SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02 by SIN Newspaper University of Galway

Student Independent News Students’ Union Education Officer steps down

NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL.20 Issue 02. 25 SEPT 2018

“The positive comments and feedback I have received will sit with me for the rest of my days.” By Martha Brennan The NUI Galway Students’ Union Vice President for Education has stepped down from his role on the executive committee. Louis Courtney, who spent four months in the role, made the announcement on 10 September – the first day of lectures for most undergraduate students. Courtney was elected to the Union last March on the first count of votes, where he won by 1600. He succeeded Andrew Forde as Vice President and Education Officer. He cites the reason for his resignation as the wish to continue his undergraduate studies in Medicine. The three executive roles on the Students’ Union call for a full commitment, thus a year out of study is deemed necessary for anyone elected. Both the President of the Union, Megan Reilly, and the Vice President for Welfare, Clare Austick,

have finished their degrees. The Union made the announcement via Facebook, where they posted a ‘letter of goodbye’ written by Courtney. “This was a huge honour for me,” Courtney writes. “For the last four months I have worked with this Union and I have seen the great work it does for the students of this college...I have made many, many lifelong friends within the confines of my small office.” When addressing the issue of the reasoning behind the resignation, Courtney states; “When I ran for a position on this Union, I ran on the premise of not taking a year out of my Medical Studies. However, on reflection, I have decided that I need to prioritise my education and focus on my dream of becoming a doctor.” SIN spoke with Courtney following the news:

“It was a really tough decision,” he says. “I felt that I just had to prioritise my education and it wouldn’t be fair to try to balance the two and not fully commit myself to the Union.” “I feel that I did what I could during my time to help as many people in every way that I could. The hugely positive and grateful responses that I have received both publicly and privately from the students of NUIG has been truly touching.” Of the backlash he has faced since the announcement, Courtney says; “If certain people wish to make personal and inaccurate statements, that is their prerogative, but I don’t feel that such assertions deserve a response.” “The reception I have received from the students of this University during my time as Education Officer, and after stepping down, has been incredibly heartwarming. I have been deeply moved by this. The positive comments and feedback I have

received will sit with me for the rest of my days.” “I don’t want this to take away from the new candidates who are running for the position, and I wish them, and Megan and Clare, all the best of luck with the year.” Students’ Union President Megan Reilly also spoke to SIN following the announcement: “While it is a stressful time for the Union, we’ve a great team behind us here, and we’re looking forward to bringing on board a new member, along with a new Ethnic Minorities officer.” The elections will be held on the 27 of September and until a new officer is elected, Reilly will be splitting the extra workload with Vice President Clare Austick.

Further registration furore: BA Connects still unable to register By Graham Gillespie and Áine Kenny Several BA Connect students were forced to wait until after the start of the academic year to register, SIN can reveal. Some students were only able to register in the first week of college after classes already began, while others still can’t register at the time of writing 18 September. The issue is affecting multiple BA Connect courses. Much like the film studies students who were also forced to register late as reported in issue one of SIN this year, the students were supposed to register on 22 August, only to find out they couldn’t. The affected students were thus prevented from choosing their preferred modules in subjects such as English. The listed deadline by the university for undergraduate online registration is 17 September. Again, like the film studies students, it is understood the registration problem arises from an issue regarding the processing of some Erasmus grades from last year.

Naoimh O’Hare, a final year Arts with Creative Writing student, said that she was only able to register on Wednesday 12 September by which time college had already begun. This prevented her from getting some of her first-choice modules in her two other Arts subjects, English and German. “We got the last pick (of modules) below repeating, deferral and regular students,” said Naoimh. She also said that at least five students in her class had to wait until that first week. However, not all students in the course were affected. Naoimh then explained that she received misinformation when seeking to address the issue. “I tried to register on Wednesday 22 August at 10am, like other Arts students, and couldn’t register. So, I rang the registration office and was told that because I was on Erasmus I couldn’t register, even though it says on the NUI Galway website that Erasmus students can register provisionally if they haven’t got their grades back,” she said. “Then I argued that that wasn’t true because I had friends on Erasmus who were able to regis-

ter OK that morning. Then they said that it was because I did Creative Writing and no one in my class would be able to register until the following Sunday, 2 September, which is when repeat and deferral students register.” “I found out then that that wasn’t actually true either because there were students in Creative Writing who had been able to register without a problem.” According to Naoimh, the reason why she was unable to register may have had something to do with when she finished her Erasmus; “I finished (my Erasmus) quite late, so anyone who finished in maybe June or July had problems trying to register.” Naoimh was then told she would be able to register for final year on Tuesday 11 September, but on this day was instead incorrectly registered as a student repeating third year (all BA Connect courses are four years in duration). “It turned out on the Tuesday I was registered as a repeat student, as were two others in my class, to repeat third year, which you can’t even do. You

can’t repeat Erasmus. Then, I had to go back to the registration office on Wednesday and I had to meet with the coordinators of English and German and I tried to sort out modules.” “I couldn’t sort out my English seminars at all because they weren’t very lenient about that. And then I eventually got to register on Wednesday (12 September), and didn’t really get the seminars I wanted obviously, because all the ones I had wanted were full.” “I was lucky that seminars in English don’t start until week two because I was stressed I would miss the first week of them if I wasn’t registered by the end of the week.” Two other students in Naoimh’s class also had to wait until that Wednesday to register. Since similar situations have occurred for BA Connect students in the past, Naoimh felt the university was being “dishonest” and that the system for Erasmus students needs to be modified. Continued on page 2...

2 NEWS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

INSIDE

Students’ Union elections 4 – 5 Top doctor calls University Hospital Galway facilities “third world” 6 Dara Ó Briain announced as judge for NUI Galway film competition 6 First week blues 7 Galway ‘Crisis Campout’ sees students sleep out overnight in Eyre Square 8 Repeat exam fees: adding punishment to pain? 9 Life Skills courses return for another year in NUI Galway 10 Margaret Cash: a story of misplaced anger 11 Head to Head: iPhone vs Android 12 Are first years taking Freshers’ week too far? 13 Living her best life: Zendaya 15 A student’s guide to minimalism 16 Four fashion forward YouTubers you need to watch 17 Is an obese cover star a mistake or a step forward? 18 Campus streetstyle 19 Eminem’s career kamikaze continues with surprise album release 20 Soundtrack to Sobriety with Shampain 21 From Britpop to Grunge (and the things in between): A glimpse at 1994’s defining moments in pop culture 22 What’s on in Galway 23 Creative corner 24 McGregor versus Khabib: Prediction time 25 Club spotlight: NUI Galway Taekwondo takes on the world at TI World Championships in Birmingham 26 The coverage question: should the ladies’ All-Ireland finals be played the same day as the men’s? 27 Martin O’Neill might be nearing the end, but his time as Ireland manager was still a success 28

EDITOR: Áine Kenny editor.sin@gmail.com LAYOUT: Shannon Reeves

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An bhfuil rud éigin le rá agat? Cur litir chuig an Eagarthóir chuig editor.sin@gmail.com

@NuigSin

By Áine Kenny Hello everyone and welcome to issue two of SIN. College has well and truly started, and we are all starting to panic about these deadlines our lecturers are warning us about (just me?). This edition is jam-packed with fresh content I hope you will all enjoy. Make sure to check out our frontpage story on Louis Courtney, former Vice President and Education Officer of the Students’ Union. His untimely departure shocked us all, and Martha our Deputy Editor managed to get an exclusive interview with the man himself. He has only positive things to say about his summer working with the Union, and as for the backlash he received, he says he won’t dignify it with a response. Speaking of the Union, we also have interviews with the candidates running for Education Officer and Ethnic Minorities Officer. You should read these before you cast your vote this Thursday! As a student body, we need the best people representing us, so please vote. It takes five minutes to walk down to the Bialann or if you are away, make sure to register to remote vote online. Graham continues on his coverage of NUI Galway’s registration fiasco. We got a few comments underneath the original story when we put it up on Facebook, and we decided to explore the registration system further. BA Connects seem to be hit the hardest by the wily system, but if there are others out there from different courses who are experiencing similar problems,

make sure to get in contact with us so your story can be heard. We love it when people come to us with ideas, and we will make every effort to cover them! We also have our regular columnists, and I particularly liked Anne’s Erasmus column this week. She was really impressed with the diversity of societies we have in NUI Galway, something that I took for granted. She also said trying to sort out her timetable was a nightmare. We need computerised timetables now, in my opinion. For music fans, check out Shampain’s column on how to be a good DJ. I never realised the importance of understanding music’s origins when it comes to mixing tracks. Conor explores the issue of repeat fees, something which I found really interesting. Turns out our repeats aren’t that expensive in comparison to other Irish colleges. There is talk of changing the system to allow one or two failed modules to be carried over into the next year, rather than forking out nearly €300 to repeat one exam. This is something Louis Courtney planned to bring in, so I wonder will this torch be passed to his successor? In this issue, we also see the return of the ‘Head to Head’ page in the opinion section. Tarryn and Rachel grapple with one of life’s most burning questions: Android or iPhone? We have all seen the slanderous memes on Twitter (pixelated photos signifying Androids, dead batteries and cracked screens symbolising Apple). But which phone is actually better? Don’t make up your mind until you have read both sides!

Photo: Joanna Kavanagh After Storm Ali, we all desperately need to upgrade our wardrobes to reflect the weather conditions we are living in (floaty, three-quarter length trousers be gone). Check out Molly’s style guide for the Scandi Girl, think knits, neutrals and hygge. I am going to sign off now by talking about one of the most poignant articles in this week’s SIN, and that is Olivia’s piece on her stay in A&E. This is a scary and heartbreaking read, filled with needles, IVs, trolleys on corridors, and no sleep. If you didn’t believe the health system was broken, you will after reading this harrowing tale. Thankfully I met Olivia the other day and she is out of the hospital and on the road to recovery! So, pour a cup of tea, pull the blanket over you (because you haven’t gotten around to calling the oil company yet) and get reading SIN. As always, if you want to contribute, or just have something to say, email me at editor.sin@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can tweet us at @NuigSin or send us a message on Facebook.

Further registration furore: BA Connects still unable to register Continued from front page... “They send us all off on Erasmus and they don’t say you’re going to have problems when you come back… Everyone kind of said ‘oh it’s no one’s fault it’s just the system’, so obviously the system needs to be changed,” she concluded. Another student on a BA Connect programme, who wishes to remain anonymous, is still is unable to register at the time of writing. It has now been three weeks since registration opened. “When I try to log in to register, it just has my third-year modules there, with none for fourth year. This issue still hasn’t been resolved.” “I went abroad for a full year, and preregistration wasn’t mentioned to me. It is just a joke.” “I will say my course coordinator and the heads of my two Arts subjects have been really sound. They emailed me and

said they knew I still couldn’t register, they sent me timetables and also kept my first-choice modules in mind, which I really appreciate.” This student echoed Naoimh’s sentiment that a system overhaul is required. “Despite how accommodating my lecturers were, there are just inherent flaws in the system which the College of Arts needs to address urgently.” Yvonne O’Connor, the College of Arts Executive Assitant, said that a registration issue arose when students were studying abroad for one semester, as opposed to studying abroad for a full year. “There is a process which has to be undertaken to request a change to the University rules for students registered for BA Connect programmes who spend one semester abroad, in order for them to be treated similarly to students who are required to spend the full Third Year abroad.”

“The reason why some Year 3 students on Connect programmes were not pre-registered for their Final Year was due to outstanding marks from their placement or study abroad component. Students who have not been deemed to pass the year due to outstanding marks, or because of an incomplete/fail status, cannot be progressed to pre-registration status.” “The students are recorded with a ‘Deferred’ status for the relevant module associated with marks outstanding from Institutions abroad or work placements at the First Sitting, so as to prevent a capping of their marks.” “College Office is pursing that matter with the University in order to prevent the re-occurrence of late registration for students.” The BA with Creative Writing Course Coordinator Mike McCormack was contacted for comment but did not respond.

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DEPUTY AND NEWS EDITORIAL By Martha Brennan Hi everyone and welcome to the second issue of SIN! I hope everyone is settling into college okay and you all enjoyed our first issue. We’ve been working hard here at SIN to bring you another issue that we hope will give a good insight into what is going on in college at the moment. It’s been a busy few weeks for NUI Galway, between the Students’ Union ‘Crisis Campout’ protest, the Fresher’s Fair, Clubs day, Socs day, the opening of the college sporting calendar and of course the announcement of an election for a new Student Union executive officer. The unprecedented resignation of the Union’s Vice President and Education Officer caused a huge stir on campus during the first week back, and we’ve got an exclusive interview from Louis Courtney right here in SIN so you can catch up on the action. You can also get to know the candidates for the upcoming election in this issue and make sure not to miss out on Julia’s interview with the University’s President about his plans for the year, or Anastasia’s coverage of the ‘Crisis Campout’. I want to say thank you to everyone who wrote articles for this issue – it was great to see so many new writers getting involved and I hope you all enjoyed working on the issue. Our door is always open to new volunteers and we would love for anyone interested to give us a shout – it’s never too late!

FEATURES EDITORIAL By Olivia Hanna Now that we’ve all presumably settled back into the machine that is college life, it’s time for the second installment of the features section here in SIN. Getting this section together was a little bit harder for me, since I was in the hospital for the whole first week of college, which I wrote about for the issue. Fortunately, because of this great team of contributors, everything fell into place. You can look forward to reading about a scandal involving St. Vincent de Paul, a cheque, and a pint, learn some tips about bystander intervention, catch up with your favorite final year, Aileen O’Leary, and much more. I hope you enjoy this issue and look forward to reading the next one!

OPINION EDITORIAL By Tarryn McGuire Hey guys, Tarryn here, editor of the opinion section for SIN newspaper! This section is on fire this week, as we take a look at repeat exam fees, Freshers’ week and Trump’s decision to pull out of his trip to Ireland. We also have a more lighthearted head to head debate as the iPhone and Android battle it out for the title of best phone, and we delve into the debate of women still taking their husbands’ surnames! I hope you are all just as excited for this issue as I am, enjoy!

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ery) of Freshers’ week! From the superb Creative Corner to the absorbing reviews, this issue is jam packed with brilliant articles. We pay tribute to Mac Miller and scrutinise the aftermath of Electric Picnic as well as delving into Cardi B’s latest beef. Caileigh Ryan has pioneered our ‘Reeling in the Years’ column, giving us a glimpse back at the iconic year of 1994. Make sure to check out our ‘What’s on in Galway’ feature to take the stress out of planning your next night out. Enjoy reading the rest of the paper, and try not to blow away in this typically blustery Galway weather.

FASHION AND LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL

SPORTS EDITORIAL

By Molly Fitzpatrick

By Graham Gillespie

Storm Ali has come and gone and now we’re ready for sub-zero temperatures, hot chocolate season and finally being able to get our knits out! If you’re looking for winter wardrobe inspiration, turn to our scandi style guide for a healthy serving of winter wardrobe advice. However, this time of year doesn’t only leave us baffled when it comes to our wardrobes, but we’re also torn in every which direction when it comes to balancing our social life, college work and a part time job. Editor Áine Kenny shares her experience with meditation and how it has helped her mental health as well as teaching her how to deal with her busy schedule as a student. If you want to become more mindful when it comes to your own mental health, as well as with all aspects of your life, turn to our student’s guide to living a minimalist lifestyle, you’ll be surprised how much of a difference these simple tips can make to your headspace. Finally, for this issue’s insight into what the students of NUI Galway are wearing, turn to our campus streetstyle for some truly unique and eye-catching outfits.

Hi everybody and welcome to issue two of SIN. Thanks to everybody who contributed to issue one. Now that we’re into week three, first years are settling

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL

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in and final years (myself included) are realising how much trouble they’re in. Regardless of your situation, hopefully you can take some enjoyment of this edition’s sports section. First, we have an article by the NUI Galway Taekwondo club who write about how some of their fighters got on at the World Championships in Birmingham. We also have two football articles, where Mark Lynch analyses whether away goals should be scrapped, and Mark O’Connor discusses Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane’s situation at Ireland. Martha Brennan, meanwhile, brilliantly critiques the idea of hosting the All-Ireland Camogie final on the same day as the Hurling final, while Danny Keown chimes in on the Serena Williams US Open controversy. Finally, resident combat sports expert Gary Elbert previews Conor McGregor’s forthcoming bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov. If anybody wants to contribute to SIN or has any pitches for ideas, please don’t be afraid to contact me at sport. sined@gmail.com.

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By Sarah Gill Hello again! Welcome to issue two! I hope everyone is nicely settled back by now and that you’re all recovered from the festivities (ahem - debauch-

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4 NEWS & F E ATU R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTIONS Vice President/Education Officer Eibhlín Seoighthe highlight of my year is working with Sláinte Soc for the Teddy Bears Hospital. Over the years I have met many a great education officer, who have all encouraged me to return to my studies. If elected, I hope to be able to offer similar encouragement to any student who crosses my path.

What course are you studying? I am a second year Arts student studying Sociology and Political Science and English. I am a mature student having originally started in 2007, I had to take a break from my studies due to my son falling ill (he’s all good now). Despite me leaving my studies, I still remained active in student life, volunteering with the Students’ Union and an annual

What is your interpretation of the role of Education Officer? The role of the Education Officer is to be there for any student and help with any educational needs/ issues, be it unique to individual or larger groups of students. Where appropriate those issues will be passed onto the relevant academic/admin.

I heard you are a mature student, what advantages do you think this gives you if any? I do not think being a mature student necessarily gives me an ‘advantage’. Hopefully I would be able to help guide students past some of the pitfalls I myself fell into. I personally found previous SU Ed officers invaluable during these times, and feel now is time for me to pay it forward to other students.

Will you be working with Louis Courtney to get acclimated to the role of VP/Education Officer? If elected I will work with Louis to ensure a smooth handover of

Students’ Union Council

CAN YOU LEAD THE WAY? THEN BECOME A CLASS REP!

Contact the SU Education Officer for more information on su.education@nuigalway.ie or call to the SU Office

duties. It is important for the students to have continuity of care. I would be keen to ensure that nothing is affected by the transition.

Do you think that you are at a disadvantage starting this role a few weeks into the academic year? My biggest worry with a late start would be if a student has previously been looking for help already, they might worry about continuity of care. However, if elected I will do everything in my power to ensure that no student feels forgotten or suffer in any way due to this changeover.

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What are your overall goals in the next year? How do you plan on achieving them? I will expand on my goals in my manifesto when it is published on Sunday, but two issues in brief are the ongoing issues with registration. Also, since 2006 there has been no increase

Why are you running for this role?

SU specifically for ethnic minorities?

I am running for this Ethnic Minorities Officer role as I feel that being a voice or leader of a group that you can easily emotionally connect with is very much required, especially when all the people from an ethnic minority background will feel a little homesick when they are away from their family and loved ones. As I am also one of them so to speak, I share these same feelings. I can be the bridge between them and the mighty Students’ Union, who have helped students in every possible way. I would love to be a voice for the people and be a representative of the University simultaneously, and I feel that this is the best opportunity.

As I mentioned earlier, connecting with people who have the same kind of emotional background is very effortless. Another thing is that there are many facilities within the University which can be useful for people from an ethnic minority background, which they are unaware of. Equally, I can be the representative of ethnic minorities in case their voice needs to be heard.

Why is it important to have a role in the twitter.com/NUIGSU

Ideally it would be great if it were a highly contested position so that students could elect the person they feel most suitable. However, I will do my utmost to be that person if elected regardless of the number of names on the ballot.

in funding for a wide range of student services, despite an ever-growing student population. Finally I believe the SU is not just a building, and I want to be out and about with the students.

This summer dozens of BA Connect students were refunded for poor course quality. What do you think you can do to prevent or aid in situations like this in your time as an officer? If any student feels their course is not of sufficiently high standard, I would hope that they would not hesitate to bring it to my attention.

Mitul Shah

I am currently pursuing a Masters of Computer Science - Data Analytics.

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

Are you happy to be running uncontested?

Ethnic Minorities Officer

What course are you in?

www.su.nuigalway.ie

THURSDAY 27th SEPTEMBER

What are your aims/ goals for the role? My aims and goals are based on one very famous quote: “The voice cannot be heard in a noise, but surely can be heard when all are listeners.” I want to be that one person who is the voice of many others, and present it on the best platform. I am planning to get information on all the facilities which are run by the University and then conduct an ‘All Hands Meet’ for all the people to acknowledge them, and also gather their comments and suggestions.

What past experience will stand to you if you win? I am quite hopeful and positive about my win at the elections, and as far as experience is concerned, I have been a Class Rep (although a smaller responsibility) at my school for a consecutive four years. I have also been a Minister (General Secretary) at High School for one year. For the past three years I have been working as a committee member of VOY (Voice Of Youth) Team at my previous employer, Infosys Limited, where I got an opportunity to represent my whole team to the CEO of Infosys Dr Vishal Sikka and to the Board of Directors. I personally feel that there is always a new beginning and a novice can also be a trailblazer. I can assure you of my honesty, commitment and dedication towards this responsible role.

Reopen nominations is also an option on the ballot paper.

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September 25 2018

Jackson Dsouza ture and also boosts my past seven years of business development experience in fintech industries.

Why is it important to have a role in the SU specifically for ethnic minorities?

Why are you running for this role? I am from India which is a culturally and ethnically diverse land where various minorities co-exist, and I belong to a minority group. All my life, I constantly learned how to balance and conduct myself in a multicultural environment, understanding and analyzing various issues faced by the minority groups. This taught me and equipped me to look for a role in the department of ethnic minority as I can relate and understand the value of such a role.

What course are you in? MSC - Sales and Marketing, I accepted this course because it will give me a deep understanding about international and Irish business cul-

I believe in pluralism of culture, as it leads to a more sustainable society which is very important for any country, society, college or university and as NUI Galway is one of the most reputed Universities in the world, with a diverse student population from all over the world, understanding cultural values of each group becomes more essential for the growth of the university. I have been elected as Vice Auditor for the India society (2018-2019) and I want to understand the cultures of the world and create a better multicultural environment with better sustainability.

What are your aims/ goals for the role? To be a person that understands different minority group requirements and problems and to be able

Why are you running for this role? Hello, I am Edidiong Bassey and I am running to be your Ethnic Minorities Officer because I want to ensure that all ethnic minority students have the opportunities and support to have a fulfilling student experience. This includes both academics as well as extracurricular activities.

What course are you in? I am completing a PhD in Accounting.

Why is it important to have a role in the Students Union specifically for ethnic minorities? In an increasingly multicultural student body, I believe it’s important that ethnic minorities have their own distinct voices heard as they often have different needs and problems distinct from the general student body. Being a minority, you might often get overlooked, often unknowingly in many activities

ranging from societies’ competitions to SU elections and academic difficulty. Having an ethnic minority officer means that there is always someone championing their rights. Furthermore, to the best of my knowledge there are no full or part time officers from a visible ethnic minority, this will ensure that there is always ethnic minority representation in the SU leadership.

What are your aims/ goals for the role? My overall goals for the role include: • To provide students with a sense of belonging to the University and the wider community. • To encourage more active participation of ethnic minorities in sports and societies up to competitive level. • To address academic difficulties ethnic minorities may have with their course and modules. • To address any form of racial discrimination wherever they may exist. People can see my manifesto on my Facebook page ‘Vote Edidiong for Ethnic Minorities officer’ for more information.

What past experience will stand to you if you win? This isn’t my first time in Student Union leadership. In my previ-

Why is it important to have a role in the SU specifically for ethnic minorities?

What past experience will stand to you if you win?

Why are you running for this role?

Back in my country, I helped to raise funds for different religious communities and NGOs, which had different organization goals and targets. I worked as an operation member with NLMET (New Life Medical and Educational Trust) to coordinate with a different state of India, and raise funds for people below the poverty line. This enabled me to understand the different cultures of India. I have also worked with MNC which enabled me to travel to three counties which was fascinating as I got an opportunity to meet colleagues from different cultures which has made me excited to learn more about different values.

I just want to meet more people. I’m just a normal guy but I also feel I can be the person to help someone if they are facing difficulties.

ous university in the UK, I held several SU leadership positions. I was Chair of BME Caucus, representing ethnic minority students at my college. In this role, I pressed the SU leadership to work on several issues including a ‘Democracy Review’ to give ethnic minorities more power in SU representation. I also worked on an initiative called ‘Yes They Can’ which tried to get more ethnic minorities involved in the Students’ Union, and I created more partnerships with societies with an ethnic minority focus, for example the Chinese society. Other initiatives, which I was a part of but didn’t spearhead, included diversifying the curriculum and addressing racial discrimination in education. I was also a Course Rep at UKC where I championed several student causes leading to me being nominated for Student Leader of the Year and Campaigner of the Year. Finally, I was a delegate and later steering committee member of the Ethnic Minority Caucus of the National Union of Students UK where I wrote and successfully passed a motion to streamline the reporting of racist behaviour. I also lent my support to various pertinent issues relating to ethnic students in the UK, ranging from mental health provision to reducing the cost of living.

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to resolve their issues. I believe that coming from a different cultural background into a different culture can be challenging and different societies may require sudden help from the SU to give them required support. I believe my diverse understanding of culture will help me to be the voice of all the different ethnic societies.

Edidiong Bassey

It’s not this role (why I’m running for election), I’m just trying to involve myself (in the Students’ Union). I really like the way they engaged in and organised the recent protest in Eyre Square. I participated in that and I met a few people and I liked them, so I wanted to be a part of the SU and hopefully help get more ethnic minorities involved as well.

What course are you in?

What are your aims/ goals for the role?

Masters in Software Design and Development.

I have met a lot of people coming here and the main thing I want to

do is interact with people from different backgrounds so I can maintain a friendship with them for a long time. I can exchange a culture with them and with the local Irish students I can help maintain a harmony.

What past experience will stand to you if you win? To be frank, I’m just a normal guy who’s pretty much average at everything. I have participated in a few elections back in my old college, to be a representative for my community. I just need to help people out here. Winning or losing doesn’t matter, I just need to be part of some organisation, be it a volunteer or a person who can assist others.

Victoria Chihumura

SIN reached out to Victoria but unfortunately she was unavailable for interview.

Reopen nominations is also an option on the ballot paper.

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6 N E WS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

GOT YOUR BACK By Sarah Canavan

Witnessing an uncomfortable situation where someone is being violated in some way can leave you feeling helpless, even if you’re just a bystander. Turns out, if you see a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation, but you don’t know what to do or how to intervene, you are not alone. While the experience of being a helpless bystander is actually quite common, you can make a huge difference. On average only 20% of people intervene when they witness a bad situation, mostly because they don’t know how intervene, and have never been taught. Fortunately, intervening may be easier than many people think. Bystander intervention is described as a situation where someone who isn’t directly involved steps in to change the outcome. Stepping in may give the person you’re concerned about a chance to get to a safe place or leave the situation. You don’t have to be a hero or even stand out from the crowd to make a big difference in someone’s life. Take steps to protect someone who may be at risk, in a way that fits your comfort level. Furthermore, choosing to step in can affect the way those around you think about and respond to sexual violence. Whether you’re taking a friend home because they had too much to drink, explaining that a rape joke isn’t funny, or getting security involved when someone is behaving aggressively, your actions

have good consequences. The three things you can do to intervene when you witness sexual abuse are:

CAUSE A DISTRACTION: Call the person, ask them questions or suggest it’s time to go. You can even distract the harasser by asking them questions such as, “how are you, where are you from.” Sometimes, just a phrase showing your disapproval can be really powerful.

GROUP INTERVENTION: Ask friends or even random people to separate the person being harassed and the harasser.

GET AN AUTHORITY FIGURE: If you are in a club or bar, ask the bartender or bouncer for people or call the Gardaí. The more people who witness harassment, who take a stand, label it, and acknowledge it for what it is, the more likely we’ll be to reduce the incidence of it, because perpetrators will be on notice. Sure, not every perpetrator will immediately change their ways, but it’s important to do the best we can to start chipping away at this problem and stand up for those on the receiving end of harassment. A little can really go a long way. Preventing sexual violence is everyone’s responsibility, but we need to be careful about how we do it. Educate yourself and always ask for help.

MARCH Bus to

FOR CHOICE

Bus Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh chun an Mhórshiúil ar son na Rogha

29 S AT U R D AY

Join us as we travel to Dublin for the

National March For Choice

SEPTEMBER

Return bus tickets €2 from SU Ofﬁce and SU Engineering Desk Bus Leaves the Quad at 9.30am Returning from St. Stephens’ Green at 5pm SHARP Students for Choice gathering at Trinity at 12.30pm Marching from the Garden of Remembrance at 2pm NUI Galway Students Only • ID Required. For more information contact su.president@nuigalway.ie Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil déan teagmháil le su.president@nuigalway.ie www.su.nuigalway.ie

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Top doctor calls University Hospital Galway facilities “third world” By Martha Brennan One of the nation’s top doctors has referred to the facilities of University Hospital Galway’s Emergency Department as “third world” standard. Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail, the President of the National Association of General Practitioners in Ireland, said that if the hospital isn’t prioritised by the HSE soon; “lives will be lost.” The comments came earlier this month, and were first reported in the Connacht Tribune newspaper. Dr Ó Tuathail highlighted the size of the region that UHG covers, serving over one million people from Donegal down to Tipperary, and how hospitals with less demand have better resources available. “I’ve said it before, but I genuinely don’t know why people are not out on the streets over this,” he told the Connacht Tribune. “Limerick Regional covers the catchment area of the Mid - West – what must be a sixth of the size of the catchment area of the Regional in Galway – and Limerick Regional’s Emergency Department is at least six or seven times (the size) of Galway’s,” said Dr Ó Tuathail. “Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin has a catchment area one-third the size of Galway, but it is five times the size. They have two resuscitation bays in Galway; in Vincent’s, there are eight, despite its catchment area being infinitely smaller.” Dr Ó Tuathail, who trained in UHG, said that he has written to the Minister for Health several times about the issue.

“For whatever reason, Galway is not regarded as a priority and it’s time that changed,” he said. “It is a brilliant hospital, but the Emergency Department is beyond unfit for purpose,” Dr Ó Tuathail added. “It’s dangerous. It’s far too small and far too crowded. The staff there is doing a tremendous job in Third World conditions.” There were almost 4900 people left waiting on trolleys and chairs at University Hospital Galway in the first eight months of this year – up more than 12.5% from this time last year. Comments like these can be disheartening for NUI Galway medical students, who embark on placements in the hospital year round, and learn from its staff. Former Students’ Union President and 5th year Medicine student Lorcán Ó Maoileannaigh told SIN that; “Many of NUI Galway’s medical students are about to commence their first clinical rotations after Christmas.” “It is in everyone’s best interest that all health care professionals are supported whole heartedly in order to provide the best level of care as possible, and to facilitate the learning and teaching sessions for medical students, nursing students and health science students.” “Without adequate infrastructure patient care and students’ education will undoubtedly suffer.” NUI Galway’s School of Medicine was unable to supply a comment on the issue.

Dara Ó Briain announced as judge for NUI Galway film competition By Martha Brennan Comedian Dara Ó Briain has been announced as a guest judge for an NUI Galway film competition. The ‘ReelLIFE SCIENCE’ competition encourages young science enthusiasts and filmmakers to create an educational short video to be in with the chance of winning up to €5000. The competition, now in its sixth year, is open to participants of all ages including primary and secondary school students and clubs and community groups. Launched in 2013, the contest was created to encourage young people to show their passion for science and technology. The programme is organised by Dr Enda O’Connell and a team of science communication enthusiasts from NUI Galway. Along with Ó Briain, a panel of judges including aeronautical engineer and astronaut - candidate Norah Patten and BT Young Scientist and Technologist of the Year 2018, Simon Meehan, will select the winning videos. “ReelLIFE SCIENCE is a wonderful project, which encourages people to connect with science and technology in a fun way and share their knowledge and creativity with the public via video,” Ó Briain says. “I’m delighted to be one of the judges and am very excited to see this year’s videos.” More than 9000 people from over 300 schools and community groups all around Ireland have previously taken part in the ReelLIFE SCIENCE programme.

Videos can be produced on smartphones or cameras and will need to be a maximum of three minutes long. Candidates can communicate any aspect of science, including its impact on individuals, society and the environment. This year’s topics include “The Power of STEM”, “Our Amazing Planet”, “Science in Space”, “How Things Work”, “Myths Busted”, “Science and Me”, “Science Heroes”, “Science in Space” and “Healing the Body” which is in association with NUI Galway’s CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices. The CÚRAM Centre is encouraging entrants to contact them to explore their “Healing the Body” topic ideas. The competition is being supported by the Science Foundation Ireland Discover programme, the CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices, the Community Knowledge Initiative and NUI Galway’s National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science. Closing date for submissions is Friday 19 October and the winning videos in each category will be announced during Science Week 2018 which runs from 11 - 18 November. The winning filmmakers will be invited to attend a public screening and awards ceremony hosted at the Galway Science and Technology Festival – which is being held in the University on 25 November. More information can be found at www.reellifescience.com.

N UAC HT

September 25 2018

First week blues By Olivia Hanna

While the rest of my peers were returning home after their first busy day back at college, I sat in the corridor at the University Hospital with a load of antibiotics coursing through an IV placed in my right hand. In the last issue of SIN, I wrote about a minor infection that I was having treated after a long night of sitting in A&E. As it turns out, that infection was a lot worse than anyone thought. Mere days after writing that article the infection defied antibiotics and began to make its way to my kidneys, causing excruciating pain in my torso. For the entire weekend I was in pain and fluctuated between periods of extreme sweats and body shaking chills. I couldn’t keep food down and could hardly sleep. By Monday I returned to the Student Health Unit, who advised I go directly to hospital. And that’s how I ended up in the corridor. From the corridor I was moved into a small room where I was informed that I would be staying for at least the next two nights for antibiotics and monitoring. I returned to the corridor, this time lying on a trolley in the midst of the hustle and bustle of hospital life, and surrounded by a dozen other patients. At around three in the morning a nurse realized the cannula, the IV port in my hand, had stopped working as the vein had collapsed. Doctors and nurses arrived to try and place it elsewhere in my arms, wrists,

hands, and feet, but after about 10 painful pokes they gave up. An ultrasound machine was brought in to try and locate deeper veins, since my other veins were too small and kept collapsing. Even with the aid of the ultrasound and another six or seven pricks, the nurse called it quits. An anesthetist was brought in and luckily she had the magic touch, inserting the cannula into my left hand in one single prick. Even now, almost a week later, my arms are covered in bruises from the many attempts to re-insert the cannula. After a restless night, I was poked even more to try and get more blood samples since I had a spike in my temperature. Even the head of my medical team couldn’t get blood, causing me to sob for the first time during the ordeal. It was so hard to be in hospital without any family, or any of my things, and especially without my mom. I was scared and tired and in pain, and these pokes were my breaking point for being brave. Fortunately, they gave up on torturing me, and continued with antibiotics. I was then moved up to a private room, which was a wonderful break from the chaos of the A&E corridor. Over the next few days I finally caught up on rest, continued my fluids and antibiotics, and was able to properly eat for the first time in days. I protected my cannula with my life and warned every nurse who had to touch it to be extremely careful.

It was so hard to be in hospital without any family, or any of my things, and especially without my mom. Four days and four nights after being admitted to the hospital, I was finally discharged and headed home to continue my recovery and catch up on all that I missed in college. While being stuck in hospital was an overall unpleasant experience, I couldn’t be any more thankful for all of the staff that helped me heal. Every nurse was kind, gentle, and understanding. They did all that they could to make me comfortable and meet my needs. I never once got the sense that they were feigning compassion. The kindness spread from the man who wheeled me to my ultrasound, to the ultrasound tech, to the food service individuals. The care itself was also exceptional. I feared that after a couple of rounds of antibiotics they would send me out the door, but this was not the case. They ordered a kidney ultrasound and a chest x-ray, and even after I began to feel better the doctors kept me until I was completely free of infection. I’m still taking oral antibiotics to fight any last bit of infection that might have been left. I couldn’t be more grateful for the care I received; it put not only myself at ease, but also my concerned family members who were an ocean away. Fortunately, I was only out of college during an introductory week, but I am concerned about catching up on a few of my modules. No one wants to start college and be automatically behind, but I’m incredibly grateful for my health, and that is truly my priority. Not matter what you might miss out on, if you’re unwell and something doesn’t feel right, please go to the doctor and press them to see you and test you. If I hadn’t have gone to the doctor when I did, the infection could have spread farther and I could have contracted sepsis, luckily I made sure I was taken care of. It might be a cliché, but health is wealth, and as long as your health is okay, everything will fall into place.

Society spotlight: Galway Earth and Ocean Society By Áine Kenny The Galway Earth and Ocean Society (GEOS) want to help students within the Earth and Ocean Science course, as well as those who are interested in Geoscience, to interact with one another and to learn more about the world around them. “The aim of our society is to introduce students to different aspects of geoscience and oceanography,” says GEOS Secretary, Karina O’Donnell. “We often host guest speakers, who talk about their current geoscience research. These talks are very beneficial to students who want to pursue a career in this field, and are a great way for students to make connections within this field of science.” “We also host various social events, and aim to help students in different years to get to know one another and to make connections within different year groups,” Karina adds.

“This is especially beneficial for students who are unsure about which modules to select, or if students have general questions about our degree. As well as being quite an academic society, we often have movie nights and pub quizzes, so there’s something for everyone!” “Every year, we ask our members if they would like to attend the Irish Geological Research Meeting. The IGRM is a great way to make connections with people from across the country who are experienced in earth and ocean science. We usually organize a bus and a hostel for accommodation, as the event lasts the entire weekend. It’s such a great way to learn more, and also a great weekend away with your classmates!” Karina says most of this year’s committee attended the AGM of 2017, when they were in second year. “The committee back then consisted of mostly third years, but we got

involved quite early, and so the society was passed down to us this year. We hope to get more first and second years involved so we can help make the society thrive.” Karina feels like her society is often misinterpreted as a completely academic society, only open to denominated EOS students. “Over the years, many students from different courses, like arts or engineering, have joined our society. We are very focused on the earth and the oceans around us, which a lot of people find interesting. Many students come to our events to watch documentaries, or just to hear our guest lecturers talk about our planet.” Of course, SIN had to ask Karina what her favourite rock is. “I reckon it’s hard to beat a really Gneiss rock.” “If you are interested in joining GEOS, you can sign up online, or email your name and student number to geos@socs.nuigalway,” Karina concludes.

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ERASMUS DIARIES By Anne Rieger What a week. The first week of college is always exciting, no matter what year or what course you are in. There are always new faces and everything is unknown territory. NUI Galway lifted that to a whole new level for me. Picking my courses on my own, making sure they don’t clash on my timetable, finding out what I need and finding the rooms in this short amount of time has been so challenging that I feel like I could really use a semester break, or another fresher’s week. Just to find your timetable as an international student seems to require a PhD. In Germany, everything is served to you on a little silver platter, that is, a computer programme that calculates your timetable automatically to make sure you know which courses you are in. NUI Galway seems to have its very own system. Running here for a signature, going there for an enquiry. I’m pretty sure they make it so complicated to make sure Internationals get to know the campus. Speaking of the campus, another thing I noticed while spending my first week in the university is that you can find everything on site. From a shop, a bar, several restaurants and even a hairdresser. Which honestly, I think is the best thing ever, we just don’t really get haircuts in my home university. I’m still wondering how this situation goes down, my timetable is so packed that I don’t know when I’ll have spare time for a NUI Galway haircut! This lack of time is mostly down to the one thing that, according to some people, makes Irish and British universities worthwhile – societies and clubs. I was stunned by the amount of societies and I just really want to join all of them, but 126 seems a bit time consuming. Also: how amazing is the fact that there is an archery club or one that goes surfing on the weekends? As you might have realised by now, I’ve never encountered such a wide variety of activities for students. German universities seem to be purely and utterly for studying, hence German efficiency. If we want to do sports we go to the university - owned gym, which is just 10 minutes away on a bike, five on a shuttle bus and 15 up a mountain. If we want to join a society and follow our interests... I don’t even know how to do that in Germany. This is the difference. Everyone here seems so keen to be a part of the university and to put their skills and character traits out there. I can’t even say enough how amazing all of this is, and I already wish I would never have to leave again.

8 N E WS & F E ATU R ES NUI Galway President reported to have highest salary in the country By Julia Tereno A recent article by The Connacht Tribune reported that the President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, has the highest paying salary among university presidents across the country. The annual amount is estimated to be nearly €200,000. Professor Ó hÓgartaigh was appointed to the position in September 2017 and officially took office as the 13th President of NUI Galway in January 2018, beginning a ten-year term. According to the office of the President, the sum comes from the university’s budget, which totals €276 million. “I’m very conscious of the generosity in the context of the responsibility placed in me as a university president, both for students and society at large,” Professor Ó hÓgartaigh tells SIN.

Galway ‘Crisis Campout’ sees students sleep out overnight in Eyre Square By Anastasia Burton On 11 September numerous Galway students gathered together to camp out overnight in Eyre Square to highlight the accommodation crisis in Ireland. The ‘Crisis Campout’ was planned by the Students’ Unions of NUI Galway and the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, based on their belief that students are struggling to find safe accommodation for university every day - cutting them off from enjoying the full college experience. SIN spoke to NUI Galway’s Students’ Union President Megan Reilly at the event, who explained the thought behind the protest.

NEW BEGINNINGS Ó hÓgartaigh succeeds Dr Jim Browne, who served as president of NUI Galway from 2008 to 2018. The new president intends to keep an open relationship with students, and one of the first things he did when he took office was meet with the Students’ Union President and the Students’ Union Council. By working closely with the Students’ Union, he hopes to help streamline students’ lives, not only in academic and infrastructural terms, but in the whole college experience. Additionally, Professor Ó hÓgartaigh hopes to be able to go to student events as much as possible, for example Societies Day on 12 September, which he attended. Starting the week of 27 September, he will be teaching first year students in the Business School of Economics in NUI Galway. He tells SIN; “I would miss it if I weren’t meeting students as part of my role. If the timetable allows it, I’m hoping to be able to teach a module across the university next year, something all students can attend, not just in the business school.” Ó hÓgartaigh previously held positions at Dublin City University, University College Dublin and Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. He has a vast background in accounting, having served as an Accounting Professor and Dean of Business at UCD. With his professional background, he believes he can bring a better understanding of the role of numbers, along with their impact and limitations in decision making, to help achieve the mission of the university. “The central mission in NUI Galway is research, teaching and societal impact, so making money helps achieve this mission, and I think that as an accountant I can bring an understanding of how the numbers can be helpful with that,” he said. For the new students coming into university, Ó hÓgartaigh gives three pieces of advice that he wishes someone had told him when he was starting university; “Try something different, be yourself and take time to reflect.”

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

“A high-profile location for the campout gives people access to sign a petition, and gained the attention of the public,” she explained. “The tents symbolize shelter and that students don’t need luxury accommodation, they just need affordable housing.” People at the event were asked to sign a petition which calls for more affordable student accommodation to be built and for inspections to take place in Galway rental properties. As well as students, local politicians such as Galway City Mayor Níall McNelis and Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin attended the event. “The Mayor gave a very rousing speech regarding the accommodation crisis, and Brendan Howlin also attended and spoke to the students,” Reilly said. Ruth Sweeney, a 4th year Creative Writing student from NUI Galway, attended the campout to protest. She told SIN that as a student she thinks; “The government has been lazy in

announcing the accommodation crisis as a national emergency.” “It’s a letdown to students, not only in NUI Galway but all over Ireland,” she said. NUI Galway’s Post Graduate Officer Cameron Keighron said on the night that; “Higher Education is not a privilege, it’s a right. We shouldn’t be denying students the right to go to university because of unenforceable housing legislation.” “It’s ridiculous how many students are not being supported, even though in our day and age, higher education is encouraged. Every student deserves to be represented and feel as though they are being supported and looked out for.” “This isn’t an issue unique to Galway, it’s a universal issue around Ireland. The student movement in Ireland is very united, once one college does this others will follow.” “Students will not be silenced.” Ireland’s rent rates are currently one of the highest in Europe, and

Ireland is the third most expensive country to live in within the EU. The current number of bed spaces suitable for student accommodation is estimated to be just fewer than 31,300. It is projected that the demand for student beds will increase to just over 68,670 by 2024. Megan Reilly highlighted at the campout the fact that Galway is a city with multiple colleges who all need housing. “NUI Galway has plans to build more accommodation complexes but must take out a loan to do so. IT colleges cannot borrow money, which means they can’t afford to fund accommodation complexes.” This puts even further strain on the private housing market in Galway. The Students’ Union is calling for NUI Galway students to join a national accommodation crisis protest on 3 October. €2 bus tickets to the event will be sold on campus before the protest.

FINAL YEAR DIARIES: Last first day By Aileen O’Leary Last first days are supposed to be a mess of emotions and nostalgia. Looking back at my first day on campus three years ago, I would have told myself to just enjoy it more, to not worry so much

and just trust that there will be certain things that will happen over these next few years that need to happen. I also would’ve told myself to invest in a proper jacket, if I have learnt anything from college, especially from my first week back, it’s that I should invest more into jackets, boots, umbrellas and hats, because the weather in Galway is forever changing. Also, I probably would warn my younger and more naïve self that sometimes your course can have its ups and downs, that you won’t like every aspect but the modules you enjoy the most are the ones you will do well in. Most optional modules can be swapped out if you don’t like the options you picked before starting lectures, most disciplines give you a week or two once classes start. Heading into final year I didn’t know what to expect. I spent most

of last year working as a communications intern, so I had developed a different routine. I had almost fallen out of sync with college, when you’re on placement obviously you don’t go out as much, you have more deadlines, but it was probably the least stressful year I had in college. The thing is, college throws a lot at us. As I’m writing this week’s instalment, my Blackboard app is lighting up like a Christmas tree with notifications about lecture slides, course reading lists, schedules and more. I always thought week one wouldn’t be so heavy on content, but I’m already halfway through a reading on development and change, and slowly the reality of final year is beginning to set in. I spent the majority of my first day back walking in and out of campus, only to find out my lectures were either cancelled or had been replaced with a

new timetable. Anyone out there who knows the pain of studying English will be familiar with this, particularly final years. I had a total of four hours of college during fresher’s week. Already the emails about career events and ‘what to do with an arts degree’ are flooding in. Suddenly all those SU emails that I glanced over have become a weekly read to find out how to improve your C.V., what to do after you graduate and more. It feels like this year isn’t just about finishing your degree, it’s about preparing yourself for the big bad world out there. So to my fellow final years, here is the starting line. Make sure to check back for the next instalment of the final year diaries, exclusively in SIN. If you have any final year diaries we’d love to hear them, tweet us @NuigSin.

N UAC HT

September 25 2018

REPEAT EXAM FEES: adding punishment to pain? By Conor Brummell Exam time can be a stressful period in any college student’s life. Many people, due to personal circumstances, a heavy workload or sickness have to defer exams at the end of the year. That, or possibly just the fact that some students are unfortunate on the day in question and fail their exams, leaves students having to repeat an exam in a resit held in August each year. For those that happened to fail, this can add unnecessary financial pressures on students who may not receive a SUSI grant or who must work part time to fund their college expenses. With students having to repeat exams year after year, it raises the question: are repeat exam fees really fair on students? The crux of the matter in NUI Galway is that whether you fail one exam or fail eight, you must pay a standardised fee of €295. A static fee regardless of how many modules you failed seems harsh within itself. I met with Megan Reilly, NUI Galway Students’ Union President, to find out her view on the subject and whether the Union itself has any plans to try and change the fee structure for repeat exams. “I don’t think the repeat fee structure at the moment is ideal. The Union will always advocate

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exam fees and have a structure in place like Trinity College do (wherein they have no repeat exam fee after a protest held last March), Megan said; “There was a big reactionary process there that happened straight away. These fees have been in place for three years now and it is harder to change something that has been in place for some time. It sparked off activism across the country, and I would love to see more of that activism here. We are happy to take a lead on things if we have the student body behind us.”

The issue of repeat exam fees is something that plagues universities all around the country. NUI Galway ranks somewhere in the middle in terms of the cost of repeats, with Maynooth ranking closely behind with a maximum charge of €280 (and a minimum charge of €50) based on how many modules you need to repeat. The University of Limerick has a system in place wherein you must pay €171 per module sat, and in University College Dublin a student must pay €230

per module. That is almost like paying a year of fees, depending on how many exams you fail. Despite these fees acting as a measure to stop ‘strategic failing’ and to deter people away from the ideology that if you fail one, you may as well fail all of them to get your money’s worth, the standardised fee of €295 is still something to reconsider. A system where you pay per module at a lower price would be more manageable, especially for students who only must repeat things such as an essay or a practical. Megan agreed, saying a system where a student could carry modules over to the following year has been discussed by the Students’ Union. “It is a very positive thing. We are one of the only universities in Ireland who don’t have it - it’s ridiculous that we don’t - and it demotivates people who only fail one exam. It’s a cruel punishment as people need to repeat a whole year and live another year in Galway which means affording rent as well as the repeat fee - it would be easier if they could carry on the extra five or ten credits.” Unfortunately, this system might not be brought in for another three to five years as the committee set up to do the work is working off an ‘archaic model’. “Our student record system is so bad that we have to make a new one, and then test that record system before the module carry over system can be brought in. Students should know that these things are being held back due to bad systems,” she concluded.

Two students arrested during housing protest in Dublin

n Tuesday 11 September, a number of protestors occupied a vacant property at 34 North Frederick Street in Dublin city centre to protest the spiralling housing crisis. Men in balaclavas forcefully removed the protestors and some arrests were made. According to the Union of Students in Ireland’s President, Síona Cahill, two of the individuals who were arrested were students. “We have received reports tonight of the arrest of two students during an occupation of a vacant property in Dublin City Centre, and understand that they have now been released but will be seeking medical attention,” she said in a statement.

“Both students were part of an occupation calling for urgent government action on homelessness and housing.” “We have been informed that there was force used to remove the students, and USI condemns any violence which may have occurred during the incident, and supports the right to peaceful protest.” “We are liaising with the students’ unions of the students involved in the matter.” Amnesty International Ireland condemned the use of excessive force in relation to the incident, according to the Irish Times. Sinn Féin justice spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire and Labour justice spokesman Seán Sherlock also voiced concerns about the handling of the incident.

Photo: thoroughlyreviewed.com

Despite these fees acting as a measure to stop ‘strategic failing’ and to deter people away from the ideology that if you fail one, you may as well fail all of them to get your money’s worth, the standardised fee of €295 is still something to reconsider. for lower fees,” Megan said. “Failing that, there is a contingency measure for students who are unable to pay fees. When the fees were put in place, the Union lobbied to have a contingency budget there for around 200 students who to have their fee waived if they needed the help, or if they were in receipt of a financial aid fund from the college in the past.” When asked if the Students’ Union had considered lobbying the college to abolish repeat

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10 NEWS & F E ATU R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

The charity and the chancer By Marie Coady A curious story emerged from Kerry earlier this month. According to the Irish Independent, a student who had sought emergency college funds from St Vincent de Paul (SVP) had his cheque cancelled after posting a picture of it sitting next to a pint with the caption; “That’s me sorted for the Listowel Races.” SVP has long been supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds and provides an education bursary scheme for third-level students in financial difficulties. Normally there is a strict vetting process for people who seek this scholarship. Jim Walsh, media spokesperson for SVP, explained to SIN that applicants first approach their regional SVP conference, who then take the case to the eduSU bursary LOCKERS cation committee for approval. Candidates must prove that they have sought all SU funding or nonavailable state government SU grants. CLOAKROOM

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He says the handling of this As a student who had the would you blame them if they By Katrina Murray case was “most unusual and has doors to university unlocked were reluctant to give it to him? never happened before in our through a scholarship, I am SVP were in an unenviable The Italian Ambassador to Ireland, society.” Normally, SVP makes alternating between fury at the position here. Presumably the Paolo Serpi, is set to come to NUI cheques payable directly to the student for making a mockery of boy and his family desperately Galway to open a new Italian art college or accommodation pro- schemes like these and, oddly, needed the money, although they exhibition on campus. The exhibivider, so the chances of someone sympathy. No question that it might just be talented actors. tion will celebrate contemporary making a fraudulent claim are was an incredibly reckless and But if SVP hadn’t cancelled the Italian illustrators and their colslim. The regional president for self-defeating move, but it’s diffi- cheque, it would have sparked laborations with the publishing Cork and Kerry, Christy Lynch, cult to gauge the whole situation backlash, says Walsh; “If the pub- industry. explained to Radio Kerry (as per without seeing the post in ques- lic starts thinking the system is The exhibit, curated by Melania the Irish Independent) that the tion, which was unsurprisingly being abused, they might stop Gazzotti, will showcase the unique local committee had only made deleted quickly. donating.” and colourful illustrations being the cheque out to the student The media was quick to accept At least this story highlights used progressively more on book because it was a “time sensitive” that the student was boasting, but the good work SVP are doing for covers, as a means of expressing the and urgent case. I have a niggling feeling that this students of all ages. The society individuality and style of authors “This was an incident that could have been sarcasm or troll- has spoken out against student through vibrant artworks. got out of hand. The family ing gone wrong. There’s a growing loan schemes and advocated for Titled ‘Cover Revolution! Illusare very upset. It’s done, the contempt in this country towards a predominantly state-funded trators and the New Face of Italian good intentions were there by anyone receiving any sort of third level system. The educa- Publishing’, the exhibit is aimed the conference, I stand behind handout, whether it be from the tion bursary scheme provides as a celebration and an acknowlthem in that. It was a complete Government or charities. This financial support to low - income edgment of the importance of bravado, a ‘look what I’m doing, could have been an attempt at TAISCEADÁIN students for fees, accommo- how Italian illustrations help to CHOMHALTAIS TAISCEADÁIN I got a cheque’,” he told the sta- mocking that attitude, and delib- ANdation, transport, learning remould, alter or visually define AN CHOMHALTAIS tion. erately raising right-wing hackles materials and more – and with an author’s image. He added that he didn’t think for the fun of it. no assistance from the GovernProfessor Paolo Bartoloni, Head the student meant any harm; Then again, that’s giving the ment. One joker showing off on of Italian at NUI Galway, said of the SU LOCKERS “The young lad had a rush of student a lot of credit, as he has social media is not reflective of upcoming event; “This exhibition blood to the head. He was boast- damaged SVP’s reputation as their efforts on the whole, and provides a unique opportunity to ing about what he was going to well as his own. He’ll have to re- hopefully it doesn’t stop the pub- observe the synergy between the SU SEOMRA CÓTAÍ do, it was a silly thing to now, CÓTAÍ and lic from showing their support. creative practices of visual artists SEOMRA ANdo.” CHOMHALTAISapply for assistance AN CHOMHALTAIS

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Italian Ambassador to visit NUI Galway to launch new exhibit

ENTS Second Hand

• Sign Language BOOKSTORE • Occupational First Aid

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• Child Protection Training

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• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills

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• Mixed Martial Arts for Self Defence

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SIOPA LEABHAR an Chomhaltais ATHLÁIMHE an Chomhaltais E By Graham Gillespie ATHLÁIMH go towards the NUI Galway an Chomhaltais

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and those of authors.” “The written word evokes incredibly powerful and captivating images, the colours in this exhibition are vibrant, and the echoes of various styles, especially surrealism and modernism, is uncanny.” He explains that this artistic movement has provided a creative parallel between the verbal and visual styles of the author. This pivotal moment in Italian art history is the focus of the exhibition, and it will include the works of famed Italian illustrators such as Franco Matticchio, Lorenzo Mattotti, Emiliano Ponzi, Guido Scarabottolo, Gianluigi Toccafondo, and Olimpia Zagnoli - who helped orchestrate the movement. Professor Brian Hughes, Dean of International Affairs, will launch the exhibit along with Ambassador Paolo Serpi and it will be open to the public free of charge. The launch will take place on the 26 September in G010 in the Hardiman Building on NUI Galway’s campus from 6pm to 8pm. The exhibition will run from the 26 September to the 28 October.

• Disclosure Training

• Frithchiníochas

• Sexual Consent Workshop

• Ceardlann um Chomhthoiliú Gnéis

• Yoga

• An tIóga

More information at www.su.nuigalway.ie or email studentsunion@nuigalway.ie

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NUI Galway Students’ Union have launched their Life Skills courses for students for the new academic year. The Life Skills courses are a series of short courses in a variety of areas, which give students the chance to learn practical new skills outside of academic work. The courses are exclusive to NUI Galway students and they are partially subsidised by the Students’ Union, so students can avail of discounted prices. In total, there are 13 courses available and registration is on a first come first serve basis. Some of the courses, such as the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and the two First Aid courses on offer, teach students how to react in an emergency. Students can also build their CV by learning useful new skills such as Sign Language and Bar Skills. Several of the courses are also certified, and can

Employability Award. The Life Skills programme began in 2009. Students’ Union assistant manager and Life Skills coordinator Joanna Brophy explains that the Students’ Union believed it was important that students had the chance to pick up these skills. “We noticed there wasn’t training available for students on campus whereas there was training available for university staff in a lot of things,” she tells SIN. “We just thought that sometimes the person who would be here late at night when someone might need CPR or something else would be a student. That’s why we started the Life Skills courses, because we know students will be here the most and it would be good to equip them with these skills.” Other courses include AntiRacism Training, which teaches students about the roots of injustice and racism. Brophy says that students in the past have found this class “eye-opening”.

Meanwhile, Disclosure Training is in association with the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, and it is where one can learn how to help someone who has suffered sexual violence. “A lot of people who do that course actually end up volunteering with Galway Rape Crisis Centre, dealing with victims of sexual violence and assault,” says Brophy. There is also a Self - Defence course with Shaolin MMA, and Child Protection Training which is useful for clubs and societies who host events that younger people attend. Finally, students can also take up Yoga, learn to swim, do a Lifeguard Course or undertake Manual Handling Training. The courses have proved hugely popular, and Brophy says many of them, as of 13 September, are already filled for this year. You can sign up for the courses in the Students’ Union office in Aras na Mac Leinn.

TUAIRIM

September 25 2018

MARGARET CASH: a story of misplaced anger By Gary Elbert Outrage followed when pictures of a young Irish woman’s children, sprawled out on a Garda station’s steel benches, surfaced on social media. The image conjured up some Dickensian dystopia difficult to stomach. Kids born out of socio-economic dysfunction, resting their innocent bodies on cold hard steel in a building designed to stop crime. What impact was this having on their mental, physical, and emotional development?

The outrage morphed into visceral keyboard thumping disdain when it emerged that Margaret Cash was a traveller. Think of all those angry faces throughout the country, bashing out bile on a laptop. What’s the utility of this incessant personal assault of strangers? “No sign of a father around” and social media pictures were used to re - write her narrative as one of freeloading sponger, expecting everything to be handed to her while the rest of us have to pay our own way.

It’s all well and good harping on about personal responsibility but a wider understanding of the cultural context is essential to understanding this situation. Try get a job with a strong traveller accent and no educational qualifications... Imagine trying to raise seven children, work part time or full time in a minimum wage job without any prospect of climbing the social and financial ladder.

In the broader scheme of things, the Government will welcome this story. It is a useful distraction from the cervical cancer scandal, and believe it or not, a distraction from the central cause of this tragic image; the Irish government’s utter failure to provide affordable, social, and regulated rental accommodation for its citizens. Demonization of single mothers is the natural offshoot of neo liberalism’s nasty economic reverberations. Varadkar and his fee – paying, privately educated Minister for Housing colleague should dip their hands into their own pockets and buy Margaret Cash a house themselves in leafy Ballsbridge. But of course, the neighbours would quickly revive their resident’s association to oppose such a measure. Personal responsibility is a loose term. Margaret Cash’s straight talking, “cruel to be kind” critics urge her to get a job and stop milking the system, but is that possible? Just how much of an option is that for a woman with seven young children and the apparent absence of a stable father figure? “Well then she shouldn’t have had the children,” cry the cynics. It’s all well and good harping on about personal responsibility but a wider understanding of the cultural context is essential to understanding this situation.

Try get a job with a strong traveller accent and no educational qualifications. Sure, there may be jobs available, but these are underpaid roles which cannot sustain a family or rent a house. Have you seen rental prices these days? Imagine trying to raise seven children, work part time or full time in a minimum wage job without any prospect of climbing the social and financial ladder. How many of the trolls, the cynics, and the working disaffected would trade places with Margaret Cash? They claim to be angry at the culture of entitlement they deem prevalent in deprived socio-economic environments, but none of them would trade their lives for the life of an unemployed single mother of seven children. And maybe that’s the ultimate irony here. In Margaret Cash they see a version of themselves; lost, helpless, and grinding desperately amidst a dysfunctional uncaring political system where the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable are oppressed. A vast amount of Irish people work in low paid jobs averaging under 22 thousand euros a year and have no prospect of a house or apartment anytime soon. How is Margaret Cash supposed to enter the labour market and survive? We have people in this country with useless master’s degrees working in petrol stations, renting dilapidated hovels, scrimping and saving for a ticket to Vancouver or London.

The real story here is not the personal failure of Margaret Cash to provide for her children and contribute to the state. The story is the government’s disgusting loyalty to neo liberal economics, just like the British colonialist’s cold economic inaction towards Ireland during times of strife. They refuse to interfere with the market. This is profit worship taking preference over human survival. The victims as always are the working class, the vulnerable, the modern precariat handing over a fortnights wages to pay a month’s rent, and sadly reduced to banging out misdirected rage through the lonely medium of a fluorescent screen at a victim of insular socialisation. Real bitterness lurks under the surface of Irish society, and Margaret Cash has become a useful dartboard for the worst sufferers. Their bitterness and hate are the product of internalised frustration at external political and social incompetence. This government need to seriously tackle the housing issue otherwise the stage will be set for a Trump/Brexit like political upheaval. All that’s required to trigger this is an Irish orator with the ability to tap into this bitterness, this cold judgemental reflex that makes people write hateful messages to a young woman they have never met. The frustration is understandable, but the direction it is flung at is misplaced.

Is taking on a man’s surname after marriage a relic of the past? By Marie Coady What’s in a name? That’s what the modern Irish woman has to ask herself when getting married. It’s still an unspoken assumption that a woman in a heterosexual relationship will adopt the man’s surname. Nobody but the most cantankerous old crone cares if a woman bucks the trend and keeps her previous moniker, but she’ll probably have plenty of well-intentioned people referring to her as Mrs Newname until she corrects them. It’s of no consequence to me and most Irish people if a woman freely chooses to change her name; many view it as a gesture of love, loyalty and commitment. It can also be an easy way of shedding a name shared with a deadbeat dad or a diabolical murderess from the 1700s. Though personally I would be flattered about the latter. Irish surnames are traditionally patrilineal, so most of us have a man’s last name anyway. However, I think there’s something to be said about the unique identity Irish women carve out with our maiden names. CSO statistics revealed that the average age for a woman to get married to a member of the opposite sex was 34.1 years in 2017, many of whom will already be successful in their professional or creative life. If all your personal and career achievements have been with your birth name, it’s stressful to have to start all over again under a new one. But there are practical reasons for

adopting a single family name. It makes things easier when relatives don’t have to worry about being separated on a flight because their names were in distant cells on a spreadsheet, for example. However, this can ring a bit hollow when Irish men are unwilling to take the same plunge as women. A survey of 1,492 men undertaken by Thevow.ie in 2017 found that 64 percent would not take their wife’s last name. I wonder why? Is it some innate masculine anxiety about carrying on your bloodline and being the head of the household? Is it too feminine a tradition? Do they think other men would slag them off? Or, and this is most likely, is it just too logistically difficult? I’ve been writing from a very heteronormative point of view so far, but it’s even more complex in same - sex relationships. Just because they are in a ‘non-traditional’ coupling doesn’t mean they don’t want to partake in the old customs. Who assumes the role of ‘the man’? Well, you could do as one lesbian couple in America did and decide whose name to take by means of a soccer match. There are other solutions. You could also choose a new name altogether, and of course you can take on a double-barrelled name, although this can get complicated if you have children who marry off. Poor Edward Montagu-Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, AKA the first Earl of Wharncliffe. Professor Niamh Reilly of the Sociology and Political Science department here in NUI Galway gave her opinion on

the topic; “Looking at it from an equality perspective, I would say that the most important thing about changing names (or not) is that the two people planning to get married should talk about it, neither one should feel pressured due to custom, and if both agree that name changes are a good idea to mark their marriage, all options should be on the

table for both. In my experience a mix of surnames in a family is not a problem or source of complications.” As with most debates like this, it all boils down to talking it through with your partner and deciding what you really, really want – proving the Spice Girls had a more solid feminist theory than we give them credit for. But it’s

outdated for women alone to bear the burden of taking on new names when men don’t have to. Maybe the soccerplaying lesbians were on to something. I propose that from this point forward, any marital name changes should be decided on through relays, rap battles or paintball tournaments. It would spice up the dull engagement period at least.

Photo: Jeff Belmonte via Flickr

12 O PI N IO N

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

HEAD TO HEAD: iPhone vs Android The argument that has divided our nation, the biggest rivalry in tech for the best part of a decade, but how do you choose which side you want to be on? Keep reading to decide if you are team iPhone or team Android.

Supporting iPhone By Tarryn McGuire There are two words that pop into my mind when I think of Apple products; simplicity and quality. If this isn’t enough to convince you then I can continue. As decision making is not my strong suit, I love that when you decide on an iPhone, all you have to do is pick a model. Meanwhile, due to many companies producing Android devices, you’re left struggling to pick both a brand and a model, which can be a confusing. I can feel quite lost in the Android world. They tend not to keep customers informed on topics such as operating system updates. However, Apple are devoted to keeping their customers in the loop, especially when it comes to updates. While it’s to be expected that older phones will eventually lose support for the latest OS, Apple’s support for older models is generally better than Android’s. My iPhone 5S which was

released in 2013 is supported by the latest iOS 11, on the other hand, Android 8, codenamed Oreo, was installed on less than 0.2% of Android devices more than 8 weeks after its release. I always knew that Apple’s integration with other devices was outstanding, however it never really hit me until I was typing an email on my new MacBook Air and I got a phone call. That’s right, a phone call, not a Skype, Viber or Facetime call. A little icon popped up and now both my phone and laptop were ringing. I just sat there in awe instead of answering it. Having everything I need on my laptop and being able to sync both my devices so effortlessly really makes me feel far more organized and in control of my life than I actually am. Being able to screenshot things on my Mac and airdropping them to my phone in a matter of seconds will never fail to amaze me. If you are like me and actually care about the security on your phone, then Apple is your only option. In a study carried out by F-Secure Labs, they showed that 97 per cent of all malware, viruses and worms were for

Supporting Android By Rachel Garvey

Android. In that study, zero per cent attacked the iPhone. I keep everything on my phone, I mean, it’s 2018, who doesn’t? This means that security is of the utmost importance to me. If your top priorities when buying a phone include simplicity, quality, OS compatibility, integration and security, then iPhone is for you. If budget is an issue, then I suggest you look at buying an older or refurbished model like I did. Ask anyone that knows anything about phones, even if they’re an Android user themselves they won’t be able to deny that Apple’s software and hardware complement each other beautifully. I hope this article has been of some help to you, and oh… welcome to team iPhone.

I really don’t know where I would be without my beloved Samsung Android. What more could I ask for with its 8-megapixel camera, the perfect amount of space for my social media apps, all my photos and music, and not to mention 4G for when the wi-fi is being a pain in the backside. As a child who grew up being happy with everything she got, I didn’t understand all the hype about iPhones, you’d swear they were the best thing since sliced pan. My own sister begged me to buy her an iPhone for her birthday but when I asked her; “What’s so great about an iPhone, isn’t your Android enough?” She replied with; “All my friends have it and it’s literally the best phone ever!” I was confused at the reply, mostly because there was no real reason why a new iPhone would be better over a perfectly working Android. Also, God knows how much it would cost.

My first time using an iPhone was also my last. It was tiny and fragile in my hand and it overheated quite easily. Was this godforsaken phone trying to burn me? My precious Android would never overheat like that. When trying to contact someone it took enormous effort. This included walking back and forth in my garden attempting to find a decent signal (even though everyone’s Android had full signal) and constantly tapping the phone screen when it would freeze for no apparent reason. I’m surprised I didn’t end up breaking my nail or finger because of how forcefully I was tapping the touch screen. As a result, I will never use an iPhone again, even if my life depended on it. It taught me that there was nothing to get excited about. More than anything it gave me the urge to throw it against the wall. Who wants a phone like that? I will also not neglect to mention that Androids are a lot stronger than iPhones. I’ve seen people drop their iPhones and the whole screen cracks. My Android slipped out of my

hand once on the stairs and it fell against every step and not a crack in sight. See, Androids are better! Take a look at iPhone’s widget list, compare that to the amount on an Android. Android has a lot more. Look at the iPhones back button, yeah exactly, what back button? We all need a back button in our lives, it’s just a must have! My point is clear, Android should be deemed the winner over iPhones in terms of better selections, cheaper prices and they will last longer. Experiment with the two phones beside you and see for yourself. Even if the experiment includes throwing both phones down the stairs to see which one is declared the winner!

The American President trumped himself – again By Stevie Buckley Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland has been cancelled, with speculation growing that his entire European tour won’t go ahead. The reasons for the trip not going ahead have been cited as “scheduling reasons,” which makes perfect sense, as his planned visit coincided with the weekend that the next Irish President is due to be inaugurated. He was expected to visit Ireland on the way home from Armistice Day commemorations in Paris. I believe that Mr Trump strategically planned this visit. It comes mere days after the United States’ Midterm Elections, where politicians are elected to the Senate. Maybe he scheduled this visit to get away from the possible obliteration of the Republican Party in these important elections, as it seems like Trump has completely alienated many Republican voters and, in fact, the majority of the United States’ population. This begs the question – was Trump playing games with the entirety of the Irish population in the first place? Even our own politicians were surprised by the visit announced by Trump. Is he playing with us, or was this unexpected announcement a legitimate breakdown in diplomacy and/ or communication? Whatever Mr Trump was doing, the overwhelming majority of Irish people I have heard from seem to be relieved by this visit being cancelled. Political parties and groups of activists left, right, and centre were organising mass protests during the time Trump was due to be in Ireland. People were responding “interested” and “going” to Facebook events for these protests in their thousands.

However, some people weren’t as polite as just responding “interested” to a protest event. There was a page called “Say Nope to the Dope” gaining traction on Facebook, possibly stemming from the previous protests that went under the name “Say Nope to the Pope.” I’m all for free speech but I think this was taking it a bit too far. The money for this visit could be spent on much better things than paying for security around a rich man’s private golf resort anyway. As of the end of July, there were almost 10,000 people homeless in Ireland. Many of these are living in hostels, hotels and B&Bs. Why couldn’t the money for this visit be given to the Department of Housing to pay for social and affordable housing for homeless people, and other people who need it? Not to mention the underfunded HSE, with people dying on waiting lists for life - saving procedures. In conclusion, Trump and his representatives in the White House seem to be indecisive about where (and

whether) he’ll visit. A large proportion of Irish people seemed to care about his visit, but not in the way Trump and his representatives anticipated. The threat of mass protests may have influenced the decision just as much as “scheduling reasons.” Will he come to Ireland at another point? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Photo by Rob Walsh on Unsplash

TUAIRIM

September 25 2018

Are first years taking Freshers’ week too far? By Niamh Casey ‘Freshers’ week’ is seen as the rite of passage for young people transitioning from secondary school kids to college adults. For many, it has only been a few months since they were wearing a uniform and asking for permission to use the bathroom. Now many are living independently for the first time in their lives. Free from the constant watchful eye of their parents, free to make their own decisions and for many that means freedom to go out and stay out as late as possible every night for a week. But is ‘Freshers’ Week’ taken too far? What many first years may not realise is that going out every night, even for just a week, is expensive. Many first years receive money from their parents and possibly other relatives for emergencies, or perhaps just as a gift for heading off to university, meaning first years have a newfound independence with cash to spend, and nightclubs know this. From living in Corrib Village, I can say that for the past two weeks various representatives from different nightclubs around Galway have repeatedly visited the apartments, going door to door handing out flyers, advertising different events. They encourage first years to go out by having special deals for new students every night of the week. First years are eager to go out, hoping to get a cheap ticket into the nightclubs and with promises of different events and entertainment. Students in Corrib may also feel pressure to go out from peers and housemates. When someone sees everyone else going out, they may feel that they have to too, despite possibly having a nine o’clock lecture the next morning. Some may also

Photo by Michael Discenza on Unsplash

feel that it is the only way to meet people outside of their apartment or lectures. They hear others describing how they met so many new people and feel that by not going out, they are being anti-social. Many people would assume that a person is shy just because they dislike going out or partying until the early hours of the morning. In this case, people feel pressured to go out every night in order to be seen as fun, social butterflies. Freshers’ week is seen as the time to prove yourself and make a good first impression. So, many people take going out to the extreme and cause their mental, physical and emotional health to suffer as a result. Many students miss opportunities during the day to meet new people, be it at lectures or club and society events, because they are too busy recovering from the night before. They are physically and mentally exhausted and emotionally drained. I also think it leads to stress in the following weeks because they missed useful information in the first week and helpful tips on finding their feet. On the other hand, Freshers’ week is a good opportunity to discover venues for future occasional nights out and it does help people to meet new friends. First years do only want to enjoy themselves and experience new things. Some do first years take freshers week to far? In short, yes, a lot of them do. However, it is not all their fault. They are urged on by the physiological pressure they put on themselves, and put on by others, as well as endorsements and cheap deals by nightclubs. But Freshers’ week is mostly harmless and good fun for first years. If nothing else it gives an exciting start to a new life stage, which, in many first year’s opinions, makes it worth it.

BANG BANG By Kaylen Blanchier “Bang Bang” said the Indian, placing his banana gun back into his holster; “I shot the sheriff.” “Bang Bang” read our newspapers headlines: ‘10 dead in shooting at Texas High School’, ‘26 killed in grade school massacre’, ‘Gunman kills 17 at Florida School’. And just like that, break is over. Children, please leave your innocence at the door. How did it get so real? How did children come to need the premature understanding of the very concepts of killing or threat? How did the classroom become a place to hide as well as a place to learn? While newspapers give us reports of an umpteenth tragedy, American parents ask themselves as they pack their offspring’s lunchbox, “Could this happen to us?” And they hasten to the conclusion that of course it can’t, because these things only happen to others. Worldwide, most schools would train their students how to react in the event of a fire, a gas leak or an earthquake. For American pupils, school - shooting drill was added to the list alongside these natural catastrophes. It is a catastrophe for sure, but certainly not a natural one. The epidemic of gun violence, unlike any epidemic, can be traced back to a single source: the Second

Amendment to the US Constitution. The right to bear arms that was granted to all US citizens in 1788 is greatly responsible for what is happening in 2018, and has been happening for decades. Before gun violence became an issue, gun culture was already shaping the country. Americans take pride in owning a gun mainly for recreational activities such as hunting, but they also hold an iconic Bonnie and Clyde heritage which is easier to live up to when buying a handgun is just as accessible as buying today’s newspaper or a chocolate bar. This epidemic has a cure. The US government’s idea of this cure is the reinforcement of security in schools and the learning of self-defence. However, this is simply displacing the initial problem and putting the safety of American lives on standby. The cure was identified a long time ago: gun control. Despite the effort of several administrations to limit gun use, none have been very successful. This indicates a much deeper - rooted issue. When directly confronted, the Oval Office and the National Rifle Association were not ashamed to maintain their priorities for guns over lives. This mindset is indeed made evident through the country’s representative’s disgraceful, artificially sympathetic Tweets. Gun violence seems like a current problem because the rate at which these events occur is overwhelmingly skyrocketing, but looking back in history, gun violence really never stopped being a “current” problem. Even as a non-American, it is incredibly challenging to distance oneself from the emotional weight of such preposterous events; that makes this feature opinionated by default. Nonetheless, an objective eye would still witness a country stuck watching re-runs of their least favourite episodes in history, and that they cannot seem to find the stop button to turn them off.

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September 25 2018

FAIS EAN

NÓ S MAIRE ACHTÁLA

Living her best life:

ZENDAYA

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

By Amy McMahon Zendaya; you know you’ve made it when you only use one name. Showing her many talents from a young age, she made her debut on the Disney Channel show Shake It Up with Bella Thorne in 2010. Barely in her early twenties, Zendaya is already a household name with 52.7 million followers on Instagram. With this being said, Zendaya never comes across as fazed by the fame at all. She seems to command each and every outfit she is in, and always has an air of confidence about her. When asked about her unwavering confidence, the actress revealed; “a lot of things contribute, but having a good skincare routine makes all the difference.” Studies have shown it is important to start a skincare routine once you hit your 20th birthday - including antiageing products. Take note and take out your cheque book because it is expensive to have flawless skin like Zendaya. Her skincare routine includes a €140 mask by La Mer (the Intensive Revitalizing Mask, available at Brown Thomas) – that’s one product and it’s only a mask, not even an everyday moisturiser! Seeing as we are all struggling students here, I found one product Zendaya swears by for a much lower and

pleasing price of €8.05 (available online). Zendaya regularly uses the Rose Petal Witch Hazel toner by Thayers, which acts to smooth and hydrate the skin while minimizes pores. That’s going straight in my basket! Zendaya’s style is always changing, but one wardrobe constant is her signature red lip. In my opinion, someone who can rock a red lip is bold, confident and unapologetically themselves and Zendaya is no exception. If you’re craving a crimson lip too, you can copy the exact look using Zendaya’s favourite, NARS Semi-Matte lipstick in Jungle Red. You can pick this lippy up for €27 in Brown Thomas, or if you’re feeling lazy for €29 on ASOS. Jack of all traits, master of none does not apply to this inspiring young woman. As well as being a successful actress, singer and dancer, she also established her own app and website (Zendaya.com) as a centre for all things Zendaya. In The Greatest Showman, Zendaya played trapeze artist Anne Wheeler, yet another skill to add to her already amazing CV. There are tonnes of great societies and clubs to join on campus that capture the Zendaya spirit. GUMS and DramSoc are always looking for a helping hand backstage and regularly hold auditions. Join DanSoc for everything from hiphop to salsa; beginner to advanced classes are held weekly so everyone is welcome no matter what your experience.

I recommend joining the peppy Pandas (CheerSoc) if you’re hoping to be the next Anne Wheeler. One of the main reasons Zendaya inspires me is the way in which she embodies self-love. I truly believe we do not value ourselves enough and need to take a leaf out of Zendaya’s book. She recently uploaded three photos of herself in a row on both Twitter and Instagram with the caption “1/3 posts coming…just a warning, I’m feelin myself lmao.” We should all have that confidence! I challenge you to live like Zendaya and the next time you’re feeling great about yourself, let the world know – what do you have to lose? If you’re wondering what to wear for such a display of self-love, I have it all sussed. Perfect for a night out with your friends or for a date, Zendaya wore this stunning LBD at the start of

September. I have created a look nearly identical to the original for a lot less. A close second to the dress Zendaya wore is this black ripped jumper (€19.95, Zara) paired with this skirt (€25.95, Zara). The button detail on the jumper makes the piece look much more expensive. Finish the look with a pair of tights (€6, Penneys) and heels or boots, and you’re ready for any occasion. Nasty Gal has a great selection of black heels and boots, sizes 3-8 and starting from €18 at the minute. And always remember to use your student discount!

UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

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

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

Your new style envy: the scandi girl By Molly Fitzpatrick It seems like since the beginning of time, the fashion world has been drooling over the French girl’s style. There’s just something about the effortlessly yet immaculately put together style of the French girl that has us all green w i t h envy. She

Doc martens, €146 at Office

just seems to have that je ne sais quoi that we’re all looking for. Her undone hair looks like it’s meant to be, (brushing one’s hair is considered sacrilege to a true Parisienne). Her blazer looks as though it was made to fit her slender frame. Her confidence screams “I don’t care” yet she’s always put together. However, I think Its time we stop trying to emulate the unattainable effortlessness of French girl chic and look to someone else. Breton stripes, berets, and ballet flats be gone! Recently I’ve found myself with a new sartorial envy; the scandi girl. Clean- cut, tailored, minimalistic and cool, the scandi it - girls are the ultimate winter wardrobe style inspiration. I’ve looked to some of

A student’s guide to

MINIMALISM By Tarryn McGuire The minimalist way of life is rapidly increasing in popularity, and we aren’t surprised. Minimalism can bring clarity and purpose to one’s life, while also saving time and money. By taking on a minimalist approach to life, you will be able to bring into focus the things you value most and remove any distractions. By doing this, you are forced to improve almost all aspects of your life. Sounds perfect right, just what we all need. However, many people struggle with transitioning into this new lifestyle. Being a student can be stressful, as I am sure you are all aware, and maybe making a dramatic change in your life is the last thing you need… or maybe it’s the change you’ve been longing for all along. If that is the case, then keep reading to find out how having less in your life can actually help you get more done. The first and most important step is to eliminate all unnecessary possessions. What would you need to take with you if you went away for a week, a month, a year? Probably not as much as you think you would. Everyday life is surprisingly the same, half of the stuff we own is completely unnecessary. The whole point of minimalism is to only own items that add value to your life, not ones that clutter your drawers, closet and room. It is time to bag up what you do not need, and donate, sell or throw the whole lot out.

The second step is very similar to the first, however it is less materialistic. Minimalism is all about cleansing yourself of all toxic things that add no value to your life. So, go ahead, eliminate all the unnecessary people from your life too. Just because you can’t donate, sell or throw them out doesn’t mean you can’t say ‘adios’ to certain people. If someone doesn’t make you feel good about yourself, or doesn’t support you, then they don’t deserve your time. Having five real friendships is much better than having fifty fake ones. Thirdly, it’s time to ditch the tech my friends. It turns out that spending two hours a day on your phone adds up to an entire month each year. Let’s face it, we spend a lot more than two hours a day on our phones. By deleting any social media off of your phone and only logging in on your computer, you will find a dramatic change in the amount of time you spend on your phone. This will mean more time to spend with family, to study, to meet friends face to face, to rediscover hobbies. The world is your oyster, as long as it’s not the virtual one. Lastly, in order to begin your journey towards a minimalist lifestyle you have to get your priorities straight. What you want to do and what you actually spend your time doing can vary drastically, life is short, don’t put off your goals. If you want to ace your exams, you can do it. If you want to improve your fitness, go and do it, if you want to start a YouTube channel, start recording because you can do anything if you have the right mindset!

of neutrals, also consists of more daring pieces. Her look may be anchored in cool colours, but she elevates it with daring prints, eye catching brights, and statement accessories. Don’t be afraid to stick to normore basics, building your outfit around one show stopping piece.

GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MASCULINE SIDE:

Sweater, €41.48 at Asos.com. the OG Scandinavian fashionistas and the up and coming it - girls of Instagram, and here’s everything I’ve learnt about scandi style.

MIX MODERN STAPLES WITH EDGY ACCESSORIES: Scandi style is the perfect mix of timeless staples and contemporary pieces, there’s always room for the classic pieces you’ll wear over and over again; structured blazers, a well-tailored shirt dress, and vintage levi’s. But the scandi girl is not afraid to incorporate some more edgy contemporary pieces, Balenciaga and Acne studios being favourite labels of many a scandi it - girl. On a student budget, try the Swedish brands & other stories and Monki to achieve this Nordic chic. Choose your classic pieces carefully, opt for good quality well - made pieces, these won’t date so make the investment. The scandi girl of 2018 isn’t afraid to take risks. Her wardrobe, although 60% composed

The Scandinavian fashionista does not aspire to dress too feminine, she chooses masculine silhouettes and opts for cool bold accessories. Forget the flirty feminine frills and flimsy floral dresses that we’ve been bombarded with all summer. The scandi girl doesn’t shy away from boxy cuts and oversized tailoring. An oversized structured blazer or winter coat is your new best friend to embody scandi girl style.

Calvin Klein Jeans, €110 at Topshop

Jumper, €59 at & Other stories DARE TO LAYER: Let’s face it, the Irish climate is more like a Norwegian pine forest than the French r i v i - era (especially if last year’s winter is anything to go by) so layering up is essential, and if anyone has perfected this it’s the scandi girl. When it comes to layering, turtle necks are your go to, throw a slip dress or statement tee over them to embrace hygge cosiness. Think outside the box, taking inspiration from the runways of Copenhagen fashion week by layering jacket on jacket, don’t worry if you look like a holiday - goer who’s check in bag is overweight, that’s how you know you’re doing it right. The scandi girl is all about radiating confidence, being daring and not letting the winter chill stop her from being fashion forward. Us Galwegian gals should take a leaf out of the scandi streetstyle bible this season, to look cool whilst keeping cosy.

Jacket, €70 at Monki

Blazer, €40 at Monki.com

FAIS EAN

September 25 2018

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

Four FASHION FORWARD YouTubers you need to watch By Anastasia Burton In recent years, YouTube has become a huge platform for fashion lovers to share their style, inspiration and favourite brands and shops. In fact, it has been a game changer in the world of fashion over the past decade. It has become a great place for fashionistas to go to for inspiration. These are SIN’s top four favourite fashion-based YouTube channels. TEACHINGMENSFASHION

Photo: teachingmenfashion via YouTube

3,140,198 subscribers Jose is a male fashion Youtuber who reports on men’s fashion and trends. Many of his videos are based on advice for you gentlemen out there who love fashion and love keeping up with what’s new. Jose does many vlogs where he goes into world famous stores such as H&M, Hugo Boss, and he gives advice on how to dress with style while keeping a low budget. He also tells you how to groom your facial hair to suit your own personal style. There are many good female fashion based Youtubers, but it’s rare to see a channel that is so dedicated to helping guys with their fashion choices.

Photo: Posi Claudia via YouTube

25,849 subscribers Claudia is a plus sized model who covers online fashion stores and their plus sized sections. Being plus sized does not mean that you can’t enjoy fashion. In fact, Claudia is very passionate about showing that curvy women can dress in the latest trends and not worry about sizing issues. Claudia covers sites like PrettyLittleThing, FashonNova, Forever21, Nike and many more. She judges the clothes by their quality, durability, comfort and whether they are what they show you on the website. Claudia also loves to cover affordable ways to dress and shop for clothes, so if you’re looking for a place to get tips on finding affordable and cute clothes, she’s your girl!

Photo: Patricia Bright via Twitter

2,545,088 subscribers A female fashion, beauty and hair channel with tutorials and videos to help you with all your beauty and fashion needs. As Patricia says; “Style advice I’m here, random life advice I’m also here.” Patricia is a beautiful African/European fashion guru who does massive online shopping hauls worth over £500, and then tries them on for her viewers. She judges the quality and price of the goods, as well as comparing whether they match up to how they appeared in the pictures. Patricia keeps things very real in her videos and if she doesn’t like something, she will be honest and go into depth as to why she doesn’t like it and whether she would ever recommend it to others. She does reviews and hauls at Zara, Topshop, River Island, as well as online stores like Wish, Gymshark, Asos and many more.

DRAMATICMAC

Photo: DramaticMac via YouTube

233,662 subscribers Aisling is an Irish Beauty Youtuber with a degree in Nutrition. She started out as a beauty channel that talked about and tested out make-up, hair products and hairstyles. Now she does fashion as well. Many of Aisling’s videos are in relation to Penneys fashion and make up. She also gives advice on how Irish make-up junkies can buy American products such as Tarte and TooFaced for affordable prices with trusted shipping companies. She often tests Penneys make up and trendy clothes as well as other brands like Next and Zara. The best quality that Aisling has as a Youtuber is her honesty and how open she is with giving her feedback on items that she shows her subscribers in her videos.

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

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

Is an obese cover star a mistake or a step forward? By Saoirse Higgins If you are one of many that do not read fashion magazine Cosmopolitan UK, then you might have missed the controversy surrounding the cover of their latest issue. On 31 August, Cosmo started a huge maelstrom when 33-year-old plus sized model Tess Holliday appeared on the front cover in a green bathing suit. Social media blew up with the picture, and it has become a huge talking point on many talk shows and newspapers. Piers Morgan even took time to make a statement on his Instagram about the cover where he describes it as; “dangerous and misguided.” I do believe that there is some truth in what Piers Morgan says about the cover. At no point during the interview was it men-

SU LOCKERS Image: Cosmopolitan

tioned that Holliday was at an unhealthy weight. At 5ft 3” and 300 pounds, Holliday is extremely obese and according to Stanford Healthcare will likely experience severe health ramifications, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and bone and joint disease. Holliday has also often been quoted saying she does not want to lose weight and I think this is a bad message to send to many adults and teenagers who are suffering with obesity. Obesity should not be standardized nor celebrated by the media, as it considered by most medical professionals as a chronic disease. However, just because obesity should not be normalized, does not mean it should be shamed. Many overweight and obese people have experienced bullying because of their weight at some point in their lives. Popular youtuber Boogie2988 who has suffered with obesity for a long period of time says; “If you are fat online you’re going to get told a 1000 times a day you shouldn’t be fat.” To me, it is understandable why Cosmopolitan wanted to portray positivity in their magazine when there is a lot of

constant negative feedback towards those who are overweight. This negative attitude towards weight is an unhealthy convention in our society and according to the NEDA – the National Eating Disorders Association - the media’s attitude towards weight can often be linked to eating disorders. According to a study done in 2016 by the NHS, 26 per cent of adults in the UK are obese. This is a large part of the population and I think they are justified in getting representation in media today. If Cosmopolitan had portrayed Holliday as a representation of many women today, but also clarified that although obesity is now common in many countries it should not be accepted as a healthy standard of living, they would have avoided such a negative response. We should be working towards supporting those who are suffering with obesity and not shaming them because of their weight. Tess Holliday is also a big advocator for self-care and respect which is important for young readers today to learn. Although her obesity should not be celebrated or promoted, it is important for people to be happy no matter what weight they are.

Why we should all be meditating

NUI Galway Students’ Union

Seomra Cótaí SAOR IN AISCE Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn

By Áine Kenny In this stressful world, it is more important than ever to be looking after our mental health. College can be a really stressful time. Chances are you have moved away from home, you are grappling with new academic subjects and don’t have a solid group of friends (yet!). Even if you are in your second, third or final year, you might have moved houses, you might have more college work on your plate or you are struggling to balance a part – time job. Where can we find time for ourselves? I first starting mediating when I was about eight years old, and it wasn’t my idea. My mother was a big fan of yoga and meditation, and she wanted to instil in us a love for relaxation and mindfulness. Of course, I was a child and couldn’t concentrate on Wai Lana’s soothing voice telling me that I was on a beach. It is only now, years later, that I realise taking an hour to focus on yourself and your thoughts is helpful when dealing with anxieties. Anyone can learn to meditate. It is really quite simple, all you have to do is schedule an hour, half an hour, whatever time you can spare, to relax. For me, it is easier if I am lying in a darkened room,

but you can mediate sitting down during the day as well. Try doing it on the bus home, it will be a productive use of time instead of scrolling through Facebook with glazed eyes. I don’t expect you to go all Zen straight away though, start by listening to guided mediation. There are millions of these videos on YouTube, all for free! I find these particularly helpful at night when your mind starts to wander and you are thinking about the day that has just passed, or thinking about tomorrow’s tasks. Having something to visualise and music to listen to will stop your mind from wandering. I would also recommend progressive muscle relaxation. These are often built into the guided mediations, and it is where you clench different muscles, such as your hands, calves, neck and then relax them. If you are prone to hunching your shoulders or carrying tension in your neck, this is a great way to consciously relax your body. You won’t realise how stressed you were until you untense and feel your posture change. Taking the time to relax and to just let your mind rest from overthinking is vital. I find if I don’t meditate at least once a week, I get very easily stressed. Sometimes I even combine my meditation with a run – it sounds strange, but because my mind is so focused on the physical exertion, I can’t think of my worries, so in a way, running is like meditation for me. So, if you are the type of person who can’t sit still, try combining fitness and mindfulness. Even if you think it is silly or you feel stupid listening to fake waves, keep trying. Your mind might take a while to slow down, but when it does, you will feel at peace. We don’t run in our sleep, so why are you letting your thoughts dash the thousand- mile sprint? Let them rest!

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FAIS EAN

September 25 2018

CAMPUS STREETSTYLE

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

By Anne Rieger

NAME: Nina COURSE: BSc Chemistry and Biopharmacy Nina’s inspiration comes from her wardrobe itself; “It‘s just the first thing I saw this morning.” She loves the combination of baggy and tight clothing and enjoys experimenting with random patterns.

NAME: Zoe Morris COURSE: BA with Irish Studies Zoe gets inspired when roaming through charity shops or her parent’s closet. For Societies’ Day, as she is part of GIGs, the LGBTQ society, she picked something to impress, which she definitely achieved.

NAME: Paul Lewis COURSE: Bachelor of Arts “My biggest inspiration is not to wear what everyone else wears. Escaping the mainstream never was as fashionable.” Paul put his all denim outfit together without thinking about it. His look really shows off an effortless feel, and his great sense of style.

NAME: Alex Kleinstäuber COURSE: BA English and Celtic Studies (Erasmus) As a German student, Alex really makes the campus more colourful and amazing. She gets her inspiration from her German friends; “I have cool and very colourful friends and they inspire me – that’s it.” She likes the idea of a style that is feminine, comfortable but punk, and has a little bit of a twist to it.

NAME: Kirsten McIndoe COURSE: Bachelor of Arts

Nina

Paul

Kirsten’s goal when she gets dressed for university is to stay comfortable throughout the day. She would describe her style as ‘laid back’; she just follows her first instinct when it comes to picking out outfits.

Alex

Zoe

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

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

THE SUMMER OF THE BLOCKBUSTER DEADPOOL 2

By Owen Kennedy It’s been quite the eventful summer for movie fans. Cinemas were full of huge blockbuster hits, from Infinity War to Solo, The Incredibles 2 to Mission Impossible. But which movies soared high and which were forgettable straight after their viewings? We will be examining ten of the most popular films that hit our silver screens this summer.

Just as good if not better than the first one. Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin have excellent chemistry together, and the writing is hilarious, as is expected. It’s still as gory as the original too which is also a positive. It’s an enjoyable superhero film which doesn’t take itself too seriously and just goes along with the craziness. Highly recommended, but don’t be too squeamish.

Rating: 4/5

AVENGER’S INFINITY WAR

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

I can write for days on how this movie is fantastic. Unfortunately, I can’t, so I’ll keep this relatively short. The balance between drama, comedy and action is masterful. The Russo brothers did an excellent job in making every character seem relevant to the plot and not a cameo or just there for the sake of it. Thanos is one of the greatest movie villains ever, not just comic book villains. This movie’s ending which I won’t dare to spoil will be the “No Luke, I am your father” of this generation. A must - see for sure, although you’ve probably seen it already.

A film that was ruined by its trailers, Solo is the worst performing Star Wars film ever. However, it is far from a terrible movie. Whilst it is flawed, it is still a fun and fast-paced space adventure. Donald Glover is the stand-out star as he plays Lando Calrissian. Alden Ehrenreich gives a satisfying performance as young Han Solo. Whilst this movie is enjoyable, you won’t be missing much if you decide to skip it.

Rating: 5/5

Rating: 4/5

OCEAN’S 8 Personally, I found this movie to be underwhelming. It feels like it was made for the same reason Ghost-

busters 2016 was made, to have an all - female cast for the sake of having an all - female cast. Nowhere near as smooth as it’s predecessors, but the cast do have good interactions with each other to stop the movie from being a sluggish bore.

with dinosaurs attacking and eating stuff, just like the original Jurassic Park so brilliantly captured. The unfortunate fate of this film is that the dinosaurs and other genuinely thrilling moments are in increasingly short supply.

Rating: 3/5

INCREDIBLES 2 Probably the second-best superhero movie to have come out this summer, sorry Deadpool fans. Incredibles 2 is so much more enjoyable than the first that it almost makes the first look bad. I’d be lying if I didn’t say this one grabbed me by the nostalgia, as The Incredibles was my favourite movie when I was very young. Regardless, I highly recommend this fantastic movie.

Rating: 5/5

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM An unfortunately disappointing sequel to the enjoyable soft reboot from 2015, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom had only one job to do. Entertain audiences

Rating: 2/5

SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLADO An irregular sequel that pales in comparison to the excellent first film, especially as it betrays the motivations of the characters. This make little sense here, and becomes too implausible in the end, even if its nihilism still works thanks to the strong performances from the two leads.

Rating: 3/5

ANT - MAN AND THE WASP Let’s be honest, the first film after Infinity War was going to be a serious downgrade from it, considering we were still suffering from the PTSD it gave us. Ant - Man and the Wasp is a disappointing sequel to the fast-paced heist movie from 2015. Whilst it isn’t boring, you

won’t be missing anything by skipping this one and waiting for Captain Marvel next year. The end credits scene is pretty cool though.

Rating: 3/5

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT Fantastic action, excellent acting, Fallout is one of the best action films I’ve seen in years. Fast, sleek and fun, this is probably the biggest must - see of the summer. Elaborating any further would be a disservice to the film however. I recommend going into this fantastic movie blind.

Rating: 5/5

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN A well-played political message about economic equality responsibly caps off the fable, but Pooh’s luxurious yet outdated philosophy about ‘doing nothing to achieve something’ sticks out like a heffalump in the room. It’s a charming film and Jim Cummings performance as Pooh is infectiously positive.

Rating: 4/5

Eminem’s career kamikaze REVIEW: Hozier’s continues with surprise Nina Cried Power album release By Sara Chudzik

By Daniel Brennan With the shock release of his new album, Kamikaze, Eminem sets out to try and reclaim his throne after the critical panning that his 2017 album Revival received, and to take aim at some of the biggest names in rap. The opening track, The Ringer, sets the tone for the rest of the album, with Eminem dissing critics of his, such as Joe Budden and Charlamagne Tha God, while at the same time adopting a Gucci Gang-esque flow for a few bars and criticising mumble rappers. While all this out-of-the-blue name-dropping and straight-up mockery carries shock value when you first hear it, some of the issues that made Revival an unlistenable mess still appear. While the beat itself is okay, the production quality is not what you would expect from a top-selling artist, with points where the audio clips and sounds poor. His trademark flow, rhyming and unfunny genital puns start to grate on you from the beginning. The cheesy, boring relationship ballads that were the backbone of Revival are back and just as bad, with songs like Normal, Nice Guy and Good Guy being noticeable low points of the record with

cringey, clichéd lyrics accompanied by run-of-the-mill instrumentals. Luckily, there are only three such cuts on this record. One of the few high points on the album comes on the song Lucky You, with a stellar feature from Joyner Lucas coupled with a rare moment of humility and honesty from Eminem, where he admits he “took an L” on Revival. Yet, this moment comes with a caveat as it makes Eminem’s bashing of his critics seem a bit redundant if he flat-out admits they were right. On Fall, Eminem comes out with some of his most controversial lines ever as he attacks several other artists, most notably Machine Gun Kelly, a beef that has spawned diss tracks from both artists, and quite surprisingly, Tyler, The Creator. Eminem tries to use Tyler’s sexuality of all things against him, after Tyler hinted that he was bi on his latest album Flower Boy. This sudden and offensive Tyler diss is a shock, as Tyler has always credited Eminem as one of his biggest inspirations, and Eminem had mentioned Tyler in a positive light on previous records. Eminem later clarified why he came at Tyler as part of an interview series with Sway, saying Tyler

had tweeted negatively about 2014’s Shady XV, and Eminem’s 2017 single Walk on Water. In that interview, Eminem also expressed regret for what he said; “In my quest to hurt him, I (realized) that I was hurting a lot of other people by saying it.” Although some have questioned whether Tyler would take being called a “f ****t” to heart. During his time as a member of Odd Future, Tyler himself was banned from performing in several countries due to his use of offensive language in his music. On the closing track, Venom, Slim adopts one of the most complicated yet annoying flows I have ever heard, which is proof that despite the fact he still possesses the technical ability to rap like no one else, that doesn’t make up for the most important thing – the fact that it sounds awful. Kamikaze is an improvement on Revival, but that’s not saying much. The majority of this album is much of the same boring and unimaginative Eminem that we’ve seen over the past few years, even with the amount of disses he drops and controversy caused as a result of them.

Rating: 2.5/10

It has been a while since Hozier announced he’s taking time out to work on some new material. Ever since, his fans have been waiting, counting down the moments until the singer released new music. Finally, it’s here. On 6 September, Hozier dropped Nina Cried Power featuring four new songs for us to play on repeat. The wait was definitely worth it, and his listeners are reassured that he is one of the best artists that has come out of Ireland in recent years. The first track of the EP is the titular Nina Cried Power, which Hozier has described as a “thank you note to the spirit of protest” in a recent Billboard interview. Hozier has never shied away from political issues. His eponymous debut album, released in 2014, contained songs like ‘Take Me to Church’, ‘Sedated’ and ‘Cherry Wine’ which also carried political messages and social critique. With this track, Hozier upholds the trend, giving us a protest song. As such, it captures the recent attitudes of Irish youth. The news headlines of recent months reported on numerous protests and rallies. Hozier himself played at the solidarity concert for the Catholic Church abuse survivors during the papal visit. For the past week, housing protests and rallies have been staged around the coun-

try, including the crisis camp out in Galway on Tuesday night. The opening line, ‘It’s not the singing it’s the rising’ is a musical call to action and a solidarity cry. In the songs that follow, Hozier shows off his abilities as a master songwriter, especially in ‘NFWMB’ and ‘Shrike’. Both are love songs, but when we think that at this stage we’ve heard it all, the difference between these two both lyrically and musically reminds us how much the singer has to offer. The imagery that is created in these songs is poetic and would be an achievement of their own when read off a page. But when these lines are combined with the music, it really is a treat. ‘Common Tongue’ is also lyrically rich but this song impresses musically with its upbeat guitar solos making you want to break out jiving. Respect to Hozier as a musician needs to be paid. Among so many artists who change their sound based on trends in the music industry, Hozier is a breath of fresh air. In Nina Cried Power, he remains loyal to his fusion of blues, rock and soul to which we were first introduced to in Hozier. He has his own style, which no other artist can offer us. The full-length album has been promised in 2019 and with the coming of this EP we are assured that the wait will be worth it.

Rating: 10/10

C U LT ÚR

September 25 2018

SIAMSAÍOCHT

Soundtrack to Sobriety with Shampain by Cóilí Collins Cóilí/Shampain is a resident DJ in Electric nightclub, former electronic music editor of District Magazine, contributor to District and Four Four magazines, former resident DJ of Hangar, and has written for Mixmag and worked on Rinse France. It’s inevitable that once you start something new, people are going to be curious as to how you go about doing it, especially if it isn’t obviously comprehended by the naked eye. Of course, in my case this would be DJing, where to most it seems like a supremely complicated task including an array of buttons and knobs where there’s a whole lot going on at once. That is most definitely the case, but after a few hours practice, it’s quite easy to have a decent knowledge of the technical aspect of DJing. As Deadmau5 put it: “any idiot that can count to four can have a crack at mixing two tracks together.” The actual tricky part of DJing, especially when it comes to playing underground music of the electronic kind, is reading a room and making sure that you’re balancing an expression of your style with the needs of everyone in attendance. There’s nothing worse than just playing crowd pleasers, as that’s a simple task anyone can do. Likewise, there’s nothing worse than a bespeckled Berlin-wannabe coming in and laying down the most unearthed ambient music they found in the discount pile at a record store in eastern Europe. The line between too easy and too intricate is very fine, and it’s right there where the best DJs shine among the rest. Indeed, within this line is where we may not even find the world’s most renowned DJs, but more so the most musically adept and complete

DJs within the realms of electronic music. They deal solely in the business of generating moods and atmospheres, rather than getting caught up in the never-ending sea of genres and sub genres that confuse even the most seasoned music heads among us. Having a sense of mood or atmosphere within DJ sets isn’t necessarily a skill learned over time, but more so the ability to analyse similar traits across a wide range of tracks from different genres. These tracks share aspects that can allow a DJ to blend those two tracks together. Mixmag recently penned an opinion piece that declared describing DJs using the term ‘eclectic’ was overused, and that the term was dead and had lost its meaning. This is true to a degree. The number of DJs that play multiple genres is huge, not a whole lot manage to stick within the rigid confines of minimal techno, acid house or whatever their chosen weapon of choice is. The true sense of being an eclectic DJ however is one that has fallen by the wayside for sure. This might be because the attention has flipped so jarringly towards producers, given how easily consumable music is these days. Or maybe it is because consumers find it more difficult to wrap their head around how someone can mesh a whole lot of sounds together, that mightn’t look particularly correct on paper. With that being said, there are still a huge amount of selectors that are definitely carving out their own moods and atmospheres on dance floors, rather than just belting out stuff from the same five artists or record labels over the course of a few hours. Take Motor City Drum Ensemble. He carries a reputation as one of the most adept DJs, mostly for his ability to take some of the rarest grooves and blend them with

There’s nothing worse than just playing crowd pleasers, as that’s a simple task anyone can do. Likewise, there’s nothing worse than a bespeckled Berlin-wannabe coming in and laying down the most unearthed ambient music they found in the discount pile at a record store in eastern Europe. The line between too easy and too intricate is very fine, and it’s right there where the best DJs shine among the rest. Photo: Maely Lim

some of the most purpose built club tracks; something anyone at his Life Festival set would have witnessed firsthand. He managed to go from light disco to the jacking Chicago sounds of ‘Shake What Ya Mamma Gave Ya’ almost effortlessly. Similarly, there are a slew of UK DJs that can bypass an array of different genres by generating overarching moods on the dance floor, by blending together the colourful selection of harsher music that emanates from the country. Ben UFO, Mumdance, Randomer and many more all stand out as unrivalled in their field when it comes to adhering to specific moods rather than styles. Each one is always able to take different tracks across techno, dubstep, deconstructed club music, breakbeat and even grime and melt them all together into one set that really flows. The phenomenon of ‘moody’ DJing is definitely one that is almost unique to UK styled music; bar of the course the exceptions such as MCDE, Hunee and all the other true diggers and selectors out there. With so many styles that have been generated off the back of each other, it isn’t necessarily surprising that I myself am able to take artists from labels like Livity Sound and mix them into a Novelist track. Despite all having different production techniques, they

share the same roots and that allows for a certain mood to be generated. Learning about the origins of genres too is another thing that can help one’s ability to hone their skills as a DJ. Being able to tell where certain genres come from will open your ear up to taking different elements from different tracks, and you’ll end up generating some interesting mixes and blends. Once you realise for example the intrinsic link between jungle and garage, you can then take the relation between grime and garage and then link it back to jungle which can then leave you mixing a Skepta track with a down tempo cut from French hardcore outfit J-Zbel, all because the music very loosely shares the same roots. History allows different sounds to co-exist on a dance floor, not just a set of waveforms, as chin strokery as that sounds. With all that being said, you don’t turn on a pair of CDJs and instantly know how to mix a grime track into a techno one without it sounding forced and jarring; the technical aspect most definitely takes time. However, honing your mood behind the decks is something you can literally do every spare minute of the day, just by listening to music you like, rather than genres you ‘need’ to play.

Frithdhúnadh na Mac Léinn Wednesday 3rd October, Dublin Dé Céadaoin 3ú Deireadh Fómhair, Baile Átha Cliath www.usi.ie/raisetheroof • www.su.nuigalway.ie Depart 9:00am from the Cathedral Return to Galway by 7:00pm (approx.)

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

Cardi B and Nicki Minaj clash at New York Fashion Week By Marie Coady Why do people pay good money to watch UFC matches when our preeminent female rappers are providing better entertainment for free? Months of tension between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B culminated in Cardi throwing a shoe at Nicki at a New York Fashion Week party on September 8. This is surely the most iconic podiatric attack since that Iraqi journalist lobbed his loafers at George W. Bush’s head. What inspired the brawl is very much a case of hearsay. While not naming Nicki, Cardi B alleged in a thinly-veiled Instagram post that Nicki has been pressuring other artists in the music industry not to work with the ‘Bodak Yellow’ rapper. But what pushed new mother Cardi over the edge was Nicki supposedly questioning her parenting ability. “…when you mention my child, you choose to like comments about me as a mother, make comments about my abilities to take care of my daughter is (sic) when all bets are off,” wrote a furious Cardi after being escorted from the Harper’s Bazaar ICONS party. Cardi approached Nicki, who was surrounded by bodyguards, and started effing and blinding at her. When security intervened, Cardi sent a chunky red platform flying, proving that she was not kidding when she rapped about her “bloody shoes”. She was caught on video being dragged away from the group with a massive lump on her temple, supposedly courtesy of a security guard’s elbow, and bare feet. Which is how you should always leave a party, in this writer’s opinion. The most beautiful nugget to emerge from the incident is that Christina Aguilera was obliviously singing her song ‘Fighter’ in the other room. At least, that’s what Twitter was claiming, which means it probably isn’t true. Not even Xtina is sure. But don’t you want to believe it? Nicki reacted a few days later by sharing her side of the story on her Beats 1 radio station Queen Radio. She denied slandering baby Kulture (“I am not a clown. That’s clown s**t.”) and said the incident was “mortifying and humiliating.” She also brought up past incidents where Cardi referred to black women as “monkeys and roaches” and how Cardi supposedly had two strippers jumped for flirting with her fiancé Offset. (Mind you, Nicki admitted that she stabbed her ex so it’s not like she’s a moral authority on violence or anything.) She ended her tirade by accusing Cardi of becoming famous using “sympathy and payola.” Aside from entertainment, the main takeaway from this affair is that Cardi B is the only mainstream rapper living up to the non-stop bragging and posturing. Drake, Pusha T and Eminem talk the talk then hide behind their entourages, but Cardi follows through when she raps, “You play with me, I might pop up where you at.” What a true feminist victory!

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

FROM BRITPOP TO GRUNGE (and the things in between): A glimpse at 1994’s defining moments in pop culture By Caileigh Ryan Slip inside the eye of your mind and imagine this: you’re at Glastonbury music festival, where everybody is in Adidas and parka-jackets. You’re enjoying the sounds of up-and-coming Manchester band Oasis playing ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’, which they don’t release as a single until later that year. These guys are relatively fresh on the scene and this is their biggest gig to date. Imagine that. Blur headline the same festival later in the day, singing hits like ‘Parklife’ and ‘Girls & Boys’. This is before the ‘Battle of Britpop’, back when the two bands co-existed peacefully. I’m sure the familiarity of becoming lost in the depths of a twitter thread doesn’t require as much imagination. As I was scrolling through my feed recently, amidst opinions on the Pope and photos of Kanye wearing oversized sliders, one thread caught my eye. User @CollinMurr tweeted asking the public about the year they’d consider the ‘greatest in film history’. The victor? 1994. Users were raving about absolute classics such as Pulp Fiction, Leon: The Professional, Forrest Gump, Ace Ventura and my all-time favourite, the film adaptation of Stephen King’s Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (shortened to Shawshank Redemption). Fast-forward 24 years and so many aspects of 1994 have withstood the test of time and remain true classics and well-loved by many –

even by those born after the year! Between music, fashion, film and pop culture in general, 1994 laid the foundation for many trends that we still follow in 2018. Imagine there was once a time when you couldn’t just switch on Netflix and rewatch Friends whenever you got bored. This was once the case, until the US sitcom graced our screens in September of 1994 (Netflix, obviously, was still a distant dream). The show quickly became one of the most popular TV shows of all time, and Chandler, Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey and Phoebe have become household names, adored by anybody who’s watched the show. Actress Jennifer Aniston in particular rose to fame not only for playing the role of Rachel Green, but also as a fashion icon – the hairstyle she sported at the time became commonly known as “The Rachel”, and was a widely sought - after look in salons worldwide. Fashion trends in 1994 included crushed velvets, plaid and crop tops – which have all circulated back to our clothes racks in recent years. This was also the year when Princess Diana donned her infamous LBD, which was titled the “revenge dress.” The grunge genre also became widely popular in both music and fashion, but also hit decline in 1994. Think loud guitars, oversized flannels and lots of black. Many have blamed the decline of grunge on the break-up of Nirvana following Kurt Cobain’s untimely death in the same

year. Cobain has since been named “the reluctant king” of the subculture. 1994 has proved itself to be in many ways timeless thanks to multiple defining moments in music, film and culture. I wish I’d been alive to experience it first-hand!

The “nuclear holocaust” scene at Electric Picnic reflects our throwaway culture By Tarryn McGuire The site of Electric Picnic this year, like every other year before, was left in a complete and utter state after the event. The aftermath of the festival was devastating. Tents, sleeping bags, electronic gear, clothes, plastic, rubbish, bottles and cans upon cans were all left behind. The event itself looked fantastic and anyone lucky enough to have attended couldn’t praise it enough, in fact early bird tickets for next year’s EP were sold out in a matter of hours. However, with Electric Picnic being advertised as an eco-friendly festival, I expected more in terms of clean up and litter management. Denise Calnan for the Irish Independent interviewed people at the scene, one person summarised the problem perfectly, he said; “It’s easy to feel irresponsible in a vast site of anonymity.” Many charities got involved to clean up the aftermath of this massive event, with the intentions of salvaging what they could to give to those in need. Tents and sleeping bags are of top priority here. An article published in The Irish Times read that “about 10kg of waste per visitor is expected to be collected from the Electric Picnic site.” The article continues on, mentioning that hundreds of the discarded tents were donated to homeless migrants in Calais. Unfortunately, many tents and sleeping bags were in no condition to be reused after the weekend’s events this

year. In fact, many charities were unable to enter the grounds on time and diggers were brought in to sweep up everything which inevitably ended up in landfill.

Rover Soc spent the day collecting, rolling and bagging sleeping bags. By the end of the day, they had collected over 200 sleeping bags and were able to fill their van completely. “These were all in pretty good condition and we dropped them off at COPE Galway that same night where they will be put to good use.”

Fortunately, the NUI Galway Rover society were successful in playing their part and were able to gather over 200 sleeping bags which they donated to COPE Galway. Rover Soc’s Public Relations Officer, Hannah Domingues McLaughlin, spoke to SIN on behalf of the Rover Soc. “This is our fourth year going to Electric Picnic to collect sleeping bags,” she told SIN. “Each year we go to the Pink Moon Campsite, they provide their campers with sleeping bags, so they are usually left behind after the festival. We get in contact with Pink Moon Camping each year and they allow us to come and collect the sleeping bags so they can be donated to COPE Galway. COPE then give the sleeping bags out to people living on the streets, instead of seeing them wasted.” On Wednesday 5 September, Rover Soc spent the day collecting, rolling and bagging sleeping bags. By the end of the day, they had collected over 200 sleeping bags and were able to fill their van completely. “These were all in pretty good condition and we dropped them off at COPE Galway that same night where they will be put to good use,” Hannah said. Thankfully charities and other organisations were able to benefit from the aftermath of this festival, however a lot of the clean-up could have been prevented by festival goers. Hopefully EP can come up with some new rules and regulations regarding littering, and they should also ask people to pack up their tents and sleeping bags for donation.

C U LT ÚR

September 25 2018

SIAMSAÍOCHT

Mac Miller’s untimely death and the vilification of Ariana Grande By Catherine Taylor American rapper and producer Mac Miller, best known for his 2016 album The Divine Feminine, passed away suddenly this month. He was just 26 years old. The ‘Self Care’ singer, born Malcolm James McCormick, dreamed of a music career from a young age. He released his first mixtape But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy in 2007 under the alias EZ Mac. Miller

continued to release independent mixtapes before being signed to Rostrum Records in 2010. His first album Blue Slide Park debuted in 2011 and peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200, a significant achievement for an independently distributed album. Not only known for his rap skills, Miller’s prowess as a producer led him to set up his own indie record label REMember

Music. In 2014, Miller and his label signed a $10 million deal with Warner Brother Music, through which Miller would release both his own records and those of artists signed to REMember Music. His albums The Divine Feminine and Swimming, released in 2016 and 2018 respectively, saw the rapper’s style evolve into an increasingly mature, sonically sophisticated sound. The Divine Feminine

What’s on in Galway By Sarah Gill Fresher’s week has come and gone, and the students of Galway are feeling entirely lethargic. The week of festivities has made the prospect of a full 9am lecture a laughable notion. But, as students, we are resilient. So, throw on some tan and down that can of Monster, because there are shenanigans to be attended to.

1. The Vault DJs in Der Kesselraum What is a night out in Galway without some uns uns techno? If techno or house music are your kryptonite, then you need to get yourself to Carbon on Thursday 27 September. The Boiler Room really is a staple of the Galway nightlife scene and - despite its sweaty qualities - I strongly recommend paying it a visit at some time during the year.

2. Bingo Loco on Saturday 29 September Staying in the city for the weekend? Feeling homesick? Missing your mother? What better way to stem the loneliness than to pay a visit to a massive 90s throwback night in Halo Nightclub? Don your triple denim, smudge your eyeliner and get ready to be singing along to the Spice Girls until 3 in the morning.

3. SU Vintage and Sportswear sale You’re going to need clothes to wear to all these shindigs, and who wants to spend the day scrolling through ASOS? NUI Galway have done us the kindness of hosting a Vintage Sale in the SU on Tuesday 9 October! Vintage, unique, reworked style from Levi, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, the list goes on! I know where I’ll be!

“I will stand by you all for your love and beliefs, and I am proud and grateful that you felt safe enough to show your pride at my show.” These are Dua Lipa’s words of comfort following a horrific incident which took place at her recent concert in Shanghai. On Wednesday 12 September, fans were reportedly forcibly dragged out of the venue for dancing and waving Pride flags. While homosexuality was decriminalised in China in 1997, LGBTQ+ groups still face persecution and are ostracised within their society. This event highlights the blatant homophobia and abuse that remains rampant in some societies around the globe. The New Rules singer, having seen the brutality of the security guards, was visibly upset while on

open about the affect addiction had on their relationship; ‘Better Off ’, from Grande’s 2018 album Sweetener, is rumoured to detail the doomed relationship, while Miller’s 2018 single ‘Self Care’ deals with the aftermath of his arrest for a DUI prior to his sudden death. Following the 7 September announcement that Miller had passed away at his home from an apparent drug overdose, social media trolls sent Grande numerous hate messages, claiming that the singer was herself personally responsible for Miller’s death. This message was only further instilled by the wider media, who referred to Miller as merely ‘an ex-boyfriend of Ariana Grande.’ The blame unfairly placed on Grande became so intense that the singer had to remove all comments from her Instagram.

In a post published on 14 September, Grande paid tribute to her ‘dearest friend,’ stating “I’m so sorry that I couldn’t fix or take your pain away. I really wanted to.” Although a touching sentiment, Grande’s statement cannot be taken as an admission of guilt. The message being perpetrated in the media that a woman is responsible for the actions of a partner in a toxic relationship is dangerous, and pins misplaced blame on women who find themselves in these situations. Mac Miller’s untimely death has been described as a profound loss to the hip - hop community, and to those who knew him. The blame lies with nobody but the demons that haunted a talented young artist, lost but whose musical impact will live on.

4. SISCO at the Róisín Dubh Wholeheartedly, I pledge that this is the best night out in Galway. The silent disco, which takes place every Tuesday in the Róisín, is seriously not to be missed. I know you can’t put a price on happiness, but with entry at €5 where else would you rather be? Switch between your favourite chart anthem to a throwback tune on your headset and sing to your heart’s content in a room full of likeminded people.

5. Pálás arthouse cinema If all those events have worn your out, what better way to recuperate than to relax with a large popcorn and coke combo at the cinema? For all the new releases and throwback flicks, Pálás is the place for all film lovers! We must not forget that we are in Galway, so I will issue a word of caution: always remember to wrap up warm and bring an umbrella, for the love of God! Storm Helene takes no prisoners, so be careful on the blustery streets of the city.

PUNISHED FOR PRIDE? By Sarah Gill

received critical acclaim, with Pitchfork rating the album a highly respectable 7.8/10. Swimming, released a mere two months before Miller’s untimely death, also received positive reviews, with Rolling Stone declaring it ‘the most impactful album of his career.’ However, despite his professional success, Miller spent much of his early 20’s battling severe drug addiction. Addiction permeated every aspect of Miller’s life, from his music to his relationships, his most high profile of which was with singer Ariana Grande. Media coverage of this tragedy has been less than kind to Grande, who ended their two-year relationship in May 2018 before becoming engaged to comedian Pete Davidson in June. Both Grande and Miller had been

stage. A video which has been in circulation recently shows Dua crying as she implores the crowd to try to enjoy the rest of the concert. “I want to create a really safe environment for us all to have fun,” states a clearly shaken and disheartened performer. Dua signed off her heartfelt note with an inspiring glimmer of a better future; “I would love to come back for my fans when the time is right and hopefully see a room full of rainbows.” This entire incident brings to light how flawed society remains, despite all the progression we have seen in the passed decade. For the fans who were left dismayed after this fiasco, a future of acceptance in wider society may seem like a distant dream. If this teaches us anything, it is that there is still a long way to go. We should all be working towards making the world a safer place for everyone.

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

SISTER

By Finnuala Simpson

By Meabh Ann McCrossan

Sweaty slimy sticky thigh Nothing more exciting than that truly I’m thinking sinking feeling And why my grandmother’s funeral wasn’t very good Why my dad stood up and said, she could be a hard woman But she was so soft that she flopped over Became fluffy like a dandy flower I’ll bet I’ll never get another They said: so wide you can’t get over it! So low you can’t go under it! So round you can’t circle out of it! But life seems like some sick prank So I stare into windows watching steam from pastas Ninety-nine easy dinners at seven And I’m sure not looking for any reason to mourn So why do cars and cats and roots keep on flying? Like they don’t even need us? Like I’m here today and gone next week? My grandmother said something about two moons in the sky while I was on the stairs sucking my knees The extendable feather duster could tickle you exactly there And white lies over wall plates And time flies all over the place I’m a hush You’re a busy hush We’re all hushes

She broke her leg once, years ago, and lost her job as an astronaut. ‘Turn in your space helmet and moon shoes pronto,’ They said, after deciding, all by themselves, that all she would do now was shatter in space. Well, I can’t help but shatter on earth every day, and yet she in her cast, fast-healing, sits among the sparsiles, asks how they’re feeling.

WHAT YOU SEE IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

CREATIVE Perspective By Seán O Donnell I made breakfast for my wife and child, while the former undertook the infinitely more difficult task of waking the latter from his peaceful slumber. They entered the kitchen and I remember faintly how full of joy I felt when I saw their faces, illuminated by the morning sun. Hers drank in the light; it accentuated her features, framing them almost. Her eyes twinkled as she met my gaze, her smile following a half-second later. His was the image of innocence, drowsiness clearly visible in his mouth, which was elongated in an enormous yawn, and in his eyes, which blinked incessantly as they adjusted to the sharp morning light. They left for school at nine, at which she was a teacher and he was a pupil. I think they waved at me from the car as they left. I don’t remember waving back, I wish now with all my heart that I had. I own a corner-shop which sells groceries and general goods. I opened the shutters, re-stocked the shelves and chatted with the local customers who habitually frequented my store. At around two o’clock, I heard a deafening blast. The shop was plunged momentarily into darkness, the suns rays obscured by a sinister artificial cloud that rose ominously skyward following the explosion. Then the harbingers of doom let loose their sombre song; piercing sirens penetrated deep into the confines of my mind, animating the darkest and most terrible fears fostered there, the fears we all secretly harbour, submerged beneath a facade of self-delusionary logic that posits that horrific things happen only on television, only to other people, never to us. The sirens droned on with merciless implacability. I was frozen by that vicious melody, for the sirens promised horror. The sirens promised death. I saw my own fear reflected in the eyes of the customer before me. “It’s the terrorists again,” he said. Those four simple words roused me from my stupor. Wordlessly, I hurried to my car. I saw smoke in the distance, black and foreboding, rising upwards like a wave of evil, come to consume the world. I drove towards the wave. I felt helpless, knowing with instinctual certitude that the smoke was rising from the general direction of the school where my wife and child were located. A corporeal nightmare greeted me when I reached the school. Many of the surrounding buildings had been obliterated. The school itself had sustained heavy damage and looked perilously close to collapse. A fire blazed all around and the air was thick with the pungent aroma of acrid smoke. There were people everywhere; the lucky ones were stumbling around in disarray, unable to comprehend the scene before them. The unlucky were lying on the ground; many were dead, more were dying. The schoolyard must have been tranquil once; alive with the chatter of exuberant children frolicking on the warm tarmac, but it had been transformed in a single callous instant into a hellish necropolis. A group of men emerged from a building to my left, which was miraculously unscathed. They pointed frantically to the sky, before running with deliberate uniformity towards the school. Hope filled my heart, help had arrived. I braved the abhorrent smoke and followed the men.

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CORNER

HUSH

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

I was halfway across the tarmac when I saw them. Her face was illuminated much like it had been that morning, but by the flames now. They created a different image entirely, her once gentle features contorting in fear and anguish. His was unrecognisable, for he lay still as a summer breeze in her arms, his body limp, blood streaming from a vicious wound above his eye, a monstrous yawn of grim proportions. I forgot about the smoke, about the flames, about the men who had now reached the school and were making their way inside. I focused on them, and I ran. She shouted something at me, but her words were snatched away by a peculiar whizzing sound which seemed to originate from thin air. Then the school was enveloped in an inferno of cataclysmic magnitude, its walls shattered, its roof collapsed, and like phantasmal remnants of a dream they were gone, and the world itself was on fire. Six-thousand miles away, a small room garnished with a multitude of computers and littered with wiring and other technical equipment erupted with joy. The cheers of jubilation and raucous applause reverberated around the room, echoing off sound-proofed walls. Everyone in the room was male, some were in uniform, most wore suits. All were momentarily united in the euphoric celebration that was customary after a successful operation. All except one. The young man at the drone’s controls was sweating profusely; his hands shook uncontrollably, just as they had moments earlier, when he had activated the kill switch. He had noticed the school beside the strike location and recognised the risk splash damage posed to its inhabitants. He had requested that they delay the operation for another hour, at which point the school would have been vacated, but the commanding officer had refused, stating that there was too great a risk that the targets would be gone by then. What transpired next would haunt him for the remainder of his days. At two o’clock Syrian time, he was given the green light. He locked on to the building in which their intel had placed the insurgents, and he fired. In a cruel twist of fate, the drones targeting systems miscued and the targets escaped the kill-zone. He was ordered to fire again. Now as he sat there, shellshocked, he began to question his assumption that he was on the side of justice, of righteousness, of good. As the smoke dissipated and the full scale of their ‘victory’ became apparent, it struck him that the people around him, still engaged in rapturous celebration, believed themselves to be entirely and exclusively in the right. And ultimately, perhaps they were. However, he knew now, with unequivocal conviction, that they were not innocent.

SPÓ IRT

September 25 2018

MCGREGOR VERSUS KHABIB:

Prediction time By Gary Elbert Everyone is agreed on a factor analysis of this fight. If Conor McGregor lands early he wins early. However, if the Irish warrior cannot put away the marauding but cumbersome Dagestani powerhouse, then the McGregor legacy will absorb a lengthy and bloody humiliation, trapped under the freak wrestling control of Nurmagomedov. In this scenario, the Russian will deliberately prolong the mauling while taunting and teasing the drained Dubliner, en – route to a dominant stoppage. The narrative is set in stone. Now we speculate subjectively as to which outcome will transpire, all of us relishing in our discussion of the upcoming showdown. If only elite prizefighting was so simple. There is a danger inherent in the construction of such rigid predictions, as it ignores the fundamental anarchy at play in the cage. Yes, to the untrained eye a mixed martial arts bout is madness essentially, but for the competitors, their very presence in a cauldron of danger and bodily harm is an acute belief in their abilities, their skills, and a deeper more philosophical desire to experience an arduous test of their character. To win in any endeavour is to drink happily from the very best that human consciousness has to offer, but to win in a prize-fight is the ultimate intoxication. Some call this decision to place the body and mind in peril “toxic masculinity”, but this insular and selective conceptualisation ignores fundamental precepts of evolutionary biology, allied with oppressive postmodern environments where physical expression is framed as the anachronistic retreat of primitive brains seeking solace in outdated modes of controlled violence. McGregor’s two - year absence from the cage is cited as a potential weakness. This ignores the obvious caveat that his boxing skills now are most likely better than ever before, following a three-month training camp and bout with a pugilistic master in Floyd Mayweather. Already the owner of the best boxing brain in MMA, McGregor will believe a clumsy flatfooted wrestler ambling forward in a straight line is easy pickings for his sniper like left hand to

detonate. He would argue that Khabib represents another predictable elementary equation, disposable and inferior. How will Nurmagomedov approach the contest when the microphones have been set aside and the cage door is locked? He places his belief on his ability to haul McGregor to the canvas and unleash fists of fury. He will aim to drain the Irishman’s gas tank, leaving him exhausted and flustered demanding to be finished. I expect the Dagestani to be ultra - cautious, or at least begin the fight with that strategy. This is a five -round fight, and McGregor’s stamina has been found wanting since his return from a cruciate ligament injury, which likely curtails his ability to do road work. He will seek to avoid Jose Aldo’s panicked attack or Eddie Alvarez’s sudden confusion in the face of impeccable footwork and mastery of range and punching distance. Khabib will be conscious of McGregor’s knockout ability and my guess is he will be reluctant to initiate early on. Instead, he’ll prefer to feint takedowns and throw timid jabs as pseudo rangefinders, while waiting on McGregor to throw a stabbing front kick which will be an early Christmas present to Nurmagomedov. McGregor’s modified teep has been saluted over the years, but he cannot afford to throw it in this fight. Kicking must be regarded as a gift to his opponent. McGregor must control the range through his boxing fundamentals with lots of lateral movement and a low solid base. Khabib telegraphs his takedowns often, which is a mistake that his overmatched opponents to date have never capitalised on. Khabib walked through the kicking assault of a backpedalling Edson Barboza and overcome early adversity against Michael Johnson. The one common denominator shared by Conor and Khabib is how superior they appear compared to their opponents. Even McGregor’s fights with Diaz only became competitive once his energy levels sank. Whatever happens, McGregor cannot afford to be backing up in straight lines gasping for air and looking bewildered as he did in the third round against Diaz. Arguably Diaz lacked the fight brain to finish a weakened McGregor, although the early damage he sustained was also a

Photo: Andrius Petrucenia via Flickr factor in his failure to ground and submit the Dubliner. Khabib will finish the fight should the same opportunity present itself. This fight ends early in favour of McGregor, or Khabib scores an early takedown and dominates on the way to a second or third round ground and pound stoppage. A beautiful hybrid of different fighting styles, cultures and personalities coming together in the coliseum of capitalism, Las Vegas. While McGregor was strutting around the streets of grey, grim Crumlin on the west coast of Europe, somewhere in the mountains of Dagestan, a devout Muslim boy was wrestling with a bear. Two decades on they find themselves united and in opposition, their differences propelling them together yet divided and alone in an eight-sided octagon while the world watches closely. For Conor McGregor, the fight has not left him yet. A challenge has presented itself and he is willing to ditch the silk pyjamas, tailored suits and private planes to face that challenge head – on. All he must do is crack the chin of Khabib Nurmagomedov once. Given his history of finding a home for that laser – like left hand on the chins of countless world class fighters, can we really afford to back against him doing it again?

PREDICTION: Conor McGregor round two TKO.

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26 SPORT

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

Club spotlight: NUI Galway Taekwondo takes on the world at TI World Championships in Birmingham This year the Taekwondo World Championships were hosted by TAGB (Taekwondo Great Britain) in the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham. The competition brought in thousands of the best competitors from over 20 countries, with some coming from as far as Australia and the USA. A few students from NUI Galway had the privilege of being chosen by the TKDI (Taekwondo Ireland) to represent their country at this massive event and it’s safe to say they did so with distinction, bringing home medals from various sections of the competition over the course of the two days.

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The Irish team showed up in force on the day, and were the second largest team with hundreds of competitors, second in size only to the host team TAGB. The NUI Galway competitors all saw action on the first day, as all colour belt events and black belt point sparring took place. All colour belt pattern sections went first, but little luck was found here with Aaron Croke just missing out on a podium finish in a tight event. However, more luck was had later in the ring in the sparring section. First up was the lightweight green belt section but with no other lightweights present, Nathan Huggins made the choice to compete in the middleweight section. He won his first fight by a large margin and kept up the pace in later rounds, only to lose out to his Irish teammate in the final which meant he walked away with a silver. Aaron Croke, fighting in what was one of the largest categories at the competition, unfortunately missed out in his fight in the heavyweight red belt section after a vicious bout against the World Champion in his category. Lorcan McCarthy, fighting in the heavyweight yellow belt section, unfortunately lost his fight by a single point in the last few seconds after an extremely tight battle. Agata Rzeznik had a better run, managing to

make it into the quarter - final in the ladies’ blue belt section where she earned a bronze medal after a tough match. On the second day, the black belt events took place. Roisin O’Loughlin participated in both sparring and patterns. Unfortunately, she too lost out in an extremely tough fight against the eventual World Champion of the female black belt section. Sparring was only the beginning of the success for the group as they then went on to win three more medals in the Ultimate Striker section. Lorcan achieved second place, walking away with silver in the colour belts heavyweight turning kick section. Nathan managed to go one step better, taking first place and gold in the colour belts lightweight turning kick section. In the female black belt turning kick section, Roisin scored second and held that position throughout the whole day meaning a third silver for the NUI Galway group. In the end, the group walked away with a gold, three silvers and a bronze medal, doing particularly well in Ultimate Striker. One thing is for sure: this a selection of fighters whose kick you definitely don’t want to be on the receiving end of. Find NUI Galway Taekwondo Club on Facebook at NUIG TKD.

Take your home goals and the away goals will come By Mark Lynch At the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 10 April this year, heavy underdogs Roma played host to the Lionel Messi - led Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash. Roma were underdogs because of the supposed gap in quality between the two teams. Also, in the first leg, two own goals plus one each from Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez led to a rout in the Nou Camp. Roma came away with a slither of hope. The door was closed but not locked. Edin Dzeko’s 80th - minute goal would, in almost all competitions, be no more than a consolation. However, in the Champions League and Europa League it counts as an away goal, meaning if the teams are level after the second leg, the team with the most away goals goes through. Roma still had a huge job to do and it was extremely surprising they got through, but they fully deserved it. A handful of top European managers have called on UEFA to get rid of the rule. This is because playing away from home nowadays is much more mundane, compared to when this rule was introduced in the former European Cup Winners’ Cup competition in 1965. However, it seems that rather than removing a rule that’s currently a hindrance, it is trying to fix something that’s not broken. The managers who have called on UEFA to get rid of the away goals rule have a point that

the situation has changed since the mid - 1960’s. However, taking away the rule is less likely to encourage home teams to try and score more. Instead, it’ll discourage the likes of Roma from even trying to score a consolation goal that ultimately sent them through. In the aforementioned two - legged tie, the home teams won 4-1 and 3-0. Total number of home goals = 7. Total number of away goals = 1. For a tie that literally hinged on the away goals rule, it doesn’t seem like it had too much of an impact on the home teams scoring. Interestingly, Barcelona’s manager, Ernesto Valverde, isn’t actually on the list of managers who want rid of it, publicly at least. Staying with the Catalan club as an example, having the carrot of the away goals rule when smaller or worse teams come to the Nou Camp is of benefit to everyone. If it wasn’t there, many teams might as well leave all of their strikers at home, because there’d be no incentive for them to try and push for a goal if the game is getting away from them. In fact, most teams already do try and park the bus at stadiums like the Nou Camp. Even Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United side, who faced Barcelona in the semi-final of the competition in 2008, played the Christmas tree formation with one striker who wasn’t all that busy. Going forward and leaving space for the home team is already something most teams are quite nervous about doing. Taking away the away goals rule would exacerbate that greatly, with the cost coming in entertainment for supporters.

SPÓ IRT

September 25 2018

The coverage question: Serena is right about the should the ladies’ Allwomen’s struggle, but was Ireland finals be played wrong in the US Open final the same day as the men’s? By Danny Keown

By Martha Brennan As the inter-county GAA calendar drew to a close earlier this month, with the women’s Gaelic football final finishing off a spectacular summer of Irish sport, we were once again reminded of the stunning gap between men and women’s sporting coverage in Ireland. The ladies’ finals once again garnered only a fraction of the coverage of the men’s, with 50,141 tickets being sold for the women’s football final compared with the sellout 82,300 for the men’s decider. While the attendance for women’s GAA matches is growing, and sponsorship for the teams is improving, the wide line between the female players and their male counterparts just doesn’t seem to be shrinking. Every year the women of the GAA come onto that pitch and show us exactly why they deserve our attention. Take for instance the stellar performances in this year’s camogie final, the Cork and Kilkenny ladies took belts to the head, whacks to the face guard and most walked wounded off the pitch after the one point decider: yet just over 300,000 people tuned in to see the action on tv, compared to the one million viewers who watched Limerick win Liam MacCarthy in August. Critics have increasingly been putting forward the idea that perhaps instead of underage teams preluding the men’s All-Ireland finals, it should be the women. And indeed, earlier this year eight ladies’ football national league games were played before men’s’ games - further evidence that there exists a pathway for our women to perform in front of big crowds - but come on. Isn’t the idea of women opening for the men just an irony waiting to happen? SIN spoke to Cork camogie star Linda Collins about the idea this week. “I don’t think it would be a great idea,” Collins says. “To start with, the men’s finals are usually sell outs so this could mean that some of the dedicated camogie supporters who have been there all year may not be able to get tickets to the game.” “I think the men’s day is the men’s day and the women’s day is the women’s. They both hold equal importance.” “The women play all year to get to Croke Park to be the main event, and the men are the same.” The problem with the attendance and coverage gaps between women’s GAA matches and men’s isn’t one of skill, or entertainment value, it’s the immediate comparison between the two and women’s sport suffers as a consequence. Would putting them on the same day really aid this? And, as Collins points out, why force people to watch if they didn’t sign up for it? “If people want to support the women they will,” she tells SIN. “We really appreciate all the support we get and our supporters always come out in their numbers, but we’re not going to force people to watch camogie if they don’t want to.” She also points out that having the men’s game following the women could take away from them. People can argue that women aren’t as strong, or as fast, but one thing we can all agree on as far as ladies GAA, they aren’t as flashy.

They can’t be. No one will be shocked to learn that women’s sport is severely under-funded compared to men’s. This year not one woman made the Forbes 100 list of highest paid athletes, and when Arsenal won the men’s and women’s FA Cup tournaments, the men received £1.8 million in prize money whereas the women received just £5000. The current state of GAA is an echo of this. To put it into localised terms: a two-year agreement commenced in 2017 to grant the Women’s GPA, the Camogie Association, and the LGFA a total of €500,000 combined per annum - whereas the men’s Dublin football team alone was able to spend €1.46 million in 2017. All Star Mags D’Arcy spoke about this to the42 saying; “It’s just the way it is. It is a crying shame because we have so many resources, why don’t we just put it all under one umbrella?” “All the infrastructure is there, all the resources are there, financially it’s there.” We’re all aware that there isn’t as much attention given to women’s sport but when you hear that three quarters of our population didn’t watch one female sporting event last year, it’s shocking. As is the fact that a Ladies senior final in Limerick was rescheduled to 9am because of a men’s tag rugby tournament. And that a women’s senior

A two-year agreement commenced in 2017 to grant the Women’s GPA, the Camogie Association, and the LGFA a total of €500,000 combined per annum - whereas the men’s Dublin football team alone was able to spend €1.46 million in 2017. championship semi-final had to be lit up by car headlights this year because they wouldn’t turn on the floodlights. If you stop to process that a Ladies All-Ireland final was rescheduled because the men needed a replay, you really start to think that enough is enough. Today, the law recognises that women should be treated fairly and equally. Social attitudes should reflect this too. It’s time for the GAA to catch up. The women don’t need to open up for the men to get attention. They have proved again and again that they can put on a show on their own merit. Once they are being treated fairly by their own association, maybe their perspective audiences will realise this.

Serena Williams has posited the case that women are be treated badly, but there are countless incidents where men are punished for similar incidents to hers in the US Open final. When Serena Williams threw away the US open final by calling the umpire a “thief” and a “liar”, she cited sexism as the root cause, stating that no male player would be treated the way she was by referee Carlos Ramos. However, Serena didn’t do the feminist cause any good at all. While understandably upset, Williams was wrong. Ramos didn’t do any more than his job demanded. Intentionally or not, she accused him of bias that simply was not there, in these circumstances at least. By mixing her own dilemma with a wider issue and claiming to champion the cause of women in sport, she not only detracted from the extraordinary achievement of the 20 – year – old winner Naomi Osaka, who was appearing in her first

grand slam final. But also, she shifted the blame for her own misdemeanours, and their consequences, on to an official who was powerless to reply. She was correct to suggest men verbally abuse umpires all the time and get away with it. So do some women. She has history herself at this tournament in 2009, for instance. It has been a problem in the game since the days of John McEnroe. There are fines and suspensions for the worst offenders, but there is a culture in tennis similar to that in football, allowing highly paid athletes to get away with behaviour that would either start a fight or result in arrest were it to occur in the street. But none of that excuses what Williams did in the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday night, which was to manipulate sentiment to her advantage, regardless of the effect it would have on a wholly innocent opponent who showed admirable discipline and understanding on the biggest night of her life. Osaka adores Williams, and the American abused that love.

28 SPORT

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 02

SPORTS OPINION: the genial gambling hypocrite By Gary Elbert Michael D Higgins made headlines back in July when lambasting the proliferation of betting companies advertising their services at sporting events. The octogenarian President received almost universal agreement from the Irish commentariat. How unfortunate then to see the statesman ensconced in the hustle and bustle of Ballybrit during the Galway Races, surrounded by relentless and impulsive gambling. Higgins sudden volte - face was not the product of conscious hypocrisy, but rather a symbol of the nation’s ambiguous attitude to gambling and sport. Surely he could not have failed to recognise the irony of his words and subsequent behaviour. I am sure the President knows that a day out at the gee gees is not the equivalent to betting a mortgage repayment on a netball match held on a beach in Madagascar. The horse racing industry always seems to get a pass, yet this so called sport which involves consistent animal cruelty and excessive alcohol - is permitted to cloak itself in an aristocratic veneer. ‘The sport of kings’, as the pompous misnomer goes, would die as an industry if the gambling element were to be outlawed. Remove the Tote hatches and the gombeen bookmakers from Ballybrit and you are left with a deserted haybarn. So, when Higgins speaks of outlawing betting behemoths advertising their wares at sporting events, clearly the target is actual sports such as soccer, rugby and boxing. The President is right to be concerned. In 2016, Irish people lost 2.1 billion euros due to gambling, the

third largest figure per capita globally. Various sports stars have confessed to extreme compulsive gambling addictions in recent years, while numerous high - profile cases have emerged in the courts. Gambling will always produce victims on various scales of losses, but the more salient element of the business is to note its almost exclusively male environment. One of Ireland’s most prominent gambling figures is JP McManus, a heroic figure of admiration amongst thousands of betting Irishmen, who rose from humble bookmaker to the don of Irish horseracing. The actual odds of living a productive fulfilled life while consistently gambling are equivalent to winning the Euro millions, yet the dopamine feedback loop attraction of gambling is perhaps lost on its dependents. From the track - suited students slumped in the betting shops in Eyre Square, to the thronged slot machines of Salthill, Irish people find some margin of solace in losing money while chasing the impossible. Why not campaign for an end to gambling itself ? Why stop at banning posters and shady marketing ploys? Why not close every bookmaker in Ireland and unplug access to online gambling services? What Higgins proposes is a band aid fix. It is ludicrous now to suggest separating gambling from sport, just as it would be to outlaw alcohol at sporting or music events. The fundamental strategy for curbing society’s self - destructive addictions is through education at early development, allied with an emphasis on personal autonomy and responsibility.

Martin O’Neill might be nearing the end, but his time as Ireland manager was still a success By Mark O’Connor I think the majority of Irish fans understand who we are as a footballing nation. We are traditionally a mix-up of Premier league and Championship level footballers whom, for the most part, fall under the category of 11 work horses. We simply don’t have the “raw materials” that other countries do. We haven’t been blessed with players such as Kylian Mbappe or Luka Modric, to name a few of the key players in both World Cup finalists’ squads. Despite the ongoing post mortem - like discussion of recent Irish performances, what happened in the 4-1 defeat to Wales was arguably one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen from an Irish side. Not because our squad was bested by the sublime talents of players like Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, but due to the fact that it was an Irish side who refused to work and fight and slug and every other adjective that can be associated with all that’s good about Irish football. So, who do we blame? Martin O’Neill’s career as both a player and a manager has seen various different level of success. His number two Roy Keane is one of the finest footballers that the country has ever produced, but he has a somewhat underwhelming managerial career in contrast. The pair have struggled recently with the Irish squad, both on the pitch and off it with rumours of players such as Harry Arter, Johnny Walters and Stephen Ward all reported to be aggrieved

Photo: Dagur Brynjólfsson via Flickr with the management pairing. O’Neill and Keane seem to have “lost the dressing room” which can be seen evidently in the recent lacklustre Irish performances, so it’s easy to see why the pair are rumoured to be close to dismissals. Indeed, candidates such as former manager Mick McCarthy and current assistant manager Roy Keane taking the main job will not fill even the most optimistic Irish fan with great confidence. This Irish team does have potential, players like Callum O’Dowda and Callum Robinson often look more than capable of leading Ireland forward, so perhaps someone along the lines of current U21 manager Noel King could be seen as a prime candidate to bring players like Ryan Manning and Reece Grego – Cox through the ranks.

Whilst football fans often look at the glass as half empty, O’Neill’s stint in command of the national side has been superb in places, and if these levels could be reached again then there is no better candidate for the role. Martin O’Neill’s tenure in charge of the Irish national team has left us with memorable moments (Robbie Brady’s crucial goal in the dying embers to break Italian hearts springs to mind). However, following the crushing defeat to Denmark and a Gareth Bale inspired Wales team, it seems as though the Derry man’s days may be numbered. Having said this, whilst Irish fans may be pessimistic about the future, it is important we recognize that O’Neill and Keane made us believe in Irish soccer again post-Trappatoni, and the last few years can ultimately be seen as moderately successful.

CLUB SPOTLIGHT: NUI Galway Men’s Hockey Club SIN caught up with NUI Galway Men’s Hockey Cub to see what they are up to, and how others can get involved.

The original men’s team that competed in the National Intervarsities in October 2017, where it all began

The team that finished 2nd in at the Mixed Indoor tournament in the Kingfisher last February

“We want to bring hockey to the mainstage in Galway. The women’s team has quite a strong following, but up to this point a bonafide Men’s hockey club has never existed in NUI Galway. We want to bring a group of lads together and create an environment where guys can find some of their best friends in college, and in life, through our club. Train together, play together, and most importantly have a bitta craic together,” says Henry Cooke, the club’s Public Relations Officer. “When we first decided to get involved in University hockey, our main goal was the Intervarsities at the end of October. A group of us have been playing hockey since we were kids and would know quite a few people in hockey circles around the country. After successfully fielding a team and having a good weekend in Dublin, we just decided to crack on, and the small talk about hosting the Mixed Intervarsities started to grow legs.”

“Without a doubt, our biggest achieve- amount in a very short time, and I think the ment as a club so far was when we hosted Mixed Indoor and Outdoor Intervarsities is the Mixed Indoor and Outdoor Intervarsi- a testament to that.” ties in Galway. We did this alongside the “You can find our club on the NUIG Ladies’ team in our first year as an official club’s website, or even better just turn up club last year,” he says. “The event had 18 to training on Tuesdays from 17:30-19:00 teams across two competitions. Our NUI at the Dangan Sports Ground’s hockey Galway team finished 2nd in the inaugural pitch! We can provide hockey sticks for indoor intervarsity competition and 5th any beginners and are always delighted in the outdoor competition.” to see new people. We also run a recreWhen asked how the club members got ational mixed indoor hockey session on involved, Henry says; “When we founded Thursdays from 12-1 in the Kingfisher. Of the men’s club a year ago, we had no out- course, people can also get in contact with door training spot, but we had also begun us through our Facebook or Instagram to run a recreational indoor hockey session pages,” Henry adds. for men and women. It was purely for fun and we just tried our best to get as many of our mates down to play, and slowly word spread. We also generated a good bit of interest through our social media.” “We are the first men’s hockey club in NUIG and we are one of only two men’s hockey clubs in the entirety of Connacht. We do not lack ambition, The Mixed Outdoor Team resplendent in our and with a pretty smallscale brand-new kit. Onwards and upwards! setup, we have achieved a huge

From Monday 1st October to Sunday 1th November we are challenging staff and students to

Get Active & Win Special prizes each week for clocking up steps or KMs cycled

A Fabulous week of recreational activity in the NUI Galway Sports Centre

Monday 24th 8-10pm Futsal Blitz

Come along and take part

Tuesday 25th

with the Socs! Bike Gang

Helping you get on your bike with regular repair workshops

Cheerleading

No better way to get fit and maybe go to Disney!

Circus

Fromjuggling to unicycling have fun, get a skill and get fit

Dansoc

Up to 20 weekly classes: Hip-Hop, Zumba Strength & Conditioning, Irish, Salsa, Jazz.

Healthy Hearts

Get fit and tips on keeping your heart healthy

Lotus

Yoga Classes & Meditation

Musical (GUMS)

Its all singing, all dancing and getting fit without even knowing it

Organic Gardening

Potter in the garden and get healthy on the outside and the inside.

Rover

Scouting Society bring you out into the open air for adventure

Strength Soc

Here to encourage a healthy lifestyle, help loosing weight, improving athletic performance etc...

10am - 12pm Sports Hall Athletics 12.15 - 1.15pm Fun N Run GAA All welcome, come and have a go

2pm Launch Fit Towns 2.15 - 3.15 pm GAASOC

A combination of GAA and soccer All Welcome

Wednesday 26th

11am - 1pm 3v3 Basketball 1pm Karate Seminar “insights” to this Martial Arts

Thursday 27th

National Fitness Day Get moving, get active & win Sign up now activetravellogge

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Clubs Captain Captaen na gClubanna: Ryan Guilfoyle Hi my name is Ryan and I’m your SU Clubs Captain for 2018/19. I’m from Cavan, I play rugby and I’m studying the Masters in Marketing Practice at NUI Galway. The Clubs’ Captain represents NUI Galway Clubs on the Students’ Union Executive and the Sports and Recreation Union. Haigh. Ryan is ainm dom agus is mise Captaen na gClubanna don bhliain 2018/19. Is as an gCabhán dom, imrím rugbaí, agus tá mé ag gabháil don Mháistreacht sa Chleachtas Margaíochta in OÉ Gaillimh. Déanann Captaen na gClubanna ionadaíocht ar Chlubanna OÉ Gaillimh ar Choiste Gnóthaí Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn agus ar an gComhaltas Spóirt agus Áineasa. Phone: 091 524 810 Email: su.clubs@nuigalway.ie

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