1.   Your laptop dies and you don’t have a backup of your study notes

2.    Your lecturer informs you that your exam is double negative marking

3.    University admin orders KSU to close the 24/7 study area

4.   New  York’s Best stop selling your fave milkshake

5.   VLE  becomes inaccessible due to unexpected maintenance

6.   The  Power Points of an entire study-unit are not available on VLE, even though you were convinced your lecturer had said they would be

8.   Faculties  reach an agreement to enforce attendance

9.   The  carpooling scheme is extended to cover all parking areas

10.   Papier  Plus increasing its printing prices

11   The  Third Eye shuts down

The post 11 Bad Things That Can Happen to UoM Students This Friday the 13th appeared first on The Third Eye.

The Times of Malta also reported that researchers from the University of Malta have found that seven in ten adults in Malta are overweight or obese. This is a concerning figure for our nation. Furthermore, according to a report by the Today Public Policy Institute, Malta has also emerged to be amongst the laziest and most car-dependent countries in the world.

Bearing in mind these statistics, the health of students emerges as a worrying concern that should be addressed. Below are a number of factors that may contribute to obestity at the University of Malta.  The list is by no means exhaustive or backed by evidence, but simply serves as an opinion piece.

1. Limited choice of Healthy Meals Available on Campus

Students on campus have the opportunity of purchasing healthy meals from The Food Faculty and the Health Shop. However, these meals tend to be costly and limited in variety, especially when one rules out bread and wrap options. This may lead students to opt for cheaper meals available. Unhealthy alternatives are also much more varied in comparison to healthy options. One may consider the amount of fast food outlets in the vicinity of university campus, and unhealthy snacks available on campus.

2. Unreliability of Public Transport

Unfortunately, Malta is a car-dependent nation that means less travelling is done on foot to and from the bus stop. Although one may acknowledge the improvement public transport has seen, it is still far from reliable or appealing to students. We must admit that many students park their cars at a considerable distance from lecture halls, but reliable transport could mean a few extra minutes of walking each morning.

3. Lack of Bicycle Lanes

Although the weather makes cycling in Malta an easier task than doing so abroad, cyclists must deal with dangerous routes to university and back home. Improved bicycle lanes to the University of Malta could possibly result in an improvement of physical exercise by university students.

4.  The Distance Between Sports Facilities and University Lecture Halls

Many students are discouraged from exercising because of the location of the sports facilities. In order to make use of the gym during free lessons, or before or after lectures, one must factor in enough travel  time to and from the gym. And after a session at the gym, followed by a nice shower, walking back to university is far from ideal.

In spite of these hurdles faced by university students, one must acknowledge the work of students organisations that have contributed to a healthier lifestyle that may be enjoyed by students. These include namely Malta Medical Students Association (MMSA),  Malta Health Students Association (MHSA) and Malta Pharmaceutical Students Association (MPSA)  which have hosted multiple health campaigns, Malta University Sports Club (MUSC) which encourages sports on campus and has collaborated with the  gym for cheaper student rates, and Studenti Demokristjani Maltin (SDM) that has launched the "Be a Winner’ campaign. Additionally, organisations such as the University Futsal Team – Mdina Knights FC, and the university rowing team and racing team provide students with the opportunity of enjoying sports at university.  

The post Factors That May Be Contributing to Obesity at UoM appeared first on The Third Eye.

"Devious Maids’ was the first series with an all-Latin ensemble cast, based on a telenovela format, to be aired on English television. The show was loosely based on a Mexican telenovela entitled "Ellas son la Alegría del Hogar’ and was created by Marc Cherry, famous for creating "Desperate Housewives’.

The show, featuring Latina maids working for wealthy families in Beverly Hills, stirred controversy when it was first premiered in 2013. As reported by CNN on June 24, 2013, the Latino community felt that the show would only serve to worsen the existent stereotype that Latinas can only play the role of maids, gardeners and nannies in society.

Despite initial criticism, the show has become part of many students’ lives and will definitely be missed this scholastic year!  

The post Devious Maids Cancelled appeared first on The Third Eye.

NHS Blood and Transplant and PR agency Engine Group have launched the #MissingType campaign in order to encourage people to recognise the worrying lack of blood donors and donate blood. This campaign focuses on making the three letters that signify blood types disappear from landmarks and brands.

The #MissingType campaign is being supported by notable companies, such as Google, and famous landmarks, such as the ’I am Amsterdam’ sign in The Netherlands. It has also gained popularity in Malta with companies, such as eCabs, and organisations, such as Pulse and ICTSA, promoting blood donation through social media by dropping As, Bs and Os from their logos and artwork.

Here are a few examples of companies and landmarks supporting the campaign and spreading awareness:

1. Google

2. ENGEL & VOLKERS

3. Sydney Opera House

4. Coca-Cola

5. I Am Amsterdam Sign

6. Ribena

7. Toronto

8. Nando’s

And finally, here’s ours

Should you wish to donate blood in Malta you may do so at the National Blood Transfusion Service in Pieta. You may also inquire more information by calling on +356 2206 6201. Only yesterday, a call for O Neg and A Neg was published on the National Blood Transfusion Service – Malta Facebook page.

The post Why Is the World Dropping its As, Bs and Os? appeared first on The Third Eye.

1. When Ira Losco placed first in the jury vote in the 2016 Eurovision semi-final.

2. When Charlotte Wingfield achieved a result of 11.86s to go through to the first round this  Olympics, making her the best ranked athlete out of a total of 24 athletes.

Credit: Srdjan Suki / EPAathletes.

3. When Malta sprung from 11th (2014) to the top spot of ILGA’s Rainbow Map 2016 (an  overview of LGBTI human rights). Belgium and Great Britain ranked second and third respectively.

4. When Double trap shooter William Chetcuti won the gold medal in an ISSF World Cup  shoot.

Credit:  The Malta Independent Online

5. When St Mary Fireworks Factory of Għaxaq were announced winners during the 15th edition  of the Malta International Fireworks Festival. A number of Maltese and foreign fireworks  factories participated during this competitive event.

Credit:  The Malta Independent Online

6. When the Maltese International Airport was named the most beautiful airport approach in  the world. This spot was claimed through polls of air travellers and experts. Malta managed  to beat the previous winners – Nice in France and Queenstown in New Zealand.

Credit: Privatefly

7. When the Malta Racing Club announced that Malta had won the Mediterranean Horse  Racing Union Championship for the second time.

Credit: Timesofmalta.com

8. When the Malta Men’s 7s won the European Men’s Conference 2 Competition in Hungary,  making Maltese proud.

Credit: Maltatoday.com.mt

9. When Malta’s Junior Men National Water Polo Team won the EU 8 Nations Cup tournament  held in Lower Austria for the third consecutive time.

Credit:  asaofmalta.org

10. When Malta won the gold in the FIBA European Women Championships for Small Countries.

Credit: mba.org.mt

The post 10 Times Malta Topped the List in 2016 appeared first on The Third Eye.

2.   Renato  pulled us off the bottom spot in 1975. I suppose we’ll have to forgive him for the funky sleeves!

3.   It’s  been 25 years since Malta re-entered the contest after a 16 year break. And "Could it be’ put us in the top 10 for the first time garnering 106 points.

4.   One  year later Mary Spiteri even managed a top 3 spot!

5.   It’s  been 20 years since Miriam Christine shocked us with her mini skirt. Her backing vocals wore green, white and red to represent the Italian flag, a tribute to the Italian designer who had provided the outfits.

6.   18  years ago Macedonia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham, and deprived us of our win in one of the tightest scoreboards ever. 1998 saw Israel’s Diva win the contest. It was the first time a transsexual artist won the contest, and the first time ever that the winning song had not used any live music.

7.   It’s  been 16 years since any Maltese was uttered on a Eurovision Stage.  “Dejjem ridtek,  Dejjem xtaqtek, Lilek ħabbejt”

8.   It’s  been 14 years since twenty-year-old Ira last represented Malta in Estonia. Despite the years, some of us cannot forget her charm on stage.

9.   It’s  been 10 years since Albania saved us from the dreaded nul points in 2006 when Fabrizio’s "I do’ scored 1 point in Greece.

10.   And  after 7 years of Eurovision disaster for Malta, the smiling doctor managed to bring back some enthusiasm by placing 8^th in 2013

Can Ira bring it home this year? The Third Eye would like to wish her the best of luck. Make sure to stay tuned for Eurovision updates as we draw closer to the 61^st Edition in Stockholm.

The post 10 Maltese Moments in the ESC appeared first on The Third Eye.

He claims that his customers frequently thank him for helping them abide by the law. However, experts are concerned about the safety of this solution. Whilst some believe that the dolls may act as an outlet through which paedophilic desires may be channelled, others hold that it could endorse their behaviour. The fact that the dolls do not provide the satisfaction of intercourse could result in frustration and aggravate the danger of paedophilia.

Although Takagi believes that we should not condone sexual abuse on children, he believes that sexual fetishes should not be condemned. The child sex dolls come as a solution to this multifaceted situation.

Will this stop paedophiles from acting on their impulses, or will it encourage them to pursue their sexual fantasies?

The post Child Sex Dolls: a Solution to Paedophilia? appeared first on The Third Eye.

The Third Eye feels that this difficult time calls for unity and compassion, and would therefore like to humbly invite everyone to unite together in a moment of prayer and reflection as a sign of solidarity towards bereaved friends and families of the poor souls who lost their lives in Paris, and all those suffering terrorist attacks around the world.  Everyone is encouraged to attend and  light a candle in memory of the victims.

Let us all unite to stand against the threat of terrorism and show our support to those who are in need of it.  

The event may be attended by people from all walks of life. Whether you are a student, a parent, a friend, or someone who would simply like to join students in their effort to extend sympathy and kindness in Valletta, you are more than welcome to join.

The event will be attended by members from Moviment Zghazagh Partit Nazzjonalista (MZPN) who have shown their support on social media. Members from Forum Zghazagh Laburista (FZL) shall also do their outmost to be present at the event.

You may visit the event on Facebook.  

The post ’Uniting for Paris’ tonight in Valletta appeared first on The Third Eye.

After Wayne Sammut, Pulse President, thanked students and media for attending the Press Conference, Pulse Vice-President, Ayrton Mifsud, presented the results of the survey. He stated that the survey was conducted on a sample of approximately 1,032 students. The feedback received in relation to question 7 of the survey, which read, ‘with reference to traffic congestion, should school start earlier or later than 8AM?,’ was as follows:

• 5% answered that school should start earlier than 8am
• 71% answered that school should start later than 8am
• 20% answered that school should continue to start at 8am
• 4% did not respond to this question.

Sammut held that Pulse felt it would have been useless to publish results without taking action and therefore presented possible measures that could be taken. If school were to commence later, free lessons would be reduced. As a student organisation that believes in student activism, proposing that school should start later would run counter to the organisation’s values. Pulse did not want to reduce free time during which students could involve themselves in extracurricular activities. Therefore, Pulse attempted to address the traffic situation by means of student buses from 17 village groups to Junior College. The scope of such groups is to avoid a large amount of stops, which are unnecessary and time consuming, by means of express routes to Junior College.

In order to fulfil the ambitious proposal, a total of 17 buses are needed between 6.30am and 7.30am. When signing up as a student at Junior College, students will be asked to list their address on the application forms and therefore an appropriate amount of buses will be organised to cater for the amount of students from their respective village group. These routes will be exclusively for Junior College students, who will be able to use their Junior College cards in order to make use of the transport system.

Pulse also felt that it needed to propose alternative measures apart from the project of student suses. One of the things that the organisation addressed was the possibility of a tidal water system that would be beneficial when one considers the location of Junior College. Pulse believes that the country’s full potential must be taken advantage of.

In conclusion, Wayne Sammut and Ayrton Mifsud emphasised that students are to be placed at the centre of this discussion.

The post Pulse Press Conference on Student Buses appeared first on The Third Eye.

Whilst maintaining loyalty to the organisation’s pledge to make a difference, this year SDM has adopted a fresher campaign and shall contribute to a wider sector of society. Apart from the sale of traditional pink wristbands, this year, SDM will also be collaborating with seven entities, which are Puttinu Cares, Caritas Malta, Inspire Malta, Friends of the Earth, Lifecycle Malta, Dar tal-Providenza and SPCA. SDM aspires to raise €7000 for these seven organisations.

Although this campaign has been held for three years, this year it shall be different and bigger – Luke Muscat

When contacted by The Third Eye, SDM President, Luke Muscat, stated that although this campaign has been held for three years, this year it shall be different and bigger. The campaign shall benefit seven different entities with different aims. Such aims include helping victims of drug addiction, people with disabilities, protection of the environment and the wellbeing of animals.

Join SDM in this charitable campaign to make a difference. You can do so by attending Project 7000 events and buying a pink wristband for only €2 as from tomorrow!

The post SDM Launches Project 7000 appeared first on The Third Eye.