Tenth Edition | 2018

THE VOICE

Robert Menzies College

Tenth Edition

August 2018

In this week’s edition...

Love Week - Ball Proposals Think True Christmas In Winter Debating North Ryde Fun Run

Editors Jennifer Good & Zoe Walters

Contents Love Week .......................................

Pg. 2

Block Events ....................................

Pg. 10

Trivia Night .....................................

Pg. 18

Think True ......................................

Pg. 24

Christmas In Winter ......................... Pg. 6

Respect. Now. Always. ..................... Pg. 16 Block Debating ................................

Public Speaking Seminar .................

North Ryde Fun Run ........................

Bestfriends of RMC ..........................

Calendar .........................................

Dot to Dot ......................................

Wiretap ..........................................

Pg. 21 Pg. 26 Pg. 27 Pg. 28 Pg. 32 Pg. 33 Pg. 34

There are so many college events at the moment!

It has been an overwhelming couple of weeks but we have loved sharing the love with all you residents. Make sure you stay on

top of all of your assignments because they creep up very fast at this point in the semester.

But just in case you’re still ignoring all your assignments here is an extra large edition of the Voice, enjoy!!

zoe & jen

LOVE WEEK

Watching a classic cringe-worthy episode of the Bachie from Matty J’s season and feasting on a huge number of chocolate strawberries, a huge number of residents gathered to begin Love Week.

It was a great way to spend a Monday night - relaxing and avoiding the impending week of classes and study.

Bachie bingo

Meet and Yeet With an interesting game of Never Have I Ever and some fun ‘close your eyes and eat this’ games.

It was a great way to get to know everyone more, although some things may have been better left unknown!

Dancing in the Moonlight

With a giant fairy light love heart to sit in and a beer pong table, the Dancing in the Moonlight (and Ranch) night was enjoyed by all who attended with good music, good company, drinks and snacks in the Forest.

A shoutout must go to Em, Lachie and Bill who were incredibly wholesome and fed everyone with cheese toasties when they returned (drunkenly) from Ranch.

We all love you for it!

Ball Proposals The assortment of ball proposals scattered through Love Week was one of the highlights as we were witness to an array of fun and creative proposals.

The winning prize of two free Ball tickets went to Maddy and Tyla who constructed the proposal out of the kitchen’s famous rice.

Congrats to all the other ball proposals and make sure to check out all the videos!

Love Love Love Love week certainly lived up to its name this year kicking off with hearts on doors which very quickly filled with quirky and kind messages.

Another chance to spread love was through the sending of letters and chocolates to friends and crushes, with the proceeds going to the Heart Foundation. One of the highlights was love advice from Uncle B, solving all of our love problems. Keep the love up RMC!

Christmas in Winter

Christmas in Winter was a magical night, full of yummy food, star performances and, of course, a visit from everyone’s favourite North Pole couple. There was even a sneaky ball proposal. Everyone looked absolutely amazing, with Bell and Bill taking the overall prizes of best dressed.

Thank you to Cindy, Em, Pasi and Grace for performing, you were all amazing! To top off this night of giving, residents were encouraged to donate items to the Salvation Christmas Appeal with an overwelming response. Well done to B block for donating the most and winning the coffee machine for their block.

Dear Santa, please give me friend.. I only have one friend and it’s Sable. Pls Santa...

Dear Santa, I think I threw a fork in the RMC kitchen bin. Please forgive me and give the kitchen 2 new forks...

- Thx, Big Dog

Dear Santa, please make ball good this year so Coppel doesn’t cry!

- Annonymous

Dear Santa, I know I haven’t been getting the best grades lately (probably because I’ve been binge watching Brooklyn 99), but I have been to all my classes mostly on time and caught up with my lectures most of the time. So would it be too much to ask for a credit average and one distinction plez?

- Yours truly, Master of Procrastination

Dear Santa, Last year I wished for a new master and you really pulled through. So this year can you get us an exact replica of Zoe Speer, cause when she leaves RMC won’t be the same!

BLOCK EVEntS

A Block Picnic under the bridge

Venturing out to Milsons Point, the A block crowd watched the sunset over the harbour and enjoyed the night with pizza and talk of Jake’s meme habits and ball outfit prospects.

C Block Spoilt by their RAs, C Block enjoyed a night filled with strawberries, marshmallows, waffles and lots of chocolate fondue!

It served as a welcome snack which kept residents warm and happy as they stowed away inside keeping warm during the cold night. With bellies full, everyone was ready to get back to their “study� and hopefully there were no tears of chocolate.

Fondue Night

B Block

Minute to win it

As clear by the photos, the B Block competition was filled with a wide variety of events which challenged the group to work on their special skills to complete the challenges in under a minute.

outdoor movie night Determined to enjoy the outdoor cool air, the E Block residents gathered for an outdoor movie night bringing along their jackets, beanies, blankets, ugg boots and trackies.

Accompanying the ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ movie was a huge amount of snacks which managed to ward off the cold while the movie was playing.

E Block

Spit Bridge to manly wharf walk

D Block

Accompanied by the great photographers Amy and Bryan (who are responsible for the majority of these photos), D block got out into nature and walked from Spit Bridge to the Manly Wharf, conquering a full 5.6km and admiring the beautiful view.

Block BBQ

Not sure who this event was organised by, an odd array of residents gathered in the courtyard for a BBQ, chats and snacks.

Although it was cold, the residents battled it with jumpers, warm food, beanies and scarves.

Respect. now. always.

MQ Action Plan Launch An Article from Katrina, Dean of Residents On Thursday 9 August, Macquarie Uni’s Respect. Now. Always. team launched their three-year action plan for tackling the problems of sexual harassment and assault on our campus.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor S Bruce Dowton, introduced the action plan, affirming that Macquarie is committed to making this campus safe for all students. He stated that the university is not only responsible for training students in their areas of study, but also has a responsibility to upskill staff and students in effective ways to combat and respond to harassment and assault while they are here, so that they can take those skills with them into their future communities.

It is everyone’s responsibility to change the culture, and he called on everyone in the Macquarie community who is not a harasser or an abuser to be part of the solution, and to be an ally of the Respect. Now. Always project.

A panel discussion followed, with representatives from Campus Wellbeing, academics, students and

researchers. They made several suggestions on small actions we can all take to make a difference to this major problem: - Complete the online Consent Matters module and participate in one of the Respect. Now. Always. workshops being held on campus - Talk about these issues among your peers, particularly if they are unconvinced of the problem or feel helpless to do anything about it - Let people know that you will stand with them and for them – offer to help!

- Know how to be an effective first responder if someone discloses an incident of harassment or assault to you - And most importantly, believe that the little things matter. Don’t underestimate your ability to make a difference just by being a decent human being.

At RMC we are constantly working to ensure that our college is safe and harassment free for all residents. If you have ideas on how we can do that better, please let us know! And if you experience sexual harassment or assault while you are here, we want to help and to give you all the support you need.

We genuinely believe that we can make a difference, not just in our college, but in broader society, by offering educational experiences, safe spaces to have

discussions, and generating awareness of how we can all be part of the solution.

For more information on the university’s action plan, or how to get involved, visit: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/ about-the-university/strategy-andinitiatives/strategic-initiatives/ diversity-and-inclusion/respectnow-always

Trivia Night Hosted by the academic ras Organised by our academic RAs the trivia night featured some great prizes and a range of categories which were very challenging and brought out the competitive side in some of the residents.

Although there could be only one winning team everyone did really well (possibly not in every topic though!).

Congrats to the winning team and don’t forget to thank the Academic RAs.

Courtesy of our fabulous academic RAs here are some of our favourite trivia questions for you to try if you didn’t make it on the night! Try not to use your phone and good luck!

published novels such as ‘Cloudstreet’, ‘Breath’ and ‘Shallows’.

6. Name the author of the novels ‘The Power of One’, ‘Jessica’ and ‘Jack of Diamonds’.

Arts/Science/Humanities 1. Who invented the telephone?

2. What is the largest bone in the human body?

3. What is the 5th planet from the sun?

4. In music what does the term ‘forte’ mean?

5. Which Australian Prime Minister spent the most time in office?

Sport 1. In what years has Australia hosted the Olympic Games and in what cities?

2. Which city will host the 2028 Olympic games?

3. Which team won the 2018 Russia World cup? Bonus for correct score.

4. How many Grand Slams has Roger Federer won?

Business/finance/accounting/ commerce 1. Group of Eight (G8) refers to 8 highly industrialized nations. Name 5 countries in G8.

2. Accounting journal entries involve a minimum of how many accounts?

3. Name three external users of financial statements.

4. Who is the richest man in the World at the moment?

5. Is cryptocurrency legal in Australia?

RMC Knowledge 1. What was the name of RMC’s very first master? - Bonus points if you can list the number of years he was master for.

2. What does the latin phrase ‘Vera Cogitate’ mean?

3. Name the smell coming from Middle-C. 4. Name all of the college pets.

5. What year was RMC established?

Literature 1. Gollum wasn’t always Gollum. He was a hobbit of the River-folk. What was his name?

2. How many children are in the Weasley family?

3. What is the name of the 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood that was adapted to a television series in 2017?

4. What is Dumbledore’s full name?

5. Name the Australian author who

General Knowledge 1. What is the only mammal that can’t jump?

2. What is the largest ocean?

3. How many squares on a chess board?

4. What is Australia’s population to the closest million?

5. What are a group of dolphins called?

6. What is the Chinese New Year 2018 animal?

7. What is the number does the Roman numerals MMMDXXIV represent?

Interblock Debating With topics including ‘Are new blocks better than old blocks’, ‘Should RMC enforce a no dating policy’ and ‘Should RMC have a GPA policy of 3.0’, the night was filled with laughter and yelling as each team made their case. Well done to all those who debated, it truly was a great night! And congrats to Bell and Shannon who Lily chose as the best debators and to N Block who won the night overall.

Think True - Date My Religion An article from Lily, one of our SRAs

Think True events are held once a term at RMC and aim to stimulate thinking, questioning and discussion around matters of faith, no matter what your background or beliefs. Last week’s show down, “Date my religion” was no exception!

Brave RMC students, Azlan (Muslim), Kaanchi (Hindu), Lachlan (Christian) and Tom (Agnostic) answered a wide variety of questions to give onlookers a sense of how their faith or worldview impacts their life, be it their love life, their study, their hopes or their view of where our world is headed. No rose ceremonies or cocktail parties here, but RMC had a chance to send in questions for the panellists ... and they got everyone thinking! Some examples of questions for you to mull over yourself ...

Do you believe your path in life is predetermined?

Do you believe in luck?

Have you looked into other religions?

For Azlan, how do you know that Allah exists? Is there physical evidence?

How do you know that your god wants a relationship with you?

For Tom, does it bother you that you don’t have an answer?

There are an estimated 4200 religions worldwide.

What convinced you that your religion is the one true religion?

What’s the hardest thing about following your worldview/religion?

Has your worldview strengthened or shifted since you moved away from home and family?

Has agnosticism done any good?

Do you think religion is a force for good or evil?

Can anyone say that another religion is wrong without being arrogant?

And finally ... If you got mowed down in a stampede for hot chocolate after tonight and died, and you found out there is a God and a heaven, and that God asked you ‘why should I let you into my heaven?’, what would you say?

If you are keen to think about these issues some more, come to B flat on Wednesday 7:30-9pm for good chats, snacks and questioning with Lily and others.

Public Speaking Workshop

A Seminar Event Taught by Peter, the Master of College Blessed with Peter’s public speaking talent and his ability to teach, a group of RMC residents have been meeting each week to learn how to improve their public speaking ability.

For anyone else who is interested, the workshop has been great for improving both writing and public speaking skills and it’s never too late to get involved even if you didnt make it to the first few sessions! It’s held every Tuesday at 4PM in the S-Conference room.

North Ryde Fun Run On Sunday the 26th, 32 enthusiastic RMC residents travelled out to North Ryde to compete in the North Ryde Fun Run (although for some it was a Fun Walk). It was great to see such a large group of RMC students participating and helping raise money for Rotary Mental Health. We even managed to grab 2nd place and 3rd place and beat DLC.

of RMC Bestfriends

What is your favourite part of your degree?

Writing and activism has already

been pretty much my entire life, so studying it is a dream come true. I get to meet really amazing people and have fantastic discussions

and read incredible essays and

pieces of work. I’m really looking forward to interviewing Maeve

Marsden for my arts and music

journalism course this semester-

LYDIA JUPP Human #17

she documents queer Australian

history which I’m very passionate

about and I’m excited to meet her.

Where are you from?

I’m from the Southern Highlands, which is pretty much halfway

between Canberra and Sydney.

What do you like most about your home town?

It’s very picturesque- lots of trees and little shops and bushland. We have lots of cherry blossoms too, and I love watching them start to bloom as spring gets underway.

What do you study?

How did you guys meet?

I’m doing a bachelor of arts

Anna was across the hall from me

studies! I used to do international

of last year and the RMC keys are

majoring in journalism and gender relations but switched to

journalism this semester.

when we first moved in at the start upside down so I let her know so

she didn’t panic when she couldn’t get her door open (like I did). And then I walked back into my room

and I was like “oh cool, that might be my new best friend”, and here we are!!

What’s the weirdest things you have

together?

I would panic and rely on Anna. See

previously mentioned physical weakness.

done together?

What can’t your best friend live without?

Anna is actually surprisingly strange

Coffee, healthy snacky things, regular

once you get her out of her shell. I think

we’re just both weird in our daily lives so

often that we don’t document the general weirdness?

What is your favourite quality about each other?

Anna’s really really kind. She probably

thinks she’s more of a cat but I think she’s just an introverted dog. She takes a while to open up to people, when she’s excited she gets REALLY excited, and her hair’s

really soft and fluffy like golden retriever ears.

Also always opens my drinks at Grill’d

because I’m really weak. She doesn’t even

ask anymore, she just takes them and does it.

Would you survive a zombie apocalypse

access to nature.

What do you study?

I study a bachelor of environment currently majoring in biology. I’ll soon change my major to Earth sciences though because I’m more of a rock and dirt kind of girl.

What is your favourite part of your degree?

The field trips! Science field trips are so

much fun. Literally we’re in the field all day and then we all make dinner together and

have a good old fashioned drink (including

ANNA Charlton shick Human #18

our tutors). It’s where you actually learn everything.

Where are you from?

I’m from a tiny place, slap bang in the

middle of the south Pacific called Lord

Howe Island. Yes, that’s right I grew up on an island. By tiny I mean tiny, the island’s 11km long and our widest point is 2km.

What do you like most about your home town?

I’d have to say not having mobile phone

reception, it’s brilliant, I can put my phone in a drawer and not use it for the entire

holidays. Same goes for my laptop… this is

How did you guys meet?

coming from a town of only 350 people

when I was struggling in figuring out how

also why I’m terrible with technology. Also,

Lydia was my knight in shining armour

it’s awesome because you know everyone

to open a lock with an actual key. We don’t

and everyone can keep an eye out for one another but at the same time you can go

for a walk and not see a living soul. As well my home is absolutely beautiful so I can’t complain.

have keys on Lord Howe. So yes from there on it was instant friendship. We also lived

right next door to one another in bottom C so we were bound to meet.

What’s the weirdest things you have done together?

Hmmm, there are many things.

What is your favourite quality about each other?

Lyd’s passion for everything. I’ve never

meet anyone who’s more passionate about women’s rights, human rights and just

any type of right in general. She’s just a fantastic human being.

Don’t forget! If you want to be a Human

of RMC all you have to do is contact one

of the editors and we’ll happily send you

the questions and feature you in our next issue!

Would you survive a zombie apocalypse together?

Hell yes! The zombies would never find us, I can play hide and seek way too well.

What can’t you best friend live without?

Ice cream…. Also glitter. She could

definitely do without all her allergies though.

THE VOICE Dot .1

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author: anonymous

.26 .25 .27 .30 .29 .28 Make dot to dot puzzles at picturedots.com

Many of you struggled with our last dot-to-dot country identification so this time we’ve tried to make it even harder!

Join the dots and try to identify the country!

*At Exploring Christianity* Lily: “Anyone want passion pop?” *Referring to Pasito*

Steph: “I’m a ghostbuster”

Pat: “The brown meat is good”

Jake: “Can the bus drive to A101e” Nicole: “No, it should be A20e” Jake: “You mean A201e?”

Sam D: “Do you wanna go top or bottom?”

Mark: “I don’t mind, I’ll go bottom”

Lauren C: “I’m feeling the fresher 50”

*Movie character takes a swig of champagne* Jack: “Don’t do that at ball... hehehe”

Pasi: “I have key rings for you” Cindy: “That’s the only ring I want”

Lauren C: “What’s a cadaver?”

Kate: “It’s where you get beef jerk-ified” Tom B: “I was just like you last year...boring” Jonty: “I can’t afford a ring, let alone a weekly coffee date” *talking about his love life*

AUG 7 - Sep 3

Jake: “I liked so many Facebook meme pages that I got banned from liking anymore for 48 hours”

Zoe W: “Peter emailed me” Cindy: “Wait! Peter Dutton!”

Jen: “You gave up your morals for an ‘alright’ sausage roll”

Tami: “I’m scared, someone touch me and say open” Wang: “Boys are yum, fresh meat!”

THE Wiretap Tami: “Ugh put it on me” *Laughter* Tami: “I meant the diamonds!”

Zoe S: “Girlfriends are so simple, give them food, give them attention, just like a dog”

Jen: “Can I sue someone for stealing my kidney?”

*talking about roses* Mitch: “They must not mean that much if they are on the bachelor”

Jack B: “If I want to buy sparkling water, no one can really stop me”

Tami *chanting*: “Put it on me! Put it on me!”

Jen: “It was born today” Sophia: “Boy or girl?”

Jen: “He, a girl”

Maddy: “I can probably fit 3 at the same time”

Lauren C *talking about how she’ll be a billionaire*: “Who needs a boy when I can pay for one every night?”

Lissy: “You don’t caress a bread”

Amy: “I’ve got samuels DNA all over me”

Steph: “I have a massive chunk of cheese”

Ben M *Talking to Jake B*: “I swear every song you have is a meme”

Hannah: what do boys even do Tyla: they groan and they moan

Bryan: “Oh guys are dogs, most of them are just Andrew”

Lucy *drunk*: “Bill and Lachy make the best toasties”

Jake: “Nicole are you cold?”

Nicole: “Always cold” Sophia: “She’s Ni-cold”

Maddy: “Don’t do that I need to pee”

Hannah: “You don’t have to sleep next to them, you can sleep on them, just make it fit”

Cindy: “I’m in no rush, I’m 22 for the next year and a half”

Maddy: “No don’t pull it out!!”

Sam D: “I just pushed it in”

Jen *gremlin voice*: “My mouth is so hot ... and sexy”

TRIVIA ANSWERS Arts/Science/Humanities 1. ALexander Graham Bell 2. Femur 3. Jupiter 4. Loud 5. Robert Menzies Business/Finance/Accounting/Commerce 1. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US 2. 2 (Debit and credit account) 3. Creditors, investors, suppliers, banks, customers, government/authority, employee 4. Jeff Bezos 5. Yes Literature 1. Smeogal 2. 7 3. The Handmaid’s Tale 4. Albus Percival Wulfric brian Dumbledore 5. Tim Winton 6.

Bryce Courtenay Sport 1. Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000 2. Los Angeles 3. France beat Croatia 4-2 4. 20 RMC Knowledge 1. Alan Cole (bonus answer is 7 years) 2. Think True 3. Boy smell 4. Bear, Digby, Sable, Dakota, Hoppy and Jumpy 5. 1972 General Knowledge 1. Elephant 2. pacific Ocean 3. 64 4. 25million 5. Pod 6. Dog 7. 3524

Sam L *durring debating*: “So there’s Jack and Jill and Jack decided to play ‘put the key in the keyhole’ with his ex”

Lachie: “You know you’ve hit the jackpot when Andre blows up” Bryan: “Lauren your sound Romanian” Lauren C: “No you sound Romanian!”

Bryan: “Well I’m not because I’m not from Rome”

Sam D: “I’ll eat it, I’ve been touching it so I don’t mind” Kate: “I get better internet in Dunedoo” Dan: “At least with my own bathroom the concerning mystery hair in the corner is mine” Bryan: “You might think a bathroom of your own is a good thing until the day when you stuff it up because you ate bad things”

Bryan: “E block looks like a carrot” Jen: “Sperm is property” Dan: “I don’t know who designed the S-Block bathrooms but you can’t even be fat and get in there”

Share your voice!

Are you a creative soul and want to contribute to The Voice?

Send through your work as a message to our Facebook page or submit it annonymously to one of the editors!

Any contributions are

accepted - drawings, poems, stories, articles etc. And don’t forget any to send in any funny submissions to the Wiretap.

If you want to be featured in the Humans of RMC section, let us know and we will interview you!

Or feel free to talk to one of the editors Zoe Walters (A207) or

Jen Good (A203)