University Volume 24 | Issue 8 | Tuesday 2nd March 2021
The 2019 National Travel Survey on the Central Statistics Office website states that 0.2% of men between the ages of 18-24 owned an electric vehicle in comparison to 0.4% of women in the same age bracket - pg 6 -
The idea of conceptualising parts of our society as ‘foreign’, to exist outside the boundaries of our identity, also denies ownership or responsibility in its production. - pg 12 -
Express UCCExpress.ie
Everyone knows everyone in Cork and knows everything that happens in Cork. It is a county full of drama – perfect for a series. - pg 18 -
UCC REFUGEE WEEK PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR MIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 tive insights into the children’s lives and exploring themes such as friends, family, the pandemic and their hopes for the future. The accompanying webinar ‘Art in Action’ explored the importance of creative activities to young people dealing with their troubled living situations and how exhibitions and projects can provide a platform to share their experiences in a supportive environment. Since its inception in 2000, criticism surrounding the Direct Provision system and the treatment of refugees in Ireland has continued to mount, with a long-awaited Government White Paper on the replacement of the system published on Friday, February 26th. The White Paper outlined the international protection process that will replace the Direct Provision system by the end of 2024. “The institutionalisation, which was very much an element of direct provision,” says MinisUCC student, Shaza Aldawamneh with one of the artworks created by children living in Drishane Castle Direct Provision Centre ter for Integration Roderic O’Gorman, Photo Credit: Clare Keogh “needs to end and we need to work Writes Maeve McTaggart, Gallery and a multitude of other exter- initial plan was to carry out the project towards integration from day one.” News Editor nal organisations such as NASC, Every in person, bringing children from DP Child and Your Child, and Cork Migrant centres across Cork to UCC to take part Refugee Week at UCC engaged heavily UCC Refugee Week 2021, now an annual Centre. Interviews, art installations in art workshops, and hold an exhibi- with the conversation surrounding the event in the college calendar, marked its and workshops populated the schedule tion of their art is the gallery itself,” the Direct Provision system and its inadfourth year last week with events, work- throughout the week; the penultimate Chairperson of Fáilte Refugees, Méabh equacies, providing a platform for the shops and initiatives which explored the event being the Annual UCC Refugee Lonergan, tells University Express. voices and lived experiences of those who have lived in the Centres. On Tueslives of refugees in Ireland and abroad. Week Conference held on Saturday 26th. From Monday 22nd to Saturday 27th “Unfortunately, with COVID restric- day, February 23rd, Fáilte Refugees February, an occasion usually celebrated While the online space argues greater tions we had to adapt, and so art supplies, Society and UCC Paediatrics Society with a strong campus presence migrated accessibility, organisers kept the link to worksheets and tutorial videos were hosted an event entitled ‘Children in online and seized the opportunity to ad- the UCC campus with an exhibition ex- sent out to children in Drishane Castle Direct Provision,’ exploring the social, dress and engage as many staff and stu- ploring the creativity and lives of chil- Accommodation Centre in Millstreet psychological and physical challenges dents as possible through the digital space. dren residing in Direct Provision (DP). and the finished art was posted back that refugee children face across Ireland. ‘Art in Action’, the twelve-month col- to us [to] be displayed across campus.” A common thread throughout the week, was a focus on the barriers to education The week was facilitated by the Univer- laborative project between UCC Fáilte sity’s Equality, Diversion and Inclusion Refugees and the Glucksman Gallery, The exhibition runs on the exterior of young people in Direct Provision face. (EDI) Unit who worked in with UCC breached the digital space and became the Boole Library from 18th February Fáilte Refugees Society, the Glucksman part of an installation on campus. “The to 12th March 2021, offering imagina- Cover Story continued on page 3....