SRC Orientation Week Handbook 2014

University of sydney students’ representative council presents

orientation handbook

2014

STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

www.src.usyd.edu.au

The University of Sydney Students’ Representative Council acknowledges the traditional owners of this land, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.

We stand on this land today as beneficiaries of an uncompensated and unreconciled dispossession which occurred over 200 years ago.

Many of the descendants of those dispossessed live just down the road in abject poverty, and as young people it is important to recognise how this history of dislocation and disenfranchisement has contributed to the inequity we observe in contemporary society, particularly in the area of education.

We acknowledge both our privilege and our obligation to redress the situation as best we can: to remember the mistakes of the past, act on the problems of today, and build for a future for everyone who will not call this place home, striving always for practical and meaningful reconciliation.

If you are reading this, you are standing on Aboriginal land. Please recognise and respect this.

orientation handbook 2014

CONTENTS 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 12 13 14 16 17 18 20 21 22 24 26

editorial president’s report vice presidents general secretaries Education Women’s recent history ssaf special consideration academic appeals legal service academic dates money, money, money mental health centrelink accommodation food map pubs

27 coffee 28 collectives 29 education action group 30 queer 32 disabilities and carers 33 indigenous 34 environment 36 community garden 37 international 38 welfare 40 nus 41 sexual harrassment 42 social justice 43 intercampus 44 mature age 45 acar 46 global solidarity 47 arc 48 acknowledgements

editorial

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welcome to sydney university, and may the odds be ever in your favour Alright, so it may be a little too much, but at least it’s topical. Picking The Hunger Games as a theme for this year’s Orientation Handbook seemed like a good idea at the time, but apparently there are only so many bloody pictures of Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen face expressing determination, or disgust. In any case, starting university (or continuing, for that matter) is a little like being picked as a tribute to represent your district of Panem and fight to the death for survival. And by “a little like”, we mean completely dissimilar.

This handbook contains a collection of advice for your university life. It covers things like Centrelink, accommodation, food, coffee, academic advice, and our recommendations for where to grab a sweet brew at the end of a long, strenuous day of being an Arts student.

You’ll also find a range of Office Bearer reports from the SRC’s various departments and positions, such as Wom*n’s, Queer, Education, and Social Justice to name a select few. These reports contain information on how to get involved in the different campaigns that can help you make the most of your life at Sydney University.

By now you’ve heard all the boring crap about how hard it is when you first start university, how overwhelming the institution’s administration can be, and why time management is so important.

We’re not here to bore you with that patronising babble all over again, so the SRC’s Orientation Handbook is meant to be more of a fun reprieve from the stagnant, repetitive white noise spewed by allknowing relatives and university pamphlets.

This handbook is overseen, compiled and laid out by the General Secretaries of the SRC: Mariana, a former Honi Soit

Editor and current Sociology Honours student, and James, a third-year Science/ Arts student and debater for the USU. We also had some help with the design from Rafi, a perpetually disgruntled InDesign whiz (pictured, with maniacal grin). Its articles were written by members of the Orientation Committee, as well as a couple of contributors who are thanked in full on page 48. The office bearer reports are written by the people currently holding positions such as Wom*n’s officers, Education officers, and Queer officers, who are selected each year.

Starting university (or continuing, for that matter) is a little like being picked as a tribute to represent your district of Panem and fight to the death for survival. And by “a little like”, we mean completely dissimilar.

You may be (probably aren’t) wondering why the handbook is completely in black and white, even though it’s had some colour in previous years. The simple reason for this is that black and white printing is cheaper for the SRC, and as the bookkeepers for the organisation, we always have our eyes peeled on how we can redirect and move around funds to ensure we can financially support services, campaigns and activism as much as

possible. Since the introduction of Voluntary Student Unionism, the effects of diminishing finances and limited monetary support have hit student organisations like the SRC hard.

Each year, when you pay your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), this pool of money gets allocated to different student organisations. The majority of this money goes to Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness (SUSF), who provide no free services for students, and the University of Sydney Union who currently charges $75 for an ACCESS card. The SRC has a free legal service, and a free caseworker service. All undergraduates are automatically free members. Yep, awks. For a full breakdown of where your money goes, see the figure on page 11.

Well, that’s it from us. We hope you find this handbook handy. Helpful uses include: something to show your parents to prove you’re “taking uni seriously”, as a coaster, as gift-wrap, or as a placemat for a greasy kebab.

- Mariana Podesta-Diverio and James Leeder, SRC General Secretaries 2014

We are just so happy

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president’s report Unfortunately we have entered a year in which the Abbott Government will be a serious threat to our education.

We are at risk of seeing the privatisation of HECS, the deregulation of University fees, and more cuts to higher education funding.

Welcome to Sydney University. You have just been chosen (studied tirelessly) to embark on one of the biggest roller coasters of your life, and the SRC is your sponsor (life support) to help you successfully get through it.

My name is Jen Light and I’m your SRC President for 2014. The SRC is your Student Representative Council, there are 33,000 undergraduate students and we are the peak body here to represent you and fight for you.

We are your voice to the University, to the Government, and the wider community.

The SRC is also affiliated with the National Union of Students (NUS), the national body that connects all SRCs around the country together. NUS has a two pronged approach; one is to lobby the Government and be the national voice on student issues, and the other is to run national campaigns throughout the year on specific education and welfare issues.

HOW CAN THE SRC HELP YOU? The SRC has been around for 86 years and we have a long history of being completely run by students to benefit students. We offer free, confidential casework and legal services, that are available to all undergraduate students. These services spread out to Cumberland, Sydney College of the Arts, the Conservatorium of Music, the Nursing Campus at Mallett St, and Camden Campus.

University life can be hard to to and there are always hiccups the way, so our caseworkers are on your side, to help you out • Youth Allowance and Centrelink • Academic Appeals • Discontinuing/Withdrawing • Students at Risk • Show Cause • Exclusion • Tenancy Advice

adapt along here, with:

•Fee refunds •Harassment and Discrimination •International Student Issues •Plagiarism and Misconduct THE FIGHT TO SURVIVE!!

Unfortunately we have entered a year in which the Abbott Government will be a serious threat to our education. We are at risk of seeing the privatisation of HECS, the deregulation of university fees, and more cuts to higher education funding. Sydney University SRC will be ready to ensure that any cuts or threats to the quality of our education and the inclusiveness of attending university will be fought against at every level possible.

While we are facing possible cuts to funding and ever-increasing fees, many students have to deal with rent payments, groceries, parttime work and full-time study. We at the SRC will be working tirelessly to fight for fairer rent costs and a fairer centrelink system.

S T U D E N T S ’ R E P R E S E N TAT I V E C O U N C I L U N I V E R S I T Y O F S Y D N E Y

COME JOIN US!!!

Like I said, the SRC is completely run by students for students, and the only reason this works is because we have hundreds of passionate students in our various collectives and working as office bearers for our different departments. These include Education, Women’s, Queer, Welfare, Environment, Indigenous, International, Disabilities, Ethno-cultural, and many more.

Hopefully I’ll see you throughout the year.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me: president@src.usyd.edu.au; Have fun at uni, but most importantly get involved!!!

- Jennifer Light, SRC President 2014

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vice presidents’ g

Hey, you…

Yes, you…

You care about stuff right? Like chocolate ice cream, fluffy bunnies and a socialist utopia? Well so do we! (especially the chocolate ice cream). That’s right, we said “we” because there are two of us…DOUBLE TROUBLE. In all seriousness though, we are Laura and Max and we will be your Vice Presidents this year. We are here to point you in the right direction when you feel lost in the sea of 50,000 students on your first day of big, big school, and to make sure the SRC has everything you need when you need it.

Oh, what is the SRC you ask? Well we could tell you, but our fantastic President already did (so go and read her report). If you are reading this, it is pretty certain that you are a passionate and dedicated student (or just really bored…or one of our friends) who has grand plans to change the world and we love you for that. The best part of getting involved in student life and the SRC is that you get to hang out with like-minded people.

Enter collectives…

Whether you care about the environment, refugees, queer rights or any other social issue, the SRC has a place for you. If you do nothing else in your whole university life, we urge you to get involved in collectives. Collectives are amazing. They are the centre for activist campaigns and discussion on a whole variety of issues. More importantly, collectives are all about providing a safe space for their mem-

We are all in the same boat and given the proposed tertiary education cuts it has never been more important for students to band together and fight.

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bers to engage with and discuss the issues affecting them. Flip to page 28 to find out more about the awesome collectives on campus.

Take it from us Our combined 38 years (we are oh so wise…) has taught us that there is nothing better than the satisfaction of contributing your voice to issues that you care about. It’s also comforting to surround yourself with people just as crazy as you. Plus it’s a nice feeling when you find someone that will listen to your demands for a social revolution when your friends have long since stopped pretending to listen.

Love your fellow students We are all in the same boat and given the proposed tertiary education cuts it has never been more important for students to band together and fight. This doesn’t mean that you have to don a SRC t-shirt and jump up and down like we do, but being aware of polices affecting you and your education is invaluable.

Cute, aren’t they?

Don’t ever hesitate to get in contact with us. Ever the professional procrastinators, we welcome any and all distractions from our 3000 word Chaucer essays. You can contact us via our email vice.president@src. usyd.edu.au - or chase us down in the SRC. Actually we are more likely to be at Hermann’s …arguing.

- Max Hall and Laura Webster (The Lauraxx), SRC Vice Presidents 2014

We are here to help inform you of these things as well as yell at the university on your behalf when they attempt to screw you over. We know the step from interested and passionate to active and engaged is pretty daunting, but take it from us, it is worthwhile.

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’ general

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Welcome to the third Office-Bearer report.

We’re happy to see that you’ve made it this far into the handbook, we’re sorry there’s no prize - except knowledge(!). We are Jariana (but please, never ever call us this), the General Secretaries for 2014, and it’s the first time in recent memory that this position has been split between two people. Our role in the SRC grew out of an amalgamation of the Secretary and Treasurer positions, which means that much of our job relates to bookkeeping and overlooking of the SRC’s finances, as well as compiling the budget every year in cooperation with the President and Chitra Narayanan, the SRC’s administration manager. Our job description also involves promoting the activities of the SRC and student unionism in general, which is why we have such a big role in the compilation of this handbook. We both strongly believe in the values of unionism and intend to spend our term ensuring that students know about the services the SRC has to offer.

Given that there are two of us, we hope that means we can get twice as much done for all the campaigns and activism on campus.

At this point we want to be open, so full disclosure: James is a member of the Labor Left

and Mariana is in the Grassroots Left. We are both progressive and believe in the right to free and accessible education. As young activists, we believe it’s important to make the personal political and to open about our political beliefs. We condemn the PNG solution and believe Australia should welcome all refugees.

We stand in solidarity with Indigenous Australians, the custodians of the land on which we live, learn and work, which was never ceded and will always be Aboriginal land.

Our job description also involves promoting the activities of the SRC and student unionism in general, which is why we have such a big role in the compilation of this handbook.

A very short-sighted General Secretary duo

We believe that women should have full control over their own bodies and reproductive rights. These are not only our personal values, but also the values supported and campaigned for by your SRC. The political environment of our country has become saturated with a S T U D E N T S ’ R E P R E S E N TAT I V E C O U N C I L U N I V E R S I T Y O F S Y D N E Y

lack of vision and a lack of political clarity; political entities are afraid to be clear about what they stand for, in case a marginal electorate disagrees. This is not the case with your SRC and we hope with most students on campus. University is a time to explore your views, have them be challenged, and reexamine them critically. Engaging in political discussions is not only a hallmark of the university experience, but an integral aspect of what it means to be an active citizen. We urge those who share our views, as well as those who don’t, to get involved in the SRC and the political ideas and struggles it focuses on.

Enough political manifesto, back to spruiking. What you’ll read about a lot in this handbook are the services offered by the SRC. These include the free legal service, the free case working service and the independent advocacy done on your behalf. This means that if you ever need to see a lawyer but can’t afford one or would prefer not to pay, you can make an appointment at the SRC’s front desk, or drop in at the designated hours for a private appointment. The same goes for the caseworkers, who are veritable experts on Centrelink, academic advice (like dropping subjects and how that affects your transcript), and accommodation to name just a few things. For example, they can give you a referral to stay in STUCCO, the USYD student housing cooperative’s temporary accommodation if you suddenly find yourself homeless or unable to live at your regular residence.

This handbook is not intended to be the decisive guide to all things university, but hopefully it makes for a good stepping stone on the path of knowledge.

- James Leeder and Mariana PodestaDiverio, SRC General Secretaries 2014

5

The

education department

During his time at our very own Sydney University, Tony Abbott once said that “the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is unnecessary and superfluous”.

A right-wing, anti-union bastard from the very beginning of his political career, he was an enemy of student rights then, and remains so to this day. With Abbott and the rest of the Liberal party in power, students need to be ready to fight in 2014.

Abbott and his education minister, Christopher Pyne, are committed to rolling out $2.3 billion in cuts, which will further strain the already underfunded tertiary education system. Sydney Uni alone is predicted to see $50 million slashed, which will result in ever-expanding class sizes, deteriorating staff conditions and the undermining of diverse and quality education with further course cuts. Abbott has also launched an inquiry into higher education that will only be used as an excuse to go on the attack. Already there has been talk of privatizing HECS. Along with the undermining of student welfare, the gates of places like Sydney University will effectively become shut to working class students.

Universities today are already run like businesses and education treated like a commodity. What motivates university management and the government is not ensuring a decent education system, but defending their cushy lifestyles.

In 2012 Sydney Uni Vice Chancellor Michael Spence “earned” a cool $744,143 along with a “performance” bonus of $167,432, while simultaneously attempting to cut hundreds of jobs.

These job cuts, course cuts, and undermining of staff wages and conditions have become commonalities of university

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life today. Unsurprisingly, Michael Spence’s bonuses don’t seem to be under threat. The most recent cuts are a neoliberal’s fantasy, and will turn higher education into a userpays system only accessible to those who have enough money. The privatization of HECS moves the university further away from being a public amenity accessible to all, to a private business transaction between individuals and corporations.

Abbott and his education minister, Pyne, are committed to rolling out $2.3 billion in cuts, which will further strain the already underfunded tertiary education system.

But it’s not all bad news. The past two years at Sydney University have seen a fighting response to numerous attacks on staff and students by university management.

After Spence announced the axing of 360 jobs in 2012, the National Tertiary Education Union led a serious campaign of mass on-campus rallies, supported by the SRC and Education Action Group (EAG), which managed to save a large portion of these jobs. In 2013, in response to attacks on staff wages, conditions, and union rights the NTEU striked for seven days, and with the solidarity of students organised by the SRC and EAG, managed a decisive victory.

2013 also saw a vibrant national student campaign led by the National Union of Students (NUS) against the $2.3 billion

Eleanor Morley and Ridah Hassan

in cuts to universities. Rallies were held in every capital city across the country; the biggest mobilisations since the antiVSU campaign in 2005. The campaign was a success, turning higher education into an election issue, and forcing the ALP to vote against the cuts (which they initially introduced) in the Senate last year.

At Sydney Uni, Abbott also spoke warily of the “Marxists…that are operating in the universities.” We’re proud to say that we are the Marxists that Abbott warned you about. We are the student activists who not only fight for education, but against all the injustices that capitalism produces. Our SRC is a political body that should actively and proudly campaign around left-wing issues. After all, the same people attacking our education are attacking refugees, Indigenous rights and the working class. We want to use our position to link up with the O - W E E K H A N D B O O K 2 0 14

Photo: Daisy Livesey

struggles waged by, and to show solidarity with, all groups that are fucked over by our disgusting conservative governments, because our movements are stronger when united. Among others, we are involved in campaigns for refugee rights, equal marriage rights, abortion rights, Indigenous rights and in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Apartheid Israel.

The only way we will win anything, from a decent education system to social justice, is through mass action. In 2014 we need more students involved in activism and out on the streets. NUS has already announced their major campaign for the year ahead:

“Abbott and Pyne: Get Your Hands Off our Education” and the first National Day of Action (NDA) has been called for March 26th. To successfully take on Abbott, we’re going to need all students who want to defend their education to join the campaign.

Here’s how to get involved: At Sydney Uni we’ll be organising this campaign through the Education Action Group, which is the central activist collective on campus. The EAG holds weekly meetings where students get together to discuss education issues both on campus and nationally, and organises around fighting the cuts.

The NSW Education Action Network (EAN) exists to link up EAGs from all campuses across Sydney to discuss and plan education activism at a state-wide level. In 2013 the EAN was responsible for the Sydney NDAs, which throughout the year drew hundreds of students into education activism.

- Eleanor Morley and Ridah Hassan, SRC Education Officers 2014 and members of Socialist Alternative • Contact the education officers Eleanor & Ridah – (e) education.officers@src.usyd.edu.au (ph) 0448 029 165 & 0402 667 707 • Like the Sydney Uni EAG page: www.facebook.com/SydneyUniversity EducationActionGroup • Attend the weekly EAG meetings: Tuesdays at New Law Lawns, check Facebook for time.

• Get involved with the NSW EAN by visiting: www.facebook.com/ groups/198338006976375/

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The

wom*n’s

department

We are very excited to welcome new students to the Wom*n’s Collective this O-week and, of course, see familiar faces contributing and making a difference for wom*n on campus this year.

The Wom*n’s Collective (WoCo) is a place where people who have had experience being a woman or who identify as a woman can come together and discuss shared and unique experiences, organise fantastic political and social events, and support other women on campus.

We have planned a year jam-packed with social events, activism and other empowering events. We envision all of WoCo’s activities to be as accessible, inclusive and visible as possible. We hope to work with students to start to change the dynamics and atmosphere of the wom*n’s collective at Usyd to be more inclusive of wom*n who have been excluded or not recognised in previous years in our collective as well as other feminist and political movements.

This year we are really looking forward to our ‘Bring a friend’ day which will encourage discussion about wom*n’s issues among students of all genders. We will also be working with the USU to organise Usyd’s first ever ‘Consent Day’, which will celebrate safe-sex in an informative and fun way. We are also looking forward to putting together Usyd’s third annual Knightess performance night which showcases the talents of wom*n. Pick up a copy of Growing Strong, our annual publication which voices some of the experiences of wom*n across Australia and from our very own campus. It’s also a publication that wouldn’t be complete without a launch party! The party will be held in O-week, please visit our stall for information.

The Wom*n’s Collective (WoCo) is a place where people who have had experience being a woman, or who identify as a woman, can come together Another focus this year will be raising awareness and action against sexual assault.

The collective is excited to roll out posters from the RPA sexual assault service that communicate valuable support for students who may have experienced or may be experiencing sexual assault. A new Sexual Assault Committee will be working with students to create empowering and informative events surrounding gendered violence and abuse.

We would love to welcome any student who has had experience as a wom*n or identifies as a wom*n to join us this year at the Wom*n’s Collective. Whether you’re a member who attends our weekly meetings, interacts online or supports our events, every contribution is valuable in enriching and strengthening the collective.

Even if you can’t make it to our meetings, check out the Wom*n’s Room on the first floor of Manning Building. It’s a space for wom*n identifying students to relax, hangout and chat. Don’t hesitate in coming to us with any queries or concerns, we are so looking forward to meeting and working with you.

You can find us this week at the Wom*n’s Collective Stall, and throughout the semester we will be bunkered down in the SRC office underneath the Wentworth building. Alternatively, you can email us at: usydwomenscollective@gmail.com See you soon!

- Georgia, Julia and Phoebe, SRC Wom*n’s Officers 2014

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What have we done for you lately?

A recent history of the SRC Below is a snapshot of the SRC’s efforts and achievements over the last ten years. The prime word here is snapshot, as it’s impossible to encapsulate the immense variety and range of activism, services and accomplishments of our SRC! The recent history of the SRC has taken place within a hostile political climate. The Nelson reforms of 2003 include the deregulation of HECS, the introduction of Full Fees, and the increase in the cost of course fees. Thus this decade has been one of struggle and renewal, beginning with some of the most regressive education policy Australia has ever seen.

The proposed introduction of VSU in late 2005 and its eventual passage in 2006 ripped the heart out of student organisations and delivered a near fatal blow to the student movement. Student organization did not go quietly: the 3000-strong anti-VSU demonstrations at Sydney University in 2006 were just one example of the momentous fight undertaken on our own campus to preserve the autonomy, funding, and invaluable activities of these bodies.

Perhaps most devastating was the encouragement of a culture of disengagement suddenly student organizations had to fight for survival as the vibrant national campus culture slowly died. Sydney University was a rare exception, due to base level funding agreements secured; yet they were certainly weakened. Irrespective of these struggles the USYD SRC has remained a strong voice for student rights and issues and has achieved an incredible amount over the last few years.

2008: The SRC ran an impressive campaign for income support, submitted countless reviews and recommendations, made appeals fairer for students and celebrated it 80th anniversary.

2009: The SRC was key to the national ‘Demand a better future’ campaign, which influenced the governments major overhaul of

the youth allowance, Austudy and Abstudy systems, which included decreasing the age of independence to 22. During this period student places were deregulated; a policy which is under review by the Liberal Government today. The plight of international students also gained increased attention and action. Increased Internet quotas for students, a review into the accommodation shortage, student representatives for various faculties, schools and departments were introduced and the stability and funding of the SRC was secured.

2010: The SRC Legal Service was established, the first of its kind in Australia.

President Elly Howse and her fellow Office Bearers were also instrumental in extending opening hours at Sci-Tech, removing the previous quota to deliver free wi-fi to all students, helped design the incoming student accommodation and lobby for 24 hour study spaces.

2011: This year brought a massive yet welcome change for student unionism: the passage of SSAF through the senate, which promised more secure funding for student organisations (see pg 10). The student income support system also received increased funding. The plagiarism policy, assessment policy and special consideration process were all improved: a definite wins for students.

The USYD SRC has remained a strong voice for student rights and issues and has achieved an incredible amount over the last few years.

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2012: The SRC assisted in the implementation and design of 24-hour study spaces on campus, such as the Carslaw learning hubs.

A $250,000 increase in funding to expand casework services and legal services was secured, which included the proposed introduction of a breakfast bar. The SRC was also instrumental in saving honours and, expanding its service provision, provided a free migration agent for international students and increased activist budgets.

The Education Action Group was reestablished, and experienced tremendous growth.

This was an essential move in preparing the SRC and student activists for their immense involvement when University management attempted to cut the jobs of 220 staff. The EAG, working with the NTEU and the PSA, successfully organised major demonstrations and occupations against the plans, and succeeded in preventing all but a handful of job losses. This was one of the biggest successes the SRC has had in a decade.

2013: The strikes that took places this year sparked what was perhaps the biggest year for student activism since 2006. Much of the SRC’s activities revolved around the unprecedented 7 days of industrial action undertaken by staff at Sydney University about their changing working conditions including academic freedom and pay. Attempted occupations, militant marches and strong picket lines returned. Such strong action lead to incredible wins in the anti-staff cuts campaigns, helping secure a fairer deal for staff.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF

What is the SSAF? The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), is a small payment required of students each semester, collected by the university, for nonacademic student expenses such as clubs and societies, support services, and advocacy. The university pools the money they raise from the collection of the SSAF and distributes it amongst the student organisations which include the SRC, SUPRA (the postgraduate equivalent), the University of Sydney Union (USU) – which runs food and clubs and societies, Student Support Services (SSS), Cumberland Students’ Guild (CSG) and finally, Sydney University Sport and Fitness (SUSF). For 2014, this works out to $10.97m to be distributed.

Why do I pay it?

Students are required to pay the SSAF at the discretion of each university, that is, universities get to decide whether or not they charge the fee.

At Sydney, the administration charges the fee for the purpose of improving the “co-curricular experiences that Sydney has to offer”.

Why did they implement it?

and autonomy. At USyd, both the SRC and USU managed to stay afloat, but not without taking a severe cut.

The return of Labor to power saw a renewed look at the impact that VSU had had on student life. The Gillard government, identifying the damage done determined that reintroducing compulsory fees would be the best way to rectify the problems. Thus, SSAF was born.

How does it work for the SRC and what does the SRC spend the money on?

Unfortunately for student organisations, the SSAF is not the return of universal student unionism. Unlike what had existed before, the SSAF does not mandate that the money go explicitly to student organisations, instead giving a large amount of discretion to the university administration. This has resulted in the money being distributed on a year-by-year basis, something that makes it hard for all student organisations to plan and develop for the future. The distribution of funds, particularly determining which organisations gets the most, is done at USyd through inter-organisational negotiations that take place each year.

For example, this has resulted in SUSF, an organisation with both high membership and facility fees receiving the largest proportion of students money, over $3.7 m.

The positives of SSAF are the return of some funding to student organisations. At the SRC, we use the money from SSAF to fund our free legal service, free case working service, and to fund our independent advocacy that we do on behalf of students. Unlike other organisations that receive the SSAF, we charge no extra membership fees, instead offering all our services to any student in need of them. Last year, the SRC received $1.42m in SSAF money.

What’s next?

Now with an Abbott prime ministership, student organisations once again face funding threats.

Abbott was galling enough to attempt to defund the SRC whilst he was its president, and the VSU legislation was something he campaigned for and championed within the Liberal party caucus. Currently, the Audit Committee are considering a range of ways to make budget savings, many of them at the cost of students’ welfare and student life.

In 2006, the Howard government decided to remove universal student unionism. This was a policy that had existed before ’06 that made student contributions to their student organisations compulsory. Under this arrangement, organisations like the USU and the SRC were able to expand the services they offered to students and had a regular stream of funding each year. Howard decided to instead remove the compulsory nature of these contributions, instead opting for a model known as Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU). The impact of this policy was a massive loss in funding for student organisations, and student life, across the country. A majority of the student organisations at other universities were forced to merge with their universities, losing their financial independence In 2015, SSAF will be distributed amongst the student organisations with the first USyd Hunger Games

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11 S T U D E N T S ’ R E P R E S E N TAT I V E C O U N C I L U N I V E R S I T Y O F S Y D N E Y

district 1: SPECIAL CONSIDERATION What if I am sick for an assessment or examination? Is there any way not to get a fail?

You can apply for a Special Consideration.

Go to the website for your faculty and download the application form. See your doctor (or if yours is not available, any doctor) and get your Professional Practitioner’s Certificate (PPC) completed. This needs to be on the same day that you are sick and should not be backdated. If your doctor is not available you will need to see another doctor.

If you are too sick to go to the doctor, find a doctor that will do a house call. There are a few available – you can find them through google. Your doctor should also give a brief description of the things that you are unable to do, eg, attend university, leave bed, sit up for longer than 10 minutes, etc. The doctor will also have to assess the severity of your condition. If you are not severely affected by your illness you might find it difficult to get special consideration.

What is the policy?

If they reschedule your exam and assessments, but you are too sick (for example) to attend any again, and you apply for special consideration each time and your applications are approved each time, you should not receive a “fail”. Instead you should be awarded a DNF grade.

SO if you can’t do any of the assessments in a subject this semester, or in the future, and you have successfully applied for special consideration EACH TIME, then check that your mark is recorded as a DNF. You should also apply to have a refund or recrediting of your fees. Ask at the faculty office or the SRC for the appropriate forms.

A DNF is a Discontinued, Not Fail.

Compared to a Fail (or Absent Fail or Discontinued Fail), a DNF is good for your transcript and good for your Annual Average Mark and good for your Weighted Average Mark (WAM).

If you have a valid PPC, and the doctor has assessed that you are severely affected or worse you should almost certainly be granted special consideration. Be aware that you do not have to provide more details about you condition if you would prefer to keep that confidential.

Remember that Special Consideration is for a temporary illness, misadventure or exacerbation of a long term illness. It is not for long term illnesses per se. That should be dealt with through the Disabilities Unit.

What if I am sick for the supplementary examination or every assessment in a subject?

Is there any way not to get a fail?

YOU SHOULD NOT GET A FAIL – assuming you have documented why you could not attend/complete each assessment and successfully applied for Special Consideration, as outlined in the policy.

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district 2: ACADEMIC APPEALS Your Assessment and Appeal Rights As a University of Sydney student you have many assessment rights. Policies entitle all students to full information about course goals and requirements and this information must be given to you before the end of the first week of your course. The information you are entitled to includes: • assessment criteria • attendance and class requirements • weighting – breakdown and calculation of assessment marks • explanation of policies regarding ‘legitimate co-operation, plagiarism and cheating’, special consideration and academic appeals procedures • early and clear statement of sanctions and penalties that may bring your mark down, and fair application of these penalties • balanced and relevant assessment tasks • fair and consistent assessment with appropriate workloads and deadlines • written consultation before the halfway point of the unit if assessment requirements need to change • changes must not disadvantage students • adequate arrangements to cater for disabilities and other requirements • access to staff out of class time at reasonable hours • fair and relevant marking procedures • anonymous posting of results (or arguably de-identified at least) • timely return of assessments • helpful feedback • access to exams up to four months after the result • the right to appeal up to three months after an academic decision • enough time for remedial learning when there is reassessment

Appeals - University Procedures If you believe a mark or University decision is wrong and you want to appeal you must lodge an appeal within 15 working days.

The first step is to talk to the person who made the decision – often your lecturer or subject co-ordinator. See if you can go through the assessment and discuss your performance with them. Make sure you know how the mark was worked out – including any scaling or marks deducted or changed for reasons not directly related to that particular assessment. This may mean attending an exam review session or making an appointment with your lecturer. Your questions and concerns may be resolved at this stage, helping you understand how you can improve in the future. Alternatively, you may feel the matter is still unresolved and wish to continue with your appeal.

Your Appeal Rights According to University policy, appeals should be dealt with: • in a timely manner • with confidence • impartially and not disadvantage you in the future • procedural fairness • free access to all documents concerning your appeal For help drafting your appeal talk to an SRC caseworker.

1. Make your appeal in writing and make sure it is easy for other people to understand 2. Listen to or read staff comments and reasons for a decision closely. Keep these in mind when you write your appeal letter.

3. Base an appeal on a process matter rather than an academic judgement.

4. Know your desired outcome 5. Familiarise yourself with relevant policies 6. Know who you to send your appeal to: Lecturer/Unit of study Coordinator; someone higher in the appeal chain within the Faculty; and then the University Student Appeals Body (Academic decisions only, and only where there has been a breach of process); you must be given reasons for each person’s decision.

7. If you cannot resolve appeals internally, you may be able to approach external bodies eg. NSW Ombudsman, the Anti-Discrimination Board etc.

Administrative decisions made outside of the Faculty have appeals to different people.

Speak to the SRC for advice.

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SRC LEGAL SERVICE Who are we?

The SRC Legal Service is an incorporated legal practice funded by the Students’ Representative Council (‘the SRC’) of the University of Sydney.

What do we do?

We provide free a JP service, legal advice, legal services such as court representation, and negotiation and education for undergraduate students of the University of Sydney who are eligible members of the SRC. In particular, we provide free legal advice and representation across practice

areas in various matters. Some of the more common matters we handle for students are as follows: - Criminal charges: drug offences, assault, harassment, and domestic violence dispute; - Traffic offences: drink driving (PCA), speeding, and various traffic related fines; - Visa enquiries: breach of visa conditions, available visa options after graduation and how to apply for a visa; - Consumer complaints: breach of statutory warranty and misrepresentation;

- Administrative law: discrimination etc; - Insurance law: dispute after a motor vehicle accident; - Employment law: unfair dismissal, employment contract advice, sexual harassment and discrimination claims; - Civil matters: debts, privacy invasion, defamation etc; For other areas of law in which we do not have expert knowledge, we can still provide you with general legal advice or a referral to the right solicitor. We also publish research articles on common legal issues affecting our students in student magazines such as Honi Soit and the online E-News by the SRC, both of which are available free of charge either to be collected across campuses or to be sent to your student email all year round. Through our service, we are committed to reducing social inequities and systematic barriers to students enforcing their rights.

We also offer volunteer opportunities to legal students who are passionate about social justice and want to contribute to the work of the practice during their studies while learning practical legal skills for their future career path.

Where to find us: We are located within the SRC office at the main campus just underneath the footbridge connecting the Wentworth building. You can contact us on 02 9660 5222 to make an appointment or simply turn up during our drop-in hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1-3pm. We have a solicitor available at Darlington campus 5 days a week and we are more than happy to see what we can help you with. All information and discussions are strictly confidential in accordance with our legal obligations under the law.

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IMPORTANT DATES February 24th – 28th Orientation Week

July 6th – 13th NAIDOC week 21st – 25th Orientation Week semester 2

March

28th Lectures begin

3rd Lectures begin 4th Mardi Gras 8th International Women’s Day (IWD) 14th Last day to add/enroll in a unit of study 21st International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

August 8th Last day to add/enroll in a unit of study 30th Open Day 31st HECS census date

26th National Day of Action (NDA) 31st HECS census date

September 12th Last day to Discontinue Not Fail (DNF)

April

29th Universities Australia common vacation week starts

18th Last day to Discontinue not Fail (DNF) 18th – 25th Universities Australia common vacation week

October 3rd Universities Australia common vacation week ends

May 17th International day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)

31st Last day of lectures 31st Last day Discontinue Fail (DF)

27th National Reconciliation Week starts

November June 3rd National Reconciliation Week ends 6th Last day of lectures

3rd – 7th Study vacation 10th – 22nd Examination period 22nd Semester 2 ends

6th Last day to Discontinue Fail (DF) 9th – 13th Student Vacation 16th - 28th Examination period

December 3rd International Day of People with Disability

28th Semester 1 ends

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money, money, money, money (moooooneyyyyy!) how to hunt for a few extra dollars from that sweet, sweet cornucopia of university finances It is amazing how quickly money can run out… yellow notes turn into blue notes which quickly turn into a bunch of 5c pieces. The University’s Scholarships and Financial Support Service (SFSS) provided services that are designed to help students in need of some financial assistance during their time as a student. This may include bond money, funds to replace your 10-yearold laptop or just to pay for food for the week.

How can you get your hands on this money?

There are three ways: bursary, scholarship or loan.

Bursaries The SFSS offer bursaries to students who are experiencing extreme financial difficulty.

These payments can be up to $2000 and do not need to be paid back. In order to receive a bursary, you must fill out an application form found on the SFSS website (follow this link: http:// sydney.edu.au/scholarships/school/finance. shtml). Bear in mind that this payment is reserved for students in genuine need and not to refill your wallet after a night out at Hermann’s.

Scholarships Scholarships are generally given to students in need of financial assistance or to students that are progressing through their course with a high WAM. There are a variety of scholarships available each year with different criteria that needs to be met. Scholarship areas generally include: Faculty scholarships, graduate scholarships, equity scholarships and exchange scholarships. It is best to check the SFSS website at the beginning of each semester to see what is on offer to get an application in early. (http://sydney.edu.au/scholarships/) Loans Loans follow a similar application process to bursaries expect they are exactly that, loans. You are expected to pay back SFSS within an agreed upon time frame, however you can apply for a loan extension.

For more information on scholarships and financial assistance, get into contact with the Scholarship and Financial Support Services: ph: 8627 8112

The cornerstone of every student’s diet

Scholarships s c h o l a r s h i p s . o f f i c e r @ s y d n e y. e d u . a u Bursaries & loans student.financialsupport@sydney.edu.au

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mental health uni life can be overwhelming, so know when to take a breather Mental illness is certainly not rare at university. Students (and staff) experience depression, anxiety, ‘mood disorders’, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, and yet still people lack a reasonable understanding. For example, one student disclosed to her tutor that she needed an extension on her assessment because she was suffering from repeated and severe anxiety attacks. The tutor’s response was to reluctantly agree, but only after the disabilities unit was enlisted to make the argument. The tutor made it a point to tell the student that she completed her degree while bringing up a family of 3 children – surely nothing could “stress you more”.

Stay active

Some people seem to misunderstand that mental illness is often an unpredictable condition.

Some days are positively “normal”; while other days it is simply not possible to function even on the most basic level of feeding yourself. This is regardless of the effort that a student is putting into seeking help for their condition. For example, one student had chronic depression. She was using a number of different treatments. Initially in her course it simply wasn’t possible to attend classes or complete assignments. After 4 years she was mostly able to attend classes and completed many of her assignments on or near time. Her occa-

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sional backward steps needed to be seen as small and relatively insignificant hiccups. Her faculty, however, saw it as evidence that she wasn’t actually making any effort to improve her situation.

This is even more difficult to deal with when it is a family member or close friend of the student who is ill. The student does not have control over the steps taken to improve the health of the person in question, but will often share the burden of the illness. If you are caring for someone who is mentally ill you too may be able to apply for Special Consideration for assessments.

Some students are not even aware that they have an illness. They may simply feel that people are often against them, marking them down when they shouldn’t be, picking on them in their accom-

modation, laughing at them when they do tutorial presentations or following them around campus.

The University has a Counselling and Psychological Service (CAPS), which offers short term counselling for students. CAPS, the University Health Service or the SRC can also refer you to long term external counsellors who can help you with chronic mental illnesses. Remember that everything you tell them is confidential.

The University also has a Disabilities Unit that act as a “go-between” for students who need an extended assessment deadline or extra time in exams. Register here as soon as possible, so that you can benefit from your plan during the semester and as well as not missing out on exam help.

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district 3: centrelink Applying Full-time students 25 years of age or older should apply for Austudy. Under 25’s should apply for Youth Allowance. You will stay on this payment even after you turn 25.

Lodge an intention to claim with the Centrelink call centre (132 490), visit your local Centrelink office or the easiest is to send a message through their website (www.centrelink.gov.au).

If you get your application and all the associated paperwork into a Centrelink office within 14 days and your claim is approved, you will normally be back paid to the day you lodged your intention to claim.

You may face a delay in payments due to Waiting or Penalty Periods.

If you are a new Australian resident you may need to wait 2 years before you can get a payment.

If you have more than $5,500 in cash, trust funds, shares etc. you need to serve a Liquid Assets Waiting Period. The period is one week for every $500 you have above $5,500, to a maximum of 13 weeks. There are some exemptions, including if you have high immediate expenses for study.

(See the SRC’s How Savings Affect Centrelink Payments leaflet).

Maximum payable The maximum payment as at March 2014 is $414 per fortnight, if you live away from the parental home plus rent assistance of up to $124.00.

To get Austudy or Youth Allowance you must “qualify” and then be “payable” each fortnight.

The amount that is payable depends on any income test reductions. Which income test applies will depend on whether you are ‘independent’ or not, or have a partner.

How To Qualify You qualify if you satisfy ALL of the following conditions: • “Australian resident” for two years or more and in Australia when you claim; • Studying an “Approved Course” (most undergraduate courses at Uni);

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Most students on a Centrelink payment (Youth Allowance or Austudy) have to be full time. That is ¾ of a full time load. There is some argument about whether you can include summer school and winter school subjects towards your load for a year.

However, if you have an illness or disability, or if the university doesn’t have available appropriate subjects for your course, you may be able to do a part time load. Talk to an SRC caseworker about your specific situation.

• Have not previously “completed” a Doctorate (Austudy only) • Studying “full-time”–usually a minimum of 0.375 HECS load (18 credit points) per semester (there are some exceptions); • Making “satisfactory progress” (you have not exceeded the minimum time it takes to complete your current course, plus one semester). Exemptions exist.

Dependent vs Independent Independent Being “independent” for Centrelink means your parents’ income is not assessed in determining your eligibility. If you are 22 years old or over you are automatically independent. For Youth Allowance the other main ways to be independent include:

Parent Income Test Parental income over $48,837 per year may start to reduce your Youth Allowance. Parental income over $150,000 per year may render you ineligible. For a more detailed look at your specific situation see the SRC’s How Parental Income Affects Youth Allowance leaflet.

This is only considered if you are “dependent”. Note that if your Personal Income Test has a greater effect on your payment it will be considered instead.

Personal Income Test This applies to everyone on Austudy and Youth Allowance. Your payment is reduced by $0.50 for every dollar that your pre-tax income exceeds $405 per fortnight and $0.60 for every dollar above $486 per fortnight.

However, a mechanism called the Student Income Bank is used to average out your income for this income test. See the SRC’s How Income Affects Payments leaflet.

Partner Income Test Applies if you are “partnered”. Your Youth Allowance or Austudy payment is reduced by $0.60 for every dollar your partner’s gross income in the fortnight goes over a set “cut off” point. This point is where they would not be payable if they were on a Centrelink payments. In March 2014 this amount was $1,200 gross per fortnight. This figure could be higher depending on a range of circumstances and payments. Check the Relationships leaflets.

Assets Test

• “unreasonable to live at home” due to extreme circumstances, including physical, emotional or sexual violence

The Assets Test does not include the value of your primary residence. If your assets exceed the threshold you will receive no payment.

•relationship – you are married or in a marriage like relationship for more than 12 months (same or different sex couples)

For a single independent home owner the threshold is $196,750. This amount is raised to $279,000 for a couple. For a single non-home owner the threshold is $339,250. This amount is raised to $421,500 for a couple.

There are other ways of being independent. For some regional students income from work may be considered a way of determining independence.

Check the SRC Independence leaflet.

Dependent If you cannot prove your “independence”, you will be treated as “dependent”, even if you are not getting any support from your parent/s.

If you are “dependent” or married or in a marriage like relationship Centrelink will also look at your “family’s” assets. No payment can be made if your family’s assets exceed $642,000. There are some exceptions, for example if your family are farmers or run a business. Ask an SRC caseworker for more information.

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district 4: accomodation Finding Good Accommodation • L ots of people want to rent in Sydney. To find good accommodation quickly it may help to show landlords/real estate agents the following: • Confirmation of Enrolment to prove you are a student. Provide a certified copy and keep the original yourself.

• References from previous landlords to prove you are a good tenant who will pay rent on time and look after the accommodation. Try and have a written reference, if not provide an e-mail address for your old landlord.

•Proof you can pay rent. Eg. proof of a scholarship, income or money in the bank. You may show your bank account details or passport, but DO NOT give them a copy to keep.

Before signing a contract and/or paying a deposit • It is best to have a Residential Tenancy Agreement if possible. Usually these are available to people who rent from real estate agents. Otherwise try to get some kind of written contract. Remember a contract must have the address, the date and both parties signatures.

• See the accommodation and make sure you are happy with it. Turn on the hot water tap and see how long it takes to warm up. Run the shower and check the water pressure.

• Be sure what you get for your rent. Eg. Internet/heating.

• Know your responsibilities. Understand and agree with all conditions and house rules. If you want to change any rules ask the landlord before you sign the contract or pay a deposit. If there is a contract make sure any agreed changes are included. Penalties for breaking rules should be in the contract. Understand these.

• Know the end date of your stay. If you want to change the end date ask the landlord before you sign the contract or pay a deposit. If the landlord agrees, the new date should be written on the contract. If the end date cannot be changed, you must normally pay rent up to the end date on the contract or be subject to penalties. If there is no contract, you can give 1 week’s notice if you pay rent weekly, or 2 weeks’ notice if you pay rent fortnightly.

• In short this says READ YOUR CONTRACT. Moving In • Keep a copy of your contract.

• Always get receipts for the bond/deposit & any other payments you make.

• Make a condition report both when you move in – record all contents & any damage in writing and take photos. Email the photos to the landlord so that it is electronically time stamped.

During The Tenancy • Keep records of all rent paid. If you don’t get receipts try to pay by cheque or money order.

• When communicating with your landlord try to use email so you have a copy of what was said.

• Ask for repairs as soon as they happen. You are responsible for keeping the home in good order.

• Become familiar with all of your rights and responsibilities. This is especially so with your right to peaceful enjoyment and property inspections.

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• Rent Start is also available to some people who fall behind in rent.

Ending Your Tenancy • Most contracts will have information in them about what to do if you want to end your tenancy.

Usually you will have to follow these directions, or pay a penalty.

It is best to have a Residential Tenancy Agreement if possible.

Usually these are available to people who rent from real estate agents.

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district 5: food what to eat, where to buy it, and why you should go there Just as in the Arena, foraging for food on campus can be a little overwhelming. Be it that you’re broke as fuck, super hungover or trying to keep that New Year’s resolution of eating healthy, there are lots of options around but it can be difficult to make the best decision.

First up if you’re a bit cash-poor (and we’re talking District 12 rationing here) you can still survive and thrive thanks to the Thai lunch specials just up King Street in Newtown. There are plenty of places and they all very affordable and have very generous serving sizes, helpful if you’re bulking to make it through the next few days of the Games.

You have Thai La Ong, Thai La Ong 2, Newtown Thai and Newtown Thai 2 to pick between among others (we are still wondering too) and the lunch specials average out at about $6.90 each.

Other options if you’re running low on moolah include nearby pub meals with special mentions going to The Lansdowne and The Royal. The Lansdowne, just down near Broadway shops has $9 meals from 12-4pm and $10 dinner specials each night – 1kg of chicken wings on Wednesdays anyone? The Royal Hotel in Darlington, just past the aquatic centre also offers changing daily $10 specials, with $9 steaks at ALL TIMES. Seriously, $9 steaks should be mandatory at all pubs.

Now if you’ve had a bit of a rough night there are also plenty of hangover cures right here on campus. A ‘meat box’ from Uni Brothers in the Wentworth building is the frontrunner in terms of food which will make you feel like a normal person again. It is exactly what it sounds like, meat in a box, with some chips – and it. Is. Beautiful. A meat box coupled with two Panadol is the perfect pairing to get rid of that killer headache. If you’re not into the kebabs, gozleme or pizza slices from Uni Brothers, the best alternative is a Tandoori wrap and the huge range of curries from Jewel of India just next door.

Not into cheap and greasy food? Want something more fit for someone living in the Capitol? Taste Baguette and Glebe Point Rd are the places for you. Taste has a super-yummy range of gourmet baguettes and also arguably make the best coffee on campus.

Glebe Point Rd is a haven of delicious and surprisingly affordable food with Well Connected Café offering the most amazing Morroccan hotpot paired with garlic bread – too good. There are also plenty of nice Asian places, like Thai on Wok, the best nachos in town at Baja Cantina, if that’s what you’re into.

Just as in the Arena, foraging for food on campus can be a little overwhelming. Be it that you’re broke as fuck, super hungover or trying to keep that New Year’s resolution of eating healthy, there are lots of options around but it can be difficult to make the best decision.

Bread. Because “Panem” means bread in Latin. Lol. If you’re still keeping that New Year’s resolution to eat healthy, go for runs and other shit you’ll probably give up on once you’re drinking with your new uni friends, healthy food on campus is few and far between.

Try Raw in the Wentworth building which has enough quinoa to keep any #fitspo hashtagger satisfied. Courtyard Café in the Holme building also isn’t too bad (you can make your own salads and sandwiches) and another sneaky tip, Xquistio, the Mexican place in Manning does super cheap omelettes for that protein boost.

Trust me, if you follow this guide, you’ll be all over your food options on campus.

Just one last warning.

Considering Miso Honi in the Manning building for lunch? RUN. AND RUN FAST. You know how J. Lawrence and that cute guy nearly eat those deadly berries at the end of the first Hunger Games movie? Miso Honi is pretty much that. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your flavour.

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honi soit What is Honi Soit?

Honi Soit is the weekly student newspaper at the University of Sydney. When it was first published in 1929, the editors defined its purpose, to: “strip the veneer, to open the cupboard on our skeletons, and those of other people, to tell the truth without fear or favour, and to assist our readers in their search for the touchstone of philosophy – happiness”. This hasn’t changed.

Published by the Student’s Representative Council (SRC), Honi Soit has a colourful, sometimes controversial, history but with a proud reputation of being the most vibrant and prestigious student publication in Australia. Honi’s archives lay bare the university life and times of some famous and infamous campus personalities, and many alumni editors have gone on to become leaders in the arts, journalism, law and Australian politics.

Honi Soit is produced by a team of student editors, who are elected by the student body in the SRC annual elections. We receive professional training and support from the SRC Publications Managers and manage a group of student reporters and contributors that help create over 20 pages of weekly content.

But why the name ‘Honi Soit’?

Honi Soit commenced publication to counteract the mainstream Sydney press who had set about demonising University of Sydney students after one Commemoration Day got a little out of control (it was only the Cenotaph. after all).

Ever since its inception as a defence of Commémoration Day, Honi Soit has continued to be a reflection of this community, both in its successes and times of trial.

Ever since its inception as a defence of Commemoration Day, Honi Soit has continued to be a reflection of this community, both in its successes and times of trial.

Where can I read Honi Soit?

Print edition: As the oldest weekly student publication in Australia, Honi is distributed around campus for all students to read every Tuesday afternoon. You can find Honi’s stands in various locations, around main campu, including outside Fisher Library, Taste Baguette, and some lecture theatres to name a few.

Online: Honi also publishes articles online regularly at www.honisoit.com Social Media: Twitter – follow us at www.twitter.com/ honi_soit Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ honisoitsydney We also have Honi on SURG fm and Honi TV this year! For more information, visit our website.

Can I write for Honi Soit?

Absolutely! Send the editors a pitch for your article via email and we’ll go from there.

In semester 2, we’ll be holding another reporters’ callout where you can apply to write for Honi on a more regular basis.

Contact us

Email: editors@honisoit.com Telephone: (02) 9660 5222 Mail: Honi Soit Editors Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney Level 1 Wentworth Building (G01) University of Sydney, NSW 2006

This is also the origin of the name, Honi Soit (which, by the way, is pronounced as on-ee swa), which is short for the Old French phrase, “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (“Shame upon him who thinks evil of it”), the motto of the British Order of the Garter.

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district 6: pubs A guide to drinking on and off campus

Hermann’s Hermann’s was always seen as Manning’s less cool, inexplicably velvet cousin, however this has changed in recent years, most likely due in part to the beer garden being one of the last places you can smoke on campus.

Located near the SRC, it is always brimming with society meetings (and thus, the possibility of free beer). With an ACCESS card, Hermann’s has some of the cheapest beer around and you’ll always bump into someone you know.

Manning Manning definitely still has its charms. It’s always nice and cool, the beer is as cheap as Hermann’s and it also has some of the best and most affordable food on campus. Manning remains a hub of student entertainment, with weekly bingo, theatresports and stand up, as well as frequent live music gigs (occasionally) from some pretty big names. Manning is a staple - and they have really good chips.

The Royal A stone’s throw from campus – past the swimming pool on the way to Redfern – what the Royal lacks in atmosphere, it makes up in NINE DOLLAR STEAKS: the cheapest decent pub meal around (they tend to overcook

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Located near the SRC, [Hermann’s] is always brimming with society meetings (and thus, the possibility of free beer). slightly, medium rare is your best bet – match this with the mushroom sauce). It also boasts free venue hire for the top level which is great for birthdays and election after parties.

The Courthouse The Courty (on Australia St across from Newtown station) is probably the best pub in Newtown and is held as a favourite by many for its atmosphere and big wooden seats. It is slightly on the pricey side, though still reasonable and there are good jug deals on Thursday. The food is excellent and they have huge servings. There is truly nothing better than a pear cider on a sunny Thursday afternoon in the beer garden.

Kelly’s / The Townie Kelly’s is the Irish pub on King St and it has karaoke, hot nuts and a lot of character. However, it is generally seen (as is the Townie) as the place the night goes to die - Kelly’s boasts a 3am closing time; the Townie, 4am – but don’t be put off, some great memories are often made here. Hot tip: the Townie’s bottle shop stays open late.

Marly (Marlborough) and above it, Miss Peaches get points for atmosphere and location, as do weekday two-for-one cocktails at Kueleto’s. Also on King, Zanzibar is home to ladies night ‘Birdcage’ on Wednesday nights.

A short bus ride towards Marrickville, Vic on the Park, has great food and an excellent outdoor area. The Annandale (Parramatta Road) smells bad but has great live music.

If someone asks you to meet them at “the Flodge”, they mean the Forest Lodge Hotel, a short walk from the footbridge, a student favourite with lots of fruity beers. And finally, a moment of silence for two of the best student pubs in Sydney that we lost in the last year, the Clare and The Abercrombie.

Now go forth and drink, just look out for each other.

A Quick Guide to Everywhere Else The Landsdowne, just across the park, stays open late and you can always find a seat upstairs. On King St, the recently refurbished

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district 7: coffee the tantalising, velvety elixir of uni life Coffee is the lifeblood of students at Sydney Uni. You ain’t nobody unless you’re packing a keep cup with your choice of poison inside, whether it be the law latte, engineer’s espresso or the “journalist’s choice” (long black). Thus, as we are relegated to our coffee choices via our choice of degree, the campus coffee joints attract their own flock of regulars based on location, reputation and cost.

Azzuri Upstairs Azzuri has its fair share of delicious coffee. Iced in Summer is particularly excellent, and its long blacks are to die for. Sadly its caps lack that creamy froth so integral to the coffee, with something resembling sea-foam for its replacement. Downstairs is a completely different story. Heady aromas and luscious, expertly steamed milk and spicy brown arabica greet you with the good-natured gaze of that attractive male barista everyone stares at.

Fisher Coffee Cart Lol, avoid unless it’s 9pm and you have a group project due the next day.

Ralph’s Decent coffee can be had at Ralph’s, with its stoic Italian roots dictating smooth crema on an espresso and a decent dollop of authenticity in ya latte.

Have money at the ready as you approach the counter, don’t look the cashier in the eyes when you order, and remember tannins are king here: Don’t order a strong coffee unless you really need one.

The atmosphere of Ralph’s is, however, kind of odd- Gym babez and dudez mix with students who stop on their belated way to Bosch in order to avoid…

Bosch Café Kind of like the school canteen of USYD, with coffee resemblent of an instachino from the teacher’s lounge where nobody washes their mugs properly- an achievement considering Bosch serves in cardboard cups.

Taste Although Taste have that terrible ‘we like lawyers’ thing going for them, it’s important to have a decent café on Eastern Avenue, and the coffee is pretty incredible.

Parma A strong cup of coffee is best when it’s heavy-handed on spice, downplaying the bitterness while keeping you wide-eyed and alert for those long hours in Sci-tech. Would recommend pairing Parma’s flat whites with condensed computer studying and al-fresco dining.

Lines can be long, with the slightly frazzled cashiers brusque manner complementing the sharp, bitter tone of their black coffee.

Taste’s milky coffee has a (dare I say it) soy flavour with an almondy finish to it, and although their pre-made iced coffees are popular, they only come with a full-fat dairy option.

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district 8: collectives If you do nothing else at university, get involved in collectives. They are magical places that are full of like-minded people fueled by similar passions and beliefs. The SRC funds numerous collectives with different purposes, but at the core of each collective is the drive to bring people together in a safe space where they are free to express their identity and beliefs. Collectives are also a great way to get involved in activism on campus; 2013 was a busy year for collective organizing with the staff strikes the major focus of the Education Action Group (EAG) and the opening of the USYD Community Garden was a huge

win for the Environment Collective. Collectives are a great way to get involved in whatever your little heart desires and are a great way of exploring your beliefs and politics in a safe space with supportive peers – something that you do not find anywhere else.

Collectives at USYD are spilt into autonomous groups and non-autonomous groups.

An autonomous collective means that you can only become a member of the collective if you identify with the collective identity, e.g. you must identify as Queer to join QuAC or identify as a wom*n to join Wom*n’s col-

lective. The idea behind this is to create a safe space for traditionally oppressed identities to discuss their opinions, beliefs, or just have a space to relax and be themselves.

Collectives have a general meeting time that they will advertise where you can come along and join in on a meeting. These times are advertised on the collectives facebook page, the SRC website and in Honi Soit. The SRC’s semester calendar also features the meeting time of some collectives.

Here is a list of just a few collectives that would love to have you: Autonomous Queer Action Collective (QuAC) Wom*n’s Collective Disabilities and Carers Collective Autonomous Collective Against Racism (ACAR) Indigenous Collective Non-autonomous Environment Collective Anti-Racism Collective (ARC) QuAC, Wom*n’s and Indigenous collectives all have safe autonomous spaces on campus: QuAC meets in the Queer Space at Holme, Wom*n’s have a room on the second floor of Manning and the Common Room in the Koori Centre, Old Teacher’s College is a space for Indigenous students.

If you have any questions about collective organizing or getting involved, contact the relevant office bearer through their email (which can be found in this handbook or on the SRC website (www.src.usyd.edu.au), if you’re not sure where exactly to go then send the VP an email (vice.president@src.usyd.edu.au) or just come along to the SRC tent at O-Week and we will point you in the right direction!

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education action group The Sydney University Education Action Group (EAG) is a registered collective of the Sydney University Students’ Representative Council (SRC). The EAG involves students and staff in the fight for a free and quality education system, and organises against proposed attacks to education both on campus and at a national level. The EAG is convened each year by the education officers of the SRC.

In 2013, the EAG was crucial in the fight against the $2.3 billion in cuts to higher education proposed by the Labor Goverment. The EAG organised on-campus actions, stalls, and photo petitions which helped get Sydney Uni students along to rallies against the cuts in the city.

In 2013, the EAG was crucial in the fight against the $2.3 billion in cuts to higher education proposed by the Labor Goverment. The

EAG organised on-campus actions, stalls, and photo petitions which helped get Sydney Uni students along to rallies against the cuts in the city. The EAG successfully linked up with the Education Action Network (EAN), a group which coordinates students across NSW in a collective education campaign.

The EAG sees university staff as our allies in the fight for a quality higher education system. In the last two years the EAG has been involved in organising student solidarity with university staff who have faced job and wage cuts as well as attacks on their conditions. In 2012, the EAG organised students to support the National Tertiary Education Union’s (NTEU) campaign to defend 340 jobs that the university management wanted to cut.

The campaign was a success, and helped establish a positive and constructive relationship between students and staff on campus.

In 2013, university management once again attempted to erode staff wages and conditions with a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. The NTEU rejected this with a militant and collective industrial campaign, involving seven strike days throughout the year which effectively shut down the campus.

The EAG lent its solidarity to university staff during their EBA campaign, attending the picket lines and standing shoulder to shoulder with staff; the people who make our university run, against a greedy and anti-union management. The NTEU scored another victory last year, and the EAG was proud to have supported, and contributed student solidarity to their campaign the whole way through.

The EAG is an activist collective which holds weekly meetings where students across university faculties can get together to discuss education issues and plan our fight back. All students are encouraged to get involved in the EAG.

• Contact the education officers Eleanor and Ridah at education.officers@src.usyd.edu.au • Like the Sydney Uni EAG page - https://www.facebook.com/SydneyUniversityEducationActionGroup • Attend the weekly EAG meetings (check the facebook page for time and place)

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queer action collective (quac) Welcome!

The life of a young queer person can be a difficult one. Our experiences can be good, bad, trying and liberating. Yet regardless of where you have come from or what you wish to find in your University journey, the University of Sydney queer community will welcome you with open arms, open hearts, and unicorns.

Our campus is home to a large and diverse queer community, containing numerous groups dedicated to making our campus shine with rainbows, activism, queer comedy and the occasional party. “Queer” is an umbrella term that encompasses a great many gender, sexual and similar identities that are not ‘straight’. Whether you are trans*, intersex, gay, lesbian, bi, pan, asexual, curious, questioning, or something else entirely, we welcome you to the proud and fiery queer community here at the University of Sydney! Here’s a very quick rundown of some basic elements of our community.

The Queer Action Collective (QuAC) A collective is a non-hierarchical meeting and organising space. QuAC is an autonomous collective, meaning that any student who identifies as queer is welcome. Ours is a community in which we actively organise and fight against forces of oppression, all the while offering support, friendship and resources to one another. What we do, and the methods that we use, are determined collectively. Every member is encouraged to share responsibilities and to contribute their perspectives, ideas, and skills. Our first regular meeting of 2014 will be in week 1 in the Queer Space.

QuAC in 2013 In 2013, members of QuAC organised around issues facing queer refugees, police violence against queers, marriage equality, and other like issues. We organised a Mardi Gras float. We undertook a campaign, still on-

going, fighting for gender-neutral bathrooms on campus. We ran #DIYrainbow projects, games nights, ‘Queer Beers’, workshops and more. We engaged in the University of Sydney Union’s (USU) Queer Ball and helped organise USU Pride Week. We edited an edition of Honi Soit, the SRC paper, and fought for a more inclusive SRC. In July, members of QuAC and the queer community on campus helped organise the national annual conference of queer students, Queer Collaborations.

“Queer” is an umbrella term that encompasses a great many gender, sexual and similar identities that are not ‘straight’. Whether you are trans*, intersex, gay, lesbian, bi, pan, asexual, curious, questioning, or something else entirely, we welcome you to the proud and fiery queer community here at the University of Sydney!

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The Queer Officers Consistent with QuAC’s autonomy, the Queer Officers are preselected by the collective in Semester 2 and endorsed by the SRC at QuAC’s direction. In the collective, the officers are no different to any other member.

They do have certain duties as SRC office bearers, such as writing reports and administering the budget given to QuAC by the SRC. However, these duties are carried out in accordance with the directions given to the officers by the collective. This year, the queer officers are Elsa Kohane, David Shakes, Holly Parrington, and Edward McMahon.

The Queer Space This is an autonomous room provided by the University of Sydney Union, which is available to any queer identifying student. It is a ‘safer space’, meaning that no tolerance is given to oppressive behaviour. It is a space where you can study, read, hang out, make friends, access materials, twirl, nap, and so on.

It is also where QuAC meets on a regular basis. The Queer Space has moved to a temporary location as the Holme building undergoes redevelopment, but we’ll be Ho(l)me soon!

Other Organisations The University of Sydney Union (USU) is a corporate association dedicated to student life. It has a number of queer and queer-

In 2013, members of QuAC organised around issues facing queer refugees, police violence against queers, marriage equality, and other like issues. We organised a Mardi Gras float. We undertook a campaign, still ongoing, fighting for gender-neutral bathrooms friendly clubs and societies. This includes SHADES, a queer party and social organisation, and Queer Revue Society, which is responsible for the production of Queer Revue for Semester 2 of each year. The USU also has two Queer Coordinators, who are responsible for developing and administering the USU’s queer programs. Additionally, the Sydney University Postgraduate Students Association (SUPRA) has a queer department, similar to that of the SRC.

QuAC in 2014 2014 will see the continuation of the collective’s long history of activist struggle, together with renewed visions for inclusivity and social engagement. A new autonomous non-cis male group has recently started up, and other autonomous queer groups (queer people of colour, trans*) are hopefully soon to follow. It is the collective and its members that decide what direction to take. Some recent suggestions have included more social events (think picnics, movie nights, etc), workshops, activist skill shares, a dedicated on-campus campaign, as well as ongoing activist projects.

If you would like further information, or simply want to discuss something, the Queer Officers would love to hear from you. We can be contacted via email on queer.officers@src. usyd.edu.au, you can friend any of the queer officers or ‘Diversity Duck’ on Facebook to be added to the secret QuAC group, or you can “like” us on Facebook: “Usyd SRC Queer Department” and send us a message.

We hope to see you around in 2014!

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disabilities and carers collective What is a disability?

Don’t be afraid of the word ‘disability’; it covers all sorts of conditions from the seemingly insignificant to the debilitating. Disabilities can be temporary or permanent and may affect you for part of your degree, or for the entire time. For some, disability might mean having a sensory impairment, mental health problem, chronic medical condition, physical or learning impairments, to name a few.

Who are Carers?

The term ‘Carer’ refers to anyone that provides substantial informal support to someone they know with a disability, an ongoing illness, mental illness, chronic condition or drug or alcohol condition.

Examples of care may include domestic, financial, practical or medical management, personal care and emotional support.

What is the Disabilities Carers Student Network?

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Our network is made up of an amazing group of students who are motivated to embrace and enjoy university life and enhance their well-being alongside the experience of disability. Our student network is not about being defined by our circumstance but about enjoying each other and supporting each other throughout university. We place no pressure or expectations on our members to disclose information regarding their disability or caring responsibilities.

Our network is made up of an amazing group of students who are motivated to embrace and enjoy university life and enhance their well-being alongside the experience of disability.

What do we get up to?

We have regular social meetings where you can not only meet some great people but get involved in a number of activities such as: • Art making workshops • Hanging out in the USYD community garden • Relaxation classes • Picnics • And more to be announced Studying with a disability?

Sydney University is a great place to study, however the experience of disability can sometimes make your studies difficult. For this reason, Disability Services provide a range of adjustments to suit individual needs.

Some adjustments might include: assignment extensions, access to note-takers, larger font exams or requests for classes to be closer to-

gether. To receive support from this service, students must register online, provide supporting documentation and meet with a Disability Officer to discuss their needs. For more information, visit: http://sydney.edu.au/ current_students/disability/ or contact Disability Services directly on (02) 8627 8422.

Studying whilst Caring?

Caring commitments often impact study considerably. As there is no formal data collection on Student Carers, they are largely an ‘invisible’ group. At this time no formal support mechanisms (like Disability Services) exist that recognise the greater need for flexibility whilst caring and studying. The Disabilities & Carers Student Network is currently campaigning for the recognition and support of Student Carers, and has established an informal network of Student Carers on campus.

What can we do for you?

Your Disabilities and Carers Officers are here to help you out - to make your voices heard by the university, to represent you and the issues you face. Contact us if you have any questions relating to disability and study or want to know more about what we do.

How to join?

It’s free, so just come along to one of our social events! Follow our Facebook page (search: USYD SRC Disabilities & Carers) or email us at disabilities.officers@src.usyd.edu.au Welcome to Sydney University, we hope to see you soon!

- Allie, Sarah & Yaz, SRC Disabilities & Carers Student Officers 2014

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INDIGENOUS OFFICERS

Last year, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students spent a majority of the year increasing awareness of Indigenous issues within the University and also gained attention from the wider community from down the road at Redfern to Alice Springs radio. Attention was drawn to the Koori Mail and the Indigenous Times with the controversial question, “What is happening to the Koori Centre?”

Here is the truth: After negotiations between students and management, the Koori Centre has remained a space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students so far. It is equipped with a study area, library, and a common room. While these are the bare essentials, there have been major staff shortages in the space and most of the rooms that used to be offices are now empty. The Koori subjects are also now being amalgamated into the Arts and Education & Social Work Faculty.

As far as we know, there is a five-year plan to build another space within the Univer-

sity known as The National Centre of Cultural Competence. While there have been many questions and concerns regarding the changes in the Koori Centre, we cannot make a judgment on this strategy yet. One legitimate worry, however, is the fact that there has still been no immediate improvement to the conditions of the support network for the students.

The remainder of the 2013 was about increasing the awareness of Indigenous issues and presence in the University. The collective made history last year by having the first Aboriginal student councilor to be elected by the students and the first Aboriginal VicePresident of the SRC. To further achieve this goal, the Indigenous students founded the Wirriga Society. This society is open to all students of the University and encourages the coming together of cultures to gain understanding between them. Wirriga has also been given the opportunity to co-ordinate the Indigenous Festival in 2014.

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This year, we will be pushing for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to be permanently flown on campus along with some physical changes to our space in Old Teachers’ College to promote our culture.

We will continue with our aim to work collaboratively with staff and management and hold regular autonomous BBQs and lunches across campus for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

The SRC Indigenous Office Bearers for 2014 are Crystal Dempsey, Madison McIvor, Brad Hanson, and Kyol Blakeney.

You can contact them at indigenous.officers@ src.usyd.edu.au

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ENVIRONMENT COLLECTIVE Who are we?

One of the USYD SRC collectives, we are dedicated to learning about, and taking action on, issues of social and environmental justice both on and off campus. A Collective is an inclusive space where the direction of our campaigns and actions are based entirely on the interests and ideas of all our members!

We are linked with like-minded mates across the country as part of the Australian Student Environment Network (ASEN) and together work on local and nation-wide campaigns such as ‘fossil free universities’.

• Always strive to campaign in solidarity with local and indigenous communities

We are a nation founded on colonisation and the exploitation of Indigenous peoples and their land.

bott’, has been approved by Environment Minister Greg Hunt. Abbott’s mate Barry O’Farrell lords over the fiefdom of NSW. Under his tyranny, the rights that the community had over their land air and water have been stripped away so that mining companies can make quick tax deductable cash. These companies go about business with blatant disregard for state heritage forests, hundreds of endangered species of birds and marsupials, the local water supply, and the effect that coal dust has on people’s health. Such is the case in what could become district 13, known only in historical whisper as the “Leard State Forest’.

Despite a 30% rise in renewable energy use and investment in the last three years giving us hope that we may be able to halt climate change, the odds will never be in favour of those peoples who are being affected by these companies. Now that’s why we work together to fight for our environment and communities affected from the capital and beyond!

Why Environmental Justice?

We: • Are concerned about coal, coal seam gas (CSG), uranium mining, nuclear energy and the destruction of Indigenous autonomy, forests and marine parks as a result.

• Love: renewable energy, forests, reefs, food coops, community gardens... and sunflowers.

• Have a non-hierarchical approach to decision making that is inclusive and consensus based so everybody has an equal ownership of the group and its actions.

• Run campaigns, host forums, screen films, do actions, attend camps, discuss societal change, eat awesome food and enjoy good company!

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The struggle for environmental justice in Australia bears a remarkable similarity to The Hunger Games. We are a nation founded on colonisation and the exploitation of Indigenous peoples and their land. Australia is ruled by the notorious Abbott, a climate change denier with a neoliberal agenda. His government has made significant cuts to anything with the word ‘environment’ in it (or without it). We have seen budget cuts to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, CSIRO, as well as the abolition of the Climate Commission and the removal from cabinet of the Minister for Science.

Instead of trying to transition away from coal, the government and king coal want to double Australia’s coal exports. A proposed plan to dredge part of the Great Barrier Reef to build a massive coal terminal, ‘Point Ab-

The Sydney Uni Enviro Collective is committed to act now to fight the decadent forces that are wreaking havoc on our environment and our communities.

What do we do?

The Sydney Uni Enviro Collective is committed to act now to fight the decadent forces that are wreaking havoc on our environment and our communities. We have weekly meetO - W E E K H A N D B O O K 2 0 14

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ings, host discussion groups and info nights, fight fossil fuels directly on campus, join the NSW anti-CSG movement and blockade bulldozers and logging machinery from destroying the Leard State forest. As part of a nation-wide campaign called Fossil Free Universities, we are pressuring USYD to divest from fossil fuels on campus. That is, stop investing hundreds of millions of dollars in coal companies and their financiers, such as ANZ. This is done in order to send the message of a lacking social and academic licence, as well as prevent such money from influencing the direction of our research and education.

In 2013 we joined the SRC, Food Coop and Centre for English Teaching (CET) to build a community garden on level 5 of Wentworth (Look up from Hermann’s). We’ve found that sustainability education and growing our own food has become a fantastic way to meet new enviro-y mates! In the past two years we

joined ASEN folk from NSW on a roadtrip around the state to visit communities directly affected by the impacts of coal and coal seam gas.

In 2012 we filmed an award winning documentary ‘Mining the Truth’ which shares the stories of those we met on our travels.

Themed ‘Just transitions’, in 2013 we met not just the fighters, but people working in the mining industry to build a dialogue of a just and sustainable future.

Punctuating the year is ASEN’s annual conference, ‘Students of Sutainability’ (SOS). In 2013, many of us went to SOS Tasmania, and road tripped with other ASEN folk around

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the state. We visited the Observer tree with Miranda Gibson and stopped sawmills using old growth in Lornevalle. We also used our collective fire fighting and first aid skills to survive when camping in the Tarkine.

Watch out for SOS 2014, in Canberra! Get Involved! If you want to join the fight against Abbott and the mining companies that are destroying our environment, join us!

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district 9: COMMUNITY GARDEN Who are we?

We are a group of keen, green bean students who love building, gardening, sharing skills and growing food together! After seven years of lobbying the university for a greenspace, in November 2013 we joined up with the SRC, the Usyd Food Co-op and the Centre for English Teaching to create a space where domestic and international students can garden together on campus! We grow food crops, friendly flowers and native plants for both nummy consumption and education.

Why a community garden?

Across Sydney and around the world, communities have sprung alive through gardening in their street plots and local centres. As we spend most of our student lives at uni, gardening here is a great opportunity to work together and learn about sustainability and food security.

In the city, where many of us don’t know how to grow veggies or don’t have the space, the balcony on level 5 of Wentworth can offer both garden beds and garden friends.

harvesting-skill-sharing meet-ups. The community garden is not just a space to grow food, but a live music and workshop space - from permaculture 101 to urban food farms and community organising.

In 2014, we hope the community garden can be a great space to hang out with your friends, meet up for organising meetings, and connect with nature in the middle of the city, through growing food and eating it fresh.

Numerous ideas for this year have already arisen, like starting a seed bank, developing a worm farm to process the scraps from Wentworth food court, starting a native (stingless) bee hive, and constructing our own garden-furniture. With your garden gloves and grand ideas, this garden and space will just keep growing!

We meet at the Community Garden on the Level 5 Balcony of Wentworth building (Look up at the trees from Hermann’s) twice a week for organising meetings, skillsharesharvests and have monthly working bees.

Getting involved Whether you are a green thumb or have never gardened before, the Usyd Community Garden is a space to meet new friends from a diversity of backgrounds, faculties and year groups. Anyone can be a community gardener! You don’t even need an ACCESS card.

So, when you’re having a drink at Hermann’s, look up at the sunflowers, and take the lift to level 5, it’s blooming marvellous!

For more information please contact us: Email – usydcommunitygarden@gmail.com Facebook Page – Usyd Community Garden (https://www.facebook.com/pages/USYDCommunity-Garden/546500095418512) Call Amelie – 0413 679 269

What do we do?

In creating our garden, we sourced recycled crates, lugged tonnes of dirt up to the balcony, constructed self watering (wicking) beds, painted them with colours and quotes, planted seeds and trees, and watched them grow into a flourishing food forest! It was both educational and socially rewarding, as we bonded with a group of similar-minded people who are passionate about food and the environment.

But the best thing about a garden is that it just keeps growing! We still have beds to build, seedlings to transplant and delicious organic strawberries to harvest!

Now that the garden is established, we’ll be holding monthly working bees, weekly organising meetings and weekly

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international student officers’

report Hello!

Welcome(back) to a brand new semester at the University of Sydney. Our names are Sherry, James, Chen and Emma, and we are your International Student Officers at the Student Representative Council (SRC) in 2014. If this is your first semester here, don’t panic, because we are here to help.

We firmly believe in equality; international students, representing over 20% of the student population at USyd, should be treated equally like every other student regardless of our nationalities. However, it is disappointing to see that International Students have not received equal treatment in many aspects, including travel concessions, scholarship opportunities and workplace opportunities. In terms of travel concessions in NSW, the current discount scheme has been criticized for not benefiting a large number of International Students as most of us live close to campus. Scholarship and work opportunities are also big concerns: too often we get bogged down by the condition attached to many good opportunities, ‘Australian and New Zealand permanent residents and citizens only’. This year, we will run major campaigns for full travel concessions, fair scholarships opportunities for International students and work place rights.

What is the SRC? It is a peak representative body that stands up for your rights and interests. The SRC is always here to help no matter what happens, so make sure you familiarize yourself with the HELP services, legal service and the second hand bookshop located on level 4, Wentworth Building.

Grab a copy of the Counter Course handbook during O-week, which will give you information about your courses. Honi Soit, the weekly student newspaper is also a must-read – it will keep you updated.

We firmly believe in equality; international students, representing over 20% of the student population at USyd, should be treated equally like every other student regardless of our nationalities.

Who are the International Student Officers?

We are elected by the SRC to represent international students on campus. We have a few jobs: - Make your voices heard through campaigns: from big issues such as travel concessions and scholarships, to concerns like academic problems and housing.

- Ensure that you are well-informed; we will host regular seminars on hot topics.

- Create a safe and fun environment at our fortnightly collective meetings for you!

So, what is the International Student Collective (ISC)?

The Collective is a place for you to raise and discuss your concerns, or swing by to make some new friends! We host collective meetings every two weeks (food provided!).

Bring your friends along as we welcome everyone, local or International. We will also host seminars on hot topics such as safety, visas, and campus elections during collective meetings. Come along to our seminars and be the most updated amongst your friends!

This year, we would like to work with other collectives in the SRC and national students organizations. We have planned major campaigns for full travel concessions, fair scholarship opportunities for International students and work place rights. The collective will work together to bring about these campaigns and fight for changes. So, make sure you get involved because this is all about YOU! How to join?

Sign up at our O-week stall for newsletters Swing by our bi-weekly meetings (details TBA) Email us on: International.officers@src.usyd.edu.au Find us on Facebook: USYD Students Representative Council (SRC) International Students Officers Tumblr: usydinternational Weibo: SYDInternational

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welfare officers’ report Are you living on Mi Goreng as basic sustenance because you had to divert your funds towards Uni textbooks and supplies instead?

Are you dependent on the pathetic morsels of assistance barely available to you from our eroding welfare system? Are you feeling perpetual dread and isolation as you become stuck in the bowels of bureaucratic labyrinths? As the SRC Welfare team, we’re here to help ease these struggles.

Some of the many services we can assist you with are: • Accessing emergency (short term) and long term, affordable housing • Seeking mental health treatment • Applying for emergency financial loans and bursaries • Locating health care that is friendly, accessible, and safe • Accessing the SRC legal service and caseworkers • Providing education materials, such as lab coats for science students As welfare officers, we also coordinate campaigns and act on behalf of students to preserve and expand the support networks necessary for a quality education. We are pissed off by successive federal and state

Chiara

government policies that neglect the growing student population and minimise the support available to each student. We are enraged that despite this trend, the university pays a very large salary to the Vice Chancellor, while simultaneously implementing austerity measures and attempting to cut the working conditions of staff and the learning conditions of students. Engaging in activist campaigns around these issues is a great form of anger management, but more importantly, it is an effective way to make sure that the student voice guides the priorities of the university.

Mental Health Currently, the university provides only a limited amount of free sessions with a university counsellor. However, little data is available to provide student feedback on the quality of these services. Further, longterm mental health services are not available through the university, severely limiting the service’s effectiveness. We will endeavour to improve both the availability and transparency of mental health services for students.

Student Housing and Financial Support Student housing is increasingly treated as a source of income for the university, with steep rates being charged and increases in

Brendan

Phillipa

privately owned housing, leading to a price barrier that inevitably excludes many poor students. We will fight for an increase in subsidised student housing, and fight against the lack of investment in university-owned housing. Furthermore, we will seek to help students access financial support, and intend to build campaigns against unpaid internships, in order to defend students’ rights at work.

Drug Safety We are opposed to drug criminalisation and will provide online resources on how to safely and properly use drugs. The recreational use of drugs is inevitable. A society that stigmatises and punishes those who use drugs is one where human suffering is increased. We will generate and provide materials as to the legality of searches by police and similar issues.

We are passionate about a wide range of other issues and are always interested in hearing the thoughts and concerns of the students we’re here for. Should you ever have any questions or comments, please contact us by email at welfare.officers@src.usyd.edu.au, or just drop into the SRC dungeon (below the Wentworth Building) and make your voice heard.

Yours in solidarity, Chiara, Philippa, Brendan and Oliver

Oliver

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district 10: The national union of students (nus) Hi everyone! My name is Hannah Smith and I am the New South Wales President for the National Union of Students for 2014.

What is NUS? NUS is the peak representative body for all undergraduate students in Australia.

NUS has two main activities: lobbying and campaigning. Every year, different departments within the union run campaigns on issues which students are passionate about.

NUS is also students’ voice to universities and governments on issues relating to the quality, accessibility and affordability of your education.

The most important thing to know about NUS is that, as a student, you can have a say in how it is run. The National Union is completely student run and takes its directives from student delegates to the annual National Conference. The University of Sydney SRC sends 7 delegates every year to the National Conference who are elected during our annual campus elections. These delegates are able to write and vote on policy, elect incoming office bearers and have their say on the way the Union will run for the next year.

What has NUS ever done for me?

NUS’ two-pronged approach to tackling important issues has meant it has won some fantastic achievements for students in 2009 it successfully lobbied the government to lower the age of independence to 22, allowing many of us to access youth allowance more readily, NUS also lobbied successfully for the abolishment of Domestic Undergraduate Full Fees (DUFFs) in 2009. DUFF legislation meant those who could afford to pay the full amount for their courses were admitted over those who couldn’t despite the academic performance of either student- making higher education incredibly inequitable.

Another important task of NUS is it’s supportive role for University SRC’s (like ours) in gaining the skills and knowledge necessary to lobby the university administration. Every year NUS hosts an Education Conference, which allows student activists from SRCs around the country to gain skills around running campaigns and affecting change on their campuses.

National and State Office Bearers also make visits to campuses to provide support and advice. This support is invaluable as most

National and State office bearers have spent a few years as activists in their own campus SRC. In fact, the 2011 President of Sydney Uni SRC went on to become National President of NUS in 2012. Wow! How is NUS funded?

SRCs around the country pay an annual affiliation fee to NUS. This fee is dependent on student numbers, what the SRC can afford to pay and a whole other range of factors.

What will NUS be doing this year?

Conservative governments such as Tony Abbott’s current Liberal government have a history of making changes to higher education that hurt students. NUS has serious concerns about Abbott and Pyne’s possible motivation to scrap the Student Services and Amenities Fee (which funds important services like the SRC) and their moves to deregulate university fees- which will mean Universities are free to charge what they want for our degrees.

NUS is committed to fighting these changes over the next year and as such will be running campaigns throughout the year to fight them.

It will begin with a National Day of Action on the 26th of March.

How can I get involved?

There are a broad range of campaigns that you are able to become involved in through NUS- from Women’s and Queer issues to Education and Student welfare. As your state President, please feel free to email me at any time to find out how to get more involved or if you just want more information about NUS: nswpresident@unistudent.com.au

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I volunteer to go to NUS!

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Sexual Harassment Officers’ report The Sexual Harassment officers wish to inform readers that this article discusses sexual assault and rape; content which some readers may find shocking or triggering of past experiences.

‘Sexual harassment’ is a term that many people have come to associate with women, and associate with unwanted physical attention of a sexual nature. In reality, sexual harassment is ANY unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, including (but not limited to) verbal harassment such as sexist jokes and catcalling, and physical harassment such as physical intimidation or assault. And while women are the most common victims of sexual harassment, it can and does happen to people of all sexes, genders, sexualities and cultural identities.

Considering the myriad contexts in which sexual harassment is experienced workplaces, uni, online, on the street, in the home – it appears there are very few truly safe spaces where men and women can freely and autonomously go about their lives without being at risk of facing verbal, emotional, mental and physical sexual assault.

Sexual harassment is also appallingly prevalent even into the 21st century. Two recent examples include slut-shaming and the SlutWalks of 2011, and the Steubenville rape case of 2012.

Slut-shaming is the practice of degrading someone for participating in sexual behaviours that deviate from society’s traditional conception of sexuality. In recent years, this has notably manifested in slutshaming of women who are dressed in a way that might be considered sexually provocative, a notion that saw mass congregation in the form of the SlutWalks – a movement which began in Canada in 2011 where protestors advocated the right for women to dress how they pleased, and calling for an end to rape culture.

We need to adopt an enlightened view of sexuality where someone’s sexual choices are not stigmatized because of their private life

and personal decisions – such as the way they choose to dress. Slut-shaming, whether it be covert discrimination or blatant verbal abuse, is sexist and oppressive, and should never be tolerated. Calling out such behaviour is an active, useful way of challenging these attitudes, as it assertively confronts the perpetrator as well as affecting onlookers who witness the harassment.

Sexual harassment is ANY unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, including (but not limited to) verbal harassment such as sexist jokes and catcalling, and physical harassment such as physical intimidation or assault.

The Steubenville rape case involved a female high-school student from Ohio who was sexually assaulted by several of her peers, and this harassment was documented and widely publicised across various forms of social media. While ultimately the perpetrators were rightfully convicted for their actions, this case stands out to us because of the overwhelming public response to blame the victim. CNN, a major news network, sympathised with the offenders, saying that it was a shame that ‘star football players’ had lost sight of ‘such promising futures’ as a result of the verdict1, and some Ohio residents vilified the young woman for putting the high school football team in a bad light. Meanwhile, none of these people considered how the victim’s life had been irreparably affected.

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In opposing sexual harassment, we must ALWAYS keep in mind that the victim is NEVER, not even partially, responsible for the crime committed against them, despite what media and popular culture may propagate.

In the coming year, we see educationbased and consciousness-raising campaigns as essential in fighting sexual harassment both on and off campus. We will be looking to work alongside the Women’s Collective to provide informational resources, help and advice to others interested in working towards a culture of zero tolerance towards sexual harassment.

Footage of this coverage can be found at http://youtu.be/MvUdyNko8LQ Dealing with instances of sexual harassment can be overwhelming, emotionally draining and upsetting. For help and advice, contact any of the following services: University of Sydney Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Ph: (02) 8627 8433 (Camperdown campus) Ph: (02) 9351 9638 (Cumberland campus) caps.admin@sydney.edu.au cumberland.cs@sydney.edu.au www.usyd.edu.au/counselling Lifeline: 13 11 14 NSW Rape Crisis Centre Ph: 1800 424 017 For online support go to: www.nswrapecrisis.com.au National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Line Ph: 1800 737 732 RPA Hospital Sexual Health Clinic Ph: (02) 9515 1200 Free translators also available

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Social Justice Officers The SRC’s Social Justice Department aims to encourage students to get involved in activism, social initiatives and community engagement. We strive to ensure that USYD students are aware of the broad spectrum of discrimination and inequalities both on and off campus, and provide channels for students to get involved in fighting these issues. Our department is excited to work with the whole USYD student body on issues this year. We also hope to work with other SRC departments to reduce inequality on campus and give a greater voice to minorities. The Social Justice Department welcomes any suggestions and hopes to actively engage the student body in broad lobbying and direct action.

The to be and activist combat

Social Justice department hopes heavily involved in organising promoting upcoming rallies, meetings and efforts in order to serious injustices and cruelties.

Social Justice also involves a deep concern for issues present on campus.

The Social Justice department hopes to highlight these issues of inequality to the student body through a postering campaign to heighten awareness surrounding the diversity of experiences that students have both on campus and outside of campus.

The Social Justice department hopes to be heavily involved in organising and promoting upcoming rallies, activist meetings and efforts in order to combat serious injustices and cruelties.

The Social Justice department will also endeavor to ensure volunteering opportunities are more varied and accessible so students can easily donate their time

to causes they are passionate about. An effective way to engage with these issues is at grassroots level through volunteering within your community. You can put a face on the issues, delve into the complexities and meet some awesome and inspiring people.

At a university level, the SRC provides a simple way to engage in combating the ills of society that concern you: through collectives.

There are collectives that represent marginalised groups and key social justice issues, from the Education Action Group (EAG), the Queer Action Collective (QuAC) or the Environment Collective. For more information look at the entries by the relevant departments on the SRC website, within this handbook or email us and we can direct you to a collective that best represents your interests.

HAPPY SOCIAL JUSTICE HUNTING GAMES! Your Social Justice officers for 2014 are Liam Carrigan, Clo Schofield, Monique McKenzie, and Ishmam Ahmed.

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Intercampus Officers United we stand!

Dearest satellite students, it’s Liam Carrigan and Kay Dook your friendly Intercampus officers for 2014!

and provide you with the representation you need to combat bureaucracy!

In 2014 we’re here to see the Students’ Representative Council take up the issues that affect you, and to involve students across ALL USyd campuses in the fight for students’ rights. With Abbott set to push through $2.3 billion in cuts, our class sizes are only going to get bigger, our teachers and university staff will see their wages and conditions undermined, and we could see our courses cut.

As intercampus officers, we want to break down barriers between the campuses and get all Sydney Uni students involved in a united campaign to fight these cuts.

We’re not going to get anywhere by begging the likes of the Liberal party!

The role of the SRC to organise students to fight back against these cuts! As intercampus officers, we want to break down barriers between the campuses and get all Sydney Uni students involved in a united campaign to fight these cuts. We’re not going to get anywhere by begging the likes of the Liberal party! The best way to defend our education is through a mass activist campaign on and off campus. We encourage you to contribute to these education campaigns, a central activity of the SRC this year.

We also want to make the representation, services and facilities offered by the SRC more accessible and effective. Regardless of where your campus is located, the SRC is there to fight for you. From the Con, to Cumberland, the SCA, Mallet St, Surry Hills and Camden you can trust the SRC and it’s office bearers to fight the good fight for your education under a conservative government,

Students on satellite campuses lack many of the attractive perks that main campus students freely enjoy. The scarcity of ATMS, truncated library opening hours, and nonexistent licensed venues is an unacceptable slight. The university needs to ensure your on campus experience is just as enjoyable and enriching as other students! The SRC was a key force in providing a shuttle bus

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between the Cumberland and Camperdown campus and provides a DEVOTED Satellite casework and Policy Officer, Brenda Dee! She can be found in the Cumberland library on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the Con on Thursdays and any students studying dentistry are welcome to seek an appointment. Hoewever, Brenda will be on long service leave for the duration of semester one.

Yet there is still so much to do! So your only option is –perhaps the message of this whole handbook – GET ON IT AND GET INVOLVED! The SRC collaborates with the corresponding organizations so if you’re a Cumberland student – join the Guild! Join the Sydney College of the Arts Student Society, the Sydney University Undergraduate Dentistry organization and Con student organization! Most importantly get involved in the education campaigns to halt the cuts as the SRC will campaign irrespective if your faculty, campus or discipline – it will always be an active advocate for quality education.

We are so eager to help out and improve your experience at university irrespective of campus – give Liam a buzz on 0401847279 or email him at lcar7345@uni.sydney.edu.au or Kay on 0427000038 or kdoo0982@uni. sydney.edu.au if you have any ideas or issues.

So get involved, Katniss and Peeta only survived by working together after all!

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Mature Age Officers Why we need a ‘Mature’ Perspective in student politics

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Pictured: Omar Hassan during Movember

Gandalf didn’t have to deal with Voluntary Student Unionism

Mature age students bring a unique perspective to political activism, especially those of us with a history of involvement prior to our studies, such as in trade union work or community activism. Abbott and Pyne’s hopes for higher education – billions of dollars of cuts in funding, restricting entry places, privatising HECS and crushing student unions – are reaffirmations of the neoliberal project that’s been giving students nightmares for decades. As mature age students are more likely to work longer hours and have children or other dependents, attacks on entry places and increases on the burden of student debt put us at an even greater disadvantage.

Older students will remember well the campaign against Howard in his attempts to destroy students’ representative bodies through Voluntary Student Unionism. The campaign was a fierce and vibrant one, like

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the one we need to build now, and those with memories and experience from that last fight will be instrumental in ensuring that this time we win. Older students can be just as passionate and rowdy, cause just as much trouble for the scumbags in power as any young go-getter.

Having a mature perspective in the campaign against the government’s attacks on education means understanding the need to unite this struggle with other critical issues of social justice.

Having a mature perspective in the campaign against the government’s attacks on education means understanding the need to unite this struggle with other critical issues of social justice. We need a mature perspective on the right to marriage equality, a mature perspective on ending the torture of refugees, mature perspectives on freeing Palestine from Israeli apartheid, rebuilding trade unionism, the whole lot. We’ve been around longer and know how to draw others into these struggles for education, welfare and social justice.

With maturity comes complexity, sophistication, and a deeper understanding of life’s subtleties. Take Karl Marx for example, history’s greatest intellectual. He began his adult life with a passionately humanist approach to politics, which motivated him to take part in the defeated European revolutions of 1848. But with age he developed the more serious analytical method of historical materialism, wrote Capital, plus important works on philosophy, revolutionary strategy and women’s oppression. He also grew that amazing beard. You too can be a mature aged radical, just contact one of us.

The 2014 Mature age officers are Omar Hassan, James Cruz and Kay Dook.

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Autonomous Collective Against racism (ACAR) Sydney Uni’s newest Collective The Students Representative Council’s Autonomous Collective Against Racism (ACAR) aims to fight for the equality and liberation of people who self-identify as: a person of colour, a person from an ethnocultural background, and/or as someone marginalised by white supremacy.

The Students Representative Council’s Autonomous Collective Against Racism (ACAR) aims to fight for the equality and liberation of people who self-identify as: a person of colour, a person from an ethnocultural background, and/or as someone marginalised by white supremacy.

As a new collective commencing in 2014, little is set in stone asides from our ideals and beliefs in the empowerment and selfdetermination of people coming from a minority ethno-cultural background, or those marginalised by white supremacy and settler colonialism, or those who identify as a person of colour. This collective welcomes

any person who self-identifies as belonging to those groups, but is still working on ways to better represent and account for the ways people identify in terms of experiencing racism.

This collective hopes to operate not only as a space of activism and political organising, but also as a support space where people can share their experiences. We encourage people from all levels of political knowledge to get involved. We are hoping to run workshops and provide educative resources, and we are open to any ideas and feedback throughout the entire process of this collective’s first year.

For most of us who are already part of the collective, autonomous organising against racism is something new, and it will be exciting to see the myriad faces and paths it could take through 2014. Racism and its effects are diverse and as a collective we hope to make visible the different ways racism manifests in people’s lives.

This collective hopes to operate not only as a space of activism and political organising, but also as a support space where people can share their experiences.

We encourage people from all levels of political knowledge to get involved.

- Tabitha Prado-Richardson, Oscar Monaghan, Shiran Illanperum, and Bridget Harilaou .

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usydacar Email: usydacar@gmail.com Autonomous group: https:// www.facebook.com/ groups/183243481860842/

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Collectives

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diThestriBigger ct 11:Picture GlobalBeyond SolidTheariSRCty As we speak economic, environmental and humanitarian crises rage across the globe, ravaging the lives of millions of the people with whom we share our planet.

European governments push through round after round of savage austerity, US military forces terrorise civilian populations in the Middle East and North Africa, and Israel continues its colonial project of ethnic cleansing against the Palestinians.

Some of the world’s poorest people have already begun to feel the devastating effects of a global climactic disaster they have played no role in causing, as the rich and powerful continue a decades-long trend of avoiding responsibility for the problem.

called week after week. Since the election of an Abbott government we have seen mass drownings, the removal of almost all medical staff, and the separation of newborn babies from their parents. As homosexuality remains criminal in PNG, refugees have been told that homosexual activity will be reported to PNG authorities, possibly resulting in imprisonment.

Refugees consistently assert their humanity through hunger strikes and riots, with which we must continue to express solidarity. The Australian government has worked hard to silence, demonise and de-humanise asylum seekers over the course of twenty years; continuing the campaign in 2014 will be crucial to resisting this.

were killed in the West Bank in 2013, with the highest number of child fatalities since 2006. Moreover, we have just observed the fifth anniversary of Operation Cast Lead, when white phosphorus rained down on Gaza. The campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against the apartheid state of Israel has gone from strength to strength, with the American Studies Association recently voting in favour of an academic boycott.

Especially considering the Australian government’s uncritical, bipartisan support of Israel’s crimes, the office of Global Solidarity will observe the BDS campaign in 2014 and involve itself in actions in defense of Palestinians against Israeli occupation.

As we write this, twenty thousand African refugees inside Israel are on a three-day strike to protest their detention and demand their refugee status be recognised.

Closer to home, the Australian state’s racist crusade against refugees has hit an historical and hysterical high, illegally deporting asylum seekers to concentration camps in impoverished Papua New Guinea.

When Kevin Rudd announced the Papua New Guinea solution in July 2013, student activists played a critical role in organising snap actions in the major capital cities.

Throughout the month of August, successful rallies with turnouts of thousands were

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As we write this, twenty thousand African refugees inside Israel are on a three-day strike to protest their detention and demand their refugee status be recognised. This treatment is typical of a state that subjugates and terrorises Palestinian populations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Reports have just surfaced detailing the torture of detained Palestinian children in outdoor cages during freezing storms.

Living under siege in Gaza can mean power cuts of up to 16 hours a day. 28 Palestinians

None of these vicious attacks are met without resistance, as ordinary people rally, strike, riot and revolt in demand of genuine equality, democracy and justice.

It is the duty of this office to promote awareness of, and express solidarity with, these struggles, especially those in which the Australian state is complicit.

In 2014, the Global Solidarity officers are Kenan Toker, Andrew Mason, Anna Sanders-Robinson and April Holcombe.

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Anti-Racism Collective (ARC) The University of Sydney’s Anti-Racism Collective (ARC) is committed to fighting against racism on all fronts, standing up for the rights of persecuted ethnic minorities both on and off campus.

ARC is one of the most active collectives on campus. We have recently decided to focus on campaigns against the cruel and inhumane treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.

Students have always played a significant role in the movement against racism in politics and the broader community. As one of the most important voices for progress, students can and should take action both on and off campus against racial prejudice and shape an equitable future.

Since the election of Tony Abbott, our work and presence on campus has never been more important. With the Liberals now in power, ‘Operation Sovereign Borders’ is officially underway, meaning the return of the most inhumane and racist refugee policies this country has seen since the Howard Era. Abbott’s attempt to revive the Howard-era policy of ‘turning back the boats’ involves cruel and dangerous operations which only serves to degrade, brutalise and endanger refugees further.

Some cruel aspects of their policies include: - Keeping most of the PNG ‘Solution’ intact - Restoring Temporary Protect Visas (instead of granting residency to refugees) - Expanding the capacity of the detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island - Denying refugees access to the Refugee Rights Review Tribunal (legal aid) - Blackouts on boat arrivals

Some of ARC’s past successes have included joining with the Education Action Group to campaign to save the refugee language program from threatened cuts. We also joined with Koori Centre students to rally against a planned closure of their centre.

We held a number of film screenings and forums with former detainees as well as “The People Smuggler” author Robin de Crespigny and investigative journalist Professor Wendy Bacon.

In 2013, we also co-organised a successful rally when Bob Carr came onto campus after his claims that refugees were not genuinely fleeing from persecution and were ‘economic migrants’.

message to the government that racial scapegoating and vilification of the world’s most vulnerable people are not, and never will be, acceptable platforms for gaining votes or popularity.

With both sides of politics committed to vilifying refugees, students must build of the momentum of 2013 into anti-racist campaigns for 2014.

We hope you can join us. Get involved, fight back!

For more information, contact Gabby on 0416 488 258 or Marijke on 0452 192 659

Every year, ARC has responded to the Government’s undeniable abuse of human rights by organising student contingents to rallies and visiting the Villawood detention centre.

Under Howard, it was the refugee movement that shifted public opinion, broke bipartisan support for offshore processing and pushed back the Pacific Solution. It is this sort of vibrant campaign that we will need to stop Abbott.

Students need to unite to send a clear

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district 12: a cornucopia of tributes & shitheads Editors (text and design): Jariana (James Leeder and Mariana PodestaDiverio), General Secretaries.

The articles, pathetic excuses for creativity, mockingjays, and pizzazz in this handbook were brought to you by: Liam Carrigan, amy knox, max hall, Alisha AitkenRadburn, dr. Grace Sharkey, Hannah Smith, laura webster, Blythe S Worthy, and all of the Office Bearers as listed in their respective reports.

Design mate: DJ Rafi Alam Sub-editors: Justice Georgia Carr, rev. Nina Hallas, the hon.

Miranda Smith, and detective blythe s worthy. special thanks to: amanda le may from src publications, src caseworkers, ballsac the toothless pooch, and caffeine.

No thanks to: sydney university sport and fitness for being greedy corporate butts, Michael Spence, dysentery, and the prison-industrial complex.

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