SIN Vol. 16 Issue 12

FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER | VOL 16, ISSUE 12 | 30 MAR 2015

NEWS

INSIDE NUI Galway alumnus elected President of USI FEATURES LIFESTYLE ENTERTAINMENT

“We still have a lot of work to do here before the year is out, but I am very excited to begin work to represent my fellow students on a national level. I am so grateful to everyone for their support and to all the students that voted for me. I promise that I will not let you down,” she concluded.

Vice President elect for the BMW region Feidhlim Seoighe is also excited to start his new role alongside two of his “very close” NUI Galway friends.

“Many motions were passed at congress this year – either ones which I proposed, or which will fall under my remit – and I will have to prepare a plan of work for the year for the first National Council of the new term,” he said, discussing his initial plans when he starts his new role.

“I will also have to undergo an intense crossover period with my predecessor, Conor Stitt, and with my own successor, Aedrean Ó Dubhghaill from Maynooth University, who will be taking over the helm of Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge.

“This Congress has by far been one of the most progressive and enjoyable congresses I have attended. I am excited to see numerous motions passed, including expanding the Women in Leadership Campaign, commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising, and a progressive Grant Reform Policy, which was passed and presented to the Minister of Education Jan O’Sullivan,” he concluded.

The three newly-elected officers will begin their term on 1 July 2015.

SPORT

do next year in the budget and general election will carry a clear and ­coherent message.

“Free, equal access to education is the way forward for this country. It will be hard-fought and hard-won, but after what I have seen from congress this week, I have absolutely no doubt that we can achieve that and so much else, north and south of the border.”

As well as Kevin Donoghue, USI elected two other former NUI Galway students to its Officer Board. Current Vice President for Welfare at NUI Galway Students’ Union Aoife Ní Shúilleabháin was elected the Vice President for Welfare for USI, and Feidhlim Seoighe, outgoing Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge, has been elected Vice President for the Border, Midlands and Western Region.

“I am absolutely delighted and so humbled to have been elected Vice President for Welfare for USI,” said Miss Ní Shúilleabháin of her election.

“I am overwhelmed by the support I have received from institutions across the country and especially from everyone here in NUI Galway. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Ross Doyle, who is one of my best friends and has been an incredible support to me throughout this whole campaign.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with such an incredible team this coming year, especially Kevin Donoghue and Feidhlim Seoighe, who were also former NUI Galway SU Officers.

USI calls on colleges to move exams to allow students to vote

2

DEBATE: Renua Ireland vs Sinn Féin in government

FINAL WORD

NUI Galway alumnus Kevin Donoghue following his election at USI Congress last week. Photo: Conor McCabe.

2

Reeling in the Year: 54 Sin 2014/2015

By Jessica Thompson The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has elected NUI Galway alumnus Kevin Donoghue as its president for the 2015/2016 academic year.

Mr Donoghue, from Co. Mayo, currently serves as the organisation’s Deputy President and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance. He studied Law at NUI Galway.

“I’m honoured to have been elected to work for the students across Ireland. The year ahead presents many challenges locally and nationally for students. There is no single issue for students – as citizens, students have an acute interest in every aspect of the affairs of the nation,” said Mr Donoghue after his election.

“We seek reform of the grant system and a roadmap for education to be properly recognised as a public good and properly funded.”

Mr Donoghue was elected at this year’s USI Congress, which took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone from Monday 23 to Thursday 26 March.

Speaking of her successor on the final day of Congress, outgoing USI President Laura Harmon referred to Mr Donoghue as “an absolute wonderful colleague this year and support to myself and the whole team” and “a kind and considerate individual”.

“I don’t know a lot about the iPhone 6 but I hear it’s an enormous update from the iPhone 5. I certainly hear that it’s a lot more efficient, faster and, more importantly, it’s a lot more stylish. And I can say with complete confidence that Kevin Donoghue is going to be a major upgrade next year,” she said.

“I’m a firm believer that your successor should always be better than you and Kevin Donoghue is going to be a phenomenal president for USI and I’m going to be so proud to look on from the side-lines and to watch the work that’ll be done by the officer board next year.”

In his closing address to Congress last week, Mr Donoghue spoke of the progress delegations had made over the four days.

“This congress has been a progressive one in terms of the motions that we have passed this week. It’s made us stronger and put us in a better position to represent our neighbours in the future,” he said.

“It’s so important that the student movement now unites in pursuit of a common goal. The work that we

Minister for Education and Skills expresses support for #MakeGráTheLaw Campaign

8

Along one’s journey: 12 a reflection Types of student at Exam Time

14

Bearded Backpacker

18

Ageism in Fashion

19

Ten Commandments of Fashion

20

Can the BBC afford to lose Jeremy Clarkson?

23

Dean of Letters

26

How Literature made me

26

Set pieces a problem for Galway United

28

Ireland becoming a formidable team under Schmidt

29

A Qatar World Cup would be a disaster for Soccer

30

College Insider

31

Diary of the Smokey’s Pigeon

31

2 NEWS

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

Minister for Education and Skills expresses support for Gender Equality and #MakeGráTheLaw Campaign

By Jessica Thompson The recent gender equality issues in NUI Galway were addressed by Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan when talking to student delegates at USI Congress in Athlone last week.

In her address, the Minister recognised the “bravery and tenacity” of those who have fought for equality for women’s rights, access to divorce, modern attitudes to sexuality and contraception.

In recent months, it has been clearly demonstrated that women still face discrimination in the work place, according to the Minister who acknowledged and welcome the fact that, in response to a particularly serious case in which an NUI Galway lecturer battled for equality after the university did not give her a promotion, a task force is being put in place to address the matter.

“However, it is important that this task force has the confidence of both the student body and the staff. I am aware of concerns about the proposed composition of the task force in Galway and I want to repeat my view that having the broadest possible support for the task force at the outset is central to its important work and I would urge NUIG to ensure that every effort is made to achieve that goal,” said Minister O’Sullivan.

According to the Minister, the HEA is actively considering how best to support the improvement of gender equality across the higher education sector and are developing a database of staff employed in the sector so that they can ensure gender equality at all levels within the academic profession in Ireland.

The data shows that here in Ireland, women represent 43% of academic staff in the universities and Institutes of Technology.

However, only 21% of professors and associate professors in Irish universities are female.

But this is not a problem that’s unique to Ireland, the Minister said. The European Commission’s 2012 report, Gender in Research and Innovation, shows that across the EU member states, women represented only 20% of professorial staff.

In addressing gender equality, the Minister acknowledged the positive role that initiatives such as Athena SWAN can play in ensuring that women receive the recognition they deserve in Ireland’s education institutions.

The Athena SWAN charter has been developed to encourage and recognise commitment to combating the underrepresentation of women with careers in science, technology, maths and medicine in higher education and research, and advancing the careers of women in STEMM research and academia.

“I’m very pleased to see that all seven universities and all 14 institutes of technology have signed up for the Athena SWAN Charter. While the extension of the Athena SWAN Charter to Ireland is being funded initially on a three-year private basis, it is our hope and expectation that it will become an established feature of the Irish Higher Education landscape,” said the Minister.

“Actively promoting gender equality is an important goal. Gender Equality should be central to how all public organisations operate. The principal of equality demands

nothing less. Ensuring the fair representation and career progression of female academics is also important in retaining Ireland’s international reputation for the quality and impact of our further and higher education community.”

Keeping with the subject of equality, the Minister for Education and Skills expressed total support for the USI ‘#MakeGráTheLaw’ campaign for marriage equality, which was launched in NUI Galway and other USI-affiliated colleges across the country in January.

“By saying yes to Marriage Equality, we will at long last accept that every citizen is equal.

We will state clearly that every relationship deserves the same respect and recognition.

We will stand together against the forces that, time after time, try to shackle our country to the failed model of the past,” she said.

“I fully support USI’s #MakeGráTheLaw campaign. Not only is it right, it’s also one of the best campaign slogans that I’ve heard in a long time – a nice bit of rhyming.”

Minister O’Sullivan also acknowledged the hard work that Students’ Unions around the country, including NUI Galway SU, have done to register students to vote.

“Not so long ago, the divorce referendum passed by a little more than 9,000 votes. The work achieved by USI and other groups in terms of voter registration will have a very real impact on polling day,” she said.

“I look forward to campaigning in the coming weeks with my colleagues in the Labour party, shoulder to shoulder with other progressive groups such as USI on this vital human rights issue. The challenge for us now is to win the argument and to turn out our voters on the day. I am confident that we can win and that we can make Grá the Law.” After her address, the Minister accepted a #MakeGráTheLaw wristband to show her support for the campaign.

NUI Galway Students’ Union Equality Officer Rebecca Melvin commented on this level of support; “It was very good to see the minister engage with the Marriage Equality referendum. She praised the particular Students’ Union that came up with the slogan.

“Also, it was nice to see her engage with the students when she took the wrist band and she wore it. It just shows that we do have a lot of support and that we have to keep working for the same outcome on the same level.”

USI calls on colleges to move exams to allow students to vote The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has begun a major campaign to clear the decks for students to vote in May’s Marriage Equality referendum.

USI President Laura Harmon launched the drive on day three of the Union of Students in Ireland Congress in Athlone last week.

“Students are overwhelmingly in favour of Marriage Equality, and complacency is simply not an option for us. We’re calling for all colleges, where necessary, to change exam times on the 22nd of May to allow students to vote,” she said.

So far, DCU and CIT college authorities have moved exams so that students can vote on 22 May. USI registered over 20,000 students to vote in November 2014 and on average, 95% of students are in favour of marriage equality based on referenda that were held in college campuses.

“The student vote will be crucial to passing this referendum. Every barrier to student participation in the referendum should be removed by colleges, and every Students’ Union in the country needs to push full force to bring about equality,” said Miss Harmon.

“Where necessary, we’ll be writing to college authorities to impress upon them the importance of this vote to the students and what they can do to pave the way for marriage equality.”

Delegations from all USI-affiliated colleges gathered together at USI Congress last week to show their support for the #MakeGráTheLaw campaign for Marriage Equality.

NUI Galway Students’ Union has been nominated for an Online Marketing in Galway (OMiG) award and is now through to the semi-final for Best Website and Best Social Media.

The SU is also running for the People’s Choice Award in which students can vote. Stage one voting for this closes at 5pm Monday 30 March and if the SU get through to the semi-final stage for the People’s Choice Award, the public will once again be able to vote.

To vote, go to www.galwaymarketing.ie.

NEWS 3

March 30 2015

You have been my inspiration

By Jessica ­MakeGráTheLaw Thompson All my life, I wanted to be a teacher.

When I was in primary school, I wanted to be a primary school teacher. When I got to secondary school, I wanted to be a secondary school teacher. I suppose it was because I spent so much time around teachers that I wasn’t really exposed to much else.

My secondary school English teacher, Mr O’Gara was an inspiration to me from the moment I walked into his class. He had a sense of humour not unlike my own. He had a quirky way of teaching that meant the class was never boring. And he opened up my mind to a way of thinking that had me comparing The Truman Show to Hamlet.

By the time I reached my Leaving Cert year, 90% of my English essays were coming back with A-grades, accompanied by the good old ‘Gog’ signature in handwriting that I can still remember clearly. He even read my essays out to the rest of the class most weeks as an example of a good essay.

He never said they were my essays. But everyone knew.

It was that encouragement that made me so confident in my writing skills, when I wasn’t very confident in myself as a person. I had no idea who I was, but when I was in English class, I felt comfortable in myself – something I rarely felt elsewhere.

In English class, I knew one thing for sure: I was a writer.

Thanks to that inspiration, I ended up graduating with a BA in English and Music at UCD and went on to become, not a teacher, but a journalist. It was journalism that brought me to Galway. I pursued that feeling of confidence and strength that writing gave me, and by the time I finished my MA Journalism in NUI Galway, I had become the strong, independent, confident woman who has been editing this newspaper for three academic years now.

It’s amazing what a little inspiration can do.

Last week, I got to attend my third USI Congress, and I was inspired by the passion and emotion felt in the room during a MakeGráTheLaw session on Wednesday 25 March.

I was always going to vote yes in the upcoming Marriage Equality referendum, but what I saw at congress has doubled my passion. As I sat there with my delegation and listened to stories from the likes of Ben Slimm from IT Tralee, I felt goosebumps rise on my skin and the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stand up.

I fought hard to hold back tears as Ben Slimm talked about the knot he felt in his stomach from the age of eight. He knew he was different from the age of eight and he spent 11 years suffering in silence.

In fact, he even agreed with his favourite teacher when he said gay people should not be allowed to marry.

So afraid was he to come out that he resorted to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Nobody should have to suffer like that.

But at the age of 19, the knot in Ben’s stomach could finally untie as he started to accept who he was, and who he loved, knowing that he was not alone and never would be.

He will never be alone, because there are thousands of students behind him.

USI got over 20,000 students to register to vote in November, and 95% of students in affiliated colleges are in favour of Marriage Equality.

That’s a lot of support.

Since Congress, I have changed my name on Facebook to ‘Jessica Makegráthelaw Thompson’ to show my support, and I ask you to do the same.

With only seven weeks to go, it is now that we need to rally the troops and go out there to influence and inspire people to vote yes.

If you’re considering voting no, or not voting at all, then consider this: do you know someone who is gay? And if so, do you want that person to be happy?

How will it affect your life, if the two men down the street get married? What business is it of yours, no matter what your sexual orientation, religion or beliefs, to tell the two girls on the other side of town that they can’t love each other?

Will the world come crashing down if two people who are already in love, living together and in a civil partnership are able to change the status of their relationship to ‘married’?

Marriage should not, and does not, belong to straight people. A straight marriage does not lose its importance just because a gay marriage exists.

A gay marriage is just a marriage.

By voting yes, you’re helping more people to be happy. You’re accepting that every single citizen in Ireland is equal, and that everyone deserves to love and be loved.

I will be voting Tá for Grá on 22 May… Will you?

I cannot finish this final editorial without talking about one more source of inspiration for me: Sin newspaper.

This year, I had an amazing team stand behind me – nay, beside me – and support me in the production of twelve amazing issues of Sin.

Editor in Chief: Jessica Thompson editor@sin.ie Layout: Shannon Reeves | contact via Ed. NEWS

Ciara Treacy | localnews.sined@gmail.com

Chelsea Tabert | nationalnews.sined@gmail.com

I’ve been inspired by the help and support that my editorial team have given, not only me, but the writers who have filled these pages.

Ciara and Chelsea, Eoin and Áine, Jenna, Tom, Dean and Ken, Austin, John, Matt, Kieran and Michael: you have been the best editorial team I could ask for, and I thank you for your passion and commitment to what has been an amazing volume of Sin. I’ve also been inspired by the people who fill these pages – the regular writers, like Tomás M. Creamer, who is always able to step up to a challenge when I need someone to cover a story; and Neil Rogers who, for the past few issues, has provided excellent, well-written content for the entertainment section; and our columnists, such as Hazel Doyle, who have sent me consistently high-quality content every two weeks. All of the above and so many more have inspired me to keep going.

Most of all, I have to thank the person who has been on my team since I became editor. That is Shannon Reeves, the designer, without whom we wouldn’t have such an eye-catching, well-put-together paper every fortnight.

And last, but by no means least, I have to thank you: the person reading this editorial right now. Without you there would be no Sin newspaper.

Thank you for consistently reading our work. It has been our pleasure to write for you.

I may be the editor, but I can in no way take the credit for what we have produced over the past 12 issues. What I have done for Sin is nothing compared to what my team has done, and it pains me to say goodbye and put this year’s final issue to bed.

Thank you all so much. If I have inspired you just a fraction as much as you have inspired me, then I’m finishing this volume smiling.

Keep in touch via Twitter and Facebook (see below). Enjoy the summer holidays, and don’t forget to Make Grá the Law. Your editor,

Jess TWITTER: @Jess__Thompson

(two underscores) FACEBOOK: Jessica Thompson Journalist

FEATURES

Eoin Molloy | opinion.sined@gmail.com

Áine O’Donnell | features.sined@gmail.com LIFESTYLE

Jenna Hodgins | fashion.sined@gmail.com ENTERTAINMENT

Austin Maloney | artsentertainment.sined@gmail.com

Ken Glennon | arts.sined@gmail.com

Dean Buckley | literature.sined@gmail.com

Thomas Murray | entsonline.sined@gmail.com SPORT

Kieran Kilkelly | sport.sined@gmail.com

Michael Farrell | sport.sined@gmail.com Matthew Cassidy | sportonline.sined@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHY Daniel O'Loughlin | photography.sined@gmail.com

WEB EDITOR John Brennan | web.sined@gmail.com

Get in touch with Sin:

Email: Facebook: Twitter:

editor@sin.ie Sin Newspaper NUI Galway @Sin_News

Send us your tweets and we may publish them in future issues of Sin.

For more great stories over the coming weeks and months, see our website: www.sin.ie.

4 NEWS

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

REELING IN THE YEAR: Sin 2014/2015

By Tomás M. Creamer ISSUE 1 (15 SEPTEMBER): Students suffer as a result of accommodation shortage Due to a severe shortage in accommodation and rent increases of 6.7%, many students had trouble trying to secure adequate accommodation, despite efforts by NUI Galway’s Accommodation Office to secure short-term accommodation and facilitating students to look for accommodation together.

ISSUE 2 (29 SEPTEMBER): Increase in Irish Youths not registered to vote A survey by the National Youth Council of Ireland revealed that 30% of 18-25 year olds, including 43% of 18-21 year olds, were not registered to vote. The inconsistency of registration requirements across various councils was cited as a major factor.

ISSUE 3 (13 OCTOBER): “No ifs, no buts, no education cuts” Over 6,000 students, including a large crowd from NUI Galway, took to the streets of Dublin in a rally to call for a protection for student support and grant schemes from further budget cuts.

ISSUE 4 (27 OCTOBER): Heroin use on campus poses threat to students Drug paraphernalia found adjacent to Corrib Village indicates that Galway City’s drug problem is spreading on to the campus, posing a threat to the safety of students.

ISSUE 5 (10 NOVEMBER): NUI Galway Students to make 200km trip cost just €1 with energy-efficient car Engineering Students in NUI Galway were reported to be

building ‘Ireland’s most fuelefficient car’, which would be capable of driving from Galway to Dublin on €1 of fuel, to compete in the European Shell Eco-marathon.

ISSUE 6 (24 NOVEMBER): NUI Galway Holds Mass ­Marriage for Marriage Equality GiG Soc organised a ‘Mass Marriage’ event on 12 November, in order to raise awareness of the Same-Sex Marriage Referendum next May, and to encourage students to register.

ISSUE 7 (12 JANUARY): Jailbreak 2015: The race is on A change to the Jailbreak challenge – which challenged students from various universities to get as far away from their respective institutions as possible with zero

cash, to raise money for charity – sees students striving to be the first to reach ‘­Destination X’.

ISSUE 8 (26 JANUARY): “We have to shame the university into supporting gender equality” NUI Galway students initiate a campaign in support of several female colleagues of Dr. Sheehy-Skeffington, who are following her example in taking legal action against NUI Galway, believing that they have been discriminated against in promotions to senior positions.

ISSUE 9 (9 FEBRUARY): #MakeGráTheLaw NUI Galway Students’ Union lends it support to the campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming Same-Sex Marriage Referendum.

ISSUE 10 (2 MARCH): President Michael D. Higgins critical of drinks companies As part of a wide-ranging, exclusive interview with SIN’s John Brennan, President Michael D. Higgins criticised the promotion of alcohol to students, saying “there is so much enjoyment (to be had) in life at that particular age rather than wasting your life on hangovers”.

ISSUE 11 (16 MARCH): Results of NUI Galway Students’ Union Elections announced On 5 March, 2,727 NUI Galway Students voted in the Students Union full-time elections, a decrease from 3,296 students last year. Phelim Kelly, Rebecca Melvin and Jimmy McGovern were elected for the positions of President, Education Officer

and Welfare Officer respectively. A referendum to oblige the Union to support the legalisation and regulation of cannabis was passed by 1,796 votes to 838.

ISSUE 12 (30 MARCH): Minister for Education and Skills expresses ­support for Gender ­Equality and #­MakeGráTheLaw ­Campaign In an address to USI Congress on 24 March, Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan expressed her support for the task force put in place to address the issue of gender equality in NUI Galway. She also praised the #MakeGráTheLaw campaign set up

by USI to support Marriage Equality, saying; “By saying yes to Marriage Equality, we will at long last accept that every citizen is equal.”

Student Wins €10,000 with Tidy Shower product at NUI Galway Students’ Union Enterprise Awards Sean Mc Garry, a third year NUI Galway student studying Physics with Advanced French for Science, has won the top prize of €10,000 in this year’s NUI Galway Students’ Union Enterprise Awards.

His business, “The Tidy Shower Co.”, designs and manufactures household personal storage units. The founder of “The Tidy Shower Co.” was presented with his prize by local entrepreneur Pat Divilly and judging panel member Dr Aidan Daly together with NUI Galway President, Dr James J. Browne and NUI Galway Students’ Union President, Declan Higgins.

The competition which is an initiative of NUI Galway

Students’ Union is supported

by NUI Galway and seeks to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship amongst students. In its five years, the competition has attracted entries from students studying a variety of subjects.

The two runner-up prizes of €5,000 each were awarded to “The Creative Native” and “Safe Farming Solutions”. “The Creative Native” is a business development idea to create innovative digital educational resources for the modern learner. “The Creative Native” team consists of two final year PhD students, Eilis Flanagan from Donegal and Ali Mc Namara from Limerick.

“Safe Farming Solutions” consists of a newly designed

bolt that aims to improve farm safety and convenience when attaching machinery onto tractors. Aaron Duignan a 4th year student studying Corporate Law (International) from Carrick on Shannon in County Leitrim is the creator of “Safe Farming Solutions”.

Pat Divilly, who spoke at the awards ceremony said: "I'm thrilled to have been asked to speak at the SU Enterprise Awards. Setting up a business and going after a vision can be the most rewarding journey but can also bring massive challenges and even self-doubt.

It's important that young entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged

and mentored to instil confidence and belief in them. The SU have done a brilliant job in putting this event together and it was a brilliant evening".

NUI Galway Students’ Union President, Declan Higgins said: “We have been overwhelmed by the number and standard of entries to the NUI Galway Students’ Union Enterprise Awards.

The entrants are testament to the exceptional initiative and creativity of students in social and business enterprise. They show that students are both able and willing to create the big ideas that will help fuel our recovery.

The Students’ Union is delighted to be in a position to facilitate some of these ideas as they take their first steps. I have no doubt but that we are working with the leaders of the future.”

There were six finalist in the awards, each with very worthy projects: THE CREATIVE NATIVE “The Creative Native” project is a business development idea to create innovative digital educational resources for the modern learner. “The Creative Native” team consists of two final year PhD students, Eilis Flanagan from Donegal and Ali Mc Namara from Limerick.

THE TIDY SHOWER CO. Sean Mc Garry is in his third year of Physics with Advanced French for Science. His business, “The Tidy Shower Co.”, designs and manufactures household personal storage units.

ASK4IT.IE “Ask4It.ie" is an online space for sourcing used car parts.

The project team consists of two final year Bachelor of Arts students, Olivia Mc Evoy from Renmore and Roisin Lally from Dangan.

EDUCODE “EduCode” is an innovative business that integrates coding, programming and computer competency into engaging classes for young students. The “EduCode” team members are Joseph Walsh a 3rd year Commerce student from Richardstown, Co.Louth and Daniel O Loughlin a 2nd year Commerce student from Roscommon town, Co.Roscommon.

BIKE BACK "Bike Back" will reduce bicycle theft on campus initially and ultimately promote cycling around Galway by

installing a GPS unit into bicycles allowing them to be tracked. There will be an accompanying marketing campaign aimed to deter opportunistic thieves.

The three members of the “Bike Back” team are Billy Delaney, from Newbridge Co. Kildare, a 3rd Year Energy Systems Engineering student specialising in Civil Engineering. David Van Story a third Year Biomedical Engineering who was born in Washington DC and grew up in rural Wicklow. Niall Rutherford, from Ennis, Co Clare, is a third year Energy Systems Engineering student specializing in electrical energy. The team at Enactus NUI Galway are also involved in this project SAFE FARMING SOLUTIONS “Safe Farming Solutions” consists of a newly designed bolt that aims to improve farm safety and convenience when attaching machinery onto tractors. Aaron Duignan a fourth year student studying Corporate Law (International) from Carrick on Shannon in County Leitrim is the creator of “Safe Farming Solutions”.

NEWS 5

March 30 2015

NUI Galway Campus became Hogwarts for a Weekend

By Laura Roddy Over 650 people attended NUI Galway’s Harry Potter Society’s Potter Fest from 13 to 15 March.

Arriving by foot, broomstick and Hogwarts Express, guests reached NUI Galway’s campus as it was transfigured into Hogwarts for the weekend.

Mairéad Clancy, secretary of Potter Soc, told SIN that “the event was an enormous success with twice as many attendees as last year”.

Isabella De Lucca said that: “Potter Fest received lots of attention from all over the country with lots of positive feedback from parents”.

She noted that families made a up a big proportion of those who attended and the Harry Potter Society is really happy with this because they feel they are passing Harry Potter on to the next generation.

On Friday evening the sorting of the hat took place, where the students of ‘Hogwarts’ were put into their perfect Hogwarts House.

And what would the wizarding world be without a quidditch match?

There was a demonstration held on the President’s Lawn with Galway’s Grindylows on Sunday and those who were new to the game had the chance to attend quidditch practice.

Over the course of the weekend there were options

to attended Harry Potter’s favourite and not so favourite subjects, as Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Herbology classes were scheduled.

A host of other activities took placem, such as arts and crafts. Guests got to dress up as the Gurg tribal population from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and play a card game which the Harry Potter Society have created themselves, called Hogwarts against Humanity.

There was also a dram a t i c re a d i n g o f My Immortal, fan fiction of Harry Potter.

The Sunday of this weekend had a particular emphasis on family and because it was Mothers’ Day those who attended had a tea party with Mrs Weasley. Of course no butterbeer was consumed on this occasion.

The lead actor, Bretten Lord, as well as the director and producer of ‘Mudblood and the Book of Spells’, an upcoming of the original Harry Potter fan film set in Manchester, gave a talk at the event. Their movie has been approved by J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers and they are currently looking for funding. According to Isabella de Lucca they were very interesting and integrated with the crowd well. They held a question and answers panel discussion afterwards.

The Harry Potter Society raised 500 euro over the course of the weekend and this money will be donated to the Make a Wish Foundation. The society intends to donate the acting supplies from the weekend to the childrens’ ward at University Hospital Galway.

Are you completing a degree in Business, Engineering or Science ?

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This add-on L9 Postgraduate Diploma is designed for people with an honours degree in Business, Science or Engineering who are interested in pursuing a career in quality management or performance improvement and optimisation.

This course is a great opportunity to gain a cutting edge qualification that will enable you to stand out from the crowd and build a career as a quality professional.

Students will have the opportunity to: •

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For more details, contact Lifelong Learning in GMIT Galway Campus: Website: www.gmit.ie/LLG Email: LLL@gmit.ie Phone: 091 742145 GMIT (Official)

@GMITOfficial GMIT Channel

6 NEWS

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

Vanuatu devastated by cyclone

By Tomás M. Creamer Friday 13 March, the small South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, with a population of roughly 250,000, has had to deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Pam, one of the most destructive cyclones ever to hit the region. Maximum wind speeds have been recorded at 250 kilometres an hour.

By Saturday 21 March, 16 people had been confirmed dead, although various logistical difficulties has rendered it impossible to measure the true damage from the cyclone. UNICEF has estimated that more than half the population of Vanuatu

– 171,000 people – has been affected by the cyclone, including 82,000 children.

In Tanna, which home to approximately 10% of the nation’s population, one of the nation’s 65 inhabited islands, an hour’s flight from the Vanuatu’s capital – Port Vila - there is only one doctor on the island’s only hospital, which has had it’s equipment extensively damaged due to the cyclone, and is lacking many medical and other supplies.

Compounding those difficulties, communications between Port Vila and many of the outer Vanuatu islands, such as Tanna, had been severed as a result of the cyclone.

Save the Children's Vanuatu director, Tom Skirrow, believes that the logistical challenges were even worse than for Typhoon Haiyan, which killed up to 7,350 people in 2013 in the Philippines. He also said that flights over remote islands in the archipelago – spanning more than 12,000 square kilometres - had shown widespread destruction.

In the wake of this destruction, Vanuatu's president, Baldwin Lonsdale, has pleaded for assistance from the international community. "The humanitarian need is immediate, we need it right now," he said, just before flying home from a disaster conference in Japan.

Lonsdale added that the poverty-stricken island nation also desperately required longer-term financial support, and declared the extent to which the cyclone has destroyed infrastructure in Venuatu. "After all the development we have done for the last couple of years and this big cyclone came and just destroyed all the infrastructure the government has built.

Completely destroyed."

Many world leaders have pledged support, and military planes from New Zealand, Australia and France have arrived in Vanuatu, loaded with food, shelter, medicine and generators, along with disaster relief teams.

Russia Strengthens presence in response to NATO

By Odhran Donovan Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has ordered Russia’s northern naval fleet be placed on high alert as it prepares to engage in snap military exercises in the Arctic Circle. The President’s decree, issued on 16 March, commanded that 40,000 troops be mobilized on the Russian controlled islands of Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land. The islands, located in the Barents Sea, are expected to house the influx of Russian infantry as well as some 41 ships,

15 submarines and 110 airplanes within the coming week.

The exercises are to run parallel to a similar NATO operation in the Black Sea, with over a thousand sailors scheduled to partake in joint naval manoeuvres in the region by Friday.

Additionally, NATO aligned Norway is conducting military drills involving 5,000 of its own troops in Finnmark County, a territory which borders Russia to its east.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Aleksey Meshkov, conceded to reporters that NATO’s

recent actions in Black Sea and the Baltic were a determining factor in Putin’s decision to rally the Russian Navy, speaking to journalists from the staterun Sputnik news service, he condemned NATO’s exercises as “deeply concerning”. Mr Meshkov went on to identify north-eastern Europe as the, “most stable European region in security terms, not only on our continent but possibly in the world.” NATO have broadly rejected Moscow’s objections to their activities, with spokesper-

son Oana Lungescu labelling the Russian’s snap response as “disproportionate.”

The exchange comes at a time where Russia-NATO relations are rapidly deteriorating as a consequence of the civil conflict in Ukraine, with NATO presenting fresh allegations of Russian involvement in the Donbass War last week. Over 6,000 people have died in Luhansk and Donetsk, the two Ukrainian provinces which compose the Donbass, since the beginning of the war in April 2014.

France to pass bill banning super skinny models

By Siobhán Mulvey The French government is set to implement a law which would ban modelling agencies from hiring extremely skinny models.

Modelling agencies who do not follow this ban would potentially face large fines and possible arrest.

Models will be expected to maintain a body mass index

(BMI) of at least 18, which is the equivalent of 55kg for a height of 1.75 metres.

In order to enforce this law it would be required that models undergo regular weight checks.

Breaches of the bill will receive a 75,000 euro fine, along with a six-month jail sentence for any staff found involved.

The bill also includes penalties for any form of publi-

cation which glorifies extreme thinness or could be mistaken as a pro-anorexia stance.

The French government is set to make a decision following the introduction of similar laws in Italy, Spain and Israel.

France is becoming more popular in the booming fashion industry, and feels responsible to take steps towards a healthier model-

ling world, a spokesperson said to the Irish Times.

This bill is introduced as a measure to reduce the impact of eating disorders and unhealthy body images amongst women.

In recent years anorexia has become a growing problem in France, with an estimated 40,000 people struggling with the eating disorder.

Trócaire educating young children about climate change

By Orla Furey Trócaire’s development education team have implemented a three year plan aimed at educating children throughout Ireland about climate change and climate justice. Jen Murphy, development education coordinator for Trócaire, says the aim of the project is to motivate

Irish people to speak up regarding climate change and to learn how to consume in more sustainable ways.

Speaking to the Irish Times, Murphy said that, “We want to enable children and young people to explore global justice issues and to make connections between their own lives and children elsewhere in the world.” The project hopes to

mobilise young people so they are equipped to take “meaningful action for change.” “Children have a really strong ability to empathise and to recognise basic needs,” says Murphy.

“They’re well capable of engaging in concepts like near and far, similarity and difference.”

Stephen Farley, from Trócaire leads the class discussions and says that he

tries to encourage an ‘’active response’’ from students instead of a passive one. When speaking to the Irish Times, Farley said that “we want to go beyond just putting a euro in the Trócaire box and then forgetting about it or recycling that paper and then forgetting about it. That’s all right but it’s not enough anymore. Things have gone too far.”

Boko Haram bomb factory discovered in Nigeria

By Odhran Donovan The Nigerian military has uncovered a Boko Haram sponsored bomb factory in the town of Buni Yadi in the north-eastern Nigerian state of Yobe. The factory, discovered

by Nigerian soldiers during a search operation for dormant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on Friday, was hidden in a premises belonging to a local fertilizer company.

Nigerian troops accounted for the factory as “sophisticated”, the site being stocked with equipment sufficient for converting agricultural chemicals into formidable explosives. A significant quantity of suicide vests were also found nearby.

The use of IEDs, as well as suicide and roadside bombs, are a common tactic of Boko Haram’s, with the Islamist militants killing four Nigerian soldiers with roadside IEDs before the military finally managed to liberate Buni Yadi on Saturday. Boko Haram, which clarifies its aim

as imposing a stricter form of Sharia across Nigeria’s northern states, has terrorized Nigeria with jihadi insurgency since 2009, kidnapping two hundred schoolgirls in the town of Chibok last April.

Combat efforts against the organization, which aligned itself with the Islamic State (IS) in an audio tape last week, have been further intensified by the militaries of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon in the past month, as the African coalition attempts to secure and stabilise the northeast for in time for legislative elections to be held in a fortnight.

General Chris Olukolade praised the recent successes of the military against Boko Haram following the operation in Buni Yadi, indicating that the discovery of the factory would, “degrade the capability of the terrorists in the production of explosives.” Gen. Olukolade additionally blamed Boko Haram’s “lavish” use of IEDs for a recent spike in civilian casualties in contested areas.

Netanyahu’s Likud party tops the poll in Israeli elections

By Tomás M. Creamer 17 March, Likud, the party of the incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emerged as the largest party in the Israeli Knesset, winning 23.4% of the vote, and 30 out of the 120 available seats.

This result contrasted with various opinion polls leading up to the election, which gave a lead to Netanyahu’s chief opponent, Isaac Herzog, who lead the centre-left Zionist Union. In elections, the Zionist Union emerged with just under 18.7% of the vote, and won 24 seats.

Talks for a governing coalition government for Israel were ongoing which included right-wing and Jewish religious parties - many of which lean towards Netanyahu. Coalition groups won a total of 27 seats in the elections, which left the Likud- lead coalition just 4 seats short of a majority.

The Zionist Union and the left-wing Meretz party hold 29 seats between them, and would need to attempt to

secure a parliamentary majority from different factions such as the Arab-dominated “JointAlliance”, two centrist parties, and various small Ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, in order to form a government.

There has been much criticism in relation to comments that Netanyahu has made in the run-up to the conclusion of polling. He made comments repudiating a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, and, on polling day itself, Netanyahu told supporters ““The rightwing government is in danger.

Arab voters are going en masse to the polls. Left-wing NGOs are bringing them on buses.”

Isaac Herzog, the leader of Zionist Union, has criticised the comments, saying that “when Netanyahu said that the Arabs were heading to the polls in droves, he humiliated and hurt 20 percent of Israel's citizens all in the name of his re-election drive...His first order of business must be to right this wrong with deeds, not with empty words. He must heal this rift that he caused.”

NEWS 7

March 30 2015

India Soc held their Festival of Colour celebration on campus on 10 March.

Almost 300 students participated in the colour-tossing fun. Photos: Jake Aria.

Pictured after receiving their CFA Society Ireland Research Challenge trophy from Minister of State Simon Harris TD are the victorious NUIG team (from left): Niall Deasy, Sarunas Ramanauskas, Adrian Bushell, Fergal Brennan and Adam Mollen.

Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan with President of USI Laura Harmon at USI Congress last week. The Minister sports a #MakeGráTheLaw wristband and a new grant reform document. Photo: Conor McCabe.

8 FEATURES

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

THIS WEEK’S DEBATE: 2015 gave renewed energy to Sinn Fein, and saw the birth of a new right-wing party: Renua Ireland. If Fine Gael and Fianna Fail were somehow removed from the equation, which party would be better suited to lead government?

Renua Ireland – More than just a meme-machine

The case for Sinn Fein in government

By Tomás M. Creamer

Negative headlines regarding Sinn Fein in the mainstream media have become a cliché at this stage. While this is no coincidence, it contrasts heavily with the completely non-judgemental coverage given to Renua Ireland, who officially formed in mid-March.

This is primarily because Sinn Fein would upset the established order in Ireland, interrupting the endless cycle of cronyism. Sinn Fein would likely break up the so-called ‘golden circle’ that has long benefitted from Ireland’s unchanging governments down through the years.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have battled it out for each election since the inception of the state.

As these two parties have much the same stance on all of the ‘big’ issues, you could almost say that Ireland has been all but a one party state since 1922.

Now we have a chance to change that. For the first time in our history, popular support is surging to the left. We should not stop it.

We haven’t got much to lose in trying out a new party. Sinn Fein believes that ‘the most vulnerable in society should be protected, and that those who can afford to contribute the most should be asked to do so’. This is what separates a leftist party like Sinn Fein from the establishment parties.

Sinn Fein is in favour of the imposition of a 1% wealth tax on assets over one million euro, the cutting of ministers, TDs and senators’ salaries as well as the capping of public sector salaries at 100 thousand euro per annum. These measures seem infinitely fairer to the working class than those that have been implemented by government parties in the past.

Fine Gael (from whom Renua Ireland derive most of their policies) have shown a willingness to raise the cost of education and to cut the healthcare budget. They have also placed a disproportionate tax burden on low and middle income earners through PAYE, USC, PRSI, the household tax and now, the water charges.

All of these unfair taxes were imposed on the working class against a backdrop of ensuring that Ireland remains a good pace for tax-dodging multinational corporations to do business.

Ordinary citizens could be forgiven for thinking that establishment parties have the interests of big business at heart, rather than those of the embattled working class. Renua Ireland are exactly the same.

Let’s not forget that Renua Ireland’s deputy leader, Billy Timmins’ attitude towards the homeless. He infamously said that the way to combat homelessness was to make sleeping rough on the streets illegal. Therefore, it is incredibly clear that Renua Ireland will not seek to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

It’s easy to dismiss Lucinda Creighton – who, in fairness, is the driving force behind Renua Ireland. A former Fine Gael junior minister, who was noted for her strongly pro-European viewpoint as junior minister for European affairs, she eventually left the Fine Gael party in 2013, not because of their economic policy, or because of an issue with a local hospital or barracks.

It was because she opposed legislating for the “X case” judgement, which counts suicide as a threat to the mother’s life, which is the criteria under which abortions are allowed under the Constitution. She, along with a handful of other Fine Gael TDs and senators, voted against the bill, and some of these TDs now form the nucleus for the new party.

Therefore, many dissatisfied, left-leaning voters – which accounts for a large proportion of my social circle – would be automatically suspicious of Lucinda Creighton, because not only she personally opposed the slight liberalisation of abortion laws that they would strongly support, but she has given no indication that she is hugely different from her former party in terms of economics.

However, maybe such voters have completely missed the point, and have let their own strongly-held views prevent them from actually looking critically at the new party, to see what it could bring to the table. And there is more for that table than you may think.

For a start, as riveting as it may be to pigeonhole the new party as some sort of Catholic fundamentalist front for the likes of the Iona Institute, that ignores a pretty inconvenient fact about the new party – it does not, in fact, take any official line on the issue of abortion.

Instead, pro-choice individuals within the party are just as free to vote according to their beliefs on that issue as their pro-life counterparts in the party. Therefore, it is not the “pro-life” party – it just tolerates individuals who have differing opinions on the issue.

It is also hard to pigeonhole even Lucinda Creighton herself as been some right-wing conservative Catholic, as she has indicated that she was going to vote “yes” on the question of same-sex marriage – true, she did call it “gay marriage”, but in the context of the referendum debate, it is no more a politically loaded term than the term “marriage equality”, so that is a moot point. And like abortion, all Renua Ireland members are free to vote on the issue of same-Sex marriage as they see fit.

There are then some policies announced

by Renua Ireland that even hardened cynics have to admit are pretty damn radical - such as making the minutes of Cabinet meetings publicly available (unless when dealing with matters of national security), and replacing the Single Transferable Voting system with a “mixed-member proportional” system similar to Germany’s, combining single-seat districts with a party list system.

The former is especially noteworthy, as “cabinet confidentiality”, where discussions and disagreements within the Cabinet are strictly prohibited from been aired publically, is effectively Gospel in accordance to the current status-quo, and such transparency would be a fundamental shift from that tradition.

For many voters, many of the problems with Ireland stem from high tax rates and excessive regulation, not necessarily a drought in public spending.

The pro-enterprise position of the new party is also something that many of the party’s critics would point out to, saying that it simply reflects a pale version of Fine Gael’s position before it entered government.

However, that fails to realise the fact that, for many voters, many of the problems with Ireland stem from high tax rates and excessive regulation, not necessarily a drought in public spending.

That’s not to say that such voters are right or wrong – but at this moment in time, there are many, if not a majority of voters, that are looking for an alternative. Fianna Fail oversaw the destruction of the economy. Fine Gael has presided over a “recovery” that is benefitting only certain sections of society.

Labour has broken nearly all of its prominent economic promises by propping a Fine Gael government, in favour of limited social policy liberalisation that is earning it little credit. Sinn Fein’s past still casts a shadow, and the various left-wing factions seem incapable of coming together.

When you take all the other options into account, a new, unitary political party, with a clear stated focus on reform, could be what many in Ireland are asking for.

By Eoin Molloy

Their main policy goal seems to be to protect and foster an economy based on entrepreneurship, whatever that means.

This seems like a kind of ‘corporatocracy’ (where the economy and business dictates government policy, instead of being the other way around). Therefore, it is abundantly clear that Lucinda Creighton’s party will be far from radical in its policies. It is the derivative offspring of Fine Gael, and its policies reflect that.

Renua Ireland will seek to become Fine Gael’s junior partner in government, like the PDs did for Fianna Fail. They will be used as a scapegoat upon whom Fine Gael ministers can blame bad policy, much like the Labour Party at the moment.

We have witnessed the Labour Party stand by Fine Gael as they absolutely tear everything the party stands for apart. It is clear that the current crop of Labour ministers are more interested in their ministerial pensions than actually changing Ireland for the better. Renua Ireland would be more of the same.

A new departure is desperately needed in Ireland. How do we know that Sinn Fein are not self-serving careerists? There are a couple of reasons.

Firstly, Sinn Fen will only enter government if they are in the majority. This shows that they will not enter government just for the sake of power (or for ministerial pensions, for that matter).

Sinn Fein has called for 50% female representation in politics. It is also LGBTQ-friendly, actively calling for a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming SSM referendum. Sinn Fein’s policies are reflective of an Ireland of changing attitudes. As a party of the left, they will surely find it hard to get decent coverage in any Independent News and Media outlet, but that doesn’t seem to be deterring their supporters.

These liberal views strike a stark contrast with the dogmatic, backwards mind-set of Lucinda Creighton, who left Fine Gael over a slight relaxation of the anti-woman abortion laws. Renua Ireland will lead Ireland headlong into a 1950s time-warp.

If elected, Sinn Fein will attempt to bring about the Ireland that our ancestors fought for, the socially-responsible Ireland that was envisioned in the famous Sinn Fein document from 1919: ‘The Democratic Programme of the First Dail’. Sinn Fein has always sought to promote and guarantee ‘equal rights and equal opportunities’ to all citizens. We should give them a chance to try.

In summation, we haven’t a lot to lose from voting in Sinn Fein. Renua Ireland are essentially more of the same old party that has been letting the people of this country down for decades. Ireland needs change.

OPINION 9

March 30 2015

The SU’s legitimacy is threatened by low turnout

By Tomás M. Creamer Maybe it’s just because I happened to have the importance of voting ingrained into me from a young age, but once I started to look into the Student Union elections, something really disturbed me about them.

It can be easy to look at the headline voting figures provided by the Students’ Union (SU) and go “oh, look, we have good engagement here – around 3,000 students turned up to vote in the elections and referendum. We have a mandate”.

That is, if you forget a single inconvenient fact – there are around 17,000 students in NUI Galway, and presumably, they are all eligible to vote in these elections and referendums.

But yet, only a fraction of them actually vote in elections that determine who gets to run an institution that is in charge of a lot of services around campus, and an institution to which all of those 17,000 students pay automatic service charges to.

It’s not just elections to various committee positions. On the 5th March, 1,796 students (10% of the student population) voted Yes to pass a referendum that obliged the SU to, in future, devote some of its scarce resources to campaign in favour of legalising and regulating cannabis. Less than 2,700 voted altogether – out of 17,000 students.

I’m not disputing the right of interested groups to initiate referendums – I might not even oppose the idea of the Students’ Union adopting official stances on such “social policy issues”, despite my reservation about it alienating students who would be forced to fund campaigns on issues that they have fundamental disagreements about.

However, with less than 20% of students regularly voting in these Student Union elections and referendums, surely this must concern those involved in the Student Union? Either way, it represents a failure of the Student Union to engage with students, beyond a strongly politically-aware minority that would engage

An Taoiseach’s bully boy tactics should not be tolerated

By Eoin Molloy

This is not the first time the darker side of Enda Kenny’s personality has surfaced.

In early March, a set of missing Dail’s Back in 2002, he was accused of racism headphones caused havoc during an Irish for referring to the assassinated PM of edition of Leaders’ Questions.

Congo, Patrice Lumumba, as a ‘ni**er’ in Independent TD, Mick Wallace (of Torino a so-called joke. jersey wearing fame), provocatively asked Not only is this a critical mis-step of whether or not an Taoiseach Enda Kenny would a man who is overly comfortable in his shake the hand of serial human rights abuser position, it also betrays An Taoiseach’s and leader of the free world, Barack Obama. self-contradicting side.

Back in October 2014, This kind of smug bullying would have An Taoiseach congratua Westport Gaelscoil been unacceptable in a schoolyard, onlated being the first school to hoist a blue anti-bullying flag. let alone a national parliament.

This hypocrisy is again indicaThe question was in relation to Obama’s tive of a man who believes himself to be controversial support for the drone pro- superior. gramme, which has resulted in the deaths of It may not seem like there was much over 1100 innocents according to some reports. to the incident to some, but in my opinKenny proceeded to answer in Irish, ion a Taoiseach should lead by example. neglecting the fact that Wallace’s transla- All Dail members have the right to tor headphones had been misplaced. decency, and not to be publicly humiliWorse still, Kenny completely side- ated. This whole saga is reminiscent of stepped the question and used the the Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan ‘clothing’ conopportunity of the misplaced headphones troversy. to bully Wallace.

It is unbecoming and embarrassing for He condescendingly informed Wallace a sitting Taoiseach to engage in bullying in that Irish is our national language (in case our national parliament, especially when he didn’t know). This kind of smug bul- it is directed towards an Independent TD lying would have been unacceptable in a who poses no direct threat to Kenny’s posischoolyard, let alone a national parliament. tion or reputation.

in the process themselves regardless.

Now, I am one of the politically-aware minority, and I myself would have voted regardless – I put it in more colourful terms while debating the relevance of the Students’ Union in the Literary and Debating society several weeks back.

Despite the best efforts of many of the candidates to go and speak before lecture groups in an attempt to campaign and to raise awareness about the elections, the short campaign windows gives little time for candidates to actually establish themselves in the minds of voters, outside of their immediate circle of friends and associates.

Campaigns are only allowed to start four or five days before voting day – and I know that there is a reason for why there is that restriction, namely that it might be annoying for students.

However, I don’t think that we should be worried about irritating students – in fact, they should be annoyed a lot more, because then they will pay attention. Students have a lot going on in their lives,

and a few short days of campaigning isn’t enough to raise adequate awareness among the bulk of the population.

Likewise, restrictions on things such as the ban on handing out free food as part of the campaign – I know it’s meant to level the playing field, but for one thing, candidates with more money can still buy more leaflets.

Even then, having money to spend on cupcakes or leaflets isn’t much good unless you have a large group of people willing to volunteer time for you. And I don’t think we’re going to place restrictions on how many can volunteer for a candidate’s campaign.

So not only do such restrictions not level the playing field – they also reduce the visibility of elections in the eyes of students, making the elections seem like a minor sideshow in the eyes of students, and hence, low turnout rates.

Save the ineffective restrictions for state-ran elections – the SU’s priority should be student engagement, not the bureaucratisation of student politics.

10 OPINION

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

US House of Representatives over-steps its mandate

By Dean Buckley

hostile foreign nation, with the intent of undermining US foreign policy, which is a criminal offense.

Yeah, turns out that letter was probably the first definite breach of the Logan Act, which prohibits citizens of the United States from undertaking correspondence

rebels, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Bashir al-Assad in 2007. But never Last week, a veto-proof majority from the US before has anyone so blatantly and indisHouse of Representatives – some 367 voting putably violated the Logan Act. members – sent a letter to the White House, Not that I think they should be proseadvising President Obama of their concern cuted under the Logan Act, because, frankly, with his ongoing negotiations with Iran. it would be a waste of the administration’s The letter is signed by time. almost 85% of the House, and Lots of people, especially members of the They’ve already been raked informs the President of their across the coals in the media, US legislature, have engaged in foreign for their breach of protocol, intent to thoroughly review any for their breaking of the law, final agreement with Iran and policy outside of their official duties... for their naked attempts to determine whether the terms disrupt a potentially benefiadequately curtail Iran’s attempts But never before has anyone so blatantly cial compromise due to their to secure nuclear w ­ eaponry.

The differences between this over whelming fanaticism letter, and the letter sent to Iran and indisputably violated the Logan Act. when it comes to their own two weeks ago by 47 Republicans ideology, but, most of all, for from the Senate, could not be more striking. with foreign governments engaged in a dis- their extremely poor grasp of their own First of all, this letter has a veto-proof pute with the United States with the intent legal and political system. majority, instead of a minority. The former of undermining the United States’ efforts That last charge falls mostly on the letbasically guarantees the letter gets taken to reach a favourable outcome. ter’s author, Senator Tom Cotton, since I seriously by its recipients, while the latter Lots of people, especially members of think it’s safe to presume at least several just looks like attention-seeking. the US legislature, have engaged in foreign of the other signatories didn’t actually Second of all, this letter was sent to the policy outside of their official duties. read the letter. I certainly doubt Senator President, in full accordance with the law For example, House Speaker Jim Wright John McCain did, because he’s far too and with the legislature’s constitutional intervened in negotiations between Nica- smart to have missed some of Senator role, as opposed to the government of a ragua’s Sandinista government and Contra Cotton’s errors.

For example, he claims any agreement coming out of the negotiations requires the approval of the Congress, because it would be a treaty. That’s wrong on a number of levels. The agreement wouldn’t be a treaty, it wouldn’t even be legally-binding. So it wouldn’t require approval.

What would require approval by the Congress is the lifting of some of the sanctions the US placed on Iran. Some of those sanctions can be removed by Obama himself, but the rest are in the hands of the Congress.

Accurately referring to their role in this process is another way in which the writers and signatories of the more recent letter have trounced the GOP Senators at the art of the possible.

And, frankly, that failure is punishment enough to Senator Cotton and the few signatories of his letter who haven’t hastily backtracked in the face of overwhelming condemnation from senior officials in the GOP and Armed Forces, professors of constitutional law and every known foreign policy wonk in the world.

Their faces are egged, their bridges are burned. Let’s not martyr them with the Logan Act.

Was JK Rowling’s homophobic Dumbledore tweeter fake?

By Michael Farrell You might have heard about how JK Rowling so awesomely responded to a twitter user called @anakocovic21, who tweeted to the author: “Thank you so much for writing Harry Potter. I wonder why you said that Dumbledore is a gay because I can’t see him in that way.”

Which left it up to JK to respond so brilliantly: “@anakocovic21 Maybe because gay people just look like... people?”

Fantastic! Hooray! Go JK Rowling!

Ana Kocovic21 of course agreed: “@ jk_rowling amazing answer... Yes you are absolutely right. Such an inspiration!!!”

Wow. Look how JK Rowling changed that poor misguided girl’s mind, so much so that she just happened to delete all her tweets and change her profile picture

to Dumbledore’s love interest Gellert ­Grindelwald.

Funny thing is though, I happen to follow JK Rowling, seeing as I am a Harry Potter fan, but I did see the original tweet after it was sent and I then clicked into user @anakocovic21’s profile out of interest.

She had six tweets at that time. Even now she has only fourteen followers and she herself follows one person. Yep, you guessed it. JK Rowling.

I don’t know how the murky world of Twitter bots work, but something seems off about someone who has fourteen followers and manages to have one on almost every continent.

So that’s okay, maybe and I say maybe, that this is all a coincidence and it was simply a misguided young girl tweeting to her hero, even though that must be the

biggest softball and pre-staged question since the episode of the Simpsons where Sideshow Bob gets asked the following: “Sideshow Bob, Councilman Les Wynan says that you're not experienced enough to be mayor. Sir, what do you have to say about that?”

To which Sideshow Bob replies: “I'd say that Les Wynan ought to do more thinking and less whining.”

Obviously, there was no Councilman Les Wynan and probably no Ana Kocovic, but what is concerning is the amount of coverage this tweet actually got.

Esteemed media outlets (and I will list them) such as CNN, The Telegraph, The Independent, TIME magazine, The Huffington Post, The Express, Pink News (obviously), all ran stories centred around the tweet.

Someone sent that tweet, maybe a journalist, or maybe one of JK Rowling’s publicist’s, or maybe even a misguided young girl, but how can that possibly be taught of as news at some of the establishments mentioned, who are supposed to be looking out for the public good.

When tweets like these find their way onto global media, one does have to question the media’s agenda. Why, even if it is real, is a tweet like this being used as a reason to bring up Dumbledore’s sexuality yet again? Surely, there is enough homophobia in the world without creating more.

Of course, people love to be outraged and outrage gets people to read articles and reading articles creates advertising, which in turn creates money. Hey, it even might sell a few more Harry Potter books for JK. Or maybe I’m just cynical. But I doubt it.

Is satire the best weapon for the powerless against the powerful?

By Georgia Ryan On Friday last, former Fine Gaeler Lucinda Creighton launched a new political party, Renua Ireland.

The party, whose name means “renew Ireland,” has been promoting itself to the public by stressing just how different it is to any other political party that currently exists, or that has ever existed in Ireland.

Since the party’s launch, a satirical Facebook page was set up mocking the policies and the politicians of the new party.

The page proved to be a great success – more successful in fact than the party’s actual Facebook page.

Since the shootings that took place in the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, arguments for and against the use of satire in political issues have come to the forefront of our news.

In the public sphere, it is often argued that this kind of satire is really the best weapon of the powerless against the powerful and on many levels, this is very true.

Satire is one of the great powers in free societies today and great satire is seen as a sign of political health. Satire and wit has opened the door for the everyman to become involved with and understand political issues and debates.

Satirists often allows for the small guy to pick at the ego of the big guy. Without

satire, it seems there would be little place where the public could voice their criticisms or distaste for political issues, figures or agendas.

In other words – the use of satire keeps those who hold the power from abusing their position.

With this, the powerless can undermine the wrongdoings of the powerful to keep them from rising above their stations.

Through the medium of wit and humour, satirists and comedians say what news and commentary will not, or cannot.

In many ways, it can be seen as the truest form of argument – shining a light on the opposing views and exposing the truths

and opinions that we’re not likely to hear on the news, giving voice to the general public.

However, it also has to be noted that although satire is a great way of letting the underdog have his time in the sun, there is a negative side to it when it is used incorrectly.

From time to time, we see TV programmes or articles being passed off as satire when really all they’re doing is attacking public figures for no greater reason than that big fat pay cheque at the end of the month, (Looking at you, Charlie Brooker).

Being cynical for the sake of being cynical is not great satire and in fact, it just reminds us of that fine line between satire and ­bullying.

OPINION 11

March 30 2015

A meeting with President of NUI Galway Jim Browne on gender discrimination at NUI Galway

By Aine Treanor My experience of Dr Jim Browne began in the corridor outside of the Aula Maxima where Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington’s Three Conditions campaign had organised a demonstration outside of a governing body meeting on 30 January.

Myself and Micheline’s post-grad student James stood leafleting the members of the Údarus as they entered the room and Jim Browne first rushed past us disgruntled and annoyed before returning calmer to discuss with us the campaign, gender discrimination at NUI Galway and his personal opinion of gender inequality.

Before this, I had not been greatly involved in the campaign and my head to head with him was adventitious to say the least.

I called him out on his archaic perception of gender discrimination which consisted mostly of ‘women have babies, they leave their jobs and they therefore miss out on career opportunities’ and I offered to compile a document on gender discrimination for him, to educate him on the many other manifestations of gender discrimination that exist in the workplace and specifically in Academia.

The document was four pages long and covered the average gendered pay gap in the workplace in Ireland, the gendered bias when judging men and women’s professional work and ‘the boy’ club’ mentality that exists among senior faculty members, among others (all backed up, with reputable studies).

The document also made specific references to studies and articles that focused on NUI Galway and its appalling record as the worst University in Ireland for gender equality at senior faculty positions.

These included a study by Kelly Coate and Camille Kandiko Howson (2014) that found that NUI Galway had a well established ‘boys club’ and found that homosociability and male bonding among senior faculty members disadvantage women and could prevent them from progressing in their career, due to the informal nature of decision-making processes and the pervasive cronyism that exits at the University.

One male faculty member quoted in the study described this phenomenon; “I must go on the record and state explicitly that as a man I have benefited enormously from being included in informal networks which are dominated by other men […] too much happens in this university based on the 11 o’clock coffee break, the gathering of senior male colleagues who use bad language, gossip, engage in character assassination – homosocial bonding, in other words.”

Another study by Liz Doherty and Aoife Cooke (2011), which was commissioned by the University, found that the Senior Lecturer

Promotional scheme was indeed flawed and disadvantaged female applicants based on the unequal importance that was placed on each of the three criteria (teaching, research and general contribution).

The document concluded by calling on President Browne to act meaningfully to address gender discrimination at NUI Galway. In sending the document to President Browne, I also invited him to comment on it for this publication. Within a matter of days, I received an email inviting me to meet with the President for a second time.

The second meeting I had with Jim Browne was much more formal, he was defensive and less willing to engage. He used the document I had sent him to establish a hierarchy of teacher and pupil by ‘correcting’ the facts (his first correction was a fact I included from a study from Sweden that stated that women had to be 2.5 times more productive than men to be considered equally competent; this he thought was just too alarming, and it discredited the point which he initially agreed with). I argued that the whole situation was alarming so to censor alarming facts was quite ludicrous.

As the meeting went on, President Browne became less defensive and agitated. We discussed the new Gender Equality Task Force he had set up; we discussed the notorious Health Questionnaire, the Mary Dempsey case and the unpromoted five from the 2009 round.

Although there were points that he seemed genuine in his desire to resolve, it appeared he was unwilling to take meaningful action to address the current lack of women in senior academic positions, such as promoting those who were initially shortlisted for promotion, like the five women from the 2008-09 round (among them was Dr Micheline Sheehy-Skeffington who was promoted after she won her case at the Equality Tribunal).

I think it’s fair to say that the President is unnerved by the frequented negative publicity that the University has been at the receiving end of, recently. However, his recent attempts to address these issues of gender discrimination have only shed light on a need to control and orchestrate progress within the narrow remit of maintaining the status quo.

To be truly genuine would require taking action that publicly accepts a wrong doing and taking immediate steps to make it right.

For the immediate future, no change is visible with the current reforms.

The University continues to appeal Mary Dempsey’s Equality Tribunal ruling, it will defend its flawed promotional process at the Equality Tribunal for the five unpromoted women from the 2009 round and continues to deny their involvement in the invasive health questionnaire that has an NUI Galway logo and ‘return to HR’ instruction.

More information on Dr Micheline Sheey Skeffington’s Three Conditions can be found at www.michelinesthreeconditions.­ wordpress.com.

The Perils of Misadventure: Reflecting on Where the Bodies are Buried

By Mike Finnegan Patrick Keefe’s recent New Yorker story, Where the Bodies are Buried, perfectly outlines the complex events that lead to the international legal battle over The Belfast Project tapes. The impressively in-depth, 15,000 word story, includes interviews with Jean McConville’s children – the infamous case targeted for the PSNI’s subpoena-order of the oral history tapes kept locked in the Boston College archive – as well as many other key figures from this whole political-crime novelesque tale of bone chilling murder, comrade betrayal, and perceived traitorous political opportunism.

Keefe’s story doesn’t take a stance on whether journalists and outspoken AntiAdams Republicans Ed Moloney and Anthony McIntyre set up the Belfast Project as a means of collecting evidence against Adams, the man they deem responsible for countless murders, and the death of Republicanism; the man that McIntyre claims he would’ve taken orders from during his time as a Provisional IRA Volunteer that led to his 17 year murder sentence in Long Kesh Prison.

The piece simply states the facts and personal accounts from all sides, bringing the reader into the story to speculate for them-

selves in a haze of possibilities akin to the And perhaps the biggest victim of them I asked McIntyre if the Belfast Project psychological hangover from a Christopher all – the city of Belfast; a town still scarred provided a conflict of interest between his Nolan film. by its towering “Peace Walls”, a city shuf- duties as a historian and his mission as a However, Keefe’s piece also reminds us fling its feet through the rubble crying Republican- a very outspoken anti-Adams that this case is not merely some gripping out to make a different impression on the republican at that; if he perhaps had an future Hollywood story in the midst of its world. agenda in setting up such an ambitious prothird-act for everyone. It takes a personal, Keefe’s article brought me back to an ject with such a huge margin for error. gritty angle highlighting the fact that there interview I conducted with Belfast Project McIntyre responded: are still many, many people dealing with the journalist Anthony McIntyre back in 2013.

“I always say no, so all you can do is take aftermath of The Troubles.

We met at an undisclosed location in rural me on my word or not take me on my word. I The New Yorker journalist sits down with Mayo the day of Dolours Price’s funeral, think the fact that I had previously been critical people like Michael McConville and his sib- godmother of his son. of the Sinn Fein strategy left me in a position lings, who were tormented for decades by the It was to be a quick and quiet interview where I felt more independent and able to take uncertainty of their mother Jean’s fate in her as McIntyre had been receiving a steady part in this project. Had I been a fully signed disappearance. string of death threats from dissident up member of the ‘Provos’ at the time, I think He describes the final it would have been intellectuyears of former Provisional Keefe’s piece also reminds us that this case is ally and morally harder to do because you need to put a bit IR A “legend” Brendan not merely some gripping future Hollywood of distance between yourself Hughes’s life - a once vibrant, violently passionate, and from them in order to do this politically driven dissident story in the midst of its third-act for everyone. sort of thing. who shut himself away in his “In terms of did my antieagle’s nest apartment, ironically perched republicans - former comrades - for gath- Adams stance prompt me to do it? I don’t above the scene of Jean McConville’s 1972 ering a ton of potential evidence that now believe so. Did it make it easier for me to do? disappearance in Belfast’s Divis Flats– who sat in the PSNI’s subpoena wielding hands. I do believe so. It made it morally easier.” spent his final years gazing through his McIntyre kept his head down and The New Yorker article, at 15,000 words, is window over his old battle field, living in refused to speak with press for nearly a year a colossal undertaking and is far from ‘light silent, bitter regret for his violent part in after our interview – only opening up after reading’, but I would highly recommend it to the Troubles - what he bitterly viewed, post Gerry Adams was taken in for questioning anyone with even the slightest interest in the last April.

Good-Friday Agreement, as a futile effort.

‘Troubles’.

12 OPINION

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

ALONG ONE’S JOURNEY: a reflection

By Declan Higgins

IT

FEELS STRANGE to be sitting here and summing up the past two years of my life. The elections have just taken place, and a good deal of the executive positions for next year have been filled. With that, a new dawn for the Students’ Union is on the horizon.

Looking back, it has been some experience. I cannot say I loved it every day, or that every experience was a positive one; however, overall, I am delighted I took that leap of faith in 2013 that started my journey with the Students’ Union. I could never have anticipated all that would happen in between, but that is part of what made it so interesting.

NUI Galway is a strange place is many ways, and like no other I’ve worked in. Of late, its reputation has taken a serious battering, and much of it well deserved. We, as students, have and should demand better from the management here. Best practice belongs not only in textbooks in the library or in pontificates from lecturers – it must imbue in all that we do and all we are about.

We put a precise focus on mental health during my time here, and I am glad we did and I hope the executives in the years to come will do so also. The action, or inaction, taken in our time will be the defining issue of our generation.

When I ran for Welfare Officer, I did so with a concept in my mind – to help the people I once was. I hope I went some way toward achieving that goal. The trust and belief placed in me was never lost, and indeed it was oftentimes a guiding light through uncertain times.

I decided to go public with my own experiences as a teenager a year and a half ago. The response was simply phenomenal and not what I expected. I cannot thank you all for your support in endeavouring of calling the issue of mental health in from the cold realm of darkness and stigma.

The last two years were extremely challenging – it would be a mistruth to say it was all plain sailing. Management here are a challenging group, which made engagement with them difficult at times.

With an institution of this size, there are many stakeholders and interest groups. This made for an interesting, if not somewhat frustrating, time in relations between the University and the Students’ Union. However, the engagement and what emanated from this, not least the roadmap for stability in relation to the Students’ Union Commercial Services were highly significant in their own right.

I cannot help but be inspired by the many people I’ve met over the past two years; stu-

dents, staff and those outside the University.

The adversity so many of our members have bravely faced in their lives and still prevail is beyond words. It is high time people in suits earning hundreds of thousands of Euro recognise that they might not be best placed to know what’s best for our ever-changing student demographic.

We can, and should, learn much from ourselves, the students – those who had every reason to give up, but didn’t. Let’s also remember this when support services, counselling and health service budgets are being cut.

I

CANNOT HELP BUT THINK of NUI Galway as being a place knitted together by a band of unsung heroes; staff and students. These people will most likely never receive honorary degrees, awards or be profiled in a newspaper. Rather they operate in the background, ensuring students in distress are supported and that our university acts in acknowledgment that the university owes its very existence to us, its students.

They go above and beyond the call of duty without hesitation. They stand in the background, watching for and supporting the lost and the vulnerable. They are, quite simply, heroes.

While I’m still in office until June next, bringing down the curtains on the past two years won’t be easy. Being Vice President and later President has consumed so much of my life and it very much became my vocation; most other things in my life have taken a backseat over the past two years.

There’s a time for everything, even stepping aside, and I very much felt that this was the year to do it. I am very happy with

our achievements this year, and indeed last year; I have been so fortunate to work with the Council, Executive and staff I worked with during that time.

Without a doubt, during the past two years, we had great craic too. Many of the stories I'll confine to the annals of history, to be shared in years to come. Even on the most difficult of days, when the odds were stacked well against us, it was the support and humour of others that put it all in perspective. I've met some of the best friends during my time in the Union, something I will value for life.

I am unsure where exactly life will take me after this, but I’m looking forward to taking some time out before returning to postgraduate study next September. It will take some time to get used to ‘normal life’ (whatever that is!) again, but it is time.

I am excited about opening up a new, blank chapter in my life, which will without doubt be heavily informed by my experiences in the Students’ Union. I don’t think there will ever be another President/Part-time Funeral Director/Law student in the SU, so in that regard, one chapter is definitely closed.

The poet, WH Auden, once wrote; “learn from your dreams what you lack”. If I was to wish one thing for you all in the years to come it would be that you keep a firm eye on the ultimate goal, whatever that might be for you.

Don't listen to the detractors, of which there are many. You know what you want : go forth, conquer.

Finally, to you all, for your support, trust and kindness over the past two years: thank you.

Declan Higgins is ­President of the NUI Galway ­Students’ Union.

March 30 2015

OPINION 13

Getting a conviction for your conviction

By Jemima Burke There’s no watering it down: a prison sentence is a blot on anyone’s record. But sometimes we have to break the rules to keep our convictions.

Damien O’ Neill, Paul Moore, Derek Byrne and Bernie Hughes would rather spend several weeks behind bars than abandon their principles. Released earlier this month on a technicality, the Dubliners were jailed after they broke court orders to stay away from water meter installers.

Coolock, The Little Corner, is hometown to Damien. Even now there is an old-time ‘corner shop’ aura about the place. Children kick worn footballs back and forth while couples stroll quietly through the Stardust Memorial Park at dusk. The ever-present Yellow M marks a welcome sight to the weary workers, starved for a Big Mac and fries after another exhausting day.

Kilbarrack. Paul lives here. Today children play on the footpath outside the local Educate Together School on Greendale Avenue as commuters stand in waiting for the LUAS at the railway station, avoiding stares from skangers wandering the area.

Neon lights from Kilbarrack Shopping Centre spell T ­ -E-S-C-O: magical letters to smudgy pre-schoolers; a sign of the times for mothers clutching tightly to their bogus Gucci purses.

Bernie hails from Finglas, Clear Streamlet. Hard times bind the community together. Crime tears it apart. Overflowing bins only add to the one-big-family atmosphere as nannies push buggies up the street and chat to neighbours who stand leisurely in their doorways puffing on Pall Mall fags.

Bernie serves on the committee of the local Support and Suicide Prevention Network in Mellowes Court. “We reach out to help you in your time of need,” their leaflet reassures.

Derek lives on Streamville Road in Donaghmede where the scars run deep.

“Alan Ryan, Irish Republican Army, Rest in Peace” is scrawled across a wall. Someone else thought differently about the murdered RIRA boss and sprayed with blood-red graffiti “Alan Ryan Rot in Hell” on the grounds of the triangular-profiled Holy Trinity Church. But scars heal over time and life goes on for all the children, parents, workers and students in the area. At least, that is true for most of them; for some life ends all too soon.

Coolock, Kilbarrack, Finglas, Donaghmede: North Dublin’s working class suburbs and home to Derek, Bernie, Paul and Damien.

And rearing ground for so many more including The Fentone: much-loved Today FM presenter who died at 53 this March; Cambridge Science Professor Sir Stephen O’ Rahilly; singers Shane Lynch of Boyzone and U2 frontman Bono; not to forget Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle who spent his childhood Saturdays on the streets of Kilbarrack collecting memories for his future bestsellers.

We discount the worth of these places.

We watch the documentaries and smile at the girl with the Finglas accent. Invariably

someone will say: “Yer one is from a rough while his wife Celene stood bravely by her area.” And yet “yer one” and all of her peers husband’s side. For Arthur, the protest was are the life and soul of our country. not just for his own rights, but for his famI often find myself smiling sadly these ily’s future. days when I hear college yuppies, insular “I have my children here today because I school teachers, biggity wise guys in lecture feel it’s ther’ future that I’m protectin’. And halls and supercilious commentators make I do not want the shower of corrupt politicynical statements about the protests that cians linin’ ther’ pockets with what’s comin’ have kept them buying newspapers and out of mine.” clicking on links over the last couple of months.

We discount the worth of these If only they would listen places. We watch the documentaries to themselves. They’d hear the squeaky bark of those on and smile at the girl with the Finglas guilt trips over their lack of principle. accent. Invariably someone will say: If we were all spectators, and critical ones at that, “Yer one is from a rough area.” this nation would be in an even grislier state than it is And yet “yer one” and all of her peers right now.

Thankfully, we’re not. are the life and soul of our country.

There are still Irish citizens who value democracy, conscience and their freedom more Somehow I have a good feeling for Charlotte Because it doesn’t really matter what your than they value their pay-checks and and Daniel. With a Dad like theirs, willing to surname is, what your house looks like, or Garda vetting. They’d rather spend their sacrifice his reputation for what he believes what car(s) your parents drive; wherever Saturdays waving banners on O’Connell in, anything seems possible. Even a bright there is real, full-blooded conviction there Street with aching arms and cold feet than future in the West of Ireland. is hope for a better tomorrow. spend those hours sipping caramel lattes while asking questions and not listening to the answers.

They are the men and women represented by the four Water Charges’ protestors who were jailed because they broke the law, who broke the law because they were constrained to, and who were constrained to because they couldn’t stand by and passively watch something happen which they wholly, passionately, and thoroughly disagreed with.

They are the people of this country who Need a job? Not sure where to start? are more willing to have their reputations Struggling with your CV? destroyed than their convictions ignored.

Perhaps they are not as slick as some of us. Their hands might be work-worn from driving nails, their hair grey from a lifetime of 12-hour shifts. They may wear sneakers and tatty zip-ups with one too many layers inside. Ts and Ds could drop unawares as they speak. Their registration plates might be closer to 00 than 152.

Is that reason to scoff at their voices and dismiss their campaigns?

I had the pleasure of meeting a friendly gentleman by the name of Arthur Gibbons outside the T.F. Hotel in Castlebar last February. It was quite obvious that he was a Get started by booking your place for this year’s strong element of the No to Water Charges throng that had gathered outside the Fine Graduate Support Day on Careers Connect Gael National Conference.

It was easy to empathise with Sligonian Thursday 14th May Arthur as he spoke: “I cannot understand 9.30am – 1pm: CV/LinkedIn/Interview workshops and expert panel – IT250 why this shower o’ liars, cause that’s all they were, Fine Gael and Labour, went into gov2pm – 4pm: Career Clinic – Career Development Centre ernment on a lie tellin’ the people you’ve paid enough. The people that paid the most, an’ they’ve a’mitted it in the beginnin’ was the low airner, the unemployed, the elderly and the disabled. Yet ther’ crucifying us every chance that they got!”

His children, Charlotte and Daniel, smiled broadly as I snapped a picture

Career Development Centre Kick Start Your Job Search

14 FEATURES

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

Take a look back in order to move forward…

By John Mulry

Market Thyself

Since this is the last issue of Sin for the year and what will probably be the last issue of this column (sob sob, I know) I wanted to give you a recap of everything we covered this year.

My goal with this column was to give you actionable strategies that you could use to promote yourself, get out of your comfort zone, and effectively position yourself as someone your dream employers would love to have working in their company.

In the first issue I walked you through the most important question you must ask yourself before ever applying or contacting a prospective employer: “Why should I, your (prospective) employer, choose to do hire you versus any and every other option available to me in your category, including hiring no-one at all?”

You need to have a good answer to that question, because if you don’t, in regards to seeking a potential employer, you’ve become a commodity. When you’re a commodity, potential employers will make their decisions on whether they will do hire you based on external factors that are out of your control.

In the second and third articles I gave you the most important question you must ask at an interview as well as giving you step by step instructions on what you must do before you apply for your dream job.

These two articles paved the way for the fourth where I introduced you to the concept

of ‘showing up like no one else’. I gave you an example of a three step process you could use to show up like no one else. Here it is again.

1. Mail your personalised and bespoke well researched application in to the person in charge of the application process.

2. Focus on what you can do for the company, what you can do to add value to them.

3. Follow up with a genuine, hand written acknowledgement of them receiving and inviting you in for interview. A simple thank you card goes a long way.

Those three steps alone will enable you to stand out a mile from other applicants and then if what you’ve presented proves to be a good fit to warrant an interview you get to showcase to them your qualities and why you’re the man/woman for the job.

In the fifth issue I introduced you to the marketing concept of message to market match. It simply means matching your message, aka your CV, your cover letter, your application, the value you can add to your target market (your prospective employer).

This is marketing 101 and whereas it may appear as common sense, sadly it’s not all that common.

In the sixth issue as a special for the New Year I gave you the nine steps you can take to have an amazing 2015. My favourite of these nine is: Ask yourself this question, how can you improve your skill set this year? Why is this my favourite?

Well, my dear Watson, the number one thing that affects your ability to get ahead, to earn a significant income, to prosper, is your skill-set.

In the seventh issue I introduced you to one of my favourite poems (The Road Less Travelled

by Robert Frost) and specifically the final lines of the poem: “I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference”. This to me signifies everything you must do to succeed in every area of your life. You must be willing to do what others aren’t willing to do and you must go above and beyond the norm.

This was to further cement the idea of showing up like nobody else and hopefully engrain it into your thinking a little bit more.

In the eight issue I put a bit of a spin on things for the Valentine’s special where I revealed that one, I’m a big romantic at heart and two; you can and should go above and beyond the call of duty at any and every opportunity. Doing so will have a profound effect on your happiness and the happiness of others.

In the ninth issue I walked you through an actual real life case study of someone who used the principles and strategies I’ve been sharing to land their dream job. And in the last issue I gave you answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I have gotten about these strategies.

Now I understand, that you may not have gotten around to reading all of the issue of this years column so what I’ve decided to do is put them altogether into a special ‘market thyself’ guide. If you’d like a copy please email me at john@johnmulry.com and I’ll be sure to send it over to you. Thanks for reading this year and best of luck with the exams. JM

Types of students around exam time

Signs college is almost over

By Emer Flaherty

By Saoirse Rafferty

Yes you’ve got it, exam time is nearly upon us which means that stress levels are bound to rise and everyone’s exam alter-egos will come out to play. For some, it can be full blown crisis and for others, it is fine and breezy, barely causing a blip on the radar.

I know them, you know them and let’s face it sometimes we are these people. So without further ado, I give you a list of the kinds of students that are likely to be about during those all-important exams this May: THE MANIC MESSER Leg bouncing, pen tapping and excessive whistling. Not only are these people the bane of our existence but they are generally found in the stuffiest of exam halls.

They even manage to put a strain on the supervisor’s patience by making them bend over multiple times to collect the pen they’ve flicked over the side. Fidgeting appears to be key for these guys.

THE SO-CALLED HAVEN’T EVEN LOOKED AT THE SYLLABUS PERSON Don’t be fooled by their façade while they coolly saunter into the exam hall, often with coffee in hand and claiming to have only glanced at the PowerPoint slides the night before.

We know their game. Odds are they’ve re-read their notes more times than you think. Once the exam paper is given to them, they fly through it like there’s no tomorrow, then miraculously receive top marks in their exam. A fluke? I think not.

THE NERVOUS WRECK These types tend to have their flashcards nervously glued to their hands while they stand in line for the exam.

Best to steer way clear of them as they have a flair for the dramatics, often uttering phrases like “Oh my god, this will be torture”.

I mean, they might as well curl into a ball all foetal style in the corner and mumble “I’m going to fail” repeatedly to themselves.

THE LAST MINUTE GUY Their Zombie-like appareance is a dead giveaway with their massive dark circles and raggedy hair. After having spent most of the night trying to cram all of the course content, they shuffle into the cloak room clutching an array of books while re-reading key definitions and whatnot.

These last minute crammers take cramming to a whole new level and are often seen downing a double-expresso right before they begin.

THE STRANGER This particular character brings rise to the mean girl quote; “She doesn’t even go here”.

When exam time comes around you end up seeing faces that don’t even register a flicker of recognition. Who are these people?

These people rarely make an appearance at college but when they do it is only on a need to be there basis, like exams. So be certain to see some mega-unfamiliar faces lingering about the exam hall this May.

The year is coming to an end and what an amazing year it has been here at NUI Galway. As I sit here in Smokey’s, sipping my cup of coffee with the company of the famous pigeon reminiscing all of the good memories this year has brought; I can’t help but wonder where has the time gone?

It feels like Fresher’s Week was only yesterday.

Yet things are changing and seem different around campus. Myself and the pigeon have noticed that college life is coming to an end around campus and here are the signs to look out for: 1. The sun suddenly appears after a long, freezing winter: Those that were hibernating suddenly come out to mingle with the good weather. Everyone’s smiling more and there is no more sneezing and coughing fits throughout lectures. Typical, when we need to study most the sun comes out yet when everyone wants to have fun the weather is miserable. Brace yourselves, summer is coming!

2. Lectures are full: Including special guest appearances from those who haven’t made it past their bedroom door all year. Everyone is hoping the last week of lectures will have them sorted for exams and for that semester they’ve missed with the lecturers golden tips and hints.

There is panicking and complaining as people feel it is unfair the year is ending just as they are just starting to become productive (no need to brag about that one golden week guys). Rows may actually be full so you might have to sit beside people instead of leaving that awkward yet safe in-between space.

3. The Library becomes the place to be: Everyone’s cramming and jamming. It is more packed than Supermacs during the Rag Week that must not be named. The race for the seats beside the plugs commences. Heed my warning, if you are not there before noon, you have no chance.

4. 30 day summer challenges are coming, brace yourself: Suddenly everyone is trying hard to become healthy and fit for summer to gain that “bikini bod”. People are finally using their one year gym membership in the last month! Burning off all of those take-aways is never easy, damn you Apache.

5. The lines for the clubs are non-existent: There are no more excuses you can make for a messy night out. People are broke, living off pot noodles and cleaning up the houses praying that deposit will come back. Save the night out for after the exams.

6. The lookout for summer jobs and accommodation for next year: For those unfortunate few who are leaving us, they must decide what to do with their lives next: travel or work? Stay or go?

Print That is exploding as people are printing out CVs along with college work for folders/portfolios.

So there are a few signs in front of your eyes that college is almost over in case you haven’t come to grips with it yet. If you don’t believe me, all you have to do is walk through the concourse and you’ll hear it in the students’ conversations.

Good luck in the exams and have a lovely summer everyone!

FEATURES 15

March 30 2015

That was the year that was...

John Gilmore

By Tomás M. Creamer

YEAR OF GRADUATION: 2009 COURSE AT NUI GALWAY: BSc. Nursing CURRENT OCCUPATION: Doctoral Scholar, Can-

terbury Christ Church University; Vice-President European Confederation of Youth Clubs.

What is your fondest memory of NUI Galway?

Two moments spring to mind; the first is when I was elected as Equality Officer for the Students’ Union Executive, it was the start of an amazing year where I learned and did so much.

The second was when I was unanimously voted in as an Honorary Life Member of GiGSoc, the LGBT society. It followed the end of two years on the committee for me, we had some amazing up’s and a few mishaps along the way.

Has NUI Galway changed since you were here?

North Campus is buzzing! When I started it was really only us nurses and a few graduate business students. A lot of the nurses felt a bit excluded from the rest of the campus so it’s great to see so many students around now!

How did attending NUI Galway develop you as a person?

NUI Galway School of Nursing in particular is a really special place. You’re not just seen as a student, but as a new member of the nursing fraternity. The lecturers really want each student to do well and the partnership approach of my training goes to what makes me a good nurse.

The whole University provides such an open, friendly environment, great support from staff and a thriving student community. Being part of such a community does a lot in terms of allowing someone to explore who they really are, through my time at NUI Galway my confidence skyrocketed, I think studying at NUI Galway was what thought me that I really can make a difference!

My role now as a researcher sees me travel to a lot of different Universities (I’ve also studied at a couple more since I left!), none have an atmosphere to compare with NUI Galway. I really did make friends for life when at NUI Galway. Most of my friends from home went to Sligo after school, and I actually considered transferring to Sligo in the first few months. I’m so glad I didn’t.

though the Sin spectator on his/her evaluation of the 2006/2007 Students’ Union Executive remarked ‘John was one of the better executive officers… A calming influence on the exec’.

I still remind people of my ‘calming influence’!

How did your role in the Students’ Union set you up for your career after you left college?

Going back to the making a difference, my time as Equality Officer really expanded my knowledge and concern about inequalities and injustice (I had a catchphrase “That’s Not Fair!”). I was involved in several cases involving students who were having a hard time and feeling prejudiced and discriminated against.

I also saw the benefit cohesive and solidarity based campaigns make, the student pride and disability awareness campaigns I ran with the exec got great feedback. Lots of what I learned as Equality Officer I still put to use today in the human rights activism I’m involved in.

Do you think the SU is a good way for students to get involved in college life?

Definitely! The Student Union movement has been a major driving force for change in Ireland and it’s so important to keep that going. It’s always good to feel that you’re part of something ‘bigger’.

Do you ever miss NUI Galway?

All the time. Though I’m still in contact with most my college friends, I’d give anything for one more week back there!

Did you ever get in trouble while you were here?

There was that one time Disney threatened legal action against GiG Soc!

Did you partake in any societies, sports clubs or volunteering at NUI Galway?

What advice would you give to current NUI Galway students?

Oh I was stuck in everything! (I know the West of Ireland readers will understand that). I was a student mentor, a volunteer with the Craic/Will U? health promotion outreach programme, I was a class rep, Captain of the Tae Kwon Do Club, founded a Nursing Society, Secretary of GiG Soc and of course Equality Officer of the Students’ Union!

Enjoy you college days, they really are the best!

Get involved! Join a club or society, call into the SU offices, or into Lorraine from ALIVE in the Hub! The opportunities are endless!

What was the college newspaper like when you were in NUI Galway? Did you write for it?

I loved Sin! Always a bit of controversy and some great editorials! I never actually wrote for Sin,

Late 2014 and early 2015 was, to say the least, an interesting time in which to have been a first year student here in NUI Galway, and in which to develop networks and talents.

In early September, I was still new to the concept of University – I found the Leaving Cert to be a challenge, and I pondered what challenges and opportunities lay ahead.

However, I found ways to make life in University just a bit smoother.

I was introduced to new elements that would define my life in Galway City and this University – such as Smokey’s Pigeon, getting my hands on expensive academic books, and more opportunities for craic than one could shake a stick at.

However, one of the first things I did was to get involved with Societies – one of my favourites been the Literary and Debating Society, who hosted a debate on Scottish Independence on 18 September, the day of the fateful Independence Referendum itself. And, as was mentioned in these pages, the shockwaves of that vote was felt after the day itself.

I was also made more aware of certain issues that afflict our society – such as the

inherent discrimination against women that still exists, as evidenced by Dr. SheehySkeffington’s successful appeal against NUI Galway last November, for not giving her the promotion she deserved.

With all the activities that I was involved in, I eventually decided to start a blog, which was a good outlet for material that does not get printed in the august pages of Sin. I also found the coursework easy to manage along with my time in the societies – although, in fairness, I am only in first year Arts.

I also learned how the Students’ Union is organised – although, to me, it was somewhat akin to learning about how sausages were made. The engagement from the minority of students who voted – of which I would be a part – was indeed inspiring, until I realised that the other 80% of students didn’t even care enough to vote.

This was despite the fact that there was a referendum that, due to it being passed, now obliges the Students’ Union to campaign for cannabis legalisation.

Overall, however, this article is a tribute to all of those who made my year here in Galway such a joy – and also why I’m absolutely dreading the summer holidays.

Thanks a lot, guys!

If you could go back and do it all again, what would you do differently?

I think I’d try to encourage more of my classmates to get involved in clubs, societies and volunteering. Many of them had a different experience to college than me because their college life was about the academic stuff, placement and going out. I teach at a university now and always encourage my students to volunteer!

GUF SU Diary Advert 148x210_2014.indd 1

05/06/2014 12:56

16 FEATURES Best and worst celebrity housemates

By Michael Glynn Let’s get real for a second here, having a celebrity for a housemate would be amazing: the parties would be better, they’ll be able to pay rent on time and probably make you more attractive by association.

But there are some that you would rather cut your own foot off instead of letting them live with you, here I’ll tell you which celebrities to pick for your house and which to avoid.

BEST: JENNIFER LAWRENCE

She is the girl that everyone loves and with good reason: she’s got the looks, brains and my word, does she have the charm. J-Law would be the best addition to any house that I could think of, she adds class to the house while still being wholesome and funny.

There is only one downside I can see to having the glorious Jennifer Lawrence as a housemate and that is falling in love with her, there is no possible way to avoid it; she’s just too damn amazing.

HOZIER

Now this is a guy who is down to earth. He hasn’t let the music business get to his head yet as far as I can see. Let’s be serious, that’s all you need, an extremely talented handsome man who is still sound and could probably pay for all of your rent from ‘Take Me To Church’ sales alone.

Granted there could be some people who would obsess about him and start banging at your door but at this stage, Hozier doesn’t have too many screaming fans constantly hunting for him so I think you’d be alright.

WORST: DANIEL DAY LEWIS

Degree acceptance speech By Áine O Donnell I am delighted to be awarded this BA International in French and English after many early mornings in the library, afternoons of desperation on Erasmus and penny pinching nights in the queue for the Front Door.

I do realise that along this path to success, I had many supporters that I am indebted to and would like to take this opportunity to thank.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the Academy, I mean NUI Galway, for awarding me with this degree in recognition for my ability to use a semi colon with finesse and my mediocre grasp of the plus-que-parfait.

Secondly, I would like to thank God. And by God, I mean the only deity I believe in: Netflix. The Frank Underwoods and Piper Chapmans of this world kept me company on those long, lonely nights when all my housemates could afford an evening on the town and I was left shivering in our student house clutching my laptop, hoping the internet connection would hold strong for just one more episode.

I think my parents deserve my undying gratitude. Although I often retort with “I didn’t ask to be born”, I am glad that I was and that you were willing to go along with my plan to study Arts in Galway. I am equally pleased that you facilitated my constant weekend thieving of your groceries and surprised

me with cash injections in my student account from time to time.

My housemates past and present, I would like to thank you. I realise that living with some of you has cost me many hours of sleep and the insertion of the grammatically questionable “I do be…” into my vocabulary. We shared priceless evenings watching “My Cat From Hell” and “Say Yes To The Dress” while avoiding all the work we were supposed to be

I realise that living with some of you has cost me many hours of sleep and the insertion of the grammatically questionable “I do be…” into my vocabulary. We shared priceless evenings watching “My Cat From Hell” and “Say Yes To The Dress” while avoiding all the work we were supposed to be doing.

doing. You were always able to make me laugh after stressful days losing library cards and subsequently, the will to live.

Smokey’s, what a faithful companion you have been. I could have stocks in Smokey’s after all the hot chocolates I have squandered my parent’s hard earned euros on. Plenty of secrets have been shared and moans heard in the company of the eponymous pigeon. If I will miss anything about our campus in Galway, it will be Smokey’s and its world renowned people watching facilities.

Finally, I am grateful for all the social media accounts that have documented my time here. There was no better distraction when I was wishing my life away in the Silent Zone than a hilarious Snapchat story from the previous night or the ping of a notification from your housemates on Facebook alerting you to the latest movements of the Kardashians.

I would also like to commend the role you played as a means to pretend I was engrossed in very important matters when in actuality, I wasn’t in the mood for talking to that person who’s name I couldn’t remember but it had gone on too long to find out.

NUI Galway, it has been an emotional, hilarious and unexpected few years. I am most grateful to you for not only my undergraduate education which I will most likely soon forget but more importantly, for the memories which will be with me for the rest of my years to come.

Things I’m going to miss about Galway

By Grace McKeever

Could you actually imagine living with a method actor? Probably some of the worst people in the world to live with, your life would be spent living in fear of the next role that he’d get. Hitler? Ted Bundy?

Even think back to past roles that he’s done, the thought of living with Christy Brown keeps me awake at night and with Daniel in your house, you’d probably be awake all night anyway.

Simple housemate things become a nightmare: phone messages taken down with his feet, completely illegible, having to cart him around all over the place. You don’t need this Daniel, just act!

As the college year 2014-2015 draws to a close, students are roaring an almighty “huzzah” as it signifies the ending of long days spent gruelling over assignments in the bastille of James Hardiman Libo.

It extinguishes the worry of exams and it thrusts us into the long awaited summer. Albeit, the summer season is rife with reasons to anticipate the adjourning of college but there are plenty of reasons we’d be wagging our tails at the thought of coming back:

ED SHEERAN

PUB? CLUB? RÓISÍN DUBH?

Yeah that’s right, I said it, yeah that was me. Living with Ed Sheeran would be horrible. To those who would disagree with me, for one, you would be obsessing about him too much to actually get anything done.

Two, everybody else would be obsessing about him. Your house would never be empty and when it comes close to being just the people who live there inside, the rest of the screaming hordes would be right outside your door, faces presses up against the glass, dying to get a glimpse of those glorious ginger lock. Okay, maybe I’m starting to obsess now.

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

It has to said, Galway is notorious for its absolutely deadly nightlife. We have a cluster of clubs, a batter of pubs and we even have the infamous silent discos in the Róisín.

You also are guaranteed to find a banter-crusade like no other in Supermacs after a big night on the tear.

They say variety is the spice of life, if so, in terms of clubbing at least, you’ll be heading on nights out at home with a jar of chilli powder (in the hopes of

rising spiciness levels) after having experienced the medley of options Galway has to offer!

FRIENDS Whether you’re a first year and have made a whole new circle of buddies, or you’re in your final year with a ragtag team of comrades acquired over your time here at NUI Galway, over the summer there’ll be days where you’ll want to drop everything and make a five hour bus journey to your roommate from Cork.

You’ll be out and about getting on with your life at home, you’ll see pigeon in café, get hyped up and blurt out some nonsense about Smokey’s, and you’ll wish you had a fellow NUIG-er to revel in the hysteria with you. But no, a tweet will have to do.

MUSICALITY Music – it’s all around us. In Galway, it’s literally all around us. I wake up every morning, rub my eyes, stumble out of bed and literally stumble to the kitchen.

What am I stumbling over you ask?

Guitars (yes, plural), a khan, wires

from sound systems, a harmonica, plectrums - the works! It seems everybody here is musical in some way. On Shop Street, you’ll find not one bit of empty air as it’s constantly filled with tune and verse, strumming and drumming.

We’re ever so lucky to have montages of musicians showering us with theme music as we strut from Eyre Square to McDonagh’s, after a long journey back to our melodic plot in the West after the weekend.

FREEDOM Sometimes, we all need to take a day or two off from life in general. Blame may be chargeable to the night before from enjoying a few sociables or you might need to load yourself with TLC, a Boojum delivery and catch up on “House of Cards” before beginning the new season, just because college gotcha’ overworked.

It’s justifiable, we’ve all been there.

However, you’re as likely to encounter days like this at home under the watchful eye of your parents as you are to get into The Hole in the Wall on Donegal Tuesday at 11pm. Sorry kid, life just ain’t that sweet in the “real world”.

FEATURES 17

March 30 2015

Natsukashii

By Ciara Treacy

leave home comforts and the university I loved so dearly, so I opted to stay another Catch-22 is a novel by Joseph Heller, from year. I wanted to follow my dream of studwhich a paradoxical situation emerges con- ying journalism, yet at the loss of a more cerning, well, decisions. desirable timetable and the potential It refers to instances where there is a stability offered by other career pursuits. restriction in making a decision because of Paulo Coelho once said “if you think adventhe very nature of the decision itself. Stay ture is dangerous, try routine. It is lethal”. with me, loyal reader. We’ve been on a whirlI drink one-quarter of my morning cup wind of seeds, fake tan and cat videos over of tea each day because I forget about it in the past few months and I promise we’re my groggy state. The topography of the path almost there.

I take to college almost fits the grooves of Here’s an example: you may want to get my feet. When I arrive on campus after my home after a long day in the library but don’t eight minute walk (11 minutes with traffic), want to go out in the cold, yet to walk home I key my card into the classroom, turn on you would have to go outside and face the the computer at the same seat and sustain elements, otherwise you’re still stuck in the snack cravings until my brown roll at noon library. The Catch-22. (chicken, lettuce and cheese).

It’s a vicious cycle, or a sense of being Yet to leave this routine would mean damned if you do and damned if you don’t, I would have to leave the familiarity of but those were harder to fit into a column title. my surroundings – ample central heating, Gilmore Girls on repeat The truth is that moments in the past and lunch with friends just a text away. seem brighter because they have However, change is inevitable and the secubeen sealed off, never to run the rity blanket of college is wearing thin from overrisk of becoming flawed or broken. use. I discussed in my first instalment of this column As I finished my undergraduate degree of the plan to remain an eternal student, a and approached the age of 21, I encountered decision which surprisingly hasn’t proved more Catch-22 situations than ever before. feasible. With that in mind there has been I was desperate to explore somewhere a sharp rise in the sentimental value of new, but in doing that I would have to what’s left of this routine.

I recently recorded a documentary with our President Declan Higgins, with a reflection on his time spent in NUI Galway thus far. It was agreed that indulging in nostalgia from time to time can be comforting, and often advantageous in making improvements and planning strategies.

However, if we entertain fond memories of the past too long, we’ll get caught up in it, viewing moments through an Instagram-filtered lens. I recently found myself getting wistful for an automatic door which was no longer working and realised something was up.

The truth is that moments in the past seem brighter because they have been sealed off, never to run the risk of becoming flawed or broken. We place too much pressure on ourselves to replicate the past, even when we have changed.

I recently found a term for how we should reflect - natsukashii. It refers to a small thing which will bring one back to

fond memories, not with a yearning for their return but with an appreciation of the good times had.

Music does this for most people. Songs can hold a meaning entirely different to their standard interpretation, because of their association with a year, a night, a moment, a person.

There are a plethora of things I will associate with the past four years, yet I must stop the torture of longing for when everything was new, like a packet of Pokémon cards in shiny foil or lipstick in its pretty sealed packaging.

We need to keep moving forward, to make room for those beginning their journeys and to enable our own exposure to fresh pastures.

Opportunity lies ahead. To quote Heller’s novel, “they have a right to do anything we can’t stop them from doing.”

Sometimes you just have to get past the catch. @ciaratreacy2

Two Years Later...

By Hazel Doyle It’s been 24 issues since I sat down to write for Sin for one year. That was the goal; get something to Jess every two weeks for a year.

Two years later I’m happy to say it’s one of the best things that I ever did.

I was pretty nervous when I started columning along this Yellow Brick Road. I didn’t really want anyone to know that it was me writing.

Clever, wasn’t I, to include not only my name, but a photo of me? Real sneaky Hazel…

And the photo meant that whenever there was someone sitting opposite me in Smokey’s

So, go forth with your 99 raised, your laptop in your bag and your notes burning behind you. Summer is almost here. Think about writing a column, think about starting your band, think about vlogging all your baking skills. Whatever you’re into, think about doing it next year in college, or next year wherever you are.

reading Sin, I couldn’t open it and read it, because I was so afraid that they’d think I was just reading my own column out of vanity (ah, it wasn’t just out of vanity).

It was nice whenever I got feedback. It was nice to know people actually bothered to read through a whole article. The odd time that someone would say ‘I like the piece in Sin’, I’d get really awkward and go ‘Ah-ha! Thanks!’ and scurry off, wondering what I’d said that they’d actually liked, because there were 900 or so words after all. You made my day though. Ta. To anyone who is still reading, who maybe read a few articles before this and liked the girl with the Mickey Mouse ears, I really appreciate you reading. I’d love to know what you think, whether you agree with all my ranting and raving (less of the raving, and more of the cups of tea) and if you feel the need to just tell me to stop because I annoy you that much, that’d be good to hear too, I guess...

I’ve just started a blog, and it’s called “yellowbrickroadmusings”. ‘Yellow Brick Road’ is already taken by some jewellery shop in Dublin. I must check it out and maybe drop hints that they need to change their domain name.

As anyone who knows me will be able to tell you, I’m not the most technical of people, so it’s a pretty basic-looking blog, but you know, never judge a blog by its cover and all.

Anyway, feel free to send me a message and tell me what you think I’ve been doing wrong for the last two years, so I don’t keep making an eejit out of myself on this new blog.

In other news, you guys are now all heading off to exams and essays (but really heading off to Salthill to pretend that exams aren’t happening while you soak up the short spells of Irish sunshine that tend to happen right when you’re meant to be studying).

So, best of luck with that. And good luck with your J1s and your volunteering and your jobs and your braving the big bad world. I have no pearls of wisdom with which to part, but if I did, they’d probably be the best pearls of wisdom that Carlsberg ever made into an advertisement, with a memorable phrase.

If there are any little Dorothys out there, who don’t really know if they’re brave enough to start writing a column for Sin, I would say just do it. It’s like putting your hand up in class; it’s only scary the first time, and when you get really used to it, it’s actually fun.

So, go forth with your 99 raised, your laptop in your bag and your notes burning behind you.

Summer is almost here. Think about writing a column, think about starting your band, think about vlogging all your baking skills. Whatever you’re into, think about doing it next year in college, or next year wherever you are. You only get one life and we’re all just struggling up the Yellow Brick Road together. Don’t leave any stone unturned.

Sure it’ll be a laugh.

Check out Hazel’s blog at www.yellowbrickroadmusings.com.

18 LIFESTYLE

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

THE BEARDED END

By John Brennan I haven’t shaved since the end of October.

I have trimmed, sculpted and chiselled my beard into a hairy version of perfection. I have been putting forward an idea that the beard is something to seek, to chase. I face into the prospect of having no forum for this beard addled ramblings, as this, this what you’re reading, is my last post as the chief beardwearer on campus.

Mine isn’t the largest, most voluminous, nor indeed, the most note-worthy beard on campus, but I am the conduit which normalizes the clinically hairy-faced for those plodding through campus on daily basis with hair erupting from their face.

Beards weren’t the norm when I was younger. Obviously not when I was seven, but when I entered this establishment at the age of 19 I neither had the where-with-all or ability to cultivate what has become my life’s work.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is the end.

I have said all I came to say, I have emptied the heaving vaults of my bearded knowledge; we have looked at everything from Bismarck to Tattoo’s, from grooming to growing and now we face the abyss. The empty part of Sin that the next bearded writer undoubt-

edly hopes to fill with trivial and insightful pieces on mainstream masculinity probably won’t match up to this.

We have to believe that it will. I believe in beards and the knowledge their growth undoubtedly denotes and encourages. I write

What of your beard, what sage advice can I possibly offer at this stage?

Could I possibly help you accessorise your beard with choice headphones?

No. Just don’t buy beats, they’re awfully expensive. this listening to MGMT. A band that peaked around 2010 and never lived up to their beard potential. It really makes you think…

I am just a bearded guy. A comic book fan, a Tolkien enthusiast, a whiskey connoisseur, a Manchester United supporter, a virtual Pokemon trainer, a BA and LLB

graduate and I’ll soon add a few more letters to my name.

Do any of these things individually or collectively define me as the person I am? No. Should they? Definitely not.

I have talked openly all year about my love of the bearded things in life. I spoke predominantly in hyperbolic, because to be truthful, there are things much more important than the hair your face sprouts. That is not disregard to everything I have written up to this point, that would be sensationalist and myopic.

This is the end of the semester and another year in Sin. I hope you all get through your exams and see the vast ocean summer lays at your feet. Go explore, spend time with the people you want to, work as hard as you can and do the things that make you happy.

Life is genuinely too short to worry about the things that sap the passion from your life. Focus on the good, contextualise the bad and face into the summer fresh-faced (don’t shave your beard, fresh-faced is a saying, a colloquialism of sorts) and enjoy the freedom you’re afforded, you’ll never have summers like these again.

What of your beard, what sage advice can I possibly offer at this stage? Could I

possibly help you accessorise your beard with choice headphones? No. Just don’t buy beats, they’re awfully expensive.

In all seriousness, I’ve enjoyed writing these pieces. I feel I’ve probably had about four readers throughout the year, and that’s including myself and my editor. I have a beard, I also have glasses and a beanie I’m regularly spotted sporting in a fashion that can only be described as ostentatious.

These have been therapeutic to write, a portion of my day once a fortnight, where I throw on spotify, listen to my favourite tracks and sit before a blank sheet, praying to Zeus for inspiration (he had a beard after all). These articles have effectively written themselves so in that sense, thanks for reading my beardy jargon.

Best of luck with the exams, enjoy your summer and keep sporting that beard, to quote the new adidas predator boots slogan, “there will be haters”.

Bearded goodbyes are the hardest, now I know how Jesus, King Leonidas and Gandalf felt.

Let’s start a hash tag movement. #BeardedGoodbye Peace out.

@Jbrennan88

BEARDED BACKPACKER: Heading Off!

By John Brennan What more can I do to further instil you with a sense of adventure? Perhaps tales of my falling down a manhole in Vietnam, nearly drowning in New Zealand, sleeping under the stars in Outback Australia or slashing my leg open on a park bench in Berlin may spur you on to create your own indelible/traumatising memories.

The ability to get up and leave is a totally different thing than just thinking, talking and hoping to do it. This year I’ve wanted to show you that there is more to life than just these blustery shores, the occasional piss ups abroad and heading over to see sporting events for a day or two.

That is not to bash those things unnecessarily. The worst kind of snob is a travel snob.

I a) genuinely mean that and b) earnestly promise that such creatures exist. The wold is a book, and if you never travel and stay in one place, then you’ve only read one page.

I stole that from the internet, but I read that quote before heading away across Europe and something in it really resonated with me. It was inexplicable really because I had my head up my arse when I first went away. I was clueless with money, hopeless with directions and genuinely a little scared of what those weeks would offer.

Going travelling changed me as a person. I can honestly say I’ve had my beard swabbed for bomb making materials. I have fired an AK-47. I sat atop an unruly elephant smashing its way through a jungle. I’ve held

a koala. I’ve eaten every manner of strange food the orient, Europe and Australia and New Zealand had to offer me.

You’ll come back a different person, with different priorities, they won’t be remarkable changes, but the best ones seldom go unnoticed. I noticed it about myself, I’m not sure if other people did but that’s just life. Life is to be lived folks, spend it doing the things you want to do. Be safe, be happy, be with the people you want and in the places you want to be.

That’s what travelling taught me I suppose. I don’t have to settle where I’m not happy; I don’t have to live anywhere that doesn’t make me similarly happy. It taught me so much about interacting with people from different backgrounds and helped me finally be able to place the proverbial shoe on the other foot. Empathy and adventure are at the heart and soul of travel.

Comfort zones aren’t anything to be enthusiastic about and if you find everything a little too cosy and cushy for your liking, travel is something that forces you to grow and evolve in a meaningful and tangible way.

The only sure things you have are the air in your lungs and the promise that no two days will be entirely the same. Not everything works out when travelling; don’t view it as some glorious thing where happiness is interwoven with every day you exist. Some days are utterly awful, but you’ll have those days here, so you may as well experience them somewhere different.

You’ll need some money, a passport, a backpack, comfortable shoes and that’s about it. Maybe a sleeping bag if you’re feeling particularly opulent but otherwise, book a flight and get the f**k out of here. University offers you each summer as a blank canvass to paint and decorate in the colours of your life experiences (exam results depending).

It’s been a pleasure writing about all the places I’ve seen and the stupid things I’ve done. I’ve tried to offer you as much perspective as I can conjure on the benefits

You’ll need some money, a passport, a backpack, comfortable shoes and that’s about it. Maybe a sleeping bag if you’re feeling particularly opulent but otherwise, book a flight and get the f**k out of here.

of travel. No matter how big or small your trip is, it’s still travel. Paint your life in the colours of your experiences. It’s your life after all.

Best of luck with the exams and the summer ahead, like the wisest man I know, the King from Burger King, says: do it your way.

Get out there and have fun.

@Jbrennan88

LIFESTYLE 19

March 30 2015

FASHION MATHS: How to clear out your wardrobe and keep it under control

By Saoirse Rafferty IT’S TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE; to do what you’ve been putting off year after year. No don’t worry it’s not the gym, it’s a task you may find much more difficult than that. It’s time to clear out that messy wardrobe! No excuses, when this challenging task is over I promise you’ll forget about the extra neglected clutter you’ve been holding on to for so long you aren’t sure why anymore. Here is a simple list of items you should double-check whether they are still needed in that overflowing wardrobe of yours.

1.

HAND-ME DOWN CLOTHES: If you’re like me and have different clothes passed down from your mum, aunties and other relatives because you were too polite to tell them they were hideous; dump them.

It’s not like you ever wear them anyway.

They’re taking up extra space and think of the others who might actually like these items (if your mum did once, someone else is bound too). Future advice: Do not accept clothes items you wouldn’t wear even if someone paid you to.

4.

THE LEFT BEHIND ITEMS: If you didn’t bring these clothes to college, on trips or if you haven’t even left the house with them on before, you aren’t going to start wearing them now. You know what to do.

5.

TWIN ITEMS: If you’ve two items that are basically identical, is it really worth keeping them both? They look the same and have both lasted you a long time; you’ve no excuses. Clear it! One is all you need, why’d you go and buy two?

OLD WINTER GEAR: Winter is over and summer is approaching. Think hard, what didn’t you wear this winter out of your winter gear? If you didn’t wear them this winter there’s a big chance you won’t be wearing them next winter either. Give them away and make room for the summer clothes!

3.

6.

2.

CLOTHES FROM OVER THREE YEARS AGO THAT NO LONGER FIT OR AREN’T IN FASHION: If you can’t pull that pair of boot-cut jeans above your knees and if that luminous dress is up your bum, you aren’t going to shrink back into them.

Say bye-bye. Why are you holding on to the past? It’s time to let them go.

SHOES: There’s no point in keeping them heals because they look pretty if you can’t walk in them or if they don’t fit you anymore. Pretty won’t help when you’re falling over. If the shoes are worn down and you’ve had them for years; it’s time to part ways. They’ve had their fun and so have you!

7.

FRIENDS’ CLOTHES: It’s time to gather up all of your friends clothes that have gotten left behind, forgotten about or stolen by you. Although you and your friends may share wardrobes, it can often become annoying when you forget who had your favourite hoodie last. By returning your friends clothes, you never know you might get some of yours back as well.

Now you’ve cleared away all of that clutter and hopefully you are feeling relieved with an organised wardrobe. Don’t forget it’s always a great idea to pass your clothes on to charities or people you know who may be in need of some extra clothes.

The final step is to keep this beautiful masterpiece under control which is easy if you follow the golden rule: Don’t buy something you don’t need or if it’s similar to something you already have. Only buy a new item if you love it. Trust me you’ll know if you do.

‘Wear leather and tight trousers at 65’ – Twiggy speaks out about ageism in fashion and we must listen

By Jenna Hodgins Back home there is a woman who lives on my Street named Mary. She’s well into her 70s now and toddles down the town every morning with her heated roller curls, her wee tartan trolley bag and her even wee-er skirt.

Yes, that lady is rocking the mini skirt like she’s 21-years-old and why not? With all the walking she does she has a great set of pins.

The thing is there are a lot of people, who are apparently offended by her choice of hemline and it’s not because it’s verging more of a belt than a skirt, it’s because of her age.

60s fashion icon Twiggy recently spoke out about ageism in the fashion and media industry.

Twiggy spoke about this issue at the launch of a government-backed report into

ageism in the workplace. She was joined by other industry representatives such as John Stapleton from ITV News, Dr Ros Altman and Steve Webb who all spoke about ageism in all areas of everyday life.

“I refuse to say women of certain ages should not wear certain things. It’s all about how you wear it,” said the 65-year old model.

She added that it makes her “crazy” when she reads fashion magazines that tell you what to wear according to your age.

And she’s right.

Twiggy isn’t the only older woman in the limelight to be subject to ageism in fashion. Madonna claimed she received ageist taunts after wearing a fishnets and a black thong during her performance at the Grammys.

“Women, generally, when they reach a certain age, have accepted that they’re not allowed to behave a certain way,” said the singer.

The latest trend in internet activism has been hitting out at mainstream media bodyshaming women, putting the idea into our heads that if you’re a certain size or shape you can’t wear a certain dress, but when people break these rules there is still a whole other set of criteria to follow and criticism to bear, and being ‘age appropriate’ is one of them.

Some fashion bloggers may want my head for saying this, but the Dos and Don’ts about body shape aren’t actually that bad, and shouldn’t be the primary concern here. Yes, wear what you want but at least the hourglass/apple/pear categorisation can act as a guideline for making the best of what you have.

Meanwhile, this age appropriate nonsense has no productive value. If you’re 80-yearsold and your best feature is your legs, why can’t you show that off? Why must you cover your best features because there is twice the number of birthday candles on your cake than when you were 30? If the 22-year-old who is a size 22 can wear a crop top because they want to, why can’t a 62-year-old?

That’s not to say I’m in any way against the free-fashion movement regarding size, but we cannot fight the pressure and restrictions of those even-numbers on a size tag and not the number of years we’re alive.

You wouldn’t tell someone that they can’t wear certain clothes because of their ethnicity, so why do we allow major retailers and fashion magazines to market clothes for the ‘mature ladies’. Fair enough

ankle-length skirts, tartan trollies, and cream fleece jumpers may be on demand, but why market them as if they’re specifically for OAPS? You might as well start asking people for their bus pass at the cash point, just to check if they are old enough.

I spoke with my neighbour after reading about Twiggy, and asked her has she ever felt pressured to dress a certain way.

It was sad when she told me about a recent trip to a major fashion retailer and how the personal shopper advised her not to buy a pair of skinny jeans because they’re “a bit young for her”.

The funny thing is, the jeans were for her granddaughter but good old (pun not intended) Mary didn’t mention it, and led the shopper to believe they were for her and made her way to the cashier. You go Glen Coco!

“The cashier then commented on the skinny jeans, saying I must have the trendiest granddaughter about town. I’m not mad at her for assuming they were for her [granddaughter], oh no she was a lovely girl, and because she wasn’t wrong. But it goes to show we are stuck into thinking these ideas about older women and fashion,” Mary told me.

“I wouldn’t mind, but myself and my granddaughter are both the same size!” she added.

Girls, guys, and all 54 Facebook gender options: if you want to wear a mini cocktail dress then do it regardless of your age, size, or gender. Remember the tenth commandment: “fashion is what you make it, not what some omnipresent Sin fashion (or anyone for that matter) lord says it is.”

20 LIFESTYLE

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

RETRO REWIND: 1980s By Áine Leech “I’ve got hugs for you if you were born in the 80’s”- Calvin Harris might have been onto something with his 80s=loving track and this week the retro rewind is sharing his love.

Born in the eighties or not, it’s fair to say were an interesting decade to say the least.

Backcombed hair, neon colours, lyrca and leg warmers were all the trend. Actually now that

I think of it Harriers seemed to have a recurring 80s theme.

Thankfully the 21st century has harnessed the old trends and made them a bit more wearable.

Whether you cringe at the perms or have spent the past month harnessing your inner Madonna on the dancefloor, the eighties have something to offer everyone. So stick on some Michael Jackson and check out these wonderful 80s inspired pieces

Product list:

1980s Retro Rewind Make-up

By Gracie O’Connor EYES: Use any colours on the eyes; shimmer

CHEEKS: use any pink/orange/red blush or

and mattes and just have fun with colour placement and combinations. Take it out past the eyebrow in a blown out shape, low on the lower lashline and lots of blue eyeliner! Lashes are totally optional and keep the brows big and bushy.

eyeshadow and apply it almost like you would a contour, in a very sculptural way along the cheek bone. Blend the blush onto the temples so that it merges into the brow.

LIPS: typically bright glossy orange or pink

1. Miss Selfridge 2. River island 3. Topshop 4. Claires 5. River island 6. Topshop 7. River island 8. Tophop

The ten commandments of fashion

1.

2.

3.

Thou shalt not wear sandals with socks.

Thou shalt not wear a Ramones t-shirt without knowing at least one album name.

Thou shalt not wear sweatpants with school shoes – that’s so Donnybrook circa 2006.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Remember pay day, to keep it holy and treat yo’ self.

Honour haute couture fashion, albeit weird.

Thou shalt not wear fluffy pyjama pants to Dunnes.

Thou shalt not put a red sock in the white wash.

Thou shalt not steal sibling’s clothes… all the time.

Thou shalt not covet thy friend’s new shoes and hate them as a result.

Thou shalt not take these commandments seriously because fashion is what you make it, not what some omnipresent Sin fashion lord says it is – even She has gone to the shops in her jammies.

Five AW 15/16 trends to get excited for

By Jenna Hodgins I know it’s not even summer yet, but there’s no harm in getting ready for Autumn/Winter.

It’s nice to be in the know and pretend you’re the Mystic Meg of the highstreet. With fashion month done and dusted, the catwalks of London, New York, Paris and Milan have showcased the latest trends set to hit the shops probably not for another six months but we can and will be trendy, eventually.

it someone thought they were cool. Less is more with this look, plain utilitarian clothing teamed up with these kinky boots and you’re flying the fashionista flag.

CRAZY CHUNKY KNITS

We all have our trusty chunky knit jumper to get us by on lazy-comfy days. They’re a great idea until you get caught in the rain and it feels like

MILITARY JACKETS

This trend seems to come-and-go every few years and it still baffles me why it disappears in the first place. Tailored, cinched-in waists and sharp shoulder pads will be every Penneys by late August, add a dark chunky belt and embody your inner sniper-wolf minus the sniper because guns aren’t cool unless they’re filled with water.

FRINGING

The runways were awash with bohemian inspired looks last month with tassels and fringes front running the key pieces, instead of polyester ‘hippy costumes’ bought on Ebay.

Fringed jackets, gillets, skirts and handbags weren’t entirely exclusive to the airy relaxed look of floaty festival dresses with comatoseinducing short hemlines and flower crowns, but boho-chic entered a new realm altogether.

Add a fringed gillet to any ‘going-out’ dress and you’re so AW 15/16. Flirt with sharply tailored silhouettes and loose, relaxed fringing to achieve the ultimate effortlessly chic look.

LADYLIKE DEMURE

FANCY FOOTWEAR – THE POWER BOOT

Chunky cut-out ankle boots just got a little bit bigger, and I don’t mean popularity wise.

The knee high statement boot was all over the runaways (and editorial spreads) after Altuzarra’s AW 15/16 show. Think Gladiator meets BDSM; the more straps and buckles the better. Rihanna has been rocking Tom Ford leg brace boots since 2013, about time

your two-stone heavier with all that wet wool on your back, well they’re about to get heavier so wear a waterproof coat already. These super textured knits look like you fell in the bargain bin at a Haberdashery shop and came out fabulous. Be it ruffles, yarn fringing and/or pom-poms, the crazier the jumper the better. These statement pieces are putting our Art Attack pom-pom making skills into use, at long last!

Chunky knits from Lorna Watt on Flickr

Old Hollywood glamour is a trend that will never die in the beauty world with red lips and winged liner being the classic go-to on a night out. However, the only time you get a chance to look like a fully-fledge Monroette is at a ball or formal-do, and even then your entrance is ruined by that nasty mismatched coat ruining your look. Not anymore and you can make this an everyday look. Sadly floor length Oscar de la Renta gowns aren’t entering the ready-to-wear sphere (yet) but the essence of old-school demure is back with outerwear. Long hoop skirt coats that hug your body but flash a bit of ankle are coming, so get ready to feel fabulous!

UCD School of Mathematical Sciences

www.ucd.ie/mathsciences

Graduate Studies UCD School of Mathematical Sciences UCD School of Mathematical Sciences invites applications to its graduate programmes from graduate and final-year undergraduate students with backgrounds in quantitative disciplines such as Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Economics, Finance and Physics.

Programmes available: Grad Dip/ MSc Actuarial Science (Institute and Faculty of Actuaries accredited) MA Statistics/MSc Statistics (Royal Statistical Society accredited) HDip Mathematical Sciences, HDip Mathematical Studies & HDip Statistics MSc Mathematics, MSc Mathematical Sciences, MA Mathematics, MSc Climate Change: Science and Impacts (New Programme) Prof Dip/MSc Data Analytics - Online PhDs in Statistics, Applied and Computational Mathematics, Simulation Science and Mathematics Further information and scholarship information

Questions?

www.ucd.ie/mathsciences/graduatestudents

Contact pgstudies@maths.ucd.ie

©UCD

22 FILM REVIEWS

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

The Voices

By Ken Glennon Talking pets, severed heads and a brilliant Ryan Reynolds performance all feature in Persepolis director Marjane Satrapi’s surprisingly powerful blend of humour and unsettling psycho-drama.

Reynolds is Jerry, a sweet-natured and awkward man working in a toilet factory in the American Midwest. He has an active verbal relationship with his pets, Bosco and Mr. Whiskers, in addition to regular sessions with a psycho-therapist (Jacki Weaver) who’s trying and failing to keep Jerry on his medication.

Our clean-cut factory man is also pining for a British co-worker, played by Gemma Arterton, and the opportunity to help organise the office party brings the two together. This leads to a date of sorts which doesn’t end terribly well.

From here things escalate uncontrollably as heads start piling up in Jerry’s fridge and the two talking pets attempt to reconcile the good and the bad voices of our lead’s frayed mental state. These states are each personified by Bosco, the talking dog who thinks Jerry should turn himself in and Mr Whiskers, who thinks Jerry should embrace his homicidal urges.

It’s a sometimes sweet, increasingly disturbing and profoundly sad story. Juxtaposing the bright world view found in Jerry’s unmedicated sight with a bleak reality, Satrapi does an extraordinary job managing tone.

From a grisly evisceration to an imagined (and genuinely funny) back and forth between Jerry’s cat and dog to a tender exchange played out between Reynolds and Anna Kendrick’s kind office worker, the film manages to mix comedy, psycho-drama and tragedy. This should all fall apart at the seams but Satrapi, co-writer Perry and the cast hold it together.

It’s easy to imagine a lead character like this winding up as a stock psychotic in a lowrent serial killer plot. Here the schizophrenic forces driving Jerry are handled with a sense of understanding and empathy. Reynolds is excellent subverting his wisecracking persona and finds a tragic and lonely centre in Jerry to whom life, in general has handed a cruel deal. Scenes with another lonely but exceedingly less damaged soul Lisa (movingly played by Anna Kendrick) offer some fleeting respite.

It’s a credit to the film that we get inside the mind of a serial killer who generally maintains a sympathetic edge. When an attempt at

Things escalate uncontrollably as heads start piling up in Jerry’s fridge and the two talking pets attempt to reconcile the good and the bad voices of our lead’s frayed mental state taking his pills stops the voices we see both the extent of Jerry’s loneliness, his intense dependence on Bosco and Mr Whiskers, as well as a deeply unsettling look at his world without the benefit of his insanity.

It isn’t a happy place and Satrapi and Reynolds do a great job making Jerry’s choice to leave reality understandable, even sympathetic despite the heinous nature of

Kill the Messenger

It Follows

By Néil Rogers

By Néil Rogers

Based on the true story of investigative journalist Gary Webb and his publications, Kill the Messenger plays out as a dramatic biopic attempting to expose the criminal activities of one of the most powerful government bodies in the world, the CIA. Telling the true-life story of this writer and the supposedly true endeavours of a morally corrupt organisation, the film takes place in late 1980’s America as Webb uncovers the CIA’s attempts to illegally import crack cocaine into the country.

However with a story so interesting and relevant, is this film better at informing rather than entertaining?

Kill the Messenger is one of those films that starts off with the best of intentions. An interesting backstory, a superb cast and a more than formidable main star on promising form is just about the perfect hand to play for any director.

With all this in its favour the film genuinely engages its audience for the first while, illustrating the threat that surrounded this incident superbly.

Each actor involved portrays characters that are evident in everyday life. As such, when the ordeal occurs their reactions are true to that of real-life individuals, intimidated by something they are uncovering while trying so hard not to believe it.

Playing the whistle-blower Gary Webb, Jeremy Renner is the highlight of this film.

Never letting up in the slightest with his performance, Renner channels the intensity of his Oscar nominated turn in The Hurt Locker

to deliver a solid performance that anchors this slightly shaky film.

Constantly being overlooked as a serious and talented actor, Renner’s ability to lose himself within a role is so impressive and keeps the audience fixed on him, through the highs and, unfortunately, frequent lows of this film.

While you completely side with the morality behind what the storytellers are trying to portray, the film unfortunately plays out at such a slow rate that this interesting and relevant story fails to entertain its audience.

Instead of doing this Kill the Messenger becomes much more like a documentary, informing those watching of the facts rather than keeping them at the edge of their seats.

Seeing as it is telling the story of this real life incident the film was not at liberty to embellish the truth so as to make it more appealing and that is fair.

However by selling itself as a thriller rather than a drama/biopic, it never lives up to expectations. By never truly deciding what it is trying to be as well as taking itself too seriously the film is neither an impressive documentary, a pulse-pounding thriller nor an effective and engaging drama. On all levels it simply sails through earning itself just enough points to be passible but not enough to be impressive.

The film’s identity crisis does slow it down but not enough to call it a bad movie. With a solid performance from Renner and an interesting backstory and premise, Kill the Messenger is still enjoyable and incredibly interesting.

In recent years horror movies have followed a consistently tedious path. Abandoning originality for the all too familiar ‘jump scares’ seems to be the most effective way to earn a few million in the box office.

While one can’t flaw the logic, one must flaw the delivery. With generic horrors emerging from cinemas like weeds in a garden we have grown accustom to predictable plots, boring characters and less than inspired frights.

So when a film like It Follows arrives knocking at your door late at night in the midst of a storm, you will have to let it in…

Set in the American suburbs, It Follows depicts a teenager’s terror after unwittingly adopting a rare evil following a sexual encounter. It doesn’t stab; it doesn’t jump out from behind corners; as simple as the title suggests it just follows.

Although it doesn’t sound overly inspired and, instead, like the worst STD ever, It Follows is nothing more than a masterpiece. First-time writer/director David Robert Mitchell has done wonders depicting an unsettling fear within us all; the fear that someone is watching and someone is following.

Mitchell succeeds in scaring the audience close to home and does so in the most unique of fashions. Utilising a particularly good eye for imagery, the camera work itself is flawless.

Where it is, perhaps, most immersive for the audience is when the camera pans around its characters, depicting an unsettling idea that YOU are in fact the supernatural stalker itself.

his actions. It helps that we’re eased into the lead’s world. Appearing at first as a sweetnatured odd-ball, then a man talking to animals then a killer, our sense of who Jerry is shifted gradually.

What begins as an off-kilter comedy about a man talking to his pets gradually reveals itself to be a sincere examination of the mind of a serial killer. And it’s funny.

The music adds to the film’s credit, keeping in tune with the tone of the film while never being too intrusive in frightening scenes. Borrowing heavily from the soundtracks of films such as Drive and last year’s The Guest, while adding a touch of John Carpenter’s Halloween theme, the DJ Disasterpiece does well to create an impressively creepy and unavoidably lingering sound that in its own right follows the storyline expertly.

What is so enjoyable about this film is that it has done something outside of the norm, defying what is expected from its genre. There exists a mentality among modern moviegoers that any movie that tries to be different is pretentious.

However, this movie couldn’t be further from it. It has simply gone back to horror’s roots, creating a certain unease within the theatre where a more modern need for these ‘jump scares’ dominates.

However, this alone shouldn’t be enough to like it. Adding even more to its appeal is some impressive acting from Maika Monroe and the rest of the cast.

Intertwined with the script they give an appropriate and impressive display as the slightly unhinged teens living and dying in boring suburban life as it becomes thrown a sunder after the arrival of this evil.

Creating genuine tension from the offset, the film builds and builds in quality and never stops entertaining. Should you allow it, this film will deliver to you a wonderful and terrifying experience. If you need to see one film this month, let it be It Follows.

March 30 2015

ENTERTAINMENT 23

Can the BBC afford to lose Jeremy Clarkson?

By Néil Rogers Following an altercation that occurred a few weeks ago with Irish producer Oisín Tymon, Jeremy Clarkson has recently been ‘sacked’ from world famous TV show Top Gear, while the BBC face the bigger problem; can they afford to lose him?

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred following a long day of shooting for the popular BBC show.

Returning home to their hotel after a prolonged drinking session in the local pub, Clarkson accompanied by co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May became furious after discovering there was no “hot food” waiting for them as they returned.

According to Sue Ward, a woman staying at the small Yorkshire hotel, after words were exchanged Clarkson allegedly punched Tymon in the face threatening that he would make sure he “would be losing his job” for what he had done.

Another source heard Clarkson continue to dub the producer as a “lazy Irish c***” and go on to insult the producer further. After the ‘fracas’ was reported to the media, the BBC acted immediately, suspending the controversial TV host pending further investigation into the matter.

On 25 March, the BBC director general Tony Hall released a statement that he admitted would “divide opinion” stating that the assault on Mr Tymon was an “unprovoked physical attack” that the BBC could not condone and that they would not be renewing Jeremy Clarkson’s contract.

Fans of the long running show waited in hope for weeks before hearing the final verdict, mainly because there was indeed hope there. Even before this confrontation arose the BBC have had their issues with Jeremy Clarkson and it is safe to say that the award-winning TV host has always been something of a gamble.

However in the BBC’s case the gamble has always had a considerable payoff.

With a waiting list of 18 years just to stand in the audience on the Top Gear show and with an estimated value of £42 million, the BBC will incur a serious loss as a result of their actions, a loss the public weren’t sure they were willing to make. However could they allow corporate profit get in the way of corporate ethics?

Unfortunately this is only one of a few problems facing the BBC in recent years. Following the Jimmy Saville rape charges, the BBC were accused of being complicit by virtue of their failing to act upon allegations submitted throughout the years. As such the company has been considered a body that allows serious

matters of public interest to fall on deaf ears, in order to preserve their ratings.

With this in mind they could not have faced this important decision halfheartedly and had to seriously consider whether to fire the man for his actions or to allow him another lease of life and continue to be perceived to be a company that condones these incidents.

Over the past few weeks, the situation very much reached boiling point, with increasing pressure being put on the BBC from all directions. Since the news broke on Clarkson’s suspension, the channel BBC 2 lost their usual 5 million viewers for Top Gear and instead managed to draw in 1.3 million viewers for the documentary Red Arrows: Inside the Bubble, despite being narrated by the Oscar-winning Eddie Redmayne.

While they haven’t commented directly as of yet, the co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond have been hinting towards the show ending altogether via their Twitter accounts, with May in particular changing his Twitter job description to ‘Ex-Host of Top Gear’ following the announcement of Clarkson’s departure.

All this accompanied with Sky and ITV’s inevitable attempts to reach out to Jeremy Clarkson themselves, the BBC now need to evaluate their decision and do a substantial amount of damage ­control.

Another source heard Clarkson continue to dub the producer as a “lazy Irish c***” and go on to insult the producer further. After the ‘fracas’ was reported to the media, the BBC acted immediately, suspending the controversial TV host pending further investigation into the matter.

Although what the future holds for Top Gear and the BBC is unclear, we can be sure that Jeremy Clarkson is not in it. Perhaps there will be a day where Clarkson will once more be a part of the British Broadcasting Corporation but not today.

While definitely dividing opinion on the matter the BBC have made their decision and must stick to it, whether they can live without him is another matter.

GMIT_SIN_halfpage_portrait_5382_V3_CC_ARTWORK_OL.indd 1

05/02/2015 10:34

24 MUSIC A journey to trance

By Valeri Tarassov Whether it is our university or any other college in Ireland, it seems that the culture of US college life is pretty strong here.

The bands that are playing mostly consist of some weird dudes in jeans who like to play guitars and think that a beard is a must; otherwise the band is not complete.

In my personal opinion the singing of these bands can only be described as whining. So how about mixing it up a little bit?

I come from a country where electronic music is very popular, so I would like to suggest a few tracks that can cause different feelings.

There is a track for every occasion, whether you want to feel powerful, sad and need to be cheered up or you’re just looking to dance without having to listen to deep thoughts of the singer, especially if you have some of your own.

All you need now is a computer, headphones or speakers and YouTube.

1.

IF YOU WANT TO FEEL POWERFUL and get an energy boost I would recommend Alexandre Bergheau, ‘Symptom’. We all have our career goals; for example I want to be a lawyer and this track makes me feel like I can take on the entire Supreme Court.

2.

IF YOU ARE IN A REBELLIOUS MOOD R3hab & Nervo & Ummet Ozcan, ‘Revolution (Vocal Mix)’ this will make you realise that you should never give up and keep on trying.

3.

STILL, IF YOU ARE IN A MOOD for a dude with a beard who likes to sing about hard life and dreams, trance has that too, a hard style vocal mix Brennan Heart & Jonathan Mendelsohn, ‘Follow the Light’.

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

4.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST need to scream; say hello to a track from the album of Markus Schulz (Scream) Markus Schulz & Ferry Corsten, ‘Loops & Tigs’.

8.

5.

SOMETIMES WE WANT TO CRY; not me of course but a lot of people do.

For this occasion I recommend Daniel Kandi pres. Timmus, ‘Symphonica’. Granted it starts off a bit slow but when you hit three minutes, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

9.

6.

10.

IF YOU ARE IN A MOOD TO DANCE, then here comes MaRlo, ‘Visions (Original mix)’.

7.

SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT TRANCE is not real music, the thought being that classical music is, I say you can mix those and time to bring out the kings, Armin Van Buuren, ‘Intense’.

IF YOU NEED SOME PEACE TO concentrate or to forget about your problems: ATB feat. Sean Ryan ‘When it ends it starts again’.

NOW HOW CAN WE FORGET HIM? The king of trance. He brought us many wonderful tracks like Tiesto, ‘Adaggio for Strings’ but from his 2014 album (A Town Called Paradise) I recommend Tiesto, ‘Echoes (feat. Andreas Moe)’.

AND TO FINISH OFF OUR LIST I would like to include two tracks; one from 2001 and the other from 1995 (I was in second grade). So 2001: Gigi D'Agostino, ‘L'Amour toujours’ and 1995: Robert Miles, ‘Children (Dream Version)’.

These tracks are old but they still kick ass.

Enjoy.

The Sandy Rats release debut EP

By Austin Maloney The Sandy Rats are a Galway-based band made up of Dylan Cassidy (rhythm guitar/ vocals), John MacNamara (bass/vocals), Shane Rushe (lead guitar) and Peter Conneely (drums).

They include the Stone Roses and The Libertines amongst their influences and have been putting in the hours gigging around the city, playing Monroe’s Live and the Citóg music night at the Roisin Dubh.

And the Roisin Dubh is a fitting venue for the band to play, as that is where they met. Guitarist Shane explains; “Myself, Dylan and John met in the Roisin Dubh when we all used to play separately at the weekly open mic upstairs every Sunday.

“We got to know each other as individual artists and often played together but never as an official band. We decided to start a semi - original act. We had a set

consisting of ninety percent cover songs with our first drummer Brion, but we hated playing covers. So we stopped and decided to focus on our original material as we were all writing our own music individually and wanted to combine our different styles and genres.

“Now that we have our EP released, we want everyone to hear it! We plan to work very hard this summer and play anywhere people will have us, play as many festivals as possible and to keep progressing as a band."

“We always had more interest in creating music and were fascinated by the music we made when we combined our various styles and ideas. We got together over the space of a few months and jammed with the material we had until we came out with a set we were happy with.”

The decision to switch to original material was clearly a good one, and now they’re releasing their debut self-titled EP. The EP is made up of four tracks. ‘Dirty Pete’ rolls forward on waves of rattling scuzz, before descending into a cauldron of noise and squall.

‘Good Enough For You’ starts off in deep south country territory before taking a faint reggae turn, lolloping its way along across its three minutes and thirty four second duration.

‘FE’ begins with an ominous rumbling bass line, before guitars kick in to give the song a real sense of energy and forward momentum.

‘Send You On Your Way’ is a shuffling bundle of fretwork and riffs. Essentially, it’s rock and roll played with speed and style, and if that’s your bag you’ll find plenty to like here.

The band have big plans for the future, according to Shane; “Now that we have our EP released, we want everyone to hear it!

We plan to work very hard this summer and play anywhere people will have us, play as many festivals as possible and to keep progressing as a band.

“Everyone knows it's a very tough industry to break into and it's very early days for The Sandy Rats, but we want to keep writing, keep improving our performances and upping our game. We haven't played too many gigs outside Galway and it would be an ambition of ours to tour the country and check out the scene in different places.”

For music fans in Galway and around the country, The Sandy Rats are certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Grimes hints at forthcoming album with two new songs

By Austin Maloney It’s been a curious year for fans of Canadian musician Claire Boucher, better known as Grimes. In terms of musical output, she has been quiet since the release of her highly successful 2012 album Visions, leaving her fans hungry for new material.

And then a new track, ‘Go’, arrived in 2014.

‘Go’ was an odd beast. Boucher claimed that it was originally written for, and offered to Rihanna, only for the Barbadian singer to turn the track down.

Grimes then released it herself, and it sounded a million miles away from anything she had ever put out before. It was brash, loud and had a thumping EDM - style drop jammed in behind the chorus. And it was divisive - which in this case is music journalist code for ‘a lot of people really, really hated it’.

And then the confusion hit, as Boucher announced that ‘Go’ was never intended for any upcoming Grimes album and she had only released it because she was bored of waiting to finish an album.

She then declared that she had scrapped an album’s worth of material and was starting again because “it sucked”. So the future was a little uncertain. And then she put out a new track, ‘REALiTi’, and an accompanying video.

‘REALiTi’ is really, really good. It sounds an awful lot like Visions, ethereal and cloudy, but with more of a conventional dance groove than most of the tracks on that album. It kind of harks back to her early ‘Vanessa’ single.

However, Boucher said that ‘REALiTi’ was simply an off - cut from the scrapped album, instead of a proper single. In a message to her fans, she wrote; “Since this is no longer gonna be on the album, I’m releasing it as a

special thank you to everyone in Singapore, KL, Manila, Jakarta, HK, Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, Seoul, Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo who came out to the shows!

‘REALiTi’ is really, really good. It sounds an awful lot like Visions, ethereal and cloudy, but with more of a conventional dance groove than most of the tracks on that album. It kind of harks back to her early ‘Vanessa’ single.

“It was an honor to play with a bunch of amazing bands and travel to places I would never otherwise be able to go”.

Then it was time for another new track, called ‘Entropy’. This was a collaboration with Jack Antonoff of Bleachers (also a member of New Yorker band Fun, who’s song ‘We Are Young’ was irritatingly inescapable a few years back) and a contribution to the soundtrack of Lena Dunham’s HBO show Girls. ‘Entropy’ was a pleasant enough song, but it felt a bit slight, and didn’t get anywhere close to ‘REALiTi’ in terms of quality.

So, despite the recent flurry of activity, we’re essentially no closer to knowing what Grimes’ next album will be like. It is apparently on the horizon, but as of yet there is still no information available about its title, track - listing or release date.

Whenever it arrives, ‘REALiTi’ tells us that Claire Boucher still has the talent to make it count when she wants to.

LITERATURE 25

March 30 2015

Listing list-writing as literature

By Esther waters This year's winner of the AWC Writing Competition is Esther Waters, a final year student of Creative Writing, English and Legal Science.

The second prize was awarded to Erinn Geraghty, a first year student of Arts; her essay on 'Smith is the Hero of the Matrix' can be read on the AWC website.

Many thanks to everyone who took part in the competition.

Shopping lists, with items ranging from baking soda to hairspray, reminders to meet people for lunch and to put a white wash on, the contact list on one’s mobile phone– all of these are part of the universal process of list-making. People write lists in order to remember or in order to fool proof their memory against forgetfulness, but why should a simple reminder list be considered literature?

Ezra Pound listed in his essay A Few Don’ts by an Imagiste (1911) 23 tips for

aspiring poets which included, “Use no superfluous word, no adjective, which does not reveal something” (p. 201). Lists are a celebration of the precise use of language; no words are wasted and adjectives are placed firmly to one side in favour of unambiguous and functional expression.

One can argue that people have the necessary clarity of language when writing lists that many writers strive for when writing in prose or in verse as list writers write of the ‘thing’ and not the idea of the ‘thing’. As a result they are using language unselfconsciously and with unusual precision.

A common issue when writing is self-censorship due to apprehension of what people will think upon reading the piece. However, as lists are personal reminders to oneself and not subject to the scrutiny of others, this allows people to be frank and forthright in their writing of them.

Joan Didion included her packing list in The White Album (1979), which lists everyday items such as stockings and

toothpaste alongside more specific items such as bourbon and “aspirin, prescription and Tampax” (p. 35).

Didion has always been generous with the details of her life, publishing many books of autobiographical writing, but the simple listing of “face cream, powder, baby oil” (p.

35) strikes the reader as being particularly intimate.

A packing list is a statement of habit; when Didion writes of face cream the reader is aware that they are witnessing her daily rituals that surround the listing of face cream. The reader can imagine Didion slowly dabbing it on in a hotel bathroom, tired and jet-lagged.

Equally, the reader might imagine Didion slapping it on in the morning, refreshed and ready for work. It demystifies the author and, one can argue, that literature is a means of reconciling people with the process of being human: making the strange less strange.

Lists are truthful. They are genuine reflections on the reality of a person’s life, mixing quiet aspirations with monotonous chores

REVIEW: Democracy Inc.

By Eoin Molloy As far as general consumption is concerned, Democracy Incorporated: Managed Democracy and the Spectre of Inverted Totalitarianism is a non-runner. It’s not likely to be converted into a blockbuster superhero movie anytime soon starring Michael Fassbender, so it is of little interest to the mainstream audience.

The author, Sheldon Wolin, is a worldrenowned political theorist who was the Professor of Politics, Emeritus, at Princeton University between 1973 and 1987.

Democracy Incorporated is an extremely important book that should be on every history and political theory course. It

describes the slow collapse of political participation in the United States with bone-chilling lucidity.

In the modern age, it’s almost a cliché to say that democracy is on its last legs in America. In recent times, we have all seen the similarities between the US and other totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. Those being: censorship, surveillance and unquestioned patriotism.

“Inverted totalitarianism” is the phrase coined by Wolin to define the current state of the US. Essentially, Wolin is describing how totalitarianism takes a new, slightly-altered form in each country it springs up in.

In Nazi Germany, political activism and engagement was mandatory (take the Nurem-

berg rallies for example). In the US, political apathy is encouraged. This is done through consumerism, the removal of routes of access to education and disenfranchisement.

In the days of Hitler’s Reich, the full control of the economy was handed over to the government. In the modern age, the economy has control of the government. Corporatocracy (whereby multinational corporations dictate government policy through lobbying and other indirect means) is presented as being the natural order.

This unsettling diagnosis of US democracy’s ills may not be as entertaining as Iron Man 5, or Captain America 38, but it is far more important. Democracy Inc. is available on Kindle and on Amazon.

Back to Poetry

By Ryan Mangan If asked to revisit past experiences with Leaving Cert poetry, it's unlikely that a surge of enthusiasm would rush to greet the offer.

In fact, the majority of responses would probably be as reluctant as the sun was to shine through the works of Kinsella, as opposed as Mahon is to leaving us with words we'd have the slightest chance of understanding and as doleful as each hum and drone within 'The Lake Isle of Innisfree'.

But five young performance poets are determined to subvert this view in an attempt to show us that poetry can be something we want to listen to during library sessions on YouTube, write to deflate our rages and perform to an upbeat crowd for the sheer thrill and empowerment it wields.

Brave New Voices, an international youth performance poetry festival, conceived in the States a decade ago carries a slogan – identity. power. voice. imagination. – that has transformed the

Team Ireland prepare to jet off to Atlanta. minds of so many, that it has since been made into a popular HBO TV show across the Atlantic.

This summer, an Irish team will be taking part in the festival for the first time in history.

Out of 6,000 poetry submissions to Stephen Murray's (organiser) online blog, all poets have been whittled down to just five.

Team Ireland is now in the process of writing, rehearsing and performing in preparation for

their trip to the festival in Atlanta this July.

Among the five is Ryan Mangan, a first year Undenominated Science student here in NUI Galway who likes juggling facts with fiction.

Irish media has already latched onto the team and some national performances appear to already be on the horizon for Team Ireland - so keep all eyes and ears peeled. For now, see facebook.com/teamireland

that deftly plot out the geography of a person’s day– they function as honest testaments to the life of the list writer. There is, after all, an undeniable poetry to glancing at a person’s to-do list and noticing they have included “call home”.

New book released

by NUI Galwaybased entrepreneur

By Siobhán Mulvey Social Media Under Investigation: Law Enforcement and the Social Web is a new book published by Joanne Sweeney-Burke.

Sweeney-Burke, who is based in NUI Galway’s Business Innovation Centre, analyses social media policing in her latest book.

The book examines An Garda Síochána’s relationship with social media in comparison with social media policing internationally.

Joanne Sweeney-Burke is a successful entrepreneur who hails from NUI Galway.

She has founded businesses such as Media Box, and the Digital Training Institute.

Sweeney-Burke also featured on TV3’s the Apprentice in 2011.

She established LEO, an online training school aimed at police forces.

Last year, Sweeney-Burke co-authored with her daughter Sophie to create an eLearning course called Young Minds Online.

Young Minds Online teaches young people how to protect themselves online.

The author of Social Media Under Investigation previously achieved a Masters in Journalism at NUI Galway, among her 10 academic and professional qualifications.

Sweeney-Burke thanks NUI Galway and its Ignite Technology Transfer Office for their support throughout her career.

The Ignite Technology Transfer Office would also like to congratulate Joanne Sweeney-Burke on the publication of her new book.

This April, Joanne Sweeney-Burke will speak at the SMILE conference in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Sweeney-Burke has been invited to speak on the issues covered in her latest book, as well as researching the situation in the United States.

26 LITERATURE

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

The folly of self-publishing

By Dean Buckley I recently had the extreme displeasure of reading a self-published novella, allegedly in the style of Bret Easton Ellis and John McGahern, in order to write a review of it for this very fine publication.

There are so many things in that brief description of the book that should have been warning bells, but even they could not alert me to the horror that was about to literally unfold in front of my eyes.

Characters to bland as to be indistinguishable. No paragraph indentations. A plot that was somehow both incoherent and mind-numbingly straightforward.

Basic errors of spelling, grammar, punctuation. Lazy dialogue, weak humour, and variously misogynistic, racist, homophobic and classist.

Unoriginal, unsubtle, but, worst of all, unenjoyable.

In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to include the review in this week’s literature section. I didn’t want to look like a bully by publishing a 3200-word evisceration of a terrible novel that no one was ever

going to read anyway. And I certainly had no intention of watering down the review.

But I wanted some positive to come out of reading that book, apart from the extra heat in my mother’s living room when I threw it in the stove.

So I want to talk about my concerns with self-publishing, many of which were crystallised in recent conversation with friends of mine regarding the aforementioned book, whose name I shall not reveal.

The allure of going down the self-publishing route is self-evident. The process of getting a book published is difficult and often unfair. Self-publishing is a way to bypass that process, and the often-broken system that implements it.

And I’m not saying that self-publishing is never the right choice to make, let alone saying it’s never a valid one. But you need to really ask yourself, and I mean seriously interrogate the blackest parts of your mind, whether you can trust yourself to self-publish.

Because there are plenty of reasons not to trust yourself. Sadly, some of those

reasons also make you unlikely to ask yourself whether you’re trustworthy in the first place.

Such reasons include a lack of selfawareness, an uncritical approach to your own thoughts, ideas and work, a deficit of personal introspection, both moral and artistic, and any of the many reasons you might be so unfamiliar with potential readers that you want to publish serious literary explorations of dinosaur erotica.

You see, the conclusion I came to recently, while bemoaning to a friend of my upcoming task of reading the alleged book, is that the existence of quality control on the publication of literature has never been a problem.

There have been two problems, as best I can tell.

The first is institutional barriers to passage through that system that are applied unevenly between white people,

non-black people of colour and black people, and between men and women, and between the rich and the poor, the straight and the queer, the cis and the trans.

Obviously, self-publication is a direct redress of that unfairness, and I’ve more sympathy for self-publishers who use it that way, though I’d point them to such things as black publication houses or queer art collectives as preferable avenues.

The second problem has been the concentration of certain tastes in the literary elite, and their eschewal of works that don’t fit their mould.

And that is definitely a problem. But I’d rather convince them they’re wrong through the quality of my work than skip past an editorial process that forces me to always do my best, or fail.

That may be difficult, but the rewards are greater.

How literature made me

By Tomás M. Creamer If I was to talk about what made me the person that I am today, I would have quite a long list – such as having the luck to been born to a stable family, and to go to pretty good primary and secondary schools. However, one of the other most formative factors in how I developed my own world-view that I have, to this day, was literature.

Now, I admit that I am not the biggest literature buff there ever was – I had that learnt from secondary school and university – but nonetheless, nearly before I learnt to read, I was a bookworm.

This was, of course, partially because my parents read a lot to me when I was young – but once I was in primary school, and I learnt how to read confidently, alone, I was flying it.

In primary school, most kids would go outside and play football or something.

Not me – I generally stayed in, picked out a book from the shelves in the room, and read away.

A lot of those books were relatively childish “fact” books, as well as children’s books – well, it was a primary school, so that was what you would have had. I also pestered my parents to get me books as well – and as a result, I have quite a number of them back at home.

Besides arguably depriving me of some social skills that I could have picked up on the playground, what did all this reading do for me, you asked?

Well, as simplistic as a lot of the books where, I still learned quite a lot of basic knowledge about the world – and a lot of the books were history books of some kind.

I read about how, leading up to the modern era, various reform movements

succeeded in limiting the power and privileges of often aristocratic elites, in favour of “ordinary people” – and cited examples included the French Revolution and, as surprising as this may be to some, the Russian Revolution.

Obviously, the downside to those rebellions were not really discussed, but this was one of the influences that lead to me adopting what would be probably considered to be left-wing political views of the world economy, where the powerful corporations should be regulated, so that they don’t exploit ordinary people.

In terms of literature, another thing that did lead to me developing such a world-wide was, as quaint as this may seem, Catholicism, as it was taught to me when I was growing up. Yes, I know I’m getting into religion here, but it’s based off bible literature, so it still counts – even though I’m far from any “Holy Joe”.

From what I could tell, Jesus talked a lot about giving to those who had less than yourself, and about how rich people would find it as difficult to get into heaven as a camel would through the eye of a needle.

Now, scoff at that if you will, but the message I got from that was that society has a social responsibility to the poorer sections of society – which let me a bit mystified as to why American fundamentalists seem to adopt right-wing economic views that exploit the poor, and rig the game in favour of the wealthy in society, which seems contradictory to me. But I’m getting side-tracked here.

In conclusion, literature was pretty fundamental to how I perceive the world, and what I myself would conceive as a “better world” that all of humanity could share.

NUI Galway Sports Awards

2014 -2015

Best New Comer Triathlon Club Karate Club Individual Award Caomhan Lyons

Club Captains Award (Joint) Surf Club - Aisling Byrne Kayak Club - Erin Fingleton Mountaineering Club - Cathal Breathnach

Camogie Club Individual Award Ailish O’Reilly

Individual Winners

Judo Club Individual Award Darren Friel

Pool & Snooker Individual Award Oisin O Domhnaill

Hurling Club Individual Award John Hanbury

Alumni Leadership Award Muay Thai Club

Team Award Kayak Polo Team

Most Improved Club Award Lacrosse Club Recreational Participation Award Men’s Soccer Club Gustavo Ramalho, Pedro Martins, Yuri Campos

om Tuohy Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rowing The Men’s U23 four The Men’s U23 four

Team Award Ladies Hockey Team

Acknowledgments We would like to thank all of the coaches, Committee members and support staff who make sport at the University possible. Many of these are students who, from their own busy schedules are finding extra time and energy to contribute so that their fellow students can enjoy and participate in sport here in NUI Galway.

Special Achievement Award Archery Club

Team Award Swimming Team

Team Winners

We would especially like to welcome Pat Morgan, Vice President for the Student Experience who will present the awards. Finally a special thank you to the Director of Student Services, John Hannon, to Ellen Kelly, Eithne O’Connell and Siobhan Nolan, and to Clubs Captains Damian Griffin, Martin Butler, Martin Cassidy and Hannan Iqbal, who have worked incredibly hard not only on this event but throughout the year for student support.

Team Award Men and Women’s Rugby Team

Team Award Men’s Judo Team

We would also like to thank Dr Fionnghuala Lysaght and all of the staff in the Student Health Unit, the staff of the Kingfisher Club, Dangan, and the Buildings Office who worked so hard to support sport. Also thanks to our Development Officers, Kevin Cassidy – Soccer and Community Engagement, Mike Murray - Basketball, Dave Mannion – Rowing, Jenny Cunningham – Rowing, Michael O’Connor – GAA.

Yours in Sport, Kathy Hynes - Acting Head of Sport

28 SPORT

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

Set pieces a Pat Lam steering problem for Galway Connacht to lofty new heights

By Michael Farrell

It’s been a tough start to life in the top division for Tommy Dunne’s men with three losses, against Derry City, Bohemians and Cork City, and a solitary win over Drogheda so far.

After the loss to Derry City, an away game against Bohemians was not an easy follow up. The North Dublin side have had an excellent start to the season with three wins from four games, but that will not be of any consolation to the Galway players or management.

As in the previous games against Derry City and Finn Harps, set pieces proved to be a major problem for the Galway defence. It took Anto Murphy only five minutes to open the scoring after a cross from a free kick. Murphy’s header was well placed, but he simply should not have been allowed to have a header at the front post, especially one under such little pressure.

After controlling much of the possession in the second half, Galway were again undone by poor defending from a set piece. Murphy got his second goal in the 82nd minute, when he escaped Paul Sinnott’s marking and volleyed the corner kick to the net. Sinnott will have been disappointed with allowing Murphy to score, but in truth the Galway players as a whole did not attack the ball well enough and were far too passive in defence.

The tough away loss in Dublin will only have drilled home the reality of life in the top division. Games at home against other probable mid-table sides, such as the visit of Drogheda United on March 20, are the games that will prove vital to survival. Midfielder David O’Leary echoed this before the game, saying: “We need to make Deacy Park a fortress.”

Enda Curran must have taken O’Leary’s advice on board as he opened the scoring with a fantastic solo goal after just three minutes. A long header from the back bounced favourably for Curran who flicked the ball over an oncoming defender’s head, before confusing the Drogheda defence by quickly moving the ball to his left foot and finding the bottom right-hand corner of the goal with a finesse shot.

Soon after, disaster struck for the Maroon men. Experienced defender Sam Oji was sent off for tripping Drog’s striker Tiarnan Mulvenna after leaving his header back to keeper Connor Gleeson slightly short. While in real time it may have been difficult for the referee to make the correct decision, replays suggest that sending

Oji off was a very harsh decision when he made minimal contact with Mulvenna, who had no chance of getting to the ball.

With only 25 minutes played in the match, Galway were left with a tough task to hold onto their lead. At times they rode their luck, but the Galway defence held firm. Once the 70 minute mark came, so too did Drogheda’s inevitable aerial bombardment and some of their best chances.

Jason Marks long range shot missing the goal by inches amongst others. Drogs did have chances from set pieces, but the Galway defence will have been pleased that they did not allow any easy opportunities to Drogheda, such as they did to Bohs in their previous game.

Tommy Dunne will have been pleased with the win and the defensive effort and would have been hoping to build on that in the game against Cork City at Turners Cross on 24 March.

Dunne’s return to his old stomping ground also came with a new addition to the squad. American Kevin Garcia, who signed days before the game, started at left back due to the lengthy absentee list that saw six first team players unavailable.

Galway started with five in midfield and Jake Keegan upfront on his own. This allowed Galway to remain compact and keep possession of the ball when it came their way, but did not produce much attacking threat.

After 33 minutes, Galway’s set piece woes came to the fore again. Connor Gleeson in the Galway goals could not clear a Billy Dennehy corner and punched the ball to Karl Sheppard, who reacted quickest and found the net.

Cork remained the more potent attacking side, especially when Galway midfielder Ryan Connolly had to leave the field with an injury before half time, and their dominance resulted in yet another set piece goal. Dennehy again delivered the corner into the box, but this time Alan Bennett powered home a header from close range. Galway did have some chances in the final twenty minutes of the game, but it was a case of too little, too late.

Four games into the league season Galway have scored two goals and conceded six. The four goals from set pieces could have been avoided, not to mention the basic mistakes in defence that led to Derry City’s first goal in the season opener.

It does take time to integrate new signings in the team, but the Galway United management will firstly need to improve the team’s defence if they are to stay in the top flight.

By Ross Cannon While attentions have been firmly fixed on Ireland and the Six Nations for the past couple of months, Connacht have been enjoying their most successful Celtic League/Pro 12 campaign to date.

DARK TIMES

If you look back just six seasons to the 08/09 season, Connacht Rugby, under the stewardship of Michael Bradley, cut a desolate and lonely figure at the bottom of the Magners sponsored League. They would garner just 20 points from 18 games and finish the season with an aggregate point’s difference of -236. Connacht’s form was as consistent as the plethora of different sponsor names the Pro 12 has seen over the years.

As Connacht languished in the nether regions of domestic obscurity, their provincial counterparts revelled in an era of unprecedented European success. The season prior to 08/09 saw Munster claim their second ever Heineken Cup trophy, while Leinster would go on to clinch three European titles, one of which, was in an all-Irish affair against Ulster in 2012.

NEW ERA

Connacht would depart company with head coach Michael Bradley after the province once again finished season dead last in 09/10, which would lead to the appointment of former Connacht and Irish out-half Eric Elwood.

Elwood ushered in a new era for Connacht, putting a clear emphasis on the nurturing and blooding of young local talent, such as Eoin Griffin and Eoin McKeon.

With the laying of solid foundations and positive movement in the league table, Elwood would lead the club into its first foray in the Heineken Cup, all be it by-way of Leinster’s success in the same tournament. It was a period which saw the club reach new levels of popularity from 2011 right through to 2013, as attendances and season ticket sales grew year-on-year.

Elwood would eventually leave his coaching role at Connacht in 2013 and with it, leave as an even greater local hero and legend than when he had begun, as he left an indelible mark, on and off the field, for Connacht Rugby.

With their new found popularity and their slow crawl from basement brawlers to midtable mediocrity, came with it yet another

new coach in the form of New Zealander Pat Lam. While Lam’s first season in charge in the 2013/14 season, ended with a disappointing league finish, third from bottom, there were signs for genuine optimism. Connacht, away from home at the Stade Ernest-Wallon stadium, produced one of the greatest shocks in the history of the Heineken Cup, by beating Toulouse 16-14.

Despite a patchy opening season, bereft of form, Lam, a former Samoan international, was not long endearing himself to the locals. Embracing the ethos of Connacht Rugby and speaking in Irish in some of his post-match interviews, he soon became a firm fans favourite.

Lam has stayed true to Connacht’s roots, even echoing the clubs mantra, but he has also stamped his own, ball-in-hand, style of play on the province. Seeing Connacht running from deep, even from their own try-line at times, is not an uncommon sight.

Lam has banded together an eclectic mix of youthful superstars in the form of Kieran Marmion and Robbie Henshaw and has married them with Connacht veterans, John Muldoon and Michael Swift, who epitomise everything Connacht stand for.

The addition of All Black centurion, Mils Muliaina, as a player/mentor has proved to be a hit with the supporters and also adds to the growing number of Southern Hemisphere players playing in the green of Connacht.

SIXTH PLACE

While nothing short of a sixth place finish will do for Connacht’s players and its coaching staff, it is important to recognise where this club has come from and its ever increasing stature in Irish rugby.

From Connacht’s days labelled as a ‘Development team’, to its almost certain extinction in 2003, right through to the modern day crowds of 7,000 plus, the organisations development is a testament to the character of Connacht Rugby their ability to navigate their way through turbulent times.

Whether Pat Lam and his men can clinch sixth place and with it a place in Europe for the first time off their own steam remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. That is, that this has already been the clubs most successful season to date, having already amassed more points than in any other season since the inception of the Celtic League/ Pro 12 league format.

SPORT 29

March 30 2015

Ireland becoming a formidable team under Schmidt

By Sorcha O'Connor So Schmidt and his men have been crowned RBS Six Nations Champions for the second year in a row. Yet despite the current strength of our international squad, the provinces are not exactly excelling themselves of late.

Will the success of Leinster and Munster in the Heineken cup ever be seen again in the European Champions cup? It would seem unlikely, at least for the foreseeable future, when the backing of millionaires is allowing French and British clubs to import some of the best players from around the world (our own kicking extraordinaire Johnny Sexton amongst them, although he is set to return to Leinster next season).

The international squad are certainly stronger than the other European nations as of late and rank third overall in the world after an impressive Guinness series. So we have to ask that even if the clubs success is less than in the past do we have a new Ireland on our hands? An Irish side that finally can pull together and get the job done? Ultimately, is this a side that surpasses its predecessors?

To that, I would for now have to give a yes and a no. A yes and a no? What a cop out – but something that will make sense when I explain further.

It was not so long ago that a match without Brian O’Driscoll would send shivers down the back of the nation’s spine. How could we have coped without the great, the almighty BOD? However, coped is what the side has done and the future is certainly looking bright for Irish rugby.

There is a host of young, fresh players eager to step up to the plate and make their mark on the international scene, stepping out of the shadows cast by stalwarts such as O’Gara and O’Driscoll. The Irish rugby scene has an abundance of players who are versatile and still very young.

Sexton has just about shook off the shackles of O’Gara’s legacy (a cynic or die-hard Munster fan may suggest because of the tutorage given to him by O’Gara himself) but under him again, there is others competing for the out-half crown.

Ian Madigan is currently Schmidt’s go to man for substituting Sexton. He is one of the more versatile players in the squad and yet his game controlling skills leave a lot to be desired. Ian Keatley is also good but it is youngsters such as Ross Byrne and JJ Hanrahan that have serious potential to become stars. The legend that is O’Gara will always live on but the new emerging players are certainly full of promise.

Sexton is also half of one of the best out-half/ fly-half combinations in rugby today. Munster’s Conor Murray is still only 25 and the two could be deemed spectacular when they get it right.

With each match it looks as though these two are only progressing further and while things like Peter Stringer’s pass to O’Gara for the drop goal to clinch the Grand Slam will forever be etched in our memories, it’s clear that Sexton and Murray are something special.

There is a worry though that perhaps newer players will not have the longevity of those of the past. The game has become

ferocious in its physicality and concussion and ACL injuries are of major concern for all involved. We recently saw Sean O’Brien suffer an injury in the warm up after some would say being rushed back to play with only fifty minutes under his belt. Ulster’s Luke Marshall also suffered blows to the head last season and Sexton and Murray have also had similar experiences.

I also fear that there is some positions in the squad that will be hard to fill as the ‘old crop’ bows out; Paul O’Connell will be a massive loss when he leaves. Iain Henderson isn’t too shabby but the presence of O’Connell will be hard to match. Peter O’Mahony has taken over the reins well as captain at Munster though so perhaps being positive is the best thing to do – the side has survived the loss of BOD and ROG, they’ll survive the retirement of Paulie too.

It is also fantastic to see the Ireland has come to a level on the international rugby scene that an injury of a key player doesn’t shake the whole squad. ‘I knew Ireland were good but I didn’t think they were that good!’ said O’Gara on 2fm’s Game On show after the win against England.

And he is right; Ireland are good and you could conclude that Schmidt has formed a continent of well-oiled players that gel well in a number of plays and positions. Schmidt is a clever coach and with the determination of players to do well and to avoid a tearing apart at the infamous Monday morning meetings held by Schmidt, this is one of the most impressive Irish sides to date.

Players come in and out of the starting 15 seamlessly and there is rarely any clunkyplay, not to mention that the quality of the bench during this year’s Six Nations was remarkable. Experienced players such as Eoin Reddan, who came on to speed up the game in the dying embers of the Welsh match and Seán Cronin were great substitutes, and newcomers Jordi Murphy and Martin Moore got stuck in with each of their appearances.

Schmidt even dropped Simon Zebo from the squad completely with the return of Luke Fitzgerald for the Scottish match. To be able to drop a player whose presence in the squad is considerably noticeable showed that this current side doesn’t turn into a bunch of headless chickens when regularly featured players are switched around or dropped.

Yet we can’t lose the run of ourselves. The Aviva is only just about becoming formidable to visitors; we still almost let England score a last minute try; closing out games is still a weakness – we could’ve beaten the All Blacks last year if the side had kept its head; and our hopes to secure the (admittedly allusive) Grand Slam title were dashed against Wales.

However, one thing’s for sure: this Irish squad is making all the right shapes for a great World Cup campaign. Let’s just hope it’s not another shambolic ’07 debacle – because I don’t think the country – or players- could deal with that kind of heartbreak again. It’s at the World Cup that we will really see has this Irish side bettered the ones that came before.

affair in most of our lifetimes. That match became the perfect storm of the English electricity in attack and the French’s absolute lunacy and wonderful inconsistency. It stands as a fitting testament to Stuart Lancaster, who stands alone among the head coaches as the shining light of the speed of rugby, that this should be the defining fixture.

He will, however, undoubtedly identify some difficulties that remain. To allow one of the worst French sides we’ve seen since the dawn of the professional era twenty years ago to run in five tries is poor to say the least.

With one eye on the upcoming World Cup in their home country, they will look to shore up their leaky, sometimes scrambling defence.

Wales trundled on with magnificent strength in the as yet unfinished golden era under the guidance of Warren Gatland.

They were, as ever, a juggernaut force to be reckoned with. Their victory over Ireland (refereed with the consistency of a French football team by our friend Wayne Barnes) was typically Welsh; bash it up the middle, hit the rucks hard and make the opposition pay for weakness. They played with a quintessentially Welsh passion and fire, but it was their predictability which, in the end, was their undoing.

No one can argue that they are a fantastically solid team, and boast some of the most physically imposing players on the planet,

but a well organised, committed defence will always prove the better against such a style.

Starve Jamie Roberts of possession and space, don’t give away stupid penalties for Leigh Halfpenny to knock away, and you have the measure of the dragons.

Scotland and Italy are, as ever, hardly worth mentioning. The Italians are in a perpetual state of clapping themselves on the back for recent improvements, but only one positive result against an abysmal Scotland does not make a campaign.

Scotland, for their part, are ever the tragic underdog. Tough scraps against the bigger nations always make for a lovely story, but the legendary Scottish giants of the eighties and nineties would hang their heads if such results befell them.

France epitomised madness; they were a joy. Their inconsistency continues to be in equal parts hilarious, joyous and captivating, and the day they get a coach who thinks common sense will be a heart-breaking one for world rugby. Long may their insanity continue.

So, we’re left at the end of a scintillating campaign on the brink of a mouth-watering prospect; the English-hosted World Cup. If the last couple months have been any indication of the European mentality, we’re in for a treat, and possibly the most famous Irish victory of all time.

Six Nations round-up

By Jack Leahy The Six Nations concluded on Saturday 21 March with arguably the most intense day of sporting action we’ve ever witnessed on this island. The nails of the nation were well and truly bitten to their roots, as England pushed France to the 80th minute and the 5-metre line before coming up just shy of a fantastical victory. For the second year running, the Championship lands in the hands of the Irish, after a thoroughly deserving campaign.

The utter insanity of last weekend played out in stark contrast to the calm, tactically precise weeks that preceded it. Between Ireland’s collected, calculated kicking game, England’s streaking flair in attack and Wales’ typical brute strength in midfield, the tournament was poised on a knife-edge entering the final round. Up until that point it had been a chess match of minute and precise motion.

Joe Schmidt deserves all the praise that has come his way for the revolution he has brought to Ireland’s international game.

Through Leinster, he had in previous years introduced an exciting, attacking brand of rugby to Europe, bringing the province unheralded success.

With Ireland, however, he recognised the need for a slower, but no less effective, approach. The men in green coolly analysed each opposition as they came, identified and

exposed their weaknesses, and won their matches with the relentless ticking of the scoreboard from the boot of Johnny Sexton.

It was a game that harkened back to an old style of largely defensive, 13-man rugby, which may not have played to our romantic love of the broken, running game more typical to the Pacific Islanders, but which made the Irish extremely tough to break down.

There is no reason now that Schmidt’s men cannot now go on and win the World Cup. That is not to say that it is easy, or expected, but Ireland are playing with a machine efficiency that gives them every right to claim the Web Ellis Trophy as any other nation on Earth.

England, by comparison, played with a style seen in recent years to be more common to their Celtic neighbours. Johnny May and Mike Brown brought a threat to their outfit which has not been seen for a generation, where before, under Martin Johnson, they played a brutally efficient style of crash and bash, 10-man rugby, they now bring a devastating speed and width to their attack through their back three, who enter the European scene as a joy to watch and a breath of fresh air.

It was a tribute to England’s campaign, which offered us the most aesthetically pleasing rugby, that they were, against France, involved in the most exciting and intense

30 SPORT

Sin Vol. 16 Issue 12

SEASON REVIEW: Premier League Managers

By Maurice Brosnan In what many have peculiarly labelled a quiet season in terms of the annual managerial roundabout, this season six clubs and their managers have gone their separate ways. It started when Tony Pulis said farewell to Crystal Palace at the end of the preseason who themselves dithered for three weeks before appointing Neil Warnock on 27 August 2014, only to hand him his p45 before he’d even unpacked on 27 December 2014.

Alan Pardew having fought to turn around Newcastle’s season left for Crystal Palace, much to the delight of Newcastle fans. Palace currently occupy 11th spot, one point ahead of, surprise surprise, Newcastle.

Harry Redknapp confirmed that it’s not just English players who are over-hyped but English managers, admitting defeat in his quest to make QPR a Premier League club as he cited a ‘dodgy knee’ as the reason for his departure. Consequently, he left them in a relegation spot, with zero away wins

Possibly the most disappointing managerial performance has come from Roberto Martinez. Everton had a phenomenal 2013/14, comfortably finishing fifth whilst demonstrating innovative, entertaining football. They currently occupy 13th, with only eight wins this season.

Alan Irvine, Paul Lambert and Gus Poyet were all sacked by their respective clubs, and really, it’s hard to make a case for any of them not deserving it. Three of the most boring, uninspiring sides in the league this year have been West Brom, Aston Villa and Sunderland and all three managers oversaw some truly depressing performances (Particular shout-out to Sunderland whose 7-0 hammering against Southampton or the 4-0 against Aston Villa were both particularly awful).

and some woeful transfer dealings. Does anything reflect the clear lack of successful English managers than the regard Redknapp is held in?

Possibly the most disappointing managerial performance has come from Roberto Martinez. Everton had a phenomenal 2013/14, comfortably finishing fifth whilst demonstrating innovative, entertaining football. An active summer which included a record transfer, permanently signing Romelu Lukaku for £28 million, ensured fans could

expect a similarly successful season. They currently occupy 13th, with only eight wins this season and lost in the first round of the FA Cup and League Cup. The vast majority of players such as Stones, Coleman, Howard and Barkley have all failed to match their level of performance from last year. Miguel Delaney had a theory that Martinez had a plan to concentrate on the Europa League, which would secure them Champions League football (which they were unlikely to do otherwise), and win their first trophy in 15 years and guarantee a purse of £15 million, though they crashed out in the last 16 illustrating the stupidity of such a plan if his theory is true.

A desperately disappointing season and with key players such as Coleman and McCarthy linked with moves away, Martinez’s job has just become a whole lot more insecure and challenging. However, some managers have performed admirably, and it is them who the rest of this article will focus on.

Ronald Koeman has been a revelation at Southampton and their season is a credit to the club as a whole. Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff departed the club after an extremely successful season last year and ensured that the club entered a period of turmoil with five key players being sold.

Koeman and his brother Edwin - who is assistant manager - bought wisely with Bertrand, Pelle, Tadic, Mane and Forster all performing exceptionally this year. From many pundits’ relegation candidates, Southampton have

one of the most balanced sides in the league, having kept the most clean sheets this season while also averaging 1.40 goals per game, .12 over the average of 1.28.

At the other end of the table, massive credit must go to Tony Pulis and Sean Dyche. Pulis has once more proved that he is one the best defensive coaches in the world steering West Brom from borderline relegation to a respectable 14th. His impressive record of consistently steering clubs from relegation to safety makes one feel that he deserves a chance at a top club, all be it one that wouldn’t be demanding the most entertaining football.

Finally, the favourites for relegation at the start of the season Burnley, have been the surprise of the season, just one point of Sunderland in 17th. With an almost laughable budget the ‘ginger Mourinho’ has remained calm throughout the season and conducted him in a respectable manner. Bar Danny Ings it’s hard to make a case for any of their starting 11 to be Premier League standard and thus just for remaining competitive Dyche deserves a huge credit.

It what has been a largely disappointing season for the Premier League, manager’s performances will be reflective of that with fewer candidates for manager of the year than ever. History suggests the winner’s manager will get it and this is reflected in the betting (Mourinho favourite at 11/10) but the fact that Koeman and Dyche are next is a far reflection on their performances this season.

On merit, Koeman should win the honour.

A Qatar World Cup would be a disaster for soccer

By Tomás M. Creamer From my own knowledge of the world of soccer (which I shall refer to as “football” throughout the rest of the article), few decisions have ever created as much controversy as the decision to reward Qatar - a tiny Arab nation with the population of Leinster - with the honour of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This is because Qatar is probably the last country that you would expect a World Cup to be held in, for several reasons – it is a tiny country with little presence in world football and it has a ferociously hot summer climate that has forced FIFA, the governing body of world Football, to seriously consider re-scheduling the World Cup to December, instead of summer, as is the norm.

Even accounting for attempts to counter Qatar’s inhumane climate, there are quite a number of other reasons why hosting the World Cup in the country is a really, really bad idea. Here are a few I can list from my head:

QATAR’S RECORD OF ITS TREATMENT OF WORKERS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED Some would probably read this and think “meh, who cares about the workers who build the stadiums the matches would be held in, except for some politically-correct loony?”

If you are one of these people, then there is probably not much I can do to convince you about the merits of insisting that some level of standards should be set for those who have to work in such harsh conditions in order to build the fancy stadiums.

At this stage, if 1,000 dead workers, since the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar, along with an estimated 4,000 more deaths predicted by 2022, has not convinced you on the need for Qatar to force an end to often-fatal abuses by employers, then, quite frankly, I am at a loss for words.

MOVING THE WORLD CUP TO WINTER IS MASSIVELY DISRUPTIVE It is the established practice by now that World Cups are held in June/July, and many broadcasters who had bid for broadcasting rights for the 2022 World Cup, as well as national and continental football leagues, would have planned their schedules on that basis. Therefore, moving the World Cup to November/December, as it is increasing likely to happen, is not a simple proposition.

Now, normally, I wouldn’t really care for the troubles of the big football and media corporations, who would be most aggrieved by these changes, except that they would also be detrimental to the development of football in a wider context.

For example, would the potential for player burnout, due to a tight winter schedule, not be of cause for concern for many ordinary football fans?

In America, in terms of promoting and strengthening “actual” football, a winter World Cup would be problematic, to say the least. There is potential for clashes with big-league games

track record as a reputable organisation, beyond reproach.

For example, it forced Brazil to overturn laws on banning alcohol in football stadiums - which was there to tackle violence in the aftermath of matches - when it hosted the World Cup last year.

If 1,000 dead workers along with an estimated 4,000 more deaths predicted by 2022 has not convinced you on the need for Qatar to force an end to often-fatal abuses by employers, then, quite frankly, I am at a loss for words. from the more entrenched sports in that country.

And let’s be honest, if it came down to a choice between broadcasting a major-league American Football game, or a Qatar World Cup, which game do you think that Americans would want to watch? My money is on the former – which isn’t exactly great, if the aim is to convert Americans to football.

WHAT WOULD BE LEFT OF FIFA’S REPUTATION WOULD BE RIPPED TO SHREDS As anyone who had watched John Oliver’s brilliant video on FIFA (via Youtube) would know, FIFA does not exactly have a stellar

While an internal report apparently cleared Qatar of corruption, many still doubt that the country really won the right to host the World Cup on its own merits, and that it used the only advantage that it conceivably had – money.

Allegations does not equal 100% culpability, but considering how unusual the decision to award Qatar with the World Cup was in the first place, you would want more assurance of fair play than a report whose summery has been described by it’s own author, Michael J. Garcia, as being "materially incomplete" with "erroneous representations of the facts and conclusions".

FINAL WORD 31

March 30 2015

THE COLLEGE INSIDER ‘Studying’ arts student refreshes Facebook newsfeed for tenth time, no new posts

By Eoin Molloy 21-YEAR-OLD SERIAL PROCRASTINATOR and part-time arts student, Matthew Broderick, made waves earlier today by being the first person in the history of Facebook to refresh his newsfeed ten times in the space of thirty seconds.

Despite getting up at the unholy hour of 6am to guarantee he would get his favourite spot in the library, Mr Broderick “hasn’t done

a tap” according to a classified source.

The source alleges that Mr Broderick has been “plymossing” all day and getting up every forty minutes or so to get “some sort of maccy-frappy yoke from Starbucks”.

The source went on to say that Mr Broderick “doesn’t even enjoy coffee” and only heads down to the Bialann “for the creep”.

We attempted to contact Mr Broderick to ascertain the true story, but he informed us

that he was far too busy readying himself for another gruelling sociology and politics MCQ. Nevertheless, the arts student made history today with his Facebook-refreshing heroics. The very fact that Mr Broderick took up valuable study space in the run-up to exams is a non-issue, as a delegation from Guinness will be arriving at NUI Galway on Friday to present the indolent arts student with a plaque.

More to follow as we get it.

Gardaí criticised for using excessive force against reading room squatters

By Eoin Molloy FOLLOWING ON FROM the deplorable scenes at Grangegorman, the Gardaí are once again making headlines for all of the wrong reasons.

Squatters at NUI Galway’s reading room were forcefully displaced at around 1am this morning.

The squatters insisted that they were just studying, but the wily Gardaí saw through

this clever plot and deployed the riot police, injuring 47 students and killing three.

Superintendent of Galway’s branch of the Guardians of Peace, Inepta Malone, commended the brave Gardaí for showing solidarity with the Gardaí involved in the Grangegorman affair.

She said: “Those poor Gardaí were only doing their jobs. It takes a lot of guts to pepper spray and beat an innocent p­ erson.”

Ms Malone also spoke of her admiration for the LAPD, whose unscrupulous and ruthless methods she hopes Galway’s Gardaí can one day emulate.

As punishment, the students will have to publicly come out in favour of the water charges, lick Joan Burton’s big toe (they can choose which one) and be subjected to public lashings every three months for as long as they live.

diary of the

SMOKEY’S PIGEON

THE END OF THE SEMESTER NEARS, and with it the end of my constant my food supply.

I’ve started to gather supplies for the summer months. I’ll be rationing them out over the long break.

I always worry about summer because there are fewer people around to drop food and leave leftover bits of muffin and Tayto crumbs.

I’ve been gathering as many of my favourite snacks as possible. I’ve even stored some bits of salad in my den. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Over the summer, I’ll have to venture outside a bit more, but with those pesky manual doors, it might be difficult to get out – especially with fewer students around to open them for me.

I’ll keep looking forward to September though.

There’ll be a new batch of first years to swoop over and scare.

See you next year!

Follow @Smokeys_Pigeon on Twitter for regular pigeon musings

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