Verse Magazine Edition #5 | August 2015

FREE Edition 5 | August 2015 Your Student Mag

InsIde ThIs edITIon Online Detox Phoney Fans To Run or Not to Run? What Depression Feels Like #MarriageEquality

versemag.com.au Another way to procrastinate.

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Edition 5 | August 2015

contact@versemag.com.au www.versemag.com.au Head Editor Jacinta Mazzarolo Editor Holly Byrne Graphic Designer Storm Warman Contributors Jordan Leović, Lēalie Rosa Hayek, Alexander Jacobs, Ashleigh Chapman, Caitlin Tait, Matilda Duncan, Nicole Chia, Rufia Valiff, Heather McGinn, Kaitlin Kavanagh, Adrienne Goode, Jacqueline Norris-Burnett, Nicole O’Rielley, Keachie Manalastas, Jessica Trengove, Belinda Zanello, Lewis Fuller, Madison Alana, Morgan Burley, Sebastian Moore, Bonnie Mcbride, Alyssia Tennant Cover Christmas, 2014, Keachie Manalastas.

Unofficial Johnny Cupcakes holiday posters.

Printer Newstyle Design & Production Consultants Tom Wilson, Georgie Smith The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily representative of the views of USASA or the editors.

Artwork, image production & generation (unless otherwise stated)

by Storm Warman.

Special thanks to Palace Nova Cinemas. instagram.com/versemagazine facebook.com/Versemagadelaide @versemag_adl Verse Magazine is brought to you by

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Editor’s Letter Jacinta Mazzarolo | Head Editor

Hey, you! Yes you, reading this right now… Congratulations! You’ve made it through half a year of university. That’s only five more months of late night cramming (and crying), essays that don’t make sense by the end, and deadlines that sneak up on you out of nowhere.

I’m not sure about you, but my tendency to procrastinate assignments is mainly due my online habit. My ability to alternate between Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and Candy Crush in the palm of my hand – in less than five seconds – is practically a talent by now. Yes, the way we use technology today is immersive and unavoidable, but is it really a good thing?

In this edition we tackle travel, mental health and adulthood, but a lot has also been said about how prolific and intrusive technology is in our lives. Caitlin shares her experience in cutting out the Internet in Online Detox, while Jordan looks at the cultural phenomenon of filming at concerts in Phoney Fans. Even in topics that have nothing to do with technology or the Internet, the subject has been referenced in some big way throughout the piece, which just proves the pervasiveness.

I guess how beneficial it is depends on each individual and how it is used, as discussed throughout this edition. But for now, I would suggest turning the computer off, putting your phone down, and settling in to read this great new issue of Verse, cover-to-cover.

Happy reading!

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Contents Edition 5 | August 2015

02 Letter from the Editor 04 Phoney Fans 06 The Man in the Glasses 08 Am I Really Ready to Be an Adult?

10 Studying Abroad 12

Online Detox

14 What Depression Feels Like 18 Religion in the Debate for #MarriageEquality 22 The Greek Islands: A Historical Odyssey 27 A Feel-good Prose of ClichĂŠs 28 Save the Date 32 To Run or Not to Run? 35 Body Love: A Recipe 36 Moving Away from your Parents 38 In[ter]view: Jessica Trengove 42 #USASAsocial 44 Events Calendar 46 Imag[in]e: Keachie Manalastas 51 Vox 54 The Flowers 56 Reviews: Film / Small Bar / Book

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Phoney Fans Let’s be honest, who hasn’t glared at that person in front of you holding their gigantic phone up at a concert? Jordan Leović explains the attitudes behind this new technological experience.

Words ▶ Jordan Leović The overuse of mobile phones has intruded on an important part of the world of music: the live concert.

Audience members are becoming particularly annoyed with a new trend of taking selfies and film clips of performing artists, blocking their view of what they pay to see.

However, concerts are not the only place where mobile phones have made an intrusion. On unromantic dates, in the cinema or theatre, and at the family dinner table, the temptation of checking the phone seems inescapable.

18-year-old concert attendee Ruby Steyn said that this trend of taking selfies at concerts is a form of selfobsession, partly fuelled by social media.

“This isn’t because people want to preserve precious memories,” she said.

“It’s because they feel as if they have to prove that they are having a good time by sending photos and videos of the concert to their friends,” she continued.

Ms Steyn said that it is this kind of behaviour that has led Generation Y to be dubbed the ‘Look At Me’ generation, in addition to the rise of social media platforms such as Facebook and Snapchat. However, Adelaide-based concert promoter, Anthony Markey, said that this is not necessarily the case.

“Uploading snippets of concerts to social media helps to promote concerts and encourages people to support live music,” he said.

Mr Markey believes that banning selfies and filming on phones at concerts would be a threat to democracy as, “Everybody has the right to use their phone, for whatever purpose, at concerts.”

“It’s a harmless activity and to ban it would be a threat to our freedom and our democracy,” he said.

Conversely, it appears as if older generations have decided not to take much of a part in this controversial trend. During 69-year-old bluesman John Fogerty’s Adelaide concert in 2012, mobile phones “remained in pockets”, said 51-year-old concert attendee Helen Ivich.

This isn’t because people want to preserve precious memories.

“Mobiles were scarcely seen. The general audience were too busy enjoying his music to be fussing about with phones,” said Ms Ivich.

As a young fan of live performances, Ms Steyn suggested that the younger generation should follow the footsteps of their older one. “We can always learn something from older folk,” she said.

“Who cares about capturing the moment on your phone? You’ll remember it better if you capture it with your mind.”

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The Man in Glasses Did you know that UniSA had its very own urban myth? Well, either way, Lēalie Rosa Hayek is here to explain why it may not be the best idea to walk around campus late at night.

Words ▶ Lēalie Rosa Hayek Have you heard about the man in glasses? If you’re anything like me, you probably haven’t. I’m already a third-year student at Magill and I only just found out that my campus has an urban legend. This story is for those of you who haven’t caught wind of it yet, but you’re more than welcome to read along if you already know of it.

A month ago at the radio station I work at, we had a show on the theme of urban legends. My job was to gather public information on the stories people have heard about around Adelaide. My first choice of location to do a vox pop was in Rundle Mall due to the large variety of people there. The results weren’t exactly satisfying to say the least. Everyone spoke of the same things – the Adelaide Arcade Haunting, the Greenhill Road Body, Schneider’s Alley, and the Secret Tunnel Network. Interesting urban legends for sure, but I already knew about them, and it was getting quite repetitious.

I was about to call it quits when someone mentioned something about UniSA. As a UniSA student, obviously I was intrigued. However I didn’t have enough time to research it before the radio show. So I left it as a personal research project a week later. I organised a few more vox pops at the Magill, City West, and City East campuses of UniSA. My topic question was: Does UniSA have any urban legends of its own?

The answer was yes. I couldn’t believe so many people already knew about it. There are a few different versions of the story, so I compiled all the ones I’ve been told and chose the most common version to recount – and it goes like this…

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15 years ago, a man began studying a bachelor of psychology at the UniSA Magill campus. He was a simple, fun-loving man, who never cared for a university qualification, but his girlfriend wouldn’t stop dropping hints and bragging about how attractive smart men were.

Feeling inadequate, he swore to himself he would receive a degree with nothing but high distinctions.

By the end of the year, he was overworked, thin, exhausted, and stressed to the brink of crazy.

The man soon became obsessed. He would study without a break, sometimes going days without showers and food. He lost contact with friends and family. His girlfriend only ever saw him when she brought lunch to him at the campus library and forced him to eat.

Realising how unhealthy his plan was, she begged him to take a break. But he was dead set on persevering. By the end of the year, he was over worked, thin, exhausted, and stressed to the brink of crazy.

One night as he was walking home from the library to take a quick shower and return, the man realised he was being followed. He was too tired to make any effort

to walk faster or defend himself, and a mugger easily pushed him to the ground and beat him up. The mugger took all his valuables and his backpack, but realising the man’s locket was cheap painted tin, he threw it to the ground and turned to leave.

Realising that his handwritten draft assignment was in that backpack, the man flew into a desperate act to get it back.

He used the only thing he could to attack the mugger – the chain of his locket. The mugger died of strangulation. It was the last feather over the heavy tower of stress and the man was driven insane. He made it his personal mission to murder anyone who got in his way of a high distinction. Tens of people died.

Competing students, worried friends, strict tutors, and finally, his girlfriend.

Concerned for his wellbeing, she tried to make a deal with the dean of the university to suspend his enrolment.

And when he found out‌ The man was only brought to his senses when the locket he used to murder his girlfriend popped open. It revealed a photo of the old days, his bright smiling eyes, and his girlfriend cheerfully kissing him on the cheek. Stricken with guilt, he committed suicide right there on the campus lawns. Strangled by his own locket, right beside his girlfriend.

No one is sure what happened with the bodies, but people say he was never given a proper burial, and so he still roams the campus lawns every morning around the hours of eight. If you stare into his eyes, or even look into his glasses, his locket imprisons your soul and you become obsessed with work and study, with no time to care about anything else.

Any time the locket is opened, the imprisoned souls are freed and return to their owners.

But until the locket is given a proper burial, the man in the glasses will continue to roam the campus lawns, jealously taking the carefree souls of others in attempts to free his own.

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Am I Really Ready to Be an Adult?

Even though most of us are legally adults, we don’t always feel (and act) like them. Alexander Jacobs shares his struggles in stepping away from his FIFA game and joining the big bad world.

Words ▶ Alexander Jacobs Initially, I planned to write some beautiful, inspiring piece on adulthood. But you know what? I’m not sure how.

Right now I’m sitting here, playing FIFA while typing.

I couldn’t even set aside the time to focus on one piece of writing and procrastinated to the point of doing this the

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night before the submission deadline! Here I am, at 21, in my final year of a double degree, playing FIFA like it’s the most important thing in the world. Unfortunately, FIFA has to wait sometimes, because I have to act like an adult.

At different points in life there are different things that are important. We all have a moment when you look back on something and think how easy it really was, but at the time it was the toughest thing ever. My current challenge is finding a new job, and not just a job, that horrible thing known as… a career. ARGH NO, I DON’T WANNA. Well, actually I do. I like the idea of a stable career, something that I can learn from and continually improve in, and hopefully make a difference with.

That’s why I chose journalism, because I know I can write and get my voice out there. In a way I’m lucky because I can write, and I’d like to think I can write well, but it’s not easy getting out there. You have to fight for it, and a lot of the time you need experience, and to get that experience you need to have experience…

excitedly catching the new episode each week, and to this day I never get bored of a repeat.

Just recently, I saw Jurassic World and it reminded me of all the times I saw the original movies on TV. There was no high definition, we could only avoid ads if we rented it from Blockbuster, and watching it would definitely mean staying up late past 11pm. Now every night is a late night and assignments, never-ending. Sometimes it feels hard to relax, but I know now I am the one who has to choose to take some time to relax.

Maybe one day I’ll be panicking to finish some work, but the next I could be playing mini golf. Maybe I’m cleaning the garage one minute, and the next racing my girlfriend on the old scooters I found. Imagine, adults, doing adult

Look out for the guy with a HECS debt, scootering around Adelaide complaining about how he keeps losing at FIFA. It’s a shame life gets harder as you get older. More choices have to be made and more questions answered.

They’re tough decisions as well, not just deciding what flavoured Paddle Pop to eat (correct answer is all of them, at once). As a kid, even in high school, parents made your choices, or you had friends to help.

Independence means your own path, and your own decisions. I’m finally starting to understand what is best for me, and working on those key adult skills of budgeting and time management.

Actually, I lie, I suck at time management, although I will never say that in a resume, and my budgeting skills are good until it comes to food, then my money is just flying out faster than Usain Bolt on a treadmill. They are things I will learn, though, unlike how to run as fast as Usain Bolt, because I have short legs.

Is it time to be an adult now? Should I stop watching Disney? I mean, I don’t watch that… But the best things do remind me of my time as a kid. I’ll probably never stop watching The Simpsons because of those memories of

things, pushing themselves along on a scooter. Is that weird? Probably, but it’d be fun.

At the end of this year I’ll have a degree and possibly a fancy career lined up. I’ll also have the chance to watch all the shows from my childhood at will, and ride around on a scooter whenever I want.

The future may be scary, but I’ll be happy to take it on, because I know there will be some brilliant moments that I will always remember. I’m not sure if I will make a good adult; I can’t even play FIFA that well. But who said you have to adult well, to adult? Actually, I don’t think anyone ever said that because that’s a pretty average use of language. Still, you can only learn by experience, and just like jobs, you can’t really get experience as an adult without being one, so hopefully everything will work out. If it doesn’t, look out for the guy with a HECS debt, scootering around Adelaide complaining about how he keeps going back to FIFA. And yes, for those wanting to know, I lost my FIFA match.

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Studying Abroad If you’re sick of seeing all your friends having the time of their lives down your Facebook feed, Ashleigh Chapman might just convince you to study abroad as well.

Words â–ś Ashleigh Chapman

Right now, as I type, I am sitting on the other side of the world. That’s right; I am coming to you right in the middle of a month long internship program in Barcelona, Spain. I am here to tell you, as a previously shy and not-so-independent girl from a small country town in South Australia, that anybody can do this. Sure, the idea of travelling to the other side of the world, by yourself, is incredibly terrifying, but it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, and here’s why.

The opportunity to live in another country Don’t underestimate the impact of cultural experience.

I am currently living with a Spanish host family, and I have no regrets. Living with a family who speaks a different language, eats different food and shares different beliefs, is an experience all in itself. It’s a great way to really immerse yourself in the culture, whilst learning all about the country and getting to try all the local food. It really is just like having a family support system, which can be incredibly comforting when you’re away from home for a long period of time.

However, if you don’t choose the homestay option there are still so many ways that you can experience the culture. Just a trip down to the local supermarket, is enough to see the cultural differences. Don’t be afraid to study in non-English speaking countries, although it does seem daunting, you’ll find that a lot of locals can speak at least small amounts of English. You start to pick up the essential phrases along the way – plus if you really get stuck, Google Translate is a lifesaver!

It’s great for your career Working or studying abroad can provide you with all kinds of connections in your field of choice, whilst also looking great on your resume! If you choose to do an overseas internship – like myself – you’ll have the opportunity to work for a company overseas, and learn from a huge range of professionals in that area. When looking for jobs in the future, an internship in another country, or a degree from an overseas institution, will help you to stand out from the crowd.

independence, this is the perfect opportunity to break out of that bubble. Travelling alone is a skill in itself as you have to be able to trust yourself to make safe and smart decisions. Studying overseas also gives you the ability to adapt to different surroundings, which will come in handy in the future when making big career changes.

Endless amounts of sightseeing opportunities You won’t have to spend all of your time working or studying, so there are so many opportunities to see and do everything that a country has to offer. If you are one of those people who just loves being a tourist, this is perfect for you. There is so much time to just explore and see all of the main attractions. A longer stay in a particular country, also gives you the opportunity discover all of the cool stuff that tourists don’t usually get the time to see (and locals don’t want you to find out about). You can find quirky restaurants and cafés, vintage shopping, rustic bars – you name it. You’ll be calling yourself a local in no time!

You start to pick up the essential phrases along the way – plus if you really get stuck, Google Translate is a lifesaver!

There are also opportunities to explore other surrounding countries. You will definitely have free weekends and holiday periods, so why not travel around why you’re here? In European countries this is particularly easy, as nearby countries are only a short flight away.

Studying or working abroad can be tough and it does involve a lot of work and planning, but it’s definitely worth it. With all of these amazing opportunities knocking at your door, now is the time to take advantage of everything the world has to offer.

Studying abroad provides you with all kinds of skills that can only benefit your career. For those who struggle with

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Online Detox Words ▶ Caitlin Tait

Caitlin Tait tells us how to put down the phone and step away from the laptop, and why it just might be the best thing you do all day.

Just over a month ago, I finished my last class of the day, walked across the road, and caught the bus.

Habit kicked in straight away – I grabbed an apple from my bag, put my headphones in and caught up on everything that had happened in the two hours I was in class. And by ‘caught up’, I mean scroll through social media to pass the time…

Something happened, like a car honking, or maybe someone sneezed (maybe it was fate), but I momentarily looked up. It was in this time that I thought, ‘Wow, we’re already almost at my next stop’ after thirty minutes travel, along with, ‘Every single person on this bus is looking at a screen.’

The little old lady sitting at the front of the bus, the boy next to me, the man in a suit standing up, and the girl in her school uniform who would’ve been no older than eight. If I hadn’t looked up at that exact moment, I probably wouldn’t be here writing this. I would be scrolling through one of the many platforms that are under the bracket of social media.

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I was twelve when I caught my first glimpse of Facebook.

I was sleeping at my sister’s house, and she was showing me photos of our cousins in America. I hadn’t seen photos of them in months, let alone ones that were taken just a few hours ago. It was exciting to have this burst of intimacy and suddenness! It was all happening right away. I couldn’t wait to turn thirteen to sign up and to see all my family every day, even if it was through a screen.

Eight years later, and I have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Tumblr, as well as YouTube and music sites.

Every now and then over the past year, I would log off and make a vow to spend more time offline. More often than not, I’d get a message from someone saying, ‘omg checkout Sam’s new photo, I can’t believe it’, or, ‘Sam’s snapchat story is so funny’. So I would quickly download the app again, sign in, and look at it. I would be back on.

Until I had my next daylong moment of inspiration, that is.

But this time was different. I logged off of everything and deleted all the apps. I deleted everything, but when it got to Messenger, the Facebook chat, I hesitated. I had to keep it. I had group assignments and that was how we communicated. There were friends overseas that I wouldn’t have any point of communication with if it weren’t for Facebook. I forgave myself in advance, and let myself have this. It wasn’t as if I could scroll through it. It was almost a necessity. I cringed thinking that.

I’m still cringing at how true it is.

It was exciting to have this burst of intimacy and suddenness!

However, life went on. Friends would still send me messages to check something on one of the many platforms of social media, and I would say, ‘Sorry, I don’t have it anymore. Screenshot it for me!’ A couple of people would question why I’d deleted them. A couple congratulated me and said that they needed to have a detox, too. It was all pretty tame, until someone was borderline aggressive with it.

‘Why? How are you going to keep up to date?! I’m not going to be the communicator. Ha! No social media.

You’ll be back on in a couple of days.’ This wasn’t a direct quote, but it’s the basic outline of what was said.

I realised that it was ‘cool’ if George Ezra or Harry Styles had offline time, but if it was just me – regular Caitlin – taking time offline suddenly wasn’t so cool.

This brings me to my other point – face-to-face time.

This is a hard one. Like I said before, if it wasn’t for Facebook, I wouldn’t be in contact with friends or family interstate or overseas. I would lose contact with a lot of my nearest and dearest, and unless I was going to give them a call on their home phone each night (or maybe twice a day), they wouldn’t know half of the things I do.

It brings intimacy. It brings suddenness. I stand by it, and I’m so happy that I get to see how my cousin in Victoria is going, what my friend in England has done on the weekend, and see my favourite artist’s new piece.

It’s a two-way street though. If a friend and I spend three hours texting, we could’ve gone out for coffee and gotten through a lot more topics. I could’ve looked at their face and appreciated their beauty, and the way they move when they become passionate about the latest talking point.

Yes, the world has changed, and that is a fantastic thing.

It ought to be celebrated. But it’s important to simplify.

Put the phone down and step away. So often the case of spending hours scrolling mindlessly is due to boredom.

After three weeks off social media, I’ve re-downloaded Instagram. I occasionally check Facebook and I haven’t looked at anything else. I’ve realised their use and I’m more aware of my online time.

If I’m bored and reach for my phone now, I’ll think about my seven-year-old self.

There wasn’t enough time in each day for the things I wanted to see and do. I would watch TV for an hour or two at night and might’ve played a game of snake on dad’s phone. The rest of my time was spent making noise, writing, reading, drawing, running, climbing, and dreaming of big mountains and even bigger ocean waves. Now, at twenty, I can make noise on a few instruments, write more, have a huge stack of books to read and a library card, have a cupboard dedicated to my drawing and painting tools, can still run, can still climb, and can delve into the mountains or waves at any time I choose.

But chances are, I’ll want to take a snap of the view and share it on Instagram.

I don’t have a solution, and it’s tricky no matter what stance you take on it. There are pros and cons – but everything has those.

Maybe all I can do for now is log out more. Look up more. Realise that there are bigger things than what’s happening on your phone. Make plans to see people’s faces. Hike a mountain or swim in the sea more.

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What Depression Feels Like

Matilda Duncan bares her soul in this devastating account of living with depression to remind us why we must shake the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Words â–ś Matilda Duncan Depression feels like a dark, cloudy fog descending over your head; one that no amount of light, no matter how bright, can shine through. The clouds may descend slowly without you noticing. They may flood you as an immediate reaction to something, or your day may begin with awakening to the uneasy sense that they are already there, patiently waiting for you.

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Physical movement is hard; a slow, cumbersome exercise that feels awkward and unmanageable.

Distances requiring more than a few metres of travel seem like a cruel request for you to climb to the peak of the highest mountain, and as enjoyable as huddling there in the freezing altitude. Escaping the catatonic cocoon you have constructed upon your floor or bed is an adventure better saved for

another day. In your mind, today is already written off, time a luxury you can afford. Life, however, most likely requires that you show up for one commitment or another.

Should you manage it, you are vastly impressive and strong. You are also most likely contorting your body into uncomfortable arrangements.

Those in positions of attention may wrench the corners of their mouths into smiles, light into their eyes,

their backs into postures of stony self-assurance. Those that can get away with it gladly minimise social interactions and collapse into the hunched, closed postures that shut out the world as they go about their day, accurately reflecting and reinforcing the presence of the clouds.

Thought patterns become inflexible and brains become unresponsive to new information. Castles with impenetrable walls and extensive defence forces are built, confining lives otherwise meant for adventure.

Concepts like hope, calmness and positivity seem fluid – elusive ideas that slip through your fingers like grains of sand. You may be more than capable in work, study, and life – a usually logical, intelligent, successful, even optimistic, person.

You might not. The clouds do not discriminate. They render your brain sealed off to logic, padlocked to ward off affection and love, airtight against the experience of joy, happiness or creativity. Unless the use of creativity involves planning ways to disappear, those ideas run rampant, often surprising you with their lunacy. Knowingly or unknowingly proposing to destroy not only your life, but also the lives of those around you.

Some submit to these dark thoughts, unable to escape their insidious insistence that the world would be a better place without them. The consequences are utterly heartbreaking. Wasteful.

Preventable. But, when I am deep in that melancholic quicksand

where they once felt so trapped, I do understand.

Attempts to argue your way out of the fog, to shine light through it and expose its sheer ridiculousness using rationalisation and logic feel completely and utterly impossible.

Just as you successfully convince yourself that your latest depressive thought was wrong, if you are able to do so at all, another pops in to take its place. The clouds build and gather until the storm is so large that you can’t even begin to run from it.

Change is possible, not without intense effort and pain, but it is possible.

It’s exhausting, frustrating, neverending, an ongoing marathon effort. Learning to fight it is a game of patience, motivation and strength. It requires taking three steps backwards in which you will get lost and painfully fall on your face to gain every little step forwards. Learning to be aware of your thoughts and catching yourself before the clouds descend upon you seems a worthless exercise, as the period of time for which you can ward them off is so small.

One of the most researched and effective treatments for depression, cognitive behaviour therapy, involves learning to argue and replace dysfunctional thoughts and behaviours. In doing so, the little

battles you wage each day that seem worthless may slowly become the beautiful beginnings of changing your mindset. Change is possible, not without intense effort and pain, but it is possible.

Guilt can swirl amongst the clouds, as you acknowledge how fortunate your life is, how comfortable it is, despite the problems that may be triggering your depression. Anyone who is able to read this and has some change sitting in their in their pocket is richer than the vast majority of the human population.

Although it may seem an effective way to shock our heads out of our clouds, comparing ourselves to those worse off is an ineffective quick fix that may only serve to worsen our emotions as we then become doubly frustrated and ashamed at our inability to shake off our unhelpful thought patterns and destructive moods when they inevitably reappear. Additionally, it is not doing anything constructive to help those worse off, should that be one of your desires. The world desperately needs constructive, analytical, intelligent, caring, empathic and problem-solving minds. People like you. Taking some extra time to seek help and learning to manage your thoughts and moods may be so much more helpful for not only yourself, but also the community you live in, to which you might contribute immensely valuable things once you begin to recover.

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Activities that once brought joy now bring absolutely nothing. This in turn might cause you sadness, confusion and anger. You don’t understand why this is happening to you. Why you can’t just be a normal fucking person and enjoy going to the movies, to the beach, or for a jolly picnic in the park like everyone else.

You feel sad when you remember the joy you used to get from running around as a little kid. You ache to go back to that. You try to rationalise your journey to this point. You drink to loosen your inhibitions, to try to experience fun, but your night invariably ends with you spiralling out of control, a withering mess.

Anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure, is a complete bitch and a debilitating aspect of depression. A friend suggests an activity to cheer you up, but you don’t even want to do anything, at all, ever anymore, because nothing brings you joy and you can’t see how it ever will.

Once the clouds have taken up residence in your head and heart, they are able to extend their ensnaring tendrils towards those

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that surround you, damaging and destroying relationships with some of the most valued people in your life. Once the beneficiaries of your unrelenting love, those you hold dearest instead become recipients of angry outbursts, damaging and unforgivable words, endless tears, confusing self-destructive behaviours and the broken pieces of your existence that you are slowly sabotaging. Your absence materialises, as isolation, withdrawal and perhaps substance abuse begin their pull.

Requests from friends to see the positives in your life engender rage, embarrassment and more depression; you genuinely can’t see them and don’t even want to imagine a future for yourself. Talking is misplaced effort, because no one understands anyway. Friendships turn sour as you demonstrate your unwillingness to share the slightest detail of your day, let alone gatherings, phone calls, experiences.

Some incredible souls may melt your heart with their unfaltering kindness and wage war against your

clouds. They offer gentle words, open arms, empathy, attentive ears, reminders of the person you once were, and reassurance that you are most definitely not what the clouds say you are. In their presence, you may come to feel strong again, momentarily strong enough to reject their urges for you to seek help. You become giddy with just how capable you are, how on top of everything you are. You feel brave enough to react to their suggestions with angry dismissals; their criticism with denial, insult and hurt, as if they are wrong to insinuate there is anything amiss amongst your current state of complete perfection.

You feel that way until you find yourself deep in the darkness again, blindly stumbling and seeking for their hand to hoist you out. Should you have this type of person, or people, in your life, value them and know that you are immensely lucky. Hopefully, they will be there when you finally emerge from the clouds, ready to rebuild. It is not until you reach that point that you will understand just how patient, tolerant and kind they really are.

Talking is misplaced effort, because no one understands anyway.

So the pattern continues, as they burden themselves with the role of rescuer, carer and bringer of sunshine whilst trying to live their

own life, until the toll becomes too great. They cannot do both. The realisation that the clouds were yours to begin with weighs heavy on their hearts as they take their leave and you both grieve a broken relationship. It may seem a sudden abandonment, yet your ever-elusive logical brain quietly whispers that you saw it coming, you didn’t do enough, and you deserve to be alone on this path. Before you know it, you are using the dissolved relationship as yet more reinforcing evidence of your uselessness as a person.

The clouds feed and grow.

I am approaching the end of my undergraduate degree at UniSA, something that I never thought I’d be able to complete after suffering several mental illnesses for many years on end. I’ve managed to get through with relatively good grades, to complete an exchange in

Montreal, Canada and participate in many other positive university experiences, despite having many a day where getting to class felt impossible and exhausting.

I did all this without seeking the help that I needed and making the most of the amazing resources UniSA provides. Despite studying psychology and knowing most of what there is to know about the importance of seeking help, I was reluctant to do so due to the stigma surrounding mental illness. I didn’t see my troubles as being significant enough and thought I was tough enough to go it alone. As I approach the end of my studies and reflect on my experiences and the extra stresses I put myself through, especially to make deadlines when I was very unwell, I regret not making the most of the help available.

I am writing to encourage any student who is stressed out or suffering in any way, no matter how seemingly trivial, to speak up and take a tiny step towards feeling better. This might come in the form of talking to a trusted friend, popping in to your campus’ USASA office to say hello, or contacting the LTU to make an appointment, all of which will be the beginning of many better things to come. I am so excited and proud to finish my degree, but I also know that feeling better and getting well is so much more important than any grade or degree ever will be.

For more information on the symptoms and help available for depression and other mental illnesses, please visit www.beyondblue.org.au.

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Religion in the Debate for #MarriageEquality With America becoming the latest country to legalise same-sex marriage, and Australia still disappointedly behind, Nicole Chia makes a case for marriage equality through conservative Ireland’s recent actions.

Words ▶ Nicole Chia The world was definitely not ready when news broke that the traditionally conservative, Catholic country of Ireland approved gay marriage through popular vote in a referendum. The movement for marriage equality was a clear winner in a historic landslide.

Rainbow flags and scarves could be seen flying high and proud as thousands of overjoyed revellers of all sexual identities began gathering in major cities to celebrate. In a fitting coincidence, rainbows were seen over Dublin and Cork as the final results came in after being delayed by more than an hour.

Out of an electorate of more than 3 million, nearly half a million were declared to have voted in favour of changing the constitutional definition of a marriage between “a man and woman” to that of a civil union between two individuals “without distinction as to their sex” instead.

Irish health minister Leo Varadkar, who came out as the country’s first openly gay politician, describes the move as a social revolution. “People from the [gay] community in Ireland are a minority, but with our parents, our families, or friends, and co-workers and colleagues, we’re a majority,” he said.

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“It wasn’t just a referendum, it was more like a social revolution.”

The high voter turnout, particularly among the majority of young Irish emigrants returning home from overseas to have their say after working abroad, was a great boost to the overwhelming support for the movement for marriage equality.

It also signals a country slowly moving away from the staunch conservatism and influence of the Catholic Church that is finding itself increasingly alienated by its traditional religious teachings on sexuality. The stronghold over Irish politics that the Church holds has been gradually weakening ever since it found itself rocked by a series of a child sex abuse scandals in the early 1990s.

Dr Diarmurnd Martin, the archbishop of Dublin, argued while he did not wish to, “Stuff his religious views down other people’s throats”, that he still felt strongly about protecting gay rights, “Without changing the definition of marriage”.

“I ask myself, most of these young people who voted yes are products of our Catholic school for 12 years. I’m saying there’s a big challenge how we get across the message of the church,” he said.

“It’s very clear that if this referendum is an affirmation of the views of young people, then the church has a huge task ahead of it,” he continued.

It is this dramatic shift in Irish politics that many young Australians are now fighting to see Down Under, especially after the latest Supreme Court ruling in the United States. Dylan Smith, a young and openly gay student studying at the University of South Australia, is one example of such an Australian.

“Australia is undoubtedly one of the more developed countries in the world but we are still lagging so badly behind other countries such as Ireland and Canada in terms of marriage equality,” he said with a sad smile.

“I’ve always hoped while growing up that maybe one day I would be seen as an equal to a heterosexual Australian in any aspect, whether it be marriage or otherwise, but I haven’t.”

The Irish referendum vote marks the beginning of a renewed push for the legal recognition of homosexual unions in Australia for marriage equality advocates who have grown tired of waiting. It also marks the beginning of an extremely long journey. The topic of gay rights, and marriage in particular, seems to have become reduced to

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nothing more than a pawn tossed about in a larger game of political chess.

Speaking to reporters in Sydney last weekend, Prime Minister Tony Abbott rejected any possibilities of holding an Irish-style referendum or conscience vote on the issue by reiterating that his immediate priority was, “Boosting small business confidence” through key measures that he was going to be announcing in the upcoming budget.

University who identifies as a practicing Muslim, said that she personally sees, “No reason whatsoever as to not allow the change” – although it goes against the teachings of her religion.

“I strongly believe in my religion and it teaches me not to condone homosexuality but a country should be run in a secular manner and not based on what any religion dictates,” she explained.

“I don’t see any reason whatsoever as to not allow the change.”

Furthermore, Dylan Smith argues it is the state that should decide what the nature of marriage is in Australia, and not the minority view of some political and church leaders. “We vote for all these white, male, and somewhat religious, politicians who still cling on to extremely traditional views that clearly do not reflect the views of an overwhelming majority of Australians,” Smith said.

“Not for a second do I want to underestimate the feelings that people have on this issue, both for and against, not for a second, but my priority as Prime Minister…is to give the small businesses of Australia the confidence boost that they deserve,” he explained.

The devout Catholic who is well-known for openly opposing the nature of homosexual unions had even went so far as to admit that he was the, “Last holdout for the traditional position of marriage” within his family.

He does, however, now face an overwhelming majority of Australians who are unwilling to accept his religious views on what the nature of marriage should be.

Federal Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, has responded to such cries for change by successfully introducing a marriage bill into parliament, just like he had promised.

Shorten admits in his speech that while he has his own personal religious convictions that there was, “Nothing contradictory about extending love, compassion, charity, and respect” to a community of people that still face significant levels of discrimination in varying forms today.

“I understand that for people of different faiths that this is a complex question and that’s why I respect this and support a free vote,” he said.

In a recent poll conducted by Crosby Textor, the Liberal Party’s national pollster, nearly 70 per cent of voters in each Australian state wanted to see marriage equality.

So did a majority of Australians who identified with major religions such as Catholicism, Buddhism, and Islam.

“Just as churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues of all faiths and traditions will be free to choose if they consecrate same-sex marriages, let the same respect allow Australians to freely choose who they marry without vilification or judgment,” Shorten continued.

In many European countries, and more recently Ireland, marriages are civil ceremonies that are performed by the state and relevant church bodies are given the freedom to choose which unions they are willing to bless in a separate ceremony afterwards.

The inability to marry, Smith explained, is only the tip of the iceberg. One of the more confronting forms of discrimination and vilification that those in the gay community regularly face is the fear of, “Being bashed up”.

Aminah R., a medical science student studying at Flinders

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“My parents are alright with my sexual orientation but they always tell me how worried they are everyday that I will get bashed up on the streets,” he explained.

“If two people love each other and wish to commit to a life together, they should have the option to be recognised equally under the law,” she continued.

“I have just slowly come to accept that while I haven’t exactly been bashed up yet, I probably will be one day.”

Most of these young people who voted ‘yes’ are products of Catholic school.

While the escalating levels of homophobic violence are an issue of paramount concern within Australian society, it is one that is often rarely projected in the media or discussed about. In a study conducted by the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project, only 10 per cent of lesbians and 48 per cent of gay men report the disturbing levels of harassment, entrapment, and violence perpetrated against them.

The issue of homophobic violence was only brought into the spotlight when a gay man was bashed to death in Sydney in 1991 by a group of young men who had decided that they would, “Beat up a fag”.

In order for a bill to pass through parliament, there are many stages that it still has to go through. The proposed amendments will require support from the two Houses of the Federal Parliament — the House of Representatives and the Senate. Any changes to the traditional definition of marriage as, “Between a man and woman” will only occur after it has been passed in identical form by both Houses of the Parliament and assented to by GovernorGeneral Peter Cosgrove.

If Liberal MPs were allowed a free vote on the issue, Smith estimates that Australia would then be only, “A few votes away” from having same-sex marriages approved by a majority in both Houses.

“I heard from somebody that we are only a few votes away from legislating same-sex marriage if our Liberal MPs were to be granted a free vote and that’s amazing,” he enthused.

Bill Shorten’s move to bring the issue forward, however, has sparked criticism from a number of Liberal members who have accused the Labor leader of unnecessarily grandstanding and politicising the issue even further.

“I can’t wait for the day where a secular Australian government decides to recognise me as a citizen that is not somehow regarded as lesser and second class,” he concluded.

Victorian Liberal backbencher Sarah Henderson is one of the many throwing her support behind the bill by agreeing that a free vote could most likely provide it with the numbers that it will need for it to successfully pass through parliament. “I confirm that I support both marriage equality and a free vote for the Coalition MPs,” the former ABC presenter said.

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The Greek Islands: A Historical Odyssey With all of the economic and political unrest in Greece currently, Adrienne reminds us of the beauty, the incredible history, and why people continue to be enchanted by Greece.

Words ▶ Adrienne Goode According to Hesiod, ‘at first Chaos came to be’, but what appears now is the tranquil and picturesque waters of the Aegean. Chaos was a dark and unsettling void of darkness that the Ancient Greeks considered to be a mixture of air, water, earth, and fire. But now, the

air is calm, and the water peaceful.

The earth holds depths of wisdom so divine and the civilisations that developed from fire reside in a world of undying legend. Our extravagant ship sails through the islands, the summer’s sun beams down on the world, and simultaneously the two

create ripples of light beneath the water. Our ship may be modern, but the history of the Greek Islands stubbornly, and inspiringly, refuses to die.

From the waters, Kalliste is simply spectacular. The white buildings the

island is famous for scatter across the top of the rock walls like snow on a mountain or frosting on a cake.

They shine between the earthy brown colours of the land and the bright blues of the sky, creating a postcard-perfect sight. From an altitude of 220-metres, the island of Kalliste reveals a breathtaking view that is like no other. Literally meaning ‘the most beautiful one’, Kalliste in the Ancient times was home to the Nymphs of the sea.

Today the island takes the name of Santorini and, as its original name suggests, it is undoubtedly one of the most stunning places on earth.

Santorini truly appears to be a reallife fairytale. However, the origin of this magical island recounts horror and devastation. What was once a single landmass is now a collection of five different islands resting in the Aegean like a deconstructed jigsaw.

In the mid-second millennium BCE, these ancient islands endured one of the most catastrophic volcano eruptions in history; causing the single round island to fragment into the series of islands the world knows today. Only recently have archeologists discovered how destructive this event really was. The eruption was almost four times the magnitude as initially believed, six times the size of Mount Vesuvius’s eruption on Pompeii in 79AD, and was 40,000 times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb. The remnants of the Minoan eruption of Thera has formed the mountainous walls that surround our docked ship, secluding us from the rest world, seducing

us to Greek glory. In Santorini, everything is pleasantly enhanced: the whitewashed limestone buildings, the lapis lazuli waters, and the arrays of yellows, oranges, and purples that brighten the caldera at sunset.

Aside from the physical beauty of the island, Santorini offers a unique charm that, for me, emerges from the myths, history, and traditions of the ancient world. The myth of Atlantis describes the lost paradise that was once flourishing land and suddenly vanished, sinking into the sea by the doing of the angry Gods.

Many believe that Santorini was once Atlantis, and as discussed by the Greek philosopher, Plato, ‘there occurred violent earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night of misfortune all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea’.

between the stone field walls takes you back in time to when the land was prosperous, the Greek Gods and Goddesses were worshipped, and the deadly wrath of the Thera volcano was only a distant fear.

The Greek Islands are the stepping-stones to thousands of years of history, and as we sail deeper through the islands, I am being drawn more and more into the ancient charm. In an idyllic landscape in the western Peloponnese rests the ever-famous Olympia. Surrounded by a pinewooded vale and flourishing with lilac Judas trees, the birthplace of the Olympics feels sacred, yet distinctively powerful. On the acropolis of Mycenae in the original Greek capital, Nafplion, lays Agamemnon’s castle, demanding to prevail. The limestone cyclopean walls have endured centuries of war, yet they continue to stand tall.

As its original name suggests, Kalliste is undoubtedly one of the most stunning places on earth

The settlement of Akrotiri is suggested to be a possible inspiration for Plato’s story of Atlantis. Situated in southern Santorini, Akrotiri offers an insight into the sophisticated settlements of the ancient times. The traces of the communities that once inhabited this lost world are still visible to this day. Journeying through the quarries of Akrotiri and walking

Walking through the Lion Gate takes you back to the era of the Trojan War and to the home of the eminent Helen of Troy. A trip through these stepping-stones really is an historical odyssey in itself. In Homer’s Odyssey, heroic Odysseus takes us on a journey home to Ithaca from Troy after the Trojan War. As we sail through the waters of Scylla and Charybdis and sail past Aeaea, the

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home of the witch Goddess, Circe, we are following Odysseus in his footsteps, though in only ten days instead of ten years.

A trip through these stepping stones really is an historical odyssey in itself.

Grubby, not gorgeous. Ruling, not remote. Athens is a city where antiquity encounters the present and where traditions connect with modern life. With every glimpse, we discover a multi-layered social and historical city, covered in graffiti and intertwined with urbanity. There is a distinctive, yet impalpable, scent that immediately brings Athens vividly to mind; a mixture of the suburban smells of the port, the ancient limestone structures, the antique smell of the shops, and the fuel exhausts of the many vehicles on the road. Garbage is piling up,

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and tempers are rising in Athens.

‘The garbage collectors are on strike,’ our tour guide, Katerina, groans whilst pointing to the rubbish lining the streets and shaking her head.

Athenians are loyal and passionate about their city, and with a story so inspiring and their home being the center of Greek civilisation for some 4,000 years, I almost wish I could call myself an ‘Athenian’.

Beyond the urban sprawl and the pollution stands the acropolis of Athens – the apple of the city’s eye. Surrounding the acropolis are humble caves where air, earth, and fire have met to share an eternal sleep. Walking up the intriguing pathways to the top of the Sacred Rock creates a sense of solitude, unlike the neighbouring city.

Hundreds of olive trees seclude us from the hustle and the bustle of the streets, surrounding us with their protection; much like the protection Athena has provided the city with for thousands of years. The olive tree was a present from the Goddess

Athena, the city’s patron, in a time of rivalry on the brink of war. Where Poseidon offered the citizens a frothy spring of salty water with a thump of his trident, Athena planted a much more valuable gift. There, she granted the Athenians with olives as sustenance, a source of oil, as well as wood for building houses and boats.

At the top of the Sacred Rock is an ensemble of grand temples, and shining bright is the most striking structure of the Ancient World.

Simple, balanced, and orderly, the Parthenon is the apotheosis of ancient Greek architecture. The combination of experience, wisdom, and human effort from generations is crystalised in the Parthenon – the culminating architectural achievement of ancient Greek spirit.

It took only nine years for the Greeks to build such a monument, but repairing it is taking much longer.

The Parthenon has been shaken by earthquakes, set on fire, blown up with gunpowder, and ransacked

for its sculptures. The Greeks are renowned for their architecture, and the Parthenon’s faultless proportions and balance make it deserving of a place in the ‘Wonders of the World’.

From afar, the Parthenon seems completely straight and symmetrical.

In reality, however, not one of the columns is entirely straight or parallel. On one side, the Parthenon is covered in scaffolding, and on the other is a burst of creams, browns, and greys. Although the limestone is chipped and the roof no longer intact, there is an overpowering the presence of the anthropomorphic statues that once decorated the Parthenon.

At just over 150-meters high, the view from the Acropolis is remarkable. The city sprawls as far as the eye can see, and you

almost feel like a deity overlooking the world. From here, the Theatre of Dionysus is entirely visible and I am only left wishing I was sitting in the audience, watching as Euripides took the concept of Greek drama to an entirely new level. The theatre holds such depths of joy and education and is home to the ghosts of many innovative playwrights. I remember my high school Classics teacher, Mrs. Thursby, once saying ‘the Classical Greeks were so thoughtful and sensitive to what it is to be human, and so their stories, their literature, and their drama has formed a basis for much of our literature today’.

Her words jump out at me instantly as I observe the theatre where the classical playwrights taught the world of morals, Dionysian rituals, the gods and the heroes, and what it truly means to be human.

To this day, the city of Athens continues to present an aura of the Ancient Greeks who reached their peak almost 2,500 years ago. The Acropolis is truly magical, crowning the old towns that rose from prehistoric grey concrete. Some of the world’s greatest museums, the first modern Olympic arena, and the pedestrian-friendly streets are all in view from the summit of Athens.

You can feel the pride of the Gods and the civilians meeting in the middle, sparking to ignite the Sacred Rock.

On the exterior, the Greece is a magical and striking slice of paradise that entices us to value the present.

The hearts of the islands, however, inspire us to appreciate the lost world and the legends of the past.

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A Feel-good Prose of Clichés If you know someone who smells like roses, you should tell them as Rufia Valiff explains how easy it is to change someone’s day with a compliment.

Hey, it might even make you feel good too.

Words ▶ Rufia Valiff | Image ▶ Belinda Zanello I truly believe that people are inherently good.

Whether it is the kind old lady who pays for your bus ticket when you’re 50 cents short (caught out again, pretending to be a high school student), or the one friend who digs deep into their purse when approached by a homeless person while having their own lunch, or the feel-good Buzzfeed articles clogging up your social media feeds.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

At the beginning of last year I made a resolution: to give out a minimum of a compliment a day to a stranger, a loved one or an acquaintance. I didn’t factor in my inability to show love to my family, so when it came down to the crunch, I found it easiest to tell strangers they smelled good.

Working in hospitality gives me ample opportunities to throw my love to strangers. I started off telling Trish (flat white with 1) that she had beautiful eyes, and then told Vanessa (skim, half-strength latte) that she smelled like roses. This one was my favourite.

I immediately developed an addiction to the rush I received from giving out compliments. Is that selfish?

Saying nice things to people so their smile makes me smile?

Too bad.

The ability I’ve discovered in myself, to change a person’s expression and the way they spoke to me is incredible.

Everyday I find that people are so shocked by a stranger giving them compliments (with no interest in taking them to bed). I can make a grumpy old woman go from throwing her coins at me without a glance, to giggling like a schoolgirl whenever she saw me.

I found it easiest to tell strangers they smelled good.

It could be argued that this is insincere, or phony, but my only aim is to open lines for communication and break the ice, because isn’t that what sets us apart from animals? Human connection is the ability to think from the perspective of others, and our deep-seated drive to exchange our thoughts.

Even at the minutest level, most people have some inkling of kindness that ties us all together. It is so easy to become discouraged by humanity, and I am not suggesting we view life through rose-tinted glasses.

Instead, be aware of others, and how you influence them.

The next time you become frustrated or upset at how someone is treating you, remember that everyone has faults, and that person is probably just having a really shitty day.

Be kind, rewind.

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Save the Date If you’re having trouble coming up with date ideas that don’t involve a Happy Meal, Heather McGinn is here to save the day (and maybe your relationship).

Words ▶ Heather McGinn As a mature age student, I’m often surprised by the differences between my courtship habits and those of my fellow students. I’ve noticed that my Generation X tends to be better versed in how to date. Perhaps this is because we began our romantic endeavours before the dawn of Internet equipped mobile phones.

4. Indie films; get yourself and your crush along to the Mercury or the Palace Nova for an arthouse film experience, plus ample opportunities for hand holding in the dark. ‘Dinner and a movie’ has been done to death, but it works because you have something to talk about, which helps to break the ice.

Bond with your date while laughing at a hen’s night murdering the Spice Girls’ greatest hits.

So, with that in mind, I’ve come up with some suggestions of where to do your wooing which are cuts above the standard flirtation via Messenger, followed by heavy petting behind a lecture theatre. Just send the object of your affection a casual message and suggest one of the following: 1. Chinatown; kooky shops, bubble tea, food court, and the lions. Need I say more?

2. Music; check out an online gig guide, get a jug of beer, and discover a hot new band together. Show your date that you support the local arts scene, as well as your killer dance moves.

3. Art gallery; visit the big one on North Terrace or seek out an independent outfit, grab a coffee and get chatting.

Most exhibitions are free of charge, so this is a good option when you’re feeling skint.

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5. Karaoke; La Sing on Gouger Street is my favourite, as they have food, booze, and an excellent cabaret style set up. You can bond with your date while laughing at a hen’s night murdering the Spice Girls’ greatest hits.

Any of the above make a refreshing change from furtive glances across the table at uni, surrounded by half a dozen other students. Take a chance on romance. If you don’t have anyone special in mind, take a mate out instead. It’s a good way to rehearse for the real deal. If you don’t have any mates, come and find me (especially if you have a beard).

I don’t bite. Not unless you ask.

MOVIE

Kingsman : The Secret Service (MA) – Fri, 7th Aug Pitch Perfect 2 (PG) – Fri, 21st Aug FREE Popcorn, soft drink and hot drinks station.

PLUS DVD Prize Pack and Giveaways on the night.

Movies start at 6.00pm, so get there early to grab your spot!

Above: ROLO Tony’s World, Pen, 2015, Lewis Fuller.

Right: Tree of Life, Pen, 2015, Lewis Fuller.

Lewis Fuller aka Rolo Tony or Indica is an illustration student currently studying at UniSA. http://indica138.deviantart.com http://www.redbubble.com/people/indica138

To Run or Not to Run Kaitlin Kavanagh discusses her thought process, insecurities, and competitive prowess in the decision on whether or not to take on the daunting task of completing a half-marathon.

Words ▶ Kaitlin Kavanagh Lately I’ve been battling internally whether I want to take that next step as a runner and take part in a half-marathon. I’m sure many passionate runners go through the same process of whether to take the next step and how to go about training for it. However, I am less concerned as to whether I’ll be able to finish the marathon and more about whether I really want to take the plunge at all!

Running is something that I have only recently discovered and it’s definitely my favourite past time. I took it up and started running seriously just over a year ago now, and I haven’t been able to stop since.

But running, to me, is so enjoyable because it is like no other ‘sport’ I’ve ever experienced. I am so content to run because it’s not about how fast I am going, or how well I can run, but rather the very in the moment experience of stepping out my front door and performing one of the most basic human movements. It is such a raw, free, and isolated experience that I find it hard to imagine doing it for any purpose other than to simply enjoy it.

I am also naturally competitive. I instinctually compare myself to others in all aspects of my life, and having had no real sporting ability in the past (my physical education teacher definitely saw no potential in me and I was too stubborn to try), comparing my physical ability to others is a daunting experience. It also takes away from the calm feeling I usually get from running.

Whenever I visit my mum and run with her (although I still enjoy it), my mind jumps to thoughts about my running pace and pushing myself a little further than her. I’m constantly aware of my surroundings. But I don’t want running to be competitive – I want it to be meditative!

My physical education teacher definitely saw no potential in me and I was too stubborn to try.

I have only ever been involved in one running event, the City-to-Bay run in 2013, which was a 12km run.

It was a great experience, and I will probably do it again one day, but there are certain things about it that I did not enjoy at all.

My real concern is that running in a formal setting such as a half-marathon will have me focusing on an event, rather than an experience; one that I usually have on my own without thousands of people running beside me.

First of all, the realisation that there would be a set time and day to complete this run was a stress-inducing idea to me. I had a deadline, and I had to do it as far as I was concerned. There was no backing out and I needed to be both physically and mentally prepared to run in this instance.

However, despite my concerns, I think one day I will complete a half-marathon. Although I’m sure the experience will be different for me, and my headspace will not be the same as when I usually run, it could still be a great experience. It’s something that I’d like to prove to myself that I can do. Any opportunity to run, really!

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JOIN UNISA SPORT AND BECOME A PART OF TEAM UNISA

Go #TeamUniSA unisasport.edu.au /unisasport /unisasport

Participate in campus sports programs including Sports Fix and Fitness Fix offering free exercise classes such as Pilates and yoga as well as social sporting competitions on campus.

Join Team UniSA in one of the many community events including the City to Bay and Bay to City fun runs and much more. GET INVOLVED NOW!

CRICOS PROVIDER NO 00121B

UniSA Sport is your gateway to all sport and recreation at the University of South Australia.

Join one of the many sports clubs, from soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, karate, judo, rock climbing and many more. Compete at one of the national or state intervarsity competitions and represent Team UniSA.

Body Love: A Recipe Words ▶ Jacqueline Norris-Burnett | Image ▶ Madison Alana

Ingredients - 1 boisterous remark from a former lover, ice cold - 1 chatty cashier who cannot fathom that you are more than friends, beaten - 1 definition of the word ‘pretty’, taken from society’s lung and chopped - A thousand magazine covers, finely shredded - The dirty looks of people in the street - 1 comment about your weight from someone who ‘means well’ - The heart of that teacher (if it exists) who told you that you were not good enough, pulverised into a paste

Method Pour ingredients into society’s melting pot and watch burn.

Serves: 6 affection starved girls.

Left: Queen Delphine, 2015, Watercolour

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Moving Away from your Parents (and Why it’s the Best Thing!)

Words ▶ Morgan Burley

Even though moving out of home is a natural progression in growing up, that doesn’t make it any easier. Morgan Burley shares her experience to make your transition a little less daunting.

Lets face it, when you’re a teenager, you can’t wait to get away from your parents and find your own way of life. To do whatever you want and not have your parents breathing down your neck in disapproval.

But, there comes a time when it becomes very real – and very scary. Many people, instead of leaping forward with both eyes closed, scurry back and hide under the warmth of their parents. Here is why taking that huge step forward into the unknown is the best thing you can ever do.

1. Independence So, you’ve just moved out of home and I bet you are thinking, ‘HELL YES! I BROKE FREE! I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT!’ Well, yeah, you get independence.

Which is amazing – trust me! You get to create your own way of life, you don’t need to ask your parents to borrow the car, or let them know you won’t be home until late.

It’s great! But, you are also starting from the bottom.

As opposed to the big house with heaps of furniture and food always in the cupboard, you become accustomed to

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having beanbags in the lounge room and paper plates in the kitchen. It’s a change, but it’s the best. We’ve all seen those movies of uni students being broke and sleeping on air mattresses, but having a blast. Well, that’s what it can be like at times. It is the time of your life when you are flat broke!

2. Learning to set up your future Let’s be honest, when you first move out, you spend money like there’s no tomorrow. In your mind, you still believe your parents will pay for everything. And then…

BOOM! There are the bills! Yep, it is devastating when you have to hand over your money for rent, bond, electricity, water, gas, food, and even the car. It sucks.

It really does. You work hard in a job, with let’s face it very little sleep from the all-nighter you pulled trying to get that assignment done, only to have $5 left at the end of the week that you can actually spend on yourself.

That’s when you start to realise the true value of money.

I saw a picture of Facebook earlier today that said, ‘When you’re a kid, $20 seems like a $100, but when you’re an adult, $20 seems like $1’. It is gone faster than you can snap your fingers! Sometimes you have to say no to going clubbing, or seeing a movie, but you learn to manage your money and set up savings for your future.

3. You will never be bored When you move out, you can’t always afford Foxtel and a Wii console, but you can never truly get bored.

When I moved out of home and down to Adelaide (I’m from Queensland), I was terrified, but I had so much to explore! If you have a day free, go and explore the city you live in, go meet up with friends at a park and either have a picnic by the river, or play a game of soccer.

The sky’s the limit, and you know what? It doesn’t cost you a cent.

There are heaps of things to do; you just have to open your eyes a little wider. Go for a walk, see a movie, head into the city and explore! If you want to go out at 2am, then go out at 2am! Do whatever you want. You don’t live with your parents anymore. You will never truly get bored when you’re independent.

4. It strengthens your relationship with your family So this is my own personal experience, but when I moved out of home and was living a fair while away from my family, I became a lot closer with them. My mum and I are great friends now that we’re not arguing over the dishes or going outside. Distance can be amazing for the family. I actually really like my sister now. I can’t spend more than one week with her without wanting to kill her, but when we’re apart, it’s glorious. If you are hating on your parents or your siblings, take a step back, give it

some time, and wait for the relationship to grow. They’ll be your best friends.

5. You’ll have the time of your life!

Living away from home can be hard, but it is so fun!

Yeah, you make mistakes, but you just get back out there and live your life. You may go through a rebellious stage, when you get 20 tattoos and piercings, just for the heck of it. You may regret it later, but it’s the experience.

Knowing that you have gone out there and lived your life the way you wanted to, is the best! I went home for Christmas last year and it was then I realised how much fun I am having! It’s when you go back to your old life that you realise how much you have changed and how you have shifted your life into its own direction. I know that if I were to ever move back home, I would really struggle! I’m so used to doing my own thing, it would be difficult to adjust to my parents’ way of life again.

You become accustomed to having beanbags in the lounge room and paper plates in the kitchen I’m not going to sugar coat it for you, living away from home can be hard! Whether it be financially or emotionally, living away from the security of your parents is difficult. Wondering if you’ll be able to afford going to see the new hit blockbuster movie, or if you will get enough shifts at work to afford your rent, sucks. It stresses you out and sometimes you may just breakdown.

But you know what, it always works out.

Take the leap into the unknown and enjoy every minute of it! You’re only young once. Soon you may be married with kids and a full-time job. You won’t be able to spontaneously decide that you are going to get completely smashed in 15 minutes and stay out all night on Hindley Street.

Live it up and enjoy every minute of it. It’s your life… take control!

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In[ter]view

Verse Mag’s Regular Graduate Interview Words ▶ Jacinta Mazzarolo

Here at UniSA we’re lucky enough to count Olympic medallist marathon runner, Jessica Trengove, as one of our successful alumni. Jess talks to us about her recent altitude training, amazing athletic achievements, and preparing for the next Olympics. Oh yeah, and how in the meantime she’s also a practicing Physio.

You were just in a competition over the weekend, what was that for, and how did it go?

I raced in the Asics Gold Coast Half Marathon. Five weeks ago I undertook a three-week block of altitude training in Flagstaff, Arizona. This race provided feedback as to how my body has responded following this type of training and formed part of my preparation for the Melbourne Marathon in October. I placed 4th in my second fastest half marathon and my fastest time for this course. I was hoping for a little bit more but there were still plenty of positives to come out of the experience.

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Congrats! Seeing as your brother Jack is the former Melbourne Demons captain and your sister Abbie represented the state in rowing, it safe to say you grew up with sport from a young age?

We had a fantastic sporting culture in my hometown of Naracoorte. My primary school was surrounded by a pine forest and cross-country was a big event on the calendar every year. After sitting out in my first opportunity to race cross-country as a six-year-old because of nerves, I soon discovered a bit of a love for endurance running!

It was so special to have family members, friends and some great Australian athletes, past and present, there.

Long distance running is not for the faint-hearted, what goes through your mind and how do you get through those gruelling hours?

Having a specific goal certainly helps. I have my long-term ‘ultimate goal’ which drives me and shortterm goals to help me stay motivated, and to track my progress along the way. On low intensity jogs, I’m a bit of a daydreamer and think about all sorts of things. High intensity workouts and races are all about focus, concentration and will power. Having a balanced approach to life with respect to socialising, working as a Physio and having projects outside of training helps me to get through the hours of training. Consistent sleep and food is also a must!

In 2012, you competed in the London Summer Olympics.

Tell us about that experience?

The 2012 London Olympics were incredible. The city was buzzing – I have never heard so much noise out on course for the entire length of the marathon. I soaked up as much as I could from the experience and learnt a lot from my team members and the athletes/coaches/ medical staff around me. Surprisingly, I felt quite calm on race day because I was just so happy to be out there in

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the green and gold. The support from my family, friends and people from South Australia and Australia as a whole was incredible. I was happy with my 39th placing out of 118 in a time of 2.31.17 hours.

And speaking of amazing achievements, how did winning bronze for the marathon at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games compare?

That one is hard to beat. The feeling of running down the final straight with the support from the crowd and realising that I was about to win a bronze medal for my country was surreal, but I made sure I enjoyed the moment. I felt quite emotional at the finish line because it had been a challenging build-up. It was so special to have family members, friends and some great Australian athletes, past and present, there.

Incredible. You studied physiotherapy at UniSA from 2006 to 2009, what drew you to that career?

I actually dreamed of becoming a veterinarian like my Dad however I didn’t yet feel ready to move interstate for that course. Having deferred vet science, I decided to enrol in physiotherapy at UniSA to see how I would find it. The uni culture and friends that I made in first year meant that I was hooked. My years at UniSA were very enjoyable and the physiotherapy course prepared me very well for my postgraduate endeavours.

You mentioned before you still a practicing physiotherapist? How do manage competitions, training, sponsorships and events, and such a job?

I am currently practicing part-time at Sportspinal Health in Hawthorn, Victoria. Having spent seven fantastic years with Scott Smith and the team at Flex Clinic in Adelaide, I decided to spend a year in Melbourne to broaden my perspective as an athlete, person and physiotherapist.

The experience has already taught me a lot and I have enjoyed exploring some new territory in my training.

Finding the ‘right’ balance is an ever-changing challenge with various training camps, competitions, some heavier training periods than others and fluctuating commitments outside of training that come with the sport. It keeps it exciting though and I love having a career outside of running to keep my mind working in a different way. The opportunity to meet and work with people is an aspect of physiotherapy that I love.

What’s next for you? Are you training for the Rio Olympics in 2016?

My long-term goal for the past five years has been to run in the marathon at the Rio 2016 Olympics. The countdown is on and that long-term goal doesn’t seem so far away now! I have chosen to race the Melbourne Marathon in October and will be aiming to achieve a qualifying performance for the Australian Olympic Team.

Specific training for this race begins next week and will build over the coming months. There will be a lot of hard work ahead but I am excited.

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$6,500 in prizes + promo package + professional band photoshoot up for grabs!

UniSA Heats 26 & 27th August Worldsend Hotel Register your band now at usasa.sa.edu.au/bandcomp

#USASAsocial In dash of pure brilliance, in the lead up to exams in June, USASA put on their UniTopia event in celebration of relaxation. Each campus was blessed with free cupcakes, massages, tea, meditation, henna, and get this‌ an animal petting zoo! Take a look at all the furry action below – I dare you to not to fall a little asleep.

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August

What the heck is there to do around here? These things.

1st: SALA Festival starts 7th: Movies at Jeffrey’s- Free Film 8th: UniSA Physiotherapy Student Society Physiotherapy Ball 2015 9th: Band Comp UniSA Registrations close 16th: UniSA Open Day

Pub Crawl The Journalism Events Society is proud to present ‘IN KARL WE TRUST’ - the 2015 Journalism Pub Crawl. Shirts are $20 and open to all UniSA students.

Visit USASA.sa.edu.au for shirts Friday August 21 The Elephant , The Austral, The London, The Woolshed

Band Comp

21st: Journalism Events Society Club ‘In Karl We Trust’ Pub Crawl 21st: Movies at Jeffrey’s- Free Film

24th: Verse #6 Submissions Close

26-27th: Band Comp UniSA Heats

National Band Comp UniSA heats will take place in the WorldsEnd Beer Garden 6.30pm- late! Drinks and food while listening to the campus’ best bands battle it out!

Registrations are open until August 9th with a $6,500 prize pool, professional photo shoot and promo packages up for grabs! Register at USASA.sa.edu.au/BandComp.

31st: SALA festival ends

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September

And these things. Or stay in.

3rd: National Band Comp: State Final

Band Comp The two winners from the UniSA heats will compete against the other state finalists. Fowlers Live 6pm!

5th: The Royal Show Starts

17th: USASA’s 21st Birthday 18th: USASA’s post-21st Brekkie

Party It’s the Univeristy of South Australia Student Association’s 21st birthday party! Come along and put your party hat on and join in on one of the many parties within the party!

More details and tickets will be available soon from USASA.sa.edu.au- keep your eyes peeled!

Edition #6 of Verse will be out around here And then there will be a Verse party around here!

21st: SP5 Teaching Break Starts

MAG PARTY! Free Food Cheap Drinks Live Music Art Exhibition Verse Magazine Edition #6 Release Party!

If you’d like to organise an event, consider joining or starting a club! Visit USASA.sa.edu.au/clubs

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The art of Keachie Manalastas

Imag[in]e Verse Mag’s Regular Art & Design feature

Keachie Manalastas (aka ‘Miss Shark’) is an amazing vector illustrator in her second year of a Bachelor of Media Arts (Digital Design). Born in the Philippines, Keachie spent most of her life in Japan, which is a significant influence with her work. Miss Shark is also an avid t-shirt collector.

Can you tell us a few things about your methods and how you work?

To be honest, I often struggle thinking of things to draw. I usually need to find something that strikes my inspiration. But when the time comes, most ideas are sketched out in the traditional way with a pencil and paper then imported to the computer, which then gets cleaned up in Adobe Illustrator (pen tool is your best friend).

What inspires your work?

I’d like to think that being brought up in the eccentric atmosphere of Japan had a significant influence with my work. I have also devoted my heart to the designs of Johnny Cupcakes, as well as old school Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon tv shows.

What industry experience do you have, or would like to pursue?

I know this may sound cliché, but starting Instagram a few years ago allowed to me share my artwork and connect with small businesses and clients, which gave me plenty of opportunities to do commissions from all over the world. While juggling around uni work I also design for a clothing brand called Crappy Kids, who are located in Hawaii. I hope to continue similar practices as a career.

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”, right?

Who are your favourite illustrators or artists?

Although I admire the creative work of many artists, the wacky and fun American clothing brand, Johnny Cupcakes, left a big impression. They have a crew of designers that have the power to bring out the child in anybody, as well as illustrate personality into a design.

Lastly Christopher Monro Delorenzo, the head designer of Johnny Cupcakes. He has the ability to adapt his style to solve any clients’ needs, and the simplicity of his drawing style is like sprinkles to your ice cream – it’s a good and tasty addition to an artist’s life.

You can check out more work by Keachie at http://behance.net/canofshark If you’d like to feature your artwork in the next issue of Verse Mag send some samples to contact@versemag.com.au Right: Halloween, 2014, Keachie Manalastas.

Unofficial Johnny Cupcakes holiday posters

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Top: Milk Was A Bad Choice but Art Wasn’t, 2014, Keachie Manalastas. Poster, flyer and postcard artwork and design for UniSA design exhibition

Above: Boston, 2015, Keachie Manalastas.

Unofficial Johnny Cupcakes anniversary posters.

Los Angeles, 2015, Keachie Manalastas.

Unofficial Johnny Cupcakes anniversary posters.

Want to save some money on your textbooks for 2015?

Looking to sell textbooks from previous years?

USASA can help!

Visit USASA.sa.edu.au/Books or your USASA Campus Counter for more info.

VO X Verse Mag’s Student Voice Box

#MarriageEquality is certainly topic of great concern and interest presently. So, we asked you what you think of Australia’s position on the issue and if people of the same-sex should be able to marry.

“If people are happy, they’re happy. It doesn’t matter. If they love each other, they love each other.”

“I’m a Christian, so I believe it’s unlawful and ungodly. I’m not in a position to judge, but it’s against God’s law. It says so in the bible.”

Keegan, Foundation Studies, 1st year

Michelle, Masters of Information, 1st year

“I think it’s good [same-sex marriage]. I am very in support of it.”

“People should be able to do whatever they want.”

Zhen Li, Finance, 2nd year

Ahmad, Foundation Studies, 1st year

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“It’s not something that needs an opinion on. It just should be. [Some gay and lesbian people] get bullied so much and they say it’s their choice, but who wants to be deliberately bullied they’re entire life?”

“Personally I’m a Christian and for my religion, we don’t allow that, so that’s what I believe in.

Marriage is meant for a man and a woman.

Tony Abbott’s right and I think it’s good he’s not legalising it.”

Charmaine, Foundation Studies, 1st year

Fiona, Bachelor of Laws and Business, 1st year

“It’s terrible [Australia’s stance]. It needs to be allowed. I’m an egalitarian, so I believe everyone should have equal rights. Man, woman, child.

Regardless of sexual preference, age or gender.”

“I think it’s just sad. We’re in 2015, right? I don’t know why all countries don’t allow this. For me, I love everybody and everyone should be free.

So it’s just normal for me.”

Jake, UniBooks Staff

Bianca, Communications, Exchange Student Montreal

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• • • • •

Failed a subject?

Problem with a lecturer?

Received an Academic Misconduct letter?

Received any communication from the university for your academic performance?

Received an assessment grade you’re not happy with?

Contact a USASA Advocate to make an appointment USASA.Advocate@unisa.edu.au It’s free, confidential and independent

The Flowers Words ▶ Nicole O’Rielley | Image ▶ Belinda Zanello My rotting world is still in bloom,

To push up daisies is a pleasure in past.

ornate in plastic,

Our discarded wrappers:

featherweight death.

Nature’s last laugh.

The flowers,

Honour us not with grass sprout graves,

the hiss between the boughs

let us rot in the filth of our wretched race.

a sinister song of corporate molest.

I turn away...

Ironic in breath,

We are the disease.

inflating like lungs,

Toxic flowers on perfect trees.

their mouldering tempo is twice to our one.

My remorseful hands pluck a bouquet

Tainted is our Earth wish each loss of grip,

of foul smelling nectar,

raping the soil,

destruction,

little bound wrists.

decay.

Film Reviews Words ▶ Sebastian Moore

Can’t decide what to see this weekend? Well, lucky for you, Sebastian’s been down to Palace Nova Cinemas and done all the heavy lifting already.

We suggest you get down there before your uni work starts to pile up!

Wild Tales (2015)

‘Wild Tales’ is an angry, ribald collection of short films which all explore what happens when we lose control and give into our baser instincts. Set in Argentina, Szifron spins his tales of recklessness into vicious, often uproarious statements about the social and economic disparities of his nation. The performances and direction are at once ragged and stylish; delightfully unhinged yet thrillingly focused. But, like most anthologies, ‘Wild Tales’ feels like it’s hitting the reset button at the end of each story, and the momentum suffers because of it.

Inside Out (2015)

As a literal journey through the mind of an 11-year-old girl, Pete Docter’s ‘Inside Out’ harkens back to the highconcept, deceptively simply ground which characterised some of Pixar’s more unlikely triumphs. The main characters, which personify emotions, clash with each other in funny and enlightening ways. The frenetic colours and playful slapstick is all there, but the central relationship between these emotions and the girl’s external actions, result in wise, unpredictable insights which lift the film into a class of Pixar that is more suited to adults than children.

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Jurassic World (2015)

Colin Trevorrow has well and truly left his indie roots behind with ‘Jurassic World’, a film that plays like a blockbuster checklist. First, the unlikely (but so likely) romance between two complete opposites. Second, the obligatory subplot of imperilled kids who bond over their imperilment. And third, the almost cataclysmically cynical use of these characters in a post-human blockbuster context. Also read: dinosaurs.

Chris Pratt does his best here, as does Bryce Dallas Howard and the two kids, but the script of Trevorrow’s film gives them little to work with beyond the pretence of character development.

Love & Mercy (2015)

Paul Dano and John Cusack look nothing alike, so the idea that they would respectively portray tormented Beach Boys genius, Brian Wilson, in his youth and middle age respectively stretches credibility. Fortunately, Bill Pohlad’s ‘Love & Mercy’ suspends our disbelief by subverting the conventions of a traditional biopic. It’s partly about the creative process, and how obsession and talent can become inextricably bonded, but alternately self-making and destroying. The trajectory of Brian Wilson is studiously detailed, but it comes at the expense of nuance in some of the supporting characterisations.

Special thanks to Palace Nova Cinemas.

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Small Bar Reviews Words ▶ Bonnie McBride

With the earlier warmer months officially over, we are being dragged kicking and screaming into the second half of 2015. And, what better way to welcome in the changing of seasons than to lose yourself in the cosy, dark corners of Adelaide’s small bars.

Clever Little Tailor (19 Peel Street)

The Original, and the Best. That may be Smiths Chips’ slogan but it applies more accurately to ‘Clever Little Tailor’. Before Peel Street was the biggest little laneway in Adelaide, it had one establishment to whet the appetite of laneway lovers and paint the potential of what would become one of Adelaide’s most exciting precincts.

Despite being a mere two-years-old, ‘Clever Little Tailor’ has established itself as an institution in Adelaide’s small bar scene.

Thrift Shop Bar (Waymouth Place)

Wandering through the sprawling alleyways of Adelaide’s CBD, you may have stumbled across the faux-grassy knolls of ‘Thrift Shop Bar’ which boasts 100% Australian spirits. With their admittedly thrift shop décor and friendly staff, this is a hidden gem amongst the kitchen doors and office blocks of Waymouth Place.

Come here for after work drinks without the after work crowd and keep an eye out for their very own Quandong Gin.

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Hains and Co. (23 Gilbert Place)

Bringing something to Gilbert Place that isn’t Pancake Kitchen is exciting enough, but this new bar has some starboard style. Decked out as if it were an eccentric millionaire’s private yacht, ‘Hains and Co.’, caters to all of your rum-drinking, swashbuckling desires.

Snag a table if you can catch it, and try to find your sea legs after a few drinks.

Chihuahua Bar (20 Peel Street)

Specialising in tequila’s curious cousin mescal, this Mexican bar is an explosion of colour, tiles, and sugar skulls. With a logo depicting a Chihuahua skull and cross bones, this bar is unlike many of its Peel Street peers.

Come here when your night is getting far too civilised and leave when you are fully aware of the intricacies of mescal and its effect on your dancing abilities.

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Book Reviews Words ▶ Alyssia Tennant

If you, like me, are constantly in search of a couple of (hundred) books to distract you from the stress that sometimes accompanies university/work/life, well then, look no further my friend!

The Help

Kathryn Stockett I liked this book because it’s illustrative of what it was like to be a black maid during the civil rights movement of the 1960s in a racially conflicted Mississippi. It showed a complex spectrum of experiences – not only presenting the hate, but also the attachment and dependence.

With that being said, it still felt almost like the author was playing to very stereotypical themes and gave the characters obvious voices and structures in constructing their mental character. The story itself was still a really interesting one, and worth reading.

Bonjour Tristesse

Françoise Sagan If there’s one reason to read this book, it’s to appreciate the astonishing first novel of Françoise Sagan. Published when she was only 18, it became an instant bestseller. A stylish, but amoral tale, ‘Bonjour Tristesse’ follows Cécile and her widowed father’s carefree lifestyle until one summer he decides to remarry.

It’s short, flowing, and evocative. Originally written in French, the new translation by Heather Lloyd is poignant.

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Austin and Austin

Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination

J. K. Rowling The name J. K. Rowling should really seal the deal instantly. But, if you need some more convincing, reading this book is provocative of thoughts about the future and how your life is shaped up to this point. It’s a transcript of a commencement address Rowling delivered back in 2008, but was published for the first time as a book this year. It’s the kind of story that reminds readers to have courage to fail, because it’s a reminder of the strength that we all have to recover.

It illustrates how to imagine yourself in the place of another, particularly those who are not as fortunate, and to dare to take risks. And, in doing so, become more open to the opportunities life has to offer.

Foreign Soil

Maxine Beneba Clarke Shortlisted for the Stella Prize this year, ‘Foreign Soil’ is brilliant, powerhouse writing. Enter a collection of short stories, where different voices, settings, and times come together to focus on the theme of displacement.

At no point in the book did Clarke’s writing feel clichéd or overwritten. It’s replete with tenderness, politics, and vivid insight into the interior lives of her characters.

The saying, ‘walking in another man’s shoes’ has never been so applicable to a book.

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Your student magazine.

Submissions open now! contact@versemag.com.au

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ART | JOURNALISM | DESIGN

Verse Magazine is looking for student contributors!

If you’ve got something to say- give us a shout!

Send us your: Articles, Stories, Poems, Reviews, Photographs, Illustrations, Paintings + anything you want!

Direct your submissions to contact@versemag.com.au Submission deadlines for 2015: Edition 6: August 24th Edition 7: October 12th Sign up to the Verse E-Newsletter at versemag.com.au for submission reminders and release party invites!

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