SAFETY WEEK 2019 Your Union Your Voice - CIT Students Union
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CIT Students’ Union Magazine
Volume Twenty, Issue 6
Don’t Text & Drive
Don’t Drink & Drive
Don’t Drug Drive
Please Don’t!
Your Union
Your Voice
IN THIS ISSUE: 21-27 FEBRUARY
SAFETY
#Stigmaissilly
Entrepreneurs of CIT
Competitions
AND LOTS MORE WEEK 2019
21-27 FEBRUARY
SAFETY
WEEK 2019
TIMETABLE
Thurs 21st Feb & Friday 22nd Feb
Roll Over Car Simulator – in front of Library - All Day
RSA Shuttle Bus – in front of Library - All Day
Mon 25th Feb
Screening of Air Crash Investigation:
Getting out Alive – venue TBC – 1pm
Tues 26th Feb
Car Crash Virtual Reality Experience – Main Corridor
Bike Doctor – Road worthiness of your bicycle
checked Free Of Charge! – outside Gym – 11-2pm
Weds 27th Feb
Car Crash Re-Enactment – in front of Library - 1pm
CONTENTS
4 SU OFFICERS’ ADDRESS #MYSTORYMATTERS
12 18 LOVE CIT, LOVE SOCIETIES
eal stories, real people .
R There’s no CIT without Societies!
5 SAFETY WEEK DETAILS
DA SILLY HEADS
13 CROSSWORD
19
FLYNNER’S FLYING COLUMN
6
Putting a face on mental health Hard cash on offer!
#FANCYFOLLOWINGCIT
8
ENTREPRENEURS OF CIT
14 COMPETITION
19
IT student success in the real world
C
orcha MacMahon
S WIN Captain America vouchers
CIT POSTGRADUATE FAIR
9
STUDENT RACEDAY 2019
16 Last issues winners:
CIT SU ELECTIONS 2019
10 Info to help you prepare for the day Crossword: Kellie Murphy PB4
Thinking of running for one of the union Captain America voucher:
17 LOVE CIT, LOVE SPORTS
positions? Full details here... Fiona Hallahan, Bus1
CIT Sports Scholarships announced
r CIT Students’ Union,
Bishopstown, Cork.
VP Education Stephanie Kelly
E: sueducation@cit.ie
Advertising Opportunities
CIT has 17,000+ full and part-time students with
VP Welfare Jeff Jones over 1,500 staff. Why not use expliCIT to promote
Tel: 021 433 5274 your business to this large audience?
Web: www.explicit.ie E: suwelfare@cit.ie
Our copy deadlines, advertising rates and techni-
Projects Officer Owen Good cal specifications are available from our website
Email: supublications@cit.ie E: suprojects@cit.ie www.citsu.ie and upon request from the Publica-
CITSU CITSU Communications Officer Kasey Kenny tions Office in hardcopy or via email.
E: sucommunications@cit.ie
expliCIT Production, Design & Advertising expliCIT magazine is published monthly by CIT Students’
Entertainments Officer Daragh Cashman Union. The views expressed in the magazine are those of
Keith Brown, E: supublications@cit.ie E: suentertainments@cit.ie their authors and are not necessarily those of CIT Students’
Union. All articles and pictures are the property of their
CIT SU President Aaron Buckley Entertainments Manager Mick O’Mahony respective owners and should not be reproduced without
E: supresident@cit.ie E: Event@cit.ie their permission.
3
STUDENTS’ UNION OFFICERS ADDRESS
A few words from your CIT SU President... A few words from your CIT SU VP Welfare...
CIT Rag Week was a huge success and the fun-
draising will carry on well into Semester 2 as we
Dell-Pride Aspire Initiative
Recently The Union has been involved in the
continue to raise funds for The Jack O’Driscoll promotion of the Dell-Pride Aspire Initiative.
Fund. Sincere thanks to all of you who have so The Programme aims to mentor, support and
generously supported events to date. We’ll have encourage students who are members or allies
a full report on Rag Week and all activities in the of the LGBTQ* Community going into the work-
next edition of this magazine. In the meantime a place for the first time.
massive thank you to our event volunteers, CIT
Societies, CIT Sports Office and the Chaplaincy Bus Improvement Initiative
for organising so many events. I have been working with a student to engage
CIT Park and Ride with Bus Eireann to improve the reliability of the
bus services in Cork. If you would like to contribute to this, please
One of the main points on my election manifesto was the implemen-
tation of a park and ride service to ease the serious parking problem email suwelfare@cit.ie, particularly if you have input regarding the
which exists within CIT. The Students’ Union and The Buildings and standard of service provided.
Estates Office have been working hard on this project over the past Blood Donor Clinic
number of months. I am delighted that that we have succeeded in The Irish Blood Transfusion Service visited CIT for a Blood Donor
putting together an agreement with Cork City F.C. for a limited num- Clinic on the 12th of
ber of parking spaces for this Semester. As this is purely an experi- February. I dressed up as Billy Blood-Drop and walked around the
mental project the initial agreement is for 70 spaces. The trial service campus promoting the clinic to encourage as many students to do-
for all CIT Staff & Students is FREE ONLY FOR Staff/Student with nate. 118 Donors attended our Blood Donor Clinic and 52 first-time
CURRENT CIT Cards. This is unknown territory for CIT and so has to donors joined on the day. The IBTS said “the generosity and commit-
be undertaken with clear understanding, IT IS ON A TRIAL BASIS. I ment to helping others is very much appreciated. The precious gift
encourage as many of you as possible to use the service to ensure it that keeps on giving – each Blood Donation brings life and hope to
is a success with a view to extending the service in the future. our hospital patients and their communities”.
MTU Safety Week
I’m working closely with the Institute to ensure that if the Technologi-
cal University Status is awarded, that students get the very best deal Safety week runs the 18th – 26th February. We will also be covering
in in terms of education, services, facilities and representation. Please general safety throughout the week to ensure you get the full safety
ensure to attend Union Council and General Meetings for further up- experience. The highlight of the Campaign will be the Car Crash Re-
dates and we will also organise an open forum to give students the enactment where the emergency service show how they deal with
opportunity to meet with CIT management and MTU Project Leaders car accidents. Please come along to this amazing and eye opening
to bring you up to date and have your questions answered. demonstration. Promoting personal and road safety is a key objective
of the SU and if one life is saved through this event, it will have more
Aaron Buckley than been worthwhile!
Jeff Jones
A few words from your CIT SU VP Education...
DaSillyHeads
This is an amazing initiative headed by two CIT
students which is all about the break down of the
stigmas surrounding mental health. I have been
engaging in meetings with them as they have an
event running on the 12th and 13th of March on
main campus and need some volunteers to lend
a hand, if anyone would be interested in helping
out please pop into the office so we can put you
in contact with them.
Class Rep Training 2.0
Took place on the 5th of February and this training was all conversa-
tion based and was based around getting to know one another and
seeing what we have in common with each other. There was also the
opportunity to practice some public speaking skills. I really enjoyed
getting to know the Reps a little better and look forward to seeing the
amazing things they do in semester 2.
Lets get chatting
I am currently working on an initiative which is all about students com-
ing together and feeling they have a safe space to talk things out, be
that on an academic or personal level. This will hopefully be a range
of everything from presentation practice to settling in problems. I re-
ally look forward to seeing how this goes and look forward to meeting
the Class Reps who have shown interest in helping to get this project
off the ground.
Creche
I am also working on getting a feasibility study together for a creche on
campus and would be delighted to get as much students input as pos- Dr Aine Ni She, Irish Soccer player & CIT student Saoirse Noonan,
sible so please feel free to contact me with any queries or comments. Irish Hockey player & CIT student Yvonne O’Byrne, Boxing profes-
sional & CIT student Vladimir Belujsky, at the announcement of CIT
Stephanie Kelly Sports Scholarships 2009. See Sports page 17
4
21-27 FEBRUARY
SAFETY
WEEK 2019
TIMETABLE
Thurs 21 Feb & Friday 22nd Feb
st
Roll Over Car Simulator – in front of Library - All Day
RSA Shuttle Bus – in front of Library - All Day
Mon 25th Feb
Screening of Air Crash Investigation:
Getting out Alive – venue TBC – 1pm
Tues 26th Feb
Car Crash Virtual Reality Experience – Main Corridor
Bike Doctor – Road worthiness of your bicycle
checked Free Of Charge! – outside Gym – 11-2pm
Weds 27th Feb
Car Crash Re-Enactment – in front of Library - 1pm
5
Whats been in Flynner’s
By James Flynn
the headlines? Flying Column
European Council President Donald Tusk this? Unless a Common Religious Policy/ pecially when the worship of Greed is the
has stated that there will be a “special European Religious Union is now on the motive.
place in Hell” for the Brexiteers, and his agenda that Tusk has left a slip of the Tusk as the new “Pope” of the One Eu-
buddy Guy Verhofstadt has joined in, stat- tongue, with Europa as our only God. Os- ropa Religion? And the state Europe is in?
ing that Lucifer will even dread their arrival, tensibly to bring a sense of unity regarding We all know what religious extremism can
as the Brexiteers will even manage to di- the religious diversity that exists in the con- do, remember! Maybe Father Jack could
vide Hell! tinent, but not diluting the principle of the be called on to mediate and arbitrate the
We all know that Britain, through her own EU’s motto – United in Diversity? Brexit saga once and for all; sure, with his
indecisiveness, may well be on the High- Makes sense, since the Euro, the biggest experience, inter alia, of threatening peo-
way to Hell regarding the way Brexit is cause of the misery and turmoil that has ple (though mainly schoolkids) with Eternal
heading. But Donald Tusk declaring that plagued the bloc, has the Goddess Europa Damnation, he has been deemed by the
Brexiteers will get a special place in Hell? taming the bull of Zeus to her control as Catholic Clergy as (sometime) upstanding
Disregardful of the various crises that has the watermark in Euro notes, and with the with his positive attitude regarding spiri-
plagued Europe throughout this decade, Bull as the symbol of economic progress tual and moral matters, since both the EU
most of them of Brussels’ doing, that has in the markets, that is taking worshipping and the UK are now turning Brexit into an
tarnished the EU’s own innocence in all the Golden Calf to a whole new level, es- Ecumenical Matter!
Mend your ways
HAPPY DAYS Google axing their Social Media App called Google Plus this
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his resurrection of April coming as they “cannot keep a successful product in a
Manchester United! Will the Hero of 1999 transform heavyweight SM market with such low usage[sic]”?
the season the same way he did so in the Nou Camp A successful product cannot succeed? The biggest
20 years ago? Here is hoping! (Sorry, have to stay companies are never good at the rhetoric when it comes
loyal to my Premiership allegiance!!) to losing out from time-to-time!!
FIND JAMES FLYNN ON FACEBOOK - THE FLYNNER FILES (current affairs), DA FLYNNER
ROUNDS!!! (off-the-wall humour). #flynnerswordsofwisdom – FACEBOOK/TWITTER.
SAFETY WEEK SPECIAL because of that cretin’s car blocking their ability to go home;
there was a very young child with them. I walked over briefly
and assisted the Gardai with what he looked like before joining
June Bank Holiday Monday afternoon last year, and the heat- my mates. Five minutes later, and that bloke staggered across
wave was in its prime. Had the day off work, and I was relaxing the bar front, and then I tipped off the Gardai via hand signals.
outside JC Murphy’s Bar, South Square, Macroom, with my The guards then trapped him at the town hall fountain, and two
mates over some well-deserved pints of Guinness. The beer minutes later, in front of a watching public, was manhandled into
and the bants bate all! Then, suddenly, a grey Citoren Xzaria the Garda car, screaming his innocence like a convicted terror-
Car went driving erratically across the square, then swerved ist about to face extradition, for a night in the cells, and much
and nearly mowed down two girls and their pet lurcher dog more. Because his keys could not be found, a recovery truck
(one of the girls pushed the other and her dog out of the way had to be called to remove the car from it’s illegal parking posi-
on to the ground in the nick of time). Then the car backed into tion, which was done 1.5 hours after the episode began.
a parking position on the middle of the road, blocking two cars
in parking positions from leaving, and reversing into the side of After giving the Gardai further information and promising further
a car parked into an adjacent corner, badly damaging it. Then if need be, most people praised me for keeping the roads safe
the bloke, dressed in Crosshatch, got out of the car threaten- that evening, but the couple mentioned earlier angrily blasted
ingly gazed at the two girls when they approached to confront me for doing what will cost him his license. “Were you ever
him. And then, seemingly inebriated, strolled downtown “on perfect when you were his age?!” they confronted me and my
business”. reply? “There are other ways to balance your youthful imperfec-
tions than choosing to drink-drive!” I don’t know who is worse
My mates were debating whether the Gardai should be report- – that bloke or the couple for justifying his irresponsible behav-
ed, but I decided to seize the initiative and head upstairs to the iour. The memories of so many who die on the roads are not
toilet and ring Macroom Garda Station alerting them of the dan- being respected.
ger present to other road users. But before I could go, a woman
and her partner, who would be close friends with that bloke THERE IS NOTHING ROMANTIC, NOTHING SEXY, NOTHING
reckoned with what I was doing and tried to stop me from doing SIN-SCEAL-EILE ABOUT DRINK DRIVING. And I will be back
what I was going to do: “James, he’s a legend! He is sound out!” with another drink-driving story in years to come; the message
I merely ignored them and did my citizen’s duty. cannot be hammered home effectively enough.
The Gardai were on the scene, and at that moment, a mother P.S. That done and dusted, it was back to enjoying my pints for
and her two kids were upset that their parked car could not leave the rest of the evening, and the heatwave that was beginning…
6
WHAT’S THE CIT-UATION ERE?!
Of course, one could do possibly a lot worse. Keeping with
the topic of Safety Week, here a few people who went off and
did some life-changing injuries to themselves out of their own
dumb-ass stupidity…
1. BOY INCAPACITATES HIMSELF FOR LIFE SEEKING THRILL
OF TRAIN SURFING…
Something that looks glam from your fave action flicks, train surfing
is something that still allures hundreds of youths around the world,
costing many their lives and limbs. In 1992, in Hull, England, a boy,
then 13, was playing truant from school and sniffing glue with his
mates when they saw a train take off. Of course, considering the
situation they found themselves in, they decided it was a good idea
to surf the carriage, it being a goods train, purely for the highs (high
as they were of course). The boy was last to clamber up on the lad-
der, but as the train gathered speed, he lost his grip, and struggled
to hold on before he got caught through his arm by the ladder bar,
resulting in him dangling in the air at speed before another train
passed the other direction at full speed. Waking up an hour later
after having blacked out, the boy saw himself lying on the side of
the tracks unable to get up. Then he saw a right arm and a leg lying
on the tracks and then he realised they were his own. www.deanshallbishopstown.com
“Suddenly I realised I was paralysed, and I felt a warm sen-
sation that must have been all the blood. I fought so hard to
stay conscious because I was so scared of dying…” The boy
survived, but too late; his home and school had to renovate to ac-
commodate his self-inflicted special needs (unsurprisingly, he lost a
damages case against British Rail in 1999)…
2. AUSSIE SURVIVES BEING BITTEN 9 TIMES BY DEADLY
KING BROWN…
In 1999, Gordon Lyons and another mate were out drink-driving
back from Lichtfield to Mandorah, outside Darwin when they spot-
ted a deadly poisonous King Brown Snake. Remembering a con-
versation with their mates about how their local, the Mandorah Pub,
could do with an exotic creature in their fish tank, an inebriated
Gordon decided to take the snake back to the pub with them.
Unsurprisingly, the snake sinks his vemonous fangs into Gordon’s
left hand. Unbelievably however, Gordon manages to bungle the
snake into a plastic bag and the two mates drive off. Even more Opening soon for Bookings Academic 19/20!
unbelievably and for no good reason, the drunken Lyons chooses
to put his hand into the bag EIGHT MORE TIMES! Gordon lost his left arm, and has been in a wheelchair since, but
Upon arrival to the pub, the horrified locals get the vomiting and in exchange for his left arm being on preserved display in the fish
passing out Lyons to Darwin General Hospital, and, in true Ozzie tank signified with ‘BLOODY IDIOT’ and his “heroic tale” told on a
form, his mate attempts to keep Gordon alive by pouring Fos- plaque underneath for the benefit of the customers of the Mando-
ters over him as his left arm began to blacken dead with poison. rah Pub, he will NEVER have to buy another beer again for the rest
Gordon’s heart stopped THRICE on the operating table, was SEV- of his life. Truly, a world-beating berk.
EN WEEKS in a coma, was kept alive by a dialysis machine and 3. POLISH FARMERS EXPERIMENT WITH NUDITY, AMPUTA-
ventilator, was discharged TWO YEARS later… but the fish tank TION AND DECAPITATION. AGAIN, DRINK WAS A FACTOR…
was filled alright. In 1995, Polish farmer Krystof Azninski and two other Polish farm-
ing buddies were drinking high volume Polish vodka near Bialystok.
As the bottles started piling, they decided to pursue macho drink-
ing games to liven things up.
Things started harmlessly enough as they stripped naked and start-
ed hitting each other with turnips and groats, but things went out of
hand with the production of a CHAINSAW! First one starts with his
hand, another with his leg; what topped that? KRYSTOF SWUNG
THE CHAINSAW AT HIS NECK AND CUT HIS OWN HEAD OFF,
THAT IS WHAT!
CONCLUSION: So that is why you should thank your lucky stars
that one could do a lot worse, especially when alcohol, drugs and
the wrong peer influence is the factor. So behave responsibly, look
after each other, and NEVER, EVER be tempted to go down the
road of drink-driving; it is hard enough to get the full licence in
the first place without throwing it away so recklessly. And never
take a safe environment for granted; Accidents NEVER happen by
accident, check for everything. And keep an eye for one another,
Community is Contageous! Slainte!
7
#FancyFollowingCIT
See more at:
twitter.com/CITAlumni
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. Check out some of these profiles and get a taste for how successful you could
become after your chosen course at CIT...
KEVIN MCCARTHY JOSEPH KIERNAN
My time at CIT is one I will look I started college in CIT in 2002
back on fondly. For me, CIT gave where I completed my National
me the opportunity to study and certification in Electronic Engi-
graduate in a course that I was neering. This course opened the
passionate about. The variety of door for me to apply for jobs with-
modules helps give you a sense in the semi-conductor industry
of what direction you would like as a Technician. I applied to Intel
to take your career, along with the Ireland and got my job in October
guidance of the lecturers. During 2005. I worked in the Wet Etch
my time at CIT I was lucky enough department for 11 years where
to part take in the Student Incu- I became the lead technician on
bation programme with a fellow silicon etching machines. The
student Joe Loftus. The Student position involved repairing pneu-
Incubation programme is one I matics, robotics and chemical
would recommend to all students systems. I’ve worked on a number
as it really does help you to grow of startups for the various proces-
individually and the experience you will gain is second to none. sors which Intel have released over the years from 90nm (Nano
Currently I am a Marketing Intern at a local pharmaceutical com- meter) to 14nm technologies. With Intel I’ve worked and trained
pany called Alimentary Health. in many countries from Japan to the US. I’m currently working as
an Automation technician in Intel, Arizona. This involves repair-
Frankly Nuts YouTube Chanel: https://www.youtube.com/chan-
ing the robotic systems that handle all the production which are
nel/UCyAx_X5OD6Xv0tjHmKJ4u4Q/videos
processed by Intel on their site here. Without the starting point of
Frankly Nuts Instagram: education that I received in CIT, I would not have gained the many
https://www.instagram.com/franklynuts/ opportunities I’ve had in my career.
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-kiernan/
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 30,000 members.
SERVICE TIMES:
Cork City FC Car Park (off Curraheen Roundabout)
The conditions attached to each and every
user of this Free Service are:
Cork City FC CIT Staff Car Park • Valid Staff/Student Card MUST be presented to
the Bus Driver.
Car Park (Library/D Block) • Both the Car Park and the Bus are Litter Free
Zones. Upholding this will show respect to both
Morning Departure Times Evening Departure Times Cork City F.C. and Jerry O’Brien, Bus & Coach
Hire.
08.00 16.10 • Any issues/incidents which users may have, must
08.30 16.40 be reported to the following CIT email address:
frank.hanley@cit.ie and will be fully looked into.
09.00 17.10 • The above conditions relating to parking is a
Disclaimer Notice which will be erected on the
09.30 17.40 Car Park Site. Please pay particular attention to
this notice.
• The times initially planned may have to be
We hope this CIT Community Initiative tweaked to suit the needs of Staff & Students. If
this is the case you will be notified by email, with
will receive your support. at least 48 hours notice of any change.
8
CIT POSTGRAD FAIR
Tuesday 19th February
11.00am - 2.00pm | Student Centre
Find out about:
• Taught Masters
• Research Masters
• PhD opportunities
As well as:
There will be representatives from many of CIT’s academic
• How to apply
departments and research centres showcasing opportunities
• Entry Requirements in Business, Engineering & Science, Humanities, Music, Art &
• Student Fees Design, and Maritime. External institutions and organisations
• Scholarships from across Ireland and the UK will also be in attendance.
School Of Graduate Studies Office
For more information on the Postgrad Fair
or the opportunities available to you contact:
www.cit.ie/graduateschool
graduate.school@cit.ie
021- 4335099
9
CIT
STUDENTS’ THINKING OF
UNION RUNNING FOR ELECTION
ELECTIONS 2019 IN MARCH 2019?
Do you think you could be the right Could YOU Be The Next CIT SU
person to represent more than Vice President Education Officer?
The role of the Vice President Education is very broad
8,000 students at CIT? and includes everything relating to academia;
If so, then you’ve got to throw your hat into the ring for CIT ✔ building positive relationships and partnerships between
Students’ Union Officer Elections. The elections will see Institute staff and students,
you run a campaign across the CIT Campuses to show that ✔ enhancing student engagement to develop and improve
you’re the right person for the job. Interested? Keep reading quality in education,
to find out how to run and exactly what is involved. You as a
Union Officer will take on the responsibility of representing ✔ managing issues around course delivery, timetabling and
students, ensuring they get the best deal from their college exams,
life. Whether you represent their academic or welfare needs, ✔ managing Union Council and General Meetings.
it is your opportunity to make a difference. The elections The Vice President Education meets with students on a
will take place on Thursday 7th March 2019 and nomina- daily basis to assist them with their educational issues. Some
tions will close on Friday 1st March 2019 at 5pm. projects include student education campaigns, student en-
The Union Executive is elected by the members of the Union gagement projects including Sparq at CIT, and Class Rep
and is made of up to three Sabbatical Officers (President, training and organisation. The Vice President Education is a
Vice President Welfare and Vice President Education) and member of many of the Institute’s boards including Academ-
three Non-Sabbatical Officers (Projects Officer, Communi- ic Council, the Appeals Committee and the Student Discipli-
cations Officer and Entertainments Officer). The Executive is nary Committee.
responsible for the initiation of policy of the Union subject to
Union Council, General Meeting and Referendum. Becom- Could YOU Be The Next CIT SU Vice
ing a Union Officer involves attending meetings regularly and
speaking on behalf of students in areas which will directly President Welfare Officer?
affect them. The main role is to defend the rights of students The Vice President Welfare delivers an educational and
on all fronts, as well as representing student views to col- awareness programme throughout the year to help stu-
lege management and political figures. The Officers support/ dents to manage personal issues including sexual health,
organise a number of ongoing Union projects and events in- mental health, accommodation, finance, safety, bullying
cluding Freshers Week, RAG Week, and Orientations for first and addictions. The programme features campaigns such
years, as well as a number of Welfare Campaigns. as S.H.A.G. (Sexual Health Awareness & Guidance) Week,
Positive Mind & Body Week, Exam DeStress Campaigns
Could YOU be the next CIT SU President? and Safety Week. These campaigns address different issues
which may affect students in an attention-grabbing, fun and
The President of the Students’ Union oversees all work- effective way. Along with this, the Vice President Welfare sits
ings of the Union. The President is a member of many of on college committees which, this year, include Governing
the Institute’s boards including the Governing Body and its Body, Student Services Co. Ltd and the Safety Committee.
subcommittees. The main areas of concern for the President
will be representation, organisation, finance, supervision and
guidance of policy. The President is the main spokesperson Could YOU Be the Next CIT SU
of the students of CIT. This person communicates with local Communications Officer?
media, political figures and businesses where appropriate. The Communication officer aids in the development of
The President is also the Union of Students In Ireland Na- the Union’s information and communication policy. This
tional Council Representative. Officer must be familiar with all the communication policies
and all the communication media available to him/her and
use them to their full potential. The Communication Officer
will keep the membership of the Union informed through the
? ?? ?? ?
provision of a regular Union publication “expliCIT” in con-
junction with the Sabbatical Officers and Union Staff.
Could YOU Be the Next CIT SU
Entertainments Officer?
The Entertainments Officer is responsible for the provi-
sion of entertainments and other forms of social and cul-
tural activity for the members of the Union in conjunction
with the Sabbatical Officers and Union Staff.
10
You could be the next memb
Could YOU Be the Next CIT SU ✔ Realistic: The Officers must be able to assess the feasi-
Projects Officer? bility of projects, ideas or campaigns in terms of legal, fi-
nancial and resource limitations. When dealing with stu-
The Projects Officer is charged with a number of one- dents’ needs, an un-biased approach has to be brought
off projects each year. These projects can be big or small, to every specific case. Officers must check all the facts
with the intention of freeing up time and resources for the and hear everyone out before passing judgment. This
other SU Officers. Also, the Projects Officer is often the Of- will avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete
ficer “on call” should the other officers need help. A vital evidence. Bringing every case to a fight will weaken
resource to the working of the Union, and can be described credibility when a genuine case emerges.
as “The oil in the SU engine”.
✔ Caring/Approachable: Officers should be approach-
able, friendly, non-judgemental and welcoming to stu-
What qualities are needed to be CIT dents. They also need to be able to keep their work with
Students’ Union Officer? students confidential within reason. They must possess
✔ Focused/Dedicated: The Officers’ roles are extremely the ability to listen sensitively to people’s problems and
broad and they need to set out a strategy for the year be able to deal with them in a sympathetic, mature and
with realistic and achievable goals. Project management non-judgmental way.
skills are vital. The summer is a great time to learn what
they need to know as well as prepare for the year ahead. What’s in it for you?
✔ Commitment: It is essential that Officers are committed ✔ Develop your management, communication, organisa-
and understand what is involved with the role. Sabbati- tional, negotiation and leadership skills
cal roles are full time and paid while non-sabbatical roles ✔ Differentiate yourself from others on the jobs market
undertaken in tandem with studies and are voluntary in
✔ Expand your work experience profile
nature. Consideration must be given to how much time
can be allocated to the role and potential candidates ✔ Join an energised team
should assess other commitments such as course re-
quirements and part time jobs before opting to run for What are the terms of employment?
election. For Sabbatical Officers including the President, Vice Presi-
✔ Responsible: The Officers of the Union must oversee dent Welfare and Vice President Education, it is a full time
many activities so having a responsible attitude is vital. job, commencing on the 1st June and ending 31st May.
They must keep themselves informed of issues, while The pay is set for all Officers and can be found out by en-
being responsible for the students’ views is imperative. quiry. The hours are generally Monday to Friday nine to five,
They will also need to sit on boards that deal with sensi- but due to the nature of the job this can vary considerably
tive issues from week to week depending on how busy it is along with
✔ Innovative/Creative: New ideas for events, campaigns various campaigns that may be running. You will occasion-
and promotion will truly benefit the Union as a whole. ally have to work at night time events during Fresher’s Week
and Rag Week and other projects. It is essential to get a
✔ Diplomatic: Good interpersonal skills are necessary to copy of the Officer’s Code of Conduct before deciding to
accomplish tasks and Officers need to be able to man- run for a Sabbatical position.
age relationships with staff, students, management and For non-sabbatical Officers, including the Projects Officer,
others in a tactful way. Often developing good relation- Entertainments Officer and Communications Officer, the
ships and gaining mutual respect is the key to affecting jobs are non-paid and hours of work will be based around
change and improvement. the class time/free time of the non-sabbatical Officers.
✔ Confident/Assertive/Influential: The Officers must of-
ten stand their ground when it comes to all sorts of ini-
tiatives, be it stand firm against Institute management, It is advisable to speak to the current Officers to
press or political figures. They will also need to become find out more and they can be contacted through
comfortable speaking in public and be able to influence the Students’ Union Office. Should you require
the opinion of others. information relating to election process and
✔ Self-Aware: Officers should understand their strengths rules, please contact Vicky O’Sullivan, Assistant
and weaknesses and by doing so create an opportunity
to grow as individuals and as effective Union leaders. It is Returning Officer by email at vicky.osullivan@cit.ie
important to put the needs of the students and the Union
as a whole ahead of the needs of the individual Officer. Nominations open 11th Feb
mber of the Union Executive! 11#MYSTORYMATTERS Real stories from real people
Dear Reader, this is the way I was thinking. Of course with backs, but I tried to see the sense of achieve-
images of being terminally ill, pain & death, ment in my little accomplishments. I started
To begin I would like to draw attention to the the illness would give its terms and condi- talking more honestly and openly about my
fact that I refer to my Anxiety and OCD as tions to just get through the day. If the illness struggles. I wanted to make a habit of reach-
the “illness” as this is exactly what it is. picked a particular part of my body to focus ing out, and I started some CBT, and push-
Over the past few years, the words mental its attack, I would check that body part until ing my GP to get me help. I worked hard on
health has become a lot more frequent in sometimes I would leave myself in serious techniques given to me by my psychologist,
peoples dialogue. Isn’t it fantastic?. Well, pain and even bruising. My family would be- and started to look to more effective ways
I thinkso. When I first started experiencing come sidekicks in this badly written script, of managing my mental health daily, includ-
mental illness I had no term, I had no name, with a mid-20’s man asking for reassur- ing regular exercise & mindfulness. When I
I had no face to describe what I was feeling. ance that had a 10 second impact. I wasted returned to full-time education as a mature
In my teenage years, it was just part of my money I didn’t have on GP visits to cling on student, it was a chance for me to pursue
day to day life. I was told I was just a wor- to some bit of solid reassurance. They had a goal I had put off for so long because of
rier, asked to stop flicking the light switch as diagnosed me with G.A.D & OCD to which my illness. I started to believe in my ability
“we were not made of money, a great worker was later agreed on when I made it into the once again and started to enjoy my days.
as everything had to be just so. I had a lov- mental health services, offered by the HSE. There absolutely were relapses, and still are,
ing upbringing, my friends & family were These episodes lasted between 4-6weeks but I had an arsenal to pick from to get me
fantastic, but they didn’t understand what I and I still experience them today, but with through. Yes I still needed to take medica-
was doing, and if not talked about, it will be less impact as I’ll talk about later. tion, yes I still needed to understand my trig-
grand. Little did they know, the rituals were gers, yes I still needed to work daily on CBT
What about when I wasn’t within my 4-6
16/7 (8 hours of sleep was my only break), just to get myself to a point where I can be at
week window of despair? Well I quickly re-
and a warzone was unfolding in my head. a level playing field to start my day. Battling
sumed normal behaviour, which consisted of
a mental illness is a full-time, unpaid, poor-
I worked through secondary school and it overthinking everyday tasks, not being able
ly rewarded job that needs to be given as
was in my early to mid-twenties I noticed this to drive my car, talking to my friends and
much attention as I do to my daily activities.
illness had another chapter, a more distress- family with embarrassment, taking my medi-
Imagine juggling two bowling balls for the
ing chapter, and I was the main character. cation, and thinking, this is my life now. I had
rest of your life. Would I change anything?
I quickly noticed I had a wave of intrusive good days, really good days of extreme high
Absolutely not. This is me, this is what I am,
thoughts around my health. They would and then followed by massive lows, where I
and there has been times where I feel ac-
come on suddenly with no warning. Cancer, could not physically turn in the bed, let alone
complished at the progress I’ve made in my
brain tumours and heart attack, were the 3 get out of bed. I was sick and I needed help.
life thus far. In fact my illness has motivated
menu options my illness would pick when I knew I had to start extremely slow, today, me to chase my degree, and become part of
and how it chose. Looking back now, I think I just make the bed, tomorrow I get dressed a new mental health project called Da Silly
how dare I think like this when people are and on and on. Of course I had little set- Heads that aims to help the fight against
battling with such challenges every day, but
mental health stigma.
The instant I took a chance and opened up
about my illness, the tide started to change.
We use words everyday, but never again will
I take somebody’s words for granted, as
when I spoke the words that introduced peo-
ple to my struggle, my life started to piece
together once more. Think of talking and the
words you use as a sort of protein for your
mental health. When you talk you start the
process of building a stronger mind and al-
lowing yourself room to heal. Like your body,
the mind needs to be worked on and looked
after to improve and deal with the stresses
that it will encounter. If we think of a gym
setting, and we look at lifting weights, this
is a physical sign of strength. Think of your
words as your weights in order to build up
your mental health, because talking is a sign
of strength.
Daniel O’Mahony
12STIGMA
IS
SILLY
12th & 13th
March 2019
2 guys aiming to change the way we see Mental Health through • Guest Speakers
personal stories, graphic design, tongue in cheek representations &
• Comedy acts
quirky characters. We are telling a story of living with various
mental health diagnosis over the past 20 years, with a strong • Wellness workshops
message of trials and triumphs. • Practical strategies
Through our social media platforms, website, and impact driven • Live performances
events, we hope to connect with those who are affected by mental
• Challenges / prizes
illness and those who are not, building an empathetic community.
────
Our goal is to empower people to support the fight against mental
health stigma as well as deliver an accessible space with relatable
scenarios for sufferers & the general public.
www.dasillyheads.com
For our pilot event called “Stigma is Silly”, we partnered up with www.facebook.com/dasillyheads
PleaseTalk - a student led mental health charity & “A healthy CIT” www.instagram.com/dasillyheads
– a project aimed at supporting good health and wellbeing.
The event will take place in Cork Institute of Technology, where we
will highlight and expose the negative impact of mental health
stigma and urge students to take this fight into their own hands on
and off campus.
You can expect to be surprised, inspired, and encouraged to play
your part in changing attitudes around mental health.
13OF CIT
ENTERPRISE INTERN
SORCHA MACMAHON
The skills and traits of entrepreneurship reach After working with entrepreneurs in the Rubicon Centre
further than you can imagine. We spoke to would you be more inclined to start-up your own busi-
enterprise intern Sorcha MacMahon, who works ness?
Yes definitely. There is so much hard work, long hours
in the Rubicon Centre, about her experience with
and dedication that goes into starting your own busi-
enterprise and innovation and how she supports ness, but I think it would be worth it, especially with the
and dabbles in entrepreneurships herself. right idea. The Rubicon is an exciting place to work and
there’s always a buzz around.
Sorcha, can you explain to me what your job as
‘Enterprise Intern’ entails? What do you think are some advantages
My job as an Enterprise Intern is ultimate- of being an enterprise intern?
ly about promoting entrepreneurship and The job is very diverse and there are lots
the entrepreneurial mindset in the col- of advantages. One of the biggest advan-
lege. It is a very varied role. Semester one tages is that your Masters is fully funded,
is mostly taken up with the co-ordination which is hugely beneficial. Your presen-
of the CIT module. We work on the Busi- tation and public speaking skills really
ness Model Canvas with first year students improve as there is lots of opportunities
and encourage them to come up with for it. You are exposed to an entrepre-
their own business ideas which they then neurial environment every day and there
pitch to us at the end of the semester. We is always something new to be learned.
do tours of the Rubicon Centre for visit- The connections you can create are in-
ing colleges/delegates and for groups of valuable, there is so much to learn from
students from CIT. We link students from everyone you meet. You learn how to
CIT with the Rubicon Centre if they have a juggle, prioritise and how to be efficient
business idea and want advice on what to with your time.
do next. In semester two the main priority is Innovation
week and Prize for Innovation. We run competitions What would you recommend to people who are inter-
throughout the year. Managing social media accounts ested in this position?
is also our responsibility. In the summer we focus on co- I would recommend getting involved in any of the com-
ordinating the Student Inc. programme. No week is ever petitions and programmes that we run: Prize for Innova-
the same! tion, Dragons Den, Student Inc. and CIT Student Hack-
athon. Have an idea of what is going on in the Rubicon,
Have you ever started your own business? what companies are here. Drop over to the Rubicon and
When I started I didn’t think of it as a business, but I ask for information. Take an entrepreneurial elective,
have been teaching flute privately for the last 8 years. In there are so many being offered now in CIT. You could
college it was a way for me to make some pocket money. also join the CIT Business and Enterprise Society.
I studied Music in CIT CSM and as a career it can be unre-
liable, so I always had to be creative and entrepreneurial If you are interested in the position of Enterprise Intern
in how I made money. please visit https://enterprise.cit.ie/student-intern-ap-
plication-for
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.
1415
STUDENT
BUSES leave
CIT from
11am onwards
RACEDAY (across from Tourism and
Hospitality building)
Thurs 21st March 2019 Cork Racecourse
MALLOW
Please note...
RACE DAY wristbands
WILL BE CHECKED before
you get on the buses.
YOU NEED A CIT BAND
TO GET ON A CIT BUS!
If you have a counterfeit wristband,
you will be refused admission on buses NO ALCOHOL ON THE BUSES
and wristband will be confiscated.
OR BUS LOADING AREAS!
16LIVE CIT, LOVE SPORTS
Would you like to have your club featured in expliCIT?
Simply email your submission to: supublications@cit.ie
Dr Aine Ni She-Registrar & Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr Dan Collins-Academic Admin & Student Affairs Manager,
Paul Gallagher-Secretary/Financial Controller, Robert Heffernan-Guest Speaker, along with Athletics, Basketball, Boxing,
Camogie, Golf, Hockey, Orienteering, Powerlifting, Sailing & Soccer recipients.
CIT SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS 2019
65 CIT Sports Scholarships have been awarded for this gles and mistakes he made before reaching his huge
year across 14 different sports. The proud recipients success. One take home message from Rob which is
gathered in CIT to listen to the wise words of legendary relevant to everyone is “exercise is like breakfast, you
Irish athlete, Rob Heffernan. Rob discussed his strug- have to do it!”.
Dr Aine Ni She-Registrar & Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr Dan Collins-Academic Admin & Student Affairs Manager,
Paul Gallagher-Secretary/Financial Controller, Robert Heffernan-Guest Speaker, along with Munster Council GAA recipients.
17LIVE CIT, LOVE SOCIETIES
For full list of societies go to www.societies.cit.ie
There’s no CIT without SOCIETIES! By Jackie Ni Fhogartaigh
M
y name is Jackie. I studied social care graph. I always think of my committee when I even more. I know it sounds like I had a lot on
from 2013-2017 and I’m currently the get praised for this hard work, all of them, but my plate, and I did but I always managed to get
societies intern here in CIT, studying especially Aleksandra Ananica who patiently my assignments in to a standard I was happy
the Principles of Art Therapy part time in Craw- taught me the ins and outs of what I would con- with and still have time for my passion which
ford. Although my course will always be the sider being a good chairperson. I also contin- became societies.
reason I came to CIT I can’t help but notice that ued to meet people from all different societies
As I write this, I’m reminiscing about everything
Societies is truly what made my time here. and still consider them some of the best people
and the people I met. Some who have left to
I’ve ever met. That year the photographic So-
I started off shy, I didn’t know anyone in CIT other countries and counties, some who are
ciety won the “Risiam Uile” Award at Societies
but I had heard about Societies and I knew that around who I haven’t chatted to in a while,
Awards night , looking back I think we earned
it was something that I would be willing to try. some who I see every day. I also can’t write this
it. We held 2 successful exhibitions, a trip to Mi-
Looking back making that first step was the without giving a shout-out to Fintan who was
lan, several trips around Ireland and managed
best thing I did. I attended the first photograph- always reliable in sending my texts to commit-
to attend Ball nights and events- It was such
ic Society AGM in 2013 and signed myself up tee members and giving me “Pizza” money,
a great year.
for treasurer. I knew nothing about photogra- but also Aoife our Societies Officer who always
phy and I especially knew nothing about be- My third year I was vice chair and later chairper- takes her job to the next level, she’s not just
ing a treasurer, yet somehow I still went for it. son of the photographic Society, we managed good at what she does but she cares about
I worked hard that year. I attended every work- a trip to Brussels, 2 successful exhibitions, every person who comes in with any problem
shop and I slowly began to learn the ins and weekly workshops, trips around Ireland and to big or small. I’m so grateful to have worked with
outs of photography from some of the other attend events we were invited to. Workshops these lovely people as a student and now have
members and I got good. They gave me the got even more creative and it was truly such the honour of helping in the office.
chance to photograph events like the Socie- a fun year. This year we won at the Societies
Being in the office is completely different to
ties, Business, and Humanities Balls you name Awards and it was the “Best Society” Award.
when I was a student. I have a whole new per-
it and I was there. I wasn’t the most skillful of I also managed to win an individual award that
spective and I’m still learning about what goes
the team but somehow I managed to work well year for my hard work.
on behind the scenes, it’s hard work. I have
with them. I would hang up posters, come up
It’s funny because winning awards seems like it even more of an appreciation for student ser-
with ideas and I was always reliable and some-
makes you stand out but really the best part is vices, everyone over here appreciates students
how that year I won “Societies Best Fresher”.
always going to be the people you meet along and just wants you guys to get the most of
Photography wasn’t my only gig though, I at-
the way. I remember late nights in the photo- your time here in CIT. So, if you’re not involved,
tended lots of other societies too like music,
graphic Studio, we’d just take photos of each come over and ask some questions, we’d be
guild gaming, origami and more.
other, and enjoy each other’s company. Really, delighted to have you.
My second year I went for events officer in really cheesy stuff. It’s also the skills that you
Societies is located on the first floor,
the photographic Society and second semes- learn slowly, like event management, money Student Centre.
ter I became chairperson while our chair was handling, design and media, general people
away. We came up with lots of trips and I began skills, creativity, time-management. My course https://societies.cit.ie/
to get invited to many more events to photo- taught me so much but having this taught me
18WIN €30! Sponsored by http://societies.cit.ie
Across Down
1. Nourishing (10) 1. School sport (7)
8. Break in a race for 2. Ballet skirt (4)
refuelling (3,4) 3. Bring goods in from
9. Ending in death (5) abroad (6)
10. Gemstone (4) 4. Notorious (8)
11. Streetcar (4) 5. Complete, total (5)
12. Move on foot at a 6. Chance (11)
rapid rate (3) 7. Clumsy unsubtle
14. Above average abil- person (11)
ity (6) 13. Counteracting rem-
15. Change in form (6) edy (8)
18. Arrest (3) 16. Expression of regret
20. Decorated with (7)
frosting (4) 17. Unit of time (6)
21. Burial vault (4) 19. Member of the
23. Trunk of the human nobility (5)
body (5) 22. Distinguished
24. Foreboding evil (7) female singer (4)
25. Firebomb (10)
Crossword Prize: €30 Name:
Deliver completed entries to the SU shop,
1st Floor, The Student Centre. Class: Mob:
Last issue’s winner: Kellie Murphy, PB4
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For your chance to win a €50 vouchers: return this page to the Students’ Union with your suggestions of what
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Good luck!
Last issue’s winner: Fiona Hallahan, Bus1
19STUDENT
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