Galway Advertiser 2004/2004_10_07/GA_0710_E1_040.pdf 

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40 N E W S

Galway Advertiser

October 7 2004

LEVEL
The message of the GMIT SU safety campaign couldn't be clearer. It's called `Don't Walk Home Alone'. How many nights have you thought "I'll be grand" or "I couldn't be bothered waiting for a taxi"? At the time it seems like a great idea, but the reality is it's dangerous and no matter how broke you are it's not worth the risk. A third year student from GMIT was attacked and raped in the area near The Huntsman last Thursday night. It wasn't even that late 10.30pm. But the reality is, danger can strike at any time. The Don't Walk Home Alone campaign has been running in the college for four years now and the message has hardly ever seemed as pertinent as this week. Mike Durkan, SU president in GMIT implores students to walk home in groups or to take advantage of the several taxi schemes the SU have organised. A list of taxi companies who have agreed a standard fare is available in the SU offices. This allows you to budget for a taxi on a night out.

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Sinead McGovern with the latest in Galway's student news -- smcgovern@galwayadvertiser.ie or (091) 530926

Welcome back to Level 3 - the Galway Advertiser's round-up of news from GMIT and NUIG.

After attack, GMIT warns students to stay safe
If that plan fails and your wallet is empty at the end of the night head for Car a Cabs on Eyre Square - it accepts student ID cards in lieu of payment. They keep it until you bring in the fare, and if you can't afford it right away the cards will be delivered to the SU and you can pay for it when you have the money. On Tuesday the SU will also be giving out FREE personal alarms in the cafe foyer. These sell for 5 in the SU shop, so avail of the offer while you can. They are compact but very loud, and would work wonders to dissuade any unwanted advances. Self defence classes are also running for just 2 a session. These measures are quite extensive and recognition must be given to the GMIT SU for offering so many safety incentives to its students. But it's up to you to take it on board and avail of it all. The danger of violence or sexual attacks is not something we like to think about - but the threat is real. Take action and protect yourself. Full details are available from the SU office now.
David Kitt performing at The NUI Galway Students' Union organised concert at the O'Flaherty Theatre on campus, Tuesday night. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

Star studded non-alcohol event line up for NUIG
A performance from singer songwriter David Kitt marked the opening of NUIG's Students' Union new initiative `Tuesday Night Ents' on Tuesday night. The aim? To provide students' with an alcohol free entertainment option. The step was taken by the SU, with assistance from the Student Project Fund, to facilitate students who don't drink and of course those still too young to drink. All the gigs will be held in the O'Flaherty Theatre at prices which will, on average, be cheaper than a cover charge to see the same artist anywhere else. The attaining of the O'Flaherty Theatre was actually somewhat of a coup for the union, as it has been a number of years since similar events were staged there as it was deemed `unsuitable for such purposes'. With capacity in the O'Flaherty Theatre at around 350, they also stand to make considerable less from the events than if they were held in the bar, which has a capacity of around 700. But the avoidance from alcohol is the point. Association with night clubs and pubs in town has also been cut to a minimum and tickets for night clubs are not sold on campus anymore. "Over the years drinking and having fun have become synonymous with one another. These events are being run to show students that they don't need to drink to enjoy themselves. It also caters for students who are underage or those who have made a decision not to drink," said Aine Kelly, welfare officer with the NUIG SU. The line up is as follows; October 12 Dara O'Briain, October 19 The Walls, November 2 Colin Murphy, November 9 Mundy, and November 16 Des Bishop. The cover charge for all events is 10, with the exception of Mundy which will be 15. All tickets are available from the SU.

What will replace the travel shop in NUIG?
Nine months after the Travel Shop in NUIG was closed, the unit it once occupied remains empty. The Travel Shop, for the benefit of first years, was located beside the bookshop under the library. It was where most students booked their JI Visa, and travel offers in the window left many lusting after faraway lands while enroute to the shop from the reading room. It was closed by the in January due to irreconcilable losses - in 2002 alone it made losses exceeding 100,000. SU president at the time, Tony McDonnell, was reluctant to close the SUrun business after 34 years in operation but factors such as September 11 and an increase in Internet flight bookings made the business enviable. Meanwhile nine months later it remains empty. Current SU president Paddy Reilly says that he is in negotiations with a business (that will thus far remain nameless) to occupy the unit. It is expected that something will be in place by the end of this month. Watch this space for further details..!

The Scoop
BY CLARE MC AULIFFE Padhraig Campbell, a campaigner against the proposed 200m gas terminal at Bellanaboy in north Mayo, spoke at a public meeting at NUI Galway last Wednesday, September 29. The meeting was hosted by NUI Galway Ecology Society. The Corrib Gas Development is a project in which a number of international oil companies including Shell, Statoil and Marathon Oil are proposing to exploit a large gas reserve off the north Mayo coast. The venture would involve the construction of an onshore gas terminal at Bellanaboy. Permission for the development has been granted by Mayo County Council, however, it has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala by a number of residents and environmental groups. Appellant, Padhraig Campbell, stated:

First year students Jennifer Regan, Jackie Duggan, and Michelle McLoughlin waiting for the doors to open at the David Kitt gig on campus, on Tuesday night. The concert was organised by the NUI Galway Students' Union and was an alcohol free event. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

Bit and bobs - News from other cities around the country, including Derry, Waterford, and Castlebar, showed that the Dirty Sanchez experience was no better anywhere else than it was here in Galway during GMIT Freshers Week. Crowds were similiarly dissatisfied elsewhere, but refunds may not have been as forthcoming! As it stands 33 people have yet to reclaim their cover charge from the Black Box gig. Refunds are available only from point of purchase ... The timetable for this year's conferrings in NUIG is now available. Monday October 18 is Arts, Tuesday October 19 is also Arts, Wednesday is Commerce and Law, Thursday is Science, Friday Engineering and Law. For full details see www.su.nuigalway.ie ... Clubs and Socs day took place in GMIT yesterday but if you missed it you can still sign up! Pop into the GMIT SU or the sports officer (who is located in the sports building) for more information ...The NUIG website www.sin.ie is still down - six weeks after being taken down for a face lift - but communications and campaign officer with NUIG SU Eoin Grealis says he is on the case, and www.sin.ie should be back, with a few alterations, in the coming weeks ... Romanian icon paintings on wood and glass by Romanian based Mihai Cucu and Zsuzsannah Mara will be on display in NUIG for the next number of weeks. The launch of the exhibition Icon-door to Eternity will be opened on Monday at 5.30pm in the University Art Gallery. ... And don't forget to grab your free personal alarm in GMIT nest Tuesday!

"Environmentally it would be an ecological disaster to allow the development to proceed as planned. The construction of a massive refinery inland is unprecedented anywhere else in the world." Mr Campbell questioned the logic of building the gas terminal inland as opposed to out at sea. He explained that untreated, odourless gas would have to be transported five miles inland at high pressure. The gas would be transported in pipelines running underneath a known landslide zone and close to people's homes. He stated: "This adds to the danger for people who live in the area, should there be a rupture in the pipes. "My hope and the hope of the people up here is that the Bord will see that this is not the proper area to handle this gas." The decision by An Bord Pleanala is expected at the end of October. The Scoop is contributed to Level 3 by the MA journalism class in NUIG.

Fancy some free food?
It's a silly question really, who wouldn't like a meal for nothing? And the good news is, it's never been easier! The Cellar Bar on Eglinton Street has a great offer running for students at the minute. To be in with a chance to win a meal for four people all you have to do is go into the bar on Thursday night wearing a jersey (any kind of jersey!) and fill out a form. Each week a meal for four will be given away. It's hardly tough! The Cellar Bar is open till 2am on Thursdays with a live band and DJ to entertain, so why not give it a go. On the day time menu are quesidillas, fish and chips, lovely sandwiches and loads more. Sound good? Why not give it a go...

Have you any news from your college? Is there enough room in the library? Are the meals in the canteen fit for consumption? If you have any news, be it good or bad, drop me a line at smcgovern@galwayadvertiser.ie or call me at (091) 530900.