Vertigo Magazine - Issue 2 by Elle Williams

STORM OF CONTROVERSY ROAD NOT TAKEN: INTERVIEW MERCHANT OF VENICE

UTSVERTIGO.COM

editors

sietta live from 9pm march 29 free entry

CONTENTS

Martha Azzi Jezelle Boughaleb Mariam Chehab Lisa Dieu Azal Khan Jessica Looi

OF 14 STORM CONTROVERSY

CREATIVE director Elle Williams

ART & DESIGN Ben Walker

NOT 10 ROAD TAKEN

CONTRIBUTORS Tabitha CHAN Dan CONIFER Michael COSTI Fiona DUNNE Zeynab GAMIELDIEN Charles HARRISON Jackelyn HO Al JEDLIN Olivia KING S MD Emily MELLER Laila NAWSHEEN Sophia PHAN Tom SMITH Jessica WARRINER

ADVERTISING Stephanie King

WITH THANKS TO

GET yourself READY FOR...

Jade Tyrell et al. Spotpress Pty Ltd, Marrickville

COVER IMAGE Olivia KING

THE VERTIGO launch paRTy WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO CREAMFIELDS

just bring A COPY OF VERTIGO by 8pm to go in the draw

WHEn? MARCH 29, from 7pm

WHERE? the loft @ uts

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TWITTER: @VertigoMagazine

Vertigo and its entire contents are protected by copyright. Vertigo will retain reprint rights, contributors retain all other rights for resale and republication. No material may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the copyright holders. Vertigo would like to show its respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land, the Gadigal and Guring-gai people of the Eora Nation, upon whose ancestral lands the university now stands. More than 500 Indigenous Nations shared this land for over 40,000 years before invasion. We express our solidarity and continued commitment to working with Indigenous peoples in Australia and around the world, in their ongoing struggle for land rights, self-determination, sovereignty, and the recognition and compensation for past injustices.

FEATURE INTERVIEW

merchant of venice 32 FEATURE REVIEW

Editorial

What’s on

What’s happened

12 defamer 17 8 ball 18 HOW NOT TO 19 it’s a guy thing 20 did you know? 22 opinion 23 WORDS 24 showcase 26 procrastination central 28 fitness 29 sport 30 technology 32 reviews 36 recipes 38 best of 39 random rant 40 games/who’s checking you out?

41 sa & collective reports

Vertigo is published by the UTS STUDENTS ASSOCIATION Printed by SPOTPRESS PTY LTD, MARRICKVILLE Email advertising@utsvertigo.com for advertising enquiries

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

WTF is SSAF? …aka the new compulsory fee

EDITORIAL Hello readers! Welcome to the second edition of Vertigo!

The Student Services and Amenities Fee – or SSAF – is a new compulsory fee introduced by the Federal Government to bring important services to all students, and to revitalise university life all around Australia. What does this mean for us? Well at UTS, it’s $131.50 per semester for most fulltime students, or $65.75 for most part-timers – and the good news is that for most of us, it’s deferrable through SA-HELP.

Hopefully by now you’ve picked up the magazine and know what it is. But for the sake of all those people who asked “so, what’s Vertigo?” at O-Day, we feel obliged to inform you of this life-changing information. Vertigo is the official student magazine here at UTS. We are completely independent from the uni or anyone and anything else for that matter, but completely depend on you – the students. We rely on YOU to send us your work so we can publish it. And then dear reader, you receive all the glory and fame and kudos that you’ve always thought you deserved. O-Day was fantastic – we loved meeting and chatting with the new students who were contagiously cheerful and enthusiastic. We know you guys will enjoy your time here, and we hope to be receiving your work soon. Surprisingly, O-Day was rather humbling too. In what Vertigo considers to be the ultimate act of sacrifice, everyone was incredibly helpful directing each other on where to get all the free stuff from. It was a wonderful exemplar of humanity. Well done UTS. Speaking of free stuff – the magazine that’s in your hands is free. And what an edition we have for you! Explore parkour, the extreme sport that has people jumping across buildings and scaling walls. Get an insight into what really occurred on the Australia Day Tent Embassy ‘riot’ with a first-hand account; and read some beautiful poetry from a person diagnosed with cannabis-induced psychosis. This edition also includes a plea for meaningful conversation, advice on how to get a six-pack (and not by drawing it on) and all our regular sections and columnists are back too.

lisa MARTHA

At UTS, the funding will be allocated to UTS Services, the Union and the UTS Students’ Association to spend on things like healthcare, legal services, sporting facilities, events, food and beverage, student clubs and financial assistance. SSAF will benefit all of us – whether undergrad or postgrad, full-time or part-time, Lindfield or City-based. Is this compulsory unionism? NO. The fee does not automatically sign us up to the Union, plus the money is not allowed to be spent on political parties.

How do we have our say on how our money is spent? Well the first thing is to realise that the Students’ Association is, funnily enough, the association for students! It’s our voice on campus. Drop by and chat to a Student Rep about what matters to you and let’s make it happen. Last year we surveyed thousands of students – as a result, we’re funding free breakfast at the Bluebird Brekkie Bar over 2012. Some of you told us you work full-time, so we’re extending our Second-Hand Bookshop and Caseworker hours. You hyperventilated when you forgot your calculator for an exam, so we’re creating the first ever Student Survival Centre. You got screwed over by your landlord, so we’re starting a free legal service. Stay in the loop by signing up for free membership at the SA office on Level 3 of the Tower, or have your say on our Facebook page.

AZAL

JEZELLE

We hope you enjoy this issue! Give us your feedback at: editorial@utsvertigo.com

MARIAM JESSICA

- MARIAM [The Vertigo team]

Let’s make 2012 the year of the student. Our voice. Our way. Our SA.

www.sa.uts.edu.au

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

APRIL

CALENDAR MONDAY Vertigo Issue #3 is released today!

TUESDAY

wedneSDAY

thursDAY

friDAY

saturDAY

Martha Azzi

BUiLD club Easter cruise (UTS Union)

1 Last day to visit The Baker’s Dozen at the UTS Gallery (CB06.04). View a range of artworks that feature artworks in geometric abstractions.

Chinese Cultural Day held at the Chinese Garden of Friendship is full of activities from calligraphy demonstrations, Kung fu workshops, Chinese Opera and much more.

Easter Monday Public Holiday

AT O-FEST

Tom Green, MTV’s funniest personality, allows us into his cracked view of the world at Enmore theatre.

Kick back and relax through the many holidays in April from Easter to Vice-Chancellor’s Week, celebrate Easter Monday with chocolate eggs and prepare yourself for the many laughs as the Sydney Comedy Festival begins.

Visit the Glasshouse and take part in the pool comp from 5pm. Prizes to be won! (held every Tuesday)

SUNDAY

WHAT’S HAPPENED

Good Friday Public Holiday

Easter Sunday

8 Quad biking with the UTS Union. Visit the Sports Office in Building 4, level 1 for more info.

Youth Week: Imagine. Create. Inspire. short film showcase at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Youth week: Sports Day – compete against other young people, youth workers and local police.

Spanish Cultural Diversity Day at the Institute Cervantes. A day full of games music, dancing and singing.

Vice-Chancellor’s Week (until 27 April). Yes that means no uni!

Cracker Night. The opening night gala of the Sydney Comedy Festival at Enmore Theatre.

ANZAC Day Public Holiday

Graduation Ceremonies (Kuring - gai campus)

Creamfields Music Festival at Moore Park.

29 VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

WHO’S CHECKING YOU OUT?

Have you been checking someone out at uni? Too shy to let your feelings be known? Take your admiration to a whole new level. SMS 0404 449 606 and let that special person know. Don’t forget to leave your name/alias and faculty.

WHY THIS MAN SPENT $17,000 ON A NEW NOSE

Get your Herald delivered the way you want it

2012 FACES TO WATCH

LITTLE MASTER’S MISERY

GOOD WEEKEND

WEEKEND SPORT

SPECTRUM

WEEKEND

FIRST PUBLISHED 1831 NO. 54,375 $2.50 (inc GST)

January 14-15, 2012

MEET THE $10b HEIRESS

PAUL McGEOUGH

Year of job pain to hit banks, shops Gareth Hutchens ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

AUSTRALIA is on the cusp of a white collar recession with insiders warning that thousands of jobs are at risk in the finance sector, after it emerged yesterday that ANZ planned to cut 700 jobs. But the Herald has established the job cuts will total as many as 1000 by the end of this year, which will be more than the bank shed at the height of the global financial crisis. They come a day after the Royal Bank of Scotland announced plans to close its investment banking business, leading to the loss of more than 200 jobs in Australia. Economists have warned Australia is vulnerable to a recession this year with a wholesale funding squeeze in Europe raising debt costs for banks such as ANZ. Experts have warned thousands of jobs will be lost from the industry this year as banks scramble to adjust to an era of low credit growth and higher funding costs. This comes on top of cuts of 2150 jobs between March 2009 and last September in ANZ’s Australian division. ‘‘We have run a policy of shedding jobs through attrition since October last year,’’ an executive said. ‘‘Temps have not been rehired once their contract has expired. Secondments have been stopped. We have outsourced two whole floors of operations staff from a [Melbourne] office to Manila [in the Philippines]. If

ANNE SUMMERS

BOMB BLAST THAT ROCKED THE WORLD NEWS REVIEW

NEWS, PAGE 6

700 2100

ANZ jobs to go this year

Australian jobs cut by ANZ in past two years

200

Local jobs lost in Bank of Scotland closure you count all those jobs since October, along with what will be announced in the next week . . . we will lose more staff than we did as a result of the GFC.’’ The national secretary of the Finance Services Union, Leon Carter, criticised the bank for shedding jobs when it had record profitability. ‘‘Yet again the first time anything gets tough in finance the only trick in their locker is to put jobs on the line,’’ he said. ‘‘It continues to be a highly profitable organisation that is making multibillion-dollar profits. They have an obligation to keep everybody employed.’’ The Financial Services Minister, Bill Shorten, said: ‘‘We haven’t been briefed specifically on any decisions of the ANZ in term of jobs.We regard any job losses as unfortunate.’’ Experts say banks will be for-

ced to cut staff numbers for the next few years to protect profit margins. The high levels of consumption and lending they enjoyed in recent years will not continue. At the start of 2007 Australia’s banks, excluding ANZ Asia, employed 155,000. Four years later that figure had grown to 178,000 people, an increase of 23,000. In ANZ alone, the number of employees in the group’s global operations increased by 12,000 since September 2008, from 36,900 to 48,900. But ANZ’s Australian division has shed more than 2100 jobs in the past two years – from 19,922 to 17,768 – as it sends more jobs to offshore. The job losses could exacerbate conditions in Australia – already vulnerable to recession. The chief economist at JP Morgan, Stephen Walters, said: Australia has not undergone adjustments observed elsewhere ... it remains vulnerable to shocks. Economists also say we might expect a further shake-out in the retail industry, which employs 1.2 million people, following the jobs losses last year. The Grattan Institute’s Saul Eslake said: ‘‘I wouldn’t be at all surprised if 2012 was a year in which some of the almostinevitable consequences for employment in retailing of the deterioration in retail trading conditions over the next couple of years came to a head.’’ ANZ staff wait for axe to fall — Weekend Business

SILENCE LIKE A CANCER GROWS NEWS REVIEW

Who’s for a dip? But there is a dark side

Choose your package: Sun, sand and fun ... Tabitha Palmer, 6, centre, plays with Liv Knight, 7, and Harry Hamilford, 5, at North Bondi. The girls are in the under-7 nippers. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

Economic conditions are preventing children learning to swim, writes Nick Ralston. LIFESAVERS have a simple explanation for the spate of near drownings and a record number of rescues in recent weeks. ‘‘There was pretty poor weather leading into Christmas and I think that everyone was frothing at the bit to get out to the beach,’’ said Dean Storey, the lifesaving manager of Surf Life Saving NSW. ‘‘Then the sun came out. At the same time we had the big swell . . . and it all came together to create a couple of weeks of

carnage.’’ The solution to the problem is not as simple. Water safety groups are concerned that pool closures and entry costs are denying young children the chance to learn to swim. While an estimated 1.2 million children have private lessons, experts conservatively predict that each year at least 50,000 children nationwide graduate from high school without being able to swim 50 metres. In NSW classes are offered

entry to existing pools, which is a through an Education Departbarrier to some socio-economic ment, two-week intensive progroups, and the increasing cost gram in schools for students in of bus transport. years two to six. ‘‘The Department of EducaThe program – the most affordable in the state – is offered tion tries to minimise the cost but there are some limitations to 100,000 students but is not Tertiary advisory on that. It’s just a sign ofdays: our ecocompulsory. The peak industry body AUST- nomic times at the moment. People are being pinched a bit.’’ SWIM said in recent years issues On the plus side, Surf Life Savof cost had made some parents ing is enjoying a boom in the reluctant to send their children number of young people becomfor lessons. ing involved in the volunteer resThe chief executive, Gordon cue organisation. Mallett, said: ‘‘If there is no local This year it has 30,000 nippers pool, despite any efforts the on its books and the number has Department of Education may been rising annually for the past make, it starts to get more diffifour years. cult. Then you’ve got the cost of

‘‘We have kids who are doing nipper training, who are rescuing kids their age on days when the surf is a bit tricky,’’ said the nipper manager at North Bondi Surf Life Saving, Jim Walker. your guide to starting university Northfive-page Bondi has 1400 children doing nipper training, up from 850 a few years ago. A Bondi resident, Julia Palmer, was raised in England and wanted her daughter, Tabitha, to gain a better understanding than she had of safety at the beach. ‘‘We offered for her to do it and THE TENDULKAR DYNASTY DY YNASTY she loves it. She’s much more confident now in the surf than she was,’’ Ms Palmer said.

summer FESTIVAL OF THE COUCH

STARTS PAGE 12

The world of the box-set SYDNEY addict CITY shower or two 19°-23°

Monday January 2, 2012

Dylan Welch SUVA, FIJI

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

THE Fijian regime of Voreqe ‘‘Frank’’ Bainimarama has recruited one of Washington’s most notorious lobbyist firms – that has been raided by the FBI and represents repressive regimes in the Middle East and Africa – to help manage its reputation and lobby foreign journalists. And diplomatic sources believe the firm, Qorvis Communications, may be behind the decision by Commodore Bainimarama to lift the widely condemned public emergency regu-

Frank Bainimarama ... advice.

lations, only to enshrine them in a permanent law. The company is represented in Suva by a fresh-faced former business journalist, Seth Thomas Pietras, who has been in the

country on and off since October. A contract published by the US Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act reveals that in October the Fijian Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, signed a deed with Qorvis worth $US40,000 a month for a year. In return, Qorvis has agreed to provide ‘‘public relations services relating to business and investment to the government of Fiji’’. But it appears to the Herald, which spent the week in Suva being lobbied by Mr Pietras, that his ambit is far greater than spin. It is likely Mr Pietras, described

as Qorvis’s chief speechwriter, helped draft Commodore Bainimarama’s recent speeches, including his New Year’s Day address announcing the lifting of emergency regulations. Several countries with an interest in Fiji expressed a belief to the Herald that, given the timing, Qorvis might have played a role in Commodore Bainimarama’s decision to lift the emergency regulations. A diplomatic source also expressed concern that the kind of role played by such lobbyists in the Middle East and Africa was being imported to the Pacific.

News Review Fiji’s future of uncertainty

Mr Pietras, an executive vicepresident of Qorvis’s geopolitical solutions section, is at least the second Qorvis employee to travel to Fiji, after Tina Jeon, an Olympic archer and Qorvis spinner. In early November Ms Jeon posted on Twitter a photo of herself and Commodore Bainimarama aboard a boat in Fiji with the caption: ‘‘No better place to write a press release’’.

Last year, during the Arab At the time, Qorvis was the Spring, Mr Pietras was Qorvis’s beneficiary of a six-month conspokesman when its role in de- tract with the Saudis worth almost fending Middle East regimes was $US15 million to help improve its the subject of debate. reputation after the terrorist ‘‘Our clients are facing some attacks of September 11, 2001. Last year an Egyptian steel challenges now,’’ Mr Pietras told The New York Times. ‘‘But our tycoon with ties to the Mubarak long-term goals to bridge the dif- regime retained Qorvis to manage ferences between our clients and his public relations during a trial the United States haven’t regarding claims of widespread changed. We stand by them.’’ corruption. He was eventually In 2004 when Qorvis was sentenced to 10 years in jail. raided by the FBI as part of an The company has also repreinvestigation into whether an sented the man widely known as Anna Patty advertising campaign it helped ‘‘Africa’s worst dictator’’, EquatSTATE POLITICS RULES run brokeTRAFFIC federal law by not dis- ROAD orial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang across the city would Pedestrians in the city closing Saudi funding. Nguema Mbasogo.

SPORTSDAY

First published 1831 No. 54,364 $1.50 (inc GST)

LIVERPOOL shower or two 17°-24° PENRITH shower or two 18°-24° WOLLONGONG showers clearing 18°-21° GOSFORD few showers 17°-23° NEWCASTLE few showers 20°-23° CANBERRA shower or two 12°-24° ARMIDALE showers, storms 12°-22° DUBBO shower or two 15°-31° COFFS HARBOUR storms 19°-26° DETAILS PAGE 19

ISSN 0312-6315

9 770312 631063

be slowed to 40km/h as part of centre: 600,000 Vehicles in city centre: City of Sydney plans. Terry Lee-Williams, a trans85,000 International safety speed: port strategy manager at the City 30km/h of Sydney, told the NSW Parlia City of Sydney safety ment’s joint standing committee speed: 40km/h on road safety that the council would like a “blanket” 40km/h speed limit across the city in “predominantly residential through the reduction of speed areas”. He said 20 per cent of the limits, as is international best existing city speed zones were practice. On any given working 40km/h. day, there are 600,000 pedestri‘‘Once we do the CBD, that ans in the city centre and 85,000 would take it up to about 35 per vehicles. The slower the vehicle, cent and we would progressively the less risk of severe trauma to like to roll that through. I say the pedestrian.’’ progressively because it is a cost A spokeswoman for Roads and issue,’’ Mr Lee-Williams told the Maritime Services said it had committee late last year. “received a copy of the concept The costs include hundreds of proposal for a speed zone reducthousands of dollars in studies tion from the City of Sydney on ‘‘and hoops we must jump Christmas Eve and is reviewing it through for the RMS [Roads and early this year”. Maritime Services]’’. The former Labor premier Exceptionally meritorious services ... Mr Howard at home in Wollstonecraft yesterday. ‘‘It’s a compliment to Australia,’’ he said of his award. Photo: Quentin Jones The NSW Labor MP Walt Kristina Keneally and the City of p.a. Secord, who is a Staysafe com- Sydney lord mayor, Clover Kelly Burke as may have rendered exceptionmittee member, said he dis- Moore, agreed to a plan to slow ally meritorious services in Our agreed with the council plan to traffic within the city centre to NOT since Sir Robert Menzies Crown Services or towards the introduce the 40km/h speed advancement of the Arts, Learn40km/h by rate early 2011 in a has the monarchy bestowed Variable and comparison zone across the city, saying it memorandum of understanding such approbation on an Austraing, Literature, and Science or would further congest traffic. such other exceptional service as dated September 13, 2010, when lian politician. John Howard’s decade-long ‘‘Recently at a Staysafe parlia- Mr Secord worked as chief-ofWe are fit to recognise’’. prime ministership and his dogmentary hearing, the staff from staff for Ms Keneally. Although writers and artists Sydney City Council were advochave traditionally dominated A spokesman for the NSW ged adherence to a constitutioninating a different comparison is a division of National Limited ABN 12 004 monarchy have earned him044 937 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 230686. changing the entirerate. city UBank to Roads the field, politicians appointed Minister, Duncan Australia Gay, alBank 40 kilometres,’’ he said. ‘‘While I said the minister had not yet admission to an exclusive club to the order have included Sir UBA526/smhfp1_G3982327AB understand they have safety seen the City of Sydney proposal. with a capped membership of Winston Churchill, Clement concerns, I fear that it could slow Attlee and Baroness Thatcher. Mr Lee-Williams told the Stay- just 24 after Buckingham Palace 1HERSA1 A001 city traffic to a snail’s pace. Mr Howard becomes the ninth On merit ... clockwise, safe committee in late Novem- announced yesterday he had ‘‘This would make journeys ber that someone hit by a car at been appointed a member of the Australian appointed, following from top left: across Sydney even longer in 40km/h was far less likely to die Order of Merit. in the footsteps of the philosophBaroness Thatcher, Only Menzies’ Knight of the duration and slower, especially than if they were hit at 60km/h. er Samuel Alexander, the intelPrince Charles, Sir at night.’’ lectual Gilbert Murray, scientists Tom Stoppard, David ‘‘Internationally it is 30km/h, Order of the Thistle, to which the A spokeswoman for the City of but because it has taken about Liberal Party founder was invesSir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, Hockney and Sir Sydney said it was the responsi- 12 years to get the RTA down to ted in 1963, carries more kudos. Howard Florey and Robert David Attenborough. ‘‘I’m very honoured,’’ Mr bility of NSW Roads and Mari- 40km/h, we did not want to push McCredie May, former chief time Services to approve any the envelope to 30km/h,’’ he Howard told the Herald from his justice of Australia Sir Owen Dixwho was also appointed to the The Governor-General, QuenEdward VII in 1902, carries no on, artist Sir Sidney Nolan and changes to the speed limit. said. ‘‘Traffic also flows better in home in Wollstonecraft. ‘‘It’s a order yesterday, will join tin Bryce, said she warmly contitle but is considered an soprano Dame Joan Sutherland. “The RMS is responsible for crowded areas at a slower speed compliment to Australia and a luminaries including the former gratulated Mr Howard on extremely high mark of honour signposting and speed limits because . . . you do not get com- recognition, among other Mr Howard is expected to British prime minister Baroness receiving such a distinguished and a personal gift from the receive his Order of Merit – an throughout NSW,” she said. pression between intersections: things, of the respect the Queen Margaret Thatcher, the playaward. ‘‘This is a rare and singuQueen. “The City of Sydney supports the vehicles are moving easily; has for this country. I’m very eight-pointed cross bearing the wright Sir Tom Stoppard, the lar honour for his service to AusAccording to the Royal Family’s imperial crown to be worn improving road safety and min- they do not have to accelerate, grateful for it.’’ Mr Howard, along with the naturalist Sir David Attentralia,’’ she said. website, it is to be given ‘‘to such around the neck – at a ceremony imising the risk of injury and decelerate, accelerate, decelerBritish artist David Hockney, borough and Prince Charles. The Order, founded by King persons, subjects of Our Crown, later this year. death in pedestrian areas ate.”

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IN GOOD COMPANY

Harbour rubbish pile on the rise after prison drain gangs get the brush-off Debra Jopson ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

THE amount of litter and waste Sydney Harbour garbage collectors pick up each year has plummeted to the lowest level in more than a decade after NSW Maritime suspended a long-running clean-up program that used prisoners on periodic detention. The environmental services team, which clears debris ranging from plastic drink bottles to fallen trees from more than 5000 hectares of waterways, collected just 2284 cubic metres of waste last financial year, almost 500 cubic metres less than the year

Dirty business ... litter lines the foreshore at Iron Cove. Photo: Jon Reid before, NSW Maritime’s latest annual report reveals. ‘‘One can draw the conclusion that there would be more litter in the harbour,’’ said Peter McLean, the NSW chief executive of Keep Australia Beautiful. ‘‘I hate to see

programs like this not continue in some form. It would certainly be very detrimental. We have millions of people living in that catchment.’’ Research indicated it was likely that since the end of the

drought more rain has meant more litter washed into waterways, he said. Most of the man-made refuse consists of food and drink packaging dropped on streets and swept into the harbour through stormwater drains, a NSW Maritime spokeswoman said. While the fall was partly caused by Maritime’s environmental service losing its flagship vessel for more than six months as a replacement was built, it also followed a decision in December 2010 to stop using detainees provided by the Department of Corrective Ser-

vices for the foreshore clean-up, she said. Minimal risk detainees began working with government waterways cleaners 17 years ago and the program has contributed between 12 and 28 per cent of the volume of waste collected every year up to 2008-09, official figures show. However, the program was suspended when the Department of Corrective Services began to phase out its periodic detention program last October, according to NSW Maritime. The Herald understands that staff were unwilling to work with

higher-risk detainees receiving intensive correction orders, which have replaced periodic detention. The detainees’ assistance was hailed as a success in previous years, as NSW Maritime crews worked to remove boating hazards and rubbish from Sydney Harbour and the navigable waters of the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers over a combined foreshore length of 270 kilometres. Four minimal risk detainees worked three times a week with government staff to clear debris in areas inaccessible to boats,

such as mangrove swamps, the NSW Maritime spokeswoman said. The agency expects to restart the program using volunteers provided by a non-government organisation in the first quarter of next year, another spokesman said. Mr McLean said volunteers were difficult to attract. He warned that the loss of extra assistance with garbage collection coincides with the NSW government setting a target in its new state plan of achieving the lowest litter count per capita in Australia by 2016.

Switch your new Smartphone to an Optus SIM for MORE.

INSIDE Bowser blues

NSW drivers could face more petrol price rises when the government bans regular unleaded fuel, pushing up demand for ethanol-blended and premium unleaded, the industry has warned. From July, petrol stations will no longer be allowed to sell regular unleaded in a bid to promote renewable biofuels. News — Page 3

Weather, or not

The most miserable summer in Sydney in 50 years. The coldest autumn nationally in more than 50 years. Record flooding in Victoria. A Christmas Day in Melbourne with hailstones the size of eggs. Massive floods and cyclone Yasi in Queensland. What’s it all mean? Paul Sheehan, Opinion — Page 11

Road toll falls

The 2011 road toll was the second lowest since 1944, according to provisional figures from the NSW Centre for Road Safety. Last year, 376 people were killed on NSW roads, down from 405 the previous year. The toll has dropped from 524 over the past 10 years. News — Page 5

First Tuesday

Mitt Romney and Ron Paul appeared to be running neck and neck in Iowa before tomorrow’s first vote on the candidates vying for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, with Rick Santorum mounting a late charge. Contenders have been blitzing shopping malls, public meetings and local media. World — Page 8

Classic stoush

Chloe Hosking won a thrilling first race of the Bay Classic and promptly called Union Cycliste Internationale boss Pat McQuaid ‘‘a dick’’ for failing to implement a minimum wage for women. Third placed Rochelle Gilmore also called for change. SportsDay — Page 32

SYDNEY CITY sunny 18°-26° LIVERPOOL sunny 15°-31° PENRITH sunny 16°-33° WOLLONGONG sunny 18°-26° GOSFORD sunny 15°-28° NEWCASTLE sunny 18°-26° CANBERRA partly cloudy 15°-35° ARMIDALE mostly sunny 10°-27° DUBBO sunny 17°-35° COFFS HARBOUR partly cloudy 16°-26° DETAILS PAGE 18 ISSN 0312-6315

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Fri Jan 20 10:10

OVERSEAS INVASION

When children’s shows become naughty

2011 a year in weather NEWS, PAGE 7

summer

Foreign-made car F ttops sales NEWS, PAGE 3 Wednesday January 4, 2012

First published 1831 No. 54,366 $1.50 (inc GST)

Gillard Wickets tumble as Test cricket hits fast-forward button rebukes Hawke on unions

There’s action aplenty as the five-day game takes its lead from Twenty20, writes Malcolm Knox.

Jessica Wright ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

THE Prime Minister has dismissed a call by the Labor elder Bob Hawke to slash the power of unions within the ALP. Julia Gillard defended the factional and union influences that were responsible for the destruction of Kevin Rudd’s leadership in 2010. Mr Hawke, a former prime minister and boss of the ACTU, said in an interview with the Fairfax publication The Australian Financial Review that while his ‘‘first love’’ was the trade union movement, its influence over the Labor Party had grown to ‘‘suffocating’’ proportions.

‘Our great trade union movement is important to Australian society and to representing the needs of working people.’ Julia Gillard But yesterday Ms Gillard said the unions were the champions of ‘‘working Australians’’. ‘‘I believe our great trade union movement is important to Australian society and to representing the needs of working people,’’ she said. ‘‘It was the trade union movement, shoulder to shoulder with the Labor Party, that fought back and got rid of Work Choices.’’ Responding to Mr Hawke’s advice to the ALP to recognise the perceived negative association with the unions, Ms Gillard said the matter had been adequately addressed at the party’s national conference last month. She tried to soften the public rebuke to Mr Hawke, once the nation’s most popular leader, saying he was an important part of the ALP’s history. ‘‘Bob Hawke is of course a living legend,’’ she said. ‘‘Bob is right to say that the Labor Party needs to keep modernising.’’ His criticism of undue union influence within the ALP mirrored the view of another former prime minister, Kevin Rudd, who savaged the power of the unions

and factions in a speech to the national conference. Mr Rudd said the party had failed to take any significant steps to rein in the power of factions and union bosses. ‘‘While some claim we have moved forward on party reform, the truth is we have barely moved at all,’’ Mr Rudd said. ‘‘The stark alternative remains: either more power to the factional powerbrokers or more power to the 35,000 members of the Australian Labor Party.’’ An internal review by the former premiers Steve Bracks and Bob Carr and Senator John Faulkner recommended a guaranteed say for unions and Labor supporters in party preselections and aired dire warnings that the party faced a membership crisis. Senator Faulkner has repeatedly warned that the ALP risks a wipeout of its membership – as ‘‘a small party getting smaller, [and] an old party getting older’’. Ms Gillard welcomed the review but resisted the suggestion that the unions be given a say in policy and parliamentary decisions. ‘‘As Labor leader I will insist on the right to freely choose the executive of the federal parliamentary Labor Party,’’ she said at the time of the review’s release. ‘‘I have chosen my team of ministers and parliamentary secretaries and I will continue to do so.’’ Mr Hawke also addressed the leadership question that continues to dog Ms Gillard, saying he believed she was the best person for the job. ‘‘I don’t think they should change leaders,’’ he said. ‘‘There has been a lot of criticism of Julia, but you have got to give her credit for a lot of achievements and tenacity. ‘‘She has shown a lot of courage and determination, particularly on the carbon tax and the mining tax. When those things are bedded down they may even become positives.’’ Ms Gillard has refused to address questions about the leadership this year, telling reporters on New Year’s Day to ‘‘check the transcripts’’ of last year for her answer. It is more than 20 years since Mr Hawke was prime minister of Australia but the ‘‘Silver Bodgie’’ has enjoyed a resurgence in the media, most recently in a renewed spat with the former prime minister Paul Keating. The pair showed the passing of time had done nothing to ease the rancour in their relationship with Mr Keating this week blaming Mr Hawke for the wage explosions of the 1970s. Mr Keating said that Mr Hawke, as the ACTU national secretary, had ‘‘nearly destroyed the economy twice’’. The spat coincides with the release by the National Archives of the 1982 and 1983 cabinet documents.

AS IF obligated to compete with the evening’s entertainment, 22 Test cricketers of Australia and India romped through three bright and breezy sessions. The batsmen clubbed the ball to all corners when they weren’t losing their wickets. The bowlers served up bouncers, wides, late outswingers and unplayable in-duckers, with the occasional nagging length ball for variety. Fieldsmen fell asleep if the ball hadn’t come to them in an over. What is this new thing, and how can it be stretched to five days? Perhaps each team needs three innings in a Test. Perhaps there is no problem. Test matches have a natural duration of 31⁄2 days, and we should celebrate the plebeian uprising of the bowler. While M.S. Dhoni and R. Ashwin were together, putting on 54 in 81 balls for India’s seventh wicket, an anxious Australian voice in the Churchill Stand muttered, ‘‘They’re digging in now – we need a wicket, Hilfy!’’

Resurgent Punter holds key to series If the opening day was all about Sachin Tendulkar, the central character leading into today is Ricky Ponting. Summer – Page 26

How good is James Pattinson? ... Australia’s hottest new quickie celebrates the wicket of Virender Sehwag. Photo: Steve Christo

Bowler Ben Hilfenhaus did his bit, and concerns about a partnership lasting more than an hour were allayed. Mexican waves couldn’t even make a full circuit as a wicket fell first. When security guards seized beach balls, they weren’t booed, because something had happened on the field to distract the crowd’s attention. Bill Lawry surely couldn’t cry ‘‘It’s all happening!’’ for fear of understatement. When Dhoni won the toss, the crowd cheered – they were going to see Sachin Tendulkar. Of course, they never considered the Indian top three might bat all day, and they were right, though it did look, for a moment after tea, as though they might be back in for their second innings. Tendulkar did not make his 100th international century. Two constants of his career – that he scores runs in Sydney and that his teammates let him down – collided, resulting in his dismissal for 41. He came to the crease at 2-30 when not one ball had been hit convincingly in front of the wicket. From there it was a contest of his cover drive versus Australia. The bowlers fed the shot. He laced drive after drive between point and mid-off, then dragged one onto his stumps. As wickets go, it was a cheap buy. In general the bowlers didn’t have to strike any bargains. Hilfenhaus rediscovered his fast bouncer to remove Ashwin. Then, like a child who remembers last year’s Christmas present was even better than this year’s, Hilfy used Continued Page 2

Economic woes hit US defence ambitions Daniel Flitton ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

AUSTRALIA is about to confront the biting reality of US military decline as its cash-strapped ally moves to abandon the longstanding doctrine of being ready to fight two wars simultaneously on opposite sides of the globe. The New York Times reported yesterday on cuts expected to be announced this week by the Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta, to slash hundreds of billions of dollars in defence spending across ground forces, navy, air force and the nuclear arsenal. Coming after earlier reduc-

tions, the US’s formal strategy to fight two large adversaries at once – as it did during World War II against Nazi Germany in Europe and Japan in the Pacific – will also be surrendered. For 60 years the Defence chiefs in Canberra have had the luxury to assume Washington will be free to come to Australia’s aid, no matter what the US entanglements outside the region. But those days are gone as a teetering economy forces deep cuts to the US defence budget – at the same time as many are concerned about China’s growing military ambitions.

Buzzcut Pentagon prepares to slash spending. World – Page 8

The troubled F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, of which Labor has committed to buy between 14 and 100, is also reported to be targeted. Despite the cuts, the US would remain the pre-eminent military power with the ability to fight and win one major conflict and ‘‘spoil’’ a second adversary’s ambitions in another part of the world. But The New York Times

reported that the cuts inevitably posed questions such as whether a reduced aircraft carrier fleet could counter an increasingly bold China or whether a smaller army could fight a long ground war in Asia. Australia has already made plain its hope to see a greater US engagement in the ‘‘Asian century’’ as the Obama administration withdraws from Iraq and Afghanistan. The agreement to train up to 2500 US Marines near Darwin, announced during Barack Obama’s visit to Australia in November, was widely interpreted as

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The son also rises

Come in spinner: Fiji pays Washington lobbyists for image makeover Call to cut Howard honoured, for Queen and country city speed limits to 40km/h

insurance against China’s rise. The US has also made clear a desire to shift the focus to Asia and Mr Obama used his speech to federal Parliament to pledge the US was ‘‘here to stay’’. The shift from fighting two simultaneous wars against major forces recognises the significant changes to warfare during recent decades, with insurgent conflicts the norm and the growing use of drones and other high technology. The Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, would not comment on the change.

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Killer given passport, licence and freedom Saffron Howden and Alicia Wood ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

TRENT JENNINGS packed his passport, driver’s licence and, unsupervised, took off in a stolen car from a prison psychiatric hospital. As authorities scrambled yesterday to shift the blame for the bungle that allowed the killer to walk free on Friday and outsmart police hours later, the nationwide hunt for him continued. Jennings, 26, stabbed a man to death eight years ago during a casual sexual encounter. He was granted day leave rights from Morisset Hospital, near Newcastle, only a month before he absconded from custody and allegedly arranged over the internet to meet a man, 50, at his home in Sydney’s Zetland. Last Thursday, Jennings, pictured, tied the man up with his consent then stole some of his belongings, including his black Mercedes four-wheeldrive, police say. That night he returned to hospital after curfew, having contacted staff to tell them his train was running late. Satisfied with this explanation, hospital staff allowed him out unsupervised at 2pm the next day, the eighth anniversary of the night he stabbed Giuseppe Vitale, 32, in the neck after binding him at the hands and feet in a park at Narwee. Jennings did not return on Friday evening and, four hours later, he was pulled over by police in the stolen car south of Coffs Harbour. His licence and vehicle registration were checked, he was issued with some fines, and allowed to drive off. Last night, police across Australia were searching for the former Sydney waiter, who in 2005 was found not guilty of Mr Vitale’s murder because a court concluded he was in a druginduced psychosis at the time. Yesterday the Premier, Barry O’Farrell, ordered a report from all relevant departments into the circumstances surrounding the getaway and the delay in notifying the public. ‘‘I share some of the concerns about the lack of information about his release or his escape,’’ he said. This week the NSW chief psychiatrist, John Allan, will review Jennings’ case and patient leave procedures at Morisset Hospital. The local health district Continued Page 2

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smh UNI PASS

INTERVIEW Twenty five year old Ali Kadhim is one of Australia’s leading practitioners of Parkour, and is the founder and director of Team 9Lives. Combining physical movement with his visual creativity, Kadhim is also an award-winning filmmaker. Lisa Dieu delves into his world.

What is Parkour and how did you first come into contact with it? Parkour is the art of moving efficiently and fluidly within the environment using the surrounding obstacles and the human body. I first saw it on a TV show when I was about 16, but I’d been ‘monkeying’ around since I was really young so I felt I’d always been doing it. I now understand how it can be more than just self-expression, but a way of life.

What was your inspiration to pursue Parkour? I loved the feeling of being free; of not having to take any equipment but to use only your shoes and whatever you wear to go out and make the city your own playground. It’s a very powerful and uplifting feeling to have. Watching the founders do Parkour and guys like Jackie Chan while growing up was a huge inspiration also; to see the body move in that way showed me it was possible so I did whatever I could do to learn.

ROAD NOT

TAKEN

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

PHOTOGRAPHY JOEY TRAN

How long have you been teaching Parkour? I started about nine years ago; I watched videos and read online articles. I then taught most of my high school friends how to do the movements which was how 9Lives began. After that I started Australia’s first official Parkour Class in 2006 and I’ve been lucky enough to help grow the art in a safe way and make a small living from it. What exactly is Team 9Lives? Team 9Lives is an action team devoted to entertaining, educating and inspiring the world through films, performance and training by the expressive means of Parkour, Martial Arts, Dance and other similar arts. I established the name back in 2004 and now we have a solid team of twelve dedicated members who’ve been together for years. What injuries (if any) have you sustained and how risky is Parkour? I’ve injured almost every part of my body especially my lower back and neck but most if not all of them are just muscle injuries, so they heal when you give it time to rest. It’s all just a part of learning the art, every sport has injuries associated with it, but when you really love something you learn to forget the pain that might come with it because pain is only temporary. In the end it’s all worth it. The risks are honestly tiny – if you train safe, condition your muscles and progress with patience (which is the biggest key) then Parkour is in my eyes one of the safest arts to learn. We aren’t made of glass so people need to understand that the body can adapt to anything very quickly if you wanted it to.

What type of person do you have to be to do this sport - for instance, flexible, muscular, not afraid of heights? You need to be a person that is willing to push yourself physically and mentally and have an open mind. It doesn’t matter how big, small, short or tall you are and age doesn’t matter either. I’m scared of heights and always have been, but that’s another reason why I train the art, because I personally don’t like having fears or weaknesses especially in something I love. So in order to overcome the fear I know I have to continuously put myself on the edge of buildings etc, so the feeling becomes normal. What is your ultimate goal in life in relation to Parkour? I have so many goals so it’s really hard to pick out the ‘ultimate’ goal. I know that the most rewarding thing to me hands down is the ability to inspire and educate people. If I’m able to inspire them through classes, through videos or through live performances, and if they for example learnt something new, maybe decide to take an interest in movement or if the movement manages to change their life, then that’s the greatest achievement to me. It’s always important to share knowledge and spread positive ways of living since we’re all humans and go through similar emotions in life; I believe everybody has the potential to be great. I also want to take everything I’ve learned in the art of filmmaking and continue to develop myself as a filmmaker and to change not only the way we make films but also the types of films being produced here. So I’m in full-time preproduction mode at the moment for a couple of the biggest film projects for us [Team 9Lives] yet and we hope to just keep pushing our skills as far as we possibly can to tackle even bigger stuff in the future. We run weekly Parkour classes in Fairfield and Cabramatta so feel free to come and join us. We will also have new movement classes opening around South-West Sydney, so look up Team 9Lives online for all the info!

You need to be a person that is willing to push yourself physically and mentally and have an open mind.

What feeling do you get when you’re doing all your tricks? Do you get nervous beforehand? The feeling I get is hard to explain in words. It’s just the feeling of being light and weightless; when you are able to tell your body what to do, and it responds and moves how you want it to move then it’s an incredible feeling. Nerves are a part of it. I sometimes get nervous before really big jumps or tricks but if you know that you’re physically ready to achieve the movement then you just have to remind yourself if you forget. Everything in Parkour is always a mental battle, and as long as you keep strengthening yourself physically, mentally and spiritually then you will progress very far.

Check out Ali’s Parkour moves on YouTube: “Ali Kadhim Parkour and Freerunning Showreel”

the

Defamer since 2010

BY TABITHA CHAN AND MARIAM CHEHAB

DISCLAIMER: The images and text portrayed are not intended to defame any individual, group or organisation. This is our attempt at satire; apologies if our sense of humour is not in line with yours.

12 +

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

13 +

FEATURE

The top of Ms Gillard’s hair flashes before my eyes as she’s thrown into the back seat of her Commonwealth car.

PANES of glass become their drum. “Shame Gillard, shame. Shame Gillard, shame”. The calmness of those inside becomes their fuel. “Come out here and say it to our faces”. Hosting an Australia Day ceremony less than 100 metres from an anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent embassy becomes the final straw as tensions come to the boil.

STORM OF

CONTROVERSY

When Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott fled from Aboriginal protesters at an Australia Day event in Canberra, UTS journalism student and SBS reporter Dan Conifer was there. Here is his account of an incredible day in Australia’s history.

There is a slight pause, a yell, and then we sprint toward the left side door of The Lobby restaurant. A moment later and I’m on the other side of the Prime Minister’s car. The top of Ms Gillard’s hair flashes before my eyes as she’s thrown into the back seat of her Commonwealth car. A tall man jumps in behind her, leans forward out of view as the left side door slams. It looks like Tony Abbott. The car jumps forward. “Men are falling in front of the car,” I yell on the phone to the SBS Newsroom, as a man in a navy shirt and brown pants throws himself on the bonnet. He’s wrenched off by three Australian Federal Police officers. “Police are punching a man, he’s just been punched in the face by the police… “Bottles are being pelted at the car… people are running in front of it…” And less than a minute later, the car with number plate C-1 screeches down Queen Victoria Terrace, leaving thirty minutes of protest in its wake – but driving into a storm of controversy.

How it happened: The atmosphere at 9:00am January 26 is excitable: 1500 people are marching from Canberra’s centre to Old Parliament House. “What do we want?” they chant. “Land rights.”

“When do we want them? Now. “What do we get? Fuck all!” The day settles into speeches, following the same lines: a call for Aboriginal sovereignty, their own system of government. In Sydney, unknown to me, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is speaking to the press. “Look, I can understand why the Tent Embassy was set all those years ago… I think a lot has changed since then, and I think it probably is time to move on from that [protest movement]”. A number of hours pass. Unions ACT secretary Kim Sattler then approaches Northern Territory Aboriginal figure Barbara Shaw next to the stage, setting it all off. Ms Sattler tells Ms Shaw: “(Tony) Abbott’s just made a statement to the press that the Tent Embassy should be pulled down.” Ms Shaw relays this to the crowd: “Over there! Over at the cafe.” I hear this echo out of the PA system, and think: “Oh yeah, right...” “What are the chances the Opposition Leader’s just down the road?” But I decided to check it out. “In case it’s actually true,” I say to someone. “See you in a sec.”

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

8 Ball should there be smoking bans in all public areas? NO

jezelle BOUGHALEB

Yes

MARTHA AZZI

I leave my bag and run through the adjacent rose garden, clutching my microphone and mobile phone. At that stage a few dozen others are making their way over there. By no means was this the majority of the Tent Embassy. One hundred metres later a few people are confronting security on the right-side entrance, asking to be allowed in. The guard laughs off their demands. I move around to the main entrance, where a bald-headed bodyguard is standing (this is the one who carried the Prime Minister to her car). He spends a lot of the time speaking a microphone, tucked inside his jacket. More people surround the windows of the roof-to-floor glass restaurant. Some bang on it with their fists, some with open hands. Some push copies of the National Indigenous Times newspaper to the window, the glossy front page showing a photo of the original four Tent Embassy protesters. “Shame… shame… shame,” reverberates off The Lobby’s transparent walls. “Racist bastards… rednecks… white supremacists.” Ten minutes after Shaw comments, the first backup of police arrive. The bodyguard keeps murmuring into his mic, making minimal contact with the protesters. “Come out here and say it to our faces,” they yell at the leaders inside, still believing Mr Abbott wanted the embassy torn down. “Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.” Twenty minutes later, more police arrive, carrying shields and what looks like riot gear. Within minutes it’s all over. The Prime Minister is sped away. And then the fallout...

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

Clearing up misconceptions: What did people at the Embassy actually want? Answers. They wanted to know why the government is looking to extend Northern Territory Intervention-style welfare quarantining. They wanted to know why the ‘gap’ isn’t being closed – despite billions of dollars being spent. These people feel the government is not listening to them. They feel disconnected from the political mainstream. This was their chance to make their voices heard to the nation’s political leaders. Did they want to harm these politicians? No, at absolutely no point did I feel the Prime Minister or Opposition Leader were under threat of physical harm.

Was it a riot or violent? No. When the Prime Minister was being whisked away, yes, police did throw people off her car; they did palm and punch people. But protesters did not directly attack police, or anyone else for that matter. And the police response is by and large to be expected if they’re protecting a national leader. No issue here. Yes, there was a stand-off between protesters and a line of police arm-in-arm. Yes, people were sitting on the road and refusing to move. But is that a riot? London was a riot. Cronulla was a riot. Australia Day at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was not.

Of course it should be banned. I’m sick of passive smoking and I’m sure every other non-smoker will agree with me. It’s the worst thing when you are sitting, standing or walking and you’re hit with a wave of cigarette smoke instead of breathing fresh air, and as you consciously avoid one smoker you encounter another in your path. They are everywhere. As our population grows, more and more public places become increasingly sardine-like and it becomes more difficult to find places where we can escape smokers. Tobacco smoke is deadly. The Government website QuitNow states that smoking is the “single largest preventable cause of premature death and disease in Australia”. It contains many carcinogens and irritants, is a major contributor to heart disease and is responsible for more than 15,000 deaths per year. According to OxyGen only 19 per cent of Australian adults smoke, therefore 81 per cent of Aussie adults don’t! Also almost 93 per cent of youngsters between the ages of 12 - 17 are not current smokers. Banning smoking in public places will demoralise it. As it is out of sight it will be considered wrong and will set a good example. It will help promote non-smoking as the norm and provide a strong message of support to those who are trying to quit. This is a case not even worth arguing about. The NSW Government has revealed new plans for banning smoking in outdoor areas like bus stops and taxi ranks, public entries to buildings, playgrounds, public sports grounds and swimming pools. These bans will come into effect within months while bans for all outdoor commercial dining areas will be implemented from 2015.

Smoking kills. We know. So…why do we do it? Well, why do we speed? Why do we get drunk? So many answers can be given – I like it, I can’t stop or I find it right – but are any deemed “correct”? As smokers, we understand the risks that come with smoking and accept them and so has society. Why else would we sell them at so many retailers and provide smoking areas at pubs and restaurants. You cannot ban smoking in public areas – it is PUBLIC which means a free open space for EVERYONE, smoker or non smoker. Passive smokers choose to breathe in other people’s smoke. If they don’t wish to they can simply move away, or not go to places where they know smokers will be at. There are non-smoking bars and restaurants and if enough people go there, more might become available and satisfy people’s complaints. Now that this particular issue is covered we are led to the next main argument that tobacco smoke causes cancer, strokes and heart disease. However, if a doctor doesn’t specifically say that that is the cause of your sickness, you cannot point the blame on passive smoke when there are other uncontrolled issues in society such as Australia’s bipolar weather and pollution. Furthermore, smoking is legal and so the NSW Government has no right to ‘ban’ people but should encourage them to give up. It is unlikely that increasing taxes will stop people from smoking if they are addicted to nicotine and so only the Government will benefit. Smoking is sometimes used as a social form of bonding in communities and clubs. Hence, a ban on smoking in public places could increase the chances of pushing clubs, bars and pubs out of business and lead people who earn their income by selling tobacco to lose their jobs, thus it is clearly a straightforward argument that NO smoking should not be banned in public places.

ADVICE

WHY YES, I AM ARROGANT

How not to:

IT’S A GUY THING

juggle

Al Jedlin gives us the view from Mars.

Not everyone has a life. Sophia Phan doesn’t – she wrote this.

I could quite possibly be the most arrogant person with whom I’ve ever had the pleasure of keeping company with. But get this: It’s not my fault, society made me this way! Those of us who possess the Y chromosome are told from a young age that we must prove ourselves. “You pussy” and “do better” are lines often uttered. Males are told that in this world of hyper-machismo, we must show to the rest of our species that we are both more important and better, at anything and everything. Being the incredibly competitive male that I am, this notion of proving myself comes out at every moment, from skiing to rugby, to cards with the boys to overtaking people as I run Bondi to Bronte. I have to be the best. This could be because of my insecurities, or perhaps some primal instinct to outdo my competitors for you ladies. Call it the inner Neanderthal doing its best to thwart Darwin and claim control. As men we must be both fearless yet modest, sensitive yet emotionless, confident yet not arrogant. Thus the conundrum that I often battle through is how to be confident but not conceited. Call it a guy thing. In my supercilious opinion, in Australian vernacular the meaning of the word arrogant has been distorted to become an umbrella term to anyone who is confident with reason to be. This is because Australians, in particular, are quick to shut down people who have had a taste of success, and for once I wish that we shared the same attitude as America, where praise is duly given. I’ve spent a hefty amount of my life in the States and rarely would I have been called arrogant. I attribute this largely to a uniquely Australian misconception of what arrogance actually is, reflective of our often-noted tall poppy syndrome, as well as the

need to keep everyone “equal”. My friend Richard, who received 99.95 for his ATAR, is often described as being supremely arrogant. When I asked him what it was like to receive that mark he said it was comparable to having an awkwardly large penis. I’ve always been unsure as to why people called him arrogant as he, by any standard metric, has the right to be – he got full marks in the HSC! Furthermore, this opinion has been shaped by my wise nineteen years of experience in dealing with the interaction of the sexes, as I believe confidence is the most important tool in talking to women. The ability to just go and talk to a woman involves a confidence in oneself that only someone with a dare I say it, arrogance in their armory, can do. This lack of faith has ruined countless potential relationships, due to a crippling fear that as a male you aren’t good enough. Confident women may have slut, whore, hussy and slurry, but confident males have wanker, douche, arrogant, tool, dickhead, prick and scumbag. All delightful words really. So, despite the pressures placed upon males in our society, confidence is in no way ‘a guy thing’. Women may be judged on their promiscuity, but males are scrutinised and indeed ostracised due to their behaviour, albeit in a totally different way. Yes ladies, double standards are a two way street. Ultimately, large amounts of supposed arrogance is just a boy being confident, like he has been told to be. Meaning that stupid and conceited behaviour is merely done to impress you girls so take it as a compliment that he is dancing like an idiot in front of you. He just wants you to notice him.

As men we must be both fearless yet modest, sensitive yet emotionless, confident yet not arrogant.

Juggling is an art form. I would know – I thought I could juggle a leprechaun and two coconuts at the same time, but unfortunately, I can’t; coconuts are far too fragile for acrobatic activity. But, to be relatively less fruity, it takes skill and dedication to balance one’s way through a dramatic Cirque du Soleil production. And I am saying this the night before this column is due: multi-tasking is not your friend. Take it from someone who’s currently rejecting her own advice and watching Friends, chatting on Facebook and snacking on some delicious nuts… and fruit. It’s been approximately two hours since I’ve started and in that time I think I’ve stalked more people than my actual word count. You may think that you’re Wonder Woman on crack or Iron Man jacked up on Nutri-Grain, but truth be told: you’re no superhero. No matter what praise you’ve been given (or to be realistic – boasted) on your miraculous ability to Facebook and knock out that 5000-word essay in the dead of the night, we all know that’s about as true as Gillard’s promise to not initiate a Carbon Tax. Social media is toxic, toxic! I say! If you’re not stalking that

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AL JEDLIN

guy that is tagged in that photo that a friend of your friend posted on your sister’s best friend’s wall, you’re either watching some funny video with cats or babies (or both) or tumbl(r)ing so hard you have more pages than friends. That’s why I usually do things days or weeks beforehand so I can carelessly tweet how organised I am. And yes, I do know what needs to be done in the future days or weeks beforehand because I am just that amazing. No, I cannot predict your Lotto numbers and no, tights will never be pants. Sorry – the truth hurts (and so does looking at a camel toe). Juggling or what the non-athletic folk refer to as ‘multitasking’ is quite the little shit. And while some of you may be chortling, “What the fuck is this extremely good-looking and hilarious girl talking about?! Women are natural multi-taskers!” I’m afraid I must disagree. It is extremely difficult trying to eat a burger and drive at the same time. I dare you to find a female who can drive a vehicle safely whilst enjoying how perfectly seasoned and sauced a meat patty is in between two layers of soft sesame bread. If you in fact do manage to find such a being, please ask her where she got her burger.

DID YOU KNOW?

PARIS Syndrome

RARE ILLNESSES We all may say the flu makes us look and feel like zombies, but imagine believing that you’re actually dead? It’s a very rare – and real – illness, as are the rest of these.

MARIAM CHEHAB

The Paris Syndrome is a psychological disorder that is mainly experienced by Japanese tourists. The syndrome causes first-time visitors to have a complete breakdown in the famous city. Simplistically, it’s like a massive case of culture shock, as the tourists are unable to separate their idealised image of Paris (as depicted in films and advertising) with the reality of the city. The romanticised image of Paris comes crashing down after an encounter with a rude person, for instance. About 20 people suffer the condition each year – at least 6 have to be flown back to their country under medical supervision. Symptoms include dizziness, hallucinations and feelings of persecution. The Japanese Embassy has a hotline to address the issue.

Muscle Dysmorphia/ Bigorexia People who have this body-image disorder are obsessed with the idea that they are not muscular enough. Typically occurring in males, and especially athletes, the incidence of Muscle Dysmorphia is increasing around the world. Causes include the pressure to have the idealised V-shaped body (broad chest, muscular arms and narrow waist) as depicted in film, wrestling, magazines and action figures.

MARY HART Syndrome In 1991, an unidentified woman suffered epileptic seizures after hearing the sound of Mary Hart’s voice – the presenter of television program Entertainment Tonight. A doctor reported in the New England Journal of Medicine that the woman experienced head pressure, an upset stomach and confusion when hearing Hart’s voice. The case occurred more than a year before a Seinfeld episode depicted Kramer as experiencing the same thing because of the presenter’s voice.

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Cotard’s Syndrome/ Walking Corpse Syndrome People who have this rare condition experience mild to severe nihilistic delusions, such as the belief that they are dead or have lost their soul, are putrefying (decomposing), have lost their blood or organs, do not exist or the world no longer exists. Named after a French psychiatrist who first described the condition in 1880, the syndrome is typically related to depression and usually affects older people. Although rare, the syndrome can affect younger people too, with the International Journal of Mental Health Systems reporting the case of a young pregnant woman from India, who believed her stomach was missing, her liver was putrefying and her heart was “altogether absent”.

Body Identity Integrity Disorder (BIID) People who suffer this psychological disorder believe that life would be better as an amputee. This rare condition causes afflicted patients to fantasise about missing a limb, and thus they are sometimes compelled to voluntarily amputate parts of their bodies. Scientists suspect the condition may be related to other body image disorders, like anorexia or gender identity disorder. According to biid.org, some individuals hide the disorder by harming themselves to the point that amputation is necessary. One motivation for amputation is that the patient is sexually attracted to amputees or to being an amputee, although this is rare. Biid.org explains that most sufferers feel that one of their limbs to be alien and don’t feel comfortable until they have it removed.

Stendhal Syndrome This syndrome causes people to suffer giddiness, dizziness, confusion, fainting and a rapid heartbeat when they come into contact with great works of art. The condition was named after a 19th century French author who wrote about the overwhelming feeling he felt after seeing Renaissance masterpieces.

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WORDs

Pointless Start of Semester Conversations

By Laila Nawsheen Sabbir Hassan, 30, has never ventured outside Bangladesh. As a baby he was adopted by a wealthy family living in Dhaka and was educated at one of the finest institutes in the country. But he was extraordinarily quiet, never speaking out of turn, never looking anyone in the eye. He began smoking weed as a teenager and was diagnosed with cannabis-induced psychosis at the age of 25. What followed were eight months spent in a

near-vegetative state as part of an extensive chemical rehab program. In his words, it was the worst period of his life. I had the pleasure of meeting him for the first time over the summer during my recent trip to Bangladesh. He wrote the following two poems at the peak of his psychosis, only weeks before he was committed. He claims he learnt English through old Clint Eastwood films. I thank him for allowing me to share his work.

Incomplete Thought

[Untitled]

An impossible moment from the past

Perfect time of night

The sky was yellow

Riding a white horse really fast

To lose my mind

The clouds were pink

Grew wings with a spell that was cast

Let’s stop thinking.

Right after I downed

Off to the ocean like a shooting star

Whatever we find.

My thirteenth drink.

Leaving the desert behind afar

If roses had no colour

The sun was green

With a joy that was to fly

And violets were brown

The ocean, grey

It rose

This little rhyme

A stack of needles

High and high

Would never be found.

Looking for the hay

The wind was cold and dry

But roses are blue

Dew drops on fire

The lonely moon

And violets are red

Flames in the rain

In an empty sky

(I’ve got a screw

Your beat too

loose in my head)

Will heart once again

Emily Meller wants something real to talk about.

University students seem to enjoy talking. Often loudly, incoherently and at inappropriate times (just ask any lecturer). The chattering is constant. Yet, after ten weeks of sitting next to someone, you may know nothing about them at all. How is this possible? People get married after shorter relationships, and yet without Facebook you probably wouldn’t know their last name. It is usually the exact same string of questions we ask whenever we meet someone in that first class. “What degree are you doing?”1 (Usually it is the same as you, since you are both in the tutorial). “What school did you go to?” (This is, by now, completely irrelevant). Then there is the ever ear-piercingly shrill exclamation: “You like [insert indie band] too?! I love them!” like freak telepathy or a fantastic alignment of the cosmos, rather than regular airplay on Triple J, has resulted in a mutual appreciation of ambient electronica.2 Of course, it is always nice to meet people with similar interests, and good taste in music is often a precursor to friendship later on. But everyone seems to gloss over the fact that similar taste in music, Apple products or alcoholic beverages is not in itself a relationship. Sadly, no amount of chirpy fake conversation is going to magically result in a true friend.3 That kind of connection only happens when you dare to delve a bit deeper. Most are lucky to make at least one friend

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like this during their studies. Considering the huge spectrum of life experience it is possible to have, there must be something about every person that sparks your interest. But it is impossible to find what that might be unless you ask some interesting questions. Alternatively, settle for another semester next to someone who you see in class but never speak to again (save for occasional wave-smile-hugs in passing). Here is a challenge: have a real conversation today with someone you don’t already know. Have a talk about politics, religion, controversy, the meaning of life – whatever. An update of Sydney’s meteorology, (“Yeah it’s so sunny today,”) is just laziness. Form an opinion, have an argument, laugh properly. It is rare; someone who is genuine is well respected by their peers, if not well loved. Plus, the next people I hear discussing how awesome it is that they both know this band that played at that festival when they were “so drunk, dude, like... so drunk” are getting their MacBooks thrown out of the tower.

The writer is guilty of constantly asking new people this question.

The writer likes many indie bands, but feels idiotic when explaining ‘their sound’ to people, and is equally annoyed when overhearing others doing the same.

The writer learnt this the hard way, after mild jaw bruising from constantly beaming at strangers.

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SHOWCASE OLIVIA KING

christmas cards for The Distillery ____________________

Olivia King is a 3rd year visual communication student with a passion for illustration and hand-drawn type. Working with a number of mediums - pencil, pen, watercolour, lino or gouache - she focuses on creating letterforms and drawings that have a human touch, preferring their imperfection to their digital counterparts. Much of her work comes from quotes or sayings, as well as love for a good serif and ampersand. She admits that despite the time they take to complete, it’s always worth remembering Stefan Sagmeister’s quote, “Obsessions make my

Hand Illustration

life worse, but my work better.”

More of olivia’s work can be seen at cargocollective.com/ oliviaking

Design Tools for All Types for Eckersly’s Design competition ______________________ Mixed media

untitled ______________________ Pencil

CARDS for “Houses for Hope” to raise money for Cambodia. ______________________ Pencil and Watercolour

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want your work featured in showcase? submit to submissions @utsvertigo.com

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SITES TO SURF

PROCRASTINATION CENTRAL

JESSICA LOOI

RIDDLE #1

I have forests, but no trees. I have lakes, but no water. I have roads, but no cars.

What am I?

riddle #2

My life can be measured in hours, I serve by being devoured. Thin, I am quick Fat, I am slow Wind is my foe.

What am I?

riddle #4

PINTEREST.com

RIDDLE #3

Thinking of re-designing your room? Or even a prospective wedding? Pinterest is a virtual pin board which allows you to share your wishes, hopes and dreams with your friends, acquaintances and the world.

It cannot be seen, cannot be felt Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter. (Poem by J.R.R. Tolkien)

FOODONMYDOG.TUMBLR.com Do you like food? Do you like cute dogs? Well you’re in luck. This blog combines a gorgeous-looking dog and tasty food to coax out the most basic of human noises. Ngaww…

What am I?

[See page 40 for the answers]

thisisphotobomb.COM This site is strange and very unexpected at times. Prepare to laugh, be creeped out and maybe even entertained?

You have two ropes. Each burns completely in exactly one hour. However, they are different lengths and thus burn at different rates. Also, along each rope the width & material changes, so they burn at different rates at different places. The only thing you know is that they each burn completely in one hour exactly.

postsecret.com

You have a lighter. How do you measure exactly 45 minutes?

Have you ever been accused of being nosy? Do you like to know what other people are hiding? Secret-holders anonymously post their secrets on a homemade postcard which are then published online.

boredville.com Sitting in a lecture or tute? Bored to death? Pray to your lucky stars that the wireless works AND hop onto this site to check out these videos (updated daily!). Ranging from Sh*t the Downtown Abbey Countess Says to Otters Chase Butterfly, you’re bound to find something to your liking.

RIDDLES JESSICA LOOI

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what to do when THE wireless lucks out:

Pick a person across the room and stare at them until they notice. When they notice, continue staring until it becomes incredibly awkward; and then some. After class/lecture walk up to them and hesitantly tell them that someone drew a penis on their face. Laugh as they scramble to find a mirror.

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FITNESS

SPORT Attack of the 6-Pack

Jackelyn Ho is a certified fitness professional with the Aerobics Fitness Association of America. She teaches cardio kickboxing, TRX Suspension Training, bootcamp classes and more. She is a Media Arts exchange student from San Francisco, California and believes that sweating is sexy. We all want it. That hard, shapely muscle pressing against our bodies when we come in close for a hug. Mmm, gotta love those abs. Unfortunately, we can’t achieve the most sought after body part simply by drinking up on Friday night. Have no fear, for I am here to help you get the body you want. Luckily, you won’t have to pay five easy payments of $19.95. Before you bust out 100,000 crunches, let’s explore the anatomy of how this all works. Our body’s basic structure consists of skeleton and muscle. As we begin to fill ourselves up with early morning Pie Face and late night Mad Mex, another layer of fat creeps in on top of our beautiful muscles. This is especially noticeable when a bad diet is combined with physical inactivity. It is important for you to understand that muscles don’t go anywhere or change form – they’re just hiding underneath an unwelcomed visitor. Therefore, you can’t just do crunches and

wake up the next morning with rock hard abs peeking through. Although you can strengthen your muscles by doing said exercises, the key is to get rid of the fat layer by doing cardiovascular work. This includes running, swimming, dancing, cycling or any other activity that gets your heart rate up. Making eye contact with an attractive person in the lift does not count. There are several muscles in our core, including the rectus abdominis (hello, 6-pack), transverse abdominis (deepest side muscle), as well as the internal and external obliques (love handle central). These muscles work together to create a strong midsection. I’m going to count on you to get your cardio in at least three to five times a week, 30 minutes each time. On top of that routine, get onto the floor and try out some of my favorite core workouts. Repeat this whole routine four times for maximum results. If you wake up feeling like a sexy beast, well, you’re very welcome.

THE EXERCISES:

AFL Predictions By Tom Smith

[1st] Collingwood:

[11th] Melbourne:

The Pies will surely win the flag in Nathan Buckley’s first year in charge. Poor old Eddie McGuire can’t handle any more grand final heartbreak.

They’ll be tougher to beat under incoming boss Mark Neeld, but still bleed goals down back, and have no real targets up forward, both vital components to winning games of footy.

[2nd] Geelong:

[12th] Fremantle:

Tough as old boots that are starting to scuff and fray with age.

Freo can’t win interstate, and can’t keep 18 fit players on the park. Tough gig for new coach Ross Lyon.

[3rd] Hawthorn: Will slay weak sides, but their pretty passing brand of football is unsuitable for finals. Cyril Rioli – perhaps the only ‘Cyril’ in Australia not currently living in a retirement village – is a smoky for the Brownlow.

[13th] Brisbane: Unless the Lions figure out a way to clone Jonathan Brown, they’ll struggle.

[14th] Adelaide: [4th] Carlton: Another year of gradual improvement, but a lot still rests on Chris Judd’s increasingly fragile shoulders.

The Crows are a lot like the town they represent: pretty boring and a bit rubbish.

[15th] Gold Coast: [5th] West Coast: Might suffer some second-year syndrome after over-achieving in 2011, but Subiaco is Victorian clubs’ kryptonite, so the Eagles will finish high up.

Prodigiously talented but still far too young and skinny to compete physically.

[16th] Western Bulldogs:

[6th] Sydney:

After years of finals – and the resulting lack of draft picks – it’s time for the Bullies to bottom out in a big way.

An exciting season for the young Swans, especially with Tommy Walsh filling Tadgh Kennelly’s role as the club’s token Irishman.

[17th] Port Adelaide:

[7th] Essendon:

Matthew Primus will be very thankful the presence of GWS will save the Power from the indignity of last place.

Rejuvenated by James Hird last year, they will be an inconsistent threat again in 2012.

[18th] GWS:

[8th] North Melbourne:

A younger, less-talented, Gary Ablett-less version of the Suns. Absolutely nailed on to win their maiden wooden spoon.

Surely it’s about time for the Kangas to deliver.

[9th] Richmond: 1. Seated 100s

2. Side Plank

3. Plank with Extension

- Sit in a tabletop position. - Keep your back straight, chest up, and arms and lower half of your legs parallel to the ground. - Pulse your arms by lowering and raising them quickly. - Aim for 100 pulses.

- Lie on your side, bring your elbow under your shoulder and extend your legs out. - Lift your hips off the mat to create a straight line from head to toe. - Extra challenge: raise your top leg into the air and hold. - Keep this pose for 45 seconds.

- Lie face down on the mat, bring both yourself into a plank. - Keep your hips low, pelvis tucked and eyes looking forward. - Lift your right arm and raise your left leg. Hold for 10 seconds and then switch.

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The perennial ninth-place finishers will again flirt with the finals, before falling frustratingly short.

[10th] St Kilda: A team on the slide. Eleven players cut from the list, coach Ross Lyon has left for Freo, and even the schoolgirl has jumped off the bandwagon.

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ROAD TEST

TECHNOLOGY

parkour moves

You ought to wonder how some people can come up with the most bizarre inventions. Could they have been drunk whilst pouring their brains and utmost efforts into something quite… useless? Well the answer remains a mystery – who really gives a shit anyway, right? Well, take a look at some of these peculiar inventions.

Have you ever felt the need to just let loose and run freely? Whether it be because of emotional or financial stress, pressure at uni or you’ve fallen over and humiliated yourself, Parkour is the answer. What is Parkour you ask? Parkour is a human art form comprising of movement around obstacles with speed. So take your stress release to a whole new level and start vaulting fences or perhaps even jumping from building to building (if you’re game!)

LISA DIEU

(Note: Editor Lisa had a go at some essential Parkour moves to give you an idea of what it takes. The level of difficulty is based on a beginner’s level)

LISA DIEU

Blast Boxers

RRP: N/A

If you’re a type of guy looking for armour of some sort to protect what is really important, then these Blast Boxers are your answer. These boxers are layered with super-strong Kevlar material for the ultimate protection, and are odour-resistant. So what do they do? According to their website, they “help prevent blast and fragment injuries to the groin,” leaving the only valuable part intact.

GorillaTorch Blade

RRP: $74.31

Have you ever had to search for something in the dark and failed simply because you had to keep pressing random buttons to keep your phone screen lit? Well now you have your problem solved! You definitely won’t find a GorillaTorch Blade on the shelves. It’s bendable and wrapable legs, in addition to its magnetic feet, will make your life much easier when you’re trying to search for the used condoms that you had obliviously tossed in your car... somewhere. Hands-free, makes life much simpler.

Jumping Up and Down

Monkey Vault

What is involved: Working on your jumping skills is essential to Parkour. Jumping from the ground to a bench is a good height to start with. Difficulty: ★ This is pretty easy; I mean surely you have done skipping at some point in your life right? Unless you’re that ‘fluffy’ that you can’t physically lift all that... fluff. But on a serious note, it ultimately depends on the height of the object you’re jumping on or off as well as ensuring that you’re landing flat on both feet in order to avoid any injuries. Risks involved: You’re highly unlikely to hurt yourself doing this move if you kept it at a doable height, however, some risks could include: spraining your ankle, landing on your toes, missing the object and getting pole’d.

What is involved: I attempted to monkey vault over a bench with my feet and the rest of my body going between my hands whilst crossing the object. Obviously this move is not meant for beginners... well not for me anyway. Difficulty: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Risks involved: Fucking falling on your face, pulling a muscle, getting a cramp, kicking someone’s head in front of you, hitting your leg on the object, panic attacks, asthma attacks, the list goes on... anything can happen!

Jumping Over

Soular Powers

RRP: $110.54

If you’re willing to fork out over a hundred dollars to purchase a pretty bling bag, then Soular Powers Backpack serves you justice! What this bag does is absorb energy through its solar panel which can then be transferred to your portable gadgets. Alternatively, you can always use your charger and simply plug it into your powerpoint! Just saying.

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BOOKBOOK

FOR MACBOOK PRO/AIR RRP: From $74-$92

Don’t be fooled by this vintage-looking book. If you really want to show how affectionate you are towards your MacBook, then treat it like a REAL book. It can be a stand, a cover and a disguise to blend in with your other uni shit. It acts as stealthy security for your computer too – no one wants to steal an old, fat textbook! But don’t be surprised if a librarian puts it on the shelves.

What is involved: Jumping over objects or obstacles. In my case, I jumped from one bar to another. Difficulty: ★ ★ ★ Seems simple and sounds pretty damn easy right!? Well, unluckily for me, I missed the landing bar and smacked-bang onto it in which left a scar on my shin. Risks involved: Getting a scar (like myself), hitting yourself on the head, face planting and getting caught in between the objects (applies to both genders, but will obviously be more painful for men).

Swinging Through What is involved: My attempt at swinging through (also known as an underbar) ended up being similar to that of a worm swivelling through the dirt. I managed to jump while grabbing the bar and slowly swung through the gap, pulling the rest of my body through. Difficulty: ★ ★ ★ Risks involved: Hitting your head on the bar, scratches, missing the gap and getting caught in between (once again).

Landing What is involved: Don’t be so easily fooled by how effortless this may sound. Landing correctly with a proper technique saves a lot of injuries and can reduce the amount of impact of a jump or leap. You have to land a specific way and roll off your arm. Difficulty: ★ ★ ½ Risks involved: Bruises, scratches, spraining your arm, back or neck – nothing serious really… VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

REVIEWS

the merchant of venice THEATRE

Playing at the Genesian Theatre until March 31 Bookings: genesiantheatre.com.au

If you thought Shakespeare was all about long-winded monologues and old stuffy characters, think again. Con Costi’s production of The Merchant of Venice at the Genesian Theatre is a fresh take on a Shakespearean classic. It explores the comic elements whilst still delving into the darker edge of the play, allowing it to be accessible to a modern audience. “Our style is larger than life…it’s zany, fast paced and an interesting take on Shakespeare which has a lot to offer to people who aren’t interested in the traditional approach,” says director Con Costi. Set in a world that is more Vegas than Venice, the show begins with a snazzy dance number and the young Venetians frolic with carefree abandon. They are driven by greed, enchanted by lust and brimming with wealth – money is literally thrown around and litters the stage for the first half of the play. The clever set

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design is malleable and versatile, featuring the word ‘Venice’ in bright lights to mirror a society obsessed with opulence. Assistant director Michael Costi, who is also currently a Law and Journalism student at UTS, is quick to point out that behind the glamorous facade is an amoral society riddled with judicial corruption and racial vilification. “Underneath the decadence and glitz is a society steeped in racism and prejudice, and the cast carry that so well,” he says. The members of the cast range in terms of experience, including recent acting school graduates to those with no prior acting experience. Seasoned actor Geoff Sirmai (Packed to the Rafters, Underbelly) anchors the play with his performance of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, and his “hath not a Jew eyes” speech is one of the memorable highlights. Sirmai humanises Shylock as a tragic figure whose sense of compassion has been fractured by the

Director: Con Costi Assistant Director: Michael Costi persecution he endures. Sirmai’s portrayal allows the audience to sympathise with a victimised outsider whilst also steering us against him, painting him as miserly with a coldly calculated desire for vengeance. Antonio (Andrew Fraser) embodies the anti-Semitic attitudes of the time, and despite being an apathetic drunk he is a loyal friend. Talented Tiffany Stoecker plays Portia, the beautiful and brilliant heiress who fights for injustice and ultimately values love more than wealth. Con and Michael Costi have created a unique balance between the romantic elements in the play, the comic vignettes as well as potent themes. Regardless of whether you’re a Shakespeare nerd or not, I highly recommend you go along to see it: there is never a dull moment and you won’t be disappointed. The colourful characters as well as the quirky set and costume design provide for a visual feast and you will leave still contem-

plating the themes which have transcended time. I also suggest buying tickets early especially if you intend to see the Friday or Saturday night performances, as they are usually completely sold out. Director Con Costi says, “Shakespeare in his time was big and bawdy and rude and comical…in those days it was like a big party – we tried to maintain that sense of fun, just because it’s Shakespeare it doesn’t mean it has to be so boring!”

★★★★½ AZAL KHAN

PHOTOS ASH BELL VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

FILM

A Separation

SOMEPLACE UNKNOWN

NOW SHOWING in selected cinemas

AJ Hanks Interactive novel - purchase at www.someplaceunknown.com

There’s a lot of buzz around A Separation. The film won a raft of awards in 2011, and recently took out Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes. Writer/director Asghar Farhadi’s drama explores the issues surrounding a middle-class Iranian family. The film opens with Simin (Leila Hatami) seeking a divorce from her husband Nader (Peyman Maadi) when he refuses to move abroad with her. Neither Nader nor his daughter Termeh can stay home to look after his father with Alzheimer’s, so he recruits the help of Simin’s pregnant friend Razieh (Sareh Bayat). Farhadi has elicited brilliant performances from his cast, and they break the typical film conventions of good and evil characters. When the film launches into its central dispute, neither party is guilty, and you find yourself swinging backwards and forwards between supporting different people. There is no central hero figure for the audience to default to, and it’s up to viewers to decide who best reflects their personal morals. Clocking in at two hours and three minutes, A Separation does an impressive job of holding your attention. The film is well-written and shot, and while it slows down at points, it sucks you right back in at the crucial moments. Viewers are left with a multitude of questions unanswered at the end of the film – and if you’re one of those people who hang around the theatre in the hope of a revelation after the credits, you’re out of luck. But those lingering questions are exactly what make the film feel so real – there’s no Hollywood resolution with the loose ends neatly tied.

★★★★

BOOK

Someplace Unknown – Curiosity and the Afterlife is an interactive online novel written by first time American author, AJ Hanks. Whilst I found the format and interactive nature of the work to be user friendly, it did not add a huge amount to the overall experience. The novel alternates, primarily, between the perspectives of a high school student Mike and his father, Donald, as they undertake a family road trip across parts of America. Mike is dealing with the death of his friend for which he partially feels responsible – “I’m angry that Danny is dead. But for my sake. My guilt. My lost opportunities.” Whilst I did not have time to read the entire novel, what I did read left me disappointed and I felt no inclination to keep reading. I could see what the author was trying to achieve but rarely was I engaged with the work and it often left me bored. The narrative structure, itself, is quite an interesting one and the dynamic at play between Mike and those around him could have been more effectively exploited. There is a certain level of sympathy that the reader will have for the characters but it only went so far. Some of the writing is quite witty and clever but it often felt forced and robotic. It did not allow for a natural ebb and flow and left me feeling detached from the story as a whole. Mike’s chapters have occasional links to images. This is a clever idea employed by Hanks but I thought the choice of images did little to boost the story line and lacked execution. In fairness, having not read the entire novel means this review must be met with caution. I can see how some people might enjoy the whole online novel and interactive experience but Someplace Unknown – Curiosity and the Afterlife left me wanting a whole lot more.

Jessica Warriner

★★ Charles Harrison

FILM

GOODBYE, FIRST LOVE

A Wasteland Companion

Released April 5

M.WARD SPUNK RECORDS Released Friday April 6

Goodbye, First Love is about young steamy French love. The film spans over a decade yet nothing really happens. Youthful couples smoke cigarettes and make love in the reeds, there’s an argument about ham, and Papa smokes a pipe on the bed and stares listlessly out the window. That’s…about…it. The film is set in Paris and follows the lusty romance of fifteen year old Camille (Lola Créton) and Sullivan (Sebastian Urzendowsky), a French lothario four years her senior. When I was fifteen, the only serious relationship I had was with my Tamagotchi, who would later die in a pool of his own faeces. Yet Camille and Sullivan remain enraptured. In true French fashion they spend wistful days making love, arguing, making more love, then lying in fields. Their heady romance ends suddenly when Sullivan leaves for South America. Overall it was unsatisfying. It’s a shame because the cinematography is beautiful and the soundtrack is eclectic and memorable. Also the performance of Magne-Hårvard Brekke as Lorenz, Camille’s architecture professor, is fascinating and complex. Lornez was deep and he could have been fleshed out more, rather than being reduced to the ‘other man’ in Camille’s life. There was no sense of a psychological progression. When we first meet Sullivan and Camille they are both naïve and emotionally undeveloped. Yet, when we see them reunite after six years, they haven’t changed. They are still immature and wistful. If this were a statement on first love staying with you always, it was dealt with too simplistically. Director Mia Hansen-Løve certainly has a unique style and I admire her personal and heartfelt intentions, however this film committed the cardinal sin of being boring.

★★½ Michael Costi

MUSIC

Ward’s latest solo offering, A Wasteland Companion, greatly reflects the record’s process of creation which used eighteen musicians, eight engineers and eight different studios. While you can hear this itinerant process unfold, there’s an overriding sense of cohesion binding the album together, which couldn’t have been executed by anyone but Ward. His dexterous talent as a musician, composer, arranger and producer become clearer with each song. Opener, ‘Clean Slate’ offers the intimate vocals, and the sweet and sensible melodies that you’d expect from one half of indie duo She and Him, but ‘Me and My Shadow’ gives the first glimpse into Ward’s diverse talent. The track blooms with the haunting backing vocals of a gospel choir and Ward’s playful lyrics, “there’s a singer everyone has heard, at night he turns into a mockingbird and if I whistle in the dark, he’ll do that too”, which are accompanied by catchy blues riffs, hinting at 60s progressive rock. ‘Watch The Show’ continues this sound, using stomping percussion and Ward’s songwriting to thrust the track forward, while the title track is an interesting departure from the regular hook-filled song. Instead, Ward develops a soundscape of melodic acoustic guitar with various static interludes, increasing the sense of anticipation as the track creeps on. This was his greatest risk on the album, but demonstrates his confidence and striking delivery, making the payout entirely worth it. Zooey Deschanel’s sickly sweet duet in ‘Sweetheart’ elevates the well arranged pop-melodies to a crooning declaration of love, while ‘I Get Ideas’ is more suggestive, hinting at the possibility of intimacy, perfectly portrayed through Ward’s smooth crooning and swing jazz instrumentals. Later tracks ‘Crawl After You’, and ‘Pure Joy’ are filled with emotion and lyricism, reminiscent of early Leonard Cohen. Overall, A Wasteland Companion is a confident and diverse album, infused with Ward’s immense talent and layered arrangements that will reward you well beyond the first listen.

★★★½ FIONA DUNNE

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

RECIPES

Vietnamese Pork and Shrimp Roll with Hoisin Dipping Sauce SERVES 2-3 (15 rolls) PREPARATION 30 mins COOKING 15 mins Ingredients 300g pork belly, thinly sliced 200g shrimp, peeled and deveined ½ a head green lettuce 1 bunch mint leaves 1 bunch coriander 1 bunch chives 1 cucumber 15 pcs rice paper 1 tsp salt 250g vermicelli noodles

Sauce 5 tbsp hoisin sauce 1 tsp fresh minced chilli 5 tbsp broth 1 tbsp crushed peanut 1 tbsp sugar

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

LISA DIEU

STEP 1 Preparing the shrimp and pork

STEP 3 Making the dipping sauce

Heat a small saucepan with 1 tsp of salted water to boil over high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 1 minute or until cooked. Remove shrimp and set aside to cool. Add pork belly to boiling water and reduce to medium-low heat. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until cooked. Remove the pork and set aside to cool. Keep the stock for later use. Once cooled, peel the shrimp. Slice into half horizontally and devein them. Cut the pork belly into thin slices.

In a small saucepan, whisk the hoisin sauce together with 5 tbsp of broth and 1 tbsp of sugar. Stir well over low heat and let it simmer until sugar has dissolved, approximately 1-2 minutes. Remove sauce from heat, top with fresh minced chilli and crushed peanuts.

STEP 2 Preparing the noodles and vegetables Bring a saucepan of water to boil and cook the rice vermicelli to 3-5 minutes. Drain the noodles and run it under cold water to prevent it from overcooking. Wash all vegetables. Cut the cucumber into vertical slices about a finger long.

STEP 4 Making the rolls Dip rice paper into cool to warm water evenly and shake to remove excess water. Lay flat and place lettuce, coriander, mint leaves, noodles and cucumber on one side, pork belly in the middle and the shrimp on the opposite end with orange side facing down. Start rolling the vegetable side before folding the sides. Now add the chives in between and roll tightly.

Apple Berry Crumble SERVES 8-10 PREPARATION 30 mins COOKING 15-20 mins Ingredients APPLE BERRY MIX 8 Pink Lady, Sundowner or Lady Williams apples ¾ cup of water ¼ vanilla bean 2 tbsp ground cinnamon 1 tbsp vanilla essence ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup frozen or fresh raspberries ¼ cup frozen or fresh blackberries

CRUMBLE ½ cup plain flour 60g brown sugar 60g butter softened ½ cup crushed, roasted almonds ¼ cup crushed, roasted walnuts

jezelle boughaleb

Making the Apple Berry Mix STEP 1 Peel and core apples, then cut into 2-3cm cubes. Place apples in medium saucepan with the water and sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes, and then add cinnamon, vanilla bean and essence and berries. Continue to simmer until apples are soft.

STEP 2

you may keep it as an extra if you choose (to drizzle over the apple crumble at the end). Spread crumble mix over the top and bake for 15-20min or until crumble is golden.

STEP 5 Spoon apple berry crumble on plate and serve with vanilla ice cream and excess sauce and enjoy.

Preheat oven to 180 Celsius.

Making the Crumble STEP 3 Whilst waiting for apples to soften, combine flour, sugar and nuts in a large bowl until evenly mixed. Using fingertips rub the butter into mixture until well combined.

STEP 4 Spoon apple berry mix evenly in a shallow ovenproof dish with a capacity of 1 litre. There will be excess juice and

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

BEST OF

ice cream It’s a scientific fact: Ice cream makes you happy. What’s not to love? Try these places for some delicious ice cream and gelato. Zeynab Gamieldien

cow & the moon

PURE GELATO

VIA DEL CORSO

Where: 181 enmore rd, enmore.

Where: 30/32 bRIGHTON AVE, CROYDON PARK.

Where: LEVEL 5 CORNER PITT ST MALL AND MARKET ST, SYDNEY.

Ratings:

RANGE ★ ★ ★ ½ PRICE ★ ★ ★ ★ AMBIENCE ★ ★ ★ ★ SERVICE ★ ★ ★ ★ Even if the ice cream was terrible, you’d have to give Cow & the Moon credit for having an awesome name. Luckily the ice cream isn’t terrible; it’s absolutely fantastic. Cow & the Moon is down the less trendy end of Enmore, but these guys don’t seem to have got the memo. It’s full of quirky touches such as pin-up cow motifs and an aptly named ‘Gelato Lab’ where all the magic happens. The selection of ice cream flavours isn’t large, but what Cow & the Moon lacks in variety it certainly makes up for in quality. They often rotate flavours, but don’t be disappointed if your favourite is absent because you’re sure to find a new love. Recent flavours include Apple and Wasabi Sorbet, Spekulatius (yum) and my favourite, Dulce de Leche, which tastes just like the beautiful Latin American condensed milk dessert. But if you’re more old-school in your tastes, you can’t go past the Hokey Pokey, complete with crunchy honeycomb pieces.

RANGE ★ ★ ★ ★ PRICE ★ ★ ★ ★ AMBIENCE ★ ★ ½ SERVICE ★ ★ ★ ½ Croydon Park isn’t exactly what you’d call a ‘cool’ area, but if there’s one spot that could be described as such it’d be Pure Gelato. Pure Gelato is less an eatery and more of a self-described ‘Gelato Factory’, so don’t expect too much in the way of ambience. They have fridges full of ice cream tubs and cakes, with a steady stream of people coming to order custom-made ice cream cakes for all sorts of occasions. Some people do just drop by for the ice cream; according to their website they produce a whopping 150 flavours. I opted for Peanut Butter Fudge and Pistachio, and was pleasantly surprised by the fudginess of the fudge. I love good advertising. If peanut butter isn’t really your thing, Caramelised Fig, Lemon Meringue or Smarty Pants is sure to do the trick.

Overall rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

RANGE ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ PRICE ★ ★ ½ AMBIENCE ★ ★ ★ SERVICE ★ ★ ★ When the ice cream is as good as it is at Via Del Corso, you won’t complain about paying $7 for 2 scoops. Or you might, if you’re a tight student like me… but only until you sink your teeth into it! Via Del Corso is on Level 5 of the Westfield and so be warned: it becomes very full at lunch time and on weekends. It’s a cute little dessert place with all sorts of goodies – but the gelato section is truly amazing, with flavours ranging from Guava to Fig Honey Pistachio to Tim Tam. It’s best to stand back a bit because if you’re anything like me, a smorgasbord like this is going to overwhelm you for some time. I eventually settled on Guava and Pistachio, which made for a pleasing pinkgreen colour combination. The guava was fresh and tangy, while the Pistachio was thick and laced with crunchy pistachio nuts. Now who could gripe about a dollar or two when there’s such deliciousness to be had?

RANDOM RANT The page where cranky students let it all out. Hi Guys, After reading the first edition of Vertigo this year, I felt it necessary to say something about what the publication has become. Vertigo used to be something that showed off the best of student life, and showcased what students are capable of. What you have turned Vertigo into now is a publication full of inane, vacuous garbage that serves no other purpose than to denounce what could otherwise be a positive university experience. When I pick up Vertigo, I should be seeing the best of student work, considering we go to one of the most reputable creative universities in the country. Surely this publication should reflect this reputation. Instead of encouraging new, exciting, creative endeavour you have instead published a 42-page diatribe describing how much you hate uni. If this is really how much you hate university, I see absolutely no reason why you people should be serving as published representatives of a student voice. According to your Facebook and Twitter pages, "Vertigo is the student magazine that is written by bludgers for bludgers". Please explain to me why anyone would want to read something admittedly halfarsed by people who are unabashedly describing themselves as lazy? While the the full page random rant at the back of your magazine was totally undeserving of a full page feature, I can see why someone would think that about Communication students if you are what is representing them. Just looking at your Facebook page is enough to see the negative attitude that is rife within your editorial team - "First week back at uni and everyone is already over it. It never changes, people. It never changes." Maybe you should focus on the quality of your journalism and your publication instead of just bemoaning how awful you think university is.

Dear S MD,

Thanks for your feedback guys! It provided some good comic relief in the office. Vertigo also doubles as toilet paper if you really want to use it that way - it’s probably a lot softer than all the other magazines anyway. Share your most intimate moments with us ;) Better yet, submit your quality work to us!

Kind regards,

The Vertigo Team

Get your act together. -S MD

Overall rating: ★ ★ ★ Overall rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

SUDOKU

GAMES MEDIUM:

hard:

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

REPORTS

MEDIUM:

Jade Tyrrell

hard:

[ANSWERS FOR PREVIOUS ISSUE] ANSWERS IN NEXT ISSUE OF VERTIGO.

RIDDLE ANSWERS [page 26]: 1) A map. 2) A candle. 3) Darkness. 4) Burn rope 1 from both ends. At the same time, burn rope 2 from one end only. When rope 1 has finished burning, light the other end of rope two. This works because by burning rope 1 from both ends, it will take

half the time it would originally have taken (30 mins). And because you have only burnt half an hour’s worth of rope 2, there is still half an hour’s left of rope to burn. So if rope 2 is then lit on both ends, it will take half the amount of time of remaining time (15 minutes).

WHO’S CHECKING YOU OUT? So you’ve been scoping out that hottie in your Econ 101 class? Didn’t have the nerve to ask them out? Send us a text on 0404 449 606 and let them know how you really feel. To the Asian guy who showed me where the toilets were on O-day, you had the sweetest smile.

Mesmerised, Business. To the guy with a tattoo on his right arm smoking outside building one on Thursday, we exchanged looks for a good 3 seconds, I’m sure there are other things we could exchange...

trader girl, science. To the girl in the pink top and short black skirt who was in the Co-op line on a Wednesday, you’re gorgeous. Coffee?

Red shorts guy, Vis Communications. To Heather, I have admired you from a distance ever since that time we had at the party ;) I hope you feel the same way. Coffee?

President, UTS Students’ Association

So semester is in full swing! I must say it’s nice to see everyone return to UTS after their holidays. This place seems like a bit of a ghost town during the break, and working on campus without you all just feels weird. It’s time for us to familiarise ourselves with our brandspanking new timetables, note those assignment due dates and take advantage of all the new events on campus. However, there are also overarching education and welfare issues that are relevant to all of us, and it’s crucial you’re aware of them. This year we will be pushing for an enhanced student experience at UTS (both inside and outside the classroom), increased university funding, high quality education and students’ money going to students. Do you care where your money goes? We at the Students’ Association stand for students’ money going to students. I’ve already seen great results from projects made possible through the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) at UTS. I know the word ‘fee’ carries negative connotations, but this is actually a good thing. Our campus life, which has been in decline since Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) was introduced in 2006, is being somewhat revitalised thanks to the SSAF. The Students’ Association has now secured its funding from the university and we are currently developing the new student legal centre, which will be located on level three of the Tower. We have also already expanded some of our services as a result of the SSAF (details below). UTS has increased its funding for the Students’ Association this year, which is very exciting. As part of this process, UTSSA representatives were consulted. Ultimately, we want to make sure that you – the students – have more of a say on how and where your money is spent and that there is certainty for the direction of your money in the future. For these reasons, we are running a campaign called Students’ Money to Students, to stand up for students as stakeholders to ensure you get the best possible deal from the SSAF and that the results are in your interest. If you need help regarding the deferral of this new fee through SA-HELP, or if you have any other questions about the SSAF, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Hopefully by now you’ve heard about Bluebird Brekkie Bar, our free weekly breakfast for all UTS students. It’s started up again! Every Wednesday from 8:30am to 11am on level four of the Tower, the Students’ Association is proud to provide students with a healthy, organic breakfast for FREE. Why? Because we stand for student welfare and we recognise that many students either don’t have enough time or cannot afford to have a healthy breakfast on a daily basis. We have responded to the call for our Second Hand Bookshop to be open later (we care about postgraduate students too!), so now it is open until 9pm on a Thursday. We have also extended the Bookshop service to Block A of Haymarket campus. Perhaps you’re a Kuring-gai student? We have also expanded our academic advocacy to the Kuring-gai campus. Our caseworkers now visit the Students’ Association office (near the library) every Tuesday from 11am-3pm so please utilise this service. In other news, the results of the Base Funding Review Final Report were released in October 2011. I had the opportunity to go along to a stakeholder consultation on behalf of students in February this year. In what was essentially a roundtable discussion, your Education Vice President (EVP) and I highlighted the importance of increased Government funding for universities to combat issues such as the increasing casualisation of academic staff and overcrowded classes at university. We voiced the importance of no future increases to HECS for students, and no price differentials (so, flat HECS fees across all degrees) to improve equity in higher education, as students are already overburdened when it comes to course fees. Where to from here and what can you do to help this cause? The UTS Students’ Association will be running a campaign called Fund Our Future (see Lyndal’s EVP report following for more details). Please get involved in the Students’ Association, its Collectives, services and campaigns. You can contact me using the options below. I wish you an enjoyable first few weeks and plenty of caffeine to get through it all,

Jade Tyrrell President, UTS Students’ Association

Email: sapresident2012@uts.edu.au Phone: (02) 9514 1155 Tweet: @UTS_sapresident Website: www.sa.uts.edu.au

JACKIE LAW, science.

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

SUBMIT TO VERTIGO Lyndal Butler Education Vice-President, UTS Students’ Association

Now that semester is well and truly underway, new students are running out of excuses like ‘I got lost’ for being late to class, assignments are piling up and exams are beginning to loom above us like an ominous cloud. So far I’ve piled up quite a bit of study for myself, had a great time getting my nerd on in lectures (I get ridiculously excited about photosynthesis – true story), and I’ve been helping with the Students’ Money to Students campaign. You may have seen me talking to students about the new Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), and heard from me about the Students’ Money to Students campaign, which supports student control of student money. You too can help us with SSAF events and campaigns – just send me an email at butlerlyndal1@gmail.com to find out more! We at the Students’ Association are also busy with the Fund Our Future campaign. This campaign is being run in response to the Base Funding Review, which is a report that underlines aspects of tertiary education that require an increase in funding. At the UTS level, this applies to things like lobbying the university to provide tutor consultation hours, and targeting issues such as dodgy wireless connections around uni and working to introduce printing quotas to make printing cheaper and easier for students. So make a stand for your education and join us to push the university and the Government to Fund Our Future! Come along to our Education Action Group meet-ups! We meet every Monday at 12pm in the Students’ Association. Each meet-up is a casual affair where we share food, learn more about the issues affecting the university sector and get active in campaigns to improve our education. If you can’t make it to a meeting just send me an email at butlerlyndal1@gmail.com and I’ll let you know how you can get involved in our campaigns and events! Lyndal Butler Education Vice-President, UTS Students’ Association

ENVIRO COLLECTIVE REPORT Alex McInnis

Hello Vertigo readers! This space will be used over the year to give updates from the Environment Collective. We meet weekly, and our first meeting of the year was an exciting one, with lots of discussion about what issues we want to work on, and what’s coming up for the Flick My Switch campaign — a push for 100% renewable energy at UTS by 2015. We had a report back from Jason, who’d just spent the weekend visiting an Aboriginal Sovereignty camp with other students from the NSW Student Environment Action Network (SEAN). The camp is just north of Sydney near Woy Woy where Aboriginal activists Arthur and Peta have set up their home within Brisbane Water National Park. Some of us plan to continue visiting Arthur and Peta’s family to give them a hand setting things up and learn more about what ‘sovereignty’ means to them. We’ve started planning the next steps for Flick My Switch which is our campaign to get UTS to be the first uni in Australia run by 100% renewable energy. This has already happened at other unis around the world because students asked for it. We need to show the university decision makers that students and staff support the switch to make UTS a truly sustainable community, so we’ll be holding a referendum during the week of 7th - 11th of May. There will be places to vote around campus and online at yourvote. co.nr. Keep an eye out for our video which will be shown in lectures in the lead up to the referendum. We’ll be holding info sessions throughout semester one on how UTS can make the switch based on research done by the Institute for Sustainable Futures. This is so that you can ask questions and make an informed decision. We’re really, really excited to have a weekly radio segment on 2ser 107.3FM, during Monday Breakfast with Yasmin, 6-9am, so have a listen. Enviro Collective would love to hear from you! Our meetings are open to all students, so come and say hello. For meeting times and updates go to utsenviro.co.nr Contact us at utsenviro@gmail.com, or call Alex 0433 158 656 or Rhea 0404 622 011

VERTIGO ISSUE TWO

...otherwise we’ll have to resort to accepting these kinds of contributions

2ser_Banner_FIN.pdf

13/2/12

4:38:52 PM

CMY

See you round!

referendum to show support for 100% renewable energy at UTS, 7th-11th of May

submissions@utsvertigo.com

u rI U I iR Yo u r Yo UN RN ad oa

Are textbooks crippling your budget? Save up to 50% at the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association Second-Hand Bookshop For some 20 years now, the UTS Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association has helped students save money on textbooks through our not-for-profit second-hand bookstore. Rather than spending hundreds on spanking new books which you probably only need for 6 months, you can buy up-to-date books at a reduced price, and then resell with us after your exams to recover your money.

Broadway Store Level 3, Tower Building near the foodcourt. Haymarkets Store Haymarkets Store Room 12, Level 1, Building 5A, in the green space.

For hours and catalogue go to sa.uts.edu.au/books