Debate | Issue 10

debate Issue 10 | August 2019 | Sex

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Contents

Deadman's Hand :: Page 14

Sex-ucation Page 18

Sex in a Flatting Situation Page 22

One Night Stand Page 26

Popsicle Recipe Page 32

C OV E R P H OTO BY D I A N A C A B A R E L LO

EDITOR Ben Webber ben.webber@aut.ac.nz DESIGNER Ramina Rai rrai@aut.ac.nz ADVERTISING Jesse Jones jesse.jones@aut.ac.nz

CONTRIBUTORS

Dan Brunskill, Sophia Romanos, Grace Christiansen, Freepik, Leo Walton, Arya Nair, Lizzy Carmine, Helen Shelvey, Jess Rayner, Gabrielle Salazar, Jessy Thurston & Melissa Koh

PRINTER Nicholson Print Solutions DISCLAIMER

Material contained in this publication does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of AUTSA, its advertisers, contributors, Nicholson Print Solutions or its subsidiaries.

Debate is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA).

This publication is entitled to the full protection given by the Copyright Act 1994 (“the Act”) to the holders of the copyright, being AUT STUDENT ASSOCIATION (“AUTSA”). Reproduction, storage or display of any part of this publication by any process, electronic or otherwise (except for the educational purposes specified in the Act) without express permission is a break of the copyright of the publisher and will be prosecuted accordingly. Inquiries seeking permission to reproduce should be addressed to AUTSA.

PUBLISHED BY

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Editor's Letter Welcome to our tenth Issue of Debate for 2019! It feels like just the other day I was writing the editor’s letter for Issue 1 and now here we are. This issue is the sex issue and, coincidentally, issue 10 of Debate from last year was also the sex issue. Maybe we’ll make it a tradition and do the same thing again for issue 10 next year.

We have a real mix of all things sex related this time around. On page 18, we have a piece from Lizzy Carmine on sex in the religious school environment and how it can be considered a real taboo - to the detriment of students. On page 22, we have Helen Shelvey’s guide to sex in a flatting situation. This piece looks at both sides of the equation: being the person trying to have sex in your flat and on the other hand, being the person trying to annoy the people having sex in your flat.

On page 26, Jess Rayner has all the tips around how to get rid of that pesky one-night stand and on page 28, Jessy Thurston examines whether vaping can be considered sexy or not.

We’ve also got some info for you in this issue about proposed fee increases for 2020. The university is planning to increase the student services fee for each student by over $100. It’s a really significant increase that you need to be aware of. These fees fund things like the gym and the counsellors and it’s going to be important to ascertain whether this big increase is justified and exactly where the uni plans to spend the extra money.

On top of this, Dan Brunskill has a piece about the two new positions that have been created on the Student Representative Council (SRC). Considering how much the SRC has struggled to fill vacant roles this year, it was an interesting move for them to make.

At the recent AGM, the SRC painted a pretty picture around their ability to quickly fill vacant roles, but I remain sceptical around how successful these new roles will be. Either way, we’ll keep you in the loop with any changes around this.

Talk soon, Ben

Can't get enough of Debate? Check out our website, like or follow us on social media, or email the editor to get involved. www.debatemag.com

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What's on

Restaurant Month

No Homo: Queer Comedy

Friends Quiz Night

Where: Auckland CBD When: Thurs 1 August - Sat 31 August What: Throughout August chow down on

Where: The Classic When: Fri 16 August What: No Homo is back for another

Where: Sky City When: Mon 12 August - Wed 14 August What: How you doin’? Because you’ll

some fancy dining that you can actually afford to splurge on. Restaurants all around the city have two and three course set menus for lunch or dinner starting at $25.

Some restaurants include Lowbrow, Seven and The Culpeper. Treat yourself and ditch the minute noodles for a night.

How much: $25

month! Book your tickets ASAP because this night of queer comedy is a sell-out every month. Headlined by comedy legend Tom Sainsbury, get out for a laugh and a half with an outstanding stand-up line-up of NZ’s best comedians.

How much: $20

be doing mighty fine after a night of all things Friends related. Get your own Rachels and Joeys together and expect spot prizes and a themed cocktail menu to ensure you forget all the answers you thought you knew.

How much: $15

Bring your Dog to the Movies Where: Academy Cinemas When: Sat 17 August What: Dreams do come true. Watch The Secret Life of Pets 2 with your doggo at your side at the first ever New Zealand dog screening. There will be a photo wall, goodie bags and spot prizes for humans and dogs. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to SPCA New Zealand.

How much: $20

AUT Crushes: Candy Crush A Nuts and Bolts Party Where: Long Room, Ponsonby When: Thurs 29 August What: AUT Crushes has its own party? The future is now. Be prepared to do some mix and mingling to find the sweet love of your life as you hit Long Room’s d-floor. Your ticket includes two drinks, finger food and photographers going around all night long.

How much: $44 for AUT students. $49 for non-AUT students

Women of Influence: Auckland Speaker Series Where: Mercury Theatre When: Thurs 22 August What: An opportunity to network and learn from some inspiring leaders. The Women of Influence series is a chance to hear from some amazing speakers who have contributed to their communities.

Karen Walker, Jess Quinn and Kanoa Lloyd from The Project are just of a few of the speakers to expect as you enjoy a complimentary walk and fork breakfast.

How much: $59

5

news

AUT Proposes Dramatic Increase to Student Services Fee AUT wants to increase annual student services fees by $114 and class fees by 2% next year

By Dan Brunskill

AUT is proposing a dramatic increase to the compulsory student services fee – the largest increase in records dating back to 2013.

In a hazy Facebook livestream hosted by AUTSA and streamed by approximately 18 live viewers, senior AUT staff announced the proposed 17 percent increase to the fee alongside a plan to increase domestic fees by two percent and international fees by as much as three percent.

The compulsory student services fee is charged alongside university fees and is used to fund various non-academic activities and support programs.

Increases to the student services fee in previous years have been closer to $20-$30, but the increase proposed for 2020 is $114 per full time student.

AUT Director of Student Services, Joanna Scarbrough, told Debate the drive to push up the student levy came from increased student demand.

“We are now managing far more complex issues. To the point that we are employing social workers and staff that are equipped with the expertise and skills to provide that support,” she said.

“In years gone by, a student may have come to us with just a financial hardship issue. Now they are coming to us with a financial hardship issue, due to a family circumstance, coupled with mental health issues.”

Scarbrough said although AUT was New Zealand’s second largest university, it had the second lowest student levy. The $114 increase would raise it just above the sector average.

Despite this, Scarbrough denied the suggestion that services have been underfunded in previous years, instead

reiterating that student needs have changed.

“The university is growing, the need is changing, students are actively seeking support – which is a good thing,” she said.

Scarbrough would not provide Debate with a specific breakdown of how the funds would be spent but said that more money will go towards medical services, disability assistance and “holistic” mental health support, although not into the AUT counselling service itself.

An increase in funding has also been promised to AUTSA in 2020, however a source told Debate this is likely to be only a small share of the new money raised. New funding for AUTSA will be focused partly on advocacy services and on the initiation of a class representative system.

Adding together the $114 increase in the student services fee, with the $5 building levy and the two percent increase in fees, full time domestic students are going to be paying approximately $240 extra per year.

New international students will be paying closer to $800 more than before.

University fee increases are regulated by the Ministry of Education, which sets a maximum amount that fees can be increased each year. The proposed maximum increase for 2020 is two percent to match inflation, but AUT’s Chief Financial Officer, Lyle Williams, said this limit doesn’t reflect the higher cost of operating in a big city.

“The actual buying power of what students are paying is about the same as it was last year,” he said.

While domestic increases are limited at two percent, international fees are not. This is why AUT is able to increase international fees by around three percent.

“If we could increase our fees by more, based on the levels of costs, we would want to do that.”

- Lyle Williams “The increase is set at two percent, that is actually not our inflation, that’s the government inflation, but in Auckland our inflation is at a higher rate,” he said.

Williams said the three percent increase reflects that there are higher costs associated with having international students over domestic students.

“If we could increase our fees by more, based on the levels of costs, we would want to do that.”

Increases will vary for specific programs: the cost of the engineering program is being raised by four percent, while the business program will remain unchanged.

AUT Vice Chancellor, Derek McCormack, said education sector wages have grown by three percent and general costs between one and two percent.

The building services levy, which is increasing, is helping to raise funds to build a new facility on the corner of Mayoral Drive and Wakefield Street and the university aims to have this open by 2021.

Williams said the levy has raised around $10 million since 2009, however this is only a small fraction of what the building is going to cost.

“The $12 million we will have by the time the rec centre opens - which is part of a $170 million development – is not quite going to cover it,” he said.

Proposed changes to fees are expected to come into effect next year.

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news

AGM Votes for a Wellbeing Officer on SRC

By Dan Brunskill Students have voted to approve two new roles on the Student Representative Council (SRC) at AUTSA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held during re-o week.

The two new roles are a Rainbow Officer, intended to represent the LGBTQ community on campus and a Wellbeing Officer who will help support students experiencing mental health challenges.

These new roles have been created despite the SRC having difficulty filling vacancies within the existing council.

At the time of the AGM, Health and Environmental Sciences (HES), Postgraduate Studies and Te Ara Poutama (TAP) were all without a student representative, with TAP having sat vacant for over six months.

AUTSA President, Dharyin Colbert, told the AGM he was confident AUTSA would be able to find quality candidates to fill these new roles, as well as the vacancies.

“We are in an amazing position – maybe better than we’ve ever been – to make sure that we find the right people for the right jobs,” he said.

AUTSA General Manager, Will Watterson, told the AGM that a lack of engagement in the student community was a reason for the difficulties in filling the vacant roles.

According to Watterson, AUT has recently given the association access to student email addresses which it can use to directly contact any student.

“Whereas we struggled to fill vacancies before via word of mouth, we sent a direct targeted email to postgraduate, TAP and HES students and within 48 hours we had three to ten applications for each role,” he said.

AUTSA’s job is to represent approximately 30,000 students to the university and Colbert said that the AGM was a “beautiful example” of the engagement the association has. This comes after the previous AGM was cancelled, as it failed to attract the 30 students required to get quorum.

“We are doing so much better in getting in front of you and hearing from you,” he told the students gathered at the AGM. Despite the two new roles comfortably passing a vote, several students expressed concern at the capability of the association to properly support a Wellbeing Officer.

Colbert said AUTSA wanted to implement the position as the high school leavers, who make up most of AUT’s demographic, have the highest suicide rates in the developed world.

students, we need to resource that,” Colbert said.

Some students at the AGM also asked what sort of training and support AUTSA would be able to provide a Wellbeing Officer, who like all SRC members, would only be expected to work around three hours a week.

While Colbert and Watterson did not provide any specific plan for the training or support that would be provided to a Wellbeing Officer, Colbert told the AGM that he was confident the association would be able to “find the right person and give them the right training.”

Also at the AGM, Colbert announced a restructuring of the leadership within the SRC. The association is now trialling a system of two vice presidents rather than the usual one.

“This puts us in line with the other student associations, we are the only association with only one VP,” he said.

As this is only in its trial stages, it will require a change to the AUTSA constitution if the association decides to make it a permanent fixture for 2020.

The new vice presidents are Divya Kataria, who was the International Officer and Angelica Tovia, the Pasifika Affairs Officer.

“We need to do our part to help our

9

opinion

Opinion: Arm Twisting and Thinly Veiled Threats Here’s why AUT just happened to cancel an event the same day the Chinese government asked them to

By Dan Brunskill

Chinese protestors in Tiananmen Square.

Government censorship is something you don’t expect to see in New Zealand; supposedly one of the freest countries in the world. It’s even more alarming when that censorship isn’t coming from our government, but from a foreign superpower.

While it may sound like I am introducing the plot to a second-rate Netflix thriller, what I’m describing is an actual event that happened here at AUT.

AUT maintains the event was cancelled because the room had been incorrectly booked and the building was not able to be used on the planned date. While I’ve been unable to establish whether this is true, we do know from emails released to Newsroom.co.nz under the Official Information Act, that the university did not make changes to the booking until after receiving a visit from the Chinese ViceConsul General, who expressed concern about the event.

Seemingly at the request of the Chinese government, AUT cancelled an event that was scheduled to be held on campus on June 3 earlier this year, to commemorate the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy

Shortly after this visit, the booking was cancelled. An email was sent to the AUT staff member who booked the room that said “Monday is a public holiday, and AUT buildings will be closed.”

An email was also sent to AUT security, asking them to position staff outside the building to “quietly deal with any people who turn up for this event.”

Andrew Codling, who is Head of the Vice Chancellor’s Office, wrote an email to Chinese Vice-Consul General, Xiao Yewen that night thanking him for “alerting” AUT to the event and notifying him of its cancellation.

“I am pleased to inform you that this event has been cancelled by the university, and will therefore not take place. It was an unsanctioned event about which the university had no prior knowledge,” he wrote.

The Vice-Consul General replied thanking AUT for their “right and wise decision” which would “definitely help promote the further growth of exchanges and cooperation between AUT and the Consulate General and China.”

This sort of arm twisting and thinly veiled threat is how China exerts influence in New Zealand. Chinese international students make up a fair proportion of AUT’s revenue and the consul could have quite possibly been reminding the university that those students could be sent somewhere else if China feels its non-democratic political system is being undermined in New Zealand.

The Vice-Consul’s email in response said he understood and respected the “basic values such as freedom of speech and assembly,” but that these have “nothing to do with the political agenda of certain forces attempting to change the basic political system of China.”

Some days after the event was cancelled, AUT Vice Chancellor, Derek McCormack, wrote a follow up email to the consul, reaffirming AUT’s commitment to free speech while suggesting both parties’ interests “coincided”.

To paraphrase, he essentially inferred that he respects freedom of speech so long as it does not challenge the Chinese political system. This is exactly what this event was intending to do. It is why we have freedom of speech.

Protestors, many of whom were university students, were massacred in Tiananmen Square in 1989, while demanding freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and a democratic government. Cancelling the event at the request of the authoritarian government they died protesting is hugely offensive to the memory of those killed in that square.

“Happily, on this instance your concerns and ours coincided and the event did not proceed at the University,” he wrote.

The event still went ahead in a location off campus and it is unclear if the organisers were aware at the time of why the booking

had been cancelled, but I suspect they may have been.

On Twitter, an activist named Zhu Wanli, tweeted a photo of the sign outside the Auckland Chinese Consulate. A large sticker with the words “Remember 1989 Tank Man” had been attached to the sign, mostly covering the printed Chinese flag. A reference to the famous image of a single Chinese man blocking a row of tanks from entering Tiananmen Square.

Wanli’s twitter bio, when translated

by Google, said she wishes to “see the dictatorship of the communist regime collapse in my lifetime,” and for China to become a democratic government.

We don’t know if this act of protest was in direct response to the cancelled booking, but it is reassuring to know that New Zealanders won’t take censorship lying down. Not from our government, not from the university and not from China.

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How to make everyone around you aroused using a packed lunch Suck at flirting? Banged your group project buddy? Get your class pals in the mood with this trusty packed lunch that’s almost as good as the food at Refuel.

By Sophia Romanos

Buns, hun

Hold with two hands while making intense conversation with the person next to you. Go to eat it then pause, hover above it and start a new conversation. For a climactic ending, accidentally pour your water bottle on it, then throw it in the bin.

Suckiesuckie

Nothing says, “I don’t miss being an infant” like a Nommy Banana Suckie.

Make sure you keep at it for about 12 minutes because there’s definitely some trapped at the bottom that you’re missing.

Le Snac

Squirterflirter

Nothing you’d rather slam. Slowly peel back the cover and jam your hard cracker into the not-so-cheesey

Pack it for the pure purpose of making everyone uncomfortable as you shove your face in it while it squirts your lecture-neighbour in the eye.

cheese flow. Run out of crackers? Get your fingers and suck off every last bit! Now that’s sustainable eating.

Sprinkley boy

Stick your fingers in the hole and take tiny bites all the way around the outside. Alternatively, stick your tongue right in the hole and pant heavily.

Yellow peen

Make eye contact with everyone in the room as you consume your protein gains.

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Deadman’s Hand

By Grace Christiansen | Illustration by Leo Walton

As an asexual (ace) person, I find myself continually bombarded with romance in a society that worships sex. Everywhere I look, it’s there. It’s hiding in the pages of an initially promising novel, it’s plastered across billboards and it’s playing in cinemas all over the world. There’s no escaping sex. Sometimes, it seems you can’t step outside your front door without seeing some kind of reference to sex or romance and this can be exhausting for people who are aromantic (aro), ace or both.

Almost all forms of entertainment include sexual or romantic elements, which can be alienating for aces as we often can’t relate to it and some find it completely repulsive. Walking through the world as an aro-ace, I experience a sense of isolation in my own feelings, or lack thereof, towards sex.

As a media consumer, I find it difficult to identify with characters in books and films simply because of the lack of ace and aro representation within entertainment. Sex can crop up unexpectedly in books and it can be painful to witness characters who I could previously relate to become strangers; motivations become blurry and the narrative becomes hard to follow. Sometimes I feel cheated

when this happens. It’s as if I’ve been betrayed by the storyteller, despite the fact that they don’t owe me anything.

When I was a child, life was easy.

Before sex and romance became a factor, I was able to relate to the world as any of my peers could, but inevitably, the people around me began to develop romantic tendencies.

For the first time, I was alone in my asexuality. My mind matured, the media I consumed naturally grew more complex in plot and character backstory and sex as a narrative thread became increasingly dominant in stories. I sought out well-written novels which didn’t include any sexual or romantic elements, but the older I got, the more difficult it was to find a book that met my specifications.

School was no better. Romantic and sexual attraction were significant topics of conversation amongst students and possibly even worse were sex education classes. The assumption that everyone feels sexual attraction was deeply rooted in the education programme like mycelia through gorgonzola and I felt as if I were an alien unaccustomed to the air composition of a strange planet. I was confused and lost.

Much like the sex education at school, advertisers have a propensity to suggest that sexual attraction is a universal experience and use romance and sex to sell products. As a result, the very airwaves carry sex and romance. It pervades screens and paper and I feel trapped by sex, as if it is constructing a cell around me which restricts my ability to understand the world.

Sex is to humanity as the sun is to the Earth, resulting in no niche for ace people except the shadows.

Being ace in a hypersexual society can be difficult. It’s a part of my identity, though, and I’d never wish to erase it, despite the everyday vexations that come with living in a highly sexualised environment.

It’s a confusing world we live in; a world which uses sex to promote products seemingly unrelated to their own selling point and one which champions the idea of finding a sexual or romantic partner to spend the rest of one’s life with. To me, this notion is incomprehensible. There is nothing about either sex or romance that entices me to involve myself in it and I find myself quite content to surround myself with friends who accept me as who I am: aro-ace.

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Man, sex in video games is BAD

By Arya Nair If you’ve ever played the The Sims or watched someone else play - you’ll know the concept of a ‘woohoo’- when two sims (who have a romantic relationship) have sex. Oddly enough, this was my first ever introduction to sex and that fact still never fails to amuse me to this day.

However, as I grew older I began to notice a particular pattern in the main forms of media I consume.

I mean, you look at sex in TV, movies and books and you have some relatable awkward first times or artistically seductive scenes to watch - content that doesn’t (always) feel weird to see, nor does it completely feel like it’s grinding the story to a halt. In video games though?

You’re looking at some grade-A bullshit when it comes to sex.

Let’s be honest, video games are a relatively new medium compared to film and books, only starting to pick up steam around the 80s. The rise of arcade games and MUD’s (online text-based games) on the gaming scene allowed people to try exploring sexual themes. Funnily enough,

MUD’s were actually where cyber-sex originated! In 1985, Nintendo released their first home console and they were so determined to maintain the integrity of their family-friendly image that they prohibited games with sexual content from being released on the NES. From that point onwards, consoles and mainstream games, in general, would remain mostly free of explicit sexual content. Until recently.

Games on consoles like Mass Effect and God of War 3 have attempted to include explicit content in gameplay. Mass Effect didn’t completely flop with this, but at the same time, sex in the game was weird to watch. This would be because of the ‘Uncanny Valley Effect’ - as something starts to look more human-like, there is a point at which people start to feel it looks wrong. Understandably, watching two high graphic humanoid beings having sex in a game can feel a little creepy to watch.

It’s the mechanised aspect of gameplay though, that makes it less than subpar, as to play a game you need input from the player to make the game work.

Mainstream games such as The Witcher,

and God of War have introduced sex as a game mechanic. Like in God of War, you skip out on the inevitable embarrassment of an awkward sex scene, but instead, you’ll be treated to a load of shaking bed frames, jumping candlesticks, and a particularly memorable scene that sees a fountain statue… well, spurt. All this courtesy of ill-chosen quick time events.

Not to say all sex in video games is bad.

Assassin's Creed: Origins and The Witcher 2 are standouts for how sex can be done right in a game without sacrificing immersion in gameplay or by sacrificing the pacing of the story. I think that such an interactive medium was always going to have trouble with this particular topic without it feeling gratuitous, but the stiff animations, cringe-worthy dialogue, the curious application of quick-time prompts and exploitive nature of some of the sex scenes definitely are not helping its cause.

Sometimes sex can be important to the overall game, but I think developers need to consider that if they can’t find a way to incorporate it seamlessly - maybe the sex doesn’t need to be there.

The ‘Treehouse’ and the Chamber of Baby-making

By Sophia Romanos

going up and down on him.”

In humble memory of the original ‘Treehouse’, it is with all due respect that we remember the red chair pits of fucka-thonary.

If I was to pursue post-grad study (I would rather shoot hoops in the plaza) then I would chow down into some research on why students are rooting/ planting/fertilising each other (worth a shot) in the ‘Treehouse’ of ALL places.

There are some delightful bathrooms in WZ – they even have doors. But for some unknown reason, the thrill of those chairs seems irresistible to horny, caffeinated and procrastinating idiots.

If you’ve never had a squizz, the ‘Treehouse’ is an area on level 4 of WG where you can study, gaze poetically through the trees and get a buddy to suck you off. Before they became extinct, there used to be a cluster of sofas with huge five-head backing so that people walking past couldn’t see in. Some pushed them against the wall and others even put two together to (allegedly) make a peaceful pod to bump uglies.

The cream cheese icing about the ‘Treehouse’ is that everyone knows shit is going down. B-lining for classes makes everyone look like fucken zombies but our eyes didn’t need to be focused to know what lay horizontally behind those prickly, tomato chair-backs.

Anonymous sources have been slipping us words on the happenings. We know everything. Yes, you, I know what you did! The following is testimony from one witness: “We turned our head towards a sound and saw the head of a woman who was literally moaning…we could see her

One student told me that they even saw some nasties while they were enjoying their morning coffee: “What I saw in the reflection horrified me, a girl giving a blow job to, I assume, her boyfriend at 8am.”

AUT is inventive when it comes to things that no one wants or knows how to use.

Those height-ist fidget spinner standing tables in the Hikuwai Plaza are an example, with people awkwardly hoisting themselves onto the bar and swinging their limbs around like a fucking jungle gym. The ‘Treehouse’ chairs at City Campus are yet another unusual addition, however, for some it probably turned into the best part of their day.

Upon doing some googling, I found an archaic post from the design and

architecture database ‘Architonic’ that praised the ‘Treehouse’. I have edited it accordingly:

“Students sit in groups or individually, against leaners, inside booths and winged couches. They are active with their laptops, tablets (or smart)phones and use bookable meeting rooms and screens where they can plug in and share.”;-) Amazingly, one AUT student actually admitted to being the “dick” who had called security before on couples having “coitus” in the ‘Treehouse’. What terrified me the most was that they used the word “coitus”.

The student also admitted to putting signs on the chairs that said, “a couple just had sex here,” and “avoid the wet patch.”

“Only so that no one would take the seat while I went into a lecture,” they added defensively.

I still wouldn’t risk it. Best to study in the library in a guaranteed silent (moans included) space. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the infamous red couches should please contact us urgently at debate@aut.ac.nz so we can give away the most stained ones in the next issue.

17

Sex-ucation

By Lizzy Carmine

Let's talk about sex education class ... bananas, condoms and coach Carr from Mean Girls yelling “Don’t have sex because you will get pregnant and die!”

Funnily enough, I went to a Catholic high school where sex ed classes were held in the religious education classrooms and alas, the bananas and condoms were nonexistent.

If you attended a Catholic high school, I imagine you too were probably disappointed when learning sex ed was more about abstinence than safe sex practices.

I’m not saying abstinence is a bad thing, but I do believe my fellow Catholic school attendees and I missed out on some seriously important education about safe sex practices.

My year 12 sex education experience heavily focused on abstinence as a contraception method and waiting for marriage to “make love”.

One teacher plucked up the courage to inform us about sexually transmitted diseases, although it did seem like more of a method to frighten us into not having sex, rather than an educational experience.

I learnt that abortions were wrong.

Although we never actually learnt how to have sex, so I'm not sure why abortions were even mentioned. I mean, we were all going to abstain from sex till marriage,

right?

This issue got me thinking, was my experience in sex education class the same as every other catholic high school attendee? I really hoped not.

I firstly spoke to Courtney (20) who told me her Catholic sex ed class taught safe sex practices and natural contraception methods, however her class was frequently reminded that sex before marriage was wrong in the eyes of Catholicism.

After talking to Courtney, I thought perhaps my experience was the only illinformed one... I was wrong.

James (21) told me that his religious sex ed class discussed the basics around hygiene and puberty, but avoided discussing sex. “You could tell they didn’t want you to have sex until you were married, they didn’t need to say it outright, but it was almost implied,” he said.

And Casey (21) said her experience in religious sex ed class mainly focused on the logistics of how babies are made. “We basically learnt about the journey of a sperm, nothing about sex itself, other than not having it till I'm married. There was a huge lack of any emotional side of sex too,” she said.

Other students I spoke to did not recall learning anything about safe sex practices.

Instead they spoke of the bizarre memories they took from their religious sex ed class.

"All I remember was the anonymous question box! Watching our teacher cringe when he read the questions because they were mainly about his wife. We never learned about condoms or anything," said Duncan (22).

Mikayla (22) said “I remember when the RE teacher passed around a small plastic fetus”. Yikes.

And most surprisingly (but not really), Shannon (21) said her religious education teacher “told a group of 17-year-old girls that if we had sex before marriage we were all going to hell.”

Hmmm, perhaps it was wishful thinking assuming my sex education experience was the only one lacking information about safe sex practices after all.

I understand that my parents chose to send me to a Catholic high school and sex in the eyes of the church is between a married couple.

However avoiding conversations about safe sex practices doesn’t stop teenagers from having sex and a lack of preparation for an inevitable act for many people is ridiculous.

My sex education classes would have left me unprepared for dealing with STIs, unwanted pregnancy and feeling ashamed if I ever chose to have an abortion. I'm just thankful I had the internet, cosmopolitan magazine and a midwife as a mother.

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giveaways

Student life can be tough, which is why we search the city for the snazziest stuff to give away. Like the look of something? Head to our Facebook page (/autsadebate) and fill out the survey pinned to the top of our timeline titled ‘Giveaways - Issue 10’

Burger Date

Pizza!

BurgerFuel have got your date night covered with fresh, gourmet burgers, sides and delicious creamy thickshakes.

Just tell us who you’d like to share a burger with and you could be in to win two free burger vouchers for you and your significant other to redeem at BurgerFuel Queen Street. Debate will draw three winners. Read the instructions at the left-hand side of the page to find out how to enter.

New York is just a trip to Sal's away! With 100% authentic ingredients and original recipes, Sal’s (@salspizzanz) is proud to serve you New Zealand's ONLY authentic NY Pizza! Sal’s has five pizzas to give away to our lucky Debate readers. Read the instructions at the left-hand side of the page to find out how to enter.

Feeling Naughty?

Re: Pack!

Movie Night

Are you looking for one of those fake butts that you can stick to a table?

Debate has a $50 Peaches and Cream voucher to give away in honour of our sex issue. Read the instructions at the top of the page to find out how to enter.

Debate has a few Re: News prize packs to give away that include a reusable bag, some stationary and a reusable cup. It’s all RE-useable. Get it? Read the instructions at the top of the page to find out how to enter.

Take some time out from procrastinating and enjoy a night at the movies on us with two Event Cinemas Vouchers. Read the instructions at the top of the page to find out how to enter.

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HORNY HOUSEMATES AND RUINED SEX LIVES HOW TO NAVIGATE SEX WHEN YOU’RE FLATTING

By Helen Shelvey | Illustration by Leo Walton

Collapsing in a post-sex haze of happy hormones, cuddles and (let’s face it) probably a sweaty mess, is supposed to be a moment to savour and to relish in.

Privately. What is not supposed to happen is hearing Lonely Island’s ‘I Just Had Sex’ playing loudly through your door accompanied by footsteps thumping on the stairs and a fair amount of giggling. Moment ruined. Thanks ‘friends.’

I’ve been flatting for about five years now with a variety of housemates and their colourful sex lives. Some you get to learn about more than others - perhaps more than you ever wanted to. With this plethora of experience in mind, I feel qualified to offer you my advice to dealing with sex in a shared living situation.

WHEN YOU WANT TO IGNORE IT Creaking beds, grunting, moaning, a weird kind of wet slapping – dear god make it stop. I’m sure most of us are well versed in burying our heads in the pillow like prudish ostriches. Surely there are better ways to avoid hearing just how much fun your flatmates are having. Especially when you’re not.

Basic – Headphones are your friend. Listen to music, podcasts, stick on a movie or have a very loud phone conversation to both distract yourself and drown out the amorous ruckus next door.

Basic – Just leave the house. Easier in the day, much harder in the middle of the night in your pjs.

Intermediate – Do some housework. The couple goes into the bedroom, the door closes and a suspicious silence ensues followed by the odd giggle. It’s on – you know it and they know it so take it as your cue to suddenly do some laundry, dishes or even mow the lawns. Or simply turn on any noisy appliance you like. Et voila, you can no longer hear unwelcome sexual noises and as a bonus, your house might actually see itself cleaned! Warning: standing patiently with an electric mixer or power drill whilst waiting for your flatmates to, ahem, finish, might look a bit weird to anyone else without context so maybe choose a loud activity you can justify as normal behaviour.

Intermediate – Have the ‘sudden urge’ to consider the feng shui of your bedroom and start moving furniture around. Maybe your bed looks better further away from the shared wall? May get a bit tedious if your household is quite sexually active.

Expert – Go out, find a date and get distracted by your own sex life. Then you’ll neither notice nor care about theirs.

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WHEN YOU’RE THE COUPLE IN QUESTION Still want to have sex but not sure how you feel about performing to a full house? Read on my randy friend, read on…

Basic – The old silent tactic. But let’s face it, mute sex with minimal movement isn’t exactly a turn on so, moving on…

Intermediate – Hide everything. Lube on the bedside table, vibrator somewhere in the duvet, sex games on the bookshelf (just me?)

- it’s all got to go I’m afraid. Imagine you’re preparing your room for a visit from your parents. Just remove anything that implies you actually have a sex life so your flatmates can go on blissfully thinking you’re celibate.

Intermediate – Turn up the TV or put some music on to drown yourselves out, but be warned as this can backfire. The wrong song can totally ruin the mood and if you’re too habitual, your flatmates may cotton on to what a sudden change in volume is really hiding.

Expert – This one takes balls if you pardon the pun, but try announcing your intentions

to the flat. Then it’s up to them how they deal with it. Be loud, be proud, it’s 2019 and having a healthy libido is nothing to be ashamed of.

Expert – With careful planning, think about it, if you’re the first to move in, you can safely have sex in every room in the house without being disturbed and then spend the rest of the year feeling smug while your flatmates are none the wiser.

WHEN YOU WANT TO ACTIVELY COCK BLOCK

competition.

Intermediate – Order a takeaway in their name so they have to get up and answer the door halfway through. This, however, requires impeccable timing and may cost if they then eat said food. Depends if you’re willing to pay to not hear them.

Intermediate – Have a flat pet? It is now your furry trump card. Simply unleash your weapon of mass disruption into the room with the unsuspecting couple and hope it’s cute/bouncy/drooly enough to halt any intimate relations.

Expert – Open the front door with a very

If this section applies to you, you’re probably either bitterly single, totally over the soundtrack of sex or have a very warped sense of humour.

loud ‘Oh hello [flatmate’s] mum, we weren’t expecting you today! Oh yes, they’re just in their room, let me get them for you…’

Basic – Put on a cheesy playlist, creepy

David Attenborough. Think blow-by-blow (sorry) nature documentary through the door very loudly. Even better if you can get other flatmates involved too. Sporting commentary may be equally as effective. Either way, the poor couple should be embarrassed enough to stop and may think twice about doing it again when other people are home.

movie, or (my boyfriend’s suggestion,) videos of animals having sex. Any of the above are likely to dampen the mood and put the offending couple off their game.

Basic – Have sex loudly right back at them.

Or just pretend to if you don’t fancy a weird

Expert – My personal favourite: go full

How To Be Great at Sex From someone who’s terrible at sex

When I left high school, I was not good at sex. I didn’t realise this at the time, of course, but I believed in some really weird things. I don’t know where all these crazy ideas came from but let me tell you: they led to some VERY awkward sexytimes. I invite you, dear reader, to indulge in a laugh at my youthful awkwardness. Here’s a list of the top sex tips that will make you a sex machine, according to 18-year-old me. If you want to do sex right, then don’t do the following.

Everyone enjoys the same thing Take oral sex for example. Say your ex really liked it, this must mean it works for everyone. It turns out that when someone says “I don’t like oral” it’s not because they have a genuine preference and don’t like it. It’s because every one of their previous partners was bad. But you’re not bad at sex. You’re great at sex. You’ll show them the truth. No matter how many uncomfortable, awkward hours you have to spend with your face between their

legs, you’ll get them that orgasm that they deserve.

just your sexy, muscle magic working its charm.

Everyone is attracted to the same thing

The goal of sex is to make your partner cum

Obviously, everyone is attracted to the same body type. Remember, dear reader, that the media is always right. The only way forward is to pursue people you’re not attracted to, with the understanding that they’ll never find you attractive.

Because all my opinions come out of the fitness section of Instagram and so should yours.

Remember that just like an employer, a sexual partner expects you to be goal oriented. And that goal is not to have fun.

No, your sole reason for being here is to GET. THAT. ORGASM. It doesn’t matter that you’re having a bad time, a cramping forearm and there’s an interminable silence pervading the bedroom. This is about you winning at sex. Because if they don’t cum, everybody loses. Some people say that sex is about being comfortable and having fun and that fun leads to orgasms. But how could that be the case?!

Men’s muscles should always flexed All men must be manly (and muscly).

So, if you’re a man, you must feel muscly every time your partner touches you. As such, when having sex, every time your partner touches you, flex that muscle.

Because girls love muscles, right? If your partner seems worried that you appear tense and uncomfortable every time they touch you, don’t concern yourself. This is

If you want to have terrible sex and drive your partners away in droves, follow this advice. If you want healthy relationships and a happy life, don’t be like I was. Laugh at past me and be better. I’m certainly trying to be.

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One Night Stand

Debate’s Jess Rayner on how to kick them out Listen, we’ve all been there. Tinder booty calls, Grindr meetups or maybe a regretful alcohol induced romp. The whole one night stand thing is easy: they pull up, pull out, ya done. But what if they won’t leave? Perfecting the one night stand simply can’t be done without mastering the best way to make your new friend get the hell out.

It’s happened to me. I once bought a guy back to my flat after a night in town, we did the thing (it wasn’t outstanding), and we woke up the next morning. In my bed. In my house, that has my flatmate, her boyfriend and their three friends in it. I had to get this guy out. But he wasn’t having it. He woke up, showered and promptly sat himself in my living room. Someone offered him a hot drink and he accepted it! He chatted, I showered. He continued chatting. I made my bed. He chatted. All the while I sat in my room hoping to god he would leave so I never had to see him again.

It was getting excessive. Eventually I ventured out to the kitchen to make myself a tea and gingerly asked him “what are your plans for today?” But I didn’t care. I just needed him to leave!

Unfortunately, he didn’t get the hint. Eventually lunchtime

rolled around and by this time I was pissed. Grabbing my keys, I optimistically called out “I’m getting food!” and left my own house, with last night’s one night stand still in my living room. I ate, came home, and you guessed it. He was still there. In the same seat. I ate some more, seethed and then, eventually, he left. Thank fuck for that.

Listen, maybe that was an unsuccessful story, but you get it. They sometimes just don’t leave. But hey, if asking what their plans are, or telling them you have to shoot off doesn’t work, I don’t know what will. You might want to try smiling and saying “can I drop you off somewhere?” Offer to buy them breakfast. Fall in love with them. Have them move in.

You could try painting a subtle neon sign that says “get the fuck out of my house”. Try telling them they need to get out of your flat before your mum comes home, or even better, tell them that your mum said that they have to go home.

Truthfully, there is no one successful way to get your one night stand out of your house, so you just kind-of have to roll with it.

Maybe you’ve ruled out having sex with them again, but maybe they can become friends. Or, at the very least, text them next time you’re wanting some company. Teach them the proper way to perfect a one night stand: as soon as your eyes open, get the hell out of there.

Because there’s nothing sexier than literature.

Reviews by Gabrielle Salazar

Atonement

Normal People

Anna Karenina

Lore Olympus

McEwen’s tragedy takes place during WWII, with protagonist 13-year-old Briony Tallis, who misinterprets her sister’s love affair with the family’s gardener.

Who would think that one steamy encounter could lead to such a great deal of misfortune? This book is a fast-paced drama packed with romance, coming-of-age and psychology.

Watch out for a whole lot of crying coming your way. I read this back in high school and it emotionally drained me back then and it still does now!

With her unique prose and deep understanding of a character’s psyche, Rooney takes us through an intimate, vulnerable and emotional journey. Rooney crafts two individuals that long for normality, yet struggle to navigate their feelings about one another, coping through intimate sex, casual sex, sad sex.

All sorts of sex. If you want a fast, emotional roller-coaster of a book, then this is for you.

This classic novel deals with the ideas of sexual desire, infidelity and jealousy as well as pure love and loyalty. In similar fashion to Atonement, Tolstoy portrays how an intimate affair can bring an individual and everyone around them to their downfall. Anna Karenina takes place in late 19th century Russia, where high society is brutal and everyone’s a bit of a bitch. Sounds scandalous, right?

The 864 pages are definitely worth it.

This ongoing webcomic is a modern retelling of Greek mythology with a particular focus on the dynamic between Hades and Persephone. It’s a refreshing new take that showcases many aspects of sex. Whether it’s lust for someone you can’t have, being in a relationship where sex is the only thing that’s gluing it together or having an upbringing that has strict ideas around sex.

by Ian McEwen

CW: Mentions of sexual assault (barely described)

by Sally Rooney

CW: Domestic abuse, drug use, suicide, sexual assault and bullying.

by Leo Tolstoy

CW: Suicide.

by Rachel Smythe

Lore Olympus has amazing art, mythology and so many different perspectives. What more could you ask for? The best part is that it’s free to read on Webtoons. It’s a whole package!

CW: Sexual assault.

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Are vapes really as sexy as vapers think they are?

By Jessy Thurston Vaping. It’s hard not to be blasted with a cloud of flavoured smoke as you trudge up Queen Street to class in the morning. So, what’s with the big appeal for the millennial version of cancer sticks? Are vapes really THAT sexy?

For myself, vaping became an alternative to my mild obsession with hitting the outdoor spots of every club on a night out, just to have my hit of that sweet, sweet nicotine. I was convinced that I couldn’t have a good night drinking unless I had a pack of the cheapest menthol cigarettes in my back pocket. From first being introduced to a casual cigarette at a high school party, my clubbing routine quickly became 50 percent dancing and 50 percent heading out for a smoke.

It was a dirty habit that was damn expensive, left a foul smell on my clothes, in my hair and all over my hands. When I finally got home and hit the pillow, I was over it. Then, I got my hands on a vape and my eyes were opened to a world of new flavours, easy to charge batteries, and no more lighters stolen from my pals. An old habit died easy! After the initial cost to buy the vape, my weekly expense of a pack of cigarettes soon molded into a monthly purchase of coils and e-juice, almost a third of the expenses cut down.

There has been the odd downside of vaping for me, however. This includes the fact they die. It’s all good if you get into a routine of charging it every morning, but for festivals that last days, they’re not ideal. Part of the attraction, I think, comes from the appeal of

the massive cloud that you get from vaping. This is accompanied, however, by the awkwardness of needing to find a place to vape without the clouds flying into the faces of crowds walking nearby.

I’ve had many a dirty look shot my way for this reason, but at least it’s a refreshing whiff of blue raspberry over the repugnant smell of tobacco...right? To me, there’s nothing better than the combination of a good old vanilla latte from The Counter and a morning vape on the corner of St Paul Street before I hit those early morning lectures.

It’s become a daily habit that I itch for.

" There has been the odd downside of vaping for me, however. This includes the fact they die. It’s all good if you get into a routine of charging it every morning, but for festivals that last days, they’re not ideal."

It’s also an incredibly sexy idea that I can jump in my car and vape out of my window while I sing along to tunes, although this usually ends in awkward eye contact with the person sitting next to me at the lights. The scent of my vape juice has become a selfair-freshener and all my friends regularly comment on how nice it smells when they hop in the passenger side.

I’ve been led to believe that my new obsession is a lot better for me than smoking is, but with articles popping up about vapes blowing up in people’s faces and the little side problem of it being a total addiction regardless of its appeal, I am still a little skeptical of my lifestyle decisions.

Also, if the idea of vaping seems super sexy to someone who hasn’t had an issue with smoking in the past and vape shops are popping up on every corner, it’s probably not a very good example we’re setting for young people. All in all, I’d say that vaping is a lot sexier than smoking, but probably not a sexy habit to get into if you’re not already dabbling in the odd durry-on-the-corner in the first place.

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Four things that are better than your grades

Yeah grades are cool, but are you? Today, employers are looking for more than just grades when they hire someone. They’re looking for what skills you can bring to their team, the type of person you are, whether you’ll get along with their employees and guess what – your grades don’t tell them this. You might find yourself thinking “my grades aren’t good enough”, but you shouldn’t let this stop you from shooting your shot.

Anything that shows you have hobbies outside of just going to lectures.

Teamwork

Niche skills

One of the main things employers care about is whether you can work with other people. Your grades won’t tell them this.

What will tell them this is whether you’re a part of any sports teams, involved in any clubs, or if you’ve done any volunteering.

Communication

Depending on the job, some employers might be looking for communication in terms of written, verbal or both. If you’ve done any public speaking, had a customer facing retail job, started your own blog, then these are all things that the employer will find valuable.

These are skills that separate you from everyone else applying. For example, are you into photography, videography or editing? Have you had experience using Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, C++ or JavaScript? Can you speak any other

languages? These are all things that’ll make you stand out for their business more than your grades.

Curiosity

Are you up to trying new things, taking risks and getting out of your comfort zone?

Are you enthusiastic about learning and bringing ideas to life? Can you use your initiative without having someone tell you what to do? These are things employers are gonna give a shit about more than what grades you got.

These helpful tips have been brought to you

by AUT Internz – because we love finding amazing paid internships and graduate roles for AUT students – and employers don’t often ask us about your grades.

APPLY IN AUGUST TO WIN APPLE AIRPODS Apply in August for any role advertised by AUT Internz at jobs.aut.ac.nz 1 x AirPods winner drawn from local job applications, 1 x AirPods winner drawn from international job applications Entries close 30 August and winners drawn early September. Check your eligibility and get applying! (btw all the roles posted are paid)

Keeping it brief

By Sophia Romanos

Lying folded in a draw, I wait to be picked up by the fingery claw Back then I was blue, cute and worn quite often, If he washed me with Persil I would probably soften I lie next to tartan boxers and a crusty sock named Chad, I smell like piss, and that makes me sad Maybe today he’ll wash and put me on, Like he did before that party at Bar101 I once met a G-string, her name was Gina, She said my sole purpose was to hide someone’s weiner She looks like dental floss, so I don’t care what she thinks I’d recommend you using some African Lynx

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recipe

Rose water-infused white chocolate and berry popsicle Ingredients

Confession: I’ve been naughty. I had a dirty dream last night and woke up really wet.

•

100g white chocolate melts

•

100g cream

In that dream, I cheated on my diet with a luscious rose water-infused white chocolate and berry popsicle that melted down my hands. I awoke to my face and pillow covered in drool.

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Milk, 30g and 50g (separate)

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2 tablespoon rose water (alternative: vanilla essence)

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1 cup frozen mixed berries

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1 tablespoon sugar

Method 1) In a microwave-safe bowl, add 100g white chocolate melts, 100g cream and 30g milk.

2) Heat in microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir and heat for another 30 seconds. Add 1 tablespoon of rose water and give it a final stir till it’s fluid and creamy. Set aside.

3) In a food processor, blend frozen berries with sugar, 1 tablespoon of rose water, 50g milk and half of the white chocolate mixture you made earlier. Blend till smooth.

4) Portion into popsicle molds and pop it in the freezer.

5) Freeze overnight for best results —so it gets nice and hard.

Melissa Koh is a third year BA student double majoring in Culinary Arts and English & New Media. Follow her dining and cooking adventures on Instagram: @melicacy.

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WORDFIND

puzzles

Emotion Virtue Descend Sexy Looking

Beneath Liked Amount Kindness Piece

Persistence Allocation Most Announced Trying

Particularly Honing Yawning Joining Part

Circle all the words in the wordfind, tear this page out and pop it into the box on the side of the red Debate stands. Do it and you could win a motherflippin’ sweet prize!

Name:

Email:

9 0 SC1234567891

Andrea Munita

autsa.org.nz My Card

Discounts

Blog

STAY WOKE with StudentCard discounts till March 2021 AUTSA exclusive member code e5a853a961

Download the StudentCard app to access your virtual card

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