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features | anita nielsen (editor) kelsie realf (sub-editor) georgia hick (sub-editor) music&arts | dylan hans (editor) maggie munn (sub-editor) sport | james cornish (editor) jessica drummer (sub-editor) student life | ellen kaldis graphic designer | ben thangkam
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International Student Liasion Lena Vo
Caroline Stanley Hi Bondies!
Welcome to Week 12. It’s the last Scope of this semester, so sad times all round for eveThe last semester has been an extraordinary time of transition for BUSA, with ryone involved. Never fear though, a new numerous changes bringing significant improvement to student life. BUSA has semester is just around the corner (O-week always taken proactive steps to enhance the university experience for students; is 5 weeks away if that makes you any more with the introduction of an International Student Liaison being no different. As motivated with exam study) and so it may the over-arching Student association, BUSA is your voice in Bond University. And with almost 40% of the student body comprised of international students, an Inbe comforting to remember that not all ternational Student Liaison is not only essential in ensuring that the international things in the world will end with your student population is well catered for and its voice represented to the greatest exexams. tent possible, but also for the ongoing growth and improvement of our association.
I hope everybody had a lovely Easter, and that where possible you surrounded yourselves with family and friends. I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed the frolic back into childhood with my mum’s annual Easter egg hunt. I now regret the childish chocolate frenzy that followed though, as I seriously Since the ISL is a new role on BUSA, I intend to start to work on a few goals, such as • Creating an International Student Council that will act as a springboard to chanexpect that I may have made mynel promotions of all cultural clubs to increase exposure and celebrate National Days to self a primary candidate for Type appreciate cultural diversity on campus. 1 diabetes. Since taking on the role of the ISL, the BUSA committee could not have been more welcoming and has been a great resource for helping me carry out my new responsibilities. My role includes developing an International Student Representation Strategy with the goal of benefitting International Students in the long run. I also work with Bond University staff, like the Director for Student and Academic Services, International Director and International Student Team Coordinator to work on ways to facilitate the transition to Bond and assimilation to the Australian culture.
• Providing better post-graduation services tailored to the needs of international students that assist in obtaining a PR and finding a job. • Having personalized reminders for expiring visa to avoid fiascos like not being able to return to Australia because of failure to extend your student visa on time after a change of program or extension of it. • Starting an International Sponsorship Portfolio, in case you want to go home or global to start your career and pursue other (academic) opportunities. • Running International Tutorials that are for students with English as their second language to help them achieve their maximum potential from an academic perspective.
This past week we welcomed a new member into our BUSA family, with Matthew Boyce assuming the position of Treasurer after our lovely Casey had to leave us. Our other big project this week is Executive Drinks voting and we would I am already very excited about the semesters ahead. It is my belief that all these goals, if come to fruition, will provide great benefits to international students. like to thank all those who supported the various clubs, As we seek to improve interaction with you, I hope to create an avenue of communication that is societies, groups, faculties easier and more importantly comfortable for international students to make their concerns and and events by casting their suggestions known. votes. Which is why, for me, the inception of an International Student Liaison is a milestone of the most extraordinary kind. My personal view is that I’m always in favor of anything that gives more students a greater say. That’s after all what BUSA is here for. Having said that, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to drop me a line at international. busa@bond.edu.au
Best of luck resisting the new season of Game of Thrones. We are all doomed. Love, Caro x
THEDARK AND DANGER- SIDE OFBODYIMAGE By Holly Asser
AN OBSESSION with body image and low self-esteem can cause many women to have a distorted perception of their appearance. This has lead the popularity of beauty treatments such as spray tanning, eyelash extensions, laser hair removal and injectable fillers skyrocket in the last decade, with many women striving to achieve perfection.
and more popular. Each injection slowly increases the levels of melanin in the skin so the more regularly it is injected, the darker the tan. But as the skin pigmentation increases, so do existing freckles and moles. It is not uncommon for women injecting the drug to find that their skin appears to have an increased number of imperfections.
Recently, the unhealthy and controversial pursuit of perfection has forced teenage girls and women of all ages to go to dangerous new lengths, turning to prohibited drugs to enhance their appearance. Many women are ignoring health concerns and medical experts who strongly advise against using untried and untested substances.
Sydney dermatologist and Secretary of the Australasian College of Dermatologists Dr Phillip Artemi says that using Melanotan II has the potential to cause a life threatening reaction.
“There is enough of a cloud over it to suggest that it can be extremely harmful to your health, we have not conducted trials on this drug, and it is not an approved Melanotan II often referred to as the ‘Barbie Drug’, is drug, so I have concerns,” he said. a hormone that increases skin pigmentation, reduces appetite and increases sexual arousal. It can give you a “There are no benefits from taking Melanotan II. golden tan by increasing levels of melanin in the skin, Apart from reports of people suffering from cardiac without the risks associated with UV exposure caused incidents after injecting it, we are also concerned about from the sun and solariums. However, there are many the drug making it harder to diagnose potential melaside effects arising from Melanotan II including in- nomas.” creased blood pressure, nausea, headaches and dizziness. There are numerous online web stores that sell Melanotan II for approximately $69, however there is no way Users are injecting the illegally imported ‘Barbie Drug’ to tell where the product has come from. Melanotan into their stomach or thighs with a syringe and without II was originally developed in America in the 1980’s as a consideration of the consequences. Melanotan II also a solution for a sunless tan, but other countries in Eucomes in a nasal spray, but the injections are cheaper rope are now selling the prohibited drug online.
“If you do obtain Melanotan II you really have no idea who you’re obtaining it from,” Dr Artemi said. “The country of origin is often overseas and you have no idea whether you have a contaminated product. You are really playing with fire and I see no reason to do that.” Earlier this year The Age reported that The Therapeutic Goods Administration had not registered Melanotan II for use in Australia. Importing the “Barbie Drug” illegally can result in one-year imprisonment and a fine close to $200,000. In 2012 Customs and Border Protection detained nearly 50 shipments of the drug that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration declared illegal. 21-year-oldreceptionistLucyHarper*saysthatshetriestokeepthe injections as regular as possible. “I try to inject it once a day but sometimes I can’t because it makes me feel really sick and nauseous and I need to lie down afterward,” she said. “I got sick of spray tanning and Melanotan II looks more natural and I don’t have to worry about it coming off badly like spray tans can.” Scientific Operations Officer Dr Mandy Timmers says that there is little clinical evidence on Melanotan II so it is unclear what is happening internally after prolonged use. “There is no evidence that the product is generally recognised as safe and effective and there has been no approval from any health regulatory systems,” she said. “Given the lack of clinical evidence to support the benefits of an aesthetically pleasing tan, I would be cautious and not subject my body to the additional stresses of the injection of uncontrolled synthetic hormones.” In 2012, 26-year-old UK woman Jenna Vickers collapsed and died in a solarium after reportedly injecting Melanotan II for a number of weeks prior. Before she died she had told her friends that she was ‘very happy’ with the results from the prohibited drug that she had purchased online. Another user in the UK 28-year-old Aaliyah Johnson almost died after she injected the ‘Barbie Drug’, which she had also bought online. Aaliyah told The Sun “My friend had used the jabs and she told me it was perfectly safe. She looked fantastic so I decided to try it myself.” Aaliyah was admitted to hospital after constant vomiting and painful blisters and bruising emerged, doctors diagnosed her
with blood and skin infections caused from Melanotan II injections. 20-year-old bartender Chloe Smith* said she injects the drug because it is easier than spray tanning. “I work in the nightlife industry so I need to be tanned and Melanotan II lasts longer than a spray tan and I don’t have to lie in the sun,” she said. “I do feel ill sometimes but I love being tanned.” Psychologist and mother of three girls Debra Murphy has concerns about the influence that body image is having on women of all ages, particularly on younger generations. “The impact of body image is a concerning trend especially when women are resorting to injecting scientifically unproven drugs into their body to look good,” she says. “Bodyimagehasahugeimpactonmythreegirls.Whenmyeldest daughter was five years-old she would try and sunbake to get a tan and knew about calories,” she said. Having a golden glow has not always been attractive, for centuries it used to be a sign of the lower class, who were forced to work outdoors. French fashion designer Coco Chanel has been ‘blamed’ for changing this. In 1923, she returned to Paris from a vacation on-board a yacht in Cannes with a tan. Within four years the first tannedfacewasseeninBritishVogue.Soonaftereveryonewanted to look bronzed and people began lying out in the sun. In the following years doctors were shocked by the increase in skin cancers and solariums were created as a sun free tanning option. It didn’t take long before doctors realised that solariums were even worse than the sun. Spray tanning then rose in popularity as a safe optionfor tanning. Now, as womenarefinding spray tanning to be inconvenient, they are turning to potentially life threatening injections to achieve a golden glow. Thesafestwaytoachieveagoldenglowiswithself-tanneroraspray tan, which have come a long way in the last few years. Many solutions are now green based which ensures a golden brown colour and no orange tones. Spray tanning salons can be found throughout Australia with spray tans costing approximately $30, and lasting for around a week. There are now many ‘two-hour’ tanning solutions,suchasNakedTan,whichareidealforwomenonthego. *Names have been changed.
THE SIN BIN
IN THE AFTERMATH OF EASTER, I always find myself in a curious state of mixed emotions, for a number of reasons. There are the obvious positive feelings; I’m rejuvenated from my long weekend, stoked to have spent time with friends and/or family, and I’ve got some residual endorphins floating around from my chocolate overload. There’s the obvious negative feelings; I’ve eaten my body weight in chocolate and increased that same body weight substantially. These feelings I’d say I share with most of you, unless you’re possessed of super-human self-control, in which case I envy you greatly. While these feelings are common to most of the population, I also tend to have a few feelings that perhaps fewer share, that generally leave a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth. You see, with all its religiosity, Easter is the time of year that it really gets driven home just how surely I’m destined for hell. A staunch atheist for most of my life, this fact tends to bother me less than it would some people, nonetheless being condemned to such a fate by others tends to be a bit of a buzz-kill. The perpetual torment and fires of hell are obviously less than appealing, and the thought that over 60% of Australians apparently think I deserve them for my contradictory beliefs alone stings a little. Admittedly, while that is the percentage of Aussies that assert themselves to be Christians, and presumably believe the teachings of their faith, I doubt all of them actually believe I deserve such punishment for my beliefs alone. Values and actions outweigh such details, perhaps it is possible for a person to live an upstanding life, upholding Christian morals and values without being Christian themselves? To me, it seems that this is not the case. In fact, not only do I doubt that a nonbeliever is capable of such a feat, but I cannot claim to know a single believer who is either.
Despite the fact that many believers I know adhered meticulously (and loudly) to the rule of not eating red meat on Good Friday, I would hardly consider many of them to be fulfilling the purported requisites for entry to heaven on a daily basis. I’m not being critical in saying that frankly I’ve never met a single person who manages to fulfil each and every requirement. This perhaps stems from the simple fact that there seems to be an endless string of requirements; upholding the Ten Commandments, avoiding the seven deadly sins, plus adhering strictly to any and every bible passage spouted off by a bigot with a book. The Ten Commandments at their surface seem sound, no killing, stealing or screwing around seems fairly reasonable. Moving through, bearing false witness raises obvious questions of when it is appropriate to lie, but the real Commandment that grinds my gears is the one that instructs us not to covet thy neighbour’s anything. This commandment is unique in that it is the only one that condemns what is a crime of thought alone. My brief dabbling in high school economics taught me that the basic economic problem of the ages is that human beings have limited resources but unlimited wants. It seems pretty rough of the big man to instil in us this core characteristic, this desire for betterment, whether of ourselves, our things, our lives or our loved ones, whilst damning us should we even think about wanting that which another person has. Not acting on it, not prioritising it- merely allowing the thought to uncontrollably enter your mind violates this commandment, and I hate to imagine what a pain that must be for practising Christians the world over.
We have, at best, extremely limited control over our thoughts, yet crimes of thought are amongst the most strongly criticised in the Christian faith. Of the seven deadly sins, five (pride, lust, envy, greed and wrath) are all sins committed, at least initially, in the mind, despite a person’s possible best intentions. This to me, is absurd, and I pity anyone who adheres to this belief system; it sounds exhausting and would surely fill a person with a constant sense of guilt and inadequacy.
deliciously bad behaviour… Further, I feel pretty safe in charging at least 50% of students with daily ‘sloth’-like habits, and based on the vehement discourse I so often hear amongst my peers far too many of us are guilty of wrathful feelings, and even actions, on a daily basis too.
I’d be surprised if there’s a single person reading this (you can put a full-stop there if you like) who hasn’t recognised that they’ve committed several acts that doom them to the fires of hell in the last few days alone. Please Despite the principle still being widely advertised, I know note here that I’m in no way judging your conduct. I few people who uphold it in practise, instead most peo- myself am guilty of these transgressions too. The differple prioritise actions as counting far beyond thoughts. ence between me and a supposed Christian however, is Living amongst university students, I’m acutely aware that I accept these as minor faults or natural elements of of the fact that many people’s drive to fulfil their most humanity and embrace them. basic evolutionary urge However if you accept the – procreation - is quite Christian ethos, it becomes strong. This surely reimmediately clear that we sults in lustful thoughts are a society of sinners. In galore, but beyond that, the same way that some one needs only observe lobbyists argue that legisthe trickle out of Thurslation alone is what crimidays at Don’s to assume nalises drug-users, I argue some are sacrificing that religion is what makes the eternal sunshine of sinners of us all. (Perhaps a heaven for a wee bit of poor analogy, I hardly think premarital sex. Pride the minor sins I’ve been and envy seem to go mentioning are fully comhand in hand in many parable to drug culture, but cases, if you’re telling you get my point) me you’ve never eyed off another guy/girl’s To any Christians reading physique/possessions/ this, I do hope I haven’t rupartner/achievements/ ined your day by opening qualities and ‘coveted’ your eyes to your daily sins, then you know full well I assume you’ve realised the that you’re telling a dirty little lie (another sin). As for shortcomings of your behaviour (or your faith) many acting on it, it is these feelings of envy and pride in ac- times before and have somehow found a way to accept complishment that drive us toward success or acquisi- them. The main point I suppose I’m trying to make is tion. As Bondies, this pride and competitive spirit of that for many, the assertions of moral virtue for someenvy is instilled in us daily as we’re driven to bring our thing as simple as abstaining from red meat for a day ambition to life. Personally, I think this is only a good can come off as a little hypocritical in light of the above. thing, but as in many points, the Bible and I differ on In the same way that other atheists have argued to bethis. lievers that they only disbelieve in one more god than they do, I would argue that my non-believing and deFor a good 99%, I’d say I hardly need to convince you of cision to eat meat on Good Friday places me in only your guilt in regard to acts of greed and gluttony; in the slightly worse stead than the average, equally human, aftermath of Easter I’d say we’re all fairly aware of our equally sinful (by their own definition) Christian.
THE [INABILITY] TO LOG OFF By Bailey Preston
At this point, you probably don’t require any sort of reminder that it’s already Week 12, with the end of the semester and exams looming ever so ominously. Once smiling faces have turned to those of tense grimaces, the library seems even more crowded than usual, the bat labs are less lonely over night-time, and if you’re like me, the Easter ‘break’ was spent chained to a computer trying to finish a never-ending mountain of final assignments (with of course a chocolate egg in one hand and a glass of wine in the other). Such a lack of time has meant that usual daily routines have been disrupted by the culling of less important tasks in order to make way for those of a more pressing nature. Alarms set earlier, lunch dates cancelled, gym sessions cut down, and sadly, my blissful afternoon nannanaps are a thing of the past. However, despite the rushed schedules, stressed expressions and lack of sleep, a significant amount of time is still saved (and dedicated) to regular production of Facebook statuses and Instagram updates. With the average Australian spending almost 90 hours a week consuming media (online and otherwise), it’s no wonder that ‘Internet-use disorder’ has now been added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and is the latest illness sweeping the world. In fact, Internet addiction is already considered so severe in areas such as China, Taiwan and Korea, that dedicated treatment centres and rehabilitation facilities are being developed for affected individuals.
photographic documentations are occurring on a daily basis (sometimes multiple times a day), then it’s time to put down the phone camera, calmly step away and take a good, hard, long look at yourself. The same applies for those who go one step further and possess an album on Facebook dedicated to “Photos of Me ;)” – Ain’t nobody got time for that. 2. Thou shalt refrain from sharing personal information that maketh sense only to thyself. We’ve all experienced the cryptic sharer in our newsfeeds. That one person who fails to provide context to the “Wow… Just can’t believe you would do that” status. Of course, to those in the know, we recognise this as a specially designed trap. However, to poor, unsuspecting individuals, any comments of care and concern (or just nosiness) are simply met with a “don’t worry, it doesn’t matter”. 3. Honour thy dignity and refrain from posting questionable photos. For the love of all things sacred, please, no more duck-faces, awkward lean poses and photos after arm/leg day. Save it for Snapchat people. 4. Thou shalt not direct posts to those with whom thine is not a “friend”.
I completely understand that it is beyond frustrating when someone in the library is behaving like an annoying buffoon. However, don’t But why is it that despite our busy schedules and otherwise ‘full’ lives, put yourself in the same boat by proceeding to publicise and comwe maintain such a strong devotion to the online media monster? plain about said buffoonery on Facebook (especially when one is not Sherry Tinkle, clinical psychologist and professor of the social studies “friends” with irritating individual). of science and technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says that we as humans are just simply motivated by communication. 5. Thou shalt not turn social media into thine own personal soapbox. “Connectivity becomes a craving; when we receive a text or an email, An occasional social media rant can be therapeutic, however, using our nervous system responds by giving us a shot of dopamine,” she says. said platform as a nonstop pulpit for your moral, political or emotional views will only lead to a prompt unfriending. For Zuck’s sake, it’s called “We are stimulated by connectivity itself. We learn to require it even as FACEbook, not WHINGEbook. it depletes us.” 6. Thou shalt monitor uploads of festive/holiday related posts. Even as I write this, I can see my iPhone in my peripheral vision, light- Indeed, Christmas, Easter and birthdays are times for celebration and ing up and vibrating with wonderful notifications, each one imploring require special photographic documentation. Photos of one’s mountain me to lose my concentration on the task at hand and divert my atten- of presents/chocolate/whatever, does not apply though, unfortunately. tion elsewhere. 7. Thou shalt not pretend thou art TMZ, Sky News or Fox Sports. Indeed, should I cave into that bloody little device, I know minutes, if not hours will be wasted and productivity levels will dwindle drasti- You know what’s great about the Internet? The plethora of information cally. Sadly though, the reality of 21st century life is that most work is about news, sports, weather updates and celebrity happenings. You required to be conducted online, rendering the battle against distrac- know what’s not great about the Internet? The tonnes of people who tion and addiction that much harder to fight. seem to think we want a personal play-by-play of every news development, sporting event and TV show known to man. But no, I WILL NOT be seduced by the tempting lure of Instagram. Facebook DOES NOT have an all-mighty hold on me. And the cute 8. Thou shalt refrain from becoming a friend-whore. sloths and kitties on YouTube WILL NOT take precedence over what I Social media is not a contest to see how many friends or followers you SHOULD be doing. can acquire. Plain and simple. Oh look, another notification… Well I can always start the detox to- 9. Thou shalt refrain from posting excessive and unnecessary hashtags. morrow… Personally, I’m a bit of a hashtag aficionado myself, and love one that’s The Ten Commandments of Social Media Etiquette. carefully constructed and witty to accompany my Instagram snap. But By now it’s pretty obvious that social media is here to stay and is an what gets us enthusiasts going are those who take the hashtag game a integral facet of everyday life. Therefore, the following are a set of com- little too seriously. If your photo has more than three lines of tags, those mandments in which to abide, that, in turn will make communicating ranging from #TagsforLikes and #photooftheday, to #instagood and online more enjoyable for all. #followme, then you seriously need to calm your farm and take some time out for self-reflection. 1. Thou shalt limit selfies to one per week (if that). 10. Thou shalt not continuously regurgitate song lyrics/famous quotes. Urban Dictionary perfectly defines selfies to be “A strange phenomenon in which the photographer is also the subject of the photograph. Fun fact, no one wants to read the inspirational quotes or song lyrics Usually accompanied by a kissy-face or the individual looking towards you repeatedly post every single morning. Hey I’m not being a Debbiea direction which is not the camera.” Indeed, I understand that some downer, but seeing 50 bazillion Dalai Lama sayings every hour doesn’t days you look ravishing and that it would be simply unfair if everyone inspire me to do much except smack my face against the keyboard and weren’t able to bear witness to how fabulous you look. But when these tell myself that I really need to do a “friend cleanse”.
TTR
CTION
By Alan Smithee
WE ARE A GENERATION IN DISREPAIR.
do we lose something within ourselves - as we chase the blonde do we not in turn forget out own purpose? We are each different, yet we seem so enamored with the prospect of being the same. The roads we walk and beds we encumber become our being, they intervene and supersede our own lives. We become ghosts, these fleeting shadows of ourselves inhabiting an in between world. A nothingness where it is acceptable to be just the blonde, the brunette, the attractive male or the cute female. We embrace our own demise and become engineers of our own downfall, resigning ourselves to being nothing but a haircut and a pair of legs; clothed or unclothed.
We walk the streets in search of home. Each night we meet and greet the others of our ilk. We shake their hands and hold their hearts. Momentarily participants in their individual narrative - a bit part in their growing story. The beautiful blonde. The muscle bound man. Each and everyone both an actor in our lives and us an actor in theirs. Every laughing, smiling face a passing thought and emotion. Each person distilled down to their base elements; how do they look, how do they dance, what is their name? We are born emotional - there is no doubt in our minds - and we cannot control those emotions. We lack the foresight, or perWe are a glut of fools who believe our time here to be unique - our haps memory, required to step outside ourselves and act with moment on this earth to be momentous. And as the minutes tick any modicum of rationality. We look in the mirror and do not down, as the moments erode, we find ourselves lost in a sea of know the face that looks back, the actions of that body irreconcilfeeling founded on the bedrock of hours. We have a glimmer in able with the assumed goodness of our person. We cannot help our eye that suggests our brief breath of time somehow matters so but look in the mirror. But do we do so to remind ourselves of long as that breath is shared in intimacy. The clubs, bars and par- how our brow crests or jaw snaps; or instead to stand outside our ties heave with this collected breath: a universe of fools breathing physical form? To pull the mind back and end the narcissism? Is in and out - sharing the air and our stories - building imagined it the only way we can experience a world beyond our own eyes? differences from our similarity: The blonde. The brunette. The man. The woman. Ultimately, we are but children - dreamers - grasping at straws. Each of us holding tight to the fleeting moment before the dawn. We need love, no matter how it may degrade us, no matter how The moment when the dream becomes malleable. When we can it bends the soul or breaks the facile form. There is something bend the imagined and find the real wanting in shape and form. beautifully poetic about being alive and in love, something awe inspiring and yet terrifying. Love swallows us up within an in- Perhaps, in the end, I am alone and so are you. Maybe, however, stant of our being and makes us slaves to the passing of the mo- that is what makes our time here beautiful. The nights worth exment, yet often not the momentous. It glorifies us and fills our periencing and the people worth knowing: because within the soul. A reminder that in the limitless dark, our passing narrative passing people - the momentary friends and lovers - we come to can still have purpose. We are all brought up to believe we will be understand that we are not the only ones alone, we all are. somebody - that somewhere within us is the spirit to change the world. Yet we are found wanting. There is a nothingness that extends before us as we realise our own mediocrity. So what is love? Is it to look into the eyes of another and see perfection or instead to see behind the barriers that we erect to hide our human imperfection and yet find yourself unwavering in devotion? And as love begins to break, is there not some great irony in the way that we hold onto the shattered shards. The act of love itself motivated by the need to see the worth in ones self physically fulfilled. Each of us is in love. Each of us is alone. Yet we are passing, the nights spent in unformed heels and poorly fitted clothing conducive only to our eventual end. As though the exchanged saliva and drunken action somehow differentiate us from the mob. But there-in lies the rub; with every heart we steal and glass we break
THE POWER OF A FRIENDSHIP By Kaitlin Bonner
At 9 am, almost 3 months ago, I walked onto the campus of Bond University for the very first time. I had just been flying 24 hours, coming all the way from Philadelphia in the United States, but I was ecstatic to be here and did not go to sleep until midnight. As an active participant of clubs and organizations at my home university, I quickly discovered that Bond provides these same opportunities. I eagerly joined the SPC and started going to aged care facility, tutoring at Varsity College, mentoring with AIME, and attending the environmental trips. Since I am a primary school education major, I even started volunteering at Merrimac and Broadbeach State School. Even though I was having so much fun, I began to miss my friends and family, including one little girl named Danielle. I met her through a club at my home university that works with a local branch of a non-profit organization - Big Brothers, Big Sisters. The mission is to provide school children with a positive friendship through local adult mentors. This is accomplished through making an adult a big and pairing them with a little.
adult role model in her life. I am proud to say that I became the role model that she needed.
Danielle was reserved and bottled up, but I knew that if we got close enough she could become successful. I wanted to help her open up emotionally and then I knew she would be able to do well in school. Danielle simply wanted someone to love her unconditionally and to always be there for her. So I started dedicating as much of myself as I could to her. I would go to her after school program for two to three hours, twice a week, just to talk about life or work on some homework. I proved to Danielle that I would always be there for her and that if I could do well in school, so could she. The closer we got, the better her school-work became, and she started to do really well. I wanted to truly show Danielle the importance of school, so I kept reiterating the fact that I really wanted her to go to university. Unfortunately, Danielle did not even know what I really meant by that, so I took her. She lived five minutes from my university, but had never been there before. Danielle became so inspired by I knew that Queensland had a Big Brothers/Big Sis- our beautiful campus that she really began to dream ters office in Brisbane/Gold Coast and I was hoping big. that Bond would have a partnership with them, but it doesn’t. If I was going to be here longer, I would Danielle is now one of the most successful fifth grade do start one myself, but unfortunately I go home in students at her primary school. She happily gloats several weeks and won’t have the time. So I wanted about all of her 100% test grades each time I pick to write today, in the hopes of inspiring some other her up. Since she is now so motivated to do well in Bond student to start a club on campus partnering school, we have started doing fun activities instead with Big Brother, Big Sisters of Queensland. I know of just homework. We have painted pottery, gone the power of the relationship between and a big and ice-skating, to a fall festival, to the movies, and even little, yet you guys do not, so I want to share my story. to a Disney on Ice show. Danielle recently told me One of the best decisions I have made since attend- that she wants to become a primary school teacher ing my home university was to join the school’s Big when she grows up, just like me. She has taught me Brothers, Big Sisters club. One month after signing so much and our friendship is one of my most valuup at the activities fair, I received a call from one of able. We have inspired each other to do better than my favorite match specialists, Laura. She mentioned we ever thought possible. Now it is Danielle’s job to that she had two little girls who were looking for big reprimand me on each one of my test grades that is sisters. I told her that I would take the girl that needed not a 100 percent. I have learned that we can do anyme more. Her name happened to be Danielle. Dan- thing with the support of a loving friend. Danielle is ielle was a 9 year old, fourth grader, who came from the reason I will successfully complete my five-year a broken family. Her father was not very involved in master’s program in primary school education, beher life and her mother was not doing well either. She cause I have to prove to her that if I can do it, so can had even just gotten pregnant again. Danielle was a she. girl with a lot of potential, but needed a supportive
A R E T H E Side Effects
of Red Bull Limited to Wings? By Tom Williams
I am both sorry and stressed to report that we are swiftly approaching the business end of semester. With this comes the inevitable hunkering down in the Bat Labs, fighting for tables in the Main Library and death-staring the jerks taking calls on level 4. It becomes impossible to meet with any of your professors, there’s suddenly room to move at Don’s and every time you pass the assignment dropbox you get hit by sickening waves of panic.
death of a basket-baller; but they also outlawed Kellogg’s cereals for being ‘vitaminfortified’…#tréssoft. Any concerns Norway had were allayed by a temporary ban and, although the Philippines got hung up on the suspected male infertility effects, the UK deemed the drink safe enough for everyone (bar pregnant women and children). Pregnant women that is. Not children. That would be weird.
If this all happened to escape your attention however, you will at least have noticed the deafening chorus of ‘pschitts’ as Red Bulls are cracked across campus. Whether you need help pulling an all-nighter, or by your eighth semester you’ve just become hooked on that nectary taste, energy drinks are the uni student’s drug of choice. And we use shamelessly.
But for those of you that do buy into this ‘health-hype,’ allow me to put your mind at ease. According to the death-by-caffeine generator at http://www.energyfiend.com/deathby-caffeine, it would take more than 90 cans of Red Bull to kill Kate Moss. Of course, Kate is at the lower end of the weight spectrum – so for the purposes of comparison it would take 341,396 cans of Red Bull to kill a Big Blue But how bad could they be? Sure, France Whale. Interpolating that data, the average banned Red Bull when it was linked to the person can safely drink anywhere between 90
and 341,396 cans of Red Bull. Fact. Oh and since you asked, taurine – the ingredient France got their le knickers in a le knot over – is a naturally occurring amino acid that makes a living building protein and detoxifying your body. Without thanks, apparently. Caffeine similarly slaves away stimulating the central nervous system and speeding up messages to the brain. Gee, this Red Bull stuff sounds like a terrible idea… As a regular can-a-dayer, I was going to wrap up with a ringing energy drink endorsement, but I’m having trouble concentrating with these damn heart palpitations. So instead, good luck with the rest of semester, and next time you think twice about downing an energy drink remember…I AM NOT A DOCTOR (and am thus absolved of all liability).
[THE] F o r those of you who have not had the displeasure of knowing anything about the GAMSAT, it is a torturous entrance exam for post-graduate medicine. It is made up of three incredibly challenging, mind-fucking sections: 1. Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences – a 2-hour multiple choice section assessing your ability to interpret such likes as 17th century poetry, overly insightful quotes and impossibly confusing extracts. 2. Written Communication – involving 2 essays to be written in 1 hour, stimulus material stems from social and political issues including pretty much any topic you just have never been bothered to think about in grand detail or depth. 3. Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences – 110 science multiple choice questions to be endured over a 3-hour period. This has double the weighting of the two other sections and probably, at least, quadruple the cruelty involved.
tent that will be thrown at you.
con-
T h e Australian GAMSAT is on every March, and a few of our bondies decided to take the challenging, destructive road of attempting post-grad med entry and recently sat this exam. Here’s what they had to say: “Hell.” Dominic Bagguley “Time was the most difficult factor. Six hours is a long time to concentrate and is very draining, but on the contrary, most of us needed more time to answer all the questions” Georgie Heddle “Definitely found it most difficult to stay awake.” Brigid Doolan “I would rather cut my limbs of with a blunt knife than ever have to do it again.” Samantha Sattolo
“It was hands down the most ass-like exam I’ve ever sat. Very While this saga, 6-hours in total, may seem stressful enough to glad it’s over!” Ajuma Ogiji study for, it is a complete race against time, designed to not be If you hadn’t ever realized how epically horrible this exam is; finished. Considering the 12,000 or so students that sit it every well now you have a slightly greater awareness. Not that this is year, and the less than 2000 places Australian universities have to an entire pity-plea, but next time you hear of a poor victim loosoffer, it is a good way to weed out the geniuses from the try-hards, ing their sanity over attempting the GAMSAT, ensure you buy which for most of us, is bad news. The GAMSAT can be prepared them quantities of hard liquor. for, and preparing for it definitely gives you an upper hand, but at the end of the day, you are completely unable to anticipate the
By Matthew Jones
FREEPOT
perience, will be by my side when shit hits the fan. It is with these people that I have my fondest memories of Bond. Like prank calling someone and telling them they were banned from running for the LSA election because they failed a torts assignment, like throwing up in the lake after too many waters, like throwing up with my head out of bus window, like throwing up with my head out of a cab door...I’m a pretty bad student. While some of these memories left me a little worse for wear, it was the people that are involved in these extraordinary moments in my life that I will always be friends with, no matter how badly I want to donkey kick them in the neck because they snore like a velociraptor or a goat on 40 packs a day. Now that my time is up, I wish to pass on some advice to the incoming young freshers. 1. Walking barefoot is acceptable, don’t judge me kent. 2. DO SHIT, GET INVOLVED. I was lucky enough to be invited to join Bond Amnesty International and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my time at Bond. I mean just look at that exec, definitely the hottest exec at bond. Can we get an award for that shit at executive drinks BUSA? 3. Don’t be the clown who asks a million questions during lectures. Lecturers have consultation times...use them. 4. Walk on the left hand side of the footpath. Unless you are American or dyslexic than this should be simple. 5. Don’t quote Yoda or Alf Stewart when talking to girls. 6. Don’t tag people in every single one of your Facebook updates with regard to your daily activities. Just because I went to Juicy Bits with you does not mean that we are “cultured” or “fresh”. 7. USE THE GYM. You are subjected to compulsory SAM payments, you might as well use the facilities you pay for even if you just play table tennis. 8. Go to Don’s. When I first came to Bond for Open Day I remember a lecturer saying that good students don’t go to Don’s on Thursday’s. FUCK THAT SHIT. 9. Try and go to every party...maybe not in the one sem, but experience everything from Palaver to the Physical. 10. Don’t use the BUELI microwave unless you like diseases.
Now that I have your attention, I do not mean to offend or cause greivance with the following article (strap yourselves in motherlickers). When I first came to Bond University I was unsure of what I would come across. What type of people I would meet. What friends I would make... if any. Whether my classes would be any good. For the past two years and four months I have spent countless hours in the library, MLC and Batlabs completing assignments, presentations and other assessment just so I can receive a glorified piece of paper with my name and a Bachelor of International Relations. This is university. This is what my parents told me uni was about. It’s what society lead me to believe, that the greatest gift you will receive from a higher learning institution is a degree which will make you employable. FUCK THAT SHIT. University is supposed to be the best time of your life, and for me it has been so far. A place is only as good as the people in it. And if Bond were to be judged on the character of its students, than it would be fucking awesome. While other universities pride themselves on their facilities or the specialised programs they provide, I find that Bond’s most attractive feature is the students that have created and continue to foster a unique and vibrant social culture. The student body is also quite attractive. During my time at Bond I have been given the opportunity to meet peers who will become future prime ministers and members of parliament, successful Berkshire Hunts (aka lawyers), doctors hopefully better than Jayant Patel, and CEOs who will continue the trend of wealth imbalance. While I will proudly remind my future children that I once knew these people, it will be the relationships that I have The greatest gift you will receive from a higher learning incultivated with my friends that I will cherish for eternity. I stitution is the friendships you will gain for life. It’s been real have had the privilege of befriending people that I some- Bond. Adios Amigo’s. times think of as siblings, people who I know, and from ex-
week twelve Photographer: Rob Leonard Event: HOLI Festival of Colour at WBTW
STUDENT LIFE SUDOKU
DEFINTION
LIFE LESSON
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MUSIC |ARTS | REVIEW Film Review: Eagle Eye By Dylan Hanst You can either love Eagle Eye or you can hate it. If you can entirely suspend your disbelief for nearly two hours, it’s a sure winner. If you cant, well… you’re going to hate it. Eagle Eye is centered on the intense events concerning everyday Americans Jerry (Shia LaBeouf) and Rachel (Michelle Monoghan). The two become inexplicably and mysteriously framed as terrorists and hunted ruthlessly by the FBI, led by Tom Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton). An unknown woman, seemingly involved in the set-up, uses CCTV, phones and everyday electronic devices to track their movements and direct the two away from their pursuers. From the get-go, Jerry is thrown into hot pursuit, clashing with FBI interrogators and engaging in high-speed chases. This is where the disbelief starts to ebb at the viewer’s patience. The unknown voice is able to direct Jerry and Rachel out of life-threatening instances with precision to the millisecond. This is ultimately impossible however, as one cannot predict uncontrollable factors such as human error. Right, HAL? Despite a persisting annoyance of disbelief, Eagle Eye is extremely fast paced and enjoyable, borrowing characteristics from the Bourne Series. However, the film also engages the viewer on a far more sophisticated level. Exposing the potential dangers of our technological dependence provokes our fears in a way that George Orwell would certainly improve on. In many ways, Eagle Eye is also a sci-fi that pushes our universe to its absolute limits. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of LeBeouf, who will probably forever be known as the Transformers kid. However, he gave a pretty solid performance in Eagle Eye. Michelle Monoghan has probably starred in more blockbusters than George Clooney, but is yet to become a household name. Ultimately, she’s a straight-up character actor with nothing exciting to offer. On its face, Eagle Eye looks and sounds like another ‘on the run’ thriller. In many ways, it is. It’s got a huge budget. A lot of stuff gets blown up and involves federal authorities. However, if you scratch a little beneath the surface, you’ll discover an impressive array of concepts and motifs that challenge our perception of security and dependence. With a strong concept and rapid plot, there will be absolutely no bathroom breaks for this one. Rating: 7 out of 10 Jack Reacher. Jaaaaaack Reacher. J-J-J-Jack R-R-R-Reacher. Let it swirl around in your mouth for a while. Then spit that shit out like a professional wine connisseur. Take another sip, taste the overpowering ‘Tom Cruise Mission Impossible’ flavour. Taste the almost overbearing theme of #letsincorporateactorswhoareover50,beyondtheirpri me,usewaytoomuchbotox,andwhoprobablystruggletoact letalonestringacomprehendablefuckingsentencetogether. While I find it remarkable that Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Swartznegger still make mega salaries from acting, even though they look like they should be fed from a snorkel for the rest of their lives, I still think that Tom Cruise (while pushing through that half century mark) still is, and will always be a greater actor than the two muppets I referred to. For those shirt lifters that have managed to watch Jack Reacher lately, even with exams and assignments consistently sodomising us #YOLO, I’m certain that you questioned whether Tom Cruise was too old to act. I certainly did. I mean hey, we haven’t seen Tom on the silver screen since...fuck it. I couldn’t be bothered researching, but yeah its been a while. Love or hate him, there is no question
that Cruise has some acting ability. So when he popped up in Jack Reacher I was intrigued to see whether he still fucked shit up. Verdict: I now associate Cruise with the likes of Jack Nicholson, Clint Eastwood and Michael Caine - they’re all like Cheesels: no matter how old you get, they’re still as good as when you first tried them. In an otherwise predictable and typical “good guy saves the day” action movie, Cruise is a stand out performer as Reacher. While the film was predictable, it was still a good watch. Confronting at times, Jack Reacher is great movie for those who get wet over explosions, karate or some form of martial arts, and cinematic male stimulus involving one-liners that make George Bush Jnr. look intelegent. If you couldn’t get enough of the overloaded action films such as The Expendables, the Die Hard Series or the Twilight series (haha gayyyyyyyyy) then you will love Jack Reacher. Jack Reacher is a definite 3.512 out of 5. #gunsareforpussies. By Matt Jones
MUSIC |ARTS | REVIEW THINGS WE HATE TO ADMIT THAT WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT. By Maggie Munn. I have this friend I went to school with; probably the coolest person I know. To anyone who saw her on the street, she would come across as an incredibly fashionable hipster chick with her finger directly on the pulse. To me however, someone who has known her since we were 11 – I am fully aware of the massive dork she is. I caught up with her in Brisbane the other day, and she was looking as cool, fresh and hip as ever, and yet our entire coffee date was filled with conversation about the Spice Girls, jelly sandals, and Hanson. It made me think that no matter how cool we seem to the outside world, there will always be things – entirely lame, trashy, dorky, and childish – that we simply cannot live without! So having done a bit of recon and sneaky market research around the campus this past week, I’ve chucked a few things in this article that people (anonymous people of course) hate to admit that they can’t live without. Enjoy! Will Ferrell Movies: “The likes of Semi-Pro, The Other Guys, Anchorman, and Step Brothers we can all admit are a good time, but I genuinely cannot let a week go past without watching one of them.” Savage Garden: “It’s so corny I know, but when I get depressed about being single, I YouTube stalk the shit out of all of their old classics and pretend Darren Hayes isn’t gay and that he’s singing those songs to me.” Celebrity Fix: “If anyone ever found out that I check Celebrity Fix daily when I wake up, I would probably have to shoot myself, but it’s so addictive – and damn those galleries of awards show dresses get me every single time!” One Direction: “I am 24 years old and have legitimately contemplated soliciting my body to get a ticket to their shows here in September. What the fuck is wrong with me? I just love them so much.” The Disney Channel: “Every time I am home for holidays, I pre-
tend I am spending quality time with my little sisters by hanging out with them in the TV room but actually I really just love the Disney Channel, especially Wizards of Waverely Place. If you ever tell anyone that, I will actually vomit on you.” Legally Blonde: “I fucking love Legally Blonde. No one can ever know. I know the movies off by heart, and have probably seen them nothing short of 150 times. For my Mum’s birthday I took her to see the musical in Brissy, she was so impressed her son could organize something so special for her; little did she know I had already seen it twice and was loving life that I could pretend I was seeing it for the first time.” The Spice Girls: “Okay maybe it’s not as trashy to admit anymore seeing as the 90’s seems to be fashionable but holy shit I love the Spice Girls, I cannot count the amount of times I have seen their video ‘Spice World,’ such a good time. Their Greatest Hits album is probably up there in my top 25 on iTunes.” Aussie Hip Hop: “Shut up. It’s cool. 360 was on Centrelink once, he’s obvi had it tough so he has just as much reason to rap as like Kanye, or Lil Wayne.” (Um, what?) Dancing with no clothes on… in other people’s rooms: “Sometimes when my flat mates have pissed me off, I take advantage of them being at uni for the day and I take off all my clothes and dance in their rooms.” Infomercials: “Don’t judge me, I’ve bought loads of cool things from those ads. Snuggies, those little circle alien vacuum cleaners, make up, that ab pro thing. Plus there’s fuck all else on TV at 4 am when you come back from the bat labs.” So there you have it, 10 people, and 10 things they can’t live without. Interesting shit. Me? I can’t live without 90’s music, predictable teenybopper chick flicks, and strawberry clouds. Mega hearts those things. Won’t delve into detail as to what music, and chick flicks I enjoy because I don’t think I will be able to go in public ever again if you knew! Très embarrassing.
SPORTS eight teams strived against each other for a spot in the finals. The weekly competition had a few hiccups this semester including what seemed like the never ending rain and redevelopment of the rugby fields. Although, in the end it was as a huge success with the largest number of competitors ever! (approximately 100) The finals did not disappoint for action. The competitive atmosphere was there in force as players were sent off, excessive amounts of pizza were consumed (like every week) and one game even went to extra time.
B O N DT O U C H CONGRATULATIONS to the Geckos! The Bond Touch champions of SEM 131.
At the end of the night there could only be one winner and the Geckos prevailed as victors of SEM 131. They defeated Prestige Worldwide... wide.. wide.. 6-3 in the Grand Final to claim the bragging rights.
Off the back of winning best sporting club on campus last year, the touch club have introduced a fresh executive committee The Monday night touch competition wrapped up with a bang that have been busy planning new and exciting things for the last week as social touch quickly turned into a ruthless battleclub. field. This semester a points ladder was introduced and each of the
A one-off weekend touch carnival is planned for next semester
On Sunday 24th March, Bond Student Halligan Quin was among 2200 entrants who tackled Melbourne’s second annual Ironman Asia Pacific championship. To put this in perspective, the Ironman is one of only 30 events in the world, four of them being held in Australia. The full Ironman distance consists of a 3.8km ocean swim, followed by a 180km bike ride and then casually finishing the last leg of the race with a 42.2km marathon.
Halligan came fourth in his age group and finished the event in an astounding 9 hours and 20mins! Halligan is on the exec as a coach of the Bond University Athletics and Running Club.
“I found it extremely physically demanding, but really enjoyed the event. Long distance events are my kind of thing. Next year I hope to improve on my placing in my age group” Hal said. I hope this incredible achievement from one of our fellow students has inProfessionals typically complete the spired you all to keep exercising durthree legs in under nine hours, de- ing the upcoming exam study period, pending on the terrain, while general whether it is a swim, cycle or jog! entrants who race in five-year age bands, have 17 hours to drag them- Congratulations Hal!! selves around.
SPORTS Keep and eye out on the Bond Squash Club page @www.facebook.com/bondsquashclub or email the team manager Daniel.jade@students.bond.edu.au for more information. Calling all future tennis champions. Tennis is a sport that simply not enough bondies get involved with. With the gorgeous Gold Coast weather (most of the time) and several tennis courts here at Bond, how could you not get involved? At Australian University Games, Bond didn’t have enough team members to put a team together. This was a real misfortune as we do have some really quality tennis players here. The northern university games will be the Tennis/Squash at the University Games – prime opportunity to get Bond back on track for tennis triumph. Daniel Jade & Luis Kennedy Calling all budding Squash players. After the success of the recent placement at the Australian University Games. The northern university games are to be held in Brisbane this year from the 8th -11th July 2013.
Similar to squash, tennis will be a singles event at northern uni games. Tryouts will be conducted throughout the May semester and trainings/tournaments will be ongoing to eliminate any of that rust before the games.
The format of the competition will be a singles / individuals contest. In connection with Bond Squash Club and support from BUSA there will be try outs conducted in week 3 of the May semester. Post the try outs there will be a training schedule organised with a professional squash coach implemented via the team manager. If you would like to get on board and put Bond University on the map get involved!
If not eligible for the games, never fear as plenty of tennis can still be played. Social will continue on Friday afternoons and the Bond Open and other tournaments and events will be run throughout the semester so keep your eyes peeled on the Bond Facebook page: www. facebook.com/bondtennisclub or contact the team manager Luis.Kennedy@students.bond. edu.au.
Western Sydney Wanderers Wow Australia By Michael Davies I was always optimistic Western Sydney Wanderers would be a strong force in Australian football, but I don’t think anyone could have imagined something quite like this. Tony Popovic and his men have achieved a feat I would have considered impossible six months ago. To lift the Premiers’ Plate less than a year after inception is a truly incredible achievement in world football and an enormous credit to everyone involved. I always thought that the Wanderers winning the premiership would, in my opinion, eclipse Coventry City’s FA Cup win in 1987, Porto’s Champions League victory in 2003-04 and Algeria’s triumph
over West Germany at the 1982 World Cup as a football fairy-tale. I stand by that. A finals finish would have been considered a more than worthy achievement for this team in their debut season. To win 11 of their last 12 games and lift the Premiers’ Plate is beyond anything anyone could have predicted. As a western Sydney boy, I am enormously proud of all they have achieved and delighted to see the way the local fans have embraced them. This is a part of Australia that has been crying out for an A-League team since the competition was formed, and they are poised to become one of the country’s true powerhouses. The Wanderers have routinely made the impossible appear possible. A record 10-game winning streak. Outdrawing Parramatta the day after the Eels season opener. Showing unity and precision despite the most rushed of pre-seasons. I wonder how many teams, in the history of football around the world, have pulled off a move as audacious as that completed by Lyall Gorman and the Wanderers. Assembled in a split second after the folding of Gold Coast United, the Wanderers could have been excused for turning it up in their first season given the enormity of the challenge ahead of them. Instead, Popovic instilled in the team a work ethic and the pride of any in the world and that has stood them in good stead throughout the season. Where to now? It would be a brave man who bets against them from here. The Wanderers have improved markedly as the season progressed and it will take a mighty effort from rival clubs to deny them a grand final appearance and a debut title.
CONTINUING STUDENT ENROLMENT FINALIZE YOUR ENROLMENT FOR MAY 2013 SEMESTER BY FRIDAY, APRIL 5 2013 All students are required to access eStudent and enrol in subjects by Friday, April 5 avoid a financial penalty. Remember this is a two part process. You will be using Student Allocator to register for your classes. You need to go to mytimetable.bond.edu.au and to log in using your student ID and network password to register into your classes. You will be fined $350 if you fail to meet this requirement. International students - visa regulations require all student visa holders to be enrolled full time by the Monday 13 May, 2013.