The Wire - December 2012

// Speaking Shows Strength// Fed Up Stand Up Protest// Road Safety Week+ Live Art+ Alcohol Use

THE WIRE

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THE WIRE { Student Magazine }

With Christmas fast approaching I wanted to take this opportunity to extend a warm Christ-mas greeting from IT Sligo Students’ Union to all our members here at IT Sligo.

While most people associate Christmas as a time of happiness it can be a trying time for students studying for exams. This with the added pres-sure of financial insecurity this year means for some of our members, Christmas will be more difficult this year. I would appeal to anyone who is in a position to help others to please do so this Christmas.

This has been a particularly trying year for the Students Union with the increases in fees, reduc-tion and completely unacceptable delay in grants as well as a further reduction in the Student As-sistance Fund. I want to assure you that the Stu-dents’ Union are here to help in any way we can and our door is always open no matter how big or small the problem might seem.

Out of all of this however, we have seen that students here at IT Sligo will not be deterred. It will in many ways be graduates who lead our economic recovery in the years to come. Some of you will already know the path you wish to take after college and some of you will be less certain. From my experiences as both a student and as a member of the Students’ Union is that students here are both determined and confident and this is precisely the attitude that will lead us to a bet-ter and more certain future.

I wish every one of you a very Happy Christmas and look forward to working with you and for you in the New Year.

Kevin O’Grady,ITSSU President

CHRISTMASGREETING


IN THIS ISSUE pages 4 - 5Speaking Shows Strength Week

pages 6 - 7Fed Up Stand Up Protest

pages 8 - 9Road Safety Week

pages 12 - 13Live Art

page 15 - 17Problem Alcohol Use

page 23Blood Clinic

The Wire{ Student Magazine }

[email protected]

Student CentreAsh LaneSligo

Telephone: 071-91-41887Fax: 071-91-43075Editor: Don Donoghue

Submit an Article

The Wire is a monthly publi-cation by IT Sligo Students’ Union. As is the case with any student publication the best articles come from students. With that in mind please send on anything you would like to include to Don (Communica-tions Executive) [email protected] or call into the Students’ Union

Students from the IT Sligo SVP Society want to thank all those who responded so generously to their recent appeal for donations for the SVP Charity Shop to be opened soon in Sligo town. The SVP Society would also like to thank the members of the IT Sligo Branch of the TUI who donated €1000 to the SVP. Pictured are IT Sligo SVP students and TUI representatives, Aiden Bell and Mairead McCann presenting donated items and money raised to Sharon Touhy, the SVP Breffni Regional Youth Officer.

The Chaplaincy Team would like to wish all our students a peaceful and blessed Christmas and wishing you health, joy and happiness in all you undertake in 2013.

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More than 40 students attended a talk with Ireland and Munster rugby star Alan Quinlan as part of the Students’ Union’s “Speaking Shows Strength Week” organised by Paul Smith ITSSU Welfare Officer.

Speaking Shows Strength Week which ran from the 26th – 28th of November was held to raise awareness of mental health issues, to actively support those suffering with any form of mental ill-ness to remove stigma associated with mental health and to promote positive mental health.

Alan has himself suffered from anxie-ty-related depression for a number of years. The star spoke about how he has

overcome the many challenges he has faced with his mental health and the techniques he uses to maintain a posi-tive outlook.

Speaking after the event Paul Smith commented that “Depression affects 1 in 5 people and 1 in 4 will experience a mental health problem at some point. It’s is very encouraging to see people with such a high profile who have per-sonal experience with mental health is-sues that are willing to come forward and speak about those experiences. One of the aims of Speaking Shows Strength Week is to help remove the stigma around the issues of mental health and talks like this are a big step forward.”

SPEAKING SHOWSSTRENGTH WEEK

AlanQUINLAN

Speaking Shows

Strength

27TH OF NOVEMBER

Kevin O’Grady (Presi-dent), Sean McKenna (Irish Language Officer), Michelle Boyle (Cam-paigns Officer), Anita Hurst (ITSSU Education Officer), Alan Quinlan, Paul Smith (Welfare Of-ficer), Stephen McNasser (Ents Officer).

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FED UP

STAND UP PROTEST

highlightsOn Wednesday 28th November, students from IT Sligo flocked to Castlebar in support of a protest outside An Taoiseach’s Office as part of the Fed Up Stand Up Cam-paign, organised by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).

The students linked up with other students from GMIT Castlebar in a show of defiance in the wake of the expected increases cuts in the education budget for 2013.

It is widely expected that the stu-dent contribution fee (currently €2250) will be increased signifi-cantly to €2500, while the mainte-nance grant, essential to so many students across the country, and which has been reduced approxi-mately 12% in the last three years will fall victim to further cuts in 2013.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the IT Sligo Student Representative Council, ITSSU President Kevin O’Grady said;

In 1996 Third Level fees were abol-ished for the sole purpose of creat-ing educational equality, so that you and I could have access to ed-ucation regardless of our financial status or other associated factors.

From then until now, the initial Student Service Charge has in-creased from £190 in 1996, to the Student Contribution Charge of €2500 in 2012, we can truthfully say that the “myth” of free educa-tion in this country is over.

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ROAD SAFTEY WEEK

Members of Sligo Fire Department Prepare a Demonstration for Road Safety Week.

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IT Sligo Students Union, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) recently

teamed up to highlight road safety issues for our students. Road Safety Week which ran from 22nd – 26th of October included RSA Roll-over, Autoglass Repair, Advance Pitstop safety checks, free high-vis mate-rials, car crash re-enactment and a tribute to all road traffic victims of 2011.

The events at IT Sligo were supported by by Autoglass, Advance Pitstop and Clever Miles.

Paul Smith, ITSSU Welfare Officer said:

“It’s sad to say but there are a shockingly high number of fatalities on our roads every year. The aim of Road Safety Week is to raise awareness and educate the de-mographic that are most at risk.”

Denise McCarthy, USI Vice President for Welfare said:

“The statistics clearly show that our mem-bers are the highest risk demographic as regards road deaths. We have endeav-ored to inform students about road safety. Whether they commute to college by car, bicycle or by foot, students must be aware of the rules of the road and the risk they put themselves at if they do not follow best practices.”Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Author-

ity said:

“We are delighted to be working with USI in promoting road safety amongst stu-dents. Using the road is the most danger-ous thing we do every day be it as a driver, motorcyclist, cyclist or pedestrian. So far in 2012, 41 young road users between the ages of 16 and 25 years of age have lost their lives on Irish roads.”

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), Lo-cal Authorities, members of An Garda Síochána and the Emergency Services recently called on people to remember the victims of road collisions on ‘World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Vic-tims’ on Sunday 18 November. This came as figures reveal that 23,227 people have died on Irish roads to date since records began in 1959.

So far this year, 149 families, friends and communities have been left devastated by the loss of a loved one.

A number of commemoration services, masses and events took place through-out the country to remember those who have died or been seriously injured on our roads and the families and friends who are left grieving for their loss.

Road Safety Week took place on the 22nd - 26th of October with the sup-port of the Union of Students in Ireland and the Road Safety Authority.

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Kevin O’Grady (President), Sean McKenna (Irish Language Officer), Michelle Boyle (Cam-paigns Officer), Anita Hurst (ITSSU Education Officer), Alan Quinlan, Paul Smith (Wel-fare Officer), Stephen McNassar (Ents Officer).

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The Digital Lens Base Media students from the Fine

Art Department of IT Sligo got a unique opportuni-

ty to go in and document Sligo Rovers football team

recording their new song, “Signal for Barra,” which is a cel-

ebratory song for their manager Ian Barraclough and is to

be used in the showgrounds and for promotional purposes, it

was produced and recorded by local singer songwriter, Tab-

by Callaghan in The Model Arts Centre, Sligo.

The five students and their lecturer Hilary Gilliagan were

asked to come in and photograph and video the boys in action

as they laid down the vocal tracks for the football anthem in

the cinema of the local arts centre, just a couple of weeks after

Sligo Rovers won the Airtricity Premier Division in Septem-

ber 2012.

The images from the students have already been used on The

Model Art Centre’s Facebook page and the Sligo Rovers in-

tend to use the video footage for promotional purposes when

they put their video for the song together, as the students cap-

tured moments of elation from the team just days before they

collected the Airtricity Cup.

Tabby Callaghan invited the Digital Lens Base Media 2nd

year Fine Art students from IT Sligo to The Model Arts Cen-

tre to capture the Sligo Rovers Team as they record a new

song called “Signal for Barra” for their new manager Ian

Baraclough.

Signal for Barra

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Furnished with theLive Art

Live Art is an interactive form of expression and members of the public are invited to attend the launch event and to engage with the installations, exhibitions and demonstrations.

Welcome to the Doll House - Kimberly TanohHighlights lack of verbal filters around children. Get Inside my Head - Sarah McGeartyBringing hidden issues to the public. We Are All Puppets - Ciaran SinnottWho is pulling the strings?

Caught In The Net - Marsha FlemingHighlighting the loss of identity in today’s virtual society.

Terrorist? - David KellyWho is the Terrorist?

Who Keeps Count - Rachel StoutLoss on a personal and universal level. Where Are You From - Daniela AttardEthnic and cultural labelling.

Who Are You? - Reichelle CelineDiscover Your Purpose

Waiting - Tamsin BreenCutting yourself short.

A Place to Ref lect- Steph Healy

LOST - Mary Pat RyanTrying to find your way…

Walk of Chains - Sonia NorrisCarry or break the chains.

A Little Moment - Diarmuid WoodsTick Tock goes the Clock, What’s going to happen?

Wash Away Your Worries - Ivan HanamyJust let go. A safe heaven to unwind.

A Day Never Forgotten - Rebekka Duffy A tribute to the day, good or bad, that helped shape the per

son you are today.

Embrace Yourself, Not Your “Faults” - Treasa Nealon When has anyone asked you what you love about yourself?

Just Keep Swimming - Marie Whelehan People in the world everyday feel like giving up, lets spread

some hope.

Cycle - Shane Martin Raising awareness and respect for cyclists.

Bottle it Up and Set it Free -Rebecca Malone Set free your hopes, wishes or fears.

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Live Art A Day Never Forgotten - Rebekka Duffy A tribute to the day, good or bad, that helped shape the per

son you are today.

Embrace Yourself, Not Your “Faults” - Treasa Nealon When has anyone asked you what you love about yourself?

Just Keep Swimming - Marie Whelehan People in the world everyday feel like giving up, lets spread

some hope.

Cycle - Shane Martin Raising awareness and respect for cyclists.

Bottle it Up and Set it Free -Rebecca Malone Set free your hopes, wishes or fears.

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Problem Alcohol Use and

Alcohol ConsumptionEarly Inter-vention Service now available through the Stu-dent Counselling Service

This service is a cross-border initiative which uses partnership to develop worka-ble, robust models for awareness raising,community ownership, and early inter-vention to reduce alcohol harm. To reduce the suffering and damage that misuse of alcohol causes the population, in particu-lar the children and young people of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Border Region. The Service in IT Sligo is ran by Jimmy Smith (HSE West).

What is EARLY INTERVENTION?

An approach that aims to reduce alcohol-related harm through:

• Timely identification • Tailored advice • Support for those at risk due to their harm-

ful/hazardous use of alcohol

Early Intervention Service

• Tier two service• Early intervention and time limited sup-

port:• brief intervention,• providing alcohol Information,• simple advice and signposting,• MI for individuals and families as a

result of screening .

For more information con-tact Marian Quinn Student

Counsellor on: P: 071 9305542

E: [email protected]

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An international student at IT Sligo is promoting studying in Ireland to an international audience through the Education in Ireland website.

A student on the BSc in Biomedical Science, Fawwas Al Ahammari is the first Government-sponsored Kuwaiti student at IT Sligo, and he has just started a series of written and video blogs on the Education in Ireland website which is used as an information portal for studying in Ireland by students all over the world.

While Arabic is his first language, Fawwas has pub-lished six sci-fi themed books in English in Kuwait and is relishing the opportunity to communicate to students all over the world about studying at IT Sligo.

“I knew nothing about Sligo before I came here,” said Fawwas, who has eight brothers and three sisters, “but I really like Sligo because it’s smaller than the bigger cities but there is still plenty to do. Everyone is very friendly.”

He has adjusted to life in Sligo well and has joined a number of clubs, including the Aikido Society where he’s learning skills he needs for a part he will play in a play at home next Summer in one of Kuwait’s leading theatres, Kuwait Little Theatre.

A celebrated author and actor in his home country, he said he is keen to get his degree in Biomedical Science ‘for security’ to back up a potential career in the arts.

Patrick Lynch, Commercial and International Sales Manager at IT Sligo said that the Institute is making great strides in increasing the number of interna-tional students it’s attracting to Sligo; “This year we have experienced a 20% increase in the number of international students’ enrolling.” he said. “We have students from France, USA, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic and Oman.”

The international students add enormously to the fabric of student life at the Institute but they also play an important part in the local economy, he said. “International students, like all students, contribute to our local economy, but they also visit our tourist attractions, their families and friends come to visit them and importantly, when they go home they con-tinue to act as ambassadors for the region.”

Internationalisation in higher education is high-lighted as a strategic priority by the Government in the blueprint for the future of higher education, the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030.

Kuwaiti student promotes IT Sligo to a global audience

Travelling Light

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IT Sligo sports scholarship student Kathryn Sullivan has topped off a successful

work placement in New York by scooping a prestigious prize that has made her a headline name in Ladies GAA in the Big Apple.

Already well known in the Irish student sports world as captain of IT Sligo Ladies team, Kath-ryn has been named New York Ladies GAA “Player of the Year” for her pivotal role in helping the Bronx-based Na Fianna club sweep the boards in the New York Ladies GAA cup competi-tions.

Kathryn (22), from Castlebar, Co Mayo, is in the third-year of the BA in Recreation and Leisure at the Institute. “I’m absolutely de-lighted,” she said. “I just wasn’t expecting the award.”

IT Sligo President, Professor Terri Scott said: “This is a tremendous achievement by Kathryn and we all congratulate her on it. She is one of the recipients of our an-nual Sports Scholarships and a great ambassador for IT Sligo and GAA. As a player and coach, her success is a perfect illustra-tion of the energy and talent that we have here at IT Sligo.” Blending practical experience with lecture hall learning, the Recreation and Leisure course entails a 12 week training place-ment. For Kathryn that meant a stay with the New York Celt-

ics club in the Bronx, coaching under-14s.As well as adult teams, New York Celtics has around 112 children in under-14 teams. In her con-centrated five day a week role, Kathryn drew on skills she has honed at Sligo and in her own

very active sporting life outside college. She said the youngsters’ skills were an eye-opener. “When I went over there, I didn’t expect the standard to be as good as it was, even among the under-8s. I was coaching mostly under-14 teams every evening and I was able to apply drills that I’ve learnt at IT Sligo. There would be weekend training ‘blitzes’ as well. “Over there, football is just mas-sive, not just among emigrant Irish but among American-born children of Irish parents.”

Her Player of the Year accolade resulted from her on-field per-formances with Na Fianna, a club founded in 21 years ago that she had also played with during a visit to New York in 2010. Playing with Na Fianna Ladies this year, she helped them win

the seven-a- side Barry Fitzger-ald Cup, the 15-a-side Annie Kearney Cup and the Sean Faherty Championship, which is the highlight of the New York Ladies season. Rosie O’Reilly Broderick, chair-person of the New York Ladies County Board, who is from Lavey, Co Cavan, presented Kathryn with her award at a function in New York earlier this in November

“I was coaching mostly under-14 teams every evening and I was able to apply drills that I’ve learnt at Sligo.”

IT SLIGO SKIPPER SULLIVAN SCORES STATESIDE MAYO STUDENT WINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN NEW YORK

The IT Sligo Sports

Scholarship Scheme

supports rising sport

stars in a wide range

of sports, from GAA

to soccer and surfing

to boxing.

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Students beat the rush before lunchtime on the 14th of November.

IT Sligo Students’ Union recently held there 2nd blood drive this year which proved a great success. The Blood Drive was run over two days to allow people with busy academic schedules to attend.

Overall the clinic saw 174 donors over the two days with 115 do-nors bled. Speaking after the event IT Sligo Students’ Union Pres-ident Kevin O’Grady commented “Both myself and our Welfare Officer are delighted with the results and we hope to work with a group of Public Health and Health Promotion students in the New Year to run a new clinic. Our goal is to reach over 250 donors next time”.

Silver Pendant AwardA special mention must be extended to Denise Mullen and Laura Han-non who both received Silver Pendants for their continued donations.Note: The Silver Pendant is received upon donating your 10th pint of blood.

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The Wire - December 2012

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