editors. john shirley sarah owen
cover art. alana young
back cover art. the eds and tania court
contributors. john shirley sarah owen cassandra keogh david mailler liam kennedy brad reynolds rhonda heyman eunice pegg mat hardy jessie walter michael evans helen taylor josh raines constance chatterley shishi uni4me
disclaimer.
The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of Nucleus or UNESA. 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our readers can tolerate a degree of satire and the odd swear word, but anything containing unnecessary profanity will not be published.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.
contact us.
Visit www.nucleus.org.au Or write to us at editors@nucleus.org.au Come and see us at the office in the Student Media Hub with Tune!FM We’re always happy to get new writers and artists on board, so send us an email for more information, or send us some of your work if you have it ready! We look forward to hearing from you!
contents. VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1, FEBRUARY 2015
Editorial // 03 UNESA President’s Report // 04 Campus Map // 05 News // 06 Yarn Up // 12 Features // 13 Insider’s Guide // 16 Vale - Sue Fell // 20 Opinion // 22 Letters to the Editor // 24 Reviews & Advice // 25 Naughty Bits // 28 Just Ask // 30 Cards Against Humanity // 31
.editorial JOHN SHIRLEY
Hello, こんにちは, Servus and bonjour readers! Welcome to the third a year of the Nucleus, and most importantly… welcome back to school! So find a comfy chair or hammock, fill up your glass, and get ready because this issue is sure to leaving you reeling. No really…
Although we’ve only been a part of the team here at Nucleus for 3 months now, it’s been quite a journey. From our move over here to the Tune!FM building to meeting the charismatic and lively UNESA staff members, not to mention trying to keep up with everything else that’s been happening on and around campus, we’ve been pretty busy. This issue is full of things like moving medical centres, risqué love advice, a bunch of awesome reviews, and orientation week activities… so many activities…
important notices. TEACHING COMMENCES 27 FEBRUARY
Part of our job here is to know everything that happens on campus and cover every event. Although we wish we could be everywhere and know everything, we can’t. So we need your help. If you can write, draw paint, chase stories, or take superb photographs we want you! Even if you just want to come and chill out in air conditioned comfort and enjoy our company, drop on by. For our external friends, feel free to fire a few emails our way, we read everything that comes in and I promise we won’t bite… much ;-) Let’s kick this year off with a bang!
LAST DAY TO ENROL/CHANGE TRIMESTER 1 UNITS
Much love, John & Sarah
2 MARCH
Nucleus acknowledges the Aniwan people who are the traditional owners of the land University of New England is situated on.
Nucleus would like to advise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers that this issue contains images and names of deceased persons.
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We would also like to pay our respects to elders, both past & present and extend that respect to other Aboriginal people.
another year. FEBRUARY REPORT On behalf of the UNE Student Association, welcome to our new students. Good luck on your adventure in pursuing your passions and aspirations and we hope the journey is what you expect. The energy that comes as UNE welcomes a new cohort of students is refreshing and the passion that comes from people pursuing their aspirations is infectious. One piece of advice to all students is that while study is important, university is and should be, so much more, so take advantage of the sporting, clubs and college services.
DAVID MAILLER - UNESA PRESIDENT
On a less positive note, this time last year I was full of optimism that the UNE Student Association had an opportunity to resolve its relationship with UNE, and particularly the senior management. The endemic toxic culture of ‘shooting the messenger’ I have witnessed in my couple of years at UNE has rotted the heart of why and how this university exists. UNESA is being stymied and throttled in its ability to carry out the important student advocacy and representative function. Student advocacy is an important function of the federal education legislation. The Higher Education Service Act refers to certain obligations that universities have, including student advocacy and representation. The act refers to adequate resourcing and the student association remains reliant on the goodwill of students to fill an operational and administrative role. This has been an ongoing issue for UNESA and one that has become increasingly urgent to address. Despite a series of attempts to garner help and resources over several years, this has resulted in an admission by one senior executive member that UNESA should ‘give up’. The importance of having independent advocacy is not often recognised by our students until they find themselves needing a collective student voice and a personal advocate. UNESA was founded not only to fill a student representative role but to address higher education provider federal legislative requirements. It is a credit to the elected student representatives and their commitment to UNE and its students that UNESA exists. Maybe I was optimistic, and I suppose naïve, to think that a new Vice Chancellor and Chancellor could lead UNE out of the dark cave in which it currently resides and tell a new story with vision about the UNE Student Association. For me, there is no evidence of change in the UNE management culture towards students and its association. The people have changed but the culture remains the same. I have witnessed and been on the end of paternalistic lip service coming from an authoritarian standing on a title. I will be presumptuous and remind UNE senior management that with the job title comes a duty of care and leadership responsibility. If UNE management would like an example of how authoritarian management and a lack of consultative leadership looks and ends, it is worth looking at where the former Queensland and current Federal government leadership team have found themselves. The ‘captain’s call’ misses the subtle and often overlooked buy-in from the key stakeholder that is very relevant at UNE. There was an article in the Brisbane Times on 3 February, 2015 titled ‘It’s not the voters fault, you idiots’. It is worth a read and I believe it has a significant message about how myopic management fails to recognise the importance of consultative leadership in successful management. Sadly, I have to say that the VC has lost my confidence that she could be the catalyst for an invigorated university, respected locally and abroad. I will accept that she inherited a basket full of problems, not least of which is a federal political storm. Although the measure of leadership, I believe, is to not only ‘talk the talk’ but also ‘walk the walk’, UNE senior executive has good talk about what UNE could and has been, but I am yet to see the evidence of an action plan beyond more of the same. I hope I am wrong. The UNESA board has repeatedly committed to work cooperatively with UNE senior management on how we can, together, meet the specific higher education service act advocacy obligations.
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BACHELOR OF MUSIC ONLINE MOVE HITS SOUR NOTE.
BRAD REYNOLDS
As a musician I was very sceptical when the UNE made the decision to take the entire music program online from 2015 onwards. My initial thoughts were “what the hell?!”, and “that is such a stupid idea!”. Although, knowing that I am just one person, I decided to reach out to some of my contacts in the music industry, some of whom have completed their degrees at the conservatorium of music in either Sydney or Melbourne, and others who work, as musicians, for professional musical organisations such as Opera Australia. The main issue they focused on was the distinct lack of performance opportunities that the new students would have. Sure, students can record their performances and share them with lecturers and their peers, but as one of my contacts has said: “…how you sound in person will always be different to how you sound on a recording.” - name withheld Another point that was raised was the loss of networking opportunities for the students. This is a large issue, as being able to play music, and jam, with like-minded, skilled musicians is one of the fastest ways to grow as a musician, and is the only way to properly apply and develop the skills of musicianship. “…the point is for music to be performed.” - name withheld
The one agreeable point put forward though was that, “…as far as research is concerned, it is probably very practical.”
- name withheld
The email sent out in late July ’14 said: “One of the many benefits of these changes is that music will be offering a greater number of units from 2015 onwards.” which is definitely true.
Prior to trimester 1, 2015, music only offered 26 units over the course of the 3 year degree. They now offer 35 units with an additional 36CPS of elective units. One exceptional addition to the core unit list is OORA100-Aboriginal Resilience and the Arts. I absolutely love the fact that we will be teaching our musicians some of the traditional practices of art and music developed by the original settlers of Australia. The performance based units like MUSI110, MUSI210, MUSI310, and MUSI321 may cause issues for some musicians, as I can say from personal experience that learning how to play harmonics by yourself (unless you play a string instrument) is freaking difficult! But as they say, the proof is in the pudding, and by the end of this year we should see what these changes have wrought.
HOLE PUNCHERS SOUGHT AS BUDGET CUTS LEAD TO BELT TIGHTENING. As you’ve no doubt seen over the holidays, the Australian dollar will only stretch so far. This is as true for your own finances as it is for our University, and with so much uncertainty surrounding future government funding (or lack thereof), it makes sense for our administrators to start tightening their respective belts. The only questions that remain are: who else will need to tighten their belts, how will this affect the services that the UNE provide, and how will this affect our degrees?
Rumours have been circulating for months now about possible budget cuts happening around campus. With entire departments being informed that they would no longer be allowed to hire workers to help with both everyday duties and large scale projects (we’re talking campus wide!). Other departments have also been informed that they may not have jobs here as we get back into studying in 2015. “It’s like we’ve been given a massive question mark for Christmas” - Anonymous
With rumours like this floating around, we have to start wondering what will happen to services such as: technical support for struggling students and lecturers, library workers to assist in locating resources and maintaining order in Dixson, building and amenity maintenance (in college and in around campus), and even the availability of lecturers to teach units. In the latter case, it could mean that more courses (like the Bachelor of Music) may only be offered online. If these (and many more) services are affected adversely due to budget cuts then we can expect longer waits for technical support, possible unavailability of necessary study materials and dirtier buildings and rooms. Not to mention the availability of staff for emergencies like when the university’s network was hacked mid last year. In a recent interview Professor Alison Sheridan said: “…with the uncertainty of future funding, all universities need to be more prudent with their finances.” Professor Sheridan went on to say that there is no direct link between budget cuts and staff downsizing. If you notice any services in decline, speak up. Remember, this is your degree and your future that you are working for.
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une NUCLEUS MOVE IN TUNE! WITH STUDENTS. It’s a new year and we’re delighted to let you in on one of the biggest changes on campus since (UNElife) moved the medical centre (without consulting those who use it the most… the students).
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We’ll be covering everything from the yearly battle for MB/PT supremacy, the weekly university team clashes, Unigames, SFK, college balls, and all the award ceremonies that pop up throughout the year. All this is possible because of the lovely people over at UNESA.
What is it you ask?
In other news, Unelife and UNESA are currently in talks over who gets to call the Student Media Hub theirs for the current year… that’s right, we’re just that awesome.
A SECRET!!!
FIGJAM.
Ok, fine. Just don’t tell anyone I told you alright.
Unelife was born out of the merging of Services UNE and Sport UNE, and oversees the running of the ‘Stro, Cafelife, Campus Essentials, Sport UNE, and a range of other services; whereas, UNESA currently oversees Uni4Me, the legacy scholarship fund, Clubs & Societies, Tune!FM, and us.
(UNESA) have decided to create a student media hub! You may have heard rumours floating around, but it’s definitely true. Nucleus has moved across the courtyard to Tune!FM and we couldn’t be happier! The move over here means that we have so many more people to talk to (all the lovely Tune girls and boys) and we got our own coffee machine! We plan to cover as many things as we can from the student media hub this year, and for those occasions when we have to leave our fortress of solitude, we’ll be kitted out in our snazzy new media vests, so keep an eye out.
If you have anything to say about who you want running the Student Media Hub this year then drop us a line at editors@nucleus.org.au
VALE - JOHN ALLDIS We would like to extend our deepest and sincerest sympathies to Mick Alldis and his family on the passing of Mick’s brother John Alldis. John passed late last year and is missed by friends and family alike. During Movember, Mick managed to rally 16 other men to his side and form the Mo-Tivated team. Together they managed to raise a combined total of $4173 to put towards men’s health issues and prostate cancer research. Mo-Tivated also managed to place 6th out of 33 teamsentered into the Uni challenge. Movember 2014 saw c.95,000 participants in Australia alone who managed to raise approximately $19,750,000. The worldwide Movember effort raised just shy of $100M.
or just come in and see us.
uni4me independent advocacy. Has the University Written to You? Might You be in Trouble? Uni4Me Independent Advocacy is here to help you. If the University contacts you about: plagiarism misconduct show cause Uni4Me INDEPENDENT Advocates can assist you to respond and work out an overall plan to get you back on track! We are totally INDEPENDENT from the University. Anything you tell us is completely confidential. Uni4Me can also advise you about any APPEALS of assignment, exam or overall unit results. We cannot always get the outcome you want, yet we always do our best to help you improve your situation. Drop into the Uni4Me office top courtyard next to the Student Media Hub phone us on (02) 6773 2506 or email uni4me@une.edu.au
PLAGIARISM TIP from Uni4Me Talking about you unit work, including assignments requirements, with other students is great for learning. There is nothing wrong with studying together and helping each other with the general knowledge and skills of the unit. The risk of plagiarism can arise if you cross the line into sharing your actual assessment work with fellow students - including just small parts of it. Do NOT ever share your completed or near-completed assignments - or even small parts of them - with other students! Do NOT ever ask a fellow student for their work or near-completed assignment work! It can be ‘all too easy’ when rushing to meet assignment deadlines, when the pressure is on and stress levels are high, to cross the line from gaining insight and inspiration to COPYING. Avoid this ONE plagiarism risk by NOT sharing assignments - simple as that. To increase your confidence about ALL risks and types of plagiarism do the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) of UNE101. For more info about the AIM got to http://www.une.edu.au/current-students/resources/academic-skills/plagiarism
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FEDERAL MEDICARE PLANS SCRAPPED AS STUDENTS PREPARE TO GO EXTRA MILE FOR TREATMENT. LIAM KENNEDY
While the UNE Medical Centre has re-located to West Armidale, changes to the Medicare rebate have been scrapped by the new Health Minister.
This means the increased difference between the rebate and the cost of the appointment, or “gap payment”, paid by patients would have become bigger.
The planned changes to the rebates had caused shockwaves across the medical community, with the Australian Medical Association describing the plans as an “attack on general practice”.
On the 15th of January, Federal Health Minister Susan Ley announced that plans to cut the Medicare rebate by $20 had been “taken off the table”. If the changes were to have come into affect on January 19th, as intended, doctors who saw patients for less than 10 minutes would have received a rebate of $16.95 instead of the usual $37.05.
The Federal Government also had plans to slash the rebate for all consultations by $5, from July 1st, but these too appear to have been scrapped. Minister Ley’s decision to abandon the rebate cuts came a few days after Prime Minster Abbott came out in favour of cutting the Medicare rebate.
Magazine, Australian Doctor, distributed anti-government posters to be displayed in clinics. The changes to the Rebate had been announced in December 2014, by the then Health Minster, Peter Dutton. Minister Dutton had explained that the cuts to the Rebate were needed to address the “Ballooning” costs of Medicare, which had apparently grown from $8 billion to $20 billion in a decade. In mid-January, Minister Ley announced that the government will push for the introduction of a Medicare co-payment in the future. Meanwhile, UNE students will now have to travel further for medical services, as the UNE Medical Centre re-establishes itself at Butler St in West Armidale. The centre is now located on the ground floor of the UNE’s Tablelands Clinical School, next to Armidale Hospital. The decision to move was apparently prompted by issues with the structural integrity of the original clinic, in addition to a lack of easy access for the disabled. As reported in the last issue of Nucleus, the decision to move the clinic was labelled as “lacking empathy for the student situation”, by UNESA President, David Mailler. Students will be expected to find their own means of transport from the campus to the clinic.
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image courtesy of Australian Doctor
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MED CENTRE MOVE SICKENS STUDENTS
EUNICE PEGG
It took me 18 minutes to decipher the bus timetable map. Then another 12 to figure out exactly where the med centre was. There is a bus that goes to Rusden Street. But that’s the 485. Appointment time meant the closest bus was a 481. The driver was unable to oblige me. The fare is $3, but only if you have a foil. A student card is not enough and my foil had just expired. I hear it was $2.40 for those valiant souls who had trekked for their foil. The bus got to the college stop at approximately 10:06am. At 10:15am I got off across from the TAFE and began my journey to the med centre. It was 800m I walked briskly but my cold was killing my lungs. The cold Armidale day was turning nasty.
I tentatively headed toward Rusden; I was new to town but had a vague idea. I didn’t know whether to turn left or right, the pamphlet the lady had given me cut the map off without any reference points. I took a punt and turned right. A sign to the hospital! It started to rain. Great. Having crossed 3 busy roads I eventually made it to the centre, trying to note my nearest stop back; it was 10:28am. The bus dropped off at the TAFE but did not appear to pick up from there. I asked the lady behind the desk - she seemed unsure. I waited for my 11:15am appointment; it was irritating the next bus to town wouldn’t run until 11:10am. And the appointment was running late. Finally at 11:40am I hobbled out the door. My plantar wart was seriously giving me grief by now.
I hobbled up Butler hopping for a closer stop - they claimed one to drop off on the corner of Butler and Beardy. It was the wrong way so I headed up Beardy to the other one. The bus didn’t come for ages and the shelter was inadequate for the weather. The rain started to drive. The wind picked up and my umbrella was useless. Head down, teeth gritted, nose streaming I headed for Centro. I got to the stop there. The next bus wasn’t until 12:47pm. It was only 12:05pm. I only had enough money for the bus fare so no coffee to drown my sorrows. I sat on the bench at the sushi place and wept. Is this was they envisaged when they moved the med centre? A flu-ridden student in the middle of winter, coffee deprived and weeping on the bench beside the sushi place. I left home at 10am and got home at 1pm. 3 hours and $6 poorer. You sick bastards.
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TAFE
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CENTRO
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map courtesy of GoogleMaps
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PETER GRESTE RELEASED: GOOD NEWS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST
Congratulations to Dr Adam Rock for coming number 5 in the 2014 Lecturer of the Year awards.
MAT HARDY, DEAKIN UNIVERSITY
The release of Peter Greste from an Egyptian prison is surprising only in that it happened without too much telegraphing of the exact date. A deportation-style resolution of the case had been on the cards for months, and Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had been expecting the announcement since before Christmas. That Greste is now free and on his way home is the best sort of news. Spending 400 days in an Egyptian prison and enduring a confusing legal stoush would have been distressing for Greste and his co-accused. It’s no secret that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi wished that things might have been handled differently. The show trial and its procedure cast Egypt’s new regime in a bad light internationally, despite the fact that it played well at home. That hurt the government, which was looking to bolster its credentials with the West. Once in the legal gears, though, the case had to progress to its inevitable conclusion. However, al-Sisi very shrewdly took a position of letting the courts do their work. Stepping in and releasing everyone by presidential fiat would have invited criticism about the rule of law and the power of the head of state – particularly since former president Mohamed Morsi had himself been deposed partly upon his own tendency to declare himself above the courts. So while al-Sisi publicly voiced his wish that the journalists could have been deported rather than put on trial, the courts got on with jailing them. Behind the scenes, though, there would have been pressure to come up with a legally structured solution that allowed everyone to save face. That reached its conclusion today. At least for Peter.
THE EGYPTIAN DILEMMA The trial, sentencing and release of Peter Greste serve to highlight the delicate state of Egyptian affairs in the years since Hosni Mubarak was swept from office.
The trial, sentencing and release of Peter Greste serve to highlight the delicate state of Egyptian affairs in the years since Hosni Mubarak was swept from office. As events of last week showed, Egypt is facing a stubborn insurgency in the northern Sinai. This is nothing of the scale of what’s occurring in Iraq or Yemen, but it is worrying for a nation where absolute control was maintained for decades. Such a rebellion causes a dilemma for al-Sisi. On one hand he needs to clamp down on the opposing ideology, as evidenced by the Al Jazeera case and the mass trials of Muslim Brotherhood supporters. On the other hand, he needs the continued financial and diplomatic support of the West and other Arab nations to fight this insurgency.
image courtesy @marywhiteUNE
WE’RE HAPPY JAN We also want to say a huge well done to Jan McClelland, UNE Deputy Chancellor, for being awarded Australia’s highest honour and being named a member of the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2015!
The Greste case typified this dilemma as the new regime took power and tried to juggle all these competing tensions. The shadow of Qatar and its ideological affinity for groups like the Muslim Brotherhood was also present. Beyond this nest of tangled interests, though, the case illustrates the wider issue of press freedom in the Middle East. From Saudi bloggers to Japanese hostages, shedding light on the region can be a dangerous profession. According to the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, the Middle East and North Africa regions rank very poorly. The cluster of countries with the lowest ranking of “Very serious situation” is noticeable on the map. The link between freedom of the press and robust democracy is not given much airtime in the region. So we should welcome Peter Greste back home to Australia and celebrate his release. But in doing so, remember that he is one of the lucky ones.
image courtesy UNE staff profiles
BEYOND THE ACADEMIC VOTE We would like to announce that UNESA’s president, David Mailler, will be running for office in the upcoming state election. With that in mind, we want to know what you think the top 5 issues are for students today. You can do this by emailing us at editors @nucleus.org.au coming in to our office and hanging out, or by writing them on a piece of paper and slipping it under our front door.
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une VOLLEY TO VICTORY JESSIE WALTER - CLUB PRESIDENT
news Follow your
Compass
to connect (and save) at UNE! Download the Compass, UNE Student Association’s free app, for
At the end of November the UNE Volleyball Club took thirteen players down to Canberra for the Good Neighbour Games.
- local discounts and offers that appear on your phone’s map, plus live promotions - the latest news and events on your own calendar - entertainment and competitions on campus - nationwide repeat use discounts - UNE club and society activities you can subscribe and post to.
The players were split into two teams – mixed and men’s – and competed to the best of their ability. The mixed team won half of their games and placed in the middle of the group. The men’s placed lower in their grade; however played great games against tough oppositions. Both teams played with enthusiasm and had a great time. It was a great experience for the players and there were teams that we had not come up against before. It was definitely worth the eight-hour drive! The UNE volleyball club also has two social competitions each trimester running on Monday nights from 6pm. Anyone is welcome to come along and play so if you are interested come down to Sport UNE on the 23rd of February for a pre-season volleyball night.
Download the UNESA Compass and pick up a free diary & wall planner at the uni4me office! SEARCH ‘UNESA COMPASS’– DOWNLOAD FREE
volunteer with the blue shirts. Help improve the on-campus experience for your Student Community! help plan and run events contribute your own ideas to build bigger and better events gain experience in teamwork meet new people and broaden your social network obtain points towards the New England Award Being a Blue Shirt is totally flexible. Some give a lot of time and others a little.
All students are welcome. To register your interest or for further info, drop into Uni4Me, phone (02) 6773 2506 or email uni4me@une.edu.au
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Whatever you can manage makes a big difference!
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image courtesy of Peter Burn
FEATURES
Shamrock, the Asian Moon Bear, took her first tentative steps outside her den, onto a surface she had never experienced before - grass. Venturing further outside, she discovered something she had never seen before – the sky. After a lifetime of torture in a cage barely able to accommodate her, being cruelly milked daily for her bile, Shamrock was free to live her life as a bear, to forage and to sleep, without pain and suffering. A victim of the horrendous and unnecessary practice of bile extraction, Shamrock was rescued in 2013 and rehabilitated by Animals Asia, a charity formed 20 years ago by a British woman, Jill Robinson, who could not forget her first encounter with a farmed bear and vowed to do something about it. In the ensuing years, Animals Asia has rescued about 500 bears in China and Vietnam and are at the forefront of campaigns to educate people about the herbal and synthetic alternatives to bear bile and to change minds, hearts and attitudes of Governments and the people towards moon bears specifically and animals generally. In a society that leans towards narcissm, it is sometimes easy to ignore the suffering of other sentient beings. Surely we diminish ourselves as human beings when we categorise a suffering being as “only an animal” when compared to the suffering of a human being. It should never be “either/or”; it should always be “both”. Albert Schweitzer, the German-born theologian, philosopher, physician and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, appealed to our higher nature when he said “..a man is ethical only when life, as such, is sacred to him, that of plants and animals as that of his fellow men, and when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in need of help” (sic). In Armidale, New South Wales, there are no Asian Moon Bears, but there is Honey, an apparently abandoned dog found wandering the streets, heavily burdened by parasites and suffering from mange that consumed her body, resulting in cracked and bleeding skin. The local RSPCA and Animal Shelter combined to rescue Honey. She was lovingly tended by vets and her foster carer, and months later, she is unrecognisable. She is a pretty, healthy dog, living her life in peace in a loving new home. On a National level, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, recently put out a call through social media for mittens for koalas whose paws had been burnt in bushfires. People in Australia and overseas responded in a phenomenal way, with the IFAW having to issue a plea for “no more mittens!!”. Indeed, it was a case of “mitten accomplished!”. When we as humans do look beyond ourselves and our own existence, there is great joy to be found in knowingly contributing to the care and nurture of all beings. To follow the exploits of moon bear Shamrock, as she learns to share her food and to embrace all that life now offers her, is to make our own problems just that little bit less overwhelming. And to know that Honey is now living a life of comfort brings joy to a jaded heart.
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In his social appraisal novel “Hard Times”, published in 1854, Charles Dickens wrote: “have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.”
all creatures, great and small. RHONDA HEYMAN
This year, the University of New England Student Association (UNESA) will “have a heart” and contribute to charities that rescue and care for animals. Once a trimester, UNESA will hold a fundraising stall with all proceeds going to a selected charity. For example, in April a stall will be held to raise money for Animals Asia and in August, the RSPCA hold their annual Cupcake Day, to which UNESA will contribute. Information on other fundraising initiatives throughout the year will be published in Nucleus and on UNESA’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UniversityOfNewEnglandStudentAssociation If you would like to contribute to any of the charities mentioned in this article, links to their Facebook pages, that have information on their latest campaigns, can be found below: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalsAsia https://www.facebook.com/armidalerspca https://www.facebook.com/ifaw.au Any students who may be interested in forming an animal welfare club or society can contact the Coordinator of UNE’s Clubs and Societies for advice and assistance in setting up the organisation. Just email James at clubsandsocieties@une.edu.au.
we understand your time at university is about more than attending lectures. if you’re involved with any extraordinary activities then let us know! editors@nucleus.org.au or come in and see us!
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honey.
TO E UN
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map courtesy of Armidale Dumaresq Council
CENTRO IS THE MAIN SHOPPING CENTRE IN TOWN. IT IS ALSO THE EASIEST PLACE TO PARK AT. CENTRO HAS WOOLIES AND REJECT SHOP. AWESOME. IF IT’S ON THE BANK OF MUM & DAD WE RECOMMEND: NERAM HARVEST (KENTUCKY STREET) GRAPEVINE (DIAGONALLY ACROSS FROM CENTRO) THE GRAND HOTEL (RUSDEN STREET) THE WELDERS DOG (CORNER OF MARSH AND RUSDEN) OTHERWISE HIT UP MARSH STREET. START AT DUMARESQ STREET FINISH AT WATERFALL WAY. LOOK LEFT. TRUST US. MACCAS, DOMINOS AND THE SERVO AT GIRRA (JUST A WALK ACROSS THE BRIDGE) ARE ABOUT ALL THAT STAY OPEN LATE IN ARMIDALE . IF YOU’RE DESPERATE AND HAVE AN HOUR TO SPARE HEAD TO ROSIES. DRIVE TOWARDS GLEN INNES AND 20 MINUTES NORTH ON YOUR LEFT IS THE BLACK MOUNTAIN ROADHOUSE. IT’S OPEN 24/7 AND TELL THEM YOU’RE FROM ARMIDALE TO GET A 2 CENT PER LITRE DISCOUNT. HEADS UP - IF YOU PAY ON CARD AND IT’S UNDER $20 YOU GET SLUGGED WITH A 50C FEE. THE TOWN LIBRARY IS AWESOME - CHECK IT BEFORE YOU BUY THAT TEXTBOOK YOU WILL PROBABLY ONLY NEED ONCE. (FAULKNER STREET) THINGS TO SEE BEFORE YOU GRADUATE, OR WHEN YOU HAVE A WEEKEND OF ASSIGNMENT DENIAL THE ARBORETUM THE LOOKOUT BLUE HOLE GREEN VALLEY FARM THE COMMUNITY GARDEN NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL ART MUSEUM THE ABORIGINAL HERITAGE CENTRE THE FOLK MUSEUM THE ARMIDALE PINE FOREST
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WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS FIND NEVILLES (UNDER $10 TAKE CASH) BECAUSE ICE-CREAM IS GOOD. OH DEAR EVERYONE IS DRUNK - NEVER FEAR PIZZA CAPERS DELIVER ICE-CREAM TO COLLEGE. ON CAMPUS CAFE LIFE IS WHERE IT’S AT, BUT SNEAKY TIP - BOOLOOMIMBAH HAS INSANE COFFEE AND ISN’T JUST FOR LECTURERS. HIT IT UP SOME TIME.
spiral cosmology. MICHAEL EVANS
This is an attempt at piecing together a crazy idea I had as a student about 25 years ago. The idea followed from some then-recent work on the cosmic microwave background, with a middle part on consciousness and cognition, both of which are fields almost completely unrelated to engineering which I was supposed to be studying. I think I knew I was just playing with these ideas; I was having an extremely creative fun time doing environmental science and engineering at uni and this was more or less a hobby to me, playing with theories and mathematics, not thinking of a research career, knowing I would not be taken seriously in my second year at a small university. I was, as you can tell, interested in pretty much everything but not trying too hard. The research I’d picked up on was a map of data from the cosmic background explorer (COBE) satellite. COBE provided the first detailed glimpse of the patterns in the cosmic background, the thermal signature of the early universe or “afterglow of the Big Bang”. Maybe you remember, even if you don’t necessarily read scientific journals it was big news. As well as all that amazing structure, the map showed a small and gradual variation in temperature from one end of the sky to the other, which was interpreted as a Doppler effect due to the satellite’s motion: the warm end of the sky is spectrum-shifted towards blue because the satellite is moving in that direction, so light frequencies in that direction are slightly higher. The actual velocity worked out at about 600 kilometres per second, which was surprising. A velocity like that (0.2% of the speed of light) had to include not just the satellite’s motion around the Earth, but also the entire relative motion of the Earth, Sun and Milky Way galaxy. At the time there was an idea that this high velocity indicates that our galaxy and the entire local group of galaxies are falling gravitationally towards a nearby supercluster of galaxies, an immense collection of individually vast objects known as the Great Attractor. The better evidence now is that we don’t actually know why we are moving so fast; possibly it’s part of the extra accelerations associated with dark matter, but it remains an open question. It’s not part of the overall redshift pattern of the expanding universe ... full article published as online content at nucleus.org.au
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are you passionate about something? want your interest published! editors@nucleus.org.au or come in and see us!
.beware the big 3 According to legend there are three units to strike terror in the heart of any affected student. The fail rates are only ever mentioned in whispered conversations in hallway alcoves. They are known as the ‘big 3’ - students have been known to break down in tears at hearing their names. Students wept when they got their results. ‘We studied so hard,’ they wailed. These three units are not to be taken lightly. You take a nip, they bite back and you are left a pulverised, bloody mess on the floor. If only to add insult to injury they are 100-level units. STAT100 CHEM110 MATH120 Many returners will now throw this paper as far as they can, run for the colleges and retreat to their room sobbing, just at a mere mention of their names. The big 3 are pre-requisites for many units. If you are unfortunate enough to be studying them don’t think for a second you can turn your back. Take the extra help when it’s given. There are PASS CLASSES with an academic mentor. Read the material. Go to your tutorials. Go to your prac classes. For the love of all that is numerical - GO TO YOUR LECTURES. And never be afraid to ask for help. NOW GO FORTH AND CALCULATE. The Second Hand Bookshop warmly welcomes all students who are retuning to Campus for 2015. Please come and see us at our shop located in the Arcade above the top courtyard. All our books are sold on behalf of other students and are priced at least 30% below current retail price. We love adding new books to our stock, which we display on our web site at http://www.servicesune.com.au/une-bookshop-search.php The quicker you hand in your books, the quicker we can list them and the quicker they sell.
Cheers, The team at the Second Hand Bookshop
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Any queries or comments please contact us at: bookshop@services.une.edu.au
vale. Sue’s skill as a teacher and mentor was that she was able to draw the best out of all her students, no matter what their experience or talent. She instinctively knew how to connect with all sorts of different people, no matter what their background or personal ‘story’. Sue had a knack of making everyone feel that their contribution was valuable and a necessary part of the big picture - Josee Sue saw the potential of her students, and after working with her, they would become people who didn’t doubt themselves and strived to be the person see saw them as - Cassarndra Sue brought out the best in her students by demanding their best, and simply their best. This means that we were never given unreasonable goals that we could not achieve, but that, in searching for our ‘best’. We often found something even better than we thought we could produce - Lara I was one of Sue’s external Theatre Studies students for a number of years, as I was studying part time. She was the best teacher I have ever had, and I’ve done a lot of study over the years. If you are lucky, you may meet one or two people like her in your lifetime... she was a person who made EVERYONE feel special. We all loved her dearly and I am heartbroken she is no longer with us - Michelle When I first went into theatre I was playing it safe, sticking to the styles I knew I was good at because I wanted to get good marks. Sue was the one who pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, to dare to do the new and to risk making mistakes, so I actually learned something, not just passed - Jay
Sue saw the talent in every single person and in every piece of theatre. She knew how to create amazing theatre out of even the smallest or most obscure idea - Xanthe Sue awakened the bravery in me and offered kindness, wisdom and acceptance to everyone she met. She was the teacher and woman I aspire to be - Sharnee I signed up to theatre to grow confidence by trying to pretend to be someone else... Sue inspired me and grew my confidence in who I was - DJ
.sue fell Armidale grown, Sue Fell was woven tightly through the fabric of the town. She went through school from pre to high to tertiary here. Performing as a child with Claire Napier’s touring shows, Sue became known for her talent as an actor and later as a teacher and mentor for aspiring students. Her first full-time position was in Melbourne at La Trobe University, and after a stretch at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, returned to Armidale in the early nineties. Sue dreamed of creating a unity of the diverse and the plethora of students of the University of New England remember her fondly, and as a most beloved member of the theatre department. On the 23rd December 2014, Sue Fell took her final bow before rapturous applause for a life dedicated to betterment of those around her.
She has undoubtedly entered a better place, because any place was made better by Sue. images graciously provided by Laszlo Szabo & members of Fly Laika
penalty rates, who needs them anyway? CASSANDRA KEOGH
It seems simple to Prime Minister, Tony Abbott: “If you don’t want to work on a weekend, fair enough, don’t work on a weekend, but if you do want to work on a weekend and lots of people, particularly young people, particularly students would love to work on the weekend, you want to see the employers open to provide jobs.” So what is actually going on here to stem this socially ignorant statement from our PM? The government has instructed the Productivity Commission to conduct a review of Australia’s work place relations laws, especially targeting minimum wage and penalty rates. The recommendations from this review will become part of the government’s agenda coming into the next election. Should the government be reelected there will be a very present policy for them to push. This seems harmless; reviews are conducted all the time! But what can really come from this? To be blatantly honest this review is to target penalty rates and the minimum wage. Abbott is hoping to abolish penalty rates and reduce the minimum wage. It is well known that Australia’s minimum wage is a lot better off than other countries such as America, so why should we be changing it? Why does he want to do this? The government wants businesses to open on Sundays and have the freedom for more extended hours. They believe that our ‘high’ minimum wage and penalty rates are the reason businesses close earlier and stay closed on Sundays. Abbott even stated that the hotel he stays in in Melbourne, their restaurant doesn’t open on a Sunday due to penalty rates. How does Abbott know this? Historically in Australia businesses closed on a Sunday because Sundays were for church and family. Now the government thinks the sole reason for businesses closing on a Sunday is because of penalty rates. Furthermore, Abbott wants to give employers greater freedom to set rates themselves. This will affect the casual student worker as we are not permanent and the government believes we are easily replaceable. It would also be difficult to discuss getting paid more with your employer because of our dispensability.
unable to comprehend that our weekdays have classes scheduled that are at inconvenient times for employers and therefore, have no other option than to work on weekends. How do you save for University costs? A lot of university students spend their summer holidays working and saving for the next year. They put their hands up for the public holidays and the weekends because of the incentives of penalty rates. Would you still work those hours if you didn’t have those incentives? Would you still put your hand up for the late shift on Australia Day? Studying nursing are you? You might be surprised, but those going into health care and social assistance sector are the single biggest group to benefit from penalty rates. The hourly rate is kept lower and the penalty rates are a compensation thing for the weekend work and the night hours. Here is what nurses have to say about Abbott’s plan to cut penalty rates. Ms Sinha stated that, “It’s part of the job to work weekends and late hours. But it’s pretty shit if you’re not compensated for having to deal with stupid drunks on Australia Day at 2am”. “The effects it would have on nursing would be devastating”, affirms Annie Butler, acting Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery. She is concerned that students will not want to study nursing if the penalty rates are cut. People still need care on the weekends, but who wants to work if there isn’t an incentive. Do you still want to study nursing if the government cuts your penalty rates?
How will penalty rate cuts affect us as students? Tony Abbott seems unable comprehend that a student working in the bar, refusing service to drunks at 2am, isn’t there for their own enjoyment but because University is starting and they are freaking out on how to pay for their textbooks, accommodation fees and more! He couldn’t comprehend that students may not like working on weekends because they would rather spend it with their friends or family, but do so to pay the bills because Sundays offer up a nice paycheck! He seems unable to comprehend that our weekdays have classes scheduled that are at inconvenient times for employers and therefore, have no other option than to work on weekends. Minimum Wage changes and how does it affect us?
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Tony Abbott seems unable comprehend that a student working in the bar, refusing service to drunks at 2am, isn’t there for their own enjoyment but because University is starting and they are freaking out on how to pay for their textbooks, accommodation fees and more! He couldn’t comprehend that students may not like working on weekends because they would rather spend it with their friends or family, but do so to pay the bills because Sundays offer up a nice paycheck! He seems
artwork by ShiShi
HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR FANTASTIC NEW FRESHERS & A BIG WELCOME BACK TO OUR RAVISHING RETURNERS!!! CHILLING UP HERE AT THE STUDENT MEDIA HUB ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU SO MUCH THAT NOT ONLY HAVE WE MADE A BROCHURE WITH ALL THE BEST ORIENTATION WEEK ACTIVITIES, WE ALSO ARE RUNNING AN ORIENTATION WEEK RADIO SPECIAL! TUNE INTO TUNE!FM 106.9 OR STREAM US LIVE AT tunefm.net FROM 8 AM MONDAY TO FRIDAY FOR OUR MORNING SHOW WITH AIDEN & JOSH. LISTEN OUT FOR REGULAR UPDATES OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AND WHERE YOU NEED TO BE! MAKE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE COMPASS APP (PAGE 11) FOR GREAT STUDENT DISCOUNTS AND ALL THE INFO ON OUR CLUBS AND SOCIETIES. AND LASTLY, DON’T FORGET TO COME VISIT US AT THE NEW STUDENT MEDIA HUB IN THE COURTYARD NEXT TO UNI4ME!
letters to the editor. My name is Cassarndra Slade-Potts and I am a Wajadiri woman. The idea of the Nucleus supporting and publishing content around Indigenous affairs shows how progressive our University has become. Since the start of my study, the Oorala centre has been a major contributor to my study life. Having the Nucleus supporting the Oorala centre and other Indigenous students to produce relevant content, for all students to view and understand is important. However irrelevant this may seem to some, having the Nucleus support this innovative direction can allow us as the Indigenous representatives show the rest of the University what is happening on our front. We represent our university for a range of activities through sports, art and even in university academia. It would be great to tell and show the rest of the university what we have done for the Indigenous people and the university. I as a Wajadiri and the Oorala centre support the choice to have more input in the Nucleus. CASSARNDRA SLADE - POTTS Every UNE student has a story and each student wants to feel like their story makes them special in some way. We overcome pain, hardship, disabilities and obstacle in our lives; or we work to do so. My story, while special to me, is actually not unique at all. I am a mature student, who waited for the opportunity to attend university. Unable to be on campus, I chose to attend the only way I could, as an external student. I won’t bore you with the road I travelled to arrive at this destination; it doesn’t matter. My story, though, echoes the stories of the new friends I’ve made along the way, my fellow external students. There is the empty nester; the woman who always wanted to study but devoted herself to her family and put her desires last, finally being able to when her children had left her nest.
The mother; struggling to study with young children at her feet, waiting for them to sleep so she can finish a 3000 word essay. The father; the breadwinner, studying into the night to provide his family with a brighter future. The low-income earner; desperately trying to gain a degree to provide a better life for (him/her-self) and (his/her) loved ones. The (man/woman), who worked long and hard but secretly yearned for a degree in something (he/she) loved; to be able to earn a living from doing something that lights a fire in (his/her) soul. The professional who is changing careers after achieving success, seeking out new challenges. The grandmother who drives 172km each day, bringing her special needs grandson to a school that will accept him, taking any spare hour to indulge in study even though it’s not remotely relevant to the demands of her day to day life, doing it because it will mean a better life in the end. The disabled person, studying to stay sane while his body collapses in pain each day, studying to keep their mind in the fit condition he wished his body were in. We are many people, but we are also one. But, the common thread in our story is in jeopardy; our shared goal to achieve and succeed at UNE is in peril. United, we stand at the precipice of deciding to continue or give up. Why, you ask? While some students are lucky enough to be able to access library resources on campus, we cannot, and while some students can afford the postage external students are now required to pay, simply to access our own library’s resources, we cannot. For us, the cost of borrowing a book from the library to complete a required task means choosing between fuel for the car, a visit to the doctor, food for our families; between university study, and the inescapable necessities of our lives. This puts study in a luxury category for us, and we are unable to compete with those students who can afford the cost of library postage. So many students with the dream of a university education are low-income earners, or no income earners. Education shouldn’t be to the exclusion of this group of people, people who’ve overcome things we might never be able to understand, just to get to this point. Don’t let our story end here; don’t price us out of our future. Scrap the postage changes, put books back in our hands, and help us write the happy ending we’re all fighting so hard for. CHRISTINE SEGAERT
have something to say? a rant, a compliment, a complaint, an idle thought? we want to hear it! send your letter to editors@nucleus.org.au
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or come in and see us!
warning this next section contains naughty bits!
REVIEWS & ADVICE
reviews JUST TEASIN’
Spoiler Alert
film.
HELEN TAYLOR
PITCH PERFECT 2 Probably the movie I’m most excited about this year. My hope for this movie is more quotable quotes, particularly from Australia’s own hot export Rebel Wilson as the kick-arse babe Fat Amy. Anna Kendrick is also a particular favourite of mine - I imagine if her and I hung out we’d have a great time and some really good in-jokes. In trying to explain these movies to people who haven’t seen them, I must concede the premise seems a little questionable - “It’s set in college in America, there’s a bunch of acapella bands who compete in a series of competitions to get to the Final thing... they learn a valuable lesson about friendship”. It’s so much more than that, you all. Do yourselves a favour and watch the first one before May, when the sequel comes out. You’ll be saying the funny quotes in no time.
JURASSIC WORLD Ok. I feel like the Jurassic Park franchise sort of lost its way there for a while: Jurassic Park was obviously the best (and conversely, the first film I saw on a big screen, in UNE’s own Botany Lecture theatre back in the day), but I managed to avoid The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III. I can’t tell you what they’re about, but I can tell you I had no interest in seeing them. Flash forward 22 years and enter Chris Pratt, and I am suddenly completely down for the 4th instalment. The epic trailer for this one mainly involves some closeups of Chris Pratt’s beautiful face as he expresses concern about hybrid dinosaurs being bred at the park, with good reason - it worries me that the crazy scientists aren’t even slightly worried about imminent death and chaos, but I guess maybe they’re too close to the project. There’s also a lot of running and loud dinosaur noises. I am so excited for June, because you know a Jurassic Park sequel is going to be action packed and slightly thrilling (velociraptors in the kitchen, anyone?) and you KNOW how handsome Chris Pratt is.
MAGIC MIKE XXL Look... I think it’s fair to say that this particular sequel is going to be more than a little gratuitous. The trailer features a bit of well-placed grinding (of a variety of kinds), a bit of Ginuine’s Pony, a bit of Channing Tatum dancing in a shed on his own to express his feelings, and a whole lot of abs. I just want to know how they get their abs like that. It’s practically inhuman. What I hope for Mike (aka Magic Mike, aka Channing Tatum) is that he follows his dreams and encourages those well-oiled dancing friends of his to follow theirs, that nobody gets caught up in the shady world of drugs this time and that they really just focus on their careers and the music, you know? I am also curious about what sort of outfits they’ll be wearing in the sequel (albeit momentarily) and whether Matthew McConaughey is going to be there. And what outfits he’ll be wearing. This one will be gracing screens in July. I’m not going lie, there’s an exciting time ahead for moviegoers. We live in a marvellous age. See you in the ticket queue with your 3D glasses on... for Jurassic World of course.
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Spoiler Alert
reviews .game JOSH RAINES
MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR Any original character development in an existing cult series is wading into a bloody pool of piranhas. Despite the bold move, Monolith Productions have created an instantly addictive RPG with enough to satisfy both movie fans and LOTR fanboys. The plot unfolds in the mythical land of Mordor somewhere between the conclusion of The Hobbit and the commencement of The Fellowship. You play as a human ranger, Talion, who is out for revenge after the execution of his family. Also you’re dead, but possessed by an elf-ghost with amnesia. Shadow of Mordor doesn’t bring much new gameplay as it’s essentially the love child of Assassins’ Creed and Arkham Asylum, not a bad choice. The main quest isn’t really explained until the completion of the final story mission; however, the poor exposition is covered by the motivation to complete side quests. The RPG upgrades of perks and weapons are necessary to progress throughout the game. There is rarely a point where you’ll feel vastly overpowered as the enemies also increase in strength. Where Shadow of Mordor does come into its own, are the randomly generating captains who constantly battle one another to make their way up the ranks. It becomes particularly great when you unlock the ability to brainwash orcs and insert f*cking sleeper agents into their army. You can dictate the advancement of these orcs and will be surprised with the investment made to get the shit kicker to the top. Shadow of Mordor is a genuinely entertaining game and allows casual orc genocide upon the completion of all quests. The mechanics of the game won’t seem new, though the original content and challenging boss fights are worth the distinction. 8/10
.book
THE PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE PANDA
TALES OF THE MARVELLOUS AND NEWS OF THE STRANGE Despite the slightly jarring title, this book contains, ‘the first translation of a medieval Arab fantasy collection’. Disguised as an elegant volume of stories from the mysterious history of the Middle East, the story selected carries a much darker tone. Any medieval story collection reveals a plethora of bizarre and often, as viewed through modern eyes, rather sexist musings. Tale Five: The story of the Forty Girls and What Happened to Them with the Prince.
Presumably they had kids and rode off into the sunset.
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I reworked the title slightly and believe forty days of fornication to be much more appropriate. The story follows the tale of the youngest of three princes who interprets his father’s dream in a displeasing manner. The prince leaves and after wandering through a desert for four days stumbles across a castle. He sneaks in and discovers it is home to forty women who are much to the prince’s delight, virgins. Forty young women live in an isolated castle; their virginal status isn’t overly surprising. His excitement is a little creepy. Every day he deflowers another, all of whom deny his existence to the others. I hope he wore a condom and hasn’t just spread some nasty disease through the castle, or just impregnated a small horde of young ladies. Long story short, he meets a horse who turns out to be cursed sorceress, also a virgin. He uses her talent to build his own kingdom then goes and rubs it in his father’s face. She is made human again and much rumpy-pumpy ensues.
still from Girls
the naughty bits. CONSTANCE CHATTERLEY
Awkward sex: Two words which are practically synonymous with Orientation Week. Now, I understand that whether you’re a mature age student, townie, external, or college student you’re probably still having sex (awkward or otherwise). But I can guarantee that those bunking in one of UNE’s colleges are going to be outdoing themselves. Oh, the sex that will be had! Fun sex; unsafe sex; bad, fucking terrible sex; almost-sex; drunk sex. Actually, almost all of it will be drunk. And, almost all of it will be awkward. But no need to panic, we’ve all been there. Sex isn’t always what society tell us it is – sometimes, it is not eternally romantic, life altering, or pleasurable. In fact, I’m sorry to tell you ladies, but not many orgasms will be coming your way any time soon (unless you brought a friend, in the form of a battery operated device – clever girl). So, while you won’t be having any sex like Ally and Noah in The Notebook, you can decide to revel in the clumsiness. Laugh at it. Enjoy it. By doing this, you might actually remove the element of embarrassment, and get a little closer to this person who just accidentally almost put it in the wrong hole. However, if you’re kind of keen to avoid a few of the mishaps that myself, and other loved ones have experienced, please read on… 1. Let her put it in. Seriously dude, just let her put it in. That “wrong hole” joke up there, it ain’t no joke. That shit happens all the time. One slip and you could take the back door, and I doubt that is what she wanted when she took her clothes off.
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2. CONDOMS. ALWAYS. Before anyone slides in anywhere, please put a condom on. I know for a fact that during Orientation Week, you will be receiving many a free condom, so there is no excuse. I don’t care if you’re on the pill, or he’s a virgin. Chlamydia was the winner of STIs in Armidale last year, and while I would love to advise you to be honest with your partner about whether or not you have something, I know you won’t. So, just cover
up, because if you don’t the truth will come out, via genital warts if need be. 3. If you’ve seen it done in porn, you probably shouldn’t do it. A friend of mine went to college, and upon hooking up with a guy at the ‘Stro, she went back to his room. He started out so normal. Nice kisser, his breath wasn’t horrible, and he put a condom on. She was totally winning. And then, after some normal sex in missionary, he turned her around to go from behind and started pulling her hair and spanking her ass. I know it looked pretty hot in that video you watched on RedTube, (trust me, I’m not judging; there’s a reason 50 Shades of Grey was released on Valentine’s Day) but this is something two people must work towards. 4. Don’t talk about other/former partners. I’m mostly talking to you, girls. Let me search my mind for a time when this would be ok…Nope. Never. Whether Trevor was amazing with his fingers, or merely re-enacted sending a message in Morse Code on your clitoris, it’s still not something to mention to your new friend. Once I said my ex’s name during sex in lieu of the man’s I was having sex with. It was just a force of habit, but it’s still not one of my proudest moments. 5. Communicate, baby. I want you to pull a Spice Girls, and tell ‘em what you want, what you really, really want. Feedback is really, super valuable in the act of love (or just crazy shagging) and it will pretty much help all of the above things not happen more than once. Unless, of course, you enjoy the light spanking. In this case, make it positive feedback.
So, with this sound advice, go forth and have sex! May it be awkward and messy and fun and crazy beautiful. May it terrify you a little less, and may you have as much as you want. As for me, I’ll keep doing what I do in the hope of having something funny to tell you for each Naughty Bits. This includes making more mistakes, figuring out how to properly clean my vibrator, and navigating men’s hearts. If you’ve got any questions for me send an email to editors@nucleus.org.au, and we’ll have a little chat. We promise you’ll stay anonymous!
ACROSS
DOWN
4. - A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something. 6. - The unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. 7. - French Capital 9. - “I disagree with everything you say but I will defend to my death your right to say it.” 11. - The group of people with the authority to govern a country or state; a particular ministry in office. 13. - A recent controversial movie 15. - The action of making known one’s thoughts or feelings. 16. - The state of being diverse. 17. - The state of being united or joined as a whole. 19. - A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person. 20. - Causing someone to feel resentful, upset, or annoyed.
1. - A follower of the religion of Islam. 2. - The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s behaviour or political views. 3. - Relating to or professing Christianity or its teachings. 5. - The suppression of speech, public communication or other information which may be considered objectionable 8. - The action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered. 10. - Prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion 12. - A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group 14. - A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. 18. - A Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu, advocating humility and religious piety.
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charlie hebdo.
just ask. What do I do if I’m not sure if I want to do the degree I got accepted in to?
both be required to continue paying the lease until another flatmate is found.
Well, if you never give it a go, you’ll never know! You can always change programs if you decide it’s not for you. UNE makes transferring from your course fairly easy, and in some cases will be able to recognise the units you have already completed.
How can I get part time work in Armidale?
I’m on my second show cause letter, and I’m trying really hard but I’m still failing. What else can I do? The first place you could try is the counselling office. This type of situation might have you feeling down, and you want to be feeling your best. They can talk through with you the things that are causing you to stress and worry. They’re also great at helping with things like time management and how to avoid procrastination, all factors which might be impacting your ability to do your best. The Academic Skills Office also has some great info on how to study smarter instead of harder, and can give you some help with the format and structure of your assignments. They’ve also got some great exam tips, too! Is it true you guys give out free condoms? We sure do! We have free condoms available from the Uni4me office. We even leave some outside, so that you can grab some as you walk past. I wouldn’t be too worried about people seeing you take some, protecting yourself and your partner is pretty sexy.
Part time work can be hard to come by in Armidale. If you’ve worked before, you past experience is important, it can help you find a job. Think about targeting the places that you have experience in! If you’ve not worked before, think about what you would like to do. Keep an eye out on the Uni4me page, we post jobs that come to our attention. Don’t let that stop you from getting out there and asking around town. Another great source of this info is from your friends, ask them to let you know if they see any jobs around town. Sometimes its not what you know, it’s who you know!
How often do I have to phone my Mum? Mum’s, we love them. I think it’s always a good idea to make a phone call yourself, once a week. This is all new and exciting for you, and she’s probably eager to hear about all the exciting things you’re up to (some of them, anyway!). Don’t have her ring you all the time, make a point of calling her once a week (and you never know, those awkward Saturday night phone calls might stop!).
I’ve moved out of college into a share house but I already hate one of my housemates. How can I kick them off the lease? You can’t really kick anybody out if you aren’t getting along. If you are both on the lease, you both have a legal right to use the property according to the terms of the lease. The best way to avoid these type of situations, is to communicate clearly with the your potential flatmates about your likes and dislikes, what you expect from your flatmates, the division of household chores and the division of utility bills and other expenses. We have Sharing Housing Agreement forms that you can use for this purpose. If it’s purely a personal disagreement and you just don’t get along, you may need to make some alternate arrangements and one of you might decide find somewhere else to live. You really need to try and work together on this point, because if you are both on the lease you will
If you have any questions just ask at editors@nucleus.org.au.