SRC Orientation Hanbook 2011 by David Mack

ORIENTATION

HANDBOOK 2011

Enviro Collective

Queer Collective

SRC BOOKS

SRC HELP

NUS

Education Acton

HONI SOIT

SRC LEGAL

Women’s Collective

International Students

www.src.usyd.edu.au

SAonVE SEE us a t the SRC O-WEEK STALL www.src.

BOOKS

oks CheAp o b t x e T r u o y get

NEW Location! Level 4, Wentworth Building

(Next to the International Lounge) Hours: Mondays to Fridays 9am - 4.30pm contact: (02) 9660 4756 | books@src.usyd.edu.au

Current second-hand text books on sale now!

www.src.usyd.edu.au

• We buy & sell textbooks according to demand • You can sell your books on consignment. (Please phone us before bringing in your books) • We are open to USYD students & the public Search for text books online www.src.usyd.edu.au/default.php Call 02 9660 4756 to check availability and reserve a book.

usyd.edu

.au

The University of Sydney Student’s Representative Council acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. We pay our respects to Elders both past and present.

The Freedoms we enjoy today are paid for us by the sacrifices of our serving men and women. We honour the ANZAC Tradition.

s t n e t n Co Editor’s Foreword I would like to remark that the publication is complete, the ink is dry and you hold in your hands the fruit of my loins labour. But I can’t. President’s Report 02 Not because the ink is still wet due to inferior printing practices. I Vice-President’s Report 04 assure you the SRC uses only the finest of materials…seriously. No, I can’t because at the time of writing this foreword my vision of the General Secretary’s Report 06 long term is severely impeded by fatigue. However, I can comment Education Report 08 on the concrete—what is before my eyes and I pray yours too.

Welfare Report 10

Environment Report 12 Women’s Report

International Students Report 16 Interfaith Report 17 Intercampus Report 18 Ethnic Affairs Report 19 Queer Report 20 Director of Finance Report 21 Global Solidarity Report 22 Disability Report 23 A Different Take on College Life 24 Sexual Harassment Report 25 Student Housing 26 Cheap Food 28 Pub Review

Liberal Education 32 Student Representation 34 I Want My Coffee 35 How To Study 36 Why Participate? 39 Centrelink

Campus Safety

Can You AIME Higher? 43 Student Services and Amenities Fee

How Not to be Screwed 46 Revalue But Don’t Redefine Families

Final Note.. 48

The O-Week Handbook is largely an exercise in shameless selfpromotion. This is wonderful if this is your first taste—when it is your second, third or fourth it leaves much to be desired. Whether you are an inquisitive first year or a hardened veteran whose first instinct was to locate the SRC O-Week tent there is much to be discovered in these pages. Not much has changed for the birth of a new epoch is laborious indeed. Nothing quite so much goes against the grain—the old epoch will fight the new even when all vitality is gone. Even gradual change is too much for some. Some? Yes, some. Those pesky SRC gnomes with their blasted three-phase plan(s): 1) Edit handbooks in the middle of the night, 2) ???, 3) profit. There is no profit to be had from such plans. Not when this year will be integral to the future direction of the student experience. Two important issues this year are the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and the Base Funding Review. The Base Funding Review will investigate what constitutes a quality tertiary education and how much it costs, as well as the most effective funding model on top of other things. There is much to be desired with the confused view the government has of the universities’ function (think degree factory). It is the prevalent view; the highest sense of education has been purposely forgotten. One is reminded of Nietzsche: “there are no worse and no more thorough injurers of freedom than liberal institutions.” There are still those that support freedom of speech on campus—you can find some at the SRC. You can learn the true function of education in this handbook in the article ‘Liberal Education’ (note: these are differing senses of liberal one ancient the other modern). I hope that everyone who reads this handbook can walk away richer in knowledge. Here’s hoping that 2011 will be a successful year. Your ever-benevolent head editor, Morgan Qasabian.

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Preside

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Donherra Walmsley

Hey there! Welcome to Sydney University for 2011! My name’s Donherra—though most people call me Dee—and I’m your SRC President for 2011. Wait—we’re only 2 lines in and already using acronyms that haven’t been explained: what is the SRC? The SRC is the Students’ Representative Council. We are a student-run organisation that represents the undergraduate student body here at USyd. This handbook is designed to give you a pretty decent overview of the different activities run by the SRC with which you can get involved, and also to give you a bit of a guide to the university and surrounds. Here goes: Representing So we’re your representatives, big deal—what does that actually mean? It means that there are student office-bearers (generally the President) sitting on almost all the University boards and committees—from Academic Board through to the Admissions Sub-Committee through to working groups on everything from plagiarism to the redevelopment of Fisher Library—making sure that the student perspective is being heard. The University administration is mostly made up of people who haven’t been students for a pretty long time, so they can be a bit out of touch with what we need from our university, which is why the SRC is so important. As well as attending a whole bunch of meetings, the SRC lobbies to change things that we think could be improved around the University. An example of this is library opening hours, which last year we got extended during Stuvac and exam periods, and this year we’re hoping to increase during semester time. Keep an eye out for my reports in Honi for more information on the progress of this issue! The SRC also represents you at a State and Federal Government level. We write submissions into enquiries on things like Youth Allowance, housing, and HECS fees, just to name a few. We also work with the National Union of Students, which is the peak representative body for university students in Australia, to make sure that the voice of students is heard loud and clear on education issues that affect us. The President and Office-Bearers of the National Union of Students lobby the Government as well as coordinating campaigns across the country to raise the profile of student issues PAG E 2

and build movements for change. This year we’re also hoping to build stronger networks with all the representatives at a department, school, and faculty level that exist around the University through the Student Representative Network. The Network is already up and running in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and hopefully expanding further in 2011. If you’re a keen bean and want to get involved with this project, drop me a line, and if you’re an Arts student, it’s as simple as just participating in the discussions that are happening on the Blackboard sites for your departments, and you can run to be a representative if you’re interested. Information sessions will be run early in semester, which I’d strongly advise you to attend if you think you might like to be involved. Your voice is a powerful thing so make sure it gets heard!

There are student officebearers sitting on almost all the University boards and committees…making sure that the student perspective is being heard. Advocating As well as fulfilling all of our representative duties, the SRC also provides free caseworkers that you can access if you’re ever in any trouble. They are the pros at navigating the university and governmental bureaucracy. Problems with Centrelink? They’re the gurus. Want to apply for special consideration? Got it covered. Need to show cause or appeal a mark? We’re here to help. Been accused of plagiarism? Give us a call (for information on plagiarism check out the Counter Course Handbook, as well as your department/ school/faculty guides, it’s pretty important stuff so it’s worth getting on top of early). You get the picture—if you’ve got a problem, make an appointment to see a caseworker, and if they can’t fix it they’ll generally be able to point you in the direction of someone who can. We also run our own Legal Service, so if you’re having a legal problem, for example you think you’ve been fined unfairly, think your landlord is dodgy, or just need to know your rights, the SRC

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Preside

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Donherra Walmsley

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lawyer is available to help. All these services are independent of the University, and are completely confidential as well as being free of charge.

Publishing In addition to such fine publications as the one you’re reading now, the Counter Course Handbook, the International Students’ Handbook, and Growing Strong (a feminist publication), the SRC publishes Honi Soit. Honi Soit is the weekly student newspaper, which is completely written and laid up by the student editors. Along with the 33 councillors, 7 delegates to the National Union of Students, and the President, up to 10 Honi editors are elected in September every year. They’re pretty friendly types, so if you’re interested in writing a piece, flick them an email at honi.soit@src. usyd.edu.au.

Since the introduction of Voluntary Student Unionism by the Howard Government in 2006, student organisations have been completely dependent on universities for their funding. If you want to see the SRC continue to do all the things we do, consider becoming a supporting member. For only $35 you get the warm fuzzy feeling of supporting an organisation that supports you, as well as one of our sweet uni survival kits.

Campaigning Passionate about something? Quality of education? Women’s rights? Indigenous representation? The environment? International student rights? Something else? Chances are, the SRC runs a collective that is organising around the issue. What’s a collective? Basically it’s just a group of people working together to shape change. These groups are usually, but not always, facilitated by an office bearer. If there isn’t a collective campaigning on an issue you care about it, send me an email, and I’ll help you to set one up. Collectives are an excellent way of getting involved, and meeting people who have similar interests to you. They’re open to anyone, and usually meet weekly; check out the rest of this handbook for some more info on what some of them are up to this year. University is about so much more than just what you learn in the classroom (clichéd line but it’s true), and collectives are one of the ways you can make the most of the vibrant campus life available here at Sydney University.

buying and Selling

Contact Dee: president@src.usyd.edu.au (02) 9660 5222 www.src.usyd.edu.au

The SRC runs a second hand bookshop, which you can find on level 4 of the Wentworth Building. This is a great place for you to sell off your used textbooks, and to buy second hand ones at a cheap price. I’d recommend checking it out before you hit up the Co-Op. That’s a pretty comprehensive overview of what the SRC does, and if you’re interested in getting involved, want to know more, or think there’s a problem that you want to see the SRC working on, definitely send me an email at president@src.usyd.edu.au. PAG E 3

Vice-Pr esident ' s Report Ross Leedham Welcome to university and specifically the SRC’s guide to university. I’m Ross and this year’s Vice-President, more about what I do later. Undoubtedly now that you are here, and reading this handbook, you’ve heard a little about how great USyd student organisations are. The SRC exists to make a positive difference to our lives as students. Every year, in a number of ways, the SRC does this through various means. This year it will hopefully have an even bigger and better impact on students lives than before. This handbook will detail numerous things about student life and the work of the SRC, particularly all the office bearers addressing the varied and wonderful things they do. However, often the benefits of being a supporting member are overlooked by many students and we ask students to do stuff for us, rather than looking at what we can do for you. Since the introduction of voluntary student unionism (VSU) the membership of student organisations has generally dramatically fallen along with the level of funding they receive. Our SRC does remain strong through much valued funding from the university which allows us to do many and various things that benefit our membership. Being a member of the SRC is a statement of support for student representation as much as it is anything else. If you believe in student representation throughout our university from the Senate to various academic committees and in schools and faculties joining the SRC is a great way to show your support of this. While it is a little cliché, the SRC does fight for your rights throughout the university and does it pretty well. An example of this is that university for the first time ever, now has free internet because of campaigns and lobbying that has been done in the past by your SRC. So by paying to join the SRC you allow us to spend more on our various campaigns that occur throughout the year. So if you read about a great campaign somewhere in this handbook that you’d like to see more support for, your $35 membership will help us put more PAG E 4

resources into campaigns that you like and want run. So apart from the good glow of being a member, the SRC does these other wonderful things for its membership....

A Second-hand Bookshop The second-hand bookshop is a wonderful service to students where you can buy and sell second-hand books at cheap prices. You can now find it located on Level 4 of the Wentworth Building in a bright new space, it is open Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm to help you get the textbooks you want.

Casework and Legal Services A large part of the work the SRC does is its casework and legal services for students. Casework covers any problems you have in relation to being a student whether that be from tenancy and centrelink to a mark a lecturer has given you for an assignment. It is particularly useful if you’re having difficulties with any applications for things like special consideration that the university or your faculty requires you to fill out. Just phone up the SRC on 9660 5222 to make an appointment. It is a confidential and free service for all students. The legal service is now the first student run legal service in the country. This means if you have any legal problems as a student you can visit the SRC and get FREE legal advice from our solicitor. The legal service also does a wide range of research on issues common to students so even if you think you have a commonly asked question, visiting the SRC is a great place to get some advice quickly and easily. This includes information on Centrelink with particular regard to Youth Allowance which many students have difficulty with, so don’t feel alone!

Representation and Council Not only does the President and other representatives get to sit on a wide range of university committees, you can also be a part of them and get to have your say. The Council itself generally meets the first Wednesday of every month and you can check the website for confirmed dates, times and venues. At these meetings you can hear updates from every office-bearer as well as raise motions on various policies you would like to see the SRC implement. They will then be debated by all present and voted upon by the 33 representatives who are present.

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Honi Soit Many students don’t realise it but the SRC is the publisher of Honi Soit every week, the only weekly student newspaper in the country. We have a team of ten editors who are elected every year to edit the paper. This means you can also contribute to it as a member of the SRC if you so wish. Just get in touch with the editors are honi.soit@ src.usyd.edu.au with your idea or question and they’ll no doubt be in touch.

And if that wasn’t enough... Well then you also get an SRC showbag when you join and pay $35. The bag includes all the handbooks published by the SRC plus an SRC stress ball star, pens, notepaper and a USB. Additionally, by being a member you’ll get a monthly email updating you on all the

The SRC Bookshop has also been criticised in the past for being ineffective, including by myself. It’s one thing to be critical, it is another to achieve change that you’ve argued for. So hopefully throughout the year you’ll notice a number of things that are done by the SRC to increase the profile and effectiveness of what should be a valuable service to all students.

SRC activities and when various activities are going on. If you’re not convinced that joining your SRC is a good thing by the end of this article then I think you will be by the end of this handbook displaying and discussing the wide array of activities that the SRC engages with every year. Remember, joining the SRC is about showing your support for student organisations and what we do for you which I think is well reflected in this article (and throughout the handbook) with the vast array of activities.

What else does the Vice-President do?

It also means that students know and understand more about what our SRC does. Because too often it gets dismissed rightly or wrongly as a bunch of student political hacks adding lines to their CV. Whether you love politics or hate politics should not decide whether you support our SRC. If you ever have a whinge or a gripe, about the University, the NSW government, the SRC or even myself that you think I might be able to do something about. Please feel free to email me with all of these things-I might not be able to solve your problem but I’ll try my best to do it.

So apart from spruik about why you should join the SRC, I plan on doing a number of other things throughout the year. Largely the Vice-President role is about supporting the Executive and the President but I have some specific stuff on my agenda as well. Like every organisation, our SRC can do some things better and that is a large part of what I’m focusing on achieving this year. There are any number of things that we can and should do better, so let me outline just a couple of things that I’m working on. That means better communication with Faculty Societies so the SRC knows more about what is happening in Faculties and problems that students find consistent across all faculties. Faculty Societies hold an important place with the University and our SRC will hopefully better recognise this throughout the year. Hopefully you as a student will also engage with your faculty society in both social and more academic forums throughout the year.

Contact Ross: vice.president@src.usyd.edu. au (02) 9660 5222

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Genera l Secre tary's REPORT Chad Sidler

Hi! My name is Chad Sidler and I am your General Secretary for 2011. Before I get to my role as General Secretary and give you information about the SRC I thought I would tell you a little bit about myself. I am a fourth year Commerce/Arts student majoring in Finance, German, Italian and Government & International Relations. I am twenty-one years old and I try to fit all my university classes onto as little days a week as possible. I became involved in the SRC by running in the 2010 elections. I decided to become involved because I was sick of the same people saying the same crap year after year and believed that if the SRC was entrusted to independently minded students it could deliver best for students. If our SRC is to truly be reformed and become accountable to the student body it is only through a permanent changing of the guard that this will be able to occur. The General Secretary sits on the SRC executive. This is made up of eight individuals comprising the President, Vice-President, General Secretary (Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Me!) and five general members. The executive is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the SRC and is responsible for making a wide range of decisions including those related to finance. As General Secretary I am tasked with ensuring we run a budget surplus (something unheard of by the incompetent people that used to run the place). It is my job to listen to all requests for funding and to make decisions on behalf of the executive as whether to approve the funding requests or to reject them. Apart from my financing roles I also act as the central contact for all office bearers, departments and collectives. If anyone needs help with carrying out their duties then I am there for them. The current council took office at the beginning of December 2010 and shall continue to hold office until 30 November 2011. In the past two months I have already helped in implementing changes to the SRC. I have overseen the introduction of new positions such as the Interfaith officer, the social justice officer, Director of Operations and the Director of Finance. The Interfaith officers attempt to create a harmonious environment that fosters relations PAG E 6

If our SRC is to truly be reformed and become accountable to the student body it is only through a permanent changing of the guard that this will be able to occur.

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between those of different faiths and those with none at all. The social justice officer attempts to fight for social justice starting at the university level. The Director of Finance is tasked with scrutinising our organisations finances and the Director of Operations hopes to make our organisation as effective and efficient as possible. These positions help to fill some of the gaps our SRC has been having as well as set the foundation for organisational change. Usually the SRC publishes three handbooks each yearâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;The Counter Course Handbook, The O-Week Handbook and the Growing Strong Handbook. This year we decided to publish an International Students Handbook and it looks like it will be well received. I hope you enjoy our three 2011 handbooks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Counter Course HB, the International Students HB and this O-Week HB. There are still lots to do this year. As General Secretary I will be at the forefront of the changes being planned for the SRC. There will be changes to the collectives in relation to how many there are and which ones will be funded. We plan to review all office bearer positions with a view to streamline the number we have. We plan to restructure our organisation and staff to ensure we operate an efficient SRC that delivers value for money for students such as you. I would like to reassure you that I am not a caretaker General Secretary. I was not elected to just idly stand by and allow business as usual to take place. I will do everything I can to help transform the SRC into a healthy organisation that is good for you. The more people that take an interest in the SRC and get involved can only lead to better outcomes. I highly implore you to join the SRC and start having your voice heard. I highly encourage you to attend our first meeting for the year on Tuesday 1st March.

I am not a caretaker General Secretary. I was not elected to just idly stand by and allow business as usual to take place.

Contact Chad: general.secretary@src.usyd. edu.au (02) 9660 5222 www.src.usyd.edu.au

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Education Report

Al Cameron, Tim Matthews Welcome to university! The fact that you are reading this handbook (and indeed have read this far into it without putting it down!) indicates several fantastic things about you: You have been discerning and intelligent in your choice of clearly the best University in the country, you are interested in the work of one of the strongest student’s associations around, and by reading this particular page you have shown us that you want your university experience to be worth a whole lot more than the piece of paper you receive at the end of it! Our role as Education Officers of the Students Representative Council is to fight for quality, affordable and equitable education for all students. Sometimes students and their quality of learning get lost in the bureaucracy of the University, and it is our job to fight that.

The State of Play 2011 will be a significant year for tertiary education in Australia. The Lomax-Smith Base Funding Review by the Federal Government will affect the amount that you pay for University. The review will reassess both the government’s and student’s contributions to the cost of their education, and is likely to result in an increase in the cost that you will bear. This is in spite of the fact that, already, government expenditure on tertiary education (around 0.7% of GDP) is significantly below the average for the developed world (around 1% of GDP). Expressed in per-student terms, the Australian Government invest $US 7,324 per student in a tertiary education. While this is a large investment, it is still well below the developed world average for public Universities, which is $US 10,424 per student. The SRC will be making a submission to the Lomax-Smith Review, explaining why we think the government has a responsibility to continue to provide significant funding to tertiary institutions through the Commonwealth Grant Scheme. Any member of the public can make a submission—so have your voice heard! The call for submissions closes 31 March 2011. You have probably also heard that legislation to implement a Student Services Amenities Fee (SSAF) will be proposed when the new Senate meets in the middle of the year. The legislation would allow universities to charge students up to $250 to fund student organisations responsible for service provision (i.e. the University PAG E 8

of Sydney Union and Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness) as opposed to representation (i.e. US!). The debate around the SSAF, which many see as a reintroduction of Compulsory Student Unionism (a whole other can of worms that would probably consume this entire handbook were we to open it!), is one of the most important educational debates that we will be engaged in this year. Our fine establishment is also, this year, up for a ‘Quality Audit’ by the Australian Universities Quality Agency. In some instances, they are probably lucky that federal regulatory authorities don’t adhere to a strict bell curve. The themes of the review this year are ‘International Students’ and ‘Research’. During the last quality audit, the panel suggested student representation and effective channels of feedback as an area in which the University can improve. Now is their time to stand up and be counted. We can expect the Uni to be on its best behaviour this year. You can try forwarding your wish lists to Michael “Santa” Spence, at vice. chancellor@sydney.edu.au. Who knows? You might get lucky.

So, what are we going to do about it? We’ve got some great campaigns lined up this year which deal with the needs of students at Sydney Uni, as well as other students at Universities across the state and country. Every student on the Camperdown Campus knows (and first years are soon to be initiated into) the ritual of standing in a long, skincancer-inducing line that stretches from the Copy Centre half way to the Wentworth Building. Don’t get us wrong – readers can be a much better alternative to buying textbooks. However, in a world where a vast majority of students access most of their other scholarly material on the internet, it seems absurd that we opt for a more expensive (and less environmentally friendly!) option. We think that readers should be available to view, download and print online. But, we don’t just want to assume that we speak for everyone, we’re hitting the streets/absurdly long queue to find out what students think about the books of readings they will optimistically use for the first three to four weeks of Uni, and at exam time. Come and fill out our survey! After years of protracted foreplay, NSW will finally have a state election in March this year. It would be remiss of us as education officers not to take this opportunity when the state’s media are in a frenzy to make a huge fuss about something that we care about. Lets face it, University is not a cheap affair. Students are slogged with a $30,000 HECS debt, along with a bunch of ancillary course costs

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to pay for readers, text books, equipment, etc. While this is tough for many students, there are a number of young people for whom these costs are prohibitive. As you may be aware, governments and universities last year committed themselves to increasing the number of students from low socio-economic backgrounds enrolled in tertiary institutions to 20% by 2020. The NSW Government and University are working towards this target, but the program funding is not being used as effectively as it could be, particularly with regards to inner-city low-SES schools. We will be campaigning to get all major parties to pledge to close the gap of access to tertiary education. These are just two of the various events we will be running over the next year (you will also see a return of Noodle Day to end student poverty!), so stay tuned to see what we’ve got for you to get involved in!

What about me?! There are many ways for you to get involved in educational activism on campus. The first one is to join the SRC’s Education Action Group. This is a collective for students to voice their concerns about issues relating to university life. It is also a great way for you to get involved in the SRC’s education campaigns that we will be running. The meetings of the Education Action Group will be held weekly, and you can find more details on our website! Trialled in the Faculty of Arts in 2010, the Student Representative Network is another great way for you to fight the institutional man. Representatives are elected from every Department in the Faculty of Arts at the start of each semester for a one year term. Elected representatives sit on the Board of the Department (its decision making body), and represent the view of students to the University administration. In 2011, the SRC is hoping to expand this service to the Faculties of Science, Education and Social Work and the School of Business. This is the most direct and important form of educational representation on campus. If you are passionate about education, and someone who can listen to the views of students and reflect them honestly, we would encourage you to apply this year. Keep an eye on WebCT for when nominations open!

We’ve got some great campaigns lined up this year which deal with the needs of students at Sydney Uni, as well as other students at Universities across the state and country.

Contact Al and Tim: education.officers@src.usyd. edu.au (02) 9660 5222 www.src.usyd.edu.au

If you have any issues relating to education that you want to have a chat about, or that you want some help dealing with, hit Tim and Al up at education.officers@src.usyd.edu.au, or call us on 9660 5222.

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Welfare Report Hi USyd Students, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the Welfare Officers for 2011! Our department campaigns on many issues facing students at our university, such as youth allowance, affordable accommodation and access to essential support services. This year we have several different campaigns we are focusing on and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested in being involved, get in contact with us any time you like! Our Campaigns for 2011 What Can Your SRC Do For You? The SRC has many services on offer for students in need. From case workers to the second hand bookshop, welfare support is available. In Semester One and Two we will be holding barbeques and you will have the opportunity to meet your Welfare Officers and find out what your SRC can do for you.

Breakfast Stall: Fact: 1 in 8 students regularly skip meals because they cannot afford to eat. With the help of local businesses, we will be holding a weekly breakfast stall on Eastern Avenue. This gives us a chance to meet you and hear your experiences at university so far. Come along, say hello, have some breakfast and find out what you can do to be involved in the campaigns and activities of the Welfare Department!

We also intend to lobby Sydney University to increase the number of scholarships and bursaries available to rural and regional students. So, in Semester 1, we will be holding a forum on Rural and Regional student issues with speakers to be announced. If you are a rural and regional student, or have relocated to attend university, swing by our stall at some point and say hi.

Mental Health: Fact: 1 in 5 people experience depression at some stage in their life.

Rural and Regional Students: Fact: Since 1998, students from regional and remote areas have accounted for only 19 per cent of the higher education population, despite people from these areas accounting for approximately 31 per cent of the total Australian population. For those of us who are rural and regional students, we know that relocation is expensive and often challenging in a number of other ways.

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For many, the removal of the gap year criteria has meant that independence is harder to come by, and where families are unable to lend support, it means students must take several years off to attend university. Whilst the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s steps to reform youth allowance are an improvement, it has not made accessing youth allowance easier for rural and regional students. Therefore, it is necessary that the Welfare Department actively campaigns for the government to lower the age of independence further, to 18 years.

We know that students at university face many challenges, experience stress, and need low cost or zero cost mental health services. During 2011 the Welfare Department will lobby the university to improve mental health facilities on campus. In semester 2 we will be holding a forum to raise awareness of mental health issues facing young adults.

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Which Government Legislation Affects Me? 2011 is emerging to be an important year for legislative changes affecting university students and the SRC is eager to press the University of Sydney, the Commonwealth and State governments for realistic improvements in the area of student welfare.

Student Services Amenities Fee: This year will see new legislation regarding the replacement of voluntary student unionism. A new system will more than likely encompass an annual service fee levied on all enrolled students to pay for student services through student bodies such as the SRC and University of Sydney Union. This is a welcome change as it will allow for greater student services and provisions to safeguard the welfare of the student body.

More Students at Uni: The Commonwealth government has also set the ambitious goal of raising the level of students from low socio-economic backgrounds to twenty percent of the student body, from its current rate of six percent. This endeavour has been backed by the university in principle and it will be significant task for the SRC to lobby for the fair implementation of this system at the University of Sydney.

Age of Independence: Significantly, in the past twelve months there have been changes to the Austudy program to make for a more equitable system. by lowering the independence age whilst simultaneously raising the lower-income threshold by closing numerous loopholes in the program. This legislative change is being progressively implemented and students should be aware of their changing eligibility to access commonwealth assistance.

Contact the Welfare Officers: welfare.officers@src.usyd.edu. au (02) 9660 5222 www.src.usyd.edu.au

What More Should the Government Be Doing? While these are positive changes, it is important that they are followed up with cohesive policy toward tackling issues relating to student poverty, housing accessibility, as well as the unique needs of international and rural students. New legislation to assist students with paying for their textbooks, as well as maintain teaching quality standards in our universities is also direly needed to ensure a high quality public education for all students. PAG E 11

Environment Adam Foda

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The Environment Department of the Students’ Representative Council hosts a group of students who do activism around a broad range of environmental and social issues. Waste Management This year at Sydney University it is all about efficient waste management and the SRC’s Environment Collective is hot on it! Roughly every three years, the university gradually phases out their present stock of computers across all departments, faculties and libraries only to be replaced by more up-to-date versions. This means that gradually over a three year period, dozens of computers are discarded into university storage only to go on to be shredded and disposed of entirely. The fact remains that the majority of these machines—at the time of their redundancy—are either in fully workable conditions or with a little assistance, close to it. Presently, these machines are disposed of regardless! They can easily be recycled (or simply just distributed) as perfectly fine secondhand machines to students of a more financially disadvantaged background (or for those who could benefit well from such an operation in general). Hence it is my pleasure to announce that this year the SRC’s environment collective will seek to liaise with the university on how such a process can be established so that perfectly capable computers are not simply “pitched out” but rather given a second chance to those in need!

2011 QLD Floods 2011 started off appallingly for Australia in regards to the environment with the devastating Queensland floods that wreaked havoc across the state. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who lost homes, businesses and whose lives were upturned as a result, and especially for those who to the greatest misfortune lost their lives as a result. The impact on the natural environment has been catastrophic and for the most part immeasurable. On top of this, thousands of native species as well as domestic pets have lost their lives to a situation that was beyond their control. Thus, the SRC Environment Collective is excited to announce a BBQ fundraiser within the first few weeks of semester to raise funds for the flood victims and to help in the rebuilding of Queensland’s shattered environment. We hope as many of you as possible can attend and please tell your friends!

Around Campus Sydney University hosts a number of environmental / animal based groups that you can become an active member of. One such is Green Campus Now. No, this does not mean that the plug from your computer at Fisher Library suddenly gets pulled the moment you deviate from your essay to check Facebook! Nor does Green Campus Now bombard you with non-stop leaflets or force you to sign politically motivated petitions. Instead, Green Campus Now is committed to reducing the universities’ carbon emissions over a sustainable time period using sustainable methods of gradually phasing in more environmentally friendly technology. If this interests you, feel free to contact them. The Animal Welfare society is committed to raising awareness about a vast range of animal welfare issues. The society holds regular talks and events so for all you animal lovers out there so best not miss out! Why not sign up today?

WIRES WIRES is Australia’s most renowned wildlife rescue organization that seeks to help of animals in need across the nation. WIRES specialize in caring and treating Australian wildlife whether they are sick, injured, lost or emotionally distraught. To its credit, WIRES helps to rehabilitate as well as save the lives of thousands of wildlife every year across the country. For just one donation of $30.00, you too can make the difference of giving a little animal a second chance at life. I highly recommend you take this offer!

Last Thoughts… On a final note to new students: once you discover the wide wide (and costly) world of printing at Fisher Library (which you will), always remember that for every piece of paper you print that you do not need, there IS a box directly next to the printer to recycle that piece of paper. Every page counts. And if you study Arts, I expect you all to fill a whole box every week (well, that is if you make a lot of printing errors, which I do!). On behalf of the 2011 SRC Environment Collective, I wish you all a very happy, enjoyable (and if you are in college, a trashy) year at Sydney University! Our O-Week stall will be open February 23rd – 25th so feel free to come down and say hi! Animal Welfare:

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Animal Welfare: http://www.usu.usyd.edu.au/Clubs__Socs/Find_a_Club/_-_F/ Animal_Welfare_Society.aspx?t=6 Green Campus Now: http://www.facebook.com/pages/GREEN-CAMPUSNOW/361639372203 WIRES: http://www.wires.org.au

Student enviro action Collective (SeaC) The Student Enviro Action Collective (SEAC, pronounced â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;seekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) is a group of people who, as a general rule; - Are concerned about environmental destruction, nuclear power, the coal industry, uranium mining, the lack of clean energy on campus - Like renewable energy, solidarity with indigenous struggles, food co-ops, stopping the coal industry - Try to work together in a way that is non-hierarchical and inclusive, so that everybody feels equal ownership over the group and its actions - Are connected to broader networks of people working on environmental campaigns all around the country - Run campaigns, put on film screenings and talks, do actions, talk about societal change, have fun!

Contact the Enviro Officers: environment.officers@src.usyd. edu.au (02) 9660 5222 www.src.usyd.edu.au

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Women's Report Calling all feminists… How do you feel about being a woman in 2011? The media, advertisers, our politicians and corporate leaders keep suggesting that it makes little difference. That in twenty-first century, “post-feminist” Australia we’re all equal—or just about there. Do you agree, or are you a little more skeptical? Do you have a problem with the fact that one in three Australian women will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes? Or that abortion remains illegal in the Queensland criminal code, with a couple in their twenties recently taken to court?

collective. We would like to run a campaign around reproductive freedom, female sexual health and negotiating consent. We’re also keen to run a forum on sex work and the rights of sex workers in Australia. We are planning to run a campaign around equal pay as well as a job skills workshop day where female leaders in a range of different industries can give advice to Usyd students. We also want to start a feminist reading and pop culture group to talk about how media portrayals of women—both good and bad—affect our lives, and what we can learn from feminists before us. Within the university itself, we would like to look more closely at experiences of and opportunities for female students in terms of childcare, medical facilities, scholarships, colleges and safety on campus.

Are you concerned about the rigid glass-ceiling which shows no signs of waning despite celebrations of a female Prime Minister? Does the constant undermining of feminine traits, the silencing of female voices in our public spaces and national narratives, and the symbolic violence and objectification of the media and beauty industries make you want to scream? For these reasons, and many more, we are feminists. And if you answered yes to any of the questions above, we want to meet you! The Sydney Uni Women’s collective is a space where women can come together to talk, share experiences, get angry, get inspired and draw strength from each-other to continue to struggle against the patriarchy. We meet weekly to discuss issues and plan campaigns and events that we want to run on campus. The Collective is made up of a group of feminists united by a common hatred of the patriarchy, but each with different lives, experiences and strengths to bring to the group. We value non-hierarchical, collective organising—this means that in the space, everyone from feminist newbies to the women’s officers are on an equal footing in terms of speaking, voting on motions and the validity of your ideas and opinions. Through things like speaking lists, consensus voting and facilitation, we try to create an open environment, as free as possible from patriarchal competition and aggression, in which we all feel comfortable and can learn from each-other. This year we have a number of ideas for things we’d like to do in PAG E 14

On top of this, the women’s collective edits two publications through the Usyd SRC each year—the women’s edition of student newspaper Honi Soit and a cross-campus women’s publication Growing Strong. We are also involved in the running of the annual Reclaim the Night march to end violence against women, and will attend the NOWSA (Network of Women Students Australia) national conference, to be held at UNSW this year. We’re also going to run a number of social events in the first few weeks of semester—dinners, movies and launches. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people and get into the swing of uni, which can be really daunting at first, so keep an eye out! Women’s collective meetings are held in the Women’s Room, located in the Holme Building—down the stairs to your right as

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you enter the Holme courtyard. This room, as well as the collective, is autonomous—this means that it is open to any person that identifies in whole or part as female/woman, regardless of their assigned gender, as well as individuals who were assigned the female gender at birth and/or have been female-socialised. The Women’s Room is a safe space for all women on campus (not just members of the collective) to hang out, drink tea or use the fridge and microwave, borrow some books from the feminist library and take some time out from the busy pace of campus. As Women’s Officers, we represent all women on campus, so if there’s something you’re concerned about, or would like to know, please come and talk to us—even if it’s just to ask a question, have a chat about starting uni or to find out where the Women’s Room is. Swing by the women’s stall at O-week or give us a call/email at any time. Get involved! - Women’s Collective meets Wednesdays at 1pm in the Holme Women’s Room

Women’s Officers: womens.officers@src.usyd.edu.au Alexandra Cowan Avani Dias Jaya Keaney Meghan Batcheldor

Contact the Women’s Officers: womens.officers@src.usyd.edu. au (02) 9660 5222 www.src.usyd.edu.au

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International Students

The International Students’ Officers are elected annually by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) to represent the voice of international students. The role of the International Students’ Officers is to advocate for the growing numbers of international undergraduate students at the University of Sydney. The department plans to organise a series of events focused on issues facing international students and to continue campaigning for international student rights. In 2011, we have eight active international students who are ready to take on the challenge of working for international students at the University of Sydney. International Students’ Handbook The International Students’ Handbook is a specialized SRC publication that aims to help international students quickly become familiar with the often complicated circumstances of living and studying in an overseas environment. The handbook is presented in four sections, from the basic studying & living information, to personal advice from international students. We hope the publication will help you have the best possible experience while you are studying at the University of Sydney. You can collect a copy at the SRC International Students’ stall at O-week, USU cultural clubs and at the SRC office.

Language Buddies In 2011, we are dedicated to setting up a program for international students to teach local students their own language. This is a great chance to share your own language and gain new friendships with local or other international students. More information about the Language Buddies program can be acquired by emailing the International Students’ Officers international.officers@src. usyd.edu.au. Please also join our Facebook group: USYD.SRC. ISOFFICERS@groups.facebook.com.

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Special Events There will be a series of seminars on issues concerning international students that will be held throughout the year. These events will be free for all students to attend. More information will be released during O-week, or you can email the International Students’ Officers international.officers@src.usyd.edu.au.

International Students’ Collective The International Students’ Collective is a forum where international students are welcome to talk, make new friends, raise issues which require support, meet student leaders, or just spend time together discussing a hot topic. The collective will meet regularly, all international students are welcome to join, please email for more information.

First Point of Contact for International Students at USYD The Students’ Representative Council is your first point of call when you run into trouble. The SRC employs Casework and Policy Officers who are able to give advice and representation on a wide range of issues including academic matters and tenancy problems. The SRC is located on Level 1, Wentworth Building (access from City Road, walk down the staircase to basement level), the contact number is (02) 9660 5222. The University-run International Students Support Union (ISSU) offers counseling services and welfare advice for international students and their families, they can be contacted on (02) 8627 8437, info@issu.usyd.edu.auand you can find them at Level 5 Jane Foss Russell Building. The International Office (IO) is a place where you can get help on administrative enquiries, fees, visas and scholarships. The IO is located on Level 4 Jane Foss Russell Building can be called on (02) 8627 8300. And of course, please feel welcome to contact the International Students’ Officers, you can email international.officers@src.usyd. edu.au or just come down to the SRC.

Alyssa Lam, Kelvin Ng, Danny Wang, Gillian Gan, Yun Liu, Phyllis Lan, Shara Sekaram, Hiltin Xiaoting Guo PAG E 16

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Interfa ith Report Brigid Meney, Stephanie Judd It has taken eighty-two years and as many student representative councils, but with a fresh, enthusiastic and open minded team of dedicated students, the newly established interfaith department is up and running! As your recently appointed interfaith officers we aim to promote a high level of cooperation and tolerance between our vast campus creeds, fostering and celebrating what each faith has in common to successfully represent the “faith community” on campus. This year we hope to pay particular attention to defining and bearing witness to what religious tolerance truly is. Tolerance, much to many students confusion, is not accepting or striving to agree with one another about the nature of our higher power, neither is it affirming a universal truth. Rather, it is respecting the beliefs of fellow students, regardless of our differences, with the intended result of unification, not simply among the community of believers, but among the wider student population.

Hoping for a brilliant interfaith experience in the coming year! Brigid Meney and Stephanie Judd Interfaith Officers, 2011.

Intercampu s Report Yu Gu When my friend complained to me, saying, I have to walk from Darlington to Camperdown in 10 minutes for my lectures. I said, do you know where is Cumberland Campus is?? That’s 3 stations further from Strathfield!!! I have to “rush” from there to Camperdown in 2 hours for my lectures! (but that’s enough time )

We—as the student representatives of the religious community at Sydney University—aim to foster these ideals by facilitating better dialogue between the disparate members of the religious population. A vital area of tertiary education is opening yourself up to be educated, approaching ideas from new angles and being receptive to the experience that only university can offer. The new interfaith department completely supports this concept. We hope to encourage a better understanding of the various beliefs present on campus, and celebrate their diverse knowledge. By encouraging the unity of a religious presence on campus tolerance can be achieved. The encouraging of interfaith dialogue and a comparison of beliefs opens each student up to a wider range of knowledge, whilst increasing their own religious convictions through questioning and contrast.

Other than the city main campus, there are 7 more affiliated campus for USYD. Cumberland Campus for health science; Mallett Street Campus for nursing, Sydney Conservatorium of Music for obviously, musicians; Rozelle Campus for Arts; Surry Hills Campus for dentistry; Camden Campus for Vet and Agriculture; And, one more Burren Street Campus.

The university offers experiences from a wide range of religious societies and groups, including but not limited to, the ever-alive ‘evangelical union’, the ‘Baha’i society’, ‘The Australasian union of Jewish students’, and the thriving ‘Catholic Society of Saint Peter.’ The interfaith office hopes to prove that student life and religious beliefs are not incompatible. These two aspects of one’s life can be enjoyably integrated.

As intercampus officers, we will be putting our efforts in to improve the link between all affiliated campuses. We hope to bring the benefits of USyd to all students no matter which campus they study at.

Students from affiliated campuses may have a different student life than those from the main campus. In my experience Cumbo is more like my high school—not as sprawling as the main campus—but I got to know the people more closely.

We wish to enhance the campus interaction and hold activities between campuses, so that the sense of the union of students, and get everyone to be enjoy the uni life. PAG E 17

NUS Your National Voice

Phoebe Drake

Hi, my name is Phoebe Drake and I am the NSW State Branch President for the National Union of Students.

lobby government bodies and unite student organisations across the country for change that enables us to have the education we deserve: affordable, accessible and high quality.

I’d like to ask you to consider the following scenarios:

Education

1.) It’s the start of semester, you’re buying your textbooks and you realise at the same time your Unit of Study has all these extra costs.... lab coats, course readers and other various items. You simply cannot complete your subject without them, so you find the money and reluctantly make the purchase. 2.) You are moving to the city from a regional area and have discovered because your parents earn less than $150 000 you are eligible for Centrelink. This makes all the difference, because without it you would need to work two jobs in order to pay your rent and food costs. Naturally you’re excited, and start picking all the clubs and societies you now have the time to be involved with.

2011 will be an exciting year for us as student activists, as we bring you campaigns across a variety of fields. The following is just a snapshot:

• Illegal Course Costs (also known as ancillary fees) • Student Services Amenities Fee • International Women’s Day • No Increases in HECS • Safety on Campus • Fair rent • Queer rights • Body Image • International Students Travel Concession Card And many, many more.... So if you’re interested in additional information, you can find my details and much more online at www.unistudent.com.au See you around campus!

So by this stage, you’re probably wondering how exactly both of these scenarios fit into the National Union of Students, and how exactly your voice on campus can become part of a national voice. Whilst the second scenario represents one of our majors wins from 2010 (where NUS pressured the government to change the regulations surrounding Centrelink access in a number of ways), the first scenario, which highlights illegal course costs (you shouldn’t have to pay for anything considered essential to your study), demonstrates a campaign we are hoping to win this year. Basically, in a nutshell, NUS is the peak representative body for students within Australia. We campaign on issues important to you, such as illegal course costs, Centrelink, affordable housing and a high standard of teaching and learning. Through you, and your involvement in our campaigns, we effectively PAG E 18

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Ethnic Affairs Henry Kha

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Australia is a wonderful and egalitarian nation where people from different backgrounds can live harmoniously together and where they have the opportunity to have a fair go. The main objective of the Ethnic Affairs Department is to promote a harmonious, multicultural and integrated student community on campus. A major agenda of the Ethnic Affairs Department is to fight all forms of racial discrimination on campus. The goal of the department is to create an inclusive and tolerant society in which all races and cultures are accepted and encouraged. The University of Sydney is a very multicultural campus. Students at the University of Sydney come from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds. More than a hundred different languages are spoken on campus. In 2010, there were over ten thousand international students enrolled at the University of Sydney, coming from all around the world, such as Asia, Europe and America. Even though students come from all sorts of different backgrounds, we all coexist with each other harmoniously and in unity under the great Australian way of life.

everyone. The day celebrates the cohesive and inclusive nature of our wonderful Australian nation and promotes the benefits of cultural diversity. Harmony Day was established in 1999 to coincide with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Each year, it is an opportunity for everyone to come together and participate in community activities. One important function of the Ethnic Affairs Department is to help students who have experienced racial discrimination. If you feel like you have been unfairly treated due to you ethnic background, please contact the SRC at 9660 5222 or visit the SRC Office at Level 1 Wentworth Building (under City Rd footbridge). If you want to help support the Ethnic Affairs Department, please contact hkha3420@uni.sydney.edu.au

Even though students come from all sorts of different backgrounds, we all coexist with each other harmoniously and in unity under the great Australian way of life.

This year the Ethnic Affairs Department hopes to engage with the mainstream student community on campus through hosting events that promote and celebrate our multiculturalism. One major event that the Ethnic Affairs Department shall host this year is Harmony Day on 21 March. There will be a free BBQ , guest lectures from prominent Australians and film screenings. The continuing message of Harmony Day is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Everyone Belongsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. It is about community participation, inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for PAG E 19

Queer

Report

Clare Sullivan, Nathan Li

So you’ve ended up at Sydney Uni. Are you here to get a degree? Because USyd has a good reputation? Or maybe a part of you was swayed by promises of clubs and committees for every possible interest and hobby, and a bangin’ social life? Whatever you’re here for, whether you’ve been a flaming homo since birth, in the closet, or hanging out for one of those alcohol induced college experiments you’ve seen in the movies, this is probably the right page for you. Regardless of who you are, if you’re queer or just questioning, looking for like-minded people or simply wondering what the big bold queer world actually looks like, you now have a massive chunk of it on your doorstep. We’re the Queer Action Collective (QuAC for short).

What We Do In order to cater for students like you, our main goal is to provide a space and activities that make all queer students feel welcome and involved. Firstly, we have the QueerSpace. Located in the basement of the Holme Building (these strange names will make sense after a few weeks of getting lost on the way to tutorials, and we also have a map for you!) the QueerSpace has couches, a fridge, a microwave, books and other resources, and is a great place to just hang, avoid classes, and meet people. The QuAC runs weekly meetings (Monday, 1-2pm) in the QueerSpace where students gather to chat about current issues, upcoming events, and what they want future campaigns and events to focus on.

So...What Now? On top of these weekly meetings, there are heaps of Queer minded/ friendly events, ranging from politically focussed to just plain social. First up this year is Mardi Gras. We are combining with other universities to throw you a giant Fair Day picnic, as well as organise the annual parade float. After years of watching from the side of the road, or wistfully on a TV in your bedroom, now is the time to jump on the bandwagon and get involved. On top of being a really important political event, it is super fun, and a great way to start your university life. Even if you don’t want to march, there are heaps of ways to be a part of it, just ask!

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And Then? Next is Pride Week. Run towards the end of Semester 1, Pride Week hosts a variety of events such as movie screenings, public speakers, debates, workshops and a crackin’ party to top it all off ! As one week a year is clearly not enough time to be proud and promote queer visibility, we hold graffiti runs (picture yourself running free in USyd’s Graffiti tunnel with cans of spray paint) and late night chalking sessions. On top of these events, we will be running workshops throughout the year. Starting this semester from weeks 2-7 is the Union run program, ‘Identity’. We meet for an hour or so one afternoon during the week to explore issues relating to identity and the community. Everyone gets the opportunity to talk, and it’s a great way to learn about others’ experiences, share your own, and meet new people. In semester 2 we will then run the follow up program, Affinity – so you can catch up with the friends you made during Identity explore more about what it means to be queer. Finally, there is the biggest queer meeting of the year, open to all interested, queer university students. Held in a different Australian city each year, the QC (Queer Collaborations) is a week of seminars, debates, public speakers, and raging parties.This year, QC will be held in Perth, over the winter break. USyd has a massive pool of people committed to Queer issues and events across campus. Different groups and events cater for different needs, political affiliations, identities, and interests. There are groups dedicated to throwing great queer friendly parties (Shades), creating safe, autonomous spaces for queer women* (USyd Queer Girls) as well as groups campaigning to promote equal opportunity. This year we’re aiming to run more social events. We’ll have tea parties, tea-pot parties, board game nights and even sporting activities so that every queer’s (and queer-friendly person’s) interests can be covered. To top it off, keep an eye out for the QuAC’s regular zine for info on upcoming events, minutes of collective meetings, and community news, reviews and more! Queer Officers Clare Sullivan (0423 369 661) Nathan Li (0433 495 818) queer.officers@src.usyd.edu.au

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Director of Fi nance Report

James Flynn

Welcome to the University of Sydney! I’d like to congratulate you on your decision to be part of this wonderful University. It is a diverse community that will bring great contributions to your personal and academic development. My name is James Flynn, and I am the Director of Finance and an executive member of the SRC. I’ve been part of the council since 2009, which has provided me a range of diverse political experiences. My role is to organise the administration and finances of the SRC, but more importantly to ensure the organisation is accountable to you the students, and resources are used efficiently. It is a new role I have developed with a long-term view to ensure the SRC stays on track financially. The other body I organise is the finance committee, which consists of student representatives that oversee and develop direction for SRC finances. It has a stagnant history, but this year will be revived to ensure finances are relevant to improving your time as a student.

organisations such as the National Union of Students. I believe we need to return to representing you on issues at the university level, tacit things that affect your time here. If you’re passionate about causes and issues relevant to your life as a student, then get involved. One of the original goals for my time in the SRC was to better represent students of faith, something that was previously left by the wayside. At the end of last year I established the first Interfaith Officer positions which will bring to fore the views of faith based students. There are so many different and unique experiences to undertake whilst here, they’re all heavily draped in the university’s grand history. However this history goes beyond the classroom and has developed the great leaders of our nation. It is your SRC, time to get involved.

The SRC has a budget of approximately $1.5 million, which is spent on support services for you the students, student publications and the representative council. The funds also support the activities of your elected office bearers and the many campaigns and events they run. It’s your money, and we endeavour to serve you well as councillors, using those resources in constructive ways. As a Commerce & Economics student, one of my passions is to use my finance skills to positively contribute to the running of student organisations such as the SRC. Finance is one of those areas where you can also receive valuable experience, however students with commerce skills can be somewhat busy and in rare supply. If your interests lie in both commerce and the student experience, then I encourage you to take on one of the many commerce-based positions, be it treasurer of a Club or Society or sit on the SRC finance committee. The SRC has been a great facet of my experience at the University of Sydney and I encourage you all to get involved. You will meet people with a vast array of political and philosophical views who will help challenge and shape your opinion. Historically, the SRC has taken part in representating these views to government and student PAG E 2 1

Global So

lidarity

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Joel Einstein

Inspiring Others

Helping People Teaching Children Stopping Poverty

Sending aid

Fighting AIDS

Being Awesome Doing Good

Creating Change

Raising Charity

Knowing about Darfur, the Congo and other places Being Humanitarian Fighting Genocide

Saving Lives

Are any of these phrases things you want to do whilst still at uni? Are you one of the amazing people who want to save the world? Are you crazy enough to think that we can make a difference by being different?

embarrassingly easy to make a massive difference. So let’s do it! We’ll be having meetings each week at 12 O’clock every Tuesday on the Sunken Lawns on the corner of Manning Road and Fisher Road. Or feel welcome to send us an email global.solidarity@src. usyd.edu.au So, one question remains are you one of the special people who

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you have just found the most exciting group of your uni experience. Global Solidarity Collective is a brand new collective made up of passionate, exciting and quirky people who want to use their time here at uni to make a positive change in the world. We’re talking about those special people that want to bequeath unto future generations a better world than the one they were born into. Throughout the year we will embark on many exciting and creative campaigns. Not only will they be fun; they will also be making a massive massive difference. You will meet people who are similarly passionate about global issues, and learn new skills at the same time.

want to join us for the ride?

Contact Global Solidarity: global.solidarity@src.usyd.edu.au Ph: 9660 5222

We will be working on issues such as helping young children growing up in poverty, genocide in Darfur (still going), fighting in the Congo and other issues that make the world depressing. The fact is that it’s PAG E 2 2

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Disability daniel holt

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What are disability officers? We are the disability department of the SRC. Our role is to advocate and represent all students with disabilities. We will ensure that every student has access to equal education opportunities and services in conjunction with the disability office at university. There are a wide range of services and facilities available to students, and the university provides a very supportive environment for students with various needs. Nevertheless there are still more areas for improvement, and we have some plans for some big changes at university. One of our highest priorities is creating awareness of the support available while studying at university and ensuring that every student is given the potential to achieve their best. We will endeavour to guarantee that students and faculties understand the rights and responsibilities for registered students with disabilities and take action against any violations of those rights or breaches of responsibilities. There are three disability officers that were elected this year and we have personal experience with a wide range of disabilities and know firsthand the difficulties and obstacleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faced when studying with a disability. We are here to represent you and we are always available to deal with any problems big or small.

or problems you may have. Life at university can be particularly difficult for students with disabilities. There are many workshops that help students with organisational skills, exam preparations techniques and coping with stress, and we will provide details of these throughout the semester. There are also counselling services available to students and you are encouraged to contact them if you are experiencing any problems. Remember, your first step is to get registered and discuss your needs with disability services. Even if you have never been registered before, if you feel you may have a disability that effects your studies, then be all you can be, and talk to us about how we can help you reach your maximum potential.

What if i have a disability? If your disability is in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) and it impacts or has the potential to impact on the your university studies in some wayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you can take action. This includes mental health conditions and temporary illnesses or disabilities. Your first step is to register with the disability services and make an appointment to see a Disability Services Officer. There are adjustments and special considerations that can be made depending on the circumstances of your disability. All of your adjustments are negotiated with the disability office and they can provide access to many facilities and services such as the assistive technology room which contains useful programs and equipment to assist various needs. If at any time you feel that certain services do not meet your requirements or you do not have access to services you believe would help your studies, then we encourage you to contact a disability officer who will ensure equal opportunities are being provided.

important Contacts Disability Officers daniel holt: 0433 345 365 emily dash: 0437 984 419 Josephine Maguire-rosier: 0415 689 783 Counselling Service: (02) 8627 8433 Disability Office: (02) 8627 8433

What if i have any more questions or problems? A disability officer can be contacted at any time with questions PAG E 2 3

A Different T ake On College Lif e Anne Hanley

At the recent university breakfast for HSC high-achievers student representatives from each of the USyd residential colleges were invited to speak to first-year undergraduates about their experiences of residential life. One first-year asked us what we considered to be the most appealing aspect of college. Some said that it was the proximity to their lectures. But most described the strong community, and by extension, the security and comfort that is a product of such a propinquous environment. It is often difficult to remain dispassionate when discussing residential life. Many past and present collegians have taken umbrage at descriptions of colleges as ‘sexist’, ‘misogynistic’, ‘elite’ and ‘male-dominated’ whilst others have remained sceptical of assurances that college life offers students a wide range of academic and social opportunities. In writing this article I do not speak for the colleges but am merely proffering another response based upon my own experiences and those of others. Colleges are extremely popular with some receiving up to six applications for every available place – not bad for places that are supposedly out-dated and ‘male-dominated.’ College can actually be a very empowering place and it is regrettable to see terms like ‘misogyny’ bandied about in relation to what, for many students, becomes a second home. Sydney colleges may be steeped in tradition but they are not governed by it. They are no longer ‘male-governed institutions.’ Of the six colleges, three are co-educational and two accept only female undergraduates. In their popularly elected roles women exert great influence upon all aspects of residential life.

was intoxicated. Nor would you tolerate her being subjected to lewd comments. For the record, I don’t drink. Odd for a college student I know. It is a personal choice and I have never been criticised for it. Nor have I ever felt uncomfortable at a college event – even when I am the only one drinking red bull without vodka. Are colleges elite? Well yes, if you define ‘elite’ as the rigorous pursuit of academic, cultural and sporting excellence. It is inaccurate to speak of ‘college student’s general lack of commitment to study’ (SMH 15 September 2009). Colleges encourage, and in fact require, the attainment of consistently high results. It is the very basis of a student’s continued residency. Several colleges annually produce Rhodes Scholars, university medallists and first-class honours students. Visitors to college are more likely to find wellgroomed debaters floating around a prep-room in their academic gowns than the erroneously stereotyped jock supposedly prowling corridors in search of vulnerable females.

Are colleges elite? Well yes, if you define ‘elite’ as the rigorous pursuit of academic, cultural and sporting excellence. A 2009 study by the Australian Council for Educational Research revealed that college students generally felt more engaged with both the academic and social aspects of university life. This has certainly been my experience. As a ‘day student’ for the first three semesters of my degree, I found the distance between home and university a severe hindrance to participating in the activities of clubs and societies. Having undertaken an elective-based degree also made it difficult to cement lasting friendships. It was not until my move to college that I began to really experience those aspects of university life that lay beyond the incessant round of tutorials, lectures and assessments. Anyone who has not lived in residence cannot understand or appreciate the fullness of college life or the opportunities that it provides.

Yes there is drinking and yes it can occasionally get out of hand. But remember that for many, college is like an extended family. You wouldn’t let your sister walk away with someone from a party if she PAG E 2 4

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Sexual t n e m s Haras Cindy Chong

Sexual harassment occurs in everyday life – be it university, college, your work place. Young women are usually the target. Whether it be requests being made, or being asked if you and your partner have kissed or had sex; this is sexual harassment. Males are not exempt from this either. Sexual harassment, however, is NOT behaviour which is based on mutual attraction, friendship and respect. Any questions being asked by your employer, lecturer, or tutor that make you feel uncomfortable are probably not right. People experience sexual harassment regardless of their age, marital status or occupation, and from their own or the opposite sex. If someone tells you that sexual harassment is brought on by your appearance, for example a person inviting sexual harassment because of their dress or behaviour, that is also an absolute myth. The harasser is responsible for their own actions. By definition, sexual harassment is unwelcome, unsolicited and not reciprocated. Most sexual harassment that occurs in the workplace or educational environment is not reported and therefore remains hidden. Those who are harassed often don’t seek assistance because they are concerned about ‘rocking the boat’ or feel no-one will take them seriously even if they do raise the issue. Where the harasser is the supervisor or lecturer, people are often afraid to complain as that person is in a position to influence their employment or academic prospects.

a complaint with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board or other external body. SRC HELP can give you advice and support if you wish to do this.

If you need to contact somebody or have any issues, the following list shows where you can go for support. NSW Rape Crisis Centre Counselling 1800 424 017 or online support and website www.nswrapecrisis.com.au

The Sydney Women’s Counselling Centre 4/2 Carrington Square, Campsie 2194 Ph: (02) 9718 1955 Fax: (02) 9718 7072

Lifeline 13 11 14

Sexual harassment may be perpetrated or experienced by persons of any background, gender or sexuality. If someone sexually harasses another person of the same sex, that is also unlawful. There are things you can do if you or someone you know has been sexually harassed. At the University of Sydney, you can talk to SRC HELP immediately so that we can discuss your situation and help you feel safe. The SRC offers sexual harassment advisers who can help you clarify whether behaviour perceived as offensive in fact constitutes sexual harassment; explore possible strategies to resolve the difficulty; and advise the person of their rights under relevant legislation. You can make a complaint about the harasser or lodge PAG E 2 5

Student Housin

Phoebe Drake

So for some reason or another, the time has come for you to move out of home. If you’re anything like me, the search seems overwhelming with advice streaming in from all directions; your parents, someone at work, even your younger siblings have an opinion of where would be a good home. Having moved from the country to the city, finding somewhere to live was my first task at hand. This guide gives you a breakdown of accommodation services at Sydney University and shows you where to go to find out more, get some help and suss out a place for you to live on campus. Colleges Whilst it is the most expensive accommodation service, many students find themselves enchanted with the sandstone beauty and traditions of college. Yet, costing around $400 per week, the first question that comes to mind is whether it is worth it? Jessica Jones, a third year MECO kid from Coffs Harbour, didn’t see any alternative. “You are literally a five minute walk away from most of your classes. You duck home for a cooked lunch (and) you meet a diverse range of people from different courses...” So basically, three meals a day, cleaners, tuition for your units of study, sports competitions and college events are all paid for. There are also some things you are obliged to do as a college resident, such as attend formal dinners and certain events held throughout the year. Importantly, scholarships are available and often prioritise rural and regional students and those who excel academically. Scholarship information can be found on each college’s website.

Sydney University Village (SUV) Located on Missenden Rd, SUV is but five minutes from PAG E 2 6

university and one minute from the café/restaurant strip that is King St. Without the formality of college life, SUV is an attractive alternative for many students who prefer a living arrangement that is more flexible. However, the two main differences are that you must cook and there is no internal academic tutelage program. Naomi Brooks lives at SUV and sees it as a great environment for a diversity of students. “The advantages are living so close to campus and also having so many amazing people around. Although, because of the separate apartments, you can still have some privacy.” With rent starting from $211.50 per week, electricity and water bills are all paid for. So the only thing that is left to do is brush up on your MasterChef skills or, alternatively, wander up to King St for some cheap dinner.

Terrace Housing When you see rows of terraces, and when afternoon light falls through the branches of the trees that line the streets before dappling along the pavement, you know you’re in the inner west. Located on three different streets, the university’s terrace housing offers a viable alternative for students who want to live in a house, but can’t find the housemates. Offering access to wireless, Campus Security, covering all utilities and weekly cleaning, the rent ranges from $127-$213 per week, depending on where you live. Che-Marie Trigg, a third year student, moved in half way through first semester last year. Prior to that, she had spent five and a half hours per day commuting to and from university from her home on the Central Coast. “I loved living in the terraces. I met so many new people and made so many more friends than I would have living off campus. You (have to) adapt to living in an entirely new situation...with complete strangers from all different backgrounds.”

STUCCO STUCCO is the housing cooperative for domestic full time students studying at the University of Sydney. Run by residents,

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STUCCO gives residents the opportunity to actively participate in a communal way of living. It is basically the only Sydney University accommodation directed toward low to moderate income earners, and as a non-profit organisation, its main consideration is to meet the needs of its members. Rent at STUCCO is one of the cheapest at just $70 per week, and this is primarily due to it being a cooperative. Whilst STUCCO picks up the gas bill, each unit is individually billed for their electricity and phone usage. The only other cost you will incur is a bond of $280, equal to four weeks rent.

Sharehousing And the alternative to all of the above accommodation services offered by the University is of course, to find a house and fill it with some people (preferably those you know you can get along with). Rent can cost anywhere between $120-$200 per week for a room in the suburbs closer to campus. If you are on a lease, you have the rights and responsibilities of the Residential Tenancy Act. If you are on a contract, make sure you read all of the terms carefully before signing, as this is the document that dictates your rights and responsibilities.

rent Start If you are a low-income earner ($452 per week), have less than $1000 saved, but have a regular income (e.g. a job or Centrelink payment) you may be eligible for Rent Start. This means the NSW Department of Housing will pay a portion of your bond (usually 50%). This can only be arranged BEFORE you have moved in or signed the lease. If you are fleeing domestic violence they will also pay for your removalist and connections for gas, electricity and water. Rent Start can also help you if you have fallen behind in your rent (up to four weeks) and you are at risk of being evicted. Of course there are conditions. Check out their website to get more details or ask SRC Help.

On top of rent youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be paying gas, electricity and water bills, as well as internet/phone bills and groceries.

iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a Student; Can i get Financial help? Living out of home is expensive, and depending on whether you receive Centrelink or not, there may be some support services available.

rent assistance If you are in receipt of a Centrelink payment and renting from someone other than your parents you may be eligible to get rent assistance. The amount may vary if you live on your own, have dependent children or pay low rent, but most people will receive about $80 per fortnight. This amount is not taxable and is available even if you are not on the lease.

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Cheap Foo d Henry Kha

Let’s be blunt, food at Sydney uni can be quite expensive. However there is a solution! The good people at Aficionados Anonymous (AA) have developed a twelve-step program from their book titled Aficionados Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Affluenza to help those recovering from their addiction of overspending, by telling you the joys of tasty and affordable food!

Step Five: Try the miscellaneous option. There are a number of food and drink stands run by the University of Sydney Union that offer cheap deals on hotdogs and sandwiches at about $5. There’s one next to Fisher Library, Carslaw and near Manning. There is a canteen in Bosch that sells sausage rolls and pies for less than $5, but personally I wouldn’t recommend it. You could also try Ralph’s, they offer Napolitan Pasta for $5 but they don’t accept Access.

Step One: You must admit that you are powerless over the

Step Six: Go to Newtown. There are plenty of restaurants

exorbitant costs of food on campus and the only way to overcome this is by buying a $110 Access Card! Now seriously, most (but not all) food providers on campus will provide a 15% discount off your meal if you present an Access Card. If you can’t be bothered constantly bringing your own food or leaving campus to buy food, getting an Access Card and buying food on campus is not a bad idea.

Step Four: Try Holme. There is a café in Holme Court Yard that sells sandwiches ranging from $2.40 to $7 and cake for about $3. Otherwise there’s not much in Holme…

in Newtown, ranging from a connoisseur’s fine diner to a cheap takeaway option. Thai food is all the rage these days and you can get a Pad Thai lunch special for $6.50 at the many Thai restaurants down King St, such as Thai La Ong and Thai La Ong 2!

Step Two: Try Manning. Manning is the central hub for student life on campus and there are a number of great food providers that sell cheap meals. You can get sushi at Miso Honi for $3.10, a cheese and tomato sandwich at Lettucehead for $3.85 and freshly made wedges at Zabeli’s for $5. There is also a barbeque on the third level of Manning, where you can buy a sausage for $3.80.

Step Three: Try Wentworth. Wentworth is like a tiny shopping centre with a computer shop, a bank and even a hairdresser. There is also a cafeteria with a few cheap options. You can buy chips for $2, pizza for $4 and a kebab for $5.50 at Uni Brothers Kebabs and Pizza. There’s also cheap Asian food for about $5 in the cafeteria. There’s a Donut King in Wentworth that sells original hot dogs for $5.20. Subway’s cheapest six inch sub is $4.75 and Parma’s offers pizza for $4 plus there is the wonderful option of purchasing Fair Trade coffee and tea!

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Step Seven: Go to Broadway. There is the option of going to Broadway Shopping Centre, but the food can be quite pricy. The Lansdowne Hotel on the corner of City Rd and Broadway is the best option. You can buy a decent schnitzel or steak for $6. However, the cost for a coke is a rip off at $4 per glass.

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Step Eight: Go to Glebe. There are quite a lot of trendy cafés down Glebe Point Rd. The price for food can be quite expensive and many cafés and restaurants are for fine (read: expensive) dining. The Sappho Café, which is located within a second-hand book shop at 51 Glebe Point Rd, provides a reasonable and tasty option for the poor uni students. Their speciality is all day breakfasts with prices ranging from $4.50 to $9. I recommend the Eggs Benedict Roll for $7.50; it’s filling, tasty and reasonably priced. Step Nine: Go to Darlington. For those who don’t know where Darlington is, it is the area between Sydney Uni and Redfern Station. There are a number of cafes and take away shops down Abercrombie Rd. You can purchase a kebab for $6 at OzTurk or grab chips or chicken for about $5 at the takeaway shops. Step Ten: Club and Societies’ Food Events. There are many events on campus run by the many ethno-cultural clubs and connoisseur clubs on campus. For example, the German Club hosts Stammtisch every so often during each semester at Essen. You can get a juicy Jäger Schnitzel at a discounted rate. Just check out one of the many ethno-cultural clubs and connoisseur clubs on campus to find a cheaper deal and it is also a good way to meet new people!

Manning is the central hub for student life on campus and there are a number of great food providers that sell cheap meals.

Step Eleven: Free BBQs! If you really don’t want to pay for food, you can always scab free food at the many barbeques that are run on campus. A great place to scab free food is off an Evangelical Union barbeque. At these barbeques, friendly Christians will come up to you and they’ll invite you to join a Bible study or attend public meetings. Now if all you really want to do is just get a free snag and be left in peace, just say that you’re Roman Catholic and after a few seconds of awkward silence they shall leave you in peace. Trust me this works, I know this because I am a member of the Evangelical

Union! So give it a try!

Step Twelve: Having failed to achieve an awakening as the result of these steps, bring your own lunch!

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w e i v e R b u P

Adam Foda

The Royal Hotel

quality of food. I would personally suggest the Jager Schnitzel and Franziskaner beer followed by schnapps after schnapps if you feel like getting trashy. All meals are amazing and you will not leave unsatisfied.

6/10 Your typical Aussie pub that can be found somewhere 200m or so behind the crappy side of campus (Wentworth / Merewether Buildings) with a nice beer garden out the back. A good place to hang out between lectures or for pre-drinks prior to heading out for a big night after a long day at uni. Prices are moderate, especially at the bistro.

Pro: Chad Sidler is a regular. Con: It’s technically a restaurant, not a bar (but i had to include it nonetheless) so if you feel like bursting into a traditional German folk song while drunk or getting overly rowdy as you do at Lowenbrau on Saturday Night you may be disappointed.

Pro: A jug of James Boags with the parmesan chicken schnitzel go very well indeed.

Manning Bar

Con: It’s a tad bit hard to find unless you know your way around

8/10

USyd.

The Lansdowne Hotel 6.5/10 Located on the corner of Parramatta and City Roads and right opposite Victoria Park – a favourite drinking hole for USyders. Treat yourself to a range of $6.00 meals which define value for money. Head upstairs for meals and a more old-school chilled out feel. Stay downstairs if you feel you are too much of a pleb, or if on Thursday nights you’re in an indie mood.

Pro: Value for money meals and close to USyd. Everyone knows where it is.

Con: Downstairs looks—and feels—a bit dingy and if you request sauce on the side with your meal, they always forget. Essen

Pro: Everyone goes to Manning. And you can see the Quad while you race through your third jug of beer.

Con: The occasional Thursday night parties (start of semester / mid-semester / end-of-semester parties) are shit compared to the ones held at the colleges. But if you are not aware of this, no need to worry too much. Hermann’s Bar 4/10

8.5/10 A great place. Period. If you love the taste of traditional German cuisine, beer and schnapps then you have come to the right place. Located directly across the road from Notre Dame—you can’t miss it. Highly recommend to take someone you are keen for a first date, due to its reputation of being fairly classy and cheap relative to the PAG E 3 0

I don’t care if you do Law or get HDs, or if your wealthy dad’s reputation got you into college. If you are not a regular attendee at USyd’s official on-campus bar then I highly recommend you transfer to UNSW or somewhere even shittier like UTS or Macquarie because you are not a USyd student. The food is good. Beer is cheap, especially if you have an ACCESS card and it’s a great place to hang out before/in between/after lectures or if you don’t even have uni that day.

Considering what the crappy side of campus has to offer, Hermann’s is a fairly decent place to hang out for drinks while at uni, especially at the outside tables if it’s a sunny day. Located right next to the Wentworth Building’s food court.

Pro: The only place on campus where you can buy a kebab and only have to walk 15m to have a jug of beer with it.

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Con: No matter how much you like Hermann’s, it will never, ever be Manning, so stop trying to justify the place just because it’s much closer to your next class.

The Salisbury 9.5/10 The Salisbury is located inside St.Pauls College and is arguably one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Because of the existence of such a watering hole, named after Charles V. Salisbury, the legend who once declared “no man should ever have to walk more than 50 metres for a beer”, you should expect to be in for a very trashy night. Drinks are ridiculously cheap – beers and mixed spirits under $5.00 as well as $5.00 vodka-red bulls. Most Wednesday’s, the Salisbury hosts a different themed parties of intoxication. Three to four times per semester these parties really hit off and I promise you will not leave disappointed. I highly recommend checking out Surreal Sounds for a $30 ticket, which is worth every cent (FYI all other Salisbury parties are free entry) as well as the not-to-be-missed Schoolboys / Schoolgirls themed party once a semester.

Pro: Great place to pick up! Con: Due to restrictions on The Salisbury’s liquor license, most Wednesday night parties end prior to 12. Bar Broadway 3.5/10 It’s an okay joint for some drinks and pool if you’re on your way to and/or from USyd. That’s all I can really say.

Pro: Ummm, beer? Con: It’s opposite the University of Terriblyuglylooking Skyscrapers.

I can’t even remember its name but it does exist. It’s dark, dingy and cheesy, but it does serve alcohol, which is a start.

Pro: Pre-drinks before going to see a movie upstairs at Hoyts? Con: The fact that I couldn’t even be bothered to Google the name of this place speaks for itself.

B.Y.O 5.5 / 10 Essentially, if you are feeling cheap and/or bored at Sydney Uni, I recommend carrying around a flask or water bottle which you claim to others “Nah, it’s just soft drink”. Best used for free refills of your bourbon & coke at Manning or having to sit for an hour in a boring club meeting or AGM. Don’t do it in tutes or lectures, you’ll look like an idiot at best or someone with a serious problem at worst. Pro: To avoid looking like an alcoholic, don’t drink from your flask or “water” in front of others unless you have known them for ages. Just say “just going for a piss, brb” (although there is probably some truth to the statement). Con: If you whip out your flask in front of a girl you like because you think it will make you look like “the guy that knows how to party and drink hard” and she doesn’t find it cute, funny or cool, you might as well go to the toilet and have a toss right there and then because you’ve just blown your chance, literally.

That bar under the Broadway shopping centre 2/10 PAG E 31

l a r e Lib n o i t Educa

John Gordon

What is liberal education? The education befitting a liberal man, a free man, a virtuous man: A human being who is an excellent human being. The task of liberal education is the formation of character and mind through the Classics (predominantly, the works of classical antiquity—that of Greece and Rome). The importance of a liberal education is often neglected in debates on education which occur within Australia. This is a reflection of the paucity of Australian education. As said, a liberal education is an education through the classics, predominately through the works of classical antiquity (Greece and Rome) and preferably in the original languages, since all translation is interpretation. The acquisition of Latin and Classical Greek is not quick and easy, nor does it have any quick appeal when becoming a wage-slave, but it serves the purpose of education in the highest sense. The all-out war on education that was launched in the ‘60s in America and came to Australia in the ‘70s has not been reversed. Rather it has been solidified to the point that the very nature and concept of education has been irrevocably altered, beyond all recognition. Before that time, Greek and Latin were a valued part of education in Australia. The importance of the classics lies in this fundamental feature: Education is the attempt to institutionalise philosophy—the pursuit of the truth. The structures of higher education are meant to facilitate—not job prospects, though perhaps that is an incidental by-product, but rather—the freedom of speech and thought that necessarily accompanies the earnest pursuit of truth, either by oneself alone or in the company of friends. The greatest thoughts have a central place here. From this we can understand Mathew Arnold’s comment about that much debased word: “Culture.” Namely that culture is “the best which has been thought and said” (Preface to Culture and Anarchy). Culture here refers to liberal education and what is provided by the classics. PAG E 3 2

With Nietzsche we can see the highest aims of education are facilitated through coming to know the Greeks, and the only way to know the Greeks truly is to be able to read them in their own language. How can someone unschooled in Greek come to terms with Nietzsche’s claim that Socrates (the paradigmatic philosopher of Plato’s dialogues) is “the single turning point and vortex of (so-called) world-history”? Such a claim would appear obtuse or arbitrary and the unschooled would have no way of assessing that claim. It would be set aside as a cultural peculiarity, not as a profound insight into the way the world has progressed since that amazing phenomenon which occurred nearly 2500 years ago. Shakespeare could also form the centre of such an education. He has suffered from the clutches of drama fanatics and actors who play the parts but have no concept of the content and meaning of the plays, and this has caused the downgrading of his works to mere performance (contrary to the claims inherent in the publication of the First Folio). To read Shakespeare seriously is to see that he is a political thinker of the first order, that the plays contain a teaching about human things, especially political things (the talk of and by kings and other rulers is not incidental to the interpretation of the plays, nor the political settings and problems that are elaborated).

What is liberal education? The education befitting a liberal man, a free man, a virtuous man: A human being who is an excellent human being. The Tempest is modelled on Plato’s Republic, and Prospero (happiness) is a thinly disguised political philosopher (or a philosopher who comes to be a political philosopher in the course of his life—a master one by the end of the play). Often our contemporary interpretations corrupt the understanding of central texts, such as The Tempest. In a total perversion of or at least in an anachronistic reading of the play, the favoured view today is that The Tempest is about “colonisation” and the effect that has on the colonised. Unfortunately, there were no colonies at that time (one exploratory ship had been sent out to found a colony, but it had not reported

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back to England about its results or view of the native inhabitants until after Shakespeare’s death). Someone who can read Greek can easily follow the grammatically simple sentences (though concealing deeply profound thoughts) of Aristotle. The third book of his treatise on Politics provides an exemplary articulation of the scope and variety of political regimes on offer as legitimate alternatives in a manner unsurpassed. We today only talk about (one version of) democracy, but other legitimate regimes include aristocracy, monarchy, and polity. Someone who knows no Greek has no access to this, or has to take his chances with choosing a translation (and there are few good translations available). Contemporary figures of independent political ability and influence have also seen the place for liberal education. Alexandre Kojève, the great Russo-French interpreter of Hegel (from a Marxian and even pro-Stalinist perspective) when addressing the university student activists engaged in the fruitless agitation of 1968 in Berlin, told the gathering, hushed in awe at the intellectual giant addressing them, that the best thing that they could and should do was to learn (ancient) Greek. Kojève was instrumental in the formation of the EU and worked his whole public life to advance the order under which we currently labour (the globalised left-wing state, typified by the UN). But precisely because he knew what he was doing and knew where clarity about the fundamental issues of politics and where their best articulation lay, he provided a guide for those who are ambitious with respect to understanding the nature of politics to follow.

unity behind the concept of law. His concept of Friend/Enemy as the fundamental political concept is derived from Plato’s Republic. Fittingly, his grave is inscribed with a textual variation of Homer’s description of Odysseus.

The structures of higher education are meant to facilitate…the freedom of speech and thought that necessarily accompanies the earnest pursuit of truth. What remains to be seen is how the assault on education is to be redressed. When there are those that deny the possibility of philosophy and therefore, the highest aims of education (the institutionalisation of philosophy) from within the institutions of learning, how is the issue to be resolved? Perhaps, during this interregnum those in earnest pursuit of truth must take heed of Kojève’s advice—learn (ancient) Greek.

Another contemporary who had enormous influence in pre- and post- WWII Germany and beyond is Carl Schmitt. Carl Schmitt used the concept of nomos (law) to try to articulate the fundamental PAG E 3 3

Student Todd Pinkerton

Representa

tion

Perspective is everything. That’s why it’s the SRC’s job to ensure that when the decision makers of the University of Sydney are coming to conclusions that affect students, a student voice is heard. Basically, the SRC is the representative lobbying group for the undergraduate students of USyd as the dedicated students it comprises each have roles in ensuring that the welfare and perspective of students is not forgotten by the University’s administration. The SRC comprises of positions filled by students, negotiated and achieved through our annual elections in the 2nd semester. If you’re the kind of student who wants to make an impact on how the student experience plays out for both you and future students I highly recommend you get a few friends together and run in the elections. It’s a lot of fun and worth every second of stress. Representing students is a big job and it’s one the SRC does daily in a couple of ways. Firstly, the SRC as an organisation often runs campaigns advocating for issues that are important to students, such as decreasing degree costs, increasing the availability of youth allowance, and promoting the need for low cost student housing. In this regard the SRC takes on a role of representing students to all levels of government. This is often done in conjunction with the campaigns of the National Union of Students, an organisation to which the SRC affiliates, which acts to lobby on behalf of undergraduate students all around the nation

Arts and Social Sciences, there are also department representatives who have the ability to address issues at a department-specific level. In 2011, the SRC is aiming to help this program to be rolled out across other faculties within the University as well. Being a student subject rep is a lot of fun and if you’re interested get in contact with either our Education Officers or the SRC President who are both fonts of advice on how you can get involved in ensuring education is everything it should be. Finally and perhaps the most useful of all the services the SRC provides to students is the host of full-time staff it employs to provide top of the shelf advice and help with any advocacy issues. These free, confidential, and secure services extend to;

Legal representation and advice.

Tenancy advice.

Academic appeals.

Issues relating to Centrelink, such as applying for or fighting against.

Ultimately the SRC is all about your perspective and representation, ensuring that just because we’re students—often incurring large amounts of a HECS debt—our voices aren’t overlooked. If any of this sounds like the kind of thing you want for the rest of your time at university or for those who might come after you, I along with the rest of the SRC encourage you to get involved and keep up the good fight.

Another means of representation is through SRC officials and representatives sitting on just about every board and committee that makes up this great university’s bureaucracy. This way any issue pertaining to the student experience and university life is discussed openly in front of an actual student who has a say in how that decision goes. Isn’t democracy great? Similar to this, are the many faculty student representative spots open to students of various subjects. Elected by fellow students in these faculties, these students sit on faculty boards, where policy specific to a particular faculty is discussed before being taken to Academic Board or a committee thereof. Within the Faculty of PAG E 3 4

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I Want my Co ffee Phoebe Drake Soy cap, skim latte, chai tea, double shot espresso- you name it! I’m one of those students whose day does not really start until the first coffee has been consumed.

want it to be too ‘date-ish’, or you just want to catch up with a friend, Parma is a great place to go. Whilst the coffee is not as good as Azzuri’s or Campos, and slightly more $$$, you do get a little biscuit (so cute) and a nice, noise free atmosphere to talk the time away.

Having developed a minor addiction around the age of fourteen, my tastes have also had time to develop and consequently I am rather picky.

Ralphs

Furthermore, my status as a uni student also means the amount I am willing to pay for a coffee does not exceed $3.00. And, it doesn’t need to. So where do you go for a decent (cost effective) coffee at USyd? Well, I have some answers; consider the following a guide to coffee on campus.

Campos The advent of the New Law Building also signalled the arrival of Campos on campus. No longer would one need walk up King St to find their favourite blend, or leave the house any earlier! For $3.00 ($2.55 with Access) one can purchase a ray of sunshine in a cup, and with such perfectly ground coffee beans and brilliantly frothed milk, it is worth every cent.

At the bottom of Physics Rd, and just around the corner, you will discover Ralphs. For any college kids, this is a useful place from which to grab coffee when you’re running ten minutes late to class and have been out the night before. Also, it’s open earlier than others in the morning, and the coffee is good too. Owned by Ralph, and run by him and his family, there is a warm welcome every time you go in.

Coffee Carts. Just no. Seriously. I understand if you don’t want to queue, and if you can’t be bothered to walk to Azzuri’s, that you may feel tempted to order your coffee from a coffee cart. But is it worth it? For some who are less particular, the coffee carts are just fine: coffee is ready almost immediately and you can stock up on lollies/chocolate/ chips at the same time. For others who feel they might have more discerning tastebuds—walk the distance.

Word of warning: the coffee is more expensive if you order it inside, though you may be tempted to do so to avoid the queue.

Azzuri’s Quite simply, if you’re keen for crepes—upstairs. If it’s just a coffee you’re after—downstairs. As a first year, Azzuri’s is a gem you will stumble across at some time or another. Whether you’ve accidentally wandered through the newsagency and discovered it at the bottom of a magical flight of stairs, or you’ve ended up in Darlington and are wandering back through Wentworth, this place is well and truly worth finding. And on a side note, the brownies are amazing as well.

Parma If you’re keen to ask someone in your tutorial on a date, but don’t PAG E 3 5

y d u t S o t How Arts. If you’re the average Arts student, there are probably several things that preclude you from spending much time on your studies—working for the man, all those clubs and societies you simply must be involved with, and that most honourable pursuit of Arts students: sitting at a trendy café drinking soy lattes and debating the meaning of life. All these onerous obligations can sometimes leave your studies neglected. So how to pass Arts courses with the minimum of effort and time? Step one—GO TO CLASS. It sounds lame, but actually attending your lectures and tutorials means that you will have a decent grasp of course content without actually having to do much work. Just rock up and listen for a few hours a week. It’s way easier than doing the readings. Step two—learn to skim read. You don’t need to do a detailed analysis of every reading or text you study. You just need to be able to pick out some relevant quotes and convey the gist of what was said. Skim reading also enables you to look like you’ve engaged with a variety of different sources, when in fact you’ve only read one or two pages here and there and picked out some handy quotes. It’s a great time saver. Make sure you know how to reference though— being caught out for plagiarism is not fun. Step three—at the risk of sounding school teacher-y, write a plan. It is MUCH easier to write an essay if you break it down into manageable chunks. Personally I like brainstorming for my plans, but find a system that works for you. Write down your key points, write some quotes that are relevant, and then you just have to flesh out the idea when you write the essay. Most importantly, MAKE PAG E 3 6

SURE YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION. It’s a good idea to underline the key components of the question so you can easily double check that you’ve addressed them all. Remember that the verbs telling you how to write the essay—analyse, discuss, describe, evaluate—all (obviously) have different meanings and you will need to write in a style that reflects these.

Step four—for the love of God, do a spelling and grammar check before you hand in your essay. Correct usage of language goes a long way towards giving the impression that you know what you’re talking about, as does conforming to the style requirements set out by your department. Style guides are available on the department websites, and I’d seriously recommend having them open while you’re working on your essay. Finally, seek inspiration in caffeine. It is your friend, and will help you through those long lonely nights. Nothing better than the caffeine jitters to speed up your typing!

Commerce Commerce with low contact hours like Arts is often seen as bit of a bludge. This can be true for certain subjects but certainly not others. Lectures are really only required to be attended where the lecture notes/set text is poor or where they mark a role or otherwise no-one would attend as the lectures are so abysmal. Generally lecturers are disinterested so don’t be surprised when they don’t seem to care, unless you’re in an honours stream. Tutes vary on their usefulness depending how keen your tutor is. Ask around and transfer to a preferred tutor-your mark will be significantly better. In terms of assessment most subjects are a mid semester and final exam, with maybe another project. The advice is that at least one of the exams will be very difficult, if not both. Many lecturers take delight in failing anywhere up to 60% of a class. So prepare well for your exam. Look at tute questions your lecturer has written is generally the best tip as past exams often aren’t available. Also be

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prepared for them to put in a lot of ridiculous jargon. Some commerce subjects also love groupwork, pick your own group wisely with friends who do work-otherwise you may end up doing the work of four subjects in one subject! If you’re doing Finance, Economics or Econometrics you must be good at maths-otherwise expect to fail or spend a lot of time studying.

engineering. If you’re hoping there’s a quick way to study engineering, sorry to disappoint, but there just isn’t. It is an incredibly demanding course. There is a reason engineers drink so much— you need to in order to cope. The ways to stay on top of the workload are pretty straightforward though. Number one—go to class. There is a lot of class to go to, so be prepared for anywhere from 15-25 hours of face time a week, but it is worth attending. Once you get behind on one concept, it can be difficult (read: almost impossible) to catch up.

Number two—find a group to study with. This is the best way to get through things: misery loves company, and it’s likely that if one of you doesn’t understand a concept, someone else will be able to help you out. Furthermore, explaining or teaching something to someone else improves your own understanding and heightens retention, so everybody wins.

it will also give you a greater understanding of the course material you’re covering.

Number four—join the relevant engineering society and make the most of the free beer; you will thereby be able to enjoy. You’ll need it. If you don’t like beer…you will learn to by the time you finish your degree.

Law I wish to welcome all Law students to Sydney University Law School, the best law school in the entire world! Firstly I would like to congratulate each and every one of you on being accepted into Law at this Uni. It is a commendable feat. Secondly I wish to assure you that your time studying law in first year will be great fun. Although it’s pretty difficult to get into this course, don’t be misconceived into thinking that the course is really difficult. It’s the demand that bumps up the entry mark, not the difficulty of the subjects. As a result you will meet some great people in your first year; some very motivated individuals. This alone will help you study. Studying Law is very different to studying HSC subjects. Not necessarily harder, but different. The difference lies in the study technique. There is no real syllabus and you aren’t spoon fed as you are in the HSC. It all comes back to you. No one will make you do your readings or practice essay responses anymore. More personal responsibility is required.

Number three—try and get a job that’s got something to do with your degree. Not only will it improve your graduate options,

If there was any tip or lesson I took away from my first year studying law, it was the importance of completing the readings. This allows you to achieve a few things. Firstly, it increases your interest in the topics, which will always positively affect your marks. Secondly, PAG E 3 7

y d u t S o t How it allows you to participate in the tutes more actively. This has a double barrelled affect; you maximise your class participation marks and you also receive answers on the topics you are unsure about. Listening to others get their questions answered may not help you. Another thing, don’t leave law study to the last minute. You don’t want to arrive at the final exam having crammed. You can cram for commerce subjects, but it’s almost impossible to cram for law subjects. Your knowledge of the subject develops week by week so stay on top of it! Putting all the study aside, have fun and get involved in the law society. It has a lot to offer. Uni is what you make of it. So don’t waste any time and get into it!

Most science subjects also have labs. Attending these is generally also compulsory but also generally the best way of learning and understanding the material in the course. While they may not be that useful to you in first year if you have done similar subjects in the HSC you’ll definitely soon be needing them. Science generally has lots of continuous assessment but still a large final exam weightings (60+%). The advice on studying is to make sure you do the continuous assessment well and really swot up for the final exam. Past exam papers are generally available and the best way to find relevant material to study.

Science Science students, like engineers, generally have some of the longest face-to-face hours at university. And attending most of these is pretty much compulsory to pass but also to do well. Lectures are often vital, although this depends on whether there is a good text for the subject or not and whether the lectures are available on Lectopia. Neither of these things are likely in science, so attend your lectures-even if it is 8am maths! PAG E 3 8

S R C O r i e n t a t i o n h a n d b oo k 2 0 1 1

Timothy Scriven

asks

Why Participa te? Hopefully by this page you have been told what the SRC IS, but why should you care? Here’s why, your education is important and the university should take every effort to make it the best it possibly can be. You should be able to access it whatever your socio-economic status. Your courses should be among the best in the world. Your assessments should be fairly set, fairly marked and returned in a reasonable time. You shouldn’t have to worry about discrimination based on your gender, sexuality, disability status, race, religion or any other factor. You have interests, and the university should do its best to look out for them. Unfortunately it isn’t that simple, there’s a variety of countervailing forces. The university is, like almost any organisation, interested in generating money. The university would like your HECS increased (for domestic students) and fees increased (for international students), it will cut costs, courses and subjects if it can. Fair assessment processes can be a hassle for lecturers, so don’t count on them being on your side there. You might need centrelink to have a reasonable chance of studying, but the government’s obsession with returning to surplus before yesterday can get in the way of that. These organisations and interest groups aren’t necessarily “The bad guys”, but they have their own interests, which are sometimes contradictory to yours, and they will fight for those interests. Then of course there are the assorted bigots, chauvinists, queerphobes and other purveyors of discrimination. You might think they don’t exist at uni, sadly you’re wrong, they’re more common than you’d think—I’ve met a few.

So how can you help out? Firstly, it would be wonderful if you joined. Membership is either free or $35, depending on whether you want to be a supporting or general member. Second, look into the available collectives, they’re easy to join, a lot of fun and a great way to meet people. Thirdly, keep your eyes peeled and get involved in our events. Fourthly, definitely think about voting in the SRC elections, consider your choices and weigh up the options. Finally, whether you’re in first or final year think about running for an SRC council spot yourself, or an office-bearer position, or for our delightful newspaper, Honi Soit.

The SRC is the fighter in your corner. Its budget is small, a bit over a million dollars, and it does a lot.

So in this university with a bewildering number of stakeholders, power interests and what not, the SRC is the fighter in your corner. Its budget is small, a bit over a million dollars, and it does a lot. It provides casework, lobbying and activism all on behalf of our interests. It needs all the help it can get, we’re looking at you now. Helping out your SRC can be very rewarding. It’s fun, I’ve met a lot of great people and it’s a great way to build skills.

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Centrelink money in your poc ket? Applying Full-time students over 25 should apply for Austudy. Under 25’s should apply for Youth Allowance. You can start by indicating your ‘intention’ to claim by contacting Centrelink, but get the claim form in within 14 days.

everyone on Youth Allowance also gets a lump sum of $1 097 (called a scholarship) each semester. Check out the income chart available to be downloaded at http:// www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/individuals/change_ pit.htm

Full-time or Part-time Study

You may also be subject to the Family Actual Means Test.

If you receive Youth Allowance or Austudy you will usually have to maintain a full time load. That’s 18 credit points or more. Sometimes students can do less in very specific conditions. If you have to do less than that in a semester because of sickness or the university won’t let you (eg. pre-requisites), talk to SRC HELP about your specific situation.

The Parental Income Test does not apply if: • •

•

You are ‘independent’ or on Austudy. One parent currently receives a designated income support payment. However, the test is applied as soon as they stop receiving that payment and the Family Actual Mean test may still apply. A parent is receiving compensation or Abstudy (certain circumstances only). A parent holds a Low Income Health Care Card.

BE WARNED: The university has to report your study load directly to Centrelink. If you do not report it to Centrelink and they find out you were part-time when you said you were full-time, you will be in breach and they will ask for their money back—and risk being charged with fraud.

What income do Centrelink look at?

Youth Allowance Independence

Centrelink will look at your fortnightly income and your parents’ income in the tax year before the current calendar year.

You are considered ‘independent’ if you’re: • • • • •

Age is over 23 from 2011(22 in 2012) Married or partnered (seek advice about partnered—includes same sex couples) Family circumstances make it Unreasonable to Live at Home From an outer regional or remote area, earnt $19, 532 in an 18 month period and with parent income under $150 000 Have supported yourself with full-time work (30 hours per week for 18 months)

Your Parents’ Income If you are under 25 years old and cannot prove you are ‘Independent’ for Centrelink purposes, Centrelink will assume your parents give you money and treat you as ‘Dependent’. This means your rate of Youth Allowance is subject to a Parental Income Test. As a result of your parent/s income your payment may be reduced. The parental income threshold has gone up a bit to $44 165 per annum. It now also ‘pools’ that income with any brother or sister who are also on dependent Youth Allowance. If you think you might be eligible apply. Even if you only get a small weekly amount PAG E 4 0

•

Centrelink will look at your parental taxable income, ‘adjusted’ fringe benefits, foreign income, maintenance payment from a former partner and ‘passive business loss’. If a tax assessment is not available, Centrelink can accept a ‘reasonable’ estimate.

Changes to income If your parental income in the current tax year is ‘substantially less’ (perhaps by 25%), Centrelink may use your estimate for the current tax year. The drop in income needs to be likely to continue for 2 years (eg, retirement). If your parental income in the current tax year increases and exceeds 125% of their previous tax year then, for October, November and December, your payments are calculated using the higher income. TAKE CARE when estimating to avoid any overpayments.

Family Actual Means Test (FAMT) You will be subject to the FAMT if your parent/s had an interest in a trust or private company; were self employed or in a partnership; had overseas income or asset valued at $2,500 or more; claimed a tax deduction for a business loss; or were a business skills migrant

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within the last 10 years. Your parent/s will be required to fill in an additional form to the standard claim form. For more details about the FAMT contact SRC Help.

Your income There is also a personal income test. If your income goes over $236 gross per fortnight then your payment may be reduced, by 50c/$ , over $316 it is 60c/$. Centrelink use a ‘Student Income Bank’ which averages out your income so it may depend on what you have earnt in earlier fortnights.

Calculating your Payment. The maximum you can get on Austudy or Youth Allowance per fortnight is $255.80 at home or $388.70 if away from home, plus rent assistance of $76.80 if sharing or $115.20 if alone or boarding. The amount your payment is reduced is the greater of the reduction due to either the personal or parental income tests (not both as in past years)

week period to qualify. This gives you reduced prices on prescription drugs, electricity bill rebates, discount tickets at movies, free ambulance in NSW, free glasses and lenses, and potentially free dental care. This is separate to Youth Allowance and you need to apply specifically for this.

Contact SrC help If you have any questions about qualifying for Youth Allowance or Austudy or have problems with Centrelink see the caseworkers at the SRC who can provide you with confidential advice and assistance. Level 1 Wentworth Building email: help@src.usyd.edu.au phone: 9660 5222

Fares allowance If you are a full time student living away from your permanent home for study purposes, Centrelink may reimburse the cheapest fare to University from your home and back again once a semester. This includes (but may not be limited to) students who are: • • • •

On the “dependent but away from home” rate of Youth Allowance. Independent but partnered, who live away from their partner for study purposes. The sole parent who lives away from their dependent child for study purposes. Studying externally, at an Australian institution in Australia, who have to travel to the institution for a compulsory residential component of the course. This does not include a practical component of course taken away from the institution itself (eg, a clinical practicum at hospital or a field excursion).

reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information at the time of printing. the SrC takes no responsibility for errors contained herein.

health Care Card If you are on a low income you may be eligible for a Health Care Card. You need to be earning less than $465 per week over an 8 PAG E 41

Campus Phoebe Drake

Safety

It’s easy sometimes to think the shortest way home is the safest way, but it’s important whilst on campus (just as it is in your community) to consider your personal safety. At a university as large as USyd, there are consequently some risks involved and thus some services you should be aware of:

Security Shuttle Bus:

Taking public transport:

The University Security Service offers a Shuttle Bus service to Redfern Station.

Know your timetables to avoid long waits—especially if you’re alone. Avoid lonely, closed-in shelters. Keep to open, populated areas in full view of cars, buses or trains. Use preferred pedestrian routes through campus, particularly to

The route and timetables are readily available online. Contact Security on (02) 9351 3487 if a pick-up from some other location is required, or if you want to check the next bus arrival.

Late night escorts: For those who have to work later than the Security Bus Service, the Security Office can provide an escort to your vehicle, college or public transport. There is no charge for this service, but at least 10 to 15 minutes notice is required. If our services are stretched we will give an estimate of waiting time.

Tips to help you take charge of your own personal safety:

Redfern Station. Avoid empty train carriages, and where possible take an aisle seat. If possible, phone for taxis rather than hailing them, and have someone see you off keeping note of the taxi number. Sit in the back seat on the opposite side to the driver, and don’t disclose personal information. These are just some tips to help you keep safe and remember to call Campus Security any time on 9351 3487 OR 9351 3333 in instance of emergency.

Confidence deters attackers. Carry a personal alarm, be prepared to scream “No!” loudly and run if threatened. Avoid lonely or gloomy places, especially at night—walk with a friend, form a group, or stay with a crowd. Be aware of the people around you: fellow students, staff and others. Be wary of strangers, on foot or in cars, asking directions. It’s better to be rude than to be in trouble. If someone follows you, go to a place where there are other people. Respect your intuition. Don’t allow rationality to override your “sixth sense”. It could protect you from danger. Conceal valuable items or carry them in front of you, in an inside pocket, or under your arm. When you’re socialising, play smart. One drink too many could make you vulnerable. Stick with responsible friends. PAG E 4 2

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e M I A U O Can Y ? R E H G I H

You are probably sitting at the O-Week band stage, starting to flick through the mountains of brochures you’ve swiped whilst sipping on your free can of sugar-free energy drink. ...How do I know all this? Because my backside was parked in front of the O-Week band stage only a few years ago and let me tell you I had no idea what clubs, societies or volunteer programs to join as a 1st year Sydney Uni student …until AIME came on the scene! I’m going to make it easy on your eyeballs and keep this really simple...

Who Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) is a not-forprofit company funded by Sydney University and 9 other universities across NSW, QLD and VIC to offer students like you an incredible opportunity to engage with Indigenous young people from your community.

What AIME offers volunteer uni students, like YOU, the opportunity to Mentor local Indigenous High School students in series of interactive workshop sessions run right here at Sydney Uni Camperdown campus!

Watch AIME TV at www.aimementoring.com to see AIME Sessions in ACTION!

When • 1 hour a week for 17 weeks (AIME does not run during uni • •

exams/holidays) AIME Sessions commence Thursday 5th May at Sydney Uni Camperdown campus Online Mentor applications open mid-March at www.aimementoring.com

Where To make it easy on YOU we run all our AIME Year 9 and Year 10 workshop sessions at Sydney University Camperdown campus.

Why Today a group of Australian kids are not making it through school. They are Indigenous and like all kids want a chance to succeed. At AIME you can give these kids a chance to get through school and into the very seats at Sydney University that you’re lucky enough to be filling this year. Here’s just a few things our volunteer Mentors have got out of their AIME experience: • • • •

Learnt about Australian Indigenous culture; Made life long friendships with other uni students across Facilities; Gained valuable experience working with young people; Improved their leadership skills and public speaking.

How To become an AIME Mentor or for more information simply email bbo@aimementoring.com Or come visit the AIME Stall at O-Week. Happy O-Week, see YOU around campus! ;)

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STUDENT SERVICES AN uni. You will have to pay your $250 to the university.

The SRC’s Education Officers duke it out over one of this years’ biggest issues in tertiary education

Tim, who is writing the pro-SSAF article is going to argue that the bill provides clubs and societies for students to take advantage off, and services that students need. I don’t think that at the moment there is some huge deficiency in the services provided by the Union and the plethora of club stalls that you will see at O-Week is a testament to the vibrant extra-curricular life available at uni. However, unlike Tim I think that it should be up to students themselves, not the Federal Government, to decide whether they join the Union. Why should the Government force students to pay money that they may not have, to fund services that they may not use?

ANTIThe SSAF, a tax too far.

Every year that I’ve been at uni this far, I’ve decided pay $99 and join the union, because I know that I get good value from my membership fee. However, I have never decided to pay the additional $55 to join the Uni’s gym, because I know that despite my best intentions, I won’t use it.

As you might or might not know (depending on how closely you pay attention to the Senate) the government is about to introduce a bill called the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010.

At the end of the day, the SSAF takes away my right to choose what I pay for at Uni. The Federal Government is deciding that USyd students will pay an additional $150 for services, regardless of whether the services provided are worth their increased price tag.

And what, you might ask does this mean for you and me?

So for those SSAF lovers out there, why don’t you trust students to make up their own minds?

Al Cameron

Basically, the Government is about to tax you and every other tertiary student around the country $250 every year for university provided services, like clubs, societies and the gym. Currently, students at USyd pay $99 a year for membership to the USU. For that, you get 15% off most food and drink on campus and host of other benefits. I seriously doubt that the 150% increase in the cost of union membership will correspondingly lead to a 150% increase in the benefits you get from the Union. Since about mid-2006, students have had a choice as to whether they join the student union. And lets face it, for those of us who spend more time at Manning than is probably healthy, joining the USU is a great idea. You can earn your $99 membership fee back quite quickly in savings on food and beer. But soon, every single student will have to cough up his or her $250 tax without exception. It doesn’t matter if you spend five days a week at uni like the poor science students trapped in labs, or just drive in and drive out for your tutorials as you work to put yourself through PAG E 4 4

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) will come before the Senate this year. It will allow universities to charge students up to $250 to cover the provision of student services.

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AND AMENITIES FEE PRO-

requirements, lecturers and the use of technology. Many students don’t know it, but your SRC is on all major boards and committees in the University, to make sure that the student voice is considered in all significant decisions that will affect you.

Tim Matthews

You should support the SSAF so that the student voice doesn’t get choked.

Have you ever failed a subject because your psychology tutor played mind games with your assessment criteria? Have you ever wondered, as a Korean student studying law, whether there are a group of students representing your needs? Have you ever been walking down Eastern Avenue and had an overwhelming urge to swim a quick 500m? Well, student with oddly specific needs, there are a series of organisations on campus that can cater for those needs. Currently, these student bodies (the SRC, USU and Sydney University Sport and Fitness) operate on a funding arrangement with the University, and the smell of an oily rag.

Your student organisations are fucking fantastic If you are hungry, being sued, failing your course, need a hug, angry about your education, oppressed by the man, oppressed by a man, oppressed for being a gay man, sexually harassed, in need of child care, want a jog, swim, boxing session, want cheap text books, feeling underrepresented, need a shoulder to cry on or a new best friend, there is a service on campus to cure what ails you. The University of Sydney is lucky to be home to some of the best student organisations in the country. These are services that deserve to be protected from funding cutbacks and being tied up in University bureaucracy – this year the SRC will open the first student-run free legal service in the country, the Union will once again provide over 250 clubs and societies for students of all dispositions. These services can’t happen without money. Plain and simple. You should support that SSAF, because your student organisations do a great job at supporting you.

These services benefit all students If you are a person who studies 24/7, locks themselves away, despises social interaction, and avoids sunlight as much as possible between classes (no judgement), the SSAF is still of benefit to you. The advocacy and representation provided by the SRC make a real impact on your degree and university life. Last year, the SRC successfully lobbied to set up the first Student Representative Network in the Faculty of Arts, which sees students sitting on Departmental Boards, speaking directly to university administrators to argue for things like smaller tutorial sizes, fairer assessment criteria, and to provide student feedback on course

Student funding of student services is a necessity Without more student contributions many of these services will suffer. The introduction of voluntary student unionism in 2006 ripped around $170 million from student service budgets across the country. This has severely limited the capacity of these vital services to function. We also fundamentally believe that students are better at administering and overseeing these services than University administrators. Only students really know what students want in terms of clubs, societies and student culture, and it doesn’t take a genius to understand why students are better at running advocacy and appeals services against the University than administrators employed by the University itself. University bureaucracies lack the institutional capacity, and the organisational memory in the case of our institution, to cater for the provision of student services. Under current funding arrangements, student control is not ensured, but the SSAF will greatly improve this situation. Supporting the SSAF is supporting student organisations which function best to serve the needs of students.

ENOUGH!! What’s the actual cost? For those on a tight budget I have some good news and some bad news in regards to the SSAF. The University will be able to charge you up to $250, to be distributed between all organisations that provide student services. When you consider that this will be split between the SRC, USU, SUSF as well as several other University bodies which provide similar services, the per-student contribution to each of these organisations isn’t unthinkable. The excellent news for students is that SSAF payments are entirely deferrable in the same way that HECS-HELP loans are. This means that, if you don’t pay your fees up front, you will be able to add your SSAF monies to your existing debt, and pay it off at the normal rate. This is a key distinction between the proposed SSAF and ‘Compulsory Student Unionism,’ which was overturned in 2006. Best of all, support the SSAF because it isn’t a massive imposition to do so. Your $250 is more than returned in the amazing opportunities that you will be given by strong and vibrant student organisations on campus. PAG E 4 5

THe usu Rhys Pogonoski Student experience at USYD is pretty darn good. We’re blessed as USYD students to have some of the best opportunities and services going around town. Along with your SRC the other main organisation that is responsible for providing you with a kick arse student experience is the University of Sydney Union (USU). What is the USU? The USU is a student run organisation that provides a whole bunch of services that will make your stay aboard SS USYD a lot more enjoyable. Basically, they’re committed to helping you find a home in this vast sandstone Hogwarts-like complex.

What does the USU provide? Lots. They’re running this event, O-Week, right now. They fund and support arguably the worlds best Clubs and Societies (C&S) program, which occupies nearly every tent on these luscious lawns, which surprisingly and unfortunately they do not provide. They own and run the best classroom on campus, Manning Bar. They also run Hermann’s Bar and a majority of the food venues along with the Revue program, debating, the Kirby Cup (a public speaking tournament), they host huge parties such as Beach Ball and Snow Ball, they run the second semester Verge Arts Festival and a whole heap of other great things. What should you get involved in? Or, what you MUST do!

are clubs for lego builders to hip-hop dancers and everything in between. Go scouting these wide lawns and find some concepts that tickle your pickle. Genuinely though, this program is the backbone of student life at USYD, you will have some of the most fun and meet your future best friends by getting involved with C&S.

If you want to do anything fun on campus, any time, ever, then I suggest you buy an access card. Do Some Laughing Go to Theatresports, held every Thursday at 1:00pm at Manning, it is brilliant free and hilarious entertainment. Seriously, the last two years I’ve changed my timetable so I could be available for that hour, I suggest you do the same. While we’re on laughing make sure you head out to some great comedy by Project 52 at Hermann’s Bar on Wednesday nights from 8:00pm.

Think A Little If you’re a first year you probably don’t have to do too much thinking in class, so, go think at Manning Bar on Tuesday’s at 1:00pm for Tuesday Talks (an event that brings in speakers as wideranging as humanitarians to politicians). Finally, perhaps head to Debating which is run casually every Wednesday afternoon from 5:00pm.

Release Your Inner Artsy

Buy An Access Card After you’ve visited the SRC tent and got your SRC membership you MUST buy an access card. If you want to do anything fun on campus, any time, ever, then I suggest you buy an access card. This plastic grants you access to all the clubs and societies, it scores you a sweeeet discount at practically every food and beverage store on campus and importantly the bars, it also gets you cheaper tickets to gigs and parties on campus. I’m glad you’ve got that out of the way. Now,

Join Some Clubs And Societies Go and find yourself some cool looking clubs and societies. There PAG E 4 6

ROCKS

Get yourself to some SUDS (Sydney University Dramatic Society) shows; they’re cheap as chips and a good night out. There’s a new show on every two weeks. Go see a MUSE show, if you’re into Musical Theatre, MUSE puts on some great student performed and organised theatre. Finally, get yourself to a Revue (think, the Chaser on stage, mixed in with a bit of satirical music, poor acting, dreadfully written sketches, but also, an experience not to be missed). On second thoughts, don’t just go and watch these things go and get involved. Find the SUDS, MUSE and a relevant Revue tent. If they’re not you’re cup of tea then there’s a tonne of other artsy things, from JazzSoc (jazz music playing and appreciating) to MadSoc (the Movement and Dance Society) keep on looking I promise you will find something.

S R C O r i e n t a t i o n h a n d b oo k 2 0 1 1

aND whY PARTAY The USU hosts some great parties and gigs. As a first year you should definitely get yourself to Beach Ball in Semester One, it’s a rite of passage. You should also look out for great gigs; Manning has recently hosted huge acts like Cloud Control and Blue Juice. Be there. The greatest advice anyone will ever give to you, ever, like seriously!

Get Involved The USU helps provide, in my humble opinion the greatest student experience of any University in this country. Get yourself involved. There are so many opportunities so, grab them now and run because if you do, I promise, you will have some of the best years of your life at USYD. See you out there!

The only way to ensure a provision of services that meets the needs of students is for it to be student controlled. That means that the Union and all it’s operations should stay in student hands. A Note of Importance The next few years will be quite important one’s for student organisations. With the introduction of SSAF (see previous article) and a Federal review into base funding (the money universities get from the Government and your HECS fee) the livelihood of student organisations may be threatened. One imminent threat that is facing the USU is a potential takeover of their commercial operations by the University.

because of it’s commercial operations. The ownership of nearly all food and services on campus as well as Manning and Hermann’s Bar give the Union a sustainable financial backing. Moreover, owning these services makes the provision of the ‘access card’ feasible as the USU is able to provide substantial discounts to it’s stores, which is another strong source of funding for the Union. Despite this the Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence has shown a recent desire to take over these commercial services. He raised concerns about the quality of food at the venues and pointed out that strategically student experience is a huge factor for students choosing USYD over other Universities, these seemed to be his main reasons for wishing to take control of the USU’s commercial services. If a takeover was to go ahead the future of the Union could be threatened. The Union may well become entirely reliant on the University for funds. If the Union was to become solely reliant on the University there would be little to ensure its future sustainability. And so, the future of a quality campus experience would too be threatened. Another big issue in this takeover would be the loss of independence. The reason the C&S program and everything the Union provides is so awesome is primarily because it is student run. There is no one better to make a decision about what we as students want than us, the students. If the University were to control the Union’s funding the Union would be hugely stymied in their capacity to push for what students wanted when that desire conflicted with what the University wanted. This may not have huge ramifications, or it could lead to Theatresports being taken off Manning stage, it could lead to reduced hours of alcohol provision at Manning and it could lead to reduced funding for parts of the C&S program the University deems ‘less’ valuable. The only way to ensure a provision of services that meets the needs of students is for it to be student controlled. That means that the Union and all it’s operations should stay in student hands.

With the introduction of VSU student organisations around the country were hit hard and in many cases collapsed. The USU is quite probably this country’s strongest student run organisation PAG E 4 7

How Not To B e Screwed

Eleanor Gordon-Smith

Once upon a time, I submitted an appeal inside the Faculty of Arts. Three months, one file gone AWOL, infinite phone calls, dozens of emails, two inexplicable unenrolments from the entire university, and nine pieces of conflicting advice later. I’m fed to the back teeth of the appeal system, and I want you not to have the same experience I did. The University stipulates in a number of policy statements, online and otherwise, that it has a commitment to “natural justice”. One way it ensures that is by providing avenues of appeal. This is unquestionably a worthwhile policy; it’s one designed to allow students to seek a second (and third and fourth) opinion on their academic results, and sometimes overturn the unfavourable ones. Particularly if you’re someone who is considering a degree change that requires a high GPA or WAM, or if your marks depend on research, it’s well worth knowing about the appeals process, and what to do if it gets ugly.

Part One: Don’t be a chump. Go to class. Do your work. Read your books. No seriously. Go. To. Class. Wherever possible you want to make it so that your student number and the case history and results it represents can be minced through the jaws of the administrative beast without anyone having to have pay any attention to it at all. As long as your case is routine, you’re safe. The second your case, your story or your issue requires attention from a human being you risk being sucked into a doom filled soul destroying swirling vortex of bureaucracy that would make Kafka goggle. The message here is that wherever possible, avoid finding yourself in need of the appeal process. The single best way to not end up frustrated with the processes designed to protect you is that you don’t have to have contact with them. Got that?

Part Two: Document Everything. In the event you feel your marks have been unfair, ill considered or overly harsh, the appeal process begins. It’s important that from the moment you submit your appeal, you document every conversation that you have about it, no matter the medium. Taking the names of the people who give you advice, keeping copies of your emails and taking notes during phone calls are all steps towards having PAG E 4 8

a complete and accurate account of what’s happened during your appeal process. The appeal process is fallible; people can give you conflicting advice or advice that is just plain wrong, they can misplace your appeal, and they can tell you to contact people who can’t help you. If anything like that should happen to you, having names, dates and details means you can find out who was responsible for the error, and most importantly, prove it wasn’t you.

Part Three: Know the Rules This doesn’t just mean know the rules about your unit, the deadlines for assessments and the requirements for successful completion of your course. This means knowing the rules for the appeal process itself. There are strict ways that appeals can be processed, and ideally you know those rules before you have to use them. You can find those rules online in your faculty’s section on “forms and procedures”, and the SRC has excellent case workers who can help you identify and follow those rules so your appeal has maximum clout.

Part Four: Make like Peter Gabriel and don’t give up. There was a Rottweiler in Sweden who bit a policewoman and the worst part about it was it didn’t let go of her after it had bitten her it just swung off her until it was pulled off. You want to make that Rottweiler look like Pollyanna. It’s the nature of the appeals process that it involves several levels of authority. You’ll probably have to involve your tutor, unit coordinator, possibly an examiner’s committee inside the department, the head of the department, the faculty, and if you’re unhappy with those outcomes, the academic board. The inevitable consequence of having so many people involved in one process is that when trying to lodge your appeal or find out how (or if) it’s progressed, you may find yourself bounced from one authority to another. This bouncing will cost you time, patience, and unless remedied by beer, your soul and sanity. It’s difficult to get an accurate estimate of how long these processes will take, and you can find yourself explaining the same thing to different people over and over again. It can be easy in the face of delays to get impatient and give up; but if you don’t check your appeal has been properly received and processed, no-one else will.

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