DEBATE Issue 11 | October 2018 | Time
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Contents
Redemption in the Age of #MeToo :: Page 8
Travel Freelancing Truths Page 12
How Fast Is Your Fashion? Page 32
Tomorrowland vs Cyberpunk Page 36
Recipe: Apple Crumble Page 40
C OV E R I L L U S T R AT I O N BY H O P E M C C O N N E L L
EDITOR Janie Cameron debate@aut.ac.nz DESIGNER Ramina Rai rrai@aut.ac.nz ADVERTISING Jesse Jones jesse.jones@aut.ac.nz
CONTRIBUTORS Abigail Johnson, Eliza MacKay, Gabbie Tutheridge, Helen Shelvey, Hope McConnell, Irra Lee, Ivy Xu, Jamilah Bartholomew, Jennifer Daruwalla, Laurien Barks, Macrovector, Melissa Koh, Nicole Arendse, Nishita Chandra, Samuel Wat, Shivani Rajan, Tom Vasey
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Editor's Letter Tēnā koutou tauira. Long time no see! Welcome to the last issue of Debate for 2018, and the beginning of the end of another year. Bet you didn’t think you’d be seeing me back here anytime soon, huh? Neither did I. But as fate would have it, I’m bringing you one last issue, sourced, compiled and edited in its entirety from the kitchen table of my dimly-lit apartment in Brooklyn, New York. And man, long distance is hard — so, a big shout out to the contributors who I accidentally emailed in the middle of the night. Semester II is probably starting to feel
pretty real right about now, as exam time looms and those big-ass assignment deadlines pile up. If you’re anything like me, this kind of stress leads you to spend the majority of your time in your sweats, consuming mostly high fructose corn syrup-based foods, and doing just about anything but studying. Yeah, I see you. Should you need a break from all that procrastinating, we got you. This issue is all about time. Something you’re probably wishing you had more of right now. Within these 44 pages, we take you from the past to the present to the future. Nishita Chandra goes back in time to the humble beginnings of instant noodles, Abi Johnson brings us a great piece on redemption in the age of #MeToo, and Irra Lee asks why us millennials don’t
seem that interested in taking control of our future. A ginormous thank you to all our super talented contributing writers and artists, and to Julie and Jennifer who have done an incredible job of editing your favourite student mag this year. But most of all, thanks to Ramina, Debate’s designer and real-life angel, who works so hard behind the scenes to bring you a beautiful magazine every fortnight. Sending you all the study vibes from across the seas, and wishing you well in your exams. We’ll be back next year with more cool content and a shiny new editor. Arohanui. Janie
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Dear Students, Congratulations, you’ve almost made it through semester two. Those long winter nights huddled under a pile of blankets on the couch will soon be over. In the meantime, why not start saving for a #dreamy summer holiday? Oh, that’s right. You need a job to save money. Never fear, Student Job Search is here. Looking to earn some extra cash over the summer period? Maybe it’s for that beach holiday you’ve been dreaming about all winter, or because you want to buy your Dad something better than socks for Christmas this year, or perhaps you’re eyeing up that R&V ticket. Whatever it is, we’re here to help you put some extra cash in your pocket. It’s our job to help you find a job, which will not only help you make bank this summer, but is an awesome way to get some experience under your belt - along with a reference (trust us, you’re going to need this when you get out there into the big wide world). SJS is completely free for students to use, hosting more than 3000 job vacancies at any given time. From one-off jobs to part-time or fixed-term work, we’re sure to have something that suits you and your summer holiday plans. The thing that sets us apart from the likes of TradeMe and SEEK is that you’ve got a way better chance at finding work - we’re a student only service, so you won’t be up against Senior Partner Steve with 100+ years of work experience. What are you waiting for? Check out the latest jobs on our website at www.sjs.co.nz or call 0800 757 562. You can also head along to our Summer Jobs Fair on October 18th in the Hikuwai Plaza. There’ll be a free BBQ and music, in case you need some inspiration. Wishing you a cash-filled summer break. Yours, SJS
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news
Stripped Bare: The Controversy at Kate Magazine By Jennifer Daruwalla
about the explicit content he had seen.
The University of Auckland’s women’s magazine Kate, produced by the AUSA Women’s Rights Officers, recently faced some criticism for an article called Nudes: Why and How We Take Them.
“[SIC] So has anyone noticed there’s an entire section of nudes in the uni papers with all the rather graphic photos and no censorship. […] isn’t this unsuitable for a uni sponsored publication. Especially as its available to the public including any minors at uni or passing through. Does this start to fall under the pornography content to minors?”
First published in 2007, Kate is the latest in a series of University of Auckland women’s magazines, the first of which (Marte Nostro) was published in 1903. The controversial article is body positive and insightful, featuring a collection of nude photographs sent in from people of all shapes, sizes, colours and genders, along with written captions about the photographs and their context. In a Facebook group for University of Auckland students, one user made a post
Many students were quick to agree with the post, and did not hold back on criticism towards both Kate and AUSA, such as: “[SIC] tbh nobody gives a shit if you feel sexy or not, I don’t think that’s really an important issue”. “If this counts as art then art has really
fallen a long way […] real art requires some skill and has actual aesthetic value rather than just ‘muh soshal commentary”. Caught in the crossfire of the controversy was Craccum, University of Auckland’s weekly student-run publication. Many students mistook Kate for Craccum, which ended up as the target for most of the criticism, such as: “Craccum has always been complete garbage. They're the dipshit, attention seeking, virtue signalling media pundits of tomorrow. They give everyone who falls on the left of the political spectrum a bad name.” “[SIC] Crappum was always a load of shite even back when my brother was at uni.”
Despite this feedback, there were students who came to both Craccum and Kate’s defence, saying that nudity does not equate to pornography, for example: “It is merely art with a statement.” “I like the idea of all bodies being stripped (excuse the pun) of all sexual application, and viewed for simply what they are. Our bodies are our physicality and it is important to make friends with it and to love it and value it. I like the idea that nudity isn’t sexual or offensive, but is a simple pleasure and freedom on a personal level. I don’t believe there is anything inherently offensive about the human body underneath all the social conditioning and scrutiny which we have all experienced every day of our lives.” “You guys are ignorant as shit, depression because of how people feel about their bodies is a huge problem and it is a good thing that AUSA is trying to address this problem and empower these women.” I spoke with Jennifer Muhl and Ngaire Smith, AUSA’s Women’s Rights Officers, who had this to say about the comments. “[SIC] Kate this year was intended as an exploration of feminism as it relates to women’s suffrage. We wanted to reflect on how far we have come in the 125 years since women got the vote,
and some of these responses are more evidence that we have not come far enough. […] “My first point is that this piece cannot be classified as only degrading to women, as they were not the only gender present. Both men and nonbinary people were featured, and to only make reference to the nudity of women is to continue down the same tired road of seeing a woman’s body as first and foremost a sexual object. Women are not inherently sexual. Bodies are not inherently sexual. Nudity is not inherently sexual, and even when it is intended as such, it is not inherently for the pleasure of others. “Which leads me to my next point: the comments about my weight. I think that part of my social conditioning led me to place a huge amount of my personal value in my sexuality. As an assigned female person, I came to believe that if I was not sexually appealing under the heteronormative, capitalistic, mediadriven ideas of male desire, then I was a failure at womanhood. […] “Taking nudes and finding that I could see something sexy in those pictures allowed me to reevaluate my bodily beliefs. I wasn’t sending them to others for validation, I was seeing them for myself and realising that my beauty, and that of everyone, extended so far beyond the standardised values that I had internalised. As I reached out to people
for contributions for the nudes section, I found I was not alone in my sentiments: nudes, shared or not, can make us feel good about ourselves. People take and send nudes. It is prolific! And because it has something to do with people, it is a feminist issue. In 2018, for a feminist magazine to not address nudes-culture would honestly just be weird. Nudes will be sent whether it’s a good idea or not, so we felt it was important to encourage people to do this in a safe and loving way. Nudes need to be about freedom, autonomy, and intimacy, but this is not always the case.” Ultimately, both Muhl and Smith are pleased to see that their publication has incited such varied responses. “I am really glad that this issue of Kate has sparked conversation. Conversation is a fantastic way to grow minds. However, I am disappointed that the contributors who are actual people have been objectified. The comments about weight and complaints of having to see an erect penis seem to remove the humanity from the pictures. Objectification, sexual or not, is not ok. When discussing people, even strangers, we’d do well to remember their feelings. Kindness is actually important, and ought to be of higher value than weak jokes.” Copies of Kate are available inside University of Auckand’s General Library, on a magazine stand by the stairs.
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Redemption in the Age of #MeToo Can It Be Done?
By Abigail Johnson | Illustration by Hope McConnell
[Times Up] pin, because we are not your accessories.”
About a year ago, when the #MeToo movement was kicking ass and taking careers, my partner and I posed a question to each other. Who would you be most disappointed to find out was a sexual predator? Which three famous guys would be your Most Heart-Breaking™?
The Ansari story got under my skin more than some of the others because he was a hero of mine. I loved his stand-up and his Netflix show. I even bought his book. And it’s not to say I’ll never watch any of his content again—I probably will, and I’ll probably enjoy it. But only if he proves himself worthy of redemption.
My partner offered Tom Hanks, John Oliver, and Barack Obama. I countered with Dev Patel, John Krasinski, and Aziz Ansari. This was just before the story broke about Ansari coercing a woman into sexual activity she wasn’t fully on board with—a story that led some people to wonder if the #MeToo movement had gone too far. Some argued that because his story was not “as bad” as that of Harvey Weinstein and the like, the movement was wrong to go after him.
People have been chattering lately about the path to redemption for the (mostly) men taken down by #MeToo. And while there are some people who should never work again (Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey being chief among them, imo), there will be others who will likely go on to future projects with some success.
I disagree.
Recently, Louis C.K. attempted to jumpstart his path to redemption by ambushing an audience at the Comedy Cellar in New York.
When I read the Ansari story, I was angry. I was angry that someone had scored major career benefits by calling himself a feminist, while not understanding the nuance of power, coercion, and enthusiastic consent. This was a person who’d gone on the Late Show with David Letterman and described what being a feminist meant—a clip that got splashed all over Upworthy, and which your cousin probably shared on Facebook, saying, “when HE explains it I get it.” This was a person who included feminist humour (where the sexist person is the butt of the joke) in his stand-up routines, and in his critically acclaimed Netflix show Master of None. So, to quote Samantha Bee: “If you say you’re a feminist, then fuck like a feminist. And if you don’t want to do that, take off your fucking
To recap: Just nine months ago, C.K. confirmed rumours he had denied for years were in fact true—he had masturbated in front of several women without their explicit consent, causing a number of them to leave the industry for not feeling safe. In the aftermath of the revelations, his film I Love You, Daddy was pulled from distribution and Netflix announced they wouldn’t go forward with any future C.K comedy specials. C.K. apologised for the incidents in a rambling statement, ending with “I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen.”
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Apparently a nine month vacation is long enough. How much listening he did, however, is difficult to gauge. By making his return appearance a surprise, C.K. denied the audience the ability to decide if they wanted to be there. Ironic, given what took him down in the first place. It doesn’t sound like he has listened much at all. The Comedy Cellar received one official complaint from an audience member, who stated they “should have at least been given a heads up”. Allow me to reiterate – at least. Since then, two women have come forward to describe how C.K.’s presence divided the room. "It felt like there were a lot of aggressive men in the audience and very quiet women," one woman told Vulture. "It’s the kind of vibe that doesn’t allow for a dissenting voice. You’re just expected to be a good audience member. You’re considered a bad sport if you speak out." There are a lot of people for whom C.K. was a hero. Although he wasn’t one for me, I did enjoy some of his work. And it isn’t my
belief that all of these people should fall off the face of the earth forever (even if there are some who should).
“In order for [these men] to have a future, they must demonstrate that they’ve learned from their pasts.” When a person who works in the entertainment industry is accused of (and admits to) sexual misconduct, the circumstances are different from those of an ordinary Joe working in an office. These people can’t just start a new job where no one knows about their shameful past. These people are asking to be embraced by an audience who know exactly what they have done.
And there will be audiences who are willing to do that. There are folks who have long called the #MeToo movement a witch hunt. There are folks who are willing to ignore sexual misconduct because they just like the dude. Those defending Ansari and giving C.K. a standing ovation are those people. And the pair could spend the rest of their careers talking only to such audiences. But if they want to be embraced by a thoughtful and critical audience once more, they need to show they have actually been redeemed; they need to show true contrition. Ansari needs to show that he has learned about the nuances of coercion and power. C.K. needs to wield his considerable power to boost the careers of female comedians—if possible the ones he scared out of the industry. Fallen heroes were once heroes for a reason—and there may still be a chance for some of them to have a future in the entertainment industry. But in order to have a future, they must demonstrate that they’ve learned from their pasts.
No Such Thing as a Stupid Question A few weeks ago, student advocate Tom Vasey ran an informal session in the Student Lounge called ‘Ask a Stupid Question,’ where students could ask whatever they were too afraid to ask in class. Here he details what went down and what he learnt.
I’d been planning this for some time—an opportunity for students to ask questions that they might have been too worried to ask in class for fear of judgement or ridicule. This was a product of something I’ve seen both as a student and a student advocate; we often have those burning questions we’re desperate to ask, or even little niggling questions we can do without an answer to, but are still a little curious about. It made sense to create a judgement-free forum for those questions to be asked, and I’m going to talk a little about what I learned from it. One big question that came up during this session was that old chestnut, “what is APA referencing?” If you find yourself laughing at that kind of question, then that’s precisely why I created this space—because there are people who genuinely don’t know, or who don’t find the cheat sheet on the Library page helpful for getting their heads around it. That doesn’t mean they’re wrong or unable to parse information, and laughing doesn’t make you a bad person, either. But the truth is, you never know what you might struggle with, or where your strengths and weaknesses lie until you really go out there and challenge them. What I learnt from this session is that there are several questions, and fundamental ones at that, that go completely unanswered by university resources, or are at least placed somewhat out of reach, or in hard-to-find places. What’s intuitive for one student might not be intuitive for another. Some people get their heads around APA referencing simply by looking at the cheat sheet.
Others work best with visual aids or tutorials, or even proper fullblown classes in which the process is explained. The same is true of paraphrasing. It’s amazing how many things people were afraid to ask about that were so integral and important to their studies. It was cool to see people excited to have a chat and discuss questions about everything from job-hunting to academic matters to issues with lecturers and tutors. When I didn’t know the answers (and believe me, I don’t pretend to), there was someone else who could give their perspective or share their knowledge, and it was pretty awesome to see how they got engaged. Even some passersby in the Student Lounge ended up listening in, which was helpful for them when questions they were quietly wondering about came up. In the future, I intend to run more of these sessions, probably with themes. Given the time of semester, I’m thinking we could use one about stress management, or perhaps we could do one on homestay horrors, or the culture shock of coming to New Zealand to study. The sky’s the limit, and it would be wonderful to see you all there. Keep an eye out in the near future on Blackboard, Facebook and Twitter for more sessions like this. Feel free to come along and ask your stupid questions, or just hang out and eat pizza. Keen to attend one of Tom’s sessions? Email him at tom.vasey@aut.ac.nz to register your interest.
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Let’s Be Real About Travel Freelancing Beloved Debate alumnus Laurien Barks details the good, the bad and the ugly of trying to balance freelance work and travel. (Yes, it’s harder than it sounds.) Illustration by Hope McConnell.
Once upon a time, I was a member of the Debate squad. It was a beautiful squad to be a part of, but alas, something more was calling my name—I wanted to join the ranks of thousands of 20-something-year-old white girls Instagramming their way around the world. I’m Laurien, and I’m one of those freelancers who travels all the time. Sometimes you see my fellow travelling freelancers posting inspirational videos on social media that make this kind of work look glamorous AF and easy to make happen, and you know what? Maybe their version of this lifestyle is just that fabulous and they’re not doing any idealistic marketing whatsoever. But maybe they’re blocking out all of the bits that make this amazing, yet rarely glamorous lifestyle a bit hard to manage sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, there’s so much to love about working and living this way. I’ve been to 12 countries since the start of this year, met so many inspirational people, and most importantly, drunk a lot of foreign wine. I just think since this kind of
work started gaining popularity, there hasn’t been a lot of representation of the reality. I don’t want people to dip their toe into the world of travel freelancing, realise it’s not like the dream they had imagined, and then quit because they think they’re doing something wrong. If you’re well versed on the reality of the situation and still decide to go for it, you’ll be able to experience amazing opportunities that you’ll never regret. Have some free advice:
90% of it ain’t luck! The number one phrase I hear from people who learn what I do is, “you’re so lucky”. I always wonder what people are thinking when they say that. I mean, yes, the same day I decided to do the whole freelancing thing was the same day this rando thrust a plane ticket and a laptop into my hands and said “Fly, you beautiful soul! I’ll send you a paycheck every two weeks! Love you!” But I responded like any sane person in that situation and said, “Who are you, how did you get into my room?”, and I didn’t accept the job.
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To get to where I am now, I worked 90-hour work weeks for way too long and received a lot of rejection. When I actually did manage to get my first freelance client, I would receive at least two emails every day full of things I had done wrong and needed to improve on. And that was with three years of full-time experience in the writing industry behind me. Like any big dream, it doesn’t happen overnight, and you’ve gotta be willing to put in the hard yards to make it happen.
It’s One More Thing to Balance You’ve seen all those memes about trying to balance life, work, relationships, family, etc., and how impossible it seems sometimes? Well, when you’re doing this kind of work, you’ve also got to balance being on holiday. “Oh no, you poor thing, that sounds terrible.” This point has come out way more wanky than I meant it to, but seriously. Holidays are great but they’re jam-packed. And when you’re working in a foreign land, you have to do your full time job, keep in touch with people back home, run your daily errands, find a way to meet people, AND sign up for the island tours, day hikes, historical sites, and whatever other touristy opportunities come your way. Otherwise, why are you even travelling? It’s a lot of fun, but man, it can be a mission. I tell you, being a strong, independent and self sufficient woman is all fun and games until you’re hungover on a Wednesday, there’s
no Uber Eats, nor a loved one to bring you food, so you have to drag your corpse to the grocery store before you launch yourself into a 10-hour work day wearing your bathrobe because why laundry when you can sangria?
It Can Be Feast or Famine This is freelancing in general, not just travel freelancing, but it’s probably the part that I’ve found the most difficult and didn’t actually think would be a huge issue before I started. No work is ever guaranteed, so you’ll have weeks where next to nothing comes through, and weeks where too much will come through. It’s because of this that it becomes nearly impossible to say no to work, even if you’re falling asleep at your computer surrounded by snotty tissues, empty cold medicine packets, and half-eaten bowls of spicy noodle soup (completely made up example that I’ve never experienced, especially not last week). It comes with the job description, but weeks where your workload is perfectly balanced are rare, and it’s a reality you’ve gotta be prepared to deal with no matter where you’re freelancing. All in all, it’s an excellent way to see the world, and if you’re not expecting five-star living and a life that, if filmed, could be used as a pop star’s beachy music video, you’ll be in for an experience like no other.
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10 Pearls of Wisdom From a Graduate to a Fresher Ah, hindsight. What a wonderful thing. Twice-graduated Helen Shelvey tells us what she wishes she had done (or not done) during her time as a student. Illustration by Jamilah Bartholomew.
Early-morning lectures won’t kill you. Sure, they suck on a hangover, but you’ll feel so much better for going and won’t have to catch up later in your own time. Go in pyjamas or a onesie if you have to. Afternoon naps are your friend. I may sound like your nana, but naps are the best way to prepare for a night out while you’re still recovering from the last. Throw yourself into as many opportunities as possible. My first uni had a club or society for pretty much everything; from Quidditch to cocktails to gaming. I started with good intentions but quit early to follow the crowd and just party instead. If my friends weren’t in the club or society, I stopped going. Now, I see how many things I missed out on trying, and how many new friends I could have made from sharing a common interest. Societies are cheap, varied and sociable, so get in there and find your niche. You might be surprised by what you enjoy. You will not remain this size forever. Make the most of those torso-sized takeaway portions while you can, as your waistline will start to disappear as you get further into your twenties.
Take care of your health. A combination of poor diet, first-time living away from home, and constant partying will render your immune system helpless in the face of bugs. Repeated bouts of illness will dent your study time and your social life, so think like Mum occasionally and look after yourself. Get a job earlier. As your course progresses, the hours get longer. Take the opportunity to earn some extra cash while you have the time, instead of wasting your first year glued to Netflix. Even if you feel you don’t need it, think ahead a little—you’ll be in a much better position when you graduate if you want to travel for a year, buy a car, pay off student debt or, dare I whisper it, start saving for a house. Aim for the perfect study-social balance. You pay an awful lot of money for tertiary education, so you should probably take it seriously and try your best. On the flip side, uni is an opportunity to make friends, gain independence and enjoy yourself, so don’t spend all your time stressing about study. Get it done early to avoid the dreaded exam time panic.
That guy at the bar. He does not look like the hot actor you think he does, that’s the vodka talking, and you have a boyfriend—do NOT go there! Not everything goes to plan and that’s okay. I changed my course a couple of times and found it very daunting. At the time, I felt like a failure for not using or completing a degree, but ultimately, uni is a lot of work and can be very stressful. Make sure you are working towards something that will actually make you happy, and don’t be afraid to admit if the course you chose isn’t really for you. Being honest with yourself is the first step towards building a future you want. Don’t wait until you’re at rock bottom before asking for help. Whether it’s emotional or academic support you need, there are counsellors and learning advisers who are paid to help you out. Don’t feel like your problem is too small and you should just soldier on through. Your uni fees literally pay for these resources, so use them—you’ll feel so much better!
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We Have the Power to Change Our Future, So Why Aren’t We? Despite Auckland Council and a number of other organisations’ best efforts, Auckland’s youth remain, for the most part, uninterested and unengaged in local politics. Irra Lee asks why.
Auckland Council spent $1.2 million on a campaign to increase voter turnout during the 2016 local body elections. The investment resulted in just a 3.6% increase to a 38.5% voter turnout. And the demographic data doesn’t paint the best picture either. Youth (under-25s), ethnic communities, and new migrants were the groups identified as most underrepresented in voting statistics, and the primary targets of the Council’s Show Your Love campaign. These groups also remain underrepresented in feedback channels such as Auckland Council’s email-based survey platform, The People’s Panel. Only 2% of its respondents were below 25, despite nearly 20% of Aucklanders fitting this demographic. In 2019, we (Auckland) get to decide if our Mayor Phil Goff, councillors, and local board members get to keep their jobs. But will we (young Aucklanders) even turn out to vote?
By youth civic engagement, I don’t just mean voting. Engagement comes in many forms—volunteering, being part of community groups, and generally knowing what’s going on in your area. But, it’s the absence of young people’s voices in official channels such as voting and providing feedback to Council that are salient in the statistics. Take, for example, a recent change in your bus routes. Were you able to have your say when the change was first being proposed? Over the past two years, I’ve been fortunate enough to volunteer in initiatives trying to turn those statistics around and raise youth engagement. But it’s been two years, and I wonder how much has changed. It’s not that I expected a revolution by any means, especially in such a short timeframe. I have, however, begun to question the impact I, and the people I’m fortunate enough to work with, are having in the grand scheme of things. I have started to question why we’re having the same conversations we were having two years ago; why are we still talking about youth engagement?
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“We’re not learning quick enough.” Manurewa Local Board member Sarah Colcord is the youngest elected local board member in Auckland, elected two years ago at the age of 20. The challenge, she says, is we don’t stay young forever. “We're not learning quick enough. Just as we think we’ve figured it out, we need to change how we engage again because every generation engages and responds differently.” Sarah says it’s often easier to engage with older groups because best practices around hearing their opinions are already established, whereas this is more difficult with younger people.
Veisinia Maka and deputy chairperson Damian Piilua say the topic of youth engagement is a worthwhile conversation to keep having.
Why are we still talking about youth engagement?
Even young people who are tasked with trying to engage their peers on behalf of the Council, within initiatives such as youth advisory panels and youth boards, find it challenging.
There’s a fine line, Veisinia says, between youth engagement not being done well and not being done at all. The panel members who advise the Council on ways to best engage with young people and highlight issues significant to the group, say there’s a disconnect between the decisions made in Council, and people realising its everyday impact. They believe this disconnect contributes to the apathy young people sometimes feel towards local government.
Auckland Youth Advisory Panel chairperson
“We really want to set an example to
“It’s about going to where youth are.”
Auckland Council. How we engage with young people and the events that we run— that’s what we want Council to do.” Veisinia says. As well as advising Council, the panel takes active steps in identifying effective ways to get youth involved within their communities. It’s a reason why the panel takes its face-to-face and online engagement activities so seriously. “It’s about going to where young people are because you can’t expect them to come to you,” says Damian. Part of setting an example to Auckland Council, he says, is removing barriers for youth by simplifying Council-speak. In reality, Veisinia says, most people don’t have time to trawl through 60-page Council documents. Simplifying documents allows people to gain a better understanding of what the Council actually gets up to.
“The last time I had any sort of civics education was in Year Nine." Howick in East Auckland is home to one of the city’s largest youth populations. Zac
Wong, chairperson of the Howick Youth Council, says a lack of civics knowledge is a barrier to youth engagement and involvement with local government. “The last time I had any sort of civics education was in Year Nine. We might’ve looked at the different types of government and the party system briefly. But that was the extent of it. “Schools may want to be non-political, but the thing is, we probably need to be getting students engaged right from school if we want them to have a voice as citizens.” As with the Youth Advisory Panel, Zac says the idea is to make Council documents relevant and to meet youth where they are. “We’ve got to facilitate ideas and conversations, especially for those who have little experience with politics and people who are just completely disinterested.” Part of the facilitation process, he says, is transforming informal comments from youth around what they want to see in the community into formal documents
recognised by local board and Council. “If the answer to how to get people interested was easy, we wouldn’t have engagement problems. But we do. So, we’ve got to try things, and talk about issues that matter to people.”
“It’s about making an effort.” “The Howick Youth Council’s been doing a lot of social media because that’s a medium that helps us raise engagement,” Zac says. They’ve found success in delivering content in easy-to-understand, bite-sized pieces using a combination of videos, photos and Facebook Live. However, social media can’t replace face-to-face interaction, Zac says. “The problem with social media is only a certain number of people see it. You actually have to go to youth groups and communities to get engagement back.” The Youth Advisory Panel uses social media to keep themselves accountable to the young people they represent. It’s important, Damian says, they remember they speak to Auckland Council first
and foremost as members of their communities. “What we’ve tried to do is have transparent conversations with as many people as we can engage with. That’s why we’ve been adamant on posting [on social media] constantly, and getting things out, so that people know who we are.” Sarah says the first step to meaningful engagement is understanding there are many complex layers within the issue of youth engagement. “For example, our minorities and ethnic communities are underrepresented. It’s even worse in the youth engagement space because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all way to engage.” That’s why, Sarah says, it’s about authenticity, intention, and appropriateness when it comes to listening to what youth want. It’s about starting a conversation, and also understanding that no one has all the answers. “Sometimes you’ll fail, but it’s about making an effort.”
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There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch, But $5 Ain’t Bad Samuel Wat pays homage to one of AUT’s favourite lunchtime offerings.
The Veda Club’s $5 vegan curry Thursdays have been an iconic part of AUT’s student life for the past five years. Gaura, Sundar, and their team of dedicated volunteers have come a long way from handing out free testers and cakes, to having queues of people lined up with their own containers to be filled with a delicious meat-free curry. It’s all part of their mission to spread awareness about leading a healthier lifestyle by eating good, honest food the way mama makes it. Following its success at the University of Auckland, the Veda Club was introduced at AUT five years ago. When it first started, however, it was not as popular as it was over at UoA, says Megan Burfoot, student president of AUT’s Veda Club. At UoA, everyone is centred around the quad to eat, and so word about the vegan curries spread fast. “With us at AUT, we grab our meal and go somewhere random to eat it,” says Megan. She says the team had to give out free samples to be noticed at first, but the hype soon grew as people caught onto the idea of a cheap feed and doing something good for their bodies.
The vegan curries are inspired by the teachings of the Vedas (ancient Hindu scriptures), which prefer methods of food production to be in sync with nature and the value of compassion. And people get really into it—staff and students now arrive in droves with their own containers to be filled. Besides being cheap and delicious, the Veda Club has some wonderful cooks too. “Gaura and Sundar, they’re just so kind…You go and feel appreciated as a person,” says Megan. Compassion is the core value they stand by. The $5 covers the cost of making the curry, and that’s all they have charged since the club’s beginning—with no adjustment for inflation. With how popular it is right now, there is little the Veda Club is looking to change. They are, however, thinking of holding an all-day free lunch event, but there are currently issues with getting a funding grant. They’re working on it. Long live the Veda Club!
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The Pursuit of Millennial Happiness By Gabbie Tutheridge | Illustration by Eliza MacKay
We live in a generation of #goals, where accomplishments are praised and failures… well, not so much. Yeah, we can learn from our mistakes, but can we ever feel fully accomplished? As millennials, we are constantly needing and wanting more; nothing is ever enough. It’s always, “what’s next?” We live in an era when we are constantly being judged or judging, comparing or admiring. We are all on the ultimate search for happiness, a search that’s exacerbated by the media. Happiness. You know, in that happy-golucky movie where the characters reach peak happiness, kiss and walk off into the sunset? The sexy new car that Insta influencer just bought? That guy or girl with an impossibly shredded body? That couple with the seemingly perfect relationship? Getting married, owning a house? You know, happiness? It’s an ambiguous word warped into our minds. Happy is the ultimate. But what is happiness? For one, it can’t be bottled up into one category. My happiness, for example, is waking up before sunrise and going to boxing. But that might be somebody else’s fucking nightmare. Everybody finds happiness in different
places, but how do we find it? First up, happiness is not something you magically find. So ignore all that talk about “searching” for your happiness, marketed at the helpless or hopeless. Happiness is just a word, so let’s start from there: Happiness isn’t something we find when we are in love, and isn’t something that money can buy—the most lavish of expenses will leave you wanting more, never feeling complete or happy. Happiness isn’t something we can find in drugs or alcohol. What I’m trying to say is that happiness doesn’t just come from one thing. So what should we even aspire for? Buckle up, and get ready for the double-cheesy mozzarella part: Happiness is found in the little things, it seeps through the cracks that piece the different parts of our lives together. If you’re not feeling happy, take a step back, ask yourself why, and do something about it. Do you hate your job? Then quit your fucking job. Can’t stand your flatmate? Move out. Struggle with your body image? Find an exercise that you love, and do it as often as you can. Want to get a dog? Do it. Dogs are awesome. It sounds simple, and
sometimes it is. Of course, this isn’t the case for everyone. Depression and anxiety cause major roadblocks for many people, making happiness difficult to obtain.* But if and when you can, do the things that make you happy, and do them a lot. Empty out the thoughts of sadness, anger, hatred, remorse, regret and comparison, and instead focus on the little things: Going to the concert that makes you smile so big you feel as if you could cry, lying on the beach with the bros with a beer in hand listening to your favourite jams, holding the person that means the most to you and spending time doing meaningful things you value with the people you value the most instead of scrolling through your Instagram feed, comparing yourself to millions of others. My point is that being happy in our generation is hard, like opening a jar of salsa hard. We are on an endless roller coaster of emotions, but this is the ride of our lives. Destroy the comparisons, make light of the bad situations, and create your own story— don’t be a cookie cutter of someone else’s. Comparison and setting unrealistic goals will only set you back. Start small, by doing the things you love and doing them often. Don’t let anyone or anything get in the way of what your ultimate happiness is.
Feeling down? AUT offers free counseling for students. Phone 09 921 9292 or visit WB L2 reception at the City Campus. Alternatively, call Youthline on 0800 376 633.
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giveaways
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 below? Head over to our Facebook page (/autsadebate) and fill out the competition survey pinned to the top of our timeline called ‘GIVEAWAYS – ISSUE 11’ using the keyword ‘TODAY’. Make sure you like our page to be in to win!
Be Ethique-al Ready to give up the bottle? Ethique is on a mission to eradicate the world of plastic waste, creating chemical-free cleansing bars that are good for both your skin and the environment. We have a three-pack to give away comprising a Bodywash Bar, a Shampoo Bar, and a Solid Deodorant. And they smell. so. good. To win, check out the instructions at the top of the page.
You Can’t Make This Up
Get Healthy on the Go
To apologise for that terrible pun, we’re giving away a huge bag of makeup on behalf of DB and Wet n Wild. This includes a 10-piece Day Dreamer Brush Set, foundations, a selection of lipsticks and glosses, eyeshadow palettes, mascara, highlighter, blush, concealer, nail polish—you name it, it’s probably in there. To win, check out the instructions at the top of the page.
Fresh To Go Layered Salads are perfect to keep you feeling fresh and healthy during the busy exam period. With a wide range of flavours including Kale & Chia, Sushi, Nacho and Noodle salads, there’s something for everyone—even you salad haters out there. Fresh To Go is giving four lucky Debate readers the chance to win three freshly-made salads of your choice, delivered right to your door. To win, check out the instructions at the top of the page.
Get Lush Feeling stressed from all that study? Same. Lucky for you, we’ve got three packs of beautiful bath bombs to giveaway from our friends at Lush—perfect for that “me-time” moment you’ve been craving. Relax, and smell damn good doing it. To win, check out the instructions at the top of the page.
A Bag of Sustainability
Food For Your Seoul
Show the earth some love this summer and cut down on your single-use plastic. We’ve got a beautiful hessian tote bag full of sustainability products to give away to one earth-loving Debate reader, including an eco-friendly coffee cup, Karajoz’ sustainable plunger coffee, beeswax food wrap and reusable bags. To win, check out the instructions at the top of the page.
No, that’s not a typo. BurgerFuel’s new limited-edition burger, Seoul Train is where soul food meets, well, Seoul food. For the fried chicken fanatics out there, BurgerFuel is giving away eight vouchers for their Seoul Train burger from the Queen Street store. Explode your taste buds with tart kimchi, eye-watering gochujang aioli, sweet pickled daikon radish and crunchy bean sprouts. To win, check out the instructions at the top of the page.
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From Where You’d Rather Be AUT’s exchange coordinator Shivani Rajan speaks to past, present and future exchange students about their thoughts on studying abroad. How does the idea of traveling while you study sound? Like a dream come true, right? AUT’s exchange programme has been sending students overseas for the last 16 years. That’s a pretty long time and it got me thinking about the many who have come and gone through this programme, where they are now, and how their overseas exchange has affected their lives. I checked in with past, present, and future exchange students to talk about their previous experiences and/or future plans for exploring the big wide world.
Past “My exchange to China was an eye opening experience. It enlightens you in a way that being a tourist cannot. As an exchange student I was forced to live a life I wasn't accustomed to. Since the exchange, I've come to love living in China. Study goals aside, the life experience you gain is absolutely priceless. Do not miss this opportunity. Do a year—six months is just a tease. I came back to China after graduating from AUT to teach English and I haven't looked back.” – Israel Lagatule, China, 2014 “Exchange was the first thing that sparked my travel bug. Each year I get more inspired, meaning I’ve now travelled, worked, studied and volunteered in 40 countries and counting. Exchange has shaped my career in international education, my relationships (managing long-distance friendships in particular), and pretty much every aspect of my adult life. If you’re up for the challenge, the rewards are endless.” – Monique van Veen, Netherlands, 2010
“Doing an exchange was amazing. I felt truly free. It changed me. I gained confidence, met incredible people, learnt a new language, and a totally different way of seeing the world and appreciating my life in New Zealand. If you're thinking about doing an exchange, you should absolutely go for it! It's worth every cent. An exchange will help you in all sorts of unexpected ways, especially if you are still figuring out who you are and what you want to do. It will be tough, it will be amazing, and if you go with an open heart and mind, the experience will make you.” – Holly Grover, Mexico, 2011 “Through doing an international exchange, I now have connections all over the world who have offered couches and beds to stay on when I go travelling. They’re also helping line-up job interviews for me in Europe, Canada and the US, which is amazing! The exchange has given me heaps of connections all around the world and has opened my eyes to so many different cultures. My exchange has left me with a massive travel bug and a need to go try new challenges and to meet new people.” – Stefan Silva, Canada, 2017 “My exchange taught me to be spontaneous and to just go where life takes you. Before my exchange I thought I had to have everything planned out about my life but it’s totally amazing how studying abroad really turned my life in a different direction, for the better. It may seem scary but if you are on the fence about doing the exchange, make a spontaneous decision and go see the world! I promise that you won’t regret it and you will find things out about yourself that you never knew and it will change you for the better. Why stay in Auckland and study when you can go across the world and study while exploring?” – Berme Jordan, USA, 2015
Present “I think applying for an exchange can be very daunting because you want to be organised and prepared but it definitely doesn’t work that way. I can confidently say that, that feeling is a big part of the fun. After a week on exchange, I have done more with my life than in multiple years. Nothing is common or normal but that is the point of an exchange—to broaden your perspective and to put yourself out there.” – Devon Toi, Netherlands, 2018 “Applying feels very exciting, especially during the preparation stage, but once my exchange was right around the corner, I become a little anxious and felt nervous. I started worrying about what I will do when I land and the different lifestyle over there.” – Oliver Zhao, Canada 2018 “Honestly, I didn’t think my exchange would’ve been half as good as it has been so far and if you get this opportunity, embrace every part of it! I am and it’s been the best time of my life so far. Even though it is scary to leave lil’ NZ, it will be the exact same when you get back, and you’ll make an amazing international family while over here. Trust me, go for it! Best decision I could have ever made!” – Poppy Siermans, USA, 2018
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“If you don't have enough money, save and go next year. If you don't want to leave your girlfriend/boyfriend behind, just remember they’ll most likely still be there when you get back. If you’re just afraid, then all the more reason to apply because it has been amazing for me so far to meet new people, experience new things and cultures and truly appreciate New Zealand like I never have before.” – Kale Buchanan, Netherlands, 2018 “One of the barriers I have faced has been really funny and entertaining—the language barrier. There have been times in conversation with Americans where I have said something and they have stared back at me like I’m an idiot. That’s because I’ve just said an extremely Kiwi sentence full of slang. It’s funny to teach them some of the wild words we use such as ‘yarns’ and ‘Maccas’.” – Keegan Allen, USA, 2018. “To the AUT students who are sitting on the fence about applying, I would say go for it! Even thinking about going on an exchange proves you’re willing to push yourself. The application process is quite lengthy so even after applying, you still have a couple of months to think about it. Forget the worries
and hype yourself up! Think about the friends you could make, the stories you could tell, the Insta-worthy photos you could take, anything that gets you excited.” — Serene Aun, Germany, 2018
Future “I chose to apply for an exchange because I was looking for something new to do. I think every university student gets to a point where they want to change up their normal day-to-day routine. When the opportunity was put into my hands about possibly going on exchange, I couldn’t resist. Spending time overseas is definitely in my future plans and hopefully it will happen earlier than I thought.” – Olivia Truscott, UK, 2019 “I decided to apply for an exchange because I have always had a dream to travel, with a final goal of moving to another country. To do this, I must also find a way to get overseas connections, and I saw the exchange programme as a great opportunity to experience another culture—plus the chance of acquiring said connections.” – Taylor Gray, Japan, 2019
“I am most looking forward to living and studying in a new country and making new friends from all around the world. I hope that studying abroad will increase my independence, confidence and worldly knowledge to make me a more approachable and employable individual. And skipping a New Zealand winter for a European summer is definitely a perk.” – Justine Vincent, Germany, 2019 “I wanted to apply for an exchange because it seemed like a brilliant way to combine my studies with my desire to learn about other cultures and their ways of thinking. It also seems like a really good opportunity to grow as a person as I develop my own outlook on life.” – Tessa Boyd, Netherlands, 2019 So there you have it. Sounds like all these exchange students, whether past, present or future, are pretty happy with their decision to study overseas. If you can see yourself doing an exchange too, email Shivani at aut.student.exchange@aut.ac.nz for more information. Happy travels!
Power Up Week City campus
North campus
South campus
Mon 15 Oct | From 12pm
Tues 16 Oct | From 10am
Wed 17 Oct | From 10am
Keri Fruit Blast Hikuwai Plaza
AUTSA Big Brunch Awataha Plaza
AUTSA Big Brunch AUTSA office - ME Balcony
Tues 16 Oct | From 10am
Wed 17 Oct | From 11am
Hot Drinks Station AUTSA Office
Free Fruit + Hot Drinks AUTSA Kiosk
12-2pm AUTSPA/Canine Friends: First Aid Pups AUTSA office
Wed 17 Oct | From 10am
Thu 18 Oct | From 11am
Thu 18 Oct | From 11am
Hot Drinks Station AUTSA Office
Free Fruit + Hot Drinks AUTSA Kiosk
Free Fruit + Hot Drinks AUTSA Office
Thu 18 Oct | From 10am
Fri 19 Oct | From 10am
Fri 19 Oct | From 10am
AUTSA Big Brunch Hikuwai Plaza
Free Fruit AUTSA Kiosk
Hot Drinks Station AUTSA Office
11am – 2pm SJS Summer Jobs Fair Hikuwai Plaza Fri 19 Oct | From 10am Hot Drinks Station AUTSA Office
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How Fast Is Your Fashion? By Nicole Arendse | Illustration by Hope McConnell
Do you ever see a piece of clothing in a store and feel an overwhelming need to buy it, or you simply won’t be (can’t be!) happy? An important social event looms on our calendar and all we can think of is buying something new, even though our closet is already bursting with clothes we haven’t worn in over a year. Every year 200,000 tonnes of textiles enter New Zealand’s landfills, making up four percent of total waste, according to the Ministry for the Environment. That means each person throws away an average of 145 medium-size T-shirts every year. Textiles take around 200 years to decompose, and release toxic gases
into the environment in the process. Yet everywhere we look, we are bombarded with imagery of this week's hottest trends and encouraged to buy, buy, buy. Fast fashion is a phenomenon in which clothes are produced at minimal cost and sold at an affordable enough price for the wearer to buy more. This radical change is a result of consumerism and its correlation to wealth and status. The more we have, the better we feel. Behind the glitz and glamour of our clothing, however, lies two serious problems: The living standards of workers in clothing factories, and the long-term health of our natural environment.
Being a student with a rather sad-looking bank account, I totally understand why anyone would rather spend $15 on a T-shirt as opposed to $60. I worked for a retailer (whose name I won’t mention), where an executive manager said they purposefully design clothes and jewellery to be used two or three times before being discarded. I also worked in an opshop where they were literally swimming in unwanted clothes. This might sound like a good problem to have, but often the donated clothes have holes, rips and stains. At the end of every day, the unsellable clothes are put into the skip bin which is emptied overnight.
How did we end up here? Well, we must take a trip back in time. In the 1800s, all garments were hand sewn and made from top quality fibres. The clothing was designed for multipurpose use and made to last the test of time. The early 1900s marked the beginning of the industrial revolution, where technology allowed factories to pump out goods on a mass scale. Clothes were cheaper and thus the rise of middle-class fashion began. Cheaper clothes meant sporting the latest styles was not limited to the wealthy. Soon, the focus pivoted to China and other Asian countries to produce the same clothes at a fraction of the price. There are no laws protecting the workers, which makes these regions ideal settings for profit generation. Workers in these countries are often in desperate need of any income and will put up with terrible working conditions in order to feed their families. The fashion industry makes an estimated $3 trillion every year, yet many workers are struggling just to put food on the table.
Something has to change, and you can be part of the solution by voting with your dollar. Cheap clothes are more accessible than ever and so too, unfortunately, are working conditions that amount to modern-day slavery. We have all seen the images of Asian workers (often underage) in shoe factories, slaving away to make our $160 shoes, yet these images seldom turn heads anymore. These workers are paid next to nothing, work unimaginable hours, and are trapped in this endless cycle. This is often their only option to make money, but they
work and live in conditions most Kiwis would find completely unacceptable. We wouldn’t personally allow these unsafe and unethical factories in New Zealand, so why do we indirectly allow it in other countries by continuing to buy cheap, mass-manufactured clothing? Not only are innocent people being effectively enslaved, but the environment suffers significantly as well. Toxic chemicals and pesticides are used in these factories and disposed of in the waterways, making surrounding villages rife with cancer and other diseases. I highly recommend the 2015 documentary True Cost, which shows the devastation of our mindless consumption in its entirety. Closer to home, we have seen retailers like H&M, Zara and Topshop come to our shores to sell us clothes at affordable prices. The pricing of these garments trick us into asking ourselves why we should buy one item for $50 when we can get three for the same amount. Retailers like Kmart and The Warehouse have also reinvented themselves to appeal to a wider market.
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Don’t get me wrong, I love a bargain and every now and then I get swooped into the glistening yellow sticker deals. I used to think that when I bought something, wore it and donated it to charity, I was Mother Teresa in the flesh. For obvious reasons, this thinking is highly flawed. SaveMart owner Tom Doonan is the man behind the charity collection bins scattered around the country. Donated clothes are sold at SaveMart stores and if they do not sell within four weeks, they are shipped off to Papua New Guinea. NZ sends 5.8 million kilograms of clothes overseas every year. What’s even more alarming is that the Salvation Army and Glassons pay Doonan millions of dollars to send unwanted garments to Papua New Guinea. If you’re reading this and wondering how you can break this cycle, you need to have a full makeover (one that doesn’t require new clothes). Ask yourself this question: Do I need this garment? If not, don’t
buy it. If yes, then let's talk. Advertisers purposefully sell us products in such a way that boosts our serotonin levels and our sense of social status. Our brain says, “if I buy this product, people will like me more and I’ll be happy”. Changing rooms are designed to have strategic lighting that make us feel a million bucks. When we get home, the effect wears off very quickly. How does it make sense to buy something only to wear it once or twice and then throw it away? Why not buy items that are made to last and have minimal to no negative impact on the lives of workers and the environment? I hope I haven’t deterred you from consuming clothes altogether. There are companies who strive to make sure they are using the best quality materials, paying their workers a fair living wage, and ensuring that there is no environmental damage done in the process. One of these brands is
Patagonia—an outdoor-clothing company who design their products to last. Their clothes are more expensive yet reflective of fair market prices. They even have kits that come along with your purchases so you can mend the clothes yourself. Other sustainable Kiwi brands you should checkout include Kowtow, Barred, Velvet Heartbeat, Offcut, Nisa and Freeset (to name a few). Tearfund releases an annual Ethical Fashion Guide that ranks top fashion labels based on their practises from the sourcing of materials all the way to your wardrobe, which is worth keeping an eye on when you are planning your next ethical purchase. Lastly, online rentals are an excellent way to combat single-use clothing, particularly for formal wear. If you take anything away from this article, let it be a challenge for you to think about the long-term effects of the short-term products you are buying. Something has to change, and you can be part of the solution by voting with your dollar.
Every issue, we bribe singletons with free food and bevvies to go on a blind date, organised by us. The only catch – they have to write about it after. Cheers BurgerFuel Queen Street!
Mayo Lips
Study Date Buddy?
I stood at the entrance, drenched and irritated. The weather was shit – it had just been raining all damn day. At first, I thought he was late and I started to feel a bit disappointed, but I spotted someone across the restaurant whose eyes kept darting to the entrance. I thought “bingo”.
I think I’d been sitting at my table for around five minutes when (name censored for privacy) approached me. She was super wet (not in that way, you perv), but thankfully it was warm inside the restaurant, so she dried off pretty quickly. I smiled at her, and she sat down in front of me.
We spoke for a while over drinks, and discussed what our lives outside of uni are like. I told him how I was into writing and music, and staying home most of the time (I thought I'd let him know in advance that I wasn't the partying type). He seemed to be quite a bookworm, and didn't like parties either. Score!
We spoke for a few minutes and she was quite cool. She said she liked staying home, which is great, because I’m a Netflix & Chill kinda guy. We discussed our uni courses and hobbies, and I honestly thought we hit it off quite well, we had loads in common, and I wanted to have some study dates with her, since we were both homebodies!
But, as I suspected, some things are just too good to be true. When our burgers arrived, I discovered probably one of my biggest pet peeves. He was a messy as eater! After his first bite, he had a splotch of ketchup on his shirt, which he just cleaned off with his hands. Ugh! There were tissues right there, mate! The last person I ate with that spilled food on their shirt was a freaking toddler! And, the cherry on top, he had mayonnaise on the corner of his lips and in his beard the entire time. I wanted to wipe it off for him, but that would have probably been weird. I even tried subtly motioning, but to no avail.
I have a feeling that I effed up somewhere. We seemed to really gel, but after eating, she zoomed off. It was probably because I was a clumsy eater, I don’t know. Maybe she’s a perfectionist? She told me she had an assignment she needed to get back to. Oh well. If you’re reading this, I promise I’ll wear a bib next time! I’d love to see you again. The burgers were choice though!
After we ate, I said I had to go work on an assignment, and he said he had to as well, so maybe we could work together. I said no and awkwardly hugged him, trying to avoid the damp stain on his shirt. I genuinely cannot stand messy eaters. It’s a deal-breaker for me. I think I ran out of there faster than Usain Bolt.
To get involved, email us with your name, age and sexual preference: debate@aut.ac.nz 35
Tomorrowland vs. Cyberpunk: What Will Our Future Look Like? By Tom Vasey | Illustration by Hope McConnell
I have always been fascinated by visions of the world of tomorrow. Whether it’s the retro-futuristic ideal of moon bases and people in spacesuits shooting aliens with ray guns, or a grim, neon-purple perpetual midnight. The way we envisage our collective future says a lot about us as a species, and about the cultural zeitgeist of the day. Here, I want to talk about two of the big envisioned models of the future: The Tomorrowland utopia model and the Cyberpunk dystopia model.
Some folks reading this probably remember The Jetsons or similar shows and cartoons that forecasted the future as a world where robots made life easier and humans had it good. Tomorrowland was, one could argue, the idea of a bright and perfect future made manifest. While what exists at Disney World today isn’t exactly what the immortal Mouse would have envisioned, the original prototype was going to be a complete, functioning city—a pet project of Disney’s designed as a proof of concept.
Tomorrowland was a prototype city of the future pioneered by Walt Disney and his Imagineers, but it wasn’t just a Disney idea. From the late 40s to the 60s, the world had a fascination with the possibilities of the future. Programmes like Thunderbirds or companies like General Motors touted the world of tomorrow as a technological utopia where atomic power solved all ills, and personalities like Wernher von Braun appeared on TV to show off the possibilities of a space station and real-life moon rocket. The post-war Western world was pretty excited about the possibility of things to come. After so much technological improvement in such a short space of time, how could you not be excited about the future, right?
Of course, prototype though it was, the utopia that Tomorrowland represented was flawed from the start—a failed utopia in all but name. Trouble is, you can only get in if you can afford tickets to Disney World, which many people cannot. Funny how utopias tend to brush over the whole issue of accessibility for all. The inverse is one that has become a lot more popular over the last thirty years—the image of a Cyberpunk dystopia. The idea of the world being a place of purple-tinged urban, eternal night, ruled by mega-corporations with no regulation. Neuromancer, Shadowrun, Blade Runner—they all paint a bleak picture of the future where we have ads transmitted directly into our brains, horrible crimes against humanity
are committed on the daily, and the idea of human rights is on a whole new level (but you also get cyberarms that punch through buildings, so that’s pretty cool). So how did our expectations of the future pull a 180 like this? Well, as a business major, it’s hard for me to say, but the truth is... capitalism happened. Not capitalism in its entirety, mind you—if you look at the business practices of many companies in the US in the 70s, 80s and 90s, they’ve been increasingly aggressive—painting a picture of a corporate-centric world. As a species, we awoke from our dreams of the future and found ourselves in this dark, uncaring planet. It’s sad, but at least there’s some pretty amazing technology to enjoy along the way. What do I believe, though? I believe in the freedom to choose. The future isn’t a concrete thing. There are people up top who make a lot of the decisions that define it, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept a slow shift into a dystopian hell. Instead, we need to understand that we are architects of our own future. We don’t have to accept that our future is going to be dour and inevitably horrible. Rather, imagine it in terms of what it could be, and push towards that. Together, I wholeheartedly believe that we can make it happen.
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The Humble History of Instant Noodles Ever wondered where your favorite two-minute meal originated from? Nishita Chandra investigates. Illustration by Ivy Xu.
A staple in almost every student’s pantry, the instant noodle is what often gets us through our hunger pangs. Whether you’ve had a long day of classes or just don’t have an affinity for cooking, this packaged two-minute meal is a saviour indeed. But have you ever thought about the history behind this crowd favourite? Legend has it the instant noodle was created to tackle the food crisis in Japan after the Second World War. Made with basic ingredients like wheat, flour, salt and palm oil, these noodles were originally made by flash-frying (cooking at a high temperature) the noodles in order to store them for longer.
imparts led him to a lifelong mission to end world hunger. He believed that noodles could truly end famine, a pressing issue during his time.
The mastermind behind this creation was a Japanese man named Momofuku Ando. After losing a job he had been working in for many years, he decided to take up the responsibility of filling the hungry mouths of the world. Inspiration struck him while walking through Osaka, his hometown, and looking at the damage caused by years of constant war and turmoil. On his walk, he passed a few people waiting in line to get a bowl of ramen. His realisation of the comfort that a warm bowl of noodle soup
After many years of wondering how he could solve this problem, he eventually found a way. Keeping in mind certain elements that he wanted in his product, he decided that the taste, price, storage, quality and cooking time were all factors that were not to be compromised on, and he held onto this decision until the very end.
For many years after its inception, the instant noodle was still considered a novelty as it was a lot more expensive than regular ramen.
Momofuku spent a long time trying to find the right way to preserve the noodles, and the texture of the
rehydrated noodles in particular proved to be a huge task. One day, he made a breakthrough in that process by adding cooked noodles to hot tempura oil left on the stove by his wife. He then realised that frying dehydrated the noodles allowed them to cook a lot more quickly. This process of flash-frying gave the noodles the wavy texture we know today and made them easier to recook by adding boiling water. This was his eureka moment and thus, the birth of the instant noodle. For many years after its inception, the instant noodle was still considered a novelty as it was a lot more expensive than regular ramen and was sold at a higher price than fresh noodles. It sold by the name of “Chikin Ramen” and was bought only by the people who could afford this luxury. Slowly, things took a turn for the better and the instant noodle gained the popularity and price we know today. So, next time you’re slurping on a bowl of piping hot instant noodles, keep in mind the history that is signified by that bowl.
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recipe
Apple Crumble This recipe gives the classic Apple Crumble a fresh twist while aligning with sustainability ideals. Use leftover bread for the crumble, and save the apple peels to create crisps that give an added elegance to the dish.
Method
Apple Base •
4 cooking apples, peeled (reserve peel for later)
•
1 cup water
•
4 tbsp soft brown sugar
•
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
•
1 tsp finely grated orange zest
Crumble
1. Pre-heat oven to 180 °C. 2. For Apple Base: Cut apple (peeled and cored) into 1cm cubes and place in a saucepan with water, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Simmer for 10 minutes. 3. Add orange zest and simmer for another 3 minutes. When done, reserve until ready to plate. 4. For Crumble: Reduce oven temperature to 120 °C. 5. Place bread in oven and heat till crusty all around.
•
5 pieces of bread, makes 1 cup of breadcrumbs (alternatively, you can use store-bought breadcrumbs)
•
6. Pulse in food processor till everything has turned into crumbs. 7. Rub butter into breadcrumbs with fingers or pulse it in a food processor.
50g cold butter, chopped into 1cm cubes
8. Spread mixture evenly on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper and bake for
•
2 tsp granulated sugar
10 minutes. Reserve until ready to plate.
•
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Garnish
10. Spread apple peel on lined baking tray, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and bake for 30 minutes or until crisp and curled.
•
Reserved apple peel
•
Cinnamon sugar (mix 1 tsp granulated sugar with 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon)
•
9. For Garnish: Reduce oven temperature to 100 °C.
11. To serve: Layer components, starting with apple base at the bottom, crumble, greek yogurt, cinnamon dusting, and crisp apple peel on top. Enjoy!
Greek yoghurt
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.
41
puzzles
WORDFIND
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Young Ancient Modern Time Age
Now Later Then Era Contemporary
Futuristic Today Tomorrow Yesterday Forever
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!
Email:
RBK0054
Name:
SPEND IT. KEEP IT. REMEMBER .
e
e
orld War I was the largest conflict the world had ever seen to that time. New Zealand sent over 100,000 young men to fight, over 550 nurses and others – about 9% of our population at the time. More than 16,500 kiwis were killed, many more were wounded. Finally on 11 November 1918, after four years of fighting, the Armistice was signed and the guns fell silent. To commemorate this historic event, and the sacrifices made by service personnel and their families, the Reserve Bank is releasing a special coloured 50 cent coin into general circulation. As the Armistice Day coin is legal tender you can choose to spend it, or keep it to remember.
Learn more about the Armistice Day coin with the free augmented reality app. Scan the QR code with your mobile then point it at a coin (or a picture of one) for video and other interactive content .
43
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