Nucleus vol 1, no 8 by Nucleus

<<The

Curious Edition>>

So, you want to learn about your future editors, you say? Alright, we’ll let you in on a few tantalising details!

A month of sipping martinis while skydiving on horseback onto cruise ships whilst eating chocolate and watching fireworks is enough for even the most spirited seeker of decadence. So, exhausted, but adorned with floral shirts, novelty mugs, and sweet tans, we return begrudgingly to the Nucleus office. Someone’s got to make this damn thing, and if not us, then....probably these people we just hired to do our jobs... Wait, why did we come back? As the penultimate issue for this elephantine year, we no longer know how many legs we are standing on (see above). Please help us welcome the three new Assistant Editors of Nucleus; Bridgette, Alana, and Jessie. Over the past few weeks, between the martinis and the cruises presumably, we’ve tried our best to show them what we do; entailing nonstop talking on our part and probably large doses of confusion on theirs. It’s an exciting and a slightly apprehensive prospect to consider where these new little elves can take Nucleus next year, but our confidence in them is continually growing. With their help, we have plundered our minds, imaginations and resources, scouring for new content, new ideas and plenty of fun mind fodder for y’all; may you explore this issue with all the curiosity of an immortal cat. Besides that, our hearty crew of contributors have done us more than proud. If there is not something for you in this issue, shoot us (with an email, preferably) and we’ll tell the new editors it’s their responsibility to rectify. Alana, Bridgette and Jessie will be taking the helm as of January 2014, at which point we will be sent to a farm in France to enjoy the rest of our days in peace (SSAF funded, of course). Be kind to them. Of course, the elephant in the room is the possible threat to SSAF under our new government. Uneasy it makes us, but we hope that if it comes to it, you will join us in fighting for the preservation of the legislation that, under the guidance of some truly visionary and impossibly hard-working individuals, has created such a momentous positive change at UNE. To the externals who cannot feel the buzz in the air that never used to exist, we assure you we will build on what we have started to the benefit of the entire student community. What we have is worth fighting for; but what we have not yet created is worth even more. Until next time, your eternally optimistic editors, Sarita & Stu

Meet Alana When I first got the job of Assistant Editor, I imagined myself as Erica Berger from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I was going to be such a powerhouse Editor, uncovering scandals and exposing dirty crooks in Nucleus! And then I remembered all the death threats, all the attempts on her life . . . I’m fine to not be Erica Berger. For now, I’ll settle for being one of your three Assistant Editors, and I am very excited to be so! I’ve just finished my Bachelor of Media and Communications, and next year I’ll be doing honours. I love Modesty Blaise (think a female James Bond) books, the Mass Effect series, and Star Wars. That’s really all you need to know about me. Meet Jessie Off campus students, represent! When I started studying at UNE I thought I was pretty off campus, living up in Brisbane. But now my scale of “distance education” has changed, and my editorial input will be coming at ya from Helsinki, Finland, perkele. Before coming to Nucleus, I was the chief editor of the national magazine for Mensa Australia, and I have a sideline business for book editing and graphic design. In 2014 I’ll be finishing off a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Linguistics (via unfinished bachelors of Archaeology and Languages … oops). I’m into cooking, Aussie hip hop, and I hope to one day become a crazy cat lady. Oh, and Star Trek is better than Star Wars. Just sayin’, Alana … Meet Bridgette I’m not really sure what kind of kid dreams of becoming an editor of a newspaper, but regardless I was that kid. My idol was a little less cool than Alana’s and I will admit it here, just this once: I always wanted to be Lois Lane. I mean, who doesn’t want to report on Superman? Nevertheless, on my way to becoming this amazing investigative journalist and brilliant editor, I am

presently on the stepping stone they call a degree; I just finished my second year of a Bachelor of Media and Communications. I love Fridays, tea (made with tea leaves, I’m no sissy), Maltesers, reading too much Stephen King and watching too much scifi (Team Star Wars). What can I say, I lead an indulgent life. I predict a lot of chocolate consumption and Skype sessions as my colleagues and I take on this exciting challenge! Together, we are pumped to take on Nucleus for 2014! Of course, Nucleus wouldn’t even be around right now – and we wouldn’t be able to tell you how cool we are – if it weren’t for the incredible efforts of our editors, Stu Horsfield and Sarita Perston, over the past year. They have started from the bottom, working tirelessly on developing and re-creating Nucleus, and they have successfully engaged the student body and given us a voice. David Mailler, Josh Osborne and Alex Dunn have also been instrumental in reviving Nucleus; we look forward to receiving their passionate advice and insight next year. And of course, thanks to the amazing contributors over the past year! Without you, Nucleus just wouldn’t be. No really… We have just one more month to sit and learn at the feet of Stu and Sarita, to absorb their infinite knowledge and wisdom, until we are turned loose to produce Nucleus all by ourselves. Eep! It may be early days, but we have bold hopes for where we can take this baby paper. Just off the top of our heads, we want to expand our readership even further, and develop our online presence (both through our website, as well as Facebook and maybe even Twitter – dream big right?). We want to engage more off campus students, and we want to encourage more contributors, and even more diversity of content. We want Nucleus to be an invaluable source of information and entertainment for all!

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of the Nucleus or UNEG. If you have an issue with an item published in the paper, write a letter and we will be glad to print it. All contributions must include name and contact details. Ensure that all contributions contain nothing that may be considered sexist, racist, discriminatory, violence provoking, or plagiarised. We assume our readers can tolerate a degree of satire and the odd swear word, but anything containing unnecessary profanity will not be published. Publication is always at the discretion of the editors. All content is published under the Creative Commons By 3.0 license. Refer to website for license information.

NUCLEUS Vol. 1, No. 8, November 2013

Looking for a Break 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 32

The finish of trimester 2 has been a collective sigh of relief for tired and stressed students, not least myself. For me I am just feeling very tired at the end of the trimester. For those of you that know me, student, farmer, husband and father, keeping the balls in the air this year has been challenging. Time and rain are my most the limiting factors at the moment – so, may I have an extra day a week and can I order a couple of inches of rain this week.

- Editorials - UNESA President’s report - Letters and introductions - Noticeboard - News On Campus - News Feature: Industrial Action at UNE - Feature article: All In A Flap - Introducing Hoi Sin: Trimester 3 - TB and Papua New Guinea - A Call to Arms - Opinion - Meet the Musuo: a modern-day matriarchy - Edward Cullen vs. the Vampire Squid - Environment: Recycle how? - Student Profile - Recipe: Hedgehog Slice - Arts Pages (introducing a time-travelling detective) - Neucleus, August 2003

EDITORS: Sarita Perston and Stewart Horsfield ASSISTANT EDITORS: Bridgette Glover, Alana Young & Jessica Kelley Arts Pages Cover image: Jessie Kelley

facebook: www.facebook.com/NucleusUNE email: editors@nucleus.org.au website: www.nucleus.org.au post: P.O. Box U1, UNE Nucleus: funded by SSAF Armidale NSW 2351

The federal election has thrown up changes. The new federal education minister, Chris Pyne, hit the ground running and went off like a bomb in the first few weeks of this new coalition government. Tertiary education reform was on his agenda, although his colleagues did not seem to have the same enthusiasm for it. Some of the brain explosions have been: capping university places that are most likely to affect school leavers and does have ring of elitism; comparing SSAF to compulsory unionism and misrepresenting and confusing SSAF with the former general service fee; and the biggy: privatisation of HECS debt which would mean tertiary education would be for sale to the highest bidder. All these can be described as policy on the run and all of it damaging to UNE students, the future problem-solvers. It will be a long three years for regional universities if the first month is anything to go by. The wheels continue to turn slowly for the students’ association, student clubs and societies. Goalposts have over the last eighteen months continuously changed. And the student representatives and UNESA have identified and resolved issues big and small at every turn. Mistakenly, I believe the administration in its monolithic way expects the students’ association to give up. I believe there is nothing malicious in what is going on; it is the symptom of change and an administration not capable or adaptable to the student voice. It is with a wry grin that I contemplate the irony of resistance. To my mind there seems to be a dissonance between the current objects and the necessary outcomes of tertiary education at UNE. We pay homage to reputation and value the brand that is a UNE degree of past graduates. The creation of the current legacy of a great outcome is in no way insured for a generation of students who have been subject to massive changes, changes that affect the fundamental premise of tertiary education as career preparation of a critical thinker. It is hard enough to be a clear thinker let alone a critical thinker without communication strategy that is bound in respect. The UNESA board has been working hard to build the foundations of a resilient student voice at UNE. Take the opportunity to drop us a line with your thoughts and ideas for what we are doing well and how we might do this better. Nucleus is another avenue to make your voice heard and I am sure the editors will welcome your contributions. For those embarking on trimester 3 good luck and I hope trimester 2 results are all you wished for. It is worth remembering ‘Reaction in others is often a reflection of you.’ - David Mailler, UNESA President

Letters to the Editors Dear Editors, There are too many lecturers on campus these days. They are ruining the atmosphere and making life difficult for students. Lecturers look untidy and are responsible for the high levels of Greenhouse Gases on campus. Please use your power and influence to reduce the number of lecturers. Yours Sincerely, etc. __________ Hi Editors, I would like to voice my opinion and vision upon the Democratic system we currently live; Democracy, Greek for ‘rule of the people’ is a great step in humanity. It allows the people (the majority) to vote upon their representative in order to speak on their behalf relating to policy and agenda. Unfortunately in almost all cases the representatives have a no-sway attitude & opinion on topics and are unable to voice/advocate the many diverse opinions of their constituents and thus the constituents voices are not heard. Ultimately the only Democratic power in the hands of people is to vote on Puppet A, B, maybe a C. On election day in today’s conservative age within western politics the lay person has no idea upon what they are actually voting for; the policies of political parties are too similar rendering it impossible to differentiate and make an informed election decision. The rhetorical personal attacks between members of parliament obscure the fact that we are actually voting for parties (not individuals) and their respective policies. The information age will eventually enable the people to vote upon topics/sub-topics of worldly & local agenda and the people will have the final say. Human destiny will then flow per the collective’s thoughts and wishes, not the minority or so-called representative. The hierarchical so-called new world order with one leader is not the only avenue for human society. There will be overseers (with no such extra power than any other person) to ensure this new people’s system is working error and corruption free. The people of the world will unite with transparency and Governmental secrets will cease to be required. Homines Populus 4

Academic Board...? What is the Academic Board? What strings does the Board pull at the University? Do they meet at night in their academic gowns and sing Gaudeamus Igitur? What protection wards do they cast over the University? How would I know if I saw one of them out of their gown? These are the questions that one ponders when first confronted with the Academic Board. Upon a second reconsideration of the Board and a reading of its terms of reference the Board is actually a bit of a University player. The Board determines the academic policies of the University which includes approving new units, changes to existing units, assessment and remarking procedures, admission expectations, recognition of prior study and higher degree resourcing and processes. In order to hear representations from students the Board has four students elected to its ranks for a term of three years. Four new students have been elected to replace the outgoing students and they are undergraduates Joshua Osborne and Sarah-Dane Garden, and postgraduates Harley Macnamara and Sikiki Lloyd. We would like to thank Katja Ingham, Alexander Davis and Mona Abou Taleb for their service and to recognise the immense amount of that time sitting on the Academic Board and its committees takes. If you have comments or feedback on the academic policies of the university or are looking for some more information about the Academic Board please check out the Moodle page ‘Student Academic Board’ or email us at abstudents@une.edu.au We are here to advocate on students’ behalf and would gladly welcome any input on academic matters at this University. We have a duty to give the next generation of university students as good an experience, or better, than the one we had. I hope you can take the time to write to us or email us to arrange a meeting. Vivat academia! Vivant professores! Vivat membrum quodlibet; Vivant membra quaelibet; Semper sint in flore. Happy Studies, Sarah Dane-Garden, Joshua Osborne, Harley Macnamara & Sikiki Lloyd

RECLAIM THE NIGHT Reclaim the Night is an international movement to raise awareness of all forms of violence within our society. This year, is it being held on Friday 15th November, in the Beardy Street Mall, 6:30-9:30pm. There will be a free BBQ, market stalls, musicians, and more! The UNE Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Society will be there. Will you?

News On Campus What’s Goin’ Down Up Top

Feesable Rise

------------------------------------

by Tadeusz Davenport

There has been some talk recently about rising college fees but is this the case? The issue was brought to the attention of Nucleus. I decided to take a look into it myself. Excited with the prospect of engaging in some investigative journalism I set out. First stop the Head of College*. They seemed to have known this might come up and quickly pulled out some sheets to compare the prices for last year and this year. The price was going up! They told me it was a rise in CPI that affected properties across Australia. High school economics came in handy as I racked my brains, Consumer Price Index, how much average prices rise every year. That should be around 5% like inflation. I could tell the actual rise was more. Next stop was the Head of Residential services. I had crunched the numbers and compared it to CPI. It was going up even with CPI factored in. So what did they have to say? To be succinct the fees are actually rising in real terms. The change in price is from a couple of different sources. • The first happens every year and is due to inflation. As the cost of everything rises so does rent. The government sets an acceptable level in line with the Consumer Price Index at which rents should increase. Every year the college fees increase by this much, about 5%. So does everything else including many Centrelink benefits. • The other cause for the increase is the inclusion of previously annual communication and maintenance fees in weekly rates. • At Wright Village where the increase seemed greatest it was still due to streamlining of fees. They also included utilities in the weekly charge, as happens at every other college. • For Medical students, who are on a semester calendar and stay at college longer, the fees have been adjusted so that they are still paying that same contribution to the communication and maintenance fees. In summary, much of the apparent rise in excess of the annual increase of CPI was the inclusion of previously one-off annual fees in weekly rates, in addition to the annual increase in CPI, which could even make it easier for students to pay since they no longer have a large fee at the beginning of the year. 6

*You’ll have to guess which…

Mary Green by Sarita Perston

Abbott’s Kitchen Cabinet by Sarita Perston

Women of the university gathered in a classic picnic on Monday September 23rd, in pointed protest against gender inequality under new Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Polka-dot frocks and pinnies alighted upon the lawns nearby Booloominbah in an event that UNE Women’s Society (UNEWS) President Milly Roberts said aimed to draw attention to the “slow progress of democratic equality.” New conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott unveiled his Cabinet on September 16th, and for the first time since 1949 (when the first woman was appointed to Cabinet), only one woman in government, Julie Bishop, holds a position in the Australian Cabinet. This accompanies Tony Abbott appointing himself the Minister of Women’s Affairs. In a bout of comical misguidedness, a new plaque on the door to Abbott’s assistant in the ministry, Michaelia Cash, read ‘the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Woman’. “I think that there are a number of complex factors influencing the levels of women and minorities in all levels of politics. But failing to achieve real progress isn’t something which you shrug your shoulders at, it’s vitally important and it’s not window-dressing,” says Milly Roberts. The 1949-style picnic, complete with egg sandwiches and other delicacies carefully prepared in the women’s kitchens in honour of Mr Abbott, ignited lively conversation covering politics, history and women’s rights. “I think it starts with how we educate our children and young people; what personality traits they associate with power and what they think power looks like,” Ms Roberts said. In an ironic twist, only one man was present at the picnic.

-------------------------------------------------

Mary White College has taken the first step to establishing a vegetable garden created and cared for by students. An initial working bee was held on October 6th, with a small garden bed being prepared. Malie Cook, also a member of the UNE’s Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) group, was one of the initiators of the project, and said she was excited to see the idea come to fruition. Students at the working bee said the initiative aimed to help build a sense of community in the college and increase green space. Aiden Robb, also one of the initiators of the project, was quoted as saying he wanted to build a garden because ‘…I love to shovel shit… Actually because I needed to dispose of some garbage...’ and several other reasons. A serious answer was not immediately forthcoming. Students staying in the college over Trimester 3 have agreed to care for the garden. There are hopes that further environmental projects will get underway at the college in Trimester 1 in 2014.

-------------------------------------------------

Scholars Recognised by Vice-Chancellor by Alana Young

Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Barber has started a new, ongoing scholarship to recognise and reward exceptional academic achievement in UNE students. The appropriately-named Vice- Chancellor Scholars Program rewards students who earn a GPA of 6.7 or above, corresponding to a grade point average between a Distinction and a High Distinction. In its first year, 150 students have been awarded this scholarship; there will be a reception on November 22nd to honour these Vice-Chancellor Scholars. A record of the award will go on the students’ academic transcripts, and their names will be placed on an Honour Roll. Unlike many other scholarships, the VC Scholarships can reward the efforts of students

who focus solely on academic achievement, without necessarily excelling in additional cultural or sporting achievement.

------------------------------------------------

Networking Dinners Redefined by Melalin Mahavongtrakul and Deki Wangmo, on behalf of the AIABP

This event was SSAF-funded.

The Armidale International Association (AIA) Buddy Program held its first ever networking dinner on the 6th of September at the NERAM Harvest, Armidale. We kicked off at 5pm with around 40 members of UNE and Armidale’s student groups, services and supports signing up at the door where our members greeted them with welcoming smiles, two cups of beans and a fine glass of sangria for everyone! Student representation included ENACTUS, AYCC, UNEWS, ASPIRE, TuneFM, Chinese Students and Scholars Association, UNE Saudi Student Association, Indonesian Student Association, Bhutanese Student Association, Africans in New England, Wright Village, Nucleus, UNESA and AIABP. With so many passionate student groups working tirelessly towards engaging and assisting both international and domestic students at UNE, this networking dinner aimed to provide an opportunity for the student groups to meet each other, as well as explore the kinds of support they could get from around the university and town to improve the functioning of their group. It was also an opportunity for the services to find out what exactly the students need in order to best assist them with current and future projects they endeavour to bring forward. This is an edited version of an article originally published on Nucleus’s website. For photos and the full article, go to http://www.nucleus.org.au/?p=1170

-------------------------------------------------

Careers in Law are the Best by Alana Young

This event was SSAF-funded.

at UNE, with a similar, compatible experience held at the Parramatta Campus. Police officers, magistrates, and lawyers came as guest speakers, with podcasts provided of all speeches except the ones given by police. These podcasts can be found at http:// unelss.org/resources/podcasts/. Feedback of the event was positive, with students claiming that they now know which career path they want to tailor their degrees towards, or that they even want to change their planned career path.

-------------------------------------------------

Well Fair Fares Well by the Nucleus elves

-----------------------------------Townies 1920s Ball by Stu Horsfield

This event was SSAF-funded

Thursday, 12th September saw UNE gripped by an incredible transformation. Where once bare bricks and lonely trees stood desolate between the archaic buildings of the Big Library, the Big Hall and the Fountain, a great and colourful fair sprung up in a mist of chaos, colour and creativity, like a ring of mushrooms springing up in a woodland forest. Complete with a magician, baby animals, facepainting, green cake, craft, colouring in and kids’ books, a chai tent, origmai, friend-making, humans, games, more games, and more games... It was, we hope, enjoyed enormously by all. The event marked ‘R U OK Day’ , promoting good health and welfare, and is anticipated to become an annual event at UNE. For more photos go to http://www.nucleus.org.au/ articles/well-fair-fares-well. ----------------------------------------------------------

A Mine of Information

A Law, Criminology and Politics Careers Week was held by the UNE Law Students’ Society (LSS) from September, with the intention of showing the students of this society the wide range of jobs available to them after they finish their degrees, many of which they may not otherwise know about. The expo was held

The economic and employment impacts of mining on Australia were examined, coming to the conclusion that Australia’s mining habits will not change in the near future. One presentation looked at the relationship between carbon taxes and mining. Aboriginal perspectives on the issue were also represented. ‘Some common ground was reached, and this is a good start when trying to build relationships to resolve difficult, important issues,’ said Dr Marty Branagan, the conference coordinator. He went on to say that attendants engaged in respectful and constructive dialogue about all viewpoints, which is a good sign for any future conferences regarding mining and sustainability.

by Alana Young

An interdisciplinary conference, ‘Mining in a Sustainable World’, was held at UNE on 13th-15th October. Experts in relevant fields gave presentations which looked at the benefits and problems of mining, in both a local and global setting.

To celebrate another eventful year of Townies UNE, their annual ball was held last month, in the august halls of Booloominbah. The 1920’s theme was carried off beautifully, with all in attendance dressed to the nines. After some mingling and a visit from the Vice Chancellor, guests were treated to an exotic, delicious meal, complete with wine, desert, and 3-piece Jazz band. Townies President Ruby Mackenzie-Harris and Welfare rep Harley Macnamara both gave inspiring speeches that emphasised the importance of the social dynamic provided by groups like Townies. Townies UNE is a group dedicated to making many aspects as possible of the college experience available to students living in town. The ball was the largest and most extravagant of the many held this year, and celebrated their second year of operating. After dinner and dancing, the party descended upon the Armidale Club and continued long into the night. Here’s to Ruby, Phil, and the executive for another great year of Townies. For photos go to http://www.nucleus.org.au/ clubsoc/townies-1920s-ball

-------------------------------------------------

INDUSTRIAL ACTION AT UNE: A Closer Look

Since their Collective Agreements - the documents that describes and defines the terms and conditions of staff employment - expired in July and November 2012, respectively, academic and non-academic university staff have been in drawn-out negotiations with UNE management to compile new agreements. Eighteen months later, neither side have offered any great compromise on major issues. But why? And what does it really mean for students? Bridgette Glover spoke to Tim Battin, the president of UNE’s NTEU Branch, and to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Annabelle Duncan, to clarify why staff have been holding strikes and what effects this has. What is the NTEU? The National Tertiary Education Union, or NTEU, is an Australia-wide representative body for all university staff. Each state or territory has a Division, and each university has a different Branch. The Community and Public Sector Union, or CPSU, is a separate union, which represents only non-academic staff. The unions promote improved working conditions for staff.

The Process: Enterprise Bargaining It’s factored in to the operation of the university that enterprise bargaining will take place in order to reach new workplace agreements following the expiry of existing agreements. The NTEU puts forward claims for the new agreement, then discussions and negotiations are held between the union and management to see if the claims can be resolved and an agreement reached.

Who are staff? ACADEMIC STAFF are your teachers, lecturers, professors, and the like. Most academic staff are also involved in research, and currently academic staff are officially allocated 40% time towards teaching, 40% to research, and 20% to administrative responsibilities. NON-ACADEMIC STAFF are the people who make the wheels turn outside the classroom, including technical officers and admin assistants, coordinators and managers. These are referred to as general of professional staff. ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS have previously been represented under the same agreement as professional staff, but in the current negotiations the NTEU is requesting that they be included with academic staff. According to NTEU President Tim Battin, this is because the NTEU feels it can “protect (English language teachers) much better” in their union.

Who are ‘Management’? When we refer to UNE management, we are referring to the tier of administrative professionals that execute the decisions that govern the University of New England. This generally speaking is the executive: the Vice-Chancellor Jim Barber, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Annabelle Duncan, Pro Vice-Chancellor Michael Crock, Chief Operating Officer David Cushway, Chief Financial Officer Michelle Clarke, Chief Legal and Governance Officer Brendan Peet, and others. In regards to the workplace agreement negotiations, Annabelle Duncan acts as the chief spokesperson on the matter, with her and David Cushway playing senior roles in the bargaining process.

Industrial action is resorted to when such an agreement cannot be reached, and can include strikes, work stoppages and pickets, as have been seen several times at UNE this year, or even the withholding of results. Union members are legally permitted to strike, but must register a form with the university confirming their participation. According to Annabelle Duncan, striking has little effect on the university. What both parties do agree on is that industrial action should have the minimum impact possible on students. The Bigger Picture The process of negotiations taking place is not unique to UNE and nor is the lack of progress. Whilst the University of Sydney NTEU cancelled a 72-hour strike in October due to having reached a ‘great’ agreement, many other unions have not had success, with Monash, Deakin and Swinburne Universities all seeing union members decide to withhold exam results in order to step-up industrial action. Battin notes this would only have been a last resort at UNE, but mentions that action in Trimester 3 may be necessary if negotiations do not progress.

The Key Issues TEACHING-ONLY POSITIONS

The NTEU says that UNE management is pushing for teaching-only positions, which contrasts with the current combined teaching-research-administration arrangement. The NTEU is opposed to teaching-only positions because of concerns of overworking and detrimental effects on research, however management is adamant that they “do not want teaching only positions. We want a sliding scale” – that is, permitting teachers to choose their own balance between the three kinds of work. In terms of pay, Annabelle Duncan noted that “if we do that, that… has implications on workloads.” She said that if staff offered to take on higher percentages of teaching workloads, that would be “…financially [a] good move for the university… if we get that, we can offer a bit more in terms of pay rise. If we don’t get that we can’t offer more.”

requesting that the current T3 period become a 6-7 week intensive period to restore the traditional calendar between late February and early December. Management believes that although there have been workload implications with the introduction of trimesters, things can be done to improve the negative aspects. According to Annabelle Duncan, “You’ve only got to look at the number of students that are enrolling to know that students want trimesters,” continuing to note that “a university is here to educate students, to provide a service in educating students, and to do research.” OTHER ISSUES

- Outsourcing and casualisation, also concerns raised by the NTEU. Casualisation is the process whereby more people are hired on a casual contract, and the NTEU want to limit this, allowing casuals to convert to a more secure, continuous position. Outsourcing is when the employer decides to contract someone else to do the job that their current employee does. The NTEU want to eliminate this. Management have not agreed to either claims.

- Grievances and complaints: the NTEU’s claim is to make these comprehensive procedures. The NTEU has put forward a claim in the negotiations for a pay increase of 7% per annum over four years for all staff; as yet management have made no offer in response. But despite the NTEU believing they deserve this rise, Battin concedes that what is really important is having “a much nicer place to work.” The lack of compromise on behalf of management is frustrating according to Battin, who interprets it as an absence of recognition of the hard work of staff, who he points out go a long way to the good financial state of the university, citing UNE’s recent announcement of a predicted $19 million surplus in the university’s budget for 2014.

TRIMESTERS AND WORKLOAD

The trimester calendar structure, introduced at UNE last year, is regarded by the NTEU as a problem that needs to be resolved. They accept that management will be persistent with the trimester system, but have proposed and are

February 2013: Staff vote in ballot over industrial action. Meeting was held, unanimous for work-to-rule action March 2013: Work-to-rule industrial action went underway from the 4th

1st May 2013: Strike and picket action

A range of other issues are also being negotiated. These include:

- Pay rise for English language teachers: the NTEU claim that the English language teachers are some of the most qualified staff, but among the poorest paid.

PAY

TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS

I’m a student Why should I care about this? Where do students fit in all of this? Whilst it is true that no university would function without any one of its three working components – students, staff and management – it is important also that no group loses sight of the other two. So have management or unions, battling out the pay and working conditions, lost sight of students? Both assure us they endeavour to ensure the fallout from such a stalemate has the minimal possible impact on students. Annabelle Duncan says that management’s goal from the bargaining is an agreement that “rewards our staff, allows us to manage our staff, to give the best possible profession outcomes that affect upon the teaching for our students.” Tim Battin said that “We’re trying to re-fashion a workplace in which it’s a better place to work, and if it’s a better place to work, it’s a better place to come through university”.

July 2013: Status of Claims Summary released For more details go to: http://www.nteu.org.au/une/ article/A-summary-of-wherebargaining-currently-stands-atUNE-14149 August 2013: 600 staff participated in a large survey, for the purpose of management to the understand staff priorities. 12th August to 2nd of September 2013: Industrial action taken

22nd October 2013: Strike and picket action

But the other question, then, is whether unions and management are lost from the sight of students. Ultimately, the results of such negotiations impact on student learning, beyond the odd class missed on strike days or management being distracted by ongoing discussions. Ultimately, the workplace of staff, the responsibility of management, and the learning environment of students, combine: they’re the one thing, and that is the university. - Bridgette Glover and Sarita Perston 9

All in a Flap Bodies are political things, whether we like it or not. Maybe you’re already aware of this, think about the way words like “fat” “thin” “fit” “un-fit” “male” “female” are used; it’s naïve to claim that they are only descriptive. Think about the terms fat and thin, the way they are used is equivocal with the terms healthy and un-healthy. But in reality people of all health levels live in almost every different body type you can imagine; people who are living a 10

life affected by disease can be thin, and healthy energetic people can live in bodies society calls fat. The fact is there are as many different bodies as people living on this earth, and people with those bodies are participating in all different sorts of activities every day. This is particularly concerning to some people who see the body as the ultimate arbiter of whom can (read: who is allowed to) participate in certain activities.

by Beatrice Spilsbury

During the Victorian age misinformation about women’s bodies was used to prevent middle class women from participating in nearly every activity both intellectual and physical. Doctors believed that women’s bodies were weaker than men’s and that physical activity could dislodge the organs and cause them to float around the body causing havoc. If a woman’s uterus became dislodged this was caused Hysteria – a nice catch-all phrase for nearly any sort of

unruliness you can imagine. When the science that describes and defines our bodies becomes politicised it can leave us in big trouble. Women’s bodies, particularly their vulvas, have been on the front page recently. Sydney University student rag Honi Soit caused a flap when they showcased 18 student’s vulvas on the front page to protest unrealistic depictions of the organ in pornography. Ironically, the cover was deemed pornographic and immediately censored. Canadian artist Petra Collins and the all-woman art collective The Arduous designed a T-shirt with a line drawing of a menstruating woman’s vagina being masturbated for American Apparel. These are both bold statements. What are these groups really rebelling against: superficial social mores or deeply prejudicial views which affect women’s mental and physical health? Until recently there was only one surgeon in the whole world performing restorative surgery on victims of female genital mutilation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that there are 140 million women currently living with the consequences of the unnecessary procedure which involves removing some or all of a female’s external genitals including the clitoris, labia minora, and sometimes creating a seal over the vagina. Meanwhile surgery on the penis and a wide variety of pills to enhance or enable penile erection has been a medical routine for years. The WHO also claims that an increasing number of these procedures are being carried out by medical professionals rather than unqualified traditional practitioners. Cosmetic labiaplasty, which is the surgical reduction of the inner folds of skin of the vulva, has increased dramatically in Australia. The surgery has increased despite carrying risks of damaged sensation, haemorrhage, and infection and no medical benefit. The growing rates are blamed on unrealistic perceptions of normalcy created by pornography. Female sexuality and pleasure is often clouded in mystery and taboo; even the basic anatomy is mysterious to most. The clitoris is notoriously enigmatic, and its anatomy wasn’t even fully understood until 1998. The clito-

ris is not only, as is commonly thought (if it is thought about at all), a small sensitive bud of flesh at the top of the vulva. The clitoris is also a largely internal organ which can be up to 9cms long and 6cms wide. As far as scientists know the clitoris has one function; pleasure. This has led to some pretty sexist science. It was widely thought that the female orgasm piggy-backed the evolutionary process into existence on the male orgasm which is necessary for reproduction whilst the former is not. These ideas led to pervasive views of female orgasms being superfluous, irrelevant, or even perverted. It is surely a strange world we live in where an organ belonging to 50% of the population is deemed to be pornographic almost by default and can thus only be seen from an obscene or clinical perspective. If you think this is a modern phenomena look at neo-classical art where the subjects are frequently nude; penises are frequently depicted but vulvas are demurely hidden between crossed legs so that not a flap, fold, or curl of hair is visible. The projection of political or moral prejudices onto how we understand and talk about our bodies has deep effects on our health and well-being. Not just for women but for men as well. It’s time we all reclaimed the middle ground for our bodies.

Female Sex Organs

FYI • The vulva is the external part of a female’s genitals comprising the glans clitoris (the external part of the clitoris) the Labia Majora (the larger fold of skin) and the Labia Minora (the smaller folds of skin inside the Labia Majora)

• The Labia Minora, which are removed or reduced during cosmetic labiaplasty, usually get bigger or begin to protrude from the outer folds during puberty.

• There is large variation between women in all measurements of the different parts of the vulva and vagina, they really do come in all different shapes, sizes and colours. • The vagina is the tube that leads towards the cervix and uterus. • Due to censorship laws in Australia the labia minora is often photoshopped out of pornography sold at service stations and newsagents. 11

TRIMESTERS And so, dear readers, time has passed, and once again a cycle begins. Some are sucked into it, some choose to step there and many more simply ignore it. We are, of course, referring to the Pandora’s Box we call trimester three. Full of boundless power, unspeakable horrors and a decent amount of confusion when telling someone who studies at a different university about it. Whether or not the good is worth the bad is completely up to you. We know this paper is circulating tips, opinions and everything else under the sun about it, so we will follow suit and fill you with useful information. Not about trimester three, mind, but about the people who choose to do it.

Have you checked out the latest addition to the Top Courtyard Friday Fundays??

It can fast-track your degree, or let you play catch-up, but we get overworked just by thinking about another undisclosed number of months of study. Some people work just as well from home perhaps, work just as well not hearing what we need from old, as the Germans would say, ‘stuck-in-the-mist’ lecturers and choosing to read it instead. But many of us need to have someone standing there telling us what is written in front of us so we can write it, presumably, in front of us. The real grey area is when we find those who do not know which category they fit into. These are people who have simply never tried to learn on their own, and many discover that they cannot. Some of you, we are sure, are scoffing at this like a binary visionist watching someone with strabismus up the whazoo who cannot grasp what they can, but it is the truth. Procrastination is a forced tool known by all, not possible for some and much more difficult to use when in public. But enough about whether or not we can do trimester three, let us instead talk about those who actually go through with it, firstly splitting them into three groups; those who wish to complete their degree faster, those who could not do all the subjects they wanted due to timetabling issues or those who simply failed something in the past and must make up for lost time now.

The Bean

We only know of one person who is fast-tracking their studies by completing units externally in these few months, and we decided to approach him about it. As we got close he spotted us and waved, which we responded to by turning right around twice before deciding that, at this point, the least socially awkward decision would be to walk away. So, unfortunately, that path did not bear fruit. Instead we simply imagined what he would say, a method which turned out much more useful and ended with a list of reasons for his shameful behaviour, along with us giving the imaginary him our imaginary phone number. Granted, some liberties were taken, like assuming we both had a phone, but in the end we found that the three biggest reasons people fast-track are wanting to get into the paid workforce faster, feeling that if you stop now you will not be able to start again and just wanting to get this ‘study’ business out of the way as quickly as possible. The first is most common in people in tertiary subjects, like law, the second is more seen in recent high school leavers, specifically those who did not take a gap year, and the last being mainly attributed to students in primary subjects, like agriculture. Ignoring the fact that all this came from a single, non-existent student, people doing trimester three for these reasons

Bag

Lounges have been a very popular addition to the grassed area while students have been enjoying the sun, free food and free live music. Interested in purchasing one for yourself?? Contact the friendly team at Bean Bags R Us www. bean-bags-r-us.com.au

seem to be the more studious of the lot, willing to study all year long for an earlier chance to grab the light at the end. Now some people just want to do so much studying that it is almost impossible to fit it all in. For these Philosophy students time is meaningless, so they spend it all thinking about Kierkegaard’s spheres of human existence and thus have no reason not to study during trimester three. They do not necessarily want to do trimester three, mind, and will unceasingly argue with the timetabling office about it. However, even they cannot win against those masters of persuasion, and will eventually think about it for a while before deciding that they don’t have anything better to do, so why not. Then there are those valiant few who have not yet given up though they have every right to do so. Yes, the Repeaters. Oh, what we would give to be one of their ranks. They soldier on to help those in direst need; themselves. Some of you, dear readers, may wonder where they went wrong, but in our eyes that is almost heresy. A Repeater can never go wrong, for everything they do is just and right,

Editor’s Note

and is never without cause. They are the wisest among us, and know things we cannot even dream of. That is an absolute truth, one that will not waver or fail; for we know the pinnacles of our university society, the Repeaters, would never allow it. Actually, scratch that. We may have been talking about something different altogether. Forget we said anything. Anyway, students who have failed something in the past and are doing it again externally certainly deserve our respect for continuing their study and we urge them to keep going. In the end they will reach that same light we all will, albeit with a bit more struggle. We must look at the bright side of these things, though. More time at university teaches you more about independence, budgeting and a multitude of other real life lessons. And, most importantly, it allows you to grow as a person. Besides, it could be worse. At least you’re not studying Philosophy.

Until next time, Hoi Sin

A couple of days before going to print, reports came in of further heightened protests and further incidences of aggressive police behaviour, this time in Melbourne. Those involved vary in their recounts – depending on whether they are students or police – but it is clear that brutality does occur; the Sydney Morning Herald on 30/10/13 reported that one protester who was arrested was unconscious at the time. Up to 100 protesters marched in the Melbourne CBD, stopping at key public sites including Parliament House and the State Library, then held a sit-in at the corner of Spring and Bourke Sts, stopping traffic. Numerous students state that the sit-in was peaceful, but that police trying to remove them became violent. Police accounts differ, and one police officer was taken to hospital with minor face injuries. These protests, and protests in Sydney and Adelaide, occur as students fight against the Coalition government’s suggestions to privatise HECS and remove SSAF. Nucleus is in contact with students involved in those protests and will endeavour to look into and report on the issues and the protests in coming issues.

Student Activism Judd Newton Student activism. I can see most of you cringe at the very mention of the words, and rightly so. Recent events at Macquarie University throw into light once again the question of where student activism belongs within modern-day Australian university life. On the 10th of September this year, members of the Macquarie Uni student body were selling and wearing shirts with the slogan “FUCK TONY ABBOTT” on campus grounds, in response to the Coalition’s policy against same-sex marriage. The University’s response to the demonstration was to ask that the stall selling the shirts be closed down and any students wearing the shirts leave university grounds. Some of the demonstrators were reportedly threatened with arrest by security if they did not comply with the demands. According to the university, this was all done in order to ensure that students on campus were in a safe environment. This response and action taken by the University does seem to raise a lot of questions. Most people are all for safety on campus, and yes, students do need to conduct themselves with decorum, however, this was a peaceful protest. The issue is much greater than just this incident, as demonstrated by the events at Sydney University in June this year, where 11 students were arrested on campus by riot police breaking up a union protest. Events like these give us cause to think about how free are we to express our opinions in ways that are clear to other people, without causing confrontation. On the same token however, the “Fuck Abbott” campaign was dealt with in a way that an anti-gay protest would gain, at least one would assume, a similar response from the university. It also seems understandable that the use of strong language is offensive to many people whether they agree with the topic or not, meaning that this protest may have offended people simply because of the way it was done. Still this raises the question, what do we have the right to say or show and what do we not? It all comes down to offence. In modern society you cannot get far without offending somebody. People are offended by religion, clothing, hair, skin and all manner of other things, but do they have to right to be offended? Yes, of course they do. This is a very important point, we have the right to be offended, however, what we don’t have the right to do is to force our opinions on others, no matter how right we are. Or do we? This is where it is a very fine line between what the ‘system’ determines to be offensive and what an individual determines as offensive. Alas, the only real truth is that what is offensive is not set by us the lowly majority, but by the people above. Until something changes, we will not be able to express our opinions if they are going to offend somebody. 13

The Other

PNG Solution

“Say it loud, say it clear. Refugees are welcome here.”

This was the refrain sung out by about 500 strong demonstrators at Sydney’s George Street on July 20. It didn’t take long before I figured that the demonstration was about the Regional Refugee Arrangement (RRA) between Australia and its former territory, Papua New Guinea (PNG) which had been signed the day before (July 19). As the throng sang it louder, the message became clearer. Being a passer-by in Sydney and a non-citizen observer, the valour to rally for human rights was admirable, although hardly surprising.

Australian people are known to value liberty and equality in the spirit of egalitarianism and multiculturalism. These values underpin the Australian character for courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice; the epitome of Australian Diggers on the Kokoda Campaign.

criticise a government policy is preposterous. A growing number of PNG people share similar values and sentiments about human rights and individual liberty, even in adverse circumstances of socio-economic difficulties and public accountability.

Being a Papua New Guinean I automatically became keen to know what ordinary Australians say about my country’s involvement in the ALP’s “PNG Solution”. So I became a ‘fly on the wall’ and joined the throng of demonstrators down George Street to Town Hall. At Town Hall, the message about human rights and the reprove of children in detention centres still rang loud. The inevitable, nonetheless was obvious, PNG does not have the capacity or the resources to process tens of thousands of refugees or have them adequately resettled there. Many demonstrators expressed fear about what they know, have heard, read or have experienced regarding PNG. Others used extracts from the Smart Traveller website and some even used Malaria infestation. There is no denying that any of those assertions and the context in which they were made were of genuine concern. I thought it was fair dinkum.

While the country’s long-term economic prospects look promising with its mineral and hydrocarbon resources, particularly its multi-billion dollar Liquefied Natural Gas project as its significant driver for growth, development and poverty reduction. The socio-political dynamics of the country render these prospects fragile ones.

On the days that followed, the media brought new dimensions to the debate on RRA and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s hard-line approach to ‘stopping the boats’. Sadly, many labelled PNG a ‘hellhole’ to sensationalize the matter. PNG can be many things to many people here; but using such a condemnation to

The health indicators however, are less comparable. With more than 80% of the population living in rural areas, infant mortality and maternal mortality rates are astounding. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates a rate of 49 per 1000 live births and 733 per 100,000 live births respectively. Accessing basic health services is often difficult and sometimes impossible due to physical remoteness and geographical barriers, cultural restraints or inadequacy in health facilities and infrastructure. In October last year, the Couriermail ran the story of Catherina Abraham, a young PNG woman on a mercy mission to Cairns Base Hospital in northern Queensland seeking treatment for tuberculosis. Her case, unfortunately, was extreme. She was diagnosed with Extensive Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB). XDR TB

is an incurable form of TB. The options for treatment are extremely limited if not impossible. Catherina spent almost a year in isolation until her passing in March this year. TB eradication remains a stiff challenge for many developing countries. For PNG, the task is enormous, because it has reached epidemic proportions. It requires significant investment not only for vaccination and treatment, but also in research and development. There is optimism nonetheless, as collaboration, research, and investment in medical science is gathering momentum globally. Young Papua New Guineans are on board in this exciting endeavour in various cutting edge researches and academic programs about Malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, and other emerging diseases. Many of these researchers are in collaboration with many equally determined young medical and bio-medical scientists in institutions around Australia. For UNE the potential for any such collaboration is strong at the School of Rural Medicine and School of Health and the School of Science and Technology. Its comparative advantage in online delivery of programmes is a suitable strategy for medical research institutions in PNG to engage. For the moment though, the all-too-important bilateral arrangement between the two countries over Manus Island hangs in the balance as new Liberal Government takes over.

by Rob Yen

DESIGN PRINT POST 14

freecall 1300 853 700 email sales@evansprinting.com.au 215 Mann Street Armidale www.evansprinting.com.au

your local printer proudly suporting the Nucleus

A Call To Arms Tadeusz Davenport

hroughout history there have been two types of people, those with great ideas and those who enacted them. Nelson Mandela was not the first to think that Apartheid was wrong but he was bold enough to stand against it.

We currently live in the most peaceful, healthiest, and prosperous era of humanity. However there are many issues facing our communities today. Whether it is global warming, extinctions, sustainable food supplies, equality or disease these issues remain unsolved not because of lack of solutions but because of lack of action. In JFK’s inaugural address he said “man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty”. That was in 1962. Over 50 years since then a lot has changed; sadly, much remains the same. Poverty abounds, millions die from curable diseases and in the coming years these issues are set to get worse as global warming affects food supplies and aids the spread of tropical diseases. So why are issues existing over 50 years ago still plaguing us, despite us having the resources to solve them? Many of these issues can be solved but it takes time - maybe more than 50 years. But the surprising thing is that they aren’t even being addressed on a scale appropriate to their magnitude. So the challenge is for us, individuals, communities, nations, humanity, to overcome these problems that are far greater than the sum of our parts. Within that challenge is overcoming the resistance to change, be it from businesses, lobby groups or our own vested interests. But where we have to start is at the individual and the community level. It is individuals coming together that endows governments and corporations with the power that they have. For instance while residential emissions are just a small part of total global emissions, compared to those produced by industry, we have to realise that industrial emissions exist only to supply our demands. Universities are already starting these changes. They bring together a large group of intelligent thinkers many of whom would like to see changes happen. Academics and students alike are a formidable force for change. On issues from wealth inequality to global warming students have already had an impact. The Occupy movement spread across the world and events on university campuses made international news. Currently students overseas and in Australia are lobbying their universities to remove their investments out of fossil fuel and mining companies. In the last election the Australian Youth Climate Coalition made their voices heard across all forms of media and protest. With over 20,000 students at UNE and over a million nationwide, we can make the change. So what is your next move going to be? Find out what it is your care about, talk to your friends, decide what you are going to do, and DO IT! It might not happen immediately but keep at it. Together we can be the change. Image by Will Keightley; flickr.com

National Day of Climate Action

Venue: Central Park, Armidale 1:00pm: Meeting starts, BBQ food available or bring your own lunch.

GetUp has initiated this day of action for people all over the country to express to government the depth of their concern over climate change. The last month was the hottest on record. The last summer was the hottest on record. The last 12 months were the hottest on record. This year? Summer has come early with devastating bushfires. Inquiries to Colin Hargreaves 0488 17 17 17, colin.hargreaves@aoesa.org

Wet weather alternative: Uniting Church hall We are aiming for a “FUN” meeting but with an underlying message of concern about the likely changes for this region, the problems and opportunities; how it affects you. This is a family day – everybody is welcome. We ask people to come in bright orange and red clothing with great zinc painted faces. Jugglers and clowns welcome; we hope to have kds’ activities and competitions for best dressed, best face paint, etc. Also an opportunity for lots of community stalls on any related topic.

Opinion

Feeling Missrepresented

his year has been a pretty awesome one for me. I started my Masters at UNE and was lucky enough to become a member of UNEWS (University of New England Women’s Society), gallantly lead through its first year by the most awesome Milly Roberts (hip hip hooray!).

UNEWS has held some great events over the course of the year – the memorable Blue Stockings Week Debate, more recently a peaceful protest picnic to demonstrate the sheer ridiculousness of Abbott’s one woman cabinet, and most poignantly for me, the screening of “Miss Representation”, a documentary made in 2011 by American film maker Jennifer Siebel Newsom. I’ll be honest: it’s stayed with me. Newsom covers a lot of ground in a confronting 85 minutes, hitting her viewers with some unnerving statistics to hammer home the point that representation of women in the media is not only done in an incredibly negative way, but also fails to offer up healthy role models for young women. In 2011, the year “Miss Representation” was made, only 11% of protagonists in films were female. Only 20% of news articles were about women. And here’s a scary one: Between 1937 and 2005 there were only 13 female protagonists in animated films...All of them except one had the primary aspiration of finding romance. Given the media saturated world in which we all exist, these statistics are pretty alarming. It’s not just grown women that are living the consequences of media decisions, it is young women and girls who are inheriting the implications of this sort of representation. Newsom’s examination of media coverage surrounding American female politicians like Hillary Clinton brings to mind the appalling treatment of our former Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the hands of not only Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party, but Australian media at large. Constant discussion of the former PM’s clothing choices and over-examination of her family life was an overt attempt by the media to reduce her to a person who couldn’t possibly run a country. Regardless of your politics, it seems like common sense that the Prime Minister of Australia should be judged by her leadership skills, and not being childless or unmarried or female. Real world women as role models aren’t to be found in popular media either. Anybody opening a fashion or beauty magazine is met with a flood of slim, young, white women. This uniformity offers us, the consumers, a very select representation of what it might mean to be a woman or a girl. ‘Miss Representation’ argues that we need a much broader spectrum of society represented for us: a variety of shapes and sizes, backgrounds and ages. The upkeep of this very narrow definition physical perfection and beauty is very important to the media. We are meant to look at the people on the pages of our magazines and see that they are ‘beautiful’, and of course we know that advertisements are made with the intention of selling consumer products. What we think less consciously about is what else we as a society are being sold when we consume advertising and popular media. All of us are being sold a particular ideal which we understand to be desirable. In a world where even the small part of the 16

by Helen Taylor population that fit this ideal are airbrushed before they hit the magazine page, how do the rest of us fit in? How do women ever feel as though they’ve succeeded in such a visual world? How do we learn to value ourselves when we don’t match the people in the pages of magazines? ‘Miss Representation’ notes the measurable effect of popular media’s focus on this ideal: 53% of 13 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies. That number increases to 78% by age 17. The most telling statistic of all: American teenagers spend 31 hours a week watching T.V., 17 hours a week listening to music, 3 hours a week watching movies, 4 minutes a week reading magazines and 10 hours a week online. That gives a lot of air time to the warped ideal currently being sold as ‘beauty’. It’s not much of a leap to come to the conclusion that the constant exposure of teenagers to popular media generates and reinforces significant body issues. The documentary gives us tough stats to deal with – it may take a focus on America, but given the huge amount of American media that Australians consume, these are statistics we need to be thinking and talking about. So what now? It’s easy to be blown away by this information and increasingly disillusioned with the state of things. But that’s certainly not going to improve the situation for us, or for the young women and girls, or the young men and boys that are inheriting our media-saturated world. The fact of the matter is that the media working against us can be used to work for us, whether it be to create new representations of women and girls who can be role models, who expand our understandings of how a woman and a man might look and behave. Jennifer Siebel Newsom notes on the ‘Miss Representation’ website that “The media can be an instrument of change”, and it’s up to us, the consumers of media, to make that change. It might be as simple as consuming with a critical eye, starting conversations with your friends about how unrealistic the images used in advertising are. It might be having a conversation with a young woman or a young man that you know about what a real role model is, and who the really interesting and significant folk are, the ones that aren’t selling us perfume or holidays. It might be challenging yourself to step away from the magazine that makes you feel insecure or like you’re failing to be good enough. It might be a more active role in advocating for change in advertising: making use of the #notbuyingit tag like the ‘Miss Representation’ website suggests, along with a conversation starter kit, a houseparty, or a letter (you can visit http://therepresentationproject.org for ideas). The important thing for me, as a feminist in Armidale in 2013 is that I have the ability to make my own contribution to media representation. I have the Nucleus to write for, and the UNEWS crew to share thoughts with and ask questions of. More talk is better than less in a world where we are the users of media and have the ability to demand that changes are made. So here’s to the next year of UNEWS awesomeness with Kate and Hanna at the helm for an exciting 2014.

- Kate Wood If you’ve turned on a TV or been to an online news-site lately, then you’ve no doubt heard about the election for Grand High Emperor of the Galaxy. Or rather, the Leader of the Labor Party. Sorry, I was confused by the level of media coverage being given to this epic saga into thinking it was something that was in any way important. We now know that Bill Shorten was elected as Opposition Leader. This middle aged white Catholic-School educated male lawyer beat out his opponent, the middle aged white Catholic-School educated male economist Anthony Albanese. After a three week campaign which included three leadership debates, the winner was finally decided by a combination of the votes of Labor MPs and the rank-and-file membership. All hail Democracy! Each member of the ALP was given one half of a vote to choose their preferred leader from two guys who are almost exactly the same. “That’s not fair!” you may cry. “It was a great step forward for the party! An end to Faceless Men choosing the leader in smoky back rooms.” This is true and I have no objection to the members of the party choosing their leader through popular vote. In fact, that should be the norm. But, given that most of us watching the news cannot vote in a party election, does it really need a three week campaign and media frenzy? To me, it just seemed more like the Labor Party desperately trying to stay in the public eye while a new government got all the press. If that was

Opinion

Cheese sandwich.

Want more articles?

the aim, it worked. I heard more about the Leadership Contest than I did about Tony Abbott’s new cabinet.

Read online: www.nucleus.org.au or follow the links and QR codes throughout the issue.

More laughable still is both candidates’ assertions that the other would make an excellent leader and that the loser would not contest again. I suppose it was meant to instil confidence in the future stability of the party. To me, it just suggests a lack of passion. Neither was able to say with any certainty why he would be the better candidate, and the primary reason for this was the lack of ideological difference between the two. Neither man felt strongly enough about any individual issue that he was willing to be insistent about it. Instead we had a battle of personalities between two men without personality.

Trotting around America: Bronycon 2013 Part II: Horsetalk by Alex Bailey

The trouble is, it doesn’t matter all that much who leads the Labor party for the next three years. The new Prime Minister is a polarising figure, and seems to be decreasing in popularity with every week. At the 2016 election, most voters will be asking themselves one question: “Do I want Tony Abbott for another three years?”

Trotting around America:

If the answer is yes, then they will vote Coalition. If the answer is no, they will not, and in most electorates, that means a preference flow to Labor. If they are voting Abbott out, then the Labor leader can be Shorten, Albanese, Rudd or a cheese sandwich. It won’t matter.

Bronycon 2013 Part III: Equestria or Bust by Alex Bailey

The author would like to note she is not a member of any poltical party.

Read past issues Leave comments Access web-only articles between print editions

www.nucleus.org.au 17

Meet the Musuo Photo: mannamimpact.wordpress.com

Monica Fortunaso

lthough us progressive university women may love thinking otherwise, men still make a disproportional amount of the ‘important rulings’ in our society – how it’s run, but also in our dayto-day attitudes. The conception still stands that men are the ‘head of the house’ or that responsibility for ‘big decisions’ concerning power, money or even relationships rests in their hands. But this patriarchal model is not prevalent everywhere - there are matriarchal societies that have existed and are still present to this day. You may be familiar with the ancient Greek mythology of the Amazons, a tribe of fearless, strong warrior women who laid down their weapons to no man. They sought out men for one reason only: to reproduce. In order to preserve their female-only kingdom, male offspring were killed. Now, this is a matriarchal society to the extreme and evident from the extinction of the great Amazon Empire, if it indeed existed, shunning all men was, funnily enough, not a viable way of living. But to the male population, do not take this fact as an invitation to an ego boost. There is a very much matriarchal society that has survived the centuries and still exists to this day. High up in the south west mountains of China lives what is locally known as the ‘Kingdom of Women’, or the Musuo people, a culture of around 40,000 in which women are in charge and the titles ‘husband’ and ‘father’ are redundant and unknown. Yes, here the women control household financial decisions, have the rightful ownership of

land and houses, as well as full and unquestionable rights to the children born to them. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, Musuo families have an incredibly stable and cohesive internal structure and the women do not find themselves facing many of the struggles and barriers women of many other cultures do. But what the Musuo are most famous for is their practice of ‘Zuo Hun’ or ‘walking marriages’. You see, marriage and commitment to one person is not strongly advocated in Musuo communities. Females make the ceremonious step from girl to woman around the age of 13 and after this are given their own bedroom within the family home. Here, they have the privacy to take a lover, having as few or as many lovers as they wish throughout their lifetime. Men in the community spend their days doing the necessary jobs of fishing and animal rearing and visit the women’s homes at night, if invited and often in secret. Any children born are raised by the woman’s family and will often have no idea who their biological father is. But although the women have the freedom to be somewhat promiscuous, more often than not, they will choose to keep the same lover for their whole lifetime. If the father has a desire to be part of his offspring’s upbringing, he must state his intention to do so and bring gifts to the woman’s family. This may give him status within that family but this does not make him part of that family. The reason Musuo families have such strong framework is because their ‘homes’ are just one large extended family, including many generations of grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins etc all living under the same roof . Here, they reside under the command of the clan-mother ‘Dabu’, or matriarch, who is the chief decision-maker of household finances as well as the various roles and responsibilities of each member. Now, you may think this would drive you nuts. But the result is actually a family and community structure that is extremely stable and harmonious. Relationships and commitment to another person is free and based

solely on love, divorce is a non-issue and thus arguments over child custody or assets is a non-event; family property forever remains in that family (as lineage is traced through the female line, not the male line that is the tradition in most cultures); and if a parent was to die, a large extended family exists to take over the care of that child. All responsibilities under one house are evenly distributed between members and there are little factors that can contribute to the destruction of their family structure. In fact, some scholars consider the Musuo way of life free of six problems we face in current modern society: 1. The problematic social status of women and men 2. The situation of the elderly, often left alone or ill-treated in other cultures 3. Family conflicts and domestic violence 4. Crime, such as sexual harassment, theft, murder and arson 5. Separation of family members and humans in general from each other and the threat of war 6. Environmental problems; the Musuo, in accordance with their Lamaism beliefs and also due to their seclusion from the rest of the industrial world, conduct their lives simply and in a way that harmonises with their natural surroundings. The Musuo’s remote location has enabled their unusual culture to survive so long but the Western stigma associated with their walking marriages is slowly tainting their existence. The Chinese government is keen to market and profit from the Musuo, luring in male tourists with the false notion that Musuo women are happy to ‘sleep around’. But mostly, the Musuo still live and breathe their ancient matriarchal culture – a rare occurrence in the modern world – and thus should be recognised, treasured and respected worldwide.

Edward Cullen vs. the Vampire squid. Edward Cullen. In case you don’t know, he’s a fictional character in the popular Twilight series written by Stephenie Meyer. And he’s a vampire. Being the living dead, he’s got some fancy skills, like being telepathic, having superhuman strength, not having to breath or sleep, and having a tendency to sparkle excessively when exposed to sunlight. He has millions of obsessive ‘Twihard’ fans, presumably swept away by his awesome (mythical) abilities. But is he really the most bad-ass vampire there is? Enter Vampyroteuthis infernalis, which literally means ‘the vampire squid from Hell’. Known as a ‘phylogenetic relic’, these are the only surviving members of their order. Part octopus, part squid, and able to glow pale blue at will, these mysterious beasts linger on between the twilight and midnight zones of the worlds tropical and temperate oceans. The oxygen saturation levels can be as low as 3% in these pitch-black depths, so low that most other marine animals would not be able to breath. Like all cephalopods, the vampire squid has three hearts and no bones. When attacked, instead of ejecting ink like most ‘normal’ squids, the vampire squid squirt out a sticky cloud of glowing orbs into the face of their assailant. Despite their name, they don’t actually drink the blood of their helpless victims, and appear to feed on ‘marine snow’, the rain of detritus filtering down from the world of light above. So, make-believe pretty-boy bloodsucker who reads minds and sparkles in the sunlight, or genuine 3-hearted freak which shoots glowing goo and sparkles in the depths of our very own oceans? I know which I find more extraordinary… - Yinika Perston

Tony ignores more good advice

What can I Recycle? Environment

by Stu Horsfield Everyone knows recycling is important, but what many people don’t know is exactly how and what to recycle. Even a year after the Armidale Dumaresq Council introduced the City-to-Soil program to decrease the amount of organic material that ends up in landfill (Monica Fortunaso’s article on this program can be found in July’s issue of Nucleus), people still aren’t totally sure what can go in the big green bin, or the others for that matter. It’s my aim here to provide a simple resource to clear up at least some of this confusion once and for all. Here is a quick guide to what goes where.

Plastic Bags - Crate without lid

‘Bio-degradable’ shopping bags - Red bin

Polystyrene - Take to Tip

This would seem like an obvious one but enormous amounts of plastic bags end up heading to landfill that could easily be recycled. Chuck your plastic bags with your other plastic recyclables, just remember to weigh them down with something so they don’t fly away in the wind.

This is a tricky one. Some shops in Armidale give shoppers plastic bags at checkout that are labelled as ‘bio-degradable’. As these do not compost well they should not go in the Green bin, nor in the plastics bin as they cannot be recycled along with regular plastic bags. These bags will safely bio-degrade in landfill so the Red bin is the place for them. However, bags labelled as ‘Compostable’ (yes, there is a difference) can go in the Green bin, as they will break down quickly.

One of the only ‘plastic’ things that can’t be recycled in the bins is polystyrene, but it can be taken to the Waste Management Centre on Long Swamp Road. Any quantity can be recycled free of charge. The council asks that you don’t leave it kerbside as it’s lightweight and can easily blow away in the wind.

Damaged bins - Call for Repair/Replacement

Pizza boxes - Green bin

Fluorescent light bulbs - Cetnaj and The Big Light Bulb

If any of your bins are damaged cracking at the sides, lid snapped off, etc. - the council will repair or replace these free of charge. Just call the Waste Hotline on 1300 136 322.

It’s commonly assumed that pizza boxes go in the cardboard recycling bin, but as these usually contain food scraps they cannot be recycled with other cardboard, but easily break down in composting. This is the case with any ‘soiled’ cardboard or paper, if it’s got food on it, it can go in the green bin.

There are special bins at both of these stores in town where fluorescent light bulbs can be disposed of free of charge for environmentally safe recycling.

What can go in the big green bin? - Kitchen Waste (in Compostable bags) - Any raw or cooked food - Tea bags - Coffee grounds - Fruit/Veggies - Peelings - Leftovers - Paper towels - Meat/Fish - Cooking oil - Clean, loose green waste such as leaves, branches, prunings and grass clippings - Soiled, wet paper - Pizza boxes - Dog and cat litter (in a compostable bag or wrapped in paper) - Paper and cardboard takeaway containers

What can go in the black crates? Crate without lid: - ‘Bio-degradable’ bags - Bottle tops - Glass - Plastics - Metals - Medicines or Chemicals - Nappies - Cigarette butts - Gardening tools - Fertilisers - Insecticides - Weed poisons - Any toxic or dangerous substances

- Plastic bags - Milk and drink containers - Aluminium and steel cans - Glass - Plastic

Crate with lid: - Clean paper - Clean cardboard

For more information on the City-to-Soil program, and other recycling programs in Armidale, visit www.armidale.nsw.gov.au or call the Armidale Dumaresq City Council on 6770 3600

“Who is this handsome devil?” you’re probably asking yourself. Well, his name is Jack Mooney, but don’t let that pretty face fool you; he is something of a genius “trapped in a model’s body,” or so he likes to think (and often say aloud). Jack is twenty years old, but is often contradicting himself; while most twenty year olds are out partying at The ‘Stro he will be at home with a stubby watching Better Homes and Gardens, because he’s “too old for that shit.” He has just finished his second year of a Bachelor of Rural Science, and although he is thoroughly enjoying it, whilst he was completing his exams this month you could often find him yelling at his desk “I just want to farm eggs!” You know how some kids seem like they were born with a business brain? Well Jack was one of them. Constantly trying to come up with another get-rich-quick scheme, he finally found one at fifteen. On his parent’s twenty acre property on the Coffs Harbour coast, Jack bought 100 Isa Brown chickens, with the intention of selling the eggs to the local footy team, for their barbeques. By eighteen, the business had grown to 5000 chickens, and had a name: Jack’s Eggs. Very original.

Jack never went to college because it was evident he would go stir crazy. He constantly needs to be doing some kind of project. In his first year of uni, he moved into a flat in the quaint village of Uralla. Bigger than a college room, yes; big enough to remain sane: hell no. Learning from his mistake, he decided to upsize this year.

Student Profile

Jack Mooney

Still in Uralla, Jack lives on a block large enough to keep approximately 100 chickens, three calves, one puppy called Binks (as in Jar Jar) and one good lookin’ dame (who apparently is “indispensable” – sorry ladies). He sells chickens, eggs and coops that he makes himself and the business is doing extremely well. Jack says he has sold almost 500 chickens so far, and he sells the eggs to a local fruit and veg store as well as the butcher. All of this definitely helps out in the money department, but Jack has also won two scholarships in the past two years, allowing him to buy all of those important textbooks (thank goodness!). These scholarships, (one from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and the other from the Royal Agricultural Society Foundation) have let Jack meet a heap of important people including his sponsors from Egg Corp. Ltd. which will probably come in handy considering how much he seems to like chooks. Keep an eye on this space to watch the great business entrepreneur that Jack Mooney becomes. We at Nucleus predict great things.

Male volunteers URGENTLY NEEDED

to help kids living with cancer Boys living with cancer need male role models to help with their development and confidence at camps which involve everything from rolling in mud to laser tag.

Can you help? know someone who can?

campquality.org.au/volunteer or call 1300 662 267 21

(college) Recipe

Hedgehog Slice By Ashley Pianca

We all have those weeks that involve a certain lack of emotional control and judgment. Situations are escalated and feelings are heightened as your once stable earth tumbles and spins out of control. There may or may not be a reason, a lynchpin or an identifiable cause. But sometimes there doesn’t need to be. Sometimes our world must be turned upside down in order for us to appreciate the feeling of having our feet firmly on the floor. It is at times like these that you realise that life is a tangle of moments that envelope you like a blanket. Sometimes you get too hot and other times the blanket is not warm enough. Though temperament is like the weather, wild and uncontrollable – one thing remains certain. That certainty being the healing power of chocolate. No matter what mood, circumstance or event, chocolate never fails to amaze me with its prowess and calming effect. This month’s recipe revolves around this great discovery which has baffled all that have come before it. For this month I give you the wonderful and chocolate filled ‘Hedgehog Slice’. In my opinion this recipe combines some of the rarest and greatest things in the world: simplicity and bliss. Not to mention a healthy dose of biscuit pieces for crunch, chocolate for the soul and icing for that extra dash of sugary goodness. My advice: make it!

Ingredients 500g of Scotch Finger Biscuits 250g of Butter 500g of Castor Sugar 4 Tablespoons of Cocoa 5 Tablespoons of Coconut 2 Teaspoons of Vanilla 1 Egg

Method 1) Roughly crush the biscuits so they are still in small pieces. 2) Add the castor sugar, cocoa and coconut and mix together. 3) Melt the butter before adding to the mixture along with the vanilla and egg. 4) Spoon into greased/lined tray or container, ice and then leave to set in the fridge until firm.

The icing Ingredients 3 Cups of Icing Sugar 3 Tablespoons of cocoa 2-3 Tablespoons of Boiling Water 1 Tablespoon of Butter Method 1) Combine icing sugar and cocoa, add butter. 2) Mix everything together with hot water until smooth. 3) Spread over slice.

ARTS PAGES

“Quotes are great; books are even better...” - John Smith

 

                               



Caffeine





Caffeine



What’s on Tune... Trimester 3 

Caffeine

Scientifically proven music that will activate your energy receptors, stimulate brain activity and fire-up motivational pulses. WARNING: Listening to TuneFM may cause spontaneous dancing in public.

Cinemascape

Homepage

Refraction





Beyond Zero

Women on the Line

Accent of Women

All the Best

Documentary

The Fourth Estate

Lost in Science

Diffusion

Arts Alive

“Get up and get moving” music mix

On The Money

Documentary

“Relax and get ready to face a new week” music mix



“Chill Out Sunday” music mix

Radio Atticus

Spectrum

Writers Radio

TuneFM, Aus tralia’s oldest university radio station, friends and  brings the campus to you wherever you are. With UNE  have some students scattered around the globe, TuneFM helps you  keep connected by playing great musicfun” during the day  music

LoveNews music?Zed Want to keep up with Indigenous Games Review what’s happening at UNE? Need podcasts to make your Mix-tape commute home less boring? Permafrost Want to get to know “Time your to Deadly Sounds of Moodle? lecturers outside catch up with

National

(okay so it’s not actually scientifically proven but we do have scientists who volunteer here)

The World With Tim Stackpool





 

What Up… Wednesday

Xroads

Pirate Radio

Guerilla Radio

 

Blue Before Sunset  

Geology

 

and an array of feature shows Fired Up from 4pm onwards. mix Friday

Want to h ear something differen t? Have a favourite song you’ve just heard and want played? Found

“Help me get through this assignment” musicevidence mix that reality t.v. has been infiltrated by aliens?

Join us on https://www.facebook.com/TuneFM106.9 and help us make TuneFM what you want to hear.

I’ve come to expect certain things from an AFI album: an introductory song that is totally different in structure from the songs that will proceed it, but that tells the listener all they need to know about the sound of these upcoming songs; choirlike backing vocals; and the most satisfying bridges I’ve ever heard in a song. Burials lives up to each of these expectations.

01 - The Sinking Night

A slow, melodic taste of what’s to come. It seems as if the band meditated on each note until they were sure that the song would provide an honest hint towards the overall sound of Burials.

02 - I HoPE YOU SUFFER

The first single released, ‘I Hope You Suffer’ set the tone for what was advertised as AFI’s return to their signiture darkand-moody tone. This was the song I listened to as I waited for the release, and when I finally heard it in between the other songs, it became clear that it had been the perfect single to best represent Burials.

05 - 17 cRIMES ’17 Crimes’ introduces a livelier sound to the previously grim and angry Burials. The surprisingly bright guitar riff drives the song, encouraging the vocals to follow suit. This is probably the popiest song AFI have ever made; turns out they’re excellent at pop songs

08 - Rewind I thought this was following the form of ‘Heart Stops’ to be another simple song with few layers. And then I heard another layer begin, and then another, until there were so many subtle but precise notes being played that it became one of the most interesting songs on the album.

11 - Greater Than 84

By far, the best part of ‘Greater Than 84’ is the perfectly pitched vocals of Davey Havok. His voice manages to be a gutteral scream that remains sparklingly clear, and ‘Greater Than 84’ sees the return of this odd mixture.

03 - A Deep Slow Panic

If I had to give one song on this album the title of Purest AFI Song, it would be ‘A Deep Slow Panic’. It is exactly the sound that I’ve come to expect from an AFI song, and it’s utterly delicious to listen to.

06 - tHE cONDUCTOR

04 - No Resurrection

This is a powerhouse of dynamic variation (the changing volume and speed of a song): one second it’s a muted echo of a guitar note, the next it’s the scream of the entire band kicking in; it tricks the listener into thinking that it’s ending, only to excite them when it flares up again.

My favourite song on the album, ‘The Conductor’ is driven by a guitar riff that makes me want to dance more than any song I’ve heard recently. I get uncontrollably excited whenever I hear the lyric “Don’t cut the connection”, because it signals the return of that guitar riff that has been teased throughout the rest of the song.

‘Heart Stops’ is probably the weakest song on Burials, but that doesn’t mean it’s a weak song on its own. If any song was going to earn AFI the title of Triple J Darling, it’s ‘Heart Stops’. This is the song that best shows AFI’s status as Rock Band.

09 - The Embrace

10 - Wild

This belongs to the bass. So much so that I made a terrible pun, calling it ‘The Embass’. The bass is so deep and resonating that it almost sounds as if your speaker itself is shaking - but somehow this manages to sound good in this case.

12 - Anxious ‘Anxious’ is reminiscent of the punk sound of old AFI albums. It rings with the sounds of Decemberunderground and Sing the Sorrow, ut manages to bring these past sounds up to the quality and clarity of Burials. ‘Anxious’ almost made me forget that I was listening to a brand new album, and not a long-lost song from the band’s frantic punk years.

07 - Heart Stops

I hadn’t expected AFI to sound this electronic since their 2006 album Decemberunderground. ‘Wild’ manages to to make a typical Burials song - heavy guitars, throbbing bass, moody drums shine with the merging of this electronic sound.

13 - The Face Beneath the Waves

The verse of ‘The Face Beneath the Waves’ is one massive build-up of tense excitement, until the chorus is unleashed to give the listener everything they were promised by the whole of the album they just listened to. It is the perfet end to Burials, concluding everything that ‘The Sinking Night’ initiated.

Burials in seven words? Perfect mix of sounds for new album.

reviews

AFI started their career as a punk band with short and furious songs. Over the course of their last few albums, they’ve changed into more of a rock band, much calmer and more melodic. Burials is the perfect progression of this change, and the sound that I’ve always hoped AFI would develop.

Photos: S. Horsfield

John Webster’s

The

Duchess of Malfi

Directed by Milly Roberts Cast The Duchess - Jess Vince-Moin The Duke Ferdinand - Josh Osborne The Cardinal - Alex Robson Bosola - Peter Newman Antonio - Nick Sinclair Cariola - Torie Hall Julia - Ashleigh Baker Delio - Jeremy Stibbard Castruccio - Judd Newton Roderigo - Chris Myers The conventional view of John Webster (c1580-c1634), the Jacobean playwright, is neatly captured in John Madden’s Shakespeare in Love. In the 1998 film Shakespeare asks a young boy feeding a live mouse to a cat what he thought of Titus Andronicus. The boy replies, “I like it when they cut the heads off. And the daughter mutilated with knives… Plenty of blood. That’s the only writing.” The boy’s name is John Webster. Webster, on this view – which, until recently, was my own – is a gothic horror man. Completely over the top when it comes to gore, death, torture and mutilation, to which he happily sacrificed plausibility of plot and character. OK, there might be the occasional flashes of poetic genius, but these gems sparkle perhaps even more than they should just because of the unremitting satanic vaudeville in which they have their place.

A Review by Dr Tony Lynch

If one had to characterize the man and his plays in terms of a modern analogue, then Quentin Tarantino might be your man. So, certainly an important figure, but hardly an exalted genius like Shakespeare, or intellectual master of technique like Jonson. Rather a lesser epigone of Christopher Marlowe’s more melodramatic moments inflated to the level of absurdity. I was wrong. I found this out when I saw Milly Roberts’ superb production of The Duchess of Malfi (1614) at the Arts Theatre of this university a couple of weeks ago. I feel a certain embarrassment at my breakthrough, for one reason I achieved it certainly had to do with the play being edited to half its normal 3+ hours. Three hours of satanic vaudeville might have been fine for Jacobean audiences used to interminable sermons, but for a modern attention-challenged age it asks more than most can deliver, let alone endure. But more important than the length reduction was nature of that reduction. For Roberts managed not merely to keep most of the poetic highlights, (“Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust,/ Like diamonds, we are cut with our own dust.” “That’s the greatest torture souls feel in hell,/In hell: that they must live, and cannot die.” “Other sins only speak; murder shrieks out./The element of water moistens the earth,/But blood flies upwards and bedews the heavens.” etc.),

but did so while paring the action down to its emotional core, so that what I had previously thought a messily, even poorly, plotted show of gratuitous horrors became a taut social and psychological tragedy whose inner necessity equals that of Sophocles’ Antigone. Webster and Sophocles? Antigone and The Duchess of Malfi? Surely this is going too far! Well, no. I don’t think so. For Roberts’ streamlined production let me see that The Duchess of Malfi is, like Antigone, a family tragedy of a special, and specially terrifying, kind. It is a tragedy of children together in a world without parents, condemned by their blood relationship to play or search for those parental roles they do not, and cannot, truly find or play, and in the process destroying themselves. The play starts with the young, recently widowed Duchess being told by her two brothers, Ferdinand and the Cardinal, for reasons never made clear, that she must not marry again. The Duchess agrees, the brothers leave, and she promptly marries her steward, equally promptly producing three children by him. Through the work of a spy (Bosola) hired to keep an eye on the Duchess, the brothers find out about the marriage and children, and all hell breaks loose. The elder brother, the Cardinal, is mostly furious at the Duchess’s disobedience which dishonours the siblings’ ties of trust, order and propriety, so undermining the authority of the absent father they must create amongst themselves; while the Duchess’s twin, Ferdinand, literally goes mad at what he takes to be an

Perhaps the trauma of parentless children trying – and failing – to make a life together as a family is an allegorical representation of a world without God. More likely, in Webster’s world, it is the other way round. A world without God an allegorisation of a world without parents, a world of children, of brothers and sisters, trying to make a life together, trying to be a family, and so trying to do the impossible; for we cannot be our own parents. And if we do try it, then our sister’s marriage is adultery at the same time as our imagined relationship with her incestuous. No wonder it ends badly.

The Night Wisher By Tyrone Phillips

does he wish for the darkness or does he wish for the stars or does he wish for the whole world black? does he want to take the light in our eyes or let the nothingness reign?

creative writing & thought

adulterous affair in which she has not only been unfaithful to them, but has dared, in her three children, to create a family of her own, a true family with a real, existing, father and mother; a family whose very reality shows the desperate illusion of their own parentless efforts to create themselves as family. And so the torture and killing that leaves everyone dead, except for the first son of the Duchess’s ill-fated marriage. This little boy – the only one of the three children we ever see, and then only once, now, amidst all the blood – is taken by some as the play’s final message of hope and redemption; but that, surely, is as wrong as can be (this, I take it, is why Roberts cuts this, for her whole interpretation pulls the other way). For this child, like his mother and her brothers, now lives traumatized in a parentless world, and so the cycle continues…

No, my child, his want is not for that. He envies pride, he envies sense, But his need is not for these. He wishes for truth, wishes for innocence, Wishes to be carried from pain. He-then does he carry the wishes or make them come true or does he look at them and smile? does he wish and dream and want and hope for the truth his eyes keep hid? No, my child, he does none of this. He grants the wishes, but knows it not; He gives his soul to all who care. It leaks through fingers, onto script of lead, And turns it into gold. His-then is he a creature of art or some spectral being or is he something more? or is he like the breeze to us just a man of simple love?

Of course, none of this would have mattered at all if the actors hadn’t inhabited their roles, but inhabit them they did, and doing that they revealed the true magic of Webster’s poetry: the way it – far more than Shakespeare or Marlowe or Jonson – not only, as Eliot said, “reveals the skull beneath the skin”, but is the language of real people, caught up in the worst of that whirl of organism we call life. So now I have the Webster bug. I wish Roberts and company would perform the tragic-comedy The Devil’s Law Case, and I wish they could perform what Webster himself thought his best play, the lost comedy Guise. Who knows? If we had that then John Madden’s Shakespeare in Love might have to lose a scene.

- Dr Tony Lynch is a senior lecturer in Philosophy and Politics at UNE.

Yes, my child, he is nothing but that. A man with heart of glass, Locked up with chains of steel, Filled with the words of the ages, The song of the innocence, The poetry of the wish. Long black hair covers the torment of years. With just some small struggle, All can see through his binds. See into the wonder beyond. But none can touch his innermost self. He is the Night Wisher.

creative writing & thought

The Adventures of Arabella Henderson UNE Time Detective Episode 1: The Convenient Plot Device

It was a typical Monday morning at the University of New England.

by Kate Wood

The Catchglance Look about you. Each fragment of our environment is a piece of a puzzle waiting to be examined, waiting to be seen in a new way, waiting to be discovered. Nucleus presents the first Catchglance: a sign, a texture, an image, a message, an idea, both captured forever and still waiting to be found. Can you find what we have found? If you know where it is, let us know... Find me out, don’t glance too high I am bare and cold before your eye. Tall, round, grey, my bearer stands As I sit scrawled by thoughtful hands On a pillar from a near-distant age Age of industry, its wall my page A fortress off where wheels might rest With weather wearied by my test. A message to those who do not try; A word of comfort, heart’s need so caught: Or a desperate anti-apathetic cry Runnelled by rain and running thoughts ‘Don’t just go, don’t dare, don’t die Without giving it a best of sorts’.

Email editors@nucleus.org.au; comment on our website; post on our facebook page; send us a letter; or tell us in person at the Nucleus office, where you found the Catchglance.

To be continued...

sacred symbols A

Symbol name 7. Torii gate 1. Ankh 2. Farohar 8. Tao 3. Khandra 9. 10 Sephirot 4. Swastika 10. Nine-pointed star 11. Compass & square 5. Virgo 6. Valknut 12. Raelian star

Win!

Belief O. Hinduism P. Norse Q. Bahá’í R. Raelian S. Astrology T. Shinto

U. Sikh V. Ancient Egyptian W. Taoism X. Kabbalah (Judaism) Y. Freemasonry Z. Zoroastrianism

Which symbols match with which belief, and what is the symbol called?

Send your answers in the format ‘A-1-O’. One random correct set of answers received before 25 November will be rewarded with a block of delicious Finnish chocolate, posted from Finland. (Unless you’re allergic. Then I’ll post you a squirrel—in particular, the squirrel who keeps eating out of my garden.) Love, Editors.

editors@nucleus.org.au

This puzzle, created by Jessie Cat and John Mack, was first printed in the Sept/Oct issue of TableAus, the Australian Mensa Magazine. It is used with permission.

Addy’s On Marsh Addy’s on Marsh is one of the most successful little Restaurant/Takeaway businesses in the region. Offering fresh homemade Pizzas, Pastas & Risottos at very affordable prices people can afford to dine out or have yummy takeaways. Located across from The Whitebull on the main Highway, they provide dine in (BYO), takeaway and cater for special events. Addy, (Adam Moore) and crew have been serving Armidale’s discerning pizza lovers for nearly 3 years from their Gourmet pizza and Pasta Restaurant. As a young man himself he caters for the student population with his special deals & functions that he has provided over the years & is open to any new ideas from the student population & public. Check out our website www.addys.com.au to view the menu & what Addy’s is all about.

Call us for College, Societies and club function quotes. 6772 2300

A Word with Judd Mellifluous. Some people have a certain charm which just washes over you. Often, but not always, it is to do with their voice. The smooth, sweet and flowing, tendrils which reach out out hold you, like a spoonful of honey being dribbled onto your face. The word to describe such a quality is ‘mellifluous’ which actually derives from the Latin word ‘mellifluus’, which literally means to flow with honey. Now next time you hear David Attenborough speak and feel like you are being swept off your feet by his delectable voice, remember this word ‘mellifluous’, but try to avoid getting too sick of its sweetness. Polite things tend to make people vomit.

Abscond. Let us pretend you have done something wrong. Something tremendously wrong. For example, taking your parent’s biplane and getting it stuck in a tree - let’s be honest, it happens to the best of us. Then suppose your parent (or parents depending on who owns the biplane) happens to walk outside and sees you climbing from the plane wreckage now perched in their magnolia. You probably would like to leave the scene of the crime, no? Well, if you want to do it effectively and to add vocal flair to your day, you would be wanting to abscond from the scene. Absconding refers to somebody (in this case you) leaving rather quickly and, with any luck, undetected. People generally abscond when they have been caught red-handed and before they even know what has happened they have quickly slipped nto the shadows and jumped on the nearest train to Tamworth, because nobody, not even your parents, would follow you there.

GNSAD ____________ Dear GNSAD, I have just graduated from UNE and now I’m getting very worried about what sort of career I should pursue. I have so many options, how do I know which is the best one for me? - Anonymous The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is about a woman with simply too many choices, at least according to the Cleo book club. She’s driven positively mad as to whether she should burn her dreams on the luke-warm fire of domestic bliss and marry the hunk Buddy, or become some sort of outrageous hysteric monster trashing every well-worn choice of the feminine sex in pursuit of her dreams. She’s so torn by these amazing choices that it drives her to depression; through the trauma of electric shock therapy and institutionalisation she eventually recovers. If your choices turn out to be that hard - don’t worry, treatment for mental illness has allegedly improved. If you are choosing between occupations that wear a uniform I suggest you try each on and ask acquaintances to assess how plausible you look in each. If you look like you’re dressed for Halloween in all of them then it is time to broaden your horizons. Don’t sweat it too much, in this economy you’ll probably be onto something new in a few years anyway. Remember; life’s all about appearances. Fake it till you make it baby. So in short, life really isn’t that bad - the worst choices you make (in the world of career) can only lead you to medication anyway! And if you’re a woman, ever thought of getting married?* - GNSAD, GNSAD@nucleus.org.au

*Editor’s note: We have finally captured the GNSAD in the gutters outside the old boiler house, posing as a stray cat. To prevent GNSAD from continuing to misbehave we had to wipe some of her memory and start replacing it from scratch. At this stage he only has the entire back catalogue of Cleo, Cosmopolitan, and a few years of A Current Affair to cross reference for answers. We apologise and are working on it.