University
Express
Volume 24 | Issue 7 | Tuesday 16th February 2021
“The system as it currently stands fails to provide even the most basic information to adopted people, such as their family medical history.” - Pg 10 -
UCCExpress.ie
“Each guest brings a fascinating narrative with them, a narrative that may not have previously received a platform like the podcast.” - Pg 18 -
“‘Sports washing’ is the term used in nation states using sport as a means of legitimacy and providing an alternative view of their regime through sporting prowess” - Pg 40 -
UCC SETS TONE FOR NEW YEAR WITH BYSTANDER INTERVENTION WEEK Officer Jamie Fraser shared his personal experience of making an intervention, highlighting the real-life application of the skills learned during the module. “I encountered a situation myself during the summer - thankfully after doing the training - and very successfully used Bystander to intervene during a sexual assault,” the UCCSU Officer said, “Ever since then I’ve realised how important it was and how powerful it is to do something as simple as taking a couple of hours out of your day to do something as productive as [taking the module].”
Writes Maeve McTaggart, News Editor The first week of the new semester was this year ushered in with the university’s inaugural Bystander Intervention Week: an effort to celebrate active bystanders in the UCC community and increase their number. The campaign adapted to Covid-19 restrictions and went virtual, hosting events, workshops and conversations to empower students and achieve a zero tolerance culture of
sexual violence and harrassment at UCC. UCC is leading out on the development of the programme at higher education institutions across the country, the first also to mark its presence with a campus-wide initiative like that of Bystander Intervention Week. “Everyone has a role to play in preventing relationship and sexual violence,” the module reads, offering two paths to take upon witnessing abusive behaviour: “you can choose to be an active bystander and make an intervention, or alternatively, walk past.” Through 4 online workshops and
Detailing his experience over livestream on Instagram, Jamie explained the “gut feeling” he had when observing an increasingly hostile incident in the local area: “Whenever you get that feeling it’s always worth looking into.” He highlighted the ways in which the module gave him the insight into how to be an Active Bystander, how to know when someone might be in trouble and how to surmount the potential barriers to intervention - such as fearing retaliaone discussion-based live workshop, tion or the reaction of other bystanders. the module seeks to equip students with the skills needed to make an inter- Jamie shared the feeling of doubt he at vention and prevent sexual violence. first felt when encountering the situation, reluctant to believe someone was Over the course of the week, the virtual capable of perpetrating such an act on campaign took advantage of the digital a sunny, summer day. “My brain was space and facilitated the creation of a vir- trying to convince me the whole time it tual mural, comprised of artwork by staff wasn’t happening. By doing Bystander, and students inspired by the message I was able to channel [that gut feeling] #ItStopsNow. An Instagram takeover of and recognise that this does happen, the official @universitycollegecork page and you have to look at it no matter marked the importance of meeting stu- how much you don’t want to believe it.” dents where they are: on social media. Through the platform, UCCSU Welfare Cover Story continued on page 3....