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ARTWORK: Jessica McLeod-Yu
interview: how covid-19 changed campus club culture CHETHA NAWANA
The past few years have been unlike any that we’ve seen on campus due to the changes prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It became difficult to adapt to a new version of university life – one with an almost non-existent campus culture. We’ll cross our fingers that this academic year will be better. Here’s hoping that we’ll have opportunities to turn strangers into friends and pursue interests with like-minded people. So, as we anticipate fresh O-Week memories and new students on campus, I thought it would be great if we could hear from some club executives who’ve seen it all. Thank you to ANUSA Clubs Officer Phoenix O’Neill (she/they); Woroni (ANU Student Media) Editor-inChief, Liam Taylor (he/him) and ANU Sport Acting CEO, Kitty McCaskie (she/her,) for taking the time to answer a few questions! Whilst the interviewees represent some of the ANU’s clubs, the views expressed here are their own. Woroni: How do you think your club/ organisation has evolved over the past few years? Phoenix: As I spoke to Phoenix on the phone, we had a conversation filled with sincerity. She noted that ANU has a unique club culture due to the strong
residential culture. It was difficult for them to state how much clubs have changed - mostly because the pandemic has slowed things down. The ANUSA Clubs Officer position is a new one and Phoenix is the first to occupy this role. Thanks to Phoenix’s advocacy, there is greater consideration of the clubs system and governance. This has allowed clubs to be prioritised more on campus. Liam: “Woroni strives to be the mouthpiece of the student body, naturally evolving as the ideas, news and topics students are grappling with change. In recent years, we have seen a shift to more multilingual, scientific and intersectional content. This, in addition to content centred around and fuelled by COVID-19, has situated our campus issues in a more nuanced international and environmental context. I think it’s also important to highlight and appreciate some unchanging aspects of Woroni. The commitment to holding those in positions of power accountable, amplifying unheard voices in our community and doing everything with an edge has never changed... And I hope it never does.”
