DIVERCSITY - February, 2016 (Vol. 2 Issue #5) by DiveRCSIty - RCSI Student run Newspaper and Publications

Editors’ Notes DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CAITRÍN O’LEARY »

« NIKITA RANE

// Meet the team.

FEATURES AND DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ARIMIE MIN »

« IARLA O’DOMHNAILL

STUDENT LIFE

SAIED ALI »

« ORLA DONOHOE

ENTERTAINMENT EDUCATION

ZAHRA JUMAN »

« DEXTER SEOW

CULTURE AND LEISURE

NEWS AND RCSI EVENTS

YUSUF JALY»

« AMELIA SOOKDEO

EVENTS

DEENA SHAH »

« JING TING CHEAH

ONLINE EDITOR

COMMUNICATIONS

« QASIM ALI BARI

JEEVANI KRISHNAMURTTY »

COVER ART DESIGNER

ILLUSTRATOR « CATHERINE TENNANT

MUHIMMA SULAIMAN »

REBECCA JAGOO, NAHEEDA RAJMOHAMED, MIA ANDREWS, AMINA MAHMOOD, CATHAL DELANEY, CYRILLE PAYNE, GRAÍNNE LONG, MOYOWA BOYO, SIMIRAAJ POWAR, DINA GHAZAL, CORMAC DUFF, YARA ZAYOUT, SU KYI NG, JIN JI LIM, RUTH EMMANUEL, SEBASTIAN GRACIAS, YASODA SUBRAMANIAN, GEORGE IKPOKOMITOP, SONIA RAMKISSOON, TENGKU NAZIM TENGKU YUSOF, COREY NIXON, MOHIT BUTANEY, STEPHANIE TUNG, RACHEL TAN

STAFF ASSOCIATES CORRIENA BRIEN & SANDRA BONNETTO - CONTENT REVIEW, STAFF CO-ORDINATORS PROF CLIVE LEE- WRITER: ANATOMY, TANYA CHAPPLE - WRITER: SUDOKU JANE BURNS - COPYRIGHTS & PLAGIARISM ADVISER

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Editors’ Notes.

// At a glance...

Editors’ Notes

ear Reader,

Hello this is our 5th issue for the year! Time has gone by at the blink of the eye! We only have two more issues left for the year so we hope to make them the best we can. Our next issue will be themed around cultural divercsity and equality. We will be looking for submissions for our features section and we are also going to have an event during cultural week, so stay tuned! Our updates: DIVERCSITY also has a new office space to call home. It’s located on the basement floor right in front of the elevator. We have also been accepted into the Student Publication Association - our official acknowledgment as a legit student publication (in case anyone had their doubts!). We will also be entering the SMedia Awards for publications this year, we are excited and we are keeping our fingers crossed to hopefully land a nomination somewhere! A TASTE OF THIS ISSUE This month we covered mindfulness and mental well-being. Our features shares tips from students on how to practise mindfulness and care for your mental health. We looked at Flying South, as an alternate media to express and explore mental health. We looked at upcoming events in college that contributed to your understanding and the benefit of mental heath. We got some tips from Please Talk and Niteline on how to care for mental well being and what to do if we are struggling. We also looked in the latest research being done in RCSI related to mindfulness and meditation. Our science section brings to light some of the old and the new in the medical cortex of the mind. We are also excited to announce a new addition to our DIVERCSITY family - Graínne Long. She will be covering college fashion , you can head on over to page 14 to check that out! JOIN THE COMMITTEE NEXT YEAR: We’ll be announcing applications early this year and they will be extended all the way into the summer. If there is anything you might be curious d in or would like to learn more about our committee don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

DIVE INTO

YOUR U UR AT

PASSIONS

UNIVERSITY

Drop a quick email to divercsity@rcsi.ie if you are interested! We’d be happy to meet with you and answer any and all questions! APOLOGIES: We apologise for the misprint in the Anatomy with Clive Lee quiz question in January issue. We have reprinted it and this month we have twice the giveaway! SPECIAL MENTIONS: This month’s cover photo features the lovely Ivana Lutchman. The cover was photographed by Muhimma Sulaiman and edited by Nikita Rane. We’d like to thank this month’s collaborators, especially the societies that sent articles in and thank Randhir Seetaram (SU president) for his help. - NIKITA RANE AND CAITRÍN O’LEARY Directors and Editors-in-Chief

To join our mailing list, or for societies or general enquiries, email divercsity@rcsi.ie Read anything you love? Did we print something you hate? Have a great idea or suggestion for the paper? Let us know how we are doing! editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie Share the excitement online, Like us on facebook.com/DIVERCSITY Join the Facebook Society Group Page for the latest updates facebook.com/groups/divercsitysignup Share and view this issue online from issuu.com/rcsidivercsity February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Features

// Dublin’s monthly open mic night for Mental Health. Q&A with Kate Quigley from Flying South NIKITA RANE

In our September issue, we featured Flying South as our recommended open mic events in Dublin. Would you tell our readers more about Flying South? Flying South is Dublin’s (& as far as we know, Ireland’s!) first monthly mental-health themed arts event/open mic night. Our intention is to create a space where people are free to creatively express their stories & experiences with a listening & receptive audience. Each month we have three feature acts & the rest of the night is dedicated to an open mic where people are welcome to share their work across all forms (poetry, music, drama, comedy etc.) or even to just share something they have read or heard & found meaningful with the audience. We also facilitate anonymous contributions via the ‘Green Box of Truth’ for people who have something to share but are not comfortable doing so publicly for whatever reason. We also provide tea, coffee, sweets & some time & space between acts for people to talk & relax.

What was the motivation in setting up the events?

There were a lot of different reasons for setting up the event. Everyone on the team was already involved in the arts in some capacity & we have all experienced mental health issues throughout our own lives. When we all got together to talk about it, there was a unanimous feeling that our individual experiences of artistic practice had been extremely important & useful in coping with difficulties & trauma. It suddenly seemed like such a simple & obvious thing to marry the two areas. Dublin already has such a rich cultural tradition & so many different nights on, but a mental health themed open mic is something that none of us had ever heard of before & we felt that the niche was definitely there if we could pull an event like Flying South together.

February 2016

Flying South is themed around mental health. People often face numerous barriers when trying to talk about it. Some even struggle understanding others who suffer from it. Has the creative outlet of open mic made this discussion easier? I think that as a society we have definitely gotten better at talking about the issue over the last few years. When I look at some of the people in my own family, even going back one generation, the difference in attitudes towards mental health issues is enormous. It is slow progress though & I think it’s still very difficult for a lot of people to initiate the conversation. I feel that there’s also a tendency when mental health is being talked about that the conversation is at one extreme or another - either it’s very clinical & medicalised, which I think can be dehumanising & also very isolating in terms of the language that’s used & how people understand what’s going on, or, at the other end of the spectrum you have the attitude of ‘just go for a walk & you’ll feel better’. I think that hospitals & medication, as well as things like diet & exercise are definitely very important & effective tools in dealing with mental ill health & I’m not putting any of these things down, but I think what we need more than anything is balance & a more holistic, humanist approach in dealing with this issue. With this in mind, I think that channeling this discussion through a creative outlet can be extremely effective people can express themselves without feeling like there’s someone there taking notes on them, but at the same time, some of the writing that comes out at this kind of event can be extremely raw & provocative. Flying South seems to have managed to create a space where people feel free to express the things that they need to express in a way that I don’t think is possible at an ordinary open mic. The kindness & receptiveness of the audiences that we’ve had play a massive role in this - the event is very much community based & people are very supportive of one & another, which I hope is opening up a new kind of avenue for the discussion of mental health.

A lot of organisations, especially colleges hold mental health awareness months and events. What do you think defines a “successful” or impactful campaign or event? Do you think this something people should consider when organisation mental health campaigns? Anything that people do to help raise awareness about the issue is great. I do sometimes get the feeling that people are at loss as to what the next step is, though. I feel that we’re at a point where most people are reasonably aware of the issue of mental ill health & that what is very important at this point in time is to try to facilitate further discussion & also to make people aware of what they can do if they or someone they know is suffering. I’m not an expert in any of this & I don’t pretend to be, but one thing I do think is very important when people are designing these kinds of campaigns is firstly to try & facilitate people to be able to come forward & be open about the things that they’re going through & also to be able to provide some kind of support when this happens - for example, to have information sheets for people with information & contact details of where they can go for help, which is something that we do at every event.

DIVERCSITY.COM

Features

Have there been challenges in organising these events?

Photos courtesy of Flying South

February 2016

Had we known how many challenges there would be before we started we might have thought twice about the whole thing! But seriously, it’s been so rewarding & I don’t think we would change anything, it’s just been one big learning curve. I know that personally I have revelations several times a month about all kinds of different things to do with communication, team building, advertising, you name it...! The ongoing evolution of the team & the event is one of my favourite things about the project as a whole & we are getting continuously positive feedback from participants, so I think it’s going very well overall. One thing that has been a bit of an issue is finding a suitable venue - because of the nature of the event, we wanted to keep it alcohol free in order to be as inclusive as possible & it’s actually quite difficult to find an affordable venue in Dublin that isn’t a pub! Both Jaja Studios (where we originally started out) & our currently venue, Fringe Lab, have been so lovely & supportive though & we’re so grateful to them for everything.

What would you hope to people take away from a Flying South event?

One of the most moving things that people have consistently said about the event is that it allowed them the realisation that they are not alone. I think that that’s so simple but so important & it’s very humbling & touching that Flying South is having that kind of an impact.

We have a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/FlyingSouthDublin which is the main place that we advertise & post updates on what we’re doing & we make an event page for each upcoming event. We’re also on Twitter @flyingsouthbird & we’re working on creating a mailing list as well! People are always welcome to message us on facebook or to email us at flyingsouthdublin@gmail.com if they have any specific questions/suggestions or would just like to talk to a member of the team.

Our theme for February is Mental well-being and mindfulness. Is mindfulness something you practice in daily life? Has Flying South changed the way you take care of your mental well-being? I think mindfulness is a great tool in maintaining well-being - I try my best to practice it, but it’s difficult! For me, self-awareness is very important. I’m the type of person who likes to be busy but I’m trying to be more aware of my own needs & to make some more time to look after myself & to be able to to the things that I enjoy. Flying South has made the need for this kind of self-awareness more concrete for me. As well as that, the sense of community & support from everyone involved in the event is something that I never anticipate but that has definitely had a hugely positive impact on me & my well-being.

What’s the best way to get updated about upcoming Flying South events and developments?

How can someone support and get involved with Flying South?

Come along to one of our events! Our regular show takes place on the last Friday of every month & our current venue & kind sponsor is Fringe Lab which is in the Dublin Tiger Fringe Festival building on Sycamore St., just off Meeting House Square, Temple Bar. We have an open mic at every event & we take sign-ups on the door, so all performers are very welcome. All of our events are completely volunteer run & we’re currently not funded & rely on donations, so if anyone is interested in helping out on either front they’re welcome to email us at flyingsouthdublin@gmail.com or to speak to one of the team at an event - we really appreciate any support that people can give. :)

DIVERCSITY.COM

Features

// Headspace: Mindfulness in medschool. Interview with research team member Eric Clarke. NIKITA RANE

indfulness and meditation often pops up in discussions about stress management. Mindfulness is the intention to be present in the here and now, fully engaged in whatever is happening, free from distraction or judgment, with an open mind. Meditation is the simple exercise to familiarize oneself with the qualities of mindfulness. Well, right now researches in RCSI are conducting a study to explore if practices of mindfulness and meditation reap any benefits and improve our mental well-being in our stressful med school lives. I met with staff researcher Eric Clarke to gain a better understanding and find out more about the research study.

“Mindfulness is the intention to be present in the here and now, fully engaged in whatever is happening, free from distraction or judgment, with an open mind. Meditation is the simple exercise to familiarize oneself with the qualities of mindfulness.” There is limited insight into the use and usefulness of mindfulness for student populations. The research team are interested in exploring if and how a mindfulness App appeals to students in RCSI and if it has any positive impacts in terms of health, well-being, and happiness. The study is carried out by RCSI Health Professions Education Centre, with involvement from the Student Support & Development Office and Pastoral Care along with the developers of an App called Headspace.

Headspace is a readily available App that promotes mindfulness and meditation. It can also be used on any device that can access the Headspace website. Once an account is made, you can log in with your details. The service hosts the users progress and exercises on a website. “The App coaches the user in mindfulness and meditation. It gives prompts and alerts when necessary and keeps the user on track. Headspace describes the App as “a gym membership for the mind”. It is trying to promote constructive habits. The intention is to promote constructive habits in just 10 minutes a day. You can dedicate time any time and anywhere you wish,on the bus or in between in class. ” says Eric Clarke. “Our collaboration with Headspace is purely for research. The study protocol has also been passed by the RCSI research committee. The company itself is interested in promoting well constructed and well executed research, so we have partnered with them.”

The intention is to promote constructive habits in just 10 minutes a day. You can dedicate time any time and anywhere you wish,on the bus or in between in class.” “The college is working in partnership with the App developers, providing access to the App for students and conducting research. There are no financial incentives involved and the research has been approved by the college research ethics committee.” Eric points out. The end point would be a publication of the results found in a peer-reviewed journal.

“We are grateful for the students who have participated in the study and the research team appreciates that students have taken the time and have got involved.”

The research team has negotiated a year’s license for free for RCSI students who participate in the study. Currently the study has recruited 30 students from the medicine program who now have access to the App for one year. Students using the App can interact with the tutorials and exercises for mindfulness and meditation. The research team will then invite participants to take an online survey and face to face interview.

The research has started on the 1st of February with the first group of student. Details of the reach study had been emailed to students last semester, a number of information sessions were also held.

“The App coaches the user in mindfulness and meditation. It gives prompts and alerts when necessary and keeps the user on track. Headspace describes the App as “a gym membership for the mind”.

-Email address headspace@rcsi.ie -IHeadspace info on Moodle: https://vle.rcsi.ie/course/view.php?id=1306

If you are interested in getting involved with the study or learning more about the study or the app, you can get in touch with the researches or find out more on Moodle. Take note of the links below:

Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

FEATURES

A look into Headspace. The three types of exercises

MY HEADSPACE

SERIES

SINGLES

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Features

« CAITRÍN O’LEARY ( EDITOR-IN-CHIEF )

College Stressing you out??? ARTICLE WRITTEN BY PLEASE TALK.

ollege can be a wonderful experience but it can also be a stressful time while trying to balance course deadlines, working and trying to make new friends. SO WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN STRESSED OR GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME?

One of the most effective things you can is talk to someone you trust. That can be to a family member, a good friend, your class rep or student welfare officer. Talking to someone about what’s troubling you can make a big difference to how you feel. By telling someone you trust how you feel and what’s going on in your head will help you gain perspective and see that you are not alone and there is help and support available.

“Talking isn’t an easy thing to do, it’s quite daunting. But once you let it out, it’s completely worth it.” - I Talked Ambassador, Ian Mooney, TCD

Talking about your feelings is a sign of personal strength and of being able to take control of your life. It can be difficult to know how to start a conversation about your feelings or worries. TOP TIPS: • Find the right moment for the conversation – you want to have time to talk and not be interrupted. • You might find it easier to start the conversation when you are doing something else – such as out for a walk or doing the dishes together.

February 2016

“From talking I was able to become more in tune with my mental health and actually listen to myself rather than let my thoughts and worries suppress any rational thoughts.” - I Talked Ambassador, Cian Power, UCC WHAT DO I SAY? • It’s okay to start off by saying you have been going through a tough time and to describe what you’ve been thinking and feeling. • It is normal to feel a little nervous. You might worry about how people will react but when you let someone know you need their help, they will respond positively. You might also find it hard to talk to others about your feelings and experiences. • Or perhaps you have tried to talk to someone – or to get help – and things haven’t improved for you. Don’t give up. There is support available, and talking about your feelings will get easier with time. • You can also write down how you feel, as this may help make the words clearer in your mind. Writing down your worries can have a two-fold effect. The act of writing itself can be a therapeutic release. Also seeing your thoughts and feelings on paper allows you to confront them and find ways to deal with them. Often when broken down it is also easier to put some perspective on them.

If you need to speak to someone immediately call the Samaritans on 116 123.

“Keeping in contact with the support services in the college reminds me that I’m not alone, academically or emotionally.”

- I Talked Ambassador, Cathy Malone, DCU

Please Talk is Ireland’s student-led, student focused mental health movement. Please Talk urges students to understand that talking is a strength not of weakness, and if you’re experiencing problems while at college to seek help, there are people there who you can talk to. Our aim is also to empower students to start the conversation around mental health and end the stigma attached no one should suffer in silence. If you or a friend needs support checkout www.pleasetalk.org where you can find both on-campus and off-campus supports. You can also find more tips on talking and how to support a friend through a difficult time or find out more about our I Talked Ambassadors and their experiences while in college.

However there are times when we can’t feel we can confide in those closest to us and we are struggling to cope. If you don’t want to speak to your family or friends you can try the support services available on-campus or off-campus or your G.P. If you talk to a counsellor and it doesn’t feel right, try another one, or another support service. You will find someone you’re comfortable with.

DIVERCSITY.COM

Features

I never worry about the air I breathe through my nose Or how the blood gets pumped to my toes I know I’m young and body able But how come I feel so unstable? I’m on a good course and I’m not short of a mate How dare I get myself into this state? I think of telling people, it makes me feel queasy, Maybe it’s not that easy I know by law it’s confidential But will that stop the whispers? ‘pssst, guess who’s mental?’ Maybe most people have this period, a peak, and a dip Because in my thoughts and thoughts and thoughts I’ve thought about asking you And I hope when my bad day comes I hope you’ll return the favour too It seems so small, but it’s a powerful thing to say The power, the power of, ‘Are you ok?’

RCSII NITELINE

IARLA O’DOMHNAILL

Niteline listens

( DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF )

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NITELINE.

haven’t studied hard enough. I’m finding it hard to fit in. I miss home. I feel lonely. I’m not having fun. I wish I didn’t get drunk last night. I’m scared of coming out. Is this course for me?

Everyone experiences college differently, there is never a ‘right’ way. A lot of the time people say that college has to be the best years of your life, and you feel like you have to make it so. No one tells you how hard it can be and no one tells you that it’s ok to have these feelings. It sometimes feels difficult when things get on top of you. You deny yourself the right to feel sad because you think you shouldn’t. If everyone around you is coping with the same things as you then why is it that it is more difficult for you? When things get too much it can sometimes be hard to open up and talk about it. You’ll say you don’t want to bother anyone. Opening up isn’t easy but by sharing how you feel with someone else they might be more at ease with sharing with you. No one feels fantastic all the time, it’s important to know that. The simple act of asking someone if they are okay could be more beneficial than you know. Giving someone your listening ear to let them talk about their day can make a huge difference. We don’t have to worry about things on our own. If you ever need to talk about your day you can call Niteline any night of term from 9pm to 2.30am. We provide a non-judgemental, non-directive completely anonymous and confidential listening ear. No problem is too big or too small. We listen.

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Features

// RAG Week: A Cause for Charity

NATHALIE EDMUNDS RCSI CULTURAL SU OFFICER

PIETA HOUSE WHAT IS IT?

The Raise and Give Week, best know as RAG Week 2016 will be donating all it’s proceeds go to Pieta house. This was the charity choosen by the RCSI student body during the coin drive. SU president Randhir posted on Facebook that a total of €303.63 was raised. With the results of: 1. Pieta House 150.21 2. Down’s Syndrome Ireland 69.57 3. Parkinson’s Ireland 51.81 4. Bumblance 32.04 The funds donated to a particular charity would go the respective charity, with the winning charity getting all raised funds from RAG week. We got in touch with the SU to learn more about Pieta House and we encourage you all to partake in all the events of RAG week for great fun the great causes it will support!

Although the name may not exactly be as self-explanatory as Parkinson’s Ireland or BUMBLEance, the RCSI Student’s Union RAG week charity, Pieta House, has intentions that are not only crystal clear, but also most admirable. Providing therapeutic one-to-one counseling that is completely free and requires no previous referral for anyone feeling depressed or suicidal, Pieta House has only been around a decade but already helped over 20 000 citizens. With 180 therapists now in their arsenal, 3 Dublin centers, and 5 more centers in Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Galway and Limerick, Pieta House has proven themselves a worthy and hard-working organization, and has an ultimate aim of having a center within 100km of every person in Ireland.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?

Though it may seem like an uncomfortable topic for discussion, the fact is that you will seldom come across a person anywhere in the world today who has not been impacted in some form by suicide and depression. Below are a few statistics that we found particularly powerful (just in case you’re feeling skeptical about the importance of the issue): • Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide for those aged 15-44 (WHO) • One in four adults will experience some form of depression at some point during their lives (CDC) • Depression is also the leading cause of disability worldwide (WHO). Thankfully, however, there are positive statistics associated with the subject as well – such as the fact that 80-90% of adolescents whom seek treatment for depression are successful through means of medication and/or therapy, and that 250 000 people in the US alone a year are suicide survivors (CDC).

HOW CAN I HELP?

As flows the thought process of any intellectual, non-ignorant, motivated person - a description undoubtedly matching all students of RCSI – the question arises of how can we as individuals have an impact on such a large issue? This is where your trusty Students Union comes in: all of the fundraising collected during RAG week will go towards supporting Pieta House and their most worthy cause. Through this financial support we will be aiding Pieta House in their expansion throughout Ireland, as well as in their research into the area of suicide & depression. For more information (and to look exceptionally ‘with it’ in order to impress all potential romantic endeavours during RAG week events) we highly recommend a visit to: http://www.pieta.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Features

// RCSI ISOC: ISLAM & MENTAL HEALTH

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY ISOC.

pirituality is one of the influencers in the wellness wheel that contributes to mental wellbeing. It links the mind, body, and soul, and meshes the senses and perception together to transform them into an experience that gives your life meaning. While spirituality gives us a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, a search for a greater purpose, religion provides guidelines as to where you should direct your deepest inquisitions to correct your moral compass and teaches you the boundaries of right and wrong. How does this contribute to our mental wellness and mindfulness? Spirituality makes you focus on your internal values and work on becoming a better individual. It encourages people to be positive, generous with their time and resources, and grateful in general. The more we are in check with our core principles and thoughts, the better we are at functioning and contributing to the world. The meaning of life is in appreciation and giving. By keeping our mental health in its best possible state, we would spend less time trying to gather and focus our disarray of thoughts and more time radiating positivity to the world! This is where religion comes in. Religion has come with guidelines that we must continuously seek to learn and more often than not, it could help us find the answers to our deepest questions. For example, Islam teaches us to believe in One God who has created everything, and thus should be worshipped, and that He wants us to bring justice and peace into this world. Regardless of how the media portrays Islam or how your friend Ahmad behaves (just kidding), this is what has been taught as Islam’s core teachings. A person who questions their life’s purpose or ponders why certain things only happen to them, should they believe, they will know that religion can provide their answers. Their purpose in life has been set, and just understanding that we cannot and do not control everything, might give a person a sense of tranquillity. That is, one may find comfort in doing everything knowing that the outcome will only be as the Higher Power wants it to be. Therefore, just having this sense of letting go, that every consequence that occurs is not solely a direct result of his own action, will allow one to move forward in life continuing to have hope and faith. This is the kind of peace that is essential for our mental wellness. Positivity in not having to constantly worry about the outcome of everything, or having to always feel in control of things. It’s about having good faith in what’s to come rather than being anxious about it. This way we will do ourselves a massive favour, and won’t the whole world function a lot better like this? With that said, we would like to invite you to join a talk on mental health from an Islamic perspective, given by Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari, a scholar who has successfully woven together knowledge in science and religion, to give you an insight into how understanding our beliefs, values, and ethics, can play a major role in our mental wellness and mindfulness. The talk will be held on the 19th of February 2016 from 6PM to 9PM. Like us on Facebook to receive venue updates!

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Happenings

To swipe or not to swipe? - That is the question. “ You may find yourself on your obs and gyn rotation delivering babies, watching families become complete and it would be inhumane of you, if you didn’t slip into the spiral of thoughts concerning your future kids… Will I even have kids? Will I have to adopt? Who will my partner be? When will we meet?”

eing in med school means that you’re 100% busy, not having much time for meeting new dating prospects. Being in RCSI means that your pool of prospects is limited to those in the medical field… So you would both be really busy and apart, unless you’re in the same placements. Being a non-Irish in RCSI means that your pool is more like a pond, as you don’t necessarily have high school friends in other universities to help make other prospects possible. There are also other circumstances which can befall you, which then leaves you with a puddle of prospects. Good luck next time. Also, in RCSI we have a culture of meeting on the occasional designated night out and following it up with ‘episodes of amnesia’. This is where you pretend you don’t see the person thus appropriating your action of not saying hello, but you will definitely talk to them on the next night out. So where should my single persons turn to meet people? As a child of Bollywood, I was brought up on the idea that love is fated and happens on its own accord. If you didn’t perfectly meet your person on a rainy Dublin day under a shared umbrella, followed by a witty exchange and a colourful dance number…. Are you even in a relationship??? Ask yourself that. Seeing how realistic that is and seeing how tiring long distance relationships at home can be, how could you go about meeting someone new now? With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I sought an answer to that question as an alternative to the European coffee shop. I decided to explore the much talked about, contemporary fad of … You guessed it… Tinder.

I decided to take an investigative approach and joined Tinder for approximately 2 weeks. It would have been a full 2 weeks, if I hadn’t wanted to back out from this completely. It felt so weird joining a social media account that was specifically targeted to singles. For fear of seeming lame, I consulted with someone who could teach me the ropes, Tinder expert, Ms. Markey. On consultation she gave the following advice; Behold the TINDER LAWS.

Don’t fear being judged because people on Tinder can’t judge you,

as they themselves are on tinder. Tinder is all about the pictures- put up really good pictures of yourself, but not all selfies because you will seem self-absorbed. Pictures with friends are good but not too many, as you don’t want people guessing which one is you.

2. 3.

As far as description is concerned, the best bet is to leave it blank- Let your picture do most of the talking.

With that said I joined. For those of you who don’t know what Tinder is, it’s basically an app where you are presented with pictures of people in your area (you can change the radius to suit- 160km max.). You swipe left if you’re like ‘nah’ and swipe right if you’re like ‘yahhh’. If you swipe right, the person will only be notified if they swipe right on you. That’s a match! You also have the option to Superlike someone, which is to let him/ her know that you’re interested right away. Only if you match someone, then will you be able to message each other. So that’s a great way to avoid creepy messages, like the ones you get on Facebook. My opinion on Tinder? Tinder is a great way to boost your self esteem. After a long day of being ignored, it can be comforting to find 7 Superlikes on your profile… even though they’re all left swipe-able. Matching with someone good looking can be such a winning feeling as well. But at the end of the day, I was judging people by their looks and that made me feel really guilty. No one was really good looking for me to think, ‘definite right swipe’, and of course there were the many ‘definite left swipe’, but there were a million ‘you’re Ok-ish, you could

// Opinions « REBECCA JAGOO

be funny and then I wouldn’t mind.’ When you realize that you’re swiping with hopes that they have a great personality and wonderful sense of humour, you’d start judging yourself. Also, the fact that there was no one in a 2km radius that looked like Aditya Roy Kapur, made the whole experience quite disappointing. Should I even mention the messages? I accepted a SuperLike, to be able to write about it for this article. He was 23 and apparently really confident about his attraction to me. He messaged a few days after to say “right in the butt” … I will never reply because I will never know what proper protocol is. When you match on Tinder, you’re immediately given the options to message or keep playing? ... Tinder wtf, does my love life look like a damn game to you? You know what is a Tinder game? Trying to figure out whose profile this really is- A direct assault to Tinder Law #2. When every single picture is a group shot of Irish boys, it’s no easy task finding the one lad that keeps appearing in all. Some of them even exercise the ‘Good Looking Best Friend Ploy’ – That’s so 2007! The real question that remains unanswered is; how could people have the audacity to use black berry quality pictures, on an app mainly about appearances? All in all, I tried it but it’s something that I won’t continue. I’d rather creep on your Instagram. Tinder offers the option to link your Insta account to your tinder account. I’d advise you to do so, as it gives people a better idea of who you are and your Insta pictures tend to be your best pictures. Would I ever meet up with someone from Tinder? No….Have you ever seen Taken?As far as coffee shop love goes, I spent 6.90€ for awkward eye contact, which I could get in Mercer Library for free. If you’re single AF this Valentine’s Day… join the club, we’ll be romantically watching Deadpool. My advice to meeting people in RCSI is to talk to people outside your country clique and don’t ignore them after a night out. As far as love is concerned…We’re all screwed.

-And remember, you can’t force love but you can force an arranged marriage.

Students React: Did you feel a jump from high school to university? What was the biggest change? Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

HAPPENINGS

DIVERCSITY to enter SMedia Awards NIKITA RANE

e are excited to announce that DIVERCSITY will be entering the SMedia Awards this year. In 2015 they received over 1,200 entries from student journalists nationally and we will up against several well established college publications in Ireland. It would be amazing to even receive a nomination for a category we have entered for second year as a publication. We hope our entries and columnists get your support and well wishes as we do our best to represent the RCSI community!

// SMedia Press Release

KBC Bank Ireland Returns As Title Sponsor of National Student Media Awards 2016 KBC National Student Media Awards Programme announced. Oscars of Student Media to go from strength to strength with the support of KBC Bank Ireland.

BC Bank Ireland is delighted to return as title sponsor of the National Student Media Awards (Smedias) for a second year. Now in their sixteenth year, the Smedia Awards celebrate gifted media students from across Ireland and act as a key launch pad for those students who are looking to fast track their careers in the media industry. Receiving an award is a huge distinction and over the past sixteen years the Awards have provided Ireland’s hardworking young people with a unique platform from which they can announce themselves to the world. Last year’s awards had over 1,000 entries and an exceptional turn out on the night with over 600 students, sponsors, celebrities, and media icons in attendance.

Aidan Power, Director of Customer, Brand & Marketing at KBC Bank Ireland said: “KBC Bank is delighted to return as the title sponsor of the Smedia awards for a second year. The Awards provide a great platform for the next generation of journalists, filmmakers, photographers and producers to grow and develop. As Ireland’s retail bank of the future, we understand the importance of supporting and encouraging students on their chosen career path from an early stage. We look forward to celebrating with this year’s applicants and winners at what promises to be a fantastic event for all involved.” National journalists and broadcasters judge the awards each year. 2015’s judges include Fionnan Sheehan – Editor of the Irish Independent, Tim Vaughan -Editor of the Irish Examiner, Cathy Fox – Executive producer of The Late Late Show, Lenny Abrahamson – Multi-award winning director, and Darragh O’Connell - Founder of Brown Bag Animation and Multi-Academy Award nominee. This year’s panel promises to be even more impressive. Organiser Colman Byrne said “We are delighted to once again be returning to the Aviva Stadium for the awards. The venue is so iconic and is a fitting setting for awards which announce the media stars of tomorrow. Thanks to the generous support from our title sponsor KBC Bank Ireland we hope that this year will be the best year yet for the Smedias”. Entries opened on the 1st of February with a deadline for receipt of the 3rd of March. The awards will be presented in the Aviva Stadium on the night of the 7th of April. For reference: Karen Jones, Gibney Communications, 01 661 0402 For further information please contact Colman Byrne on 086 0397776 About KBC Bank Ireland KBC Bank has been providing banking services in Ireland for over 40 years and is part of the KBC Group, one of Europe’s most recognisable financial institutions since 1978. With over 1,000 employees in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, Waterford and Kildare, we are dedicated to creating a bank where the customer comes first. We take a Bank of You approach to all our products and services and in our dealings with customers, shareholders, staff and communities. A member of one of Europe’s largest banking groups, KBC is committed to delivering responsible but innovative banking that is grounded in customer and shareholder value. To find out more about KBC Bank in Ireland see www.kbc.ie and for information about KBC Group please visit www.kbc.com

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Lifestyle Feel like you’re a fashion pro? Addicted to the latest trends? Have a unique style? Would you like to be featured in next month’s; “Other Than Scrubs” fashion column? If the answer to any of these questions is yes then get in touch and send us an e-mail! Email divercsity@rcsi.ie Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

« GRAÍNNE LONG

// Other than scrubs “I would describe my style as sophisticated, but edgy. I wore a uniform in school and now at college I don’t specifically plan out my outfits, but I know what goes with what. I am artistic and while I wear mostly neutrals, I create simple contrasts in my outfits by playing around with textures. I would rather quality over quantity every time and love to find key pieces that I know will last. I don’t really like to follow trends, as I have my own specific taste. I find myself transitioning into a more mature wardrobe while keeping a youthful touch to my style. My key fashion item would be a scarf, but I also adore tailored jackets. My go-to look for college would be a chunky knit turtleneck with clean cut skinny jeans and a pair of black heeled ankle boots. The weather in Ireland actually really suits my style, as most of what I love to wear is autumnal. My style icon is definitely Victoria Beckham. She changed the perception of office wear by making it modern and classy, something that could be worn outside of work and yet not look old-fashioned.”

R C S I

- FOTINA RAPTIS // JUNIOR CYCLE MEDICINE

Fotina wears a fitted, grey, tweed blazer with a mixed blend and white trimming. Paired with black leather, side-panelled leggings and chunky ankle boots, this makes a professional, yet youthful ensemble. She has accessorised this look with a soft grey scarf and a navy, medium-size bowler bag.

S T Y L E

“I am not the kind of person who has boundaries when it comes to what I wear, although I’m aware of what I like and what I don’t like. I usually know what I’ll be wearing for the week, but I think that’s more due to being highly organised rather than anything. I would describe my style as minimalist, but with a statement piece that stands out, such as a long coat or colourful jumper. I like to shop in Topman and Urban Outfitters, but I also love vintage finds. I only buy on sale and every item of clothing I own is purposefully selected. I started to develop my style about a year ago, drawing my inspiration from modern art and films. I have a number of fashion influences, including Kanye West, Lorde, Jean Luc Goddard, Iris Apfel and Keith Haring. I especially like Xavier Dolan, a French- Canadian film director whose style I would describe as 90s eclectic mix. My biggest fashion faux pas is double denim, although I don’t judge people based on what they wear. I really believe that style and dressing well can have an impact on how you feel. As I always say; “When you feel your worst, look your best.” - TOM DORAN // JUNIOR CYCLE MEDICINE Tom wears a white and black, zebra print button down shirt and black skinny jeans paired with maroon laced boots. His coat is a faded burgundy bomber jacket with a check print inlay. He has accessorised this look with a subtle, patterned woolen scarf.

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Lifestyle

// Humans of RCSI ( Ireland)

« SIMRAAJ POWAR

y fondest volunteer experience was with the Ottawa Rehabilitation Centre. As a nineteen-yearold premedical student, I was taken aback with the amount of patient interaction they had in store for us that summer and remember being awestruck by how much trust the staff had in us from the start. We were a handful of volunteers given access to three wards, and encouraged to go room-toroom to ask patients how they were, offer them water or to get them anything, and help them get from point A to point B, since most patients had limited mobility. Those patients in wheelchairs were very appreciative of being taken outdoors to enjoy the sun. Most patients felt grateful with only a few minutes of our time and they greeted us with happiness. Had that been all, my summer would have been rewarding - but there was more. What made my summer so memorable was Friday morning aqua fitness. For those unacquainted, it is basically aerobics in a heated pool along with music and an overly enthusiastic instructor, as part of physical therapy for seniors. Apart from the advantage of floating, water provides some resistance training and a pure sense of joy to the children we inevitably became in the pool. Maybe it was the novelty of participating in an aerobics class, but the atmosphere made me feel like a kid again. Our instructor had us running, kicking, splashing and dancing our way into fitness. I suspect much of the therapy in aqua fitness simply came from having a good time. My cheeks would hurt from smiling - this volunteer work was priceless. After one particular aqua fitness class, a stroke patient’s wife failed to show up to help her husband get dressed. Had she forgotten? Got stuck in traffic? We waited patiently. A few long minutes passed while the gentleman sat quietly in his wet shorts, so I did what any eager young volunteer would do and offered to help him get dressed. He accepted my offer and seemed relieved, as though I had saved him from having to ask me an embarrassing question. Once he was toweled off and in his dry clothes he leaned forward and motioned for me to come closer. His eyes were piercing and he said to me with absolute certainty, “One day, I will do the same for you”. I was caught off guard by his sincere desire and determination to reciprocate, and indeed wrestled with its implications.

Arman Lira – Junior Cycle 3

To this day, that is one of the nicest things a stranger has said to me. That message speaks to me, that in the end, what really matters is how we treat and perceive each other. Regardless where you are from and what your beliefs are, that is hard deny.

ometimes you just gotta take a leap of faith and know that everything will be alright in the end :)

Faisal Tamimi – Intermediate Cycle 2

Want to be featured? Email divercsity@rcsi.ie Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Lifestyle

// Humans of RCSI ( Bahrain )

« DINA GHAZAL

ebruary – the month we either love or dread. Why? Well, because Valentine’s Day! It doesn’t matter whether you have a date or not, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love and be grateful for the people who share that feeling with you. Below are a few students from RCSI Bahrain whose stories have some love or feelings of care in them. Is it romantic, friendly, or family love? Read the stories and find out.

“J

ust my luck. When I was still getting to know her, I think she was in a bad mood. She flipped at me.” “He deserved it” “I didn’t deserve it. I was –“ “He partially deserved it.” “Okay, I annoy people I like.” “Awww, you liked me.” “No.” “But you said it. You can’t take it back.”

was always the ‘nice’ person. I was one of the few in my family who knew how to use a laptop back then when it wasn’t really common, and knew how to put music on the phone and transfer photos etc. And I remember, every time my cousins wanted something related to their phone or laptop, they’d just come to me. And I’d do it for them. And that’s it; they would leave and act weird again. I didn’t think about it much but then I realized it came from a lot of my cousins that they would just come to me and be so nice only when they needed help. It felt like I was being used, so I changed my ways with them. Anytime they’d ask for something I would find a way to avoid doing it. I guess that affected me here and in school too where I don’t want to be close to someone because I don’t want them to use me. I mean, sure I’ll help you if you’re my best friend, but if you’re being close to me just because you want something from me then I’m going to say no. Now there’s a guy here in university who helped me a lot. The problem is I’m not that close of a friend to him, yet he offers me so much help. I do need the help a lot of the times, so I always take it. But I just really hope he doesn’t feel used. I try to be as friendly as I can so that he doesn’t feel the same way I felt.

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Features

“I

think it was the badminton night when he had gotten me the epilepsy awareness shirt and I said it was the greatest gift he’s ever given me. He got grumpy about that because for my birthday he got me the most beautiful bracelet I’ve ever seen in my life. But even that is not legit the best thing he’s ever gotten me. My favourite thing about Raheel and his greatest gift to me is just his friendship. He just makes my life a little bit happier and the world a little less lonely. And nothing could compare to that.” “I guess a huge part of what makes me who I am today is Shayan.I was a completely different person joining RCSI and now a much more open-minded human being. Yeah… she has impacted my life by a lot. Oh, and she makes a killer chocolate cinnamon roll which she calls the French Toast.”

don’t like diamond rings and stuff. The only thing I wear is this bracelet because my grandfather gave it to me. We’re pretty close. Even though my grandfather – he’s deaf and he can’t speak. I don’t know how to communicate with him because I don’t see him so much. So even when I want to say something to him, I ask my dad first. Once he was telling me something and I didn’t understand him. I just smiled at him. Then my dad told me, ‘He’s saying he loves you.’ I didn’t know what to tell him; I just hugged him. I told my dad, ‘Tell him I love him too.’ So my dad taught me how to say I love you and I said it.

If you want to see more and stay updated, make sure to like and follow both Facebook and Instagram “Humans of RCSI” pages!

www.facebook.com/humansofrcsi humansofrcsi

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Lifestyle

« MOYOWA BOYO

The Wellness Wheel //

How to date yourself.

ove is in the air! The month of February is always filled with chocolates, candy grams and all things Valentines. Tinder is practically on fire with valentines fever as the search for someone special intensifies. While I’m not going to stop you from swiping right on Tinder, may I propose that single or taken, this year you make yourself your own valentine? This isn’t a lame attempt to try and make everyone feel special on Valentine’s Day because we really should be our own valentines ALL the time. Self-love in a healthy way is important because if you love yourself, you will treat yourself right. When you love someone, you spend time with them and you nurture the relationship. Just as you nurture your relationships with others, we must also nurture our relationship with ourselves. After all, you will be with yourself from your very first day until your last so it’s worth putting in the effort. Like a romantic relationship, your relationship with yourself will have its ups and downs but that’s perfectly normal. This February, give yourself a little love and date yourself ! BE PASSIONATE If you watch movies, you’ll notice that the most epic loves are always the most passionate. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in The Notebook did a good job of portraying a truly passionate relationship. If you’re going to date yourself, taking a page from their book might not be a bad idea. Ask yourself- are you passionate in your relationship with yourself ? Are you living with passion? What are you passionate about? There is a difference between

SEPTEMBER 2015 February 2016

passionate living and just existing. Be passionate about knowing and discovering new things about yourself. You can do this by putting yourself in new situations, by challenging yourself and by doing something you thought you couldn’t do. Surprise yourself and begin living with passion. Passion isn’t just reserved for the Rachel McAdams and Ryan Goslings of this world. It can begin with your relationship with yourself. TAKE YOURSELF OUT ON A DATE Pick something you love to do and take yourself out to do it. Give yourself a whole day to do what you love. Better yet, treat yourself to a nice dinner after too. There is no shame is doing what you love and spending quality time with yourself. It’s important to take care of yourself and do things that keep you happy. Treat yourself the way you would treat someone you care about. There is no award waiting for you for being hard on yourself or for mistreating yourself. Have an honest look at your relationship with yourself and see if you really treat yourself with kindness. Just like you would encourage someone in a toxic relationship to leave, if you have a toxic relationship with yourself, acknowledge that and take steps to change it. BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND In most lasting relationships, there is a foundation of friendship. At some point, the intense romance that was once there fizzles out and for two people to stay together happily, they must be friends. Our relationship with ourselves is much the same. We need to be friends with ourselves. In fact I’d argue that we shouldn’t just be

20 28

any old friend, we should be best friends. A best friend encourages you, motivates you, picks you up when you’re down and even laughs at you when you’re taking yourself too seriously. They are someone who has your back and someone you know you can count on. While everyone needs external friends, it’s also crucial to be able to count on yourself and be your own best friend. Your relationship with yourself began from the second you are born, and in many ways it is the most intimate one, because only you know your deepest thoughts and desires. The first step to being your own best friends is to like yourself. It is extremely difficult to be best friends with someone you don’t even like. A lot of people walk around with a smile on their face but inside they dislike themselves and are telling themselves ugly things. We all know that this is not how to be a good friend to anyone, let alone ourselves. If this is you, no fear! Begin the work of becoming your own best friend. It is a relationship worth investing in. Don’t worry about thinking you will be vain or too focused on yourself, because the more fulfilled you are in your relationship with yourself, the more you will be able to give to others. And this isn’t about being perfect either. Repeat after me: perfection does not exist. It is about taking little steps to be the best version of you.

DIVERCSITY.COM

Lifestyle

// Ask Himistu!

February: “Month of Affection”

ey everyone! Hope the first month of 2016 was certainly one to remember. Now we’re on to February! Let’s have a look at this month’s theme.

Think of those you treasure dearly in your life. The people you have met, touched your heart, and changed you for the better. The month of February commemorates your loved ones. What queries do our fellow students have for us this month? Here’s one I’d like to share! Lots of love, - Himitsu.

Hi, everyone! My name is Himitsu, and I’m here to answer your questions, as we delve into life’s secrets. After all, “secret” is what my name means in Japanese!

ASK HIMITSU YOUR QUESTIONS, ANONYMOUSLY. Visit: divercsity.tumblr.com/advice Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

: Dear Himitsu. I’ve been thinking a lot about the word love. Not just romantic, but love in all forms. I’m talking about love between me and and family and friends too.

I invest a lot of time in those I care deeply about. What if I keep giving someone love because I want them so badly to stay in my life, yet they don’t put half as much of the effort in. Why can’t some people accept the love that I give them? I feel as I am taken for granted by some of the people that are important to me. I feel like a fool sometimes for giving too much, but I can’t help it. This goes especially for those who have treated me badly, I give more because I think they need it more, but it always leaves me with negative feelings when my love and isn’t reciprocated. I don’t really know what to do about this. - Sincerely, Princess of Heart.

: Dear Princess of Heart. I too have struggled with this in many instances of my life. It’s scary putting your feelings out there, knowing whether or not someone will trample all over them. Something to keep in mind: Your feelings/love/emotions all constitute your heart. You must keep it guarded, because your heart is indeed a treasure. People may not be as warm, loving, and as good as you. They may not always have the best intentions. If they somehow abuse or take your love for granted, this reflects more on their character, not yours. You shouldn’t feel ashamed of yourself in any way, shape, or form. Your willingness to love freely demonstrates your goodness. If this person cannot see this, it is their loss. They won’t find a gem like you anywhere else. Somewhere down the road, they may even regret it. That’s not something for you to worry about though. Focus on those who make it known they love having you in their life. You know very well who they are. Invest wholeheartedly in them. Always wish people well, do the best you can, and leave the rest to the universe. Whoever is meant to be in your life will always gravitate towards you no matter what. Nature always finds a way. Let everything naturally evolve. These are my words of wisdom for you. Hope this was helpful! Sending you light and love, Himitsu :)

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Lifestyle

// White coat syndrome

« NAHEEDA RAJMOHAMED

Getting Started “The Secret of Getting Ahead is Getting Started” – Mark Twain

hat drives you? What is it that compels you to pursue the treacherous field that is a healthcare profession? Is it the relaxed work hours? Layback way of life? Numerous vacations? Easy studying? Short educational process? Lack of responsibility? Unlikely. A drive is the inner want or urge in a person to pursue a goal or satisfy a need. Your drive to do something will determine your conviction, attitude and overall success in reaching your goal. Whether it be your love for human biology, strive of academic success, curiosity, or passion for particular field of healthcare, it is one of the most powerful reasons for putting your time and effort into becoming the best healthcare professional you can be. Welcome to 2016. This is the New Year, the new semester, the blank slate, the blank page; today is where your book begins. Now is the time to use what you have learned over the past semester and apply it to the challenges that are now visible in your crossfire. The good news,

February 2016

you now have at least one semester of experience; the bad news, this semester is going to be just as if not more challenging. It is no secret that you’ve successfully made it this far, you’ve had time to work out the kinks and you are expected to use this new knowledge as guidance. More easily said then done. As a student your greatest challenge is, despite popular belief, exacting self-discipline. At this point you know what to do, you just have to do it. This challenge is made even more difficult with the heavy weight of exam results still floating in your mind. Whether it is a good or bad result, the result can still be the cause of distraction for many. If it was a good mark you might become over confident and if your mark was worse then you expected you might still be in the midst of picking up the pieces and trying to reorganize your life. Time is important but I’m afraid the truth is university waits for no one, as once said by The Incredibles fabulous Edna Mode, “Never look back darling! It distracts from the now.”

excitement of a new semester and utilize what they have learnt in a productive manner? I am certain of one thing; it is not easy, but by now that shouldn’t surprise you. Your task is to collect yourself, identify what went right, fix what went wrong and extract the insight from your past experience that will be able to carry you through this semester. Personally, I tend to remember the three W’s; Where, What and Why.

So how is it done? How does one battle the compelling distraction of exam results or the

DIVERCSITY.COM

Lifestyle

WHERE What is your goal? Where do you wish/ hope to see yourself this semester? First ask yourself if you are happy with last semester’s marks? If the answer is yes, you are now faced with a choice. You can do exactly as you did the past semester and hope it works out the way it did before or you can challenge yourself. Although the first option may see more appealing in the short, please believe that plans for long-term goals work out more often than not. In the case of the second option, set a goal. It might be as literal as a grade or as determined as working a certain number of hours per day or week. For me, I find structure can lend me a platform to build off of. If I plan to finish x number of hours of work I can then rate my productivity. If you do plan on doing this, remember that you are not a machine. I know it sounds silly but hear me out. Personally, I find I have the bad habit of constructing outrageous plans then disappointing myself due to my state of exhaustion from the past week of work. The more experienced approach would be to plan your week based on importance. That way you can have more freedom with your schedule rather than constantly be scrabbling behind to get things done. If you didn’t find your results as good as you hoped now is your time to take what you have learned and test it against the semester.

WHAT

WHY

What went wrong? What went right? Although it may be painful look at the breakdown of your marks, find out what parts of the exam did you excel in and which parts did you find difficult. If you found that you struggled in your MCQ’s maybe collaborate with other students and create two or three MCQ’s for each lecture. Then test yourself. If you found you struggled more on the short note portion of the exam, try constructing questions out of the learning outcomes then answering them in the same way you want to in the exam. You will not only begin to test your knowledge but practice the act of writing your thoughts down in a concise and clear manner. Once you become better at that begin to time yourself and challenge yourself to word things differently each time. Once you distinguish between what you want to improve and what you are happy with, think back to the differences or maybe challenges you found in each module. Did you enjoy one more than the other or study them differently? Was one more clinically based than the other? Whatever the differences are find them and exploit them. Maybe you can transfer the study strategy you used in a more successful module to all of those that you face this semester.

This is the most important step. Think about why you are here. Sometimes grades, class, your social life and stress can make you forget what you are working for. What are you working for? Where do you see yourself in the future and how much time are you willing to put in to achieve that goal. This may sound ridiculous and a waste of your time, but thinking about the exciting opportunities that could await you in the future can help inspire you. Think of the work you do now as a stepping-stone to what you hope to do in the future. This can help you focus and compel you to keep going even if you feel overwhelmed or lost. All in all be proud you have made it this far. Whether you are happy with your grades or attempting to still transition from vacation mode to work mode, remember you are still here. You will always have a long road and a new battle to fight, the only way to succeed is to start.

Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

lifestyle

« MIA ANDREWS

Food Diaries // Want to request a recipe from Mia? Email us at divercsity@rcsi.ie

ey guys! Anyone that knows me will be able to tell you that I loveeee cheesecake! As a child, on holiday, I would often take my main course home just so I’d have enough space for my dessert. I kind of still do the same thing whenever I return home!! A favourite of my family’s would be my pineapple cheesecake. It’s a little twist on the regular cherry filling. At home, we make baked cheesecake (more American like) as opposed to the mousse-like one, which appears to be classically European. So I hope that you guys really enjoy. It’s something sweet to get you through the sweet month of February. At home I usually use the already-made crusts but here for the first time ever, I’ve made and have taken you through how to make an alternative. It might appear a lot of work but it really isn’t. I found it to be a perfect late night therapy after I could not do any more studying.

Pineapple Cheesecake: Ingredients for the ﬁlling: • 2 packages of 8 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese or 3 (180 gram containers like those seen in the picture) • 1 large egg • ¼ cup white sugar • 1 tbsp vanilla extract • 4 tbsp of evaporated milk (my preference) or regular milk

Instructions for crust

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter or margarine, and cinnamon until well blended . Press mixture into an 8 or 9 inch pie plate. 2. Bake at 180 degrees C for 7 minutes. Cool. If recipe calls for unbaked pie shell, just chill for about 1 hour.

Ingredients for the crust: • 1 1/2 cups ﬁnely ground graham cracker crumbs (or Digestive Biscuits) • 1/3 cup white sugar • 6 tablespoons butter, melted Ingredients for the topping: • 1 can of crushed pineapple • 1 tsp of almond extract • 2 tbsp of white sugar Ingredients for the topping: • 1 can of crushed pineapple • 1 tsp of almond extract • 2 tbsp of white sugar

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Lifestyle

Instructions for making the ďŹ lling

Instructions for making the topping

1. Empty the pineapple. Drain the pineapple juice.

1. Empty the cream cheese into a bowl. Stir in the bowl until smooth.

2. Add the almond extract.

2. Mix in the sugar.

3. Sprinkle with the sugar.

3. Add the egg. 4. Mix in the vanilla extract.

After you have baked your cheesecake, let it cool for about 30 minutes. After it has cooled, place the pineapple mixture on the top of the cheesecake. Cover with some foil and leave in the fridge overnight to set.

5. Add the evaporated milk. 6. When the crust has cooled. Poor the batter into the pie crust.

And voila, the final product.

7. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 180 degrees C or until very little appears when pricked with a fork.

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Lifestyle

// Double C: Advice you can keep close to your chest

ear Cyrille,

Love is in the air, everywhere I look around! Butlers are selling giant velvet boxes of chocolate and greeting card companies are rubbing their hands with glee as we all scramble to proclaim our unwavering love for each other on cards with a cute cat or teddy bear. Bleugh!! I admit it Cyrille, I’m a Valentine’s day Cynic, but this year I forced myself to give it a try! I plucked up the courage to ask out the only person I knew would not wreck my head or cause me untold frustration if I went on a date with them. That person was myself, and I enrolled in a singletons pottery class for Valentine’s day itself. I sat down behind my potter’s wheel and began feeling the fantasy as I pretended I was Demi Moore in the film ‘Ghost’ (if you don’t get that reference, stop studying immediately and watch that movie, Whoopi Goldberg plays a psychic!!). Anyway all was going well until I lost control of the wheel and covered my fellow singletons in clay, giving them a lovely tan. I discovered that a small heart shaped card had been lodged in the clay and had thrown my pot off balance, it read as follows. Dear Double C, I recently went out with a lovely girl, her name is Sarah Bellum. We met in a coffee shop and went out that same night. We had a wonderful first encounter and it went so well we decided to go on a second date. But where will I bring her? I put all my eggs in one basket and went all out for the first date that now I have no ideas left!! Please help me out! Yours Trey Kia

Trey, Keep cool! You need to act smooth, Sarah doesn’t want to think you’re unhinged!

ear Cathal,

I must admit that unfortunately I was unable to participate in Valentine’s Day this year. You see what happened was I spent the entire day before preparing for the big day: hairdresser, nail salon, petting my sheep, the usual. However, when I returned home I slipped on some red “grape juice” I was testing out for Valentine’s Day, and gave myself a concussion. When I finally regained consciousness, 2 days had passed. Ah well, hopefully I’ll have better luck next year. Anyway back to our dear boy Trey. I actually think instead of a home cooked meal, you should splurge a little, Trey. Nothing says “I like you,” like a McDonald’s meal. Actually if you want to be really fancy, you should take her to RCSI’s International Food Night. This is the place for a second date because it helps you decide if you really like her or not. If you still enjoy her company when she is talking to you with curry caught in the corners of her mouth, then you know it’s meant to be. Not only is the food amazing if you eat it with your eyes closed, you feel like you are being transported to faraway land. Don’t keep your eyes closed for too long though, because last time I did that when I opened my eyes again, someone had stolen the rest of the food off of my plate. I spent the rest of the night trying to identify the culprit, by taking discrete sniffs of the breaths of those who I found to be suspicious, to determine if it resembled the cocktail I formerly had on my plate. Unfortunately, after an hour of searching I gave up on my quest for justice and decided just to get a fresh plate of food.

Firstly Cyrille, I see right through the “Coffee shop” explanation, this isn’t the 90’s or a RomCom, Sarah and Trey have clearly met on Tinder, and they need to be proud of that if this relationship will work out.

My last argument for the food night is the eating contest. Trey, if both you and Sarah enter the eating contest, I guarantee she will be satisfied all night long.

Trey I think you should make Sarah a home-cooked meal. Nothing says I love you like a burnt lasagne and a dodgy side salad. If Sarah stays with you after a bout of gastroenteritis then she may indeed be the one! If you need inspiration look back at past issues and the fine recipes shared by our friend Mia Andrews!

Now that’s all the advice I’ve got for Trey, Cathal. I hope this is good enough for him.

Cyrille what do you think? Can you help our love-struck Romeo ? How was your Valentine’s Day?

P.S. Cathal do you remember that time we decided to give the hotdog eating a try and you ate so many that had to take you to Beaumont for a gastric lavage. Good times. P.S.S. If you are Demi Moore I am Patrick Swayze

Yours in overpriced flowers Cathal P.S Roses are red That much is true But violets are purple They are not blue.

« CATHAL DELANEY

Yours with a current of GCS 15, Cyrille Payne « CYRILLE PAYNE

Brought to you by Cyrille and Cathal - Besties who think they’ve seen it all.

Please write to us with any queries or questions that you may have and we’ll do our best to give you some nuggets of advice. Whether you heed our counsel is entirely at your own risk.

ASK YOUR QUESTIONS, ANONYMOUSLY. Visit: divercsity.tumblr.com/advice February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

// Scene it! - the word on plays and reviews ...brought to you by an untrained eye

« SU KYI NG

« JIN JI LIM

“I’m not a trained mourner Gert. I can’t ullagone or moan or look for the arm of another hypocrite to support me.”

Photo credit:Matthew Thompson. In picture L-R Emmet Byrne, Karen McCartney, Aisling Sullivan, Muiris Crowely and Charlotte McCurry

BIG MAGGIE

ig Maggie was, and still remains, a play revealing the darker side of being single and independent, and quite literally, what a woman must do to get by in a man’s world. Written by John B. Keane and set in 1960’s Ireland, Big Maggie is fresh off the death of her abusive, unfaithful, and alcoholic husband. Now faced with her children, neighbours, and acquaintances (she does not burden herself with friends), all of whom want a piece of the land left behind, she surprises them all with her cruelty and viciousness in securing her future. Yes, cruelty would be the right word. Having been silenced and shackled by the “chains of pride, prejudice, and religion”, Big Maggie reveals to us what happens when you find yourself in power after being stepped on for so long. Some choose to be gracious, shaping the world into a kinder place. She chose to reveal the world as it is to her children, in some twisted form of motherly love, trying to prepare them for what is to come. Her children, unwilling to accept what they perceive as injustices to their inheritance, proceed to leave one by one. In a way, you could almost see the metaphor. How a new generation decides that they do not have to follow in their parents’ footsteps, and the conflicts associated with branching out. Now, SPOILERS! (or not), Big Maggie ends up alone, and we are left uncertain as to what the world has in store for her.

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

However, like a small candle in a dark room, through all her pain and anger, she retains no small amount of wit, trading barbs with the stonemason, Bryne, and bidding us in the audience to continue crying -from laughter this time! Aisling O’ Sullivan dispenses the wisdom of Big Maggie through a mixed bag of deadpans, over-the-top sarcasm, and is not afraid to equip those words with a sound smacking or two. Also, did I mention that Big Maggie owns a shotgun? She probably keeps it around for when her words don’t work on those harder of hearing. Watch the play and just maybe, you’ll find out! Byrne, as a character, was no slouch in this duel of minds himself- keeping up with Big Maggie with his own brand of wisdom, as timeless as the stones he carves. A twist in his demeanour halfway through the play will only have you appreciating the character further. And this is no small thing seeing as the rest of the male characters in this play are depicted as selfish, cowardly, brash, and really just the worst possible man you could be! So it falls to Keith Duffy, formerly of Boyzone fame, to play Teddy Heelin, the local playboy in such a manner who remains likable enough that we actually feel something for his loss towards the end of the play. When interviewed by RTE, he mentioned feeling “pressured”, or almost an expectation if you will, to play this role well. And play it well he did, with a perfect blend of looks (which is really are important for a playboy) and rogue charm (these are too- maybe even more so). What’s interesting about the cast for the three roles I mentioned above is that they’re reprising their roles from the 2011 production of Big Maggie, in which John Olohan even received an Irish Times Irish Theatre Award for his role as Byrne. It would definitely be a treat to see how they take these characters on again from a new perspective, like fitting on an old glove or returning to a well-read book. Speaking of returning, I’m reminded now of when Su Kyi and I wrote our first piece for Scene It!, reviewing The Night Alive in that very theatre. While my seat now was not as close as I wanted it to be, I had no trouble at all catching all the action from the Dress Circle seats of the Gaiety Theatre. A tip for all of you already intrigued by this play, the pillars aren’t as wide as the cashiers in the box office make it out to be- it’s definitely much better than any seats at the end of the row they’ll try to offer you. I was lucky enough to have some empty seats along my row, and was not confined to watching half the stage from behind a wall. You will, however, have no trouble at all enjoying the first act wherever you sit, in which the singular prop was a hearse that was actually turned on and driven slowly off stage at the end of that act! The one missing thing, for me at least, was that other characters in the play are not fully appreciated. Mick Polpin, the first of Big Maggie’s to leave the nest, had his fate given to the audience in a throwaway line, and the lines written for the children and the other characters pale in comparison to the quote-worthy dialogue of the leads. Or maybe that was how it was meant to be, highlighting further how a singular mind and attitude can truly stand out in a society filled high with traditions blindly followed, and exultations monotonously delivered. So in the end, whatever you may think about marriage, happiness, tragedy or parental habits, Big Maggie will get you thinking further. Come prepared to laugh and be offended, and if you leave the play with nothing, just remember to always check your pockets so you’re never short of two coins to rub together.

Photo credit:Matthew Thompson.

Big Maggie is currently running in the Gaiety Theater until 12 March, with shows from Monday-Saturday at 7.30pm. Wednesday and Saturday Matinees at 2.30pm are also available. As Big Maggie is a prescribed single text for the English Leaving Cert exam, school group bookings are available with a free teacher ticket for every ten students booked.

Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

// The Corzies: Movie Reviews. The Science and Scientists of Jurassic Park

t is impossible to overstate the influence of Jurassic Park (1993) on popular culture. Its computer-generated dinosaurs heralded a new age in Hollywood. It defined the modern blockbuster. However, its impact on the public perception of science and scientists is often overlooked. What is Jurassic Park’s attitude towards technological advancement? How does Steven Spielberg portray its pioneers of de-extinction? In this review, I intend to explore each of these questions in detail. “Welcome to Jurassic Park.” The world of Jurassic Park is overflowing with scientific marvels. In 1993, many of these technologies existed as primitive prototypes. In 2015, they are advanced and commonplace. Tourists ride in self-driving electric cars, equipped with touch-screen computers. Scientists use virtual reality headsets to visualise strands of DNA. Sensitive, automated robotic arms grip ostrich eggs without breaking them. But this film promised an imminent revolution in consumer technology. In 1993, only 22.8% of American households had a personal computer. But its gadgets appear safe and easy-to-use. It may have served as a catalyst for investment. Google, Facebook and other Silicon Valley behemoths strive to develop similar consumer-grade products. The film itself acts as a dazzling demonstration of the computing power. Its global audience of millions was astounded by its CGI. Jurassic Park encouraged them to embrace the coming digital revolution. Lastly, the film inspired countless wide-eyed kids to pursue careers in science and engineering. Let us not forget Jurassic Park’s foremost scientific advancement – genetic engineering. At the time of its release, the field remained in an embryonic state. In 1985, Kary B. Mullis invented the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In 1989, Harvard suppressed the p53 gene its oncogenic “knockout mouse”. In 1990, the Human Genome Project formally began. Jurassic Park predicts many of the greatest scientific advancements of the last 22 years. Ingen’s supercomputers sequence no fewer than 15 dinosaur genomes. Due to Moore’s Law, we have over 14,000 species sequenced today. Ingen’s scientists insert frog DNA to fill “gaps” in each genome. Researchers today combine human and mouse DNA to create monoclonal antibodies: for example, adalimumab, which treats

February 2016

« CORMAC DUFF

More Corzie Reviews at corzies.com

auto-immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Ingen suppresses the lysine metabolism gene, similar to the p53 suppression in “knockout mice”. Today, CRISPR/Cas9 can rewrite specific genes. It has the potential to cure everything from cystic fibrosis to Huntington’s disease. Jurassic Park illustrates the reliance of scientific advancement on private investment. InGen’s “miracle” requires significant financial backing. No government would likely contribute to such an over-ambitious, ethically-dubious proposition. However, the film exposes the fragile reality of private investment. In the opening scene, a maintenance worker is violently eviscerated by a raptor. The subsequent lawsuit highlights security concerns about the park’s safety. InGen’s success is contingent on investor confidence. A drop could signal the end of Jurassic Park. That could set back genetic engineering by a decade. Ingen’s vulnerability is echoed in contemporary stock markets. In 2015, a precipitous fall in Chinese shares drastically devalued public biotechnology firms across the world. The film has a surprisingly nuanced approach to private investment. Pioneering research thrives with private funding. But this funding remains a fickle, unreliable source of revenue. Jurassic Park views it as a necessary evil. Jurassic Park offers rich and varied depictions of its scientists. I specifically want to focus on six professionals: Ingen CEO, Dr. John Hammond; genetic engineer, Dr. Henry Wu; “rockstar” mathematician, Dr. Ian Malcolm; computer scientist, Dennis Nedry; palaeobotanist, Dr. Ellie Sattler; and palaeontologist, Dr. Alan Grant. Dr Hammond (Richard Attenborough) characterises the idealism of scientific advancement. Investors would charge $10,000 a day for park admission. Hammond balks at this price-gouging. “Everyone in the world has a right to enjoy these animals,” he selflessly proclaims. Like famed virologist Jonas Salk, profit is not his primary goal. Through his creations, Dr Hammond wishes to enrich the lives of all mankind. He built his fortune operating a flea circus in London’s Petticoat Lane. He fooled children with his motorised contraption: they believed it was operated by hundreds of choreographed fleas. Upon meeting Drs Grant and

Sattler, he deceptively describes Isla Nublar as a “biological preserve”. They agree to inspect the island. On their arrival, it is revealed it to be a mere “amusement park”. Dr Hammond has high-minded goals. But he is not above blatant manipulation. Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong) personifies the hubris of mankind. The genetic engineer is directly responsible for the “miracle” of de-extinction. He arrogantly believes he exerts total control over nature. His vain attempt at “population control” engineers all dinosaurs to be female. But frog-infused raptors change into males. Lysine gene suppression is designed to make dinosaurs depend on humans’ lysine-rich food. Carnivores soon learn that humans themselves are an excellent source of lysine. Wu sees himself as a modern day Messiah, bringing Lazarus species back from the dead. He believes he has divine determination gender and survival. He callously dismisses any doubts cast over his project. Sadly, he is guilty of self-deception. His arrogance causes the death of five innocent civilians. Yet he remains unpunished: in the 2015 sequel, he re-appears as Chief Geneticist of Jurassic World. Dr. Ian Malcolm ( Jeff Goldblum) provides a welcome counter-point to Hammond and Wu. Goldblum plays the character with aplomb. Wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket, he is closer to Bono than Boole. Malcolm is a non-stereotypical mathematician: charming, charismatic – even sexy. This is fun, positive portrayal of an ostensibly boring profession. Malcolm is outspoken and critical of the park: “Your scientists were so pre-occupied with whether or not they could – they never stopped to think whether or not they should.” Dr Malcolm specialises in Chaos Theory: he reasons that an accident is not only possible, but inevitable. He exposes the folly in the illusion of control. Millions of uncontrollable variables mean that Wu’s plans are doomed to failure. Wu could not predict a massive tropical storm. Nor could he foresee a computer glitch that would render electric cars unresponsive. Nor could he imagine that Dr Grant would exit the unlocked car mid-tour. All these tiny oversights lead to disaster - Grant’s life at the mercy of a Tyrannosaurus rex. In Malcolm’s own words, “You can’t suppress 65 million years of gut instinct”.

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

Two million lines of computer code is a remarkable technological feat. Dennis Nedry single-handedly writes Jurassic Park’s main program. However, the computer scientist feels unappreciated and underpaid. Wayne Knight is well-known as Seinfeld’s nefarious Newman. In Jurassic Park, he portrays a treacherous villain. Nedry plots to steal fifteen dinosaur embryos and sell them for $1.5 million. He betrays Dr Hammond’s trust. He puts countless lives in danger by depowering the island’s electric fences. His greed proves fatal to himself - and three others. Jurassic Park fairly portrays other computer experts in a more admirable light. Ray Arnold (Samuel L. Jackson), heroically risks his life to restore power to the island. Teen hacker, Lex Murphy (Arianna Richards), uses her UNIX knowledge to lock the compound’s security doors. These acts save the lives of the island’s remaining inhabitants. Therefore, programming skill can for good or evil. Dr Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) is a superb female role model. She an accomplished academic, receiving a Ph.D in Palaeobotany. She is romantically entangled with D.r Grant - but does not let this interfere with their work. At the outset of the film, the pair discover a remarkably well-preserved Velociraptor nest at a Montana. However, this dig site is heavily reliant on philanthropy: Dr Hammond alone spends $50,000 a year to fund their excavation. Yet Ellie is a strong negotiator. She agrees to inspect Isla Nublar in exchange for three years’ full funding.

Ellie is observant and inquisitive. She notices macrovesicles of the tongue of a sick Triceratops. She learns of its symptoms – imbalance and laboured breathing. And she examines its stool sample – with gloves, thankfully. Her investigations reveal that it is suffering from West Indian Lilac toxicity: in lieu of stones, the dinosaur ingests the berries to aid its digestion. She chastises Dr Hammond for planting this poisonous shrub simply because “it looks good.” Finally, she is brave and selfless. She risks her life to rescue Dr Grant and four others from a rampaging T. rex. Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) is the film’s hero. In a departure from Hollywood norms, he is not some greased-up action star but an intelligent, humble palaeontologist. For decades, researchers assumed that dinosaurs evolved into modern reptiles. Grant challenges these assumptions. Hollow vertebrae and a retroverted pubic bone indicate that Velociraptor is more closely related to modern birds. In reality, recently-discovered evidence has proven him correct: quill knobs on fossils reveal that raptors even had feathers. Dr. Grant initially fears change. He worries that Jurassic Park would make his work “irrelevant”. Dr. Malcolm jokes that palaeontologists will soon be “extinct”. But like all successful species, he learns to adapt. Tim innocently asks Dr. Grant “what’ll you do if you can’t dig up fossils anymore”. Grant is honest and philosophical. “I don’t know,” he admits, “I guess we’ll have to evolve too.”

« YARA ZAYOUT

DID YOU KNOW?

Brainy Bites //

1) Once Charlie Chaplin entered a contest for ‘Charlie Chaplin look-alikes’ and he placed third. 2) If you shufﬂe a deck of cards, chances are that the new order of playing cards has never existed before.

6) Orange juice tastes bad after brushing because toothpaste blocks your sweet taste receptors due to a foaming agent that changes the permeability of your tongue cells. 7) If you place a ripe banana next to a green tomato, the tomato will ripen due to the ethylene gas produced by the banana.

3) 54 million people alive right now will be dead within 12 months.

8) Bruce Lee could throw grains of rice up into the air and catch then in mid-ﬂight using chopsticks

4) Sloths mistakenly grab their arms instead of the branches of a tree, and fall to their deaths.

9) Drinking 2 cups of cold water on an empty stomach can boost metabolism by 30%.

5) W. V. Meadows was shot in the eye at the battle of Vicksburg during American civil war. He survived, and 58 years later coughed the bullet out of his mouth.

February 2016

FUN FACTS

10) Andrew Jackson’s pet parrot had to be removed from his funeral for shouting obscenities at the mourners.

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

// Book review: ABSOLUTE FEAR BY LISA JACKSON « RUTH EMMANUEL

orrie Ten Boom hit the nail on the head in saying ‘Memory is the key not to the past but to the future.’ Unfortunately, Eve Renner, has been parted from some of her precious, most recent memories. Except, of course, the memory of the love of her life’s attempt to shoot her into oblivion. Eve Renner is fresh out of another horrific situation (detailed in the novel ‘Shiver’ by Lisa Jackson) when she returns to New Orleans and to her roots. As ‘fate’ would have it, she’s simply a magnet for trouble. Eve finds herself in the middle of another ordeal. People are being killed in a ritualistic fashion and their bodies are surfacing in the most peculiar of places. As one might guess, somehow, it all leads back to Eve. Lisa Jackson gives her readers some insight into her mind and imagination- an unconventional and vivid imagination at that.

She keeps us guessing, absolutely enthralled from the first page, attempting to figure out just who is committing these heinous acts and who would be the next victim. As readers, we’re made to toe the line demarcating the end of absolute sanity and the start of something else. Nothing is as it seems, not black or white, just the infinite shades of grey in between. The puzzle that we build in our minds as we read along is always incomplete and never fits to create that bigger picture. Jackson has us on her hook and all we can do to free ourselves from the suspense is get to the end. And that, as far as this author is concerned, is the beauty of the piece. Naturally, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, this author could not neglect to select a piece which explores romantic love. Jackson dares us to venture out to the limits of love. She dares us to question our own reactions in the delicate situation that the

protagonist, Eve, finds herself. For a minute or two, you might find yourself questioning if perhaps your significant other is not in fact a psychopath just biding time... Really, what would your reaction be if the last thing you recall is the love of your life burying a bullet in your belly? Moreover, what if that person is the only person who could help you now? The novel makes for an incredibly intriguing read. Despite a somewhat improbable plot, and ridiculously drama-laden life of the protagonist, we are entertained. This is after all the point of a good read, no? There’s no point to fiction if we are to confine ourselves to the realities of probabilities. So, ladies and gents, this author recommends that you let yourself be thrilled! You never know...there might just be a romantic, happy ending. What’s the probability of that?

Tune Picks Of The Month: « SEBASTIAN GRACIAS

1) Hymn For The Weekend - Coldplay 2) Factory Of Faith - RHCP 3) Get Into It - The Strypes 4) Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous - Good Charlotte 5) Portugal - Walk the Moon 6) Krush Groove - Wax Motif 7) Electric Love - BORNS 8) When My Train Pulls In - Gary Clark Jr. 9) White on White - FIDLAR 10) Ch-Ching - Chairlift

Seb Says //

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Societies

SEPTEMBER 2015

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

// Photojournalist: Submissions: Ireland. JOE HSIAO

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

// Photojournalist:

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Entertainment

Submissions: Iceland.

February 2016

ERIC CLARKE STAFF

DIVERCSITY.COM

Clubs & Societies

// Clubs and societies. RCSI ISOC

Christian Union

he Christian Union is more than just a place to learn about the Bible. We also aim to provide a stable sense of community and support. Every Wednesday, we have our meetings at 6.30pm at TR1, starting off with group games where everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a winner (mostly) and a few songs of worship. Then we move on to our Bible study, which we try to structure as a discussion. We aim for these Bible studies to be open for all, and an opportunity for everyone to share their beliefs and ideas, and we especially encourage people from other faiths to participate and provide new perspectives. This semester, the title of our study is The Human Journey, and every week we will look at a different aspect of medical health and discuss it from a Christian perspective. At the end of the day, our main goal is to build up a community where people can share their faiths and beliefs in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. We hope to accomplish this through our open discussion Bible studies, and the occasional games night (during both of which we always bring along the best snacks available to mankind). We meet every week, so if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested, do drop by! We can also be e-mailed at christian@rcsi.ie. As for upcoming events, we have a speaker coming in at the beginning of March to talk about medical conditions in the Bible, and how miracles can be possible. We hope to see you at CU!

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Clubs & Societies

RCSI Cricket Club

n the last weekend of January, the RCSI Cricket team headed up to Belfast for the annual Irish Universities Cricket Association Indoor Championship. Hosted at the Ulster University Jordanstown, the tournament consisted of 12 teams split into 2 pools. Each team would play 5 games, with each innings lasting 10 overs, with the 2 highest ranked teams after pool play progressing through to the knock out rounds. Despite a strong start in their first game against DCU RCSI fell short, losing by 6 runs. Solid innings by Venga Dasalam, Aathir Ahmed and Viren Manshani and late power hitting by Alex ‘the Mayo Gayle’ Dalphy were unable to carry us over the line. Disappointed, the boys grabbed a cheeky Nando’s and regrouped for their next game against Ulster University Coleraine. Finding ourselves at 4/17, with our top 4 batsmen being dismissed for a duck, Anoj Eswararaj played the innings of the weekend; scoring 51 and helping the Surgeons post a competitive total of 98. Wickets fell continually throughout Coleraine’s innings, however they required 8 runs off the last over, with 1 wicket in hand. RCSI turned to their man of the match. Ball in hand, Anoj held his nerve, much like Mitchell Starc, claiming the final wicket and ensuring victory for the Surgeons. Following his king pair in the previous 2 games, captain Samuel Gunaratnam was rightfully benched. Carrying confidence forward, from their victory, the Surgeons began strongly with NUIG being 3/24 at stage, however AB de Villier’s like hitting from NUIG’s lower order enabled them to reach a formidable total of 4/116. In reply RCSI started strong, cruising to 0/41 of 4 overs. However it wasn’t to be our match, with the Surgeons collapsing to be all out for 59. The final 2 games against IT Sligo and UCC both resulted in losses, however the legend of the Mayo Gayle grew with Alex dispatching bowlers back over their heads for 6. Despite disappointing results on the pitch, the boys are able to take confidence from the way they played. RCSI Cricket’s next major match will be the annual Irwin Cup, contested between the clinical and pre-clinical years of RCSI. It will be held on the 9th April at Dardistown and it will be an opportunity for those everyone to come and enjoy an enthralling game of T20 cricket. This year will see for the first time both sides fielding mixed teams and it will be a day you will not want to miss! If you have any queries about cricket, or want to get in on the fun and join the team shoot us an email at cricket@rcsi.ie or hit us up on Facebook at RCSI Cricket.

Hey Societies and Clubs! Want to be share your latest events and victories in Clubs & Socieites sections? Email divercsity@rcsi.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Anatomy WITH Clive Lee //

Science

« PROF. CLIVE LEE HEAD OF ANATOMY RCSI, PRESIDENT OF THE ANATOMICAL SOCIETY.

The Hunter brothers

illiam and John Hunter were two brothers from Lanarkshire in Scotland. William (1718-1783) trained in anatomy at St George’s Hospital in London, specialising in obstetrics. In 1764, he became physician to Queen Charlotte. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1767 and Professor of Anatomy to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1768. He built an anatomy theatre and museum in Great Windmill Street, Soho, where the best British anatomists and surgeons of the period were trained. In 1770 he built himself a house in Glasgow fully equipped for the practice of his science, and this formed the nucleus of the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. His greatest work was Anatomia uteri umani gravidi [The anatomy of the human gravid uterus] (1774) – (illustration on left).

ohn Hunter (1728-1793) learned anatomy by assisting his elder brother with dissections in William’s anatomy school in London, starting in 1748, and quickly became expert in anatomy. He spent some years as an Army surgeon, worked with the dentist James Spence conducting tooth transplants, and set up his own anatomy school in London. He built up a collection of living animals whose skeletons and other organs he prepared as anatomical specimens, eventually amassing nearly 14,000 preparations demonstrating the anatomy of humans and other vertebrates. Hunter became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1767. The Hunterian Society of London was named in his honour, and the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England preserves his name and his collection of anatomical specimens. John described Hunter’s canal in the thigh, also known as the adductor or subsartorial canal.

TWICE THE GIVEAWAY! We incorrectly published last month’s quiz question, we apologise for our editting error! So here is your chance to answer the correct question from January! Enter by emailing A, B, C, D or E with the subject Anatomy Quiz! to divercsity@rcsi.ie

------------------LAST MONTH’S WINNER IS: Nazahah Sabri Congratulations! You win a 15 euro voucher from Clarendon Medical. We will get in touch with you soon!

The contents of Hunter’s canal are:

Get the quiz question in your RCSI email when you join our monthly newsletter! Email with subject Add to newsletter to divercsity@rcsi.ie

Illustrations courtesy of freepik

A. Profunda femoris artery, femoral vein, nerve to vastus intermedius, saphenous nerve B. Profunda femoris artery, femoral vein, nerve to vastus medialis, saphenous vein C. Superficial femoral artery, femoral vein, nerve to vastus intermedius, saphenous nerve D. Superficial femoral artery, femoral vein, nerve to vastus lateralis, saphenous vein E. Superficial femoral artery, femoral vein, nerve to vastus medialis, saphenous nerve

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Science

Anatomy WITH Clive Lee //

« PROF. CLIVE LEE HEAD OF ANATOMY RCSI, PRESIDENT OF THE ANATOMICAL SOCIETY.

CONTEST QUIZ QUESTION!!!

O’DONOGHUE’S UNHAPPY TRIAD

r Don Horatio O’Donoghue (1902-1992) was born in Iowa and educated at the University of Iowa Medical School. He trained as an orthopaedic surgeon in Oklahoma and was consultant to the Departments of Athletics at both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University. In 1950, he published a paper in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery in which he described an ‘injury caused primarily by abduction and external rotation of the tibia on the femur, with that unhappy triad: 1. 2. 3.

Rupture of the medial collateral ligament Damage to the medial meniscus Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament’.

O’Donoghue became the founding president of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine in 1965.

In a patient with this unhappy triad of injuries, you would expect fluid collecting in the: A. B. C. D. E.

BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN OUR MONTHLY GIVEAWAY! Winner will be announced and contacted in the next month’s issue. Enter by emailing A, B, C, D or E with the subject Anatomy Quiz! to divercsity@rcsi.ie

Deep infrapatellar bursa Pes bursa Prepatellar bursa Subcutaneous infrapatellar bursa Suprapatellar bursa

Get the quiz question in your RCSI email when you join our monthly newsletter!

Illustrations courtesy of freepik

Email with subject Add to newsletter to divercsity@rcsi.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Science

Subjects of the Mind « GEORGE IKPOKOMITOP

// Research News A Mindful Valentine

o most people, physical health takes precedence to mental health. It is even more the case among health practisioners and trainees. Evidence reveals that more people experience episodes of depression during festive periods than that of other times of the year. This is quite understandable as it can be quite stressful, especially for people with such mental illness as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and the likes, who tend to avoid situations that could lead to their embarrassment or trigger their condition. Many are relieved that christmas and new year’s festivities are over. Now some normalcy can be restored to society and they can carry on with their daily business. But not for too long….. Just before they could get back to routine, it’s February and the love birds start singing. It is one of the most distressing periods of the year particularly for people with anxiety disorders, chronic stress, and personality disorders. Mental health deserves as much recognition and attention as does physical health. People with mental illness need just as much support as those who suffer from physical ailment. Laura Burke concludes that “There

has been a perception that the health and well-being of young people have never been better. While this may be true for the physical health of young people, the reality is that young people’s psychological and mental health has never been worse and the evidence points to high rates of both clinical and sub-clinical rates of psychological distress and mental disorder among young people” In the US, for instance, 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders and costs the US in excess of $42 million. Although effective treatment are available, only onethird of sufferers receive treatment.2 In Ireland, it has been demonstrated that 20% of Irish adults aged 19-24 suffer from mental illness; the highest in europe!3 More research uncovered that one in five people with mental illness in Ireland have engaged in deliberate selfharm, over 50% have had considered suicide and 7% have attempted it1. These figure are indeed alarming and demand that mental illness, especially among young people, should not be trivialised or ignored. Many studies have also reported increased mental illness among students. Recent data

from the BMJ suggests that an alarming amount of medical students have reported mental illness in the past year and over 80% of them were undersupported by their institutions, friends, or family4. Both increased workload and limited control over work experience have been closely linked with stress and burnouts among medical students and practicinng doctors5. This has led to the campaign to encourage reflective writing and mindfulness exercises among healthcare trainees to protect their mental health. The health profession is a fast-paced, incredibly demanding and mentally draining career. To increase our productivity and efficiency, we must treat our minds first, then heal our bodies. Medical students must learn to take breaks when necessary, engage in exercises (such as meditation, reflective writing, etc.) that boost mental health just as they endulge in physical exercises for their physical health. Although RCSI has a wealth of support services such as the NiteLine, the chaplaincy, and the student welfare team, only a few students avail their service, perhaps due to the fear of stigmatization or social exclusion.

Improving our mental health can directly impact our educational achievements, relationships and social life

Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Science

// The Medical Pulse « SONIA RAMKISSOON

Mind-blowing: Mind-reading Technology!

rom the prospect of a strange old lady with a crystal ball to what is known as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), mind-reading has now evolved through modern medicine more rapidly than anticipated. We humans, in order to effectively function in a complex social environment, have the inherent ability to predict others’ thoughts, behaviours and feelings. Or rather, so we’d like to think. For example, if someone is smiling and winking at your date in a party, you can be almost certain what that person is thinking! This assumption, however, is based on body language and is subjective to your own feelings and beliefs. It may very well be that the smiling stranger looking in your date’s direction was having a happy flashback of a completely unrelated event, when something happened to go into one of their eyes.

February 2016

Clearly, accuracy is key. fMRI technology, instead, carefully traces neuron activity by monitoring changes in the oxygen levels and blood flow to the brain. To analyze activity patterns, the brain is segmented into small boxes called voxels (the 3-D equivalent of pixels). The more activity in one area, the more oxygen and glucose will be metabolized, and the greater the blood flow to that area would be. fMRI machines create pictures of the brain by using the magnetic properties of blood to monitor blood flow. By this method, physicians and scientists can determine what an individual may be thinking or feeling depending on the parts of the brain that show the most activity. The fMRI (developed in the 1900’s) was simply the foundation for a brain decoder that scientists and researchers from around the world are working on today. Dr. Adrian Burgess, a member of the Imperial College at London’s Department

of Cognitive Neuropsychology, said, “It could potentially be used to find out people’s latent attitudes and beliefs that they are not aware of… You could use it to detect people’s prejudices, intuition and hidden traits that influence our behaviour.” Other than eavesdropping on your own subconscious thoughts, it could be a vital method of communication for people who have lost their speech or are paralysed. Also, in the future, smartphones and other electronics may be controlled using solely, our mind. However, the hardware required for this sophisticated decoding is still at the developmental stage, but signs are promising. Neuroethicists would now be faced with an intriguingly disturbing dilemma: determining the dividing line between public and private information. As this would seemingly obliterate this dividing line.

DIVERCSITY.COM

Science

// Subjects of the Mind: Lobotomy « TENGKU NAZIM Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

“Dr. Walter Freeman, left, and Dr. James W. Watts study an X ray before a psychosurgical operation. Psychosurgery is cutting into the brain to form new patterns and rid a patient of delusions, obsessions, nervous tensions and the like.” Waldemar Kaempffert, “Turning the Mind Inside Out”, Saturday Evening Post, 24 May 1941.

ntonio Egas Moniz, a Portugese neuropsychiatrist, did the world’s first human prefrontal leukotomy back in 1935 in Lisbon. This procedure was performed on a manic-depressive female and differs slightly from the more commonly known “ice-prick” lobotomy. Moniz’s patient was first anaesthetised and had two small holes drilled (trepanning) into the sides of her skull. Once the brain was exposed, absolute alcohol (ethanol) was injected into the prefrontal area, causing severe tissue damage and effectively destroying the cortico-thalamic nerve fibres. The patient seemed less anxious and paranoid post-procedure, prompting Moniz to declare the treatment somewhat a success. However, the alcohol used caused unwanted tissue damage in other areas of the brain as well as many other complications in his subsequent patients. Moniz later developed a special wire knife called a ‘leucotome’ for the procedure; whereby the leucotome’s wire loop would sever the nerve fibres when closed. He found that this method was slightly more specific and had marginally better results. In total, Moniz operated on 50 patients and had mixed results as the leucotomy was considered a “blind” procedure. The exact locations of the nerve fibres were not able to be determined at the time. Some of his patients showed improvements, some had no noticeable difference and others had markedly worse symp-

February 2016

toms post-procedure. Moniz found that the leukotomy worked best in mood disorder patients and worst in schizophrenics and was later awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his pioneering work in psychosurgery in 1949. Walter Freeman, an American clinical neurologist, was closely following Moniz’s work in psychosurgery at the time. Freeman was first to perform lobotomy in America and became the biggest advocate for the procedure. Working with neurosurgeon James Watts, Freeman refined the leucotomy procedure and changed its name to “lobotomy” instead; emphasising that both grey and white matter were being destroyed. The Freeman-Watts standard procedure was first performed in September 1936. The procedure involved inserting a blunt spatula through holes trepanned into the skull of an anaesthetised patient and cutting through the nerve fibres. After several attempts, Freeman found the procedure to be time-consuming and messy. He then sought out to create a quicker and cheaper procedure that did not require the patient to be anaesthetised. Hence, the “ice-prick” lobotomy procedure came to be. After nearly 10 years, Freeman performed the first transorbital lobotomy in January 1945. The patient was first rendered unconscious via electroshock. Once unconscious, an ice-prick like tool,

called ‘orbitoclast’, is used to break the roof of the orbit and puncture straight into the patient’s frontal lobe. Once inside the brain, the instrument was moved back and forth to destroy the nerve fibres. The procedure is then repeated with the other orbit. In total, the procedure took roughly 10 minutes to finish. Lobotomy became a widespread and common practice in the 1940’s. Throughout his career, Freeman performed roughly 3,500 lobotomies. Similar to Moniz’s procedure, Freeman’s transorbital lobotomy produced mixed results; some patients were able to return to work while some were left in a vegetative state. Most notoriously was when Freeman left President John F. Kennedy’s sister, Rosemary, in a vegetative state after a lobotomy procedure that he himself performed. This quickly changed public opinion on lobotomies. The popularity of the transorbital lobotomy was mainly due to overcrowding in mental asylums and the lack of antipsychotic drugs at the time. By 1950’s, approximately 20,000 lobotomies were performed on mentally ill patients across America. However, the use of lobotomies started to decline by the late 1950’s with stronger opposition from both the medical community and the public. Anti-psychotic drugs were soon discovered and became widely available in the following years, prompting the end of the transorbital lobotomy.

DIVERCSITY.COM

Science

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

Culture & Leisure

// Dublindulgence

« COREY NIXON

« MOHIT BUTANEY

« STEPHANIE TUNG

ASIAN FUSION: Bread and Bones

sian fusion is one of the hottest new food trends to hit the Dublin food scene, as speculated by some of the city’s top foodies including the Lovin’ Dublin’ website itself. If you are feeling the itch to explore this new food phenomenon on a Friday night, look no further than Bread and Bones. At first glance, it’s easy to just walk straight by this joint on Millennium Walkway with its inconspicuous decor and minimalistic advertising. However, let me tell you that it would be a darn shame to do so. With an excellent array of Asian fusion foods including steamed buns, banh-mi (Yes, we did look it up and this was indeed the plural of these awesome traditional Vietnamese sandwiches), Kimchi fries, and noodles, with a variety of meat toppings such as roast pork, beef, and duck - all at a reasonable price! Split among 3 of us, we received more than enough food to satisfy both our hunger and Asian cravings for less than 20EUR a person including a drink each. Now on to the food, we ordered something from each of their categories - appetizers, roasts, noodles, sides and we loved it all! The croquettes were a nice start, initially we were a bit skeptical of the pulled pork and corn mixture but they tasted fantastic together! We just wanted more than 4 to munch! Next, we ordered the Bao served with roasted pork belly. This entree was a great addition to the meal; the steamed buns were soft and delicious (almost reminiscent of a mantou, a popular Chinese steamed bun) and complimented well with pork belly was well cooked and lathered with tasty barbeque sauce and pickled apples. Topping off the sandwich with coriander and cucumber made for a refreshing contrast to the dense pork belly and the rich sauce.

February 2016

Next, in between entrees was the perfect cure for the awkward culinary silence - Kimchi fries. Crispy fries topped with all the fixings: Kimchi, garlic mayo, beef pieces, and a fried egg made for a salty, savoury goodness that left you just wanting the next chip. Side note for those of you unfamiliar with Kimchi, it’s a famous Korean appetizer comprised of pickled/fermented cabbage, which though by description may not sound appetizing to most but has a delightful tangy taste that leaves you wanting more. Lastly, the chili beef rice noodle soup was not to disappoint. Noodle soup is a classic dish in most Asian countries, albeit with a slight twist from region to region either in terms of the soup composition, the type of noodles or the toppings. This entree was definitely the hottest of the dishes and while it caused a sweat or two, it also delivered great taste; definitely a recommended option even for the weak hearted for heat. The rice noodles were a nice balance of chewiness and the steaming soup/broth that made the base of the dish was the perfect comfort food on a cold winter’s night. The short but appropriate beer selection also helped their case though they could definitely consider expanding this lineup. Also worth mentioning, though we were unable to try it for ourselves are the banh-mi! These sandwiches are made with French baguettes and filled with a variety of different meats (roast pork, pate and Vietnamese sausage to name a few) and an assortment of Asian toppings such as pickled carrots, cucumber, daikon and cilantro. All in all, Bread and Bones was a thoroughly enjoyable Asian Fusion experience for us and hopefully it’s a sign of many more new and exciting types of fusion cuisine to emerge in Dublin!

DIVERCSITY.COM

Culture & Leisure

WHERE? 7 Millennium Walkway, Dublin 1 PRICE? €15-20 per person SPECIALS: Express Lunch: 12-4pm Mon-Fri Banh Mi, Baguette €6.50 OR Bao, Steamed bun €5.50 Express Dinner: 4-7pm Mon-Sat; all day Sunday 2 courses + drink = €20 OR 3 courses + drink = €24 Write your comments and opinions to the editor editor.divercsity@rcsi.ie

February 2016

DIVERCSITY.COM

WE ARE LOOKING FOR COLLABORATORS FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY MONTH ISSUE! We are having our event for the year: An open discussion on about the diverse cultures and nationalities in RCSI. The event will take place on the 9th of March . If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to represent your country, we are looking for speakers for the night. Please email divercsity@rcsi.ie.