Yak Magazine - August 2017 Issue

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Issue 42 // August 2017

By Students, for Students

THE DIVERSITY ISSUE GIRLS TO THE FRONT

DIVERSITY AT UON: IS IT ENOUGH?

RECIPES OF THE WORLD

Yak Magazine // August 2017

Yak would like to acknowledge the Pambalong clan of the Awabakal people, and the Darkinjung people, traditional custodians of the land in which Yak is made and distributed. We pay respect to elders past, present and future.

Cover Art // Reid McManus

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

YAK

MAGAZINE The Diversity Issue

Editors Letter Diversity. Such a broad term. For my first issue as Managing Editor of the Yak Mag I wanted to do something bold, something slightly scary, and something I truly thought we need more of at our Uni. Well, here it is, diversity.

It was very important that those voices that are often diminished or spoken over had a chance to speak in this issue. A big thing we talked about as an editorial team when pitching ideas for this issue was facilitating. Our aim with this issue was to facilitate conversation, rather than dominate it. In a world where discrimination is so built into us all, it’s important to constantly recognise your privilege and aim to do better in respecting those around you.

Now I know how it looks. I’m a cis, white woman talking about how we need more diversity at UON, what do I know? Well, after this issue, I know a lot more. I know about those little things in place in our physical society for those who aren’t fully bodily abled. I’ve seen insights into coming out stories. I’ve learnt how it feels to be a refugee and a student in a time where racial prejudice is riding high.

Whether your role as an ally is sitting silently and in solidarity with #blackout and #blacklivesmatter, or whether it’s marching hand in hand with other activists at a women’s march, in order to champion diversity, you must first know your place within it.

Please enjoy reading what those within your University community have to say on Diversity, and hopefully learn a thing or two about the concept along the way!

For this issue everyone on the Yak team tried walking a day in different shoes, and I know I speak for us all when I say we’ve learnt a lot along the way. In a time where people struggle day in and day out to find a place, voice, even safety, in this society, we all could benefit from a little more diversity and harmony within our University.

Monique, and the Yak Team.

Submissions

We are Yak Media: the University of Newcastle’s student media channel, run by UoN students. Our three platforms: Yak Magazine, Yak Online, and Yak TV – are run by dedicated teams of students.

Yak works hard to bring you stories covering all aspects of student life, from health and wellbeing, to travel and entertainment, to politics and study tips.

The Yak editorial team is always on the look out for passionate student writers and graphic designers to contribute to the blog and magazine. If you would like to take the opportunity to get your work published, please send a sample of your writing or graphic design work to:

Let us know if you like what we do, have any suggestions for

yakmedia@newcastle.edu.au

story ideas, or if you would like to get involved.

Stay connected

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www.yakatuon.com facebook.com/YakMedia Yak Magazine is a free publication supported by Student Central at the University of Newcastle © 2017. www.newcastle.edu.au

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Designed by: Jackie Brock

Yak Magazine // August 2017

HAVE YOUR YAK

EDITORIAL TEAM

“Tell the readers about an event in your life that nobody would ever guess.”

Monique Aganovic

Sophie Austin

Jack Moran

Madeleine McDonald

Managing Editor

Deputy Managing Editor

Managing Editor (Yak Online)

Deputy Managing Editor (Yak Online)

“I was German Student of the year in Year 4. Can’t speak a word of German today...”

“Once I was on South Korean TV. Although it was when I was 16 and going through a bad fashion phase. Many regrets.”

“I’m one-quarter Filipino through my paternal grandfather. I met him for the first time two years ago and found out he runs a yoga studio in Bondi.”

“I spent 7 years living onboard a large volunteer ship. We once braved 12 metre waves during a voyage through the Xangsane Typhoon.”

Nadene Budden

Jackie Brock

Reid McManus

Marissa Alexiou

Promotions Coordinator

Lead Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer

Editor

“I summoned a cat as a newborn child and have had at least one in the family since. As a consequence I will perpetually have fur on all my clothes, even fresh out of the wash.”

“I hung out with Big Dog at his house.”

“I once rapped with snoop dog on stage and I was also diagnosed as a compulsive liar :)“

“When I was in Year 12 I got to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and Princess Kate) when they came to Australia.”

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

Angelique Carr

Shea Evans

Bridget Gunn

Nikola Jokanovic

Editor

Editor

Editor

Editor

“My great, great, great etc. uncle was Davy Crockett”

“The first time I tried university I didn’t like it so I dropped out and ran away with a travelling circus for a year.”

“I have lived on three different continents but in Australia I have lived in only two houses and they have both been on the same street.”

“I lived the first third of my life in a small New Zealand town with only a few thousand people, everything was walking distance”

Contributors Artist Joanna Lewis

Writer Laura Kebby Editor

Amy Mckenna

Jessica Worboys

Editor

Editor

“I once haemorrhaged and almost bled to death after having my tonsils removed when I was 18.”

“When I was born I had severe hip problems. If doctors didn’t pick it up shortly after I was born and put me in a special harness, I may have grown up and not been able to ever walk.”

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Jade Nicholson

Designed by: Jackie Brock

Yak Magazine // August 2017

THE REFUGEE AND MIGRANT STUDENT EXPERIENCE Shea Evans sits down with Simone Nance, a UON English Language Support Teacher, to find out about the university experience of refugee and migrant students.

Refugee and migrant students, have you ever thought about them? They exist right here at UON, they exist and they shine.

Okay, maybe you did know that, but are you really aware of how much more difficult the university experience is for these students? When your background is one of true hardship and your command of a language is not firm, the everyday obstacles of education and social interaction become suddenly much more challenging.

“I’ve tried to help students on a number of occasions to get a part time job and it’s near impossible,” Simone says, and that it was “absolutely more difficult” for these students to gain employment.

Simone Nance, an English Language Support Teacher at UON, helps students in need to overcome these challenges and achieve their full potential. Most of the students that she sees come from Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran and Iraq, and they arrived in Australia with varying levels of English proficiency.

When asked if her students felt welcomed by Australia, Simone said: “A lot of them talk about feeling very welcome, particularly the students who’ve been to high school here in Australia, they’ve had really positive experiences,” but that some of her students had been shocked upon entering the Australian school system and encountering “the lack of respect for teachers.”

If they do somehow find a job, there can be blatant prejudices involved. One of Simone’s students apparently experienced “quite overt racism at the nursing home he was working at,” the idea of which is enough to put anybody off working.

Her students vary also in age, from eighteen to well beyond thirtyfive, and in general they “seem to be pretty happy, when they’re not thinking of things that are going on at home.”

For domestic students, Simone advises that we “say hello and have a go.” If we reach out to a refugee or migrant student, if we open up a conversation, we’ll be “very pleasantly surprised,” she laughs, “if you start talking to them, usually, they’ve got so much to offer.”

“The fact that they’re actually coming to university amazes me every day. It’s pretty inspirational.”

The students that she sees would one day like to return to their home countries, “that’s definitely part of the dream,” but financial situations in Australia and political situations at home make this an unlikely scenario for many. Imagine leaving Australia, and your family, and everything you knew, and beginning a new life on the other side of the world in a country whose language you could not read or write.

Of the difficulties that refugee and migrant students face at university, isolation is a big one. These students, Simone says, find difficulty with “breaking into certain social situations” and can sometimes experience “a little bit of a lack of confidence with speaking up in tutorials.”

This can lead domestic students, i.e the overwhelming majority of us, to ignore and forget about a whole group of our peers.

Also isolating is the fact that “culturally these students are less likely to go to bars and pubs and things like that.” This means that most refugee and migrant students are excluded from the Great Australian Cult of Booze, of which practically all domestic students are devout adherents.

This is reality for many UON students, Simone says that “the fact that they’re actually coming to university amazes me every day.

It’s pretty inspirational.” Hard not to agree with that!

A big thanks to Simone for sitting down for an interview. And if you see a quiet international student in one of your classes, why not say g’day?

Difficulties in the wider community include racism and the unwillingness of employers to hire migrants or refugees.

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

HIDDEN ACCESSIBILITY Angelique Carr explores the hidden features of our physical environment, and how they work to benefit people living with disability.

Next time you’re at a set of traffic lights, and you press that big silver button to turn the little walking man green, place your hand on the middle of the silver arrow above that button. You might be surprised to find that it pulses in time with the beeping. This helps those with hearing and vision impairment, or even those who are tactile thinkers, safely cross roads.

A couple of rooms that are recently refurbished over in the hunter building, have on each desk in front of the student a microphone. [Which is helpful for] everyone, regardless of whether they’re hearing impaired or not,” says Campbell.

The built environment is full of little designs that most people don’t notice, that help people with different needs get around.

You might have noticed those weird yellow bumps on the ground near bus stops. These are called tactile pavers, and are a sort of braille for white canes. Long bumps mean ‘this way is safe to walk’ and short round ones mean ‘stop, there’s a road/bus stop in front of you’.

Every public building must adhere to strict standards that are the same nationwide. These standards cover everything, including the height of railings, the pressure it takes to open a door handle, or if a toilet is ‘left-handed’ or ‘right-handed’.

I talked to Michelle Campbell from Student Equity and Support, who told me that “for some people, those things that are useful are also trip hazards,” Campbell says. “While it might be a useful addition to a vision impaired person, for a person with multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy, that can be an issue. It’s [about finding] the happy medium … what works for one, doesn’t work for another, or the training you give one person, you’ve got to give different training and assistance to another.”

When we think about accessibility, we should be thinking about the concept of universal design. About designing spaces, coursework, materials, furniture, whatever it is, so that everyone can use it and it doesn’t necessarily have to be adapted for that person who has a different need.”

On our own Callaghan campus, we are making strides towards making our environment safe and accessible for everyone. One such feature is the T Loop, or the Hearing Loop system.

“Hopefully all lectures theatres will be retrofitted and the hearing loop will exist in those spaces. This is to allow people with a hearing aide to be able to hear the lecturer and some of the conversation that is happening in the space.

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“There’s stacks and stacks of rules,” Chris Tucker from the School of Architecture and Built Environment told me. “If you have a curb, or you’ve got a step entrance into a building, [the Anti-Discrimination Act] will tell you where and when you need to put it.”

I run an architectural company, I’ve run that for 20 years, and we would do a lot of work for Newcastle City Council. That introduced me to all of the regulations that affect public space. And those things, you don’t really realise. In fact, a lot of the architectural work that we did, if I showed you the drawings, they’re really complicated things, but when you see them in reality, they’re actually very, very simple, because the whole idea of public design is to make it disappear, so you don’t trip over it, you don’t see it and it provides a safe environment.”

Designed by: Reid McManus

THE MENTAL HEALTH MAZE

Yak Magazine // August 2017

Marissa Alexiou navigates the jagged maze of mental health illnesses at UoN 1 IN 4 YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION IN ANY ONE YEAR.

Melissa*, a previous student at the University of Newcastle was first diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at 15 years old.

The range of mental health diagnoses, risk factors, and treatments can create a challenge for health professionals. A new study has even found a possible link between gut health and mental health, exploring how good and bad bacteria may affect our brains.

Melissa said she has tried several treatments since being diagnosed. “I initially tried exercise as a form of treatment including; yoga, Pilates, dancing, running, and cycling. I have also been on and off anxiety medication. Anxiety medication helped to dull the symptoms so I could engage in therapy. I have tried eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy with various psychologists. I found exposure therapy to be the most effective, in terms of eliminating panic attacks and building a tolerance to anxiety symptoms.”

Currently, there appears to be no straightforward response to mental illness.

To make sense of the diversity in mental illness, Yak spoke to University of Newcastle counsellors, Jacqueline Olley and Richard Thorpe.

Like any illness, there are several risk factors. For university students, academic pressure, financial pressure, relocation, drug and alcohol use, poor diet, and lack of sleep can put students at risk of developing a condition.

Olley said whilst it comes as “no surprise” stress and anxiety disorders are some of the most common diagnoses amongst university students, the impact of mental illness varies.

“There are many different mental health conditions. They can range from mild disorders lasting only a few weeks, through to severe illnesses that can be life-long and cause serious disability.

It is important all areas of health are addressed to effectively treat and manage mental illness. “Many mental health conditions produce very real physical symptoms such as difficulty breathing, tense muscles, headache, fatigue, nausea, even fainting and vision difficulties. Poor mental health can also affect concentration, memory, focus and attention. On the other hand, many physical health conditions will impact on mental health. Emotions, physical feelings, thoughts, and behaviours are all interlinked.” said Olley and Thorpe.

There are many options to treat or manage mental illness. Mental illnesses or deterioration of mental health can affect students in many ways including type of thoughts, mood, behaviour or the way they perceive the world around them. It usually affects the person’s ability to function at university, in relationships or in everyday tasks,” said Olley.

It is important to remember feelings of ‘sadness’ or ‘worry’ are normal, transient emotional states. However, when feelings persist, or start to interfere with sleeping, eating, social, and daily life, this can be an indication of a mental health condition.

The stereotype that mental illness only affects those who are ‘weak’ is an inaccurate representation of individuals who experience disorders such as depression and anxiety. Olley said as a psychologist she has treated a variety of people, from special forces, military personnel, athletes, CEOs, emergency service personnel, and high ranking academics. “Just like physical illness, no one is immune.”

Those who are concerned, or wish to reach out, are encouraged to contact the University Counselling Service or speak with their GP. newcastle.edu.au/counselling

Once a person is diagnosed, a counsellor will create a treatment plan, depending on the assessment and the diagnosis.

A plan can include psychotherapy, physical activity, nutrition, rest and relaxation, and social activity.

Contacts for the counselling service are as follows: Callaghan 02 4921 6622 Ourimbah 02 4348 4060 Sydney 02 8262 641 Port Macquarie 02 6581 6200

Individuals may also find online resources, smartphone apps, and books helpful. In some cases, a general practitioner may prescribe medication. An effective treatment requires a cooperation between health professionals and other services in the community.

National 24/7 Crisis Services are also available: Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline (ages 5-25) 1800 55 1800 MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78 *Names have been changed to for confidentiality purposes.

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Designed by Jackie Brock

Yak Magazine // August 2017

Aboriginal Studies Lecturer, Professor John Lester and Social Science and Aboriginal Studies student, Jade Nicholson discuss whether UoN efficiently caters to the needs of Indigenous students.

Does UON efficiently cater to the needs of Indigenous students?

YES

NO

Jade states that her personal experience with the University has been very positive in regards to the amount of support and encouragement she’s received from the family at Wollotuka. She believes the Wollotuka building is one of the best things the University has to offer, it is a safe place for all Indigenous students to come together and connect. The building brings culture into the university, is very open and, in turn, gives off a very safe and welcoming approach.

Professor Lester believes that as great as it is celebrating 1000 Aboriginal enrolments to the University, this still does not represent the full proportion, and there is still more to be done in order to improve the needs of Indigenous students. He states that the University needs to evaluate and look further into what can be done for Indigenous students, and stresses the need to look at the Indigenous students’ needs through a cultural viewpoint.

One of the major cultural hubs being looked at within the University is language and culture. He reinforces the importance of introducing traditional languages into the University, in an attempt to keep that culture relevant. This is done using web facilities, and by appropriately meeting the needs of a variety of languages. John says it would be great to incorporate cultural affirmation in particular things such as dance, music and more traditional aspects, with hopes that one day in the near future we could have Indigenous groups travelling to represent our culture and University at different conferences and events, to promote our facility.

In regards to education, Jade states that there are computer rooms with printers and technological devices accessible for those students who may not be able to access from home.

There are also Indigenous engagement officers who work in the Wollotuka building and their role is to provide further knowledge and support for Indigenous students going through University. Their students come first, if a student seems to be struggling they act; they may arrange a tutor, or provide information for some solutions to gaining extra help. Jade also champions the community fostered by Wollotuka; every Wednesday people get together and there is a BBQ held which is a time for students, lecturers and tutors to join together and eat.

“The University of Newcastle is exceptionally positioned to be a leader in STEM, [Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths] and as far as UON has come already, it would be extraordinary to see more potential changes take place in the near future.”

“Wollotuka has influenced my time here at UON, making it a very positive experience, a place I can honestly say feels like home.”

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Designed by: Reid McManus

Yak Magazine // August 2017

VOX POPS

The Yak Team hits the campus to see what makes UoN students unique.

What makes you unique?

Liam

Paris

“I see the world differently to others.”

“I have the ability to make a joke out of anything. My life is a meme.”

Andrew & friends

Rory

Tom

“We come from a place with five different races, we’re multicultural.

We speak a minimum of three languages.”

“I’m laid back. Easily lovable, and modest.”

“I have to do stuff. If I sit still, I drive myself insane.”

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HAVE YOUR YAK

Yak Magazine // August 2017

CLUBS & SOCIETIES SNAPSHOT INDIGENOUS COLLECTIVE Club Name: The Indigenous Collective (UONISC) Convenor: Taylah Gray Objective: UONISC’s aim is to ensure the University is a more culturally appropriate place, and offers a safe space/group for Indigenous students. The Collective holds events throughout the year, open to members and non-members alike. UONISC is perfect for Indigenous students looking for a safe space within the University community, or for students who are interested in learning more about the traditional owners of the land, and how to be more culturally appropriate throughout your time at University.

Cost: Membership is free and anyone is welcome to join!

Location: The Collective is a constituent of NUSA and is based out of the NUSA building on the Callaghan campus. The group has an active Facebook page where you can learn more, or visit their website, http://nusa.org. au/collectives/indigenous/.

How to join: Shoot an email to indigenous@nusa.org.au, pop into the NUSA building at Callaghan or send a message to the Collective via Facebook.

COURSE SNAPSHOT // ABOR1110 INTRO TO ABORIGINAL STUDIES Course Name: ABOR1110: Introduction to Aboriginal Studies Faculty: Education and Arts Course: Co-ordinator: Greg Blyton Course Outline: This course is perfect for anybody looking to expand their knowledge on Aboriginal history, treatment, and impact within Australia. It covers a huge variety of important topics regarding Indigenous peoples, and is an essential course for those planning a career working with Indigenous people, or even those working within the public sector. The course is an eye-opening view of Australia’s impact and interactions with the nation’s first people, and is popular among International students, as it introduces them to an integral piece of Australia’s society and history.

How to enrol: The course is offered to those studying a degree through the Wollotuka Institute, and those who have the option to undertake an elective throughout their degree. To learn more about the course visit UON’s Course Handbook online. To find out if your degree offers electives take a look at your Program Plan, accessible through the UON website.

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Designed by Jackie Brock

Yak Magazine // August 2016

Designed by:

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

DIVERSITY AT UON: IS IT ENOUGH? Jessica Worboys asks the tough questions regarding diversity at the University of Newcastle.

The term diverse is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as showing a great deal of variety and difference. It can be measured across many variables, including ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, geographical area, gender, language, religion, sexual orientation, and professional and personal background.

Residential and International Resident Academic Mentor with UON Student Living, and is also an International Support Assistant with UON Global. She works with international students from non-English speaking backgrounds to assist them in improving their language skills, and also helps prospective international students in their application process and managing any inquiries they may have.

Citizens of Australia make the country we live in extremely diverse – with people from all walks of life, and whilst there are many people who celebrate diversity, there are still a number who do not. So which category does the University of Newcastle fall in?

Whilst Nora says UON does well as a whole in organising events to celebrate multiculturalism on campus, she feels that there are many small things which can be done to increase this awareness.

At the beginning of June 2017, the number of students enrolled was 38,219. With 31,114 of these being domestic students, and the remaining 7,105 being international, it seems that UON is a culturally diverse university. But does the University really do all it can to celebrate its fantastic cultural diversity?

“This can easily be done by acting on simple initiatives such as displaying signs in the eateries on campus that illustrate dietary needs for consumers,” she says.

“I have seen gluten free and vegetarian ones but not many ‘halal’ signs at all, even though we have a large population of students here in particular who follow that dietary requirement.”

Nora Syahnaz Bhangi believes there is still a lot more room in which diversity can be embraced. Nora is a

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

From her understanding, Nora says the meat options at UON are from halal suppliers, but it is not advertised or communicated effectively, which makes the students feel they are not catered for. “Being able to find food that meets one’s dietary needs is important,” she states.

While the University may not recognise it’s increase in diverse consumer demands, Nora explains that there is a large number of support systems the University has in place for international students.

developmental process which requires long term commitment. This awareness and acceptance of differences are crucial elements of a well-functioning system. And whilst multi-culturalism plays a large role in defining diversity, sexual orientation also plays a major part. Despite there being countless movements to raise awareness of differing sexual orientations and identities, prejudice is sadly still rife within our society.

There are a number of terms that are involved in the discussion around sexual orientation, which may come across as confusing to some. With a positive outlook and acknowledgement, a greater level of understanding will result. The initialism LGBTIQ is common, and stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexual & queer.

“UON Global is the primary source of support… this includes enrolment, visa status, understanding official documents, inquiries on international scholarships, overseas student health cover, social and academic programmes, [and] general information about living in Australia”.

Individuals who identify within these terms are constantly subject to discrimination. This is where groups like the Queer Collective come in. They aim to help members of the community overcome this discrimination. The Queer Collective offers a safe space for all members of the LGBTIQ community, and provides social events, conversations, and support information and services for them.

Overall, Nora believes that the major thing UON is missing is communication.

“We often view diversity as what is different, but we don’t make much of an effort to recognise, acknowledge and learn more about that difference. Only when we do will we be able to realise that we are all really quite similar in many ways regardless of the distinctions that differentiate us.”

Whilst this collective, run by NUSA, celebrates LGBTIQ people, does the University share this celebration of diversity? Hayden Nichols is not sure.

Diversity is a wonderful thing, with it we can learn more about other cultures, share and enjoy our differences, and in turn make the world a more interesting place to live in. Being diverse means being culturally competent, which involves being able to honour and respect the beliefs, language, interpersonal styles and behaviours of individuals and families. It is a dynamic, ongoing

Hayden is the former Queer Convener of the Newcastle University Student’s Association (NUSA) and a member of the ALLY Network on campus. The Queer Convener’s role is to convene the Queer Collective, and to represent Queer students on the NUSA council. “The Queer

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

Collective holds many events throughout the year,” Hayden says, “[but] the University itself does not hold any Queer-specific events to my knowledge”.

Events the collective hosts include its annual Pride Week, to celebrate the diverse LGBTIQ community. This year’s event will be held in September, with the theme being ‘Strength in Diversity.’

Hayden says the Queer Space on campus is an autonomous space for LGBTIQ students which has lots of resources from support groups around the Hunter.

While an increase in events hosted by UON would benefit the LGBTIQ community, with UON’s ALLY Network, it is becoming a more inclusive space. The ALLY Network is aimed at creating a more inclusive culture on campus, by promoting greater visibility and awareness of LGBTIQ staff and students. An ALLY is a staff member or student on campus who is an active agent of change, and chooses to challenge anti-LGBTIQ prejudice and heteronormative values.

This initiative is a great step for a more diverse campus, but Hayden believes more can be done to create a more welcoming environment. “This can include access to gender diverse bathrooms, removing gender from exam papers… the University could also do more to encourage staff to undertake the ALLY Network training to ensure staff are being considerate of members of our community,” he explains.

When recognising diversity, we not only have the opportunity to learn more about a person’s sexual identity, or an international countries culture, we also learn more about our own country’s people.

The Wollotuka Institute at the UON Callaghan, is a huge step in the celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The institute first started out as a support program for Indigenous students in 1983 and has progressed into designing and delivering Indigenous-specific courses, to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander equity and participation within the University.

This, paired with a number of events on campus heralding Indigenous peoples, shows the University is certainly taking Indigenous diversity on board. The Wollotuka Institute has played, and continues to play, an important role in representing and supporting Indigenous Australians studying at a tertiary level. Wollotuka’s Yapug program offers a pathway designed to help Indigenous peoples gain skills for entry into undergraduate degrees at UON. This free program shows that the University is attempting to celebrate the diversity of Indigenous Australians, which is great to see.

With continued efforts, including more events hosted by the University, this respect and acknowledgement can be achieved when celebrating the diversity of Indigenous cultures, and sexual orientations and identities.

Does the University believe it is doing all it can to celebrate diversity? Possibly. Is there more it can do? Definitely.

There will always be a more we can do, as a nation, to support and acknowledge the diverse nature of the people around us.

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Designed by: Reid McManus

June 2016 Yak Magazine // August 2017

Designed by:

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

THE AUSSIE SLANG DICTIONARY FOR THE

UON INTERNATIONAL STUDENT The Yak Team pulls together some classic Aussie words and sayings, and translates them for all those International (and city-slicker) students.

Newy (proper noun): Newcastle The Big Smoke (noun): The City God’s Country (noun): A phrase to describe the best place in the world. Example: “Just got back to Newy from the Big Smoke, it’s God’s Country up here.”

Wagging/Wopping/Ditching (verb): Not attending school or university. Example: “Are you going to class today? “Nah, I’m ditching.”

Bludger (noun): A lazy person. Example: “That boy in our group assignment is such a bludger, he’s done no work.”

Spit the Dummy/Chuck a Tanty (verb): an emotional outburst, usually of anger and irrational tears. Example: “Did you see Mel out in town the other night? She was chucking a tanty about not being let in ‘cause she was wearing pluggers.”

Pluggers (noun): Thongs/Flip Flops/Opentoed sandals, traditionally worn by bogans and uni students.

Bogan (noun): A person usually regarded as unsophisticated and/or tacky. Similar to the American Redneck.

Stoked (noun): Very pleased. Example: “$5 schooeys special? I’m bloody stoked!”

This example also works with; ‘You Beauty’ and ‘Ripper!’

Shooey (verb): The action one does when they drink alcohol out of a shoe, used or otherwise.

Example: “Did you see Jacko did a shooey at that party the other night? He’s bloody loose.”

Loose (adjective): Someone who is highly intoxicated, and is often seen doing or saying crazy things.

Fig.1. A shoe soaked in alcohol, i.e. post-shooey.

Maggot (adjective): Someone who is very intoxicated. Example: “I went to the Bottle-O the other day to buy some grog, ended up bloody maggot. At least I wasn’t as bad as Karen though, she was cooked.”

Cooked (adjective): Someone who is very, very intoxicated.

Fig.1I. Bludger with a mullet, bludging.

Bottle-O (noun): The bottle shop.

Grog (noun): Alcohol.

Maccas (proper noun): A holy place, reserved for those late morning hangovers, postweekend sports feed, and the first trip you take alone when you get your Ps (a sacred ritual). Known to most others as McDonalds.

Yeah nah (exclamation): No. Example: “Did you finish that assignment?” “Yeah, nah.”

Fig.1II. Bogan assuming predatory stance, with thong in hand.

Nah yeah (exclamation): Yes. Example: “I know you’re studying but should we go grab a schooey at the GT Bar?” “Nah…yeah.”

Schooey (noun): Schooners. Glasses of beer, served in a pub/hotel/bar, from the tap.

Fig.1V. A holy place.

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Designed by: Reid McManus

DIVERSITY WITHIN MEDIA

Yak Magazine // August 2017

THE CHANGING FACE OF DIVERSITY ON FILM: DOES HOLLYWOOD STILL SEE IN BLACK AND WHITE? As the city of dreams slowly wakes to deep-set issues of diversity, Nikola Jokanovic gets the street-level view of representation on Hollywood’s world stage.

The American Dream has long been a chief export of the United States. That white-picket fence, those middle-class squabbles, the rom-com resolutions; Hollywood has long told us how to be, with any otherness of gender, sex or race neatly trimmed and lessened to stereotypes and cameos.

Hollywood’s diversity problem can be put mathematically. Uniting under the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, the 2016 Oscars were swamped with accusations of seriously poor racial diversity after, for the second year running and among 40 total nominees, not a single person of colour appeared in the four acting categories. 91 percent of Oscar voters where white that year, and 74 percent were male.

Similar numbers are systemic. For every 24 male Hollywood directors is a single female director, and of the 45 female filmmakers surveyed in finding this only three were women of colour (WOC). Women form half of the American population, and only 63 percent of Americans are solely white; something isn’t adding up between Hollywood’s American Dream and the waking reality of most Americans.

The issue worsens as the Hollywood version is the one broadcast worldwide, and to massively diverse audiences. Film is about union, about seeing a shared reflection of ourselves. What happens when you don’t see yourself on the silver screen?

Homegrown filmmakers of diversity have to battle uphill against skewed representation.

Dominic Robertson and Natesha Hamlet,

aspiring screenwriter and filmmaker respectively, are two of a new wave of young creatives championing diversity on film.

“There can never be enough diversity in Hollywood”, says Dominic. “Everyone who works on a movie brings a piece of their lives to that story. The more diverse Hollywood is the greater the variety of movies, and the more we begin to understand our neighbours and become more tolerant.”

Natesha agrees: “I think it’s a necessity!

You will never walk down a street and find two people the same. The sooner that is recognised, we can have equality in media, no discrimination or labels.”

It might then be an encouraging sign that both were able to list many positive examples of recent Hollywood diversity: Moana for exploring underrepresented

up to centre billing as action leads, to which Mad Max: Fury Road and Wonder Woman can attest (although Dominic wonders why it took a decade of male-centric superhero franchising for the concept to catch on).

Almost like the piecemeal shift from black-and-white to early Technicolor, it’s through these new characters, stories and perspectives that the face of Hollywood is slowly changing. But it’s easy for studio executives to sit penthouse-high from the realities of difference and fill quarterly quotas for diversity; as a member of the LGBTIQ community, Dominic notes the importance of diversity being represented by truly diverse filmmakers, and being done right.

“I think the biggest crimes at the moment are to do with trans representation, especially a lack of trans actors playing

“There can never be enough diversity in Hollywood everyone who works on a movie brings a piece of their lives to that story”. cultures and ethnicities, last year’s Ghostbusters for subverting tropes of all-male comedy, Moonlight for its tender handling of a triple-threat of LGBTIQ, race and poverty issues, and so on.

Seven of 20 acting nominees at this years’ Oscars ceremony were of a minority background; films like Lion, Hidden Figures and Fences cleaned house with largely Asian or African-American stories and casts; Beauty and the Beast recently marked Disney’s first gay character, and Moonlight became history’s first LGBTIQ+ Best Picture Winner. Women are stepping

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trans characters,” says Dominic, for which The Danish Girl caught heated controversy in 2015. “Writing diverse roles is easy, but making sure your representation is good is a little trickier. If I get the opportunity to write professionally, that would certainly be a priority.”

Natesha isn’t sitting on her thumbs about it. “Seeing these issues motivates me to create and bring them to light. I can’t wait around hoping someone else will do what needs to be done.”

Yak Magazine // August 2017

Original photo from WikiMedia // Monika Flueckiger

DON’T FOX WITH MY NEWS Jack Moran wants you to think about who owns your news and whether or not you’re okay with that.

Ever read something in The Daily Telegraph and thought it was garbage? Ever read something in The Sydney Morning Herald and thought the same thing? Ever wanted to just find something else to read? Want a print newspaper that offers a new way of thinking that isn’t tied into the ideology of one big conglomerate? Well good luck because you likely won’t find it in Australia.

Research from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), presented in a handy infographic on their website, shows that there only a handful of major players in Australian television, radio and newspapers. Some are companies, such as Foxtel and Fairfax, but most are individuals. They include names like James Packer, Bruce Gordon, Rupert Murdoch and Gina Reinhardt.

If you’re under 30 and not Western Australian, you’ve probably

“Duopoly is about as fun as monopoly – both the relationship-ruining board game and the condition where one company dominates an industry – but with two companies instead”

only read a newspaper published by either Fairfax or News Corp. This isn’t an exaggeration, it’s just a fact. Newspapers in Australia exist in a veritable duopoly. Duopoly is about as fun as monopoly – both the relationship-ruining board game and the condition where one company dominates an industry – but with two companies instead. It is totally a word. It’s in Webster’s Dictionary and everything.

This heavily interconnected web shows how many have stakes in multiple outlets. Bruce Gordon, for instance, owns WIN Television Network and two radio stations while also holding shares in both the Channel 10 and Channel 9 networks. Lachlan Murdoch owns radio network Nova Entertainment, is the co-chairman of News Corp and has shares in Channel 10 as well.

It’s a real word and it’s an accurate word. According to data compiled in 2011 from the International Media Concentration Research Project, News Limited (now known as News Corp) accounted for 57.8 per cent of Australia’s newspaper market while Fairfax accounted for 28.6 per cent. A report submitted to a 2016 New Zealand commission looking at a possible media merger found that the only two countries that have a top company with a larger newspaper market share are China and Egypt. And both those companies are state-owned.

Ultimately, you might look at this and not care. After all, media conglomeration is pretty common worldwide – just ask Disney.

But think about it for a second. In the past year or so, journalism and the news has been put through the ringer. We have to be more discerning of where our news in coming from and what it’s telling us or, more accurately, what it’s selling us.

One explanation for why newspapers in Australia are so concentrated is because of the downturn of the industry.

According to a 2016 article by Tim Dwyer in the Conversation, there has been a long trend of closures and ownership consolidation in Australian newspapers. He finds that there were 21 daily capital city newspapers and 17 different owners in 1903. This shrunk to 15 newspapers and ten owners in the 1950s. Now there are ten papers all owned by either News Corp or Fairfax, with the exception of The West Australian.

From something as simple as your favourite radio hosts promoting a reality television show on a network it has ownership ties with to something more sinister like a newspaper promoting the ideology of its owner, media ownership is an issue and something we need to think about.

Also News Corp owns both Fox News and the Daily Telegraph.

Think about it.

If you’re about to go pick up a copy of The West Australian with the hope that it’s the last bastion of independent newspapers in Australia, I’m sorry but I’m going to have to kill your dreams there. The West Australian is owned by Seven West Media which, as you might have guessed, owns the Seven Network. That brings us to the even bigger and, if we’re being dramatic, even more insidious issue of cross media ownership.

Seriously, check out that media ownership infographic from ACMA at http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/mediainterests-snapshot, it’ll blow your mind and/or make you feel super uncomfortable about media ownership concentration in Australia.

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Designed by: Reid McManus

By: Joanna Lewis

Yak Magazine // August 2017

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

TO THE GIRL WHO WORE AN AKUBRA Madeleine McDonald reflects on Australia’s diverse cultural hotpot

You sit there in primary school, having been asked to write down ‘What it means to be Australian.’ You jot down the classics Vegemite, kangaroos and meat pies, BBQ’s, beaches and beer.

Of course, it’s hard to have one unified national identity when we’ve come from all corners of the globe. As the original founders of this land, the Indigenous community in Australia have made invaluable contributions to today’s culture that cannot be ignored.

The European settlement of convicts also plays a vital role in our nation’s story. But what becomes evident is that there isn’t ‘one thing’ that defines us.

What would your answer be today? Can our culture be defined in so few words?

Immigration rates have risen drastically in the past 20 years, and today 35 percent of Australians over the age of 15 were born overseas. Our citizens identify with over 270 different ancestral backgrounds. This rapid growth in our nation’s ethnic diversity has sparked a shift in our cultural identity.

Sure, we have koalas and kangaroos on key rings. We have a nice bridge and a funky looking Opera House and Uluru. But our nation is also a hub for some of the most diverse cultures. Jewish, Islamic, Chinese, German and Greek migrants are among those that have brought with them a rich array of food, music and art that we embrace. In fact, a lot of what we love didn’t originate here. We’re adamant that the pavlova is Australian-invented, but the claim caves under rumours that grandma’s famous egg-white dessert originated in New Zealand. We might love Tim Tams, Vegemite, and eating Milo from the tin, but we also love our Thai noodles and our Indian curries. We love our Spanish tapas and Italian pizzas. Heck, just admit it - we love the Americans’ ‘peanut butter and jelly’ too.

Ours is a tale of complex multiculturalism. Is it possible to have unity amidst the diversity?

“As the original founders of this land, the Indigneous community in Australia have made invaluable contributions to today’s culture that cannot be ignored.”

Being a multicultural nation isn’t all dreamy and idyllic. It has come with its share of social and political issues and tensions.

This being said, according to a 2015 study conducted by the Eureka Social Research Institute, 84 percent of Australians believe multiculturalism has been good for Australia. Since the abolition of the Immigration Restriction Act in 1972, Australia’s ethnic and cultural diversity has continued to grow into a broad landscape that appreciates the difference in all of us.

As a kid, I didn’t call myself Australian. I just didn’t feel like I was.

I grew up overseas and missed out on the tell-tale accent. I was a blue-eyed, dark-haired girl who didn’t understand what it meant to be from the land ‘down under’.

At my international school we each had to wear our traditional national costume for class photos. It was easy for my friends — they had the Indian sari, German lederhosen, Japanese kimono and Zimbabwean gomesie.

If I could go back and tell little-me what being Australian means, I’d assure her that yes, we do have a national identity. It’s found in the way we accept others; in the potential we see for unity; in our mateship and sacrifice and willingness to have a laugh. It’s in all of us, every bit of it - whether you’re a bogan sheila or a recent immigrant, we’re all Aussies.

“What do Australians wear?” I asked my parents. Mum slipped a pair of flip-flops on my feet. Thongs, she insisted. Dad slapped an oversized Akubra on my head. A stuffed koala was thrust at me, along with a didgeridoo keyring. “That’s our Aussie girl” they laughed.

Maybe it’s time we stop trying to define our Australian culture.

Maybe we can just call it for what it is — an ever-changing, beautifully diverse, celebration of all cultures.

I was jealous of my friends, with their strong sense of national identity. They took pride in their heritage; in their distinctive traditions. I wasn’t sure if Aussies had any customs to be proud of.

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

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Designed by Jackie Brock

CREATIVE WRITING

Yak Magazine // August 2017

I left my home now five years past, air was smoking, bullets fast, And set out for the safer parts, Of this dark and stormy world,

The boat we sailed was cramped and small, packed with people, ages all, I barely even had the gall, But boarded we so desperate,

And when I left I do regret, I left my wife for she was dead, Shot in the heart and in the head, Killed for thinking different,

Out to sea I felt much older, with my son perched on my shoulder, And the girl beside myself I told her, That soon we would be free,

When the darkness came I was not ready, in my direction, war was heading, And like a fire hot and spreading, Consumed all who stood against it,

Further out the boatmen took us, the wind stirred up the waves, and shook us, I felt surely that God had forsook us, As the storm around us rose,

A boy myself I was still young, old at heart, I bit my tongue, And gathered to me my own son, And prepared for us our journey,

The water swamped us deep and higher, smashed the cabin, sparked a fire, Situation once more dire, Our captains took the lifeboat,

Under hail of machine gun showers, we fled our land, we ran for hours, Two fragile little pretty flowers, Grown up among the weeds,

Ablaze, alone, and now adrift, son held tight, with all my grip, But into the ocean cruel he slipped, And joined in death his mother,

Along the way we met more others, missing limbs, and missing brothers, Children cried out for their mothers, In that ceaseless orphan river,

The boat pitched sideways and we sank deeper, committed myself to the reaper, Was glad in my heart that I’d meet her, Family once more,

By dead of night we crossed the border, question raised: land or water?, They asked me if I had daughter, To sell them for a ticket,

But from above the unexpected, a navy ship, she had descended, The angel saved my life from ending, And took us all aboard,

By grace of God we kept on moving, over land, we were improving, From our home we were removing, And the thunder raged behind us,

As we sailed again with new course charted, I said goodbye, to my departed, My new life had just now started, But they took us to a prison,

A year we ran avoiding seizure, made it to green Indonesia, In my dreams I often see her, Wife still from the grave, And so we searched and found a man, who’d take us to the final land, A voyage for the golden sand, Of a place he called ‘Australia’,

And now my life is total failure, locked away, controlled by jailer, If only I had reached Australia, Freedom non-existent.

By Shea Evans

Yak Magazine // August 2017

Papua New Guinea Our volunteer team chugs up the side of the mountain, careening round the bumpy bends in a gaggle of laughter and limbs. Little grins with their matted frizz scramble onto the truck to join us, and I cling tighter to the dry planks that rattle and bounce. A village woman wedged beside me begins singing in Tok Pisin: “Wantaim bekim tok, wokabaut dispela ya. Hanrot lotuim, beten bratasusa luluai.”

We’re already two hours late for the slums, but in this Melanesian world everybody knows that time doesn’t mean a thing.

Now four hours late, we pile off the back tray and head towards a haze of smoke. The stench of putrid clothes and sewerage clings to us in the humid air. Faceless eyes follow me as I trudge through the rubbish, and I watch toddlers dragging cardboard sheets into make-shift shelters.

I reach into my stringed bilum and begin handing out food—salted fish, strips of dried mango, and yam patties.

The children press in on all sides, crying out in delight.

A woman haggles my left elbow, and suddenly I’m holding her baby.

“You take, you take,” she insists.

I smile.

“Take to Australia,” she continues.

My face drops.

The slums are not pleasant, and yet— —I feel at home here.

Sydney A man sits on the corner asking for money. All the world’s weight seems to hang around his neck, and the whites of his eyes plead up at me.

The purse in my hand feels heavy, and I clench it hotly.

My heart drums and eyes shuffle nervously. I glance back at the man awkwardly.

Go green, go GREEN, I beg the traffic light.

It does.

I take one last look back, and then step out onto the road.

And as much as I hate this, As much as it makes me a terrible person, I also love it.

I am not a volunteer anymore.

This man in Australia is not for me to help.

Is he?

By Madeleine McDonald

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Designed by: Reid McManus

Yak Magazine // August 2017

“Following the 2016 election, women make up just 32 percent of the Australian parliament�

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

GIRLS TO THE FRONT Amy McKenna asks, are political parties doing enough to close the gender gap?

Female representation in the Australian political landscape has been an issue rocking the nation since we were granted the right to vote, and be elected, in 1902. Women comprise half of Australia’s total population yet make up less than one-third of all politicians in Australia’s parliaments. The gender gap in Australian politics not only hinders female representation in vital policy areas, but it also goes against the recommendations of the United Nations, who state that men and women should participate equally in the decision-making process of parliament.

Initiative. This initiative, labelled as the ‘Stepping Up’ program, is a prime example of contemporary Australian politics working to improve on the statistics. Young women from each NSW elective, nominated by their local MP, gathered at Parliament House, Sydney. Here, they’re given advice on how to make it as a politician, and discuss how female politicians manage to juggle their careers and responsibilities as mothers.

YMCA’s NSW Youth Premier of 2016, Abby Butler, says that if anyone is under the impression that gender equality has been reached in Australia, they only have to look at our politics to get the real picture.

Similar initiatives, such as the National Labor Women’s Conference, which is held every three years, shows how parties are attempting to increase gender diversity. The ALP says this year’s conference theme, ‘Towards 50-50’, aims at upskilling women to play an equal partnership in the Labor party as they work towards the goal of 50 percent of women in Parliament.

“To put it simply there are slightly more women than men in Australia, yet considerably more men than women in our parliament. From a young woman’s perspective, there needs to be more mechanisms in place that encourage women to be advocates in their local community.”

Jenna Schofield, a young female member of the Newcastle Labor Party, said “Labor and Unions, in particular, are doing amazingly to encourage women to become party members… Another example is Unions NSW, offering more super for females than males. It shows that there are political organisations addressing the issue.”

Hon Catherine Cusack, a member of the NSW Legislative Council for the Liberal Party says that we not only have to look at the raw numbers of women in parliament but where the female roles are located in terms of governance.

Whilst the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Initiative was beneficial to me, it still wasn’t enough to sway me one way or the other. I’m sure many of the young women who sat beside me that day are still hell-bent on becoming politicians, but it seems to me, Australian political parties still aren’t doing enough to close the gender gap, and the statistics echo that.

“The gender gap is on two levels - raw numbers in Parliament and secondly in the leadership positions where all the decisions are made… better engagement, better listening, focus on negotiation and inclusiveness is where we have a chance to do better by addressing the gender gap.”

Following the 2016 election, women make up just 32 percent of the Australian parliament. 39 percent of the Senate is female, whereas only 29 percent of the House of Representatives are female. Out of the major parties, The Australian Greens are leading the charge with 50 percent female representation, followed by the Labor Party with 44 percent and the Liberals with only 21 percent.

There have been attempts by Australian politicians to help close the gender gap in recent years. One such initiative, which I attended last year, is the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

Labor Member for Charlestown, Jodie Harrison, said, “the community expectations placed on a woman to be the primary caregiver in a family unit is something we always have to contend with. Often I am asked how I manage to be a mother and politician, whereas, I have no doubt men are rarely asked how they juggle fatherhood and parliament.”

In 2016 a bill was passed to allow parents to bring their children into parliament, including breastfeeding mothers, in an attempt to make parliament more ‘family-friendly’. In May this year, Greens senator Larissa Waters breastfed her baby, Alia, in parliament.

Waters said she was proud that her daughter had become the first baby ever to be breastfed in Australian parliament. The policy change came after Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, and Minister for Small Business Kelly O’Dwyer was told in 2015 to express more milk to avoid missing parliamentary duties.

Harrison said there is no such thing as maternity leave for politicians. If a female politician has a baby she is still expected to represent her constitutes in all parliamentarian duties.

Senator Waters told Sky News “Women are going to continue to have babies and if they want to do their job and be at work and look after their baby ... the reality is we are going to have to accommodate that.”

Cusack, however, doesn’t believe the change to allow women to bring their babies into parliament is the change we need.

“I didn’t think it was that important or would make much difference.

I was worried it would be seen as some kind of victory for women that relieved pressure to act on more important issues like childcare policy that affects all women, not just a handful of MPs who can’t organise themselves sufficiently to make divisions without their babies.”

It seems much of the disparity is because women face different challenges to men when it comes to being in a leading role. The Pew Research Centre compiled an in-depth study into Obstacles to Female Leadership in 2015, and found that in high-up political offices women are often held to higher standards, they often get less support from the general public as well as party leaders, and many believe they simply aren’t tough enough for politics.

Also, people believe women aren’t suitable for leadership roles because of their family responsibilities.

Instead, Cusack believes we need to look at maternity leave and childcare policy, which is run by a male-dominated treasury.

“Child-care and maternity leave policies have had to be repeatedly reformed due to perverse outcomes that any mum could have told you would happen if only the mums had a voice. Which they don’t. Again this affects men too because as fathers and sons, it impacts their share of household income, work and family balance, so it’s better for everyone to get this right.”

Cusack says that, interestingly, more male MPs have children than female MPs, but it is the women who are the main caregivers.

This year’s federal budget provided no improvement to paid parental leave, which currently offers new parents just 18 weeks of leave paid at the minimum wage.

“Overwhelmingly women are the main caregivers and this is as true in politics as any other profession… however, I would say those of us with rich experience as parents have an enhanced capacity not, as is culturally presumed, a diminished capacity.

What is more challenging is negating the incorrect assumptions about being a mum in politics.”

Cusack also said areas such as climate change and energy policy are very “aggressive” and “alpha-male” which has left citizens with soaring electricity prices and unreliable electricity supply.

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

Cusack believes by increasing female representation in these vital policy areas we could work towards achieving a balance, and more effective policy decisions.

Butler says that quotas shouldn’t be the only answer to closing the gender gap in Australian politics.

“I think that quotas shouldn’t be relied on as the sole mechanism put in place to achieve equality. The individuals who are selected because of the quota are often unfairly dismissed as not being appointed due to their merit. I think they are a good starting point, but need to be combined with grassroots community programs that encourage young women to be involved in leadership and politics.”

The UN explains that the effects of climate change are surprisingly not gender-neutral. Many women in developing countries are highly dependent on local natural resources, as they are tasked with securing food, water, and energy for cooking and heating.

Historically women face limited access to decision-making and economic assets that ultimately compound the challenges of climate change.

Harrison said she is a firm believer of quotas for a healthy democracy, with the Labor Party implementing quotas since the mid 1990’s.

Madelàine Knight, UON politics student, and President of Newcastle Labor Students, said she feels it’s important to ask why women aren’t being equally represented and to look at the institutionalised issues that are holding down not just women but minorities as well.

Although parties like The Greens and Labor are leading the way for equal female representation in politics, a study by Fairfax Media calculated that it will take until 2046 to have 50 percent female representation in Australian Federal Parliament. These estimates are disheartening for women to say the least, as it will take another 10 federal elections to close the gender gap in the Australian Federal Parliament. This shows that political parties simply aren’t doing enough now to close the gap.

Of the 38 Indigenous people elected into parliament in history, only 14 have been women.

Linda Burney became the first indigenous women to be elected into the House of Representatives last year. Burney, a proud Wiradjuri woman, is fighting the institutionalised issues that work to marginalise minorities including the fight for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal people. Burney told the ABC that she believed quotas could be a good solution for getting not only female but minority groups such as indigenous people elected into parliament.

“Of the 38 Indigenous people elected into parliament in history, only 14 have been women.”

“To say there’s been adequate representation over the years is not correct - what major political parties need to do is pre-select Aboriginal people into winnable seats. That’s the trick of getting Aboriginal people into the House of Representatives.”

Cusack says, “I think the major Parties would like to address the gap but their internal decision-making processes are dominated by factional deals and women always do poorly in this model.”

In 1995 the UN declared that 30 percent female representation in parliament was the ‘critical minority’ needed for women to meaningfully influence in legislative assemblies. Australia has reached this ‘critical minority’, with Australian parliament being one-third female, but many believe quotas should still be used to address the slow pace of change to female and minority representation.

Butler says female representation is crucial to ensure women’s needs are adequately being represented in policy creation.

“Policies concerning the tampon tax, abortion and the multitude of other issues that exclusively impact the rights of women are continually being discussed by men. When Donald Trump signed an executive order which restricted women having access to safe abortions, there were no women in the room.”

Currently, Australia has no enforced gender quotas. During the 2016 election, polls showed that the majority of women support quotas whereas the majority of men disapprove the idea. The debate surrounding quotas is also clearly split politically, with the majority of Labor voters supporting quotas, whereas the majority of Liberal and National voters don’t.

Obviously, more needs to be done now to increase the representation of women in Australian parliament, to ensure our voices are being heard in the decision-making process. Whether it’s done through programs, quotas, or education, one thing is for sure, us girls want a voice in the Australian political landscape.

Rwanda was found to be a world leader for female representation in parliament due to its effective use of quotas. 50 of their 80 members of parliament are female, with Rwanda reserving 24 seats for females.

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Designed by: Jackie Brock

Yak Magazine // August 2017

RECIPES OF THE WORLD Ba ked Br ie (Fran ce)

INGREDIENTS:

Method:

4 tbsp fig jam, divided and softened

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius.

1/3 cup dried mission figs, sliced 1/3 cup shelled pistachios, roughly chopped 1/3 cup walnut hearts, roughly chopped

In a small bowl, combine the sliced dried figs with the nuts. Add half of the fig jam and mix well to coat the nut mixture.

Place the round of brie in a small dish. Coat the brie with the remainder of the jam.

Top the brie with the fig and nut mixture.

Bake in 190 the oven for 10 minutes (or until brie starts to ooze, but not melt).

Serve warm.

French Brie

Miser Wot (E th io p ia) INGREDIENTS:

Method:

1½ cup Red lentils

Cook red lentils in water for about a 1/2 hour.

2 cup Water

Then, sauté a large finely chopped onion in olive oil in a large skillet until clear.

1 large Onion; finely chopped

Add a couple minced cloves of garlic, sauté a little more, then put in berbere mix (or normal chilli powder, if you can’t handle berbere!) and a little water to keep it from sticking.

2 tablespoon Olive oil; more or less 2 Cloves garlic; minced 2 tablespoon Berbere mix Dash of water

Add the cooked lentils, and cook everything on low until the lentils completely disintegrate - about 1/2 hour again.

Sprinkle some paprika through to add some colour.

Serve with traditional Injera bread.

CUT ME OUT!

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Yak Magazine // August 2017

INGREDIENTS: 300g flat rice noodle (fresh from Asian grocer or packet- follow instruction to rehydrate) 1 bunch choy sum – cut into 5cm lengths 1-2 cloves garlic – chopped finely 2-3 sticks of Chinese sausage – sliced thinly

Cha r Kw ay Teo w (Malaysia) Method: Heat wok or pan. Add Chinese sausage and fry till crispy. Remove from pan. Leave rendered oil in.

Add a bit more peanut oil and fry garlic. Add choy sum and stir fry till slightly wilted.

Add prawns if you want.

Add beaten eggs and mix in thoroughly. Add Chinese sausage back in.

Add in rice noodles. Stir-fry everything.

Add seasonings (soy sauce, chilli paste and kecap manis) and lastly add the bean sprouts.

1 packet of fresh bean sprouts 2 eggs beated 1 tbsp chilli paste (optional) 3 tbsp soy sauce 3 tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) Oil (peanut or olive) for frying Prawns (optional- see step 2)

Photo by: Amy Lewis

Alf a jor es (Peru ) INGREDIENTS:

Method:

150 g all-purpose flour

In a bowl sift the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and powdered sugar together.

150 g cornstarch

Cut butter in small cubes and add to the dry ingredients. Add the egg and stir in.

1 teaspoon baking powder

Flour your hands and knead to a well-combined and shiny dough.

50 g powdered sugar

Next roll it out to about 3 mm thick. Refrigerate the rolled out dough for at least 30 minutes.

200 g butter (at room temperature)

With a floured round cookie cutter cut out cookies. Place cookies onto baking tray and pierce twice with a fork.

1 small egg

Then bake for 8 – 10 minutes at 170°C. The cookies should stay white and not brown.

Allow to cool.

220 g - 240 g Manjar Blanco (Dulce de Leche) Powdered sugar for decoration

To assemble the Alfajores spread one cookie with a generous teaspoon of Manjar Blanco and then sandwich-like place a second on top. Dust with plenty of powdered sugar.

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Designed by: Reid McManus

THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY Laura Kebby champions the need for a more diverse representation in the music industry, in this special edition of Mic Drop

publicise, and feature at on-campus events. But Canberra’s ANU bar is testament to how even the most progressive of institutionalised environments miss the mark.

In the words of Marie Wilson, “you can’t be, what you can’t see”.

This statement can, and should, apply to everything that we, as passionate young people, decide to pursue. After all, our generation in particular have been told we can do anything we decide to set our millennial minds to. However, how can we continue to assume that our possibilities are endless, if we are yet to see these possibilities in action?

Hosting a mini-fest, that was to be hailed as the ANU’s finale event, they featured 10 acts in total, and failed to include any female or non-binary performers. Something the promoter of the event, Garry Peadon, not only failed to address or understand, but also refused to rectify once it was brought to his attention. He commented; “Why do I have to even worry about this shit, what the fuck is a non binary?”. It’s this problematic approach and lack of understanding and acceptance that trickles down from the top, to finally manifest as mass acceptance.

Industry wise, the music industry is rife with a lack of diversification and representation, particularly in regard to female, queer and non-binary artists. How can we open our eyes to championing diversity, particularly by starting with our little corner of the world?

The age old line of “there were no women available” and the futile list of endless excuses as to why there were no women or nonbinary individuals listed on the line up, surely cannot continue to fly as we progress to the latter half of 2017.

It’s not until you take the time to actually think about the words and music that flow through your headphones on a daily basis that you begin to identify the issue at hand.

The Live on the Lawn event held at everyone’s favourite procrastination point, the Bar on the Hill, featured two wonderful female artists Ali Barter and Gretta Ray, who wowed the crowd with their performance.

When was the last time you took the time to categorise the demographics of the artists you know and love? Using the punk/ hardcore scene as an example; maybe you’re loving the new Smith Street Band record and you caught Violent Soho on tour, got messy in the Dunies mosh pit and went on a wild ride in The Bennies party machine. But did you take the time to throw in Camp Cope, Wet Lips, Girlpool, High Tension or Cayetena?

Even closer to home, local artist Rachel Maria Cox, is a pioneer in terms of highlighting diversity and representation for female and non-binary artists. Cox, founded Sad Grrrls Club; “A collective of non-male musicians and music industry professionals… aiming to promote gender diversity,” and is doing a bloody good job at it.

There is honestly no excuse to discredit the importance of diversity and representation within the music industry, why not start championing it here?

But, surely, universities should present the most inclusive environment for students, and the artists they choose to promote,

31

Photo: Cath Connell

MIC DRO

Yak Magazine // August 2017

INSIDE THE CLOSET

Yak Magazine // August 2017

UON COMING OUT STORIES

Sophie Austin talks to members of the LGBTQI community about how they left their closets behind.

Coming out stories are sort of like apples. There’s all different kinds. Some are sweet, healthy and give you a skip in your step.

Some are sour, bitter and leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Not all circumstances are as easy-breezy as it seems. Our very own Yak member, Angelique, said her coming out story was a cautionary tale.

My own coming out story is less about apples as it is about a few wines and a loud “I like girls!”, I was relieved when my family told me they’d known for a while. But not everyone has the same experience. The term “coming out” refers to the phrase “coming out of the closet”, which involves LGBTQI+ persons disclosing, valuing, or accepting their sexuality/orientation. We got to ask a few UON students and alumni about their coming out stories and how they took their first baby steps from the closet doors.

”I first came out to my friend in year eight, and then to my wider friend group. They basically said, ‘we know, it’s okay, it’s cool.’

“But two girls were scared of me after that and didn’t talk to me anymore. Since then, I don’t tell many people because I don’t know how they’re going to react. If I don’t feel like it’s relevant, then I won’t bring it up.

“I’m wary, especially when I’ve had people tell me bisexuals don’t exist. But hey, hello, I’m here!”

Jessica, student alumni, said she first dropped the hint on a phone call to her mum. “My mum spent most of my childhood asking if I liked girls yet. One then one day I called her up and said ‘so, I’m gay!’”

If you are in a situation where you think it’s time to come out, there is help available. You can contact the QLife association on 1800 184 527 or visit their website https://qlife.org.au/. You can also contact UON Student Counselling services at newcastle.edu.au/counselling

After growing up in a country town, Jessica was unsure of her options, so she dabbled throughout her teenage years. “I wanted to find out what ‘attractive’ was, so I did a little trial and error…. A lot of error,” she laughed. “I copped a lot of flack for that.

* Name has been changed for privacy purposes.

“But when I met [my girlfriend] I, I knew. I just said ‘well, I guess I’m gay.’”

“My mum spent most of my childhood asking if I liked girls yet. Then one day I called her up and said ‘so, I’m gay!’”

Coming out isn’t always a one-time off, said former UON student Charlie*. “Usually coming out is portrayed as this thing that you do once and has all this grandeur and afterwards you’re finally free,” he said.

“But coming out is this continual, non-stop process that I have to live through just about every single day.”

A standout instance through his long-haul with coming out was through a Facebook message. “I was sitting in my room one night and I felt like I needed to tell someone,” he said. “I got on Messenger and told my best friend at the time that I didn’t think I liked women anymore.

“Even just typing it was terrifying.”

32

Designed by: Jackie Brock

WHAT’S ON- AUGUST

MON

7.

TUES

WED

1. Festival of Autonomy

2. Festival of Autonomy

3. Festival of Autonomy

NUNI Toastmasters, 4-5:30pm, room LC205

Free lunch BBQ, Auchmuty Courtyard, Callaghan

Port Macquarie Info Session, 3pm-4pm

Uni Revue, 12pm and 6pm, Brennan room

Uni Revue, 12pm and 6pm, Brennan room

8. NUNI

Toastmasters, 4-5:30pm, room LC205

9. Free BBQ Lunch, Ourimbah and Auchmuty Courtyard, Callaghan

THURS

How To Adult, Ourimbah Uni Revue, 12pm & 6pm, Brennan

10. How To

Adult, Ourimbah

FRI

4. Autonomy 5. Olive Tree Day Party, Bar On Markets, Civic the Hill Park Frenzal Rhomb, 8pm, The Cambridge Hotel

SUN 6.

Harvest Markets, Maitland Showground

NUBUG, 5pm, Bike Hub East

11. Trimester 2 concludes

Happy Hour and live music/ games, 12pm2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

Community Garden time, 12:30pm, Ourimbah

SAT

12. Central Coast Open Day, 10am-2pm, Ourimbah

13. Final

Sydney date for Kinky Boots, Capitol Theatre

Harvest Markets, Maitland Showground

Trivia, 2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah UON BusCom AGM (and PostAGM Celebration), NeW Space

14. Trimester 2 15. NUNI STUVAC begins Monday Movie, Derkenne Courtyard, Callaghan

Toastmasters, 4-5:30pm, room LC205

Free BBQ Lunch, Ourimbah

2 STUVAC concludes

17. Trimester 2 18. Happy exams begin

Free lunch BBQ, Auchmuty Courtyard, Callaghan

22. Cultural

23. Cultural

24. Cultural

25. Cultural

NUNI Toastmasters, 4-5:30pm, room LC205

Free lunch BBQ, Auchmuty Courtyard, Callaghan

How To Adult, Ourimbah

Free BBQ Lunch, Ourimbah

Awakenings Festival

Awakenings Festival

Awakenings Festival

NUPS Professional Development Night, HMRI

Trivia, 2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

Movie, Derkenne Courtyard, Callaghan Morning Rave, 8am, Café Bar, Ourimbah

19. Newcastle

Open Day, 10am4pm, Callaghan

20.

Harvest Markets, Maitland Showground

Trivia, 2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

Community Garden time, 12:30pm, Ourimbah

28. Monday

Hour and live music/games, 12pm-2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

Community Garden time, 12:30pm, Ourimbah

Morning Rave, 8am, Café Bar, Ourimbah

21. Cultural Awakenings Festival

16. Trimester

29. NUNI

Toastmasters, 4-5:30pm, room LC205

30. Free BBQ

Lunch, Ourimbah, and Achumuty Courtyard, Callaghan Community Garden time, 12:30pm, Ourimbah Trivia, 2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah Colour Scramble, Ourimbah

31.

Semester 2 census date Grinspoon, 8pm, The Cambridge Hotel

Awakenings Festival

Happy Hour and live music/ games, 12pm2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

26. Harvest Markets, Maitland Showground

27.

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI 1. Trimester 2 results released

Harry Potter Night, Hotel Delany NUBUG, 5pm, Bike Hub East

4. Trimester 3 begins Create 2308

5. Create 2308

6. Create 2308

NUNI Toastmasters, 4-5:30pm, room LC205

Free lunch BBQ, Auchmuty Courtyard, Callaghan

7. Create 2308 8. Create 2308 Vera Blue, 7:30pm, Bar on the Hill Free BBQ Lunch, Ourimbah

Community Garden time, 12:30pm, Ourimbah

Happy Hour and live music/ games, 12pm2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

Trivia, 2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

2. Olive Tree Markets, Civic Park Harvest Markets, Maitland Showground

SUN 3. Newcastle City Supermoto, Foreshore Reserve

Newcastle City Supermoto, Foreshore Reserve Ekam Yoga Festival, Francis Retreat

9. UONES Engineering Ball, 7pm, Harbourview Function Centre

10.

Harvest Markets, Maitland Showground Arj Barker, 8pm, Civic Theatre Newcastle

Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase, Civic Theatre Newcastle Arj Barker, 8pm, Glasshouse Theatre Port Macquarie

11. Monday Movie, Derkenne Courtyard, Callaghan Morning Rave, 8am, Café Bar, Ourimbah

12. Placebo, Newcastle Entertainment Centre

13. Free lunch BBQ, Auchmuty Courtyard, Callaghan

NUNI Toastmasters, 4-5:30pm, room LC205

Community Garden time, 12:30pm, Ourimbah

14. Free BBQ

Lunch, Ourimbah

15. Happy Hour 16. Harvest and live music/ games, 12pm2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

Markets, Maitland Showground

17.

22. Happy Hour and live music/games, 12pm-2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

23. Harvest

24.

30. Everclear,

Trivia, 2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

18. Mid-

semester break begins

19. NUNI

Toastmasters, 4-5:30pm, room LC205

20. Community 21.

Garden time, 12:30pm, Ourimbah

Trivia, 2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

25. Trimester 3 census date

26. Create

27. Create

28. Callaghan

29. Callaghan

Create 2258, Ourimbah

NUNI Toastmasters, 4-5:30pm, room LC205

Community Garden time, 12:30pm, Ourimbah

Create 2258, Ourimbah

Create 2258, Ourimbah

2258, Ourimbah

2258, Ourimbah

Trivia, 2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

graduation

graduation

Happy Hour and live music/games, 12pm-2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah Dan Sultan, 7:30pm, Bar On the Hill Illy, 8pm, The Cambridge Hotel

Markets, Maitland Showground

8pm, The Cambridge Hotel Harvest Markets, Maitland Showground Wollombi Music Festival

WHAT’S ON- SEPTEMBER

Happy Hour and live music/ games, 12pm2pm, Café Bar, Ourimbah

SAT

Designed by: Reid McManus

MON

Issue 42 // August 2017