This morning, Kunsill Studenti Universitarji (KSU) has sent a text-message to all University students, to let them know that free transport is being organised at 15:00 from University of Malta to the National Demonstration in Valletta. A brief application with personal details was also sent with the message.

“The reason behind supporting tomorrow’s demonstration is that we want to see students standing up for their fundamental rights,” explained KSU President, Robert Napier, when speaking to this news outlet. “We want to pass on the message that students will not be silenced. We are hoping to see the student body unite, putting aside all the differences, and standing up to be counted.”

The post KSU Invites Students to Attend Tomorrow’s National Demonstration appeared first on The Third Eye.

Obviously, I put on an episode.

Suddenly, my mum enters in my room without knocking.

“Did you hear what happened?”

I don’t like her tone.

“Daphne Caruana Galizia has been murdered.”

For a few seconds I remained silent. I then rush to the kitchen and stare at the television. I could see the remainings of the car in the middle of the field. I instantly check my social media and that was the moment when it all started sinking in. It was all over Facebook and Twitter and while, as expected, a hefty number of Maltese citizens expressed their shock in the circumstances, there were others who felt that she got what she deserved or that she brought it upon herself. The latter explained that she shouldn’t be glorified because she harassed too many people with her writings.

What a sad country.

Honestly, this has nothing to do with politics. Expressing support for one political leader rather than the other would not make sense in these circumstances. What staggered me the most in the past couple of days was the fact that as the whole world conveyed the feeling of shock that this death has brought upon them and the connotations that it has in such a country, our main priority remains to defend our respective political parties. Meanwhile, we fail to acknowledge how detrimental it is that a person like Mrs. Caruana Galizia is murdered in such a gruesome manner.

Had she died in a car accident or a natural death, it would have been explicable for people to judge her actions and writings throughout her journalistic life. But considering the way in which she was assassinated, the whole country should be in grief – if not specifically for her death as a human being, for what her death represents.

But unfortunately, certain things or mentalities will never change in this country and to hear a number of University students thinking that this death will be in any way beneficial to our little nation makes the situation even worse in my eyes. I assume that when the Cahrlie Hebdo attacks took place in Paris, the majority of these students were amongst the first to write "Je suis Charlie’ on their respective social media profiles, feeling that they are indeed beacons of freedom of expression. I do not agree with most of the material published on Charlie Hebdo, and in the same way, I don’t agree with a lot of material that was published on Daphne Caruana Galizia’s website, but they each had the ultimate right to publish it.

After all, Daphne is now gone and those who feel that getting rid of her will make our country any better, will be the same ones embarrassingly telling their children, in fifteen or twenty years’ time, how in 2017, a blogger got murdered because people didn’t approve of the way she spoke.

The post They Shot the Messenger and Silenced the Message appeared first on The Third Eye.

In her resignation letter, which was made public by S-Cubed, Falzon explained that in recent times she was wrongly accused of not fulfilling her role within S-Cubed’s Executive Board. Falzon also mentioned that she resigned also due to the fact that “certain individuals within the organisation have not made her feel welcome”.

One should bear in mind that this the second term for Maria Falzon, having occupied the role of Social Policy Commissioner last year, when Dean Grech was the President of S-Cubed.

“I am truly sorry to see Maria leave S-Cubed, she has contributed a lot to the organisation,” pointed out S-Cubed’s President, Luke Borg Barthet when contacted by The Third Eye. “Being kept in the loop I know that even though the individual strived to resolve the situation, there were no further improvements, which left Maria with no other choice, but to give up her post. On a personal note, I personally feel that Maria should not have let personal matters interfere with her work in S-Cubed.”

When asked whether he is expecting any other resignations in the coming days, Barthet replied that he does not know of any other potential resignations and that S-Cubed will continue to work hard throughout the term, to reach new heights. Asked whether S-Cubed shall be holding an Extraordinary General Meeting, Barthet revealed that they haven’t yet discussed that, however he disclosed that S-Cubed shall be introducing a new member in the coming days.

Maria Falzon’s Statement

As a point of fact I would like to counter the picture that S-Cubed are trying to portray. The actions of the individual/s concerned amount to institutionalised bullying which did not offer the right atmosphere to continue working in for the good of the organisation.

The post S-Cubed’s Vice-President Resigns appeared first on The Third Eye.

One of the biggest headaches for University students is definitely the issue of parking. On a daily basis, one can observe numerous cars roaming forever in the different parking areas within the University premises, searching helplessly for blue parking spaces.

The Third Eye team has compiled a list of eight stages that University students are familiar with when trying to park at University:

1)    Stalking a random student walking out of University and asking them whether they are getting out of a parking space

“Le ta’, sorry, kemm inÄ¡ib basket mill-karozza”

2)    The moment you think you’ve found an empty parking slot

Until you realise that there’s a Toyota IQ occupying it

3)    Realising  that you’ve lost a parking space for a split-second

4)    Picking  up random strangers and driving them to their car in order to make sure you will be the one to get their parking

5) Knowing  that your lecture is 20 minutes in and you’re still circling Car Park 6, hunting for a parking space

6)    Realising  you’ve wasted half a tank of petrol solely at University whilst looking for parking

7)    The ’ala żobbi, tlaqt id-dar’ moment

8)    Leaving  University after a day of lectures, only to find your vehicle clamped

The post The Eight Stages of Parking at UoM appeared first on The Third Eye.

The list of the new executive board members is as follows:

President: Kayrin Gauci

Vice-President: Rebecca Zammit

Secretary General: Matthew Xuereb

Assistant Secretary General: Jurgen Micallef

Financial Officer: Gianluca Vella Valletta

Public Relations Officer: Gabriella Mifsud

International Officer: Rebecca Farrugia

Civic Education Officer: Nicola Mangion

Social Policy Officer: Rachel Deguara

Events Officer: Christian Aquilina

Projects Manager: Sean Portelli

Various unconfirmed rumours have alleged that during the past term, there were a number of resignations within the JEF executive board, include those of Therese Lia and Manuel Zarb.

The Third Eye team would like to wish the best of luck to the newly elected JEF Executive Board members while looking forward to the possibility of future collaborations.

The post Kayrin Gauci Confirmed as JEF Malta President appeared first on The Third Eye.

1.   Most people are aware of the fact that life for University students is rather demanding. What encouraged you to get involved in a student organisation?

I have always been an active person, and apart from being involved in S-Cubed, I also train football on a regular basis.   The key to coping with the stressful and demanding life at University is time management.   The new challenges and opportunities that a student organisation brings about was the thing that convinced me to join S-Cubed.

2.   How are you feeling now that this experience has reached its end?

I will definitely miss the organisation after being heavily involved during thepast two years.   Apart from making new friends, S-Cubed gave me a sense of belonging and a chance to express and manipulate my own ideas.

3.   Which is the best memory from your S-Cubed experience?

It’s quite difficult to choose; but I guess being awarded the Kokka Innovativa on behalf of S-Cubed and the international trip to Poland were the best memories of them all.  

4.   Who  is the person that you’ll be missing the most?

Martina.   From the never-ending fights and arguments, to all the joyful times and laughs; a friendship I will cherish throughout.  

The post Bidding Farewell to S-Cubed appeared first on The Third Eye.

As long as there are no surprises, Pulse’s decision not to contest in this year’s KSU elections means that the candidates which will eventually be contesting on the SDM’s ticket shall be appointed in the same AGM.

A curious fact about this year’s AGM is that while in the past years the AGM took place place in the production week of Students’ Fest, this year it shall be held on the first Wednesday after the production weekend of Students’ Fest.

On this note, The Third Eye team would like to thank the outgoing KSU members for their constant cooperation and support.

The post KSU Annual General Meeting Scheduled for April 26th appeared first on The Third Eye.

Thus The Third Eye decided to hold a brief interview with Professor Roderick Pace, who apart from being a senior lecturer at the Institute of European Studies was also one of the two co-founders back in the early nineties.

When and how exactly did the Institute of European Studies start?

The statute of the European Documentation and Research Centre which in 2011 was changed to Institute for European Studies, was approved by the Senate of the University on 16 October 1991 and by the Council of the University on the 30^th of the same month. The statute was drafted by Prof Peter Seraccino Inglott then Rector of the University and by me who at the time was the Director of the European Documentation Centre (EDC). The establishment of the EDC in Malta was approved by the European Commission in 1973 and it was inaugurated in 1974 at 59 Old Min Street Valletta. At the time it was the 195^th Centre approved by the Commission. One of the conditions for its establishment in Malta was that courses on European integration were to be started at the University of Malta. The establishment of the Institute fulfilled this condition and filled a gap in teaching and research at the University on European integration

How many students does the Institute incorporate?

The Institute has students reading European Studies at Bachelor, Masters and Ph.D. level. At the start of the academic year, 2016-17 there were: 133 following the Bachelor courses, 13 following the MA and three registered to read for a Ph.D. By the end of 2017 an estimated 695 students would have graduated in one or more degrees in European studies since the opening of the first course in 1994.

What sort of career  can a degree in European Studies offer you?

Our degrees in European Studies provide students with a grounding in European politics, economics and law. This makes our students very versatile and suitable to work in various activities dealing with the EU. Surveys of our graduates show that most of them work in the public service on EU matters, business, the media, the EU Institutions and a few have also continued with further study.

The post European Studies Institute Celebrates its 25th Anniversary appeared first on The Third Eye.

The treaty of Rome was the Treaty which established the European Economic Community which later on became the European Union. Thus yesterday, European Heads of State and Government gathered in the Italian capital for an extraordinary European Council. But apart from Heads of State, there were also a number of youth organisations, including JEF Malta. Belgian politician,  Guy Verhofstadt was also part of the crowd.

Speaking to The Third Eye from Roma, Kayrin Gauci explained that representing JEF Malta at the March for Europe was a dream come true.

“I feel that being   passionate about EU integration in Malta can sometimes be a very isolating experience, as there is a relatively very small like-minded Maltese community,” explained the JEF President.

“The thousands of people gathered in Rome was unbelievable – old and young alike from all walks of life, decked out in face paint and EU flags, some hoisting Roman-style standards with others carrying posters, all sharing the same passion and hope for a better future.

“Marching through Rome was a thoroughly and inspiring experience and for the first time, I saw what it’s like to be really part of a European-wide movement, and I came to realise just how many people believe in the same future as we do in JEF Malta,” concluded Gauci.

The post JEF President in Rome for ’March for Europe’ appeared first on The Third Eye.

As every AGM is likely to bring about goodbyes, one of the students who shall be bidding farewell to ESO tomorrow is a student who loved and valued the organisation from his very first days in the European Studies course at University, Emanuel Zammit.

Joining ESO in December 2014 as Financial Officer, Emanuel soon took on the role of Vice President in February 2015, before being elected as President in July of the same year. Again, he was re-elected as President of the organisation in May 2016.

As Emanuel Zammit’s story within ESO reaches its final pages, The Third Eye conducted a brief interview with him, during which he spoke about his experience.

1.   What made you join ESO in the first place?

After being a student activist even at Junior College, the motivation and objective to represent the students’ body continued to grow further in me. Upon commencing the European Studies course, and being introduced to this new organisation, I felt an urge to represent my course mates and all European Studies students in order to help them with all their concerns that may arise throughout their stay at the University of Malta.

2.   How would you describe your experience within ESO?

It has been an amazing journey which taught me lessons that no other experience could possibly teach me. Being part of ESO has helped me get to know new people who in the end helped me to achieve what we, as an organisation, managed to achieve.

3.   Which is your best memory?

The fact that we had started as an unknown organisation, developing into where we are today will always be my best memory within this organisation.

4.   Who is the person you’ll be missing the most?

I will miss my whole executive, as without all their help and efforts, we wouldn’t have achieved what we actually did.

5.   What is your word of advice to your successor?

Never forget from where we have started. We managed to achieve all of this with the help of every executive member and student. Never forget our main objective; that of representing the whole European Studies students’ body; both on campus and with external entities.

The post Emanuel Zammit Bids Farewell to ESO appeared first on The Third Eye.