DE-STRESS CHRISTMAS Th Th JUMPER DAY 4 -6 Dec Tues 4Th Dec Raising Funds for the Jack O’Driscoll Fund

CIT Students’ Union Magazine Volume Twenty, Issue 4 d d d d f CHRISTMAS d f KEEP IT CHRISTMAS LOCAL BTOWN BAR 3RD DEC EXAMDE-STRESS CHRISTMAS th th JUMPER DAY 4 -6 Dec Tues 4th Dec Raising funds for The Jack O’Driscoll Fund. d d f d Happy

ChristmasYour Union Your Voice TALK TO LEADING ACADEMICS POST & CHAT TO CURRENT GRADUATE POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS /19 WEDNESDAY 30TH JANUARY 11AM-2PM

UCC.IE/POSTGRAD Timetable CHRISTMAS

EXAMDE-STRESS 4th-6th December 2018 Watch out for the Exam De-Stress Giveaway Roadshow: Ó’Connaill’s Hot Chocolate, FREE Tayto Sandwiches, Exam Study Tips, Stationery and lots more giveaways…

TUES 4TH WEDS 5TH THURS 6TH 11am – 1pm 10.45am – 12am 11am – 1pm Main Corridor Stand: CIT-CSM Foyer: Main Corridor Stand: Exam De-Stress Exam De-Stress Exam De-Stress Giveaway Roadshow Giveaway Roadshow Giveaway Roadshow

12.30am – 2pm 12.15am – 1pm 5pm – 7pm NMCI Canteen: CIT-CCAD Foyer: Chill out... Exam De-Stress Exam De-Stress CSM, lecture room 215: Giveaway Roadshow Giveaway Roadshow Free Alexander Technique Class All day/ 12pm – 1pm in association with the Main Corridor Stand: Alexander Technique Society Everywhere... Exam De-Stress Chill out, wear a Giveaway Roadshow Christmas Jumper, make people smile 1pm – 2pm and raise funds for Chill out... our Rag Charity, The Jack O’Driscoll Rory Gallagher Theatre: Fund. Arts Office presents CIT Christmas Concert 2018 with the Roaring Forties and special guests from CIT – supporting Cork Samaritans Cover Picture:

Timetable f CHRISTMAS CONTENTSf 4SU OFFICERS’ ADDRESS 11O PHOT GALLERY 5 USI UPDATE 13 #FANCYFOLLOWINGCIT Alumni success stories 6 RAG WEEK 2019 Coming soon 14 FLYNNERS FLYING 7 #MYSTORYMATTERS COLUMN Real students, real stories 16 LIVE CIT, LOVE SOCIETIES 8 ENTREPRENEURS OF CIT Semester 1 roundup f EXAM Mary Rose Shanahan 17 CIT ABÚ DE-STRESS 9 CIT CHRISTMAS CHARITY CIT’s success stories

DRIVE 19 COMPETITIONS Last issue winners: 10 VOLUNTEER ABROAD Hard cash on offer! Simply deliver your th th entries into the Students’ Union, Quiz: Alex Crombie, TC-Toul f Avinash Nagarajan 1st Floor, Student Centre €50 vouchers: Amy Lee, 4th year Business, 4 -6 December 2018 f Shane O’Sullivan, Data Science & Analytics Watch out for the Exam De-Stress Giveaway Roadshow: f Ó’Connaill’s Hot Chocolate, FREE Tayto Sandwiches, Is your Student Leap Card due to expire in December 2018 (Blue Card)? Exam Study Tips, Stationery and lots more giveaways… If so beat the queues and be ready – get your new card from the SU now.

To speed up the process even TH TH TH more you are invited to make TUES 4 WEDS 5 THURS 6 an application for the SLC online 11am – 1pm 10.45am – 12am 11am – 1pm via mobile at https://www.stu- Main Corridor Stand: CIT-CSM Foyer: Main Corridor Stand: dentleapcard.ie/apply-by-mo- Exam De-Stress Exam De-Stress Exam De-Stress bile/ Input your own details, take Giveaway Roadshow Giveaway Roadshow Giveaway Roadshow your own photo, make the decla- ration, and agree to the privacy

statement and terms & conditions. 12.30am – 2pm 12.15am – 1pm 5pm – 7pm NMCI Canteen: Once an application is made, you CIT-CCAD Foyer: Chill out... will receive a short code via email. Exam De-Stress Exam De-Stress CSM, lecture room 215: Then call to the SU with the code Giveaway Roadshow Giveaway Roadshow Free Alexander to have your cards instantly pro- Technique Class cessed. Alternatively, you are also All day/ 12pm – 1pm in association with the most welcome to fill the form Main Corridor Stand: Alexander Technique Society out at the SU and let the SU staff Everywhere... Exam De-Stress enter your details and take the Giveaway Roadshow Chill out, wear a photo for you. Christmas Jumper, make people smile 1pm – 2pm and raise funds for Chill out... our Rag Charity, CIT Students’ Union, VP Education Stephanie Kelly Advertising Opportunities Rory Gallagher Theatre: Bishopstown, Cork. E: [email protected] CIT has 17,000+ full and part-time students with The Jack O’Driscoll Tel: 021 433 5274 Jeff Jones over 1,500 staff. Why not use expliCIT to promote VP Welfare your business to this large audience? Arts Office presents Web: www.explicit.ie E: [email protected] Fund. Our copy deadlines, advertising rates and techni- Owen Good CIT Christmas Concert Email: [email protected] Projects Officer cal specifications are available from our website E: [email protected] www.citsu.ie and upon request from the Publica- 2018 with the Roaring Kasey Kenny tions Office in hardcopy or via email. CITSU CITSU Communications Officer Forties and special E: [email protected] expliCIT Production, Design & Advertising expliCIT magazine is published monthly by CIT Students’ Entertainments Officer Daragh Cashman guests from CIT – Keith Brown, E: [email protected] Union. The views expressed in the magazine are those of E: [email protected] their authors and are not necessarily those of CIT Students’ supporting Cork Samaritans Aaron Buckley Mick O’Mahony Union. All articles and pictures are the property of their CIT SU President Entertainments Manager respective owners and should not be reproduced without E: [email protected] E: [email protected] their permission. 3 f 4th-6th Dec CHRISTMAS Watch out for the Exam De-Stress Giveaway Roadshow: Ó’Connaill’s Hot Chocolate, FREE Tayto Sandwiches, Exam Study Tips, Stationery EXAMDE-STRESS and lots more giveaways… STUDENTS’ UNION OFFICERS ADDRESS

January exams Counselling waiting list CAMPAIGNS RUN LAST MONTH My anger about the January exams The current counselling waiting list dhas been well documented since I within the college is simply not good Inaugural International Men’s Day - began my term in fJune. I feel it is com- enough. The waiting list is currently at took place on the 19th of November. pletely unfair to expect students to do 6 weeks. I am working hard behind the The theme for the day was Positive exams during the Christmas break. I scenes to get more resources available Male Role Models with a number of have received over 500 emails back- in this vital college service. men’s groups available to chat in the ing my stance on this issue. At our last main corridor. Union Council, the students of CIT Parking gave me a mandate to stop these Jan- d uary exams for 2020 at all costs. On my election manifesto, one of my Body and Soul Week - from the ambitions was to solve the parking crisis 6th to the 8th of November. The We have been engaging in talks with we have within CIT. I am working hard focus of the week was Mental Health. the college through the Academic with Frank Hanley (Student resource manager) on a potential park and ride Calendar Working Group (a sub- Voter registration drive took place committee of the Academic Coun- bus to CIT. I will keep you updated as cil) and negotiations are ongoing. We soon as I have more information. in the main corridor on the 21st of have a number of actions which we November. Lorna Fitzpatrick from USI will be pursuing if the students of CIT RAG Week Charity: supported us in getting students reg- aren’t listened to (as mandated by the istered to vote for local and national students) The Jack O’Driscoll fund elections and referendums. We have selected the Jack O’Driscoll Some of these actions include: fund as our RAG week charity for the Sexual Violence Campaign 1. Strikes during key dates eg. (Open year ahead. See page 6 for more infor- day, Graduation ceremonies, Inter- mation. CIT SU and the Sexual Violence Cen- national delegations etc,) tre ran a sexual violence awareness 2. Contacting local & national media Best Wishes, campaign on the 27th of November. 3. We will have many actions planned We were delighted to raise aware- on key CAO dates, eg. Closing date/ Aaron Buckley, ness around this serious issue and change of mind etc. CIT SU President anyone who has experienced sexual 4. The Students’ Union will partake in violence can contact the Sexual Vio- a roadshow around Cork to different schools informing students that they lence Centre at 1800 496 496. will have exams over the Christmas break. We will be advising students to consider this when filling out their CAO application. d f Library opening hours I stood in front of you in March at the elections hustings. I promised you that I would secure later library opening hours during the Christmas and Summer exam periods. I am delighted to announce that I have achieved this promise. The library opening hours will be extended to 12:00am for week 12 & week 13 of each semester. This is the first time in the history of CIT, that the library will stay open till 12:00am. The boom is back! Chill out, wear a Christmas Jumper, make people smile and raise funds for our Rag Charity, The Jack O’Driscoll Fund. 4 f f d

dPAGE_1_USI_FLYER_SHRUNK.pdf 1 18/09/2018 10:23:39 PAGE_1_USI_FLYER_SHRUNK.pdf 1 18/09/2018 10:23:39 Welcome to your Union Thanks to your SU, you’re a member of the Welcome to your Union Union of Students in Ireland. Thanks to your SU, you’re a member of the We’re the recognised voice of Ireland’s fUnion of Students in Ireland. students and we’re strong because of We’re the recognised voice of Ireland’s members like you getting involved. NATIONAL d students and we’re strong because of UNION You are USI. We’re glad you could join us. members like you getting involved. 1UPDATEWhat USI believesNATIONAL You are USI. We’re glad you could join us. 374,000 Access to education STUDENTS is a fundamental right of all1 peopleUNION in Ireland WhatCIT USI SU believes EVENTS 2018-19 #EducationIs +Connections is a tool for everyStudents student have to rights USI remains strong on calling for Publicly direct and signpost them to theto a decent appropri standard- of living including Access to education C 374,000 financial support, decent housing and decent Funded Higher Education. State-funded ate services available to themjobs both in Ireland, on and among others is a fundamental right of all people in Ireland higher education is sustainable and M can off campus, how to start the conversation STUDENTS about mental health with a friendStudents and pro should- be active Students have rights produce high-quality outcomes for Y the in the promotion and defence of all human to a decent standard of living including vides students with an opportunityand democratic to write rights economy and society. We have been work- STUDYING ON C financial support, decent housing and decent ing on a student manifesto for the ConfiCM - and share their experiences through a blog jobs in Ireland, among others M dence & Supply negotiations between MYFine platform COLLEGEwithin the app. Our Work for You CAMPUSES Students should be active Gael and Fianna Fáil. This would be theCY first 35 A strong unified voice for you Y in the promotion and defence of all human lobbying, campaigning and negotiating with document of its kind that we are aware of. Pink Training government, politicians and education bodies and democratic rights CMY We continue to meet and lobby key figures CM STUDYING ON Pink Training is the largest LGBTQI+Mobilising Train students- in political parties during the ConfidenceK ing event of its kind in EuropeTens where of thousands 300 more students registered and Supply negotiations. students gather to engage inand workshopsvoting; makingMY sure students’ views areCOLLEGE Our Work for You on the agenda every election and referendumCAMPUSES and information sessions on many differentCY 35 A strong unified voice for you Meeting students’ needs The Save our Spark Campaign was topics including sexual empowermentMental health andcampaigns, sexual health info lobbying, campaigning and negotiating with and work on sustainability, housing and the government, politicians and education bodies launched by the Irish Universities Asso- gender identity and expression. ThisCMY year, environment. ciation (IUA) to call for advocating for in- Pink Training will take place in NUI Galway. Mobilising students creased state investment (publicly funded STRONG K Tens of thousands more students registered Our unique partnership with videoDoc means education) in the University sector. The first USI member students can get free online and voting; making sure students’ views are on the agenda every election and referendum time the IUA publicly announced this col- 1SuirbhéVOICE na nGaeilge/Irish accessLanguage to doctor services. lective stance was through a joint state- Meeting students’ needs ment of the IUA, USI, THEA (representing Survey Mental health campaigns, sexual health info dLook out for Voter Registration stalls and work on sustainability, housing and the the 14 Institutes of Technology), IFUT, and The Irish Language Educationthroughout survey the first is semester. now live with over 1,000 participants to date. environment. the TUI. You can support the campaign by Your vote matters. Make it count. signing the petition on the IUA website and The aim is to reach 3,0000. This report will Pass me on. STRONGDon’t bin me. social media. form our position as an organisation ahead Our unique partnership with videoDoc means of Leaving Certificate reform. You can find USI member students can get free online the survey on USI Social Media. VOICE access to doctor services. Re:Charge Campaign andd 1 +Connections App These are all very dshort insights into some This new and exciting campaign focuses of the work being completed by USI Of- Lorna Fitzpatrick, Vice PresidentLook out for Voter Registration stalls on reaching out to students in a conscious ficerboard. If you would like more - infor throughout the first semester. effort to tackle, head on the 3 pillars of stu- for the Southern Region. mation on any of these or have a question [email protected] | 087-2763941 Your vote matters. Make it count. dent life that most commonly affect student Pass me on. about any of the work we are doing, please @USI_South mental health: Sleep Hygiene, Exam Stress don’t hesitate to contact me by email or Don’t bin me. and Alcohol Consumption. Our new app phone. CHRISTMAS PART OF JUMPER CHRISTMAS DAY Tuesday 4th December 2018 EXAMDE-STRESS Chill out, wear a Christmas Jumper, make people smile and raise funds for our Rag Charity, The Jack O’Driscoll Fund. 5 d COMING SOON! 4 - 8 Feb, 2019d f “oned of our own f starting our RAG Week fundraising events with a Christmas jumper/T-shirt day on Tuesday 4th of December. We will be encouraging everyone to offer €2 on the day to kick off proceedings for this worthy cause. We would really appreciate your support in spreading the word about this event to staff and students within the Institute. There will be collection buck- ‘The Jack O’Driscoll Fund’ is our ets available throughout the college on the day. CIT RAG Week Charity for the We would greatly appreciate it if any- coming year. The reason that our selection panel collectively picked this charity is be- one within CIT has any fundraising cause Jack is “one of our own”. A student of En- ideas/initiatives (staff or students), vironmental Engineering at CIT. Following a freak which will benefit the ‘Jack O’Driscoll Fund’, accident in the snow, Jack was left paralysed dcould please get in touch with the SU! We would from the chest down. CIT prides itself on being also be delighted if lecturers could help by set- done big community and so that is why we feel it ting a fundraising themed project next semester is fitting that this important cause is our charity where appropriate. for 2019. Throughout the coming months, we know we We want to give this cause the best chance of will see the very best of CIT on show as we all raising a lot of money, which is why we willd be rally together for one of our own. f

#CITRAG19

6 COMING SOON! #MYSTORYMATTERS den I wanted to live. To this day I do not know if I had given myself My Steaming Pile of Shite! a way out on purpose or not, but the rope was too short and I could I have joked for years, that I was going to write a book of my life reach the bar and pull myself back up, not easily but I managed. I do story and it would be called ‘my steaming pile of shite. It’s the way not know how close to death I was, but the rope had a lot of dam- 4 - 8 Feb, 2019 and maybe the only way I could describe my life at the time. I was age done, more superficial than anything. The pattern of self-hatred running and did not know how to stop. I self-harmed in more ways started all over again, I could not even do this right. I can understand and looking back I was very very sick. I did not I look back today and whatever saved me that day, I could not have a life and the only way I had for feeling alive was to hurt my- be more grateful. Life was still a steaming pile of shite after, for a self through gambling, drinking, eating, shoplifting and many many long time. I ended up places I would not wish for anyone, but the d more that I still do not understand, probably never will and as of now most important thing was I was alive and able to fight another day. do not want to. I ended up in prison and I believe that saved my live. I was safe and one of our own Ultimately, I wanted more than anything to be dead and for this pain I was able to say yes to the help. “ to be over. It was too hard and I could not do it anymore. For once Today, I feel am living life to my best ability. I have huge gratitude in my life I had a plan and I was going to follow it through with. I set for all the wonderful things in my life. Going back to education and a date, it was going to be a Sunday evening in the middle of winter. giving it my very best because I know I am worth it. I am lucky The plan was simple I was going to say goodbye to everyone that enough to have my forever home. I most importantly I have such mattered to me and tell them I loved them, which was true but I good people and friends in my life, without you all I could not be the had not been able to show it for years, my own self-destructive person I am today. I have wishes and dreams in my life today, some ways had got in the way and I had caused a lot of damage. I wrote will come through and some will not, but that is okay because it will 8 notes, with my true feelings within all of them and thinking back not be for the want of trying. writing the one for my mother still breaks my heart. For whoever reads this, it is a story of life and not death, hope The plan was in action early that Sunday in November, I even had to not misery. Life is constantly changing, today maybe a steaming steal the rope from a neighbouring farm, and the plan was to hang pile of shite, tomorrow can be different. myself from the crossbar in the goals of my local football pitch. I drove down there just as darkness was setting in, all part of the If this story rings true for you or for someone you love there is help plan so I would not be seen, I got a chair and tied up the rope, after out there and lots of hope. I ask you today to contact someone you about 10 minutes I put the noose around my neck and kicked away love and ask them how they are and listen. the chair. I was hanging, time stood still, terror set in. I did not want Anon to die. I saw my mother and the pain that I would cause, all of a sud-

7 d f OF CIT f f MARYROSE SHANAHAN

MaryRose Shanahan is a Business Studies Student in Gan Uisce is a project I have been working on as part CIT. In addition to this she is a business owner, ex- of the Student Inc. programme 2018. Student Inc is a Student Inc Participant, Dell EMC campus ambassa- programme where the Rubicon Centre take on stu- dor and also Alumni Ambassador for the CIT. Mary- dents for the summer and they help them develop Rose took time out of her busy schedule to enlighten an idea into a business. Gan Uisce is an underarm us as to what entrepreneurship means to her. sweat patch that adheres to the skin. Ultimately it prevents perspiration marks and that horrible yellow What does entrepreneurship mean to you? staining caused by sweating. For me entrepreneurship means a lot of things. It’s not just about setting up your own business. It’s a I am also a Campus Ambassador for Dell EMC.d Some lot more than that. It’s about the skills needed to be activities involved with this are representing Dell on an entrepreneur. It’s about being goal driven, you site, telling students about graduate opportunities have to be determined and you have to be focused. and placement opportunities and basically liaise be- I think, probably the main thing that I learned about tween the students and Dell. I suppose, this is entre- being an entrepreneur is that you have to believe preneurial as you have to think of new and innova- in yourself and in your product or service and at the tive ways to engage students and bring something same time, you have to be able to take criticism. new and of value to them.

dCan you tell me a bit about your entrepreneur- I wouldn’t have been able achieve so much if it wasn’t ial ventures? for the skills that I have learned in my college course I suppose my entrepre- (BA in Business Studies) and the help and mentoring neurial ventures started I received in Student Inc. when I was 15 or 16 when I first started working in What would you say to those out there who are my aunt’sd nightclub, col- interested in Enterprise and Innovation and are lecting glasses. I learned budding entrepreneurs? a lot from working there First of all, I would say, when it comes to some- and knew that I could thing like Student Inc., this is something that I never build and develop what thought that I would have went for. But, we need was offered at the time. to be able to get outside of our comfort zone, push f ourselves more. Don’t be the same as everyone else. I am now 21 and manag- Like my favourite Dr. Seuss quote says; ‘You have to ing under-age and over- be odd, to be number one’ age discos in O’Riada’s Nightclub in Macroom. The skills that I have learned from this, have been invaluable and I f can apply to other proj- f ects such as Gan Uisce. THE STUDENT INC. EXPERIENCE

If Entrepreneurship and Innovation is something that you are interested in, make sure to visit www.enterprise.cit.ie to avail of the all supports in place to make your idea a reality. 8 f d f

9 f VOLUNTEER ABROAD I Wonder... f By Avinash Nagarajan in Mexico Have you ever wondered what it’s it friendsd or family, forcing them to ei- like to walk a mile in the shoes of a ther run away or worst die. 2/3 whom Transgender person? I spoke tried committing suicide before they turned 18. The third person The life you have now would be com- f did not know her parents. pletely different given, you still have the same financial background, fam- Society in general did treat them with ily and the other aspects of current kindness and respect but most often life. Your sexual preference, your when it comes to indulging with them friends circle, the way the society at a level of friendship, they refrained. sees you, the way you see yourself It’s sad, we all believe that we are do- and the most important of all, your ing a favour to society by being extra level of maturity and thought process kind or taking extra interest in talking while handling things would be very to them than we would to any other different. person. Bottom line – You’re not be- f ing of any help or doing any good but These past two weeks, I have been only making things worse for them. spending a lot of time with Transgen- Just remember, they are humans and der people from Salvador, Venezuela more than capable of figuring out and Guatemala. It’s been an eye- when someone is faking a smile or a opener in terms of almost everything, conversation. If you dream of making a differ- that I thought would be the life of a ence abroad, learning about a Transgender person. The vast major- Anyways, sick and tired of all the new culture and doing some- ity were either abandoned by their drama from society and trauma from thing worth while please contact parents upon realizing their sexuality their loved ones, they felt the only [email protected] to get or didn’t know their parents. ones who they got along with were your application forms now. people like them and those who went One thing I found very interesting The CIT Volunteer Abroad Pro- through similar treatment from the was the vast majority of their friend gramme offerscholarships which dsociety and family. cover 4 weeks of a volunteer pro- circle consisted of other Transgender gramme with EIL, SERVE and the people or those whose sexual prefer- This got me thinking, how can this bed Hope Foundation. The scholar- ence was towards the same gender. ended if everybody thinks they are ships include, flights, accommo- So, I started digging deeper: doing the right thing? A million-dollar dation and meals. The Deadline question. A question I would love to I spoke to three of them, one from is 10th of December 2018. figure out the answer to, as it could Salvador, Venezuela and Guate- change the life of millions who were The CIT Volunteer Abroad Pro- mala. All of them had a story to tell, either abandoned or forced to run gramme offer bursaries between one thing their stories had in com- away, bring about Gender Equality €500-€700 which you can use mon was that – society drove us out. towards any volunteer organisa- and make this world a better place to It gave me a broader perspective tion. The deadline is the 18th of live in. on where exactly things were go- February 2019. ing wrong given, most of the coun- It is amazing how they are able to find To apply or for more information tries did have laws to protect gender happiness in little things and live their please contact: equality. It was the people whom they life with a brimming positive attitude knew all their life were the ones who and I loved the way one of them hit [email protected] on me. It was cute. fstarted to treat them differently – be f f

10 CONTACT THE SOCIETIES OFFICE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING f Photo Gallery f

Body & Soul Week at CIT was a great success with a really insightful Q&A talk by John Caulfield Cork City FC Manager, Lisa Fallon Head of Football Performance Analysis & Recruitment and Alan Bennett legendary player! Also pictured, Darragh Cashman, Aaron Ashling Twomey, Niall Xie, Shane Canty, Colm McSweeney and Buckley, Jeff Jones, Stephen Neiland and Eric Marah Aoife Kelliher CIT at the CIT Open Day. Pic Darragh Kane f f

A fantastic awareness campaign - Safe Sex College Campaign in association with Sexual Health Centre with Nuttawud Zack Nutchanat and Konrad Im.

Sexual Violence Centre, Cork, bring ‘beer pong’, Consent and zines to CIT

Men’s International Day f 11 Pics by: f d d STUDY SUNDAY FACILITIES CLEAR UP YOUR RUBBISH f BE SAFE GOING HOME #mindyourbuddies LEAVE CAMPUS AS SOON REUSABLE COFFEE CUPS STUDY AS THIS SERVICE CLOSES ONLY IN THE LIBRARY Best of luck in your exams! Kindly supported by the Registrar’s Office SPACE & facilitated by the Caretaker’s Office f WEST ATRIUM will be open to students from Have 10am - 4pm on: you heard? Wo! Extended 2nd, 9th, 16th December Library Hours Melbourne Building is also open 10am – 4pm Dear Students, (for Arch Tech students) Later library opening hours during the Christmas exam periods are This initiative is kindly supported by the Registrar’s Office & facilitated by the Caretaker’s Office secured! This is the first time in the history HAPPY STUDYING! of CIT that the Library will be open d weekdays from 8.45am until 11.45pm (Mon 10th Dec to Thurs 20th Dec). Best of luck in your exams! Aaron Buckley, CIT Students’ Union President

is for FINE

New Message from CIT You have received a f FINE PENALTY

In addition to a penalty, you will now receive a FINE if you are caught with an electronic device, ON or OFF 12 f f f See more at: twitter.com/CITAlumni #FancyFollowingCIT www.cit.ie/alumni Interested in the paths that current students and soon to be graduates are taking? The CIT Alumni Office offers you that opportunity. f Check out some of these profiles and get a taste for how successful you could become after your chosen course at CIT... f SIMON O’CONNOR ANJU JOHN (AJ)

Simon O’Connor completed his Graduated in 2011 to become a honours degree in Electrical Pow- BEng Electronics System Engi- er Systems in 2012. The strong neer, she’s currently working in emphasis on applications and Dell EMC as Software Engineer and f project work at CIT prepared him also co-owner of Aspire Consul- tancy services – a platform for out- for his first role at General Electric, source service provider. AJ takes where he held the position of Pow- part in various activities, seminars er Systems Engineer. In this role and training conducted by ‘National he was designing and integrating Instruments’ in Dublin and ‘Engi- Extended complex power and propulsion neers Ireland’ which is located in systems for full-electric ships, the Rubicon Centre. Library Hours where the propellers were pow- AJ’s keen interest towards finding ered by large electric motors rather than diesel engines. Today, solutions made her capable of identifying opportunities and develop- Simon is a Principal Marine Engineer at Rolls-Royce, designing business concepts. She is a social media motivational speaker ing and optimising power and propulsion systems for naval ships. for International students who wish to study in Ireland and is currently He is the technical lead on behalf of Rolls-Royce in the Canadian doing a MSc in Data Science & Analytics in CIT. Surface Combatant programme – a fleet of 15 frigates designed dfor hunting submarines, and the largest warship programme that “My life at CIT, helped me to be what I am today” Canada has ever embarked upon, with a price tag of $50 billion. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-o-connor LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjujohn/ f Facebook - www.facebook.com/pg/AspireConsultancyServices/f

The CIT Alumni office develops and supports alumni relations at CIT through a number of initiatives. The office encourages links between CIT and its graduates and supports the ever-growing CIT Alumni Association. The Association proudly has almost 27,000 members.

Merry Christmas

13 f f By James Flynn WHAT’S BEEN IN Flynner’s f THE HEADLINES… Flying Column

100 years ago, the guns went silent across Italia ‘90 to say that, now Roy Keane and Europe (for the moment), and the Great War Martin O’Neill have resigned, Mick McCa- came to an end. And the Haunted Soldier, rthy has taken over as Republic Of Ireland a sculpture in St Stephen’s Green revealed manager, with Stephen Kenny set to replace to illustrate the horrors of war, has recent- him in 2020. When it should be FAI CEO ly been vandalised by louts, splashing red d John Delaney, and the gravy train culture paint all over the sculpture and causing that continues to contaminate Irish Soccer heavy damage. that really should be looked at. Hopefully Juncker, Merkel and Macron’s Of course why not? Mick is, after all, part of calls, once again, for a EU Army, and mili- the Jackie’s Army legend. Making Irish Soc- tarisation of the bloc (lovely way to com- sees in Paris, along with other French cities, cer great again? With leadership like that, memorate the horrors of war), will never in protest against rising fuel prices, many Ireland does not need Donald Trump; we come to fruition, for I am sure these yobs calling for President Macron to step down. have John Delaney and Co! will think again once they are sent out as And now Christmas is in the air, the Santa’s cannon fodder to the combat zones in Af- Funny thing in Ireland is that when our government imposes such austere rises and Grottos are now popping up everywhere, rica, Mid East and elsewhere, for it will be with kids being charged €13 per head, while from their very backgrounds that they will be cuts, we as a populace just meekly get on with it. The nearest we have ever seen Ire- adults go free! Why do the kids have to pay most likely conscripted from. Some people and adults go free? Is Santa not supposed do not know how lucky they have it, espe- land rise up in such en masse protest was when Gareth Brooks had his 5-in-a-row in to be about love, generosity and kindness, cially when you look at the conflict going on so long as the kids are good, as sung in in the world. Croker cancelled. Or during Saipan. And speaking of Saipan… ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’? Just a In France, rioters in the tens of thousands thought. have wrought havoc along the Champs Ely- The FAI are still stuck with their fixationf with f • Showing their open and public cynicism about it all by express- dThe Main Rant (I mean Agenda!) ing their “sincere sympathies” after that person put an end to So what is everyone doing this Christmas, the festive and holi- their own life too early? day season of Loving and Giving, Peace and Reconciliation, • Afterwards, dismissing it all as a mere number? Cheer and Goodwill, Understanding and Resolution, the season • And maybe even have had some of the above points pre-planned that comes but once a year? for Xmas in order to allow for a “clean break” once these people • Getting yourself absolutely and completely inebriated? are “out of the way”? • Driving around drunk as a skunk? Yeah. I know. They are NOT very nice things. But I guarantee it is • Retaining issues with family and/or in-laws? f what some people WILL be doing! • Letting it all explode over the Christmas Day Dinner? And sadly, this is all the reasons why the ‘Fairytale Of New York’ • Allowing latent feelings and attitudes about others manifest into by Shane McGowan and Kristy McColl was a success. For, as the the worst in ourselves towards each other in the pub scene over legendary Shane himself said discussing the song, “it’s not the the Christmas party nights? usual sort of festive record, but it’s true to life, more people argue, • Getting into a fight? get divorced and commit suicide at Christmas than at any other time of year”. • Cheating on your significant other? • Closing off all doors to someone who may need the company So let us all take the season to make this Christmas less of the during a season which, for all the goodwill, can be so lonely and “Fairytale” and much more of a proper Christmas Dream come isolating? true for all the correct reasons! And people, let us not be afraid to speak out to someone whom you can trust; no one deserves to • Deliberately isolating that person, so to dispense of them as suffer in silence. Slainte! “surplus to their needs”? f HAPPY DAYS! MEND YER WAYS ... f d Clean Bandit. Jack and Luke Paterson and Grace Chatto Christmas cards, jumpers, decorations etc. with penguins certainly have formed themselves into a group giving us as part of the Christmas scene. How can penguins be com- some cool pop/electro/classical tunes this decade, and patible with Santa, the reindeer, the North Pole/Lapland? I with tunes like ‘Solo’, ‘Baby’ and ‘Symphony’ having given mean, I know they look cute, but Hello!... penguins live in the charts a breath of fresh air, they are truly a sound to be the South Pole, Antarctica Southern Hemisphere! I mean, appreciated! Catchy videos too! get the geography and habitats correct! 14 f d Cork launched their 800th Anniversary WHAT’S THE CIT-UATION ERE?! year-long celebrations in 1986, while Dublin had their millennium commemora- Last Christmas, I wrote up about how this tions throughout 1988. is the time of season where people tend to 13. RUBIK’S CUBE. Going on sale in 1980, get nostalgic about decades bygone. The by 1982, 100 million were sold, peaking nostalgia can serve to remind how much with Erik Rubik’s native Hungary staging some things change and not change, and the first speed-cubing world champion- how we can take these lessons to move us ships. on if we are to look back on these times. And Christmas is the time of year when 14. THE USUAL NEGATIVE THINGS THAT for such misty-eyed feeling, from Christ- ARGUE AGAINST LOOKING BACK. mas Parties to Classic Movies. Last year, The Troubles in Northern Ireland (e.g. 6. GARETH OR CHARLIE. Workplaces, Hunger Strikes, Ulster Says No, Enniskil- I wrote about the 70s, now I feel that it is classrooms, pubs… it was the choice be- time to talk about the 80s, the decade of len…), mass unemployment, emigration, tween Gareth Fitzgerald of FG or Charles famine in Ethiopia, Chernobyl, Marga- - my childhood, Bridget and Eamon, and Haughey of FF. Gareth the Good or Cham- style abandon, giving us: ret Thatcher, conflict in the Middle East, pagne Charlie would fixate political life in First Gulf War, Stardust Tragedy, Hillsbor- 1. BOSCO. The loveable red-haired whiny lit- Ireland; both political leaders would go on ough, global terrorism (e.g. Lockerbie,) tle puppet boy who lived in his Bosca in and do Ireland service, but Charlie’s legacy Tienamen Square Massacre… Oh yeah, Lambert Theatre along with his pastille-col- has cast its dark markings that can be felt referendums on Divorce and The Eighth our-dressed human companions ensured a in this country to this day… Amendment failing to pass in this coun- somewhat mundane feed of children’s en- 7. CATTLE BOAT TICKETS. In the days be- try, and LGBT criminalised as the Catholic tertainment on RTE from 1979 until 1997. fore Airline Deregulation and Open Skies, Church’s grip proved hard to loosen still… Bosco puppets were put on the market in the only way to afford getting in and out of 1981 and are today quite sought after. 15. CONCERTS IN IRELAND TAKING OFF. Ireland was taking the cattle boat to Liver- Firstly the Lisdoonvarna Festival. Then 2. DALLAS. The patriarch of prime-time pool or Holyhead and make the gruelling Slane Castle during the 1980’s, with soap, the high-riding shenanigans of the trek to London and beyond by coach or U2, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Rolling Ewing and Barnes oil barons and their train. Air return flight tickets to Heathrow Stones. Then we had Michael Jackson troubled wives captivated Ireland through- cost eight times today’s price. play Pairc Ui Chaoimh in summer 1988 out the 1980’s to the extent that kiddies 8. SONY WALKMAN. Going into mainstream (though the sell-out was helped by the had to ask their parents could they stay up sales from 1981, in the days before smart- young males eager to see bombshell sup- late to watch the show on Saturday night. phones and Spotify, it transformed lis- port act Kim Wilde!). And then Feile took The show gave us the most memorable tening habits enabling people, thanks to off in Thurles, ready to transition the Irish TV villain of all – JR Ewing, played by the recordable cassettes, to choose a person- festival scene to the 90s… late, great Larry Hagman. A 2010s Dallas alised soundtrack while on the go. Noth- relaunch lasted 3 seasons before TV mis- 16. LIVE AID 1985. After ‘Do They Know Its ing short of awesome, until the Duracells Christmas’ by Bob Geldof, Bono, Bowie, management saw the plug pulled on the were drained within a week. To this day, no show in 2015. et al, Live Aid was launched that year with one is too sure whether two were “a pair of mammoth gigs in Philadelphia and Wem- 3. CAR WINDSCREEN STICKERS. JR Ew- Walkmans” or “Walkmen”. bley to combat hunger in Africa, with mil- ing’s dastardly ways saw him do the deed 9. MOVING STATUES. In 1985, you could lions raised. The day of political pop stars with his own sister-in-law, leading to her not go anywhere in rural Ireland without mainstream had landed. Inspired similar shooting JR in his office on the Dallas Sea- encountering a crowd at the foot of a reli- concerts like Self Aid 1986 to tackle un- son 3 finale in 1980. Since the mystery was gious statue waiting for it to move. Appar- employment in this country… not solved until the following season open- ently first seen by a teen girl in Ballinspittle, 17. SPORTS STARS like OIympic athletics ing, this started an epidemic of “I SHOT near Kinsale. JR” stickers seen on car windscreens Eamon Coughlan and John Tracey, boxer throughout Ireland’s potholed roads. Politi- 10. FURSTENBURG. While Guinness and Barry McGuigan, cyclists Stephen Roche cal Parties, GAA teams, et al would soon Smithwicks was the main choice, a and Sean Kelly, inspiring Ireland to punch jump on the wagon with “VOTE FF/FG”, younger generation began making the above its own weight. Speaking of… “UP CORK/TIPP” and many other quotes. switch to lager. Since their regard of Harp 18. STUTTGART 1988. Jack Charlton be- Lager was fuddy-duddy, a younger gen- came Republic of Ireland soccer manag- 4. LEGWARMERS . More than any other item eration went to a new exotic German this garment is deffo a warning from- his er. Got us to Euro 88 in (West) Germany. brew, Furstenburg, while Budweiser be- In these very pre-Instagram story days, tory about where a few extremists can lead gan reaching Irish shores from the mid- otherwise sensible people. a few hardy souls (Joxer, Whacker et al) 80s. Bars heard cries of “pint of Fursty!” made the trip to Deutschland with any 5. MT-USA. When MTV was launched in Sally O’Brien, and the way she would banger they could scrape, loans they got America in 1981, creating the pop gener- look at you indeed! approved God-knows, and made it the ation for the first time, and with the suc- 11. DE LOREAN CAR. In 1981, the De time of their lives as Ray Houghton beat cess of Madonna, Michael Jackson, etc., Lorean Car was launched in Belfast as England 1-0! Our little island nation would an Irish company satisfied a growing need an attempt to create employment in the never be the same again… here by giving us MT-USA. Perfect way to conflict-torn North. Closing down within kill many a wet Sunday by having a three- …and the 80s all came to an end as Russian a year due to a series of scandals, the leader Gorbachev declared Peristroika, the hour orgy of mostly American, but also Irish car would find its niche as the motor in and UK, music videos on RTE2 presented communist regimes in Eastern Europe col- the ‘Back To The Future’ films later in the lapsed and the Berlin Wall came tumbling from NYC by Vincent Hanley from 1984 decade. until Hanley’s untimely death in 1987, re- down in November 1989, just as Big Jack got placed by The Beat Box on RTE2 (renamed 12. CITY ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORA- us to Italia ‘90 and the nation was about to Network 2). An album compilation with all TIONS. Invented as an idea to kick start take off! Take care, and wishing you a Happy the hits was released in 2007. the economies of our national centres, Christmas and a fear-and-doubt-free 2019!

FIND JAMES FLYNN ON FACEBOOK - THE FLYNNER FILES (current affairs), DA FLYNNER ROUNDS! (off-the-wall humour). #flynnerswordsofwisdom – FACEBOOK/TWITTER 15 f f LIVE CIT, LOVE SOCIETIES For full list of societies go to www.societies.cit.ie d

Group at Diwali – Indian Society f f SEMESTER 1 ROUNDUP f Semester 1 is almost out, and preparations are already in pro- 6th of December at 8pm In Chambers “CIT Drag Race”, an gress to create a fun, action packed semester 2 by Societies event not to be missed in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. The Committees. We kicked off the year with a few new societies SOCIAL CARE SOCIETY have also got stuck in as a new so- and many of the societies we know and love with Societies ciety organising a Talk on Homelessness and a volunteer Day and our Societies Drive. Here’s what we got up to: evening with Cork Penny Dinners. The MUSIC SOCIETY have also hosted their first gig of the year in Fred Zeppelins DRAMA SOCIETY began the year with an Improv Workshop with 3 bands including “By & 4, Dirty Casuals and Selkies” as with Sonya Matthews as a Collab with the LGBT* SOCIETY. well as weekly jam sessions. The society ran workshops throughout the semester including a “Movie Monologues” Workshop and another collaboration, ANIME AND MANGA SOCIETY have had an open floor dis- this time with the DEBATE SOCIETY where they organised a cussion entitled “what is a trap” which brought an interactive Speech Night-Stage Fright event with the aim of combatting and social contrast to their usual screenings bonding session. stage fright. The event had 15 competitors who read chosen They also went to the Triskel in the City to see Mirai as a group. speeches. The event focused on the delivery and performance The Society have also held a workshops entitled “Mech a as well as the creativity of the speeches and gave prizes to Man” where they made carboard and ductape Japanese Ro- individuals. The Debate Society themselves have hosted a bots (Mechs). They have also organised a family event Theatre dDungeons and Discourse Event which ran in the Council Ghibli with 3 separate screenings. Room and had participants play a Role Playing Game where Societies have been enlightened by cultural events by the global politics and a fantasy world came together. Their weekly INDIAN SOCIETY who hosted a games night and the beautiful events gave light to important topics such as legalising the festival of light “Diwali” where there was over 100 in attend- Porn Industry, for which the opposition won. ance the event was interactive and fun. They had guests who THE LGBT* SOCIETY have sent 14 people to NUIG for a performed Indian style music and dance as well as food and 4 day Pink Training Event to shed light on Gender Equality lighting of sparklers. THE AFRICA SOCIETY have also hosted issues. They have hosted Tea/Coffee evenings as well as a a games night and Uzuri Wa Africa which means “The beauty Mental Health Talk in collaboration with the SOCIAL CARE of Africa”. The event includes a fashion show as well as music d SOCIETY. They have an upcoming collaboration with the and dance.d THE KOREAN SOCIETY have had screenings as SOCIAL CARE SOCIETY and MUSIC SOCIETY Thursday well as dance workshops and a trip to Dublin. f

d f Trip to see Mirai at the Triskel - Anime & Manga Penny Dinner Volunteer Group – Social Care Society

16 d d f

Galway Trip - International Students Society f Our new societies have been very busy this semester - The begun to play at Cork on Ice. The Society have also brought in PROGRAMMING SOCIETY have held weekly workshops. Wire Deep as a guest speaker. The ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY have organised The CONSTRUCTION SOCIETY went on a successful bowling f a tree planting event and the VEGAN SOCIETY have hosted trip and have hosted a LinkedIn workshop. Enterprise have events such as a trip to Earth Café, recipes and facemasks and held a successful discussion panel with RASHR. The event a documentary. was attended by approximately 30 students with a great learn- THE DANCE SOCIETY have begun to organise open working environment. The BIOTECHNOLOGY SOCIETY ran many f shops for all to attend including beginners for only €1 which is events including a week of activities for Science Week where not to be missed next semester as well as practicing for their the organised Franciscan Well Brewery Tours and the AMR intervarsity’s. The POKER SOCIETY have also started a table Awareness stand. The SSDP SOCIETY have had a Screen- for beginners in their weekly tournaments. ing of Adam & Paul and have gone abroad this semester to an SSDP conference. The PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY got spooky during the Hal- loween season with a Cork City Ghost Tour. They are also run- The INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SOCIETY have had well ning photo competitions and workshops open to all. GUILD attended trips to Kinsale, Mizen Head, Galway, to the Curraheen GAMING have organised tournaments such as the Mario Kart Dog Track and more and are planning the International Ball for Tournament, Smash Bros and How to Yu-gi-oh! Alongside next semester. The MUSICAL SOCIETY have had a 90’S Table their weekly meet-ups which include board games and console Quiz, an Open Mic night and have launched their show for next games. The DJ SOCIETY also hold weekly met-ups and have year which is always an event to look forward to - They will be been seen on the main corridor for CIT Open day and have performing “Rent” in February 2019. f d

Diwali - Indian Society AMR Awareness Stand in the main corridor as part of Science week – f Biotechnology Society f f

Cast of Musical Rent – Musical Society Open Dance Class – Dance Society

17 f d CIT ABÚ! f Sponsored by http://societies.cit.ie Congratulations to our Volleyball Club members who have re- turned from the All-Ireland Intervarsities with some silverware after three days of intense action. The event was hosted by UCD from 15-17th of November. Our ladies team won gold in the plate beating DCU, 25-15, 26-24. We say congrats to Anouk, Andrea, Kayleigh, Idallina, Theresa, Jade, Manon, Estelle, Kano, Camille and Miren. Our mens team got bronze in the plate nar- rowly beating DIT 25-23, 28-26. and we say well done to James, Sean, Lucas, Bastien, Mathieu, Thomas, Romain, Dylan, Prze- myslaw, Chad and Albert. Remarkably CIT with 22 players, had the biggest team out of all the colleges, which augers well in terms of participation and success. This is a vibrant club which as you can see from the names gels many different nationalities together in a fun and inclusive environment. f d d

Powerlifting Champ! Congratulations to Tomás Cuddihy, a ma- ture student studying Visual Communica- tions in CIT, who became a Powerlifting world champion in November. Tomás competed at the World Drug Free Power- lifting Federation’s (WDFPF) World cham- pionships held at the Craigholme Sports Complex in Glasgow, Scotland. He won his age and weight category (masters two, 125kg division) with a 215kg squat, 142.5kg bench press and a 220kg deadlift setting two Irish records in the process. Not bad for a 48 year old. More impres- sive when revealed that in 2013 Tomás tore his pectoral muscle from the bone and was told after surgery that he would never compete again. The road back to glory was an arduous one. For those who are interested Tomás com- petes with the Irish Drug Free Powerlift- ing Federation (IDFPF) who are affiliated to the WDFPF. The WDFPF has the most f stringent drug testing policy of any world federation. www.idfpf.com f 18 d f WIN €30! Sponsored by http://societies.cit.ie f d Just for fun... f

Crossword Prize: €30 Deliver completed entries to the SU shop, 1st Floor, The Student Centre. Last issue’s winner: Alex Crombie, TC-Toul

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FREE food alert! f WIN! €50 vouchers For your chance to WIN one of two €50 vouchers is: return this page to the Students’ Union with your suggestion of what you’d like to read more of in expliCIT. Please add your name, class and contact number in the space below... Good luck! f f

Amy Lee, 4th year Business, Shane O’Sullivan Data Science & Analytics f Last issue’s winners: f 19 Christmas ...at the FOOD COURT Christmas starts in the FOOD COURT from Monday December 10th. We will be running our special Christmas Lunch offer for four days up to Dec 13th. We will be introducing a range of Christmas themed meals, drinks and confectionery offers to all our customers.

Annual The Snack Bar Christmas lunch The Snack Bar will have a range of Christmas themed lunches and deals available. Mon Dec 10th – Thurs Dec 13th Look out for our freshly-made Xmas Doorstep We are back with our annual Christmas Lunch offer. Sandwich and Soup €4.50 and our range of From Monday December 10th the main Food Court will Spiced Beef, Turkey and Fresh Ham Sandwiches start the traditional Christmas lunch for four days available throughout the Xmas Season. to Thursday December 13th.

Soup of the Day d Grumpy Mule Roast Breast of Turkey & Honey and Mustard Glazed Limerick Ham Grumpy Mule will have a range of new hot chocolate OR themed drinks on sale:

Baked Fillet of Sea Fresh Salmon Ginger Bread Hot Chocolate, Honeycomb Hot Chocolate, set on a bed of Champ potato smothered in a wine and cream sauce Frosted Mint White Delight or Candy Cane White Hot OR Chocolate and Gingerbread flavoured Coffees Butternut, Gruyere & Quinoa Roulade All of these can be bundled with a Mince Pie or & Roast Vegetables. Slice of Christmas Cake for only €3.00. d Selection of Seasonal Vegetables and Potatoes Christmas Pudding and Brandy Custard d Choose a starter and main, or a main and desert Two courses for only €6.50

The Food Court will also have deals with Christmas Muffins and Mulled Wine Fruit Cake!!!