An Focal 13th April 2010 Tuesday
Official Paper of the University of Limerick Students’ Union
Volume XVIII, Issue 13 FREE
Charity Week passes without incident By Aoife Ní Raghallaigh - Editor
CHARITY Week, which took place in Week 9, has been deemed a success by the Students’ Union, the University and local residents despite a drop in charity donations. The week was re-branded at the start of the semester in an attempt to raise awareness about the charity aspects of the week and also to curb anti-social behaviour which often comes with the week. Numerous complaints were made to the Students’ Union after following last year’s RAG Week as students created havoc on and off campus. In the most high profile incidences a stone was thrown through the window of a baby’s bedroom and a car was overturned.
Although Plassey Campus Services, who run the on campus estates, have reported that a number of properties were damaged the off campus estates were much quieter. This was thanks in part to the hard work of the Meitheal na Mac Léinn (M&M’s) who watched over the off campus villages. The M&M’s, who worked from 8pm to 4am during every night of Charity Week, kept an eye on the off campus estates. They ensured that students kept the noise down on their way home and aided any students who were worried or concerned. They also kept the estates quiet. The M&M’s were located in the majority of the off campus estates which made a huge
difference to the residents in the area. For the first time residents contacted the Students’ Union after Charity Week to thank them for all their work rather than file complaints. ULSU President, Ruán Dillon McLoughlin, was extremely thankful of all the help students gave during the week: “I would to express my thanks to everyone who made the week such a success. It was great to be able to go Live95 once the week was over and be able to talk about how well the week went rather than be criticised.” Although the week was a success, with large numbers attending the daytime and evening events, charity donations were down. An official figure on donations has not yet
been tallied, as some events have not yet taken place, it is expected to be around €10,000. The Students’ Union believe that this was due to students donating to other worthwhile causes during the semester, including Haiti and the Special Olympics, as well as having less money in the current economic climate. Despite this public donations are down in general so the four charities will be very thankful of the money raised for them. Cheques will be presented to the four RAG Charities, Limerick Youth Service, Make a Wish, Mid West Simon Community and Irish Heart Foundation once a final figure has been calculated.
UL entrants shortlisted for media awards By Shane O’Callaghan
THIS year’s National Student Media Awards shortlist has been announced, with both ULSU and UL students picking up several nominations. Since their inception ten years ago, The National Student Media Awards, or Smedias, have existed with the aim of recognising and rewarding the development of media talent amongst students across the country. Each year, the Smedias award those felt to have excelled the most in a wide variety of categories, including print, radio, online and film. The Students’ Union newspaper, An Focal, has been nominated in four categories, including ULSU Communications Officer, Aoife Ni Raghallaigh, being nominated for Editor of the Year. The paper also received nominations for Newspaper of the Year, Layout & Design of the Year, and People’s Choice Award. ULSU also received another nomination in the Website of the Year category for the Students’ Union website. The website was recently redesigned for the second time in as many years. The total of five nominations signals
a successful year for the SU, in both print and online. Outside of the Students’ Union nominations, UL student Craig Hughes has been nominated for two awards. Craig, a 2nd year Journalism and New Media student, is up for Journalist of the Year (National Press), for an article published in the Sunday Business Post. As well as this, he has also received a nod for Sports Journalist of the Year. Three MMPT students have also received a nomination in the Film Script of the Year category. Michelle Ahern, Rachel Fitzmaurice, and Owen O’Riordan were chosen for their script “Lucid Decline”. According to Ms Ahern and Mr O’Riordan, “to be nominated is an honour, more than we were expecting. To be put in the final eight in Ireland is an achievement in itself; we were shocked, but delighted”. The awards are judged and presented by well known members of a plethora of areas in the media sector. In addition to this, there is a People’s Choice Award, in which An Focal has obtained a nomination, along with DIT News, UCD’s
The College Tribune, Queen’s The Gown, The Verdict and QUB SU MAG, TCD’s The University Times, The Piranha, TCD Miscellany, and Trinity News. Students are able to vote for any of the publications nominated in this category by going to Oxygen.ie. The Smedias ceremony will take place in Mansion House, in Dublin on April 21.
Editor note: Just before going to print we discovered that An Focal had made the final five in the People’s Choice Awards and Craig Hughes is one of the final five nominated for Journalist of the Year – National Year. Best of luck to everyone nominated at this stage and thanks to everyone who voted for An Focal so far!