The Suss - Issue 6 - Vol III

Vol. 3. Issue. 6 8 February 2017

THE SUSS THE COLLEGE VIEW’S ARTS & LIFESTYLE SUPPLEMENT

’ g n i t ‘‘“afr’obea

Arts

Sussed: Afrobeat

BY ZAINAB BOLADALE

T

he birth of Afrobeat happened almost a decade after West African countries such as Nigeria and Ghana gained their independence from British rule in the 60’s.

During a time where freedom and hope for future growth were being celebrated, it isn’t a surprise that optimism encouraged an abundance of homegrown creativity and talents.

One such talent was the king of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti. Fela coined the name ‘Afrobeat’ for the genre inspired by his club ‘Afrika Shrine,’ where he and his band would perform upbeat ‘Fuji’ and ‘highlife’ style music for a young energetic audience. For them, Afrobeat was a much needed halfway point between the traditional and contemporary. It became the musical anthem that embodied liberation from colonialism.

Prominent musical instruments used were heavy African drums, bass guitars and saxophones. The style also varied greatly as it contained elements found in Jazz, Funk and Yoruba chants. This all created a backdrop for English and Yoruba lyrics which were simple yet memorable in their literal but profound messages.

Unknown to him at the time was that this style would later travel across the world with its emigrating fans and interweave itself in many cultures where music was a prevalent part of social bonding. Even after his death, his sound was still transcending both African and western cultures. Shortly

after his musical reign, along came Lagbaja who was just as eccentric and redefined the Afrobeat sound.

Lagbaja was well known for always wearing a traditional African print mask on his face.

In the late 1990s, he introduced his music to West Africa. Like Fela, his sound wasn’t entrapped in one style of music but instead was a fusion of soul meets dance. His lyrics were often stories, jokes, puns or a statement about society.

In one song alone, he would speak three languages mixed with a few colloquial phrases.

He claimed that he wanted his music to sound undeniably African in its vibes.

As the rise of pop culture became prevalent in the west, Afrobeat also began to change. The elements of pop and glamour started trickling into it’s sound. Young upcoming artists influenced by pop and hip-hop started adding in dance moves and club beats, that ensured Afrobeat appealed to the masses. In the past decade, the world of Afrobeat has changed and many big names in the industry have worked alongside American musicians in creating the fusion of sound that keeps people on the dancefloor and is now greatly influencing chart music.

A perfect example of this is Drake’s recent hit ‘One Dance’ which featured one of Nigeria’s biggest Afrobeat musicians, WizKid and reached number one in over a dozen countries.

Another Afrobeat musician

Image Credit Page 1; Lemi Ghariokuw Page 2:okayafrica.com; Page 3:fanpop. com; Page 4: Netflix; Page 5: Digital Spy; Page 6: walkinghighlands. co.uk, lonely planet, easyjet.com; Page 7: katyregenery. com, google images; Page 8: Zainab Boladale

2

that has worldwide fame is Fuse ODG, a British artist who originates from Ghana. ‘Antenna’ and ‘Azonto’ both featured a new style of dance that was easily recognisable on the dancefloors, exploring hip hop in the most African way possible. In 2014 he hit number 3 on the UK charts with ‘Dangerous Love’.

One thing Afrobeat has lost in recent years is its political resistance. Fela Kuti was known for his activism and he’d often use music to call on the government to invest in its people more. In the fast paced, manic ‘Day by Day, Demo crazy’ he questions the illusion of ‘democracy’. He plays on the word and claims it’s actually a demonstration of how crazy man is.

Nowadays, Afrobeat is about entertainment, dancing and living a lavish lifestyle.

While this isn’t a bad thing, it would be beneficial if it could

regress and maintain its ability to empower its listeners.

Seun Kuti, Fela Kuti’s son, is carrying on his father’s legacy through his style of music with elements of rap. His music is truthful and aggressively tells people to question things more.

Afrobeat music has contributed greatly to the West African economy as it’s one of the most recognised money making industries globally.

Afrobeat clubs hosting Afrobeat DJ’s and musicians have flourished in England, and Afrobeat nights such as Room 19’s recent Fela Kuti vs William Onyeabor tribute night in Wigwam are popping up in Dublin, but at a slower pace.

If Afrobeat had one aim in today’s society, it would be to create its own representation of what it means to be African and allow people to feel empowered by it.

Arts

The power of pop as protest

BY CATRÍONA PHELAN

T

he protest song is exciting, irreverent, and powerful, putting into words our frustration with inequalities of all description. For as long as pop has existed, there has been a subsection of righteous, rage-fuelled songwriters who want to fight the power in whatever form that power may take.

From “The Times they are a-Changin” to “Do They Know it’s Christmas?,” pop has, with varying degrees of success, always striven to change the world. Since Trump won the US presidential election, there has already been a musical backlash against the self-aggrandizing world leader.

The Our First 100 Days project, for example, releases a new, unheard song from a different artist every day for the first one hundred days of the presidency in order to raise money for causes that may lose funding under Trump’s administration. So far, they have released tracks from Angel Olsen and PWR BTTM, among others.

In addition to this, on the eve of Trump’s inauguration, Gorillaz released their first new track in six years, “Hallelujah Money”. Sung by Benjamin Clementine, the song is a commentary on the political landscape under the new American president.

A solid protest pop song can be at once thought-provoking, extravagant and life affirming; anthems of robust, radical bravura that make you want to dance in the street and question the authority of every establishment you’ve ever come across. Take that, teacher!

Here we will take a look at a handful of the many protest songs from the past few de-

cades that have shaken up the system and made us sing.

1960s When we think of the 1960s, the protest songs of Bob Dylan immediately come to mind. It was a time when revolution was in the air and people of all colours and backgrounds were fighting to have their voices heard. From Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” to Aretha Franklin’s “RESPECT” to John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance,” pop artists were voicing their objections to racial inequality, gender inequality and war.

1970s With the emergence of punk, reggae and ska, the 1970s was a fertile decade for protest music. Bob Marley wrote anthems like “Stand Up for Your Rights” and Gil Scott-Heron released his powerful poem-song “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” In the UK, the Rock Against Racism campaign - featuring bands like the Clash- was set up in 1976 to combat growing white nationalism.

1980s In response to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, U2 wrote “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” while over in Germany, Nena gained international success with her anti-war

song “99 Luftballons”. Then came Geldof and Live Aid. The hair and outfits spun wildly out of control to the point that activism against world hunger and bouffant hair and shiny satin shirts melded uncomfortably in the mind. Oh, the power of pop.

1990s A great decade, by all accounts. Along with the majority of this university’s student population, the 90s birthed Britpop, Riot Grrrl, the east coast west coast hip hop feud and the Spice Girls. Grunge and hip hop were the underground favourites of disaffected adolescents across the globe, meaning cool kids wore clothes that were, at minimum, four sizes too big. A notable example of ‘90s protest music is Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name; a song that protested institutional racism, and which reemerged in 2009 to become

“The hair and outfits spun wildly out of control to the point that activism against world hunger and bouffant hair and shiny satin shirts melded.”

Christmas number one in the UK. 2000s While the 2000s did not provide us with as many protest pop hits as the previous decades, there were still a few that grabbed our attention.

The Gossip’s Standing in the Way of Control may primarily remind us of watching Skins, but the song was also a catchy protest against anti-gay marriage laws in the US. 2010s While there have already been many protest songs and albums released this decade, most notably those associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, many more will undoubtedly emerge from the political era of Donald Trump.

In times of political upheaval, the reaction of the music world helps us through the darkness and confusion. To paraphrase Caitlin Moran, if you want to change the world, there is no better way than through culture. Music can change things faster than any academic text or political speech. Although many of us view this incipient stage of Donald Trump’s presidency as unutterably terrifying, we can take solace in the fact that in times of political uncertainty, protest pop will flourish and give us overblown, joyous, foot-stomping hope.

3

Arts

Arts

A series of fortunate adaptations

Review

BY FIONNUALA WALSH

T

he new adaptation of ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ on Netflix brings a whole new interpretation of Lemony Snicket’s dark and depressing tale of the Baudelaire orphans to the streaming platform. The story begins small and a little repetitive but grows into a global conspiracy of secret organisations, dastardly villains and intriguing mysteries.

The series follows the three equally ingenious and unlucky Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, after their home is destroyed in a mysterious fire.

They are constantly forced to move from guardian to guardian under the sinister eye of the series’ villain, Count Olaf.

The new Netflix series gives a fresh interpretation of the Baudelaire’s story, devoting two episodes to each book and covering the first four books in the opening season. The story was always supposed to be episodic, and the new series is structured more like the immersive experience of the original books than a typical tv show.

The successful translation from page to screen is partly due to Daniel Handler, pen name Lemony Snicket, leading the writing team with his unconven-

4

tional and creative flair.

The series was first adapted for the screen in 2004, when Jim Carrey led a stellar cast including Meryl Streep and Billy Connolly as some of the orphan’s hapless guardians. The film was a heavy handed amalgamation of the first three books in the series, which swapped and interchanged plot points to squash the thirteen book series into a feature length film.

The visuals for the Netflix show are fresh and unique, notably brighter than the Tim Burton-esque gothic look of the 2004 film. No expense was spared by set designer Bo Welch, as every step of the Baudelaire story required entirely new locations. The costumes are colourful and the cgi-assisted machinery visually fascinating.

The technicolour look of the series could be compared to cult classic Pushing Daisies, which gained a loyal audience with its colourful costumes and sets which contrasted to the dark and morbid undertones of the show.It is difficult for a generation of fans who grew up with the film, especially Jim Carrey’s extravagant and energetic Count Olaf, to warm up to a new incarnation. Neil Patrick Harris’

Tony award winning Broadway background is an ideal pick for the overly theatric Count Olaf, who sings more than once in the season.

Harris hits the comedic beats of the character with an experienced ease. His Olaf is a quirky and theatrical villain for a kids series but Harris also explores the rare truly sinister moments.

A scene in which the angry Count strikes Klaus across the face earns an ominous beat, as well as the creepy plot to marry fourteen year old Violet.

Snicket’s unique narrating style is one of the most distinctive elements of the books, and is well translated. Patrick Warburton quickly becomes the only Lemony Snicket you can imagine, delivering droll narration and hinting at his own mysterious history with the overarching secret organisation. He pauses scenes to dryly comment or explain a word to the audience and clever cinematography is used to bring him in and out of frame.

Apart from the principal characters of Olaf and the Baudelaire siblings, the cast is notably diverse. Most other significant roles are played by non-white actors, such as Aasif Mandvi portraying lovable Uncle

Monty, K. Todd Freeman as Mr. Poe and Alfre Woodard as Aunt Josephine, all played by white actors in the film. Several references are also made to the Baudelaires being Jewish, which Handler made an explicit effort to include.

The bar set by the young cast of ‘Stranger Things’ for child actors continues to raise with the delightful Louis Hynes and Malina Weissman as the gifted Baudelaire siblings. The children are given the chance to develop more personality than their movie counterparts, with Hynes playing the studious and occasionally snarky Klaus, and Weissman playing Violet the inventor and oldest Baudelaire.

Sunny the baby is cgi-assisted to an almost ridiculous degree in scenes of playing a game of poker and chopping wood with her teeth.

The series is expected to gain its wings in season two after it surpasses the span of film, and the audience gets to see the remaining nine adventures on screen for the first time. Although it is difficult for the Netflix series to escape the looming shadow of the film adaptation, director Barry Sonnenfeld has delivered a creative new take on the beloved series.

Arts

Was Gilmore Girls worth revisiting?

BY HANNAH KELLY

A

fter years of longterm fans patiently awaiting an update from our beloved Stars Hollow, Netflix brought us a six part mini-series, Gilmore Girls: A Year in The Life, to revisit the Connecticut town.

If you’re a diehard fan of the series, you’ll already feel optimistic about seeing familiar faces and the set we know and love. The problem is, as the series go on, it’s hard not to see the cracks in our inevitably high expectations.

When we watched Gilmore Girls, it was a female triumph - a celebration of Rory and her academic accomplishments, Lorelai’s tenacious attitude to her business aspirations, and above all a confirmation of what we already knew; women don’t need a man to complete their lives. Of course they had their faults, Lorelai was often immature and irresponsible as a mother and frequently spoiled the beloved Rory.

In the last few episodes of the early-aughts classic, we watched Lorelai say goodbye to her budding daugh-

ter journalist going off to join Barack Obama’s campaign bus.

We were ready for her to successfully conquer the world and make her mark writing about it.

We hoped Lorelai would settle with Luke and the Dragonfly Inn would be a roaring success.

In the first episode of the new series it’s clear there are major changes in the cult show.

The set is familiar, yet seems bigger and more detailed, and increased production values are reflected in how they actually filled coffee cups with liquid this time round. The cosy Luke’s Diner that we watched Rory grow up in has much the same feel, yet alongside the old “no cell phones” sign are ones that ban taking pictures of food, man buns and texting while ordering. The attention to detail helps bring the familiar town into the current year for long time viewers.

Much like the changes in the set, the characters make current pop culture references, to again indicate the time that has passed. Unlike the set changes, the references are in no way subtle and sometimes downright cringe-worthy. Kurt

“The series had moments of the old spirit that viewers were looking for­— These moments made the series enjoyable and nostalgic, but were simply too far and few between.” still has quirky business ideas, except this time he’s starting a company called “Ooo-ber”, a rip on Uber. The joke is overplayed and an awkward attempt to bring in relatable modern culture to entice new viewers.

For original Gilmore Girl fans it didn’t fit in the same old-fashioned town we knew.

The storyline was worse than predicted. Rory wasn’t

the success we thought she’d be and ended up back home not really working, a mistress to the awful Logan, viewers hoped to have seen the last of.

Not to mention the addition of an unnecessary boyfriend that Rory kept forgetting about, a gimmick that came across mean and unfunny. The absence of Melissa McCarthy left a huge hole, leaving the series without the infectious friendship between Sookie and Lorelai. Even when she did appear for one episode, the on screen chemistry we longed for was nowhere to be seen.

Then we get to the weird, irrelevant musical break that ran across the ‘Summer’ episode. Frankly, if they were to remove that whole detour from the story, there would be no difference to the series.

With so many unanswered questions yet to answer, dedicating over 10 minutes of screen time to whole musical numbers was annoying and confusing.

The musical addition wasn’t a total waste of time.

The song that spoke to Lorelai, ‘Unbreakable’, gave insight into how fragile the strong, independent woman could be, especially when it comes to love. This message didn’t need so much screen time, that one song would have sufficed.

The series had moments of the old spirit that viewers were looking for. One of the highlights was the secret bar that had to be packed up in a minutes notice when Taylor was in sight. These moments made the series enjoyable and nostalgic, but were simply too far and few between.

As we watched the cycle start afresh with the infamous last four words, the audience was left with a sense of disappointment and frustration. An outcome that was, unfortunately, inevitable when directors try recreate a beloved series of a generation. Perhaps it was best left in the aughts.

5

Arts Lifestyle

City Breaks on a Budget If the January blues have well and truly kicked in, booking a cheap and cheerful city break abroad will give you something to look forward to while you’re trying to resettle yourself back into working life. Writers Liam Ashton and Amy Lawlor take a look at the top city destinations to explore this spring

Edinburgh With low cost airlines providing cheap flights to locations in Britain and mainland Europe, student holidays are becoming increasingly more popular. Edinburgh is an ideal location for a weekend getaway both with a partner or as part of a group. The flight is less than an hour and return ticket costs between €20 and €30. If travelling in a group, hostels are ideal and will serve their purpose as a place to sleep and are also very central costing no more the £20 per night. The most visited tourist attraction in Scotland, Edinburgh castle is a must see sitting atop the famous Royal Mile.

It does come at a high

6

Poland Home to legendary castles, magnificent churches, bustling marketplaces and a fantastic nightlife Krakow has become the Polish tourist destination to experience as opposed to Poland’s capital Warsaw. With cheap alcohol, accommodation and food it’s a safe haven for college

cost however, with admission at £16.50 with no student rate. Pub crawls are the main source of nightlife entertainment starting at just £7 per person. These include the 6 Nations pub ‘The Three Sisters’ and ‘The Oz Bar’ located beside ‘The Elephant House’, where JK Rowling first began writing Harry Potter.

Arthur’s Seat is a free activity for a budget trip which also provides the chance to see an alternative side of the city. Standing in Holyrood Park, Arthur’s Seat is a 45-minute walk to the top overlooking the entire city. This is most ideal in the evening when the Balmoral Hotel and Scott Monument are lit up.

students alike.

Only a 30 minute taxi journey away from the airport, it costs a fixed fair of €25 into Krakow city which is fairly cheap if you split it amongst a group of people.

Despite it’s cold weather Krakow has a lot to offer in the history, make-up and nightlife department.

If you’re interested in World War II, a visit to Auschwitz concentration camp is a must. It is highly recommended that you book a combination pass costing €69 which covers your 8-hour tour of Aushwitz-Birkenau

Budapest Once the cost of flights to Budapest are covered which are between €60 and €120 for this time of the year your money worries will be over as Budapest is among the cheapest cities in Europe. Hostels are again the most viable option with well-known chains such as Wombat and Big Fish which have both a bar and free breakfast. Walking tours of the city are free with complimentary tips at the end which are usually 3000 Hungarian Forint, roughly €10. St Stephen’s Basilica is perfect for groups on a student budget as it too is free entry however it does take up to ten minutes to climb the three-hundred steps to the top where you will be greeted with a 360-degree view of the city.The primary

concentration camp as well as a tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This pass also includes transport to and from both tours as well as including a packed lunch.

The salt mine tour alone costs €60, therefore the combination pass saves you money in the long run.

If you’re a make-up addict it is worth doing a day trip to Poland to stock up on your Inglot essentials. The well-known make-up brand is manufactured in Poland meaning the prices are minuscule in comparison to Ireland. Here, Inglot’s HD

source of nightlife in Budapest is the ruin bars. These abandoned buildings proved to be very popular when the trend began 10 years ago and can be found all over the city today. Pub crawls and tours are popular amongst groups navigating through each of the derelict pubs in downtown Pest for less than 3000 Forint. Any trip to Budapest isn’t complete without visiting the thermal baths. Either to relax and recuperate or to attend the weekend bath parties, the baths are suited for any size group and is worth paying the admission fee.

Depending on the night, admission is between €15 and €30 however it ered is widely considto be the highlight of any trip to the Hungarian capital.

full coverage foundation retails at €33 whereas in Poland it costs just under €18, it’s definitely worth the visit.

The nightlife in Poland doesn’t kick off until the early hours of the morning so clubs at 12pm will more than likely be empty. If you’re a vodka drinker be prepared for the measures to be strong. There are plenty of cheap beers to go around but if you drink cider, ‘Tatúv Sad’ tastes similar to orchard thieves and costs €4 a pint. Nightclubs in Poland don’t include a service charge so if your drink prices change over the night it’s because the barman thinks you’re drunk enough to rip off so watch out for this.

Unique date ideas for Valentine’s Day

BY LAURA HORAN

Arts Lifestyle

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

BY BRONWYN O NEILL

Valentine’s day is just around the corner bringing with it the stress of trying to figure out what to buy your significant other. Unprepared? Don’t panic because Bronwyn O’Neill has created a cute gift guide to help.

T

hat one day a year is approaching when couples panic on how to impress their other half with a day to remember and the rest are hoping they don’t spend too much time with Ben and Jerry. Yes it is Valentine’s Day. Instead of booking a fancy meal weeks in advance or fighting over the last table for a few drinks in your local, here are some alternative date ideas for your day of love or lust.

Skyline from Croke Park Impress your date with the beauty of Dublin from 17 storeys high on the roof of Ireland’s most famous sporting arena or scare them to death and console them with a cuddle. During the sky-high tour you will learn some history surrounding the area.

La Peniche It’s difficult to be original when wanting to get a bite to eat on

For him Valentine’s Day but this restaurant is no ordinary one. La Peniche is a French restaurant located on a canal boat down the River Liffey. The boat won’t just serve you amazing food and drinks while sailing through our beautiful city but you will also learn about the history of Guinness and Dublin’s Grand Canal.

The Adventure Rooms How will you ever know if you like this person unless you can both be locked in a room for 60 minutes and do a series of clues and puzzles to engineer your escape? Put it to the test and take your date here. If you’re not arguing by the end then they’re the one.

Hiking Ticknock Bring a light picnic and hold hands as you do a walking tour around Ticknock which is just 3km south west of Sandyford.

The walk is filled with wonderful views such as the Three Rock

Socks and Jocks For the practical partners out there who want to gift their boyfriend with something useful, you can’t go wrong with a packet of cute socks and comfy boxers. Everyone needs underwear and if boys think its okay to gift lingerie to their girlfriends, it is certainly okay to return the favour.

For her Beauty Box Subscription If your girlfriend is beauty obsessed, why not get a monthly subscription box for 6 months or a year? Most subscriptions are less than €20 a month and there are offers for yearly subscriptions.

For Both A homemade keepsake

For those of you who love to make gifts, Valentine’s day is the perfect time to bring out your artistic side.

Whether it’s a coupon book, embroidered pillows or a pop up photo album, the thought and love behind it really encapsulates the meaning of Valentine’s day.

A weekend away For those of you willing to splurge, a romantic weekend away is a win-win. Not only is it a very thoughtful gift, you also get to enjoy the gift. Ireland is full of gorgeous hotels and scenery for you both to enjoy.

Night in If you’re low on funds, just have a chill night in just the two of you. No phones, no distractions, just you two.

Throw on Netflix, cook dinner or get a takeaway and just chill.

Being Single on Valentine’s Day

B

oxes of chocolates, roses and embellished cards- the familiar sight of Valentine’s Day is back once again. For some of us, it means highly anticipated dates and disappointment when your other half ‘forgets’ to get you a present.

For the single ladies and gents,

BY GABIJA GATAVECKAITE it may mean a night filled with feelings of loneliness, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Valentine’s day is a great opportunity to meet new people, build on potential relationships or just enjoy being single. If you choose to go out or stay in, V-day doesn’t have to be ruined just because you’re

single. If you choose to stay in, get a few friends together and spend the night watching movies with lots of pizza and ice cream, including face masks and cookie baking. If partying is more your style, ‘The Liquor Rooms’ are holding a ‘Shred Your Ex’ night on February 11th, which grants free admission with a photo of your ex and where break up stories land free drinks. Bring along old teddies and swap them for other singles’ old gifts from

their exes, or donate them to charity. If you’re looking to meet new people and your love for dogs is even more important, ‘Pupp’, the dogfriendly café on Clanbrassil St is holding a speed dating event on the day.

If all else fails and you end up having no plans for the day, take a hot bath and read a good book- after all, it’s important to take time to love yourself before anyone else.

7

Arts Lifestyle

Happy Friend Hunting

Top Tips for final year semester

BY ELSA ANDERLING

F

inding friends can be difficult during your first semester at college, learning how to navigate your way through the campus grounds can be challenging enough never mind seeking out your lifelong college friends.

New faces, new places and maybe even new sneakers - there is a lot to take in starting college as a fresher. Although you might have tracked down the cheapest cup of coffee on campus already, possibly the social bit has not quite fallen into place yet. Stress no more, just follow these three examples and you all have a tight squad in no time.

Spot a fellow, DCU student on your local bus (it should not be too hard after some casual,

basic level Facebook stalking). Now it is time to be brave: go grab the seat next to them on the bus, simply withdraw one of their earphones and put it into your own ear. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the 45 minute long, possibly Bieberistic, bus ride into campus together. No awkward conversations, and no breathing the morning coffee in each other’s faces.

Ask around for a place called ‘NuBar’.

This is DCU’s beloved campus bar and this is a perfect spot for your purposes. Simply walk up to the bar, order two pints and scan the bar closely while waiting.

Head straight for the person who has either a glass of water in their hand or is chewing gum.

BY RACHAEL KELLEGHER

Once there, put one of the pints down on the table and gently push the glass towards them – get inspired by the gent move in ‘Lady and the Tramp’ when one last meatball is left on the plate. This will undoubtedly result in instant friendship, because who would not bond over a drink? We are in Ireland after all.

Dublin is a rainy place, and you should take advantage of this. Get yourself an umbrella that will keep two people dry (or at least drier). It should not take you more than a walk from the library to the Henry Grattan before you spot an individual with a tormented facial expression and no brolly. Save their day – offer to share your small space of shelter with them.

So happy friend hunting everyone, and may the odds be ever in your favour.

Society Semester

O

ne of the biggest challenges that goes along with life at Dublin City University, is going a day without hearing the words ‘clubs and socs’. With over 120 of clubs and societies across the two campus’ it is guaranteed that there is something for everyone and that everyone has something. If you have not quite found your group yet, why not make that your goal for semester two.

Although refreshers day has come and gone, sign

8

BY MICHELLE MARTIN ups can be done at any time in the Student Union for the same price of four euro (minus the goodies unfortunately). Between DCU drama’s Othello, Style socs annual fashion show and A&F’s big ball, there is plenty going on and plenty of reasons to participate.

The obvious reason for the popularity of clubs and societies is fun. Fun activities, fun new friends, fun way to procrastinate. However, involvement has a lot more to offer. If you manage to weasel your way to

the top your club’s food chain and land yourself on a committee, you are sure as hell going to put that on your CV. No employer cares whether its physics research or Disney society you help out with, it shows that you are a team player who actively did more than just skip class and drink at and college.

And, if nothing else, join a society for a membership card. It is worth it for the unlimited Domino’s and Camille discounts.

F

resher’s Week seems like yesterday and most of us are still looking at our timetables not quite sure which letter stands for which building. Not much has changed yet somehow you have made it to your final year. Whether it is three or four years down the line, most of us are still haunted by the thoughts of entering the unknown commonly referred to as ‘The real world’. But do not fret! We have some top tips to send you swimmingly through your final lap of the college experience.

Get planning NOW- Whether it is a jam-packed portfolio, a set of exams or the submission of a ten thousand word thesis, the most important thing any final year student can do is be prepared. Keep a calendar, outline all deadlines to be completed and, of course, give yourself time.

Be ahead of yourself and avoid the stress and panic as this only leads to unproductivity.

Exercise- the dreaded word... exercising regularly keeps your energy levels up, resulting in a more engaged mind. Whether you are a GAA head or a gym goer, try not to drop those hobbies just because you feel you have ‘no time’. In fact, making time for exercise will help you to stay productive and of course looking mighty fine.

Do not forget to let your hair downJust because you are in final year does not mean house arrest. Once you begin managing your time properly you will still be able to head to Coppers on a Tuesday night with the knowledge that you have completed a good day’s work and are on target.