University Volume 25 | Issue 5 | Tuesday 9th November 2021
Express
UCCExpress.ie
Needle Spiking: an Epidemic for Cork?
As of October 23rd, the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) had collected 198 reports of drink spiking, in addition to the 56 reports of incidents involving a needle. It has been reported that spiking by injection carries extra risks as unclean or shared needles pose threats of HIV/AIDS and other dangerous diseases.
CIARA BROWNE Deputy News Editor There have been several reports in recent weeks of people being injected with drugs without their knowledge in bars and nightclubs across Ireland and the UK. The attacks have primarily targeted young women, typically in their early twenties, and the most common areas are pubs and clubs that college students are attending.
Image Credit: Irish Times
Locally, the drug issue gets more serious as there are cannabis jellies circulating the Cork area. Cork has been appointed a new chief to tackle “the scourge” of drugs in the City. Chief Superintendent Tom Myers is replacing Barry McPolin in the role, following McPolin’s retirement from the force in recent weeks after 38 years of service. Chief Superintendent Myers told the Evening Echo that “the scourge of drugs present in every community and Cork City is no different.” Myers was head of the drug squad in Cork and will be working to ensure An Garda Síochána in Cork City are targeting those involved at local and national levels in the sale and supply of drugs. There is significant concern regarding the amount of cannabis jellies circulating the City and people are being urged to reject any offerings of jellies.
(ISSU) is stressing the importance of students being equipped with the knowledge to better help themselves and look out for their friends too. UCC Bystander organised an event in response to the spiking issue which took place on November 4th at the Quad. UCC Bystander wants students to #TakeBackTheSpike and educate themselves on what is spiking, important things to know, and most importantly what is happening NOW to students. In addition to new spiking issues, old fashioned Nightlife opening back up is an exciting spiking by the use of powders, dissolving time for students, however, with the recent tablets, and liquids in drinks continues to be an incidents, it is more important than ever ongoing issue. The Student’s Union President that students have awareness of what is of Munster Technological University in happening around them. There are signs Kerry, Chris Clifford, has said that they are that can be detected if someone has been aware of at least six students who had their spiked and recognition of these signs drink spiked during their freshers’ week.
The consequences of the spikings are that vitims become disorientated whilst out socialising with their friends and discover physical bruising, possibly caused by a needle prick, the following morning. An Garda Síochána is advising victims of similar incidents or any form of ‘drug spiking’ to report the incident to local Garda. This issue comes after the recent lifting of most can help prevent hospitalisation. These Gardaí are urging students to contact the Covid-19 restrictions on late bars and clubs. signs may include dizziness, slurring HSE or their local doctor if they have been The Irish Second-level Students’ Union of words, memory loss or a loss of injected, spiked, or consumed cannabis jellies. consciousness, nausea, and hallucinations. Continued on Page 3
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EDITORIAL Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief – Imasha Costa (Editor@UCCExpress.ie) News Editor – Orla Leahy (News@UCCExpress.ie) Designer – Aoife E Osborne (Design@UCCExpress.ie) Features Editor – Maeve O’Keeffe (Features@UCCExpress.ie) Sports Editor – Sam Curtin (Sport@UCCExpress.ie) Opinion Editor – Claudia Zedda (Opinion@UCCExpress.ie) Eagarthóir Gaeilge – Caitríona O’Connell (Gaeilge@UCCExpress.ie) Online Editor – Edel Lonergan (Online@UCCExpress.ie) Marketing Executive – Imasha Costa (Marketing@UCCExpress.ie) Photographers – Méabh Lonergan; Jack Murphy (Photographers@uccexpress.ie)
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
AND WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING The weeks have been flying by so quickly, and we are coming down to our second last issue for the semester. I remember when we were preparing for Issue 1 to come out, how stressed and manic we all were. But right now, we all have gotten a hang of it, we are coming together as student journalists and producing brilliant articles. I am very delighted to have joined student media and be able to carry on my love for journalism through this job. Every week is one week closer to change and also the constant battle. This issue, we cover many important issues, our front page article tackling the recent increase in spiking, with clubs opening back up,
and also a new form of spiking that takes place via injection. I am angry that women have to constantly beg to not be harassed, to be murdered. Every single day we are fighting, fighting a fight because we have to, we have to be loud, we have to be heard. Every time we think we are done fighting, something else pops up which then makes us fight again. It is never-ending. But we continue to fight, and we will never stop. That is the beauty of collective activism when the people all come together to show their solidarity. In the Bystander Features section, Maeve O’Keeffe covers Toxic Masculinity, for Movember and highlights various issues with lad culture and also talks about Men’s Mental Health with amazing interviews! The Bystander Intervention programme is such an amazing programme and I would recommend you to sign up for the workshop! It is an amazing opportunity to learn how and when to intervene, without not having the tools.
Till Issue 6, Love and Solidarity
Imasha Costa Editor-In-Chief
editor@uccexpress.ie
Byline Editor – Jack Coleman (Byline@UCCExpress.ie) (Deputy Editor) Food & Health – Nathan Carey (Food@UCCExpress.ie) Arts & Literature Editor – Cian Pierce (Arts@UCCExpress.ie) Gaming Editor – Chloe Barrett (Gaming @UCCExpress.ie) Music Editor – Florrie McCarthy (Music@UCCExpress) Fashion Editor – Claire Watson (fashion@uccexpress.ie) Film & Television Editor – Cormac McCarthy (Screen@UCCExpress.ie) Sexpress Editor – Emily Osborn (Sexpress@uccexpress.ie) Deputy Features – Roisin Noonan (Deputyfeatures@uccexpress.ie) Deputy News – Ciara Browne (Deputynews@uccexpress.ie) Deputy Sports - Atakan Uzun (deputysports@uccexpressie. Staff Writer: Billy O’Connor
THE POWER OF UNITY My role as News Editor to date has really shown news can be, it’s constantly changing, and what we issue will completely contrast what we include in the ever-changing nature, one factor will never alter, the
me how diverse include in one next. Despite its unity of people.
In every article that we feature in news, the people behind the story are united. Our recent issues have witnessed the student body unite to raise almost €20,000 for the Students’ Union Food Bank, the people unite to better legislate for protecting the rights of families who avail of surrogacy and donor-assisted reproduction, and NGOs and TDs unite to support asylum seekers qualify for refuge. We have witnessed students and staff unite to ensure more equitable access to medicine, and we have seen the UCC Bystander team, and Cork Sexual Violence Centre, unite to offer support to anyone affected by sexual assault or violence. In this issue, we see the same recurring theme, students and staff united, both in UCC and overseas in Glasgow for COP26, united against drug spiking at the recent Take Back the Spike event, and united together in the official recognition of our diverse and equal community here at UCC. Covid-19 has taught us all the importance of uniting, but I think we knew its power well before the pandemic ever hit. I have yet to see a news article devoid of any mention of people uniting. Looking at what we’ve covered so far this year, I’ve realised that in the face of challenges, it’s the people coming together that get us over the line time and time again. The stories that we feature change with the times, but I hope that our unity in the face of challenges may never change.
Orla Leahy News Editor
news@uccexpress.ie
NEWS
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UCC Celebrates its Athena SWAN Bronze Award as a Diverse & Equal University CIARA BROWNE Deputy News Editor The Equality Challenge Unit (ECU)’s Athena SWAN Award is a national charter that recognises the advancement of gender equality in higher education, encompassing representation, progression, and success for all. Recently, University College Cork celebrated its recent Athena SWAN Award which recognised the university’s commitment to promoting and excelling in practice and advancing gender equality. At a virtual ceremony, Minister of Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, said that the Athena SWAN is “one of the most important initiatives we have in higher education”. During the Virtual Ceremony, UCC received the Institutional Bronze Award (awarded in 2019). The Institutional Bronze Awards recognise that the institution has a solid foundation for eliminating gender bias and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff. To celebrate the University’s success, UCC held an outdoor ceremony in the University’s President’s Garden in which the President of UCC, Professor John O’Halloran, presented the Athena SWAN Awards to UCC’s School of Biochemistry & Cell Biology (2021 Awardee), Dental School & Hospital (2020 Awardee), School of Law (2021 Awardee), School of Nursing & Midwifery (2020 Awardee), and School of Public Health (2019 Awardee). President John O’Halloran accepted an award from Professor Áine Hyland for the University’s Institutional Athena SWAN (Bronze Award) accreditation, successfully renewed in 2019.
Image Credit: ucc.ie equality actions, eight of which the University Management Team committed to implementing at the University, during the meeting. The establishment of an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Unit in University College Cork was announced back in March 2017. This announcement came as the Higher Education landscape in Ireland and Europe began to focus on a holistic and targeted gender equality approach. UCC was one of seven universities involved in the cross-European GENOVATE consortium. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion have been a core focus of teaching, research and policy activity for a wide range of UCC staff and students for decades. The UCC equality committee has existed for several years & has advised the university on equality focused initiatives and produces equality strategies and annual reports. In October of this year, the UCC EDI Unit launched a survey in which all students received an invitation to take part in the second ever UCC EDI student survey. Students across UCC in all programmes were invited to complete the new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey. The feedback collected is used to help and advance UCC’S Equality, Diversity & Inclusion priorities. The survey opened on October 13th and continued to run until October 20th.
Another recent event that took place to represent UCC’s diversity and equality across campus is the opening of the Rainbow Walkway in early October. UCC encourages students and visitors to go to the walkway, between the Boole Library and the O’Rahilly building on UCC’s main campus, to “support LGBTI+, black, brown and ethnic minority communities, raise awareness of the meaning of the colours of the Rainbow Walkway and how they represent different cultures and facets of the community and also to highlight intersectionality.” UCC encourages visitors and students to post a picture on social media On September 17th 2015, a meeting took place for the GENOVATE’s while at the Rainbow Walkway with the hashtag #ProgressWithPride Gender Equality action plan for UCC which considered nine gender to show their support for UCC’s diverse and equal community. Professor Stephen Byrne, Interim Registrar and Chair of UCC’s Athena SWAN steering group said that “these awards are a tribute” to the work of the Athena SWAN teams working across UCC. Professor Áine Hyland, former Vice President of UCC, commended President O’Halloran and her UCC colleagues at the ceremony saying “UCC’s Institutional Athena SWAN Award is an internationally recognised accreditation, and a hallmark of the University’s commitment to improving equality and creating an inclusive University that values and respects diversity”.
UCC’s EDI events are available to follow on UCC’S homepage under ‘Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Unit’ and students can also register their own events with the EDI team. Cover Story Continued Students are also being advised to keep any of the spiked drinks that they may have left, if they have been spiked. It can be used as evidence and the Gardaí suggest that victims give the drink to a worker/manager until a member of an Garda Síochána reaches the location of the incident. Blood or urine samples will be needed following a drink spiking, drug consumption or injection spiking. Most drugs leave the body 12 to 72 hours after being consumed, making it important to make sure the blood or urine sample is tested as soon as possible. Cork City Gardaí are urging students to report any incidents and the Gardaí are looking into ways in which they can make the food and drink sector safer by implementing more effective facilities and security to protect students from these spiking attacks. Image Credit: Cork Beo
CIARA BROWNE
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NEWS
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
UCC and COP26 - The Most Significant COP since the Paris Agreement? ORLA LEAHY News Editor
From November 1st to November 12th, 196 nations of the United Nations will be represented in Glasgow at COP26, the 26th ‘Conference of Parties’ to be held since 1995. This particular COP is considered by many to be the most crucial since the 2015 Paris Agreement, to analyse if current pledges by countries are sufficient to keep green-house gas emissions to below 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels. UCC is the only Irish university to hold observer status at COP26. Consequently, a multidisciplinary delegation of academics, researchers and students will be representing UCC at the summit. The delegation is led by Professor of Engineering and Director of MaREI (UCC’s Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine), Brian Ó Gallochóir. UCC has organised a number of events to mark the importance of Glasgow’s COP26, which will see the submission of new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by all countries to limit global warming to 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels, as envisioned under the Paris Agreement. Firstly, a Model COP26 was held on October 26th in UCC’s Devere Hall. Mark Falvey, chairperson of the UCC Environmental Society noted that the idea for the Mock COP26 event was first raised at a meeting of the President’s Working Group mid-summer. This idea, spearheaded by the President’s Working Group, grew and soon encompassed the ERI, UCC Green Campus and the Environmental, Law, International Development, International Relations, Engineers Without Borders, and Co-operative Societies. Students from 15 different disciplines engaged in the Model
Image Credit: COP26 @ UCC
event, which was opened by the President of UCC, Professor John O’Halloran. His impactful speech stressed UCC’s commitment to taking impactful climate action, as is to be seen in the renewable energy schemes on campus, and the fact that UCC became the first university to achieve a Green Flag from the Foundation for Environmental Education in the world. Following President O’Halloran’s speech, the British Ambassador to Ireland, Paul Johnston, provided an overview of COP26’s ambitions to “keep 1.5˚C alive” via video. Prior to the negotiations by the students at the event, Professor Áine Ryall of the UCC School of Law addressed the room, and encouraged the negotiators to take a human rights and climate justice approach to their negotiations. Dr. Fionn Rogan, energy and climate researcher at UCC, then introduced the event by assuming the role of UNFCCC Secretary General. Speaking outside of the event, Dr. Rogan highlighted the significance of COP26, “The difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees mightn’t sound big but for many low-lying Pacific island nations it is the difference between existence and nonexistence. The scale of the emission reductions required to achieve 1.5 degrees is difficult to comprehend. It requires a truly global effort but the countries of the world have very different historical responsibilities for global emissions and are on very different development pathways.” Accordingly, Mock COP26 offered students the opportunity to consider these implications and to strive for a fulfilling agreement.
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countries, and sought to tackle this inequality by seeking a pledge of €100 billion per annum to the Global South by the Global North. The negotiations ended with sufficient pledges by the student negotiators to limit global warming to 2˚C. This result indicated to the student body the difficulties faced by countries in achieving goals in line with 1.5˚C global warming, and as Darren Reidy added, “especially when delegates must represent national interests, above that of a global solidarity.”Dr. Rogan noted the importance of students negotiating, “on behalf of countries different to their own nationalities, for example, Irish and European students had to negotiate on behalf of the world’s poorest nations which are much more impacted by climate change.” He added that “this was designed to give the students a perspective that’s different to their own, which will hopefully lead to greater awareness of the challenges, as well as deeper empathy.” Mark Falvey also observed that Mock COP26 at UCC offered students an important learning experience - an opportunity to learn to compromise, and to make effective use of time to reach decisions, which he hopes they will take forward from the event. In addition to Mock COP26, UCC unveiled a sustainability mural to mark the beginning of COP26 in Glasgow. The mural is situated on the main campus, by the Engineering Buildings. It features a depiction of Cork as it is today, in comparison with a brighter, greener Cork City. The mural is accompanied by signage which asks thought-provoking questions such as “Come on, what can Cork city really do? This city is too small to have any impact on climate change,” and “I’m just one person, it’s too late, I can’t make a difference.”
Image Credit: Eoin Hahassy
What followed was an evening of stimulating and engaging discussions and negotiations by the students with the aim of reaching a consensus to limit global warming to the 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels envisioned in the Paris Agreement.
Upon the unveiling of the mural, President O’Halloran stated that, “it is important that we point to solutions and work with communities in the urgent challenge that faces us all”, and that, “this mural seeks to inspire thinking, encourage conversations and provoke action to create communities that work with our environment in securing a sustainable future.”
The first round of negotiations resulted in the agreement to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 2.2˚C above preindustrial levels. Dr. Rogan reminded negotiators that such emissions would not be sufficient to avoid catastrophic climate disaster, and that it would disproportionately affect the Global South. As Darren Reidy, Acting Sustainability Officer of UCC’s Green Campus observed, “the realisation that the developing nations were carrying a disproportionate share of the climate action burden despite having disproportionately low contributions to historic GHG emissions slowly began to ripple throughout the conference centre. This spurred much active debate and animated negotiations as delegates were determined to reach a better agreement.” In the ensuing negotiations, students representing larger nations, such as China, agreed to greater commitments, but only in the event that other large nations, such as the United States also agreed to greater pledges proportionate to their past contributions to climate change. Similarly, students recognised the inequalities of the climate crisis in developing
Image Credit: COP26 @ UCC
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BYSTANDER FEATURES
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
Movember Conversations on Toxic Masculinity, Lad Culture, and Men’s Mental Health MAEVE O’KEEFFE Features Editor
As a woman and a feminist, tackling gender stereotypes from a female perspective is a consistent priority of mine. In this column, I have discussed how toxic masculinity and sexist rape myths can affect women. However, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that men are also frequent casualties of sexism. It may not necessarily be in the same way as women, but gender stereotypes are nonetheless damaging towards men, and there is a pertinent need for conversation surrounding the ways in which we perceive masculinity. As Movember campaigns begin to promote men’s health, I spoke to Bailey Lane and Tadhg Connery, two ambassadors for the Bystander Intervention programme in UCC, as well as the SU’s Equality and Diversity representative Daniel Byrne, about toxic masculinity and the cultural change that needs to occur to dismantle archaic norms about what it means to be a man. Boys don’t cry. Boys will be boys. Man up. Grow a pair. Don’t be a pussy. From infancy, we are bombarded with the message that to be a man, one must be strong, both in terms of physicality and emotionally. Being sensitive, nurturing, and expressive of emotions? Those are seen as feminine qualities. We all know how restrictive these gender stereotypes are to women, but we need to look at how harmful it is to tell boys that emotionality is a sign of weakness, and to be a man one can never concede this. There is a crisis of men’s mental health at present, and the masculine archetype of strength and stoicism is not helpful. “To hell with all strong silent men,” to quote Brian Friel’s brilliant play Philadelphia, Here I Come!
If we think back to the media we consumed as children, there is so much gender-typing embedded in it. Although not all parents necessarily imposed adherence to gender norms, there is a stark contrast in the toys and television programmes marketed towards little boys and girls. For the girls, there were princesses, makeup sets, and toy kitchens. For the boys, there were strong and valiant superheroes, army soldier figurines, toy tool kits. I don’t recall Batman ever calling a friend to talk about his feelings, and I don’t think Action Man was too big on self care. Instead, these childhood heroes used their physicality, strength, and bravery to save the day. “From growing up I had seen toxic masculinity all around me, particularly at a young age every young boy is trying to conform to a certain image and personality,” Bailey tells me. Young children are so susceptible to absorbing the norms presented in the toys and media they consume. From the word go, the message to boys is not one of sensitivity, or care, but of brute force. It is only natural that little boys would wish to emulate the characteristics of their heroes, and if this involves concealing all remnants of potential vulnerability beneath a layer of macho man behaviours, then that is what the boys will learn to do.
While the seeds of stereotypical behaviours are sown during early years, adolescence and early adulthood can be an important time for these gender norms to take root, and become embedded in the individual’s sense of self. Though the term toxic masculinity is brandished a lot these days, it is worth noting that masculinity is not inherently toxic. It becomes toxic when it inhibits frank conversations about mental health, or when it promotes ideas of sexual dominance, deviance, and violence. As Bailey outlines, “Low level toxic behaviour that begins at a young age becomes systemic and can be the root of many problems in the future where men don’t talk about how they feel, lack a level of empathy, and think certain behaviours and actions are ‘cool’ or acceptable.” When the traits of stoicism, aggression, toughness, heterosexism, misogyny and insensitivity are equated with the prized attribute of manliness, masculinity becomes toxic, and is utterly detrimental to both men and women. Lad culture is a key component of toxic masculinity that is particularly pervasive among young men. Again, lad culture is typically mentioned in the context of being harmful against women, but men too can suffer the consequences of this noxious facet of campus culture. Offensive and nasty comments can be made under the guise of “banter” or harmless slagging. It could be something like mocking a teammate over their height, or the size of their muscles, or penis in the changing room before a match. It could be calling someone “soft” if they are injured, or show even a hint of vulnerability. It could be pressuring someone to drink more, or have more sex, or objectify women more. Objection to such remarks would likely result in the individual being labelled as a “pussy,” “gay,” “shit craic,” or all of the above. Bailey spoke of his own experience with this malignant lad culture, “One thing I always saw growing up as a young boy was this almost fear of heterosexual boys to have any sort of trait they saw as ‘feminine’ as they would then be labelled as ‘gay’, a word that is surrounded and used with such negative connotations.” Because our society continues to posit hegemonic masculinity as something for men to aspire towards, the feeling of being insecure in one’s masculinity could amplify their need to engage in laddish “banter”, usually at the expense of someone else, be it a woman, or another man who is perceived to be weaker in some way. In short, nobody benefits from lad culture or the adherence to canthese tired notions of what it means to be a man. This is particularly salient when statistics surrounding suicide are considered. Men currently account for roughly 80% of suicides in Ireland. This figure is shocking, but we need to examine the messages that mould the men in our society and the factors that drive men towards such desperation and darkness. Support for mental health issues needs to be destigmatised. Seeking help is
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not a sign of weakness, and is the least you deserve if you are struggling with your mental health. “I think often times men feel they can’t speak up about how they feel or stand up for what they think because of this idea that it somehow impacts their ‘manhood’ or that it is not how they are ‘supposed to’ think or feel when in reality from my experience most if not all people feel similar things,” Bailey informs me, highlighting the message that no matter how alienated one can feel in their distress or discomfort with stereotypical norms for behaviour, they are never alone, and there is support out there. We would all benefit from simply being open to help to address mental health issues, free from fears of judgement or dismissal. The Movember campaign began in Australia, in the early 2000s. The movement centres around fundraising with the goal to raising money towards lowering the number of men dying prematurely, be that from testicular cancer, prostate cancer, or suicide. Many UCC clubs and societies are embarking on fundraising endeavours, and it’s great to support them in any way we can, in donating, raising awareness, or participating in fundraising events. Bailey spoke on the value of the Movember movement, “It is positive to see things such as Movember to start to have these conversations about men’s mental health as sometimes a man speaking about his feelings can be seen as weak.” However, he also cautioned that “It is important to remember there are 11 more months of the year and our actions and dialogue during November should not just be forgotten about on December 1st but we must continue to follow through on what we all preach during November.” There is undoubtedly “an expectation that men should be tough and macho,” according to Bystander ambassador Tadgh. “It would be nice to be able to be expressive, maybe even cry at the odd romcom without worrying about coming across as a sissy,” he tells me. So, how do we go about dismantling outdated notions of masculinity? Participation in the Bystander Intervention programme here in UCC is one steppingstone towards a cultural shift in how we perceive masculinity. “I hope to see more student leaders, like the SU get involved with becoming ambassadors for the Bystander programme, because they really are a force to be reckoned with, and can positively influence students,” says SU Equality and Diversity representative Daniel. This sentiment is echoed by Bailey, who tells me, “What has become so apparent to me in working with Bystander and doing
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other young men to get involved in these positive conversations work in this general area is the importance of my voice, as a young male, to start dialogue and encourage and education to try move forward to a better society.” We cannot underestimate the power we have to challenge toxic masculinity when we encounter it on and off campus. We can question the very notion of traditional masculinity, and showcase it for the unattainable, and undesirable myth that it truly is. “What is a real man? Are there certain behaviours or actions that define a real man? It seems like a false concept that is ultimately unreachable,” says Bailey, illustrating the critical thinking skills he acquired through his continued participation with the Bystander Intervention programme as an ambassador. We have agency in shifting the narrative around what it means to be a man. Why should we continue to abide by gender norms from the 1950s, when we have the capacity to reconstruct our perceptions of manliness? Education is vital, according to Tadgh, who told me that “some men are extremely uniformed,” and that “It is crucial that all men are educated about these issues so that they can be aware of harassing behaviours and can speak out against them, to create a safer world for everyone.” Teaching children not to equate femininity, homosexuality, or small stature with fragility or inferiority is a start. In schools, there is a dire need to campaign against lad culture, exposing it for the toxic herd mentality that it is. It’s time second level education caught up to the issues that are pertinent in our society today. Louise Crowley’s continued work on outreach with the Bystander Intervention programme is fantastic in engaging young adults with the issues of lad culture and toxic masculinity, tackling problematic ideas and norms before they get the chance to manifest down the road. Let’s discard this archaic idea about what it means to be a man, and replace it with a much less restrictive concept, where boys won’t get laughed at for getting upset, wearing nail varnish, or loving fashion; where mental health concerns can be voiced without shame, discomfort, or fear of dismissive responses; where men are learn adaptive emotional regulation strategies, instead of resorting to aggression, violence, and resentment. We have a long way to go, and it will be challenging to change mentalities that are decades old. But the old notion that “Boys will be boys,” needs to be retired, because being male does not excuse problematic behaviours, and besides, our understanding of gender identity is evolving every day. The reality is that masculinity is a social construct long past its expiration date.
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FEATURES
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
The Cork Bucket List - An A-Z (or almost!) of Cork’s greatest hits RÓISÍN NOONAN Deputy Features Editor
Whether you are a first-year student experiencing Cork city for the first time, a foreign exchange student experiencing Ireland for the first time, or a Cork native, Cork city and it’s surrounds has something to interest everyone. When I first arrived in Cork as a student from Limerick, I was clueless to all that Cork city had to offer. It’s depth of history and culture, the music and nightlife and food (amazing food!). But along the way, through friends and college societies and sometimes just wandering aimless around the city (not skipping lectures of course!), I found my feet and began to discover some of what this city had to offer. As I entered my final year in Cork this year, I realised that even though I knew a lot of what Cork had to offer, I still had not experienced a lot of it for myself. I found myself sitting down one day with a group of friends discussing how we had never done this or never seen that, even after living in Cork for 3-4 years. We decided to make a bucket list of things to see and do in Cork before the clock ran out on our final year in Cork. This list is just some of the highlights and hidden gems of Cork, some of my own personal favourites and some different activities that you might not have thought of or known about. I will be the first to put my hand up to say no, I have not been to all of these places yet, but I will zealously endeavour to tick off a good chunk of this list before I graduate next year! Hopefully it inspires you, dear reader, to do the same and to go out and experience the Rebel City and County for yourself!
Image Credit: Róisín Noonan
A - The Abbey Tavern; first up on my list is one of my favourite pubs in Cork. Stereotypical student you may scoff, however the Abbey, located on Gillabbey Street and just across the road from St. Fin Barre’s, is a quiet and traditional bar just a few minutes’ walk from UCC. Think wholesome, cosy, open fire and fairy light vibes, a quiet pint in here on a cold Autumn evening warms the soul. You might even be lucky enough to catch a music session on certain evenings! B – Beaches; jumping out of the city for a minute, South and West Cork has some stunning and wild beaches which are sure to interest swimmers and nature seekers alike. Taking a break from the city and blowing out the cobwebs Myrtleville beach and Fountainstown are Image Credit: Megan O’Brien only a few minutes’ drive from each other and about a 30 min drive from the city. Both are safe for swimming and Myrtleville has a group of year-round swimmers who brave the Atlantic daily. Garretstown beach further west of the city and just outside Kinsale is a larger beach famous with surfers and swimmers alike. Hop on the 226 bus from the city or the 220 will get you to Myrtleville should a car be out of the question. C – The Crawford Art Gallery; I’m ashamed to say I have yet to experience the Crawford in all its glory. Located on Emmett Place, the gallery has both permanent and temporary exhibitions dating from the 18th century to modern present day. The Rembrandt in Print collection is currently on show until January 2022 and with free entry I really don’t have any excuse not to get in to the Crawford ASAP. Image Credit: Jayne Doyle
Image Credit: Róisín Noonan
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D – Drama; Cork has a rich history of all thing’s theatre and drama. It has an array of theatres and venues including most notably The Everyman Theatre and The Crane Lane. If you have an interest in dramatics, a performance in either one of these is not to be missed.
O- Cork Opera House; is a must to experience another focal point of Cork’s city centre. Shows range from music concerts, to pantomimes, comedy acts and plays. An ideal night out in Cork for a birthday or if the parents come to visit!
E - Elizabeth Fort; situated on Barrack Street is a must for any history lovers or anyone looking for a spectacular bird’s eye view of the city. Admission is free or there is a daily guided tour for just €3!
P- Patrick’s Hill; another one I still need to tick off! I’ve been told that sunset (or sunrise if your one of those people!) is not to be missed on this hill overlooking the city.
F – St. Fin Barres Cathedral; a focal point of Cork’s skyline and right next door to the Elizabeth Fort. The cathedral celebrated its 150year anniversary last year and is open to visitors all year round with a discounted price for students.
S- Sicilian Delights; I could probably dedicate a whole article to this place, but for now it’s own letter in this list will have to do. Do yourself a favour during study week - take a walk up to the top of Highfield Avenue and stop in to Sicilian Delights for a tiramisu or a carbonara. It will be much deserved and you won’t regret it! Trust me!
G- Glucksman Gallery; right on our doorstep on the UCC Campus is the stunning architectural feat of the Glucksman Gallery, displaying contemporary art exhibitions and installations. Admission is free and the downstairs café is well worth a drop in for a coffee. Take a break from your lectures and stroll down to the gallery for a change of perspective. H- Hikes; County Cork is renowned for its natural beauty and amongst that, its hiking trails and walks. Although a little remote, Gougane Barra is well worth the trip for a hike or walk amongst the most stunning surrounds in the National Forest Park. Mountains and lakes create a picture-perfect background to the famous St. Finbarr’s Oratory set out in the lake. There are several different trails and hikes for all different walking abilities, beautiful in both rain and shine! To the east of the city the Ballycotton cliff walk is one of my most recent discoveries. And what a wonderful surprise it was! Blow off the cobwebs with a walk along the sheer cliff edge from Ballycotton to Ballyandreen taking in the views of the wild rolling Atlantic and the rugged east Cork coastline. Good for the soul! (When you have suitable boots and suitable weather!) K- Kinsale; a road trip I did with some friends earlier in the semester. Well only a drive really as it is a mere half hour from the city! The Mad Hatter craft shop and windy, coloured streets in sea-side Kinsale are a charming way to spend a day out of the city. If the fancy takes you hop on the 226 bus. L – St. Luke’s; Again, a new discovery for me this year! St. Luke’s is a former church located in Summerhill in the Northside of the city which plays host for gigs and concerts all year round in an intimate and unique venue. I have tickets for a concert here this month and cannot wait to experience it!
T- Tom Barry’s; A classic student venue on Barrack’s St., you really can’t go a miss with the €20 pizza and wine deal in Tom Barry’s. An indoor/outdoor venue with an open fire (in case you haven’t noticed I’m partial to a hearty fire) and some of the best pizza you may ever have in Your. Entire. Life. U – University College Cork; you didn’t think I would get all the way through the highlights of Cork and not mention our beautiful campus? Everyday something on campus grabs my attention, be it the colours of the Quad on an Autumn Day or the way the light comes through the trees onto the President’s Garden, I catch myself marvelling at how lucky we all are to have such a beautiful and historical campus to study in. If you don’t have a lot of classes on campus or have never properly explored it before, be sure to take a good luck around next time you’re there. Saunter down by the main gates between classes, check out the stone corridor in the Aula Maxima or take a study break walk down the steps behind the Aula Maxima to the river and the new Cavanagh Bridge. W- Walks in the City ; I discovered the Lee Fields in first year one day as I was craving a walk and some fresh air somewhere away from the noise of the traffic. Coming from a rural area I find myself craving green fields and fresh air when I’m cooped up in a city for two long. The Lee Fields is the perfect place to find just that. Walking along the banks of the River Lee and eventually into wide open fields that have been opened up to the public. Entry is by the side of the Kingsley Hotel just a few minutes’ walk from Victoria Cross. (Go at sunset for the best light and a chance to see the swans!). Fitzgerald Park and the Lough are of course not to be missed either, for some escapism and nature in the city.
M - Markets – The English Market. Some may regard it as the centre piece at the heart of Cork City. Saunter in on a Sunday or a weekday morning for just a stroll or some amazing local produce. Whether it’s fish or cheese, spices or flowers, the English Market is sure to have it! On the other side of town, the Marina Market is quickly becoming a hotspot for food lovers and vintage shoppers alike. Hot food stalls, antique jewellery and clothes, Saturday morning yoga classes and a growing events calendar are just some of the exciting things on offer here.
A car is definitely a necessary tool for exploring some of the further flung places listed here and of course, not everyone has one. However, if someone in your friend group is road worthy and has a set of wheels, squashing in and setting off on a day trip is well worth it in County Cork. Pack a few snacks, give the driver a fiver and don’t forget your swimming togs - you’d never know when the opportunity N- Nano Nagle Place; What a hidden gem! I had not heard of this place might present itself for a “refreshing” Atlantic dip! until a friend invited me to lunch here over the summer. Originally a convent, Nano Nagle Place has now been transformed into a heritage centre with a museum, craft shop and restaurant café. Defining itself as an “oasis” amongst the bustle of Cork City, the centre is a wonderful place to stop by to learn about the life and work of Nano Nagle or for a peaceful coffee and chat in its wonderful gardens.
So, whether you are a first year or final year, screenshot this article or stick it up on your wall and start ticking your way through this bucket list, to make sure you soak up and enjoy all that this city has to offer while you’re here!
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FEATURES ‘I was Forced into Sex Work’
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
IMASHA COSTA Editor-In-Chief
This article contains topics of sex work and sexual violence. If at any point you may feel like you might be triggered, please skip this article. Earlier in the month of October, UCC Students Union had reopened their Food Bank after they saw the rise in students struggling financially. The food bank since then has received tremendous support from all across the country, with the SU’s GoFundMe reaching almost 20 thousand euros out of their 5k goal. The food bank initiative was first set up in 2019 by then welfare officer, Naoise Crowley. However, this raised the question of whether there were enough supports available for students within UCC. On reaching out on various social media platforms, to talk to students that availed of the services of the Food Bank, a UCC student approached me (last month) with the urge of wanting to share their story, remaining anonymous, this student calls out the university for not catching the problem in the beginning before things went too far. In the first year of their degree, 2018, the student was not eligible for SUSI or any form of grants. They were estranged from their parents, but were not able to prove it legally due to the costs of courts, lawyers, and the entire process. They had very little money to get by, and because of their Mental Health issues, they did not often have enough money to pay for their medication. They were living off on 40 to 50 euros a week. With medical bills coming up to almost 150 euros a week and being unable to pay for much, this just led the student to getting sicker, losing weight and towards a downward spiral.
they started helping. The student states that ‘once the shit had hit the fan, all of a sudden they were listening to me.’ They state that this was recognised as the lowest point for them. But finally, they started to feel the support coming in from the University. They did get out of being a sex worker, and started teaching to support themselves, but there was still very little that the University could do. The Food Bank in 2018 really did help the student incredibly as they did not have to spend that extra 40 to 50 euros for food and instead be able to put it towards their medical bills and be able to look after their mental health. The student states that ‘people would be ashamed’ especially when they are in a ‘desperate financial state.’ They believe that
The University stated, after the student approached them, that their parents earn this much money, and that they needed to legally show that they were estranged from their family. To be literal in quotes, the University stated that the student was ‘pulling their leg/ chancing their arm’. The student had ended up having to borrow a lot of money from their friends and felt really guilty. It came to a point where they had to go through three options in their head. Option one was to either drop out, and go back to a toxic environment in their household. Option two was to get a part time job that would barely cover their medical bills and option three, was to have a full-time job whilst being a full time student in UCC that could lead to them failing the year, and going throug h repeats. The student was desperate to do absolutely anything to earn money, to be able to get food and cover the cost of their medical bills as well, and had no support given by UCC authorities. In November 2018, they joined a website known as Seeking Arrangements, which is an American based website that is an online dating service. At first, they were sending pictures of their body which they were comfortable with as their face would not be in. The student states that ‘with websites like this, it usually starts out like that.’ However, people that they interacted with, kept pushing for more and because they were in such a desperate way, they would do anything for the money. The student felt that they were forced into this situation due to their financial hardship.
anybody could be forced into sex work, especially when they are in college. For them the only way that they could have actually continued staying in college was by ‘selling their body.’ The student still finds it difficult, but has been informed about all the support available. In regard to their current mental health, they are still recovering from the trauma of having to go through all that. Sex work is prominent amongst university students. In a survey conducted by Motley magazine in February 2021, across the four colleges of UCC, about 1.7 per cent of students disclosed that they used Only Fans, an online website that allows producing digital content and monetising it. According to the article, the respondents stated that ‘earnings made via the site helped supplement income and alleviate the stress of losing their jobs during the pandemic,’ (Motley Vol XIV; Issue 5).
They eventually ended up meeting (through the website) ‘loads of different people, sleeping with them, and [were] in very dangerous situations on numerous occasions.’ There were moments where consent was completely broken, and they felt ‘powerless’ and ‘didn’t know [their] rights.’ Being 18 at the time, and because of the nature of what they were doing, they felt like that they could not turn to anybody and felt so ashamed of the situation.
The sex workers community is supportive and looks out for one another, but there are also abuses that come out of it, with regards the safety of the students. There are risks with sex work due to the illegality of it, not in concern with digital content but actual meet ups. It is illegal in Ireland to buy sex. The story above is just of one student, a student that was desperate and was ‘forced into sex work,’ - Imagine if others came in and told their stories as well. It would show how the system for third level education funding is broken, and needs to be desperately fixed. Students need a way of support that isn’t just through their union, but also from the government and their university itself. Things need to change, they need to evolve, the system needs to be better.
As the student went on to talk to me about their experience as a sex worker, they spoke about how being a sex worker, out of financial stress, affected them mentally, physically and emotionally. This went on for six months until the student ended up getting very sick from contracting a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), and after informing Student Health as to how they received it that was when
If by any chance, you require any form of support, the Sexual Health Centre in Cork City provides services for sex workers. They can be contacted at info@sexualhealthcentre. com or ring them at 021 427 6676
FEATURES The Ethics of True Crime: Invasive Voyeurism, or Natural Fascination?
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
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MAEVE O’KEEFFE Features Editor
I recently subscribed to the email lists of some prominent Irish newspapers, and usually there is nothing too ground-breaking about the headlines that ping into my inbox every morning. There are stories about COVID-19, the state of the economy, the environment, match reports, and the controversies and scandals of both political and celebrity figures. It’s all rather conventional newspaper fodder. However, I’ve also observed a more obscure fixation in the Irish media. Twenty-five years after the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in the benign west Cork town of Schull, newspapers are still churning out stories about her death. From reports of chief suspect Ian Bailey’s living situation, and the demise of his marriage, to new evidence in the case, and Toscan du Plantier’s son’s quest for justice, the story of this murder is still captivating the Irish public, even all these years later. Why? It’s fair to say that the True Crime genre has seen a significant surge in popularity in recent times. Netflix shows such as Evil Genius and The Ted Bundy Tapes have generated high ratings. Toscan du Plantier’s death was catapulted back into the limelight recently with popular series produced by both Netflix and Sky this summer preceded by the award-winning Audible original West Cork podcast by Sam Bungey and Jennifer Forde, as well as true crime books like Nick Foster’s Murder at Roaringwater. Suddenly, we were all donning our Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hats, and discussing opinions on Ian Bailey’s innocence or guilt. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a resurgence of interest in a years old case. As soon as a popular service like Netflix produces a series on an unsolved mystery, like The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann, public interest in the crime in question is reignited, and we all play detective, sharing perspectives on who we think is guilty. In fact, when Sky launched its new Sky Crime channel in 2019, its publicity campaign hinged largely on the alluring invitation to “go behind the yellow tape, piece together the evidence, interrogate, and identify the suspects.” This campaign, promising to “unleash the detective in everyone” and encouraging viewers to “question everything” is perhaps unsurprising given the culture of public speculation that is ignited each time a new True Crime show or podcast becomes popular. Audiences get to inhabit the role of detectives from the comfort of their living room, many engaging with social media platforms like Twitter or Reddit to share their outlooks on the crimes and criminals in question. Some argue that it is this scope for interaction and discussion that posits true crime as one of the most increasingly popular genres of the past decade. True crime programmes offer the opportunity to feel a sense of immersion in a real criminal investigation, without any real expertise. There is a participatory aspect that helps explain theappeal of True Crime as a genre, as viewers converse over who they think committed the crime and police failings in the investigation. Others suggest that the popularity of the genre lies in how it allows us to delve into the darkness of humanity from the safe confines of our living rooms. There is an undoubted adrenaline rush that accompanies hearing accounts of violent murders and crimes. Some have proposed that there is an evolutionary benefit to true crime consumption, that it fulfils a need within us to learn as much as possible about the crimes in question, so that we may feel a sense of preparation, lest we ever encounter a psychopathic killer ourselves. Though it may be hard to explain, the popularity of true crime must be coming from somewhere, as it has prompted an industry shift in entertainment. No, the love of true crime may not necessarily be new; Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi are both classic books of the genre, having been published in 1966 and
1974 respectively. However, the inescapable ubiquity of the genre is a more recent phenomenon. As soon as prominent streaming services like Netflix tapped into the modern viewer’s insatiable appetite for true crime, the saturation of true crime in the media exploded. However, is it ethical for streaming services to profit from what the exploitation of what is essentially a tragedy? Like rubbernecking after a car accident, is it invasive and voyeuristic to view real life tragedy as nothing more than a source of entertainment to satisfy our strange fascination with morbidity? The stories are by nature, charged with emotion, but they are also often sensationalised with vivid, evocative accounts from key witnesses, reporters, and legal counsel. That’s what makes them so engaging and addictive to watch. But does the sensitive, emotional nature of these crimes render them as inappropriate viewing content when there are real families and victims affected by the content of the programme? Is it crass, if not downright immoral, to provoke such widespread public discourse about the nature of a crime, when we, as viewers are in not really in a position of sufficient knowledge or expertise to reach anything more than a speculative conclusion? From youth, we are fascinated with the idea of good vs evil. The fairy tales and films we consumed as children offered comfort in the black-and-white portrayals of morality that they offered us. We love the idea of the wicked witch and innocent Dorothy, the evil stepmother in contrast to the benevolent fairy Godmother. Having such cut-and-dry heroes and villains offers escape from having to concentrate too hard on the nuances of human nature. Perhaps popular true crime shows are capitalising on this human desire for clear cut portrayals of good and evil. The murderers are amplified into villains of monstrous proportions, and the victims are often either valorised, or neglected entirely in the story-telling. The portrayals are satisfying in their simplicity. When The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann propelled the case back into the public consciousness in 2019, I couldn’t help but wonder about the wellbeing of the family at the heart of the tragedy, with Madeleine’s siblings now teenagers. How helpful is it for Netflix to profit from tragedies like these, and is it ethical? Though we may feel like we are honouring victims, keeping their memory alive, or on a quest for justice, it is worth remembering that most of the time, the only winner is the streaming company, who make immense profits from inexpensively produced documentaries about real people. We cannot forget the pain and suffering endured by the victims and their families each time they make headlines, for the sake of entertainment. Though we might like to bask in a feeling of vigilante justice in spouting our theories on criminal investigations and murders, it could be seen as self-indulgent to imagine ourselves as the Sherlock Holmes ready to assemble the missing pieces in cases that experts have spent years trawling through with far more information at their disposal.
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OPINION
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
My country let me down voting against anti-homophobia law. CLAUDIA M. ZEDDA Opinion Editor
While the US issues its first gender neutral passport, Italy’s Senate blocks a proposed anti-homophobia law. On Wednesday last week, the Italian Senate voted down a proposed law against homophobia, sexism and hate against disabled members of society. I never felt so embarrassed of being Italian before this happened. The law, known as “DDL Zan”, sought to punish discrimination acts and incitement to violence against the LGBT+ community, women and disabled people. The bill would have extended passages of the penal code that already punishes discrimination and violence based on racial, ethnic and religious beliefs to also include sex, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as disability. It was proposed back in 2018 by Alessandro Zan, a member of Parliament from the centre-left democratic party, in response to an increasing number of acts of violence towards gay and transgender people. So why has the majority voted down this law? Critics of the law said it would have endangered “freedom of expression” (or freedom to hate and discriminate is the word you are looking for?) and would have paved the way for “homosexual propaganda” in schools (because of course, having a law that makes discrimination a hate crime means that all the children in Italy will automatically decide to be gay?). The bill has been at the centre of public discussion over the past year, as its passage by the Senate has been repeatedly delayed for months. The 315-member senate voted by 154 to 131 on Wednesday to block the debate on the law, which was previously approved by the lower house of parliament. It was particularly interesting how the Italian premier and politician Matteo Renzi chose to fly to Saudi Arabia exactly on the day of the vote. In June, the Vatican took the unprecedented step of lodging a formal complaint against the law, saying it breached the treaty between Italy and the Holy See. The Vatican was concerned that under the Zan law, Catholics risked prosecution for expressing opinions in favour of traditional family structures. But “Italy is a secular state, not a confessional state” as affirmed by Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Over the past couple of decades, attempts by various governments to enact a similar law have been sabotaged, with any progress blocked by a macho culture, the church and support for far-right parties. The most disgusting part of all this is how a room of mostly straight white men, of which the youngest is probably 50
There is nothing more humiliating than using your privilege to crush someone else’s basic human rights.
Image Credit: Beatrice Ariu
years old, loudly cheer and applaud after the result of the vote was announced. Senators also asked for the vote to be secret, meaning that they did not have to declare their position publicly. Are these people supposed to represent a country of 60+ million people? Are these cowards supposed to represent me? The videos of the moment rapidly spread on social media, sparking strong reactions and mobilisation in less than 24 hours. Thousands of people gathered in public spaces around Italy shining torches on their phones “against the darkness of intolerance”, as a result of the bill’s defeat. Other protests were held in Brescia, Mantua, Palermo and Rome, where people gathered in the shadow of the Colosseum to express their disappointment at the Senate vote. A poll in July suggested that the law had popular support, with 62% of Italians in favour of the reform. The Italian fashion world also showed their disappointment, including Valentino, Roberto Cavalli, Gucci and Versace, using their Instagram account to get vocal about what’s happening in the country. One speaker at the Milan rally affirmed how he had suffered homophobic abuse and was hospitalised for months after being beaten up on the street, all because he had silver hair. That Wednesday Italy lost a chance to be more inclusive, but particularly more civilised. Whoever applauded that day, applauded a failure of the morality of my country. Applauded hate, discrimination, and injustice. I do not want to tell my children that I was part of these years of Italian history, because there is nothing more humiliating than using your privilege to crush someone else’s basic human rights. But sadly, I must admit, I was not surprised when the Zan law was turned down. According to an article by the Guardian of 2019, more than half of Italians surveyed in a poll have said that racist acts are either sometimes or always “justifiable”. This poll was carried out just after a series of high-profile racist and antisemitic incidents across the country. The polling firm conducts the same survey once a year and for the first time in a decade, the majority did not condemn racism.
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express Although Italy approved same-sex civil unions in 2016 (which is not even close to same-sex marriage) the country lags behind other European countries and is on a similar footing with countries like Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania in terms of anti-homophobia measures. I will never forget the case of Malika Chalhy, a 22-year-old girl from Tuscany, who was thrown out of her own house and sent death threats by her family when she came out as gay. I will never forget the death of 22-year-old Maria Paola Gaglione, who died in a motorbike accident chased by their brother, who couldn’t accept her relationship with a trans man. The young woman and her boyfriend were riding a scooter together trying to get home when they were chased by her brother on a motorbike, who was kicking and ramming the vehicle until the couple lost control. The two of them had repeatedly had death threats before the accident. In 2019, over 100 hates crimes were reported to the Italian police, concerning bias against a particular sexual orientation or gender identity. It was also reported that 40% of hate crimes were physical assaults, while 30% were an incitement to violence. A homophobia and transphobia helpline run by the Gay Centre association in Italy receives about 20.000 help requests a year from those who experience violence or threats. How can these people be denied protection in one of the most “developed” countries in the world? Italy is homophobic. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Italians are denied acceptance and are not seen by society. They are denied fundamental human rights and protection. The fact that Italian law does not recognise hate crime or hate speech when it is levelled against queer people is insane. Since 2020, at least 138 additional hate crimes against LGBT Italians have been recorded, and several trans women were murdered, according to a research paper by Callahan. I was born and raised in a country where you would never see two
Image Credit: Beatrice Ariu
OPINION
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people of the same sex holding hands. However, over the years the situation got better as new generations shared ideas across the internet. What has not changed is the type of people who are in charge of this country. I consider myself to be privileged, as I am a white heterosexual woman who has social and economic opportunities to travel and live the life I want to live without constraints. But there is another part of society, in every country, that suffers from legislations and laws that were made by straight white men. I believe the problem here is not that the law was not passed, but who decided to turn it down. The problem is why they thought it was right to do so. Believing that discrimination is considered as ‘freedom of thought’ is just ridiculous. This is not my country. Italy is the people who protested in the streets after the bill was not passed. People with LGBT+ flags want to make everyone feel accepted. I don’t want to be waiting another fifty years before the situation changes again. Italy needs to listen to young voices, different ethnicities, abled and disabled people, genderfluid individuals whose voices have been ignored for too long. I don’t want to be ashamed of where I come from, because these decisions do not reflect me. And whoever sits in Parliament, making decisions about whether is right or wrong to discriminate, don’t know what they are talking about. They sit on top of their beautiful throne because they have been so lucky to be born in the most privileged situation. I would love for my country to accept diversity and realise its potential, rather than trying to hide it under the carpet. Situations like these should not be made possible under EU and international laws. Basic human rights are endangered, and hate is perpetuated. The European Union needs to recognise the gravity of the situation, making its member states accountable for their decisions. In 2021, civil rights cannot be considered an option.
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BYLINE VOLUME 7 ISSUE 5
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EDITORIAL
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Issue five
Hello! And welcome to another edition of the University Express and consequently another edition of Byline. It feels like the college weeks are just flying by (and not just because I make it to campus 15% of the time). I have another couple of features for you today, one on NFTs and one on an old passion of mine, K-pop. Kind of a random combination but that’s what student media is all about! Expressing one’s self. Our cover this week is a pair of Air Force 1s painted by Cork artist Ice (@custom.iced on Instagram). I’ve loved Ice’s work for a while and I’m very close to getting a commission done myself. If you see me rocking Kimi no Na wa themed AF1s around campus then you know where I got them. If anyone wants to make me aware of an artist for future covers then hit me up at Byline@uccexpress.ie or on my socials. Byline is packed with content for you this week, with a preview of the Cork International Film Festival, a review of Cork’s recent Kneecap concert and an analysis of voyeurism, there’s no reason to keep reading my rants instead of flicking the page!
Jack Coleman Byline Editor
byline@uccexpress.ie
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photography OUT AND ABOUT IN cORK PHOTOS BY Méabh lonergan
Gaeilge
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Seanfhocail le húsáid ar líne CAITRÍONA O’CONNELL Eagarthóir Gaeilge
Is minic a chloistear an ráiteas “Ba bhreá liom níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid - ach níl a fhios agam conas gur cheart a leithéid a dhéanamh!’ Seo roinnt seanfhocal* le chur i do bhio nó mar theideal ar do phictiúr ar Instagram agus cúpla focal a úsáid ar na meáin shóisialta. Más rud é gur pictiúr d’oíche amach é le do chairde, nó de do mhadra, nó díot féin is tú ag taisteal, ag imirt spóirt, nó ag ithe béile breá, tá seanfhocal ann chuige sin!
Ag dul amach:
Bia:
Nuair a bhíonn an deoch istigh, bíonn an chiall amuigh – when drink Is milis an rud an saol – Life is sweet. is in, sense is out. Bia don chorp, deoch don bheol, comhrá, damhsa agus ceol…- Food Lá ar meisce agus lá ag ól uisce – A day being drunk and a day for the body, drink for the lips, chat, dancing and good music ( sin iad drinking water. na rudaí a cheaptar chun go mbeadh saol deas agat). Sceitheann fíon fírinne – Wine releases the truth/loosens the tongue. Marbh le tae agus marbh gan é – Dead with tea and dead without it. Spléachadh isteach i bhflaithis Dé an ceol – Music is a glimpse of Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán – Small amounts are sweer. heaven. Oíche aerach agus maidin bhrónach – A fun night and a sad morning. Ní thagann an óige faoi dhó choíche – You are only young once.
Frasaí ionsparáideacha: Níl tuile ann nach dtránn – There is no flow that does not ebb. Níl uasal ná íseal ach thuas seal agus thíos seal – There isn’t nobility or ignobility, but up for a while and down for a while. Is ait an mac an saol – Life is a strange business.
Spórt: Ní bhíonn an rath ach mar a mbíonn an smacht – There is no success without discipline. Ní féidir gach cluiche a thabhairt leat – You can’t win every game. Níl pá gan chrá – No pain, no gain.
Grá:
Maireann lá go ruaig ach maireann an gra go huaigh – A day lasts Dá fhada an lá, tagann an tráthnóna – However long the night. The until it is chased away, but love lasts until the grave. day will come. Grá inneall na beatha agus tiománaí an tsaoil – Love is the engine of Ní mar a shíltear a bhítear – It is never as you imagine. life and it drives the world. Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann do dhuine éigin – It’s an evil wind that Uireasa a mhéadaíonn cumha – Absence makes the heart grow doesn’t blow good for somebody. fonder. An rud is annamh is iontach – The thing that is rare is wonderful. Bíonn súil leis an bhfarraige – The sea offers hope. Bí fírinneach duit féin – Be true to yourself.
Taisteal:
Is aoibheann dul ar cuairt agus is fearr i gcónaí bheith i do thigh féin – It’s nice to go on a visit, but there’s no place better to be than at Tar éis doininne soineann na hoíche – After bad weather comes fine home. skies. Castar na daoine ar a chéile! - People meet each other/ It’s a small world. Bailíonn brobh beart – Every little counts.
Cairde:
Is maith an scáthán súil charad – A friend’s eye is a good mirror.
Bíonn siúlach scéalach –Travel broadens the mind. Sonas:
Gáire geal an leigheas is fearr – Happy laughter is the best medicine. Amhail an fíon is fearr, feabhsaíonn cumann le haois – Like the best Ná cur an sonas ar athlá! – Don’t postpone joy! wine, friendship improves with age. Níl costas ar chineáltas – Kindness costs nothing. Gioraíonn beirt bóthar – Two shorten the road.
Bain spraoi as gach lá agus gach oíche ó imíonn an bheatha ar nós na gaoithe – Enjoy every day and every night since life passes by at Níl rud níos géire ná teanga mhná – There is nothing sharper than a the speed of light. woman’s tongue. Glac an saol mar a thagann sé! – Take life as it comes! An áit a bhíonn mná bíonn caint – Wherever there are women there Bia breá, gáire minic, agus an grá gan teorainn! – Eat well, laugh is talk. often, love much. Inis dom cé hiad do chairde agus neosfaidh me duit cé tú féin – Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are. Is fearr cairde ná ór – Friends are better than gold.
Níl aon chara mar sheanchar – There’s no friend like an old friend. Ní saol é go cuideachta charad – We cannot have a perfect life without friends. An té a bhuailfeadh mo mhadra, buailfeadh sé mé féin! – Love me, love my dog!
*Fuaireas na seanfhocail seo as “Proverbs In Irish” le Garry Bannister, 2017 (BÁC).
gaeilge
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Seanfhocail le húsáid ar líne CAITRÍONA O’CONNELL Eagarthóir Gaeilge
Chuas isteach chuig an bpictiúrlann chun an scannán seo a fheiscint leis an réamhthuairim go rabhas chun an-chuid fulaingt agus marú a fheiscint. Rud a chuir iontas agus pléisiúr orm ab ea an scéal coscrach de chuid Cholmáin Sharkey (Dónall Ó Héalaí) nó an plota agus scannánaíocht dhocreidte a tháinig os mo chomhair ar an scáileán sa phictiúrlann. Tá an scannán suite in 1845, i gConamara. Iascaire is ea Colmán Sharkey, atá ina chónaí ar chósta an Atlantaigh lena bhean chéile agus a mhac. Cónaíonn deartháir Cholmáin, Seán, (Eoin Ó Dubhghaill), leo agus cabhraíonn sé leo na prátaí a fhás. Cuirtear ceist ar Cholmán fear darbh ainm dó Patsy Kelly (Dara Devaney) a thógaint isteach,toisc go bhfuil sé tar éis an cabhlach a fhágaint. Bíonn ar Cholmán Patsy a thógaint isteach agus de réir a chéile tagann dúchan na bprátaí go Conamara. Ní féidir le Colmán na rátaí cíosa a íoc, agus an tiarna talún ag árdú an cíos. Tar éis eachtra scanrúil ina dtagann fir an tiarna talún chuig teach Cholmáin chun an t-airgead a bhailiú uaidh agus gunna amháin á iompar acu, iarrann Colmán ar an tiarna talún bualadh leis agus plé a dhéanamh ar na rátaí, de bharr an easpa bia. Agus an triúr fear ag tigh an tiarna talún, ní théann gach rud mar ba chóir agus ní ghéilleann an tiarna talún, agus bíonn iarmhairtí tubaisteacha ann dá bharr sin …
raibh sé beagáinín fuilteach chun a bheith ag ráta aoise 12A, ach b’fhéidir gurb é sin díreach mise agus mé éisealach go leor! Bhí an aisteoireacht go hiontach, mheasas go raibh an-chuid ionracais agus tuisceana ag na haisteoirí, go háirithe ag Dónall Ó Healaí ina ról, is é sa phríomhpháirt. Léiríodh an chinniúint mhilteanach a bhí i gceist do dhaoine ag an am agus nach raibh aon rud nach ndéanfadh daoine chun bia a fháil dóibh féin agus iad ag fáil bháis den ocras. Cuirtear béim ar an tábhacht a bhaineann le cineáltacht dhaonna agus daonnacht agus a bheith ag faireadh amach do dhaoine eile; chomh maith leat féin. Thaitin carachtar Dhónaill Uí Héalaí, Colmán, liom toisc go raibh sé ag iarraidh a chuid a dhéanamh chun an domhan a fheabhsú fiú agus a shaol féinig ag titim as a chéile mórthimpeall air.
Chuaigh an scannánaíocht i bhfeidhm go mór orm, i dtaobh an tírdhreach álainn de chuid Chonamara agus na radharcanna mallghluaiseachta agus an t-aicsean moillithe a fheiscint. Measaim gur chabhraigh sé leis an lucht féachana dul i dtaithí leis na mothúchán go léir os a gcomhair. Bhí Gaolainn Chonamara go láidir in úsáid sa scannán agus fiú dom féin agus mé i mo Ghaeilgeoir, bhí sé deacair le tuiscint uaireanta agus bhí na fotheidil fíor-úsáideach mar sin! I mo thuairim, is scannán iontach é seo atá fíor-oideachasúil don aos óg agus dóibh siúd atá aosta araon agus beidh gach duine ag caochadh na súl Bhaineas fíor-thaitneamh as an scannán, fiú gur cheapas go chun cúl a choimeád ar na deora roimh dheireadh an scannáin
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20
NFTs - A Tech Fad or Here to Stay? JACK COLEMAN Byline Editor
You may have heard murmurings of Non-fungible tokens or NFTs while scrolling social media (you may have heard more than murmurings depending on who you follow). Essentially, NFTs are certificates of authenticity for items that are easily copied (like pictures and videos). Using blockchains, the ownership of an NFT is of public record. For those unaware (I was), a blockchain is a list of records (like transactions) that are linked together. Each block contains information about the previous block. This makes data within blockchains harder to change as each block “strengthens” the next block, meaning if someone wanted to change a block then all subsequent blocks would also have to be changed. NFTs come from the same breed of new-age money-making schemes as cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrency is more understandable to people as they essentially behave like stocks, and the idea of a currency having value makes sense. NFTs as a concept is harder to digest because the things that people “own” are so easily reproducible, you can right-click and save perfect copies of any of the pictures that people claim to own. Crypto reply guys will liken their RNGgenerated monkey drawings to the Mona Lisa, saying you can cheaply buy a replica of the Mona Lisa but only the Louvre “owns” the Mona Lisa. I find this comparison especially funny because the Mona Lisa is likely the most famous painting in the world and NFT art is generally of poor quality. However, one can’t argue with the market value of these pieces. “Everyday: the First 5000 Days”, a collage of 5,000 images created by artist Michael Winkelmann sold for $69.3 million in February. So, as funny as it can be to see “NFT bros” get dunked on, there is clearly a market there for the new medium. NFTs are predictably combined with cryptocurrency, the way of choice for purchasing NFTs. Digital certificates of authenticity bought with cryptocurrency, all stored on blockchains. At this point, some people would feel it’s time to herald the late-stage capitalism digital apocalypse. Though a market can exist in any climate, I can’t help but think NFTs and cryptocurrency are especially financially artificial. We’ve seen how unstable these markets can be with Elon Musk tweets causing large crashes in the value of certain coins. And how will governments and government agencies interact with this community and these mechanisms? Recently, a Twitter user known as Calvin Becerra allowed hackers posing as good samaritans into his MetaMask (crypto wallet) account and they stole the authenticity certificates for three of his NFT apes. The combined value of these three NFTs was around $770,000. After getting scammed, Calvin stated that he reported the hackers to the FBI. The irony being that an “advantage” of crypto and NFTs is that they operate mostly outside the jurisdiction of central governments. Calvin’s statement that he wouldn’t be changing his Twitter profile picture from one of the stolen apes because it’s “still my ape” was especially funny
There are also concerns over the environmental impact of NFTs.
because isn’t the whole point of an NFT that the certificate means everything? You don’t own it, Calvin, not anymore. This saga was documented on the popular Twitter account @CoinersTakingLs if anyone is curious. I doubt the FBI can help Calvin now. There are also concerns over the environmental impact of NFTs. Since NFTs use cryptocurrency for transactions and crypto is mined using high-powered computers (which run on electricity), each transaction has a much larger carbon footprint than a regular transaction. In fact, Digiconomist estimates that an NFT transaction is x14 more taxing to the environment than mailing a paper art print to someone. This is why when Tesla announced that they were accepting Bitcoin as payment for their cars, people were confused as the cost of mining Bitcoin eats into the lower carbon footprint generated by driving an electric car. However, massive corporations continue to pollute the Earth with impunity so it looks like we’re goosed anyway. NFTs are continuing to expand, even into the gaming sphere. The idea of the “metaverse” is at the forefront of this development, the idea being that players will earn NFTs as an incentive for playing, translating into real-world value if NFT games catch on. Now, as someone who plays games either to satiate a competitive spirit or for fun, not to earn money, this sounds like a nightmare to me. But if you want to be a productive member of an artificial society then that is your prerogative. That won’t stop me from clowning people who say they won’t be playing a game unless it has an “NFT-based economy” though. NFTs (along with crypto) is a growing trend. Will this new digital economy stand the test of time or is it another money-making fad? Only time will tell.
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21
Has K-Pop stopped being niche? JACK COLEMAN Byline Editor
I first got into Korean pop music at the beginning of 2017. The genre was beginning to pick up serious steam at that time, with acts like BTS and BLACKPINK just starting to hit the Western market. However, the genre was still seen as unusual at the time. If you told someone in 2017 that you listened to K-Pop, there was a 50% chance they’d have no idea what you were talking about and a 50% chance that they’d have heard about K-pop but didn’t know what it was fully. To illustrate this, in 2017 the Kpop subreddit on Reddit.com had 66.1k subscribers. In comparison, as of today, it has now reached over 1 million subscribers.
collaborations with artists like Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Cardi B and a fully English Netflix documentary under their belts, BLACKPINK is a household name these days.
Though BTS and BLACKPINK are certainly the behemoths of K-pop, commanding incredible popularity everywhere they go, they have brought new eyes to the entire world of K-pop and Korean entertainment culture. The popularity of variety shows like Running Man, Knowing Brothers and Hello Counselor has been steadily increasing among western audiences. K-Pop groups with smaller fanbases (which means they are large In 2017, BTS was a huge act in South Korea but among but not BTS-level) like Red Velvet, ATEEZ, TWICE, LOONA Western audiences, they were a plucky underground boy and NCT have also seen a growth in their international group that had fanatical fans but hadn’t broken the Western fanbases in the wake of the growing popularity of the genre. mainstream. The release of “DNA” and Steve Aoki’s remix of “Mic Drop” in late 2017 started BTS’s rise to popularity in the The popularity of Korean dramas actually predates the rise West, a performance by the group at the American Music of K-pop to a certain extent, K-dramas had a cult following Awards showcased that they were here to stay. With two for years. The iconic Boys Over Flowers comes to mind. movie releases, multiple chart-toppers and a performance at But these days, there are so many good Kdramas coming the Grammys under their belt, BTS is a worldwide music force. out right now. Netflix is currently populated with really highquality original Kdramas like Sweet Home, Itaewon Class, BLACKPINK debuted in late 2016 and steadily became a Tempted and Kingdom. There really is a boom in Korean force in the West in their own right. There is a lot of debate entertainment right now and I’m enjoying every bit of it. among BTS and BLACKPINK fans about whether BLACKPINK followed in BTS’s wake or that they “paved the way” as So, to answer, has K-Pop stopped being niche? I believe a joint effort. Either way, both groups now have massive the answer is yes. Most people of our generation and fanbases in the West. BLACKPINK took a conservative younger will know what K-pop is and they’ll almost certainly approach with their music, only releasing singles and at least have heard of the biggest groups. They’re playing smaller EPs until the release of their first studio album “The BLACKPINK on RTÉ 2fm for god sake. I’m not as into K-Pop Album” in late 2020. BLACKPINK were so popular that they as I was back in 2017 but writing this piece has made me went on a world tour with a very limited discography. With nostalgic, it’s time to dig up the old Spotify playlist I think.
FILM & TV
22 Roll-up, roll-up, the Cork International Film Festival is coming your way CORMAC MCCARTHY Film & TV Editor
The Irish film industry has gone from strength to strength in the past few years. From this small island, we have made our mark on the global cinema landscape, both in front and behind the camera. And on display from the 5th to the 21st of November is the evidence of that talent. Boasting an impressive array selection that includes a wide range of foreign and domestically produced films from all genres, it is sure to be a terrific event for all ages and interests. The 66th festival kicked off on the fifth of November with screenings all around the city, where there was the chance to meet the cast and crews of these films in an up close and intimate environment. It is now in full swing and has been a tremendous success.
Irish entries:
Ones to watch:
Holy Island (Dir: Robert Mason) – Wednesday 10th, Everyman theatre. Released in stunning black in white, the film is about Rosa and David, a pair of lost souls living in a town at the end of its tether. A film about struggling with identity and isolation, it sees the pair attempting to leave the town to start a new life before it’s too late. Features a Q+A with the director.
Flee (Dir: Jonas Puher Rasmussen) – Friday, November 12th 8:15 pm, The Gate Cinema.
Amin came to Denmark as an unaccompanied minor fleeing the conflict in Afghanistan. Now, aged 36, he has become a successful academic and is about to settle into married life with his long-term partner, but then his past comes back to haunt him. Where the Merrows Roam (Dir: Colin Hickey) - Sunday 7th, Poher Rasmussen’s ingenious animated rendering of Amin’s Triskel Arts Centre. A daring film, it forgoes dialogue and a refugee story makes for a tender and empathetic cinematic distinct plot and uses only its score to punctuate the visuals. It account of one person discovering how they are who they are. is an experimental film that is an examination of the nature of (Copy Written by Rohan Berry Crickmar) childhood. It traces the innocence of adolescence through to the Memoria (Dir: Apichatpong Weerasethakul) – Saturday, modern world. Featuring Q+A with director November 6th, 7:45 pm, The Gate Cinema. Starring Tilda Foscadh (Dir: Seán Breathnach) – Monday 8th, Triskel Arts Swinton, we find our protagonist, Jessica Holland, in the Centre. Ireland’s official entry into the 2022 foreign language Columbian jungle, attempting to find out the origin of a recurring category, this film is about the nature of family and what happens sound that it seems only she can hear. A uniquely visual film, to those left behind. Literally translated as shelter, this Irish it showcases the beauty of the Colombian rainforest and its language film is a delicate piece about apprehension towards people. the future and struggling with fear.
Short Films: Irish shorts – The festival will be holding many nights of short films from all aspects of Ireland. It features an eclectic collection of films, both in fiction and in documentary form, that are sure to delight, intrigue, and shock. Ones to watch would be “Kettle”, directed by Dominic Curran, and “Faitíós”, directed by Martha Fitzgerald. All of these films will be judged by the committee and the winners will be unveiled on a special screening night in the Everyman on Friday, November 12th at 5. International shorts – Similar to the Irish shorts event, the international shorts competition will be a showcase of short films from all around the world. Ones to watch are “Blue”, directed by Frederic Bayer Azem, and “Some kind of Intimacy”, directed by Toby Bull. There are many nights of this showcase but be sure to go along to the selection of winners showcase. This will be held on November 12th at the Everyman theatre. Cork Shorts – This is a collection of locally sourced, gourmet Corkonian short films. This will feature shorts from our very own UCC Film & Screen Media as well as others from local filmmakers.
23 FILM & TV Dune: Denis Villeneuve’s dazzling epic finally comes to the Big screen CORMAC MCCARTHY Film & TV Editor
In the press tour, director Denis Villeneuve highlighted how important it is for audiences to view his new film Dune on the big screen. He was quoted as saying that “to watch Dune on a television, the best way I can compare it is to drive a speedboat in your bathtub.” So, naturally, I put it to the test and hauled a speedboat into the bathtub. After a fruitless half an hour where the upstairs bathroom lay in ruins, I relented and headed down to the Gate Cinema on North Main Street to watch the new film.
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Ferguson) in the ways of the Bene Gesserit, an ancient, female cult where women are trained in both mental and physical skillsets. Chalamet shows off why he is the film star he is at the moment. His boyish charm combined with a sense of innocence is what makes him perfect for the role. He carries the film with
However, it is Ferguson who more than steals the show as Within the first ten minutes, I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing Lady Jessica. The audience immediately connects with her with Mr. Villeneuve. The Epic two and half hour long space opera character and you feel the intense pain and pressure that she boasts sweeping visuals, a bombastic Hans Zimmer score and thrilling is under. Never mawkish nor scenery-chewing, she portrays a strong heroine whose path is full of trepidation and uncertainty. scenes of intense action that demands to be viewed in the cinema. Serious praise has to be given to the production design. The science Many production houses have struggled to adapt the dense, fiction genre often finds itself becoming homogenous. The tropes of but beloved, novel to the big screen in the past. The only time prophecies, space travel and the concept of kingdoms vying for control it has ever arrived in full form was in 1984 when David Lynch was often are well trod and films often find it difficult to set themselves apart given the reins. However, this version left most, if not all, with from the crowd. This is where the worldbuilding aspect of Dune comes disappointment. It was displeasing to both the fans of the book for to the forefront. It is filled with tiny intricate details, from the design not having enough of a connection to the source material and also to of the carpets, military clothing, scripts and calligraphy, and to the newcomers for not being exciting or engaging as a story. However, everyday gadgets used by the characters. An example is when we get this adaptation leaves no disappointment. Having not read the a glimpse of the inner workings of the spice harvesting process where book, I was perfectly able to follow the film without any hiccups. the machines all have a distinct old and shoddy look, where each one The screenwriters, Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts, carefully interweave has its own clear part to play. All of these aspects set the film apart from the many plotlines, constructing a clear and concise narrative for its contemporaries where everything in the film has a tangible feel. the viewer. Set in the year 10191, the film concerns itself with the Overall, I have to give serious praise to the film in all aspects. It is not battle for control over a substance known as “Spice”, a mineral that the blockbuster that we have grown to expect. It doesn’t feel the need can only be found on one desert-like planet. It is as the stewardship to throw in multiple quippy jokes about pop culture, nor does it include is being handed over to the House of Atreides that the film begins. the staple densely packed CG battle scenes where we lose track of Here, we see Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) as the son our heroes instantly. Instead, it is a perfectly paced, thoughtful film that guides the viewer through its unique world without ever losing their of Duke Atreides (Oscar Isaac) growing into adulthood and interest for a second. See it now before part two rolls along in 2023 slowly learning of the inner workings of what his future role will be. Meanwhile, he is being trained by his mother (Rebecca Five Stars.
FOOD & HEALTH
24
Fakeaway Frenzy
NATHAN CAREY Food and Health Editor During the last 2 years, I’ve noticed a sharp increase in the number of people trying to imitate their favourite takeaway dishes. Especially during the pandemic when so many of our favourite spots were closed. Sometimes all we want to do after a long day of college is sit back and order one of our favourite takeaway dishes. These quick meals are often perfect for hitting the spot, but the costs can rack up pretty quickly. What if you could recreate some of these dishes at home with ingredients you may already have in the kitchen? It turns out it’s not that difficult! Not only can these substitutes be cheaper and healthier, but the ability to modify them to your tastes makes them the perfect comfort food. Today I’m going to share with you a couple of recipes for fakeaway meals that rival the real thing! First up is some of the best honey sesame chicken around. Crispy chicken in a sweet and tangy sauce that can be served up with rice and fresh vegetables like steamed broccoli. This dish is sure to crush all your cravings.
Honey & Sesame Chicken The chicken in this recipe can be dredged and coated in the spiced flour mixture in advance and placed into the fridge until you are ready to fry it up and make the sauce, this can save a bit of time if you are making this dish in a hurry! Why not make a large batch and have honey sesame chicken ready to go in the fridge all week long!
Ingredients: For the chicken: 3 chicken breasts 2 eggs beaten 2 cups of flour 1tsp each paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper Enough neutral oil (I chose vegetable) to coat the bottom of a frying pan For the sauce: 3 garlic cloves finely minced 1tbsp sesame oil 80g soy sauce 80g honey 80g ketchup 2 tsp rice vinegar (you can use regular as well) 2 tsp cornstarch Optional for garnish: Sesame seeds Finely sliced spring onion
Method: Chop the chicken breasts into bite size pieces. Prepare a quick dredging station consisting of 1 bowl of beaten eggs, 1 bowl with flour and spices mixed together and 1 empty plate to place coated chicken onto. Using one hand for dry mixing and one for wet, coat the bite size pieces of chicken in the egg. Once fully coated and drained of excess egg, place it into the bowl of flour. Using your other hand gently coat the chicken in the flour making sure each piece is fully coated. Place on a plate and continue to coat all pieces. When ready to fry, heat the vegetable oil in the frying pan on high heat until it reads about 175°C. If you don’t have a thermometer I highly suggest picking one up for a couple of euro as they make frying a breeze, however, you can also allow the oil to heat on high for a couple of minutes and test its temperature with one of the chicken pieces. It should start to bubble but not brown too quickly. Carefully place the chicken pieces into the hot oil and fry until they are a golden brown colour, be sure to flip them every so often so that they can brown evenly. Work in batches to fry all of your chicken pieces and take extra care around the hot oil. Place the fried chicken on kitchen paper to drain excess oil. To make the honey sauce, add finely chopped garlic to a pan with 1 tbsp of sesame oil and fry for about a minute on medium-low heat. Add soy sauce, honey, ketchup, rice wine vinegar and cornstarch to the pan and stir to evenly combine. Simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce is thick and glossy. Add the fried chicken to the sauce and mix to coat. Serve with rice and steamed broccoli and garnish with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and spring onions.
FOOD & HEALTH
25 Better than Boojum Burrito Bowl
Next up is one of my go-to lunch dishes. If you know me (and our Editor in Chief, Imasha), we are huge fans of Boojum. Sometimes you just need that burrito hit at a slightly cheaper price and with more bang for your buck. This burrito bowl recipe is easy to make and completely customisable. Instead of chicken why not try pork or beef. You can even make the whole thing vegan by loading up on the vegetables. This burrito bowl can truly not be beaten. Each component is bursting with flavour and can almost be eaten on its own! There are literally thousands of flavour combinations you can play around with. Of course, if you’d prefer to serve this up in a tortilla you can! Add all the components into the centre of a large tortilla and roll into a burrito. As with most of my recipes, this one lends itself well to meal prepping. You can even prepare multiple bowls and freeze them for up to one month. Ingredients: 100g rice 1 chicken thigh (or breast) 2 tsp olive oil Paprika 1 can black beans (any kind of beans will do here) 1 red pepper 1 avocado 3 cloves garlic 3 large tomatoes Coriander 1 red onion 1 block of feta 1 lime Hot sauce Method: Preheat your oven to 200°C. Coat the chicken in 1 tsp of olive oil, salt, pepper and a dash of paprika. Cook for 20 minutes. Place 100g of rice into a sieve and wash twice until the water runs clear. This step is important to avoid excess starch and mushy rice. Place the washed rice and 1.5x times water (150ml in this case) into a pot. Place on high heat until the water just starts to bubble, immediately turn the heat to low and cover with a lid. Do not remove the lid or stir for 12 minutes. Once cooked, fluff up with a fork and stir in half a limes worth of juice and some chopped coriander. To make a quick pico de gallo, core and finely chop 3 large tomatoes and half of red onion. Mix in a bowl with 1 clove of minced garlic, chopped coriander, the other half of lime juice and salt and pepper to taste. If you like extra heat you can add a whole fresh chilli to this salsa! To make the garlicky beans, add 2 cloves of minced garlic to 1 tsp of olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add a tin of drained beans to the pot along with salt and pepper to taste and a dash of chilli flakes. Simmer on low until the beans are heated through, about 3 minutes. To fry off the vegetables, transfer the beans to a bowl. Add chopped red pepper and the other half of the red onion to the pan and fry on medium heat for 5 minutes. When all the components are ready you can build your bowl. Add the rice to the bottom of your dish. Slice the chicken and avocado and layer on top of the rice. Spoon over your fried vegetables and pico de gallo. Crumble over some feta and drizzle on your hot sauce.
As always if you make any of the recipes featured in the Express, we would love to see them! You can post a picture on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #ExpressCooks.
MUSIC
26
Kneecap: a breath of fresh air in all the right directions FLORRIE MCCARTHY Music Editor While this column missed the mark in a big way in the last issue in terms of timing, describing all the great wonders jazz weekend was to bring and getting published the day after jazz weekend(I know folks, I’m as sorry as you are - I’m sure the magnitude of the secondhand embarrassment you felt experiencing the sheer tension I was purveying for events gone by paled in comparison to the real-deal, first-person dawning of regret), everyone reading this no doubt had a ball of a time swinging through those streets whose cobblestones I described as “shaking with the excitement” regardless. Two weeks later, it still seems only yesterday the bands were marching down Patrick Street blaring the classics, yet also it seems to have come and gone in a flash, the big acts breezing through to grant us the rush we’d all been waiting for - the hot air of a crowded, sweaty, sticky concert venue - and gone in the wind swiftly after. Now, if you happened to read this column in the last issue and saw past the disappointing tardiness to the parts where I mentioned A) that I was going to be wallowing in my misery while working almost all weekend and B) the well-known fact that few of the acts that brought in for jazz weekend really even fit in the general ‘jazz’ namespace these days. Well, while I did miss almost all of the jazz that was on in the surrounding days, I did, thank the heavens, at least get the Saturday off. However, on the flip-side, it wasn’t for jazz; it was to see Irish hip-hop combo Kneecap. Kneecap wasn’t actually brought in as part of the jazz weekend, though it surely helped them add to the hype to line up the concert with the double-whammy of the festival and the big entertainment reopening. Not that they need much of it; the group have been gaining lots of popularity over the last few years, making them into one of Ireland’s hottest native acts today, so it was no surprise that this concert was sold out. The rain was belting against the streets as I trekked into town
from my student accommodation, my thoughts focused on the experience ahead of me to try and drown out my internal grumbling about the bus I missed, so I was truly soaked to the skin when I got to Oliver Plunkett street. On seeing the queue across from the Old Oak I could barely believe it was destined to move inside to watch a real-life concert and this fantastical, disbelieving state lasted right through being bustled through security screening, in the door and up the stairs to open the black double doors to the venue floor scattered with clumps of people looking towards the stage in anticipation of a real person performing music. Hailing from Belfast, Kneecap comes as the typical in-your-face, rebellious package, with aggressive beats, the lavish, broad Belfast twang in the accents and all the colourful language you could look for in a song. Indeed, Kneecap bring all the raucous, blood-rushing fire one might feel watching Straight Outta Compton or listening to classic tracks from other Dr Dre/Tupac contemporaries, prompting thoughts of the first young artists with a chip on their shoulder in the shape of the establishment’s neglect, who barrelled generations of frustration into an audible art form. At a certain level of abstraction through the hardships known to each community are worlds, more than countries, apart - it’s inspiring to think about how the context of Kneecap’s message roughly fits a similar mould. The troubles of Northern Ireland left such a cultural and economic scar on the land that generations would not forget, the air of hurt sticking around for years. The grit and aggression of Kneecap’s sound and image is an artistic manifestation of this and in this way, I believe they deliver the true spirit of hip-hop from a completely Irish core. Ireland has seen more hip-hop acts come up over the years than one might think, though still not too many. Seeds of where we stand now were planted not too long after the early days of hip-hop globally, with projects like Scary Éire. However, while there is a legacy there that none could deny, in terms of a mainstream scene
27 one might argue that none of these have really stuck. Granted, it’s only really within the last ten to twenty years that the genre has grown from its character of the unruly, unwanted rebel youth into the shiny, commercial crown it wears today as the phenomenon it has become. Thus, we find ourselves in a position for young Irish people who feel that neglect and oppression from the universe - or maybe just the government - to push their message to the world through this megaphone whose mother is frustration, hip-hop. Some players in this game throughout the last four decades have used the tool of humour to easily accelerate their content to centre stage(one could argue Kneecap bring an element of this), for example, TPM, Rubber Bandits and current sensation Versatile. But one notices if one looks in the right places, a subtle surge of new Irish rappers who want to make real, serious music, for young Irish people to listen to and who have the potential to get famous from Ireland outwards, and Kneecap made room for them on the night. Initially the main concentration of people fell to the back of the hall, with a thick queue to the cloakroom and an even thicker wall of people at the bar. I joined both in that order and subsequently made my way towards the front where the main floor and stage are. The first opening act, Tuath, was not paid a massive amount of attention. An interesting act, the multilingual experimental “triphop”/rock group is from Donegal and Mayo. The act before the main show was one I was interested to see, Dyrt, a rapper from Limerick. I knew nothing about him other than the fact that he was on one of Kneecap’s more recent tracks, MAM. It was an excellent performance, and it again made me excited for the future state of
MUSIC hip-hop in the country. Many of these new acts that are coming up are coming out of Limerick, perhaps understandably so; the somewhat stale reputation of “Stab City” hints at more than enough social turmoil for good hip-hop culture. Names to look out for are Denise Chaila, God Knows, Hazey Haze and (especially, I think) Strange Boy. To deafening roars Kneecap eventually came on, the two lads openly swinging bottles of Buckfast from their hands and DJ Próvaí, the man behind the decks, in his famous tricolour balaclava. The energy was brought to the roof with roars of missing the shows as much as we did, and the songs boomed on throughout the night, right up the walls of the hall and it was clear everyone was thrilled to be back as hoarse voices screamed out the lyrics, even in Irish. Yes, that’s right - as Gaeilge. This is the X-factor that makes Kneecap so exciting. It’s a centrepiece to their music, going hand-in-hand with their disapproval of the years of fruitless spats between far-out groups on either end of the political compass in Northern Ireland and lip service to Northern Ireland from both Irish and British governments, brashly denouncing and mocking the ridiculousness of a conflict that was taboo all throughout their growing up. With the infallible influence of the main media stage and the ingenious element of youth appreciation via shady, illegal, “antisocial” references and themes, Kneecap is in a very advantageous position to bring the Irish language into mainstream pop culture. Without trying to get my hopes up too much, one wonders, then, at the potential laid here for other upcoming Irish hip-hop acts to do the same, which is why for this music editor, Kneecap is a very, very exciting act.
GAMING
28
The Pokémon Card Resurgence (A Hobby Shadowed by Greed) CHLOE BARRETT Gaming Editor Place yourself in 2020, and after the whirlwind of a year, something unexpected climbed out of its depths, seemingly out of nowhere. Pokémon cards. The Pokémon pandemic was an event that swept available cards off of their shelves minutes after shops opened each morning. All ages were desperate to get their hands on any packs within reach, even going to extremes for those last cards. But how did this begin? And most importantly, why? When people were bored in their homes during the pandemic, many picked up hobbies. Some were brand new activities that people finally had time to get around to, while others revisited old passions that they used to enjoy. Pokémon cards can fall into either of these. Collecting the cards is a very accessible thing to do, you don’t need the largest amount of experience to get started. Whether you are using the cards to play the actual game or just collecting them for fun, it is undeniably exciting to pull a card with your fingers crossed, hoping for your favourite Pokémon on the other side. It is quite an addictive thing to do as well. You promised yourself only one more booster pack as you are tearing open your fifth and desperately flipping the cards over for a rare one. Some perhaps may call it a form of gambling, so please buy in moderation!
People who had no interest in Pokémon were rushing out to purchase packs in hopes of drawing a valuable card to sell online after seeing the prices inflate. The industry became less about passionate gamers with a love for Pokémon, it had transformed into something wholly different. And that was due to greed. Collectors were suddenly finding it extremely hard to get their hands on cards and retailers across the globe were facing a shortage. Certain cards were even selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars with active bids urging the prices higher.
The popularity of the cards never died down. Even before the resurgence, many content creators still based their brands off of unboxing cards, and have been doing so for years, such as Leonhart, CandyEvie and Maxmoefoe. Even regular gaming channels sometimes caved and got a few packs. Most of the creators are based on YouTube and Twitch, and people make sure to tune Because of the pure popularity surrounding the resurgence, a in regularly to watch their unboxings and card collection tours. day without a Pokémon unboxing being featured on the YouTube However, people casually buying card packs for their own trending page was incredibly rare. I will admit, watching creators entertainment and eagerly watching unboxing videos were stream and the live comments go insane if they pulled a rare not where the problem began. Infamous YouTuber, Logan card was a degree of thrilling. When we had little else to do, the Paul, was a big influence on the Pokémon spiral by purchasing simple things brought us joy. But, this joy was a nightmare for millions worth of card boxes. That’s right, he spent millions of regular collectors and shop employees alike. Some fans were dollars on Pokémon cards. Even in the past, there were rare upset to see a community they loved descend into a form of cards sold on websites like eBay, such as the in-demand shiny greedy madness. Unaware buyers were being scammed online Charizard. But prices climbed up at an unbelievable pace. over alleged, legit cards for sale, the whole scenario was a mess. Thankfully, the demand has quietened down since then. You have a better chance of stumbling across card packs tucked away on shelves without the risk of getting attacked for them. Logan Paul does seem to have moved on from the genre of card unboxing to something completely different: physical boxing.
That’s right, he spent millions of dollars on Pokémon cards.
29 GAMING Did Memberships in MMO’s go too Far? CHLOE BARRETT Gaming Editor
As a child, I loved turning on my computer, opening google and frantically typing in the address of an online game. Club Penguin, Animal Jam, Moshi Monsters, all gave me great enjoyment. I begged my mother to buy me a monthly membership on them (sorry mom!) so I could unlock the ability to change the colour of my character or buy cool furniture that was locked behind a paywall. But, the current ten-year-olds who use the internet are not playing these games anymore. What happened? Club Penguin and Moshi Monsters are just two of the many games that have closed down. Both shut recently enough, but there is a version of Club Penguin that still exists on the internet, it was rewritten. There is no membership to purchase, everything is unlocked for your gaming pleasure. Regardless, many were more than willing to pay for the membership on the original. These games were everywhere, toy shops stocked plushies from them, little pet Puffles that came with a code for free coins online. Moshi Monsters even had a brand of crisps that you could buy in your weekly shop! The marketing was endless. Memberships became gift cards that were hung inside game shops alongside iTunes vouchers, so inputting your credit card details online was not mandatory anymore. This also became a good incentive for younger players to save their money and buy the memberships themselves. I do understand the logic that the games were still playable without the need for membership. You might not get to participate in members-only monthly events or purchase the newest virtual clothes for your animalistic styled avatar, but the games could still be played. Online server games also need money to run and function correctly, which is an important factor to not forget. When they restricted other features though, that is different territory. Animal Jam, for example, had a chat system. You could type and communicate with other worldwide players that were in the same virtual room as you, but if you were a non-member, your chat was limited. As a nonmember, when you typed, the words would be highlighted in red while the automated chat function tried to guess the word once you began. If the word was not in the game’s dictionary, you could not type it. Members had the freedom to type any symbols and words, as long as no bad language or bullying was detected. This was a different type of restriction from the small choice of animal avatars you could choose from without
membership. People even used to figure out glitches within the game so they could type freely, it was an absurd thing to hide behind a paywall. Even if you had a membership on Animal Jam, additional purchases to enhance your gameplay were still offered. You had your main spending currency to buy most of the clothing, furniture and some animals, but there was another mode, diamonds. New, ‘rare’ animals would cost you diamonds. Fancy houses and animated items asked for them in return. While diamonds were achievable for members by spinning a wheel and gaining some weekly, a lot of players purchased extra. This added to the cost of playing the game if you wanted these features, and obviously, it worked, as the game is still active with regular players. Even the removal of flash did not deter them, it is hard to imagine much else will. However, there are still positives to appreciate about these games. With Animal Jam, as it was created with National Geographic, there are important animal and environmental facts scattered throughout the playable worlds. Players can even donate their virtual currency towards the conservation of endangered species. Moshi Monsters brought out trading cards that were incredibly popular in schools, letting young children bond with others whilst they traded. Club Penguin was bought by Disney with cool events that featured characters from the actual movies. While there are things to rightly critique about all of the online community games, of which there are many, at least they let us have fun online in a relatively safe manner. Even if our parents had to shell out a tenner a month for us to buy cool virtual outfits that we could no longer wear once the membership ran out.
SEXPRESS
30
The casual sex lie EMILY OSBORN Sexpress Editor Depending on the context, casual sex can be vilified, or glorified. Modern society and media for years have been perpetuating the narrative that sexual liberation equals enjoying casual sex and regular one-night stands. Casual sex put simply is the physical intimacy and fun of sex without the romantic or emotional components of a committed relationship. While this can be great, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Sex is something that can bring up a lot of emotions for different people. Some people might be happy with having sex once a year; others every day; and others not at all. The media constantly bombards us with images of people who are strong and independent, with a large part of this image being their ability to enjoy no strings attached sex on a regular basis. The idea is that not letting sex have an emotional hold over a person makes that person strong, independent, and modern. But what does this say about the rest of society, who feel that sex must be a committed and emotionally vulnerable thing to be enjoyable?
foundation to form an actual relationship on. The experience on these apps varies between genders, and for women, the consensus is that these apps are terrible for doing as advertised. There are many reasons for this, one of which is that, in this context, casual sex and hook-ups are experiences that are entirely different for women. Sociologists argue that the different views on casual sex across the gender spectrum can be attributed to gender roles and cultural conditioning, as casual sex can carry major stigma with it. While this may be an aspect of it, many believe that the science behind hormones during sex is more to blame. Let’s be clear, during sex, chemical global warming is happening in our bodies. Oxytocinthe attachment hormone, floods the brain during sexual intercourse, but strangely, this chemical activity occurs more in women than it does in men. This may explain why women are more likely to catch feelings after sex- and why men are more likely to catch a taxi home.
Sex positivity can be a lot of things. Above all, sex positivity is about having the confidence and knowledge to express your sexuality in the way you want to. Hook-up culture often seen online renders this mindset more difficult. The rhetoric constantly seen in society and media is that the only relations they should be having with their preferred gender is purely sexual. This is a damaging message for people of any age, but impressionable young people growing up around this sort of narrative are more likely to develop unhealthy relationships with their peers and with their own sexuality. The development of apps like Tinder and Grindr have blown up the casual sex scene in recent years. Now more than ever, people can find a sex partner in just a few simple steps. Setting aside the obvious dangers apps like these can pose, the emphasis within dating on these apps now lays solely on sexual attraction, leaving a poor
So that’s the science behind it, but as mentioned above, there are more human reasons why people may not enjoy casual sex. The stigma attached to people, especially women, who enjoy casual sex is off-putting at best. As far as sex positivity has come in recent years, maybe our collective psychology hasn’t moved on from feeling as if we’ll become social pariahs from having a one-night stand? Whatever your take on casual sex is, love it or hate it, people will continue to have non-committal sex long after it becomes a social norm. Ultimately, while there is science to explain away why some people enjoy these things where others don’t, people’s sexual preferences and desires shouldn’t define who they are, or their sexuality. As long as all parties involved are having a good time, it shouldn’t and doesn’t matter.
31 Take a Good Look
SEXPRESS
EMILY OSBORN Sexpress Editor I don’t think I stand alone when I say that when I see a couple kissing in public, I cringe. Something about seeing a stranger in that intimate moment makes us feel so uncomfortable as if we are somehow intruding on something private. So why is it that some people like to watch, and like to be watched during sex? Society’s love affair with voyeurism runs deep. From pornography to cam-girls, to swinging, people love the act of watching. And yet, public displays of affection are seen as a total faux pas. It’s worth saying that public displays of affection, while some people cringe at the thought of them, are not necessarily a bad thing. Physical touch and closeness are often a sign that you are comfortable and trusting around your partner, and it’s a natural human instinct to want to show your affection for your loved ones through touch. However, on the contrary, these displays of affection could also be a sign of insecurity within a relationship, as if you are trying to convince your partner of your feelings towards them. It can also be a signal to any potential love rival that your partner is strictly off-limits, which can come across as quite toxic. Public displays of affection are often also taken for granted by straight and cisgender people. Members of the LGBTQ+ community often aren’t afforded the freedom to express their love for their partner in public without worrying about who is around them. So why is displaying your affection for your lover in public so polarising? Social media has added a new layer to the number of PDAs people see on a regular basis, with explore pages worldwide showcasing many picture-perfect edits of loving couples. A part of our distaste for PDAs, in this context, may simply be envy. The single population may view these intense displays of affection and wonder why they can’t have something similar. It can also be intensely uncomfortable for people to see public displays of affection, as they themselves are not comfortable engaging in it. The idea of kissing or holding hands in public is borderline hellish for some and seeing other people canoodling in the open can stir up feelings of awkwardness. Other people just feel that affection like this is better kept in the bedroom or the privacy of your own home. So, what about Voyeurism? Voyeurism is the name given to the enjoyment of viewing other people naked or having sex. People who enjoy voyeurism describe it as an entirely different way to experience sex. While some aspects of voyeurism are entirely normalised in society, such as watching pornography, other activities such as allowing another party to watch while
you and your partner get down and dirty, stray to the more taboo side of kink. The voyeurism kink as a whole has a certain stigma about it, with terms like ‘peeping Tom’ being used to point out the potential creepiness of the fetish. Interestingly, voyeurism is a term that is often used in a derogatory manner, despite its prevalence as a kink in society. Voyeurism is even categorised as a mental health disorder, being described as gaining gratification from non-consensually viewing people either naked or engaging in sexual intercourse. Voyeurism is even illegal in the UK, with offences such as upskirting being categorized under this law. While this and the entirely consensual kink are totally opposite ends of a spectrum, it’s clear that consent is a major part of voyeurism, as with any kink or fetish. To link back to why so many people feel uncomfortable viewing public displays of affection, this could be due to the fact that they have basically non-consensually viewed this moment of intimacy between partners, which is an unsettling thought at best. The feeling of intrusion, whether it be in public displays of affection or in voyeurism, is what makes both of these things potentially uncomfortable. We all want to feel like we are in control of ourselves and what we are seeing, and that feeling being taken away is more than just a turn off. Both PDAs and Voyeurism are things that can be and are enjoyed by couples worldwide. Consent is a major part of what makes these activities enjoyable, and people who regularly engage in these find them both exciting and fulfilling, and a great way to strengthen their relationship and at excitement to their sex lives. Whatever the case, next time you get the urge to shift your partner in between lectures, maybe have a look around to make sure nobody is watching first.
FASHION
32 The Big and the Bold: Statement Earrings CLAIRE WATSON Fashion Editor
Big, bright, and bold. Dangling from either ear, statement earrings are back and are here to stay. Whether it’s adding an exciting twist, playing with conventions, or simply stating your personality, there’s an earring for every occasion. Mods were a global youth movement from the 1960s, and found in this fashion subculture, are statement earrings. Though the mod movement began to die out in the late 60s, it has been routinely revived, and perhaps the return of statement earrings is another attempt at bringing back the beloved mod. Let it be clear, when I say statement earrings I don’t mean simply ‘big earrings.’ I’m talking about wacky designs, bright colours, or earrings made from random trinkets. I’m referring to Twiggy’s disco ball earrings or the kind that pop up when you search ‘60s costume.’The commercialisation of mod fashion was its end. Its working-class founders were appalled by the mass production of ‘mod clothes’ and soon it died out. However, modern technology has provided artists and jewellers with a platform to connect, share, and sell their work, with mod-inspired earrings being a popular product. This recent trend harks back to mod’s core values. While big clothing companies have tried their hand at producing these statement accessories, buyers are loyal to their favoured artists. From polymer clay to resin, to shrink plastic, to old toys or even, as my partner has done, antigen tests, statement earrings can be made out of whatever an artist can fix hooks to. A few of my personal favourites are made from the heads of Littlest Pet Shop toys, boa feathers,
empty paint tubes, and Animal Crossing’s “froggy” chairs. Most of my collection comes from Kawaii Store and More, which sells handmade earrings, badges, hair accessories, stickers, and keychains in the Marina Market here in Cork. My absolute favourite pair of theirs is their polymer couch earrings, which are forever starting conversations. For a fun day out with friends, I’d recommend grabbing a coffee in either Alchemy or Guji, picking up pairs of matching earrings and grabbing a bite in one of the market’s many food stands. The biggest appeal of statement earrings in my opinion is how much personality they have. No matter who you are, there’s a pair perfect for you. I spoke to the owner of KawaiiStore and they believe that “the right accessory can give a peek at a person’s personality! ”Loud earrings? Loud personality! The earrings you choose to wear can reflect your personality and even your interest! Be it a character from a tv show or a particular colour you like! Earrings are as expressive as the person who wears them!” They spoke about how crafting their earrings helped them in their daily life, “I started making jewellery as a way to combat panic attacks, the fine detailed work gave me something to focus on and ground me! […] Even now if I get really
No Matter Who You ARe, There’s a perfect Pair for you.
33 overwhelmed I find myself colour matching or planning my charms. I love wearing these earrings because they’re both empowering and exciting. On days where I just want to wear a comfy tracksuit and a big, pillowy hoodie, I still wear my earrings to let people know who I am. Spite is what motivates Kawaii Store, and I adore that energy. “I’ve been making jewellery just over three years, along the way I’ve had so many people tell me I’d fail, so many people tell me my style was too ‘weird’ or ‘out there’ for Cork… I chose to prove them wrong!”. When I wear my statement earrings, I feel that same spite, because I know that there are people out there that will look at me and think me weird for wearing resin tarot cards from my ears, but that’s the whole point! My earrings are weird, and so am I! I like wearing my weirdness on my sleeve- or ear I guess. Earrings like these are really popular in LGBTQ+ circles, especially in sapphic and non-binary spaces. While anyone can wear these earrings, they can often be a nice, somewhat subtle, showcase of one’s pride.
FASHION The perfect pair will bring you joy, and make you excited to wear them out.
There is no doubt that the recent lockdowns had allowed us time for self-reflection. We’ve spent a lot of time with ourselves these past two years and we’ve all left this time of hardship with a greater idea of who we are, and an even greater spark to share our personalities with the world. After a couple of years spent indoors, I think we all deserve a shot at showing ourselves off just that much more. Over the years I’ve procured a list of Irish earring makers on etsy. My favourites are the aforementioned Kawaii Store, Love By Minnie, Nabro Design, Mulberry Resins, Freya’s Felting, Jades Jewellery Crafts, Hoku and Luna, Creepy Cute Creations, Jayney Mac, and Albreich Design. These kinds of earrings make the best gifts. They can be great for both a gag or for showing someone you really know them! They’re great for showing off one’s hobbies. From KawaiiStore I’ve picked up some cool spellbooks and playbill earrings! Making these earrings can be just as fun as wearing them! I’ve started making polymer earrings by using cookie cutters. I highly recommend that those interested buy a bag of earring hooks and go wild with making earrings out of whatever you can get your hands on. Matching earrings to outfits is always fun, and they can totally change the vibe of a look. Lighten up an all-black, punk look with adorable kitty earrings. Or, add some edge to a pastel, cottage-core look with some chunky skulls. This is a trend I can’t see dying out, as artists are innovating and improving with each creation. I’d definitely recommend taking a look at Jayney Mac’s earrings, which are made out of wood and shrink plastic. It’s all about finding the pair that feels right. The perfect pair will bring you joy, and make you excited to wear them out. Statement earrings are big, bright, and bold, but most importantly, they’re you.
Making these earrings can be just as fun as wearing them!
arts & literature
34
IS #BOOKTOK TO BE TRUSTED? Cian Pierce Arts & Literature Editor
of the community is one that plagues TikTok as a whole. Ayman, a creator from Chicago, says that her experience on the app has been largely positive but she has had to deal with racist abuse on her videos. She told Refinery 29 “There are occasional Islamophobic comments but instead of interacting with them I just delete them,” she says, adding: “It’s hard for it not to affect me but I try to remind myself at the end of the day, it’s just a person behind a screen who probably doesn’t know better.” TikTok claims to have strict community guidelines about what it allows on the platform to protect users but if you ask any creator of colour, they all have had negative experiences interacting with other users on the app or with the algorithm itself.
Last August, Amy Jordan, a London-based author, made a post to TikTok with the title “Books that left me heartbroken and shattered for days”. Set to the song ‘Je te laisserai des mots’ (I’ll leave you words) by Patrick Watson, the short video plays as Jordan holds up and transitions through a few books with a short comment superimposed over them. “Affected me more than anything I’ve ever read” for It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, “My heart [broken heart emoji] the end [crying emoji]” for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and “Crushed my soul” for The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Amy’s video, under the TikTok handle @amyjordanj, is one of the most popular videos under the #Booktok tag, a section of the videosharing platform devoted to reading, sharing recommendations and reading lists has amassed 25.3 billion views and counting. Here, content creators post videos about the books they love, be it to discuss genres, plot points in specific books or to call out authors for misrepresenting minority groups. The tag largely revolves around the genre of young adult (YA) fiction, and it has been described by many as “the last wholesome place on the internet”. But, is Booktok to be trusted? While Booktok can definitely be a wholesome community, nothing is ever so black and white and there are definitely some valid criticisms that can be levied against the community. I have already mentioned that the tag mostly promotes young adult fiction, it also dips into fantasy, the occult and “dark academia”, an aesthetic that revolves around classical literature, the pursuit of self-discovery and a personal passion for knowledge and learning. But at the end of the day, if you’re looking for non-fiction or something more theory-heavy, you’re better off looking elsewhere for recommendations. Another negative
The Impact of Booktok cannot be understated, even publishers have started to notice the effect of the app on sales. In an interview with the New York Times, Shannon DeVito, director of books at Barnes & Noble, an American retailer, said: “We haven’t seen these types of crazy sales – I mean tens of thousands of copies a month – with other social media formats.” Retailers all over the world have taken advantage of Booktok’s popularity to market titles popular on the app to customers by creating specialized shelves featuring books that have gone viral. “We’re identifying these trends as big opportunities,” Shannon DeVito said. “So [store managers] say, ‘Let’s create a table, let’s create a shelf, let’s create a statement because I know I have so many customers coming in saying, “I saw this trending on TikTok.” I can say from personal experience, walking through bookstores in Cork city, this idea of having a specialised table or shelf just for Booktok is a popular one. But back to the question of are the recommendations trustworthy, are the books Booktok pushes overhyped? Because of the genre of the novels, the genre and flow can sometimes be seen as simplistic but that doesn’t mean they’re not enjoyable. TikTok novels are easy to read yet stick around with the reader for a while afterwards. Featuring numerous plot twists and heart-dropping moments, the books are great for anyone wanting to experience a bit of excitement from the comfort of their own home. BookTok isn’t concerned with page counts or prestige. Instead, it offers straightforward book recommendations that are generally well-received. TikTok’s book community is at its core, a place for recreational reading. I reached out to my friend Cal (@calstheking on TikTok and @ libraryofcalcifer on Instagram), a UK based Booktok content creator about his opinions and experiences regarding the community. While he has had a largely positive experience and reception on the app he said “I think the thing is, people and their opinions vary and so it sparks a very vast contrast between Booktok itself, not only is the community divided but it’s aimed for young adults by young adults” speaking on the more negative side of things he continued, “it’s a very grey area in the TikTok alumni, it separates both the narrative that you should follow a demographic of your own, but at the same time enforces a demographic where you are shamed for liking a certain genre and it ties back into this vicious cycle of bad social media.” At the end of the day, whether the recommendations will be useful or not is a subjective question, but if you’re looking for some quick and easy to read fiction, you will most definitely find something that will pique your interest.
35
arts & literature POET’S CORNER
Cian Pierce Arts & Literature Editor This week on Poet’s corner I have decided to share a poem by Cormac McCarthy, our Express Film & TV Editor. The poem is about delicatessens and will definitely make you hungry.
I strolled through the city, Craving something with girth. Till I came to shop, And I laughed with such mirth. My stomach was rumbling, A roar unheard, But my conscience was quelled, My angst just assured. “centra” the sign said, So indeed I rushed in Ignoring the stench And Ignoring the din. I came to the altar The hallowed deli. “This”, I cried aloud, “Shall fill my void belly”. There was a queue naturally, For the girl behind the counter. Had we met another time
I would have liked to mount her. The bastards in front Rendered me forlorn; Deliberating over Getting chives or sweet corn. Finally my turn did come My spirits did lift. But the poor girl was tired From an eight hour shift What did I desire? The same as the rest. A sumptuous bread roll, Filled with a crisp chicken breast. She looked at me And began to mutter I replied “I beg your pardon” -“Mayo or butter?!” -It was abundantly clear -From this point on
-That this chicken roll -Would be all wrong -The girl had no passion for the art -Of preparing this pleasure -To her ‘‘twas a job -But to me it was a treasure. -So she handed it to me; -Halved in white paper. -I took it with caution -And said “ see you later” -Walking to the till - Checking up on the price - Four euros fifty - It had better be nice - So I took this sandwich - Stripped the wrapping with haste - And I sunk my teeth with a grin - To ascertain the taste
- I was stunned, in a daze - That cow of a girl - Had but in mayonnaise - That poison nay filth - hat passes for spread! I swear to you my dear I wished I was dead. For then I would not have That sickly slime on my tongue The anger it burned, The pain it stung. Thinking back to the server Who had composed this swill, With no effort put in, Just time to kill “The centra,” I said to myself: “Had no pride nor place Perhaps next time
- But no grin came to me
I’ll try the deli in mace.
photography
36
OUT AND ABOUT IN cORK PHOTOS BY JACK MURPHY
SPORTS
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
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Irish Rugby’s Fight for Mainstream Attention SAM CURTIN Sports Editor
By the time this issue is printed, Ireland will have already played their first game of the three match Autumn International Series against Japan. In the previous issue, the on-field action was discussed but what happens over the next few weeks and months ahead off the field is arguably just as important. The hype going into this autumn series is arguably lukewarm at best. Perhaps this is because New Zealand are the only big southern hemisphere team coming to the Aviva. This is reflected in the ticket sales with the All-Blacks game being the only one to sell out. Ticket prices have been a huge source of controversy over the past couple of weeks. Yours truly attempted to get his hands on tickets for New Zealand to no avail but was happy to snap up a pair of tickets for the Japanese game. The damage? €80 with the cheapest being 60. The Argentina game in two weeks’ time is a fiver more. The going rate for the All Blacks game was €125 with the cheapest being 105. Compare this to the upcoming Ireland Portugal World Cup Qualifier where tickets could be got for €30 with €65 being one of the dearest prices. It is understandable that the IRFU want to make as much money out of the next three games considering the financial tightrope, they have had to navigate through the past 18 months as a result of empty stadiums due to Covid. However, this is quite a steep rise for fans, many of whom have also struggled economically during the pandemic. It would be a real shame if families were to be priced out of going to the games, especially when the profile of the sport needs full houses at games as it is always in tough competition with GAA and soccer among other sports. The last survey carried out by Sport Ireland in 2019 shows that rugby is the fourth most played sport in the country. While this is unsurprising due to the profile of the aforementioned, the reality is rugby is still more of an
urban private school game and so it is understandable that there may be a disconnect between the national team and the wider public. This is not necessarily a criticism of the schools, which provide a phenomenal training structure with access to top quality coaches from Ireland and abroad. However, more has to be done to entice children from non-traditional rugby backgrounds to take up the sport if Ireland ever wants to compete for a World Cup. On that note, that task has arguably gotten more difficult in recent weeks in relation to enticing more young girls to take up the sport. Their role models, the national women’s team failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2022 after an embarrassing loss to Spain and a close defeat to Six nations rivals Scotland. It is quite the decline considering Ireland hosted the World Cup in 2017 and made the semi-finals in 2014. It is important to note that they are amateur players and the commitment they give is significant, however, they are still well resourced a fair portion of the responsibility most fall on them and the management team. The team have two internationals starting with this week against the USA before Japan come to Dublin a week later. A good place to start on the road to redemption would be victories in front of what could be record crowds for a women’s international at the RDS. It has been a disappointing few weeks for the women’s game, where despite the inter-pros being televised live on TG4, the conditions the players were forced to prepare in were shocking and degrading. Dressing rooms were not allowed to be upon due to covid regulations at the time and so players were forced to change outside in heavy rain and for some players, beside rubbish bins. Why would someone want to try and become the best rugby player they can be when this is how they are treated? It’s a real shame as there are some exciting players coming through such as teenage winger Beibhinn Parsons. Not having her play in New Zealand next year on TV is a huge opportunity missed for the women’s game. An independent review has been launched into the World Cup failure and the overall state of the sport in Ireland. Only time will tell if it will be a stepping stone to greater things. To summarise, the next couple of weeks could tell a lot about the future of Irish rugby and where it goes from here. The World Cup in France 2023 is on the horizon and a scalp against the All Black would be the perfect way to welcome fans back into the stadium, and hopefully Irish rugby as a whole. Let’s wait and see.
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SPORTS
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
Middle East Races Could Prove Decisive For The Formula 1 2021 Title Battle ATAKAN UZUN Deputy Sports Editor
The most intriguing Formula 1 season, for many years, is increasingly reaching its climax, which comes ahead of the eagerly anticipated change in regulations in 2022. For the 2021 season, there has been the reduction of downforce by up to ‘10%’ of downforce, compared to the dramatically shortened 2020 season, which has made lap times up to a second slower compared to last season. It has reshaped the grid for the benefit of entertainment and exhilarating action. Consequently, due to the teething problems of Mercedes, it has created a nail-biting title battle, between 7-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, and Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, who is looking for his first Formula 1 title. Throughout the season, it has ebbed and flowed between both drivers. After winning at the classic Barcelona circuit, despite close battles in previous races, Hamilton pulled a 14-point lead in the early stages of the championship. It appeared that whatever pressure, Verstappen was able to mount upon Hamilton, the F1 veteran was unflustered. Things were about to change in the subsequent races. Following uncharacteristic errors, throughout the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton finished a lowly seventh, after a strategy attempting to undercut Alpha Tauri driver, Pierre Gasly failed. Amid this chaos for Hamilton, Verstappen took a win around the street circuit. This meant that Verstappen pulled a five-point lead ahead of Hamilton. The next race was yet another dramatic race in the title race. While Verstappen crashed out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, after a tyre failure, Hamilton was unable to capitalise on this stroke of luck, after he accidentally pressed a magic mode setting on his Mercedes car, steering wheel, in the restart after Verstappen’s crash. Thus, Red Bull driver, Sergio Perez went on to win the race, ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly. The points battle remained at 4 points in Verstappen’s favour. In the following three races, Verstappen pulled a 32-point lead ahead of Hamilton. It started to become increasingly likely that it was Verstappen’s title to lose. Then, came the historical and classical Silverstone circuit in England, which hosted the first-ever Formula 1 race in history. After Verstappen won the sprint qualifying, he held a 33-point lead. After maintaining the lead, going into the world-famous and blind Copse corner, at Turn 9, Hamilton was on the inside and Verstappen on the outside. Hamilton collided with Verstappen which ploughed him into the barriers. This opened significant rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes, with both teams defending their respective drivers. Due to his part, in the collision, Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty. Hamilton still went to win the race, after passing Leclerc. This race win for Hamilton
led to an 8-point gap in Verstappen’s favour. At the next race, Hamilton took the championship lead with an 8-point lead, after a turn-one collision, severely damaged Verstappen’s car. He went on to claim a ninth-place finish, while Hamilton took second place, after the disqualification of Vettel from second place. The points’ battle closed to three points after the next race, as drivers were awarded half-points, for their qualifying positions, at the Spa circuit in Belgium, due to the severity of the wet conditions. At his home circuit, Verstappen took charge of the points’ battle, as he won in front of his home fans, at the Zandvoort circuit. The title battle took an even bigger hit, at the Monza circuit in Italy. After a poor fifthplace finish, which became fourth in the sprint race, Hamilton was ever more incentivised to close the gap to Verstappen, who inherited pole position from the sprint race, due to Bottas’ engine penalty. After a better start, McLaren driver, Daniel Ricciardo overtook Verstappen, who maintained second place, while Hamilton was in fourth. At the first round of pit stops, due to new pit-stop rules that were introduced at the previous race, which phased out the traffic lights system, for the respective teams, Red Bull had a costly 10-second stop. It was an advantage for Hamilton. But after an average stop, Hamilton came out just ahead of Verstappen, at turn one, after overhauling Norris on the previous lap. Verstappen went on the outside of turn one, which became the inside, at turn two and crashed into the side of Hamilton. After this serious crash, the title battle was at 5 points. At the time of writing, it is getting close to the climax of the season and the Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City is upon us. Following on from this race is the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and the critical juncture of the season, with the races in the Middle East. While the Mexico City and Sao Paulo circuits are likely to play to the Red Bull’s strengths, due to the number of corners, in both circuits, particularly in the middle sectors of these respective circuits, the Middle East races, at the Losail, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi circuits, are likely to play to the Mercedes car strengths. Notably, the straight-line speed of the Mercedes car will be utilised at the long-straights in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, which have long-straights. It will take a brave person to predict who the champion will be, come the last race. From my impartial prediction, the next two races are likely to be crucial for Red Bull and Verstappen to win both races and pull a points-gap more than 25 points. They will be able to afford to finish on the podium in the last three races, which will play to the Mercedes car strengths. Let’s hope the entertaining title battle is likely to come down to the last corner of the last race at the Abu Dhabi circuit in UAE.
Issue 5 | TUESDAY 9th November 2021 | University Express
SPORTS
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Criticism of Newcastle FC’s Saudi Arabian Backed Takeover ATAKAN UZUN Deputy Sports Editor
The takeover by the Saudi-backed consortium of Newcastle United football club has received backlash from many human rights groups and some football managers. Human rights organisation, Amnesty International has criticised the takeover and branded it another example of ‘sports washing’ by the Saudi state. Meanwhile, Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has questioned the silence around human rights concerns associated with this takeover by the Saudi consortium and has branded them, the newest footballing ‘superpower’. This takeover was approved in October and ended Mike Ashley’s torrid rein and ownership of the club, which he bought in May 2007. Throughout his time as ownership, he faced severe criticism from the Newcastle FC for not providing the adequate transfer budget funds to spend that would invest and improve the squad. This was notably present during the tenure-ship of Rafael Benitez as the manager of the club. The club’s best finish throughout the Ashley era, was 5th in the 2011/2012 season, under Alan Pardew. The Saudi-backed takeover consisted of £300 million and received the approval of the Premier League after almost 18 months after it was first proposed. According to news sources, the key aspect to the approval of the takeover was assurances that were given, which ensured that while the Saudi Public Investment Fund may have had an involvement in the takeover bid, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman would not be responsible for the running of Newcastle FC on a day-to-day basis. According to a statement by the Premier League, in October, ‘all parties are pleased to have concluded this process which
gives certainty and clarity to Newcastle United Football Club and their fans. Contrarily, the commerce minister of Saudi Arabia, Majid bin Abdullah had a key involvement in pursuing the takeover and will occupy a seat on the club’s board. The Saudi consortium will own 80% of the club, while 10% is owned by billionaire businessmen and international property developers, Simon and David Reuben, and the final subsequent 10% is owned by Amanda Staveley, who is a Yorkshire-born, and largely a Dubaibased financier. One of the first moves of the new ownership has been to sack the manager, Steve Bruce, who leaves with the club in the relegation zone and ends his turbulent and fractious period as manager, since 2019. At the time of writing, the first team coach of the club, Graeme Jones, has been appointed on an interim basis. While the Newcastle FC fans are understandably ecstatic about the new ownership’s plans, particularly after suffering under the Ashley era, human rights concerns continue to be hidden away from the public eye. This is the latest example of sports washing by the Saudi state, which seeks to divert away from the legitimate human rights concerns that are being raised about its abominable treatment of women and homosexual people. Every minute that a Newcastle FC fan spent celebrating the Saudi-backed takeover, could have been a minute in Saudi Arabia where executions have taken place against opponents of the regime, where journalists are being impeded from doing their job and where women and homosexual people face severe difficulties in their daily lives. This takeover is bad news for the Premier League, bad news for football, and bad news for marginalised groups throughout the regime in Saudi Arabia.
University
Volume 25 | Issue 5| Tuesday 9th November 2021
Sports
UCCExpress.ie
UCC Sport Roundup SAM CURTIN Sports Editor
With COVID restrictions lifted, the vast majority of sports clubs in UCC are back playing competitive matches. Every issue until Christmas we will provide an update on some of the key stories involving UCC sport. Now it is time to take a look some of the other action that’s been happening over the past fortnight. Paralympics Discus Niamh McCarthy retired last week. The former UCC student retires at 27 with a glittering career in the F41 discus event. Career highlights for McCarthy include winning silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics along with the same result in the 2017 world championships before becoming European Champion in 2018. Most recently, McCarthy finished 5th at the Tokyo Olympics. Upon her announcement, McCarthy said “I want to thank all of those that have supported me on my journey in sport; my family, friends, coaches, Paralympics Ireland, Sport Ireland and so many others, I think that I have given you all some good memories, I know I will take a lot of great memories away from my time as a high-performance athlete”. Rugby It’s been a mixed start to the AIL season for the UCC senior team. At present, they sit bottom of Division 1A with a point from four games despite some promising glimpses in the past couple of weeks. Here’s hoping the students can turn it around and go on a run over the next few weeks with games such as Clontarf and Cork Con at home to come. Sailing Quercus scholar Johnny Durcan announced his Paris 2024 Olympic campaign last month in the 49er class with teammate Seafra Guilfoyle. In what is always a competitive event, the pair are aiming to become one of the youngest ever Irish teams to compete in sailing at the Olympics. Although the games are three years away, the duo have been in a training camp in Marseille where the event will take place in 2024. Basketball Basketball has been one of the worst affected sports in relation to the pandemic due to its indoor nature. UCC are more than making up for it though with plenty of college involvement in the past couple of weeks. In the Insuremyhouse.ie President’s National Cup, UCC Demons were 88-61 winners over Ulster University at the Mardyke on Halloween Night. You could say it was a scarily good afternoon for the home side… UCC Glanmire were also victorious against Killester, gaining revenge for the league defeat in the process by defeating the Dublin side in the first round of the National Senior Cup. Cricket The first ever Munster indoor league commenced on the 30th of October with UCC getting off to the perfect start against Midleton winning 49 runs after hitting 180. The very best of luck to the team for the rest of the tournament.
Soccer There was a great win for the men’s side in the Munster Senior league last week. They picked up their first win of the season by beating 1-0 which leaves them in 8th place after seven games. There is a long way to go however so plenty of time left for UCC to get back into the title picture. GAA The college leagues get up and running this week in hurling, football and camogie with all teams building towards their respective championships over the coming months. Best of luck to all teams involved. UCC football manager Billy Morgan has joined the Under 20 football background team. The legendary All-Ireland winning coach will join new manager Bobby O’Dwyer on the sidelines. O’Dwyer is taking over from Keith Ricken who was announced as new Senior football boss last month. November Many of the UCC sports clubs are taking part in Movember this year. It is great to see so many teams fundraise and get behind such a worthy cause. Best of luck to everyone involved.