UCC EXPRESS Tuesday, 19 November 2013 | www.uccexpress.net | Volume 21 | Issue 6

Douglas 021 489 5577 Mccurtain st. 021 450 6666 Washington st. 021 4274555 Wilton 021 454 6666

up to 3 toppings4 star till 4 - 7 Days a Week * 1 Delivery charge * 2 Delivery charge after 12 MiDnight

Haughney hits heavyweight heights in charity bout

Last Tuesday, the Students Unions first ever Charity Fight Night was held to raise funds for the Cork University Hospital Childrens Wing and Breakthrough Cancer Research. Held in association with the Clubs Executive, the event attracted approximately 500 people to The Savoy, eager to see how SU President Padraig Haughney would do in his bout against Olympic silver medallist Kenny Egan.The night also offered a challenge to the societal stigma which surrounds disability, as SU Welfare Officer David Berry squared off with College of Arts Rep, Cian Power in a wheelchair boxing match. Whilst a final figure had yet to be confirmed at the time of printing, the event is expected to raise several thousand euro for the two charities, through both admission prices and the money raised by the boxers themselves. On the night, however, UCC would reign supreme as Chris McCarthys victory over CIT SU President Danny ODonovan was followed by a surprise win for Haughney. I think the event was fantastic, said Haughney. Credit needs to go out to every boxer who took part; its not easy to go out in front of your peers and compete the way they did. It was a great night for all involved and at the end of the day we did a good deed and raised money for some very worthy charities.

For more on the Charity Fight Night, turn to Sport on page 24

The Societies Guild has decided to cap society budgets at 20,000 for the first time. The cap has been introduced in order to address the disparity between the levels of funding different societies receive. In previous years there has been, we felt, a very big gap between what some of the societies are funded, explained President of the Guild Pdraig Rice. Some of them would have received just under 40,000 whereas some societies would have gotten 500, which is a huge gap. All of the society budgets are on or below the 20,000 cap with only four exceeding 10,000; The Choral Society receiving 15,000, Dramat getting 15,000 while both Philosoph and the Law Society were allocated the maximum 20,000.

These societies are the ones who have experienced the largest cuts due to the cap as in 2011 these societies shared 92,000 worth of funding. The average budget across the 99 societies who have received their allocations is 3,703. In spite of the increase in the number of societies, the average funding has continued to climb with this figure up by 532 in the past two years. Rice believes that introducing a cap could benefit smaller societies and allow them to grow; What I said when I was running for the position was that I wanted to support smaller societies, to ensure that they develop and are on an even keel with the larger societies. Theres a perception within some of the smaller societies that theyre always going to be small and theyre only entitled to a limited amount of

resources. I think that all the societies could have huge levels of engagement with students. If someone wants to do something it shouldnt be limited by last year or the previous committee. In deciding the budgets, the Guild assessed each request independently before evaluating them as a whole in relation to the overall budget. Priority was given to societies who requested less than 10,000 before deciding the exact allocations for the biggest societies, with the biggest societies having applied for up to 40,000. In addition to the cap, the Guild also revised the start-up grants that societies receive. In previous years the start-up grant for societies was a flat rate of 500 but we amended that this year to be more progressive, so if the society was starting off on a good footing they got less.

The Guild receives the majority of its funding from UCC. This year UCC contributed 402,000, made up of the core-University grant and money from the Student Contribution Charge. Overall the Guild devotes 300,000 to society budgets and special projects, with 44,000 dedicated to start-up grants. Other major areas of expenditure are the Guild Presidents salary (21,000), administration expenses (budgeted at 15,000) and promotional booklets and clothing (12,000). According to Rice, the reaction to the cap has been positive; Mostly the societies are happy with the new cap. In the past people have said that a handful of societies have retained most of the budget. But this year 95% of people felt it was very fair budget.

Heather Steele | Deputy News Editor

Society budgets capped at 20,000@Heatherysteele

Barry Aldworth | Sport Editor@Aldworth_Barry

Fighting Fit: Charity Fight Night where over 500 students attended to raise funds for CUH Childrens Wing & Breakthrough Cancer Research

P17P10

VERGE TALKS TO COMIC BOOK ARTISTWILL SLINEY

QUINN:DISAPPOINTEDBY REFORM

FEATURESINVESTIGATESDISABILITYON CAMPUS

Picture: Jim Coughlan

P4

EDITORIALS

Go and get itwilling to make the tea- do anything- around the office. He said that he wasnt interested in that. I can make my own tea, I want someone who can report. Uncle Joe was quick to pipe in that a degree is always a worthwhile thing but described people asking Joe, I want to be a journalist and his reply always being whats stopping you?. More and more these days it feels like a degree is no longer enough. Expressions such as a BA is the new Leaving Cert certainly feel like the case when entering the job market. Pre-masters, and with an already comprehensive CV it must be said, I struggled to find employment in anything bar retail. And at that it was a struggle. The importance of a well rounded education, and relevant work experience cannot be overestimated- neither in media nor any other field. A blank CV with glowing grades pales in comparison to a packed CV that demonstrates you are a go-getter, committed to pursuing your chosen career. And the joy here is that it is not too late to get CV stacking. Be it club or society involvement, which always

peaks after Christmas, or volunteer work, or frankly offering to graft for free for the experience, there are many things that students can do to make contacts and gain skills vital for life after college. I always said I wanted to be a journalist but it wasnt until I was culture shocked into actually working on a portfolio and developing my skills that I began to pursue it. Like many students I had an aspiration but the vague idea that I would do a masters in it and that would guarantee me a job. It is clear now to me that there is no substitute for experience- experience gained albeit by grabbing every possible opportunity and running with it. So whether your goal lies like me in media or in a completely different sphere, or if like the majority of us,youre still not sure, it is vitally important to start working towards making yourself stand out. When asked what you did in college, the answer should be- to quote those ALDI recruitment signs on bathroom doors- I was captaining the team, not just making it.

Audrey Ellard Walsh | Editor

Another AnalysisIm in the shower and Im writing a songStop me if youve heard it.My skin is soapy, and my hair is wet, and Tegrin spelled backward is Nirget.Lather, rinse, repeatand lather, rinse, repeatand lather, rinse, repeatas needed. It was while watching Phoebe singing on Friends that I got the most appropriate allegory yet for what this editorial has become. Its all a bit too self-referential really? Is the answer to this question no? The Friends quotes also offers some substantial padding before I move into the meat of editorial and move away from self-reference, which is now. I guess my point is that youre wasting your time reading this. You really are. Ive put a lot of thought into pieces later on in this section, hell I interviewed the Minister for Education for Gods sake. And others have put huge thought into their pieces. Instead youre coming here, reading my sleepless, no longer

villains of the piece. And secondly, the joke goes nowhere without Paddy Irishmans punch-line. In the interest of filling space and providing comedy, Ill give an example. Paddy Englishman, Paddy Scotsman and Paddy Irishman were boasting about how famous their uncles are. My uncle is a bishop, said Paddy Englishman, and when he walks down the street, everybody says, Your Lordship. My uncle is a cardinal, said Paddy Scotsman, and when he walks down the street everybody

says, Your Eminence. My Uncle, said Paddy Irishman, weighs 27 stone and when everybody sees him they say, God Almighty! You see without Paddy Irishman, the joke becomes a pretty dour story about two boastful Brits. The joke is going in circles and ultimately heading nowhere; starting at one point and finishing there too. Which loops me back to Friends. You see Im not really in this for the editorials and the resultant fame; if anything its quite tiring having to autograph copies of the Express wherever I go around campus. This is just a hoop to jump through in order to get the final page of text filled, so dont take enjoyment from it.To quote from that same Friends episode;When I play, I play for meI dont need your charityLa lalala lalalalalalalalalala lalala lalalalalalala....And now, the alternative Paddy Irishman ending:Paddy Irishman, Paddy Englishman and Paddy Deputy Editor walk into a bar. Paddy Deputy Editor stops and says, Wait a minute Im in the wrong joke here!

I attended the National Media Conference last weekend in Trinity College Dublin. Amongst speakers from the world of print and broadcast journalism was the eponymous agony aunt of the nations- Joe Duffy. With an audience present of aspiring student hacks it wasnt long until people asked Joe, how can we be journalists? Is a degree in the field necessary? The latter is something which I have questions, and my experience, which was echoed by the panelists is a resounding no. It is clear that no matter what the degree, it is ultimately experience outside of college that it most important in getting a foot in the door. Ger Gilroy of Newstalk recalled receiving CVs from journalism students

It is clear now to me

that there is no substitute for experience

Tuesday November 19, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

The New Corker

Page18

Page 8 Page 10

Page 17

Disabilityon Campus

Page 21

SizeMatters

Velvet Morning

2

INSIDE TODAY

self-referential ramblings. I think these pieces are really a bit like the old Paddy Irishman, Paddy Englishman and Paddy Scotsman jokes really; just without Paddy Irishman. Firstly people dont like hearing about Paddy Englishman and Paddy Scotsman; theyre the pantomime

LatherRinse

Repeat

Features 7-9 Photography 14 Fashion 16-17The New Corker 18 Gaeilge 19 Sport 20-24

CollegeDinners

Coat of Arms

The Right Call?

Editor: Audrey Ellard Walsh

Deputy Editor: Stephen Barry

Deputy News Editor: Heather Steele

Features Editor: Grace O Sullivan

Deputy Features Editor: Claire Crowley

Photo Editor: Emmet Curtin

Irish Editor: Rachel N hAodha

Fashion Editor: Nicole Clinton

Fiction Editor: Eoghan Scott

Sport Editor: Barry Aldworth

Designer: Cathal O Gara

Editorial Staff: Contributors:

@AudreyEWalsh

Stephen Barry | Deputy Editor@StphnBarry

Page 13

Stephen GouldingEsther Ellen CoganConor ShearmanEilis O KeefeNoel SullivanMichael FitzpatrickBrian BarryClaire FoxSean O MahonyAdamO Reilly

UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday November 19, 2013

NEWS3

Homeless Week aims to help raise awareness for the ever-growing homeless population throughout Cork City and County on campus this week. St. Vincent de Paul Society Auditor Kevin Curtin explained the importance of such a week. Homeless Week is one of the biggest events we run each year. Above all we hope to help raise awareness amongst UCC students and staff as regards to the ever-growing homeless population throughout Cork City and County. Since 2009 the homeless figures for Cork have increased by 64% .We want to play a small part to help tackle this problem. The highlight of the week is the 48 Hour Campus Sleep Out, held in conjunction with the Simon Society and UCC Friends of MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres). This takes place on Monday and Tuesday outside the Boole Library. Societies Guild Development Officer and former SVP Auditor Katie Cornally Somers spoke about the functional qualities of such an event.

attend classes during the day and I had to turn up to placement. I think the most annoying thing of last year was the college fox was brazen: coming up to our camp, he actually woke me by biting my foot! With regard to the upcoming event, Somers stated; Wed love more people to join us. When people pass us they often stop and chat, we had a guy playing guitar with us for a few hours last year. As well as Homeless Week, Curtin has announced that SVP are planning a number of events

We [as a society] kind of become immune to people in the city on the streets and automatically walk past. But when they see us on campus, people do a double take. We get them thinking that anyone can become homeless. And of course we are fundraising as well. People have been so generous in the past and we hope they will be this year as well. Somers was quick to note the difficulties surrounding such an event; we have been lucky for the past two years that it has not rained. We were still trying to

throughout the year. We run eleven weekly volunteering activities, both working with children (Deerpark Youth Club, Breakfast Clubs, Homework Clubs, Grinds, Lego Club) and vulnerable adults (Homeless Hostels, Visiting the Elderly, Marymount Hospice, Travellers Literacy, COPE Foundation, Penny Dinners). Events we run throughout the year include training nights for our volunteers, the Giving Tree Campaign and SVP Day in February.

Facebook took direct action last week in removing the UCC Bird of the Day page, stating that it breached the community standards of the site. The removal of the page comes as somewhat of a surprise, as the site initially decided not to remove the page after receiving complaints from UCC and a number student bodies. The page, which was the latest in a number of like pages concerning the social elements of students lives, came under criticism from UCC and the Students Union who released a joint statement condemning the page. They also encouraged people who had been negatively affected by similar pages to report it to Facebook officials. The university had received several complaints from members of the student body who stated that they had been victims of cyberbullying after pictures were published on the page without the pre-approval of the featured individuals. They also said that a number of defamatory comments directed at UCC students and staff had been published. The page, which was in direct violation of UCCs Social Media Policy, asked women to submit their photos, in order to be considered for the title of UCC Bird of The Day. The statement acknowledged that one of the core purposes of social media is for recreation and fun, but pointed out that it may not always be perceived that way by the person at the receiving end.

Stephen Goulding | News Writer

Eoghan Lyng | Arts & Lit Editor

SVP raise awareness of local homeless problem

UCC SU Welfare Officer, David Berry insisted that we dont want to stop people having fun. But these so-called funny jokes can result in people being defamed, their reputations being affected, and can result in serious mental health issues. We have seen tragic examples over the last two or three years of how cyberbullying can affect young people. It emerged the page had been removed after several clubs and societies from the college as well as UCC officials lobbied Facebook by combining efforts and reporting the page to the site. After the page had been removed, Berry vowed to continue to implement UCCs Social Media Policy and our campaign to tackle other such offending pages will continue. Tom McCarthy, UCCs Media and Public Relations Officer, also expressed his satisfaction with the pages removal: I would like to congratulate Facebook for the decision, but I wish it was easier to make our voices heard without having to resort to such a coordinated campaign.Paul Moriarty, Head of Student Counselling and Development, stated that, Cyberbullying can happen to anyone. Whoevers doing it can act anonymously and can say things theyd never say in real life. Its impact is just as serious as face-to-face bullying and no one should have to deal with it. Its very important for students to learn how to protect themselves online and to know how to respond if they or a friend becomes a victim of cyberbullying.

Media Law Conference

draws crowdAudrey Ellard Walsh| Editor

Facebook took direct action last week

The 13th annual Law Society Conference, which took place last Tuesday, drew an esteemed cohort of speakers and participants to a packed Aula Maxima. Sponsored by William Fry, the conference examined the Changing Landscape of Media Law. Conference Chairperson, Justice Bryan McMahon presided over discussions ranging from issues of legal challenges for broadcasters, the potential impacts of defamation law on new modes of communication, press freedom and threats to privacy in the online world. Speakers included entertainment and media lawyer Andrea Martin, barrister and former Opinion Editor of the Irish Times John Maher, Dr. Eoin ODell and Professor John Horgan, Press Ombudsman. In the days leading up to the conference, the high profile speakers and timely topic generated a notable deal of press interest. Conference Director Elaine OFlynn spoke to the Express about what made the event a success: I think the main reason that there was an overwhelming response was because the topic was accessible to all students across a variety of disciplines, but it was also important because it enabled students to bridge the gap between the law in theory and in practice. Similarly I feel it gained attention due to the content on a professional level. It was beneficial for practitioners as they are faced with advising clients on the broad natured topic of media law, without having legal clarity a lot of time. OFlynn, who has always had a particular interest in the media, journalism and broadcasting, was elected Conference Director last April. Her proposed conference topic was an aspect of her successful candidature. I think the topic of media law was well received was because we live in a fast paced and cultured society, however our laws often not able to keep up with that change. At a basic level I wanted to inform individuals of the changing face of media law and how we have a more involved role because at the end of the day we often do become a publisher of material.

4 Tuesday November 19, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

NEWS

Minister disappointed by slow progress of college reform

When asked what he would change in the morning without any budget constraints, Quinn said he would concentrate on the retention of students, particularly up to Leaving Certificate level.Anybody who drops out before doing their Leaving Cert or equivalent terminal exam really is, according to all of the international and national research, on a lower trajectory for the rest of their life: in terms of employment prospects; job satisfaction; level of remuneration. And education is the key forward. Our system in the past for some people has been too academic, too exam focused; and while that suits a lot of people, it doesnt suit everybody.Meanwhile, speaking about the recent rejection of the proposal to abolish the Seanad, Quinn sees agreement and consensus on

Stephen Barry | News Editor

Inaugural Psychology Journal launched

The first ever UCC Psychology Journal has been launched, aiming to provide an opportunity for students, academics and professionals worldwide to have their work published and to be an up-to-date resource for current findings, while also being a valuable source of learning and growth for academics and students alike. Edited by Siobhan ONeill, this challenging first edition has been inspired by the Cork Online Law Review, a world renowned Law Review run by UCC Law students. The journal is now open to submissions from all fields of psychology including; cognitive, neuroscience, linguistics, social science and any other papers that are relevant to the science of psychology and research.

Students honoured at NUI Awards

42 UCC students were recognised for high achievements across a range of disciplines last Tuesday. Among them Jesse Harrington, Conal Ryan and Mary Gallagher received NUI Travelling Studentships to fund PhD research.

Indian Society celebrates Diwali

A wide variety of traditional Indian music and dance was on offer in UCC last week for Diwali, one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. The event, organised by the newly formed Indian Society which represents the over 130 students currently enrolled at UCC, attracted over 400 attendees including students, staff and members of the local Indian community.

Student Assistance Fund closes

The UCC Students Union has announced that all of the funds available to the Student Assistance Fund Committee have been allocated, and the fund has closed for the coming academic year. The fund provides financial assistance for students who are experiencing financial difficulties whilst attending college.

Bus fares to rise by 10c

City centre bus fares are due to increase by 10c per journey, with a fare hike due for the 1st of December. The National Transport Authority is increasing fares across bus and train services nationally in order to protect service delivery. Cork city bus fares have gone up 10c every year since 2011, an increase of almost 19%.

NEWSIN BRIEFStephen Barry & Esther Ellen Cogan

reform within the Oireachtas as taking time and money, and will be difficult without a referendum.But Quinn was most animated when questioned about whether his party had compromised its own morals in entering government, stating that theyre not cutting for the sake of cutting. I suspect theyd be motivated by more than what happened in their own pocket, he replied when asked what would make a student join his party. The Labour Party is transforming Irish society in a way that other parties have not done in the past and wont do in the future. We have led the charge in relation to the liberal agenda. Were looking for equity in relation to educational disadvantage, were reforming the third-level system, and Im in the process of reforming the whole question of pluralism and patronage at primary level.

Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn has expressed disappointment at the slow progress in bringing about a reduction of the number of third-level courses available to new entrants. Speaking to the UCC Express, Minister Quinn explained that NUI Maynooth President, Philip Nolan has been heading a working group to reform college entry, but has experienced delays in tackling the multiplicity of courses for entrants at undergraduate level. These delays mean progress has been slower than anticipated on Quinns desire to have more foundation type first year courses (citing general engineering courses as an example) before asking students to specialise in their degrees. It is very confusing for a lot of applications who are filling out CAO forms to distinguish between certain courses. Probably as low as 15% of people filling out the CAO forms have a very clear idea of what it is they want to study at third level and that results in people selecting wrong courses or it being too soon for them to make a concrete choice. The present system is not satisfactory. Quinn compared third-level institutions to Premier League soccer clubs fighting for the best players; however the system which they use to rank and admit these students is wrong in his opinion. Theyre using the points system and performance in the Leaving Certificate as an indication of talent and if we could reduce the number of courses and reduce the amount of confusion, we would get a better type of student coming into the system. If we change the way the Leaving Certificate is used for points generation by the CAO, then we might in fact get improvements there. However changes to this system are a long way off with the immediate plan being the abolition of the Junior Certificate by 2020. These plans will have a big knock on effects for the Leaving Certificate, according to Quinn, but it is ultimately the abolition of the points system and the associated rote learning which he believes will achieve his goal of opening doors for those who arent suited to the current system. The CAO system, combined with the points system, makes it overly dependent on rote learning and that

doesnt suit everybody. Im not sure it produces the right kind of undergraduate student in the year which they sit their Leaving Cert exams. Quinn is delayed in his third level reforms but he plans to take a greater government control of Irish colleges next year by reforming the Higher Education Authority, as recommended in the Hunt report (2011).

We dont have as comprehensive a handle on the third level sector as we have in either primary or post primary; and not having that, were not in the same position to introduce some of the reforms that were doing with primary and post-primary education. But Quinn believes that greater central planning, as exhibited by the planned regional clusters and Technological Universities will

bring about better coordination, better resource sharing, better efficiencies and elimination of duplication. The third-level landscape is going to be transformed quite dramatically in terms of how it functions and how it performs. In fact it would be performance indicators which would have expenditure-revenue attached to them; so in other words underperformance in the area will have a financial consequence for the institutions. On other college related issues Quinn doesnt see a work placement as a necessity for all third-level courses and doesnt believe attempts by UCC to cut the Department of Classics exhibit decreasing support being given to the Arts and Humanities. He also believes that extending the 25m cut to third-level institutions for another year is something which they have the capacity to carry, equating it to a loan.

60 seconds in the hotseat The third-level landscape is going to be transformed quite dramatically in terms of how it functions

and how it performs. In fact it would be

performance

UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday November 19, 2013 5

NEWS

Watch Your Mouth Campaign LaunchedThe UCC LGBT, Amnesty International, International Development, Feminist and Disability Awareness & Activism Societies, in conjunction with the Students Union, have launched the Watch Your Mouth Campaign. Several posters were displayed at the launch, all of which featured words or terms that are used in everyday speech but have offensive connotations or meanings. The campaign targets language, not people, said Samantha Cooney, the Auditor of the UCC Amnesty International Society. Just because a person says frape, retard or thats gay doesnt always mean they say it with malice or the intent to offend; its mostly a lack of awareness and understanding. However, these words cause deep offence to many groups in society, and can act as trigger words for survivors of sexual violence and rape. The campaign was launched on campus, but there has already been interest in the campaign beyond the gates of UCC with. Representatives of NASC (the Irish Immigrant Support Centre), the Y Factor (National Womens Council of Ireland youth initiative), the Rape Crisis Network Ireland and the Union of Students Ireland were at the launch, and expressed huge support for the movement, with a suggestion of taking the campaign to a national scale. Reactions to the campaign have been mainly positive, in different ways.

Robert OSullivan | Film & TV Editor Some students, speaking to the Express, commended the campaign on its bravery for putting posters with such language around campus, for tackling the problem head on and raising awareness of what most people would not. However some thought that comparing the words to drastic physical actions such as beatings and rape trivialise the actions. One commenter felt that the campaign has lead to an increase in use of the terms used in the posters, mostly jokingly. According to Cooney, Many of the words featured in the posters are used so frequently that people have become de-sensitised to their true meaning. This is reinforced by the media, especially social media. The campaign aims to make people aware of the impact of their words, especially when these terms are used in slang, jokes or taunts. The relevance of such a campaign in UCC cannot be questioned. On the day the campaign was launched, the infamous UCC Bird of the Day Facebook page was taken down. The campaign wont end at these posters though, Hopefully the campaign will be around for a long time. With the support of the SU, in particular Annie Hoey (Deputy and Campaigns Officer), we hope to develop this into a national campaign. The campaign will be developed further in term two and we hope to engage the student community as much as possible. There are also plans to expand the campaign beyond the currently covered issues, with the society inviting suggestions from the public.

Heather Steele | Deputy News Editor

AROUND THE COLLEGES

The Union of Students in Ireland are supporting the Healthy Travel Campaign, which has been instigated by First Medical Communications. The campaign has aimed at students to ensure that they receive vaccinations before departing to foreign countries. Tropical diseases are quite common in Ireland, with one in eight people (13% of the Irish population) knowing someone affected. However, only 23% of travellers got themselves vaccinated before going to at-risk countries. Research prior to the campaign discovered that the main diseases travellers vaccinated against in the past two years included typhoid fever, diphtheria and tetanus, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. It also revealed that Irish adults rank haircuts as more important before going travelling than getting vaccinated. However students are the most conscious demographic when it comes to contracting a virus abroad, with 12% of under 25s citing vaccines as important.Commenting on the launch, Dr Jack Lambert, Consultant in Infectious Diseases in the Mater and Rotunda

Hospitals and UCD, said, Younger travellers can often be disregarded as thrill-seekers who dont focus on more serious travel preparations, but this research shows that they are the most conscious of the importance of vaccinations when travelling to exotic parts of the world.

A pre-travel health assessment for advice on preventative measures including vaccination, insect bite avoidance, good food and water hygiene should be on the top of your travel checklist to ensure you get the most out of your trip, especially when going to locations where diseases uncommon in Ireland can be contracted easily, he added.

The continued need for travel health vigilance and vaccination is highlighted by the fact that one in eight people know someone who has contracted a preventable tropical disease while abroad. Dont leave it until the last minute to get vaccinated, contact your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic after you book your trip, as some vaccinations may need to be administered six to eight weeks in advance. UCC Students Union Welfare Officer, David Berry has said that vaccination is vital before foreign departures. I would strongly suggest that students get vaccinated before going on long holidays, especially to countries where healthcare is not as easily available as in Ireland. A preventative approach to disease and illness control is always best which is why we always implore our students to practice safe sex, to look after each other on nights out and equally, to travel safely. Students can receive reasonably priced vaccinations from our medical service in UCC, so its always best to remain vigilant.

Eoghan Lyng | Arts & Lit Editor

Healthy Travel Campaign

German University unenrols all of its students by mistake

The Dresden University of Technology emailed its 37,000 students last week, to inform them that they were no longer active students at the institution. The email read Your logins will be locked in twelve days. This is happening because you have been unenrolled as a student, your contract is up or your guest logins are no longer valid. Please ensure you have saved any information that may be contained within these logins. The university later fixed the mistake with a spokeswoman blaming human error while using a software programme that collates student and staff data for the incident.

DCU awards Nicola Furlongs degree to her family

Nicola Furlong, the DCU student who was murdered while on an exchange programme in Japan, has received her degree. Nicolas sister Andrea collected her degree in International Business and Languages during the graduation ceremony. The audience in attendance applauded for the deceased student. Angie Furlong commented on the support DCU offered to the family; DCU are amazing. They met us at the door and brought us to our seats, and kept coming over to make sure we were OK during the ceremony.

Universities head to Africa in a bid to attract students

Following the Minister of Educations visit to Brazil last month, half a dozen third-level education institutions are taking part in Irelands trade mission to South Africa and Nigeria in a bid to attract students to their courses and improve collaboration with universities. The group, which includes Trinity, Griffith College and a number of Institutes of Technology, make up a 37 member contingent of companies taking part in the Enterprise Ireland facilitated trade mission. Irish third-level institutes have a long-standing level of collaborations with South African universities, but the Nigerian venture is a huge leap in terms of engagement there. Over 250,000 South African students go aboard each year to study at third level.

6 Tuesday November 19, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

COMMENT

At the time of writing, I have not actually properly listened to the song in question, although being a keen reader of the zeitgeist, I am aware of two facts: The song has a terrible moral connotation, encouraging rape culture & the objectification of women, and its singer, Robin Thicke, is a unapologetic slimeball. I oppose the banning of this song on two major ideological points. Censorship & relevancy. Banning the song across campus is not the right thing to do. The banning of any media is the never the answer, no matter how offensive the media. Everything has a right to exist in the world, even if it was brought into it by an idiotic twat with questionable morals. What must change is not the availability to access this type of media, but how people are educated. The same stance should be taken with holocaust deniers (yes, I did just directly compare Mr.Thicke to a holocaust denier. Also, yes, I am going to ignore Godwins Law): we, as a society, allow them to make their stupid point, but then we turn to our children, point at the holocaust deniers and tell them exactly why & how theyre moronic excuses for human beings. Let me also remind you about the dubious history our country has with censorship: in 1979, the film Monty Pythons Life of Brian was banned in Ireland, because the Pythons made a film that was about a guy who was not the Messiah (whether or not he was a very naughty boy is debatable). At the beginning of September, the University of Edinburgh banned the song from being played on their campus, with many college campuses across the UK following suit. For those of you not adept

at maths (including myself, I used an abacus) thats around 2 & a half months ago. The song entered the Irish charts over 30 weeks ago. Arguably the songs most socially relevant time was the MTV Video Music Awards performance with Miley Cyrus, when the former Ms.Montana twerked up against Thicke sporting a darling Beetlejuice costume: that was in August. So over 6 months passed since the songs relevancy, nearly 3 since the banning of the song in Universities was relevant. One must ask when something becomes irrelevant. The Christmas classic Baby, Its Cold Outside was penned back in 1944, and contains the line Hey,

whats in this drink? which is sang by the role traditionally done by a woman. Should it be banned in College? No, that would be ludicrous (unless it was part of a ban of any Christmas music outside the month December. That may have some merit). As of this paragraph, I have not only listened to the song, but I have

also watched the unrated version of the video. I had read somewhere that Robin Thicke called the song a feminist song, and I can see what he means, except no. This song is an absolute abomination. I mean, Mr.Thicke rhymed the phrase You wanna hug me? with What rhymes with hug me?... also, its as morally deplorable as everyone said. Should it banned from campus? Absolutely not. Never mind my moral objection to banning anything, at this stage we would probably be better to just leave it die a slow death, especially with such a massive void of any skill or talent. I mean, what rhymes with hug me? Seriously?

#BLURRED LINES DEBATEAgainst the banning of Blurred Lines

#ROBOSULLIVAN

#What must change is not the availability to access this type of media, but how people are educated.

# ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## #

University College London Students Union last week joined with some twenty other UK universities in banning the song Blurred Lines at their on campus events. In announcing the decision, UCLU womens officer Beth Sutton tweeted: UCLU have just passed motion to not play blurred lines in union spaces & events. Solidarity with all survivors! I believe that her statement sums up the reality of this debate. The fact of the matter is, the issue here is not about music. It is not about being a buzzkill. And it is about more than censorship. It is about putting what is preached into practice and through a strong action condemning the normalisation and glorification of rape culture. Free speech is all well and good, but we must also consider privilege. It is our privilege to enjoy, if we must, Robin Thickes inane lyrics, but it is our duty to ensure that our enjoyment does not negatively affect another person. In this vein, why would we fight so hard to protect something- they playing of Blurred Lines on campus- in the knowledge that while possibly a mere song to one, it is the height of offence to another. That being the crux of campaigns such as Watch Your Mouth which seeks to raise awareness of the power a seemingly passive comment can hold when aimed at the right person. Weve all heard the lyrics. Weve all been shocked by the video. But what makes this song different to every other one in its genre is that it has peaked our interests and generated a crucial debate about rights and consent. But lets take the lyrics off the table for a moment and look at arguments floating

around against action on this issue. The main rebuttal that I have heard against taking any action on this song is that it will annoy people, be seen as anti-banter or be ineffectual. Please. There is a longstanding Students Union boycott of Nestl in place and the Daily Mail was removed from sale in campus shops in reaction to a particularly insensitive article. Hell, weve even banned the sale of chewing gum on campus. So banning things for ideological or practical reasons even though it may bother some people is not something that hasnt been done here before. A ban, such as has just been passed in UCL, would mean that Students Union

events would not voluntarily play that song and so would not voluntarily encourage the normalisation of its message. I dont see how that could infringe upon anyones rights, bar your right to request a horrendous song on a night out. It would however vindicate the rights rape victims to enjoy a night out on

campus with friends without a reminder of a past ordeal coupled with a visual and aural demonstration of that ordeals often belittlement by society. We sometimes need to look beyond what we may feel is acceptable and ask why others disagree. Ill give you something big enough to tear your ass in twoNothing like your last guy, he too square for you/ He dont smack that ass and pull your hair like thatDo it like it hurt, like it hurt/ What you dont like work? I find those lyrics offensive. You have the right to listen to them on your own time. I have the right to not have to.

I dont want it#AUDREYELLARDWALSH

#what makes this song different to every other one in its genre is that it has peaked our interests and generated a crucial debate about rights and consent.

UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday November 19, 2013

FEATURES7

In the wake of UCC Law Societys 13th Annual Law Conference The Changing Landscape of Media Law which took place in the Aula Maxima, UCC. This week I investigate how media law affects not just the professionals, but also the faux-fessionals. Media law is an effervescent issue at the heart of todays society which is becoming more prevalent with the advancement of new technology. Tweeting, blogging, sharing, and posting, the majority of us are now social networking according to an Ipsos MRBI poll more than half the population has a social networking account. However this raises a number of issues in relation to the law, and whether we know the legal consequence of what we are making public property? Media Law has been legislated for with many years, however are all the advancements of modern media encompassed under the current legislation?Originally defamation law was one of the most serious legal issues facing journalists. However as online forums provide everyone with outlets to voice their opinions, are we not all modern day armchair journalists of sorts? Article 40.6.1 of the Irish Constitution vindicates to right to express opinions and convections freely. However, akin to all rights, this is not absolute, thus free speech is subject to limitations. As a result of this, media law is at the heart of modern society, and perhaps we should all look into what the rules are in relation to what we make public. There is a clich out there that teaches actions speak louder then words well what if your actions portray your words, publically? In recent years the development of social media, forums and blogs have been unprecedented. We live in an age of constant online updates, pictures and posts. The automatic response from some people is: Hang on, I need to tweet about it. Most conversations seem to start with oh did you see on Facebook

We all have the right to a good name, and defamation is something the Courts take very seriously. However in relation to social media, the law seems lethargic in coming in line with modern developments. The majority of us have access to the internet, and with said access comes outlets to voice our thoughts and opinions on, well, just about everything. It would appear that social media is providing us all with a personal soapbox, but are there legal repercussions? The power of social media cannot be underestimated take for example the well established equitable remedy of an injunction. As we saw in our neighbour country, a so-called super injunction: intended to provide the ultimate privacy can be negated in less than 140 characters. Where does this leave us in terms of the law? How do you know what you are saying is not defamatory in anyway? It seems the law is playing catch up when it comes to social media law the developments are so rapid that it would be unfair to expect the law to have legislation covering every issue. The legal side of social media is largely untested in Ireland, thus new technology is proving to be a lacuna in media law. The area of tort law known as defamation is where the law in relation to slanderous and libelous comments is set out. One must question however if the current law provides enough clarity in our modern media driven age. Many questions arise in relation to social media we as users should know where we stand legally in relation to what we say. Take for example Twitter a mere 140 characters can get you into a sticky legal situation. Does it constitute as libel to endorse/retweet a comment made by somebody else? Can a comment on your personal Facebook page - that would otherwise be considered defamatory - give rise to legal proceedings? Are public forums not just an opportunity to have open debate?The current legislation governing defamation law is the The Defamation Act 2009. The act made great strides in attempting to modernise the somewhat dated 1961 Act. However if you are looking to this

Act for information, it does come with a caveat emptor element attached to it. Since 2009 we have seen more and more outlets for defamatory publication. Vimeo, Vines, Birds of the Day, there are many social media saucepans that can get you into legal hot water. Modern challenges in relation to media law today include; phone hacking: both in media and governmental worlds. New technology and the online world are generating many legal issues that are largely unknown legal territory, both on home soil and abroad. In addition to defamation and damages, there is a high price to be paid in relation to loss of privacy when it comes to media law. It is an infringement of someones privacy to share information about someone that is deemed as highly offensive. This is an established principle in law, however there are many untested areas when it comes to modern media. Just look at Facebook you can write a status update, about whats on your mind? Granted, what is on your mind could relate to someone else, and in one click of a post button, you may have broken the law! What does this mean for all of voicing our opinion online? At the end of the day the onus lies on you in order to know exactly what the law relating to the media is. There are laws out there protecting our right to impart information, but there are also laws to govern what we say. This is an interesting topic, and media law seems to have the difficult task of balancing peoples rights. As the law stands, it is unknown how certain scenarios - in relation to new technologies and the online world - will play out before the Courts. It seems our only option is to wait and see how the legislation will evolve, but in the mean time perhaps some self-censorship of what we make public is advisable. Perhaps we should view the share button, as the beware button? Finally I would like to congratulate all those involved in this years conference it was huge success to say the least. The discussion on the day was interesting, thought provoking, and applicable to all our lives.

Grace OSullivan | Features Editor

Media Law

Cognition-enhancing drugs or smart drugs as they have become known are a group of substances which supposedly improve a variety of mental functions. These drugs which work by altering neurotransmitter systems in the brain were originally developed to treat disorders including ADHD, narcolepsy and Alzheimers disease. Increasingly though their use is being seen amongst people with no such disorders. The reasons are simple, imagine a pill which offered enhanced memory, motivation and focus for hours at a time. This tempting prospect proves too great for many; in particular it seems amongst students. Survey estimates in the US found 7% of students in US universities and up to 25% on certain campuses had used prescription stimulants in the past year with these benefits in mind. Nor is this a phenomenon limited to the US; a 2012 study in Cambridge found 10% of students admitted to using enhancers to help them work. The prescription only basis of these substances seems to have had little impact on their availability. The UK Quality Care Commission has seen a 56% rise in prescriptions for methylphenidate drugs in the past five years which includes smart drugs such as Ritalin and there is considerable anecdotal evidence which indicates that students exaggerate or fabricate symptoms of ADHD in order to receive the drug. Those unable to procure the drugs first-hand simply go online where a readily available supply is even more straightforward to access.

Although users may be willing to turn a blind eye, significant risks are associated with these drugs. A long list of side effects ranging from increased blood pressure to mood swings accompanies each drug whilst tolerance and dependence are also major issues. The real worry though is that the long term effects of these drugs on the brain are still unknown. Professor Barbara Sahakian a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge suggests that students are a group particularly susceptible to long term damage, At present there are no long-term safety studies of these drugs in healthy people. We know that the brain is in development into late adolescence. Therefore we do not know the long-term consequences of the effects of these drugs on a healthy developing brain.

The absence of concrete medical evidence on the long term effects of these drugs is prompting another debate on the moral issue of these substances. Should healthy people be allowed to take them? Proponents of this view argue that we already consume less potent versions of these drugs in the form of nicotine and caffeine to increase alertness; whilst they can hardly be disqualified as an unfair advantage in an age of computers and private tutoring. Arguments have been made that a world in which smart drugs were legal could be a better one; scientists could come up with ideas faster, doctors could save more lives and efficiency could be improved in everyday work across the globe. This idea is not one which is being ignored; five prominent academics published an article in Nature in 2008 advocating that mentally competent adults should be able to engage in cognitive enhancement using drugs. In fact what may seem an abstract and distant dilemma is actually a lot closer than many realise. Soldiers in the US army have long been offered cognitive enhancing drugs such as Modafinil to increase alertness and are legally obliged to take medications for the sake of their military performance. The idea of being legally required to take smart drugs is a worrying aspect involved in their availability. Would employers seeking maximum profit or efficiency force employees to take these substances? Would those who refused these drugs be left at a disadvantage or even unemployed? The impact of allowing these substances to be made available cannot be underestimated; the very idea of a world in which everyone took drugs to get through their day is not one filled with promise and optimism. The debate over smart drugs is clearly not one with an easy answer and the only certainty is that their illicit use shows no signs of disappearing.

Smart DrugsConor Shearman | Features Writer

FEATUREST H I SW E E KI NS i z e M a t t e r s

B e r l i nEilis has the best advice on how to get around The Grey City

P 8

P 8

P a r a n o r m a l A c t i v i t yAdam OReilly speaks to

Sinead ODonnell from Cork Paranormal Investigators

P 9

S u r v i v i n g S t o r y :Ellen Desmond speaks with Holocaust survivor, Tomi Reichental

P 1 2

FEATURES INVESIGATES:DISABILITYON CAMPUS

P 1 0

9 8 2 8 8

8 Tuesday November 19, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

FEATURES

Berlin is renowned for its nightlife and it most certainly did not disappoint. Highlights included Kvartina Nr. 62 (Lbbener Strae 18), a Russian bar with particularly good vodka and Pelmeni (Russian ravioli), Monsieur Vuong (Alte Schnhauser Strae 46) which had the most delicious spring rolls I have ever tasted in my life (also worth visiting for the hilarity that will ensue while trying to eat with chopsticks) and Aufsturz (Oranienburger Strae 67) a bar with a selection of over 200 types of beer. Farbfernseher (Skalitzer Strae 114) was also the epitome of what I imagined Berlin nightlife to be a wonderfully dingy club blasting out the electronica until the early hours of the morning. Helpful hints: Very sensibly in Berlin they do have a night bus which replaces

the U-Bahn in the early hours of the morning meaning that you wont have to worry about how to get home (although if you do look rather lost Berlin bus drivers are happy to help and will point you in the right direction).

It is expected that you leave a tip not only in restaurants but also in bars (otherwise you will have to feel the wrath of a German waitress). This is done by rounding up to the next euro.

Berlin is a multi-faceted city the essence of which I cannot hope to capture. My visit was an unforgettable experience crazy, exciting and unique. Ultimately the uniqueness of Berlin is its defining characteristic both as a European city and also in the sense that the experiences of no two people in this city will be the same. Therefore my advice to all those who have read this far is thus have your own Berlin experience. Im sure it will bear no resemblance to my own and will be equally memorable for that is the joy of a city such as Berlin.

Fashionable ExpectationsDeputy Features Editor Claire Crowley

on how size mattersDebenhams has become the first store to encourage body confidence by being the first high street retailer to introduce size sixteen mannequins. These new mannequins will be used at its shop in Oxford Street, London, and will appear alongside size ten mannequins on all womens fashion floors. They will then be introduced in all Debenhams stores in the UK and Ireland over the next year. Currently, size ten is the standard size for mannequins on the high street, which is not an accurate description of the average woman, as the average woman is a size sixteen. The majority of high street stores show womens clothing that are three sizes too small, adding to the pressure to look a certain way. Shopping, or retail therapy is supposed to be relaxing, and it also supposed to make you feel good about yourself. But, when you go into the shop and see the apparent average size, it would undoubtedly make anybody feel insecure. It is thought that these new mannequins would stop the thoughts of negative body image, and allow women to embrace their shape. It just proves how much pressure is on women to look a certain way. Sizes are getting smaller and smaller, clothes are being stitched differently. I have even seen clothes pinned a certain way on mannequins that does not match what they look like when they are on an actual person. What they see is not what they get. Personally, I have sometimes found frustration with shopping as what would be my size in one shop would not fit me in another, leaving me wonder did I really put on three stone since lunch? Of course not. Nowadays, women only have to look to the media to see what they perception of perfection and beauty is. Reality is, its getting harder and harder to believe this version of reality when a lot of it is disguised by Photoshop and make-up tricks. The mannequins that Debenhams have introduced will hopefully start a trend in other stores. Reality is beautiful. Not all people are going to look the same, as a matter of fact, we are often told that everyone is unique. Shouldnt the mannequins, the magazines and the advertisements all convey that message? Research shows that women are more likely to buy clothes when the fashion models are their size, so, ultimately, this is good news for stores that promote the usage of these mannequins. In the end, if the customer is happy and secure in their store, its more money in the tills for them. Everyone is happier. I work in retail. Ive worked in fitting rooms where I have to dart in and out to the shop floor looking for a dress or a pair of jeans in a larger size. Ive seen women become irritated when they cant fit into their regular size and the smiles fade from their face when the zipper wont go all the way up. They question themselves. They question the clothes. They leave the store in a different mood to the one they came in with. A comment was passed one day that the fashion industry was secretly working with weight loss companies, to encourage women to look a certain way. In a society where we judge and obsess over looks, I couldnt help but wonder if this comment could be true. So, I say, fair play to Debenhams, for being brave and taking on the fashion industry by introducing these mannequins and for also promoting a good body image to women.

Berlin is a city unique within Europe. Nowhere else does the tug of history and of past events seem quite so near. It is a city of contrasts formerly the confluence of East and West it is currently a crossroads between modernity and antiquity within which one can encounter the wonder of the ancient Per-gamon Altar, a frieze depicting the battle between the Olympian Gods and the Titans, and the striking Sony Centre, a modern day altar of consumerism. No other city in Europe has embraced the 21st Century quite to the same extent as Berlin. Neither does any city contain an atmosphere quite like it lively, irreverent and infectious it will capture your heart and refuse to let it go.

The scale of Europe is something which is difficult to comprehend for an Irish person so while Berlin and Strasbourg appear not to be that far apart, in reality they are 800km away from one another. As Erasmus is all about new experiences we opted to travel via sleeper train. The compartments are of course tiny and you do wake up every time the train stops in a station, but overall this is a very efficient way to travel as no time is wasted through physically getting from one place to another you go to sleep in one city and wake up in another.

How to get there:

Erasmus Diary A Berlin Adventure

Helpful hint: dont use spray deodorants in the small bathrooms as you will set off the fire alarm and will be given a telling off by a rather scary German man. Or if you do, make sure to run away as soon as the alarm goes off (as the individual in the other bathroom so wisely did).

Undoubtedly the best hostel I have ever stayed in. Really atmospheric as it is located in a historic building I particularly enjoyed the library-bar. Staff are immensely helpful they pointed us in the direction of the best kebab in Berlin (Mustafas Gemsse Kebab on Mehringdamm Strae worth the 45 minute wait!) as well as a great Berlin nightclub that was most definitely not on the tourist trail (Farbfernseher). Great location literally two minutes from a U-Bahn station giving easy access to all of Berlin.

Where to stay: The Grand Hostel

There is no shortage of things to do in Berlin. We stayed for six days and still did not manage to see everything. My highlights were the East Side Gallery, the Reichstag and the Deutsches Historiches Museum.

East Side Gallery: a true Berlin monument consisting of murals that were painted on the remains of the Berlin Wall in 1990 following its fall. Includes such iconic images as Mein Gott, hilf mir, diese tdliche Liebe zu berleben (My God, Help Me to Survive this Deadly Love) which depicts a fraternal kiss between Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker during the 30th anniversary celebration of the foundation of the German Democratic Republic and the Trabant, once the most common vehicle in East Germany.

The Reichstag: the seat of the German Bundestag. Entry is free (always a good thing) but you must register online. The Reichstag Dome offers great views of Berlin (an alternative to paying 11 to climb the TV tower) and an interesting audio guide which gives such nuggets of information as the environmentally-friendly nature of the Dome as well as helpfully telling you which iconic Berlin monuments are visible from the top of the Dome.

Deutsches Historiches Museum: a must-see for anyone who considers themselves to be in anyway a history nerd. Did get a little star-struck by the hat that Napoleon wore at Waterloo and a first edition of the French civil code (law student, remember!).

Helpful hints: If you plan on visiting some of the many museums in Berlin the

Museum Pass is definitely worth it. Costing 12 it gains you entry into some of Berlins most famous museums including the Neues Museum home of the iconic Ancient-Egyptian bust of Nefertiti

Watch out in touristy areas such as Checkpoint Charlie for people running scams. They do tend to come out of nowhere and may be prepared to chase you down Unter den Linden in order to sign their petition.....

Jay-walking is illegal in Germany so unfortunately no mad dashes across the road allowed unless you want old German women to start shouting at you (apparently they rather enjoy it)

Berlin is rather cold (apparently the wind originates from Siberia) so hat/scarf/gloves are appropriate

What to do:

Nightl i fe:

...with Eilis O'Keeffe

UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday November 19, 2013 9

FEATURES

Hi Sinead, can you tell us a little about your team and what CPIs main goal is?

Cork Paranormal Investigators are a non-profit organisation team based in Cork. We are a very scientifically based team and prefer to use various different pieces of equipment to prove the existence of an afterlife rather than relying on a feeling. Our team was set up back in 2006 and the main goal of our team is to try and find the answer to one of the biggest questions: Is there life after death?

In recent years we have seen a lot of tv shows based on the paranormal, such as Most Haunted, tell us, how genuine do you feel those types of shows are?

I have watched many of these shows over the years and in fact they are probably one of the reasons I got involved in the paranormal. The reality is that actual paranormal investigating is very different to what you see on TV. Take for example Most Haunted. They get to investigate some fantastic locations but in every episode they always seem to be screaming or running from something. I have to say that personally I have never screamed during an investigation nor have I ever run from anything.

I have no doubt you have lots of interesting and possibly disturbing experiences under your belt; if we were sitting around a camp-fire telling ghost stories that you yourself witnessed what would you tell?

We use a piece of equipment known as a KII. Basically this is an EMF detector and the theory behind it is that if a ghost/spirit is trying

Adam OReilly speaks to Sinead ODonnell from Cork Paranormal Investigators

to manifest then it emits and Electro Magnetic Field that can then be picked up on the KII. During an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) session the KII kept going off in direct response to the questions we were asking. After asking numerous different questions we were able to establish that it was a little girl that we were in communication with. At the end of the session asked the little girl if she was getting tired. At this point the lights on the KII started to fade with only one remaining light left on. I then told her that if she was really tired that she could go, that we wouldnt keep her any longer. At this point the last light on the KII went off and we had no more hits for the rest of the night. What makes this so poignant is that a little girl had died in the house.

There are many different thoughts on what actually constitutes as a ghost what are your own personal thoughts?

There are different types of ghosts or spirits as we like to call them. The main two are intelligent and residual. An intelligent spirit is where they can interact with you. You ask a specific question and you get a response to that question. A residual spirit is where they dont interact with you. Its like an imprint of that person left behind after they pass. A good example of this would be an investigation that we done in a cemetery down in Waterford. On reviewing the evidence we discovered there was a voice on our Dictaphone saying: Oh were bleedin f***ed. This wasnt in response to any question that was asked. It appears to be the final words of somebody from years ago. You and the team must receive a certain amount of scepticism

at times, anything to say to the non-believers out there?

We constantly receive scepticism from people and to a certain degree we remain sceptics ourselves. We certainly try and debunk something before saying that it is paranormal. But what I would say to any sceptic out there is dont knock it till you have tried it. You may be surprised.

What are the essential tools inside a paranormal investigators backpack?

The most essential tools inside any paranormal investigators backpack is a dictaphone, a digital camera, full spectrum camera (this is a camera that allows you to see in the dark) and of course a torch.

What advice would you give to people who want to follow in CPIs foot-steps?

If anyone is looking to start their own group I would say to start small. If anybody is interested in starting their own group and wants to ask us any questions they can contact us on paranormalcork@hotmail.com or through our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Cork.Paranormal.Investigators. We will also be setting up a website shortly so keep an eye on our Facebook page and of course if you do pop across to our Facebook page be sure to give us a like.

To read more of this conversation, head to www.uccexpress.net

L o o k i n g b e y o n d t h e v o i d

I sat alongside two Belgian Catholics in the 2nd pew from the front of St. Olavs Cathedral for the sole English language Mass being celebrated that Easter Sunday. Apart from the native Norwegian celebrant, almost the entirety of the congregation was of Vietnamese extraction. Where I had expected to hear the familiar reluctant strain of lethargic responses, my heart was stirred by the fervent zeal of the faithful. It was at that moment I realized a truth that I had been denying myself for years. I was no longer truly a Catholic. Seemingly endless scandals and reports had already left me entirely cynical about the nature of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. I hold and have always held nothing but utter contempt for the men who abused their positions within the Church to abuse the very people they had a duty of pastoral care to. But it would be remiss of me not to profess that on a personal level that my experiences of the Catholicism have been entirely positive in nature. Throughout my brothers treatment for Leukaemia the staff of the Mercy Hospital were a bulwark of professionalism, support and hope for my entire family. The staff both lay and religious provided us with help when we were at our most vulnerable. Another continuing source of inspiration for me is my great-uncle Fr. Laurence Bonaventure who will soon celebrate his 91st Birthday this Sunday . As of the last remaining Monks of Mount Melleray Abbey in Waterford his wisdom and contentedness have always been aspirational for me. My respect for religious people is an enduring one. It is easy to unthinkingly dismiss the values of past generations out of hand. In truth it is my contention that it is true reasonable discourse that will provide us

with a fuller understanding of one another. It is far easier to sit among the like-minded and mock caricatures of those who disagree with our beliefs than to really engage with who people are, what they stand for and why they believe what they believe. This article is not an attempt at apologism for the tenets of the Catholic faith. Many of which are repugnant to my liberal and secular ideals. However in the spirit of creating a society which embraces all of its sons and daughters, dissenting voices should be engaged with not simply mocked or ignored.

Ultimately my reason for writing this article is a conversation I had with someone who had recently had a spiritual realization of a very different nature to my own. The person in question had embraced wholeheartedly the faith that I had just rejected. She told me of the isolation, rejection and lack of understanding that she had faced from certain quarters since admitting to her religious awakening. Personally I hold a deep distrust for the leadership of the Catholic Church. The problems endemic in the Church go far deeper than merely just a few bad eggs. The failure of the Church to exorcise root and branch reforms in the face of the obvious failures of its hierarchal structures frankly disgust me. Patriarchy, Paranoia and Intransigency have mired the Church into a state of seemingly constant scandal. Palatial Churches stuffed to the brim with priceless works of art frankly seem to mock the life of simplicity, poverty and selflessness that Jesus ministry preached. Nevertheless it remains in my view so intrinsically arrogant to dismiss and exclude any person from friendship or understanding simply for belonging to a collective to which over a billion people belong. It is far easier to scorn and mock straw-men than to engage in a meaningful discourse with someone with an entirely different set of beliefs and values than your own. It is only through the latter than we can truly grow as individuals. Spirited debate with an eagerness to understand anothers way of thinking serves to temper strident hearts. To dismiss a person by virtue of being a Catholic, implicitly casts a judgment on all Catholics. The only Irishman viewed by the State of Israel as Righteous Amongst the Nations was a Catholic Monsignor. The Righteous

were defined as non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Monsignor Hugh OFlaherty was responsible for saving the lives of 6500 Jews and Allied Servicemen during the Second World War. Men such as the aforementioned Monsignor and liberation theologians such as Archbishop Oscar Romero, were not exemplary people in spite of their religion, but partly because of it. Catholicism inspired their minds and actions. The Catholic Church is of course the largest religious community on this island. But amongst the student population the fervently religious are far out-numbered by a majority of non-practising religious people and secularists. As secularists a balance needs to be struck between vindicating and professing our beliefs and respecting the position of those who partially or entirely reject our values. To ignore religiosity serves no purpose other than to exclude people from the progressive and tolerant society which is ultimate desire to build. The recent Watch Your Mouth campaign as conducted by the Students Union highlighted the impact that derisive language, thoughtlessly-used , in day-to-day speech can have on those who belong to minority groups. Those who actively practise a religion and fervently believe in its tenets can often be overlooked as one such minority. While the beliefs and actions of religious institutions and their adherents should never be beyond criticism, those who through the fervency of their belief act for the betterment of society and mankind should be equally praised. In our hurry to build a tolerant and secular state lets not forget the positive impact that religious people can have on our society.

Practising Catholic Students: A Forgotten MinoritySean O Mahony | Features Writer

10 Tuesday November 19, 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

FEATURES INVESTIGATES

Disability on Campus

Features investigates the lives of students with disabilities in UCC.

Laura Kiersey is student in her second year studying Public Health, an interest not so much driven by her need for a powered wheelchair, but by her interest in food and nutrition. Her choice of college and accommodation were more greatly affected though; I went to other colleges to have a look around and I didnt think they were great, so that made me want to come to UCC. UCC is fairly good for accessibility, most of the rooms are ok and where they can theyll change the rooms around. Im happy enough with how I can get around and its not too awkward. The major inconvenience though is the lack of more widespread automatic doors both on campus and in student accommodation; People are helpful but it can be difficult; you just have to bulldoze your way through the door! The Disability Support Services are, in her opinion, very good as they provide her with a scribe for exams, note-takers in classes and PAs. She started out studying Arts but didnt enjoy it, and finds herself more at home in her Public Health class of 30. Talking about the impact of having a disability on her social life, she mentions one main problems; The nightclubs in Cork are desperately bad for access although they do their best to accommodate you. Its getting there but most of the places you can really get into. But you work around it, it doesnt stop me socialising! By Stephen Barry

Some of you may know Dara OCinnide as the fully blind student who parasailed down the Kane building last year for charity. Now a second year studying languages, Irish and Hispanic Studies, Dara gets around with the use of his seeing eye dog Patsy. Having utilised a walking stick before getting Patsy a few years ago, Dara notes youre either a walking stick person or a dog person and having had Patsy has made his life much easier. Tempted as I was to pet and play with Patsy, Dara told me jokingly of how often people would come to play with the dog while he was on campus and how it distracted the dog from her duty. He also recounted the joy his former housemates in Castlewhite felt when they realised theyd be living with Dara and Patsy. Being in arts Dara has a timetable that takes him all over campus and as such utilised Disability Support Services for route training to assist in making his way around. While he rated this service as valuable he still had some trouble in accessing buildings from time to time, notably the Windle. Since Dara had agreed to interview via text I enquired how he managed with technology, after telling me about his love for the iPhone he told me about the voice software he used on computers to aid his use of them. Overall Dara seemed very well adapted to college life through the use of services available on campus and services and products available generally to assist people with particular needs that are not generally met. By Brian Conmy

Ciara OMahony, a first year arts student, is a T2 paraplegic. Paralyzed from the mid waist down she has been a wheelchair user her entire life but says I didnt let that stop me getting here. Ciara says that being a wheelchair used in UCC has positive and negative aspects, the campus itself is quite flat which is always a bonus, and she also finds most on campus buildings perfectly accessible. As an Arts student, a number of Ciaras lectures take place in the Boole; the new lift and electric doors make access here particularly easy. Even lectures in some older parts of the college such as the West Wing she finds accessible. While finding UCC itself quite easy to get around a large issue Ciara finds is the area surrounding the campus and generally non flat areas on campus such as the incline past the ORB leading to the SU common room, I myself would have no hope of reaching the top without assistance. Of more concern though is the incline from main campus to Castlewhite apartments, whether that be the one through the arch and then to the left which is not just steep but also poorly paved or the hill opposite Daybreak which is incredibly steep and one I often go down when leaving college at night after society meetings. The issue I have is this hill is very poorly lit and as someone in a wheelchair Im constantly eyeing the ground, attempting to dodge cracks and holes which the lack of light makes obviously difficult. This is one concern she believes should be addressed for the benefit of all students. Ciara is in contact with Disability Support Services on campus who are hugely supportive of all students with disabilities here in UCC and provide a range of services such as PAs or transport organisation. By Brian Conmy

Cormac Fahy is a third year genetics student with mid-spectrum asbergers syndrome. Diagnosed with the condition at the age of 1 and a half, it was something that he never really considered, in fact he was only told that he had it when he turned 12. He says that it it never something that never in itself really bothered him, though it did attract negative attention. School was tough as other pupils noticed his difference and some people took advantage. Cormacs asbergers affects him in a number of ways. Primarily there is a focussing issue. He finds that he sometimes get preoccupied with thoughts for hours when he should be working on something else. As a college student this can be a problem where study is concerned and the DSS provide him with certain supports. He has permission to use a dictaphone to record lectures and sits exams separately so as to minimise distractions to himself- and to others. I can get loud sometimes. Intriguingly, Cormac also has hypersensitive hearing, allowing him to hear conversations in another room at times. Cormac chose to study genetics, partly due to an interest in learning more about his own condition. Little is known about asbergers, but there may, he says, be an epigenetic link. Growing up, Cormacs social skills have improved greatly and he cites Transition Year as being a big help. He made a choice to be less reserved and to engage with people. Im open about it, its part of who I am. He now lives out of home, socialises and he has been involved with the Choral Society. By Audrey Ellard Walsh

UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday November 19, 2013 11

FEATURES INVESTIGATES

Disabil i ty in the WorkplaceData on persons with disabilities are hard to come by in almost every country. Specific data on their employment situation are even harder to find . Yet persons with disabilities face the same predicament everywhere. In developing countries, 80% to 90% of persons with disabilities of working age are unemployed, whereas in industrialised countries the figure is between 50% and 70%.The figures below come from the National Disability Authority and disability.ie

Almost 600,000 people in Ireland 13% of the population have a disabilityWork Participation rates:There were 162,681 people with a disability in the labour force a participation rate of 30%, compared to almost 62% of the overall population. Large gap in employment rates

A majority are economically inactiveTable 3 How disabled people not in work describe their status

(age group 2064) Men

%Women

%

Unable to work due to sickness or disability 69 54

Retired 9 5

Home duties 2 29

Student 3 3

Unemployed or looking for first job 13 6

People disabled for longer are less likely to hold a jobTable 6 Employment rate of people with disabilities (aged 1564)

by duration of disability %

06 months 57.0

612 months 55.1

12 years 43.5

23 years 45.1

35 years 40.6

510 years 37.1

10+ years 37.4

since birth 39.0

Work participation by medical conditionTable 11 Work participation rates by

type of disability % at work % point gap v. nondisabled

Mental, nervous, emotional 22.0 46.5

Other progressive illness 28.4 40.1

Arms or hands 34.7 33.8

Legs or feet 35.4 33.1

Other longstanding problem(s) 36.2 32.3

Seeing difficulty 38.3 30.2

Speech impediment 38.5 30.0

Work participation by medical conditionTable 11 Work participation rates by

type of disability % at work % point gap v. nondisabled

Mental, nervous, emotional 22.0 46.5

Other progressive illness 28.4 40.1

Arms or hands 34.7 33.8

Legs or feet 35.4 33.1

Other longstanding problem(s) 36.2 32.3

Seeing difficulty 38.3 30.2

Speech impediment 38.5 30.0

Heart, blood pressure, circulation 40.4 28.1

Back or neck 42.7 25.8

Epilepsy 44.1 24.4

Hearing difficulty 46.4 22.1

Stomach, liver, kidney, digestive 48.3 20.2

Chest or breathing 50.5 18.0

Skin conditions 58.7 9.8

Diabetes 58.9 9.6Wor

k pa

rticip

atio

n by

med

ical c

ondi

tion

*Sources: National Disability Authority and disability.ie

12 Tuesday November 19 2013 | UCC EXPRESS

FEATURES

For many people living today, the Holocaust is defined by a documentary they briefly see on television or something they learn about for an exam. But for Tomi Reichental, it was a real life experience of his childhood. Its not every day I have the honour of answering the phone to a voice full of such history but, then again, there arent very many people like the brave Mr Reichental, who has spent the past 8 years telling his story to over 50,000 students. I am so busy I am booked up till next June believe it or not! Mr Reichental told The UCC Express. Born in Slovakia in 1935, Reichental was sent to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1944,for no reason other than being Jewish. But for 60 years following liberation in 1945, Reichental said nothing of his Bergen-Belsen experience. I lost my wife ten years ago; she never knew anything about my past. I never told her. Its only in the last 8 years that I speak about this. I never told my children, they found out from the work I started doing, the radio, television and of course newspapers. Thats how they found out.

Mr Reichental first gave a talk about his Bergen-Belsen experience in his grandchildrens school in Dublin. When he made that first lecture he saw that people knew very little about the Holocaust. I found myself surrounded with children crying Mr Reichental imparted, the teacher was crying and I was crying. It was a real amazing scene and then this made me realise that this is not a story that you tell to an 11 or 12 year old child. Yet, Reichental was only 9 years old when he lived through the reality of it himself. Reichental highlighted how he had been afraid that the childrens parents would be angry that his story had upset them but the opposite happened, everyone was very interested. Since then he has recognized that, as one of the few remaining witnesses of the Holocaust, he should be speaking to kids (albeit, older ones) and ensuring that the correct education is there to prevent any reoccurrences. Now his story is in demand across the world and not only has he travelled across Ireland, he has lectured in the USA and in England, by

invitation. He has spoken in Slovenia and in Germany, in Bergen-Belsen camp to German students and given testimony to the Bergen-Belsen archives. And of course since I started to speak two films were made Mr Reichental added with much self-effacement, as though this were something that happens to people every day, I wrote a book and at the end of the year we will go to the fourth edition, and its only two years out! And now Im writing a second book as well! Mr Reichentals first book, I Was a Boy in Belsen, gives a detailed account of how the atmosphere of anti-Semitism rapidly grew around him and his family. He highlights the change in peoples attitude towards him and how he distanced himself from them as a result of feeling different. I Was a Boy in Belsen outlines the betrayal of members of his community against his father and grandparents, and how his family had to split up in order to avoid being captured, until they were finally arrested following being

beaten. An event that stands out in the book is Reichentals retelling of his Grandmothers death, and how he had to watch as her body was taken away to be piled on the mountain of corpses in the camp. It really brings to light the real-life horror of the Holocaust on an emotional and personal level. Reichental also recounted how there was no celebration [upon liberation] because 90% of the inmates were so sickwe were just delighted that finally we were free. With all this in mind its nothing less than a miracle for a young boy to make it out alive. Reichental names his mother as a contributing factor in keeping his familys faith and hope alive. [My mother] always encouraged us just to go on and be strong and we will get out of it and everything will be alright. So we never lost any hope. As far as the religion goes, Im not a religious person and obviously that thing that happened to me is something that I question. If there was a god, how could he not do anything about it? It really truly was a terrible, terrible thing that happened. And while it was happening, nobody stepped in to stop it. He also explained how the main struggle

for him afterwards was regaining the education that he had completely lost out on, as he could not read or write. Today, many years later, he is an educated engineer, and though he keeps the Sabbath and is a traditional Jew he is not overly religious. In 2007, Mr Reichental returned to the place where the camp he was incarcerated in once stood. It was extremely difficult because I never wanted to go back to Bergen-Belsen he admitted, I was invited there because they opened a teaching centre and a museumand for the opening they invited inmates that were in Bergen-Belsen, the survivors... there is nothing left of the camp but when we arrived and we saw these beautiful green areas and you can just imagine, children playing. But for us, when we come there and looked into the distance for us it was open graveyard. When we were there it was all covered with corpses. It was extremely hard. The documentary film of Mr Reichentals life, Till the Tenth Generation, shows his return to Bergen-Belsen. He summarised the tender content himself;they took pictures of us, of my brother and myself and my cousin as weapproached the camp. We were stone faced, just absolutelywe were in terrible pain, saddened to see this place as it reminded us of such a horror. So it was it was very difficult. Reichental told The Express that his second film, which has just been finished, concerns itself with an SS guard who he wished to meet and I was prepared to shake her hand he says. This guard was accused of killing and beating inmates; she was sentenced to one year in prison andis still living in Germany today. Mr Reichental wanted to do some reconciliation after all these

things. Just for me, for some sort of a closure, and for her as well and thats what the new film is about. When questioned on his feelings towards those who went unprosecuted for their crimes, the courageous Mr Reichental discussed how he has no hatred as such but of course I cant forgive them what they did I like to put it all into the past and sort of look forward. Its regretful that they escaped the judgement but I think to judge them today, I dont know if thats the right thing to do. Mr Reichental made clear the reasons why hearing his story is more relevant than ever in todays world. We now have a multi-national society in Ireland and with the recession, people like to blame somebody else for their trouble it is a breeding ground for racism. The lesson is that if you see bullying dont be a bystander. Get involved, tell that its wrong and that you mustnt behave like this because in our time, unfortunately, nobody said anything - and look what happened to us! The education has to be there so that such a thing doesnt happen again and thats his message, to students: to make sure that if anything ever happens again like thisthey should step in and stop it before it is too late.

The full interview with Mr Reichental is available on www.uccexpress.net.

I Was a Boy in Belsen is available from all good bookshop