crUWSible Autumn 2015 issue 9

crUWSible

metrosexuals thundamentals PROTESTs do work Uni deregulation defeated IMAGE: Natasha Fordham

he for she opal fool’s gold PROcrastinate now uws Parking fantasies ISSUE 9|AUTUMN 2015

To the rhythm of California Love, Dr.Dre's first verse

WRITE FOR US Send us your stories, artwork, blurbs, photos, articles, reportage, rants, poems, fiction, recipes, good news, not good news and pet photos. crUWSible@uws.edu.au crUWSible.com.au facebook.com/crUWSible @crUWSible

Now let me welcome everybody to U.W.S/ A place that's reachable on more-than-one campus/ Parking sucks at its best, best to walk instead/

Pack recess for your tummy cause you're tryna save checks‌ *fade out music

And with that grand introduction, thank you for picking up a copy of the UWS student magazine, CrUWSible.

To the regulars, welcome back. As you have already noticed, we have downsized the CrUWSible. We've listened to your feedback and are making it easier to hold, easier to slip in your bag, and cooler to read in public (which is really what it's all about). To the firsttimers, welcome to the CrUWSible (and welcome to UWS, if you're a first-year). The student magazine is a place where you can share your thoughts, ideas, and stories by submitting articles, reviews, poems, photos, drawings, and so forth.

I hope to hear from you soon and am looking forward to all your future submissions.

Peace!

Advertising inquiries: crUWSible.com.au

Ian Escandor CrUWSible editor

EDITORS Ian Escandor, Lucy Borg, Fenella Henderson-Zuel, Mia Sanders, Jarrod Bradley, Murray Robertson

crUWSible acknowledges the country of the Darug People of the Darug Nation and acknowledges their ancestors who have been Traditional Owners of their country for thousands of years. crUWSible pays respect to the Darug People’s Elders past and present

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.

CONTENTS 7

Students Defeat Uni Deregulation Queer Spaces at UWS

21

Procrastinate NOW Truth & Beauty

27

45

Student Legal: Debt Social Experiment #9

54

36

Thundamentals Students for Sustainability

48

22

Opal Fool’s Gold The Poems

41

10

53

Jarrod’s Health Corner Love Guru

55

IF I CAN DO THIS...

By Paul Kleynjan Hello, Newbies. I bet you’re all nervous about coming to university.

Well fear not. I am here to hopefully inspire you into making the most of this opportunity. How will I do that, I hear you ask? Simple; I’ll give you my life story.

You see, I failed my HSC. I had a delicate problem that kept me from classes, putting me behind in my work. The subsequent operation incapacitated me and my English teacher decided I was lazy and lying to everybody. By the time year twelve was upon me, I was depressed, told that I would never amount to anything (by the same teacher), and tried suicide.

So there I was, unable to enter the police force as I had hoped, but undeterred. I worked three jobs, taking up all my days and most of my nights. I was focused on saving all my money to buy five houses, to live off the rent by my late thirties. That plan went out the window when, at the approximate age of twenty, I had a car accident; a head on collision. I lost my sight and the complete use of my right arm, shoulder and neck. My sight came back in hospital, the rest took three years of rehabilitation.

Those years were hard as I struggled to work and stay motivated. My boss said I would never amount to anything and I was promptly sacked. So what was I to do? Well, I won the court case, sold all my possessions and promptly went backpacking around the world for the next three years. I still travel occasionally and to date I’ve been to 21 different countries, some multiple times. I built up a resume of weird and crazy work and funny situations and loved every minute.

But eventually I came home, full of knowledge and life. There was only one problem; I no longer understood society. Three years of rehabilitation and another three years of backpacking meant that I had no idea how to interact with people, especially women. I eventually scored a job in finance and hated it. I had no skill with women, I had become socially awkward, and hated my work.

So, I quit!

I didn’t actually mind, ‘though, because I was working in operas, films, stage productions, and eventually I scored the role of Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I was driving to Parramatta for a photo shoot when a car changed lanes, hitting me wheel to wheel. I went up on two wheels straight in front of an oncoming semi-trailer. The truck missed me by inches but on two wheels I couldn’t do much if it hit.

I thought, what can I do that will be fun but get me lots of work? I know !

I’ll become a makeup artist, because there is so much money in the Australian film industry….

I kept acting, and even producing films, but the passion was gone. I thought what do I do now? I applied for work but was rejected. Then it hit me. I know, I’ll go to uni! University will be awesome! I filled out the forms and got accepted, but my body was starting to experience pain for no reason. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. So now I fight pain every day, but I am enjoying study so much that it is worth the fight.

I attained a Certificate IV in professional make up artistry and, armed with my new found knowledge, I worked for free all over Sydney.

In fact I was so successful “getting experience” that my new casual job on the Sydney monorail became full time work. But all was not lost. I accelerated through the ranks quickly and ended up as the senior supervisor, doing about 70 hours a week of shift work and making lots of money. Then, at the age of 32, I had a heart attack.

It wasn’t sudden; I drove myself all the way to the hospital, because I’m nice like that. I was told to change my diet and living habits, so I drove to Cairns and fixed white water rafts in a hot tin shed. Five months later I came back and swore I would never work full time again. But what kind of work could I do that I would really enjoy?

I know, I’ll go in to acting, because there is so much money in the Australian entertainment industry! I made so much money as an actor that I juggled four casual jobs to survive, while acting and singing. I learn from my mistakes.

“Why are you telling us all this Paul? I thought this was supposed to inspire us!”

Well, let me tell you why I wanted to share my story. After all this pain, all this emotional and physical damage, I have found my place in the world here at UWS. I now have seven distinctions and two high distinctions.

Am I bragging? Of course! Do I have a point? Certainly.

My point is, if I can do this, you can do it. It’s as simple as that.

By Aldric Chuah Ah so you’ve begun life as a university student. Congratulations on achieving a major milestone in your life. From here on in, all doors are open and the sky’s the limit - that is until the deadlines come crashing down, the assignments come flooding in. Miscomprehension, misunderstanding and utter failure awaits.

Of course this only happens to those who come to university unprepared.

Be in no doubt, yes doors are open and opportunity awaits but you can only get there if you have the will to succeed and the determination to see things through.

Party on the weekend? Tell your friends that you can’t come, you’ve got work to do. There’ll be plenty of time for partying when you’ve finished uni. Having said that there needs to be ample space to live and breathe. Go for a walk everyone now and then, play games to take your mind off studying. But do so in moderation. One keyword: Sacrifice. This is university so you will have to bring your A game and unlike high school teachers, lecturers/ tutors won’t be so lenient when it comes to exams/marks. My advice is; get to know your lecturers/tutors well and make sure you ask questions if you don’t understand.

Before you enrol in any units try to decide on what it is you want to do. I majored in a Bachelor of Business in marketing but I dabbled in elective units from various schools (eg, School of Economics and Finance, Humanities). Basically it meant I could choose to do any units I wished to. So I did a couple of economics units (which I found incredibly useful), law units (quite interesting) and humanities units (which I immensely enjoyed). So it really is up to you but make sure to keep track of deadlines and stick to a study routine.

UNIVERSITY BLUES

Some units which are part of your chosen course are compulsory (core units). You’ll have to pass these units and some of them are a walk in the park whilst others can be quite dull and monotonous. Get through these as best as you can so you can get them out of the way sooner. Once you find a unit you really like you’ll wish every unit was this enjoyable. Of course uni’s not all about studying so why don’t you check out your surroundings?

There’s plenty of sports, social, political clubs and the beauty of UWS is that each campus location has it’s own vibe and feel.

If clubs are not quite your thing then why not visit the library? Apart from books there’s computers,WiFi

and help sessions from library staff. I’ll be honest, I preferred the library ! So go on, get out there and give it your best shot ! Tis’ better to have tried and lost than to not have tried at all. To quote former NSW Premier JT ‘Jack’ Lang “Most people will say that you are young and have lots of time. They cannot be more wrong; you haven’t got a second to lose”.

After a year of organising students, rallies across the nation’s capitals, studentled social media campaigns, demonstrations achieving massive media attention… it worked !

PROTESTS DON’T WORK ?

By Ian Escandor You might recognise me as the kid campaigning against the deregulation of higher education and fee increases, mainly handing out leaflets, flyers, petitions, etc, in building 1 on the Bankstown Campus every Tuesday.

Defeated… until the day after, where I found my solace, my king rebuttal, I found out what to say that would’ve shut him down immediately.

And my rebuttal to “Protests don’t work!” was plastered on national news (literally).

Storytime…

It said: ‘ABBOTT GOVERNMENT’S UNIVERSITY FEE DEREGULATION BILL VOTED DOWN’

On, what seemed an ordinary, Tuesday (17th of March), I was handing out flyers promoting the National Day of Action Rally (Student Education Action Protests) when, out of nowhere, I was heckled.

“Protests don’t work!”, yelped a backward cap wearing, “swag” fashioned young lad from across the foyer. But before I could get a word in, he scurried off and I was left struggling to figure out a comeback in time.

Like that one time you were insulted at a party and weren’t quick enough to think of a witty rebuttal until you left the party, the George Costanza Jerk Store moment, what the French call “L’esprit de l’escalier” (Spirit of the Stairway). I felt defeated.

After a year of organising students, rallies across the nation’s capitals, student-led social media campaigns, demonstrations achieving massive media attention, constant objective reasoning, and the protests… it worked! Protests do* work.

A tear comes to my eye knowing that People Power can effect the decisions of bureaucrats.

However, there is still a lot of fixing to be done.

The battle is won, but the war rages on.

And dear heckler if you are reading this, protests do work.

Ian Escandor

Treasurer, Resistance Club Member, Bankstown Student Campus Council Member, UWS Student Representative Council Editor, CrUWSible

Students across the country declared a victory as deregulation failed to pass the Senate for a second time.

Student activists from the NSW Education Action Network executed an emergency protest as Chris Pyne’s legislation hit the Senate on the 16th of March.

This protest included dropping a 7-metre banner from Sydney University’s iconic Quadrangle building, which read “No cuts, no fees, no dereg. Fight back now!”, all the while, six students locked themselves to the Vice-Chancellor’s office to demonstrate their opposition to the legislation and the ongoing attacks on education by the Liberal government.

Among the students who locked themselves to the door, risking arrest, was UWS’s Mia Sanders, a member of the Bankstown Student Representative Council, NSW Education Action Network CoConvener and UWS Resistance Club President.

“It’s so inspiring to see that our efforts over the last 12 months have paid off,’’ Sanders said.

“We need to remember that this win did not come down to the individual Senators, but was hard-won by students taking to the streets again and again to fight for our education.

“This is a victory for students and staff all over Australia, and a humiliating defeat for Abbott, Pyne, and the Liberal agenda. We should all be proud of this success, and keep up the fight for free education”, Sanders said.

“We were determined to defeat this bill, and that’s exactly what we did”.

Banned from Parliament The NSW Education Action Network (EAN) has lead this campaign since the proposal of fee deregulation by the Abbott government. One early demonstration resulted in the group being banned from parliament after a protest in the Senate galleries.

Victory to THE Students: Deregulation Defeated

By Ian Escandor

Sanders explains, “We took this action to tell the government that students won’t stand for $100,000 degrees, and we don’t want to be in debt for decades after we graduate.

“However, the fight is not over yet.”

University of Sydney Education Officer David Shakes stated. “We need to stay loud and keep fighting until we know the bill is gone for good.”

“[Prime minister] Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey got their education for free but are trying to get our generation to pay through our nose. If this bill gets through, university Vice Chancellors have the power to charge massive fees for degrees. So we locked onto the VCs office, and encouraged all our VC’s to come out against this bill. 76% of university and TAFE students oppose these fee hikes, and we won’t stop protesting until this bill is defeated.”

“The people of Australia want accessible, affordable, world class education. If the role of the government is not to make sure that everyone in society has access to this, what is their role?’’ The NSW Education Action Network will keep fighting until every person in Australia has access to a free university education.

Impact of fee deregulation – higher fees a disincentive Evan Van Zijl, Macquarie University Student, described how deregulation would personally impact upon students; “The Coalition have repeatedly stated that the poor are paying for the rich to get an education – and that’s simply not true. I dropped out of high school and entered university through TAFE pathways. I would not have worked so hard to attend university if I knew I would face a $100,000 debt for completing my degree.

“The Coalition are perpetuating an anti-student, anti-working class agenda. Despite what they say, they do not represent us.”

The fight continues After the second fail of Pyne’s bill in the Senate, he has vowed to continue pushing the agenda for the deregulation of higher education, saying, “You couldn’t kill me with an axe”.

It is clear, through the rejection in the Senate, that enough Senators heard the voices of students across the nation to axe the bill.

However, as Pyne gears up for another onslaught on education, students and activists alike must push back harder than ever to fight against social injustice and crony economic rationalism.

Find the EAN on facebook

WE ARE ALL THE SAME

WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT

UWS Diversity Fest 2015 8

August 31 - September 11

#uws

#dfest

FRASER REMEMBERED

By Aldric Chuah Much can be said of Australia’s 22nd Prime Minister. Often what is mentioned is his role in the 1975 Dismissal and the clandestine way he assumed office. However what is less spoken of is his achievements in government and his ability to unite the disparate forces of the Liberal Party.

He went on to win the 1975, 1977 and 1980 elections. Such was the case that after his departure as Prime Minister, the Liberal Party simply was unable to win office until 1996.

His government introduced the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 paving the way towards the recognition of Aboriginal native title of land and the eventual overturning of terra nullius in the landmark Mabo v Queensland case of 1992. The White Australia Policy was nullified under Whitlam but Fraser would be one of the first Prime Ministers in Australian history to admit non Whites into the country, accepting thousands of Vietnamese refugees on humanitarian grounds. He established the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) a service which at the time facilitated easier integration into Australian society, for people of non-English speaking backgrounds.

Today it provides an insight into the rich tapestry of a multicultural Australia and the region around us.

In short Malcolm Fraser ushered in multicultural Australia and in doing so directly challenged the orthodox political establishment.

As it was officially known, the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 had hampered Australia’s economic, political and social potential. It is no exaggeration to say that his decision to accept Vietnamese refugees on such a large scale helped to break down many qualms our regional neighbours had about Australia. Today we continue

to respect and celebrate our rich cultural diversity. Fraser also stood up against the injustice of apartheid South Africa and actively fought for the independence of present day Zimbabwe. Once regarded amongst Whitlam supporters as a pariah, this view has changed over time.

Much like his predecessor, the erudite and commanding Whitlam, he continued to maintain an active role post politics. Throughout the years he would join Whitlam to campaign on issues such as the Republican movement in Australia. He was uneasy with our alliance with the United States and strenuously argued the case for a more independent Australian foreign policy. He criticised the Howard government for its treatment of asylum seekers and its decision to partake in the Iraqi invasion of 2003. In 2012 he delivered the Gough Whitlam Oration at UWS Parramatta commending the reforms of his predecessor. If there was ever a flaw, it was that once he stuck to an idea it was done so resolutely. This of course meant that the economic transformation of Australia would have to wait until the election of the Hawke Labor government in 1983.

All Australians regardless of political belief should salute Fraser as a man who stood his ground against racial injustice and expressed his opinions forthrightly. John Malcolm Fraser came to the office of Prime Minister in the most arduous of circumstances.

Anyone else would have simply shied away. I have reason to believe he relished in his role because as he saw it his government would provide stability to the nation. To quote Malcolm Fraser himself: “Life wasn’t meant to be easy my child, but take courage: it can be delightful.”

Why you should support the Al Nakba protest

By Dima al Msodny On May 15, it will be the 67th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe), when over half of the population of Palestine was ethnically cleansed from their homeland.

Across the globe people will be demonstrating on this date to show their solidarity with the people of Palestine, and their determination to continue fighting until justice is achieved for all Palestinians.

This catastrophe continues to this day in Palestine, with the ongoing air raids and siege of Gaza, the everencroaching settlements in the West Bank and the daily humiliations meted out by an Israeli government intent on the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

The Sydney Al-Nakba rally and march — marking 67 years since the ruthless dispossession of Palestinians from their historic homeland — will be held on Friday May 15 at 6.30pm at Sydney Town Hall.

Al-Nakba, or “the Catastrophe”, is when Palestinians mark the Israeli takeover of their villages and towns in 1948.

In reality, the process of ethnically cleansing Palestinian inhabitants took several years.

About 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled or fled. Hundreds of Palestinian villages were destroyed.

Most Palestinian refugees, including those outside the 1949 armistice lines at the end of the war, and those internally displaced, were barred by the colonial settler state of Israel from returning. They are still denied the right of return.

Today, a younger generation of Palestinians and their supporters mark this date to highlight the ongoing human rights abuses against Palestinians. Come along to Sydney Town Hall on May 15, at 6.30pm and show your solidarity with those struggling for justice.

Email 17469614@student.uws.edu.au

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Lesbian: A female identifying person who is primarily and/or exclusively attracted to other female-identifying people.

Gay: A male identifying person who is primarily and/or exclusively attracted to other male-identified people.

Bisexual: A person who is attracted to more than one gender Pansexual: A person who is attracted to multiple or all genders Asexual: A person who generally doesn’t experience sexual attraction. An asexual person may still feel emotional and/or romantic attraction, as they are separate from sexual attraction.

Aromantic: A person who generally doesn’t experience romantic attraction. An aromantic person may still feel emotional or sexual attraction.

Transgender: A person whose self-identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of man or woman.

Intersex: Intersex relates to a range of congenital physical traits or variations that lie between stereotypical ideals of male and female.

People with intersex variations are born with physical, hormonal or genetic features that are neither wholly female nor wholly male; or a combination of female and male; or neither female nor male Non-binary: Gender identities that don’t fit within the binary of man and woman. People can feel they are both, neither, or some mixture thereof.

Genderqueer: A gender variant person whose identity is neither male nor female, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination of genders.

Queer: A person who rejects heteronormativity and/or isn’t cisgendered. Queer is also an umbrella term that encompasses anyone who is diverse in sexuality and sex and/or gender.

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Alphabet Soup: A Guide to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identities and queer spaces at UWS

By Stephen Brown

I’m one of the queer officers at UWS and I had an amazing opportunity to speak to hundreds of new and old students during O week. An interesting conversation that I find comes up a fair bit is; why is there a queer collective and, tied in with that, why are there queer spaces?

Essentially what is being discussed is the need for minorities to have a certain degree of autonomy.

The queer collective exists to provide LGBTQIAP+ people a space to escape from heteronormative society - a space were their identities aren’t questioned but embraced and valued. These spaces are open to queer people and their friends.

Queer people still face oppression in today’s society, be that in microagressions of having their identities invalidated, predominantly seeing heteronormative narratives in film and TV, being denied easy access to healthcare, to more violent forms of oppression such as being bashed to death for being transgender.

Trans women of colour have a 1 in 8 chance of being murdered. The queer collective exists to advocate for LGBT students and their rights on campus.

The queer spaces exist for reasons similar to why the queer collective exists. They provide a safe space for queer-identifying students to escape the homophobia, transphobia and heteronormativity of the wider world.

The assumption that everyone is straight unless told otherwise proves to create a host of issues for queer people and that is why the queer spaces exist.

Some people have claimed that the queer collective just segregates queer students. The queer spaces are a small part of the wider university. We all need to leave it sometimes. Providing a safe space for queer students to have a voice and feel accepted isn’t a bad thing.

For those that think homophobia and transphobia is no longer an issue at UWS or in wider society, I can tell you that I haven’t been to uni a single day without experiencing or witnessing both.

If you’d like to learn more like our Facebook page: facebook.com/qcuws or contact the queer officers: queercollective.uws@gmail.com There are five queer spaces: Bankstown: 1.1.212 Campbelltown: 4.G.07 (please contact a Queer officer for swipe card access) Kingswood: N.G.03 Parramatta: EA.G.37 Hawkesbury: K4.G.79

IMAGE: Street Matt

Are

metrosexuals real men?

By Gabrielle Lawson ‘What makes a man a real man?’

This is a question that’s been running through my mind lately and it was brought about by a conversation I had with one of my friends.

As we were driving to uni, we were discussing what kind of physical traits we like in men and I blurted out ‘I like men who look like actual men’ or something along those lines.

In hindsight, I can see how ignorant that statement seems, for how can a man look like a real man?

It seems silly to think that a person’s grooming habits or the way they dress or present themselves has anything to do with the way they think about and treat other people.

If a man takes more time getting ready than me, does that give me the right to assume that somehow he is gay or not masculine enough for me? What does masculinity even mean these days?

A man’s interest or dare I say the word pride, in his appearance, has no standing on how much of a ‘real man’ he is.

I have met guys who are gym junkies and based on looks alone, seem very tough and strong. You know the look, big, buff and hairy.

But despite the subscription to what may constitute physical manliness, they are filled with misogynistic and sexist thoughts of women.

We have all heard the jokes about women staying in the kitchen, and growing up in a family tainted by religious dogma, I can see where some of these men may get their ideas from.

But a real man is more than being a ‘provider’ of sorts. I mean, with the rise of feminism, things should no longer be viewed in a binary of women as nurturer and male as provider.

This is the 21st century and there are more options than ever to be whatever we want to be and do whatever we want to do.

So is a man any less of a man if he is in touch with his feminine side?

No! If anything, in my opinion, it shows that he is secure enough in his own sexuality to not be dictated to, to not avoid certain things like manicures or a facial for fear of being seen as gay or not

up to standard with whatever the perception is of what women want in heterosexual relationships.

I don’t think I have the right to even label someone as a ‘real man’ because the ideologies surrounding this concept stretch to fit a wide range of definitions.

I guess what I’m trying to say here is that a person’s character, what they believe in and what they stand for, are not easily determined by the way someone chooses to dress or where they choose to shop or how they prefer to spend their time.

But let’s just play around for a little bit. If I was to make a list of what constitutes a ‘real man’, AKA a type of man I would want to be with, here goes…A real man respects everyone. A real man is not afraid to be himself. A real man does not bash, criticise or shame women for their choices or what they look like. Just because a guy comes across as a little bit feminine, it doesn’t make him any less of a man.

P.S If you’re a metro-sexual man, please take me shopping because if there’s anyone that needs fashion advice, it’s me.

Sincerely, the girl in the mismatched outfit.

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HE FOR SHE AT UWS

By Paul Kleynjan Students, staff and academics of UWS, it’s time to get serious. There are disparities in the world that need our attention. This is your chance to make our university the frontrunner in eliciting not only change in Australia, but also show the world we are serious about gender equality.

On the 20th of September this year the renowned actress Emma Watson gave a speech at the United Nations office in New York.

This highly intelligent young lady is the goodwill ambassador for HeForShe, a solidarity movement that engages men and boys as advocates of change, to take action in, and help achieve, gender equality and women’s rights, encouraging them to speak out and take action against inequalities faced by women and girls. When I saw Emma’s speech, it struck a chord deep within me and I decided that it is imperative that we take on the HeForShe campaign here at UWS. Why, you ask? Well that’s easy. Gender equality is not only a women’s issue, it is a human rights issue that affects all of us.

Gender inequality is one of the most persistent human rights violations of our time. Women around the world continue to bear the brunt of poverty, and in too many instances, remain the unwilling victims of violence. As 12

a university, an institute for higher learning, it is imperative to address and change gender norms and put women on an equal footing with men before humanity can progress.

Why does simply being born a girl mean not having the opportunity to realise your full potential? Splitting our society’s potential in half just does not make sense!

People have been telling me my whole life what I should do because of what I am. They ask what is wrong with me when I don’t fit the stereotype. You can keep your stereotypes, I refuse to be labelled. I don’t see why we can’t all be equal, and it shocks me that some people still hold on to antiquated ideas of gender. I spent three years backpacking the world in my twenties, and it is shocking the amount of degradation women are put through in all societies. Yes, even here in

Australia! I am now studying to be a primary school teacher and I tell you this, nobody has the right to tell girls they can’t have the same opportunities as boys! Nobody has the right to tell the women in this university that they can’t reach the same or higher goals than the men.

HeForShe is not asking men to stand up for women, because that just reinforces the power relation and stereotypes. It is about men standing with women to create change because gender equality is not just about empowering women; it will also liberate men from prescribed social roles and gender stereotypes. We all benefit socially, politically and economically from gender equality in our everyday lives. When women are empowered, the whole of humanity benefits. You see the flip side of gender equality is that men also suffer. Men don’t seek help when they feel vulnerable because as men we are told we

must always be tough and strong.

But, and this is a big but, suicide is the biggest killer of Australian men under 44 years of age. The most recent data from the Bureau of Statistics in 2012 shows that 1,901 males and 634 females died by suicide, making suicide the cause of death with the highest gender disparity.

So you can see, both men and women need to recognise gender equality as not a woman’s issue, but a societal issue that affects all of us. HeForShe wants to mobilise one billion men worldwide to speak up and take action in ending the gender inadequacies facing women and girls around the world today. Much has been achieved by the feminist movement and women’s rights organisations in promoting gender equality to this day. Unfortunately, as Emma put it, feminism has become synonymous with man hating and this has to stop! We must join together and capitalise on the recognition that

women’s empowerment is essential for inclusive economic growth, social cohesion and social justice, environmental balance, and for progress in all spheres of life.

I want HeForShe to spread from here to other universities, and I want it known throughout Australia. I want the women at this university to graduate knowing that they have the same opportunities for the same money that men do. I want women to be represented in parliament so our government can represent the views of all of us. I want men to know that it is ok to ask for help, that it is okay to feel vulnerable. I also want to thank all you women for making this world such a wonderful place to live in.

However, I cannot do this alone. I need your help. I’m asking both the men and the

women of this university to stand with me and implement this movement at UWS. We need to be serious about this and create an environment that we can be proud of. We must lead the charge so that other universities and other countries aspire to our model. Log onto the HeForShe website at www.heforshe. org and register yourself as a HeForShe. Email me (95051390@ student.uws.edu.au) and help me create an equal future for all.

Most importantly, I want both men AND women to be involved.

Gender equality is no longer about the differences between women or men. It is about women and men working together to craft a shared vision of human progress for all. It is about one half of humanity supporting the other half of humanity.

My name is Paul Kleynjan, I am a student at UWS and I am now a HeForShe. 13

#hatestopswithme@UWS

By Jessica Maher Will you take the pledge? “I pledge to combat racism, champion equality and value diversity #hatestopswithme@ UWS” Australia is a land of many cultures and ethnicities. Immigration has been a cornerstone of Australian life since white settlement. According to the 2011 census, 34.3% of Australians have parents both of whom were born overseas. This equates to over 5 million of Australia’s current population. But if you ask an American or a European what they envisage Australia to be, they would more than likely picture an image of Crocodile Dundee as opposed to someone like Anh Do. Despite the overwhelming evidence about Australia as a nation as diverse as it is big, our innate multicultural heritage is not reflected in our media.

We live in a world where a video can go viral and be shared across the globe. In today’s age media matters.

In the age of 24 / 7 news cycles, the media shapes our perceptions about the good, the bad and the ugly.

Every day the media tells us to be afraid. We are told to mistrust our neighbours, our friends.

The rise of “fear culture” is perpetuated by the 24/7 news cycle.

As Barrie Cassidy states in his article titled “Are we peddling fear just for the sake of it”, he states that “fear is the currency of both side of politics and not just the fear of terrorism”.

Let’s look at the statistics. In Australia, as of 2015 two people have lost their lives to terrorism. This was a tragic incident and their deaths should be mourned.

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I pledge to stand up to racism, value diversity and champion equality @UWS But where is the fear and outrage about one woman dying every week in a domestic violence incident?

The cold, hard and butt-ugly truth is this: One in three women over the age of 18 has experienced physical or sexual violence by someone known to them.

In 2007, Indigenous Australians had a life expectancy 11 years lower than non-indigenous Australians.

One in five Australians have experienced racism at their workplace or school.

The systematic issues of entrenched racism and inequality in our society need to be addressed. Racial, gender and economic inequality need to be at the forefront of the political spectrum if we are ever to feel safe and at peace in our neighbourhoods and our homes.

The great civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr wrote “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

Our prospects of peace and prosperity are frustrated by a lack of political courage in our elected officials. History has provided many opportunities to incite change. Every generation promises peace, prosperity and equality but these calls fall on deaf ears in favour of election cycle political fear mongering.

The issue is this; why should we leave the noble ambitions of peace, equality and diversity to someone else? As Emma Thompson so eloquently states: “Don’t ever hear in your own head ‘Who am I to do something?’ You are human being. You are a person. You can 100% change the world… it’s the little things that count. Be brave.”

Every single action is important. There was a time when Indigenous people could not vote in this country, there was a time before universal healthcare was a right and there was a time when beating your wife was not considered a crime.

In the words of Margaret Meade “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.

Maybe it’s time for us to look forward instead of backwards.

Maybe it’s time for us to be our own heroes and make our own progress.

Want to do something ? Take the pledge with us @ hatestopswithme.

Diversity:

A personal reflection

By Manish Goundar

People are not property

By Gabrielle Lawson A person is not a prize or a possession or a piece of private property that you own. A person cannot be ‘won’ by kindness or gifts or flattering words.

Having a partner is a privilege and not a right and people have a right to change their minds, to leave a relationship and to tell a desperate stalker to piss off. Men and women are more than their bodies. They have thoughts and feelings that deserve to be heard, appreciated and respected.

People have a right to question intentions, to not accept things by default and to think with reason. A person is not obliged to go on a date with you or give you their number or have sex with you because you asked for it, because you did a ‘good deed’ or because you helped them ‘that one time’. If someone you are interested in says ‘no’, it means ‘no’. It doesn’t mean ‘not now’ or ‘just give it time’ or ‘I’ll wait until they’re drunk’. Just because someone is nice to you, it doesn’t mean they are flirting. The way someone is dressed should not dictate the amount of respect they are given. Got the message? Good.

DISABILITY ADVOCATES CALL TO

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

By Jibraan El Ahmad This story is about a club called UWSDAC, University of Western Sydney Disability Advocates Club, a club for students with disabilities which is being run by a student with a disability. That student is no other than myself, Jibraan.

You may ask why I am forming this club. Well, I will tell you why.

The Disabilities Unit does incredible work for students with a disability.

It is able to help us with academics, our requirements, the technology we need to do our studies and offers us counselling and support.

Yet more still needs to be done on the ground level.

When I say ground level, I mean more advocacy, awareness and understanding needs to be implemented within the university community.

Students with disabilities just want the same outcomes as students and academics that do not have a disability, for students with a disability are just the same as students without a disability.

So, if you want to join UWSDAC, please contact me on 0415782288, or email at jibs@hotmail.com.au.

Come and join me on a journey to make a difference at UWSDAC.

In some ways, the question of diversity has been something I’ve been pondering since I was a child. Growing up, my parents made it a point to express how important my family’s Hindu heritage was to my sisters and I. We were actively encouraged to take part in rituals, prayers and gatherings to stay connected to this part of our identity. However at the same time, I was hesitant to express this part of myself to the outside world. A lot of growing up, I feel, is about fitting in and not standing out, especially within the environment of primary and high school. You’re supposed to like whoever is at the top of the music charts, the star who is in the blockbuster movie of the moment.

As a kid I experienced casual racism.

I have a vivid memory of not being allowed to play in a lunch time soccer match because I was not “Australian”.

The type of racism which stems from young minds and inexperience, racism I know a lot of people experience. I never really outwardly embraced my differences.

However, as I aged I grew to realise that what makes a person different is a source of strength not weakness, something I fully realised when I began my studies at UWS. Every lecture and tutorial I attended I met people with different backgrounds and life experiences: People with different strengths and weaknesses, people with varied views and opinions. My learning experience became richer because I was able to converse and interact in such a diverse environment. What does diversity mean to me at UWS? Diversity is the reason my time at UWS is and continues to be the most fulfilling and enjoyable part of my life. It’s the reason why I was able come out of my shell, and not just embrace my differences but be vocal about them.

It’s the reason I feel confident and excited about the future, that I will be a positive part of the wider world and make an impact.

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MARTIN PLACE REMEMBERED

By Paul Kleynjan

The recent events of December 2014 have made me both proud and ashamed to be Australian. Let me explain.

Throughout our modern history, Australians have been known to come together in times of disaster in a universal mateship that transcends beliefs and differences. Whether it is fire, flood, drought, or supporting other nations through natural disasters, we become a solidarity force of cosmopolitanism. So I believe it was inevitable that we would come together during the Martin Place siege. The first thing I did on that fateful day, was send a message to the Lakemba Mosque, reiterating that they were a positive influence on Australia’s ever growing culture. We all know the bigots are out there, and it was my small way reinforcing that legendary mateship. But Sydneysiders, and Australia in general blew me away when they started the #illridewithyou campaign.

Now we all know the story of how it started, and how it spread nationally and even globally. The truth is Australia not only showed the world what a cosmopolitan society is, we rejoiced and brought together people from around the globe. For one day at least we became world citizens, working together against hate. We showed the powers that be from around the world that you don’t fight terror with fear, hate and war, you fight it with love and solidarity.

You accept everyone is different and rejoice in those differences and how it improves society as a whole. For those reasons, I was proud of my

fellow Australians. But why should it stop there? We have an Indigenous population which is constantly scorned and thought of as the bad element. Why can’t #illridewithyou encompass them as well? We are not a white nation with a bunch of other cultures thrown in the mix, so let us ride with everyone instead of picking and choosing, shall we?

Unfortunately, I was also ashamed.

Ashamed that there are bigots and haters enough in our country that such a movement was even necessary.

A division still exists in our culture because of misleading delusions of grandeur, mostly because of an underlying belief that the white Australia policy still exists. A tension exists amongst Australians of white supremacy against the unwanted “other”. I just want to say to the white supremacists out there, you’re the ones we don’t want, not our culturally enriching fellow Australians who have done nothing but add joy and excitement to this country. So you’re blaming all Muslims for the behaviour of one psychotic, disillusioned nut?

The white Australia policy is dead, the amalgamation policy went with it, and now multiculturalism is transforming into cosmopolitanism. So go back to YOUR own country, and apologise to the Indigenous people on your way out.

Now, here comes the rub, and I make no apologies for it. Our entire country was held hostage by a media focused on a gunman for seventeen hours, and the death of two hostages afterwards.

We were inundated with every angle these vultures could throw at us

while admonishing other companies for cashing in. I’m not saying those other companies were right, and I’m not saying the event wasn’t earth shattering and sad, but why was there only a passing note of 120 children being killed in a Pakistan school.

I think both stories were equally important! Who are we to value the lives of two Australians over 120 children?

I can understand, we were hit with a lot of sad news throughout December, because shortly after these two events we were stung by the mass homicide of eight children in Cairns. It is a lot to get over in the short time before Christmas but we must soldier on.

We, as Australians, united in solidarity against hate, and now France has followed suit in Paris. I’d like to think that it is the start of a universal solidarity of love conquering fear, but if that is the case, we need to stop blaming large groups for the actions of a few, and stop demanding mass genocide as a solution.

Do we really want to become the world Hitler envisioned? We already demand that all people in Australia still observe Christian holidays, but do they really have to put aside their unique qualities just to fit in? I’d rather learn about their cultures personally, and take from them life lessons I can use to grow.

IMAGE: Matteo Tarenghi

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PROCRASTINATE

By Natasha Pupovac To be completely honest, I had no intention of writing this article. I’m slumped in the computer labs at 11.16pm on a Saturday night, in hope that I may finish my assessment due on Tuesday (the one that I haven’t started). I told myself I would be responsible, organised and finish it to avoid that dreaded 3am stress the day before submission. But once again, procrastination has set in.

I envy university students that have it all together, those that are so organised and so ahead of schedule.

I can barely bring myself to finish an assessment a day early. Surely I can’t be alone. I’m confident in saying other students are in the same boat.

I mean there has to be others that are disorganised, busy and frankly so overwhelmed that they don’t even know where to start. So even though I’m procrastinating as I type, I figure I may as well attempt to help others and start NOW with my antiprocrastination campaign.

NOW

Step 1- REALISE YOU ARE PROCRASTINATING (looking through pictures on Instagram) Are you reading emails instead of researching your references for your next assessment? Are you finding yourself opening the fridge for snacks or making yourself several cups of coffee? Or are you glued to your Facebook and Instagram newsfeeds? Whatever you do, putting off these unimportant distractions is VITAL. They will always be there, so why not wait until you are finished your more important work?

Step 2- WORK OUT WHY YOU ARE PROCRASTINATING (my assessments sometimes feel like pulling teeth) Do you feel inundated with too much information? Are you struggling to stay organised and balanced with your other commitments?

Or are you a perfectionist that doesn’t like doing a task unless you are in a perfect environment? Remember to break down your information; you don’t have to read fifty pages at once.

Stop and relax after an hour. Buy a diary. Write down when things are due. Working out how and why you procrastinate will avoid several grey hairs. And to my perfectionists, no one is perfect, and it is okay if it takes you more than one go to get it right. You are human.

In simple terms, procrastination is when you put off things that you SHOULD be doing, in favour of something that you enjoy more.

Psychologist Professor Clarry Lay, says that procrastination occurs when ‘there is a temporal gap between intended behaviour and enacted behaviour’ - basically, when there is a significant time between intending to do a job and actually doing it.

Step 3- ADOPT ANTI-PROCRASTINATION STRATEGIES (the ones I will adopt straight after I finish this article) Procrastination is a habit, a behavioural pattern. It takes 21 days to break a habit, so why not start today? Reward yourself! If you finish the part you wanted to finish, go grab yourself a treat. Whether that be food, some exercise or an activity of your leisure, it is imperative to make it known to yourself that you did what you set out to. Break down tasks.

Don’t try and finish everything in one sitting. Organise time slots of 2 hours a day, for example, instead of an entire day of block studying and researching. Lastly, find someone to keep you accountable. Peer pressure works and is a highly effective way to keep you on track.

Here are a few tips to overcome procrastination (and TRUST ME when I say this, I’m going to try and use them myself!)

Remember, the longer you procrastinate, the longer it takes to break the habit. Wish me luck! I’m off to finish my assessment.

Salon Safety Slips

By Alicia Anagnostou

By Alicia Anagnostou Often, women and men will choose to visit the nail salon for a quick pamper. But a dangerous experience may await.

Local resident and beautician, Merna Fares, has witnessed a breach of these requirements in various nail salons in Bankstown.

Workplace health and safety is crucial for both employer and employee. However, some nail salons within the Bankstown region have apparently disregarded these precautions, putting their staff and customers at risk.

“I have often noticed equipment is shared among customers and hardly sanitized, as well as being re-used”, she said.

Many issues within nail salons have surfaced, with safety implications for customers.

Have you ever noticed that the nail technician is almost always wearing a mask? The question is, where is yours?

“The employees failed to assist a young girl who had gotten nail glue in her eye, until a customer suggested they take her to the medical centre,” she said.

For health and safety reasons, all equipment and tools must be cleaned and sterilized before they are re-used.

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Local woman, Marliez Hadji-Petros, said she too had seen poor safety procedures in a local salon.

Commonly, nail salons lack the paperwork for incident reports after an issue has arisen. In terms of the above situation, very little was done to ensure that the customer was safe and well.

There are a number of warehouses that sell safety products, particularly for businesses in contact with dangerous supplies.

Local store Electroweld, said that “businesses from the beauty industry hardly purchase safety goggles or masks”. It is apparent that some nail salons rarely use these precautions.

It is imperative that nail salons prevent further issues.

Safety precautions should be implemented, such as safety goggles and masks for both their employees and their customers.

Before choosing a nail salon to visit, consider if it is a licensed company that uses clean equipment. If you have any concerns, feel free to ask the salon or go somewhere else.

By Maria Juchkov When working in retail, what classifies as a damaged item?

Make up stains, snags, holes, stains in general and missing buttons, that have been replaced with the spare.

Majority of the time, however, these “damages” are so minute, they can take a while to even find.

So what happens to these damaged garments? Well, sometimes they’re marked down to a lower price. Sometimes they are not: Instead, they’ll be destroyed.

IMAGE: Alvaro Tapia

That’s right, garments with minor stains that could easily be removed in the wash, are thrown out into landfill. And this strikes me as extremely unethical. Here you have poor people in developing countries sweating away in sweat shops making garments to earn their dollar-a-day, only to have their hard effort thrown into landfill, without even a second thought.

DON’T

DESTROY:

DONATE

What I don’t understand is why aren’t we donating these items to charities? I highly doubt the people in need of such resources would even mind such “damages” to their clothes.

Why is it okay to donate secondhand clothes, that may be well worn, but it’s not okay to donate new clothes with minor defects?

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DRESS FOR RESPECT

By Sabrina Islam Everyone has their own approach to dressing for university. For school-leavers especially, after a long era of uniforms it’s a nice way to express oneself through their wardrobe. Students of all ages, however, should make an effort to dress for uni. It’s nice to make yourself presentable for uni because in a way it shows your lecturers and tutors that you respect them and that you take your place of study seriously.

To quote the American fashion designer Tom Ford: “Dressing well is a form of good manners.”

I myself do not dress in the same style every day. Sometimes because I wish to experiment, and sometimes because I have 10 minutes to do my morning ablutions and get dressed before running to the bus stop. I evaluate how much effort I put into my appearance based on whether my mum asks me “Why are you so dressed up for today?” or not – a question I always answer with “I just felt like it” (and also adding a shrug so that my mum doesn’t think I’m being impertinent).

Our bodies are canvases for the art of fashion and style – and style can be anything: preppy, librarian chic, hipster, retro/pinup, Lolita, athletic/sporty, grunge,

bohemian, the list goes on! You can experiment with a freedom that you don't get with school or work uniforms.

Putting effort into your outfits can make your excessive shopping habit feel justified. This is where you can apply the rule of cost per wear. Your $70 leather jacket that ‘goes with everything’? Wear it once and it cost you $70, but the more times you wear it the cost is divided. If you wear it 20 times, then the cost of that jacket is reduced to $3.50 for each time you wore it.

Spending time improving your appearance is also a really easy way to boost one’s confidence! You will likely feel a lot better if you are dressed in clothes you like and think you look good in. Of course dressing up doesn’t mean dressing fancy or uncomfortably at all which might be how some people feel. It can simply mean styling your hair, adding accessories.

It’s one of those activities that kicks our minds into a more productive mode. Like showering in the morning, or even leaving the house to study at uni; getting ready is another way to create a subtle sense of purpose for the day ahead.

Some students feel that dressing up is something to be saved for special occasions – but why not choose to view your life as a constant special occasion?

Besides, you never know who you might bump into on campus!

I have been in the misfortunate position of looking ‘slovenly’ by my personal standards on days when by coincidence so many of my friends I hadn’t seen in a couple of weeks were also at uni. While I’m on the topic of friends, I have to point out that dressing up might possibly help disentangle you from friendships with people who have a problem with you wanting to look your best; after all, why be friends with someone who doesn’t like how you dress and lets you know unkindly?

Looking your best with the aid of apparel and accessories is a convenient way to start conversations with people. A compliment, or asking someone where they got an article of clothing that they’re wearing could bloom into a friendship. Looking your best can even be as simple as wearing a smile with your favourite tracksuit pants and jumper, and wearing a smile at uni is always a great option.

IMAGE: Rokuhisa Chino

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BETTER BUSES

LONG OVERDUE

By Christopher Kelly The buses between Parramatta Station and UWS Parramatta on weekday mornings are overcrowded with university students. As one of the many UWS students attending Parramatta Campus, Shawn Armstrong puts it: “Yesterday I was stuck between these two people; it was hard to move or breathe”.

Linda Park, a current UWS student who catches the bus some days after university to get to work at Top Ryde, says “the buses are so full that when they get to Parramatta Campus, all these students get off the bus, leaving it almost empty”.

This overflow is not only impacting onboard passengers, but people wishing to get on the bus. Anokina Benjamin, another Parramatta UWS student, has seen buses drive past people on Victoria Road who want to get on, simply because the buses are just too full to pick up any more passengers.

“They do it a lot” she says. “Whenever I am on the bus, it happens to people waiting at other bus stops”.

Transport NSW indicates there are five bus routes that use the route between the station and the UWS campus, and that, “combined, these routes provide 13 services in the morning

peak hour between 7am to 8am and 16 services between 8am and 9am.”

Manu Sood and Jena Hallani, UWS students at Parramatta, both agreed that this amount of services is “a lot”, but considering their own experiences said it was “obviously not enough”.

Jena, who catches the bus from Parramatta station, says that sometimes one bus gets so full that she cannot get on, and has to wait up to 20 minutes for another service, causing her to be late for her studies.

In March 2012, UWS made a post on its Facebook page, showing willingness to address the issue of overcrowding on buses, asking students of Parramatta campus to share their ideas to improve the service. Lucy Emma suggested “a dedicated service to UWS from Parramatta Station that can turn around on campus”.

Parramatta campus currently has a shuttle bus, but as Matthew Dakin, Acting Director, Campus Safety & Security, says “the bus’ primary intention is to connect students and staff of [Parramatta CBD campus] to the main facilities at the Parramatta campus.”

UWS Transport: More Fool’s Gold than Precious Opal

By Jarrod Bradley UWS is constantly trying to update its image on a local, national, and international stage, but it seems to be making no progress on some major issues affecting many, many UWS students; notably, the lack of access to Opal Concession Cards for UWS students.

We’re now MONTHS behind the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, Australian Catholic University, Notre Dame University, the University of Wollongong, Macquarie University, the University of Newcastle, and Navitas English – which I am still considering transferring into.

The Opal Card has been floating around Sydney since it was first trialled in late 2012 and was spouted as being the “way of the future” for NSW Transport.

Similar to Victoria’s MyKi, and Queensland’s go card, it would apparently soon be impossible for you to get around without one.

Not only is the Opal Card starting to replace paper tickets, it is also

Departing Central Central Central Central Central

extremely more convenient, with Opal Card meaning the likelihood of you missing your train to buy a ticket, or getting on the bus to find that you don’t have small enough change soon becoming a thing of the past.

But here at UWS we are stuck in the past, using our old, paper system, missing our trains that we planned poorly for, and paying MORE than non-concession card holders on Sundays: I actually paid $3.50 last Sunday for a train ride from Central which would’ve cost me $2.50 if I had a NONconcession Opal Card.

Although we have heard time and time again about how UWS is “working on this issue” and that “Opal Concession Cards will be available shortly into 2015” it has now been 4 months and seemingly nothing has happened.

We’re stuck paying higher prices for public transport than other university students and, as mentioned before, even higher

Arriving Macarthur Rydalmere Panania Kingswood Richmond

Non-Opal $7.00 $5.40 $5.40 $7.00 $7.00

prices than people who can afford non-concession pricing!

As shown in the table below, students could be saving over $2 a day! UWS students are missing out on saving over $220 a year, because the University is slowing down our access to Opal Concessions, which is what UWS students want!

When consulting the Opal website in the past, some line about UWS not wanting to “give away private student information” has been touted to explain UWS not having Opal Concession Cards. But this has been replaced with a student consent form, so what is slowing UWS down? The students of UWS demand some sort of explanation!

We will give our consent to save $220 and those who don’t can pay higher fares. But for me, I want my precious Opal!

Jarrod Bradley is a poor medical student who lives out of home, but loves catching the train to the city to party and see boys

Opal SAVING $4.52 $2.48 $3.36 $2.04 $3.36 $2.04 $4.52 $2.48 $4.52 $2.48

PODIATRY 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.

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

Study & Life Skills 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

Student Welfare For assistance from other services, such as a counsellor or a government agency, UWS welfare officers can help you with info 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

Careers 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

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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

MATES@UWS is looking for volunteer mentors 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 Students

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.

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

SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC

PASS: Peer-Assisted Disability Service Study Sessions

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

Chaplaincy 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 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.

Visit uws.edu.au/disability, call 9852 5199 or email disability@uws.edu.au

Counselling 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

The Quandary that is Parking at UWS Parramatta

By Nicole Gismondo No one is new to parking issues at Parramatta, but of late they have become so wide-ranging and increasingly different, that it warrants a summary.

Holy red spots, contested blue spots, and degenerate yellow spots The first major issue faced by Parramatta is the parking permit classification. Of course, it makes sense that they stop selling permits after a certain amount of time/ number, but that really doesn’t solve any of the major issues here Red spots are always… empty At what point do we realise that there are at least 40 extra spots that are permanently reserved, and an utter waste of space?

Temporary parking permits There are always people that get here ludicrously early, without a permit, and it’s almost worthwhile for them to do that at only $9 a spot, but realistically, those with permits always miss out due to the sheer number of these that are actual students. Making the truncated sale of permits useless.

The wondrous North Campus mess: At $7 a spot, you get whatever piece of dirt/gravel, you can find, which is always good right?

Spontaneous Carpark Closures Of late, the uni has an event, at least one car park is closed. They are doing some building, at least one car park is closed. Useful to note that in fact P2 will be closing very soon, due to

EB parking is a bit of a fluke, and on weekends when you have club events/ weekend uni/etc, the uni sometimes has the audacity to close all this parking.

Reality: As Parramatta becomes UWS’s main campus, this becomes less and less true each year as there actually are many people committed to uni who will continue to drive as public transport is an inconvenient (double the time), or non-existent (a large percentage of Western Sydney) option.

Overfilling of North Campus and the freakishly uncommon shuttle buses

The random carparks and the vultures

construction of EHa (new science facility). This just causes even more congestion.

You got a spot on North Campus after all that searching (despite your blue permit), you get to the bus stop, but the bus has just left – let’s assume you check the shuttle tracker (UWS app) and you see that it’s still over the other campus (likely parked, mind you), its 15min to your class (plenty of time really) and you decide to walk.

10-20min later, after the maze of a walk to avoid the road at all costs, you are late to class. This is the life of a late student.

Come the other direction, and there are so many people waiting for a bus it could take you half an hour to get on a bus, the walk is the only option – not a great one after dark either.

Then you get scenario three, the one where they kick you out of North Campus, despite there being some patches of gravel vacated, and you get shunted to street parking, which is largely turning into paid down one side or other.

Pre-census nightmare and the public transport debacle You often get people who say “It’s ok.

There’ll be more parking after census”.

The last solace of any student is to look behind the library, or near EB, just because they think that less people will bother looking, maybe on a Monday or Friday this may be effective, but keep hoping, all of you.

Certainly though, the drive around P1 (front of South Campus) is the most fruitless endeavour any student has ever completed, and probably wastes the most petrol in ‘vulturing’ throughout campus.

The grass is greener The most truly fantastic feeling is to get a spot on South Campus on the grass after 12pm ish in the afternoon.

Until you see the people parked there without permits (why is this not policed, I hear you ask)…

Further, the grass is always really browner, and so the grass gets taken out of action very soon.

Futuristic Banter So good luck, good luck to you all, and see you on the battlefield. Should I mention that they’re moving part of campus into the CBD…?

Nicole Gismondo

Parramatta SCC – Clubs Representative External Competitions Officer – UWS Debating

Planned and unplanned:

Hong Kong exchange the best of education

By Reannon Navaratnam It is just under two months since I left the comfort of my Sydney lifestyle and embarked on my journey to Hong Kong to study at City University. Travelling to my new university was nerve-wracking to say the least, but once I arrived all of these feelings were quickly lost.

It was so exciting to meet fellow exchange students and before long these international acquaintances developed into invaluable friendships. The experience so far has been nothing short of incredible!

I highly recommend visiting City University of Hong Kong especially if you are a law student, as the courses here complement our UWS curriculum perfectly.

I can say that a highlight so far has been understanding the Asian culture of Hong Kong in the classroom by talking with local students and understanding their thoughts and perspectives, particularly regarding the law.

Despite studying in Hong Kong being stimulating and enjoyable, it is only a portion of the exchange experience.

The friendships, exploration, travel and culture I have been exposed to are unlike any other!

I was also pleasantly surprised living on campus as it really emphasised the social culture of the university.

There is always something new and exciting to participate in, which makes it hard to have a bad day! With most people here being on exchange themselves, you might be surprised how quickly real friendships develop and the amount of support available to you.

I was lucky enough to travel to some neighbouring countries including the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia over the Lunar New Year break which was one of the highlights of my exchange so far. I went into exchange with an open mind, however I had no intention of travelling during the semester. However, having the opportunity to travel has only heightened this adventure!

The exchange program has really opened my eyes to a myriad of opportunities that I may never have considered if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone and applied for student exchange.

For anyone who is thinking of studying abroad, do it!

Visit uws.edu.au/globalmobility

More Turin, less Turnitin When you get accepted for a study abroad period, you have to be prepared for a lifetime commitment. A lifetime commitment to the world map on your wall, marking where all the wonderful friends you made are from, meaning you will never have a shortage of destinations to visit on your next holiday.

My personal experience was in Turin, a city surrounded by the Alps in Northern Italy. Exchange is an open invitation party and everybody is so welcoming.

Most of my classes were a mix of Italian students and other exchange students.

A lot of my classes had major group work components which were great for facilitating friendships and from there, making new friendships was a snowball effect.

Although I seemed to meet students across the globe during my exchange period, I never actually met another Australian studying in Turin. This meant that I took sole responsibility for making sure as many people as possible tried Vegemite, and Timtam slams (you can 28

By Ashlee Timms

guess which was more popular). It is also a reciprocal exchange as I also got to try specialties from other places, in addition to the daily consumption of pizza, pasta and gelato. Feijoada from Brazil is AMAZING! An exchange period isn’t without difficulties, but the rewards outweigh the minor inconveniences. Returning to Australia, I can appreciate office administration hours far more because everything in Turin is closed Monday morning, everyday for two hours at lunch… and don’t forget a random afternoon or two each week (but they won’t tell you which afternoons until you show up at the front door), just because.

If you want to enhance your experience at University, become immersed in new cultural experiences, take weekend trips to other countries…just because, and have the patience to reassure people that not ALL ANIMALS in Australia are going to try and kill them when they visit, I can definitely recommend a study abroad semester for you!

Through summer. Our summer. Their winter. My winter. Cold, bleak and hauntingly beautiful. Dormant branches, gnarled and deranged, reached high into a foreboding sky. Devoid of light.

Sunless. Veiled in the unabating morbidity of rolling cloud. Relinquishing little more than snowflakes that fell gently and built silently against my top floor window. A tiny studio looked out over shingled rooftops decorated with an arrangement of ceramic chimneys.

There’s a foreboding landlady here, who scathes me with a cold accusing eye as she seemingly passively waters terracotta pots, laden with geraniums that line the buildings’ exterior stairwell.

The old witch. What I gather from the accusatory statements assaulted upon myself and veiled to my comprehension by their intrinsically French nature, is that she in some way is opposed to the idea of any of her apartments being inhabited by someone other than the lawful tenant. But! That’s no more than a whim. Perhaps she’s making amiable small talk regarding the strangely pleasant weather, the exceedingly fabulous geranium season we’re having this year, the outstanding quality of baguette this morning from the patisserie next door, the uncharacteristically substandard quality of baguette this morning from the patisserie next door. OH MY GOODNESS THE BAGUETTES. Yes. Perhaps these perceived allegations of unlawful tenanting are humble warnings to my enjoyment of baked goods. And here I am, labelling such amiable interaction as malevolent allegations, the poor dear.

Regardless, I repetitively answer, ‘oui’ to her incessant interrogation in the most affable tone I can manage in a foreign language.

Every perilous, seven-story descent it seemed, she would be at the base of that harrowing staircase, executing one domestic duty or another. Of which, she could always afford to cease and in her seemingly pugnacious manner, infallibly condemn me under who knows what terrible accusation. And so, unsurprisingly, this staircase within the delicate mind of such a wide-eyed, intrepid young traveller as myself developed, augmented, evolved into a barricade that stood impenetrably before the illustrious world of this

THREE

POVERTY-STICKEN

WEEKS IN PARIS

inexpressibly delightful city.

Infuriated by such a violation of her Parisian palace, this vindictive troll stood guard at the gateway to all of its wondrous happenings. And oh! my friend, how outstanding it was.

Beneath the white tents of the Marche du Boulevard Raspail, fowl lay butchered in sumptuous heaps, the scent of freshly baked goods emanates from rustic piles below trails of illuminated light bulbs and meets that of a fromagerie; perfect convalescence. A decrepit man in ragged clothes, infirmly clutching a crushed hat, sings to passers-by who rid themselves of loose change.

The sound of his voice, fuelled by dropping coins, consumed by the declaration of vegetable prices from a purveyor of fresh produce.

Rejecting miniature towers strung on steel hoops and adorned by black men, seated on the cold steel of a park bench as the illustrious land locked beacon of Monsieur Eiffel illuminates the sky above.

A baguette in one hand, and bottle of wine in the other.

At a street side table of a small café, a burning cigarette and a petit café. A man rides past on a bicycle. His face adorned with an excessively large moustache.

He wears striped pants and his dilapidated bi-wheeled form of transportation rattles horrendously as he rolls down the cobbled street. There

PHOTO: Hannan Lewsley

By Hannan Lewsley

he goes, reappearing intermittently under speckled cones of light; illuminated snow as it falls delicately through the luminescence of street lamps that hang feebly between ancient buildings. I remain, soaked in the heat and orange hue from an overhead gas lamp, watching him peddle into darkness.

Three weeks. I endured such tortuous circumstances. Withheld from complete immersion into this exceptional abyss of extravagant elegance by the unrelinquishing and intangible thread of apprehension spun by my propriétaire. Mornings. Afternoons.

Days. Weeks. And how they passed, under the scrutinising eye of this unrelenting, unscrupulous woman. Her presence casting a harrowing shadow of darkness over every outstanding experience I beheld. A veil of darkness thrown Departure. Airport. Gate. Acquiescently relinquishing my intrepid endeavours.

Presented from a vibrant hostess with an English language newspaper. And so I was -for the first time since my visit began- informed of the political and social happenings of Europe.

French students, vehemently opposed to the deregulation of university fees, want smaller class sizes. The Eurozone gains an unexpected zero-point-three percent increase attributable to Germany’s outstanding economic performance in the first half of the financial year. Ukraine and Russia enter a delicate cease-fire after marathon peace talks in Minsk, silence falls, bombs do not. And France sees its greatest geranium season in forty-seven years. 29

30

A SQEAKY CLEAN PASSPORT PASSPORT

By Keegan Thomson When I mess up I tend to do it on a monumental scale. I stuff up to the point where there is no going back. Once I ran my sister over in a golf cart then totalled the golf cart, and another time I accidentally smashed three bedroom windows in one day. But my biggest, most colossal stuff up was only recently.

I was on a bus tour throughout the United States of American and we’d stopped for the night in the party city of Austin, Texas. After a night of riding bulls, slamming down shots with locals, and getting lost walking home in the ghetto, I decided I needed a chill-out day. On this particular chill-out day I decided to do some washing.

When I pulled out my clothes from the washing machine I noticed that there was a lot of washed out paper throughout the load of washing. This instantly angered me. I started venting to my friend Matt, who was standing there as I threw the clothes into the dryer. In the middle of my angry tirade I noticed something strange in with all the clothes in the dryer.

Reaching in I pulled out a familiar-looking photo.

Scanning over what I had just pulled out I knew it

couldn’t be. It was a looking at a semi translucent page about the size of a passport, with all my details, my name, address, passport number, and my photo. But this couldn’t be from my passport, could it?

Leaving Matt stumped I raced to my room where my roommate was listening to rave music whilst he was trying to sleep. Confused as to how someone could sleep with rave music blaring in the background, I started the search for my passport.

It wasn’t with my phone and wallet, it wasn’t in my backpack, it wasn’t even in the stupid little plastic passport protector sleeve.

Feeling defeated it finally hit me. I had just washed my passport and my US visa. As of this moment I was an Australian in the US without a passport or a visa.

Instantly I was hit with two confronting feelings.

All my travel plans were up in the air, and this was a little exciting. But something else that hit me was, all my travel plans were up in the air, and this frightened me a little.

31

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ISIS do not represent me Just like there is nothing Australian about that defence league And the word sorry will not be used by this Muslim to affirm our solidarity Every war is a crime against humanity but this war especially has 1.6 billion casualties globally in every crevice that the news can reach Truth be told We are regressing as a nation into policies and ideologies unlike those we claim to uphold The upper echelons of our society are festering with white ants hungry for wood to burn For change, I yearn For yesterday, a woman’s head was bashed in and she was thrown out of a train Tell me, who the terrorist is?

Tell me, who the terrorists are, when all its taken are some front cover pages and Daily Telegraph sensations to turn our community into this farce?

I’ll tell you how it is.

I am oppressed. Yes. I am oppressed.

But only by your expectations, your dissertations, your freedoms and your demons I am oppressed by you men By you women That think that your idea of liberation is superior to mine I will never forget the time a young boy, upon realising what faith this article represents, Exclaimed… I hate muslims!

We are breeding hate For you cannot raise children with twisted ideologies They remain but children in adult bodies They read stories Written with the inks of our pillaged dreams Scratched upon our doors, we keep them locked these days The winds are blowing, they are shaking the windows and the glass is wailing in defiance The winds are cold, and we are history’s collateral damage And I never wanted to write this piece I didn’t want these topics to define my poetry But I will not stand for anyone trying to define me Or for anyone to weave their stories into the threads I wear on my head This burden is heavy enough as it is.

And still I say.. Not in my name Will the hijab be vilified as a symbol for your political agendas Will my beliefs be hijacked Will the spring soil within me be salted Because it is time for me to bloom revolutions.

I know it is time.

For my father is a wise man And he loves gardening He taught me that racism and hatred are weeds that grow in the shadows of ignorance and fear And the only way to kill weeds is to learn how to manipulate the soil The dirt under his fingers is holy The dirt under his fingers is my ailment My strength to continue singing Not in my name sir.

Not in our names.

NOT IN MY NAME

By Sara Mansour

33

His withdrawal

Infinity

By Sunaina Mandipa

By Charlotte Tai I’ve heard of people Who’ve left those they love behind them Not caring that they’re buried in shame Because they’ve moved on I’ve seen people fighting For what they believe in The rush of blood and battle cries As we try to make a difference Try to change this broken universe…

Let’s find our infinity together Let’s take on each other’s burdens And bring peace to the madness in this world Find stillness in the single drop That ripples the water’s surface They say one person can make a difference But I believe that when we’re together We are stronger!

No matter what tongue you speak, What your spiritual beliefs are, Or your sexual preferences Your identity is you Embrace the thought of diversity There’s one lesson still left to learn…

The human race is built on infinity, Not fear.

34

He yells at me , but he still needs me, His anger and violence threats me.

He loses control so he beats me, And I find myself in a place I am surprised to be.

He sees the tears in my eyes Screaming I love you in disguise; My mind can’t be cured, My heart and hands are sore.

For he knows I will not leave, He decides to cut inside each time deep.

He says he is sorry, and asks me not to worry He will change because he wants me And promises me vaguely.

Next dawn, he comes close to me, Grabs me and wants me He senses fear in my eyes; Screaming I love you in disguise.

Excuses and excuses !

Everyday causing exceeding bruises, When his acquaintances ask me are you fine?

I lie impulsively to nurse his pride.

Crushed in the heart of the night with his addiction, Irrelevant to the point where I lose my mind I hand him pills of comfort and potion To calm his body and mind, For this is the only time I see in this beast The soul that is inside.

But why can’t I just leave him?

So I decide to fight this, Even if his words of wrath cut me deep sharp, I look at this man, and I refuse to give up.

I know he can be better My love isn’t illusional I’ll bear it, I’ll be fine After all whatever he is, he is mine.

For all I believe, this too shall pass away, As this is his withdrawal only But he lacks in belief that, I am the only one to stay, when it all gets lonely

Urban Jungle

By Charlotte Tai The tall, steel skyscrapers create a forest Cold and forbidding Filled with workers and lovers Fighters and tourists The people who pass through this city You see…they’re like animals They do what they must It’s all instinctual

By Adriana Cortellazzi

Because it’s in our nature to live and just be I don’t like the thought of you Being far away from me Tonight…

We have a love like no other, You're my best friend, soul mate and lover.

A love like this is hard to find, Thoughts of you are always on my mind.

With a smile as bright as a sunrise, You fill my tummy with butterflies.

So as I hit the dance floor Consumed by the nature of beasts Of bodies pressed together in this wild heat I am alone thinking of you

I've never felt like this before, Each day I love you more and more.

The 8th of May changed my life, I can't wait for the day you make me your wife.

Drowning my sorrows with a drink Touching freely with wild abandon Pretending I have eyes for someone else tonight As my heart glances towards a fractured future

I know I'm a handful, that's why you have two, As long as you keep loving me, I'll keep loving you.

Was it the scent of your perfume, Or the touch of your sultry red lips on mine, Or your long blonde hair threaded through my fingers, That made it so difficult for me to let go?

Love and lust are two different things We loved each other once Now the only thing I’ve got left Are the memories tinged with sharp desires Forgotten and confused, When I turn the key and enter my apartment Looking through the floor to ceiling windows At this neon-streaked urban jungle view I remember that I need to love myself again.

Even if that means I’m a man alone in his bed tonight…

35

Where are you, world?

My One True Liege

By Aldric Chuah

By Dina Codrina Capilnean Did I fall in love with all the rest?

Because I never seem to impress I reach out to paint your untouched heart But the more I do, we fall apart There is no sanity no more When we’re not insulted at ‘whore’ When we would rather start a war Then save the ones that need it the most Only pretend, but keep your money at your door I can’t find love anymore no more We walk obliviously on earth Artists are ignored and no talent praised What have we come to, feeling no worth?

What have I done, no trust, I am amazed Could this be the world’s fault or simply My own definition of heart’s place?

There is no sanity no more When we’re not insulted at ‘whore’ When we would rather start a war Then save the ones that need it the most Only pretend, but keep your money at your door Perhaps I’m the only one Who realises what this world has become We shouldn’t be amazed at the goodness in people’s hearts It should be a natural form of human nature’s art I’ve lost myself in this world…

I don’t care who I am to you anymore Just let me live in my own world and peace While you all live in your stupidity

When you are near I'll have no fear Together we'll cry happy tears And we shall soar high up above Like two great doves high on love I don't do crime. There's just no time.

But I shall strive to make you mine And so I seek not to deceive For I am meek, a geek. I conceive The rhymes just will not end I've brought some thyme, I'm on the mend And so I ask, of one small date A task for you is to open my gate

Anne you’re so smart and pretty Do not part I hope I'm witty And as you stand there with great might Your face it glows it's ever so bright I cannot lie you’re quite a sight There’s no need to fie I’m not here to fight Please go on a date with me it shall give me much light

There is no sanity no more When we’re not insulted at ‘whore’ When we would rather start a war Then save the ones that need it the most Only pretend, but keep your money at your door Keep pretending… I know your game behind closed doors

36

And so it t’was on our first year I first met you my sweet dear And since that time I’ve had my eye Locked straight on you, no word of lie And as I slept throughout the nights I maintained the rage , for you I'll fight I sustained in you much great hope I’m interested in you, not so much the Pope And so I ask, of one small date A task for us is to open our gates

I know you cannot love me now I stand before you, I take a bow I’ll walk through girt, hail and snow To see your effervesce glow For you I shall always speak Together we shall reach the highest peak Alas this is one dream of mine With you I gleam, you're always divine They say that dreams may just come true We form a seam, the most potent glue

An Owl’s Flight to Shore

By Phil Brown My fears painted the ceiling Forming rain clouds at evening As i descended into worlds unknown I gathered my emotions And considered this ocean It's gripping me to leave I can sail anywhere but here

A disgruntled old captain asked why i had barged in This torrents been wrecking the ocean-lined bedding And i'm still days away from home

So i tried to define The rip in this skyline Obstructing my views of the shore Deciduous trees Branches floating at sea I climbed up on board and watched the sun dawn Bringing myself back at ease This ironbark dwelling Stood secure It compelled me To locate my shelter within I crept through the door To see windows were opened And cabinets all cluttered Memoirs were spread on the floor Footsteps emerged An anxious heart now concerned I wonder what fate has in store For me.....

His reluctant agree Had allowed me to sleep Inside the captain's guest room Entering rest I began to assess Where life has taken me I can sail anywhere but here

The sunlight poured in now renewing my skin As darkened clouds cleared which had calmed down my fears Revealing the sky's majesty I sit on balcony stairs Absorbing fresh air Reflecting before i take leave I'll write you a letter And spend time to remember The compassion you bestowed upon me Flags stand upon the bay as i glide through these waves I'll enter this world and establish new homes As today i fly free I recall the memories Of an oracle once sharing Quotes i cannot forget You'll fall before you fly so there's nothing left to lose You can keep trying and soon you'll be rising Look at what this has now proved

37

Little Friend Lost

By Wilhelm Felix Martinez Contrails stream across the blue canvas of heaven From Iron Eagles migrating east to deliver Armageddon.

Each of the flock answering the ring from the Patriot’s bell Against Nazism, Fascism; “C’mon boys, let’s give ‘em hell!”

Onward and upward the bombers crossed the channel With mission and kill markings emblazoned on all Fortresses’ front left panels.

Six Hundred have been sent into the breach today On their way to the valley of death; all you can do is pray.

Flak and fighters are heavier than expected Some forts are downed, turned around, or press on, despite being molested.

Rendezvous with the escorts for this mission has been late Too late for some in the group, inviting ridicule, scorn and hate.

Still they head east, all heading towards the same objective “…thread a needle if you have to…”, as to the general’s directive.

They know the enemy waits for them over the border Yet they press on, knowing full well it will be a slaughter.

It’s when they cross into the lair that they get jumped From the frantic radio calls; everyone’s pumped.

The escorts peel off to deal with the threat But some get through, penetrating the little friends’ net.

First one, then two, fall away from the flock Like maple leaves on fire; they just ran out of luck.

Tail-end Charlie is now getting all the attention All gun turrets ablaze, not giving the enemy the satisfaction.

But good hits soon shred one of its four engines Causing it to fall back, despite the novice crew’s best intentions.

Down and away the bomber bleeds a stream of white smoke Like a wounded animal it heads into the clouds; that is its only hope.

The crew scan the sky wondering where their little friends are at The radio operator tries to call them up,

38

only to get confused and garbled chit-chat.

Their escorts, it seems, are too busy chasing their own glory Each fighter puke, with stars in their eyes, thinking their egos are more worthy.

And now the hungry wolves have found their quarry To Tail-end Charlie they will show no mercy.

Soon most of the crew are wounded or killed The pilot keeps the bird flyable, drawing on all skills, techniques and drills.

Unknown to her crew, the bomber’s cries have been seen and heard All along by a Little Friend Lost, looking for a mission; not part of the escorting herd.

The Mustang screams in, guns blazing, just in time To help clean the Flying Fortress of the deadly enemy slime.

First one, then two, then three from the hornet’s nest Go down in flames; so much for Hermann Goering’s best.

When it’s over the Little Friend sits on the bomber’s left wing To the crew’s relief it didn’t suffer so much as a scratch, or ding.

But they’re still miles and miles away from home With no other friend in sight; they are truly alone.

“Don’t worry…”, the Little Friend says, “…as long as it takes, I’ll cover you!”

Those words, spoken from the heart, emboldens the crew; they’re no longer blue.

Navigating as best they can over and through the enemy’s backyard Trying to survive as best they can, against a stacked deck of cards.

The Little Friend valiantly keeps all enemy fighters at bay Making sure the bomber keeps chugging along, crippled, but on its way.

Soon each battle begins to take its toll Even the vaunted Little Friend is now sporting bullet holes.

But still he hangs around like a loyal dog protecting his master This Little Friend does what he can to prevent total disaster.

Radio problems soon make communication and coordination difficult But the Little Friend knows what the priority is, so really, it’s all good.

However the last encounter nearly tears him apart

For the faithful Little Friend gets injured by the enemy’s lead darts.

But still he battles to keep formation Because even he knows their mutual support is the key to their salvation.

A breed apart from his fellow fighter brethren This Little Friend, the Bomber crew surmises, must have been an angel sent from heaven.

As they near the border heading west They are relieved to see the rest of the group; looks like mission success.

But not all are pleased by the exploits of the odd couple Especially those other little friends, the pukes; their tail-feathers are extremely ruffled.

They jostle into position on the Bomber’s wing tips Saying to the Little Friend, “That’s it. We’ll take over now. While don’t you just call it quits?”

The Little Friend glances at the Bomber pilot, who waves at him with sadness The team that had been through so much was being broken up; it’s sheer madness.

But always bowing to rules and seniority The Little Friend takes one more look at the Bomber, then banks away gradually.

The last the crew sees of him is fleeting images in the clouds Of the little Mustang that was there for them; his praises they will sing forever, out loud.

Hours and hours after returning to the safety of their field The crew sits around the bar, quenching a thirst that will never truly yield.

They reminisce about the Little Friend today who covered them so well And wondered when, if ever, they will meet him again; it will be so swell.

Just then a sergeant reluctantly strolls into the place Delivering the bad news, stopping time and space.

The crew then remember the last time they saw his face Of the Little Friend who, it had just been confirmed, failed to return to base.

To one and all the glasses are raised To celebrate the life of the Little Friend; oh what a waste.

Supporting each other is how wars are won Remembering the sacrifices of Little Friends like these, who are now dead and gone.

In Our Absence

By Sid Sutton November ache in the air, thrumming With the promise of things to come, numbing Anxieties and unrests, burying Faint doubts with wilted iris sprays.

Season of need and neutral light, and quaking Aspens leaning in slanted rows, barely giving Shelter for the swallows.

Memories sit like glass beads strung on a child’s string, Rudiments of a game: this reflux of lived life surging through A muted rainbow rush of light and hue, of Amorphous forms, and we were we for so brief a term.

Et oui, je ai tant de regrets.

And living on serves only to beget, Like blooms, stale dreams to remember and Only half-forget, and all this will be dust by autumn next.

I still breathe, and do the dull rest of it, and there is no satisfactory way to express Anything.

Indomitable

By Melissa Swann

Creative minds leave us amidst unfinished projects half written scripts, tunes partially hummed, characters left lifeless concepts that will gradually gather dust.

We grieve the loss of a talent taken much too soon, saddened to think of all they had left to give.

But in that tragedy we can be spurred on, reminded that our time is not only short but incalculable.

Oblivion, impermanence, death.

Enough to scare you but better to inspire you, better used as a driving force of desperate creation.

The Inevitable nipping at your heels, asking why you would waste a single moment here when there are only so many moments left So if the human spirit is truly indomitable I want to feel it; in every second in every word in every note of music in every frame of every film in every moment you spend creating.

Make something to transcend yourself, to outlive the short years that you have.

Anything will do.

If there is no futility in death; prove it to me, to yourself.

39

SKUWS

Skateboarders UWS skuwsme@gmail.com

GEORGE GITTANY 40

PHOTOGRAPHY

THUNDAMENTALS

By Curtis Mountford-Hiles As you walk up the stairs towards the thumping music, you pass by many a drunk or soon-to-be drunk young music fan. They are decked out in 21st century hip-hop fashion, which means it’s not exactly easy to describe what they are wearing. You see girls with large floppy hats that would suit a witch as their boyfriends rock a 90s styled snapback cap while standing in line to buy drinks.

The music becomes less muffled and the lyrics become a little clearer as you get further up the steps. You can hear what appears to be an arsenal of rappers on stage.

What you actually find is the supporting talent of the night, which is freestyle king, The Tongue, by himself. As he takes prompts from the crowd about what he should rhyme about next, you slip into a corner at the back of the venue and observe. The two words The Tongue has chosen to rhyme about are the words shark and the word pussy (as in cat). His DJ puts on another famous beat and the rapper spits his magic. He gets the crowd on board as they cheer him on. Then after a few minutes of the hiphop theatre sports the man known as The Tongue thanks the audience and disappears.

The night isn’t close to being over for the almost 1000 people who turned up to Sydney University’s Manning Bar as they wait for the main attraction, Thundamentals.

The group, which is made up of two MCs and one DJ have been touring their most recent and most successful album So We Can Remember since its release in May 2014. Rappers Tuka and Jeswon along with producer/ DJ Morgs have been selling out shows across Australia more frequently and faster then Rupert Murdoch sends out inappropriate tweets. In fact, tonight’s concert is an encore performance due to their first Sydney show in early March selling out.

Everybody that’s gone outside to enjoy a drink and some fresh air is soon rushing back in as the horns for Holla blast out of the speakers. Drinks are drained, cigarettes

are put out and the show begins. As Morgs spins the record and touring member Poncho Music pulls out a real live instrument in the form of a horn, things start to become real. Before the heavy beat drops MCs Tuka and Jeswon slyly walk on stage, massive grins on their faces and hunger in their eyes. They know exactly what’s about to go down, it’s just unclear if the audience knows what they’re in for. From the word go Tuka and Jeswon are animated cartoon robots on crack. It looks like it would be an impossible task to get these two to sit still and rhyme as they fling limps and do everything besides back flips while performing. After the appropriately titled Paint The Town Red the party is brought down if only just for a moment. Emotional gems like How You Doing and Missing You cause the crowd to have a heart to heart moment with the boys from the Blue Mountains.

After some peaceful moments and probably a much needed breather for the two rappers, Morgs brings the atmosphere right back to where it needs to be with amped up tracks Elephant in the Room and Noodle Soup, but the main feature is the dubstep infused Thunda Cats.

Enough can’t be said about this track and the electrifying effect it has on crowds. Every single person in this venue, including the bartenders, looked as if they caught the Holy Ghost and had a musical seizure. Fitting in with Harmony Day, Jess and Tuka made sure the crowd was feeling the love by kindly asking everyone to “put your fists up and make a peace with it”. Everybody happily obliged. Tearing through fan-favourite songs, including their million plus viewed Youtube cover of Matt Corby’s Brother, the boys known collectively as the Thundamentals tucked another sold out and successful show under their belt. Fans left covered in sweat, huge smiles on their faces and piled out into the night, all hopefully remembering the theme of the night. Peace.

Thundamentals played Manning Bar on March 21st 41

Classic Cinema on the Big Screen

By Curtis Mountford-Hiles With downloading, streaming and torrenting become more and more popular, the simple act of going to the movies seems less and less likely for Generation Y. Unless it’s a big blockbuster like the upcoming Avengers sequel or a movie adaption of a young-adult fiction novel you’re not going to see too many bums on cinema seats sadly.

But like all generations there are the old souls who enjoy actually leaving the house to experience a film, whether it be to watch something that will affect how we feel or just a way to forget about real life for an hour or two (I’m looking at you, uni work!).

Another thing Gen Y has missed out

on is watching the films of yesteryear on the actual big screen. We’ve all seen Zoolander but it’s a curious thought to see what it would be like in a theatre full of people laughing.

Major film houses across Sydney are featuring special ‘cult classics’ sessions of movies from the past.

Event Cinemas and the Dendy play classics like Taxi Driver, Blade Runner, Clueless and Up. So as we leave summer behind and things get crispy with autumn why not close the laptop and stare at a larger screen. Plus think about how cool and trendy you’ll look taking a date to see a movie that came out before either of you were born!

eDOPHILE or

PAPALUTIONIST ?

GIVEAWAY We have a Philips Voice Tracer Digital Recorder to give away.

Please Like crUWSible facebook then message us 20 words or less on why you would like to win.

By Aldric Chuah I am not convinced that there is an eBook revolution.

I’ve been asked on numerous occasions whether I read any eBooks. My reply is always, I read the book without the ‘e’. Now, there are several advantages to having an eBook. For starters you can read it in any location; in the kitchen, in a plane or even when on the toilet. You also don’t have to physically lug around 500 pages of paper in your hand/suitcase. What’s more, the eBook versions are often cheaper than the physical counterparts. However I’m still not convinced. Can you imagine if the Magna Carta was transcribed on an iPad? How dull ! How intangible ! How uninspiring ! The fact is that paper and books have built entire societies, helped cities become communities. Books form the backbone of many societies. Why else would bookstores still exist?

Where would the community congregate if there were no libraries? When you can see and touch something I believe the value almost doubles. Would we be as incensed if the burning of the books was the burning of the iPads/tablets? Books have that much value that some people are willing to die to defend their very existence.

Books then have the power to shape societies and indeed minds. Much as computers and technology have taken over most of society, most of us still have to buy/ borrow textbooks for our courses (often there isn’t an 42

e-version). Often when I go to lectures I make it a habit to actually print out the slides. I could just as easily bring my iPad but if I did I simply wouldn’t learn. Technology is a useful tool but it has that awful quality of ripping away our focus from the tasks at hand. When laptops/ iPads are brought to the lecture theatres more often than not, the screen indicates that they’re on Facebook or even playing two players games ! So there I am, one of only a handful who actually have the slides displayed on the cornea of my eyes. I can not only see the slides, I can feel them. This is the most primordial of instincts and by diverting my gaze solely to the pieces of paper, I ensure that the technology which we all take for granted (and find very useful) does not detach me from reality. The advantages of possessing a physical book is that it gives people the impression that you are super intelligent.

It also gives character to a room. However the main advantage is that I don’t need to swipe or tap. I simply flip and read. Batteries are not included but thankfully I don’t need batteries. Whatever your persuasion, turn off that TV, turn off that computer (unless it’s got an eBook) and fixate your gaze on a good story. I promise you won’t regret it, you may even learn a thing or two.

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12th Australasian Permaculture Convention

UWS PermacuLture Club

By Marlene Carrasco I recently traveled to Penguin, Tasmania to attend the Australasian Permaculture Convention representing the UWS Permaculture Club. This is what I have brought back for you.

Permaculture is a holistic design system for creating sustainable human settlements and is based on ethics and principles that can be applied to all facets of our daily lives from food systems, the built environment, through to governance and economics.

The concept of Permaculture was developed in Tasmania in the late 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, as a positive and proactive response to the many pressing social and ecological challenges of our time. From humble beginnings, Permaculture has spread to just about every corner of the globe, is being practiced in many different climates and applied in settings ranging from urbanised cites to rural communities. Over the past 40 years, there have been many inspiring Permaculture endeavours from creating fertile oases in arid landscapes, through to reinvigorating urban backyards and building stronger community connections. Yet, there is still much to be done in working toward an ecological sustainability and socially just presence on the planet.

It was exciting to be in the company of such wisdom and insight of the pioneers of Permaculture (such as David Holmgren, Robyn Francis, GoeffLawton and UWS Professor Stuart Hill) and others who are seeking to create a sustainable future. I spent the next four days immersed in workshops covering topics like ‘Intentional communities, Diversity for sustainable food production, The power of making good shit happen: Radical homemaking, community development and digging holes, The Anthropocene: what role can permaculture play?’, engaged in many interesting discussions and connected with permaculturists from all over Australasian region, ate yummy organic local produce purchased via an alternative economic system called CENTs http://www.nwcents.org.

In his keynote speech David Holmgren builds on the lessons of 40 years of permaculture and kindred activism to articulate how the bottom up permaculture strategies that focus at the personal, household, enterprise and community level can be effective where mass movements to demand top down change are repeatedly derailed or simply reinvent the problems in new forms ( the solution becomes the problem).

At a time when environmental activists are feeling increasingly embattled and desperate, the opportunities for permaculture have never been greater. Are we ready to use whatever agency remains at the personal, household and community level to turn the problems into solutions?

Visit crUWSible.com.au for David Holmgrem’s keynote speech at the Australaisian Permaculture Convention in Penguin, Tasmania, March 2015 David’s Keynote was a great introduction to a very inspiring Permaculture convergence.

Check out the UWS Permaculture Club and learn strategies that will support you and your family through peak oil.

Climate change, By Anokina Benjamin heat stress and the elderly With the ageing Australian population, and an increase in climate change, the risk of getting heat stress for an elderly person is as high as the sun.

Government website, Climate Change in Australia, states that NSW will have a growth in the average temperatures in all seasons because of the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations.

With these increasing temperatures, 44

the health of the elderly is at risk.

“Those most at risk of developing heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with chronic diseases, and people working or exercising in a hot environment.”

Heat stress has become Australia’s top natural killer since 1900 (accounting for the deaths of more people than floods, cyclones, bushfires and storms combined), according to a Macquarie

University risk scientist researcher, Lucinda Coates and colleagues.

The death toll (for all ages) according to Dr Coates is 4,555. This number continues to grow since September 2014.

Climate Change in Australia has very high confidence that more hot days are waiting for us in the future.

StudentS for

By Justin Whittle UWS will host the first national Students for Sustainability (S4S) professional conference on September 15 and 16. The conference theme ”HOPE for the future” will explore the social and environmental impacts of our society and focus on empowering our youth with knowledge and skills to lead into an uncertain future. The S4S conference will provide students with the opportunities to network with like-minded peers and industry professionals, to professionally present and share their game changing solutions or stories of success, whilst advancing their own knowledge of current and emerging sustainability issues outside of their discipline areas. The conference streams will focus on food, ethics and environment with the underpinning notions of sustainability, design and innovation.

S4S differs from other student-led conferences as it is a professional styled, multi-disciplinary conference for students, with the aim to provide and improve their communication and presentation skills in a professional and supportive environment. Presenting at S4S will assist with their speaking skills and confidence, whilst developing sustainability literate graduates. The conference will provide assistance, training and mentoring to presenting students through a series of free online webinars. Anyone can attend the S4S conference, however only presentations and poster presentations are open to current undergraduate and honours students from any university degree, regionally and internationally.

Student presentation and posters must showcase innovative, game changing ideas and solutions or stories of success within their institutions or community, addressing the solution to one or more of our conference streams. Students can present as individuals or in a small team. To present students must submit a short 5001,000 word proposal before the 1st June 2015. All submissions will be judged by an independent UWS panel.

As additional support, current domestic undergraduate or honours students who

Sustainability are presenting (excludes poster presentation) have the opportunity to apply for financial conference assistance packages. This financial assistance will help cover domestic air fares and on campus accommodation, as well as the waiving of the full conference fee. UWS is sponsoring 10 x $500 conference assistant packages for which students must apply before the 5th of June. All submissions are judged by an independent UWS panel.

To assist with the success of the S4S conference we ask that you please consider the information provided and send it to the relevant parties within your institution or organisation and encourage your students to get involved.

Visit www.uws.edu.au/s4s/ students_for_sustainability_ conference “I want to empower HOPE for my generation and students alike about the future concerns of a sustainable, just and ecologically resilient world. These issues are a growing concern for me and I want to start advocating innovative solutions against our futures greatest threats. I want all students to be leaders and be the voice of change.

Join me at S4S to get your solutions heard and to take action!”

Justin Whittle

Student Coordinator, S4S Conference

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IMAGE: Jaws by mimitalks

STUDYING WITH FIBROMYALGIA

By Paul Kleynjan The dreams. It is always the dreams. To sleep means to dream and I hate the dreams. To be awake means to dream and switch off from the pain. Is it the pain that makes me dream? The dreams penetrate me as much as the pain.

The pain… The pain possesses me like a demon. It moves around my body, searching, tormenting. I do not just suffer pain, I am its host.

It uses me, haunts me and punishes me. I fight it when I sleep, I fight it every waking hour. Perhaps that is why I dream. An escapism that I still control, and yet, I feel it controls me.

I sit with my friends and stay silent.

It is easier in groups. Groups talk and don’t know that I dream. It is harder with just one friend. Do they know I switch off? Do they know I can’t control it? I always bring myself back when there is a gap in sound. Why are they looking at me? Was there a question?

I scan the last… how long was it… five minutes? I can’t remember. I feel foolish as my memory matches pictures to sound. The air thickens, the anxiety rises, but the medication suppresses it. They look at me. My brain quickens.

What was reality and what was dream? Do I know when I started dreaming?

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Pain! I unclench my jaw. Why can’t I concentrate? My leg, it’s restless.

I have to stop moving it. I push my foot forward and my mind focuses.

Good, no pain there.

Paul. Yes, Paul. My name. I hear every mouth utter my name. I hate this dream. I never win in this dream. Don’t say my name in my dream. I focus on the sound of my name. Paul, it is louder. I look up, I’m being watched. It’s my friends. I must have drifted off again. They want something from me. A response perhaps? What do I say? Do I apologise? Do I lie so they don’t have to repeat themselves? Will I look foolish? I think quickly, do I remember the words?

Music videos play on the mounted screens. I comment on them but they know. I feel shame, but my friends here are true friends. They understand. Did I hear anything they said? I am embarrassed.

“No.” They brush it off. They know but they care. They don’t make me suffer. The relief hits me, and so does the pain. A hot poker under the arch of my foot, a lead weight on my chest, a sharp stabbing to my groin. I flinch, what else is there to do? My body goes rigid. I try to move. The weight on my chest hurts my back. My leg starts again, move it forward Paul.

I relax and concentrate. It is easier this time. The meds combat the demons, an artificial fight. Meds to fight my pain, meds to fight my mind. Study is hard but I must prove I can beat my demons. I am desperate to prove this. I am doing well, my grades are high, as high as my pain.

And so I dream. My friends have fears. They ask for my help. I love my friends, they are my family, and I always put family first. I help them because I am needed. My love is unconditional so I fight my pain for my friends. Family and friends, I want to protect them all.

In truth, they protect me. My parents especially, they give so much and ask for so little, I model myself after them. I dream of them in my sleep, all of them. If I could grow wings, if I had super speed, super strength… you know the drill. They don’t need me to save them, my family, my friends, they save me.

Dreams don’t fix the problems, but they are a respite, they beat back the demons. Sometimes they win.

More often they lose. I juggle demon and dream. Good choice Paul.

I study… I must accept the pain… I must accept the dreams…

I thought to borrow part of the title of my Doctor of Creative Arts dissertation, a work in progress, to head up this entry.

Cancer tends to catch people’s attention for a variety of reasons.

Now that I have your attention, I will introduce myself.

My name is Mel Macarthur, I am a part-time DCA student here at UWS. I take up residence in the Silent Study Area of our wonderful new library each Thursday and Friday. At other times I busy myself with other matters, one of which is setting up yearly pilgrimages for cancer survivors like myself.

I have B cell non Hodgkins lymphoma, a life-threatening cancer of the blood stream, first diagnosed in November 2004. In the intervening time I have had the strangely named CHOP chemotherapy and an autologous bone marrow transplant.

My purpose here is to alert people to the aforementioned pilgrimages for cancer survivors and carers, the first of which will start in July this year on the ‘Way of the Gull’, a 160-kilometre walking track around the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish Sea between England/Scotland and Ireland.

This walk is for cancer survivors who wish to reassert themselves after experiencing cancer, or as in my own case, during cancer treatments.

I have been on numerous long distance pilgrimages, in various places around the world, over many years. In August/September of this year I shall be walking to Jerusalem from the Golan Heights If you are interested in this project, you can find out more about it (and me) by visiting the web site, www.isleofmanpilgrimages.org.au You can also contact me by email (revmel@bigpond.com) if you wish to talk with me on one of my days at UWS. I can be contacted at revmel@bigpond.com

OF CANCER AND OTHER THINGS

By Dr Mel Macarthur

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DEBT: STUDENT LEGAL says

don’t ignore it

Before the Sheriff comes a knocking, take some simple steps to address debt. Solicitor Nina Lau says ignoring the problem wont make it go away.

If you have borrowed money, bought something with finance, have a loan or a credit card debt or owe money for bills or accounts, you have a legal responsibility to repay the money you owe. You should not avoid your responsibility to repay your debts.

What is a letter of demand?

This is a letter from the creditor (the person/company who says you owe money) that demands that you pay a set amount by a specified date or court proceedings will be started. A letter of demand is not from the court.

When you get a letter of demand, check the amount is correct. If you disagree with the amount, or there are not enough details, write a letter (date it and keep a copy!) to the creditor asking for a detailed breakdown of money owed. Keep copies of all letters you write to the creditor.

How to respond to the letter of demand 1.

Refuse to pay. Make sure you

don’t ignore it, because

your creditor can then begin

legal proceedings and you

will have to pay the legal and court costs if you lose in court 2.

Negotiate with the creditor

if you can’t pay the full

amount by either: a) asking for more time to pay; b) asking to pay in installments; c) offering to pay a reduced

amount to finalise the debt; d) requesting that the debt be

written off 3.

Solving disputes out of court 4.

Pay in full Solving the dispute out of court This is where informal negotiation does not work. You may be able to contact a community justice centre if your dispute is with another person.

Community justice centres offer a free mediation service.

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What is a statement of claim?

If you receive a Statement of Claim— don’t ignore it! This is a document issued by the Local Court. It means the creditor has started legal proceedings to recover money from you.

If you receive a Statement of Claim, you have 28 days from the date you received it to respond to the Local Court.

How to respond to a statement of claim 1.

File a defence 2.

Agree to pay part of the debt.

3.

File a cross claim 4.

Apply for voluntary bankruptcy.

IMPORTANT: You should be aware that if you ignore the statement of claim, the creditor may get default judgment against you without you attending court or even being notified. Once there is default judgment against you, the plaintiff can take action to recover from you the money you owe.

The court Decision If the Court makes an order that you must pay a debt, this order remains in force for at least 12 years. This means the creditor has at least 12 years to take further action to recover money owed by you. The creditor can make you pay the debt by doing any of the following to recover the money: Examination Notice: This notice requires you to either answer questions about your income and/or provide specified documents about your income and finances. If you do not provide this, you can be ordered to attend court for examination about your financial circumstances; Garnishee order: The judgment creditor can ask the Court to “garnishee” your wages or bank account. This is a court order telling your employer or bank manager to give the money that you owe to the judgment creditor from your wages or from your bank account;

Writ for levy of property: This is a court order allowing a Sheriff’s Officer to remove items from your home to the value of the debt in order to pay off the debt.

The Sheriff’s Officer cannot force entry to your home but if denied entry, can obtain a court order to enter your premises; and/or Bankruptcy: If the judgment debt is $5,000 or more, the creditor can apply to the Federal Court to have you declared bankrupt. If you receive a Bankruptcy Notice you should seek advice from either a financial counselor or lawyer immediately.

Your Rights!

Financial hardship: If the debt is with a credit provider and you are experiencing financial hardship and/ or have a dispute about the debt, you have some legal rights that can be enforced and/or investigated for free.

Contact your credit provider about this.

Feeling harassed?

You have a right not to be harassed even if you are pursued for debt. If your debt is with a credit provider and you feel you are being harassed you can complain to Australian Securities Investment Commission (ASIC).

Remember: being harassed is not a reason not to pay a debt that you owe.

NOTE: Some of this info is from ASIC MoneySmart website and LegalAid website

Roya Aran, Events Coordinator & Nina Lau, Solicitor, Student Legal Services UWS Student Legal Service is a joint venture between Macquarie Legal Centre and UWS. Located at the UWS Parramatta Community Justice Clinic at Parramatta Local Court it provides advice to currently enrolled UWS students through SSAF funds.

CONTACT STUDENT LEGAL on 8688 7875 or studentlegalservices@uws.edu.au

Batman

By Cheyne Abdullah It’s just another dark and stormy night in Gotham City. The city is amok with chaos, with criminal masterminds like the Joker, Two Face and the Riddler tormenting the lovable, goodwilled Gothamites of the city. Gotham is falling apart, with crime rates rising and civilians feeling lost and vulnerable at all hours of the day. At every corner these lovable Gothamites are at risk of being abused and bullied by those who want nothing more than to simply watch the world burn …

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “That’s all fine and dandy, but we don’t live in Gotham city, in fact Gotham city isn’t even rea…”. Ok, I’m going to stop you right there before you say something you will absolutely regret. Yes, it’s true we don’t physically live in Gotham city but we do live in a world very similar: the online world. A world where anything is possible and anything can and will happen. Though unlike Gotham city our streets aren’t being put into chaos by rogues such as Harley Quinn and Mr Freeze. No, our streets are being torn apart by dastardly cyberbullies and trolls. So, who is going to be our Batman? Who is going to stand up and show the likes of Killer Croc and the Penguin justice? Enter – Appreciate a Mate.

Appreciate a Mate, similar to the Dark Knight, is here to give hope to the civilians of our online world. Our civilians young and old should be able to wander our streets without fear of being harassed and bullied by those with nothing better to do (sound familiar to a certain city beginning with the letter G?).

Needs You To #appreciateamate to all forms of social media. Yes, even Batman tweets (give him a follow on Twitter @Batman). The key element of these images created on the Appreciate a Mate app (and the feature that’s sure to disengage any Joker-following cyberbullies out there) are the positive messages that they contain. Messages such as: “Never Doubt Your Coolness”, “Stay Strong” and “Your Smile Makes Me Smile” are sure to brighten up the day of any one receiving them, and will absolutely show justice to any two-faced cyberbullies out there.

Gotham city is lucky enough to have its very own Dark Knight to patrol its streets every night. Sadly, our online world is not quite as lucky and online Jokers and Riddlers are always going to be active.

However, Appreciate a Mate is a platform that stands up to these fiends and throws a batarang into the negative force that they actively attempt to create. So, like Batman, Appreciate a Mate needs some help. Batman has Robin, Nightwing and Batgirl – and we need you! Visit www.appreciateamate.com, or download the app and you too can throw a batarang at cyberbullies across the world simply by appreciating a mate (note: be sure to add the hashtag #appreciateamate when you share it). Appreciate a Mate is not only the hero we need, but is also the hero we all so very much deserve.

About the Writer Cheyne Abdullah is a UWS Summer intern currently working on the Safe and Well Online project. He is usually found running barefoot on his treadmill listening to the soundtrack of the Little Mermaid and may or may not be Batman (shhh, it may or may not be a secret…) To find out more about this lovable broccoli-muncher give him a follow on Twitter@CheyneA

Appreciate a Mate is an app all about positivity (and you guessed it) appreciation. The app has been created by some of the most active civilians of our online world – young people, as part of the Safe and Well Online research project, in association with the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre. Young people much like the civilians of Gotham City have almost grown accustomed to cyberbullying and online negativity. If any age group in our world needs a little hope it’s young people. Appreciate a Mate allows young people to share positivity and show appreciation to their friends through the form of gorgeously rendered images and messages.

These pictures can then be uploaded and shared 49

BANKSTOWN SCC Meet 3 out of the 7 members of the Bankstown Student Campus Council.

Their job is to engage with, listen to, and advocate for the Bankstown UWS Campus student body.

Daniel Griffin is doing a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and a Sub-Major in Arabic. He's the President of the Muslim Students' Association (MSA) this year. He converted to Islam in 2005. He is now the Clubs Representative Member on the Bankstown Student Campus Council.

Ayman Awad is in his 3rd Year, studying Primary Teaching at Bankstown campus. He joined the Student Campus Council in 2013, and is currently the Vice-Chair/ Welfare and Legal Assistance Officer for Bankstown Student Campus Council and a member of the Student Representative Council.

“My objectives that I hope to achieve by the end of the year is to fix the parking crisis on all campuses. To bring down food prices and ensuring the services of students are met with efficiency. I hope to meet you all one day, and work together to safeguard a comfortable environment for all students at UWS.”

UWS Careers: 20 Years of Internships !

Internships aim to connect students like you with employers in your field. Over the last 20 years, we have partnered up with companies such as Penrith City Council, Stralia Web and Nexbuild by providing them with the ideal candidates; interns from UWS.

Many students focus on their course work and neglect gaining work experience. Employers place significant value on candidates who bring not only an academic qualification, but industry-relevant knowledge and experience. The Internship Program allows you to combine knowledge with practical work experience by placing you in a real-life professional environment.

You liaise with colleagues and clients, contribute to business ideas and learn from industry experts, propelling you on your career path. You have the choice of degree-related work experience either on or off-campus.

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Previous intern, Lisa Ladau, pictured, studied at Colo High School then graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (International Business). Lisa interned at Goldfield Fragrances Private Ltd, 2009-2010, and is now Assistant Brand Manager at Energizer.

“My internship still gets a ‘wow’ at interviews! It was a fantastic opportunity which I'm grateful that the University offered. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to stand out!”

By Katie Roskolnikova

Ian Escandor, also known as Esky, is a progressive Hip Hop artist, community development worker, and student activist. He is doing his Bachelor in Community Welfare and a Sub-Major in Peace & Development. He is currently serving as the Secretary/ Education Rights Officer on the Bankstown Student Campus Council and a member of the Student Representative Council.

Other members: Mia Sanders, Marlene Carrasco, Helal Said, Jade McGinty Summary of previous meeting • BSCC are seeking candidates to fill vacant SCC positions • BSCC have committed to engaging with and working with campus residents to revisit the fire alarm system • BSCC opposes the closure and defunding of the Badanami Centre, and urges the university to reconsider its position and rectify the decision.

• BSCC will propose to UWS Bankstown Campus to make bathroom 1.1.218 a gender neutral bathroom • BSCC will form an Education Action Group • BSCC have allocated $300 to a women’s access to education awareness campaign • BSCC will address issues concerning non-working student lockers

SRC UPDATE Jarrod Bradley is a third year medical student at UWS, obsessed with students’ rights and fighting for these as your SRC President in 2015 The Student Representative Council (SRC) here at UWS is a strange beast.

We’re a group of dedicated students intensely consumed with representing the best interests of the students of UWS! To make sure this can happen the SRC is made up from a diverse group of people, mainly campusdiverse; 3 people from each Student Campus Council (SCC) come together to form a 15-person army, ready to fight for your rights and justice as students.

Some issues we’re trying to tackle this year are: • Getting UWS students access

to Concession Opal Cards • Continue to advocate against

changes such as

Fee Deregulation • Advocating for changes to the

Special Consideration and

Review of Grade processes • Advocating for changes and

transparency in UWS complaints • PARTIES!!!

What better way to end the semester than with parties???

I personally feel these issues are some we need to tackle in 2015, but the whole point of the SRC is to get your opinions and ideas about what we should advocate for, so throughout the year make sure you consult your local Student Campus Council and let them know so then the SRC knows and can take action!

I also encourage all UWS students to get involved with student representation. I have enjoyed my short time as the SRC President and I hope this year the SRC is a representative body UWS students can be proud of, I’ve also immensely enjoyed working as the Chair, Secretary, and Clubs & Societies Representative for the Campbelltown Student Campus Council (CSCC) over the last two years, and highly recommend passionate students get involved!

To get involved in the Councils and the SRC, vote in the by-elections, OR a great way to contact us and let us know about issues affecting you and other UWS students is via email at: src@lists.uws.edu.au

The current SRC is: President – Jarrod N. Bradley Vice President – Helal Said Secretary – Frank Palmos • Campbelltown: o Mahmoud Al-Dabbas o Mathew Bright • Bankstown: o Ayman Awad o Ian Escandor • Penrith: o David Fornaro o Tajinder Kumar • Parramatta: o Hannah Mograby o Tahani Husari o Marija Yelavich • Hawkesbury: o Stephanie Oliphant o 2x vacant positions!!

CAMPBELLTOWN SCC

hawkesbury scc

The Campbelltown Student Campus Council (CSCC) is a representative body acting on the Campbelltown campus – we’re like the mini-SRC of Campbelltown. We are here to fight for your rights and have fun! We have a host of events planned throughout the year to get you guys involved in the life of the campus and as a way for you guys to talk to us about what issues you have.

We’ve already had a few students give us feedback for UWS that we’re working towards, including the lack of bubbler facilities on campus, and it would be great to hear what else we can do to improve Campbelltown!

Stephanie Oliphant, HSCC Chair & acting Secretary Hawkesbury Student Campus Council (HSCC) has been off to a rough start this year. With only one member the HSCC has been struggling along, but we have had quite a few students nominate to join the Council during the by-elections.

With more members on the Council we will be here to host more events and take feedback on any campus issues and provide a better service to Hawkesbury students than previous years!

Currently the HSCC is just me, Stephanie Oliphant, acting as the Chair and Secretary, but we have open positions for five General Members, an International Officer, a Postgraduate Officer, a Residential Officer, and two Clubs & Societies Representatives.

The current CSCC includes: • Chair – Jarrod N. Bradley • Vice Chair – Mathew Bright

• Secretary – Josephine Canceri • General members: o Mahmoud Al-Dabbas o Nawid Zazy o 1 position vacant • Residential Officer: Shireen Gujral • International Officer: Ali Khan • Postgraduate Representative:

1 position vacant • Clubs & Societies

Representatives: o Harrison Wong o 1 position vacant If you’d like to get in touch with us please email Campbelltown_scc@ lists.uws.edu.au. There are always opportunities to get involved with us as non-voting members or filling the current vacant positions!

email Hawkesbury_scc@lists.uws.edu.au.

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wake up on campus! apply now for 2015 Stay on-campus at UWS Village and walk to your class in a matter of minutes!

Fully furnished apartments

Exclusive events

24 hour support

A fantastic social scene

Wireless internet

Student lounges and study areas

Make your online application today, visit:

uwsvillage.com.au

on-campus student accommodation email uws.village@clv.com.au

Social Experiment #9 from The Spy Hey everyone, it’s the UWS Spy here.

I hope everyone had a good holiday.

To celebrate the new semester my friends and I decided to conduct another social experiment. It’s been a while since our last one and things got heated last year as more and more people were becoming aware of our ‘experiments’ – lol haha. We wanted things low-key unlike some of our previous experiments where we had up to 6 or 7 of us which made our test subjects more suspicious. We decided to go with our classical approach using money for our bait. We filled an envelope with $500 in $50 notes.

We included a student card which belonged to one of my friends within the envelope and wrote “money for books” on the envelope and sealed it.

We decided to conduct our experiment near Subway on the Parramatta campus (23/02/15).

It was quite busy so we had to be extra careful. I was sitting down on a seat close to the library, my friends were sitting closer to the money.

We placed the money behind the Sydney tap water dispenser – only people filling up their bottles could see the envelope. We waited for about 20 minutes. Honestly, I didn’t expect anyone to even see it until a nice looking brunette came up to the dispenser and saw the envelope. She picked it up immediately and started to inspect it. She put her bottle back in her bag and started walking toward the back of the auditorium. She sat down on some benches near those massive rusted cylinder things behind the auditorium.

She was on the phone with someone for a couple of minutes then started to further inspect the envelope. She raised it against the sun to see what was inside, aside from the obvious – lol. She ripped open the envelope with her car keys and counted the

money. She actually seemed very happy. In fact, she counted the money for a second time. She then got out her phone and made another call.

She was really happy and we heard her say “Babe, drinks on me Saturday night!”. She tossed the envelope and my friend’s student card in the bin and walked off. As she was walking off, my friend went rifling through the bin trying to get his student card, so if anyone saw a weirdo wearing a suit looking through a bin on campus, it was him – lol haha. She went straight to the UWS Connect book store and picked up a Contracts textbook and another textbook that was for a unit called Professional Responsibility & Legal Ethics. Ironic huh? lol. Anyways, when she was at the counter she decided to pick up a packet of orange tic tacs with a strawberry milkshake.

As the cashier asked for the money which was $271.55 – yep, exact – she pulled out $300 all in fifties: My fifties!

I immediately intercepted her.

I kindly asked her to step aside. One of my friends, the one who was fishing through the bin earlier, lol, kept the cashier busy with some pointless questions to get her attention off me and this brunette chick. So anyways, after pulling this chick to the side, I asked her about the $500 that she found. She was a little confused at first but she denied it, saying that she doesn’t know what we’re going on about. She said that the money in her wallet is from work and told us to “go fuck ourselves” after a few times asking her. I questioned her again, and told her that honesty will go a long way. After countless failed attempts of asking her nicely to either give back the money or be truthful, I then decided to show her two photos my friend took while observing the money – one of her picking up the envelope and the other of her placing the money in her wallet. This chick

immediately knew what was going on.

She asked me if I was the “Spy”. She said she had her suspicions near the car park and said that “I shouldn’t rat students out”.

I told her that dishonesty is not an attractive trait to have, even though we both study law – hahaha. I explained to her the importance of being truthful and pointed out one of the textbooks she was holding, the legal ethics one. I explained something called the Solicitors’ Rules and told her that if she did something like this to her client she could loose her practising licence. She looked very annoyed with me, but in the end I told her that she basically took $500 that didn’t belong to her. She read what was on the envelope, which was sealed may I note again. Inside the envelope was a student ID card which she could’ve easily given to UWS Security to track down the student and return the money to the rightful owner.

What did she do? She went and spent the money, or was about to, on not only books but tic tacs and a fucking milkshake with someone else’s hard earned money! Maybe ‘that’ student who lost $500 didn’t have another $500 sitting around to pay for books.

Maybe that $500 was an entire week’s worth of hard labor for that individual.

And for anyone to steal it without any regard for the other person is just completely messed up. Anyways, she told me that she will not steal or be dishonest. She apologised twice and went about her day. Let this be a lesson for everyone, not just in our university institution. Don’t steal anything that doesn’t belong to you.

I hope everyone has an awesome semester ahead of them! Be on the look out for more social experiments J - UWS Spy

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Jarrod’s Health Corner Hey, hey, I’m Jarrod and I currently have a PASS average in my medical course, which I believe makes me 100% qualified to give out medical advice on a daily basis. My Nanna always asks me questions about her health like I’m already a doctor and she’s not dead yet – AND SHE’S 90! So, you should give it a go too!

To Jarrod, I’ve been using a steroid cream on my back for a rash I’ve had for a few months now, but it doesn’t seem to be getting better. I’m wondering if my doctor is treating me correctly and I want to know how to get rid of this rash as soon as possible. Can you please help me???

Sincerely, Always Itchy Hey Always Itchy, It’s so bad to hear you’re scratching at your back all the time but thanks so much for giving me a go.

Unfortunately, I’ve done a Google search and your GP might have been wrong!! From what I know it sounds like you have Liver Disease or Kidney Failure.

You should probably tell your loved ones goodbye and write up your will. But good news is you don’t have to spend more money on that steroid cream anymore, as you can’t be itchy when you’re dead.

Hope things get better, Love, Jarrod Hi Jarrod, I’ve been sick for a few days now; I think I might have caught a bug eating at the dodgy restaurant down the road. This has come at the worst time as I have three assignments due on Monday. Is there any secret you have to avoiding being or getting better really fast?

Sincerely, Queasy Peasy Hey Ms Peasy, I have cited the literature and CONGRATULATIONS, looks like you’re pregnant. This is great news for you and hopefully it gets you out of doing those pesky assignments! Can’t wait to help deliver the little guy next year, maybe you can name him after me as a tribute. ;) Cheers, Jarrod 54

Dear Jarrod, I’ve been feeling a bit run-down over the past few days; I’ve been sneezing, having some fevers and sweats, and I’ve just been generally unwell.

But it seems to have compiled together and now I can’t even make it to my exam this afternoon.

What should I do?

Thanks, Sniffles Hi Sniffles, I think you should get out of bed and go to your exam. If I took a day off from the hospital with those symptoms they would fail me on attendance. It really just sounds like you need to drink a glass of cement and harden up.

Hopefully you can stop being such a hypochondriac soon, Jarrod

Born & raised in Campbelltown, Jarrod Bradley is a third year medical student working at Campbelltown Hospital. A man of many hats, Jarrod is the SRC President, CSCC Chair, and an Editor of the amazing CrUWSible in 2015. Jarrod enjoys long walks on the beach, romantic dinners, and hearing about your strange illnesses.

Send your issues to Jarrod’s Health Corner at crUWSible@uws.edu.au

Dear Guru Ever since I started dating (name withheld) from my (name withheld) tute, my GPA has taken a nose dive. Not only this, but (name withheld) has borrowed my old assignments to help her through the course. I feel used on a number of levels but I am willing to put up with it, because she is my first girlfriend and there are some obvious, less intellectual benefits. Am I a doormat or a nice guy ?

Relationship means commitment, which means they are to last forever. Luckily before you tie the knot and have your freedom exchanged for another person, there is the opportunity to decide who is worth exchanging it for.

Being a nice guy is one thing, but being unhappy while dating will only promise a miserable future.

If you feel like a doormat now, imagine what it will be like down the path. Your GPA will hit rock bottom and later you’ll regret being alive. Make your choices early and take control of your destiny. At least now you have experience, so that’s another benefit.

Aries: As soon as your eye is on someone, your world flares up. To attract love you must have balance in all aspects of life.

Becoming too obsessive can be creepy.

Taurus: Your most attractive features are your looks and wealth. Love comes most easily in secrecy and sensuality. Visit places even your closest friends will never know and maybe you’ll even end up in a secret affair.

Gemini: Your love interests jump from person to person. To increase your love prospects, be courageous, kind and enjoy your freedom. You will meet someone from another culture, or place of intellect such as UWS! Mingle!

Cancer: You are shy and emotional and this may leave you in the crowd. Be with that person you love and never give up on them. Once you’ve found the one you will never want to let them go.

TheLove Guru Hey Guru I have given up on human relationships altogether and now love a Shit Poo (part Shitsu, part Poodle). Problem is, I take her for walks and she attracts nicelooking guys who want to chat with me about her. Is it me or Jennifer (the Shit Poo) they want to talk to? I don't feel ready for this.

Similar interests bring people together. No doubt dog walkers would love to chat with other dog walkers. But the dog is only half the interest. There is also the walker. Maybe this is the time for two people with common interests to finally hit it off. I mean, is it not the similarities between two people that makes them made for each other?

Perhaps they have also given up on human relationships and you’re all they need to believe in love again.

Leo: You love to organise parties and social events in hope you will catch your soulmate. Approach life with a shock factor. Take chances, and maybe do something charitable.

Virgo: Your charm comes from your sensibility and purity. Let your creativity take over. Be a dreamer. Write poetry.

Spend time alone walking along the beach or visiting an art gallery – love will meet you there.

Libra: You are calm and organized but love never comes. Be fiercer. If you want someone, go to them. Put on your best makeup and hairdo, and hit them up like there’s no tomorrow.

Scorpio: Stop being so guarded. Enjoy life’s pleasures. Invest in your looks. Necklaces will do you great. The more money you have, the more desirable Scorpio becomes.

Sagittarius: You are very open in terms of

love. Make sure you meet as many people as possible. Be friendly and never hold grudges. Life is a game. Enjoy it and love will find you in the fun.

Capricorn: You have a high standing in society and you think this will bring you love, but love is actually about feelings.

Instead of using your achievements to attract, prove you have a caring heart.

Show some emotion.

Aquarius: You have a strong sense of community and a unique personality.

Be bold and speak up. Organise parties, be the first to shake hands and be extravagant. Once you become the centre of attention, romance will come.

Pisces: You are the romantic dreamer that waits for love, but this will lead you nowhere. Be more structured with your life. Be modest, take care of your health and move away from the fantasy world.

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crUWSible Writing Prize Go on, stir the pot !

ENTRIES BY November 10

UWS student newspaper wants your stories, articles, observations, ramblings, investigative journalism, opinion pieces, reportage, photo essays, artwork, midnight rants, fiction and poems.

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