Interp O-Week Edition 2015

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Hello there first year students and welcome to what we can only assume will be the best few years of your life.

As you will see by reading on, Bathurst has a lot to offer you and you’ll soon feel comfortable enough to call it your home away from home. You’ll soon find a sense of calm in the fresh country air and familiarity in the gridlock roadways of Bathurst’s city central.

While the first couple of weeks may feel a little daunting, take comfort in the fact that these people that you’re living with will soon become your family, that is after you accidentally see them naked, share you’re food from the same bowl and cry in someone’s bed after a drunken escapade.

There are a few things that you need to know about living here on campus, so we’ve compiled you a little survival guide to ensure you float on through semester one with ease.

1. Learn the lyrics to ‘Dancing in the

4. Walk to the shower in your towel. It’s

Moonlight’, it’s somewhat of an anthem

silly to try and change into fresh clothes

here.

in that tiny cubicle and you’ll definitely get the cuff of your PJ pants wet. No one

2. Get behind your residency. You’ll soon

cares if you’re in a towel.

be thrown into sporting competitions, dance off nights and jelly wrestling events

5. Don’t have sex with anyone in your

and the way to fully enjoy yourself is to

dorm unless you think you might want to

100% barrack for anyone that lives in the

marry them and have their babies. It just

same res as you. Camaraderie goes a long

gets super messy and someone’s feelings

way.

are bound to get hurt. Plus, watching them bring someone else home three days

3. If you start feeling sick, go to a Doctor

later will be utterly heart breaking.

right away! Colds spread through your dorm like wild fire, if you don’t fall victim

6. Don’t be poo shy. If you waste the first

to the ‘fresher flu’ you’ve really dodged a

semester doing your number two’s at

bullet. For the sake of others, check your-

midnight, you’ve really only let yourself

self before you wreck yourself.

down. Everyone shits, let’s be real.

2 7. Don’t be too precious about your appear-

9. Don’t let FOMO get the best of you. If you’re

ance. If you feel the need to spend forty minutes

can’t stop thinking about an assessment that’s

getting ready every morning just to enter the

due, chance is your neg vibes will turn into a

common room, you’ll be sadly disappointed to

neg night out. So don’t be afraid to stay in, do

see that no one really cares what you’re wearing.

work and let loose the next night. Plus, savor the

Bathurst is very chilled, you can wear your ugg

serenity for the few hours your dorm is out….

boots to Woolworths for God sake.

it’s rare.

8. Know the good places to eat. If you’re after

10. And lastly, READ. Read notices. Read your

a scrumptious lunch, give the Hub on Kepple

emails. Read your readings. Read your

street a go. They’re always a winner. You should

timetable. But most importantly, read

definitely check out the new kid on the block

Interp. It’ll keep you up-to-date and entertained

too, ‘Tommy’s’, which offers a great range of tex-

monthly. Plus, the mag makes the perfect paper

mex style food for super affordable prices and I

airplane or dinner placemat. What can we say-

can tell you first hand that the food is to die for,

we’re here to help.

perfect for a hang over cure! ‘Tommy’s’ is located above Annie’s Ice-cream on George street. Also, Church Bar for happy hour cocktails and Sunday half price pizza- it’s a no brainer.

Happy O-week, happy bonding, happy learning, happy reading,

KATE & TAHLIA

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our team What is your uni-new years resolution?

Kate Neilson, Editor “Go to the FREE uni gym more than once a semester”

Tahlia Sarv, Editor “To nanna nap.... whenever I please.... guilt-free”

Francesca Wallace, Art & Design Sophie Brennan, Advertising

“To not eat pasta three meals a day, 7 days a week. This has happened”

“To remember to answer these questions before someone has to make them up for me”

Eliza Edwards, Writer

Keira Jenkins, Writer

“Get more zzz at night, rather than catching up on sleep in class. Maybe I need more coffee....?”

“Stress less and drink more tea”

Jacob Gillard, Writer “Start writing One Direction fan fiction”

4 Claire West, Writer Louisa Irvine, Writer

“To stop getting library fines after borrowing 20 books”

“Drink less Passion Pop. Enough said”

Rachel Freeman, Writer “To binge watch less 90’s TV shows and study more”

Floyd Cush, Writer

Erika Vass, Writer

“I’ll be shredding for Cindy Ball. #aestheticsbrah”

“To make long lasting memories with my beloved friends”

Contributors Liv Matis

Michael Jago

Penny Gleeson

“To avoid hypocrisy and do all the things I have told the first years to do in my article”

“To stop forcing exchange students to eat Vegemite”

“I’m dedicating this whole year to being sassy, fierce and successful”

Emily Whyte

Caitlin Taylor

Georgia Thompson

“To continue writing One Direction fan fiction”

“Ensuring the staff at Gloria Jeans continue to know my name and order. #soyvoltage”

“Cook more sweet things”

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contents Page 7: Why 2015 will be the best year of your life. By Floyd Cush Page 9: Quiz - Which res do you really belong to? By Jacob Gillard Page 13: I know what you missed last summer. By Caitlin Taylor Page 15: How to bend and stretch your money when you don’t have, well, any. By Keira Jenkins Page 17: The what-to-do’s of Bathurst. By Penny Gleeson Page 19: The fresher five. By Liv Matis

Page 21: Three weeks in Bollywood. By Emily Whyte

Page 25: Downtown vs #campuslyfe. By Louisa Irvine Page 27: Sports and Clubs at CSU. By Michael Jago Page 29: Did I say that out loud? Embarassing moments from Australian parliament. By Eliza Edwards

Page 32: It’s ok to listen to other bands. By Erika Vass Page 33: How to cure a hangover, with science. By Rachel Freeman Page 35: Coping with homesickness. By Claire West Page 37: Five tips to eating delish, healthy and cheap at uni. By Georgia Thompson Page 41: Horoscopes. By Jacob Gillard.

Why 2015 will be the best year of your life What Bathurst has to offer that other university towns do not

by Floyd Cush

8 Congratulations. If you're reading this it means

every chance to be a part of the amazing campus

you've made it in to CSU. I want to make you aware

community. Say yes, and you'll have fewer regrets.

right now that this is a very good thing. In fact I would go so far as to say that being here will make

It's not just these aspects that make CSU great;

2015 one of the best years you've ever had. Why is

you'll find that being at a regional university

that? CSU offers a student lifestyle that you won't

actually has many benefits, including smaller class

get almost anywhere else. Why? The large, well

sizes, great support networks, and a less crowded

established on-campus population is a major factor,

campus where you can always find a parking space.

and almost everyone is living away from home. Or

Plus there tends to be less pretentious entitled

maybe it's just because we're a bunch of loose

ass-wipes out here, which is always nice.

sexual deviants. Maybe CSU really stands for Chundering Sexual Undergraduates. I'll let you

But possibly the most exciting thing for many will

decide. I'm also probably in trouble for saying that.

be your newfound independence. Most of you will

This year you will see some crazy shit.

not be from Bathurst and this year will be your first

This may include seeing an actual, still steaming

calls from mother dearest wondering why you

shit in the bathroom sink of The Oxford Hotel (yes

didn't make it home. What's more, you can wear

this actually happened). Otherwise campus life

your killer hangover as a badge of honour, spell-

includes excellent parties, ridiculous amounts of

ing to the world that you're a certified loose-dog

alcohol, friends you'll make for life, spontaneous

(please don't do this).

taste of freedom. You can totally disgrace yourself and end up sleeping on a random lounge-room floor with a goon bag as your pillow, without having to worry about the panicked phone

midnight drives around Bathurst, goon of fortune, dorm bonding, Mount Pan laps, crazy themed

But if you're not a drinker, don't let me put you off

nights, nudie runs, random all-nighters, and much

either; there's plenty of non-alcoholic fun that will

much more.

make your 2015 amazing as well. But I'm a drunk so you'll have to ask someone else.

You'll also discover the many fine establishments Bathurst has to offer for refreshing oneself after a

If you've just moved out of home, 2015 is going to

hard day of study. Your roster will include Cheeky

be a big deal. Parents can be stifling, but this year

Tuesdays at the Kings Hotel, DK night at the Ox or

you can finally be yourself completely and do what-

Eddy on Wednesdays, Uni Bar night on Thursdays,

ever the hell you want. If you want a fresh start,

and plenty more to keep you entertained.

now's your chance because most likely you won't know anyone. Maybe this will be the year you start

There's a mix of country and city kids, bogans,

working towards your dream job as a

hipsters and a colourful array of everything else

journalist, paramedic or teacher. Or maybe this

(just watch out for the theatre/media students,

year is the chance you've been waiting for to un-

avoid eye contact where possible). You'll find

leash your raging homosexuality on the masses.

there's a chance to be involved whatever your

Good for you.

interests are, whether they range from sports, community radio, volunteering, to cask wine a

I say go for it. Let 2015 be the year you don't hold

ppreciation. But just make sure you do get

back. Give everything a red hot crack, be yourself,

involved. 2015 will be what you make of it, so take

be kind, get drunk, get involved, laugh, experiment, learn, explore and enjoy your year at university.

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which res do you belong in?

by Jacob Gillard Each residence on CSU has something different to offer, that many students on each one claim to make it the best above all else. While all residences do a fine job, it isn’t a “one size fits all” scenario, and some people may find themselves uncomfortable or just not feeling the vibe of one particular place. Here at Interp, we’ve gone over every residence with a fine-tooth comb and made selecting the right residence as easy as answering a few questions. Oh, what’s that? You’ve already selected your accommodation? Well, shit, we’re only trying to help. Geez…

1) What have you come to uni to do?

3) Where are you from originally?

A. Study, of course!

A. Overseas, where people don’t drink goon/know

B. Punch durries, sleep.

how to enjoy themselves.

C. See how long you can go without sleeping, but

B. The country, where you did nothing but chug

not doing anything productive with all that extra

rum and fall over yourself for your entire gap year.

time.

C. Sydney’s western suburbs, and the stench

D. Live and breathe sport to the point where it

seems to have come with you apparently.

makes your friends uncomfortable.

D. Nowhere important.

E. Climb you way up the social ladder… I mean

E. Sydney’s eastern suburbs, you posh git.

network…

F. Mildura probably.

F. Definitely not anything to do with your course.

2) What’s your ideal night?

A. 5:30 early bird special with nan at the leagues club and home before The Voice starts.

B. Anything that leaves you with three quarters of a kebab mushed on your forehead by the end of it.

C. A sixteen hour pub crawl that leaves you literally legless, as in a limb needs to be amputated in order for you to survive the aftermath.

D. Sitting around the flat screen with the rentals over a few brewskis, celebrating your biggest sporting achievements in high school.

E. Spending some quality gal times with the besties, gossiping about other girls and then splitting up after midnight to find some poor boy’s soul to harvest.

F. A really cool, #vibey, acoustic chill out sesh where everyone chills out with a few #ciders and #vibes out while listening to Of Monsters And Men, vibes…

4) Dream job that you always thought you were going to do when you were young?

A. Um… the one I’m studying for… that I wasn’t pushed into by my parents at all… duh…

B. Careers haven’t really ever been like, a big “thing” for you.

C. Basically just hoping one day you’d transform into some form of woodland creature.

D. Being one of those sports stars who gets so famous that they can take dump in a hallway and still be able to have a fruitful career commentating on the sport after getting banned for said poo E. Being an interior decorator. The one where you get paid an obscene amount to stick some polaroids and a mood board on someone’s wall and call it a day.

F. A DJ who plays… like… acoustic songs… like a chill dj… yeah… sick…

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5) What’s your favourite film?

A. Pitch Perfect, evidenced by your strange need to

6) What’s something about living at home you think you’d cope without?

play the end medley at every pre-drinks you’ve ever

A. Being around your family all the time, they just

been to.

don’t understand you!!!!!!!

B. Back To The Future, because when you go home

B. Having the house cleaned up every day by your

for the holidays, getting a private toilet all to yourself

mother.

will feel like you’ve stepped through a time machine.

C. Having quiet time to yourself.

C. Alien, just because you’d probably inseminate

D. Clean amenities.

yourself with an extra-terrestrial creature’s seed if it

E. Not worrying about what to have for dinner… or

meant scoring a two-week extension.

lunch… or breakfast…

D. Remember The Titans, because it’s the only thing

F. The bad karmic energies that your hometown

you can remember about PDHPE classes in high

releases into the earth’s atmosphere simply just by

school.

existing.

E. The Lizzie McGuire Movie, because you’re forever working on your vocal chords in the hopes some Italian pop star will randomly ask you to perform with them at a concert.

F. Interstellar, because you barely make any sense but at least you’re good-looking.

7) If you weren’t coming to uni, what do you think you’d be doing instead?

A. A full time HSC Tutor to the kids you just spent

8) Finally, what res did you hope you’d be on?

A. Mature age accommodation.

B. Macquarie Village.

C. John Oxley Village.

D. Anywhere else.

E. You got the one you wanted.

F. Whatever, braw… they’re all the same…

the last five years badmouthing when they walked past you at lunch.

B. Providing inspiration for the guy who did the ciggie butt brain video.

C. Crying to yourself in a booth at Chinese Laundry.

D. Getting out on the FIELDDDDDD with the BOIZZZZZZZ. E. Hairdressing, believe it or not there’s actually a skills shortage for them in metropolitan areas…

F. Applying to compete in “Your Shot” DJ competitions across every state on the East Coast… gotta be in it to win it…

TURN PAGE TO REVEAL ANSWER

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MOSTLY A's = WINDY Homebody? Someone who doesn’t “do” parties? Just a general wet blanket? Welcome to Windy, old pal. A series of cottages, each populated with a small group of like-minded hermits who will probably ditch DK to watch The Block. Just because the people who live here are generally super nice, take care of their belongings and where they live doesn’t mean they don’t suck!

MOSTLY B's = JOV An eclectic bunch, JOV is where people come to graze, play cricket, spit food dye on each other, and generally just do anything that doesn’t relate to their study. Who cares if the hot water, washing machines, electricity, internet and general other necessities just randomly stop for days at a time?

You’ve got a bloody prime plot of grass just waiting for you to crack a tinnie and throw up on, how’s the serenity!?

MOSTLY C's = TOWERS True story, one of my Eglish teachers in high school told me not to apply to live in towers when I was heading out of year 12 because she described them as “rabbit warrens”, a statement that couldn’t be further from the truth. A high-energy bunch living in a series of dark, connected corridors. Students living in Towers can often be found copulating with one another and picking through each other’s leftovers to find their next meal. Wait a minute…

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MOSTLY D's = Diggings If you didn’t get the hint already, Diggings is for those who enjoyed the beep test. In the iconic words of Ricky Bobby, “if you’re not first, you’re last,” and at Diggings if these words aren’t already branded on your skin somewhere before you get there, they’ll probably have the cowpoke ready on arrival. Blame it on the fact they have their own footy ground, but Diggings go a bit OTT on the whole physical activity, but if that’s your thing then I’m sure you’ve already sniffed out your fellow alphas long ago.

To be honest, Mac Ville is a bit of a nonevent… sure, you’ve got heated floors,

MOSTLY E's = macquarie village

the biggest rooms on campus and Foxtel, but what good is it all that when it looks like you live in a giant freight container?

People are meant to live in houses built on bricks and mortar, not this corrugated iron nonsense, how daft. That being said, they’re all super nice, sweet, funny, and will definitely lend you a twenty for the cab home from The Eddy, don’t be afraid to ask! If they don’t spot you, just keep nagging them!!

MOSTLY F's = MTG Look, MTG’s is off the campus map and off the radar as far as I’m concerned. I, and anyone I’ve spoken to, am not entirely sure what you do there, but you guys keep being the best you can be. MTG Fest, a day of #chilling out to #trop and acoustic tunes with a few bevs is pretty fun, so if you’re a social butterfly but can’t handle the perpetual, alcoholic ride through party hell that is Towers, maybe give them a browse.

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I know what you missed last summer

by Caitlin Taylor

The months of October and November 2014 saw the end of a very stressful period for most. Uni exams

were over, the HSC was well and done and it was clear that ahead, lay four blissful months of doing absolutely nothing. The computer came out and the TV series’ began. Let’s face it, this was your time to watch an entire TV series in a week, guilt free all while eating raw cookie dough in bed – bliss.

However, the time for uni is well and truly here again and we all know that while studying, it’s a little more important that you appear to be are up to date with the political goings-on of the world.

But if we’re being honest (and we all know journalism is about honesty… right?), personally I had a much better time binge watching ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ in my bed (#allhailShonda) than keeping up to date with ABC News 24.

But alas, I have been keeping tabs on some of the events of this summer (besides the Sydney Siege because while important, I feel like you all know what happened) and have put together a very brief rundown of the past four months, both on and off Aussie shores to make sure that you can be the smartest and worldliest person in your dorm.

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I am Charlie

Climate Talks

Over the holidays you probably saw a lot of the phrase ‘Je Suis Charlie’ floating around social media, and this is what that was all about. On January 7th this year, two masked gunmen stormed the Paris office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebodo – killing 12. The event was said to be the worst terrorist attack in France since World War Two.

On November 11, China and the US (the world’s top carbon polluters) managed to reach a pretty important landmark agreement on climate change.

This included a commitment from China to stop its emissions increasing by 2030 through the implementation of clean energy as 20% of the countries total energy in the next 15 years. The US also pledged to reduce emissions by 26-28% by 2025. Australia… your move.

The attack was followed by two days of violence across France, bringing the death toll to 17. The following week, al Qaeda’s offshoot in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack.

The War on Terror in Africa Earlier this year the International Committee of the Red Cross warned of the growing humatarian crisis in Nigeria and neighbouring Niger as Boko Haram (Nigeria’s militant Islamist group) continue to carry out attacks, causing tens of thousands to flee. Whilst ISIS has been the main focus of the international eye in recent months in countries such as Iraq and Syria, many are calling Boko Haram the Africa’s Islamic State.

In early January (the same week as the Jihadist attacks in France), the militant group began attacks targeting civilian vigilantes aiding the military in the town of Baga, in the countries Northeast. There has been a large dispute over the death toll from the attacks, while some local officials have cited numbers as high as 2,000; the military puts the numbers closer to 150 – in what many argue was a severe underplaying of the events at hand.

AirAsia and TransAsia flights Between March 2013 and February 2015 there has been seven fatal incidents and accidents involving commercial aircraft. While at home this summer, we saw the two latest instalments in what has been a pretty horrible year in aviation.

In December last year, AirAsia flight QZ8501 plunged into the Java Sea en route from Surabaya to Singapore killing 162. And just last month, TransAsia flight 235 crashed into the Keelung River in Taiwan killing 40 of the 58 passengers and crew on board.

The Abbott chronicles continue In what seems like just yesterday, university students and young adults across the country were outraged as Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey’s first Federal Budget proposed dramatic reforms and cuts to university and higher education. Not happy Jan. But what you may not know is that whilst you were watching ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ the latest episode of ‘Keeping Up With Tony’ saw the Senate shutdown Abbott and Education Minister Christopher Pyne’s push for higher education reform including university deregulation (a.k.a. higher fee’s) Yay for democratic institutions!

Infact, in what was a pretty tough end of the year for our fave PM the government has not only been having a rather difficult time getting any proposed budget measures through parliament, but… fast forward into the New Year and we’ve come to the #libspill.

For a few days in early February we thought Tone might be out, and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull in as the new Prime Minister. In a week that bore alarming similarities to the Rudd-Gillard Labor reshuffle of 2013, many speculated that Mr Abbott’s own party were ready to out him as PM. But alas, after urging his fellow cabinet members to carefully consider their actions, Tony remains the same budgie-smuggling, non-sensical Prime Minister that he was when we elected him… sigh.

So there you have it kids, a quick summary of some semi-important stuff that’s been happening across Australiana and the rest of the world while you’ve been hibernating over tthe last four months.

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How to bend and stretch your money when you haven’t got, well … any

by Keira Jenkins

What is always elusive, never enough and pretends it can get you anywhere? You guessed it, the clink of silver and gold in your pocket and- you hope- the rainbow pieces of plastic with dead people’s faces on them. Money. It passes from hand to hand so easily, especially when you begin to carve out your independence. But, fear not, there’s plenty of money saving techniques that will stop the money disappearing from your wallets… at least they will slow down the disappearing process.

Firstly, let’s talk about food…

It’s a necessity. So, you can’t just stop buying it altogether, but you can easily cut down on its costs. To save money last year, I stopped eating meat. Admittedly, this may be a little drastic for most people. If you can’t give up meaty goodness there’s plenty of other ways to save on your groceries. Buying things like pasta and rice and other non-perishable items in bulk when they’re super cheap is always helpful, or teaming up with your housemates/dormies and splitting the grocery bill will help you save a few bucks a week. Also, eating out or getting maccas all the time may seem cheaper, but it’s really not in the long run. Cook yourself, cook with friends, or learn to cook, to keep a bit of change in your pocket. If you’re lucky enough to be in a catered residence, good for youyou’re covered for most of the week.

Secondly, don’t be scared of preloved stuff…

Vinnies is my heaven. Instead of buying a $30 costume for bar night, go to Vinnies and pay $2or just fill your closet with second hand treasures like I have. Second hand furniture is incredible too- someone has already ‘broken in’ your couch, they’ve sat in it for years for you just so it can be nice and squishy when you buy it. All the squeaks, stains and quirks are just extra character. Revamping an old cupboard or table is one of the most satisfying feelings- oh you like my desk? Yeah, I made it. Pre-loved crockery is a must as well- it’s so expensive when bought new, but from an op shop you can get a casserole dish that looks just like your grandma’s antique one, and for only a fraction of the price.

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Thirdly, keep track of where your money is going…

I understand when you have a big night you may lose track of what you’re spending. I mean, you swear you still had $50 in your pocket but your memory of the night is a bit hazy and you can’t find it anywhere. It happens to everyone but trying to keep track of where it’s all going will help you in the long run.

And lastly, there is always support if you find yourself stuck…

The CSU website has plenty of scholarships on offer that are worth checking out. The Student Liaison Officers are also there to help, with possible emergency loans and food vouchers on offer. These helpful characters can be found in the Rafters building, behind the door that says ‘Student Services’. And seriously, if all else fails, Mum and Dad won’t let you starve, right?

As a student, usually the best thing you can do to become financially independent is find a casual/ part time job.

Here are a few pros and cons:

Pros

o You will make money…MONEY…MONNEEEYYYYY o It’s a great way to meet new people and hopefully make friends o It can be a reprieve from study and a way to get out of the dorm/house

Cons o It can take time away from study which can put pressure on you and some jobs may not cater very well for exams o You may not be able to go home for uni breaks because you have to work o Jobs can be an added stress- especially if you’ve already got heaps on your plate As they say, money makes the world go round, or if you prefer, money talks. But, your almost-in-poverty student years are not made for flashing cash; it’s about learning to be creative with your money. So, good luck to you!

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THE WHAT-TO-DO’S OF BATHURST

by Penny Gleeson

(Also commonly referred to as Bathvegas, Bathganistan or your 2nd home) If you’re wondering why there are a lot of 5th years wandering around campus who should probably be graduated by now, it’s because Bathurst is GREAT, and once you’re here you’ll never want to leave.

Here are some places to get acquainted with from a person who should definitely have left by now…

MOUNT PANORAMA: FREE Now you’ve probably already done a hot lap, but I need to let you know that Bathurst is more than Mount Panorama, and there’s more to do on the mountain than waste half a tank of petrol.

Through the gate at the top of the mount is a campsite with panoramic (duh) views of Bathurst and the surrounding regions. It’s a magical spot to have a picnic in the boot of your car, obviously even better at sun down. If you’re feeling fit you can always conquer the mount and walk around it, but I’ll leave that to you crazy #fitspo people.

annies old fashioned ice cream parlour: $4-6ish

It’s pink, it’s fun, and it’s ice cream! I don’t really know what more you people want. ‘Annies’ is famous in Bathurst because not only does it look like a 1950’s milk bar; it sells delicious, colourful and gluten free ice cream for a reasonable price.

You’ll tell yourself that you can’t possibly eat that much icecream (the servings are huge) but you’ll be surprised by how much you can actually fit in. Come on, spoil your dining hall dinner with me. Sofala gold is the most popular flavour for a reason.

on

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flat rock: FREE Located about a twenty-minute drive from Bathurst, on Mutton Falls road towards Oberon, is a watering hole. I call it that because the water is often so shallow you must sit or roll around to get wet. Please do not expect a substitute for the beach that you miss so

adventure playground: FREE

much, but accept Flat Rock for what it is: a beautiful

Picture the most fun you can have, whilst sober, in

picnic and camping spot that can provide a day of

your weathered old age of twenty, and this place is

water based activities when the central west decides to

it. With slides, swings and the main event, a double

do its thing and get unbearably hot.

flying fox, this joint provides hours of sugar heighted entertainment. Just make sure you go in the afternoon once the real children have left or risk some discon-

other places that recieve honourable mention: kangaroo track

certing death stares from parents- trust me on this, I found out the hard way.

Finding Adventure Playground can be quite tricky, it’s located on Durham St out near the hospital, which is also tricky, because a hospital should not be hard to locate, but you should probably figure out where it is ASAP…just in case.

thursday night karaoke @ the oxford hotel bathurst tenpin bowling Located behind JOV and Macquarie village is a picturesque walking track filled with wildlife. It’s the perfect place to

catch up with friends and bird watch- if you’re into that sort of thing… but it’s the best place to go for a lovely afternoon walk and clear your head a little.

Have you ever dreamt about

singing your drunken heart out to

Situated on Mitre st. They get a mention because they once turned on the disco bowling for me after considerable

an adoring crowd of locals? You

should have, because it’s fabulous!

nagging on a non-disco day.

cowra sunflower fields & echo point, blue mountains Because if you can’t snap your way to social media success with the help of these literally breath taking sites than there’s something wrong with you.

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The

fresher f

By Liv Matis

Define: ‘fresher five’ [fresSHer fiv]

-noun and cardinal number speaking world lia and other parts of the English stra Au in d use nly mo com ion a students an express at 5kg) of weight gained during set ily itar arb at wh me (so t oun that refers to an am first year at university.

Let’s start off by being honest with one another. You most probably will not attempt a 4km run at 6:30 am on a crisp Thursday morning after a huge night out. Nor will you promise to never skip breakfast, consume no more than 1 standard drink per night or rigorously monitor your exact consumption of every vitamin, mineral, vegetable and protein your body needs for optimal functioning. But I’m sure we can compromise, right..?

Five achievable ways to avoid the fresher five (or weaken it’s grasp):

Snack Smarter Instead of decreasing your valuable meal points and increasing your expanded waistline, pre-buy cheaper, healthier snacks from the supermarket. Think: o Edamame o Carrot sticks and hummus o Healthy museli bars Having these on hand means you are much less likely to spend additional money on sugary vending machine snacks in the library at 2am whilst trying to complete an assignment.

The healthy stuff also gives you much more energy over a longer period of time.

Drink Smarter The excessive consumption of alcohol can seriously affect your weight and wellbeing. Though many of you would not consider simply cutting alcohol out of your diet completely, you could try to make some substitutes: o Organic wine vs. goon (less of a hangover) o Vodka soda with fresh lime vs. vodka lemonade (virtually no calories!) o Light beer vs. full strength (it will make a difference over the long run!)

r five

If this llama can run, so can you

Exercise Smarter

Motivation can sometimes be harder to find than Jesus in a crowd of new age Bondi hipsters. We need some new ways to convince ourselves to work out and to ease ourselves into it at uni. Here are some ideas: o Play tennis for FREE at the CSU tennis courts o Get a (cheap) membership to the local pool or pay $4 each time you go. A good way to add variety into your exercise routine. o Sign up to the gym with as many friends as you can convince. Go to the (free) classes if your someone who needs a little extra motivation. o Get involved (and competitive) in dorm sports o Early morning walks around Mount Panorama If weight isn’t enough motivation remember exercise can help you sleep better at night can do wonders for your mental health.

Relax Smarter College life can get incredibly hectic at times as we are constantly invading one another’s spaces.

Make sure you escape the confines of uni every so often. Try: o Have a picnic at Mount Panorama o A tea at The Hub o Drive to the swimming hole at Sofala to rejuvenate and refresh your mind

And finally, some wise words because #inspo…

Rest Smarter Although most of us drink to relax and enjoy ourselves, after five days in a row it may have the opposite effect. Being constantly hung over, exhausted, dehydrated and sleeping in is certainly not how all our ‘sober’ time should be spent. Remember you are partying to have fun, not because you have to! Sometimes you may need to listen to your body and skip that one night out to let your body repair itself. Try to have some Hydralyte and Berocca on hand when you need that extra energy and re-hydration kick.

“

To insure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life.” ~William Londen

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22

THREE WEEKS IN

bollywood

22

22

I

In amongst all our hard work, we were able to explore the

India I was a little scared. Okay, more like, ‘just watched

city of Mumbai on the weekends which included plenty

paranormal activity all by myself in my all of a sudden

of street market shopping, a tour of Dharavi Slum (one

gigantic, shadow filled house and now I’m going to have

of the largest slums in the world) and some of the group

learn how to sleep with my eyes open or never sleep again’

even had the chance to fly over to see the Taj Mahal!

kind of scared. You feel me?

We ate authentic Indian cuisine, travelled in style in the

It’s like you can’t escape the horror stories that people tell

auto-rickshaws (or tuk tuks if you will), learnt fully sick

you when you’re planning to travel to a third world coun-

Bollywood dance moves and even rode a rollercoaster in a

try. For example, my next door neighbour, a small, elderly

shopping mall!

German woman, made it her mission to pop around every

Our last week in India and we were able to start making

few days just to tell me to “make sure you get all vaccina-

our own projects. In groups we shot our very own short

tions, including that nasty Ebola!” I’m pretty sure India

films, using the skills we had acquired over the last two

isn’t currently affected by Ebola nor have they developed a

weeks. We were pretty impressed with it all, our projects

vaccine, but bless her socks for caring.

looked super professional and legit.

But you know what? I love a challenge and more impor-

One of the directors, Hansel Mehta, who has directed

tantly, I love Bollywood films and doing a three week

popular Hindi films such as ‘City Lights’ and ‘Shahid’ (I

exchange program through CSU Global, studying at a film

recommend you watch it), viewed our final projects and

school in India with eleven other CSU students was one of

gave us positive feedback, which was probably the cool-

the scariest yet best decisions of my life! That, and

est thing that’s ever happened to me. You know, that and

purchasing a selfie stick.

obviously buy a selfie stick. It’s like Mozart listening to you

Over the three weeks, studying at the Digital Academy in

play chopsticks on piano and giving you feedback so you

Mumbai, we learnt about the film making process includ-

can go on and one day be able to play his symphony no.

ing hands-on workshops in cinematography, film & TV

41 (I hear it’s a banger).

editing, screenplay writing and acting. We were able to

The entire program was one of the most enriching expe-

work with professional cameras and lights as well as work-

riences of my life! I learnt so much about the Bollywood

ing in sound studios and even a dubbing studio.

industry as well as learning about India itself. I would

The first two weeks were all about understanding the

highly recommend doing this program to anyone who is

history of the Indian film industry and learning valuable

interested in the film industry. If you’re interested in this

information about working in the industry itself. We even

program or any of the other amazing exchange pro-

went to live film shoots and sets, as well as meeting pro-

grams CSU has to offer, feel free to contact CSU Global

fessional cinematographers, production designers, editors,

coordinator Louise Harberecht on 6338 4621 or email

actors and even award-winning Hindi Film directors.

lhaberecht@csu.edu.au. Who knows, maybe you could be

Basically, we worked with the big dogs of the Bollywood

picked up to be the next Bollywood star!

’m not going to lie, when I first considered traveling to

film industry and got first hand experience of what it’s like working in the industry. Let me tell you, it’s pretty damn

by Emily Whyte

cool.

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“The entire program was one of the most enriching experiences of my life! I learnt so much about the Bollywood industry as well as learning about India itself"

22

25

This is a problem that every student entering the world of university must answer: where should they live? This really is a classic debate; a down town lifestyle or living it up on residence.

downtown vs #campuslyf

by Louisa Irvine

Regardless of your stance on the topic, there are definitive benefits and downsides to both situations.

Cons: o Absolutely no privacy. Say goodbye to peace and quiet, and just forget ‘alone time’. Although you have your own bedroom, bathrooms are shared and there are people everywhere you turn. Unless you have the confidence of a Calvin Klein model, it’s time to always remember a towel and ditch those nudie runs from the shower to your room. o Limited space. As a Towers girl, I know the struggles of living in a shoe box.

Your wardrobe is no longer a space large enough that it could be a secret entrance

ON CAMPUS Pros: o Proximity. Living on-campus means everything is so accessible. The library is only a walk away (perfect for last minute 2AM cramming sessions), tutorial rooms and lecture halls are literally right on your doorstep. o Social aspect. So. Many. People. This part of residence life is hard to ignore. It’s such a social environment with something always going on.

It’s super easy to make friends, and there are plenty of activities to be involved in. o Simplicity. In reality, living on campus is just a glorified boarding school. Everything is organised for you. You don’t have to worry about utilities (everything is bundled together in one payment, how easy?!), cooking- for those catered students, as well as things like cleaning bathrooms and other tedious chores.

to Narnia, but instead something that can barely handle all the various coats needed to survive the Bathurst winter. o Too much partayyy. FOMO (Fear of missing out), is a legit problem. Here’s the situation – you are intent on staying in your dorm and studying, you have a massive assignment due at the end of the week that you really need to ace. Oh, what’s that? Do I hear music? Next thing you know you’re too many tequila shots down and on your way to the Ox. What even is life.

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OFF CAMPUS Pros:

Cons:

o Independence. No more rules for you to follow, my

not involved in as many activities, thus making it harder

friend! It’s a free world, and you can do what you want to. Living down town provides you with freedom that students living on res don’t experience. o Space and privacy. Off-campus accommodation means you will much likely have an actual decent sized bedroom, with more than enough space for important things like, uh, storage. Plus, you will have far more privacy/alone time than dorm life. Winning! o Sense of responsibility. Having to actually develop organisational skills such as paying utility bills/rent, cooking, grocery shopping and cleaning will help you out in ways you wouldn’t think. You’re probably better at time budgeting, too!

o Isolation. Living off campus can mean that you feel disconnected from the university life, as you’re probably to make friends and feel that sense of community that you get from living on a residence. o Pricing. Now that you have to pay a lease as well as utility, food, cleaning supplies, furniture, appliances and other things for around the house, the costs can quickly stack up. o Distance from uni. Luckily Bathurst isn’t that big of a place, so the drive to uni wouldn’t be too far or too built up from traffic. But that extra 10 minutes in the morning can still make a difference, plus who wants to deal

Interp spoke with a few students who have experienced both the highs and lows of on and off campus life:

Katie Schwab, 3rd year:

Jessica Stephens, 4th year: “Socially on campus its

better and you can literally wake up 15 mins before your class and still make it, but it’s hard to study with lots of distractions and dining hall has its bad days. It’s definitely quieter downtown and you can do your own thing and have a double bed and your own bathroom, but you miss out on the social side of on-campus and you have to clean your own bathroom and buy all your furniture.”

Overall: “On-campus for sure”

“Ok, living on campus definitely has its perks such as accessibility to campus resources like the library, classes and meeting up with lectures. You also feel a greater sense of community living on campus with res life and it’s a hell of a lot easier to make friends!! Living on campus though means you can get easily distracted from study and can get caught up in the social life a bit, it can be a bit hard when you want your own space or if you need to do work and there’s always someone making noise. Living off-campus is a perk for that because you have the opportunity to make a bigger space your own.

Think that I learnt more life skills off campus though only because I had to, like how to pay a bill or remember to take out the big bins for collection and stuff like that.”

Overall: “I think that for your first and maybe second year it’s better for you to live on-campus because you have the opportunity to establish a friendship group.”

Seal Seiler, 3rd year: Upside of being on-campus is lots of activities and people around. Upside of off-campus is your own space with people you know and enjoy living with. Downside of on-campus is the amount of people and not knowing who you maybe in a dorm with, and off-campus’ downside is how far it is from uni.

Overall: “I much prefer off campus.”

27 Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on which side of the fence you’re on, I decapitated our opponents with the frisbee and then had to move on to another sport. But hey, at least I was getting a taste of everything!

The basketball court was close by and being a strapping 150cm, I was quickly invited to join. This was going well until I abseiled up a team member only to plummet to the ground, breaking my pinkie finger. When my finger gets better I’m going to join the Adventure Club, I mean what could go wrong? Finn and Jake will surely have my back?

Sports & Clubs at CSU

By Michael Jago

If you’re into wizardry I hear there was a Quidditch club last year. I never did see them play anywhere around campus and the whole thing was shrouded in mystery. I guess that muggles like myself can’t see them anyway.

So while my stints amongst the CSU’s sporting groups may have been brief, it just goes to show that there’s

One of the best things to do, in order to get the most out of

a plethora of options out there for you to try. Getting

your university experience, is to join a club or try out for a

into a club or playing a sport that you’re passionate

sporting team. The uni has heaps to offer with clubs of all

about (or even want to learn) is a great way to ease

sorts and I’m here to break them down for you.

yourself into campus life and its good to have something to look forward to each week, not including bar

Everyone knows that one of the best ways to make new

nights of course!

friends is through casual competitive sports. Make sure you remember to shower though, because if you’re oozing and

For additional information the student liaison officer,

reeking with sweat the ‘making friends’ thing might be a little

Jean Ryan is available at jeryan@csu.edu.au

tough. Trust me I’d know. When trying my hand at tennis last year, I said to a perfect stranger, “You smell like my new best friend.” As you could assume, that didn’t work out so well.

Lucky for me, the tennis courts are free to use for students and open day and night, so I could try and find myself another partner.

Then you’ve got the soccer team. Not only is soccer a great team sport, but the training also helped me to outrun my ‘extennis-almost-best-friend’ when I decided to give ‘Ultimate Frisbee’ a go.

Dates to remember: 24/2/15 – Information about all the various sport clubs at 2pm from club executives.

11/3/15 – Club day outside the library on the lawn. Come along and check out all the student clubs and guilds, don’t forgot to bring some money (most clubs are cheap though). Not the sporty type? Not to worry, there are plenty of other options out there for you.

29

Whether they're downright funny or cringeworthy, politicians provide some quality entertainment with unintentional faux pas, usually when journalists catch them off-guard and unprepared.

Before the stellar advent of social media, it was harder to capture a political gaffe and share it with the world. Now cameras and recording devices keep track of every word our pollies say in the public eye and their slip ups will be shared and scrutinised for a time afterwards.

Nowhere are faux pas more dangerous than in the political sphere, where deviating from a carefully crafted speech can mean damage to a political campaign, or reputation.

Let's be fair, no one is immune to blurting out the wrong thing at inappropriate times and occasionally our brains fail to filter things. But it is up to those who choose the public life to respond sensibly, even without a pre-prepared script.

Here are nine times we were there to pull our pollies up on their mistakes:

9. Tony 'Winky' Abbott, 2014 On talkback radio in May last year, it appeared to slip Tone's mind that his interview about responding to the budget was also being filmed.

So when the station received a call from a pissed-off pensioner who also works on an adult sex line, no amount of response-training by spin doctors could have prepared our PM for the situation. (But general consideration and empathy should have had some influence?)

'Gloria' prefaced her concerns about the incoming $7 few on GP visits by saying: "I'm a 67-year-old pensioner with three chronic incurable medical conditions... and I work on an adult sex line to make ends meet. That's the only way I can do it."

Abbott reacted immediately to her occupation by winking slyly at radio host Jon Faine, a response which was aptly labelled 'dirty' and 'creepy' on Twitter. *Shudder*

8. Kevin ‘Happy Little Vegemite’ Rudd, 2013 It was hard to keep up with who was Prime Minister from Kevin ‘07 to the Julia Gillard years and back to Rudd in 2013. And it seems even Kev got a bit confused at times as to what his position was inside the Labor Party.

In an ABC radio interview back in 2013, the then-Foreign Minister was asked about recent polls showing he would be more successful if he were to lead Labor into the election. He replied: “You know what? I’m a happy little vegemite being Prime Minister.”

Erm, you’re not PM right now, Kevin. He later blamed jet lag for the gaffe and ended up resuming his leadership anyway, before a decisive defeat in the September 2013 election.

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Did I say that out loud?

Embarassing moments from Australian politics

By Eliza Edwards

7. Tanya ‘Africa’s a 6. ‘Head bobbing’ Country’ Plibersek, Abbott, 2011 2014 But for every silly thing said by a politician, Abbott As a foreign affairs spokeswoman, there is a level

seems hell-bent on shirtfronting their efforts and do-

of expectation that Tanya Plibersek knows what's

ing one better. And sometimes silence speaks louder

going on in the world. But in September last year,

than words.

she mistakenly called Africa a country, instead of

After senselessly commenting "shit happens" on the

a continent, when criticising the government's $7

death of a soldier in Afghanistan, Abbott was given

billion cut to foreign aid.

the chance to explain his choice of words in a Seven

"Africa is one of the countries that had suffered

News interview.

most from these cuts to the aid budget," she said.

But he couldn't. He simply froze and nodded his

Whoops!

head, saying nothing for 24 excruciating seconds. Oh

She took the hiccup in her stride and put the heat

dear.

back on the Coalition by saying: "I'd be more embarrassed about cutting $118 million in aid to Africa." Touché!

5. Julia ‘Takes a tumble’ Gillard, 2012 I'm sure I speak for most ladies when I say walking in high heels is not a fun time and we have all awkwardly rolled an ankle or fallen flat on our faces while attempting the feat.

Former PM, Julia Gillard was at an event at the Gandhi memorial in India when her heel became "embedded" in soft grass and she fell, quite spectacularly, to the ground.

Unfortunately for Jules G, the tumble was captured by dozens of film crews and thousands of people had a giggle at her expense as the video went viral on YouTube.

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4. Joe ‘poor people don’t drive cars’ Hockey, 2014 Treasurer Joe Hockey got into hot water last year after suggesting “the poorest people either don’t have cars or don’t drive very far.”

He even tried to support his claims with Australian Bureau of Statistics data, but the statement was considered insensitive by, well, pretty much everyone.

Cue the collective ‘doh’ from Hockey’s PR crew.

2. Barack ‘fed up’ Obama, 2011 Aussie politicians aren’t alone in occasionally forgetting themselves when surrounded by media.

A private bitching sesh between former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy and US President, Barack Obama was inadvertently broadcast to journalists and contained snide comments about Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I cannot stand him, he’s a liar,” Sarkozy said. While Obama replied, “You’re fed up with him? I have to deal with him even more often than you.”

The statements were heard prior to a media conference at the G20 summit in Cannes in November, 2011 and caused tension between the trip throughout the summit. Awkward.

3. Jacqui ‘Well hung’ Lambie, 2014 You wouldn’t be mistaken for thinking we keep Jacqui Lambie around for her entertaining qualities.

The former Palmer United Party Senator and now independent pollie, lacks a bit of a filter and there is something off-putting about her blatant honesty.

When asked a personal question in a radio interview about what she was looking for in a man, she wasn’t sentimental.

“They must have heaps of cash and they have got to have a package between their legs,” she said.

A caller then phoned to express an interest in her request, to which Lambie cut to the chase asking, “Are you well hung?” Alrighty then!

1. Tony ‘knightmare’ Abbott, 2015 Finally, the government promised a clean slate for 2015, scrubbing a few barnacles off the Team Australia boat (although I thought we had an aversion to boats?)

But less than a month into the year, Abbott made a poor judgement call to knight a man who was already a Prince, husband to the Queen of England, a Lord High Admiral of the Royal Navy, amongst other things. I’m sure he’s super excited to add ‘Sir’ to his 28-word title.

The decision was met with a collective ‘what the f**k?’ from the entirety of Australia, including the most conservative political commentators. Could Abbott have not thought a little bit harder about someone more deserving?

So 2015 is off to a roaring start of funny and cringe-inducing political gaffes. Tony Abbott might still be at the helm of the Team Australia ship, but his dignity is sinking.

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It’s ok to listen to other bands By Erika Vass

There are two types of music fans, people who only like certain songs at a time and then flush them away when they aren’t popular anymore and people who appreciate and understand their contribution to the music industry and their personal life. Unfortunately, my personal experience of ‘appreciating and understanding’ is a little bit towards boarder-line obsession. From the members of the bands, their albums, their lyrics, their blood type, if I find a passion in that particular band, nothing will hold me back.

“It’s always okay to admit like you like a bit of T-swift, no judgment here” My ultimate goal in life is to meet Gene Simmons. For those who aren’t so musically inclined, he is the bassist and mastermind behind the greatest band in the world, KISS. Also known as that long-tongued guy that likes to spit blood and fire. For those who still don’t know KISS, they are a classic glam rock band from the 70’s with great hits like, ‘I Was Made For Loving You’, ‘Beth’ and ‘Shout It Out Loud’.

This summer holidays, I set up a challenge for myself. The challenge was not to listen to any KISS songs willingly. This meant that I could not have the 500 KISS songs on my i-Pod. (*Just clarifying that what I mean by 500, there’s about 6 different versions of the same song from different albums etc.- a true fan’s collection) One hundred and twenty days later, I had not listened to one KISS song. You’re probably thinking, what did this weirdo listen to? Let me tell you, I listened to a genre that I thought I would not ever willingly listen to.

A genre that all the young, teeny, conformists listen to.

Pop music. For those who know me, this is a big deal and I surprisingly enjoyed it!

The first thing I did was buy myself an i-Tunes card and sift through the charts. In the first three hours of having the card, I had spent more than half on pop music.

From Taylor Swift’s Blank Space, to One Direction’s Steal My Girl, these musicians broke into the music industry in their respective ways and have made their good fortune.

But what about the bands who didn’t make it to the charts, or are fighting for a spotlight to be noticed? Not only did I listen to mainstream radio stations, but also Triple J, Triple J Unearthed, Rage and I spent my nights on Youtube looking at various covers and original songs. Here’s a list of unknown bands/musicians that may peek and spark an interest: o Tales in Space o Hey Geronimo o Tora o Little May o Tom Rosenthal o Years & Years o I Know Leopard If you’re on Youtube, checking out these bands, don’t be hesitant to look at the suggested bands. If there’s one thing I found about the challenge, it’s to face and embrace new sounds, tones and voices. And in 2015, you will face and embrace these elements, so don’t be afraid, take the leap of faith and enjoy the moment. And remember, it’s always okay to admit like you like a bit of T-swift, no judgment here.

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how to cure a hangover

with science

by Rachel Freeman

You may think you've been drunk before, but you haven't been drunk until you've been Bathurst drunk.

You wake up in a strange place (in a bed, if you're lucky), your mouth tasting like you French-kissed an ashtray. While your first instinct may be to do a Ke$ha and brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack, is hair of the dog really the best hangover cure?

n

Hydratio

It’s the most boring solution, but it’s also usually the best one. A huge part of the awful feeling the day after is dehydration. When you drink alcohol it stops your body producing the hormones that conserve your body’s water, which is why you have to pee so much when you’re drinking. Drinking a cup of water for every alcoholic drink you have can help you stay hydrated, but it also means you take longer to get drunk, and who wants to slowly savour their Fruity Lexia?

Another cool tip is to order a vodka water with heaps of fresh lime. You’ll be surprised how tasty it can be and semi-good for you! Win, win. Try to drink a good amount of water before you crash if you can, but if you’re too far gone just make sure you drink a lot when you wake up.

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d Foo

You’re

Vitam

probably feeling the

in B

urge for a bacon and egg McMuffin (or a cheeseburger if you’ve slept past the morning menu), but fatty and greasy

Popping a

foods can make you feel worse by bothering your stomach. Try to eat “good fats”, like avocado and eggs to help your body repair itself.

Eating before a big night out is always a good idea too. Line that stomach.

Berocca is a tried and true method for getting yourself going again after a booze up. The B vitamins in

Berocca is what really helps you perk up, but you probably already have a great source of B vitamins in your cupboard. Good old Vegemite is super rich with B Vitamins, so slather it on your toast.

Pain Relief Try as you might to deal

Another Drink?

with your hangover a natural way, sometimes you have a splitting headache that really requires some medical intervention. Panadol is good for pain relief, but avoid Nurofen as ibuprofen can unsettle your stomach, and you’re probably already queasy enough.

Sometimes having another drink seems like a good idea. After all, if you just stay drunk you won’t get hungover, right? Unfortunately not. Alcohol is a toxin, and the horrible feeling of a hangover is you experiencing your body cleaning it out of the system.

Drinking more will just make your eventual hangover 10 times worse, as well as potentially do real damage to your liver.

Remember, having a few alcohol-free days in between the parties is the best way to keep your body able to recover without too much damage. Party hard, but party safe.

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coping with homesickness

By Claire West

The novelty of being a freshman will wear off after your first gruelling assessment task. You’ll starting to miss the creature comforts of home. All you’ll be able to think of is the Nutella cake your Mum used to make you (and eating it straight from the jar) plus the high speed internet used for torrenting Geordie Shore without the chance of receiving angry letters and banishment from

A little bit about homesickness Up to 95% of first year university students report some feeling of homesickness when placed in their new environment. For some of us the experience of moving away from home can be an adventure, both

the online realm.

socially and intellectually. For other students the

Whether you’re a first year or a veteran, we can all fall

students face the new challenges of independently

victim to the perils of homesickness at some point and the good news is there’s a lot of support out there for you! Here are my tips for keeping you sane at university.

experience can be overwhelming and distressing. All managing their lives: establishing new friends, adjusting to new schedules and succeeding academically.

Don’t worry if it takes you a while to settle in.

Create your home away from home The key is to bring home with you. Steal (or ask for) your mum’s fresh linen fabric softener so your clothes always smell like home. Boiled eggs and soldiers for breakfast are as relevant now as they were when you were five .Your mum was thrifty and now it’s your turn!

Turn your room into a safe space where you feel comfortable and at home, it’s important to have somewhere to retreat to when it all gets a little overwhelming.

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Rely on your RA If you’re living on campus, your Residential Advisor is your guardian angel. As a student themselves they understand how new students feel and the concerns you might have. Your RA is a valuable resource, so go talk to them!

Whatever the issue, your RA will be willing to assist. If you’re starting to feel anxious about life on campus, your RA is your first point of contact. RAs are not counsellors but they are they are there to help, with specialist training to enable them to refer you to appropriate services both on and off campus.

If you’re living downtown, a good group of friends especially ones who live nearby can be a godsend. Create your own support network.

Fly the coop You’ve always dreamt about the day you’d move it and now, it’s here! It’s okay to feel a little nervous about doing it all on your own but don’t go home straight away or call home too much at the beginning. Take the time to adjust to your new surroundings. If you’re feeling homesick sharing a problem can make you feel better, especially with friend who knows you inside out! But equally, don’t turn the conversation into an excuse to moan for an hour – always remember to focus on the positives of your university experience!

Use the services that CSU have to offer As a student at CSU you have access to a large network of student services such as Counselling, Health Information, Disability Services, Academic Advice (Extensions, Appeals etc), Spiritual Support and Financial Support.

The Division of Student Services is located in building 1413 (the Rafters building). You can book an appointment with the student counsellor online at http://student.csu. edu.au/support/counselling or by contacting student

Look after yourself

central.

At university, your mental health is paramount. When you’re feeling distracted or a little lost it can really affect your academic performance, social life and sense of self, so make sure you’re actively looking after yourself. Try to eat well, take time to yourself, exercise and ask for help when you need it - there is always someone willing to help.

University is the first step of the rest of your life (or the second if you include the HSC. Third if you count life after Harry Potter.) Try to have fun. If you stay healthy and organised you can make it through any rough patches in university life.

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5 tips to eat delish, healthy and cheap at uni

by Georgia Thompson

1.

Know where to shop. If you’re doing a big weekly grocery shop, then take the time to go to the cheapest places in town.

If you need bulk veggies, salad and fruit, buy them at Harris Farm in IGA. If you need staple items like rice, pasta, condiments, pasta sauce, cereal, snack food etc, shop at Aldi. This trick will save you easily $30 a week (honestly, I’ve calculated).

Cook in Bulk. It’s cheaper and saves time. Take my Miracle Mince recipe below. This mince recipe can be used for spag bol, tacos, nachos, Sheppard’s pie, burritos, stuffed capsicums or for an awesome toastie. One free afternoon, cook up a big batch of this bad boy and freeze it in single serve batches for a

2.

quick meal later on.

Recipe: Miracle Mince Ingredients: * 1 brown onion finely chopped * 2 cloves minced garlic * 500g beef mince * 1 can crushed tomatoes * 2 carrots finely chopped * Optional veggies such as celery stick finely chopped or can of peas and/or corn * 1 tsp mixed dried herbs * Good squirt of barbecue/tomato sauce * Salt and pepper to taste

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Method 1. Heat oil in large fry pan and cook onions and garlic until soft 2. Add mince and cook for 5 minutes until mince is browned 3. While the mince is browning, cook the carrot in shallow water in a microwave container for 2 minute. Drain off the water and add to browned mince with other veggies 4. Add remaining ingredients and mix well to combine. Lower heat and simmer for approx 10-15mins until liquid is absorbed. Serve with whatever you like

3.

Buy takeaway containers. You are a poor uni student, therefore you cannot afford to waste food! Any food you don’t eat, store in a takeaway container for tomorrow’s lunch, or freeze it for a dinner later in the week.

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4.

Make fast food a weekly treat, not a daily item on your menu. It is about 75% guaranteed (don’t quote me) that you will eat McDonalds or a Kebab after every night out or when you’re feeling super lazy. Therefore, save fast food for weekly occasions and save yourself big bucks and bulk calories by making your own chips to accompany your steak, fish, chicken, tofu burgers etc.

Recipe: homemade chips Ingredients * 2 potatoes * 1 sweet potato (peeled) * 1 ½ tbs canola oil (other oil is fine, but canola makes then crispier) * Salt and pepper * Mixed dried herbs/rosemary (optional) Method: 1. Preheat oven to 200°c and slice all potatoes into wedges, half a centimeter thick.

2. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Place wedges onto paper and toss in canola oil, a good shake of salt and pepper, dried herbs and rosemary (if using). Spread on tray in a single layer 3. Bake for 30 minutes, then crank heat up to 230°c for an

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5.

Cook with friends. Divvying up the cost of ingredients for a delish meal will save you big bucks, plus is a really fun and a great way to get to know your new dormies. Take this spinach pie for example. It’s dead easy, super cheap and makes enough to feed at 4-6 people.

Recipe: spinach pie

Ingredients: * 2-3 sheets of puff pastry (depending on baking tray size) * 1 bunch silverbeet spinach * 1 onion, finely chopped * 4 rashers of bacon, chopped (exclude for vegetarian version) * ½ cup grated cheese * ½ block of feta (optional) * 4 eggs, lightly beaten with a splash of milk * Salt and pepper to taste Method: 1. Grease a deep baking dish with spray oil, and lay a pastry sheet (or 1 and ½ sheets if that’s what’s required) over the base of the tray. Bake in a 180°c oven for 10 minutes 2. Meanwhile, wash spinach, dry thoroughly and cut into 2cm thick strips. Fry onion and bacon in a splash of oil. When cooled, pour into egg mix with grated cheese.

3. Remove pastry from oven. Top with spinach, pushing it down into the base, and pour the egg mixture over the top. If using feta, layer it through the spinach. Put another layer of pastry over the filling pinch the sides to enclose the pie 4. Brush top with a splash of mixed egg and milk and bake at 180°c for 40 minutes

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cancer A drunken, regretful hook-up you made in O-Week may come back to haunt you… and your Facebook inbox. Maybe turn off your phone when you go to bed for the next few nights. Returners? Please make sure last year’s herpes is treated before you go back for round two, three, and most probably four as well.

sagittarius Your parents are worried that you may catch the “party bug”, and forget about all the study and hard work you told them you’d do. Tell them to quit worrying, and get back to patching up that hole in the ozone layer they made.

horo

taurus

This year could be the one you hit your social stride. Don’t be ashamed you were once the horse-girl during your primary school years, or that you were the kid that shat themselves during school assemblies. At uni, there’s a little bit of horse-girl in all of us, and dropping a brick mid-conversation is usually a sign you’ve had a good night out.

aquarius Is your dismal ATAR getting you down? Don’t think you’re ready for tertiary education after nearly tanking the HSC? Let me tell you: absolutely no one cares about your ATAR… at all. After a few lunar phases you’ll forget even you went to high school (which is a good thing, really).

pisces Living away from home with other students may be a rude awakening for you. No, those aren’t your pubes in the shower, and yes, that is the milk you bought that they’re drinking straight from the carton. It can be tough going, but if you need to mark something as your own, youcan either label it or urinate on the packaging. Both work, but it’s your call (and labels are so expensive these days!).

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gemini A drunken, regretful hook-up you made in O-Week may come back to haunt you… and your Facebook inbox. Maybe turn off your phone when you go to bed for the next few nights. Returners? Please make sure last year’s herpes is treated before you go back for round two, three, and most probably four as well.

libra Your plan to diet well, now that you’re away from mum’s home cooking, is laughable.

capricorn

You share a star sign with First Lady Michelle Obama!! Isn’t that enough for you??????

scopes aries

The feeling of independence you’re hoping to gain by living out of home might not be all it’s

cracked up to be when your friend vomits taco mince all over your toilet seat, and you’re the only one around left who can clean it up.

By Jacob Gillard

leo

Being the social butterfly that you are, you’ll have no trouble taking in a new group of friends.

Maybe you can teach your fellow Taurus’ a thing or two, and in turn they can help you brush up on your horrid math.

scorpio Drink more water and the rest will come naturally

virgo

Your gap year may be seen as a blessing or a curse. Your study skills may need some brushing up, but if the three months you spent in Africa was filled with nothing but sculling vodka out of a shoe, you won’t find yourself out of touch with the Bathurst scene one bit.

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