Last week, Maynooth students voted overwhelmingly to rejoin the Union of Students in Ireland with a whopping 74.2% voting YES. In the second part of the Referendum, students also voted yes to a three year trial period in which NUIM will use the time to see if membership of USI is worthwhile.
The landslide Yes vote proves that the Yes campaign did a very excellent job in coming up with the facts (and benefits) that USI will bring to Maynooth, but what are these for those that do not know? We all know that it adds €5 to our registration fee but for that we receive:
1. National Representation: On issues such as Fees, registration fees and grants, Irish students are far stronger with a unified voice under the banner of USI. It gives us access to resources, information and money that as lone universities we would never be able to obtain. NUIM Su would be unable to present such a strong and coherent voice on its own.
2. Sabbatical Training: USI provides expert training and advice to SU sabbatical officers who enter a job they have never done before. Their opponents are a well established and strong bureaucracy. USI therefore gives each Students Union, and the students it represents the opportunity to not be overwhelmed by the university system and allows its SU representatives to work for the students and not against them.
3. Campaigns: USI will provide materials for various campaigns such as SHAG Week, Mental Health Week etc and other campaigns that Irish students are involved in. This is all free of charge and each Union does not lose its own autonomy in the running of these campaigns.
While USI membership holds various other advantage to Irish Students, it does not impose any of its views on the individual students. While the NO campaign used scare tactics that were by far pathetic and petty, Maynooth happily saw through the farce and embraced the entering into a National Union.
This Observer, like many students of NUI Maynooth look forward to working with and being a member of USI and may we strife towards a fairer and better life for University Students nationwide. May Maynooth be an example for those few remaining outside USI that a national Union is the only way for a strong voice for every student. I look forward to the coming weeks.
Please feel free to give your own views and opinions on USI. The address as always is
studentobserverireland@gmail.com
-Juvenal
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
This week in the Observer
Hey folks,
This week in the Student Observer we hope to have an exciting number of posts and articles coming your way.
We will be having the final of our USI articles on what USI will mean for Maynooth students now that we are members.
Election Fallout. The winners, the losers and will the new Union live up to the hype that has been made during the campaign.
Election Reform. Can changes be made to the election process and will the incomming Union Exec look at possible reforms.
We are also working on aquiring some big interviews which will be posted during the week along with looking at improving, updating and expanding our operation.
Stay tuned folks. Your input as always is encouraged so feel free to contact us on our email at
studentobserverireland@gmail.com
Yours,
-Juvenal
This week in the Student Observer we hope to have an exciting number of posts and articles coming your way.
We will be having the final of our USI articles on what USI will mean for Maynooth students now that we are members.
Election Fallout. The winners, the losers and will the new Union live up to the hype that has been made during the campaign.
Election Reform. Can changes be made to the election process and will the incomming Union Exec look at possible reforms.
We are also working on aquiring some big interviews which will be posted during the week along with looking at improving, updating and expanding our operation.
Stay tuned folks. Your input as always is encouraged so feel free to contact us on our email at
studentobserverireland@gmail.com
Yours,
-Juvenal
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Inside Sport: Sigerson Cup Final 2010
While disappointing as it was that NUIM were defeated in yesterdays semi-final we can at least say that we were beaten by the Sigerson Cup Champions. DCU lined out today against The Red and Black Buccaneers of UCC at Liexlip GAA Park earlier today.
DCU started brightly with four points unanswered by a slow to start UCC. It wasn't until the 15th minute that UCC finally got on the board. The DCU midfield and offense linked well together while their defense was like a sponge, absorbing everything UCC threw at them.
On the 20 minute mark, UCC finally got on the board again after a Barry O'Driscoll free. DCU, who had opened so brightly in the early minutes of the game seemed to lose the tightness in their opening minutes and seemed to panic with the midfield losing it for some time, giving in scrappy balls to the forward line. However UCC were also scrappy in their tackling and a free for the Northsiders in the 25th minute put DCU to 5 points while another free two minutes later saw their lead stretch once again to four points. Before half time, UCC got one back bringing the scores after 30 minutes to DCU 0-6 UCC 0-3.
The second half opened brightly for DCU with a quick score. However the Cork men wasted no time in responding with a fine free from O'Driscoll who was in good kicking form for UCC all day. on 37 minutes, Roscommon man Cathal Cregg put DCU to 8 and a pass from David Kelly to Paddy Andrews was well saved by the Cork keeper shortly after.
The only goal of the game came shortly after when man of the match Brian Sheridan blasted the ball into the net while the UCC defense crumbled around him. UCC rallied however and replied with three fine scores without reply to bring the game to 1-08 to 0-08 at the 45 minute mark.
DCUs Paul Flynn answered the Corks scores but Mark Collins brought the game once again to three scores as we entered the final 10 minutes of normal time.
At this point DCUs dominance was beginning to wane and tired legs were appearing in the Dubliners side with some shoddy tackling bringing about a number of yellow cards. Cork too were scrappy and pulled down Sheridan in the box for a penalty kick which he converted for the point. This was followed by an excellent score by David Kelly after a long period of DCU holding onto the ball and passing across the pitch. Kelly, who had had an excellent game against Maynooth yesterday seemed eager to get on the score sheet and this fine kick was a great example of what he can do.
A last minute goal attempt by UCC caused some scare however an excellent save by the DCU keper deflected it for a point just before the final whistle and DCU returning the Sigerson to the Northside for the first time since 2006 and only the second time in their history.
Final Score: DCU 1-11 UCC 0-10
Man of the Match: Brian Sheridan (DCU)
-Pangloss
DCU started brightly with four points unanswered by a slow to start UCC. It wasn't until the 15th minute that UCC finally got on the board. The DCU midfield and offense linked well together while their defense was like a sponge, absorbing everything UCC threw at them.
On the 20 minute mark, UCC finally got on the board again after a Barry O'Driscoll free. DCU, who had opened so brightly in the early minutes of the game seemed to lose the tightness in their opening minutes and seemed to panic with the midfield losing it for some time, giving in scrappy balls to the forward line. However UCC were also scrappy in their tackling and a free for the Northsiders in the 25th minute put DCU to 5 points while another free two minutes later saw their lead stretch once again to four points. Before half time, UCC got one back bringing the scores after 30 minutes to DCU 0-6 UCC 0-3.
The second half opened brightly for DCU with a quick score. However the Cork men wasted no time in responding with a fine free from O'Driscoll who was in good kicking form for UCC all day. on 37 minutes, Roscommon man Cathal Cregg put DCU to 8 and a pass from David Kelly to Paddy Andrews was well saved by the Cork keeper shortly after.
The only goal of the game came shortly after when man of the match Brian Sheridan blasted the ball into the net while the UCC defense crumbled around him. UCC rallied however and replied with three fine scores without reply to bring the game to 1-08 to 0-08 at the 45 minute mark.
DCUs Paul Flynn answered the Corks scores but Mark Collins brought the game once again to three scores as we entered the final 10 minutes of normal time.
At this point DCUs dominance was beginning to wane and tired legs were appearing in the Dubliners side with some shoddy tackling bringing about a number of yellow cards. Cork too were scrappy and pulled down Sheridan in the box for a penalty kick which he converted for the point. This was followed by an excellent score by David Kelly after a long period of DCU holding onto the ball and passing across the pitch. Kelly, who had had an excellent game against Maynooth yesterday seemed eager to get on the score sheet and this fine kick was a great example of what he can do.
A last minute goal attempt by UCC caused some scare however an excellent save by the DCU keper deflected it for a point just before the final whistle and DCU returning the Sigerson to the Northside for the first time since 2006 and only the second time in their history.
Final Score: DCU 1-11 UCC 0-10
Man of the Match: Brian Sheridan (DCU)
-Pangloss
Friday, February 26, 2010
Two become three at Student Observer!
We at The Observer are delighted to announce we have added a third member of staff.
Welcome to Punch, our new cartoonist! Punch has been responsible for the five pictures in the Inside Eye pieces this week. He's a dear friend of ours and we're thrilled to have him on board.
We are also pleased to unveil our template v.3, significantly less crap than the others.
Finally, we believe we have worked out a twitterfeed, which will automatically update those who follow us on Twitter and Facebook whenever we post here.
As always, all contributions,comments and suggestions to studentobserverireland@gmail.com
-Pangloss
Inside Sport: Sigerson Cup 2010
After a long two weeks of coverage of NUI Maynooths Student Union elections, this Observer was happy to swap the ballot box for something different and without having to leave the grounds of the University, my answer was found. Today Maynooth played host to the Semi-Finals of the Sigerson Cup with our very own NUI Maynooth turning out against DCU. In the other Semi-Final, Athlone I.T turned out against UCC.
After an impressive win against 2008 winners University Ulster Jordanstown (UUJ), the Black and Amber of Maynooth were in good form to turn out against The boys of DCU. However home advantage was not enough and the final score was DCU 1-12, Maynooth 1-6. In the earlier game, UCC overcame Athlone 1-15 to 0-07 which forwarded their hopes of returning the Cup home to the Peoples Repulic after Cork I.Ts win last year.
The final will be tomorrow February 27th at Leixlip G.A.A ground and all sports fans are advised to turnout for what should be a fantastic game. Despite their loss, NUIM have shown that they are now becoming serious contenders in 3rd level Gaelic Games and over the next few years, The Sigerson Cup could well be seen paraded around the pubs of Maynooth. Well done to all the lads.
-Juvenal
P.S If anybody is interested in doing regular features for "Inside Sport" on any of the sports for NUIM, please feel free to submit reports and analysis as sports is by no means my thing. Likewise, any other university or college wanting to do for their own are more than welcome and a report of tomorrows finals would be great. The email as always is:
studentobserverireland@gmail.com
After an impressive win against 2008 winners University Ulster Jordanstown (UUJ), the Black and Amber of Maynooth were in good form to turn out against The boys of DCU. However home advantage was not enough and the final score was DCU 1-12, Maynooth 1-6. In the earlier game, UCC overcame Athlone 1-15 to 0-07 which forwarded their hopes of returning the Cup home to the Peoples Repulic after Cork I.Ts win last year.
The final will be tomorrow February 27th at Leixlip G.A.A ground and all sports fans are advised to turnout for what should be a fantastic game. Despite their loss, NUIM have shown that they are now becoming serious contenders in 3rd level Gaelic Games and over the next few years, The Sigerson Cup could well be seen paraded around the pubs of Maynooth. Well done to all the lads.
-Juvenal
P.S If anybody is interested in doing regular features for "Inside Sport" on any of the sports for NUIM, please feel free to submit reports and analysis as sports is by no means my thing. Likewise, any other university or college wanting to do for their own are more than welcome and a report of tomorrows finals would be great. The email as always is:
studentobserverireland@gmail.com
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Presidential Results
The results are in and favourite Aengus Ó'Maolain has been elected. He won on the first count with a substantial 994 votes out of a possible 1995. Gavin Brady came second with 501 while Tara Clarke pulling in third 186. Michelle O'Leary got 154 while Jason Whelan came in last with 124 first preferences. Congratulations to Aengus and well done to all other candidates for a lively campaign.
Commentary and analysis of all election results an U.S.I will follow in the coming days.
-Juvenal
Commentary and analysis of all election results an U.S.I will follow in the coming days.
Maynooth Students' Union Sabbatical Team 2010/2011* President: Aengus Ó Maoláin Vice-President Welfare & Education: Liz Murray Vice-President Coms/Dev: Rob Munnelly Finance Officer: Declan Meenagh Ents Officer: Pat Byrne Cultural Affairs and Irish Officer: Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin St. Pat’s Rep: Mícheál Hughes *Pending any... appeals lodged by candidates before 5pm on Tuesday 2nd March 2010
-Juvenal
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