Ever wondered if your age is showing? Here’s a gauge: You reference ‘The A-Team’ for a photoshoot with young curators and writers and they just gaze back at you, puzzled. It so happened on a Saturday in a third-floor meeting room where I attempted to instruct our talented curators and writers to embody the essence of Mr T, featuring an aggressive glare and a flashy gold necklace. I couldn’t help but feel like Steve Buscemi in an episode of ’30 Rock’, clumsily attempting to blend in with the younger generation and failing spectacularly. I even dropped a Tyra Banks ‘smizing’ reference but found it was of little assistance.
In all honesty, I’m not fluent in the lingo of the current generation. Terms like ‘serving up lewks’ and ‘slaying’ are ones I struggle with, mostly making me feel awkward and out of place. I categorise myself as a trailing Gen X, hence these phrases aren’t part of my vocabulary. However, as one curator pointed out, they don’t necessarily ubiquitously use these colloquialisms either. There are countless stereotypes about Irish students, with the most prominent ones often being the most ludicrous. So, as the academic year resumes, we should focus our conversations on the students themselves rather than these cliched phrases. By asking for their experiences and perspectives, we can gain valuable insights.
As an editor, letting students and recent graduates manage an edition has been a riveting, daunting, invigorating, and mildly horrifying adventure: choose your description. We’ve exchanged thoughts and ideas via Zoom, face-to-face meetings, WhatsApp, and email. So what matters to them most? They expressed concerns about generational stereotyping, emerging addictions on campuses, mental health, self-identity, anxiety, and the desire to leave a positive imprint on society. Surprisingly, the omnipresent topic on social media, an infatuation for both millennials and Gen X, was not of major concern to them and this could be due to this generation’s familiarity with the internet since birth.
The weekend Magazine, available in print on Saturday, is delighted to introduce four guest editors: Jenny Maguire from Trinity College Dublin, Tess O’Regan from University College Cork (UCC), Adam Mullins from the University of Galway, and Dorothée Karekezi, also a representative from UCC. In addition to their unique insights and originality, the Magazine will feature the views and accounts of other students and recent university graduates. Among these contributors are Kate Henshaw, ex-editor-in-chief at Trinity News, and Molly Cantwell, the previous managing editor at Limerick Voice from the University of Limerick. Furthermore, students from Ballyfermot College of Further Education, UCD, National College of Art and Design, Limerick School of Art and Design, and University of Galway have also made substantial contributions to the Magazine.
It’s a worthy note that not every person would willingly take up such a task and expose themselves in the public realm. It’s clear that we can anticipate more from these excellent contributors in the future.
Let’s introduce our guest editors
Adam Mullins, a University of Galway student, is not just studying astrophysics; he’s also a dedicated climate activist and a food waste entrepreneur. In his fanatic pursuit of reducing food wastage, he launched the Student Pantry initiative in 2022. Through this scheme, excess food is gathered via FoodCloud, a distribution network, and redistributed among students at the University of Galway completely free of charge. With the backing of the students’ union, most of Mullins’ time is currently spent on running the Student Pantry. He originally comes from Clonmany, situated in Donegal.
Tess O’Regan, a scribe hailing from Cork, concluded her undergraduate study in film and screen media at University College Cork (UCC) in the spring, and is presently undertaking a master’s degree in modern literature at the same institution. A devotee of literature, O’Regan holds a particular interest in the works of Hilary Mantel and Cormac McCarthy. In addition to being a regular contributor to UCC’s Motley magazine, she is also privileged to be one of eight individuals awarded the UCC Puttnam Scholarship for 2024. The scholarship, overseen by David Puttnam, entails mentorship in a range of subjects from film to life and politics, and offers the chance to create a brief film in collaboration with fellow scholars. O’Regan finds the scholarship both demanding and fulfilling.
Jenny Maguire, a transgender woman hailing from Dublin’s north side, serves as the president for Trinity College Dublin Students Union. With a firm commitment to justice, she plays a crucial role in coordinating the annual Trans and Intersex Pride protest which attracts upwards of 5,000 participants. Maguire’s previous activities also include organising a five-day encampment for Palestine at TCD. This playwriting, performing, and comedy enthusiast enjoys a fusion of activities that make her stand out.
Hailing from Belgium, Dorothée Karekezi is a multidimensional talent encompassing writing, acting, directing, dancing, and facilitating youth theatre. Her artistic focus is predominantly centred around uplifting the narratives of marginalised communities. She adopts innovative practices that challenge the status quo and evoke the complex essence of human experiences. Prior to relocating to Ireland, Karekezi practiced performative arts across Belgium, Portugal, and the Netherlands. As a recipient of the Lord Puttnam scholarship, she boasts an impressive academic background including a degree from Brussels IHECS School in communication and journalism, a master’s in business communication and digital media from Tilburg University. She recently concluded UCC’s higher diploma in arts, theatre and performative practices, with an outstanding first-class honours performance.