I am not characteristically Irish. I believe that 1pm is 1pm, not half past, not “oneish”. Lateness and inefficiency infuriate me, so I was suitably excited about a sojourn in Munich. I was dreaming of buses arriving perfectly on time and the general population being completely unaware of lateness.

Fortunately, my punctual fantasies were satisfied, but there is far more to Munich than wonderful timekeeping. The city is the capital of the Bavarian (Bayern) region of Germany and boasts legendary Christmas markets as well as a history built on beer. The city’s German name München comes from the German for monk and its beginnings come from when these monks brewed beer in the region. Alcoholic monks: making Munich fun from the start.

While I spent four days in Munich, it didn’t seem like nearly enough time. There is so much to do in the city, but if you plan carefully, you can pack in as much as possible. As previously mentioned, Munich, like much of Germany, has a love of beer. There are countless beerhouses in Munich, the most famous of which is the Hofbrauhaus, which has existed in the city centre since the 17th century. As well as beer, the food in Munich is incredible. I ate my weight in bretzel, schnitzels and sausages. There isn’t much point visiting Munich if you’re on a crash diet. If you’re not into beer, which I’m not, fear not. There is plenty of delicious wine and gluwein, or mulled wine, to enjoy.

Free walking tours operate around the city that can give you a good understanding of Munich’s history. Munich has a rich and varied past, much of which is centred on World War II. Dachau concentration camp is situated outside of the city and can be easily accessed with public transport. It’s also very easy to get to other attractions from the city centre. Munich’s public transport system is perfectly timed and very easy to use. Dublin, take note.

Located outside the city centre is the BMW Museum, which is essential, even if you’re not a petrolhead. I know less than nothing about cars, but had so much fun there. Looking at vintage cars, old Dakar rally bikes and cars turned into works of art by the likes of Andy Warhol and Roy Liechtenstein is pretty unforgettable and you can also see how badass you would look astride a BMW motorbike.

It’s also worth taking a day to go on a tour visiting the castles built by Ludwig II of Bavaria including the beautiful Versailles-inspired Schloss Linderhof and the impressive Schloss Neuchswanstein, which remains unfinished.

Munich is a city that has something for everyone. From shopping to historical landmarks to delicious food, it is the perfect place for a few days away. Plus, they dealt with the snow much better than Ireland did. All the pathways were gritted and no pipes were frozen. Screw gross inefficiency, I’m moving to Germany.

Ó Broin confirmed on Sunday that he would be joining the campaign team of Labour party councillor Robert Dowds, who is standing in the general election in the Dublin Mid-West constituency. Redmond also stated: “It would be unacceptable for Cónán to continue in his current position given that he has been made an offer by a political party.”

In a speech to USI National Council on Saturday January 15th, Ó’Broin stated “this was not an easy decision for me to make,” and that it was “in order to allow USI to conduct an unquestionably impartial General Election campaign which is entirely transparent”. He added that he has “very much enjoyed my time in USI and that I am, and will continue to be, on the very best of terms with everyone who I have worked with in USI”.

Redmond praised Ó’Broin, a former Trinity Students’ Union President, for his work within USI, saying “Cónán has been a great servant to the student movement over the past 18 months, particularly for USI.” He added: “From an officer board perspective, we wish Cónán the best of luck in his future endeavours and obviously we’ll be sad to see him go.”

In light of Ó’Broin’s resignation, there are no plans for a by-election. The reasons for this are, according to Redmond: “The convention is that if you’re more than half way through the year, the position won’t be refilled.” USI Officer Board will take over Ó’Broin’s responsibilities, with Redmond appointing an officer to act as deputy in the coming days: “In the interim, I will be taking over Cónán’s campaigning brief and later this week I will appoint one member of officer board to deputise.”

In his speech, Ó’Broin praised Redmond, TCDSU President Nikolai Trigoub-Rotnem, as well as the members of National Council “for creating what has so far been one of the most active years which the student movement in Ireland has ever had”.

Redmond was keen to emphasise the workload ahead for USI, in light of the upcoming general election. He said: “USI will be having a huge campaign to represent the interests of our members encouraging our members and the general public to vote on education issues.”

Ó’Broin will step down from his position this Friday, January 21st.

While we like to think of ourselves as a modern and cosmopolitan society, Ireland cannot claim to be at the progressive end of the spectrum when it comes to reproductive rights. Abortion remains illegal and bodies like the Iona Institute seem hell-bent on convincing us that sex outside of marriage is abominable. However, steps are slowly being taken to drag Ireland’s sexual health and education policies kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Pharmaceutical chain Boots announced last week that they would begin selling emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, over the counter, without prescription. This is the first time that this initiative has been introduced in Ireland and heralds a new era in reproductive rights. However, the Irish College of General Practitioners expressed concern over the move, saying that women may leave themselves open to compromised quality of care while availing of the drug.

This is a historic move and must be celebrated. Ireland has, for far too long, chosen to remain ignorant and unaware of the consequences of proper education and access to sexual health and reproductive information. In allowing the morning-after pill to be available over the counter, Boots have removed the embarrassment and sense of shame that women often felt going to see their GP.

Often, GPs are less than accommodating to women in need of emergency contraception. This move also means that access to the morning-after pill will be far easier during the weekend, especially on Sundays when it is often most needed.

Organisations such as the Irish Family Planning Association and Choice Ireland have come out in favour of the move. Along with this initiative, we need to see a push in sexual health education. Bodies such as Choice Ireland and the IFPA now must ensure that people are aware of issues pertaining to sexual health and the morning-after pill.

Women should be made aware of the drug, its side-effects and what it actually does to their bodies. Awareness and education is the only way that we can expect people to behave responsibly. In addition, it is now time for the government to instill proper sex education in both primary and secondary education, so that unwanted pregnancies can be less of an issue.

The reality is that sexual health education is completely lacking in this country. I received literally no formal sex education in school, apart from studying the human reproductive system in biology at the age of 17. This is ludicrous. We should be open about sex and its consequences, so that the next generation can be ably equipped and not saddled with the Catholic guilt that seems to currently permeate society.

While GPs may be concerned about lack of care, it is now time for us to place trust in our pharmacists. In deciding whether or not to give women emergency contraception due to misguided ‘morals’, GPs have lost this business themselves.

Pharmacists learn about medication in their training, they just need to make their customers aware that they can ask them questions about the morning-after pill, just as they can doctors. Similarly, pharmacists must not be allowed bring personal feelings into the equation. Women and couples must make sure that they are given the information that they need in relation to this medication.

This is simply not a moral issue, despite what certain groups would have you think. The moral choices you make should not impinge on the moral choices of others. We are constantly told that reproductive rights come down to moral issues, but the morals of one person have no place in the lives of others. Choice should exist for all people, and this is true of the morning-after pill. No one view has the right to total dominance, so the choice should exist for all.

We can only hope that more pharmacies follow in the footsteps of Boots. To remain ignorant and to choose to curtail reproductive rights in 2011 is completely foolish. We can no longer allow ourselves to remain stuck in an era that allow tragedies like Ann Lovett’s death to occur. Silence is never the answer. Education is key. People will always have sex, so it’s time to equip them as best we can. In allowing the morning-after pill to be made available over the counter, we can only hope that Boots will open the floodgates to sexual and educational empowerment in Ireland.

Artist: Joan as Police Woman

Album: The Deep Field

Rating: 4/5

While she may be best known for her work with Antony and the Johnsons and her ill-fated romance with iconic singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley, there is far more to Joan Wasser, aka Joan as Police Woman.

Her fourth album The Deep Field is a sensual treat for your ears. The transition from track to track is seamless, creating a fluid, soulful and incredibly beautiful experience that ponders love, longing and humanity.

Wasser’s beautiful vocals combine with a number of instruments, most notably an incredible saxophone and blues guitar, to create something that sounds like sweet longing.

Highlights are the first single ‘The Magic’ and the delicious ‘Run For Love’.  However, the album feels like one long piece as each song flows beautifully into the next to create a sweetly fluid aural experience. Wasser has created a treat that stands out from the music being produced at the moment and marks her as a real talent on the indie/soul scene.

In a nutshell: Arresting.

Bridget Fitzsimons

~

Artist: The Decemberists

Album:  The King is Dead

Rating: 3/5

In this latest offering from The Decemberists, they have upped the peasanty folksiness that was always their signature style to near-ludicrous levels. They have really brought music back to the roots of American folk – one song even has a crackly overlay to make it sound like it was played on a gramophone. It pleasantly plods along for ten songs, reeking of iconic folk-rock singers like Simon and Garfunkel or early Bob Dylan, the latter particularly brought to mind with the near-constant harmonica accompaniment.

However, the album feels slightly samey and could use a flash of inspiration. While perfectly inoffensive, it’s unlikely to be remembered as anything highly innovative.

In a Nutshell: Perfectly nice music, but if I had wanted to listen to early-60s era Dylan, then I would have bought his records.

Emer Sugrue

~

Artist: Deerhoof

Album: Deerhoof vs. Evil

Grade: 3/5

I suspect Deerhoof are very few people’s cup of tea. Outsider music naïveté and clumsiness is paradoxically paired with an eccentric skill. Songs are dragged from genre to genre.

Take ‘Super Duper Rescue Dudes’: any normal band would take the excellent hook and run with it until they get a great pop song. Deerhoof shove two chaotic, cacophonic bridges in there too, because that’s what they do. They take doses of heavy metal, dissonant punk, twee pop and a million other sounds and force them together. Deerhoof vs. Evil is bizarre, but if that’s what you’re into, pick up this album and enjoy.

In a Nutshell: Either genius or madness. Either original or a novelty. Inarguably strange.

Cormac Duffy

~

Artist: British Sea Power

Album: Valhalla Dancehall

Rating: 3/5

Chilled out and the perfect accompaniment to a pint in the Student Bar or a Sunday afternoon stroll. This fifth studio album from the vastly underrated British Sea Power is one that offers some catchy melodies and relaxing rhythms to help you through any hard day.

The stand-out track ‘Living Is So Easy’ aptly sums up the mood of the album itself; easy listening with a bit of an indie twist, so as not to be confused with your Dad’s CD collection of this type. With some great anthemic choruses, it would sit perfectly in an evening set at Glastonbury.

In a Nutshell: A potential soundtrack to your summer.

Sophie Lioe

~

Artist: The Go! Team

Album: Rolling Blackouts

Rating: 3/5

The Go! Team are one of the few cases where this cliché ‘unique’ actually applies. The everything-but-kitchen-sink approach to genre, as heard on their aptly-titled debut album, Thunder, Lightning Strike, was a genuine musical bolt from the blue.

Rolling Blackouts, however, serves as a continuation rather than an expansion of their trademark sound. The one exception is the disconcertingly threadbare instrumental, ‘Lazy Poltergeist’, a piano ballad which is easily the most understated song the band have ever recorded.

The collaborations, such as ‘Buy Nothing Day’ (with Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast) and ‘Secretary Song’ (featuring Deerhoof’s Satomi Matsuzaki) are oddly more reminiscent of the collaborators’ bands rather than The Go! Team, causing the record to slightly lack cohesion.

The effervescent horns of ‘Voice Yr Choice’ and ‘Yosemite Theme’ give the record’s midpoint a sturdier sound and thus constitutes its highlight.

Album closer ‘Back Like 8 Track’, meanwhile, demonstrates a Pixies-esque ability to incorporate loud-quite-loud dynamics and represents another of the album’s choice cuts.

In a nutshell: A fun record, despite being a little too similar to their previous releases.

Paul Fennessy

UCD Students’ Union expressed their delight at the move, with SU President Paul Lynam stating: “First-year students in particular can benefit from living on-campus and we hope this announcement will make this route more affordable.”

While on-campus residences were traditionally reserved for first-year students in earlier years, they were opened up to all students this year. This was thought to be due to a lack of interest from first-year students. Students from Dublin and the surrounding areas were also invited to apply for on-campus residences, despite not being able to do so in the past.

It is understood that freezing the price of on-campus residences has been a priority of this year’s Students’ Union. SU Welfare Vice-President Scott Ahearn has expressed hope that the scheme can become more convenient for students: “It’s a massive step forward but not the finished article and we will continue to make the instalment scheme more student friendly and hopefully will lead to the introduction of further instalment options.” Lynam added that the new system will “relieve some of the extra financial burden being faced by students”.

Protests were held last year under then-President Gary Redmond against the high rents on campus, which involved a number of SU representatives camping out on the grass beside the main entrance to UCD.

Whether we want to admit it or not, college is an incredibly tough environment to exist in. Some of us travel across the country to attend UCD. Living away from home can be stressful and entering a new everyday routine in a place as big and anonymous as UCD can be alienating and highly stress inducing. It is highly common for depression to take hold in university as well as other mental illnesses such as eating disorders.

So, why the stigma? Nobody feels ashamed or guilty for having the flu, or breaking their leg. Why do we choose to live in silence while we suffer endlessly with mental illness? There really is no simple answer for this, but the responsibility for changing things lies with our generation. Our parents grew up in conservative Ireland, where silence and shame was king. We are fortunate now that things are so different, but the stigma of mental illness remains.

For the stigma to be removed, we must begin to talk. If you aren’t comfortable talking to your family, talk to your friends, or if that’s not possible, utilise UCD’s counselling service. These services exist for a reason and beginning to talk, both publicly and privately, is the only way that we can begin to remove the stigma surrounding mental illness.

From a personal perspective, I myself have struggled with depression and know the isolation and alienation one can feel when battling mental illness. I have seen friends struggle, some more than others, but one thing tied us all together: we were all too ashamed to properly speak about it. It was only when people began speaking out that something could change and help could be sought, be it in the form of counselling, medication or, in some cases, hospitalisation.

Things rarely get this bad, but it is still important to be able to verbalise our feelings and speak openly about mental illnesses without fear of shame or stigma. But what services are available? Here in UCD we have a lot to help those who are struggling. Chaplains and student advisors are there to advise students or to refer them to counselling or other mental health services. Counselling remains free in UCD and help can also be found from UCD Students’ Union Welfare Vice-President Scott Ahearn.

Seeking help and speaking up is far easier said than done. We are bombarded with the Please Talk message, but it doesn’t explain how to properly work up the courage to admit to yourself and other people that something is wrong. When you find it hard to get out of bed in the morning and feel alienated from everyone around you, having a smiling Welfare Crew member telling you to speak up can feel somewhat patronising. Care and compassion must be central in dealing with those who are suffering with mental illness.

It’s incredibly hard to feel able to speak about these things, but by some of us speaking out, hopefully this can empower others. The message is very simple and clear. Mental illness is far more common than anyone would think. You are not alone. There are supports and structures in place to help you. Campaigns like Please Talk can only do so much. It is up to people to actually sit down and talk to each other. A culture of openness and understanding must be created so that we can move on from stigmas.

In seeking help, I found a way in which to live with mental illness, as did several others around me. It is not impossible to come back from struggling, just as it is not impossible to come back from a physical illness. Openness on everyone’s parts will help alleviate the alienation that currently stigmatises mental illness and allow us all a deeper understanding of each other and ourselves. Seeking help for mental illness is an incredibly brave thing to do. It is now up to all of us to help sufferers feel this way, especially if it’s ourselves we are trying to convince.

It is with sadness that we must announce that this is the last issue that our Music Editor Grace Murphy will be working on. Grace imbued the music section and The University Observer office with her trademark effervescence and infectious enthusiasm as well as a sense of professionalism. We wish Grace good luck on her new third-level path and hope she finds happiness there. We’ll miss you Grace, so don’t forget to visit us!

Ireland’s spectacular fall from grace was inevitable, but no one could have imagined that it would be this bad. However, in light of what has happened, the biggest mistake would be to wallow in our unfortunate situation.

The announcement of a general election should come as a fresh start for Ireland. Politics in Ireland does not need another party taking over the reins from Fianna Fáil, only to make the same mistakes. We need dynamic and new leadership and a break from the tired political system that we have had since the Civil War. Why do we allow petty squabbling parties dictate the way in which our country is run in one of our darkest economic periods?

The time for a new political ideal is here. We can no longer afford to rest on our laurels and blithely complain, as we have been content to do in the past. Apathy is no longer an option. Consider the power of your vote. When representatives call to your door, do not be afraid to question them. Ask them what they will do for you, how they plan to save your future. Students and graduates are the ones who are leaving this country in their droves and any public representative should be doing all they can to keep us here.

We have been ignored for too long. The power is there, as represented in the recent USI protests, so why aren’t politicians begging us for votes? We know that the minimum wage and grants will be cut and that the third-level registration fee will rise. We cannot forget that we have power to sway decisions and affect change. Do not let politicians go unchallenged. They should be at the mercy of students.

As well as challenging, do not let your voice go unheard. Students are notorious for staying away from the polls. If you don’t want to go home to vote, move your vote to Dublin. These elections are too important to allow ourselves to be complacent. Do not become a statistic. If you don’t vote, you have lost your right to speak about Irish politics.

Semester One is coming to a close and as the library begins to get more and more crowded, the fact that exams are just around the corner cannot be ignored. This also marks the period at which the final graduations of the year take place. While campus is quiet as classes end, numerous graduands will line up in O’Reilly Hall to receive their degrees.

This is a time for reflection and thought. As you enter into the assessment period, take advantage of the services available to you. Don’t struggle. Be calm and measured and don’t put yourself under undue pressure. Both the university and Students’ Union have help and support available to students who feel they are unable to cope under the pressure of the assessment period.

Similarly, for those of us receiving degrees, myself included, it is an uncertain time. We are unsure of our future and what options are available to us. It is hard to not be pessimistic or to simply decide upon emigration. We cannot be sure of what the future holds, but while we have come to an uncertain juncture in our lives, the excitement of new opportunities and paths cannot be forgotten.

The University Observer would like to wish all of our staff, contributors and writers the best of luck in their assignments and exams. We would also like to thank everyone who has contributed to the newspaper this semester and everyone who has picked up a copy to read, contributed comments to our website, written us letters or dropped into the office to give us feedback. It’s quite unbelievable how quickly this semester has passed.

We would also like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

I am not known for my love of sport. When I was younger, I was that skinny uncoordinated girl that was always picked last for any sport. I avoided anything vaguely sporty like the plague and the feeling was mutual. To this day, I am afraid to go to sporting events for fear that the ball will hit me in the face.

Fast forward 15 years and I’m 21 and editing a student newspaper. The first thing I was told about when I started was the mythical Observer stone. Working at this paper is a notorious and insidious way of gaining weight. The stress and lack of healthy food available at 3am on a Saturday night equals bad skin, hair and weight gain. In a fit of vanity and rebellion, I decided that I would be better than this and would actually lose weight during my editorial year. Or at least keep it at a constant.

It’s a hard life working in an office among so many insufferably thin men who continue to eat complete crap while you look at a Mars Bar and gain half a stone. While I watched my deputy shovel utter shit into his mouth and remain rail-thin, I decided that affirmative action had to be taken.

I had joined the gym in first year in an uncharacteristic idealistic phase. Three years and two stone later, UCD Sports Centre was calling once more. I handed over my membership fee, put on my leggings and ran up the stairs.

A couple of things struck me as I walked into the gym. Why is it full of rail-thin people? Why is nobody sweating? WHY are there mirrors EVERYWHERE?! I tried to push these doubts to the back of my mind as I clumsily clambered onto the treadmill. I put on my specially crafted playlist on my iPod and began to feel the burn.

The first few minutes were fine. Running has always been fine for me because there’s no skill involved. It doesn’t matter if you’re hopelessly uncoordinated because, well, you just run. I cranked it up to nine kilometres per hour and while excellent 90s techno blasted into my ears I felt quite proud of myself. I was actually exercising and keeping up with the skinny, fit people around me! I felt validated!

Then came the pain. Being a fitness-phobe, I was not aware that you should stretch before exercise so that you don’t rip your muscles away from your bones. It also helps in that it warns your body that you’re going to partake in the first real exercise you’ve done in about ten years. After about two minutes of solid running, my body began protesting and started to collapse on itself. I’d heard somewhere before that you need to “feel the burn”. I was feeling some sort of ungodly inferno.

I hopped off the treadmill after ten minutes, feeling like an utter failure. The skinny people around me were still running and I was almost passed out on the ground, dripping with sweat. I had read in a magazine somewhere that you needed to exercise for at least half an hour before you burned any fat. I couldn’t imagine what state I’d be in after half an hour.

Next stop was the exercise bike on which I honestly managed to bruise my bum and further injure my legs. After 15 minutes of this, I had learned my lesson. Exercise is pure evil. It’s especially evil when you’re running for your life beside a mirror.

It’s bad enough being forced to exercise beside people who are more fit than you, but being forced to stare at yourself while doing so is sadistic. It’s the price to pay for being skinny, but is the pain worth it? I didn’t think so as I walked bow-legged back to the office. I had pains in muscles that I didn’t know existed.

The good news is that your resistance builds up. After about four really painful sessions in the gym, I began to get used to exercising. It’s a tough road, but getting somewhere vaguely closer to fitness feels like something of an achievement.

‘Perfect Day’ – Various Artists

Some might consider it cheesy, but I personally think there’s nothing better than a song that combines opera, reggae and Boyzone. The Lou Reed version is a classic, but he is still on this one too, so it’s even better.

‘Ice Ice Baby’ – Jedward

Love them or hate them, you cannot deny the vertiginously-haired duo made an impression when they covered Vanilla Ice. What’s even better is the added dance routine.

‘I Want You’ – Fiona Apple

The key to an excellent cover is to make it your own. Apple does this in imbuing such raw and animalistic emotion into the Elvis Costello classic that you can tell how important and relevant the song is to her. It hasn’t been officially released, but a high quality version exists on YouTube.

‘One’ – Cast of Glee

The fact remains that most of the songs that Glee cover will end up being better than the original, but ‘One’ is one of the cast’s triumphs. This update of the U2 song shows Glee haters that the show really is capable of more than second-rate cover versions.

‘One’ – Aimee Mann

It could be because it’s on the soundtrack to one of the best films in recent memory, Magnolia, but Aimee Mann’s cover of ‘One’ comfortably outshines the original (by Harry Nilsson).

‘To Love Somebody’ – Ray LaMontagne and Damien Rice

Another YouTube classic, Ireland’s own Damien Rice duets beautifully and soulfully with Ray LaMontagne to provide a rendition that is so longing and soulful that the Bee Gees could not possibly compete.

‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ – Sinead O’Connor

O’Connor’s poignant lament tugs at even the coldest of heartstrings, especially when you watch the video in which she sheds genuine tears for her recently deceased mother.

‘I Will Always Love You’ – Whitney Huston

Who knew that Whitney’s megahit was originally by pneumatic country warbler Dolly Parton? Either way, Dolly’s version doesn’t have Whitney’s crazy riffs or Kevin Costner in the video. No contest.

‘You’ve Got the Love’ – Florence and the Machine

Florence Welch leads a storming rendition of the Candi Staton number and blows the original out of the water. This song was a real key to Welch’s transition from indie darling to mainstream pop princess.

‘Cloudbusting’ – Gemma Hayes

Hayes’ stripped down version of Kate Bush’s ‘Cloudbusting’ is further proof that cover versions which deviate from the original often add so much more than those that stay rigidly faithful.

For those watching, the protest may have seemed to degenerate into something violent and wrong, but the original message and ethos cannot be forgotten. While people have long been been happy to write off students as a drunken bunch of party animals without much political leaning, this is no longer the case. Given that an estimated 25,000 students took to the streets, it is no longer possible or fair to ignore the collective student voice.

The violence of certain individuals has overshadowed this message. As a movement, student activism needs to become more cohesive to make sure that we are not the unfair targets in a country that seems unable to retain any sort of financial sense or foresight. We were lucky enough to enjoy the benefits of the boom, but we cannot allow ourselves to victimised while the banks are being bailed out and those who contributed to the decline of the country seem to be rewarded for every mistake that they make.

The motto ‘Education Not Emigration’ resonates for anyone who is close to finishing their degree. There seems no reason to stay in a country that is completely set upon alienating us. We are told that we are the future, yet the actions that the government are taking seem to reassure us that their priorities lie elsewhere.

The cuts are constant and hard to stomach. For anyone looking to enter further education, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, the financial measures one must take are getting more and more intimidating. More applicants for grants mean that getting funding is harder and harder and for certain schools and disciplines, it is worse.

It now begins to feel that universities are now being viewed as businesses as opposed to centres of higher education. Disciplines such as the arts and humanities, which are not seen as lucrative as areas such as science or business, are being constantly overlooked in terms of basic funding.

With bodies such as the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) unsure of their future until after the budget, it has never been a worse or more alienating and financially worrying time to be entering postgraduate research in the arts. At a time of such radical cultural and societal uncertainty, research in the arts and humanities has never been more relevant. However, the powers that be are determined to emphasise the importance of money over knowledge. This, in an institute of education, is unacceptable.

As long as the student movement can retain a sense of organisation, progress can be made. While the November 3rd protest was not perfect, it went some way towards showing the government that we refuse to be the targets when we are not to blame for the mess that this country is in. Yes, cuts must be made in all areas, but it is hard to see sectors such as education and health be cut when NAMA and the banking sector seem to be getting daily cash injections.

The government seems happy to wash their hands of higher education, but protests remind them that they cannot do this. We must all stand up for ourselves, whether it is for capping the registration fee, campaigning against grant cuts or emphasising that research in the humanities is just as valid and important as research in the life sciences and business. Universities were founded on the basis of the arts and humanities. To ignore and marginalise them now would be criminal.

We are not the apathetic sheep that the government considers us to be. November 3rd proved this. It is now time to continue this momentum and make sure that our voices are heard. The options are endless. More protests must occur and we should collaborate with other groups who are being targeted and marginalised by the government, such as the LGBT community, pensioners, lone-parent families, other education sector workers and those who have been affected by problems in the healthcare system.

Our voices are stronger than they give us credit for. We must just keep up the momentum and make sure that we are not continually ignored, as we have been in the past.