The Print Volume 1, Issue 7

The Print

The Print MA Y 2010

Volume 1 Issue 7

Face of Maynooth Changing for Ever?

•Pullout Poster •Murder of Crows •Recipes •Clubs and Socs

Primary Teaching Comes to NUI Maynooth What’s happening to the footbridge? and much, much more...

The Print master 1

04/05/2010 12:41:21

The Print

Speakeasy CafĂŠ NUIMSU Bar

The staff and management of the Speakeasy and Bar wish to thank everyone for their custom this year and wish everyone the very best in their up-coming exams

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04/05/2010 12:41:23

The Print

T h e Pr i n t Contents

May 2010

Union Your Union

What we’re doing

Features Features

Useful stuff

Ents Ents

Editorial Letters to Editor President’s Report A Year In Review Student Services

p4 p5 p6 p7 p8

Canteen Correspondent The Jeff Word & Gingers Eye On & The Life of Brian BICS Recipes Story General Whimsy

p9 p11 p12 p13 p14 p15 p19

Reviews

p20

Making the most of your time off

News News

NEWS USI & UNIVERSITY OPINIONS & INTEREST

What’s happening

C&S Clubs/Socs

News from Clubs and Societies

Things to do around campus Editor in Chief: Eoin Byrne Design: Eoin Byrne, Editor: Eoin Byrne

Contributors: Erin Barclay, Dennis Bowes, Keith Broni, Eoin Byrne, Joe Byrne, Susan Caldwell, Maria

Carty-Mole, Breda Crowley, Brian Dillon, James Joseph Emerald, Donal Fallon, Helen Fallon, Lydia Farrell, Jeff Greene, Paddy Irish, Florian Knorn, Bonnie Leavey, John McKenna, Anthe Middleton, Brian Murphy, Jack Napier

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04/05/2010 12:41:44

The Print

So here we are at the end of another year and unlike my predecessors, I won’t be reminiscing about the past year and bragging about all the things I’ve achieved. I’m simply going to ramble on as I usually do and try to hope that something resembling sense makes it’s way onto the page.

As I write, the Beach Party is in full swing outside as 900 of the great minds of the future get hammered and throw up in the sand. Oh, to be young again.

This year, though, I have to be responsible and will be heading off to see a play once his article is done.

That’s one of the strange things about being on campus here. This is the end of my fifth year and I can honestly say that there’s barely a whiff of the Eoin of 2005 left. I’m not entirely sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I’m here now and I’m pretty happy with how things have turned out.

Damn, I’ve gotten nostalgic. Better segway out of that. To the future. Although this is the final issue of the year, I am by no means done and dusted with the job. I’ll be pottering around here until the end of June crossing “t”s and dotting both “i”s and lower case “j”s, I’ll be catching up on a lot of paperwork that’s been piling up for quite some time and I’ll be compiling a file for our incoming Comms & Dev Officer so that he can be as well versed in all things Union as I am.

Which means that on July 1st, I’m going to be out of work and searching for employment just like the majority of the population. It’s going to be a tricky on: who wants to employ someone with an Arts Degree.

It seems Brian Dillon has an opinion about that on page 11.

I, like many men of my age, will be taking the “f**k it” approach to the demands of the future and tonight I’m going to enjoy the many beautiful girls Maynooth has to offer parading around in swimwear and shorts. I, like Jeff Greene (page 10) and the Canteen Correspondent (page 9), am a man of simple pleasures. I like attractive girls and before I wander off to the theatre I’m going to thank the big guy up stairs for being so bountiful with the amount of good looking girls he’s sent to Maynooth.

So, before I start to sound like a creep, I think I’ll draw this editorial, edition and volume of The Print to a close. It’s been a great year, thanks to everyone who contributed and I wish you all the best. Anyone remember The Spoke? Didn’t think so.

Be safe Eoin

L e t t e r s to the E d i t o r Armed and Dangerous Dear Sir, I would like to briefly express my disappointment at the decision by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) to recommend increased numbers of armed Gardaí, and more worryingly that armed Gardaí be allowed wear the uniform while carrying weapons. I believe one of the greatest achievements of this Republic has been to maintain, from its foundation, an unarmed civilian police force, even in the face of the difficulties that have faced this island in the last century. The arming of uniformed Gardaí fuels the culture of fear and I believe we, as a society, should refuse to fear our fellow citizens and refuse to accept the gun as a valid weapon of our “Guardians of the Peace”. If a situation has become so awful that the State must kill a citizen, then this should be done by the Armed Forces, not An Garda Síochána. I accept the danger within which these brave men and women operate, but let us not erode the dignity of that noble uniform by putting a destructive weapon in the hand of what have always been a constructive bastion of the community, let us instead banish the gun from our streets, as we have from our politics.

Yours idealistically, Joe Byrne

Trouble with Taxis Dear Sir, I would like to comment on a situation that has been developing in the Village this year: the phenomenon of metered taxis entering the evening market on Main Street. For years we have been well served by our many local cab companies. I won’t name them here, but they all maintain offices on or near the pubs and offer a safe and reliably priced way home for us students. You can be certain it will only cost you €6 to get anywhere in town. The recession seems to have hit the local business pretty badly and this has been magnified by fleets of taxis prowling the streets every night, accosting students in order to get customers. I have seen a number of unfriendly exchanges between the two types of taxi driver, which have made me less than keen on the new competition.

Last time I got a local cab, I was treated to some wonderful local history and tips as a friendly man drove me and a friend to Celbridge for a reasonable price, in good time and without any grumbling.

I suggest that students continue to fund local enterprise and not allow Maynooth become a ghost-town.

Yours etc, Paddy Irish.

Thanks to everyone who contributed this year.

The Print wouldn’t have been possible without you. Best of luck with your exams, one and all.

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04/05/2010 12:41:49

The Print

Crisis and imagination

Š The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein/DACS 2009.

24-27th August 2010

20

www.easaonline.org/easa2010

SA

Maynooth, Ireland

EA

11th EASA Biennial Conference

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04/05/2010 12:41:55

The Print

PRESIDENT’S REPORT [ ]

Your Students’ Union

from

Brian Murphy

SU President Brian Murphy lets you know what he’s been up to and keeps you up to date with all you should know about student life.

President Brian Murphy Office Hours: 9.30-5.00 Monday-Friday 01-7086436 president@nuimsu.com VP/Education and Welfare Liz Murray Office Hours: 9:30-5.00 Monday-Friday 01-7086808 vicepresident@nuimsu.com VP/Communications and Development Eoin Byrne Office Hours: 9.30-5.00 Monday-Friday 01-7086249

BICS

New Accommodation

The annual BICS awards (Board of Irish College Societies) took place on Wednesday 14th April and we were represented by our Dance Society, Biology Society, Tea Society, Spotlight Society and also Ann-Marie O’Reilly.

Congrats to all of them, but in particular Spotlight Society who scooped up the award for Best National Event for their Fashion Show.

The decision has been finalised that the amount of student accommodation on campus will be increased over the next few years. The plan is that there will be circa 300 new beds added to campus which will be built beside the River Apartments. These new buildings will not infringe on any of the sports pitches.

Social Space I met with the University last week in relation to the use of our social space and it was very productive. Over the next few weeks we will be having a series of meetings to discuss how we can utilise our space, especially in the arts block. We will also be looking at how social space can be created in the new humanities building and the new Library plaza.

communications@nuimsu.com

Entertainment Officer Jeff Greene Office Hours: 12.00-2.00 Monday 01-7083946 ents@nuimsu.com Finance Officer Brian Dillon Office Hours: 3.00-5.00 Monday 01-7083946 finance@nuimsu.com

Respect for those studying for exams

Cultural Affairs & Irish Language Officer Joe Byrne Office Hours: 10:00-12:00 Monday 01-7083946 culture@nuimsu.com

I urge all students to show respect for those studying for exams. We all know there is a lack of study space in the Library and the Reading Room so please don’t take up a study space and then walk away for most of the day while someone else is left with nothing. Please keep the noise down in study areas and indeed the on campus residences. New Accommodation

Exams Best of luck to all students in their exams this Summer. Don’t forget, the first cut of the grass has happened so its time to get the heads down and study. I hope everyone gets the grades they need.

Backup As you all know its essay season again.

How many of us have spent ages doing an essay only to have a powercut or computer crash?! I urge you all to backup your files, whether using something like Google docs or simply a usb, don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure, BACKUP!

Thanks to my Exec I would like to thank my SU executive for all the hard work they got done this year. I would also like to wish next year’s exec the best of luck, I’m sure they will be great.

USI Congress Keep up to date with all that’s happening in your union nuimsu.com

bebo.com/nuimsu

facebook.com/nuimsu

twitter.com/nuimsu

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USI Congress (effectively a USI AGM) took place last month and Maynooth sent delegates and voted on key issues.

We also got a motion passed which is now part of USI policy. Next year with our full voting rights, we will have a big say as to what direction the Union will be run.

Keep up to date with Brian at www.twitter.com/ nuimsupresident

04/05/2010 12:41:58

A Year in Review JULY

• At UOS training and FUSU we met with all the SU’s and discussed our plans as how to tackle the fees campaign.

• Eoin, as editor of our paper made the decision to rebrand it and change the name from “The Spoke” to “The Print”.

• As an exec we decided to have a Raise and Give year this year as opposed to just a week, we chose the “Little Way” cancer support centre as out charity.

AUGUST

• We decided to rebrand the Union with a new logo.

• We set up new Facebook and Twitter accounts.

• Eoin made the decision to divide the first year handbook into three separate publications: a first year handbook, a welfare handbook and a clubs and socs pamphlet.

• Liz and I attended anti fees protests and met with many TD’s on the issue.

SEPTEMBER • We welcomed in our new first years during Orientation week and treated them to great acts like Lisa Lashes.

• We were hugely involved in the consultive process of all the new buildings such as the new library, new humanities building and the new canteen and fought for the student’ needs for these.

• Clubs and societies day was as successful as usual but this year Donal and Lydia organised a talent show in the Union which was a great success.

OCTOBER

• Joe organised an incredible event that was the first of its kind. His ghost tour of campus was incredibly well attended and was one of the highlights of the year. It also raised money for our charity.

• The Common room opened. We fought for the inclusion of TVs and a PA system which we got. Boilers are on the way and I am currently fighting for Microwaves and facilities for commuters.

NOVEMBER

• Sean coordinated the annual St Pats Ball.

• Promoted student life at the open day where Donal and Lydia co-ordinated the Student Life tent outside JH.

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A year in the life of your Students’ Union by Brian Murphy

DECEMBER

• An external institutional review of NUIM took place and we represented the views of students on this. Some of the things we brought up such as the importance of replacing the academic advisor and class sizes were brought up in the final report so the University are now obliged to adhere to this.

• I sat on the student feedback working group where we decided on a new system of module feedback which will be great.

JANUARY

• The welfare handbook was completed to be given out during February.

• I, along with the other University SU Presidents attended an important Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science in Government buildings where the Seven University Presidents accounted for the distribution of the Student Service charge of €1500.

FEBRUARY

• Reorientation week took place and it built on the foundation that was there from last year. We had a second clubs and socs day.

• Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance Week came and went quickly.

• The Elections took place with an incredible turnout of 2,000 voters.

Students voted to rejoin USI with 75% voting yes.

MARCH • The Gathering took place on campus and was revolutionary! Hopefully this will grow and become an even bigger event in future years.

• We attended USI Congress for the first time and we voted on various motions.

• Joe organised Seachtain na Gaeilge which took place at the end of the month agus bhí an-chraic againn.

• The 16th annual Clubs and Societies awards took place • We had lots of raise and give events such as bake sales, iron stomach competitions and people getting dunked. All proceeds went to our chosen charity.

The Print Clubs Officer Donal Spring Office Hours: 2.00-4.00 Tuesday 01-7086436 clubs@nuimsu.com Societies Officer Lydia Farrell Office Hours: 2:00-4:00 Tuesday 01-7083946 societies@nuimsu.com St. Pat’s Representative Sean Dench Office Hours: 1:00-3:00 Thursday 01-7083946 stpatsrep@nuimsu.com

First Year Representative Louise Feahany Office Hours: 11-1 Tuesday 01-7083946 firstyear@nuimsu.com

Post Grad Representative

Donnacha Gayer Office Hours: 1.00-3.00 Wednesday 01-7083946 postgrad@nuimsu.com

To make an appointment with any member of the Executive, get the cheapest photocopying on campus or to pick up your student travel card, call into Mary MacCourt in the Students’ Union front office

APRIL

• Liz’s ongoing inquest into the allocation of ESF funding was finally brought to the top University meetings.

• I met with the University about the use of social space, especially in the arts block. This was a progressive series of meetings and hopefully we will see change during the summer.

• NUIM attended BICS (the national society awards). Spotlight’s fashion show picked up the award for best event.

And we’ll keep working hard for you until our terms end June 30th

04/05/2010 12:42:02

The Print

News from Student Services Time-out Together for Married Couples

on Saturday 15th May ( 10am-4.30pm).

This day will provide the space for married couples to explore their marriage as a sacred journey in a quiet, prayerful and confidential setting. The day will be led by Aidan and Jo O’Keefe and Fr. Myles O’Reilly S.J. manresa.ie/componen t/content/article/105

Daily Mass St. Mary’s

Daily Mass (Mon – Fri) at 12.05 in St. Mary’s Oratory during term-time.

Medical Centre Student Services Centre.

Nurses Pauline & Kathleen & Dr. Helen: 10-1pm & 2-4pm.

A p p o i n t m e n t s , contact Rose, 01-7083878 or call in.

Kildare Volunteer Centre Outreach Office.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering opportunities our office is located in the Students’ Union. Open three days per week: 9a.m.-5.p.m. Closed for lunch. Contact: Doreen 01-7084712/086-8740709 doreen@volunteerkildare.ie or visit our website at www. volunteerkildare.ie

Pioneers for You If interested drop into Chaplaincy office in Arts Building or ring Seán 086 165 1219

AA Meetings Held every Mon. Wed. & Fri in An Tobar, Student Services Building (1 – 2 pm-) Students & Staff Welcome Confidential

Meditation Meditation Group Mondays in Quiet Room 4.00 to 4.30pm.

A page on ‘how to meditate’ is available in the Quiet Room.

The Student Services Building is located behind the John Hume Building and is home to many of the facilities for students on campus

From all of us here at the Students’ Union, we’d like to wish the very best of luck to everyone in their exams and with any outstanding assignments

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04/05/2010 12:42:06

The Print

Canteen Correspondent He’s opinionated, he knows better than you and you’re going to listen to him whether you like it or not: it can only be the Canteen Correspondent I understand that it’s customary at this point in the year to go off the deep end as far as seedy references to girls in short skirts are concerned… and once again you’re not going to be disappointed. I am absolutely bewildered by the fact that evey year around this time some truly phenomenal girls make an appearance on campus: the mythical Exam Girls or Skirtus Shortus Examicus, as I’m lead to believe they’re called in Latin. They lie dormant all year and suddenly emerge from under their cucoon of wolly jumpers, hats, scarves and layers upon layers of thermals to reveal girls who make you regret any number of moderately attractive girls that you’ve brougt home over the last few months. These girls are the reason guys fail exams.

So I was sauntering through campus trying to find a quiet patch of grass to do my sudoku and ponder on some of the tougher clues in my paper’s crosswords when I happened upon a fairly pleasant shaded area that seemed isolated. As I sat myself down, got comfortable, perched my paper on my knee

and poised my pen, ready to jot down a well positioned number 7 in the right box when I hear a cackle. I froze. Students were near.

More importantly, girls were near. Normally in a situation like this, I prepare myself for the worst and assume it’ll be another herd of fashionably windswept girls in leggings.

In this case, though, it was a rather good looking bunch of Skirtus on the prowl for an area like mine to laze in the sun.

These groups are easily startled and can be quite aggressive with a strong pack mentality so I stayed quiet as their vision is based primarily on movement. They settled in, clad in short skirts or shorts and an assortment of tight t-shirts or string tops: truly a sight to behold. Forming a tight circle for protection, they began cackleing and shrieking as one (possibly the alpha female) began to regail the rest with the tales of how often she was hit on the previous night by a various assortment of (well, I’ll tidy up the language a bit) sleazy, unattractive guys.

Her tales of idiotic chat up lines and blatant stupidity as one guy in particular leaned in

to kiss her with a mouthful of chips. I weep for the future, I really do.

Still, one can only hope that evolution will breed these idiots out of existence (like gingers) thus leaving this rare breed of girl to men like myself. Fortune favours the bold and all that nonsense. So rather than engage them, I decided to start my crossword and savour my surroundings.

It’s times like this, in sunny weather, with the Skirtus on the prowl that one thing can be certain: I’m living the dream. Catch you guys in September.

Library Survey From the 26th April the Library is running an online survey seeking your views about the quality of library services and resources.

This is an opportunity for you to tell us what you think and it will inform and assist us in developing our services and resources further. All answers will be treated in strictest confidence.

The survey takes no longer than 10 minutes to complete and all participants have the opportunity to enter a draw for a top prize of a €100 One-for-All voucher and 2 runner up prizes of €50 book vouchers. The survey is available from the Students Union facebook and also from the library website.

Thank you for your feedback.

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04/05/2010 12:42:08

The Print

The Jeff Word

In the final installment of the year, Jeff Greene takes it upon himself to tell it like it is

Gingers:

Not that unnatural?

Good day to you my ladies, my gentlemen and my children of questionable legitimacy. I know you’re out there, and I know what you’re waiting for. Summer.

I see it in the face of every mank wench who thinks a tan will solve her problems, I see it in the eyes of every fatty fat guy waddling towards the gym in an ultimately pointless attempt to rid himself of his grotesque poundage, and I see it here on campus; when all the babes come out.

Summer on campus is a valid argument for not fleeing the country, every gig I have ever been to has seen the lead singer rave about the hotties they have encountered on our fair isle but until summer rolls around, his lies serve only to fuel our frustrated contempt. Why? Why would he lie like that, why would he raise our hopes just so the winter season can dash them so cruelly.

Summer on campus makes me proud.

Proud to attend a college with such an impressive quantity of complete wetsers and proud to be part of the more appreciative gender. In another college, in another country perhaps, the beauty that summer in Maynooth delivers would be wasted never fazing the population that might well be used to the summer goddesses.

Not here though , here we do not take our bitches n’ hoes for granted , we respect them and their effect on our moods and lives . The hot girl, majestic, rare has been proven time and time again to be directly linked to dropping grades in the summer exams due to their socialising in such study hotspots as the library and quiet rooms.

I never thought I would say this , but girls, please dress conservatively for the exams.

Wait, I don’t mean that

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I was surprised and disappointed that no one could muster either the courage or find the supporting evidence to write a ProGinger article in response to our delightfully bitter Canteen Correspondent. So I have decided to take the task on myself. Now I am not a ginger, but I do have three friends who happen to be afflicted with ginger-gene.

Of course poking fun at their ridiculous hair is both expected and let’s face it a hell of a lot of fun, but it is understood that it is mostly in jest. It is also excellent argument-winning fodder, particularly when it comes to my ginger housemate.

There really is no viable comeback to “Yeah well, at least I’m not a ginger.”

Gingers are majorly preposterous and remain largely impossible to understand.

One of my friends, I seriously suspect to be an alien conducting experiments on human beings but man, does he make me laugh. In fairness, 90% of the time it is at his expense, but it still counts.

When it comes down to it, if the rumours are true and gingers really are soulless, my friends do a damn good job of hiding it. These guys have helped me through the toughest times I have ever known. My life is mostly uneventful, so my parents divorce and my mums recent diagnoses of cancer held the potential to destroy me, with the help of all my friends including the ginger ones, I am coping. Their unfailing ability to make me feel better, and more importantly their desire to do it stands as evidence that some gingers at least have the capacity to be decent human beings… sometimes.

But it’s not like that these traumatising events are the only times they show this side of their, for want of a better word, personality. On the days that just go wrong if nothing else, they provide a

distraction with their woes which always, rather sadistically, brings a smile to my face. The countless cuddles, jokes, highfives, all-night movie sessions that I have shared with gingers tells me that they’re not all as bad as our CC makes out.

As someone who has had romantic feelings for a ginger (please reserve your judgement until the end) which is more commonly known as “ginger fever”, I feel obliged to disclose some of the facts. “Ginger Fever” is not like chicken pox or measles, it is more like herpes. The feelings may subside but they never disappear. This is unfortunate insofar as it is almost impossible to stay angry with them and the urge to forgive them is powerful whether you think you should or not. I believe this to be deeply rooted in pity for them. Nevertheless it proves that on some level, to certain impressionable individuals, gingers can be found somewhat attractive. You have been warned.

Now, I am not saying that everyone should go out and bag themselves a ginger friend.

Some of these guys have caused me more anguish, disappointment and blinding frustration than I ever thought I would have to deal with or could ever forgive.

I still recommend that you get all your vaccinations and if possible dipping them in alcohol before any physical contact is attempted. However, the odds of my finding the only three gingers in this world with redeeming features is mind bogglingly slim.

If the rumours are to be believed, these ginger, soulless mongrels will have to sit outside the “Pearly Gates” when Judgement Day comes. As far as I am concerned, I’d rather kick it in the gutter up in the clouds with my ginger friends, than languish behind those pearly bars without them.

Bonnie Leavey

04/05/2010 12:42:10

y

The Print

An Eye On...

Each issue we’ve been casting an eye on a specific club or society on campus.

In this final issue we’ll be covering The Fencing Club

Fencing to some is the skill of erecting barbed wire fences, to others it is the practice, art, and sport of fighting with swords. When I first came across the NUIM Fencing Club, my first ever experience with fencing, I recoiled with excitement for I was going to be allowed to play with swords! Since then, I’ve never looked back.

Fencing is the Olympic sport of sword-fighting that teaches discipline, dexterity and endurance. You must use footwork and handwork to score points on your opponent with the tip of your blade. There are three different weapons used in fencing, the epee, the foil and the sabre. Each follows different match rules and requires different styles and techniques to master. Despite the use of swords, fencing is very safe, just as safe as golf or tennis. We at NUIM Fencing Club cater for everyone, from beginner to veteran, all ages and all fitness levels. The club is made up from students who come from all over the country and further afield. We all love fencing and would be happy to introduce new people to a thoroughly enjoyable sport.

Training takes place on Monday and Wednesday evening after 8pm in the small gym on campus. We provide all the equipment necessary to take part and will help train you to become a good fencer. Fergal Martin, an NUIM

alumnus, is the coach for the club with years of expertise and experience under his blade.

Fencing can be a competitive sport, depending on your preference. Throughout the year there are a lot of competitions open to all skill levels, some aimed purely at novices. NUIM Fencing Club attends practically all competitions within Ireland, including some abroad. This year proved very successful for some of our members, such as Fergal Martin winning Men’s Foil and Lorraine Mc Gill winning Women’s Epee in the West of Ireland competition.

Lorraine was also Athlete of the Year at this year’s Club’s and Soc’s Award.

Fencing isn’t all about the thrill of competitive fencing. There are the wild, fun and exhilarating nights out at home and at competitions throughout the year. This year is will also see the laying down of our blades and picking up of paintball guns for a social outing. We will test the theory are swordsmen good marksmen as well. There is also the prestigious Boat Race at the intervarsities. A drinking competition to end all drinking competitions. Think you could be the next Boat Race winner for NUIM? So if after reading this you’ve developed an urge to wield a blade, then come along to a training evening or email us at fencing@ nuimsu.com. Give it a go and you won’t regret it!

by John McKenna

I’d like to thank all our clubs and socs who got involved in The Print this year. Your contribution has been invaluable.

The Life of Brian We’re coming to the end of the year and as a consequence this is my last piece in this volume of The Print. Maybe ever. Coming to the end of Year 2 of an Arts Degree and I have to ask; what is wrong with an Arts Degree? I was in the toilet of the library the other day and I saw the words “ARtS DegrEe” scribbled on the wall in black permanent marker, with an arrow pointing to the toilet paper dispenser. This enraged me somewhat.

I have but one inquiry to make of the perpetrator of that inane scrawl. What are you doing in college? A science degree?

Let me paint you a picture. A few years down the line you will be rising at 7 in the morning and preparing for your daily commute. At work, you will spend the day making calculations and measuring viscous liquids, perhaps even assessing their valency. You will not know why. Your only respite will be an overpriced pasta salad and an awkward conversation with a work college you used to date, over your lunch hour. That evening you will go home and remonstrate with your fiancée about the mortgage and car loan.

On the same day, I will rise tardily and stroll leisurely to the post office, where I will collect my gyro cheque. I will not get dressed or shave. On the return journey I will purchase a greasy breakfast roll, which I will consume back at my messy, yet comfortable apartment.

I will then lie down on my bed and read some poetry, or perhaps a modernist novel. I will appreciate it. Happy as the proverbial pig in the proverbial shit.

If I had to pick one word to describe the people who anonymously insult Arts Degrees it would be this; bastards. I want to make it clear that I have no problem with science students. If that’s what you’re into then that’s cool with me. I just have a problem with the people who downgrade other people’s interests and careers in order to make themselves feel good. Those bastards. So as this may be my last ever piece for The Print I would just like to say one final thing before I go.

Bastards.

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04/05/2010 12:42:12

The Print

A Spotlight on the National Society Awards in Athlone WINNERS 2010

Nobody can deny that a crucial part of ‘The Maynooth Experience,’ whatever that is, cannot be found in the classroom. For some, it’s the joy of learning. For others, it’s the thrill of victory with a club full of friends. And for many, it’s the enthusiasm and passion that comes with society life.

Every year, the Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) invites the best and most active Societies from all over the country to compete for their national awards. This year, the awards were held at the posh Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone. Fourteen colleges sent representatives to the event, and these representatives sat on both sides of the table, serving as both judges and nominees.

NUIM sends the individuals and societies who won at the Clubs & Socs awards to compete against their counterparts from other colleges, and this year four students were invited to participate as judges. Along with SU representatives Eoin Byrne, Lydia Farrell, and Brian Murphy, I packed my bags and headed to Athlone a few weeks ago.

As someone who was a nominee last year, I was thrilled to be sitting on the other side of the table and judging the nominees. Every college or individual submitted a portfolio of their work and a nomination form that outlined why this individual or society deserved to win. The amount of time that was put into these portfolios and forms was staggering,

and the commitment that every member of every represented society showed for his or her chosen passion was inspiring. All of Maynooth’s nominees showed off their love of their societies and the incredible amount of work they’ve put in this year, and all of the judges were impressed by their dedication. The NUIM Spotlight Society’s Fashion Show, which was such a lively addition to campus life, was awarded Best Event in a Small College. For a small college, we made more than enough noise!

The best part of the BICS Awards is getting to meet people from other colleges who share my love of student societies and activity. The energy at the awards dinner and ball was incredibly high all night, and people mixed and bonded and met people they would otherwise never have known.

Everyone there was friendly, interesting, and fun. Many new friends stayed up until the small hours of the morning drinking and talking with people who had been strangers only hours before, and the connections we made with like-minded people from other colleges will surely benefit Maynooth Society life in the future.

A big congratulations to Spotlight, and to all of NUIM’s nominees!

Erin Barclay

Best Society: TCD DU Players

DKIT Media Soc Best Event: TCD Fringe Festival

NUIM Fashion Show Most Improved: DCU Media

CIT LGBT Best New: UL Anime & Manga

ITTD SVP Best Individual: DIT Steven Pierce

ITTD Pierce

Corcoran Best Civic Contribution:

TCD Big Crimbo Panto

MIC One World Soc Best Poster: DCU Zombie Week Best Website: DCU Media Soc

NUIM Spotlight won the Best Event in a small college at the BICS awards on the 7th of April for the Fashion Show we held in December that raised €1000 for Make a Wish Foundation. Michael Nickolai and I went to the BICS awards to represent Spotlight. It was a packed day, leaving the SU at 10am bound for Athlone. We had an interview at 1pm in which we spent 20 minutes talking about the Fashion Show being asked about everything from budgeting, media crews, promotions etc. Our nerves were shot the whole way through the interview.

Then we had a photo shoot and gave presentations in which we had to describe our event to the other nominees in our catagory. Then we began to get ready for the dinner and the Award Ceremony.

When the judges called out our name I couldn’t believe it, we were in shock.

Michael and I went to collect our trophy and then it was time to party. This was followed by a hungover journey back to Maynooth the next morning. It was an amazing feeling to represent Spotlight and NUIM. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way in the fashion show.

Also well done to everyone who went to BICS, it was a night to remember.

Breda Crowley NUIM Spotlight

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Hungry?

The Print

For decorative nonsense, go buy a Delia Smith book. For recpies that are useful to the students who pay for this magazine, look no further for meals that are cheap, fast, healthy and sexy.

Veggie: Students make up the highest percentage of vegetarians. Only fair.

Fast: These meals are simple and made in no time.

Recipe #1: Garlic Potatoes

Healthy: Grow a little with the following recipies. These meals are junk-free.

Classy accompaniment to your main course for a post-exam dinner party.

Remember, though, if you stink of garlic, no onw ill want to kiss you so make sure everyone has a helpingt

Sexy: Hide your incompetence from your girlfriend that little bit longer with one of these.

You will need: Serves 2: 3 big potatoes

Chop the potatoes into thin roundish slices and then place them into a large microwave friendly bowl. Once you have all the potatoes in the bowl, add some water to 1/3 of the space the potatoes take up in the bowl. Crush up the stock cube and sprinkle it into the bowl. Microwave time! Put the bowl in the microwave at full power for 8-10 minutes, taking them out every 2 minutes to stir the potatoes (so the ones at the top which aren’t in the water don’t dry out!). When you can put a fork through the slices, you know they’re done. Try not to let them get too mushy though!

Put a frying pan on to heat, melt the knob of butter and add the crushed garlic. Now add the contents of the potato bowl, stock water and all. Let it bubble away in the pan, it’ll reduce in 3-5 minutes. Grate the parmesan over the top of it. You can now either leave this for another couple of minutes to melt or you can put it under a hot grill so the cheese goes wonderfully golden. Enjoy!

Recipe #2:

You will need:

Basil Pesto

1 stock cube (vegetable or chicken, your choice) 1 knob of butter 3-4 medium cloves of garlic crushed (or 2 big ones) Parmesan cheese/ or whatever cheese you like

Words by Lydia Farrell & Jack Napier

The perfect condiment to help bring a bit of flavour in a boring pasta dish or can be used on sandwiches as a substitute for mayonaise

1 large garlic clove 1 teaspoon kosher salt Freshly ground back pepper 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano ReggianoParmesan 1/2 cup pine nuts

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1. Put the basil, garlic, salt and 2 or 3 grinds of pepper in a food processor and process until the basil and garlic are finely chopped, about 15 seconds.

2. With the machine runing, pour 1/4 cup of the olive oil down the feed tube in a slow, steady stream.

3. Turn off the processor and add the

Parmigiano. Process until the cheese is incorporated, about 20 seconds.

4. With the machine running, slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup oil. Add the nuts and pulse until they’re coarsely chopped.

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The Print The gripping conclusion to this year’s serialised story

The M u r der o f C r ows

by James Joseph Emerald

“The Murder of Crows” is a serialised story about a murder in the John Hume Building, with a new installment in every issue of The Print. The Print accepts no liability for anyone that mistakes it for a true story and calls the Gardai.

Max looked from Sam to Rufus and back. They both seemed so real. But logically, at least one of the three people standing in that room were dead. Max was beginning to think it might be himself, and that he was stuck in some kind of purgatory. A silence descended.

It was deafening.

“’Mean’?” Rufus said, giving a hollow laugh. “There is no meaning to any of it.”

“This is too surreal,” he said. “I don’t know what to believe in.”

Max shook his head, but said nothing. The silence again was unnatural; all sounds of life were swallowed up.

Max felt callous, cold and contained, crushing inwards.

Exhaustion washed over him, and he wanted nothing more than to let go of it all and sleep. He slumped into one of the pews.

“Believe in this,” Sam said, and then slapped him across the face. But her hand just passed through his cheek, and he felt a blast of icy wind cutting through his brain.

They both recoiled.

“I’m sorry, Sam,” he said, staring at the ground. “I should’ve been there. I should have gotten to the graveyard sooner. I should’ve... I’m sorry.” He glanced up. Sam was gone.

“I don’t understand,” she said, staring at her hand.

“Where’s--”

“You both need to accept that Sam here is dead,” Rufus said, his tone callous.

“Forget about her,” Rufus said. “It’s for her own good. Try to focus your thoughts. Do you remember the story I told you?About EdgarAllen Poe?”

“It’s your fault!” Sam said, turning on Rufus. “I remember that! You did this to me!”

“No,” Rufus said. “I tried to explain it to you, but you didn’t listen.”

“You didn’t mention any of this!”

“Of course I didn’t!” Rufus shouted. The sound echoed off the high walls of the cathedral, surprising Max even more than the gunshot had earlier. “You think I’ve never tried? Six years! Six years I’ve been living like this! A shadow, stepped in death, drenched in dark. No matter how hard I try, everyone I reach out to is swept away, like ash on the wind.”

“So what does that mean for me?” Sam demanded.

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“That made no sense.”

“Think about it anyway. Poe was abducted by hired assassins on September 27th, 1879. He was drugged, poisoned and tortured, and didn’t die until October 7th, ten days later. Do you have any idea how torment like that can affect a man? It twists your soul, fills it with an irresistible drive for vengeance. Poe cannot perceive time, or space; only hatred.”

“You want me to feel sorry for him? You’re the one--” Suddenly, a bell began to toll. Loud and strong and defiant, ringing out from above them.

“The bell tower,” Rufus said, offering Max a hand.

“Come.”

Max followed reluctantly. They went through the double doors, and took a right. Max could feel the bell reverberating in his bones. Inside the tower was a dizzying spiral staircase. Rufus immediately began to ascend it.

“Wait,” Max said, “I kind of have a problem with heights.

Especially when I’m tired.”

“That’s why we’re here, Max,” Rufus said. “Nobody said this would be easy. Are you going to give up and go home now?”

Max thought about it. But whatever was going on, he doubted it could be walked away from. Everything was working towards something, and there was no going back. He just had to hang on.

“Let’s go then,” Max said, tensing his jaw, trying to appear resolute.

The stone steps went on for longer than Max had thought. There were no hand-rails, and the deep-set windows did little to fight the gloomy darkness. Max missed a step near the top, banging his shin hard enough to draw blood. It was strange, because he could feel warm beads sliding down his leg, soaking into his cotton sock, but barely felt the pain.

They reached a stone platform, with a system of pulleys used for ringing the bells. The pulleys hung still, yet the bells above rang out. Max half expected it. The ropes went way up through the wooden ceiling high above.

So did a ladder. Rufus mounted it and began to climb.

The ladder was made of rusted iron, bolted to a wooden frame, and rickety as hell. There were even sections where the bolts had fallen out. Max was starting to

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hyperventilate just imagining going up there. It must have been 60 feet high.

Rufus shook his head. “You can do whatever you like with your new toy. I want to go now.”

“Rufus, I can’t do this.”

Max felt muddled. He looked to Rufus. “Rufus, what’s going on?”

Rufus stopped climbing and looked down. “I’m not here to hold your hand, Max.” “How does any of this have anything to do with me anyway?”

“I’m not sure. But I think you’re important. Things are happening differently this time. I… need your help. Isn’t that what you wanted? To help?”

“Yeah,” Max said. He got onto the ladder. Okay. Focus on one rung at a time. Hands first, then feet, one at a time. The ground is right below me. I’m safe.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, he’d reached the top. It smelled musty, but was slightly brighter than below.

There were tall windows with shutters that let in the light.

A hole was in the centre of the platform, through which the ropes ran, ending at the bells overhead. It took Max a few seconds for his eyes to adjust. Rufus was standing next to a haggard older man with a dark moustache. His hair was disheveled, his clothes were old and worn-out, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in decades.

“This is he,” Rufus said. There was a strange expression on his face.

“W-who? This is Poe?” Max asked, and they turned to him.

The man approached Max with caution. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Dr. Rickard. Who are you?”

“I think you know who I am.”

“Why are you here?”

Poe shrugged. “Because you’re here.” His voice was warm and friendly.

“So what do you say, master?” Rufus said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Max liked it better when the twenty-year-old was sullen and monotonous.

“He’ll do,” Poe said, not taking his eyes from Max.

Poe chuckled to himself. “Rufus brought you here, to pass the torch.”

“What?”

“Hecameheretofindyou.See,hecan’thackitanymore.

The dead girl, this tower, everything that happened was all part of the ruse. A test to see if you have the strength to take his place.”

Max felt weak. “Why me?”

“No.” Max stood as tall as he could.

Poe kept smiling. “Don’t be silly. You don’t have a choice.”

“You put me through all this. You brought me to the edge, and I survived it all. You expect me to stop now?

To what, just bow down to you? Why? What can you do about it? What are you capable of?”

Poe’s smile fell for the first time. “I’ve been in this game a lot longer than you.” The bells grew louder, but they were drowned out by the sound of hot blood pounding through Max’s ears.

“Please, Max. Isn’t it obvious? The visions never made you wonder? Even your job is steeped in death. It’s your calling.”

A few seconds passed, and they stood facing each other. Then, as suddenly as they had begun, the bells stopped. Poe tried to smile again, but it just looked sinister.

“What are you saying?”

“Max, if you join me, you can live forever.”

“You, too, are a descendant of Griswold. Cursed blood flows in your veins, just like Rufus. You’re cousins.

Betrayed by your own kin. How does it feel?”

“Sure, but what kind of a life would it be?”

Max felt gutted. It made sense, he supposed. He’d never much looked into whom his ancestors were.

“Enough of this,” Rufus said, his eyes flashing. “Do whatever it is you need to do, and let me leave.”

“Very well.”

Poe approached Rufus, drawing a knife. Rufus flinched, but Poe simply cut away the bottom half of one of the hanging ropes.

“What--” Rufus started to say, but was stopped short.

Poe had taken the upper half of the rope and wrapped it around Rufus’s neck. Poe was strangling him, tying the rope into a noose at the same time. Rufus tried to fight, but apparently Poe was overpowering. Max jumped to his feet. But it was too late: Poe finished the noose and kicked Rufus off the platform. Max watched his cousin hang to death. Max thought he could see repentance on Rufus’s face, but maybe that was just wishful thinking.

“You killed him.”

“So do it. We have a deal.”

“Punishment, for the boy’s cowardice. I hope it teaches you a lesson.”

“I don’t understand,” Max said.

“Why are you doing this?” Max asked rather meekly.

“How delightfully pathetic,” Poe said, smiling.

Max felt a pang of anger deep beneath the shifting layers of numbness and pain and cold.

“Why? This is exactly why. Whimpering little curs like you need great, powerful men like me. The world needs to be reminded. And who better to do it than the spawn of the friend who betrayed me? Now, come here.”

“I think we owe our guest here an explanation first, Rufus.

I’m sure he’ll see the humour in it.”

Something inside Max clicked. The little ember inside burned up to a roaring inferno. The cold and the numb

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The Print

became heat and electricity.

“I’ll show you,” Poe said, and lunged forward, plunging his hand into Max’s chest. It was like being impaled by an icicle. It doused the flames, spreading through his body. But Max knew there was a thread of light, or a core -- maybe even what you would call a soul - that was untouchable. Something Poe lacked. Max grunted, forcing the man back, pushing with everything he had. And then, it was over. Poe gave way, and Max slammed him into the tall window nearby. The wood shutters cracked, splintered and fell out, and Poe fell with them. Max watched the man plummet about 90 feet, and hit the ground. Within seconds, close to fifty ravens descended on Poe’s body, screeching.

“Guessyoubeathim,”Samsaid,staringoutthewindow.

Max was surprised, but calm.

“Guess I did,” he said, turning to her. “I’m sorry about all this, Sam.” She turned to him, and they gazed into each other’s eyes. “It’s all right, Max.” “You should go,” Max said. “Move on.”

“I will,” Sam replied, smiling, “but first I want to see you go back down the ladder. That’s going to be funny.”

They both looked out the window again. Sam took the unlitcigarettefrombehindherearandletitdriftaway.Poe was gone, the fog had cleared, and silence descended on the murder of crows.

On January 19th, 2010, the Poe Toaster failed to visit Poe’s grave on his birthday (a real-life tradition shrouded in mystery), for the first time in at least 60 years.

The whole world is left to wonder why.

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2009-2010

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W

0

The Print

What did you do?

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04/05/2010 12:42:45

The Print

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The Print

General Whimsy

CROSSWORD

1 Fatigues again at the end of a career (7) 4 and 24 Across: Social gathering by the sea…in the SU (5,5) 7 and 25 Across: We’re all going on one with Cliff after the exams (6,7) 8 Fright about Carbon is rare (6) 10 Get eating in, Robin’s Friar (4) 12 This très session in which to find worries (8) 14 See 4 down 15 No, I die to make an element (6) 18 Musicians? It’s pains messed up. (8) 19 Not that is the one (4) 21 Across and 20 Down: The wrong tulip

confused for Billy Joel (6,4) 22 Place of film made of error, Eastern

mother (6) 24 See 4 Across 25 See 7 Across

SUDOKU

1 Root its disarray of rice on a plate (7) 2 He’s within the ultimate, but Timothy is little (3) 3 Sounds like this marshy grass can understand writing (4) 4 Down and 14 Across: This single man of

creativities is certainly

knowledgeable! (8,2,4) 5 Atmosphere, oh, metal worker…be a rock band! (9) 6 Killer high shoes sound like cures too (5) 9 Single digit devoured (3) 11 Constitution document written about air conditioning creates film story person (9) 13 We climb it to another level; 5 down buy it to heaven (8) 16 Drug? Sounds like it’s from an ex, thanks small ocean (7) 17 This abbreviation is ridiculously excessive (1.1.1.)

18 Stone fruit softly becomes well filled out (5) 20 See 21 across 23 Completion…of the semester, of the exams, and of the crosswords. (3)

Congratulations to Andrew McLoughlin who returned the first completely completed sudoku from our last edition.

As we’ve reached the end of the year, this crossword is just for fun. You can find the answers at the bottom of the clubs and socs section.

Thanks to Maria for her hard work all year putting these crosswords together

Science Ball May 5th

Tickets: €39 incl drinks reception, bus, meal, late bar and DJ

In aid of the Little Way Cancer Support Centre, Clane

There will be a drinks reception in the Students’ Union Centre at 7 pm and buses depart for the Springfield Hotel at 7.45 pm.

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The Print

Book: Bad Science by Ben Goldacre “Read this, it’ll make you even more arrogant,” said my friend Anna.

Bad Science, written by doctor and journalist Ben Goldacre, debunks many of the popular ‘sciencey’ myths perpetuated by the media including homeopathy, unfounded health scares, statistics, and general misunderstanding of science.

There is even an entire chapter dedicated to Gillian McKeith. If she makes your skin crawl now, wait until you read this book.

While many of the science myths discussed seem like common sense (homeopathy), there is also a lot of information I would never even have contemplated before reading this. The chapter dedicated to the placebo effect is quite fascinating and preBad Science I never knew there was a difference between a nutritionist (nonsense) and a dietician (not nonsense).

Some of the stories told are simply shocking.

I couldn’t stop sanctimoniously ranting to everyone I encountered after reading the chapter on Matthias Rath (a chapter that doesn’t feature in earlier editions due to Matthias Rath suing Ben Goldacre). A quick Wiki search reveals enough information to suitably enrage anyone who thinks that

vitamins probably aren’t the best cure for AIDS, but Bad Science will get you properly blustering to your friends and family.

The only negative aspect to the book is best demonstrated by a true story: My wellmeaning aunt offered me a cream for the dry skin on my hands. “It has only natural ingredients and no chemicals.” I did a double-blind test of said hand cream against Neutrogena and concluded that they were equally effective. So, if you read the book you’ll come out more knowledgeable but you’ll probably be that person at a party that no one wants to talk to. As foreseen by Anna.

The light-hearted though scathing style makes the sometimes-complex subject matter easily accessible to everyone. You don’t need to be any kind of scientist to understand it. If you believe that there may be something to homeopathy you should read it so that you’ll realise the error of your ways. If you already think most of this stuff sounds like utter bollocks you should read it so that you can smugly nod your head while having a doctor verify your own opinions.

Review by Anthea Middleton

Essentially, everyone should just read it.

What I plan to do on my summer holidays: The Big

Ironman 2 Release: April 30th

The A-team Release: July 30th

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The Print

Film: KICK ASS By the time you lay your eyes on this review, you’ve probably already seen ‘Kick-Ass’ and therefore probably don’t need to keep on reading. Your time would probably be better spent doing the crossword or uploading all those thousands of photos from the beach party to Facebook. But if you have yet to see it and are thus still reading, then I only have one thing to say to you: GET OFF YOU ASS AND GO SEE ‘KICK-ASS’! Following the misadventures of everyteen Dave Lizewski as he attempts to become a powerless wetsuit-clad superhero (the titular Kick-Ass), the movie is simultaneously one of the most violent, witty and, ultimately, entertaining visual experiences you’ve likely to have for a long time. Brilliant (and occasionally tongue-in-cheek) performances from cast a both burgeoning and well-established stars (including Superbad’s McLovin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and a surprisingly enjoyable Nicholas Cage) propel this comic book rollercoaster ride into achieving instant cult status. One of the most impressive things about the movie, however, is the budget it was

shot on. Director Matthew Vaughn and his production team worked with no more that $28 million (indepedantly financed with the help of Vaughn’s buddy, Brad Pitt), which is by all accounts a very measly sum for a blockbuster (‘Avatar’ cost $237 million), especially for one as visually engrossing as this, with it’s comic book block colours and ridiculous shoot-‘em-up sequences.

Without giving away too much, and being full aware that this review is little more than gushing fanboy mush, trust me; this is one movie you’ve got to catch in the cinema before cashing in one the inevitable multi-disc special edition. So once again, if you’ve haven’t already thrown away this paper and hopped into the nearest available vehicle: GET OFF YOU ASS AND GO SEE ‘KICK-ASS’!

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn Starring: Aaron Johnson

Christopher Mintz-

Plasse

Chloe Moretz

Nicholas Cage

Review by Keith Broni

The Biggest Films For Summer 2010 by Eoin Byrne

Toy Story 3 Release: July 23rd

Robin Hood Release: May 14th 21

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NEWS The Print

NUI Maynooth First University To Offer Full Range Of Teacher Education

NUI Maynooth and Froebel College of Education have announced plans to establish a “Froebel Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education” at the University, with the teacher education college transferring to NUI Maynooth from September 2013. All of the student teachers from Froebel College will move to the University campus in 2013. NUI Maynooth will be the only Irish university offering the full spectrum of teacher education on campus – from primary and secondary, through to adult and community.

Froebel College of Education was established by the Dominican Sisters in 1943 and is currently based at Sion Hill, Blackrock. It is one of the five primary teacher education colleges in the State and is named after Friedrich Froebel, founder of the kindergarten movement who emphasised that children learn by play and activity. The College assigns an important role to creative arts activities in the education of primary school children. Since its establishment it has garnered a reputation for educating primary school teachers of the highest calibre.

From September 2013 NUI Maynooth will award Froebel College’s four-year Bachelor of Education degrees, Higher Diploma in Primary Education, Masters Degree in Special and Inclusive Education and Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Special Education, as well as working to develop new courses. There will be no change to the admission requirements as

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set out in the Froebel College prospectus for students entering in 2010 or 2011.

Announcing the move, President of NUI Maynooth, Professor John Hughes said he was delighted that Froebel College of Education would be joining the University.

“It is an ideal match. Froebel has developed an outstanding reputation for its unique, high quality approach to teacher education over the last 67 years. NUI Maynooth is also renowned for excellence in this area and Froebel will complement and enhance the full teacher education facility we offer”, he said.

President of Froebel College of Education, Marie McLoughlin said the move represented an exciting new departure for the college.

“This will be the first occasion in which Primary Teacher Education will be entirely carried out on a university campus. This initiative establishes a new model of primary teacher education, which combines the rich tradition of Froebel with the multi-disciplinary opportunities which can only be obtained on a university campus. Furthermore, students will gain a greatly enriched academic and social experience on a campus of 8,000 students, whilst still retaining their identity within a newly designated Froebel Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education.”, she said.

The Dominican Sisters, Trustees of Froebel College of Education, have actively supported this initiative given the exceptional track record that NUI Maynooth has in the area of education. Furthermore they stated

that they are particularly pleased that the Froebel name and ethos will continue to thrive and influence primary teaching, while still preserving its rich, unique heritage.

NUI Maynooth Vice President for External Affairs, Professor Tom Collins said the mix of university campus life with primary teacher education would be a unique offering for students. “This places early childhood and primary teaching right at the heart of the university education agenda and is an extremely significant announcement for both institutions, given our long, proud histories in the provision of teacher education”, he said. NUI Maynooth will build a dedicated Froebel Centre at the University and it is envisaged that students will share many modules with other education and arts students. All Froebel College employees will transfer to NUI Maynooth.

The current CAO applicants to Froebel College of Education for September 2010 will be the first students who, on completion of their degree, will be NUI Maynooth graduates.

New Teaching Council regulations state that all primary teachers entering the profession from 2013 onwards must have a level 8 honours degree. This year’s applicants will undertake their first three years’ study in Blackrock, moving in their fourth year to a state-of-the-art facility on campus at NUI Maynooth in 2013. This group of students will be advised of the plans this week in writing.

communications.nuim. ie/press/210410.shtml

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im. ml

The Print

Plan for half UCD students to come from outside CAO

from 17pc at present to 25pc by 2014 - aims to get 80pc of its students - many of whom will be full fee-paying involved in regular physical exercise. students from outside the European Union.

History The proposed shift is revealed in the university’s new strategic plan ‘Forming Global Minds’. It Launching the plan, President Dr Hugh promises “a new breed of creative, innovative Brady said that over its 155-year history graduates formed in an environment of UCD had played an important role in research, discovery and entrepreneurship”. the development of modern Ireland.

Just half of UCD students will come through the CAO system in the future, the university believes.

The document also envisages the end of the era of remote dons who avoid teaching first-year students. In future, it will be normal practice for professors to contribute to the teaching of such incoming students.

The Dublin-based university plans to increase its intake of ‘non-traditional’ college goers -- such as mature and part-time students, those with disabilities, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

In addition, all newly appointed academic staff are to receive appropriate training in university teaching. Students will also be asked for more regular feedback on their lecturers through surveys on the quality of teaching.

Such students can also enter the college via the CAO. However, most gain places with lower points, or on the basis of other qualifications, or on a combination of their results with an interview process.

Improvements in lecturing will be backed up by the establishment of a new Institute for The percentage of graduate Learning Innovation and Academic Discipline. students is to increase from 26pc to 33pc of the student body by 2014.

Changes to the faculty structure are John Walshe also on the cards. The 11 faculties, and 110 departments and academic Education Editor centres, will be streamlined into a much Irish Independent - April 21 2010 smaller number of schools and colleges.

The college’s strategic plan also

UCD aims to increase its intake of such students from 17pc to 25pc by 2014.

The university also plans to increase its proportion of international students

“Now, in a time of national and global difficulty, UCD is once again committing its intellectual resources to the rebirth of economic prosperity in Ireland.”

The next few years will see significant expansion of UCD’s fourth-level portfolio and international programmes, and the mainstreaming of innovation as the third pillar of activity alongside teaching and research in the context of the UCD-TCD Innovation Alliance.

Update on the Library Extension Preparations for the new library extension continue apace. The redevelopment will include much-needed facilities including a café, group study rooms, social study space, silent student areas, postgraduate study room, information skills rooms, more sockets, more space for library books and much, much more. The Café will have 66 seats and include an outdoor plaza for the warm weather – if and when we get any!. The IT services will be hugely improved. More sockets will mean no need for trailing cables. Wireless networking will be available throughout the building and there will be the same number of publicly accessible PCs in the library at there is currently on the whole of the campus.

There will also be printing, copying and borrowing facilities throughout the library. .

In order to get to our new building, there are a few rivers to be crossed! Enabling work on the site begins in the summer. This will include the removal of the current foot bridge.

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This will be replaced with a roundabout on the Kilcock road and a narrowed carriageway leading to a controlled signalled crossing.

When work begins on the building – again this is expected to be during the late summer or early autumn – the car park at the John Paul II Library will be used as a work area by the builders and will no longer be available for staff and students. Alternative facilities will be provided including a large surface car park on the North campus.

While there is no doubt there will be significant disruption during the building period, it is necessary in order to create

the Library that our University now needs.

Effective communication is vital as we enter the building period, so we can endeavour to minimise disruption. The new library page on the Library website will be regularly updated with the latest information. The library will also work closely with the library consultative forum, of which the SU is a member, the Student Library Committee and other stakeholders to share information and reduce the disruption to library users. This will involve a lot of work but students can look forward to a worldclass library facility from 2012 onwards.

Helen Fallon

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The Print

NEWS Comhdáil Seasamh na Gaeilge - Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn

Bhí Comhdáil Seasamh na Gaeilge AMLÉ ar siúl ar 17 Aibreán in Óstán Strand i Luimneach mar páirt d’Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge. Bhí a lán suim i mbliana ag mic léinn le Gaeilge san Ard-Fheis seo toisc go raibh fear óg den ainm Seán Ó hAdhmaill ag iomaíocht ar son Uachtaránacht an Chonartha i gcoinne an Uachtarán reatha.

Bhí slua mór ó Ollscoileanna áirithe ann ar aon nós le chéile le phobal mór na Gaeilge.

Dar le Oifigeach na Gaeilge AMLÉ reatha Aodhán Ó Dea, b’é an deireadh seachtaine seo an am is fearr lucht na Gaeilge a bhailliú le chéile. D’Fhreastail mise ar an gComhdáil Seasamh mar Oifigeach na Gaeilge Aontas na Mac Léinn Má Nuad, agus i mo theannta bhí Naoise Ó Cearúil - a bhí ag iarradh post a fháil mar Oifigeach na Gaeilge AMLÉ an bhliain seo chughainn agus Aisling Walsh ó Chuallacht na Gaeilge.

Thógamar turas bhus fada aniar go Luimneach agus bhuaileamar le lucht DCU, TCD agus Ó Dea a bhí ag fanacht linn san óstán. Chuamar chuig oscailt na hArd-Fheis agus bhí seans againn caint le nua-Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Cirt agus Gaeltachta Pat Carey faoi cúrsaí na Gaeilge agus a todhchaí.

Bhí díoma orainn luath sa lá ar an Satharn nuair nach raibh an bua ag Ó hAdhmaill sa toghchán, ach guíomar go léir gach roth ar an Uachtarán-athtofa agus bhí

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sé geallta ag Ó hAdhmaill go mbeidh sé ar ais an bliain seo chughainn i Nás na Ríogh.

Molaim ar gach mac léinn a bhfuil suim acu sa Gaeilge clárú mar ball Chonradh na Gaeilge (nó mar ball Chuallacht na Gaeilge -atá mar craobh) an bliain seo chughainn chun freastal ar an Ard-Fheis agus páirt a ghlacadh san eagraíocht.

Ar a sé a’ chloig, chuaigh na teachtaí uilig ó na colaistí AMLÉ a bhí ann go dtí seomra caidreamh agus bhí ár gComhdáil againn le Julian de Spáinn (ÁrdRunaí Chonradh na Gaeilge) sa cathaoir.

Ní raibh quorum againn chun Naoise a thógaint mar Oifigeach, beidh orainn an vóta a dhéanamh ag an chéad Comhdáil eile AMLÉ. Go n-éirí leis. Bhí seans agam cúpla rún a chur os chomhar na Comhdála Seasamh faoi ról an Oifigigh agus ar an ábhar de comhobair idir Ollscoileanna. Ba tráthnóna suimiúil agus úsáideach ann dúinn go léir. An oíche sin, bhí an-chraic againn le ceoil beo san óstán agus ansin d’imigh na mic léinn ar fad amuigh ar an mbaile!

Ba tabhachtach an deireadh seachtaine seo chun aitheantas a bhaint amach i measc pobal na Gaeilge ar ról na hollscoileanna, agus chun pobal Gaelach a chruth i measc na mic léinn.

Joe Byrne

Maynooth Rep From Our First In Almost A

Last month, NUI Maynooth sent delegates to this years USI annual congress in Ballinasloe for the first time in almost ten years. Congress took place over four days; Monday to Thursday. During this time many of the most important issues in relation to both USI introspectively and to our students both nationally and internationally.

We arrived on Monday and met the heads of almost every students’ union in the country, most of whom for the first time. We began discussing various different motions that would be brought up over the next few days. Naturally, this was our first congress so one of the first and most important things that we were informed of was how congress works. Now this isn’t as simple as you’d think as articles were read out, instructions were given on how to vote and the motions themselves were altered and separated into various sections as we learned the most complicated procedure to pass motions any of us had ever come across.

As the voting began on Tuesday morning, we knew we would be in for the long haul as everything ran over time as innumerable speakers put themselves forward to oppose and propose the motions. Some motions flew

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The Print

Rugby Round Up

Report Back First Congress t A Decade

A round up of this semester’s rugby from development officer Dennis Bowes Well what a great time I have had this term . six months in my new job by, but many were tedious and took recount after recount to get a definitive answer.

Tuesday also was responsible for the election of USI’s officers for next year. These elections were very close and UCD’s Gary Redmond was deemed elected as President by a mere three votes. Trinity’s Conan Ó Broin was elected Vice-President and Rebecca Murphy from UCC became Welfare Officerelect. The positions of Equality Officer and LGBT Rep had nominations re-opened.

As we were recently affiliated and have not paid for membership, we were only granted five votes as opposed to the fourteen that we are due. As you can see from the results of the presidential election, our extra votes may have changed to results of that election.

Besides the elections we also had to vote on various amendments to USI’s constitution and national campaigns to gain better support for students and provide a better standard of representation.

One of our prouder moments of the week was that our Students’ Union President elect, Aengus, was voted as Best Maiden Speaker so we know we’re in safe hands next year.

Brian Murphy

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And I have enjoyed every day of it.

What a welcoming place NUI Maynooth is . the students are great fun And full of energy there great to work with and to all my new colleges you have been Brilliant

thanks

to

you

all.

The business end of the season has come and our club has gone even closer in its goal Of cup glory but the its is matter when not if we win the elusive cups we so richly deserve.

Our senior team where beaten by Waterford in quarters in a very strong league Our 2nd team made it to semi final before falling foul;of a fixture back log that just could not be made up in time Our ladies where beate3n in there final but what a great gutsy display to get them there Our there

freshers where beaten final narrowly by Carlow

in IT

Primary School Blitz During the term some of the team spent time in the local schools coaching tag Rugby. We arranged a fabulous days blitz for six local school and over 220 boys And girls attended a well run blitz on the north campus . the students refereed and helped look after the children through the day .

All of the schools had a day to remember Well done to all who helped prizes were given for best dressed team fair play and best try celebration which went to one girl who should enter Irelands got talent with the move’s on display Finally I would like to wish all the students great success with there studies and their exams and all who are leaving us (head down arse up )

The Last Word

The last word our esteemed colleagues in the aqua polo club fail to mention.

While bragging that in the tag water polo double header they were, as one tagger put it, smashed in the tag.

Reply needed me thinks. Thaks again.

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NEWS: OPINIONS & I The Print

Footbridge; we hardly knew thee

Maynooth Rising: T and the

In 1966, the then President of Maynooth College, the Right Rev. Monsignor Gerard Mitchell, invited the surviving members of an Irish Volunteers contingent who hard marched from Maynooth into Dublin city during the Rising to the College. Here, a mass took place celebrated by an Fr. Tomhas O Fiaich, the Professor of Modern History at Maynooth.

After decades of students crossing to and from lectures through rain, hail and shine, our iconic footbridge has finally served it’s purpose and will be torn down this summer to make way for the extension to the library.

To my mind, this is the end of an era.

As long as anyone can remember, the footbridge has been a part of the “Maynooth Experience”, playing as big a role as lectures, €3 drinks and the rain. It’s been a spot to meet up with friends, catch they eye of a girl you haven’t had the courage to talk to yet and, recently, a place to hang a “NO TO FEES” banner. There isn’t a single one of us here who can say our lives have not been affected by this concrete giant.

It’s a place that shares both collective and personal memories; it’s where I talked to a girlfriend for the first time, it’s a trek I’ve carried boxes of The Spoke and The Print over during the past few years, it’s where I’ve met new friends, where I’ve been drown by rain, where I’ve been sunburned, it’s a place where I resolved to quit smoking dozens of times and it’s a place that I

genuinely notice the difference in my health having quit. I cross it at least twice a day, every day for most of my college life and it’s going to be sorely missed.

As far as the greater community is concerned, it’s a place that Drama Soc have performed part of shows. It’s where various music societies have jammed in the sun. It’s where dozens of leaflets and flyers have been handed out for various gigs in the Union or by people running for election.

But much like those reaching the end of their degrees, it’s time to move on and this bridge, too, must admit that it’s time has passed. It’s going to be knocked down this summer and will be replaced with a pedestrian corridor that will, in time, be linked to the new “Library Plaza” which has been designated as a student recreation area. History can’t possibly stand in the way of progress.

I, for one, will miss the bridge. It holds a lot of memories for me and is almost symbolic of my constant uphill struggle to get a degree. You’ll be missed, old friend.

Eoin Byrne

It was a far cry from the last time some of those Volunteers had set foot in Maynooth College. In 1916, led by Domhnall Ua Buachalla (later the Governor General of the Free State) , a group of local Volunteers found themselves in a very different situation.

‘The movement’ as far as the Irish Volunteers were concerned, was quite well organised in North Kildare, and Lieutenant Eamonn O’ Kelly of the Volunteers arrived in Maynooth on Holy Thursday. He was aware of the plan for an insurrection on Easter Sunday, after being appointed to his position as a County Organiser by none other than P.H Pearse.

O’Kelly had plans for the North Kildare Volunteers. He told Domhnall Ua Buachalla to assemble his men on Easter Sunday in Maynooth town, and from there proceed to Bodenstown Churchyard, to meet with other Kildare Volunteers. Writing of his memories of this in 1926 for An tÓglách magazine (‘The Maynooth Volunteers In 1916′) Commandant Patrick Colgan noted that “Each man was asked if he was prepared to take part in the insurrection and each man agreed” Counter-orders caused confusion, and Colgan noted that no sooner had the men committed themselves to a rising than word came through via a dispatch from Dublin that the mobilisation was called off. It would be Monday evening before they knew for sure an insurrection was underway.

The men were armed, though they didn’t carry rifles- but rather single shotguns and roughly 40 rounds of ammunition.

“Many of us had never handled a gun prior to this and much practicing

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& INTEREST

The Print

ooth’s Role in the Easter g: The College, the Rebels the Long Road to Dublin men with him had decided that “..each man should take his chance individually in getting away” He would ultimately end up in Jacobs, where a handful of other ICA men were to be found having retreated from Davy’s pub at Porotobello Bridge.

in the loading and unloading of our weapons now took place” Colgan noted.

men marched out the south-east gate of the College, and were now on route to Dublin.

It was 7.15pm on Easter Monday before the men left Maynooth. By this stage, the Rising was well underway in Dublin and key positions had been seized by the rebels. Soon after occupying the General Post Office, a mixmash of Irish Citizen Army men and Irish Volunteers had opened fire on members of the 6th Reserve Calvary Regiment who had been sent from Marlborough Barracks to inspect events on Sackville Street. The casualties inflicted here showed the rebels were deadly serious, and the stage was set.

The men proceeded to follow the Royal Canal to Leixlip, and from there take to the railway tracks. The men would march through Glasnevin Cemetery on route to the action, and Colgan noted that it was shortly after this point that they would encounter the first sign of the insurrection- two Volunteers armed with rifles on Cross Guns Bridge.

Before leaving Maynooth, the men proceeded through the main street to the College.

Colgan noted that “..there were rumours to the effect that some of the students were anxious to join us” and the Volunteers also wanted to interview one of their own who had answered the original mobilisation call.

“Our quest for this employee brought us to the building occupied by the late Very Rev. J. Hogan , D.D, President of the College” The President called on Domhnall O’ Buachalla to return home and to see to it his fellow Volunteers did the same. Undaunted, the

Making their way to the General Post Office, it was the face of James Connolly that would first greet the Maynooth men. “We must have appeared as a motley crew of warriors to him, yet the welcoming smile which he gave us made us feel very full of ourselves” They were to provide relief to the Citizen Army men who were surrounded at the Evening Mail office. These men had fallen into trouble, owing to the difficulties of the ICA at City Hall, where Captain Sean Connolly had fallen, and British forces had seized the Hall early on. The ICA were weakened significantly in this area. William Oman of the ICA noted that on seeing the mobs in Werburgh Street “..cheering the troops” the

The Maynooth men that arrived on the scene then found themselves seizing the Exchange Hotel on Parliament Street.

They themselves would come under fire from Dublin Castle. Patrick Colgan found himself returning to the rebel HQ at the GPO to inform Connolly that only Domhnall O’ Buachalla was armed with a rifle at the Hotel. Ultimately, it was only a matter of time until these men would end up back at the GPO, after a retreat up Temple Lane, which Colgan noted was the only time he had ever “…come near to breaking an athletic record” The men would assist in the defence of the General Post Office, and Patrick Colgan would later end up in The Coliseum building on Sackville Street, but was to be captured on Liffey Street later. He described encountering an “extremely decent” man named Boland, of Carlow, who he stated was somewhat sympathetic to the “Finn Shaners”, yet confused they had not waited until Irish men had returned from the War. In 1966, Thomas Harris, Patrick Weafer, Timothy Tyrall, Joseph Ledwith and Jack Maguire found themselves as guests in Maynooth College. Today, in the town square, a monument stands to them and the other men who assembled in Maynooth in 1916 to partake in the rebellion. Domhnall Ua Buachalla would be elected a Sinn Féin TD for Kildare in 1918. The family hardware store in Maynooth, founded in 1853, remained in operation until 2005. Buckley’s Lane is named after him today. Many of the other Maynooth men also remained active within the republican movement after being released for their roles in the Easter Rising.

Donal Fallon

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The Print

Clubs and Socs News

Keeping you up to date with all our clubs and socs on campus. Don’t forget that your Clubs and Socs Officers can be found to answer your questions on Tuesdays from 2-4pm in the C&S Room upstairs in the Students’ Union

Dance Soc Who would have thought that the end of a year could be so busy? We don’t go out quietly; we go out with a bang! Firstly, there was our End of Year Show that was held in The Venue in the Students’ Union. It was an incredible showcase of talent featuring dance acts from our society and local dance schools also. As well as this we’d the pleasure of listening to musicians sing and play from within the student body and the locality. We’d like to thank all of our dedicated members for a fantastic show and for those who turned up to show their support! The Clubs and Societies Awards 2010 saw the Dance Society win the award for Best Society 2010 for the second year running.

Committee members went on to represent the society in The Board of Irish College Societies Annual Awards which was an honour. We’d like to thank all of our members for their continued dedication, passion and participation in all our events, activities and classes. Without you, there’d be no society!

A very special thanks to all the Clubs and Socs who contributed to The Print this year. I’d like to wish all the i n c o m i n g committees the very best of luck in the coming year.

Ógra Shinn Féin Society

This college year has been exceptionally busy and exciting for Sinn Féin Nuim. We got of to a cracking start with our An Chead Daíl exhibition during arts week to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the historic meeting in the mansion house in 1919.

2010 was kicked off with the exciting Flag campaign in which we petitioned around the college to remedy the lack of an Irish

national flag on campus. We have nine flagpoles at least and they all sit empty gathering dust except for open days etc. We believe that a tricolour should fly all year round and so do the 1000 people who signed our petition we will soon have a flag on the poles if not by the end of this year then at the beginning of next year.

In March after the Haiti earthquake it was time to get charitable. The decision was made to amalgamate

our annual rebel night before Easter week with an event that could make a difference, thus the The Shinner Shave was born with beards decimated, long hair being shaved, legs and chests waxed, even a backside (a sight not easily repressed) and a bit of owl trad music. A few days collecting through the blizzards that raged on campus that week and a cracking lively event raised €1071.45 in total. We would like to thank all those non-affiliated to the party who helped out and even faced the razor for a great cause. Let us hope it helps those suffering in Haiti. Thanks to all who came along and supported.

Good luck with the exams and be sure to catch us on Clubs and socs day next year.

Beir Bua mo chairde.

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The Print

Pro-Life Soc

On Thursday 15th and 22nd of April, the NUIM ProLife society had an information table in the Arts Block, where we supplied the student population with literature on creating a culture of life in Ireland and in the wider world. We were very pleased with the interest shown by the students who passed the table. We in the pro-life society believe that every individual should be given the choice to live no matter their stage of development. We remain committed to taking an active role in the building of a culture of life in Ireland and we thank the student body for its continued support.

Alternative Music Soc The Alternative Music Society has always been a staunch foot-soldier among the Maynooth clubs and societies. All societies are created in the hopes to improve the college and indeed, entertain the students of NUI Maynooth to a groin grabbingly good degree!

So, as seen as we are approaching the end of term, the greatest minds of the Alternative Music Society have concocted a way to send the term out with a bang!

Thursday May 6th, SU Venue, Queens of the Stone Age feat. Rage Against the Machine (Tribute Acts) shall be performing for the student masses of Maynooth.

HANGIN TREE and TOWNSHIP REBELLION are the acts in question. Come one, come all! Its time to make like the good shepherd, and get the flock in here!

The country’s only Queens of the Stone Age cover band are accompanied by a tribute to the legendary Rage Against the Machine. If you’re looking for an epic way to end the term and don’t fancy breaking the bank, then this is the gig for you! Its time for the long slow goodbye to NUIM, may as well do it in style

Trampoline Club

So the year is coming to an end for the trampoline club after a great year. From weekends away to Scotland and Belfast, to organising a Bounceathon for charity which raised over €600 to the election of our new committee. Both old and new members attended events throughout the year representing our college and having a great time while doing so. The Maynooth Tramps mingled and mixed with clubs from all over Ireland, Britain and Germany at nights out, competitions and the masquerade ball at the end of the year. But we did more then just party, both Scott Stevenson and Sinead Lillis competed at elite level at the Irish Student Trampoline Open, which is the biggest trampoline event of the year. Scott worked his way up to elite in his final year of college and Sinead competed elite in her first year and is also the clubs new captain. They’re not the only ones who worked hard this year; Paul Maher, Judy Owens and Sean Anderson all competed at the level advanced at the same competition, which is an amazing achievement.

All our newbies that started this year have also reached great heights (no pun intended!) and also helping to make up next years committee which is: Sinead LillisCaptain, Avril Brennan- Secretary, Jemma RussellTreasurer, Rory Caraher- PRO, Sean Fahey- ENTS, and Paul Maher- Safety Officer. Congratulations to them all and best of luck next year when it starts all over again! Training will be finished on the 6th of May but we will be holding summer bouncing for all those interested, email us at trampoline@ nuimsu.com or text someone from the committee.

Equestrian Club

Another academic year has come to an end and so the Equestrian Club has wrapped up activities for another year. Unfortunately it wasn’t our most successful year in terms of competitions as we didn’t place at intervarsities and our best result at tetrathlon was Michael O Reilly finishing 5th overall. However it is not all dull news as we had the highest number of members wishing to compete this year as well as spectators so we are looking forward to next year. Great praise is to be given to this year’s first years who showed great enthusiasm and involvement.

Our AGM was held on the 19th of April and the committee for 2010-2011 was voted in. Michael Hutchinson and Lara-Jane Scarff remain President and Vice President, as does Sabine Kennedy as Secretary, Emma Cully as PRO and Lorraine Delaney as Lesson Co-ordinator. New committee members are Fiona Molloy as Treasurer and Ordinary Member Phil Masterson.

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The Print

A Word in your ear from Societies Officer Lydia Farrell office in the Students’ Union with 7 other people that feels almost like a dysfunctional family. There’s been so much more, but it’s too much to say.

So here we are. April is over and summer is on its way. It’s very hard for me to believe that my 3 years here are almost over. In just under a month, I will be finished my undergrad degree (unless I have to repeat an exam) and as clichéd as it is, it feels like only yesterday that I was in first year. There’s certainly been highs, and lows, but over all, it’s been a great 3 years. By getting involved in societies I’ve made some really great friendships, I’ve been able to go to Paris to represent the Amnesty Soc, dress up as Alice in Wonderland and chase my friend Mary (who was in a pink bunny suit) through the canteen (remember when we used to have the canteen?), get elected by my peers as the Societies Officer and share an

Once again, the campus is changing, the library will be expanded, and then there’s that building going up beside John Hume, which should be finished soon, maybe we’ll eventually get a new canteen.

It’s weird to think though that I won’t be here to see this. I’ll have moved onto greener pastures, or still be hobo-ing it up a notch.

As my lecturer said at the start of the year, “The world is your oyster, but the oyster’s broke”. Now although we could have taken this as something very daunting and pessimistic, only 20% of psych students actually end up in a job that has anything to do with psych, did you know that, because I sure didn’t when I started!

Or, we could take it as something of a challenge. The oyster may be broke, but we can sure as hell make the most of what we’ve got. And I think, for a student, one of the best opportunities to do this will be

M.U.C.K.

through a club or society. If you join a society that has something to do with your subject, like Law or Biology, then you’ve just tapped into an invaluable academic support. If you’ve got an artistic soul, but need direction in order to do something with it, you can join Music, Drama or Playdo. If you’d rather just stick to something that gives you a breather from your college work, there’s Tea soc or the LGBT who are always holding fun and innovative events.

There’s a wealth of things to join, whatever your interest, from faith to politics! You can learn new skills, go on trips abroad for a shoestring price, meet new people, and end up in some incriminating photographs you’d never want a parent let alone a future employer to see! Honestly, getting involved to clubs and societies during my time here has been one of the most worthwhile things I’ve done in my life, and I would love to hear more people be able to say this with the same delight as myself.

By the time this comes to print, the next Societies Officer will have been elected. I’m not even sure who the candidates are right now, so I really don’t have a clue who will be taking over from me. But I hope that they’ve enjoyed the opportunities they’ve had through societies as much as I had.

weeks have delivered on our expectations and then some.

This year has been a brilliant one for the club with good performances at varsities and valiant efforts in MUCK wrestling being just two of the highlights from a year were everything was bigger, brighter and better than the last.

Clubs and Socs Awards especially shines vividly in our memories as an amazing night with Justin Cullinane picking up a well deserved award for being First Year Athlete of the year, spurring us to perform even better for next year, with big ideas and a new committee, thanks to the rather messy but legendary affair that was our AGM.

For Muckers everywhere, these final few months in college mark the end of an eventful year and this year we re determined to go out in explosive style.

We’re set to take next year by storm, and we’re not even done with this year yet, with a level 2 open boat course planned for the first weekend in summer, promising to be a great weekend of canoeing and camping with plenty in between.

With lots of river trips lately which brought beginner paddlers to waters just that little bit wilder and which introduced yet more river virgins to the thrills of white-water kayaking, these past

Finally, we d like to thank everyone who supported and helped us this year and thanks also to all our members for making the club as good as it is.

Crossword Solution

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Across: retires, beach party, summer holiday, scarce, tuck, stresses, iodine, pianists, this, uptown girl, cinema Down: risotto, Tim, reed, bachelor of arts, Aerosmith, heels, ate, character, stairway, ecstasy, O.T.T., plump, end

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The Print

Clubs & Socs Awards 2010 CLUBS First Year Athlete

Justin Cullinane, M.U.C.K.

Athlete of the Year

Lorraine Mc Gill, Fencing

Best Club Exec

Darrah Quinn, Swimming and Waterpolo

Most Improved Club

Swimming and Waterpolo

Best Club

Cumman Peile

SOCIETIES Best Society Event Best Society Fresher Society Person Best New Society Most Improved Soc Best Society NEW Contribution to Society Life

Fashion Show, Spotlight Ciaran Timmons, St. Vincent De Paul Ann Marie O Reilly, Play Do Tea Biology Society Dance Gemma McGrory & Fiach O’Neill

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The Print

From all of us in the Students’ Union, we’d like to wish you all the very best of luck in your exams. Have a great summer and we’ll see you in September

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