Unique - May 2015

UNIQUE the origin of news, views and other things too

VOL 1 ISSUE 1 MAY 2015

WAVE OF BILLS COLLEGE COURT LANDLORDS DISCUSS THE DAMAGE STUDENTS CAUSE PAGE 04

INSTA BEAUTIES HEALTH, FITNESS AND CLEAN EATING ACCOUNTS TO MOTIVATE YOU PAGE 16

TIME TO TALK DEMAND GROWING FOR COUNSELLING SERVICE IN UL PAGE 24

ON YOUR BIKE CYCLING, THE SMARTER WAY TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM COLLEGE PAGE 32

Inside IN THE FRAME UL PHOTO SOC PIC COMP PAGE 42

credits Editors Seán Lynch Cillian Sherlock Deputy Editor Breda Graham News Team Sarah O’Brien Denise Curtin Robert Flynn Colleen Hehir Robert Ahern Lifestyle Team Michaela Keating Frances Fitzgerald Ryan O‘Rourke Health Team Jennifer Purcell Sally Gorman Ciara Phelan Michelle Hogan College Team Lina Ryan Áine Freeman Kelly O’Halloran Mark Quinn Travel Team Rebecca Stiffe Catherine Schlachter Irache Ros Hueda Ben Panter

one for all...

Unique. It’s more than just a play on words for us. We’ve come together as a group of unique individuals with a wide range of perspectives and interests to create something we’re really proud of.

This magazine became more than just an assignment; the entire team became actively engaged with producing high quality content and bringing interesting stories to light.

Everyone had different ideas but they all came under the umbrella of issues affecting students of our university: the University of Limerick.

This publication is an encouragement of the unique; we aimed to accommodate all of our team’s interests and strengths (no matter how out there) to create the best magazine we possibly could.

Featured in this inaugural issue of Unique are several fresh and engaging takes on stories from lifestyle, health, news, travel, college and photojournalism.

In each section there’s a healthy mix of news, investigative journalism, human interest and visual storytelling, all with a splash of colour.

Our writing team’s varied backgrounds – from international students to mature students - ensured we had an interesting mix of ideas.

We wanted the magazine to be bright and fun, yet easy to read.

The entire editorial team would like to take this opportunity to thank our lecturer, Colin McGann, for his continued support and guidance throughout the project.

He was always there when we needed a hand, but wasn’t afraid to let us take a chance.

We also want to extend our gratitude to the entire Journalism@UL faculty for creating a course that encourages and allows the scope of creativity that enabled us to develop our skills in a way that culminated in a great experience and something we can all look back on in years to come.

The editorial team would also like to give a shout out to our writing team for all their contributions. We’re sure you’ll agree that the magazine’s content is fresh and riveting, and it’s thanks to each and every different personality on the team.

There’s a strong tradition at the university of creating student magazines and we want to congratulate all the students who went before us.

Finally, thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read this issue of Unique, supporting the press and the next generation of budding journalists.

Stay Unique.

Sean Lynch & Cillian Sherlock Joint-Editors

Breda Graham Deputy Editor 2 I UNIQUE I May 2015

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16 May 2015 I UNIQUE I 3

NEWS

HOUSES OF HORROR Landlords of rowdy student estate College Court are left to pick up the pieces when tenants move out for the summer.

Denise Curtin reports.

4 I UNIQUE I May 2015

With over 145 houses and 720 students, it is no wonder that College Court, located next to the University of Limerick, faces a major anti-social behaviour problem.

The estate attracts hundreds of party going students every year due to its close proximity to the college, cheap rent (working out roughly as €65 per week) and its lack of security compared to on college campus accommodation.

However, anti-social behaviour in College Court is increasing. Charity Week, formerlly known as rag week, a week where the university raises awareness and donations for several worthy college charities in support of student education and engagement with society, is a particularly destructive week in College Court.

Charity Week ceased in colleges NUIG and GMIT, Galway, in 2013 following many students being hospitalised and causing structural damage throughout the city due to excessive drinking and partying. When asked if charity week may return in

future years GMITSU President Sam O’Neill said, “GMIT Students’ Union and NUI Galway Students’ Union is not supporting any sort of ‘RAG Week’ and instead will be informing students of the effects that antisocial behaviour would have on their future careers or when travelling abroad”.

It looks like the University of Limerick may follow suit if problems with student anti-social behaviour continues.

“Charity week in College Court is a week-long party,” said Molly (22) who lives in the estate.

“This year I saw bins get set on fire and windows in a large quantity of houses got smashed.”

And it seems it is not just excessive drinking that is causing students to act in this manner, drugs are also a factor as evidenced by Jessica, another resident of the estate. “Drugs are as easy to buy here as bread and butter”.

During the first week of college, Charity Week and after-college exams, many undercover Gardaí confiscate and seized drugs from students in Col-

lege Court.

“College Court is known to all of us at the station and we make it our duty to monitor the estate to the best of our ability. Students must be aware that reckless behaviour will not be tolerated,” said Garda Tom Dilleen of the events.

This partying and destruction however comes at a price and it is the landlords who are suffering.

“Students deposits don’t cover a third of the damages my house is left with at the end of the year,” said Cyril Ryan, homeowner of two properties in College Court.

“Walls need repairing, windows are broken, carpets burned and often ceilings need to be repaired, it is an utter disgrace. These students have no respect.” He paid over €870 to have each house repaired last year.

Tony Kelly, another landlord in College Court, also faced large bills at the end of 2014.

“Never again will I rent to students. My

“Drugs are as easy to buy here as bread and butter.”

Jessica

house was destroyed and it cost my €1,367 to fix the damage caused.”

The University of Limerick has recently introduced a Student Patrol Team for College Court. They walk around the estate on busy college nights to remind students about the fines they could recieve from drinking in public places. The patrol team known locally as the M&Ms also keep an eye out for anti-social behaviour occurring around college court and also clean up street litter.

“We get called names and often taunted by drunk people in College Court. They think we are trying to stop their fun when realistically we are just trying to keep the place safe for residents with families in the estate,” said Katie O’Donoghue who works as part of the team.

She thinks that the students should be made resonsible for their actions and any damage to their rented property should be their responsibilty and paid for by them and not their landlord.

“Students take advantage of their student homes and then leave their landlord to pick up the bill, it is immature and unfair,” said O’Donoghue.

Ryan and other landlords from College Court have begun meeting on a Saturday to cut the grass throughout the estate and clean up any rubbish on the streets and broken glass.

“At the moment, the estate is in need of

“Student’s deposits don’t cover a third of the damage my house is left with at the end of the year.”

Cyril Ryan help. Both the drink and drug scene seem to be more popular now than ever before and with this comes anti social and outlandish behaviour,” said College Court resident Molly.

From September 2015, many of the College Court home-owners said that they will begin interviewing students hoping to move in, making them sign a contract that declares damage done to the house is their responsiblitly and not that of the landlord.

The University of Limerick in conjunction with the landlords are hoping that this new initiative will bring improvements to the estate.

If you see any suspicious or anti-social behaviour occuring, please do not hesitate to contact your local Gardaí on 061 212 400.

May 2015 I UNIQUE I 5

NEWS

Sarah O’Brien speaks to ULSU Welfare Officer Shane McCormack for advice on how to spot sub-standard accommodation and dodgy landlords.

A

great deal of houses being rented out to students in Limerick are in varying states of disrepair.

During the economic downturn both landlords and tenants were feeling the pinch and despite the

6 I UNIQUE I May 2015

recent upturn, money is tight.

Making do is certainly not something this writer grew up living, but as a twenty something whose disposable income is not so disposable, 20c beans in Lidl or Aldi have become a diet staple.

Cheap and nutritious, two words not often heard together in the same sentence, and for good reason.

Saving on your weekly grocery shopping though is a far cry from what students are willing to

scrimp on in terms of accommodation. The adage, students wreck houses and therefore landlords needn’t bother fixing anything, needs to be knocked on the head and fast. The ‘they’re a wild bunch, students

sure you know yourself’ attitude is having serious repercussions the length and breadth of the country.

Is it affecting our health? Remember that winter you couldn’t afford oil so everyone huddled around the TV in three pairs of socks and your duvet, watching whole series on Netflix, drinking Buckfast? Or the time you got a severe chest infection from that suspiciously mouldy looking patch on your bedroom ceiling? It is high time landlords were held accountable for the substandard conditions of the houses they’re renting out.

Living off campus means cheaper rent and if you’re anyone other than a first year or an Erasmus student, it’s usually the preferred option. Unfortunately though it also means a trade-off in standards of living, security and proximity to the college campus.

There are plenty of unregistered bully boy landlords only too delighted to see students coming because usually they will accept less and will put up with more.

Learning how to recognising potential pitfalls when viewing prospective accommodation and how to deal with them is an absolute must. Shane McCormack, ULSU Welfare Officer has been a Cas-

‘’

Some landlords steal deposits, actually steal them. They will quite literally refuse or dodge you

tletroy resident for the past five years, living in a number of student hotspots including College Court and Elm Park (infamously known as cardboard city) and has become well acquainted with the perils of

student housing.

Shane recommends students look out for troublesome telltale signs such as blocked vents or no vents and checking for soot on appliances which can indicate a potentially lethal carbon monoxide build up.

He also recommends that landlords present their tenant with a building energy rating cert so the student can gauge how much they will be spending on heating in the colder months.

Though a written lease is very important, if the tenant does not have one, but, the front door key and deposit have changed hands, a verbally binding contract is in place.

Steven Carroll, a past UL student explains, “Some landlords steal deposits, actually steal them. They will quite literally refuse or dodge you. I had to leave one house because the landlord refused to fix anything and you can’t do without something as basic as a shower.”

Over the last three years of his degree, Steven was denied nearly €2,000 in non-returned deposits.

His landlords blamed him for everything from telling him he was responsible for the inch thick black mould growing in the bathroom, to forcing him to foot the bill for a housemate that bailed without sorting their share of the bills.

When asked why Steven didn’t report any of this behaviour, he simply said, “Landlords know students are usually young, naïve and lack experience with the rental market.

“Young people will often stay living in sub-par accommodation because they

simply can’t afford to move, landlords are aware of this and take full advantage”.

It would seem that affordable accommodation in Limerick in general is quite poor and anyone who can’t afford to pay that bit extra is expected to put up or shut up.

Student Fiona recently viewed a house that failed to meet even the most basic requirements.

“I recently went to see a house that didn’t even have a washing machine. When I asked the letting agent, I was informed I would have to use the local laundrette like all the other students.

“But it was the bedroom that really shocked me, there was no plaster on the walls, just painted concrete bricks. I seriously doubted it was insulated,” Fiona added.

Knowing your rights protects both you and the landlord. Your landlord should be registered with the PTRB and will be paying tax on the rental income you provide.

Students having difficulty with the quality of the accommodation they’re living in can contact the PTRB/the local housing authority or their Student Union Welfare officer for further advice and support.

‘

These Ikea flat-pack houses are freezing

Left: ULSU Welfare Officer Shane McCormack May 2015 I UNIQUE I 7

YES? or NO? Dispelling a myth My Two Cents on Marriage Equality

by Robert Flynn

8 I UNIQUE I May 2015

F

or someone to come out today and say that ‘gay rights does not play a major part in the global day-to-day’ would have some serious explaining to do. If someone had opined this very thought 22 years ago in Ireland, most people would have agreed.

Considering I am now nearly 21 years old, it is frightening to think that up until 1993 being gay in Ireland was a criminal offence.

We’ve seen people being prosecuted for their lifestyle, Oscar Wilde, being one of the most famous.

Up until I came to college in UL the idea that someone could have been prosecuted for their sexuality seemed to be something of a myth to me.

In my house, sexuality was never talked about. Not extensively anyway. Apart from the uninvited crude joke at the dinner table, my sexuality (in my early years) was not so much learned about as it was picked up, much like learning how to cycle a bike. There was always that one person in your primary school class who had all the information. The person, like some manic street preacher, who the class sat around to learn about life in one lunchtime sitting. I admit learning about the process of ‘baby-making’ in school, but it was only in self-exploration that I found who I really was.

Sexuality I believe is something within a person, something which cannot be changed. It is the part of someone, smaller than an atom, which is incomprehensibly indelible, yet only those who are successfully intimate with an individual experience it for a brief sec-

ond. It is on this indescribably small particle we are asking people to vote. And not for themselves, but for the life choice of others.

Homosexuality between two men and two women always seemed like a myth to me because of the way in which I grew up. It was certainly a taboo with my mother to speak of the homosexual community.

At the age of around 11 or 12 I could see her attitudes changing, like a flower in early bloom.

B e i n g openly gay was a whole new lifestyle for people, because they were so used to hiding it, to hiding the most basic fragment of their being.

When I was i n primary school sex-education was not taught.

Sex-education amounted to a dusty VHS tape, stored safely in the confines of the teacher’s bureau.

In the last ten years especially, the gay and lesbian community have secured so much, so much it is quite incredible. They have effectively been responsible for the emotional fission of

sexuality, allowing people to be comfortable within themselves.

I am a heterosexual male.

White. And from a developed country. I am not homosexual, so speaking as if I were marginalised sexually in any way would be of severe injustice to homosexual people everywhere. The one thing I am is understanding. And not just understanding in a passive way, but in a way which engages both emotionally and logically to the situation.

The current polls calculate approximately 75 per cent of the population of Ireland are in favour of

passing the upcoming referendum on marriage equality on Friday, May 22.

What frightens me most about these polls is the rate at which they can be held accountable and those it claims to speak for.

What is more worrying is the fact that the largest percentage of people who vote in Ireland, especially

in referendums, are aged 65 and over. Two generations ahead of my own could effectively prevent generations of people from being able to marry their loving partner, someone they want to commit to for the rest of their lives.

The referendum proposes to amend the Constitution by inserting a new section stating: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.” However, the bone of contention surrounds the enactment of the Children and Family Relationships Bill which proposes, among other things, to give adoption rights to same-sex couples.

Up until I was in second year in secondary school, sexuality to me had always been about ‘sex’. The act.

Nothing more.

The thing two people who love each other do in hope of creating a child of love.

This was mainly driven by the hegemonic discourse of society, both enacted and upheld by derogatory words. Because of this, the idea of homosexuality as a lifestyle choice had never crossed my mind.

Sexuality is not about procreation. Heterosexuality is about procreation. Homosexuality is about love, purely. And sharing this love with everyone in the world, especially those of future generations.

This, I believe, is its main message. Homosexuality is about two people who love each other, sharing each other with each other and in a recognised, unqualified union. The myth of homosexuality needs to have clarity before people vote YES or NO. May 2015 I UNIQUE I 9

Word on the street Ireland’s street drug culture is undergoing a major wave of change. Colleen Hehir reports.

A recent CLAN survey which focused on third level students and their association with drugs found that only 0.02 per cent had tried heroin, while a rather shocking 12 per cent admitted to either experimenting or becoming involved with drugs which could easily be obtained from a GP. Drugs.ie recorded that a staggering total of 520 people died nationally in 2011 from the misuse of prescribed pharmaceutical drugs.

These figures suggest that today, it seems to be that you’ll be more likely to find the country’s main street dealers selling the likes of Zimmovanes - a powerful sleeping tablet, or perhaps Benzodiazepines - a sedative drug, working in the same way as valium as opposed to what people might currently classify as ‘the hard stuff’.

Class A drugs aren’t making the cut like they used to with more than likely only a quiet handful of dealers who will still get involved with opiates or amphetamines.

10 I UNIQUE I May 2015

From the emergence of this thriving, illicit trade in the shameless abuse of pharmaceutical drugs, we can see that the typical method by which the new generation of Irish drug addicts get their fixes is changing.

The main change worth noting, the most worrying one at that is the fact that more and more of the youth of today, especially third

“I never considered them to be drugs, well, not real drugs because I was prescribed them by my doctor after I hit a bit of a low after the Leaving Cert.”

level students are now taking more than one type of drug at the same time. Ireland has now entered the disturbing age of ‘poly-drug users’.

The Ana Liffey Drug Project, headed up by CEO Tony Duffin, is an organisation that focuses mainly on harm reduction revealed that a startling number of health service users are still working with an outdated policy which doesn’t cater for today’s drug trends.

In a recent speech, Duffin said that, in his experience, if someone were to be on heroin nowadays, you could be pretty sure that they were also dealing with tablets.

What’s even more startling is the lack of resource tools and reliable information on this type of abuse in Ireland.

The danger to students is that many of these substances can be easily obtained as a form of stress relief.

Aaron Croke, a second year student in NUIG, is an example of this. He turned to

abusing his anti-depressants, Xanax for the last few months of his first year in college.

“I never considered them to be drugs, well, not real drugs, because I was prescribed them by my doctor after I hit a bit of a low after the Leaving Certificate.”

“It’s not that I got messed up with a bad crowd in college, if anything we were pretty unremarkable, we just did what most other students did before heading out into town,” Aaron admitted.

What he was referring to though was the fact that more and more students are opting to pills, or yokes, before going out, it’s simply become another part of the routine at this stage.

“The problem is that these things stay in your system, not like alcohol does, with alcohol it’s usually a bad dose of The Fear and a lousy hangover, but with stuff like Xanax and Valium it can just make you feel so void and numb, it messes with your brain.”

‘More and more of the youth of today, especially third level students are now taking more than one type of drug at the same time?

Aaron sought help from the Student Counselling services in his university before his final exams.

“I knew I was going to fail if I didn’t at least try to get out of this bubble I was walking around in, the problem was, all these places can really do is offer you talk therapy or mindfulness classes, all I wanted was a pill to

make me normal again,” he said.

What’s the one piece of advice Aaron can offer to any students who consider poly-drug use or over the counter-meds?

“The feeling of not being able to control your own brain is the worst there ever is.”

People who wish to enter rehab programs in order to start their journey of recovery and create a better life for themselves need to first fit an ‘ideal addict’ profile before being granted admission.

Unfortunately, this profile does not make room for pill users in its picture. Drug rehabilitation centres are bound by rigidly tight rules and regulations which ultimately dictate who can and cannot seek treatment.

Take for example someone who may be using heroin, benzodiazepines and alcohol at the same time, something which has of late become all the more common, will simply get turned away for not having the correct blood chemistry to enter a program.

May 2015 I UNIQUE I 11

NEWS

Can the new alcohol bill pass the test of time?

Will the government’s Public Health Alcohol Bill have a negative effect on students? Robert Ahern considers this question.

With the recent passing of the Public Health Alcohol Bill designed to tackle Ireland’s excessive alcohol consumption, there is much discussion regarding whether or not it will have the intended effect. In all of this discussion, however, there has been little talk about how these measures will affect college students.

It can’t be denied that college students are a particularly valua-

ble demographic for the alcohol industry, so their perspective in all this shouldn’t be ignored.

While the bill includes restric-

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said that this is a ‘proven and effective’ measure, one that should have a positive impact on high-risk drinkers especially.

The prevelance of alcohol in modern society is seen as a major social problem.

The Public Health Alcohol Bill is considered the government’s first major step in addresing this. It is hoped that the measures will cause ‘high risk’ drinkers to drink less.

12 I UNIQUE I May 2015

tions on how alcohol can be advertised, and guidelines to how it must be packaged, the most publicised aspect is the

establishment of minimum unit pricing.

This means that supermarkets and off-licenses will not be able to sell alcohol as cheaply, as each unit of alcohol will have a lower limit of how much it can cost.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said that this is a “proven and effective” measure, one that should have a positive impact on high-risk drinkers especially.

‘If someone’s really addicted, they might just buy the same amount and have less money for actually important things.’

Health Minister Leo Varadkar was a major force in getting the Public Health Alcohol Bill passed. He feels that minimum unit pricing is a ‘proven and effective’ method

UNIQUE spoke to students for their perspective.

Stephen Lackey, a first year student says, “It seems like it might be unfair on students. Even if a student’s only drinking responsibly, it might be the situation that they don’t have much money and need to get it cheaper out of shops.”

Stephen suggested that maybe there could be exceptions to minimum unit pricing on college campuses. He acknowledged, however, that this system would probably be abused by anyone living close to a college campus.

Conor O’Flynn, a student at University College Cork took a different view, “I haven’t looked into it much, it mightn’t really have the effect they’re imagining.

“Someone who drinks a bit, and hasn’t much money might end up drinking less. But if someone’s really addicted, they might just buy the same amount and

have less money for important things.”

Aaron Perilln, another UL student, was not concerned.

“It might affect some students who drink a lot negatively, but I think a lot of people are drinking too much anyway. I only ever have a few drinks if I’m out, and I don’t really try and get drunk, so I don’t mind the bill. I don’t think it will affect me.”

So some college students have misgivings regarding minimum unit pricing, while others don’t feel they will be affected.

Regardless, it does seem to be the case that measures like minimum unit pricing place a positive net impact on societies where they have been implemented.

Alcohol Action Ireland, an organisation that seeks to reduce alcohol related harm in Ireland and supports the alcohol bill, cited research, which stated that the introduction on minimum

unit pricing in Canada yielded a significant reduction in alcohol related harm.

In British Columbia, for example, a ten per cent increase in the minimum alcohol price was associated with a 32 per cent drop in deaths that were solely caused by alcohol.

The student interviewees were asked if they thought there was a lot of alcohol abuse among students.

Stephen responded saying, “I said before that, on the whole I’m sure the country will be better off. And yeah, there’s probably a fair bit of alcohol abuse with students.

“Even if you just looked at how the bill will affect students it might be mostly positive, I was just thinking that it there’s probably a decent amount of students who drink responsibly, but still use deals at shops to save money. I’ve done that a few times.

“It’ll be annoying, but I think

things will still be better off”.

Conor remained unsure of the bill’s measures.

“I wouldn’t argue that here isn’t some alcohol abuse among students. But even with students, I’d be afraid that the people who are really addicted to alcohol wouldn’t be put off much.

“It seems like more sort of casual drinkers would be affected. But then again I didn’t know about the whole situation in Canada, so I might not be right on this.”

Adam said, “I don’t really drink much, so I’m probably not the best person to ask. I’m sure there are some students who would benefit from not being able to buy as much alcohol. I haven’t looked into it but I think the country will be a bit better off over the bill.”

Judging from these interviews, some students feel their peers could be unfairly affected by the minimum unit price, but acknowledge that it could make life in Ireland better in general, and even help some students who abuse alcohol. There is disagreement however.

Ultimately we will have to wait until minimum unit pricing has been in effect for some time to know for sure what its effects on students and the country at large will be.

In British Columbia, for example, a ten percent increase in the minimum alcohol price was associated with a 32 percent drop in deaths that were solely caused by alcohol.

Civil Defence An invaluable resource during search operations

The Civil Defence is an invaluable resource during search operations according to Principal of the Civil Defence College, R贸is铆n McGuire.

Breda Graham reports.

THE Civil Defence is a voluntary search and rescue organisation that assists local communities and acts as a second line of support for the frontline emergency services in Ireland through dealing with severe weather, flooding, major accidents, fire fighting and searching for missing people.

The organisation is a primary statutory volunteer base of the State and is a second line role of support for Principal Response Agencies such as An Garda Síochána and the HSE. Civil Defence has 4,500 volunteer members throughout Ireland. Civil Defence volunteers are trained in casualty first aid, search and rescue, auxiliary fire service, radiation monitoring and radio communications.

In the event of a search for a missing person, the Civil Defence are contacted by An Garda Síochána and deploy their search and rescue teams who are equipped to co-ordinate a search operation.

Civil Defence are briefed by Gardaí and a profile of the missing person is built detailing events leading up to their disappearance. Vital information about the person such as medical history can be extremely important. Radio communications are set up so that all team members searching on the field can contact the control centre which works directly with An Garda Síochána to make quick efficient decisions should the need to do so arise during a search.

Speaking on how Civil Defence are equipped for searches, Principal of the Civil Defence College, Róisín McGuire, said, “The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) issued to Civil Defence volunteers in order to carry out their tasks in all environmental conditions is of a very high standard. During a search, Civil Defence volunteers can provide detailed maps of the area concerned, this allows sectors to

be identified and searched. Civil Defence has an independent radio communications system in place, this also includes GPS and TETRA, which allows search managers to identify exact locations of responders during a search and make direct contact with the Gardaí or other PRA’s as required.

In addition, Civil Defence has search dogs and UAVs available.”

Brendan Qualter, Civil Defence Officer of Galway Civil Defence, said that during the search for UL student Brian Gubbins, “Galway Civil Defence was not initially contacted to assist. Having spoken to the Gardaí, they knew that there was a large group arriving to assist. We would have been asked to provide teams during the week if the search was on-going.”

OTHER search groups independent of the State often show up to searches as they did in the aforementioned search. The difficulty is that these search groups do not have to be contacted directly by Gardaí and often show up unannounced.

Brendan Qualter said, “Large crowds are always going to be difficult to manage.

Some feel that they are being left out. It is important to keep those large groups in the loop of what is going on.”

Speaking on the management of other

‘’

‘Civil Defence has 4,500 members throughout Ireland’

search groups, he said, “The key with other groups is that the search management must be firm. In a lot of cases they would be deemed as ordinary members of the public.

Groups arriving at searches should produce documented proof as to what training they have and are insured to work within the scope of training.”

Róisín McGuire believes that there is an excellent working relationship between An Garda Síochána and the Civil Defence.

“This is replicated with local Gardaí and Civil Defence Officers and volunteers, particularly when both organisations have trained together or been involved in a missing persons search.

“Each time we train or work together the relationships are getting stronger and both organisations are building on these relationships.”

The first National Search Exercise involving The Civil Defence and An Garda Síochána took place in December 2013.

This search operation consisted of Senior Garda Management and Garda Instructors of the Garda College and Search Managers, Team Leaders and Search Team Members of Civil Defence.

The day was a success with all missing persons being found. During an address, The Minister of State at Department of Defence, Paul Kehoe, said he was ‘delighted to see the working relationship between An Garda Síochána and Civil Defence’ and praised both organisations for their vision in planning such an exercise.

Civil Defence is an “invaluable resource” to both the front line emergency services and to members of the public when it comes to missing persons search operations, according to Róisín McGuire.

To contact the Civil Defence or if you are interested in becoming a member visit www.civildefence.ie.

May 2015 I UNIQUE I 15

LIFESTYLE

Insta

Michaela Keating spoke to Hazel about the health, fitness and clean eating a SINCE the app launched in September 2010, Instagram has become a global success, attracting 300,000,000 users monthly, with 75,000,000 users accessing the app on a daily basis. The photo sharing app is a platform for sharing different aspects of life including hobbies and interests. Health, fitness and clean eating accounts are fast becoming one of the most popular categories that users follow.

As a daily user of the app, I admit that these accounts appear contantly on my newsfeed whether it be a picture of a vegan recipe or a snippet of a workout video. These accounts are commonly known as ‘Fitspo’, as many people believe that following these accounts will keep them motivated to stay healthy and active.

‘’

Use Instagram as a tool for inspiration and motivation, but not a source of knowledge or health advice.

So why do so many young people use Instagram as a medium to keep healthy?

Irish medical student Hazel Wallace is one reason. This lady balances her hectic life as a medical student as well as sharing her exercising regime and diet on her Instagram account.

Her blog ‘The Food Medic’ has soared as a result of her extensive knowledge on nutrition and specific exercises for targeting certain body areas is informative and with over thirty-one thousand Instagram followers, it’s no surprise that this student was featured in the Irish Independent Online’s ‘Top Ten Irish Fitness Accounts To Follow On Instagram’.

Her before and after pictures are sheer proof that this girl knows what she’s talking about when it comes to looking after yourself.

We often say that we don’t have the time to work out, but according to Hazel, managing your time is key for productivity.

“I keep a diary and log everything I need to do that day and week. I plan ahead in terms of booking allocated time to study, training

16 I UNIQUE I May 2015

sessions, meetings, and time prepping food.

“I wake up 30 minutes early everyday to answer emails and spend 30 minutes in the evening doing the same.

“I don’t party very often, and if I do go out I will only have one drink because I don’t like

to be hungover the next day as it disrupts my productivity and leaves me feeling sluggish.”

In college, clean eating and exercising may be a foreign phrase to a lot of people, but Hazel has come up with a few easy tips to renivigorate your diet.

“Write a shopping list, plan your meals and prep your lunches. In my ebook I have a whole section dedicated to meal prepping for beginners so check it out if you’re struggling.

“Join a gym/running club/ yoga class or whatever activity you’re interested in trying out. Most clubs and gyms do student memberships.

“Eat out less often and spend more time cooking at home and experimenting with healthy dishes. Invite your friends around and get them involved, the more support you have while embarking on your healthy journey, the better,” she said.

She may be the Fitspo for over 30,000 Instagram followers, but there’s plenty of ladies that inspire the Food Medic too. “For me it is the girls who have transformed themselves from unfit to fit, as I can relate to that from personal experience and it encourages me that we are forever changing and growing,” she said.

“My favourite girls on instagram to follow for fitspiration are Ashley Horner (super

woman in the flesh), Alexandra Bring (a Swedish fitness model and athelete), Carly Rowena (YouTube sensation and a super loveable personality), and Lydia Millen (fashion and fitness packaged up perfectly).”

So, does she think that Instagram is a good place to learn about health, fitness and clean eating?

“Yes, and sadly, no. It is amazing to connect with like minded people and get recipe ideas and fitness tips. However, on the flip side there is a lot of huge ‘fitness’ accounts which promote unhealthy methods of losing weight such as detox diets and other diet fads.

“For beginners to the health and fitness world, it can be difficult to pick out the good advice from the vast amount of information that is available on instagram. In my advice, use instagram as a tool for inspiration and motivation but not a source of knowledge or health advice;” she said.

There are many accounts on Instagram that inspire, motivate and educate young people today to lead a healthier life. Following the right health and fitness acocunts can motivate you to get up and make positive changes to your lifestyle. Check out Hazel’s social media for some health and fitness inspo: Twitter: @thefoodmedic Instagram: @thefoodmedic Facebook Page: The Food Medic Website: www.hazelwallace.co.uk

a-fab

Wallace aka the Food Medic accounts that are motivating thousands Top 5 fitness to follow 1. Hazel Wallace 2. Jen Selter

3. Millie Mackintosh 4. Maeve Madden 5. Lydia Millen

Top 5 foodies to follow 1. Rozanna Purcell 2. Evolution Fresh

3. Sprouted Kitchen

4. Chocolate Covered Katie

5. Ella Woodward

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? The demands of college are enough to stress any student out.

Now, consider dropping a time-consuming, committed relationship into that hot mess. Is the stress and sacrifice worth the effort?

Frances Fitzgerald finds out.

With apps like Tinder getting more popular, coupled with endless articles advising you on how to find that right person, it is easy to see why there is such pressure on people to find

18 I UNIQUE I May 2015

that perfect relationship. But this pressure, coupled with the general stresses of college, can make you wonder if dating as a student is really worth it.

Issues can arise even in the

most stable relationship and the demands of the student lifestyle can place a strain on the well-being of a couple.

Studying should take priority, it doesn’t always, but it should. Of

course you want to make time for everything; your significant other, meeting new people, travelling home at the weekend to see family and old friends, as well as making time for the

“It’s just been so much easier being on my own, I have no one to worry about, no one to prioritise over classes and friends.” part-time jobs.

To avoid making your boyfriend or girlfriend feel that they are not your number one priority, sacrifices are usually made. Unfortunately these sacrifices are often the ones with permanent ramifications that may make you want to kick yourself when looking back at them, as an older and wiser college graduate.

Sheila McDonagh, 29-year-old Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) graduate, speaks about her sacrifices and regrets.

“I was in a long-term relationship all through college. I was single for only about two months, altogether. It took me a while to realise that the relationship had an effect on my work and attendance.

“I kept blaming other reasons, or just justified it by convincing myself that every student struggled”.

College is said to be one of

the most rewarding times of a person’s life, offering new experiences almost as a reward for the tribulations it brings. Getting average results in college can be a disappointment, but missing out on the experience and freedom that life as a student brings can be just as disappointing.

“I sometimes wish I could go back and have my freedom, but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything at the time. It’s just one of those situations that you won’t see clearly until you are that bit older. It’s not a huge regret, but I do feel like I missed out on experiences that most of my friends had,” McDonagh said.

Aisling Brady, a 20-year-old WIT student, has changed her approach to relationships in college.

“I try to avoid relationships for now, I was in a long-term relationship for most of first year

that really affected my work. I had to repeat an exam, I really thought I was going to fail my first year and have to repeat”.

With a firm belief in this approach, through lessons learned, Ms Brady is determined to stay committed to her new-found ideology.

“I’m almost finished my second year and it’s just been so much easier being on my own, I have no one to worry about, no one to prioritise over classes.”

A factor that can make maintaining a relationship difficult, is the growing popularity and emphasis on social media.

“Social media puts me off relationships, especially in college.

I don’t want to have access to anything that can basically help me keep track of another person, because that is what these social media sites do.

“I don’t trust myself with that ability,” Brady joked.

Though difficult, Brady acknowledges that it is still very possible to maintain a relationship in college, and have a positive outlook for the future.

“I have friends in college who are making their relationships work, it really does go both ways. I’m not ruling out a relationship for the rest of my time in college, but for now I feel better on my own. If it happens I’ll just have ground rules”.

Whether coming straight from school with a new-found sense of adulthood, or attending college later in life, keeping a relationship stable and secure may prove difficult. While there is much to be said for avoiding the stresses of a relationship, that method is not ideal for everyone.

The key may be to avoid sacrificing one part of your life, to benefit another, and to find a person that shares this particular outlook.

“It’s not a huge regret, but I do feel like I missed out on experiences that most of my friends had.”

April 2015 I UNIQUE I 19

YouTube Top Five

If watching YouTubers hasn’t become part of your daily routine, here’s Seån Lynch’s top 5 YouTubers to get you hooked

1 Zoella If you ask any Irish or British teenage girl who is their inspiration, you may get a surprising response in the form of Zoella.

With seven million subscribers she currently ranks 55th on the highest subscribed-to

20 I UNIQUE I May 2015 20 I UNIQUE I April 2015

Editorial team’s top 5 YouTube channels in the world. Covering make-up, beauty, relationship advice, mental health issues and takes on life, she covers just about everything on young women’s minds. Her debut novel ‘Girls Online’, which she admittedly had help writing from a ghost writer, became the fastest selling debut novel of all time. She has spoken strongly on her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks.

Perhaps Zoella isn’t quite for you, but she’s just part of a close-knit British YouTuber community. Her brother Joe and boyfriend Alfie Deyes are both successful YouTubers in their own rights, as Thatcher Joe and PointlessBlog. Other British YouTubers who regularly appear in her videos include Marcus Butler as well as Tanya Burr and her fiancée Jim Chapman, all of who are definitely worth checking out. 

Cillian Sherlock (Co-editor)

5. RoosterTeeth Network (bit of a cheat considering that’s like four channels) 4. CGP Grey 3. Matt Lees 2. Super Bunnyhop 1. Every Frame a Painting

Breda Graham (Deputy editor) 5. Jack and Finn Harrys 4. Dan and Phil 3. BFvsGF 2. Jenna Marbles 1. Philip de Franco

Sarah O’Brien (News Editor) 5. Letzmakeup 4. Thrift Thick 3. lovely girly bits 2. Kathleen lights 1. jaclyn hill

2 Tyler Oakley Imagine having your work viewed more times than there are people in the USA today. Well, Tyler Oakley is someone who knows this feeling, with his YouTube channel having 350 million views and counting.

The American has mainly done comedy videos, having also posted about social issues including healthcare, education, prevention of suicide among LGBT youth, and gay rights. Tyler was given the opportunity to meet U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House and also made a video with first lady Michelle Obama talking about education issues. Can you get much more YouTube famous than that?

If you like Tyler’s videos then you should check out Troye Sivan and Conor Franta.

Troye has recently released his first album.

Like Tyler both have inspired huge numbers of LGBT fans with their coming out videos.

q

3 Dan Howell and Phil Lester Dan Howell (aka Danisnotonfire) is all about laughing at his own failings & he makes really relatable videos on things like procrastination, mumbling, existential crises etc. Phil Lester (aka AmazingPhil) makes videos about unusual things in his life. He is known for not swearing in his videos because he has a younger viewer demographic. He is also very innocent and is mocked by Dan about this. Although Phil only uploaded his first YouTube video in 2009, Dan has been vlogging since 2006. Currently, Dan has four and a half

4 PewDiePie So you might wonder, who’s the biggest gaming YouTuber in the world?

Well, they just so happen to also be the most viewed channel of all time! PewDiePie has a ridiculous 34 million subscribers, with over

seven billion views. Felix Kjellberg, the Swedish channel’s creator plays videogames and records his commentary and facial reactions through audio and webcam, particularly in the horror and action genre. As a huge personality on the Internet, PewDiePie has raised money for charities via his “Bro Army” fan-base.

If you’re a gamer then these videos are a must-see! But the world of gaming YouTubers is endless. There are YouTube channels that focus on game theories and history, or test and rate the newest game releases and even gamers who go retro!

If you’re a Sims lover like me, then make sure you check out ‘TheSimSupply’. In truth, it doesn’t really matter what type of games you’re into, you’re bound to find an entertaining YouTuber featuring it! 

million subscribers, while Phil has just shy or two and a half million.

They have a gaming channel together too, DanAndPhilGames, where they play everything from The Sims to Minecraft, to Five Nights at Freddie’s. Also they have a monthly radio show & work with the BBC interviewing for award shows & festivals as well as having a cameo role in the UK version of Big Hero 6. p

5 Jacksepticeye Seán William McLoughlin is a 25-year-old Irish YouTuber who does gaming videos and occasionally Vlogs. He has been described as the “most energetic video game commentator on YouTube”. Based in Athlone, Seán is Ireland’s biggest YouTuber with about three and a half million subscribers.

Another Irish Youtuber on the rise is BriBry. He does music covers as well as videos of his own bucket list. He’s one of the few big YouTubers to talk about things like self-harm, depression and other mental health issues. 

CRUSH 87 - THE BEST SOUND AROUND

BY RYAN O’ROURKE LIMERICK has always had a good nightclub scene, with top DJs such as Calvin Harris and Deadmau5 playing Trinity Rooms in the past.

These acts are now amongst some of the top DJs worldwide, with Calvin Harris being the highest paid international DJ worldwide in 2014.

With this rich history, Crush 87, which opened in July 2013, has a lot to prove. So what have they done to keep up the tradition of bringing the best music to Limerick City?

So far this year Crush have had big names such as Klingande, Wanklemut and Tchami.

These DJs are considered to be some of the biggest rising stars in the business, with songs such as ‘My head is a jungle’ (Wanklemut) ‘Jubel’ (Klingande) and ‘Go Deep’ (Tchami).

Are Crush 87 keeping up the level required?

Crush has strong links with the University of

22 I UNIQUE I May 2015

Limerick, so members from the UL DJ society have been given the option to preform there.

Sarah Hayes, a 19-year-old Bachelor of Arts student and a member of the UL DJ society spoke about crush and its importance to Limericks nightlife scene.

“Personally, I think the music is what makes Crush so awesome. DJ are kind of free to play what they like, so for that I think it’s a great nightclub.”

Sarah, who played at Crush for the first time in early March, is a big fan of indie music when it’s remixed in an electro kind of style.

When asked about the big DJs such Tchami and Wanklemut, Sarah described what effect it has in the nightclub.

“I think it’s great, it creates such a buzz and atmosphere I think it brings a super positive light to DJ’ing too. DJ’s like that draw in such a crowd and it’s awesome to see Limerick having a good nightlife.”

Big acts like these seem to be a hit with the population of UL, with tickets selling out completely. This turns Crush’s sold out venue into one of the biggest parties of the year.

These massive numbers (of over 1,000 plus), generate a boost for the nightclub, and this has a knock-on for other business around Limerick, such as taxi companies and fast food outlets.

Cathal Moran, an avid fan of house music, spoke about Crush while in line for the Klingade tickets.

“It’s great, it’s got the best DJs and the best atmosphere around town. Best club in the city, couldn’t go anywhere else at this stage.

“I’ve been to all the big DJs they’ve brought in this year. I’m a huge fan of that sort of music. It’s amazing and for €5 in, you can’t lose, can you?”

When asked about his favorite act so far, he talked about Tchami.

“Tchami, ya 100 percent. I love his style of house. He was so good. He’s going to be huge, I promise.”

With Crush’s final big act been Don Diablo, in April, people are curious as to who Crush will be bringing in for the 2015/16 college year.

When asked about who they’d like to see play there next year each had different choices.

Cathal; Kygo, Blasterjacks, Oliver Heldens, Kant and MK Route 94, any of them would be great.

Sarah; for me, Zedd or Laidback Luke, there who I’d like to see.

HEALTH

The University of Limerick is the least expensive counselling service available to students and the demand for its service is growing. Jennifer Purcell investigates.

A meeting amongst the counselling staff at the University of Limerick has found that the demand for services has grown from 500 students to 1,000 students over the last six years.

Last month, figures showed there were 45 students on a waiting list to avail of services provided by the university.

To deal with each case effectively, the 24 I UNIQUE I May 2015

service provides a unique ‘Stepped Care’ programme which prioritises those that are most in need of a qualified counsellor. They also have daily drop-in hours so that students can be seen immediately if needed.

Declan Ahern, Head of Counselling at the University of Limerick, said, “With numbers rising, some students on the waiting list won’t even be seen by the end of semester.

“Last week we had ten cancellations last minute, you can imagine how frustrating this is as we are left with an hour waiting around that could have been filled by someone in need,” he said.

“With such numbers coming in each week, we do need to prioritise certain cases.

“After a risk assessment we can make the decision on the level of help that is required to treat someone.

“If they’re simply feeling down or feel-

ing ‘blue’ we try to send them to positive mental health classes that we run each week.

“If they’re a severe case, we may refer them to a psychiatrist or Pieta House,” he said.

The University of Limerick is the least expensive counselling service available to students, with cases being referred to them by the HSE from those who aren’t even students.

Ahern said they are in need of more help, “We have cases coming in from the public, who are being referred by the HSE, but we do not provide psychi-

“It was all swept under the carpet and that’s why it is the problem that it is”

“One criteria students are assessed by is how likely they are to drop out of college.”

atric services: this is not our job.”

With increasing numbers in those seeking help, it shows the stigma surrounding mental health is finally being lifted, which makes students more willing to come forward to talk.

Tony Sheridan, Mental Health campaigner at UL and chairperson of ‘Darkness into Light’ says, “This time ten years ago, people wouldn’t talk about it.

“People would not mention suicide and mental health in conversation. It was all swept under the carpet and that’s why it is the problem that it is.

“There was a massive taboo around mental health, it wasn’t okay to let people know that you were suffering with mental health issues,” he added.

One criteria students are assessed by is how likely they are to drop out of college.

“The college’s main focus is the community. We have to keep the numbers up in study and in education,” said Ahern.

“They see us helping students to stay in education and as long as those seats in a lecture theatre are filled, they’re happy,” he concluded.

There are a number of reasons why the demand for services is rising dramatically. As people are more inclined to speak out about their problems, we see the social factors that contribute to mental health issues.

Family issues and dysfunctional families, social structure, race, sexuality and stress are all contributing factors to mental health problems.

If a student is battling with their fears and struggling to find themselves and fit in, they’re still encouraged to speak to someone who can help.

Shane McCormack, Welfare Officer at UL says he does everything he can to help students.

“If students were to come to me and were in need of counselling services and unable to see a counsellor in a timely manner I would refer them to other local support services and do my

best to ensure that they get support that they need.

“As a Welfare Officer I would always be there as a listening ear to students and also ensure that they are referred on to the correct services depending on the situation,” he added.

Declan Ahern insists they’re doing the best they can to provide adequate services, but ideally hopes for more funding.

“The difficulty is getting funding to provide extra sessions, it is a problem to be addressed by the HSE and the HEA,” he said.

Shane McCormack added that the rising demand could make it even more difficult to provide the ‘perfect’ service.

“Student support services such as this could always use more funding, but given the numbers of students seen by the counselling service, how much funding would be required to expand the service to the point where it would seem ‘perfect’ in the eyes of the student?”

Useful Information UL Counselling drop in Counselling Phone: service11am to 12pm 061 202327 and 3pm to 4pm Monday to Friday Pieta House Limerick 061 - 484444 They’re located at CM073 Samaritans Limerick Head of Counselling: 061 - 412111 Declan Aherne Samaritans Hotline E: Declan.Aherne@ul.ie 116 123 May 2015 I UNIQUE I 25

CHEW ON THIS More than half of students eat fast food once a week

By Sally Gorman EIGHT per cent of college students never make their own dinner, this is according to a survey carried out on third level students across Ireland last month.

The survey shows that almost 80 per cent of students surveyed opt to eat on campus most days instead of cooking their own meals.

The students surveyed admitted that it may not be cheaper to eat on campus, but it is more convenient and less time consuming.

“By eating in college I save a lot of time and more time means

26 I UNIQUE I May 2015

more study. If I don’t have to stress about coming home to prepare dinner in the evenings then I can be more focused on my college work,” one student said.

The few who do opt to cook at home admit to eating a lot of convenience foods like pizza and noodles.

The survey also revealed that over half of students consume fast food at least once a week.

Student Union Welfare Officer Shane McCormack feels that despite UL’s ‘healthy’ reputation more could be done to encourage students to eat healthier.

“UL and ULSU can always do more to promote healthy eating

UL and ULSU can do more to promote healthy eating

on campus.

“As a university which would be considered active and healthy as a whole, the issues may not be as prevalent as seen in other campuses.”

Sometimes students find it difficult to make the right choice and more often than not what you think may be a healthy option isn’t.

“There are many outlets on campus that serve food - and it’s often difficult for students to distinguish between what’s healthy and what isn’t.

“It does depend on where you go and what actually appeals to you - for some it’s the price, others it’s taste, and for some it

all comes down to their lifestyle, McCormack said.

Eating on campus isn’t always the best idea either he says.

“I spent €4 every day on a prepared sandwich which wasn’t very filling. I spent €20 that week on sandwiches alone. How much would it cost me at home if I broke it all down? 30c every day. That’s the difference and that’s what I had to do and see for myself to understand what a simple change could mean for me.”

He encourages all students to “find the motivation to make the change, know why you’re making the change, see the difference, stick to it.”

‘’

All it takes is one person in the house to suggest a takeaway for others to chip in to the unhealthy lifestyle

Shane was a student himself once and does realise the difficulties college goers face, especially when it comes to takeaways.

“Takeaways are a large part of student life, after a night out, or even a quiet night in - all it takes is one person in the house to suggest a takeaway for others to chip in to the unhealthy lifestyle. It’s unfortunate,” McCormack said.”

Second year Food Science and Health student Sorcha Mullins explains that there are simple ways for students to be healthier during the week.

“Use less oil when frying, eat more lean meat such as chicken rather than red meat, try to put as much veg into your meal as possible and steer clear of most processed foods such as pizzas and potato wedges,” she said.

“I know that these habits are very hard to break when you’re on a busy schedule, but a slight bit of meal prep earlier on in the day may make healthy meals less time-consuming,” Mullins explained.

She is aware that we don’t always have the time to prepare meals, but claims that “the food served from the restaurants on campus are always fresh and sourced from local, easily-traced suppliers.”

She also advised students that “takeaways should be eaten in great moderation, once a week at the most. It is also better to order from a takeaway restaurant that serves without MSG and artificial colours.”

The best way to avoid snacking during the day is to “make sure and set aside about 40 minutes during the day to prepare meals.”

Shopping List Here are eight essential foods that should be included in your shopping trolley every week. Take note.

1. Eggs Eggs are a must. Cheap to buy and full of protein. Eggs are so quick and easy to cook you don’t have to be any way skilled to make them. There are so many ways to eat them; why not try fried, boiled, poached or scrambled. For the Jamie Oliver’s amongst you give French toast a go.

2. Chicken fillets The basic ingredient for any good dinner. Whether it’s chicken curry, sweet and sour or fajitas, (if you’re feeling adventurous) chicken fillets are a good place to start.

3. Bacon It cooks in minutes and inexpensive, what more could you want? Try smoky bacon for that extra kick of flavour.

Rashers are perfect on a grilled cheese sandwich or in an omelette alongside some onion and cherry tomato.

4. Breakfast cereal Cereal, something a lot of us can’t live without. Cereal tastes good with hot or cold milk, it’s filling and has little or no preparation time. Cereal is perfect for those mornings when you hit the snooze alarm once too many. If prefer breakfast for dinner then cereal is essential.

5. Sweet Potatoes Or just one sweet potato rather, they are quite big you know? You could get two dinners out of just one sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are best eaten in chip form, yes sweet potato chips are many people’s newest favourite food and so easy to make. They are even tastier dipped in some sweet chilli sauce. Don’t knock them until you try them.

6. Mince Like chicken fillets, mincemeat is the key ingredient of most of your meals.

There are endless possibilities with a pound of mince and each one is equally delicious. From spag bol to cottage pie mince is a ‘reliable’ food to have in your fridge.

It’s best when purchased from your local butcher.

7. Yoghurts The ideal snack. Yoghurts are light and refreshing, the perfect snack to keep you going between meals.

Full of calcium, yoghurts are a healthier option than snacking on sweet things during the day.

8. Pasta Can be eaten as part or lasagne or spaghetti Bolognese or even on its own with a nice stir in pasta sauce. You can never have too much pasta. It never goes out of date and couldn’t be simpler to cook. It’s a win win.

April 2015 I UNIQUE I 27

Dress To Impress Does university life put unnecessary pressure on students to conform to a certain dress code or body type?

Ciara Phelan investigates.

FORTY FIVE percent of students attending universities across Ireland feel that they need to dress a certain way in college. These results come after 100 college students answered a UNIQUE survey about university life having an effect on their body image and what they wear to college.

One UCD female student said, “I wore a tracksuit to college last week for the second time this year. I couldn’t wait to get home and change. Even though my body was comfortable, which was perfect as I had threehour labs that day, I felt extremely uncomfortable around my peers. Everyone dresses well all the time, with perfect hair and make up, and they carry their copies and books in Michael Kors bags. It’s very intimidating, and I feel under massive pressure to buy more expensive clothes. In my home town, I’m proud to tell people that I found a pair of boots in Penneys for half price. In Dublin, I’d be ashamed to admit that.”

The survey focuses on student’s opinion towards their own body image while in college, but also the differences between universities around the country. The universities survey were the University of Limerick, UCD, DCU, Maynooth, Trinity, University College Cork (UCC) and NUI Galway.

Students studying abroad also commented on the matter.

The majority of students agreed that Dublin is the fashion capital of Ireland so therefore students attending UCD, Trinity and DCU may feel the need to ‘dress up’ while in college in comparison to the likes of the laidback atmosphere in UL, NUIG and UCC.

I feel under massive pressure to buy more expensive clothes

David, who attends Trinity, said, “Yeah I suppose Dublin colleges have that name behind them to be really stylish. People say you wouldn’t be caught wearing a tracksuit in the likes of Trinity so UCD would follow suit, whereas the likes of UL and colleges out of Dublin seem more relaxed for some reason.”

The results from the survey showed that 80 per cent of UCD students felt there is massive pressure to wear branded clothing such

‘’

45 per cent of students attending universities across Ireland feel pressure to dress a certain way in college. as Hollister and Abercrombie, but Welfare Officer for UCD Maeve DeSay disagrees, “Overall UCD students wear whatever they like to wear – some wear tracksuits, others don’t, it’s a matter of choice.”

The Welfare Officer suggested that certain students might feel the pressure depending on what faculty they are studying in: “Particular faculties like the Quinn School might feel the need to dress up more, there is a lot of branded clothing around that area.”

After being informed about the findings of the survey, Maeve an Arts student from Lucan reiterated, “There is only pressure to dress a certain way if you’re studying in the Quinn School.”

One DCU student also disagreed with the idea of having to ‘dress up’ in DCU, “DCU is a complete mixed bunch of students from all different walks of life, everyone and anyone is there. Colleges like Trinity/UCD have a name for students who have to have

designer clothes and wouldn’t be caught dead without their Hollister or Abercrombie gear, there’s no denying it.”

As both UL and UCD are sports driven universities UNIQUE asked students if they would feel it was unacceptable to wear a tracksuit to college. It is argued that wearing a tracksuit to certain universities is deemed ‘unacceptable’ and students often comment that those who wear tracksuits in college would be looked down on or judged.

Keeping in mind that both universities have sport courses.

A female student in the University of Limerick said, “Having discussed this with a friend who attends UCD, I believe it is much more acceptable in UL than UCD. Having said that, I know of many girls who wouldn’t be seen dead going to college in a tracksuit in UL.” Sean who is in his final year of Sport and Exercise Management in UCD agreed, “Even though UCD is sports driven I wouldn’t wear a tracksuit around college because people do judge. It’s seen as lazy. Some lads dress up even wearing shirts to lectures. I was in UL before and it was so laid back, I even noticed the difference in girls. They weren’t plastered in makeup and wearing high heels around the place.”

Opinion seemed to be divided on this.

“As a UL student, (female) I personally would never wear a tracksuit to college - going to the library is like a fashion show and I would never go in looking ‘rough’ as I would feel I was being judged by other females.

“Yeah, most lads in UL wear tracksuits, friends in UCC have also said they wouldn’t dream of wearing a tracksuit in to college either.”

A male UCD student said, “I don’t see the difference in wearing a tracksuit to UCD or UL, but I do think UCD has a wider range of subjects which might not have a background involving sports and a tracksuit might not appeal to them students.”

‘’

“Going to the library is like a fashion show”

61 per cent of students stated their attire for college was casual but smart while 30 per cent of females admitted to wearing make-up to the gym.

Finally, UNIQUE asked those who completed the survey to select a university which they thought might put pressure on students to dress a certain way.

See results below left.

Survey in numbers 53 said UCD 2 said NUIG 10 said UCC 13 said UL 16 said DCU 6 said Trinity * 100 students surveyed

May 2015 I UNIQUE I 29

Think of Ink? Will a tattoo effect you later in life? Michelle Hogan spoke with Tony Sheridan a PhD student in UL who has four tattoos and says, “it is your body, your choice.”

Would you consider getting a tattoo as a student? Do you think people would judge you or do you think it would affect your professional opportunities later in life? Many of us are in university in order to progress to a job in the professional world so why would we interfere with our chances?

Tony Sheridan is a PhD student in the University of Limerick, and currently the chairperson of the Limerick City Darkness into Light Walk Committee. A wellknown mental health campaigner, event MC, public speaker and someone who has held a number of professional roles in UL from education tutor, manager of the First Seven Weeks HUB and Access Office Co-ordinator to

name a few. Unique spoke to him about his perspective of students getting tattoos.

Do you have any tattoos yourself?

Yes, I have four tattoos. One on each of my wrists and two on my back. On my left and right wrists I have the words ‘love’ and ‘life’ respectively and on my back I have an Oscar Wilde quote “Behind every exquisite thing that existed there was something tragic” and his signature on the upper left and a sketch of a Dragonfly on the upper right.

Are they just decorative or is there a deeper meaning?

Well, I suppose all tattoos are aesthetic art added to your body,

so they are decorative, but yes mine have symbolic meaning to me also. I have often spoken about the significance of them, in fact the first post on my blog ‘Becoming a dragonfly’ dealt with the tattoos on my back, I talk about them when I give my mental health seminars in secondary schools and I spoke about the ones on my wrist on RTÉ Documentary ‘Reality Bites: The Gym’. While mine are personal to me and symbolic I have nothing against tattoos that people get just purely because they think they look cool though. It’s your body, your choice.

When did you decide to get them, were you a student?

Technically I am still a student, probably one of UL’s longest running students, ten years here now, PhD students are students too you know, if you prick us we still bleed. I wasn’t an undergraduate student, however, when I got them, I was 24 years old, I was working in UL at the time.

I decided to get them probably years before that but it took me ages to be 100 per cent certain where I wanted them, the design, the size, etc. I intend on having them on my body for the rest of my life so it wasn’t something I rushed into.

Did it ever cross your mind that getting a tattoo as a student might affect you later in life is that why you waited until you had a secure job?

I don’t have a secure job currently, all of my work is temporary until I finish my doctorate, but

Tony Sheridan UL student as an undergraduate student I never wanted a tattoo, it just wasn’t something that ever interested me. I certainly didn’t stop myself as a student from getting one in case it would hurt my chances in an interview though.

Then when I started as a PhD student in the Education Department my superior at that time in one of the first conversations I had with him told me about the tattoos he had so I don’t think it crossed my mind before getting my ones that it could affect my career.

Did you decide on the places for your tattoo for the purpose of getting a job in future?

As a guy, any job interview I go into I will have a full suit on so the only places that will be visible would be my face, my neck or my hands. Like my wrist tattoos are fully covered when I wear a shirt and unless I take my top off in public (which hasn’t happened yet) no one will see my back tattoos. I’ve never wanted a tattoo in these more visible places, but if I did want

one I do think I would consider it carefully against potential prejudices of employers.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were discriminated against in a professional environment for having tattoos?

No, my wrist tattoos have been noticed by many academics, at lunch, at conferences, etc when I might have my sleeves rolled up or wear a short sleeved shirt of t-shirt for example but I’ve never had a negative reaction. Some people pass no remarks, some ask about them, generally they will tell you about their own tattoo or tattoos, or about one they want to get.

What advice would you give a student who is planning on getting a tattoo?

I could go on for days with advice but I’ll try keep this short. Do not do it on a whim spontaneously, do not get matching tattoos with anyone who isn’t a direct family member. I know that friend that you have lived with for almost a year now seems like family, but trust me, after college people drift apart and you will forever have this matching thing on your body to some person somewhere across the world you don’t even talk to anymore. If you have decided on an image, put it as the screensaver of your phone and/or print out a pic of it in your room.

If you are sick of looking at this on your phone or wall after 1 month, do not get it tattooed on your body for the rest of your life.

Are there certain professions where it is acceptable to have tattoos? If so, explain.

Certainly some professions are more liberal than others, times are changing too. In a barbershop, hairdressers, fashion outlet, it is common to see full sleeves, neck or hand tattoos nowadays, but perhaps 10 or 20 years ago you wouldn’t of had a chance getting the job with the tattoos. I think some employers are more fussy, perhaps banks, certain retailers and cabin crew roles. Personally I think it shouldn’t matter but the reality is that it still does.

What advice would you give a student who really wants a tattoo but has been told that it will make it harder for them to get a job in future?

Get it somewhere discrete on your body, best option is your ass. If you really want it and don’t want anyone who may potentially employ you to see it that’s the best place. If it is the type of job that they need to see your ass before hiring you then I doubt they will care if there is a tattoo on it.

Have you ever regretted getting your tattoos?

No, not for a second, and I don’t believe I ever will. I know some old people covered in tattoos with no regrets either. I plan on getting lots more throughout my life but they will unique, symbolic to me and will be thought about for a long time before they get inked on me for life.

April 2015 I UNIQUE I 31 May 2015 I UNIQUE I 31

COLLEGE

To Bike or Not to Bike Studies suggest that cycling just 32km a week can help prevent heart disease. Lina Ryan reports.

Bikes and cycling are back in fashion. In the age of conservation and environmental protection cycling is the way to go.

Experts tell us it is healthier. In every town and city in Ireland people are out and about on their bikes. As a leader in innovation the University of Limerick has embarked on the smart travel initiative.

The smart travel initiative at the university has seen a proportion of the car parking bays re-designated cycle bays, both covered and uncovered. UL now boasts five covered bike parking bays.

Fortnightly, a bike clinic is held to help students and staff with maintenance, health and safety issues and any other bike/cycling related matters. In addition to these new cycle bays, UL has provided new shower facilities on campus to encourage staff and students to engage with the

new smarter travel initiative and cycle to college. To further encourage continued bike use in the college the courtyard will shortly have a permanent bike shop.

Despite this level of committment from the institution itself, there has been a low uptake from students.

Unique spoke with students on campus to get some views on the issue.

The Bike initiative introduced by the Government in 2009 makes it far more attractive for people in employment to take up cycling to work.

Not all people coming to UL are totally enamoured with the new cycling regime, however, and Rosaria a mature student who travels daily from Cloughjordan said, “parking is chronic and paid parking is too expensive, €2 is more than adequate.

“The new bike hub at the back of the foundation building has taken away valuable car parking spaces,” she says.

She pointed to the longer queues and waiting times to get parking on campus.

“I have never seen the new hub full and in fact most of the others, particularly the bike hub at the back of the stables, have had less bikes this year than any other since I have been here.”

When asked about car pooling she said, “It’s not possible, I don’t have same timetable and also I need to be able to collect my young son which makes carpooling impossible for me and I would imagine many others.

“My husband was here in 2003,” she said, “and I’m here since 2010 and in all that time there has never not been a crane on site, always building going on.

Why have they not built a proper

multi-storey car park? There is plenty of room to go up.”

Studies have shown that cycling has major health benefits. In a study conducted by the British Medical Association on 10,000 civil servants, results showed of those that cycled just 20 miles a week, half were less likely to develop coronary heart disease compared to those who did not cycle.

The Smart Travel Initiative has not just benefited the staff and students of UL it has also had a wider impact. The cycle paths around the college and the link to the centre of the city have encouraged families to ‘get on their bikes’.

Michelle a local resident out cycling with her two young sons Conor (6) and Donnacha (4) said the paths were “great not only for the college but for Castletroy as well. We can go out cycling

College Population Staff Students

1300 13942

Parking Spaces Breakdown 66 are designated visitor parking spaces and 864 are for University staff only. Detailed breakdown of spaces is provided below.

Car parks are regularly full to bursting point 32 I UNIQUE I May 2015

Staff 864 Spaces open to all 1051 Pay spaces 564 Visitor spaces 66 Student residences 490

The bicycle sheds are regularly less than half full

on cycling paths, it is safe. The boys get to enjoy their bikes with their mam and dad and best of all it is stress free for me.”

Will UL be the first car free campus in Ireland? Time will tell. The rewards of this initiative have yet to be reaped and opinion is very much divided on the subject. Anecdotal evidence suggests that change is slow and will remain so in the near future.

The University of Limerick’s Smarter Travel Scheme was chosen from over one hundred nominees to win the Further Education category at the Road Safety Authority’s recent ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards. The prize was awarded in recognition of work carried out to promote road safety to the UL campus community The central aim of the UL Smarter Travel Scheme is the promotion of sustainable travel behaviour among its 15,000 UL staff and students to encourage walking, cycling, talking the bus and car sharing over single occupancy car use. This was just one of a number of measures the UL Smarter Travel co-ordinators have implemented to promote walking and cycling as sustainable forms of commuting. Thousands of high-visibility items have been given to staff and students over the last year.

For more safety tips visit www.rsa.ie

May 2015 I UNIQUE I 33

SWAN in full flight

Athena SWAN was launched with a promise to tackle inequality in UL. Áine Freeman reports on the new initiative.

The University of Limerick put special emphasises on International Women’s day with the official launch of Athena Swan.

Athena Swan, originally a UK initiative, strives for equal representation of women in the areas of science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM).

The organisation was officially launched in UL earlier this year following months of work from all 12 of its committee members.

The conference which was entitled ‘Embracing the past, informing the future in STEMM’ saw many familiar faces in attendance such as former British MP Edwina Currie and

James Connor, Athena SWAN’s youngest committee member

University of Limerick President Don Barry.

The committee are planning on looking at the employment data in the university as well as working on making resources available for women who return to work following a maternity leave.

“We meet as a committee at least once a month and we’re now all on sub-committees in preparation for putting our plans into action with the ultimate aim, of course, being to get equal rights and opportunities between the genders working in the STEMM sector of this university,” said James Connor who, at 19, is the youngest Athena SWAN committee member as well as a second year physiotherapy student.

The University of Limerick has also now officially launched their bid for a bronze Athena SWAN award.

“While it would be nice to get the award, it’s not our sole focus. What matters most is the work we’re doing and

whether or not we can make a difference in the University of Limerick and, indeed the country as a whole,” he said.

During 2015, the UK based Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) announced that they would, for the first time make access to their award system possible outside of the UK by allowing Irish higher edcation institutions to sign up to the Athena SWAN Charter for women in science from Autumn 2014.

The EU Commission are considering adopting Athena SWAN as the EU standard.

Speaking at the conference, UL President, Professor Don Barry said, “A university is about more than just buildings and facilities. It is the people who give universities life they create a sense of energy and they provide the power to achieve great things. As you will be aware, in UL we are committed to ensuring that all academic staff and support staff are enabled to achieve their full potential through valuing diversity and equality of opportunity. The

“What matters most is the work we’re doing and whether or not we can make a difference in UL”

RTÉ’S Claire Byrne, UL President Don Barry and Former British MP Edwina Currie at the university on launch day.

Pic: Sean Curtin

Athena SWAN process will provide the institution with a framework through which gender equality can be measured and improved upon across the institution and within STEMM departments in particular.”

According to figures released by the HEA recently, the University of Limerick continues to have the highest percentage of women at professorial level in the country, 31 per cent or almost one third of professors at UL are female. This compares to a national average of only 19 per cent.

Of these figures James Connor said, “We want to see why UL is so above the national average and how this large gap in percentages has come about.”

However, Athena SWAN has come across some criticism as there are those who feel the

organisation is promoting gender bias.

“We don’t want a 50/50 gender balance, it’s not necessary be-

cause of course, it’s possible that one sex could be more suited to the position than the other.

“There is definitely a stigma

about feminism but Athena Swan is about equal rights for both sexes,” said Mr Connor.

May 2015 I UNIQUE I 35

Me? I don’t do craic The life lessons of an American girl in Ireland: Craic, doors and much more Kelly O’Halloran

There are some lessons you learn the hard way; Like waking up late with a bloody hangover, realising you have no clean clothes and nothing in the fridge except for a case of your roommates’ cheap beer. You swear you’re never drinking again.

My experience as an international student this semester has been a handful of lessons learned each step of the way. There are many cultural differences that are surprising and difficult to adjust to. Some things as simple as figuring out which way the doors work… Why do Irish insist on having handles on “push” doors? The transition to a new place for an extended amount of time is always exciting, fun and nerve racking.

The Irish seem to be accustomed

36 I UNIQUE I May April 2015 2015

to having American students visiting for the semesters, but it never gets old when my Irish roommate repeatedly says “’Mericaaa, bang, bang, bang,” while imitating a cowboy holding a gun. Ireland is stereotypically known for its drinking and party culture. So you are guaranteed a good time. My best memories have been right here on campus in Stables Pub. If you are in any way associated with UL, or even if you just live in the Limerick area, you are very familiar with the infamous International night. Obvious enough, International night is the hunting grounds for Irish “lads” who want to score a “shift” with a wild foreign girl. I have lost count of the amount of times I have heard, “Do you know you’re talking to one of the best hurling players in Ireland right

now?”

Hurling? Where I am from hurling is also known as vomiting, so if you drank too much and are claiming to be the best at throwing up, I am going to walk away.

Any night out is (of course) followed by a night to Icon club in town. I mean if you’re anybody you’re at Icon, right? Ireland’s own impersonation of Las Vegas right in the heart of Limerick City Centre.

The ladies have caked on the make up and are wearing the tightest and least amount of clothing possible, and the guys are being aggressive as ever.

Before you know it, you are being pushed and shoved into an Irish man’s grip and he won’t let you go. We end the night getting ripped off by a taxi driver who recognises your accent and charges you and your fellow

international friends €21 for a ride from Icon back to your accommodation on campus. The next morning my Irish roommates ask me “Did you have any craic last night?” assuming they are referring to crack cocaine, I am shocked and reply nervously “No… I don’t do crack”.

As most Irish don’t realise, the typical day in Ireland for international students is just shy of an adventure. The University of Limerick welcomes hundreds of international students to continue their studies in Ireland every year. So lads, next time you see someone struggling with which way to open the door. Help them out.

We took the time to listen to opinions and stories of the international students this semester.

Here is your chance to hear an international perspective.

‘’ ‘’ ‘

What ‘ye’ think?

If I could leave the Irish with any advice it would be that hot sauce and ranch dressing goes on everything.

Abbey Dickerson

The biggest surprise has probably been that students go out so often on week nights and this is due to the fact that a lot of the students go home on the weekends. At my Univeristy back home, rarely do students go home and the weekends are when everyone goes out at night. I think International Night is great fun and I enjoy that it is on campus because it beats having to pay to go into town.

I also like that it is a bit more casual then going out in the city because I was unprepared for how dressed up all the girls get when going into the city. All of it is very different from the night life where I live and from where I go to school.

Courtney Stuk

I really enjoyed traveling the country and visiting the beautiful sights Ireland has to offer. My most memorable trip was when I went to Dublin for the Ireland v France rugby match Connor O’Flaherty May 2015 I UNIQUE I 37

Let’s go to the movies!

UL has a drama society, literary society, photographic society, and is now proposing a film making society.

Cillian Sherlock has been looking into the plans for UL’s 66th active society.

38 I UNIQUE I May 2015

We all have our favourite films, memories of leaving the cinema with an urge to discuss every minor detail with your friends, or just getting comfy on the sofa with your family for a nice easy-going flick.

Some of us may engage in different ways; watching the summer superhero blockbuster or Christmas-time rom-com, to the pulpy comedy lovers and art-house aristocrats.

But what about the people who make the films?

Michael Boyle is a well-known filmmaking talent in

UL – particularly as the man responsible for ULSU President Tommy Bolger’s (in)famous ‘Wolf of UL’ campaign video.

Michael, along with over 100 other students, is proposing to bring a Filmmaking Society to UL. The proposal first got its legs in September 2014 when Michael started a Facebook group which saw rapid growth and interest.

“When I came to UL in 2013 I wondered to myself why there was no film or filmmaking society,

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION but the thought never even occurred to me that we could just start one up. So then at the start of last semester, someone posted on this years’ freshers Facebook page wondering if there was a filmmaking society, and if not would it be possible to start one up,” Michael said.

“There was a lot of interest in the idea and someone pointed me towards it since they knew about my experience in the area of filmmaking. We put it off for a while, but this semester we had a few meetings about the idea, what we would do as a society and how we’d bring the idea to Paul Lee. We’re quite happy now that the process of starting it up is nearly complete,” he added.

According to the proposal, the society aims “to make a community of people who share the same love for film and want to know more about how they’re made, as well as to work together and learn to make their own.”

The proposal also states that the society will involve learning about storytelling, cinematography, audio, post production, cameras and other technical equipment.

The society wants to divide members up into groups for what we call ‘film challenges’, such as making a short film. The society proposes to have movie discussions also; analysing the films, the effects and the techniques that are being used, the story and so on.

The society’s proposal explains how that means a wide variety of things: script writing, story structure, character development, dialogue, storyboards, shot lists, casting, lighting, soundtrack, editing - video and sound, basic visual and special effects, camera types, camera functionalities, exposure, lenses, and audio recorders.

“Working with the other members has been great. It’s really great to see so many enthusiastic people supporting the idea,” Michael added.

It’s clear that Michael and the other members are really enthusiastic about getting the project going – but have hit some hurdles along the way trying to get meetings organised.

“Well one of the challenges for me personally was finding the time to have meetings and organise the ideas we had since I’ve been very busy this semster with college work, the drama society as well as a few video projects.

Something we had to keep in mind is what equipment we may need and what we can afford, since decent filmmaking equipment does cost quite a bit of money.”

UL Photographic Society have also expressed

‘’

interest in providing equipment to the startup society to help things get running, according to one member.

The group also face the challenge of when exactly to set-up the society as many of the most active members won’t even be around next semester.

The society aims to develop a community of people who share the same love of film and want to work together and learn to make their own.

Colleges all around the country have film societies. NUIG Film Society is a successful group that screen two movies a week, as well as movie making and screenwriting workshops.

It was proposed that the group would have movie screenings, but this may not actually

be in the society’s remit as there are a number of copyright issues with holding screenings.

DCU Media Production Society is a famous society in Ireland and one of the largest societies in DCU. Although they are not limited to film (their scope also includes photography, radio, print and design), it is a large focus of their work – creating several videos a year – including their 24-hour broadcast in connection with DCUtv. The UL group, though, are already communicating like a fully-fledged society – sharing tips and tricks, arranging to meet up to help with each other’s film projects.

They must propose a unified “aim of the society” and pitch it to Clubs & Societies Development Manager Paul Lee who has the ultimate decision on deciding whether or not to give the society the go ahead.

This could be UL’s next big society and it is an exciting prospect that allows for some creative scope - from large projects to quirky little videos.

“I just love the idea of telling a story and having the viewer be immersed, even briefly, in a story that I’ve created, even if it’s something as silly as a homicidal banana,” Michael added.

Paul Lee - ULSU Clubs & Societies Development Manager Paul Lee has been in the Students’ Union since 1998 and his role has changed and developed from the original position as Development Officer.

“Over the years of working with students on administriaive structure, budgets, policies and procedures, health and safety issues, legal concerns and constitutions - it has grown into a very large democratic organisation,” according to Paul.

Paul works alongside Michelle Whyte, the C&S Administrator, in designating where the approximately €340,000 budget goes annually.

“That is less than 50 per cent of what it actually takes to run it. One of the best things is that Clubs and Societies bring in about €300,000 themselves,” said Paul.

Clubs and Societies have grown alongside the services that the C&S have been providing.

“We have on average 70 societies with around

500 people on committees and they’re servicing between 3,500 and 4000 members,” he added.

Students have a lot of power in the running of the Clubs and Societies.

“It is a highly efficient system. We have whats known as Clubs and Societies Counsel.

Students can change and affect anything in the running of Clubs and Societies,” he said.

Paul is highly engaged with the students involved in running all of UL’s societies.

“My favourite part of the job is working with students. It is terrific to deal with them. It is not like a job, they’re volunteers - they’re doing it because they’re passionate about it. You don’t have negativity.

“One of the things for me that captures the essence of Clubs and Societies is our annual Ball. There are 12 areas where you can win an award. It has a great sense of excitement.

We’re dressed to the nines. It’s a little bit like the Oscar’s then,” he said.

Clubs and Socs development is in safe hands.

“The students just ooze positivity,” Paul concluded.

May 2015 I UNIQUE I 39

2015 is the International Year of Light and Light cross-cutting discipline of science in the 21st century. technology as designated by the United Nations. In It has revolutionized medicine, opened up internaproclaiming an International Year focusing on the tional communication via the Internet, and contintopic of light science and its applications, the UN has ues to be central to linking cultural, economic and recognized the importance of raising global awarepolitical aspects of the global society. ness about how light-based technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to The University of Limerick’s Physics Department is global challenges in energy, education, agriculture at the forefront of this light revolution. In 2012 the and health. Light plays a vital role in our daily lives department won a multi million euro grant from the and Europe The United Nations have dubbed 2015 as the International Year is an Union to imdevelop the of Light and Light technology. The UN hopes to focus people’s perworld’s first attention on the topic of light science and its applications.

Light ative nanoscope. plays a vital role in our daily lives. It has revolutionised medicine, It is hoped that that opened up international communication via the internet, the nanoand continues to be central to linking cultural, economic scope will be able to and political aspects of the global society. Mark Quinn reports help in the early detec-

TRIPPING THE LIGHT

FANTASTIC

40 40 II UNIQUE UNIQUE II May April 2015 2015

THE University of Limerick is at the forefront of the light revolution. The Physics Department and the MSSI (Materials and Surface Science Institute) were awarded a grant of more than €5 million to develop an infrared nanoscope. Like a telescope helps astronomers to see further out into the depths of the universe and a microscope helps biologists to delve deeper down into the world of micro organisms, a nanoscope is designed to help scientists to see what is happening on the tiniest of scales.

Once completed the nanoscope will be able to help in the early detection of Alzheimer’s. Three years into the project it is progressing at a pace.

Over 44,000 people are affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in Ireland. Every year there are 7.7 million new cases of dementia worldwide, which means that on average there is a new case of dementia somewhere in the world every four seconds. There is currently no test that can screen for Alzheimer’s at an early stage LANIR is the infra red nanoscope being developed by a consortium of international partners led by the MSSI and the UL Physics Department. The nanoscope uses state of the art techniques to saturate a portion of a sample with light, allowing scientists on the LANIR team to see at a resolution never before thought possible.

“By using infra red light and looking at the spectrum that results and the absorption you can deduce what is in that sample. You can get an idea and a fingerprint of the chemical composition of that sample,” says Dr Susan Daly Postdoctoral researcher in Optical Instrumentation for Label-Free Chemical Imaging (LANIR).

“You are fundamentally limited in your resolution,” she said.

This is the challenge for the LANIR team and for all scientists working in the field of nanoscopy.

Since the project received funding two nanoscopes have been built and plans are underway to construct the third, commercially viable model.

“What has happened is the LANIR 1 system is actually in the physics department now there’s a second one and that’s in the MSSI,” says Dr Daly.

All going well, the LANIR 3 Nanoscope will be the version that will become a common sight in hospital labs all over the world.

For a long time optical microscopes were held back by the presumption that at sizes below half the wavelength of light darkeness would always prevail. Helped by fluorescent molecules the winners of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry ingeniously circumvented this limitation. Their ground-breaking work has brought light to the nano world.

THE team, led by the Romanian born German scientist Doctor Stefan Hell, have also inspired a new generation of scientists including Susan Daly: “Stefan Hell is the reason that I got into optics in the first place.

I think it was ‘94 when he published his first paper on simulated emission depletion microscopy, that’s what won his team the Nobel Prize.”

The MSSI approach to peering into the nano-world builds on Dr Hells award winning research. Dr Tofail Sayid, lead scientist on the LANIR project explains: “Imagine if you are in a dark forest, completely black. If you want to see the trees you cannot. If you take a bunch of fireflies and release them, you can see the trees but the glow from the fireflies obscures what you see. That is the fluorescent technique.

The LANIR project says to the trees: ‘Glow!’”

From his paper in 1994 to the award of the Nobel prize in 2014 the Nobel committee generally wait a couple of decades to make sure the award goes to something that stands the test of time. It is quite possible that UL’s developments in the field of Nanoscopy

could be in the minds of the Nobel committee in the years ahead.

The LANIR nanoscope is just one of the many exciting projects that the Physics Department and the MSSI are undertaking.

The scientists at UL have developed a fabric to combat MRSA in hospitals and are working with industry on ways to roll the technology out.

A revolution in care for Alzheimers patients and the accolades a scientific breakthrough like this deserves may lie in the future for the LANIR team. The most important legacy this project may leave is the inspiration that will be taken by the scientists yet to be who will look at this project and say “my future is in light.”

Above: Third year Applied Physics student Grace Brennan examines the workings of the LANIR II laser; Below: The team at the Material and Surface Science Institute (MSSI) at UL.

Flourishing:

The co-existence of nature and knowledge at UL

MEMBERS of the University of Limerick’s Photographic Society have been busy. This year’s nature competition boasts a first prize of €150. The competition was open to all. The only stipulation being that the picture was taken on the University’s impressive campus.

Louise Clifford, President of the Photographic Society said, “we are fortunate to study in such impressive surroundings, the competition is a brilliant way for photographers to show their talent and also offers people the chance to look at the campus in a way they might not have noticed before - that is the beauty of photography.”

Occupying 133 hectares and straddling, one of the most romanticised rivers in Europe, the university has been designed with a respect for the beauty of its surroundings. For the flora and fauna, the campus represents a haven, a nature reserve in which it can exist away from the concrete and traffic of Limerick City.

It is not just students who can avail of the campus. Joggers, walkers, fisherman and dog walkers all take advantage of the surroundings.

One dog owner, Declan Monaghan from Shannon said, “It’s great here – I often visit friends in Limerick and I take the chance to take my two babies (his dogs Sansa and Arria) for a splash in the river.”

The photographs on these pages have been entered in the photography competition. Hopefully they encourage people to look at the campus with fresh eyes.

COMPILED BY BEN PANTER

PHOTO ESSAY

“Be brave enough to travel the unknown path, and learn what you are capable of” Rachel Wolchin Opposite page: Through the seasons: Behind the PESS by Sundar S (summer) and Rafeala Souza (winter); River Shannon by Thomas Healy; Black bridge from Clare bank by Avril Hegarty.

This page: Roads, left to right: River walk by Eleanor White; River Walk B/W by Daire English; Black Bridge

by Cormac O’Donnell.

Below: Get ready to fly: Main pic by Maeve Curly. Inset Top by John Breen. Middle by Louise Clifford. Bottom

by Kevin Johnson

May 2015 I UNIQUE I 43

TRAVEL

Take me Interrailing

You can explore over 30 European countries for as little as â‚Ź192, as Rebecca Stiffe found out.

44 I UNIQUE I May 2015

INTERRAIL is largely becoming an almost mandatory rite of passage for students of the 21st Century, with organisations such as USIT creating a large forum of information for eager young travellers, dying to swap the piles of text books and assignments for novels and ticket stubs.

InterRail passes are accepted in over 30 European countries and there are 40,000 railway stations among the InterRail network. From the modern cities of Frankfurt and the older ones such as Rome to the beautiful landscapes of Austria and Greece, the

routes are endless and entirely up to the individual to decide upon.

There are numerous types of InterRail passes. The Global pass is by far the most common, allowing the traveller to have access to any of the 30 countries listed on the USIT website.

The other lesser-known alternative is the InterRail One Country pass, allowing the ticketholder to explore any one country.

The prices vary depending on the chosen country and students can take as many trains as they like

YOUR TICKETS TO EUROPES € GLOBAL PASS FLEXI 5/10 Days CONTINUOUS PASS 15/22 Days CONTINUOUS MONTH

per day, for a maximum of eight days. It is, however, important to bear in mind for travelling students that high speed trains and night trains can often require a paid booking.

Trisha Gragera, 21, from Long Beach California, set off on her own InterRail trip in Autumn 2014. Unique spoke with her.

Was it daunting to travel by yourself/would you have preferred to go with people?

“I’d be lying if I said I was 100 percent confident when I first left. I was trying to focus on what I wanted to do with myself and my life. It was really about putting myself out there, and just giving myself some time to be alone and be drawn to the things I liked and enjoyed and that’s something you don’t really get a chance to do when you’re at home surrounded by the same people, and same environment.

Being alone in a foreign place, where no one who really knows you allows you to be the person you’re most comfortable being because they have no pre-conceived notions of what you’re like, what you’ve done, and what you’re supposed to be and that’s liberating. Even still, I never felt like I was traveling alone. You constantly meet people.”

What do you think would be the differences you’d have experienced if you had gone with other people?

“Trying to co-ordinate with them. My plans and itinerary changed more times than I can count during my experience,

‘’

Being alone in a foreign place, where no one really knows you allows you to be the person you’re most comfortable being and it’s much easier to go with the flow and switch it up to whatever feels right, rather than asking someone what they feel like doing that day. Some days I wanted to just sit in a cafe and write, or people watch; other days I would spontaneously decide to take a day trip to a neighbouring city. I can’t imagine having to ask anyone permission to do any of that.”

What tips would you give anyone going interrailing?

“Have a general plan of what you’d like to do and where you’d like to go because it willl give you a good sense of your time management, but don’t adhere to it too much. I had the most incredible times in places and situations that I never expected, or never planned to go.”

What were the difficulties you experienced?

“The language barrier. European’s English is generally pretty good, but it’s always difficult trying to figure out who actually speaks English and is willing to help you. Most travellers in hostels were American, British, or Australians, so i n

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that regard, making friends was easy, but I would have loved to interact with the locals a lot more.”

Was it long enough?

“I went for two months, which depending on who you’re talking to can be considered too long for some and hardly enough time for others.

“By the end of my trip, I was just getting tired of moving around so much, and my head was filled with so many plans and ideas of what I wanted to do and get done when I got home that I was more than ready to go.”

What was your favourite place and least favourite place?

“My three favourites were Berlin, Budapest, and Barcelona. Berlin for its history, Budapest for its nightlife, and Barcelona for its overall beauty and culture.

“My least favourite place was Vienna. I just wasn’t a fan. It was beautiful yes, but in comparison to so many of the other places I went... I just wasn’t wowed by it.”

If you could some up your interrailling experience in three words, what would you choose?

“Just do it.”

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UNIQUE the origin of news, views and other things too

TRAVEL

Get lost in Ireland Red-haired people, rigorous drinking and ridiculously green fields...

Erasmus students Catherine Schlachter and Irache Ros Hueda took a whistle-stop tour of Ireland to see what it held in store.

That is how most people imagine Ireland. But there is so much more to discover. Get lost in Dublin’s vivid party life or hike the Wicklow mountains. The following travel guide is an attempt to give you a short impression of what to see and do in Ireland.

per day. Still there is a nice little Limerick car rental company that doesn’t penalise young drivers too much.

Contact limerickcarrentals.ie for info. Other than that, don’t forget to bring a waterproof jacket and shoes or hiking boots.

Before you start your travels, you should ask yourself how do I want to get around Ireland? If you’re 25 or older it is advisable to rent a car or campervan, as it gives you the freedom to avoid tourist hotspots and the chance to discover so much more.

Even though there are more sunny days than you would expect, the weather can change from sun to snow in minutes. If you feel like going on longer hikes, don’t forget to bring a compass. We found, there are not as many official hiking paths in Ireland as you might find in mainland Europe, so, in our experience, you are free to wander on your own to the treasure at the end of the road.

If you’re younger you should think about travelling by bus, as the car companies will charge €20 to €40 extra

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Get aroun

Galway is the cultural heart of Ireland. With its music, the city centre of Galway is one of the m and discover the variety of shops. On Saturday farmers’ market, which is next to the beautiful Also take a walk along the River Corrib. At the Arch where the river floats into the ocean; this

Discovering the city is exhausting. So take a re Quay Street, which offers a variety of juicy fish

Round trip: North Galway, Connemara and Mayo

The N59 that will take you right across Connemara with its wild beauty and nature.

You will drive along the breathtaking shores of Lough Corrib. Should you decide to head further into the Connemara area you can head towards Roundstone. This tiny harbour village, which is located on a steep street with narrow roads and idyllic fisherman’s houses, is a bastion of true Irish culture and heritage.

Further along the little peninsula you will cross Ballyconneely, another inviting village surrounded by picturesque beaches, like the Coral Strand.

On hitting Clifden you should take a seat in one of the lovely pubs or cafes, before

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continuing along the coastal road through the Connemara National Park. The landscape of the valley is so beautiful that it nearly seems unreal.

It is dominated by the impressive silhouettes of the Twelve Bens, which are surrounded by swamps, rivers and lakes.

At the edge of the Kylemore Lough take your time to visit Kylmore Abbey, with its magnificent gardens.

Continuing on the N59 through Westport you will reach the bridge to Achill Island. While here, a short hike will bring you to a stunning viewpoint where you will have unspoilt views of the shores and hills around you.

nd Galway

s colourful storefronts, traditional pubs and street most charming in Ireland. Stroll along Shop Street ys you have a chance to get fresh, local food at the St Nicholas’ Church. e end of Quay Street, you will find the Spanish was once a bastion to protect the city from attack.

est in McDonagh’s Seafood Restaurant, also on h and chip dishes.

Get around Cork

From the gates of English Market you will find it is very easy to lose track of time in Cork City. While wandering around the Victorian market hall you will be treated to an overwhelming variety of delicious food. St Finbarr’s Cathedral is also well worth a visit. On the way there you will pass the original 17th century Beamish Brewery.

Get around Dublin Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is one of the most beautiful and historical cities of the country that no one should miss. With the River Liffey dividing the city in two sides, the best way to discover the most special corners is by foot.

A cheap way to do that is the free walking tours around the city. You will see the headline sights, but also be advised on curious and historical tips.

Starting from the Spire on O’Connell Street, crossing O’Connell Bridge you ar-

rive at the world famous Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university.

From here you make your way around the charming Temple Bar, the peaceful Dubh Linn Gardens, Dublin Castle and St Patrick’s Cathedral.

And if there is one thing that characterises this country, it is Guinness. So don’t forget to go to Guinness Storehouse to learn how a pint of the black stuff is created, and how to pour yours to absolute perfection.

May 2015 I UNIQUE I 49

A vibrant campus life and a lot of Guinness…

An Erasmus exchange is a challenge, but it is also a once in a lifetime opportunity. You get the chance to mingle with students from all over the world; improve your language skills and travel. The University of Limerick welcomes more than 400 international students every year. Irache Ros Hueda and Catherine Schlachter met with some Erasmus students and got their thoughts and ideas on UL and Irish life in general.

Sabine at The Stables

Sabine (22) from Germany, studying Psychology Sabine chose the University of Limerick as a chance to stay longer in Ireland. Her family is from the country so she wanted to live here for a while. She found that the way of teaching in this university is really different from Belgium, where she is studying.

“This is a big change, because everything is mandatory and you have to write essays everywhere. I feel that when you are at the university it is your own responsibility to go to class.”

She is not used to having tutorials and she is used to having exams just at the end of each semester, but on the other hand, she feels she is actually learning a lot here. Moreover, if there is something she really likes, it is the campus.

“It is a bit far from the city, but it is more like a community, it is cool.”

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Sabine would definitely recommend living on campus, as well as joining clubs and societies as a way of meeting Irish people.

“It is harder to get to know Irish people in class. If your are in Ireland I feel like you should know Irish people and integrate into the culture.”

Speaking about Irish boys, Sabine says, “I don’t know if they are that different, boys will be boys.”

“Irish boys can wear cheap clothes all day, like almost pyjamas.”

Joel (25) from Sweden, studying journalism “This was not my first choice, but I got this and I am happy for that,” said Joel about coming to UL. One of the main differences he found was how students take five modules at the same time. “I do one at a time, so you finish one before you go for the next one. UL is more like high school for me.”

And about modules, a tip from Joel, “For my first semester, it took a long time until my schedule was fixed, because the system is different from what I am used to. A tip would be not to be overly stressed about that, because everything works out in the end.

“They must be so cold, because they don’t really dress warm when it is freezing, which is pretty weird.

Joel with Brown Thomas

Joel has also noticed a difference between Swedish and Irish girls.

“I am not criticising people for how they dress, but they must be so cold, because they don’t really dress warm when it is freezing, which is pretty weird..

Elise (21) from France, studying engineering Elise wanted to go to an English speaking country, so she opted to come to Ireland to discover the country. She is studying engineering and if she could change something in the teaching method it would be the lab time.

“In France, we have a lab for four hours and we can do a lot. Here it is only one or two hours.”

For her, Irish people are wild, in a good way of course. Parties start much earlier and end earlier. In France, she would never think about going home at 2am, instead it would be closer to 7am. Elise is living with some Irish girls in the same apartment, and the main difference

“Irish girls must need to do six-hours of exercise each day because they eat chips and fried chicken. It is not worth it.” between them is food, “It is very funny because we eat healthier and we do sport, but not that much.”

Elise joined the outdoor pursuits club, and has already been involved in some adventures. “It was a hiking trip which was very nice and beautiful, and the party at night was really crazy all night long.” It was one of her best experiences so far.

Thilo in the main building at UL

Elise at the Eden Cafe

Thilo (21) from Germany, studying psychology Thilo really likes the clubs and societies at UL, because they are bigger than at home.

“Around the Students’ Union, all the clubs and societies and how they are organised is new. I would definitely take that back home.”

He found the orientation week really good, because they explained every single thing you need to know and showed Erasmus students around and gave them a map of the campus which helps a lot.

Apart from that, he would also recommend joining as many clubs and societies as possible, “It is really great and they do a lot of fun stuff”.

According to Thilo, “They seem to enjoy the life a lot and do not care too much about what happens next and what the future will be. They live at the time and they are very outgoing, friendly and helpful.”

But Thilo is living with some Irish students and not everything is perfect. “They have to learn how to keep the rooms clean,” he said laughing, “but apart from that, it is not a big deal.” And the most useful item he brought from home - the electricity adapter. “Do not forget it,” he advises.

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Produced by the Second Year Journalism students of JM4004