Unilife Magazine 21.03 by Verse Magazine

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VOL. 21 NO. 3, JULY - SEPTEMBER 2013

F E A R

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR As we coax our nervous contributors down from the trees they fled up, it’s interesting to see what the word FEAR conjured up. Foods of different temperatures getting too close (p. 12), political horror stories (p. 26), our love of sanitised monster figures (p. 9) and the fear of fitting in to a new home (p. 48). For me, fear is this angry killer goose: If you’ve ever been attacked by a bird, you know my feels. We’ll suffer together, sisters. This issue, we have an analysis of #unijam, travel stories from Italy and France, and an exciting political writing competition to announce as we head into election season. We have reviews of some sweet films and tunes, and a new Your Story winner (Trang Nguyen, p. 41).

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Keep up with us on Facebook and Twitter for news about competitions, submissions and giveaways, and check out unilifemagazine.com.au for up-to-the-minute reviews. All the best, Ilona Issue #4: Change. Deadline Monday September 23. Word limit: 500-1000 words. Email to walir001@mymail.unisa.edu.au

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Head Editor: Ilona Wallace Web Editor: Matteo Gagliardi Graphic Designer: Josh Evans Sub-editors: Laura Clark, Ashleigh Knott, Isabella Pittaway & Nicolle Vale. Contributors: Lucy Ahern, Katherine Cox, Madeleine Dunne, Alana James, Georgia Kay, Emmylou Macdonald, Emma Majcen, Ryan Mallett-Outtrim, Sebastian Moore, Victoria Moore, Eric Ngang, Trang Nguyen, Danella Smith, Anastasia Vento, Georgina Vivian, & Melissa Zahorujko Cover: Lorell Lehman, Tree Spirit Artists & illustrators: Ashleigh Knott, Belinda Jane Zanello, Caroline Vaughan, Julia Mary Sniatynskyj, Tyson Modistach, Samin Sabour Special thanks to: Mark Niehus, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas & the Global Experience program.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily representative of the views of UniLife or the editors.

CONTENTS UNISA VISUAL ARTS AND DESIGN SHOWCASE

THEME: FEAR WHO’S EVEN SCARED OF MONSTERS ANYMORE? by Melissa Zahorujko

THE ANTAGONIST OF HOPE by Emma Majcen

(IRRATIONAL) FEAR FACTOR by Lucy Ahern

KEEP IT RATIONAL by Ashleigh Knott

SPEAK UP, SHUT DOWN by Ryan Mallett-Outtrim

FEAR OF FAILURE by Katherine Cox

WHO RUNS THE WORLD… CATS? by Victoria Moore

YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR PRICE by Ilona Wallace

DON’T FEAR THE FREAKY…FOOD by Georgia Kay

THE PURPOSE OF FEAR by Nicolle Vale

FEAR AND LOATHING IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE by Matteo Gagliardi

GENERAL INTEREST POLITICAL WRITING COMPETITION

TOO GOOD TO GIVE UP by Alana James

WOLF CREEK: THE MUSICAL by Laura Clark

PURSUING HAPPINESS by Danella Smith

KEEP CALM AND WEAR LIPSTICK by Anastasia Vento

REVIEWS

UNISA AROUND THE WORLD VIETNAM TO AUSTRALIA: A FATHER’S LOVE by Trang Nguyen

PHOTO COMPETITON WINNER: Joseph Robert Spencer

MY FINAL DESTINATION by Jo Lim

FEAR OF A NEW BEGINNING by Eric Ndeh Mboumien Ngang

FRENCH ACCORD by Georgina Vivian

CIBO, CIBO, CIBO by Isabella Pittaway

UNIVERSITY NEWS WE CAME, WE SAW, WE #UNIJAMMED by Madeleine Dunne

MESSAGE FROM UNILIFE PRESIDENT ARUN THOMAS

MESSAGE FROM KIM CHAU AND TIMMY PHAM

UNILIFE ELECTION RESULTS

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WHO’S EVEN SCARED OF MONSTERS ANYMORE? Writer_ Melissa Zahorujko

No doubt we are all looking forward to seeing Monsters University—the long-awaited sequel to an animated Pixar movie we were all quite fond of in our younger years. Those lovable blue and green monsters are certainly unforgettable. But, I question, since when has it become acceptable to describe monsters as ‘lovable’? The last time I checked, the word ‘monster’ was defined using adjectives such as ‘ugly’, ‘frightening’, and ‘daunting’. There’s nothing remotely lovable about a description like that. Movies like Monsters Inc and its sequel definitely don’t abide by the original meaning of the word, telling stories of cute, fluffy and all-round endearing creatures that only go by the name of ‘monsters’. They’re just not frightening at all. Back in the old days (and by old, I mean centuries ago kind of old), terrifying monsters were used as the fear factor in fairy tales and folklore to encourage good behaviour in children and promote moral views. Take Beauty and the Beast, for example. The tale, written mid-18th century, introduces us to a self-absorbed and selfish man who, as a consequence for his immoral ways, is turned into an ugly, petrifying monster feared by all the villagers. Little Red Riding Hood is another fairy tale example. The big, bad wolf was a monsterlike animal representing sexual predators that children were taught to fear and avoid. Remember the part where the wolf—dressed as grandma—tries to lure Little Red into his bed? Scary, huh? Yet, these days, we all seem to forget the moral of this classic tale as it has been repeatedly made and remade into light-hearted entertainment via the film and television industry. Speaking of wolves, let’s not forget the whole wolf/vampire teenage obsession, especially brought to attention by the likes of Stephenie

Meyer’s Twilight and Kevin Williamson’s Vampire Diaries. Whilst the fear-inducing vampires of the 19th century sucked all the lifeblood out of innocent victims, today’s vampires apparently ‘glitter’ in the sunlight. How frightening. Apparently, they can even fall deeply, utterly and irrevocably in love with their food source, which also happens to be more than a hundred years younger than them. Well, despite that being slightly paedophilic and rather similar to that scary situation with the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood, teenagers show no aversion to these ‘monsters’. It’s really quite the opposite. Vampires have become an object of sexual desire, passion, and love, rather than one of fear. Today, we all know at least one teenage girl obsessing over the supposedly gorgeous, brooding Edward Cullen or the lust-worthy Salvatore brothers. But I don’t think anyone in the 19th century ever witnessed teenage girls walking around wearing T-shirts with the slogan ‘Team Dracula’ printed across their chest during the time Bram Stoker’s Dracula was published. Some of these modern-day fanatics are, in fact, drawn so obsessively to vampires that they make their sexual fantasies become a written reality. Have you ever tried reading a Twilight fanfiction? I strongly advise you don’t. It’s more than clear to me that monsters are becoming adored rather than feared. They’re no longer scaring children into obeying their parents, but are instead being put under a more positive light by our media and entertainment industry. And who’s to say that’s a bad thing? I’m sure monsters are enjoying their hard-earned break from tyrannous villainy. But perhaps, every now and again, we need to remember why monsters were invented in the first place and how their presence in stories makes a difference. It was through fear that they really taught us important life lessons, ultimately helping to shape our social intelligence.

THE ANTAGONIST OF HOPE Writer_ Emma Majcen

Artist_ Caroline Vaughan

Fear: I tell you, is the antagonist of hope. A feeling capable of depressing our dreams as one’s imagination reveals a probable darker path. In sight of a future riddled with misfortune we anxiously wait. But, if we are lucky enough, our position is not fixed for long. Hope may be noticed as the eye meets the edge of a shadow. And upon the intoxication of pleasant fantasy we may commence the once thought impossible climb out of the pit of gloom.

ignored as an image of a utopic future is attended.

Yet, achievement is not a product of one shade. If the target of one’s desire is to be hit, then a dart must be fired from the tug of fear and the thrust of hope.

Utmost care must be taken with the toil of fear or hope. Indulgence of either can leave us paralysed and nowhere closer to achievement. But, we mustn’t forget in all this parley that a greater truth lies. You see, all we could ever dream, desire or imagine exists all around us in every minute moment. Love, misery, joy and apathy. Whether or not we fail or triumph, life and its many shades will inevitably go on. But, if we engulf ourselves in the nightmare of fear or the paradise of hope, all that might escape us. And the greatest story of them all might be missed.

You see, fear has its function. It wakes you from your shaded rest before the apple tree rots. By imagining the worst down from a cloud we fall to the surface of earth and sometimes beyond. We must fear the worst if we are to avoid it and advance. And hope, that which cradles the soul upon the greeting of catastrophe, allows one to see, in amongst the wreckage, a potential for growth. Bricks will remain idle till their use envisaged. This world is no heaven as it certainly is no hell; beauty and debris share the same border. In such a place, only fools pack a suitcase with only fear or hope.

But to drink too much fear brings about trouble of an equally disturbing nature. Our once-upon-a-time worst imaginings will grow into seemingly inescapable defeats. Confronted with such terror, real or imagined, would ruin any sane soul. In gloom’s pit we stay and dreams are seen bitterly as a privilege of the naïve. In turning our back on the world, a sombre darkness invades our vision.

Anyone can be entertained by the imaginary but it takes true strength of character to grow a fondness for genuine life.

Saturated by hope our limbs become heavy and with languorous ease we bask under a false sun. The pleasure of imagining may defer production as the effort of labour is realised. This is our induced indolence confirmed by the idle bricks. The grot of the present

(IRRATIONAL) FEAR FACTOR Writer_ Lucy Ahern

Artist_ Josh Evans

As far as irrational fears go, I’m a massive scaredy-cat. Most of the things that top my list are completely un-scary events that for some reason can evoke anything from a mild sense of displeasure to screaming, hand-waving, or propelling myself at the floor. I think almost all fears are irrational really. Heights? Only if there’s a possibility you’ll actually fall. Leaving your house? Your front lawn will not engulf you, and the postman is unlikely to run you down. Sharks? Yeah, okay, fair call. So in a move that may cause a number of you to regard me as a complete basket case, I give you my list of illogical yet still completely real fears.

BIRDS

Talons, excessive wing -flapping, sharp beaks, regurgitation. Avoid at all costs - will cause aforementioned falling to floor.

SEAWEED

The non-Sushi kind

HOT FOOD TOUCHING COLD FOOD ON THE PLATE THOSE PICTURES OF CELEBRITIES WITH STEVE BUSCEMI’S EYES ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF MY BED AT NIGHT

GETTING TRAPPED IN EXELOOS

If I put a limb outside that line, a monster / robber will definitely grab them and drag me under.

FORESTS

WALKING OVER ANYTHING MADE OF GLASS

Or perspex. Or ice.

GETTING STUCK IN REVOLVING DOORS TRUCKS TRANSPORTING LONG POLES OR PIPES

I have a vision that when I’m driving behind one of these, shit will get Final Destination 2 and I’ll be turned into a human shish kebab.

AXOLOTLS

There’s something unsettling about their leg / tail combo and gooey transparency. Don’t let one touch me, please.

CARELESS PEOPLE WTH UMBRELLAS

Namely I fear for my eyes.

GAME OF THRONES

Nuff said.

NB: I don’t intend to trivialise genuine phobias as they can be a sign of mental health issues.

KEEP IT RATIONAL? Writer_ Ashleigh Knott

Artist_ Ashleigh Knott

It is nearing dusk and a French tourist is walking down King William Street, meandering his way around the city. He is so loaded up with backpacks he would be rendered as useless as a turtle on its back if he fell. I am waiting at a bus stop; he catches my eye. I, accustomed to holding the gaze of those who stare, look back. He says ‘hello’ in a questioning tone, his accent penetrating the word. I smile and shy away, turning my head. Then I think rationally for a moment, and reply. He smiles, continues on his way, turning back once more to smile at me. I watch after him. I think the novelty of interacting with a local made his day. Hesitant would be an accurate description of my general outlook on life a while ago. This interaction with a strange fellow, though only lasting a moment, would once have taken me completely off guard and brought fear bubbling up within timid little me. For me, fear was the unknown – feelings, places, dreams, people, the future, imperfection. Expectations brought hesitations. Preparing for life sparks angst. As a child, the beast beneath the bed made me leap from my bedroom’s threshold to the comforts of a familiar quilt (and into the arms of my ever-reliable teddy). Who knows what implanted the certainty that something lived there, but it was tremendously vivid for a while. I had an extraordinarily stable upbringing so perhaps that’s why change seemed to be such an uncertain and therefore scary thing. I have grown out of it though. Venturing out alone was fearfully

dangerous. Now, it’s an adventure, a new experience, and even fearful moments have their worth. Caution is sensible, unreasonable fear is not. Sure, be fearful of your parents discovering the sneaky things you’ve done, of strangers lurking menacingly in the dark, of eating wild mushrooms foraged by an amateur, of untamed flames, of green potatoes, but don’t let that fear rule your life. More importantly I’ve learned not to fear what others think of me. I’ll show my art to people and, though I care what they think, I won’t let their reaction place a value on it. Same goes for what I wear, what music I listen to, how I speak, and how I live my life. Fear of judgement is not something you should concern yourself with. Still, leaves skipping across empty streets become footsteps following me, but things no longer thrive in the darkness as they once did. Reasonable fear is fine. Applications for irrational fear will not be approved.

SPEAK UP, SHUT DOWN Writer_ Ryan Mallett-Outtrim

Criminalising free speech sounds fun, but do we really need more prisoners? Jia is scared she may never see her father again. As a known practitioner of the banned Fulan Gong religion, her father has been dogged by the local authorities in their small village in southern China for years. While the world watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he was hauled into prison; in what was widely considered a national clean-up effort of a sort. Back then, The New York Times reported that poor neighbourhoods in the nation’s capital were disappearing as the government erected walls to hide the city’s grimy underside from hordes of tourists. When I visited Beijing months later, I found that many of the city’s poorer neighbourhoods were still hidden from main roads. On the other side of the country, Jia said her family was shamed as her father likewise disappeared from public view. Last year he was released, only to be again stripped of his freedom just months later. At the time of writing, he was back in prison, and his future remains uncertain.

the TAR ‘[n]umerous people allegedly involved in anti-government protests were beaten, detained, subjected to enforced disappearance or sentenced following unfair trials’. In its 2012 report, AI states that two Tibetan protesters ‘were believed to have died because of injuries sustained from police beatings’, while other protesters in Sichuan (a province adjacent to TAR, with a large Tibetan population) were reportedly shot at by security forces. However, you don’t need to be Tibetan to become one of what AI describes as ‘hundreds of thousands of people’ who have been ‘arbitrarily deprived...of their liberty... [in] administrative detention, including RTL [Re-education through Labour] camps, without recourse to independent courts’. As AI also reports, last year lawyers who took on ‘controversial cases faced harassment and threats from the authorities and, in some cases, the loss of professional licences’. In this context, once local authorities decided Jia’s father was fair game, he never stood a chance.

According to the International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS), in 2012 China held over 1.6 million convicted prisoners. However, the ICPS estimates that once pre-trial detainees are taken into account, the country’s total prison population could be over 2.3 million. According to classified diplomatic cables published on WikiLeaks, in 2009, 3000 of these prisoners were in the Tibetan Autonomous Zone (TAR); 30 of which were monks or nuns. The cable also states that ‘[e]ighty-four prisoners involved in the “March 14 Incident” are now serving prison terms’. The ‘March 14 Incident’ refers to a series of independence protests that occurred in Tibetan communities during the previous year. According to Amnesty International (AI), last year in

Unfortunately, there is little in China’s justice (is that the right word?) system that is unique, or even particularly outstanding. According to the ICPS, China convicts 121 people per 100,000 citizens, though based on estimates of the total prison population, as many as 170 per 100,000 could be imprisoned. Last October, Bloomberg reported that according to numbers from the US Department of Justice, the US prison population is 2.2 million. In other words, ‘with a rate of 730 people per 100,000, the U.S. jails a higher proportion of its citizens than any other country’. Sadly, even this is an understatement. The previous year, a statement from the US Bureau of Justice indicated that over 6 million Americans

were either in prison, on parole, in jail or on probation. As Adam Gopnik rightly concluded in a 2012 article for the New Yorker, ‘there are now more people under ‘correctional supervision” in America... than were in the Gulag Archipelago under Stalin at its height’. The reasons for this staggering figure are complex, but one thing that certainly isn’t helping is the growing trend of authorities targeting protesters. According to OccupyArrests, as of May 7753 activists have been arrested in the US since 2011. Comparably, the number of bankers prosecuted in relation to the 2008 financial crisis that started the protests remains zero. On May 20, 17 former homeowners who protested against the lack of these prosecutions outside the Justice Department in Washington were themselves arrested. It seems that in the US, you are more likely to be arrested for attending a political rally than scuttling the world economy. Of course, you don’t need to travel to Washington or southern China to be arrested for publicly expressing a political view - Melbourne would suffice. On July 1, 2011, 11 Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activists were arrested in QV Square and charged with trespassing in a public place (somehow that’s a thing) and besetting the premises of a Max Brenner Chocolate Bar (in other words, blocking public access). Last July, the cases were dismissed by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, with Magistrate Garnett finding that the 130 police officers deployed to the square actually did more to impede public access to the chocolate bar than the protesters. The court also found that the business was able to operate normally, despite the presence of the BDS activists outside. Although the case was dismissed, the main thrust of the prosecution argument

was nothing short of disturbing. Essentially, the case was that by entering a public place with the intent to express a political opinion, the protesters were trespassing if they in any way impeded the “normal activities” of others. Australia already convicts a higher percentage of its own people than China (according to the ICPS), though it remains far behind the US. While laws restricting political speech play a relatively minor role in filling our prisons, they certainly don’t help. We spend $3.2 billion every year on locking people up, which according to Australian Red Cross Chief Executive Officer Robert Tickner is ‘double the numbers of 20 years ago’. Tickner argues that we need to rethink why we lock people up. I’d suggest rethinking what kind of country we want to be. Do we want to sterilise the streets of divergent ideas, as Beijing did in 2008? Or, do we want to have a country where people don’t fear voicing their opinions? This story is based on a January 20, 2013 post at http://tohereknowswhenblog. wordpress.com (http:// tohereknowswhenblog.wordpress. com/2013/01/20/i-must-be-doingsomething-right-if-im-blocked-in-china/). Full sources can be viewed online at www. unilifemagazine.com.au

FEAR OF FALIURE Writer_ Katherine Cox

Photo_ Josh Evans

Fear is a feeling that everyone experiences at one time or another. For me, it seems like an obstacle I need to overcome daily. I worry too much about what others may think, about what may happen to me, about which direction my life might take in the future. One of the longest, deeply rooted fears I have had is the fear of failure. Ever since I was nine years old I have feared going to university. That may sound strange to a lot of you, but it really did concern me. I dreamt of a huge, white examination room with many rows of chairs and seats in front of me. I saw a tutor at the front of the room and hundreds of students surrounding me with their heads bent down over their papers, scribbling away enthusiastically. As soon as I saw this I panicked. In my dream I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what the exam was about and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know the answers to the questions on the paper. I woke up, panicked and confused. I think this is a problem many people have: not having all the answers in life and being scared of not being in control or not being able to control certain life situations. For me, this dream/nightmare stemmed from my desire to impress and receive the approval of my father. He has always encouraged me to go to university, to receive a good education, to forge myself a stable career, and make a good life for myself. I was scared of going to university as I thought it would be too difficult to complete successfully, and so I have evaded it for a while. I went to TAFE instead for five years and completed a course in Professional Writing, which I graduated from last year. This gave me the confidence to try attending University, despite the risk of failure.I have learnt by confronting this fear head on that; number one, university is not as hard as I first thought; number two, even if I fail something I can still try again by resubmitting or at worst re-doing a subject; and number

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three, there are more options to life than to just give up. I think failure to me is not trying to do something, or not trying to follow through with your own expectations of what you want in life. For me, I have found that my Christian faith helps me to combat some of my fears. Through my reliance on Christ I have discovered that I don’t need to be perfect, despite what the world may think, and that God accepts me for who I am not for what I have or haven’t achieved. Achieving good things like passing university, volunteering, or donating to the poor are good and acceptable practises to God, particularly if you profess to be a Christian. However, they will not get you an automatic ticket to the ̔pearly gates̕ and God will not necessarily give you 10 gold stars. A particular Bible verse from the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus telling his disciples not to worry about the clothes they wear or the food they eat, as he said that God would provide for their needs. He said, ̔Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?̕I use these verses not only in relation to my physical needs but also to my spiritual and mental needs; one of my mental needs being my university work. So far this year, God has provided me with the information needed and support through my lecturers and tutors to complete my assignments successfully. I am grateful that I can share my fears with God and also with friends and family who are supportive and can help to alleviate some of my worries.

Even as I write these paragraphs I am somewhat fearful of your reactions. I find writing about what I believe in to be incredibly difficult and my life so far as a Christian has not been perfect. But my reasons behind my faith are personal; God has helped me through some tough times over the last few years, particularly when dealing with loss and grief. He has also shown me many answers to prayer. Through experiencing his power, I know that I don’t need to fear about the trivial things in life. For example, university work, or what I’m going to wear tomorrow, because in the end I am not in control, and the one who is, is more faithful than I am. So my advice to you is that whenever you are fearful or are worried about something, ask yourself whether worrying about this issue will really help it or not. If not, try considering whether this issue will still be important in a few weeks, months, or years and try to see the bigger picture. Looking back over my life experiences so far, I would say that the most important thing is to not let fear stop you from achieving your goals.

WHO RUNS THE WORLD... CATS? Writer_ Victoria Moore

Artist_ Josh Evans

It’s an interesting position to be in to be somewhat afraid of your own pet, and, for that matter, to have other people scared of the fluffy little creature that completes the family. Now don’t get me wrong, she is my baby. But it is somewhat disconcerting not being entirely sure whether she is rubbing up against your leg because she is simply being affectionate, or whether she is doing it because she thinks it looks like a tasty morsel. A cat such as mine, who is in all seriousness a little tiger (capable of ripping open your shins if you get on her wrong side), senses fear. If you hesitate to pick her up, she knows. If you act skittish around her, fearing for the state of your legs because you have to wear a short dress later in the day, it’s like a red rag to a bull. She knows and she is prepared to pounce. It is well known among cat enthusiasts (of which I am obviously not one…) that cats can sense when someone is afraid of them. Upon this revelation some cats will go out of their way to plague the person in any way they can. An act my cat has purr-fected.

like strange people touching her and she detests being made to leave the house when she isn’t quite ready to leave. Like all devious female cats she has one or two tricks up her sleeve. She plays the “pat me, I’m so gorgeous card” all too well, lulling unsuspecting or even forewarned visitors to the house into thinking that she is placid and “patable”. I repeat: this is not the case. The thrill of the pat seems to entice all too many, resulting in what I like to call “love bites”. While the book How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You? gives helpful hints to identify whether said creature is after your blood - such as, “if your cat is bringing you dead animals – it isn’t a gift. It’s a warning” – it’s no secret with my little kitty. Be warned, she is always plotting. Whether she is going to act on her

Described by some as the ‘spawn of Satan’ (which I personally think is taking it a bit far), this little beastie likes to circle her prey. It’s a combination of having a shark mentality – the tail upright like a fin – and behaving like a lion which she quite obviously inherited some traits from. I like to think that she is simply asserting her number-one ranking within the domain and making it quite clear who runs the house. She doesn’t often attack unprovoked. She simply doesn’t respond to some of those more typical cat stereotypes. She doesn’t

YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR PRICE Writer_ Ilona Wallace

Poem_ Mark Niehus, Our Fears Change Over Time And

You’ve seen the dude who plays a PVC pipe instrument with a pair of thongs; you know Izera, his luscious locks, and his keyboard; but have you ever met a busking poet? Mark Niehus (ex-web designer, former postal worker), has set up shop in the Central Market’s popular Zedz Café. Part of the national ‘Café Poet Program’, which connects bright-minded writers with accommodating venues, Niehus has been stationed at Zedz for nearly five weeks. He arrives at midday on Thursdays and Fridays, sets up his table, his typewriter, and his prints. Then he waits. ‘YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR PRICE’ a small sign in a donation bowl proclaims. There’s a little pile of cash in there already when I arrive. Warm and friendly, Niehus is easy to talk to and genuinely engaged. It’s confidence he’s built over the last few weeks. Necessary confidence. We talk a lot about fear, but here we also meet its enemy: bravery. It takes a lot of courage to stand up in public, declare you’ve quit both your day and night jobs, to turn 100 per cent of your energy to your art. He interviews his clients and gets a feel for who they are. Then he asks for their subject, and they chat a little more. The client leaves and Niehus writes. He types the poem immediately. There’s no middleman loose-leaf for a draft—the poem is fresh, raw, and spontaneous. When he has finished, he goes to the recipient’s table, crouches at their side, and reads his words. It’s a whole performance, and a unique experience. Nothing says ‘worth every cent’ like a for-your-ears-only poetry recital.

Niehus tells me that he has a few regulars. For one man, a painter just returned from Coober Pedy, Niehus wrote a poem about driving through the country. The next week, the man returned with his wife and they commissioned two more poems as gifts. Then yesterday, they came back again. When your policy is ‘any subject, any price’ the topics can be obscure, or worse: dull. Niehus explains that the biggest challenge he has faced has been writing poems about young children he’s never met. ‘“Well, what does he like?” I’ll ask, and they’ll go, “Bananas”.’ In between ‘baby’ and ‘new car’ poems, he gets little gems, like the statement ‘Pluto is no longer a planet’. Of course, it isn’t all stardust and fruit. Every struggling artist has to fight for respect sometimes. His very first customer was sceptical and a little hostile. ‘His subject was “Life”, and he grabbed a chair and pulled it right up next to me,’ Niehus explains. ‘He sat, looking over my shoulder, and he said, “You’ve got five minutes.”’ Since then, the sailing has been smoother and Niehus has been enjoying the game. Intellectual puzzles, a race to write a poem before a client finishes their coffee, and placing complete trust in himself that it will turn out okay in the end. ‘What I love about poetry is it’s a quick burst,’ he begins. ‘When I’m connected, it’s instantaneous. It’s such a great experience. Ten minutes of pure bliss. You know when it’s successful at the end. That’s why I like it; you don’t have to labour over it too much.’

He laughs. ‘I’m a bit lazy, I think.’ Sometimes poems come harder than other times, and he admits that maybe ten minutes is too short for some subjects. But he doesn’t delete and he doesn’t restart. ‘I made an agreement with myself that I wouldn’t do that,’ he says. ‘What comes is what comes. That’s part of the philosophy of doing it in this context. It’s spontaneous, it’s brave, I guess, and it’s honest. ‘Using a typewriter,’ he continues, ‘you can’t edit. You can backspace and “X” over a word if it’s really bad, but you just have to trust yourself. The more you trust yourself, the more consistently good it is.’ The poem he creates is all about that first impression, and believing that those instincts are the most truthful. With that in mind, he reveals that accurate instincts best develop with practice. ‘Write and write and write. Overtime, something emerges from that. It gets better, the more you do it. I love it so much; I feel really lucky to have this.’ The parting advice from the man who traded in jobs to feed his passion? ‘You’ve just got to keep writing. Writing for that mysterious reason that got you started in the first place, whatever that was.’ How Do You Want The Fire To Leave You? by Mark Niehus is available from Imprints and his website www.markniehus.com

DON’T FEAR THE FREAKY... FOOD

Writer_ Georgia Kay

Artist_ Josh Evans

There’s food, and then there’s … food. With one, we are all too familiar: it’s not weird, we eat it multiple times a day, have a little too much or a little too little, but we would otherwise die without it. Then, on the other hand, there are a number of chefs throughout the world getting a little freaky with their food. Heston Blumenthal is well known to be different with his cooking; however, there are others out there. From eating sushi off naked bodies to breaking down dirt to make it edible, there is a lot one can do with food that we regular human beings should hear about. For example, in New York, a Japanese caterer has taken to offering her guests an experience that is usually not had out of the bedroom. Delving slightly into the diners’ sexual fetishes, guests are presented their dinner on the body of an ‘approved’ naked woman. All her naughty parts covered by shellfish, her body is laid with small serves of sushi which are replenished by the host throughout the meal. A journalist from a popular New York magazine had the chance to experience being the platter and found that although nerve-racking at first, the only issue she had by the end was a painful toe cramp. This is a trend that I could see becoming popular with a few of the richer indulgers in Australia—perhaps not Adelaide though, as unless you’re wearing a mask, it’s likely you will recognize your fellow, slightly perverted, diner. Away from the sexy and into the dirty. I’ve eaten dirt as a child—good old mud pies—however, I never expected to hear about a new experiment from a chef in Japan, who is using dirt as the main ingredient for his degustation menu. The meal comes at $110 per head, and chef

Toshio Tanabe offers French-inspired dishes such as salad with dirt dressing, Sea Bass and dirt risotto, potato starch, dirt soup, and dirt ice cream. The dirt used is sourced by the chef and is of a top quality. Sounding pretty freaky? Don’t be scared; reviews have come back saying that the food is ‘refreshing and doesn’t taste like dirt at all’. Besides real dirt, edible fake dirt has become huge in restaurants everywhere in the world. It’s made by drying or charring ingredients such as vegetables, olives or beers and scattering them over a plate or in a pot to give the effect of dirt, soil or sand; it looks really good and tastes great, most of the time, too. I even tried making a dish using a Heston Blumenthal recipe where you dry out olives and chop them really finely to look like soil. This is then spread on top of an aioli with baby vegetables ‘planted’ into the minigarden. It was really fun to make and was one of the few achievable recipes in Heston’s book. If you’re interested in some quirky cooking I suggest looking through a few cookbooks: Heston Blumenthal books, Noma, Quay, el Bulli and even Adriano Zumbo’s book for interesting sweets. Here is a recipe for Heston Blumenthal’s Bacon and Egg ice cream. In the recipe he suggests to use dry ice to freeze the mixture for the best texture, but an ice cream machine should do the job! Recipe from Heston Blumenthal at Home

BACON AND EGG ICE CREAM - 400g sweet-cured smoked back bacon

- 1L whole milk - 30g semi-skimmed milk powder - 24 large egg yolks - 120g caster sugar Pre-heat oven to 190C. Lay bacon on a lined baking tray and bake in the oven for 25-30 min. When cooked, drain on kitchen paper and cut into strips. Place in a bowl, pour over the milk and leave to infuse for at least 12 hours. After 12 hours, place milk and bacon in a saucepan, add the milk powder and bring to a gentle simmer. Remove pan from heat.

When ready to make ice cream, churn in an ice cream machine until frozen. Or use dry ice, safely, if you want to. Eat immediately or store in a container in the freezer for up to 5 days. Clearly there are a few interesting and strange things going on with food at the moment. Please don’t be afraid to try them though; if you’ve always wanted to eat food off a naked person, go for it! Feed the fetish! Or if dirt takes your fancy, I wouldn’t recommend going to the backyard and scooping up some soil to add to your chocolate cake; however, I don’t think it will be long before recipes for earthy foods come out. Maybe play it safe and make some fake soil? Delicious.

Meanwhile, blitz the egg yolks and sugar using a hand blender. Add some of the warm milk into the egg yolks and sugar and whisk thoroughly. This will bring the temperature of the egg yolks up to that of the milk mixture and prevent the eggs scrambling. Add the milk, egg and sugar mixture to the rest of the milk and place over a medium heat, stir thoroughly and continue to stir until the mixture reaches 85C. Once at that temperature, remove from the heat and pass the ice cream through a fine sieve into a clean container, pushing the mixture through with the back of a spoon. Cool immediately by placing the container in a bowl or basin of iced water. When cold, blitz with a hand blender until smooth.

THE PURPOSE OF FEAR

Writer_ Nicolle Vale

Artist_ Josh Evans

Fear is ubiquitous and it not only impacts individuals but entire nations, usually to detrimental effect. While the topic of facing one’s fears may seem a bit overdone, it is an issue that people continue to struggle with, and an important one to discuss in this day and age. It is believed that our sense of fear stems from our primitive form. It all began with our animalistic flight or fight response. It helps us survive by pointing out threats and telling us whether to run away from or confront them. This instinctive behaviour is still around today. Many people are scared of snakes, spiders, things that go bump in the night and other things that pose an immediate danger. If we didn’t have our instinctive sense of fear we’d all be running around like the Jackass boys—uninhibited and reckless— and we probably wouldn’t last too long. So it appears that in these situations, fear is useful. It keeps us safe and alive. But what about in situations that are not so blackand-white? Fear has become somewhat of an epidemic. In a world where strong relationships are a rarity, races and religions are pitted against each other, organisations and politicians spout lies, and the environment is being destroyed, it can be difficult not to feel fearful or hopeless. Maybe some of you are afraid of where your life will lead after you graduate: a fear of the unknown. It doesn’t help that fear-mongering has become a common tool used by powerful societal institutions. The bottom line is that most people these days have more than just a simple rational nervousness around dangerous animals. They have deep, ingrained, complex fears about themselves, about other people, and about the future.

We must ask: is this fear actually useful? Do our instincts help or hinder our ability to face these issues properly? Do these issues warrant such gripping fear or should we have evolved beyond this behaviour? In his 1933 inaugural speech, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the famous quote ‘the only thing we have to fear is fear itself’. He described it as a ‘nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance’. However, former life coach and counsellor, Belinda Northcote, believes fear still has something to offer us today. She says that most fears are useful in the way that they point to something in your life that is problematic or needs attention. ‘Your fears tell you “hey, there might be something wrong in this area; investigate!”’ Ms Northcote said that the trick is not to try to overcome your fear, to remove the source of the fear or to ignore it, but instead to look at your own emotions in a different light. ‘If you are able to see past the “scary” aspect of fear and strip it down to its core, you can find the true source of your discomfort. From there you can figure out whether the worst-case scenario really is as bad as you imagined and can take proper actions to change things or prepare yourself,’ she said. ‘Of course, mental tools such as positive thinking and keeping calm and rational are helpful here and it may be better to seek professional help if your fears are really overwhelming you or affecting your daily life.’

‘I think the fear of failure was the most common issue I came across in my work and some people didn’t even realise that this was what drove their self-sabotaging actions.’ So maybe FDR was wrong; the point is not to be afraid of fear itself but instead, to be wary of the irrational, detrimental aspects of fear and to use the other parts for selfimprovement. Acknowledge your fears and turn them into something useful. Then maybe you can exist in the same room as a spider or achieve something great after you graduate. The way you let fear affect you is a choice and so, it is up to you whether you let it hinder or help you.

FEAR AND LOATHING IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Writer_ Matteo Gagliardi

Artist_ Josh Evans

Julia Gillard will forever look back at the month of June, 2013 and shudder. For reasons that seemed totally out of her control, she and her collaborators in the Labor camp were faced with a lurid situation which even the bravest, most headstrong of politicians dread to even imagine: heading into an election with bloodcurdlingly low opinion polls and a bitterly resentful nemesis plotting to overthrow you from within your own Party ranks. This was Gillard’s own political horror story, played out for the whole of Australian history to witness and learn from. To start off, the setting for this suspense thriller was a world ravaged by this thing called a “global financial crisis”, in which dread and panic were spreading to every corner of the globe. In this imaginary world, businesses and investors no longer trusted markets connected with Europe or America and any forecast of an economic downturn became a self-fulfilling prophecy, singlehandedly driving down confidence in markets. It initially began thanks to the selfish exploitation of everyday people in faraway lands by cold-blooded bankers and it slowly flowed across into other borders like an eerie plague, turning people into the financial equivalent of zombies. The very thought of such a world makes you want to lock yourself in your own home and never spend money in people’s businesses again in an effort to save yourself from the virus. From Gillard’s perspective, the other characters in this plot were all against her. Take the general public for one. Feeling threatened by massive retrenchments and the lack of faith in Australia’s economy from major

businesses, whether from the mining or automotive industries, many Australians looked for someone to blame for the supposedly impending economic apocalypse. Even though Australia was a fortress quarantined off from the rest of the infected world – with the help of China, who had been feeding us with the antidote (although the virus was beginning to develop an immunity to it there too) – the defences weren’t always secure and the disease was slowly seeping in. And, like an angry mob carrying pitchforks and fire, the public came knocking on the Gillard government’s door, complaining it promised to lead them to safety with this alleged cure called a ‘surplus’. The media continually reminded Australians just how bad the government was, spreading more fear around. Journalists and editors across the country looked to publish stories which were more likely to sell newspapers and get hits on their websites; they too were feeling the brunt of the GFC virus, staring down the barrel of losing jobs and facing company shut-downs. Their stories were imbued with their own anxieties and were thus more likely to entail conflict, scandal, and condemnation of the powers-at-be. Some of the worse ones even called for Gillard to be killed and her body chucked into the ocean. People afraid of the financial zombie virus wouldn’t buy newspapers, or click on links to articles which said, ‘don’t worry, the country’s doing just fine’. So, the media focused on the critical, negative sides of the Gillard government, making it appear incapable of stemming the flow of the virus, despite all of its efforts. But the media weren’t the only ones stirring fear and distrust in the government within the public. The Liberal Party launched

a scare campaign to capitalise on this climate of angst among the public and rouse a voter-rebellion. Led by a skilled necromancer in Tony Abbott, who had the uncanny ability to deceive the average person into believing anything he said and who could place a smokescreen in front of him whenever confronted by the media, the Party endeavoured to drive Labor out of town. This included persuading everyday Australians that the ALP was failing to protect them from a mysterious group of foreign invaders called ‘boat people’ and was making Australians even more vulnerable to the GFC virus by breaking down their immune systems with this thing called the ‘Carbon Tax’. Without the lucky antidote from China, he said, the foreign economic plague would be infecting everyone. And he was right, or so the population thought. Of course, Gillard was brave and thought she could change the minds of the angry mobsters. But she was under threat by yet another enemy, this time from within her own ranks. So while she and the rest of the Labor party were locked inside their compound, with the angry mobsters yelling at them from the outside, this enemy began to sabotage all of Gillard’s efforts to figure out what to do in the situation. He was a renowned illusionist called Kevin Rudd, who was popular amongst the public but hated within the Party for his history of tyranny. He was out for revenge, after suffering a coup at the hands of Gillard and some ‘faceless men’ (how scary does that sound?) three years earlier.

Taking advantage of the poor opinion polls – the angry mob – Rudd looked to instil fear into the already-anxious hearts of the Labor ministers and inspire a mutiny. The Party caught a serious case of claustrophobia and developed Stockholm Syndrome as a result, causing a whole lot of in-fighting and division. They looked for a way out, and Rudd was more than happy to offer an alternative. So on the 26th of June, he and his new backers, all grim-faced and worn-out, turned on Gillard after she challenged him to a fight to the political death. He couldn’t contain his smile, as if three years of bitterness were instantly converted into this overpowering sensation of glee in this sweet act of revenge, when he brandished the knife and called Gillard out on her bluff. For what it was worth, Gillard was as much to blame for her demise as everyone else. In fact, she was perhaps her own worst enemy. After telling people there would not be a carbon tax under her leadership and continuously promising to bring the budget into black, she set expectations so high that no leader in these times of an economic zombie epidemic could ever live up to them. Perhaps the creepily male-dominated upper echelon of Australian society is still an eerie place for a woman to be in. Or, maybe, it was all of these things and for Julia, it was just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

GENERAL INTEREST

UNILIFE

POLITICAL WRITING COMPETITION Rudd vs. Gillard vs. Abbott vs. Turnbull vs. the people of Australia. That’s what this battle is shaping up to look like. We’ve had years of infighting and name-calling, “gender cards” and budgie smugglers, and it all comes down to (possibly) September and (definitely) your votes.

UniLife Magazine is holding a competition to select our submissions.

Voting in the election is compulsory. Unfortunately, intelligent discussion about the election is not.

- Contain evidence of good research. You can be partisan, but you must support your arguments with proof.

Virgin Voters is an initiative put forward to get young people and first-time voters engaged and educated about the election, so they don’t waste their precious vote when they come to the ballot box. Voting for Mickey Mouse might be get you some laughs from your buddies, but it won’t give you increased funding at universities, better health care or action on climate change. First time voters are encouraged to join the Voicebox, where they can get and share information in a supportive, troll-free environment. There will be an online radio and television channel opening up soon as well, for all you visual learners. UniLife Magazine and the University of South Australia have been invited to take part in Virgin Voters’ program. As part of the OnCampus section of their website, university student papers are welcome to submit articles on any political subject leading up to the federal election.

ARTICLES MUST: - Focus on an Australian political theme, or a subject relating to the 2013 election - Be around 1000 words (some flexibility)

- Be civil. - Use a casual, relatable tone that is likely to interest 18-25-year-olds. THE PRIZE? Your credited article submitted to national newspapers, publication on the Virgin Voters site and in UniLife Magazine. Anyone looking at journalism as a career should take this on board seriously. DEADLINES There will be two opportunities to submit for publication. First: 5pm, Monday August 2 Second: 5pm, Friday August 30 Email submissions to walir001@mymail.unisa. edu.au Read on to see Alana James’ article, Too Good To Give Up, submitted for the Virgin Voters site launch. Keep up to date online at: www.virginvoters.com.au or through social media on: Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/ Virgin-Voters/133793116793122) and Twitter @VirginVotersAU #VirginVotersAU

TOO GOOD TO GIVE UP Writer_ Alana James

We don’t live in an ideal world. There are 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty, an estimated 26.4 million internally displaced people and an untold number of people fleeing persecution and seeking refuge. However, here in Australia we are in a very privileged position. Australian residents have access to health care through Medicare, people can catch public transport without fear of bombs or attacks, there is access to support services and, importantly, we have the ability to vote and have a say in the political leadership of our country. Every Australian resident can actively participate in our democracy. This is a privilege. Not a right. If you need an example of why democracy matters so much, look at the current global attention focused on Nelson Mandela. He represents the pinnacle of freedom and democracy. Mandela fought for justice in South Africa, was in jail for 27 years, yet he emerged still fighting for the end of Apartheid and the right of all people, no matter their background, to be part of a democratic and fair society. Politics can be difficult to understand at the best of times, but the Australian political climate in 2013 is, to say the least, messy. That said, using your vote is one of the most powerful things you can do in society. Throwing away your voice by filing a donkey vote is not only a waste of electoral workers’ time, it’s also a pretty good indication that you don’t care what the Government does with your tax money or your future. Expecting more from politicians begins with holding yourself to a higher standard. A well-informed society is the best kindling

for the fire that is a productive and fair democracy. We can whinge about the lacklustre debate, the name calling, the negative smear campaigns and the misinformation peddled by various politicians, yet this just helps to continue that behaviour. The most effective way to break the spin cycle is to inject positivity, draw attention to the great work that people are doing and articulate why you believe in certain policies and what their merits are. The next thing you can do to improve the political landscape is to ensure you have a firm grasp on how Australia’s political and electoral system works and transfer that knowledge to others. Don’t talk about politics they say? Rubbish. Let’s create a culture where we can robustly discuss our future and our present. For this discussion to occur two things need to happen. Firstly, you need to acknowledge that not everyone will agree with you, no matter how blindingly obvious and fantastic you think your opinion is. This is a good thing. Differences in opinion create open debate, give rise to many new ideas and address and represent a wide range of people, cultures and backgrounds. Secondly, we need to become comfortable articulating why we care about issues. We must normalise that conversation. Take time with your friends and family to talk about your passions, what areas of society you’re interested in and the policy that relates to them. Make it a regular occurrence to chat about news articles and policy announcements; don’t leave it to ‘that really loud leftie guy with the funny hat’.

http://wholles.com/australian-flagwallpaper.html

Let’s make a pact that we won’t bemoan the state of politics anymore. Instead we will celebrate the long-term vision of politicians, the inspiring ideas and the successes, whilst discussing the issues we want changed in a robust and engaging environment. Make your vote count this year and make your voice heard. FIVE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO ‘GET IN THE KNOW’

4. Stay in the know. Follow the news from all different organisations and media companies. Research issues further if you don’t understand. The internet is a treasure trove of information, use it wisely. One useful, and entertaining, website for decoding the comments that politicians make is PolitiFact (politifact.com) that rates statements made for their accuracy.

1. Check out the AEC (Australian Electoral Commission) website - aec.gov.au

5. Learn more about Parliament, Government and our political history.

Obvious choice, but it does have all the details you need to know about voting and the election. It’s also got some cool resources and fact sheets on tricky parliamentary jargon, like double dissolutions. Make sure you’re registered to vote too!

Two great websites are ‘Australia’s Prime Ministers’ (primeministers.naa.gov.au) and the ‘Parliament of Australia’ site (aph.gov. au).

2. Chat to your local MP (Member of Parliament). Find your Federal (or State) Member. Give them a call or pop into their office. Tell them you’re a constituent (that you are in their electorate) and you’re not quite sure what their policies are. MPs always want to speak to the people who will be potentially voting for them. It’s a good idea to take a few issues you are passionate about and ask them to clarify where they stand on those issues. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and if the answer doesn’t suffice, tell them you’re still unclear and would like more details. 3. Know who stands for what. Read up on party policies and what things different politicians value and the goals they are working towards. A list of registered parties can be found on the AEC site, but Google is always a very handy tool.

Australia’s Prime Ministers - Put together by the National Archives of Australia, the site is a wealth of knowledge about our previous prime ministers and governance. It’s laid out in an easy to use format and has a timeline component. Learning about what has happened previously helps give context to current issues. Parliament of Australia – An obvious choice perhaps, but this site has it all. I strongly recommend going to the House of Representatives tab and checking out the research and education resources as well as the daily program and the chamber documents.

WOLF CREEK: THE MUSICAL Writer_ Laura Clark

When you hear that a local production of a parody musical has been on at the Fringe you probably don’t stir in your seat. When you hear that it’s titled “Wolf Creek: The Musical”, the chances are you will either fall off aforementioned seat laughing, or sit up straight and request no one make you see this thing. Ever. At least, according to Bridget Fahey, that’s pretty much the response they got when people heard about the play they were doing for this year’s Fringe. Written by Demi Lardner and James McCann, the show is exactly what the title promises: Australian outback and murder with a jolly soundtrack and a great sense of humour to-boot. The play retells the story of the 2005 Aussie horror film in the ever popular medium of musical comedy in the space of a Fringe hour (50 minutes for anyone who’s counting). Unfortunately I did not hear about the play until it was too late, but when I heard about it I sat down with Bridget (albeit via phone) to hear much more about it. Bridget is in her final year of the Writing and Creative Communication degree and has been involved in Fringe for the past four years. She also happens to be housemate of the writers and friends with the other members of the cast. The show had an unusually long development time for a Fringe show, beginning mid-last year with collaborated rewrites right up until the opening night. The show stars Kel Balnaves, Angus Hodge, Chris Knight, Bridget Fahey and Demi Larnder, with music also by James McCann. The process of staging the performances was made rather more

complicated as most of the cast was involved in at least one other Fringe show. They also had the unusual honour of meeting the creator of the work they were parodying. Through a chance meeting at Supernova, director Greg McLean not only heard about the project from one of the cast members but ended up attending a preview show with his assistant. Obviously, given that the show went ahead for its full 15 show run, it met with his approval. And as Bridget describes is, it’s a “very silly take on a very bleak film”. So what’s not to love? In even better news the show has been a resounding success with a number of sold-out shows and rave reviews. One night there were so many people wanting to see a show that they did a second performance after the night’s first one finished. The icing on the cake is winning the BANKSA award for Best Comedy: Emerging. I asked Bridget what they plan to do next and she wasn’t able to confirm anything. However, they are also hoping to take it the Melbourne Fringe and Sydney, and from there, who knows?! Maybe a tour? Unfortunately, if that goes ahead they may have to start actually paying royalties to the copyright owners. But really, you must be doing rather well if the owners of a creative property think a parody will make them some money.

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PURSUING HAPPINESS Writer_ Danella Smith

Photo: Supplied

When four UniSA students were offered an invitation for June 21, they accepted on gut instinct as they did not know what was really involved. Gut instinct proved to be a powerful human tool as June 21 turned out to be a day they would never forget. Although it may seem this way, a university degree is not always boring lectures, early mornings and expensive text books. Discovering how His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama uses his robe to stay warm on a cold winter’s day was all part of the learning curve for myself and fellow journalism students Iona Maclean, Emily Erickson and Hugh Schuitemaker. On June 21 the Dalai Lama—along with his contagious laugh—visited Adelaide to speak to a sold-out audience of 5,000 people about what is encountered during the quest for happiness. Points such as humanitarian equality, love, affection, forgiveness, compassion— and His Holiness’ occasional need to let off some gas whilst travelling by air—were all discussed on the day. It was intimidating being a member of the media at such a large scale event, with a widely-respected international figure present, but I think we played the part of journalists well. We certainly got media treatment and competed against prominent media organisations like Channel 9 and 10 for that perfect photo of the Dalai Lama. Miss Maclean used the photo opportunity efficiently as she snapped pictures of the

Indigenous Kurruru Youth Performing Arts dance. However, once the Dalai Lama walked on stage she was very quickly swamped by other media and was left sitting behind a thick wall of large cameras. ‘I think having the media privileges of being able to record things and take photos, which no one else [people of the public] was allowed to do, means we can now go back and find something that he said as different [news story] angles… It is really cool,’ Miss Maclean said. ‘It was a challenge for me during the photo opportunity because I felt as though I was being disrespectful and not listening to what he [the Dalai Lama] was saying… I felt like a paparazzi!’ Miss Maclean was amazed by the Dalai Lama’s wise words, though sometimes she struggled to understand them through his thick accent and softlyspoken voice. ‘I think it’s not only a learning experience for me as a journalism student but also something for life,’ she said. Miss Erickson was very excited in the lead up to the event and the nerves kicked in as she stood in line waiting to get through the Adelaide Convention Centre doors. She became even more excited when she noticed former Greens Leader, Bob Brown, scurry through the line next to her. ‘I’m now in my last six months of my degree so I think it’s a really pivotal time to hear what he [the Dalai Lama] had to say and take it away with me into my working career as media personnel,’ Miss Erickson said.

Miss Erickson became frustrated with the amount of people who approached her and asked where the closest toilet was, thinking she was a volunteer and not a member of the media. ‘We were concerned how everyone would act around us and there were some scenarios where people didn’t actually realise we were members of the media,’ she said. Mr Schuitemaker was extremely appreciative of the experience and believes it is something he will take into his professional career. ‘It’s an opportunity that very few uni students get, and, at that, very few Australians,’ Mr Schuitemaker said. ‘It is also going to be really great having something like this on my resume!’ Arguably, the ‘quest for happiness’ plays a significant role in not only lifestyle scenarios but also in what the Dalai Lama suggests is the key to a happy and fulfilled life; education. International journalist and former UniSA journalism teacher Renata Provenzano mentored us through the entire experience. Miss Provenzano said, ‘the degree [Bachelor of Journalism] has changed to the point students rarely experience real industry until third year placements’; experience which she believes is vital to student development.

differences.’ Miss Provenzano also said the event showed the final year students their abilities and professionalism. ‘The amount of real-industry learning for the students was fantastic and shows them how skilled they already are at researching an international news story of enormous importance,’ she said. ‘They were also the first local media to report on his visit.’ Miss Provenzano said it is imperative that our future story-tellers attend events on different levels of thinking and rationale to continue seeing the other side of the story. ‘Much like the sand mandala the monks made during the event, our learning is never complete,’ she said. ‘You can see in the design, despite hours of intense, beautiful work, it is not quite finished—some green appears missing and not all the borders connect. ‘These mandalas are swept away as a reminder that everything in life is impermanent and a new one can be created tomorrow.’ For more information on the Dalai Lama’s visit to Australia, visit www.dalailamainaustralia.org

‘University is not as much about essays and grades, as exploring this world of majestic civilisations and indulging in our

KEEP CALM AND WEAR LIPSTICK Writer_ Anastasia Vento

The girl browses the makeup store and is greeted by a pretty shop assistant wearing bright red lipstick. The lady’s face is madeup to perfection and her eyelashes are long and flawless. How did she achieve such a glamorous look? the girl wonders, admiring her grey smoky eye shadow. On a table are hundreds of coloured eye shadows. The choices are endless. The girl is in awe of the glittery pinks and metallic purples. The girl had no idea where to begin. What colours are in fashion? What are this season’s trends? What colours should I buy this winter? Rosemary Cantone has the answers. She is a freelance makeup artist and manages her company Pretty Green Eyes Makeup & Beauty. She has worked in the makeup industry for seven years and the 31-yearold is also a state trainer and distributor for makeup line Motives by Loren Ridinger. So, what are the trends this season? ‘This season, browns and greens are in for eye shadows. Not bright greens, but metallic greens,’ Cantone says. She explains that bright pink cheeks are also in as well as bold matte lips. ‘Red lipsticks are trending, and deep purples and maroons are quite popular at the moment.’ Celebrities such as Emma Watson and Jessica Chastain are often spotted wearing dark lipsticks. Raspberry shades and deep reds tend to be popular amongst many well-known names, especially Rihanna and Rita Ora. But what brands are best? Where can women shop for their makeup?

‘I would suggest Motives, a brand that I use [and work for]. It’s high in quality and low in price and the quality is along the lines of Mac and Chanel. ‘Mac and Napoleon are two very popular brands. They are good quality and they’re probably your mid-range brands,’ Cantone says. Other brands such as Clinique, Maybelline, Covergirl, Revlon and Rimmel are widely used too. A survey distributed among a number of Australian women found that 53 per cent wear makeup every day—but most of these women admit they are unsure how best to apply it. ‘It’s important to choose your main feature,’ Cantone advises. ‘It can be your eyes or your lips.’ However, before you do the five-step procedure, you must prepare your face. ‘You wouldn’t paint on a dirty canvas, so why would you apply makeup on a dirty face?’ Cantone asks. Before you do anything, cleanse, tone, and moisturise your face. Before you apply foundation, don’t forget your primer. The same applies when you remove your makeup at the end of the day. Cantone suggests using a good quality eye makeup remover. Always start by taking your eye makeup off and then cleanse your skin. ‘Do a double cleanse at the end of the day. The first cleanse is to take any impurities off, any makeup you’re wearing and any dirt or grime you’ve picked up during the day. The second cleanse is to actually clean the skin itself. Also, do what you would do in the morning: tone and moisturise.’

Cantone believes a reason women wear makeup is to feel confident. ‘You can reflect your mood in your makeup. I find for me, if I’m feeling cranky, I’ll do my makeup dark. When you wear makeup, you can be whoever you want to be.’ Of the women surveyed, most said they wear makeup to feel better and improve their appearance. One person said they feel more comfortable with makeup on. ‘I wear makeup to make me feel better about myself and help boost my confidence levels,’ an anonymous woman wrote. ‘I wear makeup when I have blemished skin, or when I want to feel pretty. It gives me more confidence when meeting new people, or if I want to make a good impression,’ another woman said. Women don’t have to spend hundreds

of dollars on makeup. Cantone said you can use an eye shadow as a blush and a blush as an eye shadow. ‘You can use your products for more than one thing. Products don’t have to be expensive to be good quality. It’s about doing some research and learning about your products.’ One last thing. What can a woman do in a time of crisis when a dot of mascara falls on her cheek? ‘Leave it!’ Cantone said. ‘Let it dry and take it off with a cotton tip.’ So, there you have it: an easy, one-stop makeup and skincare guide. Hopefully Rosemary Cantone’s advice will strike one thing off the stress list this year. You’re welcome.

A survey distributed among a number of Australian women found that 53 per cent wear makeup every day—but most of these women admit they are unsure how best to apply it. Cantone shared five easy steps: 1. Using a brush, apply your foundation, and concealer. 2. Apply your eye makeup. First eye shadow, followed by eyeliner, and mascara. Tip: For best results, apply your mascara in a zigzag motion. 3. Add a little face powder, and apply your cheek colours and bronzer. 4. Apply your lipstick. 5. Finalise your makeup with a setting spray.

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REVIEWS FILM: WORLD WAR Z By Sebastian Moore

FILM: ONLY GOD FORGIVES By Sebastian Moore

World War Z follows former UN worker Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) as he is forced back into work after a mysterious virus infects the majority of the earth’s population. Fearing for his family’s wellbeing, Gerry goes on a worldwide search for the origins of the virus, and in turn, a cure.

Only God Forgives, the latest experiment from art-house wunderkind Nicolas Winding Refn, takes place in seedy Bangkok, where we follow Julian (Ryan Gosling), an American expatriate who runs a Thai boxing club as a front for a drug ring. When his brother Billy is killed for murdering a 16-year-old prostitute, their mother Crystal (Kristen ScottThomas) orders Julian to find Billy’s killer and bring her his head “on a f**king platter”.

The film, directed by Mark Forster, is already notorious for its lengthy production and budgetary issues. Having to reshoot and rewrite the entire third act, many weren’t confident in what the final product might be. Surprisingly, the film isn’t a disaster. In fact, it is a moderately enjoyable, sometimes exhilarating, zombie epic. An adaptation of Max Brooks’ 2006 novel, the film seems to share only its name with the source material, working on a large, straight-forward scale in place of the novel’s intimate, episodic structure. Brad Pitt delivers a typically charismatic performance as Gerry, having the common sense and steady head to survive in a progressively panicked zombie landscape. From the opening scenes, we’re thrust into the action, as the film moves along at a confident speed, lacing together a number of impressive set pieces. The zombies screech and move like rabid dogs, digesting the un-infected in tidal waves of increasing desperation. The CGI used for the zombies is effective, creating a genuine sense of terror and suspense. Without frills or excess, the film induces a comfortable popcorn coma. And with source material as thoughtful as Brooks’, it is surprising that it finds a balance between the two.

From the outset, Refn transports us to a world of cyclical violence and moral abandonment. The ‘God’ in this film is named Chang (Vithaya Pansringarm), a police lieutenant who murders and tortures all wrongdoers. He ends violence with violence, and never ‘forgives’ anyone, as the title ironically suggests. From an aesthetic viewpoint, Only God Forgives is astounding. The framing, lighting and sound elements are all impeccably composed. Unfortunately, the film lacks any sort of narrative or thematic through line. The characters of Julian and Crystal are both thinly sketched, and give Gosling and Scott-Thomas very little to work with. Chang, played by Pansringarm, is an intriguing prospect as ‘God’, but isn’t given enough screen time to develop. Refn struggles to provide something tangible for us to latch onto. The visual aesthetic is arresting, but the senseless violence and ineffectual plot leave much to be desired. There are some interesting allusions to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining and Shakespeare’s Macbeth, but other than that, Only God Forgives is an exercise in style over substance.

FILM: MAN OF STEEL (3D) The Isabella Pittaway

MUSIC: KANYE WEST, YEEZUS By Emmylou McDonald

After 2006’s dud Superman Returns, it is time for the Superman franchise to receive a makeover like Batman. Given that Christopher Nolan is on board as a producer, expectations are high for the Zack Snyder (300, Sucker Punch) reboot.

Kanye’s new release, Yeezus, is packed full of profanity, self-bestowed superiority in the song I Am a God, industrial beats, and messages of anti-consumerism, which makes him a bit of a walking contradiction, don’t you think?

Man of Steel starts off well with Kal-El’s (Henry Cavill) father Jor-El (Russell Crowe) sending his son to Earth. Krypton is ablaze in fiery turmoil thanks to evil-doer General Zod (Michael Shannon).

In saying that, the album is quite captivating thanks to the electrifying mix of penetrating background beats paired with Kanye’s unrelenting rhythmic rapping. Two tracks stand out from the rest and latch onto your mind with claws dug in, and no intention of letting go: Black Skinhead and New Slaves.

Once on earth, Snyder takes viewers through a journey based on flashbacks where Clark Kent’s childhood is contrasted to his present life as a man on the run. It’s in this present life that Clark saves the life of smart and passionate reporter Lois Lane. Unfortunately, Lane is slightly miscast by the soft-hearted Amy Adams. The humour in the script is too forced, like a series of dad jokes. The ‘funny’ parts are too obvious for the audience not too laugh, even though they aren’t all that amusing. A variety of visual effects are used— although they could be enjoyed just as easily in 2D—but so too are actual locations. So where do things go wrong? The ending action sequence is overblown, too loud and far too long, with the 143-minute film desperate for some tighter editing at the end. This is Snyder’s Kryptonite, weakening what starts off as an interesting take on the DC comic-book.

Black Skinhead—co-produced by global electro sensation Daft Punk— is heavily laden with an extended metaphor to describe how the media alters reality, with references to Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds and the film 300. The lyrical meaning, and the gritty, drum-heavy backbeats make for an incredible three minutes. New Slaves, the first release off the album, is the anti-consumerism anthem of 2013. Although Kanye probably isn’t the most easy-to-swallow advocate for such a thing—considering his penchant for luxury indulgences—his lyrics are spoken with conviction and make a fiery impact. The musical supports are simple, yet engaging; the message of the song doesn’t need overproduced instrumental bedlam. Yeezus has some incredible potential to continue on an upward slope of adoration by the rap-loving public. I strongly recommend absorbing yourself in this album whether you’re a Kanye fan or not. Check it out first-hand; you might be pleasantly surprised.

AROUND THE WORLD

UNISA

FROM VIETNAM TO AUSTRALIA: A FATHER’S LOVE YOUR STORY COMPETITION WINNER: Trang Nguyen

Artist_ Josh Evans

I was cleaning my garden. Suddenly, I saw some writing on the wall: ‘Bô nhó con lăm! Con gái yêu cúa bô’ (I miss you so much! My lovely daughter!) That was my dad’s writing! * Four years ago, a little 16-year-old girl left her home country, Vietnam, said goodbye to her family and friends, and went to Adelaide, Australia with a big ambition in her mind: to acquire the knowledge from the developed and advanced education system of Australia, then come back to Vietnam, and contribute to the improvement of her home country, using what she learned and experienced overseas. That girl was me. I still remember the last minutes I spent with my parents at the airport in Vietnam four years ago. My dad gave me a cloverfaced necklace. He put it around my neck and said, ‘A lot of luck will come to you and don’t forget that I am always beside you, looking after you and protecting you!’ I cried, but my dad didn’t. My dad is a sailor. The sea is his second home as he spends most of his time there. He often comes back to visit his first home— my mum, my brother and me—for a few days every three months. My dad is a tall man with sunburned skin. He is always calm, rarely talks much in front of people and never ever shows his feelings to others. For example, he never says, ‘I love you! You are my princess!’ to me, he never hugs me and also never praises me when I show him my high achievement report, which is often what other men do with their daughters. However, I know that he loves me a lot and is very happy when I achieve high results at school.

I arrived in Adelaide on a beautiful sunny day. Adelaide is so clean and peaceful. There is no noise from the buzzing of cars, there are no invitations from women selling street food. Children do not go out and play together, and all the house doors are always closed. It is completely different from my hometown with its “fast-living” lifestyle. Adelaide is quieter at night. It makes me miss my parents so much more. The first few weeks were the most difficult time for me. Besides the torment of homesickness, I also had to start my independent life. I had to do everything myself without my mum’s help, from cooking and washing, to cleaning my room. I felt better when I started going to school. All of my friends and teachers were friendly and helpful. Gradually, I became accustomed to my new life. After two years living in Adelaide, I went back to visit Vietnam. Very sadly, I couldn’t see my dad as he had to stay in his “second home” because of his job. I missed him so much then, and still do even now, four years since I left home. Fortunately, my dad came to Adelaide for work in April. And of course, it was a great opportunity to see him! Can you imagine what it felt like for a daughter who had not seen her dad for four years? Yes, I was extremely excited while I waited for him at Adelaide Airport. I couldn’t stop crying when he walked through the door. I cried with happiness and because I missed him for four years. But my dad—he probably wanted to cry but didn’t. He still hadn’t changed—he never shows his feelings. My dad was in Adelaide for three weeks. He spent the first two weeks finishing his work and the third week with me! I introduced him to many beautiful places around town. We went to Rundle Mall and Harbour Town for shopping. I also took him to Hahndorf and let him try original German beer and

sausages. We also visited McLaren Vale to see its immense and vast vineyards and try their wine. Most importantly, I took him to the UniSA campus at Mawson Lakes, where I am studying. My dad was amazed at the airy and spacious studying environment of the campus. I showed him the OC building, the School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences, where my office is, and also introduced him to my Program Director. Then, I took him to the C building, where the library is located. He kept nodding when looking at the huge amount of books and great facilities in there. I showed him one of the lecture rooms in the GP building and showed him the lecture recording availability system, the smart white board and air conditioners. I even mentioned UniLife, the student association, where I can voice my own opinions and ideas, receive useful advice, and join different clubs and events which help me balance my social life. My dad still kept on nodding and said to me, ‘All of these are still a dream of universities in Vietnam. It was the right decision when I let you come here to study. You are a lucky girl, so you should use your time effectively in here.’

On that morning, at the Adelaide airport again, I cried. I cried because I had to say goodbye to my dad. I cried because I didn’t know when I could see him again. I don’t know whether my dad cried, because he walked away very quickly into the waiting room. I don’t think he did, he is like that—never shows his feelings. * I have just come back from the airport. I miss my dad so much. I decided to do some gardening with the hope that I would be in a better mood. Suddenly, I saw some writing on the wall… “Bô nhó con lăm! Con gái yêu cúa bô!” (I miss you so much! My lovely daughter!) That was my dad’s writing … and that was the first time he showed his feelings!

Three weeks went so quickly. Then, the time came for my dad to go back to Vietnam.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

PHOTO COMPETITON 42

Do you have one picture that tells us a story about your time in South Australia? Share it with us! To enter, email walir001@mymail.unisa.edu.au with “Photo Competition” in the subject line. Congratulations to this issue’s winner Joseph Robert Spencer for his photograph taken at Glenelg, Adelaide, on Christmas morning.

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MY FINAL DESTINATON Writer_ Jo Lim

Photos_ Supplied

I didn’t arrive by boat. I didn’t have to leave my family and venture on a dangerous journey alone. My heart didn’t grip itself with fear because I didn’t have to hear news about the latest bomb attacks on my home village. I didn’t have to pretend I wasn’t afraid of the water as I slip on the flimsy piece of orange rubber before stepping on a matchstick boat. I wasn’t called these names; victim, survivor, prisoner, asylum seeker, refugee, boat person, queue-jumper. The only similarity I had with Ahmad Askary was that we’d both come to Australia to seek a better life. For 18-year-old Ahmad fear dominated a large part of his life, even when he finally settled in Adelaide. ‘Even though I am living in this independent country of Australia with its friendly and generous people, I still feel like I am living with fear,’ he remembered his family, the people of Hazara, who were suffering from violence and inhumane treatment in Afghanistan. ‘There is little dignity for the asylum seeker. There are people who don’t get to see sunlight for weeks and months because they are locked up in dark rooms. Surely the people who surrender their lives for the chance of freedom don’t deserve this treatment?’ he spoke passionately in front of an audience in Noarlunga, a year after moving to Adelaide. It was hard to imagine a life where waking up means another day of dreading the safety of your life and the lives of your loved ones. It was incredible then to see how this dread

had morphed into another discourse of fear in this country we often called independent and fair. Australian media filled its pages and screens with negative instances of refugees and asylum seekers, depicting them as “disaster”, “criminal” and “dangerous”. In the past few weeks, the story of an Egyptian refugee, who was allegedly convicted overseas of belonging to a terrorist group and was living in low security detention, sent the media and politicians into a frenzy. They described the man as a “jihadist” and were quick to jump into hysteria. This discourse was translated into our policies. The Australian ran with a story on 16 June, headlined ‘Coalition would send home “criminal” refugees’, following the announcement that asylum seekers and foreigners who had been sentenced to more than a year for a criminal offence would have their visas cancelled. Australia is a signatory to the Refugee Convention, meaning we are forbid to deport any asylum seekers back to their country where they might face persecution. Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop said Australia would not breach any international law under the above plan. An estimated 7.6 million people are newly displaced and 23,000 are escaping from their homes every day, that means by the time you read the end of this paragraph (or every four seconds) a person is fleeing his home. Australia hosted just over 30,000 refugees by the end of last year, a mere 0.3 percent of the global refugee total. Less than half of that 30,000 arrived by boat and more than 90 percent of boat arrivals are found to be genuine asylum seekers. Under Article 31 of the Refugee Convention, it is legal to seek asylum, even if a person arrived by boat and without documents.

Somewhere along the line this humanitarian issue became a border security one. Somehow these stories of Ahmad became numbers that did not drown in the Pacific Ocean. Somehow we needed protection against these people who were escaping from war-torn violence that most of us had never seen with our own eyes. The United Nations expressed concern at the ‘sharp deterioration in the quality of protection for asylum seekers and refugees coming by boat and a worrying erosion of public support for asylum in Australia’. Are Australians really turning our backs on the call for help from those across the seas? ‘There is an Australia not reflected in the political conversation and the desperate competition for “most heartless”,’ Welcome to Australia National Director Brad Chilcott addressed the Adelaide Walk Together event. Three thousand people walked along North Terrace in support of an equal and diverse Australia. The crowd held up signs that said, ‘If we’re all people, we’re all equal’. The Walk Together initiative across the nation turned out to be a celebration of multiculturalism, in a spirit of welcome and acceptance. Amidst the crowd were politicians, activists, football players, teachers, mothers, fathers, children, and most importantly those who have joined our community from other nations. Conversations emerged throughout the day as we hear stories of refugees and let part of their culture be sewn onto our social fabric. ‘You and I today stand here as the evidence that a better day is possible, that our future is not lost, that fear will not win the day, that the world’s most vulnerable people will not always have to suffer in our name,’ Mr Chilcott said. But what was more impertinent that Saturday afternoon was how our attitude towards

27 45

refugees had made an impact on those who had long been perceived as outsiders in our community. ‘I felt that I belonged to a society and that I was not an evil refugee who is a burden to the society. Never felt so welcomed in my life,’ the Welcome to Australia SA team received numerous feedbacks like this one. Marziya Mohammadi, who came to Australia as a refugee seven years ago, was among those walking alongside her friends on the Walk Together event. A law student and an avid advocate for human rights, the 21-year-old told her story of reuniting with her father in Australia after a 6-year separation. ‘For a country to progress and prosper it’s important that the communities that make up its nation are appreciated for their contributions regardless of their differences. Walk Together provided that venue for the people to come along to celebrate their diversity as one nation,’ she said. ‘A Hazara man on Bridging Visa came to me with tears in his eyes and said, “Believe it or not sister, since in Australia this is the first time I have felt alive”.’ Stories like Marziya’s and Ahmad’s not only humanised the debate we are having about immigration, but also let us gleaned an insight into most atrocities halfway across the world and how we can help. The basic rights and welfare of refugees in our nation are constantly improving but needs more consideration. Extending a welcoming hand is only the first, albeit important, step. Jo Lim was a volunteer at Welcome to Australia. She writes about human rights, marriage equality, the environment - stories that need to be heard but don’t get heard enough.

Global Experience Study Tour Memories 1

Malaysia, 2012

Malaysa, 2013

Malaysia, 2013

Vietnam, 2012

For more informaton vist: www.unisa.edu.au/global experience

FEAR OF A NEW BEGINNING Writer_ Eric Ndeh Mboumien Ngang

Artist_ Josh Evans

To me every day is a new beginning. However, having lived in Australia for 549 days (18 months), returning to Cameroon where I have spent 12,045 days of my life is going to be a newer beginning and a significant one for me. It makes me think of what Peter Legge, recipient of the Toastmasters’ Golden Gavel award, said: “You will be the same person in five years except for the books that you read, the places you visit and the people you meet”. Although it has only been half this time, the past 18 months has been a remarkable period of my life and I feel that I am going back to Cameroon as a changed person, though in a way I fear this newer beginning. I have found Australians to be nice and welcoming people and I took every opportunity to interact and immerse myself in the Aussie way of life. What I found most intriguing with Aussies was their false smile with a quick “lizard head nod” when you happen to pass them on the street. This might trick you into thinking they are interested in having a sustained interaction with you — but the nod is the beginning and end of the discussion. Aussies are people who want to be left alone. On the other hand, when speaking to Aussie kids I always had to have an answer ready when they asked whether lions, giraffes, gorillas and/or tigers are often found wandering the streets in Africa. Sometimes I also had to respond to weird questions from older blokes. For example, this Aussie bloke asked me if there are any cars in Africa or if everyone rides horses. These sorts of questions gave me an idea of what people think about Africa; I guess the media has not projected the positive side of Africa. What I have done is use these opportunities to help these friends understand more about my home. I also told them how excited I have been to see policemen patrolling on horses and bicycles on some major streets of the city, something I have never seen in Africa. I had the opportunity to share a house with five Aussies during 70% of my stay and there was a remarkable difference compared to sharing space with others in Africa. For my entire life, I was used to sharing my food and 8 home with neighbours; I could always invite them over to share a meal or have a long chat. I also enjoyed seeing kids in the neighbourhood come out after school and

during the weekends to play. I have missed this but I have also learned to embrace the Australian individualistic lifestyle. There was also a lot to learn over the 18 months from South Australia and the other states I visited. The most remarkable thing I saw was that even though South Australia is the driest state, they have managed to enhance access to water and keep the state green. This is a striking contrast with where I come from. In most African countries we have abundant ground water and adequate rainfall, yet a large percentage of people do not have access to this basic resource. South Aussies have also endeavoured to keep their environment very clean. Littering is prohibited and the birds, trees and animals have rights of their own, upheld by various formal organisations and lobby groups. These are some big lessons I have seen and learned. I have completed a Masters degree in Environmental Management and Sustainability which unsurprisingly entailed reading heaps of books and writing tons of assignments. It is a significant achievement to me as I am the first to attain this level of education in my family. Learning how to manage natural resources to ensure their sustainable use has been a rewarding journey for me. However, the most important lesson I am taking home from my studies is being able to critique information presented to me rather than accept dogma. I have also learned how to hold strong and defend my point of view, while valuing the views of others. As a student at UniSA, I have also cultivated a spirit of tolerance and respect for diversity. I come from a cultural context in Africa where many of the states are fragile with political

and socio-economic turmoil because we have not learned to tolerate one another and appreciate our diversity. I look forward to preaching this message of tolerance when I return home. Having had all of these experiences, I am excited to go home and the day I get off the plane I will want all these â&#x20AC;&#x153;westernâ&#x20AC;? ideals to be implemented on the ground. Of course, if I tried to do everything on my list I would be considered a misfit and rejected by my community. However, what I would like to do is: - Begin yelling at people to stop littering the streets, - Ask people to leave me alone as I have learned to like being left to myself, - Openly critique things that I feel are wrong; even when I know they are long held and established beliefs, - Tell leaders to their faces that they are responsible for the poverty and suffering of the masses, - Force police officers to begin riding horses and bicycles to keep fit and respond in a timely fashion when criminals wreck havoc. Thankfully, UniSA and my sponsors have been quick to realise that international students like me are in for a transition shock when returning to our home communities. Thus they have organised a set of reintegration workshops to psychologically prepare returning students. One thing I have learned during these sessions is that remarkable changes can happen when you subtly improve peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understanding and help them to see the benefits of being part of proposed changes. I am confident that having this experience will help people like me ease tension when we get on the plane to return home in July.

FRENCH ACCORD Writer_ Georgina Vivian

My back was aching. It was December last year, and I was doing the whole “backpacking around Europe” thing. I was on a train in Paris, travelling from Gare du Nord (one of the main railway stations) to Charles De Gaulle Airport. I was sick of putting my backpack down and hauling it back up again, so I had opted to keep it on, despite the feeling that the backpack straps were giving my shoulders Chinese burns. I thought that if I put it down one more time before I reached my destination, I would give up, throw my hands in the air and just leave it on the train. This may have resulted in me being arrested under suspicion of planting a bomb, so I thought the best idea was probably to keep it on my back. I stood near a doorway of the carriage, trying to not get in people’s way while also trying to not back into anyone I couldn’t see behind me. This had, in the past, led to awkward encounters with strangers and me copping tirades of abuse in tongues I didn’t understand. Despite the language barrier, their dirty looks let me their words were nasty. The train stopped at one of the stations along the way, and I watched as two middle-aged men strolled into the carriage. My eyes lit up as I noticed they both had piano accordions strapped to their chests. Their fingers scampered over the black and white buttons and keys as they chatted from opposite doorways, softly pressing the notes while slowly pulling the crumpled accordions out and compressing them back in again. I could faintly hear the French music (or maybe I just thought it sounded French, given where I was) sailing my way every now and then, and I smiled as I thought

about how stereotypically français this whole situation was. I watched the men and silently willed them to stop gasbagging and play some loud music for us. As the train started moving again, the men received my telepathic pleads and began to play in synchronicity. I let the music wash over me, forgetting the pains in my back, and feeling as though I should be in a little café on the Seine, with red and white chequered tablecloths, carafes of wine, and baguettes smothered in brie. Nobody else on the train looked up from their newspapers or took their headphones off. But I couldn’t wipe the stupid smile off my face as they played. Such a tourist. One of the men caught my eye and grinned. He shouted something to me in French, but I didn’t quite catch what he said. The two musicians enthralled me for about ten minutes before they stopped playing and walked around the carriage, shaking a small, dirty paper cup in the faces of the commuters on the train. I reached into my pocket and emptied the contents. I threw in an Ikea pencil a German had given me, a mint from a budget airline and all my spare change. I also threw in a little ‘très bon!’ in my best faux français accent. The spare change I offered only amounted to about €1.75, but they happily took it and moved into the next carriage. It wasn’t much, but at least it would provide them with some shrapnel to buy a new train ticket and entertain another tourist another day.

http://www.capecentralhigh.com/ohio/ marcel-marceau-master-of-silence/ 51 59

CIBO CIBO CIBO!

Writer_ Isabella Pittaway

Photo: Supplied

If Italy was to adopt a chant similar to Australia’s ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie (Oi, Oi, Oi)’—my suggestion would be ‘cibo, cibo, cibo’ (food, food, food). Because, after all, Italy is food Mecca. Pizza, pasta, gelato, prosciutto, canoli— have I got you salivating yet?—are all foods we associate with Italian cuisine. Oh, and I’m forgetting one key condiment made mostly of hazelnuts. Yes, Nutella. That gooey, oily chocolatey deliciousness is also produced in Italy and boy, how they, and most of Europe, love it. I remember having my first Nutella crepe at a Christmas night market. All these people were lining up at a cart, which had row upon row of these giant Nutella containers. The making is simple: the crepe mixture is poured on a round hot plate and then a giant spatula covered in Nutella is spread across the crepe. Fold it up, and pop it into a little cardboard box and you have a melt in the mouth Nutella crepe. Anyone who can eat one without ending up with chocolate on their face has serious skill!

pizza in Italy is by the ‘pezzo’ or ‘piece’. It was a lifesaver at lunchtime in between language classes and for just €1.50 you could buy two pieces of pizza. My personal favourite is the traditional margherita, but you’re spoilt for choice with flavours. Just be careful when ordering, because if you ask for a pepperoni pizza you’ll get a pizza with red peppers and not salami! Now, pasta is perhaps the best convenient food on the market and obviously there’s no short supply in Italy. Admittedly I had a gnocchi fest while I was over there; anytime I saw gnocchi on the menu my choice was made. But all the different types of pasta and their accompanying sauces were enough to set anyone’s palate watering. From penne alla vodka to gnocchi with truffles, creamy sauces in the north to tomato-based sauces in the south, pasta holds a proud place in Italian culture.

Continuing with the chocolate theme, a special mention has to be made for Italian hot chocolates. Imagine melting down any type of good quality chocolate and then adding a dash of milk. Unlike our liquid hot chocs, the Italians prefer theirs rich and dense. I was struck with amazement by the texture; it was like drinking melted chocolate. Thankfully, I managed to stash a few sachets of Ciobar—a brand of Italian hot chocolate—into my suitcase which I’ll be rationing this winter.

Finally, no Italian meal is complete without a stroll to a gelati bar for a scoop or two. The range of flavours at some of the bars is wondrous. One place in Florence has over fifty different flavours! One of my favourites was a gelato/dessert bar in Milan, which had five flavours just for chocolate, including chocolate and red pepper. You can’t go past the staples though, and whether it’s from a modern franchise like Grom or a gelateria in Naples that’s been making gelato since 1864, my favourite is pistachio. While some places in Australia like Cocolat do get close, you can’t beat the gelato in Italy. Even in the middle of a cold and foggy winter, my friends and I would head to a gelati bar to fill our stomachs with their frozen deliciousness.

As for the pizza, apart from being seriously cheap—and I’m talking AU$8 for a massive wood oven pizza—they are also delicious. A popular way of ordering and eating the

So, that is my very brief gastronomical tour of Italy. If you ever get the chance to go, don’t forget to eat where the locals do because that is where the best food tends to be.

NEWS

UNIVERSITY

WE CAME, WE SAW, WE #UNIJAMMED Writer_ Madeleine Dunne

We were all bombarded with endless unijam propaganda – but what actually was it? What worked? What was a total flop? First year student Madeleine Dunne investigates the positives and negatives of the recent university initiative. On the bright side: •Ideas were running wild throughout the jam, with numerous “why on earth didn’t we think of this before” suggestions emerging minute by minute. A shuttle bus between campuses, full video recording of all lectures, a UniSA iPhone app and a more powerful orientation week were all amongst hoards of relatively simple ideas identified by the unijam board as easily doable in the near future. Staff, students and alumni could easily voice their many visions for the university as threads or comments, and the unijam board actually took the time to read through all the posts to see what they can do for the institution in the near future. I mean, seriously—what better place than unijam to rally for a bar at Magill campus, or to experiment with pop-up cafés, or suggest publicly wearable university apparel? Suggestions were constantly flowing and, essentially, ideas were being heard. It was a massive step in the development of UniSA as a leading worldwide institution. •Twitter went totally crazy with #unijam posts, with users incessantly tweeting about the forum into the early hours of the morning. #unijam was a trending topic for much of the 36 hours it was live, with head mojos such as Vice Chancellor David Lloyd even running the university’s Twitter account for a good deal of the jam. Personalising such a massive media platform with posts by the VC made students far more inclined to hop on to

#unijam, as they were receiving a sort of esteemed attention that so often lacks in the university lifestyle between staff and students. Twitter was an essential medium in promoting #unijam, providing contributors with yet another platform to share and discuss innovative, achievable ideas. •A number of big names took part in unijam, with personalities such as Premier Jay Weatherill, senator Nick Xenophon, NASA Administrator Major General Charles Bolden, former PM Bob Hawke and media personality Amanda Blair all contributing their opinions and array of industry knowledge to the jam. For the 36 short hours of unijam, students, alumni and staff alike could speak to these widely admired public figures as equals and use their well-informed comments as further inspiration for even more ideas to help UniSA move onwards and upwards. •The day before unijam took off, each campus was treated with an array of indulgences to incite us to hop on the unijam bandwagon. Pizza, popcorn, scones, drinks, massages, and even free pens and wristbands were being given out in an attempt to make sure as many people as possible knew that unijam was happening. Did it work in promoting the jam? I’m not entirely convinced that it did. But you’ll never catch me listing free pizza as a negative. •The format of unijam was sophisticated but at the same time easy to use, meaning that no participant was held back from contributing to the forum because of their lack of technological capabilities. The more senior members of the university community managed surprisingly well at adequately operating the modern online forum—not so inept at social media now, Baby Boomers? The site offered an array of formats for users

to easily contribute ideas and respond to other people’s suggestions, meaning that young or old, computer illiterate or otherwise, everyone had the opportunity to fully express their vision for UniSA. On the dark side: •What the flaming heck is unijam? Despite there being 10+ posters in just one of my lecture theatres alone, and regardless of the countless emails we all received, many people had absolutely no clue what on earth unijam even was. A new UniSA website? A compulsory subject? A pub-crawl? A jam making competition? Another free sausage sizzle? When the answer was offered as “a forum to talk to staff about the university”, you could see the lights dim in the eyes of your peers. Oh goodie, a forum. •Everywhere I looked there were staff, staff, alumni, staff, and you guessed it— more staff! All bar one of the ‘top rated jammers’ were staff for the majority of unijam, and guest contributors had an annoying tendency to only respond to senior members of the forum. One must question why people who are getting paid by the university were more inclined to raise their voices than those who have the blessing of HECS fees—but hey, that’s Generation Y for you. It’s debatable whether there was an overwhelming number of staff or an underwhelming number of students involved in unijam, however I’m inclined to go against my own kind and agree with the latter. Despite being slightly more opinionated (and obsessed with social media) than your average 19-year-old girl, I found myself standing almost alone amongst hoards of staff who had 99 problems… And student voices weren’t one.

•The timing of unijam seemed somewhat poorly planned, being smack-bang in the final weeks of the semester when gigantic assignments are due and exams are looming. Many people were far more inclined to meet the deadlines for their courses than to beg for prices to drop in Aroma or discuss the upkeep of grass on the UniSA grounds. The main reason that there were so few students involved in unijam? Perhaps. •A big question in the aftermath of unijam is whether the event was long enough. Obviously, the longer the jam went on for, the more people would come to know about it and be inspired to add to it. Was there enough time for people to discuss unijam in real life and motivate one another to contribute their ideas? No. Especially when the majority of people attend uni earlier in the week, two days of unijam in the latter half of the week was simply not long enough for the true essence of the forum to spread. •Nobody took my suggestion of introducing more koalas to Magill Campus seriously, and I’m really upset about that. Really, heartbreakingly upset. :-( So, we came, we saw, we unijammed—but was it all a success? In most aspects, yes. Suggestions were made and suggestions were heard, however whether the forum fully reached out to every member of the UniSA community is debatable. Was it successful enough for another unijam to be held in the future? Only time will tell. Let’s see a university iPhone app and an awesome orientation week before we make any more big decisions. However, if another unijam means more free pizza and, slightly more importantly, a louder student voice—then I say hey, David Lloyd, bring it on!

ith sW d a m loy Tho vid L n u a Ar rD nt ello de i c s n Pre Cha ife e L i c i V Un i SA Un

MESSAGE FROM UNILIFE PRESIDENT ARUN THOMAS Dear students, First of all, thank you for your support on electing me as your student president for a second term. 2013 marks the continuation of efforts by the preceding UniLife Board, as well as the execution of new initiatives by the newly-elected board of UniLife. The newly-elected board are enthusiastic and have lofty aspirations. The focus for this term is to reach out to every student, regardless of demographic differences, backgrounds and interests. As an independent student association, we will continue to improve your student experience on campus by being the ‘voice’ for those unheard and ‘advice’ for students in need. It’s my great pleasure to announce that the UniLife Board has successfully negotiated a budget increase from $1.2M to $1.4M. We will make sure these funds will be spent on improving the quality and availability of UniLife student services across the campuses. The UniLife Board will commence its strategic plan with a workshop at this month’s annual retreat. I am pleased to say that students from the International Graduate School of Business (IGSB) will, for the first time, assist UniLife with its strategic plan 2014-2017. This is a great initiative as the MBA team of students will receive a full course credit for this work. A true partnership that reflects what UniLife is all about – students working with students to get the best outcomes! With the transfer of sporting clubs to UniSA, UniLife’s priority in the coming

months is to focus attention on social and academic clubs. A strategy for how UniLife can best support clubs is on the agenda with a forum being planned in the not too distant future. Hearing directly from clubs will ensure that UniLife meets their needs in ways that matter to students. More to come via the weekly newsletter. And of course, it is a federal election year. This presents a much-welcomed opportunity for students to voice their concerns to the political parties. We aim to feed into the National Union of Students’ (NUS) election-year campaigns and, as such, reps will be canvassing your views in the coming months about issues you would like to see raised at the national level. UniLife always welcomes student views. You can contact us directly on unilife.voice@unisa.edu.au or through your campus representative. Exciting things ahead for your student association! Let your dedication, determination and hard work keep you in shape and drive you to success. Yours sincerely, Arun Thomas UniLife President

FAREWELL FROM OUTGOING INTERNATIONAL STUDENT REP, KIM CHAU

WELCOME FROM INCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENT REP, TIMMY PHAM

Dear fellow international students,

Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;day mates!

It was my honour to represent the international student community at UniSA, and the experience was a memorable one for me. All good things must come to an end it is time to say goodbye to you. I would like to thank all students who supported and trusted me during my time as an international student rep. I would like to extend my warmest thanks to those students who came to say hi or sought my assistance. You motivated me to work harder to provide a better voice to the needs of international students. I would especially like to thank UniLife for giving me the opportunities to get involved with many great activities; they really helped to shape my skills.

To my fellow international students, my name is Timmy Pham and I am very proud to be your new representative in UniLife. I come from Vietnam which is a beautiful country located in South-East Asia. I am in my second year of a Bachelor of Pharmacy at City East campus. I am very grateful to be able to work with you over the next twelve months of your study journey in Australia. I am here to represent all of you, make sure your voice is heard and your thoughts expressed to the university.

My last words: work hard but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to enjoy your student life as much as you can. Join UniSA activities and you will get many benefits from them. I wish you all success on your study paths.

My email address is Thinh.Pham@unisa. edu.au. Drop me a line any time you have an idea to contribute or if you need help and support. I hope that my email address will be one of your friendly contacts; it is always there for you when you need. I am looking forward to working with all of you in many fun and unforgettable activities.

Kind regards,

Good luck for your study and enjoy your time in Australia!

Kim Chau

Timmy Pham

New UniLife International Student Representative, Timmy Pham, in CISA Harmony Walk (March 2013)

UNILIFE REPRESENTATIVES The new UniLife Board has just been unveiled, with some familiar and fresh faces. We welcome returning President Arun Thomas, returning Postgraduate Student Officer Andrew Friebe and new International Student Representative Timmy Pham. Our campuses have all inducted at least one new representative, except for in Mount Gambier where Claudia Shelton continues to hold the position. Returning board members are marked (R).

Arun Thomas (R): President E: thoay027@mymail.unisa.edu.au

The election for the student representatives took place between May 30 and June 11, with every student on campus invited to take part. UniLife student representatives are your voice at UniSA. They work for your interests, support your campus, and make decisions about your student life at UniSA. These are the people you should approach with any questions or concerns about issues or experiences on campus. If you see something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not right, contact your rep. If you see something you love, let your rep know. If you have an idea for an improvement for student life, get chatting with your representatives. The National Union of Students (NUS) is a powerful, Australia-wide council of engaged university representatives from all around the country. The position that these people occupy is vitally important. They protect your student rights, and make sure university students are being heard by the government, media, and the institutions of their members. These names and faces are ones to remember, so meet your new reps!

Andrew Friebe (R): Post Graduate Student Officer E: frial002@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Timmy Pham: Internatonal Student Representative E: Thinh.Pham@unisa.edu.au

WHYALLA

CITY EAST

Bethany Beggs-Brown (R) begbr001@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Eleisa Hancock (R) hanem002@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Shaylee Leach leasj002@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Mitchell Wilson wilmt008@mymail.unisa.edu.au

MAWSON LAKES

CITY WEST

MT GAMBIER

Tyler Whitaker whitj007@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Andrew Kay (R) kayam001@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Anthony Hooper hooay004@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Lia Lawrie lawlc002@mymail.unisa.edu.au

NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS REPRESENTATIVES Arun Thomas Lia Lawrie Shaylee Leach Anthony Hooper Timmy Pham Tyler Whitaker Marie-Elaina Bakas

MAGILL

Lauren Coppock copla003@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Claudia Shelton (R) E: shecr003@mymail.unisa.edu.au

OAKTREE FOUNDATION: GENERATE

NATIONAL CAMPUS BAND COMPETITION

Want to make more than just small changes? Apply for Generate now!

Enter the competition that helped launch Eskimo Joe, The Vines, Jebediah, George, Grinspoon, Frenzal Rhomb, Augie March, The Vasco Era and more!

The Oaktree Foundation’s Generate program offers a unique learning experience for anyone under 26 and finished school, with a passion for social justice and ending extreme poverty. Run by experienced volunteers from Australia’s largest youth run aid and development organisation, the Generate program challenges, engages and inspires. In addition to equipping participants with aid and development knowledge and practical skills, Generate also promotes personal growth and development. Adelyne Huynh graduated from Generate last month, crediting the program with changing the way she saw the world. ‘Generate taught me so many incredibly useful skills, I can’t recommend this enough to anyone looking for an avenue through which they can develop as a person and as an agent of change,’ she said. ‘I’d always wanted to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than myself, but I never knew where to start. I can say now that this is the perfect place to start.’ Participants engage with issues of poverty and social change, undertake skills training, run an awareness or fundraising project and are actively involved in a network of young Australian leaders. Applications for the Semester Two Generate program are currently open and will close on the 19th of July. Apply now at www.theoaktree.org/generate

Register your band at http://www.aaca.net. au/ncbc.html Heats start on the 19th August at West Bar. More information about the heats coming soon. Keep your eye on UniLife Weekly emails for all the latest information!