What Exactly Happened?

Google has been revisiting many policies concerning its operations in the past few years. Whilst these have enhanced their platforms, there have also been drawbacks in certain areas. For instance, in 2021 storage space per Google Account had been confined to 15GB.

A similar problem has cropped up, now also impacting the educational side of students’ lives. Factoring in the quota imposition on Google Workspace for Education, UM/JC students now have a maximum of 5GB worth of storage assigned towards their Google Workspace storage.

Although 5GB is still quite a lot in terms of storage space, it still imposes a burden on students who make heavy use of this workspace for their studies, whilst accounting for notes, books and other materials required for their studies.

The unlimited amount of data had served a great purpose to students, so it may be quite unfair on students to see such heavy restrictions. That said, we understand that Google might implement certain changes that would require IT Services to take the corresponding measures.

Alex Gaglione – KSU President

What do students need to do?

In case you overlooked or deleted the email that was issued, don’t fret. Here’s a quick summary of what you need to do by 18th January 2023:

1. Log into your UM/JC student Google account and delete data that don’t relate to your current studies.
   
2. Look at how much storage you’re using after removing the extra data mentioned in the first step
   
3. Students who are using less than 5 GB don’t need to undertake further actions. If you are still making use of more than 5 GB, IT services require you to reduce storage below the threshold. If there are any issues you encounter with the latter step you are asked to fill in this form, so to avoid any impediments in Google Services (if the 5 GB limit has been exceeded.

Google Drive Storage Feedback

The reliability and convenience rendered by Google Drive is not unknown by UM students. As such KSU, along with other university organisations, are acquiring responses to better comprehend how students make use of such data. In turn, the feedback will help KSU to take the necessary actions with regards to this matter. If you wish to participate in this short survey you are kindly asked to click the following link.

As KSU we wish to understand the students’ data usage so that such information can help to find a way forward regarding this situation.

Alex Gaglione – KSU President

The post 5 GB – The New University Google Storage Quota appeared first on The Third Eye.

The following is the full list of the candidates for KSJC 2021:

• Wayne Vassallo
• Kelly Formosa
• Jaedon Zammit
• Mariah Mangion
• Jake Ancilleri
• Yana Zammit
• Leanne Laferla
• Natalya Stivala

The post Strive For Change | SDM announces candidates for KSJC Elections 2021/22 appeared first on The Third Eye.

This Friday’s KSJC Election has pressed this burning query into every Junior College students’ mind. The competing parties’ manifestos might be the clue they need to get out of the diabolical pickle!

What is a Manifesto?

If you are relatively new to the world of politics, this is a crucial point to make. A manifesto SHOULD be your main reference point when making any form of decision in regards to voting. It is a clear and somewhat concise formal document that represents the goals, vision, intentions, and principles of an organisation.

Always keep in mind what your individual values are and ask yourself, “How does voting for this party and not the other benefit both myself and the student body I form a part of?”

Levelling Up the JC Experience

With the intention of bettering the student’s Junior College experience- both vouch to increase the number of plugs and sockets around campus. Also pleading to level up the Junior College Games Room with new equipment. Both SDM and Pulse, have also vouched to launch campaigns related to Mental Health and Domestic Violence. So kudos to both parties on their fight for a better and safer student space!

Pulse divided their manifesto into several sections, one of which being Social Inclusion. Besides launching the aforementioned movements, they are also vouching to organize a month long campaign to ‘Raise Awareness for Autism’ throughout April. (Something which I felt was lacking back in my JC days.)

SDM is pledging to organize a Pet Therapy Day in efforts of highlighting the psychological benefits our furry friends provide.

Safety First

Covid-19 has also slithered its way into both SDM and Pulse’s Manifestos. The aim of these promises is to ensure the utmost health and safety for the students. Pulse direct their focus towards successfully preventing the virus from spreading. They’re introducing automatic sanitizers on every floor and also introducing branded masks to their merchandise. SDM are offering post-Covid mental health support. They’re offering mental-health first aid courses in lieu of the effects Covid-19 has had on students well-being.

Keeping It Green

The grounds which we walk on should be of great relevance to us all.

SDM has offered to: plant more trees around campus and organize monthly clean-ups around Malta and Gozo. They’ve also pledged to work with Sort it Out- Wasteserv Malta to expand the recycling system around JC Campus.

Pulse is offering: a fresh initiative to switch all single-use plastic cutlery in the canteen with alternatives. They will also be organising a ‘Plastic Free Day’ to discourage students from using plastics. On top of that Pulse is committed to supporting the local market, in an effort to decrease the carbon footprint.

Opportunities beyond Junior College

SDM is going big on internships this year. On top of proposing a ‘KSJC Internship Hub’, they have also got MEP internships in store. As well as paid, international opportunities with European Institutions in Brussels.

Pulse are reaching out to those students with a passion for journalism this year. Offering an exclusive, paid internship for those students who are looking to further their career in this field.

Does this sound too good to be true? Be sure to check in to tonight’s KSJC 2020 Presidential Debate, to ask some hard-hitting questions and make your final decision…

So, whether you invest in A Brighter Tomorrow

Or, decide to Choose Forward

We wish both electoral candidates the best of luck for Friday’s KSJC Election!

The post Pulse or SDM? KSJC Electoral Manifesto Run Down appeared first on The Third Eye.

Up till now, only SDM has rallied for an ‘Online Voting System’ in the KSJC elections. The proposal had in fact been brought up during the KSJC AGM of November 2018 by an independent student with full support from SDM. However, the proposal was turned down with an overwhelming majority by JC students present at the AGM.

In more recent updates, SDM has published a statement announcing the JC administration’s stance on the issue and that they still fully endorse the introducing of an ‘Online Voting System’ as well. SDM also launched an online petition in support of online voting, which was reportedly signed by over 500 JC students in less than a day.

Pulse has as of yet not published an official statement however The Third Eye contacted Owen Grech regarding the situation. He stated that Pulse never refused the idea of an ‘Online Voting System’ but they always left the students to decide.

Therefore, if such a system were to be introduced it is not up to neither Pulse nor SDM. It is a decision to be made by the students themselves, like when they decided to introduce an ‘Online Voting System’ for the KSU elections in 2018.

That said, Grech remarked that the students themselves voted against an ‘Online Voting System‘ in the KSJC AGM of 2018. Pulse will publish where they officially stand on the issue in a future statement where they will also address reportedly false allegations and misinformation from the PR published by SDM.   

As of now, KSJC is yet to publish its stance on the issue.

The post “The students need to decide on Online Voting, not Pulse nor SDM” – Owen Grech appeared first on The Third Eye.

Participants were given a pink ribbon and encouraged to wear it until the end of October to show their support for the cause. However, the speaker at the launch appealed to ensure that the end of the month doesn’t signify the end of the discussion.

Mrs. Michelle Muscat also attended the event on behalf of the Marigold Foundation of which she is the chairperson. She encouraged students to enjoy their studies and work hard and called for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Mrs. Muscat insisted that breast cancer is largely curable if it is detected early on; so early detection is crucial. She also called for an end to the stigma that only women are affected as the cancer can befall men too.

The Marigold Foundation gave out leaflets explaining when and how to check for breast cancer in both sexes. The Foundation’s school programme also donated vouchers to the school to encourage reading.

The post ‘Face Your Fear’: Pulse Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Launch appeared first on The Third Eye.

The campaign aims to help ALS Malta in their new project to help Bjorn Formosa build his second home for ALS patients. “Having raised over 35,000 for charity organisations throughout the years, we hope to continue to build on this with Hope,” said Manwela Azzopardi, SDM representative. Donations can be given to SDM members that will be going around with tokens at JC, UoM, ITS and MCAST.

“This will not be a campaign based on money only however,” said Ms. Azzopardi. In fact social media will be used a lot to give messages of encouragement to those going through tough times. SDM also extended their invitation to students that wish to join them in their endeavor. “We wish that the positivity ignited by this initiative spreads across all of Malta and Gozo and not be restricted to academic institutions only.”

SDM’s efforts will culminate on October 19th, as the organisation will be helping during the ALS marathon on Xarabank.

Bjorn himself was also present at the launch, despite still recovering from a serious operation he had had the day before.

“Thank you to SDM who so kindly chose to wholeheartedly take on this project” – Bjorn

The post SDM gives ‘Hope’ to Bjorn Formosa appeared first on The Third Eye.