UCC Express

EXPRESS

UCC

Tuesday, 03 December 2013 | www.uccexpress.net | Volume 21 | Issue 7

VERGE TALKS TO X FACTOR ALUMNI UNION J

FEATURES INVESTIGATES SUSI P10

FESTIVE FOOD P10 Picture: Emmet Curtin

USI ends association with DrinkAware Eoghan Lyng | Arts & Literature Editor @EoghanLyng

Collegiate Choir: Members of UCC Choral Society singing at the turning on of the Christmas lights on Campus last Thursday

Portion of Exam Repeat Fees for Fund Student Hub Project Audrey Ellard Walsh | Editor @AudreyEWalsh

As confirmed by the UCC Express on the 8th of October, re-sit fees for examinations will be effective in UCC from August 2014.

We reported that the fees, which are set at €35 per 5 credit module capped at a maximum of €245 per student, will be used to pay for the introduction of a new web admissions system, CRM. It was reported that the fee would generate approximately €100,000 a year, which would be pay for the software, priced at circa €840,000 in 8 – 10 years.

We can now confirm however that the income expected to be generated through the charging for exam repeats will in fact be significantly higher year on year.

Based on estimations made from 2011 failure figures, estimated revenue from fees set at €35 may be in excess of €250,000 per annum.

Students’ Union President Padraig Haughney revealed to The Express that the SU have successfully negotiated with Finance Committee for the ring-fencing of the excess €150,000 per year to be used for the proposed Student Hub Project.

This was confirmed by University Bursar Diarmuid Collins.

Money for the Student Hub project will be generated now from exam repeat fees, a pre-existing capital fund generated through the Capitation Fee and potentially an outside source in the form of a donor.

This money will initially pay the mortgage on the building and then the estimated €400,000 per annum running cost of the new project.

The Student Hub will be a ‘onestop shop’ for student services on campus. As laid out in the project’s tender, the proposed new UCC Student Hub will integrate the Student Support model providing: (a) Student Learning- Flexible learning spaces, formal small group shared learning spaces and informal social learning spaces in a technology rich environment. (b) Student Development & Employability - An integrated student services model in one central location fostering new relationships and creating new synergies in support of students’ personal development, employability skills development and academic success. (c) Student Administration Services -A one-stop-shop to facilitate more student friendly,

accessible and efficient student administrative services.

The proposal is for circa 3500 m² to 4500 m² of accommodation comprising circa 1500 m² of existing building to be refurbished and 2000 m² to 3000 m² of new build. This will be located on main campus incorporating the existing Windle Medical building and the adjoining area between it and the Kane Science building.

It has also been agreed between the University and the Students’ Union that in eight years time, when the CRM software upgrade is fully financed further consultation with the SU will take place regarding future application of the then freed up €100,000 per year.

A motion has been passed at the Union of Students in Ireland (USI)’s National Council outlining that USI will not be working with DrinkAware.ie in the future.

In an open letter written to Fionnuala Sheehan, CEO of Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (MEAS), President Joe O’Connor and Deputy President/Vice President for Welfare Denise McCarthy elaborated on the Union’s decision. “The discussion to discontinue our interaction was one which had been discussed for quite some time by Students’ Union Officers across the country,” they wrote.

“It is felt that we are best placed to develop a student awareness campaign independently through working with other bodies that are not funded by a selfregulating drinks industry.”

Moreover, the letter made reference to how Arthur’s Day damaged the credibility of the campaign, “Encouraging students to drink responsibly is still an encouragement for students to drinkregardless of how it’s qualified.”

In response, Sheehan described DrinkAware as “an alcohol social responsibility organisation” which “does not encourage anyone to drink.

“We seek to address the realities of alcohol in Irish society as they have developed over time. MEAS/drinkaware. ie has a target audience of 18-24 year olds, and the reality is that 87% of this age cohort does drink alcohol, whether various parties like this or not.

“From extensive research we have conducted we know that adopting a ‘do not drink’ approach to this age group is actually a turn-off and is regarded as a nanny-state approach.”

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Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

EDITORIALS

INSIDE TODAY

Beating the Winter Blues

Features Investigates:

So this is Christmas.

And what have you done?

Audrey Ellard Walsh | Editor

@AudreyEWalsh

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Page 8

Festive Campus Style: Recipes

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The New Corker Midelton’s Wonder Goal: ‘The Trees’

“It is clear now to me that there is no substitute for experience” Cork is a really wonderful place.

One of my sideline jobs is working as a local news columnist for the Evening Echo. (Mondays, All About Cork supplement. I’m the one with the cheesy grin...)

After five years of living here for college it wasn’t until I began writing these pages that I realised how truly wonderful the communities in this city are, and how much great work goes on without much outside notice. I have met people who work selflessly with children and pensioners, who donate their time

@StphnBarry

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Features 7-9 Photography 14 Fashion 16-17 The New Corker 18 Gaeilge 12 Sport 20-24

Editorial Staff:

Contributors:

Editor: Audrey Ellard Walsh

Clara Hurley

Deputy Editor: Stephen Barry Deputy News Editor: Heather Steele Features Editor: Grace O’ Sullivan Deputy Features Editor: Claire Crowley

Morgan Conaty Adam O’ Reilly Geraldine O’ Keefe Claire Fox Peter O’ Brien Michael Ian McCarthy

Photo Editor: Emmet Curtin

Stephen Walsh

Irish Editor: Rachel Ní hAodha

Siobhain Heylin

Fashion Editor: Nicole Clinton Fiction Editor: Eoghan Scott Sport Editor: Barry Aldworth Designer: Cathal O’ Gara

Jevgenija Kokoreva Eilis O’ Keefe Leah Aftab Marita Maloney Nichola Fennel Allie Murphy

whole world of good out there in our localities, and a whole world of opportunity to volunteer.

And learning about it has made me feel more connected to this city than ever before. For some, Cork is a brief pause, a three year stopping point en route to somewhere else.

For others, myself amongst them I suspect, Cork has a wonderful homely allure. It becomes a place to pitch a tent much longer than a college term, for many reasons.

And so I am so glad to be able to shed light on some of the great work being carried out locally, particularly at this time of the year. I am only ashamed that it has taken me five years to uncover it.

My new year’s resolution?

Sleep and eat more. Once I have that settled- dive right into my community.

a sad goodbye to semesterisation.

You see the few low-weighted exams I’ve had so far this winter, have enabled me to keep pushing on in my extra-curricular pursuits; after all, a 5% exam provides little incentive to pour through the books.

And ultimately that’s what the

I accept leaving aside my studies more than I should with the thought of devoting April to cramming and putting it all on paper in May. On another level, semesterisation also seems likely to take time from those with the initiative to do some independent learning by increasing the amount of shallow, short-term learning which can produce results with more regular exams.

Ultimately this is a personal take on the topic and essentially semesterisation seems to me to remove the ability for students to choose their own pathways across the academic year, forcing some into more frontloaded study and spoonfeeding those without the will to study of their own accord.

Which on the surface is all good for an academia which is lapping up the system.

However it seems contrary to those posters around campus exalting the virtues of independent learning.

The college seems keen to embed these virtues as an academic code of honour; but one of the most major changes to study in the college seems contradictory to this.

Another Topic

Stephen Barry | Deputy Editor

Page18

and skills tirelessly weekly for the betterment of their localities.

I have met businesswomen who have given up twelve weeks of their time and resources to take twelve women on an Operation Transformation style programme in Mayfield. I have interviewed a man from Blackpool who has run three marathons to raise money for a boy he only met after reading about his terminal condition in a newspaper.

A retired writer who has taken up painting to raise money for a women’s shelter, a collective of choirs who recorded a Christmas CD for autism, gardaí who are running sports tournaments to help build bridges in areas where children are afraid of the authorities.

These people are everywhere.

People who’s impulse it is to reach out to others and give . There is a

So for this issue I’ve been informed that I must choose a topic for my editorials.

I’m not clear if that means my previous six have been devoid of a direction but I promise that this one will be clear, crisp, to the point and unChristmassy…

This week I shall be talking about semesterisation; how about that for a clear topic-driven set-up!

And now to put some context on my chosen topic: this year will be the final ‘semesterless’ year in UCC with exams worth half of the final mark to be introduced as an early December-time present next year.

Obviously there are perfectly legitimate reasons to introduce semesterisation.

It reduces pressure on students to perform in a one-off assessment, enables greater feedback from lecturers and lessens the chance of students studying material which won’t come up.

And that is all good, of course.

Indeed most universities are moving towards this system and I can’t argue that they’re not right in doing so.

But on a personal level I’m waving

I promise that this one will be clear

college experience is all about; cramming for exams and getting involved in clubs, societies, media and internships.

So spreading out the pressure of exams just decreases the amount of time to devote to these fundamental pastimes.

And ultimately it is these activities which will make you stand out to recruiters and provide applications to real-world working with teams and organisational skills.

Of course, this argument comes from a very specific type of person…

I am one of those people who excel in exams and pressurised learning. Have a merry Christmas.

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UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

Health Matters wins at Irish Healthcare Awards Heather Steele | Deputy News Editor

UCC Health Matters won a pair of awards at the Irish Healthcare Awards, taking home both the Best Public Health Initiative category and the overall award, An Duais Mhór, for its work regarding alcohol.

The Health Matters beat 116 other entrants from a number of different healthcare organisations, hospitals, and community and patient groups.

Dr. Michael Byrne, Head of the Student Health Department and coordinator of UCC Health Matters, said he was honoured to accept the award; “Addressing the issue of alcohol related harm is a difficult space to occupy, especially for a University, where the habits of many of our students are already unfortunately well established by the time they reach college, and where the cultural attitudes of the wider community towards alcohol are often harmful.

“I applaud the University senior management for having the courage to support our initiatives to try to reduce alcohol related harm amongst our students. The Student leadership also deserves great credit for unequivocally identifying the risks associated with harmful patterns of

Brendan Lyon/ImageBureau

The Health Matters beat 116 other entrants from a number of different healthcare organisations, hospitals, and community and patient groups. alcohol use, and for taking practical measures to keep our students safe when they are out at night.”

The overall goal of Health Matters is working towards making UCC an officially recognised Health Promoting University by 2014.

The award recognises the various

initiatives undertaken by UCC to tackle alcohol-related harm. UCC launched an alcohol action plan in 2010, which has been actively adjusted over the past three years.

It identifies five key strategy areas with 20 specific action points. These include strategies to inform and

educate students and train frontline support and academic staff on the effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

In the past three years, 10,000 UCC students have completed e-PUBUCC. This is an online educational alcohol and behavioural change module. Also a student led community support team is out on the streets at key times of the year where students may be at a higher risk.

“It is fantastic to get recognition for the work already underway in UCC in this area, and to win the awards ahead of such prestigious organisations and institutions is a real bonus,” Dr. Byrne went on to say.

“This is not a time for selfcongratulation however; we know that there continues to be enormous challenges in addressing the harm alcohol does in our society and amongst our students. Indeed it may not be possible to ever fully achieve the goals and objectives set out in the action plan.

“What is important and worthwhile however is that these challenges have been identified by UCC as worth taking on; that very fact may be the most important achievement of all.”

Next Top Model contestants announced Emmet Curtin

Clara Hurley | News Writer

The UCC Fashion Society and Pulse Model Agency recently announced the 13 finalists for UCC’s Next Top Model. The group of finalists were selected from UCC’s student body with two of these finalists, one male and one female, to be crowned UCC’s Next Top Models.

The finalists are Cliodhna Octigan, Lisa O’Sullivan, Ellen O’Rourke, Niamh Myles, Gillian Ross, Gillian Forde, Amoudtha Rasendran, Hazel McDermott, Breifne O’ Callaghan, Joel Carey, Daniel Roche, Paul Lawless and Owen Lynch.

The selection process began in October when the Fashion Society held scouting days on campus to pick possible candidates. These candidates were then invited to casting calls, held with Pulse Model Agency.

Amber Shrestha, Auditor of the Fashion Society, confirmed that there was “an amazing standard of entrants” this year. She added that the competition was so close they “were forced to hold two rounds of casting calls.”

The potential to become a high fashion model was an important factor when selecting

the candidates. However Shrestha said that they “did not just look for pretty faces;” other aspects of the candidates such as confidence and personality were taken into account.

As part of the competition the finalists will have to complete

five photo shoots and a number of different workshops. The first photo shoot has already taken place, photographed by Michael O’Sullivan, and the photos featured in the Evening Echo last week.

According to Shrestha, the photo shoot was fantastic and “definitely

reassured us that we had picked the right students for the job.”

The upcoming workshops will cover a variety of different skills including acting, dance and walking. This will give the finalists the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and are “always a lot of fun too.”

The finalists will also represent the Fashion Society by attending society events throughout the year.

The competition gives the finalists and Fashion Society members an insight into working in the fashion industry. Hair stylists from The Edge Hair Salon and make-up artist, Noreen O’Connor, will assist the Fashion society in preparing the finalists.

The pinnacle of UCC’s Next Top Model is the finale which is held during UCC Fashion Week next year. The finale will require the finalists to take part in a fashion show in front of a panel of judges.

This panel will choose the male and female winners. Both winners will receive the coveted prize of a modelling contract with Pulse Model Agency.

The judges for the finale have yet to be decided but Shrestha promises that “they will not disappoint.”

NEWS

Centre providing the gateway to employment Stephen Barry | News Editor

The business innovation and incubation centre GatewayUCC has announced that its portfolio of companies has created a cumulative 100 jobs since its foundation in 2010.

The landmark total has been achieved thanks to a range of start-ups, spin-outs and high-tech companies who have availed of GatewayUCC’s services.

“Supporting job creation, innovation and entrepreneurship in the knowledge-based sector is a key remit of GatewayUCC,” explained its Manager, Myriam Cronin. “The centre is fast becoming a hub of knowledge transfer activities at UCC in the areas of IT, ICT and Food/Bio/Pharma.”

The measure of GatewayUCC’s success in commercialising research comes in the figures; UCC researchers collaborate with almost 700 universities across 110 countries and 62% of Ireland’s most highly cited researchers are from UCC. Meanwhile the college’s research income amounts to €401 million over the past five years.

“GatewayUCC is one more support UCC offers companies spinning-out of its research activities,” said Tim Roche, Director of the Office of Technology Transfer.

“We recognise the importance of our start-up companies in maintaining their linkage with key research groups and facilities in UCC, particularly in the early stages of building their businesses.”

Services provided by the centre include wet labs, bio-science units and Tyndall labs as well as office-space and support for businesses attempting to scale up.

Start-ups located within GatewayUCC come from sectors ranging from ICT and IT to biotech/ medtech and food health with a significant number of companies having incubated and graduated from GatewayUCC. Success stories such as Open Innovation Partners, a provider of support services to early stage companies involved in Medical Technologies, and EnergyWatch, an eco-software company dedicated to energy saving solutions, continue to expand with the benefit of UCC licensed technologies, growing into bigger facilities outside of campus.

Other effective spin-out companies include ThinkSmart Technologies, a location analytics service provider which was acquired by Cisco last year, while the likes of Atlantia Food Clinical Trials and Luxcel BioSciences are companies that anticipate creating further jobs in the months ahead.

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Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

NEWS

First Pink Training hosted in Northern Ireland

NEWS IN BRIEF

Stephen Barry| News Editor

Ballincollig school is UCC’s top feeder

Brian Conmy | Gaming Editor

Queen’s University Belfast was the host college for this year’s LGBT college conference, Pink Training.

Now in its 21st year, Pink Training acts as a gathering of LGBT students to learn more about LGBT culture and issues, network, gain new ideas for their college societies and to be themselves in an accepting and comfortable environment.

The milestone was celebrated with a gala dinner on the Saturday evening, November 23rd. With over 350 students in attendance, it was Pink Training’s biggest year yet.

This year the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) worked closely

with the UK’s National Union of Students to organise the event on its first occurrence in Northern Ireland.

Both USI President Joe O’Connor and Laura Harmon, the Vice-President for Equality and Citizenship, were in attendance, with Harmon hosting and being the main organiser for the event.

This year’s keynote speaker was Jeff Dudgeon MBE who spoke about his work in the student movement in his youth as well as his work in decriminalising homosexuality in Northern Ireland, a case he took to the European Court of Human Rights to ultimately see a result. This case is what paved the way for David Norris to achieve the same feat in the Republic of Ireland years later.

Being held in the North, students were exposed to some issues currently topical in the area while the general theme of the weekend was about the Republic’s Marriage Equality referendum set to take place in 2015.

The weekend featured a range of talks in the morning and afternoon including sexual empowerment, LGBT issues around the world, running an LGBT society, sexual health, trans 101 and many more.

A number of these talks were given by UCC students, past and present, including Societies’ Guild President Padraig Rice and Students’ Union Vice-President and Campaigns Officer Annie

Hoey. Welfare Office David Berry was also in attendance.

As a USI event traditionally only USI affiliated colleges could attend. This year though a number of non-affiliated colleges were given limited spaces including Limerick Institute of Technology.

The UCC delegation numbered 30 students with Aaron Blake, the current Auditor of UCC’s LGBT society, acting as delegate leader for the college.

“It was a wonderful, well-organised and necessary event, which is a joy to be a part of,” said Blake. “It was a life-changing experience for many, and a credit to LGBT students around the country.”

Stats point to Irish Celebrated classical musician third-level popularity to give UCC lecture Robert O’Sullivan | Film & TV Editor

There has been an increasing influx of United States students coming to Ireland as revealed by statistics from ‘Educate in Ireland’.

In the 2011/12 academic year, there was an increase of 9% in the amount of students from the U.S.A. coming here to study; the international increase rate across the board being 3.4%. There was a 55% rise in American postgraduate students from the year 2012/13 to 2013/14.

Many attribute Ireland's rise in popularity as due to a combination of unique academic prospects at a costcompetitive price, especially in comparison to the costs of a similar qualification in the US. Ireland is now the ninth most popular country for American students looking to relocate.

This trend is not just limited to North America. Brazil, the 5th largest economy in the world, has sent a large number of its students into the wider world of academia, with the

hopes of meeting its evergrowing deficit of essential skills.

Twenty-nine Brazillian students were recently welcomed to UCC by Dr. Michael Murphy, the University President. They are 29 of the 100,000 students in the Brazillian governmentfunded Science Without Borders program, which is the largest scholarship program in the world.

In the past fortnight, Murphy signed a bilateral agreement between UCC & the University of Sao Paulo (USP) saying; “This exciting initiative solidifies existing relations between two internationally renowned institutes and will further enhance teaching links and research collaboration between UCC and USP in mutually strong fields that include Coastal and Marine Research, Materials Science, Microbiology, Portuguese, Religious, Irish and Nursing Studies amongst others.”

Ballincollig secondary school, Colaiste Choilm sent more first years to UCC than any other school this year. The community school, which catered for 203 Leaving Cert students last year, saw 101 students advance to study in UCC. Other large feeder schools included Bruce College (94 students), Presentation Brothers College (86) and Christ King Girls’ Secondary School (85). The most represented school in UCC from outside of Cork County was Mercy Mounthawk of Tralee with 40 students.

BIS student wins international prize Denis Dennehy, a PhD candidate with the Business Information Systems Department, has won the Best Academic Paper Award at the Innovation for Financial Services Conference, held in Singapore Management University recently.

Dennehy’s research focuses on the key partnership issues that emerge when designing a mobile payment business model.

Kitchen fire in Aras na Mac Leinn A kitchen fire upstairs in Aras na Mac Leinn forced the New Bar to close early on Monday, the 25th of November. The fire was quickly brought under control causing only some disruption to catering in the Old Bar last week.

UCC Students to retire

Stephen Barry | News Editor

A world-renowned conductor and composer will speak in UCC in the coming weeks. Carl Davis will provide a free, illustrated talk on Monday the 16th of December at 6pm in the Film Studies Auditorium, located in the Windle Building.

The American-born, Britishresident musician is famous for writing music for over 100 television programmes, as well as creating music to accompany restored silent films.

His portfolio of silent films includes Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Mutuals’ and epics such as ‘Napoleon’, ‘Ben Hur’, and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’.

The ‘UCC Students’ Wi-Fi will be retired this Friday, to be replaced by a less complicated and more accessible system. Students who find their internet not working on campus will have to switch to the He has also composed scores new eduroam service. for contemporary films, winning a BAFTA for his music in ‘The French UCC all at sea Lieutenant’s Woman’ in 1981.

He collaborated with former A protest group which attempted ‘Beatle’ Paul McCartney to set up a ‘Community Court’ for ‘Liverpool Oratorio’, has made a number of outlandish McCartney’s first foray into claims against UCC. ‘Baile classical music, and has written a Féitheáin Heritage’ has received range of theatre and ballet scores. some attention in the past month Davis is a conductor with the through its Facebook page and London Philharmonic Orchestra, coverage in the Cork Independent. and regularly conducts the The group has made claims against Royal Liverpool Philharmonic a number of groups in UCC as Orchestra. well as the college itself, claiming The event is presented in that the college takes its authority by the Department of Film and from Maritime Law. UCC is yet to Screen Media, in association with respond. the Cork Screen Commission.

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UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

NEWS

Disney technology executive among alumni awardees

AROUND THE COLLEGES Heather Steele | Deputy News Editor

UCD student fined €300 for sleepover

Brian Conmy | Gaming Editor

The UCC Alumni Achievement Awards (AAA) took place on last Friday to celebrate the achievements of past UCC students, including Una Fox, one of the most influential women in technology today.

The highest honour the college can bestow on a graduate the awards this year featured an amazing cross section of professions and endeavours including from the medical, business and entrepreneurial world.

One such recipient, Fox graduated in 1989 with a BA in English and French and is currently the Vice-President in Retail and Ecommerce Technology at the Walt Disney Company. Originally from Dundalk, she is now based in California.

Apart from her years of leadership experience in organisations such as Yahoo!, Dow Jones and KPMG, Fox is also a co-founder of CoderDojo LA which teaches IT and programming skills to children

aged 8-16. She is also a member of the advisory board for the US-Ireland Alliance, a nonprofit which offers scholarships and education on contemporary Ireland to the American public.

Another distinguished recipient of an AAA this year is Jim Clarken. A graduate of UCC in 2002 with an MBA, he is currently the CEO of Oxfam Ireland, a charity group dedicated to end poverty and injustice around the world.

Clarken is a Limerick native who notably left behind a promising business career in 2006 to follow his charitable working goals.

As well as his work for Oxfam he is also the Chair of Dochas, an umbrella group over all NGOs related to development in Ireland.

He has also worked with the Chernobyl Children’s Project International and GOAL. With his involvement in development organisations Clarken is a regular contributor to news and media organisations on this topic.

In a similar vein, Leslie Buckley of the Haven Partnership was honoured. Having graduated with a BSc and then MSc in Chemistry, he has clocked up a long career in the business world including his current role as Executive Chairman of Saon group and Vice-Chairman of Digicel before setting up the Haven in 2009 with his wife. This organisation has helped immensely in the response to the Haiti earthquake of 2010.

Dr. Patrick O’Leary, a lauded spinal surgeon, was also awarded.

O’Leary graduated from Medicine in UCC and has gone on to be named one of the best doctors

UCD has retained over €100,000 in deposits, with two students being fined €300 for letting a friend sleep over after his house had burnt down in one case. It was claimed that UCD gives more fines than any other third level institution in Ireland, with fines for reasons including leaving rooms unclean, leaving doors unlocked and forgetting room keys. The UCD Students’ Union said that “this is indicative of the fact that they are in New York from 2009-2011. looking to profiteer from students.”

Similarly he has also been named as one of “America’s Top Doctors” as cited in the Castle Connolly Queens bans blurred lines Medical Guide.

Also in the medical field is Denis O’Mullane, who has become Queen’s University Belfast has synonymous with dental research banned the pop song, Blurred Lines in Ireland. He established the Oral by Robin Thicke. The song will no Health Services Research Centre longer be permitted to be played at in 1983, the only one of its kind in all SU venues at Queen’s. The ban goes so far as to extend to external Ireland to this day.

The awards see each recipient radio stations, wherein the station receiving an ‘acorn to mighty oak’ must be “changed immediately” sterling silver trophy in recognition if the song comes on. The motion, of their work and achievements. which passed 26-22, was brought Former winners include Declan by the SU Officer for Equality and Diversity, Caoimhe McNeill, who Kidney and Des Bishop. said that banning Blurred Lines was a “step in a right direction to make sure SU members feel safe on campus.” Thicke has been accused of promoting rape culture with the song, a claim he strongly denies.

Research funding boost on the horizon Heather Steele | Deputy News Editor

The European Parliament approved an €80 billion budget for innovation and research, called Horizon 2020, last week and UCC has put plans in place to ensure that the university is well positioned to receive some of this funding.

The college has established a new project management service, PrimeUCC, to help researchers secure and mange EU Horizon 2020 funding.

Launched by Sean Sherlock, Minister of State for Research and Innovation, PrimeUCC is the first service of its kind to launch in Ireland, with a vision “to be the preferred project management service used by UCC researchers to manage their research contracts.”

Irish third level institutions have been very successful in competing for EU research awards, with UCC gaining more than €67 million from the 7th Framework programme, a huge increase on UCC’s performance in the 6th Framework of €30 million.

The PrimeUCC program will help the research community prepare and submit the complex proposals. In the cases of successful bids PrimeUCC

will aid staff in grant negotiation, project set-up and implementation, leaving researchers free to continue their work.

Minister Sherlock visited UCC with the National Support Network for Horizon 2020 and applauded the new initiative at UCC; “A key

element of the national strategy for Ireland’s participation in Horizon 2020 is to increase engagement by Higher Education Institutes and their associated research centres. I commend this new initiative from UCC and I would like to see it replicated in as many HEI’s as possible.

“We are determined at national level to maximise the benefits for Ireland of Horizon 2020 and this initiative, as part of our strengthened national strategic approach, can help Ireland win over €1 billion in awards under the programme.”

Dr Michael Murphy, President of UCC also spoke of his hopes for Horizon 2020 funding; “Research and innovation are key drivers of growth and job creation. The programme represents a new horizon for UCC researchers to come together in multidisciplinary teams, reach out to collaborators in Ireland, Europe and the world, and achieve vital economic and societal impact for their research and innovation.”

Over the past five years UCC has had a research income of €401 million.

Income from new awards has increased 170% since 2008/2009.

Non-exchequer funding now accounts for 25% of UCC’s research income which is an 8% increase from 2009/2010.

The university has established 12 spinout companies from research since 2008, creating 110 jobs.

Inquiries to begin following fatal fall at CIT Both the Gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have opened separate investigations after a man died in hospital last week following a fall during construction work at CIT. The man, a 58-year old roofer from Saltmills, Co. Wexford, was injured when he fell from a ladder at the CIT sports grounds around 10am on the 25th of November. It’s understood the man fell around three metres to the ground and was conscious after the fall, which was seen by two workmates who immediately contacted the emergency services. According to the HSA, this death brings to 10 the number of fatalities in the construction industry this year, four of which occurred in Cork.

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Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

COMMENT

E T A DEB

COLLEGE FEES

“

A university degree is not a privilege. Sadly, it is a necessity Audrey Ellard Walsh | Editor

A university degree is not a privilege.

Sadly, it is a necessity.

And more than one is preferable. In these circumstances, the third level grant system must be preserved.

Upon graduating with a BA in 2012 I found myself, like many of my fellow graduates, to be no more qualified for a graduate entry job than I had been with my Leaving Certificate. In pursuit of gainful employment I applied for countless jobsin both sectors which I felt I would be suited, and in those which I had no desire to hone a career but felt may plug a hole in my dwindling finances for a while.

I was offered three jobs. One in a chip shop, one in KFC and one in a discount store. As a committed vegetarian I took the discount store job. I worked a zero hour contract- weekly hours varied in a whimsical fashion, unpaid overtime was expected, days were long, money was crap, morale was low.

I worked in that shop for a year while I toiled away at a Masters degree and by a great twist of fate, was offered more fruitful employment in my chosen field. Now, heading into my second year graduated, and still working on the Masters, I expect to find myself in a stronger position upon donning my cap and gown for the second time.

Now some may call me entitled, but this, I believe, should not be the case. I am taunted by biographies of people who seemingly walked into media careers at the age of 21. Twenty years ago- even tenit seems an Undergraduate Degree held a vast amount more weight.

The majority of friends from my graduating class are teaching English abroad while others are working in call centres. While an extended holiday in The Emirates may be dream-like for a while, it isn't the post-college career prospect any

of us were lead to expect while filling out CAO forms.

Another cohort of the Leaving Cert '09 crowd are in further education. Upon realising that my BA was little to worth nothing in a job queue, it was time to high tail it into post-graduate education.

A Masters will bulk out the CV, push me higher up the queue, and allow me more time to add to my already admittedly expansive extra-curricular portfolio.

And sadly, this is the only option facing a large amount of graduates nowadays.

Since 'free education' was introduced in 1997, despite soaring contribution fees, college has become more accessible for people who may never have considered it before. The grant system certainly helped in this regard, opening doors to those who could not afford to move from home without it.

Yet this universal possibility of third level, has had longterm ramifications.

Combined with a collapsed job market in which employers may be ever more discerning, a primary degree is worth, I believe, little more than the Leaving Certificate. The Post-Grad is the new bench mark.

In this environment, where ever higher education is called for, it is clear to me that University simply must be subsidised. In a new world where third level education is a vital requirement for the job market, it is immoral to deny anyone the opportunity to study. Unless education were to be made entirely free, a financial support system- flawed and all as it may be- is for many the difference between ever stepping on the career ladder.

These are simply the times we live in.

Regrettably, as they may be, we must play by their rules. Which is precisely why I argue it must be made easier for those who cannot afford it should be given access to the means in which to better their situation.

“

You are not entitled Cathal O’ Gara | Designer

Let us get something straight: you are not entitled to anything. You are no more entitled to a free education than you are entitled to the very newspaper you are reading. You, my dear fellow student, are privileged. The majority of us studying here at UCC are too young to remember the introduction of ‘free fees’ in Ireland. The primary reason for the abolishment of third-level education fees was inherently a political one -that the grand declaration of free fees would keep Labour’s middle class voters on board for the 1997 General Election. Like many of Labour’s plans this grand gesture failed miserably. Irish voters continued to back Fine Fail, Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats.

The proposed reasoning behind the free fees initiative was to increase the number of socially and financially disadvantaged students attending third level institutions. It was particularly targeted towards those prospective students whose families’ were from semi-skilled working environs where familial income was minutely above the cut-off point for gaining access to grant aid. This effect has thus far either failed or has yet to come to fruition, with free fees advocates claiming that it may take a number of generations for the initiative to be fairly assessed. Another reason given was the notion that, similar to primary and secondary level education, there should be equal access opportunities for all individuals in society and that fees and privatized colleges posed a barrier to this goal. Niamh Bhreathnach herself admits one of the main reasons as being a way to abolish the tax covenant relief scheme which saw tax-savvy upper-middle class earners take advantage of loopholes regarding their children’s future education endowments.

Bhreathnach artlessly believed that the returns to the Exchequer from closing these loopholes would more than make up for the cost of a free collegiate system to the State.

Possibly the biggest impact from the introduction of free fees has been how the State has appropriated a centralized control over our university system. The free fees initiative has led

to the Department of Education’s ability to throw around directives, such as staff embargoes, which lowers the value of education attained by the student.

Allow me to digress for a moment. Imagine an Ireland where the entire cost of third level education fell upon the student. Now imagine, as you sip your low-fat-soya-orange-mocha-frappe which you paid for through your maintenance grant, the leaps and bounds you would have to make to pay for this education. Tuition fees, contribution charges, rent, transport, living expenses, books and mochas -it all adds up and it tastes bitter. How much more value would you place on your degree if you knew that each seminar you skipped after a late night out was between fifty to a hundred euro straight out of your pocket (depending on which course you take). Monies that you had to work to earn.

Only in this situation would students truly value their education, rather than wasting the day fretting over what they’ll wear to ‘avanas tonight. Whether accessing funds through paid work or obtaining a student loan to be repaid with interest following graduation, placing the responsibility on the student would lead to a mature and actualized sense of worth for those dedicated enough to follow through with third level education in this circumstance. “But Cathal,” you cry, “privatizing education would lead to the death of the Arts!”

Don’t be silly. The Arts in education have been dead for quite some time. We hear about the economic brain-drain through media outlets on a daily basis, however, what we have done with the free-fees initiative is drain academic institutions of their excellence and distinction.

Dr. Michael Murphy, and all third-level presidents, have been appointed the ‘Oprahs’ of parchment paper: “And you get a degree...And you get a degree..Degrees for everyone!” This is especially exemplified in UCC’s normalizing of supplementals. “I’ve only one repeat” is a term thrown around this college too often.

A privatized, fee-paying third level education system, I believe, could possibly be the only thing to shake sense into UCC’s Celtic Tiger cubs.

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UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

FEATURES

THIS WEEK IN

FEATURES Tried, tested and tasted it: the 2013 Edit

Beating the Winter Blues

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Grace O’Sullivan | Features Editor

Here we are, the last issue before Christmas – yes we are half way through the college year?

As the saying goes: “Christmas is coming, and the goose…” moreover so too is New Years Eve. With this comes the mandatory onslaught of self-assessment, reevaluation and self-deprecation.

However before any form of forethought, planning and scheming for 2014, I feel it is necessary to review the year that was 2013.

Some say the number thirteen is unlucky; well here are the facts and the rest is up to you to decide.

Music

Christmas Secrets From WWI to evil spirits, Adam O’ Reilly fills you in on the hidden holiday

It was a big year for music - good and bad - the good arguably being the onslaught of Irish talent that has hit the main stream. It wasn’t too long ago that any reference to Irish musicians outside of trad involved the words U2 or Bono. However look at everyone that have become big players on the Irish and international charts; Passenger, Hozier, Little Green Cars, Chasing Cars, Kodaline, Keywest etc. Perhaps it was The Script who paved the way for international recognition of Irish talent, but it cannot be denied that P9 there’s no need look beyond Irish shores to make a decent playlist this Christmas.

I would argue one of the highlights of Irish music has come in recent times whereby JT Is Butter a Carb?

– oh yes the legend that is Justin Timberlake Leah Aftab dispells has announced that he’ll be covering a the diet myths Luke Kelly song - an interesting but genius combination to say the least. It must be something to do with the curly hair: she says whilst twiddling with her curls.

Births

From making music to making babies – 2013 well and truly opened up the birth canal. The most talked about arrival obviously being the Royal Baby. Yes it was only a while ago that the “Great Kate Wait” was on, and the “Boy/Girl Debate” continued.

Now we go from actual royalty to reality television royalty with surprise arrival of Kardashian baby number three. Yes Kimye had a Baybay.

If only William and Kate had called there baby North instead - North of Cambridge has a ring to it and, they could have called him Manchester for short? (it’s kind of North of Cambridge on the map) The world also welcomed a baby Bublé – and no not the kid in the XFactor – dinky Josh Duhamel and tiny Channing Tatum. These children will have both perfect jeans and genes.

Now I’m no expert but perhaps the recent baby boom had something to do with the hike in tv licenses, and heating bills – people aren’t made of money these days!

People of Interest

Apparently the most popular person online this year was Pope Francis. However in my mind there were many other people making the headlines. This was the year that Cara Delevinge became Queen and the Powerpuff Girls were cool once again. Keira Knightly had the coolest

wedding of all time – she wore pumps and a recycled dress. Robert Sheehan became the unofficial King of Ireland. Lance Armstrong had a total fall from grace, as it turned out the hero in yellow was a fraudulent fellow.

The Highlights

New meaning was given to the phrase; “I could eat a horse” in 2013 when horsemeat hit the shelves, and as a result something else hit the fan.

Seen as 2013 was the year of the snake according to the Chinese calendar – perhaps it was quite apt that they shnaked a bit of something into the meat? At least we all learned a valuable lesson in relation to saying nay – okay I’ll stop.

Perhaps you have forgotten but long before twerking in 2013 was the Harlem Shake – I reckon many a muscle was strained and slight whiplash suffered due to this song.

Love/Hate became the most talked about series to hit the Irish TV screens and even made the transition across the Irish Sea – but managed to gain subtitles along the way 5:2 became more than just odds in the bookies, as the world took to the craze of designated diet days.

2013 has been the year of the selfie, twerking and addition of omnishambles to the dictionary – Lord only knows what 2014 has in store for us. I foresee a few more questionable dances, people taking their clothes off and getting famous and someone else will surely think up a new fad diet. Let’s just hope that this time next year we’re all happy with everything we’ve tried, tested, and tasted. Who knows perhaps you could knock Pope Francis off the most goggled person slot.

An Erasmus Diary: A European Christmas

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Eilis O’ Keefe | Features Writer

Clara Hurley discusses the delay in the marriage referendum

Recently I have found myself listening to my favourite Christmas tunes on repeat. Normally I do not condone any mention of Christmas prior to the 1st December, yet, following my return from Amsterdam, I have been infected with the Christmas bug. Maybe it’s the chill in the air, the prediction that we will have snow during the week or perhaps the 30 metre (almost 100 foot) Christmas tree in Place Kléber but it’s certainly beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

My European Christmas begins in the Netherlands which get a special mention as I had the good fortune to be in Amsterdam for the annual Sinterklaas parade where Santa Claus travels through the streets of Amsterdam accompanied by his helpers dressed as Black Peter or Zwarte Piet in Dutch. We were a

FEATURES INVESIGATES:

The next highlight in relation to music comes in the form of Blurred Lines – love it or loathe it but this was the longest running number one this year. I can actually remember the first week I didn’t hear this song – one of my 2013 highlights.

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valid but I also believe that the large degree of joy on the faces of the children beside us when they were handed sweets or high-fived by Black Peter must also be taken into account. Certainly there appears to be no racial intent, something which is particularly evidenced by the fact that Black Peter’s appearance is said to derive from his time spent going up and down chimneys delivering presents. However, the lack of intention does not mean that the practice is not offensive. The possible racial undertones associated with the appearance of Black Peter is a tricky issue and highlights the difficulties in reconciling 300year old customs with modern day sensibilities. As the Sinterklaas parade is considered the beginning of the Christmas festivities in the Netherlands all the Christmas lights had been switched on resulting in very picturesque views of the canals in Leiden, the university town just outside Amsterdam where we stayed.

The Sinterklaas parade was my first taste of the varying Christmas traditions that take place throughout Europe which also include the Christmas Market.

The tradition of Christmas Markets dates back to the Late Middle Ages in the German-speaking parts of Europe, including Alsace. The Strasbourg Christmas Market, dating from 1570, is world famous as the oldest Christmas market in France and one of the oldest in the world. Preparations are well under way at the moment as Strasbourg is transformed into the Capitale de Noël playing host to eleven individual markets, making the Strasbourg

The Strasbourg Christmas Market, dating from 1570, is world famous as the oldest Christmas market in France

Just how well has the system improved?

bit older than the target audience of this particularly Dutch tradition and so didn’t collect as many biscuits as some of the younger parade goers! Nevertheless it was great fun and the Christmas spirit was infectious.

Sinterklaas himself bore a remarkable resemblance to St. Patrick in red rather than green attire. Recently the Sinterklaas parade has become a source of controversy with the UN calling for it to be altered due to the racist undertones associated with the character of Black Peter. Having attended the parade I am undecided, as the UN’s view is most certainly

market one of the largest in Europe. This year the Christmas Market will be held from the 29th November until the 31st December. In preparation Christmas decorations are springing up everywhere and even if the Christmas tree in Place Kléber is slightly crooked it remains remarkably imposing.

Due to Strasbourg’s unique title of Capital of Europe a particular focus will be placed on Croatia, the newest member of the EU family, during the Christmas Market. I will definitely be spoilt for choice for Christmas presents having not only the 300 stalls but a “Croatian village” to choose from!

It’s not all about the shopping, however, as there will be numerous concerts and cultural events along with an ice-rink to provide sources of entertainment.

Although I’m looking forward to Christmas at home I must admit that it will be with a sorry heart that I will bid farewell to a Strasbourg abuzz with Christmas cheer. Christmas traditions such as Sinterklass and the Christmas markets contribute to the creation of a more genuine Christmas feeling than that experienced at home. While ultimately the selling and buying of goods is at the heart of the tradition of the Christmas markets it still appears less overtly commercialised than the run-up to Christmas at home, which begins as soon as Halloween is over (if not before!). Perhaps it is a side-effect of having no access to a television and therefore not being bombarded by constant advertising but this year I feel as if I have experienced a more traditional buildup to Christmas. Or maybe it’s the prospect of snow and the pervasive freezing temperatures that has made my European Christmas un vrai Noël!

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Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

FEATURES

Beating the WINTER

BLUES Morgan Conaty | Features Writer

For a fair chunk of you, this will be your first winter away from home, without someone to constantly remind you to take a jacket and wrap up. For an even larger chunk of us in second, third, and fourth year, we still need reminding, coming from a second year on day three of an outrageous head cold. So, here are a few tips for keeping warm and healthy over the cold snap.

1) Keep your body temperature regulated. If you come inside, take off a layer. If you’re going outside, add a layer. Having 3 or 4 layers is no good if you’re going from hot to cold and don’t add another.

2) Avoid having the heater on while you’re asleep. Not only does it waste electricity, but it’ll make you too warm while you sleep, causing you to sweat and then lay in that dampness for hours. Not good. Same with hot water bottles, take them out of your bed before you fall asleep.

3) Health and comfort before fashion. Get a good winter coat that will actually keep you warm and dry, especially if you live off campus and have to walk. Know your bus routes for any necessary trips to town or shopping centres, avoiding walking in the rain at all costs.

4) If you do get sick or suffer an injury, know the supports available to you as a UCC student. The Student Health Department is located in Ardpatrick on College Road. Due to high demand, however, you may be waiting for an appointment for a week, depending on the severity of your illness. Make sure that your symptoms warrant a call to avoid looking stupid when you walk in for your appointment fit as a fiddle. For more serious falls, with suspected broken bones or serious cuts, there are two emergency departments in Cork City; Cork University Hospital (by Wilton shopping center) and the Mercy Hospital (near the North Mall Campus), which is free if you hold a medical card, E100 if not. As these cater to the whole of the city, a word of advice from the mother of the most accident prone woman in Cork (guilty as charged); “If there’s no bone sticking out and the bleeding stops after 10 minutes, you’ll be fine.”

5) Common sense. Buy a scarf, a hat and a pair of gloves.

Drink tea, coffee and drinking chocolate like they’re water. Buy a thermal flask to save money buying hot drinks on campus.

Have warm dinners like soup or stews. Don’t leave windows open for too long, or late at night. If you’re walking somewhere outside of the city after 5pm, wear a reflective jacket so you can be seen. Leave the short skirts at home for a few weeks, or wear thick leggings under.

What they haven’t told you about Christmas: Adam O’ Reilly | Features Writer

The biggest shock most of us receive in our lives is the truth about Santa Claus. We all remember where we were the day we got ‘the talk about Santy’, that moment when all the magic and innocence left our childhood and we realise that our parents can never be trusted again. Unfortunately the lies don’t end here with regards to Christmas, here are a few facts I bet you didn’t know about your favourite time of the year: Contrary to popular belief, the Bible doesn't actually mention a specific date for Jesus' birth. In fact, Pope Julius I chose December 25 for the birth of Jesus, the date happened to coincide with the pagan festival known as Saturnalia, must have been pure coincidence…

About five months into the First World War soldiers along the Western front stopped fighting and began to sing Christmas carols to one another. German troops approached shouting ‘Merry Christmas’ in English, and surprisingly this wasn’t a trap, the troops temporarily reconciled

their differences, shook hands and even swapped cigarettes as gifts. This was later dubbed the Christmas Truce of 1914.

From 1659 to 1681, it was illegal to express any sort of Christmas spirit in Boston.

Failure to keep in your holiday joy resulted in a fine of five shillings!

Best known for writing horror classic ‘The Headless Horseman’, Washington Irving also introduced the image of Santa flying in a sleigh. He claimed it came to him in a dream in 1819.

Let us not forget everybody’s favourite reindeer Rudolf! This red-nosed little tyke was actually created in 1939 as an advertising gimmick by Robert L. May. It was of course the Celtic people of Ireland who used mistletoe in their rituals as they believed it had the power to heal wounds, increase fertility, bring good luck and ward off those pesky evil spirits.

In Greece, some natives believe that goblins called the Kallikantzeri run wild

during the twelve days of Christmas and they won’t exchange gifts until January first. I know where I won’t be travelling to this December…

The Prophet Jeremiah claimed that the cutting down of trees, bringing them into the home and decorating them in precious metals and ornaments was Pagan and ‘heathen’ tradition. Bah Humbug!

As it turns out, Old St. Nick who our modern-day Santa Claus is supposedly modelled after was not a very jolly man.

Actually quite the opposite, St. Nick was well-known for his hatred of paganism and oversaw the violent destruction of the Temple of Artemis. Let’s remember that when we’re waiting for him to pop down our chimneys.

To your surprise, Santa doesn’t live in the North Pole, apparently the remains of St. Nick are all over Europe. A monastery in Ireland claim to have several pieces of the body, so when you’re writing your letter this year, try addressing it to: Santa’s Collar-Bone, County Kilkenny.

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UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

FEATURES

IS BUTTER A CARB? Leah Aftab | Features Writer

Unlike the clear cut villain in Little Red Riding Hood, the jury is still split on whether carbohydrates really are as bad as the Big Bad Wolf. In the run up to New Years Resolutions with a high proportion of young women having ‘lose weight’ at the top of their list, we need to understand what our body needs before we potentially deprive it. In the long run, cutting out any nutrient could prove more harm than good. Instead of that much-hyped ‘glow’ you wanted, you may end up with a more zombie-like appearance; not as good a look.

Carbohydrates are one of the body’s main sources of energy, providing the body with a source of fuel that is required to carry out daily activities and exercise. Proteins and fats also provide us with this energy but it is not as readily available as that provided by carbohydrates.

Our bodies need a constant supply of energy to function properly and a lack of carbohydrates in the diet can cause tiredness or fatigue, poor mental function and lack of endurance and stamina.

However, due to ongoing media pressure and TOWIE’s “No carb’s before Marbs” mantra, people and in particular, young women are unsure of whether this macronutrient should be more of a foe than a friend.

Carbohydrates are divided into two types: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates include table sugar, and fructose in fruit which are at their simplest form and are readily absorbed by the body. Complex carbohydrates are made of three of more sugars. Examples are vegetables and whole-meal products. Simple sugars are what we seem to crave when tired and more so after a night out, something comforting, tasty and with a hint of badness. They give the body a quick boost of energy, which is quickly followed by a sharp drop of blood sugar levels, making us drained all over again, so what do we do? We reach for more, and more, until this circle gets a bit drastic and we are left feeling like a pregnant elephant. So then, as the logical creatures

we are, we check out the diets in the world of celebrity and media to solve this wrecking ball.

From my research and observations as a fellow reader of this glossy planet, it seems that the majority of diets promote a ‘lo-carb’ ideology. The theory is that insulin prevents fat breakdown in the body by allowing sugar to be used for energy. Once you stop eating carbohydrates, your insulin levels drop which causes the body to burn stored fat for energy and ultimately helps you shed excess weight. Seems simple, and fool-proof; or is it? These diets focus on a high protein regime, ultimately limiting and excluding grains, sugars and starchy vegetables. This restrictive approach is not sustainable long term and those on such diets can become irritable and depleted. There is a reason why carbohydrates are an essential building block, with the key being to eat the right type of carbohydrates.

This is where a relatively new system, called the glycemic index, which classifies carbohydrates according to how quickly and how high they boost blood sugar comes in. The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Complex carbohydrates are more favorable to simple carbs. They have a low GI index and are typically higher in fiber, which takes the body longer to break down and helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Basically, the less refined the food, the better it is for your body, it will also leave you feeling fuller longer, breaking that circle of reaching for more. This is a much more realistic and maintainable attitude towards healthy living than feeling miserable and demanding.

The jury should re-evaluate the evidence, more education is needed to realize the importance of carbohydrates, especially in the run up to the stresses of exam season and the inevitable postChristmas blues. After all, who are we to judge, maybe the Big Bad Wolf was just low on carbs?

VOTER FATIGUE

T

Apparently Irish people are tired, so tired that they could not possibly vote on extending the rights of homosexuals for a further two years. Let me tell you, the people are not tired. The people are lazy.

Clara Hurley | Features Writer

he welcome news that a referendum on same sex marriage is going to be put before the people was dampened by the fact that it will not occur until 2015. What was the reason given for the delay? Was it due to lack of funds or a crisis of some sort? No. The decision to delay was caused by “Voter Fatigue”. Yes you read correctly. Apparently Irish people are tired, so tired that they could not possibly vote on extending the rights of homosexuals for a further two years. Let me tell you, the people are not tired. The people are lazy.

This political laziness appears to have manifested in past few years. We need only look at the turnout statistics for the recent 2013 referendum for proof. Despite the possible colossal overhaul of both our judicial and political systems, a mere 39.2% of the electorate braved their way to the polling stations. If this figure is any indication, the majority of Irish people genuinely do not care about the state of the country they live in. This realisation is horrifying.

To exacerbate matters, this percentage is not an outlier.

The children’s rights referendum in 2012 had an appalling turnout of 33.5%. Whilst the nation claimed to be shocked, the 2013 referendum only saw a 6% increase. Clearly the nation was not sufficiently shocked into voting. The presidential elections are not immune to this laziness either. In fact, during the 2011 election only 56% of the electorate bothered to exercise their right to vote.

These statistics are infuriating, and become even more so when you take Ireland’s historical backdrop in account. Our history is littered with voting oppression.

Think about it. The Penal Laws prevented Irish Catholics from voting. English rule prevented Ireland from possessing its own parliament or own president.

Sexism prevented Irish woman from obtaining voting privileges. I could go on – the list is infinite.

The fight for the right to vote shaped our country.

The Irish people waged a war to liberate themselves from foreign rule, from foreign law, and exemplified passion and determination, never laziness nor fatigue.

They succeeded. However they did not campaign so tirelessly for us to succumb to political laziness. How ashamed they would be to see the lack of gratitude and appreciation we display.

I think we forget how recent the right for right occurred.

Can you believe that it is only in the last one hundred years that we can elect members of our own parliament, that we can choose our own president, that we can amend our own Constitution? Can you believe that it is only in the last ninety years that voting rights have been extended to woman? Can you believe that it is only in the last forty years that eighteen year olds can vote?

We are standing at a crossroads, with a path on either side. You could say we have two options, to move forward or stay behind. We could carry on this slothful trend and not make our voices heard. We could continue to allow the government to postpone important matters on the basis that we are tired. However I believe the better choice would be to go the other way. At the next election, the electorate needs to come out and vote in force. We have the right to right to make our opinions heard so please ensure you cast your vote. Remember our ancestors paid for it with blood.

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Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

FEATURES INVESTIGATES

You may however be reduced to your wits ends as we needlessly ask you for documents you’ve never heard of before.

FEATURES INVESTIGATES: Claire Crowley interviews Student Budgetary Advisor, Evan Healy

to try to put themselves through College. I encounter students trying to live on €5 a day. have improved their communication with These are extreme cases, but unfortunately students this year, and the private message there are UCC students encountering these SUSI has made headlines ever since it was service on the SUSI Facebook page is quite an issues.” introduced in 2012, but unfortunately for efficient way of liaising with SUSI.” all the wrong reasons. For this Features Investigates supplement, I interviewed Evan What was/is the biggest problem with SUSI, What are your thoughts for SUSI, concerning the future?

Healy, the UCC Student Budgetary Advisor, in your opinion? asking him about the grant and the impact it has on the students of UCC. “The biggest problem is definitely the delay “With the introduction of Semesterisation in in the processing of some applications, which UCC next year, it is probable that this will have What do you do within your role as Student means that some students are struggling an impact on UCC students, as they will be Budgetary Advisor? financially, especially the students who had back to college earlier. If the grant instalment to move away from home for college, and dates remain the same, this will probably “I meet with UCC students on a daily basis have to pay for rent, food and college supplies result in a cohort of students struggling for and provide “one to one” advice and guidance etc. Also, some students have been awarded the first few six or seven weeks of college, in regarding managing their finances. The incorrectly and have had to review/appeal terms of “start up” and accommodation costs, number of student interactions with my their award, thus causing delays with their due to a “cash flow” problem. If student do find themselves struggling, I would encourage service has increased 28% since this time last applications and causing “cash flow” issues.” them to meet with myself to discuss their year. I assist students with their applications for funding such as student grants, Would you say the grant has a significant situation and we can work out some practical solutions.” scholarships and the Student Assistance impact on students’ experience at college?

Fund. I also liaise with external agencies such SUSI, the Department of Social Welfare and “It really depends on the individual students’ Do you have any last piece of advice for the MABS on behalf of students. I also advocate finances, situation and their ability to budget students? on behalf of students with internal student efficiently. Many students are extremely support services such as Fees and Student prudent with their money and are very capable “Look after your cents and the euros will Counselling.” of managing their finances efficiently, so that follow. As a student, you need to make your they can enjoy their UCC student experience. money “stretch” as much as possible. You need What is your opinion on SUSI? Other students are not so good at managing to make “sensible sacrifices” in terms of what “I think it has improved significantly this year. their money efficiently and need help and you spend your money on. A simple budget There have been fewer issues presenting to advice from myself to improve their money and common sense will help you achieve that. myself than last year, and as of 11th November management, so that they can make their I am happy to help any student who may be 2013, according to USI, 45,000 applications grant “stretch” as far as possible. There are struggling financially or needs advice in terms were processed, with 41,000 of these having unfortunately students who have presented in of accessing available funding and managing been paid. SUSI was introduced last year, extreme financial distress which is adversely their money. so of course there would be administrative impacting on themselves as people, in terms problems in the first year. It is still not perfect of their mental health, and also as students All they have to do is visit my website, and students are still encountering issues with in terms of their academic performance. This www.ucc.ie/en/studentbudget/ to make an their SUSI applications, but generally it has year, I have met UCC students, both male and appointment, and I will help in any way I can, improved this year. Also, I’ve found that SUSI female, who have had to resort to prostitution so please contact me.”

Number of grants that have been awarded so far:

52,000

32,000 of these are first time applicants Number recieving payments:

48,000

the rest to be paid as soon as they confirm registration Number still awaiting documentation for decision:

11,000

2,000 of these are not expected to proceed with application Overall 2/3 applicants will receive the grant

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UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

I'm a second year arts student. My adventure with SUSI began before the beginning of this academic year. Having spent my first year of college at home, about a 30 minute drive away from college, I was dead-set on moving into the city this year. Having paid college fees myself out of money I had saved up since I was about six, and with neither a job that didn't interfere with college nor another Holy Communion in sight, I attempted to apply for a grant through SUSI. The first roadblock came with the application system itself. Clunky and slow, I felt the website where you actually apply intentionally badly made, but that's neither here nor there. Digging through old documents I'd luckily kept, I supplied most of the information wanted. However, there was no clear way to state that I was paying my own way through college, which when applying for financial support is obviously rather important.

Furthermore, it insisted on knowing the exact financial information of my parents, despite the fact they weren't contributing to my fees.

That last point complicated things even more.

SUSI requires that you give the exact earnings of your parents/guardians. One of my parents is self-employed, which means I had to give SUSI a number of documents before the end of August.

This wouldn't be a problem except that these documents typically don't exist until late OctoberEarly November. Through a series of emails, SUSI agreed to wait until these documents would be available. This only made it possible for me to

First Hand Experience

rst fi The block e h d roa with t on e i t m a ca plic self. ap m it te sys

apply. SUSI looks at the gross profit of a sole trader, which anyone who did junior cert business knows is an incredibly poor figure to look at. Any business could easily have hundreds of thousands in gross profit, but equally have hundreds of thousands in costs.

So the time had arrived. I received an envelope in the post, as all the new supporting information had to be posted to SUSI. I would argue that this itself is another roadblock, as I've had to send about three actual letters in my lifetime. My heart sank when I saw their checklist. Not only did they want my parents' financial information, they also wanted a number of other documents, namely my proof of pension contributions. Until I received this letter, I had not been told I would need this, and I couldn't just write "0" on a post-it note. Unable to get an answer in time, the deadline passed, and I will now receive no grant.

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If my funding isn’t approved I will have to drop out.

David Berry, Vice President for Welfare, was quick to give his views on SUSI. When commenting to the Express Berry stated “While I commend SUSI for making a concerted effort in providing a better service to students this year, I fear some students have not yet received their grant payments or are awaiting results of their application.” Berry elaborated on the strain it is likely to cause people. “ Students in UCC will be put under more pressure this year due to this and a new policy which dictates that blackboard and student card privileges will be withheld from those who are unable to make fee payments. “ Berry added that he wishes to act on their behalf about such a delicate matter. “I urge any students who are having financial difficulties to contact myself.

I have the capacity to deal with SUSI more directly than students and can also advocate with the college on a student's behalf. I would like to reassure students that we, as a union, will do everything in our power to support our members and keep them in education.”

My first encounter with SUSI occurred after I had to reapply owing to a gap year that I had taken to save up before the final year of my BA. At first it seemed simple: fill in a form, attach the requested documents and await for response. After contacting the office via e-mail and receiving no reply, I incessantly rang the office daily until someone could tell me the state of my application and send me verification. “Congratulations, you’ve been awarded...” the e-mail read. And that was it...I wish. My fees weren’t paid until June the following year. I had finished college in May. All because of a ‘minor’ clerical error. I have no doubt that this heavily impacted upon my college experience negatively -unable to access library resources or even find out what grade I had received in my Winter exams.

I am now studying an MA in UCC. I applied to SUSI before the deadline and am still receiving correspondence regarding misplaced or new documents required. If my funding isn’t approved I will have to drop out.

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Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

GAEILGE

Tionchar na hÉireann ar Cheoltóirí 4 Daoine fíor ceolmhara iad na hÉireannaigh.

Dá bhfeicfeá ceoltóirí timpeall na domhanda, cífeá go bhfuil siad gaolta le daoine ón tír aláinn seo. Rugadh máthar Paul MCartney in Éirinn.

Chonaiceas Kevin Rowland ag Electric Picnic agus tháinig a thuistí ó Mhaigh Éo. Cé gur tógadh Noel Gallagher i Sasana, Éireannach is ea é! Is fíor go bhfuil tionchar cheolmhar ag an dtír seo ar amhránaithe cáiliúla timpeall na domhanda agus in Éirinn. Tá sé fé am chun alt a scrí faoi na hamhranaithe sin.

1 Ní chuimhin liom Phil Lynott mar fuair sé bás seacht mbliana sular rugadh mé. Ach tá meas agam air. Chum sé amhráin rac den scoth cosúil le “Boys are back in town” agus “Jailbreak”. Ba cheann do na grupaí is fearr ar domhan i rith na seachtóidí é Thin Lizzy agus thainig cáil ar an seinteoir Gary Moore ag an am gur sheinn sé leis an ngrúpa. Tá focail i nGaeilge curtha ar a thuama. Fuair sé bás i 1986 agus is mór an trua gur chailleamar an guth aláinn sin nuair a bhí sé comh óg sin (ní raibh sé ach daichead bliain nuair a chaill a mháthair Philomena é). Bhí sé greannmhar chomh maith; dúirt Billy Connolly gur bhraith sé cosúil le Guinness mar gurb Éireannach é agus bhí cumadh níos duibhe air.

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Bronntar Gradam na Gaeilge bliain in aghaidh bliana ar dhuine a dhéanann sár-iarracht an Ghaeilge a neartú timpeall na hOllscoile.

Duais de €1,000 urraithe ag an Dr Diarmuid Ó Mathúna atá i gceist a bhronnfar ar an duine sin roimh dheireadh na bliana acadúla. Is deis iontach í chun an méid oibre a dhéantar ar son na Gaeilge i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh a cheiliúradh. Tá láthair na Gaeilge an-láidir i COC agus ba chóir go dtabharfar aitheantas do dhaoine a spreagann labhairt agus úsáid na teanga i measc na mac léinn.

Maidir le iarratas a chur isteach, níl cead tú fhéin a ainmniú don Ghradam ach má cheapann tú go bhfuil an Gradam tuillte ag mac léinn eile, ní mór duit tuairisc a scríobh ina thaobh/taobh agus í a chur isteach faoi spriocdháta áirithe. Tá dhá leathanach A4 ag teastáil ag míníu cén fáth go bhfuil an Gradam tuillte ag an duine sin. Moltar go gcuirfidh baill an ITMS, An Chumann Drámaíochta agus na Cuallachta ainmneacha iarrthóirí chun cinn ach nach gá go mbeidh seans níos fearr ag baill na gcumann sin.

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Ní dhéanfaidh mé dearmad faoi Liam Clancy.

Bhí nasc iontach idir é féin agus guthanna cumhachtacha na nÉireannach. Dúirt Bob Dylan go raibh an guth ba láidre aige ar fud na domhanda. Ghlac sé páirt sa ghrúpa, Clancy Brothers agus chan siad an- chuid amhráin.

Bhí an-chuid ama ag Gay Byrne dó agus bhí eolas ag daoine ar fud na domhanda faoi! Fuair an fear bocht bás i 2009, ach bíonn a chuid amhráin fós ar an raidió.

Is fiú mór é albam Rory Gallagher a cheannach.

Corcannach ab ea é agus bhí Jimi Hendrix in éad leis de bhárr a bhua seinteoireachta. Bhí sé spreagúil maidir le amhráin leictreacha agus bhí sé go hiontach ag canadh chomh maith.

Bhuaigh sé dúais i 1969 i gcoinne Eric Clapton, agus cuireann sé sin béim ar an gcumhacht a bhí aige ar an uirlis. Tá a chuid cheoil ancháilúil ar fad- tá sé an-soléir go bhfuil a chuid ceoil cloisthe ag Johnny Marr, Slash agus The Edge. Fuair sé bás i 1995 ach ní mór díobh eisteacht leis ar Youtube ar a laghad.

Gradam na Gaeilge

Rachel Ní hAodha | Eagarthóir Gaeilge

Ceoltóir cáiliúil eile ná Van Morrisson.

Canann gach duine (Brandon Flowers, Sting srl) “Brown Eyed Girl” agus taitníonn an t-amhrán sin le gach éinne. Thosaigh sé sna seascaidí, cosúil le Rory Gallagher, agus b’iad na céad daoine a bhain sult as saibhreas mar amhránaithe agus ceolteoirí. Tá caighdéan ard ar na hamhráin “Sweet Thing”, “And It Stoned Me” agus “Have I Told You Lately”. Ná bíodh leisce oraibh eisteacht lena cheol toisc gur duine santach suarach é mar a deir an-chuid iriseoirí gur duine drochbhéasach é ach bainígí taithneamh as a chuid ceol. Molaim díobh “Astral Weeks” a fháil. Tá a chuid amhráin cosúil le filíocht.

Tuigim go bhfuil an iomarca clú agus cáil ar Bono ach tá guth iontach aige. Tá a ghuth níos láidre ná Roger Daltrey, níos suimiúla ná David Bowie agus níos deise ná guth John Lennon. Rugadh é i mBaile Átha Cliath sa seascaidí. Thosaigh a ghrúpa U2 i 1980 agus scríodh na hamhráin i gcomhair The Joshua Tree i 1987. Tá Bono in ann a chuid tuairimí a chur amach trí cheol U2- go háirithe“One”, “Sunday Bloody Sunday” agus “Where The Streets Have No Name.” Ce go bhfuil U2 an chailiúil agus an-chuid airgid tuillte acu, tá cónaí ar Bono fós i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tá sé cairdiúil le Dave Fanning agus an ceoltóir Bob Dylan.

Is iad na gníomhaíochtaí a chuirtear san áireamh ná: • Imeachtaí go raibh baint ag iarrthóirí leo, go háirithe imeachtaí a d’eagraíodar i.e. níor leor díreach a bheith ag freastal ar imeachtaí Gaeilge • Na himeachtaí a d’fhéadfadh a bheith i gceist: aon imeachtaí a ritheadh trí mheán na Gaeilge, mar shampla imeachtaí ceoil, rince, drámaíochta • Imeachtaí Spraoi Cois Laoi, Sheachtain na Gaeilge • Imeachtaí na Féile Pádraig • Díospóireachtaí Gaeilge • Raidió Campus • Scríbhneoireacht na Gaeilge (m.sh. altanna i nuachtáin nó nuachtlitreacha nó ar leathanach idirlín; scríobh drámaí, próis nó fílíochta) • Imeachtaí áitritheoirí an Ionaid Chónaithe, Áras Uí Thuama • Tionscadail ar leith a bheadh déanta nó dualgais ar leith a bheadh comhlíonta a thairgeodh aird na hollscoile agus na meán cumarsáide ar úsáid na Gaeilge Labhartha Má tá aithne agat ar dhuine a líon isteach an liosta shuas, cuir iarratas isteach dó/di. Ba cheart go dtabharfar moladh agus aitheantas dó/di as an sár-obair atá á dhéanamh aige/aici.

Ná deanaigí dearmad go rabhamar ag canadh sular raibh léamh agus scríobh againn.

Caithimid éisteacht leis na ceoltóirí seo chun an ceol beomhar a choiméad inár n-aigne. Is fiú é!

Abair as Gaeilge é!

Eoghan Lyng | Arts & Lit Editor

Táim ag tnúth go mór leis an Nollaig – I’m really looking forward to Christmas Nollaig shona duit! – Happy Christmas!

An mbeidh tú ag dul amach do Lá na Nollag i COC? Will you be going out for UCC Christmas Day? Beidh / Ní bheidh (I will / I won’t)

An bhfuil geansaí na Nollag agat? Do you have a Christmas jumper?

Tá ceann agam / Níl aon cheann agam ( I have one / I don’t have one) Dinnéar na Nollag a ithe – to eat Christmas dinner Crann na Nollag a mhaisiú – to decorate the Christmas tree Geansaí na Nollag a chaitheamh – to wear a Christmas jumper Bronntanaisí a cheannach – to buy Christmas presents

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UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

FOOD

Broke from Christmas parties, too busy to shop with assignments, stressed to the hilt and in need of some chocolatey treats?

See below for two simple and tasty Christmas recipes that Audrey Ellard Walsh stole from her more domestic sister and mother.

The best bit? These treats can easily double as cheep and cheerful gifts for family and friends.

Mammy Ellard's Christmas Truffles Truffles are a fantastic Christmas treat, and an ever appreciated gift.

As a low budget present option they are a wonderful stand-by. Thoughtful, creative and unique, a handmade gift like this can be modified to your giftee's particular taste.

Present them in a gift box with some tissue paper, or glass jar with a ribbon round the top. Or enjoy them by the fire with a hot cup of tea- or something a little 'Irish' for the season that's in it.

Ingredients Vital6 ounces of Stork Baking Margerine 6 ounces of icing sugar 1 200 gram bar of Bournville- or other dark chocolate 2-3 tablespoons of a liquour of your choice.

(Not Tesco Value vodka) Nice extrasDecorative extras such as chocolate sugar strands, crushed almonds or icing stars add a whole new dimension.

We used coconut shavings and edible gold dust for our festive truffles.

Serve in mini bun cases.

Step one- Melt chocolate and butter in pan, pot, microwave if you must.

Step two- Take off heat and add sugar, stirring until dissolved.

Step three- Note consistency. If very runny, add more icing sugar.

Step four- Allow mixture to cool in fridge for minimum 1 hour.

Step five- Remove from fridge. If some oil has separated, drain off. Then begin to mould into truffle shape.

Step six- Decorate, present, enjoy!

Megan's Brownie Cupcakes This recipe is incredibly easy, and very tasty.

Vital ingredients and equipment-

Step one- Pre-heat oven to 165 degrees celcius

Step two- Mix all ingredients in a bowl until One cup of caster sugar fully combined.

One cup of self raising flour 1/3 cup of cocoa powder- that's hot chocolate to the rest of us Step three- Scoop into paper cases (Fill about 2 eggs half way as will expand) 1/2 cup of vegetable oil Cup cake cases Bun tray

Step four- Bake for 20/25 minutes. *Top tipThey are done if you can stick a toothpick in to them and it comes out clean.

ExtrasTo spice things up, or personalise to taste you Step five- Consume. These brownie cupcakes could add flavouring essences. are especially great hot from the oven with Good options here are vanilla, orange and some brandy cream or raspberry jam. peppermint.

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EXPRESS PHOTOS

Tuesday Decmber 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

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EXPRESS PHOTOS

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Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

FASHION

Fashion Without Borders

Geraldine O’ Keefe gives us her opinion on some of the most popular online shopping websites

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here’s no denying that online shopping is becoming inAsos can be expensive because they have a lot of designer creasingly popular every day. With a click of a button brands including A wear, TFNC and Lipsy. However this from the comfort of your own home you can order just means that you are always guaranteed good quality clothing about anything from anywhere in the world. With this in mind for your money. I find that it’s strength lies within the sale I have decided to compare and contrast just a few of the hundreds of websites for buying clothes, these are Missguided.

Missguided velvet open back eu, Boohoo.com and Asos.com. playsuit €33.98 First we’ll take a look at Missguided.eu. Most people I know order from this site or view it on a regular basis when looking for clothes and inspiration from the latest fashion trends. Their ‘’sweet deals’’ section is any bargain hunters dream, where you can purchase some wardrobe staples for as little as 8 euro (not including postage and packaging). Their advertising campaigns on tv are eye catching and memorable and feature the latest model and ‘’it girl’’ Cara Delevingne.

I find this site very good for keeping up to date with recent trends and if you were to browse the site today you would find plenty of velvet, sequined and tartan clothing. However it seems that as the popularity of the website is increasing so is the cost of clothing. Delivery to Ireland within 48 hours is free but next day delivery is €13. I find the quality of the clothing to be good but some of the prices are steep so if you’re on a budget you might be better off shopping around first.

section, at the moment they have a sale with up to 30% off in the ‘’Big Chill’’ for winter clothing and a massive 70% off in their ‘’outlet’’ section. Also students get a 10% discount on all orders. Another big attraction of the site is their quick and free delivery. Whenever I order from the site I usually get my clothes within 2 to 3 working days and the free delivery applies to over 190 countries! I think that if you’re a bargain hunter or a patient person willing to spend just a little bit more time scrolling through the sale sections then this site is for you!

The good thing about Boohoo.com is that a lot of their clothes come in a variety of different colours. This means that if you wanted to buy something like a cosy knit jumper for these cold mornings you don’t have to stick to the usual dark autumnal colours of black, brown and grey.

Shipping to Ireland is free if the order costs €25 or more, any order below this value means you have to pay €5 for delivery. Both these options have a delivery time of 5 to 14 working days. One critique about the site (speaking from experience) is that the quality of clothing is not as high a standard as Asos or Missguided. I would recommend this site if you are looking for basic block colour clothing like tube skirts or crop tops.

Advent of Ads

Claire Fox describes how fashion advertisements are working their magic this festive season It seems this Christmas the biggest craze isn’t the latest Louboutin or must-have Mulberry handbag, in fact, this year you won’t even have to leave your sofa in order to catch a glimpse of the newest seasonal trend. Of course, I’m talking about the current batch of Christmas fashion adverts that have hit our TV screens. To call them fashion adverts is an understatement the term ‘fashion blockbuster’ would be more apt. While over the past few holiday seasons, Marks and Spencer’s have warmed our hearts with their flirtatious festive commercials, this year they have really taken it up a notch. What’s more, is that Debenhams, John Lewis and online shopping haven Boohoo.com have also caught on, producing Christmas adverts that as magnificent as they are merry. Not only do these adverts showcase seasonal trends, but they also serve to unlock the spirit of Christmas in our hearts, which is truly magical.

Marks and Spencer’s is without a doubt Queen B when it comes to the creation of Christmas adverts. While usually we have been accustomed to celebrities such as, Myleene Klass prancing around in their underwear or Twiggy trying out a little black dress, this year the advert has been transformed into a fairytale-like film. The creation of an Alice in Wonderland type fantasy, with top-model Rosie Huntington-Whitely playing the coveted role of Alice, helps celebrate Christmas in real style.

The ‘’Love-me’’ label attached to the handbag featured in the ad symbolises the over-indulgence that occurs around this time of year. From the featuring of winter- white trench coats and cosy

jumpers to shiny red shoes, this advert represents the fairytale of Christmas in a most fashionable manner.

If Marks and Spencer’s are the reigning queen of fashion adverts, Debenhams are next in line for this coveted throne. The Debenhams ad succeeds in tugging at our heart-strings, while promoting their latest seasonal trends. This festive fashion focus is played out in the backdrop of a romantic story of a couple’s journey to each other for Christmas. Classic elegance is to the forefront of this advert, with a classic boyfriend- style coat being the focal point. Crimson cocktail dresses and emerald green gowns, resemble the traditional colours of a Christmas tree, once more giving a nod to the time of year. Casual Christmas jumpers and tailored skirts by designer Henry Holland highlight the utter cosiness of Christmas style, giving the ad a true festive feeling.

Boohoo.com are the latest to join the glitterati of festive advert elite, taking more of a party position on the Christmas trend. Shimmering sequins and shiny metallics, epitomize the Christmas party season and are the main feature of this commercial. Faux-fur coats and black and gold dresses, represent the youthful vibrancy at the heart of Christmas.

While all of these advertising spectacles differ in character and content, they all succeed in depicting the enchanting element of Christmas. They make us believe that fashion is indeed an art and like the Marks and Spencer’s advert would say, they make us ‘’believe in magic and sparkle’’. Now what is better than that?

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UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

FASHION

Gucci Goes Good

Fashion Editor, Nicole Clinton, details Gucci’s recent charitable pursuits. espite my love for fashion, not even I can deny that the industry has long been associated with concepts such as vanity, shallowness, materialism and consumerism.

However, recently the creative director of a major fashion house, one of the biggest music stars in the world and a famous movie siren have teamed up to front a campaign to demonstrate how fashion can be used for good.

The Chime for Change movement is a new global campaign to raise funds and awareness for girls' and women's empowerment and is funded by fashion giant Gucci.

Its focus streams into 3 strands; to promote education, health and justice for girls and women everywhere and it serves to convene, unite and strengthen the voices speaking out for girls and women around the world. The campaign is powered by crowd-funding site Catapult. Here, non-profit organizations post their projects relating to girls’ and women’s issues and people can find and fund the issues that speak to them the most. Gucci founded Chime for Change after recognising the opportunity for a global brand to aid the amalgamation of individuals and organisations to highlight these issues and to create real, global change for females. But Gucci is no stranger to charitable pursuits with regard to girls’ and women’s issues. They led a seven-year relationship with UNICEF in which they strove to provide and improve education for girls in developing countries. ictoria CarolineAdams has come a long way in her 39 years, traversing the paths from girl-band songstress to queen of the footballers’ wives, and mother to entrepreneur, yet none have been as daring as her no holds barred foray into fashion. Born into a positively middle-class family in an affluent area of Hertfordshire, England, the young Victoria was embarrassed of being collected from school in her father’s Rolls Royce, wishing, instead, to be just like everyone else. However, this was never a fate which would be bestowed upon her, and a life that would be anything but vanilla was made incontrovertible the day she was chosen as the fifth member of the Spice Girls.

The girl-power pop phenomenon was steamrolling through the Nineties with global success and fan adoration, and although she may not have commanded the stage with a powerful voice, “Posh Spice” captivated nonetheless in the littlest of black dresses and vertiginous heels, which she still adorns today. In the midst of Spicemania, Victoria married David Beckham, and as the band’s star began to dwindle and ultimately extinguish, Posh’s celebrity ascended as she became half of Britain’s most prominent couples.

Mrs. Beckham’s tenure in high-fashion flourished in the Noughties when in 2004, a year after being appointed as brand ambassador to Italian moda duo Dolce and Gabanna, in addition to becoming the face of Rocawear alongside Naomi Campbell, she began designing for Rock and Republic.

The design process, which she described as “com[ing] very naturally,” ended in 2006, and instead Victoria launched dVb Style, her own denim line, as well as an eyewear range. That year also marked the beginning of the Intimately Beckham fragrance line, which still remains hugely prosperous.

In 2008, Posh’s presence was felt abundantly in the fashion industry.

It did not suffice to be cast as the face of a Marc Jacobs campaign, nor to appear on the coveted covers of Vogue and Vogue India, as in September, Beckham stamped her mark (in a signature Louboutin clad

They also actively supports the Kering Corporate Foundation, whose main goal is to end violence against women and possesses Gucci Creative director, Frida Giannini, as a member of their board of directors. The fashion house’s involvement with these projects publicises important issues that affect their major target market, women. And while the Western world has come a long way in improving the rights of women, Gucci is highlighting that there is still a substantial amount of work to be done in making females equal in rights and opportunities, especially in developing countries.

The three powerhouses that are lending their names to Chime for Change bring fashion, music and movies/T.V together

Brand it like

BECKHAM Marita Maloney traces the evolution of Victoria Beckham from Spice-Girl to fashion darling

foot of course) on New York Fashion Week by debuting a collection of spring dresses as part of her newly established eponymous label.

Many fashion mavens initially regarded her latest project with scepticism, yet this negativity has continuously been disarmed each season since and her credibility validated by approval from both fashion doyens and the commercial success which speaks for itself. Beckham’s initial collections introduced Roland Mouret-esque tailoring and corsetry, with pieces such as “the sucky-sucky dress”, which features an internal slimming aesthetic, quickly establishing the designer as a woman who has an innate sense of what other women want to wear ( albeit very wealthy ones who can afford the $1500-$3700 price tag). A handbag line and second diffusion fashion label ensued, as well as increasingly gratifying appraisal from the movers and shakers of fashion, such as Marc Jacobs and Anna Wintour, with the latter’s icy demeanour melted in exchange for a smile

by Beckham’s daughter at her recent New York Fashion Week show. It was at this show that the fabrics and shapes were softened also, with more relaxed silhouettes and diaphanous materials resulting in Beckham becoming the most tweeted designer of the week, an impressive fare considering the other powerhouse brands on show. The evolution of Posh has been inspiring, and with plans to expand her brand’s office to a $26,250 a month space in New York recently announced, the multi-faceted self- proclaimed control-freak shows no signs of slowing down,. Viva Victoria Forever.

to support this cause and each has their own focus for the campaign. Giannini “chimes for education”, R’n’B megastar Beyoncé “chimes for health” and actress Salma Hayek “chimes for justice”. The coalition of these three names allows for the campaign to stretch across the three main entertainment industries and their involvement sets an example for their peers and wannabes.

The first major Chime for Change event came in the form of the Sound of Change concert that took place on June 1st 2013 in Twickenham Stadium, London. Naturally, Beyoncé headlined the concert and was joined by Jennifer Lopez, Florence and the Machine and Rita Ora among others. But it wasn’t only famous women who endorsed Sound for Change.

John Legend and Timbaland also performed on the day and Gucci spokesman James Franco took to the stage with actress Jessica Chastain to offer an inspirational introduction to one of the musical acts. They asserted “fighting for the rights of women benefits every single one of us. None of us can move forward when half of us are held back.” This global concert event put girls' and women's issues on the world’s stage to promote Education, Health and Justice for girls and women everywhere by broadcasting the show live in a vast amount of countries. It also benefited the cause financially. Gucci funded the whole event so that all ticket sales went directly to relevant projects and every ticket holder received a Sound of Change voucher via email with a unique code, which could be used to support a project of your choice.

Gucci’s role in Chime for Change is lending a conscience to the fashion world and proves that it can be stylish to care. While no other fashion corporation will want to look like the bad guy, they may follow suit and begin to fund charitable causes of their own. Hopefully this fashion trend will withstand the test of time!

C A M P U S S T Y L E Fashion Editor, Nicole Clinton, continues her campus style search Photos by Emmet Curtin.

Name: Hannah Cronin Style: Preppy Style Icon: Olivia Palermo Favourite Shop: Zara

Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

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THE NEW CORKER

THE NEW CORKER “How Long?”

By Peter O’ Brien

The Trees By Peter O’ Brien Oh this flesh of mine!

This rank foul meat wrapped around my brittle bones Stripped away, withered by time No more than a place to give my heart a home

It took me a while; oh it took quite a while To get over you and your angelic smile The way that you talk And the way that you walk Lingers on in my mind

When I was less than a man; so young, so bold For all I tried, I never could dream Of what, for me, the future might hold But I cannot forget all that I’ve now seen

But I’m feeling just fine You’re taking me back, back to the black Away from it all, and over the wall

In the years that have passed I’ve grown old, I’ve grown fat I feel ill, I feel weak, don’t know how long more I’ll last Time is all that’s left, and I’m driving too fast down a darkened path

From you and yours to mine and ours What we once had is now no more Just as it was in the years before I remember you still, as I always will I think of you always, as long as my memories last Was it so much to ask for? Your love like the wind All around me, I feel it, yet it’s so hard to grasp And well...I’m not a young man anymore Been and gone and seen too much Covered in open wounds and hidden scars. My mind, it feels so sore When I think of things from long ago, the love, the life, the pain, oh fuck...

I see the trees all around me Growing high, growing strong, growing wild, growing free The young and the old, the short and the proud Never feeling the need to hide ‘neath a shroud The people that you love never say goodbye As the trees and the grass keep on growing up high I know very well that it’s all just a part of life

Brian’s Song It was a cold winter morning. The sun shone bright but brought with it no heat, tricking the innocent into wandering outside only to feel the bite of the icy cold. And because of that reason, many found themselves retreating inside to watch television and browse the internet rather than face the day.

Whenever anybody asks me what I remember of the day that I died, that is what I tell them. That’s all that I remember. It’s not a lie. I genuinely can’t recall the events of the day as they happened; I don’t know why that is though, maybe shock? Of course, now I’m aware of the cold hard facts, but because I’ve been told these things, not

By Michael Ian McCarthy because I remember. For all I know, I’ve been lied to by everyone. If only it were true.

Since then, I’ve been wandering aimlessly...my life devoid of meaning.

I’m dead after all.

I pick up a book and begin to read...but I can’t get past page seventeen.

I have to go back and start again, because I’ve forgotten what came before. I just can’t seem hold my concentration anymore. And I blame myself.

Every day is a struggle now. Every breath, every movement; every thought, every action. But only when I’m being dramatic. Life goes on, people move forward.

I’m not really dead though, that’s what they all tell me. They always tell me. But that’s not how I feel. I feel that nobody understands... I mean, how could they? Nobody gets it, and now I just sound like a teenager.

And I don’t want to go on and on and on and on past the point of ridiculousness, because I should be alright and I’m not, and that’s what gets to me. Things seem tough now, but I know, I just know, that in a few weeks time everything will be alright.

Every few weeks I tell myself that.

One week it’ll be true.

I see so many other people in a similar situation to me, and they

seem perfectly fine. Is it just me? Is it a problem that I’m simply unable to face up to? I’m all alone in the world with my problem and nobody appears to share my pain. It’s like they never really cared.

Was it all just a joke to them? A minor distraction to pass the hours, half an hour at a time, nothing to get hung up about... well it was more to me than that. And it’s just not fair. It could have been anyone else, absolutely anyone. Nobody cared about the rest of them, so why not? I don’t get it. I just don’t get it, and I never will.

I don’t understand why they would kill Brian Griffin from Family Guy. He had so much more to give.

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UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

HUMOUR

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Local residents have been described as relieved that their twelve days of Christmas peace are due to start in the coming weeks.

The residents, who are subjected to approximately 261 days of drunken disorder from September to May, will receive some temporary respite from the regular student nights out as they return to their homes for Christmas.

The first of the twelve days falls on Monday the 16th of December, as almost all non-Cork based college students pack-up and return home on the weekend following review week.

The twelve days of Christmas is an idyllic time for the locals, devoid of any of the usual commotions of student life.

“For me it’s a time of great tranquillity,” said one anonymous local. “They aren’t around lording over us and leaping into gardens, or drumming up noise.

And we can certainly live without the geese-a-laying on the streets at 3am in the morning; it’s a cumulative effect really.”

International students traditionally return to their home countries on the following Wednesday, the third day of the period, by which time a sense of peace has broken out.

Conor Callaghan, Chairperson of the Cork College Community Convention Committee (CCCCC), a council which cumulates and contemplates the complaints of clients concerning collegians’ conduct, commented; “Clearly colleges change conditions for city citizens.

“They confer a colossal commercial contribution to companies, but on the contrary they cut a corresponding comfort from citizens’ circumstances.”

The time leading up to the twelve days can be a time of great stress for local residents, due to students’ binge drinking to celebrate the end of term.

An online survey of students revealed much about students’ drinking habits across the Christmas period.

7% of the 275 students surveyed plan to be refused entry into a night-club while celebrating their exam results. Almost a quarter plan to have no memory of at least one night, while 4 students reported that they expect to be hospitalised due to drunkenness.

17% of students expect to engage in a one-night stand in the coming fortnight while 41 students (15%) will experiment with drugs. In general, 68% of students plan to increase their willingness towards risk-taking during their socialising.

While 78% expect to regret some of the actions they took while drinking, 36% of students plan to lie in bed in a state of aching pain until 2pm the following day before cooking a large fry and returning to bed.

Concurrently a CCCCC census of the constituency communicated that 87% of constant citizens are concerned by the chance of coming by a confused and crapulent collegian at 3am in the coming chapter.

The large majority of students will subsequently return to their family for the Christmas period, where they will engage in similar behaviour with their friends from home.

On Christmas Day itself, 91% will eat until they feel ill before slumping on the couch and watching TV in between attempts to maintain conversation with loved ones.

Students will then return to Cork as early as the Saturday after Christmas in time to binge drink in celebration of the New Year, and on other days where they can think of a socially acceptable excuse to drink.

20

SPORT

Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

Cork City: The year that was Stephen Walsh | Sport Writer

Wonder goal steers Middleton past UCC in Junior League Barry Aldworth | Sport Editor

UCC 1- 2 Midleton Despite playing well for the majority of the match UCC tasted defeat in the Munster Junior Premier League, losing 2-1 to Midleton at The Farm on Saturday, 23 December.

Both sides entered the match with identical records in the league after three games. However, the defeat now leaves UCC in 5th place, 3 points behind Midleton.

Having started the game as the better side UCC quickly took the lead. Marcus Bevan, who has been a stand-out played for UCC so far this season, squared up for a free kick just outside Midleton’s penalty area, before curling a shot into the bottom corner past Sean Barron.

The lead did not last long, however, as Midleton took advantage of a set piece of its own to square the match. A well placed corner by Michael Ryan was fired home from close range by Midleton midfielder Mark Duggan, leaving the sides tied a 1-1 after just 12 minutes.

However, after the two early goals the defensive units of both teams began to work their way into the match. Both UCC and Midleton had chances to take the lead, but despite coming close on several occasions neither side could take control.

In a match that was always close the deciding goal was scored just before the half-time whistle.

Midleton’s James McCarthy took control of the ball just inside the UCC half, before firing a dipping half-volley home from 40 yards.

Led by Captain Cillian O’Conghaile, UCC fought hard for an equaliser, but couldn’t find their way past a stout Midleton defence.

Neither side truly deserved to lose the game, but after scoring one of the best goals ever seen in the league a loss, or even a draw would have been tough for Midleton to take. Despite the defeat UCC remain in a good position to challenge for the title in this year’s Junior League.

Whilst Cork City’s 2013 season started off with a bang, beating the best from the League of Ireland and ended in a bang, also beating the best in the Airtricity league at the end of the season, what happened in between these games wasn’t all plain sailing.

Cork City got their season off to a start with a televised game against 2012 first division champions Limerick in the home of Munster rugby, Thomond Park, but the poor weather and early season nerves of both teams combined to give a poor game that finished 0-0.

Turner’s Cross had hopes of returning to being the fortress of old with some positive early season results including a 2-1 victory against Bohemians.

Both Cork goal scorers that night subsequently had very contrasting seasons, with Danny Furlong not progressing as expected after lighting up the first division.

Daryl Horgan on the other hand had a mixed season up until he scored one of the goal’s of the season against Sligo to boost his confidence. That goal sparked a fine run in form, which would ultimately earn Horgan a trial with Torquay United. Whilst he wasn’t signed on that occasion he proved popular with the fans, with his name regularly popping up in fan forums.

The month of April was largely forgettable for the Cork side, winning just two games out of nine, not to mention the fact that City conceded a total of 6 goals in injury time to knock the confidence of the team at an early stage of the season.

Tommy Dunne was never able to bring that confidence back to the squad and despite his best efforts was dismissed in August. City lost 2-0 to Avondale United in the Munster Senior Cup to continue their wait to regain a trophy that they last won in 2008.

A last minute free kick from Billy Dennehy broke City fans hearts in Turners Cross as the Cork side were knocked out of the Setanta Cup at the semi final stage.

A win against Bohemians was the side’s sole league win during May as the pressure built on Tommy Dunne. Danny Morrissey got the winning goal in the game against Bohemians to show a glimpse of his talent, as he went on to take the premier division by storm scoring 10 goals in total. His form hasn’t gone unnoticed though as he went to Huddersfield Town on trial with teammate Gearóid Morrissey. Whilst both seemed to impress, neither has been signed by the Championship side yet. City won their league cup game in Wexford winning 4-0 but even that wasn’t able to mask defeats against Bray, Limerick and Pat’s at home in the cross.

The mid season break didn’t do much for City’s form as they still lost to Rover’s on resumption of the football season, and save for a win against Drogheda it was a month that won’t live long in city fan’s memories.

July was the month city needed to push on but unfortunately again they were unable to do much in the way of progress. This month saw 3 friendly matches against Burnley, Celtic XI and West Ham with all three games ending in defeat. However the money earned from these games proved vital in supporting city, as the crowds declined during the latter days of Tommy Dunne’s reign August started off with a defeat against Limerick in the Munster Derby and this proved to be the final nail in Tommy Dunne’s reign as

he was dismissed, with u-19 coach Stuart Ashton taking the hot seat on a temporary basis.

Ashton’s reign got off to a positive start with a victory against Dublin non-league side Kilbarrack United in the cross before losing to West Brom, on the back of goals from Nicolas Anelka and Shane Long in the last summer friendly. Cork City won all their league games for the rest of the month against Bohemians, Bray and Derry to lift the sense of doom that prevailed around Turners Cross for earlier parts of the season. A cup defeat away to Sligo ended City’s trophy ambitions for the season but there was still time for City to give some credibility to their season over the coming months.

September continued city’s roll up the table as they defeated Drogheda and UCD but a defeat against Rovers ended City’s ambitions of getting fifth spot in the table. At this stage they were engrossed in a battle with neighbours Limerick for 6th place. A draw with Sligo was remembered particularly for the photograph that went viral online of the one City fan on his own in the away section.

Lastly October saw the appointment of ex Waterford manager Paul O’ Brian as technical director as Cork City tried to cope with the loss of Stuart Ashton to a full time job as a development officer with the FAI. It was a mixed month with city suffering a 4-0 hammering up in Oriel Park against Dundalk.

However, that defeat was preceded by a 5-3 victory over Shelbourne, and then followed by a 4-2 win over another Dublin side, St. Patrick’s Athletic. Ciaran Kilduff wrote his name into the record books by scoring 4 against Shelbourne to become the first ever Cork player to score more than 3 in a competitive fixture.

The offseason has seen City’s record appearance and goal scorer holder John Caulfield appointed

manager of Cork City leaving his previous post as manager of UCC. This appointment is sure to bring huge passion into the club as he is an actual fan of the club unlike some of the other candidates who applied for the job.

The playing front has seen Shane Duggan leave for his hometown club Limerick, Danny and Gearoid Morrissey go on trial with Huddersfield in the championship. Daryl Horgan is currently on trial with Torquay United in league 2 and Alan Browne completed his move to league 1 side Preston North End. Dave Ryan, Kalen Spillane and Danny Murphy all placed themselves on the PFAI transfer list showing that there looking for new clubs as well.

For the upcoming season Cork City currently has 9 new players under contract with those being Ian Turner, Danny Furlong, Dan Murray, Gary Buckley, Mark McNulty, Brian Lenihan, Darren Murphy, Colin Healy and Anthony Elding. The club hope for more players to sign contracts in the coming weeks.

Overall the season would have to be described as disappointing by those following city as it promised so much by their early performances, but it never worked out under Tommy Dunne’s management, whilst Ashton could only steady the ship and give supporters hope for the coming year.

City’s ability to hold onto young players for next year’s campaign is vital to the development of this squad and if they can secure Kilduff for next season then one would have to mark City out as a force to be reckoned with for top 4 places in the league.

New signings for the coming season of Anthony Elding, amongst others, will strengthen City. This combined with the return of ex-City midfielder Darren Murphy from Woking will provide the backbone of the side for the coming season.

21

UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

SPORT

While the rest of the UCC student body nursed hangovers and enjoyed the rest of their long summer holidays, UCC Rowing Club were back on the water preparing for another long, hard season. A season of horrendously early mornings, gruellingly long water sessions and pushing our bodies, and minds to the absolute limit, having only receiving a break of just over 3 weeks since the end of our last season.

As a rower, and also as the club’s PRO, I often get asked by potential recruits why they should join such a demanding club. Most of the time, I couldn’t even tell you the answer.

It’s usually easier to laugh and joke along with them rather than trying to justify why rowing is such an exceptional club to be involved in.

Life on the high seas

ridiculous time. I quietly think lot of committee to myself how I’ve been up since Rowing Club PRO Nichola Fennell takes a look at what time is devoted 6.20AM, done a full hour and a half to fundraising. it takes to succeed in her chosen sport. training session in the Mardyke and As you can still made it to class on time. This is imagine, boats are when I remember that we’re a different breed of to the National Rowing Centre in Inniscarra as expensive. A new 8 person boat costs within people, and have earned the right to be called it is the only time we have to train on the water. the range of twenty five to thirty thousand Honestly, there are times where every rower euro, a new set of oars can cost six hundred. “crazy”.

In fact, four mornings a week my squad and questions why they put themselves through We are currently in the process of finding a I are up before 6.30AM to make it to one of our such hardship! sponsor which would help expand our small These thoughts usually occur during a 20k club but in the meantime we are planning 10 (and counting) training sessions. This adds up to over 20 hours a week of training, equal or water piece in the depths of winter. The rain both small and large scale fundraisers. exceeding the amount of hours of lectures the is pelting so hard you can hardly open your This season we had a record number of average student has. This includes circuits, two eyes, your body is numb with the cold and your sign-ups, totalling to over 300 new recruits. weights sessions, two erg (rowing machine) blisters on your hands are so raw and sore that As expected, after the first few sessions sessions, a flexibility class and four water you can hardly grip the oar. I know the one this number had dropped significantly to I quietly think to myself how I’ve been up since 6.20AM, done a full hour and question on all of your minds - “Why do you around 25 novice rowers showing up to do it?” Simple, it’s the thrill of racing! The every session. Understandably, the novice a half training session in the Mardyke and still made it to class on time. adrenaline as you cross the finish line with clear training schedule isn’t as intense as the water. The satisfaction as you set a personal senior equivalent. They are currently My classmates show up late to a 9AM sessions which are spread over two days. lecture, sleepy eyed and complaining about Whilst we have one day off a week, we give up best on an erg test. training maximum 6 or 7 times a week but Rowing is a game of numbers, constantly progressing and improving every day which how inhumane it is to be out of bed at such a both our Saturdays and Sundays to head down trying to knock even a fraction of a second off is hugely exciting. As always, numbers have your erg score, trying to shave another inch off to be limited for sessions on the water as your next 2k regatta. It’s these fractions and there is only a certain amount of space in inches that not only keep us going, but also a boat. Our athletes fight hard to make it keeps myself, and the entire squad motivated. to the weekend sessions, ensuring they put As our head coach says “Every rep and every in the time and effort during the weekdays. stroke is an opportunity”. We know that every This creates a great competitive atmosphere second of pain and every drop of sweat in within the club. The first Novice competition training will give us that extra inch above the is the Beginner Sprints which takes place at opposition. the start of December here in Cork and we We learn that there are no short-cuts in look forward to their future within the club. life. In order to succeed, you have to show Four members of the Senior Mens crew up every day and work hard. This is one of are preparing for Fours Head in London on the many life lessons that rowing teaches the 30th November. us. Rowers are proactive people. We don’t Racing in the Elite level means they will On Thursday November 14, a have taken part in the event, Allie Murphy would like to wait around for things to happen, we go out be racing against 496 of the best crews from small group of members from which also hosted dance thank all the girls for their and get them. This applies not only in our around the world. This will be a huge step up for UCC Dance club travelled to groups from other colleges commitment and enthusiasm chosen sport but in college also. Due to the the club as it shows its face on foreign waters DCU to perform in the DCU such as the University of in the run up to the event, and high volume of training, we have to delegate for the first time. We also plan on sending crews Dance Experiment, held in Limerick, Sligo Institute of on the day itself. our spare time efficiently. That means fitting to both Henley and Henley Ladies Regatta. the Helix theatre. The club Technology, NUI Maynooth, It was a great event for the that assignment in early because we know The club is constantly pushing on and breaking had spent a number of weeks and University College Club to show their fantastic we have training the night before it is due, boundaries on the rowing front and will soon preparing a piece based on Dublin. skills in the run up to the Allor an hour of study on a Thursday evening complete the mission of world domination!!! the theme life, which was On the night the jazz piece Ireland Dance Inter varsities because we have a regatta the weekend choreographed by CSN dance performed by the girls was which will take place in C.I.T before a big exam.

Should you wish further information about student Keeva Meaghan. outstanding and received in February 2014.

As our club is always expanding, new our club check out www.ucc.ie/rowing or It was the first time in a a great reception from the equipment is always needed, therefore a email rowing@uccclubs.ie. number of years that the club DCU audience. Club P.R.O

By Allie Murphy

UCC dance steals the show in DCU

22

Tuesday December 03, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

SPORT

Trampolining... Difficult? Bah, fiction As part of our endless saga of editors leaving the safety of the Express office behind in order to try a new sport, Fiction Editor Eoghan Scott gives trampolining a go.

Offered the choice between trying out the squash club or the trampoline club this week, I chose the trampoline club. What could be easier than jumping up and down on a rubber mat for an hour or two? I reasoned to myself that this was certainly one sport which did not require any skill whatsoever a good thing for me indeed. Nothing worse than those sports that actually require skill...

Growing up, my brother and I were never allowed a trampoline on the basis that it was too dangerous. I never really understood that. Was it really so dangerous? Jumping up and down? I cannot emphasise enough how easy I thought this would be!

I arrived at 5 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon, just as the trampolines and mats were being set up, and I couldn’t help but notice how much larger the setup was than I had originally envisioned.

I initially balked at the idea that we do stretches and warm up before beginning; at the time, the thought of pulling a muscle or injuring myself in any way seemed laughable to me. Then, I watched as people started on the

trampolines.

Let me tell you, it was terrifying.

My earlier assumption that all this sport consisted of was “jumping up and down” was wrong, to say the least. In my ignorance of the club prior to attending this training session, I had failed to make any connection between the act of ‘trampolining’ (if that is actually a word...) and gymnastics.

As I watched the far more experienced members of the club jumping to such heights that my poor, short frame could only dream of, I began to fear for my turn. I knew I would be expected to get up myself in a few minutes, but I had no idea what I was expected to do. Was I expected to recreate the amazing back flips and twists and other such

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death-defying acts of insanity that I saw before my eyes? I wasn’t really in the mood to break my neck just then... I like my neck, after all...

The answer to that was ‘no, no I was not’.

As a beginner, who had rarely gone near a trampoline in his life, I began my own session by simply learning how to jump on the trampoline in a steady manner and to keep my balance, which is a lot harder than most might expect. Certainly, it took me longer than I’d care to admit to get the hang of it.

Next, I was taught a few of the more simple moves that could be performed on the trampoline. I doubt I blew anybody away with my moves, but thankfully everybody

there was helpful and patient enough, and they certainly did their best to hide their disgust at my attempts. At the very least, I think I can say that I successfully managed to perform a ‘knee tuck’ in a relatively decent manner, or maybe I’m just deluding myself.

Rugby, Hurling, Boxing... Each a cakewalk compared to this. Believe me, a trampoline is nothing to be trifled with. I entered the sports hall on Wednesday evening with not a care in the world, not a scratch on my body. I left two hours later a broken man. Scrapes and bruises covered my elbows and knees and every step I took caused me pain - All in the name of journalism. Great craic all the same though.

Despite all the pain and suffering that it involved, I’m glad I got the chance to try it out. At the end of the day, I was slightly more competent on the trampoline. Maybe I shouldn’t attempt any backflips or somersaults just yet, but who knows? Someday!

Of all the clubs and societies on offer, the UCC Trampoline & Tumbling Club is one that I never really noticed before. As much as I may have embarrassed myself with my fearful attempts at doing almost anything that evening, I really did enjoy myself. I think, given some more time at it, it would be possible for anybody (even myself) to make some real progress; at any rate, it would certainly be something worth following up on.

Silver lining for UCC Girls Athletics

Siobhain Heylin | Sport Writer

On Saturday November 23rd the annual inter-varsities road relays took place at the picturesque NUI Maynooth campus. As always a strong and plentiful UCC contingent travelled with many people running in the coveted skull and bones singlet for their first time.

The Road Relays are the first event of our calendar year and give a taste of what is expected for the rest of the year.

We sent a grand total of four women’s teams and two men’s teams to NUIM, with our women’s team having been highly successful at the road relays in the past, bringing home silver medals the past two years.

Our hopes were high that this could be the year that they took home the coveted gold medals but UCD put up a challenge that nobody could match winning their first Road Relays title in since 1997.

The UCC team of Niamh Walsh, Ciara Cronin, Sinead O Connor and Orla Drumm battled strongly to take the silver medal.

Theotherthreefemaleteamsranexceptionally well also with notable performances from former sprinter Andrea Bickerdyke, twins

Jessica and Christine Neville, Niamh Moore, Jacqueline Hughes and Siobhain Heylin.

Our newcomers to the girl’s teams Niamh Clifford, Louise Mackey, Rachel Sinclair and Elena Borlen all ran excellently too!

The men’s team regular numbers were dwindled in comparison to other years due to injuries and illnesses. Despite this, great runs from Josh O Sullivan, Shane Meaghar, Eric Curran, Ben Thistlewood and Kieran James helped them retain their 7th placing of last year.

Fast times were also recorded by our three newcomers to the squad Donal O Sullivan, Clemont Lacorne and Ronan Sheehan. Hats off to our president Ray Shanahan for also running a leg when needed- he certainly still has speed in his legs!

Once again we were victorious over our Model Farm Road rivals CIT, which bodes very well for our next event, a cross country tournament that CIT are hosting on Friday December 6th at 7pm.

Training continues every Tuesday and Thursday at the Mardyke Pavillion at 6pm, newcomers always welcome!

23

UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday December 03, 2013

UCC score seven tries to down Old Boys Stephen Barry | News Editor

UCC 39 – Rainey Old Boys 21 Two sides battling for promotion in Division 2A of the Ulster Senior League squared off in the Mardyke, as UCC locked horns with Rainey Old Boys.

Despite the match being expected to be a tight affair, UCC got off to a sluggish start, visibly struggling to match the Old Boys side. The home side spent the majority of the first half deep in their own territory, and without some great defensive play close to their own try-line UCC could’ve entered the second half well adrift.

UCC also benefited from home field advantage in an unconventional way, as the soccer marking on the pitch prevented a certain try for the Derry team. Ten minutes into the match Rainey’s Jack Fleming broke free from a maul, and with no UCC player within reach touched down for what he assumed to be a try. However, Fleming put the ball down at the wrong marking, and quickly came to the realisation that he was still 5 metres away from the UCC try line.

However, two minutes later the Old Boys got the try their hard work deserved. A great team move put Paddy McGowan free in space and with a clear path to the line McGowan crossed in the corner for the first points of the match. Whilst kicker Mark O’Connor would miss the conversion, he added a penalty just

“

With UCC staring down the barrel of a gun, the home side began to find their footing in the match a few minutes later to give the Derry team an 8-0 lead.

However, with UCC staring down the barrel of a gun, the home side began to find their footing in the match. After coming close on a few occasions, and succeeding in driving Rainey deep into their own half, UCC began to threaten the Derry try-line. After some great individual work by Ben Nugent and Dean Nolan, Dave O’Connell found space on Rainey’s 22, before easily racing in for UCC’s first points of the match.

Dominant second half sees Demons secure victory

Barry Aldworth | Sport Editor

Belfast Star 78-83 C&S UCC Demons Another slow start left the Demons needing a massive second hand performance to eke out a victory in the Men’s Premier League against Belfast.

For Belfast the match provided the debut of Spanish star Diego Moriera, now eligible to play for the side having completed his 90-day residency period. However, despite scoring 13 points, Moriera’s performance was not enough to beat the Cork side.

Star dominated the match from the first jump-ball, easily opening up a 12 point lead by the end of the first quarter. Led by Paul Dick the home side was simply too good early on for the Cork team, with a one-sided match appearing to be on the cards.

Those fears were only expounded in the second quarter as the Demons struggled to defend the Belfast attack. Dick continued to control the tempo of the game, as Star extended their lead to 19 points early in the second quarter.

However, the tide slowly began to turn in the home side’s favour as two baskets

by Adrian O’Sullivan helped to reduce the lead to 11 points, with UCC trailing 47-36 at half-time.

Entering the half time break 11 points behind, UCC, as it has done all season, was

forced to show vast amounts of courage to secure the win.

UCC controlled the match from the outset in the third quarter, as Kyle Hosford began to perform on the defensive end, as Lehmon Colbert got the offense rolling.

Having trailed for the entire match UCC finally moved ahead with just three minutes left in the game. Another Colbert score extended the lead to five, before the Demons held tough to secure the win by 83 points to 78.

After the match player-coach Colin O’Reilly credited his players for their second half performance, which he described as “the best basketball we’ve produced as a team this season, particularly in defence.”

Belfast Star manager Jose Maria Berracul shared that opinion, stating that “they [the Demons] played outstanding defence when the game hung in the balance.”

Whilst the victory maintain UCC’s undefeated season yet another sluggish first half performance will prove to be worrying for O’Reilly. If this team wishes to compete for the league crown it will need to begin performing from the opening whistle.

After relying on stubborn defending, and a large helping of luck for most of the first half, UCC slowly began to dominate the matchup. After Rainey’s Damien McMurray was sent to the sin-bin UCC were quick to exploit the advantage that came with having an extra man on the pitch. After Cian O’Halloran crossed the line for UCC’s second try of the game, the home side found themselves with a 10-8 half-time lead, a lead which would not have been expected during the early portions of the game.

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Rainey once again came out of the blocks as the better side, and quickly took the game to UCC. The Derry side’s fullback, Mark O’Connor added to his first half penalty, scoring a try restore Rainey’s lead.

However, in the second half UCC were much quicker to respond to the setback, as they started to play a more open game, increasingly relying on passes amongst the backs as opposed to forward play at the ruck. This more open style immediately paid dividends, as Paul Derham scored UCC’s third try of the match, before Sean Óg Murphy added the conversion to put the home side 1713 ahead.

UCC quickly added a fourth try, and with it secured a bonus point as O’Halloran crossed for his second try of the game. Following the fourth try the game was all about the home side, as they began to play to a standard that wouldn’t look out of place on an international level.

Peter McCabe, Paul Derham and Seamus Glynn added three more tries for UCC, as they established a 39-13 lead. Whilst Nicholas String added a late consolation try for the Derry team the day belonged to UCC, as they ran out convincing winners on a score of 39-21.

The bonus victory saw UCC jump ahead of Rainey in the league standings, leaving them in fourth place and keeping the dream of promotion alive.

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24 UCC EXPRESS Tuesday December 03, 2013

AIMING

LIFE ON THE HIGH SEAS

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SEE PAGE 21

HIGH

UCC comes close to victory at volleyball intervarsities Jevgenija Kokoreva | Sport Writer

UCC Volleyball Club participated in the Volleyball Intervarsities 2013 hosted by UCD on the 21st-23rd of November. The culmination of several hard months of work and anticipation, the competition made it possible for both male and female teams to show a great level of skills, and once again prove it right to consider UCC Volleyball Club as one of the strongest clubs in the country.

The tournament this year was, as it has been in the past, split between 3 days of competition with all the deciders being played on the last day.

the semi-final games, after securing top place in their group on the back of victories over UUJ (24-14; 21-21; 25-13) and GMIT (2416; 20-19; 20-5).

On the last day of competition UCC men’s team once again met with UUJ and after winning two sets (25-17; 25-22) guaranteed their place in the finals where they played against QUB. The final game with last years’ winners was a good experience for the team, who proved their ability to work very well together.

Unfortunately, due to unexpected circumstances, the match was cut short from a five-set game to a three-set game right in the middle of the third set, which made for a

‘Withstanding Pressure’

The first day went very well for the team as they moved up in the ranking point by point beating ITT (25-8; 25-14), CIT (25-22; 25-8) and finishing with a draw against last years’ winners UCD (25-20; 19-25).

There were two games to be played on the second day of the tournament against the top teams from other pools: DCU and TCD. The game against DCU was very stressful and tense partly due to the rules introduced by the hosting team. Instead of sets being played until one side had scored 25 points, and held a two point advantage over their opponents, the teams found themselves put on the clock. Each match was allowed to go on for 16 minutes, with the winner being determined by the highest score achieved within that time frame.

the match was cut short...which made for a dramatic change in the mood of the team and left the impression of a game left unfinished.

UCC men’s team (Walter Messina, Justus Fenz, Jay Wang, Daniele Hamma Nazario, Cyril Fontaine, Ming Guh, Michael Flickenschild, Michael Nowak, Daniel Ross, Jiheon Song) were flying through the competition, being on top of the ranking from their very first game up until the very last minute of the final set.

On the first day of Irish Intervarsities 2013 they beat NUIG (25-18; 25-17), RCSI (2518; 25-12) and TCD (25-15; 25-17). The second day also went incredibly well with the men’s team progressing straight through to

dramatic change in the mood of the team and left the impression of a game left unfinished.

Either way, UCC Men’s team came second in their final game against QUB (21-25; 27-25; 16-25) dashing their hopes of bringing the trophy back to the south.

UCC Women’s team (Lisa Roseman, Jevgenija Kokoreva, Clelia Rusca, Sara Bolognini, Lacey Jensen, Iris Mueller, Federica Fiori, Anja Schmidt, Piper Martini) also did very well showing their ability to withstand a lot of pressure and fight for the win until the very last point of the game.

After an intense game UCC Women’s team lost by one point in the third set (13-16; 1816; 16-17), with some of the decisions made by the student referees up for debate.

The second game of the day went markedly better for the UCC team, as they dominated TCD, winning the match on a score of 3:0 (24-17; 25-14; 25-13), earning their place in the quarter final games on the following day.

Day three of the inter-varsities started on the same wonderful note that the previous day had ended on, as the Women’s team beat RCSI (25-13; 25-17advanding to the semifinals.

The last game of the day turned out to be very intense for the competitors, and for spectators very interesting. UCC Women’s team went up against UCD, performing on a very high level, as both teams fought hard for a place in the final. One of the most interesting and tense games of the tournament finished when UCC fell to UCD by two points in the third set (25-23; 18-25; 15-17).

Despite all the difficulties which occurred during those three days of competitions both the men’s and the women’s teams have proved their right to be considered as serious opponents to all the other teams in Ireland.

Following the tournament the club expressed a deep gratitude for their coaches, Vince Fahey and Emily Cordonier Carroll, who put in countless hours heloping the team prepare for the tournament.