Issue 00 | Orientation

Issue #0

Volume 81

O-week Guide

Masters Students Raise Serious Concerns with Architecture School – Pg 6 Evil Empire: What the Hell is Going on with Wellington's Rental Crisis – Pg 26 8 People You'll Meet During O-week – Pg 20

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Contents

EDITOR'S LETTER 5 NEWS Featured News 6 News 8 Politics 10 *News* 12 LETTERS & NOTICES 13 COLUMNS Presidential Address 14 VUWSA 14 From the Archives 15 Te Ara Tauira 16 CanDo 16 Philosoraptor 17 Mauri Ora 18 Postgrad Informer 18 Shit Chat 19 FEATURE 8 People You'll Meet in O-Week 20 Let's Get Consensual 22 Campus Hot Spots 24 Evil Empire 26 Introvert's Guide to Surviving O-Week 30 REVIEW Television 32 Film 33 Music 34 Gig Guide 34 Books 35 Art 36 Podcast 37 Theatre 38 Salient FM 39 Food 40 ENTERTAINMENT Disctractions 45 Colourize It! 47

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WELCOME! VICTORIA FIRST YEAR DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS We have all the materials and equipment you need to get started on Day One, including premade ready-to-go

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Editor's Letter LOUISE LIN

arbitration system and influenced by factors outside your control, isn’t particularly good for your health either. Not all the jobs out there are writing and thinking type jobs. NZ needs more tradies. I’d also love to see more women in the trades. So if you’re a woman maybe you could take up bricklaying to humour me.

You should drop out of uni.

No really though, should you? I’m asking you now, while it’s still early days and you haven’t sunk too much time into tri one.

Sure, there are plenty of reasons to stick around. Free healthcare. A socially legitimate occupation. License to get drunk on weeknights. Participation in a noble institution that acts as the Critic and Conscience to society. And it’s true, you get an nice education that sets you up for a nice job and a nice middle class lifestyle - that’s actually a pretty big boon to be honest. We’re privileged to be here. I know that in the age of the precariat even a university degree doesn’t insure against unemployment. However, according to the Ministry of Education, median hourly earnings in 2016 were 55 percent higher for people with a bachelors or higher qualification than for those without a qualification so a degree’s still worth quite a bit.

Or you can stay in uni if you like. Fees free is a pretty convincing argument to hang around, party, procrastinate, and incidentally learn some social theory. A well-educated populace means a more informed democracy after all. Just remember that once your three years are up, Real Life Decisions are patiently waiting. And it’s your agonizing privilege, living where and when you do, that you can simultaneously decide on a dream career, (“reach for the stars!”) but at the same time struggle to scrounge up a hospo job to make rent.

I don’t just mean “drop out” in the read-too-much-Beat-literature, fuck-the-system, time-to-hitchhikeacross-the-country kind of way. Though hitchhiking across the country’s kind of fun. But I mean it more in the “dropping out is an option that’s available to you” kind of way because having a sense of agency is important for wellbeing, and it’s good to make life decisions with intention and spend your time doing things you care about because you’ll feel vapid and unfulfilled if you don’t.

Uni’s also s’posed to teach you how to think critically. Which means, if it’s done its job right, you’ll be thinking critically about lots of things, including what the fuck you’re doing here.

I mean, I know so many people (myself included), who went to uni because they’ve finished high school - having been told what to do pretty much their whole lives - and faced with the first life decision they’re confronted with, decide on uni because society tells us that it’s valuable and good. We go to universities to learn stuff because learning’s supposedly good for us. But uni teaches, and teaches us to value, a very specific kind of intelligence - the academic, thinking, writing, memorizing kind. Other kinds of intelligence - emotional, social, etc., are just as necessary to succeed in life & work. And having your intelligence, therefore worth, constantly determined by an external

Or maybe I’m just an indecisive little shit trying to convince you to doubt your choices and be more like me. Who knows.

Stay critical, kids.

Xoxo your editor

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ARCHITECTURALLY UNSOUND MASTERS THESIS SERIOUSLY MISHANDLED BY ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL ANGUS SHAW

5th year Architecture classrom (VS.301 ANNEX)

Architecture students have raised serious concerns about the changes made to the Masters course between 2016 and 2017. The final year requirement of a Master of Architecture was changed from ARCH 591 (Thesis) to ARCI 593 (Architecture Research Portfolio), which significantly changed the course structure and marking criteria.

were poorly implemented. An ARCI 593 Masters student called the handling of the course throughout the whole year, “sloppy”.

In late 2016, concerns were initially raised when students accepted into the course were not given a course outline. The lack of course outline breaches the Masters Thesis Policy, which states that “all candidates enrolled in a research portfolio must be provided with a portfolio outline, prior to the commencement of their registration”.

Throughout 2016 and 2017 a number of students had expressed concerns to both the Architecture faculty and VUWSA that the requirements for their work were not clearly communicated and that the changes 6

Architecturally Unsound In 2015, when students enrolled for a two year weighting were not clear.

Architecture Masters course, Masters students were led to believe they would be enrolling in ARCI 591, In a later Q&A meeting occuring in December because ARCI 593 did not yet exist. In early October 2016, representatives from the Architecture school 2016, the Architecture school made an announcement suggested that some details of the course could not regarding commencement of the new 593 course. be provided because they had not been finalised. The Students were told there was an option to enrol in school’s learning and teaching committee discussed the previous year’s course that “they were still working through an application “They made you feel like you had on assessment weightings process, an option which a choice, when really you didn’t,” and criteria for assessment”. is still being touted as available on Victoria University’s website. However, In a consultation in August 2017, students have also applicants for 591 had to give their reasoning in voiced concerns about the major ambiguities in person for wanting to enrol in the old course, which assessment structure of the final critical presentation, was scheduled over the summer break, so many which is worth 75% of their grade.They complained students were unable to attend. An anonymous that the time allowed and the size of the space for student told Salient that no one they knew were presenting was not clear, and the selection process for permitted to take 591. “They made you feel like you external moderators had not been made transparent. had a choice, when really you didn’t,” they said. According the Architecture One student who spoke to Salient said school, only six students were accepted that previous information given to them into the 591 course. had indicated that they would have a full 30 minutes for pre-prepared Students had only been made aware in remarks. The student only received an late September 2016 about the change email the day before their presentation from a thesis to a research portfolio, confirming that the presentation would according to emails sent between be limited to 20 minutes of pre-prepared Masters students and VUWSA staff. remarks, with 10 minutes for questions.

When students applied for Masters in By then they had already prepared for October 2015, they were led to believe the full thirty minutes and had little time that they would be completing a Thesis to edit their presentation. The student (ARCH591), as was outlined in their told Salient that the short notice left Dr Morten Gjerde, Head of Architecture contracts. them unable to complete a portion of their presentation, which was reflected negatively in A class representative wrote an email to VUWSA the feedback they received with their grade. saying that “it has been suggested that this sudden change in our degree structure may be a breach of Dr Morten Gjerde, Head of Architecture School ethics”. defended the course. He “acknowledgement from the school said "In terms of student In May 2017 the first that they mishandled the course and performance and quality official concern was raised an apology would be really great”. of student work to date, to the Faculty of Graduate I beleive the course has Research by an individual student on speaking behalf been implemented successfully. I acknowledge that of the Masters class. As far as Salient is aware no some students may have felt a lack of clarity in response was given by either the Faculty of Graduate requirements during the year. Those instances are Research or the Architecture school. what we're seeking to address with the changes we are implementing."

In a Q&A meeting between students and a representative from the Architecture school, occurring A focus group of roughly twenty Masters students was on 25 October 2016, which addressed students’ held by VUWSA in December 2017. The feedback from concerns, class representatives agreed the reasoning this was collated into several recommendations to the behind the changes to the course had in fact been Architecture school, one of which was a request for an clearly communicated. It was mentioned however, official apology to students. The Architecture faculty that many students still had complaints about details has yet to respond to any of these recommendations. missing from the course outline, and requested that A student said that “acknowledgement from the the details be filled in as soon as possible. Specifically, school that they mishandled the course and an students stated that the assessment criteria and apology would be really great”.

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News PHARMAC FUNDS TRUVADA FOR PrEP The government has taken a substantial step towards the elimination of HIV transmission in New Zealand, with the announcement of the subsidisation of the antiviral drug Truvada.

A regular course of Truvada in HIV negative users “has the potential to almost completely eliminate the risk of HIV infection,” a PHARMAC press release stated.

A three-month prescribed course of Truvada currently costs around $3000.

Starting 1 March 2018, PHARMAC will subsidise Truvada as a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and those meeting certain criteria will soon be able to receive the same course for only $5.

Truvada has been on the market since 2012, however its price tag has made it prohibitive for many. New Zealand will be one of the first countries to publicly fund the drug, with the policy having been widely celebrated in the Rainbow Community.

The NZ AIDS Foundation Chief Executive Jason Myers has asserted that “making [Truvada] publicly available would be a giant leap forward towards our ambitious goal of ending new HIV transmissions in New Zealand by 2025.”

Funding is also available for PostExposure Prophylaxais (PEP) for those concerned they may have been exposed to HIV and wish to suppress its development.

Those on PrEP are advised to maintain safe sex practices to minimise transmission rates. In particular, this means the use of condoms, and regular sexual health checkups.

PrEP does not help prevent the spread of other Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Mauri Ora, the VUW student health service, is available for consultations.

Kelburn (04) 463 5308 Pipitea (04) 463 7474 -Johnny O’Hagan Brebner

VUWSA SUBMITS ON THE BIRTHS, DEATHS, MARRIAGES BILL VUWSA has unanimously voted to make a submission, in consultation with UniQ, on the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill which is currently at the select committee stage.

This bill seeks to reform the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995.

VUWSA’s submission to the Bill asks that it include an amendment to simplify

the process of changing a person’s sex on official documents. VUWSA President Marlon Drake commented: “it’s cool to have a social conscience to the things we do”.

Currently, the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995 requires a person who wishes to change the gender on their birth certificate to go to the Family Court and undergo a medical evaluation that will determine whether the applicant is sufficiently of “the opposite sex”. VUWSA wishes to submit that the law changes so trans, intersex, and gender diverse adults can change the sex on their birth certificate based solely on the individual’s self-identification.

The Human Rights Commission has criticized the 1995 Act as outdated, recommending that gender reassignment surgery is not objective proof of someone’s sex.

The Bill as it sits currently proposes two main changes to the 1995 Act. Firstly, it proposes changes to access provisions in the Act to allow people to look up their birth, death, marriage, and relationship information online using their verified RealMe ID. Secondly, the Bill requires health professionals responsible for writing up death certificates to also write preliminary notices of death, and for the person who disposes of a body to write a death notice no more than three working days after the body is disposed.

Submissions on the bill close on the 2 March 2018.

- Louise Lin

EX-CYCLONE COINCIDES WITH CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE Cyclone Gita struck the Pacific last week, devastating areas in Tonga and Samoa.

Fortunately, Gita was downgraded to an ex-tropical cyclone before reaching New Zealand last Tuesday morning.

Gita’s landfall the day before the Pacific Climate Change Conference in Wellington acted as a timely reminder of the more volatile weather events climate change will induce.

The Australian Climate Council says climate change is likely to affect tropical cyclones in two ways. Fewer cyclones will form as surface and atmospheric temperatures increase. However, those cyclones which do form will be more intense due to higher ocean surface temperatures.

The Climate Council has noted that there is a lack of long-term consistent data on the frequency and trends of tropical cyclones.

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The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) describes human induced climate change as one of the “widest-reaching hazards facing New Zealand”. NIWA scientist Chris Brandolino has also predicted decreasing frequency but increasing intensity of future cyclones, in line with the Climate Council’s findings. The Pacific region in particular is expected to be affected by the greater economic and environmental damage caused by more intense cyclones.

The Pacific Climate Change Conference brings together a range of voices on climate change, from the scientific to the policybased. Representatives from nations across the Pacific will also be present to report on national steps to reduce climate change inducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Honourable Tuila‘epa Dr Sa‘ilele Malielegaoi acknowledged at the Climate Change Conference the importance of Pacific Island collaboration on climate change.

- Poppy Donoghue

2017 BIG YEAR FOR SEXUAL ASSULT ALLEGATIONS CW: sexual assault and harassment 2017 was a year of unprecedented publicity for people coming forward with their stories of sexual harassment and assault. Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2017 - the ‘Silence Breakers’ - are people who publicly disclosed their experiences of sexual harassment, and the perpetrators of that harassment, to the media.

The ‘Silence Breakers’ were people whose sexual harassment and assault, and the subsequent disclosure of such, were defined by a power imbalance between themselves and the perpetrators. These perpetrators tended to be men of power, public esteem, and authority, epitomized in the case of Harvey Weinstein.

The testimonies of the ‘Silence Breakers’ have triggered a movement to publicly condemn sexual assault and harassment, facilitating both the #timesup campaign, with which celebrities are taking a stance against apparent immunity afforded to abusers in their respective industries, and the #metoo hashtag, which demonstrates the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault in society at large.

In New Zealand the #timesup hashtag has targeted law firm giant Russell McVeagh, amid allegations of summer clerks being sexually harassed by senior staff during their employment at the firm.

A statement released by Russell McVeagh on 15 February 2018 read: “Over two years ago we received

News serious allegations related to incidents in Wellington. Where allegations were made, we immediately conducted a full internal investigation at the time, and initiated a formal process. Those who were the subject of the allegations left the firm following the investigation. Out of respect for the privacy of the women involved, we have no further details to share.”

VUWSA has recently teamed up with various groups around Wellington to create a new poster campaign called “Don’t Guess the Yes”, which aims to promote consent around Wellington.

VUWSA is looking to amplify your voice about sexual harassment, sexual assault, consent, and rape culture. Contact Beth at welfare@vuwsa.org.nz, if you want to volunteer to help.

If you need support, contact: Wellington Sexual Abuse Help Foundation — 04 499 7530; Crisis line 04 499 7532 - Beth Paterson & Ella Hughs

EYE ON EXEC The third Exec meeting of the year kicked into gear a little late because Beth, our Welfare Vice President, was in a meeting with UniQ. There was a picture of a cat on the projector screen, which Connor, our Clubs and Activities officer, had put up. “We can take requests for different animals,” he said.

The Exec wrote down their Declarations of Interest on an A4 pad. The full list of their interests are publicly available.

Marlon gave his President’s Report.

Marlon went to the opening ceremony of Te Toki a Rata with Beth. He saw Jacinda there and she remembered him because she was his local MP. About the event, Beth commented: “loved it. Good tuatara”.

Marlon met with Lyndy Macintyre of the Living Wage Movement, and has made plans to start a Living Wage Club at Victoria.

Marlon met with Fletcher Boswell, President of the Victoria University Law Society, to discuss VUWLSS’s participation in Stress Free Study Week.

Marlon went to the police station with Ella, our Wellbeing and Sustainability officer, to discuss the safety of students during O-week. “It was weird,” said Marlon, “I’ve never been to the police station before”. They discussed setting up a “safe paths” map, with a suggested title of “Highway to Halls”. Tam, our Engagement Vice President, who was skyping in, said a resounding “no” over speakerphone, drawing a laugh from the committee. They also agreed to partner with the police in a consent campaign called “Don’t Guess the Yes”. “That’s a good campaign,” said Jack.

“Students believe this is an issue,” said Marlon.

Marlon went to the Pacific Climate Change Conference. Highlights included meeting Sarah Thomson, the woman who

took the government to court last year over climate change, and sitting next to people with fancy titles.

“Did I do anything else cool?” he asked Joseph, the Association Secretary. “You did lots of things,” Joseph replied.

Marlon went to the VUW foundation meeting. There was free ginger beer.

Beth presented her proposal that VUWSA submits on the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill. Connor asked, “are we allowed to look at the wording?” Beth said yes. VUWSA moved to make the submission.

Other motions passed include the motion to thank Bex, VUWSA’s receptionist of five years, who is leaving, and the motion to wish Simran, our Academic Vice President, a happy birthday.

In a controversial move, Marlon motioned to end Chat in the Hat. Chat in the Hat is VUWSA’s 'fun' end of meeting activity, where topics to discuss are placed in Marlon’s hat and picked at random.

However, since Marlon no longer wears a hat, some felt like this activity is outdated.

The motion was not passed after Connor voted against, and Geo, our Campaigns Officer, abstained. It was then agreed that going forward Connor would organise Chat in the Hat, as he actually wears a hat.

- Louise Lin

LABOUR DOES ABOUT TURN ON TPP Countries who participated in the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations will sign a revised agreement on March 8, following the United States’ decision to withdraw in May 2017.

The revised agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), is to be signed by Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Despite similarities between the CPTPP and the TPP, the revised agreement “suspends” 22 items from the original TPP, meaning these provisions will not have effect without agreement of all CPTPP members.

Three of the major provisions which have been suspended are: Annex 26A Article 3, which removed protections for Pharmac’s purchasing model; some parts of Article 9, which would allow businesses to sue the Government for investment contract breaches; and Article 18.63, which would require New Zealand to extend the term of protection for copyright from 50 years to 70 years.

Labour and NZ First are supporting the CPTPP despite their vocal opposition to the TPP. TPP critic Jane Kelsey described this as “a lack of political backbone” in The Spinoff, stating that the Government should have commissioned a revised

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independent economic assessment and health impact analyses, which it called for in opposition. However, Minister of Trade David Parker stated in January that the agreement would see the standard of living improve for everyone “from a freezing worker, to the owner”.

- Liam Powell

FEES FREE FACES CRITICISM Following her election victory in 2017, Jacinda Ardern has introduced a year of free tertiary education for students entering first time study. The fees-free policy includes “softer penalties” for students who are caught lying on their statutory declarations.

Labour’s 2017 Education Manifesto highlights the importance of “adapting the education system to the needs of the modern world”, by providing free education and lessening penalties for those who feel the need to lie in order to get it.

In an interview with Salient, Grant Guilford, Victoria University’s Vice Chancellor, said that applications for study in NZ universities has not changed significantly since the policy has been implemented. Guilford believes that the combination of interest free student loans and student allowances have already made tertiary education accessible to the majority of NZers.

Paul Goldsmith, the National Party spokesperson for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment, has spoken out in opposition to the policy, criticising the Government for “making it easy for people to abuse fees-free”. However, school leavers are required to sign a statutory declaration stating they have met the fees free criteria, and anyone who lied would face up to three years in prison.

Statistics show that participation in further education has dropped significantly in recent years, the latest available data showing a drop from 40% in 2010 to 35% in 2015. An inability to afford education and basic living costs accounts for 65% of young people who do not go into further education.

Geared toward increasing the accessibility of tertiary education, Labour’s policy hopes to see this system changed so that declarations would not require a witness, with a maximum penalty of $5000 for anyone who is caught lying on their declaration.

It is estimated that by 2020 two thirds of all jobs will require higher education.

Labour’s fees-free policy aims to upskill the population, with a long-term goal of improving New Zealand’s economy. The policy aims to create a population more able to contribute to an ever changing economy, by mitigating the effects of socioeconomic disparity.

- Vita Molyneux

Politics POLITICAL ROUND-UP Bill English has announced his official resignation date as National Party Leader, as of 27 February 2018. The next National Party leader chosen by caucus will take over the same day.

English, surrounded by family and caucus members, spoke to the press on 13 February 2018: “It’s been an enormous privilege to serve New Zealanders since being elected to Parliament in 1990. Over 27 years I have been privileged to work alongside so many people to improve our country … I believe now is the right time to step aside and to embark on new personal and professional opportunities.”

Winston Peters, New Zealand First leader and Deputy Prime Minister, claims he knew this would happen due to the “ruthless” nature of the National Party caucus. Peters also claims that the National Party have no viable candidates that would win in an election setting.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has commended Bill English on his time in Parliament, and for his contributions to the country.

The National Party Caucus will only have a short time to elect a new leader before English officially leaves. National’s primary concern will be electing somebody who can beat Ardern in the 2020 election.

This could involve either electing somebody young and socially progressive, or sticking with somebody with a strong economic and political history.

Judith Collins MP was first to announce her intentions, the morning after English’s resignation. ‘Crusher’ Collins, known for introducing the Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure bill, has been part of National party since 1999, prior to which she was in the Labour Party. Collins’ experience in law and politics makes her a strong contender for the position.

Amy Adams, National MP for Selwyn, has also thrown her hat in the ring. While Adams has less experience in politics, her youth and gender could play in her favor if National is looking to fight fire with fire against Ardern. Adams, who focuses on social issues such as homelessness and sexual violence, would potentially bring a vital new image to the National Party for the 2020 election.

Simon Bridges has also announce his candidacy. Bridges has been MP for Tauranga since 2008 and worked as a minister during the Key Government.

Bridges holds a postgraduate degree in law from Oxford, subsequently interning in the British House of Commons. His youth as another potential advantage, Bridges may be the person to lead the National Party

2020 campaign.

Mark Mitchell and Steven Joyce have also recently announced they intend to run. Mitchell is a former police officer, who created a multi-million dollar company in Iraq that provided military and security services, before coming back to New Zealand and becoming involved in politics.

Joyce is a longstanding politician, currently National’s spokesperson for finance and infrastructure.

- Jimi Wilson

TRUMP'S AMERICA Over a year has passed since a steelyfaced Donald Trump took to the stage as the newly appointed President-Elect. In contrast to the display of high energy he boasted on the campaign trail, Trump seemed to only face the reality of the role as he accepted it, inexperienced and unprepared. There has been many a scandal since that day. Controversial confirmations, golf trips, twitter spats and paid-off porn stars have all contributed to the media storm that has surrounded his presidency; a media storm that has served to distract from an ongoing investigation into the Trump administration.

An FBI investigation into attacks on American democracy by Russian agents began by looking into a 2016 meeting held at Trump Tower. Top Trump campaign advisors and nepotism beneficiaries agreed to meet with Natalia Veselnitskaya, a Russian lawyer, and advocate against the 2012 Magnitsky Act. Signed into law

by Obama, the Act enforces sanctions preventing a number of Russian officials from entering the U.S. and utilizing its banking systems. In exchange for opening up dialogue on the Magnitsky Act, Veselnitskaya secures her audience with a quid pro quo arrangement: meet with me, and we will provide dirt on Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton. Trump Jr. responds – “I love it!”

Russian meddling in the election sought to increase Trump's chances of seizing the presidency by sabotaging those of the Democratic candidates. Subsequent Russian interference has worked towards maintaining the divisive political instability exacerbated by Trump’s win: elaborate networks of Russian social media accounts posing as US citizens have been traced back to the violent ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville; mounting anti-media and anti-FBI rhetoric; and the fueling of political and anti-legislature conspiracies in response to acts of domestic terror. As he vies for his fourth term as Russian President, it is a powerful thing for Vladimir Putin to demonstrate how susceptible to outside

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influence western democracy can be. US intelligence agencies have assessed that he was not only aware of such campaigns, but that he ordered the attacks himself.

As it stands, there has been no retaliation to this interference. Not yet critical of Russia, Trump has routinely taken Putin’s side over that of US intelligence. By ignoring a bill with full partisan support to punish the systematic meddling, Trump has created a constitutional crisis - one that lingered in headlines no longer than any other scandal. As the upcoming midterm election lies open to further attacks, the FBI investigation slowly closes in, gradually embroiling past and present associates with charges of conspiracy. Trump’s attempts to obstruct the probe as the trail follows a path of dirty money may answer the question: what’s in this for Donald? Over the course of the year I’ll be diving deep into this investigation as it unfolds, one allegation at a time.

- Tori Bright

DIVERSITY IN REPRESENTATION IN MICHIGAN STATE GOVERNMENT

Dr Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan has the potential to become the first ever Muslim governor in the United States of America, come the gubernatorial race in November.

Democratic Candidate El-Sayed will be running against Republican Bill Schuette, the current attorney general of Michigan.

In the most recent polls taken in January this year, support sits at 33.5% for El-Sayed and at 37.5% for Schutte, with 26.7% undecided.

El-Sayed is not the only candidate representing a marginalized demographic in the Michigan gubernatorial race.

Another Democrat, Gretchen Whitmer, announced her intention to run on 3 January 2017, with pre-election polls placing her ahead of Schuette. If successful, Whitmer would be the second female Governor of Michigan in the state’s history.

Born in Detroit, El-Sayed is an American physician, epidemiologist, and public health expert, and has built his campaign on a platform that emphasises universal healthcare and the rejection of corporate PAC money. El-Sayed was instrumental in rebuilding Detroit’s Health Department as the newly appointed Director of Health, after it was privatised during the city’s bankruptcy in 2013.

Described by The Independent as running a Bernie Sanders-style campaign, El-Sayed states on his campaign website

Politics that: “as a doctor, an educator, and a public servant, my work and my life has always been about creating opportunities for real people.”

Dubbed by The Guardian as “the new Obama” in August last year, Sayed’s popularity is expected to grow in the next eight months.

- Olivia Philip

HE WHAKAPUTANGA O TE RANGATIRATANGA O NU TIRENI DISCUSSION On Thursday 15 February at the National Library of New Zealand, He Tohu hosted a discussion on He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni; the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand. He Whakaputanga was a reaffirmation of collective Māori sovereignty that preceded the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by five years.

Dame Claudia Orange, perhaps best known for her award-winning book Treaty of Waitangi (1987), opened the discussion by outlining the history of He Whakaputanga, signed 28 October 1835 by 34 Northern Chiefs, and British Resident James Busby, and Te Tiriti; first signed on 6 February 1840.

Senior Victoria Faculty of Law Lecturer Carwyn Jones, utilising the ‘transformation’ terminology of Moana Jackson, sought to situate He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti in the context of modern constitutional debates in Aotearoa New Zealand. Jones briefly touched on the well-documented inconsistencies between Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the corresponding English text, and encouraged the audience to consider the relationship between Māori and the Crown in light of He Whakaputanga as much more layered than mere Treaty promises and obligations.

Morgan Godfrey, political writer and Victoria University Law Graduate, spoke about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s historic trip to Waitangi earlier this year.

He remarked that He Whakaputanga is largely absent from the public consciousness, and commended Ardern’s acknowledgment of the document. He also, however, suggested that she had failed to articulate that it should be seen as a central part of the constitutional arrangements of Aotearoa. Godfrey commented that He Whakaputanga is treated as the “runner-up” to Te Tiriti - or the “Bill English of constitutional documents.”

He sees Ardern’s acknowledgment of He Whakaputanga as signalling a generational shift towards defining the declaration as part of our living history, in dialogue with Te Tiriti.

He Tohu will be an permanent exhibition of “Signatures that Shape New Zealand” at the National Library of

New Zealand, which is facilitating public engagement with He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the Women’s Suffrage Petition of 1893.

- Sasha Beattie

GREEN PARTY DISSENTS OVER WAKA JUMPING BILL Max Tweedie, co-convenor of the Young Greens, has recently faced criticism for a post he made on a private Young Greens Facebook page which was subsequently leaked on Reddit. The post revealed that the Greens have to support the Waka Jumping Bill because they didn’t think to register opposition to the Bill during negotiations with Labour.

However, under the Confidence and Supply Agreement with Labour, Greens are not required to support the Bill. The Agreement states the Green Party is obligated to support: “The broad outline of the legislative programme, significant legislative, regulatory and policy changes, broad budget parameters, and process”.

Previously declining comment to national media, Tweedie has subsequently released a statement to Salient stating that: “transparency and honesty plays a vital role in politics… relaying that information [regarding Green’s reasons for supporting the Waka Jumping Bill] is not only part of my responsibility of ensuring caucus is accountable to the wider party, but simply the right thing to do”.

Julie Anne Genter has publicly spoken out against the Bill, stating that there has been internal dissension over the Bill. She has also criticised the caucus on the way it communicates with party members.

Former Green MPs Sue Bradford and Keith Locke have both spoken out against Green’s support of the Bill, citing that it will impede personal political integrity and noting that historically Greens have been against this type of bill.

- Louise Lin

THE PARTY LINE Given that National and the Greens are preparing to select new party leaders, what traits, in your opinion, make for a strong and suitable leader?

Vic Nats Being a leader of a political party is one the hardest jobs a person can have. They have to defend their party from attack, keep their caucus united, and ensure their policies are appealing to voters. They must be strong enough to respond to attacks without being affected by them. The openness of our democratic nation often leads party leaders to be criticised on their

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views and policies. A strong leader knows that regardless of the intensity of such critiques, there is always an opportunity to learn and adapt. It is without a doubt, that a leader must possess strong communication abilities to be able to do this. Party leaders will meet with countless people from all walks of life and must be able to understand each person's perspectives. In order to empower and inspire, the leader must be able to curate these views to create meaningful policies.

- Sam Stead Young Greens To be a leader, especially in politics, one has to lead the people they represent. By virtue, they must understand the people they represent if they are to be effective in advocating for their communities and their constituents.

The true measure of any society, is how it treats its most vulnerable. To be able to understand and empathise with those who we’ve let fall through the safety net, is a quality unrivalled in the ability to understand one of the greatest challenges our country faces, To be able to challenge power, to be authentic, and to do so compassionately, requires an outstanding leader. Bringing people together and uniting them under a message, a belief in a greater future, is no easy feat. Both Julie Anne Genter and Marama Davidson have the unique ability to lead the Green Party exceptionally well.

We’re spoilt for choice; I mean, who HAS heard of Mark Mitchell?

- Max Tweedie Young Labour Aside from what is most obvious, i.e: the leader must embody their party’s views, must be able to work with all sectors of the New Zealand social and economic life, and use this to channel their vision for New Zealand, we think they should also meet this set of criteria: - The leader should use te reo and respect te ao Māori. Continuing to the movement to reaching a fully bilingual and multiculturally welcoming New Zealand.

- The leader should be a feminist. They should be proud to call themselves one and actively use their position to make the country of complete gender equity and sexual equality.

- They should recognize the critical threat that Climate Change and environmental degradation pose to all peoples, and be prepared to front that challenge.

- They should know when to shut up at Waitangi - and accept listening to the words kaumatua. @johnnyandbillybois.

These traits should surpass the divides of politics.

- Teri O’Neill

*News* JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY IS SUBJECTIVE

ENTIRE ACT PARTY CAUCUS TO APPEAR IN DANCING WITH THE STARS In a bid to prove his mettle to the ACT Party’s 0.5% voter base and the taxpayer population at large, David Seymour has announced that he will compete in Three’s upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars. Tolerance is a core value of the ACT Party Vision, and it is New Zealand’s tolerance that will be tested every week as the show goes to air sometime in the next few months.

Wildly unsubstantiated rumour has it that the 12 professional dancers who will be partnering this season’s Stars are currently amid negotiations as to who will draw the short straw, so to speak, and partner Seymour. The ace up his sleeve: no one in good conscience can say no to Kidsline, a telephone counselling service for kids, and Seymour’s charity of choice - even in the face of roughly fifteen hours a week trying to maintain eye contact with the notoriously dead-eyed party leader.

A testament to the truly unshakeable confidence of a mediocre white man, an admitted lack of anything resembling rhythm hasn’t deterred the Epsom MP. Correctly identifying that “there is a ‘beat’ in music and that there are ‘steps’ you have to learn before you dance,” Seymour distinguishes himself as a contender to be reckoned with.

Rodney Hide – former ACT Party Leader and someone who I like to imagine David has, on more than one occasion, accidentally called Dad - has also graced the DWTS stage, dropping his partner Krystal Stewart and receiving the worst score in the history of the show. Power to David, the bar is so low even he might be taller than it.

- Sasha Beattie

RENT INCREASES HURT DRUG DEALERS A spokesperson for drug dealers based in the Wellington region released a statement saying the profession is concerned that the current increase in rent prices may hurt sales during Orientation Week, usually a busy season in the field.

A press release sent to Salient from the organisation states: “It is concerning that, in what usually would be one of our best weeks for sales, students and young people are unfairly being forced to use what little money they have to spend on rent and bond, rather than putting it into their lungs or up their noses”.

“As drug dealers, we simply want people to have a good time in their orientation week. However, with reports of many landlords raising prices $50 dollars or more per week, our organisation fears that many students will be priced out of getting honestly fucked up this week”.

“The Labour Government’s policy of increasing student allowance, while it seemed initially promising for our field, has been poorly implemented. What should have been an extra fifty dollars a week to take the strain off of students, is instead going into the pockets of landlords”.

One Kelburn and Aro Valley based drug dealer who spoke to Salient, but wished to remain anonymous, said, “That extra money should be for pingas and tinnies, not an extra bottle of pinot noir and expensive cheeses for some greedy landlord”. He said rent increases have been disproportionate to house prices or inflation, saying that this is “stopping people from getting properly fucking cooked”. “There’s going to a lot less bloodshot eyes and sore jaws this O-Week, frankly that’s going to be tough for my profession”.

Salient reached out to a representative of the Labour government, but they declined to comment.

- Angus Shaw

SLIDING INTO VUWSA PRESIDENT MARLON DRAKE'S DM'S Sash, our illustrious News Editor, interviewed Marlon Drake, VUWSA President, this week, through the unorthodox method of sliding into the President’s Instagram DMs. 1. What do you think your term as VUWSA President will be remembered for?

Ask me again at the end of the year.

2. What do you think your term as VUWSA President will be memed for?

The meme maketh the man, and the people maketh the meme.

3. Are you worried about living in the shadow of Rory’s moustache?

Rory’s half my size, I’m not in the shade.

4. Fuck Marry Kill: Judith Collins, Amy Adams, Simon Bridges Fuck em all.

5. Most outrageous thing you’ve spent course related costs on?

A smoothie from The Lab. 6. Best and worst courses you’ve taken at uni?

I work with a lot of academics and my communications manager has advised me to provide no comment on this matter.

7. Can you send me a screenshot of your tinder profile right now?

I don’t have a tinder follow me on Instagram @marlondrake and get in my DMs, Sasha you know the way.

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8. Thoughts on Max Key’s cover of Havana?

Truly a magnificent piece, somehow so old yet still pushing new boundaries in classic Max Key fashion. His subtle commentary on the geopolitical situation in Cuba under a Trump Presidency acknowledges the complexities of an unwinding socialist economy.

The way the slightly out of time DnB is mixed into the track is a clear and utterly genius representation of his father’s untimely departure from the messy world of politics ( John, we miss you.) Max, you are the key to my heart. Keep up the good work mate xxx Marlon has asked that all further media communications to VUWSA be channelled through VUWSA’s Communications Manager.

LETTERS Sadly there are no letter to the editors this week! C'mon guys! Send your feedback and opinions to editor@salient.org.nz

NOTICES SIGN TO BAN FARROWING CRATES Right now mother pigs are still suffering inside factory farms in NZ. But next month SAFE will present a petition to Parliament to end this cruel practice and we want to be sure we include your voice!

A farrowing crate is a small metal cage that confines a pregnant sow for close to five weeks at a time, 2-3 times a year. She is incarcerated five days before giving birth, up until her piglets are removed at about four weeks old. For the five weeks she is in the crate, she is unable to turn around or move more than a few paces back and forth.

As smart as dogs and three-year-old children, mother pigs suffer terribly in crates. Please, go online now to SAFE. org.nz and sign to help end the cruelty for thousands of mother pigs in NZ. SADO'S CALL VOL 2 Sado is seeking abstracts for Volume 2: ‘Plants and desire under capitalism.’

Sado is a journal that supports critical writing on issues important to Aotearoa, favouring young, under-published, creative academics/writers. Use whatever style of expression – academic, fiction, poetry, visual essays, etc.

You can interpret Volume 2’s topic for yourself, or send us an email for a more detailed topic blurb. If you are interested in plants or desire in Aotearoa but not both, you can pursue either. Sado invites essays up to four thousand words (although ideally shorter), which will be due May 31st. If you have an idea, even a half-built one, please send an expression of interest of 50-200 words to sado.aotearoa@gmail.com

CAREERS EVENTS COMING UP IN MARCH Commerce & Law Expo Thurs 15th March, 11-2pm, Rutherford House This expo is a MUST for students looking to explore and discuss possible career opportunities. 40+ Employers have signed up so far. Staff are very welcome to attend.

Employer Presentations FNZC, ANZ, EY, Forsyth Barr, Reserve Bank, KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, NZDF, Bell Gully, Audit NZ, MFAT and MORE! Check out CareerHub for more info and to RSVP. RACE RELATIONS DAY: GIVE NOTHING TO RACISM March 21 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

To celebrate cultural diversity in New Zealand, on Saturday 24 March Wellington will be home to a massive multicultural festival with world class and local performers and delicious ethnic food. A fantastic free day out for the whole family!

Details: Race Relations Day Give Nothing to Racism Multicultural Festival TSB Arena Wellington, Sat 24 March at 12pm VUW WOMEN IN TECH The VUW Women in Tech (VUWWIT) group is here to support all undergraduate and VUW Alumni women and nonbinary studying Engineering, Computer Science, or any other STEM subjects. We provide opportunities for our members to network with industry and build their skills and understanding of a career in STEM through workshops, outreach programs, and other activities.

Our 2018 AGM: Coming soon!

Email: vuwwit@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/vuwwit/

Keen to Kõrero Kia rite koutou mõ O-week? – Are you (3+people) ready for O-week?

Whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata, whāia te pae tata kia maua. – Pursue the distant pathways of your dreams, so they may become your reality.

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ORIENTATION WEEK CEILIDH DANCE WITH VICFOLK Monday 5 March 7-10pm Tuatara Third Eye, 30 Arthur St $5 student tickets, available at the bar ($12 general admission) If you love good music and bad dancing, come along to the O-Week ceilidh. There's a live band from VicFolk, VUW's own Celtic music club, and all the dances will be called. No need for any experience, or a partner. Ceilidhs are the easiest and most fun dancing you'll find anywhere, and where else will you find a live gig for a fiver?

Come and check it out!

TEAM VIC Team Vic is the largest netball club in Wellington, providing a friendly, supportive atmosphere and both competitive and social teams.

Our fees are low, and it is a great way to meet people as we have both student and non-student players! We even offer the opportunity to play at Premier 1 level with and against some of New Zealand's top players.

Coaches and committee members are able to count their volunteer time and involvement towards the Vic Plus Award.

If you are looking for competitive or social netball and coaching or umpire opportunities, join us! Register here: https://goo.gl/xuQMxy For more information, check out our website or find us on social media.

Website: http://www.sporty.co.nz/vicuninetball/ Contact: teamvicnetball@gmail.com Public Art Fund.

INCURSION BY SHAUN MATTHEWS Otari Wiltons Bush, Mt Victoria Town Belt, Wellington Botanic Garden and Te Papa’s Bush City.

10 March - 7 April 2018 Weeds take over central Wellington’s parks and green spaces in Incursion, a series of large photographic images on fabric by Shaun Matthews. Hung high amidst the trees and bush, Matthew’s images “smother” the plants behind them to remind us of the huge and devastating impact weeds have on our native ecosystem. https://www.shaunmatthews.com/

Columns

Presidential Address

VUWSA

Marlon Drake

Tamatha Paul Kia ora e te whānau, e ngā pakeke me ngā tamaiti ki te Whare Wānanga o te Ūpoko o te Ika a Māui!

Kia ora e te whānau!

Ko Marlon Drake tōku ingoa. It’s ya boy, the VUWSA President for 2018. Whether you’re a first year or a returning student, welcome home. I remember my first week of uni. I didn’t attend any of the O’Week events, and didn’t really meet any new people. I went out a couple of times, but largely kept to myself and my friends from high school. I had a good time, but I was a bit overwhelmed by the new people, the new uni, and the new city. I wasn’t shy back home, and I’m not shy now, it was just a transition period. The reason I’m sharing this with you is because at the time I was really scared. I thought I’d be stuck in my little bubble forever.

My name is Tam and I’m the Engagement Vice-President at VUWSA for 2018. This pretty much means that I’m working all year to build a strong community among students through things like: Events (O-Week, concerts, stalls), Campaigns (Fairer Fares, Thursdays in Black), Clubs (Vic has over 100+ clubs for you to join), Activities (Faculty Games, fun stuff on and around campus).

If there’s one thing we want you to know straight off the bat, it’s that VUWSA has got your back. Especially during Orientation Week 2018!

Fast forward a few weeks and my bubble has popped. I made friends in my lectures, in my halls, and just around town, all because a couple of randoms in LAWS121 invited me out. The point is, O’Week is not the be-all and end-all. University is a journey with many twists and turns, and it’s never too late to try something new, in your first year, or any year. There are clubs to join, bars to go to, feeds to eat, and people to meet. I should also say there are lectures to attend, but you’ll have enough people telling you that any way.

You’ve probably seen the word O-Week everywhere – we’ve got a crazy good schedule of activities for you over the year, that you should all try and get to. But what you might not be aware of is some of the cool stuff we’re doing to make sure everyone is safe and happy throughout the start of the year. Let me inform you: We’re collaborating with Vulnerable Support Charitable Trust to create a safe space in town for when your night gets a bit out the gate! It’s called Take-10 and it’s based at St. James Theatre on Courtenay Place – less than a five minute walk from your new fav club. You can charge your phone here, get some free food, or have someone help you find your way home!

At all of our O-Week events, we have a safe room for those who need our help, and there will also be a chill out space in the Bubble, just below the Hunter Lounge, if you want a bit of time out from the gig.

We’ve got your hangover dries covered at our VUWSA Stall during the day, every day, where we’ll be giving out our own VUWSA-ade drink that’ll keep you hydrated and ready to go again that night!

Through all of it, remember that VUWSA (your friendly neighbourhood students’ association) is here for you the whole way through. Our door is always open (metaphorically always, technically 10am till 4pm), so pop in any time if you need a helping hand, or just want to yarn.

So here’s to 2018. Make the most of it, and I look forward to meeting ya!

We’ve got heaps of other awesome stuff going on, so make sure you check out our Instagram (@vuwsagram) and our Facebook (VUWSA) for more info!

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Columns

From the Archives Max Nichol

The past has crucial lessons worth heeding in the present.

We learn and grow from the mistakes of our predecessors.

History never repeats. It’s a lovely sentiment.

Unfortunately, history can’t actually guarantee progress. More often than we’d like to admit, we end up rehashing the same problems time and again – same discussion, different decade. Exhibit A: it’s still impossible to find a flat in the city of Wellington. For your consideration:

There’s no doubt that the specific set of circumstances which gave rise to Wellington’s housing issues in the 1970s were different to those we face today – aside from anything else, students in the 1970s were getting free education and a cruisy bursary every week. However, the usual suspects were blamed – the University, the Government, Wellington City Council, penny-pinching landlords.∗ Ultimately, now as then, it is these groups which hold the power to improve Wellington’s housing stock for students, and for all Wellington residents feeling the strain of high rents and low supply.

There have been some positive steps in recent years.

To their credit, VUWSA is always doing mahi to try to effect change in student housing. But with students still looking for a roof over their heads as the trimester begins, and little reason to believe anything will be different this time next year, it’s hard not to feel that history is repeating itself.

My name is Max, and I’m writing my Master’s thesis on the history of Salient, because as a student with a lot of half-baked opinions I thought it’d be super cool to spend a year analysing the half-baked opinions of students from eighty years ago. Every other week I’ll highlight particularly interesting or topical pieces from the Salient archives.

You probably feel like you’ve read this before. Maybe in the comments on someone’s desperate post on Flatmates Wanted Wellington (which has been shared to Vic Deals, printed in the classifieds, projected onto the face of the moon, etc.). In fact, this was published in the first issue of Salient in March 1971.

Every January and February throughout the 1970s, Vic students hustled to find a flat that wasn’t too expensive, too dingy, or too far from Kelburn. Every year, Salient reported that once again the University didn’t have enough room in its accommodation services, and that housing supply in the private market was woefully inadequate. The first issue of Salient in 1976 captures the all-too-familiar sense of lurching into the New Year with nowhere to live:

Full disclosure: people like me, whose teenage bedrooms lie empty in Wellington but who like the ~independence~ of flatting, have probably never helped matters either.

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Columns

CanDo

NT: Te Ara Tauira

Lilli Street

Nikayla Jonas & Aidan Crawford Nau mai ki te pūrongo tuatahi ō Te Ara Tauira 2018.

Ko te tūmanako i pai te raumati, ā i hoki ora mai koutou.

Last year in October, Ngāi Tauira had a successful AGM, filling all 8 positions and welcoming a brand new executive to run and grow Ngāi Tauira in 2018. Our new executive is made up entirely of fresh faces who are motivated and passionate about university and university life for tauira Māori. Ngāi Tauira is often described as the Whānau at university for Māori students who endeavour on this education journey.

Our new executive:

CanDo is Victoria University’s representative group for disabled students. Our goal is to assist in creating an accessible and welcoming learning environment, and encouraging connections within the vibrant and continually evolving disabled community.

If you're a new student to university, or to Victoria, welcome! Moving from work or school to university can be a tough transition. Even moving from one university to another can have its challenges, as everywhere works a little differently. Here are some tips for disabled students who are new to university:

Nikayla Jonas & Aidan Crawford - Tumuaki Takirua (Co-presidents) Te Ama Rere tai Rangihuna - Pou Tuarongo (Vice President/Culture and Kapa haka Officer) Jade Gifford - Apiha Tūmatanui (Media and Communications Officer) Kamaia Takuira-Mita - Apiha Matauranga (Academic Officer) Regan Sword - Apiha Hauora (Sports and Well-being Officer) Pounamu Tipiwai-Chambers - Apiha Whakangahau (Events Officer) Kaihau Paitai - Kaitiaki Putea (Treasurer) Danielle Sword - Secretary

Get in touch with Disability Services. Even if you don't feel like you need any accommodations, being registered with them will help down the road if you encounter any hiccups. Be aware that they have many students per advisor so get in early. University style teaching is very different to what you may have encountered before, so Disability Services is the best place to help you figure out solutions to new problems.

Introduce yourself to your lecturers and tutors, by email or in person. I've found it very helpful to let my lecturers know of any accommodations that I may need during semester. If you don't need them, then great! If you do, then the lecturers are already aware of what you need.

You don't have to disclose your exact disability to them if you're not comfortable doing so.

We have envisioned a year of academic success for Māori students through the incorporation of Māori values and initiatives. Using Noho Marae/study wananga and core Māori values and language to create a better outcomes and experiences for tauira while they get their degrees. We have also envisioned a year of relationship building and collaboration with our student leadership counterparts VUWSA & PSC and using our unity to fight battles outside of university, i.e fairer fares and upcoming rental WOF schemes.

As a key part of Te Ao Māori at university we also want to promote our culture and language through all of Victoria's campuses, working with Te Herenga Waka Marae, Te Roopu Awhina, Te Putahi Atawhai and our other Māori student associations, Ngā Rangahautira and Ngā Taura umanga, to "MAKE IT MĀORI", and make it comfortably Māori.

No reira, Ngā mihi nui o te tau hou kia tatou katoa!

This year, we will be continuing with our popular pizza lunches, LEGO in the Hub, and our contributions to Mental Health Awareness Week. We will be present throughout clubs week, so come along and say hello!

You can also get in touch with us on Facebook, or send us an email at can.do.at.vic@gmail.com. As always, diversity is our greatest strength, and our events are open to anyone with an interest in inclusion and accessibility.

With love, your badass and disabled CanDo exec.

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Columns

Does anything really matter? Many of us, in our more existential moments, might find ourselves thinking about this question. Nihilism – the proposition that nothing matters, or that nothing has value, or that we have no reason for doing anything – might appear very plausible.

After all, it seems that a modern scientific worldview leaves no room for facts about value or goodness or badness.

If nihilism were true, what would that imply for our everyday life? This question is investigated by the philosopher Guy Kahane. Kahane begins by dismissing two common fears. The first is that if nihilism were true, that would be a bad thing. The second is that if nihilism were true, we would have reason to despair. Kahane points out, as many philosophers have done before him, that these fears are seriously confused. If nothing is good or bad, then it cannot be bad that nothing is good or bad. If we have no reason to do anything, then we have no reason to despair about that fact. To put this differently – if nothing matters, then it does not matter that nothing matters.

This means that the truth of nihilism, startlingly enough, would have no normative implications. The truth of nihilism would not imply that we ought to change anything about our behaviour. Many philosophers prior to Kahane have used this reasoning to dismiss any concerns about nihilism as being fundamentally silly. As Kahane writes: “At first sight the question of nihilism can appear to be immensely important, perhaps the most important question we can ask. But now it begins to seem as if nothing at all is at stake in nihilism.”

But Kahane is not satisfied with this answer. He accepts that, if we believe that nihilism is true, we would have no reason to despair. But that does not mean that we would not actually fall into despair. After all, many people are actually sad despite having every reason to be happy.

Kahane points out that, if we came to believe that nihilism is true, this would likely result in us abandoning many of our normal pursuits. The reason we pursue many things is because we think they are valuable. So if we ceased to believe that anything was valuable, we might stop pursuing those things. Kahane argues that the life of a person who truly and fully believes in nihilism would be almost animalistic – driven by temporary inclinations and instinctive desires, and lacking any broader projects or aims or structure. This is not how we ought to react to belief in nihilism – but how we likely would, given our psychology.

Kahane’s conclusion is that, while we have no reason to fear nihilism itself (because the truth of nihilism would not matter), we do have a reason to fear mistaken belief in nihilism. Consider the following possibilities: 1. Nihilism is true. In this case, nothing matters, and it doesn’t matter whether or not we believe in nihilism.

2. Nihilism is false. In this case, things do matter, and since believing in nihilism would make our lives much worse, we ought not to believe in nihilism.

Because of this, Kahane says, we have strong practical reasons to believe that nihilism is false. We gain nothing (and stand to lose very much) from believing that nihilism is true, and we lose nothing (and stand to gain very much) from believing that nihilism is false.

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Columns

PGSA: Postgrad Informer

Mauri Ora Cathy Stephenson

Josh Brian I am feeling a little odd right now. For most people at Victoria, this time of year is a beginning. New courses, new friends, new tutors to get crushes on (shut up, it can happen), new ways to procrastinate doing what you actually came here for. And yet for me, it’s an end. Less than a week after you read this, I will (hopefully) hand in my last ever piece of coursework at Victoria University, six years to the day after I started. It feels a little surreal, like I am out of sync with the rest of the world.

But to be honest, this is what postgrad life is like all the time. In many cases there are no classes to attend, no periodic assignments, and no real contact with other groups of people. University ‘holidays’ become a joke, and trimesters and exam periods lose all meaning.

As such, normal interactions start to go slightly out the window. Rather insidiously, your work can take over most of your time. This past year, I often turned up to the lab in the weekend to do some work in peace and quiet, and was quite vexed to find that four or five others had also turned up to do the same.

It’s important to remember that there are other enriching aspects to postgraduate life, which you should try and make the most of. Here at the PGSA, we do our best to provide some opportunities to do so. Whether you want to hear about people’s research from other disciplines (or present your own!), come to fun activities like picnics and quizzes, eat a whole lot of free pizza or just sit and talk quietly over a coffee, we provide the chances for you to do that. If you ever need a hand, just let us know and we are here to help. Your work is important – but so is living your life.

Josh Brian Co-Vice-President, Postgraduate Students Association

Firstly, on behalf of the friendly, supportive team at Mauri Ora, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Victoria (or welcome back, if you are a returning student)! The name Mauri Ora comes from the Maori term for wellbeing, and encompasses a holistic view of health – mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual.

We appreciate that the next few weeks will be a busy time as you endeavour to orientate yourself to university life and find your way round campus, and understand that meeting our health team may not be top of the list of priorities - but if I can urge you to enrol this week, or even this month, it will pay dividends!

Mauri Ora is a health, counselling, and well-being service, staffed with doctors, nurses, outreach workers, counsellors, health educators, and a fabulous support team. We operate from two sites at Victoria – the ground floor of the Student Union building at Kelburn, and at Rutherford House on the mezzanine floor, for those of you studying at Pipitea. We run clinics during usual business hours, and can provide “urgent” same day appointments as needed (accessed through our triage nurses on 463 5308).

We offer a wide range of services including vaccinations, general health checks, contraception (including emergency contraception), STI testing (which can often be done without a doctors examination), travel advice, counselling, and mental health support. We also run outreach clinics for Pasifika, Māori, gender diverse and international students. We work closely with other teams within the university including Student Finances, Disability Services, and Student Learning Support.

For the majority of students, enrolling at Mauri Ora will mean your health care and counselling needs while at university will be free of charge – you can enrol by filling in the form available from our reception or online from our webpage (see below). There are some exceptions to this, including international students who need to have medical insurance to get their health care funded for them. If you don’t enrol, but need our health care, there is a charge, so enrolling is definitely the best option!

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Nga mihi nui.

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Columns

Strap the fuck in and hold onto your wigs because Shit Chat is back for another substance-fuelled shit-show of a year. For those of you who weren’t privy to the mess I was somehow allowed to publish in 2017, the writing of this column is more often than not facilitated by a bottle of Fat Bird ‘Red’ and a good old cry. Why pay to talk to a professional about your deeply flawed character when you can get inebriated, write a column, and expose yourself to a cosy 20,000 of your peers for free?

Heading into my fifth year of a three year degree, depending on how you look at it, I’m either an expert at navigating uni by this point or an absolute fucking amateur. Take that how you may, here’s my unsolicited and unqualified advice for getting through ‘the best years of your life’, aka the utter fucking horror ride that is university.

Buy a vibrator. Make sure it’s quiet and waterproof.

Pining over a boy? Masturbate. Avoiding an assignment?

Procrasturbate. Your vibrator will never send your nudes to a group chat called Da Boiz or reluctantly reciprocate oral for all of three minutes before asking if you’ve cum; your vibrator will never judge you for drinking Double Browns at 10am on a Tuesday instead of writing 1500 words about political theory. Your vibrator will never let you down.

Don’t buy a set of scales. Being in denial that your lifestyle choices are catching up with you is all well and good, until you buy a set of scales.

Master class in being granted extensions: 1) Unless you’re doing law, which by all accounts punishes any admission of humanity, just be honest. Shockingly enough, lecturers are pretty good at helping you out if only you ask nicely. 2) Contribute to every tutorial once,

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and well. Your tutor will be more willing to throw you a bone when you need it if you’ve exhibited a bare minimum of interest in what they have to say. 3) Build a rapport with the counsellors at student health. If like me you’re blessed to be both depressed and anxious, this will come in handy when you’re emailing your lecturer for an extension at 4am having come to the grand finale of your avoidance/panic essay writing cycle with absolutely nothing to show for yourself.

Sign up to Mauri Ora. There is literally no excuse not to get your bits checked regularly when there are doctors willing to look at them for free.

Don’t use your teeth. I don’t give two shits what Monique from your high school in Gore told you after googling ‘how to give good head,’ just imagine for a hot minute someone taking a cheese grater to your genitals, then retract your teeth all the way up into your gums.

Learn to say no. To people asking for your notes trying to capitalise on your hard work after they’ve put in absolutely no effort all semester, to the guy you don’t know telling you to pull your headphones out so he can hit on you while you’re sitting in the library minding your own damn business, to that last godfather shot at 3am in El Horno that’s gonna send you over the edge and inevitably home with your coworker. Learn to say no. You don’t owe people shit.

Most importantly, look after your friends. Figure out which are the good ones and hold them close, because they’re all that’s gonna get you through three to five years of bullshit group assignments, borderline substance dependency, malnutrition, exploitative landlords, and asshole men.

Love you, xoxo

8 People You'll Meet in O–Week

BY VITA MOLYNEUX

The guy in your Philosophy 109 class who has very clearly never thought about anything deeper than a puddle drawn on paper, and yet never fails to find something to talk about. Conversations will be circular, and the evidence will be limited.

This guy has got dreadlocks longer than your reading list and eyes redder than the devil’s dick, but you trust him. He’s harmless, but beware of the conspiracy theories you may be forced to entertain. It’s easier to pretend that George Bush is a lizard than to argue with someone who’s not even sure where they are.

Don’t be fooled by the quiet voice and the glasses.

This boy is more dangerous than the eighth Diesel on an empty stomach and you won’t even know it. He drinks his coffee black, writes poetry, and projects his emotional damage so efficiently you won’t even realise you’re not the problem until he decides he’s done with you.

The girl who plants her MacBook down next to you and types loudly with multiple frustrated sighs until you’re forced to ask her what she’s writing about – thus thrusting you headlong into the most mundane narrative you’ve ever heard in your life, featuring her as both the protagonist AND the antagonist (“It’s actually like, a metaphor. Y’know, cause I’m my own worst enemy?”)

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8 People You'll Meet in O-Week

I’m not entirely sure if this counts as a person you will meet, because the truth is, nobody ever really knows who they are. This person will turn up for the first week of your lectures and then disappear without a trace. You thought you saw them once at the back of the lecture theatre but it turned out to just be a trick of the light. When you ask around, no one seems to know who you’re talking about.

This guy has never paid attention to an authority figure IN HIS LIFE, and boy oh boy is he ready to share with the class that despite having never really received a formal education, he is smarter than your lecturer who has a Ph.D. The bonus to this guy is you will be able to watch the lecturer get more and more tired of him as the semester progresses. Karma comes for us all.

Evidently, these people are getting their university tuition fully paid for (or are too stupid to realise that they are essentially selling their damn souls to be here), because they are very obvious in their not giving a shit. They will talk, laugh, snort, and buy entire new wardrobes online throughout the lecture, without so much as a glance at the world-weary lecturer who isn’t paid enough to deal with their bullshit. It can be tempting to join this crew, but just remember – this paper alone costs $900.

Shrill, scrawny, and slightly manic, this girl will be found loudly discussing how copiously she vomited last night. These stories will inevitably cut short as she, “like, totally blacked out after the second scrumpy”. Get her on your side, because while she may be a semi-tragic mess of a human, she knows all the bouncers, and the best ways to smuggle a bottle into a bar. You might die, but at least you’ll have fun doing it.

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Image by Taylor Galmiche

LET'S GET CONSENSUAL

BY LAURA SUTHERLAND

Welcome to the week-long, booze-fuelled party with near-strangers that is O-Week. It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times, it’s everything in between. Chances are, you’ll find yourself at an O-Week party, bar, or nightclub, so if you’re new to Wellington (welcome!), or generally new to the night life, here’s the Salient guide to a safe, fun night out.

Make A Plan

Look After Others

Putting a few safety measures in place before going into town could mean the difference between a snug ride home in an Uber, and a drunken stumble up the side of the motorway because you assured your new friends you absolutely knew the way back to Weir House. My first night out in Wellington I had no idea where I was going, and neither will you. Before you head out, decide how you and your friends are going to get home, and leave the navigation to your driver.

It’s also a good idea to exchange phone numbers at the start of the night, so you can find your way back to your group if you get separated.

Sticking with your friends is one of the best ways to stay safe when out at night. By keeping an eye on each other and making sure no one has trailed off, you’re in the best position to protect yourself, and them, from dangerous situations. If a friend or fellow partygoer looks uncomfortable, or like they might be in trouble, there are ways to raise the alarm without endangering your own safety. If something looks suspicious or outright dangerous, don’t hesitate to intervene, ask someone else to intervene on your behalf, alert security staff, or call 111.

O-Week is meant to be a fun time, but reading up on consent and planning in advance are important steps to ensure your night doesn’t take a turn for the worse.

Party hard, don’t be a dick, look after each other, and remember that “no” means no.

Know Your Rights So you’re partying your way down Courtenay Place when a stunner of a person catches your eye. Want to go and talk to them? Go for your life. Pressure them into sexual activity, make unsolicited comments about their body, or touch them without their explicit consent? No. This is never ok. Consent means that without your freely given, explicit permission, any of these actions amount to sexual assault. It is your right to decide whether, when, and with whom you want to have sex, and you have the right to acceptance and respect from partners, friends, acquaintances, and that person chatting you up at your friend’s house party. Your “no” means no. Intoxication is no excuse either — a drunk person cannot legally give consent, so this is also sexual assault. If someone is making you uncomfortable in any way, even if you think you’re being irrational, go with your gut and tell them to stop. If you are being cornered or threatened, then shout for help, and you better believe you’re entitled to punch and kick.

Resources Sexual Abuse HELP Wellington 04 801 6655 https://www.wellingtonhelp.org.nz/ Wellington Rape Crisis (04) 801 8973 http://wellingtonrapecrisis.org.nz/ Student Health Kelburn Campus (04) 463 5308 Pipitea Campus (04) 463 7474

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erfold

Evil Empire WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH WELLINGTONS RENTAL CRISIS

By Daniel Smith

There are a lot of mysteries that accompany the name Naginbhai Neil Ghelabhai Patel. Mysteries including, but not limited to: that he got his money through winning the lotto, that he is frequently seen dancing in the early hours of the Courtenay Place morning in a cowboy hat, that he has achieved such a state of enlightenment that he no longer needs to sleep or eat. These mysteries are clouded in rumour, but one story attached to his name seems to be certain: Neil Patel is not a very good landlord.

Neil Patel /n-eel-paa-tell/ noun 1. A person/thing that utilises their position of power to enact financial harm to others.

“Six thousand buck a year! This education racket is a total neil patel” verb 1. An action which causes the detriment to another, usually property related.

“Man, can you quit showing up here wanting to redo the carpet! You are totally neil patelling me!”

But no man is an island, and this wily cretin is scarily closer to the general rule of landlords in Wellington, rather than an exception to it. The market has become an environment in which renters have had to fight for their rights to be acknowledged, if they can manage to find a place at all.

The wispy-bearded, absent-eyed man has a whole raft of allegations against him, from dodgy bond manoeuvring, unexpected rental increases, failing to comply with housing regulations, power siphoning, wilful damage to heritage buildings, underpaying employees, unlawful entry of tenant’s homes, and negating human decency when dealing with his tenants. A google of his name turns up an entire Reddit thread dedicated to dealing with him as your landlord, alongside a slew of articles from Stuff, Newstalk ZB, Newshub, and Salient, all about shady acts committed by the man.

He has over 10 active companies attributed to his name, one of which, Challenge Rentals Property Management Ltd., has been involved in over 48 cases heard before the tenancy tribunal over the past two years.

His name is synonymous with terrible landlord in Wellington.

Speaking to students currently searching for accommodation, it is clear that a harsh reality is bubbling underneath the media hype. Third year student Oliver Clifton has said that “the demand for flats has reached a critical point this year […] obviously this makes it easier for landlords to act how they like and people don't have much of an option other than to deal with it.” VUWSA President Marlon Drake has spoken of a group of tenants who were given less than 24 hours to sign a contract 26

Evil Empire which saw their rent increase by $36 a week. He says stories like this are not uncommon.

in Wellington for a number of years. The key factor he sees as contributing to the current crisis is the combined forces of property management companies booming and most rentals having slowly drifted into an annual market, with fixed term one-year leases becoming the norm. “The fundamental problem with our tenancy law is that the tenant has very little rights to stay in their home.

With a fixed term lease, if at the end of the year the landlord and the tenant can’t agree on terms for renewal the default answer is that the tenant is out. People on periodic leases are even more at risk as the landlord can give notice, and they don’t even have to give a reason.”

On the 30th of January, Stuff published an article entitled ‘How to stand out from the crowd and secure a rental in Wellington’, in which they quoted the head of Trademe properties, Nigel Jeffries, as recommending, “be prepared to put your best foot forward if you really want the house – an extra $10 a week might just win the landlord over.” This advice, other than being stupidly reductive to the issues faced by most renters, also highlights one of the key problems about the renting situation in Wellington: all attempts to solve the issues are being constructed in ways which ultimately benefit the landlords, to the detriment of renters. In offering his advice, Nigel Jefferies neglects the fact that renters themselves do not need to offer to hike up their own rents, as most landlords are already doing it for them.

Hearing a dumb silence on my end of the phone, Whittaker offers a helpful anecdote: “I like to compare it to employment.

If you take a job, it’s assumed to be permanent, and if the boss wants to fire you, they have to go through due process, warnings, explanations, chance for improvement and so on. In contrast, renters have no recourse, the landlord can just say you’re out and you’re out, you don’t really have any other options.”

Whittaker says that “the fundamental problem that we have with our tenancy law is that the power is too much in the landlord’s favour, and that’s massively driving the price rises at the moment.”

Grant Robertson, MP for Wellington Central, put out a call for any Wellington renters who have faced a rental hike of over 50 dollars to get in contact with him. Response to the email was that, “As of the 31st of January, we have received 138 emails and the post has been shared more than 500 times.

Of those 138 emails, 42 responses directly mentioned they were students.” It is important to remember that these are the people who were able to take the time to email their local MP. Robertson is empathetic towards the plight of his constituents, saying that Labour is currently reviewing the Rental Tenancies Act (1986), so they can identify how they can give more security to renters. While renters wait for the review, Robertson insists that “it is important to remember that most landlords are doing a good job. It’s a minority of landlords who are exploiting the situation that we need to remedy.”

With all of this in perspective it is easy to see why so many landlords are following the suit of the most infamous of their ilk. Wasn’t it John Key, naked beneath his quilt stitched of the many faces of Apirana Ngata and Lord Rutherford banknotes, who whispered, wet with saliva into Brogan’s ear, “absolute power, corrupts absolutely.”

We can never be sure, but it sounds right to me.

Housing minister Phil Twyford has isolated rent bidding as “a symptom of the landlord having all the bargaining chips and the tenants having no power”. But it is not just rent bidding that is a symptom of this. There are also the undue hikes, the early termination of leases, the inappropriate questioning, tenants too scared to bring up issues, and property management companies twisting the living situations of people for their own financial gains. The overall sickness that causes these symptoms

Mr. Robertson can’t be faulted for his positive outlook on humanity. But Renters United representative Robert Whittaker would agree to disagree. “I think it’s more of a systemic issue than that […] the reality is that landlords and property management companies have a vested financial interest in maximising their rent.” Whittaker says that the issue in rental supply has been brewing 27

Evil Empire is the position of power the law has placed the landlord in. What we are seeing now is what that looks like when the rental market is at strain.

that VUWSA are currently lobbying for more student accommodation. “We have seen huge amounts of first year accommodation built over the last five years. It’s not realistic to build all that and not have second and third year accommodation as well. We would really like to see the council and the university work together to find space for this long-term solution of student villages.”

Grant Robertson and Renters United both agree that Labour is moving in the right direction with housing standards being addressed in the Healthy Homes Act. But there is still a whole raft of issues needing a policy update, such as tenancy termination, rent increases, and the rights of the tenant to challenge these.

The solutions to the issues faced by renters in Wellington will most likely be coming at the snail’s pace of bureaucratic policy changes. Until then, students do not Students know that asking landlords to voluntarily change just have to lie down, open-mouthed, and take the shit is not going to work. of the landlord. Even the Oliver Clifton says, “the “the fundamental problem that we have case of such monumental fact that the rental warrant with our tenancy law is that the power jerks as Wellington’s of fitness is voluntary is own resident conniving is too much in the landlord’s favour, property mogul Neil so silly, only two houses and that’s massively driving the price Patel, the landlord is not were given a WOF in the programme’s first six unbeatable in a court of rises at the moment.” months, which suggests law. As we have seen, the hardly any landlords are applying for it.” It is clear that law rests in landlord’s favour out in the property market, what needs to change is the structure that allowed this but taken to the tenancy tribunal, a more equal footing situation to arise in the first place. Renters United would is provided for the tenant to fight for their rights. Tenants like to see more power for the local authorities to take do not have to do this alone. Help is offered in the a role in regulating housing quality. This would mean form of the VUWSA’s Advocacy service, Renters United that it would be the council’s prerogative to keep an eye and Council Tenancy Services (see your local Citizens on housing. Issues would not wait to be resolved until a Advice Bureau). This can be a scary prospect, but until tenant brought their landlord to the tribunal. They would the policy changes, issues must be brought up to this also like to see a change in issues of tenure: leases being level for a misbehaving landlord to be held to account. made permanent until the tenant decides to move on, A moment of victory of this is seen in the judge’s notes creating an assumption that you will continue on in the for a tenancy tribunal hearing for Neil Patel’s Challenge property indefinitely. This would help shift some of the Rental Ltd., “The landlord appears to believe that power from the hands of because the tenants signed the landlord, who would the agreement they are Wasn’t it John Key, naked beneath no longer be able to so his quilt stitched of the many faces of unable to pursue a claim… easily change up to a This is not the case. I find Apirana Ngata and Lord Rutherford tenant offering a higher having considered all the banknotes, who whispered, wet with evidence from both parties rent. saliva into Brogan’s ear, “absolute in its entirety that the Renters United also want landlord [is a huge dick].” power, corrupts absolutely.” to see landlords licenced.

The same court ordered “At the moment anybody can be a landlord, you can Mr. Patel to pay around three grand in damages to his be a landlord from prison, you can be disqualified from former tenants. owning a company but not from being a landlord.” The fact that most students are dependent on just anyone who Although it is a tough time, it is important to remember may have enough money to own another property for that renters are all in this together. By abiding by and a place to live is a scary thought. It becomes less of a answering landlord’s questions of “what is the maximum surprise that some landlords are acting the way they are, you are willing to pay?”, renters are playing into their when they have been allowed to for so long. hands. Robert Whittaker wants renters to remember that “when you go to flat viewing it is easy to see it as Until these changes come in, and hopefully they are a competition with people eyeing each other out. […] coming, the outlook for student renters in this market Remember that all renters are in the same boat. What we is not completely bleak. Marlon Drake, president of need is a bit of solidarity, and renters acting together, to VUWSA, wants students to be aware of the resources change the situation overall.” that are offered through the student’s association. As well as a full-time student renters advocate, and the highly recommended VUWSA flatting guide, Drake says 29

The Introvert’s Guide To Surviving O-Week

BY NIAMH HOLLIS-LOCKE

It’s that time of year again! All the students are back in town, the bars are heaving, the streets are crowded, and the lines for the counter at Vic books seem to stretch for miles. Ah, O-week. When cheap alcohol flows freely – like the rain through the hole in the roof that your landlord has been refusing to fix – loud music is de rigueur, and bed-sheet togas are the height of fashion. Such is the image of student life with which we are presented, and for many it rings true.

But what if, like me – your friendly neighbourhood introvert – the mere thought of parties makes you feel drained and mildly ill? Perhaps you prefer to stay in, reading or watching Netflix, instead of having a night out on the town? Or maybe you simply don’t enjoy getting drunk. On the face of it, you and I are out of luck. In terms of events, O-week, and indeed the first few weeks of university as a whole, is overwhelmingly geared toward the desires of the ‘typical’ student, with the toga party and live music shows. Such a dearth of introvert-oriented activities can lead to this part of the year becoming an incredibly isolating experience, which,

when coupled with the usual pressures of returning to or starting university, makes for a rather miserable time.

In fact, that pretty much sums up my first year O-week experience, which, for the sake of entertainment, I shall recount for you here.

I arrived in Wellington late in February, as do most first year students from out of town; a nervously excited seventeen year old, still scarred by NCEA. Only one of my friends from high school was starting at Vic that year as the majority of our year group had remained in Canterbury, or had chosen to attend Otago. During the first day at the halls, my nerves got the better of me, and I withdrew, saying about five words total in the entirety of those first 24 hours. As the week progressed, and people went out to parties and bars with their new friends, I became increasingly reclusive, eventually reaching the point where I only really left my room for food, or to brew another cup of tea. Needless to say, it wasn’t exactly how I had envisaged the start of my first year.

But Niamh, I hear you cry, you’ve already told us that we’re doomed to suffer during O-Week, why must 30

The Introvert’s Guide To Surviving O-Week you rub it in by regaling us with your own experience? in New Zealand, Wellington is also the arts capital, Well, dear reader, I hope that by sharing my first year boasting many theatres, museums, and galleries, as mistakes I can prevent others from having an equally well as light shows and other events which take place tragic ordeal. Yes, my friend, you read that right. Despite throughout the year. Other attractions in the city include all evidence to the contrary, there is still hope! What you the observatory, waterfront, and national war memorial. hold is a guide, carefully curated by yours truly, from the Many of these culture and arts attractions are often free, experiences and advice of many an introvert known to or have good student discount prices. Without further me, on how to survive, and even thrive, during O-week ado, let’s take a brief look at some of the places to see and beyond. This mini guide is split into two parts; and events on offer this O-Week. the first dealing with ways of avoiding social isolation We shall, predictably, begin with Te Papa; as the during the first few weeks, while the second revolves national museum of New Zealand, no list of Wellington’s around things to see and do in the city which are neither attractions would be complete without it. While not the expensive, nor alcohol fuelled. city’s only museum, it is by far the largest, and it also In my not so humble opinion, one of the most provides a stunning view out into the harbour. Want to important things you can do to avoid, or at least mitigate stare at a slightly decaying giant squid? Fancy getting the effects of isolation, is to get involved when you can. emotional at a World War One exhibit? Just generally Now, I know this seems rather ridiculous, given all that’s like history? Then Te Papa might well be for you! Situated just been said about how O-week events are geared on the waterfront, entry is free. A favourite haunt of mine, toward the more party minded among us, but bear I highly recommend making a visit, especially if you’re with me on this one. Halls of residence tend to organise new to the city. events such as group outings If theatre is your thing, in order to help students So you’ve been successfully staving then you’re in luck, as the become familiar with the off isolation, and now you want to Wellington Fringe Festival will city, and this is something I taking place between the go out and enjoy yourself, but all be strongly encourage everyone 2nd and 24th of March. Like of the O-Week events on offer are its more famous cousin the and anyone to get involved too busy or too boozy. in. This is a chance for you Edinburgh Fringe, this event to meet other students living is packed full of funny and What’s an introvert to do? at the hall, and potentially thought provoking shows such forge the beginnings of a new friendship. Asking about as ‘Pardon Me Alan Turing’, which deals with gay rights the subject that they’re taking, and their interests, is in Britain; and ‘Just Duet’, an improvised comedy show, of course also a brilliant idea, as you may even find featuring pairs of some of Wellington’s most talented someone who’s in the same lectures as you. While there improvisers. The full program can be found online, and is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying simply being contains information about venues, times, and ticket alone and reading or watching Netflix, making that effort prices, including some rather nice student discounts as and pushing through the stress at the beginning of the well. In addition to these cultural draws, Wellington also university year will benefit you as the months progress. has some gorgeous scenery, including walks through the Though a more-than-slightly terrifying prospect, trying to botanic gardens, and the view across to the South Island sit with people at dinner each night is also something I from Red Rocks beach. So if museums and theatres aren’t highly recommend, as it will allow you to start learning your style, and if you’re lucky with the weather, a walk people’s names, as well as helping you to get to know could be the perfect thing, and of course it’s absolutely your fellow residents better, as you bond over your free. shared distaste of the hall’s… interesting cooking.

There is nothing wrong with being introverted, or After O-week, Clubs Day will also be coming up not enjoying alcohol and parties, and it shouldn’t be soon. This is a chance to find people outside of your hall something which prevents you from being able to make and lectures who share your interests, be it chess, anime, the most of your time during O-week, and university as or even bell ringing. For LGBTQ+ people there is also a whole. Do not ever feel that you must force yourself UniQ, the university’s LGBTQ+ student group, who are to be something or someone that you’re not in order to always incredibly welcoming of new members. There’s find friendship. While on the face of it there may seem a full list of clubs and societies on the University website to be few events for the more introverted among us, once in case you miss Clubs Day, or want to have a look at you start to dig a little, a whole host begin to reveal what’s out there ahead of time. themselves. Indeed, I’ve only really scratched the surface.

So you’ve been successfully staving off isolation, and Starting university can be a very challenging experience, now you want to go out and enjoy yourself, but all of but with luck this article may help you avoid the worst of the O-week events on offer are too busy or too boozy. my own mistakes, and, above all else, to have a brilliant What’s an introvert to do? Allow me to shed some light time during your first weeks of study here at Victoria. on the matter. As well as being the seat of government 31

TV — Black Mirror Season 4 Episode 1: USS Callister Review by Conall Aird & George Bulleid

Ranking among Black Mirror’s best, “USS Callister” provides viewers with a homage to classic Star Trek and the subversion of a once plausible hero. Spoilers ahead.

Overacting and painfully overt grins dominate the opening of “Callister”, establishing an unsettling tone which remains strong throughout the episode. Featuring a crew of colourful space officers, led

by Jesse Plemons as Captain Robert Daly, viewers are treated to a 1960s, Star Trek-alike space adventure show called Space Fleet.

Back in the real-world, Space Fleet turns out to be a reality that Daly, the socially awkward and clumsy CTO and co-creator of an innovative gaming technology company, has created, unbeknownst to anyone else. It is revealed he’s using the DNA of co-workers to create versions of them inside his specialised, closed-off game, set in the universe of his favourite show - Space Fleet.

Upon this reveal, the estimation of Daly as a quiet, unassuming nerd rapidly changes to seeing him as a sadistic control-freak who wants to be able to manipulate every strand of his game’s reality. The reveal or “twist” in “Callister” happens far earlier than would usually be expected in a Black Mirror timeline, setting the tone for the episode and the stage for the true protagonist, Nanette (Cristin Milioti), the new staff member who has been brought into Daly’s construction. Within his game, Nanette and other members of staff serve as Daly’s crew; anxiously awaiting his arrival, ready to play the part of an undyingly loyal and adoring group of followers.

In actuality, they are merely there to allow Daly to live out his childish fantasies, in which he fails to embody the teachings of an idealistic tv show but succeeds in rationalising the abuse of his crew.

This episode of Black Mirror transcends previous iterations of the show by subverting a character who once could have been painted as a protagonist. The idea of a lonely genius gaining inner courage to overcome all those who have bullied him through clever use of his technology, eventually winning the girl and saving the day could have just as easily been played out in the 80s or 90s.. The reality in “Callister” is far from that. After being subjected to a miserable work environment all day, Daly retreats home to his chocolate milk, pizza and action figures, signifying a child-like mentality. Winning the respect and admiration of his peers is achievable only in his simulation.

“What is Space Fleet? ... It’s a belief system, founded on the very best of human nature.” Daly recites moving speeches from the show to his crew while never truly understanding nor caring for the actual meaning behind the dialogue. For Daly, fulfilling his lust to be a beloved and respected leader, though never earning it, is enough. A villain whose motives we can understand and empathise with, to a certain extent, is far scarier than an unrealistic, one-dimensional monster; much like the one the Space Fleet crew attempt to combat in the game’s constructed reality. The episode then uses the game’s backdrop to launch into classic Star Trek fare - a crew defiantly overcoming the odds through intelligence, teamwork and cunning use of technology, albeit with a modern twist.

“USS Callister” is space adventure at its finest.

Black Mirror, as usual, delivers, leaving viewers with a welcomed sense of optimism, and its first fully realised villain.

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Film — Universities in Film or, what University (Really) Isnt Like Review by Emma Mcguire

The Old: The Riot Club (2014)

The New: Happy Death Day (2017)

Tree’s life will end. And end. And end. And end - at least until she finds a way to stop it.

Take Groundhog Day, add a sprinkling of Legally Blonde, and some really ropey bits of dialogue and you’ve got 2017’s Happy Death Day. Tree, our heroine, is a bitchy sorority girl with nothing to prove. She goes about her day harassing people, sleeping with her professors, and causing trouble, until she is murdered that night during her birthday party.

However, she wakes again that morning, doomed to repeat the same day over and over until she finds her murderer. Through escaped criminals, wild goose chases, and a creep in a baby mask, Tree grows as a person, and becomes someone that is easy to like.

While Happy Death Day is a slasher film that is essentially bloodless, the humour and eccentricity of the plot make up for the lack of scares. It doesn’t take itself too seriously - which is helpful, considering the premise and takes time to almost parody the ‘dumb sorority girl’ stock characters that we see in so many other horror films.

It’s a light horror movie that’s fun to watch, and while it may make you jump at times, it won’t leave you hiding behind the couch. Happy Death Day even gives us some half-baked life lessons at time - making friends with new people isn’t necessarily a bad thing, walking alone at night is inadvisable, and accepting food from your bitchy mates might be a bad idea.

(I wouldn’t recommend murdering anyone in your first week of uni, though).

Take a bunch of wealthy boys, put them in an alcohol-fuelled situation, and give them absolutely no repercussions for their actions. What could go wrong?

2014’s The Riot Club is a misinformed attempt at a cautionary tale. Two new Oxford College boys are invited to join the ‘Riot Club’ - an exclusive gentlemen’s club whose main goal seems to be terrible to everyone not like them. The majority of the film is set in a dinner venue where the boys get totally pissed, sexually harass the only women in the film, and fight the owners of the establishment.

The issue with The Riot Club is that no-one is likeable.

While we do have the new initiates to the club - Miles and Alistair - as some form of audience avatar, it quickly becomes impossible to distinguish them from the rest of the morass. Every member of the Riot Club is completely filthy, too wealthy for their own good, and despicable.

There is no ‘save the cat’ moment, there is no reason to like them, they just exist as unsympathetic assholes with god complexes. They don’t even really get their comeuppance in the end, which is the only thing that would have been satisfying.

It is very obvious that this film is meant to be satirical, that we’re supposed to look at it as some form of warning. However, the men in this piece have wealthy and/or important people as their parents, thus they avoid repercussions from their actions. Although this lack of a satisfying conclusion is probably quite accurate to real life, this film just plays out as a wealthy mastubatory fantasy without it.

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Music — A Rough, Subjective Guide to Welly's Music Venues Review by Josh Ellery In this year’s Salient music section, we’re gonna do a lot of the normal shit – we’re going to be talking about the important records of the year, the big events, and we’ll be conducting interviews with musicians. My main focus for the year, however, is to shine a light on our local scene. New Zealand has a rich and important musical history, and Wellington is part of it.

To start the year, here’s a bit of a run-down on some of Welly’s best venues.

The first venue I’ll mention here is San Fran on Cuba Street – my favourite spot in Wellington. Ever since my first San Fran gig – an O-Week Drax Project gig in 2015, which I have a somewhat foggy recollection of – I have been in love with this venue. Over the years, this venue has played host to many of the world’s finest acts, and over the next little while will host acts such as Mick Jenkins, The Underachievers, DZ Deathrays, and local legends such as The Datsuns, and The D4. Furthermore, San Fran is a keen promoter of the local scene, and last year played host to Eyegum Wednesdays – a set of free gigs to promote local artists. Some of my favourite musical memories of Wellington have been at San Fran (Peanut Butter Wolf and Vince Staples both spring to mind), and the intimate quality of the small-mid sized space makes for an ever-exciting concert experience. I’d definitely vouch for this as one of the premier venues in town.

If that sounds appealing, Meow, located on Edward St, and Caroline, on Manners St, both fit the bill of the excellent small-to-mid size venue also. Both of these

venues play host to a variety of independent acts (both from our local scene and wider New Zealand), and have pretty outstanding food and drink aspects to them.

Whilst Wellington has been on the hunt for a mid-to-large sized venue to attract the bigger international acts for a number of years (and no secret has been made of this), I believe we really are spoiled for choice in terms of our more intimate club-like venues in the CBD – especially when factoring in The Hunter Lounge, on campus in Kelburn, and Valhalla, on Vivian St, in addition to the spots I mentioned above.

On a similar vein, another of my favs is The Rogue & Vagabond, located on Garrett Street in the CBD. The Rogue & Vagabond regularly hosts live music – usually of the jazz/soul/funk variety in my experience, with many local acts – and throughout 2017 hosted record fairs for collectors in the region. In addition to this, The Rogue & Vagabond is one of many venues in Wellington that prides itself on its craft beer. Combine these features with the awesome outdoor space, and you’ve got a killer spot with great tunes. $2 Taco Tuesdays are always a good time too!

I’ll admit to probably having missed a few venues in this list, and there’s a number of reasons for that. The most predominant in my mind, however, is that I’m really still discovering what Wellington has to offer musically myself – and that’s totally okay. My advice to the firstyear music lovers is to get out there, get along to gigs at these venues, support your local artists, and find what you like for yourself. Get stuck in!

Gig Guide

Wednesday 28th – Balu Brigada with Sky Canvas and Heavy Chest at Meow. $12 early bird tickets, doors at 8 pm.

Thursday 1st – Big flip the Massive with E N T and I.Ryoko at Pyramid Club. $10 tickets, doors at 9pm.

Friday 2nd – Motte and Sky Canvas at Performance Arcade. Free, starts at 7:30.

Saturday 3rd –Grizzly Bear at The Opera House. $89 tickets, doors at 8pm.

Sunday 4th – Newtown Festival, it’s free and what else are you gonna do on a fucking Sunday. Go a`ll day, never leave. Everyone is playin'.

Review by Jazz Kane Your weekly gig guide is proudly curated and collected by only those with the best opinions, to help you pick out which gigs are worth going to. We are covering O-Week, Performance Arcade, and other general about town happenings. See them for free, or help the musicians from resigning themselves to a fate of cold canned beans, because how else do musicians get their money if not through gigs.

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Books — An Honest Review of First Year Textbooks Review by Alex Feinson

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, will spend it all on textbooks. That’s right, trimester one is almost upon us, and all you lil first years will be starting your classes in a week’s time. You’ll also be sorting out what textbooks you’re going to need, and how much of your course related costs you can spend at Liquor King while still being able to afford them all.I’m an old crone and have been through four years of university already, so I’m well versed in the world of textbooks. So let me, your books editor and textbook guru, guide you through your upcoming purchasing with an honest review of some textbooks for first year courses, so you all know what you’re in for.

ACCY130 - Accounting: Information for Business Decisions by Billie Cunningham: The chocolate bar calculator cover is pretty cool.

COMP102 - Java Foundations 3rd Edition: Reading this book will mean you’ll probably make an enormous amount of money, but please don’t make AI, it is scary and the world has enough problems without hyper-intelligent killing robots.

ECON130/141 - Principles of Economics 12th Edition by Karl E. Case: Do you love Rogernomics? Do you go bananas for Neoliberalism? Then this book is for you!

ENGL111 - Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare: Actually one of his best plays. Full of good bants, goofs, and lols.

Selected Poems by John Keats: A sadboi writes good love poems then dies of tuberculosis.

INTP113 - World Politics: International Relations and Globalisation in the 21st Century by Jeffrey Haynes: This book will inspire you to want to work for the UN or be an Ambassador, but in reality will help you get a job at MFAT. LAWS121 - Law Alive 3rd Edition by Grant Morris: Read this or you’ll die.

MARK101 - Marketing Principles by O. C. Ferrell: An integrated and diversified education tool designed for maximum knowledge expansion of corporate enterprise linguistic patterns, and the ultimate how-to guide for becoming a yopro.

POLS111 - New Zealand Government and Politics 6th Edition by Janine Hayward: Best read under a tree at Parliament, or over a pint at Back Benchers.

PSYC121 - Psychology 8th Edition by Henry Gleitman et. al: Definitely more useful than Student Health’s counselling service.

Any MATH, STAT, or QUAN book - I literally can’t even do basic maths so trying to understand and review any these books would be pointless. Honestly props to you for doing a maths course, good luck and Godspeed.

Hopefully these mini reviews will help all of you wee freshers get pumped to do your readings… until week three and then you’ll give up. Good luck for your future studies and happy reading!

If you’re interested in writing a review for the books section, please get in touch at books@salient.org.nz

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Art — Tender Consumption JADE TOWNSEND, ENA Review by Jane Wallace Tourist debris is a strange thing— both components are of an unfixed location. Debris, a disintegration of something left behind, and the tourist, who may only belong nowhere. One is only ever a tourist while displaced, yet conscious of it, and embracing this displacement. So, when he leaves traces of his presence, these objects escape their original contexts also.

For Jade Townsend’s one night only exhibition at ENA, tourist debris is no longer the part that is left behind, but the part which remains. Townsend has collected discarded swing tags from luxury duty-free purchases, and deactivated their commercial potential. It is the label as a concept that these items were originally purchased for (one buys Gucci duty-free because it’s Gucci, baby!), not for the physicality of a swing-tag. The removal of a single label is a reminder that consumption is a personal action, and individualises something that desires to remain a vast and homogenous whole.

The Gucci swing-tag on its own is therefore a severed limb of luxury. Townsend has added beading to this tag, in orange and green, in beautiful seed-like rows. It is now more considered than what it was attached to. The tag is then integrated into a wooden frieze that she commissioned from a local carver, asking them to interpret a specific image with a biblical narrative. The piece has been painted over by Townsend, with a gradient that travels from sickly yellow light when the good weather has lasted too long, to the purple of the thunder that follows. This is Garden of Gucci. It appropriates the aesthetics of paradise, of a consumer paradise. This is a place that is always intoxicated by the shiny and the new. Yet, as Townsend recognises in the descriptions of her works, each paradise gives way to the entrance to hell. To thrive in a consumer paradise is to accept condemnation equally, but in Garden of Gucci, consumerist cynicism is mediated by craftsmanship and tradition.

The swing-tag has transformed again. With the absence of the cynical, we encounter it as a sentimental thing, no longer a signifier of something homogenous, but a thing of intimate and personal associations. Townsend has created a proposal for a tender form of consumerism. Accompanying Garden of Gucci, there is a stand of old Hallmark Mother’s Day cards, which she has reworked with sealant and aerosol spray cans. I am drawn to one in particular, Mum said I could get a job at Louis Vuitton one day if I learnt Japanese. It is these personal myths and associations with labels that make us care for them so much.

It reminds me of my mother, who wears Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue every day because it reminds her of what she thinks Greece will smell like when she finally gets there. There is value in anything that facilitates some sort of hope. It is boring to be only critical of consumption, and so Townsend is doing the unexpected and the interesting, in sympathising with the reasons we buy things and why we have attachments to such objects, beyond any status that they may bring. Tourist debris, therefore, is not just debris of the tourist, but debris that is a tourist itself too, moving across and collapsing different social circumstances and geographies.

Image sourced from @Jumpedonthebandwagonlate

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Podcast — A Brief History Review by Hannah Patterson

Kia ora and welcome to the podcast section! This is a space to chat about all things podcast related. This may include reviews, interviews with hosts, or any general discussion of this wonderful medium. If you love podcasts and have something to say about that then please do not hesitate to email us at podcasts@salient.org.nz.

Contributors enable this section to cover a diverse range of topics, and better reflect the student voice at Vic.

A Brief, Incomplete History of the Podcast 2004: Podcasting in its first form is developed. August Trometer and Ray Slakinski create iPodderX, the first easy to use podcast software.

2005: Apple launches iTunes 4.9 which allows users to download and subscribe to podcasts without additional software.

As a young, angst-ridden pre-teen I remember recognising the term ‘podcast’ and having only a vague idea of what it might mean. I didn’t understand the point of it all, and based most of my opinion off an unsubstantiated feeling that podcasts were ‘nerdy’ and one of the dud features of my iPod. It was a metallic blue iPod shuffle. I was cool back then.

2006: The commercial potential of podcasts is becoming recognised. The second season of The Ricky Gervais Show, found on Audible, is the first major podcast to charge listeners for episodes.

2011: The BBC observes that more than 8 million adults in the UK have downloaded a podcast. This was, at the time, higher than the number of people in the UK that had used Twitter.

Fast forward a few years and here I am: someone who can no longer perform simple tasks without needing some people talking in their ear. “How did this all begin?”, you might ask. My love for podcasts began approximately three years ago, spawned by a fondness for the Bachelor franchise that was shared by no one I knew. I turned to podcasts to satiate my need for in-depth Bachelor-related discussion .

2013: Apple reaches 1 billion podcast subscribers.

2014: Enter Serial: the true-crime murder mystery podcast that broke Apple records as the fastest podcast to reach 5 million downloads and streams. Serial pushed podcasts into the mainstream pop culture discourse.

However, podcasts have been brilliant long before I have been capable of appreciating them. What once was considered a niche medium, valued merely as an extension of radio, has now become a force to be reckoned with. I present to you:

2017: The podcast section of Salient is launched by Annelise Bos!

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Theatre — AUNTY Review by Kate Aschoff

I went in to AUNTY with high expectations. Winner of Best Comedy Auckland Fringe 2017, AUNTY returns to BATS after a sell-out season, “more outrageous than ever.” I wouldn’t quite go so far as to call it “outrageous” as the BATS team do, but I did have a laugh now and again. AUNTY is what you think it’s going to be, there’s ready salted chips, your cousin’s new boyfriend, and lots of family stories that should probably remain untold.

The performer, Johanna Cosgrove, knows how to hold an audience. She also wants everyone to feel at home, which she attempts to do by asking audience members to join her on stage throughout the show. Our space is her space, we are told; we are “the whānau.”

And in our family, there are “no scabs, no narks, and no traitors.” Cosgrove’s character created a pretty realistic family reunion. At points I was brought back to stories my dad has told me about his family, and the memories of aunties told by old friends.

Cosgrove provided a small taste of the classic kiwi comedy, very much taking note from the Topp Twins and Billy T. And while it was funny, I wasn’t sold. It felt like pun after pun, and if you’ve not got a glass of wine in your hand, this sort of thing tends to drag on. Her jokes

were funny, but they all felt like jokes, wanting a reaction each time. When I see a play, if I’m there to laugh, I don’t want these laughs to be forced my way.

The method of storytelling was enjoyable, however.

Each tale rolled smoothly into the next, with later stories making comedic references to stories told earlier in the show. Cosgrove’s loose, drunkenly physicality was amusing yet underused.

I must say, the rest of the audience seemed to be having a really good time, as I frantically wrote notes in my 1B5. Perhaps it is the curse of the Theatre Student to become too critical when watching another’s theatre piece.

Nevertheless, big props to Cosgrove, because no matter how trained you are, a one person show is a big deal. Regardless of my opinion of the show’s content, she definitely pulled it off.

A good show to take your mum or dad too, or for a work outing. Provides genuine laughs and entertainment, but these laughs could also come from reruns of the Topp Twins or a Taika Waititi film in the comfort of your own home.

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This the type of radio that can reheat your cup of tea on Monday, turn you up on Friday, and inform you of the weekly happenings on Sunday night. Delivering a range of shows, from having the bilingual Maori Matters radio show once a week to having live interview and talk shows; you can find yourself lost in some soft and rhythmic tunes to study to throughout the night and enthralled at a live interview with a politician and a sex worker throughout the day. The possibilities are really endless.

What are we doing differently this year?

Increasing the endless possibilities for shows and podcasts to our already endless list of possibilities; enough to make a mathematician wake up drenched in sweat and nose-bleeds.

We wanna do call-ins, podcasts, live & filmed interviews, DJ mixes, promos, giveaways and your ideas.

Your playlists, your charisma, your Aunty; we want it all.

Come do a show and if you don’t want to listen out for us on 88.3FM or http://salient.org.nz/fm/ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, along with looking out for our pieces in the magazine for a chance to win some free shit.

Twitter: @SalientFM Instagram: salient.fm

Kii Small We’ve switched up management for Salient FM. We, Kii and Jazz, will be taking over the airwaves and managing the radio station this year. Salient FM is taking applications for volunteer radio presenters and we’re down for getting things rolling through O-Week. We are opening up the opportunity for you (and a friend you hate) to host a radio show once a week to air to our hundreds of local listeners.

This isn’t the radio that Nan turned up on a Sunday afternoon while inviting you over for that lunch you could never make it to because you were chasing young thangs at the mall.

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IN THE KNOW WITH YOUR BYO TOM HALL

As the Wellington hospitality industry prepares to be stampeded come late February, it seems appropriate to rank and compare some of our Capital’s finest BYO restaurants. Have you recently moved into a flat and are yet to fill your cupboards? Are the 10pm hall drinking curfews getting you down? A BYO night will likely solve your problems. Here’s a selection of places with diverse price, range, and atmosphere. Any indecision and arguments that this review may cause will surely be solved over the dinner table.

Image by Bryce Edwards

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Food — In the Know with your BYO Number 5

Number 2

Tulsi - Halfway down Cuba St Price - Moderate to expensive

Oriental Kingdom - in the Left Bank on Cuba st Price - Dirt cheap

If you are familiar with the range of quality pre-prepared Indian meals on offer at your local supermarket then you are sure to have come across Tulsi before. Their CBD location presents high quality dishes in a welcoming environment. Last time we went, they offered a free bottle of wine for every couple of meals (which is my definition of welcoming). Corkage at $5 makes each glass of wine significantly cheaper than trying to get drunk on super jugs from Hotel Bristol right next door.

I’ve been for just as many lunches as dinners at this Malaysian style cafe, solely for its infamous $7 Roti Chenai. At the price of a cheap starter in any of the previously mentioned venues this quality malay broth comes out of the kitchen almost by the time that you sit down. Despite my partiality towards the Chenai, I can endorse the rest of the menu as being equally delicious and cheap. Just watch yourself for the siren call of Cafe Istanbul’s shisha, which directly opposes the entrance of the left bank.

Number 4

Number 1

Red Hill - Corner of Dixon and Victoria St Price - Lower end of moderate

Genghis Khan - Majoribanks St Price - Moderate to cheap depending on the size of your stomach.

With a large range of menu options and a location that is on a straight line to the Wellington clubbing locality, Red Hill has traditionally been popular with students. Mains at Red Hill hover between $15-20, but their entrees are just cheap enough that you can combine several to add up to a single meal and get to try more of the menu. They have a guarded expansion onto the Victoria St walkway which is ideal for the nicotine enthusiasts, who wish to indulge while enjoying their meal.

Eating here is an absolute treat that you will want to skip lunch for. For $20 a head, you have the privilege of consuming as much Mongolian BBQ as your stomach will fit. The service works as a buffet, where you fill your bowl with meats, veg, noodles, and sauces, take it up to the giant barbeque, and the chefs will cook it in front of you. I’ve seen someone chow down 5 bowls, making each one only $4. The complimentary bread rolls are a delicious trap to make you eat less of the buffet, but on a friday night when the line is 20 strong, it’s worth cleaning your bowl with one while waiting. You win Genghis Khan bingo if some drunk 21st group stand on their chairs to sing Happy Birthday.

Number 3

Big Thumb - Allen St, just off Courtney place Price - Moderate When you first sit down you’re handed a George R.R Martin book of a menu, so allow for 15-20 mins to read the binder and struggle with deciding what to get. There’s easily 10 different options for each meat and many for the vegetarian and vegan eaters. At lunch time, they run a Yum Cha service which starts at 11, and their a la carte menu begins at 5pm; if your pocket is deep enough you could spend the whole day gorging. Chaffers New World is right around the corner so it’s entirely possible to order your starters and then pop down and grab a wine which matches the palate or mood.

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VUWSA PRESENTS WALL PLA

NNER

WEEK 1

VUWSA is giving away O-bags, with a free diary and wallplanner from the VUWSA stall, every day this week!

SAT FEB 24 MON FEB 26 TUES FEB 27

Wellington Pride Festivalʼs Out in the Park Waitangi Park

Chase & Status

VUWSA sign-up and ZM Prize Giveaways

From 7.30pm, The Hunter Lounge

From 11am, Tim Beaglehole Courtyard, Kelburn Campus

Toga Party w/ Sweet Mix Kids & Lee Mvtthews,

Back to school with VUWSA and ZM, from 11am Tim Beaglehole Courtyard, Kelburn Campus

WED FEB 28

VUWSA Stall, from 11am Tim Beaglehole Courtyard, Kelburn Campus

THURS MAR 01

VUWSA Stall, from 11am Tim Beaglehole Courtyard, Kelburn Campus

FRI MAR 02

2018 2018

22001188 DDIAIARRYY

From 7.30pm, The Hunter Lounge

Live Comedy with Guy Williams Michael Fowler Centre

Peking Duk From 7.30pm, The Hunter Lounge

Welcome Festival

Sachi and Kings From 7.30pm, The Hunter Lounge

11am – 3pm, Kelburn Park, Salamanca Road

VUWSA After Party from 10:30pm, Caroline

SAT MAR 03

WEEK 2 MON MAR 05

SAT MAR 10

Campus Expo: Student deals, giveaways and food, from 11am

Campus Expo: Student deals, giveaways and food, from 11am

Campus Expo: Student deals, giveaways and food, from 11am

Fellings 101 Free emotional health workshop AM 102/4 from 3:30pm

Outdoor Cinema From 7.15pm, Kelburn Campus ZM presents the Fact of the Day Quiz Special From 7pm, Hotel Bristol, Cuba Street

Food truck Thursday From 11.00am, Tim Beaglehole Courtyard, Kelburn Campus

The Aro Fair and Arolympics 2018 10am – 6pm

CLUBS WEEK

THURS MAR 08

Campus Expos get a bunch of student-friendly businesses up on campus to show you where to find some top student deals this year.

CLUBS WEEK

WED MAR 07

GIVEAWAYS

CLUBS WEEK

TUES MAR 06

Newtown Festival!

Check out the timetable @ www.vuwsa.org.nz for free buses to and from the event

2018 2018

LEARN HOW TO BALANCE STUDY, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LIFE

FOOD TRUCK THURSDAY

MONDAY 5TH MARCH

Thursday 8th of March Tim Beaglehole Courtyard 11-4PM

FEELINGS 101 PUPPIES & BUNNIES! DRINKS AND NIBBLES AM102 & 104 FROM 3:30PM

TUESDAY 6TH MARCH

BRING YOUR CASH TO BUY YUMMY MUNCHIES

Fact OF Th He E DAY QUIZ SPECIAL

with Fletch, Vaughan & Megan

WEDNESDAY 7 MARCH The Ultimate Showdown between Vic & Massey Hotel Bristol from 7pm Teams of 4-8 people

Register online at www.vuwsa.org.nz/oweek

If your car got stolen, how would you pay for it?

Become a free range chicken farmer

Start a crowdfunding campaign

Dig for treasure

Beg your parents

Or, save heaps with Young Drivers Insurance.

Sell protein powder

Win the lottery Find a pot of gold

Visit ami.co.nz/young-driver to find out more.

Terms and Conditions apply.

COLENSO0367

Distractions

FUN

LITERAL MURDER

Aries: Your insecurities are justified

Taurus: Don't trust the hooded figures

Gemini: Say 'bananas' into the mirror 3x at midnight

Cancer: Watch out for crabs.

Both kinds

Leo: Congratulations! You are our 1,000,000th visitor. Click here to win an iPhone!

Virgo: You get to shape your own destiny for today.

Lucky you

Libra: Did you leave the oven on?

Scorpio: Don't get bitten by David Seymour, lest you fear for your loved ones on the next full moon

Sagittarius: Your shoelaces will come undone

Capricorn: Clean your room, bucko

Aquarius: George Lucas did nothing wrong

Pisces: You will discover the true meaning of Xmas

Larrikins

Comic and Horiscope by Anton Huggard, Soduku by Nathan Hotter

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Contributors

WANT TO BE PART OF THE VUWSA TEAM? NOMINATIONS FOR EDUCATION OFFICER BY-ELECTION ARE NOW OPEN! WORK WITH THE EDUCATION TEAM OVERSEEING CLASS REPS, FACULTY DELEGATES AND QUALITY OF COURSES ON OFFER AT VUW. NOMINATIONS OPEN MONDAY 26 FEBRUARY AT 10AM HEAD TO WWW.VUWSA.ORG.NZ/BYELECTION FOR ALL THE INFO NOMINATIONS MUST BE DROPPED TO THE VUWSA KELBURN OFFICE BY 4.30PM, WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE VUWSA IGM: WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH, 12PM @ THE HUB

Editor Louise Lin

News Writers Johnny O’Hagan Brebner, Jimi Wilson, Tori Bright, Liam Powell, Poppy Donoghue, Olivia Philip, Beth Paterson, Ella Hughes

About Us Salient is employed by, but editorially independent from, the Victoria University Students’ Association (VUWSA).

Salient is a proud member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association.

Disributor Tejas Kalidas

Contributors Jazz Kane, Marlon Drake, Tamatha Paul, Shakked Noy, Josh Brian, Nikayla Jonas, Aidan Crawford, Cathy Stephenson, Max Nichol, Lilli Street, Nathan Hotter, Anton Huggard, Zoe Gillet, Kate Aschoff, Teri O’Neill, Sam Stead, Max Tweedie, Venise Clark

Chief News Reporter Angus Shaw

Sponsors Zealandia, Chow, Cable Car

Feature Writers Vita Molyneux Laura Sutherland Kii Small Daniel Smith Niamh Hollis-Locke

Contact editor@salient.org.nz www.salient.org.nz Level 2, Student Union Victoria University PO Box 600, Wellington

Section Editors Connal Aird (TV) Emma Mcguire (Film) Josh Ellery (Music) Emilie Hope (Theatre) Alex Feinson (Books) Jane Wallace (Arts) Hannah Patterson (Podcast) Tom Hall (Food)

Printed By Inkwise

Designer/Illustrator Ruby Ash New Editor Sasha Beattie Sub Editor Sally Harper

Building,

Complaints People with a complaint against the magazine should complain in writing to the editor at editor@salient.org.nz and then, if not satisfied with the response, to VUWSA. Social Media fb.com/salientmagazine T: @salientmagazine I: @salientgram S: salientmag Contributor of the Week Angus Shaw Read Salient online at salient.org.nz

Advertising Kate Valintine advertising@vuwsa.org.nz 04 463 6982

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Colourize It! Drop your artwork into the Salient office or scan and send to editor@salient.org.nz by March 10 and be in to win a prize pack inluding vouchers from Zealandia, Chow and the Cable Car!

Drawing By Zoe Gillett

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