University Express Vol. 22 Issue 1

University Volume 22 | Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018

Express UCCExpress.ie

UCC Professor – “We Must Make Green Renewable Gas” system, the Professor described that a decarbonised gas method was “the epitome of the circular economy.”

“Biogas plants cannot be directly compared to other renewable energy sources like wind turbines, which produce electricity,” explained Prof Murphy, Director of the SFI MaREI Centre headquartered at the UCC Environmental Research Institute and Leader of the International Energy Agency Biogas Task. “There are so many more advantages to a biogas system - from waste treatment, production of biofertilizer, generation of a renewable energy suitable for transport, heating or electricity, improved water quality and provision of jobs in rural communities. It is the full package”.

Image: MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy

Ciaran Dineen, News Editor

at the SEAI/ International Energy Agency Bioenergy Symposium on “Anaerobic Digestion in the Circular n the 6th of September, UCC Economy.”

Professor Jerry Murphy made calls for an increase in the number Professor Murphy believes that of biogas plants to be built in in order for the Irish Government Ireland. The comments were issued to achieve its circular economy

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Niamh McCarthy, Gold Medalist

Page 4 News

Eminem: a Decline in Cultural Relevance

Page 6 Features

Some 135 delegates from all around the world flocked to UCC for the symposium, including representatives from the Dept. of Agriculture, Food & Marine, European Biogas Association and the Centre for Agricultural Engineering in Queensland. To put it in its simplest form, biogas plants rely on anaerobic digestion, a type of fermentation process in a closed

objectives laid out in the €21.8 billion National Development Plan, an increase in the number of biogas plants must be built in Ireland.

He maintains that biogas is a far more suitable and better option for renewable energy, rather than wind Continued on page 3 power. In his explanation of such a

Disenchanted, reviewed

Page 19 Byline

Student SPECIAL 14” LARGE CHEESE PIZZA + 3 TOPPINGS

€10

T&C: *UP to 3 toppings. please mention offer when ordering. only valid with student id. not vaild with any other offer. valid for a limited time only and at participating stores.

GAA: Capacity to Entertain

Page 36 Sport

Editorial

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Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express

In This Issue....

Ditch the Disposables

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The lingering effect of Vines

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Interview with Thomas Arnold

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Opinion: Volunteering abroad

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Opinion: Everything is Awful

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Byline: College fashion staples

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Byline: Interview with Chasing Abbey

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Byline: Milking the DLC cow

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New Name, Who’s This?

Sexpress: A crash course in Consent

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Back on campus: photos

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Cailean Coffey, Editor-in-Chief

Sport: PhysEd introduced to LC

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Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief Cailean Coffey (Editor@UCCExpress.ie) News Editor Ciaran Dineen(News@UCCExpress.ie) Designer Holly McGrath (Design@UCCExpress.ie) Features Editor Fergal Smidy (Features@UCCExpress.ie) Sports Editor Declan Gleeson (Sport@UCCExpress.ie) Opinion Editor Samantha Calthrop (Opinion@UCCExpress.ie) Eagarthóir Gaeilge James McAuliffe (Gaeilge@UCCExpress.ie) Online Editor Fiona Kiely (Online@UCCExpress.ie) Marketing Executive Robert O’Sullivan (Marketing@UCCExpress.ie) Webmaster Michael Forde (Webmaster@UCCExpress.ie) Photographers Célem Deegan, Eve Harrington, James Kells, Ben Kavanagh (Photographers@uccexpress.ie) Staff Writers: Sinead O’Sullivan; Tara Leigh-Matthews James MacSweeney; Lauren McDonnell Byline Editor Ciara Dinneen (Byline@UCCExpress.ie) Fiction Editor Laura Riordan (Fiction@UCCExpress.ie) Humour Editor Callum Casey (Humour@UCCExpress.ie) Arts & Literature Editor Éadaoin Regan (Arts@UCCExpress.ie) Gaming Editor Cian McGrath (Gaming @UCCExpress.ie) Music Editor Caoimhe Coleman (Music@UCCExpress.ie) Film & Television Editor Joesph Cunningham (Screen@UCCExpress.ie ) Sexpress Editor Rían Browne (Sexpress@uccexpress.ie)

Welcome to the new look, new feel University Express, and welcome back to UCC. While the rest of you were away in Vancouver (as half of Cork was) and volunteering in schools abroad, we here at the University Express have been hard at work putting the finishing touches to our newly designed newspaper, all for your reading pleasure.

You’re welcome.

One of the biggest changes we’ve made (though it may not seem a lot to some people) is change our name. We still use the same website, but all of our social media and mailing addresses have been changed. We really hope you like it, and if at some point in the future we get an overriding consensus that the old name was better, then we may change it back, but until then you’re stuck with the university Express.

I Forgot How to Write…

Again.

Ciaran Dineen, News Editor

Breathe it in, that September air, the smell of freshly cut grass, coffee and…. umm…. vodka.

For many of you, the latter is all you would have smelled over the past couple of weeks but guess what sister, it’s now time to smell that coffee!

It’s been a sunny summer for once but now that the tan has worn off, (the natural one anyway) it’s back to business. Well sort of. It never fails to surprise me of my inability to write on paper after a long break, but nevertheless it happened again. At least I gave it a go anyway, rather than sitting back and hoping the lecture notes went up on Blackboard. That’s probably the litmus test really. If you can be bothered to write and your writing doesn’t look like a squiggly mess, you’re most likely back in the college groove.

So, what have we got for you for this issue? Well, we’ve got three interviews across the paper for you to dive straight into. Our first, written by our new News Editor Ciaran Dineen, is with Cork Discus thrower Niamh McCarthy, who recently won Gold in the European Paralympic Championship in Berlin. Our Features editor, Fergal Smiddy, got a chance to chat with Irish YouTuber Thomas Arnold about both the positive and negative effects of Social Media and Arnold’s own YouTubing career, while our Byline Editor, Ciara Dineen, got a chance to sit down with Tullamore native Bee from the band Chasing Abbey.

At this early stage that’s most likely the best that you can aim for as quickly as possible, as silly as it sounds. Getting back into a rhythm or routine is vital for a successful college life, especially for all the post-Leaving Cert folk. Nobody here is going to constantly push you or make sure you’re studying, you’ve only got yourself to rely on for that. At the end of the day most of you will be more than fine, so enjoy this time while you can and remember that the key to doing well here at UCC is……to always read the University Express.

Elsewhere, we have a fantastic piece about why volunteering abroad may seem like a great idea, but in fact cause more harm than it’s worth, both to you and the community you support. We also have the latest on the Declan Rice saga, an investigation into why science-fiction movies are oft forgotten come award season, and some college fashion advice. Thank you very much for taking the time to pick up and read some of the finest thoughts of UCC’s finest writers, hopefully the new name doesn’t scare you off!

news@uccexpress.ie #uccexpress

editor@uccexpress.ie

If you would like to write for the University Express, you can do so by emailing:

editor@uccexpress.ie

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express

News

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Cover Story Continued... vessel where waste such as manure, food and sewage are digested by microbes, producing methane gas (biogas), and converting the waste into biofertilizer. Irish secondary school students learn a procedure similar to this if they study Biology for the Leaving Certificate.

The event took place in Cork to highlight the fact that Ireland is leading the way in researching and developing a system with this source of green energy through its collaboration with Irish farmers. Farmers are particularly interested in biogas plants because ,in the long-run, it would reduce their own bills while also decreasing emissions.

Professor Murphy followed by saying, “we are well-versed in the concepts and industry of renewable electricity. We must now decarbonise gas and make green renewable gas. 6 EU gas grids have committed to 100% decarbonised gas by 2050.

Ireland must follow.”

According to reports, the University Express have been informed that beer producer Diageo aims to derive all of its electrical energy from renewable sources by 2030. It intends to source decarbonised biogas from producers such as the Green Generation biogas plant based in the Costello pig farm in Nurney, Co. Kildare.

Dairygold’s Mitchelstown complex is home to the world’s largest above-ground anaerobic digester, which produces biogas from dairy industry waste water to fuel its production needs.

President Higgins speaking at the Concern Worldwide conference at Dublin Castle on September 7th.

Higgins condemns members of UN Security Council for fuelling ‘current and future wars’ Sinéad O’Sullivan, Staff Writer

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resident of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, has criticised what he described as a new “arms race” being embarked upon by permanent members of the UN Security Council, the UN’s most powerful body. He addressed the matter at the 50th anniversary conference of Irish humanitarian agency Concern Worldwide on September 7th.

Speaking at Dublin Castle, President Higgins highlighted the role played by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - China, France, Russia, the UK and the US - in global arms exports. He said that the world’s most powerful countries are now exporting “weapons of death and destruction for use in Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Yemen”. President Higgins warned: “the self-defeating rhetoric of the arms race, and the immorality of the arms trade, only serve to fuel current and future wars.”

While the UN says that it is searching for a solution to the conflict in

Yemen, President Higgins states that the conflict is being “actively sustained by the sale of arms and by the support of some members of the Security Council.” He continued: “It is a stark example of the triumph of the diplomacy of transaction, and of narrow national interest, over the diplomacy of the common good embodied by the Charter of the United Nations.” However, he said that despite the United Nations being “imperfect”, it is “our best space for alternatives to war”, and therefore needs global support.

Also included in President Higgins’s speech at the conference, titled ‘Resurgence of Humanity: Breaking the Cycle of Conflict, Hunger and Human Suffering’, was praise for the work of Concern Worldwide over the last fifty years.

He said, “Concern has stood for a different vision of the world, one in which power yields to justice, one which recognises that we are all part of a common humanity, owing to ourselves and to others, not only of compassion, but of solidarity.”

President Higgins added that the reduction of famines in recent times has been the result of United Nations agencies such as UNICEF and the World Food Programme working together with organisations such as Concern. He highlighted, however, that such United Nations agencies are “now under severe threat through underfunding”.

Other speakers at the conference included former US President Bill Clinton and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed. Ms Mohammed urged countries to commit to the overseas aid commitment of 0.7 per cent of gross national income, saying: “Without rapid and sustained investment, pockets of stability will disappear and conflict will continue to spread.”

In response to President Higgins’s comments on a new arms race, Ms Mohammed said that she hopes the UN Secretary-General’s efforts at disarmament and preventing armed conflict will “reverse” the current crisis.

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News

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express

Niamh McCarthy: Gold Medallist 2018

Cork is known for many things but particularly for having sporting gods.

Roy Keane, Sonia O’Sulivan, Christy Ring and many more. In 2016 the O’Donovan brothers became world-renowned during the Rio Olympics, but someone equally as quirky as the two siblings is another Corkonian, Niamh McCarthy. The former UCC student also rose to stardom in Rio during the Paralympic games but recently Niamh claimed gold in what is to date her most successful achievement. Always up for a chat, Niamh sat down with me last week to discuss her latest triumph.

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iamh is a native of Carrigaline in the south of Cork and previously studied Biological and Chemical Sciences at UCC for a year before putting it on hold. That was nearly five years ago and a lot has changed for the now 24-year-old.

Niamh has always known that she is was shorter than others, as she describes to me, but never before had it ever dawned on her that there was actually a reason for her small stature. It was only when someone who her family knew had suggested

that maybe Niamh should try and take up a Paralympic style sport that she actually became aware of her dwarfism.

Ever since then Niamh’s life has been consumed by one sport in particular, discus. Competing in the F41 classification, McCarthy has been winning medals over the past three years, with her first being a bronze at the World Championships in Doha, 2015. Since then Niamh has gone from strength to strength and her medal haul includes a silver at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. While

she also secured a silver medal last year in London, Niamh was not very pleased with her personal performance. There were a lot of distractions for the young woman in 2017 but all of that seems to have been put behind her.

A new training structure amongst other things has propelled Niamh to the top of her powers and in late August this year she won her first major championship by securing gold at the World Para Athletic European Championships.

In doing so McCarthy also broke the

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express European record for her classification with a throw of 31.76 metres and as a result has written herself into the history books. “I felt quite nervous on the day of my event”, Niamh tells me. “I’m not usually that nervous and I don’t know why I was, I think maybe it was me just putting pressure on myself to do well more than anything,” she continues.

Niamh had been in pretty good form heading into the championships and she informs me that she had actually thrown a score of 32.67 in June of this year at an event in France, but for some reason this was never made official.

Niamh has been playing catchup with her main rival, a Tunisian named Raoua Tlili, who is the current Paralympic champion. In 2016 the Irish athlete was nearly seven metres off Tlili but this gap has now been cut to about two metres.

While she still remains behind, Niamh is pleased to see the progress that she has made. “Yeah I suppose it’s great that I’ve managed to close the gap with her but at the same time open the gap behind me. I feel like I can concentrate on competing for that gold medal now more seriously, where as I was previously fighting for silver and bronze,” Niamh explains.

The Paralympian has settled into a more practical training routine which now sees her only having to travel to Dublin for every second training session. Niamh also trains in the Mardyke on Monday nights with her strength and conditioning coach, alongside some other familiar names like boxer Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan and former Cork City captain, Johnny Dunleavy. Having grown up with very little interest in sport, Niamh suddenly finds herself engrossed with it. She also believes that it’s really important for others to try and take up some sort of activity or exercise, particularly students.

“I think everybody gets something different out of sport but for me I suppose I love knowing what exactly I’m doing for the week so it gets you out. I know people who get up, go to work, come home, watch TV and just go to bed, it’s all work orientated. I think people in college should really try and join clubs and societies. If I was still involved with UCC I would

definitely be pushing people to take up a sport just so that they can keep relatively fit mentally and physically because students can lose the run of themselves a bit from time to time. I really don’t think there’s an age limit to these things because I was 18 or 19 before I even started throwing and look at me now.”

As an international athlete who has performed at the highest level, getting an insight into the routine of a gold medallist is a special thing.

When asked about the motions that she goes through on the day of an event and whether she has any superstitions Niamh replies, “well to answer the last question first, yes I do have superstitions,” she laughs.

“I wear the same pair of socks for every competition. I started wearing them in Rio and ever since then I’ve kept the same pair, washed of course every time I use them. In terms of planning I think you have to know in the days leading up to your event exactly where you need to be and when. In terms of food for me it depends on the person and how they’re feeling, I don’t have anything specific that I would eat.

However, I would say that rest is important so my event was in the afternoon in Berlin so I got up as late as I could, so sleep is the biggest thing. I like being around happy and cheery people on the day, I don’t like being in awkward company because I want to keep as relaxed as possible,” Niamh explains. One thing that Niamh does do is talk to herself in the third person, in her head of course, she’s quick to point that out. “Yeah so I came across this technique of talking about yourself in a positive way. Like saying, ‘Niamh is a good thrower, Niamh is going to throw well today,’ there’s definitely a method behind the madness for sure,” she laughs.

For now Niamh is taking a couple of months break before she begins training for the World Championships in November 2019. She has not ruled out returning to UCC but all of her attention is currently focused on her role with ‘Dell EMC’ in Ovens and her athletic career.

From everybody at the University Express and UCC we wish Niamh the best of luck!

News

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Ditch the Disposables Approximately 4,500 reusable cups have been distributed to incoming first year students during orientation in a further bid to emphasise UCC’s commitment to having an environmental friendly campus.

In recent times, certain measures have been implemented in order to encourage students and staff alike to be more prudent when it comes to their attitude towards disposable cups. Discounts have been made available to those who bring their own cup into the college and subsequently use it instead of those that are made available. From the start of the 17/18 academic year a new rule was introduced, banning the entry of any disposable cups into the Boole library. In order to help with the transition, a limited number of bamboo cups were made available, as well as travel mugs with UCC logos being made available for sale in the student centre.

However, a significant step has been made in making reusable mugs more widely available with this dispersal to first year students. The inspiration for the action came as a result of a collaboration between Cork City Council, UCC and the Southern Region Waste Management Office.

A huge reason behind the idea came directly as a result of an approach made by UCC’s Student’s Union to Cork City Council last year. Following on from a meeting between the two parties, the

Southern Region Waste Management Office (SRWMO) were made aware of the Student’s Union’s request of making reusable mugs more readily available. With the aim of receiving a grant for €10,000, a pilot scheme was launched to determine the desires of those at UCC. As a result, a survey was conducted with some 1,200 students at UCC, where they trialled three separate travel cups.

Of the three that were tested it was found that the bamboo travel mug was the most popular for students and this is what 4,500 new first year students to the college will find in their fresher bags.

According to SRWMO, some 200 million cups are disposed of in Ireland every year and in response to the measures adopted, Cork City Council’s Mary Walsh was warmed to see how UCC were fighting and encouraging for reusable cups and mugs to be the norm.

In response to all of this, the Chairperson of the UCC Green’s Society, Niamh O’Reilly said, “It’s great to see the college continue its excellent track record when it comes to the environment. Not only will this lead to students taking more personal responsibility, environmentally speaking, but UCC students are the business leaders, the politicians, the activists of tomorrow, so something so ‘small’ as giving every fresher a cup could lead to serious societal changes in time.”

The reusable cups were included in this years fresher’s packs, in the hopes of lreducing waste due to disposable cups in UCC

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Features

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express

When I’m Gone: Eminem’s Slow and Painful Fall From Cultural Relevance Fergal Smiddy, Features Editor

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quick google search for the dictionary definition of ‘Kamikaze’ will tell you that the word defines a WWII-era “Japanese aircraft loaded with explosives and making a deliberate suicidal attack on an enemy target”. It’s a bit odd, then, that this word was chosen to be the title of the latest studio album from Detroit rapper and Hip-Hop’s favourite angry auld fella, Eminem. Naming your spite-fuelled redemption project in ode to a type of warfare attack which, unfailingly, resulted in the selfinflicted death of the attacker might seem a bit counter intuitive, but sure, it makes it sound all cool and ballistic and ,like, Eminem is mowing lads

down, so we’ll leave it off.

The album, in keeping with the whole Kamikaze theme, was released without warning or any prior announcement – not so much as a hint. This tactic undoubtedly worked well for Eminem, as it has for numerous artists in recent years.

Twitter was ablaze and frenzied, and the very first reactions to the album were generally positive.

Although, it must be said, that Eminem didn’t exactly have much to follow up on, given that his previous studio album, “Revival”, was almost unanimously agreedupon to be nothing more than a sonic incarnation of pig slurry. A quick read through the track list on “Kamikaze” doesn’t reveal much,

although titles such as “Greatest” and “Not Alike” suggest that Eminem is yet to be cured of his compulsive need to make entire songs solely about how much of a legend he is and how fast he can spit sounds out of his face hole. There’s certainly a lot of that on the album, along with the usual helping of “venomous cinema enema” half-rhymes spit back-to-back at ninety miles an hour, which, when analysed, never really say anything more than “Jesus lads, isn’t it mad how fast I’m saying these words?”.

There’s nothing particularly appalling about these sections of the album, they’re just the stale and unimpressive elements of Eminem’s music that we’ve all come to expect. While it

might not have been particularly moving on an artistic level, a lot of the album is definitely listenable and, at times, enjoyable. The Joyner Lucas feature, “Lucky You” is a particular high point on the album, offering a snappy earworm of a hook along with impressive lyrical tit-for-tat from the two artists throughout the four-minute track.

“The Ringer”, which preludes the album, also offers something of note, with Eminem momentarily deciding to abandon his typical foot-to-thefloor,unrelenting-but-somehowtiresome style of delivering verses in favour of some more interesting flows and styles. However, the song has some glaring flaws, and particularly falls apart in the latter

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express half with Eminem launching a cringeworthy tirade against music critics and media outlets who spoke unfavourably of his previous studio project, “Revival”.

to this type of pointless hate. There was no reason for that particular word to be used in the diss, and there is no reason why we should have to excuse or even accept it.

The ‘disses’ scattered throughout the album serve no real purpose, are aimed at no-one in particular, and only serve as evidence that Eminem really doesn’t like it when his ego isn’t being stroked and his “Rap God” complex isn’t being validated by the rest of the world.

The song really falls into the realm of pretentious artist self-parody when Eminem claims that critics slated his album because “it went over [their] head” and they were “too stupid to get it” – claims that are even more embarrassing when spoken from Eminem’s mouth than they are when coming from his thirty-five year old basementdwelling New Atheist fans. The song “Fall” features an infectious hook from Bon-Iver’s Justin Vernon along with production from Mike Will Made It which ,undeniably, slaps on a good set of speakers. This had the potential to be a real standout on the album, with Eminem taking some good shots at music media personalities Joe Budden and DJ Akademiks in the second verse. However, the inclusion of a homophobic slur in a diss towards rapper Tyler The Creator negates any real credibility or reverence the song may have been afforded. Although the word is censored, the intent behind it is loud and clear, once again showcasing Eminem as an artist who is embarrassingly out of touch and lacking in self-awareness.

This is a problem which runs not just throughout the album, but throughout the entirety of Eminem’s recently released work. His edgy, don’t-givea-fuck personality might have been able to garner interest and attention back in the nineties, but in today’s culture, it’s doing the exact opposite.

The negative reactions on Twitter to the newly-released homophobic lyrics weren’t coming from outraged soccer moms picketing outside the recording studio to have Eminem thrown in jail. They were coming from smart, culturally aware twentysomethings who know the hip-hop community as a place no longer offering acceptance or entertainment

This certainly isn’t the first time Eminem has come under fire for the inclusion of homophobic content in his music. He was famously protested against at the 2001 Grammy Awards, when his album “The Marshall Mathers LP” was nominated for album of the year despite containing numerous examples of homophobic lyrics throughout.

However, Eminem always insisted that the homophobic words used in his lyrics were just words that were thrown around during his upbringing and his time spent in the battle-rap scene in Detroit, and that there was no targeted anti-gay sentiment in his music. At the same Grammy Awards, Eminem performed his single “Stan” as a duet alongside openly gay artist Elton John. This served as a response to the protests and, in the eyes of many mainstream media outlets, somewhat exonerated Eminem of his wrongdoing. If he had chose to leave it at that, he just might have been deserving of the benefit of the doubt.

It could have possibly been said that he was a young and upcoming artist, railing against the injustices he suffered during his formative years – but he didn’t leave it at that. Not even close.

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he homophobic language and hate, albeit more sparsely, became a persistent feature of Eminem’s lyrics, to the point where the world is now sat in a collective pool of embarrassment, listening to a forty-five year old man shouting the word fa**ot into a microphone because it was the best diss he could think of. Although, as cringeworthy as it may be to some, it’s not as if the insult carries no weight at all. There was no shortage of people on Twitter and in the YouTube comments under the music video for the track who were running to Eminem’s defence.

“The word was censored, so why does it even matter?”. “Tyler has used the word himself plenty of times, what’s the big deal?”. The list of feeble defences and strawman arguments was as endless and tiresome as it always is. Of course, the word being censored offers no

Features real purpose other than to exonerate or at least excuse Eminem in the eyes of his loyal fanbase. Even for his younger fans, a quick Google search of the song’s lyrics is all it takes to find out what their idol’s favourite insult is. The argument that “Tyler has also used the word so it’s okay”, in my opinion, holds no weight and offers no excuse for the fact that Eminem has just effectively told a generation of young fans that this is a good word to use when you want to hurt someone’s feelings. For someone who has been so vocally anti-Trump and claims to be in favour of equality for all, you’d think the choice to omit a word that has been used as a weapon of discrimination and marginalisation throughout history would be an obvious one, but apparently all moral conviction is tossed aside when you stick a pin in the ugly, pus-gorged ego of the “Rap God”.

It’s not just the homophobia that make parts of this album so insufferably unlistenable. There’s an eye-roll inducing amount of times on this album where Eminem comes across as being grossly out of touch –

7 with the culture; with his peers; with reality; the list goes on. The inverse relationship between the frequency with which others refer to Eminem as the greatest of all time and the frequency with which he refers to himself as such in recent years has been Macbeth-level tragic and Rose of Tralee-level cringeworthy to bear witness to. As someone who grew up as an Eminem fan (as I’m sure it will surprise you to hear), I admired the passion with which he raged against the world and its unjust institutions.

The 2004 song “Mosh” more closely resembled a State-of-the-Nation call to arms than a Hip-Hop single.

His 1996 release “Rock Bottom” was a starkly honest outpouring of the heart, exploring the realities of living in poverty and struggling to get by. Now, in 2018, 100 million album sales and 15 Grammy awards later, with a net-worth surpassing $190 million and the world at his feet, it is perhaps to be expected, but nonetheless tragic, that Eminem has become so uncannily resemblant of the ugliness he once railed so passionately against.

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Features

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express

DeVine Right Ciara Dinneen, Deputy Editor

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ou know what it is. Vine; the twitter of videos. When they were around, they were gold; six seconds of brilliance. Now they’re gone, but even still, two years since Vine was shutdown, we are still talking about them and using them; we quote Vines, we watch the infinite compilations on YouTube of everyone’s favourites, and it seems that even though the app may be gone, the love for Vines and the trend in and of itself lives on through our constant reference to and quotation of them.

Why was Vine so brilliant? In this day and age, the ‘too long, don’t read’ generation, we want things to be immediate, or at least quick; if we see that a video is any longer than 2 minutes we are instinctively turned off. It fascinates me, how we can spend so much of our time scrolling, but want to limit the time we spend concentrating on the one thing. Vine videos were 6 seconds long, and so the brilliance was not only in their comedy or effect, but the fact that they were short, and as such so sweet. As well as this short and sweet quality, Vine was the perfect platform for hilarious people to share their talents.

It was a wholesome community of brilliantly and cleverly funny people where no one took themselves too seriously and everyone enjoyed a good laugh. It posed a challenge, an invitation to be as creative

as possible, as you had to fit an intensely funny bit into a six second window. We saw this in Zach King, who blew audiences away with his mindboggling magic tricks. How did he do it? Personalities like Amanda Cerny and Logan Paul fit comedy mini-movies and relatable moments into their six second squares. Jérôme Jarre took his comedy bits to the next level by not letting those that feature in them, in on them. If you know Jérôme, you’ll know what I mean by that. If you don’t, check him out. It’s worth it. MelvinGregg, Reggie COUX, and DeStorm Power are just a few more of the many stars of Vine, and worth noting too is Josh Peck, start of Drake & Josh, who showcased his solo comedic brilliance on Vine to the delight of those of us who watched Drake & Josh religiously on Nickelodeon every evening during our supper of fish-fingers and oven chips, or a bowl of cereal (shreddies or cheerios) at snack time. You can still watch all of the vines ever recorded and posted, as an archive website was set up after the shutdown of the app in January 2017. Vine.co is the archived website, and all you need to do is put the name of the person whose vines you wish to watch after that like so; vine.co/joshpeck.

Vine created a community, a culturally relevant community, of culturally relevant things; things we as millennial consumers can relate to and enjoy in the context of our fast-

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express paced world of immediate and vast information at our fingertips; they thrive, and we drive them. In this way, Vine must be an exception to this ‘popularity of culturally relevant things’ concept, because it was undoubtedly popular, but it didn’t survive.

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o, whatever happened to Vine?

Founded in June 2012, it was bought by Twitter in 2012 for, reportedly, $30 million, and officially launched as a free app in the Apple store in January 2013. It became available for Android users shortly after, and within a matter of months quickly grew to be the most popular short video sharing platform in the world. One must wonder how something that was doing so well shut down after such a short-lived time in the spotlight? There are a few reasons. Firstly, Twitter had no money. That is a slight exaggeration, of course Twitter had and has money, but at the time they were struggling

to turn over a significant profit, which means, as it does for most companies during times if financial difficulty, they had to make cutbacks.

Twitter had to look at where they weren’t making enough money, and unfortunately Vine was cut. Another contributing factor to the downfall of Vine was competing companies, like Instagram, who were making it possible for people to record and share short videos on their apps too.

Vine stars were probably the biggest part of Vine’s success, but of course when you get big in one place, you move on to conquering or breaking it in the next. Although many remained loyal, the Vine stars that left Vine really didn’t help the situation.

A third element to the downfall was that there was no room for advertisements, or at least advertisers cared little for advertising on Vine.

Perhaps because the audience predominantly consisted of young teenagers, or perhaps there was

Features

9

no room on the app itself – where could you put the ads? Regardless of the reason for a lack of advertising sponsors, the result was the same as that foundational reason for Vine closing down: Vine wasn’t making enough money for Twitter.

happens and things don’t work out in the real world of capital sometimes.

I simply mean to point to the organic and unwavering authenticity and community-driven nature of Vine in and of itself. Ironic, how Vine couldn’t do it for the Vine, in the end.

Vine was more than a Twitter for videos. After all, it wasn’t created

by Twitter, it was bought by Twitter just before its release. Vine was one of the few apps that stayed true to its original form and intent, with only ever so slight updates and changes.

It remained a sharing platform for six second videos, no fancy add-ons. You know the like; Snapchat changing its layout and getting rid of the ability to view other people’s top-friends caused absolute uproar. Vine was never criticised for such things, and even its shutdown was on outward force, for Vine was adopted and had no control over the actions and decisions of its guardian. Not that Twitter is to blame. Simply put, shit

Do it for the Vine, lives on, however.

We still love it, and maybe its short life was a good thing; the silver lining being that it can’t be changed.

Vine had no time to develop in to something more than what it so simply was. There were no annoying updates or layout changes, no additional functions that took away from the simple six minute snippet video. We keep Vine and its pure simplicity alive with our subtle references to its best moments, our laughs as we mimic the comedy and voices of its greatest stars, and with our occasional binge watching of the compilations in ode to the best of the best of Vine that remain alive and popular to this day.

10

Features

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express

Interview with Tom Arnold

By Fergal Smiddy, Features Editor

When it comes to YouTube vloggers, few are as entertaining and underrated as Thomas Arnold. A Dublin based Vlogger and Freelance Videographer, Arnold has amassed a YouTube following of just under six thousand at the time of writing. Combining an impressive knack for editing and videography along with a confident and fun personality, Arnold’s vlogs are a refreshing combination of filmmaking prowess and light-hearted escapism. From successfully sneaking into Trinity Ball, to roaming the busy streets of Dublin in a dinosaur costume, to giving practical and helpful advice on how to survive the Leaving Certificate, Arnold’s content is far from onenote. Having been a fan of his work for the better part of a year, I got the chance to sit down with Thomas over the Summer for a quick chat. Thomas was keen to sit down and discuss everything, from his own story, to the trivial, to the slightly more serious.

Express: How would you sum up to embarrassing, you’re never going to them who you are and what you’re post that”, so that was a bit devastating at the time. After that, I was thinking doing? about what I could do differently. I Thomas: So, my name’s Thomas knew cricket, so I decided to do, like, Arnold, I’m a twenty-one year old a cricket tutorial. Anyway, I think my college student studying Business, dad vibed with that a bit better because and I’ve been making videos for it was instructional and informative about half a decade now. I first started and more acceptable, basically. So, I making videos when I was around made one of them and dad was like thirteen. I made this like, skit thing “yeah that’s grand as long as I get about Justin Bieber that I was chuffed to review them before you put them with. When I was done I was like up”. This was about 2011/2012 and “this is so good, it’s definitely gonna over the course of the next eighteen go viral”, and I showed it to my dad months I made twenty-two of them, and he was like “this is absolutely I had like 250,000 views, and that

was basically the start of my whole YouTube experience. But, yeah, in short, I make videos, go to college and try to live every day as best as I can, to its fullest potential.

Express: You really have come a long way since then, and I know this is possibly a bit of a cliched question but I think you must have taken some influence along the way, right? So, who would stick out in your mind as giving you that initial spark to transition from making those older videos to the vlogs that you’re doing now?

Thomas: In terms of an actual person, I know exactly who it was. I think that’s a bit of a, you know, “how I got started” story. But I think the more interesting thing for me is the person that led me on the path I’m on today, like, the older Thomas who just moved into college. Cause, basically, I dropped out of DCU – in short, when I did my Leaving Cert I missed my top three preferences, which were Science in Trinity; Science in UCD and then BESS in Trinity, so I ended up in DCU – a place where I just never thought I’d ever be. After three months of being there, I just didn’t like it, so I decided to drop out. I started working full time selling alarms all over Dublin and it was an absolute shit time. I was working 1-10 Monday to Friday and wasn’t getting payed because it was all commissionbased. It was around March and I just thought “Fuck this, like, what? Can I remember what it was like to be happy? What were the feelings that made me happy?” And I immediately thought of making videos, like I did them a lot when I was younger, so I said “Fuck it, I’ll just start doing them again”. So, I went on YouTube and I saw this guy called Alex Brooks who was exactly my age at the time. He was a videographer, basically, who was making daily vlogs from the U.K. And I was like “Holy shit, he’s doing exactly what I want to do. Surely I can start that off”. Fast-forwarding to today, that’s what I want to do for a few people out there. I want to show that it doesn’t matter if you’re young, it doesn’t matter if you fucked up in your past, if you can do something you really enjoy, and put as much of your heart and soul into it as possible, you can get money off it ,but more than that, you can be fulfilled and live a meaningful life, and essentially that’s all that matters, I think.

Express: In the vein of many successful vloggers, I’ve noticed that you seem to have mastered the art of just not giving a fuck at all, basically, when you’re in public. How does one achieve the level of no-fuck-giving required to, say, walk into a crowded UCD lecture hall in an Easter Bunny

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express suit and start dolling out Easter eggs?

Thomas: (laughs) Well, It’s just skill, man. It’s just like anything else. Like, do you play sport? It’s the same thing as someone wanting to be a good free-kick taker in football or have a sick drive off the tee in golf, it’s just practice. People forget that I’ve been doing this for two and a half years. I made over a hundred vlogs in first year of college alone. On my channel I have 270 videos, 230 of which I’ve been practicing in, every single week to, not give a fuck. When I started it, if you go back on my channel to when I was eighteen, I was interviewing people in town. That was hard, but if you take a step each week to do something that’s slightly more outside your comfort zone, that’s when it can progress to stuff like vlogging with your shirt off at the Spire, or doing the Easter Bunny thing. It’s just a skill, like.

Express: With the online popularity you’ve gained so far, you don’t seem to have taken much interest in going down the route, or taking on the persona of an ‘influencer’. Do you think that you’re part of a dying breed? What are your thoughts on the superficial way YouTube and social media have gone in recent years?

Thomas: I think there’s always going to be more superficial people than real people in the world. I’m part of a minority but it’s not a dying breed, there’s just a minority of us. The reason why I’m like that is because I despise superficiality, I hate people being fake. I hate people selling out.

I hate all that stuff. I am, on a daily basis, like “Fuck, am I being fake?”, I’m always having to question myself.

Am I being authentic? Because, there’s no such thing as being truly authentic, it doesn’t exist. Again, it’s a process. It’s an evolution. You’re constantly trying to be as real as you can. I think part of that, on a very practical level, is that I don’t try and sell stuff on my channel. I have a link in my description where you can go to my website if you want to hire me for video work, but I don’t push any products or anything. One: because I’m not big enough yet and I haven’t got any companies yet that I really want to work with; and Two: I actually make money outside of YouTube from doing videography and I don’t need a social media presence for that. I use

my YouTube and my Instagram as a way to just try and be myself, and to give people an alternate view of the internet, like “Oh fuck, there are people out there who are just trying to help people and they’re not all just there to be glorified egotistical assholes who just care about getting more views”.

Features I put out on my channel. Even though my subscribers know a lot about me, equally there’s parts of my life which I’ve never spoken about to the camera and which I may never talk about. I feel like those two things have to be separate.

Express: Is there any particular destination you have in mind for where you’re going with this YouTube journey? Do you have some grand master plan in mind for where the Thomas Arnold YouTube channel is going?

Express: You tend to avoid things like politics and other contentious topics on your social media. Is that, like, a conscious effort to avoid controversy and hassle, or are you simply not interested in all that stuff?

Thomas: When I started in college, I Thomas: It’s both, actually. I have was like “Wouldn’t it be cool if I could zero interest in politics. I look at document each year?” so I remember ‘drama’ on the internet as pure having a little goal in the back of entertainment. I sit there with my my head that I’d love to document fucking Coco Pops on a Sunday four years, and you could follow morning and love to see what drama the journey of someone in college, is going on, but I don’t want to because that wasn’t really done engage with that on my channel. So, before. But these platforms change it’s a bit of both really. I don’t really all the time. YouTube could be gone care about it, nor do I think it fits with in three or four years, we don’t know. the brand I’m trying to build. I’m So, I sort of take things day by day. At trying to build something different the moment, I know what I’m going to that. There’s been a few things in to be doing next year – it’s going to be my personal life that I made videos more focused around my internship about and just never posted, because and working life. I’m moving out of I reviewed them afterwards and was home in September, so stuff like that. I like “This is ridiculous”. There’s know short-term, up until September/ definitely things, other than politics, October, what I’m going to be doing. you can even bring it into a sphere of There’s going to be some more travel – a lot of my videos are quite topical- involved as well. But, other than that, based. Very few of them are sort of no. I’m just going with the flow.

“This is Tom. This is me.”, because Express: To finish up, What would I like to make a separation between you say is the most important life what goes on in my own life and what lesson you’ve learned so far?

11 Thomas: I haven’t really thought about this, to be honest. When I was over in Japan, the people were so unbelievably nice, they were very kind. When I was done my two weeks over there and I was leaving Tokyo, I was like “Fuck me, like, them being so kind made such a difference”.

When I was younger, it would always say on my report card from school that “Thomas is very caring towards other people”, and I would have thought that was a weakness in some respect, particularly when it came to stuff like girls because it’s like “Tom’s a bit of a bitch, he’s not really a man”but, the more I’ve gone on, the more I’ve realised that kindness is so important. The older you get, you suffer setbacks, like, people die, shit starts to change, and you learn to appreciate people who are kind. So, given that I’ve always had that in me, I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to try your best to be kind to people.

Try to smile and try to be positive, in everything you do, not just the interactions you have in life, like if you’re someone like me, a content creator, try to be a positive influence.

That can have a tremendous impact, more than anything else.

If you’re interested in following along with Thomas’ journey, you can find him on: YouTube: Thomas Arnold Instagram: thomasarnoldfilms Facebook: @thomasarnoldfilms

12

Opinion

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express student to teach a foreign language for a single week, it’s highly dubious that the same student is going to be a godsend just because they’re closer to the equator.

Volunteering abroad: Are you really making a difference?

by Samantha Calthrop

S

tudent ‘volunteer abroad’ projects are vogue; spend two weeks teaching English to orphans in the Philippines, one week holidaying.

Possibly even three weeks building houses for poor homeless families, new water pumps or better wildlife outreaches, all for a donation which goes back into the community you're working for: It's simple as can be.

Volunteering trips are popular.

About €1000 in donations to the organisation, plus flights and insurance, in return for a few weeks’ work in another, beautiful culture, supervised and run by the charity, with a little fun and holidaying on the side too. If you flick through students’ profiles on Facebook, you’ll find many who’ve gone off volunteering one time or another.

Plenty of photos of smiling youth surrounded by foreign orphans, maybe with one perched on their hip, or them against the landscape of some beautiful equatorial country.

Thirty years ago, if you wanted to volunteer abroad, you’d have to write to a contact in the other country, go through several months’ training, and find a host family while you worked. Nowadays, it’s as simple as a few clicks and a chunk of money for three gorgeous weeks. It’s the new fashionable way to spend your summers. It’s been dubbed “voluntourism”.If you’ve volunteered abroad, let me clarify something. I’m not here to criticise you. I don’t believe you were out

there to do anything shallow or selfish. You made a donation to a cause you believed in, you got out there, you worked. You worked hard to get the funds together. You wanted to make a difference. You deserve admiration for that. I genuinely mean it, but “voluntourism” has a seedy underbelly, and sells itself as something far greater and more meaningful than it is.

Unless you're a doctor, teacher, engineer or similarly-qualified person doing similarly-qualified things, you are much less useful than anyone else in the country you're going to. If you’re a 19-yearold arts student, you probably don’t know as much about bricklaying as, say, a 38-year-old unemployed bricklayer from Mali. And chances are that you need a job building an orphanage much less than a 38-yearold unemployed bricklayer, too. In fact, if you’re going off to a country with high poverty, corruption, and unemployment, the one thing they have in abundance is unskilled labour. Add this to the fact that you might not even be working well.

Pippa Biddle, a longtime volunteer turned journalist, writes about being 16 and building a library in Tanzania.

The brickwork by her and her group was so shoddy that the walls were being taken down and rebuilt at night, in secret, just to keep up the illusion of their making an impact. If a local Irish school wouldn’t take an unqualified, untrained, 20-year-old

You might not be the most skilled, but the major difference, of course, is that you’ve got a grand and make great publicity to other people like you, and your euros are worth a lot where you’re going. It’s also much cheaper to charge people €1000 to work for two weeks than it is to pay someone a fair wage for two years doing the same job. That said, as long as your donation is going to the right place, and there is someone being paid who’s a real part of the community, is that so bad?

In a perfect world, of course, you would send all your money right to the charity instead of spending some of it on a volunteering-holiday, and the money would be used to pay workers who need the job. But the world isn’t perfect, and let’s be real: These charities, and a lot of the work they do, would simply not be possible without young shortterm volunteers giving donations.

Indeed, even if the labour might be ineffective and partially for show, the end result is the same: a muchneeded house, water pump, or library that is cheaply given back to the community. If the donors are given both the chance to help and a good time being shown around the area they’re helping out, what harm?

True, voluntourism might not be the most effective use of labour or money, It’s an industry at the end of the day, but the profits of the industry go back to the community in need to some degree. The sustainability and effectiveness can be called into question, but any means used to fund the real work is justified. As a student volunteer, it pays to be mindful that the primary benefactor is you, and the community needed your donation, not your work.

You're going through the motions, in some way, of helping. That said, there's nothing wrong with getting to travel and take part in what you were helping. In fact, it's mutually beneficial to you and the organisation. And if you make any connections with locals and have a good time with them, hey, that's not going through any motions. At

the very least, your money and your advertising work will take the real work further, and that's what matters.

If, of course, there is real work happening. That might not be the reality. Not in some cases, where volunteering programs are simply cash-cows for corrupt organisations.

A 2010 report found that 85% of children in Nepalese orphanages, where volunteering is common, had at least one living parent; the families, essentially, sell their children into orphanages for the promise of a better education and life. It’s the same situation elsewhere, with 92% of “orphans” in Sri Lanka in 2005, and 98% in Liberia in 2006. The reason behind this scheme is that that orphanages bring in huge amounts of donations; much more than other, less glamorous issues, and more than formal foreign aid. Lumos, a charity specialising in ending orphanage systems, found that orphanages in Haiti receive at least $100 million a year in foreign donations-- five times the country’s entire social affairs ministry budget. And in many cases, the money is being minimally spent on the children. The bulk of it goes to the pockets of the owners, and another chunk on giving volunteers the best experience possible. Other orphanages have been found to hide child trafficking rings, prostitution, and much darker types of corruption.

T

he children, of course, are the ones who suffer. Rather than constant attention from family figures, they get their affection and care from rotating, changing foreign volunteers, being left with deep psychological problems from lack of constant adult attention. Orphanages have been phased out in the west because they’re substandard.

Research has proven that there are no good orphanages; children have developmental problems if they’re not raised by real families. The money would go far, far further in a foster program, or being given to the parents to avoid needing the orphanages in the first place.

Zoos and rescues centres that let unqualified volunteers look after and interact with exotic animals– which is incredibly delicate, dangerous work– are almost universally corrupt.

It’s common for a new building or

Opinion

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express school or well to be either ruined by local influence or unused because it was never wanted, all because the charity either failed to research how to implement it or didn’t care.

Voluntourism is an industry that capitalises on people's desire to ‘give back’, by selling a glamorous ‘make a difference’ package to wellmeaning but unqualified volunteers.

Many of these places go through the motions of humanitarianism, while placing more emphasis on getting photos of volunteers with the kids or animals or family than they do on improving people’s lives.

There are, of course, organisations that do place their focus on the long-term as well as the short term.

They lobby the government for better solutions, more funding, less corruption. They have strong roots in their target issues, are run at least partially by locals, and involve local stakeholders. Their volunteer programs are only small facets of a bigger system. You're not necessarily contributing to an awful, corrupted industry by volunteering, so don't let me put you off! It's just worth researching who you're working for, and making up your own mind about whether or not they're legitimate.

S

o, again, there's nothing wrong with voluntourism done right. It does, however, encourage a certain mindset. Many of you will have spent your fourth years or summers away volunteering, and good on you for contributing-- but how many of you actively volunteer in Ireland? Do you volunteer to help our homeless or our vulnerable? Campaign for those in direct provision? Do you call for better conditions for Irish travellers? Some of you do, of course, but there's something different between volunteering abroad and volunteering here. Irish issues are complicated, often depressing, deeply political, and sometimes not even agreeable to everyone. Irish people universally feel sorry for poor African children and, in equal measure, still think discrimination against the travelling community is okay because it’s justified. Some people ardently support Habitat for Humanity and oppose more widely available social housing in Ireland.

Irish political issues are depressing.

They're complicated. They're too

13

real, too close to home, deeply controversial, and require so much labour to make any small change.

You could spend years working on a single issue and never make a difference to the system, needing to fight and fight just for scraps of recognition and credibility. You'd need a lot of money, public support and political sway to begin seeing long term change in anything.

Isn't it simpler, therefore, to work on simpler, less complicated, foreign issues?

Therein lies the problem. Of course, homelessness in Calcutta and illiteracy in the Philippines isn't uncomplicated. It's just as complex as Irish homelessness. Even moreso, considering the depth of systematic corruption and exploitation that causes these issues, often with colonist roots. The idea that these communities just need a bit of foreign help from civilised folk to get back on their feet is patronising at best, and outrageously racist at worst. The idea that the solution to any problem that huge could be so easy that Irish sixteen-year-olds can do it, the idea that good intentions make a difference without hard labour, money, a deep understanding of the issues, and without involving or consulting the stakeholders is outrageous. This idea of an easy, cheap, uncomplicated way to make the world a better place is sold to volunteers. It isn’t true.

It'd certainly be deserving of a few flattering pictures on Facebook, anyway. The same applies to you.

For every exploitative person out there is another genuinely trying to help. If you have the instinct to make the world a better place, then do it whenever, wherever you can!

And have fun while you do it! There is a difference to be made in this world, and you can make it. Slowly, sloppily, awkwardly, but you can.

Just go out there with caution and a pinch of salt. Ask yourself where you’re needed, if you’re needed.

Look carefully into where you’re going, who you’re working with, and what bigger picture you’re a part of. Don't forget to do your research, though: it's complicated.

Everything Is Awful

By Luke Watson

F

ascism is on the rise, the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, global warming is worsening, gun violence in the United States shows no signs of abating, homelessness in Ireland is increasing, and Britain seems set to destroy itself through Brexit.

What a great time to be alive.

If you listen to the radio or watch the news, the outlook for our immediate future seems bleak.

Something seems to be going wrong, wherever and whenever you look. In fact, tragedy seems so rife that we barely have time to focus on one issue before our attention is stolen by another. A few weeks ago a bridge in Genoa collapsed, but you hear little about that now, because other, newer events have stolen the spotlight.

Things seem bleak, but believe it or not, they may actually be better now than historically. Sure, many people today are living with poverty as a reality or are living in a corrupt state or in a state that collapsed into violence. As a civilisation, we may be no wiser now than we were in the past.

But it is undeniable that we have progressed immensely since then either way.

Somewhere between 20 million and 50 million people died because of the Spanish Flu in 1918. The outbreak of the Ebola Virus in West Africa claimed around 11,000 lives between 2013 and 2016, the Napoleonic Wars killed between 2.5 million and 3.5

million people and the Yugoslavia wars in the 90s killed roughly 140,000 people. Maybe it’s not fair to compare major events like the Spanish Flu and Napoleon’s conquests to the Ebola virus and the Yugoslav wars, but it is undeniable that those later events were major in the news when they were happening. I personally remember the Ebola virus being drummed up as a huge threat when it was relevant in 2016.

Sure, every life is precious and every death has an impact on someone. The fact of the matter, though, is that life is fragile, and people will always die or live in suffering. That doesn’t make it okay, but it doesn’t mean the world has gotten worse. In fact, things may just have gotten significantly better in the last couple of decades.

24-hour news and the constant demand for information makes it appear like the world is in a constant state of tragedy, because the simple fact of the matter is people want to read about tragedy. Good news simply isn’t as enticing as bad news. In an era where the demand on newspapers, news channels and news sites is for a constant stream of news, it’s much easier to focus on the tragedies than it is to look for the happy stories. The world hasn’t gotten worse, but we’ve gotten much better at finding the faults.

So chin up. Everything may be awful, but it’s a great time to be alive.

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Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express

A MEDAL OF RECOGNITION AN ACHIEVEMENT FOR LIFE

Your advert could be HERE and reaching over 21,000 students

Gaisce is a great way of shaping your career path and it’s a programme that employers recognise and value.

There are President’s Award Leaders (PALs) in University College Cork who will support you to achieve a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

Stand out from the crowd, whilst having fun and developing new skills. Start your journey today - email college@gaisce.ie

Find out more at gaisce.ie

To find out more email editor@uccexpress.ie

BYLINE

Editorial

Ciara Dinneen Byline Editor Editorials are, to me, the personal side-note of an editor; a snippet space in the paper where an editor truly has free reign to write as and about

anything they wish. Some editorials introduce the theme of that particular issue of the paper with reference to some of the articles, some express the editor’s own opinion on a topical issue, some feature an anecdotal story or piece of advice, but all allow readers an insight into the editor’s own personal life and thoughts and this is the reason why I love editorials. Who doesn’t love a bit of personality? What makes this particular editorial especially significant is that it is my first. Not significant to anyone but me, true, but this is my editorial after all, so I can write about it.

I love writing. It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time now, and since starting college and coming to UCC I’m not only thinking that writing is what I want to do for

16 a living, but also that writing is something I can do for a living.

College; where dreams become goals. The first thing I did when I came to UCC in my first year was apply to be the Deputy-Features Editor for what was then called the UCC Express. I got the job, and that was the beginning. In my second year I went for Features Editor. I got that, too. This year, my final year, I am Byline Editor. Next year, who knows?

My point is this: if you have an interest, a passion, or even a curiosity about anything that you haven’t yet had the opportunity to explore, now is the perfect time: do it. UCC offers a range of societies and clubs that cover all angles of interest, genuinely; there is something for absolutely everyone. That one

little thing I did in my first year of college, joining the Express team, was the best thing I’ve done. Joining whatever club or society it is that has caught your eye could turn out to be the best thing you do in college too, so do it.

If you’re interested in writing for University Express, or more specifically Byline, do not hesitate to get in touch. My inbox is always open to everyone; for those who wish to write for us, express an opinion, respond to an article or topic discussed, anything at all. Even just a chat, I’m always up for that.

Yours, Ciara D.

byline@uccexpress.ie

Fiction

She’s Leaving Home I force myself to take a breath and close my eyes, just for a moment.

It slows my heart and steadies my stomach, giving me the bravery and strength I need. I open my eyes and the scene comes into view. People hurry by, running to gates or loved ones, simply passing through with stories similar to mine. However, I’m only eighteen and I’m all alone.

I left them outside, broken and teary-eyed. I hurried away, my eyes stinging. But with a quick glance back I saw proud smiles lingering on pale faces.

I walk through security, one bag over my shoulder and a small one trailing along behind me. Books, bears, clothes, pictures, posters, everything I may need.

The contents of my life in two bags.

I throw myself down on a nearby plastic seat and stare out the

window, watching the activity below. Streaks of colour jet into the air, each of them heading to different exotic and wondrous places, soaring into the soft dusty pink sky.

I feel the tears roll down my cheeks and bite my lip. They make the announcement, calling us to the gate and I’m filled with paralysing fear. There’s no going back now and after today, I’m on my own.

Suddenly, I see a picture of the city

on the screen and I’m brought back to reality.

This is everything I worked so hard for, this big, amazing adventure.

It’s all ahead of me now.

I know I’ll see them soon, that it’s all for the best. I know it will be the greatest experience of my young life. I’ll miss them every day but it’s my turn now, my journey and my life to live.

I begin the long walk down the tunnel.

Travel

Fashion

17

A Series of Unfortunate Events:Benicassim Edition The essential staple-wear pieces to invest in for college

Deciding what to wear every day is, surprisingly, one of the biggest challenges we face when adjusting to college life. We no longer have the convenient and hassle-free uniform to throw on every morning; we actually have to think about what to wear and put together socially acceptable outfits for ourselves. Here are just a few staples to always have on-hand, to make your mornings that little bit easier…

For the gals:

Ciara Dinneen I thought I’d start the Travel section off with a little story, because who doesn’t enjoy reading about other peoples’ disastrous experiences?

This is not to turn you off going to Benicassim, it’s just the story of one experience; an experience that turned out disastrous for reasons less to do with the festival itself and more to do with an intensifying of Murphy’s Law: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”.

Four of us set off, fresh-faced and excited. It was a long day of travelling but, after about 17 hours of public transport, we made it to the festival. Two of us had booked prepitched tents, the other two hadn’t, but we prepared for that by bringing a two-man tent as well, or so we thought. It turned out to be just the inside lining of a one-man kiddiessize tent, so not even a tent at all, unless you’re cool with sleeping and changing your clothes every day in something not even a metre high, entirely see-through and not one bit water-proof. So the pre-pitched twoman tent acted as a four-man one for the first few nights. After that, most of us slept outside on blown-up lilos (it was that hot, even at night).

I love music festivals. I’ve gone to a foreign music festival every summer for the last 4 years. I’ve always felt there to be an etiquette in crowds at concerts; people generally mind each other, at least as far as I had experienced. At the second concert we went to I ended up being pushed to the ground and trampled on because a group of rowdy lads thought that collectively ramming

everyone in front of them forward would be great craic. We were on tarmac, not grass, and I had worn flip-flops (my bad, I admit that).

Luckily a really nice English guy reached out his hand and pulled me out from beneath the pile of people.

He took one look at me, my bloody knees and feet, and himself and his three friends all gathered round me to protect me as they walked me through the crowd and to the medical tent.

That’s just what happened to me; one of my friends lost her new phone and her spare phone and wallet were stolen (we got the new phone back, at least).

This same friend got a mosquito bite on her ankle that swelled up so much she could hardly walk.

Cherry on top of it all has to be the journey home. Our flights home were cancelled. Ryanair (yup, probably our first mistake was booking with them) offered us the next available flight home, which was 3 days later.

The best deal we could find for that day was 363 euro with Aer Lingus, and that was into Dublin, not Cork.

Our hearts were in our mouths as we each rushed to book our tickets, because there were only 4 seats left on that flight. We got them, and so we finally began our journey home.

When we arrived in to Dublin, smelly, entirely defeated and completely drained, we went straight to the baggage claim belt anxious to get out of there as fast as we could.

We waited, and waited, and waited, until the belt stopped moving. Two of us were still without bags. Our luggage had been lost. We spent another hour queuing and filling out forms. We got our luggage back, a few days later.

1. Leggings.

If you don’t already have a decent pair, start looking because trust me you will very quickly get sick of wearing jeans every day, no matter how excited you think you are about finally not having a uniform and getting to wear whatever you want every day; the novelty wears off. The colour is very important: the leggings must be black. No other colour will do. Maybe grey, maybe khaki, but you really cannot go wrong with black (unless your favourite over-leggings hoodie happens to be navy, then maybe opt for the grey to avoid the bla-vey clash). Another important factor here is the material, which contributes not only to the durability and longlasting quality of the leggings, but also the comfortability. Description words worth looking out for include “yoga” and “seamless”.

2. Over-sized jumpers Not only will this staple keep you warm during the cold autumn, winter and spring months (because it’s Ireland, where it’s more often chilly than warm no matter what season we’re in), all you need is a pair of jeans or leggings underneath and plain, simple, one-colour convers or vans and you’re ready to go.

Through a giant scarf over your shoulders while you’re at it; go all out with the wrapped-up vibe.

3. Jumpsuits Can we just take a moment to appreciate these as a concept; the idea of one item of clothing serving as top and bottom without looking like a morph suit is just great. These absolute gems are suitable for any occasion; all you have to do is accessorize accordingly. Throw on a pair of converse and a denim jacket, and you’re ready for college. Pair it with some nice slim heals, jewellery and a bit of makeup, and voila you’re ready for Voodoo.

For the guys: 1.Jeans A pair of good quality, comfortable jeans, because you can’t live your

whole life in slim-fitting trackies (@ GAA, c’mon, guys). Go for a denim wash that you can easily match with the colour tones of the t-shirts you wear most often; you’ll only need one or two pairs of decent jeans because different tops matched with one and the same pair of jeans makes a completely different outfit. There’s no denying you have it at least a little easier, guys.

2. Going-out shirt Lucky you, because apparently all you need is one. Only very few and special occasions call for it, and with different jeans you can make the same shirt look completely different, and vice versa like I said for the jeans. I’m not jealous.

3.Jacks&Jones logo t-shirt (a bunch of nice, standard t-shirts will do, but I like to poke fun at trends sometimes) I dare you to go count how many Jacks&Jones items you have. If it’s less than five, fair enough, and I’m sorry. If it’s more, point made.

Look, they are nice, but I am being a little sarcastic here with this one.

I mean, why does it have to have “Jacks&Jones” written so bloody obviously, slapped across the front?

Any nice fitting, aesthetically pleasing coloured t-shirt will do! The best colours for you are those that compliment your skin, eye and/or hair colour, so let that be your guide.

(Ask a friend or the girlfriend to help you decide on your best colours, if you’re unsure. I’m terrible at this, so I know myself to ask someone or I’d be buying all the unflattering colours…)

Film & T.V.

Fantasy, Comic-Book and Horror Films are unfairly

discriminated against during awards season Think back over the last twenty years of the Academy Awards. How many times has a film that was not based, loosely or otherwise on real life events scooped the award for Best Picture? How many times has a fantasy or comic-book movie taken the top gong in showbiz? The answer is very, very rarely. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, the victor in 2003, remains to this day the only fantasy film ever to win Best Picture.

It cannot be denied that the movies that did win are outstanding in their own right. The likes of The Departed, Birdman and The Artist were in turn masterfully constructed, thoughtprovoking, witty and beautiful to look at. But the strength of the competition is not adequate enough an excuse to justify the exclusion of some equally masterful movies that have been released in the last twenty years, movies that, although they are equally well written, directed and acted, have been excluded for no other reason than the fact that they do not fall into the norms of what an Academy Award worthy movie is

supposed to be: namely, an inspiring story based on real life events.

The perfect example of this kind of oversight is a movie that was released less than two years ago.

Although Logan, the last of the current generation of Wolverine films, was released at a time that did not lend itself to consideration for an Oscar (it arrived in cinemas the March following La La Land’s vi... sorry, Moonlight’s victory at the 89th Academy Awards) it was a movie that in many ways dwarfed its more prestigious compatriots.

The story, though arguably clichéd, was marvellously constructed and marked a decisive shift in the superhero genre from the Marvelesque trop of shiny, polished action heroes battling various dastardly foes (with the fate of the world in the balance more often than not), to the more compact, more gritty and infinitely more relatable “smallscreen” format that allowed Logan and Deadpool to enjoy the success they did. Logan was less a superhero

18 movie and more of a harsh, honest and emotional farewell to one of cinema’s most popular action heroes.

There were no intergalactic bad guys, no spaceships and no overtly unbelievable superpowers. Instead the film was the story of a worldweary man, his father figure (a fading Professor X, rendered masterfully

by Patrick Stewart) and his pseudodaughter (played with emotion and guile beyond her years by Dafne Kean), struggling to deliver the latter from danger and into safety. On paper this sounds like a potentially Oscar winning formula: father protects daughter from external forces while struggling with his own demons, and the strength of the acting coupled with the gnarly yet deep-rooted emotion of the film lend it all the qualities of a multi-award winning drama. And yet, despite garnering some attention, mostly from fans, as a potential Oscar nominee it was given no recognition. Why not? You might ask.

Hollywood, and the upper echelons of the film industry in general, fall predictably into the trap of labelling one type of movie as “art” and another as “money-maker”. Very few films manage to bridge this gap, The Return of the King being one that did. Critics seem loth to credit anything connected with fantasy or horror the credit it deserves. Just because a film features a crew of superheroes, a ghostly nun, or a fantastical array of characters does not mean it becomes worthless from an artistic point of view. The mark of a truly great film is that it make you feel emotion, whether that emotion is terror as the shadow of the Babadook creeps ominously along the wall towards the stricken child, despair as the hero crawls across the battlefield bleeding from a thousand wounds, or elation as the star-crossed lovers fall into each other’s arms for the first time. With regards to Logan, it seems ridiculous that a movie so filled with emotion could be so brutally overlooked.

If you removed the superpowers and comic book connections and changed the setting from a dystopian America to say, Second World War Europe or the modern day Mexico/ USA border, I have no doubt that the film would have been one of the forerunners in the 2018 Academy Awards for Best Picture and that Hugh Jackman, the film’s grizzled and gloriously haggard star, would have been more than in the running for Best Actor. So, what is it about action and horror movies that mean they are so frequently and wilfully overlooked by critics and judges whenever the contestants for award’s season are announced?

At its heart, I believe it comes down to a mixture of snobbery and fear, fear to break away from the accepted norms that suffocate the diversity of award shows like the Oscars and Golden Globes. Snobbery, because there is NO way that any movie with magic or superheroes could possibly be worthy of consideration in the eyes of many critics, and fear because it has become the norm to award Best Picture to a film that tells an inspiring real-life story, or one which chimes with the social issues of the year that the Oscars falls within. Now, this must not be misinterpreted to mean that the films that do succeed are worthless.

Birdman was perhaps one of the best shot, best acted, most witty and most thought-provoking films I have ever seen. Similarly, Moonlight was a deftly acted and heartbreakingly honest representation of issues which are at the forefront of modern life in America today. Both of these films are so good because they manipulate and fuel our emotional responses and in this regard I fail to see how a film like Logan, like The Babadook (a wonderfully head-wrecking, an unusually intelligent psychological horror) and like a hundred more can be so overlooked when they so masterfully achieve what their more lauded counterparts are universally hailed for.

Editor: Joe Cunningham

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New in Cinema: If you like

Review: Disenchantment:

One of the many advantages of the emergence of Netflix as a dominant force in the creation of new tv shows is that it allows some of the best creative minds of our generation the freedom to create and build with any overt interference from pushy studios and producers. This fact is certainly evident in Disenchantment, the new animated comedy series from the mind of The Simpsons creator Matt Groening. With The Simpsons approaching the end of its long life, and unfortunately no longer being quite the satirical force it once was, Groening has turned his attention to an ambitious new project which is exclusive to Netflix’s streaming platform.

Although Disenchantment perhaps lacks some of the sharp observational wit of its illustrious predecessor, it retains enough originality and quirky humour to stand alone and avoid some, if not all of the inevitable comparisons with Groening’s other creations. We are introduced to Princess Tiabeanie Mariabeanie de la Rochambeau Grunkwitz (Bean for short, as the character frequently reminds us) a rebellious, hard drinking, mayhem-causing, LSDtaking princess, the only daughter of the King of a mystical country called Dreamland. It is a familiar idea. Her father expects her to be one thing (namely, marry a rich prince) and

she strives to be another (namely, an alcoholic). The premise is good, if a little clichéd, but Groening’s deft handling of the narrative helps to overcome any stagnation that this might cause. Princess Bean is assisted in her endeavours by her two constant companions, an elf called Elfo (voiced

by Nat Faxon) and her “personal demon” Luci (voiced with brilliantly relaxed nefariousness by Eric André).

I was somewhat confused, yet pleasantly surprised, by the structure of the series’ ten episodes in that although each episode features a new adventure for the mismatched gang (usually involving some kind of alcohol or drug abuse) it is unlike the Simpsons in that there is definite structural narrative and an attempt to tell a larger story, which becomes more evident as the season progresses. I found myself, for better or worse, forgetting at times that this was a comedy and starting to treat it more as a humorous drama.

Although the humour is not as strong or as witty as The Simpsons (there are still a few gloriously random comedic gems buried in there) the strength of the narrative helps the viewer to forgive this. Even if you are not laughing out loud every minute, there is more than enough substance to the series to keep you watching between chuckles.

In its essence, Disenchantment is entertaining, easy watchage that

combines Groening’s unique humour with a more structured narrative to what are, overall, positive effects. The highlight of the show, quite apart from the feisty, fiery yet likeable Bean is undoubtedly André’s portrayal of Luci, a black demon often mistaken for a cat, who encourages Bean to do all the things she knows she probably shouldn’t do with the kind of laconic, laid-back devilishness that is so appealing to an audience. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Elfo who although occasionally involved in a funny joke, usually at his expense, is rather overdone and transcends the boundary from comedically annoying to actually annoying rather too often.

Overall, Disenchantment is more than worth the watch, it is funny enough to keep you smiling if not always guffawing, the characters are for the most part engaging and relatable (who hasn’t struggled with parental expectations as a teenager?) and there are plenty of shrewd allegories in the fictional medieval world of Dreamland for the issues such as gender stereotyping that are more than relevant in the real world. Disregarding all this though, Disenchantment is, at its heart, just pure fun watchage and it definitely worth pursuing for the ten, 30 minute or so long episodes that are available to stream

mindless action movies then a trip to the cinema is a must this week. The latest instalment in the Predator franchise, inventively titled The Predator, boasts a cast including Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook (the big bad-guy in Logan- yes, I’ll shut up about that movie now), Keegan-Michael Key (of Key and Peele fame, check them out, their sketches are hilarious) and Alfie Allen. Alternatively, if you think that Nicholas Cage is The Man (which he is) and want to see him fighting cultists with chainsaws then definitely go to see Mandy, a film which promises to be ultra-violent and ultra-weird, much like Cage himself.

New on Netflix: Following up

on their many forays into the Marvel Universe, Netflix have just released Iron Fist, Season 2. If you fancy a bit of 80s nostalgia, the excellent teenmovie The Breakfast Club is now streaming. The intriguing new psychological/drama Maniac, with Emma Stone and an unrecognisably thin Jonah Hill, is also out later this week.

New Announcements: For any

gaming fans, this week saw the confirmation that Netflix is developing an adaptation of the immensely popular Witcher franchise and has cast Henry Cavill in the role of Geralt of Rivia. For anybody wary after previous failed attempts to adapt video games to the big screen, remember that the games are based on a book series and early indications are that the Netflix version will follow the events of these, rather than those of the games.

Editor’s Recommendation:

After dealing overwhelmingly with action films this week it wouldn’t be right for me not to recommend another. If you want fun, violence, curse heavy dialogue and multiple subversive comic-book references look no further than the excellent KickAss, a film which is as fun as it is irreverent.

Music

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Brockhampton Taking Over The walls and the audience are sweating. The lights are a glowing, bleeding red. Everyone is that exhausted kind of euphoric, the kind of exhausted euphoric you get after you’ve spent the last two hours jumping around to your favourite music. Six figures stand on stage in matching uniforms of loose white shirts and black jeans. They look out at the crowd, and their ringleader holds up his microphone, “Dublin!

You have just witnessed the greatest boyband in the world! Thank you!”

I was one of nearly two thousand people who saw Brockhampton perform in the Helix in DCU in August, and when I tell you it was a formative experience I don’t exaggerate.

If you haven’t heard of them, Brockhampton are an “allAmerican” hip-hop boyband, comprised of rappers, vocalists, producers, graphic designers and more. Their members, to name a few, include vocalists Kevin Abstract, Matt Champion, JOBA, Merlyn Wood, Dom McLennon and bearface. If you have heard of them, you’ll know they’re one of the most up-and-coming hip hop acts of the

last few years. It doesn’t take much to see why. Three years since their foundation, Brockhampton have released four full-length albums, each better than the last, the most recent being SATURATION III. This tour comes at the end of a tumultuous time for Brockhampton.

They were scheduled to release a new album in June, but those plans changed in the wake of the departure of founding member Ameer Vann amongst abuse allegations. Instead, their newest album, Iridescence, is scheduled to be released on September 21st. But we’re not here to talk about that.

We waited for nearly an hour and a half inside the concert venue, buzzing with anticipation, but when Brockhampton actually came out, it was almost anti-climactic. Moments before they trouped on stage, one of their producers, the ever-charming Romil Hemnani appeared. He was unassuming, setting himself up at his deck, perhaps not expecting the whole crowd to start cheering once they recognised him. That’s the beauty in Brockhampton that so many other collective acts lack - everyone who contributes to the

By Robin Daly, Music Writer music is worthy of the credit, and the fanbase appreciates it.

We were still riding off the high of seeing Hemnani when the introduction to one of the newest songs, “1998 TRUMAN” began, and the crowd totally lost it. The energy in that moment is unmatched by anything I have ever felt.

Though they’ve only been touring for about a year, I have to say that Brockhampton are masters of a balanced setlist. They start with strong songs like “TRUMAN,” one that requires the most from each of the members and of the audience, but still manage the difficult task of not over-exerting themselves as well as showcasing each of their talents.

Throughout the concert, we heard some of the group’s most popular and energetic songs, to which we, as an audience, gave every ounce of energy that Brockhampton gave us.

One such song, for example, would be “GOLD.” Together, everyone in the room shouted the hook, “Keep a gold chain on my neck, fly as a jet, boy better treat me with respect,” over and over again like it was a prayer. Another one would be

BOOGIE. It was the closing song, and it was our duty as an audience to muster every last ounce of energy to give it all we had. “BOOGIE” is arguably the loudest and the most aggressive song of Brockhampton’s discography. We immediately gave it all we had, from the second it began we were leaping and screeching.

The song contains the lyric “Best boyband since One Direction” and honestly, they make you sure of it as it is: a fact.

Part of Brockhampton’s genius in setlist design is the way that they were able to let certain members rest while also letting the vocalists show their own unique abilities, for example, “RENTAL.” One of Brockhampton’s most relaxed songs, with even its rap verses sounding pretty melodic, it is one of a few songs that allows both Abstract and Champion to showcase their talents as vocalists, while McLennon ties it all together with his witty and artistic verse. “FACE,” another song, is melancholy and is pervaded

by JOBA’s chorus “Tell me what you’re waiting for/ I just wanna love ya.” It was finished with a mix of a stellar high note and a

Editor: Caoimhe Coleman primal scream. We were all blown away, hairs on the back of necks standing up universally, followed by all of us chanting “Joba! Joba!”. bearface, who hadn’t really been in the limelight thus far, performed “SUMMER.” He was given his guitar and he illustrated both his talent as a singer and a skilled guitarist. He was lit up by a white spotlight, making him look almost angelic.

Watching Brockhampton perform, it was almost impossible to believe that this was their third show in as many days, even with Abstract starting off the show by apologising for his voice being shot. They were constantly jumping and dancing across the stage, each member hyping up the crowd as much as the crowd was hyping up them. They made it look easy - which I can tell you, after being at the gig for two hours, it certainly wasn’t. Brockhampton possess a certain kind of magic that can’t be manufactured, a kind that will take them far. I hope you come along for the ride.

EP Review – Scenes

By Caoimhe Coleman, Music Editor

Scenes, the debut EP from Tralee native PJ Galvin, is the epitome of DIY, produced-in-the-bedroom, sparkle pop. Galvin is a product of the newly founded “DIY LK” scene, whose aim is to create an endearing and supportive atmosphere in which new creative acts can flourish and produce such works as this gorgeous EP. The brevity of Scenes – a wellrounded, three tracks long EP – only adds to the atmosphere of it, if you ask me. The opening track “When I Get Old” establishes the balance between Galvin’s stripped back style and his flair for 80’s synth-pop.

The melodic acoustic guitar at the beginning of the track is matched by vocals of the same calibre. While we’re on the topic of vocals, upon my first listening of the EP it struck me that the vocals in this first track are probably the strongest on the EP. They’re melodic, rhythmic and, most importantly, they’re catchy as hell. I would even go as far as to say that this is the most “radio-friendly” track.

“Cold”, the second track on the EP is undoubtedly my favourite.

It immediately struck me that this song could slot perfectly into the soundtrack for a feel-good, comingof-age film. After mulling it over for a while it hit me as to why – it reminded me of the part in 2012’s Pitch Perfect where “Punching in a Dream” by The Naked and Famous plays. The song starts out so mellow that when the synth comes in (about a minute into the song), it can almost shock you. Upon my first listening, I felt a little unsettled but when I continued listening and realised how excellently the synth fades out and blends into the verse that follows, I was once again in a state of synthpop nirvana. The track bellows onwards with a hopeful atmosphere.

Although some sad undertones do sneak their way into the lyrics “Leaving you at home for the summer, why did we do that to each other?” they are quickly banished by Galvin’s exclamation “CAUSE THE WORLD IS WAITING.” The hope returns. I found myself imagining the song once again as the perfect addition to a coming-of-age, takingon-the-world film.

The closing song, “To Dry”, definitely has the strongest guitar hook on the EP. On first listening, I thought that the vocals were a bit weaker than the other two songs but after listening to it a few times more I decided that the combination of the drums and guitar makes up for that.

That opening riff is so damn catchy.

“To Dry” definitely relies less on synths and putting it as the last track was a clever move by PJ – it rounds out the EP quite nicely. Each song could stand on its own but they also work very well together. A recent review on Headstuff.org summed it up perfectly – “The songs all have something different, yet similar.”

Scenes is available now for streaming on Spotify and Youtube.

Rumour has it that there may be some live shows in the works too, “I’m currently marshalling the troops…” says PJ. North Kerry is coming up in the world, keep your eyes and ears peeled folks. You can find PJ on Instagram @scenesclassunreal, Twitter @scenesabsolute and Facebook @scenesirl.

Summer

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Releases

(you may have missed)

Joy As An Act of Resistance – IDLES The sophomore album from British punk unit IDLES is, as they say, “all killer, no filler.”

After the release of their debut album in 2017, a lot of people (including myself) had doubts that they could follow it up with something as good. Thankfully, I can confirm that IDLES have once again outdone themselves – keeping up their flair for tonguein-cheek lyricism and combining punk bangers with stripped back melancholy numbers.

Released: August 31st 2018.

For Fans Of: Slaves, Shame, Girl

Band.

Highlights: Colossus, Love Song, Samaritans.

Nearer My God – Foxing

Nearer My God, the third album from introspective indie-rock band Foxing is nothing short of stunning. If you ask me, the album is a logical progression from their first two releases, The Albatross and Dealer – it’s different at times, but it’s still the Foxing we know and love. Not only can this band write, record and produce amazing albums, they put on one of the best live performances I’ve seen in a long time.

Released: August 10th 2018.

For Fans Of: Pinegrove, Tiny Moving Parts, Modern Baseball.

Highlights: Lich Prince, Gameshark, Nearer My God. Noonday Dream – Ben Howard After almost a four year hiatus, Ben Howard returned this summer with his third album Noonday Dream. When I say I feel like I’ve been waiting for this album my whole life, I don’t exaggerate.

It is a masterpiece. I’ve been listening to (and obsessing over) Ben Howard for almost six years now and I would definitely go as far as to say that this is his best body of work to date.

Released: June 1st 2018.

For Fans Of: James Vincent McMorrow, Bear’s Den, José González.

Highlights: The Defeat, What The

Moon Does, Nica Libres at Dusk.

interview

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A chat with Bee (Jonathan) from the Tullamore Trio Chasing Abbey

Interview by Ciara Dinneen, Byline Editor From traditional trad trio to hiphop, urban pop group Jonathan, Ronan and Ted grew up in Tullamore playing music together.

Although coming from a traditional background, the guys spent the majority of their time listening to hip-hop and rap. In 2016 they began to work on making the kind of music that they loved and listen to. The result is Chasing Abbey, a unique blend of pop and hip-hop with a subtle yet distinctively urbanIrish influence. Jonathan spoke to the Express about the beginnings of Chasing Abbey and what this dynamic plan on achieving in the next few years.

Where does the name ‘Bee’ come from?

Bee is my childhood nickname, so that’s where it comes from.

Yourself, Ronan and Ted make up the trio that is Chasing Abbey?

first thing you play is trad, so you have your tin whistle lessons here and there, and there’s always a session or something going on, so that’s how we started. We actually met each other through that, and all happened to be in the same school, so it went from there.

and stuff, and the possibilities are endless. We had a lot of equipment available to us, like synths, so we could make any sound. It was a very interesting year. We never found ourselves bored. I suppose it was hard because we had to get used to all of the software and stuff, because usually we’re playing a physical instrument, but it was definitely a very exciting year. We still use a lot of the stuff that we wrote in that year today!

At what point did you decide to start pulling away from the I read somewhere that the traditional scene and start three of you used to play trad writing and creating your own together, so you come from a The technical side of things must style of music? musical background. have been difficult to get used I’d say it was around 2014. We were Yeah, we started off as young lads. in cover bands together, so we were to, especially when you’re just Our families are Irish traditional sort playing music together for a good so used to playing live… of families in the music scene so we Yeah! Ronan, Ro, and Ted, Teddy C!

were brought up in that. I suppose it’s kind of the thing in the midlands, or in most places in Ireland really, that if you want to play music the

few years before we started working on Chasing Abbey. We pulled away from all the cover bands around 2016. It was probably the start of 2016 when we said “ok we’re playing folk and trad, but when we go home we’re listening to rap and dance”. We felt we needed change, to start making music that we would listen to, so we cut involvement with other bands and the ‘ceoltas’, we got in a room for a year, bought a whole load of instruments and equipment and just started making music that we’d actually listen to ourselves. We didn’t actually know that we were working towards Chasing Abbey at the time. We hadn’t decided before we did all of this that we were going to form a group called “Chasing Abbey” and do all this sort of music.

We just got into a room for a year and made tunes, and then Chasing Abbey just happened.

I did a year in music tech in LIT, so that helped us out a bit.

Do all three of you work together with every aspect of your work, or would each of you have your own specific aspect that you’re best at and are responsible for? So, the techguy, the melody-maker, the lyric writer?

An idea can come from any one of us; any one of us can come up with a lyric or a melody or something. It’s definitely very much a group effort, but when it comes to finalising stuff, I supposed I’d be on the programming and tech side, beats and stuff, while Ro would be on melody, and Ted would be on lyrics. A lot of the lyrics and stuff are co-written, there’s no set way, but when it comes to signing off on things, y’know…

Did you find that year of creating stuff difficult because the style is so different to what you had I read a bit about how you came up with the name Chasing Abbey, been playing before?

Well, it was full of life; that year was and it’s really interesting. Tell full of energy. We had been stuck us about that. in this bubble of banjos and guitars

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When we were in that room together for the year a lot of the tunes we were making were very pop, and so we started referring to that audience as “Abbey”. Abbey is genderless, ageless, and all that. It’s a nickname; we nicknamed the audience we were making tunes for “Abbey”. For months, whenever we made a tune, we would ask ourselves “Would Abbey like this?”. That’s how we gave a track the go-ahead or how we would decide if we should scrap it and start something else. That went on for ages, and when it came to picking a name, we had come up with loads of names but nothing was sticking, and everything was very new to us, all the names were very new. When one of us said “what about Chasing Abbey?” that felt very real because we had been referring to Abbey for so long, so then Abbey became like a symbol for ‘the dream’; Chasing Abbey, chasing the dream.

Who would be your favourite

popular artist at the moment?

Kendrick. I speak for us all there.

Who would be your least favourite popular artist at the moment?

Ooh. Right, umm… I don’t know. I couldn’t tell you. I actually just don’t listen to anything I don’t like! If the other two were here (Ro and Teddy C) I’d probably be more quick fire but, no, I can’t answer that!

What has been your favourite gig so far? The one that is most memorable.

Our favourite gig of 2017 was 100% Indiependence. It was crazy. It was our first packed tent at a festival.

We’ve played at festivals before, but only to half-filled tents y’know?

I can’t remember what act it was, but whatever act was on just before us in another tent was literally just finishing before our scheduled time,

and just a few minutes before our gig we were sat at side-stage being sound checked and all, and there was not one person in our tent, and were thinking “aw this is going to be terrible”. We had geared ourselves up and said “ok look, this isn’t going to be great, let’s just take it as a practice”… The next minute we turned around, the other gig had obviously just finished, and there were hundreds of people rushing into the tent! The tent was full. It filled up in that 5 minutes. It was the craziest feeling ever. Longitude as well this year was definitely another highlight so far. We have our Irish tour coming up this year so I’d say that’s going to top it.

A lot of artists would agree that generally it’s the audience that makes or breaks a gig.

Oh yeah, exactly, and the audience down south are just crazy!

You’re all from Tullamore. Are

you still based there?

Yeah, we have our studio here in Tullamore. We’ll be here. We won’t move. We’ll go to and come back.

Heart is there? In Tullamore?

For sure.

Where would you, Chasing Abbey, like to be in five years’ time?

We’ll make an album next year, then tour that album, and then (in five years’ time) we’ll probably be on a tour of the second album, a worldwide tour. In five years, that’s exactly where we’d like to be. Making tunes and playing gigs, that’s all we want to do.

If you were lucky enough to have pocketed tickets for Chasing Abbey’s sold out gig in Cyprus Avenue on Thursday 20th September, it’s the first gig of their Irish tour so get ready to party because it’s going to be a great one.

Gaming

24 buy games on your phone in-game.

Possibly the most egregious example of DLC is the fact that when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare received a HD remaster, the developers decided to also remaster the DLC, but rather than include in the game, they asked for another €15 again. Someone who had bought the original game, its DLC, plus the HD remaster and DLC would then have forked out over €150 to buy the same game twice...

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the best-selling game series of all time. This attitude of partitioning the true spirit of a game behind a pay wall is truly not within the spirit of the games industry as a whole and is beyond ludicrous. Examples of astronomical prices are endless, but the most bizarre is the fact that, were you to own all the DLC for the game ‘Train Simulator’, you would have had to spend over €2,500.

DLC: The Bad, The Worse and The Greedy In the modern age of online gaming, the convenience of downloadable games is as quintessential as the gaming system itself. Steam sales seem to always be available and gaming has never been so affordable if you can stomach the upfront investment for a gaming PC. Years ago, if a game was released with bugs, then the game was broken and there was no remedy for us. Luckily today, updates can be released to patch over any bug, so long as you are willing to stomach going a few hours (or days depending on your internet speed) without your shiny new game.

Unfortunately, this ease has often led to lazy game development. If a company can release a game while the Hype-Train is still going, then they will see a huge up-swing in their sales, and any issues with the game can be fixed over the course of a few months through updates. A prime example here would be No Man’s Sky, a game whose hype was so large

that the developers released a game with less than half of the features promised, leading to mass backlash and various refunds being given.

Hello Games have since released updates containing these features, but the game has become somewhat of a cautionary tale.

In the modern day, this is far from uncommon. In 2015, EA released the bones of Star Wars Battlefront for €60, giving us a bland single player with 3 maps and a boring lifeless online multiplayer. “Don’t worry”, we were told as EA revealed that meat would be added to these bones slowly over time, and for the small price of €25. Imagine going into the cinema and watching the latest marvel movie, and just as the film reaches its climax, you’re asked for an extra payment? In any other industry this would be unacceptable. You buy an album, but as it reaches the 3rd last track,

you have to run and grab your debit card, so you can pay to hear it. The most cynical of any DLC offence has to be in Capcom’s ‘Aura’s Wrath’, where you actually do have to pay an extra €7 to get the ‘Final Chapter’ so you can see the true ending to the game. It’s a clear design choice, for you to have come so close to finishing the game, clearly you are invested and right when you want to reach the conclusion, they demand more money from you.

Some more ridiculous examples of DLC can be seen in the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, where you were asked to pay an extra €2 to put some armour on your horse, a feature that came for free as part of every previous and subsequent Elder Scrolls game.

While this is one of the most cited examples of ridiculous DLC, clearly the most comical came as an add-on to ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ where the developers charged you €2 to

Despite how I sound, I am actually far from opposed to DLC. In many examples, such as Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, DLC can add an extra limb to a game that might seem unnecessary, but in fact changes the tone of the game as a whole and gives the entire game a ‘second wind’, that only adds to its success. Perhaps one of the best examples of DLC can be seen in the aforementioned Elder Scrolls series, where in Skyrim, the Dragonborn DLC allows players to return to an area from a previous game, for some nostalgia and extra in-game quests. In a similar vein, when it was announced that Skyrim would receive an HD remaster, Bethesda, the developer, allowed anyone who already owned a copy of the PC version a free upgrade. There was no need in this instance to force people to pay for the same game twice just to play it in HD. *Call of Duty see here* Overall, DLC can add meat to a game, but a game in of itself should not be a skeleton or a shell of what it will be with DLC. DLC add-ons should be just that, additions to the game that allow expansion and further play-time, we as consumers should not be charged twice to play what we paid for in the first instance.

Editor: Cian Mcgrath

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8 Worst Video Game Adaptions of All-Time Why are movies based on video games so bad? You could say because the depth of video game media leads to deeper characters that cannot be replicated in a film.

Alternatively, you could read this list as a preview and come back in a few weeks when I’ve written an article about why…

Football Manager: more than a game To many, Football Manager is a bland, strategy-football game, but to a sizeable community, it is so much more. The game began in 1992 under the name Championship Manager, developed by brothers Paul and Oliver Collyer from their bedroom.

It wasn’t until 2003 that the brothers, due to a publishing split, rebranded the game to Football Manager. The game has had yearly releases now for well over 25 years, selling over 1 million copies worldwide for 5 consecutive years. The dedication of the fan-base can be seen in the fact that the games have had an average of 35,000 concurrent players over the past 2 years and the latest edition has been watched for over 2-million hours on streaming platform Twitch since its release. It is not the size of the fan-base which is to be found so amazing, but instead the fact that once people begin, they always return. YouTube, Twitch, Reddit and podcasts. No corner of the internet is without a tight-knit community surrounding this game.

Beyond the screen, the game has had a sizeable influence on the real world, in a way that games such as FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer never has, will, or even could. In 2008, Everton FC signed a deal with the developers so that they had full access to the database in order to use it as a means to recruit new players. In a multibillion-euro industry that is football, for one of the largest companies in

that market to trust a Video Game is a phenomenal achievement. While this may seem rather odd to people who are unfamiliar with the game, there is a network of 1,300 ‘Scouts’ based in 51 countries world-wide who provide the data needed for this game to function. This is not just a game, as has been said, it is a vibrant community of football fans, professionals and players. Within the game, there are over 300,000 players documented in depth with tens of detailed facts, such as birth place, and statistics to reflect their respective standing in the world of football. The game has been the subject of studies regarding crowdsourcing due to the sheer mass of volunteers who co-construct the game’s database.

Many others have made a living from this game, through rather more conventional means, such as content creators Loki Doki or Doctor Benji.

Loki, for example, is currently in the process of buying his first home thanks to his own hard work and his fans who support him with their views, subscriptions and donations.

For Kevin Chapman, aka lollujo, the support of his fans through the playing of this game has allowed him to leave his job as a teacher in order to give his son better support at home. In recent months many stories have been reported of various streamers making a fortune on the latest AAA game, but in the instance

of Football Manager, the creators seem to be making a living as it becomes their full-time job. With their relatively modest channel sizes, once again, it is through the tightknit and dedicated community that this is even possible. There is no rivalry between creators, instead it is a rather symbiotic relationship where creators promote and help each other, rather than attempt to claim that the other is irrelevant and challenge them to a boxing match.

In a modern world of diss-tracks, call-outs and literal fighting, it must be said that it is rather refreshing that any community in gaming can survive, or even thrive, solely from kindness and friendship.

It is through two brothers that this game began, and through the familydynamic of the community who continue to play, create or support that this game is made. Without the 1,300 scouts around the world, there would be no game. Without the dedicated players, who support content creators to the point that they can make a living, there would be no game. Without this family, there would be no game. Football Manager truly is, more than a game.

Football Manager 2019 is scheduled for release on November 2nd 2018.

For any submissions or DMCs, email me: gaming@uccexpress.ie (unless it’s to cry because I don’t like COD)

Average Review Scores for: Assassin’s Creed (2016)

Movie

Game

18%

83%

Ratchet & Clank (2016)

Movie

Game

19%

87%

Angry Birds (2016)

Movie

Game

44%

66%

Tomb Raider (2018)

Movie

Game

51%

87%

Warcraft (2016)

Movie

Game

28%

90%

Super Mario Bros (1993)

Movie

Game

14%

89%

Need for Speed (2014)

Movie 22%

Game 79%

Tekken (2010)

Movie 0%

Game 87%

Humor

26 UCC RIGHT SOCIETY: Hate immigrants?

Afraid of change? Think Fascism needs a comeback? UCC Right Soc will welcome you with open arms, unless you’re a minority.

Activities include: Witch hunts, Being as offensive as possible, Cross burnings, Wanking to pictures of Trump, Only eating meat, Believing everything Alex Jones tweets, Building walls, Brexiting.

UCC SOBER SOCIETY: Think it’s time

to shirk the age old international stereotype of the drunken Irish?

Want to break the generational cycle of binge drinking and don’t care about your peers judging you?

Why not Join Sober Soc? Activities include: Drinking Heineken 0.0%, you big pussy; Ah you’ll have one drink surely; Don’t be a dry shite, have a drink.

ULTIMATE FRISBEE CLUB:I have no idea

Middle-class Couple Expecting First Sourdough Starter

By Sarah Ryan, Humor Writer

A young Blackrock couple are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first sourdough starter.

Louise and Mark O’Gorman, both 28, say they simply cannot wait for the arrival of their yeasty addition.

“I’ve always wanted to have some bread to call my own,” says Louise.

“Ever since I heard our other smug couple friends bragging about making their own kombucha, it’s really been a dream of mine.”

The couple, both young professionals in jobs that they find generally unfulfilling, say the idea began after one too many Marks & Spencer’s Dine-In Deals.

“Honestly, I thought, if its posh, expensive, and made with one at least sort of seasonable vegetable, it’s got to be healthy. Turns out, it still makes you fat.” reflects Mark, gesturing to his veritable dad bod.

“I didn’t even know wine had calories,” adds Louise. “I mean, is nothing sacred anymore? If that Australian shiraz is wrong, then I

don’t want to be right.”

It seems today that many young couples are opting out of the traditional ideals of marriage, houses and children as statements of love for one another. When asked, “why sourdough?”, the O’Gormans say the answer is simple; both being commitmentphobes, children or even just a dog, were out of the question. “I mean, they’re just so… dirty. The children more than the dogs”, reveals Mark.

At the suggestion of a house, the two erupt into delirious, almost hysterical laughter - a strangely common reaction for two successful young people contemplating years of moving back in with parents and innumerable ham sandwiches. “No matter how much of my income I save, let’s face it, it probably won’t be enough. I’d prefer to spend it on fancy bread, if I’m honest.”

On the subject of the work that must be put into a successful sourdough - regular feedings, float tests, etc. the O’Gormans say they are ready for it all. “I’m so looking forward

to taking this journey with someone I love. And yeah, it’s definitely a better alternative to ham sandwiches with my parents.”

We wish them the very best of luck.

UCC Clubs & Socs As the year begins it can be daunting to decide which Club or Society is for you. University Express is here to guide you through Clubs & Socs new and old, to help you decide which one to sacrifice your free time to.

UCC LEFT SOCIETY: Are you a special snowflake who needs a safe space to whine about everything? Think communism needs a comeback? Well UCC Left society might just be for you!

Activities include: Joke policing, Thought policing, Being offended, Screeching at pictures of Trump, Eating soy, Believing everything Huff Post tweets, Spitting at Cis White Males.

what this is but it sounds hilarious.

Activities include: Adding flames and go faster stripes to your frisbee to make them more ‘ultimate’

UCC CYCLING CLUB: Are you an

absolute wanker who loves to feel the wind on their face and lycra on their gooch? Then Cycling club is for you!

Activities include: Ignoring all rules of the road, Chatting on dangerous bends, Showing the whole world your balls through your skin-tight shorts.

UCC FLAT EARTH SOCIETY: Wake up

sheeple! You’re living a spherical lie!

Activities include: Being 100% woke.

UCC FILM SOC: They need a tech wizard to work putlocker without downloading all the viruses.

UCC MUSIC SOC: I give this society a

decent to strong 7. Go join.

THE UNIVERSITY EXPRESS:

Please come and write for the humour section. It’s only September and I’ve already ran out of ideas.

Editor: Callum Casey to the back garden to see the two bathrooms, two recently excavated holes, filled with shit.

27

Headlines

This story however is not a completely dark one, as the resilient students have tried to find the silver lining in their new home.

“My last landlord hated animals, no pets at all.” Ciara Barry tells me, “But here we can have all the pets we want.” Ciara shows me her swarm of plague rats, brimming with pride and Black Death, “They’re adorable aren’t they. Once you get past the disease and the constant gnawing they’re actually dotes, like.” Ciara tries to pet one of the rats, but the nest hissed and attacked her hand.

Afterwards Ciara shows me her second pet, a patch of black mould that is “Just, like, so cute and fluffy.”

“We save so much on heating too,” Cian said, as he leads me into a bedroom filled with 15 students, “Not that this place would have a radiator but still, we all snuggle up on that spacious single bed and we’re toasty for the night. It can be a bit noisy with all the coughing up blood and stuff, but you get used to it after a while.”

Student (Tenement) Housing

By Callum Casey, Humor Editor

Due to global overpopulation that will one day lead to a postapocalyptic future where man will fight fellow man for precious resources such as food and water, student accommodation around Cork is pretty scarce these days. Most students have been unable to take the four mortgages needed to secure a room in Amnis house, and so have been left desperately searching for housing as term starts. Enterprising landlords have come up with a solution for this problem however; Bring back Tenement housing.

Molly Doyle, who is currently renting her four-bedroom, two bathroom on College Road to 30 UCC students, thinks the initiative is a tremendous idea, “The students love it, it’s like one big party for them, sure. Most importantly though,

I’m making a boatload of cash off them.”

Doyle is not wrong, her house does indeed look like one big house party, but when it’s four o’clock, everyone is monged and wants to go home. Cian Murphy, a second year Chemistry student explains the atmosphere to me as he leads me through the house, “I know it looks like everyone is monged but it’s just the TB or the Malnutrition.

But we’re still college students, we don’t let it get us down. We still like to party,” Cian smiles giving me a dazzling view of the two teeth he hasn’t lost to scurvy yet, “We have a party almost every night.

Yeah they’re usually funeral parties but they’re still good craic you know?” I exclaim that the house is a shithole and I am promptly brought

Food in the house is scarce, the few dozen residents are forced to split a ‘6 before six’ between 12 of them. The lads in the house, driven mad by Mooju withdrawal have resorted to trying to make their own by milking the rats, to no avail unfortunately. When Cian found his roommate eating his copy of the Irish Proclamation, because no college gaff is complete without at least 5, he knew it had gone too far.

When the group brought their concerns to Cork City Council they were rebuked. In a statement to University Express, one councillor had this to say: “These college students are so entitled these days.

Wanting working ovens, working toilets, less rats. Who do they think they are? They’re lucky we’re not letting them freeze to death or sleep in Garda stations!”

The Express tried to reach Cian for a follow up piece, but sadly he had been eaten by the rats.

BREAKING Rachel Allen responds to claims that bad parenting lead to her son’s recent drug related arrest: ‘I thought he was selfraising’.

Technology Pro lifers perfect time travel and return to the past to kill anyone who voted yes before they were born.

Entertainment Annoying prick who bust out a Guitar at your house party and sang ‘Wonderwall’ 17 times wins UCC Battle of The Bands.

Movie of the Week Another movie you can’t watch anymore because the main actor is a sex pest.

Music Eminem calls your mam out in latest diss-track. He’s still not relevant.

Arts & Literature

28

Top 5 Places for Bookworms in Cork City Tara Leigh Matthews, Staff Writer Is it your first time living in Cork City? Or are you familiar with the city but at a loss when it comes to finding the perfect spot for reading?

Well, look no further as here I present to you the top five places for any book lover in Cork City!

Every book lover in Cork City should know about Vibes & Scribes, the No.1 spot. There are two shops, both located along Lavitts Quay.

One is a second-hand bookstore and is great for every taste, having a range of books from all genres.

Most of the books you’ll find in there are around the €5 price mark.

They have sections dedicated to scifi, fantasy, film, LGBTQ+, classics,

comic books, and both general fiction and non-fiction. They do have occasional sale sections, and those books are usually around €1-2. They also buy any old books for money or store credit. The other store has new first-hand books, but these are more expensive as, being brand new, they are priced accordingly.

This one is also great for textbooks, reference books, and they have a great selection of classic novels.

beautiful special editions in stock (I came across a collector’s edition of A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab once!). They also have a range of accessories; bookmarks, notebooks, and lights for reading.

The majority of their books are around €11, but they do have regular sales and offers. Plus, there are a range of couches where you can sit and read peacefully, to check out the book before you buy.

Next on our list is Waterstones! This store is heaven for any book lover. It has a massive selection and always has new releases in stock. Their young adult and poetry sections are definitely worth noting. It’s a great place to find less popular, hidden gems, and they often have

Our third bookstore is the good old reliable Easons, which is great for new releases and cookbooks, and they have an excellent science fiction section as well. The price range is similar to that of Waterstones, and they usually have decent offers.

Good to note, for any aspiring journalists, Easons has a great and wide selection of magazines, which is something that is quite rare these days!

Next is the Irish Cancer Society charity shop on Castle Street. It may not be a typical place to go book shopping, but this place is a goldmine for books of every kind.

The books here are amazingly cheap, being mostly between 50c and €2, and, although second-hand, always in decent condition. Not only is there an excellent selection of books, but the money is also going to a good cause. In general charity shops are a great place to look, you never know what you’ll find!

Editor: Eadaoin Regan

29

I just have a lot of feelings.

Marian Broderick’s Wild Irish Women: Extraordinary Lives from History (2001) This should be a staple read for every Irish man, woman, and child.

A summary of women from pirates to pretenders, this is undoubtedly a fascinating read that will make you say, ‘why weren’t we taught this?!’As each woman’s life is summarised in under a few pages it’s the perfect bedtime book since you can put it down after each section without feeling unsatisfied. However, it’s unlikely you’ll be so quick to put it down; it’s that brilliant! 9.5/10

HOT OR NOT Diana Gabaldon’s Drums of Autumn (1996) Harry Potter aside, I am not usually one for fantasy fiction. While accidentally stumbling upon, and becoming disturbingly emotionally attached to, the Outlander show I was pleasantly surprised by the books.

However, this fourth book in the series reads like a badly plotted fan fiction.

The scenes fans surely anticipated most are rushed and unsatisfactory, while the characters are a woeful shadow of their former selves. I am going to do something I never thought I would and quote Simon Cowell: “it’s a no from me”. 3/10

Our final stop isn’t necessarily a store; it’s the Cork City Library.

Located on Grand Parade, this library is absolutely massive. You may not be able to buy the books but the range and variety they have is immense. They do occasionally have sales to get rid of books, but only a small selection (usually on a table by the entrance). However, it’s free to join and free to take out books.

If you’re a slow reader or forgetful, the fines for late returns aren’t too expensive either. Their website lets you reserve books online and check the availability books, to save you the hassle of searching through the thousands there.

I hope this is in some way helpful to all the book lovers; whether it leads you to discovering your perfect reading spot in this beautiful City, or to finally finding that one book you’ve been searching for but frustratingly unable to find!

For this issue I decided to forego the ‘Historical Friction’ section to make room for more valuable material (thank you Tara!). But alas, I live for complaining about these things and this is my outlet. So here are some short summaries of various period/ historical dramas during which I complain.

Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (1975) I have heard what the critics say, what the professionals say and most importantly – what Mark Kermode has to say. And yet, I fly in the face of them. This 19th Century British-American drama based on William Makepeace’s novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon is painful. Despite its masterful recent restoration and the truly astounding cinematic experience it provides, the wooden acting and horrendous Irish accent of Ryan O’Neal as the title character, to quote Austen’s Mrs Bennett, is “insufferable”. 4/10

Trevor Nunn’s Lady Jane (1986) The costumes were about the only thing right with this retelling of the execution of Lady Jane Grey and rise of Bloody Mary. Think Mills & Boon meets Tudor history.

Minus the riding. And no, that is not a compliment. 2/10

Versailles (2015-2018) This TV series reimagining King Louis XIV’s founding of Versailles is visually fantastic but the king makes me cringe to high heaven. What steals the show is his brother Philippe I whose love affair with the Chevalier de Lorraine is arguably the most heartfelt portrayal of a homosexual relationship I have seen in a period drama to date.

About time too! 7/10

Reign (2013-2017)

REQUESTS If you want to read my complaints about a film/book of your choice, feel free to send a request to

arts@uccexpress.ie.

Where to even begin with this one *rubs tension in forehead*.

Megan Follows as Catherine de Medici is fantastic but it’s historically inaccurate across the board and encompasses everything that’s wrong with cliquey teenage girls. It’s honestly the worst. Did I watch it all anyway? Of course, I did.

5/10

SEXPRESS

Editor: Rian Browne

30

Let’s get refreshed! A Crash Course in Consent be difficult to decipher, if taking this route start off slowly and ensure that each person(s) has a clear understanding and knows that they can stop at any time!). The key is that partners understand and agree upon an expression of consent.

Never assume just because a person gave consent before that it is automatically given again. If you’re unsure, ask!

With the beginning of the academic year comes new-found fresher freedom and shenanigans – but with such things also comes responsibility. Regardless of whether you’re an incoming first year, a visiting (welcome!) student or a returning student it’s important to keep yourself and others safe during the fresher’s festivities, especially if you choose or hope to be getting sexy. So, here’s a lil’ Sexpress refresher for you, before we get into the juicy stuff.

What is Consent? Condoms and dental dams aside, one of the most important necessities for any sexual act, arguably, (whether it’s a onenight stand, a tinder hook up or part of a loving relationship) is consent.

It may feel like the word has been stomped into the ground, but we at Sexpress want to break it down a little more for you to have a better understanding, so you can make the most of what should be an enjoyable experience for all involved, without any ‘blurred lines’ or confusion.

Before you even dive into any sort of sexual activity it’s important that you and your partner(s) lower your risk of exposure to STI’s and pregnancy by having condoms and dental dams at hand, and are aware of your STI status. If you need to stock up, condoms and dental dams are available from the SU Welfare Officer for an affordable price and STI screenings are available at the Student Health Department free of charge. Do yourself (and others) a favour and avail of them. Start the college year off right!

Consent, in a sexual context, is an agreement between partners; it must be freely and enthusiastically given before any sort of sexual act(s).

Consent can be expressed in any number of ways, it can simply be a verbal ‘YES!’, negotiating what each person is willing/unwilling to take part in beforehand. It can be ‘blanket’ consent where a partner(s) agrees that unless they verbally say so, it’s okay to proceed. Consent can also be non-verbal with continued enthusiastic responses to acts built up over time (nonverbal cues can

In the same way consent can be given, it can also be taken away at any time for any reason. This can be in the form of an agreed verbal safe word between partners or physically pulling away from another person or simply a verbal ‘let’s stop’ or ‘could we take a break’ or ‘I don’t want to do this anymore’. Just because a person revokes consent does not mean it is a reflection on you, it should not be taken personally, and you should never pressure or egg a person on to continue if they have expressed that they no longer wish to go any further. In that same vein, you should never feel guilty or be made to feel so, if you decide you no longer want to continue.

There are certain instances when a person will not be able to give clear and informed consent. This can be in situations where they are intoxicated or under the influence of a substance(s). This also applies to when a person is under the legal age of consent (in the Republic of Ireland this is 17 years of age) or can sometimes come into play when there is a power imbalance in the relationship, for instance when a person in the sexual relationship is the others’ superior.

For a person to give consent they must know what it is exactly that they are consenting to, otherwise known as informed consent. For instance, asking for informed consent from a partner(s) might look like this – ‘Is it okay if we fuck without a condom?’ – This gives the partner an opportunity of weighing up the risks or the pros and cons of engaging in the activity. If they’re not clearly made aware or if information is deliberately withheld,

this is not consent and could be a sign of sexual coercion.

Speaking to Refinery29, Cameka Crawford (head of communications for the US National Domestic Violence Helpline) defines sexual coercion as ‘tactics used to emotionally or physically manipulate a person into sex’. Sexual coercion can present itself in different forms ranging from egging a person on to perform an act, encouraging a person to drink excessively or to threatening a partner – ‘I’ll leave you if you don’t do ‘x’ with me’. It’s vital that partners consent because they truly want to, not because declining to give consent comes at some sort of personal or physical ‘cost’.

It’s important to remember that sex should be a fun, safe and pleasurable experience for all involved and for that to become a reality communication, protection, and consent are key!

Sex without consent is rape. If you feel you’ve been affected by any of the topics covered don’t be afraid to speak up and reach out; there are resources for you to get the support that you need.

You can contact your SU Welfare Officer (welfare@uccsu.ie) or the Cork Sexual Violence Centre (1800 496 496).

What is Sexpress? Sexpress is University Express’ sexual health & culture column covering everything from stories, resources, readers’ questions and almost anything else that revolves around sex and sexuality.

Got an idea for an article or want to get involved? send us an email (sexpress@ uccexpress.ie) and keep up to date through the blog or through @UCCExpress on social media.

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Student

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Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express

Maorlathas an C.L.G le Feiscint Aríst James McAuliffe, Eagarthóir Gaeilge

N

í fada ó shin go raibh an t-uafás plé faoi Liam Miller agus an cluiche a bheadh sa tsiúl ina onóir.

Tá fhios ag gach éinne go raibh cur agus cúiteamh forleathan ar fud na tíre faoi ionad: Crois an Tornóra nó Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Ba mhó an cuthach a bhí le brath, go háirithe ar na meáin shóisialta. Bheadh muintir phoiblí den tuairim go raibh cuma fíor-chasta ar an scéal agus gur cinneadh an-tromchúiseach ab ea é. Measaim go bhfuil sé éasca iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar an chonspóid áirithe seo.

I dtús baire, ní dóigh liom go raibh socruithe go huile is go hiomlán i gceart ón tús. B’imreoir

idirnáisiúnta é Liam Miller a dhein a dhícheall chun daoine óga timpeall na tíre a spreagadh chun imeartha. Ina theannta sin, ba iarrbhall den fhoireann cáiliúla Manchain Aontaithe é agus d’imir sé ról lárnach fé stiúr Roy Keane ag Sunderland. Mar sin, bunaithe ar an oidhreacht atá aige, bheifeá ag ceapadh go mbeadh níos mó ná seacht mhíle tacadóirí ag freastal ar an gcluiche seo. Níl ach mionthuiscint ar éileamh agus fail ag teastáil chun é sin a thabhairt faoi ndeara. Ba léir go raibh feidhm ag rud éigint diúltach. Ó thosnaíos ag imirt caide agus iomána, bhíos lánchinnte go raibh

Frásaí na Seachtaine Coláiste na hOllscoile Chorcaí – University College Cork Lóistín - Accommodation Léacht - Lecture Léachtlann – Lecture theatre Seachtain na bhFresher – Fresher’s week Seachtain na nGiobal – Raise and Give week Aontas na Mac Léinn – Student Union Áras na Mac Léinn- Student Centre Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha – Centre for Spoken Irish Saol an Choláíste – College life

Gaeilge na freamhacha den Chumann Luthchléas Gael bunaithe ar chomhoibriú agus obair dheonach.

Bíonn sé seo le feiceáil i rith an tsamhraidh nuair a bhíonn an t-aos óg ach go háirithe ag foghlaim scileanna nua ó iar-imreoirí dá gcumann áitiúil féin. Sin ráite, is deacair a shamhlú nach bhfuil réiteach faighte ar an ndiúltachas atá idir an C.L.G agus na cluichí Gallda go dti seo. Is mó an tionchar a bhí ag riail 42 ar an dteannas seo.

Chuir sé cosc ar bhaill an chumainn aon bhaint ar chor ar bith a bheith acu le himirt na gcluichí Gallda. An bhfuil gnéithe den riail chun tosaigh sa lá atá inniú ann?

Chomh maith leis sin, ní foláir dom a rá cé chomh míréasúnta is a bhíonn na húdaráis C.L.G ó am go chéile.

Bíonn neamhréir le bhfeiscint go mion minic ó thaobh dlithe agus rialacha de. Mar shampla, maidir le riail 5.1 a diríonn ar chearta sealúchais, ba as sin a shíolraigh na deacrachtaí is mó. B’é croí na conspóide i mo thuairimse. Miníonn an riail go mbíonn cead tugtha chomh fada is nach dtéann an ócáid i gcoinne cuspóirí na heagraíochta.

Chomh luath go raibh an ócáid luaite mar ‘chluiche carthanachta’,

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ba cheart go mbeadh sé imeartha i bPáirc Uí Chaoimh. Ba léir don Saol Fodlach gur eisceacht den riail ab ea é. Mar a dúirt an t-abhcóidí Joe Brolly: “Rule 5.1 allows property to be used so long as it doesn’t conflict with the objectives or aims of the association and all we have to do is characterise this for what it is, a charity event”.

Mar fhocail scoir, de ghnáth bíonn cúrsaí airgeadais, an pholaitíocht agus an dlí fite fuaite le is na cinntí conspóideacha cosúil le seo. Nuair a bheidh gach rud ráite agus moilleadóireacht an C.L.G críochnaithe (Le cúnamh Dé!), ag deireadh an lae ‘sé lá cuimhneacháin atá i gceist. Imreoidh laochra cosúil le Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Denis Irwin agus Roy Keane chun cúpla a ainmniú chun airgead a bhailiú ar mhaitheas a bhean chéile, a chlann agus gan amhras an sciúirse leanúnach atá ann: Ailse.

Ná déanaimis dearmad ar san.

Beidh deis ag an Saol Fódlach an cluiche a fheiscint ar an gcúigiú lá is fiche de Mheán Fómhair ar Virgin Media Sport.

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Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express

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Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express

A G.A.A. Summer; Capacity to Thrill Declan Gleeson, Sports Editor

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mid several public incidences of criticism, the GAA managed to pull off some very entertaining topclass campaigns in the senior men’s and women’s championships. The fans flocked in their masses to Croke Park for the finals, and boy, did those games live up to the hype. Dublin made history by claiming their first ever 4-in-a-row title run, Limerick banished the ghosts of the past to end their 45-year Liam MacCarthy cup

drought, and the Cork camogie team retained their title in a controversial affair with Kilkenny. However, in amongst these successes, the Gaelic Athletic Association had to face strong backlash both from the public and, in one particular case, an entire county team, meaning a big question remains: is GAA still the premier game in Ireland, or have recent disputes knocked it from the peoples’ hearts?

To examine the inadequacies of the association in recent months, one

would have to kick off with the Liam Miller tribute match debacle. Back in July, it was announced that teams of Manchester United and Celtic/ Ireland legends would take part in a charity match to fundraise for the family of Liam Miller, a former player with all three teams, who tragically passed away of cancer in February. The game was due to be played at Cork City’s home ground, Turner’s Cross, which has a maximum capacity of about 7,000.

The tickets for the match went on

sale and sold out within minutes. This left many a fan feeling aggrieved as the match had instantly garnered a lot of attention due to the highprofile players taking part and the overall anticipation of such an event, the willingness to show respect for the family, and the opportunity to honour one of Cork’s most famous sons. Almost immediately, there were public cries to move the match to the newly reconstructed Pairc Uí Chaoimh to facilitate the demand.

Given that this occasion was meant

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express to be one dedicated to the memory of Miller and to raise funds for his family, surely the event should easily be approved for the 45,000-capacity stadium instead? The country was in uproar when the request was denied, and the Cork County Council stood firm with its stance to follow GAA rules. Within days, the petitions came flying, pundits and players from all sides were throwing in their two cents, and the media storm took aim at the GAA. The position of the Cork County Board with regard to GAA Rule 42, which bans the use of stadiums for other codes (with the exception of Croke Park), just seemed like an embarrassment.

That our country’s biggest sporting organisation was not readily willing to participate in this event, and be a part of what is sure to be a wonderful occasion, seemed laughable. Hope for an agreement was rekindled when it was announced by the match organisers that a meeting was scheduled to take place with the GAA in an attempt to push the approval through. This was where the fundamental failure of the GAA took place. Negotiations went on for

days and the frustration grew with supporters not understanding why the deal was taking so long. Tómás Ó Sé pointed this out brilliantly on the Sunday Game back in July saying: “I think the GAA, the way that they hold out and don’t react for a few days doesn’t help them at all. It’s a no brainer. The GAA leave stuff to fester and the anger towards them builds”. Joe Brolly also voiced his thoughts on the same show, claiming that another GAA rule would allow for just such an event to be held in a GAA stadium and that the GAA should uphold its moral duty to its community. The whole saga came to its expected end with the match being approved for Pairc Uí Chaoimh, but the reputation of the GAA, and its principles regarding other sports and how they operate with regard to organisations outside their own, was called into question.

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he GAA also ran itself into another national controversy when it refused to allow the Kildare senior football team play out their All-Ireland Round 3 qualifier against Mayo at home in Newbridge. The GAA stated that the issue was

Sports due to health and safety problems arising from issues with the capacity.

Kildare were quickly in with their complaints and condemned the GAA for its decision, as Kildare had rightfully won the opportunity to host a home fixture. The Lilywhites engaged in a stand-off with the GAA, and it wasn’t long before the GAA hit back, as its director of games administration, Fergal McGill, released a statement noting: “We fully appreciate where Kildare are coming from. We don’t take home venue off of a team lightly.

However, health and safety has to come first. It’s that simple. The last thing we wanted to do was take this out of Newbridge, but we simply had no choice. There is no room for manoeuvre, not when it comes to health and safety. If Kildare don’t show up in Croke Park on Saturday at 7pm the game will be awarded to Mayo.”. However it soon became clear that the entire community around the sport had sided with Kildare on the matter, leading to the GAA conceding defeat on this matter, and the game taking place at Newbridge, of which Kildare

37 eventually emerged the victors.

In short, it hasn’t been the most successful PR summer for the GAA and their core principles have been called in question, by both the supporters and by the media and analysts within the game. Whilst their actions aren’t particularly easy to understand, one can see how their rulebook doesn’t facilitate the occurrence of extra-ordinary events.

Furthermore, the methods that the GAA used to address the public with regards to the aforementioned issues were poor and the exchanges between the GAA, the public, and other entities were misinterpreted by some. The success of the AllIreland campaigns and the quality of the hurling, camogie, and football played throughout the summer kept drawing mass crowds to Croke Park.

The excitement stirred by the topquality fixtures, and the passion the people of Ireland demonstrate for their team, overshadows the faults of the organisation. Regardless of the GAA’s behaviour as an organisation, it remains Ireland’s most exhilarating national treasure.

Left: Páirc Uí Chaoimh, newly refurbished with a capacity to seat 45,00, was eventually secured as the venue for the LiamMiller Tribute match after much public debate

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Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | University Express

McLoughlin called up to U21 Declan Editor

Gleeson,

Sports

Former UCC soccer player Sean McLoughlin received a call-up to the under-21 Irish squad last week, and although the defender was injured in his first international appearance, it represents great progress in the Cork City man’s career.

It Was Rice While It Lasted Declan Gleeson, Sports Editor

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ver since the Republic of Ireland lost the young starlet Jack Grealish, who switched his allegiance from Ireland to England, the discussion about commitment and the rules around qualifying for a national side has grown and garnered great interest from the media and pundits alike.

While a large majority of Irish supporters were quick to denounce Grealish’s decision, others lamented the loss of a bright young player who could’ve been pivotal to the resurgence of the Irish team.

Declan Rice is the latest player to feature in an instalment of this allegiances debate. Rice has been with the Republic of Ireland team since under-16 level, made his first senior appearance against Turkey in 2018, and has made two more since then. Suddenly, last month, Rice announced he was withdrawing himself from consideration for the national squad for the Nations League competition, pending a decision on his future with the national side. When the news started to emerge that Rice had met with England manager Gareth Southgate, Irish supporters were all too familiar with the scenario.

Over the last few weeks, everyone has offered their opinion on the decision, with some fed up with the apparent back-tracking of a player who had seemed to commit himself to Ireland earlier this year. With Rice taking time to consider his options, a training ground bust-up between Irish assistant manager Roy Keane and Harry Arter ended with Arter withdrawing himself from the squad too. The failure to secure the permanent commitment of another potential star player as well as losing a premier League player in Arter has dampened Irish hopes for a team that could realistically compete internationally.

Instead, the Republic of Ireland team has suffered from a lack of creativity and has slumped to one of the team’s worst results in recent times; a 4-1 humiliation against Wales, a team that Ireland overcame 1-0 last year during the World Cup Qualifiers.

Over the summer months, there have been repeated calls for a drastic change in the management system of the national side to improve the style of play, as the team has received a lot of criticism since missing out on a World Cup spot. While the majority of experts expect the knock-on effects of both situations

to have done damage to the unity and cohesiveness of the squad, Ireland captain Seamus Coleman has however reached out and stated that the Irish team would welcome Rice back with open arms. On the other end, Gary Neville has criticised Rice for his indecision, claiming that players at this age should know fullwell who they want to represent, and that at this age this is the last kind of incident a player with so much potential should be getting himself into.

With all the attention that the player is receiving from both national managers, the supporters, the pundits and other players, the decision cannot be an easy one at this time. We can all say that we’d know our choice immediately, but the reality is that we don’t have to make the decision, a decision that could change the course of his entire career. Regardless of whether Rice chooses to stay with Ireland, the team is disjointed; the humiliation in Wales followed by a lacklustre showing in Poland hasn’t brought the hope or excitement the Nations League competition has brought other sides, but rather shown how unprepared this Irish side is, tactically and managerially.

City secured the signing of the highlyrated defender back in July of 2017 with McLoughlin moving to Turner’s Cross on an 18-month contract following a hugely successful spell with UCC where he was part of the team which won both the Munster Senior League and Collingwood Cup. City manager John Caulfield said at the time that he was delighted to secure the services of the defender after he had received offers from a League One and SPL club.

McLoughlin impressed throughout his time with UCC and in his final game for UCC, scored a dramatic late winner against Cobh Wanderers to clinch the Munster Senior League title for Noel Healy’s side.

In July of this year, McLoughlin signed another 18-month contract, extending his stay with City until the end of the 2019 season. In the same month, McLoughlin’s old teammate at UCC, Shane DalyBütz, also signed with Cork City.

Daly-Bütz became the fourth UCC Soccer player in the last two years to line out for Cork City and as the contingent of former UCC players at City continues to grow, so does the relationship between the two clubs.

With the Irish national side struggling to register good performances, and the talent that is coming out of the League of Ireland sides, these Cork youngsters could force their way into either the under-21 or senior setups in the coming years.

Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018 | Uniersity Express

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PE introduced to Leaving Certificate as Obesity Crisis worsens Declan Gleeson, Sports Editor There is no denying that Ireland has begun to develop an unhealthy relationship with regards to diet and weight statistics. In fact, the World Health Organization has stated there is to be ‘an unprecedented explosion’ in European obesity rates. The WHO report claims that by 2030, Europe will face an obesity crisis of ‘enormous proportions’. Irish men are set to be the most obese grouping in Europe by this time, and whilst some experts and members of the public argue that there are worse things a person could be and the conversation about promoting body image continues, the spike in nationwide obesity will bring both unwanted statistics and negative health-related effects to those it has affected. These effects may include decreased quality of life,

decreased life expectancy, increases in degenerative heart diseases, and increased mental health difficulties.

The Irish government has recently explored several options to combat the projected increase. Firstly, the Sugar Tax was introduced in May of this year to drinks with a sugar content of 5 grams or more. Similar to this tax, there have been calls by the Irish Heart Foundation for fastfood to be hit with a higher rate of VAT. The current rate of tax on fastfood products is 9%, which was designed to boost the tourism and hospitality sector after the recession.

Dr Donal O’Shea, the HSE’s lead on obesity, said the tax anomaly was “completely counterproductive”.

Dr O’Shea said the consumption of fast food was directly linked to the over-weight and obesity statistics.

He also stated that fiscal measures to encourage health lifestyles are

more effective than public health campaigns. Experts have been calling on the government to not just bring the tax back to the normal 13.5% rate, but to tax fast-food at the highest possible rate.

One of the most important changes that has been adopted in a bid to counteract obesity levels in children is the introduction of a Leaving Cert PE class in secondary schools. Over half of the secondary schools in Ireland applied for the new course to be piloted at their school, with only 80 being selected. The first exams for this course will be held in June 2020 and the assessment is broken up into 3 distinct areas: a written exam on some strategies and planning for optimum performance will count for 50 per cent; a coaching or choreographer project will count for 20 per cent; and a digital/video project capturing their

own choice of activity will count for 30 per cent. Teachers of the subject have stated early that the aim is to strike a balance between the physical engagement in the subject and the knowledge needed and importance of leading a healthy and active lifestyle. Students are being reassured they do not need to be the best athlete or have a great interest in the subject to participate, just like any other Leaving Cert subject, but need a willingness to participate and learn. The aim is for the subject to become optional in all secondary schools by Autumn 2020.

Part of the higher agenda of this introduction is to combat the rising obesity epidemic and educate people at a younger age about the importance of a balanced and active lifestyle. Not quite the finished product yet, but a significant step in the right direction.

University

Sports

UCCExpress.ie

Volume 22 | Issue One | Tuesday 18th September 2018

O’Donovan to study at UCC Declan Gleeson, Sports Editor An intense summer of competition for Irish rower Paul O’Donovan ended last week as he competed in the World Rowing Championships in Bulgaria, but a new challenge is only beginning for the Olympic, world and European medallist, as he starts the graduate-entry medicine course at the University College Cork. O’Donovan was a recipient of UCC’s highest sporting

accolade, the Quercus Scholarship.

The Quercus Talented Students’ Programme is aimed at supporting and promoting excellence in academia, sport, creative and performing arts, active citizenship and innovation/entrepreneurship for both prospective undergraduate students and students already registered in UCC. “The scholarship recognises sporting excellence and Paul embodies all that the programme

could wish for in a Quercus scholar,” said Professor John O’Halloran, UCC deputy president and director of the Quercus Talented Students’ Programme.

O’Donovan secured entry to UCC’s medicine programme after achieving an honours degree in physiotherapy from University College Dublin. Paul, along with his brother Gary and two other UCC Quercus Scholars, Ronan Byrne a Nutritional Sciences

student, in the heavyweight double sculls and Aoife Casey, a clubmate of O’Donovan at Skibbereen in the lightweight double sculls are competed at the 2018 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Currently, the brothers are looking to compete in the finals on the weekend of the 16th, having easily solidified their place in the quarter finals, following their first performance with a blistering win in their semi-final.

If you would like to write for the University Express, you can do so by emailing:

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