Engineers Ireland According to Dr Mulligan, “unknown to the public eye, raw sewage overflows continuously throughout the year, for example 32 tonnes of wastewater is released into the River Thames in London, and in the US, three billion tonnes of wastewater is released into rivers through

combined sewer overflows annually”.

The project highlights the expertise of research staff and technical support staff at NUI Galway.

Stephen Nash, NUI Galway lecturer and co-principal investigator added: “The importance of having world-

class laboratories is to collaborate with construction companies such as Ward and Burke construction Ltd. This type of work helps NUIG to provide a firstclass teaching experience to its students where they can engage with real engineering projects.”

UCC Students’ Union President impersonated on live radio

By Martha Brennan

Alan Hayes.

Photo: UCC Students’ Union

University College Cork’s Students’ Union President, Alan Hayes, was impersonated on live radio late last month.

During a discussion about the University’s Raise and Give (RAG) week on Cork’s 96fm, someone claiming to be the Students’ Union President came on air to discuss the complaints being made to the radio show by local residents.

Hayes clarified the situation on Twitter once he was notified of the impersonation by a friend who happened to be listening.

He said that the caller “passed inaccurate remarks about the UCC Students’

Union and made people question if we really cared about our students and local residents.”

The impersonator called in response to a story from a previous caller, in which an elderly woman said that the hat she was wearing was taken off her head and thrown in the air by a group of male students.

Hayes’s impersonator called it “harmless fun” and said that residents should “know its par for the course this time of year. College is the time when we get out our boisterous behavior and get ready for the working world.”

The show’s host spoke to the caller about how the amount of calls to the show about

anti-social behavior increased during RAG week and Hayes’s impersonator responded that “Students are a soft target.”

The impersonator’s call sparked a lot of anger from listeners. One listener texted in saying, “is this guy for real? How can this guy be president of any organisation and not admit that rolling on bonnets and taking hats off old elderly people is wrong, deflecting from his own inability to control the people he represents and by saying ‘sure this happens in town all the time’”.

Once Hayes became aware of what had happened, he called the show and appeared on air five minutes later to dismiss the impersonator’s statements and clarify the Students’ Union’s stance on RAG week.

Students’ Union Presidents are usually looked upon as a face of a college’s student body, so to have one’s image tarnished in any way can cause irreparable damage.

Even though the impersonators voice was apparently very distinguishable from Hayes’s, anyone who doesn’t know the President may have fallen for the hoax.

Following the event, Hayes said “I was glad to get back on air five minutes later to clarify things, but I’m still worried about the people who didn’t get a chance to hear me respond.”

The identity of the impersonator is still unknown.

NUI Galway study shows link between venomous wounds and the immune system

By Ciara Brennan Last month researchers from the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway published a paper drawing links between the immune system and skin wounds after envenomation from a wide range of animals.

This breakthrough research will ensure appropriate treatment for life-threatening necrotic wounds from snakes, bees, wasps, spiders and jellyfish, and will be implemented by clinicians all

over the world once future experiments are confirmed and carried out.

This will benefit over 500,000 people every year worldwide if successful.

Such venomous wounds are surprisingly common worldwide, however some bites and stings have been recorded that are inconsistent with typical activity of familiar venoms.

These inexplicable venomous wounds are particularly dangerous and increasingly difficult to treat.

They effect victims’ nervous systems;

causing shortness of breath, stiffness and burning pain, sometimes resulting in deep scars, chronic pain and amputations.

Direct lytic activity of the venom can cause the death of cells, intensified or solely caused by the victim’s own immune system in reaction to the presence of venom in activated pathways.

John Dunbar, lead author of the study and doctoral student at the Ryan Institute in NUI Galway, said “Very little has been done to understand the mechanisms that drives necrosis, despite promising results

from two particular studies published around two decades ago.”

The attack of external forces upon bodily cells has recently been affected by advances in biochemistry and immunology in identifying cell death pathways, regulated by cells own proteins.

“We’ve re-analysed those venom-related studies in light of these recent advances,” Mr Dunbar added.

Envenomations cause more than 150,000 deaths worldwide and injure almost half a million people each year.

Finding and targeting specific cell death pathways once a bite or sting has occurred can undoubtedly reduce symptoms within victims.

Dr Michel Dugon from the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway also said “it is something that we will aim to address in the very near future.”

The study proposes that in addition to the existing therapies used to treat envenomations, future research should look at immune-suppression therapies as a way to treat victims.

March 12 2019

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My experience with Service Learning

By Megan Williams For me, my bed is like my own utopia, there aren’t many things that would drive me from it on a damp dreary morning, or any morning in fact. But on a Tuesday morning, when my alarm sounds at 8:30, I cannot wait for the day ahead of me, as I go to attend my Literacy Lift Off classes.

They are the highlight of my week, and the best decision I have made so far in college was choosing to participate in the Service Learning Literacy Lift Off Programme. Not that I don’t love attending lectures where we study renowned (mainly boring) texts, novels and poems!

In variance to these ‘riveting’ lectures and constant regurgitation of assignments, the Literacy Lift Off classes are like a breath of fresh air as we step out into the real world and spend an hour with energetic, enthusiastic (most of the time) kids, helping them to improve their literacy skills and most importantly, helping them to enjoy it. We then have a two-hour reflective class later in the week to discuss our progress, trials and tribulations. I’ll take that over writing essays any day!

For those of you who don’t know that much about Service Learning and the fantastic benefits and opportunities that it offers, I’m going to explain the programme that our college, NUI Galway, offers. The programme is beneficial for both the primary school students and university students alike, as we are given the fantastic opportunity to engage and interact with the local community. As Cremlin says, teaching children literacy is a “purposeful and imaginatively vital experience for all involved, developing youngsters’ competence, confidence and creativity as well as building positive attitudes to learning.”

It is so vitally important for children to grasp the basic understanding of literacy in order for them to flourish and have access to all possible opportunities in life, particularly because studies have shown that reading comprehension impairment is relatively common, although it often goes unrecognized in the classroom.

The importance of literacy is often under-rated and taken for granted, and that is why participants of the service learning programme have such a critical and rewarding role as we see the weekly progress of the students because according to studies, “early interventions to reduce such language-learning weaknesses potentially have very important educational, social, and economic implications.”

The programme provides so much more than teaching children how to read, it involves partnerships and people from diverse backgrounds coming together to share a common bond in literacy, but coming away with more than learning to read. The children learn how to improve their academic and personal skills such as confidence, and the participants learn how to tend to specific needs of individuals with patience and understanding, and as a result, a symbiotic relationship is formed.

As outlined by Dr Burns, our Programme coordinator, “The core objective of this module is to enable students to gain workbased experience, skills, and knowledge, which are of benefit to their academic, professional and personal development, in the area of childhood literacy.”

This programme provides us with the techniques and wellcrafted strategies to overcome the difficulties associated with literacy and to overcome any obstacles that the children may have in an active learning environment.

And now the fun part, my experience in the programme! It felt like it was my first day of primary school as I ecstatically entered the friendly environment, full of nerves and excitement.

My nerves quickly eased as we were introduced into the bustling classroom of 3rd and 4th class students who welcomed us with warm smiles.

We were matched up with one or two kids, and I was paired off with John (name changed for anonymity). We sat down and chatted, as I was eager to gain his approval (I even pretended to support Liverpool with the hopes that he’d like me) and we began to read “Betty goes Batty” together.

John wasn’t a confident reader and admitted that he would much rather play football than read, but was happy to get an hour out of regular classes to take part in the programme. If John was struggling with pronunciation, I helped him sound out the words slowly and if he didn’t understand a word, I explained it.

After each page we discussed what was happening in the book and I quizzed John to confirm that he understood the story, and

to my delight he did and seemed to enjoy it too. Attempting to make the experience more fun, I mimicked and used funny voices for the characters (and desperately hoped that John didn’t think I was uncool).

Every week, John became more comfortable both with me and with reading, and each week he greeted me with a friendly smile.

In seminar classes we prepared games to play with the kids to test their knowledge of the books they were reading and to keep them interested in the story, which John was delighted with as he is very competitive!

Not every week was easy, kids lose concentration and interest or act up at times, but I am really enjoying my experience so far

and I can tell that John and all the other kids and participants in the programme are too.

As I have mentioned previously, the Literacy Lift Off programme is the highlight of my week, and I would recommend it to anybody. It can sometimes be challenging approaching a new situation, especially in college when the world beyond the university walls seem so distant and students are already dealing with new forms of stress on a daily basis, but it is worth every second of it. It has been one of the most gratifying and rewarding experiences and will forever be one of the happiest and most fulfilling moments during my time in university here in Galway.

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SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

FIRST YEAR DIARIES: FINAL YEAR DIARIES: procrastination brace yourselves

By Darren Casserly Another month goes by and you know what that means, another month closer to exam time. It also means that there is only another month of lectures, and for some people that is a joyous thought. No more 9 o’clock lectures where all you want is the sweet release of death. I know I’m being a little hyperbolic there but you have to exaggerate if you want to emphasise your point.

This year has flown by and its hard to believe that I’ve been writing the first-year diary for nearly seven months now and I have to say I’ve really enjoyed it. I know you’ve also enjoyed reading me constantly complaining as well, but don’t worry

I’ve still got a laundry list of things to rant about.

However, I’m trying to keep a bit more positive and focused, but it can be hard sometimes especially when you’ve got a lot of assignments to do and like me you’re a master procrastinator and there’s a lot of good shows on Netflix.

And on this point, the documentary “Abducted in Plain Sight” is great, I watched it while I was supposed to be doing my English assignment due for the next day. But, I eventually finished so I also found out I work better under pressure. I also know that there are a lot of people like me when it comes to work ethic and it makes me think are we more prone to procrastinating now we have so much to distract us like YouTube, Netflix and Snapchat, or is it just in our nature? I really envy people who can just study for hours without a break, 20 mins in and I’m already thinking about calling it a day.

The thought of having to study again for the first time since Christmas is not a nice one, no matter where I went I couldn’t get any work done. If I stay at home I just started to watch YouTube, but going into college makes me think I’m doing work and maybe I might be able to trick myself into actually doing something. I felt that everyone is on top of each other and unless you get in before nine in the morning you’re going to be looking for a seat for ages.

So, on top of all the pressure of exams I’ll be forced into a crowded library that has been outdated for the past 15 years, I just don’t know how people can do it, actually carrying out what you plan on doing. I know for me if I have an essay due in three weeks’ time it gives me two and a half weeks of doing nothing, then three stressful days and I’ve given up doing it any other way. If only I had some work ethic.

By Aileen O’Leary This is the penultimate entry in the final year diaries 2018/2019! This is our 11th issue this year and it is my second last diary entry. There are only a few weeks left in the semester and for my fellow final years and I, these will be the last weeks of college for us. As I’m writing this week’s article, I am looking at postgrad opportunities, masters, jobs, travel and the reality of final year is slowly setting in. It’s called final year for a reason, its final, there’s no going back, this is the end of college.

After four years, countless sleepless nights, cramming sessions, all nighters to get essays finished on time, late nights that turned into early mornings and days spent in one of the greatest cities in the world, the countdown is on. Four years suddenly feels like five minutes, time just slips away so fast, especially when you’re working against the clock.

It’s scary and terrifying to think about life post college, to start thinking about the bigger picture, about career options, moving out of home, travelling or pursuing academic life further. We leave home at 17 or 18 and we’re thrown in at the deep end. We figure out how to survive on our own, through a lot of trial and error but eventually we get the hang of it and before you know it you’re only a few weeks away from your final exams, from finishing something you’ve been working towards for four years.

I am both excited and terrified for college to end.

I’m excited for what’s to come but when I think about NUI Galway and all that came with it, all the ups and downs, it makes me feel a tad nostalgic.

Looking at how far you’ve come since you started, remembering who you were on that first day, com-

pared to who you are today, it’s mind blowing.

College has thrown a lot at me in four years.

In 2015, I was 17, painfully shy, had no sense of fashion (still don’t), couldn’t figure out how to perfect winged eyeliner (still struggling), had no clue what I wanted to do when I grew up and I still don’t. I’m okay with that, with not knowing what the future holds or where I’ll be five years from now because there is no way of knowing how the decisions we make at 17 or 21 will impact our lives.

We just have to go with it and hope that when we’re older we’ll be happy with how it all worked out and if not, that we can be brave enough to start all over again.

To my fellow final years, brace yourselves; the end is just around the corner.

Tiny hands with big expectations

By Rachel Garvey From the age of ten, I began to pour my ideas on to paper. I was quite tiny at the time and people would always look forward to hearing the little stories I used to conjure up during my break times in school. I used to have these huge expectations for the future and compare them to my tiny hands.

How can something so small create something that people would grow to enjoy? I had a hidden talent that soon surfaced, words that transformed into tales that were no longer drowning, but were now floating above the surface just waiting to be seen by the human eye.

Books were always the way to my heart, they were like closed doors waiting to be opened. Even the scent of a newly purchased book would make my smile appear out of thin air, even on my darkest days. I envied the books that I read, how the author brought the story to life and shaped the plot the way they wanted, it’s almost as if they were giving the reader what he or she wants. They want their favourite character to have a happy ending, they want the villain to be punished in some way, but when the author decides to be bold and dismisses our expectations, it just makes everything so much better. The suspense seems real and although we are shocked in some way at the turn of events, we beg for more.

I have always aspired to be one of those authors, one that will grab my reader’s attention and hold it captive until the last word in the book. There are

a tonne of ideas swimming in my head, thoughts that sometimes come together and then separate to form something else, something new. Writing is one of the biggest things in my life and there is a certain proud feeling that comes with it.

When ideas come together in your head, you feel a moment of pride when you see it come together on the paper or the screen in front of you. That feeling of pride comes from the fact that this is your own unique idea, an idea that no one else has ever thought of for a novel. An idea that no one would dare plagiarise.

Of course, writing comes with its own drawbacks. The drawbacks are mandatory though.

You will have people out there who will criticise your work, criticism that can either be what you want to hear or what you don’t want to hear. However, the critical comments that you don’t want to hear are sometimes the more important ones.

Any writer knows that their work always has room for improvement; nothing is ever going to be perfect. There’s always going to be someone reading between the lines of your work and picking out things you’ve never noticed before, things that you could incorporate into your work to improve it that bit more.

Writing isn’t supposed to be straightforward and that’s what I love about it. There’s a challenge around every turn of the page, a burst of inspiration for a new plot and character and, of course, the infamous writer’s block.

As someone who has just dropped out of college

for personal reasons, I was sad to abandon my place in writing for this paper until the editor, Áine, personally messaged me saying that “I have the final

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

say in what goes in the paper and I say we need you.” It’s those kind of encouragements from people that keep me writing today!

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Anti-vax: a global health crisis ERASMUS DIARIES

By Alice O’Donnell

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that “vaccine hesitancy” is one of the top 10 threats to human life. Despite more evidence being released every year disproving any long-lasting negative effects of vaccinations, the anti-vaccination (anti-vax) movement seems to be only growing. This was exemplified in the case last month where an unvaccinated young child reintroduced measles to Costa Rica, an island that had been free from the disease for five years.

The anti-vax movement have a catalogue of reasons for not vaccinating their children, all of which have either been disproven or rebutted thoroughly. For example, one strand of thought is that vaccines are dangerous due to their ingredients, most significantly the mercury-based preservative thimerosal. Even though government health officials recognise the preservative to be safe, nearly all vaccinations have had this preservative phased out of their ingredients for years, simply as a precaution.

The anti-vax movement is surprisingly not a modern one, with the first outcry against vaccines occurring in the late 1700s, when it was believed the smallpox vaccination would turn you into a cow. However, in terms

of recent times, Andrew Wakefield can be considered one of the major sources of the modern anti-vaccination movement.

In 1998, he released a scientific paper which supposedly linked the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine with the development of autism and bowel disease in children.

No other study was able to reproduce findings similar to Wakefield, and in 2004 his study was disproved and the link he created between the vaccine and negative side effects proven to be false. Wakefield has been largely disgraced and has been debarred from the medical practice in the United Kingdom.

However, even though all his findings have been discredited, Wakefield’s research still widely impacts the vaccination world. The immediate effect was a decrease in the number of children being vaccinated, and trend that seems to be getting only more popular.

According to WHO, there are approximately 20 vaccines in use around the world, with many others, including malaria, in the testing process. However, the anti-vax movement has reduced the number of children being protected against communicable diseases, as shown by the increase in cases of whooping cough, measles, meningitis and mumps among many other illnesses. Mumps,

one of the diseases the MMR vaccine protects against, has had an increase in cases in Europe of 248 percent from 2014 (10,807 cases) to 2017 (26,803 cases).

The anti-vax movement isn’t just life threatening to the children themselves, but to many people exposed to the disease. Patients undertaking chemotherapy cannot receive vaccines and are often in danger.

For example, Dr Paul Offit describes in a TIME article how his hospital was caring for two children with cancer who, due to chemotherapy, were unable to be vaccinated. Due to people refusing to get the flu vaccine, these children with already weakened immune systems caught influenza and sadly died.

Senior Lecturer in Social and Preventable Diseases in the School of Medicine at NUI Galway, Dr Diarmuid O’Donovan, points out that even if you’ve missed out on childhood vaccines, such as the MMR vaccination, it is never too late to receive it. He encourages any students who are unsure of their vaccination status to get the MMR vaccination from their GP or the Student Health Service.

As the article in TIME says, the anti-vax movement only results in two things – preventable child mortality from outdated diseases, and angry, misinformed parents.

An Iodáil ag cruthú fadhbanna don Eoraip arís: Conte, Guaidó agus Maduro

le Quinton Beck Bail ó Dhia oraibh, a lucht léite dhílis.

Bhí príomh-aire na hIodáile, Giuseppe Conte, sa mBruiséil Dé Máirt arú seo caite chun óráid a thabhairt os comhair Pharlaimint na hEorpa. Ach níor fearadh fáilte roimhe ar chor ar bith.

“Ar uairibh bíonn an Iodáil,” arsa Guy Verhofstadt, ceannaire an pháirtí liobrálaí i bParlaimint na hEorpa, “ag iompar í féin ar bhealach fritheorpach, agus le teann faltanais oscailte i leith tíortha eile atá san Aontas.”

Bhí goimh ar líon mór de fheisirí na parlaiminte leis an Iodáil go fóill tar éis don tír sin an ráiteas a bhí le heisiú ag an Aontas an tseachtain roimhe sin maidir le Veiniséala a chrosadh.

Bhí an tAontas Eorpach ag iarraidh ráiteas coiteann a chur amach ag tabhairt aitheantais do Juan Guaidó mar uachtarán eatramhach Veiniséala, a bhfuil aitheantas tugtha dó cheana féin ag formhór thíortha Mheiriceá Theas agus Mheiriceá Thuaidh.

Is é Juan Guaidó uachtarán chomhthionól

náisiúnta Veiniséala, ach níor toghadh ina uachtarán ar an tír é. Tá Nicolás Maduro, a toghadh den chéad uair sa bhliain 2013, tar éis bua a fháil arís sa toghchán is déanaí in nár thug sé cead do dhuine ar bith a bheith mar iarrthóir eile ina choinne.

Is mór an chumhacht atá ag Maduro mar uachtarán ar Veiniséala, agus tá tacaíocht chuid áirithe de dhaonra Veiniséala agus tacaíocht na coda is mó den airm aige go fóill. Ach tá an tír ag dul chun anró agus chun ainreachta le fada anois agus tá níos mó ná an deich faoin gcéad de dhaonra na tíre tar éis teitheadh as an tír le linn na mblianta déanacha.

Sa bhliain seo caite, bhí ráta boilscithe na tíre timpeall ar dhá chéad faoin gcéad in aghaidh na seachtaine – is é sin le rá go raibh na praghsanna ag méadú faoi dhó beagnach gach dhá sheachtain. Tá ganntanas bia agus ganntanas cógais i ngach áit den tír leis na blianta anois.

Cuireann rialtas Mheiriceá sáruithe ar chearta an duine agus caimiléireacht i leith rialtas Maduro, agus mar sin tá smachtbhannaí eacnamaíocha curtha ar an Veiniséala agus ar chomhlacht náisiúnta peitril na tíre chomh maith.

Thosaigh an ghéarchéim pholaitíochta atá ar siúl sa tír faoi láthair ar an triú lá fichead de mhí Eanáir, nuair a d’fhógair Guaidó é féin ina uachtarán eatramhach tar éis don pharlaimint a rá go raibh an toghchán neamhbhailí.

D’aithin na Stáit Aontaithe agus tíortha daonlathacha eile Mheiriceá mar uachtarán é go gairid ina dhiaidh sin, ach bhí drogall ar an Aontas Eorpach amhlaidh a dhéanamh. D’iarr siad ar Maduro toghchán nua a shocrú agus thug siad seachtain dó leis sin

a ghealladh.

Dhiúltaigh Maduro toghchán eile a shocrú, agus fuair sé tacaíocht ón Rúis, ón tSín, agus ón Iaráin, mar aon le cúpla tír eile. Ach tar éis dóibh an t-eiteach a fháil uaidh maidir le toghchán nua, bheartaigh an tAontas Eorpach aitheantas a thabhairt do Guaidó.

Ach níorbh fhéidir don Aontas Eorpach ráiteas coiteann a chur amach, toisc chrosadh na hIodáile.

“Níor luaigh siad fáth ceart leis” a dúirt taidhleoir Eorpach amháin leis an EUObserver, maidir leis an Iodáil.

“Seafóid” a thug Guy Verhofstadt air, agus “déanta de réir orduithe ó Mhoscó” a bhí sé, arsa seisean.

Dúirt feisire de chuid an pháirtí 5MS, páirtí phríomh-aire na hIodáile: “Foláireamh deiridh a thabhairt, smachtbhannaí eacnamaíochta a chur, nó earraí Veiniséalacha a reo... céim ar an mbealach chun idirghabhála míleata a bheadh i gceist.”

“Ní mór misneach” arsa sé, “chun cloígh le seasamh neodrach... Is mithid don Eoraip deireadh a chur leis an ngéilleadh d’orduithe Mheiriceá feasta.”

Ach ar an taobh eile, bhí tuairimí eile ag polaiteoirí Iodálacha lasmuigh den pháirtí 5MS. “Ní moladh rómhór orainn é seo,” arsa leasphríomh-aire na hIodáile, Matteo Salvini.

Agus bhí uachtarán na hIodáile, Sergio Mattarella, ní ba láidre: “Ní mór dúinn bheith freagrach agus soiléir agus seasamh coiteann a ghlacadh in éineacht lenár bpáirtithe agus gcomhghuaillithe san Aontas,” arsa seisean.

“Lá éigin beidh náire [ar rialtas na hIodáile] nach raibh siad ar an taobh ceart de réir chuimhne an phobail.”

By Anne Rieger Ok so I don’t know if anyone is actually following this column very actively, but you may have realised that I was gone for the last one. The Irish flu hit me and even loads of tea couldn’t get me out of bed. I decided for this part of the column I am just going to give you a little life update of a German student in NUI Galway – I hope that is as interesting as me ranting about Irish bureaucracy or going on about tea consumption.

I’ve been crazy busy. That’s one sentence that describes my life pretty well at the moment. I hope you can relate to that, with work and midterms, I have lived in a little tunnel of getting up, studying and then bringing people coffee (my job, if anyone thought I’d do that for fun). Midterms are approaching at a fast pace for me, and I still need to write a mere 2000 words in seven days, which seems doable but also insane at the same time.

Insane because there is exciting news! I am finally moving, to a warm and fantastic (mostly warm) place in the city centre. I can’t wait to step out and just take a walk around Spanish Arch. To be fair, I’ll probably never do that because I’m already moving too much at work, but I could and that’s what counts, isn’t it?

I also can’t believe I’ve already been here for seven months, in this time I found the most amazing friends, ate a ton of junk food and studied more than I ever have.

The only thing that still gets to me is that people still call me Anna. Pretty random, I know, but please, stop. There is an E in my name, not an A. (Just wanted to include that in case you ever meet me, thank you very much!)

I’ve also had a visitor from Germany, which was fantastic as well. A friend that I haven’t seen in two years just decided to stay with me for a long weekend and she actually reminded me again why I love and hate this country so much at the same time (mostly love to be fair). She went to the Cliffs of Moher and to Connemara, typical tourist stuff but just hearing her talk about the landscape and the history really brought me back to being proud to live here. Thank you for that, Ireland!

Anyways, I am very sorry about this very random article, but that is mainly what happened the last few weeks and I thought I could just use this as a little diary to let it out. Next time I’ll go back to tea. Or weather.

Or both.

10 OPI N IO N

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

Why school tests are not effective

By Anastasiya Sytnyk The Leaving Cert was not fair. With the emphasis placed on three “main” subjects, we were all judged by what levels we were doing, and the subjects we were studying. We found it hard to choose what courses we wanted to do due to the lack of subject variety and exploration given to us at secondary school, leaving us a bit lost and confused when we finally reached university.

Think back to the exam periods and the endless hours of work you put in to know just the right amount about the subject to pass. Was it enjoyable?

Did it make you feel happy about what you were doing, and most importantly did it give you any time to think about what you wanted to do with your life?

Most of the exams taken at secondary level are based on memory. So, if you don’t have the best memory, you’re doomed. It’s unfair to expect students to all like specific types of subjects and it is unfair to put some subjects above others.

For some, art is the most important subject because they can express themselves and feel happy doing art, however, art is not as important as maths and does not carry an extra 25 points for passing… where is the logic there? Why does an artist need a higher level of mathematics? Why would a writer need to know trigonometry and Pythagoras’ theorem when they specialize in children’s books?

Standardized tests have been proven to be inefficient in testing students on their abilities/ intelligence. So why do we still have such an old-fashioned education system? Why can’t students explore different types of subjects that are more varied, and less memory driven?

Why can’t students be awarded marks for doing assignments for their classes, rather than remembering two years’ worth of content and squeezing it all into a two or three-hour exam? It just doesn’t seem fair on the students.

Why can’t students be awarded marks for doing assignments for their classes, rather than remembering two years’ worth of content and squeezing it all into a two or three-hour exam?

It just doesn’t seem fair on the students.

It is a burned-out concept that leads to stress amongst students and also explains why the highest level of anxiety and depression occur during the fifth and sixth year of secondary school. Exams are made out to be some sort of Boss from a video game, which dictates whether or not you are smart enough for university/college.

This author believes that education should be evened out. All subjects should carry the same amount of work and points. Students should not be forced to cram in study on top of getting their homework done, and mini tests studied for. Students should get marks for homework that would count towards their leaving certificate, as well as changing the flow of the exam by making it less of a “who can write the quickest with the shortest amount of time provided”.

To me, multiple-choice questions would be more effective, as well as possible presentations and social activities. This would make the exams easier to correct as well as minimizing cost and time spent on waiting for results (which is also a massive stress factor).

There are rumours that the education system may or may not change its ways, but one can never know for sure. Unfortunately, it seems like the logical and more realistic approach to educating people in the 21st century is too much effort to establish, and would require too much work and reorganization. One can only hope that improvements will slowly creep their way in and make education not only effective but also fun! Education and fun don’t usually go together, but one can still hope!

Try walking in their paws

By Rachel Garvey According to research, there are over 10,000 animals abandoned each year and that is just an approximate number. How would we feel if we found out the real number? The people who read this will either own a pet or not, but whether we are pet owners or not, we have a responsibility to protect animals, not behave like them.

I have seen examples of children begging their parents for a puppy that they have seen online, their big beady eyes staring at them through a phone screen, begging to be loved.

The majority of parents say no, bringing a pet into the house comes with a list of responsibilities. They are the ones who have their priorities straight and they know they aren’t capable of looking after a pet.

If a dog is unwanted by a family, then the right thing to do is give it to a family who have the time and experience to look after it. Don’t be the person to abandon your pet, to be the reason why your pet fears humans and finds it hard to trust again.

Photo by Grant Durr on Unsplash

However, the ones who give in to the begging of their children are where the first mistake begins.

There is a pent up excitement over how thrilling pet ownership can be. Yes, it can be an experience, but pets are just like us, they need to be looked after.

They need their food and water, a place to sleep, medical care when they are sick, walks everyday and of course, plenty attention to make them feel loved.

We fill our Instagram and Facebook feeds with their innocent faces, our eyes greedily taking in the comments of friends and family commenting “How cute, wish I had a dog”. The attention soon dies down and we become tired of sharing our pets with the online world, which has become tired of it too.

The whole novelty of having a new pet is soon forgotten. Taking your dog out for a walk becomes a non-existent hobby, scratching behind their ears and rubbing their soft bellies becomes an annoyance for some people because they are preoccupied with other activities. Your pet soon learns to live in his or her own little world. They walk around the house or the back garden wondering what to do, wondering why their owner isn’t acknowledging them like previous times. Some dogs are lucky and get adopted by families who want them, others are abandoned.

If a dog is unwanted by a family, then the right thing to do is give it to a family who have the time and experience to look after it. Don’t be the person to abandon your pet, to be the reason why your pet fears humans and finds it hard to trust again. It is animal cruelty, and punishment for such human actions should involve jail. Abandon your pet and society abandons you in a cell.

Try walking in their paws, see the scared look in their eyes and their little body shaking as they look around trying to find a familiar surrounding and wondering why you are walking away from them?

Any pet who is welcomed into a household should be a permanent member of the family, not a temporary novelty who ends up abandoned and alone.

Should RAG week be reinstated?

By Cathriona M Coleman According to a comment made by Mayor Neil McNelis during RAG Week, he implied that students made it look like one big joke. Also, since the Students’ Union stopped backing it, that basically RAG doesn’t serve a purpose.

This is open to debate however.

When RAG week was official, money was genuinely raised for a number of local charities and the students had responsibility before, during and after.

For example, this year alone UCC raised almost €20,000, which indeed speaks for itself. In comparison, NUI Galway or Galway Mayo Institute of Technology raised zero that week, because both colleges want nothing to do with the week in question.

Fair enough in that the damage and chaos from previous years were nothing short of an embarrassment to both colleges and their students. This is assuming the culprits in question had an ounce of dignity in their souls!

Contrary to belief, it’s not always drama and chaos; matter of fact RAG week just gone was strangely calm. This might be due to the fact that the subconscious of certain individuals is somewhat playing on their minds from the antics of previous years, some might call it an ‘attack of conscience’.

Students’ Union President Megan Reilly said in relation to the cancellation of RAG week, “I think it was to curb dangerous behaviour and drinking year on year that was getting out of control.”

In 2011, the draft proposal was drawn up setting out the terms and conditions outlining what Plan B would be to replace RAG week.

This was known as the 2011 SU Agreement.

It clearly states that the “Students Union President hereby enters an agreement with the University whereby the Students’ Union agrees not to organise or otherwise support a Rag Week.”

This reporter caught up with students to get their opinions first hand. Jack, who’s a first year Arts student in NUI Galway, said at the event: “this is my first RAG week, I think it should be controlled a lot more. Maybe Galway City Council should have stewards around the place; it might help with the madness.” Úna from Glenamaddy said, “it should be brought back, people seriously need to chill out and get over themselves.”

It’s a tricky one to call, whether RAG week should be made official or not again. All the events organised at this time can arguably add to the hype of the excitement around the town. As always, it’s only the minor few who give everyone else a bad name.

Then there’s the cold harsh reality of the madness that comes with it, such as all the residential estates where cars have been damaged and windows smashed. Not to mention the fact that elderly people in particular in the past have been scared out of their wits.

On one hand it’s a great idea with all the charities that benefit, but is it really worth it?

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12 O PI N IO N Why the findings of a new study into sleep deprivation in teenagers makes sense

By Fiach Mac Fhionnlaoich A new study into sleep deprivation authored by the Open University has revealed that secondary students who started classes at 10am performed better than those who began earlier.

I think that any university or secondary-level student, or indeed a lecturer or teacher in the modern world, would react to the findings of this study in the same way they would with a study that stated water was wet. It makes me wonder why no one has fought for later start times in educational institutions before now.

My own personal relationship with sleep definitely took a turn for the worse during my teens. During my first two years in university, I commuted from home in Connemara, approximately an hour away from Galway city.

Due to the large volumes of traffic that try to cram their way into the city from all directions in the morning hours, I would have to be up at 6am to ensure I could get to NUI Galway before the big rush.

Depending on the day’s lectures, I sometimes wouldn’t arrive home again until 8pm or 9pm. Then there would be dinner to be eaten, coursework to be done, tests to be studied for. It was difficult to find time for anything else, let alone to schedule in a healthy amount of sleep.

Consider the schoolchildren and adults across this country, dragged ourselves out of bed at the crack of dawn to jam ourselves in traffic at the same time to make it to our respective institutions and workplaces. And for what? Because our society is afraid that we’ll be viewed as unproductive if we have an extra hour’s sleep?

In fact, allowing students to begin their studies at 10am or later would go a long way to easing some of the chronic traffic issues plaguing cities such as Galway, as it would mean less cars on the roads in between 7am and 9am when many people are making their way to work. If the Government filled in the gap by ensuring additional bus services for those who have been relying on their working parents for a lift to school or college, that is.

Ireland isn’t the only country that could do with a reality check when it comes to its relationship with sleep. The study proclaims that American schools are the most sleep-deprived. I am currently attending university in France, where I start my college day at 8AM four days a week. We can barely drag ourselves into class on time, let alone bother with ensuring we eat a balanced breakfast, or with giving the lecture our full attention once it begins.

Sure, people might call us lazy for demanding such a change be implemented as that recommended by the study. But our education is being be paid for, by us, or by our parents, or the Government. It should be ensured that we are rested enough to make the most of it.

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

Why we need more women in power

By Anastasiya Sytnyk We’ve all read the memes and/or held discussions with our friends regarding women in power. This is all due to the fact that women have been generally neglected in society and government positions in the past.

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote on 18 August 1920, ending almost a century of protest.

The fourth President of Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir served from 1 August 1980 to 1996, and was the world’s first democratically directly elected female president. Her famous quote “If anything can save the world, women can”, strikes a chord with people today, just as it did in the past.

The United States have yet to elect a female president, which might lead some to believe that it’s time for a woman to bring a saving grace to their country, and even out the playing field. With rumours of Michelle Obama running for president in 2020, there is hope that America will finally make history and elect their first female president.

Throughout World War I and II the only political leaders were men.

Their disagreements and inability to sit down and discuss the issues led to the deaths of millions of people. Women are branded over-emotional and irrational, and are often excluded from politics even in the present day. However, this is not to say that women are completely ignored in politics. In fact, women are making their way into politics with their passionate displays and protests, as well as their endless battles for minority groups and better living conditions.

Women may be emotional but maybe that’s what we need? We need to feel compassion for the poor and homeless. We need to help those who are fleeing desperate situations with the hope of refuge.

We need to take care of the elderly and the sick.

We need to spread love and equality throughout the world.

This article is not saying that women are better than men; the point is that equality is important. Whether we are black, white, male, female or gender variant, we are all people and we need to respect each other. Why can’t political parties have equal representation sex wise?

Why not have a male and female representative for each country? Women and men could both lead a country where compassion and rationality could coexist and make the world a more equal and fairer place.

The fourth President of Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir served from 1 August 1980 to 1996, and was the world’s first democratically directly elected female president. Her famous quote “If anything can save the world, women can”, strikes a chord with people today, just as it did in the past.

The sheep are my alarm clock

By Rachel Garvey Do you prefer the city or the countryside? There are two typical answers: “I prefer the city to the countryside” and “I prefer the countryside to the city”. I am the person who prefers both. I live in the countryside and it has drawbacks of its own, the benefits can only be found in the city. The city has drawbacks of its own too, the benefits can be found in the countryside.

There is nothing better than waking up in the morning to the relaxing sound of sheep in the field just behind your back garden in the countryside. There have been numerous times when my alarm ringtone has made me jump out of my skin in the early mornings, numerous panic attacks have been the result of the loud ringtone. The sheep in the countryside make waking up so much less stressful, I doubt you’ll ever find a sheep in your neighbour’s garden in the city.

There we go, one benefit of the countryside is waking up peacefully, not in alarm, no pun intended. However, the sound of buses and the chatter of people on the streets is something I miss in the city. Sometimes the peace and tranquillity of the countryside gets too distressing for my ears, the city sounds are a lot more familiar to me. Silence is great and all that, but nothing compares to walking down a crowded Shop Street in Galway and listening to what conversations you can pick up from people around you.

Then there’s the delicious smells that hug your nose when passing the many restaurants and coffee shops around the city centre, smells that tug you by the nose and drag you in to taste the savoury treats and beverages in store. I think I would prefer those hypnotising smells any day over the strong smell of countryside manure in

the fields that surround us. When we moved out to the countryside, we always used to blame each other for being the cause of the smell, however, it was previously passed from inside the animals and was now coating a patch of grass somewhere nearby. I know, delightful!

Then there’s the social side of things. It’s hard being at a distance from the city, let alone your friends and family. Yes, buses do exist out here but at a higher price and less convenient times, but that is something that cannot be changed. The countryside really is a beautiful place and although it’s nice to live in the quietness of the green fields, one does start to miss the little things about the city.

Little things like having the places you need to be in walking distance, the endless variety of shops and cafes and that one weird guy who always tries to talk to you at the bus stop.

Photo by Vruyr Martirosyan on Unsplash

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2018-2019

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Vice President / Education Officer Leas Uachtarán / Oifigeach Oideachais

Eibhlín Seoighthe

President / Uachtarán

Vice-President / Welfare and Equality Officer Leas-Uachtarán / Oifigeach Leasa agus Comhionannais

su.president@nuigalway.ie 086 385 5502

su.welfare@nuigalway.ie 086 385 3659

Megan Reilly

su.education@nuigalway.ie 086 385 3658

Clare Austick

Oifigeach na Gaeilge

Mature Students’ Officer Oifigeach na Mac Léinn Lánfhásta

Postgraduate Taught Officer Oifigeach na nIarchéimithe Teagasctha

Postgraduate Research Officer Oifigeach na nIarchéimithe i mbun Taighde

su.gaeilge@nuigalway.ie 087 174 9570

su.maturestudents@nuigalway.ie 089 966 4053

su.pgtaught@nuigalway.ie 086 238 6183

su.pgresearch@nuigalway.ie 085 134 2748

Societies Chairperson Cathaoirleach na gCumann

Clubs Captain Captaen na gClubanna

SU Council Chairperson / Cathaoirleach na Comhairle do Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn

Convenor of the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies / Tionólaí Choláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta & an Léinn Cheiltigh

su.socs@nuigalway.ie 087 677 8449

su.clubs@nuigalway.ie 091 524 810

su.council@nuigalway.ie 085 176 2031

su.arts@nuigalway.ie 087 133 1473

Convenor of the College of Science Tionólaí Choláiste na hEolaíochta

Convenor of the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences / Tionólaí Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais & na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte

Convenor of the College of Business, Public Policy & Law / Tionólaí Choláiste an Ghnó, an Bhearais Phoiblí agus an Dlí

Convenor of the College of Engineering & Informatics / Tionólaí Choláiste na hInnealtóireachta agus na Faisnéisíochta

su.science@nuigalway.ie 085 204 8786

su.medicine@nuigalway.ie 087 621 0216

su.business@nuigalway.ie 091 524 810

su.engineering@nuigalway.ie 089 223 7676

International Students Officer Oifigeach na Mac Léinn Idirnáisiúnta

Gender and LGBT+ Rights Officer Oifigeach um Chearta Inscne agus LADT+

Disability Rights Officer Oifigeach um Chearta Míchumais

Ethnic Minorities Officer Oifigeach na Mionlach Eitneach

su.international@nuigalway.ie 083 884 4332

su.lgbt@nuigalway.ie 085 816 3837

su.disability@nuigalway.ie 089 456 7106

Adhna Nic Dhonnchadha

Brandon Walsh

Ryan Guilfoyle

Scott Green

Daniel McFadden

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Chuka Paul Oguekwe

Sabrina Vaughan

Liezel Ravenscroft

Alex Coughlan

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Cameron Keighron

Clodagh McGivern

Muireann O’Sullivan

Jibran Abbasi

Rían McKeagney

Roshan George

Victoria Chihumura

su.ethnicminorities@nuigalway.ie 085 231 3107

Áras na Mac Léinn, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.

FAIS EAN

March 12 2019

7

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

Living her best life:

Sophie Turner

Recreating your favourite star’s boujie lifestyle on a budget!

By Amy McMahon Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner first took to our screens as Sansa Stark in 2011. Since her debut she has been a fashion force to be reckoned with, covering Marie Claire, Nylon and many more major magazines. This week Glamour have announced Turner will join her GOT co-star Maisie Williams as the cover stars of their SS19 Beauty & Style Book.

Turner has an effortlessly cool vibe about her and this transcends into her style. She turned heads in an outfit that public deemed ‘too risqué’ for Kit Harrington and Rose Leslie’s wedding in 2018. Apparently thigh high boots and a tuxedo dress are too extra nowadays…

Nevertheless, I have chosen a more appropriate outfit to bag for less. This look takes inspiration from one of her ‘out out’ looks in Los Angeles with soon to be sister-in-law Priyanka Chopra.

Wearing vintage Tommy Hilfiger, this Brit rocks an oversized American flag shirt dress. Pick up a similar style from H&M’s menswear section (€19.99). This navy ‘New York’ rugby shirt will work as a dress if you size up to either XL or XXL. If you can splash the cash for the real deal, keep an eye out on Etsy, prices vary from €27.30 to €227.54. Of course, read the reviews before making an order and remember if it seems too good to be true, it might be!

As a Louis Vuitton brand ambassador, Turner makes the obvious choice and styles the shirt dress with LV accessories. The Nasty Gal ‘Good Run Treaded Sneakers’ are a close second to the Louis Vuitton ones worn. The site always has incredible deals, typically 40-50% off. At the minute these trainers are available for €23.50, reduced from €47.

This adorable Topshop bag is a great dupe for the Louis Vuitton ‘New Wave’ bag, which retails for €1490. On a student budget, the €40 Topshop bag will do just fine! As for final touches, add some simple accessories. Weekday’s silver mini hoop earrings (€6.91 available from ASOS) and low dernier tights from Penneys (pack of for €6).

Sophie Turner has a classic English rose complexion and uses makeup to play into this look, keeping it simple and elegant. Taupe eyeshadow and a soft peach blush seem to be her go-to products. The ZOEVA ‘En Taupe’ palette is a

brilliant buy (€21.75, Beauty Bay). The ‘Life’s a Peach’ blush by L’Oreal is very like the one worn by the natural beauty (€11.99, Boots).

In a recent interview with Glamour, Turner revealed her favourite hair care products were by the brand Wella. She adores the Wellapex No.3 Hair Stabilizer (€19.28, parfumdreams.IE). Seeing as Sansa’s fiery red locks are very different to Turner’s naturally blonde ‘do, I trust any haircare recommendations coming from the actress. Her hair has been dyed again and again.

In her spare time, Turner can be found chilling with her fiancé Joe Jonas and the rest of the Jonas Brothers clan. She stars in the music video for the band’s comeback single ‘Sucker’, alongside Danielle Jonas and Priyanka Chopra.

With assignments stacking up and exams looming, now is the perfect time to procrastinate and take a Buzzfeed quiz. ‘Are You a Sophie, Priyanka or Danielle?’ is basically a backwards way to find out which Jobro your younger self is destined to be with. Finally we will have answers!

Without a doubt, binge-watching Game of Thrones is highly recommended – if you somehow haven’t seen the series by now. With its return date set for 14 April we couldn’t be more excited to see the Starks fight for the Iron Throne.

While the world waits for the final season, watch Turner’s blockbuster X-Men: Apocalypse and her Carpool Karaoke episode alongside Maisie Williams on Apple Music. But fret not; April is just around the corner.

15

16 FA SH IO N & L I F EST Y L E

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

The best dressed at the Oscars

By Amy Blaney The 91st academy awards, also known as the Oscars, took place on Sunday 24 February in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

As usual it was the most glamourous night of the year and the red carpet was filled with elegance and show-stopping gowns. Hollywood’s hottest stars did not disappoint!

This year’s Oscars gave us a deployment of pink as a power colour (Gemma Chan in Valentino Couture, Kacey Musgraves in Giambattista Valli), a take-over of metallic embellished gowns, and a new take on the standard tux (Billy Porter in Christian Siriano).

Taking fashion risks for the men this year, Billy Porter made a statement with custom black velvet Christian Siriano, and took empowerment to the next level with this take on the tuxedo gown.

Emilia Clarke never fails to impress us with her interesting yet classic picks. For this occasion, she opted for an asymmetrical Balmain gown in a shimmering lilac shade and eye-catching fabric.

Charlize Theron kept it simple and elegant wearing Dior Haute Couture and Bulgari jewellery. The usually blonde actresses stunned in a new brunette bob hairstyle with a red lip. The vintage looking silhouette was almost completely backless.

Pink was a big trend on this year’s carpet.

Pretty and pretty in an array of different materials. Angela Bassett was in a Reem Acra bright fuchsia gown that featured a thigh high slit and exaggerated bow teamed with a slick back long ponytail, a smoky eye and a berry lip.

Basset teamed her look with different shades of pink earrings, pink shoes and a pink clutch.

Lady Gaga channelling Audrey Hepburn in an Alexander McQueen strapless dress with opera length gloves and a stunning Tiffany necklace.

The exaggerated hips of the dress added an edgy modern twist to the vintage look.

Michelle Yeoh looked like a real-life queen in Elie Saab. The creation had a unique off the shoulder silhouette with a gold sequin incrusted body with a cinched waist. The floating body of the shirt also had simmering detail throughout.

Amy Adams also stunned on the carpet in this strapless mermaid silhouette Versace gown in an ivory shade. She left her hair in loose beachy waves with a Cartier necklace.

Metallics stunned on the Oscars red carpet this year and was worn by many of the stars including Brie Larson in Celine

by Hedi Slimane, Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton, and Jennifer Lopez in Tom Ford. Mirror metallics, shimmer metallics, sequin metallics, everyone was wearing glitz and glam for one of fashions biggest nights of the year.

Danai Gurira stunned in a gold full length brock Collection dress with black detailing and Fred Leighton Jewellery.

March 12 2019

FAIS EAN

7

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

Styled by the show: You

By Rachel Garvey Netflix’s new original series ‘You’ has recently caught the attention of many viewers worldwide with its suspense-filled storyline of an unhealthy obsession gone wrong. However, although some viewers have their attention focused on where the plot is heading, my focus is on the simple fashion of the main protagonist, Guinevere Beck.

As the girl who is being targeted, you would expect this young woman to have the best wardrobe in New York City, but we find ourselves to be introduced to an ordinary girl. There is something so simple yet beautiful about casual clothes. This type of wardrobe would suit a person like Beck as her daily routine involves classes in college as well as writing poetry, which she sometimes struggles with.

Throughout the series, we see Beck in the same style of clothes, whether she is going about her daily routine or going out with her questionable friends. The majority of the clothing she wears is a range of check shirts and skinny jeans. There is not a person out there who doesn’t adore check shirts and how comfortable they are to wear, not to mention the endless choices of fabric and colour one can choose from.

As for skinny jeans, every girl will wear them in their lifetime and that is a fashion fact. They are simply a girl’s best friend. When we are first introduced to the lovely Beck, we see her dressed in a slightly loose green blouse, tight jeans and a pair of cream ankle boots along with bracelets that jangle together whenever she moves her arm a certain way.

I have taken inspiration from Beck’s outfits and made them into my own personal style of wearing tank tops under a loose checked shirt with rolled up sleeves, and my wardrobe has a variety of colours to choose from.

I also have tight fitting jeans that I’ve styled to my own liking with the help of a pair of scissors, gently cutting a straight line where your knees are or just on your thigh is a great way to show off the casual ripped jeans look.

Accessories can include a gold necklace and bracelets of your choice.

Lastly, shoes would be necessary to complete your stylish yet casual look. Personally, I go for my suede cream ankle boots with a small heel. There you go, outfit complete. I usually go for comfort over fashion, but with this outfit I feel like comfort and fashion are balanced to my liking.

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Smoothie REG €3.20 LRG €4.25

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18 FA SH IO N & L I F EST Y L E

The diet that could save the future of planet earth

By Molly Fitzpatrick

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

Back to basics for spring By Áine Kenny There’s a grand stretch in the evenings nowadays, and the bitter wind and rain has subsided just enough to cut down to three hot water bottles in bed, instead of four. With a new season comes a new wardrobe, or for most students, going back home and lugging some lighter clothes up to Galway. Spring is a great time to take out and wear some of the staple pieces that were buried at the back of the wardrobe in September! For me, three basics that I cannot live without are the denim jacket, skater skirt and crop top.

It’s no secret what we put DENIM JACKET into our bodies on a daily basis affects our own The denim jacket is a much lighter form of outerwear, health status but somebecause let’s face it, we are all being boiled alive in our thing we may not often borg jackets and puffy coats which were the biggest consider how it affects trend of the winter season. It still can be a bit chilly outthe health of our planet. side, so layer you denim number with a scarf, a cardigan Farming, particularly and a top underneath, and ditch livestock farming, plays the layers as you see fit. The a major role in climate plus side of the denim change, the destruction jacket is that a rain of habitats, and the pollucoat can usually fit tion of rivers and oceans. over them, meaning With a staggering ten April showers won’t billion people expected be able to ruin your to inhabit planet earth by look! For a denim 2050, the current diet we jacket that won’t have is extremely unsusbreak the bank, tainable and is thought to try this light blue cause severe global warmone from H&M, Photo: Jami430 via Wikimedia Commons ing as well as increased retailing at €25. global health problems.

When it comes to the biggest polluters, what usually comes to mind is cars, right? What may come as a surprise is that animal agriculture is actually responsible for 18 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions produced worldwide (according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). This is By Áine Kenny not only more than all the cars, but is more than the combined exhaust from all transportation.

Is there anything better than brunch? You don’t want to wake up It’s becoming clear that one of the biggest steps at the scrake of dawn to go get pancakes with your friends because one can take towards being more environmentally you stayed up all night working on that assignment and you deserve friendly is eating less meat. The planetary diet is the a lie in! first science-based diet that aims to tackle both the Brunch is the only meal where you can get a full Irish fry, or its global issue of poor diet and to prevent the looming polar opposite, avocado on toast. But where are the best brunch global catastrophe that environmental degradation spots in Galway that are friendly towards a student’s meagre budget? is predicted to cause.

Fear not, SIN has the definitive list!

The planetary health diet was devised by an internaMCGINN’S: this is a pub in Woodquay that I used to walk past tional commission and aims to provide nutritious food without paying much attention to, that is until I realised they to the world’s ever-growing population. The most radserved all day breakfast. You can get a full Irish fry for €9.50, that ical aspects of the diet are that red meat consumption is two rashers, sausages, eggs, and sugar consumption needs to be cut by over half. For hash browns, puddings, beans, Europeans, it’s suggested we eat 77 percent less red toast as well as chips (absolute meat, a feat that may prove difficult to the carnivores notions!). This will keep you of the Irish population. Consumption of vegetables, going for the entire day. They fruit, nuts and pulses is required to double. also provide copious amounts of The planetary diet is somewhat similar to that of free squash in true Irish fashion. a flexitarian. It is plant-based and allows the recomOn top of this amazing breakmended 2500 calories a day. It also allows a single fast, they have a great sandwich serving of red meat a week and two servings of fish, menu if you are having a late with the majority of protein intake coming from pulses, brunch, as well as wood-fired beans and nuts. The diet also limits dairy with a glass of pizza. No meal is over €11 either milk, a serving of cheese or butter a day fitting within so it is definitely easy on the the guidelines. An egg or two a week has also got the purse. It’s a Celtic bar too, so any all clear from the experts. football fans out there will also Although reducing meat and dairy may seem imposenjoy the matches they show. sible to us Irish, who were reared on meat and two veg 56 CENTRAL: while it may and cheese sambos, the diet is in line with traditional be on the slightly pricier side, diets such as the Mediterranean and Okinawa diets. It’s no one can deny the beautiful varied and colourful, and doesn’t require deprivation ambience of this quaint café of any form, and if it could save the planet why not right in the heart of Shop Street. give it a go!

One of their signatures is their

SKATER SKIRT Another sartorial staple is the skater skirt. I would opt for a plain block colour, as this skirt can then be paired with brighter patterns or a statement fluffy jacket. The beauty of the skater skirt is that it can be worn to college casually with a pair of Vans, and then switched to a night-time ensemble by adding a crop top and a pair of heels. This Boohoo.com pleated pink version will give shape and structure to your outfit, and the best part is its price: €7.70!

CROP TOP This is another spring trend that I am glad to see the return of. This versatile piece can be dressed down with a pair of high waisted jeans and Docs, for an edgy yet casual look. Alternatively, pair it with a flowing, patterned A-line skirt for a chic night time get-up, perfect for a night out! Since it is still a bit chilly outside, I’d recommend a long-sleeved version for now, such as this one from Pretty Little Thing. What is great about this piece, which is €15, is that the back is longer than the cropped front, meaning you won’t have a draft on your back. Your mother will thank me!

Best brunch spots in Galway

healthy corner menu, which has

super food salad bowls, so if you’re a health conscious bruncher this is the place for you! They also serve beautiful Belgian waffles and brioche French toast if you have a sweet tooth. My personal favourite is their Breakfast Bruschetta, which is two slices of Griffins bread (so you know it’s quality) with smashed avocado, tomato salsa and scrambled eggs. It’s €9 but we all deserve a treat from time to time, don’t we?

MCCAMBRIDGE’S: for those of you who want a truly authentic brunch experience, head to McCambridge’s of Galway who serve all day brunch on Sundays in their upstairs restaurant.

McCambridge’s is known for the quality of their food, and it is all sourced locally, so you’re contributing to Galway’s local economy while reducing your carbon footprint by eating here. For a really highbrow meal, try the West Coast Crab Benedict, which is fresh torn crabmeat topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce on a savory donut. Another perk is that Mimosas retail here for just shy of a €5.

MR WAFFLE: how could we neglect a brunch spot that is right on our campus’ doorstep?

For brunch, try a savoury crepe, and I don’t care what anyone thinks, savoury crepes and pancakes are delicious and you’re missing out. They also have a range of healthy salads for those who aren’t so keen on the fluffy pancakes. Why not take a study break with your friends here, in order to refuel and recharge for that long slog in the reading room?

FAIS EAN

March 12 2019

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TREND SPOTLIGHT:

the white cowboy boot

By Molly Fitzpatrick I’ve always been on the fence when it comes to cowboy boots. The line between keeping this western inspired boot chic and playful á la Kate Moss and going full on Dolly Parton is a fine one, that is too easily crossed.

But it’s official: the cowboy boot has left the ranch, and got a high fashion update, the classic boot is now all over the high street in fresh, contemporary white. The cowboy boot is now common place in the front row of runway shows rather than the front row of Garth Brooks concerts, and it’s set to be the biggest trend of Spring 2019.

Isabel Marant, Calvin Klein, Chloé, Fendi, and Off-white are just a few of the brands who featured this western staple on their runways, offering a range of reimagined versions with everything from knee high cowboy boots to all over patterned ones.

Trickling down to the high street, white cowboy boots can now be found within the student budget from Zara and Topshop. This spring it’s all about the updated classic, so style this traditional boot in a way that radiates modernity, without losing its country charm.

When styling the white cowboy boot keep the look contemporary and avoid looking like you’ve just stepped out of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly by making the only western inspired aspect of the look the boots. Steer clear of fringed jackets, boot cut jeans, chaps, cowboy hats and gun holsters to avoid looking less high fashion and more cowboy themed fancydress party.

Ankle boots, €79.99 at Mango

FOR THE GIRLY GIRL: Instead of risking looking too cowboy and a little kitsch with a blue jean, opt for something a little softer, perhaps an a-line midi skirt or a silky slip dress. White cowboy boots are the perfect finishing touch to add some edge to an otherwise soft and feminine outfit. Use the boot to add something fresh to everyone’s favourite slip skirt and chunky knit combo or add a tailored duster coat and a micro bag for the perfect dressy spring sartorial statement.

FOR THE ANIMAL PRINT FIEND: There’s nothing to say you can’t pair animal print with your cowboy boots (Shania Twain fans rejoice!). Kill two trends with one stone and match your white cowboy boots with a leopard print or snake skin blouse. For the more daring fashionistas pair your boots with a pair of snake skin mom straight leg jeans. Keep the rest of the look low key so as not to distract from these statement pieces.

FOR SOMEONE A LITTLE MORE OUT THERE:

White cowboy boots, €125 at Topshop

Let’s face it, you probably live in your black docs a little too much. Well, the longstanding reign of the classic black ankle boot has come to an end and has been overthrown by the cowboy boot.

The cowboy boot can be just as versatile and can look just as edgy when paired with the right pieces. Instead of opting for the ankle length boot why not try the knee-high white cowboy boot, paired with a blazer dress and chunky jewellery, you’ll be sure to turn heads for all the right reasons, yee-haw!

TA , 2 0 1 9 R Á M 3 1 • Y A D S WEDNE

Paddys Sesh

BINGO LOCO 8PM-11PM • TOP PRIZE - TRIP FOR TWO AWAY PADDY’S DAY GIN • €7 EACH OR 2 FOR €13 PADDY’S DAY COCKTAIL • €5.95 EACH OR 2 FOR €10 SULT’S IRISH TRICOLOUR PIZZA • €8

Loads more surprises to be announced everyday between now and the 13th so keep your eyes peeled!

Prizes for best dressed and best Instagram post

#NUIGSU19

AN CÓRAS

CIANVÓTÁLA Mura mbeidh tú ar an gcampas Déardaoin an 14 Márta agus más mian leat vótáil i dtoghcháin oifigí páirt-aimseartha Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn, beidh tú in ann an Córas Cianvótála a úsáid le do vóta a chaitheamh ar líne.

Próiseas simplí dhá chéim atá ann:

1 2

Cláraigh Logáil isteach ar láithreán gréasáin Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn roimh an meán oíche, Dé Céadaoin an 13 Márta agus cláraigh le haghaidh an Chórais Cianvótála.

Vótái Lógáil isteach ar láithreán gréasáin Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn le linn na n-uaireanta vótála Déardaoin an 14 Márta (10:00 r.n. – 8:00 i.n.). Má chláraigh tú, beidh tú in ann an Córas Cianvótála a úsáid. Lean na treoracha le do vóta a chaitheamh.

Tá an Córas Cianvótála éasca le húsáid www.su.nuigalway.ie facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion twitter.com/NUIGSU agus go hiomlán faoi rún. www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

 TOGHCHÁIN CML An rachaidh tú san iomaíocht?

C U LT ÚR

March 12 2019

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Cancelled culture and judging celebrities on their past: when is it justified?

By Daniel Brennan The idea of “cancelling” celebrities for holding certain opinions, or after finding out something awful they did in their past, has been about for the past few years now. This has only expanded via internet culture jumping on anything and everything as soon as it can. Switching from one controversy to another, as the never-ending news cycle continues on and on into oblivion.

Now obviously, there are plenty of figures who fully deserve their internet “cancelling”, names like R Kelly, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and so many more immediately come to mind for the malicious acts they have been accused of/charged with – and

I say that they deserve to live in infamy, as they are clearly people who have done something wrong, and then never learned any lessons from their actions.

But at the same time, this culture of instantly cancelling everyone and anyone isn’t necessarily justified when the person in question has shown personal growth since the incident happened, and that premise is justified when looking at the case of former Marvel director James Gunn.

The director of Guardians of the Galaxy fame was fired from directing the third installment of the series after a number of weird, edgy, pedophilic-based joke tweets from 10 plus years ago were dug up by the internet, which eventually led to his firing from Marvel last year.

The rise of K-pop in western society

By Stevie Buckley Nearly everyone in our modern world has heard of K-pop, the South Korean craze taking the world by storm. Be it that you’ve only heard ‘Gangnam Style’ (yes, that’s K-pop), like that ‘Fake Love’ song

by BTS or are a hardcore stan of an obscure group (translation: you like them a lot), you have more than likely had an exposure to K-pop.

K-pop has become more and more popular over recent years. Before ‘Gangnam Style’, not many people in the western world knew K-pop existed, never mind actively listened to and enjoyed it. However, that all changed with the iconic song, dance and music video by PSY, the man who made 2012 too weird for any of us to handle.

Nowadays, things have changed drastically.

There are thousands of K-pop fans in Ireland and counting. There are K-pop parties in Dublin every few months, which often have special visits from idols (translation: South Korean celebrities) and there is even a quite well-known K-pop group coming to Ireland in the coming weeks. So yes, the hype has spread this far. There is also an event in Amer-

Image: LG전자 via Flickr

ica called K-Con where idols and fans of K-pop and Korean culture congregate to have a good time and spread awareness of the genre.

I’ll take a look at some of the most popular groups and how they’ve influenced our culture.

Firstly, the biggest boy group at the moment (arguably) – BTS. These seven boys have the power to have music charting all over the world.

BTS have played Asian tours a number of times.

They have done a few tours in America and have even toured Europe. They are coming back to Europe and, if you want perspective, they have an Irish and British fanbase big enough to sell out Wembley Stadium. That’s a sign of a good boy group.

Next, I will look at the biggest K-pop girl group at the moment – Blackpink. They are a four member girl group who are following BTS in making a name for themselves in western society. They played the prominent show ‘Good Morning America’ in January and have a world tour coming up as well, with a number of North American dates announced.

Their music has charted in the United States and around Europe, similar to that of BTS. They are definitely trailblazers for new music coming into the mainstream.

Finally, I will give some notable mentions. PSY, of course, took the world by storm with that iconic dance move and other similar gimmicks. NCT are a group with a number of subgroups, and one of their subgroups, NCT 127, is doing a North American tour this year. There was also a slight trend at the start of last year where a song called ‘Bboom Bboom’ by Momoland began charting all over the world and almost broke a number of K-pop records on YouTube.

To conclude, K-pop does seem to be taking the world by storm and we’ll just have to see who makes it big next. Who knows, it could be one of your favourites!

And while the content of the tweets themselves was certainly not right then, and it’s still not right today, it’s important to acknowledge the shift in social norms over the past 10 years or so. You’re kidding yourself if you think our attitudes to certain types of jokes are the same now as they were 10 years ago.

Through social justice movements becoming more normalised and publicised, we now know the effects certain things have on more historically marginalised groups in society. As a whole, we move on from offensive humour with the more we understand why it’s offensive to the groups targeted and affected. We are so much more conscious than we were a few years ago.

The reason I haven’t “cancelled” James Gunn is because to me, he has clearly grown up, and he’s educated himself. The same person who delivered the Guardians series to our screens is not the same guy making weird edgy tweets trying to get noticed all those years ago.

The first-hand testimony from many of the Guardians of the Galaxy crew, like notable social activist and progressive Dave Bautista, who played Drax The Destroyer in the films, attests to Gunn being a completely different person in the past few

years compared to who he was on Twitter in 2007.

The most important factor here is allowing people to learn from their past selves’ mistakes – if we can’t allow people to learn from and to change their toxic behavioural traits, then they’ll never actually learn anything.

Now obviously, there’s a difference here between those who have committed crimes, acts of violence or hatred against women and minority groups in society, and someone who tweeted something bad years ago – for instance, I don’t think a man like R Kelly should be offered the same opportunity for forgiveness and redemption as James Gunn.

“Cancelled culture” in my opinion definitely has a lot more merits than downfalls. Mainly, it helps publicise some of the awful things certain celebrities have done in the past and gotten away with, as there was no social media back then, and the people affected didn’t have a platform to voice what happened to them.

Indeed, what said celebrities have done in the past was simply forgotten in pop culture – so now it’s vital to acknowledge those who have actually learned from their previous mistakes and grown personally out of their toxic behaviour, even if that group may be in the minority of those called out.

Caife

Wall THE

CAFE

Do Chomhaltas, Do Sheirbhísí

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ort

22 A RT S & E NT E RTAIN M EN T

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

OSCAR FEVER: Review: Netflix’s looking back at La La Land Sex Education

By Nithu Krish This was a film that I really wanted to see ever since I saw the first trailer. The reason being that I was a fan of the actors as well as the director. Damien Chazelle’s previous film Whiplash also dealt with music, but in a different way compared to La La Land.

any real negatives in the film; maybe you will have a different opinion on this. Two of the principal reasons why the film works are the music and the cinematography. A lot of the shots are in the night but even then, the cinematographer, Linus Sandgren, was able to showcase the beauty of the ‘City of Angels’.

and Gosling share is a highlight of the film. The script by the director himself has moments of humour, dejection, elation, triumph, and contemplation among other ‘feelings.’ Damien Chazelle makes the film move at a leisurely pace, but never did I feel any sense of boredom while watching.

Image: BagoGames via Flickr I must admit that I am not a very big fan of musicals, so I was a little apprehensive before watching this. But after I saw the film, I had only one word to describe it, charming. At least that’s how felt it was.

The basic premise of the film is one that a lot of people can relate to, especially those who are artists themselves.

This is one of the reasons why a lot of people seem to love the film and that includes me as well. Even though I may not exactly be in the same boat as the protagonists are in, it is to the film’s credit that their journey affected me.

To be honest, I was not able to find

Coming to the songs, I have to say they were quite memorable especially ‘City of Stars’, ‘The Fools Who Dream’ and ‘Another Day Of Sun’. I found myself singing along to some of them, and some of the mellow tunes made me contemplate the emotions of the characters.

The fact that both the lead actors practised their singing as well as their dancing is evident on-screen. It comes naturally to both and never did it seem forced. It gives the audience a feeling of authenticity when we see their performances, and that is essential for the success of the film.

The first song and dance that Stone

March 29th

By Paul O’Malley

CREATIVE

Picture please Theresa May, Strolling strangely on the stage.

It pains me and I hate to relate But Theresa, both our plans blew up in our face.

Forgive me dear listener, For I fear I leave you unfulfilled.

You did not come to hear Paul’s exit, Or Pexit if you will.

This feeling has buried itself, Under earth with a base formation Of dirt, dry humour and good will, A true mole, in my organisation.

TO FEEL OR NOT TO FEEL

By Nithu Krish Why do we feel?

In this thing called life, We have only one option To Feel And that means, every moment, Whether happy or sad, Has to be felt If we had the choice, To not feel things, Would we still be the same?

CORNER

This feeling has buried itself, Quite the fragmentation mine, And here I come strutting out, From beyond the trenches line.

On a personal note, La La Land made me want to see more musicals and I guess that’s an indication that the film made an impact on me. Even though the story is simple, it works because it is the story of millions, the story of the ‘dreamers’.

Those who wish to follow their dreams despite the hurdles, whether they may be personal or professional.

I feel that people across all ages will be able to connect with the film, and for that I would like to congratulate the cast and the crew. So, to sum up my experience, La La Land is quite an enjoyable ride and is Damien Chazelle’s ode to those who dare to dream.

By Áine Kenny Netflix’s new year offering, Sex Education, certainly filled the gap that was left in my life when E4’s much-celebrated My Mad Fat Diary ended. The smart British TV show, centred on teenagers’ trials and tribulations, has been a hit ever since Skins.

Sex Education gives a much-needed update to the genre however, mainly because it is so inclusive. There are characters of all races, sexual orientations and family backgrounds in the show.

What is even better is that they aren’t just ‘tick the box for diversity’ stereotypes, they are fleshed out and real, most notably Eric, played expertly by Ncuti Gatwa. His father’s fear for his safety (and not the usual trope of the homophobic dad) is touching and dealt with in an effective manner.

The most popular boy in school, Jackson, has two mothers, and their relationship isn’t the unrealistic, idealised type either. They fight like a normal couple, and Jackson is not the typical pretty boy jock either. He has real mental health issues. He also isn’t mean. He does make the mistake of paying Otis for advice on how to ask Maeve out, but when things don’t work out between them, he still tries to ensure she isn’t expelled, despite the fact she breaks his heart.

The two standout characters, for me, have to be Otis and his mother Jean, played by Asa Butterfield and Gillian Anderson respectively. You may remember Otis from his role in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, he hasn’t changed that much. He still has those incredibly piercing blue eyes, which he uses to play the awkward Otis excellently. Anderson excels as the cool but incredibly intrusive Jean, and while we are angry at how much she butts in to Otis’ life; we know she has good intentions.

The subject matter of the show is teens and their various sexual and romantic escapades. While this isn’t necessarily an original idea, showrunner Laurie Nunn’s take on the subject is.

By virtue of Otis’ mother being a sex and relationship therapist, he is very well versed in therapy talk and how to have a fulfilling relationship (except when it comes to his own life). Otis and Maeve, a troubled but brilliant classmate, team up to start a sex therapy business in school.

While this is done for comedic effect, they also deal with some real issues: male pressure to perform, body image, revenge porn, and females not knowing their own body or what pleasures them.

A point that the show is making is that these sorts of wellbeing issues are not discussed in the classroom, and maybe they should be. Young people get into dreadful and sometimes abusive relationships because they do not have the tools to navigate this new part of their life. Otis gives his classmates these tools, and lets them become self-aware of their own issues. Although, I have to admit handing out therapy off the books when you’re unqualified is definitely unethical.

The show also deals with the ‘taboo’ subject of abortion. Usually in most TV shows, when women characters become pregnant, they decide to keep the child even though this will result in their lives taking a direction they are not prepared for. Then the pregnancy and subsequent child turn into a mere plot device for the show. This is not a proper portrayal of women facing crisis pregnancy.

This is especially true in the later seasons of Gilmore Girls when Lane and Sookie both become pregnant due to failed contraception, and despite actively not wanting (anymore) children, the showrunners never got the characters to discuss any alternative options on screen.

Thankfully, this is not a direction that Sex Education goes down. Maeve decides that abortion is the best option for her, considering she can’t afford rent, is still in school with a potentially promising future ahead of her, and has no family support.

We see her go into the clinic, and meet other women who are there for the procedure, including an older woman who already has children. After Maeve comes out, she is not traumatised by her choice, and she doesn’t break down in

By virtue of Otis’ mother being a sex therapist, he is very well versed in therapy talk and how to have a fulfilling relationship (except when it comes to his own life). Otis and Maeve team up to start a sex therapy business in school. later episodes from the shame or guilt that many anti-abortion activists would claim women suffer from. This is a far more accurate portrayal of women’s lives, considering the vast majority of women do not regret getting an abortion.

Another thing that makes this show so great is the way it is filmed and the soundtrack. When I first started watching the show, I thought it was set in the 1980’s. The houses, especially the Groff’s, are all indicative of that era, with the open spaces and wood panelling.

Otis wakes up to a Sony alarm clock every day, and everyone wears flared trousers and bright, clashing patterns.

But it is actually set in the present day.

The cast have said that the show’s stylistics are an ode to John Hughes’ films.

Plus the killer soundtrack just adds to it!

Rating: 5/5

C U LT ÚR

March 12 2019

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Netflix’s Umbrella Academy: the perfect excuse to procrastinate those mid-term essays

By Michelle McClair Do you like super powers? Epic fight scenes? Highly dysfunctional families? Catchy 80s soundtracks?

Well boy do I have a show for you. Netflix’s Umbrella Academy has it all. Umbrella Academy follows the lives of seven adopted siblings, who were all born on the same day to mothers who were not pregnant

the morning before they gave birth, as they try to solve the mystery of their father’s death and save the world from impending doom.

The show sets out to portray the negative side of super heroism, and how having powers can fully consume and ruin your life. Privilege isn’t always a good thing, and having super powers or growing up rich doesn’t mean you’re exempt to the sad parts of

Image: Gabriel Bá via Wikimedia Commons

life. Umbrella Academy deals with heavy topics like drug addiction, grief, and cold parents in a light, comic and frankly weird fashion.

The show is unique in the sense that there is not one main character, but seven. Each character is assigned a number (their dad literally calls them by their numbers), as well as a name which their robot mam gave them. Each of the seven main characters also have unique powers, which range from talking to and seeing dead people, to being super strong and travelling through time.

The colourful soundtrack of the show acts as a character in itself. The only way to describe it is chirpy eighties tunes that you and your mam blare when you’re wine drunk. It features one hit wonders like Tiffany’s ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’, as well as seventies classics like The Doors’ ‘Soul Kitchen’.

Add some Queen, some Radiohead, some Noel Gallagher, as well as a track from the writer Gerard Way, and you have a dance worthy soundtrack.

The music often contrasts the scene itself, with intense action scenes being accompanied by upbeat anthems. Also, if you love dance scenes like me, Umbrella Academy blesses us with a few Breakfast Club worthy moments.

A good soundtrack is expected of the show when we consider that Gerard Way, lead singer of the now disbanded My Chemical Romance, wrote the Umbrella Academy comics on which the show is based. Gerard Way has a lush history of creating complicated and other worldly universes in which to base stories on, as any fan of his music would know.

Each of My Chemical Romance’s albums were based on a concept, and each song furthered the story. From the murder spree that their second

album is based on, to the journey of dying that their third album is based on, it’s quite apparent that Gerard Way has a vivid storytelling imagination.

Umbrella Academy was his first venture outside of music, and therefore his first story that wasn’t told through music. However, his genius still shines through, as he created complex characters, numerous original plot lines, and managed to put a unique spin on the world of super heroes.

The production itself is fantastic. The show is laced with little easter eggs for those familiar with the writers and the comics, and each episode presents the title of the show in a different way. The show features a fair bit of brilliant and believable CGI (one of the characters is a very posh talking monkey in a suit), as a science fiction type show would require.

The costuming is good too, each character dresses in a fashion which compliments their personality. For example, Robert Sheehan’s character Klaus (a very erratic and unpredictable drug addict) alternates his closet between a leather skirt and a pair of questionable leather trousers with a strange leather cut out. Overall, the production is very personal to the show, and between the donut shop set and the mansion in which the seven main characters live, the setting itself is interesting and colourful.

So, if dark humour, colourful sets, questionable fashion choices and action scenes are your scene, then Umbrella Academy is the show for you. However, be warned, it’s addictive. You will binge, and then you’ll have to wait until next February for a new season. To take a quote directly from the show which aptly describes life after Umbrella Academy, “eternal peace is probably overrated.”

Nike just did that

By Sarah Gill “If they want to call you crazy, fine. Show them what crazy can do.”

In the past, ladies’ sportswear advertisements have featured women engaging in some yoga or maybe a light jog. We never get to see sweat. We never get to see true, unrestrained emotion. Nike’s new Dream Crazier advertisement is 90-seconds of raw determination and empowerment. We get to see blood, sweat and tears.

The advertisement is a response to the flagrant gender bias that exists in our society to this day. Serena Williams provides the narration for the piece, while a number of successful female athletes appear throughout.

Gymnast Simoni Biles, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the US women’s national soccer team and Katherine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston marathon, are featured expressing their emotions authentically and honestly.

“If we show emotion, we’re called dramatic. If we want to play against men, we’re nuts. And if we dream of equal opportunity, delusional”, Williams narrates. “When we stand for something, we’re unhinged. When we’re too good, there’s something wrong with us. And if we get angry, we’re hysterical, irrational, or just being crazy”.

Serena Williams is no stranger to adversity. While competing for her 24th Grand Slam title, Williams received three code violations, which led to a controversial loss. After calling out the umpire, Williams faced huge amounts of backlash.

During the French Open, she wore a catsuit to help compress and ease her blood clots.

This catsuit was subsequently banned entirely, and Serena was said to have “gone too far.” She was also scorned for having the drive to get back to competing not long after giving birth.

What man has faced this reaction?

Ambition does not equate insanity.

Expressing emotion as a female should not be looked upon as a sign of weakness or hysteria. The belief that an angry reaction to a disappointment is a trait associated with men alone is a disservice to both sides. Men are not inherently angry.

Women are not inherently poised. Human beings cannot be confined to boxes based on something as trivial as gender.

This kind of divisive branding achieves so much in modern day society. When a brand as big as Nike or Gillette decide to use their platform to initiate change and spark a conversation, people begin to reflect on themselves. Utilising social justice movements in branding strategies may sound like

Serena Williams. Image: Steve Jurvetson via Flickr

a pandering technique to get more people on side, but it is so much more than that.

The video then turns to the past. It was crazy for a woman to run a marathon. It was

crazy for a woman to coach an NBA team. It was crazy for a woman to compete in a hijab.

Look at how far we’ve come.

“It’s only crazy until you do it.”

24 A RT S & E N T E RTAIN M EN T

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

OSCARS 2019 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY WINS BIG AS GREEN BOOK TAKES HOME THE BIG PRIZE

By Nithu Krish After many months of speculation, the Oscars turned out to be a show that wasn’t as bad as we thought it was going to be. There were choices that proved to be a little controversial, but there were some that genuinely brought a smile to the faces of many.

Once all the glitz and glamour of the red carpet had settled down, the show started with the Best Supporting Actress Award. In a category stacked with remarkable talent, Regina King took home the award for If Beale Street Could Talk.

Mahershala Ali had a repeat of his 2017 win for Green Book and it wasn’t to be the last award the film got. It also went on to win Best Original Screenplay as well as the coveted Best Picture.

Other notable winners included Alfonso Cuaron, Spike Lee, Black Panther, and Olivia Colman who took home the Best Actress award in the biggest upset of the night. Many of us expected Glenn Close to walk away with the top honour but it was to be Colman’s night who lit up the ceremony with a speech for the ages.

Alfonso Cuaron in effect won three awards as he became the first person to win an award for direction as well as cinematography. His film Roma also had the honour of being the Best Foreign Language Film.

Spike Lee won his first Oscar in a non-honorary category as his film BlacKkKlansman won Best Adapted Screenplay. Black Panther, which became the first superhero film to be nominated for Best Picture, won awards for its Original Score, Production as well as Costume Design.

One of the most crowd-pleasing moments of the entire ceremony was the win of Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, which got the Best Animated Feature.

Apart from giving Rami Malek the coveted Best Actor prize, Bohemian Rhapsody also won for Sound Editing, Sound Mixing as well as Film Editing.

Lady Gaga along with Bradley Cooper produced the standout moment of the night with their incredibly moving rendition of the hit song ‘Shallow’ from A Star Is Born. She got over the disappointment of losing the Best Actress award by winning one for Best Original Song for the same.

As with any year, a lot of the discussion around the ceremony centred around the films that did not make the cut or were snubbed. First Man starring Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy was expected to be a major player but won only one award for Best Visual Effects.

It has to be said that the Best Picture selection was the most underwhelming in a number of years but for the most part, this was an interesting ceremony. The absence of a host proved to work in its favour as it felt smoother and going forward, the Academy could go along the same route.

WHAT YOU SEE IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

Photo: Prayitno via Flick

PETA shamed for criticising Steve Irwin

By Michelle McClair This year we celebrated Steve Irwin’s 57th birthday on the 22 February and Google celebrated with us, honouring Steve’s life and all of his work by customising the Google doodle. However, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) had other ideas.

Typical to organisations like PETA, they decided that instead of celebrating Irwin’s life and the charitable work he did for the conservation of animals, they criticised him on Twitter, saying: “#SteveIrwin was killed while harassing a sting ray; he dangled his baby while feeding a crocodile and wrestled wild animals who were minding their own business.”

First of all, the absolute cheek of PETA. Let’s address one thing first, blaming Irwin’s death on himself is incredibly insensitive, and PETA should have expected backlash for that alone. Yes, Irwin often tried to make his shows such as The Crocodile Hunter more entertaining by being hands on with the animals, but at the end of the day Irwin was the David Attenborough of our time. He taught a whole generation about wild life and taught us that animals are not as dangerous as we think they are,

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Contact the Student Health Unit to make your appointment • 091 492 604 Funded by the Student Projects Fund www.su.nuigalway.ie facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

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Image: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE via Wikimedia Commons

and that they do not deserve to be hurt or killed.

He introduced kids in particular to the exciting world of nature.

It’s also important to note that PETA really can’t say much about harassing animals. In PETA shelters, over 81% of the animals are euthanised. In 2014, out of the 3,017 animals in PETA shelters, 2,455 were euthanised, 162 adopted. 363 passed onto other shelters, and 6 reclaimed by owners. Accusing Steve Irwin of being abusive towards animals is completely hypocritical; maybe they should be spending more time on improving their own organisation and less time fishing for publicity on Twitter.

Steve Irwin not only educated so many of us worldwide, but he was a charitable man as well.

Any money he earned through ad campaigns went straight to his wildlife fund. He encouraged the conservation of endangered animals, as well as the preservation of the habitats in which they lived.

He founded The International Crocodile Rescue, and the Iron Bark Station Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility, both of which helped to rehabilitate animals and protect them. Irwin also openly spoke about poaching, and how he was against it and encouraged people not to stand for the murder of animals, yet PETA choose to twist his work and make him look bad.

It’s completely absurd that PETA would call out a man who did so much to help animals and worked so hard to diminish myths about them and educate the public. PETA could have just as easily praised Irwin and highlighted the good work he has done.

There was an outcry of people criticising PETA for their harsh words about Irwin, and a collection of memes made to show how utterly confused everyone was over PETA’s accusations. Most importantly, the memes and tweets showed support for Irwin, defended him, and showed a worldwide love and respect for him, which is something PETA should have done. Twitter wasn’t going to let PETA ruin Irwin’s birthday.

Overall, the memory or Australia’s finest wild life explorer Steve Irwin was honoured, despite PETA’s input. We all remember him fondly, most of us cherish him as a childhood memory, and his legacy as well as his organisations live on to inspire others to help animals like he did.

CHARITY Week NUI Galway Students’ Union

Seachtain Charthanachta Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh

Line of Euros BakeSale

Help us make a line of Euros outside the Arts Millennium Building

Monday 25th of March / Dé Luain an 25 Márta • 11am-2pm

Treat Yourself! in Smokey’s Cafe

Tuesday 26th of March / Dé Máirt an 26 Márta • 11am-3pm

SEX TOY BINGO The Corrib Room in Sult • €3 entry includes FREE mini Sex Toy • Tickets from EventBrite Tuesday 26th of March / Dé Máirt an 26 Márta • 8pm

Clothes Drive

in Áras na Mac Léinn - Take some clothes/leave a donation Wednesday 27th of March / Dé Céadaoin an 27 Márta • 12.30pm-4pm

Super Club In Electric/FourFour in aid of the SU Charities • Tickets from Uniphi

Wednesday 27th of March / Dé Céadaoin an 27 Márta • 11pm

All events are raising funds for the Galway Rape Crisis Centre and COPE Galway Is don Ionad Éigeandála um Éigniú agus do COPE i nGaillimh a thabharfar an t-airgead ar fad a bhaileofar ag na himeachtaí.

More information from / Tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ó su.president@nuigalway.ie www.su.nuigalway.ie

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MENTAL HEALTH MONDAYS Luan na Meabhairshláinte Starting on 28th January • Runs until 8th April Look out for the Welfare Crew on campus every Monday 1-3pm!

Bí ag faire amach don Chriú Leasa gach Luan ó 1in go 3in!

(Smokey’s Café and Engineering Building)

Knowing your Mental Health Disability & Mental Health Sexuality & Mental Health Body & Soul Gender & Mental Health Teil/Tel: Ríomhphost/Email:

Drugs & Alcohol Building a Support Network Sleep & Routine Celebration of Students!

+353 (0)91 493 570 studentsunion@nuigalway.ie

www.su.nuigalway.ie

Áras na Mac Léinn, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland. Áras na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh, Bóthar na hOllscoile, Gaillimh, Éire.

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28 SPORT

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

14 medal haul for NUI Galway at Taekwondo Intervarsities

O

n Saturday 23 February, six members of NUI Galway Taekwondo travelled down to the Mardyke Arena in Cork to take part in the Taekwondo Intervarsities, hosted by University College Cork. The team did well throughout the day, walking away with 14 medals: five gold, four silver and five bronze.

They started strongly with Roisin O’Loughlin scoring silver in the female black belt patterns. The team also saw great success in the male red tag to black tag category, cleaning house with Cathal Ó Murchú scorning bronze, Nathan Deane-Huggins scoring silver and Aaron Croke walking away with gold medal.

Their success didn’t end there, however, as Agata Rzeznik then went on to also get bronze in the female green belt to black tag category in patterns. Christopher O’Brien also saw success in the male white belt to green tag patterns, walking away with another silver medal for the club.

The team also walked away from the sparring section of the competition with a few well-deserved medals. Agata walked away with silver medal in the female blue to red belt category, after a tough couple of fights, only just losing out by a matter of a few points.

Christopher had great success in male white belt to green tag sparring, walking away with gold after a very intense final fight.

Roisin, Aaron and Nathan made a team of three for the team patterns division taking home gold, breezing through the rounds and winning a decisive victory.

Our other team made up of Agata, Christopher and Cathal competing in this category also made fine progress through the rounds, finally losing to UCC in the semi-finals, placing them in third place. It was an action packed day with the team walking away with a wellearned haul of medals.

Caster Semenya’s career in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport

By Harry King Caster Semenya, the South African middle-distance runner and back-to-back Olympic Champion in the 800 meters, is challenging the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) revised eligibility rules for female athletes.

In 2011, the IAAF introduced a maximum regarding the amount of testosterone a female competitor could have in their bloodstream. That maximum was ten nanomoles per litre (nmol/L0). In 2014, Dutee Chand, an Indian sprinter, started a legal challenge against the rule.

A year later sport’s highest court, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), told the IAAF to suspend the rule for two years to allow for further research to take place. It was subsequently suspended for another six months after that.

The IAAF returned to CAS in 2018 with what it believed to be robust evidence that high testosterone levels provided athletes with a substantial advantage in middle distance events, particularly between 400m and a mile. With this new research under their belt the IAAF attempted to implement a revised testosterone limit of 5nmol/L for all events between 400m and a mile.

This would mean athletes like Caster Semenya would be forced to use hormone suppressants to get their testosterone levels below this level at least six months before competition.

This new sanction was supposed to be implemented on the first of November of last year.

However, it has been postponed until a ruling has been made on Semenya’s appeal. The court has promised to make a ruling by 26 March, just over six months before the first day of this year’s World Championships which will be held in Doha.

The court not only holds the career of a double Olympic champion in their hands, they are also aware that their ruling will be referenced by other organizations trying to navigate through issues surrounding the combination of sex, biology and identity.

This includes the International Olympic Committee, who has not yet announced their testosterone limits for transgender and female athletes with a difference of sexual development (DSD) in women’s events for the 2020 Olympics, which will be held in Tokyo Photo: Citizen59 via Flickr next summer.

Semenya’s legal team argue that her advantage is no different from other genetic variations in sport. The IAAF point to the fact that these genetic gifts provide a massive advantage. While most females have testosterone levels ranging from 0.12 to 1.79 nmol/L, female athletes with DSD, who are often born with testes, get similar increases in muscle size, strength and haemoglobin levels that a male does after puberty.

As reported by The Guardian on 14 February, Semenya’s lawyers have clearly stated that she is in fact “unquestionably a woman” and was fighting to compete internationally without “unnecessary medical intervention.”

Semenya’s legal team argue that her advantage is no different from other genetic variations in sport. The IAAF point to the fact that these genetic gifts provide a massive advantage.

While most females have testosterone levels ranging from 0.12 to 1.79 nmol/L, female athletes with DSD, who are often born with testes, get similar increases in muscle size, strength and haemoglobin levels that a male does after puberty.

The IAAF suggested before the landmark case that if Semenya was successful that it would lead to athletes with DSD and transgender athletes “dominating the podiums and prize money in sport.”

In response to this, Semenya’s lawyers said the following in a statement: “Her case is about the rights of women such as Ms Semenya who are born as women, reared and socialized as women, who have been legally recognized as women for their entire lives, who have always competed as women, and who should be permitted to compete in the female category without discrimination.”

However, the IAAF has said they want to bring these new rules in to create “a level playing field.”

With so much on the line, it is not surprising that both sides are trying to discredit the other.

When Thokozile Xasa, the South African Sports Minister launched a social media campaign to support their national hero, and in doing it accusing the IAAF of racism, the World Athletics Governing Body responded with a press release that restated its case and listed five of the experts it was about to call in court.

On the second day of this benchmark case, Caster Semenya’s lawyers claimed that proposed testosterone limit for women is “flawed” and “hurtful.”

As part of their statement they said, “the IAAF’s regulations do not empower anyone. Rather, they represent yet another flawed and hurtful attempt to police the sex of female athletes.”

When trying to take a step back to put yourself in every party’s shoes, one still struggles to provide a valid solution because it is easy to see where all parties are coming from. It seems unlikely that in this athletics story there will be a winner.

Is it fair on the other athletes who are producing significantly less testosterone than some DSD athletes, who are training just as hard as them, and are not getting a medal?

Is it fair to ask athletes like Caster Semenya to take testosterone suppressants, bearing in mind that she produces more testosterone than other women naturally?

Are the IAAF right to fight for “a level playing field” in this way? It seems likely, no matter the outcome, that some athletes will be seriously hard done by.

Whilst Caster Semenya has gone unbeaten over 800m since 2015, there is much more at stake here than a position on the podium.

SPÓIRT

March 12 2019

29

Money talks as Donegal’s Croke Park motion is defeated at congress

By Tomás Keating The Annual GAA Congress took place in Wexford last month, and the main talking point was Donegal’s failed motion to stop Dublin from having their home games in Croke Park in the Super Eights.

Motion 39 was put forward by Donegal, and it received 36 percent of the vote among fellow county board delegates. It was Donegal themselves who were the victims of this ridiculous situation in last season’s inaugural Super Eights, they played Dublin in their supposed neutral game, while Dublin also had another game in Croke Park against Roscommon.

In the Super Eights, each team has a home game, an away game, and a game at a Croke Park.

Of course for Dublin, this meant they played two games in Croke Park which completely undermines the whole integrity of the All-Ireland series.

It gives Dublin an advantage over every other team, they play their home games in the National

League in Croke Park. If the GAA wants to see Croke Park as Dublin’s home venue, fair enough, but their neutral match must take place in another venue.

There is a plethora of county grounds in Leinster alone, O’Connor Park in Tullamore which holds 20,000; O’Moore Park in Portlaoise which holds 27,000, Páirc Tailteann in Navan which holds 17,000, just to name a few.

would not be able to handle the shear demand of between 25,000-30,000 Dublin fans wanting to get tickets.

The final reason is that while Donegal’s motion was well intentioned, it was badly worded. They wanted to ensure that Dublin did not get home games in Croke Park, whereas it should have been worded that it would ensure that Dublin don’t play two games in headquarters.

WHY IT FAILED: The main reason for rejecting the motion and keeping the Dubs in Croke Park is the financial aspect. The Dublin supporters come in their droves to headquarters for these matches. The GAA argue that money raised at the gates for these Dublin games are pumped into the grassroots of the Association. But should the GAA worry more about the fairness of the All-Ireland Football Championship, rather than making a financial gain?

Another aspect is Parnell Park, the only other county ground in Dublin, holds only 8,500, so it

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CHANGE THIS MOTION IN THE FUTURE: Donegal, or any other county, should try and put forward this motion again, but this time reword it.

It must clarify that Dublin can play in Croke Park for their home games if they want to, but that means that they cannot play their neutral game there also.

They ought to try and get more Leinster counties onboard by promising them games in their county grounds, and they will take a percentage of the gate.

For example, if Galway play Dublin in a neutral match in the Super 8s, they play in O’Moore Park, and Laois County Board gain a considerable amount of profit, which can be put back into the grassroots of Laois GAA. This scenario would also boost Portlaoise’s economy with an influx of Dublin supporters eating in restaurants and going to pubs.

It is extremely depressing that Motion 39 was rejected at Congress. This summer, it will no doubt be a huge talking point again, when we will see Dublin hammering teams in a half-empty Croke Park, marching onto their fifth All-Ireland title in a row.

But sure, at least the GAA made a bit more profit on the gate. Imagine if this happened in any other sport?

Collusion settlement calls Kaepernick’s legacy into question

By Darragh Nolan Broadly speaking there are two sides to the Colin Kaepernick debate. There are those who support his decision to protest against police brutality and racial discrimination. On the other side, some believe taking a knee during the national anthem was disrespectful and unpatriotic.

Generally those that support Kaep believe his status as a free agent is a consequence of the protest. Their opposition tend to argue that his mediocre win – loss record is the reason for his inability to secure a spot on an NFL roster. The collusion grievance he filed against the league has the potential to settle this debate once and for all.

The world of football could’ve stopped speaking broadly and dealing in generalities, and got down to specifics. Did the NFL really blackball Kaepernick? If so, how many teams were involved? Were the higher-ups in the league office, perhaps even commissioner Roger Goodell, in on it?

Since Kaepernick agreed to a confidential settlement with the NFL, these questions will remain unanswered. In analysing the circumstances of the case one must operate under assumptions based on what’s in the public domain.

The Associated Press on 15 February reported that Kaepernick was approached to play for the upstart Alliance of American Football. He asked for a contract in the region of $20 million and the league balked. Days after the talks between Kaep and the AAF fell through, he reached his agreement with the NFL. Connect the dots as you see fit.

Kaepernick’s former teammate and fellow protestor Eric Reid also settled his own collusion suit with the NFL. Reid signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers in 2018. So, Reid, through settling his case against the league, personally gained something from his protest despite never spending significant time away from football.

Reid took a knee during the anthem before his debut with the Panthers and will come back in 2019. This effectively refutes the notion that it was protest preventing Eric Reid from getting signed. The real reason he had to wait for a call in the first place was the nature of the market for players at his position.

Kenny Vaccaro is every bit as good a safety as Eric Reid.

The Titans only picked him up when starter Johnathan Cyprien tore his ACL. Vaccaro didn’t file a suit against the league and he certainly didn’t gain anything from waiting a few months longer to sign a deal. The only difference between Eric Reid and Kenny Vaccaro is the former took a knee during the national anthem.

Neither Reid nor Kaepernick remained silent during the 2018 season. When the Panthers met the Philadelphia Eagles, the former Pro Bowler instigated a physical confrontation with Eagles captain Malcolm Jenkins. Jenkins is a member of the Player’s Coalition, a group of the kneeling protestors who came together to lobby the NFL. And lobby they did. The league agreed to donate millions of dollars to social justice campaigns on behalf of the Coalition. In exchange, the group’s members ended their protest. Eric Reid maintains that Jenkins is “a sell-out” because of this deal.

That deal and these settlements couldn’t be more different. If the Player’s Coalition sold out, what does that make Reid and Kaepernick? The terms of the Coalition’s deal are public knowledge and they benefitted the cause they protested for, not the players themselves.

The terms of Reid and Kaepernick’s settlement are subject to a non-disclosure agreement. Only the two plaintiffs stood to gain anything from settling.

Eric Reid looks like a hypocrite, as does Kaepernick by extension. The former Niners quarterback tweeted his support for Reid during that Eagles – Panthers clash.

Kaepernick’s protest was never about the national anthem. It was about fighting social injustice in the United States. For that, he must be commended.

However, there is no denying that this settlement taints his legacy as an activist. There’s little doubt that Kaepernick made out handsomely from that settlement. His massive Nike ad campaign produced the slogan, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” Colin Kaepernick may believe in something, but he did not sacrifice anything.

Except perhaps his integrity.

Malcolm Jenkins. Image: Keith Allison via Flickr

30 SPORT

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 11

From high school to hero?

By Markus Krug The roar of the crowd in a bursting Madison Square Garden after a game winning three point shot, or Lambeau Field erupting when a player jumps into the stands right after scoring a big touchdown.

These are the dreams that every high school or college athlete in the United States has in their head when imagining the possibility of getting drafted as a pro.

With the NFL Draft right around the corner and the NBA version of the distribution of college talent onto the pro teams following soon thereafter, the modus operandi of both leagues is coming under review once again.

The big question remains, should players be allowed to enter the draft right after high school?

So far, both leagues force their players to spend some time honing their craft after high school, before allowing them to enter the respective organisations.

The NFL forces its players to “be out of high school for at least three years” before being eligible for the draft. In the case of the NBA the infamous “one-anddone” rule, which forces players to either be 19 years or older or play at least one year in college, was put in place to prevent players from jumping directly from high school to the pros.

The reason these specific rules have been put in place is simple.

Too many young players entered the leagues and were either physically or mentally not ready for the business they were signing up for, therefore ending up as so called “draft busts” and without a future in the sport.

To prevent that from happening, the players are supposed to play in college or abroad, hone their craft and hopefully educate themselves along the way in order to not struggle and fail at the next level like some of them did before.

In reality, some players will not make the league, and therefore miss out on a potentially life changing payday because of these rules. American Football is one of the toughest team sports played on the collegiate level and some of its brightest young stars have been taken out by one ill-fated tackle or one misplaced step on the field.

And even a less physical sport like Basketball has seen its fair share of promising careers cut short by a torn ligament or a chronic injury while playing at the college level. The latest injury

scare around highly touted talent Zion Williamson at Duke University now reignited the discussion about eligibility rules.

The NBA introduced the “oneand-done” rule in 2005 after promising players like Kwame Brown and Sebastian Telfair struggled at the next level. It was introduced despite the continuous success of former high schoolers turned pro like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.

Now another revision of the rule is set for this year, with a potential change, allowing high school seniors to enter the draft once again, set for 2020 at the earliest. The NFL has not announced any revision of its rule considering young talent coming into the league.

To actually analyse the merit of these rules and potential changes to them, both leagues need to be viewed separately. Even with some of the obvious dangers of college football, the thought of a potentially 17 year old quarterback facing the likes of JJ Watt and Aaron Donaldson on a football field is both scary and laughable at the same time. While the need for the full three-year time span after high school can be debated, the general need for a time of physical and mental growth is obvious.

In basketball, it is a different story. While physically dominant and extremely athletic players roam both the NBA and college courts, some of the positions are actually dominated by exceptionally skilful and supremely intelligent athletes. These attributes are not exclusively tied to a certain age or experience level.

It is therefore for a good reason that the NBA reviews its own rule set in regards to draft eligibility.

Some players like the aforementioned Zion Williamson could definitely have made a successful jump to the NBA right out of high school. And while it would mean that the collegiate level would lose some of its star power, it would open up the college ranks to the players that actually want to develop their physical and mental skill set before making the transition to the pros.

With the lower injury risk in comparison to college football, this could actually deepen the NBA’s talent pool in the long run.

At the same time, it would give the supremely gifted high school talent the immediate chance to compete with the best in the world, and not take any risks in regards to their pro career while on the college detour.

Kepa fiasco just another episode in Chelsea player power drama

By Danny Casserly With Kepa Arrizabalaga’s recent strop in front of 80,000 people at Wembley, and millions watching around the world, another episode in the seemingly never-ending power struggle between the Chelsea players and management played out in the League Cup final against Manchester City.

With the last minutes of extra time ticking down, and the Chelsea goalkeeper clearly suffering from cramp, manager Maurizio Sarri made the decision to substitute the world’s most expensive goalkeeper for backup Willy Caballero.

team by the Chelsea players when they dislike their coach is against everything that professional sportsmen should be, and is something not seen anywhere else in world football.

These protests first became apparent during the end of Jose Mourinho’s second stint as manager. When club doctor Eva Carneiro ran onto the pitch “too fast” to treat Eden Hazard during Chelsea’s first game of their title defence in 2015, Mourinho had a touchline tantrum, setting the tone for how his club’s season would play out. The players lost all confidence and respect for the manager, and Mourinho was sacked just before

overall negative atmosphere surrounding the club, now could force owner Roman Abramovich to pull the plug on yet another Chelsea manager.

Not all of the blame can be put on Sarri for the club’s misfortunes however. There is very little he can do if his players have seemingly decided to down tools and refuse to play for him. There seems to be a distinct lack of leadership in the Chelsea dressing room, as the club hasn’t managed to find suitable replacements for Frank Lampard and John Terry, two pillars of the club for decades.

The job of Chelsea manager is also among world football’s hardest, with

With the last minutes of extra time ticking down, and the Chelsea goalkeeper clearly suffering from cramp, manager Maurizio Sarri made the decision to substitute the world’s most expensive goalkeeper for backup Willy Caballero. Kepa made a stand against his manager’s wishes, refusing to be substituted. After a lengthy standoff, a furious Sarri gave in.

Caballero would provide fresh legs, a proven expertise for saving penalties, as well as having insider knowledge on the City penalty-takers, having spent three years with Manchester City himself.

Instead, Kepa made a stand against his manager’s wishes, refusing to be substituted and waving away attempts to be persuaded by officials, management and fellow players.

After a lengthy standoff, a furious Sarri gave in, abandoning his plans and focusing his attention on a highly animated rant on the sideline.

Perhaps even worse, extra time finished only moments after, meaning Sarri and Kepa had to face each other as the team prepared for a penalty shoot-out. In the end, Kepa saved a penalty from Leroy Sane, but let an easily saveable effort from Sergio Aguero slide underneath him on route to a City triumph.

This display of defiance against management is just another controversy in the long line of petty indifferences that have plagued Chelsea over the last five or so years. The lack of effort and dedication to the

Christmas, with the club finding itself in the midst of a relegation battle.

Chelsea’s next full-time coach was Antonio Conte, and like Mourinho, he initially brought success to Chelsea, winning the Premier League in his first season with the club, winning 13 straight league games along the way.

Once again, his team’s title defence was disappointing; Conte was sent to the stands in a game against Swansea, and the players’ motivation was questioned throughout the season. Conte lasted until the end of the season, finishing fifth in the Premier League, as well as winning the FA Cup. The team’s failure to qualify for the Champions League led to Conte’s sacking in the summer of 2018.

And so, the cycle looks ready to repeat with current coach Sarri. The team is in a battle for Champions League qualifying with an inconsistent Arsenal and a rejuvenated Manchester United. The Europa League now represents their last chance for silverware this season, with them halfway through a round of 16 tie against Dynamo Kyiv. A trophy-less season, coupled with the

Abramovich not known for being particularly patient with his managerial appointments. There is great pressure to succeed immediately.

Overall, the culture of Chelsea football club in recent years is not one that can succeed continuously over a long period of time. Managers are not given enough time to build their own teams and implement their own tactics due to constant pressure from the boardroom.

As a result, players can defy the management of the club regularly, the latest example being Kepa’s display. It would be impossible for such an episode to occur at a club like Liverpool or Manchester City, thanks to the positive organisations within the club.

While teams like Liverpool and Manchester City continue to find success and grow, Chelsea feel like relics of a bygone era of hierarchical club management, an approach that simply cannot function anymore. And with no sign of change coming along, it could get even worse before Chelsea reassume their place as regular title contenders.

Just Read

Ag Lorg Laochra Léimh

Do you need anything more than a good book? The key to happiness is finding a good book and reading it.

Níl dada níos fearr ná leabhar maith.

Is iomaí duine a fhaigheann sonas i leabhar a aimsiú agus a léamh.

Join the SU Education Officer for books and more in Group Study Room 1 on the First Floor of the Library, 1pm-2pm every Tuesday.

Tar le chéile le hOifigeach Oideachais an Chomhaltais i gcomhair leabhar agus tuilleadh i Seomra Group Study1, Áras Uí Argadáin ó 1 i.n. go 2 i.n. gach Máirt.

More information from su.education@nuigalway.ie

Tuilleadh eolais le fáil ó su.education@nuigalway.ie

www.su.nuigalway.ie

faceboo acebook.com/NUIGalwayS wa tudent wayS tude sUnion

twitter.com/NUIG m m/NUIG SU

#NUIGSU19

Students’ Union Part Time Officer Elections – Toghcháin Oifigí Páirt Aimseartha Comhaltas na Mac Léinn

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Ionaid Vótála ar an gCampas Polling Stations on Campus You must have NUI Galway ID. Other forms of ID are not permitted.

Ní mór duit do chárta aitheantais OÉ Gaillimh a bheith agat. Ní ghlacfar le foirmeacha aitheantais eile.

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Thursday 14th March Déardaoin 14 Márta The Concourse 10:00—20:00

Áras na Mac Léinn 11:00—20:00

Alice Perry Engineering Building Áras Inealltóireachta Alice Perry 12:00—17:00 www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

 TOGHCHÁIN CML An rachaidh tú san iomaíocht?

 SU ELECTIONS Will you run?