Issue 2 | Vol 6 | March 2014
Macquarie University Student Publication
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STUDENT LIFE | CAMPUS NEWS | ARTS & CULTURE | STYLE & SUSTAINABILITY | REVIEWS | AND MORE
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06 Last Ever DVC Provost 06 iPrint 06 University Rankings 06 Youth Employment a Disaster 07 Strike Action at Macquarie 07 Student Strip for Education 08 It’s Time (for Reform) 09 Macquarie’s Radical History 11 Media Wars 12 Lack of Coal and Gas in NSW
34 Letters to the Republic 36 Heart & Mind
14 Student Advocacy: Fair Trade 16 Sustainability: Tap it 16 Revitalise: Breathing 17 Lifestyle: Shellshocked 18 International: Postcards
20 Battle of the Faculties 23 The Young & the Restless 24 Welcome to the Jungle 26 Pioneering the Pixie 29 Drug Dealing Charity Worker 32 Guide to Cheap Textbooks
38 Advice: FOMO 39 Across the Bar 40 Smiling Chef: Brainy Grains & Pulses 42 The Stew: Cheap Eats 44 Reviews 46 Puzzles & wHoroscopes page 3 | grapeshot magazine
E D ITO R ’ S L ET T E R
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his issue is not all about Sam Worthington’s 2010 rendition of the story of Perseus’ battle with the minions of the underworld, but encompasses much more. Grapeshot’s latest issue, Clash of the Titans, cannot only be seen as a symbolic reference to the competitive time of ‘student elections’, but is also representative of conflicting views and opinions on a range of current issues. In this issue of Grapeshot we explore an array of pressing domestic and global topics that undoubtedly resonates with all the Macquarie student community. Growing concerns at home surrounding youth unemployment, government education cuts and environmental issues are becoming chaotic. What can we do about this? Some individuals escape these continuous worries and take to facebook memes or express concerns through humorous #hashtag comments. Grapeshot on the other hand has attempted to deal with these concerns head-on and has provided you with a plethora of thought-provoking articles.
Macquarie University Student Publication EDITORIAL & CREATIVE PRODUCTION
and-out of election campaigning)’ (p.23), ‘Drug Dealing Charity Work’ (p.29) and plenty more. Go ahead and also check out our Repeat Offenders (p.37), where you will encounter student experiences at UBAR, restaurants throughout Sydney, and music, film, book and game reviews in an abundance.
We are the next generation! It would be negligent for Grapeshot to take an ignorant stance and not aware you of relevant pressing issues. Now you must take the bull by the balls horns and rattle the world. This publication strives to provide you with as many perspectives as possible and leaves it up to you, the reader, to form your own opinion. You may not decide to sit on the left or right; you may decide to sit Our writers have addressed comfortably on the fence. If we have conflicting views in our feature articles which include but are not limited to ‘The compelled you to read and think – then we have done our job! Battle of Faculties On-Campus’ (p.20), the ‘The Young and the Restless (ins-
Kristina
Deputy Editor
Why Should you Join Grapeshot? 1. It’s YOUR magazine 2. You can write whatever you like 3. You don’t even have to write! We love your photos, drawings and artworks too! 4. Awesome events and parties 5. Great for resumes We don’t care what you study. If you’re an accountant/dancer/biographer who does who dooes interpretives dances of Fermat’s Last Theorum - we want you! If you’re not sure what to write about, but still want to participate check us out online at: grapeshotmq.com.au/members, or email us at grapeshot@mq.edu.au
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Editor in Chief Deputy Editor Features Editor News Editor Regulars Editor Copy Editor Creative Designer Graphic Designer Graphic Designer
Mia Kwok Kristina Cavanna Amanda Mahony Emma Vlatko Sarah Basford Claire Catacouzinos James Rotanson Cindy Huang Moxfi Designs
MARKETING TEAM Advertising Manager Varun Fernando Marketing Manager Josephine Clark-Wroe Marketing Officer Manisha Josephraja SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Alessandro Guerrera, Andrew Beks, Annabelle Lum, Avery Phillips, Ben Nour, Ben O’Brien, Blake Antrobus, Brendon D’Souza, Cassandra Teo, Fergus Halliday, Jack Stanton, Lily Davis, Manisha Josephraja, Megan Smith, Nathan Falzon, Nicola Donovan, Rabeah Zafrullah, Raelee Lancaster, Renata Hercok, Sukriti Guatam, The Ant EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD Alexander West, Emma Grimley, Gemma Quinn, Jack Morgan, Kristofer Gilmour, Melroy Rodrigues, Natalie Morton, Nigel Khine PUBLISHER Craig Oliver The publication team acknowledges the Darug Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which Macquarie University is situated.
Judyth Sachs Last DVC? iPrint University Rankings Strike Action Student Strippers It’s Time (to Reform) Macquarie’s Radical History Media Wars Coal & Gas
MACQUARIE SHINES IN SPITE OF FALLING AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS Australia’s tertiary education system is in the international spotlight once again, with the latest university rankings released by Times Higher Education and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
JUDYTH SACHS TO BE MACQUARIE’S
LAST EVER DVC (PROVOST) Macquarie’s Vice Chancellor Bruce Dowton announced that the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Provost) will be no more. In a statement on the Macquarie University website, Dowton admitted that “many of the key elements of Professor Sachs’ work...have now been achieved.” Instead, he revealed that a new position, Deputy ViceChancellor (Academic), would be established. This new role will be primarily tasked with overseeing the planning and delivery of the university’s undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs. However, no candidate has been announced, nor has a time period been allocated for the search.
The 2014 rankings have seen a significant slip in Australia’s global reputation. All universities making the list have fallen from their rankings last year. Only one Australian university, The University of Melbourne, made the World’s top 50, whilst only four others made the top 100. The editor of the Reputation Rankings, Phil Baty, conceded that the $2.8 billion worth of cuts to Australia’s tertiary education sector, were a large reason for the fall. “The funding cuts announced by the former government, unprecedented cuts, sent some very negative messages out there into the world,” he stated. In spite of this poor national result, Macquarie University was ranked equal ninth in the Times list of Top-10 Most International Universities. The 2014 QS World University Rankings by Subject, also placed Macquarie within the top 50 institutions in the world for Linguistics, Psychology, and Earth and Marine Sciences. Five other subjects were placed within the top 100, with even more making the Top 200. Sydney, as always, boasted excellent results, ranking within the top 10 student cities of the world by both survey companies.
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT A “DISASTER” As unemployment across the country hits a ten-year high, the recent reports by the charity organisation, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, show that the reality for Australia’s youth is much worse. The study found that youth unemployment figures are currently averaging at 12.4 per cent – double the national average for adult unemployment. However, these figures rise significantly in regional Australia, with some areas in Queensland and Tasmania recording over 20 per cent youth unemployment. Executive Director Tony Nicholson, put these figures down to the growing need for experience in workers. “We’re getting a picture that the task of making the transition from school to work is much more difficult in this modern economy.” Nicholson is calling on the Federal government to invest in a national strategy to tackle this crisis.
iPRINT IS HERE A new system of printing has hit the Macquarie University campus. iPrint, promoted as a greener alternative to the current campus printing, was launched during O-Week and promises to continue expanding throughout the year. The new system enables students, staff, and library patrons to print anywhere on campus, from any computer connected to the internet. Selected jobs are sent to the iPrinter cloud storage, waiting for the user to simply tap their CampusCard at the printer station, and collect their job. This new system means less waste and more privacy. The university is confident that it will contribute significantly to reducing our carbon footprint, and comes with other benefits. The new iPrinters allow for colour printing and scanning – something that was previously hard to do on campus. There are currently four locations on campus, but it is likely to quickly grow. To find iPrinter locations, go to: www.maps.mq.edu.au.
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STRIKE ACTION AT MACQUARIE WORDS | Raelee Lancaster & Emma Vlatko On 11 March, Macquarie University’s National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) members went on strike. Macquarie joined a string of universities across the country taking part in industrial action over new Enterprise Agreement negotiations. The Enterprise Agreement is responsible for managing University staff conditions.
the key issues are the lack of permanent teaching staff, the high number of casual employees, the overbearing workloads, and extraordinarily high student to staff ratios. “People love working here,” she said, “but we’re at the stage where our workloads are too high and we can’t do our job as effectively as we should.”
“We’re on strike today in pursuit of improved wages and conditions so that we can also provide better teaching, learning context and expertise for students,” said Senior Lecturer Dr Lousie Thornthwaite, “the employer was not agreeing to CGI wage increases.”
Although Grapeshot asked for comment’s on these issues, the statement released by the Vice Chancellor’s spokesman contained no obvious response. Instead, it talked up the progress of the on-going negotiations, “the university and NTEU have already agreed on a large number of conditions.” The spokesperson also expressed disappointment at the union for taking “the form of industrial action that impacts upon student learning.”
A spokesman for the Vice Chancellor rebuffs these claims. “The University has proposed a fair pay rise to academic staff averaging three per cent per year over the life of the agreement,” the spokesman stated. “This is in line with other universities, and should ensure Macquarie retains and attracts high quality teaching and research staff. The university also has a responsibility to ensure the financial stability of the organisation, and so it can’t agree to pay increases that are not sustainable in the long-term.” Whilst a pay rise is important, Macquarie’s NTEU President, Cathy Rytmeister, believes it’s not the main concern. Instead, she says that
However, Ms Rytmeister defended the actions, arguing that it was necessary in order to gain the university’s attention.“We’ve been bargaining for better working conditions with the university for nine months, and we’ve hit a stalemate where the university doesn’t want to shift on certain things,” she said. “If we don’t take action now, you [students] will end up with bigger and bigger classes, a lot more teaching online, and less contact with staff.”
STUDENTS STRIP FOR THEIR EDUCATION If students at Macquarie are feeling the pressure from Sydney’s ever growing cost of living, then students in the UK can sympathise. A recent study has found that nearly one in three women working in strip clubs across the UK, are students. The study, published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education, found that “the high cost of higher education, and the lack of availability of loans” were the core contributors to this result. The study also found that some women started stripping well before their studies began in order to save the money needed for their degree. However, sociologist Teela Sanders claimed that many female students working in strip clubs are from middle class backgrounds, with little to no need for the money.
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IT’S TIME (FOR REFORM) WORDS | Sarah Basford Australia has been dealing with the contentious issue of electoral reform for some time now. With the controversies of past elections still looming in the minds of the politically conscious; issues of corruption and transparency are now being raised. Australia is widely regarded as one of the most efficient, liberal democracies in the world. It was placed sixth on The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2012. Despite this, there have been calls to reform the system that is said to have become convoluted, with certain parties suggesting that it could invite corruption. These requests come in light of the 2013 election, where reported incidents of misplaced votes resulted in numerous recounts required. The pursuit for the perfect democratic system in Australia began at Federation in 1901. One year on, electoral reform gave Australia’s (white) women the right to vote, although not in all states. It wasn’t for another 16 years that the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 was extensively revised; introducing the infamous preferential voting system we have today. From then on, change consistently came to Australia; in 1924 compulsory voting was established and in 1948 proportional representation in the Senate was introduced. Since the major reforms by the Labor government in 1983, Australia’s electoral system has remained relatively unchanged, and unreviewed. The events in the federal electorates of Indi and Fairfax in the 2013 election, reminded the general public that the system was corruptible and becoming outdated. Julia Patrick reported in The Quadrant that the system was once secure, but due to its simplification it has become more susceptible to exploitation. Patrick suggests that Australia should consider digitising the voting roll, a change Macquarie University made in 2011 to its system in order to avoid multiple casts from a single voter. page 8 | grapeshot magazine
In particular, this change would limit the possibility of voters using pre-poll and Election Day to double their vote. On the local level, Macquarie University too, has had its fair share of electoral reform. The Manager of Student Engagement, Angela Voerman, explains that before the current digital voting process, paper ballots were used for student elections. However, in limiting corruption, Voerman admits that this system was difficult. With the new digital process, the university also now employs an independent body to handle and count votes. Since these changes, the whole process has become more transparent. Voerman also says that the digitalisation of the student voting roll has increased the voter turnout, allowing students to learn more about the candidates with a compulsory platform shown during the voting process. “We basically doubled our participation rate,” she confirms, “[the online aspect] shows the students that there is an election on.” However, poor voter turnout is still a major concern at Macquarie University. The last few elections saw approximately six per cent of the student body participated. The real issue on campus is therefore, not corruption but getting over 40,000 students to engage and actively take part in the issues that affect their time at the university. Although, strategies to alleviate student apathy have seen a small growth in voter participation, the road to greater student involvement appears to be a long journey. Unfortunately, it is currently difficult to understand how the elected representatives can truly represent the student body if they are unable to efficiently communicate with the cohort. Reform is the key, but how to reform is the problem Macquarie University students and the Australian people are now facing.
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MACQUARIE’S
RADICAL HISTORY
“If orthodox methods get stifled in the computers and punch card formalities of officialdom... then a direct assult on the problem becomes necessary.” “Hovel Grovels”, Arena, 2 March 1970
WORDS | Emma Vlatko
In 1969, Macquarie University students set up a tent embassy in the quadrangle of the North Ryde campus. Starting over concerns about the lack of student housing available, the embassy quickly grew from 30 to 300 students before the university administrators caved to their demands.
Vinil’s blog, “Radical History of Macquarie University”, handed down to him by former Macquarie University student, and fellow Socialist Alternative member, Jordan Humphries, is just one effort being made to ensure our radical past is being remembered.
It’s called radical student activism and you’ll be hard pressed to find it on our campus today. However, the growing discontent among Australia’s youth with the political decision makers in Canberra, has made Vinil Kumar, a member of Macquarie’s Socialist Alternative, confident that it can return.
The blog documents are Macquarie’s moments of student activism, for example, the “storming of the round table discussions” in 1969, where almost seventy students forced themselves into the Vice Chancellor’s building during a consultation meeting. Or the Vietnam Moratorium campaign on campus in the early 1970’s.
“It’s going to be in the context of a broader radicalisation happening in society,” Vinil stated. “It was there in the 60’s and 70’s... the student struggle ref lected the broader struggle in society.”
So what happened? Where has all the student activism gone? “This is not the 1960’s or 70’s” Vinil confessed. “During that time, the union movement set the tone for a lot of what happened.”
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Whilst Macquarie did not participate in the surveys, the report found that not one of Macquarie University’s student services is owned and controlled by a student organisation. Instead, they are almost all owned by the university directly, or by a university owned service company.
Unfortunately for those current Macquarie students wishing to use their new tents, the student union was disbanded in 2007. Student-run activities and services are now situated under the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s (Students & Registrar) portfolio. “Student unionism has been under attack since the Howard Era,” Vinil stated, referring to Prime Minister John Howard’s Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU). A scheme, Vinil claims, that was brought in to “attack student organisations.” The National Union of Students (NUS) agree, stating that VSU “led to a major transfer of services and facilities that were historically student-run to the direct control of universities.” Vinil’s comments also come just months after the NUS released their report into the spending of Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF) around Australia. This report claims that the current structure of SSAF does not guarantee students any direct control over how their money is being spent.
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“Compare this to CSU, the money went directly to the student organisations,” Vinil states. “Today, students can tell the university what they want, but at the end of the day, the university can still do whatever they want. The SSAF specifically says that you cannot use those funds for political campaigning.” Despite there being no explicit requirement in the SSAF guidelines that universities must “negotiate” with the student body, the report found that most universities maintained regular consultation with student representatives anyway. Vinil acknowledges things could be worse. “I think we absolutely need to defend the SSAF. Student organisations need more money, not less...unless you have an honest assessment of SSAF’s limitations, we’re basically going to see the further degradation of student democracy and student life on campus.” 2014 has already seen Macquarie University staff take strike action. Perhaps this year will be another entry for Vinil’s radical history blog.
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MEDIA WARS
WORDS | Lily Davis
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has tided waves of criticism over the years. Now, after months of verbal attacks from various Liberal party members, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced yet another efficiency study.
officer of Seven West Media Limited, Peter Lewis, neither Abbott or Turnbull have posted any media policy on the Liberal Party’s ‘Real Solutions’ website. Any true understanding of what is going on, is therefore impossible. Despite all this, the ABC’s Managing Director, Mark Scott, has welcomed the study.
Dr Susie Khamis, Lecturer of Media and International Studies at Macquarie University, says this issue stems back to the relationship between public and private media broadcasting in Australia.
But Dr Khamis thinks the Australian community may not be as forgiving.
“At the simplest level, private broadcasting is funded by, and for private capitalist enterprise. It aims to maximise ratings to attract advertisers that buy advertising time…public broadcasting, however, is primarily supported by the public purse (through taxes) and, as such has a very different purpose: to broadcast content that’s in the public interest. For the ABC … this means content that educates the public, entertains the public, and quality content that isn’t generally found on the commercial networks.” Indeed, the tensions between public and private broadcasting appear to be relevant. On 4 December last year, Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi suggested to Radio National, “we could perhaps cut the ABC budget and allow the commercial media operators to compete.” Turnbull has emphasised that the review is nothing more than a “clarification of costs”, promising that it will not be an attack on the ideology of the network. Worryingly, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has repeatedly expressed concerns over the ABC being un-Australian and opting for negative news. Abbott told Macquarie radio, “you would like the national broadcaster to have a rigorous commitment to truth and at least some basic affection for the home team.” Whilst we know that the Communications Department are conducting the study, assisted by the former chief financial
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“As for viewers, [the ABC’s] importance is highlighted every time Canberra threatens budget cuts, or floats a ‘restructure,’” she commented, “many of us might occasionally query or bemoan what the ABC broadcasts, but surely that’s a sign that we are collectively invested in it; it might just be a fraction of our overall media diet, but it’s such an important and irreplaceable part.” Lucy Cook, a media student at Macquarie, is equally concerned about the review. She expressed concerns about her own future in the media industry. “As a media student who wants to go into television, potential funding cuts to the ABC are extremely worrying... the ABC provides a platform for original Australian dramatic content to be produced.” Cook’s concerns are justified. Mark Scott told a Senate on 25 February, that no part of the ABC would be quarantined from any potential cuts. The balance of power in the Australian media is already skewed. Between them, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, and Fairfax Media hold the majority of Australia’s private media. And with these potential funding cuts, more power may be simply handed to them. The results of the efficiency study will be released in April.
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LACK OF COAL AND GAS PUTS NSW IN A STEAM WORDS | Brendon D’Souza NSW has been battling a lot of environmental issues over the past few months. The protests at Whitehaven Coal’s proposed Maules Creek Coal Mine site, which have been ongoing since November 2013, are showing no signs of ending. Despite this and the errors found in Whitehaven’s plan for biodiversity offsetting, the mine is set to go ahead. It will be Australia’s largest coal mine once constructed. David Ritter, CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, criticised the Federal Government’s approval of the mining site, and the abolishment of climate change legislation. “They have no intention of dealing with climate change – our greatest threat,” he said. On 10 February this year, Ritter and other CEOs from national environmental groups involved in the protest, joined together to voice stronger opposition. Greenpeace later joined with the Gomeroi Traditional Owners of the Leard Forest, and religious leaders of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change. Almost a month later, on 4 March, Gomeroi elder, Dolly Talbott met with Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, to discuss the protection of her People’s threatened sacred sites. Whilst Mr Hunt had requested an outline of the exact locations of the sacred sites, Talbott doubts the meeting had any effect on him. “I feel a bit deflated. He listened, but how much they [will] do about it, I don’t know,” she told The Guardian. Elsewhere, energy company, Santos, has embarked on a project in response to gas shortages in NSW.
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In February, an Energy White Paper conducted by the NSW Business Chamber, revealed that the State has almost three million terajoules (TJ) of untapped Coal Seam Gas (CSG) reserves. The Australian Energy Market Operator and consulting firm, Wood Mackenzie, warned that, unless projects to extract this gas are undertaken, NSW will see shortages in gas by 2016. Santos claims their project will be beneficial to the Narrabri area and to NSW. About 200 TJ of natural gas could be produced each day, which is the equivalent of about half the State’s current requirements. Santos says they are committed to approaching the project with sustainability in mind, and minimising environmental and local community impacts. NSW Farmers President Fiona Simpson, told SMH that farmers should be concerned if gas drilling is being prioritised over agriculture. There are current fears that gas mining will contaminate clean water supplies, and damage sensitive forest. And some of those fears have become reality after it was revealed Santos had been fined $1500 by the NSW Environment Protection Authority after a CSG project in northern NSW was found to have contaminated drinking water supplies. Water from the Bibblewindi water treatment plant was found to be contaminated with 335 micrograms of uranium per litre. This is 20 times greater than allowable levels. Santos were fined in January for contamination of the same site, and for refraining from reporting the incident. For any Macquarie University students and staff wishing to voice their concerns over NSW’s coal and gas expansion plans, a new campaign “Our Land, Water, Future” has begun in the Lane Cove/Ku-Ring-Gai area. To find out more, visit their website: www.landwaterfuture.org.au
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REGULARS
FOR
“...guarantees that coffee farmers receive a minimum price of AUD $3.80 per kilo, compared to the local price of about AUD 65 cents.”
BEN NOUR
FAIR TRAD
How fair is Fair Trade and does it sell
Call me an optimist, but I genuinely believe that the majority of consumers, given the choice, will purchase products that are ethically beneficial. As the most widely recognised ethical label, the influence of fair trade cannot be understated, and there is a wealth of information that attests to the fact that consumers are choosing Fairtrade-certified products more often each year. Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world, but unfortunately, over the past decade, prices paid to farmers have dropped dramatically, affecting over 25 million farmers worldwide. Purchasing fair trade labelled coffee guarantees that coffee farmers receive a minimum price of AUD $3.80 per kilo, compared to the local price of about AUD 65 cents. But does the fair trade label actually sell coffee? According to the statistics, it does. A 2011 research report released by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, found that the majority of consumers surveyed preferred ethically certified products over non-certified alternatives, and were willing to pay a price premium for such products. They further found that the fair trade label has a substantially more positive effect on sales, and that two of the most popular bulk coffees sold in stores, rose by almost ten per cent when they were labelled as fair trade. Australia is one of the world’s fastest growing markets for fair trade certified products. Australian consumers spent more than $191 million on Fairtrade products in 2012, while Fairtrade’s average growth rate over the past five years has been above 50 per cent. Specifically, retail sales of fair trade labelled coffee in Australia stood at $5 million in 2005 – ten years later it had grown to over $50 million. This impressive growth can be accounted to a global growing awareness, and the popularity of fair trade certified products.
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O
AGAINST
OR
DE COFFEE
more coffee than regular label coffee?
It is reasonably accurate to say that we, university students, love our coffee. Whether you trek down to the food court to get your caffeine fix or pick it up on the way to a lecture, we all face the same decision of choosing between our usual brew, or paying a little bit extra for a fair trade beverage. While we aren’t exactly overflowing with cash, surely we can justify that little bit extra to do some good in the world, right?
“While fair trade companies are often grouped with charities, they are a business first and foremost.”
FERGUS HALLIDAY
Not exactly. There’s a crucial misunderstanding among people as to how fair trade works. Fair trade is neither cheap nor more efficient than ordinary production models. While fair trade companies are often grouped with charities, they are a business first, and foremost. In fact, the money that they make from Fair trade products, rarely finds its way back to the third world countries they originate from. When you consider that the premium added to the price is almost entirely unregulated, it should come as no surprise that there have been several recorded cases of corruption and kickbacks in the Fair trade industry. On top of that, there isn’t even an economic argument to be made for fair trade. There has been awfully little in terms of follow-up studies showing that it helps to improve the economic prospects of third world countries. Instead, a number of studies have shown that it has actually increased the level of inequality due to its rigid wage conditions, which are counterproductive to natural economic growth. The raw, emotional manipulation that surrounds the marketing of fair trade products is, itself, a bit unethical. I doubt a commercial entity could get away with the kind of guilt tripping that fair trade companies partake in. Fair trade companies are only economically competitive through the way they prey on consumers desires to do good, and a general misunderstanding of where their money goes. So, although fair trade businesses might try to masquerade as charities, at the end of the day, they are just another business looking to make a profit.
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WORDS | Sarah Basford
W
ater is the world’s most precious resource. It is vital for sustaining life on Earth and because of this reason, it has become a commodity.
Long has there been a debate between bottled and tap water, with many people choosing the former. Unfortunately, for our little friend, Mother Nature, this means there is a great demand for the mass production of plastic, and that almost, always results in detrimental effects to the environment. Think of all the cute, furry animals that get killed by plastic each year. Death by plastic is not okay; we want death by natural causes. Australia spends over $500 million a year on bottled water, which generates more than 60, 000 tons in greenhouse gas emissions. It’s safe to say that buying bottled water is not helping Mother Nature to prosper. The worst part about this is that it actually takes one litre of water to create a 375ml plastic bottle. That means that millions of litres of water are wasted every year just on plastic production. So, what can we do? Macquarie University has just signed on to the “Tap It” campaign, meaning that they promise to provide clean and fresh water fountains to refill reusable bottles. You can purchase BPA free, reusable bottles at the Mac Shop, as well as the Sports and Aquatic Centre, or even bring your own from home. The Macquarie University website also provides an interactive map that shows all the water fountain sites on campus. Yay. So the next time you leave home, remember to bring a reusable bottle so you can t-t-t-t-tap it. (DISCLAIMER: No one was hurt during the writing of this column. Only my dignity.)
REVITALISE WORDS | Sukriti Gautam
W
hen was the last time you took a deep breath? Within seconds after our birth, we take in a deep breath and loudly cry out, announcing our existence to the world. When we die, our breath is the last thing to depart. Hence, we can say that breath is soul, and soul is breath. Every single breath inevitably generates energy for the organs to function. Over the years, the way we breathe changes. Our state of mind and our emotions has a huge impact on our breathing style. For example, when we are talking, sleeping, reading, or focussing on something, our breathing rate slowly decreases and becomes shallow. On the other hand, when we are in a hurry, angry, stressed or crying, our breath fastens, but it remains shallow. In both of these cases, we are exhausted as the body cannot generate enough energy to sustain the emotion with our shallow breathing. Therefore, we look for alternatives to increase the energy levels, like cigarettes, chocolate, coffee, food, and so on. Not only the mind, but also the body has biological methods to increase energy levels, like yawning. After a yawning episode, we feel a sudden rush of energy running up the chest. When we breathe deeply and hold our breath for a couple of seconds before letting go, the energy rushes all around the body, and a sense of joy is felt. By doing this, we increase positive thoughts, and our immune system strengthens. Sometimes, just by breathing deeply and visualising the flow of energy into a certain body-part, we can ease the pain. Regular deep breathing not only has health benefits, but also induces a deep sense of peace, and we start to feel emotionally balanced. So just breathe deeply.
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LIFESTYLE get inspired
WORDS | Nicola Donovan
I
magine juggling your university degree with part-time work, all while running your own business. Well, that’s exactly what Harriet Gerrard does, day in and day out. Studying a Bachelor of Arts – Media combined with a Bachelor of Laws, the 20-year-old also runs her own company – Shellshocked by Harriet. Specalising in woman’s swimwear, Shellshocked by Harriet focuses on creating affordable swimwear with unique designs. Here, we chat to Harriet about how she does it all: What made you want to start your own business? I started my company because my mother inspired me. She started her own jewellery business, and her success as a woman and mother inspired me to create my own. How did your business start? I started my business whilst I was on my gap year in between school and university. I was sitting by the pool one day in my bikini, and the idea just came to me. I then dedicated the rest of my year to forming my business, step by step.
Harriet is kindly offering all Grapeshot readers a 25% off discount on all Shellshocked by Harriet swimwear! Simply head to www.shellshockedbyharriet.com, choose your favourite design and enter this discount code when checking out: TD3GH1C1YVBY You can also find Harriet on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ShellshockedByHarriet and on Instagram by searching for her username: shellshockedbyharriet
How do you find juggling a business, part-time work, and your degree? I would be lying if I said it was easy. I am the type of person that runs on adrenalin, and if you saw my crazy organisational habits, it would scare most of you off! But, I need my downtime too. Spending time with family and friends de-stresses me, and they are great motivators for me to keep up with my work and study. I don’t think I would swap anything for a night in cooking dinner and watching a movie with my boyfriend. I honestly feel like it’s these other personal areas of your life that you need to have in check, so that the ‘business and work’ side can perform at its best. Tell me about how your swimsuit designs come to life Normally, I will do some sketching, go out into the city to find colours, patterns or inspiration, and then I’ll come back home, and redraw these images. After that, I will go to my manufacturing company and work with them on how we can make what’s on paper come to life! What advice do you have for anyone wanting to start their own business? I would say go for it! If you have an idea, something that you think could turn into a business, look into it and see where it could lead you. grapeshotmq.com.au
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INTERNATIONAL Messages from around the world
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Battle of Faculties | Young & Restless |Pioneering the Pixie | Drug Dealing | Guide to Cheap Texbooks
FOR EVERY MACQUARIE FACULTY THERE IS A “TYPICAL STUDENT”. RAELEE LANCASTER GATHERED A TEAM, THREE FROM THE SCIENCE FACULTY AND THREE FROM THE ARTS FACULTY, AND ASKED THEM TO DESCRIBE THIS STUDENT FOR US TO HELP GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THESE STEREOTYPES.
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WORDS | Raelee Lancaster
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here is a distinct division between the Arts and Science faculties. This split can be largely due to stereotyping – a very common part of our culture. We automatically associate something with a particular group or person based on their ethnicity, religion, age, gender, or socio-economic background. With university life, the stereotypes surrounding arts and science students are renowned. At one end of the spectrum, we have the introverted, nerdy science students donning white lab coats. At the other end, sit the lazy, hippy arts students, dressing in their bohemian-inspired attire. Some science students are under the impression that their workload is harder because they have to complete more hours of study a week than arts students. “You do an arts degree so you can get a job serving at Macca’s,” Cameron, a science student studying a Masters of Research in Environmental Geology, jokes. Jhade, a Biology and Chemistry student, also pokes fun at arts students by recounting a story of her father who also studied science at university. Jhade’s father would go into public bathrooms and write, “pull for an arts degree” on the toilet paper. While these comments may be light-hearted and funny, the mentality behind them is very real. Both Jhade and Matthew, an Environmental Science student, describes them as “artsyfartsy” and “airy-fairy” when they were asked to describe a typical arts student. Yet Isabel, an arts student, believes that “being an arts student means studying whatever I like, following my interests, and learning more about all kinds of things”. Tjanara, another arts student, describes an arts degree as, “a pathway for students to find out where they truly want to be.” She also says that, “arts students can feel victimised with people constantly telling them their degree isn’t on the same level as anyone else’s. People see [an arts degree] as a bludge, and the students aren’t as motivated to gain an education as everyone else.” Although science students can be seen to have a ‘harsh’ view of arts students, arts students can also be quite critical when it comes to stereotyping science students. “Science students seem to think that because they have so many more on-campus hours grapeshotmq.com.au
that they do more work than [arts students],” Isabel comments. Aimee, a student studying a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science, thinks similarly, “I find arts students to be more open-minded.” She admits that “science students are more study-driven. They have to be very strict and controlled in their lifestyle”. “There are all sorts [of science students],” says Mathew. Jhade agrees, and points to TV shows like The Big Bang Theory as one of the key instigators of stereotyping. “Going to university where you’re surrounded by such a diverse group of people, it’s quite difficult to see that science stereotype.” Cameron also comments on how the media and TV shows, such as The Big Bang Theory, influence people’s views about science students. He said that the only ‘true’ stereotype was that science students are in the lab all day. At night, however, they appear to strip away the white lab coat in exchange for “a beer or five” at the Ubar. “We are the most outgoing and fun people out there! We love going out and having too much to drink, and getting crazy,” Cameron says in the Science faculty’s defence. “My friends from Geology and Environmental Earth Science are all extremely friendly and laid back.”
“With all of the conflict surrounding arts and science stereotypes, it may be impossible to completely overcome stereotyping” Nevertheless, Macquarie University has attempted to aid the process by creating compulsory ‘People’ and ‘Planet’ units. ‘People’ and ‘Planet’ units are specified units generally located under, but not limited to, the arts and science faculties, respectively. “It is interesting to learn stuff from outside of your field,” Cameron states when he is asked about the compulsory units. “[They] help break up the monotony and introduce you to new people.” grapeshot magazine | page 21
These units, according to Macquarie University’s website, are designed to “help students achieve a broad understanding of the challenges and issues in today’s world.” Both Mathew and Cameron, however, wouldn’t go so far as stating that the units will make students broaden their perspectives and open their minds. Yet Isabel begs to differ. “People complain about [the units], but having completed them myself, I found that they have added to my university experience,” she says. “I think they are achieving what they’re supposed to.” Tjanara also comments on the units:
“They allow you to see issues in a different perspective through classes that you aren’t used to.”
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While ‘People’ and ‘Planet’ units are helpful and allow arts and science students to interact and study together, stereotypes appear to be very present and not going away anytime soon. Stereotypes exist for a reason. There has to be some fact in amongst the fiction for stereotypes to be so fully ingrained into the hearts and minds of everybody, not just university students. Arts students do tend to have fewer on-campus hours and their workload is not always as massive as that of a science student. Science students tend to have a “black and white” mentality, with their yes or no questions and answers, and every unit is almost always guaranteed to have an end-of-semester exam. However, not every arts student is a lazy, ponchowearing hippy, and not every science student is a nerdy, prescription-lenses-wearing egotist. So instead of seeing your facility’s stereotypes as an annoying hindrance, I suggest embracing it.
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WORDS | Cassandra Teo How many people actually pay attention to the campaigners on campus during election time? Most of the leaflets handed out during this time (or any other time for that matter) seem to end up in the bins regardless of the spoken words accompanied by them.
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CAMPAIGNING AT MACQUARIE
veteran with a minimum of six campaigns under his belt over the past four years, Wayne Zhang, describes the campaigns at Macquarie University to be “as exciting as the reading materials for Advanced Torts”. This was not always the case. It is a little known fact (not something many would promote) that Macquarie University was known for its more radical campaigning in the past. It would definitely be a lifetime ago for most of the university’s current students. Past students have been known to go head to head against Macquarie, with the odds stacked against them. Who knew that Macquarie University students once had to campaign for university housing? Have you ever heard of Macquarie University Tent City? Perhaps due to the Student Advisory Board (SAB), Macquarie seems to have grown in its campaigning ways. As a participant in the 2012/13 Arts Faculty Senate election, Zhang finds it hard to pinpoint his most memorable campaigning experience. Selecting one, he tells of the night of his first campaign where his party’s candidate won by a considerable margin. Then, recalling a more action-packed campaign at Sydney University, Zhang shares the adrenalin rush he felt while helping a friend campaign where he got “as close to punching someone in the face as I had been since my last school yard fight”. When it comes to campaign strategies, Zhang draws on advice given to him by a semi-drunk student electioneering veteran – it’s all about the number of DMFs (deep and meaningful friends). It turns out that these student elections that are organised on the basis of making a better university life for students, boil down to being won by the most popular, and coolest kids. It’s high school’s popularity contests all over again!
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FEATURE student politics
ZHANG’S TWO STAGES OF THE CAMPAIGN STRATEGY PROCESS Zhang explains that the first stage of the Campaign Strategy Process, also known as the “relationship campaign”, is the crucial point where nominees embed themselves into student life, in order to be seen and heard. By building social networks through the university’s clubs, societies and events, potential candidates are able to expand their reach on campus. The next stage – the ToV (Turn out the Vote) stage – happens during the official campaigning period, where nominees beg, borrow or steal as many votes as they can. True as it is with real politics, “if your campaign starts at the same time as the official campaign, you’ve already lost,” Zhang remarks. Campaigning is not always about gaining numbers – or maybe it is? Wearing a giant Panda suit to “gain some eyeballs,” Zhang says, probably helped Ned Barsi with his campaign a fair bit.
PERERA’S CAMPAIGN STRATEGY PROCESS, INSIGHTS AND TACTICS While some elections elicit drama and rivalry, Tharinda Perera, AIESEC Macquarie’s 2013 Director of Marketing, reveals AIESEC’s gruelling and (literally) bone-shivering tactics. Using the VP position as an example, Perera explains that the first step is to get nominated. Candidates are then required to write a ten page platform for their application, in addition to a blank page challenge with questions that have been determined by the chapter’s president. This is the first part of their campaign. Elections – which are held between September to October – include a Group Q&A and an Individual Q&A prior to voting. However, voting is not the end of it, as the candidates who won the voting are then subjected to grilling by a panel consisting of the current and past president, and an external. Here, ‘the grilled’ re-pitch their platforms while having their motivations to be elected drowned, wrung and hung out to dry. A week of suspense and stress later, the new board is announced where the elected will be drenched in cold water – yes, you read that right, drenched. This “wet welcome” is an AIESEC tradition. According to Perera, “it actually feels really good,” as the drenching brings a sense of relief after all the stress endured while campaigning. While the campaigning and election process for AIESEC might sound complicated to some, Perera describes it as being, “quite fun and very diplomatic.”
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
WORDS | Annabelle Lum
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Student elections are fast approaching, and the animals are hungry for your vote. We are all familiar with the usual and generally harmless CV-obsessed invertebrate, the mature-age amphibians with a bee in their bonnet, and the goose that promises golden eggs. We all assume that amongst them there are some students with real ability, but how do you spot one? To find them, you need to know your enemy. To help you wade your way through the forest of bullshit and find the candidates worth knowing (and they do exist!), I give you this handy guide.
THE HACK
THE LIBERTARIAN
Habitat: You will find this self-important creature stalking the dark corners of the Ubar, flanked by two or three like-minded beasts –one of whom will be wearing a suit. How to spot a Hack: The hack is nobody’s friend but everyone’s ally. In the course of two beers, the hack will go from speaking in hushed tones about insider-plots and having ‘the numbers’, to bragging loudly that their electoral material was printed on parliamentary photocopiers, courtesy of a borrowed staff member’s pass. Catch phrases: “Let’s cut a deal.” “Deal’s off!” “We can’t trust them, they’re from [insert faction name here].” Listen for political name-dropping (“as I told Tony the other day”, “Albo warned me off”) and a slew of acronyms (think NUS, NLS, ALSF). How to avoid: Stay a minimum of 50m from any person in a brightly coloured t-shirt (complete with not-so-catchy slogan) who is surrounded by confused, similarly dressed first years. If approached. Stand tall, shout, “I’ve already voted,” and briskly walk away.
Habitat: This particular electoral beast will find you, and will always be looking for a favour. If you are lucky, you will escape with a mere promise to vote for them or their ‘ticket’; but beware, linger too long and you may find yourself bundled with rolls of sticky tape and posters of beaming law students. How to spot a Libertarian: Look for flyers and A4 images of someone’s face poking out of a shabby satchel or backpack. The Libertarian is poorly attired, and reeks of desperation. This experienced prowler can smell indecision, and preys on innocence. The Libertarian is intensely ambitious and hopes to be supreme ruler of the jungle, although their reptilian form prevents ascendancy up the food chain. Catch Phrases: “Well, yes, I couldn’t agree more. You are highly intelligent, like me.” “I see you are interested in [insert any topic]. In fact, I have read extensively on that very issue.” “I will give you class-notes if you assist me in my campaign.” Listen for an air of pomposity masking utter desperation. How to avoid: Engaging in debate should be avoided at all cost. Agreement is crucial, and will allow for a swift escape. Nodding your head, lower your gaze, and back slowly away. For added safety, mutter “yes, absolutely,” as you do so.
THE “YOU DON’T EVEN GO HERE” PSEUDOPOLITICO Habitat: This breed was thought to be restricted to the staunch socialists; but it has recently been discovered (by electoral officials) that these devoted nuts will cling to any pack they can get their claws into. They can be found perpetually loitering around the Campus Hub and Library. How to spot a Pseudo-Politico: This new breed is adept in the art of camouflage, blending in as a Macquarie student. Why they do this is anyone’s guess, and what they lack in political zeal they make up for in an unhinged desire to be on the top of the food chain. It is recommended to approach them only with extreme caution. The ‘original’ socialist Pseudo-Politicos can be easily spotted; look for ponytails, clip boards, and ideological angst. The rightwing genus (not to be confused with ‘genius’) is typically an alphamale. Catch Phrases: Socialist Species: “Smash Imperialism, NOW!” “Sign our petition to end racism!” Right-Wing Genus: “I love Macquarie!” “Tell me what I need to do for your vote? I’ll do it.” “Mate, I’ll buy you a beer if you vote for me… can I borrow some cash?” How to avoid: Raise your arms in the air to increase stature. Standing your ground, stare boldly into the creature’s eyes. Remain silent. This will unnerve the creature and they will back away. If this fails, yell unintelligibly, beat your chest and flap your arms. The animal will consider you one of it’s own kind, and move on to prey on someone of another species.
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Finally, a Word of Caution: It is often said that you get the candidates you deserve. To prevent extinction of the advocates who offer honesty and hard work (who fall prey to the noxious-gas emitted from those animals above), become involved, get informed, and vote for those worth voting for.
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FEATURE
Owning your image
WORDS | Renata Hercok
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omen have been cutting their hair short for years; just have a look at Audrey Hepburn, Jean Seberg and Mia Farrow. All three famous women cut their hair in a time when ‘big hair,’ beehives, and long, flowing locks were what was considered sexy and attractive. With that in mind, ‘pioneering’ may be a strong word to describe what myself and thousands of other women around the planet are doing at the moment. Yet long hair still at the forefront of the mind in terms of what is attractive for women to have; pioneering could be the right word. We live in an age of fast paced living and change. We have email, instant messaging, Facebook and Twitter all encased in mobile phones, seemingly attached to our hands. However, in the same way that large and loud issues, such as gay marriage seem to be blocked from attitudinal change by a steel-reinforced brick wall, the attitudes relating to short hair on women encounter that same barrier. Personally, I have been asked, by men and women, if I like girls, am I a radical feminist (who whips that one out in normal conversation, by the way?), have I lost interest in sex altogether, am I trying to prove a point, am I trying to repel men? Some might answer yes to some of these questions. I answer no.
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All the women today who have cut their hair short, have an inherently personal reason for doing so. Maybe it involves their job (Charlize Theron), maybe their hair is dead and giving it the chop is their only choice (Jennifer Lawrence), or maybe they just want a change after years of having long hair (Emma Watson). Another reason, often overlooked by many, is that some women feel it improves their own image of themselves, or takes their personal image in a direction more suited to where they’re at in their lives, and where they might want to go in the future. Hair can do all that? The answer is yes. Just ask Miley Cyrus. Unless you’re ten years old, nobody thinks first of the squeaky clean version of Miley Cyrus that graced our Disney Channel television screens as Hannah Montana. We think of Miley ‘twerking’ it out on screen at the MTV awards, or of those first few Instagram and Twitter photos of her undercut hairstyle on that fateful day when we realised, that she wasn’t good old Hannah Montana anymore. In fact, if you want to mark the exact day when Miley shed her Disney image, you can look to that day. With her chunky Doc Martens, bum bearing denim shorts, and new, edgy undercut, she looked like a total rock star and totally not like the Miley we were used to seeing.
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FEATURE
Owning your image
In a 2013 documentary by the ‘E! Network’, Cyrus concentrated on the new Miley that is saturating our news feeds and entertainment websites. Miley didn’t call it a change, and she definitely didn’t call it a replacement of the teenager with the squeaky clean image. She called it an evolution; an evolution from one stage of her life to another, like a caterpillar evolving into a butterfly, or a Charmeleon becoming Charizard (for all the Pokemon lovers out there). I believe that this is why so many women are chopping their long hair; they want to evolve into another version of themselves. It may be a version they like better, that makes them feel more attractive, comfortable in their own skin, or it may reflect a version of themselves that they want the world to see. I know this is the reason I decided to chop my hair off. It was inherently personal and it was “freeing”, to use a word from Charlize Theron when she chopped her locks. In the words of Halle Berry, my hair became an “accessory” that represented me, the stage of my life I was at, and my personality. What people need to understand is that hair is personal, despite the fact that it is on display for everyone to see. People still seem to think that other people’s hair is their business, and, as a result, these shorthaired pioneers still face the same attitudes every single day. Why? Because people perceive things in a particular way based on what they have grown up with. The mothers of most twenty year olds these days have long hair. The girls we’ve all grown up with have mostly always had long hair. The porn stars that people watch on the Internet all have long hair. “Long hair is perceived as sexy.” So why do we continue to persevere with short hair when it means we have to deal with ridiculous, often baseless accusations of homosexuality, undercharged sex lives, a lack of attractiveness, and radical feminism? We persevere because we want short hair; it suits our lifestyle and our own sense of self, and we like the way we are with it. But more than that, pioneers change the deep-seated social attitudes that many of us have grown up with. We keep our short hair because it familiarises people with the idea of women having short hair. Familiarity creates
comfort, which facilitates acceptance, and, from that, we hope that one-day our children and grandchildren will be able to step out with short hair, if they choose to, and not be met with the same attitudes and assumptions that the pioneers today deal with on a daily basis.
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A DRUG DEALING CHARITY WORKER WORDS | Jack Cameron Stanton
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ay lives out of home, and has for some time. He has a long-term girlfriend, has travelled rather extensively for his age, and completed a university degree in the ordinary time period whilst holding down a job. When you speak to Jay, it is immediately apparent he is intelligent and perceptive. It becomes troublesome to reconcile his veneer of aloofness with the truth, and you may feel you are being played. There is something else unique about Jay, which many individuals will never understand. He deals drugs. I use this abhorrent mentality, ‘drug dealing,’ for your convenience. I speak for myself when I argue that the unjust treatment of illicit drugs as all the same, or illegal for good reason, is a blindfold over our eyes. For some, the blindfold has tightened over the years, morphing into the fibre of their never winking, never opening eyelids. Without proper education, any substance can be an echoing cavern of fear. And when fear becomes involved it is often easier to run and hide than confront it. The switch from bud, to LSD and MDMA would seem to be a financial initiative. The payout per gram is, quite frankly, the smallest of all illicit trade. In the past, he trialed weed, but the reality dawned on him that stoners often begin dealing in order to fuel their own insatiable smoking. grapeshotmq.com.au
“What if I tell you all of his profit goes towards a charity? How then do we justify his actions? “ Moreover, what if Jay does not ascribe to a set of frequent customers, and instead sells these drugs in an ad hoc, happy-go-lucky sort of way? The presumption that addicts deal drugs to satisfy their addictions is no longer adequate. The drugs he sells do not form chemical addictions, after all. A set of qualities would define a stereotypical drug dealer as: 1. A user with an addiction. 2. Open to using many illicit drugs. 3. Financially dependent – to varying degrees – on dealing. 4. Leading a volatile lifestyle without concrete routine or structure. 5. Indifferent to many spheres of modern life. However Jay’s traits oppose this thinking: 1. He uses select drugs. Note: this element is not necessarily ‘opposite’ to our stereotypical dealer. 2. He uses drugs he is knowledgeable of, such as LSD, MDMA, DMT, and marijuana. grapeshot magazine | page 29
FEATURE morality check
1. 2. 3.
He is NOT financially dependent on dealing. His life is as structured as yours or mine. He is outgoing, intelligent, socially and culturally sensitive, and motivated.
Before we arrive to the issue of financial incentive, it is worthwhile questioning the manner of drugs that Jay prefers, and the implications of their effects. Jay is an advocate of psychedelics. The mind-expanding impact of LSD, psilocybin and the mythic DMT are considered by Sam Harris to be of ‘extraordinary power and utility.’ Hold on a minute. Think how encouraging the word ‘utility’ can be! Where are the extensive studies into LSD? How can we ascertain its negativity on the page 30 | grapeshot magazine
human mind without exploration? Why has its therapeutic benefits been pushed and shoved to the gallows? It’s a Titanic endeavour, identical in tragedy and obliviousness. I’m sure some of you have seen the British army’s test of LSD on marines in 1964, in which the effects of the psychedelic are monitored over the course of basic military instructions. All efforts to coordinate and maintain severity are three sheets to the wind. One man climbs a tree to feed the birds and another man tries – and almost succeeds – to chop down a tree with a spade. The men are amused and creative, yet the experiment, unfortunately, is disinformation. Conceptions of ‘set and setting’ dissipate. Other tests with different focuses grapeshotmq.com.au
FEATURE morality check
have produced similar, yet more inspiring, results. There is a 1950’s test with an artist titled the ‘Schizophrenic Model Psychosis Induced by LSD-25’. The researcher has already lost his credibility with such a blatant, partially skewed preference, to dismiss psychedelic experience as psychosis. What is Psychosis? The inference of something psychotic is the disintegration of the mind, not its expansion. How can a foundational distrust of psychedelics, viciously labeled hallucinogens, be the cornerstone of their social demonisation? The answer to this question simply eludes me. Back to the artist. His perceptions are heightened to a level of creative and inventive thought unprecedented for most ordinary human minds. When handed a sandwich and coffee after fasting for twenty hours, he dismisses them as ‘repugnant and realistic.’ However, when instructed to express his experience, he is eloquent. Ashen charcoal appears purple to his eyes, the rug billows and pulsates, and when prompted by the researcher to stop the movement of the rug, the artist states it is too ‘clever’ for that. Nine successive sketches using charcoal were requested throughout his trip, and the progression of his changing consciousness is remarked on the alterations and explanations he provides. Psychedelics are neutral. They tease out the pre-existing consciousness to further lengths. This works on euphoria as well as depression. An individual’s mind must be prepared appropriately.
“Bad trips are a thing. They exist, and are horrifying” Caution, an adherence to Leary’s set and setting, and a vast bank of knowledge are the minimal pre-requisites to experimentation with psychedelics. Individuals taking LSD with a troubled mind are like swimming with a bleeding leg. So where does this take us? Well, our friend Jay may not be a financially dependent drug dealer because his ideologies stretch beyond the immediate consequences of selling psychedelics. Their market is minimal, their popularity fluctuant and use infrequent, due to its intensity and duration. The money is donated to Fred Hollows Foundation. A primary aim of the Foundation is to reduce cases of preventable blindness. I feel as though Jay’s is quite similar. He intends to spread a mind-altering substance, he believes, is beneficial to the individual for their personal and spiritual growth. Take it as you may, but I think he is trying to reduce blindness. He wants to lift the blindfolds off those he can, before their skin heals over and they become permanent, living in unwinking darkness.
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WORDS | Andrew Beks It’s here again. It comes twice a year. It empties our wallets, and, in return, gives us these heavy expensive textbooks. We spend several months glued to these books. And at the conclusion of our term with them, we often sell, unceremoniously discard, or even allow them to sit on a shelf and gather dust. Considering each book costs between $60 to about $180, it’s not uncommon for students to spend over $300-$400 a semester on textbooks. Naturally, buying textbooks is no cheap ordeal. But luckily there are some alternatives to paying full price.
MACQUARIE BOOK EXCHANGE
GET IT FROM YOUR FRIENDS
A great resource to get access to students with the textbook you need to purchase. I have bought textbooks through here. The best way, I suggest, is to send a message to several people and see if they will accept a cheaper offer. Haggling is always a great way to save some coin. As a bonus, you may even score some free notes from the previous owner, or get some tips on how to survive the semester and get your desired grade.
You could put a message out on Facebook letting people know what you need. It’s even better to ask people in person or send them an SMS. Find out what units people have done or are doing, and maybe they might trade books with you or buy one you no longer need. If you’re lucky enough to have generous friends, they may even give you their textbooks at a cheaper rate, or maybe even free!
POSTERS AROUND CAMPUS Everyone has seen those posters around campus; up on the boards near the courtyard. Check them out and see if you can score a bargain. Send an SMS or make a call. It doesn’t cost much. So hunt around and see if you can score a bargain.
BUYING IT ON THE WEB Websites such as Amazon sell textbooks, and often it can be quite cheaper. Keep in mind it can take several weeks for them to arrive, unfortunately. You could pay for the express postage, but this could make it more expensive compared to dropping down to the Co-op Bookshop and buying them from there. Another alternative is Gumtree, but again, this tends to have fewer textbooks than the Macquarie Book Exchange.
ZOOKAL I keep getting these flyers handed to me about this Zookal Company during lectures. I have researched it and found that they promise to beat any price you can get for a textbook in a bookstore. You can also rent textbooks and return them at the end of the semester if you want to save more money. I personally haven’t used them before, but it would be great to get some feedback from anyone who has!
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S R E T T E L C I L B U P E R TO THE
t | The An WORDS
at lurk terrors th a e th e in g ima ck of n scarcely ernails and the la you a c I . , la n u o iby ror fing st Griers ils of Ch at the ter id drips, re My deare y in the to w it h. Insects, ac Federation, quail f the risk they we a w a , k il y r o a e u w e w o th a e y th n e in d k n h n re a do w it tion whe ns to you folk hath Even we, er a ll, the Federa y li ke Chiby u la, Sa lutatio s that the f your suffering! ft tr ie n A r . u to g o s c in e g r o th ffe din beneath e horror itiona l su hin a bud attress. Th d or cond this uprising w it proper m d, whether bloo il w it h the t to unve ure our fau lt f o t r have end ping off their bes a r of the p on the ip ve dange ever y ti sh ll , la ia t! g c re h e in e ig k ta , esp d th at n ld n ings cou you there had misca lcu late on roars befa llen the upris labour and free s mighty li s r f a e o e h s S t a e lm h a th e qu n of that d at w s’? thought mentatio rzone? Th ethinker , dismaye mitted ly , who wou ld have ing you into a wa c! W hy our imple nd so-ca lled ‘fre n is d a l, e fe I li o ll ’a ad eir repub ‘radica ls ace implementati t. A fter a tica lly lo placemen hy we were prac demeanours of th from those pesk y pe d n a n o is ?W ssi de situation rompted by the m ts of v iolence, asi t – suppre ac forcemen np s n e s e e b r le e e m p v a a h se f pro current led to no its lack o public! t of your h g li p et w it h press acts hy Chiby u la and of a successf u l re e ns to th t to be m e o h lt g ti g fi a u in e d o n li r o th o e ti Pit y pow r th cons func hear tfelt ighbouring super d you needn’t fea nt to the cept our n e para mou c a ere the n a , h l a k w il a , m e w n o , others eech fr as we sp ederatio g d sp F n e nd e s o h e u tc m fr io a a r m h , p dis r glo ue s o e a of suc that you are being e you back at ou of this gr pression ls re p ia We hope c tu su e ffi fu o v e th ha r th . W hy es? The , we sha ll mph ove situation ar from our offic nts. Soon f speech w il l triu a s a e w p le a la c hiby u fu ll-s edom o of these C y and fre authorit y n of the authorit reig glorious prising! u y blood d others. to you an s e h is w t My bes e The Mus . ration Ltd The Fede
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g. ur sentencin have beset yo at e th s th ie lt on n difficu kdow ear of great h their crac My dea I believe? I h ic. W hat w it s, bl u th s. ep al on R in m la e yu crim time – nin for the Chib ssing of war quite some a foreign term nience w it h their proce ot n It has been is s are k, ea le your action , so to sp ta ke no eration that Damnation to at they w il l ed th gh F s e ou th em en se l to u s it ng y obv iou een gratef gl b n as si h ea recent uprisi and ic cr g bl in in u Rep ome includ , as it has bec of justice. The Chibyu la eir countr y, se th ca in g, is h in th it w gn in s ai r ca mp r action iminals, r process al to I say war cr utions, smea detai led you d indeed ou on ib as an ti tr h u y, at d it ac d st an n m an s, lo dip ng news at is unco yi th if your charge e ls n r ri fa fo outside our , s ct d o eft d an oting lary, th our dem ching, burg ty, and prom comply w it h ional securi lligence brea at te n in g : in to ag ed not limit w ing, dam vi leges as g, whistleblo use your pri ab to yellow-pagin as se n ed you, and u no se . ways preced als? Have yo al ci the Republic ffi as o h e d our th ar o to in the B I to say t serv ice to utation w it h rate, diligen on eart h am p cu at re great h r ac e w r , ou m u n Y gs yo ? so er ought brin rely on for ation Press n th er e ca My dear Gri ed th e F w e st w th ju resistance the fe sing… tative of n ends – the e been one of ur par t on such an upri ow the represen av s h it ion. u to t yo n ou e agai sorted for informat ai led yo time and tim s examined almost been por t has det le of er as re ru h ad e e le ic th r th bl at ei d u th th an ep k the few, astes and hin the R of w it s e w d ru le. To thin g th ave n ee t h n si ou e e ri w p over th s, and through pesk y u its ow n end ce triumphs e ed, scattered la shame! This tl u gl n an op ta p m n e is u d th , to ed here shed is world – w la has manag has been cru e nature of th ed by the smal l! Chibyu th is ch su And strain ard of nnot be con rectional Bo the greats ca ing reign. d d bu s ar y and Cor it n t as a li by p bu d ci o e, is o D gu st always Chibyu la as a collea e ot th n h – it t w es g b ply in al l the rrently com il l w ish you ntative is cu ase. I w il l st le re r u yo Our represe of nsideration Justice for co friend. n, rest Grierso
Sincerely, The Muse ion Ltd. The Federat
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grapeshot magazine | page 35
CREATIVE Poetry
HEART & MIND
WORDS | Leon Dhemba
For ‘twas a battle soon ensued Amongst the rivals of clan and brood ‘Twas a struggle night and day Of the warriors red and grey The crimson army strode forth with might Passion and fury their guiding light The ashen army of mighty grey Stood and analysed as was their way Both were forces of equal measure Fighting brave for precious treasure This much is true, fortune favours the bold But patience is a virtue, or so one is told Valour and honour, knowledge and power Conditions of victory change by the hour Cold and calculated, passion and vigor Who will be the ultimate victor? The smoke clears and the dust sets A clear victory does neither get The end of this battle is yours to find Who will be your victor? Heart or mind?
My name is Leon Dhemba, and I am a member of one of the on campus accommodations, Robert Menzies College (RMC). I wrote this piece because at the time I was really struggling with a conflict between my heart and my mind. I didn’t know what to follow, which decision would hurt less. This poem was for everyone who’s ever struggled like this.
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HOROSCOPES REVIEWS
ACROSS THE BAR
THE STEW
THE SMILING CHEF
REPEAT OFFENDERS
WORDS | Manisha Josephraja
F
ear of missing out (FOMO) is defined by Urban Dictionary as “a state of mental or emotional strain caused by the fear of missing out.” It can be seen as a positive or negative condition, it’s all about perspective. Interestingly enough, a study conducted by Andrew Przybylski at Oxford University shows that FOMO sufferers are more likely to possess unfulfilled psychological needs of love and respect from peers. That’s kind of heavy. That being said, FOMO isn’t always necessarily a bad thing. It may force you to venture outside your comfort zone and discover new places and meet new people. It becomes a problem when it begins to make you unhappy or has a detrimental impact on your lifestyle, whether it’s financially or personally. It’s important to stand your ground and be assertive. Let’s face it, sometimes all you want to do is get into your PJ’s and watch Reba all night on YouTube – your friends should never make you feel guilty about this. The rise of FOMO goes hand in hand with the rise of social media. After all, how would you know that girl that you once spoke to in a tutorial, just met Matt Corby outside the Oxford Art Factory smoking area? By spreading yourself too thin, you risk exhaustion and even a potential burn out. When your studies start to suffer or you’re taking more time off work just to catch up on sleep, your #yolo tag on Instagram isn’t going to be there to comfort you. The night just might end up in an emergency room or backstage in a green room, but I guess you’ll never know until you try. Real friends wouldn’t judge you on what you decide, only Judy has that authorisation. page 38 | grapeshot magazine
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ACROSS THE BAR It’s complicated...
Dear Bartender,
Dear Potential Third Wheeler,
Let me tell this to you straight – my BFF is cutting my grass, and in fact, has cut it ever since high school. Any guy that I have even slight interest in, she’s all over like a seedy rash contracted from a Future Music Festival portaloo. I’ve always let it go as a, “its not worth the drama,” kind of thing. Until now.
Ahhh friendship, shit gets more fickle the older we get.
See, I’ve been openly seeing this guy for a while now. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not serious enough for a Facebook relationship status, but its not casual enough for me to go home with that random cute guy from the bar. I actually like the guy. Anyway, yep, you guessed it, my BFF has been flirting her little buns off around him, and it’s driving me insane. I know exactly where it’s headed. What do I do?
Potential Third Wheeler
I tend to think of dealing with friends a lot like dealing with great TV Shows. There are some shows that you’ll watch over and over, season after season, because they’re classic, and it still makes you feel good to watch them. Then there are others. The programs that you watch obsessively until the writing gets old, the characters get bland, the plot line goes no where and, you turn it off. This friend sounds like the fourth season of the O.C (Marissa is dead, its no longer worth your time) – unproductive and disappointing. It would seem that she’s been piggybacking on your limelight for way too long and its time for it to stop. Sounds to me that this friend that used to be a good time, now just has you watching the same crappy drama over and over. Meh, I say find something better to watch and leave that third wheel behind. It was too heavy anyway.
The Bartender grapeshotmq.com.au
grapeshot magazine | page 39
THE SMILING CHEF Recipes
Happy Cooking and Keep Smiling, Brendon D’Souza a.k.a. The Smiling Chef :) Check out Brendon’s blog at brendonthesmilingchef.wordpress.com for more great recipes.
Grains are a good source of essential proteins. In addition, they are usually quite inexpensive and make great weekday lunches, or even elegant desserts. Spicy lentil enchiladas are great for when the weather starts to cool down, whilst the brown rice salad makes a great accompaniment to fish. For those special occasions with tight budgets, these semolina crème brûlées will no doubt be a truly memorable dessert.
Prep time 20 minutes | Cooking time 40 minutes SERVES 4 • 200g Puy lentils, rinsed • 200g ripe tomatoes, diced • 100g eggplant, diced • 1 medium brown onion, diced • 2 tbsp ground cumin • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 tsp chilli powder • 1 medium green chilli, thinly sliced (optional) • 80g baby spinach, washed • 1 cup tomato passata cooking sauce • 8 corn tortillas • ½ cup béchamel sauce • ½ cup grated cheese
For the filling, place the lentils, tomatoes, eggplant, onion and spices in a large cooking pot and cover with enough cold water to reach 2cm above the mixture. Season with pepper and cook following the instructions on the lentil packet until they are tender. Season with salt and stir in spinach, and chilli if desired. To make the enchiladas, spread ¼ of the tomato passata in the bottom of a rectangular baking dish. Lay a tortilla flat on a kitchen bench. Cover with ⅛ of the filling. Roll up the tortilla and place it in the baking dish. Repeat to make eight rolls. Cover the enchiladas with the remaining passata and top with the béchamel sauce and grated cheese. Bake in a 200ºC oven for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling.
TIP: ANY LEFTOVERS WILL MAKE A GREAT LUNCHBOX FILLER, WHICH CAN EASILY BE HEATED UP IN THE MICROWAVES AT UNI. BE SURE TO PACK IT IN A MICROWAVE SAFE, LEAK-PROOF DISH, AND DON’T FORGET A FORK.
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Prep time 10 minutes | Cooking time 15 minutes | Chilling time 3 hours or overnight SERVES 4 • 25ml orange juice • 4 prunes • 600ml milk • 50g butter • 50g semolina • 50g caster sugar, plus 4 tbsp extra for the topping
Place the juice and prunes in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 30 seconds to allow the prunes to plump up.
Prep time 10 minutes | Cooking time 15 minutes SERVES 4 • 200g brown rice • 2 tbsp olive oil • 200g green zucchini, diced into 1cm cubes • 200g broccoli, cut into florets, stalk reserved (see ‘Tip’ below) • 25g sesame seeds • ½ lemon, juiced
For the semolina cream, place the milk and butter into a medium saucepan. Heat over medium flame till just under boiling. Reduce heat to low and rain in the semolina. Cook, stirring slowly for 10-15 minutes until the mixture thickens. Be very careful as the mixture will bubble and splatter. You are looking for a thick creamy consistency. Stir through the sugar.
Cook the rice according to the directions on the packet. I recommend the absorption method. This helps to retain all the nutrients.
Divide the prunes and juice between four ovenproof ramekins. Top with ¼ of the semolina mixture in each, cover with foil, and chill for 3 hours or more in the fridge.
While the rice cooks, heat oil in a frying pan and stir-fry vegetables for 3-4 minutes over a high heat till cooked, but still a vibrant green.
When ready to serve, sprinkle 1 tbsp of caster sugar over each pudding. If you have a blowtorch, slowly wave the flame 5cm away from the surface until caramelised. Alternatively, pop under a grill/salamander for 5 minutes until caramelised.
Once the rice is cooked, stir through the vegetables, sesame and juice, and season well.
TIP: A LITTLE GOES A VERY LONG WAY WITH THIS DESSERT. IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH SEMOLINA, BUT IT EXPANDS QUITE RAPIDLY WHEN HEATED, SO DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO ADD MORE, OR YOU’LL HAVE YOURSELF A SEMOLINA VOLCANO.
TIP: IF YOU CAREFULLY PEEL OFF THE OUTSIDE SKIN OF THE BROCCOLI STEM WITH A KNIFE OR PEELER, YOU CAN DICE THE FLESH AND EAT IT. IT GIVES GREAT CRUNCH TO THIS SALAD.
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grapeshot magazine | page 41
CHAT THAI Better than its name would imply (yes I went there, literally), Chat Thai’s cuisine is a flavor filled punch in the mouth of spices, mint, chicken, and all things rice. Not for the faint hearted, eating here is like a delicious work out. As your mouth transforms into a desert on fire, the word ‘spice’ fails to deliver just how deliciously seasoned it is. Serving entrees and multiple courses, I recommend getting a salad to go with your main; the salad is the hottest thing you’ll be eating and the best way to flavor your meal. Pro-tip: get the white rice. Bland rice and a burning salad = gloriousness which will have you coming back for more.
STUD
WORDS | Alessandro Guarrera
BUD DINI
THE STEW This issue we looked at some of the most highly reviewed places to dine that won’t empty your wallet.
MENYA NOODLE BAR “Irashaimase!” Welcome to the home of Sydney’s best ramen! Mind you, you wouldn’t know it by looking at it. Menya is tucked away behind a flight of stairs in one of Chinatown’s many shopping arcades. Inside is no more glamorous; a single wooden bench runs the length of the shop reminding customers more of street food than an actual restaurant. However, don’t let the facade put you off! Menya’s ramen selection is one of the largest and tastiest any Sydney noodle shop has to offer. The price is affordable too. $10-$13 (depending on what topping you choose) will get you a very generous serving. For those not totally obsessed with ramen, they also offer a full range of reasonably priced Udon and rice dishes. page 42 | grapeshot magazine
WORDS | Emma Vlatko
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THE STEW #DiscoverSydney
SEOUL-RIA Sitting atop George Street we find Seoul-Ria; a Korean fusion restaurant that brings together the best food from North-Eastern China and the Korean peninsula. There are plenty of meal choices for the humble adventurer, offering a wide-range of meals like the lightly spiced ‘bibimbap’; or even the more heavily spiced Kimchi Jigae made from the Korean staple, Kimchi. The meals are fairly priced given the location, and one can expect to pay anywhere from $10-$18 for a single meal. You can, of course, eat at Seoul-Ria alone; however, Korean food is best enjoyed with the company of friends. For a more genuine Korean experience, come with $20-30 in your pocket and half a dozen mates. Start by ordering Korean barbeque, have a few Korean beers; or perhaps try ‘soju’, traditional Korean gin.
DENT
DGET ING
WORDS | Nathan Falzon
#DiscoverSydney Got a fun place, activity or experience in Sydney to share? Tweet us your discoveries or Instagram photos, both @grapeshotmq to us with #DiscoverSydney and #grapeshot for a chance to win special prizes! Visit online for more details.
FRANKIE’S PIZZA BAR Hidden in the Sydney CBD, near Wynyard Station, is one of Sydney’s most wacky pizza bars. Upon visiting this Sydney gem, you are confronted by a cheekily adorned Italian-American themed restaurant, lavished with nude vintage posters. As you walk in, it will become apparent that you are visiting one of Sydney’s most trendy bars. With the music pumping all around you, observe the candles stuck in old Chianti bottles on top of red-and-white chequered tablecloths. If you came here for the pizza, you can buy pizza by a slice, coming in at $5 or the whole slab for $16. The pizzas are true to the Italian theme, thin crust adorned with simple toppings – sausage ham, salami and vegetarian, and if you wish to ruin the tradition, you can even grab a slice of the Hawaiian variety. So come to Frankie’s, kick back, have a slice of pizza, and wash it down with some intoxicatingly good, craft beer.
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WORDS | Nathan Falzon
grapeshot magazine | page 43
REVIEWS
Culture
MUSIC
GAMES
G I R L
TITANFALL There’s been a mammoth amount of hype surrounding Titanfall and I’m happy to say that, for the most part, it’s a success. When the game isn’t suffering from lag, running, wall-jumping, jetpacking and shooting your way through cities is a heap of fun. However, the real joy comes when you hear the words “Prepare for Titanfall”. Summoning your own personalised deathdealing Titan is one of the coolest highlights. The maps are all wonderfully varied and the verticality is fantastic, letting you get creative with urban parkour. It is a polished experience that masters, what I’d call, ‘refined chaos’. Titanfall has landed and with it, finally, a reason to own an Xbox One. Ben O’Brien
Pharrell Williams Pharrell Williams has made quite a stir these past twelve months, appearing on Daft Punk’s super-hit ‘Get Lucky’ and Robin Thicke’s controversial ‘Blurred Lines’ (and who can forget his appearance at this year’s Grammys, donning a Canadian Mountie-esque hat?) With the release of his latest record, the funk-influenced, pop-heavy G I R L, it seems there is a new reason people will be talking about Williams this year. Featuring upbeat, energetic songs like ‘Happy’ and ‘Gust of Wind’, as well as guest appearances from the likes of Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys, G I R L is the quintessential pop album; catchy but not groundbreaking, and featuring infectious songs destined for regular radio airplay. Ben Nour
OUTLAWS Ed Thomas
South Park: Stick of Truth
Outlaws is defined by the contrast between its spacey-ambience and cool melodic vocals. At times, the layered harmonies deliver a submerged airiness, while other tracks provide a more driving and soaring power with the vocals. The ethereal qualities of the E.P. are delivered by its rolling bass-lines that complement the well-orchestrated keys and synth. With chilled vibes that are both captivating and skillfully composed, the tracks capture a sense of cohesion that has become too rare in the E.P arena. Don’t skip the smooth groove of ‘Hurt.’ Jack Stanton
DIVERGENT (2014)
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
This is the South Park game fans have all been waiting for. Largely due to the creator’s direct involvement, the game offers fresh, original content, and is a great service to fans. Following an RPG format, you create your own South Park kid and jump continuously from the hilarious to the ridiculous. The game only lasts about 12 hours, but any game that has side quests, such as ‘Defriend Al Gore on Facebook,’ gets a big tick from me. A must have for all South Park fans. Ben O’Brien
page 44 | grapeshot magazine
You won’t want to miss out on the musical backdrop to the biggest sci-fi release since the first Hunger Games. The soundtrack features a stellar assortment of artists, like Ellie Goulding, Kendrick Lamar ft. Tame Impala, A$AP Rocky ft. Gesaffelstein (yes, I Googled that spelling). Together, they generate the dystopian, post-apocalyptic mood of the film. Just to top it off, the score of the film was composed by Junkie XL and Hans Zimmer (um… The Lion King, anyone?). Mia Kwok
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FILMS
BOOKS
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS
Rodeo cowboy, Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey), is a homophobic Texan who, in an ironic twist of fate, discovers that he has contracted AIDS. Perceived to be a homosexual, he is alienated by his friends, fired from his job, and evicted from his home, all while suffering from the painful symptoms of his disease. Told by doctors that he has thirty days left to live, Ron defiantly boasts that “there ain’t nothing out there that can kill Ron Woodroof in 30 days”. In an effort to secure AZT, a clinical trial drug thought to prolong the life of AIDS patients, Ron travels to Mexico. He soon begins smuggling unapproved medication into the USA, pairing up with a transwoman Rayon (Jared Leto) to sell the drugs to AIDS patients. Both Leto and McCounaughey deliver perhaps their best performances yet, and the result is a confrontational, yet inspirational film that both entertains, and educates. On one hand, this film is about the AIDS epidemic of the 1980’s, and on the other, it is an insight into the personal growth of a man, plagued by a terrible disease, who finds his worldview unexpectedly changing.
A French psychiatrist, named Hector, finds himself dissatisfied that so few people are truly happy. So, in an attempt to uncover the secret to happiness, he sets out on a world trip to observe happy people and document his findings. On his adventures, he encounters a monastery, a kidnapping, chickens on a plane, and a professor of happiness. Despite dealing with a heavy topic, the book is whimsical and light hearted. Although, the eponymous character seems to objectify women throughout the book, he still manages to give dimension to the faceted nature of humanity through his naivety. Merging self-help with childish fiction, this story leaves the reader with a thought-provoking list of over twenty observations on happiness that will improve your life.
Jean-Marc Vallée
François Lelord
Rabeah Zafrullah
BLUE WORDSWORDS} YELLOW Rabeah Zafrullah
In this alternate history novel, it is 1946, and leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, is convinced that the defeat of America is merely years away. So, he employs a group of Russian science fiction writers to invent an alien invasion scenario, which he can use to unify the Russian people. The imaginative premise, memorable characters, and high concept ideas, make for an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
Ben Nour
Pompeii (2014)
Paul W. S. Anderson Two words: Kit. Harrington. The Game of Thrones star is pretty much the only reason your girlfriend is letting you see this flick. Now, I know this doesn’t sell the film for everyone, but this film is much like Gladiator with lava and explosions. It also stars the talented Emily Browning (of Sucker Punch) as Harrington’s love interest. Mia Kwok
COMPETITION BOX:
Send an email to grapeshot@mq.edu.au telling us your best or worst movie-date experience, and the winner will receive a double pass to Pompeii. Competition closes April 20.
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TIBIA
Adam Roberts
Ben Nour
AMERICANAH
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie A transnational tale of romance and race, this story follows the life of Ifemelu, a young Nigerian woman, who has left her war-torn country for the United States of America. It is here that she encounters a whirlwind of emotions from the ensuing culture-shock. All the while in London, Obinze, her old flame from Nigeria, is struggling to adjust to life in London. Adichie crafts her words in a way that delicately combines satire and sentiment to create a story that everyone can relate to; regardless of class, race, or gender. Sarah Basford
grapeshot magazine | page 45
CROSSWORD Rabeah Zafrullah
HOROSCOPES WORDS | Megan Smith
ARIES Stop fantasising. They’re not that into you. TAURUS You’re a creep. You’re a weirdo. What
the hell are you doing here? You don’t belong here. Have a good month!
GEMINI The hot person in your tute that you’re working up the courage to talk to will mention their significant other in the first sentence. You will then quickly shift focus to the second hottest person in the tute.
CANCER Our relationships will end this
month. Was it your crippling fear of commitment, or theirs? You’re just going to have to wait to find out!
LEO Your mum is going to be doing something mundane this month, like grocery shopping for drain cleaner or something, and she’ll have the sudden realisation that you probably masturbate and she’s going to feel weird the next time you see her, but you won’t even know about it, and everything will be slightly different from now on between you two.
VIRGO If you’re thinking of getting “drunk” and kissing your friend, don’t. If they wanted to kiss you, they would have initiated it by now.
Across
1. Greek god of the sea 5. Fire breathing reptile 8. Hagrid’s giant spider 9. Two-masted sailing ship 10. A Titan who was condemned to hold the earth and heaven apart 11. A small living creature or animal 12. Not in 13. Used by hospitals to magnetically scan patients 14. A health-giving mineral spring 15. German composer, John Sebastion18. A sister who became a slave in an edible house 20. Norse ruler of Asgard 21. Arch-enemy 24. Slightly historical tales of heroes 27. Britain in King Arthur’s time 28. Roman goddess of love 29. Mythical small winged creature 30. Poetic pieces from Ancient Greece, usually dedicated to someone 31. Ruler of the Olympian gods
Down
1. Winged stallion 2. In chess, when a player can’t make any more moves 3. Having a tendency to be easily angered 4. Poisonous plant used in witches’ potions 5. A small knife for fighting 6. Three mythical sisters with stony gazes 7. Usually found on Elm Street 16. Ancient 17. Lacking sense or meaning 18. Great wizard, found in both Grey and White 19. Slang: more than you need to know 20. Titan who ruled the sea 22. Often accompanied by pitchforks, torches and angry signs 23. Tale OR level of a building 24. A wind-powered ship uses these 26. Roman poet, best known for Metamorphoses
LIBRA The friend that stands a little too close
to you and watches your lips when you talk was going to try and kiss you this month. Don’t worry though; I talked them out of it.
SCORPIO You can cheat on your partner,
literally, whenever you want, if the opportunity arises. But maybe don’t, hey.
SAGITTARIUS You are going to accidentally hit “like” on the social media profile of someone you like but don’t know that well from like, 42 weeks ago. You’ll panic and click “unlike” and hope they don’t see it. They will.
CAPRICORN Everybody is just not that into you.
AQUARIUS There’s a distinct chance that
you’re going to fall in love this month, but trust me; nobody wants to hear about it.
PISCES Tumbleweed. page 46 | grapeshot magazine
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grapeshot magazine | page 47
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