Toast 1.2 (Oct. 2008)

Vol: 01 Issue: 02 The Protest Issue

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Fees Protest Update Employment Guide Union News Freshers’ In Pictures Band Done Good & Much More...

DEBUT ALBUM

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Debut Single - Love Child Available as FREE DOWNLOAD on www.mahoney.ie

Vol: 01 Issue: 02 The Protest Issue

Hello & Welcome to our second slice of TOAST Take a moment to have a break from all that college work thats surely piling up and make yourself as comfortable as possible - no matter where you are.

How crazy has it been since the last issue? Even a cave dweller couldn’t help but notice the chaos going on around us. At times it has felt as if civilisation itself was in danger falling apart - governments bailing out banks, house prices plummeting, army bases closing down, jobs dropping by the minute not to mention civilians protesting in their thousands. It seems like there is not one part of Irish society that will find themselves unaffected by the economic downturn... but lets not dwell on negatives, lets think positive people! We are eagerly looking forward to February and the National Student Protest, we hope to see every last one of you out there! And if you don’t think that there is any point in protesting just have a look at pages 28 - 29.

We’ve got more tasty morsels for you this issue, there are some great photos of freshers’ week on pages 16 and 17, so be sure to see if you’ve been immortalised, for better or worse! We’ve got a hilarious look at the state of the economy on page 14 and if you were at the protest on the 22nd October you might spot yourself on page 12.

The information bearing canine is still around, although rumour has it he’s becoming a bit of a diva since seeing himself in print – colonic irrigation? €40 for a bottle of mineral water? Driver on demand? All this while sniffing his own bum, the mind boggles, it really does.

Don’t forget if you are interested in contributing to TOAST don’t hesitate to drop us a mail. And remember NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! toast@ditsu.ie - the Toast Crew

Go On- Have A Bite We are always on the look out for talented [or not so talented...] people to help out here at Toast.

So, if you fancy yourself as a bit of a writer, gonzo journalist, photographer, illustrator or general piss-artist then we want to hear from you. Drop us a mail. toast@ditsu.ie

Contents Union News Crumbs International Bazaar Interview: Claes Ljungdahl Class Rep Training Employment Guide Fees Protest Budget 2009 Know Your Rights Freshers’ In Pictures ENT’s Update Music Guide Sports Band Done Good: Ian I. Brow Societies News Clubs News Fashion Shoot Major Protests Throughout History Dear Abby ‘The Stun’ Tea @ ditsu.ie

The Crew [Editor] Eve Donnelly [Features Editor] Mairead Butler [Design & Photography] Eddie Corr

Contact [General] toast@ditsu.ie [Editorial] communications@ditsu.ie [Advertising] communications@ditsu.ie [Design] design@ditsu.ie

Competition Log onto www.ditsu.ie/tea for all the latest Student Union competitions

02 04 06 07 08 10 12 14 15 16 18 20 21 22 24 25 26 28 30 31 32

Your Union News: Keep up-to-date!

The Presidential Word Hey All! I hope you’ve all settled in well and are enjoying your time in DIT. There’s been plenty going on in the union since the last edition.

Our Inductions and Fresher’s weeks were great a great success as was Class Rep Training – remember if you don’t have your Class Rep Elected pop into the union office now!

On top of that we’ve been doing our best to Fight the Fees with the National Union, USI. The Dublin Colleges protest on October 22nd was an amazing success – many thanks to all those who attended. We still need your help and input, check out the fees section of the magazine to find out what you can do.

We’ve also been working hard to improve life here in DIT with issues coming in thick

For your reading pleasure, Aungier Street guys and girls, and to make the rest of the inferior campuses jealous, here’s the skinny on what’s been happening in Aungier Street.

Our first major event of the year is always Inductions Week, and I’m of the firm belief that this year has been our most successful to date. With our pink-shirted cheerleaders shaking their pom-poms and getting people up dancing and our green-shirted, uberenthusiastic Team Fresh crew throwing out freebies left, right and centre, we made sure that the first years of Aungier Street knew who the Students’ Union were and what we were all about.

The presentations weren’t the only thing going on during Inductions Week, though – other highlights included comedians, a hypnotist and the crazed antics of some of the Inductions crew, including a one-person bread eating contes and, “Kopparbot” (the robot fashioned from discarded Koppaberg boxes by a mad scientist).

Credit must go to Tracey Flinter for orchestrating a highly memorable campaign and

02

SU President president@ditsu.ie

and fast from Architecture to Artists and Engineers to Economists. We’ve been looking at local issues and global ones with the Library opening hours and prices in the canteens proving contentious as always! Remember the Students’ Union is here to defend your rights and represent you so if you have any issues chat with your SU Class Rep or pop into the Union offices on your local site (including the new Rathmines office!).

I hope you’re having a great time this year and that everything is going well for you. If not then remember we’re here to cover your back.

Have a great time, Martin

The Aungier Report Testing Testing?

Martin Dunne

for helping out with some of the presentations in Aungier St, as did Martin Dunne and Dermot Julian. I’d like to reserve special thanks for our Aungier Street Team Fresh Inductions Crew – ye know who ye are, ye mentalists!

No sooner had the dust settled on those festivities than we were straight into Freshers’ Week. Aungier St freshers packed the venues across the three events – easily the best represented site across the week! More freebies arrived and were happily snapped up by first years and other students alike. Clubs and Societies Week rounded up a hectic opening to the year, with BAM Soc, Drama Soc and Fashion Soc the big hitters during societies sign up day.

On the democratic side of things, we had our first Class Rep Lunch of the year on October 7th. The attendance was massive – chairs were frantically dragged from other sources to try and accommodate the crowd! It was a lively, enthusiastic meeting with various comments and queries coming from several class reps. The Ents Officer for Aungier St, Jeff Brennan, was also elected.

Eric Fitzgerald Aungier St Class Rep Convenor convenor.ast@ditsu.ie A second CRL on October 13th saw the Aungier St class reps elect their 15 Governing Councillors and the remaining five members of LPIT; Clubs Officer Zach, Societies Officer Orla, Environmental Officer Caoimhseach, International Students Officer Luther and Communications Officer Emer. The Aungier St representatives for the Academic & Student Affairs, Services & Trading and Chief Ops and Communications Sub-Committees were also chosen, as well as the two AST reps for the local Social & Cultural Committee.

As you can see, it’s been a packed first few weeks here in Danger St – but it’s not about to let up any time soon! Sit back and enjoy the ride, but if it gets too hectic for you at any stage, just pop down to myself or Sharon in the office and we’ll set you right again!

Rock on!

Eric

The Kevin Report

Sean Campbell Kevin St Class Rep Convenor convenor.kst@ditsu.ie

What’s the craic?

Well we are back at college and at assignments already, holy jaysus its November and we have all been busy here in the students union. It feels like I am missing something but then I get 4 assignments in a row and hey presto it feels just like last year all over again.....work!!!!!

So the person who comes up with the best name will win a really fab prize. (terms and conditions apply but you wont have to do cart wheels or anything like that, just run away from lions for the photo shoot, but its all good it will keep you fit) so email your ideas to convenor.kst@ditsu.ie

O well I suppose that what we all signed up for so I suppose, we better get stuck in and get them done. But here I am thinking about the last 2 months and what has gone by, I mean just look at what went on Induction week for all the newbies ( welcome again ), the mad lads from Ian I Brow have been in with us. They were great and are playing all over town so watch out for them.,DJ Soc played for us - thanks lads - good stuff.

Freshers week saw David O Doherty, Fred from cork,Blue moose, the Blizzards and the good auld silent disco which I have to say was great craic.

I will inform the winner by email and let all the rest of you know the new name in the next mag, so get your thinking caps on.

We are trying to get the good vibe going in Kevin st, its been too quiet for too long, I think its starting to work now and people are starting to hang around campus at lunchtimes but we need your help to keep it going. So if there is something or anything we are doing wrong, tell us, and sure if we are doing it right then enjoy and be happy!!!

That’s whats its all about eh!!!

We have been asked by lots of you in Kevin St why all the other sites have a nick name -eg Danger St - so what do you think?

The Kev’s? The dogs bollox? I don’t know so I hope you can come up with some ideas.

So whats happening with the pool??? and the newly refurbished Gleeson hall or just the facilities generally in Kevin st. Well we have done as much digging as we could have done and here’s the gossip, the pool should be open by Nov 03rd, and the hall is up and running and looks great. Well done to the buildings manager Mr. Paul MC Dunphy on his good work. The Opera by DIT Rathmines Students - The Magic Flute - was held in Gleeson Hall and I have to say it was great.

Well done to all of the lads and ladies with the fine voices.

As you can see the DITSU Fight the Fees protest is up and running, but we need your help to keep it going. Currently we have been at protests outside the Dail for the night with USI and been to Galway to lobby the Government on the Fees issues. We stormed the Education Department which was fun.

The budget was somewhat of a insult to students and raising the capitation fee €1500 spells disaster for many of us. So we in DITSU are going to fight tooth and nail to stop this happening, as well as fighting the

The Brugha Report

reintroduction of fees and working very hard for you all on this. I want you all to know this because it’s our money and our lives that are getting affected by this shit!!!

Yes I am pissed off and yes I am going to keep working hard on this, so there.

Right that’s my little rant I hope you are sitting here reading this and feeling the love.

And if you have read Eric’s bit on what he was saying about Danger street, I’m sure you’ll join me in saying - “ya go on Eric we know Kevin St rocks and is miles ahead of Danger St” - so there ya have it folks.

And again if you have any problems please call in to the office to Eve or myself and we will do our best to help you out.

Right I am off to have a cup of tea and keep your eyes open for the DIT Rugby Clubs day out, 22 of November.

Keep it real, Sean

Peter Keegan Cathal Brugha Class Rep Convenor convenor.cbst@ditsu.ie

Hello Everyone!

Hope you’re all keeping well and have settled (back) into college life!

Things in The Brugha have really settled back into normal but there’s a huge atmosphere in the college this year with the common room not only packed at lunch time but throughout the day as well. Home and Away lunches are really back in action too!

We had great attendance at class rep training and all the class reps that came gave us great feedback and had a massive time!

I’m in and out of the office so give me shout if you need something and if you see me around the college stop me and have a chat and let me know about an issues!

Peter 03

Crumbs!

Tasty News Tid-Bits...

Former DITSU VP appointed to OSCE Mission to Kosovo Bernadette Farrell, graduate of the PG Dip in Law, former VicePresident Academic & Student Affairs, DIT Students’ Union, and former USI Education Officer, has been appointed as Senior Adviser on Higher Education to the OSCE Mission to Kosovo.

The OSCE - Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe - works for stability, prosperity and democracy in 56 states through political dialogue about shared values and through practical work that makes a lasting difference. It’s Mission to Kosovo in relation to education supports reform of the higher education system, with the aim of achieving increased transparency, greater cross-recognition of competencies and qualification and increased mobility of students and staff within the Bologna Process framework.

“We wish Bernadette great success and happiness in this endeavour” Martin Dunne, DITSU President said “We in the Students’ Union are very proud that our former colleague will continue to lead the process of change and development in higher education in Europe. Third level education in Kosovo has suffered great stresses and strains during the turmoil of the last years – for example the University of Pristina’s library has no books!

During her time as a DITSU elected officer Bernadette was a tireless advocate for students, was pivotal to the development of academic policy and in shaping many initiatives that maintained and strengthened the student voice at all levels in DIT.I have no doubt that she will carry her passion for Student rights and academic excellence as she moves on to this exciting and challenging role. We wish Bernadette great success and happiness in this endeavour. “ Many colleagues who had the opportunity to work with Bernadette during her time in DIT will echo those good wishes

Grangegorman For those of you who don’t know - Grangegorman is the site of the future DIT campus. All DIT facuties and schools (currently in over 40 locations in Dublin), will be together for the first time on a brand new campus on the Northside of the city, fifteen minutes walk from Bolton St. The new Grangegorman campus has been in the planning process for a number of years with a final master plan now in place. The new campus is going to be the largest investment in 3rd level education in the history of the state and will finally give DIT state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate the thousands of dedicated students who already attend the college. The Grangegorman Campus will include a flagship student centre, high quality student accommodation, international standard sporting facilities, several social areas and premier academic facilities – all situated in the heart of Dublin City and connected by numerous bus routes and the proposed new Metro and Luas lines.

Grangegorman received €7M in this year’s budget. Whilst this is not the €25M that was sought it will not delay the project.

The €7M provided this year allows for the progress of planning applications, so all in all this wasn’t too bad a budget for Grangegorman (at least thats one good thing).

In the coming months the detailed planning for each school and faculty will begin with student input being one of the core factors – you will be able to have a say in the future of education in DIT and Ireland. For more information contact the President, Martin Dunne, at president@ditsu.ie or pop into your local Students’ Union office.

The Boy done good!

Congratulations to Tim Rooney, who is graduating this year with a MSc. in Culinary Innovation and Food Product Development here in Cathal Brugha St. Tim is another of our many success stories. His new snack product, Surf Seeds, has recently been launched on the Irish market. It’s sure to go far – he won Gold at the Great Taste Awards this year, one of the best indicators that he’s going to get noticed.

Tim found the Msc a great springboard to launching his product, as he was able to use DIT facilities to do final testing and market research. He got lots of support from his classmates and staff – some classmates are now Surf Seeds sales reps! They’re the perfect snack for students – sunflower seeds contain linoleic acid, which has been linked to increased brain function and good skin condition

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USI The Union of Students in Ireland is your national representative body and there’s been plenty going on in USI this year. After a tough year last year USI is doing its best to come back in full force with a number of anti-fees protests throughout the country and lending support to DIT’s new campus in Grangegorman and our bid for university status.

DIT in Numbers

121 Number of years DIT have been providing education Rathmines was the first DIT college opening in 1895

There have also been a number of national campaigns including National Condom Week and Fire Safety Week and the ongoing Equality, Education, Welfare and LGBT campaigns. The LGBT Pink Training event will be happening in NUI Galway on November 7th to 9th and the National Colleges protest against fees is scheduled for mid-February in Dublin.

For more information about USI logon to www.usi.ie.

Mini Gaeltacht in DIT For the first time ever DIT has organised an Irish language student residency and 4 DIT students have moved into an apartment in Leeson St. to live through the medium of Irish during their year in college and become actively involved in promoting the language across DIT. The 4 female participants of the scheme have already become involved in promoting the language on the various DIT campuses during this year’s Clubs & Societies festival. Clár Ní Chuilleain, Aoife Ní Ghlaicín Riain, Fiona Lemasney and Susan Mc Daid come from Limerick, Dublin and Mayo and are students of Journalism with Irish, Interior Design and Media Arts in DIT Aungier St. and Mountjoy Square. The girls will certainly be busy organising Irish language activities during the year and they’re looking forward to promoting the language amongst the students of DIT. During the year, many Irish language student social and cultural events will take place across DIT as well as a tour to the Oireachtas Festival in Cork on the 31st October and another Gaeltacht tour taking place in Semester 2 organised by the Student Residency Scheme and An Cumann Gaelach, the Irish language student society. Free student Irish and dancing classes are taking place on 4 campuses with the support of Oifig na Gaeilge, DIT’s Irish Language Office and the girls will also be available to help and support DIT students with the language.

A new Irish radio programme is also being produced and presented by the girls on Raidió na Life 106.4 FM on Friday evenings from 6.00 – 6.30p.m with plenty of DIT news and events and much more besides!

National Condom Week & Fire Safety Week There was plenty of fun and freebies floating about all sites to raise awareness of National Condom & Fire Safety week. (a strange combo – I know). Dublin Aids Alliance were amazed at how quickly condoms were snapped up in Bolton street. 1,000 in 10 minutes. That must be a world record! Over all the sites we managed to hand out over 2,000 condoms but don’t forget the door is always open so if you’re looking for more condoms call in and just ask!!

“Over all the sites we managed to hand out over 2,000 condoms” For the ladies out there, we tried to get some Dublin Fire Brigade men in for the launch of Fire Safety Week and their calendar but we had to hold off due to the possibility of over excitement.

There was the usual antics in the Living Room and Shine to mark the occasion, everything from swapping clothes with the opposite sex under the table to guess the flavored lube! Students will do anything for some free condoms. We even had a round on fire safety given the week that was in it. While there was plenty of fun and frolics students actually learned something on the night and that is of course practice Safe Sex always and that the kiwi flavored lube tastes nothing like kiwi!!

Keep it safe and sexy DIT!

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You can hardly get a drink for 5 euro, but what you could get for it is: An all expenses paid ski trip for two to the fabulous Zell Am See in Austria. The prize includes flights, 4 star accommodation with full board and ski pass!

A week’s holiday in Mombasa, Kenya with self-catering accommodation by Maasailand Adventures. Flights from London Gatwick.

One of three trips to Croatia, flights included with 4 and 5 star accommodation!

And that is just the tip of the iceberg! There’s a lot more than that!

Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not!

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These are prizes in a raffle, a raffle organised by a charity called International Dublin Bazaar. The prizes will be announced on the 16th November at the Ballsbridge Inn.

Raffle tickets are €5. You can email us at idbdit@gmail.com or keep an eye out over the coming weeks in the reception area at Aungier Street.

Good Luck!

UN Exhibition The UN visits Aungier Street...

The UN held an exhibition in Aungier St during September.

The Swedish Ambassador to Ireland was in attendance and Eric Fitzgerald grabbed a quick word...

Sitting across from Claes Ljungdahl, it’s hard not to notice the sheer physical presence of the man. A tall man with impeccable posture and a broad frame, the Swedish Ambassador to Ireland would not look out of place on a sporting field. It’s not an off-putting characteristic, however, because once Mr Ljungdahl begins speaking, his calm, authoritative voice instantly puts you at your ease.

The invitation of Mr Ljungdahl to a UN Peacekeeping Exhibition held in DIT Aungier St on Tuesday, September 23rd, was particularly apt. Having first come to political prominence in his native Sweden as Minister for European Integration Matters, he went on to spend four years in Geneva accredited to the United Nations. The work of the UN “has always been a part of the debrief of Swedish politics” according to the ambassador.

es “Peacekeepers don’t take sidgo y ma rs die in a conflict. Sol in armed, but their role tod”ay is more that of diplomats “Peacekeeping operations have been around since the 1950s” he goes on to explain, citing the joint peacekeeping effort between Ireland and Sweden in the Congo as a particularly relevant example.

The operation, led by General van Horn from Sweden from July 1960 to December 1960 and General MacEoin from Ireland from January 1961 to March 1962, took place during the first turbulent years following the Democratic Republic of Congo’s independence from Belgium.

“I would see the present UN peacekeeping operations as a continuation of this,” he goes on to detail, “These days, however, they tend to be comprised of less and less UN forces and more and more African Union forces (in developing countries where peacekeepers are present). Here in Europe you don’t see a lot of blue helmets (UN

peackeepers) any more.” With Irish peacekeepers having returned from Chad in September, it’s interesting to see what is the international opinion of our forces. Mr Ljungdahl reassures me that there is a “good image” of Ireland’s peacekeepers worldwide.

Even with this in mind, there is a still a degree of dissent within Ireland in relation to our involvement with such projects. Some people see such involvement as compromising the nation’s neutrality.

The Swedish ambassador disagrees, however, “It doesn’t compromise neutrality, no. Peacekeepers don’t take sides in a conflict. Soldiers may go in armed, but their role today is more that of diplomats.” Mr Ljungdahl goes on to detail how peacekeepers are often involved in community projects in the regions they serve in, such as the construction of housing, sporting events and other areas.

Peacekeeping is not the only service that the UN provides for developing countries, however. The eight Millenium Goals, a series of targets designed to motivate developed nations into helping developing nations in alleviating world poverty, are another initiative which seeks to tackle the massive issue of global poverty. On the day of my meeting with the Swedish ambassador, UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon warned that African countries were in danger of falling behind on their commitments to these goals unless the developed world contributed $72 billion to assist them in their efforts.

“It is a tough challenge for Africa to meet the eight goals,” muses Mr Ljungdahl, “but foreign aid and developmental aid are not the only ways in which we can help them. Increased partnership is the way forward,” he asserts, suggesting that developed nations could form partnerships with developing countries in order to help them develop their economies and increase trade.

Whatever the solution, it’s certain that Mr Ljungdahl’s opinions would be carefully considered if sought. EF.

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Class Rep Training What have the Union ever done for us eh?

Class Rep Training.

How was it for you?

What was that all about?

Marie Perry

When you hear the word training you think of sitting in a lecture hall bored senseless and not learning anything, but not at DITSU Class Rep Training! It was a risky business to bring over one hundred students away to stay in a four star hotel for the night but we knew we could pull it off!! There was a number of concerns that had entered my head but the minute I hit Bolton Street Friday morning I was far too excited to let the concerns ruin our weekend. We packed out two buses and headed on our merry way to the City North Hotel in the Royal County of Meath. The day was jammed packed with info on what exactly a class rep needs to know.

The friendly environment allowed everyone to get to know each other. The truth came out and DIT never ceases to amaze me, at every Class Rep Training there is always one person who has managed to have sex on a tractor, to my surprise it was a girl this year!! It wasn’t all about the fun and the frolics, Class Reps actually learned about programme committees, their importance and also developed their negotiation and campaigning skills. Needless to say the one thing that was evident from the training was that not one class rep could dance. Dodgy moves from YMCA and Saturday night to even Line Dancing were tried, went down a storm and provided the locals and the Wedding party with some midnight entertainment.

Thanks to all who attended, you made the weekend not only for me but for all the staff in DITSU. Here’s to next year!!

Wahoo!, Tracey

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Last Friday I stood outside Bolton St. thinking to myself OMG what have I let myself in for? There were about 150 young people all buzzing and rearing to go and me, a 2nd year mature student from Cathal Brugha St. who had reluctantly taken the position of class rep.

As we were herded onto the buses I noticed that a lot of the young people were looking as uncomfortable as me seemingly not knowing anyone else either. We arrived at City North hotel and people started to talk to each other asking what campus they were from and what course they were doing etc. as we registered. Then we got down to the business of class rep training.

We started with introductions and a welcome from the three sabbaticals, Martin, the President of the Students Union, then Tracy and Dermot the two vice Presidents. We were introduced to the convenors and the other committee members. (Peter from Cathal Brugha St was the only one I knew) There was lots of energy in the room and lots of woohooing! Then we were introduced to Colin McGivern who did some very funny icebreakers with us and you could actually feel the whole room begin to relax. The role of the class rep was described and the structures and committees that could help us in our role were explained. Louise Bellew, the Former Programme Chair from the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management informed us all about how the programme Committees worked and how important the input from the class rep was to make this work.

None other than the President of the USI, Shane Kelly, brought the next section of the training to us. He spoke to us about the importance of supporting the Fight the Fees Campaign and about our role as class reps within DITSU and USI. After a hearty lunch of soup and sandwiches tea and coffee we were ready to work on being not only a class rep but being an effective one. Now seeing Committee and

Negotiation Skills on the agenda I think filled everyone with dread and BORING!!! was the word that sprang to mind but I have to say it was anything but. It was done brilliantly

by Colly, as were the workshops on Public Speaking and Communications. By the end of the session, hungry and all as we were, everyone was getting to know each other and we were ready for a night of FUN. And fun is exactly what we had, dinner was lovely followed by the very funny comedian Steve Cummins who enjoyed us so much stayed longer than he was supposed to. Next we moved in to the bar for the disco, which was just the craic. I think everyone really had a ball as the floor was never empty and the moves, oh my God, we had wigglers and shakers, body poppers and line dancers (thanks Tracy). Frolics and frivolities were had by everyone, as well as copious amounts of alcohol but no one over did it and it was a Legendary night! I thought the fact that I was at least twice the age of most of the other class reps would have been a problem but it wasn’t, I was treated exactly the same by everyone and it really made me feel young again, there were no barriers at all. It was deadly!

The next morning started early with breakfast at eight and we started the first session of the morning learning how to organise a class party, trip or event. After last night shenanigans if we could organise one that good all the training would be worth it!

Our next speaker, Colm Jordan, went through everything a class rep needed to know and a few things that maybe we will take with us through the rest of our lives (remember the chocolate). Tracy went through how to deal with class issues and we finished up with our version of the Oscars.

We all got free stuff (na, na, na, na, na,) we made some great friends, (some got closer than others) and I would recommend the training to anyone.

Having left Dublin wondering if I’d made the right decision taking on the role of class rep, I returned knowing it defiantly was the right decision and I now know I have all the information and support I need to do a great job.

They say, “Knowledge is Power” well I now have that power to do a great job as class rep. All you have to do now is support your class rep and don’t be afraid to join in the stuff they organise, it’s all for your benefit.

Couldn’t go to Class Rep Training this year? d the Class Reps who weren’t able to atten limial spec r thei get Training Weekend will at ks wee ing com the over rt ited edition t-shi Rep s Clas the local Class Rep Meetings. The e to being Handbook, a comprehensive guid ibuted the best Class Rep Ever! will be distr e on labl avai be will and s Rep shortly to all . also u.ie .dits www site the web

Niamh Mooney Friday 10th October saw three buses depart from Bolton Street filled with D.I.T.’s recently elected class reps for the ‘08/’09 academic year, destined for City North Hotel, Co. Meath. Work commenced and we were straight into a session on the structure of the Students’ Union, delivered by our D.I.T.S.U. President Martin Dunne and elected Officer Tracey Flinter. Shane Kelly, President of Union of Students Ireland (U.S.I.) gave us a talk on the U.S.I. and on the ongoing Fight the Fees campaign. Throughout the weekend we had several sessions with a variety of different spokespeople on how to be an effective class rep. These sessions were aimed at enhancing our skills that we as class reps will need to properly represent you this year.

We covered everything from communications to negotiating, public speaking and chat-up lines!

Saturday morning (better remembered as ‘the morning after the night before’) we were attentively listening to Dermot Julian on how to organize the best class party and trip. Upon leaving Co. Meath we were fully equipped to represent you effectively and ready to embark on the year ahead as class reps.

Class Rep Training Awards October 2008The Classies!

The wheels on the bus...

Location, location, location

Listen up guys...

Best Dancer John O’Toole (CBST) Biggest Chancer!

David Eighan (KST) Latest Arrival Jonathan Blayney (BST) Stand up if...

Best Participation Ever!

Disha Rani (AST) Girl most likely to....

Claire Toner Lyons (AST) Best Bum-shaker!

Gillian Smyth (CBST) Sharpest tool in the box Joseph Kinvi (AST)

Martin gets his ‘spiel’ on

Stuck it out the longest Eoin Prunty (BST) Takes the biscuit for the Hairdo David Levins (KST) Best Male ‘Kevin from Kevin street’ Campbe

ll

Best Female Niamh Mooney (BST) Training can be tiring you know!

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Giz A Job! Our Big Bumper Employment Guide...

Employment: Get informed!

So you saved a bit of money over the summer and returned to college with a little cash to splash. Pests such as the deposit and rent, college materials, registration fee and maybe a beer or two soon began to eat into your pot of gold. So you’ve decided to help fund your college life in part by getting a job.

This could be anywhere doing anything, working whatever hours they’ll kindly send your way or perhaps just a few choice ones at the weekend. Bear in mind that it is more difficult than last year to find a part time job, so put the effort into looking around and maximize every opportunity going.

Websites: (There are loads out there and you’d be surprised what sites offer jobs as well as other services). Be sure to check out the following: www.nixers.com , www.fas.ie , www.jobs.ie , www.LoadzaJobs.ie , www.gumtree.ie etc. Also, keep an eye on student websites including our very own www.ditsu.ie Alternative websites include www.activelink.ie which communicates work of community and voluntary organizations in Ireland. Be sure to ask at your local partnership, if there is one in your area and/or the local Citizens Information Office. You’d be surprised what you may come across, in Dublin or down the country. Consider inquiring locally, if you are particularly interested in working in your hometown or area. Some employers appreciate the initiative of a candidate approaching them directly.

DIT Careers Service: Consider contacting your local Careers service if you are getting your head around what you are going to do after you graduate, its never 10

too early to begin thinking about this and who knows, a part time position may evolve from your investigation, that could develop into something long term after college. www.dit.ie/careers

Newspapers: The Evening Herald newspaper- check out the classifieds section and keep an eye in the broadsheet newspapers and in particular local newspapers. You’d be surprised what you may come across, so keep the eyes peeled.

Notice boards / Word of mouth: College notice boards, local shops etc. are invaluable help for finding part-time work to fit in with your college schedule and also summer time work. And like so many things in Ireland, it can be all about who you know, spread the word that you are looking for a part time job and your availability etc.

Recruitment Agencies/Consultancies: You may also consider a Recruitment/Employment agency. Some of these specialize in part-time and/or temporary work in a whole host of fields. Advice would be to shop around and be aware that it can be better to deal with an employer directly if you get the opportunity.

However, some employers only deal with agencies or consultancies so if you do get a job through a recruitment consultancy or agency bear in mind: they pay you (if it’s a contract), on behalf of your employer and get a percentage of commission; or get a bulk payment of commission for the contract that you work (if it’s a permanent position).

You can find a full listing of them in the Golden Pages www.goldenpages.ie or see the listing at www.nrf.ie .

You’ve got the work but have you got the rights?

ployment you can refer a complaint to a Rights Commissioner under the Payment of Wages Act 1991.

If you are in continuous employment for a continuous wage then you are entitled to certain rights as regards contracts, hours, rate of pay, holiday leave, other leave etc. As a part-time employee (described as a person who is working less hours than the normal hours of someone in a similar job role) you have the same rights and obligations as well as the same recourse if something goes wrong as any full time employee who is in a similar role in the work environment to you.

Some of this sounds very heavy, so if you are not sure about something, pop into us in the SU office and we’d be delighted to help you out.

Get a Contract Create the paper trail! It is now the law that you should have all the particular conditions and rights of your employment put down in a written agreement upon entering into your new place of work. This agreement, though not necessarily a contract in and of itself, will clarify: your rate of pay, hours to be worked, holiday and sick leave, job title/nature of work, any benefits or schemes that come with the job, notice entitlements, statutory rest period, the length of the contract (if there is one) and any other specifics of your employment.

Your employer should give this to you within two months of your starting work. You are encouraged to get a contract, so if you don’t have one after working a few months in a company, don’t be afraid to ask- its your right as an employee.

Money Talk The national minimum wage is set at a Euro 8.65 as of June 2007.

There are some exceptions to this I am very sorry to say. If you are under 18 you are entitled to Euro 6.06 per hour. If you are in your first year of employment and are over 18, it’s Euro 6.92. In your second year of employment, it’s Euro 7.79. Check your written agreement or contract to see if your employer offers overtime pay. If it’s in your contract your employer has to abide by it and cannot change the conditions at a later date. For working Sundays, you are general entitled to an increased rate of pay, paid time off, an allowance or a combination of these.

Working hours and holidays The maximum amount of hours that an average worker should work is 48 hours a week. You should not work more than thirteen hours in a day and you are entitled to at least one 24-hour rest period once a week. During a working day you have the right to a fifteen-minute break after every 4 and a half hours worked.

You will need a rest after all this combining work, studying and leisure.

You get nine public holidays a year, which you get off work and are fully paid for. These are Christmas Day, St. Stephen’s Day, New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, St. Patrick’s Day and a few Bank Holiday Mondays throughout the year.

As for holiday or annual leave, your employer can choose one of the following options: 4 weeks annual leave in a leave year providing that the employee has worked at least 1,365 hours; one-third of a working week per calendar month providing that the employee works at least 17 hours; 8% of the hours an employee works in a leave year subject to a maximum of 4 working weeks. All of this is calculated at a pro-rata basis if you haven’t worked there for the full year. All pay for annual leave must be paid up before the holidays are taken and annual leave must be used up within the year or with employer’s permission, within six months of the next annual year.

Sick pay is not covered by any employment legislation and so your employer will decide policy on sick pay. However, if your employer does not offer you sick pay or leave as part of your conditions of em-

Getting the boot!

Depending on how long you have been working there, you should receive a certain amount of written notice if you are being asked to leave except in cases of gross misconduct. It is really up to employers now to prove that they were fair in dismissing you from your job, that it was due to misconduct, incompetence, redundancy of the employee or that keeping the employee on would go against some other legal requirement.

Just as you cannot be refused employment on certain, unfair grounds, you cannot be dismissed because: you hold certain religious or political beliefs, marital status, membership of a particular community such as the Traveling Community or another ethnic minority, you opted to take maternity leave, parental leave, adoptive leave or Carer’s leave, you tried to exercise your rights to a fair wage, you’re pregnant or you attended appointments or classes relating to being pregnant, membership or activity in a trade union, or because of your race, colour, gender or sexual orientation.

If you feel that you have been unfairly dismissed you can make a formal complaint in writing to a Rights Commissioner(www.lrc.ie) or the Employment Appeals Tribunal(www.eatribunal.ie).

Browse: www.citizensinformation.ie or www.employmentrights.ie.

You can contact your local DIT Students’ Union office or see www. ditsu.ie for advice and referral to the services listed above. We can also put you in touch with a solicitor if you require legal advice on the matter. Never be afraid to ask, we are here to represent you and defend your rights.

Non-national Students Your rights in the work environment are exactly the same as a national student. However, whether or not you can work depends on whether you are in a full time course here According to the Department of Justice, students who are taking up a full time course can, for the full time they are in that course, take up employment of up to 20 hours a week during the academic year and full time hours during breaks in that year. Any other type of non-national student is unfortunately denied those entitlements.

Tracey and Aimee in the Students’ Union can help you with all your Employment enquiries and advice.

Fees Update...

FIGHT THE FEES! Just a quick update on the fight the fees campaign; we’ve been working hard along with the National Union to fight the re-introduction of third level fees. We really appreciate the efforts of the thousands of you who turned out to protest in Dublin on October 22nd but the campaign doesn’t stop there.

There will be a National Protest in Dublin in February where students from colleges and universities throughout Ireland will come together to oppose the re-introduction of tuition fees and the insane increases in the Capitation fee. We need to keep the pressure up until then and you can help us do that by writing to your local TD demanding that they oppose the introduction of fees, we’ve even included a handy sample letter on the opposite page to help you out.

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On top of that you can talk to your family and friends and get them to come out against Fees to your local TD and to marshal people in their work to do the same – the more support we gain the more likely we are to succeed.

One last thing you can do is register to vote in your local elections.

There’s nothing that scares politicians more than a group of angry voters come election time. Let’s send a clear message to politicians by registering to vote and supporting those candidates who come out against fees in the upcoming local elections. The Students’ Union has all the forms and details you need to ensure your voice is heard in your local elections and that the anti-fees candidates are known!

Pop into the office to find our more and remember to keep up the pressure and to FIGHT THE FEES!

My Address: Minister Batt O’Keeffe,

________________________

Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street,

________________________ ________________________

Dublin 1

________________________

Dear Minister, As a third level student I am utterly opp osed to the reintroduction of third leve l tuition fees. These fees will deter thousands from going to college, add further burdens to students and their families and do nothin g but harm the Irish economy, at a time when it is already in serious peril.

All parties promised before the last gen

eral election that they would not reintrod

I request that you reply to me by post,

uce fees.

answering the following questions:

Why have you sought to introduce a stea lth fee by increasing the capitation by 67% in the coming year?

What percentage of the 1500 euro capitat ion fee will go towards the college, stud ent services & activities and what percentage will go back into the Government's coff ers?

Why should I be assessed on my parents income given that I am legally an adult?

Yours Sincerely,

______________

Anorak Economics A sideways look at the Budget...

WORDS: CIARAN NEVIN ILLUSTRATION: EDDIE CORR

By the time you read this you will probably be surrounded by thou-

sands of pensioners involved in rioting, protesting and looting. While this is quite an amusing image; one of arthritis ridden geriatrics marching to the Dáil, battling with security guards, and becoming impaled on the railings. It may not be long until we witness the cast of Cocoon organising the slowest bed push in the history of the state in an effort to highlight the withdrawal of the automatic entitlement of the medical card. In the past ten years the only type of recession that was bothering our elderly was that of their hair. Even our grandparents got caught up in the rat race to keep up with the Jones’s.

Grandpa got a 42” flat-screen, to look as cool as his neighbour, but it also meant he didn’t need his glasses. Grandma got a boob-job, just to try and win back some attention from grandpa, and all the while an old soccer legend – Pele, sold all the Viagra he could.

making “Bertie was a mastermind ofle.” tab for people feel com But this year the Celtic Tiger placed one foot in the grave, and our infinite wisdom and scepticism, coupled with political opportunism chased that tiger until its last foot gave way and we buried it six foot under the reports of our tribunals of enlightenment. Indeed it seems that the age old Irish tradition of expecting nothing but potato blight and invasion ensured that we grabbed what money we could, put it under the mattress and watched and waited until the economy faltered and proved all those pessimists right. That is why the Bertie era was so different. Regardless of our political persuasion, Bertie was a mastermind of making people comfortable. He was a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winters day. He brought warmth and security and a feeling of enormous well being, both as a nation and as an economy. But as always there is someone there to make you feel bad about the calories in your hot chocolate. Economists with a weight watchers way about them were determined to show us 14

that while Bertie was all comforting, he was setting us up for a life of diabetes and gangrene. So they rooted and rooted until they found what they were looking for, and they succeeded to remove from office the one thing that made us feel good about ourselves. While we were so wrapped up in proving that our golden boy was actually only wellpolished brass, the bankers cleaned up for themselves.

So Bertie is gone, and all we are left with is that gritty powder at the bottom of the mug. But what does it matter, we are young educated people with bright careers ahead of us. Well young we are, and we are better educated than most but does that guarantee a bright future. Looking at last weeks budget it does not seem so. Many tough decisions had to be made, decisions that may force students to brew their own alcohol from old library books and newspapers, in an effort to save enough money to pay the increased capitation fees. We may have to give up luxuries such as iPods and instead talk to the people sitting beside us on the bus. In the last ten years it became fashionable to buy expensive clothes that looked like they were twenty years old but were brand new. In the next ten we may be getting clothes handed down from our relations, which really are twenty years old. We may be back to drinking tea, a good Irish tradition, instead of drinking coffee with names I can’t remember let alone spell. We might learn to have conversations again, only because we wont be able to afford the latest computer games. In short, we may well be making a move from extreme wealth and comfort to being more like human beings, who communicate and pull together. Its ironic that we can thank ordinary, everyday old Bertie for wealth we could never have imagined, but we can thank the least social profession of all, the economists for a time of collective spirit and social responsibility. The man with the anorak created an Ireland where suits were standard issue. But the men in the suits may well have moved Ireland back to knitted jumpers and patched jeans.

CN.

Know Your Rights!

The Student Charter & Exam Regulations Know Your Rights- The Student Charter

The Rules they are a-Changin!

Did you know that DIT have a Student Charter that deals with things like the ‘level of service and standards of excellence we intend to provide for our students’ and it has a couple of interesting bits in it that all students should be aware of.

Watch this space for an update on the review of the General Assessment Regulations – the G.A.R.

1.. Getting enough notice of assignments etc The Charter specifically states that you can expect to get ‘details of an assignment at least 4 weeks before it is due to be handed in, clearly stating the criteria which will be used for assessment and the level of detail of feedback you can expect on it’ Not having enough time to properly complete assignments/essays etc seems to be a fairly widespread problem in DIT. But what’s worse is shortening deadlines without getting agreement from students and then penalising these students if they miss the deadline.

How exciting is that! Seriously, though every year we get hundreds of queries and complaints about exams/assessments - Appeals not succeeding, Rechecks not being allowed, compensation not being applied and lots more. Finally, after years of us giving out about inconsistencies in these rules and regulations DIT have started a review.

The Students’ Union will be actively involved in this process, making sure that the new set of Regulations are fair, unambiguous and easy to understand. We will be looking for feedback from students and will have an on-line feedback section on www.ditsu.ie. Class Reps will be asked for their class’s views also. If there’s any specific issue that you want us to address contact Tracey Flinter/Mary Scally at academicaffairs@ditsu.ie.

2. Getting feedback In Section 3 of the Charter, Student Life – Your Programme of Study it states that students can expect: ‘regular opportunities for discussion about your progress and appropriate studies advice.’ and also in relation to feedback on assignments : ‘your marked assignment back to you with feedback from the tutor within 4 weeks unless there is a good reason for this not to be possible.’

Here in the Students’ Union we know that this doesn’t always happen. We know of many students who’ve never got any kind of useful advice on their work and are told that marks for assignments are practically ‘Top Secret’. From time to time we hear horror stories from students who’ve even been refused their marks for assignments!

This is totally wrong and in breach of the Charter.

The Union have successfully intervened in many instances to sort out problems such as these. We can put pressure on lecturers to ensure that unreasonable deadlines are extended and that there are clear and unambiguous marking schemes available and understood by students.

: SAYS on all six U Z eps HIT esn’t

US

R Class ur class dovenor 0 6 3 o n r d ove ohoo! If yass Rep Co cers e t i u r offi rec . Wo e Cl We’vesites so farcontact ththe electesdu.ie main a Rep yete or emaildemic@dit u.ie have r your sit y – vpaca dent@dits su.ie fo Tracertin – presi rvices@dit Ma ot – vpse Derm

DITS

DIT promotes itself as a student-centred learning environment and we will work to make sure this is the reality for all our members.

We need you to be aware of your rights and to let us know when problems occur. So if you or your class are having problems with short deadlines, getting feedback or any aspect of your education you should contact Tracey Flinter, your Vice-President (vpacademic@ditsu.ie) who will get the matter dealt with.

The Student Charter can be downloaded from www.ditsu.ie or ask your Student Support Advisor in the SU office for a copy.

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Freshers in Pictures Were you there?

Freshers’ Week was a fantastic success, and it is fair to see that everyone that went to any of the 3 nights had a blast!

Were you there?

ENTS Update Your Unions Entertainment News...

RAG Week ‘09. . . it’s NOT that far away ya know. . .

Ok boys & girls, RAG Week ‘09 is set for the week of 9th March 2009. Put it in your diaries now and don’t say we didn’t tell ye early enough!

We’ve all sorts of weird and wonderful plans we’re looking at for the week. As usual we’re looking to step it up again this year so stay tuned to ditsu.ie and bebo.com/ditsu for all the info as soon as it’s available.

In the meantime there are, of course, a few things we’ll definitely be doing which we can give you the heads up straight away.

The Sponsored jump into the 40FT in Dun Laoghaire: YES we’re doing it again and NO we haven’t learned our lesson from the last 2 years. This one does exactly what it says on the tin. You get sponsored to jump into the freezing cold sea all in the name of this year’s charity, CONSOLE. We’ll put on buses to get ye there. We’ll have lifeguards to mind ye while there. We’ll have hot tea / coffee / soup to warm ye up after.

We’ll have buses to bring ye home. And ye’ll get a great sense of achievement from it, honest ye will! Once the feeling returns to your fingers and toes, of course. . . It’s a great way to launch the week and always raises a lot of cash for charity so get involved! Feel free to dress up for it too. We’ve had a few mad nutters over the last couple of years who’ve gone all out and done the deed in costume. Sponsorship cards are available now from your local SU. Come on! It’s great craic!

Sponsored Bungee Jump: The bungee will be back! Of course it will. Cost of the bungee is €100 per jump. €70 of that goes towards the cost of the jump and €30 goes straight to charity. Feel free to raise more than €100 – most people do. The record for one person stands somewhere just over €500 so aim high!

Sponsorship cards are available now from your local SU. Grab one and start hassling your nearest and dearest for a few quid. DEFINITELY hit them over the Christmas period. That’s where you’ll get your money off Aunties and Uncles and sweet old Grandad! It’s for a very worthy charity remember!

We’re always looking for people to get involved with RAG Week. We need people to collect money for charity around the city, we need people to help us organise events, we need people to raise a load of money in sponsorship, we need people to do random helping at late notice, we need people for ALL SORTS! Get in touch with us at events@ditsu.ie if you wanna be involved!

over DIT Students’ Union has just announced 2 massive gigs the next month or so. with Ye’ve been voting on bebo.com/ditsu and we’ve come up a be that Let ! others all above d the 2 acts ye said ye wante pay DO we site, BEBO the on poll a put we lesson to ye when attention to the results! So get on there and have your say! these We’ve been working hard over the last few weeks to put 1st of ghts highli the be to ise prom they shows together and that in Week ers Fresh ing includ ARE we yes, –and ter Semes out statement. These shows will top all of Freshers. Just check ... scoop big the for the opposite page out So, take note of the important details. Be SURE to check .. ation. inform T RTAN bebo.com/ditsu for the rest of the IMPO e> <nudg e> <nudg > <wink> <wink 14 18

DIT in Numbers

20,000+ Amount of Euros raised during last years RAG Week All the money went to Debra Ireland

DIT Students’ Union presents:

The Sawdoctors Cast your mind back (if you were lucky enough to be there. . . )to Tradfest ‘06. It was in Vicar St. The Saw Doctors were headlining. It was wicked and we even got to stage a sitdown protest at the end! If you weren’t fortunate enough to be at that one, then maybe you were at the BIG Bash last year where they rocked the place with an energy belying their advanced years. . .

Having just released a brand new single ‘About You Now’, which was (and maybe still is) No. 1 in the Irish charts, the Saw Doctors are most definitely still alive and very much kicking and we have them coming back just for you!

Monday 17th November – put it in your diary. It’s Simply, The Saw Doctors. They are playing the Button Factory (formerly the Templebar Music Centre) just for DIT. No support bands. No messing. Just 2 solid hours of Saw Doctors mayhem. With only 700 tickets available for this intimate show, they’re going to fly out the door so be sure to be there when they go on sale on Mon 3rd November from your local SU.

Their brand of Eurodance was infectious and you couldn’t help but get into it. It was bright and colouredy and happy and all very cheesey. We loved it!

Having played gigs for students in Limerick, Galway and Cork already this year and selling them out in record time, they’re now coming to Dublin just for DIT! It’s going to be an extra special Christmas show so come along and get into the festive spirit.

Doors // 8pm. Show at 9pm

Once they’re done we’re heading to the newest and best party spot in the city for the Official Saw Doctors After Party in Bondi @ Zanzibar. Remember Zanzibar on the quays?

Well same place – different story. It’s under new management. They’ve got THE craziest dance floor you’ll ever see – guaranteed!!

AND Monday night is party night in there.

Just bring along your ticket from the Saw Doctors gig and present it at the door for free entry. We’ll all be in there partying the night away.

So. . . your €15 gets you: The Saw Doctors (for less than half the price they are in the Olympia that same week) Entry to the After Party in Bondi @ Zanzibar (entry normally €10 on a Monday) A guaranteed night of fun!

There’ll be some free tickets and some signed goodies up for grabs on bebo.com/ditsu so come see us there!

The Vengaboys Who DOESN’T remember the Vengaboys?

With huge success in the late 1990s and early 2000s the Dutch Eurodance sensation had us all singing along to ‘Boom Boom Boom’ ‘We’re Going to Ibiza’ and ‘Up and Down’ among others. . .

Tickets // €15 from Union offices

Tickets are only €15. They’re playing the Olympia that same week and tickets are €34 people – we sh*t you not.

DIT Students’ Union presents:

The Vengabus is COMING!!!

Date // Monday 17th November

Date // Thursday 04th December Tickets // €15 from Union offices Doors // 9pm

throw their crazy light-up dance floor into the mix it promises to be some spectacle!!

Tickets are €15 and will be on sale from your local SU on Mon 10th November.

That’s cheaper than a lot of their other gigs in Ireland this year where demand WELL outstripped supply so be sure to be there early to grab yours. They won’t hang around for long.

So. . . your €15 gets you: A hot ticket to see one of the most memorable pop acts of the late nineties / early naughties!

There’ll be some free tickets and some signed goodies up for grabs on bebo.com/ditsu so come see us there!

Coz we’re sound like that!

Thursday 4th December is the date. We’re doing it in Bondi @ Zanzibar. Bondi will be extending their regular Tuesday and Wednesday night hospitality to us on the Thursday for one night only so it’s guaranteed to be the biggest party of this semester. When you

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Music Guide Your guide to the hottest acts...

Album Release:

Single Release:

Snow Patrol ‘A Hundred Million Suns’

Floyd Soul & The Wolf ‘Bottle of Blues’

Where // www.itunes.com How Much // €9.99c

Where // www.floydsoulandthewolf.com How Much // 99c Waterford rock band Floyd Soul And The Wolf release their second single ‘Bottle Of Blues’ nationwide this Friday October 17th.

The four-piece attracted national attention back in May, when they won The National Student Music Awards. This was promptly followed by the release of debut single ‘Give It A Chance’, and a nationwide tour taking in everywhere from Cork to Donegal, including a full-to-capacity show in Dublin.

Bottle Of Blues is set to establish the band as one of Ireland’s leading rock bands, and

when people such as Hotpress Magazine say “Floyd Soul & The Wolf play as if all our very lives depended on it, and when was the last time you could say that about any Irish band?”, who are we to doubt it?

Floyd Soul & The Wolf will be interviewed in the next issue of Toast as our second ‘The Band Done Good’ feature.

Single Release:

Duke Special ‘Sweet Sweet Kisses’ Where // www.itunes.com How Much // 99c Lyrically poetic and delicately decadent, Duke Special the enigmatic Belfast performer will release his new single Sweet Sweet Kisses on October 10th 2008. A nationwide tour has also been announced for November and December 2008.

Taken from the eagerly anticipated new album I Never Thought This Day Would Come, releasing on Universal Music Ireland on October 17th, Sweet Sweet Kisses is produced by Paul Wilkinson,who worked on the Duke’s previous Choice nominated

album Songs From The Deep Forest. The perfect taster for the new album release, Sweet Sweet Kisses features the RTE National Symphony Orchestra and will be available on CD single and download. Glowing with the Duke’s charisma and unique sound, the track is definitively Duke Special.

DIT in Numbers

2 Number of courses open to women students in DIT in 1897 yes ladies, if you wanted to study in DIT back in 1897 you would have been offered this dazzling array of courses to choose from... Commerce or Women’s Work which included such gems as dressmaking, cookery and laundry work! Yikes

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In a climate noisy with hip-hop, shiny R&B, bashful indie, and rockers who exploit grunge’s worst traits, Snow Patrol stand out as staggeringly straightarrow, playing spacious rafter-rock that practically begs to be loved. In fact, these Irishmen have only one real contemporary: Coldplay.

Both bands traffic in almost solicitously earnest anthems but come across as humbly as arena-friendly outfits possibly could. (Snow Patrol wear the humility crown alone, now that Coldplay design their own costumes.)

Perhaps emboldened by the success of 2006’s platinum Eyes Open -- home to the Grey’s Anatomy–bolstered “Chasing Cars” -- Snow Patrol don’t seem as beholden to big hooks (again, see Coldplay) on album five, but they still keep things likably grand. “Crack the Shutters” and the urgent “Please Just Take These Photos From My Hands” surge on skyscraping choruses, while a pair of winning ballads, “Set Down Your Glass” and “The Planets Bend Between Us,” defeat cheesiness with unabashed sincerity.

It’s a neat, rare trick. And after expertly delivering what’s expected, Snow Patrol ask for one minor indulgence: The final track, a 16-minute suite called “The Lightning Strike,” links three distinctly darker, more textured songs into one dramatic whole. It’s not a radical departure -- there’s no Kid A in their future -- but rather an engaging sidestep for a band that does triumphantly normal better than almost anyone.

Sports News spite of the 1-0 victory over Cyprus. He alluded to team selection (particularly the absence of Reid), lack of discipline when faced with set pieces and being dominated by a team, particularly in the second half, who were short some key players, as reasons for his onslaught.

A lot of what Dunphy said was correct but, first and foremost, football is a results business. When it is all said and done, Ireland won the football match 1-0. If we qualify for South Africa and look back over the results, we won’t remember that Ireland were at times outran, or that maybe Cyprus deserved a bit of luck. The history books will show three points gained, and I for one am not going to argue with that.

games “Six points from the next twoely ...” would set us up quite nic As it is, Ireland has seven points from their opening three games in the group. Bulgaria have three from the same number of games played. The two sides will square off against each other at Croke Park on 28th March. The month before will also see the Irish at home against group strugglers Georgia. If two victories are garnered at GAA Headquarters, then Trapattoni’s side will be 10 points clear of the Bulgarians, albeit with a game more played.

The Republic of Ireland are now well into the reign of Geovanni Trapattoni. Eddie Corr reviews the situation so far...

So, here we are. The leaves have started to fall, I can hear the distant sound of Christmas jingles in the air and can feel the icy fingers of Jack Frost tickling my neck. This invariably means that winter has arrived and that the Ireland football team has made another woeful start to a qualifying campaign. But wait… a quick look at the qualifying table for South Africa 2010 tells a different story.

Yes, winter is upon us, but Ireland have actually made their second best start to a qualifying campaign ever. Not since the heady days of 1987 have we accumulated so many points so early. And yet, there seems to be a degree of pessimism surrounding the team of late. The Andy Reid debate has gathered momentum and just won’t seem to go away. Even Trapattoni’s biggest advocates are starting to question his team selection policy.

Eamon Dunphy had his rant after Ireland’s recent victory over Cyprus.

It’s fair to say that Dunphy is passionate about the game of soccer, and made the claim that Trapattoni deserved ‘plenty of welly’ in

And with Trapattoni set to pit his new nations wits against his homeland Italy, who knows where this campaign could take us? Six points from the next two games would set us up quite nicely to ensure the play-off spot will be ours, and who knows, maybe Trap will be able to knock the Italians back into place. It is possible after all, just ask a certain Mr. Ray Houghton…

World Cup Qualifying Fixtures: 11th February 2009: Republic of Ireland v Georgia 28th March 2009: Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria 1st April 2009: Italy v Republic of Ireland 6th June 2009: Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland 5th September 2009: Cyprus v Republic of Ireland 10th October 2009: Republic of Ireland v Italy 14th October 2009: Republic of Ireland v Montenegro

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21 15

The Band Done Good...

Local Bands with a DIT connection

In the first of an occasional series we host a Q&A session with a local up-and-coming band with DIT connections. Quickly making a name for themselves on the Dublin scene thanks to their energenic shows and irresistable character, we give you: Ian I. Brow.

First up: Any DIT connections?

Daragh, our guitarist studied Applied Science in Kevin Street, Alan our drummer studied Environmental Resources Management and Spatial Planning in Bolton Street under the yoda like guidance of Henk Van Der Kamp, Shane our bass player studied cabinet making as part of his apprenticeship in Bolton Street all of which has been hugely benefical in our chosen careers as bands peoples. We therefore deserve to become the resident band for DIT because of these strong connections.

Where on earth did you get the name Ian I Brow?

Well, the band has a special interest in internet browsers and one day our mullet clad bass player stumbled upon an Intergrated Application Network Internet Browser. So IAN I BROW is an acronym of this and is obviously a brilliant name for a band.

Whats your most embarrassing musical influences growing up?

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Good question. Peter, our keyboard player had a soft spot for those magicians of the boyband era ‘EAST 17’. His favourite track was “stay now”. He can still be heard singing it in the shower from time to time. Mr. Guitar Daragh, maintains his embarassing influence with an undying love for ZZtop, in particular the 80’s crap period. He’s also trying to look like them now that he’s old enough but hasn’t quite pulled it off yet. Alan our drummer had a difficult phase where he wasn’t sure of his sexuality. He could be heard singing the hits of George Michael and Wham. John our man of the front also had a difficult period, where he thought he was a smurf for a considerable length of time with his favourite album being Fr. Abraham and the Smurfs. Shane our specilised furniture designer and bass player in his spare time grew up to the sounds of the one and only Gareth Brooks.

In his youth he wore the cowboy, red shirts and sang The Red Strokes at foroige.

Whats the best gig you’ve played to date?

Best Gig was when played for an S&M theme night which resulted in 3 members of the band, who volunteered, being tied up, spanked and seen to by Miss Gooch and Giggle.

Whats the worst gig you’ve played to date?

Worst gig was when we became a showband to make loads of money and 6 people came to the hall. All 6 were mates.

Your most rock and roll moment to date?

We love to make the effort and dress up for our gigs.We played a

John vocals

Darrargh guita

Peter boards

biker rally recently. We decided it would be good idea to dress up as women and make those fat hairy bikers drool. It was hilarious to see fully grown men dancing to hits from the 90’s such as ‘no limits’ and ‘ride on time’.

Alan

Shane b ass

drums

Hardest thing about being in a band?

We find sober moments particulary hard to come by.

Best thing about being in a band?

Performing and free beverages.

Whats the band up to at the moment?

We’re currently playing every Friday and Saturday night in Whelans along with anywhere that’ll have us, we’re also off to Italy and America in January. On top of this we have a traditional group called ‘Whiskey you’re the Divil’ who play every thursday in the Celt on Talbot st. and Sunday in Cassidys on Westmooreland street.

Where will the band be in 5 years time?

Happily married and settled down with a springerspaniel dog and a white picket fence.

Need to know more? Simply visit bebo.com/ ianibrow to catch up on all the latest news...

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DIT Socs News Latest Societies Updates...

Societies A-Z:

Hi there, My name is Bob Ó Mhurcú and I’m DIT’s new Mature Student Support Officer. I’m a former mature student myself (at another college in Dublin which shall remain nameless, sorry), so I’ve plenty of experience in the field. I’ve just started here in DIT and I’m eager to get out there and meet any mature students that are attending (or thinking about attending) any of the DIT campuses. The Mature Student Support Officer position is brand new here in DIT and our mission is simple; to provide support and advice in any way that we can to our growing mature student population.

I’m here to answer any questions that you may have about the course you’re taking (or are considering taking), as well as any other queries you have about financial issues, grants, course fees, accommodation, crèche facilities, counselling, workshops, in fact any issues that concern you as a mature student. It’s often difficult leaving the working or family environment to return to full-time education, so I’m here to help with the transition. I’ll be holding regular clinics throughout the year in association with Campus Life, covering the areas of time-management, study techniques and much more. If you have a specific area where you need help, feel free to let me know and I’ll do my utmost to assist you!

“I’ve also recently restarted the DIT Mature Students Society” This newly-resurrected society is working in conjunction with the support service to offer mature students a forum where you can meet other mature students, discuss your experiences, get to know each other and help to improve your experience as a mature student here in DIT. While the society is being started up by the Mature Student Support Service, ultimately the reins will be turned over to you, the students, whenever you feel ready for the challenge. Societies are run for the students and by the students; they’re an excellent outlet for networking and should be taken full advantage of! DIT has an excellent support structure for societies also; there’s money available to help fund all manner of activities throughout the year.

You can find me at 163-167 Lower Rathmines Road, behind the Music & Drama Conservatory, and you can get a hold of me at my office at (01) 402 7658. or at ms.info@dit.ie.

I’ll be making regular visits to all campuses around the city, so if you can’t get to Rathmines, I’ll get to you instead.

Watch this space!

DIT in Numbers

200,000 Number of books in the DIT library collections Give or take..We’re not counting them again!

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80\’s Soc Adventure Soc Art and film society Art Music Soc Artichoke Arts Appreciation ASA BAM Soc Bio Society Biomedical Bookfast Society Break Dance Society CAFA Christian Union CIOBS Clinical measurement Comedy CSSA Cumann Gaelach Dance Design Society DJ Soc Drama Drama AST Drama BST Drama KST Drama MJS Dramacbs DYS EMP Society Engineering soc Environment Soc Environmental health Fashion Foreign Explorer Soc Freestyle Soccer Society Game Soc Kst Games Geomatics GIG soc Guitar Soc Intercambio Society International Students Society Irish Landmarks Society Islamic Italian Society Jenga soc Jugglers Labour youth Law Leisure Management LGBT Logistics MAD Soc maintenance soc Masters/post grad Mature Student Media Society Mental Planners Movie Soc Music Ensemble MuSoc NetSoc News Society Nutrition Optics Paintball BST Paintball Cbst Paintball KST Physics Society Poker bst Post Grad Soc PR Print Media Production Society Radio Reject Muzakel Salsa and latin soc Sign Society Sinn Fein Socialist Workers Societies of DIT Societies Office Soul patrol Soul Patrol Student Volunteering Society SUAS Society SVP The Over Exposed Society Theatre Musical Society TRACK Soc Tracks Transportbst TT society Yams soc Young Art and Music Society Young Fine Gael

For details on any of the above societies call into your local Union office or contact: James (Northside Societies) james.costello@dit.ie 01 402 4142. Office in Bolton St. Teri (Southside Societies) teri.oboyle@dit.ie 01 402 3172 Office in Aungier St.

DIT Sports News Rugby News We in the DIT Rugby Club had our AGM at the end of May and we came to the conclusion that the club is expanding in the right direction. We had a Freshers team and one Senior team but with the help of the sports department and the hard work of our committee members we are trying to expand this season to two Senior men’s teams and one Freshers team. Along with this we set up a Ladies rugby team to represent the college for the very first time.

Our Senior team won the All Ireland Title this year. We have currently one member of the team on the Irish U20s, where he played against the All Blacks in the Youth Rugby World Cup. We also have a number of U20 Inter Provincial players from Leinster and Ulster in our squad.

We will be in colleges around the country in the first division of the Colleges League. This will include both Northern and Southern

DIT Rugby Presents:

colleges in Ireland. As DIT is in the centre of Dublin this is also a great reason to join our team. In winning the All Ireland title last season we believe that our Club is the best team to join.

As you can see from our ad we have a big day out coming up in Croke Park so please come along for the craic and freebies. I hope this explains what DIT Rugby Club is all about. I am very excited and am passionate about this club and believe it’s a great thing to be involved with.

We in DIT Rugby Club are looking forward to another successful and exciting year ahead and we would love to have you on board.

If you have any further quires please feel free to contact me by emailseanycam@hotmail.com

Sean

Autumn International Test Match Packages Croke Park, 22nd Nov. 2008 Match Day Package Exclusive Offer brought to you by DIT Rugby Club • Return Coach from Shine Bar to Croke Park • After Match Promotion @Shine Bar Hill 16 Standing Ticket - Price € 65.00 Davin Stand Seated Ticket – Price € 95.00

Call now on 01 475 5010 and ask for Paul or Francis Terms & Conditions: Offer Exclusive to DIT Student number will be required at the time of booking, Maximum of 4 tickets per booking Tickets will be distributed on the day of the match in the Shine Bar @ 11AM SHARP

Offer is valid while stocks last and is on a first come first served basis.

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Fashion for the Street Autumn Style...

Main Image: Black dress - €8 Gold Buckle - €5

Opposite Page: [Top-left] Skirt - €5 Cami - €3 Shoes - €3 Basil Bear courtesy of T. Bear & Co. Stephens Green SC

[Top-right] Shirt - €5 [Bottom] Purple dress - €25 Leopard print scarf - €3 Black cardi - €7 All featured clothes from WaWa

Photography: Maebh Horan-Murphy

Stylist: Una O’ Boyle

Model: Mairead McManamon 26

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Major Protests throughout history Seeing as this is our ‘Protest’ issue it seemed only right to have a look at some other major protests that rocked the world.

Eve Donnelly casts the rule...

Paris 1968

May 1968 is the name given to a series of student protests and a general strike that caused the eventual collapse of the De Gaulle government in France. The vast majority of the protesters espoused left-wing causes The De Gaulle government administration attempted to quash the strikes by further police action and only inflamed the situation further, leading to street battles with the police on the Parisian streets.

May ‘68 is generally seen as a political failure for the protesters, but it had an enormous social impact. In France, it is considered to be the watershed moment that saw the replacement of conservative morality (religion, patriotism, respect for authority) with the liberal morality (equality, sexual liberation, human rights) that dominates French society today.

“The moment that saw the replacement of conservative morality with liberal morality.”

Derry 1972

Infamously known as Bloody Sunday. On the 30th January 1972, 26 civil rights protesters were shot by members of the 1st British Parachute Regiment during a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association protest in the Bogside area of the city. Thirteen people died that day, seven of whom were teenagers. Many witnesses including bystanders and journalists testified that all those shot were unarmed and five of those wounded were shot in the back.

This sort of violence was commonplace during the Troubles on both sides of the sectarian divide, what set this particularly protest aside was the presence of journalists and photographers. It was one of the first times that violence against civil rights protesters was properly demonstrated to a worldwide audience.

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t “Many witnesses testified tha and ed rm all those shot were una re shot five of those wounded we in the back.”

Tiananmen Square 1989

Following the death of political and social reformer, Hu Yaobang there was a series of small scale protests in and around Tiananmen Square in the Chinese city of Beijing led by labour activists, students, and academics. The participants were generally against the harsh political regime and the authoritarianism it espoused.

“Death tolls ranged from 2000-3000.”

These protests lasted seven weeks until tanks appeared in Tiananmen Square on 4th June 1989. The resulting military response to the protesters by the government left many civilians dead or injured. The reported death tolls ranged from 200–300 (government figures) and to 2,000–3,000 (Chinese student associations and the Chinese Red Cross figures).

One of the most powerful images of the 20th century was captured by photographer Jeff Widener, the photograph ‘Tank Man’. The photo depicts a lone protester who halted a column of advancing tanks for more than half an hour, despite efforts no one has ever been able to establish who this individual was or what his eventually fate was, many believe he became one of ‘the dissappeared’ .

Mexico Olympics 1968

African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos performed the Power to the People salute at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City while on the podium after winning first and third place (consecutively) in the 200 metre race. The US athletes received their medals shoeless, but wearing black socks to present black poverty. Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent black pride. Carlos had his tracksuit top unzipped to show solidarity with all blue collar workers in the US. Australian athlete Peter Norman, who won second place, joined the two US athletes in wearing Olympic Project for Human Rights badges.

“Black America will understand what we did tonight.”

When The Star-Spangled Banner played, Smith and Carlos delivered the salute with heads bowed, a gesture which became front page news around the world. As they left the podium they were booed by the crowd. Smith later said “If I win, I am American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight”.

Columbia University 1968

The violent protests of students events were triggered by the planned construction of a gymnasium in Morningside Park after decades of neighborhood neglect on the part of the university. Other issues, such as the university’s entanglements with the US government and the Vietnam War, played a contributing role. Students staged sit-ins and occupied university buildings for weeks. The police clashed not only with protesters, but with faculty members and students who had not agreed with the occupations but were angry about the heavy handedness of the police on campus. Over 700 students were arrested and many passive spectators were injured by the police.

The campus descended into chaos, class suspended for nearly a week because of clashes between police and protesters. In the end, many of the students’ demands were met.

It took decades for the university to restore its image.

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Dear Abby Your very own agony Aunt answers all...

Dear Abby, My girlfriend is short-tempered, uncooperative, mean, cries without warning, uninterested in sex and really scary. I heard something about a mental pause, could this be it?

Yours, Scared Shitless Dear Shitless,

Yours unbelievingly Abby Dear Abby, I’ve had a few problems the last couple of days. My computer broke down during the summer and well I sent it in to get it fixed, and I got it back Monday, supposedly fixed. So I’m like yay, I can write my paper at home on my laptop. So I wrote my paper, and I took it to my desk to go print it off yesterday afternoon, and my computer went black, it died, nothing, just like before, I

Yours, Academic Dear (so ironic its hilarious) ‘Academic’, I think its fair to say if you spent more time working on this infamous project you lost’ and less time whinging to me you might be having a more ‘lucky day...maybe? And by the way, luck is relative! And it IS your fault, by a usb key like a normal person! And if your well stuck on these academic issues check out www.ditsu.ie/academic and maybe find someone there who ACTUALLY cares!

Yours it’s-time-for-lunch, Abby

DITSU S HITZU

This is a work of fiction and any resemblance between the characters and persons living or dead is purely coincidental, a little scary and more than a little unfortunate. The author shall not be responsible for any damages or loss of earnings arising from the ability or the inability to understand the humour in this article. Some assembly may be required. Do not read while operating a motor vechicle or heavy equipment.Keep away from small children.

Unless she’s hitting 50 then I don’t think menopause (or mental-pause as you so aptly coined it) is the problem here. Have you stopped to think the reason she’s in such a fouler is because of you? I mean no woman wants going out with a wuss and frankly your not exactly brimming with testosterone there mate are you? Try the old fail safes first: chocolate, surprise gifts and gestures, encouraging her to talk about her feelings? If all those fail I think its time to admit that you are frankly not good enough for this woman and it you TRULY care about her you will set her free to find someone who deserves her.

called up there and they told me that they couldn’t do anything for me and that I had to send it back in! But I thought that I had learned my lesson and saved habitually on a CD. However, my computer died before I actually ejected the CD, and when it is ejected is when the information formats so it can be read on other computers. So if I put the disc into a different computer, my paper comes up as a serious of lines and symbols.

So therefore, paper gone! … I’ve had a run of bad luck handing in assignments, my dog ate a previous paper and I was briefly abducted by aliens last year making it impossible to hand in some assignments. There’s this one lecturer is now say he will not accept any more excuses.

It’s not my fault I’m really unlucky about this stuff. I need your help!.

SAYS: Compiling y the help Iour magazine can b can get is greatly aep ruff work! All preciated If you fan . c ever youywwriting some arti cles, abou ant. then t get in tou ch with uwshatOr maybe . you run a your lates t news. Tchlub or society, sen is is YOUR d magazinues on ! toast@dits u.ie

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The low-down on what the Union are REALLY up to... by: S. Quealer

Over the 22 years of service, we, the long suffering Students’ Union have been falsely accused of being and doing many things, we’ve had our name taken in vain, we’ve been misunderstood and misquoted and so – it’s time to come clean, fess up and dispel the rumours, myths and misinformation about the SU that abound on forums, sns sites, that bastion of journalistic excellence The Spanner and the best social barometer of all - toilet doors -sniff .

So - Here’s the skinny on the SU – The Students’ Union receives 21% of your capitation fee each year.

We do not spend your money on bands, gigs, pot noodles, freebies or silly stuff.

We do not spend your money on making ourselves look good (that’s all our own work) We do spend your money on providing services for you. The majority of the budget goes to running and staffing the

offices on 5 sites, 5 days a week so the door is always open for you. (No, we presently do not have enough staff to open in the evenings for the part timers but we’re working on that too).

We do spend your money on producing,printing and delivering the info you need, when you need it throughout the year. (posters, mags, newsletters, website.)

We do spend your money on organising RAG Week, (equipment, transport, insurance etc) as this makes us able to raise lots and lots of money for the charity which is chosen by you each year.

We do spend your money on SU Elections in March because the democratic election of new Officers to work in the Union fulltime for the year on your behalf is the most important thing we do.

Who you vote in for next year is entirely up to you so make sure you’re informed.

If you want to know more, need something clarified or are interested in running for next year’s elections – call into any SU office or email info@ditsu.ie

Myth Two: ‘The SU spend all their money on crappy nights out’ The good folks in Bolton St SU are working their little fingers to the bone to provide you with nights out. Now, with 22,000 odd students it’s impossible to please everyone so I’m not accepting crappy....... Every SU night out and ball has been sold out this year and there’s been no complaints – in fact the opposite. Every one was a rip roaring success and we could have sold lots more. Those guys on page 16 look like they’re havin a good time.....

More importantly through ticket sales and sponsorship every SU ball, gig or campus entertainment pays for itself. We do not spend our SU budget on ents.

Unless you buy a ticket those ents cost you a grand total of nothing... and if you think they’re all crappy anyway you could just not go or you could email Dermot at vpservices@ditsu.ie and suggest something less crappy ... so there!!!!

Myth One: ‘The SU elections are rigged’ Well we’re good at the old sleight of hand but even Derren Brown himself couldn’t manage to rig the DITSU election – if we were any more open and transparent we’d be arrested for exposing ourselves! Here’s how it works 1. Any registered student of DIT can run for election. If you want the job you nominate yourself.

2. The Union takes no part in the campaigning. We provide equal practical help to each candidate but if you nominate yourself you pick your own team and run your own campaign 3. The positions are advertised 3 months in advance of the Elections so everyone has time to consider running for the jobs available. The Union has no say in who runs for election. (so much for the puppetmaster conspiracy) .

4 You vote in the March Elections in the most public areas of DIT, on a numbered ballot paper, which is put into a sealed ,locked, witnessed and dated ballot box (no less).

5. The sealed boxes are opened in full view of a couple of hundred onlookers and passers by and the ballot papers counted in front of everyone.

Alternate years counts are on the stage in Aungier St or Bolton St..Onlookers are encouraged to come up and make sure they are in fact real metal boxes and real ballot papers and that the bunny has definitely disappeared.

6. The SU election follows the Irish general elections rules to a tee (if not a tad better – even if we do say so ourselves . All ballot papers are kept in storage so if you don’t believe me feel free to drop in and recount them.

Yup – that’s well cloak and dagger alright.....

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tea @ ditsu.ie Your all-new website

Much and all as we would like to, sometimes we can’t cram as much as we would like onto our slice of Toast.

And that’s where a nice big cuppa Tea comes in. Tea is a whole section of our new website dedicated to the wierd and wonderful, and always with an eye for your entertainment.

Because college isn’t all about study you know...

Come and see what’s Freshly Brewed...

Movies that you should see but might not get the chance if it weren’t for me

I listen to bands that don’t even exist yet, and I prefer their early stuff...

Union movies that we host on the always fabulous youtube...

The Ultimate, Totally Necessary, so-goodyou-must-read-this A-Z of Student Life...

Our resident Movie Buff gives the low down on movies that you just haven’t been cool enough to have seen... until now!

Our music guru is considered the next Dave Fanning. Compliment or not, this guy certainly knows his music, and has decided to share his knowledge.

From Freshers’ events, fees protest and class rep training.

It’s all there, in one easy to find section. Now, can you pass the popcorn please?

From Accommodation all the way to ZZZZZZ... Read up on some tips for how you can have an easier student life.

First genre up: Sci-Fi

First up: Obscure Side Projects

Nominate your faves

‘S’ is for...

www.ditsu.ie/tea 32

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to volunteer, and there are numerous ways to get involved.

Just drop into your local SU, Societies or Careers office for more details. www.ditsu.ie - www.dit.ie