Entropy Magazine 1701

January / February 2009

ISSUE 1701 . Jan.–Feb. 2009 . Entropy Magazine is a subsidiary of UniLife Inc.

Greenpeace is calling for entries for the inaugural Greenpeace Design Awards 2009, an environmentally themed poster design competition hosted by Greenpeace Australia Pacific and UniLife Inc., in association with the University of South Australia. , visit www.GreenpeaceDesignAwards.org.au, or go to page 8.

Greenpeace Design Awards 2009

Executive Director: Gjoko Muratovski Editor-In-Chief: Jasha Bowe Editorial Committee: Kelly L. Graham-Sutton, Matthew J. Harbinson, Kristine Thomson Graphic Design Consultant: Stuart Gluth Illustration Consultant: David Blaiklock Photography Consultant: Wend Lear Cover: Gjoko Muratovski Printed By: University of South Australia Published By: UniLife Inc.

THE MAGAZINE IS PRINTED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CREDENTIALS AND IS DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE ON SELECTED LOCATIONS. DISCLAIMER: ENTROPY MAGAZINE RECOGNIZES THAT THERE IS A WIDE AND DIVERSE RANGE OF VIEWPOINTS AND BELIEFS ON RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND MORAL ISSUES. HOWEVER, WE FEEL THAT THE NOTION THAT ANYBODY NEEDS TIPTOE AROUND ALL THESE BELIEFS IN THE HOPE OF NOT OFFENDING ANYONE IS, IN SHORT, RIDICULOUS. THEREFORE, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WARN YOU THAT THE CONTENT OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY OFFEND. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED. We always like to hear what you have to say., and there are several ways on how you can do that. One way is for you to find Entropy Magazine’s page on Facebook where you can share your thoughts and opinions, give us suggestions and recieve updates on our parties and events. If you don’t use Facebook, but would like to contact us, than another way is to contact us via e-mail: unilifemagazine@unisa.edu.au. You can use the same email if you have marketing enquiries. In addition to this, you can also view or download Entropy Magazine in a PDF form from the UniLife website: www.UniLife.edu.au Make sure you get your copy of the next 5 issues for 2009, and have them mailed to you for just $10 AUD (Overseas $50 AUD). For more details visit www.UniLife.edu.au

Contents:

THE UNILIFE MAGAZINE

by Gjoko Muratovski GREENPEACE DESIGN AWARDS

by Greenpeace Australia Pacific HOW GREEN WE ARE

by Adrian Marshall THE CAFFEINE TRIBE

by Robert (Kappy`s) Godden SUMMERTIME

by Wend Lear LIVING IN ADELAIDE

by Ekaterina Loy WATERSKIING

by Kristine Thomson USE YOUR LEGS

by Adrian Marshall THE F-BOOK

by Carol Atkinson 1949

by Jon Kellett FINDING MY WAY

by Daniel John Raymond Spek MINDFUL EATING

by Rachel Samson GET A MENTOR

by Matthew J. Harbinson LIVE WELL

by Donna Stansfield THE EMPTY QUARTER

by Eliza Rada

6 8 10 12 16 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44

46 SERIOUS AFTER ALL

by Thomas Carnwell 48 G’DAY

by Robert Lohmann 50 THE THEORY SPINE

by Kathleen Connellan 54 THE CITY OF SKOPJE

by Tim Novak 64 SURF GUIDE AUSTRALIA

by Terry Holbrightl 66 JUST ASK

by Michelle Kavanagh 68 SO LAST YEAR

by Eve Craker 70 LITTLE ANGELS

by Tom Halley 72 YOU’VE GOT TO LOVE IT

by Theodore Russ 74 THE MOBILE PROBLEM

by Luis Gardezabal 76 INSIDER

by James Martin 78 SAVE THE KOALA

by Megan Mummery 80 WHAT IS THE GREENROON?

by Hleanne Cotter 82 MY FLATMATE

by Hayley Gibney-Palmer 84 YES YOU CAN!

by Andrew Hassam

January / February 2009

written by Gjoko Muratovski

the unilife magazine In the previous issue I have mentioned that there will be changes to this magazine. That we are going to get bigger and better. Well, with the help of our big brother – UniLife, we got the ball moving.

UNILIFE is the non-curricular service and event provider for one of the largest educational institutions in Australia – The University of South Australia. With our 30,000 registered members, we specialise in the provision and maintenance of youth and campus culture within the university, and among the other things that we do, we sponsor and support more then 70 sporting and social clubs. As early as 1992, UniLife has established `Entropy Magazine` as a spinoff project whose purpose was to promote youth culture on our behalf. Today, we are bringing Entropy back into the big family of UniLife. As of this issue, we are starting the process of rebranding Entropy Magazine into UniLife Magazine. It has been far too long since Entropy was treated as the underdog magazine, or the red-haired stepchild of our family – if you wish. The success of its past few issues, due to the fresh new creative style, the quality of the production, and the tens of thousands of new readers, have brought Entropy back into the spotlight.

So what else do we do… Some of you know that we as an organisation implement a number of initiatives to help reduce our impact on the world in which we live. Our most recent achievement being the ‘Eighty-Thousand Trees’ initiative, on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, where UniLife members planted 80.000 trees that helped re-create endangered species habitat on the Island.

We choose to engage with the environmental plight of the planet and through our actions and initiatives hope to lead by example. Therefore, we have engaged in partnership with Greenpeace, and we are proudly supporting the brand new Greenpeace Design Awards, that we helped to establish. You will read about that more in this issue.

And just to show you that we know how to party as well, on 6th March we have set the biggest and best Uni OBall South Australia has ever seen. Some of the bands performing are `You am I`, `The Herd` and `The Hard One’s`. Tickets are limited so get in early, and they are insanely cheap at $29 for UniLife Premium Members. You can become a Premium Member and buy the tickets online at www.UniLife.edu.au. Finally, in 2009 we have the prospect of the Australian Uni’s being able to charge up to $250 for their provision of student services, either directly or via contractors such as UniLife. So we will wait and see what the future will bring. And if this comes through us, you may rest assured that we have got you covered.

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VENUETIX.COM.AU

UNILIFE.EDU.AU

Written by GREENPEACE

Greenpeace design awards Have you always wanted to put your creative talents to work on a good cause? If this sounds like you, here’s your golden opportunity.

GREENPEACE Australia Pacific, UniLife Inc., and the University of South Australia are pleased to announce the Greenpeace Design Awards 2009 - an exciting new initiative intended to help raise awareness of environmental issues through innovation and creativity. The brief is to design a poster that delivers the message ‘Be a Part of the Action’. The winning design may be used in upcoming Greenpeace campaigns in a variety of media such as campaign posters, t-shirts, banners, flyers or newsletters.

The Greenpeace Design Awards were established in recognition of the strong role that visual communication has played in Greenpeace’s trademark peaceful direct actions. The aim is to motivate the global creative community to develop visually striking artwork that encourages the public to take action on critical environmental issues. Throughout history, the poster has effectively communicated socio-political messages to mass audiences. Whether a country was in revolutionary turmoil, at war or going through a democratic electoral process, posters continue to be used - thereby demonstrating their enduring appeal and effectiveness.

Posters have been inextricably linked with cause-related campaigns, and can command people’s attention like no other medium. They help spread a strong message and in doing so, shift attitudes and contribute to significant changes within society. Greenpeace’s Chris WashingtonSare explains the use of visual communication in Greenpeace campaigns. “Visual communication has always been an important way for Greenpeace to get its message across to a large audience.

We’re known around the world for our creative approach to campaigning, whether it’s our peaceful direct action protests, our homeless polar bears wandering the streets, or our use of banners when bearing witness to an environmental crime.

“We’ve hung banners from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, on the ocean floor of the Great Barrier Reef, from the tops of trees in Tasmania’s Styx Valley and on the ice in Antarctica. We’ve projected words and images onto giant buildings. Images of our small inflatable boats in the Southern Ocean challenging the giant whaling ships capture people’s imagination. The awards are a great opportunity for people to use their creativity to raise awareness of environmental issues and inspire action,” he said.

Entry is free and is open to all interested participants from 1 March 2009. For more detials go to the Awards website at www.GreenpeaceDesignAwards.org.au.

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Greenpeace Design Awards 2009 January / February 2009

Written by Adrian Marshall

HOW Green WE ARE As of July 2008 many large and medium sized businesses across Australia are scrambling to measure their carbon footprint and integrate mandatory carbon emissions reporting into business systems.

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A NUMBER of Australian Universities including UniSA are caught by the thresholds of the National Greenhouse Emissions Reporting System and will be filing the first report to the Australian Government soon after July 2009 as per the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. UniSA has been a member of Greenhouse Challenge Plus since 2001 and has voluntarily filed greenhouse gas emission reports with the Australian Government since that time so the transition to report to the National Greenhouse Emissions Reporting System will be straightforward.

We have closely monitored the energy consumption of facilities since 2000 and have reduced the energy consumption of University facilities over time despite increasing student numbers.

The Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association 2007 benchmark data of 45 Universities show that UniSA’s facilities are the most energy efficient facilities in Australia measured in energy consumed per square metre, see the chart below. In February 2009 the Vice Chancellors of the Australian Technology Network (ATN) Universities will set a collective greenhouse gas emissions reduction target at the ATN Conference at Queensland University of Technology. The difficulty for UniSA is that emission levels are already below the carbon emissions target the ATN Universities are likely to agree to, so UniSA is likely to set a target lower again to demonstrate its commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

91% of UniSA’s carbon emissions are caused by the consumption of electricity, and the use of fossil fuels for transport. So in 2009 the focus remains on energy efficient facilities and building more secure undercover bike storage facilities at City West and Mawson Lakes for the use of students and staff free of charge. This is in addition to the existing secure bike storage facilities already in place at City East and Magill. Additional motorcycle parking in 2009 is provided at the City West Phillips St car-park to compliment the free motorcycle parking already available at City West, City East, Mawson Lakes and Magill campuses. A free parking permit from campus security is required to enable campus managers to cater for motorcycle parking demand.

A new campus waste management and recycling system will be rolled out in 2009. UniSA currently recycles approximately 50% of all waste by weight including paper, cardboard, bottles and cans, fluoro tubes and polystyrene. Indications are that this figure could be dramatically increased with a new system of colour coded bins for wet organic waste, dry mixed recyclables and waste destined for landfill in addition to existing recycling streams.

January / February 2009

Written by Robert (Kappy’s) Godden

The caffeine tribe Standing behind an espresso machine provides a unique opportunity to observe human behaviour in the wild. And it gets pretty wild.

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January / February 2009

“YOU MAY look like we do, Talk like we do, But you know how it is - You’re not one of us” In Not One Of Us, Peter Gabriel talks about the phenomenon of tribalism, and how groups of people can find reasons to exclude virtually identical others. In simpler times – and still in simpler arenas, such as mass media reporting - tribalism was often seen as a choice between two alternatives. As an example, if you live in Adelaide you must be a Port fan, or a Crows fan. You’re forced to choose.

In reality, there are at least two other obvious choices. You can support both teams. Or neither.

And then if you support neither, are you a member of the tribe who just hates Aussie Rules football altogether? Or worse, do you support some other team? Perhaps one from Victoria? How appalling! And yet, it’s always been the same in popular culture. Look at music over the years.

Beatles vs. Stones. Osmonds vs Jacksons. Aussie vs American. Death Thrash Trash Metal vs Icelandic Hip-Hop Retro Ebola Funk. And then, let’s say you agree on a particular artist. Often the dividing line is obscure early albums versus later more commercially-accepted ones. Society always seems keen to create tribes and sub-tribes.

In Adelaide, every day, I see the face of this phenomenon across the counter. “I’d like a weak, decaf, soy latte in a small cup with three sugars, please” announced a petite lady whom I’d never met before. “And make it really hot. “ You could tell by the face of the guy behind her, he considered she was asking for the coffee equivalent of beating puppies to death. He dramatically stepped up to the counter. “I want one of those real big coffees. Black. And put an extra shot in it.” You could hear a pin drop.

“We usually put four shots in a cup that big” I said. “Are you sure you want five?” The tension grew.

How could he back down? He’d already declared his tribe, his manliness, his place in the coffee world. I let him hang a few seconds, then threw him a lifeline.

“What if I give you the regulation four shots, but move up to a stronger blend?”

Relief was palpable on his face. By asking for an extra shot, he was probably anticipating three.

Now he was getting four. And they’d be strong. But he had engaged in a conversation that demonstrated and validated his coffee beliefs. And he wasn’t risking hallucinations or a near death experience by having five shots.

Above my head is a sign about coffee temperature. It suggests that coffee is an adult beverage and should be served hot, not at a ‘kid-safe’ temperature. It informs customers that we trust them with hot liquids. Someone asked me if the sign was purely meant to insult other purveyors of

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coffee. The correct answer is no – it’s simply a way of getting our marketing message across – ‘our coffee is actually hot, and furthermore, that’s a great idea‘ – to the customer. But it plays on tribalism – “I get my coffee where they trust me to handle it, as opposed to those places where it’s served at the temperature of bathwater”.

Oops, I just did the whole tribal thing again there.

What’s fascinating about the way coffee works is that people want a consistent coffee every time in most cases. “One shot of Mañana, one shot of Kush, skim milk cappuccino with half the usual amount of chocolate”. The person who says that, says it every day. Sometimes three times. But when you compare tea drinkers to coffee drinkers, it’s very different. Coffee drinkers choose from over 40 blends, and once they have it right, they stick to it religiously.

About 20% of tea drinkers also play it safe and stick to one variety. But the majority will try something new. We have sheets where people can mark off each tea they try. With over 160 to choose from, no-one has finished a sheet yet, but some are getting close. Is it because tea is a pleasure, and coffee is a matter of addiction?

It’s easy to see coffee drinking as an addiction, since people are clearly searching for the stimulant, and can react badly when they don’t get their fix. However, the very tribalism we have been discussing argues against that. Coffee consumers are far too discerning. They simply won’t drink a coffee that is below par, whatever their physiological need. That and the fact that people aren’t breaking in to steal your TV to sell it for the cost of a short black. It can seem easy to break the tribes along gender lines, but it really doesn’t hold up.

For every man that wants a very short very black, there’s a woman who wants one even more so.

For every woman who wants a dusting of vanilla sugar on a mild latte, there’s a guy who wants two pink marshmallows in his half strength hot chocolate. The only clear gender difference is in presentation.

We, serve lattes in what are effectively cocktail glasses. They are stunning. However, there is a subset – all male – who demand theirs in a mug, lest the casual observer might call them effeminate. Much as I believe in giving the customer what they want, I usually can’t resist the urge to taunt them if they are accompanied by a woman.

“I understand, sir. Not everyone can handle a glass that’s hot. If you have delicate fingers, then a mug is definitely a great idea.” This usually reduces the accompanying female to fits of laughter and jovial contempt. And in reality, whatever your coffee, if we can serve it with laughter, we’ll see you again, because the tribe we serve is the tribe of people who use coffee and tea as an excuse to relax for a few precious minutes. And that’s a whole other question – is it the coffee, or is it the break – that recharges and refreshes? I might have to have a small, skim, one shot latte with a sweetener while I think about that.

January / February 2009

Summertime

by Wend Lear

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Summertime and the livin` is easy fish are jumpin` and the cotton is high oh your daddy`s rich and your ma is good lookin`..

January / February 2009

So hush little baby, don`t you cry one of these mornings you`re goin` to rise up singing..

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Then you`ll spread your wings and you`ll take the sky..

January / February 2009

But till that morning there`s a nothin` can harm you with daddy and mammy standin` by.

Summertime (1968), Lyrics by Ella Fitzgerald, Music by Louis Armstrong 24

January / February 2009

Written By Ekaterina Loy

Living in adelaide There’s always some ambivalence going on, when you talk with foreigners about Adelaide. Views vary from ‘I’ve been here for 20 years, and I hate the place’ to ‘who needs Sydney anyway, when you have Adelaide.’ Both of them are warranted, but wouldn’t help you out much with your own idea of the city, since every new arrival to Adelaide has to get their fair share of cultural shock by themselves.

DEPENDING ON the country you come from this might be bigger or lesser shocker: you will be called ‘Miss This’ or ‘Mister That’ on very rare occasions. Yes, you will be called by your first name all the time. No, your name will not be pronounced 100% correctly, or be it really ridiculous one, it would be adapted to social environment. Say, your name has been Barrack – it’s Barry now.

Vice versa, not that you pronounce words as Australians do (if you have not been born here like me). Unless you really can say whatchadoin’, howzyaday and all that kind of thing without your native accent. Some other factors indicating cultural difference might be: cars with frangipani stickers, excessive amounts of teenagers in fluoro, BBQ as the main dish of the national cuisine, and bunches more.

Well, it’s always easy to be acerbic, but to my taste there’s more to life in Adelaide. It’s a widely spread opinion, that Adelaide is a perfect incubation medium for diverse range of projects. In most of work places the contribution of the multicultural population is not only well tolerated, but highly welcomed, and you can pretty much involve yourself in any sorts of activities. Alas, you will be slightly narrowed dashing around your career if you want to be paid for your time on a regular basis. The lucre might be filthy, but hey – it pays your bills. But even if you choose to accept the values of any employing company, and show up at your office on time, it doesn’t mean you have to put your will-o’-the-wisp on hold. For instance, most of my coffees are paid from my admin and IT support jobs, but meanwhile I have been giving IT tutoring for the vulnerable groups of community, volunteering at the library and co-hosting radio show for the multicultural youth, which I quite enjoy doing it.

Somehow after a year in Adelaide, I prefer not to label it. Backwater – mmm, not really. The capital of the festival state – yeah, in February and March. The city, where every 5th is foreigner – that’s gotta be true, cause that is statistics.

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January / February 2009

Written by Kristine Thomson

Waterskiing Most Aussies seem to enjoy water sports in summer. One way to keep cool and enjoy ourselves at the same time.

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I WAS INTRODUCED to water skiing at seven; our family holidays consisted of going to our holiday home in Blanchetown with the speedboat and friends. For those who have never been water-skiing (anything is possible), water-skiing is a water sport where a person is pulled behind a boat whilst wearing one or more skis. How is that possible? Well, the surface of the water allows the person to skim along behind the boat standing up.

Ralph Samuelson first thought up this idea in 1922 (who thought if you could ski on snow then you must be able to ski on water, having in mind that snow if nothing more than frozen water – I guess) when he used two boards as skis and a clothesline as a tow rope (however, there are rumors others may have thought of skiing earlier).

Ok. Back to the story of my first summer of water skiing. As I said, I was at seven and I was a child who was never afraid to try anything. Decided this looked like fun, and asked if I could have a try at water skiing (not realizing that it took some skill). My parents agreed and I was in for the ride of my life. The first obstacle was putting on the skis and walking to the water (the skis were quite heavy for a child, so mum assisted me into the water). I had to lie back in the water with the ski tips pointing up and holding onto the ski rope which was placed between the two skis. I was told to bend my knees and keep my back straight whilst keeping my arms outstretched and holding on tightly to the ski rope. The one important rule was to always keep my back straight and lean back into the skis (this was not as easy as I thought). Anyway, I gave the thumbs up to the observer to tell the driver I was ready, and this was when I face planted straight into the water. Luckily, I had a life jacket on and came up straight away. I kept trying and finally got the hang of water skiing. Do I enjoy water skiing? Hell yeah. It gives me a sense of exhilaration that I have seldom felt in other sports that I have enjoyed doing like motorbike riding, although that is quite a different story.

Did you Ever wanted to try waterskiing but didn’t have a boat? Here’s your chance! Why don’t you join the waterski club at UniLife? Joining the waterski club is easy; the first thing you have to do is to show us your interest by registering at www.UniLife.edu.au, then Clubs > Sports > Waterski.

That way you can receive the club emails and SMS alerts about up and coming trips. Then all you have to do is reply telling us your coming out on that particular day and you can join up when you get there.

January / February 2009

Written by Adrian Marshall

use your legs UniYouth have one thing in common regardless of where they label “Home”.

It’s one sick mother for whom the soothing words carry no meaning. Action is the only common language of volcanoes, seas and air. The hot air of the pollies and the activists is no match for the billowing chimneys serving our “civilisation”. How civilised is any animal community that consumes the next generations wellbeing?

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THE 12 REPS on the UniLife Board have asked me to write in the next six issues of this magazine what Uni Students can really do to help their environment. They asked me to look at the data relevant to students and help them realise an action plan to help their children’s children.

Well I best start with who am I. I’m Adrian Marshall, the recently appointed University of South Australia - Environmental Manager. My job is to help UniSA reduce its “carbon footprint” in real practical terms. The footprint we make is a direct result of bringing people together, students, academics and staff alike; teaching, learning, researching and socialising in the pursuit of knowledge in air-conditioned comfort. My first thoughts were to issue everybody laptops and send them home! I decided against presenting that option and now have my work cut out to find practical solutions that deliver real results. It’s here, where again the impact of students is real. I can bore you with the well-researched facts in developing my recommendation to you students, but I will cut to the chase.

You may have heard of the Australian Government 5% carbon emissions reduction target by 2020. But what you may not realise is, it’s from a base line in 2000, nine years ago. We actually have to reduce our personal carbon emissions of today’s levels by 35%. So 5% in 2000 requires 35% in 2009. If minus 5% is made tougher by America, China and India signing up to emissions reduction schemes, you do the calculations. Scary stuff.

So what is the Carbon Footprint of UniSA students? In 2007 it’s just short of 7000 tonnes of fossil fuel emissions getting us to and from Uni by private car, bus, train, tram, motorcycle, taxi with three fifths of nothing produced by those who peddled their bike or walked.

7000 tonnes means what? How about this, how many one ton cars could you fit in North Terrace from City East Campus to City West Campus. 7000, I wonder, and that is just the weight of the fumes produced by them in one year getting to and from uni. No wonder our atmosphere is suffering. So my first recommendation is use your legs by cycling or walking, and use public transport if you have to go the distance. If each student did this half the time we produce half the carbon and only need to fit in 3500 cars between City East and City West campus’s.

January / February 2009

Written by Carol Atkinson

the f–book Next time you’re thinking about applying for a new job, take a few minutes to look at your Facebook profile. See yourself through the eyes of your future employer if they decided to do a Facebook search on you as part of their character referencing. You might be in for a surprise.

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A FRIEND OF MINE studying Human Resources recently told me that employers are becoming proactive in researching future staff and its quite common for them to now look you up on Facebook to see what you’ve been up to.

In the Facebook world of self-profiling, status updates, news feeds, causes, quizzes, writing on walls, declaring your relationship status, who you’re ‘Interested in’, what you’re ‘Looking for’, pokes and superpokes, applications, etc, etc, etc, just about every facet of your life (and your fantasy life) is exposed to the world. This is particularly true if haven’t been rigorous about your privacy settings to ensure you know exactly who can see you.

So pondering this particular piece of information about employee scanning, I took a fresh look at my profile and those of some of my friends, to see them as a new employer might. And I was in for a surprise.

I was shocked to see that in the Info section of a close friend’s boyfriend, whom I happen to know as a really tolerant and nice guy; his activities portrayed him as being a violent, misogynistic, homophobe. Although I know he’s being facetious, any future employer might look at his self-portrayal and take it at face value. I also cringed at the highly provocative and scantily clad photos of some 16yo girls and other trashy shots of friends on drunken binges.

And even worse is when photos are taken by someone else without your knowledge and then tagged (usually of you in some compromising and unflattering pose) and next time you log on to find the whole world has seen them… before you!

We all know that communication via text messages and email are fraught with misunderstanding and most of us have, at various stages, written something which has been misconstrued to our detriment. So it’s easy to understand how our future bosses might only be getting one side of the story about our characters on Facebook. I guess it’s up to us to make sure that the picture of our lives we’re presenting doesn’t incriminate us.

So next time you update your status to say that your “boss is a F-wit” or that you’re “planning to get smashed and take a sickie on Monday”, hope and pray that one of the 458 “friends” on your list isn’t your future boss.

January / February 2009

Written by Jon Kellett

1949 Some say a knowledge of history, which is always the recorded province of the winners, is an essential aspect of a rounded education. But is it the event that is the lesson or is it the reasoning for taking the action recorded in history as an event that is the lesson?

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IN 1949 Australian had had enough of muddled politics and recognised the need for a change in its leadership, it elected Bob Menzies who retained leadership longer than our dearly departed Johnny. The same need redress the past mistakes was present in the USA. They elected Harry Truman as President and his offering all US citizens a Fair Deal (health care). The energy for these changes is the same energy both Australia and the USA are experiencing now. The accumulating wealth and its powers is moving sections of the community further away from the perceived “fair go”. Sound familiar, haven’t Rudd and Obama arrived at an end stage of imbalanced myopic power of themselves and their constituents?

In 1949 the centre of our world, Adelaide, was also addressing a need to bring in balanced and rational thinking into the planning of its natural and built environments as there were ships of immigrants arriving in the city so industries and housing developments raced ahead.

Our leaders had the courage to establish Australia’s first urban planning program here in UniSA North Terrace campus. Some vision. A courage that steamed from a need to find solutions that balanced and worked for the good of all. A robust process that with facts bolstering decision and militating against political expediency.

Where has that rigor gone with some in Adelaide wanting to build office buildings in the parklands and relocating a hospital a kilometre away when its current building can be progressively and exquisitely replaced or renovated? Perhaps UniSA could forego the Reid building on Frome Road as Stage one of the new Hamilton Smith Adelaide Hospital?

60 years later there are 80 students study planning for careers in local councils, state government and consultancies. If you want to know the skills that have been overridden by politics then there’s a series of public lectures by noted planners from Australia and overseas that address this?

The above views are not the known opinions of UniSA or UniLife employees. For more details of the program of celebrations to mark 60 years of planning at UniSA see: http://www.unisa.edu.au/nbe/Planning60/home.asp

January / February 2009

Written by Daniel John Raymond Spek

Finding my way My first few weeks at university were a confusing time getting used to being a uni student. Trying to navigate the campus, working out who to contact and how and the lectures flew by so fast! In lectures I had only just finished writing notes on the first few slides when everyone got up to leave.

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THE CHALLENGING PART is that by the time I started to figure it all out the first round of assignments was upon me. All that mattered then was submitting it on time and passing. To top it all off I realised that I was weeks behind in the readings and the first lot of holidays were coming up. The second set of assignments that looked so far off when they were outlined in the course information booklet suddenly needed to be started.

This may not be the same for everyone but it definitely happened to me. The move from high school where teachers were forever explaining the intricate details of assignments and the answers, to an environment where I had to find my own answers, was a big challenge. I can imagine that the change would also be similar for students coming from the work force, TAFE or another country. Every student has to go through their first study period. It is a difficult time where you’re still trying to come to grips with the university lifestyle and study regime. For me the biggest issue was always trying to catch up.

I never seemed to be reading the same chapter as my tutor was discussing, I was still digesting last weeks lecture as I walked into the next lecture and those assignments never seemed to end.

To make matters worse it seemed as if the only people more confused than me were the friends I was trying to study with. I would walk away from some of these group study sessions only to be more confused than when I went in. Your tutors are a big help but you can only cram so many answers into a tute and at some point questions will need answering from someone else.

For me added assistance would have been useful and fortunately now there are additional programs available for new students. The Division of Business has a student mentoring program called Business Mates that allows you to be linked up with students already at uni. They know what it is like to study and they can answer your questions. I wish I had someone to ask questions covering everything from social events to the best way to keep on top of assignments. Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) is the place to go to get assistance from high achieving students in accounting, stats and economic concepts, tute questions, preparing for assignments and exams.

The Division of Business has a range of programs that will assist you through the challenges that I faced during my first few weeks at university. So get a head start on your degree, visit: www.unisa.edu.au/business/students/currentstudents.asp

January / February 2009

Written by Rachel Samson

Mindful eating Students of psychology, and individuals, or groups, who observe Buddhism, or practice meditation, may be aware of the practice of Mindfulness. For those whom have not yet been exposed to this word, Mindfulness is about being aware of the present moment. It is underpinned by the idea that the past has been and gone and the future has not yet arrived. What has arrived is the present moment. So, instead of using the present moment obsessing, or thinking about the future or the past, Mindfulness suggests that we bring a conscious awareness to the present moment and all the experiences that this moment affords.

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THE PURPOSE here is not to discuss the details of Mindfulness; much literature exists for those wishing to explore the practice further. The purpose of this article is to bring the idea of mindful eating into the conscious of fellow students. One can argue that today, mainstream society is becoming increasingly aware of food and its effect on the body; what I am proposing here, is that we now move further to increase our awareness about how our food choices affect our world, and the animal species that share this world with us, in the present moment.

Like it or not, many ethical issues arise from the production, and consumption of eating animals, and animal products. Whether you are on the side of the fence that argues that eating animals is immoral, on the side which argues that eating animals is our right, or somewhere in between, it cannot be argued that doing so is not harmful. It is. Animal consumption is harmful to the environment, harmful to the animals which we consume, and harmful to ourselves.

Meat production, from transport to farming, and feeding, causes environmental destruction and degradation, and is costly in terms of some of our most precious natural resources, and money. It causes suffering, distress, and harm to the animals who find themselves at the hands of producers, and is harmful to our health in more ways than one. The link between meat consumption and cancer is concerning, as is the use of antibiotics, and other chemicals, in the production of meat. So, what has all of this got to do with Mindfulness? Everything.

Although a proud Vegan myself, my aim is not to persuade others to adhere to a Vegan or Vegetarian lifestyle; admittedly Veganism can be hard, at least in the beginning, although the benefits are well worth it. What I propose is much simpler. Next time you walk into the cafeteria, or plan your next meal, stop for a moment. Ask yourself, am I making a conscious, and ethical, choice? Are you aware of exactly what you are eating, and what that food contains? Are you aware of the processes involved in producing that food? What was the cost to the environment, and did any animals suffer in order for that food to be produced? If you cannot answer these questions, how can you be eating mindfully? Do yourself a favour, and do what all students are good at doing ‌ a little bit of research. The results may surprise and shock you.

I encourage individuals who read this magazine, to make their own mindful eating choices; choices that are based on knowledge as opposed to, influences of marketing, advertising, and habit.

The Eating Disorders Association of SA offer a range of support groups providing a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment in which participants can share thoughts and feelings. For more information please contact a member of the EDAsa team on 8297 4011 Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm, or email support@edasa.org.au, or visit the UniLife website for more info about EDASA.

January / February 2009

Written by Matthew J. Harbinson

get a mentor What is a mentor? Is that like when you tell your younger siblings ‘No, seriously, mixing milk, beer and vodka is bad idea, trust me.`?

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WHEN I WAS in year 11, I was asked to mentor a year 8 class; I would receive a SACE point for it (Big whoop! It seemed like a great move back then) and all I had to do was entertain their class during extended home group for thirty minutes once a fortnight, seemed easy enough. What I got was a bunch of arrogant brats who thought they knew everything and a home-group teacher who was a pregnant (hence, absurdly grumpy) hag who hated my guts because I wasn’t ‘organised enough to be trusted’. Thus began an exciting “mentorship” period of Silent Ball, Celebrity Heads and Heads Down, Thumbs Up. I promise you, every time we played Celebrity Heads, someone was Britney Spears and someone else was Bart/Lisa Simpson and every time it was apparently freaking hilarious. The other riveting game we often played was Hangman; several times I thought the bloke on the blackboard was the lucky one.

After about three months of this torture I offered to take the little balls of fat out for a game of soccer (wanting to do my bit in reducing the obesity epidemic). But this was turned down because Ms Maternity couldn’t be bothered going outside and she wouldn’t let me go out with the kids without her direct supervision (despite my OH&S training). The next fortnight, I got to their classroom planning to let the kids choose what games to play (being that they kept asking if they could ‘run a morning’), this was met with a very angry reply of “You haven’t planned anything?!! That’s not good enough! Get out my classroom, oh, and don’t bother coming back!”

Pure brutal expulsion, no Appeals Committee or Student Advocacy like UniLife offers here, just a sole dictator pointing angrily at the door. Thus ended my mentoring experience.

Now new students, you need not be concerned because my lack of organisation is not going to harm your transition from high school to university, fortunately for you UniSA has mentors for new students studying in the Division of Education, Arts & Social Sciences (EASS) at Magill, Mawson and City West. I guess it’s because we pot-smoking, tree-hugging Arts students actually care about people being comfortable in their new environment, it’s all about sharing the love man. I guess the nerds studying other courses just don’t care about those following in their footsteps.

For those with a mentor, these guys are there to be bugged, so you can ask all the questions that everyone else is too cool to ask, whether it be “Where do you find the library?” or “Can you explain Harvard/Chicago referencing?” There’s also a discussion board and a FAQ’s section on their website to give a sense of equality to the whinge-bags from City East. There will also be Mentoring Spaces open for the first 6 weeks of term where you can find a mentor and have all your questions about University life answered, you’ll receive an email in the coming weeks as to the times and places where these great guys and girls can be accessed. So my advice to you is to ask for help or advice if you need it because ultimately, you’ll be the one who appears to know what you’re doing while everyone else looks stupid because they’re lost and confused, oh, and don’t mix beer and vodka.

To learn more about the Div EAS Mentor Program take a look at the website: www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/mentor

January / February 2009

Written by Donna Stansfield

Live well The pollies want to be seen as good guys, giving us back more money than they have been able to tax from us, and to cap it off they say it’s to save the world. What causes inflation; more demand than supply and depression less demand than supply. Will their actions save our world or just theirs?

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SIMILARLY we know if our mouth has more going into it than the body demands we become lard and if supply is less than demand we become bones. Neither outcome helps us maintain the wellbeing of our only home, the temple, our body.

So what stops some of us from acting out the known facts we all know: limited booze, no fags, 5 veg, 2 fruit, 1 meat and 20 minutes exercise a day. For me, as much as I try I can’t seem to make my sex last that long enough nor frequency enough to count it as exercise. I wonder if banana and strawberry flavour count as fruit. Anyway I don’t smoke; it’s the fantastic SA red wine that gets me. Ever seen how small a standard glass is. The result for me is an extra 10Kg of girth.

I have tried everything. My favourite is “tomorrow”. I use to use “never again”. The girth stays. My “solutions” seem only to keep my “only home” from getting in worse shape. I regularly bin the “bads” from the pantry and fridge; a read of the label will surprise. Asking for a skinny latté gives one a certain comfort but I do have a habit of adding a muffin. But I don’t use the sugars; oh I’m so righteous.

The other part of the balance is exercise. Cycling to Uni is a great start; a swim this time of the year is fun. There are gyms, but you need a regular buddy to go with you. By the way a Unilife Premium membership saves me 20% on a year’s membership at UniSA’s gyms so that is a good enough incentive for me as well. And then there are the UniLife sporting clubs. I just can’t believe how many clubs these people have! From rock climbing to water skiing and surfing. It’s amazing!

Perhaps the answer for me is: tomorrow I will drink more water, enjoy the taste of just one glass and do more exercise. Perhaps the Uni should rotate the lectures from campus to campus and provide UniBikes; I think they only have one wheel; perhaps not.

January / February 2009

Written by Eliza Rada

The empty quarter I drive my car fairly carefully. Last year I moved to Abu Dhabi. As an architect, it’s a haven for massive and mad projects, and quite frankly, great fun.

It also has the benefits of being tax free and petrol happy. It’s a world where expensive cars are cheap, and expensive means a Lamborghini (even a Porsche is a pretty common car). If you’re buying second hand, then ‘expat lady driver’ is reassurance you’ve got a great deal on a car.

Now I know why.

LAST WEEKEND I went on a camping trip with some friends, we decided to go to the Liwa Desert. Excited to have an Arabian experience, similar to the explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger, I had filled the car with water bottles in case of any trouble, and as many maps as possible. It was my chance to get away from the building site and into…nothing. Liwa is the desert where the United Arab Emirates boarders with Saudi Arabia. It’s also known as ‘The Empty Quarter’. Having reached the end of the sealed road, I carefully sampled what it was like to drive in the sand. For me this meant staying within 10 metres of the road. And it didn’t seem that hard.

Soon, a group of4WD’s came over, and we met the locals. A charming group of lads, who promised us a fantastic drive to see the desert roses. First the tyres were let down, to the point of being flat. I reluctantly handed over the keys to my rental 4WD to a friendly guy wearing a white ‘dish-dash’, aviator sunnies and of course a mobile phone. Then I held on for dear life.

Our driver didn’t quite understand that I wanted to see the desert and the roses, rather than have a rollercoaster experience. But roller coaster is what I got. The car flew over the crests of dunes, drove at huge angles and slid. I was scared. This culminated when we were diving down a sheer face of a 300m high dune and the car alarm had started wailing. Not for the faint hearted.

Some tips: Desert Roses are actually pieces of hard sand, and not, as the name suggests, flowers.

When the sand dunes have ribs over them, they’re actually fairly hard, and good to drive on.

When white sand is white it’s usually really soft and you’re better steering the car onto brown or get bogged. Don’t even try to drive like a local; it’s an absolute art. And old cars forever stuck in sand are enough proof.

Cruising carefully, we found a vantage point where we could take in the view of The Empty Quarter. One thing is certain: this is one of last great remaining wildernesses on Earth. It’s has wild beauty, seclusion and the drive to get there is a truly breathtaking experience.

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August 2008

Written by Thomas Carnwell

serious after all Just days from the anniversary of Heath Ledger’s death, Hollywood’s elite stood and applauded the Aussie actor’s life when he was named winner of the best supporting actor Golden Globe for his riveting performance in The Dark Knight. The win confirms Ledger as a clear favourite for the Oscars.

LEDGER first came to prominence by acting as a homosexual athlete in the little-known Australian series Sweat in 1996. He played a gay cyclist in the soap, set at the Western Australian Institute of Sport. The creator and writer of the series, John Rapsey, says it was clear that Ledger then a 16-year-old sports champion and high school dropout - possessed an unusual talent.

Ledger, who never attended acting school and who left his home state of Western Australia for Sydney as a teenager, credited his instincts with his success. At 19, Ledger left Sydney for Hollywood. His standout talent was spotted by Mel Gibson when auditioning 500 actors for the role of his son in The Patriot. The casting was Ledger’s first big-time break and led to his leading role in A Knight’s Tale.

Ledger continued his steady impact on Hollywood, with a small role in Monster’s Ball (2001), followed by the lead in The Four Feathers (2002), Australian drama Ned Kelly (2003) and The Brothers Grimm (2005). At 26, the Australian was the youngest nominee for the best male actor category and the outside chance to take the statue away from fellow contenders Hoffman, David Strathairn, Joaquin Phoenix and Terrence Howard.

Besides the Dark Knight, Ledger had also been working on his latest movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, directed by Terry Gilliam that was due to be released this year.

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January / February 2009

Written by Robert Lohmann

G’Day My name is Robert and this is my story...

I WAS A MEMBER of the disenchanted youth of the 80’s. From the top 10% of my form I dropped out of year 10 a mere 3 weeks before the moderator that would have determined the academic course of the rest of my life. In rebellion against the Man, against society, against better judgment I embraced destruction. In the pursuit of fun and excitement I soon came to a path that led to the world of Drugs and Alcohol, a frenetic world where money really did grow on trees. Where life was a rollercoaster of highs and lows depending on the drugs you were friendly with at the time, where money and friends were plenty ‘though transient and so it went on. Across decades the journey went on. Slowly the highs were fewer and farther between and the lows were longer and deeper than ever before. My rollercoaster had become a merry-go-round of addiction and despair in a bizarre underworld of extreme… LET ME OFF!!! 25 YEARS IS ENOUGH!!!

A quarter of a century wasted – literally. Time for a change. The struggle was hard and long and the terrain slippery. Occasionally I would fall and it seemed so hard to get up at times, was it worth it, why bother, what’s it all about? Many years the struggle raged, 3 steps forward 2 steps back, the tango of death. Then I found my ray of sunshine, the daughter I had found out about when she was 12 was now 20 and Mothers’ influence gave way to the desire to seek the truth of her roots. I was sought and found and accepted, was this my rope?

With the passage of time came the appreciation of friends and a realization of family. Now I stand on the doorstep of the new millennium a 42-year-old recovering addict, a grandfather and a father whose daughter watches with pride as I stand in trepidation at the threshold of a new chapter of my life. I am about 3 weeks away from exam season in my second year of study here at UniSA. My first year I managed a HD, a couple of D’s with only 2 P’s to be seen, not bad for a drug-fucked hippie from wayback. Besides all the stress and worry about ‘keeping the dream alive’ leading into exam time I’m not traveling too bad at the moment, and if my story is considered worthy of being published in Entropy Magazine then I would consider I had arrived at the pinnacle of my university experience and could gaze upon the vista of life before me with a renewed sense of vigour and hope. Thank you for listening to my story and even if I don’t get published at least it’s out there and maybe someone somewhere will get a clearer idea of where I’ve come from and where I’ve been on this journey of adventure we call life.

Sincerely, Robert Lohmann.

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January / February 2009

Written by Kathleen COnnellan

the Theory spine Everyone needs direction. Then we need the strength and purpose to get there. Climbing up the various ladders of life is more efficiently achievable if we have a historical perspective and a theoretical focus. These two factors (history and theory) are the spinal cord of success. If you have a flair for art, architecture or design, then you may want to read this!

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September 2008

THERE IS A NEW school at City West and with all things new; it’s a good time to see what aspects of the old are indispensable for a strong future. One of these is history and theory.

Studying art, architecture or design is multilayered and draws upon creativity and spontaneity that can take you to depths and heights within yourself, which you have not yet encountered.

The choices are colourful and the experience is rich but in amongst this creative journey there are several pathways towards careers and life choices. Choosing one path when you are in the midst of everything can be confusing and it is not always possible to receive the guidance you want as an individual. Yet if you concentrate on the messages and examples within the history and theory courses, it is quite likely that a spark will ignite to light up the pathway that is right for you.

Have you ever considered any of these questions: What is seeing? How is realism real? What is a fetish? Is art a fetish? Was Duchamp a prophet, a rogue or just a naughty boy? What is modernism and why should we post it? Why is the hyper-real more real than the real? Are art and art-like things the same? How do the Renaissance and corporate design relate to each other? What role does ‘ritual’ play in today’s presentations of reality? In a world of commodities, is art just another commodity? How does the isolated genius in art relate to the public personality in design? Does architecture suffocate the world? Are most corporate buildings just ego trips for the architects or is there an ethical purpose? What does shelter mean? What does a clean line mean? How can graphic design change the world?

There is at least one theory for all of these questions and linking up with them will be like making life long friends. When you find out that someone, somewhere, else quite possibly in another age – actually thinks the way you do now (well okay maybe with a few twists), then you’re on your way. These theories and theorists can be found whilst studying art, architecture and design history and theory.

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It is not enough to be a strong practice based artist, designer or architect if you cannot talk about the history of your craft: the great people of the past the stunning ones of the present, the future stars in the making and the forgotten overlooked talents that power structures have hidden. It is not enough to whip up a snazzy design in deadline time if you cannot think deeply and argue critically and knowledgeably about your practice. Having the qualifications alone just won’t get you there, you need the brilliance of mind and the sensitivity of spirit that can only be learned from the trial and pain of those who came before. Ask yourself, what sets you aside from others with the same qualifications in an interview situation? There is something that you can do that adds resonance to your thinking and making – theory. This will make you more interesting to yourself and to others.

But not just any crackpot theory, something that has been published by top publishers and reviewed by respected authorities. That is why you are at a university, make the most of it because there are plenty of weird theories without research and foundation outside and those are usually driven by fundamental and commercial greed. What we are talking about is theoretical premises that have integrity and are based on years of study.

Some of you came to uni with ideas about your future and others may be hoping that this future will either reveal itself to you or evolve slowly as you develop. Whoever you are and however you are placed in terms of life’s decisions, you are absolutely unique. Think about it. This is a university and you are here. To make the most of this time you need to shape yourself, mould your very being into something you know you can do and be. I am asking you to consider the capabilities of your intellect, the sharpness of your mind and depth of your understanding. Art, architecture and design have long histories and several theories that stretch across centuries and continents.

To immerse yourself in the theories that accompany creativity, the histories that shape power and the thoughts that move nations, you need to consider the invaluable contribution of the theoretical courses within the art, architecture and design degree structures.

The Theory Spine offers a choice of directions for students interested in theoretical aspects within art, architecture and design. The spine provides a means of navigating and building a degree and career in art, architecture and design related avenues by providing additional seminars and interest groups which augment the undergraduate study. It also makes the links between core theory courses and electives clearer and more accessible. Students will be able to identify topics of their own interest and develop an individual pathway towards success that has the special benefit of sharpened research and writing skills, a depth of critical ability and the opportunity to move easily into Honours and PhD study. The Theory Spine will add strength and depth to all programs in art, architecture and design and give students the opportunity to enter the workplace with a critical and analytical edge unique to themselves.

For more information contact kathleen.connellan@unisa.edu.au or wait for The Theory Spine website to activate on the UniSA website.

January / February 2009

the city of skopje

by Tim Novak

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January / February 2009

Written By Terry Holbright

Surf guide australia “Lets’ go surfing” has a real Aussie ring about it. As an island what could be more natural than to get your kicks in the surf. We are told that surfing all started Hawaii at Waikiki beach on long wide heavy planks of the local timber. But that’s bull. Surfing has to be an Ozzie thing!

I KNOW what are you thinking about. What about the sharks? Well let me tell you something.

The most dangerous thing about surfing is getting to the beach without having a car accident on the way. Not the surfing. The film Jaws should be sued by the collective of surfers and beachgoers for creating mass hysteria.

Anyhow… I went to Hawaii to see what the buzz is about, and I can tell you, Waikiki is a great place to try your hand at surfing. The waves are small and of regular shape that break slowly and evenly over the shallow water. The water is warm so you don’t need a wet suit but as I can attest, you do need sun screen. My next stop was Canada. I didn’t guess that I would have to be treated for server sunburn there! But now as a uni student I enjoy regular weekends, and sometimes weekdays (shush) on our turf – the south coast surf. That’s Middleton to Parsons Beach.

I’ve got the gear but if a friend needs some they get it from “The Boardriders Clubs” of UniLife.

They got everything: boards and suits. Rowan’s the President and he’s been there and done that.

They run memorable “surfaris” at the Yorke Peninsula to supplement their regular South Coast jaunts.

Middleton is a beginner’s paradise with its low reformed waves and you can stand in the water “alight” the board. When you will get better, you will be able to lie flat, and then on one movement you will need to push your body up and tuck your feet under you, into the control board position. Then it’s just standing, nothing more than what you do each day ¬– except on water! Well it’s fun trying before the white stuff takes its revenge.

Then again, you’d be surprised at the number of girls try their hand ay surfing these days. At least half of the clubs members are girls, and there are plenty of overseas students who want to experience the Aussie lifestyle. And if you haven’t tried it yet, show your interest by registering at www.UniLife.edu.au > Clubs > Sporting >The Boardriders.

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January / February 2009

Article by Michelle Kavanagh

Just ask You’ve planned for Uni, applied for your program and accepted your offer.

Your first official weeks are… Exciting? Daunting? All of the above? To help you kick start your time at UniSA, orientation activities are run to give you the chance to familiarise yourself with your campus, your program and available student resources, so you can hit the ground running when it’s time to start your classes.

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TAKE NOTE of advice from current UniSA Education student, Ashleigh, and sign up for the Library tour. While it’s easy to put off venturing into the myriad of texts and resources, it’s definitely not the way to go, and we promise, it’s not as terrifying as it first seems. Besides, chances are you’ll be stoked you made the effort when it hits crunch time with your assignments.

You can’t put it off forever. And if you’re still not sure where to go or where to find what you need, easy, just ask.

Same goes for other orientation activities – you’ll want to sign up. Definitely check out those scheduled for your particular degree. Not only will it help you gain an understanding of the way it all works and what’s expected of you as a student, but it’s a great way to meet academic staff, including your Program Director. It also provides the opportunity to meet other students in your program. Not to mention the heads-up on academic expectations, and handy hints and tips about career planning that might be thrown your way; it’s never too early, right? You might even snag a free lunch.

If you haven’t already enrolled in your courses for the year, head to your School’s enrolment advice session or drop in to your local Campus Central office – otherwise known as your onestop-shop for all things ‘admin’. Campus Central is open from 8.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday, with Student Service Advisers available to help you through the numerous administrative processes you’re likely to come across, and answer any questions you may have about life as a UniSA student.

Learning Connection is also a name you’ll want to remember, with free services and resources on offer to help you succeed in your studies. Not sure where to find them? Be sure to ask. There’s a Learning Connection office available on each campus.

So, in the interest of keeping you informed, jump online to the New Students website at www.unisa.edu.au/newstudents and take advantage of all that’s on offer. You never know, taking the campus tour might just save you a late entrance into the wrong class room.

January / February 2009

Written by Eve Craker

So last year 2008 UniLife Awards Night was celebrated with endless drinks, food, friends and atmosphere and it has turned out to be one of those parties that we will remember from 2008.

THIS PARTICULAR awards night was held in honour of all the participants in the numerous social and sporting clubs plus the UniSA representatives who played in the South Australian Challenge and UniGames. It was a dazzling night at The Dukes where all came together to celebrate their skills, thrills and spills over the past sporting year of UniSA. As UniSA students who study event management, being first time event organisers of such an event was more than we could have hoped for, with the joy of organising an after-party being capped off perfectly with a night that will stay forever in our memories. A main highlight for UniLife and us was the great turn out for the debutant event with massive number of happy people. Whilst this was one measure of its success, besides the array of smiling faces around the room, the presentations and accolades of the well-deserved recipients of trophies and medallions was another.

As stories filled the room, the night had become a great platform for similar events to occur in the future, which is a result that UniLife was looking for. So if you are looking to have fun, spend time with friends and have the year end off with a bang, enrol into a social and sporting club with UniLife, because you are sure to reap the rewards. As for all who attended it was a night that no one could forget ‌ and that is not just because of the hangovers incurred from the free drinks on offer.

Lastly, thanks must go to the UniLife staff for being able to help in the smooth running of the event, and their guidance throughout the experiential learning process. Their help was truly appreciated.

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January / February 2009

Written by Tom Halley

Little angels Sometimes you can be surprised if you ask kids what they thinks about many things we don’t even give a second thought. Tom Halley wondered what kids think about angles. So here it is‌

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What I don’t get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them.

– Sarah, 7 Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go south for the winter.

– Sara, 6 It’s not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to Heaven, and then there’s still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clo thes.

– Matthew, 9 Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else.

– Mitchell, 7 My guardian angel helps me with math, but he’s not much good for science.

– Henry, 8 Angels don’t eat, but they drink milk from Holy Cows!!!

– Jack, 6 When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there’s a tornado.

– Reagan, 10 Everybody’s got it all wrong. Angels don’t wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it.

– Olive, 9 Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who’s a very good carpenter.

– Jared, 8 All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn’t go for it.

– Antonio, 9 My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth.

– Lynn , 9 Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don’t make the animals get better, they help the child get over it.

– Vicki, 8 Angels talk all the way while they’re flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead.

– Daniel, 9

January / February 2009

Written By Theodore Russ

You’ve got to love it My sparse hair is greyer than my mum’s and she had to adapt to the arrival of cars and electricity so my acceptance of iPhone’s shouldn’t have been as hard as it was. I am 58 by the way. Nokia has ruled my world after I migrated from a Motorola that initially didn’t get a signal on the suburban side of the Adelaide Park Lands.

The best thing about Nokia’s is that you can drop them again and again and god bless the little sucker it will start again with shaking hands and playing that tune that tell your subconscious that once again your connected to your world. Why would I want to move on? I even got a Nokia with a full key pad as predictive text had more problems with my spelling than I have guessing how to spell.

My faithful full keyboard Nokia, known as “The Brick”, had one know downfall, if you will excuse the pun, that is it keep falling out of my pocket, particularly when wearing summer shorts.

On Christmas Eve “The Brick” fell out again; panic I could not find it. So into Optus I go to get a replacement but it’s a special order phone. The assistant (who as it turned out was a UniSA student) convinced me an iPhone was the best available option.

If I owned the company that owns iPhone I would sack the marketing team. It’s not a phone: it’s a tool, a toy, a time machine; it’s a James Bond gadget. Bond would never get to the film set if you gave him one, like me would be mesmerised by it. What mesmerised me were the applications you can download. Over the holidays I reviewed thousands of them. The penultimate that sealed Nokia’s farewell was – EVERNOTE. Evernote is THE tool for note taking; write a note, take a photo or dictate into the iPhone while you’re out and about. Back on your computer (PC or Mac) open the web and there are your notes photos and dictation. It works the other way to; on the computer write yourself a note then when you’re out and about it’s on your iPhone. What will they develop next, perhaps a message on the iPhone that reads “if lost again this phone belongs to Theodore Russ.”

If you want to link with other iPhone users register with www.UniLife.edu.au > Clubs > Social >iPhone. One lucky new member will get a Premium Subscription to Evernote .

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January / February 2009

Written by Luis Gardezabal

the mobile problem How many times have you walk in for an exam and forgot to hand in your Mobile at the door? This is Andrews’s story.

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THE MEETING with the Academic Integrity Officer is today Andrew remembered. He got the letter from the University inviting him to discuss a ‘breach of examination procedures’ for the Final Exam of his Microeconomics class a week ago, he was so nervous when he opened the written communication. Andrew remembered how, as soon as he received the letter, he went to see the UniLife Advocate for advice on the matter. He made an appointment that day and came to the UniLife office and explained to the Advocate what exactly happened. Andrew still has clear memories from the examination day.

This is what he explained to the UniLife Advocate, “I was so nervous because Microeconomics is such a difficult class. I came to the room and sat at one of the examination desks. The supervisor said before the exam we needed to hand our mobiles to the invigilators, nothing was supposed to be in our pockets. I was so nervous and concentrated on the exam that I forgot to check if I had my mobile on me. I wanted to perform well in this final exam “.

“During the middle of the exam, an invigilator saw the mobile in my pocket and he demanded to give it to him. Andrew was allowed to complete the exam, but he could really concentrate well, as he kept thinking of the consequences of his stuff up. One week later I received the academic misconduct letter from Uni” The Advocate from UniLife explained to Andrew that he was in breach of Academic Integrity Policy for not handing in the mobile phone before the beginning of the exam. He explained that in the meeting the Academic Integrity Officer was going to ask for Andrew’s version of the incident and after having all the events clear he was going to give him a decision according to Section 9 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual. The Advocate said he could, if Andrew wanted, come to the meeting with him for support.

The day of the meeting, everything happened as the Advocate from UniLife explained. Now sitting in front of the Academic Integrity Officer he remembered what the Advocate had told him about the possible outcomes for breaching Academic Integrity Policy; no academic misconduct was involved, then no further action will be taken and no record of the discussion will be entered in the central database; or if his actions constituted academic misconduct, then the Academic Integrity Officer will provide him with academic counselling and may decide on a further course of action; or if a more serious outcome is appropriate, then the Academic Integrity Officer will advise the Head of School to initiate a formal inquiry.Andrew warning for all students is clear now: never bring a mobile phone to an exam or if you bring it remember to hand it in before the exam begins!

Do you have a problem with any aspect of your uni life that you just can’t solve alone? UniLife’s Advocacy service can help.

Our UniLife Advocates are available to advise and assist you with your uni life. Call Audrey Nicholson at 830 22863 or Luis Gardeazabal at 830 22889 or simply email: advocate@unisa.edu.au

January / February 2009

Written by James Martin

Insider You may have seen a new publication floating around the Uni called The Insider – The International Student Newcomers Guide to Adelaide. It is actually the brainchild of two of our own business students. This is is a story of self initiated experiential learning though the eyes of the Editor, James Martin

THE IDEA for The Insider actually came to me while I was working my bar job in the city. Many international students live and study in the city, yet there is a vast gap between what the international students know about Adelaide and what the local students know. Also, there are so many overwhelming problems faced by international students that the local student could help with. It just seemed like a problem that I could have some fun trying to solve.

So I brainstormed and talked to friends, eventually arriving at my decision to plan out a guide called The Insider - The International Student Newcomers Guide to Adelaide.

After months of research, at least two terrible prototype booklets and having at least three different business partners, I found Sam Trezise in one of my classes at UniSA, studying International Business. He was a keen designer and passionate about helping international students. As I faced the learning curve of talking to businesses, trying to sell advertising space in a book that was yet to exist, he was facing the daunting task of teaching himself the advanced levels of several design programs. Neither of us had any experience in publishing so it took months of discussion and research to come to an understanding as to how to actually make a guidebook look good.

So eventually it came down to spending the whole Christmas break of 07/08 in front a phone and two computers, Sam designing, writing and researching, and me phoning businesses, writing and editing. Now The Insider’s ability to reach this market has attracted some of Australia’s largest businesses such as Medibank Private and Myer and we are constantly looking for more businesses to be involved. And the best part, the guide is now used by thousands of international students throughout Adelaide. We now have a much deeper understanding of the market and the publishing industry.

This has been, and continues to be an experience that provides us with the skills and confidence to thrive in the publishing world. We both know a nine-to-five job is not on the table for us now.

We have proved to ourselves that making a living in business doesn’t have to be about scoring a nice job in a big company, but rather about creativity, innovation and persistence.

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“If you’re not cheered up by this, you have no pulse” The List, Edinburgh

SE LL IN G

FA ST !

Host of ABC TV’s Spicks and Specks

adam hills inflatable

WHERE:

Thebarton Theatre

WHEN:

2 NIGHTS ONLY!

THEBARTON THEATRE

20 & 21 MARCH

Fri 20 & Sat 21 March

COMEDY'S BACK AT THE GARDEN

As Heard on Triple J

Le Cascadeur, 24 Feb – 8 Mar

BOSCO THEATRE, 24 FEB – 8 MAR

January / February 2009643) BOOK NOW! adelaidefringe.com.au or 1300 FRINGE (374

Written by Megan Mummery

save the koala You’d never believe just how political the cuddly koala can be. Did you know that the cute Australian bear turned saviour for the world’s biodiversity?

The koala could be the face of the new movement in carbon sequestration, protecting existing forest.

AS THE ENVIRONMENT creeps higher and higher on the international agenda, the protection of habitat, under the old slogan “No Tree, No Me” has taken on a whole new level of meaning. The koala has been under constant attack for centuries as harmony between man and marsupial is yet to be found. From being hunted and killed for their fur until the 1930s, to being left without food or shelter as their trees disappear due to the ever increasing urbanisation of Australia, it’s a wonder the koala has survived this long.

The koala is now struggling to survive the toxic world of urban expansion and habitat destruction. In just two decades a whopping 25 000 koalas have been killed in southeast Queensland alone. Luckily, the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) has recognised the power of koala habitat and is committed to making the politicians listen for the sake of the world’s biodiversity. Recent research released by the AKF exposed the devastating truth about just how much habitat destruction has occurred since white settlement.

Since 1788 approximately 80% of koala habitat has been destroyed, critically endangering the koala along with over 1000 other species that share their habitat. Opposing that, the Koala Campaigners, a new pressure group, decided to do something about it. They aim to take the science to the politicians to once and for all enact meaningful legislation to protect the habitats of not just our cuddly national icon, but biodiversity across Australia. The Koala Campaigners work by influencing decision makers through letter writing, petitions, and other activities you can do to ensure they hear one resounding message – no tree, no me.

You too can join Koala Campaigners today (it’s free) and you’ll meet Urban, the koala who is the face of the movement. Help Urban and his mates turn the tide on habitat destruction. Visit the website at www.savethekoala.com to find out more.

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January / February 2009

Written by HLeanne Cotter

what is the greenroom?

To get GreenRoomed it is essential that you: a) want cheap tickets to the best live music, dance and theatre, b) want inside access with artists, c) are 25 or under, and d) want super cool offers and competitions FOR A WHOLE YEAR!

GREENROOM is your exclusive opportunity to get amongst it at the Adelaide Festival Centre. If you love music, dance, theatre or visual arts and want something different to do with your friends then GreenRoom is the ticket. A great night out with your mates will cost you next to nothing when you join GreenRoom - average GreenRoom prices are under 20 bucks! Being a student doesn’t mean you have to miss out on world-class art events.

For those of you who want more than just a show, GreenRoom gives you the chance to schmooze with artists, getting an inside view into their art with the GreenRoom Performance Plus events, including workshops, open rehearsals, VIP social events, Q&As, master classes and much more.

To give you a taster, in 2008 we had a workshop with live electronic dance artists The Bird, we also had a physical theatre and choreography workshop with Branch Nebula, fusing street style dance, skating and flatlanding. Another exclusive workshop for GreenRoomers included image and sound manipulation to produce a piece of moving art to exhibit at the Adelaide Festival Centre as part of the Beethoven Festival.

GreenRoom gives its members fab offers and competitions through out the year and so to celebrate the start of the uni year, we would like to offer you the chance to join GreenRoom for only $15 (save $5). All you have to do is call BASS on 8205 2220 and quote ‘entropy’ by 28 February 2009.

Watch this space in future Entropy editions for more great GreenRoom offers and competitions and don’t forget to join the GreenRoom Club on the UniLife website to keep up to date with the latest GreenRoom news. For more information visit : www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/greenroom.

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Get GreenRoomed!

Under 26?

Cheap Tix

VIP Invites

Meet Artists

GREEN ROOM Exclusive Workshops

January / February 2009

Written by Hayley Gibney-Palmer

My flatmate A few years ago I lived in a share house. We had a spare room. We advertised.

We interviewed. We found a nice guy - Duncan. He studied mech engineering.

Then, on his first day, we lost him. Here’s how:

We had already planned a party the night he moved in. It was a big party. Duncan had a great time. The next day, Duncan was first one awake. With a serious hangover, he headed for the shower. But no one had told him how to light the mini pink spaceship that was our circa 1930’s in-shower hot water heater. Turn gas on, then no more than 2 clicks of the lighter. 3 clicks and the little pink gas heater throws a flame out and tries to take off. Four clicks and, well, we had never seen four. Even with hangover, Duncan worked the problem. Turn gas on... press the clicker... once, no luck. Twice, still nothing. Three times... no. I heard the fourth click from my bedroom and held my breath. Boom!

Did I mention the heater was wall mounted at waist height? And being in the shower, old Duncan, our new buddy, was naked? Now he was naked, in shock and had smoking coming from where his pubic hair was. Shaking, Duncan went back to bed.

The rest of us eventually got up and headed to uni. Home alone, Duncan wasn’t game to try the shower again. Instead a nice cup of tea and a piece of toast would improve the day. So off to the kitchen he went to our green 1930’s gas stove. After the shower scene, Duncan took extra care to think through how to light the gas stovetop. Turn red knob to on. Then turn front-left knob on and light. No problem. Kettle on. Time to hunt through cupboards and make toast. What Duncan didn’t realise was the red knob turned the gas in the oven on. It was now slowly filling with gas... eventually it would leak out and ignite from the stovetop...

Enough said. We got home to find our oven door on the other side of the kitchen with a little note from Duncan. “Party was great. Thanks, but I don’t think I can live here. Have no pubes or eyebrows. Good luck finding a flatmate, Dunc.”

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January / February 2009

Article by Andrew Hassam

Yes you can!

Was there more to university then getting a degree, or did I miss the boat?

I WENT to Uni and yes I had earned myself a degree. Finally after 3 years of blood, sweat, tears poverty, sleepless nights, exams, deadlines and stress I had it, a piece of paper that confirmed that I had achieved the required unit score to graduate. Did this make me a better person; was I now a better member of society? Would the world lie down before my feet and offer me the first job that I applied for or perhaps the job be offered to me without even having to apply.

Ok reality check. No. That piece of paper was not going to get me that awesome job, career, partner or a lifestyle of the rich and famous. What it did get for me was acknowledgement from people that had also gone to university that I may not be a complete arsehole.

It was my ability to communicate even after too many beers (pub crawls have a habit of this), to smile when the pressure was on without losing the plot (large waves can scare the shit out of you sometimes), and to be able to work with other people even if they don’t like you (beating people in anything is fun, anyone who tells me they are not competitive are lying). Yes. Some people out in the real world dislike you.

Did my studies teach me this or did university? Not really. It was my life at Uni that taught me that. So have a sausage sizzle, get a cold one, get sun burnt in the Gold Coast learning to surf, don’t be a complete loser and join a bloody club. So one day, when you will be standing by the barbie, you can tell your kid that Uni doesn’t suck if you know how to party.

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UNILIFE CLUBS SPORT CLUBS: Badminton Club Ballroom Dance Club Basketball Club Canoe Club City to Bay Club Fencing Club Indoor Soccer Club - The Union Inline Hockey Club Judo - City East Judo Club Karate Club Lacrosse Club Rockclimbing Club Shodokan Aikido Taekwondo Club The Boardriders Touch Football Ultimate Frisbee Club UniSA Adelaide Pheonixs - Men’s Soccer UniSA Lions Hockey Club UniSA Motorsport UniSA Rowing Club UniSA Womens Soccer Club- Infernos University Games 2009 University Games 2009 Mixed Netty University Games Beach Volleyball 09 - Gold Coast Waterski Club SOCIAL CLUBS: 1 S.O.M.E Society Of Mechanical Engineers 3rd Year Nurses - Pub Crawl ACES Adelaide Flash Mob UniSA Group Adelaide Japanese Animation Society AIESEC BanglaSA BEEST

BOSS Chinese Student Association - UniSA Chapture Co - workers in Christ Drama Club Economics and Commerce Students Association EMU - Environmental Management Unit Evangelical Students Indonesia Students Association - PPIA UniSA Industrial Design Graduating Exhibition Commitee 2008 International students association iPhone Club Malaysian Students Association Mawson Student Network MED RADical Club Media Arts and Associates Metro On Campus Music and Fashion Association. UniSA Chapter Overseas Christian Fellowship PakSA Pi Club RuShi Buddhist Youth Group Staff Club Student Exchange Society Student Screen Association Taylor’s University College Business School UniLife Magazine Contributors Club UniSA Gamers Association UniSA Labour Club UniSA Law Students Association UniSA Pilots Club UniSA Travel Club UniSA United Nations UNIVERSE University of South Australia Hellenic Association UThursday Club Whyalla Activities Club Whyalla Business and Enterprise Club Yearbook Club

reap the benefits of being a member UniLife Premium Membership is available to all students, staff and club members and offers real benefits. Here are some: 1. Deals: You get first offers on specials eg Kangaroo Island trip in July 09.

2. Text books: only you can Buy current second-hand textbooks, save about 33% 3. Food on campus : Aroma offers 5% discount off everything 4. UniLife events: 20% off; eg 6th March UniSA-OBall just $29, public price $49 5. The Advertiser; FREE at all metro and country campuses during weekdays.

6. Gym: 20% off the annual membership 7. Takeaway: upsized for the regular price 8. Restaurants: up to $25 off 9. Holidays: cheap car rental and motels 10. Films and DVD‘s: cheaper 11. Regular food shopping: 5% discount at Coles 12. And much more listed on www.UniLife.edu.au > Frequent Values UniLife Premium Memberships can be purchased online at www.UniLfe.edu.au with Visa, MasterCard and PayPal, or with cash from the UniLife campus offices.

don`t spend more than you need to on books Save yourself big with UniLife`s Second Hand Book Service. Buy and save. Sell and get paid. Every year, students use this service to buy textbooks for a fraction of the price and they spend their money on something they really want. You can buy current text books on online or at the UniLife campus counters so long as you are a UniLife Premium Member. Just go to www.Unilife.edu.au > Secondhand Books.

January / February 2009

Un iLi g e fe P t 5 re m % off ium at Me Ar m om b e a. r s