2 0 2 0 5 I S S U E
HYDE cultural diversity edition
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VUSU This is a publication of Victoria University Student Union inc.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
Victoria University Student Union and Hyde Student Magazine
acknowledges
the
Ancestors,
Elders
and
families of the Boonwurrung, Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) and
Wathaurung
(Wadawurrung)
on
our
Melbourne
campuses and the Gadigal and Guring-gai people of the Eaora Nation on our Sydney campus. These groups are the custodians of the University land and have been for many
centuries.
As
we
share
our
own
knowledge
practices within the University, may we pay respect to the deep knowledge embedded within the Aboriginal community and ownership of Country. We acknowledge that the land on which our campuses stand is the place of age old ceremonies and celebration, initiation and renewal. The Kulin and Eora people's living culture had, and has, a unique role in the life of these regions. Victoria University supports the aim of Reconciliation Australia
to
build
better
relationships
between
the
wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the benefit of all Australians. It
is
important
that
staff,
students,
and
visitors
understand and respect the significance of recognising the traditional owners of University land.
LETTER Welcome Hyde readers to the next wonderful edition of Hyde for 2020 - our Cultural Diversity edition! We at Hyde hope that you enjoy this very special edition - created by the hands of students from different cultures, who were brave enough to share their own experiences and traditions. Multiculturalism is so important, especially in our VU community. We hope that throughout this edition of Hyde you discover just how incredible the students, staff and community at VU are, and recognise the great amount of Cultural events and clubs our university has to offer. VU, VUSU and Hyde pride ourselves on all the different cultures that make up the VU community from all walks of life. This edition comes during our Multicultural Week at VU which has included some amazing events and activities being hosted online by VU departments and VU clubs, we hope all have enjoyed it so far and students were able to witness the beautiful performances and traditions from around the world. This is the fifth edition of Hyde for the year and we want to thank all those who have contributed and the ongoing support from VUSU, VU staff, alumni, students and local businesses. We will back for one more edition this year set to be released in November - so keep a lookout on our social media if you want to submit anything and also for when it is released. Please enjoy reading this amazing content filled edition for 2020. xx Hannah - Editor in Chief
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what's inside
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63
page 7
page 12
A message from our VC
International Student Association President Welcome
Professor Peter Dawkins
page 8 A message from our VUSU Pres
Prateek Shrestha
page 17
Will Penrose
Statement for ECCV's All One Together campaign
page 11
Teresa Di Fazio
VUSU Cultural Diversity Officer Welcome
page 19
Ashfuq Lukman
Cultural Diversity Event Program 2020 Teresa Di Fazio
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40
33 page 21
page 33
page 69
Cultural Diversity at VU
Am I Multicultural?
Teresa Di Fazio
Cynthia Thomaz
5 ways to celebrate cultural diversity
page 27
page 40
page 75
Layers of our skin
Top 10 Inspirational people who have made cultural change
Shruthy Mathew
Alex Leighton
page 29 a taste of home Shelia Medina
page 31
page 63 TCHAU BRASIL, HELLO AUSTRALIA Thelma Nascimento
Left Behind Jordan Lide
page 77 Parintins Folklore Festival Clarissa Teixeira
page 83
The Black Handbook
page 65
Temi Oladiji
What's in a name?
VU Cultural Diversity Network
Carmelina Monea
Thelma Nascimento
A message from our VC Professor Peter Dawkins Vice-Chancellor and President As the University of Opportunity and Success, Victoria University is an open and inclusive university, without boundaries. We have a clear vision — to create exceptional value for any student from any background and uplift the communities in which we operate. VU is proud to be one of the most culturally diverse universities in Australia, with over 90 different cultures represented, who speak over 200 different languages. VU believes in embracing cultural difference, so that we can be ourselves and feel empowered to achieve success. Together with our students, staff and partners we work to promote a whole-of-university culturally inclusive environment. The Victoria University Cultural Diversity Strategy represents our global mindset to: Enrich the lives of our students, staff and the community Connect us all as a community dedicated to scholarship and active citizenship Celebrate the powerful benefits that cultural diversity provides.
page 7 | Diversity 2020 Our strategy signifies our commitment to fostering rich, deep intercultural connections across all our areas of engagement as well as outlines our Principles of Cultural Diversity which articulate respect, celebration, enrichment, connection, access, and championing of an inclusive and active approach to cultural diversity in all of its forms. We all have a part to play in providing a connected and globally relevant university experience, and this strategy consolidates a shared understanding of how our various roles and activities create a culturally inclusive, dynamic and respectful university community. Our multicultural community, of staff and students, is what sets us apart and helps us to deliver on our moral purpose to transform the lives of our students and our communities. As a university, we will continue to advance and influence positive social change through learning and teaching experiences, research and policy advancement, as well as through strategic partnerships with schools, industry and the wider community. In light of the COVID pandemic, and as we take steps forward in the recovery, this is more important than ever. As we move towards the final few months of this year, I wish you all the very best with your studies and I congratulate you on adapting to your studies in the remote and flexible mode of delivery this year.
A message from our VUSU Pres Will Penrose, VU Student Union President Hey VU, Will again here to give a bit of an update before you dive into yet another splendid edition of Hyde Magazine. We all loved the previous Women’s edition and now we get to see the awesome work the Hyde team has been doing for this Edition, The Cultural Diversity Edition. What a fantastic way to celebrate the amazing students that we have at VU and celebrate and showcase our diversity. I want to personally thank Hannah and the Hyde team for the hard work they have put in. Each edition has been better than the last with this one being no exception. I hope you all enjoy reading this as I did reading it. The Cultural Diversity Portfolio run by Ash Lukman has been outstanding this year. We have seen competitions ranging from Cultural Dress Up competitions to Guess the Language competitions. We have also seen some fantastic events and initiatives from Ash. His Trivia Night was really well received and I believe there is another one in the works so please keep an eye out for that. VU is such a fantastic place to immerse yourself in a Culturally Diverse setting. Growing up in the small country town of Castlemaine, diversity was not really something I experienced too often. This all changed when I took my first walk through Footscray and gee, it was awesome. VU was no different. I got to experience and learn about new cultures on a daily basis and I always look forward to seeing what VU has in store for us on Multicultural Week and Cultural Diversity Week because they never seem to disappoint.
Although this year is going to be a bit different, I still look forward to seeing the great things the VU departments have organised for us. This edition has been released to coincide with this year's Multicultural Week and I am so keen to see the reaction and engagement we receive during this week. It’s gonna be a blast. As always, Stay safe and study hard. If you have any concerns or questions about the Unions activities or services, please don’t hesitate to get in contact. Send me an email at president@vustudentunion.com
drawn by a Hyde team member
VU Student Union Cultural Diversity Officer's Welcome
page 11 | Diversity 2020
Ashfuq Lukman Hey Readers,
I hope you are all keeping well and healthy during these unprecedented times. Welcome to our Cultural Diversity edition where we bring together the richness of cultures from various backgrounds to showcase why Victoria University is known as one of the most diverse universities in Australia. As someone who is passionate about learning different cultures and traditions, I am grateful and honoured to be elected as the 2020 Cultural Diversity Officer for VUSU. This year as we are unable to hold any events on campus due to the current restrictions, it has not stopped me from ensuring that we celebrate and embrace the diverse cultures and inclusivity at VU. I am excited to share here a few of the greatest events I have run during this pandemic. Traditional Dress Photo Competition: The purpose of this event was to engage students to participate in a fun photo competition to promote their cultures by wearing a traditional outfit or a dress. Dress that tells the story of a person as much as local tradition. The response received from students were exceptional where over 15 different cultures were represented and were promoted on VUSU’s social media platforms. This event exceeded my expectations and has received the highest engagement in a long time. Guess the Language Competition: This competition was organised to celebrate the diversity of world languages. Students were encouraged to test their language skills by having to listening to different audio recordings from various parts of the world.
End of Block 1 Cultural Trivia Night: We recently had our first cultural trivia to finish off the Block 1 study period in style with cultures. This night was solely conducted for students to increase their knowledge about various cultures and participate in a fun Kahoot quiz to win amazing prices. There was a great turn up and students were able to exchange their cultures and traditions and meet new people. I am excited to share with everyone a recent project that I worked on to represent Cultural Diversity at VU through the unique representation of natural sand art as an initiative for celebrating Multicultural Week at VU. I would highly encourage everyone to watch and share it to reach the wider community. The sand art can be watched on the VU Cultural Diversity website: https://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/universityprofile/diversity-inclusion/cultural-diversity. It is my honour to be the Cultural Diversity Officer of Victoria University Student Union (VUSU). For me cultural diversity or multiculturalism is a system of beliefs and behaviours that recognises and respects the presence of all diverse group in an organisation or society, acknowledges and values their socialcultural differences, and encourages and enables their continued contribution within an inclusive cultural context which empowers all within an organisation or society. I wish you all the best for your studies and please do not hesitate to contact me via email at culturaldiversity@vustudentunion.com if you would like to collaborate together or if you have any questions or concerns.
International Student Association President Welcome Hey Everyone, I hope all of you are keeping safe in these un-predicted times. Just here to let you know about this amazing International student run association here at Victoria University, yes you guessed it Victoria University International Student Association. ISA stands as a vital non-political organisation that represents the interests and welfare of all International students studying at VU campuses. We represent all the international students, who are currently enrolled in any ELICOS, TAFE, Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Melbourne.
As part of the Victoria University Student Union, we represent students in terms of issues they find during their time in Australia and organise events and activities that create a positive student experience. With this, we strive to create a second family away from home for our international students. ISA, in conjunction with VU, is a strong believer in diversity, community engagement and social responsibility. We support and promote these values amongst our wide range of students; international students support, cultural diversity, networking and programs for international relations, plus much more. In the past, we have been organizing numerous events from Diwali, International Welcome party, online competitions and our highlight each year, Mount Buller Trip. So, come along to become a member of VU ISA to make new friends and create new memories whilst your journey at Victoria University. Also, don’t miss out a chance to explore Melbourne with us when we are in post-COVID situation.
Prateek Shrestha and VU ISA Team.
Indonesia
Kuwait
China
India
page 17 | Diversity 2020
Statement for ECCV's All One Together campaign We are very proud that Victoria University is the University of Opportunity and Success. We are an open and inclusive University, without boundaries. We have a clear vision - to create exceptional value for any student from any background and uplift the communities in which we operate. We recognise that we sit on the Land of our First Nations. We pay respect to the deep knowledge embedded within the Aboriginal community and their ownership of Country A hallmark of VU is our cultural diversity - within our institution, and extending out to our greater community. VU’s cultural diversity is a distinctive strength. We pride ourselves on our commitment to providing outstanding educational opportunities to an incredibly diverse student population with an experience that is intercultural, inclusive, innovative, community connected and transformational. Our students, in developing skills and knowledge as global citizens, are given the opportunity to learn from each other across cultural boundaries. The diversity of our staff also creates a rich tapestry that complements and enhances the work that is undertaken at VU each and every day. We connect with our community in a respectful and inclusive way through research, supporting events and other initiatives that enrich the lives of all involved. As part of VU’s deep level commitment to cultural inclusion and diversity it has developed a dedicated Cultural Diversity Strategy. This Strategy provides a blueprint in further developing our impactful intercultural VU Community approach. Victoria University pledges to develop and promote Victoria University’s Eight Principles of Cultural Diversity to guide University work to: Develop intercultural competence in students, our upcoming global citizens, through specific training initiatives which will be formally recognised as part of their learning experience at VU. Appoint Cultural Diversity Champions from Colleges and areas of the university to advance intercultural knowledge through training, resources and events to ensure a whole of institution approach to cultural inclusion and challenging racism.
Victoria University recognises that cultural diversity enhances and enriches the experiences of all its members.
People from all backgrounds will have outstanding opportunities to engage with and contribute to all aspects of University life.
All members of the university community should respect each other's cultural, ethnic, religious and racial identities within the Australian and institutional legal and policy frameworks.
All University members will have the opportunity to contribute to, participate in and celebrate the rich, social, cultural, economic, health and well-being benefits of Victoria University's culturally inclusive University experience. Victoria University will continue to connect with partners by sharing expertise and building and translating knowledge to promote social cohesion, cultural diversity, intercultural literacies and multiculturalism. As part of its moral purpose, Victoria University will reflect a whole-of-university approach to provide safe, harmonious experience and environment for its members.
As part of its unique community orientation, Victoria University will lead, collaborate and champion opportunities to foster and develop cultural inclusivity and intercultural capacity, particularly in Melbourne's west. Victoria University will expand its endeavours to become a leading, culturally responsive, globally-connected tertiary provider with a respectful and inclusive culture across all its activities.
page 19 | Diversity 2020
Cultural Diversity Events Program 2020 VU Iftar 12th May Ms. Vivienne Nguyen - Chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission Mr Lin Jong – Bulldogs FC PlayerProf. Peter Dawkins – VC, Victoria University Ashfaq Lukman Youth Advocate Dr. Teresa De Fazio – Moderator On set. This year we got creative and hosted an online Iftar. The event attracted an international audience.
Multicultural Matters Forum – Partnership of VU and City of Melbourne – 21 May coinciding with World Day for Cultural Diversity, for Dialogue and Development. VU and the City of Melbourne and Victoria University will co-host a panel of experts to speak on Rising to the Challenge: Social readjustment, community identity, building a more inclusive community. Speakers: George Megalogenis - Social Commentator, Journalist and Author Nyadol Nyuon – Social Commentator and Human Rights Lawyer (VU Alumni) Veronica Pardo – Multicultural Arts Victoria Sahil Puri - VU Alumi and Youth Advocate Lia Timson – Editor The Age (moderator)
Learning About Hate – March A forum that explored aspects of Hate in our community. Special guests included two international experts and ex-Right Wing extremists: Robert Orell, Tony McAleer, along with VU Assoc. Prof Deb Smith, Charlie Allen (IEP). Moderated by Phil Shepherd.
2020 Youth Forum – Bringing young people together to discuss hopes, dreams and challenges for a world changed by COVID
Zehra Leman Vice President at La Trobe International Students' Association.
Nardo Wai Connected Learning Officer and student at VU.
Maddy Connors Aboriginal artist and founder of Yarli Creative.
Khayshie Titak Ramesh VMC Youth Commissioner
Shashwat Tripathi Shout out Speaker, Centre for Multicultural Youth.
Mujtaba Aliza President Asylum Seeker & Refugee Student Association, Victoria University.
Temi Oladiji Deputy Chair VU Cultural Diversity Student Network.
Zukeya Gurdag Spoken word artist.
Toolsika Rawoah Women's Officer, Victoria University Student Union.
Vishwa Mehta Vic President, VU Multicultural Club.
Cultural ConneXions Program Forum on International Students and COVID
Divvya Sivarajah Connected Learning student at VU.
Officer
and
Sahil Puri Residential Manager, UniLodge & VU Alumni.
Peter Harley Mitchell Institute, Victoria University.
Helen Forbes-Mewett Monash University.
Francasca Lai West Justice, Manager of International Students Work Rights Legal Service.
Dr Teresa Di Fazio Manage, Cultural Diversity Office, Victoria University.
page 21 | Diversity 2020
Cultural Diversity at VU Teresa Di Fazio Manager, Cultural Diversity Office A common activity in an intercultural training program is – what is cultural diversity? And this is usually followed up with the question what does it mean to you?
Cultural diversity is difficult to define. It is a complex notion with lots of layers so not everyone will agree on the same words and same notions – but everyone agrees that it is important.
Think about it. Your notion of gender is bound up in how the culture you are part of views that gender. This is evident through upbringing, media representations, ways people behave around you, ways laws, policies, processes either provide you with a voice or, in fact, may even silence you. And then when you have your head wrapped around this notion, you realise that there are so many other intersecting influences. These might include faith, ethnicity, language, migration experience, age, sexual orientation, disability or a condition, your place in the family, your status – and so the list goes. Lots of labels because culture influences how these characteristics/labels/ are interpreted.
As you explore the notion of cultural diversity you realise that it is bound up in notions of the individual and the context for that individual, that is the community in which they find themselves, in any particular time.
Culture is amazingly powerful considering that culture is learned – not instinctive. When you start to reflect on cultural diversity you see that it is based on so many intersecting characteristics.
There is normally a silence as respondents reflect on the complexity of the notion of cultural diversity. The discussion that ensues is usually rich with personal interpretations flavoured by personal experiences, stories told and heard, interpretations of world events – and a dash of aspiration.
Some have explained the notion of cultural diversity as if it is a backpack which you carry around with you. The characteristics (labels) influence how you interact with your world – and how the world interacts with you. There is also the iceberg model which dates back to 1976 (Hall) which assists in reflecting on what elements are visible features of culture and what remains unseen, under the waterline. Again, each of these metaphors demonstrate how powerful and significant the notion of culture is to community – and to what defines us as individuals as we pack and unpack our backpack. This is a bit of an overview of the notion of cultural diversity and how it defines us. It is part of everyone’s individual and collective richness that is brought into the VU experience. VU is very proud to have an inclusive and responsive approach to cultural diversity. It makes sense as we have a lived experience of diversity through classroom experiences, our curriculum, they way we mark events of cultural significance and come together with our multicultural program of events. Our Cultural Diversity Principles ground us in how we approach our diversity – and how we strive to improve our openness to it.
VU has looked within itself to understand how it might play an active part in standing up to racism, and to address systemic barriers to cultural inclusion. The VC, Karen Jackson of Moondani Balluk and I have put out strong statements that condemned the events that see more deaths and injustices perpetrated against our First People, and against people of colour. Indeed against any ethnic group. But words are not enough. This year has been one in which the VU cultural diversity program has provided even more opportunities for intercultural training, support for Cultural Diversity Student Network activities, provided forums and workshops to explore notions around how COVID-19 has effected our community fabric (http://www.vu.edu.au/culturaldiversity), initiated work on a specific VU anti-racism strategy, developed a program of employment support for our asylum seeker and refugee students, and worked with groups who have been impacted the most. It has not been an easy year, but there is a lot to inspire ongoing work. I look forward to 2021 when we can continue to move forward to shape how we engage with cultural diversity, and how we respond to truth-telling and reconciliation through all aspects of VU: teaching, learning, research, community and industry engagement. Look forward to working with you.
This year, we have seen how the community has risen to express its repudiation of racism. How the community seeks change to the institutionalised racism that has led to violence, hate and death.
Please contact cultural.diversity@vu.edu.au for further information or join the Cultural Diversity Special Interest Group (http://vu.edu.au/cultural-diversity)
Pakistan
Nigeria
page 27 | Diversity 2020
Layers of our skin Shruthy Mathew I grew up in an environment where my teachers would constantly batter my face with powder and foundations that are lighter than my skin shade just so that I “could be seen from the stage” before every single performance since attending primary school. I used to be one of the few brown skinned girls in a school that was almost dominated by shades lighter than me, which affected my self esteem a great deal. I remember coming back from school and using turmeric and red sandalwood paste on my body on a daily basis hoping that it would magically lighten my skin tone. Moreover, the constant exposure to advertisements that associates fair skin with confidence and success and dark skin as being a burden had a detrimental effect on my mental health and self worth. One of my biggest lows was when my exboyfriends best mate whitewashed me off a picture of us because he hated my skin tone and couldn’t understand how my ex could be with me. It hurt me even more when my then boyfriend didn't stick up for me. That was during my first year in Australia. I took up the role as a fundraiser during my second year, which changed my perception about my brown skin completely. Working as a fundraiser means that I meet people from all walks of life across different areas of Melbourne.
The more I got to know people the more I started realising that skin colour was the last thing people had in their mind. In fact, I even had people tell me that they loved my skin! It took nearly a year and many internal battles for me to finally start loving myself. I no longer focus on my skin tone when I look in the mirror, I focus on the things I’ve achieved so far and the things i'm about to achieve and I couldn't have done it without the support of the amazing people I’ve met along the way; from uni mates to the strangers I meet on public transport, everyone played a role in helping me find comfort in my own skin and I’m more confident than I ever was before! I know for a fact that fair skin is something that is admired in both Arab and South Asian cultures and having experienced that discrimination firsthand from both sides, my aim is to do everything in my power to make things easier for the youth that comes after me. No one deserves to feel like they are less than enough because they are a shade darker. And with that I'm going to write one of my favourite quotes that I heard my professor say during my first year in VU and that is, “ if you peel several layers of our skin, you’ll know that we’re all the same at the end”.
drawn by a Hyde team member
page 29 | Diversity 2020
a taste of home Sheila Medina (Change and Leadership Student)
Living 5,194 km away from my homeland has shaped my perception about food and community. I came from a small town in Indonesia; there were Arabic restaurants as well as Chinese snack-bars, and that was as diverse as the town got. Then around winter last year, I moved to Melbourne to pursue my Master’s degree. Melbourne’s multicultural population is a new thing for a (not so) country girl like me. Fortunately, I live in share-house with fellow Indonesians whose homemade foods are great; the kinds of comfort food that I used to eat when I was feeling low. Because of these foods, nothing has changed in our ‘bubble’; even my outdoor life has been continuously adjusting. One day, when I went for an hour walk, I came across my neighbour, a lovely Greek lady, who was gardening at the time. She is a local grower, and to my surprise, she prepared a massive bunch of coriander for me. She lives by herself; hence she usually shares her crops to people in the neighbourhood. After over-the-fence conversations, I went home and put those corianders in a flower pot.
They are beautiful (to the fact I did not intend to cook them) because I see them more than just veggies. I see them as a bouquet of acceptance. As a part of the minority in here, being surrounded by generous people that value each other, keen to accept us as we are, and perceive us on the same level as anybody else, is something I hope I would not take for granted. A couple of days later, I gave my best effort to cook Indonesian soup with those corianders and sent it to her (along with friendly note so that she could know the ingredients). Another surprise during the weekend, she visited me and brought along A LOT more leaf vegetables hahaha I believed I could support three families menu for lunch. Her kindness inspired me to give more to others; thus, I made another meal with those greens for a Vietnamese family next door. They were about to leave Melbourne for good, so it was like a farewell dish. Only a day away, the mother came to our house with a bag of coconut cookies made by herself. You can guess, yup, the cookies were so good I should admit I wanted to steal her recipe (turned out, back then, this was their go-to snack when they were in Vietnam). It’s this interaction with the community that I find most rewarding. This little gesture makes me realise we have a mutual feeling for a sense of community. My heart becomes full by knowing that I am not the only one who wants to get to know the neighbours. And since then, I would say, my inner self has shifted a bit. Anything that makes me feel at home is my comfort food; although I have never tried them before
page 32 | Diversity 2020
page 33 | Diversity 2020
Am I Multicultural? Cynthia Thomaz
I come from a beautiful tropical and multicultural country on the other side of the world. I am Brazilian, and seven years ago I decided to come to Australia to learn English. Cairns was my first destination in this country, and it was my first choice because of all the similarities that I identified with my own homeland and culture. The warm weather, all the beautiful beaches, the cultural diversity and the hospitality of Aussies with internationals made me fall in love with Australia. Being an international student living abroad is an adventure that both amazes and challenges you every day. I remember that after 15 days studying in Cairns I suddenly busted into tears because I was pretty sure that I would never be able to understand or speak English. Like a miracle, some weeks later I had many friends from all over the world and as a good Brazilian, I was participating in many barbecues and parties and making the most of this to improve my English. At that time, I was living the dream, I had no difficulties to adapt to the culture or to the weather, and I was meeting interesting people from all over the world every day. The only struggle that I had was related to my profession. In Brazil I had a career in law, and I was valued for being a lawyer, but in Australia, I had to face a reality in which my titles were nothing, and this challenged me in many different ways. When I saw myself here, without any professional title to define my personality, I had to discover who I truly was as an individual. It was hard, it was painful, and I doubted myself several times, but this situation allowed me to know myself, and I can say that this experience changed my life forever. I was a new person, with new values and life aspirations, but it was time to go back home. However, I would never imagine that coming back to Brazil after spending a few months in Australia would make it so hard to adapt back. I still loved my country, but living a new culture was so powerful that I brought a bit of Australia to Brazil with me and I found myself missing the land down under. Your family and friends won’t understand this, but once you lived abroad your heart will never be in just one place anymore.
After 5 years in Brazil, I decided that it was time to take a new step in my career and study a master’s degree. Off course I chose Australia as my destination, and I came to Melbourne to study at VU. This time I had a different experience, my life was not a party and the cold weather almost made me give up in the first 2 months. I had to start from zero again and work harder than in Brazil. Even with all the beauty and facilities of Melbourne, it took me a while to adapt to it, and I would never expect that as I love this country so much. On the other hand, studying at VU allowed me to discover new passions and develop new skills. I started volunteering in many different projects and working with the Vollies team at Student Life, this provided me with the chance to know people from all over the world in a professional setting. Working and studying in a Culturally Diverse university helped me to develop intercultural awareness, and I grew as a person and professionally. I discovered my passion for Cultural Diversity and I got involved in the VU Cultural Diversity Network (VUCD) as an executive. In VUCD I found amazing likeminded people that were embracing and promoting cultural awareness at VU, and two of them shared the same nationality as me. But we wanted even more inclusion and opportunities for everyone, and then we decided to create the VU Multicultural Club. The VU Multicultural Club is a safe place for students from all over the world to connect and celebrate their own cultures. After all, today I understand why I love and miss my own culture and country while in love with Australia. I learned that culture is powerful, it is contagious and enriching. I don’t need to choose one culture, instead, I can become better every day by learning more from other cultures. Countries are like people, you learn a bit from each of them and you will never be the same if you truly open your heart to a new culture.
Sri Lanka
Qatar
Egypt
Greece
page 40 | Diversity 2020
Inspirational people who have made Cultural change Images all drawn by Alex Leighton
Nadia Murad “I want to be the last girl in the world with a story like mine.” When she was 19 years old, the Islamic State attacked Murad’s village and killed 600 Yazidi men, including several of her family members. Murad and other young women were taken prisoner and subjected to beatings and other horrific things. She managed to escape, however, and make her way to a refugee camp. There she was offered the opportunity to move to Germany, where she now lives. She now works to help women and children who are victims of abuse and human trafficking. Through her work, Murad won the nobel peace prize in 2018.
Steve Biko “It is better to die for an idea that will live, than to live for an idea that will die� Steve Biko was an anti-apartheid activist and the co-founder of the South African Students' Organisation, subsequently spearheading the nation's Black Consciousness Movement. Biko became SASO's (South African Student's Organisation) president in 1969. Three years later, in 1972, he was expelled from the University of Natal due to his political activism. That same year, Biko co-founded another Black activist group, the Black People's Convention, and became the group's leader. This group would become the central organisation for the BCM, which continued to gain traction throughout the nation during the 1970s. Biko was arrested many times for his anti-apartheid work and, on September 12, 1977, died from injuries that he sustained while in police custody. The news of Biko's death caused national outrage and protests, and he became regarded as an international antiapartheid icon in South Africa.
Anne Frank “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank was born in the German city of Frankfurt am Main in 1929. The hatred of Jews and the poor economic situation made Anne's parents, Otto and Edith Frank, decide to move to Amsterdam. On 1 September 1939, when Anne was 10 years old, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, and so the Second World War began. Not long after, on 10 May 1940, the Nazis also invaded the Netherlands. Five days later, the Dutch army surrendered. Slowly but surely, the Nazis introduced more and more laws and regulations that made the lives of Jews more difficult. The Nazis took things further, one step at a time. Jews had to start wearing a Star of David on their clothes and there were rumours that all Jews would have to leave the Netherlands. The Franks received a call-up to report for a so-called ‘labour camp’ in Nazi Germany on 5 July 1942. They did not believe the call-up was about work and decided to go into hiding the next day in order to escape persecution. On her thirteenth birthday, just before they went into hiding, Anne was presented with a diary. During the two years in hiding, Anne wrote about events in the Secret Annex, but also about her feelings and thoughts. Anne started rewriting her diary, but before she was done, the people in hiding were discovered and arrested by police officers on 4 August 1944, after that she was taken to Auschwitz, where she passed away. Her diary that she had written gave an insight to life as a Jew from a Nazi controlled country.
Martin Luther King Jr. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.� Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist and Baptist minister who played a key role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. King sought equality and human rights for African Americans, the economically disadvantaged and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. He was the driving force behind watershed events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and is remembered each year on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday since 1986.
Malala Yousafzai “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” Malala is a huge activist for women's rights. Yousafzai states that she loved school. But everything changed when the Taliban took control of her town in Swat Valley. The extremists banned many things — like owning a television and playing music — and enforced harsh punishments for those who defied their orders. And they said girls could no longer go to school. She spoke out publicly on behalf of girls and their right to learn, and this made her a target. In October 2012, on her way home from school, a masked gunman boarded her school bus and asked, “Who is Malala?” He then shot Malala on the left side of her head. 10 days later in a hospital in Birmingham, England, she woke up. After months of surgeries she joined her family in their new home in the UK, and “it was then I knew I had a choice: I could live a quiet life or I could make the most of this new life I had been given. I am determined to continue my fight until every girl could go to school.” She has continued to be an advocate for women's education, and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
Mahatma Gandhi “The future depends on what we do in the present.” Mahatma Gandhi, byname of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (born October 2, 1869, Porbandar, India—died January 30, 1948, Delhi), Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India. As such, he came to be considered the father of his country. Gandhi is internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest (satyagraha) to achieve political and social progress.
Ruby Bridges “Each and every one of us is born with a clean heart. Our babies know nothing about hate or racism. But soon they begin to learn – and only from us. We keep racism alive. We pass it on to our children. We owe it to our children to help them keep their clean start.” At the age of six, Ruby Bridges advanced the cause of civil rights in November 1960 when she became the first African American student to integrate an elementary school in the South. Southern states continued to resist integration, and in 1959, Ruby attended a segregated New Orleans kindergarten. A year later, however, a federal court ordered Louisiana to desegregate. The school district created entrance exams for African American students to see whether they could compete academically at the all-white school. Ruby and five other students passed the exam. Ruby and her mother were escorted by four federal marshals to the school every day that year. She walked past crowds screaming vicious slurs at her. She spent her first day in the principal’s office due to the chaos created as angry white parents pulled their children from school. Barbara Henry, a white Boston native, was the only teacher willing to accept Ruby, and all year, she was a class of one. Ruby graduated from a desegregated high school, became a travel agent, married and had four sons. She was reunited with her first teacher, Henry, in the mid 1990s, and for a time the pair did speaking engagements together. Ruby later wrote about her early experiences in two books and received the Carter G. Woodson Book Award. A lifelong activist for racial equality, in 1999, Ruby established The Ruby Bridges Foundation to promote tolerance and create change through education. In 2000, she was made an honorary deputy marshal in a ceremony in Washington, DC.
Lin-Manuel Miranda “You cannot let all the world's tragedies into your heart. You'll drown. But the ones you do let in should count. Let them manifest action.” For over 40 years, the Miranda family have championed community activism, viewing philanthropy as a three-pronged approach through giving, fundraising, and advocacy efforts. They have created and supported institutions focused on underserved populations in Upper Manhattan, communities throughout NYC, across America, and in Puerto Rico. Lin-Manuel Miranda specifically has been an integral part for creating more opportunities for people of colour within the arts. By creating the hit sensation “Hamilton” - a musical about the founding fathers of America - he ensured to make the musical accessible for many POC. The diversity presented a unique challenge: While the Puerto Rican Miranda always intended to play the lead, he and director Thomas Kail never specified ethnicities for any of the roles. Character breakdowns included a wide range of cultural references: Hamilton was “Eminem meets Sweeney Todd,” his wife Eliza was “Alicia Keys meets Elphaba,” peer-turned-killer Aaron Burr was “Javert meets Mos Def,” and George Washington was “John Legend meets Mufasa.” By the end of the original casting process, all of those roles went to people of color. Miranda continues to advocate with his family for a wide variety of things ranging from relief and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, to Voter engagement, support and education - ensuring that candidates of colour are represented up and down the ballot (in America).
George Bizos “There comes a time in the life of every person when you either succumb or you fight." George Bizos was born in 1927 in Vasilitsi, near Koroni in the south of Greece. Bizos and his father arrived in South Africa in 1941 after they were picked up by a Royal Navy battleship. Bizos enrolled for a law degree at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, Transvaal. At Wits he was elected onto the Students Representative Council (SRC). Due to his political activism while still a student, his citizenship was denied in a letter that described him as ‘not fit and proper to become a South African’. The ban lasted over 30 years. In 1950 he completed his law degree at the University of Witwatersrand. Bizos dedicated his working life to fight for basic human rights. After the collapse of the Apartheid he turned his fight into ensuring that all South Africans enjoyed those rights enshrined and guaranteed by the democratic constitution.
Nelson Mandela “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.� Nelson Mandela was a South-African anti-apartheia revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist. He was the first black head of state in South Africa. Known and loved around the world for his commitment to peace, negotiation and reconciliation, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was South Africa's first democratically elected president (1994-1999). Mandela was an anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader, as well as a philanthropist with an abiding love for children.
Mauritius
Singapore
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When people ask me “why Australia?” I don’t have an objective answer to give them. What I know is that since I was a teenager I have always dreamed about moving to this country, even though I didn’t know much about it. There were a few people who said I shouldn’t do this. They said I would always be considered an immigrant in Australia and when I came back to Brazil, I wouldn’t feel 100% Brazilian anymore. I wouldn’t fit in anywhere.
Well, I did not listen to them, gladly my heart was speaking louder. I’ve been here for 5 years and hopefully many more to come. I will not lie, the first 2 years were not the ‘honeymoon phase’ I had heard of. Culture shock is very much real, especially when you get pregnant and the health system in the new country is completely different from the one you were used to. We definitely had our lows. But it was in the low that I found and met my true self.
After 2 years, I went back to Brazil to visit and I found out that those people were somewhat right. I wasn’t the same anymore. After only 3 days I felt desperate to come back home. Home. Despite the lows, Melbourne always felt like home to me. And I felt even closer to it after this visit. That’s when my new journey started. Victoria University accepted me. Welcomed me. Showed me how we all carry our values and beliefs and how much our culture is part of us. But this doesn’t mean we don’t change. I feel like I am a Phoenix, who died and was reborn from the ashes. A new me. I am not Brazilian. I am not Australian. I am a proud Brazilian-Australian. That is why being part of VU Cultural Diversity Student Network, VU Auslan Society and VU Multicultural Club is so important to me. Being able to connect with people who understand what you are going through is part of our human nature and that is what I found within these groups. We have fun, we learn about other cultures, we connect and we make friends for life.
Thelma Nascimento Chair of VU Cultural Diversity Student NetworkVice-President of VU Auslan SocietySecretary of VU Multicultural Club
What's in a name? Carmelina Monea A first-generation Australian, black hair, olive skin in an era of assimilation. Your parents, tradition-bound baptise you with burden. Your name links them to home where Your namesake waits for the day she will hold you. But how does a name link one to home? As a teenager, you desecrate your name, attempt to fracture its cultural connections. You want to be Kelly, but there are no y’s in the Italian alphabet. Your mother understands. She knows of the taunts used to hurt you, She hears the mispronunciations. She cannot change any of this. Instead, she collects the vowels and consonants you scattered on the ground. The pieces left unbroken form a new name and you are reborn. When you become a mother, you avoid tradition. No namesake will wait to hold your son. He is home. He is Australian. You baptise him in a language foreign to your ancestors. They cannot pronounce his name. There are no j’s in the Italian alphabet, but you are happy for your child. He will not want to desecrate his name. When your son is a teenager, he asks about the story of his name. You tell him he is not bound by tradition, but he seeks the links to his cultural connections. He asks you to translate his name, wonders how it would sound if spoken in the language of his ancestors.
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Malaysia
Turkey
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5 WAYS TO...
Celebrate Cultural Diversity
Visit places dedicated to other cultures e.g. Library or Museum Go and immerse yourself in the world around you, there are so many great and beautiful places to go to learn about the world outside our doorstep. By going and allowing yourselves to experience these places you can give yourself a new perspective about cultures and give yourself the opportunity to celebrate the diversity that is all around us.
Talk to someone from another religion or culture to share views on life In order to fully celebrate and appreciate the other cultures around us we first must know about them. Go and have a discussion with someone about their culture and way of life. Remember tho, nobody’s way of life is better than another’s. It’s just different and that’s awesome.
Explore music and film from other cultures and countries Take some time to sit back and relax, just stop and chuck on a new song from a country or culture you don’t know much about. Many cultures use songs to tell stories so see what you can hear, really listen to the words and have a think about what they mean. Films are a great way to explore language and also what other cultures look for in their entertainment.
Experience foods from different cultures In a normal world I’d say go to a restaurant that serves a type of cuisine you’ve never had before and experience culture through the restaurant's layout, artwork, service and obviously the food. Because of this COVID world we find ourselves in, it is kinda difficult at the moment, this doesn't mean you don’t get to experience food from around the globe. If anything it makes it more fun, jump on the internet and see what you can make from another couture. Become the chief and experiment with a culture's food you're not familiar with.
Learn about how other cultures celebrate during the year and their significant dates In Australia we celebrate Christmas, Easter, ANZAC Day and so many other significant dates. Take some time out of your day to do a bit of research on other cultures and the dates they celebrate throughout the year. Many cultures have some awesome celebrations and festivals so learn about them.
Italy
Oman
Samoa
New Zealand
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LEFT BEHIND Jordan Lide
I saw a woman today, an old junkie. Usually, when you see someone like her, you feel a need to look away but today I couldn’t. She looked right at me. Her soft eyes, a baby blue, slowly being consumed by cataracts. I was lost in them, claimed by an unrelenting pull for this stranger, for who she was then and who she is now. It pained me, to see this broken shell, the last remnant of a long-lived life. Perhaps she was beautiful once. Perhaps her hair dazzled as it caught the sun, bounced off her shoulders as she waltzed down the street. Perhaps she lived a life of great adventure, seeing new places, I could only dream of. But something happened along the way.
Somehow, bit by bit, she lost herself. She has a lithe figure, so frail I fear she might soon collapse. I imagine she was not so skinny once, that she sighed as she lost her glossy hair, despairing as it turned from gold to grey. It rests in sticky mattered clumps on her forehead now, straggly in the longer bits at the back. Her skin, perhaps once soft and soothing, is now marked, a map of scars laid bare for all. She covers it in mismatched clothes, hoping no one will see. It is her face that still intrigues me. We only looked at each other directly for a second yet, in that time, I felt as if I knew her. She was not apprehensive; she was somewhere else inside. She just looked at me a nd I have never felt so vulnerable. The unrelenting pull will not leave, even as she turns the corner lost from sight because I could see in her how she used to be, when I know others will only see her as she is now.
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Parintins Folklore Festival also known as Festival do Boi-Bumbá is the third largest festival in Brazil, held annually in the northern state of Amazonas. It attracts many tourists from around the world and Brazil. This year due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the event has been cancelled and postpone to June 2021.
Location It’s located near the Amazon rainforest at the city called Parintins hence the name Parintins Folklore Festival. The city is surround by the Amazon rainforest and the region is made up of dense vegetation, large rivers, and fertile sandbanks. It takes place at a round-grounded outdoor arena popularly known as Bumbódromo, the structure resembles the shape of a stylized ox head, with the capacity for 35 thousand spectators.
Indigenous Culture Heritage
Parintins Folklore Festival
The Brazilian National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage recognizes the festival as a Culture Heritage. The event is a fusion of history, beliefs, legends, rites, and especially the art and culture of the Indigenous people of Brazil. The Festival is vital for the local community and economy. The local artistic production represents the culture identity and art of the indigenous tribes of Sapupés, Mundurucus, Paravianas, Uapixanas, Tupinambás and Parintins. It is with the creativity of these professionals that the traditional and famous Parintins Festival takes place.
The Competition The Festival focus on the competition between two teams: Boi-Bumbá Garantido (whose fans dress in red) and Boi-Bumbá Caprichoso (whose fans dress in blue). During three nights the teams ‘duel’ in the arena to know who takes the title. The teams use songs, choreographic dances, elaborate costumes, and giant floats to present their story to a panel of judges during the parades. Each team has to give six performances over three nights and the judges will decide who had the most exciting and most concise act. Even thought the festival is largely constructed on local Amazonian folklore and indigenous culture, it’s also incorporates contemporary Brazilian rhythms and themes. Visit the official Parintins Folklore Festival site for more information: https://www.festivaldeparintins.com.br/ Reference: https://www.festivaldeparintins.com.br/https://th eculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/articles/10things-to-know-before-visiting-the-festival-do-boibumba-in-amazonas/
By Clarissa Teixeira VU Multicultural Club Photos by: Ana Cavalcante
Russia
Sweden
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2 years ago, Dr. Tereza De Fazio, manager of VU Cultural Diversity Office, put out a call for students and it was answered by amazing and clever students with a passion to make a difference. That is how the VU Cultural Diversity Student Network started, with the aim to raise students’ voices, support them and to promote cultural diversity at VU. Now the Network is a complete team of executive committee members and members, who come together to raise awareness and make real change.
What our team says: We are here to make VU a mosaic of cultures, individually celebrated, but connected to form a culturally diverse picture. “We are a great and diverse group of people who love to learn and share stories of culture. Come share yours too!” - Thelma Nascimento, Chair “We are a group of VU students and Alumni, passionate about creating a safe space for the celebration of culture and diversity in the community.” - Temi Oladiji, Deputy Chair “We are diverse, multicultural, different, yet we are one community, we embrace as well as celebrate cultural diversity and we all smile in the same language.” - Olena Nguyen, Deputy Chair “We as a team, continue to teach & instil in individuals the beauty and strength that lies in diversity” - Aditi Bhargava, Training & Activities Officer “For me, we are a multicultural medium between VU students and staff. We aim to deliver cultural diversity message to the society” - Kit Chaipanukiat, Publicity & Communications Officer “I am very proud to be part of the team!” - Nimra Verka, Recruitment & Memberships Officer “We are a group of people passionate about Cultural Diversity. We believe that our uniqueness is a powerful force to create positive change. Join us to celebrate the richness of being yourself!” Cynthia Thomaz, Secretary “The beauty of the world lies in the diversity of its people. We are here to promote, respect, and celebrate cultural diversity.” - Clarissa Teixeira, Publicity & Communications Officer “The crucial differences which distinguish human societies and human beings are not biological. They are cultural. By Ruth Benedict” - Sean Ryan, Alumni Relations Officer “We are a dedicated team from diverse nations that wish to encourage conversations about cultural diversity.” - Carmelina Monea, Training & Activities Officer
Stories of Culture Project Stories of Culture is a project created by a group of diverse individuals from the VU Cultural Diversity Student Network with the intention to bring intercultural awareness to the community through an interactive resource. No individual is the same as the other and each person's experience of culture is different. We would love to hear yours! If you'd like to know more about this project and participate in it by sharing your own story, please email us at vucdstudentnetwork@gmail.com Thelma Nascimento Chair VU Cultural Diversity Student Network Connect & Collaborate with us
www.facebook.com/VUCulturalDiversity StudentNetwork
www.instagram.com/vu.culturaldiversity
vucdstudentnetwork@gmail.com
RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY Online Training Working or studying from home? Catch up on new online training from Respect and Responsibility! Learn about practical ways to fight gender-based violence and build your leadership skills. The training was co-designed with VU students, is practical and is based on real life examples. Consent and Respectful Relationships A respectful relationship is everyone’s right. This training looks at respectful relationships and consent through interactive scenarios and real-life examples. Bystander Awareness and Action Everyone should have a safe place to learn. This training gives you practical strategies for challenging everyday sexism. It is important that we all take action to show that sexism and harassment have no place at our university. Each module takes about 20–30 minutes. Go to bit.ly/VU-RESPECT to access these modules within Collaborate. bit.ly/VU-RESPECT vu.edu.au/respect-responsibility
drawn by a Hyde team member
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v u s t u d e n t u n i o n . c o m / b a b h
The Be a Better Human Campaign was launched in 2019 by VUSU after the Australian Human Rights Commission conducted a survey on university students in 2017 and released the National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities.
This initiative was created with a group of Flinders students from the ground up, to reflect campus culture. We don’t just want it to be about what we shouldn’t do; we want it to be about selfimprovement for everyone. And when we say ‘everyone’, we really do mean everyone. We’re encouraging everyone who is part of our campus community to take a moment and consider how we can ‘better’ our behaviour. “Victoria University has a zero tolerance approach to violence in any form, including sexual and genderbased violence. Gender-based violence is a serious social issue driven by gender inequality and enabled by sexist attitudes and behaviours. We work to build a culture of safety and respect, where students and staff are empowered to become change agents to help stop gender-based violence at the University and in the wider community” (VU Respect & Responsibility). In-line with the VU Respect and Responsibility Department & VUSU Bystander Awareness Training, and Consent and Respectful Relationships Module,
VUSU believes that bringing the BaBH campaign to VU further develops education for students of the west to be a better human.“It is important that we all show that sexism and harassment have no place at our university. Everyone should be treated fairly and have a safe and respectful place to learn.” (VU Respect & Responsibility email). Launching this campaign last year, and working with Respect & Responsibility was a highlight of my time in VUSU. Together, we can break down stigmas and ensure a safe and equitable education and life for all. - Cat Abourizk (VUSU President 2019) We believe that this campaign is not centered at spreading a name or a department. It’s about everyone doing better, and their bit to change the culture around sexual assault and harassment. We have widely seen our Consent, Empathy, Respect tote bags and jumpers on campus, at the shops, at concerts and many other places, supporting this movement. Look out for this campaign and more this semester in 2020. BaBH is always developing, understanding, and learning.
TOGETHER we can BE a BETTER HUMAN!
De-stress Activity
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Cultural Diversity word find
ETHNICITY CULTURE CULTURAL DIVERSITY EXTENDED FAMILY BIAS ATHEIST
SPIRITUALITY SENSITIVITY RELIGION RACE PREJUDICE PERSONAL
PATRIARCHAL FAMILY MATRIARCHAL HOLISTIC CARE CULTURAL ETHNOCENTRIC
#stayhome #staysafe
CONTRIBUTORS the Hyde team could not have done this edition without the help of those who contributed Professor Peter Dawkins, VU Vice-Chancellor and President Will Penrose, VU Student Union President Ronish Chattaraj, VU Student Union General Secretary Emma Whitbread, VU Student Union VP Welfare Officer Temi Oladiji, VU Student Union, VP Activities Officer, VU Cultural Diversity Network Deputy Chair Ashfuq Lukman, VU Student Union Cultural Diversity Officer Mughees Raza, VU Student Union Digital Media Officer Teresa Di Fazio, Manager VU Cultural Diversity Office VU in the Community VU Respect and Responsibility Prateek Shrestha, VU International Student Association President Shruthy Mathew, VU Student Alex Leighton, VU Student Sheila Medina, VU Student Thelma Nascimento, VU Cultural Diversity Network Chair & VU Student Carmelina Monea, VU Student Jordan Lide, VU Student Clarissa Teixeira, VU Multicultural Club Social Media Officer & VU Student
Victoria University
STUDENT UNION