Cruwsible 8 summer

CRUWSIBLE UWS STUDENT NEWSPAPER

animal liberation gough whitlam gaza response endless poetry queer pride deep web COVER: ALEX PERSAK alexpersak.com

ISSUE 8/SUMMER 2014/15 1

crUWSible n. A melting pot of cultures, backgrounds and interests that make up the UWS student body, the fusion that is UWS - a molten mix of dynamic and interesting content.

EDITORS: WRITE FOR US

Nicole Smith Kevin Korhonen

Send us your stories, artwork, blurbs, photos, articles, reportage, rants, poems, fiction, recipes, good news, not good news and pet photos.

Zahraa Ahadzada

crUWSible@uws.edu.au

Marlene Carrasco

crUWSible.com.au feacbook.com/crUWSible

TAHANI HUSARI

@crUWSible

Murray Robertson

DESIGNERS: benjamin punzalan

Advertising inquiries: crUWSible.com.au

craig guerrero

♥♥♥ Many thanks to all our excellent contributors.

Without you, we would just be amazing bin liner.

♥♥♥

sharoon prakash

rohan brown

CONTENTS NEWS

|05

Animal rights at the circus Queer room trashed Gaza Deep web

POETRY

|15

STUDENT LEGAL: Tenancy

|23

HEALTH

|30

MENTAL HEALTH

|32

CLUBS & SOCS

|34

CULCHA

|36

DIVERSITY WEEK

|38

FICTION

|40

VEGAN DATING

|42

LOVE GURU

|43

editorial

By Aldric Chuah I first heard of the passing of Gough Whitlam on the radio. When someone behind such monumental change dies, you scarcely believe it; you believe they are immortal.

Hello dearest crUWSible reader, I have a few questions for you.

Are you a budding literary genius?

Are you in need of a way to release all of your inner emotions and opinions?

Are you finding yourself disagreeing with certain crUWSible articles?

Are you daydreaming at times and entering an unknown world?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, I have brilliant news for you:

You should write for us!

See, the thing is, while you do go about your university studies and aim to keep your nose hidden in thick, snooze-worthy textbooks, the better parts of your brain need a way to stay alive and excited. But, when you give those parts of your brain something to be excited about, like writing a story about how the DNA of dinosaurs could be our inevitable Armageddon, or an opinion piece about nepotism and how it highly values the daughters of Australian Prime Ministers, you could find your release.

And this, the crUWSible, this could be it. This could be your release.

Ultimately, the world needs words. It could be words lending to an imaginary snowman that ironically sings about experiencing summer, or the world of a single parent struggling to make ends meet. It could be words describing the Obama Administration, the Central African Republic Crisis, the previously-ignored-but-suddenly-pertinent Ebola virus outbreak, the meddling in the Middle East, the stolen identity of the Palestinians, the inept Australian Prime Ministership, the cocktail of World Power foreign policies that have resulted in necessary migration. The list goes on. There is so much that can be communicated in words. The world needs it. And, so do you.

Just cause you’re a student, and you attend university everyday with future aspirations, doesn’t mean that your identity is restricted. You could be a writer, and a great one at that!

As a student, your words matter, and they most definitely matter to us.

My #tbh for you is: ‘You could be a great crUWSible writer. We should spend more time together.’

Have I convinced you yet?

Happy Reading!

Zahraa Ahadzada

Alas, there were many foibles of the Whitlam government. Economically, the Whitlam government sent us back to the Stone Age. Socially, he brought Australia into the 21st Century. He made it illegal to discriminate against racial background, introduced no fault divorce, brought sewage to the streets of Western Sydney; he was not a man of his time, he was miles ahead.

Millions of Australians became the first in their family to attend a tertiary institution, something which we take for granted today.

Whitlam extended the purview of the state by providing universal healthcare, an institution which remains to this day. He placed female contraceptives on the PBS scheme, emancipating millions of Australian women.

He gave the prerogative to vote to those who had the most vibrant ideas; the young generation.

Margaret Whitlam also championed the cause of the less fortunate and saw the opportunity to help those in need Some say Sir John Kerr/Malcolm Fraser acted inappropriately and that Kerr should never have been allowed to exercise his residual powers.

Some argue the Dismissal of the Whitlam government needed to occur to ensure that the economy didn’t deteriorate any further.

The man himself never ceased to be involved in the political debate. In 2000 he helped form the Whitlam Institute, at UWS Parramatta. I encourage you to visit it.

Many will be greatly saddened by his passing, yet we will not wallow in despair. The change lies in us; the young generation of today.

To paraphrase Fidel Castro, let E.G Whitlam be a model for a more just and humane society.

His legacy shall be the shining light on the hill for generations to come.

IMAGE: Carolina Buzio

animal rights

ANIMAL LIB PROTESTS BOOST CIRCUS box office

By Fenella Henderson-Zuel Over the last few months numerous protests have been organised by animal rights groups attempting to boycott performances by Lennon Bros Circus. Organisations such as Animals Australia and Animal Liberation claim the many exotic animals in the circus are mistreated, particularly the lions.

Protesters in Queensland were considered by some to be excessively frightening. Last year the Sunshine Coast Daily covered a particular protest which ‘frightened’ circus-goers with protesters in cages to illustrate claims of animal ill-treatment.

An outsider might assume such graphic protests would be bad for business, but circus manager Warren Lennon said that is not the case. “At times it helps us,” Mr Lennon said.

“People come and see for themselves”.

Mr Lennon seemed unfazed by the allegations and denied them completely.

“We abide by Australian regulations for animal control. We get inspected quite often by the RSPCA. It’s in our best interest to keep the animals healthy and clean,” Mr Lennon said.

Protests were not only aimed at Lennon Bros Circus, but were held in an attempt to convince local councils to change policies regarding the use of animals for performances on public land. Using animals in performances on council lands has been banned in the ACT as well as a number of councils in NSW. Animal Liberation campaign manager, Phillip Hall, cited Lennon Bros and sister circus, Stardust, as the starting point of a largerscale attack on the “outdatedness” of circuses and other transporters of exotic animals.

“They’re still transporting exotic animals around as some kind of rare display that we’re supposed to be marvelled by,” said Mr Hall.

It is the transportation of the animals that poses one of the greatest challenges for protesters.

“The fact is they’re touring 11 months of the year which means that they’re constantly travelling with these animals and it’s a new set of councils,” Mr Hall said. “Each time we do a protest at that location it gives us the opportunity to first of all meet those locals on the ground and try and educate the people who are going in there”.

Using animals in performances on council lands has been banned in the ACT as well as a number of councils in NSW Protesters have had recent success with councils such as Parramatta and Ku-ringgai. Both councils have now banned animal circuses on public land. Gosford council is next on the list and Mr Hall was hopeful that it will be another success. With the support of various Greens Senators, Mr Hall believes that this year the ban will have more of a chance.

Banning a practice which glorifies animal captivity and cruelty would certainly be an honourable pursuit, but the question remains whether the Lennon Bros and by extension the Stardust circuses, are guilty of such crimes.

Mr Lennon vehemently denied any such allegations. “[The protesters] need to check out what we actually do with our animals,” said Mr Lennon.

“They never see what we do with our animals.

They need to check the regulations. They assume that we keep them locked up all the time, that they aren’t able to exercise, when they’re really allowed to do everything they do in the wild.”

No formal allegations have ever been made against either circus, although accidents have occurred in the past including a fatal lion attack in the late 1960s.

Mr Lennon said animal rights groups, including Animal Liberation, had been invited to view the animals ‘behind the scenes’ but declined.

“Exotic animals are just the tip of the iceberg.

They want to stop all contact [including] pony clubs and pet dogs. They’re extreme,” he said.

Mr Hall acknowledged that although invitations had been made in the past, none during his tenure, they had been refused as nothing was to be gained.

“Something that we see on a little day trip around is not what the real issues are,” Mr Hall said. He conceded that in all likelihood the circus animals are well-fed, sheltered and physically healthy but argued that the social needs of the animals were not being met.”They’re just not having their natural behaviours met ... and you’re not going to see that just walking around and having a look. We’re seeing a shift towards human performers celebrating the skills that people can attain and we’re just really being left behind if we’re not making those reforms for those animals.”

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queer support

“ A coward seeks notoriety through physical, mental and social harm to another

Pride wins over hatred when queer room trashed

By Paul Kleynjan Oppression, the unwarranted characteristic of society that has plagued us for eons.

Religious persecution, slavery of the African peoples, degradation of women. These have all marred our collective history. I am part of Generation X. I was a nerd in school and I was bullied for it. It was not because I didn’t play sport or postulate my masculinity in front of girls. It was because I wanted to be myself, not a construct of society. LGBTQIA+ have been targets of aggression through the ages. To this day they are still refused the same human rights as the rest of us in our supposedly cultural Western society.

Human rights abuse sickens me to my core.

To do violence to another human being, whether it’s physical, emotional, or denying liberty, is abysmal. Prejudice is the mark of fear, hate and a lack of intelligence. We are supposed to be heading into a future of acceptance, the same acceptance I was bullied for believing in back in the 80’s. The idea that bigotry still occurs in our society removes any hope I have for the human race.

When a person cannot feel safe just for being themselves presents us with a question on whether we will ever denounce our preconceived social constructs. Imagine you have had the confidence driven from you by bigots. You find solace in a place of safety amongst people who understand your plight and then that safe place is attacked. You now doubt you can be safe anywhere. I speak, of course, of the imbecilic, unthinking act of vandalising the Campbelltown Queer Room twice in three months.

Exactly what went through the heads of the Neanderthals who did this, we may never know. I am sure that they don’t even know, being too consumed with removing the Band-Aids from fingers where their knuckles drag along the ground. Perhaps they feel LGBTQIA+ students and staff are being given an advantage over others within UWS. Maybe 6

they oppose a group of people being given a room in which to seek safety. Well let me ease your mind. Of course they deserve one!

Why? Because idiots like these criminals do stupid things based upon stupid notions towards people they don’t understand and, in doing so, remove the right to equality of another human being. And believe me, they are criminals! This scenario involves two types of people, the brave and cowardly. A brave person stands up and declares who they are, demands equality, and envisions a world where they are not hated and spurned.

A coward seeks notoriety through physical, mental and social harm to another, and then doesn’t even own up and face the backlash from their peers.

“I have friends who cannot even marry in this country.

They get judged for holding hands and are condemned for allowing the truth in their souls to be ignited” Obviously I am angered by this situation. I have friends who cannot even marry in this country. They get judged for holding hands and are condemned for allowing the truth in their souls to be ignited. Yes, I am straight, but I’m not narrow. I have a message for all the small-minded people out there willing to bully and harass. The slaves were set free, women were given the vote, and religions of all faiths are allowed to flourish on Australian soil. And yes, we people of Gen-X, us nerds who were teased and bashed in the school yard, we’ve also won. You sit at your computers, stay connected globally with your phones and watch movies based on comic books, all because the 80’s nerds dared to dream. So what’s my point? I’ll put it bluntly for the bigots. No matter what you do now, queer people are going to win their

battle for equality. A more tolerant and open minded generation is coming and they will be the next lawmakers. We can dare to believe that maybe, just maybe all people might be considered equal.

Do you know what? I no longer feel anger or spite towards these vandals. I can only pity them. As the rest of us accept growth and change, these aggressors will be left behind with their insecurities and their narrow minds. They cannot expect to fit into a world of equality because the concept is too unfathomable for them. That being said, I also feel sorry for any person aware of the vandals’ identities who has not come forward to condemn them. They are far more interested in the admiration and acceptance of idiots than to learn and grow in an equalitydriven university like UWS. I implore you, the free thinking students and staff of UWS, rise up against hate and persecution. Show one and all that we will not stand for inequality. Don’t judge each other.

Instead, celebrate diversity. Connect with each other. Make new friends. Shake their hand and invite them to sit with you. Share ideas with each other and don’t be afraid to ask questions. More importantly, don’t be afraid to learn from one another because you may make a lifelong friend!

Whether it’s age, race, gender, religion, or sexual preference, our differences make us unique. We are lucky to be involved with a university that allows such diversity. So deny power to the bullies and bigots. If you see someone being marginalised, step in and say “This is not on!”

I am proud of all of you for breaking the mould! Your university is proud to have all of you! Be proud of yourselves, your friends and UWS. You will also restore my faith in humanity.

Gaza Injustice: A Reply

IMAGE: Rusty Stewart

gaza

By Marco Tomasello The issues at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict are far too complex to cover in one article. As such, that is not the aim of this article; this article is a reply to another published in the crUWSible entitled ‘Gaza Injustice’ (Spring 2014).

The conflict between Gaza and Israel largely relates to Hamas. Hamas is primarily considered a terrorist organisation by many countries and political bodies including the UN, EU, UK, Australia, Germany, Canada, USA and Israel. It is also important to note that few ‘Arab States’ support Hamas; Saudi Arabia brands it a terrorist organisation and last year Jordan refused to allow Hamas to open headquarters in Amman. Recently even the Palestinian National Authority has threatened to cut ties with Hamas. As a group, Hamas was formed in 1987, at the beginning of the First Intifada, and almost immediately began carrying out attacks on Israeli Defence Forces. In the early 1990’s it began attacking Israeli civilians, using suicide-bombers to target public transport and shopping centres, earning them terrorist designations from much of the western world.

With the turn of the century, in spite of Israel’s occupation of Gaza, rockets were sporadically fired by Hamas into Israel. After Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Hamas was democratically elected to the Palestinian Unity Government. However, in 2007 a civil war in Gaza took place in which Hamas effectively dissolved this body and took control of the region through a coup d’état. This resulted in two separate governments and territories; Gaza, governed by Hamas and the West Bank governed by the Palestinian National Authority. Since this time, Hamas rockets out of Gaza have greatly intensified. Over the years the rockets have developed to the point that they have the capacity to reach Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Israel’s hands are not clean in this conflict either. To begin with, the Arab minority in Israel do suffer from many forms of discrimination in daily life. The occupation of the West Bank by Israeli military forces, effectively preventing the West Bank from establishing any sentience of sovereignty, is a large source of grievance for Palestinians. Israel is also increasingly ignoring international laws with regards to belligerent occupation, where they continue to expropriate land in the West Bank and approve Israeli settlements in the area.

Finally there are heavy disputes in regards to Israel’s borders, most of which were taken by force and consequently are not recognised by the wider international community. The latter is at the core of much of the conflict.

The authors of the previous article raise the issue that Israeli military forces are targeting civilian infrastructure in their attacks. This is true. However, what the authors fail to convey is that these civilian buildings house headquarters and munitions for Hamas, the terrorist organisation that Israel is fighting.

This also includes the UN school whose shelling received so much media attention here in Australia. These are not just mere accusations by Israel to justify their position; these claims have been investigated and found to be true, the UN itself discovering that three of its schools in Gaza were being used to store rockets.

Next, to support the previous authors’ statement that “The Israeli government has been frank about this ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians”, anti-Gaza/Palestine comments are evidenced from two members of the Israeli Parliament, properly known as the Knesset.

First and foremost the Knesset, which operates in a similar manner to the House of Representatives here in Australia, consists

of 120 members. The view of two of its members, does not represent the view of the entire ‘Israeli Government’. In regards to the comments made by Ayelet Shaked, this member of the Knesset is about as far right as you get.

She is even further right than Jim Saleam here in Australia (and you didn’t think that was possible). However, if you go to the other end of the spectrum you get Hanin Zoabi, also a member of the Knesset, who vehemently supports the rights of Palestinians, particularly those in Gaza. I’m sure the previous authors would agree that the views of this singular member are not representative either.

As to the branding of Israel as an Apartheid state, the term Apartheid conjures up images of white supremacy in South Africa and pre1950’s racism in the USA. To associate this image with Israel is inflammatory and plainly wrong. Treatment of citizens of the West Bank is necessarily harsh, they are effectively at war. Australia denied the civil rights of many German descendants by interning them during World Wars I & II. Further, while it is acknowledged that Arab citizens of the state suffer many forms of discrimination, there are none which are enshrined in law. This situation can be likened to the Aborigines here in Australia, no one can deny they suffer discrimination on the ground, but in the eyes of the law they are equal. This is not to condone the discrimination that exists against the Arab community in Israel, but placed in context ‘Apartheid’ is a completely inappropriate choice of words.

Overall it is obvious that neither party is without fault. Discussions around this topic must acknowledge that Hamas must take responsibility for its actions in perpetuating this conflict.

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media

JOURNalism students meet abc’s philippa mcdonald

By Sarah Casha Senior ABC reporter Philippa McDonald spoke to communications students in September about the state of journalism amidst recent attacks on the profession.

Ms McDonald spoke of the importance of journalism’s truth-telling role, against the backdrop of the “war on terror” and journalist beheadings.

“I couldn’t be here in front of you today without pausing for a moment to remember journalists who were killed or imprisoned for just doing their job,” she said.

Ms McDonald went on to say that the new and ever-changing social media environment provides journalists with new opportunities for the collection of verifiable information, as well as new forms of transmission and collaboration with viewers.

“Be careful what you do on social media. It’s a real trap for young players,” she said.

Ms McDonald said social media brought a new dynamic to journalistic practice, rather than being a replacement for traditional media.

She spoke of the challenges and opportunities in journalism and the distinction between fact and opinion.

“You have to be passionate about what you do, but you can’t be an activist,” she said.

In a concluding statement Ms McDonald said:

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“There are a lot of stories that are hard to tell, and there are a lot of stories that keep enduring.”

The Journalists’ Code of Ethics says: “Respect for truth and the public’s right to information are fundamental principles of journalism.”

ANTI TERROR LAWS AND JOURNALISM New anti-terror laws mean that journalists could face ten years gaol for reporting on ASIO activity, although “prohibited material” is not clearly specified under the law.

On August 19, journalist James Foley was murdered by IS militants. He spoke to media following his first experience as a captive, saying: “I believe that frontline journalism is important. Without these photos and videos and first-hand experience, we can’t really tell the world how bad it might be.”

In an address to the UN Security Council Summit on Foreign Terrorist Fighters on September 24, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said: “The Australian Government will be utterly unflinching towards anything that threatens our future as a free, fair and multicultural society”.

“I couldn’t be here in front of you today without pausing for a moment to remember journalists who were killed or imprisoned for just doing their job Professor Samuel Makinda, Professor of Politics and International Studies at Murdoch University, has said the “anti-terror” laws go too far.

“IS hate the way we live and politicians are whittling away those rights that make people jealous of us,” Professor Makinda said in the media.

tvs focus on western sydney

SMOKE-free campus Smoking ban smoke and mirrors

By Temarre Evans A smoking ban was put in place last January on all UWS campuses. However, it is obvious people are not following this rule as cigarette butts are littered across Kingswood Village.

This could be a sign that residents of student accommodation are ignoring the ban, though the question is, how are they getting away with it?

By Jessica Turner UWS Media and Production students have been working alongside the UWS Production unit in the creation of a new TVS program, Future Forum.

Students were involved in everything from shooting background interviews to conducting research and shooting in the studio.

"It is essential for our students to practice their media production skills in a live studio environment” said Rachel Bentley, TVS CEO. Hosted by media buyer and philanthropist Harold Mitchell and UWS Professor James Arvanitakis, Future Forum brings business and community leaders together to discuss issues affecting those who live and work in the Greater Western Sydney region.

Future Forum is a thought-provoking and insightful program, giving local community and business people in the Greater West the opportunity to hear inspirational Australian executives share their experience and knowledge.

“It is very important that we have opportunities to showcase issues that are occurring in the Greater Western Sydney region,” Ms Bentley said. “Community television programs encourage debate and discussion about important issues.”

Sonja Schiller, a UWS student working on Future Forum said “The best thing about it was doing the practical work that I learnt for my degree and having the opportunity to share ideas with people within the media.”

Episode one of Future Forum discusses how the digital landscape is changing the face of Australian media, media usage and ownership in Australia. Special guests on this episode include General Manager of Network 10, Russel Howcroft and Head of Current Affairs at ABC, Bruce Belsham.

Episode two examines the value of traditional and digital infrastructure in the development of the Western Sydney region. Guest panelists include Parramatta MP Dr Geoff Lee, with 2013 Woman of the West Alison McLaren and Greenfields Development Company GM Ralph Bruce.

Episode one of Future Forum airs on Sunday 14th December at 6.30pm and episode two airs on Sunday 21st December at 6.30pm on Television Sydney, digital channel 44.

The show is streamed at www.tvs.org.au/watch

Sinta Irma, a resident of Kingswood Village, said there isn’t any authority to enforce the smoking ban. “There is actually no one to enforce it,” she said.

The appropriate way to implement this rule is to be given a warning first, then to be fined if a second offence occurs by security.

Omar Merghani-Ali, student and resident at Kingswood Village, doesn’t believe there is any care for fellow students by those who are smoking on campus. “I see cigarette butts everywhere, and the policing of the matter seems to be non-existent,” Omar said.

It is clear the ban is being ignored by students as they know there will be no real punishment and there has been little or no action taken against those who have been seen smoking.

UWS website says the ban applies to all forms of tobacco smoking, including cigarettes, cigars and water pipe tobacco smoking. The policy applies under the Smoke-free Environment Act and includes anyone on UWS premises, including staff, students and visitors. The ban was to further UWS’ commitment to providing a healthy, clean-air environment.

NSW Health website states that smoking bans protect people from harmful second-hand tobacco smoke, the smoke which smokers exhale, there being no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.

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ONline

IMAGE: Stian Eikeland

how-to on the deep, deep web

By Timothy Harrison What we know as the World Wide Web is only the tip of the iceberg. There is a much larger online world that dwarfs what we normally access everyday known as the Deep Web. The Guardian UK and Bright Planet estimate the Deep Web to be five hundred times larger than what is considered the regular, accessible internet.

web. As curious as one may be, tiptoeing around this underworld is very dangerous.

Changing your browser to private browsing or finding a proxy site like privatebrowsing. info may minimise your online footprint but accessing the Deep Web takes it onto a whole other level. It holds 96 percent of the world’s internet and is completely anonymous.

Sometimes called the Invisible Web, it has content that can’t be indexed by search engines. No matter how clever the search engine, there is no way of accessing the Deep Web without a specialised browser.

Drugs, weapons, identities, child pornography and hit men can all be bought on the dark web

Drugs, weapons, identities, child pornography and hit men can all be bought on the dark

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But why access the Deep Web? Military, authorities and journalists use the Deep Web. It offers access to a much larger pool of information in complete privacy.

The Australian Federal Police have been involved with instances revolving around the Deep Web such as intercepting packages from an online market site, better known as Silk Road. There was another case earlier in the year where a Victorian man was caught and subsequently explained how he purchased his fake ID using Deep Web. The Deep Web

is an ambiguous online world and it was only recently that local and international authorities began to get their heads around it.

The most downloaded browser to access the Invisible Web is TOR (The Onion Router) but there are other programs such as Iron, which does the job just as well. Accessing and downloading the software is entirely legal in Australia and only takes a few minutes to set up. I encourage you to download the free software and peek into an immense volume of information. Much of the information is readily accessible without breaking any local laws or personal morals. However, a couple of wrong clicks and keystrokes may land you in prison.

ONline Shaping online identity

By Mariam Tengbeh Imagine a night out with your friends, you’ve all had a few drinks too many and things get a bit out of control. We all have that friend who gets so drunk they fall to the pavement, or who busts out embarrassing moves and/or takes their clothes off. Assuming you are not that friend, imagine waking up the following morning, logging onto Facebook and seeing a bunch of photos or really embarrassing videos your friends have tagged you in, bragging about what a wild night it was.

Now, your biggest concern at this moment is how these posts will harm your reputation for future employers, posing the question of how our identity is being represented online.

Many can confidently answer that their identity is not being misrepresented online, reaffirming that what they post or share online is a direct reflection of who they are.

But for the majority who are still pondering this question, the case may be that what you post, like and share does not necessarily represent who you are.

Speaking from a personal point-of-view, as an active Facebook user and user of other social media sites such as YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, I tend to share, like and comment on a wide range of material based on factors such as curiosity, interest, humour and education. Just recently I watched a 30-second viral video of a girl getting a butt massage by her boyfriend. I found the video interesting for reasons I myself cannot explain but I would not want someone thinking that I

identify with that particular content.

In this case I am directly referring to future employers, because the truth is your friends don’t care about what you do online but your future/current boss will.

While thinking about the problems associated with the representation of identity online, I came across ‘How An Online Reputation Can Hurt Your Job Hunt’, an article by Deborah L. Jacobs, at Forbes.com. The article reports that 90% of executive recruiters say they conduct online research of potential candidates before they even call them for an interview, while 70% of employers who use LinkedIn say they’ve chosen not to hire a person based on what they found out about them online.

Your friends don’t care about what you do online but your future/current boss will

As a young person myself, I too have noticed we have become a society about what’s happening now, what’s on our minds now. We sometimes forget to filter out our thoughts and actions before broadcasting them to the world. This can become a dangerous pattern for a job seeker looking to enter the workforce.

According to John Taccori, “Employers should not be able to know too much about a person’s private life. But of course they do want to know, as it forms an idea about one’s character which may affect their working life. I would even go so far to add that some employers with very poor ethics employ particular IT hackers to hack into a person’s private site to find out more. Now this is illegal, but it does happen more often than you think”.

His advice is to be careful of what you place online because it creates your digital footprint and to be conservative with photos and comments you post, especially if they have racist or inappropriate content.

This suggests that job seekers should be seriously thinking about their sharing habits online as it may create a digital footprint that can be retrieved at any given time and place.

“If you’re a party animal on the weekends and you like to get up to a little mischief in your private life, the world does not need to know,” were Mr Taccori’s last words of advice.

I asked for some expert advice from John Taccori, Careers Councillor at www. careersdoctor.net, who said “young people do not realise the implications” of their online sharing.

Easier said than done! But limiting questionable content online, leaving no room for confusion and putting your best foot forward will help protect your online identity.

Because Big Brother is always watching.

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Mary Tran, far left, and Sara Soutphommasane

Going global “ Amnesty is renowned

for defending human rights

and its impartiality

reinforces its legitimacy

Young advocates join fight for human rights

By Timothy Harrison What do a recent graduate in communications and another studying political, economic and social sciences have in common? Sara Soutphommasane and Mary Tran have both made a difference by volunteering with one of the largest non-government organisations in the world, Amnesty International. The notfor-profit has more than 4 million members worldwide. It was responsible for persuading the Australian Federal Government to provide $3.3 million to the Afghan Women’s Network that helped fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan and is currently fighting for the refugees being sent to Cambodia.

“Amnesty is renowned for defending human rights, and its impartiality reinforces its legitimacy. Its values resonated with me the most, particularly the activism aspect of championing human rights,” said Sara.

Sara is battling it out in her final year at Sydney University and was offered a Community Organising Internship with Amnesty International. She helped the growth and development of NSW’s Action Groups, with 150 of these groups Australiawide. These groups venture out into their local communities to campaign and raise awareness about human rights. One of her fondest memories was when she successfully set up the first NSW Crisis Network.

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“The Crisis Network aims to effectively respond to crises as they arise and raise greater awareness of urgent actions taking place globally,” said Sara.

and asylum seekers. Activists like Sara and Mary have made a difference by advocating and building awareness on the importance of human rights.

Blogger, filmmaker and action group advocate Mary Tran is in the midst of her Master’s degree in Development Studies at the University of NSW. She’s currently involved through her local Amnesty Action Group and was the director of a campaign video that was produced for Refugee Week in June this year.

“I think Amnesty is fantastic at what it does. It is a powerful non-government organisation with a strong voice and support base. It is really advocating for change and striving for equity,” said Mary.

“There are still sensitive issues that Australia needs to challenge such as marriage equality, violence against women and the treatment of asylum seekers.

“The exposure that the video received was incredible. Many of the viewers said it changed their impressions of asylum seekers and opened their eyes to the human rights issues happening right under our noses,” said Mary.

A recent report by the Australian Human Rights Commission said there are still sensitive issues that Australia needs to challenge such as marriage equality, violence against women and the treatment of refugees

Mary and Sara say they have been humbled by their recent involvement with Amnesty International. It has put local and world issues into their sights and both agree they will still be fighting for human rights for years to come.

“Without a doubt, I see myself working within the NGO sector for many years ahead at the very least,” Mary said.

“There is always a drive, a goal, an objective, to what I do and I foresee that it will be a long career because there are plenty of issues around the world. Also, with a realist touch, attaining justice and equality does not happen overnight,” said Mary.

nursing in thailand a fortunate exchange Children in Swaziland walk up to two hours to attend school. If they can’t afford uniforms, they can’t enrol, writes JILLIAN MCKEE. Imagine a place where there are no smartphones, computers or internet. What about a day where getting up and going to work involves no running water, no electricity, and walking two hours through the bush just to get to the office?

That morning is every morning for Fortunate Sihlongonyane who works at Matjana Preschool in Swaziland in Africa.

Fortunate has just touched down in Sydney to develop her early childhood skills at the Early Learning Centre at UWS, Kingswood.

Throughout her four-week trip, Fortunate aims to learn from these experienced teachers and bring some teaching practices back to Swaziland for her colleagues.

Fortunate said she was nervous about coming to Australia. Her travel to Sydney saw her get on her first plane, train and even watch her first ever movie.

Tessa McGavock, Director of the Kingswood Early Childhood Centre, first met Fortunate on a trip to Swaziland last year. Tessa spent a week working at Matjana preschool providing professional development sessions for the teachers and working with the children.

Tessa said it was not only Fortunate who was learning from this whole experience, but them as well.

“Every day is a struggle at Matjana just to get food, let alone resources. Most of the teaching at Matjana is verbal so it was great to be able to provide equipment for the children,” said Tessa.

Tessa aims to go back to Swaziland next year to take some materials and teach workshops to more preschool teachers.

“As resources are so scarce at Matjana, I want to help the teachers learn to make resources for their students”.

“There is a lot we can learn from these children who walk two hours through the bush every day, alone, just to get to school. They go down to the river and carry up water to the school. They are so polite and respectful,” said Tessa.

Matjana Preschool caters for children aged 5 years old and currently looks after 30 children. Some of these children will start primary school next year, but many families will be unable to enrol their children as they cannot afford uniforms. “$80-100 provides a child with a uniform to attend school, however some families in the area cannot afford this and their children never receive an education,” said Fortunate.

Tessa also brought over 40kg of textas, crayons and pencils for the students at Matjana preschool.

For further information email fortunate@matjanapreschool.org

By Felicity Parker Studying abroad has been a dream of mine since I decided to attend university. I never thought I would have the chance to achieve this because I, like many other students, have my own little family to consider. But this is about to become a reality. Thanks to the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Antipodeans Abroad, I am joining a group of nursing students in a unique program: ‘A Comparative Study of Health Care Delivery’.

Over 16 days we will travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to exchange knowledge with local students of nursing. From there we travel to the remote region of Om Goi for volunteer work. This region is home to some 61,000 people and the average family income is US$25 per month. There is one regional hospital of 30 beds which also provides mobile health clinics to the villages in the mountains. If villagers need emergency help, they walk or catch a ride on a motorbike hours into the hospital. It is here in the mountains that we will provide primary health care and health education for free.

Our group has been gathering donations of equipment (tooth brushes, spectacles and medical supplies) over the last few months.

We are also fundraising to make a financial donation to the regional hospital.

Can you help us make a difference? Small amounts can really make a difference. Visit mycause.com.au/page/83966/uwsnursinginthailand

All funds go to the Om Goi Hospital Fund for projects such as mobile health clinics or the ‘toilet fund’.

The journey is set to be bigger than I anticipated.

We actually get to deliver health care, share knowledge with Thai nurses and experience how different health care systems can be across the world. This work will contribute to the bigger picture we each have as nurses, one which was envisioned by the World Health Organisation as far back as 1981: ‘Health for All’.

13

P O E T R Y

IMAGE: ANNEKE JASINSKI 15

TWELVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

CRUWSIBLE POETRY

By Charbel Zada I There are moments when you think people are an island of themselves, remote and isolated but really, we react upon each other like molecules bumping into each other, altering ourselves in the process.

II We’re islands in an ocean connected to other oceans, we are the surface of a planet, a solar system in a galaxy, a galaxy in a universe and a universe in infinity.

For such temporary creatures you are infinite.

III Don’t fall in love with a conqueror.

Fall in love with a liberator.

IV Time is finite.

It will serve you better not to let the sand pour in the hourglass; but to scatter it on a faraway beach and let the tide take you where it may.

V People get lost in the dark.

It’s not your fault if you’re not the light to guide them home.

VI It’s good to be terrified of dying.

Only a dead man breathing wouldn’t be.

VII Realize sometimes, we live a birdcage life; And when the time comes, It is okay to be afraid of flying.

VIII Live a big life.

So when someone reads your bones; They know: You died but you lived.

VIIII We keep our cards close to our chests because we’re scared of losing the game.

X Realize sometimes we are butterfly souls with candle hearts lighting up dark corners of the room burning away to nothing.

XI They say the story of Icarus is about human limitations.

See not the fall of Icarus but the failure of waxen wings.

Try and try again.

XII When living in a concrete jungle, try to remember you are a spider weaving your own strings of fate.

DEMONS

(I thought we were friends)

You’re a sweet guy you told me everything was alright I was my own ruler I was the light Money, fame, looks there’s no place in time I could have said no to your disguise We had fun times that’s no lie

He told me happiness was a new sales pitch and like Judas I gave it a kiss before crucifying it with nails please…

Majestic and pure like a fountain can’t I be washed pure?

My mind’s obscured hands lingering on that trigger trying to get a taste of that liquor Strutting in my lingerie I was flirting with the devourer one foot in one foot out

We slept around only thinking we had so much time I said we were just friends but why do I feel down?

His first name Luke his last name Warm

The rhythm of your sound, the sweet silhouette in your eyes but all this time I was stuck in my past life, lies, lust …I must The rhythm so strong piercing chords sealed our bond My life was, my life was, my life was on repeat Flashing lights you gave me this world’s pride Alcohol and booze just to feel loved at night

For the taste in my mouth was just wrong

I called you one night panicking for my friend had turned black His insides out, for he was so handsome in sight but now I smell the filth coming from his mouth the words pierce a screeching sound

Your touch so sweet it was my lullaby

I thought it was the beat that I like until my head cleared and the words came to life

An addiction that took up half my life

“Sexual healing” Marvin Gaye said at night

On the internet pornography was your camouflage; I knew it was a work of fiction but It came from the heart.

“Ima ima ima flirt” and “we can’t stop” but why do I fell so done?

I thought the flashing of lights and climaxing sounds would come to a rest but it was all in my mind.

Stop!

Were you my ‘sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare’? My head repeats the shame of my past love affairs but if we were friends why are you feeding off my despair?

I’m a hostage in my own house My mind’s slowly killing me without leaving me a dime

Laughing at my face couching up my past mistakes I sleep at night fearing I would wake up again but death was too kind, my eyes were too blind

I need you right now, not like last time this time I’m in my right mind I need you and when you see demons on my door step please shoot them twice

And out of his cup I would have to drink out wine… bitter oh so bitter sigh…can’t you hear my cries?

‘Cause I thought we were friends

CRUWSIBLE POETRY

By Mariam Tengbeh

CRUWSIBLE POETRY

HUMANITY

By Ali Mufti We reside in a self created world. Centuries have elapsed to develop,

Millions, when they search desperately, only find puddles of muddy water.

Progress has formed problems through the desire for power. Then, money joins the mix. Why should we stop?

Tupac has said that we throw our notes into the funding of wars,

Increasingly, we choose to forget about all that should matter, It’s a steep slope we’ve been slipping from. Minds are materialistic and only want to gather.

We reveal the faults and conceal the strengths of those we know, Our hearts are filled with hate for another over the past, but we wear poker faces and put on a show.

No appreciation for differing opinions. Say a string of words, but mean nothing like it from within, We move to the rhythm set by society, twitching uncomfortably in our skins.

But we cannot feed those that are poor.

For a second, we don’t pause and reflect. To this day, what is it that we have come to gain?

Why don’t we look at our souls and make a change?

Countries fight for political reasons. Again to climb the ranks of power, We justify that war is for the greater good. Countries will change and become better.

Civilians are left stranded in the middle, gunned down, bombed, We take away lives mercilessly, thereby using death to break bonds.

Boast loudly about the thousands of dollars we have, or the new car we bought yesterday,

In a spree of destruction, homes, schools, hospitals, places of worship are destroyed,

For a second, we don’t pause and reflect. To this day, what is it that we have come to gain?

The aggressors believe they are right.

Why don’t we look at our souls and make a change?

We hesitate in giving charity to the needy, Our pockets and stomachs are full, and we are greedy.

Spending excessively, unnecessarily, while others are dying of disease, thirst and hunger,

Where are we headed? We choose to forget about all that should matter, It’s a steep slope we’ve been slipping from. Minds are materialistic and only want to gather.

For a second, we don’t pause and reflect. To this day, what is it that we have come to gain?

Why don’t we look at our souls and make a change?

NATURAL BEAUTY MOUTHS V DRONES

By Angelene Karas

stripped of the ability to speak.

The tape on their lips read ‘lies’ and ‘untruths’, because their thoughts have been left to rot.

The drones tell the mouths to hush, what they think is wrong.

Soon, there will be an end to the rush

A flower is growing in the cracks of the pavement.

Next to a road where Wall Street soldiers march to the beat of a 9 to 5 job.

Fumes of self doubt, uncertainty and wasted potential punctuate the air seeping into skin, and it’s hard to breathe.

Such a hard world.

Such a real world.

But look at you,

That rat race called life.

The rule of the dreadful drones,

You’re blooming.

will one day come to an end.

The mouths will revolt and rise, be victorious and ascend.

VISION OF DESIGN

By Ethan J. Sawyer

TABULA RASA

By Charbel Zada Last night you saw people floating inches off the ground and wondered why you were weighed down.

Last night you said you would die but dying isn’t special, everybody dies.

Live for yourself because not everybody does.

Last night you realized we’re born to love but taught to hate.

Remember, we are ephemeral bodies existing as a contradiction; we live in a state of permanent transience.

You’re not who you were last night.

A synthesised metabolic rate Of impurities And precedent maturity For what were we designed?

As a living mask Or a cohesive task No designated incline Although spontaneous eruption To an outgoing obsession And the passion always static Supremacy over time For this is our design

CRUWSIBLE POETRY

People in the street with tape on their mouths,

By Charbel Zada

CRUWSIBLE POETRY

WHERE ARE WE HEADED ?

RAMBLINGS OF A PONDERING STUDENT

By Natalie Saab I look and look at the words I am reading, Waiting for understanding to strike, A conversation about policies in all aspects of humanity, And I think, are these writers actually changing anything?

Having enough of theory for the day, I pack up and leave, I am too restless, too in my own world; And much too contemplative to make sense of anything.

I am a person who wants to help, who isn't happy not feeling part of the big world.

I want to not just preach changeI want to be an agent of change.

I want to free the oppressed.

I want to feed the hungry.

I want to vaccinate the sick.

I want to be a bringer of peace. Not death.

I want to feel like I am helping make the world better.

To many, and to myself, I am an idealist, a radical, an anarchist, a hippie, a socialist, and a communist.

But I am also a realist.

I look at my bus driver; my barista; My postman; my mother.

Is that all there is?

To find a job that will keep you comfortable?

Or are they genuinely happy?

Have they realised their life’s dream?

To provide mobility where mobility is an issue; to provide caffeine to a very grateful public; to be a representative of the world’s communication force; to have and raise five unique children?

If I could just ascertain that they were truly happy, Then I could be happy with my realistic fate That I shall probably end up a high school history teacher.

And why shouldn't I be happy?

Education is something I am truly passionate about, Teaching is rewarding and fulfilling.

My fondest memories come from schooling.

And yet is it enough?

Is that all there is to life?

To have a job, a family?

To be loved?

Is it enough?

I wish I could be anything other than who I am, That I could be complacent with all the magic in my life, (And oh yes there is beautiful magic) But I am not.

I want more.

I want to be an agent of change like all the people in history I look up to.

I want to be Elizabeth defeating the Spanish Armada, I want to be a suffragette working for the right to vote, I want to be Rosa Parks sitting at the front of the bus, I want to be Nelson Mandela fighting for his cause…

I want to be someone who participates.

In an amusing twist of irony, I seem to want to influence the policies of the world.

Does this put me back at square one?

Are those who set out to change the world, Really changing anything?

They say everything happens for a reason, and I truly believe that. But, oh if I could but reach for the stars, and grab one, I may know where I am headed.

COLD ROCK, CHURCH STREET

By Nadia Rahman WHO The other daughter; father excusing her from spotlight after the new arrival.

In the wake of the unexpected stork delivery, suddenly transformed into the backseat passenger, now waiting for permission to fiddle with the radio station.

The one who knocks, meekly, is seen but not heard, watching behind a glass barricade at the new festivities, waiting.

WHAT Was, the source of crinkled eyes, the wonderment felt in creating a life form.

Was, the one who devoured knowledge relentlessly, enthusiastic long divisioner and filler of credit card applications with Faber Castell textas. Was the embodiment of hope – fateful accident that the name even means hope? Stayed in the arid land of plenty for the baby to be a brain gladiator, to be an everpresent constellation in a lifetime of dark, bitter-chill nights.

WHY Fruit browns after being cut. After crystal bowl presentations, pieces started drowning in leftover saccharine sweet baths. Endearing perfectionism devolved into obsessive neglect, wildly vacillating between caring and not caring.

Unsuccessful successes, and successful unsuccesses – constant mental gnawing and crescent shaped scars embedded in palms, and still no explanation for what or why.

By Louise Carter There’s sunlight glancing off the lowered chrome-enhanced Hyundais – Church Street’s absurdist motorcade downgraded to a purring intermittence in the afternoon lull.

I spot a ripple in the doorway where humidity and air conditioning duke it out to the buzzing omniscience of radio ads – Coke, they tell me, is love.

All the marble slabs have frosted over. Busywork – I scrape a clean wet rectangle, body weight pushed into the scraper, powdery ice filings piling up.

But nobody comes. Not even the kids who rip open their Velcro Rip Curl wallets, asking for skittle and gummi bear mix-ins in their ice-cream: cookies ‘n’ cream and bubble gum.

The dull chink of battered scoops swirled in water and chlorine.

Fruit flies cryogenic in the tub of boysenberry. The sound of the freezer’s motor, labouring in the sun.

WHEN With each new day grows the ability for self-reflection and to shed the skin of ignorance – a beautiful blessing. Which then introduces the concept of selfesteem. Which is felt as low self-esteem. Which burns as self-flagellation. Which culminates, with each new day.

When my boss comes back I’ll take my cash straight to JB Hi-Fi – spend it on CDs. Then up the road to Oporto, pretending not to see the local bum.

WHERE On the papercuttable canvas, inside to the white non-bone, to the hidden alabaster, to the incarnadine life source, to the circuit routes, to the motherboard, to the apple core, to the very waste.

But there’s no rush. I watch an icy growth blur away the square I cleared, enjoying the smell of burnt waffle cone bits in the dustbin. Contented in the muted hum.

WHO CARES “You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realised how seldom they do”(Eleanor Roosevelt), Except you always come home to yourself, so you do, I suppose

CRUWSIBLE POETRY

WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, WHO CARES

SERVICES Students’ Rights Advocate Student Representation and Participation offer this free service to help you with study-related issues such as academic and non-academic misconduct, review of grades, special consideration, exclusions and appeals, higher degree research supervision issues, decisions made by uni staff as well as help raising complaints with the university.

Visit uws.edu/advocacy, call 9772 6136 or email advocate@uws.edu.au

Study and Life Skills These free workshops include academic writing workshops, library roving, maths, dealing with exam stress, mastering your memory, time management, planning, getting motivated, strategies for stress-free presentations.

Email mesh@uws.edu.au for maths workshops, hall@uws.edu.au for academic literacy workshops and counselling@uws.edu.au for life skills workshops

PODIATRY

SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC

UniClinic at Campbelltown campus offers podiatry services to the general public at a reduced rate, including nail surgery, foot pressure analysis, diabetes assessment, orthoses, vascular/neurological/biomechanical/gait assessments, and muscle rehabilitation. For students most of the services cost just $10.

Ever have unprotected sex? Get tested, it’s easy.

Many Sexually Transmitted Infections have no obvious symptoms. Sexual Health Clinics at Nepean Hospital in Kingswood and Blue Mountains Hospital in Katoomba offer FREE confidential testing and treatment. The Nepean Hospital Clinic also offers the ‘Men Out West’ Clinic with HIV testing in 10minutes. No Medicare card needed.

Visit nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Sexual-Health or phone Nepean Sexual Health Clinic 4734 2507 or the Katoomba Sexual Health Clinic 4784 6550.

Phone 4620 3700 and visit uws.edu.au/uniclinic

Family Planning NSW

Mates@UWS

Reproductive and sexual health experts on contraception, pregnancy options, STIs, sexuality and sexual function, menstruation, menopause, common gynaecological and vaginal problems, cervical screening, breast awareness and men’s health. Clinics in Ashfield, Fairfield, Penrith targeted to marginalised communities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, refugees, people with disability, young people and same sex attracted people.

Visit fpnsw.org.au or call 1300 658 886

Did you find starting Uni hard? MATES@UWS is looking for volunteer mentors for Autumn 2014 to help new students settle in and make their first session at UWS a positive one.

Being a ‘Mate’ not only gives you the opportunity to help new students with their transition but allows you to meet other students, connect with UWS staff, receive free goodies and most importantly, have lots of fun along the way.

Visit uws.edu.au/mates

Indigenous Australian Students

GET HEALTHY

Badanami Centre provides support and encouragement for every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student enrolled at the University. Students can drop in to Badanami anytime to study or relax Badanami can put you in touch with a range of services across campuses, from study skills courses, careers advice, counselling and medical assistance all the way through to opportunities to study abroad 1800 032 923 or email badanami@uws.edu.au

Trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle? The Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service offers free info and health coaching to help achieve your goals in relation to healthy eating, physical activity and lifestyle. It’s a free, confidential phone-based coaching service by health professionals. You can opt to receive information and/or coaching from the Get Healthy Coaching Service.

Visit uws.edu.au/gethealthy

Student Welfare Service

PASS: Peer-Assisted Study Sessions

Sometimes you might need assistance from other services, such as a counsellor or a government agency. UWS welfare officers can help you with information and advice about the right services to talk to in relation to accommodation, financial assistance including food vouchers Centrelink support, tax help, textbook vouchers, sexual health, bullying, advocacy on misconduct, review of grades and special consideration and budget meals.

Email welfareservice@uws.edu.au or visit uws. edu.au/askwelfare

In PASS you work with other students to understand the content of your units and develop study strategies to help improve your academic performance. Each PASS group is run by a student facilitator who has studied the unit previously. PASS is free and voluntary.

Regular attendance of PASS will help improve your grades and make study more rewarding.

Visit uws.edu.au/pass

The Disability Service is a team of professionals to assist students with all types of disabilities including chronic illness, mental health conditions and learning disabilities by providing reasonable adjustments. Reasonable adjustments, such as exam provisions, are steps taken to ensure all students have equal access to university. A previous student said: “Every disability is different, but registering with the service made uni much less stressful, especially around exam time or when I became unwell” Visit uws.edu.au/disability, call 9852 5199 or email disability@uws.edu.au

Careers

Chaplaincy

Counselling Service

With CareerHub you may search for jobs, internships, work experience, overseas positions, book in to career expos and access career information and resume advice all in one place.

This free service is available to all UWS students and recent graduates. Register with your current MyUWS Account.

Email careerhub.uws.edu.au

The chaplaincy team offers a caring presence to all staff and students at UWS; encouraging spirituality, offering hospitality and creating community.

We do this by embracing our diversity, encouraging conversation and respecting our similarities and differences. Chaplains come from a variety of spiritual traditions.

Email chaplaincy@uws.edu.au

A team of qualified social workers and psychologists to help you with any issues affecting your study. If you’re not sure that university is for you, a counsellor may be able to offer advice and support or help you improve your study skills.

Counselling is free, confidentail and can be carried out as e counselling if preferred.

9852 5199 or email counselling@uws.edu.au

22

Disability Service

STUDENT LEGAL

tenancy: the joy, the horror Sometimes you feel at the mercy of your landlord/lady. Sometimes it’s a case of tenants behaving badly. ROYA ARAN and NINA LAU set out the obligations on both sides of the fence.

Who does the Act cover?

As a tenant, you should be aware of your rights under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010. The Act covers both private tenants who have a written or oral residential tenancy agreement, as well as social housing tenants.

The Act does not cover some tenancy agreements, specifically tenants whose main residence is a residential park, residential aged care, boarding and lodging agreements, which may include university campus living agreements.

The tenancy agreement There are two types of agreements: • Fixed Term agreement: This is an agreement for a specific period of time • Periodic Agreement: This is an agreement where the fixed term has expired, OR no fixed term was specified.

YOUR GENERAL RIGHTS As a tenant, you have a right to be given a copy of your residential tenancy agreement and a condition report by the landlord/agent and the NSW Fair Trading New Tenant Checklist. Your general rights also include the following;

•

• • • • • •

The property should be clean and fit to live in.

You should receive receipts for the rent that you pay You should be able to live comfortably, without the landlord interfering with your property.

Reasonable repairs should be made, and you should get repaid for any urgent repairs you make up to $1000.

You should receive written notice if the landlord wants to end your tenancy If the landlord breaches a term of your agreement, you may apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal You have the right to refuse the landlord from entering, unless they notified you earlier.

YOUR OBLIGATIONS • • • •

To pay rent on time. If in arrears, this is a breach of your agreement.

To pay for any damage To report immediately any maintenance issues To not change anything to the property, unless the landlord gives you permission

• • •

Not to use the property for an illegal purpose To give the correct notice when you leave To leave the premises in a similar condition to when you first started renting, except for normal wear and tear.

A landlord can ask you to pay both rent in advance: You cannot be required to pay more than 2 weeks rent in advance and a bond (no more than 4 weeks rent).

Termination If the landlord wants to end your tenancy, a termination notice must be given in writing.

This also applies if you, as a tenant want to end your agreement. The notice of termination must provide the address, the day you will leave and the reason for termination, if any.

Notice: For LANDLORDS The amount of notice you are given will depend on what type of agreement you are in.

However, a landlord can apply to the tribunal for a termination order without giving you any notice. If the tribunal agrees to the termination order, you may have to give possession of the property immediately. Where a tribunal order has been made and you do not leave by the specified day, the landlord can get a warrant for possession from the tribunal. With this warrant, a Sheriff’s officer can remove you from the property – with police if needed.

Notice: For TENANTS You must give at least the following notice if you wish you terminate your agreement.

GROUNDS

FIXED-TERM

PERIODIC

no reason

14 days

21 days

breach agreement

14 days

14 days

property unusable

none

none

CHECK your tenancy agreement, as there may be a break fee associated with ending your tenancy early.

EVICTION: YOUR RIGHTS •

No tribunal or court order: The landlord cannot evict you unless they have followed the tribunal process. Anyone who locks out a tenant without a tribunal or court order

•

can be fined up to $22,000 and ordered to compensate you.

Retaliatory Eviction: If the landlord acts in response to you enforcing your legal rights, the tribunal may find this as a retaliatory eviction. The tribunal may then declare the termination notice to have no effect.

About the Tribunal The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal is an independent body which deals with disputes between landlords and tenants. It is not a formal court, but it’s decisions are legally binding.

Time limits You have 3 months from the date you are aware of a breach to make an application to the tribunal. You should still check the application form for other time limits, and if the time has passed, ask for an extension.

Costs An application costs $38, however if you are on a government pension or benefit, Austudy, Abstudy or have a seniors card, the cost will be $5.

Representation Tenants usually represent themselves, however you can ask the tribunal to let another person speak for you if they allow it. You may also bring someone for support. A landlord will usually bring a real estate agent to represent them. You should ALWAYS attend the hearing as the tribunal can make a decision that affects you, even if you are not there. If you do not attend, you may find that you have been evicted, or you have been ordered to make additional payments that you did not know about, or everything the landlord said was taken as fact.

Some of this info is from Tenants NSW. The information is general and should not be relied on as legal advice.

contact Student Legal Services on 8688 7875 or email studentlegalservices@uws. edu.au UWS Student Legal Service is a joint venture between Macquarie Legal Centre and UWS. Located at UWS Parramatta Community Justice Clinic, Parramatta Local Court, it provides advice to currently enrolled UWS students through SSAF funds.

23

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Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover with Hayley Thrupp

scholarships

Scholarships: Applying is easy and the rewards great Multiple scholarship winner, HAYLEY THRUPP, urges you to give it a go.

I am currently a first year student studying a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Accounting). In the future, I hope to pursue a career in tax accounting as this has always been something I have been interested in. I would also be interested in a career within the Australian Taxation Office as I have always been interested in politics and would love to be involved in a government department.

What scholarships do you currently hold?

Academic Excellence, George WH Lan Business Scholarship, and membership of The Academy (Aspire). The Academic Excellence scholarship is a $20,000 scholarship ($2,500 a semester over four years) for students who achieved a specified ATAR. In addition to the scholarship, I was accepted into The Academy and Aspire Program at UWS. This provides me with the opportunity to attend professional development and leadership workshops throughout my studies.

The George WH Lan Business Scholarship is a $15,000 scholarship ($2,500 a semester over three years) for students who are studying a Bachelor of Business and Commerce or a combined business degree (e.g. B Business/B Laws). The scholarship is provided by a donor.

For both these scholarships, I must maintain a GPA of 5.0 (credit average) each semester.

How did you find out about scholarships?

I found out about these scholarships through the UWS website. There is a tool on the website that allows you to determine which scholarships you are eligible for. In addition, I was researching leadership opportunities and programs at UWS and came across the Aspire Future Leaders program (now The Academy) and was very interested in that. Membership in Aspire meant that I was automatically eligible for the Academic Excellence scholarship.

The application process was quite simple. For both scholarships, I had to write a personal statement demonstrating why I should receive the scholarship. I also had to attend an interview for the Academic Excellence scholarship.

I was very excited when I was offered the scholarships because I knew that a lot of people had applied for them. I was extremely grateful for the opportunity.

What difference have these scholarships made to your life?

These scholarships have helped me a great deal with the costs of going to university. I have been able to purchase textbooks as well as a new laptop. It will also allow me to make contributions to my HECS debt. The fact that

a donor has funded one of my scholarships means a great deal to me as it makes me really appreciate the opportunity I have been given. Without the support of the donor, I would not receive the scholarship and it has inspired me to work harder.

What advice would you give students considering applying ?

My advice would be to apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for. You should definitely go for it because I know it has been extremely beneficial to university life.

To find out more visit uws.edu.au/scholarships There are a diverse range of scholarship available for both new and continuing students in the following categories: • • • • •

academic achievement, opportunity/equity, leadership and community contribution, work-based learning, international exchange and volunteering

Application dates: Mid-year – April 1 to June 30 Start of the year – September 1 to early January

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springboard from mates mentor to intern abroad

Winner of the Student Diary Cover Competition, DOMENICA VITALE, reveals her inspiration for the 2015 design.

ASPIRATIONS I just completed my first year of Bachelor of Visual Communication (Graphic Design) at UWS Werrington South.

My career aspirations would have to be either working for VOGUE, focusing on the design of the magazine, or working on brand identity for a major company like David Jones or CocaCola.

INSPIRATIONS I am inspired by VERSACE with his old fashioned but elegant style. I am actually related to him; my Grandma’s mother knew him, so I guess the design blood has carried on to me.

I am also inspired by Paul Rand as he taught himself graphic design through the works of A.M. Cassandre and Lazlo Moholy-Nagy, through European magazines. He began his career designing covers for Direction magazine but then changed fields as he focused on brand identity for companies like IBM, ABC, UPS and Westinghouse - similar to what I aspire to do in the future.

MATES@UWS

student diary launching pad

My girlfriend told me about the MATES@UWS program, as she had participated the previous semester and said she had a lot of fun.

The thing that attracted me to the idea of helping other students was an inclination to help give new students a head start during their first weeks at university. It is these first few weeks that can make or break some new students.

Many can feel overwhelmed and also not think they have what it takes to pass, let alone go well. Other factors, such as family and relationships issues, can also play a part in these limiting beliefs. Becoming a mentor with the MATES@UWS program was a way I could help new students find a little belief in themselves as well as connect them to the resources they needed. It was also a way I could give something back to UWS. As a MATES@UWS mentor, our job was to form a mentor group, where we would meet our mentees (new students) in a group environment one day a week and discuss issues and problems some of the students may have been experiencing, such as understanding blended learning, logging on to student email and connecting them to relevant student support services. But, most of the time, the group meeting comprised of a friendly chat and laughs.

I gained a lot from volunteering as a MATES@ UWS mentor. It made me understand that giving is very satisfying and knowing that you’ve made a little difference to someone’s university experience and maybe even their lives makes you feel very accomplished. Also, the organising and running group activities built on my leadership skills and knowledge.

I managed to score an international internship with KONE elevator Co. in Kunshan, China.

Every semester the UWS Careers office organises international internships for current students and everyone is able to apply. After applying and having an interview, I was happy to find out that I was successful in my application. I will be travelling to China on the 4th of December this year, where I will learn how to design elevators and escalators for the company. I am very proud to be representing UWS and I think every student at this university has a chance to expand their horizons and achieve great things if they put their minds to it.

PERSPIRATION I came up with the idea of the student diary cover as I was thinking about what students go through at university, as they unpack their box if they are staying on the campus, and drink their coffee to help them stay awake to study, or, like in my graphic design course, carrying paint brushes and cameras. But I also wanted to focus on other courses. My brother is studying Bachelor of Science (Forensic Science) so I added a magnifying glass and I added a weight for the gym fanatics and the rest of us who go to the gym for mind/body balance during our university life. I added the tree as it symbolises growth and as we go through our course, which ever one it is, we seem to grow and learn new and exciting things for the future. We also have a lot of trees at the Werrington campus. Then I added the graduation cap at the top as you have to work your way through the obstacles of university to graduate, but it is all worth it in the end.

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UWS Summer creative

Type treatment

WHAT’S ON OVER SUMMER

UWS SUMMER

UWS SUMMER

snags, lamingtons and thong throwing comps!

@ PARRAMATTA CAMPUS Pick up your FREE $5 meal voucher out front of the Boilerhouse and enjoy the discount at your choice of the campus cafes – Boilerhouse take away, Cafe 1898 and River Cafe.

SEE YOUR SCC

REPRESENTATIVE ON TUESDAY FROM 11AM OUTSIDE THE BOILERHOUSE

Explore the best outdoor attractions and beauty of Australia with UWS Campus Life. It’s the perfect way to get out and about with new friends, at a great price.

Visit uwscl.com/trips for more info Find us on Faceook “UWS Out & About”

sneak peek SUMMER CRAFT FREE ICEBLOCKS FREE STUDENT BREAKFAST POP UP STALLS FREE WATER BOTTLES FREE BBQ’S FREE CHURROS AND MASSAGES FREE DIPPIN DOTS ICE CREAM LIVE MUSIC

...and much more!

For a full list of what’s on and where visit

For outlet opening hours and offers on your campus visit

For library resources and opening hours visit

uwscl.com/whatson

uwsfood.com.au

library.uws.edu.au

Opening hours and events are subject to change. For more info visit uws.edu.au/summer 28

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crUWSible wants your artwork, stories, ramblings, poems, reportage, rants and fiction. cruwsible.com.au cruwsible@uws.edu.au IMAGE: MARIA DIAZ subtleviolence.com

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healthy THREE-FOLD FITNESS CHRIS KOCX cautions against the “more is better” approach with both food and nutrition supplements, and isn’t kind on coffee. Dehydration from caffeine affects concentration in a bad way, he writes.

ObESITY the biggest killer Obesity is becoming more and more common in Australian society. Regardless of the reasons, regardless of the numbers, for each and every person who is obese, it presents a significant health problem.

If you are an obese woman, the World Obesity Federation statistics indicate that you are 7 times more likely to contract type 2 diabetes and 2 times more likely to have a myocardial infarction (or heart attack). For men the risk of diabetes is elevated 5.5 times, and that of a heart attack is similarly twice as likely.

If we know all of the related health problems with obesity, why is more not being done? Why do people seem oblivious to alarming facts?

I believe it is not that people are oblivious to the facts; it is that society itself has constructed a food industry and an ethos that more is better, namely the age-old catch cry of McDonalds that more food when discounted is better value. “Would you like to supersize?”.

Ah, the enigma of the upsell !

Nowadays it’s peculiar to see a non-24 hour fast food outlet. It is perfectly normal to hoe into your favourite burger walking along the street. It is absolutely normal to walk to a counter, order food and be upset if service takes longer than five minutes. Due to this constant access to food and the permission to eat it whenever wherever, people’s diets have 30

undergone a rapid change. Suddenly snacking and choosing food not for nutritional value but for ease of access is widely touted as a possible reason for the increase in Australia’s rate of obesity. But it’s not all down to people making decisions that perhaps aren’t the best for their health.

It all began in Chicago with a man by the name of Walerstein. A cinema proprietor by trade, he noted that the majority of the cost associated with selling popcorn was the buckets and the machine for making it. The cost associated with making more popcorn was very minimal. So he coined the idea of selling larger sizes for more money and his profits went through the roof. It wasn’t long before fast food chains like McDonalds had caught on and the word ‘supersize’ was born.

Now, not only were you getting more food for the same or marginally higher price, but you could ‘bundle’. This magical term meant you could buy not only a burger, but chips and a drink as well, for a fraction of the price that they would cost separately. “Would you like to make that a meal?” has become synonymous with a bargain. Rarely do we see people buy singular menu items anymore and this has resulted in people naturally feeling that more food is a bargain and somehow leaves them better off afterwards.

So now you can see how families in particular, who are on a fairly tight budget, have been told time and time again that these bargains provide more bang for their buck. Part of this mentality may be the thought that if I eat more now, then in the future I won’t need to eat as much. Or also that perhaps if you buy

more, you may have left overs and again in the future you won’t need to buy as much.

However according to recent studies from Dr Barbara Rolls at Penn State University, people who have these larger portions continue to eat larger portions. They do not after a larger meal eat less at subsequent meals or smaller portions. In contrast, they are more likely to continue eating energy dense foods, which play a significant role in weight fluctuations.

How often have you seen the chip-guzzler tipping the bucket into an open gullet to make sure they get their money’s worth?

I’ve done it, you’ve done it, we all have an innate feeling that we must finish what we’ve bought. So maybe it’s been programmed into us that more is better, get the bargain and eat your fill. However, maybe we need to start programming in a different set of information, as obesity has overtaken smoking as the leading self-inflicted killer in Australia.

supplements and expensive wee On the flipside of the Australian obesity epidemic, there seems to be a rise in body image culture. Whether it is through the use of supplements, strict gym routines or just fad dieting, it seems to be all the rage.

The principle behind supplements is that they replace what your body doesn’t quite get in your diet. One group most in need of supplements is hospital patients, particularly people who are nil by mouth. Somehow, this

IMAGES: d.billy, Erin Dang, Amanda Richards, Chris Blakeley

idea that diets can be action-packed into a shaker and taken with you wherever you go as a symbol of your quest for ‘gains’, has become commonplace.

According to the Australian Institute of Sport, the recommended protein intake for sedentary men and women is between 0.81.9 grams of protein for every gram of body weight. Now for teen males, who seem to be the biggest fans of this latest trend, let’s look at what amount of protein they should be taking in. For athletes undertaking resistance training the recommended protein intake is between 1.5 and 1.7 grams per kilogram of body weight. Therefore for your average 70kg male, at most, the recommended protein intake each day is 120 grams.

An average rib eye steak (about 291 grams) contains on average 70 grams of protein over half of the recommended protein intake even at the highest recommended levels for growing males who are undertaking strength training. Now you can begin to understand that you may have more than enough protein and other nutrients in your diet even without supplements.

So what happens when you have too much of a particular nutrient in your body? Well, basically, the cells of your body take as much as they need and anything that is left simply remains circulating in your blood stream. Naturally when you have too much of something, as with drinking too many glasses of water before bed, nature calls and you dispose of the excess. Therefore, if you have a balanced diet and you really don’t need

the extra nutrients you’re supplementing, all you’re paying for is expensive urine.

Far too many teens nowadays feel pressured about the way they look and how society feels they should look, mainly due to the horrible message that mainstream media is able to send.

the highs and lows of caffeine So I’ve recently embarked on the journey through the next stage of my life and with every new experience comes new and sometimes unexpected knowledge. Having the opportunity to study medicine at university is both a gift and a struggle and, as you can imagine, the little gems of knowledge I pick up each day are just as unexpected as the last.

Lateley we have learnt a lot about regular operating conditions for the body, basically what we need to keep the cogs turning and the brain ticking each and every day. We delved into nutrition, sleep habits, hydration among other things and from this I took one particularly pertinent fact: Coffee is definitely not something I want to be drinking. Set aside the cost, set aside a possible dependency resulting in more cost and lethargy without it.

Granted, the frothy milk on top with a dash of chocolate powder is a childhood baby chino re-incarnated. Coffee in the sense that I’d like to examine it, is in essence a drink which does the opposite of what most people drink for: It dehydrates you.

healthy

Teenagers are still developing and this places excess strain on the body, increasing the demand for energy and raw materials.

One such raw material is water. Hydration is as essential as the Gatorade ads would have you believe, but not as expensive. The average suggested water intake is around 2 litres per day. Without water your basic functions become sluggish and naturally your concentration plummets: Definitely not something I’d want with exams approaching.

Your kidney is the organ that is practically in control of how much water you dispose of through urine. So where coffee comes into play, is that caffeine acts as an adenosinereceptor antagonist, which means that caffeine takes the spot that the hormone adenosine normally would in the synapses of our nervous system, preventing adenosine from doing it’s job. Adenosine is a natural relaxant; it slows down your body and brings on a ‘sleepy’ sort of feeling. Hence when you drink coffee, your energy skyrockets.

Adenosine slows the rate at which you produce urine. Therefore, through the input of caffeine into your body, the rate of urine production increases. This isn’t your body acting of its own accord, in fact it’s loosing water that it needs. As a result, people often find themselves dehydrated without physical exertion.

So the lesson I took home this week; not to drink too much coffee. However if I ever start, I’d make sure I kept up my fluids all day, because dehydration is the enemy of concentration (especially around exam time).

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mental health Diego Alejandro Photography

Mental Health Support for Western Sydney

By Caitlan Charles Young members of the Western Sydney community are reaching out and speaking up about mental health.

Stephanie Rose, with the help of Bronwyn Allen, has created the new #speakup campaign to combat the stigma attached to mental health and to empower women and encourage them to speak up about their mental illnesses.

Stephanie, 21, is the founding member of Young Women’s Mental Health Support, a North-West Sydney based non-profit organisation that aims to help and support young women afflicted with mental illness. Bronwyn, also 21, runs the Facebook page Borderline Personality Disorder Survivor Recovery (BPDSR). She aims to provide a safe place where people suffering from a mental illness can come together to find support.

“I think there are a lot of women who feel they are unable to tell people about why we are depressed,” Stephanie said. Stephanie and Bronwyn’s aim is to show women in various stages of recovery, that having a mental illness is nothing they have to hide, but rather is something to speak up about.

“I just had an idea to grab ten to fifteen girls and just photograph them… and they could share their stories along with their photographs,” Stephanie said.

Stephanie and Bronwyn plan to spread the stories and photographs on social media, hoping that women will begin to speak up about their mental illnesses. The passion and personal experience that Stephanie and Bronwyn bring to their work makes the campaign an 32

inspirational advance in accepting and dealing with mental health issues free of charge.

know that support systems do exist,” Stephanie said.

Stephanie and Bronwyn enlisted the help of Diego Alejandro Gallego from Diego Alejandro Photography, a photographer who was willing to donate his time to the campaign.

Stephanie met Bronwyn through her BPDSR Facebook page where she encourages people to speak up about their mental illnesses and discuss their recovery with other people in similar situations. The page simply states it is “a community for all people suffering from a variety of mental illnesses, at various stages of their recovery, to find some help and support.” Bronwyn shared her story in depth on her page and encourages others to do the same.

The trio spends most Saturdays meeting with women who have had or are dealing with mental illness. Diego talks to the women about their lives and their illnesses while he photographs them, hoping to capture the part of their lives that they often try to hide.

Stephanie’s experiences are a part of what made her want to help others speak up about their mental illnesses.

“I have been living with a parent who has an acute mental illness, so I guess that was one aspect or factor that did inspire me… I also had one parent who was [mentally] abusive… and when I was fourteen or fifteen I was in a psychiatric ward for about two months.”

Stephanie was living in the Philippines when she discovered Bronwyn’s Facebook page.

She was amazed at how open and willing Bronwyn was to talk about her life, and what had happened to her. “I ended up adding her on Facebook and there was one night particularly I had a bad anxiety attack and in a bit of panic I messaged her saying ‘look this is how I’m feeling; what do you do when you feel like this?’ She talked me through it.”

“One of my parents accused me of fabricating my illness while I was in hospital. I find that people with mood disorders are often accused of ‘seeking attention’ or ‘putting it on’. It’s important to also educate people about mood disorders and mental illness. We deserve the same validation and respect you would give to someone with diabetes or a heart condition.”

Stephanie’s drive to make sure others do not experience the same thing makes her all the more determined in her future plans for the charity.

It took Stephanie nearly a year-and-a-half to contact Bronwyn about the campaign after discovering her on Facebook. “I thought she was so inspiring,” she said.

“We need to do something that lets people

Read the full story at crUWSible.com.au

“So many women, or people, feel embarrassed or ashamed to speak up about it publicly, and these girls are not only speaking up publicly but are being photographed. That is a really confronting concept and a lot of girls didn’t want to participate,” Stephanie said of the #speakup campaign.

IMAGES: Tanya Dawn, paulan, Stathis Stavrianos

mental health RearView Reflections Gabrielle Lawson

The many faces of anxiety

By Caitlin Monaghan Rather than talking about what not to say to people who have anxiety or a mental illness, I’m going to talk about having anxiety and some things I have learned about Anxiety Disorders.

Apart from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I learnt about two other types of anxiety: Social and Specific Phobias. When I learnt about these two particular phobias being a part of the anxiety family, I had a bit of a chuckle because the social and specific phobias do really relate to me.

Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, can be generalised into a fear of social situations, including performance situations such as having to give a speech or being watched while doing something at work and situations involving social interaction such as having a meal with friends, or making small talk. Having social anxiety disorder, I am more fearful of being in situations that require me to get up in front of people. Even the thought of doing anything in front of people freaks me out.

Specific Phobia is a concern or fear about certain situations. Anxiety surrounding certain activities, animals or an object is not uncommon. Many people feel anxious when faced with a snake or spider, or travelling by plane.

Fear is a rational response to situations that can pose a threat to our safety. Specific Phobia can be divided into categories such as Animal, Natural Environment or Blood/Injection/Injury types. I have two Specific Phobias:

Animal and Natural Environment Phobias.

For my Animal Phobia, I can’t stand being anywhere near spiders. I know someone who apparently faints whenever they come across a spider. Whether it is a harmless daddy longlegs or a red-bellied black snake, I hate them and would rather have them dead than have anywhere near me. With my Natural Environment Phobia, I get extremely anxious when I have to drive somewhere when it is raining and there is thunder and/or lightening as well as rain.

There is another Specific Phobia with which a person can have a fear of choking or a fear of vomiting. I fear living in a house or unit by myself. As much as I like having time to me, if I’m staying in a house for more than a couple of days by myself I start to freak. I get that it’s something that I will have to do at some point but I like the idea of being in a house or unit where I know there are going to be other people, even if I don’t see them or talk to them all the time. It’s probably more a fear of being alone than anything else, because it truly does scare me.

So that is the anxiety side of me. Whilst both depression and anxiety are annoying at times, I don’t let them stop me doing what I want to do with my life. I know there are going to be moments where I will struggle but I know I have some amazing friends and family in my life who I love and who I will always want to be a part of my life.

Look at life through the windshield, not the rear view mirror. As I think of the way I have lived my life in the past 24 years, I can’t help but feel frustrated over time wasted, unhealthy choices and missed opportunities. While it’s true there’s no point punishing yourself over careless ignorance of the past, there is value in acknowledging where you went wrong and what advice you would give yourself, looking through the rear view mirror. Sitting in the driver’s seat of my life, here’s what I would tell myself, the shy and MTV-addicted Gabby.

Don’t compare yourself with others: Comparing your life to the lives of other people is toxic!

Everyone is born unique and with this uniqueness comes our own desires and interests. We shouldn’t be afraid to be ourselves and to express our individuality!

Don’t be afraid to try new things: When I was younger, I thought I had an image bound to reading certain books and magazines, limited to a certain genre of music and doing certain recreational activities. This was a sad perspective and if I could travel back in time I would encourage the younger and very stubborn me, to explore new things, to get out of her comfort zone and to delve into the new and exciting and unknown.

Have goals: When I think of people I admire, the one thing they have in common is a vision for their life. Having goals gives you direction and sets the foundation for action. If I could go back in time, I’d drag myself off the couch and tell myself to go out, set some goals and be a participator in life and not merely a spectator of other people’s success.

Have fun! If I could go back in time and visit the younger version of myself, (she would probably laugh at the awkward dress sense and double chin) I’d tell her to stress less and to enjoy her youth. I’d tell her that time goes by so fast, (I just love clichés!) to treasure her friends and to have fun at high school before adult responsibility hits her like a ton of bricks!

Cars are designed with both a windshield and rear view mirrors. So don’t be afraid to take a look in the rear view mirror and create an inventory to learn along the way!

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clubs & socs Solar Car Challenge recruitment drive

By Jean-Luc Stevens and Ann Xiao

SOLACE

We want you! The UWS Solar Car Project is calling for student participants from across all disciplines of study, such as Marketing, Business and Media & Communications.

Do you want to show future employers how you were involved in extracurricular activities, able to work within a large team towards future environmental solutions, and managing a budget of over $250,000? If yes, then why not consider signing up to the Solar Car Project?

The solar car team is a multi-disciplinary project that cultivates innovation and creative learning. The project aims to innovate through competition and engaging students across all faculties. Our core mission is to regularly engage with the community to raise awareness and encourage sustainable thinking and activities.

Whilst providing a competitive racing environment, the project is paving the way for advances in sustainable and renewable technologies. This allows students to successfully engage in higher education by providing an environment for practical application and bringing knowledge to an industry level.

The project has also encouraged future students from local community high schools to participate in activities that educate and raise awareness about sustainable technology.

We are currently planning to race the car in World Solar Challenge, which is a 3021km race from Darwin to Adelaide, from the 18th to 25th of October, 2015. The World Solar 34

Challenge is a race between many other solar powered vehicles, including those from some of the world’s leading universities including Cambridge University, Michigan State University, MIT, Stanford University and Japan’s Tokai University.

We are hoping to place in the top five for the next race in 2015, with a larger budget and more experience on our side Our first race was in 2013 where we placed 11th out of 22 racers, as a Challenger Class vehicle. Our current car, SolAce, was created from the ground up on a budget of $250,000, whilst other universities had multi-million dollar budgets and sponsorship. UWS managed to stay competitive under these circumstances. SolAce weighs 294kg and is composed of a carbon fibre and honeycomb core, making it lighter and stronger. However, it only has the capacity to hold one driver. With a top speed of 130km/h, the car runs on the same energy required to power a toaster.

The new car we are currently in the process of building for the 2015 World Solar Challenge is planned to be lighter. It will consume a lot less energy, meaning it will go faster for longer periods of time, consequently, placing us higher in the rankings for the 2015 World Solar Challenge.

If you are interested in applying your knowledge outside of the classroom and diversifying your university experience, come join the Solar Car Project.

Group meetings will be every second Saturday from 10am-4pm at the Kingswood Campus in Z.G.53. However, if you don’t live locally or are on a different campus we can organise meetings via social media outlets or video chats.

We can be contacted by email, Facebook or Twitter.

SOLACE FACTS Weight: 294Kg without driver Size: 4.5m L x 1.8m W x 1.2m H Top Speed: 115km/h Solar Array: 1.32Kw array made from 391 Sunpower Solar Cells.

Construction: Carbon fibre composite with a honeycomb core.

Main Battery: 429 Panasonic 18650B Lithium Ion Batteries giving 5.1Kw/h of energy. Power limited to 10kw Placed: 11th out of 22 entrants in Challenger Class GETTING INVOLVED Group meeting: Every 2nd Saturday 10am2pm.

Lab Location: Z.G.53 Kingswood Campus Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm Email: contact@solarcar.scem.uws.edu.au Facebook: facebook.com/uwssolarcarproject Twitter: twitter.com/uwssolarcarteam

clubs & socs Malaysia, here we come!

By Eamonn Warner

By Robert Barrie

The UWS Cinema Academy held its inaugural screening in September.

The Academy, which aims to act as a hub for film-loving students, is the brainchild of UWS student Soroush Karimian, who felt that events such as this have been lacking during his time at university.

“I felt like UWS and the creative community and all the film-lovers of this great uni could use a platform to screen the work of students and give them recognition,” he said.

World Championships in Malaysia We will soon be jetting off to Kuala Lumpur for the World University Debating Championships! We’d like to congratulate the following members of our contingent who are to represent us on the world stage:- UWS A: Chris Kocx and Robert Barrie. UWS B: Priya Goyal and Holly Pitt. Adjudicator: Winnie Jobanputra.

Our team will spend 10 days at the tournament enjoying debating, socials, travelling and shopping with nearly 1000 university students from around the world.

D EB A T ING

cinema academy shines up a classic

The Academy exists not just to showcase the work of students, but to also provide inspiration for young filmmakers by screening classic cinema.

“We’d like to screen films that have something important to say. It could be the cinematography, music, storytelling, editing or visual effects. We’d like to screen films that are different and stand out from the crowd,” he said.

“I want people to be able to use this platform as a way to make contact with other cinema lovers and do crazy things together.”

No one can really argue with the quality of the film chosen for the Academy’s first event, The Shining. Director Stanley Kubrick is regarded as one of the finest filmmakers in history, and The Shining as one of the scariest horror films ever made.

From the revolutionary steadicam shots, Kubrick’s superb framing, and Jack Nicholson’s terrifying performance as Jack Torrance, The Shining is the perfect encapsulation of what Soroush is trying to accomplish with the Academy.

While we waited for some late arrivals, guests were treated to complimentary Subway sandwiches that were organised with the help of the Subway on Kingswood campus, along with a few other snacks.

After a brief delay working with the at times temperamental projection software of lecture theatre BJ 1.17, the show was underway.

The sparse nature of the audience meant attendees could jump and flinch as much as they liked without anyone else really noticing; a fact I may have taken advantage of once or twice.

While there were only 8 in attendance, Soroush still felt the night was a success overall.

“I thought it was ok. I just wanted to get a sense of how everything was going to play out. I’m definitely going to push harder to get people’s attention for the second screening,” he said.

At this stage the plan is for fortnightly screenings with Soroush saying that he’d like it “to become a weekly event in the near future.”

For screening times, visit facebook.com/groups/uwscinema/

Upcoming Domestic Debating Action There are still plenty of competitions happening in Australia before Worlds that you can attend. After exams we’ll be heading to Melbourne University, UNSW, Sydney Uni and UTS to see off a fantastic domestic season. For more information check our facebook page or OrgSync.

2015 Executive We recently held our AGM, and amidst a raft of constitutional amendments, we managed to elect a new executive! Congratulations to President, Winnie Jobanputra, Secretary, Laura Sampson, Treasurer, Andrew Montgomery, Internals, Chris Kocx, Externals, Nicole Gismondo, Schools, Scott Worthington and Competitions, Robert Barrie.

We’d like to thank our retiring executive members for their hard work: Thomas Morgan, Holly Pitt, Jessica Fenech, Andrew Olivares and Priya Goyal.

Thank you for your support in 2014 Special thanks to all UWS students who debated and adjudicated for us, who helped with events and who turned up to internals - you make this club what it is. Big thanks to all the team at Connect for their dedication to student clubs and to the university for its support. And last but not least, a big thank you to the team at the Cruwsible for always publishing our articles and helping us to promote ourselves!

The year ahead We want to send more people to more tournaments in more exotic locations! The Australian Championships will be hosted by UNSW and UTS next year. We’ll then travel to South Korea for the Australasian Championships and Brisbane for the Australasian Women’s Championships. At the end of the year, we’ll be heading to Thessaloniki in Greece for the World Championships! We hope you can be a part of it next year.

Contact Us: facebook.com/uwsdebating, @UWS_Debating, uwsdebating@gmail.com or OrgSync (search “UWS Debating” ) 35

CULCHA

hip hop hangs in

By Mitchell Bozzetto

Let’s face it, the world of hip hop has seen better days. Today the industry is flooded with commercial garbage that is slowly killing the music I love and cherish. Luckily there is a handful of artists out there trying to keep real hip hop alive. These days it’s rare to find new artists who don’t produce mainstream crap and rap about money, cars and gold chains. For all the hip hop heads out there, I have created a list of my top three albums being released this year from three new artists who I believe can keep real hip hop alive.

Kendrick Lamar Album: TBA He’s one of the biggest names in hip hop right now and rightfully so after receiving worldwide success from his critically acclaimed debut major label album ‘Good kid m.A.A.d city’ back in 2012. Two years on and the Compton rapper is preparing to release his sophomore album which currently does not have a title or release date. It is expected to drop before the end of the year. In a recent interview with Complex, Lamar stated that he has recorded around 30 to 40 tracks for the new album which will feature a few producers including beat maestro and mentor Dr. Dre. Kendrick’s unique style and amazing storytelling ability is a breath of fresh air at a time when hip hop is being overshadowed by mainstream mediocrity. GKMC shook the rap game up, so let’s hope this album can shake it up a bit more.

Joey Bada$$ Album: B4DA$$ If there is one artist you should be listening to right now it’s Joey Bada$$! His whole style and raw flow makes you feel like you’re in the 90s again, which at times I bet we all wish we were.

‘B4DA$$’ will be the Brooklyn rapper’s debut studio album. Earlier, Bada$$ released the first single from the debut album titled ‘Big Dusty’ - a very dark and hard-hitting track that really highlights the rapper’s unique flow. Some big names have been lined up for production on the album with Q-Tip, DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Statik Selektah all working on the album. These days it’s rare to find artists like Joey Bada$$, however they are out there. You just have to look in the right places.

Bishop Nehru & MF Doom Album: NehruvianDOOM What do you get when you put a hip hop legend together with one of the game’s dopest up-andcoming MCs? You get NehruvianDoom, hip hop’s newest collaboration that looks set to flip the game on its head. Young gun Bishop Nehru and hip hop veteran MF Doom have teamed up to deliver one of my most anticipated albums of the year. The nine track LP will be Nehru’s first feature on a major studio release. Prior to this Nehru released a few mixtapes which really got people talking about his fresh style and solid flow. Doom will be producing the entire album and while he features on the hook for the duo’s latest release, ‘OM’, fingers are crossed we will also hear the supervillain spit a few verses. For all the hip hop heads out there, this is definitely one album you don’t want to miss.

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Between Rock and a Hard Place

culcha We need to talk about cultural appropriation

By Terri Ferreira

By Mariam Tengbeh

“Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll” are the most famous words when it comes to being a musician. But when I asked members of Sydney band ‘To Engineer an Exorcist’ (TEAE) what their tagline would be, I received the reply: “Dereliction, Poverty and Maggi Noodles”.

“You can have a relationship with Jesus,” was the defence of rapper Kanye West, after he shocked fans at the opening of his ‘Yeezus’ tour a few months ago, when a Jesus lookalike appeared on stage. “It’s a painting.

It’s a sculpture. It’s a moving opera. It’s a play,” Kanye added. It’s no surprise that West’s artistic expression has always been questioned and scrutinised by the media, but this time round West may have gone too far.

You could feel the tension in the small studio of a Sydney music academy. “Strings tend to break when you think everything’s good and you are financially unstable”, explained Harry Andrews (guitarist) as he put away his guitar, giving up for the night. After all, how much use can a guitar with three broken strings be, when you are three weeks away from a gig with only half a set list ?

As the night went on, I was able to gain insight into life as a band member. Unlike many young bands, TEAE is lucky enough to rehearse in a studio. During the night’s practice I watched them use the space to its full potential while working on stage presence for their upcoming gig.

Band members made light of most situations over the three-hours, which seemed to be filled with challenge after challenge, not only with equipment, but also with each other. And over those hours, the boys’ back stories revealed the struggle that musicians go through.

Brayden Guerts (guitarist), is a 16 year-oldstudent, still taking year 11 classes as well as working part-time in the evenings. Practices run late into the night.

These stories are not uncommon amongst musicians trying to make their way onto the scene and, more often than not, the bands do not profit from their music. Dane Evans (vocalist), said “band merchandise is about the only way to make some semi-decent money, but at the moment none of us can afford to order any merch, so until then we basically have no income”.

Some call it ignorance, others artistic expression. But where do we draw the line when it comes to cultural appropriation?

West, infamous for his stunt at the 2009 Video Music Awards, is not the only public personality to come under scrutiny for the inappropriate use of religious and cultural symbols. My Twitter news feed went berserk with the hashtag ‘cultural appropriation’ when self-proclaimed Queen of Coachella Vanessa Hudgens posted an instagram photo of herself wearing bindis. But what’s the big deal?

Cultural appropriation is the adoption of specific elements of one culture by a different cultural group. This can include dress, adornment, music, art, religion, language and social behaviour. It becomes an issue when these elements are removed from their indigenous contexts, taking meaning significantly divergent from those originally held.

concern is whether the wider public needs to be educated about the emotional and cultural significance and appropriate use of certain cultural and religious symbols.

This lack of education and insensitivity was demonstrated earlier this year when Canadian pop star Justine Bieber visited Yasakuni shrine in Japan. Bieber posted pictures of the controversial war shrine on Instagram to his 51 million Twitter followers. Negative feedback caused the singer to pull down the photo and caption that stated ‘Thank you for your blessings’. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Qin Gang, commented in the media, ‘I hope that this Canadian singer after visiting the Yasukuni shrine can have a clear understanding of Japan’s history of invasion and militarism’.

The backlash against the 20-year-old singer was a repeat of his visit last year to the Anne Frank Museum where Bieber wrote in the guest book ‘Anne was a great girl.

Hopefully she would have been a Belieber’.

His ignorance sparked fury in the Twitter community in respect to all those affected by the Holocaust.

Bindis were thought to represent the Ajna or third eye, signifying an individual’s status or material possessions. But bindis are readily available to the general public as stickers that come in all shapes and are worn as just fashion statement.

“Blasphemy is clearly conveyed” said Shazad Iqbal concerning Katy Perry’s online version of the Dark Horse music video. Iqbal started an online petition on change.org to see the removal of an ‘Allah’ pendant that was worn in the pop star’s video. Sixty thousand people signed the petition. Some said the move was unnecessary as the pendant is ‘almost impossible to even notice’. Noticeable or not, Katy Perry’s ‘people’ dealt with the rising concern of her fans and had the pendant photoshopped out.

This does not seem to be doing harm, as we live in a culturally tolerant society that promotes multiculturalism. But the issue of

Where do we as a society draw the line as cultural appropriation becomes more and more visible in mainstream media?

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transition to selfhood at uws

DIVERSITY WEEK Hello, writing prize my name is hunter

find it and hold on tight I’ve always found the whole “find something worth dying for” shenanigan quite bemusing, really. Because, if you ask me, dying is easy— living is the hard part.

In death you no longer have to feel any hurt or suffering. But life? Life is the complete opposite. It’s filled with pain and sadness and grief every single day. And sure there’s happiness and joy at times too, but if you looked around, and I mean really looked around, and looked at people, they’re all sad in one way or another. Sometimes they try to hide it and they do such a good job that you never notice the overwhelming sadness they’re feeling until it’s entirely too late, and they’ve been sucked into the vortex of darkness surrounding them; while others wear their sadness like armour, repelling anything trying to get close to them, close enough to hurt them.

Eight months ago I was an incredibly different person who was starting university straight out of high school. I was incredibly shy, I still am quite a bit, and if you had met me then I would have looked at my shoes and meekly replied “ummmmm… uh…Hi, I’m, uh, umm Celeste”. If you had asked me about my sexuality and gender identity then I would have replied with “I’m bisexual and gender fluid…

I think”, not out of uncertainty, but because those labels didn’t seem to fit me right, but they were the only ones I knew. The only labels I knew felt like puzzle pieces which were the right colour but the wrong shape.

They were close enough to how I was, so I stuck with them.

The diverse culture at UWS has afforded me an opportunity that my high school didn’t. It has afforded me the opportunity to explore my gender identity and sexuality and find the labels which fit right for me.

The queer community at UWS in itself has been incredibly inviting towards me. Through it I have meet a wide range of people with different identities, cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, each with their own unique and lovely personalities. Being involved with the queer community has destroyed many of society’s mainstream views on the community that I had held due to lack of knowledge, like the belief that the community is full of gay men, which it isn’t.

Because if you have, don’t ever let it go.

The queer community at UWS has been understanding and supportive towards me and my situation. Being involved in this community has been incredibly rewarding for me as it has allowed me the opportunity to learn so much about my own sexuality, romantic orientation and gender identity. UWS has provided me with queer spaces, which are safe spaces, where I can be who I am without incurring judgement from people. If you asked me about my sexuality and gender identity now, I will reply that “I’m pansexual and non-binary” and I will go on for ages to explain it to you if you want because I have found the labels which fit how I feel. And if you happen to meet me now, whilst I’ll still look down at my shoes and meekly reply because I’m still quite shy, I’ll do it with a smile and say, “Hi, my name is Hunter.”

By Ayshe Hurmuzlu

By Celestina Mauceri

Sometimes, however, you can find that one person or one thing that’s worth living for and I think only then can someone be truly happy. For me I think it’s finding who I am, whether it be through religion, or culture or music or even the simple love and nurture one can only experience through starting a family.

I cannot be sure because as of right now I haven’t found myself yet. But I’m trying and I’m hoping and I guess that’s all a person can do really. Hope and try.

So my question for you is: Have you found something worth living for?

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I chose to come to UWS over any other Australian institution because of its cultural diversity. I thought that acquiring a Bachelor of Social Science required me to be learning in an environment that represented the Australian population more honestly. I never thought that being surrounded by this cultural diversity would help me to accept my own differences.

Half way through my degree at UWS I came out as Transgender, meaning I began medically transitioning from my assigned birth sex to the gender I always felt, male. I didn’t tell anyone at UWS, except for changing my details on the system to reflect my male name, because I don’t have many friends here.

Tutorials in Social Science subjects often fuel very passionate, opinionated and heated debates that challenge people’s cultural understanding, respective values and religious beliefs. Often people shared stories in class of living in refugee camps, leaving their family and friends to come to Australia, and being the only person they knew before coming to UWS who had gone to university. These stories, these people, breathe UWS culture.

Choosing to study at UWS was not only the best academic decision I ever made, but also one of the best life decisions I will ever make. UWS has not only informally guided me through my gender transition but has supported me through my transition from a boy to a man.

Transgender or not, every person gets to a point in their lives when they realise they need to remain true to themselves. We all wear masks, we all fake comfort to make others around us more comfortable, we all wear a smile when we feel it’s easier than letting someone around us know we’re struggling.

But at UWS, I believe all people are equal, all people are accepted, all people are welcome, and most importantly, all people are celebrated.

Someone once told me if you surround yourself with people that inspire you, you will find an intrinsic motivation to keep up with the pack and you too will inspire those around you. I know that my transition has inspired many people around me, but it was from my peers at UWS that I gained the inspiration to be the person I was hiding inside of my heart my whole life. So thank you, each and every one of you, for giving me the courage to be me and embrace my own diversity.

By Madden Gilhooly

WHAT DOES DIVERSITY MEAN TO YOU ?

DIVERSITY WEEK

Diversity Week throughout September drew thousands to stalls, performances and forums.

We asked students at Campbelltown what diversity means to them.

Amanda “Coming together and accepting differences through multicultural activities”

Ismail “It’s a good thing to have people from different cultures and traditions at UWS. It shows how diverse Australia is and how multicultural Australia is”

Lezha and Sarah “Multiple languages and different people. Ethnics” “A hard life. But at the same time it’s nice to be with other people”

Stephen “Inclusivity and equality”

Trisha “The experience of different cultures”

Ferdinand “Equality and a wide range of acceptance and as little prejudice as possible”

Lily “A coming together of all cultures at UWS”

Zahraa “Feeling like there are no boundaries at all – no cultural boundaries”

Natalie “Being able to have students from all over the world in the one place and being able to interact in the classroom; being able to talk to people from other places with different stories”

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cruwsible fiction

A Lesson on Letting Go

By David Simmons

W

hen I was your age my mother - your nena - used to take me fishing. We lived beside a Mosque and we woke up with the first call to prayer. I would carry a bucket filled with bait and she would bring a fishing line and hook.

We would paddle to the edge of the mangroves and then let the wind catch our sail. Sometimes it took us far out to where the larger fish and shark lived.

One day it started to rain very heavily. It was so strong it began to fill our canoe, and I was scared we would sink and I'd never get to see home again. But my mother cut down the sail and threw it over us to keep us dry from the rain.

The sail covered us a like a tent and we waited. She told me to look at how flat and straight it stretched over us, and to watch closely. Slowly it started to sink and bend as it filled with rain water.

I was worried, but she told me not to be scared, because this is what happens. She said, as you get older your body will fill. Life will start pouring into you, filling you up with everything from your first kiss to your last breath. All these little parts of your life will fall like rain drops, and over time they will pool within you and grow heavy.

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And if you let it, the weight of it will change you. Your back will bend and your arms will tire, and with every drop you will bend further and grow weaker. And slowly but surely you will snap in two.

The rain kept on pouring and I was still afraid.

I watched as the sail dropped lower and lower, but my mother remained calm. Just as it sagged past our knees, in one motion she gathered each edge of the sail in her hands and pulled the corners in toward the centre.

She formed a big wobbling ball of water, and then threw it over the side of the canoe to bob on the surface of the sea.

She told me that even though the drips will add up and weigh down in your heart, they only remain heavy if you hold on. The choice is always yours; don't ever let the world tell you otherwise.

And with that she released her grip and let the sail unfurl. The rain water poured into the sea and became one with the ocean. What had just before been a source of fear and pain, was now nothing in an instant. Gone, spread amongst a million other droplets of equal size and value.

From then on, I was never afraid of the rain again. After all, what's a tear drop to an ocean

cruwsible fiction

a burning candle

By Hannan Lewsley

A

bove us, an enigmatic ceiling of cigarette smoke swirls and flirts with the slightest, almost imperceptible movement of air amongst this subterranean bar; mysteriously dark and undersized. At a small table in an ill-lit corner, we sit opposite and gaze curiously at each other through immense glasses of cheap beer; a distorted image. Between us sits a red candle upon a small mountain seemingly accumulated from the wax of its predecessors. It throws sinister shadows recklessly upon rough stone walls and the delicate perfection of her elegant face, hidden in part by her delicate hair, colourless in the light as it falls effortlessly shrouding her faraway eyes, powerful with curiosity. Next to the candle sits a small ceramic ashtray, red and chipped, it cradles a smouldering cigarette. Aside the ashtray, a half opened box of matches, quietly await use.

It astounds me, the ease, occurrence and depth of social interaction that is seemingly attainable when travelling. It is absolutely remarkable how quickly one can intimately learn of another with nothing more than a common interest in exploring new places. Completely incongruous to this concept is the fleeting period of time taken to develop such a relationship.

Perhaps though, this transiency is the very means essential for its development. For only in knowing that tomorrow, this person, your interlocutor, will leave the country and never see you again can you truly be yourself without the preconceived rights and wrongs of social interaction that regularly restrict such an association with trivial concerns of future consequences. The subsequent result is an absolutely unfiltered, genuine image of yourself that is presented to others free from associated dispositions, prior developed insecurities and preconceived ideas about the type of person you are.

And such is how I sit, an empty book, free to write my own pages and read those opposite; a freedom rarely allowed back in a place bound by expectations from familiar people. The red candle burns brightly, reflecting our conversation as rivulets of molten wax flow perilously down its sides and arrested by time, accumulate on its developing pedestal. It strikes me now as I gaze at her salient lips, burning red amongst a disregarded background, that three hours, four beers and eight cigarettes into our friendship, I know more about this person than I do the vast majority of my friends. Mere hours have provided more knowledge than years of interaction. And all inspired by little more than the curiosity fuelled perspective that unfortunately, rarely pertains to anything outside of the fabulous world of travel. An invaluable souvenir that in a reoccurring calamity is lost upon every return home.

Perhaps then, this peculiar unabated form of interaction is usual and we’ve merely oppressed it with a compounding reliance on technology and social media that is prominent in our daily lives, restricted it to such an extent that the mere idea of it now seems outrageous. A tragic sentiment really, that such an innately human trait, one of mere personal communication can inspire such a sense of disbelief and thrilling astonishment.

So, with the timely death of our candle we leave, escaping the haunting lights and warm air of our little pub and emerge onto a street laid delicately under a blanket of fresh snow turned orange with the hue of overhead streetlamps. In the distance, a chorus of dogs barks into the cold night air and a piercing wind penetrates both what I wear and my warming veil of accumulated alcohol. She shelters herself and embraces me within the burrow of my open jacket. Pulling away, a chilling air replaces her fervent warmth.

Parted lips whisper words I cannot hear. She turns and walks and I follow her footprints into another unknown.

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Meat-free dating

The Life and loves of an Australian Vegetarian Vegetarians get second dates, despite the bewilderment of many Australians. Take a deep breath and try the vege special. It might win you a heart, writes CHEYNE ABDULLAH It’s just another Friday night in Sydney. I’m having dinner with an old colleague from art school and the night has progressed from a quick coffee catch-up, to a very long movie.

Finally I sideline all my insecurities, wipe my crinkly brow and muster up all my cowardly courage to invite her to dinner. I don’t know if it was the overpriced, long-sleeved V-neck I wore or the thought of a free dinner, but the moons must have been aligned, I must have correctly wished on that shooting star. I really don’t know why, but for some reason, she said yes.

We slowly make our way to our table. I’m guiding her through the sea of people until finally the waitress seats us and I attempt to turn on the charm. As the dinner conversation moves from art to the obvious plot holes in the last Hobbit movie and our failed careers as restaurant reviewer podcasters, the menus finally arrive. I then say the three words that I know will have her eyes more blurry than after watching a four-hour movie in 3D: “I’m a vegetarian.” As the words come out of my mouth, confusion takes over and any hopes of me getting to know this young lady better dissipate when she asks, “What are you going to eat?”

Now, I’m not the first vegetarian to have been asked this question. As far back as the 42

dinosaur age, when the first Apatosaurus decided to enjoy his Friday night with a tasty salad sprinkled with nuts, has this question been asked. In 2014 Australia, this question has a much richer, meaningful and intelligent answer: Food! I’m going to eat incredible, delicious, vegetarian food !

As soon as I declined the chicken wings entree I could see her questioning every life choice I ever made

shattered into little pieces of apple. I began to think ‘if only these apples were real, I could eat them for dinner’. Instead, I began my great menu search.

Australia has come a long way from the ‘barbecue and beers’ dining experience. No longer is it a sin to ask for salad or vegetarian options. Restaurants across Australia almost always have a simple vegetarian alternative to the classic chef’s special.

My dinner date didn’t really see it this way.

She was one of those people who, like many Australians, love their meat. In fact, Australia is one of the world’s top meat-eating countries, so it came as no surprise. We as Australians are happy to rejoice and embrace the diverse multicultural community that our fine country possesses. However, as soon as I declined the chicken wings entree I could see her questioning every life choice I ever made.

Our meals finally arrive and I feel the conversation is about to open up. As she opens her mouth my mind immediately begins praying to the gods, hoping she doesn’t ask the one question that I know will drop my chances of a second date:“You eat fish, right?”

She asks the question and I am shattered. I take a deep breath and explain to her that only some vegetarians eat fish (Pescetarian). I then explain that if I was given a dollar every time I was asked that question, not only would the prawns be safe but the entire cast of The Little Mermaid too.

So how did the rest of my date go? Well, firstly she gave me The Look. For centuries vegetarians have dealt with such things as The Look. Every veteran vegetarian knows this look, the look that basically says “Vegetarian?

Really?” As she gave me The Look my heart

My dinner date obviously did not go according to plan. I don’t know why, but for some reason three days after this date she texted me back and we had an exceptional lunch date at a fine salad bar. So, the next time you’re out with a vegetarian, be cool and just let them live.

LOVE GURU JESSE NEO Dear Guru I am going out with this girl and we are getting along real nice. We have nights together where we just sit at home playing scrabble and other intellectual games, so it’s quite a mature relationship.

She has been very supportive of me (she even got me a second hand ute to help me get a job in the construction industry) and always acts like she’s interested in everything I have to say. But lately she has become distant. Sometimes when I call, it goes to voicemail. She keeps getting texts from someone and won’t tell who it is. Am I being too suspicious?

Falling in love is like a sugar rush. The first few months can be euphoric but as the flames die down, so does the excitement. This does not mean

WEALTH IN THe stars Let’s see what the stars have to say about your spending habits, so your New Year will be prosperous. Besides your normal star sign, be sure to check your rising sign.

Aries: Your cheque is gone before it is processed. Control your careless spending habits and treasure your belongings. Do you really need to buy a new phone every payday? Once you control your head-on consumerism, your money matters will improve.

Taurus: You spend very carefully. Investing and gambling does not appeal to you because you fear losing. However, if you keep your wallet closed you’ll lose the chance of ever becoming rich. If you have a new business idea, go for it and have fun.

Gemini: You think about what you can do with your money, like starting a new business. You hardly stress about paying your next bill. But in order to attract long term wealth, be maternal with your finances as if your money is your child.

she has given you up. It means she has moved from the illusory overjoyed state back to her normal self.

This is a sign your relationship is going well. Many married couples don’t sit at home playing scrabble all day; it does not mean their love has faded.

In fact, their love is the strongest it has been. On the other hand, if she has been picking fights and getting angry over little things, perhaps it was the smell of a rat after all.

Dear Love Guru All my friends have developed feelings for each other. Mariah is in love with Cameron, whilst Nick has feelings for her. Jess has a crush on Nick but Cameron likes Jess. When we hang out there is a huge amount of sexual tension which causes anxiety for me as I see the group falling out.

Sexual tension shouldn’t be labelled the culprit, as there’s no commitment between anyone. Your worries lie in the fact the tension is tearing at your friendship and hangouts no longer feel enjoyable.

There are activities that build sexual tension while others suppress it. Avoid events where no common goals are shared between the group, such as shopping or studying. Look for energetic activities such as laser tag, volunteering or taking a class.

This way you can be sure there is something to focus your minds on instead of letting them stray into other territories.

Contact the Guru at crUWSible@uws.edu.au

Cancer: You know how to budget. You have all your bill schedules on your calendar. However, if you really want to unlock your abundance, be more extravagant in your undertakings. If you take pride in your money and spend like you’re high class, the entrepreneur energy will come to you.

Scorpio: Money comes to you easily. To reach your full potential, be generous. The more you control your finances the worse it gets. Believe that money is abundance and God will provide.

The saying ‘the more you give, the more you get’, applies to you, especially if you donate to foreign aid and education.

Leo: You are as extreme with money as you are with lifestyle. Your car is one of the best, and so is your house, gadgets, holidays and everything else because you love to be the centre of attention. But be sincere in how you spend. Avoid waste, be modest and examine your options first.

Sagittarius: Get rich schemes and investments really interest you, but sadly they hardly ever work out. You must learn to be cautious. Respect money and work hard for it because this is the only way for you to attract abundance.

Virgo: Money is serious to you. You spend a lot of time worrying about your finances and lending money is not something you do. To attract abundance, learn to do everything in moderation.

If you’re working too hard, spend on leisure. You are likely rich, making deals and being in partnerships. Investing in art is another good option.

Libra: You love money. There is nothing like spending on a fancy restaurant and talking about finances. However, to attract abundance, you need to be more secretive. Research before investing. Luckily, you can ask for money from other people. However, before opportunities come to you, you are likely to have first gone through a crisis.

Capricorn: You’re cautious and disciplined. Your money is from consistent hard work. The secret to unlocking riches is in jobs for the betterment of the world, such as teaching, charity, even technology. You will be seen as a reliable person and money will come.

Aquarius: You have an eye for money. You calculate the return on investment. To clear blockages, let go of fears. Have faith that God is good and there is enough. The more you give, the more you’ll receive.

Pisces: You are likely to sit around waiting to win the lottery. To make this come true, go straight to your financial ideas. Don’t procrastinate. Take risks if you need. Doing exercise will make you richer because it pulls you into reality.

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SUNSETS & SILHOUETTES

PHOTO: GRACE NICCOL This is a shot I took at

Campbelltown UWS campus,

one of those ‘right place, right time’ moments

Hope you like it