Issue 90.2

MAR 202 2 90. 2

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contents Editorial..............................................................................................7 Editors’ Song Picks of the Month.......................................................8 State of the Union...............................................................................9 SRC President’s Report......................................................................10 Vox? Pop!...........................................................................................12 Left Right Centre...............................................................................14 Econ-Dit.............................................................................................16 Disabili-Dit.........................................................................................18 Sustainabili-Dit..................................................................................20 Systematic Review..............................................................................22 Club Spotlight....................................................................................24 Articles and Creative Writing Crash Course on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine.....................................26 Why federal polling will actually predict the election outcome in 2022...................................................................................................30 The Virgin Suicides Book Review..........................................................32 Why Don Dunstan Needs a Statue........................................................34 Sickened by the System.........................................................................37 Grace Tame is the symbol of Australian women’s collective conscious...............................................................................38 Gal Gadot is No Wonder Woman...........................................................40 What Netflix’s Squid Game taught me about my anxiety and perfectionism.........................................................................................42 The Tate Museum...................................................................................44 Slash and Hack: A Hack’s Look at the Politics of the Horror Genre....48 5 Reasons why I want to be best friends with Grace Tame...................50 Student Wellbeing: What Messes With Your Head?..............................53

Editors Grace Atta Habibah Jaghoori Chanel Trezise Jenny Surim Jung Cover Art Jenny Surim Jung ‘Norman’ Design Jenny Surim Jung

credits

Sub-editors & Contributors (in order of appearance) Grace Harkins Chidiuso Ajaero Alexandra Sudlow-Haylett Shona Edwards Maxim Buckley Flynn Wedd Louise Jackson Sebastian Andrew Sienna Sulicich Francesco Dizazzo Ruby Lehmann Tayla McKay Caitlin Battye Leah Braham

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kaurna people and their elders past, present and future as the traditional custodians of the land on which the University of Adelaide stands. We acknowledge that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Kaurna people today.

EDI T

ORIAL

Dear Reader,

From my teenage years through to young adulthood, I have never ceased to be reminded of the bitter reality that women are held to a standard completely removed from the average man. For a man, doing the bare minimum will earn them recognition and legitimacy. But for a woman to be taken seriously – well – being good simply isn’t good enough; We must be exceptional.

Publishing Issue 1, the public’s reception of our leadership, and our apparent perceived competency, has drilled into my very bones this unfair reality that I – along with half of the world’s population – must face for the rest of my life.

‘Don’t Yous [sic] think you should have at least 1 male editor to balance it out a bit?’

I guess we’re meant to say sorry: Sorry for neglecting to consider ‘male viewpoints.’ Sorry for being such a biased team that people apparently can’t take seriously because we don’t have a man in our team to ‘balance it out’ - ‘it’ being our sloshing mess of emotions and period blood I guess?

My question, though, is would these people even think to question our team’s legitimacy if the team had been all male rather than all females? My hypothesis: No. Because the people who try to delegitimise our experience, talent and reliability as female editors are probably the same group of people who wouldn’t bat an eye at a parliament full of senile white men. So, Reader – would the argument that people cannot take our team seriously even arise if we were all men? Would you better trust us to run this magazine if we had penises instead?

All four of us rightfully earned our position – through experience, talent, demonstrable qualities of leadership, and true passion for journalism and culture. We are here, bringing you Volume 90 of On Dit because past editors trusted us to uphold the publication’s significance to the campus. Further, you – the student body – voted for us.

On Dit has always been a platform for diverse opinions and perspectives. The fact that us editors all come from female experiences does not mean that we will only publish articles that favour these perspectives. For those sexist critics who weren’t even bothered to pick up our first issue – it’s blindingly obvious that we’ve had as many contributors of male experiences as female.

You want a media outlet that gives men a voice? Turn on your TV. Pick up your local newspaper. Read a history book. But if you want a publication that uplifts diversity and challenges bigotry? Pick up On Dit. Because the patriarchy has controlled the story for too long. Now if you still have a problem with On Dit being run by four women, I recommend that you kiss my tight little ass.

Oh also - I changed the font for this issue, and the turtle’s name is Norman. Happy reading.

Love, Jenny.

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GRACE’S PICK: Florence + The Machine The King “Poetic. Powerful. It’s the first song I put on every morning since I found it a week ago.”

JENNY’S PICK: Grouper Water People “I could not have finished this Issue without Grouper’s music, so I recommend this song to anyone having trouble focusing. Like the title suggests, there is a fluidity and ambivalence to the melody, and her introspective vocals are its perfect fit”

HABIBAH’S PICK: Jhene Aiko Magic Hour “It’s a wholesome message of hope and love. It makes me feel happy. ”

CHANEL’S PICK: The Front Bottoms Twin Sized Mattress “I love this song so much. While the song has darker undertones of addiction in its lyrics, the general tone of the music, bass and melody feels uplifting. I find myself dancing a lot to this song.

I feel like Twin Sized Mattress commemorates this period of my life as the complexity of emotions it conveys matches that of what I often feel.”

editors’ picks

music recommendations

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STATE OF THE UNION I am really excited to see the large number of students coming into our lovely campus and I had the pleasure of speaking to a lot of you throughout O’Week. I hope I will be able to see more of you throughout the year!

Oscar Zi Shao Ong oscarzishao.ong@adelaide.edu.au AUU President Facebook/WeChat ID: oscarong1997

I would like to start the year by introducing one of my favourite services that we provide - clubs! We have over 150+ clubs, from cultural and languages to faculty, there is something for everyone!

Being an international student in my first year was really scary, having to move to a new country and not knowing anyone. I then found my home away from home - the Malaysian Students Association! I joined the club during O’Week and attended their first Welcome Night and eventually became a committee member which helped me build up a range of leadership skills. Joining the club was also a way for me to get access to Malaysian food! Our clubs are about bringing students of similar interests together, helping you to make new friends, and importantly, building a key support network when you feel down!

Our clubs are really inclusive, for instance, you don’t have to study engineering to join the Adelaide University Engineering Students Society! Also, importantly, if the club you are looking for does not exist, you can always start one yourself!

You will also have seen the recent announcement regarding teaching arrangements. The return of face-to-face (f2f) teaching has been one of my main advocacy goals. It is known that f2f learning is preferred by students due to a range of reasons, including ability to engage with the lecturer and peers, and better concentration. I am glad the university has heard me on the issue which resulted in a staged f2f return, noting there is a need for continuing flexibility for our international students that are still stranded offshore. I understand the return to campus will continue to be disruptive for our international students due to the struggles of adapting to the university and overseas life. This is why I worked with the university to ensure international students are well supported through a half a million dollar funded, all semester round, welcoming experience, and also entitlement to assessments extensions under the MACA policy.

As you settle down and familiarise yourself with MyUni, I highly recommend you complete the Consent Matters course as well- an important educational module on sexual consent.

Questions/suggestions about the AUU/university? You are always welcome to email me or send me a message through social media!

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‘IF YOU THINK OUR UNIONS SHOULD BE LEFTWING, ANTI-FASCIST, AND FIGHT EDUCATION CUTS, YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE FUNDING SUSPENSION” Words by Ana Obradovic, SRC President

src

president's

report 10

What’s the SRC? The SRC is a political body for students to organise and fight for their interests.

It funds activism and debates positions to take on politics that affect us on and off campus. It is the constitutionally political wing of the Adelaide Uni union, while the Adelaide Uni Union is officially an apolitical service provider.

Student unions like the SRC play an important role in building and cohering political campaigns. We meet every fortnight of the semester. You can find a schedule of our meetings and agendas on our Facebook page.

What’s happened to the SRC? Funding has been indefinitely suspended for the left-wing SRC by the rightcontrolled Adelaide Uni Union board.

This means all financial resources for the council to carry out and support progressive campaigns have been stripped.

Why you should care These moves are an attack on democracy.

The vetoing of SRC funds undermines the ability of democratically elected student unionists to fight for student rights.

Last year, your SRC was elected to fight management’s faculty mergers and mass staff cuts, as well as build campaigns for fossil fuel and weapons divestment on campus. The Young Liberal coalition in the AUU are tying student hands behind their backs. They are conservatives who

support the way the university functions.

The funding cuts have prohibited payment for SRC anti-fascist stickers printed to counter far-right propaganda stickers which have been appearing on the campus, as well as the anti-education cuts SRC publication, Counterguide.

If you think our unions should be leftwing, anti-fascist, and fight education cuts, you should care about the funding suspension.

Why you need to join the Student General Meeting, March 24th A Student General Meeting (SGM) is the highest form of direct democracy on campus. Students get to speak and vote on motions about how the university and their unions are run.

SGMs have been used to organise against the Vietnam War, to protest the Australian tour of the then apartheid South African rugby team, and to build a united front against education cuts.

They’re a rare event on campus, which makes them a powerful expression of mass, united protest.

For the SGM to be considered official and binding on the SRC, we need at least 150 students to attend. We need every student to make a commitment to be there, 12pm, March 24, Barr Smith Lawns.

Be there to fight for democracy, and for the future of your education.

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1. HANDWRITTEN NOTES VS TYPED NOTES? WHY? 2. WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO STUDY ON CAMPUS?

? ?

X X O V VO Tatiana Pavlic

3rd year | Law/Int. Development

Sienna Sulicich

3rd Year | English Major 1. I usually hand write notes on my Ipad, best of both worlds!

2. Under Flentji Lecture theatre for sure, it’s too pretty down there.

3. O’Week is just a great chance to meet people, especially for rural and international students who are new in town.

4. Probably something stupid like ‘Walking Contradiction’ or ‘Chronically Indifferent’, I have to warn people about what they’re getting themselves into.

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1. I did handwrite notes for lectures and readings for the first two years, but it got too difficult compiling everything for exam time, so I’ll try typing my notes this year and see how that goes.

2. My favourite place to study on campus is the lower level of the hub, there are little booths and it’s always quiet, making it easier to focus and study.

3. It’s been a while since my O’Week, but my favourite part was the little info sessions that were held for my courses, as it gave me an opportunity to meet new people that were in the same classes as me.

4. Never thought about an autobiography or biography name…if I ever had one I’d probably get someone else to come up with a name for me.

P PO OP P!!

Cecilia Tran-Pham

5th year | Law/Environmental Policy and Management 1. It depends on my mood - handwriting if I really can be bothered (more for seminars), and typing pretty much every other time.

2. <3 Barr Smith Library, by the window <3 Romanticising my stress <3 3. My favourite part? Being next to you guys (#spon #studentradio2022) 4. “I’m smart but I’m stupid, I’m gay but I’m straight, I crop dust in Whole Foods, baby”: Why I had to stop using Tiktok

3. THE BEST PART OF O-WEEK 2022 (OR ANY YEAR)?

4. WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY/BIOGRAPHY?

Annika Stewart

3rd year | Psychological Science 1. Look, I’m sure written notes are better for “learning” and “absorbing information” or whatever but it takes me twice as long to write notes and I don’t have time for that.

2. I love to sit outside if it’s nice, and UniBar has good vibes in the morning when it’s not too busy! Still not as good as the old UniBar though, or so I’m told.

3. Free food and free random stuff. I was devastated to find out that the people giving out free pads and tampons weren’t there this year.

4. A collection of genuine, yet terrible advice 13

LRC 90.2

1. What role (if any) should Australia have in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine? Ideally, how should tensions between the two countries be handled?

2. With accusations being thrown around of a Manchurian Candidate, debate has ensued around Australia’s relationship with China. How should a future government manage this relationship?

3. 2021 Australian of the year Grace Tame has recently made headlines, sparking much debate on her mannerisms with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Is Grace Tame in the wrong here or should Australians support her?

Greens Club 1. Australia, as a responsible member of the international community, should always be using it’s diplomatic weight and influence to encourage the peaceful de-escalation of conflict. Military aggression from Russia should be condemned through the diplomatic channels available to Australia, and the support to encourage a peaceful resolution in Donbas should be willing and forthcoming from all countries. Ideally the tensions between Ukraine and Russia should be handled peacefully, though this can only be pursued if both parties can commit to deescalation and the cessation of military aggression, and that third parties can allow this to occur without intervening for their own interests. Australia should always be advocating against military aggression, wherever it may be.

2. First and foremost, accusations of parliamentarians being Manchurian Candidates is completely irresponsible. It only serves to harm our relationship with countries like China and obfuscate real concerns of international influence on our domestic politics. Australia should be pursuing a mutually beneficial relationship with our largest trading partner instead of the Coalition government’s approach of alarmist rhetoric to win elections. Australia should be attempting to build a productive dialogue that makes diplomatic sense, and not jeopardise our international relationships for domestic approval ratings.

3. We believe that what is far more wrong than any behaviour Grace Tame displayed with Scott Morrison is the fixation of the media on a woman’s mannerisms. I have heard far more from the media about whether Grace Tame smiled at a camera or not than about any of the important work she has done to campaign against the sexual abuse of children. A large amount of the commentary against Grace is nothing more than petty attacks to discredit the work and impact of her advocacy and trying to distract from her attempts to tackle real issues. Grace Tame is an example of how our society will utilise classic sexism to uphold the current system and undermine attempts to disrupt it.

Socialist Alternative 1. Australia should have no involvement. As socialists we oppose all militarism and imperialist aggression. We condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as further escalation by other imperialist forces such as NATO or the United States. In every war fought, the ones who suffer the most are the working class and poor. Hundreds have been injured or killed, with thousands of refugees already pouring across the border. The economic fallout from war and sanctions will fall hardest on ordinary people. Rising energy and grain prices will further push up costs of living for the poorest in the region. We call for a deescalation of the conflict and demilitarisation of the region. This must involve the recognition by the Ukrainian government of the civil rights of national and ethnic minorities within Ukraine, alongside a recognition by the Russian government of the rights of the People of Ukraine to democratically decide their own future free 14

of Russian military aggression. Neither of these things will happen outside of a working class movement to demand both. We stand in solidarity with the protest movements in Russia and Ukraine demanding ‘No War’.

2. The accusations by the Liberal Party that their political opponents are “foreign agents” and “Manchurian Candidates” is a highly anti-democratic argument. However, the Labor Party’s response, to insist that they agree with every foreign policy decision of the government shows how united all members of the political class are in their support for Australian Imperialism.

Australia is a bully in the South Pacific, and is just concerned about another bully cutting in on its turf.

3. Grace Tame does not owe anyone anything. We celebrate political women rejecting sexist norms of behaviour. We’re also impressed by her ability to not vomit in the Prime Minister’s presence.

Labor Club 1. With a greying population and shrinking international market for oil, Russia’s interests are well served by swallowing up Baltic states. After Georgia and Crimea, the Russian incursion has finally arrived at Ukraine’s doorstep. The question is, in what capacity should Australia support Ukraine? Multilateral sanctions are a good start, but the power of IGOs is limited.

Speaking to interventionists, I raise concerns about blindly following the United States on another “democratisation” rampage. Russia has threatened nuclear retaliation, which is not a situation we can afford to enter guns blazing. On the other hand, I feel the terror of the Ukrainian people for whom the Russian M.O. (swift takeover followed by installing a proxy government) would force them from their homes and inflate the already cataclysmic refugee crisis.

2. It speaks volumes about Australian politics that halfbaked criticism about Chinese corrupting influences draws rare bipartisan support. The accusations’ timing suits Morrison politically, especially when he starts reheating 50s Red Scare rhetoric, responsible for the mass-surveillance of students, leftists, and Australians of colour. We need to stop misinterpreting an intolerance for anti-Asian hate as loyalty to the CCP and shine a light on the real issues: endemic child labor, ethnic cleansing, industrial-scale pollution, and South China Sea expansionism. Hopefully new ambassador Xiao Qian is receptive to change and can indeed ‘meet us halfway’.

3. Waking up to see the headlines about Tame was extremely disorientating. Had I been transported back to an archaic society where women are expected to curtsy and brown-nose the cruel, indifferent men complicit in the institutionalised abuse they suffered? I am disgusted by this purported “social discourse”. Tame, after offering up her trauma for public perusal, demonstrated incredible bravery in the face of character assassination from the same politicians who feel entitled to be rude.

Liberal Club

The Liberal Club failed to provide a response.

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econ-dit

No Immunity for China’s Olympic Economic Boost WORDS BY GRACE HARKINS Despite Beijing’s resolution of maintaining a zero-COVID tolerance plan, around 96 cases in the city have been uncovered since mid-January and at least 200 cases inside the Olympic bubble since its opening.

The reality of a covid bubble is that the Beijing Olympics could cost China $38.5 billion, which is 10 times higher than the initial estimate of $3.9 billion. Dozens of expenses were classified as “capital improvements” rather than official Olympic costs, namely the $9.22 billion cost of the high-speed rail line built in 2015 to connect Beijing to Zhangjiakou, the co-hosting city. The cost of safety measures for the strict covid bubble as well as environmental costs, were not part of initial estimate. Extra government expenses were put into a strict testing regimen for athletes and games personnel as they were to undertake daily mandatory PCR tests. From the last week of January to the first week of February, at least half a million swabs have been taken inside the bubble.

To improve air quality in the city, China shut down various industrial plants to reduce pollution and increase the amount of clear air days.

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Output of industries like steel, coal mining and aluminium have been curbed to achieve clear skies over the capital during the games. Air quality targets were put in place with targeted levels of PM2.5 particles in the air. This came after the annual winter campaign was extended to improve air quality to over 60 cities this year from the previous 28 cities by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

China implemented strict restrictions to prevent derailing the Olympics, however in doing so China has sacrificed consumption and tourism, both of which are fundamental factors in the model of the game’s economic benefits.

While China projected a ticket revenue of $118 million, this presently does not seem possible. With no tickets available to international travellers or Beijing’s local population, it is unlikely they will even see a fraction of this figure. Instead, the Organisers of the Winter Olympics have announced only ‘selected’ spectators will be permitted at the event. The organising committee of the games also released a statement which justified the measures were to

“create a pleasant environment for the holding of the Games.”

China’s economic drag can be highlighted by its first interest rate drop in nearly two years. The ten basis point reduction in the one year loan rates shows the downward trend in a region where increases have been gaining traction. The property downturn, power shortages and lockdowns are clear indications that China is experiencing a slump in growth. Further, GDP rose by only 4 percent in the first quarter which is the slowest the country has seen in 18 months.

Despite the current negative impacts, it is likely only temporary and won’t cause significant damage to China’s growth in the long term. The positive impacts of the Winter Olympic Games may not be seen until later, as China involves 300 million Chinese residents in skiing, hockey and other cold-weather pastimes, transforming winter sports into a 5 trillion yuan ($786 billion) industry by 2025.

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sustain abili-dit Words by Chidiuso Ajaero

You probably know to avoid single-use plastics. You almost certainly have learnt about the different functions of recycle bins, compost bins and waste bins. And you may even be vegan.

But to what extent do these choices truly matter?

We always hear about how we ought to do the right thing. We have been told that when each person decides to live sustainably, these actions have a cumulative effect and go towards saving the planet. Who doesn’t want to save the planet? Well, the issue is that what we do may not truly matter in the grand schemes of things. There was an interesting statistic I saw: a group of 100 companies were responsible for 71% of global emissions from 1988 to 2019. This is probably the most glaring one, but it makes sense when you consider that ‘individuals are statistically blameless’ when it comes to climate change.

This is not to say that individual choices are meaningless. After all, the preferences of consumers are a key driving factor in the decisions of corporations. But while avoiding single-use plastics and disposing of waste properly are all good things, they alone will not save the planet without changes at the policymaking level.

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Another point to consider is that many choices that we think are sustainable may not be very sustainable at all—most notably, perhaps, veganism.

Veganism is probably one of the first lifestyle choices that comes to mind when one first hears the word “sustainability”.

The impact of veganism on the environment is widely considered to be positive. A landmark study published in 2020 found that adopting a vegan lifestyle could reduce a person’s carbon footprint by 73%, and that, if everybody became vegan, then global usage of farmland could reduce by 75%; equivalent to the size of Australia, China, the European Union and the United States of America combined. Indeed, the main author of the study, Joseph Poore, stated, ‘A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth…’ There is substantial evidence to support the notion that veganism is the environmentally conscious course of action. For instance, another study found that simply halving consumption of meat can reduce emissions by up to 30% for one individual.

The main issue with veganism, however, may not lie in itself but rather in what people hope it will achieve. The truth is that there are varying scientific

Do Our Actions Truly Matter? conclusions to whether or not veganism is beneficial to the environment. One modelling study found that veganism would only reduce emissions by 3% per person—certainly not a very promising figure. Without a doubt, the global production of meat is a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for 14.5 % of the world’s emissions.

However, simply switching to a vegan lifestyle will, let us be realistic, not solve all of the environmental issues we have. In fact, veganism may present some problems of its own, with many beloved vegan staples being linked to negative environmental outcomes.

While acknowledging that ‘nothing really compares to beef, lamb, pork, and dairy – these products are in a league of their own in the level of damage they typically do to the environment, on almost every environmental issue we track’, Joseph Poore also discussed the need to be mindful of all consumption, including fruit and vegetables, noting that when these are transported by air they can contribute to more emissions per kilogram than poultry meat. Many fruits and vegetables are imported, particularly when they would naturally be out of season. This importation does lead to many emissions which are also compounded by artificial fertilisers and common agricultural practices. I will spare you for now from reading about the horrors caused by mushrooms, avocados and almonds, but the library and the internet are always there if you are brave enough to look.

environment. The first is that we do our best with the means and information we have to minimise any negative impacts on the planet. The second, and the most important, is our advocacy as citizens who can affect positive change through the pressure we put on governments and big corporations.

And perhaps I am biased, but joining the Adelaide Sustainability Association is a positive step in the right direction.

References: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/ health-and-families/veganism-environmentalimpact-planet-reduced-plant-based-diethumans-study-a8378631.html https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ article/abs/pii/S0306919217303627?casa_ token=ONiqgubFjzAAAAAA:-38kXhvVd1dPD zIIWImfGPIaOFGvp4AtUXcH2mDFBis7kcgF9 WsE0518AyLKRtiU7aHLMUYWQU https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/5/ e001072.short https://www.fao.org/news/story/en/ item/197623/icode/ https://theconversation.com/climate-changefocusing-on-how-individuals-can-help-is-veryconvenient-for-corporations-108546

So, what does this mean for us?

Ultimately, as individuals we have two primary responsibilities in relation to the

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disabilidit

Words by Alexandra SudlowHaylett and Shona Edwards

Have you ever had to leave in the middle of class when you didn’t want to? Maybe you were overwhelmed or felt a panic attack coming on. Maybe class was traumatic that day. Maybe you were experiencing pain, fatigue, or sensory overwhelm. Maybe you just needed to administer your medication.

Where do you go when you have a crisis or disruption on campus?

At the University of Adelaide, disabled and ill students are often disrupted like this. We currently rely on the goodwill of other equity groups to provide us with a quiet space to rest and recover on campus. These spaces might include the Women’s Room, the Rainbow Room, or the Mature Age Students Lounge. However, these spaces are not designed to cater for the needs of disabled and ill students.

When you don’t know those spaces exist or aren’t in a demographic that can use them, what do you do?

One student reported to us that they regularly lie on the floor of a classroom when they could not find a suitable place to rest. Whisper networks among disabled students pass on information about spots that are ok to rest in, rooms where the floors aren’t too dirty, worn-out 20

couches that are hidden away in some less used hallway. There is no privacy in these spaces, and they aren’t quiet.

When there is no space for students to recover, often their only option is to leave the campus and go home.

By forcing themselves to “tough it out”, these students are at risk of stigmatisation by peers and staff who may not know how to help. Further, this also excludes disabled and ill students from participation in extracurricular activities which happen outside of class hours and often require students to be on campus for longer lengths of time.

So what makes a room an Access Room? Imagine day beds and comfortable chairs for resting, a kitchenette for food, a screened area for administering medication, and dimmable lights and soundproofing for sensory overwhelm. These are only some of the features of Access Rooms in universities across Australia.

Access Rooms have already proven effective. In fact, the University of Adelaide is now the only major South Australian university without a comparable space. At UniSA, MultiAccess Suites are available at all campus libraries and serve both staff

and students. At Flinders University, the Disability Space is located on level 1 of the library and is primarily designed for student use. In these cases, the accessibility, centrality, and proximity to services provided by university libraries suggest they are uniquely suitable for spaces of this nature.

By providing a permanent Access Room for students and staff, the University can boost retention rates of the rapidly growing disabled and chronically ill student community and therefore remain competitive among other SA universities, while proving their commitment to a culture of inclusivity.

That is why we at the Disability Illness and Divergence Association (DIDA) are calling for the University to listen to our needs and take urgent action.

We are calling for a space on the North Terrace campus to be designated for use by disabled and ill students, one that is wheelchair accessible, central, and designed in consultation with students. A space that thus meets the standards defined by the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET).

If you think an Access Room would help you, please complete our survey collecting student testimonials here: https://forms. gle/Ftrde1LNNwypGMPHA Or follow this QR Code:

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Shona Edwards

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

WORDS BY MAXIM BUCKLEY Growing up I loved to read. Some nights, much to the dismay of my mum, I would stay up reading underneath the covers of my bed until eventually she found out what I was doing or I fell asleep. One of my favourites was a collection of Greek myths. It had everything: stories of epic proportion like Hercules and his twelve labours; cautionary tales such as the man who was turned into a stag for seeing Artemis bathing; and simple stories like Athena giving the people of Athens an olive tree. This book, whilst childish in retrospect, had such a stranglehold on me that I read it over and over again. Never did it once occur to me that I could continue to read myths and poems like these whilst at university.

My guest this time is Shona Edwards, and while she typically spends her time in Napier, today we are meeting over Zoom thanks to the big C. Shona completed her Bachelor of Arts Advanced majoring in English and Classics while dabbling heavily in history.

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“So I went to uni and thought I’ll just get a degree, so I’ll do English or something. I did Classics as an elective and I just fell in love.

It’s history, it’s language, it’s literature, it’s a little sociology, a little archaeology, a little anthropology, and then just whatever you understand about culture”. When it came time to choose an honours topic, Shona decided to focus on the poet Ovid, specifically one poem.

Heroides is a collection of fifteen poems by Ovid. “The first poem is from the perspective of Penelope speaking to her husband Ulysses.

Ulysses is the Roman name for Odysseus, so it borrows heavily from Homer’s Odyssey” “Ovid is an early Imperial Latin love poet and so his poems are influenced by a number of predecessors, so I looked at how Ovid took elements from other poets and poems and put them in his own”. Unfortunately, since I’m from the unwashed masses of science, poems aren’t exactly my forte and so I had to ask

some stupid questions.

“No, so it’s a bit longer than Rupi Kaur. The poem I focused on was around 114 lines in Latin, but it still took me a while to translate”.

“When you translate, you bring your own culture to it. As a woman I’m very biased when translating female characters. You bring your own nuance with word choice; you may bring a sense of violence where another person could possibly bring something completely different”.

Shona says that she’s still learning to be a better translator and that it’s just something that comes with practice. It was interesting for me to find out the tools of another researcher whose work feels so far removed from my own. What it really drove home for me is that university, first and foremost teaches different flavours of critical thinking.

Shona is also heavily involved with advocacy work. Herself and some like minded students started the Disability, Illness and Divergence Association (DIDA for short), providing an essential network for divergent students on campus. “One of my biggest challenges was having to take time off uni for healthrelated reasons. When I returned, I suddenly found myself having to apply for disability accommodations. It felt like I was learning an entirely new skill set” “You also find yourself having to reintegrate into your cohort, which can be weird and isolating”. Shona finds that her personal life sometimes bleeds into her academic life. Since her diagnosis with cancer, Shona has found herself working as a cancer and disability advocate within her discipline. “There’s actually a group of us doing a panel at the next national archaeology conference about disability in the ancient world. We’re able to provide that insight because we’ve lived that experience first-hand”. Shona sometimes feels as though she’s become the problem she has.

“You don’t want to be seen as a problem, but you also can’t not speak up anymore.

There’s a bit of a balance between trying to be a typical academic but also advocating for people in your field like myself”.

What I found most interesting chatting to Shona was that humans often think that they are very special, and their stories are unique.

However, frequently these stories are repeats of other stories. “So, Greeks and Romans inherited some stuff from the Near East, so there are tropes that extend all the way through mythology” “The Western canon is so upheld by our civilization, but more often than not we find that these stories aren’t so unique to Western civilizations”. The idea of there being root stories interested me thoroughly, it’s very similar to an evolutionary tree. There are certain characteristics that come up again and again because they just make for good storytelling, like how eyes and wings evolved many times through different evolutionary pathways simply because eyes and wings are good traits to have.

While chatting with Shona, it was impossible to not pay mention to the myriad of contemporary retellings of classic tales such as the Percy Jackson series, novels by Natalie Haynes, and of course Troy, a loose 2004 film adaptation of The Iliad. “There’s a real boom happening now with novels adapting myth such as Natalie Haynes and Madeline Miller” “I really want us to go back to stories like Gladiator and Troy because I really enjoyed them, and I feel like we’re a bit more critical now than we were in the 2000s”.

I asked Shona who’s story she would like to see a film adaptation of next and she instantly said Diomedes “Achilles is too violent, but I guess it’s difficult for him not to be. Odysseus is very sneaky. Diomedes is just a good guy, so I’d really like to see a HBO series on him.

I also want novel versions of The Aeneid, I want justice for my girl Dido, I think it could be a great romantic tragedy”.

Shona is currently completing her Master of Philosophy and hopes to upgrade her tenure to complete a PhD. She’d like to continue her work in Classics and hopes one day to teach at a university like Adelaide.

If you’re keen on having your research featured please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email at maxim.buckley@adelaide.edu.au 23

CLUB SPOTLIGHT CLUB SPOTLIGHT

ANSWERS BY FLYNN WEDD | PRESIDENT, ACYA ADELAIDE CHAPTER HOW DID THIS CLUB COME TO BE? ACYA was founded in 2008 by three Australian university students in Beijing.

Since its inception, ACYA has grown into a vibrant community of its own, with chapters across Australia and Greater China. We are a nonpolitical organisation that is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive community for young people interested in the Australia-China space, and we seek to highlight youth voices through its various initiatives and publications.

Through its ever-growing membership base, ACYA seeks to promote bilateral relations at both a grassroots and public advocacy level, and support the wellbeing and development of students and young professionals in both Australia and China.

WHY SHOULD STUDENTS JOIN THE CLUB? In light of the return of international students on campus in 2022, there has never been a better time to get involved. We expect this year to be one of our biggest in terms of membership and student engagement.

Naturally, you can expect to see many events throughout the year, and even more perks and discounts with partnered businesses!

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WHO SHOULD JOIN? One of the biggest misconceptions about our club is that you must be a Chinese or Australian national to join – this is categorically untrue.

We encourage all people interested in the Australia-China relationship to join the club and get involved (you don’t even have to be a registered student at the university!). Whether you wish to join because Chinese culture and society has always fascinated you, or even if you just want the opportunity to just make some new friends – we are the club for you!

Australia-China Youth Association Australia-China Youth Association WHAT EVENTS DO YOU HOST?

To cater to the broad range of interests that may draw individuals toward the Australia-China space, our club organises a wide variety of events categorised according to three key themes – culture, education, and careers. Cultural events can include quiz nights, cross-cultural workshops, and other social activities. Our education events aim to provide nuanced insight into the bilateral relationship, and our career events introduce students to graduate opportunities in the Australia-China space.

We currently have an upcoming event planned in collaboration with the Bright Futures Society and Adelaide University Malaysian Students’ Association.

Attendees at the event ‘Connect, Work, Live in Australia’ can expect to hear from a distinguished panel of experts and network with industry professionals! The event is designed to provide insights into the Australian job market in the post-covid landscape. The event will be particularly valuable for international students who wish to work on their professional skills. For more

A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE YOU’VE GAINED FROM ACYA? In the short time that I have been involved in the ACYA, I have been afforded many great extra-curricular and professional opportunities. However, the best part of being involved in the ACYA is the people. Connecting with young people with similar interests is rewarding and guarantees lasting connections that can endure beyond university!.

HOW DO I JOIN? It’s easy! Simply send us a message on one of our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, or Email).

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A Crash Course on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Words by Louise Jackson

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine in a national

address. During the final minutes of the broadcast, shells began falling throughout Ukraine.

Europe was faced with the reality of war for the first time since 1945. It was only 5am.

Putin has referred to the invasion as ‘a special military operation’, saving Russian citizens from being subjected to genocidal activity at the hands of the Ukrainian government. The Kremlin desires the ‘demilitarisation and denazification’ of Ukraine. Western intelligence believes all claims are baseless and falsified.

The Build-up The war has not come from nowhere.

The Kremlin (Russia’s government) has been in constant conflict with Ukraine since 2014. Ukraine is a former member of the Soviet Union and, since the fall of the Soviet Union, has wavered between alliance with Russia and alliance with the West.

In 2014, Russia made its first move toward reclaiming perceived Russian territory.

While the Ukrainian government was dealing with a separate political fallout, Russian troops entered the Crimean Peninsula. After a public vote in the region, Crimea was wilfully annexed to Russia. Ukraine maintains the referendum was illegitimate and the transfer of territory has never been recognised by Western countries.

Conflict subsequently broke out along the Eastern border of Ukraine in the Donbas region. Russian-backed 26

separatists (groups pushing for separation from Ukraine) took over the local governments and battles have raged in the area ever since.

Why does Russia want Ukraine so badly?

Ukraine has many meanings to the Kremlin – the invasion stems from strategic and identity issues. In July 2021, Putin penned an essay: On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians. He claims Russians and Ukrainians are a single people. Russians and Ukrainians do share language, culture and history; however, a majority of the Ukrainian population view themselves as having a separate national identity. Putin does not recognise it. He also claims Ukraine sits on Russian land, questioning the legitimacy of Ukraine’s borders. In retrospect, the essay was a warning.

Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, a military alliance of Western countries, has likely also motivated the invasion. Russia views NATO as encroaching on Russian territory, a neighbour they don’t want. Given an attack on one NATO member country is an attack on them all, it’s logical for Russia to strike before Ukraine joins. A Russia-aligned Ukraine provides a buffer between Russia and the West. It’s protection from NATO and Western ideals.

Many speculate that Putin wants to reclaim former-Soviet countries and rebuild the Soviet Union. Taking Ukraine would be the natural next step.

What’s happening on the ground?

The following information has the potential to be out of date before this issue is even published – the war is unfolding rapidly. Ukraine’s major cities have been experiencing heavy shelling; the Kremlin claims these are targeted at the military, but reports suggest otherwise. The bombs have hit day cares, schools, a TV station tower and possibly hospitals. Such attacks are war crimes. Russian tanks have been spotted in most major cities. The Russian army is currently amassing its forces around Kyiv, preparing to take the capital.

Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia declared war. Men aged 18-60 are unable to leave the country as they can be conscripted to the army.

Citizens are now taking up the fight against the Russian army. Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy 27

refused a personal evacuation by the US army. He has promised his people he will not be leaving the capital of Kyiv and will fight alongside them. Zelensky believes himself to be a primary target of the Kremlin.

In Russia, many citizens are risking their lives to protest the Kremlin’s actions. The level of support for Putin is hard to establish; it’s important to acknowledge Russia’s media is state-owned and is repeating the Kremlin’s messages. Russians are being told the conflict is saving Russian-identifying Ukrainians from an abusive government, but the military action tells a very different story. In an on-brand move from Russia; the army seems underprepared for the invasion. Ukrainian intelligence reports Russian vehicles stranded without fuel on the side of the road, out of food. The suspicion is that Ukraine has put up far more of a fight than the Kremlin expected.

The international response has primarily comprised of sanctions – the introduction of financial restrictions and penalties on Russia’s international operations. In a feat of surprising unity, countries across the globe have followed the lead of the United Kingdom, United States and the European Union in imposing sanctions on Russian banks, powerful individuals and the Kremlin. The international community are trying to hit the Kremlin where it hurts: the wallet. Unfortunately, sanctions take a while to have a strong effect, and the commonly held belief is that the Kremlin has been saving up for such an occasion. For Ukrainans, borders to neighbouring countries have been thrown open for the estimated half a million refugees who have already fled. Ukraine is receiving significant military aid from the international community. It is being sent weapons, ammunition, and armoury – but no troops.

The International Response

Why is no one sending troops?

Putting troops on the ground is a declaration of war on Russia. Nobody wants to take that risk. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine risks becoming an international stalemate, a second Cold War, fought by proxy in Eastern Europe.

What does the war mean for the rest of the world?

The war in Ukraine sets the international standard for conflict in the 2020s. There is a legitimate risk that if the international response is not severe enough, the door will be open for countries with similar territory disputes to make good on promises.

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Specifically, the option is there for China, which has not officially condemned the Kremlin’s actions, to take Taiwan.

Ukraine has received an outpour of international support many other conflicts have not enjoyed. Regardless of the legitimacy of Russia’s invasion, and regardless of whether the conflict fizzles out or explodes, it will define the future of acceptable behaviour in the international community.

Refereces Dickinson, P 2021, ‘Putin’s new Ukraine essay reveals imperial ambitions’, Atlantic COuncil, 15 July, viewed 1 March 2022, < https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ ukrainealert/putins-new-ukraine-essay-reflects-imperial-ambitions/>.

Sullivan, B 2022, ‘Russia’s at war with Ukraine. Here’s how we got here’, npr, 24 February, viewed 1 March 2022, <https://www.npr.org/2022/02/12/1080205477/ history-ukraine-russia>.

Zinets, S &Vasovic, W 2022, ‘Missiles rain down around Ukraine’, Reuters, 25 February, viewed 1 March 2022, <https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putinorders-military-operations-ukraine-demands-kyiv-forces-surrender-2022-02-24/>.

Photo Credit Reuters: Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy

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FE D E

R A L PO

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WHY IT WILL ACTUALLY PREDICT THE ELECTION OUTCOME IN 2022 WORDS BY SEBASTIAN ANDREWS The first Newspoll of 2022 is out, and it predicts bleak electoral prospects for the Coalition. Labor leads the Coalition 41%-34% on the primary vote. Breaking 40% has not been achieved by the ALP since its landslide win in 2007. The TPP (two-party preferred) lead that Labor has held since January 2021 has expanded to 56-44, a flip from the 53-55 lead held by the Coalition throughout 2020, and Labor’s highest TPP lead since Scott Morrison first took over as Prime Ministerin 2018.

Scott Morrison’s approval ratings are plummeting, with a 58% to 39% disapproval to approval rating.

Meanwhile, Albanese’s scores are far less disastrous, with his approvals rising, and disapproval ratings dropping. The two leaders are nearly tied as preferred Prime Minister, 43% (Morrison) to 41% (Albanese) with 16% undecided. And on the issue of which leader was favoured to lead post-pandemic recovery, Albanese 30

held a slight 33% to 31% edge.

Although this is just ONE poll, it is in line with what others have been indicating. Labor has led the primary vote since November. Polls from mid-late 2021 indicate a consistent decrease in Morrison’s popularity and a consistent narrowing of the gap between Albanese’s disapproval/ approval ratings, in favour of the latter. Further, there is a narrowing gap with regards to the ‘preferred prime minister’ in Albanese’s favour.

So ultimately the Newspoll reflects the mood of the nation, in its shift away from Morrison, and is tilt towards Labor.

But why, you’re asking, should you believe any of this? After all, the polls said that the 2019 election would be a Labor landslide, that all Bill Shorten would have to do was show up…and well, we all know how that went.

Despite being labelled an ‘upset’, the Coalition’s 2019 win was quite predictable. Bill Shorten only led Morrison ONCE as preferred prime minister, often trailing him by highsingle or double digits. Shorten was unpopular, never boasting a net satisfaction in any poll, with his highest being a 43% approval to 48% disapproval on the eve of the election. At no point did anyone stop to question ‘how is Labour leading 55-45 on the TPP when only 27% prefer Shorten as prime minister, 12 points behind Morrison’s ratings?’

Regarding individual approvals, people can oppose a leader but still support the party, but such a large gap as preferred prime minister, especially in such a leader-centric, presidentialstyle campaign, should have raised a few eyebrows. All attention was paid to the TPP, the only number which is - I apologise to all the Psephologist I’m about to insult- really only a very educated guess. Calculating the TPP relies entirely on estimating where preferences will flow, as voters are asked their primary choices, but not asked ‘Labor or Liberal’. Psephologist Anthony Green states that minor party preferences (besides the Greens) had remained fairly even between the two major parties, but that in 2019 these preferences took a sharp turn towards the Coalition.

The big difference this time is that Scott Morrison is deeply unpopular.

While Morrison boasted modest net approvals throughout 2019 and was enormously popular throughout 2020, his approval ratings haven’t broken 50% since July 2021 and the last two polls have shown a double-digit gap (19 points, then 16 points). And although still unpopular, Albanese is

is nowhere near as unpopular as Shorten. While Shorten’s disapproval ratings frequently broke 50%, Albanese’s have never surpassed 48%.

In fact, his approval / disapproval gap hasn’t surpassed 10 points since mid-November. Most importantly, Albanese’s disapproval ratings have stayed fairly stagnant around the 4648 mark. This suggests that unlike Morrison, who a majority have opposed since October, that it’s possible for Albanese to achieve a net positive rating – or to at least keep it close. The question of preferred prime minister continues to favour Morrison, but the gap has narrowed to two and five points in the last two polls, whereas six points was the closest Shorten ever got to Morrison (aside from his six-point lead immediately after Morrison’s election). In regards to the TPP, while the United Australia Party’s policy of preferencing incumbents last may muddy the polls a bit, especially in close seats, it is likely that pollsters have adjusted calculations to more accurately distribute minor party preferences.

To those hoping this upcoming election ushers in a change of government, it can be easy to look at Labor’s pollingleads with skepticism, even pessimism after 2019. However this time, while Labor’s lead in the primary and TPP vote shouldn’t be looked at as a sure sign of the party’s victory, hopefuls can be assured that at least as of now, both of these votes are aligned, instead of the two contradicting one another. Thus making 2022’s federal polling one that will actually predict the election outcome.

References:

https://antonygreen.com.au/preference-flowsat-the-2019-federal-election/

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Trigger Warning: Mentions of Suicide Your 3 am creepy pasta binge really has nothing on this book, so close that damn YouTube tab and listen. I am not saying that all creepy pastas are trash (kind of) as they have some good themes occasionally - unreliable narrators, the illumination of the creepy in the mundane, putting obscurity in a matter of fact way – but, Eugenides does it better, hell he’s the blue print. Published in 1993 this book melds my three favourite things together: the creepy, the tragic and the beautiful.

Eugenides’ title ‘The Virgin Suicides’ is not a futile attempt at some ‘I’m artistic and misunderstood’ metaphor about the loss of childish innocence, rather it’s quite literally a synopsis of the novel itself. The Virgin Suicides starts with the tragic death of the five Lisbon sisters who,

Words by Sienna Sulicich

in succession, take their own lives much to the surprise of the town.

I use the word ‘surprise’ here very lightly, as even the paramedics seem chronically indifferent to the occurrence, having hauled the youngest child from the bathtub a few months prior. Our narrator, although feverishly curious, describes the girl’s deaths almost as if they were a predestined mystery, a tragic but necessary addition to the mythology of their tiny neighbourhood. The narrator is just a sketch to the reader, and with no name or validity to back him up, there’s an underlying sense of unreliability and unknowing (which is perfect to me, we all hate a likeable and obnoxiously moral narrator). He’s kind of a creep though, like most teenage boys with too many hormones and too much spare time. Yet his creepiness is

the virgin suicides by jeffrey eugenides

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house, as the girls are continuously tormented by intergenerational family trauma. The beautiful forefront is quickly ripped away as you begin to uncover what happens (or what may have happened) behind the closed doors of ordinary suburbia. The ‘romance’ of it is really in the neighbourhood’s perverse fascination with it all, as Eugenides exposes the innate human fascination with the tragic and our obsessive nature with everything obscure (think Paper Towns, but not garbage).

helpful to the narrative, similar to how a stalker would be pretty useful to the police in a missing persons case.

The narrator and his gaggle of guys are infatuated with the untouchable and eccentric Lisbon sisters and this is only really heightened as the story eventuates and their cultish pack suicide is uncovered. Perverse, hilarious and abrasively realistic, The Virgin Suicides draws to surface all the big questions bubbling within adolescence and twists them into a fatal concoction for the Lisbon sisters.

If you’re looking for something funny, this is your book. If you’re looking for something creepy, this is your book. If you’re looking for a sign to read anything at all today, this is it. To any creepy pasta lovers, Paper Towns fanatics or just lovers of anything in general, I seriously encourage you to read this book. I say encourage but this is a threat. Do it… or else? I don’t know, just do it okay!

The main question always raised about this novel is whether or not it romanticises the erratic mental state of the girls, which is a fair call considering Eugenides’ love of eerily pretty metaphors and the odd fascination of the neighbourhood goons. Yet the reality of the novel really hits home, with mental illness rearing its ugly head in the Lisbon 33

Why Don Dunstan Needs a Statue Words by Franceso Dizazzo

“He was good. But was he that good?”

A friend of mine dubiously asked me this one evening over drinks.

I had just told him I was writing an article on my personal hero: the late Donald Allan Dunstan. Don was South Australia’s Premier for ten combined years between 1967 and 1979. He was a trailblazing figure who added flair and colour to state politics. Dunstan’s achievements are quite remarkable. Boldly progressive and forward-thinking, his leadership came after 36 (that’s not a typo!) years of uninterrupted conservative rule.

Dunstan demonstrated what a Premier could do for one’s state, while utterly devoted to making the lives of South Australians fairer and more pleasurable.

“You haven’t convinced me yet mate,” my friend went on to say, bringing me back down to earth after a fan-boy spiel.

Well, it’s now my mission to convince you (and my stubborn mate) that Don needs a statue.

Dunstan’s government was anything but conventional. It truly set the tone for progressive change in 1970’s Australia. As Dunstan immodestly put it, ‘our laws and administration against discrimination of race, sex, and marital status led Australia.’ And he was right.

SA became a beacon for ‘progressive 34

firsts’ under his government. We were the first state to decriminalise homosexuality; the first to establish an environmental department; the first to have a festival centre; the first to implement anti-discrimination legislation in Australia; the first-ever land rights legislation (anywhere!) for Indigenous people. We appointed Australia’s first female judge in Dame Roma Mitchell, the first non-British Governor in Sir Mark Oliphant, and later the first Indigenous governor in Sir Douglas Nicholls. Along with Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, Dunstan was instrumental in first removing the White Australia policy from the Labor platform and then eventually around the country. Parliament’s dress code was relaxed, Dunstan himself flaunted his famous pink shorts at Parliament in 1972. Significant investment into the arts led to the establishment of the South Australian Film Corporation.

Laws were put in place to protect our heritage buildings, saving some iconic Adelaidean buildings from destruction.

Laws for serving alcohol after hours were relaxed, thus the dreaded ‘6 O’clock Swill’ was dead. So next time you grab a drink from the Uni-Bar after

a hard day of studying past 6pm, thank Dunstan for that cold one.

Dunstan’s personal pursuits were equally as remarkable as his political ones. ‘Quality of life’ meant a great deal to him. He adored good food, good wine, and good art to go with the good weather we already have. Dunstan was a messy but excellent chef, eventually writing a cookbook filled with his favourite recipes. Having visited his personal archives at Flinders University, Dunstan was also very well-read. His vast book collection ranged from Ancient Greek Mythology to Marx and Keynes; Italian Renaissance art to Indigenous paintings; Shakespeare to Jane Austen.

Dunstan kept books on feminism and Indigenous Dreamtime stories; Latin prose and Italian grammar; Australian history and English Romantic poetry.

I can’t for the life of me imagine Scott Morrison quoting Byron or Shelley.

Most politicians nowadays don’t care for that sort of stuff, but Dunstan loved broadening his horizons with avid reading. He was always hungry for knowledge and was eager to understand the world around him.

But like with any great political figure, we must not mythologise him. Politics is a team-sport, so Dunstan’s ministers deserve credit too. Don also made his fair share of mistakes. One of his pet projects was to build a new city at Monarto which would alleviate urban pressures on Adelaide. After years of criticism, his project was abandoned, wasting $20 million in the process.

Many see Monarto as Dunstan’s greatest failure. Moreover, his time as Premier was strewn with scandals. For instance, controversy over whether Dunstan had improperly dismissed police commissioner Harold Salisbury for misleading the government culminated

with 1978’s Salisbury Affair. This controversy bitterly divided the state, culminating with thousands of Adelaideans gathering in Victoria Square calling for Salisbury to get a ‘fair go’ (a royal commission later found the commissioner guilty).

Dunstan’s ‘peacock’ politics also laid the seeds for unsubstantiated rumours of corruption and personal impropriety, effectively destabilising his government and contributing to his resignation in 1979. The guy also jumped the pond and worked as Victoria’s Director of Tourism after retiring from SA politics – the cruellest betrayal!

But Dunstan’s policies and vision outweigh these cherry-picked issues – they are only footnotes to a striking legacy. No one remembers him for Monarto or the Salisbury Affair, we remember him for decriminalising homosexuality, scrapping the White Australia policy and investing in the arts, education and health. His was the politics of optimism and the future; one that was inclusive and positive, radical yet electable, bold but sensible.

‘It is difficult to rekindle the brightness of the light which seemed to shine from Adelaide around Australia during the Dunstan years,’ Whitlam admitted in a foreword to Dunstan’s Politics and Passion. Our former PM has a point.

For any SA Premier, Don Dunstan is a bloody tough act to follow.

I’m sure most of you reading this were probably not aware of just how revolutionary the Dunstan Decade was.

Don’t blame yourself, blame your pesky history teachers! This is precisely why we need a statue commemorating his life. It would remind South Australians of all we have to be thankful for. It would remind us to continue fighting

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for change, to read a little more, and dedicate ourselves to our passions.

It would remind us that human flourishing is a very serious matter and worthy of politicians’ time. It would tell us that everyone has a role to play in improving the society around them.

And I’m sure Adelaide’s current statues wouldn’t mind if Dunstan popped up beside them. I’m sure his predecessor, Premier Charles Kingston wouldn’t care. He would probably see some of himself in Dunstan’s political zest. I’m sure Canova’s Venus statue along North Terrace wouldn’t mind either. As the goddess of love, she would have adored the Premier’s passion for art and beauty. And I’m sure next to Venus, Dame Roma, watching pedestrians pass along North Terrace, would not mind seeing the man who made her Australia’s first female judge go up in bronze. ‘I can proudly say that in world terms, this is a good place to be and belong to,’ Dunstan would later reminisce of his beloved South Australia. The love he had for life, his state, and his people was infectious If that isn’t worth memorialising, I don’t know what is.

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Words

by Cha n

el Trez

ise

Sicken ed by System the

My bloo dc Painting rawls into the air, my eyes red – A man o ffe He wipe rs his hand, lic s his dri k pping te ing his lips. eth and pats his My han head. ds flail t i m His talo ns sink. idly, cursing to Worlds the win The star coll d, st Longing witch painfully iding. . nothing s Whispe ring, wi , nding, v Fucking oices lin me emp gering. ty.

He laps up the b lood, Pooling by my f eet.

Buildin gs His teet shake, window s cascad hs ing; Money c ink. lawing, Barterin g away my abili ty to th ink.

He fuck s away a n y hints Promisi of peace ng imm ortal gr Lulling eed, me asle ep.

Commu nities fa de, child ren beg to breat Smog w he. anders f everishl Suffoca y ; tin Gnawin g the goodness g at the of a wor sp ld once My han gree ds clutc rawls of people h, grabb w anderin ning dust g lost. .

My soul breathe s heavy Limbs l ; ifeless, hearts s till.

He exto rts With my life, grinning, blood d ripping.

He licks the lips o whose s tories la f corpses y unfulf illed.

A demo n sicken ed in th Grinnin e system g in gre , ed.

Emptied by the p romise o He is a husk of what a p f powererson co uld onc e be.

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Grace Tame is the symbol of Australian women’s collective conscious Words by Ruby Lehmann This is a quick trigger warning; this piece discusses sexual abuse and online trolling stories.

On the 25th of January 2021 Australian of the year, Grace Tame made headlines after a photo of her, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison caught the nation’s attention for many reasons. Tame and her fiancé had been invited to the Lodge in Canberra to celebrate the 2022 Australian of the Year finalists when a photo-op was organised. The photo shows a sullen-faced Tame next to a grinning Morrison thus sparking a wildfire of backlash towards Tame.

The public was seemingly divided over their opinions. Many praised Tame for standing her ground, overshadowed by others expressing their criticism. Online she was called ungrateful, disrespectful, and childish, the last being the cruellest considering her childhood had been tainted by sexual abuse. Some had the audacity to say she did not deserve the accolade, going as far as saying it should be taken away from her due to her ‘impolite’ actions. Imagine? One of the highest honours and recognitions taken away from you because you didn’t smile in a two-minute photo-op. I can guarantee; there would be no chance of this outcry if Tame had been a man…

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Grace won the Australian of the Year award in 2021 due to her tireless work and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, particularly survivors of child sexual abuse in institutional settings.

At just 15 years old, Tame was groomed and repeatedly sexually assaulted by her 58-year-old math teacher. Gag laws in Tasmania at the time silenced her from speaking out about her assault and perpetrator openly. At the same time, he instead was free to publicly describe his crimes as ‘awesome’ and ‘enviable.”

Tame went to the Tasmanian Supreme court to fight for her right to tell her story, heavily assisted by the #LetHerSpeak campaign that led to the reform of gag laws in Tasmania. She has since, bravely led incredible work, using her public voice to speak up and push for legal reform regarding child sexual abuse and raise awareness surrounding the impacts. Over the last twelve months, Tame has poured countless hours into bringing structural change to end child sexual abuse, re-traumatising herself repeatedly, opening herself up to public discourse and attacks, and most of the

time does so with a smile. So why should she smile and act ingenuine next to a man who has repeatedly shown his lack of care and understanding for sexual violence survivors over the same twelve months?

The same man who only just in October left her out of drafting the national strategy to prevent child sexual abuse and then finding out about this draft via a radio interview. The same man appointed Lorraine Finaly as the following human rights commissioner despite opposing an affirmative consent model; Tame has thoroughly advocated for reform. Even after Brittany Higgins spoke out, the same man temporarily gave Christian Porter more power and appointed him as the House of Representatives leader. Or even the same man who, after Tame’s incredibly moving Australian of the Year speech, followed it up with the words ‘Gee, I bet that felt good to get out….’

it is then seen as an image of irrationality and instability.

Comments using these descriptors were levelled against Tame after the photo-op, exposing the everyday misogynistic comments women are met with for refusing to smile and play nice when catcalled on the street or in the boardroom. The constant expectation of women to be smiling depoliticises them, and only further promotes the conformation in their own subjugation.

Had Tame ‘just smiled’ in the photos with Morrison, it simply would have let the Parliament institution and patriarchal structures within it off the hook for the pains and injustices against women in Australia and worldwide. Tame’s reaction only begins to touch the surface of the general feeling amongst Australian women after everything that has been endured over the last year.

After all of that, why should she have to stand and smile next to a man who has continuously disrespected her and the work she advocates for daily, re-traumatising herself every time she speaks on her own experience? And why does the public believe they are owed a smile or even have the right to tell her how she should act?

Early in life, women are always taught to appear ‘happy’ and ‘smiley’; maintain this or face the idea of becoming aesthetically unappealing and having their looks be up for discussion. A serious or angrylooking man suggests passion or determination, whereas if women exhibited the same expression, it is 39

I still remember all the hype and excitement surrounding the release of the new Wonder Woman movie starring none other than Gal Gadot back in 2017, and then once again back in the cursed year of 2020. And now, I have the pleasure of relieving the hype one more time hopefully for the new release in 2022. It was a much-anticipated film and the promotion leading up to the first screening was all around me - on social media, on billboards, on posters, and on merchandise.

The continuous, over the top marketing has continued to carry on throughout the franchise.

But back to 2017: Wonder Woman had been a popular DC comic and people were finally getting a movie from it. I still remember the conversations surrounding the movie and what its release meant for young girls. Hollywood was being praised for finally giving a superhero lead to a woman, and how much feminism has progressed in Hollywood and in broader society. Among the loud buzz of excitement and cheer there was a small voice that could only be heard by those who took a step back and looked at the reality behind the materialist mask.

That small voice was the voice of Palestine. To put it very bluntly, Gal Gadot is a Zionist. She was/is a settler colonialist in the occupied

Palestine, and she is a proud member of the notorious Israeli Defence Force. The IDF is a fascist, war-mongering criminal, terrorist organisation that upholds and enables apartheid, genocide, ethnic cleansing and the brutal Zionist occupation. She participated in the 2006 Lebanon war - a war responsible for the death of 1.5 thousand Lebanese civilians and immense damage to Lebanese infrastructure. In 2014 Israel launched a 50-day attack on Gaza that resulted in the massacre of 2.5 thousand Palestinians by bombing schools, hospitals, libraries, markets, beaches and houses etc. Gal Gadot being very well aware of the slaughter happening by the IDF, decided to cheerlead them for it. Despite absolutely no evidence of her tale being true, she wrote, “I am sending my love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens.

Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children... We shall overcome!!!

Shabbat Shalom! #weareright #freegazafromhamas #stopterror #coexistance #loveidf” It’s not just the blatant crimes against humanity that IDF is responsible for, but their ongoing

Words by Habibah Jaghoori

GAL GADOT IS NO WONDER WOMAN. 40

normalisation of it. They disguise themselves as an army protecting their homeland. They disguise themselves as noble and moral. I wonder what is so noble about soldiers armed to the teeth shooting down people protesting?

Or the beating up of, kidnapping of, and killing of unarmed and innocent children? Of bulldozing homes, of separating families, of harassing women, of recording people you have shot bleeding to death and mocking them? I wonder what is so noble about apartheid, occupation and imperialism?

It pains me that Gal Gadot was given a platform and she was praised for it.

It pains me that she was given such a platform that portrayed her as a hero and as a saviour. This is a big slap on the face to all Palestinians and to anyone that has a heartfelt connection to the resistance and to justice. Casting Gal Gadot for that role was a very intentional act from Hollywood and to that I say shame: Shame on the people that worked for this to happen. Shame on the people that did not fight against this. Shame on the people that decided that they want to separate the movie from politics, as if the whole casting and producing was not an act of political warfare anyway.

Shame on the people that defended this, and shame on the people that knew it was wrong but decided their entertainment is above a very real and a very aching struggle.

Something that still truly baffles me is the fact that feminism has seen this as a win - white feminism for that matter. Is your feminism really represented by a woman with blood on her hands and is part of one of the biggest oppressions in human history who now has a platform and can act like a protagonist? Is that

where you find your liberation as a woman? Is that how you feel empowered?

That’s pathetic.

The implications of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman may not be obvious to some but for me it sends a very clear message. It shows me that the war is a soft war as much as an assault-based war. It shows me that Hollywood is still racist, corrupt and elite. It shows me that people are easily manipulated, and that people do not know or even understand the Israeli attacks on Palestinian livelihood. It shows me that class solidarity is above all else with these people and that human life means nothing when the dollar is at stake.

Yes, there are some complaints and backlash over the casting choice, but this rightful and legitimate criticism is being invalidated as ‘irrational’ and ‘the inability to just enjoy a movie’ and ‘there is always some problem.’ If we don’t have the podium to express disagreement, concern and protest then we have nothing.

I understand that Zionism is the product of capitalism, and imperial/colonial activity is late stage capitalism, and I understand that Zionism would not survive without capitalism and ergo the struggle against Zionism is the struggle for all.

We need to be unafraid to call out imposter feminism and fake social progress when we see it. We need to boycott movies, actors and events that normalise vicious systems. We have to resist the increasing overlap of war criminals with the entertainment sector and social activities. We can’t let these people win. Don’t watch Wonder Woman.

Leave a bad review and keep an eye out for the next Palestine protest.

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what netflix’s squid game taught me about my anxiety and perfectionism.

Words by Grace Atta Squid Game was Netflix’s 2021 ground-breaking, Korean, twisted thriller-drama-allegorical series. The show is still Netflix’s number one most watched content, recording 1.65 billion hours of viewing in its first 28 days. Yet, despite all this hype, I was very late to the (Squid) Game… pun unashamedly intended. It took me ‘til early January of this year, on a desperately needed lazy day at home – after jumping from exam stress to full-time retail work during the festive season – to watch the hit show. As I binged its nine episodes in all its gory, morbid, dystopian and yet (per the genre) necessary commentary on the inequalities formed through capitalism…I was unaware that the most personally confronting element of the show, would in fact present itself to me in the weeks to follow.

For those who have not seen the series (and as a recap for everyone who has) the show depicts the bankrupt, outcasted, indebted ‘participants’ (our main characters) being faced with several challenges they must complete, to survive and win the prize money they so desire. In every instance, one small mistake has deadly consequences.

Literally. One twitch of a muscle, one millimetre lacking precision, one slipping grip, one flawed estimate, one wrong step, and they weren’t just out - they were dead.

They were playing children’s games, gambling the most valuable thing we possess…life.

In the weeks following my viewing of Squid Game, I began to almost playfully reflect on this concept. Out driving one day, I went to turn into my chosen park and realised halfway through that I would need to reverse and adjust my position to fit in the spot safely. At that moment, I quietly thought to myself, ‘huh, if parking in one swift move was a squid game, I’d be dead right now’. On another day, I was at work and – sensing the rush of the customer, with their hovering card at the ready – mistakenly hit the payment button too soon. The last item of their transaction didn’t add to the total on our system and left me with the awkward explanation of having to process a second payment. A minor and rare error, of no greater consequence than a 15 second inconvenience and yet I couldn’t help but say to myself ‘Thank God working at this register wasn’t a squid game…’ Little moments like these continued to surface, and in more and more mundane, yet irrational ways. An extended awkward pause during a conversation. A single

typo in a text to a friend. Even briefly tripping (thankfully without a fall) as I walked along North Terrace. Each and every instance - on the premise of a Squid Game - were damning failures.

It eventually occurred to me that my ongoing reflection on the series and the brutality of its armed guards, unmerciful and inhumane, was ultimately a reflection of my anxiety and closely linked perfectionism. I had, well before the series, been living under the same illusion. The irrational belief that any, even minute mistake, would be the end of the world as I knew it. My failures were always a reflection of something greater than what was presented in that moment.

(An overuse of ‘internal attribution’ or a flip on the ‘fundamental attribution error’ for those of you familiar). I would often let myself believe that an inability to park in one go (this one time) meant I was not only a terrible driver, but unable to do basic life tasks. That my single error at the register (which I rectified myself) made me a bad employee. And so on.

Indeed, my anxiety and perfectionism have for years followed me around like a troop of Squid Game’s armed guards; holding me at gun-point for every irrationally self-labelled ‘transgression’. What a rather morbid moment of introspection that was.

invalidate my own feelings, but to simply recognise that life really isn’t like Squid Game. If I could see the horror and heartlessness in people dying because they flinched when they needed to be still or unintentionally snapped an already very fragile biscuit (what a downer on a nice dessert) … then surely, I could recognise the absurdity in the unforgiving way I approach myself. And in those moments, maybe all I need to say is “This isn’t a squid game”…“You have the ability to forgive yourself. To learn and do better. You’re still here.”

If this piece has raised anything for you then please know you can access the following resources: UofA Counselling (non-emergency) North Terrace / Waite - +61 8313 5633 Roseworthy - +61 8313 7932 Mental Health Triage (emergency) 131 465 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 Lifeline – 13 11 14

You may ask, what value was there in identifying this connection between the series and my anxious / perfectionist tendencies.

Ultimately, it sparked a realisation of ridiculousness. And that’s not to

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The Hidden Gem of the University of Adelaide: The Tate Museum Words by Tayla McKay

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Tucked away inside the University of Adelaide’s Mawson Laboratories is what can be considered the ‘hidden gem’ of the University, the Tate Museum. The Museum has a reputation for being the biggest and greatest geological museum in Adelaide. The Museum is home to many fascinating specimens including fossils, minerals and, most notably, artefacts from Sir Douglas Mawson’s expeditions. In recent years, the Museum has fallen into the hands of Tony Milnes from the Department of Earth Sciences at the University, who has been working on transforming the Tate Museum and regenerating public interest.

The Museum originally began in the year 1881 when Professor Ralph Tate brought together the mineral, fossil and plant collections from the Natural Sciences Faculty at the University of Adelaide. “It was subsequently and progressively enlarged by succeeding Professors of Geology and Mineralogy – Howchin, Mawson, Alderman, Rudd – and academic staff for teaching and research,” Tony explained. The Tate Museum’s main purpose was, and still is, to educate and assist in teaching the geological sciences. As it is within the Mawson Laboratories, The Tate Museum is of great use to students of Science at the University. Tony has told us, “When I was a student in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Museum was a focal point for teaching Mineralogy and Stratigraphy.

In fact, it occupies the main entrance to the Mawson lecture theatre where most lectures in geoscience were given and was, and still is, the gathering place for students to attend lectures.”

Tony has done extensive research within the fields of Science and Geology, as can be seen in his previous works such as his PhD on ‘The Encounter Bay Granites & their environment’ in 1973, and his postdoctoral research on phosphate ore mineralogy and beneficiation. Tony has also worked as an experimental scientist for CSIRO and as General Manager for Environmental R&D consultancy (EWL Sciences) before taking on a position as visiting Research Fellow within the University of Adelaide.

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In 2012 Tony wanted to use the collections in the Tate for research but this proved to be difficult. “There was practically no information or knowledge in the Department about which samples were in the collections.” Prior to this, there had been no official curator at the Museum, “Support Staff such as [curators] have not been employed by the University for many years and the collections have been generally uncared for.” Which led to Tony taking on the role. “So I started to search out old hand-written catalogues, locate the recorded specimens, generate digital linkages between samples in the crypts and post-graduate research theses, and produce new digital catalogues of samples in the Tate Museum with particular reference to their provenance.” And thus, the creation of a new era for the Tate Museum began.

When I first met Tony at the Tate Museum, it was clear that he was extremely dedicated and passionate about the Museum and the field of Geology. Currently, Tony’s greatest challenge within the Museum has been to fully document and digitise the collections. He plans to hopefully one day create a digital element to the Museum, particularly so people remote to Adelaide can view the samples and information from their location – however, Tony mentions that this may require 3D imagery and VR techniques which unfortunately is outside of the limited budget of the Tate.

There are also an incredible number of specimens within the Museum, however, the precise number is unknown. When asked about the number of specimens, Tony said, “well, I don’t know. The numbering system is hovering above 29,000 now, but I don’t know whether all of these samples still exist. There have been occasional ‘clean-outs’ in past decades. Some cabinets with specimens 46

still intact have been stored offsite for a decade or more.”

However, Tony believes that the greatest attraction of the Tate Museum is the legacy inside the Museum. “For me, the main attraction is the legacy of suites of geological materials – minerals, rocks, fossils and meteorites – from all over the world that were collected by our eminent geologists – and most notable naturalists and businesspeople – in some cases more than a hundred years ago when geoscience was in its infancy. Often the labels on the specimens in the Museum space are quite something as well – coming into the room the corridor still gives me a sense of the long history of geoscience in the Mawson.”

To help achieve his goals Tony has a team of interns and volunteers assisting him.

“The interns at present are tasked with working through the University archives to find information about the procurement of some of the more extensive suites of samples the Museum has acquired.

Once we have this information, it might be possible to delve more deeply into the history of these individuals to try and find out why they were collectors of geological materials.”

The volunteers are currently working on the collections to locate and catalogue materials and begin the creation of its digital files. Currently, there are two interns (hopefully soon to be three) and four volunteers who either study or have an interest in geoscience.

Amy Sowinski interned at the Tate Museum at the beginning of 2021.

Amy was originally drawn to the Tate Museum as she believed it was a good way to develop her research skills.

“It’s also a combination of the things I love to study, geology and history,” Amy recalled.

“The internship so far has consisted of a lot of research; I have been going through old correspondence between individuals who are associated with the Museum to try to find information about who has donated specimens over the years. My ultimate goal is to write a paper that looks at those people who have donated, discussing their lives and their collections and their connection to the Museum.”

University’s history.”

Tony is also always looking for more students to help within the Museum, particularly from history, museum, journalism or similar backgrounds. Tony can be contacted through the Museum or his email.

According to the records since Tony’s takeover, about 20 groups per year have visited a year and there have been more than 50 visits from researchers to the Museum since 2015. However, there are hopes that further advertisement and interest of the Museum will gain further visitation.

The Tate Museum is open Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm. The Museum can be found in the Mawson Laboratories at the University of Adelaide. There is no admission fee.

More information can be found through: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/unicollections/unimuseums/UC_Tate_ Museum_DL_brochure_PRINT_2018.pdf

Amy has found her internship fulfilling and enjoyable, stating, “I have enjoyed connecting the dots.

Since most of my research has been finding a connection, there has been a lot of trial and error in my approach to the data. When I have successfully put the puzzle pieces together is when I have felt the happiest. I have also enjoyed learning more about the geological faculty’s most notable geologists and digging into the 47

A Hack’s Look at the Politics of the Horror Words by Caitlin Battye Genre The horror genre has been intensely political since its inception. A lot has already been written examining the political subtext in a lot of horror media, from xenophobia in Bram Stoker’s Dracula to Vietnam War readings of Texas Chain Saw Massacre through to the ‘good for her’ energy of Midsommar.

However, there’s one question that has yet to be answered: Out of the many horror franchises out there, which is the most based?

To conduct this integral piece of research, it was important to ensure I was drawing on a variety of different kinds of horror franchises. These franchises will each be given a number on the ‘Based Scale’ between 1-10. These ratings don’t necessarily indicate the quality or entertainment value of a given film, but simply how based and left-wing-pilled it is.

FRIDAY THE 13TH

Friday the 13th is a conservative wet dream. You’ve got a disabled manturned-unstoppable-zombie-killer (because obviously disabled people gotta be mindless and bad) slaughtering a slew of unlikeable teens indulging in drug use and premarital sex.

The franchise’s conservativism shines in its portrayal of women, especially compared to the character of Tommy Jarvis. Tommy was the ‘Final Girl’ in the fourth, fifth, and sixth instalments. The ‘Final Girl’ in the slasher subgenre is the last (wo)man standing in the group, and is typically the woman who best embodies conservative values - the one most likely to have skipped all that drug use and premarital sex. In the fourth film, 12-yearold Tommy and his older sister Trish are ‘Final Boy’ and ‘Final Girl’. Trish is the typical conservative and ‘pure’ woman whereas Tommy is allowed to indulge in violent tendencies and voyeuristic sexual attraction. So while women survive based on how well they conform to conservative ideas of morality, Tommy evades the same level of judgement.

Plus…Tommy was in three films! Other slashers have recurring ‘Final Girls’, sure, but they’re typically introduced in the first film, not the fourth. It’s particularly glaring considering they had to keep reusing Tommy despite having to recast him every film. Meanwhile, if a female character reappears, she’s already dead by the opening credits.

Based Score: 2/10 Way too conservative. Squandered its chance to

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subvert its conservative archetype on a cishet white guy whose actor they couldn’t even keep for more than one film. Basically, if you’re wanting a subversion of the final girl archetype with a male lead in a classic slasher franchise, check out Nightmare on Elm Street 2 because that uses the subversion to depict a (subtextually) gay teen which is inherently cooler.

SAW The first Saw film was released in 2004 back when American cinema goers were still reeling from 9/11 and the American government’s subsequent torture spree implementation of advanced interrogation methods. Much like the US government, the Jigsaw killer also likes to try employ an ‘ends justify the means’ approach to torture and is also a big surveillance fan. The franchise presents a grim, anguished look at a world which bears signs of a failing system. A lot of Jigsaw’s victims, across certain entries of the franchise, are in themselves both symptoms and causes of this failing system, such as in the sixth entry where Jigsaw targets predatory lenders. Other standout targets are corrupt cops and neo-Nazis.

This puts it in a strange yet interesting position, where it critiques the idea that torture is a justified means to an end (indeed, those who survive Jigsaw’s traps most often become his disciple, showing that Jigsaw’s methods only lead to more violence). Yet it also just so happens that the victims of Jigsaw shift from being ordinary people to members of the same groups who often, in the real world, are those whose interests the system best serves.

Based Score: 6/10 Would give it a higher score if not for how messy the franchise is

overall, especially when deciding if Jigsaw is a symbol of a declining society using violence to justify its means, or if he’s a vigilante punishing those who truly deserve it. These are the drawbacks of a long-running convoluted film series that for some reason tries to maintain a timeline, I guess.

ALIEN

The Alien franchise is incredibly based, and when I say “the Alien franchise” I am mainly referring to the first three films because those three are cinematic masterpieces and the rest…well, they make for a pretty good drinking game. These films are absolutely amazing at covering everything from the dangers of rampant corporations, rape culture, bodily autonomy, and the prison system. Because I have a word count, I’ll only discuss the anti-capitalism aspects, but just know these films cover so damn much and deserve a whole article.

The main villain of the franchise isn’t the Xenomorph, but mega-corporation WeylandYutani, with entries always featuring an underclass being sent in to do the dirty work of the big corporation and then suffering the consequences of Weyland-Yutani’s decisions.

The franchise is by this big company deciding its blue-collar space trucker workers were expendable and using them as bait to get a big killing machine they hoped to tame and sell as a weapon. This basically sets the tone for the franchise as a whole. Every facet of human life in Alien is tightly controlled by corporate interests - the company even assigns undercover androids to keep tabs on workers just doing their jobs, surveilling them constantly and also making sure to shill positive sentiments for the company wherever possible. It’s a scathing look at capitalism and the way it views workers as disposable on its path to profit.

Based Score: 10/10 Incredible, showstopping, awe-inspiring. I’m not saying this franchise radicalised me, but I’m not not saying that.

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1. TOP CHICK Grace Tame was awarded Australian of the Year 2021 for her advocacy and work around sexual assault and grooming. She had a large part in changing Tasmania’s laws allowing survivors to speak about their experiences. Grace likes running, yoga, and sticking it to the man. Her address to the National Press Club in February of this year proved again how enthralling she is as a speaker. Alongside Brittany Higgins, you can’t help but see her as future leadership material, and frankly, I want to be friends with a future Prime Minister like Grace.

2. WE NEED TO SAVE JENNY MORRISON

In a recent 60 Minutes interview, the Morrisons took to commercial television to try and make audiences feel bad for them. It appears that the Prime Minister wished to parade his wife around to remind us all that not all women hate him. Just some.

A lot of the Morrison’s time on screen was spent lamenting guilt for the infamous Hawaiian holiday during the bushfire crisis in January of 2020. Jenny looked guilty and apologised for taking a holiday with her kids (even though no one had a problem with Jenny doing it. Just the Prime Minister).

WORDS BY LEAH BRAHAM

5 REASONS WHY I WANT TO BE BEST FRIENDS WITH GRACE TAME 50

But there was a moment of clarity which outshone the other 59 minutes of the show.

The interviewer, Karl Stefanovic, asks Mrs Morrison what she would say to her sixteen-year-old self.

“Run,” Mrs Morrison replied. We hope she’s joking.

Jenny, if you need saving, wear red in the next curry video. Grace can help you.

She isn’t scared of your husband. Her whole shtick is about speaking out against abusers. I’m not saying Scotty is a monster, but if he is, you’ve got a professional who’d be happy to help.

3. SHE WOULDN’T LET MATES GET AWAY WITH SAYING THINGS THEY SHOULDN’T

It’s 2022, and it feels like we’ve found ourselves at a halfway point between having extremely problematic opinions and learning better ones. At least we’ve realised we have a problem, and have decided to change. Our opinions will be better. Our mates’ will be too.

We’ve all been there. You’re with a group of mates and someone makes a joke that doesn’t quite land. It might be about the missus making sandwiches or staying in the kitchen. It might be about race, or age. Whatever it is, it causes your stomach to curl up into your lungs as you cringe.

But you don’t know whether to say anything. After all, it’s just your mate, and they’re a nice enough person, and surely they didn’t actually mean what they said, right?

If Grace Tame was there, she absolutely would not let your mate get away with such a bad take. She’d call them out, and even better, she’d call me out. Sometimes you need friends who make you question yourself, and what you believe in. The recent photos with Tame and Morrison caused a stir because Tame wasn’t smiling. It really made people question whether Tame should have been. Do you have to smile at people you don’t like? If you do, why?

It’s important to have friends who make you think.

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4. HER STRUGGLES ARE FAMILIAR Tame represents a very female and familiar struggle. Molested by an older child and then a teacher. Struggles with an eating disorder. Undiagnosed autism…

It has been proven that people who suffer from disordered eating have often been sexually abused. Studies have shown that 50% of those suffering anorexia nervosa, whether due to PTSD or deprivation of self-esteem and power, have also suffered childhood sexual abuse.^ The fact that Grace Tame is so ordinary, and shares lived experience with so many women, just makes her all the more worthy of admiration, and I’d happily let her speak on my behalf in regards to anorexia and sexual abuse.

5. THE BONG If Grace Tame wasn’t already going to be an Australian icon, she is now. Add her to your dream blunt rotation! Or in Morrison’s case, nightmare blunt rotation. Regardless, what was meant to be a smear campaign against Tame is just another reason why I want to be her friend.

PHOTOP: DAILY MAIL

^ Carter, JC, Bewell, C, Blackmore, E & Woodside, DB 2006, ‘The impact of childhood sexual abuse in anorexia nervosa’, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 257–269.

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student health and wellbeing blog Originially posted on 04.03.2022

Words by Yasmine I am a self-confessed workaholic but during uni, I often find myself overloading and reaching my breaking point.

This summer was hard for me. I struggled to find somewhere to live, I took up several new positions and felt tired, cranky and anxious about all sorts of things.

The unfortunate reality of working multiple jobs, studying and volunteering is that eventually all those assignments, meetings and reports are somehow due AT THE SAME TIME. Urgh, it is a genuine curse!

I enjoy being busy all the time. It fuels my desire to achieve and means I get to meet all kinds of weird, wacky and wonderful people. Unfortunately, it also means I can burn myself out.

I remember my high school teachers telling me to slow down or I was going to just break down. Well, I think it finally happened.

Tears were shed, feet were stomped but most of all I just felt TIRED. I felt sick of doing the things I love and sick of trying again and again at things with no success. I wanted to curl into a ball and bury myself under blankets and never emerge.

But I slowly pulled myself back into a better place. I reached out, I put down my laptop and my pens, I went outside and I chose myself over my commitments. Now, I am not pretending these are the solutions to everyone’s problems but exercise, the sun and talking to my friends made so much difference to how I felt that I am beginning to understand why weekends and a worklife balance are so important.

This year is going to be a bit tough, I think, as it’s my final year and one filled with change. I can move through it knowing that there are services available at the uni, and that if I overload myself, taking a day or two to rest is not a crime or a negative testament to my worth.

This year, I am going to have better strategies to manage the tough days and the really bad days because inevitably we all face them at university. We just have to face them together.

WHAT MESSES WITH YOUR HEAD?

Overloading

Read more of ‘What Messes with your Head’ at: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/wellbeing/news/term/ what-messes-with-your-head 53

Being Comfortable Doing Nothing

Originially posted on 02.03.2022

Words by Cooper I often find that I like to keep busy. Even though I often complain about being busy, I find having something to do a welcome distraction.

It gives me a goal. It gives me purpose.

I recently found myself free one day with nothing to do. No work, no cleaning, no washing, no assignments due, no club activities, just me, myself and I and the constant chatter that goes on inside my head. At first, I sat there for a moment and didn’t know what to do. Watch a movie? Scroll through my phone? Cook something? Go for a walk? It worried me that I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. In many ways it felt like I had forgotten how to be myself.

I couldn’t think of how to find something that I wanted to do. I needed an activity that didn’t have a deadline or a workload to keep me busy and help the time pass.

For a moment, even my social media feed was quiet. The feeling was oddly calming and anxiety inducing at the same time. I thought for a while and narrowed it down to two things. I like cooking (and most of all eating) and I like being outside.

So, Option 1: cook something.

Option 2: go to the beach.

I decided on the beach. It was great weather, outdoors and always makes me feel better than before I went. Once I had decided, it was hard to find the motivation to go. I felt almost guilty to be indulging myself in a brief period of freedom. Worst of all, I felt almost anxious about missing something. A phone call, important emails, a new opportunity.

So, I decided to leave my phone at home and grabbed a hat and a towel. For now, all my worries or anxieties can wait.

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AUU Volunteering Make new friends, challenge yourself to learn and grow, gain valuable experience for your resume and make connections with real-world professionals and organisations. There are a huge number of opportunities on and off campus relevant to your study and interests.

Be part of the coolest events and activities on campus by volunteering to help the AUU. Throughout the year we work with volunteers to deliver events, run member giveaways, and collaborate with the University. Make friends for life, learn new skills and enjoy the perks of working behind the scenes.

Off campus, we connect you with not-forprofit organisations to gain professional experience while working on important causes like animal rights, conservation initiatives, humanitarian issues and more.

All hours completed through AUU Volunteering are eligible to count towards the Adelaide Graduate Award, and throughout the year we also run social catch ups and training sessions to help you upskill personally and professionally.

We can’t wait to have you join the team. Visit auu.org.au/volunteer to get involved!

W: auu.org.au/volunteer E: volunteer@auu.org.au

Join AUU Volunteering and get more out of your time at University.