During these commission meetings, that usually happens once a month, various social and educational topics are discussed, with feedback being exchanged between organisations and representatives and KSU regarding various issues. For example, this meeting brought up issues faced by students during the examination period. While examination venues were announced before the examination period, the exact location or building of such venues were not announced, which lead to unnecessary confusion. 

However, the main topic of discussion that arose during the meeting was the recent controversy about the implementation of the CASP system. Various student organisations brought up the issue that some courses already have similar courses which rendered CASP redundant, as well as flagging the issue that the implementation and the way it was marketed to students were not efficient to reach affected students, to the point where some organisations only heard about it from media outlets.

This was followed by a response that clarified that the CASP system was voted on and passed in the University of Malta Senate in March which was the term of the past senate representative. The actual marketing of the course started back in October and November with several faculties having obligatory meetings that discussed this in one way or another. However, it was noticed that these meetings had either only been made for international students or have been poorly attended. 

Following this, a vote was called to vote on the CASP system in two regards: its merits and aims as presented on the UoM website, and regarding the actual process of disseminating the information about CASP to students and the implementation and integration within different faculties. The voting took place on the following statements:

Statement 1: Do you agree with the aims CASP seeks to foster among students i.e. helping students find their voice, think critically, and facilitate the development of effective communication through writing and presenting both general and discipline-specific conventions? 

27 of presenting organisations and representatives voted for this statement while 5 abstained, with no vote taken against this statement. 

Statement 2: Do you agree with the way CASP was introduced in terms of dissemination of information, integration, and implementation on a FCIS basis? 

28 of presenting organisations voted against this statement while 4 abstained, while there were no votes for this statement. 

From the abovementioned votes, it’s clear that the main issue student organisations and representatives faced was the way CASP was introduced and how poorly it was integrated into some faculties that had similar classes, as well as the ineffective notice that was given to students regarding these topics. Therefore, it can be concluded that student organisations are not against CASP’s main aims and goals, only its implementation and integration into their respective faculties.

The post Student Organisations and Representatives Vote for CASP Aims but Against how it was Introduced and Executed! appeared first on The Third Eye.

The period after which was characterized by 3 years of maintaining the status quo, with SDM candidates being elected to KSU almost unopposed except for a few independent candidates here and there, all of which didn’t even manage to get elected in one office. 

In JC, the rivalry was much more present with elections happening between the two as recent as November 2021 with Pulse winning with a margin of about 500 votes. However, nothing screams maintaining the status quo more than the fact this year, for the first time in a long while, SDM didn’t even contest for KSJC this year, citing

KSJC is intended to better the student life on campus, and as SDM we feel like that the purpose of the council has moved away from its purpose these last few years

Adding to that

As SDM we are currently conducting a self-assessment exercise in order to rediscover our values and our purpose, in order to be able to represent the student body as a whole once again, hence why the decision not to contest was taken.   

SDM, via Facebook post statement

Pulse jumped on the occasion to condemn SDM for boycotting the elections, stating

Such a decision is a huge disappointment for student representation, considering that the KSJC elections are well known for attracting high-turnout voters when compared to other educational institutions.

Pulse, via Facebook post statement

Which is ironic given the fact that Pulse themselves haven’t participated in KSU elections since 2018. All Pulse candidates have been elected in KSJC which means that Pulse has been elected for the record-breaking 7th consecutive year.

The situation in MCAST is no different from KSJC. SDM have not contested for KSM for a number of years, with Pulse electing all nine candidates once again in 2022.

So, to recap: SDM has the University of Malta’s KSU, while Pulse has Junior College’s  KSJC and MCAST’s KSM. All of which have been elected without a full on election that could change the fact that each of these political organisations controls the respective councils, with both KSJC and KSM being contested by an independent candidate for the role of president, while KSU’s international office was the only contested office for 22/23. None of these councils have changed hands since 2016, 6 years ago!

A New Chapter Of The Same Old Story? 

For the last two years, both SDM and Pulse were led by the same President and most of the executive teams, Sheldon Zerafa for SDM and Isaak Koroma for Pulse. This period was characterized by a decrease in student activism for both organisations and a focus on low-effort leisure events for students’ political organizations such as picnics, pizza nights, numerous gatherings, and boat parties. Important events to build communities of course but these events shouldn’t overshadow the main goals of these organizations which some might argue they did. Yet, there was a glimpse of what these organizations could reach with Pulse, for example, working on events such as ACT | Panel discussion on housing or the Campus Tech summit they hosted for 3 days with UM Futsal, or SDM annual Survey Semma’ Leħnek – UM survey. But for the general student public, both organizations present has definitely decreased since they last butted heads in University. 

This however might change in the future as both organisations have elected new presidents this year to lead their respective organisations. SDM elected Hertain Salameh Cachia who has been part of student organizations for a quite long time making part of UM Futsal executives who won the E&L Futsal Trophy last June and is already making some waves within the organisation who went right into work by being quite up to date with statements regarding students issues and starting their charity campaign  “spreading Joy “ with Puttinu Cares & Malta Community Chest Fund.  

On the other hand, Pulse has also elected a new president, Karl Schembri, who has worked his way up Pulse executives as he was JC executive for term 2019/2020 and a Vice President in KSJC for term 2020/2021 as Pulse Candidate winning the election against SDM candidate for that position with 860 votes with more than 350+ vote differences. Since Karl’s election Pulse has been part of both University and JC Christmas on Campus and their social media presence has started to pick up in posts too. They have also recently announced their campaign Solidarjeta’ ghall-istrina in aid of L-Istrina.

It’s too early to judge the future of the organisation now but the change in executive and the trust in new blood for both organisations does bring some hope for change in the future and might bring both organisations into the forefront of student political activism in new ways most new students haven’t had the chance to experiences yet. Filling the void that was created by the dampening of both organisations’ presence around the year except in two weeks of elections in the University of Malta, JC, or MCAST.  

Both Presidents Comment On SDM Vs Pulse Rivalry

The Third Eye contacted both presidents and asked for a comment with regard to the situation, here’s what they had to say

First of all I would like to start by thanking all former SDM alumni for there priceless work carried out throughout the organisation’s almost 50 years of existence. I keep in mind the immense responsibility everyday and in every decision carried out.

Whilst reflecting over the organisation’s past year I cannot possibly overstate how proud I am of our commitment in retaining the best possible option year after year when it comes to the University of Malta Student Council, KSU. Like I have already stated at the very beginning of my term, this year is all about the student body and making the student and their concerns, the center of our agenda. This is why, I promise that for another year, as always, we will make it our priority to be as representative as possible and once again present the best possible options from all over University. I would also like to thank the current KSU executive for their stellar work so far into their term.

Saying that, we are also very aware of our previous short-comings in other Educational Institutes. Work for regeneration has already started and progress is already being made. As I said above, SDM strives to be as representative as possible and we do realise that the best possible way to achieve this is to be more present and vocal in all Institutes in which the organisation resides.

Lastly, I do believe that the rivalry between both organisations, throughout history, has been a healthy one, in which both organisations have been able to bring about the best out of each other. I would also like to comment that out of a fruitful rivalry between our organisations, activism as a whole will thrive. I look forward to lead SDM into a new chapter, a new era, that of inclusivity and togetherness.

SDM president Hertain Salameh Cachia

Personally I feel that this year pulse is looking to revive student activism in all institutions, taking into consideration the footsteps of our predecessors.

Change has brought good in both organizations and it has rekindled spark and competition between both.

I feel lucky to have been given the responsibility at such a delicate time in the organizations history.

Looking forward for further goals and achievements, and I invite and wish for both organizations to participate and take action in all endeavors and institutions.

Pulse president Karl Schembri

The Third Eye Wishes success and progress for both organisations in their effort to give voice to and represent students’ needs 

The post Out with the Old, in with the New: The Next Chapter of SDM vs Pulse!  appeared first on The Third Eye.

These students have reported missing belongings while doing their attachment in the operating theatre where they have to completely change their clothes and leave their belongings in changing rooms or specific areas near the changing room. These students were surprised after finishing their attachment to find some of their belongings missing including money and wallets. 

When reporting the incidents to workers in the changing room, the workers helped the students with reporting the incidents. However, they advised students not to leave their belongings in changing rooms but to leave them near the workers’ office, especially since students don’t have lockers to store their items. Students were also advised to keep their wallets and phone on them at all times.

The scene in the changing rooms when the theft was reported to workers shows that it wasn’t the first time such incidents have occurred, and the changing rooms are not the only area where something similar has happened, with a student saying that money was stolen from her wallet last week when she was doing her attachment in the wards. Another student responded by saying that she has been told to never leave money with her belongings in the wards as it always gets stolen.

MMSA statement on the alleged theft

The Third Eye has reached out to MMSA for a response about the alleged theft of student belongings and the following was stated

MMSA strongly condemns the recent alleged incident of theft occurring in Mater Dei Hospital ….

MMSA demanded that greater action needs to be taken in light of these allegations

MMSA would like to call for greater security presence around the hospital, especially in the common area, we believe that all medical students should be provided with a safe and secure place to store their personal belongings whilst on attachments in the hospital without the added stress caused by these alleged incidents

MMSA also didn’t forget the lost belongings of students in these cases, adding

We also urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter with the goal of locating a culprit and returning the alleged stolen personal belongings to their rightful owners

For the full statement click here.

Important note

It’s important to note that everything stated in this article is still allegations and students’ reports with no official statement from the hospital or relevant authorities as of the date of publication.

We have removed all the names and associated information from the messages to protect the right of privacy of the students and have asked for permission to post these texts.

For other MMSA related articles click here.

The post Medical students report stolen belongings while on attachments in hospital appeared first on The Third Eye.

 The sudden resignation of the three main heads of the council executive committee came as a shock especially when considering it has been less than two months since the KNŻ work plan for 2022/2023 has been approved.  

The reason for the resignation is stated to be “They shall each be independently pursuing a career and academic opportunities abroad”. We want to point out that these are not the only resignations that the KNZ saw in this term as back in May the international officer resigned citing a change of plans and unforeseen circumstances in a post on Facebook. A replacement for that office was voted in and approved back in May.

We reached out to the outgoing KNŻ president Liam Axisa to further expand on the explanation we were given and he said

We were in direct contact with the Board of Control in order to interpret the KNŻ statute for the situation at hand given that each of myself, Celine (the Vice-President), and Kristina (the Secretary General) had been offered career or academic opportunities abroad, wherein I will be undertaking a Blue Book Traineeship with the European Commission, Celine will be placed on an assignment with the German Financial Services Regulator, and Kristina will be participating in the Erasmus programme. As all these paths would take us away from the country through 2022 and into 2023, it was decided that the best decision for the Executive Committee would be for us to resign and make way for new leadership, by means of an EGM to ensure full statutory compliance.

Liam Axisa, Outgoing president of KNŻ

The outgoing KNŻ president also noted that the Work plan presented on May 17th has already been approved by the member organisations so it is still eligible as a work plan for the future executive committee but it serves as a targeted plan rather than a set plan that limits them giving them the freedom to expand on it if they want. 

Candidates can be nominated for the executive committee by any full member of the council which includes names such as KSU, Movement Graffitti, LGBTI+ Gozo, JEF Malta, ESN, ELSA, The Third Eye, and many more. With the nomination for executives committee closing on Wednesday 13th of July evening and election or confirmation to be held in the EGM on the 14th Thursday. The Announcement of the new executive committee will be announced later on after the EGM.     

For the full list of the Full members of the counicl click here.

The Third Eye would like to thank all the members of the past executive committee for their work and effort within the council and wish them success in their future endeavors.

The post Resignations within KNŻ trigger an Extraordinary General meeting! appeared first on The Third Eye.

Road to the Trophy !

In order for UM Futsal to reach the final, the team had to win all upcoming matches. However, not only did the team succeed in winning every match, they also got impressive scores during each one of them. They started this campaign by winning against Naxxar Lions Futsal in the Preliminary Rounds 6 – 2 . They followed that by a 14 – 2 win against Mellieha Futsal in the Quarter Finals. they followed that form with a win in the semi-finals against Siggiewi Futsal 10 – 2 just to end the campaign the same way it all started with a 6-2 win in the final.

UM Futsal presidential comment:

A year of hard work culminated in an outstanding victory, repeating our Knockout win in 2018. Last year, when we lost the Challenge Cup Final, I saw something which very few teams can comprehend. All players were comforting each other and we stayed united after the game. Something told me that particular loss was going to launch this team into something unexpected.

It wasn’t an easy task to compete with the big players. The team managed to play in the Semi-Finals of the League for the first time in our history. However, the Knockout Cup is another fairytale chapter in our history books, especially when considering that we have beaten a team that didn’t lose a game locally for the past four years.

I would like to take this moment to express my gratitude to all players, coaches, committee, members, sponsors, and especially families for always being behind us.

Kurt Rizzo President of UM Futsal

The Third Eye Congratulates UM Futsal team on winning the E&L Futsal Trophy !

The post UM Futsal crowned champions with style! appeared first on The Third Eye.

UESA Executive committee for term 2022/2023:

• President: Zachea Scicluna
• Vice-President: Stephen Paul Boffa
• Secretary-General: Mia Gauci
• Financial Officer: Matthew Mercieca
• Public Relation Officer: Laura Zerafa
• Events Officer: Neil Bezzina
• International Officer: Dylan Ellul
• Industrial Officer: Kyle Muscat
• Education Officer: Racquel Cachia
• Social Policy: Luca Galea

Election for Board members:

An election will be held in three days time to announce the two students who will hold the title of ‘Board Members’. There are currently four students running, them being the following:

• Adrian Mercieca
• Darren Sultana
• Francesco Cini
• Ryan Grech

Presidential Comment

In just one year, being in UESA has allowed me to recognise and value the power the student body can carry. Having a strong foot set forward by the previous team, I am confident that each and every new teammate will keep up the work done and add on to it. It is with my utmost pleasure to serve in UESA for another year, this time with the majority of the team being promising, fresh faces with new ideas. Collectively, we will honor UESA’s main objective, to strive to advocate the root idea of being students for students. Eager to start the term and see what this year holds.

Zachea Scicluna the new UESA president

We wish best of luck for all candidates!

The post Zachea Scicluna to lead UESA 22/23! appeared first on The Third Eye.

In an effort to promote student participation in student organisations and student activism, we will be giving the contesting candidates a platform to reach out to their voters. The contested positions so far are:   

• President – 2 candidates 
• Vice president of internal affairs – 2 candidates
• Leisure Officer- 2 Candidates 
• Public Health Officer – 2 candidates 
• Supervising Council without board of directors experience – 3 Candidates

President of MMSA

In this election there will be two candidates going for the role of president in the MMSA. This being The Former Education Officer for the Term 21/22 Nicholas Galea and the former Supervising counsel officer (SupCo Official) for the term 21/22  Andrea Bugeja.

Nicholas Galea:

Nicholas is MD3 student who spent the last three years as an active member of MMSA, taking the positions of assistance to the medical education officer (SCOME Assistance) for the term 20/21 and as medical education officer in (SCOME Officer) in the term 21/22. He is also the student representative on the board of studies for the doctor of medicine in the faculty of medicine and surgery.  

Nicholas announced his candidature on the 12 of March in a Facebook post saying :

“I feel uniquely positioned to share the knowledge and skills I have gained during this time and apply it to guide this association forward into the next term in this post-pandemic era.”

He followed his announcement with his promises for the presidency :

“By ensuring MMSA has a unified vision, voice, and values, our association can take the next step in extending its help and influence to medical students and beyond.

Should you trust me to be your next president, I will be an open and transparent leader; someone who will give time to all standing committees to operate effectively and who will give room to all members to grow and make themselves the best medical professionals they can be.”

We reached out to Nicholas who provided us with further comment saying:

“Should you entrust me to lead this organisation, I promise to be a transparent and formative leader and I look forward to giving each standing committee and member the opportunity to flourish both within the organisation and externally.

My plan of action is the culmination of three years of local and international experiences, which has filled me with the motivation to work tirelessly in the upcoming term and strive to improve every aspect of the running of MMSA.”

You can find more details about what he is planning in his plan of action here.

Andrea Bugeja:  

Andrea Bugeja is also an MD3 student who was an active member of MMSA for the last 3 years. His past experiences include being the Electives Officer and SupCo Offical among other local and international experiences you can find in his Fb announcement published on the 15th of March.

Andrea justified his motives for running for presidency by stating:

“Throughout these experiences it was a source of great accomplishment and satisfaction to see the difference we have been able to make, all working together to achieve similar goals, passing through similar struggles, sharing a common path. However, it also became apparent just how much room for improvement there is at hand” 

He continued to point out his focus for the presidency:

“To continue moving forward as an organisation we need to ensure our stability. We need to diversify our income, increase our certified trainers, raise awareness of what we do and increase the opportunities we offer. We need to host more frequent capacity building workshops, subsidise conferences and training costs, and increase exchanges and electives opportunities. “ 

Concluding his announcement message with : 

“As a friend and mentor once said, “Let us dare to lead”.”

We reached out to Andrea for a comment and this is what he had to say”

“My experience in our organisation has emphasised the importance of stability and improvement. We need to diversify our income, increase our trainers, settle outstanding legal matters, improve our public image, medical education, and facilities, subsidies conferences and training, increase international opportunities and the implementation of a temporary study area as well as look to the future and set the groundwork for our very own IFMSA GA.

With your help and support, I look forward to work on these and many, many more ideas in the coming term. Thank you!!”

For further details take a look at his plan of action here!

MMSA Vice president of internal affairs (VPi):

There are two candidates for the 22/23 MMSA VPi role, both of which were part of MMSA executive team for 21/22. These being Owen Cachia, Sexual and reproductive health and right Officer , and Martina Formosa, Public Relations Officer.

Owen Cachia:

Owen Cachia is an MD3 student who occupied many co-ordinator roles within his first and second years which includes ( Media Coordinator and Awareness Coordinator) within Public relations office and SCORA office respectively. He was also the SCORA officer for term 21/22. 

In his announcement he spoke of his experiences and reasons to run for VPi as follows:

“I was privileged enough to gain invaluable experience and build external relations with numerous stakeholders. Along the way, I took up every opportunity I could to listen to and help my colleagues within the Board of Directors, through which I started to truly understand the inner workings of MMSA. In addition to this, I have come to greatly appreciate the importance of the Executive Board in the functioning of the organisation. Along the way, my passion for the organisation only became stronger and thus, Contesting for this role felt like the next step forward”

He went forward with a following post on FB showcasing the focus of his campaign by saying:

“Should the medical student body entrust me with this role, MMSA’s unified image will be my utmost priority. I look forward to serve as the Bridge between the medical student body and the board of directors,in order to ensure that the student remains the organisation’s top priority.”

We reached out to Owen and this is what he had to say to our viewers: 

“My tenure as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Officer has been an invaluable experience which I will cherish forever. Driven by my passion for student activism, I believe that through my candidature for Vice-President for Internal Affairs I can continue to contribute to the association and the medical student body, as I have done throughout these last three years.” 

For Further details about what Owen has to offer read his Plan of Action here.

Martina Formosa: 

Martina Formosa is an MD3 student  who occupied The media coordinator in her first year, The PR officer in her Second year and currently occupies the Public relation officer role for the term 21/22 while also being an active MMSA member throughout her three years tenure. 

Martina announced her Candidature on the 16th of march saying:

“Being trained extensively on the numerous aspects involved in activity management and member engagement at a pre-GA workshop on Public Health Leadership Training, has inspired me greatly on how to tackle the issue of overloaded activity calendars and decreased member participation, two prevalent issues in our organisation.

With all this in mind, I believe that I have what it takes to fulfil the duties expected from this crucial position within the Executive Board, if given the opportunity.”

She elaborated on her experience from the past term by adding :

“This past term has been a turning point in my journey so far. Being given the opportunity to gain a direct insight into the running of medical student organisations around the globe at the GA this month, has made me all the more aware of the strong suits and shortcomings in the foundations of our organisation, and how these directly impact the wellbeing of our members.”

Martina added on her announcement in a comment sent to us: 

“Having worked so closely with all the Offices, as well as all of the EB in my role as PRO, as well as having attended IFMSA trainings such as TNT, PHLT and a GA this very month, has provided me with substantial experience in feedback, student participation and engagement, and, most importantly, working with other members. I will do my utmost to work towards enhanced member engagement and recognition in MMSA, a greater focus on activity management and capacity building, as well as tackling the issue of overloaded activity calendars and decreased member participation, two prevalent issues in our organisation ” 

For more detailed information on her plan of action for the position click here!

Leisure Officer :

Leisure officer is also witnessing an election as two candidates have announced their campaign for the office. These are Tara Borg Caruana and Lara Bugeja. Both have had experience within the leisure office in different positions.

Tara Borg Caruana:

Tara is a MD3 student who served as Leisure office assistance for the term 21/22 enabling her to work closely with the past leisure officer in organising and managing the leisure office event. She also has various other past experiences as an active MMSA member which include being SCORA Peer Education Co-Ordinator and part of SCOME Buddy system for two years. 

In her announcement she summarised her plans for the office by saying:

“If elected, I shall work hard, together with my team, to maintain the iconic MMSA-Leisure reputation as well as coming up with new and innovative concepts to continue building on what past officers have worked so tirelessly on.” 

Tara also wanted to say this to MMSA members: 

“My main aim with regards to the future of this role if elected is to prioritise new and innovative events as well as to continue our iconic MMSA traditions. Whilst also, seeking to form new relationships with other student organisations on campus, as well as maintaining our current ones. On the whole I feel like my candidature for this role reflects the type of person I am, which is an outgoing person who seeks every opportunity to interact with different people and form new relationships.”

For more details about Tara’s plan of action click here!

Lara Bugeja: 

Lara Bugeja is an MD2 Student who occupied the role of leisure coordinator in term 21/22. She was also part of the SCOPET Peer ED team while also maintaining an active presence within MMSA events hosted by other committees. Through her role as Leisure coordinator she was actively involved in numerous events which include ‘Leisure Goes Camping’ and TRD’s parties among others.

In her announcement post on Facebook Lara said: 

“Working side-by side with the Leisure Officer for this year has inspired me to take on the more active role of MMSA Leisure Officer.Should I be elected, I promise to do my utmost to maintain the jam-packed calendar filled with a wide variety of events that past leisure teams have worked so hard to build. I will also ensure MMSA Leisure’s legendary reputation is upheld.”

In Comment obtained from Lara she had this to say:

“My goal is to provide students with the opportunity to find a balance between leisure and education. I have big ideas and a big passion for the leisure office and I would love to give back to MMSA what it gave to me!”

For more details about Lara’s  plan of action click here!

Public Health Officer : 

Two MD2 Students are running for this year’s Public health Office both of which were part of the previous year Public Health officer team. These are: Adriel Camilleri and Gabriel Grixti.

Adriel Camilleri: 

Adriel Camilleri was the assistant for SCOPH positioning him in an unique position experience wise to take the mantle of Public health office. His past experience include being an active part of most SCOPH events as well as numerous other positions in MMSA which include TRD performance Co-ordinator ’21. 

In his announcement post he said: 

“It is with great honour, that I formally announce my candidature for Public Health Officer for the term 2022-2023.

As Assistant for the current term, I believe I have developed the necessary leadership skills, and through working with every branch of SCOPH,  an intrinsic understanding of all the work we do, making me uniquely qualified to effectively lead a new team and to tackle those topics that we as medical students must understand. Over the past term I have truly fallen in love with SCOPH, but I believe my journey is far from over, and I would like to lead it to new heights!

When asked for comment Adriel had this to say:

“As medical students, our priority should always be to serve the community and foster a sense of trust and communication between future healthcare professionals and their future patients. I aim to do just this. Through various exciting brand new initiatives, and innovation of our most successful events, I seek to increase our relevance on both a national and international level, doing what’s best for not just SCOPH, but MMSA as a whole!” 

For more details about Adriel’s  plan of action click here!

Gabriel Grixti:

Gabriel is a MD2 student and also a national team athlete in Table tennis. His past experience include being SCOPH goes local Co-Ordinator giving him a front seat row into the planning and organisation of various SCOPH events such as Diabetes Awareness day and World diabetes day health check among others. He is also an active member in other standing events which include SCORA aborition event, SCOPET First aid, SCOME Fresher activities and other events. 

In his announcement Gabriel had this to say about contesting for this position: 

“Public health has been brought to the forefront in medicine and also in peoples lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health is concerned with the general well-being of members in society. Should I be elected as SCOPH officer, I will make it my priority to ensure that public health issues within the population are tackled in the best possible way. I would also make it a priority to ensure that medical students will receive the necessary exposure to patient interaction and also become familiar with taking some basic clinical examinations. “

Gabriel also summarised his idea and plan for the office in this Comment:

“I believe that as a standing committee our 3 main objectives should be: education, outreach and inclusion. In addition, I believe that SCOPH is a great platform not just for medical students but also for the general population.”

For more details about Gabriel’s  plan of action click here!

Supervising Council Without EB experience:  

 This year the Supervising Council without EB experience has Three candidates Running for  one position All of which are MD2 students. These are : Gabriel Camilleri, Daniel Zammit Lupi and Gerard Zammit Young.

Gabriel Camilleri: 

Gabriel occupied many roles in MMSA during his two years in Medicine. This includes Peer Education Coordinator and TRD Ceremonies Coordinator. He believes that his experience in these roles among others made him obtain the necessary skill set and experience to occupy SupCo position with no EB experience. 

In his candidature announcement he showcases his plans for the roles by stating:

“If elected, I will always carry out this role based on 3 core values;  transparency, impartiality, and fairness within the organisation. I would like to see SupCo as a fair, available and trust-worthy body which advices and assists the work of our Board of Directors whilst also serving as a bridge between our members and BD. With your support, I would be able to give back to MMSA what it has given to me during these past two years.” 

In a comment obtained by The Third Eye here is what Gabriel had to say:

“I believe that this role is the best manner to continue contributing to our beautiful organisation and give it a brighter future. If elected, I will always carry out this role based on 3 core values; transparency, impartility and fairness. I would like to see SupCo as a fair, available and trust-worthy body which advices and assists the work of our Board of Directors whilst also serving as a bridge between our members and this year’s BD.”

For more details about Gabriel’s  plan of action click here!

Daniel Zammit Lupi

Daniel occupied the roles of SCOPH goes local Co-ordinator and Non-Communicable disease Co-ordinator among being part of other events organised by different Standing committees of MMSA. It is through his roles as co-ordinator he had the chance to get a closer look into MMSA internal organisation while also positioning him in an engaging position with students. 

In his Candidature announcement post he stated what he want to implement within the role:

“I wish to establish a more communicative society within MMSA, bringing all our members together in a coherent and cooperative fashion. Optimizing the flow of information and smooth handling of functionality is at the top of my list. I want to shed light on what the supervising council actually is, that it is there to help members along the way and not punish them. It is imperative that SupCo helps carry the weight of MMSA and is always there to steer us back on track when problems arise. I will ensure that the right changes are made and that they are made for the right reasons. The implementation of justice, equality and unity is an absolute must, allowing every single student to have a voice which is heard fairly by everyone in our community.”

Daniel summarised his plans for the position by saying:

“If elected, I promise to ensure a more unified environment pillared on stronger communication and equality amongst all students. Tackling and preventing conflict is also a huge priority” 

For more details about Daniel’s plan of action click here!

Gerard Zammit Young

Gerard is an MD2 student and the current MD2 class representative with plenty of experiences as Back to basic-curriculum orientation Co-ordinator, Class representation, MD1 buddy, Blood and organ donation Co-ordinator among many others. Through his various roles Gerard has realised how important this role is and how he can contribute to it. 

In his Candidature announcement post Gerard explained his reasoning to run for this position by saying:

“Being an active member within MMSA throughout both years of my medical school experience has equipped me with a great amount of knowledge about the association’s inner workings, and I feel that I have grown into a strong advocate for medical students’ rights. If entrusted with this role, I will work to guarantee medical students’ rights, as well as work to make SupCo more accessible, transparent, and fair.” 

In a comment obtained from Gerard this what he had to say:

“Through my work within MMSA, I have gained a deeper appreciation of SupCo, and should you entrust me with the role, I vow to listen to students and work tirelessly in pursuit of justice. I will do my utmost to ensure that SupCo is an impartial, accessible, and transparent body working in the best interest of the organisation and its members. ”

For more details about Gerard’s plan of action click here!

Timeline for the election:

Candidate presentation will take place on Tuesday 22nd of march at 4 pm while Debate for contested positions will take place on Wednesday 23th  hosted and organised by the electoral committee. Thursday 24th will be a silent day and elections will take place on Friday 25th. 

The Third Eye wishes all candidates good luck in the upcoming elections.

The post MMSA Election Rundown appeared first on The Third Eye.

The UM Rowing Executive team are the following:

• President – Rebekah Caruana
• Secretary-General – Raffaella Baldacchino
• Treasurer – Luke Frendo
• Training officer – Gianni Ciappara
• Social Policy Officer – Jacob Callus
• General members – Dr. Michael Borg and Elise-Anne Borg

Presidential Comment:

The President of UM Rowing Club Rebekah Caruana who just got re-elected for the third term in row said after the AGM:

Over the past year the club has doubled the fleet as well as held the first international coastal rowing competition in Malta. For the upcoming term the team has a number of projects planned and we are excited to see what this year will have to offer.

Caruana also extended her welcome to everyone interested in joining the club by saying:

If anyone is interested in joining the club to train the sport of rowing, or is interested in the projects we organise, feel free to get in touch!

The Third Eye Wishes UM Rowing club executive a year full of success and growth!

The post UM Rowing Club AGM 22/23: A Continuation of last year’s success! appeared first on The Third Eye.

Lectures

Monday 3rd:

All lectures will be held online and Faculties, Institutes, Centers and Schools (FICS) shall organize the delivery of all their remaining lectures including practical lectures and direct their respective students population about what to expect in the following weeks before the exams.

Tuesday 4th onward:

Lectures that have more than 20 students are advised to be moved online. Meanwhile, each (FICS) has the liberty to organize small lectures with less than 20 students in person or online. In case of students or lecturers being in quarantine, the lecture will be switched online in order not to disturb the teaching schedule. However, Practical sessions that involve fieldwork, laboratory work, and placement, etc. shall continue to be held in person whenever it is possible.

End of semester examination

The University of Malta emergency team seemed to relay the responsibility of deciding whether the exams are online or in-person to the respective (FICS). They only indicate that students who miss the exams due to quarantine should be provided with an opportunity for another sit or alternative method of examination on a date that is approximately three weeks from the main sitting. Further information should be sent to the students soon.

1600 Students sign a petition

At the same time, a petition that has been circulating between University of Malta students and parents has reached 1600 signature. The petition started before the email from the emergency team had been sent but it still got 800 new signatures since the email has been sent. The petition asked to switch all lectures and examinations into online settings for the sake of both students’ and lecturers’ health.

To reach this number of signatures in a such short period is a clear indication of what the students think and want from the different FICS and University of Malta administration. This stand is supported by a number of organizations that included both KSU and Moviment Graffitti with the latter stating:

Studenti Graffitti, the student wing of Moviment Graffitti, supports KSU in a call to move exams online. The University’s policy, which states that students in quarantine cannot sit for exams in January, is both unfair and illogical when a safer option is available

The situation is still on going with further update coming our way in the upcoming days. The Third Eye shall continue to cover the students voices and any updates that we get from University of Malta.

You can find a link to the petition here!

For past articles about the current situation click here!

The post Students don’t take University indecisiveness laying down appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written By Waleed Alhweeshel

With the pressure of the Exams season looming over the student’s mind and mental health; the rise in Covid cases and the uncertainty of the future seems to further pressurize students and raise dissatisfaction between many student populations in their respective Academic fields towards their faculties.

This pushed some students to take matters into their own hands and went to social media like what happened to the Masters Students in FEMA which lead to the ignition of conversation between their respective student organization and FEMA to reconsider their decision to shift into Physical examination with no chance of online examination for those quarantined and only provide them with an option to take their exam in September.

This sparked a wave of voicing over dissatisfaction with University of Malta’s lack of planning for the examination period from different Faculty-based-organizations which included ‘GhsL’ with their president Martina Cassar commenting on a post made public on Facebook on the 16th of December

Law Organization have been struggling to get some concrete answers from faculty for weeks

Till this day with exam being less than a month away, faculty or registrar have NO CLUE what would be the contingency plan should a student be in quarantine for an exam

Other Law Student Organizations came out with their own statement about the situation requesting more clarification from their faculty side.

Other Faculty-based organizations – for example MMSA – are dealing with a similar situation in their own faculty but opted to deal with the situation internally with their own students’ population and faculty administration

After all these incidents within the university of Malta the KSU came out with a statement Today updating the student body about what is happening and clarifying where they stand in the whole situation:

KSU was informed that discussion were still ongoing and that mitigation measures will be placed to deal with the arising situation and FAQs are to be released soon

They went on to clarify the current policy:

The current policy seems to be that should a student be in mandatory quarantine whilst scheduled for an exam, they would have to sit for the exam as a first sit in September. However, having a substantial number of students doing so is not logistically possible for the University, as confirmed by the Office of the Registrar. For students in their final year of studies, doing a first sit exam in September is unfair and illogical

The KSU Urged the University of Malta to reconsider the direction given regarding the situation and pushed for switching of examination into online setting putting into consideration each unit requirement

KSU is of the firm belief that the only visible solution for the upcoming January session would be to have examinations shifted online where feasible, while taking the requirements of each unit into consideration

The situation is still on going. The uncertainty persists, but with a growing number of students, organizations, and KSU releasing statements about the situation, one can hope that University of Malta comes out with a clear and comprehensive plan as soon as possible to help put students minds at ease to deal with their exams without jeopardizing their future or questioning their own safety and the safety of their loved ones.

For the full statement by KSU click here

For past article about the situation click here

The post KSU Pushes For Online Exams appeared first on The Third Eye.