The Insiter - Vol. 15 Issue 1 by Insite - The Student Media Organisation

CONTENTS THE SILVER LINING LAURA CUSCHIERI /03 THE STORY BEHIND THE 10,000 MISSING LIBRARY BOOKS CHRISTIAN CAMILLERI /07 BEYOND BOOKS AND STUDYING DANIEL COSSAI AND RACHEL POWELL /09 MALTA FOR DUMMIES JULIA SHAABAN /11 “I NEVER FELT BLACK UNTIL I CAME TO MALTA”JOHANN AGIUS /13 #NOREGRETS THE NITPICKER /16 IT’S NOT ALL FUN AND GAMES MICHELLE GRECH /19 TRAVEL TIPS FOR A STUDENT BUDGETJULIA ELLUL /23 EDUCATION COMMISSIONER? OMBUDSMAN? WHAT’S THAT? ANDREA GONZI /26 EARLY RANT FROM A UNIVERSITY FRESHER DEMI TANTI /29 SEXUAL HARASSMENT SURVEY TIM DIACONO & FRAN BORG TAYLOR EAST /31 HOW TO BE A BETTER PROCRASTINATOR MATTHEW DEBATTISTA /36 TALK TO THE HAND MELISSA MCELHATTON /39 WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WATCHING? MATTHEW CHARLES ZAMMIT /41 BACK TO UNI- EVERNOTE STEFAN BUTTIGIEG /47 “A MIND-BLOWING, OVERWHELMING LABYRINTH” EX- FRESHERS SPEAK OUT /51 A THREE-LEGGED HORSE TIMMY SPITERI /54 I FAILED MY EXAMS AND THATS PERFECTLY FINE CHRISTA BOFFA /59

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR An entirely new executive team and design team at Insite means that this magazine is a venture into the unknown for us. Since the beginning of my tenure, my plan was to try and make it more student-centric than previous editions were. By that, I mean that I didn’t want the magazine to simply represent the opinions of our writers but of other University students as well.

Laura Cuschieri asks such second-option students whether they regret taking this decision. Meanwhile, Fran Borg Taylor East and I reveal the results of a sexual harassment survey conducted amongst University students and Matthew Charles Zammit finds out which TV series are most popular on campus. Christian Camilleri digs deeper into a report that 10,000 books have gone missing from the library, Michelle Grech finds out why the new Institute of Digital Games is being hailed as a roaring success, and Mel McElhatton questions whether sign language should be offered as a Degree Plus unit. Elsewhere, Rachel Powell and Daniel Cossai team up to interview all-student band Karma Skies, Andrea Gonzi asks the University’s new Education Commissioner what his job entails and Johann Agius speaks to Farah Abdi, a 19-year-old Somali refugee and blogger. There are some more light-hearted articles too. British student Julia Shabaan presents a guide to Malta for dummies, Matthew Debattista gives advice on how to become a better procrastinator, and of course there can’t be an Insiter without the Nitpicker page!

Are you are a fresher feeling confused about what the lecture hall acronyms on your timetable mean or what to do if two of your classes clash? Nicole Borg asks students what their first few days as a fresher were like. Did you fail to get the required A levels to follow your ideal course but decided to study something else instead?

All this and more inside. If you would like to join Insite as a writer, video editor, illustrator, graphic designer, cameraperson or photographer, just visit our website insteronline.com or our Facebook page ‘Insite Malta’ for more details. Applications are always open and we don’t (usually) reject anyone! Enjoy the read!

ILLUSTRATORS

EXECUTIVE 2014/15

Bruce Micallef Eynaud: Artistic Director Mark Scicluna: mrkscicluna@gmail.com Glenn Ellul : infoglennellul@gmail.com Chiara Cassar : cassarchiara@gmail.com

CEO- Melissa McElhatton Secretary General- Dionne Taryn Gatt Sales and Marketing Officer- Michelle Grech Media Officer- Tim Diacono External Relations Officer- Johann Agius DESIGN Financial Officer- Sarah Cachia Nathan Abela: Design Director Operations Officer- Claudio Agius Rebecca Borg Cardona : rebecca.borg.cardona@gmail.com Development Officer- Bruce Micallef Eynaud Emmanuel Govann Borg: emmangovann@gmail.com Martina Cutajar: mar_cutajar@hotmail.com PHOTOGRAPHERS: Andrew Borg Carabott (Farah Abdi interview)

MEDIA TEAM

Media Officer- Tim Diacono Editors: Andrea Gonzi/Matthew Charles Zammit

THE SILVER LINING

LAURA CUSCHIERI

THE SILVER LINING Laura Cuschieri While many students are excited about finally getting to study something they love, others are very much in limbo. Laura Cuschieri speaks to four students who didn’t get the A levels needed to follow their dream course and opted to study an alternative course…

“Initially I wanted to get into medicine; it was what I had been working for during my two years in sixth form. I ended up applying for Law instead and managed to get in. It had always been a second option for me, although very different from medicine, and I felt that in the long run it would be the ideal career for me.”- Law Every student who received their results in July student was either shocked or overwhelmed by the letters on the mobile screen. It’s funny yet scary “Medicine was my first option but nursing is how a letter can change your life and future very much on the same lines as what I’ve alwaycompletely. Sadly, students are not allowed to swanted to do in my life, which is to help people choose a course unless they qualify according with their health and save some lives.”- Nursing to the required criteria. Sociologists say that in- student telligence and IQ have nothing to do with educational attainment (Bowles and Gintis). Many “Although it wasn’t my first option, the pharargue that some are more capable than others maceutical technology overview struck the right despite getting lower grades. Yet the ugly truth notes. Through the course, we do not only learn is that grades are the only tangible evidence of about medicine production, quality and manyour capabilities, no matter how broad or com- agement, but also how one should behave and plex they may be. They are there, and they are act when confronting professionals on the job.”sadly your only identity when it comes to aca- Pharmaceutical Technology student demic ‘abilities’. However sad this all sounds, getting poor grades can sometimes serve as a wake-up call and help you open your mind to look at other alternatives. We are so used to everything working according to plan; primary school, secondary school, sixth form and university, that we build a comfort zone. And it is through the destruction of this comfort zone that we realize that there is more to life than we thought or pictured.

“I originally wanted to get into physiotherapy. When I didn’t manage, I decided to study Earth Systems. I’ve always loved the environment and nature and this course allowed me to study different aspects of the earth which will in the future allow me to aid in building a better future for others. Plus we get to go on awesome trips!”Earth Systems student The idea that only one course suits you is a myth and the broad spectrum of courses available at the University of Malta enables us to find an alternative that fits. However, the beginning is not always plain sailing.

“I don’t recall the first few weeks being extremely tough. With every new beginning there is always that feeling of light-headedness and happiness for new prospects.”- Nursing student “The first few weeks of University are tough for everyone. However, finding new friends definitely made a difference and it did not take that long to settle in.”- Pharmaceutical Technology student

“More than tough, the first few weeks were kind of awkward. I didn’t know anybody from my class and, since integrating is not my strong suite, it felt like I was all alone. After a few social events and lectures though, I got to know most “The first few weeks were a little tough, espe- of the class. Friendships blossomed as the year cially until I got used to the timetables, venues passed.”- Earth System student and what was expected from me as a university student. In my case, there was also the problem that I had absolutely no grounding in law.”- Law student

“I AM TORN BETWEEN CHOOSING SOMETHING I LOVE AND BEING PRACTICAL”

THE SILVER LINING LAURA CUSCHIERI

None of these four students regret going for their second option. If they had to re-live their experience, they would have chosen the same course. “Although not all the subjects we cover are entirely useful in the long run, I am happy with the course I have chosen. I am getting an idea of the skills and techniques that lawyers need and I look forward to studying other legal areas. If I were to go back to the decision-making this time last year, I think I would have chosen the same course. I believe that who we are what we are capable of doing guides us when the time comes to make a decision.”- Law student

05 Fresher’s week is characterised by new faces, new questions and new doubts, which will be gradually figured out along the first semester. And don’t worry about the course you’ve chosen, even though it may not have been your initial plan. I’ve asked the students, who have been through this change, to give their advice to freshers. “Planning your future at this age is never easy but remember that your future is unknown. Just follow your heart, be true to yourself and choose what is that would make you mostly happy in your life. The rest will follow.” – Nursing Student “The choice depends entirely on the type of person you are. If you are clueless as to what you want in the future then choose the subject that you enjoy the most. On the other hand, if you have a clear vision of what you want, make the practical decision. You must also take into consideration the time you are willing to spend studying in the future before making a decision. Finally, be happy with your choice. It’s not worth spending your time on something that is not important to you.” – Earth Systems Student “To never give up, as cliché as it sounds, it gets easier as the year progresses. Studying continuously is a must if you want to reach your goals and succeed, but University life is not just academic. It is important to take part in activities and to get to know people. After all, it is mainly friends and family who get you through the ups and downs of Uni life. The most important thing, whilst still keeping up their studies, is to have fun!” Pharmaceutical Technology Student

“UNIVERSITY LIFE IS NOT JUST ACADEMIC.IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES AND TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE”

THE STORY BEHIND THE 10,000 MISSING LIBRARY BOOKS CHRISTIAN CAMILLERI

THE STORY BEHIND THE 10,000 MISSING LIBRARY BOOKS Christian Camilleri On August 9 this year, the Times of Malta reported that 10,000 University library books had gone missing after students failed to return them. Christian Camilleri interviews Kevin J. Ellul, Director Library Services at the University of Malta Library to investigate further. How many books have been stolen in the last five years? I can tell you how many books have gone missing, rather than stolen. A total of 10,000 books, which is approximately 2% of our loanable collection, have gone missing since the University Library moved to the Msida Campus over 40 years ago. This figure is very much lower when compared to publications that went missing from foreign academic libraries. Moreover, in line with other foreign academic libraries, most publications are nowadays acquired in electronic format. The books that went missing across the years will not be replaced owing to the fact that most of them are outdated and obsolete. Nevertheless for auditing purposes the books will still continue to be listed as missing in the years to come. Once a book has gone missing, what procedure does the library personnel follow in order to try to get it back? When a book is not returned, the Library’s Management System (LMS) sends out self-generated emails to those patrons who have borrowed books requesting that he/she returns the publication back. When a student fails to return publications registered under his account the student in question is eventuallly informed that he/she will not be allowed to graduate until all books in his/her possession are returned.

As a precaution against students who try to steal books, the University Library will be putting tags on books. How will this system work? The Library is striving to secure funds to implement a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system. At the moment, books are tagged with a metallic strip so that if a student does not register a book it will trigger the alarm when he attempts to exit the Library. This new system will mean that publications will also be attached with a chip containing information. This new system will enhance security so much so that the Library will also be able to identify publications that are misplaced within the Library. This system will also be linked to our Library catalogue and will therefore also be an invaluable tool in stocktaking activities. The implementation of RFID is seamless and students will not experience any setbacks when consulting our print collections. Will this new system of tagging books be used to track down students who rip pages of books? No, you can’t have a chip on each and every page of every publication..

Do you have a statistic of how many books and Journals have had pages ripped out of them? No, I’m sorry but we do not collect that kind of data. Do you think that the University Library ought to introduce a system where students are asked to place a money deposit on books being loaned to them? No academic library requests its students to place money deposits on books being loaned to them. The security measures that we have adopted have proven to be effective enough. With the licensing of electronic resources, the number of students who steal books from the Library has decreased drastically in the last few years.

Moreover, one has to take into consideration that, unlike foreign academic libraries, the general public can access the print collection of the University of Malta Library owing to the fact that the University of Malta is a public funded institution. This means that more people use our services.

When we spoke on the phone, you told me that there were some things that you would like to clarify from the article that was published on The Times. Which were they? The article published by The Times was sensational and misleading owing to the fact that the reporter did not highlight the fact that the 10,000 Are there other plans to introduce a safer system of books that went missing from the Library had achow to loan books? cumulated over more than 40 years. The Library As previously stated, the books that have gone has worked hard throughout the years to build missing have accumulated over a span of 40 the excellent reputation it enjoys today as the years. The safest measures for loaning publica- leading academic library on the Maltese Islands. tions were taken in 2010 with the implementa- Indeed, local academics and researchers as well tion of Aleph 500. This is a top-notch Library as several researchers of international repute doManagement System supported by ExLibris. nate their prestigious collections to the UoM Library. Furthermore, international scholars wishSome people have criticised librarians for allowing ing to do research about Malta have found our library books to get stolen in their presence. How Special Collections, namely Melitensia and the would you, as library director, like to answer to this Archives and Rare Books Departments an excelcriticism? lent resource for their studies. Given the vast number of students who go through the circulation desk during peak hours of the day and peak periods of the academic year, it is practically impossible to keep an eye on what each and every student is doing.

“THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY THE TIMES WAS SENSATIONAL AND MISLEADING”

BEYOND BOOKS AND STUDYING: INTRODUCING STUDENT BAND KARMA SKIES DANIEL COSSAI & RACHEL POWELL

BEYOND BOOKS AND STUDYING: INTRODUCING STUDENT BAND KARMA SKIES Daniel Cossai & Rachel Powell Karma Skies are an acoustic girl band made up of six University students. “We formed the band back in December 2011 at St Aloysius’ College to put on a performance at the annual Sixth Form,” Odelsie Camilleri, one of the band’s singers, as well as an occasional violinist, told Insite. Her friends Annalise Bellizzi, Loredana Grech, and Michela Scerri complete the team of vocalists. The other members of the band are the pianist Caroline Caruana and the guitarist Sheryl Camilleri.

In its infant years, the band has focused on covering songs which are well known to their audience. However, they have released an original song, called Bittersweet September, which has just celebrated its one year anniversary. The song title alludes to the band members’ student background.

“September, as any student knows, is the month that bridges summer vacation and the beginning of the first semester,” Odelsie said. “We released the song a few days before our first year at UniWhy Karma Skies though? “The name doesn’t versity. We described September as ‘bittersweet’ have any particular meaning,” Odelsie said. because we were going to miss our summer days “After a session of brainstorming, comparing and midweek nights out but were also looking and discarding several ideas, we simply agreed forward to the start of a new University experithat the two words sound good together.” ence.” “It’s stuck with us ever since.”

“Loredana and I had initially started writing the song together,” Odelsie recalls. “However, the As might be expected from a band with so many other members all ended up getting involved. members, the girls find inspiration in a variety of Everyone inputted different ideas until we finalsources. Their preferred genres of music include ly recorded the song as it is today.” folk, indie, and alternative music. The song was also accompanied by a music vid“We are inspired by several bands and artists,” eo. Shot at Selmun and directed by another UniOdelsie said. “Alicia Keys, Gabrielle Alpin, Bas- versity student, Stephan Zammit, it has accumutille, FUN…the list is endless.” lated just under 8,000 views on YouTube. The band has in fact covered songs from the latter two bands. These are Bastille’s Pompeii and FUN’s Some Nights, the latter of which has amassed over 22,000 views on YouTube, a remarkable amount for an upcoming student band with limited exposure.

Karma Skies’ main exposure to the local music scene has come through the events which it has performed at over the past couple of years. Having started from St Aloysius’ College’s Soirée, the band quickly moved on to bigger events. They performed at Strummin’ the Elements in 2013, and at the FCN Beatles Concert and The Farsons Beer Festival in 2014. The latter two were significant milestones for the band. The FCN Beatles Concert was a chance for the vocalists (Annalise, Odelsie, Loredana, and Michela) to perform with some well-known local artists. This helped boost their image among the music community and led to other large-scale events, this time with the full lineup including Sheryl and Caroline. Their biggest gig to date was at last summer’s Beer Festival. On a smaller stage, they also performed during Radio Leonardo 105.2FM’s record-breaking 65-hour marathon. Another very memorable event for most of the band was the Malta Eurovision Song Contest in 2014, in which four of the members performed. Odelsie played the violin, Sheryl played the guitar, and Annalise and Loredana served as backing vocalists in De Bee’s song Pin the Middle. The song finished in second place, behind Firelight’s Coming Home.

Like most other bands, Karma Skies have their own pre-performance rituals. They tend to keep calm and not panic each other. “Before every performance we just connect with each other and say a quick prayer,” Odelsie said. With the beginning of another academic year around the corner, the girls are aware of the challenges they face in balancing Karma Skies and University. “We know that we need to focus on our studies to achieve our non-musical goals,” Odelsie said. “By no means are we shelving Karma Skies though. We plan to perform at more events, cover more songs and even release more original songs.” With such determination and talent, surely the sky is the limit for Karma Skies.

MALTA FOR DUMMIES JULIA SHABAAN

MALTA FOR DUMMIES A GUIDE FOR THE BEMUSED INTERNATIONAL STUDENT Julia Shabaan

British student Julia Shaaban gives a humourous overview of her time in Malta so far. Welcome! Merhba! Bienvenidos! Bienvenue! Wilkommen! Benvenuto!

So, to start. The typical Maltese will often be found out and about with a Pastizzi, often described as a cheese cake. I will state now, IT DOES NOT resemble any kind of cheesecake I’ve ever seen. More of a lard filled pastry with a little cheese in the middle. Or peas. But the cheese tastes better. Unless you’re lactose intolerant. Then stick to the peas. No one wants to be gassy and cramping during lectures. You’ll never make friends that way.

If the Maltese feels the need to watch their calories and fat in their diet, they may swap to a ftira (f-teera. The ‘f’ has no vowel sound after it and So you’ve landed on a is kind of stuck onto the front of the rest of the word). It is filled with tiny rock in the mid- tuna and olives with VERY sharp, crunchy bread that should come with a dle of some water, health and safety warning. You have been warned. marveled at the small scale of the airport and When the Maltese have finished eating, they will often go for a nap half weird road names… way through the afternoon. This has a somewhat irritating effect on life Yes, you have made it (being from a cold grey country myself I was enraged to find I couldn’t get to a tiny island in the to the pharmacy or bank on my afternoons off). Shops will have their own middle of the Medi- opening times, different per shop, unless you want to use the services of terranean (and in the a local bank. If you’re not there by lunchtime, forget it. This led to many a path of many an epic photo on my phone being of shop opening times rather than good memothunderstorm cloud) ries. What a waste of memory. And ALMOST NOTHING opens on a Sunthat 400,000 people or day…. Except Church. Of which there are loads around, which is fine if so have claimed to be you’re not teetotal. The Maltese can often be found there too. their home with their own language, feasts, saint’s days (that means extra days with no lectures) and some slightly peculiar habits.

The Maltese celebrate many occasions in life. Births, christenings, marriage, confirmation. These are done in a largely civilised manner. However, each village has their own feast (and of course there is Santa Maria week). This is license for the average Maltese to stage a festival including an inordinate amount of fireworks… sometimes for days on end, whilst trying to compete with each other to see who can be the most extravagant. Fireworks can be heard even during the day. To point out the obvious, fireworks are usually seen better at night. Don’t ask. It’s just one of those life mysteries that no amount of cultural research can answer. Experience has led me to buy earplugs.

12 The Maltese have a distinct accent. He/she will utter phrases that are not heard elsewhere; ‘Mela’. This has very little relevance to anything. It translates as ‘so’ but is over used, everywhere. N.B to the Italians: the Maltese are not talking about or asking for apples. Just so you know. ‘Ta’ at the end of a sentence is a sign of friendliness. ‘Issa’ means ‘now’, frequently used much like ‘mela’. ‘IL-MADONNA!’. This is an exclamation of some sort. What it has to do with the Virgin Mary is anyone’s guess. Transport will shape your life, much like it does the Maltese life. There are no trains, trams, rickshaws, monorails or other type of transport other than a 4 wheeled vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, each one seemingly on its own timetable, that may or may not stop where you want. Or you can always walk. Just don’t do it in your best heels. (Y chromosome owners, I’m sure there’s some kind of best shoe equivalent for this situation).

After the Maltese have finished scaring the local wildlife, they would find time to talk. Actually, no. They ALWAYS find time to talk. The silent type is a rare find. There is a compulsive NEED to exercise one’s jaw muscles. Add another Maltese into the conversation and the volume increases four fold. Add a third person and the volume increases nine fold… This does, however, have a pleasant effect of there always being I hope this has given you a humourous look into someone to chat to assuming you can be heard. Maltese life, as this is intended to be. Enjoy yourself, see as much as you can and I wish you best of luck in your studies.

“MELA’. THIS HAS LITTLE RELEVANCE TO ANYTHING. IT TRANSLATES AS ‘SO’ BUT IS OVER USED, EVERYWHERE”

I NEVER FELT BLACK UNTIL I CAME TO MALTA JOHANN AGIUS

I NEVER FELT BLACK UNTIL I CAME TO MALTA AN INTERVIEW WITH FARAH ABDI Johann Agius

Johann Agius interviews MaltaToday blogger Farah “I remember telling my mother that one day I Abdi, a teenage Somali refugee who moved to Malta would work in that building and travel around in 2012. the world meeting politicians to make a difference. She told me to keep my feet on the ground The phrase which remained imprinted in my and not dream too big. Earlier this year I atmind after meeting Farah Abdi, an 18 year old tended a UN conference in Switzerland”. After Somali who has been living here for over 2 years. meeting the current European Commissioner “I never thought the colour of my skin would be for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom in Brussels a problem” he says, while sitting with me on a at the beginning of the year, later in June Farah slightly uncomfortable bench at the University spoke with many heads of state in Geneva about campus on a hot summer day. the importance of correct policy making that preserves migrant rights. Thinking he had found a safe haven, the possibility of discrimination in Malta did not initial- Upon setting foot in Malta he found no language ly cross Farah’s mind. Despite believing it to be barrier, and had enough of a background of primarily a generational issue, Farah still fears Western culture from different media forms like that the younger crowd are growing up with the television to get by. In fact, Farah emphasizes same discriminatory values. “What shocks me is that one of the main reasons why migrants and that young people here are still so close to their Maltese people fail to integrate is simply because families, that they are easily influenced in their they cannot understand each other linguistically. mentalities and ideologies. I have had youngsters come up to me, asking if I have diseases, or Admitting that consequently he had it easier whether I had ever seen roads before I migrated than many other migrants, who are completely to Malta. I never expected that kind of response alien to this side of the globe, Farah still felt the when I first came here”. He made many friends, need to establish a new life for himself in Europe. but could never forget the indirectly hurtful “I was being restricted from my dreams because comments he got from some of them, such as ‘we of my sexuality and religious stand. I love my do not like black people, but we like you’. country, my family and my roots, but my ambitions were too strong to ignore.” Being openly Originally hailing from Somalia, Farah and his gay, Farah had to endure a different kind of suffamily left for Kenya when he was just 3 years fering, that of being true to himself, which is not old. As a result, he remembers almost nothing usually associated with more common backstofrom the early childhood he spent in his country ries of migrants who endure a life-threatening of birth.“In Kenya I spoke perfect English, went journey in search of a hopeful future. to school and had already set goals for myself to become an artist and a writer”.On a family trip to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, Farah came across the United Nations embassy.

Multiple times throughout our meeting, Farah said that he dislikes being used as an example to embody the realities and experiences of other migrants who end up on our islands. “Luckily I was not dying of hunger or in the midst of a war as a reason for me needing to leave home, unlike so many Somalis and Eritreans who come to Malta”. This does not mean Farah found his migrating experience easy, considering he was an unaccompanied minor embarking on a journey into the unknown.

Rather than repeating his life story to anyone he meets, Farah prefers to make a more effective and less indulgent difference by speaking up for the fundamental rights of migrants, although he is not very fond of being labelled as an activist. “I don’t like to use my current fortunate situation to get ahead of others, by almost trying to make people feel sorry for me because of what I have gone through to arrive at where I am today. I am just another person trying to live out their dream”.

He went to therapy of his own accord after arriving, which he was surprised not to find on offer at the detention centre. “I spent my first 5 days here walking barefoot. I had very low morals and found it hard to cope from the aftermath of our boat ride to Malta. The other migrants teased me for wanting to see what they called a brain doctor, but they did not even realize that they themselves needed therapy just like me”.

Something Farah hopes will improve in the future is the mental grouping of all African migrants into the same equation, without considering the diverse nationalities they hail from, not to mention the considerable differences between each and every individual migrant. “When I started going to school in Kenya, I realized how different my culture was from the other kids. Imagine how deceiving it is to put all of us in the same basket. We are all different from each other, and the differences in each of us deserve to be respected”.

I NEVER FELT BLACK UNTIL I CAME TO MALTA JOHANN AGIUS

An additional melioration he wishes becomes effective concerns the local media’s treatment of migration headlines. “The Maltese media is more interested in the painful experiences of migrants and painting them into what they want to be published. We rarely hear of success stories from people like me, even though we exist. I’ve had enough of only seeing photos of migrants with flies on their faces being taken to the detention centre.” On occasionally meeting the President and Prime Minister of Malta, Farah expressed his disappointment at the lack of opportunities migrants are offered to show their capabilities and actually contribute to society. “Manual jobs like building and garbage collecting should be a transition to other possible career paths, and not a way for employers to take advantage of workers who are willing to work hard for an almost invisible wage”. One of Farah’s many passions is fashion, and he hopes to embark on an internationally based career in Milan or Paris, reporting from the catwalk and meeting his idols from the industry. Somali-born model and celebrity Iman, the wife of superstar David Bowie, is one of them. “It gives me hope to see someone like her represent my home country in the fashion world” he says admiringly, “It acts as a reminder that even someone like me can reach new heights”.

Farah’s love for media is even more evident in his drive for writing, and it eventually translated into his own blog on the MaltaToday website which he updates regularly with his views on steps forward for integration. “Stereotypes did not stop me from pursuing my dreams, but instead motivated me to put myself out there. My blog has opened many doors for me”. After receiving numerous hateful comments on his blog, and finally getting used to not being phased by them, Farah became even more determined to fight racial discrimination. What does the future hold for this determined young man? Volunteering with more organisations that aim to actively integrate migrants at a local level, releasing his very own book ‘From Chains To Freedom’ this coming November, and keeping in contact with international news portals, with the hope of possibly writing an article for the New York Times in the foreseeable future, are just some of the projects that Farah already has under way. “The list of potential successes for migrants is endless”.

“I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF ONLY SEEING PHOTOS OF MIGRANTS WITH FLIES ON THEIR FACES BEING TAKEN TO THE DETENTION CENTRE”

# NO REGRETS

NIT PICKER

#NO REGRETS Oh god, you’re still here aren’t you? Well, fine; let the nitpicking resume. For those of you who have no idea what I’m about (because common sense and a general grasp of the English language are not, as one would expect, prerequisites of this establishment), I’m here to lower everyone’s expectations a notch or two. I’ll be the sulking photobomber in the background of that bimbo’s selfie with a couple of hundred hashtags thrown in. I’ll be the one fueling the fire of complaints about bus times while sitting comfortably in my air-conditioned car. I’ll be that one person sitting in the corner of Quadrangle pretending not be eavesdropping on your conversation, all the time getting more fodder for my rants. I’ll be the twenty-something pensioner. I’ll be your Nitpicker. Available while stocks last, and the beauty of Malta’s University is that stocks always last. While you might think that I’m being too much of a Negative Nancy, I urge you not to fool yourselves. Trust me; summer is still fresh in everyone’s minds. Heck, you might still have a tan. Wait until the cold kicks in, followed by the rain and the assignments. You’ll have me to thank for knowing there’s someone out there who can be as much of a public party-pooper as you’d like to be but just can’t afford to be (one must be careful not to lose any one of those thousands of acquaintances on Facebook). Ultimately, there really is just one human being behind this. But rest assured; humanity is not why I do this. This is as much for you as it is for myself. There will be no remorse, no regrets, and no bias. Newly-discovered (read: “posing”) dreadlocked hippies, testosterone-induced gym bros, self-righteous Bible freaks, aspiring politicians-to-be trying to brainwash like-minded simpletons; if you deserve it, you’re getting it. This year, however, I want things to be a little different. I have been writing rants for years now, and not much has changed; you know you’ve arrived at a worrying point in life when you consider writing a rant about rants. We all know that I have managed to stay alive for so many years because of two fundamental truths. First of all, there will always be something worth complaining about. t This is Malta we’re talking about, the country where “just not good enough” periodically turns into “worth exposing the living hell out of” in a matter of seconds. Secondly, everyone loves to hear someone say out loud something that they don’t have enough confidence (or social reputation, or eloquence, or simply balls) to say themselves. It only becomes a strongly-supported fact after the village idiot musters up enough courage to shout it out in the square, then everyone’s cheering.

What I’d like to do this year, therefore, is get you guys in on this. Not everyone, of course; you know who you are (you’re probably smirking with your newfound power as you’re reading this - you’re the one babe). If you have literally anything to complain about, even if it by extension might touch more than just our tiny campus on this spit of a rock, holler. I have set up a Facebook page through which you can contact me (even via a personal message if you’ve got some juicy story to share and want to protect your beautiful, unique, post-teen, Tumblr-inspired, faux-hipster identity). Let’s get things straight though – I still have, and always will have, final say. After all, you might end up being my next victim. But such is life, and that’s a risk we’re all going to have to take. #noregrets.

HOW THE SEAT IBIZA GOT ITS NAME Martorell, 03/09/2014. “Deciding on a name for a car is similar to the process parents go through when choosing a name for their child – emotionally intense and something for life”, explains Vincenza Magliocco, SEAT’s Head of Product Marketing for the Ibiza. In the case of the SEAT Ibiza, this naming took place in the 1980s with the proliferation of tourism in Spain. As part of the company’s strategy to link each model to a Spanish city, the island was a perfect fit with the target audience for this car - young, with a modern, casual image and Mediterranean spirit.

HAVE YOU HEARD? THE APS STUDENT BLOG IS NOW LIVE! Head over to student.apsbank.com.mt to enter the hub of student life. This blog is exclusively focused on bringing you the latest buzz about all the things you love / want / read / eat & shout about during your years at Uni! Sounds like just another blog, right? Wrong. Everything on the APS Student Blog is designed to help you make it through student life glitch-free. We’ll leave the academia to your lecturers – that’s their business.

WHAT’S OUR BUSINESS? With the launch of the first SEAT Ibiza, the Spanish company “began to plot a new path towards independence and internationalisation”. As a trending destination for global tourism, the iconic island of Ibiza offered an option “that best matched the desired positioning for the new model”, explains Magliocco. In her opinion a car’s name is crucial, which is why it “should be easy to remember and should sound good in any language”. Oriol Iglesias, Academic Director of the ESADE Brand Institute, belongs to the same school of thought, regarding names as “fundamental”. According to this expert, the choice of the name Ibiza for this model ticks the three essential boxes for a product name: “it reflects the defining values of the brand’s identity; it can be pronounced and remembered easily; and it works in different international contexts”. Meeting these criteria is vital for a company like SEAT, which exports over 80% of its cars and is present in more than 75 countries. Moreover, Ibiza’s mayor Virginia Marí believes that SEAT-

“has made good use of the Ibiza brand”, having helped the name “to transcend borders”. She asserts, “the values of the SEAT Ibiza brand image encompass the dynamic, young-spirited nature of the island. After four generations, the car continues to transmit those same values of youth and freshness and also continues to preserve the essence of our country”. For Marí, both the car and the island are “reliable and accessible, because it’s a nearby destination that’s focused on the consumer/visitor”. After 30 years, with four generations of the model and around 5 million cars sold, Vincenza Magliocco believes that the choice of the name Ibiza for this highly popular model “has been a hit”. “Although the initial positioning has evolved over time, becoming more mature and taking on an image of high-technology and quality, the Ibiza name still fits well with the car’s positioning”. In fact, Magliocco predicts that the spirit behind the naming of the first Ibiza in 1984 will continue to live on, incorporating new values and future trends so that it will continue to be a success.

Our business is to keep you informed about those essential life skills that nobody tells you about in the lecture hall. Daily updates and fresh posts will tell you all there is to know about your finances, your security and your future. There’s no room for jargon and business-talk on the blog – everything’s written with you in mind. Wondering why we have a Student Blog? Well, we believe that an informed student is an independent one, and that is the kind of student we’d like to get to know!

IT’S NOT ALL FUN AND GAMES

MICHELLE GRECH

IT’S NOT ALL FUN & GAMES Michelle Grech The Institute of Digital Games was set up in the University in 2013 and it has already proven to be quite a hit amongst students. Michelle Grech investigates further..

Did you ever wonder why certain sectors are ‘better to get into’ at a given time? Ever wonder why your parents didn’t suggest them? It will probably take them a while to hear that Digital Gaming is the next big thing, and when they suggest it to you it might be too late.

But is Digital Gaming really the next big thing? And does having an Institute of Digital Games in the University of Malta mean there will be job opportunities at our disposal after choosing this innovative path? The digital era is amongst us, and students understand it most; our par“A Doctor of Medicine ents are just being dragged into it without them knowing. One only needs and a Bachelor of Laws to ask a couple of questions to understand this argument better: are good choices for Who isn’t on Facebook? Who created Farmville and Candy Crush? How your retirement plans” can I become as rich as these geniuses? Yes, money does become an issue and “Consider a B.Ed when pursuing a specific career especially in the midst of your graduation Degree, since it gives ceremony when it hits that the course you just finished doesn’t really spell you the most time off out for which job you are going to apply tomorrow. you can need” - Remember this advice? Google can answer the first two questions; the last one becomes relative to individual persons and is most probable in the creative bunch. But who Don’t listen to your can really answer our question of why the external influences push us to parents at this point- consider certain new sectors. there is a high probability that they have no I found many answers when I interviewed Mario Galea from Malta Enteridea what the differ- prise. Malta Enterprise is responsible for attracting more local and foreign ence between iGaming companies to open in Malta, and also care for the present ones. and Digital Gaming “The Digital Gaming Strategy was built with the help of Professor Wilis or how the Maltese liam Latham from Goldsmith College and Gordon Cordina who today economy is going to heads the Institute of Digital Games at the University,” Galea said. “When look like in the future. it came to the games’ target markets, we wanted to focus on games that Our careers don’t have will hit the market quickly such as mobile phone games and basic games to be based on safe for laptops.” decisions; there are a number of new oppor- “You do not need to study ICT to find a career in digital gaming; the basic tunities on our island requirements are creativity and English,” Galea said. “There is a whole we can pursue instead. productive process and just like video editors play an important part in the making of a film, creative individuals who come up with the content are a necessity and something the hardest people to replace.” Mirjam Palosaari Eladhari lectures at the Institute of Digital Games.

“We offer a Master of Science in digital games which spans over two years,” she said. “Students can choose the ‘game technology track’ and learn about Artificial Intelligence for games but this requires a bachelor degree in IT. Alternatively, they can choose the ‘game analysis track’ which is not technical but instead focuses on the humanist and social perspectives of games and questions how games influence society.” Game design is a core subject to all students attending the course. “What Malta lacked was the Graphics Art base,” Palosaari Eladhari said. “From this year, students will be able to choose one elective course per semester from the courses taught in the ‘Master of Fine Arts in Digital Arts’.” This two-year course also covers entrepreneurship and business development - the idea is for students to learn about networking and to gain knowledge on how open a company and start to operate a gaming business. “In Europe, the digital games industry is one of the best career paths at the moment,” Palosaari Eladhari said. “Four out of five graduates from this MSc find jobs in Digital Gaming.”

“If we didn’t we would be unable to participate in the discussion. We wanted to critically engage with the material. It wasn’t just the lecturer’s voice either. All our opinions began bouncing off each other as we became more mature.” “Participation during lectures is not only encouraged but necessary. In-depth discussions varied across themes of sociology, equality, philosophy, post-humanism, technology, war, and art didn’t only broaden our perspectives on games but on how we think in general,” the students said. “We became critical human beings capable of viewing situations from a variety of perspectives. The cultural significance that the concept of games and play has in modern society is amazing.” “One of our tasks was to maintain a blog. Week after week, we would continue our discussions outside school hours by interacting with each other’s blog posts.”

“Of course we also studied game design,” the students said. “Every game designer has particular responsibilities, such as the message that s/ he wants to communicate through the gameplay and the ethical implications of the gameplay. “Students are also encouraged to participate in The Institute of Digital Games doesn’t only teach worldwide Artificial Intelligence competitions people how to make games but also what games and to publish academic papers on online jourmean and imply, students Karl Grech and David nals.” Chircop said. “The Institute of Digital Games is a fine example “For the first time in our University experience, of higher education. If you have an open mind we were compelled to read the assigned read- and a willingness to work hard then we highly ings for each lecture,” the students said in a joint recommended studying here.” statement.

“FOUR OUT OF FIVE GRADUATES FROM THIS MSC FIND JOBS IN DIGITAL GAMING”

TRAVEL TIPS FOR A STUDENT BUDGET JULIA ELLUL

TRAVEL TIPS FOR A STUDENT BUDGET Julia Ellul Would you love to travel more regularly but don’t think that you can afford it on a student budget? Don’t fret! Julia Ellul gives her top 10 ways you can get around this problem! Travelling is a memorable experience; you’ll meet new people, learn more about the world outside of your own and expand your cultural horizon. Students are constantly encouraged to travel to new destinations, but is it possible to travel on a student’s budget? Nowadays, you can easily fund a trip without breaking your bank account. Keep the following tips in mind and you’ll be heading to a new destination sooner than you expected!

03.FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS ON SKY SCANNER: Sky Scanner is a search engine which allows users to compare flight, hotel, and car hire prices of any given destination. It also offers travel tips for the passengers. Pick a cheap time of the year to travel, avoid summer and major holidays. Also keep in mind that Fridays and Sundays are very expensive days to travel. Be prepared to wake up really early (or pull an all-nighter) to catch a cheap flight.

04.HOTELS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE:

01.PLAN AHEAD AND BUDGET IN ADVANCE:

Most hotels are located in the city centre, thus making an overnight stay too expensive for someone travelling on a student’s budget. Hostels and B&Bs will be easier on a student’s Work out how much money you’ll need on a budget. Websites such as hostelworld.com and daily basis for food, accommodation, spending hostelbookers.com allow you to find and commoney and any other activities. Then multiply pare prices. Group dorm rooms are cheaper than that by the number of days you’ll be travelling. It private rooms at hostels. If you’re up for an adis best to carry both cash and credit/debit cards. venture you could give Couchsurfing a try. Convert currencies at a bank rather than at a teller in an airport, as these tend to charge expensive exchange rates.

02.THE ISIC IS THE ONLY STUDENT IDENTITY CARD RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY:

05.TRAVEL BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH:

Bigger cities are always more expensive …that’s a fact! Leave the beaten path and search for more wallet-friendly adventures and experiences. Do not be afraid to try new things, the whole point The ISIC is the only student Identity Card recog- of travelling is to experience new cultures and nized internationally traditions.

06.EXPENSIVE SUITCASES ARE UN- 09.TECHNOLOGY IS YOUR BEST TOOL NECESSARY: WHEN TRAVELING: This depends on the destination you’re travelling to and the amount of time spent travelling. However, a backpack is always more comfortable to carry around and if taken as a hand luggage, you won’t have to pay for any baggage fees. You can buy things while you’re on the road; it’s usually much cheaper than at home. Be sure to check luggage weight and size limits for certain airlines and countries.

Bring your own laptop/tablet to a hostel because some might charge hourly rates when using theirs. Check with the hostel manager before using Wi –Fi’ it is not always free. Besides, many public places offer free Wi – Fi. Several free Apps are available when travelling. Around Me is a helpful app which shows you some of the most interesting places to visit. The Trip It app helps you to plan your entire travel itinerary. Most news apps are often free, so there’s no need of buying newspapers every morning.

07.MAKE USE OF TRAINS & PUBLIC TRANSPORT: 10.DON’T BUY LANGUAGE/TRANSLAMake use of trains when travelling from one TION BOOKS: county to another. If travelling through Europe, the Interrail Pass is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to travel. For €156 you can spend 5 days travelling by train through the whole of Europe! They also offer special passes for travelling within a number of countries. Buses tickets and bike rentals are always cheaper than taxis. Carpooling can be more convenient and cost effective when travelling as a group

08.KNOW YOUR BARGAINS: Local markets and outdoor hawkers are great places to find bargains; in certain places people are willing to barter if you act like you know what you’re doing. Buy food in bulk and cook your own food when possible, fruit and vegetable stands as well as local markets are typically inexpensive. Beer and other beverages are usually cheaper at fast food outlets. Re-usable water bottles are a great tool as they can be re-filled as often as possible from safe faucets for free. Get involved and talk to local people, they might have ideas of smaller and less expensive restaurants. Some museums offer free tours, you just have to ask.

Don’t worry too much if you can’t speak the official language of the country you’re travelling to. Most countries, especially in Europe, are able to communicate in English. Besides you can get by with just a few words here and then. Try to interact with the local people as much as possible and you’ll get yourself a free vocabulary lesson in a foreign language.

EDUCATION COMMIISSIONER? OMBUDSMAN? WHAT’S THAT ANDREA GONZI

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EDUCATION COMMISSIONER? OMBUDSMAN? WHAT’S THAT? Andrea Gonzi The Ombudsman is often criticised for only having a ‘soft power’ and therefore being unable to compel someone to do something. Does this 90% success rate dispel this notion? I would like to say that we are dealing with reasonable people. So soft power has a LOT of clout. Reasonable people, once they see reason, will accept it. It can be very frustrating telling a person ‘yes your complaint is valid, but unfortunately the institution against whom you complained is You’ve occupied the post of the University Ombuds- not accepting my verdict or recommendation’, man from 2008 till 2013/4. Do you feel that students for that person and for me. In any case it rarely will look back fondly on your tenure as ombudsman? happens. To a certain extent it is a weakness. But I have no idea whether they will look fondly that’s the law and I suggest that it remain that on it or not... I hope they will! About 90% of the way. complaints that we’ve had have ended positively. This means that the student or staff member Do you feel that University students actually utilise had a satisfactory conclusion to their complaint. the service of the ‘ombudsman’ to its fullest extant? But ultimately this Office seeks fairness and eq- No, I’m sure that more students have complaints uity not popularity. but don’t bring them to this Office. There might be various reasons why they don’t bring them Sometimes I’ll have a negative conclusion sim- to me. One is perhaps that they don’t know ply because, in my opinion, the student or staff enough on how to go about filing a complaint. member was wrong. When they launched their We are trying to overcome that issue by making complaint, they either didn’t have all the infor- students aware that there is an office of the ommation or were somehow mislead. budsman or Education Commissioner and that it is there to help them. Naturally, my Office doesn’t only cater for university students, but also for Mcast students and Some students may think ‘Why go to the omstudents from the Institute of Tourism studies. budsman?’ They think that the ombudsman is part of the university. As Education Commissioner, I am totally independant of the University or Mcast or ITS. Our employer is the Speaker of the House of Respresentatives. My immediate employer is the Parliamentary Ombudsman. So we work independantly of the university. With an incredible 90% positive outcome rate in matters pertaining to both students and academic staff, the Ombudsman’s ‘soft power’ often highlights that ‘might’ and force of law are not always as effective as raw diplomacy. Andrea Gonzi speaks to the new Education Commissioner Professor Charles Farrugia on whether students have fully utilised the privilege of having a University Ombudsman.

EDUCATION COMMIISSIONER? OMBUDSMAN? WHAT’S THAT ANDREA GONZI Students might think that, since I was Pro-rector for 10 years and Faculty Dean for another 17 years, ‘he is part of the university, what’s the use of going there?’ I can assure you that we investigate every complaint. We put a strong case for the students when they are right. Do you feel that students tend to misunderstand the objectives of your role? Unfortunately, sometimes I feel that students don’t even know that there exists such a thing as an Education Commissioner or the (University) Ombudsman. Maybe they haven’t got the message or they’re not sure what it is. Some students don’t understand what the role means. For example, this office does not deal with complaints about purely academic work. Therefore, if students feel that they did not obtain the right grade or mark, they shouldn’t come to us because we do not ‘judge’ that.

The University Ombudsman is going to become the new ‘Education Commissioner’. Will this make it easier for you to point out irregularities and settle disputes? Not that much, but there has been a significant change in the law. When I was University Ombudsman, I was appointed by the Parliamentary Ombudsman but I could be dismissed by the university council. Now I can only be dismissed by a resolution of parliament – by the parliamentary ombudsman bringing in a case against me which has to be proven and accepted as serious. This is correct since I no longer cater only for University staff and students.

So does this dispel that visage you claimed students have? That you seemed close to the administration... I’m sure that it should, but they don’t need the law to persuade them My experience in the administration of the university, firstly as a lecturer, then dean, and finally pro-rector helps me a We stress on the procedure. Were the procedures great deal. It gave me a lot of insight in the workcorrect? Has the student who has failed and com- ings of the university. I can see the point of view plained been given the opportunity of a revision at both ends. of paper? Do the regulations allow a resit? Has the student actually been given the opportunity of a resit? If the student asks for an explantion of where he has gone wrong, has the lecturer met up to explain? These are things where we can deal with.

Can you recall a specific incident where the University Ombudsman managed to tip the scales in favour of the student? We’ve had pharmacy students who were not going to be allowed to do their Masters. We spoke with the university authorities, the head of pharmacy and the rector, the situation was rectified and the students were allowed to do their Masters.

On a personal note, what do you wish to achieve as the new Education Commissioner? First, it’s to make more students and staff aware that this service exists for them. A lot of staff members think that it’s just a service for students. I hope also that people will come to see the role of Education Commissioner as a ‘beneficial interlocutor’ – a person who’s not there as a fighter. I’m not the lawyer of the complainant or of the institution. I am the commissioner and I hear both sides. The two sides can have an opportunity to talk to each other and we’ll come up with a win-win situation. Very often it’s called the ‘honest broker’ role. I’ll hear both sides and I hope that both sides hear each other’s.

Another group of theology students were told that their course will cost so much. When it came to paying, they were asked for double the amount in university fees. We took up their case and discussed it with the financial director and the rector. They ultimately saw that once they had identified a fee and a student had enrolled with that (specific) fee – then that original fee should stand. If they wanted to introduce a high- I hope that this will set the pattern for future Eder fee, they should have anounced it earlier on. ucation Commissioners. We had many instances, most of which were solved amicably.

This is where misunderstandings often occur. Students often mistake this office as an appeals office. I want to emphasise that we have had cases where people whose complaints were proven invalid told us “Why hasn’t anyone told me about the ombudsman two years ago?”

“A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS THINK THAT IT’S JUST A SERVICE FOR STUDENTS”

EARLY RANT FROM A UNIVERSITY FRESHER DEMI TANTI

EARLY RANT FROM A UNIVERSITY FRESHER Demi Tanti Demi Tanti is about to start her University expe- Moreover, I would feel like a total traitor seeing rience. As excited as she is, one major problem that I cannot wait till I have my own personal remains… car, where I can set the air conditioning on ‘’normal mode’’ and not ‘’Antarctica Mode’’, where I Sitting alone on a deserted bus stop, feeling iso- could dodge traffic and not take an hour and a lated and alone under the scorching sun, I can’t half to arrive at a place that is situated 20 minhelp but think that my life is soon going to re- utes away from my house. I’m very well aware volve around public transport. that most of you will instantly burst my bubble at this point, saying that if I choose to travel by No buses pass directly from Zurrieq to Univer- car to University, I would probably have to wake sity. This means that I’m going to have to start up even earlier and that parking will be a pain in catching four buses a day, five times a week, the neck. not counting the buses I might have to catch on weekends. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the The fact that I consider this legendary UniverUniversity experience. Actually words cannot sity parking dilemna a much better alternative begin to explain just how thrilled I am. However, speaks volumes about the disastrous state of knowing that this will soon become my apparent Malta’s public transport. reality is a tad discouraging. This is coming from a girl who has experienced every ugly side pub- In March, a Spanish bus firm should be taking lic transport could possibly throw my way. I’ve control of our public transport. I am only cauchased buses, crossed busy roads, lord knows tiously optimistic that things will improve unI’ve placed my precious life in the hands of arro- der them though. I haven’t forgotten the Arriva gant and careless drivers, just so I could make it debacle. Therefore, it is very likely that I will to the golden finish line, just so I wouldn’t spend continue adding more items to my list of crazy another miserable half an hour waiting for the things university students do as a result of pubbloody bus, just so I could arrive home and not lic transport. With this I shall conclude. Cheers to be a cranky teenager. a year filled with endless memories, make sure Yes, yes it is quite evident that I have had my fair you indulge in both the good and the bad. Take share of mishaps. advantage of whatever sort of freebie is thrown your way during Freshers’ Week and live it up! Now, I could preach about the benefits of public Over and out. transport, but at the rate of innovation they’re coming up with to encourage us students to actually make use of these buses, I hardly doubt that it will do any good.

SEXUAL HARRASMENT SURVEY

TIM DIACONO & FRAN BORG TAYLOR EAST

SEXUAL HARRASMENT SURVEY Tim Diacono & Fran Borg Taylor East Following a heated conversation between friends about sexist slurs and simply what is not an appropriate way to deal with the opposite sex (the details of which will not be indulged here), we decided to take the most obvious course of action. That is, we put together a survey on the perceptions of sexual harassment and distributed it around campus last November. This might seem rather over-the-top considering that it was all sparked off from one spontaneous conversation. However, the topic was one that could be discussed with anyone and of which most of the people we interviewed had strong opinions about (we also might have had too much time on our hands). We questioned whether males and females had different perceptions of what could be defined as ‘sexual harassment’. And if so, then how will we interact with one another when one gender finds one course of action appealing or flirtatious and the other, well, does not.

For our study, we took gender and whether the person is in a relationship or not into account. However, it was limited to University students of any age and sexual orientation. Age is a feature that we found problematic to inquire about as we did not gather enough feedback from certain age groups. Also, the surveys were directed towards situations dealing only with the opposite sex, a short-coming on our part and something which demands further research. Both of these factors needed to be taken into account when compiling our data. It must also be said that in order to gain a better view of sexual harassment, one must go straight to the heart of the matter and conduct qualitative research which would be much more in-depth and perhaps more accurate.

Having said this, our results proved to be quite interesting and surpassed our expectations. Not only was there a discrepancy of perceptions beOur study consisted of a quantitative analysis of tween genders, but also between relationship the ‘grey’ areas of sexual harassment, such as ‘If status. you had to catch a stranger of the opposite sex staring at your body, would you consider it sex- The people who participated in the survey are ual harassment, would you feel uncomfortable, as follows: would it have no effect on you or would you per- Single Males 66 – 33.3% Taken Males 32 – 16.2% haps even feel flattered?’ Single Females 48 – 24.2% Taken Females 52 - 26.3% A total of 198 people were questioned.

Our research, very briefly, is as follows: Question 4: How would you feel if stranger of the opposite sex had to pass a comment which held an obvious sexual connotation? Over 70% of females in a relationship who we interviewed would feel uncomfortable in that situation, 60% of single females also claimed they would feel uncomfortable. 10% of single females felt that the situation could be considered as sexual harassment. 40% of males in a relationship would also feel uncomfortable compared to the 40% of single males who claimed that it would have no effect on them. Over 20% of single males and males in a relationship would feel flattered in that situation while less than 10% of single females and females in a relationship would be flattered. See image below.

32 From the results conducted, in cases of consideration of sexual harassment, more females in both cases would simply feel uncomfortable while single males varied between feeling uncomfortable, flattered and indifferent. Males in a relationship would mostly feel uncomfortable or indifferent. More females, in both cases, were more likely than males to consider a situation as sexual harassment. However, in the cases of the attraction of a stranger more females than males overall changed their views when the stranger was much older and unattractive. From the studies conducted, it seems that generally, males are likelier to have a different view depending on whether they are in a relationship or not, while both males and females change their view depending on whether the stranger is attractive of not.

‘Meta-analysis has shown that attractive chilHow would you feel if you were walking past dren and adults are treated more favourably a table of people and someone of the opposite than unattractive children and adults (e.g. Lansex who was sitting at that table were to stop the glois et al., 2000).’ conversation in order to look at your figure ( and you were not supposed to notice): Over 50% of single females would feel uncomfortable and over 10% of single females would consider it sexual harassment. On the other hand, over 45% of single males would feel flattered, 30% claim that it would have no effect and only just above 20% would feel uncomfortable. The percentage of males in a relationship is more or less evenly distributed between feeling uncomfortable (30%), feeling flattered (over 30%) and having no effect (over 25%). Nearly 40% of females in a relationship would feel uncomfortable, only slightly over 20% would feel flattered and over 10% claim it would have no effect. See image below.

SEXUAL HARRASMENT SURVEY

TIM DIACONO & FRAN BORG TAYLOR EAST

From the base study and percentages that were seen, it seems that looks still count for something. None of the percentages in all four cases matched up when comparing attractiveness to unattractiveness of hypothetical strangers. And when it concerns ‘the grey areas’ of sexual harassment, yes, in some cases certain people were likelier to feel a certain way compared with the others. However, whether the person who is approaching someone is considered desirable by the person who is being approached still holds sway. In a study conducted in 2011, J.-C. Rohner and A. Rasmussen questioned recognition-bias, which is defined as a ‘recollective experience that is independent from what actually happened’. When observing the participants dealing with attractiveness and unattractiveness of strangers, this revealed that it was more likely to have a recognition-bias of positive information with attractive people and a recognition-bias of negative information with unattractive people despite having no basis in past events.

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HOW TO BE A BETTER PROCRASTINATOR

MATTHEW DEBATTISTA

HOW TO BE A BETTER PROCRASTINATOR Matthew Debattista Professor B.A. in Time Mismanagement Matthew Debattista shares some of his pearls of wisdom… Ever think to yourself ... “Oh I’ll just do that later, first let me surf the internet for 5 minutes?” ... and, what do you know, those 5 minutes become an hour?! Don’t worry we’ve all been there. But what did you actually do in that hour? At the end of the day, you may have already forgotten how you spent that hour… it’s a Catch-22, that’s what this is. Worry no further dear readers; This article is here to help you make those moments as memorable as possible. Speaking as an experienced procrastinator, me, Professor B.A. in Time Mismanagement, I will give the best ways you can also try out and have a taste at some real Internet entertainment. Of course, at some point during University you will fall into the temptation of wasting time, might as well do it right. But who knows, these points could also serve you well. After all, according to a recent scientific research I found online (while I was procrastinating) humans work best under pressure. (Source material given to you later in this article) So come on, join the club, and let the all nighters begin! Here are some great Youtube channels, amongst other things you should do or check out:

“HOW WOULD YOU REACT IF YOU SAW A DRUNK PREGNANT GIRL AT A CLUB? OR IF YOU SOMEONE DOING FAKE DRUGS IN PUBLIC?”

HOW TO BE A BETTER PROCRASTINATOR MATTHEW DEBATTISTA

01.LEARN A SKILL

03.HOW IT SHOULD HAVE ENDED

05.JOIN STUMBLEUPON.COM

My opium is magic, and no matter what other people tell you, magic is entertaining and fun if you do the right tricks properly. It is also a good time waster if you ought to finish some assignment by next week. If you google the right stuff, it will also help solve your childhood’s greatest mysteries.

How many times where you watching a movie say like The Lord of the Rings, and you would think to yourself... hey it would have been a lot easier for the characters if the eagles could have just dropped them off at the volcano in the first place. This is your place.

Mother of all time wasters…. Anyone who joins this site should only consider doing so at some point during the holidays; getting work done is not an option once in it. You will basically list all your favourite things you like to look up and this site does all the rest. It can be either extreme sports, nightlife, philosophy, art, fitness and what not… name it, find it, highlight is, and the site will then work to give you random, but extensive information about the things marked.

To top it off, learning a few magic tricks might also win you a few bets at a bar and can be a great conversation starter. Trust me; learning a few tricks might help you in some way or another.

This channel is full of videos making fun of such movies. They take the whole concept of a popular movie and explain in a few minutes how it should have ended. This channel also has a very amusing running Gag between Superman and Batman, where they show up at a cafe at the end of every Superhero How it Should Have Ended video.

In general, skills are always beneficial, and some of them might get you places in your career. For example, you want to do something productive SPOILER ALERT: Because I’m Batman! but in no way related to school? Why not try learning Photoshop? Or the basics of some language you wish you had the opportunity to learn, but never did? Learning these skills will probably be fun, productive and you will surely make use of them at some point it your life. They also look pretty nifty when you add them to your CV.

04.TALK SHOWS There are so many Youtube channels of famous talk shows; Ellen, Conan, the Tonight Show, they’re all there.

We all know what a talk show is, and it is always entertaining to watch your favourite celebrities playing silly games with these talk show hosts. It is a great time waster and you will certainly learn more random stuff about your favourite A Youtube channel comprised of authentic prank celebrities. My personal favourite is the Tonight videos. They may be a bit unknown for now but Show starring Jimmy Fallon with a lot of funtheir videos are amusing. Their videos may be ny segments like “The Thank You Notes” and a prank videos but they call them social experiments. Mainly because you will truly learn how the general public will react to specific situations. How would you react if you saw a drunk pregnant girl at a club? Or if you saw someone doing fake drugs in public? Check their Youtube channel to find out. You will be surprised how extreme some of their social experiments may be.

02.WHATEVER

06.LOOK UP WAYS HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATING And there’s the more… helpful… choice. With google at the tip of your keyboard, you can literally find millions of articles written from people who claim that they overcame this addiction.

It certainly isn’t a revolutionary way of how students or people in general thought they can control this addiction, rather more subtle and simple methods which can actually be helpful. I If of course the things you marked truly do inter- would recommend you to look up a video made est you then by now you will already have for- by watchwellcast entitled: “How to Stop Progotten that paper due in three days. crastinating”. It is an eye opener. Happy Proc… I meant, Browsing!

TALK TO THE HAND

MELISSA MCELHATTON

TALK TO THE HAND Melissa McElhatton Mel McElhatton questions whether the Univer- The LSM Research Project also focuses on insity should start offering Degree Plus units in creasing awareness on LSM. The main method sign language… used is through two study-units worth two credits each at the Institute of Linguistics. Students from any faculty can choose these study-units The earliest written record of sign language can as an optional study-unit. A further two studybe found in Plato’s Cratylus, in which Socrates units are also offered exclusively to students in mentions how if someone does not have a voice the Institute of Linguistics. However, all these or a tongue, then naturally they would be using four study-units only deal with Maltese Sign their hands, faces and rest of their body to be Language at beginner and intermediate levels. able to communicate, much like the speech-im- t paired people of those times. Certain University courses allow students to choose study units provided by any faculty. Maltese Sign Language, also known as Lingwa Generally these study units are worth two credtas-Sinjali Maltija (LSM) was developed around its and a list of all the study units available can 1980, when the first Deaf Club in Malta was be found on esims. Nevertheless, only a few formed. This language was then used in educa- courses give students the opportunity to take tion for people who were hard of hearing. up optional study units as part of their studies. Most students, especially first years, who are the The LSM is an independent language, although students most likely to have the opportunity to certain signs in LSM are similar to those in Brit- take optional study units, are not even aware ish Sign Language. However, these signs are that the University offers courses in Maltese Sign very few and in fact LSM is not considered as Language. Or if they do know, may not see the part of the British Sign Language Family (Bren- point of learning sign language. tari, 2010). According to their website, the Deaf People AsIn 1996, the Maltese Sign Language Research sociation in Malta represents around 400 hearing Project began in the Institute of Linguistics at the impaired people. This may not seem like a lot in University of Malta. This project was then made an estimated population of 421,364. However, at even more official in 2002, when the Universi- some point in your life you are bound to come ty’s Research Committee awarded this project a across someone who is hearing impaired, and grant, thus allowing four more researchers into without the basics there is no way that you will the project. be able to communicate clearly with them. So learning sign language at beginner level should This project focused on the collection and anal- therefore be encouraged. Along with encourageysis of data which would subsequently be pub- ment, the course itself should be easy to enter. lished as a dictionary. This dictionary was then structured into different themes so as to make it possible to publish complete sets of data without having to wait for an entire dictionary to be finalised. The grant also helped fund for the first two volumes, which dealt with animals and places. t

On the other hand, four hours a week are dedicated to Degree Plus subjects. Two hours on Wednesday and two hours on Friday, when no other lectures would be taking place on campus. This simplifies the lives of students wishing to take up something extra, such as a sport, a language, or even voluntary work, because their Degree Plus option will not clash with a lecture or faculty meeting. Currently, Maltese Sign Language is not offered as a Degree Plus unit, despite the importance of knowing this language, particularly for students aiming for a career that could well involve dealing with hearing-impaired people. A Degree Plus unit on LSM would be very beneficial to anyone reading to be a social worker, psychologist, doctor and so on…

However, the Malta Medical Students Association (MMSA) plan to organize a Degree Plus Unit, or a seminar in the second semester whereby students will be given more information about being hearing impaired and knowledge on sign language. Everyone has the right to communicate and to be understood efficiently and effectively, so why not make things easier for people who are hearing impaired who wish to communicate with hearing people, as well as for hearing people who wish to learn sign language to be able to communicate back?

“I have already contacted Degree Plus about this issue,” KSU’s Social Policy Commissioner Rebecca Micallef told Insite. “They told me that Maltese Sign Language isn’t offered as a Degree Plus unit because there is a lack of demand from students for it.”

“ALL THESE FOUR STUDY-UNITS ONLY DEAL WITH MALTESE SIGN LANGUAGE AT BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE LEVELS.”

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WATCHING?

MATTHEW CHARLES ZAMMIT

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WATCHING? MATTHEW CHARLES ZAMMIT

EX-TER-MI-NATE!!!

NOT GREY’S ANATOMY…..

NAME: Kim Woods B.A. English, Third Year WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Doctor Who BRIEF DESCRIPTION: It is a show about a Timelord (an Alien species) calling himself the Doctor who travels around the universe in his blue box. Doctor is the healer of the universe and protects the innocent by fighiting invading species by the power of his wit. Due to the fact that he is allegedly the last of his kind, he generally travels around with a human companion to evade solitude. FAVOURITE MOMENT AND/OR EPISODE: Amy Pond remembering the Doctor’s existence on her wedding day, which in turn brings him back into reality after being trapped in oblivion. FAVOURITE LINE: “We all change; when you think about it, we are all different people, all through our lives; and that’s ok, that’s good! You’ve goot keep moving, so long as you remember who you used to be.” The Doctor to Clara, in the Time of the Doctor Special. SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Absolutely Fantastic Time-Travelling Bizareness

NAME: Yaser Teebi, B.Psych, First Year WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Tough Choice between Friends, Monk and Scrubs, so I’ll pick the latter… BRIEF DESCRIPTION: It is a comedic drama about doctor and nurses, and their relationships and love lives… It is a fantastic comedy which turns to be an emotional roller coaster, as it teaches you a lot of life lessons FAVOURITE MOMENT AND/OR EPISODE: Season 5, Episode 20: “My Lunch” FAVOURITE CHARACTER: J.D. (aka, Dr. John Dorian) FAVOURITE QUOTE: “Remember what you told me? The second you start blaming yourself for people’s deaths, there is no coming back.” JD to Dr. R. Cox SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: The.Best.Damn.Show. Ever

NAME: Matthew Charles Zammit, LL.B Hons (Second Year)

WELCOME TO THE CLONE CLUB…

NO-BELLY-BUTTON PROBLEMS….

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Futurama

NAME: Victoria Melita Zammit BA (Hons) English, Second Year

I think the quote below exemplifies the role of TV Shows in the 21st Century… In terms of productivity, movie binging should be a crime in itself, and excessive TV watching should really be classified as a capital offence, punished by beheading… then again, if I was found guilty for every time I entered long, never-ending show marathons, I might just change my name to “Hydra.” So I did something different. I decided to pester some people on Facebook about what they consider as their favourite TV Show and why. As fellow teenagers and students, we tend to know a bit better on what’s to watch then others. The list I got was as close as anyone could get to “TV Bingers Anonymous”, and it is actually quite widespread; enjoy it, for there’s bound to be at least one soon-to-beyour-favourite-show somewhere over here. If you haven’t watched any of the following shows mentioned… check them out: instead of doing a re-run of Doctor Who for the hundredth time, you might as well vary your how you enjoy/waste/ procrastinate your time away. Starting with Yours Truly:

THE FUTURE AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Guy gets chronologically frozen for a thousand years, finds himself in New New York, meets up with his 160-year old grand, grand-nephew, a Cyclops, a robot, a lobster, a Chinese-Martian and a Jamaican, and they work for a delivery company. Rest is future-history… Favourite Moment and/or Episode: Which ones? The comedic ones (Where the Professor argues against anti-Evolutionists, discussing Robo-Sexuality, or the Lucy-Liu cloning)… or the heart-wrenching ones (Where Fry found himself in his mother’s dream after a thousand years, Fry’s lucky seven-leaf clover, or THAT EPISODE WITH THE DEAD DOG??) FAVOURITE CHARACTER AND/OR QUOTE: Bender Bending Rodriguez Jr. , with his everlasting “Bite my Shiny Metal Ass”…. SUM IT UP IN 5 WORDS: Future, 3000AD, Romance, Comedy, Tragedy

NAME: Edward Bamber , BSc in ICT, Third Year WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Kyle XY WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Orphan Black BRIEF DESCRIPTION: It’s about this pod baby who BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Human Mother-F*cking was grown in a tube for a full 16 years.. So, it’s about a 16-year old virgin with cool mind powClones… ers Favourite Moment and/or Episode: Season 1 Ep. FAVOURITE MOMENT AND/OR EPISODE: Honestly, it’s 8, “Entangled Bank” so good I can’t decide </3 FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Undoubtedly, Cosima Bet- FAVOURITE CHARACTER: It’s either Kyle or Josh, ter-Than-You Niehaus can’t decide … FAVOURITE QUOTE: “Welcome to the trip, Man” Sum It Up in Five Words: Bad.Ass.Females.Solv- FAVOURITE QUOTE: “Grapefruit” ing.Mysteries. SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Words.Wont.Do.It.Justice SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Bad.Ass.Females.Solving.Mysteries.

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WATCHING? MATTHEW CHARLES ZAMMIT SEGAULL AIN’T GOT NOTHING ON ME…..

“IF I DON’T FIGHT, I CAN’T WIN”….

NAME: Mike Borg (Slutnugget4000) B.Comm, First Year WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? This Summer has been a deadzone for TV for me, but between Ray Donovan and Beelezebub (the anime), I choose Ray Donovan.. BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Guy acts as a fixed in LA cleaning up messes for the rich and famous… FAVOURITE MOMENT AND/OR EPISODE: Beating the living sh*t out of a stalker on one of his clients. FAVOURITE CHARACTER: The Lead for sure, but Mickey is a close second

NAME: Lizy Nwobodo Diploma in Health Studies and Nursing, Third Year WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Attack on Titan

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Based on the manga by Hajime Isayama, the anime ‘Attack on Titan’ is set in a world infested by giant humanoid creatures called titans that prey on and eat humans, seemingly without reason, provoking humanity to hide in cities behind surrounding gigantic “indestructible” walls. The story mainly follows Eren Yaeger and Mikasa Ackerman, who decide to join the military after the destruction of their home, and the brutal death of their mother, resulting from the appearance of a titan taller and FAVOURITE QUOTE: “I am Ray F*cking Donovan, stronger than the walls. Eren’s main goal is to be who the f*ck are you?” able to join the Recon Corps, the branch of the military most involved in titan combat, as he has SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Badass.Mother.F*cker. vowed to revenge his mother and rid the world of titans. Brilliant written, well-directed, and exPrima.Klassi pertly animated, it’s interesting on its own accord, ant not because of teasing boobs. FAVOURITE MOMENT AND/OR EPISODE: Episode 3.5, “Ilse’s Notebook.” FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Mikasa Ackerman FAVOURITE QUOTE: Mikasa again: “This world is merciless.. And it’s also very beautiful.” SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Where.Is.My.Season. Two?

CARTOON NETWORK IS NOT DEAD…

NAME: Ben Mifsud Joslin B.A. (Hons) in English, Third Year Editor of text at DESA, and Bassist/Vocalist in “Ashes for Nought” WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Adventure Time BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Thinly disguised as a kid’s show, Adventure Time is an animated masterpiece that ranges from random to emotive to bizarre then back again… FAVOURITE MOMENT AND/OR EPISODE: When Lemongrab eats the other Lemongrab; it epitomises the darker undertones of the show FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Jake the Dog FAVOURITE LINE: Old Tart Toter: “This cosmic dance of bursting decadence and withheld permissions twists all our arms collectively, but, if sweetness can win, and it can, then I’ll still be here tomorrow to high-five you yesterday, my friend. Peace.” SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Most.Colourful. Post-Apocalyptic.Setting.Ever.

44 JAMES BOND’S OVERRATED ANYWAYS… NAME: Rebecca Spiteri BSc Chem, Second Year WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Archer BRIEF DESCRIPTION: A bunch of secret agents on drugs, and Lana. FAVOURITE MOMENT: Most of Archer Vice (Season 5), or the Archer-Bob’s Burgers mash up (“Fugue and Riff”, Season 4, Episode 1) FAVOURITE CHARACTER: PPPPAAAAMMMM definitely… Also, Mallory Archer FAVOURITE LINE: Stirling Archer: “How’d you get life insurance, Lana? Don’t they know you’re in the daaangggeerrr zoonnneee?” SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: High Secret Agents Ruining Lives

CUMBERBATCH AND FREEMAN VS. LEE MILLER AND LIU… GAME ON! NAME: Matthew Aguis Muscat MSc in Digital Gaming WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW?Elementary BRIEF DESCRIPTION: American take on Sherlock Holmes in a modern day setting (different from the BBC mini-series), where Holmes (played by Jonny Lee Miller) accompanied by Dr. Watson (Lucy Liu) tackle difficult cases for the NYPD. FAVOURITE CHARACTER:Miller’s Sherlock is simply amazing.. FAVOURITE MOMENT AND/OR EPISODE:The brilliant Episode 2.9, “On the Line” SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: It’s Like Sherlock, but Better

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WATCHING?

MATTHEW CHARLES ZAMMIT NOT THE BEST REAL-LIFE PORTRAYAL FOR TO HELL AND BACK… AGAIN…. LAW STUDENTS….

NAME: Deborah Mercieca B.A. Italian and Linguistics, Second Year NAME: Timothy Borg Bassist, “Shouting at Echoes” WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Supernatural WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Suits BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Two brothers getting into a BRIEF DESCRIPTION:After leaving an exceptional shit ton of fights, going to hell and back (literally, impression on Harvey Spector, the man known for multiple times)a and killing every possible as the best closer in New York, Mike Ross gets being that wants them dead… adding a sub-plot hired by a huge law firm, despite neither attend- in every season, counting to the present number ing Harvard nor having a college dree, as per of Nine. firm policy. Chaos ensues… FAVOURITE MOMENT: Episode 7.09 and 7.10, BobFAVOURITE MOMENT: Episode 2.10: Mike and Har- by Singer’s death made me cry and put off the vey getting high together. Best moment of the whole TV series for almost three months, it was too hard to handle. (Whoops, spoiler alert) season, and probably of the season so far. FAVOURITE EPISODE: Episode 5.22, the season finaFAVOURITE CHARACTER: Harvey Spector le, and in my opinion, it should have been the FAVOURITE LINE: “I eat cock for Breakfast, Lunch series finale. But four seasons later and I’m still hooked on to it…. and Dinner.” Louis Litt, Episode 4.2 SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Lawyers can be huge FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Crowley.. You know, that f*cking, brilliant evil little sh*t that you can’t not c*nts. love even though he’s a complete bastard… oh, and he’s also the King of Hell. FAVOURITE LINE: Hmmm… Between the interaction between Dean and Sam in the pilot episode: “Of course you should be afraid of the dark, you know what’s out there”; And Castiel’s two most famous lines: “I would love to have sex with you”, and [incoming cliché] “If the pizza man loves the babysitter, why does he keep slapping her rear? Perhaps she’s done something wrong.” SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Getting.Draggy.But.Still. Watching

DA-DUM-DA-DA-DUM-DUM NAME: Eugene Camilleri Employed, Gap-Year Student

DON’T DO DRUGS KIDS…. NAME: Andrew Tanti BA (Hons) In Psychology, Second Year Drummer, “Shouting at Echoes” WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Breaking Bad

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Game of BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Chemistry Teacher gets cancer, Thrones cooks meth. Perfectly normal reaction… BRIEF DESCRIPTION: When Tolkien meets Dun- FAVOURITE MOMENT AND/OR EPISODE: It’s a tough one: Either Season 5, Episode 14 (“Ozymandigeons and Dragons, Politics and Nudity… Favourite Moment and/or Episode: Where we as”), or else get to see Natalie Dormer’s t… I meant, front as- the last 3 Episodes of Season 4… F*ck me these episodes were intense…. sets. They’re perfect… FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Jesse Pinkman FAVOURITE CHARACTER: A close fight between Ty- FAVOURITE LINE: One from the following: “Bitch”, win Lannister and Petyr Baelish… Favourite Quote: The Hound, aka Sir Sandor the whole “I am who knocks” speech, and “I Clegane’s “F*ck the Kingsguard, F*ck the City, won.” F*ck the King” SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Meth.Biss.Meth.Spiss. Bitch SUM IT UP IN FIVE WORDS: Baelish.Is.So.F*cking. Awesome

BACK TO UNI: EVERNOTE STEFAN BUTTIGIEG

BACK TO UNI: EVERNOTE Stefan Buttigieg Stefan Buttigieg is a 26 year old Medical Doctor undertaking an Online Masters in Health Informatics at the University of Sheffield. He is passionate about empowering people to make the best use of their technologies and is particularly interested in mobile apps. Here he speaks about Evernote,a particularly student-friendly app… Notes, notes, notes. That’s one of the things we will spend most of our time on whilst we venture through our Academic Year. We’re all running around with our laptops, iPhones, Androids, tablets and Smart Watches (I’m sorry, got too excited there) and we wonder whether there is some great software where you can get your notes everywhere on each and every device you possess. Evernote’s mantra is “remember everything” and whilst we hate to deny it, we have come to a situation where our devices have become an extension of our minds. If we need to look up something, we’ll go on Google, if we need to buy something, we’ll check out Amazon or Malta Park. If we need social interaction, we reach out to Whatsapp or Facebook. Evernote has provided us with an integrated ecosystem of apps which is available for all kinds of devices, from your laptop to your latest smartwatch. It’s built around a group of physical products which integrate seamlessly with the Evernote Service such as the Evernote Moleskine Notebook or the Fujitsu Printer/Scanner combination which sends document scans directly to your Evernote.

I’ve personally been using Evernote for the last What are the in-app purchases? couple of years and it’s impressive what you can accumulate over a couple of years and events, Premium Subscription will allow you the foland at this point it’s important to make sure that lowing: you learn how to use the tags feature.

Evernote is available for most platforms. In this edition’s review I will focus on Android and iOs Versions of Evernote. iOs: Free - Available for iPhone/iPad Link: https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/evernote/ id281796108?mt=8 Last Update: July 21st 2014 - Frequently Updated Well-Maintained Software App is optimised for: iPhone 5/5C/5S Dimensions but works on all dimensions. What are the in-app purchases? Premium Subscription will allow you the following: -Take notebooks offline to access them anytime -Present your notes on other screens with AirPlay -Allow others to edit your notebooks -Add a PIN lock to your Evernote app -Ability to upload up to 1GB of data per month(versus 60Mb in the free version)

The Evernote iOs App is one of the best pieces of mobile software that I have seen in the last couple of years and the app offers the most refined experience when it comes to user experience. You can customise your home screen and add audio recordings whilst typing out your notes, which is kind of nifty for when you want to take notes but not to miss out on anything. You also have an in-built document scanner which allows you to take photos of post-it notes, paper documents and even business cards.

What I find fascinating about the iOs App is that Evernote truly encourages you to remember everything by making sure that you can see, in the very beginning, the option to add a new text note, photo,reminder or list from the first time you open the app. In fact Evernote’s CEO, Phil Libin proclaims that it should take you exactly 7 seconds until you load the app. I also believe that the time it will take to write a new note in the latest version of iOs 8 will be even shorter with the up and coming widgets in the Notifcation Center. So make sure you keep Evernote updated.

-Take notebooks offline to access them anytime -Allow others to edit your notebooks -Add a PIN lock to your Evernote app -Notes are four times larger so you can pack Evernote with large files and hi-res images -Monthly Upload Limit of 1Gb

Evernote for Android is a very unique experience due to the accessibility of widgets which you can install in your app tray, combined by the very well design and forward-looking app. There are even good hints that Evernote might have already picked up the latest User Interface Guidelines from Google known as ‘Material Design’. The Evernote Widget, which you can include in your home screen after you install the app, will allow a one-tap action to create new Unique Feature for Evernote for iOs text notes, lists, reminders, add photos and even audio recording. This flexibility and one-tap acA unique feature which is available in the Premition is also seen when you launch the full app. um Version and for iOs Devices is the ability to Tapping the ‘+’ sign will fully expand it into all present your notes using Apple’s TV Airplay Rethe available options. ceiver. This allows the user to show off his notes to an audience and even gives him the possibility to control some sort of ‘laser’ pointer to point out salient points from their work. Android - Free - App Available for: Most Android Devices varying from smartphones to tablets. Recommended to have device running Android 4.0 or higher Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evernote&hl=en Last Update: September 4th 2014

BACK TO UNI: EVERNOTE STEFAN BUTTIGIEG

Unique feature for Evernote for Android Definitely the Widget! iOs have very recently embraced Widgets whereas Android have had them enabled since its very first version. The ability to add a new text note from the Home Screen is quite priceless. Widgets also allow to review your recent notes, especially if you opt for the larger size of the Widget, which can be quite handy when you want to quickly overview your latest notes. Premium or not? The Premium Subscription comes at the price of â&#x201A;Ź40 per year, The fact that Evernote is also available as a native application for all platforms (Windows Phone, Blackberry, Android, iOS, Mac , Windows and on the Web) gives it a flexibility and authority as one of the best note-taking apps available around. Then again, what do you get with the Premium Subscription? Ability for Offline Notebooks on your devices, increased PIN code security, ability to upload even more data to the Evernote Cloud Service and an even more refined search function by allowing you to search words within your PDF Documents and Office Documents. Last but not least, you will also be able to share notebooks with other Evernote Users. In my humble opinionT, the Premium subscription is a definite yes, especially since I get the ability to scan Business Cards by just taking a photo of them. That is just neat! You can contact Stefan on stefan@buttigieg.co, find him on Twitter @karambinu and visit his website at stefanbuttigieg.com

insiteronline.com

“A MIND-BLOWING, OVERWHELMING LABYRINTH” ex- Freshers speak out

“A MIND-BLOWING, OVERWHELMING LABYRINTH”ex- Freshers speak out Overwhelmed by the vastness of the University campus? Worried that you’re going to get lost en route to your lectures? Nicole Borg asks five students about how their first few days as a University fresher were like…

After all, we have been through this before, and the day will pass before we can say hemidemisemiquaver (ie. a musical term indicating a timing of 1/64). God only knows we had said that word over a hundred times just while on our bus ride to University.

Being a fresher might be what you call a love hate situation for students. While on the one hand we might love the thrill of a new journey in our lives, on the other hand the wh questions leave our minds a few paces away from imploding.

After running around the university, frantically trying to find our course department, we decide to give up and join the mass of people at the quad. We visit all the stands, maybe we’ll find an old pal somewhere who could help us out. Collecting freebies here and there, we start liking the quad and nearly forget about the fact that we still have to run around university and that our first meeting is in twenty minutes.

What am I going to wear? What will my course be like? What if I don’t fit in? Questions reverberate through our minds until one of our loved ones decides to swoop in and reassure us that everything will be alright.

Wobbling our way to the entrance, we notice our feelings reflected on the faces of multiple lost freshers like ourselves. Then we halt in front of the campus map thinking how great it is that there’s a map to help us find our way through. Ah the campus map! Or should I say the entanglement of boxes, numbers and streets that make our head spin just by looking at them, let alone trying to understand them. And so the rumbling starts.

“THE MAP IS COMPLICATED AND THERE ARE BARELY ANY SIGNS TO INDICATE WHICH BUILDING IS WHICH!”

We check the place out stand by stand until we finally come face to face the one for our faculty. Hooray! Finally someone can help us get to our meeting on time. They give us directions, surely better than what the map had given us and we manage to find our way to the meeting desperately hoping someone would sit next to us. Now it’s all up to us. Our journey starts now.

Thomas Bajada:

“From a small school in Gozo to a large Campus in Malta. The first day of Freshers’ Week was probably my most mind-blowing day ever: people, stands, more people and freebies. It was another world, everything was new. It was a life-changing day, with a big decision, being taken on an organsation’s stand, that I will never Now wait, this article is not over! Below you will regret: Be Active - Sign up.” find the beginning of a couple of student’s journeys. I hope all you freshers will find yourselves Ylenia Mifsud: at home at University as quickly as possible. “The map is complicated and there are barely Good luck. any signs to indicate which building is which!” Siobhan Vassallo: Tiziana Zammit: “At some point, we were headed to a couple of meetings, one at Sir Temi and the other at what “My fourth year is starting in a matter of days, would be my faculty for the rest of the year. We and I still cannot believe how time has flown by were taken on a tour of the overly-designed since my own freshers’ week. During my first building, the blueprint of which is now forever few days as a fresher, I was very excited to start implanted in my memory. At long last we were an experience that had been in my mind for duly dumped into a shady little yard, for a first- years. I can recall my preparation and dedication for my first year and meeting up with old friends day group photo, or so we were told. “We were ambushed; ruthlessly pelted with wa- on campus, where I felt a sense of accomplishter balloons and showered with buckets of cold ment. I cannot leave out those little intimidating thoughts at the back of my mind though as I did water by the upperclassmen” “We were ambushed; ruthlessly pelted with wa- not know anyone in my subject class and once ter balloons and showered with buckets of cold again, I had to start from scratch. Fortunately, I water by the upperclassmen” always liked change, new beginnings and socialisation so I was and still am motivated to return to full-time studies at university, with all the sacrifices and tough schedules it entails!” Johann Agius: “Being a fresher was overwhelming at first, having to take in everything and getting used to a new routine. But at the same time it was exciting to find a whole new atmosphere at University, meet new people and, of course, getting freebies during Freshers Week.”

A THREE-LEGGED HORSE TIMMY SPITERI

A THREE-LEGGED HORSE Timmy Spiteri Timmy Spiteri gives an intriguing explanation of the mysterious three-legged horse…

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The lack of equestrian monuments was cited as the principal reason for the latest installation in the much called-for renovation of our capital. Valletta is turning over a new leaf it seems, aesthetically the place is on the right track for the future. I was just there this weekend for the Stretta Festiva and the place was full of life; it was marvellous to see, even if only for a weekend. However as the Italians say “piano piano”, one step at a time is all it takes to achieve progress. If I’m perfectly honest with you here, I did not really enjoy the festival that much, not because it was disorganised, quite the contrary actually. It was reminiscent of a local festa, not something which is up my street unfortunately. But I have come to appreciate that events like these are all that it takes to re-inject life into the city which once was the centre of the Mediterranean. Now anyone who has been out in the street of late will feel the winds of change in the air, whether it’s road renovation, mirrors at street bends, social welfare reforms, decriminalisation of drugs, all much needed improvements for our little rock, in my opinion, and you are allowed to disagree. But seriously, a three-legged horse? What does that really mean? If I were to interpret it, personally I would say it symbolises democracy. Democracy you say? But what is democracy exactly?

A THREE-LEGGED HORSE

TIMMY SPITERI The origins of the word are derived from two Greek words; Demos (People) and Kratos (Power). So effectively democracy means the power of the people, a political system symbolised by people voting for their elected representatives, despite there being countless variants of this which would be too difficult to explain in such a short article. Yes, so you should read more about this topic of debate, to understand your democracy better, and fulfil your duty as a responsible citizen. Democracy is symbolised by three branches or legs, whatever you want to call them. The legislative branch which takes the initiative to pass new laws, otherwise known as Parliament and this is composed of the representatives which we vote for on a four-yearly basis here in Malta. The second leg is that which is known as the executive or Government. What government does is that it takes care of ensuring the smooth running of the public sector, with its various government departments composed of public officials, these are the people who ensure that the island doesn’t need any maintenance. And the third and final branch is the judiciary which enforces laws passed by Parliament. See, it is actually quite interesting to know more about democracy.

Now how come this horse does not have four legs but only three? I would say the fourth leg is hidden; it is the will of the people - the happenings of everyday life in any democracy determine the path it’s going to take. And this is why it is imperative that everyday life is not manipulated to suit the needs of the authorities. Media-savvy geeks will have heard of the phrase ‘fourth estate’. This is the fourth leg of any democracy, and albeit it being hidden it represents the hidden will of the people. The fourth estate refers to the media, a word which rose to prominence early last century and has been growing ever since. First with radio and later television moving on to today where we are living in the age of social media. Now everything has both pros and cons and I am not going to be so blunt to say that this is something bad, rather it is good because it has given people a medium to express their voices and discuss.

Photographer : Laura Besançon Sculptor : Austin Camilleri

A THREE-LEGGED HORSE TIMMY SPITERI

57 First with radio and later television moving on to today where we are living in the age of social media. Now everything has both pros and cons and I am not going to be so blunt to say that this is something bad, rather it is good because it has given people a medium to express their voices and discuss.

This is something which was lacking in the past, people did not have enough of an opportunity to voice their concerns, and usually complaints fell on deaf ears. However, today thanks to innovations in the fourth estate we are entering a new era where the man in the street has become Media-savvy geeks will have heard of the phrase his own journalist, at least for those people in ‘fourth estate’. This is the fourth leg of any de- his friends list, however few they may be. And mocracy, and albeit it being hidden it represents through mediums such as Facebook, Twitter & the hidden will of the people. The fourth estate Youtube, people today can indirectly form part refers to the media, a word which rose to prom- of the fourth estate, the fourth leg of that three inence early last century and has been growing legged horse in Valletta, which was until a few days ago, missing from our capital. ever since.

“THE MAN IN THE STREET HAS BECOME HIS OWN JOURNALIST, AT LEAST FOR THE PEOPLE IN HIS FRIENDS LIST”

I FAILED MY EXAM AND THAT’S PERFECTLY FINE CHRISTA BOFFA

I FAILED MY EXAM AND THAT’S PERFECTLY FINE Christa Boffa Christa Boffa casts a shadow of doubt over the My most successful all-nighter was not the one merits of university life in which I studied for my finals. It was the one in which I stayed up with a friend who was feeling This is that time of the year where, even though desperate and lonely. I sure got an A in my thesis many are feeling elated after having gotten ac- but the accomplishment I felt upon seeing my recepted into university or having passed their result cannot compare to how fulfilled I feel whensits, others are thinking their life is over because ever somebody tells me they like my writing. they didn’t. Ladies and gentlemen, as many of you may know, we live in a world where being Trying to budget your weekend expenses (in a failure or not is measured according to an ac- terms of the number of drinks you can buy with ademic yardstick. Much has been said and writ- that budget) is being a broke student, but budten about life not being just books, pens and geting your expenses in terms of food you can papers. But many of us fail to put those fancy buy, trips you can afford and hours you’ll have words into practice. We think we fail exams be- to work is growing up and entering that much cause we’re ‘stupid’ or ‘incompetent’ or whatev- dreaded adulthood. er other self-depreciating adjective you manage to come up with.

“THE WORLD IS NOT THAT LECTURE HALL FULL OF APATHETIC STUDENTS AND BORING LECTURERS”

Education is important, but so is living out there. The world is not that lecture hall full of apathetic students and boring lecturers. The world is the one in which you’re doing your best to live your dreams. The world is learning a language by moving to a new country. The world is learning a new skill for the fun of it - meeting new people just because. The world is new experiences which feel so scary at first but prove to be so rewarding at the end. Your life is worth more than it is academically, and most of all you are worth more than you think. Your mental well-being is so much more worth than having an A on your degree transcript. I can barely remember the results I got in any of my exams, but I can still remember how harmful those endless nights of exam stress-fuelled panic attacks were to my mental well-being. Whatever your academic accomplishments have been throughout this year, and perhaps throughout your life, keep in mind that there is so much more to you. Life is just books, pens and papers if you decide it is.

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