Hunch issue #3 by Hunch Magazine

HUN H

ISSUE 3

SECRETS • STORIES • STANCE

September 2017 • Issue 3 • Volume 1

EDITORS NOTE

Hey everyone, Another semester, another 13 or so weeks of counting down to the break, but hey, that also means another issue of Hunch. Yay? Hopefully you have all been enjoying our online content but if you haven't already done so, be sure to check out our Facebook, Wordpress and Instagram accounts (although we are still working on that last one; what can we say? We're writers, not photographers). We welcome three new writers for our third issue, who have brought a diverse range of experiences and viewpoints to Hunch. From social isolation and the ongoing sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic Church, to memes and Netflix reviews, this issue has something for everyone.

IN THIS ISSUE 04 05 07 09 12 14 16 18 19 21 23 26

Meet the New Guys How to Write an Essay An Outraged Generation Students in Isolation Why I love being Single An Age Old Debate Digital Blackface is a Shrimp Risky Business The Corners of the Confessional The Studying Parent Reviews The Language of Memes

Nevertheless, we are always looking to keep adding to the variety of opinions and issues we cover, so if you have a story idea you think should be talked about or if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to contribute in some way to Hunch, send us a message on our Facebook page

ADRIAN RAUSO PHOEBE PIN

@HunchMagazine.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

MEET THE NEW GUYS ANNA CHARLTON My past university education taught me an important lesson early on, that is - “we do not see things as they are, we see them as we are.” I’m now a postgraduate research student with a passion for cultural history, and a constant thirst to understand both myself and others sees me reading and writing about most things. A pen and paper is my weapon of choice, and I believe that through thoughtful and clear expression of words we get to know ourselves, each other, and this world a little bit better.

JARROD PYNE I study a double degree in Law and Commerce, which, provides a reasonable explanation of my frequent sightings at any sort of drinking venue walking distance from my house. I was always told in school that I was illiterate so I joined the paper to make a statement.

BREYON GIBBS I'm not totally useless. I have been frequently used as a bad example.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

A SEVEN STEP GUIDE TO WRITING AN ESSAY!

(FROM A MEDIOCRE STUDENT)

BY ADRIAN RAUSO Step 1 - Resolution: It’s the beginning of the semester and following a seemingly endless succession of less-than-great results you may have made an overly optimistic vow to yourself to attain at least one high distinction for an essay this semester. Step 2 - Preparation: There’s two weeks until the deadline. Great. You have ample time to plan, research, draft and finalise the essay. First, you’ll stare at the intimidating blank canvass of Microsoft Word and begin to mentally prepare yourself for the laborious task of writi-wait a second...Is that dust at the corner of your desk!? Your mum said her cousin’s step-son’s dog that you’ve never actually met and who lives approximately 500 kilometres away apparently has severe dust allergies. Upon further inspection you find more dust scattered throughout the area, so if for some reason the dog comes to visit that would be disastrous. This is obviously an emergency that must be attended to immediately. Step 3 - Re-evaluation: After that initial distraction, one thing has led to another and woops there’s only two days left until it’s due. But hey, at least your room is dust-free for the first time since, well, coincidently the last time you had to write an essay. Alas, you’ve fallen victim to the seductress that is chronic procrastination once again and now you’re more panicked and irritated than a mosquito in a mannequin factory. But stay calm, you can still salvage something. Step 4 - Motivation: Actually scratch that. Don’t stay calm. Embrace the emotional cocktail of anger, anxiety, stress and self-loathing, as it’s the only way to reach the fifth step... Step 5 - Action: OK, now it’s time to (actually) begin. The first step should be choosing which angle to take on your chosen question. Think back to what your lecturer would say…“The essay topic has many valid perspectives, including what we’ve covered in the lectures, and through a critical analysis you should evaluate which line of reasoning you wish to utilise in order to support your argument.” But you’re no oblivious fresher, you should be well aware that when a lecturer spews that line out they actually mean, “yeah, there are a lot of different points of view on this topic, but mine’s the best, so go with that.”

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After some research you should come across a journal article that enables you to regurgitate your lecturer’s opinion. Terrific. However, remember their wise words, “don’t just mindlessly copy phrases from the journal article, present the argument in your own words and perspective, think critically and expand upon the information you have found.” But unfortunately that requires a lot of time and effort, and by then you’ll probably have a full schedule of binge watching the latest season of Stranger Things. So instead, aim to reach the bare minimum of paraphrasing required to avoid detection from plagiarism checking software. This can be achieved by altering sentences you’ve found such as, “1945 was when the treaty was signed,” into, “the year in which they signed the treaty, was five years before 1950.” Step 6 - Addition: After repeating this process, you should have strung together a (semi) coherent piece of writing, but may have come to the stark realisation that it’s a few hundred words below the minimum word count. This is a great opportunity to add depth to your essay. You can provide counter-arguments to the key points you’ve expressed, and then refute them to effectively reinforce your argument and illustrate a comprehensive understanding of the broad spectrum of academic perspectives in relation to the subject. But unfortunately, that also requires a lot of time and effort, and after watching the latest season of Stranger Things you may have quickly discovered that Louis CK has a new stand-up special out. So instead, boost your word count by substituting the handful of words that resemble something an at-least-somewhat-competent university student would use in an essay, such as “consequently,” with multiple, one or two syllable words a 12 year old with a limited grasp of the English language would use in their writings, like “as a result of this.” Step 7- Pray for divine intervention: Now you’re almost there. To finally reach the word count, inject an unnecessary, needless, pointless, redundant and excessive number of adjectives and synonyms into your essay. Congratulations, you are ready to submit. By now you have probably resigned to the fact that unless a miracle occurs, there’s a greater chance of conservative Liberal MP George Christensen wearing a mankini whilst marching in support of same-sex marriage at Mardi Gras (sorry for the mental image), than you obtaining the grade you desired. Bonus Step - Repetition: But tell yourself that it’s okay, because you’ll try harder next semester…

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SEPTEMBER 2017

OURS IS THE GENERATION OF MANUFA TURED OUTRAGE C

BY BREYON GIBBS

There is an industry on the rise and it exists as lines of code. They trickle throughout cyberspace and create an online district dedicated to the act of inventing issues for us to oppose. We build columns that spew smoke and then we tear them down and assume that we have made social impact. In reality, those columns would never have been there was it not for us.

Pepsi might make adverts telling us that we are revolutionaries, but that is only because they have tapped into the collective desire we have to make a difference and enact some small change in some aspect of society. The 60’s and 70’s had hippies and flower power, marches against war and Vietnam. The 80’s had Nixon and

We believe we have an insight thanks to the Internet, but that’s a lie. The modern Internet hasn’t given us a special ability to separate fact from fiction, it hasn’t allowed us to be able to sift through the piles of sludge and uncover the reality behind the screen.

Watergate. The 90’s had Clinton and Bush and the sort of presidents that incited big movements. We might have Trump in a global sense, and we might be more aware of what is happening across the globe, but that doesn’t mean we get how we fit in to all of it, and it especially doesn’t mean that we know what to do to combat it. So, we manufacture our own outrage by wiring ourselves in to the matrix of Facebook and Instagram and Channel

We consume more propaganda and fake news than any other generation in any other period in history. The Internet has opened the floodgates to hidden agendas and what the world has started calling ‘fake news’, but we still assume that we are well informed and educated.

Seven news. Should we learn about the current situation in Syria, Baz? No Way! Schapelle Corby just went out for biscuits; I think we all know what's more important here! All of us, bar none, want to be remembered for something. Whether it is a great piece of writing, a brilliant scientific discovery, a humanitarian effort unparalleled by ones peers, we all want something to hang our hat on and be proud of. Activism used to be an amazing thing to bring about social change. But now we are "slacktivists".

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Pasting the French flag over our profile pictures to show how sensitive and cultural we are. Liking a video of some YouTuber massaging his own ego by filming himself buying food for homeless people. Sharing a picture of an orphaned rhino cub with a caption that waxes lyrical about the ongoing threat of poaching. I went to an anti-vaccine rally recently for a story I am working on. It was actually really refreshing to see people out and about and standing up for something they believe in. I don't necessarily agree with them, but hey, at least they're out there doing something.What's your ‘like’ going to do? What's the sharing going to achieve? Is your slacktivism going to get you remembered in the history books?I doubt it, unless you count being a part of a statistic being remembered. I'm not saying you should unplug completely. Facebook is great in many ways. But let's not pretend that by liking a video or sharing a picture that we are actually doing anything worthwhile or long lasting. We live in a disposable time. Things go viral. Things die out. Things rise and fall faster than they can be fully viewed and comprehended. Ours is the generation of instant access and instant gratification. But the gratification isn't enough anymore. Now we have to be gratified and act as if we have something to stand up for. We manufacture outrage for ourselves so we can stand up against the beast we created and act the revolutionary. Things are better now than they have ever been. The crime rate is lower than ever. Gender and racial equality is an accepted part of our generation, so why is there this constant outrage about these topics and not outrage about things that matter? Net neutrality; the government literally trying to destroy the freedom we experience on the internet for anyone other than themselves and the few who can afford to line their pockets. Indigenous rights; the forced closure of communities, the widespread sexual abuse of minors. Housing prices; negative gearing and the baby boomers leaving us with a housing market that looks like the ending of The Big Short. But no, Schapelle Corby is eating a Monte Carlo outside an IGA. Some idiot faked a hate crime at a university to try and stir up racial tensions that they can then protest about. The problem with methamphetamine abuse is given a catchy new name, ‘ice epidemic’ and plastered over every news channel just to make sure that we are suitably terrified that we keep on watching, so that their ratings go up. Don’t worry though, there’s a Facebook group for that. Ours is the generation of easy choice activism. A Facebook status on a news story about a racist attack is easier and instantly gratified by the ‘likes’ of your friends than the possibility of actually going out and helping a part of society that requires it. God forbid you leave your phone at home so you can't film yourself doing any of this. Also, if you disagree with me then good, do something about it that doesn’t involve sitting at home and pressing a greasy finger onto a phone screen.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

ISOLATED: WHY ARE SO MANY AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FEELING SO IALLY DIS ONNE TED? C

BY ADRIAN RAUSO The overcast sky has bathed the interior of the bus in a dull, monochrome tone as it comes to a halt at an edge of the sprawling University of Western Australia campus. Rows of bleary-eyed teenagers and 20-somethings begrudgingly tuck away their phones, sluggishly rise to their feet, and sling backpacks over their shoulders. The horde of students gradually disperse from the stationary vehicle to reluctantly attend their Tuesday morning classes. Amongst the pack is 20-year-old marketing major Thomas. He guides me through the campus’ concrete jungle to his consumer behaviour tutorial, where a well-groomed, middle-aged man dressed in a slick, grey suit eagerly greets each expressionless face with a thick Irish accent. Upon entering the room, Thomas is careful not to break convention and leaves at least a desk’s space between himself and his nearest classmate. Approximately 50 minutes later, the wooden door springs open and the 25 or so students briskly exit the classroom. Thomas spots me waiting at the end of the narrow corridor and we head towards a café. Over a cappuccino he scarcely sips, Thomas gradually begins to express feelings of social isolation he had previously kept masked. As he delves deeper into anecdotes and attempts to self-analyse how he got into this cycle of loneliness, his usually booming and animated voice fades to a quiet murmur. His normally intense gaze, that seems to effortlessly maintain eye-contact, begins to nervously dart to the right. And his hands that are ordinarily expressive and free are instead frozen, anxiously grasping the slender metal arms of the chair. Thomas says he has found the social transition from high school to university “extremely” difficult.

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“I think I have too easily got into the spiral of just

Dr Ledingham says soaring university fees and

not showing up to lectures and just letting them

expenses have left students with less time to

accumulate and watching them online at the end

socialise.

of the week.” “University is becoming more expensive so “The only people I socialise with here are people I

people are having to work, and pay rent and that

see in my tutorials once a week, and then I go

kind of thing which stops them from being able to

home, it’s definitely not what I expected,” he

just hang out on campus and you know, have that

sighs.

time together,” she says.

“Sometimes I can really struggle with it and

Another issue Dr Ledingham points out is the

waking up to go to uni can feel like I’m going out

increasing prominence of online learning over

to fight in a battle or something, I feel really

the past few years at larger Australian

anxious.”

universities. However, there is argument over the role online

He is not alone.

learning plays in social connectivity.

A nation-wide study conducted by the University

A 2008 study from the University of Newcastle

of Melbourne in 2013 concluded that 1 in 4

argued that online learning with the integration

Australian university students surveyed suffered

of social media communication would reduce

from severe episodes of depression or anxiety.

social isolation among university students.

There is a growing consensus among mental

But, there is a significant body of academic

health professionals that a surge in feelings of

literature which claims the opposite, like a study

social isolation among university students is a

from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015,

significant factor behind the historically high

which found a 30 per cent difference in attrition

rates of mental health issues.

rates between students studying a course via an online learning method, in comparison to the

Traditionally classified as an issue which only

face-to-face form of study. From their extensive

affected international students studying in

research, it was concluded that high numbers of

Australia, University of Notre Dame counselling

online learners dropping out of university

lecturer Dr Marieke Ledingham believes a

compared to those studying in the traditional

confluence of factors have caused a rise in reports

format, was primarily due to feelings of

of social isolation from domestic students.

social isolation and loneliness.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

This is the side of the debate Dr Ledingham

Therefore, diving straight into organising an

supports.

event may be too overwhelming for some.

Dr Ledingham says while online learning and

She suggests getting involved in a social activity

social media can improve contact among

in any capacity as the first step.

students, it does not enrich emotional connections and friendships between students.

That suggestion resonates with Justine Ralph, who advises students struggling with feelings of

“Being in classes with people who are going

isolation to join a university club or society in

through the same thing as you can help you feel

some capacity.

like you’re part of something and other people are going through the same thing as you,” she

“The best thing I did was offer to help out

says.

PAANDA, the Performing Arts Association of Notre Dame Australia, with one of their shows,”

“Social media and online learning can help in

she says.

some respects but it doesn’t get people together.”

“It led to me making some of my closest friends, joining the committee and ultimately led to my

Student representatives have also noticed the

desire to get involved in the NDSA, and I honestly

prevalence of social isolation.

wish I had got involved much earlier in my degree.”

University of Notre Dame student welfare director Justine Ralph agrees that social isolation and disconnectedness is a significant problem among university students. “I definitely have had friends who have felt very isolated at university and struggled with socialising outside classes,” she says. Ralph asserts that the majority of her friends who have experienced feelings of isolation attend larger universities, but also admits smaller universities like Notre Dame are still not immune to it. “Every so often the Notre Dame Student Association gets contacted by students who are struggling with how to socialise outside class and are looking for guidance,” she says. Dr Ledingham notes there is still a strong stigma associated with students saying they are looking for friends and seeking non-traditional opportunities to meet new people.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

WHY I LOVE BEING SINGLE

BY PHOEBE PIN

“When are you going to get a boyfriend?” It’s one of my little brother’s favourite topics of conversation; my love life (or lack thereof, rather). I come from the rare breed of almost-20-yearolds who have never been in a relationship, never been kissed, never even held hands with a guy, except when we had to do those ballroom dancing lessons at school, but I think I’ve suppressed that memory.

So, I might have some commitment issues I should probably deal with but to be honest, I just don’t want to be in a relationship right now. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything, I don’t feel incomplete or lonely

On the other hand, my 17-year-old brother is vastly more experienced than I when it comes to romantic relationships. I can count at least five girls he’s been out with, and that’s just the ones I know about (he’s a cheeky one, my brother).

and I certainly don’t think there is anything

“It’s not normal,” he frequently says about my singleness.

that those of you who are relationship

Needless to say, I am genuinely not bothered by the fact that I am still single.

and amazing part of the human experience

Sometimes I think it might be nice to have a boyfriend but then someone will start showing a bit of interest in me and I’ll be like, “oh I’m sorry but I’ve actually just decided to become a nun.”

wrong with me because I don’t have a boyfriend. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to suggest girls/guys are weak or needy or anything. The desire for companionship is a fundamental and I don’t doubt it’s importance for a second. I’m just saying that it’s okay to be single and it’s okay to be happy with being single. Although, I have had some awkward

That or I just run away and hide (I literally went and hid on the roof of my dad’s shed when this boy came over to see me when I was about 10 years old).

interactions with the poor souls who didn’t get the memo about my devotion to spinsterhood. I’m a people-pleaser by nature and the thought of disappointing, hurting or angering someone makes me feel sick.

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M O V I N G M O U N T A I N S

Plus, girls who turn down guys are often vilified and seen as these heartless she-devils with absolutely no regard for the feelings of the poor guy who’s just confessed his love. I have a lot of respect for those who can muster the courage to make the first move. Just the thought of experiencing that kind of vulnerability makes me feel sick and if there is one social convention I am grateful for, it’s the expectation that the guy is the one to ask the girl out in the relationship. Like, you can gladly take one for the team in that area, fellas (but by all means, go for it girls if you’ve got that confidence). And if you are simply not interested in someone, tell them, but don’t be rude or cruel about it. Having said that, it’s not fair to lead them on either (no matter how much free food you’ve managed to score during their attempts to win you over). It might be tempting to lie a little or soften the blow to spare their feelings (“I’m sorry, I’m just not ready for a relationship right now,” “It’s not you, it’s me”). You’ve gotta be honest or else they are just going to keep on hoping that you will eventually say yes.

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A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE UAlSt i m a tLeD l y ,B w a tN ID’ m r y iS n IgMt o TO Y hA R Et W MONS say is that your relationship status does not have to determine your happiness or contentment in life. Everyone is different and I know people who were engaged by the time they were 18, some who got married in their 30s and others who have remained single right into their 50s. Someday, I might meet a guy who I really admire, trust and enjoy being around and he will no doubt turn out to be gay, emotionally unavailable or already in a relationship. But, on the off chance that I do actually decide I want to get to know a guy better, I’m not going to forbid myself from going on a date because of the belief that being single is somehow morally and professionally superior to being in a relationship. For now though, I’m just going to enjoy getting to watch whatever I want on Netflix.

SEPTEMBER 2017

AN AGE OLD DEBATE: WHY WE NEEDAGE DIVERSITY IN OUR UNIVERSITIES

BY ANA HEELEY Whether it be freshers complaining about the stress of university, procrastinators running up their HECS debt while mindlessly scrolling through Facebook, or that mature aged student asking one too many questions in the 8am lecture, these stereotypes are the stuff of memes, anonymous confessionals and campus gossip. Easy as it may be to mock the mature age and first year students, it is important to remember that this only creates division. Let’s not forget that we all have valuable ideas to be shared with each other. In 2011, the Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded that 59 per cent of students in higher education were aged 15 to 24 years, and 41 per cent were mature aged, between 25-64 years. With such age diversity, there is no doubt we will have to interact with different generations or groups in our university careers. The University of Notre Dame had 10,237 students enrolled in 2016, all from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. Whether the school leaver, those coming back after a gap year, the mature age, the professional student and everyone in between. To get a glimpse into the lives of those studying at Notre Dame, I spoke to mature-age counselling student Trudy Tuckey and first year education student Peta Arrindell. Unsurprisingly, they each shared different stories about their university experience, their motivations for studying and their opinions about students from the other generation. Q: What drew you to studying at university? Trudy: I had a change of circumstances workwise. I was made redundant and then I thought, okay what am I going to do for the next 15 years of my working life? I had always worked in organisations that trained me up, so I didn’t have a formal qualification to be able to go out and do what I was already doing. It was very frightening thinking that I am too old to go to uni. But I’m not. It was very reassuring when I got into classes and a lot of the students were my own age. Peta: Probably the idea that if you go to university, you have got the qualification to get a job in what you want to do. The end goal for me is to have a job in something I love and going to university will get me that.

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YOUTH

SMAGAZINE EPTEMBER 2017

Q: Outside of uni, what do you find impacts on your studies and timetable that you need to balance?

M O V I N G see them. I’ve also got to consider study, my other children, husband and I family. M OplusUmy N T A N S

Trudy: Even though I am only working one day a week, I’ve got to juggle the dynamics of two different families. I have a daughter who has children, so I’m also needing to be a nan when I Peta: I work as a waitress at a restaurant so that takes up some time. I also play netball. I train on Wednesday, play Saturday. Q: What are the positives of coming back later in life rather than straight out of high school? Trudy: Life experience, and I think that’s no matter what degree you are doing. You’ve got a better understanding of where you want to go with your career and you’re not doing it because you should. It is actually the path that you want to take. Q: Does anything annoy you that school leavers would do in class? Trudy: Yeah, they are very laid back. One thing that annoyed me was that one was sitting next to me the whole time on their computer on Facebook and Messenger the whole time. It was totally disrespectful. You’re paying for this and the tutor is trying to give you your best results . Q: What would you say about the memes about mature aged students online? Peta: [The mature age students] are nice, but some of them intimidate me a little bit. Not all of them, but some of them do. I’m thinking, are they looking down on me, do they think I’m a juvenile or do they see me as an equal, as someone who’s just there to become an educator like them, or do they look at me like this new kid who’s just popped out of high school? Q: Sometimes mature aged students’ actions get a bad reputation for things like asking questions in lectures. What do you have to say in response to that? Trudy: Be tolerant, they are trying to answer and reconcile ideas in their minds. Just because you might think it would be irrelevant to them, there might be some other concept that they are looking at from an experience; they are trying to link it all in their head. Q: What do you admire most about mature age students, what would you take from them? Peta: You don’t have to go straight to uni, there are other pathways for everyone. You don’t have to be fresh out of high school to belong at uni either. Uni is for everybody. Everyone has their own experience of university but, ultimately, we all hope to achieve the same thing; to get our degree for our future career. So, remain open, embracing and accepting, we are all in it together.

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DIGITAL BLA KFA E IS A SHRIMP C

BY BREYON GIBBS

I was researching shark fishing the other day,

But I appreciate what Warner Brothers did when

trawling through the news sites for interesting

re-releasing some of their older content that

articles that mentioned everyone's favourite

happened to include several scenes that

excessively toothy fish, when for some reason I

“depicted some of the ethnic and racial

was suggested a ‘news story’ titled, “Is it OK to use

prejudices that were commonplace in American

black emojis and GIFs?” I’d like you to imagine my

society”.

air quotes around the words ‘news story’ as being as exaggerated as possible. Because it wasn’t really

They didn’t censor them, they didn’t hide them

news, and it wasn’t really entertaining enough to

away or destroy them, they released them

be called a story. All it honestly did was make me

because to do otherwise would be the same as

look like the picture on the bottom right…

pretending that the racist ideologies never existed. If we forget our history we are doomed to

Oh... Wait... Hang on a minute. I may have just

repeat it, right? But that’s a different issue. Right

committed a hate crime. At least according to

now I’m talking about the ridiculous concept that

writer Victoria Princewill, I have just appropriated

white people using black emojis is the same as

black culture by using that picture. A picture... Of

blackface.

a man... Does Princewill not realise that there is actual In a video posted on the BBC website, Princewill

racism in the world? Malicious, hateful,

lectures the viewer on how terrible they are for

disgusting bigotry that is straight out of the

partaking in sharing animated GIFs of black people

Warner Brothers’ era of “commonplace racial

as a reaction to something. Rather patronisingly,

prejudices”.

she lectures the viewer all about “digital blackface”, a term I had no idea even existed, let

Especially recently, you’d think Princewill would

alone was enough of a problem to make a video

have bigger issues to write about than what

about. She claims that white people using reaction

emojis people should be using, with a white

GIFs and black emojis are no different from the

supremacy rally in Charlottesville being met by

minstrel shows that were once performed across

counterdemonstrators who were then plowed

the world. This, as an analogy, is probably more

into by some racist psychopath in a car.

disrespectful than anything she is complaining about. I agree with her that minstrel shows were demeaning and inherently racist in the way they dehumanised black people, pushed negative racial stereotypes, and reduced an entire race to nothing more than a form of circus entertainment.

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These are deep-rooted issues that need to be spoken about, from as many different contexts as possible, with the allowance for an open debate. But let's be honest, people using the wrong colour emojis is far more important. I think the point that drove home my desire to tell her to shut her egotistical cakehole was when she talked about cultural appropriation. I have my own opinions on cultural appropriation that may not line up with some other peoples views, but the notion that it is cultural appropriation to use a dark-skinned emoji instead of a whiteskinned emoji is just insane. It confuses me that there was such a massive uproar about including these different coloured emojis for people to use, only for there to suddenly be conditions on who can use them. Apple bowed to the demands of the people in including the ability to change the skin colour of emojis, which was totally fair enough, but what's next? Will we have to register our skin tone through the camera and then only have the emoji with the skin tone closest to our own available? Besides all this, she never once mentioned that emojis are a Japanese invention, so technically speaking, anyone not from Japan using any emoji at all is cultural appropriation. In fact you could go all the way back along the chain and find out just who it is that has had their culture so terribly appropriated. Did the concept of emojis come from hieroglyphs, perhaps? Damn, that’s some cold hearted Egyptian cultural appropriation right there Japan. But where did the Egyptians get the idea? Maybe prehistoric man's paintings were the inspiration! Geez Egypt, way to appropriate the caveman culture. I shake my head at you Tutankhamen. We can go deeper too. One of the hand signs that Princewill highlights in the video is the ‘Shaka’ sign. Unless you are from Hawaii this could arguably be cultural appropriation. There is also a theory that the thumbs up sign gained context in Ancient Rome when the gladiators would have their fates decided by the up or down of the Emperor's thumb. Are we in a constant state of culturally appropriating Ancient Rome? The whole thing just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Does it really matter? Isn’t it more racist to make these massive divides between black and white? Maybe I wasn’t thinking that I needed a black person to fully sum up my feelings towards the video. Maybe I simply found a picture of a man and thought it seemed fitting for the context. She’s the one who made the distinction between black and white. She’s the one who is making this a big deal and segregating the population. She’s the one who is bringing racial tensions into a world of pixelated hands on a phone screen. I don’t know. Maybe I don’t get it, but to me, the whole thing seems like a cry for attention in a world where making an unnecessarily controversial video will award that attention. There’s bigger fish to fry in the ocean of racial issues across the world. Digital blackface is a shrimp. Leave it alone and get back to the sharks.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

RISKY BUSINESS: THE OVERT RISE OF POLITI AL AGENDAS C

BY JARROD PYNE It has always been there for us. Some would say it is a treat for a hard ‘study’ session, maybe even after a terrible breakup, but mostly it is loved for its great flavour and well-known brand name. That’s right, we are talking about Ben and Jerry’s Ice-cream. The issue within this article is not to do with the ingredients; it is to do with the branding. When you think of B and J’s you think of that cookies and cream flavour you love so much. However, B and J’s have a less sweet side to them. Recently, the ice-cream company has produced a series of online advertisements called “no two of the same scoops”. This is in the good faith to promote marriage equality, however, the question must be asked, is this a step too far? People’s options are being limited by these types of campaigns. By purchasing B and J’s products, you are effectively funding, and therefore agreeing with, their political agenda. With a mere 6% of the Australian population believing that this is a serious governmental issue, business promotions such as this, although good in nature, could do more harm than good. Personally, I am in favour of marriage equality, but what if for some religious reason I was not? Is it therefore ethical to limit people’s actions within your business because they don’t believe in your political agenda? It could be argued that businesses are private and therefore should be allowed to choose who they want to buy their product, but Australia has strict ‘refusal of service’ laws, where a business cannot refuse service to a customer based on certain attributes, such as their age, gender and beliefs (if these beliefs are within the law). Therefore, should this case fall under the umbrella of these anti-discrimination laws? And it should be noted that B and J’s are not the only ones doing it. There’s Qantas, ESPN, Target, Starbucks, and more. This is a time for us to realise that consumer activism needs to push back against big businesses promoting an agenda, whether you agree with it politically or not. Whether big businesses are trying to appeal to a target audience or simply increase awareness of a certain political agenda, I argue that it should not be allowed.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

THE ORNERS OF THE ONFESSIONAL: HOW DO WE PUT AN END TO HILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE HUR H? C

BY PHOEBE PIN Paedophilia is a secretive sin, one that looms in the dark corners of the internet, the home and, sometimes, the seminary. The media tends to sensationalise stories of child sexual abuse (CSA) within the Catholic Church but the exploitation of children is hardly an issue unique to the clergy. For example, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has also explored allegations of sexual abuse in schools, sporting institutions and foster or residential care settings. What’s more, the majority of child sexual abuse occurs in the home environment, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reporting that up to 30.2 per cent of offenders are male relatives (other than a father/stepfather) of the child. There is a large body of research that explores the way sexual abuse stunts a child’s emotional and psychological development, with the literature suggesting the prevalence of depression, panic disorders, substance abuse, schizophrenia, and attempted suicide is higher in victims than in their non-abused peers. The University of Notre Dame’s Senior Lecturer of theology Dr Angela McCarthy points to the nature of sex itself as contributing to the destructive consequences of sexual abuse. “Sex is a sacred thing,” says Dr McCarthy. McCarthy describes sex as being the “most intimate union” between people and suggests that it is this union that plays a formative role in the establishment of relationships. Alternatively, sexual abuse betrays that intimacy and often contributes to the victim developing a distorted understanding of sex and themselves. “The way in which we train seminarians needs to change,” she says. Referring to the Royal Commission, Dr McCarthy recalled that those who undergo seminarian training with pre-existing paedophilic tendencies may even enter the priesthood with the intent of gaining access to children.

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Young priests are often assimilated into a culture of “hierarchy and aloofness” that has been allowed to pervade some Catholic communities and which Dr McCarthy says must also be overcome. UWA Honorary Research Fellow Dr Jane Anderson has also explored the relationship between the socialization process of new clergy members and the development of paedophilic thought patterns and behaviours among priests. In one article, Dr Anderson examines the male-dominated hierarchical structures of the Church, suggesting that this understanding of masculinity “sets clergy above and apart from other gendered identities… they are considered alter Christus (Latin for “other Christs).” Connected to this is the practice of mandatory celibacy, where members of the clergy are to abstain from sex, marriage and romantic relationships in order that they might dedicate themselves fully to pastoral ministry. In her research, Dr Anderson considers the empirical evidence supporting a causal link between mandatory celibacy and clerical sexual abuse. She suggests that the ideal of “perfect clerical celibacy” can in fact be perceived as a “source of powerlessness by some clergy, who, in seeking to overcome their social and sexual impotence, may resolve this paradox by sexually abusing children.” In light of this, Anderson puts forward the need for reform in the Church, namely that the practice of celibacy be made optional to prevent the adoption of an unwanted vow of sexual purity and therefore create a safer environment for children in Catholic institutions. Nevertheless, celibacy itself cannot be blamed for the destruction of incriminating documents, for the silencing of victims or for the protection of offenders from the justice system. The Catholic community is more open to a dialogue about CSA in its institutions now than it was when allegations of abuse were first brought forward (although my grandad will without fail call you a bigot if you speak a word against the Church or priests). However, despite reform, inquiries and public denouncements of offenders, the remnant of secrecy still lingers behind the pulpit. Just recently, the Catholic Church said it would oppose the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse’s recommendation that priests should be required by law to report details of child sexual abuse disclosed during confession. “Confession in the Catholic Church is a spiritual encounter with God through the priest,” Melbourne Archbishop and president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Dennis Hart said in a statement. “Outside of this all offences against children must be reported to the authorities, and we are absolutely committed to doing so,” he said. Rest assured, the things that people hide in the dark corners of the confessional will be brought to light, one way or another.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

JUGGLING : THE RISE OF THE STUDENT PARENT

BY ANNA CHARLTON Over the past 30 years there has been steady growth in the numbers of maternal women in the workforce. Politically and culturally, working mothers are a hot topic articles that state that "women just can’t have it all" to those that promote work/life balance, or those that claim that working mothers aren’t mothering and/or working properly at all. Looking at the evidence alone, the statistics suggest that the higher the level of education held by the mother the more likely she is to return to the workforce after having children. Nevertheless there is little scholarly research about unique circumstances of mothers engaged in study. Much of the information about mothers in Higher Education focuses on those doing so for the first time – making career changes and seeking alternate pathways that may be viewed as more "family friendly" (for instance, women opting for subjects with a care-giving focus such as medicine or education). There is less focus on mothers re-entering university as mature-age students undertaking postgraduate study. Often when we begin our university careers, we do so somewhat absentmindedly. Moving on to university after finishing high school has become the typical path for many school leavers. This is not to say that undergraduates aren’t dedicated or focused on their studies, but that the decision to take the first step into university tends to be more straightforward than it is to delve deeper into the academic world as a post-grad student. (Re)entering university becomes more complicated when you have already completed an undergraduate degree and have greater responsibilities such as mortgages, full time employment, or parenting. It is my belief that those who do postgraduate study do so for the love of it. It’s my further belief that parents who return to postgraduate study really love it.

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Returning to research after graduating some

Perhaps postgraduate study is perceived as a

years ago, quite a lot has changed - Turnitin,

luxury rather than necessity, and as such it is

EndNote, and advanced library systems to name a

afforded the level of attention to reflect that.

few - but, most significantly the biggest change is that I’m now a mother.

There are not enough crèche facilities at universities in Australia, and childcare

Making the decision to study further wasn’t

centres charge daily amounts to reflect the

straightforward. It doesn’t necessarily feel like

"normal" working hours of full-time jobs,

the natural progression of my life, and it is

making it unaffordable for many student

certainly a lot harder to manage than it was as an

mothers. This is a problem for parents who

undergraduate.

really need childcare for a couple of hours twice a week to attend classes.

Yet, the call to research is greater than it ever has been, and this passion is what sustains what

What researching this topic has taught me is

can feel like a relentless juggle of responsibility

that students who are parents are an invisible

and deadlines.

social group, both on and off campus.

As the working-mother debate is constantly

Press, media and politicians stay away

reignited in the press, the triumphs and

because we’re not particularly topical -

challenges of student mothers simmer quietly in

student parents aren’t yet actively

libraries across the country.

contributing to the workforce (unless of course we’re working as well) and also represent a minority. Yet, student parents have a significant part to play within university and the wider community by contributing to campus and community diversity. Mothers who obtain Higher Education academic achievement increase their chances of success in the workforce – and are more likely to join it at all. Given that mothers are often forced to take certain work because it’s local, flexible, or part-time, career opportunities and social mobility for women stills falls behind that of our male counterparts, and this is an issue that needs addressing in society. Perhaps then, it is time that students who happen to be parents become less invisible; that our presence at universities be not just welcomed, but accommodated, and daresay even celebrated – we are, after all, raising the future with one hand whilst holding a thesis and lab-coat in the other.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

NETFLIX PI KS

Riverdale: A Review of Season One BY PATRICK WILSON

I’ll be the first to admit I was never hugely into the Archie Comics series in my childhood or adolescence. I recall watching a television show on ABC called “Archie’s Weird Mysteries”. Unfortunately, this is not canonical. An avid follower of Cole Sprouse’s Instagram account, I noticed some months ago that he began posting pictures of an upcoming Netflix and The CW series, called Riverdale. So I gave it a watch. Without going too deeply into spoilers, Riverdale follows the adventures of Archie Andrews and his friends as they become entwined with a murder that rocks the richest family in Riverdale. Many twists and turns are had, with characters new and old popping up and attempting to solve the murder, catch the killer, and discover more about themselves along the way. From the little I have read of the Archie series, there was always some kind of romantic tension between Betty, Veronica and Archie. While that element is most certainly present, I am glad to say that romantic tension is not the key focus of Riverdale. The side plots that appear in the story serve to further develop characters and to further add to the mystery. The world of Riverdale is littered with references to Archie Comics' side characters and tropes, including a charming dream sequence in which Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead are dressed in their old-fashioned costumes. This show is addictive, and has been crafted to give just enough information about where the plot will go in future episodes. Riverdale is also a fantastic looking show, with great cinematography, lighting, and even fog effects in the background of every shot, to give the sense that Riverdale is in some kind of alternate dimension. The acting of some of the central characters is also fairly good, with Cole Sprouse stealing the show with his rendition of Jughead Jones. His character is weird enough to be authentically Jughead, while remaining edgy enough to be distinct. I do, however, have some issues with this show. Debatably a trope of yesteryear, Archie does not seem to do a terribly large amount to further the plot. Most of the action in solving the mystery is carried out by Betty, Veronica and Jughead. As a general comment, the characterisation in this series exists only for convenience. For example, Veronica is the kind-hearted rich kid who loves to seek revenge on those who deserve it because the series needed an equally petty teenager to combat Cheryl Blossom. Most of the characters wear their predispositions and interests on their sleeves, which leaves little subtlety to this series. Overall, Riverdale was an enjoyable and highly addictive series to watch. I would recommend it to fans of the Archie Comics series, and to fans of teen drama and thrillermystery films. While it is unlikely I will watch the first season again soon, I will be glad to watch the second season when it debuts in October of 2017.

VERDICT: 7/10

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SEPTEMBER 2017

SIX RO K ALBUMS YOU NEED TO HEAR C

BY PATRICK WILSON I’ve written a few album reviews for Hunch Magazine recently, and its left me with a dilemma: I want to dedicate album reviews to works that I have enjoyed from previous years, but I also want to give a platform for new music. So, without further ado, here are six rock albums which I would recommend, based entirely on my musical taste. In the future, I might recommend some of my favourite hip-hop and pop records from yesteryear too. American Football - “American Football” (1999) Hailing from the Midwest of America, emo band American Football released their debut self-titled album in 1999. “American Football” is an album which deals with the failing of relationships, and the whole notion of teenage feelings. Highlights include: ‘Never Meant’; ‘The Summer Ends’; ‘Honestly?’; and ‘Stay Home’. This is an album which is for late-night study sessions, mellow rainy evenings, and the early

Foo Fighters - “Foo Fighters” (1995)

morning drive home from your local house party.

While I have admittedly not been a huge

“American Football” is the perfectly stripped-down,

fan of Dave Grohl’s work since his

emotional rock album, which is still relatively

departure from Nirvana, the Foo Fighters

underappreciated.

self-titled album has maturity far beyond the years of Grohl, who upon recording

Kvelertak - “Kvelertak” (2010)

this album was 26 years old. The

Austrian death metal band Kvelertak (pronounced

composition and song-writing on “Foo

“kuh-vell-er-tack”) released their punk-rock inspired

Fighters” is impressive, considering each

debut album in 2010, which coincidentally was

instrument was recorded by Dave Grohl

promoted by Dave Grohl himself. Despite this album

himself. Despite not reinventing the

being sung entirely in Austrian, “Kvelertak” is worth

wheel, Foo Fighters debut album did

listening to for those who want something quite a bit

cement public interest in the solo work of

heavier. Despite this, the songwriting here is

Nirvana’s drummer, and would serve as a

reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix’s early discography, with

catalyst to build a successful career from.

the riffs getting surprisingly groovy. This album is perfect gym music.

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Queens of the Stone Age - “Queens of the Stone Age” (1998) Off-shooting from stoner metal legends Kyuss, frontman Josh Homme started a band which had more rockoriented music, with some stoner influence from his days prior as Kyuss’ lead guitarist. “Queens of the Stone Age” is poppy, catchy, and above all great driving music. Some songs from this album have seen airplay in various films from the 1990s and early 2000s. Weezer - “Weezer (The Blue Album)” (1999) American garage-rock band Weezer, led by Rivers Cuomo, released the first of their several self-titled albums while Cuomo was studying at University. Following a consistent trend of this list, “The Blue Album” thematically concerns Weezer with the trials and tribulations of work, relaxation, socialising, and of living life as a young adult in small-town America. There are some classic tunes on here, such as ‘My Name is Jonas’, ‘Buddy Holly’, ‘Undone (The Sweater Song)’ and ‘Say It Ain’t So’. While these tracks are great, some of the deeper cuts on this album are just as worth the attention of wider audiences, with the peak of the tracklisting being the closing track ‘Only In Dreams’, a melancholic look at teenage desire and unrequited love. Of any rock album from the 1990s, this should be the most iconic. Bloc Party - “Silent Alarm” (2005) British band Bloc Party, led by Kele Orkeke, released “Silent Alarm” to rave critical reviews; and for good reason. The songs on “Silent Alarm” are punchy, direct, and defining of the feelings of youth in Britain. Lyrically the album deals with, well, party situations and insecurities, and reflects upon the turmoils of young adulthood. There are many highlights from this album, but it’s likely you have encountered the song ‘Helicopter’, which was included in the track listing of Guitar Hero 3. Nostalgic, introspective and utterly defining of British indie rock, “Silent Alarm” is an album which definitely should not be missed. Well, there you have it. Six albums you should listen to. Here’s to more interesting albums to review this year.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

DON T LET YOUR MEMES BE S HEMES '

BY JARROD PYNE In an age of unparalleled technological advances, we have witnessed changes in the way we process and share information. Rather than talking, we instead decide to send a quick direct message or tag someone in a social media post as a more effective means of communication. The ramification of this is a globalised social network, interlinking all, but also isolating those who are unable to adapt to change. A shift in the manner in which we create and perceive humour, is one such development that is disturbingly undermining effective ways of critical thinking. Social media studies have found that our lack of interaction is alarmingly evident, as a large segment of us check our phones up to 110 times a day. This seems somewhat similar to the 1930s Skinner Box experiment, showing animals constantly pressing a button to receive a positive stimulus. Memes are a central way in which many share humour and receive constant feed of pop culture related incidents. However, the danger behind memes is what they represent at a psychological level. A meme was earlier defined in 1976 as a term used to describe cultural expression and respective stereotypes. Today this is evermore present with these icons framing the way in which we think and relate to information presented to us. Think of a recent conversation with a friend. How many times were memes referenced within such a conversation? This is an example of framed thinking due to the inability to think of somewhat original content and using shortcuts to limit the amount we have to think about what we are saying. God forbid should one person not understand or had not previously seen a particular meme. A new manner of social isolation occurs, resulting in a vicious internet fed heavily influenced by social media. Is this a hindrance too, or an effective means of communication?

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basis of substantive conversational skills being lost. Internet culture presents a challenge to modern conversational skills whilst appealing to the natural lazy state of human nature. Unconvinced? When next in a lecture, take note of how many students are on their social media feed. A famous quote from Donald Owings and Eugene Morton states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;selection favours those able to use signals to manage the behaviour of others in their own interests.â&#x20AC;? In the context of internet culture, those able to communicate with memes frame the user's mind to a certain manner of thinking. This has vast amounts of influential power. The 21st century is a time where many want to digest information quickly and for some element of enjoyment. This results in many falling victim to preconceived ideas of thinking and effectively ruining innovative thought. Although a millennial myself, I find some reason in the argument of older generation.The younger generation long to be fed information, internet culture presents a crossover to the offline threatening the way in which people interact as a community.

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cycle of social addiction to be included in social groups

Many would argue a hindrance, primarily on the

SEPTEMBER 2017

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ISSUE THREE