SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL. 20 Issue 08. 29 JAN 2019

Student Independent News

Majority of those attending student counselling are female and in the college of Arts By Áine Kenny The NUI Galway Student Counselling Service delivered counselling to 1,427 students in the academic year of 2017/18, according to their annual report.

This was an increase of 58 students, and a four percent increase on the previous year.

62 percent of clients were female, 37 percent were male and less than one percent were transgender or gender fluid.

78 percent of those attending counselling were undergraduates, 19 percent were postgraduates, one percent were on the Access programme, and two percent were undergraduate repeats.

44 percent of attendees were from the College of Arts, Social Science and Celtic Studies.

18 percent were in the College of Science. 14 percent were from the College of Business,

Public Policy and Law. Nine percent were from the College of Engineering and Informatics.

12 percent of those attending the service were from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. One percent were from Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, and one percent were from Access.

Anxiety was the most common reason why students attending counselling, with depression being the second. Other issues students were facing included relationship problems, academic difficulties, loss, self and identity, abuse and addiction.

11 students were assessed as a severe suicide risk and 34 students were at moderate risk of suicide.

The report noted the high success rate of counselling in retaining students and improving grades.

96 percent of students who attended

5 Distillery Lane said that counselling helped them stay in college. 97 percent of students said that counselling helped them do better in their academic work.

97 percent said attending sessions had improved their self-esteem, and 98 percent said that the service helped them feel more positive about the future.

The anonymous comments from the service users in the report were very positive: “I had experienced severe trauma but the centre gave me so much support. I cannot express how it helped to turn my situation around”, “counselling helped me stay off drugs and stay in college” and “thank you for all your help through this difficult time, you have made a huge difference and I really appreciate it” are just some of them.

However, the report was highly critical about the persistent lack of funding and

space allocated to the counselling service.

The average waiting time for ongoing counselling appointments last year was 17.7 days. There was an increase of four days in waiting times for the first available counselling appointment post drop in/assessment.

“It is important to bear in mind that for much of the college year there was a significant waiting list for counselling and the demand outstripped the capacity of the service to deliver, especially in the six weeks prior to examinations each semester, a time when student support is most important to ensure retention and progression,” the report stated.

The report recommends a “major reconsideration of the scale of the actual service” in order to provide for “increasing numbers of students with complex mental health difficulties.”

The report also highlighted that NUI Galway aims to increase the percentage of students from non-traditional pathways to 24 percent of the student population.

Currently, non-traditional students make up 22 percent of the population.

“However, the numbers of students from non-traditional pathways attending the Student Counselling Service last year was 43 percent of our total client numbers, which demonstrates the additional support needs of these students,” the report outlined.

If you have been affected by the contents of this article, the Student Counseling Service is located at 5 Distillery Road (near AIB bank, Newcastle Road). Their phone number is 091 492484 and their email is counselling@nuigalway.ie.

Samaritans can be called 24/7 on 116 123.

Ban on paid placements for pharmacy students removed

By Martha Brennan Pharmacy students across the country breathed a sigh of relief this past week as they welcomed the removal of a ban on paid work placements.

On 23 January, it was announced that the ban would not continue after lengthy protests from current and past students, as well as the Union of Students in Ireland.

Anyone completing a pharmacy degree from 2015 onwards, which can be completed in Trinity College, University College Cork and the Royal College of Surgeons, is required to complete placements in the final two years of their course.

Students who began Photo: USI their degree before 2015

could be paid by the hospital or pharmacy they were working in for their placement, but an overhaul of the course was introduced four years ago.

Before the overhaul, pharmacy students studied in college for four years, and then completed an internship for one year. Any students who began the degree

after the overhaul must now complete a four-month internship in fourth year, and an eight-month placement the next year, which were to be unpaid before last week.

They also now face fees of up to €8,500 for completing their fifth year – which is considered a master’s program.

Current fifth year students were unaffected by the overhaul and are completing yearlong placements (which may be paid), and are paying lower fees.

The day after the removal of the payment ban, a large number of students continued with their plan to protest outside the Dáil against the overhaul. The protest was organised by the USI and the Irish Pharmaceutical Students Association.

Oisín Hassan, the USI’s Officer for Academic Affairs, told the Irish Times that he welcomed the decision to remove the ban, but pointed out that paid internships were still only optional.

Paying the high master’s fee while not being paid for a full-time placement would pose problems for countless students, and the USI and the Irish Pharmaceutical Students Association fear that the cost could deter students from pursuing a degree in pharmacy and make the career elitist.

A survey conducted by the USI of current fourth year pharmacy students – who are the first to face the issues around the new overhaul – found that 91 per cent of respondents believed the introduction of higher final year fees was unfair.

111 students of the 137 surveyed said they worked a part-time job during their unpaid placement.

More than 60 per cent of respondents said the lack of payment had limited their

options when selecting where to undertake their placement.

Representatives from the USI and the pharmaceutical student’s association met with the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor on the day of the protest to discuss the issues and seek clarity about the payment of placements following the removal of the ban.

Darragh O’Loughlin, chief executive of the Irish Pharmacy Union, told the Irish Times that working pharmacists had been opposed to the payment ban since it was introduced.

“Nobody was calling the IPU and saying isn’t it great we’re going to get some unpaid labour,” he said.

When this issue went to print, no announcements were yet made from the meeting with the Minister – but it is expected that the protests will continue if the new degree structure isn’t modified to better suit student’s needs.

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SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

INSIDE Galway City Council pass motion to support publicly funded student accommodation 4 All smiles at the Teddy Bear Hospital in NUIG 5 GILLETTE: the best we can all be? 6 Meet amateur photographer and lecturer Dr Chaosheng Zhang 7 FINAL YEAR DIARIES: reality has set in 8 An tSeirbia ag freastal ar an dá thaobh? 9 The “Monster” health risks of frequent energy drink consumption have become too much 10 Men told to shave off masculinity 12 THE ART OF LISTENING: learning to understand and support 13 Are millenials really the burnout generation? 14 LIVING HER BEST LIFE: Ashley Graham 15 2019’s beauty trends that we can actually get behind 17 MARIE KONDO AND ME: the life-changing magic of detoxing your wardrobe

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You need to watch it 21 LEAVING NEVERLAND: the controversial release of new Michael Jackson documentary 22 The Stanford Prison Experiment film – A Critical Analysis 23 What’s on in Galway 26 Andy Murray was a true great during tennis’ golden age 28 2019 National Hurling League promises to be a close affair 29 NUIG cheerleaders win gold medals in University World Championships 30 Presidents’ Cup Treasure Hunt a great success 30

By Áine Kenny Hello everyone and welcome to Issue 8 of SIN! It is hard to believe we are over half way through this year’s news cycle. Thanks to everyone who came over to us on Soc’s day, hopefully we will see your byline in Issue 9.

As week three comes around, it means one thing for Arts students: essay titles are released. Don’t panic yet guys. There’s always room to improve, make sure to take on board the feedback you got in semester one. Don’t keep making the same mistakes like using the wrong referencing system!

Exam results (for me anyway) also come out this week. Try not to be disheartened if your grades weren’t what you expected.

Go to your lecturer and get feedback, this is the only way you’ll know where you went wrong. Exam results also aren’t the end of the world. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to student counselling.

Speaking of, our front page is about our excellent (if sadly underfunded) counselling service here in NUI Galway. I can’t recommend the service enough, if you are struggling, make sure to go to 5 Distillery Road.

We have other great stories in this edition, from government funded student accommodation, pharmacy students striking, the teddy bear hospital and a wonderful feature with Dr Chaosheng Zhang, whose beautiful photography we have all come across on Twitter. We also have our first year and final year diaries, and our ever-popular Erasmus and Irish columns make their usual appearance.

Moving on from news, we have a great opinion section, as always. Gary explores an end to free movement, and also questions whether us millennials are too soft nowa-

days. Of course, we couldn’t fail to mention the controversial Gillette advertisement.

Was it a step too far? Conor gets some academics’ perspectives on the ad, while Aaron and I battle it out in the head to head opinion section. Rachel also offers some advice to people thinking about quitting their job, and gives her own experience of working in a hostile environment.

In fashion and lifestyle, there is plenty of inspiration for us to revamp our wardrobes and lives. We have a deeply interesting article from Sinéad about environmentally unfriendly foods (no more avocados or almond milk for me) and Catherine’s guide on how to clear out your wardrobe, Marie Kondo style. Soon your clothes will be sparking nothing but joy! Molly, our fashion and lifestyle editor, also takes a look at 2019’s realistic beauty trends. I am definitely going to try out the liquid exfoliators, I am sick of feeling like my skin has been scrubbed with sandpaper! As usual, we have our living her best life column written by Amy, this time featuring style icon and inspiration Ashley Graham.

The arts and entertainment section has great reviews and commentary; The Favourite received a very positive review from Nithu so you know what to go see on Tuesday! Daniel looks at the idea of separating the art from the artist, in the wake of the allegations levied against R Kelly. Should we support artists who have been accused of heinous crimes? Clearly, the world still supports artists who have actually been convicted of said crimes, if Chris Brown is anything to go by. Does the idea of no platforming work? Or will people continue to support their problematic faves because

Photo: Joanna Kavanagh of stan culture? Sarah Gill introduces us to Princess Nokia, who hit the headlines recently for accusing Ariana Grande of stealing her beats and flows. As someone who saw Princess Nokia at Longitude, I have to say she is underrated, and I am happy this controversy has propelled her into the spotlight.

Last but not least, we have our trusty sports section. I interviewed Rebecca, the auditor of NUIG’s Cheerleading society, who have been amazingly successful, winning first place in the world universities competition. Oisín keeps us up to date with the Sigerson cup; Laura gives her opinion on RTE’s new deal with the GAA, while Darragh laments the early retirement of Andy Murray.

As always, we love having new people writing for us. Send me an email at editor. sin@gmail.com if you want to get involved with the paper. Or, if you have a suggestion for a story or a tip, make sure you contact SIN. We are here to represent your views and hold the college accountable. Don’t be afraid to get in touch!

NUI Galway launches national consent programme

By Julia Tereno

EDITOR: Áine Kenny editor.sin@gmail.com LAYOUT: Shannon Reeves An bhfuil rud éigin le rá agat?

Cur litir chuig an Eagarthóir chuig editor.sin@gmail.com

Find us online:

www.sin.ie

NUI Galway is leading the way on sex education with the launch of the Active Consent Programme, a nationwide initiative to educate third level students on sexual consent.

The Active Consent Programme was officially launched on 11 January by Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Minister of State for Higher Education, and Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway.

The project, which was created by NUI Galway researchers, creates toolkits for schools, colleges and sports clubs with interactive films and workshops that communicate a sex-positive interpretation of consent.

The four-year programme will be conducted by the SMART Consent team consisting of Dr Pádraig MacNeela, Dr Siobhán O’Higgins, Kate Dawson from NUI Galway’s School of Psychology, and Dr Charlotte McIvor from the Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies.

The researchers have been involved with the theme for several years, and the Active Consent Programme intends to reach a national level.

The initiative will be funded by Lifes2good Foundation, in partnership with Galway University Foundation and NUI Galway.

“Lack of knowledge leaves children vulnerable to sexual coercion and violence,” said Dr Siobhán O’Higgins, a member of the team conducting the project.

Dr O’Higgins was also one of the researchers behind the SMART Consent workshops that were launched in the university in 2018.

She pointed out that consent skills and awareness are linked to gender norms and alcohol use.

“Education efforts need to retain this awareness. These issues, concerning transitioning to adult responsibility, need to be addressed using approaches of peer engagement and promotion of personal independence,” she said.

According to Clare Austick, Vice-President of Welfare and Equality in NUI Galway’s Students’ Union, the idea behind the initiative is to explore what consent means and empower students to be able to say no and acknowledge their own boundaries.

“It also includes a bystander module, which is people calling out wrong actions, instead of just sitting back and saying nothing, so they can speak out against the wrong doings,” said Ms Austick.

The initiative came together after the Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, convened a National Forum to discuss

what can be done to reduce the rate of sexual abuse cases in Ireland.

The target audience is third-level students, but Ms Austick said they would probably look to address the issue in second-level institutions in the future.

She also said that NUI Galway is paving the way on the topic.

Besides research and implementation of the programme, the university is also keen on improving existing policies around sexual harassment.

“It’s more of a continuation of what’s already there. We also need to have something in place that when something does go wrong, the university can react and hold the person accountable,” said Ms Austick.

She pointed out that sex education in primary and secondary schools today is not good enough, and young people may go along with things they are not comfortable with, due to peer pressure or social norms.

“It’s important to have this conversation when they’re young, before alcohol and other factors are involved, so they can think about their values and what they want to do before college starts,” she said.

NUI Galway’s Students’ Union intends to stay involved with the programme and is currently setting up plans for how they can continue to help.

N UAC HT

January 29 2019

NEWS EDITORIAL

OPINION EDITORIAL

By Martha Brennan

By Tarryn McGuire

Hi everyone and welcome to issue eight of SIN! I hope everybody is settling back into the grind of college ok and enjoying a relaxing start to semester two. While lectures and classes might still be getting going, campus has been hopping since we returned and as usual, we have all of your fortnightly updates right here.

As students, we’ve been getting some good news the past couple of weeks – from the announcement of more financial aid for student teachers, to the decision to charge UK students the same college fees post-Brexit and the approval of government funded student accommodation by Galway City Council after a successful presentation by our SU President Megan Reilly.

NUI Galway researchers have been particularly busy this month, launching a new nationwide consent program, a kit to help children learn about science and conducting stem cell research with an esteemed Chinese university.

There is a lot to catch up on so far this month, and our writers have done an amazing job in collecting all the information you need to know! As always, I hope everyone enjoys our issue – and if you missed us at Socs Day and are interested in joining SIN, we’re only a message away.

Hi everyone and welcome to this week’s issue of SIN. By now, most of us have settled back into the typical college routine and are prepping for upcoming essays, and it is important not to fall into bad habits during this time.

Consumption of energy drinks is common amongst students when essay deadlines begin to rear their ugly heads.

Daniel shares his fears on energy drinks and why he thinks he will be sticking to coffee only this semester.

Being a student can be the most social time of your life, surrounded by classmates all day, never going a few hours without talking to your housemates, and filled with nights out, however, there are certain times that we are left alone with our thoughts (weekends for most of us) and it is important to learn to enjoy spending time with yourself.

Olivia shares her opinions on the topic and shares with us that being alone isn’t as bad as we build it up to be.

This issue is filled with inspiring pieces from our fantastic writers here at SIN and I hope you enjoy! Anyone who wants to get involved with this section can email me at opinion.sined@gmail.com.

FEATURES EDITORIAL

By Olivia Hanna Welcome back to another excellent issue of SIN! With each issue I get more and more impressed with the work our contributors submit to us, and I can’t wait to share it with our readers.

In this issue we have we have updates from final year student Aileen and first year student Darren who share their thoughts on life here at NUI Galway.

We also hear about the 14th annual Teddy Bear Hospital from Rachel Garvey, and get to learn about lecturer and amateur photographer Chaosheng Zhang.

Lastly, Owen Kennedy and Conor Brummell walk us through two of the top current events stories: the U.S. Government shutdown and the conflicting opinions about a Gillette razor ad calling for men to be better. Enjoy!

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL

Shoot over an email to artsentertainment. sined@gmail.com because I love to read your reviews, poems, stories and articles.

SPORTS EDITORIAL

By Sarah Gill January is finally coming to an end (after what felt like 8 months) and I already know the rest of 2019 will fly past in the blink of an eye. Once you get to college, time just seems so fleeting, it makes the mind boggle.

It won’t be long until we’re all longing to be asked for our IDs so we can feel young again. Ah to be young and underage…

To distract yourself from the unnerving passage of time, this newspaper is jam packed with great articles no matter what you’re interested in. We don’t shy away from controversy; from the Gillette advertisement and #MuteRKelly to the new Michael Jackson exposé and the dangers of social media on your self-esteem, no topic is shied away from. We also have some excellent reviews for your perusal and the What’s On In Galway section to give you a bit of night out inspiration.

If you feel like chiming in on any of the pieces we cover or you want to contribute something yourself, feel free to get in touch.

By Graham Gillespie Welcome to issue eight of SIN. In this edition’s sport section, Gary Elbert and Owen Kennedy looked ahead to the National Hurling League and the Six Nations respectively, whilst Darragh Nolan reflected upon Andy Murray’s career as the Scotsman appears to be near to retirement.

Managers are also a focus in this issue, with Markus Krug questioning the morality of Leeds’ Marcelo Bielsa and Daniel Brennan arguing in favour of Manchester United retaining the services of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Oisin Bradley, meanwhile, reports from NUI Galway’s opening match in the Sigerson Cup against St Mary’s. Finally, Laura Varley weighs in on RTÉ’s new GAA deal which sees them broadcasting league and club games.

If anybody else wants to to write for the sport section, please don’t be afraid to contact me at sport.sined@gmail.com.

*One-way only. Online offer. Ends February 24th. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

SPEND LESS. SEE MORE. *

FASHION AND LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL

By Molly Fitzpatrick Hello everyone! It finally feels like the longest month in history is coming to a close. if you looking for a fresh start as spring approaches, Catherine takes inspiration from Marie Kondo, author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, giving us all the best tips and tricks on how to undergo a wardrobe detox coming into the new season.

For the beauty lovers, I look at all the up and coming beauty trends that are actually worth your while and money, with everything from sustainable make-up to liquid exfoliators and glossy make-up set to shake up the beauty world.

If like me one of you 2019 goals is to be more eco-friendly, you may want to take a look at our article on foods that are damaging our planet, however if you’re a true millennial who could never part ways with your avocado toast maybe skip this one (what we don’t know can’t hurt us!). Finally, for your weekly dose of fashion, Amy looks at all the Irish women who are killing it in the industry.

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SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

No updates in Galway City Council pass Galway missing motion to support publicly funded student accommodation person case

By Julia Tereno At the time of writing, Gardaí are still asking for the public’s help to find missing Galway man Robert Murray.

The search for the 25-year-old man continues, as no new developments have appeared in the case since Murray went missing over two weeks ago.

Gardaí are asking for anyone with information to come forward.

Murray left his home in Salthill on 8 January and was last seen that same day in the Shop Street area at around 10:15 PM. Several searches have been conducted in Galway City and the coastline in the weeks following his disappearance.

SIN contacted Galway’s Mill Street Garda station this week, but the station offered little information on the case.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said: “Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 25-year-old Robert Murray who is missing from his home in Salthill, Co Galway and was last seen on Tuesday 8 January 2019 in the Shop Street area of Galway at 22.15hrs.”

The Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit has been conducting near daily searches over the last two of weeks, while social media users have been providing the public with information on the searches and spreading the word on Robert’s case.

Posters have been spread across Galway city and NUI Galway’s campus in a bid to jog anyone’s memory.

The Facebook Group “Let’s find Rob Murray” currently has over 5,000 members and is being used as a platform to discuss actions that could help find the missing man, and to keep the public updated on any developments.

The group organized and conducted its own search on Sunday 20 January, but unfortunately had no results.

Robert Murray is described as around six feet tall, with black hair, green eyes and a broad build.

He was reportedly wearing black trousers and a khaki green jacket when he was last seen.

Anyone with any information on Murray’s whereabouts is urged to contact Mill Street Garda Station on 091538999.

You can also contact the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 to submit an anonymous tip.

By Conor Brummell Galway City council passed a motion to support publicly funded, purpose-built student accommodation at a meeting on the 14 January 2019.

The motion comes after NUI Galway’s Students’ Union President Megan Reilly and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology’s Students’ Union President Aaron Burke made a presentation to the Council’s Housing SPC last September.

Megan Reilly spoke to SIN this week about the process of presenting the housing crisis to the Council. The Unions believed the Council wasn’t aware of the extent of the situation.

“Everyone’s aware of the housing crisis, but we weren’t really talking about the nuances of it,” Megan said.

“I think our point is that we don’t have purpose-built student accommodation, and because there is an influx of people coming into the city, students are having to fight it out against working professionals, and as a result there is a strain on the private market.”

Speaking about the research that the Students’ Unions conducted on the crisis, Megan said: “Here in NUI Galway we carried out a comprehensive accommodation survey the year before, but we wanted more up-to-date data. We did the survey to get an idea of how far people

were commuting from, whether people were couch surfing or living in hostels or whatever it was. We presented this data and gave the Council an idea of the national shortage of beds.”

“It would just be a lot easier if students had accommodation that was built for them, in places that are handy for them,” Megan concluded.

Mairéad Farrell, the TD who brought forward the motion to the City Council, was also contacted by SIN following the decision.

She stated that the SU Presidents of both NUI Galway and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology outlined how serious the problem was for the Council.

“I knew already that a huge number of students are living in hostels,” she explained. “[The SU Presidents] were also talking about how huge an impact this crisis is having on peoples’ studies, especially when it comes to commuting everyday with long distances. People are less likely to come into college due to having to travel, and this is simply because they cannot afford the price of accommodation.”

Ms. Farrell explained that the City Council had decided at the Housing SPC in September “to write to both Ministers who oversee funding for student accommodation, Joe McHugh and Eoghan Murphy. The decision was

ratified in the Council meeting in January and we will now essentially be writing to the Ministers, urging them to do something, and we should hear something back at some point in February.”

“The Council has no powers to allocate funding, that comes from the Government, so all we can do is use our voices to put pressure on the Government to act,” Ms. Farrell added.

Megan Reilly labeled the whole process as a “positive step.”

“It’s a good thing that they have passed this on a much more local level, but going forward we would like to see much more lobbying from TDs at Government level,” Megan added.

“The ideal, and this is what the national Students’ Unions were asking for, is that there would be funding ring-fenced and given to institutions specifically for building student accommodation.”

“As it is, NUIG are having to borrow money to build accommodation, and the Institutes of Technology can’t borrow, so there is nothing they can do. How are we supposed to get the accommodation we need, if it’s not provided for?”

“The Government needs to start taking into account that college is not just the on-campus experience, but the experience as a whole,” Reilly concluded.

Former NUI Galway student walking 500 miles for homelessness

By Martha Brennan A former NUI Galway student is making waves internationally in an unorthodox bid to raise awareness for homelessness.

Francis Cronin, an actor and comedian from Dublin, is currently travelling on foot from San Franciso to Los Angeles in California, hoping to highlight the needs of homeless people by sleeping rough each night of his journey.

Cronin began the 500-mile-long journey over four weeks ago, bringing with him only a sleeping bag and a phone, and has faced freezing temperatures and exhaustion. He is hoping his experience will shed light on what homeless people experience daily.

The adventure began before Christmas as a way to raise money for an LA homeless charity. Since then, Cronin’s story has appeared across media platforms from London’s leading newspapers to Hollywood’s ‘Inside Edition’ programme.

“By putting myself out there, I’m trying to reframe how people see the person in the street,” he told InsideEdition.com.

“People know it exists. People see the problem right in front of them every day, they can’t look at it because it’s too much of a reflection on humanity, and how bad [we’ve gotten] in terms of taking care of our weakest citizens.”

You may remember Cronin from his famous stint of living in a tent on campus in 2013 while he was a student in NUI Galway. He spent his entire final year living in the tent, unable to afford rent in Galway.

He created a YouTube documentary about the experience, and a subsequent one-man show called ‘Tent Boy’ which played at the Muscailt Arts Festival in Galway. His experience gained national attention when Des Bishop and Owen Colgan from Hardy Bucks dropped by the tent, and the story was picked up

by RTÉ news.

After building an online profile, Cronin left his position in the Army and moved to the US four years ago to pursue a career in stand-up comedy and acting.

Even though he is an ex-Lieutenant and former cross-country runner, Cronin has faced tough endurance tests on his current journey, falling behind schedule due to illness and issues with his legs.

He is currently entering the final hurdle of the journey, set to close in on LA this week. Cronin’s goal is to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres show upon his arrival to raise awareness on an even bigger level, tweeting the talk-show host throughout the journey.

You can follow Cronin’s journey on Twitter and Instagram, and donations can be made to Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles or his GoFundMe page: https://www. gofundme.com/rough-set-500-milesfrom-bay-to-la-sleeping-out.

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January 29 2019

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UK students to pay same fees post-Brexit

All smiles at the Teddy Bear Hospital in NUIG

By Martha Brennan

By Rachel Garvey

Amidst the uncertainties surrounding the impact of Brexit, UK students studying in Ireland now have some clarity about their fees.

The Irish government announced that UK students would continue to pay the current fee rate next year.

If UK students were to become classified as non-EU students in the future, they could face fees ranging from €12,750 to €23,750 a year in NUI Galway. This figure exceeds €50,000 for students wishing to pursue Medicine.

The news is a relief to the many Northern Irish students that study in the Republic.

Those enrolling for the next academic year will pay the same €3000 rate as Irish and EU students for the duration of their degree, though the figure is subject to change for those applying in 2020.

The UK confirmed that EU rates will still apply to Irish students studying there next year, and Irish students studying in the UK will continue to be eligible for the SUSI grant.

Minister for Education Joe McHugh said earlier this month that he would strive “to bring longer term clarity for both Irish students wishing to study in the UK, and UK nationals wishing to take up studies in Ireland.”

“It is vital that both Ireland and the UK continue to build on the strong and valuable co-operation which currently exists,” he added.

Until the government’s announcement, Northern Irish students worried for months whether they would be classified as EU or non-EU citizens when the UK officially leaves the EU this March.

If UK students were to become classified as non-EU students in the future, they could face fees ranging from €12,750 to €23,750 a year in NUI

Galway. This figure exceeds €50,000 for students wishing to pursue Medicine.

Over 1,300 Northern Irish students study in the Republic, as well as 1,100 students from other parts of the UK. 10,000 Irish students are currently attending UK universities, with around 500 of these attending Northern Irish universities.

NUI Galway Registrar Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh said that historically, NUI Galway draws a lot of students from Northern Ireland and welcomed the government’s announcement.

“It is very important that A Level students in Northern Ireland who wish to study at NUI Galway are not disadvantaged as a result of the UK’s departure from the European Union,” he stated last week.

He hopes the announcement will encourage Northern Irish students to consider applying to NUI Galway and urges anyone interested to attend the university’s Open Day on Saturday, 4 April.

According to Sarah Geraghty, Head of Student Recruitment and Outreach at NUI Galway, “students and parents visiting from Northern Ireland will have an opportunity to see just how close NUI Galway is to home,” on the day.

New Science Toolkit to be distributed to schools across Ireland

By Tarryn McGuire Over the past two years, NUI Galway Cell EXLORERS, ProActivate Ireland, and Toodlelou Creativity Lab have been developing a European project called ‘Spikey’s Journey: An Exploration Box.’ This new science toolkit is designed to educate young children about environmental science, and will be distributed to 300 classrooms throughout Ireland.

The free educational toolkit was launched during the 2018 Science Week at Scoil Iosef Naofa, Oranmore, Co Galway.

It uses a hedgehog as the principal character, while taking first and second-class pupils on an explorative journey to learn about key topics in environmental science. Storytelling, hands-on activities and games are all used to promote active learning, based on observation and experimentation.

The content of the toolkit and the activities involved were all reviewed and piloted in Galway by first and

second-class teachers: Ronan Dunne from Galway Educate Together, Vivienne Kelly from Knocknacara Educate Together, Anna McGuire from Mercy Primary School, and Niamh Cormican from Scoil Iosef Naofa, Oranmore.

The exploration box contains a ‘Kamishibai’, this is a form of visual and participatory storytelling that combines the use of hand drawn visuals with the engaging narration of a live presenter.

This storytelling theatre means that teachers can take their class through the story of Spikey and help them to understand the key characteristics of living things, the food web and how it functions, habitats and hibernation and the vital role we all play in protecting the living environment.

Muriel Grenon, Director of the Cell EXPLORERS programme at NUI Galway, said: “This project was a great opportunity to collaborate with some of the most successful and innovative science outreach programmes in Europe, as well as with enthusiastic teachers from local

national schools. There was a rich exchange of practical knowledge and experience, and from this collaboration emerged a freely accessible online resource which can benefit the children in Ireland.”

The toolkit has been produced in three languages, and is being supplied to teachers across four European countries as a result of an Erasmus+ European project linking researchers and education practitioners from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria and Poland.

Mark Finlay the Director of the Galway Education Centre, commented: “This is a fantastic resource for primary schools so that pupils can learn about environmental science in an interactive way. We, in Galway Education Centre, are delighted to be able to share the toolkit with our local schools.”

From January 2019, the toolkit will be distributed nationally to requesting teachers through the Galway Education Centre, as well as education centres located in Donegal, Dublin West, Wexford, Monaghan, Navan, Tralee and Clare.

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It’s that time of year again! NUI Galway’s Sláinte Society, along with medical, healthcare, and science students help to treat sick teddy bears.

On 17-18 January, NUI Galway hosted its 14th Teddy Bear Hospital, which took place in the Bailey Allen Hall. Over 1,200 children from primary

teddy bear in to check if there were any broken bones.

“My teddy had a heart attack because my sister screamed at her,” one child shared with SIN. There were so many stories to hear, some that ranged from broken legs and arms, from falling down the stairs to flying and colliding with trees. A sixyear-old boy with a fluffy dog teddy said that “his heart is

schools across Galway were welcomed in with open arms to treat the children’s sick teddy bears.

However, not only were children’s sick teddy bears treated, it also taught children to overcome their fear of hospitals and doctors and to feel more comfortable around them. The Teddy Bear Hospital held various activities to make it a day to remember.

There were bouncy castles, face painting and a colouring area where the children would have a chance to colour in a picture, and have it stuck on the noticeboards around the Bailey Allen Hall. The children weren’t the only ones getting special attention, their teddy bears also got to experience various activities too.

These activities consisted of a consultation table filled with fresh fruits where the children received a ‘pawscription’ after examining the patient, the Teddy Bear Pharmacy which was stocked with fruits, a surgery table where the teddy bears got their wounds stitched up and lastly, the x-ray machines where children assisted in sliding their

broken because his girlfriend dumped him.”

The children were so open and comfortable with sharing the stories of how their teddies were injured, and spent the day with a smile on their face. From the consultation straight through to getting x-rayed, their smiles were never-ending.

“It is so well organised, everything is so well done. The kids are just beaming and will surely always remember this day,” one parent said.

Parents and teachers were all smiles too while they accompanied the children and their patients around the Bailey Allen. “We never had anything like this when we were growing up. I think it is a fabulous idea because the kids are in their element and it really does teach them how to be more comfortable around doctors. Great idea,” one teacher shared with SIN. With thanks to NUI Galway’s Sláinte society and all the volunteers that helped out during the day, the event was such a huge success that even the teddy bears went home ­smiling.

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SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

GILLETTE: the best we can all be?

By Conor Brummell Gillette, the multinational company who supplies men’s razors worldwide, recently released an advertisement that received extreme backlash online due to its slogan “the best a man can be”. Gillette’s branding has always been based around “the best a man can get” and this subtle change in a tagline for their product has created controversy all over the world.

Public figures such as Piers Morgan have dubbed the commercial as being “an attack on men and the traditional sense of masculinity” and claim that it tars all men with the same brush: that all men are terrible and must change their actions.

The advert touches on such things as bullying, the Me Too movement, and sexual harassment with phrases such as “making the same old excuses” and “boys will boys” being mentioned throughout. It shows many scenes, some of which depict two boys wrestling on the ground, a child being bullied by his peers and a woman being catcalled. Gillette succeeded in creating a provocative advert, but are they doing the right thing by highlighting these issues, or are they adding to a growing stigma?

Chris Noone, a Sociology and Political Science professor at NUI Galway, whilst believing it is important to challenge gender roles, is ‘sceptical’

Chris Noone, a Sociology and Political Science professor at NUI Galway, whilst believing it is important to challenge gender roles, is ‘sceptical’ of Gillette’s commitment to doing so.

However, Stacey Scriver, another Sociology and Political Studies lecturer within the University, feels the ad is great. She says it surprised her how upset some people have become.

of Gillette’s commitment to doing so. He referred to a tweet posted by skincare expert @CarolineHirons which stated: “If @Gillette really want to make a change, perhaps they could start by looking at their pink ‘Venus’ range for women that includes names like ‘Passion’ and ‘Embrace’ and costs more than the men’s ranges for the same thing. Thanks.”

He also went on to give his own opinion, saying: “the point is that gender equality (or social justice more broadly) can’t be achieved by many individuals changing their behaviour within the same culture or society. Culture and societal structures need to change. Therefore, men who place high value exclu-

sively on traditional masculinity are angry with this ad, it is proposing that we change what has made them successful… they fear loss of status.”

However, Stacey Scriver, another Sociology and Political Studies lecturer within the University, feels the ad is great. She says it surprised her how upset some people have become because of the ad, and doesn’t think the ad is radical in its approach to gender or gender roles.

“It features attractive, strongly built men engaging in behaviours typically associated with men (e.g. barbecuing). The fact that the ad has drawn so much ire by a select group, simply by showing

men calling out other men for behaviour that most of the world would agree was inappropriate, speaks to the fear generated by change, and the restructuring of power felt by those who have traditionally benefited from having it.”

Where some might think that the advert in question has missed its mark, I believe that despite the backlash, it carries an important message for everyone. It finishes by stating that “the boys watching today will be the men of tomorrow” and that “only by challenging ourselves can we get closer to our best”. The ad shows that some men are already trying to improve the actions of others, in scenes where one man calls out another for catcalling a woman, but it also reminds us “some is not enough”.

It’s a universal message that can apply to both men and women; that only by encouraging others, and ourselves to do more, can we truly make the world a better place. It is simply saying that we must lead by example and work together to overcome these problems that are associated with the toxic side of masculinity, not masculinity as a whole.

It is saying we need to make sure such problems don’t arise again in the future. And whether you agree that that message should be shown in an ad for male razors is a different story, it’s the words being added to the ever growing conversation that counts.

NUI Galway and Hebei Medical Student teachers to benefit University establish a joint from more government aid stem cell research centre

By Martha Brennan

By Fiona Lee NUI Galway and Hebei Medical University have established a joint Stem Cell Research Centre, which held its opening international conference and scientific advisory board meeting in Shijiazhuang at the end of 2018.

The goal of the project is to collaborate and to develop translational research programmes using stem cells to treat serious conditions, which requires a global approach to finding solutions.

Professor Matthew Griffin is a clinician scientist at REMEDI and CURAM who spoke at the conference, and will be a member of NUI Galway-Hebei Medical University joint stem cell research centre. “This research partnership has great potential to accelerate the delivery of new treatments based on stem cell science to people in both countries who are suffering from a range of debilitating diseases,” he said.

The stem cell research centre will have three main clinical themes: cardio-renal-metabolic disease including diabetes mellitus, musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, and neurological disorders.

Clinicians and scientists in both institutions have partnered with a goal of developing clinical trials to be undertaken in both jurisdictions with common methodology.

The Centre is co-directed by Professor Huixan Cui, President of Hebei Medical University and Professor Timothy O’Brien, Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, REMEDI and CÚRAM investigator at NUI Galway, and Consultant Endocrinologist at Saolta University Healthcare Group.

Professor Timothy O’Brien from NUI Galway commented that it is important to realise that many areas of stem cell use are in effect experimental medicines, and not proven therapies.

“We need to undertake rigorously conducted

clinical trials with carefully manufactured stem cells to ensure these therapies are safe and effective.”

“We have invested significant resources in Galway to this end with the construction of a Good Manufacturing Practice facility for stem cell manufacture (Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland) and a HRB Clinical Research Facility, which has special expertise in conducting early stage clinical trials in stem cell therapy.”

“We also greatly appreciate the help of the Galway Blood and Tissue Establishment at Galway University Hospital under whose license all tissue is procured for stem cell isolation.”

The institutions have also committed to staff and student exchange as part of the programme.

Professor O’Brien has received a 100 Foreign Experts of Hebei Province award from the Provincial Government of Hebei Province, which will allow him to oversee the research and student exchange programmes.

Fifteen medical students from NUI Galway spent one month in Hebei Medical University in June and six medical students from Hebei studied in Galway.

Professor O’Brien added: “These international exchanges are a vital part of our undergraduate medical curriculum and part of our effort to ensure our medical graduates have a concept of global citizenship.”

The programme is facilitated by Professor Sanbing Shen, Professor of Fundamental Stem Cell Biology at NUI Galway, who has trained scientists from Hebei in his NUI Galway laboratory, who are now faculty members in higher education institutions in Hebei.

Professors O’Brien and Shen have been approved

by Chinese authorities to supervise PhD students in China and recruitment for this purpose is currently underway in the joint stem cell research centre.

The Minister for Education has announced the addition of an extra €1 million in financial aid for student teachers.

The money is being allocated to the Student Assistance Fund, which gives funding to students completing professional Masters of Education courses.

The Fund helps student teachers who are struggling with the cost of tuition fees and unpaid school placements.

The two-year Masters programme replaced the old Hdip course, and can be costly for students.

Tuition can cost up to €12,000 and the courses often involve costly Gaeltacht trips and unpaid work placements in schools.

The Minister for Education, Joe McHugh, said he was aware of the financial demands placed on the students, and stated that the money would give a significant boost for those in financial difficulty.

He said the move was part of the Department of Education’s wider response to shortages of teachers in key areas and said “addressing the current and future challenges in teacher supply is a national priority to which I am fully committed.”

The new funding brings the total Student Assistance Fund to just over €10 million this year.

Students can apply for support under the fund if they experience exceptional financial need.

The Union of Students in Ireland lobbied extensively for the increase, and welcomed the announcement.

However, with an additional 2,200 students set to begin the programme next year, the USI stated that the government needs a long-term solution to ease the pressure on student teachers, and encourage a more diverse range of teachers in Ireland.

“The high cost of attending Gaeltacht courses, school placement and masters costs are a big deterrent for those entering the profession and hugely affects the diversity of those who end up teaching in our classrooms,” USI president Síona Cahill said.

Cahill noted that the fund breaks down to a small amount per individual, and there is no guarantee a student will receive it unless they can prove their financial situation and costs leading up to the application.

“The Government needs to strongly consider reinstating the Gaeltacht grant which was erased in 2012, and would have an even wider positive affect for student teachers entering and progressing through the education system across demographics,” she stated.

She also criticized the timing of the announcement, which comes over halfway through college term time.

“USI is also concerned that the timing of this announcement may mean a scramble at administrative level by under-pressure college access offices and staff, who will have to figure out how to promote, administer and divide the fund in a way that is appropriate and fair. They needed this funding information last summer.”

The USI has been highly critical of the government’s decision to remove the Gaeltacht grant in 2012. The grant gave financial aid for student teachers who had to attend mandatory Gaeltacht courses around the country. The courses can be costly, as they often include paying for travel and accommodation over a few weeks, and require taking time off work.

The Master’s in Education programme in NUI Galway costs EU students €5,300 a year and non-EU students €14,250 a year.

In 2018, the allocation for the financial aid fund was €9.1 million and around 16,000 students currently benefit from the fund annually.

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Meet amateur photographer and lecturer Dr Chaosheng Zhang

By Grace Kieran Senior Lecturer of Geography and Archaeology, Dr Chaosheng Zhang, took this shining shot of the quad this time last year whilst he waited for his daughter to finish her violin lesson. The self-proclaimed ‘amateur’ described how it only took half an hour, and it poignantly links to how his passion for photography came from taking photos for his children when they were small.

Where many might see photo sharing online as boasting, he sees mobile photography as “a good way of communication, especially with old friends living far away”, referencing the Chinese social media WeChat as the origin of his posting. He began posting photos on social media in 2017 as part of a photo competition, and has gained over a thousand followers since.

As his work progressed, the humble phone was replaced by a professional camera and two basic lenses: 24-105 mm and 16-35 mm. He learnt about the rules and theories of photography and you can clearly track his improvement through his Instagram profile. Dr Chaosheng Zhang described himself as “delighted and honoured” since many of his campus photos are used for promotion by the University. Furthermore, his skills have reached as far as France, where a Blackrock landscape hangs on one couple’s walls.

With almost daily posts, this photographer must spend a lot of time getting the perfect frame. Nevertheless, he is a dedicated senior lecturer at NUI Galway.

He outlined how academics often do not get the opportunity to squeeze exercise into their working day, so he uses photography as part of his daily routine, whilst walking to and from campus (weather permitting).

“I usually paid annual membership fees to the health club at the University, but I did not use it fully, as it was quite boring for me to run on a belt.

Taking photos provides a good opportunity to walk around and I really enjoy it,” Chaosheng shared.

When asked to pick a favourite spot for photography, the lecturer gave three, proving his appreciation for the beauty of our surroundings.

Firstly, Blackrock Diving Tower is his favourite. He admits that “too many photos have been taken [there] almost on a daily basis”, however advises that you concentrate on the divers and people around the tower. “In the meantime, sunset sceneries over the tower are never the same.”

The Claddagh area, including the Long Walk comes in a close second, offering wonderful reflections and serene swans when the water is still. Of course, the NUI Galway campus makes it onto his list as a favourite spot. Of the adjoining photo, he adds “perhaps you have never seen such colourful photos of the Quadrangle.”

For anyone wanting to try and pursue photography, or just take it up as a hobby, the lecturer advises you follow the rule of thirds to begin with.

After a while, “you may gradually forget about the “rules” and begin to establish your own style.” That’s right, a lecturer telling us to forget the rules, 2019 is off to a brilliant start! Lastly, the most important part is “you need to be sensitive to the beauty of our environment, care about and love our environment.”

From locals to Erasmus students missing home, his account reminds us all how blessed we are to be in such a beautiful city. His content is heart-warming and you can tell that he believes in his parting quote – he treats his landscape with respect and wants us to care about it, too. The sunsets and silhouettes showcase Galway and prove its beauty, even on a rainy day.

You can find Dr Chaosheng Zhang on Instagram @Chaoshengzhang and Twitter @ZhangChaosheng.

America continues to suffer from Trump’s shutdown

By Owen Kennedy As of 21 January (the time of writing), the ongoing U.S. government shutdown is the longest federal government shutdown in the nation’s history. The effects are widespread. National parks are closed down, and federal workers are going unpaid.

800,000 federal employees still remained unpaid since the shutdown began at midnight on 22 December of last year. Job types affected include staff throughout the United States, not just DC area employees. FBI agents, Federal Corrections Officers, FDA food inspectors, NASA employees, TSA staff, Border Patrol staff, CBP officers, Census staff, National Park Service staff, members of the Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers are either working without pay, or furloughed.

The shutdown stemmed from a standoff between President Trump and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi over the president’s demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a U.S. Mexico border wall.

In December 2018, the Republican-controlled Senate unanimously passed an appropriations bill

without wall funding and the bill appeared likely to be approved by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Trump.

However, after Trump faced heavy criticism from right-wing media outlets and pundits for appearing to back down on his campaign promise to “build the wall”, he announced that he would not sign any appropriations bill that did not fund it. As a result, the House instead passed an appropriations bill with funding for a wall, but it lacked support in the Senate and was never voted upon.

As for the foreseeable future, federal workers are now beginning to rely on crowd-funding and food banks just to survive this shutdown. They’ve already, as of writing, missed out on one monthly pay check, and until a settlement can be reached between government officials, it looks set that the shutdown will continue on for several days or weeks to come.

“I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck. Because the people of this country don’t want criminals and people that have lots of problems and drugs pouring into our country,” President Donald Trump said on the issue back in December.

Find out about postgrad funding at Postgraduate Open Day Funding postgraduate studies will be a focus of the upcoming Postgraduate Open Day. The event takes place on Wednesday 6 February from 12–3pm in the Bailey Allen Hall. Come along to find out about all the taught and research options on offer; information on funding, scholarships, and new courses will also be available.

SUSI, the Irish Grant Awarding Authority, will be exhibiting and will give a presentation at 1pm in The View (first floor). They can answer all your queries on grants at postgrad level.

You can pre-register for the Open Day now at www.nuigalway.ie/postgraduate-open-day

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SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

HI FLY’S ECO First year diaries: AWAKENING: second semester how one airline is tackling the plastic abyss

By Ameya Godse Our ever-increasing dependency on plastic has always been a matter of grave concern for myriads of environmentalists and regulatory authorities. In a recent study, which also happened to be the first of its kind, it was reported that the world had produced 9 billion tonnes of plastic waste since the 1950’s, with as little as 9 per cent of it being recycled and 12 per cent being incinerated. The remaining 79 per cent of plastic waste ended up in landfills, or out in the environment, killing it slowly.

A silent culprit in the contribution of plastic waste has been the aviation sector. According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), the total plastic waste generated by airlines in 2017 alone was shy of 6 million tonnes.

But appreciating this awakening when it was needed the most, a Portuguese airline has now claimed to be completely plastic-free and has operated its first flight from Lisbon to Brazil successfully. The company has replaced plastic cutlery with bamboo and compostable alternatives, and aims to adopt a plastic-free policy by the end of 2019.

Paulo Mirpuri, the president of Hi Fly, which specialises in wet leasing aircrafts, said “we can no longer ignore the impact that plastic contamination has on ecosystems, as well as on human health. The test flights will prevent around 350 kg of single-use virtually indestructible plastics from poisoning our environment.”

While those figures may look like a grain of sand on the beach, it gives birth to an age of realization and awakening,

Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash

that if plastic pollution and its toxicity is not taken seriously, it will cause irreversible damage in the coming years.

In an ideal scenario, we would expect all the plastic trash generated by airlines to be recycled. But that is far from reality. Chris Goater, a spokesperson for the IATA, says that due to strict quarantine regulations, passenger waste is either incinerated or disposed in landfills.

“As much as we would like to recycle or reuse, regulations do not allow us to do that.”

The main challenge is to find an equally cheap alternative to plastic, which as of now is inexistent. Plastic is the cheapest and lightest medium available for on-board packaging. The light weight makes it ideal for getting maximum fuel efficiency from aircrafts. It is for this reason that finding an equally efficient, light and cheap alternative is still a distant dream.

The only real solution to this mammoth of a problem is globally revised waste regulation. Adoption of compostable alternatives may be the ideal solution on paper, but is not feasible from the global perspective. Any major changes done in the airline industry take a lot of time, as well as paperwork, due to its international nature and severe complexity.

It is predicted that by the year 2030, 10 million tonnes of airline waste will be generated on an annual basis to serve millions of people travelling all over the globe. The same airlines which have a cutthroat business model for maximising customer satisfaction will also be looking to think from the environment’s point of view, but at a snail’s pace.

improvements

By Darren Casserly Now that we’re back a few weeks, things seem to be getting back to normal. However, with most of the tutorials only starting up again this week it left many people with a fairly sparse timetable, well for me anyway.

The added space for the most part was nice, but there are times when I had a few hours off in between lectures and there is only so much time you can spend doing nothing in the library. It really showed me how little seating there is in a lot of the university buildings outside of the crowded Bialann and Smokie’s.

It doesn’t seem right that people have to sit on the floor of the concourse, and there is practically nowhere for people to just sit down. To be blunt, most of the amenities around the campus are awful, the library is outdated, there isn’t enough space for everyone,

everywhere is crowed and there just is nothing to do around the campus except to study, eat and talk to your friends.

It really makes me worried thinking that the President is talking of allowing more people in without any new buildings or even a much-needed revamp to the library. But I suppose I shouldn’t really complain, and for the most part NUI Galway is a great university, but the facilities for students definitely could be better.

Moving on from that rant, we are now moving into February and it’s that time of the semester where people stop going to lectures and coming to college.

I swear the first couple of weeks of a new semester everyone is like “this is going to be different, new year new me” and when it gets to around February the college is a ghost town before 12.

I know personally that you can be very tempted to miss the morning

It really makes me worried thinking that the President is talking of allowing more people in without any new buildings or even a much-needed revamp to the library.

lectures or even the Friday lectures because who really goes on a Friday, but you pay for it in the long run. One of the advantages of the lack of people now is more space around the campus, and you can actually walk in the hallway in between lectures.

Assignments this semester are also something that I’m trying to improve on. Last semester I wasn’t the “model” student when it came to assignments.

They say you can’t start an assignment the day before its due; you can, but if you want any sort of a decent grade you have to give yourself a few days.

Something that I’m sort of proud of is how I was able to submit an assignment with 10 seconds to spare. One of the simplest pieces of advice I was given was to just get it out of the way, but as I know myself, for some people submitting it on time is an achievement in itself.

Final year diaries: reality has set in

By Aileen O’Leary Now that we are all a few weeks into college, reality has finally sunk in.

Tutorials have begun, lectures are in full swing, you’ve gone from feeling ‘refreshed’ to feeling weary, and the post-Christmas glow has finally worn off. Gone are the days of having free time, instead you are facing the first of many assignments. However, not all hope is lost.

‘Tis the season for balling, in the next few weeks we will have the Commerce

Ball, the Arts Ball and the Engineering and Nursing Ball to name a few, and it won’t be long before Paddy’s Day rolls around the corner. This semester also brings with it longer evenings, warmer weather and even more excuses to head down with the lads and go “Sparching” on a Tuesday in April.

For many, myself included, these next few weeks will be critical. This is my last semester at NUI Galway, and the end of college for me. For many final years, the next ten weeks will either make or break their degree, whether you’re aiming for a first or just looking to pass. The reality of this semester has truly set in, there is no going back, what you do between now and May is important.

It’s a strange feeling, knowing you won’t be coming back. I always knew I would be coming back to Galway after every exam, every semester, every year,

but this time things are different. As soon as I finish that last exam, pack up my things and drive away that’s it.

College is over.

That thought alone is terrifying, but it also motivates you to make the most of the time you have left, whether its jumping off the diving board at Blackrock, heading to a silent disco in the Roisin Dubh, walking through the quad, visiting the cathedral or Salthill, whatever is on your Galway bucket list, make sure you tick it off this semester.

From one final year to a fellow NUI Galway student, try to make the most of it. Go on that night out and crawl into your 9am the next morning, at least you’ll live to tell the tale.

Go for lunch after your lectures with your classmates, get to know them. If you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone, it’ll be one of the best things you’ll do.

Whether its jumping off the diving board at Blackrock, heading to a silent disco in the Roisin Dubh, walking through the quad, visiting the cathedral or Salthill, whatever is on your Galway bucket list, make sure you tick it off this semester.

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January 29 2019

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An tSeirbia ag freastal ar an dá thaobh? le Quinton Beck Bail ó Dhia oraibh, a lucht léite dhílis, agus athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh!

Shílfeá nach raibh aon rud eile ar siúl san Eoraip, agus an oiread sin le cloisteáil faoin mBreatimeacht ar na mallaibh. Ach cé gur mór an tábhacht atá leis an ngnó polaitíochta sin, tá an ghrian fós ag éirí agus ag luí agus an saol ag leanúint mar a bhí sa chuid eile den domhan.

bratacha beaga na Rúise agus na Seirbia a chroitheadh, bhí Béalgrád ar fad plódaithe agus as feidhm don lá.

Tar éis don Phúitíneach aifreann a éisteacht in Eaglais Naomh Sava, an teampall is mó sa tír atá tiomnaithe do phatrún na Seirbia, bhí cruinniú beirte aige le hUachtarán na Seirbia, an tUasal Aleksandar Vučić. Thug sé óráid ansin, ag díriú ar an dlúthcheangal cultúir idir an dá thír, ar infheistíochtaí de chuid na Rúise i mbonneagar

sean maidir le ról an AE mar eadránaí idir an tSeirbia agus an Chosaiv. Thionscain bualadh mór bos ansin.

Ach éistigí soicind; nach bhfuil an tSeirbia i mbun an phróisis bhallraíochta chun teacht isteach san AE? Agus nach é an riachtanas is suntasaí chun é sin a bhaint amach normalú an chaidrimh thaidhleoireachta idir an tSeirbia agus an Chosaiv? Cén fáth, mar sin, a bhfuil an tír i ngrá leis an bPúitíneach anois?

Thosaigh an tSeirbia ar an mbealach chun ballraíochta san AE sa bhliain 2005 agus tá 16 caibidil taidhleoireachta ar oscailt idir an tSeirbia agus an tAE faoi láthair. Tá 2 chaibidil dúnta (sásúil don AE mar atá anois). I suirbhé, dúirt 55% de dhaoine sa tSeirbia go mbeadh siad ar son ballraíochta dá socrófaí reifreann anois, agus 21% ina choinne.

Ach fós féin, samhlaítear an Rúis sa tSeirbia mar chomhpháirtí tábhachtach don tír. D’ainmnigh 57% de dhaoine sa tSeirbia Vladímír Pútín mar an ceannaire polaitiúla is iontaofa ar domhan.

Bhí 24% den tuairim gurbh é an tAE is mó a raibh infheistíocht á déanamh aige sa tSeirbia, agus 21% gurbh í an Rúis í, bíodh is nach tír de na deich dtír is mó atá ag infheistiú sa tSeirbia í an Rúis in aon chor.

Samhlaítear an Rúis sa tSeirbia mar chomh­ pháirtí tábhachtach don tír. D’ainmnigh 57% de dhaoine sa tSeirbia Vladímír Pútín mar an ceannaire polaitiúla is iontaofa ar domhan.

Cuirimis i gcás an tSeirbia. Bhí lá mór acu Déardaoin seo caite (an 17ú lá de mhí Eanáir) agus uachtarán iomráiteach na Rúise, an tUasal Vladímír Pútín, ag tabhairt cuairte ar an tír. Toisc an mhéid daoine a bhí amuigh ar na sráideanna chun fáilte a chur roimhe agus chun

fuinnimh na Balcáine, agus ar neamhdhlisteanacht na Cosaive.

“Is feasach dúinn go bhfuil an tAontas Eorpach ag feidhmiú mar eadránaí agus roinnt deacrachtaí á réiteach, ach ar an drochuair is beag rud atá curtha i ngníomh go fóill” arsa sei-

ERASMUS DIARIES

By Anne Rieger

Germany is the country of bureaucracy and taxes. Or so I thought. Let me tell you the story of how I tried to get a part-time student job in Ireland as a non-citizen. After weeks and weeks of applying for what feels like a thousand different openings, I finally got a trial. I was so good (or I would like to think so, they probably didn’t even care that much) that they employed me after 30 minutes of work. I was over the moon, I could finally pay my rent AND go grocery shopping in one week, what a fantastic development. Goodbye to Aldi pizza and plain condiments, maybe I could finally afford to cook again. Or so I thought.

My first week of work came closer and closer and I was excited and happy and because I worked in Ireland previously, I could even proudly present my PPS to my manager.

When I received the starter form I stumbled upon the first problem: I needed an Irish bank account. I was never really planning on getting one, but I guess it was time for me.

I googled my way around the world wide web and found out that it was impossible to get one without a proof of address. So far so good, I do have an address. But I have never seen or spoken to my landlord, as I rented my room from my flatmates and they certainly didn’t know how to prove that I lived where I lived (as if my constant sickness wasn’t enough proof that I was actually living in Ireland).

I finally got my bank account without the proof, because the guy working at the bank went for coffee every morning in the place that I worked at. My next issue was revenue. Now, if you ever had to go into their office you know what I’m talking about. They deleted my account since last year so I had to get a new temporary password, which you can only get by letter without certain documents, such as an Irish drivers’ licence, a P60, or proof you’d paid tax before. So, I went in and asked if I could get my password there and they just told me to order it by post, which meant I would be emergency taxed on my first pay check (goodbye grocery-shopping dreams).

I will never complain again about getting a job in Germany, as this past few weeks went into the books as the week that I learned a lot about myself in stressful situations.

I call this story “my often-romanticised time in Ireland”. Thank you for your attention and talk to you soon!

Meastar gurb í an tSeirbia an cara daingean déanach atá ag an Rúis i mBalcáin an lae inniu. Ach meastar freisin go bhfuil an tSeirbia ar an dara hiarrthóir is mó chun tosaigh chun ballraíocht san AE a bhaint amach. An leanfaidh an tSeirbia ar aghaidh ag imirt Thaidhg an dá thaobh go deo?

Mar is eol dúinn ón seanfhocal Gaelach, ní thig leis an ngobadán an dá thrá a fhreastal.

10 OPI N IO N

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

AN END TO FREE MOVEMENT

By Gary Elbert

“An end to free movement.” Those were the words of British Prime Minister Theresa May when her advisors were busily working on their Brexit draft deal, currently teetering on the brink of collapse in Westminster. A subsequent White Paper capping ‘low skilled immigrants’ from entering the United Kingdom is the Tory’s central hope in resisting full Brexit nihilism and neutralising the anger of Leave voters, who were primarily protesting the loss of English identity, while fending off the usual nonsensical accusations of racism from a delusional left-wing movement.

May’s words capture the primary force behind the catastrophic Brexit vote that has seriously impaired her government from performing its duties since 2016. Between 1995 to pre-Brexit 2015, immigration numbers swelled in Britain from 0.9 million to 3.3 million without any democratic mandate. The result has been a net plus to the economy, and allegedly, quasi-compartmentalised ghettoes.

A recent poll found Kenyans to be 60 per cent in favour of capping immigration, yet no one accuses the Kenyans of institutionalised racism. The uncontrolled act of political madness that resulted in such massive numbers of immigrants entering Britain made it easy for populist politicians to carve out lucrative political roles.

In a recent interview, Hilary Clinton warned Europe of the need to curb immigration in order to combat the rise of populism. Clinton squarely lays the blame on immigration policy and the existence of vast swathes of the population who are unenlightened. Donald Trump exploited the issue to perfection through mindless soundbites and brass neckery to seize the White House, in an event that sets back real human progress by decades.

Meanwhile in Germany, Angela Merkel has dispensed with the post-World War Two guilt and ended her ‘open borders’ policy, in an act of political expedience and survival. Forcing large scale immigration onto a populace reeling from austerity and income inequality is a game of reckless political stupidity, that guarantees an expression of anger through the prism of right-wing demagogues.

Labelling everyone as racist, sexist or homophobic is the new hobby of the failed left movement in Ireland, and their privileged myopic middle-class misanthropy attracts only the hopelessly idealistic.

They are all looking for someone else to blame, while attaching a moral superiority to themselves that is unearned and undeserved.

In Ireland the nepotistic and compromised media often pat themselves on the back and praise the Irish for not submitting to “dog whistle” politics.

The recent Peter Casey vote wrecked that narrative when over 320,000 people supported the chancer. Those 320,000 people have been uniformly described as inherently racist by inept pundits and commentators, yet anyone with a critical eye can surely see the foolishness of such a classification.

Casey managed that gargantuan support after news leaked of a single comment he made on an obscure podcast. Our tiny media elite are generally aligned with the political elite. It is both their interests to choke the life out of so-called populists at source, by avoiding their presence and preventing coverage. That’s the reason why Ireland has not yet had a “populist” backlash, not some deeper philosophical wisdom.

In such matters we see a coalescing of left-wing ideology, a compliant media and right wing neo liberalism all working together.

Photo by Robert Hickerson on Unsplash

The threat to free speech is clear and incoming. The rush to label, to classify, to denigrate vast swathes of people as inherently racist and prejudiced is leading us down a dangerous dystopian world, and is music to the ears of our new corporate tech masters who are already engaging in censorship across various platforms.

Finally, the argument that Irish people have been warmly welcomed across the world is often used to counter concerns about immigration. This represents a selective and falsified version of history. The Irish landing in the New World were far from celebrated. Many arrived riddled with disease and dysentery, many were paupers dying lonely cold deaths on the streets, while those who survived did so amidst widespread racism and oppression.

Read The Great Hunger

by Cecil Woodham Smith for a unbiased account of the Irish immigrant ­experience.

The “Monster” health risks of Should minors be allowed to drink frequent energy drink consumption alcoholic beverages in their homes have become too much with their parents’ consent?

By Daniel Brennan I think we’ve all been in this situation before – it’s late at night, and you’re sat up cramming for an exam, or trying to finish a 2000-word essay you should have started three weeks earlier (definitely not speaking from experience here), and you need a boost because you’ve been awake for a stupid amount of time.

You’ve had so much black coffee you’re disoriented.

The only thing you think will keep you awake is a dreaded can of an energy drink (Monster is my crutch of choice) before sinking two of them in half an hour.

However, do we really know how much of an impact these energy drinks are having on our longterm health? Many drinks are not only filled with caffeine, but also with lesser-known ingredients such as guarana, whose impact on our bodies over long periods of time has not yet been studied.

A state of what the WHO researchers call “wideawake drunkenness” can lead to more dangerous actions

Recent studies conducted by the World Health Organisation have revealed several long-term threats to our health that frequent, daily consumption of energy drinks can lead to – some are unsurprising, such as a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity, others include developing “sensation-seeking behaviour”, and the use of (and addiction to) more harmful substances.

Of course, for young people these days, the consumption of energy drinks isn’t just restricted to when they might need a quick boost of energy – in fact, I’d argue just as many people consume energy drinks as part of an alcoholic mixer. Be it a Red Bull vodka, a Jäger-bomb or god knows what else, many people probably don’t even realise the damage they could be doing to themselves (outside of the regular risks that come with alcohol consumption obviously).

As always, the increased heart rate as a result of the caffeine is a danger, but also a state of what the WHO researchers call “wide-awake drunkenness”, where the effects of the energy drink reduce drowsiness while also not reducing the effects of alcohol, means that there can be a loss of inhibition and self-control, that can lead to more uncontrollable or dangerous actions.

The scariest part of these studies is the fact that researchers are still unaware of the long-term effects that energy drink consumption could have on your body. I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll be taking a coffee from here on out.

By Anastasia Syntak Alcohol is very familiar to University students, or so it is stereotyped. The question of whether teens would be more responsible with alcohol if their parents had safely introduced them to it, and explained the pros and cons of its consumption, varies from person to person. Alcohol can be addictive and harmful to our health, but if we are aware of that fact and can moderate how much we drink we should be fine, right?

Often, parents wish to isolate their children from all things harmful, alcohol being one of them.

This often has a bad effect on their child, as their curiosity grows and their need to explore new things increases. At some stage, everyone will or has already tasted alcohol, and has decided as to whether they enjoyed it or not.

What some parents have started doing is introducing their children to low percentage alcoholic beverages, to get them understand that even if it has a pretty colour, the liquid can taste very awful, which could either kill their curiosity of alcohol completely or intrigue them to understand and appreciate the beverage.

If the child is underage but are under the strict supervision of their legal guardian, there shouldn’t be much reason to worry, since this means they have a strong connection and trust in each other; their guardian would trust that the teen be truthful about

drinking. This is opposed to the teenager hiding it, and suffering the consequences of excessive and mindless drinking, which can be extremely dangerous.

In my opinion, supervised drinking for an underaged person should be at special events which involve celebration, this would let the person understand that drinking is not for every day. In situations like these, it would be expected that the teen will be told to stop and will not be given more than one glass.

Some people believe that young people go too far with drinking when they’re underage because they haven’t been trusted to even taste alcohol before at home. Children in France are often given a small glass of wine with their evening meal, and over time they develop an appreciation of the drink, meaning when they turn eighteen, they don’t go crazy with alcohol. This could explain why France has some of the best wineries in the world, and why their youth can enjoy alcohol with a meal, rather than drinking themselves to oblivion due to a lack of knowledge and experience.

In general, it is completely up to the family whether they introduce their children to alcohol or not, but it is good to note that lack of understanding of alcohol will only raise their curiosity, rather than quench it. Drink responsibly!

If you have been affected by the contents of this article, Alcoholics Anonymous Ireland can be contacted on 01-8420700.

e

Become a 2019/20 CÉIM Leader Bí i do Cheannaire CÉIM don Bhliain 2019/20

CÉIM leaders support 1st year students to transition to university life, gain a greater understanding of coursework and meet new people in a relaxed environment.

What’s in it for you?

Cé na buntáistí a bhainfidh tú as?

• Intensive leadership training • Looks great on your CV • Develop key skills • Meet new people • Support 1st year students • Hoodie and parties for leaders • CÉIM leadership certificate and digital badge • Apply for NUI Galway President’s Award and Employability Award Eligible students: 1st year Engineering • 1st and 2nd year Geography • 1st and 2nd year BA Law • 1st and 2nd year Civil Law • 1st and 2nd year Corporate Law • 1st and 2nd year Denominated Psychology • 2nd year Psychological Studies • 1st and 2nd year Political Science and Sociology

Closing Date: Monday 11th February • Dáta Deiridh: Dé Luain 11 Feabhra

Find out more and apply Faigh tuilleadh eolais agus déan iarratas

WWW.SU.NUIGALWAY.IE/CEIM CÉIM is based on the proven Peer Assisted Learning model, and is a joint initiative of the Discipline of Geography, the School of Law; the School of Political Science and Sociology; the School of Psychology, the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies; the College of Engineering and Informatics; and the Students’ Union. CÉIM is funded by NUI Galway.

12 O PI N IO N

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

GILLETTE: the best a woman can get By Áine Kenny The recent furore over the “controversial” Gillette ad once again proves we have a long way to go before feminist ideas become accepted by mainstream society. The ad, featuring a #MeToo theme, portrays men behaving badly: bullying, catcalling and ‘mansplaining’.

Many people have said that this portrays all men in a negative light.

However, this stance is a fatal misunderstanding of the ad. The ad states that some men are already analysing this behaviour, calling out their friends, and teaching their sons to respect women and to express their emotions in a healthy way. Also, nearly half of the ad features men bullying other men.

What Gillette is pointing out is that toxic masculinity, as a whole, negatively impacts women and men.

To say that this ad is political correctness gone mad really underestimates the severity of the issues facing men today.

Men face a serious amount of bullying, especially aggressive physical bullying.

This culture of violence is enshrined in films like Fight Club. More sensitive men are put down, othered, and we wonder why men are facing a mental health crisis. Men account for 80 percent of suicides in Ireland, according to the HSE. All Gillette was trying to do was show the root cause of this issue: the impossible and toxic standards set for men to be considered ‘real men’.

Gillette also point out how systemic sexual harassment is. While I recognise that not all men participate in catcalling, groping and assault, I really don’t think men are being called out enough by their peers. In a survey conducted by NUI Galway, 70 per cent of female students, and 40 per cent of male students had experienced sexual harassment by final year. While both numbers are high, clearly, female students are experiencing harassment on a much larger scale.

Globally, 120 million girls have experienced ‘forced sex’, according to UN Women. What these statistics prove is that these perpetrators are not listening to women. When we say no, we are not heard. This is why it is so important for other men to speak up on our behalf.

How many of us women have been in a nightclub and been approached by a guy? We think ‘I’m sure he’s very nice, but I am not interested.’ But it is not as simple as saying: “no thanks”. What ensues is a complicated game of how to not offend the man, while also extracting yourself from the situation.

Because let’s be real, saying no doesn’t work. Even if you’re nice about it. Some men view no as a challenge, not a final decision. “Why not? That’s so rude, you don’t even know me that well.”

Then every woman uses her get out of jail card: the fictitious or real boyfriend.

“I have a boyfriend,” you say. Suddenly, the man jumps up. “Oh that’s fine then,” they say, quickly walking off, wishing you well. What this proves is that some men, like the bad men in the Gillette ad, have more respect for a (potentially imaginary) man who isn’t even there, rather than a woman’s right to say no to his unwanted advances.

I can’t count the number of times I have had to ‘rescue’ a friend from this type of situation. And none of the lad’s friends come up and say “listen man, she’s not interested, plenty of other fish in the sea.” In fact, they start trying to convince you to get with their friend too. So, to say that the majority of men are already calling out their friends’ behaviour is not true, at least in my experience. That is why I was so delighted to see this ad.

The cynic in me also sees why Gillette is marketing towards women. Gillette men’s razors are better, sharper and cheaper than any female razor on the market. So,

the company are cleverly opening up to a new demographic, women can buy their products while also feeling empowered.

Gillette have said: “It’s time we acknowledge that brands, like ours, play a role in influencing culture. And as a company that encourages men to be their best, we have a responsibility to make sure we are promoting positive, attainable, inclusive and healthy versions of what it means to be a man.”

But this isn’t just empty words. Gillette have also said that as part of The Best Men Can Be campaign, they’ll

donate $1 million per year for the next three years to non-profits who run programmes aimed at helping men “achieve their personal best, and become role models for the next generation.”

So, what is the issue here? Do we really want to live in a world where alleged abusers get away with groping, harassing and assaulting for over twenty years, with no one, including their male friends, willing to speak up? This ad reignited the conversation about men’s role in the #MeToo movement, which for me, can only be a good thing.

Getting to know me by being alone

By Olivia Hanna There are some people in the world who can’t stand to be alone. They find silence claustrophobic and ache for company to quell their unease. I have never been one of those people.

As an only child, I became well versed in the language of loneliness at a young age. And when I say lonely I don’t mean it in a sad sense, but as a matter of fact, I was alone a lot and it was okay. I learned to entertain myself and to be content doing so.

I created universes by myself when I was little, where I was a prima ballerina or a fabulous princess or a Broadway actress. I found games that could be enjoyed solo and evolved into a slightly older girl who never felt alone between the black and white pages of a good book.

I enjoyed my time with friends as most people do, but I looked forward to the quiet moments afterwards where I could just be myself: uninterrupted.

It wasn’t until college, when I first moved here to Galway, that I was fully immersed in the feeling of ‘aloneness’.

As a kid I wasn’t alone for more than a few hours at a time. I would be in school for the majority of the day with friends, or on weekends eventually be called for dinner. After moving to a different country away from any one I knew, I began to live for days without much contact with anyone who mattered to me.

I coped through music, food and brief calls to my friends and family at home, but at a certain point I had to change my perspective. Being alone wasn’t just being alone, it was about getting

to know myself more intimately then I ever had to before. In a strange way I had to become my own friend. I learned to embrace some of my quirks and flaws and celebrate the things I was good at.

Eventually, I began to make myself laugh at my own jokes.

These days, almost three years into living and studying abroad, I’m still adjusting to being lonely. I have a great boyfriend who I only go a maximum of 24 hours without seeing, but as far as people I see regularly in Galway, he’s pretty much it. There are days when I go without talking to more than one other person, or no one at all.

Sometimes it’s the best feeling to interact with other people, but most days I love being left to my devices and learning more and more about what makes me, me.

Men told to shave off masculinity

By Aaron Deering A recent Gillette ad has sparked controversy amongst men, and rightly so. The ad implies that most men are bad and display toxic masculinity, and that only some men know how to act in the right way.

The ad basically paints all men with the same brush, that we all allow bullying and harassment to take place, when this clearly isn’t the case.

This ad by Gillette was nothing short of a PR stunt. Gillette doesn’t care about the #MeToo movement or women’s equality. They have the hypocrisy to highlight the lack of women in boardrooms, and yet the company itself only has two women on its board of nine directors.

This ad uses so many stereotypes about men which include violence and bullying. I’ve never in all my years alive seen any dads stand by and watch two boys fighting and just shrug it off as ‘boys will be boys’.

It’s insulting to think that men stand by and do nothing.

With regards to bullying, it applies to both sexes, not just men. Bullying is not just confined to one gender and is a real issue that affects nearly everybody in their life, so for Gillette to imply that it’s a man only problem is worrying and irresponsible.

I’ve no issue with the #MeToo movement, and I recognise and support the work it is doing to raise women’s issues and promote equality for women. I also condemn sexual harassment by men and the alleged actions of Harvey Weinstein, and he deserves to be locked up for his crimes if he is proven guilty.

The issue is that Gillette have tried to paint a picture that nearly all men are like Weinstein, and only some men act in the right way. This is completely wrong. Most men do act in the right way, and only a small proportion of men engage in wrongful behaviour. We know the difference between right and wrong and we didn’t need the #MeToo movement or this Gillette ad to tell us that.

All this ad has done is infuriate men who already know how to morally behave. It’s easy for some people to say the outrage expressed by men over this ad is an overaction, but imagine if this ad was flipped around and featured women in a negative light. Imagine using the words ‘toxic femininity’ to describe women, but we wouldn’t because it is disrespectful and degrading, but it’s ok to use this description for men?

This ad does point out the harmful things some men do and there is no denying that, but it also creates an identity crisis for men, particularly young men. This kind of ad does not help the mental health crisis young men are experiencing, as it shows men that being masculine is wrong and shouldn’t be allowed. What if someone wants to be masculine? What is wrong with that? As a society, are we now against freedom of expression?

There were comments by some people in support of this ad, saying that real men cry and open up about their feelings. When was this ever considered not being a real man? I, for one, cry and talk to people about how I am feeling, and it doesn’t make me any less of a man. Similarly, playing football or being competitive doesn’t make me more of a man.

The way this society is going it’s nearly a crime to be a man, and the way Gillette generalises men in this ad creates a serious issue. We now have companies trying to control men. My hope is that this attack on young men stops, and that rather than generalising all men as bad, people work together to stamp out this sort of behaviour, as it is not just confined to men.

TUAIRIM

January 29 2019

13

THE ART OF LISTENING: learning to understand and support

By Fiona Lee Talking about things doesn’t have to be a major event. It doesn’t have to be an intervention, a moment of crisis where it can’t be avoided any longer, or during an emotional break where things can’t be held in anymore. There are always people who will listen, but in saying that we should all remember how to listen. How to really listen.

We will continue to tell the people around us that we will always be there to talk, be there for them when they’re troubled and support them through whatever comes up, but what does that really mean? What it doesn’t mean is fixing their problems for them. As much as we’d like to lift weights off of our loved ones’ shoulders and give them immediate relief, we can’t always take the

worries away. Some things don’t have an obvious or an immediate solution, and sometimes situations are just not so great, and they might stay that way for a while.

We all know the feeling of carrying a burden.

The weight of worries can be overwhelming sometimes, or they can just be an uncomfortable itch at the back of our minds. It’s nice when you can sit back, take a breather, and speak with ease with a friend, a family member, or even a fellow co-worker; no matter what the topic may be. There’s comfort in being heard. Solutions are rarely the immediate concern and maybe all we really need is a big rant with a good friend.

It takes patience and it can be difficult sometimes, but what we can do is stand by them, and listen to what they have to say. Whether

When should you quit your job?

By Rachel Garvey As students, we are well accustomed to our mothers going on about earning money to invest in the future. Yes mother, I’m aware by now, thanks for the daily reminders. There are some jobs we will always remember, and we gain knowledge of the new skills we learned from them, but the jobs that we don’t want to remember are ones that we must learn from.

To elaborate, we become a happier and more skilful person from the good jobs, but the bad jobs teach us what the world is like out there, and how to shield yourself from having bad experi-

Photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash ences again. We are all people with rights and responsibilities. We have a right to be treated in a respectful manner, and it is our responsibility to try and protect ourselves from being treated in a way no-one should be treated.

I learned a very valuable lesson during the summer of 2018, to walk away and choose not to stay in a place where my pride and hard work was being poked at daily. As the only employee to smile and chat to customers, I felt proud in my place of work, the service given made people and

children happy. However, nearby employees and the manager were the opposite, and complaints were put in daily to my boss.

I was watched by the manager, and it got to the point where I would cry at my stall. I was subjected to sit there for hours on end with no lunch break, and my longest day was from twelve in the afternoon to ten at night, still no break then either. Friends and family members would drop by and say “hi” and play a quick game to win a prize, but it soon became known to me that I was permitted to speak to no-one who stopped by.

Everyone else left their stall and spent ages talking to whoever they wanted, so why couldn’t I do the same?

If you are ever in a job where they belittle you and make up stories to get you in trouble, then leave. On quiet days I would bring my book to read until my boss told me “why am I getting numerous complaints from staff that you are reading and not serving customers?”. I felt hopeless and my self esteem plunged to rock bottom. The customers were always my top priority, so where were all these stories coming from? To make matters worse, I was sexually harassed, and my boss stood behind me while sexual comments were thrown at me. I was intimidated and close to tears, and all my boss could do was laugh.

I learned my lesson. It was a mistake to try and last till the end of the summer, but it wasn’t a mistake to walk away and never return. We’re all going to experience a job like that at some stage in our lives, we must take the good with the bad. Jobs that are good will teach us how to flourish and become more confident with new acquired skills, especially when you have great work buddies.

Jobs that are bad will teach us the importance of treating people with respect, don’t be afraid to walk away with your head held high if it doesn’t work out. To quote a customer I served: “I’m here at this very moment, staff have zero manners and zero personality, with the exception of one girl”.

I’m proud to say that “one girl” is never going back.

it’s big or small, built up over time or a stray, irritating thought, everything is worth hearing.

In doing that we are not only supporting them, but we’re learning more about them as a person, and therefore learning how to be there for them in the future too. Once we drop the anxiety of ‘what’s the best thing to say to make all this go away,’ we can sit back and try to truly hear them, learn from them and give them the strength to cope with inevitable difficulties.

With different experiences and perspectives mixing together, life can get complicated, and it would be a bit ridiculous to expect yourself to completely understand what others are going through all the time. It would also be unhelpful to assume people’s feelings based on how you

might feel in their shoes. Listen to what they have to say. Accept their feelings and support them through it without judgment or fear. This comes into the whole ‘my problems aren’t real problems’ issue; even seeing the discomfort in the eyes of a friend when you start venting about something seemingly small can also discourage someone from sharing at all.

It’s not always clear what to say to someone struggling, but it doesn’t have to be. Support does not mean taking the problems away. Listening, comforting, and letting someone feel heard, cared for and less lonely is all that’s needed. People are not always in the position to advise, but they absolutely can support. It can be as simple as that.

Once we drop the anxiety of ‘what’s the best thing to say to make all this go away,’ we can sit back and try to truly hear them, learn from them and give them the strength to cope with inevitable difficulties.

ENGINEERING & NURSING BALL Day 2 31st January • Kick off at 2pm with DJ PAUL BELTON

First 50 people get a complimentary drink

sultnuigalway

14 O PI N IO N

To compare, or not to compare

By Olivia Hanna A former American President once said “comparison is the thief of joy”. Though Roosevelt was not alive to experience social media, I’m sure he would argue that Facebook, Instagram and other platforms are thieves of joy.

The relationship I have with social media is interesting, and I’m sure I’m not alone. On one hand I love the scrolling: checking in on friends, reading the latest news, seeing beautiful places and inspiring artwork, but on the other hand these beautiful things make me feel a little less happy about who I am.

It’s not that I’m not a confident person, I am, but like many people I have my insecurities and a lot of people who I follow

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

Are millenials really the burnout generation?

By Gary Elbert

In the Manila North cemetery in Pasay City, Philippines, families live in the tombs, where they construct haphazard dwellings above rotting corpses and marbled stone.

The Philippines is a developing country, but as with most capitalist progression patterns, the development is uneven, and the country’s impoverished underclass have yet to experience a trickle-down effect under autocrat Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Gleaming new ‘Bladerunner’ style skyscrapers punctuate the night sky, while skinny street kids shoot hoops in the alleys below, and armed security guards protect the tills in McDonalds and Starbucks.

Visiting the country last summer provided a rollercoaster ride through a Dickensian dystopia that also served as a reminder of just how ridiculously narcissistic western societies have become. 150 years ago, Irish people were starving to death, and now we spend our time posting rubbish about gluten free yogurt and laughing yoga classes, while millions of citizens across the developing world are living in abject misery.

The millennial generation gets a lot of flak. Overly sensitive and immune to real struggle, the image is one of mollycoddled narcissism and nihilistic over-consumption producing bland whingers, stuck in a permanent teenage mode of everything being so unfair.

Yet the generation that came before them were far from role models. The nineties era produced a generation of nihilistic yoke-popping lunatics for whom nothing mattered except self-gratification, albeit in a communal setting. The nineties generation was a reaction to the evil hypocrisy of the Catholic Church and the first initial steps of globalisation, as transport and communication began to improve and become more accessible.

This was the dying days of Old Ireland as political and religious criminality slowly filtered into public conPhoto by Kev Costello on Unsplash sciousness. The Church has never recovered, while the political status quo is struggling to maintain its grip by possess many of the qualities that I want to have and are the shapeshifting into social justice warriors. See our unelected leader for antithesis of the things I don’t like about myself. There are peoexample, who long campaigned against abortion and immigration, yet ple my age, 22, who have beautiful homes, disposable incomes, now presents himself as a poster boy of such ground-up movements. tiny waistlines, and enviable wardrobes. It’s hard not to let For the millennial generation that followed, hyper-protective parthese things be the thief of my joy. enting ensued amidst a dearth of spiritual sustenance, as 21st century Even though I hate constantly comparing myself to the women consumerism amped up and technology exploded, forever changing I see on my tiny iPhone screen, I continue to subject myself to it. the landscape of our society. Its difficult to fully describe the revolution I scroll further and further into my Instagram feed, further and that mobile phones have rapidly instigated, but evidence from research further into my insecurities. But why? I’m not so sure. on the mental health of millennials suggest an epidemic of anxiety and Is it to motivate myself to achieve the things they have? imprisoned individualism strangling the fun and joy out of societies.

Is it to superficially surround myself with the things I want, Neo-liberal market principles have given rise to the precariat, a but don’t have? Is to bring me a brief glimpse of joy before the postmodern version of Marx’s proletariat who are stuck, like hamsters feelings of inadequacy trickle in? on a wheel, in un-unionised jobs and paying inflated rents to unreguI don’t think I’ll ever know the answer, but I can ask this: lated tax-dodging landlords. is feeling bad about myself worth the ‘joy’ I get from scrolling The public debate, as usual, quickly polarises itself along rigid intelthrough carefully curated posts? Definitely not. lectual currents. Our debate platforms in the traditional media are But that is the trouble with social media, the careful curation limited by time, ego, and demand for entertainment, ensuring that of everything we outsiders have access to. The people on the other such debates are superficial and tiresome point-scoring affairs, hence side of the screen are showing us a glimpse into their lives, not the the attraction of social media public intellectuals like Jordan Peterfull picture. And that glimpse is something that they have complete control over. We don’t get to see their insecurities unless they share them. We don’t always see when they’re upset, or fighting with their significant other, or grieving a loss, or feeling unworthy. And the thing is, we all know this because we’re all guilty of doing the same thing.

We filter our selfies, FaceTune our teeth to be whiter, add a cheery caption and a bunch of emojis. No one is completely candid, nor should we be, but it’s important to remember that there’s an entire world beyond the screen.

I don’t know how I’m going to stop comparing myself to others, but Roosevelt’s quote is a step forward. Comparison really is stealing my joy, and I deserve to be joyful. We all deserve to be joyful and to celebrate what makes us special. It’s okay to appreciate others in the social media stratosphere, but never let it infringe on what makes you happy, and what makes you unique.

150 years ago, Irish people were starving to death, and now we spend our time posting rubbish about gluten free yogurt and laughing yoga classes, while millions of citizens across the developing world are living in abject misery.

son and the Intellectual Dark Web. Those over 35 like to categorise all millennials as soft, spoiled brats. ‘Snowflake’ is the common term of abuse amongst a certain type of sad case that likes to indulge in online debates anonymously.

Such meaningless name-calling and labelling fail to express anything of note, much less capture the complexity of the millennial generation. On the one hand, younger athletes coming up in various sports from hurling to Jiu jitsu are stronger, faster and more focused than anything that’s ever come before, but on the other hand anxiety, depression rates and counselling visits are approaching astronomical rates amongst that generation.

The arrival of social media precipitated an exorbitant spike in teenage girls’ rates of depression, according to American social psychologist Johnathan Haidt. This technology is hacking into still-developing brains, as algorithms continually recalibrate and modify to an extent now where phones can seem surgically attached to millennials hands.

The attraction of drink and tobacco to millennials seems to have fallen from previous generations, a welcome development. Millennials may be more sensitive and less resilient, but they also appear more environmentally aware.

Alas, evidence seems robust that millennials are spending more time alone, staring into screens, and constructing these online narratives and alternative identities that ultimately are facilitating a kind of psychological paralysis and existentialist reflection that does not lend itself to optimally functioning human beings.

Ultimately, growth comes from challenge, and struggle will facilitate improvement or fashion an excuse to give up, to complain and to blame.

The danger for millennials is a watered-down version of struggle, and an exaggerated sense of suffering, creating a world of delusion.

In an age of entitled narcissism and hyper-individualism, the solutions seem obvious yet marginalised. Stop staring at screens, stop engaging in pathetic online arguments and go out and volunteer while cultivating a gratitude that you are not living your life huddled in a cemetery surrounded by rodents and cockroaches.

The citizens of Manila North cemetery and other such deprived places across the world do not have the luxuries us millennials have, yet it was an inescapable fact to me that these brave people seemed happier than us self-obsessed idiots here in the West, who have become spoiled, delusional, and lazy.

Institutionalised religion has taken a well-deserved battering in the decades of millennial existence but the ‘God Is Dead’ theory advanced by Nietzsche touches on some fundamental truths inherent within religious doctrine from Islam to Christianity; humility being something that can strengthen one’s spiritual health, and ground and protect us from technolog y-inspired humble bragging delusion.

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

FAIS EAN

January 29 2019

7

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

Living her best life:

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

By Amy McMahon

Activist Ashley Graham is an inspiration to all. As a plussize model, she has become ‘the first’ to do many things in the beauty and fashion industry, from gracing the cover of Vogue US and Sports Illustrated, to signing a beauty contract. These firsts have instilled a confidence and reassurance in women everywhere that we are beautiful. No ifs, buts or maybes.

With the weather getting that bit colder and assignments piling up, it’s important for us students to look after ourselves. Take note from Ashley Graham’s healthy lifestyle and we should survive another semester. The model recently ran through her morning routine with Elle and it’s just what you need to make a 9am lecture with a smile. Graham wakes up at 7:45am and has a Bible study in bed.

Basically any positivity in the morning will do. If a Bible verse isn’t your cup of tea, try these uplifting Instagram accounts: @theslumflower, @bodyposipanda and @i_weigh.

Moving onto skincare, Graham stresses the importance of giving your skin and body the nutrients it needs and takes Vitamin C and B12 every morning. She moisturizes daily using the Zao organic moisturizer, which Graham admits she bought solely from beauty bloggers’ recommendations, relatable.

That being said, it’s quite difficult to get your hands on in Ireland and not to mention pricey.

Instead, try the Ordinary’s natural skin hydrator for €5.39 (available from Beauty Bay). A fraction of the price with all the benefits. In the video with Elle, Graham revealed she is always running 15 minutes late, so don’t feel guilty for swanning into your lecture a little late.

Now that your skin and soul have freshened up, it’s time to add a little touch of makeup. “You have to feel and look your best to go out into the world and slay,” according to Ashley. Amen. She loves the ‘no makeup’ makeup look and opts for simple everyday makeup. Seeing as Graham is signed to Revlon, most of the products she uses are from the brand. Great products for an affordable price, just what the student ordered! Keeping with a natural makeup look, Revlon’s ColorBurst Lacquer Balm (€11.49, Boots) is worth a try. I recommend the shade ‘Coy’ for Ashley Graham luscious lips.

Last year the model branched out to add a clothing line to her resumé. Her collaboration with Pretty Little Thing went down a treat with items still available now. Graham focused on creating pieces suitable for all shapes and sizes with stock ranging from UK 4 to 28. Incredible! As we approach Valentine’s day, I’ve pulled a night out look together from her line, ideal for whatever your plans may be.

The black long sleeve cowl neck bodysuit from the PLT line

is the perfect dress up or dress down piece for any wardrobe (€28). Pair it with the leopard print mesh maxi skirt (€18) for an extra splash of sass, as done on the site. Finish the look off with big gold hoops (€6) and matching gold heels (€28), just as AG wears. All available from Pretty Little Thing; one order from bed and you’re done.

Final pointers for the Ashley Graham lifestyle, eat well and go to bed early. She’s a big fan of green smoothies and eating as much veggies as she can. She opts for dark chocolate as her snack, just make sure you don’t get hooked and end up eating the whole bar!

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January 29 2019

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7

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

17

2019’s beauty trends

that we can actually get behind

By Molly Fitzpatrick With constant innovation and new product drops, the beauty industry is one which rarely slows down, and 2019 is set to be no exception with a plethora of exciting new products due to hit our shelves. The beauty industry thrives on newness and with social media only adding to the speed at which one trend becomes hot and another is forgotten about, its never been harder to keep up, but look no further, here are the beauty trends of 2019 that are actually worth your while (and money!).

Sustainable beauty

We go through beauty products like there’s no tomorrow, with little thought of where they came from or where they’ll end up once we chuck the bottle.

But with no planet B to retire to, sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity, and this rings true when it comes to the beauty industry. The beauty industry is notorious for its negative impact on the environment, it massively contributes to pollution and drains natural resources. However, over the past year we saw the rise of sustainable beauty and it’s not set to slow down anytime soon. The beauty industry is committed to reducing the impact of its plastics, with new innovative packaging strategies and new formulations. Lush is leading the way with their 100% packaging free products, or ‘naked’ as they call them. Making everything from shampoo to make-up in solid form allows people to use reusable tins instead of harmful plastics.

Liquid exfoliators

2019 is the year we say goodbye to overly harsh exfoliators that do more harm than good. Since our teen years, many of us have been using the likes of St Ives and other gritty exfoliators in hope of unclogging pores

and clearing up our skin, when in reality these physical exfoliators irritated the skin. Since the banning of the sale, manufacture and import of products containing microbeads, which includes many physical exfoliators, beauty brands have been exploring different formulas. Liquid exfoliators unlike scrubs have a water-like texture and use gentle chemicals to lift dead skin and dirt from the surface of the skin, meaning the pores don’t get clogged and the skin is left brighter and smoother. Pixi’s ‘Glow tonic’ uses glycolic acid along with aloe vera and ginseng reduce spots, reduce discolouration and refine pores.

Big brows are going nowhere

brand ambassador being a young women with Down syndrome. It’s only upwards when it comes to inclusivity for the beauty industry. What can we expect? More beauty brands catering for all, more extensive colour ranges, and gender, age and ethnicity inclusive marketing.

Glossy make-up

It’s finally time we bid farewell to having matte make-up for good, lets face it, we should have left overly powered skin in 2009 with our ‘dream matte mousse’ days. Instead of dusting your features with a thick layer of cakey powder, highlight them with a little gloss. From slick lids to lips and glowy cheek bones, anything goes, the dewier the better.

Do you ever look back at your old photos and flinch at the sight of your over plucked eyebrows?

Well the good news is bushy eyebrows are going nowhere. In fact, the overly sculpted boxy brow will take a back seat and the natural untamed feathery brow will be seen more and more, that’s €20 a month we can save on waxing and tinting, so I’m not complaining!

Diversity

Something the beauty industry has been crying out for is more diversity, and over the past year we have seen some quantum leaps between Fenty’s inclusive foundation range (which was long over-due for the beauty industry) to Benefit’s new

Irish women in fashion

By Amy McMahon

This tiny island of ours is home to some of the most stylish women in fashion today. Our cailíní are representing the country well in the fashion scene. From actresses to activists, these ladies always bring their ‘A’ game, and we can’t get enough of their style savvy and humble nature.

Erika Fox

Fashion blogger and YouTuber Erika Fox may be better known as the stylish Retro Flame. The NUI Galway alum moved to New York’s Upper East Side post-graduation and we’ve envied her lavish lifestyle ever since. She’s gained quite the following – 138k on Instagram to be exact – for her chic fashion sense and downto-earth personality. Fox is the master of mixing high-street with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga and Celine. It would break our student-budget hearts if she wasn’t so lovely!

Sinéad Burke

Author, activist and all-round inspiration, Sinéad Burke is someone to take note of in the fashion industry. Last

year she graced the cover of the Business of Fashion’s ‘Age of Influence’ issue alongside Kim Kardashian.

Burke has also been named one of the 25 most influential people in fashion by Vogue, and is a Contributing Editor at British Vogue. There is no higher praise. The three-and-a-half-foot trailblazer aims to raise awareness for disability and design across the board. Her TED talk ‘why design should include everyone’ has been viewed over 1.3 million times.

Laura Whitmore

Bray bombshell Laura Whitmore has been a trendsetter in the media for many years, working for MTV, ITV, BBC and the rest of the alphabet. She tends to incorporate trends with an indie meets chic vibe, which seems to go down well with her 560k following on Instagram.

Whitmore seems to be a very genuine gal, despite the award shows and designer dresses. A hilarious caption will follow nine out ten stunning photos she posts on Instagram; a classic sign of a chill, grounded young woman.

Saoirse Ronan

Who doesn’t love Saoirse Ronan? The Irish actress recently graced the Golden Globes red carpet in a gorgeous Gucci gúna, presented an award and headed home to watch the rest in her pjs eating pizza. Iconic. Although Ronan did not receive any Oscar nominations this year, we’re certain all eyes will be on her in whatever she wears on the night.

Samantha Barry

Samantha Barry is a very impressive lady. Hailing from Cork, she has risen to the top of the fashion food chain as the Editor-in-Chief of Glamour magazine. Barry boasts an exciting life in the Big Apple with name drop worthy friends like Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour. Showing the world that workwear can be bright, bold and still professional is her speciality. There is no fear of this cailín forgetting her Irish roots any time soon thanks to her fiery red locks.

If these ladies haven’t instilled a sense of belief in our small country, nothing will. They continue to achieve extraordinary things… and in heels! It may not be easy to follow in their fashionable footsteps, but we can try.

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January 29 2019

7

Foods that are damaging our planet – and most of us don’t even know

By Sinéad Walsh Many of us are blissfully ignorant to where our food comes from and the environmental impact of its production. We like to blindly focus on the shelf of the supermarket where we bought it, and not the many large carbon footprints which brought it there.

But it is time for reality to kick in.

The foods we consume are harming our planet, and ourselves. I’m not here to lash you with vegan mantras, I want to open your eyes to the fact that our food choices have an impact far beyond our health and well-being, the diet habits that engulf our daily lives in fact have drastic consequences on our world as a whole – in ways we often are utterly unaware of.

The agricultural and meat producing sector has been under fire for years for its harmful effects on our environment. The list of damages cultivated by cattle-rearing is endless, with mass amounts of land around the globe being cleared to make way for beef and dairy production. The nitrates and phosphorus fed to cattle reared for dairy production cause effluent and run off materials to pollute rivers and lakes, causing unnatural eutrophication and serious endangerment to waterbased species.

Popular pesticides and herbicides have the same effect, meaning that effluent builds up in marine habitats, having deadly consequences for wildlife. The devastating effects of meat production and agriculture are in the Irish spotlight of late, following Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s comments that he aims to cut down his meat, and particularly beef consumption. This has been met with fierce opposition from agricultural associations who claim beef production in Ireland is the sector’s economic backbone.

Although many may be opposed to the idea of downsizing traditional farming methods, Ireland, along with numerous other countries, may need to investigate alternative production options of ecofriendly, sustainable substitutes for the sake of the longevity of our planet and

generations to come. The time for change has come and gone, our dear planet has already suffered the ramifications of our egregious actions and greed-fuelled over-consumption.

But, in order to mitigate the damage that has already been inflicted, we must each commit to making immediate and effective changes to our consumption and production patterns before we lose more precious ecosystems and destroy the means we need to survive.

Iceland’s famously harrowing Christmas ad depicting the crude destruction of rainforests and homes of unique creatures and plants was dubiously removed from our gaze when it was rejected from television screenings this year, represent-

ing. So how much more of our world is going to be steam-rolled and destroyed before our eating habits will change?

Can you imagine the place you call home, where you sleep and spend your days, being wiped out seemingly overnight? Can you picture it being replaced by an endless sea of crops, whose by-products you will never see or consume, but will be flown and shipped across the globe for people to eat who don’t care for the destruction they’ve incidentally caused to your homeland? Suddenly that tomato-infused base and cheesy crust doesn’t seem so appetising.

Some more bad news: the stereotypically much-loved, essential brunch food of millennials is making the hitlist – ­avocados aren’t as much of a superfood as we were led to believe. It takes a staggering 72 gallons of water to produce the delicious green fruit, while a whole gallon of water is needed to produce just one almond where they are grown in California.

This kind of waste and water usage, particularly in a region ridden with drought, confirms the ill practices of those companies producing our food.

While it seems impossible to enjoy a meal that isn’t tarnished with environmental damage, there are simple changes we can make to our dietary habits to greatly reduce the negative impact we make. Shopping locally and organically can make a significant impact by reducing the carbon footprint and airmiles of the food we eat, while ensuring producers get a fair and decent price for their produce.

Buying loose fruit, veg and storebought foods with minimal or recyclable packaging is also an important step to redirecting the impact of our eating habits. If we make changes to our demand for environmentally damaging foods, then the practices of those corporations mass-producing and destroying our planet will have to change also.

Essentially the land mass of an entire country has been swallowed up by the production of an ingredient which many of us are not even aware we are consuming.

ing how disgusted yet unwilling we are to admit to the truth of the devastating effects our daily food choices have on the earth. Palm oil’s inclusion in almost every product we buy, including beauty products and tasty frozen pizza, has led to the destruction of the rainforest and human settlements, accumulating to the size of New Zealand.

That is a difficult fact to proccess, essentially the land mass of an entire country has been swallowed up by the production of an ingredient which many of us are not even aware we are consum-

NÓ S MAIRE ACHTÁLA

19

MARIE KONDO AND ME: the life-changing magic of detoxing your wardrobe

By Catherine Taylor On 1 January, Netflix debuted ‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,’ a reality show based on her bestselling self-help book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organising.’

The programme follows Kondo as she helps families whose houses have fallen victim to clutter reinvigorate their living spaces, emphasising that any items kept post-decluttering must ‘spark joy.’

Bored and looking for a task that could help me refocus my energy for the new year, I decided to try the now-trademarked ‘KonMari’ method for myself.

I’ve divided Kondo’s tips into four key steps which, if followed, will help any clothes addict like me to perform a much-needed wardrobe detox as we come into a new season!

Step 1: Pile It Up. The first step in the KonMari method is to take every piece of clothing you own, from socks to jackets, and pile it all up into one gigantic sartorial mountain. While this may seem like an arduous task, Kondo insists that it is only by seeing the sheer amount of clothing we own that we can find the strength to let go of those items that don’t spark joy. Being a fashion hoarder, I had anticipated that my own personal clothing mountain would probably take up my entire bed. What I did not anticipate however, was the fact that I had somehow, through years of hoarding, managed to acquire enough items to clothe a small country. After about two hours of sorting, I finally managed to rid my cramped wardrobe of exactly 4 bags (!) of unwanted, unworn clothing.

Step 2: What Don’t You Wear?

So how did I decide which items deserved a coveted space in my closet and which didn’t make the cut, you ask? While the KonMari method advises discarding any and all pieces that don’t spark joy, I decided to take an alternate approach. After all, my battered-up Nike trainers don’t exactly ‘spark joy,’ but I need them to go running nonetheless.

Following this thought, I would advise KonMari method virgins to discard their clothing items based on wear. Ask not whether an item sparks joy within you, but rather whether you have worn it in the last three months. If you haven’t, chuck it out. Which brings me to the third part of this organisational exercise…

Step 3: thank u, next.

One of the most striking, albeit slightly bizarre aspects to the KonMari method is Kondo’s insistence that upon deciding to let go of an item that doesn’t ‘spark joy,’ we should thank it before throwing it away. This undoubtedly made for entertaining television, as episode by episode Kondo persuaded each family member to say ‘thank you’ to their unwanted items, from clothes to books to kitchen utensils and Christmas decorations. Seeing as I was determined to follow Kondo’s method by the book as much as possible, I was pleasantly surprised to find that thanking my items really did help me to feel better about throwing them away. Thank you and goodbye, my artfully ripped blue jeans that haven’t seen the light of day since 2012. I won’t miss you.

Step 4: Fold, fold, fold!

Finally, without doubt the most ‘life-changing’ aspect of the KonMari method is her special folding technique (I’m serious). Kondo advises that rather than pile our clothing items on top of each other, making it impossible to pull a t-shirt from the pile without disturbing the rest, we should fold our clothes in such a way that they can stand up independently on our shelves and in our drawers. Now I know what you’re thinking: Catherine, that sounds highly improbable, and seems to defy the basic laws of physics. How can clothes stand up on their own, with nothing to hold them? Well friends, I won’t bore you with the intricate details of the KonMari folding method. You’ll have to watch ‘Tidying Up’ for yourself. I promise, your wardrobe (and your mother) will thank you.

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January 29 2019

7

SIAMSAÍOCHT

You need to watch it

By Rachel Garvey

So, we have all heard of Netflix, right? Of course we have, we are basically glued to it after college hours. I am personally stuck to it almost every day, and when I watch a movie or series that has me hooked from the first few minutes, I tell everyone about it. My motto is: “if I annoy them enough about it, then they’ll have to watch it”.

Netflix has recently brought out a new series called You. Altogether, it’s sexy and mysterious and it grips you by your throat from the very first episode, making you gasp for more. Ten episodes, each forty-five minutes long, and each second has you wondering what will happen next, the suspense is both terrifying and exhilarating.

Joe thinks he is the one for her.

He is her chance of a better life, a life where she isn’t pretending to be someone she’s not or where her heart gets broken, according to him. Usually with movies or books or series that have obsession and stalking in the plot, we are worried

Each second has you wondering what will happen next, the suspense is both terrifying and exhilarating.If you are a true fan of tv shows about obsession, stalking and murder, then You is for you.

It is possible to get through the series in a day, trust me, I am the true evidence of that fact. If you are a true fan of tv shows about obsession, stalking and murder, then You is for you. To give you a taste of what you’re in for; Beck, a young and beautiful college student with a passion for writing, visits a bookstore one day and meets the owner, Joe. He becomes infatuated with her and becomes tangled in her life. Her questionable taste of friends and drug addicted boyfriend lead Joe on a dangerous path, a path that causes him to do the unthinkable, and it’s all for Beck.

about the victim that is being preyed upon. However, in You, I found myself siding with our stalker. He had fallen in love with this girl and through following her, he learned that the people she had in her life weren’t good for her. It’s a strange and awkward feeling, to be siding with the villain, but I found myself wanting the two to be together. I learned that victim and villain will simply never go together.

Joe could have just told Beck how the people in her life were poisoning her, but instead he has his own vices. Vices that lead him to murder Beck’s friends and boyfriend, who are the true villains in Joe’s eyes. The things people do for love, eh?

Although Joe has gone to the extreme of eliminating what is standing between him and Beck being together, towards the end in the last few episodes things turn sour, and our favourite villain has suddenly become our least favourite person.

We fear what he will do next, and we realise what he is capable of from his past relationship. It is simply a phenomenal series to watch, with secrets and cliff hangers in almost every episode. You would be insane not to watch it.

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I AM PILGRIM by Terry Hayes Review

By Olivia Hanna ‘I AM PILGRIM’ is an exhilarating tale of one man’s life’s work for the underground world of American national intelligence, and his mission to save the country from the deadliest bio-warfare attack in history.

Hayes sucks readers into a world of secrecy, murder, lies and treachery, and keeps them hooked for the entirety of its 800 pages. The story flows between chronologies as the protagonist, ‘Scott’, shares his history and attempts to unravel the curiously intertwined mysteries of a perfectly executed murder in Manhattan, and one man’s mission to avenge his father’s death by unleashing weaponized smallpox on the American people.

The mystery of the antagonist, the notorious Saracen, becomes unraveled through Scott’s detailed retelling of his story. The

richness of the book comes from Scott’s knowledge of the Saracen’s life, yet it is also the reason for the book’s downfall: the conclusion.

In the final few chapters Scott finally comes to a dramatic and heroic faceoff with the would-be terrorist, but the two only have a brief exchange. It becomes unclear as to

exactly how Scott knew many of the details in the Saracen’s past.

Despite this, ‘I AM PILGRIM’ is still a worthwhile and captivating read. It is interesting to consider how, as well as why, someone would execute a large scale terror attack on America in a post 9/11 world. Just don’t be too disappointed by the conclusion.

The story flows between chronologies as the protagonist, ‘Scott’, shares his history and attempts to unravel the curiously intertwined mysteries of a perfectly executed murder in Manhattan, and one man’s mission to avenge his father’s death by unleashing weaponized smallpox on the American people.

21

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

And if you don’t know, now you know

By Sarah Gill On Thursday 17 January, Ariana Grande released her latest pop anthem ‘7 Rings’ with a R’n’B edge. The singer described the song as “like… a flex”, revolving around retail therapy, friendship and getting yourself what you want. In typical Ariana Grande fashion, the tune is a female anthem.

Following its initial release, the braggadocios song attracted some controversy. Grande has been branded a “culture vulture” by a number of people online, as well as accused of ripping off a number of other recording artists’ flows and bars.

These artists include A$AP Rocky, Soulja Boy and – most prominently – Princess Nokia. The positive side of this controversy comes in the form of Princess Nokia’s name being on everyone’s lips. But the female rapper is more than this incident, she has been making inspiring and adventurous music for years.

So, who is Princess Nokia? Here’s everything you need to know…

Born Destiny Frasqueri, Nokia began gaining prominence in 2014 with the release of her album Metallic Butterfly, but it was not until the release of 1992 Delux in 2017 that the rapper became a hugely popular recording artist. The album contains some anthems and from ‘Kitana’ to ‘Saggy Denim’, her style ranges from old school flow to modern day trap.

What remains constant throughout the album is Nokia’s sensational voice, a theme of body confidence and sexuality and references to NYC. She rejects society’s image of what is beautiful, creating a new narrative of what is sexy. In a video with Genius, she explained the thought process and meaning behind one of her most popular songs ‘G.O.A.T’. Nokia declared, “I am divine feminine energy”. Her confidence, liberation and je na sais quoi make her a remarkable artist and an inspiring person.

If you head to YouTube and surf through some of Nokia’s videos, you’ll see that she moves throughout genres seamlessly.

From ‘Apple Pie’, which has a dream-like Lana Del Rey-esque style, to ‘Mine’, a celebration of the culture and tradition surrounding women of colour’s hair and simultaneously a critique of those who do not understand it.

This is the song which has catapulted Nokia onto our screens in recent days, as there are some definite similarities between it and Ariana Grande’s ‘7 Rings’, with Nokia shrewdly stating, “sounds about white”.

2018 saw the release of A Girl Cried Red, which is a fusion of rock, emo and hip-hop. The mixtape centres around a theme of overcoming depression and loneliness, yet it contains banger after banger. “Smash my heart in pieces, it looks so good on the floor” is a refrain that appears on many of the songs featured on the mixtape, which gives a glimpse into the overall lyrical style of the tracks. In an interview, the shape-shifting artist stated that “black people created punk — the band Death was way before The Ramones… if you think about it, the wool has been pulled over our eyes. This is our s***. Very naturally, that’s why we return to it.”

Princess Nokia is an activist for women’s rights and has fought against adversities for what she believes in. Some of Nokia’s controversial acts of heroinism include throwing soup at a racist train passenger, punching an audience member for being sexist and stopping her show to call out gentrification in London. As well as all this, Princess Nokia has created a podcast and initiative entitled “Smart Girl Club” with Milah Libin, which aims to empower women of all shapes, sizes, colors, sexualities, and orientations by focusing on creative collaboration and celebration between women. “We all have baggage, pain, something we’re carrying – something we need to get through. That’s why I created the cover of light. To teach women how to rid this pain through holistic healing.” Through positive magical practice, the urban feminist collect are helping women to love themselves and feel protected, it is an outlet for learning, growing and flourishing.

Princess Nokia is a rapper, activist, feminist, poet and a force to be reckoned with.

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

Leaving Neverland: the controversial release of new Michael Jackson documentary

By Georgia Ryan Next week, the controversial new Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland will be premiered at The Sundance Film Festival. The film’s focus is said to be a fresh investigation into the contentious sexual assault claims on children made about Jackson.

The alleged victims in question are Wade Robson and James Safechuck. Back

in 2016, choreographer to the stars Robson attempted to sue the Jackson estate for damages of 1.62 billion, alleging that Jackson raped him for seven years from the ages of seven to fourteen. However, controversially, back in 2005 Robson had testified that although Jackson was a “weird guy,” he had never been inappropriate with him as a child.

Eventually, Robson’s case was thrown out of court by the judge who

determined that Jackson’s estate could not be held responsible for such allegations. Despite his documented claims that Jackson never assaulted him, Leaving Neverland investigates his claims of seven years of abuse and assault throughout his childhood.

Safechuck, a child star from the late 80’s, is also said to give harrowing details of alleged abuse and manipulation perpetrated by Jackson from the time he was ten years old.

The film’s release has provoked outrage amongst fans and the Jackson family as the film is set to reignite previously thrown out sexual abuse claims.

The two-part, four-hour documentary is said to contain agonizing interviews with the two boys (now men), their wives, mothers and siblings.

Following the release of the documentary at Sundance, Channel 4 is said to be airing what they call a “portrait of sustained abuse.”

In a statement, Director Dan Reed told the press; “If there’s anything we’ve learned during this time in our history, it’s that sexual abuse is complicated, and survivors’ voices need to be listened to.

It took great courage for these two men to tell their stories and I have no question about their validity. I believe anyone who watches this film will see and feel the emotional toll on the men and their families and will appreciate the strength it takes to confront long-held secrets.”

In retaliation to the claims made by Robson and Safechuck in the new documentary, Jackson’s nephew, Taj Jackson, has vowed to make his own documentary in order to reveal what he calls “the truth” behind the claims. In an effort to do this, Taj has begun a gofundme page in order to fund the documentary’s production.

The film’s release has provoked outrage amongst fans and the Jackson family as the film is set to reignite previously thrown out sexual abuse claims.

C U LT ÚR

January 29 2019

The Favourite Review

By Nithu Krish Whether you decide to watch this film or not depends a lot on your taste in cinema. Director Yorgos Lanthimos makes films that would generally be categorised as ‘weird’. And while The Favourite is weird, it does not feel off-putting.

If you have seen some of the director’s earlier work such as The Lobster or The Killing of a Sacred Deer, you will know what is in store. Even if you are not familiar, what you will get is a fun film that features some excellent acting and technical brilliance.

The film is set in early 18th century England and focuses on a rather unique love story. It revolves around Queen Anne and the two women vying for her attention. The script evolves into a love story that is unusual but entertaining.

What follows is often hilarious and a touch emotional here and there. In many ways this is the first light-hearted film of Lanthimos that I have seen.

But even here, there are some shock-inducing moments.

These will not make you turn away in horror but might make you smile at the wickedness of it all.

Though we have seen many period films that depict the English monarchy, the world that Lanthimos builds feels different.

When the beauty of the British landscape is contrasted with the slight absurdity of the plot, it makes the film stand out even more. Speaking of the landscape, this is an area where the technical excellence of The Favourite really makes an impression.

We get to see some absolutely gorgeous cinematography by Irishman Robbie Ryan. He is brilliant at evoking a sense of royalty. There’s really no other way to put it. Some of the shots will remind of you of the imagery seen in Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon.

The three women on whom the story focuses are all given their own space and time to show off their acting chops. But the best performance of the film belongs to Queen Anne, played by Olivia Colman.

Her character’s mix of vulnerability, innocence and royalty is fascinating to watch.

As for Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, both bring their A game and it makes the film that much better. The changing dynamics between the three of them highlights the power of love and our need to feel loved.

As for any flaws, your likes and dislikes when it comes to film will play a big part here. So, I would say that you give The Favourite a chance and who knows, you might end up liking it. It is ultimately a film about power and love and to be honest, I loved it. I hope you do too.

7

SIAMSAÍOCHT

23

The Stanford Prison Experiment film – A Critical Analysis

By Ameya Godse The human mind is the most formidable, self-sufficient, independent and thought-provoking entity there is. Psychologists and psychiatrists have spent countless hours trying to understand the behavioural patterns exhibited by human beings under different conditions, widening their horizons one bit at a time. But the human mind, having the depth and void of the universe, has time and again taken the entire medical fraternity by surprise.

One such study was conducted in 1971 at the Stanford University under the supervision of Dr Philip Zimbardo.

The procedure was simple; random college students were interviewed and were asked whether they would, if given a chance, like to become ‘prisoners’ or ‘guards’. Volunteers were then given an opportunity to join a mock prison, with Dr Zimbardo himself being the superintendent. The study in the “experimental penitentiary” began, which led to one of the most interesting behavioural characteristics exhibited by humans. A few days into the experiment, the guards became exponentially more dominating in nature, and the prisoners, submissive. While the predictability of this wasn’t ruled out, what took the team of observers by surprise was the sheer brutality of it.

The replica of the penitentiary was considered an important driving factor for the resulting behaviour.

The guards wore black sunglasses, which prevented them from making eye contact with the prisoners. The prisoners were only addressed with their “numbers”, which the guards made them shout out repeatedly like clockwork, till a point where the prisoners started having identity crises. The overtly dominating behaviour

of the guards started spiralling out of control as they “exercised” their authority over the prisoners, all being witnessed by Dr Zimbardo.

The initially planned 14-day prison simulation was ultimately called off in just six days, which led to a conclusive evidence that has helped design modern day penitentiaries. According to me, the most hauntingly interesting conclusion drawn from the experiment was the ‘power of authority’. The posts of prisoners and guards in the experiment was randomly allocated to the students based on a coin-toss. This means that the guards who exhibited dominance, did that merely because they were “given the opportunity” to.

On the other hand, the randomly allocated prisoners who rebelled initially were later thrown into solitary confinement. The sudden isolation led to the mental breakdown of two of such prisoners who had to be “discharged” from the experiment. An interesting showcase of hierarchy was seen in the mock prison. The guards, because of their authoritarian and dominating nature, were found to be at the apex; while the prisoners suffered from such mental torment that they automatically started considering themselves lower.

The behavioural traits deduced from this experiment resonate to a great extent with the harsh realities that our minds are capable of, if given the authoritarian chance and opportunity. We are all honest, believe in equality, responsibility and cognizance on our part. It is only until the point where we are given a slight leverage over anyone weak that we would tap into those corners and crevices of our cranium that we thought were inaccessible. The result, in that case, would be as baffling as we’d expect it to be.

MENTAL Health Week

Seachtain na Meabhairshláinte OÉ Gaillimh 2019

MONDAY 28TH JANUARY DÉ LUAIN, AN 28 EANÁIR 12pm

Financial Aid Fund Applications Close

5pm-6.30pm

Free Introduction to Mindfulness course in MY336 Áras Moyola

1pm-3pm

6.30pm-8pm 8pm

Mental Health Monday at Smokey’s Café & the Engineering Building Free Introduction to Mindfulness course in MY336 Áras Moyola

David O’Doherty Comedy Gig in O’Flaherty Theatre. €5 Tickets on sale in SU. All proceeds go to the SU Charities

TUESDAY 29TH JANUARY DÉ MÁIRT, AN 29 EANÁIR 8.10am-8.50am

Mindfulness for Beginners Class in AC201

1pm-2pm

Just Read - Social Reading Space in Group Study Room 1, 1st Floor Library

11am-5pm

Vintage Clothes Fair in Áras na Mac Léinn

WEDNESDAY 30TH JANUARY DÉ CÉADAOIN, AN 30 EANÁIR 9am

12.30pm-2pm

Lotus Society Swim Rise at Blackrock in Salthill

Celebrating Wellness: Recognising students & staff who are championing Mental Health and launch of Directory of Support Services in G011 Library Seminar Room

1.10pm-1.50pm

Mindfulness Shared Practice in AC201

7.30pm

Jamnesty Rave 4 Brave in The Loft, Seven Bar Galway. Tickets €5 from Socs Box

6.30pm-8.30pm

University of Sanctuary Panel Discussion in AC202

THURSDAY 31ST JANUARY DÉARDAOIN, AN 31 EANÁIR 11am-4pm

ALIVE Volunteering Fair in Áras na Mac Léinn

7pm-9pm

Comedy Sketch Night in AC215

4pm-5pm

Counselling Workshop on Stress & Anxiety in the Psychology Building

SATURDAY 2ND FEBRUARY DÉ SATHAIRN AN 2 FEABHRA 11am-5pm

SU Charity Collection Day Volunteering – Do good, feel good!

ALL WEEK •

FREE Condoms and TOMPAX available all week from the SU & SU Engineering Desk

•

Lecture Addresses sharing information about the Counselling Service

•

Positive Pebbles around Campus

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26 A RT S & E N T E RTAIN M EN T

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

What’s on in Galway R Kelly is a perfect

By Sarah Gill

Jan 31: Hoolie w/ Mella Dee, Island Times and UFO Club at Electric

Now that we’re all refreshed and the end of dry January is in sight, the craic can be amped up to ninety once again. If you’re looking for some of the best shindigs in town, the line up for the coming weeks won’t disappoint!

Mella Dee’s ‘Techno Disco Tool’ has become an anthem among students around Galway, so this event has already generated a bit of buzz on campus. Tickets will hard to come by and the club will be packed but hey, it’s all part and parcel of a good night out in Galway!

Jan 30: Jamnesty: Rave 4 Brave Our very own FEM soc and Amnesty soc are hosting a celebration of the divine feminine and female empowerment in The Loft Venue, Seven Bar. There will be an all-female line up of amazing artists including CELAVIEDMAI and DJ KARMA performing on the night to get the crowd amped up.

Jan 31: DJ Jenny Greene at Carbon RTÉ 2fm presenter and one of the country’s most successful DJs Jenny Greene is taking to the decks of Carbon nightclub for one night only. The last time Jenny performed in Galway the RTÉ Concert Orchestra accompanied her for the quickest selling gig at the International Arts Festival 2017. Nab your tickets asap!

Feb 1: These Charming Men at the Róisín Dubh If techno isn’t your vibe, this tribute to The Smiths and Morrissey could be right up your alley! These Charming Men will recreate all your favourite tunes, from ‘Handsome Devil’ to ‘Pretty Girls Make Graves’ in the intimate setting of the Róisín Dubh.

Feb 6: Arts Ball 2019 at the Galway Bay Hotel The Arts ball is an eagerly awaited staple in the NUI Galway student calendar and it’s just around the corner. Wild Youth and KNEECAP are the lineup so far, and full tickets are €55, afters €30. This is an event not to be missed.

Let your hair down, you know you want to!

example of why we can never separate art from those who create it

By Daniel Brennan Following a recent documentary series called Surviving R Kelly, where multiple survivors of sexual assault at the hands of the famous RnB star spoke out against him publically, and the #MuteRKelly hashtag went viral once again on social media following the show, a question that has been asked several times over the past few years has gained prevalence once again – is it possible to separate art and the actions of those behind the art?

R Kelly still boasts over 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, despite having many of his concerts over the past year cancelled due to the #MuteRKelly protests, and impending civil suits from his accusers. To me, it’s conceivable that unless he is actually put in prison, he will continue to have a

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successful, profitable career in the music industry, as he has managed to brainwash his loyal fans into believing that the accusations that have been aimed towards him are false... or perhaps it’s just the fact that people still really like ‘Ignition’.

Another instance of an artist’s popularity flourishing following controversy is rapper XXX Tentacion – he was set to go to court to face allegations that he had assaulted his ex-girlfriend last year, but the popularity of his music only continued to grow and grow following the accusations and charges being held against him – those charges were then dropped, but only after his murder, and his music still received a further outpouring of support, with him posthumously becoming one of the top-streamed artists on Spotify in defiance of his alleged actions, and indeed further evidence against him that was leaked after his death.

It’s now nearly a decade since allegations of domestic violence came out against rapper Chris Brown from former partner Rihanna, and several other women have come forward in the following years claiming that Brown had been physically violent towards them, but he still boasts over 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify and still has a thriving career, regardless of the amount of accusations and cases thrown his way.

Kanye West, the centre of most TMZ-hosted controversies for the past 10 years at this point, has used controversy as a promotional tactic for his art countless times – his storming of the stage to

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confront Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs to promote 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy perhaps being the most infamous example. But more recently, his outward support of Donald Trump, including his constant wearing of his MAGA hat, along with association with noted members of the far right such as Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk has led to widespread criticism from many, but Kanye is still as successful as ever. His latest solo album, ye, debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and his new collaborative effort with fellow rapper Kid Cudi, Kids See Ghosts, released soon after ye last year debuted at the #2 spot, receiving widespread critical acclaim.

Clearly the question here should not be whether people can separate art from the artist behind it, but whether they should.

Kanye West has made some of my favourite songs and albums. His music was part of the reason why I started listening to hip-hop a few years ago.

His music has heavily inspired and influenced several of my favourite artists. But that hasn’t stopped me from boycotting his solo music. I haven’t listened to a solo album of his in probably six months, because there comes a point where your support of these people actively has a negative impact on other people’s lives. While loving Trump and far-right internet weirdos obviously isn’t as horrible as any of the crimes men like R Kelly and XXX Tentacion have been accused of, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a valid reason for me to stop supporting someone by boycotting their art, by not separating the artist from the art.

As consumers, I believe we have an obligation to stop supporting artists who have such negative impacts on people’s lives by being abusive to women; who normalise abusive acts by attempting to turn their large fanbases against movements such as #MeToo; who perpetrate horrible actions or support regimes that actively aim to oppress and to hurt people. There are so many incredible artists that we can support whose art isn’t tainted by how they behave behind the scenes, or indeed, in the public spotlight for self-promotion.

Watch Surviving R Kelly, listen to the stories of survivors of his abuse, understand the real-world consequences of his actions – then tell me you still want to stream Ignition, and continue to put money into his pockets. You won’t be able to. He has become the perfect example of why we shouldn’t separate art from those who create it – the art is what gives them a platform, what provides them with a paycheck that allows them to commit the abuses that they do. We have the power to stop them. For too many years as a society, we allowed R Kelly to get away with what he was accused of by so many. We also have the power to make sure it never happens again.

Just Read

Ag Lorg Laochra Léimh

Do you need anything more than a good book? The key to happiness is finding a good book and reading it.

Níl dada níos fearr ná leabhar maith.

Is iomaí duine a fhaigheann sonas i leabhar a aimsiú agus a léamh.

Join the SU Education Officer for books and more in Group Study Room 1 on the First Floor of the Library, 1pm-2pm every Tuesday.

Tar le chéile le hOifigeach Oideachais an Chomhaltais i gcomhair leabhar agus tuilleadh i Seomra Group Study1, Áras Uí Argadáin ó 1 i.n. go 2 i.n. gach Máirt.

More information from su.education@nuigalway.ie

Tuilleadh eolais le fáil ó su.education@nuigalway.ie

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28 SPORT

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

Andy Murray was a true great during tennis’ golden age

By Darragh Nolan Few among us could have anticipated a premature end to Andy Murray’s illustrious career. Whether we have seen the last of the three-time Grand Slam winner, or he bows out on home soil at Wimbledon this summer, he has already carved out a historic resumé at the age of just 31. He delivered a win at the sport’s most famous tournament that was 77 years in the making, became the first player to win back-to-back singles Olympic gold, and he established himself as one of the best sportspeople Britain ever produced.

His list of accomplishments is long but perhaps the biggest compliment one could pay Murray is simply the phrase ‘Big Four’. Not the ‘Big Three’ of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. Murray was good enough to break into that incredible group. Feel free to sneer and say he’s the weak link but being fourth best behind those three is not an insult, it’s one of Murray’s crowning achievements.

He never had Roger’s finesse, Rafa’s athleticism or Novak’s precision. He was just a perpetual entertainer, whose unbridled emotion on the court inspired millions and provided us with some of the best matches tennis has ever seen. Murray’s greatest

quality as a tennis player was his intelligence, and he brought that off the court in a way his rivals failed to.

Say what you will about Andy Murray the man. His dull press conferences, that Christmas jumper photo and his overall passive attitude make a mundane impression. Mocking Andy Murray the man totally ignores the bigger picture and borders on tarnishing his good name. In a sport where the privileged few do nothing to advance the position of women’s tennis, Murray championed his counterparts. He became the leading, and perhaps the only prominent voice of equality in tennis among male players.

Hiring Amelie Mauresmo as a coach was a move that brought with it a firestorm of controversy when it ought to have been a run of the mill decision. Murray didn’t bring her in to score political brownie points.

Quite the opposite. He hired a two-time Slam winner to help improve his game, in spite of the scorn and ridicule that inevitably came his way.

After losing to Sam Querrey at Wimbledon in 2017, he famously corrected a reporter who said Querrey had become the first American to reach a Slam semifinal since 2009. That Murray press conference wasn’t boring, it was refreshing and often just as watchable as his on-court exploits.

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We never want to miss a moment of the action at a Grand Slam, but Andy Murray playing at Wimbledon has been particularly must-see television for years now. I tend to actively root against British sportspeople, but as a tennis fan it was impossible to not buy in to the anticipation around Murray at the All England Club. His finest hour came at last in 2013 when he beat Djokovic in straight sets on Centre Court and there was such joy surrounding the moment that you just had to buy into it.

Indeed, it was his rivalry with Novak Djokovic that defined Murray’s career. They crossed paths on ten occasions at Grand Slams including seven finals. Murray triumphed in 2012 at the US Open and, of course, his finest hour came in 2013 on Centre Court. He reached the final of the Australian Open four times, meeting and falling to Novak each time.

For a player of his calibre, it was a huge stroke of misfortune for Murray to have played in this era.

At any other point he surely would have won more than three Slams. In eleven career Grand Slam finals, Murray played either Federer or Djokovic ten times. His second Wimbledon win in 2016 over Milos Raonic is the only exception. He met Federer

in a further semi-final and quarter-final, and came up against Nadal in four semis, two quarters and a round of 16 match.

He can be forgiven for coming out second best more often than not, considering his main rivals were the three greatest players to ever grace the game. He had to beat both Djokovic and Federer on the way to Olympic gold on home soil in 2012.

Andy Murray faced arguably the greatest degree of difficulty ever seen in an individual sport, and still won his fair share of silverware.

It all amounts to a landmark sporting career.

Murray was so great that ending the 79 year wait for a Davis Cup feels like an afterthought. Our friends across the water are often guilty of excessively fawning over their athletes. It’s fortunate that the media will glorify Murray as a great, perhaps even the greatest, British sportsperson. Such admiration is something Murray certainly deserves, but will never receive from his own sport.

There’s already talk of a statue in his honour at Wimbledon. A fitting tribute for Sir Andy Murray, as intelligent a player as he is a man, a pioneer for equality, a world number one, and someone those who truly love tennis will miss dearly.

Ireland’s 2019 Six Nations: new faces, same game plan?

By Owen Kennedy The Boys in Green kick off their Six Nations campaign against England on 2 February. Two of our matches are home games, England and France, whilst we will be facing Wales, Scotland and Italy away. The past ten months have shown huge change in the Irish Squad, winning the Grand Slam on St. Patrick’s Day against England, and the hype of the upcoming World Cup beginning to circle.

With the inclusion of Connacht players Jack Carty, Caolin Blade and Tom Farrell, it’ll add an interesting mixture to the Irish squad. Schmidt said on 16 January: “It’s a great opportunity for Caolin Blade to get into camp and compete for a spot.”

line, it’s highly possible that the team will fall apart.

They’ll most likely be fielded for as long as possible for both England and France, and it’s highly unlikely that they’ll even be considered when it comes to the Italy game.

Now, how will our results compare to last year?

Unfortunately, I’m not clairvoyant enough to give precise answers, but I have some rough guesses.

Naturally, we’ll be hopeful that this year’s tournament will result in a win and I’m convinced that we’ll be successful in achieving one. France will be brutal against us, still sore from their literal last-minute loss from Sexton’s unbelievable drop goal from last year, but with the home advantage we should prevail over the French.

The only game I can see us losing is the England

Blade is most likely to get game time out of the three, as Schmidt may want to use him instead of Murray, who he most likely wants to save for Japan.

Farrell and Carty could possibly see game time, predominantly for the Italy match. Until then, they’ll most likely be sitting out as coverers. The inclusion of the three will add depth to the squad and can only help Connacht in the long run.

On the topic of Murray, he and Sexton will be watched closely by both Schmidt and the nation.

The two are integral to Schmidt’s game plan and will be vital for Japan. Without the two in the back-

game, even with the home advantage. I’m about to get really TED Talk-ish here, but England will win because they’ll want the victory more. Last year’s tournament was an utter embarrassment for England. They went into the Six Nations as favourites and were most likely to achieve a Grand Slam, only to end up fifth in the table at the conclusion of the competition. They’re out for blood from last year.

This year will be amazing for rugby. All of the upcoming games look set to be thrilling and exhilarating, and we all look forward to watching our Boys in Green do the nation proud.

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29

2019 National Hurling League promises to be a close affair

By Gary Elbert The 2019 National Hurling League action kicked off this past weekend. Defending titlists Kilkenny threw down with Cork in an action-packed opening weekend that provided glimpses of how far down the road the big hurling teams are in terms of preparation. The tournament has traditionally been a real-world laboratory for managers, eager to experiment and measure their squads before the summer battles begin. In recent years, however, the league has produced some thrilling games, although the sport remains crowded by a small nucleus of superior counties.

Make no mistake, hurling is evolving. Younger players are muscling into senior squads in greater numbers, the beneficiaries of enhanced training knowledge, bigger investment and scientific advances. Take Tipperary for example. Old war-

horses Patrick ‘Bonnar’ Maher, Cathal Barret, Seamus Callinan and Padriac Maher are the only remnants from the group that challenged the great Kilkenny teams of the early part of this decade. The squad Liam Sheedy has gone with in the Munster Hurling League was stacked with fresh blood, chomping at the bit to be unleashed on the senior spotlight.

Clare blitzed an out of sorts Tipperary fullback line during a ten-minute spell in the final of the Munster Hurling League, eventually running out comfortable winners despite missing some regular starters. The Tipperary/Kilkenny face off in round four in Semple Stadium will be a fascinating contest and an early gauge at where these teams are in terms of progress. Dublin under Mattie Kenny are fresh, hungry and may deliver a minor upset or two, while Cork hurling also appears in the ascendancy.

The average age of the Galway 2017 winning squad was under 25. Let’s not forget how close they came to reeling in Limerick in last year’s final, and if Galway can minimize their notoriously inconsistent blips, they possess the speed, muscle and firepower to conquer Croker once again. But Galway hurling has always been touched by the enigmatic. How will they react to last September’s loss?

The league campaign for the Tribesmen begins on a high, after an experimental side led

by Joe Canning secured Walsh Cup success in a stormy affair against Wexford. New additions to the squad like corner back Jack Grealish and Sean Kilduff have injected new energy into the Tribesmen squad. Galway are favourites to top Division 1B after their relegation last year. The game against Waterford will be decisive in determining the complexion of the group.

Word on the street in Limerick is that the heroes of 2018 are refusing to rest on their laurels and are targeting back to back success. Again, it’s important to note that the new breed of hurling athlete emerging are elite physical beings, and the beneficiaries of increased athletic and psychological supports that guarantees faster and more thrilling games over the course of the league.

The interesting aspect of this year’s league is its incoming 2020 restructuring which essentially means relegation and promotion from 1A or 1B a moot point.

SIN expects Tipperary to come close to league success this year, with Galway comfortably winning the second-tier division and challenging also.

Wexford may enter the fray fired up and enjoy a big campaign, also with Davy Fitzgerald’s managerial style usually injecting an initial shock of passion before the roaring and bawling eventually becomes tedious.

Ole one man for BIELSA SPYGATE: There’s the Manchester United

Impressive, but not right

By Markus Krug The world loves a good anti-hero. The charming rule-breaker of the movie, who does questionable things with just enough genius for us to love him. It seems the football world has just found such an anti-hero in Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa. The Leeds United boss took full responsibility after it was brought to light that someone at LUFC had spied on the training sessions of Derby County, just before their big match, which Leeds won 2 – 0.

The opposing coach, footballing legend Frank Lampard, was obviously less than thrilled and criticised both Bielsa and Leeds United after the match. While the FA has not yet decided if and how to prosecute the incidents, Lampard called the spying “bad sportsmanship.”

Only days later Bielsa hosted a special press conference, with many believing the eccentric coach would resign after taking full responsibility. Instead, he turned the press conference into a 70-minute lecture on the way he analyses his opposition, fittingly taking Derby County games of the past as examples for his tactical analysis.

To summarize it shortly, the world loved it.

Football publications around the globe and social media accounts everywhere were overflowing with praise for Bielsa. After the “press conference of the year”, people applauded his honesty, his courage for taking responsibility and of course his tactical brilliance, which was obvious throughout his press conference. Next to this genius anti-hero, the by the book, outraged Lampard felt like the cheesy villain of a 90s rom-com.

But are honesty and genius a real defence for repeatedly spying on opposing teams during their preparation in practice? To make it quite clear, Marcelo Bielsa only got very little of his analysis from his James Bond in the bushes. He takes most of his information from analysing thousands of hours of game film. And let’s not make

any mistake about it: Bielsa is a genius. None other than Pep Guardiola once famously lauded the Argentinian, saying that he knew Pep’s thenteam Barcelona better than the famous Spaniard himself.

While the FA is still undecided, and the public has already declared their love for Bielsa and his antics, Lampard’s claims of “bad sportsmanship” are hard to refute. In many ways, the training pitch has always been seen as a kind of sanctuary on which the team prepares for upcoming matches and works on new tactical systems and tricks.

In many countries, it is almost never open to the public, and public training sessions are more of a rare marketing occasion than actual serious preparation for football matches. And many other coaches respect this unwritten rule while trying to get their tactical advantage from analysing match footage. Marcelo Bielsa has admitted that he had spies at training sessions of all of Leeds United’s opponents this year, as well as using that system at his past workplaces in Italy, France, Spain and more.

Yes, it was “cool” to take responsibility for the actions while also showing off the analytical prowess by dismantling the accuser’s football tactics in front of an audience. But it simply was not right. While it has not yet been decided to which degree or if at all Bielsa has broken the official rules; he has obviously broken the unwritten rules of sportsmanship that are still part of this modern industry that is today’s football.

While it is a bit over the top to call for his resignation or a point deduction for Leeds United, a hefty fine should be used to make it abundantly clear that this behaviour is unwelcome in English football. When looking at his press conference, the Argentinian obviously does not even need this kind of tactic. Hopefully such a measure would partly change Marcelo Bielsa’s mindset. By the looks of it, it will not change the mind of the general public.

job, and it’s Solskjaer

By Daniel Brennan Following the long overdue sacking of the perpetual source of footballing misery called Jose Mourinho, Manchester United shocked the entire footballing world with the appointment of former United player and club legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as caretaker manager until the end of the 2018/19 season.

After underwhelming stints at Norwegian club Molde and Cardiff City, in a season where they were relegated from the Premier League in 2014, Solskjaer didn’t exactly have a glimmering coaching

facing off against Tottenham at Wembley. United dominated the first half, creating multiple chances and tearing down Spurs’ defence, unlucky to only score one goal. The second half showed another side to their game, as Tottenham piled on the pressure, United’s usually shaky defense stood firm, with David De Gea pulling off several important saves to get United the win.

It was a victory that brought a team seen as completely out of contention for a Champions League place before Christmas, within just six points of fourth place.

Only one question remains: why haven’t United announced Solskjaer as their permanent manager into the future? Why are United executives trying to lure Mauricio Pochettino away from Tottenham when their head coach of the future has already fallen into their laps, and certainly at a less expensive cost to the club?

Also, if Pochettino were hired, who’s to say Pochettino would deliver the same? If Pochettino wants the same two-plus year period of time to mold a squad to his liking, like he had at Tottenham, then why would you hire him? In my opinion, all United need to be a serious title contender under Solskjaer into the future is a solid centre-back. No major restructuring, no major spending spree required.

In Solskjaer, I believe that for the first time since Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, Manchester United have a manager who can play the sort of attacking, flowing football fans desire and deserve, while also delivering the results required. United would be stupid to sack him, especially if this run of form continues against teams such as Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League. However, considering some of their choices in the past few years, it wouldn’t surprise me.

Perhaps the only thing more surprising

than his appointment as interim United manager is the quality of football

Manchester United have produced in the few weeks following his appointment. record prior to his surprising appointment at one of the world’s most famous and prestigious clubs.

Perhaps the only thing more surprising than his appointment as interim United manager is the quality of football Manchester United have produced in the few weeks following his appointment. The overly defensive, demotivated and sluggish team under Mourinho was transformed overnight, playing the sort of classy, free flowing, attacking football that United fans demand and expect.

In the process, Solskjaer became the first manager in Manchester United’s history to win their first five Premier League games. The players have stepped their game up too, Paul Pogba citing a reigniting of his enjoyment playing football under Solskjaer.

The team also looked completely different in Solskjaer’s first proper test as United’s manager,

30 SPORT

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 08

NUIG cheerleaders win gold medals in University World Championships By Áine Kenny The NUI Galway Cheerleading squad won big at the University World Championships this month. The joint team of NUI Galway and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, called Tribes Ireland, went to the UCA College Cheerleading World Championships in Florida last week, and won first place in their division.

Rebecca Smith, Auditor of the cheerleading society in NUI Galway, told SIN how she got involved.

“I joined the NUIG Cheerleading squad in my first year of college. I had always been involved in dance beforehand, but really wanted to try something new in college. I saw the society at Socs day and figured it would be a bit of a laugh. It’s such an addictive sport that I soon got hooked. This is my fourth year with the society, I joined the committee as a first year rep, and now I am auditor.”

Rebecca also explained why NUIG joined up with GMIT in order to represent Ireland. “We joined up with GMIT in 2017. The World Championship competition was trying to expand the number of European teams who competed, and contacted Cheer Sport Ireland to invite an Irish university team. NUIG and GMIT were the only teams at the time, and so we joined forces to make the best Irish team we could.

Our biggest competitors became our best friends.”

The auditor also said that training for a World Championship was no easy task. “It literally takes blood, sweat and endless dedication. We started training last April, and continue all through the summer. We could train 12 hours a week, plus extra conditioning in your own time. To be a cheerleader, you need a resolution of steel to train through the pain and the tiredness and the bruises.”

“However, being on the World floor makes every second of training worth it. We push through every session as a team, we are more of a family than anything, and we support each other through all the good, and the bad. It’s so much fun, you come out of every training excited for the next one,” she said.

Rebecca also told SIN what the best part of winning first place was. “The most rewarding part of winning is knowing that you did it together as a team. No routine can work unless every single member is dedicated to it. It’s so rewarding to know that every late night training, and every sore muscle was worth it in the end, and that we performed to the absolute best of our ability.”

So what’s next for our cheerleaders? “NUIG have a nationals competition in March that we are training for. Nationals is a great way for every member of the society to take part and see what a competition is like. We don’t plan on giving up our Worlds

title though. We go straight into planning for the next World Championships. It’s early days so nothing is guaranteed, but hopefully we will be back on the World stage next year, stronger than ever.”

Rebecca also emphasised how everyone can get i nvo l ve d w i t h NUIG Cheerleading. “We welcome everyone, from absolute beginners to pros. People can join recreationally just for a bit of craic, they can join to compete, they can just come along to our social nights to make friends and eat pizza.”

“We really just want to spread the sport of cheerleading through campus and for people to see it’s more than just dancing around with pom poms. If anyone wants to come along and give it a try, we

train on Mondays in the stage from 6pm, and have conditioning classes on Wednesdays.”

“It’s an all inclusive sport which welcomes people of every shape, size, and athletic ability, it’s all for fun at the end of the day.”

Anyone who’s interested can contact NUIG Cheerleaders through their Instagram or Facebook pages.

SIGERSON CUP ROUND ONE: Finally, a deal we can all agree on

NUI Galway 1 – 10 St Mary’s 1 – 10

By Oisin Bradley NUI Galway ’s route back to the Sigerson Cup final suffered a significant set-back when they were halted by a dogged Saint Mary’s, Belfast side on Wednesday 16 January.

It was a game in Dangan which was far from a classic, but the men from West Belfast will have few complaints after they secured their ticket to the next round after holding their nerve in a free taking competition at the death.

Both sides struggled to break down the opposition’s rearguard in the opening exchanges, with the attack struggling to find their range and contributing more wides than scores. Points from Rob Finnerty (two) and Enda Tierney saw the Corribsiders race into a three-point lead within the opening ten minutes of the encounter.

The visitors, spearheaded by the attacking duo of Liam Rafferty and Stephen McConville, responded with a point apiece to narrow the margins before raising the first green flag of the affair.

Five minutes from the changeover, Shane McGuigan was fouled in the square, leaving the man in the middle Brendan Healy with no choice but to point to the spot.

Half-back Aaron Boyle made no mistake with a classy finish into the top right corner.

However, it would be less than 30 seconds before Maurice Sheridan’s charges had a three-pointer of their own.

A surging Nathan Mullan run saw him power through the defence before striking with consummate ease past the St Mary’s net-minder. Jack Robinson chipped in with a placed ball of his own to leave his side two points to the good, as the XVs headed to the changing rooms.

The game opened up slightly in the second half, and both sides were going point for point as the half drew on.

The equal nature of both sides was on show as they took their opportunities to draw blood.

The hosts maintained their slight advantage all the way to the last, and tried everything to ensure their passage to the next round. However, in the dying echelons, St Mary’s struck a point to hand themselves a lifeline on the road.

Chaos ensued after the leveller, as a melee broke out in the middle of the pitch, and both sides were reduced to 14 men by the referee.

Extra time ensued, and the helter-skelter nature of the final minutes of normal time ensued here, with both sides going hammer and tongs to try and eek out the all-important result.

NUI Galway pointed via Tribesman Kieran Molloy four minutes from time, and once again put everything into defending their slim lead at the end. However, yet again they relinquished their grip on their round two berth after giving away a scorable free-kick only seconds from full-time.

Shane McGuigan tapped over the free to take the game to a shoot-out. Saint Mary’s refused to buckle when tension was at its peak, and flawlessly scored four from four to send them on their way to the next round.

NUIG faced a do-or-die fixture away to Queen University on Wednesday 23 January with the winner being rewarded with a match against Garda College.

NUI Galway: Aaron Brady; Stephen Brennan, Sean Mulkerrin, Kevin McDonnell; Kieran Molloy, Ruairi Greene, Patrick O’Donnell; Peter Cooke, Cein Darcy; Nathan Mullen, Michael Daly, Enda Tierney; Rob Finnerty, Jack Robinson, Owen Gallagher.

Subs: Brian Donovan for Gallagher (40’), Conan Marren for Darcy (42’-47’, Blood), Gerry Canavan for Finnerty (61’), Evan Wynne for red card (Start of ET), John Maher for Brennan (70’), Kevin Quinn for Robinson (78’, black card), Evan McGrath for Daly (79’, black card).

St Mary’s: Mark Reid; Cathal McKinney, Ryan McCusker, Michael Rooney; Colm Byrne, Aaron Boyle, Liam Rafferty; Jarlath Óg Burns, Liam Devlin; Ryan McSherry, Shane McGuigan, Stephen McConville; Niall Toner, Ryan Coleman, Aaron Duffy.

Subs: Daniel McKinless for Devlin (40’), Jack Hannigan for Duffy (52’), Tom O’Kane for Byrne (59’), Liam Devlin for O’Kane (60’), Colm Byrne for red card (Start of ET), Conor McAllister for Rooney (70’), Tom O’Kane for Hannigan (75’).

By Laura Varley RTÉ recently announced an exciting new deal with the Gaelic Athletic Association. This will see a collaboration that will include the increased televising of club and league games.

The plan, which will be in place from 2019 until 2022, will exist in conjunction with the present GAA coverage on TG4 and Eir Sport. RTÉ will simultaneously air at least four Allianz League games and will have access to a number of AIB Club Championship matches. With coverage of the Allianz League beginning in late January, the network effectively ensures nine months of free to air GAA coverage.

The deal has been well received by players, journalists, and consumers, but is it a good move? To put it simply, yes. The GAA is an institution deeply rooted in the heart of Ireland’s communities. As the national public broadcasting service, RTÉ has an obligation to provide in-depth coverage and analysis of its national sports.

RTÉ Group Head of Sport Declan Mc Bennett stated the deal would bring “national moments to a national audience”, and certainly the arrangement makes Gaelic football and hurling accessible to a wider fan base.

Former GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghaíl previously said the aim of any sport has always been to “make sure that people are at a match.” But in an economy where much of the population considers monthly television packages to be far too high, it’s equally likely those same families are unable to afford match tickets for multiple games.

It isn’t only finances that create this barrier between sport and its fans. Often those who would happily attend the majority of a Gaelic or hurling season are hindered by ill-health or old age, with lack of mobility forcing them to enjoy the spectacle from their own home. This in itself would be an agreeable outcome to an unfortunate situation, yet previous lack of coverage often meant missing a game entirely.

The “Keep Gaelic Games Free to Air” organisation, born from the controversial selling of GAA Championship rights to Sky Sports, believes this snubbing of financially disadvantaged, immobile and elderly people to be harmful to the overall success of a community.

They stated it is “especially hard for all those in hospitals, care homes, the elderly across rural Ireland [and] those with mobility issues… it is totally against the community ethos.” The increased coverage of league and club matches rendered by the deal makes hurling and football accessible to its most die-hard fans, who otherwise would have missed out.

Similarly, whilst TG4 has the responsibility to provide coverage conducted through the Irish language, those not fluent in Irish, or unable to fund a monthly sports subscription from Eir Sport, have no alternative but to watch content in a language that is effectively alien to them.

The deal allows RTÉ to simulcast alongside rival channels, whilst providing its own commentary and analysis. Though this will not promote the Irish language, it succeeds in promoting Irelands national sports, without detracting from TG4’s coverage of the same match.

Perhaps the consequence of the deal that most directly affects the GAA will be the increased revenue garnered. Whilst it can be presumed that a decent portion of the profit will find its way into the pockets of administrators and upper management, it will improve GAA funding as a whole. Ideally this money could fund the improvement of club and county facilities.

Ultimately, the deal announced by RTÉ is a march in the right direction. The extensive expansion of its GAA coverage has effectively created a visual candyland for sports fans. For those who don’t have the time or the means to attend as many club and league matches as they would like, it is fair to say RTÉ has it covered, and this is one deal I think everyone can agree on.

SPÓ IRT

January 29 2019

31

T

hank you to everyone who participated in the Presidents Cup treasure hunt which was a huge success!

The event saw over 80 people with a mixture of staff and students compete in a campus wide treasure trail starting and finishing at the Kingfisher.

Teamwork was the key to success and the event was not reliant on physical abilities alone.

The vertically aspiring amigos managed to out fox the rest of the field and secure first place in the inaugural treasure trail. The number crunchers just couldn’t crack the clues quick enough to get first place but managed to pip Big Fish to 2nd place.

Leading the way in the overall leader board is still the College of Engineering & Informatics on 81 points but it is all to play for this semester as the competition heats up! With the College of Science managing to leapfrog their way into 2nd place, with the aim of reclaiming the overall title from last year.

Don’t forget about the staff that participated, with a great battle between ISS and accounting, an encounter that can only be decided in the next Presidents cup event!

Special mention must go to Michelle O’Dowd from NUI Galway sustainability for linking up with the event and the Presidents cup to provide t h e m a te r i a l s e a c h te a m needed to participate. The Presidents cup events tie in with the sustainability strategy of creating a top class, green, smart and healthy campus.

The Presidents cup is all about participation and getting active.

Make sure you stay up to date with the latest events by keeping an eye on otc.nuigalway.ie

Current Leaderboard Name of College

­Participation Points

College of Engineering & Informatics

81

College of Science

36 2nd position

College of Arts

25 3rd position

College of Business, Public Policy & Law

24 4th position

College of Medicine and Nursing

20 5th position

1st position

MENTAL Health Week

Seachtain na Meabhairshláinte OÉ Gaillimh 2019

#littlethings #littlethings is a mental health and wellbeing campaign.

It highlights that there are things that you can do for yourself and others that will have a positive impact on how you feel and how you cope.

If you need any support or information please contact any of the following people: Chaplaincy Service

091 495 055

chaplains@nuigalway.ie

Counselling Service

091 492 427

counselling@nuigalway.ie

Student Health Unit

091 492 604

SU Welfare & Equality Officer, Clare Austick

091 492 747

su.welfare@nuigalway.ie

Jigsaw Galway

091 549 252

galway@jigsaw.ie

Samaritans Free Phone

116 123

jo@samaritans.org

Here are the #littlethings that can make a big difference to our mental health and our wellbeing: •

Keeping Active

•

Talking About Your Problems

•

Looking Out For Others

•

Doing Things With Others

•

Eating Healthily

•

Staying In Touch

•

Drinking Less Alcohol

•

Sleeping Well

More information from/Tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ó su.welfare@nuigalway.ie

Teil/Tel: Ríomhphost/Email:

+353 (0)91 493 570 studentsunion@nuigalway.ie

www.su.nuigalway.ie

Áras na Mac Léinn, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland. Áras na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh, Bóthar na hOllscoile, Gaillimh, Éire.

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