Tharunka / June 2016

JUNE 2016 / WOMEN

UNSW STUDENT MAGAZINE

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

“Disrespecting women does not always lead to violence against women. But all violence against women began with that fundamental lack of respect.”

This line from the latest national ad campaign against domestic violence seems to epitomise the fundamental basis of the inequalities and structural oppressions against women still rampant today.

JO CELYN DRACAKIS / GUES T EDITOR W O MENS OFFICER 2016

2016 has brought with it yet another slew of degrading sexist attitudes rising to the fore. We’ve seen pro-rape men’s activist group Return of Kings, Woolworths condoning the nationwide stalking of a woman on social media, the ‘Hotties of Melbourne Uni’ Facebook page and sexist chanting from our very own UNSW students at a college ‘boys night out’.

We need only look at the NUS Talk About It survey report to see

We had an overwhelming number of submissions for this issue—an indication that the women’s voice of UNSW rings louder than any guileless chant to the contrary.

CAS SIE BELL / EDITOR

Having read them all many times over, I am proud to say that the women of UNSW are confronting gender issues and exposing continuing injustices with: The wit of Jane Austin; The swag of Beyoncé; The tenacity of Aung San Suu Kyi; The humour of Tina Fey; The rhythm of Maya Angelou;

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that this discrimination is a reality for the majority of women at university. What’s more, we’ve had a federal government roll out a string of unfair policies, burdening students with a lifetime of debt and targeting women by scrapping Medicare bulk-billing for pap smears, STI tests and ultrasounds, cutting paid parental leave and childcare benefits and defunding women’s crisis shelters.

Enter this year’s women’s Tharunka issue – welcome! This year we wanted to focus on giving all women, from all diverse backgrounds and corners of campus, the opportunity to speak out about the issues that affect them.

Thank you to the glorious contributors and talented editorial team for your bold and beautiful work. /

The intelligence of Marie Curie; The style of Coco Channel; The words of Margaret Fuller; And (perhaps most impressively) the steadfast conviction that by continuing to draw attention to the issues affecting women— through our writing, our art and our everyday rhetoric—we are collectively working toward a more equal and more exciting future for females. With that, I ask you to read this issue of Tharunka with the following in mind: two voices are louder than one. 24 voices are louder than two. 3.6 billion voices are louder than 24.

OPEN LETTER TO VICE CHANCELLOR

Dear Vice-Chancellor, Harvard has an Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response.

Yale has a Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Centre.

Oxford has specially trained Harassment Advisors.

University of British Columbia has a Sexual Assault Support Centre.

Currently, UNSW has none of the above. We do not have a sexual assault policy. We do not even have an express statement prohibiting sexual assault or harassment in any of the staff and student Codes.

In 2015, the NUS Talk About It survey showed that 29.6% of women students at UNSW had experienced sexual assault. A minuscule 3.4% of these reported it to the university, and only half were satisfied with the response and support they received. This belies a serious and widespread institutional failing. UNSW needs to commit to substantive reform to proactively support the welfare of students and indeed all members of our community.

Based on research by the Australian Human Rights Centre, the following is an outline of the strategy that our university should adopt: 1. A clear, accessible, legally accurate, and widely publicised standalone sexual assault and harassment policy.

2. A transparent and accessible reporting and investigation procedure that vigorously enforces “no tolerance”.

The development of a specialised, independent unit to deal with sexual assault and harassment in a centralised, accessible way as a lynchpin for the university’s strategy, as well as increased funding for better-resourced counselling and health services.

3. Implementation of a mandatory learning module on sexual assault and harassment, consent and respectful relationships for all commencing students. There should also be resourcing for ongoing education programs, as well as awareness and prevention training for staff and students.

4. It is imperative that students and staff feel safe on campus, and that UNSW is a place of equality and respect for all, in more than just sentiment.

Ours will not be a ‘world-class’ university until it enacts a world-class response to sexual assault on campus.

We implore UNSW to consider our requests with the gravity they demand.

Yours respectfully, The SRC Women’s Collective

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THE TEAM / MANAGING EDITOR Natalie Sekulovska

SUB-EDITORS Cassie Bell, Jayden Rathsam-Hua, Carla Zuniga-Navarro

DESIGNER David Tu

/ CONTRIBUTORS Akansha Singh, Breana Macpherson-Rice, Brittney Rigby, Catherine Abbey, Charlotte Goodsir, Claire Cao, Debby Xu, Divya Venkataraman, Eden Gillespie, Emma Donaldson, Georgia Griffiths, Georgia Watkins, Gigi V, Gillian Ophel, Haya Saboor, Laura Kenny, Lauren Bonner, Martina Calvi, Melissa Tran, Sarah Hort, Stephanie Wilson

COVER DESIGN Lydia Morgan

/ Tharunka acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal and Bedigal people of the Eora nation, on which our university now stands www.tharunka.arc.unsw.edu.au Tharunka is published periodically by Arc @ UNSW. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of Arc, the Representative Council or the Tharunka editing team, unless expressly stated. Arc accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions or information contained in this issue of Tharunka.

Any complaints should be made in writing to the Marketing & Publications Manager.

KEY: W / WORDS A / ART P / PHOTO

CONTENTS 06 Eat The Cake Anna Mae 10 #respecttheline 1 2 A G u i d e To T h e D a r k S i d e 14 Good Feminists Vs. Bad Feminists 15 Putting The “End” In Endometriosis 1 6 To n a l I m b a l a n c e s 1 8 H o w To M e n s t r u a t e S u s t a i n a b l y 1 9 W h y C a n’t I P l a y A s A G i r l ?

20 Behind Closed Dorms 22 Home III

7 News /

11 Features /

21 Creative /

23 Only In My Head 2 4 T h e S c e n t O f A F i c t i o n a l Wo m a n 2 6 T i n d e r Ta l e s : C h a p t e r Tw o 27 An Hour From Campus 28 Spotlight On 30 Reviews 3 3 G R E AT ! R e v i e w 3 4 H o n e y, I ’m H o m e !

35 Pumpkin Soup

25 Regulars /

36 SRC

EAT THE CAKE ANNA MAE A / MARTINAMARTIAN This illustration explores the hidden themes of male dominance and abuse in a popular song lyric. It’s a reference to Tina Turner’s (aka Anna Mae) abusive marriage with Ike Turner. A closer look at this seemingly pleasant image (designed to be a bedroom poster) reveals themes of female oppression and women being treated like objects.

NEWS

HOW THE BUDGET WILL AFFECT WOMEN W / A / CASSIE BELL

Early last month, the Turnbull Government revealed their first federal budget as the Coalition Treasurer, Scott Morrison, delivered his second-reading speech in Parliament. As expected, this “economic plan” prompted a slew of responses from notable economists, journalists and political commentators—labelling the proposed spending as everything from “typical pre-election” to “a step in the right direction” to “total bullshit”.

Until 2014, it was customary for the Australian government to issue a women’s budget analysis alongside the outlined spending. Such an analysis reflected upon gender responsive budgeting and represented a commitment to gender equality in Australia. Unfortunately, the Abbott government removed this practice, leaving the women in Australia somewhat in the dark as to how they would be impacted by the economic changes. So how will the budget affect women in the year to come?

For women earning super Arguably the biggest change for women in this year’s budget is the introduction of a rollover benefit for unused concessional super contributions. But what does this actually mean?

To break it down: everyone who works pays a certain pre-tax amount of their wage into a superfund for when they retire. Normally, this amount is limited to $25,000 per year.

However, if you need to take time off work—say, to have children—then you’re not putting as much (if any) money into your super during that time.

Under the new scheme, it is now possible to put money you would have contributed while you weren’t working, into your superfund the following year, even if it is more than the $25,000 cap. Effectively, allowing you to “rollover” your unused super contribution so you can “catch-up” on the savings you missed out on while you were breastfeeding, instead of board-meeting.

In his second reading speech, Mr Morrison claimed this change means “those with interrupted work arrangements— predominantly women and carers—are not prevented from making catch-up contributions to their super, if they are in a position to do so”.

Women with children are also the most likely to be classified as “low income earners”, because they often choose to work part-time. To assist them, the budget introduced the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset—a scheme which

gives low income workers a refund on the tax paid on their super contributions.

Morrison stated that the new scheme aims to “assist around 2 million low income women to build their superannuation savings”, at a time when the “the average super balance for women, who are usually the primary caregiver, is $52,000 less than men”.

For women with families In addition to the change in super contributions, the government has set aside $10.5 million over the next four years, to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in newborns. While $800,000 will put toward the development of online support agencies for women experiencing perinatal depression.

The budget was, however, silent on Paid Parental Leave, effectively confirming that new mothers would receive either commonwealth benefits or employer-paid maternity leave (not both); a measure implemented by the Abbott Government last year.

The anticipated $40 billion expenditure on child care reform—a package generated from a Coalition election promise to improve the affordability and accessibility of child care services—was also noticeably absent from this year’s budget.

Instead, the package and the proposed lift on the cap on childcare rebates, has been delayed until mid-2018. The Government cites the cause for this delay as administrative; proposed cuts to Family Tax Benefits, which would be used to fund the child care changes, have not yet been passed by parliament.

For women experiencing domestic violence The government has increased funding to curtail violence against women and their children by investing $100 million in a national anti-violence plan, over the next three years.

This is a $33 million increase from the Coalition’s last budget.

On the other hand, over $34 million worth of cuts to funding of legal assistance centers, including Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, will remain from the last budget and are set to come into effect in July next year.

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For young women The Youth Employment Package sees an “ambitious”—as Mr Morrison described it—$751.7 million scheme called PaTH (Prepare, Trial, Hire) implemented across the country.

Job-seekers under 25, who have received unemployment benefits for more than 6 months can complete an intensive job-skills course and a part-time internship. They will also get an extra $200 per fortnight added to their Centrelink payments as an incentive to sign-up.

Senator Morrison said the scheme “is not just another training programme”. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), however, has voiced concern over whether the scheme simply encourages free labour for businesses.

ACTU Secretary, Dave Oliver, says “this internship program is a path to nowhere – it’s replacing existing entrylevel jobs with a churn and burn scheme that gives business access to free, exploitable workers.”

“Why would a business employ a minimum wage or lower paid worker when the government is ready to supply them with free labour and a $1000 handout?”

For weekender women Online shopping, smoking and wine are all copping a GST hike in this budget. Tax on tobacco, in particular, will increase by 12.5 per cent per year, over the next four years; making a pack of Marlboros more than $40 by 2020.

These measures—a.k.a the fun tax—will come into effect in September 2017; so light a ciggie, pour a glass of pinot and bulk-order from ASOS while you still can.

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In response to the budget, the shadow minister for women, Claire Moore, released the Women’s Budget Reply Statement 2016, in which she states the proposed spending “does nothing to advance the priorities and the aspirations of Australian women”.

The Opposition maintains that this budget simply “locks in all the unfairness of the past two budgets, adversely affecting the quality of life and equality of opportunity for Australian women”.

Whether or not the Coalition’s “economic plan” will eventuate, will ultimately be decided by Australians on July 2nd, when they celebrate National Sausage Sizzle Day.

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#RESPECTTHELINE W / ANONYMOUS

I had been sexually assaulted, but I didn’t come to terms with this for weeks after it had happened. He was drunk, I was drunk, and it happened. I tried not to blame him, because he has been a friend of mine for more than 10 years. I thought that I had to hold myself accountable, because I flirted with him. Because I was intoxicated to such an extent that I couldn’t consent, I thought that meant that I had.

But this is not the case, and I am angry that I ever had to feel the sense of guilt that I did. I am outraged that we live in a culture where an inability to consent can be interpreted as a form of consent.

I think there needs to be more discussion on what consent involves. Equally, I think there is a rape culture in our society that needs to be challenged. We are surrounded by a culture that degrades women and normalises sexual assault. This is not ok.

I definitely can’t speak for all women of sexual assault, but I think it is this culture that makes women scared to speak up.

I have not really confronted my attacker with the force of anger that I have been harbouring because he is in my circle of friends, and I think I would eventually be excluded from the group if I chose to speak up. So, instead I blame the media, the film clips of pop songs, rappers.

I have realised recently, however, that this is scapegoating the issue. The response by the UNSW Women’s Collective to Baxter College’s sexual assault anthem has convinced me of this. Communities need to come together to talk openly about consent and respect. Groups of friends need to come together to talk openly about consent and respect. I need to talk openly about consent and respect.

Be the Neville Longbottom: stand up to your friends, and start the conversation. http://www.theline.org.au/ / Visit www.unsw.edu.au/respect for resources on reporting, support and emergency help, or call the National Rape and Domestic Violence Counselling Help Line at 1800 RESPECT.

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FEATURES

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE STORIES? / HAVE YOUR SAY BY SENDING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR tharunka@arc.unsw.edu.au

A GUIDE TO THE DARK SIDE W / CATHERINE ABBEY (UNSW ALUMNA)

1. If you’re fairly attractive and reasonably intelligent, don’t study or work at UNSW. 2. If you’re not, or you’re already there—and you’re inclined to defend yourself against unprovoked genderbased harassment, bullying, stalking, assault and/or smear campaigns—then invest in some protection early. You’re going to need it.

3. Join a women’s group even if it’s not your “thing”.

4. Mention this association often in the presence of such predators, especially if they’re in positions of authority.

5. Voice your opinions across various forums; those that dwell in the darkness hate the light shining on their activities.

6. Choose your battles wisely, otherwise you will remain at war. Seek counsel from the Student Union and/or the Faculty of Law as your future career may be on the line.

7. If you have a partner, mention that fact.

Often.

8. If you do not have a partner, invent one and mention them.

Often. Include, perhaps, that they have a hair-trigger temper and work in law, media, politics or all of the above. Your partner is currently overseas.

9. Confront these individuals at the outset. It is better than hoping their maladjusted selves get bored and they go away— they won’t. Contact the media and police if needs be, and ensure the university executive is aware of that contact.

10. Expect no assistance regarding sexist abuse from the UNSW executive because none is ever given. They run a comprehensive protection racket for sexist abusers and their enablers (sometimes female) that extends far into the nebulous academic reaches.

They are self-serving, political, often corrupt, disingenuous opportunists desperate to sweep you and your legitimate complaints under the carefully manicured university lawn as quickly as possible. Their sympathy is false.

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“So, you want to study a STEM course at our university, young lady? Great, we’d love to have you!”

This scenario will be repeated right across the nation early in each semester of every year for young women set on a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and/ or Medicine. I really wish I knew back in 1986 what I know now, about the realities of studying and working in the field of Science and Mathematics at UNSW. There’s a large part of me wanting to scream at these unsuspecting, wide-eyed wannabe undergraduates: “DON’T DO IT! You will be fighting for basic respect and you may well be permanently harmed if you choose any of these career paths.”

As an undergraduate in 1986-1989, my education was perceived as a “waste of resources” by some male peers. Apparently, I was “just going to get married” and thus my education was unjustifiable. On two occasions, I was forced to view pornographic material brought in by male peers whilst attending laboratory classes.

In a Mathematics lecture, the lecturer recounted the story of a young female student who had approached him for assistance prior to exams. He believed the student had wasted her time during the semester with respect to the subject and refused to assist. He then stated; “You know, in my country, women serve men.”

This remark was met with rapturous applause from the large, mostly male audience.

As an employee at the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute (POWMRI), associated with UNSW, I was relentlessly and aggressively sexually harassed by my employer (a doctor and medical academic) and two male colleagues (engineers). I left this position, unable to tolerate the constant abuse any longer. My family and I were then harassed by phone and in person outside of the university and this workplace. We received hate mail, and the employer threatened my career, plainly stating, “You will never work in this area again”—I never did. My graduation in 1990 was then denied by UNSW without explanation. I

eventually received my degrees, replete with errors and only following action taken by my local State MP, who forced a special sitting of the University Council in order that I be qualified. I was informed that the council decision had been unanimous in favour of conferring my qualifications—how big of them.

Later, I was enthusiastically encouraged to apply for a research position at UNSW by an associate of my abuser, another medical academic. When I attended the interview, after short-listing, I was immediately denigrated and humiliated by this medical academic whose role was convening the panel. I was then shown the door. This ‘interview’ lasted less than two minutes. No work-related matters or documentation were ever discussed.

This arrogant abuse of position and UNSW employment process has never been addressed. This act was specifically designed to degrade and humiliate me as a young woman and qualified professional. It was a form of calculated intimidation and abuse by medical academics at UNSW. I have since been repeatedly threatened with defamation action for speaking about any of these matters.

This medical academic is now a prominent Australian voice on health issues with significant influence in media and politics.

He’s a favourite of the ABC and very well-remunerated.

I later abandoned medical research entirely and returned to study theoretical science in 1994 after periods of unemployment and following completion of an Honours year. As you might imagine, I had been significantly traumatised by my experiences with UNSW over the years. I went on to complete a Diploma in Education at the University of Sydney the following year (1995) and worked as a secondary school teacher for some years after that.

I look back more in sorrow than anger these days but I do pity young women embarking on STEM careers in this country. If I had my time again I would not choose to do a STEM course in Australia and would certainly never have

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anything to do with UNSW. It was and still is an unsafe place for women, in my opinion.

Recent events surrounding the pro-rape chant by male students roaming in packs on and off campus (as others have done in the past) tell us so.

On campus there exists a culture of violence where abuse is a form of currency: sexist abusers want to be filthy-rich, and want you to remain virtuous and poor—forever. For them, it is an ideological or personal gender war; yet another incarnation of the age-old tall-poppy syndrome in Australia. They seek bragging rights for wholly imagined conquests.

Unfortunately, addressing this toxic culture is still too much to ask of our highly-paid, indulged university executives. How much easier is it to say action “must be taken” than to actually take the action that’s required?

The abusers know this and do as they please.

Business as usual. There will be a flurry of statements condemning “unacceptable behaviour”, and promises that the university “will not tolerate” any form of sexist violence while, of course, continuing to both accept and tolerate it. Have any sexist abusers ever been expelled? They are often protected then promoted in my experience. After all, litigation, insurance and PR are expensive, girls.

I hope this Guide To The Dark Side is helpful to others forced to deal with this hideous and expensive culture.

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GOOD FEMINISTS VS. BAD FEMINISTS W / EDEN GILLESPIE A / MELISSA TRAN

The sheer lack of human decency on the Internet is staggering. Facebook trolls find solace in the World Wide Web and its anonymity; posting outrageous and damaging comments in the hopes they will spark a reaction.

Clementine Ford, feminist and writer for Daily Life, receives thousands of derogatory comments per day, and has become renowned for exposing her tolls and their misogynistic intentions. Instead of praising feminists like Ford for their “don’t fuck with me” attitude, mainstream media (I’m talking about you Sunrise), often hold a different kind of feminist up on a pedestal; creating a good feminist vs. bad feminist diatribe. We chime in and criticise these women who are fighting for equality, instead of focusing on the cause and educating ourselves about misogyny and gendered issues.

Yes, we should critique gender—but when we start to criticise the feminists behind these ideas, their words become merely a springboard for personal and vicious attacks that often become misogynistic in themselves.

A few high school boys were suspended from their school for asking Ford for nudes and sending her photos of their genitals. Similarly, a hotel supervisor lost his job for suggesting she would “jibber less with a cock in her mouth”.

For exposing trolls like these, Ford is often referred to as too intense, labelled as an “angry feminist” that should sit down, be silent and chill out—but she is justified in unmasking these men and demanding an apology. She should not be expected to be complacent with her own dehumanisation.

Ford was banned from Facebook after posting a nude selfie, which protested a Sunrise social media post that said: “What’s it going to take for women to get the message about taking and sending nude photos?” An ignorant claim that promotes victim blaming. She was again banned from Facebook when she posted the horrendous messages she received from trolls (some 1,000 were sent in 48 hours).

that mainstream media want us to know about? Susland Carland is an example of a “good feminist”. When Carland was interviewed by the 7pm Project for taking a less fiery but equally commendable approach to internet trolls, she received endless praise and was congratulated for donating over $1000 to charity. She told the media that for every xenophobic or misogynistic comment she receives, she donates $1 to UNICEF. While Carland is practically a saint, the idea of good and bad feminists is a smokescreen, created to condition women to act in a way society deems sociable and acceptable. Carland should be revered for her actions, but she should not be used as the golden example, to strike down passionate and outspoken feminists, or women who choose to act in a more aggressive or assertive manner.

I’m not arguing that we shouldn’t question and critique the ideas of feminists—especially popular, celebrity– feminists who may be accused of using feminism to drive their own commercial success or who misinterpret the meaning of feminism and thus, cause detriment to the movement. We should question the motives of feminists like Beyoncé, who benefit from slapping a feminist sticker on their brand and refining their image as a “feminist role model”. However, there is a distinction between disagreeing with the ideas and opinions of prominent feminists, and dragging them through the mud because they are vocal and outspoken about the gender-based hatred and abuse that they receive in the form of thousands of Facebook message requests. So, next time you see a feminist post a slut-shaming screenshot as you’re scrolling down your newsfeed, why not send them a heart reaction, and get off their back.

Ford is not a “bad feminist” for taking a more assertive approach and protesting against misogyny by taking a nude selfie, nor for exposing the disgusting way that women in the public eye are treated. Critiquing Clementine’s assertive method towards misogyny and trolls is, in effect, policing her. The focus should not be on unpicking the threads of what a feminist is saying. Critique their ideas and perspectives, not how they choose—on a very personal level—to handle the abuse detonated by trolls on the Internet and carelessly thrown their way.

Feminists who react more aggressively towards slander and misogyny are disturbingly absent from mainstream media. So, who are these mythical and few “good feminists”

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PUTTING THE “END” IN ENDOMETRIOSIS W / SARAH HORT A / CASSIE BELL

Endometriosis is a strange beast. Even now, I don’t know which tense to use; do I have endometriosis? Or since it’s been removed (for now), should I say I have had it? Endometriosis occurs where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside of the womb, in other parts of the body. The symptoms and types of pain can differ depending on where the endometriosis is.

One in ten women will suffer from endometriosis at some point in their lives.

For a disease that struggles to receive research funding, and whose cause and cure is unknown, it’s frightfully common. It also seems to be somewhat hidden; perhaps plagued by stigma.

Only recently I had my very first conversation with a fellow endometriosis sufferer—the only one I know of.

Growing up in a small town, my complaints of severe menstrual pain as a teenager had me carted around to a few different GPs and finally, a gynecologist. I complained of terrible period pain for a number of years, missed days of school because I was curled up in bed. And yet, was repeatedly told it was normal and advised to take common painkillers.

For me, this was not an acceptable solution.

I didn’t really want to be taking eight or more painkillers per day for five days each month for the next 40-odd years. Besides, painkillers only took the edge off for a few hours. One doctor even refused to examine me because I was under 18; inferring that he was concerned about the possible legal implications. Medical ethics aside, it was pretty disheartening to essentially be told that my severe pelvic pain was not worth the risk of being properly examined.

I didn’t even know endometriosis existed until I moved to Sydney for university and I mentioned my symptoms to a GP at the UNSW Health Service, who referred me to the Royal Women’s Hospital. As a public patient, I waited for months (and had a swathe of scans, tests and specialist visits) before finally, I was first on the laparoscopy waiting list. The wait for surgery is invariably long because, understandably, women with more serious and life-threatening diseases such as cancer take priority in a stretched public health system.

Nevertheless, I often wonder how much pain could have been prevented if the initial doctors I saw had bothered to consider endometriosis as a possible diagnosis.

Laparoscopy is a keyhole surgery and is the only way to get a definite diagnosis of endometriosis. Given the invasiveness of a laparoscopy and the risks involved, agreeing to the surgery was a difficult decision to make: what if it’s not endometriosis and I have my stomach cut open for nothing? Ultimately, however, I had tried just about everything else under the sun—exercise, strange herbal teas and other dubious natural remedies, a variety of painkillers and the pill—but nothing worked effectively. I knew I couldn’t withstand the pain for the next 30-or-so years. I had to give surgery a go.

I was under a general anaesthetic while the procedure was conducted (so I have no memory of the surgery) but the whole process took roughly 30 minutes, and I was so quick to recover that I was released home that night.

Only a small amount of endometriosis was detected, and it was removed straight away.

One benefit to the invasiveness of the test is that if you do have endometriosis, it can be

removed during the surgery. I spent the next week or so recovering at home before returning to work and uni.

It’s been almost two years since the surgery and that time has been mostly pain-free. My quality of life has improved, and for that I am grateful. But the fight is not over: endometriosis can return, meaning more surgery to have it removed and potential fertility problems down the track. Aside from my own experience, it is alarming that there is a seven to ten year diagnosis delay for endometriosis, and that so little is known about what causes and cures the disease.

Although there can be different symptoms, menstrual pain seems to be the most common, and yet it is so often normalised by doctors and society. Period pain does not have to be a fact of life, nor should women be seen as exaggerating the severity of the pain and its impact on our lives. Don’t be afraid to get second, third and fourth opinions if you feel your concerns aren’t being addressed. Endometriosis is debilitating and it is not something women should put up with.

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If you think you might be suffering from endometriosis, contact your GP or go to www. endometriosisaustralia.org for more information.

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TONAL IMBALANCES A REFLECTIO N O N #U N F A IR A N D L O V E L Y W / DIVYA VENKATARAMAN P / PAX JONES

16 / FEATURES

Skin-whitening cream.

“It seems like a relic of the past!” you exclaim. “Surely such a thing could not exist!

Besides, the British are so passé. Colonialism is like, barely a thing anymore.”

Well, you’d be forgiven for thinking that something so flagrantly politically incorrect should not—could not—still exist. But colonialism is still like, definitely a thing.

And alas, skin-whitening cream still exists.

And somehow—for all the talk of progress and change—the skin-whitening industry has expanded hugely in recent years. Sales of whitening creams have tripled over the last decade. Even a family with no real conviction they will have running water that day, will still have an expired pot of Fair and Lovely—the most popular brand, and the inspiration for the hashtag discussed below—in the cupboard.

Anecdotal, but accurate.

Even here in good ol’ Straya, it can be found in the odd dusty corner of your friendly neighbourhood Indian grocery store.

You may have heard of the recent #unfairandlovely campaign. Photographer Pax Jones, from the University of Texas, began it by taking pictures of Mirusha and Yanusha Yogarajah, her South Asian classmates (see below).

The photos have inspired a swathe of gorgeous South Asian women to share their own experiences and photos of being #unfairandlovely. It is an empowering campaign. It has inspired articles in praise of it on The Conversation, Huff Post and Buzzfeed.

But look at them. They are cool. They have this enviable East/West fusion thing going on. I kinda want to be them. They are beautiful, yes.

But their Indian accessories function largely as an addendum to their bang-on-trend Western outfits. Their skin tone might be darker than the average Bollywood star, but the average South Asian woman they are not.

For all the merits of the #unfairandlovelycampaign, it focuses on the experience of South Asian women living abroad, or those of South Asian origin who were born overseas. This then, is necessarily a diluted experience of what South Asian women—actually living in South Asia—are subject to on a daily basis. What the campaign fails to address (and what it cannot, as a social media campaign, possibly delve into the complexities of) is the divide between the #unfairandlovely of Texas—and by extension, Australia, the UK, Canada and the like—and the #unfairandlovely of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Mallika Rao penned a piece in Huff Post after Nina Davuluri’s Miss America win, about why Davuluri would never have won a pageant in South Asia: she is simply too dark.

Bollywood is overwhelmingly populated by the fair-skinned. There is even a range of Fair and Handsome cream, which has been released for men who want to get in on the action.

The ad campaigns for these skin creams are wont to evoke equal amounts of shock/ distaste/horrified laughter. Most start off depicting a woman looking fairly glum in bad lighting. She then starts to smile, this smile widening incrementally in a series of panels, all the while becoming paler and paler, until

she reaches a wide-eyed wooden hysteria and vampiric levels of whiteness. You could even be forgiven—for example, if you were an alien and these advertisements were your reference point from which to analyse the fluctuations of human emotion—for thinking that this were the natural order of things. Whiter = happier.

The logical leap is astounding, yet well-masked by high profile celebrity endorsements and lots of dazzlingly white skin.

In V. S. Naipaul’s novel Half a Life, the most extreme form of protest is the protagonist marrying a dark-skinned woman of lower caste.

Caste, class and socio-economic differences are the chasms exacerbated by the notion that dark skin is inferior. One of the main reasons dark skin is seen as categorically undesirable is that it implies that one is a labourer who works outside in the sun.

Marriage, even more so, is a deeply political climate in which colourism is played out in its extremes. The still widespread practice of the husband’s family asking for a dowry before accepting a woman’s hand in marriage, makes India among the few countries where a direct monetary value can be ascribed to fair skin. In a Huff Post article on colourism, Banaji recalls “being told by a friend when I was in college… that she would fetch Rs 10,000 more in dowry than her sister who looked the same as her in skin color, but who was apparently a shade darker than my friend”.

Perhaps the problem with #unfairandlovely is the problem with all social media campaigns.

It is shallow, ahistorical and beauty is the unquestioned prerequisite to participation.

This is not a criticism of the campaign itself, but a comment on the limitations of any social media campaign. As an Instagram hashtag, this movement in its nascent phase was a welcome encouragement for women to embrace their darkness.

But as much as #unfairandlovely has taken off overseas, this is just a gentle nudge to not forget the primary battlefield of this particular issue—South Asia itself. Bollywood, mainstream media and societal norms are all in cahoots to try make us stick to the status quo. They are a giant Ashley Tisdale in the high school cafeteria, stopping Troy from baking creme brûlées and that skater guy from doing whatever that skater guy wanted to do.

To me, the people who deal most intimately with colourism are not trendy college-educated expats in Texas.

Let’s not forget the South Asian women themselves, who continue to dictate their daily lives under the gaze of the Fair and Lovely ad looming above them, and the nagging aunties who tell them not to go out into the sun too much.

17 / FEATURES

HOW TO MENSTRUATE SUSTAINABLY W / BREANA MACPHERSON-RICE A / CARLA ZUNIGA-NAVARRO

Ladies, we’ve come a long way with our menstruation practices. Gone are the days where women were made to go and hang out in a contaminated corner for being “unclean”.

Thankfully, gone too are the days of tearing up a bunch of rags that needed to be regularly washed, dried and reused, or the time-consuming (albeit clever) process of crafting tampon-style devices out of random plant materials. In the 1930s, with a strike of genius on par with Beyonce’s Formation, a woman named Leona Chalmers designed the first reusable menstrual cup*, and women around the world lived happily liberated ever after.

What’s that… that’s not how the story goes?

Right. I guess I forgot the important part where a crafty bunch of profiteers brought disposable pads and tampons onto the market, mobilised gender constructs in different ways to strategically market them, poured a whole lot of money into making it appear as though there was no alternative, and effectively made women dependent on the endless purchasing of disposable “sanitary products” for generations to come. This happened at around the same time as Chalmers’ brainwave, and (surprise, surprise) many of the people behind this crappy plot twist were MEN. I know, I know, this is “how to menstruate sustainably”, not “the political economy of periods”. Yet I’ve come to realise that the two are intimately related. How else do you explain that for my first 7 years of menstruating, I thought that the only choices I had were invisible-or-ultra-thin, pinkpackaging-or-beige, tampons-or-pads?

All of these options not only require significant and continued cash money to sustain, but rely on—you guessed it—fossil fuels; producing huge amounts of plastic in their manufacturing, before creating huge amounts of waste in their disposal. If I had known, as a tweeny adolescent, that there was an option that could save me money at the same time as saving the environment, I would have switched in a heartbeat.

A friend asked me if I wanted to get in on a bulk order of “moon cups”, and I said: “What on earth is a moon cup?”.

I later googled it, and was simultaneously impressed and terrified.

So many reservations popped into my head. The thought of needing to be more intimately acquainted with my own body and menstrual blood was not a fond one at first.

Not to mention all the awkward conversations I imagined having with my housemates as I boiled the cup clean on the stove. Still, the knowledge that I would save huge amounts of money, and bypass the myriad of little plastic pieces I was otherwise beholden to, was enough for me to take the plunge.

Honestly, it’s been one of the best decisions that I’ve made. My overwhelming experience has been empowering, stress-free, and occasionally hilarious (cue awkward questions from grandpa upon finding this puzzling object in a drawer).

There’s endless blogs online of people retelling their own experiences, and if you pop down to Thoughtful Foods, you can check out some display models and probably have a reallife chat with someone who’s made the switch.

Admittedly, menstrual cups aren’t for everyone, and there are plenty of reasons why a woman might not be able to choose the most “environmentally friendly” period-absorber on the market. No one should feel judged or pressured about the decisions they make for their own body—which, I suppose, is the purpose of this article after all. I think women should be able make decisions for themselves, free from the fears and fictions that are spun to keep us perpetually digging into our pockets.

Moral of the story: next time you buy anything disposable wrapped in plastic, ask why it has to be this way and who benefits in the long run. Chances are it’s probably not us—and for that matter, not the earth either.

Instead, I had to wait until halfway through my first year of university to find out about these mysterious menstrual cup devices through the murky world of word-of-mouth.

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* It was actually most probably used years beforehand in a whole number of different places, but the history books credit a rich white woman. Sigh.

18 / FEATURES

WHY CAN’T I PLAY AS A GIRL? W / STEPHANIE WILSON A / MELISSA TRAN

An issue I feel gets neglected by the general population, is the gender representation of women in video games. Although surveys of gender ratios of gamers have shown that there is roughly a 45:55 female to male split, the majority of main characters in the games themselves continue to be male.

Female characters are also hyper-sexualised and designed according to traditional gender roles, despite the popularity of strong female protagonists such as Samus Aran (Metroid series) and Lara Croft (Tomb Raider series).

The hyper-sexualisation of female characters isn’t exactly a new thing. From the scantily clad armour of female characters in games such as World of Warcraft, to sexually suggestive behaviour, it’s hard to argue that this issue isn’t endemic. Even Lara and Samus have had their fair share of the “sexy treatment”. When the Tomb Raider games were first released, Lara was criticised for having unrealistic proportions—particularly with respect to her boobs. Eventually, she was remade to fit a more realistic body shape.

As for the adherence to traditional gender roles, look no further than Princess Peach from the Mario series, or Princess Zelda in the earlier Legend of Zelda games. The only non-spin off in which Peach is not captured is the American release of Super Mario 2, but that was because she was a playable character. Zelda, on the other hand, was never really the star of the series, despite it being about her and Link’s adventures. She is captured, cursed, possessed and turned into stone throughout the series.

These two Princesses are constantly portrayed as helpless and in need of being saved, despite the fact that they both have abilities that suggest they are more than capable of taking care of themselves.

How do these representations affect behaviour of male gamers towards females?

Cultivation theory and social expectancy theory propose that long-term media consumption can skew people’s views of the world toward a reality constructed by the media. An example of this—in line with a “damsel in distress” mentality—is the Bioshock Infinite marketing.

Originally, Elizabeth was marketed as being the

main character and having her own posters; the plot indeed revolves around her. The reception to this marketing, however, was quite negative.

The posters were changed to depict either Elizabeth behind Booker (her male counterpart), or just Booker by himself. This is despite the fact he (arguably) plays the more “sidekick” role in the story.

The issues that arise from these biases are particularly troubling with respect to teenage gamers, as they are only just starting to explore their various identities. To use a personal example: I have been a gamer since I was about six, and most of my friends have been gamers as well. Yet, I still received an onslaught of jokes about how I have to “put out” or “be sexy”, because I have big boobs. I’ve also been told that I am a “dream girl” because that’s how Bayonetta (Bayonetta series), Tifa (Final Fantasy VII), and Rikku (Final Fantasy X) are viewed.

Not only did I cut ties with a lot of my friends, but years of this treatment caused me to feel quite uncomfortable with my body and around gamers in general. Having lived in two cities, as well as being a bit of a “lurker” online, I know that I am not alone in these experiences.

I feel like the behaviours that can arise from these theories might very well be a driving cause of events such as the “GamerGate” incident, and other gender-fuelled harassment online.

So, what can we do to help change the status quo? Open and constructive discussion around these issues is vital for change. Not letting this discussion break down into radical anti-female or anti-male tirades will expedite the process. I would also love to see a greater diversity of video game characters, which cover all kinds of personalities, appearances, gender and sexual identities. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking this.

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19 / FEATURES

BEHIND CLOSED DORMS W / GILLIAN OPHEL

“There are many times when my gender has made me feel unsafe in my life, but never at college. When we go out together I know I can trust those around me.”

Before I came to college, I was extremely apprehensive of what it would be like. Too many American movies had led me to expect a drunken cesspool of intimidation and gender warfare. Instead, I am probably the happiest I have ever been, because I’ve found a community where I feel fully accepted.

Recently, there’s been a lot of negative press about residential college life—for deserved reasons. A video of a group of male Baxter College residents singing misogynistic and offensive lyrics was circulated by media, inciting a slew of backlash from UNSW students and the greater community.

Without criticism, I felt one perspective was lacking in this coverage: that of the female residents. Therefore I, a proud feminist, want to explain why I love where I live.

incoming residents, we can certainly do more, and I’m sure that we will. Everyone wants our college to be the best it can be, not just for gender issues but also for LGBTQIAP+ and ethnically diverse students.

Importantly, residential college life is not separate from the rest of the world. Wider social and cultural structures are what cause dangerous attitudes towards women. I see college as the perfect experiment: a group of young, bright men and women, tasked with creating the best environment for themselves. I have some ideas. I’m sure other college women have ideas, which may be based on experiences that totally contradict my own.

There is also an important role for men and genderqueer residents to contribute, as well as those outside the college system. I believe the mini-society of college is a place where we can make gender equality a reality, to show a practical example to our university, our city, our country, and maybe even our world.

Young people with a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and talents congregate at UNSW, and at college we are able to create our own home. Sure, we have parties (which I thoroughly enjoy) but through college I have also discovered an appreciation for musical theatre, explored the cafés of Surry Hills, fundraised for charity, and tried sports I never would have otherwise. Our approach to sport is something I’m particularly proud of: women’s and men’s games are given equal support.

In my second year here, I have assumed a leadership position which gives me new challenges every day. Like so many other people, I’ve been given opportunities I never dreamed of and have been lucky enough to live and work with some truly incredible people. I’m a shy person, by nature, but here I’ve been drawn out of my shell by the force of our community spirit.

That group spirit is often labelled by those outside our community as a source of competition and “group think”. For me, however, it creates a protective, friendly environment. There are many times when my gender has made me feel unsafe in my life, but never at college. When we go out together I know I can trust those around me.

This isn’t to say there isn’t work to be done. I was frustrated and angry at the recent events, which I believe were, for better or worse, due to ignorance rather than malice. While we do have measures in place to educate our

20 / FEATURES

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CREATIVE

HOME III W / BRITTNEY RIGBY A / CASSIE BELL

My dad isn’t dead, but for a long time he seemed to be. March 2008 killed him. I think it killed a part of me too. I’ve spent too many 3ams trying to toss myself back to sleep after waking up stuck – sweaty body caught in sweaty sheets and sweaty thoughts – to have kept my faithfulness intact.

I wonder what my mum would be like if she hadn’t been assaulted in our local supermarket, if she wasn’t forced to keep our house running and our family together at a time she needed the most help.

I wonder what I would be like if I hadn’t been cut open to insert metal where a fleshy, muscly, okay knee should be, pushed down a flight of stairs by someone who had read the news and decided to hate me, hate us.

I saw my family break apart like Antarctic ice caps. We melted until we overflowed and our bodies and our hearts were just too small to cope. We didn’t do a good job of staying together, and so we retreated into our separate shells, our separate selves, and we stayed there and waited and held our breaths and hoped that we’d all make it out okay.

I wonder what my dad would be like, what my family would be like, if he hadn’t been the police officer who was falsely accused of bashing a man. And I can’t imagine it.

Someone tried to slit my little sister’s throat, as pale and cool and important as that ice struggling to hold polar bears up against the rising heat of the world. I spent weekends stopping and starting CCTV footage and scanning newspapers for the latest trial by media. Death threats appeared in our letterbox, sleeping comfortably between junk mail and phone bills.

I wonder what my sister would be like, if she hadn’t been so scared that she called a sleeping bag home for a year, tucked on the floor next to my parents’ bed. The heart condition she now has won’t let her sleep, the pounding animal behind her ribcage refusing to shut up or give up, even a little bit.

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22 / CREATIVE

ONLY IN MY HEAD W / HAYA SABOOR

Cloaked in navy blue velvet, she tenderly stepped over the ice, crossed the bridge that led into the rose garden. The sound of the almost frozen stream drizzling into the lily pond accompanied her solitude. The snow had covered his grave again; she dug with her gloves until she came to the flower from yesterday. A single white lily, gracefully blooming on top. By the grave that rested under a willow tree, she fell to the ice and wept. She cried until blood started to flow from her eyes.

He shook her, yelling her name, “Isel! Sweetheart, you’re having the nightmare again.”

Covered in sweat, trembling, she opened her eyes. Wide with fear she aimlessly looked around, while her hands searched for his familiar body. Breathing heavily, “I....I.saw.... blood...lily... graves,” she broke down.

Wrapping himself around her, he soothed her by stroking her back, and smoothing out her hair, he whispered, “Only a nightmare my sweet. Only in your head.” She hooked her face in his neck and wept. “This is your place,” he whispered. He was not him. But he was home. Another home, a different home. As his lips touched her temple, she slowly found herself falling back to sleep.

He’s asleep, wrapped in a blanket. The sunlight streams through the shutters, framing her hands as they cover her face. She wakes. Unable to move, a weight around her heart stops her… and she realises.

The blanket was not for warmth, it was his shroud. The graves are real. The lilies are real. That blood is real. That dream is real. It is as real as our breathing can be.

Cloaked in navy blue velvet she tenderly stepped over the ice, crossed the bridge that led into the rose garden. By the frozen pond, she fell on the ice, and wept. Tapping the lily, her voice barely a whisper in those final moments of life.

“If only you had been just in my head.”

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23 / CREATIVE

THE SCENT OF A FICTIONAL WOMAN W / DEBBY XU A / TALIA PARTON

Daisy Buchanan From The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald) No. The aroma of daisies, so innocent and friendly, does not come to mind. They are plucked in wilderness, in the euphoria of a weekend away - but this exists only in her adolescent daydreams, the joie de vivre of nostalgia past.

The lines of oyster-lustre pearls hang on her elegant little neck. She polishes them in fervent strokes, as she sips away bubbling nervousness.

The other party-goers twirling in chiffon crystal continue to comment, ‘Such a fine piece!’ Her voice, mesmerising as money, hides the sage secret that Daisy is a lie.

A magnolia may lie closer to the truth. Not because of the scent, but because of the way in which the word rolls from the mouth. Naively pretty and a hint of luxury, unrelenting.

She feigns vanilla spirit, neutral and clean like cucumber springs. But as the witching hour approaches, the shadow of chandelier cuts her visage. She is society’s ghost. Forget the memories, conscience, the hypocrisy, money, and drown in liquid gold and gin for the extra kick. Sharp ash, disturbing to the nose, for cigarette tears.

And in the morning, she will look in the mirror at the sticky mascara streaks, will smell the sickly sweet poison of moonshine scars and her lover’s blood. She will scrub herself raw with floral soaps, bleeding until she believes she is good again. She drapes herself with fresh white linen, soothing her tender skin. And the smell of dirty green and white will always be an undernote to the presentable Miss Daisy, until she locks herself in her French-tiled bathroom again, tonight.

Sun Bak

A woman we come across time and time again

From Sense8 (J. Michael Straczynski, Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski)

From no one and everyone (Sylvia Plath’s Mad Girl’s Love Song)

Salt. In the office, you stand ground for your father’s company. Restrained by obligation and inferiority to your brother because of your sex. You stay without complaint, without a single word. Your silence, cutting like salt, flavours every interaction with the bitterness of your repression. You carry on, because you simply do. They all know you inhale fire, with invisible intakes of breath. They do not comment.

Hairspray mist and glossy nail gloss. Paint your eyes closed with the colour, smooth sailing, the magnet pull of North and South poles. Distance, you breathe like oxygen, if fate meant you two were a little different. That you cradle in each other’s crevices moulding into yin-yang histories. Sparkle. Alive.

Salt. Your knuckles bleed in the boxing gloves but the pain is dulled by the harsh lights, the singing crowd and the drumming in your chest. The sweat from your hair glides down the shallow crevices of your face. You take a hit at the jaw, and the pregnant liquid globules dance across your vision. Blur. The bridge between reality and non-reality. Oppression and spirit.

Man and woman. Their obscurities glide. You taste salt at the edge of your lip. This is what you live for. You rise.

Salt. The orange uniform is rough and you feel your own skin, hair and nipple. The smoke of flame coloured citrus is salted bitter.

Dehydrated, squeezed of all your nectar, when you copped the blame for your ignorant brother. Inevitably. So your presence, still and unsettling, broods harboured frustration, calculating how to escape the prison others have designed for you. As old scars fade, new ones embrace your knuckles and ever-waging heart.

/ 24 / CREATIVE

Other times when you sink into the bed sheets, you do not fall in revelry. Mind blank, some time has passed since you last experienced the aura of them. So the blackness consumes.

Nothing vivid now disturbs you from the smell surrounding the damp metal aerosol or the rancid smell of varnish, now perverting your space.

And the kaleidoscope glasses rotate back like clockwork. Time is the answer. You see yourself and them, two faces imperfect and porous, hungrily unpuzzling each other’s eyes, the mysteries. You inhale vanilla smokiness, the sweet and the bitterness of each other.

Meadows and wild purple, they fade when the door creaks. Eyes open, there is a misty haze smothering your vision. You reach out for something to hold onto. But air escapes your grip so your fingernails embrace your soft palm.

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REGULARS

TINDER TALES: CHAPTER TWO W / GIGI V

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE LEAST EXPECTING touted by well meaning friends and disgustingly over-the-top couples, rubbing each other’s backs in an attempt to satiate the love-lorn single into revealing one more bad-date tale.

Despite the well-meaning advice, “least expecting” is not the principal variable for getting what you want from life, especially not the dating world. You have to ask for it. And if you get the answer you wanted, then you were meant to have it all along.

“Babe, there’s something wretched about this, something so precious about this, where to begin?” – From Eden, Hozier (2015) / “Are you my girlfriend now?”

I groan outwardly, burying my face in the pillow.

And just like that, you’ve finally gained membership into that exclusive of Clubs! Oh, don’t roll your eyes at me, single people! You can’t tell me there wasn’t a time when you looked on enviously as two people sauntered past, swinging their hands and grinning moronically. And yeah, they looked like something straight out of a J Crew Catalogue – AW15 to be precise – all scarves, beanies and pea coats. I’ve become what I’ve always loathed; one half of that sickly duo you find on the Library Lawn. I know. I want to throw half eaten fruit and empty laksa containers at me too.

“Sure, why not.”

C giggles drunkenly as he pulls me across his chest. I struggle against him but he just holds me tighter.

“You’re too drunk. Let’s get some food in to you.”

“I am not that drunk,” he announces with an unwarranted amount of self-righteousness.

I am finally able to wrestle myself free in order to help C to his feet. I slap his hands away, trying my best to maintain a stern face as he puckers his lips and inches them towards me. His face turning pink with glee, C attempts to pull me back into bed.

My last piece – if you deigned to read it, that is – told the tale of a young man with all the telltale signs of the common Fucboi – prolonged static silences coupled with rapid fire back and forth promises of bed breaking sex and eye-watering orgasms – they’re all talk. Yet, within a week of writing said piece, I found myself in a curious position.

You see, this boy (Fucboi or no) kept coming back to me.

Armed to the nines with a wickedly sumptuous grin, an arsenal of acerbic one-liners and that stirring and heavy lidded Daydream Nation gaze, C had cemented his presence.

The adage of “it’s always the ones you least expect” comes to mind. Those drunken nights, leaning precariously out of my bedroom window, passing a smouldering joint between us, M assured me, in that sluggishly lilting way of hers, that one day, when I least expect it, I’d find that one man who (despite all my shrill bull-shittery) would choose to stay.

The line makes me grind my teeth! There is nothing in this world I detest more (well, maybe – any person who is Team Logan Huntzberger in lieu of Team Jess Mariano) than the phrase, “It’ll happen when you least expect it”. It’s been

There is one thing.

We were lounging around in the smoking area of World Bar – M, C and I joined by M’s new beau, B. As B and C chatted away excitedly, M and I winked at each other as we looked on smugly, pleased that both men had taken an instant liking to one another. Finally B turned to me and asked, “How did you two meet?”

You see, C and I, we don’t have a meet-cute. We don’t have a disgustingly heart warming story of catching one another’s eye in a boring lecture or a strenuous ‘will-theywon’t-they’ tale of friendship. We just happened to both swipe right on Tinder. And I just happened to respond to that smooth one liner of “Hey, what’s canoeing?”

So, what I really want to know is does it make this budding relationship of mine any ‘less than’ when compared to the supposedly more organic alternative? Hell. To the capital N and O. So what if Tinder has been heralded by Millennials far and wide as a “Wam-Bam-Thank youMa’am” app (just think of the rambunctious forays into twentysomething orgies with the launch of “Group Message” feature)?

There is no earthly difference between eyeing someone in a bar and swiping right to them, talking to them and then finding out that they are just another moronic misogynist.

26 / REGULARS

AN HOUR FROM CAMPUS W / LAURA KENNY

MANLY (BASICALLY-BONDI-WITHOUT-THE-CROWDS)

5. Congratulations! You’ve made it to Manly Wharf – home of the ripped daily surfer and Kebab stealing seagulls.

Manly is an easy hour commute from UNSW and a great place to go to when you’re in need of an escape. The Manly 1.5km beachfront backs up onto a string of beautiful cafes and shops, and will persuade you to cancel the rest of your day, so you can become one of the beautiful and fit pram-pushers that you’re soon to see. The vibes reverberating off Manly have the ability to make you feel at once like a meditative queen of the yoga studio and a strong independent woman who don’t need no day job.

1. Beach Towel

G e tt ing T here

What T o D o

Have you just finished some useless weekly blogging task at uni and find yourself crawling down Main Walkway, torn between going home to Netflix and chill or going somewhere new and exciting? Even better, did you just get to uni and realise that you haven’t yet exhausted your absences for this semester? Take this as a sign from above and follow these instructions on how to reach the photogenic location above.

1. Is it a Wednesday? Go to the Farmer’s Market on Manly Market Place just off Sydney Road at Short Street and explore the delicious fresh organic food, clothes and crafts for sale.

1. Trundle yourself toward the Anzac Pde Bus Stop 2. Catch any of these buses straight down to Circular Quay: 890, 397, 396, L84, 399 3. Walk to Wharf 3 at Circular Quay. There will probably be some kind of street performer between your bus stop and the Quay – good luck.

4. Jump on the Manly Ferry, which departs on the hour and half hour for most of the day.

What T o B r in g 2. Sunglasses 3. A good book 4. A phone on flight-mode 5. Your most Otis Redding inspired Spotify Playlist

2. Take advantage of the incredible aesthetic of Manly Corso and Beachfront. Snapchat your friends, make them feel the jealous feelings, and gram a dramatic panorama of the beachfront.

been perfectly designed for escaping your earthly responsibilities and read that copy of War and Peace.

5. Go for a Skate on Manly beachfront. Hire some skates or a board from Skater HQ. 6. Go for a surf. If you don’t have a board, no worries – head to Manly Surfboards on the beachfront and hire one for the day.

Wher e T o E at Barefoot Café – Specialising in fresh-made Belgian Waffles and the best coffee in Manly.

Try not to drool.

Bare Naked Bowls – Specialising in so much health in a bowl you may explode.

Chicabonita – Real street style Mexican in a boho-hub of funky humans serving the best damn margarita on this side of the Americas.

Banana Blossom – You have dreamt of these salads without knowing that you missed them.

Start with the ‘Tokyo Classic’.

3. Enjoy the eclectic shopping scene. Manly Corso is home to a selection of little designer shops and unique little nooks of boho dresses, classic chic suits, surfer grunge. Lost for ideas? Potter up the Corso and divert onto the Sydney Road Manly Market Place.

4. Take the Walkway to Shelley Beach. Shelley Beach is a spectacular little cove that has

27 / REGULARS

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SPOTLIGHT ON W / CARLA ZUNIGA- NAVARRO

MARTINAMARTIAN P / GIANNA HAYES

28 / REGULARS

1. Name, degree and favourite milkshake.

6. What are your favourite secret art spots in Sydney?

Martina Calvi/MartinaMartian, Bachelor of Design (Honors) and Bachelor of Media (PR & Advertising). Salted Caramel!

For art shows, I love Goodspace in Chippendale. For drawing, I like sitting in Hyde Park or on the train somewhere.

2. How would you describe the vibe of your art and designs?

7. Advice for upcoming artists?

Value yourself and value your work. Pretty soon other people will too!

90’s inspired with a touch of pink! I tend to create work inspired by fashion and/or feminism in bright, retro colours.

8. What are your #goals for 2016?

3. Who is your favourite artist/s and why?

Go to Japan, work with more clothing labels and survive the semester!

My favourite artists can be found on Instagram – at the moment I’m crushing on @ artbabygirl and my friend @_hazey!

9. You recently went to Kiribati on a Colombo Plan scholarship to look into the effects of climate change. How did this affect your art practice?

4. How has your experience of being a woman influenced your artistic practice?

Before going to Kiribati, I wasn’t sure if being a designer meant I could ever contribute much to the world. After visiting Kiribati, I gained a lot of perspective, broke out of my little art bubble and realised that design has the ability to change the world. It was an amazing, life changing experience.

In my experience of womanhood I have found that we (women) have always been encouraged to see each other as competitors.

As a female creative, I really try to fight against that notion by supporting and collaborating with other women rather than comparing or competing with them. I also try to create work that is fem-positive and embraces girl-power.

It’s a constant journey of self-reflection and self-improvement: I’m still working on myself and trying to be more supportive of other women. But I think the point is that we all try to remember it’s not a competition: we’re on the same team!

10. Any current or upcoming exhibitions?

Nothing planned yet! I was just part of one in L.A, so I hope to be part of one closer to home soon.

Check out her Instagram: @martinamartian

5. What inspires your creative personal style?

80’s/90’s fashion and movies, colours I see while out shopping, street style from around the world and feminist icons.

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29 / REGULARS

REVIEWS

FEELIN KINDA FREE

GONE GIRL

BY THE DRONES

BY GILLIAN FLYNN

W / EMMA DONALDSON

W / AKANSHA SINGH

~This album makes me uncomfortable~

The most basic summary you could give to Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is that it details a married couple’s problems. Luckily for us, that’s just the beginning of a twisting descent into the recesses of the human mind.

The Drones haven’t put an album out since I See Seaweed in 2013. Before that, there were four-year gaps between records reaching back to their birth in 1997. They’ve given us their new album, Feelin Kinda Free, as a terrifying reminder that our political and cultural landscape hasn’t changed much since 2013, and if at all for many years before that. Australian politics is as much of a joke as it ever was, and The Drones use this record to rub salty fingers in every embarrassing, weeping and festering wound that Australian politics and society has.

Amy Dunne is the woman upon which the entire book hinges. The first half of the book is interposed with earnest diary extracts that make it impossible not to like her, but leave us feeling slightly disappointed. We soon discover that the easily likeable but equally forgettable Amy of the journal entries is false. The Real Amy is someone far less easy to understand and presents a conundrum for every well-adjusted woman; her actions are undeniably dangerous, yet are spurred by the inequalities that are central to being a woman.

Lead singer and lyricist Gareth Liddiard doesn’t give a rat about offending anyone. “Taman Shud” is a dark procession of reeling insults against everything that is problematic in this country. From “stop the boats” to Masterchef, to right-wing columnist Andrew Bolt to Anzac glorification, to the Carbon Tax to Gina Rhineheart – he’s got a scab to pick. The commentary gains another layer with its title that references the mysterious case of an unidentified body that was found washed up on an Australian beach with a piece of paper reading, ‘It is finished’ in his pocket (Taman Shud in Persian).

Upon realising Amy faked her own death to frame her cheating husband, the reader is plunged into the depths of her mind where she scorns the willingness of men to believe in “Cool Girls”. The pressure to be the perfect balance between attractive and interesting is something that resonates with female readers; I certainly identified with it.

Amy’s revenge is not at her husband, but also the world for expecting so much of women with so little forgiveness for our nuances. Flynn artfully makes us detest the shackles Amy was restrained in, whilst repulsing us with our sympathy for someone clearly disturbed.

Why does this record make me feel uncomfortable?

Because I can *dance to it*.

Feelin’ Kinda Free represents a huge departure from the sound The Drones have been creating for the past 19 years – they’re back, and they’ve learnt electronic music. The guitars are gone or fuzzed into unreality, but I don’t care. Rhythms are skittish and erratic, but I don’t care. They’ve done all this while retaining a feel that is unmistakably The Drones’ (power ballads included, I promise).

What the reader should understand is that she is impossible to shunt away as simply crazy, simply cruel, or simply anything. She is impossible to be seen as anything less than she is, and manifests the dangers of stereotyping women. The “Cool Girl” was an armour that’s made to crack. Amy Dunne was a warrior who was fighting for women the second she broke free, whether she wanted to or not.

This album is a total ‘fuck you’ to those who try and tell us what we have to do to be Australian, and I love it.

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MUSIC / BOOK

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REVIEWS

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

JESSICA JONES

BY MELISSA ROSENBERG

BY ANTHONY & JOE RUSSO

W / GEORGIA WATKINS

W / CLAIRE CAO

It’s hard to believe that eight years ago, Hollywood wasn’t saturated with superhero films. But then Iron Man came along, and took a risk on an actor (Robert Downey Jr.) with a fraught history, making him play a middling hero. Despite the comic book series’ underwhelming sales, the film was a hit and instigated a new wave of superhero extravaganzas.

~Potential Spoilers~ “Me watching Jessica Jones; “WTF ALL CHARACTERS ARE WOMEN, THE MEN ARE EITHER BAD OR EYE CANohh. Okay. Ah. So that’s what that feels like”” - @mojorojo (Rohan) This tweet convinced me to watch the Netflix original, Jessica Jones.

Captain America: Civil War seems like the culmination of Marvel’s trail-blazing success. It builds on elements from their former films to create a plot that deviates from the superhero formula, and attempts to create meaningful conflict. The film addresses the sometimes mind-numbing destruction from The Avengers film, and pits Captain America/Steve Rogers against Iron Man/Tony Stark as they butt heads over whether the government should control the Avengers. Cap’s judgement becomes deeply coloured by his relationship with his long-lost best friend, brainwashed assassin Bucky Barnes, who is at the top of the government’s hit list.

Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is a wry private investigator, who happens to have super strength. Once held under the manipulative powers of mind-controller, Killgrave, (David Tennant), Jessica is haunted by her past. With the help of her childhood friend, now a celebrity radio presenter, Trish (Rachael Taylor), Jessica tries to track down Killgrave to finish off what she started, in true superhero-style. This show, however, is far from your average superhero show. Using elements of film noir, Jessica Jones subverts gender roles in a fascinating way, and explores the very real repercussions of sexual assault.

The political arguments forwarded in the film feel weighted and important, but ultimately fall apart when you look too closely at the convoluted plot. The film also shifts tonally from being serious and pensive to being a zany sitcom, before spiralling into emotional intensity.

The directors definitely struggle to balance an over-stuffed Avengers plot with one about Cap’s personal quest to protect his best friend. These problems, coupled with a tepid villain, result in a clumsy final act.

What’s interesting is that Killgrave’s powers become a metaphor for manipulation in abusive relationships.

Superpowers aside, manipulation is an incredibly real part of gendered violence, and it is at the forefront of Jessica Jones. We often see emotionally manipulative behaviour dismissed in real life because the manipulated “could have done something”. Killgrave’s character serves to prove that the fault lies with the abusive perpetrator and not the victim, crushing any form of victim blaming before it even begins.

Nevertheless, the movie mostly pulls off its big ambitions. The fight scenes are an incredible joy. They aren’t just a mess of bad editing: there’s energy, creativity and a real focus on the personalities and abilities of the characters.

Newcomers Spider-Man and Black Panther were such exuberant crowd-pleasers that I forgot about my Spider-Man fatigue.

It’s great to see that the show doesn’t dismiss her experiences of sexual assault and rape. It instead explores the long-term affects of sexual assault, while also showing that someone who has been assaulted is more than just a ‘victim’ or ‘survivor’. They are their own person, with strengths and flaws relating not only to that experience, but also to the ups and downs of life generally.

The final act may appear too calculated, but the way Cap and Tony’s relationship devolves into an impassioned conflict is believable and powerful. Despite how sprawling this movie seems, it’s ultimately about Steve Rogers and the choice he has to make between his oldest friendship and new family.

This kind of personal choice gives the film a strong heart, and accompanied with explosive action and meaningful bloodshed, it ensures another winner for Marvel.

Jessica is not the only character to have endured Killgrave’s abuse, and the show does an incredible job at showing how different individuals cope with their abuse.

Jessica’s experience is shown as uniquely hers and not universal to all victims. Some take self defence classes to feel physically strong, some find help in creating support groups, some participate in seemingly self destructive behaviours, and Jessica is on a track of retribution.

FILM / TV SHOW

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REVIEWS

THE HUNTING GROUND FILM SCREENING AND PANEL

HYPERLINKS OR IT DIDN’T HAPPEN

BY CÉCILE B. EVANS W / LAUREN BONNER

W / GEORGIA GRIFFITHS

The Hunting Ground is confronting, sad and shocking.

Unfortunately, it is also necessary.

Cécile B. Evans’ 2014 work Hyperlinks or It Didn’t Happen was installed as part of the 20th Biennale at Sydney’s historic Cockatoo Island. The work was located underground in the ‘dog leg tunnel’, where the technology of virtual reality and projection juxtaposed the cool, organic interior of the sandstone cave.

The film follows the stories of students who have been sexually assaulted on university campuses across America.

We see survivors standing up to institutions that have failed to take appropriate action or provide sufficient support. The tactics used to protect star student athletes from allegations of sexual assault are exposed, and frat houses are shown to be dangerous, misogynistic places. While the film has been accused of having an ‘agenda’ (don’t all documentaries?) and misrepresenting the truth, no one can deny it has been instrumental in sparking discussion about sexual assault on campuses across the world.

This year’s Biennale was based on a quote from William Gibson - “The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed”, and as the audience waited in line to receive their virtual reality headsets to view the work, it did indeed feel as though the future was being distributed to us, one by one. Once I received my headset, an attendant turned on the video, and asked us to slowly walk forward while holding both sides of a hand rail; my new reality taking the shape of architecture, nature, and an animated tiger leading me through a vast modern home.

Having been shown across America, including at The White House, the film is now being shown at 50 universities around Australia. UNSW showed the film at an event on the 2nd of May in conjunction with a panel focused on sexual assault policy at the university. Vice-Chancellor Ian Jacobs opened the event, emphasising the fact that while the documentary may be set in America, we should not pretend that their situation is much different to ours.

At the end of the tunnel we took off our virtual reality headsets and were led to a smaller room, which served as a theatre for a video piece. Here, we saw an audio visual experience that incorporated music, an anime character dancing provocatively, an invisible woman, and a 3D recreation of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who asks us kindly to please not mention the ‘uncanny valley’. The video work serves as a portal into a kind of dystopian future, but at the same time holds up a mirror to the world we exist in today – a world of loneliness in independence, the uncanny in reality, and the fusion of the digital and the flesh.

SRC President Sophie Johnston and Women’s Officer Jocelyn Dracakis spoke after the film, outlining the SRC’s plans to deal with sexual assault on campus and introducing the university’s new sexual harassment and assault resources website. The panel that followed, however, was chaotic at points and underwhelming at best. It was a shame to see a good opportunity for discussion between university officials and students clouded by answers that avoided the question entirely and ignored crucial issues such as prevention and education. Hopefully future discussions will see greater clarity in answers from the university. Overall, while the event wasn’t perfect, it was a step in the right direction.

We also see a woman on a beach, however we don’t see her at all – because this woman is invisible, so she is merely a wig floating in space, a banana being peeled, or a clear patch of air being embraced by her lover. She explains her predicament, that she is now invisible, that all women become invisible, and that this is not a problem for men.

Although the nature of the visuals employed by Evans lends itself to be interpreted with humour, it is frequently offset by confronting images such as an amateur video of a small tornado and monologues by Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s digital replacement.

Evans’ work unabashedly reaches out and touches its audience, captivating it’s viewers with strange realities, which shine a light on our culture and civilisation in the digital age.

The future is already here, and Evans is examining what it means to distribute it.

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EVENT / ART

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GREAT! REVIEW

BIC FOR HER W / JAYDEN RATHSAM-HUA

good morning everybody I hope you are having the best day of your life. what do you call a tiny turtle? a snail. all jokes aside it’s time to get serious now okay. A lot of us have problems and above and underneath the skin and no one is perfect but it’s 2016 and it’s time to talk about a disability that has been considered tattoo for just too long. as a professional research scientist journalist I went to my favourite website: www.bing.com.au to look for answers and guess what? I found out that half of the world’s population suffers from this disorder. it’s time to raise awareness. time to make a social change as big as the french resolution. I’m feeling so angry and passionate right now just try and stop me and I swear you will die. of course by now you have probably guessed what I am talking about because there is only one thing i could possibly be talking about: girl hands.

you are trying to write an essay on the history of the world and you are gripping the pen in your girl hand but something just doesn’t feel right and you look down and before you know it your little fingers are crawling up your forearm in discomfort asking you to “please stop. please stop for the love of hesús christus” and you become so startled you fling your girl fingers across the room and they burrow into the walls and infect the school water main and your friend comes over to offer you a fresh glass of tap water and there are tiny fingers breeding with the e coli floating around and you know that everything is your fault and you just can not shake a feeling of guilt so you take a vow of silence and no one can understand you anymore because you forgot all your sign language lessons from when you lived in indonesia. i know okay.

if you are reading this review right now and have girl hands i forgive you for reading tharunka from the floor because i know you are too weak to grip the pages. don’t worry. i know how you feel.

don’t scream. there is a solution. bic by bic industries incorporated inc. have created a new product called bic for her and they are pens specifically designed for your girl hands so just relax and BREATHE. the special fashion design is scientifically proven to make girl hands stronger and more able to write legible words on the page or on the wall or on your baby’s face or on any surface okay. the pastel pink and purple colours are proven by forty seven years of research to make girls more smarter with their writing and even become almost as good as man authors like harper lee.

i know okay. every time you are walking down the street and you get caught in an updraft and your tiny girl fingers snap off your hands and fly into your delicate corneas. i know. you go bowling with your best friend and your girl fingers are just too small to grip the bowling ball and you have to use a ping pong ball instead and only get a spare. i know.

back when i was in my forties and my favourite wife was heaving my heir i remember how big a part a ‘bic for her’ would have played when my baby was björn. everyone was crying tears of joy and fear when my child poked his head out of my wife’s butt. everything was going smoothly until disaster struck like a thunderbolt. the surgeon passed a normal pen to my wife it dawned on me that she would not be able to handle the writing tool to name the child on the birth certificate. she looked at me with sad eyes filled with defeat that i will never forget. to this day my son does not have a name. to this day i wish my wife had a ‘bic for her’ so my son doesn’t need to bow his head in shame every time the teacher does not call his name at the beginning of kindergarten class every day. to this day the lack of ‘bic for her’ on my son’s birth has actually made me allergic to reading.

you are at a fun sleepover at jessica’s house and jessica’s mum brings out a bowl full of smith’s twisties by smiths chips inc. and elizabeth rose gets so excited she plunges her girl hand into the bowl because she can not simply wait for a cheesy explosion but all her fingers have come off and now you don’t know whether you are eating twisties or elizabeth rose’s fingers for the rest of the night. i know. you are meeting with a CEO with a fresh steam pressed suit with funny italian pin stripes and you go shake their hand and your girl hand is crushed into a delicate powder under their grip and you just have to play it cool and laugh about it while you are trying to discretely pick up pieces of your hand off the floor but then you remember that you don’t have any hands left so you just gently parkour away. i know.

buy bic for her for her.

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HONEY, I’M HOME! W / CHARLOTTE GOODSIR A / TALIA PARTON

When my grandmother died she left me a treasure trove of reading material. From first edition classics, to some that were supposed to resemble soft porn. However my favourite book was a “How to” guide, a pocket sized book from the 1950’s with several pictures on “How to be the perfect housewife”. Here is what I’ve learnt.

Don’t talk.

Seriously. These are the first four commandments in the book: “-Don’t bother your husband with petty troubles and complaints when he comes home from work.

- Be a good listener. Let him tell you his troubles; yours will seem trivial in comparison.

- Remember your most important job is to build up and maintain his ego (which gets bruised plenty in business). Morale is a woman’s business.

- Let him relax before dinner. Discuss family problems after the inner man has been satisfied.”

Of course, no female could have a mind of her own. Opinions? You must be joking! Silence is golden. The best girls are seen and not heard.

All helpful suggestions to keep your marriage sweet and dandy: Did Mary from across the street win best cake at the village fete? Did little Timmy try to drown a puppy? Well, harden up and drink some concrete because you can’t say anything about it.

Bad cooking will make your husband go to strip clubs If you missed the rational train of thought here, don’t worry, there is none. Literally, none.

“Bad cooking is responsible for dyspepsia, dyspepsia is responsible for grouchiness and irritability, grouchiness and irritability lead to quarrels and squabbles. And bad cooking, which is the usual thing in the average American home, has been responsible as much as any other factor for driving the husband to the saloon, and to other places. And when she does cook, she should cook, and not be, as somebody said, a mere can opener.”

Don’t be a sexual vampire or a frigid Franny.

If by now you are thinking, “Can a perfect wife even exist?” No, probably not. Here is further proof that this is an unreachable fantasy.

“Just as the vampire sucks the blood of its victims in their sleep while they are alive, so does

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the woman vampire suck the life and exhaust the vitality of her male partner—or “victim.”

It is to be borne in mind that it is particularly older girls—girls between thirty and fifty—who are apt to be unreasonable in their demands when they get married; but no age is exempt; sexual vampires may be found among girls of twenty as well as among women of sixty and over.”

Everyone else is, yup you guessed it, a “frigid Franny”. It seems that there is no acceptable way to show one’s sexuality; even now it seems farfetched to imagine a girl having sexual desires without being coined a slut or whore, or even worse, a feminist.

Pink panties Probably my favourite part of the guide was the side note of undergarments. Now, you may think that your Bonds are sufficient. I mean, if you get to the point of taking them off it doesn’t matter what colour they are; they all look the same on your bedroom floor. I was obviously wrong.

“That the underwear should be spotlessly clean goes without saying, but every woman should wear the best quality underwear that she can afford. And the colour should be preferably pink.

And lace and ruffles, I am sorry to say, add to the attractiveness of underwear, and are liked by the average man.”

I read this guide and took a trip through time. Grandma dearest passed down none of these tactics whilst she was alive, but rather taught me how to touch type, a skill for the modern woman. It was a mere 60 years ago and yet, most of this gutter trash is still seen as a rough guide for how women should act today.

Unfortunate as it is, these ideals of so-called “perfection” are so ingrained in our society that we are forced to abide by these once rules, now suggestions. Although change is happening (slowly but surely), we are a long way off equality, and there is no amount of baked dinners I, or a male counterpart can cook to solve it.

PUMPKIN SOUP W / MIKAELA LEACH

S I XTEE Y T N E N TW

A / CAM KENNEDY

The

STUDENT COOKBOOK

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1-2 onions, diced

R A D F E ROM THE H

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This is an amazing dish to eat when you’re feeling unwell. It definitely helped when I was sick while on a placement for university in Kenya. To avoid lumpy, gingerbread tasting soup, blend well and use fresh ginger.

25amMAY - pm 11

1

1 cm fresh ginger, grated 1 medium Japanese pumpkin, peeled and chopped into 1.5cm cubes IL vegetable stock 1 tbsp curry powder Salt and pepper, to taste

Method 1. Brown onion and ginger in a large pot with olive oil over medium high heat until onions are transparent.

2. Add pumpkin, vegetable stock and curry powder to the pot.

3. Add enough hot water to cover the pumpkin.

4. Cover with lid and boil until pumpkin is soft and breaks easily.

JOIN US FOR BRUNCH

5. Blend until smooth with a stick blender, food processor or potato masher.

If the soup is too runny, reduce the soup with lid off until it thickens.

6. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with fresh bread.

LAUNCH ROUNDHOUSE

FREE FOOD arc.unsw.edu.au/read

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ENVIRO

Hey there UNSW, hope you’re doing well.

It’s been a busy few weeks for the Environment Collective and Fossil Free UNSW. I expect that most (if not all) of you may have heard about the peaceful demonstration staged by Fossil Free UNSW at the beginning of Week 7 on account of an email that was sent to all students of UNSW by the Vice- Chancellor Ian Jacobs.

On Monday, 18th April, 11 students of UNSW started an occupation of the council chambers as part of a nation-wide Flood the Campus campaign. Fossil Free UNSW feels as if students were not being heard on the issue of divestment and are worried that the climate change that is being brought about by our university’s continued investment in Fossil Fuels is flooding our future and polluting our education. We have been continually ignored by the UNSW council and Vice-Chancellor for more than three years when it came to organising a meeting to air our concerns, so Fossil Free UNSW joined with Fossil Free groups Melbourne Uni, Queensland Uni, Queensland University of Technology and others to put divestment at the front of our university’s minds.

INTERNATIONAL

This isn’t the end of the line for the Fossil Free UNSW campaign- we’ll be continuing to encourage the university towards a meaningful dialogue with students and staff regarding divestment.

A public response to the Vice Chancellor’s email to the university regarding our protest can be found on the Fossil Free UNSW Facebook page.

If you have any questions or queries relating to the Environment Collective or our Fossil Free UNSW protest, please don’t hesitate to contact me on e.donaldson@arc.unsw.edu.au.

Alternatively, pop into our meeting at the Arc offices on Thursdays at 12pm – we’d love to see you.

Cheers, Emma

Travel Concession Campaign The campaign for travel concession cards for all students is getting bigger every day. We have around 2000 signatures and more students and organisations are increasingly endorsing it. A forum in conjunction with NUS, Usyd and UTS was held on 13 April to encourage university officials and political leaders to officially endorse this campaign.

The international Student Mental Health Program The International Student Mental Health Partnership Program has been created with assistance from Michael Murdocca, SRC Welfare Officer, in order to improve contact with international students regarding any concerns they have and to provide access to resources and services. This program aims to ensure that we all recognise this and work together to create a positive experience.

“Respect” Campaign The university is launching a major national campaign “Respect” to highlight the determination of Australia’s universities in ensuring that our students and staff are safe from sexual assault and harassment. This campaign aims to ensure that there are clear and effective pathways of support in place, for students and staff who disclose or report.

The campaign coincides with the release of the US film ‘The Hunting Ground’ in Australia.

A special student screening of ‘The Hunting Ground’ is being screened at UNSW on 2 May.

During our week long campaign, Fossil Free UNSW reached over 60 000 people on social media and spoke to hundreds of students and staff on campus about UNSW’s investment in the fossil fuels industry. We communicated with national media and held an amazing snap rally to show solidarity to the students who were occupying the council chambers. We had lot of fun too when we realised that UNSW is ‘in love’ with coal, oil and gas companies- and held a mock wedding (gown included).

Come and join our activities or you can send your ideas to improve quality of international students’ lives at international@ arc.unsw.edu.au.

/ 36 / SRC REPORTS

INDIGENOUS

Diversity Toolkit Banner Drop and Speak out The UNSW Indigenous Collective held a banner drop and speak out which was successful with between 60-100 people come through throughout the day. There was support from Nura Gili Staff and students, as well as non-Indigenous students. Speakers included myself, Warren Roberts, Uncle Graham Mooney and Dominic Wy Kanak. Media who contacted me were 2GB, nine news and Koori Radio, as well as a UTS media student interview. There was a BBQ from 10 am, the banner dropped at 12 p.m. and remained there throughout the speakout and lasted about an hour before being asked to be taken down by security. Thank you to Ed who did a lot of organising and running around for me in regards to booking and the marquee.

Thank you to all SRC members who came and supported in solidarity. A special thank you to the Indigenous collective members who helped make the banner.

WELFARE

• Project Country Seed Summit 2016 is coming up from the 29th April – 2nd May. It would be great to see a contingent from UNSW attend.

• Start promoting writing for the Indigenous edition of Tharunka in Semester 2 NITESG Support The Indigenous Society also supports the committee and Indigenous students who are currently fundraising for the NITES Games in Brisbane in June 2016. Trivia Night is being held 13th May at the roundhouse and a movie night will be held in conjunction with the Ritz Cinema Randwick on the 19th May. Collective meeting times semester 1: Tuesdays 5PM - Nura Gili

The Welfare Collective has committed itself to various initiatives during the past month and we are always eager to have more people get involved in the things that we do! We ran University Mental Health Day during April which was a success. We organised a run in the morning to promote healthy exercise habits. It was great to collaborate with Student Minds to promote the day and they did a great job with their Untold Stories and exercise events during the afternoon. I enjoyed providing a special free breakfast with smiley faces and happy notes.

Moreover, we also organised a colouring in session and talked about various initiatives and issues with the students who attended our 12pm meeting. This was a great day and I particularly enjoy taking a strong stance in favour of working towards a university which protects the interests of the mental health of students- we published a video on it as well!

Speaking of mental health, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Headspace Bondi over the past month. We ran a Headspace mental health event which had adequate attendance. We heard an inspirational speech from a UNSW student and Headspace took the time to distribute resources and speak about their various policies and initiatives.

We later held post-event food and drinks in the Whitehouse which was fun! I was also honoured to launch the International Student Mental Health program with Emma Purintanawut. This is a great program which targets international students and encourages partnerships between them to promote collegiality within the university.

The next month: • Yarn and Eat night in partnership with YARN Australia – Topic ‘The importance of Culture and Language’. This is nonautonomous event and will be promoted throughout the faculties.

• Hayley Barrington (Women’s Officer) to work with Joycelyn on a Women’s event • Indigenous contribution to the next edition of UnSweetened • Collective outing to Bangarra in June at the community price offer

I have also been working out a budget for Welfare Packs and look forward to these being launched soon. We aim to divide them into Emergency Care Packs, Emergency Food Packs and Basic Stationery Packs. / 37 / SRC REPORTS

NOWSA 2016 NETWORK OF WOMEN STUDENTS AUSTRALIA

11-16 JULY, 2016 MEET OTHER FEMINIST STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER AUSTRALIA. GUEST SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS, TALKS, WORKSHOPS, DISCUSSION GROUPS, AND FUN SOCIAL EVENTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION, GO TO: WWW.NOWSA2016.COM

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IMPORTANT DATES: END OF SEMESTER ONE

JUNE 3RD

EXAMINATIONS BEGIN

JUNE 6TH

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY (PUBLIC HOLIDAY)

JUNE 13TH

SEMESTER 2 O-WEEK

JULY 20TH-22ND

SEMESTER 2 BEGINS

JULY 25TH