Right now, the best places to hang-out at are the ones outside so here’s a list of where you can go:

Greek Theatre (behind the Architecture Faculty)

This is exactly how it sounds. A Greek-inspired theatre but miniature. It’s secluded but not too far away and it’s perfect for groups of more than 4 people to hang out at. Room for social distancing and pretty comfortable.

Green Area next to Chaplaincy

This slice of heaven is not only wholesome but also beautiful to hang out at. With all that natural greenery around, it’s like being in your own paradise. This spot is close to pretty much everything – quad, restaurants, and almost every route to the different faculties.

Chinese Garden (Next to the Faculty of Arts)

Smack dab in the middle between Sir Temi Zammit Hall and the Faculty of Arts, this zen spot is perfect if you have a 5-10 mins break from a grueling lecture or if you have an hour in between two lectures in the same area.

Arvid Pardo Study Area

Located right next to the library and right outside the faculty of arts, this spot is great for meeting up with friends before heading down to MAKS (Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences), FEMA (Faculty of Economics Management & Accountancy), or the Lecture Theatres. Once again, it’s also great for those 5-10 mins breaks we desperately long for in between lectures.

Turfed Green Area near KSU building / Admin building

This green area is the most recent addition to uni’s outside areas. It’s located right behind the main building where the KSU office is situated. Even though the greenery is fake, the good times and sunshine aren’t.

Grab a coffee and your friends, and head out to all of these spots. Figure out which ones you like best because that’s where you’ll end up going when you ask “where to next?”.

The post Uni’s Socially-Distanced Hangout Spots appeared first on The Third Eye.

Christmas Tree Spot / Large Chess Near Quad Fountain

During the most wonderful time of the year, uni sets up the most spectacular Christmas tree you’ve ever seen. It’s especially spectacular when you post a cute photo of you or it or even both on your instagram. This is usually the time around when graduations are happening so it’s also a wonderful place for the graduands and their families to take photos.

When the Christmas tree isn’t there, a large chess set takes its place for students to actually play a game of chess. If not, it’s a quirky art piece for you to look at.

Green Areas

Ok, so uni has multiple green areas but the ones located around Sir Temi Zammit Hall are used by students alike to prep for another awaited time of the year – Students’ Fest. Anyone who is involved takes it pretty seriously (as they should). Every year, students alike gather to audition or be part of the crew, to put up an awesome show. These green areas are used by the crew to build sets for the show till the wee hours of the morning (don’t worry it’s fun!).

Chinese Garden for Grad photos

Every year, the university sees its well-deserved students graduate and pose for official photos to commemorate that special day. Before the ceremony begins, the graduates and their families gather outside Sir Temi Zammit Hall to snap official as well as candid photos! Graduations take place inside the hall so the beautiful Chinese Garden is the perfect place for some photo ops. It’s close to the hall and has a great setting.

Red Bull Treehouse

Uni has a treehouse-like spot in the canteen. Yes. It’s great for students to hang out at, eat some food and maybe study (it can get really loud in the canteen). This unique spot was sponsored by Red Bull last year, making it a recent addition to uni’s random spots you need to know about.

Water-fight / Tug of War in Vjal Tessie Camilleri

Right below quad, there’s Vjal Tessie Camilleri. At the beginning of every year during Freshers’ Week, the much-awaited Water-fight between ELSA & SACES and the Tug of War between MHSA & MMSA, take place. These events are a traditional start to the year and always very fun to watch!

There you have it, a list of uni’s random spots used for specific reasons throughout the year. Take note, some time or another, you may find yourself snapping photos, building sets, or getting soaked/pulled in long-standing traditions!

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DON’T WORRY. This seems like a lot to take in but as soon as you start your lectures, you’ll quickly come to find out that uni might be the best time of your life. You’ll meet new friends, reconnect with some old friends, study the area that you LOVE and enjoy your personal growth.

This guide is here to give you some tips as to how you can get the most out of your university experience. Let’s begin!

Talk to as many people as you can in your first week

Easier said than done. I know. What you have to keep in mind is that the people that are in your course are going to be your support system, your go-to people when you have questions or notes missing, and possibly, your life-long friends. Be nice and kind to everyone, help out when you can, go get a cup of coffee, and go with the flow. You’ll find friends, don’t worry.

Go to Uni events

The social culture at uni is awesome. You’re never short of any events you can attend (COVID safe of course). Ranging from KSU Cinema Drive-ins to seminars, events are happening all the time! So go by yourself or grab a friend, either way, you’ll enjoy it.

Join a student organisation

Speaking from experience, joining a student organisation has been one of the best experiences of my life. Not only have I made true and dear friends but I’ve also gained personal and professional skills I wouldn’t have anywhere else. Get in contact with your faculty organisation or any of the university’s student organisations that pique your interest and get ready for the best time of your life.

Find a study buddy or study group

Studying on your own is perfectly fine but having someone to talk to and ask questions to when you’re not sure about something is even better. You cannot expect to know everything or understand everything…this is university… we’re all lost. Set up video calls to chat about anything you want, but just do it. Get to know your course mates.

Make a list of ALL your deadlines immediately

Seeing all of those assignments and presentation deadlines can be daunting, to say the least. Write everything down where you can see it every day so you stop yourself from procrastinating. Well, at least try.

Give yourself a break

Yes, even though you’re at uni and you have to study and all that, you also need a break. Your brain and body need to relax if you plan on doing a great job at what you’re doing. Life can’t just be about getting As, you also have to enjoy your time at university because it’s over before you know it.

One last thing, take a deep breath, you can do this. Welcome to uni.

The post The Freshers’ University Survival Guide appeared first on The Third Eye.

As students, we’re all looking forward to our graduation day, and to finally be told that it’s not happening when expected (when the whole country is reeling back from the pandemic) is a slap in the face.

In an email sent to all prospective graduands, the university rector stated that the graduation ceremonies will now be held in February/March instead of their usual time in November and December. This decision was taken by the senate of the University of Malta in light of the ‘ongoing uncertainty and public health guidelines’ due to COVID-19. 

The degrees and diplomas will be conferred to students in absentia on 20th November, and they will be able to collect their respective documents after said date individually. It is not yet confirmed whether students will be collecting solely their transcript of results in advance or their proper certificates.

Students and student organisations alike have expressed their dismay towards the University Senate’s decisions in statements across social media. The University Student’s Council (KSU) said that they are in contact with the University of Malta administration with the aim of trying to find an agreeable solution for both graduands and the University. 

Considering that parties are still being held and Catholic Confirmations are being moved up, why shouldn’t graduations be held when they are supposed to? A tentative date should have been set for graduation on the condition that the situation remains stable. Students are still waiting for more information but their frustration won’t subside anytime soon. For the time being, togas will remain collecting dust. 

The post Student outrage after postponed graduations appeared first on The Third Eye.

Penguin and Panda, Malta’s newest poetry collective are hosting a spoken word event – A Night of Poetry – “Word” – on Friday, 13^th December at the beloved Maori in Valletta.

What is spoken word? 

Spoken word is “writing that is meant to be read out loud.”  This can include anything from poetry to prose to rap.  What makes spoken word different than other forms of writing is that is intended to be performed aloud.  It makes use of intonation, diction, voice, imagery, action, and sound.

If you have poetry or any type of writing that is just waiting to find an audience, anything that you have been dying to get out there, or if you simply love listening to other people recite their work, come and join us for this event!  You can get the opportunity to try out your poetry in front of an audience and listen to other writers. 

The rules are simple:  The poem/piece can be in either English or in Maltese and must be original.  You are strongly encouraged to learn it by heart and perform it from memory.  The reason is that you automatically get more of your audience engaged when doing so and it creates direct contact with your listeners which is something beautiful. 

For more information on the event or to apply, send an email to penguinandpandapoetry@gmail.com. 

The post Pour your heart out: Spoken Word appeared first on The Third Eye.

Almost all of us have had to work a job just to keep up with our social and personal lives. We get so into this fast-paced way of life, that we don’t always realise that there are ways for us to save more money.

1) Make your coffee at home

Instead of buying a coffee every single day, take that little extra time in the morning to make your own delicious coffee. A cup of coffee every day for a whole month may cost you up to 65 euro…just think of how you could use that money.

2) Use public transport

A lot of students rather use their own car to get to university but to most students, public transport could be the solution to never finding parking. Nobody loves to wake up at 5.30-6.00 AM just to find parking and then having to wait for another 2 or 3 hours for a lecture to begin. Do yourself and the environment a favour, and make use of public transport.

3) Make your own lunch

During a busy day of lectures, one is surely to get hungry. Now while the university has multiple options for the student to buy food, sometimes you might be in a rut where you simply cannot afford that slice of pizza or that plate of pasta because you need to pay your insurance or get something fixed in your car. Prep your lunch the night before or that morning instead of buying food every day.

4) Sell your used textbooks

One way you could make a little..emphasis on little, extra cash is by selling your used books. You’ll earn some more money while freeing up space in your room. Try out the Facebook marketplace to find lurking potential buyers. All the variations of the ‘Min Ipartat u Min Ibigh’ Facebook groups will become your best friends in this endeavour.

5) FREEBIES

Freshers’ week has a bunch of student organisations and companies that provide students with useful things such as tote bags, metal straws, stationery, reusable bottles and cups, food and drinks! Stay tuned for this week’s article on the top organisations’ freebies from Freshers’ Week 2019!

Keep in mind that this struggle only lasts a couple of years until you graduate. In the meantime, keep on keepin’ on.

The post The Official Guide for the Broke Student appeared first on The Third Eye.

The event featured six speeches by professionals and academics present regarding their respective fields as well as a panel discussion that followed on the ever-dynamic world of FinTECH. Those present were offered free physical copies of the journal. The journal will be launched as an e-book to be accessed online in the summer.

The launch opened with GħSL’s Publications Officer Emma Marie Sammut. She explained to those present that Id-Dritt is a collaboration between Law professionals in conjunction with academics sharing their expertise from their respective fields. The main intentions behind the journal is to allow students to get the information they need for their research from the best of the best in the field. The journal features chapters on the newest fields in law.The journal is ultimately aimed to give a cohesive view on all the developments occurring in the area of law.

GħSL President Lara Attard extended her appreciation to all those involved in the creation of Id-Dritt. “This publication does not only represent tradition,” Attard said, “but also the organisation’s values and appreciation towards the student body.” She continued that the journal will also be available in the form of an eBook for those who desire to read it on the go.

Professionals that attended the event and spoke were amongst the most respected in their respective areas and included: Judge Emeritus Dr. Giovanni Bonello, Dr. Consuelo Scerri Herrera, Dr. Tonio Borg, Dr. Ariane Aquilina, Dr. Robert Musumeci and Dr. Robert Dingli. The crux of their speeches was essentially regarding what they contributed towards the journal respectively.

The debate followed after the commentaries which focused on FinTECH, particularly the crypto-assets in terms of distributed ledger technology.

The panellists started off by saying that the full scope of the area was never really regulated as the law has been the same since day one. Lawyers have identified a sub-set of the assets and the regulation that has been created is specifically meant to target this.

Another sub-set is that of virtual tokens and this was a main point that was mentioned throughout. They go on to note that these virtual tokens have yet to be regulated under Maltese law. There can be no form of exchange whatsoever of these virtual tokens and since there is no secondary market, legislators have avoided regulating them. More on FinTECH can be found in Id-Dritt.

The panellists praised MFSA for the work it has been doing towards regulating this new branch of law – work which was beyond what was expected of them. Regardless, the panellists persisted that there is always room for improvement. Seeing that this is a new area, they continued that it is expected that regulations take more time to be made. It was concluded that despite the work having been done, there are still a lot of loop holes and as a result the topic of FinTECH will remain in the talks in the near future.

The post GħSL Successfully Launch The 29th Edition of ‘Id-Dritt’ Journal appeared first on The Third Eye.

Freedom of speech and human rights. They are one in the same. If you look closely, you are able to see how they integrate into each other and in our lives. We live in a world where we are slowly being silenced by older generations and superiors by making us believe that speaking up about important issues, is social and professional suicide.

This, of course, is completely untrue because unlike what many believe, freedom of speech is a basic human right and therefore it should be exercised into everyday life. The term ‘Human Rights’ can be thrown around quite casually and people have to be reminded what it truly is. Human rights refer to any right that could possibly exist on the face of the earth and these rights should be available to any human being despite of religion, race, beliefs, ethnicity, sex, nationality and language.

Ideally, discrimination should never come in where these rights are enacted but this is where it gets interesting.

In a world which is filled by people who decide to take it upon themselves to decide what is human and what is not, we have a list of people who went down in history as being the ones who challenged authority and opened up our eyes to a better, more understanding world such as Harriet Tubman, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Malala Yousafzai and Helen Keller.

The question is, how can we keep working on their legacies?

It is through organisations with a concept, such as SPEAK, that we can educate ourselves on how we can break through the barriers that were cemented on us. SPEAK organise seminars and lectures to get people speaking about the nitty gritty of what is happening. It is important for people to get together and discuss issues that rule our society to get a better understanding on why we should not be silenced as human beings but rather say what is on our minds because after all, it is a basic human right.

The post Are we exercising our right to speak? appeared first on The Third Eye.

Both organisations were thrilled to see that people of all ages attended this event in order to learn more about the stigma that plagues our society. The stand had several activities tied to mental health to help those who attended understand a bit more of what is trying to be promoted.

Art Therapy

Art therapy was available for those who wanted to express their ideas on how they view mental health. Many children drew pictures of superheroes helping those in need. This was very heartwarming to see as it gives us a glimpse of how children have a better grasp of the issue than most adults do.

Animal Therapy

Another therapeutic activity that was available was animal therapy and this was also another huge hit with children. It helped them relax and immediate results were clear. Those who played with the dogs, allowed themselves to be more vulnerable and discuss more about mental health.

Yoga

Yoga was also available to promote exercise and its relation to mental health. It is scientifically proven that physical exercise benefits the state of mind of every human being. This activity attracted a lot of people that either participated or simply watched.

Mental Health Tree

There was also a ‘Mental Health Tree’ which people could write beautiful and endearing thoughts they wanted to share with everyone. It was touching to see all of the messages people had to write to help others who might be going through something.

 The organisations provided them with several statements that were either myths or truths about mental health, to test visitors’ knowledge. It was surprising to see how many people did not know about basic facts on mental health but thankfully, the organisations were there to educate people on the matter and help them understand how crucial it is to break this stigma that surrounds us.

The purpose of the event was definitely fulfilled and all the expectations that the organisations had, were met. One member of one of the organisations said that it was very encouraging to see young children and elderly people, eager to learn about mental health.

It is ok to accept help from professionals. It is ok to go to therapy and it is especially ok to learn how to get help and where to get it from.

The post Mental Health Day | Together appeared first on The Third Eye.