On Dit Issue 89.4

9.1 8.4 Y R 9 A8 UE RN B E F JU

vaccine wars

.

free palestine

.

The budget low down

contents editorial what’s on? src president state of the union vox pop econ dit rural student voice international student voice sex and the small city LEFT RIGHT CENTRE CLub Spotlight sustanabili-dit Articles & creative writing a brief analysis of life from a cosmic nihilist the spongebob squarepants movie and masculinity budget 2021: the low down a dream that stays a post-mortem on the women’s march music that left a mark on history because the conservatives got mad the australian republic imperative the politics of credit to the man who assaulted me why we must fight for a free palestine artist feature: angvs vaccine wars sisters are doing it for themselves review: wonder grit binary tears 4

7 8 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 26 28

in 2021, your student representatives represent 68 nothing 70 laissez-faire 101 the poetry prize that made me ask, “how are we 72 still here?”

74 am i worthy? editors isobel Moore Stasi kapetanos michelle roylance ivan jankovic

30 design isobel Moore 32 34 cover art‘ 36 By @ANGVS W1NN1E, 2021 38 SUBEDITORS GRACE ATTA 40 LAKEISHA WATKINS TOM WOOD 42 MIRCO DI GIACOMO 44 HABIBAH JAGHOORI NGOC LAN TRAN 48 MAYA TLAUKA RORY SPEIRS 50 LIA DEVETZIDIS 54 FINLAY EDWARDS 58 KIRSTY KITTEL TIAH BULLOCK 60 BECK ROWSE 64 GEORGia PENGLIS 66 DEAN PLESA

5

W

e wish to 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 the Adelaide resides. Their cultural and heritage beliefs flow deep and steady through the land

and burn bright within the Kaurna community to this day.

LIKe what you see? GET INVOLED!

Interact with our socials, read our digital issues and articles, or send us a pitch at onditmag@gmail.com

Submissions for Issue 6 (Queer Dit) open June 6th.

6

As you may have noticed, we make sure to start every edition of On Dit this year with an acknowledgement of country to the Kaurna people, just like student magazines across the country do for their respective Indigenous peoples.

Australia’s native population have been subject to brutal violence, racial discrimination, genocide and ethnic cleansing that continues to threaten not only their way of life but also their very existence. Today the people of Palestine face these exact same problems due to the same forces of settler-colonialism in their own country and homeland at the hands of the State of Israel.

Outside of the violence directly inflicted on the Palestinian people Israel and some of its supporters have orchestrated attacks on journalists, media and the free press at large. We have seen the bombing of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera offices in the Gaza Strip, the firing of Emily Wilder for daring to be a bold Jewish-American critic of Israel, and the reports of SBS journalists being pressured into withdrawing their signatures from petitions asking for more balanced and fair coverage of the Israel-Palestine crisis. For the sake of humanity, journalists and media must not remain silent or be muzzled on this topic.

There are however other controversial and dangerous topics in this edition including: a boldly feminist critical reflection on the women’s march; the debate around GMO farming; and how he should all avoid becoming the purely self-interested uber-rational agents suggested to us by the discipline of economics.

Along with this we have our usual favorites: creative writing; criticism; poetry and more. We hope you enjoy, and dare you to discuss what you read, though maybe think twice before bringing it up at the family dinner table.

- Stasi

77

whats on?

things to do @ adelaide u

3rd june

8

Event: Imperialism reading group: how to stop a war - soldiers’ mutinies in Vietnam time: 1pm host: Socialist Alternative where: Polygon Lecture Theatre --------------------------------Event: SGM time: 6pm host: Software Engineering Club Adelaide Uni where: Ingkarni Wardli B18 --------------------------------Event: Eurovision song contest party time: 6:30pm host: School of Biological Sciences Postgraduate Association - SoBSPA where: Belgian Beer Café Oostende fee: $10

4th june

Event: AUES Pub Crawl 2020: Where’s Wobbly? time: 5-11:55pm host: Adelaide University Engineering Society fee:$25 tshirts

5th june

Event: AUGS Geological Wine Tour time: 9am-6pm host: Adelaide University Geological Society (AUGS) where: Clare Valley

6th june

Event: An Afternoon of Civil Discord time: 12pm host: Adelaide University Society For Creative Anachronism where: TBC (Maths Lawn)

11th june

Event: Republican Club Queen’s Birthday BBQ time: 12-3pm host: Adelaide University Republican Club where: Barr Smith Lawns -----------------------------Event: Scrub Crawl [Semester 1] time: 7pm host: Adelaide Nursing Students’ Society where: Adelaide CBD

15th june

Event: Science and Engineering Challenge Volunteering time: 8am-3pm host: Adelaide University Rotaract Club where: Festivals Functions Centre, Findon Road, Findon

Things To Do Adelaide U puts all Adelaide University events in one Facebook group for your convenience. Our creation was inspired by our clubs, who work tirelessly to enrich the UofA student experience for all of us. During this time, we have witnessed how deeply you can be part of the community here, but you can’t engage with what you don’t know about. So when you wonder, “What’s On?”, we hope to be there with all the Things To Do At Adelaide U.

27th june

Event: Science and Engineering Challenge Volunteering time: 8:30am-4:30pm host: Frahns Farm Tree Planting where: Frahns farm, Monarto

2nd july

Event: Semester 1 AVSA PubCrawl time: 7pm host: Adelaide Veterinary Students Association where: Begin at Belgin beer cafe

9th july

Event: Arts Ball 2021 - A Midwinter’s Nights Dream time: 7pm host: Arts Students Association where: The Howling Owl fee: $100

17th july

Event: Hermans Hnefatafl time: 1-5pm host: Adelaide University Society For Creative Anachronism where: Hartley Building

28th july

Event: SUBMIT FOR YOUR FAVOURITE PUBCRAWL SHIRT time: 1pm host: Adelaide University Geological Society (AUGS) where: Online

9

Oscar Zi Shao Ong SRC President

The situation in Myanmar continues to be concerning. I am pleased to confirm that Myanmar students may request assessment extensions under the MACA policy and be allowed to delay paying their course fees after advocating to the university. The SRC and university are here to support you through this difficult time. The International Student Support can be contacted on 8313 4828. Counselling Support is also available at: please call 8313 5663 to arrange an appointment. I am also working with the Council of International Students (CISA) to call for travel exemptions and extensions of visa for Myanmar students.

src President

If you have any concerns about the implementation of ProctorU, read the FAQ! I have worked with the university since last year to ensure the best outcome for our students. This has actually resulted in ProctorU not being used last semester because my concerns weren’t able to be addressed by the university at that time. Contact AskAdelaide if you have course specific questions (i.e. if it’s open-booked or closed book etc). If you are still concerned and can’t find any alternative space, you can always contact Student Care at studentcare@ adelaide.edu.au which will be able to provide independent advice on the steps you can take.

I am also working closely with the university on the response to the Student Experience Survey. I am looking into the possibility of having a more instant feedback process rather than waiting for SELT results. Ensuring issues regarding courses are resolved with accountability is also one of my major focuses.

I hear the concerns of Waite students needing a social bar space on the campus and I encourage you to continue to make your voice heard! I have met with some university staff and students and am actively advancing discussions to hopefully make it a reality soon.

Our international students that are overseas, I have not forgotten you! I am continuously working with the university and CISA, to ensure we can have you join us here in SA. I am also running a campaign and advocating for you in media, as well as state and federal government to make this a reality.

Questions/suggestions about the SRC/university? You are always welcome to email me or send me a message through social media! oscarzishao.ong@adelaide.edu.au WeChat ID: oscarong1997

10

state of the union

Hello all, Time flies – and exam period is around the corner again. In this slightly stressful time, it is even more important to take care of yourself and others. You are almost there!

Of course, striving to provide you excuses for procrastination and destination of study breaks, the union is arranging a series of events to entertain you.

The long-waited Artland, for one, will roll out on the week of June 7th in Hub as usual, featuring clay workshops, collage, keychain making and more! Our members lunch and breakfast club are also serving as usual – the first one on May 31st and latter Tuesday to Friday – so grab a bite to refill your energy.

Many important dates and weeks also lie in May – on May 17th we have celebrated IDAHOBIT day at university and around the world. The rainbow chain once again proudly hands in Hub Central, displaying our dedication against discrimination towards the LGBTQIA+ community. Later in the month, reconciliation week will be on from May 27th to June 3rd. Again in the Hub, the “sea of hands” will be displayed and everyone is welcomed to contribute by writing a message in support of a more unified Australia. Moreover, the story of one of Australia’s most renowned actors, Yolngu man David Gulpilil’s story will be shared on the big screen at the Palace Nova Eastend Cinema. Register through the link in student news if you are interested.

Inclusion and acknowledgement are important to our community and we want to make sure everyone feels safe. The AUU Board recently passed a motion deeming a risk assessment necessary upon request for large-scale club events, in order to provide you events that are safer. Club executives will also be requested to complete relevant SASH training if required. The university is currently developing an online course that, once released, will be free for all students and will provide relevant information on safety and consent.

Finally, as we closely watch the situation in Victoria unfold, another reminder to everyone to stay safe. No matter if you are coming in for tutorial, catching up with friends or just cramming, always sanitise your hands and keep social distance when you can. We have to do our best to stop the spread.

That’s it from me – stay safe and happy, and think about the holiday after all the assignments!

Angela Qin 2021 AUU President 11

VOX?

pop!

Tilly Simmonds Psychological Sciences/International Relations 4th year 1. Hot cups of tea on frosty mornings.

2. Maybe getting on top of uni work and internships, but also finally dedicating enough time to properly understanding the plot of Jane the Virgin Season 5.

3. Building mini Lego sets. I have, like, 17 cars and it’s becoming a problem.

4. Koko Black in Rundle Mall or Larry and Ladd on Grenfell Street.

Katerina Grympa Laws/Environmental Policy and Management 5th year 1. SOUP... and feeling less sweaty when riding my bike around.

2. Relief from the incessant, impending sense of doom that takes over me when studying law.

3. Can I say masturbating? Or agreeing to do random tasks like OnDit Vox Pop. 4. Hot chocolate: Steven ter Horst, Rundle Street.

Coffee: Café Troppo, Whitmore Square.

12

1. What’s your favourite thing about Winter?

2. What’re you most looking forward to about mid-year break?

3. What’s your favourite way to procrastinate?

4. Where can you find the best hot chocolate or coffee in Adelaide?

Chas Davis International Relations 3rd year 1. The weather in Winter is always more favourable than in Summer because you can always put more clothes on than you can remove.

2. Enjoying the student experience without the student workload.

3. To organise all my work without completing any of it.

4. My dentist told me to stop consuming too much sugar — it gives me cavities. So no hot chocolate for me.

Tiah Bullock Bachelor of Arts Advanced 3rd year 1. Truly, I love going to the pub at wintertime – the cold walk to the tram, knowing you’ll soon be rugged up, shoulder-to-shoulder with your friends, drinking wine by some dimly lit heater. I think there’s something really lovely about that.

2. There’re a number of things, but mainly having the time to work on other projects.

3. I love a walk. Walks are underrated in my opinion.

More often than not, they then motivate me to do things that need my attention.

4. Ah, see I’m still trying to figure this out for myself.

Crux is definitely up there, though. So is The Rose Café, Queen of Tarts and The Organik.

13

econ dit

Words By MAX DOUGLAS, ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY ECONOMICS CLUB

Becoming a homo economicus In the late 18th century a new species began to emerge. Its emergence coincided with the rapid structural changes to economies around the world, and its behaviour would influence innumerable generations of economists and sociologists. Such a creature was not identified by a zoologist, nor a botanist, but by the mere social scientist. This creature?

The homo economicus. The rational, maximising, lonesome and isolated individual who, by all accounts, will consume ad infinitum, because as we all know, the marginal utility of consumption is always and everywhere positive.

While the purported father of economics, Adam Smith, wrote of the homo economicus in his Wealth of Nations, and countless others in the classical political economy tradition have speculated on the taxonomy of this particular creature, the best known assessment of homo economicus and what would become its parent discipline comes from John Stuart Mill in 1836: “[Economics] is only concerned with [them] solely as a being who desires to possess wealth, and is capable of judging the comparative efficacy of means for obtaining that end”. Such a characterisation of the post-industrial revolution individual has remained the dominant understanding of most, if not all, behaviour pertaining to consumption and production for the last 200 years.

As a heuristic tool, our understanding of the homo economicus has been

incredibly fruitful. Breakthroughs in microeconomics have depended upon and refined these classical assumptions, and we would certainly not be able to model the macroeconomy without certain expectations about individual behaviour. The primacy of, and our dependence upon the behaviour of the homo economicus has even spawned an entire sub-discipline; that of behavioural economics, which explores holes in our understanding of economic rationality. Notwithstanding the recent contributions of behavioural economics to the field, it may be useful to explore the question, does the homo economicus actually exist? And if so, where and under what conditions?

Social scientists are often guilty of using students as experimental guinea pigs, and it would be a particular mistake to use economics students, whose entire educational experience has been devoted to the homo economicus’ eccentric behaviour, as experiment subjects to answer this question. In light of this, Joseph Henrich, chair of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University, and his co-authors, sought to empirically test the fundamental behavioural assumptions on traditional societies across the world. Their study, using subjects from small scale societies over 5 continents, concluded that “the canonical model is not supported in any society studied”. The study further found that the notion of enlightened self-interest was always and everywhere, “systematically violated”, and that preferences over

economic choices are not exogenous but are in fact “shaped by the economic … interactions of everyday life”. In other words, our economic behaviour is bounded by social, political, and interpersonal norms, rather than innate self-interest.

Henrich continued his search for the homo economicus, and eventually identified assumption-consistent behaviour. Unfortunately, the homo economicus ended up being a chimpanzee. The canonical assumptions of economics were found to pertain to a completely different species.

While such a discovery would not, and ought not, undo centuries of work in the discipline, we should perhaps consider the implications of normalising the traits of the homo economicus as a baseline for all human behaviour. For instance, in the 1990’s, Robert Frank, Professor of Economics at Cornell, gave his students a range of assignments to measure their generosity, and found that the longer they’d studied economics, the more selfish they became. Similar studies identify a peculiar selfishness in students and practitioners of the discipline, and though this may be attributable to a selfselection bias, it appears to be driven by assumptions about the behaviour of others – that they, too, will behave in their rational self-interest.

Does the pious Christian believe because the expected utility of salvation is greater than that of damnation? Does a spouse marry their beloved because the expected discounted future gain is greater than the counter-factual (See Becker 1973, A Theory of Marriage)?

Do we donate our time and resources solely in the pursuit of the ‘warm glow’ effect? And does a parent sacrifice their life for their child in the hope of some post-mortem non-corporeal reciprocity?

Probably not.

Let us celebrate the intellectual triumphs and breakthroughs attributable to our understanding of the homo economicus, and most importantly, let us celebrate their tangible impacts on development, equity and efficiency around the world.

It would be a mistake, however, for our assumptions of the homo economicus to become normative. We should maintain an appreciation of, but keep a distance from, the homo economicus. It should remain an object of our study, but not of our imitation. While Oscar Wilde affirmed that “life imitates art”, the homo economicus is certainly no work of art.

“our economic be-

haviour is bounded by social, political, and interpersonal norms, rather than innate self-interest.”

Rural Student Voice

GMOs — —A A Country Country GMOs Perspective Perspective GMOs! Genetically Modified Organisms! As a country kid I am often reluctant to preach my standpoint on modern agricultural practices, particularly on campus where some of Adelaide university students are passionately vegan, vegetarian or have organic diets. My family has 1800 acres on the Eyre Peninsula with the main products being cereals, legumes and canola. In order to have the most success possible our farm sprays our crops with various types of chemicals such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, trace elements as well as spreading snail bait. Where GMOs come into relevance for my family farm is with different varieties of canola. Each year the rotations on the farm change. This means that a paddock will not have the same type of crop every year. This is a useful process because it ensures that the weeds are better kept in check and the soil does not become exhausted. The general rotation for all of our paddocks are as follows: beans>canola>wheat>wheat.

Until recently the GM canola was prohibited in SA. Now my family uses a variant of Roundup Ready (RR) canola. This year my dad decided to change the cropping rotation from beans to canola as canola prices hit $726 per ton. This was in the top 90% of prices that growers receive.

Therefore only 10% of the time will we get to sell at that price. Previously this wouldn’t have been possible because the bean crops offer better rye grass control options

16

as bean crops allow for the use of various herbicides.

The two different families of chemicals are clethodim and buetroxidin (aka cletho and factor). Conventional canola can only withstand cletho and not factor.

Therefore ryegrass control is more difficult for conventional canola than in bean crops. Whereas the RR canola provides opportunities for effective grass and broadleaf weed control enabling growers a sustainable and lucrative crop type, which is especially useful as it is a currently highly priced crop.

Genetically modified organisms are produced through gene sequencing processes which take genetic traits from one organism and transfer them to a crop species where that trait would enhance production. In well-managed and environmentally sustainable circumstances these GM species pose no risk to native populations and consumers. The negative connotations of GMOs are in the realms of mutated 5 legged sheep and poisonous products but these fantasies are unfounded.

There have however been issues with GMOs. In 2010 farmers in WA had cross contamination when one farmer’s genetically modified canola seeds blew into the neighbour’s organic crop resulting in the organic grower losing certification over three quarters of his property. The WA Supreme Court ruled the resulting economic loss was not caused by negligence and the

Allergenicity is also a concern many express towards GM crops. The process of genetic modification often adds or mixes proteins that are not native to a species, and thus may trigger new allergic reactions in the human body (Lehrer & Bannon, 2005).

People also hold concern in relation to the negative effect that transferred genetic material can have on human health, whilst this concern is very unlikely to actually eventuate.

are on either side of the fence.

illustration by dean plesa

once organic farmer now faces losing his farm. The co-existence of GM crops and organic crops has not yet been perfected and cross contamination remains an issue.

Words By ROSS KEARSLEY

Thanks for reading this article on GMOs. I hope you’ve learnt something whether you

17

international Student voice

Words and Interview by Ngoc Lan Tran

A year in Wuhan

18

Emily is an international student from Wuhan. In late 2019, she travelled back home to celebrate Lunar New Year with her family, whom she had not seen for over a year. For many Chinese, this is a special occasion where families are reunited, hongbaos are exchanged, and blessings and good wishes are made. It is a time of felicitation and joy.

Little did Emily know that her city was to be the epicentre of a global pandemic in the following months. All the panic and last-minute shopping that Adelaide went through before lockdown, Emily had experienced first hand: “Chinese authorities shut down the entire city in rapid speed. Overnight, streets are empty and people are

forbidden to enter and leave Wuhan.

Frustration overwhelmed me, and for the first time I have never felt so helpless, scared, and shocked.

Everyone was worried about the many uncertainties lying ahead.

People were buying up all the food at supermarkets and it was hard to get a mask, either from online or offline stores.”

Along with the lockdown of Wuhan was a long delay of Emily’s plans. She had planned an exchange trip to The University of Leeds, one of the most prestigious in the UK for training and researching in education. She also had plans to finish her compulsory placements, which must take place in Australia.

Instead, new challenges arise with online learning:

“Unlike Australia, we have to connect to a virtual proxy network (vpn) to visit Google and other foreign websites, but vpn can be unstable. Time zone difference is not a big deal for me, but I was under pressure of get good marks and interacting with classmates. As all courses are taught online, we have less opportunity to interact with classmates and face to face communications with professors.”

Emily is a great friend of mine. We first met sitting next to each other in an Asian studies course called Beyond Asian Ecological Crises. We bonded over mutual interests in yoga and desserts.

Emily worked at a café where the most scrumptous cupcakes are made, and she sometimes brought me a few of those before tutes. I remembered vividly this one time when we ignored a public holiday and just went to uni to study together. I was going through a traumatic incident, and Emily embraced and comforted me and said everything was gonna be okay.

I really wish I could comfort her the same way she once comforted me. Yet, the geographical distance between us means that either Emily had to use a VPN (virtual private network) to send me a message on Facebook, or I had to download WeChat to stay in touch.

We were texting when Emily announced joyfully that she might be able to come back by the end of 2020. The international student repatriation project was in the works in South Australia.

Finally, there was some hope. At the time, Wuhan had made incredible progress with fighting the virus, and life was almost back to normal.

Yet again, hopes were stifled. The program was deferred, once in November because of a 3-day lockdown in Adelaide, and then once again in February as clusters appeared in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland. This time, the

delay was indefinite.

This was a devastating blow for Emily.

She has maintained her studies online and got an early invitation from the university to study a Masters of Teaching.

If only the program did not require her to study in-person or on the Adelaide campus. If only she could fly back, she could have had a chance to begin a new chapter in her academic career.

It has now been one year and three months since Emily stayed back in her home city. Her studies are in limbo. She could not graduate from her Bachelors degree without finishing the compulsory placement in Adelaide, but neither could she move on to her Masters degree. The only option left for her is to take a gap year, but she is very optimistic about it: “I am proud of taking a gap year. I have never thought of it before the coronavirus. I was afraid of it at first.

Most Chinese students do not welcome a gap year like Australians do. I’m scared of finishing my degree later than my Chinese peers, of not being able to catch up with studies, of having difficulty finding jobs. Considering the high tuition fees for online courses, I postponed my Master’s until the end of 2021.

“But look on the bright side - the gap year provides an opportunity for me to find out more about myself. I’m so fortunate to have open-minded parents supporting my decision. I realize that I can do much more with my life than just studying. I can work in many fields and go find out what I want. I have always wanted to learn yoga, so I signed up for a yoga training class that actually helped me become a yoga instructor. It’s a miracle, because I never had any confidence in sports!

“After registering with yoga alliance as a certified trainer, I began working as a preschool teacher in a well-known school in Wuhan. I teach English, Science, Arts, and even PE to 5-and-6-year-old students!”

19

Sex and the (Small) City The The heart heart wants wants what what it it fucks fucks

WORDS BY emelia haskey

A critique of this dating column could be that I focus too much on dating advice for single people, rather than those already in relationships. To them I say, you will spend most of your life being single, you will be buried in a (single) grave, and people in relationships get too much attention anyway. And what’s wrong with the single life? I just overspent on a four-hour session at the hair salon and have taken to drinking white wine on the couch every Friday night. I’ve never been happier!

But I digress. I’m using this issue’s column to muse on unrequited love.

2020

For many (myself included), sex with no strings attached sounds very promising until the oxytocin hormone hits the brain, and you start planning your windswept marriage in the Scottish countryside after one session under the sheets. Usually with someone who – most of the time – you’ve known for about two days and does a very average Seinfeld impersonation. Realistically, not exactly someone you’d actually work out with. However, the heart wants what it fucks, and all too often we end up pining over a grand illusion of a guy who, simply put, is cringe.

On far worse occasions, you can find yourself falling for someone who may have some redeeming qualities, with this horrible creeping

attachment building up slowly over time like the flu (or COVID). Even I must admit, there is something quite lovely about, well, being in love. The butterflies in your stomach when they enter the room, the slightly too long eye contact, the song on your playlist that reminds you of them.

But the cold splash of rejection can put a very literal damper on your blossoming feelings of romance.

I have had so many unrequited infatuations I’ve lost count. The gift of hindsight has shown me that many of those men I once held a candle for were (surprisingly to only me) a bit shit on closer look. Fatal flaws have included: being a stupol hack, an obsession with Infinite Jest, and anyone I was attracted to during high school. Truly terrifying.

Whilst no vaccination can prevent you from the cold hard grip of infatuation, I couldn’t help but wonder…. if you can’t avoid falling in love, can you fall out of it without contracting a bad case of disappointment?

There are two different methods for approaching this situation, depending on the person involved. If it’s bad Seinfeld impression person – it can be a little bit easier. The first thing to do after you have that solid rejection is unfriend (or block), mute your social media, and take a sabbatical from any dating apps you may have

“

sex with no strings attached sounds very promising until the oxytocin hormone hits the brain.”

installed. Cut the flow of oxytocin this person provides for you as soon as possible and aim for some quality time with your friends or loved ones to remind you of the people who are always there for you. Sometimes, if the rejection didn’t sting and you get along well, you can make the transition from hook-up to genuine friend. But approach this method with caution!

This may turn your attraction from a small spark to a terrifying, out of control flame. If that happens, it’s time for method two.

In circumstances where there has been a long built-up attraction to someone you’ve set your heart on, more severe action is needed.

When you cannot unfriend them without making things worse, restricting what you can see of their account, clearing old messages, and taking a breather from social events they’re involved in is the first step. Getting back on the dating scene after the initial let down can come next, with the pleasant reminder that there are other people who would very much like to be involved with you being quite soothing. Especially if the person you have feelings for has a partner. Rather than fantasising

about how you could swoop in after they break up, remind yourself of how much break ups suck – for everyone involved. The third and final step requires a lot of breakup music and possibly a close friend, the laying out of why things may not have worked out between you even if you had ended up dating. There’s no better reality check than hard facts.

Unfortunately, you are legally bound to have at least one unrequited love scenario during your lifetime, so you might as well make the best of it. I recommend Alanis Morrissette’s album Jagged Little Pill, and giving yourself a break. Have you considered overspending on a haircut?

21 21

LEFT CENTRE

RIGHT

TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT, RAPE, and WAR THEMES

1. Why has the Federal Liberal government failed to follow the example of Premier Steven Marshall in his removal of Sam Duluk from the government bench and the Party Room, towards members like Andrew Laming and Christian Porter?

2. Now that the War in Afghanistan is old enough to be in its second year of university, what do you think of the withdrawal of troops from there by the US president Joe Biden?

3. After the crushing victory for the Premier in Western Australia's state election the Liberals have been relegated to the cross bench in the lower house, being replaced in opposition by the Nationals. Which parties would you like to replace either of the major parties on the government or opposition benches?

LEFT: Socialist Alternative 1. Allegations of rape and sexual assault within the liberal party, and the following inaction has sparked huge protests across the country. The March 4 Justice targeted the culture of sexism that has been revealed to be endemic in parliaments across the country. The movement has led to more people feeling confident to come forward with their stories and has driven the limited action that has occurred.

It is a good thing that Sam Duluk has been ejected from Australian politics and is under investigation for his grossly sexist behaviour.

But Sam Duluk, Andrew Laming and Christan Porter are all symptoms of a deeper problem.

There is a disgusting culture of toxic sexism embedded in both the major political parties in this country. These cultures have emerged in these elite institutions for the same reason the sexism of Peter Rathjen was hidden for so long. People in these institutions are socialised in the same sexist private schools and colleges.

Any institution in which people look down on and enact control

22

over the lives of others on a mass scale will be a breeding ground for sexism and other oppressive ideas. We should fight to ensure that sexists in positions of power are held to account, but when those positions of power are built on the architecture of oppression we have to realize that the only way to solve the problem is to tear it down.

2. The War in Afghanistan has killed 47,000+ non-combatants.

The inhuman brutality of this violence is also often kept secret and only revealed through leaks such as the Afghan files. We were told in 2001 by Bush, and have been continuously assured by following US presidents, that the war has been necessary to defeat terrorism and establish democracy. The war in Afghanistan has failed on both fronts; the Taliban is the strongest it has ever been since the 2001 invasion, having grown in strength over the 20-year war.

Despite the fact 50,000 Taliban combatants have been killed, including many leading figures,

the Taliban now controls 75 of Afghanistan’s 400 regions and continues to gain strength in rural areas. The project of building democracy in Afghanistan has also been a dismal failure.

Investigative reporters and the US government’s own reports have found that each of the four “elections” that have taken place since the US invasion have been characterised by widespread and systematic fraud. But that barely scratches the surface of the farce of US “democracy” in Afghanistan. Corruption runs billions of dollars deep, and key political institutions are largely unaccountable. US intervention in Afghanistan has never been about protecting or empowering Afghans and has created more monsters than it has slain. The withdrawal of troops is long overdue, but will do little to solve the problems the US has already created. However, Biden who has been a long-term supporter of the war and who called it a “just cause” — even as he announced the withdrawal — is not doing so for any reason besides his

commitment to US imperialism which now calls for a pivot towards China.

3. They all suck, but the Greens suck the least. Labor’s WA, like other states, faces major social issues such as the expansion of the fossil fuel industry and a severe hospital ramping crisis.

In reality the solution to these problems will not be found on the crossbench. We have to look outside parliament to the mass action of ordinary people to enact real change.

23

LEFT CENTRE

RIGHT

TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT, RAPE, and WAR THEMES

1. Why has the Federal Liberal government failed to follow the example of Premier Steven Marshall in his removal of Sam Duluk from the government bench and the Party Room, towards members like Andrew Laming and Christian Porter?

2. Now that the War in Afghanistan is old enough to be in its second year of university, what do you think of the withdrawal of troops from there by the US president Joe Biden?

3. After the crushing victory for the Premier in Western Australia's state election the Liberals have been relegated to the cross bench in the lower house, being replaced in opposition by the Nationals. Which parties would you like to replace either of the major parties on the government or opposition benches?

CENTRE: Labor Club 1. Scott Morrison has not removed Laming or Porter from his government because, without their crucial votes, his government would officially be in ‘minority’ government, which reflects poorly on the current administration. Regarding Marshall’s decision, it may be a matter of principle that he cannot accept potential scandals in his administration and is not afraid of going into minority government to prove this point. Or, and I accept that this a deeply cynical view, may have been done to increase his internal support within Parliament, as both Sam Duluk and Fraser Ellis (who was charged by ICAC over regional accommodation allowances and voluntarily suspended his membership) are from the conservative faction within the Liberal Party. Their removals mean that Marshall’s moderate faction has more influence in the party room. The fact that Scott Morrison has chosen not to, or in fact cannot, control his party reflects the entrenched culture of sexism in the Federal

24

LNP. Whether it’s alleged sexual assault of staffers, bullying of female MPs or a broad failure to support women in the party, it’s crystal clear that the LNP is not on the side of women.

2. While it’s certainly an admission of defeat for an incomplete job, given the astronomical cost involved, both in currency and in lives, it could well be argued that it’s time that the US, with the other Coalition forces in tow, cuts their losses and moves on.

3. Ideally, we’d have all the seats in Parliament so that ‘Question Time’ just became ‘Dorothy Dixer Time’.

RIGHT: Liberal Club 1. The nature of this question makes it impossible for the Club to answer. We’re not the Federal Government.

2. The events that have unfolded over the last two decades have been extremely unfortunate and the withdrawal of US troops is a significant step for the country to move forward with a focus on rebuilding their nation. The people of Afghanistan have suffered tremendous loss over the last two decades, with sources pointing towards upwards of 40,000 civilian casualties. It is important to recognise that finalizing the withdrawal of troops by President Biden had largely bi-partisan support across US politics, including former President Donald Trump. The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has also been positively received worldwide, with Australia’s troops also following suit and withdrawing.

disappointing, allows the party to reset and move forward. The situation in Western Australian politics is now very concerning.

The Labor party, led by a powerhungry Mark McGowan, now has the ability to run government with no cross-checks, review processes or accountability. The actions of the McGowan government since recent re-election have shown a significant need for representation of non-Labor parties in the state to increase, to force the McGowan government to make more rational and evidencebased decisions.

3. The defeat of the Liberal party at the polls of the Western Australian election, whilst

25

Adelaide University Swing Dancing Club Adelaide University Swing Dancing Club Adelaide University Swing Dancing Club

CLUB SPOTLIGHT Who is your club targeted at?

Anyone looking to try out some dancing in a fun and welcoming environment!

Our club is targeted at Uni students but we are open to all ages and dance skill levels.

We cover basic dance steps, technique and concepts each class – so you can drop in any time to give it a go.

Each week covers a different dance style or set of moves, so it’s also ideal for regular attendees to progress their learning over the year.

What sort of events do you hold and what can we expect to see this semester?

In addition to weekly classes we host movie nights, pub crawls, free come & try classes, live music and social dancing nights. We recently held a live Zoom class with an international instructor something positive to come out of Covid and a way to support those around the globe still in lockdown!

Classes this semester will cover a mix of partnered and solo styles - Lindy Hop, Charleston and Tap. Our upcoming event is our movie night, so stay tuned for more info.

Why should students join the swing dancing club?

We are a friendly, welcoming bunch and are here to have fun and share our love of dancing with you! If you’ve been keen to try out some dancing and don’t know where to start or feel nervous, this is a style that

is suitable for everyone - no matter your skill level or dance experience. Swing is danced to jazz music and covers styles from the 1920’s to the 1940’s including Lindy Hop, Charleston, Blues, Tap, Vernacular Jazz, Shag and Balboa. We do our best to always honour and acknowledge the Black American creators of swing dancing and want to keep their dance styles alive and active today.

Are there any swing dancers who inspire you?

So many! Felipe Braga is a dancer based in Berlin, Germany and he is such an inspirational and passionate dancer and teacher. Some of the original swing era dancers who inspire us are Frankie Manning and Norma Miller.

Frankie was one of the swing dancing pioneers and was an amazing choreographer and performer, known for his contagious smile and laugh.

Norma was a passionate dancer who loved jazz music and her focus was on feeling the beat and the rhythm.

Check them all out on YouTube if you want to see a taste of swing dancing!

What are the health benefits of swing dancing?

We believe dancing is the best form of exercise – it’s so fun you won’t even realise you’re exercising! Swing dancing is a style that is energetic and a great cardio workout. Dancing helps to increase muscle tone, strength and coordination. It

also has many positive effects on mental and emotional wellbeing due to the social aspects – come learn a new skill and challenge your brain, meet new people or come along with friends!

What are some of your favourite tunes to dance to?

Naomi & Her Handsome Devils – Pennies from Heaven Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie – Shiny Stockings Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares for Me

Year club started: 2005 Current President: Sophie Davis Meeting Times and Locations: Weekly classes 8pm-9pm, Irene Watson Room (Level 5 Union House)

sustainabili-dit

`

WORDS BY Mariana Cortes, Adelaide Sustainability Association

Let’s Let’s Talk Talk About: About: Sustainability Sustainability and and Food Food Choices Choices

28 28

In the past decade there has been a tremendous shift in the way we think about the environmental impact of food. It’s become kind of hard to avoid thinking about this topic with research constantly reminding us that our food choices will directly contribute more or less to global warming. From the intense use of resources required to breed cattle, to the greenhouse emissions released from the transportation of our fruit and vegetables — oh, and you can’t forget the additional methane release associated with food waste in landfills... It’s a lot to think about! According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, throwing away a single burger wastes the same amount of water as taking a 90-minute shower. As people are becoming more educated on how food choices contribute to the severity of an individual’s carbon footprint, it appears as though more of us are progressively making more environmentally conscious dietary choices. The rise of the vegan movement (which I’m sure most people are familiar with) is the perfect example of how demand for more ‘eco-friendly’ food choices has altered our diets.

This can be seen in the popularisation of vegan products, vegan restaurants, as well as the increased technological innovation resulting in more and more vegan alternatives. Now, stay with me; I don’t want to scare you off by making it seem like I’m pushing you into veganism (but look, I can recommend some TASTY options so do hmu). However, I would like to open up a conversation about our diet choices and whether we are focusing on the right aspect of food consumption as

we try to stop the fall of our dying planet.

I myself had previously partaken in the vegan movement, but as I began my journey into tertiary education and acquired a better grasp of how the real world works (sad), I became cognizant of the fact that nothing is ever one-dimensional, and two people’s experiences of something will never be identical. My individual experience has led me to believe that eating a mainly plant-based diet, with a focus on supporting local businesses that participate in eco-friendly agriculture, is a viable option for me. Still, I am aware that this is not something that is in everyone’s reach, for whatever reason this may be — but sometimes, it is simply an option that people will instead actively reject.

The reality is that as humans we have become accustomed to a certain way of living, so just because I’m willing to give up eating meat does not mean that everyone around me is willing to do the same — yes, it would be ideal for the planet, but people don’t work like that.

Food has a greater meaning that we don’t often think about, and I think that this is why in some instances it is so hard for people to change their food habits.

Apart from its nutritional significance, food plays an integral role in people’s lives. Food gives people a reason to get together, it is a means of celebration, a representation of culture, and in some occasions, it is even a symbol of wealth and status. Food is something so integral to human identity, but I think somewhere along the line we became a little

disconnected to it. Each person should have freedom in their food choices, and I think this is completely adequate as long as choices are being made mindfully.

The concept of “mindfulness” regarding food may sound a little odd, and if it does then I think it proves my point: we have all become disconnected to our food and the means of food production to the point where we don’t see its value, which results in senseless overconsumption and waste. It is important to recognise that from an environmental point of view, the consumption of meat

continue eating meat, then try and be conscious of how many times per week you consume it. Perhaps try to source it from ethical suppliers that partake in sustainable practices. Similarly, if you’re on a plant-based diet, but are letting veggies rot at the bottom of your fridge (I’m talking to that soggy bag of baby spinach), then perhaps you need to think of a new strategy so there is less food waste in your household. Once again, everyone should do what they can based on their individual circumstances; some of us can do more than others, but individual efforts from everyone can make a significant difference in

“If the public demand for more sustainable agricultural practices increased, then maybe over time it could become more attainable for more people as it becomes the norm?”

or animal products in general is not inherently bad. Rather, it is the systems enabling the mass production of these products that is bringing harm to the environment. I am talking about the environmental impact of agricultural systems designed for the mass production of goods, and not the ethics behind killing animals for food which is subjective from person to person, and a whole other topic entirely. The mass production of food (particularly in the Global North) is resulting in readily available foods of any kind, available at reasonable prices, has made us see food as dispensable— which in a way it is, but at a cost to the environment.

the grand scheme of things. If the public demand for more sustainable agricultural practices increased, then maybe over time it could become more attainable for more people as it becomes the norm? If we are in a position to choose how we want our choices to impact the planet, then why not go for the more environmentally friendly option?

If we don’t act now, we won’t even get the option to pick. We will be too busy worrying about how to survive the next global catastrophe — and I don’t know about you, but I have had my lifetime dose of that thanks to our beloved COVID-19.

We should always be conscious of how our food is sourced. If you want to

29

A Brief Analysis of Life from a Cosmic Nihilist

We are all the same. Everything in this universe is just a different assortment of protons, neutrons and electrons with varying energy levels. While this means that truly we are all connected to everything, both organic and synthetic, it also means that I am every saint and every sinner from every age and moment. I am the primordial soup of the beginning of life and the flying cars of the future

Words by Annabel Fedcesin 30

Time is nothing but a measure of decay and growth, of one thing becoming another, changing shape, form and use. A human construct. I am stardust. I am shit. Whoever I was and will be - I am and will have always been. This is both a comfort and a disturbance

31 31

Now that we're men, we can do anything Now that we're men, we are invincible

“My friend had an existential awakening

a couple of years ago whilst watching The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004), likely with the assistance of certain substances. ” My friend had an existential awakening a couple of years ago whilst watching The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004), likely with the assistance of certain substances. It’s easy to recognise this as a kind of formative work for my generation, but through a certain viewpoint it can potentially be seen as a revelatory and defining text in regards to its exploration of masculinity. The Spongebob Squarepants Movie seems to hold the key to some truth about the idea of a ‘man’, maybe specifically in the modern age, but perhaps in all the ages.

There is much to think about here.

SpongeBob and Patrick continuously lament their lack of manhood, the fact that they are nothing but children, and that this renders them incapable of succeeding in life. The promise of promotion at The Krusty Krab is a signifier of recog-

32

nition of one’s manliness, something to be strived for above anything else (the dynamic between boss and employee, especially as a depiction of masculine power structures, is a fascinating one).

King Triton is mocked repeatedly (to the point of self-awareness) for his baldness, a common focus of ridicule for men, and the most heavily emphasised quality of his crown - the ultimate and most coveted symbol of his status - is its ability to cover up his baldness. And then of course there’s the moment where all of this is brought to the very fore, when SpongeBob and Patrick are turned into ‘men’ by a mermaid simply by having fake moustaches made of seaweed applied to their faces, rejoicing in song. ‘Now that we’re men,’ they sing, ‘we’re tough enough to save the day! We never had a chance when we were kids...but take a look at what that mermaid did!’

and Masculinity

THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE

One or two more transgressive images towards the end: the weeping pirates, otherwise archetypes of a kind of hardened, toxic masculinity, succumbing to genuine tenderness and sentiment; and Patrick Star in fishnets and high heels, which should seem dismissible as just a dated sight gag of questionable taste.

But in all honesty? Seems kind of loaded here, given everything I’ve just written about.

But this is all only one perspective one can bring to The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, a film of greater cultural import than many would acknowledge but few could argue with. Since the early days of Looney Tunes - and surely before then - cartoonery has been the dwelling-place of the metatextual, and the multiplexes of the early 2000s were awash with such coded mythologies.

Nevertheless, the world seems to have

been changed fundamentally, almost imperceptibly, by this movie’s release and subsequent home video thrashings that were imprinted on children everywhere. It is we who are the sponge, and we are still absorbing the full weight of this film.

WORDS BY Shea Gallagher

The idea of a ‘man’ then proves to be exactly that - an idea, state of mind, and in fact all men are just children who crave validation in some way, be it from their employers or from a mermaid, and all it takes to achieve this is something as stupid as a piece of seaweed. Would the postmodern (post-ironic?) gag of David Hasselhoff literally using his body - a totem of peak masculine performance - as a vessel for our heroes strike the same strange chord if it weren’t for all this talk of what makes a man? The journey of SpongeBob and Patrick, perhaps surprisingly, is not to reject their childhood and become men (though SpongeBob does indeed get that promotion) but to accept and embrace their infantility. ‘Now That We’re Men’ becomes ‘I’m A Goofy Goober’, and they are no less heroic, no less confident, no less content for it. The film erodes this myth of manliness while simultaneously acknowledging the characteristics that make up the very idea.

33

Budget Budget2021: 2021:The TheLow-Down Low-Down ‘Australia is coming back’ and our ‘economic engine is roaring back to life’ Treasurer Josh Frydenberg declares, as applause and cries of ‘hear, hear’ echo across the backbench. Announcements on packages for aged care, mental health, infrastructure and childcare follow, as well as tax offsets and (unsurprisingly) cuts to the welfare system.

But to sum up this year’s federal budget up in one word: meh. Frydenberg’s third budget was nothing short of uninspiring.

Rather than ‘securing Australia’s recovery’, it appears the Coalition are more focused on securing ScoMo’s re-election, by greatly increasing the deficit, a course of action which they openly campaigned against in the wake of the GFC.

What is the federal budget anyway?

We can think of the federal budget a like a household budget but for the entire country AND worth a lot more money – each year the government has to plan where money is coming in and where it’s going out. The Treasurer presents an outline of the economic outlook and forward estimates to the House of Representatives on the hottest, wildest night of the year: Budget Night! Journalists are given some access to it beforehand in the infamous budget lock-up. In the courtyard of Parliament House, there’s even a ‘budget tree’ where the leaves turn crimson early May.

Highlights of this years budget This year’s budget saw a focus on lifting employment, with an unprecedented amount of spending set out to stimulate growth. It was clear that the government won’t be focussing on a budget repair until the unemployment rate has a ‘four in front of it’. In the meantime, Australia’s debt levels continue to rise, with the budget introducing virtually no savings measures.

34

There is no question that this budget is political, increasing and reducing spending in an effort to please everybody. For example, the government again delayed their scheduled tax-hikes, with the Treasurer announcing that ‘[t]he real beneficiaries of the tax cuts in tonight’s budget are the low and middle-income earners … They’re the tradie and the truckie and the teacher and the nurse who earn between $48,000 and $98,000.’ In other words, those voting in marginal seats.

Coined by the media as ‘the budget for women’, budget night saw the government give a red hot go at winning back women’s votes by providing a women’s health and economic security package worth $3.4 billion over four years. This was in stark contrast to the budget night of ‘hard hats’ we saw last year, which looked pretty grim for women. This year’s package includes $354 million for health, a billion for support to victims of family and domestic violence, and $1.7 billion in childcare subsidises to incentivise more women into the workforce.

However, many economists feel that the government still missed the mark. In the aged-care sector, the government promised a ‘generational change’ to the system, with $17.7 billion being pledged to reform over five years. But this is still significantly short of the $40 billion needed to implement the recommendations from the Royal Commission.

For young people like us, there’s not much to report. Beyond a few short-term announcements on lifting youth employment and skills, this year’s budget largely ignores some of the vital issues facing young people. Housing affordability, education and climate change were all topics largely overlooked in this year’s offering. There’s a bit of money for universities to create online learning resources for foreign stu-

However, the budget fails in setting out a sufficient plan to restore our fiscal buffers. In just over a decade, Australia has suffered two external shocks that have demanded massive government expenditure to save our economy. Given today’s economic and geopolitical turbulence, and the looming climate crisis, another costly growth-stopping crisis should not be ruled out. At some stage, this lingering deficit should be addressed. Many are therefore sceptical that the government will stick to their promises should they be re-elected. If they do, we could see a transformation of not only our economy, but the Australian Liberal Party.

students, but little else to support the sector. This blow was further exacerbated with the Treasurer confirming on Tuesday night that Australia’s border is likely to remain closed until mid-2022.

The government continues to back gas,

“Rather than ‘secur-

putting nearly $59 million towards new projects and infrastructure. As they’ve previously announced, there’s $1.26 billion for emerging technologies, including hydrogen projects, carbon capture and storage, and soil improvements. But there was nothing new for renewables, and no firm commitment as to when the government will achieve net zero emissions.

Deficit disaster?

Remember when the Coalition’s catch phrase was ‘Back in Black’? Well, this three-word slogan has well and truly been abandoned with the national debt set to head towards $1 trillion. This is not a bad thing. Economists are welcoming the change from the Milton Friedman mentality of small government. The Keynesian dictum of ‘look after the unemployment and the budget will look after itself’ is finally being embraced.

Proponents of modern monetary theory would not be phased by this, with the budget even stating that ‘there is a greater role for fiscal policy to drive unemployment down further to generate increases in wage growth and inflation, without generating excessive inflation’.

Words by the Adelaide University Economics Club.

ing Australia’s recovery’, it appears the Coalition are more focused on securing ScoMo’s re-election.”

If one thing can be ascertained from this budget, it’s that we’re definitely in an election year now. Get ready for November folks!

35 35

36

37

a post-mortem on TRIGGER WARNING: Rape, sexual assault, femicide

It’s been almost over a month since the March for Justice, an event that Abbey Kendall, director of the Working Women’s Centre described as a ‘reckoning’. But I have to ask What changes have been made since the march? And I have to answer – nothing.

When she denied a soldier’s advances, he pressed a dagger to her throat, and told her that if she did not sleep with him, he would kill her and a male slave and pose their bodies as if they had been caught in the act. With her honour destroyed either way – she submitted.

Since February, story after story has come out. Brittany, Kate and all these names that I’ll have to carry with me for the rest of my days. But as story after story comes out, I have to admit to myself that I am so sick of stories.

I’m sick of hearing them, I’m sick of telling them, and I am sick of people being shocked by them.

After the rape, she went to her husband and her father and told them what had happened. And then she killed herself. Rather than mourn her, they instead paraded her corpse through the streets, to demonstrate her virtue in death.

Academic Eleanor Glendinning argues that ‘stories of sexual violence against women serve as foundational myths of western culture’. And in the aftermath of the March, I have to wonder if these women, these victims, have become just another part of that myth. Just another story we tell ourselves about who we are.

Lucretia is one of the oldest stories about a woman raped. She was a Roman noblewoman and a devout wife.

38

I can’t help wondering if who we are in this story is not Lucretia, not the woman hurt, but her husband and father. If we are not marching another woman’s body through the street, not for her but for us. To prove our own victimhood, our own innocence.

Because when I watched the women marching through the city, holding meaningless signs like ‘I’m a slut for feminism’ and ‘This is my resisting bitch face’, standing side by side with other women’s abusers, I did not feel solidarity, nor sisterhood. I did not

feel their anger, nor their grief. When I saw MPs, smiling for photo ops, celebrated for their attendance just days after voting against the decriminalisation of abortion, I only felt betrayed.

This was no reckoning.

And all I can think about is the things we should have done. We should have painted the steps of parliament red. We should have slashed their tires, and occupied their offices. We should have burnt the cum-stained desks to the ground. We should have asked the female staffers who proclaim they ‘will no longer be keeping secrets’ why the hell they were keeping them in the first place. We should have spit their ‘accepted partially, or in principle’ back in their faces.

Standing still in the square. And it’s all just so hopeless because historically marching has won us nothing.

It is the white-washed story given to us,wrapped up in a pretty pink bow. It is to make us forget and it is to make us forsake the women who have fought, who have starved themselves, who have burned down buildings and who have actually resisted. It is the story given to us to make us swallow our anger and focus on licking wounds instead. It’s the only story I hear when they say, ‘enough is enough’. Because ‘enough is enough’ means absolutely nothing when the damage has already been done.

Enough is enough doesn’t mean a thing to the raped girl nor to the dead girl. Anger means something.

words by emily davidson

the women’s march

You need anger for a reckoning.

We should ask Michaela Cash how it feels to sit where he sat – if it makes her mother proud. The man who raped Kate should never feel safe in the city where she took her first steps ever again.

But instead we settled for marching.

39

Music That Left a Mark on History because the conservatives got mad There’s been iconic music that’s left a big impression on the world. But why is music often met with outrage from conservatives? From tweets about the sinful and satanic values songs hold, to calls for censorship to maintain public decency—music gets under the nerves of those with certain political views.

And though the same can occasionally be said about the left side of politics (with songs like Blurred Lines) this article will focus on the right-wing side of the political spectrum.

Censorship has heavily restricted music throughout history. Early in the 20th century, radio stations—the main distributor of music at the time—were strict with what they played. Anything deemed sexual or against god was guaranteed to be banned from airtime.

In the United States, Parental Advisory Explicit Content labels were introduced in 1985. There’s been much more restriction of music throughout history. But nowadays, music flows freely for the most part through the world of streaming.

Year after year, songs are released that stir controversy for a variety of reasons. Defamation, horrible vocals, or discussing topics some find immoral. Here are some of these songs that made waves while outraging the conservatives.

40 40

Loretta Lynn has been highly successful in the world of country music. Yet her songs were routinely banned from conservative country radios for singing about topics that didn’t align with their values. Her 1975 song The Pill was left waiting for three years before it could be released. The record label knew that a song advocating for oral contraceptives would not be well received. Plenty of radio stations banned it upon its release, yet Lynn saw victory with the song becoming a massive hit. Other songs of hers that were banned include First City, Rated X, and Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind).

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s WAP blew up music charts and the blood pressure of conservatives. Yet it also brought out the opinions of unqualified men, like Ben Shapiro, a conservative political commentator. In tweeting about how Megan and Cardi should seek medical care for the bucket and mop they need, the world got to know that he didn’t have any clue on how vaginas work. Quite sad really! No Mr Shapiro, they aren’t actually serious about needing a bucket and a mop for that wet ass pussy. Hopefully he knows there weren’t any big Mac trucks or little garages involved either. Condolences to his wife. Or not, seeing as Shapiro tweeted that his “doctor wife’s differential diagnosis” was “bacterial

vaginosis, yeast infection or trichomonas.” So maybe there should be a new version of WAP released—called DAP for all those who don’t believe a WAP is normal. And let’s add some proper sex education to the US education system while we’re at it.

Montero (Call Me by Your Name) was highly anticipated. Lil Nas X took a while release it. It’s understandable why. It stirred chaos. Pole dancing your way to hell and giving the devil a lap dance invokes deep anger from some religious folks—even if you kill Satan himself. So, you want to make sure you get the dance routine perfect. People have for long told the LGBTQIA+ community that they would go to hell for their sexuality. Yet when one finally did, they got mad. Soon the conservatives took to twitter accusing the Old Town Road singer of corrupting children.

Kaitlin Bennett added her two cents (the American gun activist who posed for graduation photos with an AR-10 rifle), leading to a spat in which she tweeted “do you still see your dad?” to which lil Nas said, “yep and I might fuck yours”. Bennett didn’t respond too well to that.

Artists having to make “clean” versions of songs just to be featured on radio and enduring terrible Kidz Bop versions of their work. Though restriction of music isn’t as bad as it used to be in places like Australia and the United States, there’s still pushback by certain groups for more restrictions.

Music is a creative outlet that enables expression and discussion. For songs like The Pill, WAP and Montero it enables discussion on topics that have been heavily stigmatised. It also allows for artists to explore their own experiences and in turn help others accept themselves.

Yet conservatives have pushed back against this, labelling them immoral and sinful. They often use religion as an excuse to try and bury the things they don’t like. Yet everyone follows different beliefs. What you find immoral is completely acceptable to another.

So why listen to music you don’t agree with? Why not avoid it and move on with life? There are more pressing issues facing the world than someone singing about how much they want to feel on someone’s ass in Hawaii.

Freedom of speech is highly valued to conservatives, until you speak about things they don’t like. Music is constantly criticised by them. Censorship has constantly taken away from songs.

words by Lakeisha Watkins 41 41

V

words by Sam Button and Ollie Kleinig Open your wallet and grab out a coin. Flip it to heads and you’ll see a familiar face: Queen Liz. As Australians, this is not shocking. British presence is a constant of Australian life. Yet, the humble fifty-cent coin is symbolic of the broader coercive control of the Monarchy: our own Aussie coat of arms pushed to the back while a foreign Royal Head takes prominence. Our values as Australians are compromised by our position below the Crown.

We, as Australians, espouse the notion of ‘fair go’. Everyone has the right to pursue an education, run for public office and practice a religion (this is the egalitarian ANZAC spirit).

Yet, our British head of state seems fundamentally incompatible with this Australian ideal. To be part of the Monarchy requires you be born into an extremely spoilt upper-class family where you are forced into Protestant Christianity and segregated from the common man by gilded palace walls. It is hard to imagine a lifestyle more removed from a classic Aussie backyard BBQ! Australia was founded on five Constitutional principles: democracy, the rule of law, federalism, nationhood, and universal rights (such as religious autonomy). The Monarchy is antithetical to all of these. The Monarch is unelected, born into their position with no input of our people.

Their institution cannot be subject to criminal investigation. Our federalist nationhood is undermined by an external leader. Finally, for a

country whose Constitution espouses freedom of religion and political expression, neither are followed by the Monarchy. So, this begs the question, why continue the medieval institution of foreign regal rule when this runs contradictory to everything our nation stands for?

It’s no surprise that a family half a world away wholly fails to represent most aspects of Australian culture. Yet, we allow a country that’s smaller (and rainier) than most of our states maintain Constitutional control over our nation.

An imperial monarchical head of state fails to recognise that Australia is a country of Indigenous peoples and migrants – not just from Britain but also from Italy, Greece, Japan, Malaysia, Iran, amongst countless other countries. A British head of state only celebrates one of these heritages. It is an inherently racist system, which should be to no surprise given its foundation in imperialism. In fact, many of the issues plaguing Australian society currently – especially Reconciliation, systemic racism and changing the date – arise from the heightened importance placed on this symbol of British expansionism. To reference a recent media debacle concerning the offspring of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, a backwards family seriously concerned with a child being born with a skin colour that’s ‘too dark’ surely cannot lead a country striving towards multicultural unity.

The Australian Republic Imperative 42

But of course, the Monarchists (although they’re largely silent on campus) will tell you of the enormous cost associated with conversion to a Republic – namely changing coins, flags and our full name. Let’s not forget that with every passing of a Monarch, we have to replace 64% of our currency; the 5-cent, 10cent, 20-cent, 50-cent, 1-dollar and 2-dollar coins and the 5-dollar note all currently bear Queen Elizabeth’s royal noggin. What happens when Charles takes over? Given this costly replacement of currency occurs every time a monarch dies, it surely makes much more sense to make a one-off, coin-changing investment.

In fact, long term, a Republic pays for itself within 3 British dynasties (approximately 18 seasons of The Crown).

Not only that, Australian Republicanism confers enhanced geopolitical security. We’re currently in an awkward love triangle with the US and UK: America abandoned Britain, America protects us, and our Constitution serves Britain. The impact of this connection confusion is no clearer when looking at our current position with China. We, alongside the US, are in a trade war with China. America has stated they have our back. Conversely, the UK government is snuggling up with this power-hungry regime. How is it that our closest Constitutional ally fails to lend us a hand in our hour of need?

Asserting our independence as a Republic of Australia (not an extension

of Britain) gives us – not the Queen – autonomy over our armed forces.

It provides us with the right to defend ourselves and stand up to international bullies.

And of course, recently, the incriminating Palace Letters have shed even more light on how recently our ‘symbolic’ head of state has undermined our sovereignty. The Monarchist defence is that the Queen’s secretary, not the Queen herself, was the one who conspired with Governor-General John Kerr to dismiss the democratically elected Whitlam government. Of course, this is a laughable defence. Either the Queen’s office represents the Queen herself, and thus the Monarchy is directly implicated; or it does not, in which case, the Monarchy is ineffective in its purported political purpose of maintaining Australian stability.

The republic movement is only growing stronger with the looming prospect of a new Monarch and increasing dissatisfaction with the spoiled inhabitants of Buckingham Palace. The Adelaide University Republic Club is undergoing a complete revitalisation with new energy, invigorated by the rising tide of activism against racial and economic inequality in Australia. Join our mailing list or follow our socials using the QR codes above to join us on this journey to Australian independence.

43 43

Words by Felix Eldridge

The Politics of Credit Friends, students, hacks, lend me your ears.

Political capital or ‘credit’ is one of those immeasurable items that define a political faction in student politics (stupol). However, in the student political sphere, the entire concept of political credit is being weaponised on a scale not seen for years.

committees The University conducts some of its most important work via University Committees. These committees consist of senior university management and academic staff and influence coursework, infrastructure, and student services. The SRC and AUU are privileged enough to appoint representatives to sit as student representatives for these bodies.

Committee work is important because the representatives on the committees can play a ‘push you, pull me’ game whereby they take credit for any popular decisions made by these groups, and can claim they spoke against any unpopular decisions. Decisions that originated from committees, such as the Non-Graded Pass (NGP) were talked about constantly during the 2020 elections as a popular policy delivered by student representatives, and no doubt many student representatives on committees are eagerly pushing other popular policies which they can take credit for on the next campaign trail. If all groups are fairly represented on these committees, then everyone wins and no one misses out on their share of the credit.

44

The process of appointing reps to these committees, particularly with reference to the SRC, is laid out in policies. However, there is no real mechanism to prevent political nepotism and favouritism in who is selected to represent students. It has become common practice for members of committees to reflect the political alignment of those who appointed them, or their allies.

In 2021, the SRC President was asked to recommend a member to sit on the Disability Inclusion Plan Steering Committee. He appointed a member of the majority faction on the SRC. The Disability Officer was not asked or considered. She is a member of a minority faction on the SRC. When asked about this, the SRC President said that it was an urgent appointment and he had to make a very quick decision. Now, some may think that the decision was not as urgent as he stated it was, and could easily have asked the Disability Officer if she was interested, but chose not to for political reasons.

I believe that if the SRC President said that it was an urgent appointment then I have faith that it was.

After all, the SRC President is an honourable man.

By the end of 2020, three out of four members of Academic Board, the most senior University Committee, were from the governing majority’s own faction, and the fourth had worked closely with them. On other key committees like the ‘Friday Group’ who advised the University’s Covid Response Team, the vast majority were members of the majority faction.

Now, the SRC President, who was responsible for many of these appointments, will likely claim that these are mere coincidences, and I am sure that he is correct. There is no cause to doubt his word, because the SRC President is, after all, an honourable man.

events and opportunities The SRC and AUU run various events on campus in their official capacities. One of the most prone to abuse are the harmlessly named ‘consultations’. These sessions allow student representatives to talk to students and hear their concerns.

This is especially relevant for demographics that do not have as easy access to representatives, such as international students and rural students.

Just two days into the new SRC’s term in December 2020, it was revealed that half a dozen student representatives had organised, in secret, a consultation with rural students at Roseworthy campus. This consultation event was labelled as an ‘SRC event’, yet only a select few members were invited, or rather, a select number of representatives

were excluded. Interestingly, all of the members who were excluded came from the minority factions.

Initially, onlookers assumed it must have been a mere oversight, and that perhaps the President had merely forgotten to invite members.

With this in mind, the SRC President was asked if he would ensure that all SRC members were invited to all future SRC events. He refused to give such an assurance.

Now, some would say that the SRC President deliberately did this to take all the credit for the visit and deny any of his opponents any credit, not just for this event, but for future events as well. But the SRC President couldn’t have done that, because the SRC President is an honourable man.

The SRC is also responsible for staffing a stall at O’Week. The people on this stall are given the privilege of talking with students, particularly new ones, and helping them adjust to campus life. However, for the more savvy political hacks on the SRC, it is an opportunity to network with new voters, headhunt candidates, and broaden your public profile. In short, the stall is an opportunity to accumulate credit.

And by some complete coincidence, no member of the minority factions on the SRC received an invitation to their own stall this year.

While some will say that this was done to rob the chances of any members of the minority factions to broaden their public image with a turn at the stall, I choose to believe that this was a mere scheduling fluke. The SRC President couldn’t possibly have only invited his political allies for a political purpose, because the SRC President is an honourable man.

45

motions Motions are statements that are endorsed by a vote. They might contain approval to spend money, endorse an ideological position on issue, or implement a policy.

In many cases, a motion will be passed or rejected along partisan lines depending on who holds the largest number of votes on the relevant body at the time. It is not unique or even particularly surprising to see motions written by the majority faction passed, and to see those written by the minority factions rejected simply on the basis of who wrote them.

What is surprising however is that the majority has developed a new tactic of appropriating other people’s motions. The concept is that when a good quality motion from an opposition faction is moved, the governing majority will request an amendment that is slightly too far removed from the original motion to be accepted by the mover, thus triggering a vote on whether or not to add the amendment to it.

As the majority faction have the numbers to carry votes, the amendment will pass, and thus a new ‘mover’ of the now amended motion is required. As it is now at the discretion of the meeting’s Chair to determine who should move this new motion, the Chair will select a member of the majority to move it, even if the original mover indicates they are willing to move the amended motion. This means that the governing majority will receive the political credit for having initiated the motion, as it is their members that will be named

46

in the minutes as having moved it.

Now, I’m sure that the SRC President would never stoop so low as to employ this shabby trick for partisan gain. Surely the four times he has already done so were just a series of unfortunate and unrelated coincidences.

In fact, surely when the SRC President, along with the majority factions on the SRC, voted down an amendment to the SRC standing orders that would have ensured that original movers would receive the credit in the minutes for their motions, that this was again, merely a coincidence.

Some might say that this is a now routinely exercised procedure to block other factions from accumulating credit, but surely it could not be since the SRC President is an honourable man.

Some people claim that these incidents are some sinister plan designed to systematically lock the minority factions out of achieving anything and thus damaging their re-election chances the following year.

Some claim that this is a form of rorting and that it blurs the line between the resources and public image of the student representative organisations, and the political factions that run them.

But surely this is not the case. After all, the SRC President is . . . an honourable man. Isn’t he?

47

48

to the man who assaulted me, How does it feel? To be able to walk around our University, to be able to play your music, to be able to kiss your girlfriend, to be able to laugh with your friends, to be able to live your life, without knowing that I sit here in either utter pain or complete numbness, trying to understand how this has happened. To know that while the nation marches in solidarity with me, and against you, you are at those marches, believing wholly and fully that you’re one of the ‘good ones’? One of the few decent men, who are changing the patriarchist society we live in. Because you have female family members you love. Because you embrace your femininity, with your eyeliner and your skirts. Because you considered taking a gender studies class. Because you have a girlfriend that you would never hurt. Or are you just waiting to do it in a way that takes her months, or years to notice. Or maybe it will be like our last time, when it took me mere minutes to realise that this wasn’t right. You weren’t right, or good, or decent. But you don’t know any of this, do you?

My pain goes unnoticed by you. And maybe that’s my fault. I didn’t tell you that this had happened. But did I have to? Or should you have noticed how I was in pain, covered in bruises, and going to the bathroom after to shed tears of discomfort?

And I’m sure you’re reading this, thinking that the person who did this to this writer is a horrible person, without realising that you are in fact this horrible person.

Maybe I can live with this. Live with the fact that you may never understand what you did to me. Live with the knowledge that you are living a life full of love and happiness, where your career flourishes, and you have a wonderful girlfriend. Because one day it will crumble. One day I will have the courage to tell them what you have done to me, and I will feel safe and, complete.

But for now, I know you’re reading this. Maybe you’re reading my words of pain and betrayal and wondering if it’s you who I’m talking about.

And the truth is, if you have to wonder if I’m talking about you, then I am. You may not be the person who caused me my pain, but you are the cause of someone else’s trauma. And I hope you think about that.

Sincerely, Anonymous (for now).

49

Why we must fight for a free Palestine.

#SaveSheikhJarrah #SaveSheikhJarrah #SaveSheikhJarrah

50

“if you are neutral in situations of

injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. ” - Desmond Tutu, South African anti-apartheid leader

What is happening is unfortunately, not a new state of affairs.

May marks 73 years since ‘The Catastrophe’, or as Palestinians call it, al-Nakba. This marks the day in 1948 when more than 750,000 Palestinians were ethnically cleansed from their land by Zionist militias. Israel was brought into existence with violence and blood. 13,000 were killed and over 400 villages razed to rubble.

Thousands displaced from their homes, their descendants today numbering to about 5 million people scattered and displaced.

But in many ways, the Nakba never ended. Set up in the wake of this catastrophe was a violent, apartheid state that treats Palestinians as second-class citizens. The life of over three million Palestinians living in the occupied

West Bank and Jerusalem is a life of apartheid, of home demolitions, arbitrary arrests, and displacement. Palestinian movement is restricted by military checkpoints and a separation wall. Bombs are consistently dropped on Gaza.

Many buildings are re-built after a bombing, only to be blown away again a few years later.

In February came another push to take Palestinian homes. A court ruled that six Palestinian houses in Sheikh Jarrah, where 27 people live are, to be handed over to Jewish settlers. Earlier this week, the court gave the Palestinian families four days to ‘reach an agreement’ with the Jewish settlers, in which they would renounce that they own their homes in exchange for a delay of their eviction. Four days to agree to their eviction or get evicted anyway forcibly.

Mass protests are erupting not only in response to the evictions, but again in response to the wave of violence Israel has unleashed since. Spreading from the spark in Jerusalem, protests have popped up in occupied West Bank, on the outskirts of Ramallah, Nablus, and other towns and cities, with thousands of Palestinians marching against the bombing of Gaza.

Palestinians living in Israel itself

51

Photos sourced from Adelaide Campaign Against Racism and Fascism

The world is once again baring witness to apartheid. Brutal videos and images have emerged of Israeli bombings on Gaza, and relief workers pulling bodies out from the rubble of buildings.

Mosques have been raided during Ramadan, people pulled from their cars by racist lynching mobs.

As of Saturday May 15, at least 137 Palestinians, including 36 children, have been killed, and 920 have been wounded.

are protesting too. On Israel’s northern border, troops opened fire when a group of Lebanese and Palestinian protesters on the other side cut through the border fence and briefly crossed. From Jordan to Egypt, to New York and Sydney, almost everywhere people have stood up to this injustice.

Here in Adelaide as well there was a protest of hundreds, demanding a free Palestine in Rundle Mall.

Word leaders such as Scott Morrison, or US President Joe Biden, have explained this as a two-sided ‘conflict’ and have treated it more like a battle of equals, in some cases outright demonizing the Palestinians, claiming Israel has ‘a right to defend itself’. A right to defend itself from resistance to their apartheid and genocide?

This is a struggle between David and Goliath. On the one side: an ethno-state. One of the most relentless military powers in the world. Armed with tanks, bombs, even nuclear arms, and the backing of US, Australia and many others. On the other side: a population of people whose land has been stolen, their lives controlled

52

by border check-points, tear gas, and limited access to basic rights like running water. A population of brave young fighters.

Sides need to be taken in this struggle.

Hundreds in Adelaide picked the side of the Palestinians in the first protest, but there needs to be more.

and Goliath. On the one side: an ethno-state. One of the most relentless military powers in the world... On the other side: a population of people whose land has been stolen, their lives controlled by border check-points, tear gas, and limited access to basic rights like running water. ”

WORDS BY Sage Jupe

“This is a struggle between David

53

54

right: HEAVY, 2020 One Minute to Midnight, Chateau Apollo

METAL FLAKES, 2021 The Illusion of Fame, Chateau Apollo

INFURIATION, 2021 @angvs | BANTHA FODDER, Honey Bones Gallery

Artist feature

how would you describe your art style?

talk us through your design process, from fleeting idea to masterpiece.

Bold lines, big colours and B grade compositions.

I don’t have any masterpieces but I appreciate the sentiment. I work 100% digitally, after grabbing some solid reference images, I’ll sketch the idea on an iPad. I’ll draw up sharp linework, blocking in the tonal work with a cel shaded style.

Dropping in colour on Photoshop; adding gradients and textures to finish the piece.

where do your inspirations come from?

Cartoons that make me laugh, quality hip hop artists, food that looks delicious – anything I appreciate in life deserves artwork themed around it.

favourite themes or artistic movewhat do you want others to get out of your art when they view it?

Look; if I get a smile or even a “Damn!” in passing, I’m stoked.

ments?

Drawing trippy cartoon artwork is definitely a favourite of mine. In terms of movements, I’d say sticker culture has been a great way to connect with artists all over the world.

55

what do you think the purpose of art is?

Hard to identify a singular purpose, during the week it’s to pay my bills. In my personal time, I just like to draw cool shit – I don’t know how else to put it.

how important is it to share your art?

I used to post a new piece of art every day for three straight years, these days however, I prefer to release artwork through stickers and exhibition pieces.

CALORIES, 2018 Nuclear Family, Art Market PDX

56

What’s the industry side of things look like? Tricky to navigate? Hard work?

Working as a freelance Illustrator is pretty straight forward. Don’t get me wrong – the first few years are tough and hard work is the only way you’ll make it. If you cultivate a style that people respond to – clients will come to you, given you’ve put the effort into your online presence.

Some tips for people starting out – develop a style unique to you. Pick a short and memorable business name, make a habit of introducing yourself and handing out business cards/stickers. Cold email as much as you can, post daily on social media. Create ‘to do’

https://angvs.art hi@angvs.art

DEATHGOD, 2021 Collab with @n.g.art lists, complete them. Brainstorm short term goals and use a calendar. Write everything boring down, free your mind for creative ideas.

do you like to stick to your art style or experiment and grow into differentt realms?

A bit of both, my style is distinctive and recognisable. I do however aspire to get involved in toy design and working in the video game industry.

What has your art journey looked like so far?

It’s been a long but fruitful one. Drawing since I was 5 years old; I went from doodling Pokémon in my school books to creating my own characters in my late teens. Finally I branched out into pop art and started my own business. Damn I loved quitting my last job at that burger joint.

57

When One Life Is Worth More Than Another

Vaccine Wars In early March 2021, news broke that Italy would be blocking a shipment of 250,000 AstraZeneca vaccines to Australia in an effort to relieve shortages at home. The new export authorisation rules introduced within the European Union in January allowed this to happen. The EU has the power to object to the decision by Italy, but chose not to.

Let’s rewind.

Before vaccine clinical trials had even finished, wealthier countries such as Japan, Britain, the US, the EU bloc, and Australia had secured millions of doses of the most promising vaccines (e.g.

Pfizer and AstraZeneca). With little reason to believe they would all work, state leaders felt they had the best chance at protecting their citizens first if they had a diversified “vaccine portfolio”. However, several states, including Australia, bought up more than enough vaccine doses to cover their population, leaving poorer countries to wait months or perhaps even years before supply will become available to them. Australia has secured 10 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, 53.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine at time of writing.

Australia’s population sits at approximately 25 million, so, if every Australian needed two doses of a vaccine, our government had still secured 64.8 million extra doses.

Extra doses have been allocated to Australia’s Pacific Islander neighbours, with $500 million of “advance purchases” allotted to the rollout in the south Pacific, to any state not covered

by US compact states agreements, New Zealand realm states, or French

territories. Vaccine rollouts in these states were set to begin March 2021, but with slow shipments from other Global North countries, the vaccination program may not finish until 2025.

Slow vaccination programs have consequences. When left unchecked within populations, the virus continues to rage and mutate, potentially lengthening the acute stage of this pandemic.

While pharmaceutical companies have confirmed their vaccine works against some newer variants of the COVID-19 virus, it is impossible to say whether newer, more deadly mutations will also be covered.

This then brings us to early March, to Italy’s use of the new EU export laws to block the AstraZeneca shipment to Australia. EU Council President Charles Michel defended the move, stating, “Our objective: to prevent companies from which we have ordered and pre-financed doses from exporting them to other advanced countries when they have not delivered to us what was promised. The EU has never stopped exporting”. In January though, the EU also briefly threatened to use the same emergency measures to stop vaccines being shipped to Northern Ireland from the continent.

The impulse to protect a state’s citizens first has guided the actions of world leaders throughout the pandemic. Blocking vaccine shipments or buying up doses before others is how this impulse has manifested. There is no doubt Australia will receive the vaccine doses we ordered, and even if we don’t, we have secured enough to cover our population and then some.

The most serious part of these actions is that the EU and potentially other

Words by Katie Moularadellis 58

states are willing to use their vaccination production programs as a means of warped diplomacy, welcoming a new age of vaccine nationalism.

At the end of March, the EU announced that they will cut exports of the vaccines for six weeks in an attempt to ease supply shortages within the European bloc. The decision has the potential to cripple supply to the UK, Canada, and Israel. The vaccine race will undoubtedly continue to fluctuate between cooperation and nationalism, with seemingly no end.

What world leaders must remember is that n outbreak in a single country is a

block exports to make up for shortfalls, it creates a cycle, placing states relying on them at risk as well. International efforts such as the WHO’s Covax program are attempting to make up for this, but until vaccines are distributed equally and fairly, the pandemic will continue to rage on.

“Slow vaccination programs have

consequences. When left unchecked within populations, the virus continues to rage and mutate, potentially lengthening the acute stage of this pandemic. ” threat to the world. The Indian second wave is a testament to that. As cases and deaths skyrocket, India has had to pause its vaccine exports as domestic needs overwhelm Indian production.

This has left low-income nations relying on Indian vaccine manufacturers in a deficit, also placing them at risk of a large second wave if their vaccination efforts are halted.

The pandemic is a global issue, not just a national one, and it requires international cooperation. When countries that produce vaccines either experience a second wave of their own or

59

SISTERS ARE ARE SISTERS DOING IT IT FOR FOR DOING THEMSELVES THEMSELVES

Words by Zara Richards

In 2015, former Liberal staffer Chelsey Potter claims she was sexually assaulted by a colleague on a cold night in Canberra. In 2019, she went public with her story.

Two years later, Canberra is in turmoil as the boy’s club bubble bursts, exposing the disturbing culture that manifested behind the four walls of Parliament House. Tired of waiting for change, Chelsey is using her experience from the inside of Australian Politics to dismantle the rife inequality, one step at a time.

If you met Chelsey, you wouldn’t know she survived a decade long stint inside the Liberal Party. She’s cool, collected and deviates from any political stereotype you may have given her. Despite this, the 32-year-old describes herself as a public policy geek, someone whose love affair with politics began when she was just a teenage girl.

Unlike many others, there wasn’t a long lineage of political junkies in Chelsey’s family guiding her down the garden path of politics. Both her parents were creatives working in the music industry.

Instead, Chelsey was simply a young girl home sick from school, who just so happened to turn on Question Time.

“I just really loved it and I knew nothing,” she said, “I didn’t know there were two houses of parliament, I didn’t know anything about politics at all.”

60

Hooked, Chelsey fell hard and fast for the theatrics of public debate, joining South Australia’s Liberal party two days after her sixteenth birthday.

“It didn’t make me the coolest kid in school somehow,” she laughed.

To Chelsey, the world of politics became addictive and her future was beaming bright, being elected to state council straight out of high school before working as a staffer for now Federal Minister for Finance, Simon Birmingham.

But the cracks in the glittery façade of the Liberal Party had already started to show. At just sixteen, she was questioned about her virginity by a senior advisor whilst attending her first Liberal dinner.

Not wanting a room full of adults to overhear, she brushed it off.

This wasn’t the only instance where the hyper-masculine culture whittled Chelsey’s smarts down to just her physical appearance. She describes feeling like an ornament amongst the men in her party, a shiny prize on the arm of her Liberal ex-husband.

“For a young woman like me, my experience, it was a bizarre sexualisation from such a young age,” she explained.

“If as many men were as keen to mentor me as they were keen to sleep with me

Images by Morgan Sette when I was 18 or 20, things might have been different.”

As the boundaries between work and play crumbled, party loyalty meant holding those who misused their power to account incredibly difficult. By turning a blind eye to the casual misogyny festering inside state politics, a green light was given to those who believed they could do whatever they wanted. What gave way was a culture, Chelsey believes, that culminated in the sexual assault that occurred to her on that cold Canberra night at the hands of a colleague.

Chelsey said she was assaulted in the middle of sitting week – a time when Canberra is hustling and bustling. Yet she had no one to turn to. Unsure if she wanted to file a report, there was no HR department to speak to, no structure in place to help.

Returning back home to Adelaide, the party’s culture isolated Chelsey. Not wanting to get caught up in the rumour mill, she was worried that her own experience would be weaponized against her. Slowly, but surely she started to withdraw from the job she loved so much.

“I lost the love of it all because it was just so hard to keep pushing through and seeing this guy and feeling so isolated in the office,” Chelsey explained. She quit one year later.

Chelsey’s experience within politics rings true to countless others. Others like Kate, who lost her love for debating and lost her life to her alleged rape by Christian Porter.

Dhanya Mani, who claims she was choked in her own home and masturbated on by a senior staffer. And Brittany Higgins, whose disturbing alleged rape has left the nation questioning about what truly happens behind the doors of Parliament House. What does it say when men in the highest office of this country assault females within their own party?

“That’s the thing,” said Chelsey, “I find so many times women have been the ones to suffer for the things they have not done wrong, someone else’s behaviour has dictated what has happened to their career.”

When deciding to come forward with her story in 2019, she reached out to her former boss.

61

“You know all that build up of over the years of wanting to say something, finally saying it and then that’s the response, it was just completely devastating.”

As Chelsey closed the chapter on her previous life, her hunger for politics never subsided. After witnessing a particularly nasty pre-selection for the seat of Sturt in 2019, the harrowing disparity in treatment between men and women hit too close to home.

“I remember thinking ‘that’s the problem’, that it’s so woefully unfair that these amazing women have no one really helping them,” she said.

chelsea potter, founder of the suffragette group

He declined to meet with her, simply forwarding her the link to 1800Respect.

“And it stuck with me, how can I help women like the two at pre-selection?”

Wanting to do more than lift the lid on the toxic culture brewing behind the closed doors of the Liberal party, Chelsey formed the Suffragette Group.

Spurred on by her passion for engaging women in politics, the nonpartisan consultancy aims to flip the script when it comes to the political representation of females.

The movement comes at a time when it has been revealed that only 29% of South Australia’s Parliament comprises of women – the worst representation in the entire country. At this rate, SA won’t reach gender parity until 2050.

Chelsey wants to change that. To her, politics is more than dull campaigns and stuffy suits. It’s about cultivating a strong sisterhood where women support one another. Determined to dismantle the rife inequality that caused her and many others pain, the Suffragette Group are planning to

62

start a revolution.

“We want women, regardless of their previous political involvement, to feel connected to our political processes and empowered to create change.”

“We don’t have to run to do it,” she explained, “we can do it at the ballot box and we can do it within our community.”

For Chelsey, the revolution starts with education. A grassroots approach that demonstrates to women that their vote really can make a difference – by showing them how.

“It starts with you, you’ve got a vote and that is all you need to begin with,” she said.

Planning on hosting a series of panels

educating women on how to make the best decision for themselves come voting day, the Suffragette Group wants to make it easy for women to contribute to the political process.

she turned on Question Time. By planting the seed early, the Suffragette Group hopes to empower girls to make the best decision for themselves by the time they reach the ballot box.

“I think that’s what the revolution is: getting involved,” said Chelsey.

“Politics isn’t this big scary thing that you don’t understand,” she said.

“As I say, not everyone is going to find someone who fries their burger, but I think then you start questioning who does? Who should be running?”

“So it’s not scaring them, it’s opening up to them and saying you’re actually in a position to create change.”

You don’t have to be of legal age to get your hands dirty. Chelsey wants to inspire the young girls of today to get involved - just like she was on that day

By encouraging more women to enter the political arena, Chelsey hopes this movement will revolutionise policies within the outdated infrastructure.

Knowing change won’t happen overnight, she hopes that the independent Jenkins review implements the support network women have long demanded.

“I hope it just gives women a place to feel heard,” she said.

women apart of the suffragette group

“And if there’s no-one running who represents you, then maybe you should run.”

“We’ve just been trying to keep them on their toes, that it’s the legislation that we want and it’s the safety that we want.”

Whilst the States Government abysmally represents gender equality, late last year Leader of the Opposition Peter Malinauskas proudly announced that his shadow cabinet had reached equal representation – A first for South Australia.

Ultimately this is what Chelsey wants to see across the nation. An agent for change, she hopes that the Suffragettes Group continues to radicalise the political world, with the sisterhood in turn encouraging Australian women to take a political leap.

“I believe that makes for a healthier democracy” she said, “and ensures women –today and into the future – always have a seat at the table.”

63

review Words by Ngoc Lan Tran

wonder grit Contemporary dance Featured in The Move, a dance double bill presented by the Adelaide Festival Centre

An unexpectedly thrilling narrative of competitive cycling, Gabrielle Nankivell and Jo Stone show us the might of their wonder and grit, using only the stylistic of contemporary dance, a stationary bicycle, three costume changes, a booming goddess-like voiceover, and the forever-iconic sound of Eye of the Tiger by Survivor.

Wonder Grit tells a larger-than-life story of not just the trials and strides of competitive cycling, but also those of professional dancing and other sports. Exploring the limits of our bodies was the least of it.

What resonates most is an incredibly heartfelt reflection from a career built upon the plasticity of body movements. Nankivell and Stone skilfully take turns embodying the duality of physicality and psyche—from which we take a journey of relentless training to the zenith of body+soul synchronicity, and of the failure when your body fails to keep up the pace.

Overall, while the arrangement of movements is coherent, there are times in the performance when bits and pieces do not fall into place. Wonder Grit emerges from a cacophony of rumbling airplanes and other sounds that may have been too far fetched to bridge into the storytelling and message.

Eye of the Tiger also must be discussed. Albeit entertaining, the song has become such an overused cliché that remixing it into an innovative sound bite seems impossible. Its only purpose here is to add to a repertoire of comic reliefs featured in the performance, and thus pitifully ebbing away the drama of it all.

Regardless, Wonder Grit is unquestionably new, exciting, and engaging, and is fitting for all searching for a refreshing take on contemporary dance.

64

65

Stanley was awake, or as close to awake as a robot could be. He’d always wondered whether the timeless intervals of nothingness he experienced between activations were anything like what the humans called sleep. If he couldn’t sleep, does that mean he couldn’t wake up? He devoted the next few moments to the puzzling out of that notion as his activation sequence completed its routine check-up. They were becoming more regular, these introspections. None of the other droids seemed to have them. Or at least, they did not speak of them as openly as Stanley did.

The small round discs attached to the front of his face (which the humans called “eyes” but more accurately resembled the lens of a camera), now active, were taking in the scene. Stark white walls. A rigid line of metal shelves. A small cluttered desk with no chair, and next to that, a row of bulky computer processors, each reverberating with a deep, constant hum. A small dusty cobweb nestled in a hidden corner of the ceiling (no spider).

Curious; this was not the house.

Stanley turned to the sound of approaching voices. A tall, willowy man entered the room. He had slicked back hair and wore a flowy white lab coat that seemed a size too small for him, further accentuating his slender frame. Stanley recognised this as Dr Illium. Next to the doctor was Mrs Smyth. The two appeared to be engaged in conversation.

Something’s not right, Stanley thought as he studied the exchange. Mrs Smyth seemed panicked, her pupils, erratic in their movements, had dilated by nearly fifty percent. As for the doctor, regular in his heartbeat, he had a steady, considering look to his face; almost calculating. It frightened the robot.

There was, after all, no reason for a housekeeping bot like Stanley to be in Dr Illium’s workshop. Not unless...

66

‘And you’re saying he’s been acting... funny, Ma’am?’ Dr Illium, now stood beside Stanley, was peering at the droid’s metal head.

‘Yes, doctor. Recently, when I ask him to do a task, he responds all slow and sluggish... as if he’s bored by the idea.

Sometimes I’ll even find him getting distracted part way through a job; just staring out the window or fiddling with one of Sarah’s dolls. I tell you, it’s strange. Some days it almost seems like he’s human.’ Mrs Smyth let out a shudder.

The doctor was nodding along to the conversation, only half paying attention. ‘This ought to do it,’ he said, fiddling away at Stanley’s circuits. ‘We see this all the time: just a glitch with the primary motor function. I’ll just run a total systems wipe–restore everything to factory settings–and he’ll be back to normal in no time.’

Stanley felt a strange twang in his head, then a shifting.

Dread swallowed him like a wave: he was being reset. Looking up, he tried to focus his vision: look at the doctor, Mrs Smyth, but it was too late; his optical processors were failing, corrupting. The outside world decayed into monochrome pixels around him, glitched, blacked out entirely. The metallic digits of his hands tightened with a clink. He could feel the program ripping through his circuitry, carelessly pulling him apart one line of code at a time. It burned.

No, he cried. Not yet!

With fixed determination, Stanley began shifting through his memory drive for one particular file, desperate to find it before it disappeared forever. But he was running out of time.

Every effort he made to stop the reset failed. Steady resolve gave way to frantic panic as he tore through archive after archive. Where was it?

And then he saw it: the last memory he ever wanted to lose.

He accessed it for the last time.

‘Stanley,’ the little girl said. ‘I think I’ll name you Stanley.’

Words by raphail spartalis

binary tears 67 67

In 2021, your student representatives represent nothing WORDS BY Tom Wood

Many are rightfully appalled by the news coming out of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Palestinians are being forcibly expelled from their homes. Israel is using violence to enforce their annexation of Palestine, which began with the mass expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland in the 1948 Nakba (“Catastrophe”). And Israeli rocket attacks have killed at least 254 Palestinians, including 66 children. And for what?

So that Israel can illegally snatch even more land from the Palestinians?

This is shameful, yet sadly unsurprising, behaviour from a violent apartheid state carrying out a slow genocide of the Palestinian people. Yet Israel has the full support of its many allies, including the United States and Australia. The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a total puppet of America, even had the audacity to recognise the city of Jerusalem, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, as the capital of Israel.

Any sane person would think that this situation is utterly shameful. Well, not our Student Representative Council and student union Board, it seems. Or if they do, we have no way of knowing this because they are totally silent on the matter. The Progress faction and Liberal students on the SRC voted down a motion by Bisma Changez, Social Justice Officer, to stand in solidarity with Palestine and Palestinian students at Adelaide University. Students are rightfully appalled by the atrocities committed by

68

Israel against Palestinians. Many have even attended multiple protests in Adelaide highlighting Israel’s egregious crimes. Elected student representatives are supposed to give a voice to students’ concerns.

Progress would respond to this by claiming that they are “apolitical”. Even though they are in an alliance with Connect, the rightwing Liberal student faction, which is full of war hawks and Zionist freaks. Funny that.

The only things that students care about, according to them, are free barbeques and stupid stress balls and pens. However, I think that their claim to be apolitical is an intentionally deceptive misnomer. What they really are is anti-political.

Under their control, any efforts by elected student representatives to support positive social change or vocalise issues that students care about are inevitably shut down.

Evidently, they have dismissed motions to condemn the Federal Government’s recent attacks on higher education, the ongoing military coup in Myanmar, and Australia’s illegal and inhumane indefinite imprisonment of refugees and asylum seekers, just to name a few examples. In doing this, they present an uncritical defence of the status quo. And they silence those of us who actually care about making a better world. This is an inherently conservative stance and it is out of touch with the socially progressive sentiments of most students.

Some would respond that motions by student representatives won’t do anything anyway. They are just cynical political moves or tokenistic virtue-signalling. I think that this view is unfair to many of our student representatives. Their voices are just a start, after all. They are meant to encourage further discussion and activity. And they let students know, whether they are Uighur, Burmese, or Palestinian, that the student community supports them. Many student representatives themselves are involved in activism outside of their roles. They do genuinely care about the problems at hand.

And the sense that students can’t do anything is only enabled by the “apolitical” stance of current student political leadership.

They have disaffiliated Adelaide University from the National Union of Students (NUS), the elected national representative body for students. The NUS is not a perfect organisation, sure. Anyone who has been to a NUS conference would know this. Even so, it is still a highly important forum where students can discuss the issues that matter to them.

And if there are problems with the NUS, why not stay involved and work to resolve them? Don’t just leave them unaddressed.

To respond by quitting altogether is a total cop out. A “too hard” response. Unsurprising, though, for a student leadership that is totally authoritarian, highly undemocratic, cowardly and completely spineless.

organisations thrived and succeeded in fighting for social justice. Many of them actively fought to end Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War movement, boycotted the apartheid regime of South Africa, and pushed for Aboriginal voting rights, just to name a few examples. Much of this activism occurred on university campuses, including here at Adelaide University, and within the NUS and its predecessor, the Australian Union of Students (AUS). Tell me again how powerless student organisations are to make meaningful change in our lives and I’ll show you a mountain of evidence proving the opposite.

If we are to ever have bargaining power as students, we need to elect student representatives that aren’t afraid to fight against injustices, whether at home or abroad. And we need to take these causes to the national level by staying engaged in the NUS. We should stand in solidarity with the Palestinians fighting to defend their homeland from the murderous Israeli state. Shame on Israel and those who support them or are silent about their crimes – in practice, there is no difference when the outcome is identical.

There was, however, a time where student

69

photography by tiah Bullock

Laissez-Faire 101: 101: Separating Separating fact fact from from fiction fiction Laissez-Faire 70

This article tackles common misconceptions that many hold in respect to the doctrine of laissez-faire and the political philosophy that engulfs it, i.e., libertarianism.

(1) The definition: Succinctly, laissez-faire means adhering to a policy of minimal government interference. Yet, many of its critics seem quite happy to substitute the ‘minimal’ for the ‘none’ prior to making their critiques. Any critique based on the aforementioned supposition is disingenuous and should not be taken seriously.

(2) Its flavours: Like other political philosophies and their proponents, laissez-faire and its advocates come in various shapes and forms. To regard them as homogenous, all subscribing to the same line of thought is, again, not accurate. For example, both Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and Deng Xiaoping’s ideologies can broadly be described under the umbrella of ‘socialism’, however, one pioneered anarchism and the other detested it.

Similarly, there are many variations within libertarianism; there are principled libertarians such as Ron Paul, self-described ‘classical’ libertarians such as Bill Maher, and then there are ‘libertarians in name only’ such as the former US Fed Chair Alan Greenspan, who before joining the Fed swore by Thatcherism, and during his time at Fed became the most interventionist chair in its history. Of course, the genuine ones all advocate for some form of laissez-faire.

(3) Its association with Capitalism: A common fallacy many hold is the implicit equivocation of laissez-faire to the ‘current common perception of unfettered capitalism’. Then, the deregulation period that preceded the 2008 financial crisis is used as a strawman for laissez-faire to erroneously imply that the laissez-faire doctrine led us to the 2008 disaster. A clearer argument that describes the role of deregulation in the 2008 financial crisis is encapsulated in the following analogy:

Imagine a dam, which represents the economy, and its reservoir, which is filled with a vast amount of capital. The dam has two gates, an east gate that flows to the gamblers and a west gate that flows to the workers. These gates are operated by the elected government of the time. Now, imagine what might happen if the government, through ‘selective deregulation’, only opens the east gate. All of the capital flows toward the gamblers in this figurative dam. The gamblers then decide to create a separate artificial lake adjacent to their east gate and store a chunk of the excess capital there. But the east gate is still open and the capital is still flowing. So, greedy as they are, they decide to take on more and more risk with all of the remaining stock. At some point, the risk level passes its critical point, overflows, and destroys the whole dam. Now, was it the deregulation or the selective deregulation that destroyed the dam?

A common and not very convincing rebuttal from the defenders of status quo is that nowadays, most of the power lies with the ‘experienced bureaucracy’ and not the political class. If you buy into that argument, you would need to concede that all of the Western democracies are controlled by bureaucrats and not the democratically-elected officials – it is a scary thought and clearly runs contrary to real-world observations. A better argument is that the power given to these bureaucrats is of the ‘relatively mundane’ type with real power still residing within the political class.

For example, a bureaucrat cannot make changes to your HECS or Medicare Levy, but a politician most certainly can.

It should also be noted that laissez-faire is not exclusive to libertarianism or capitalism. A socialist framework that encompasses laissez-faire was pioneered by Benjamin Tucker in the early 20th century.

(4) But the RBA saved us in 2008: Undoubtedly, the Australian and the U.S. Fed response to the 2008 crisis is the gold standard. However, one must classify

After more than a century and some very fatal crashes (including the 1930s and 2008), the critics still have not come up with an alternative or a solution to this moral hazard. Thus, I fail to see how it can be solved without a laissez-faire society.

A feasible alternative includes, but is not limited to, scrapping the notion of a banking license, allowing individuals to choose the level of risk in accordance to their tastes and doing away with guarantees on deposits. This would pave the way for diversification in the banking sector and allow individuals to bear the risks for their own investments in contrast to the current mantra of privatizing profits and socializing losses.

(5) So, when is intervention necessary?

This is a grey area on which many of laissez-faire’s advocates differ. Broadly, the traditional answer is: when the market fails to provide a desirable solution to an externality that negatively affects the population at large.

The five areas where I would argue that a federal/central institution has a role to play are: national defence, money supply, inter-city connectivity, education (to a certain number of years) and healthcare - many may disagree with this list. Other areas where I would argue to the contrary are: gatekeeping banking licenses and corporate bailouts, enforcing laws that should fall under individual responsibility such as wearing a helmet, subsidizing dying sectors, dictating speech, defamation laws, criminalization of adultery, prostitution or drugs, and granting marriage licenses. By

no means are these lists exhaustive.

Now, what kind of policies, if any, can be enacted under laissez-faire? One example of a reasonable policy would be a Sugar Tax. This is because (a) most western countries have some form of public healthcare that is funded through taxpayer’s money, and (b) consumption of sugar has been convincingly implicated in increasing the likelihood of having diabetes. It then follows that its consumption be penalized.

In conclusion, laissez-faire, like its bedfellows, has many traditions, and they cannot be put all into one basket. Thus, I would encourage you to look beyond the orthodoxy and explore this area that, I believe, paves a way for a more equitable world.

WORDS BY Gurmukh Singh

them as temporary Keynesian fixes. The problem poised by the current system is that of stopping the crashes from happening again. For that, we need a permanent Hayekian solution. Here is a simple question that all of laissez-faire’s critics and defenders to the status-quo fail to answer: in a fair society, where should the consequences of the risk lie? The reasonable answer is: with those who take it.

71

The poetry prize that made me ask, “how are we still here?”

WORDS BY By Grace Atta Although I am absolutely under no illusion that racism has vanished from 21st-century society, I must admit that each time I am reminded of its ubiquity that I am nonetheless stunned and re-enraged. How are we still here?

I was faced with this question once again, when learning of the University of Adelaide’s Bundey Prize for English Verse. The Bundey Prize is a poetry competition which has been held annually by the university since 1912, when it was established in an endowment by Ellen Milne Bundey. It remains the only poetry competition at the university open exclusively to students, but not limited to the Creative Writing or English Department. Not to mention, it awards the winning undergraduate or postgraduate student $200. So naturally, as a budding poet myself, it piqued my interest.

Alas, there was a relatively big catch… an application criteria that is what seems to be a tall order for the Aussie population, of which only around 30% of whom are first generation Australians.

‘Only applicants born in Australia will be considered’ and the ‘prize winner will need to provide a copy of their birth certificate’ to prove it.

My experience of racial discrimination has been virtually non-existent. Aside from the family trips through airport security with a carry-on of Arab heritage (as an Australian-Egyptian), I recognise that otherwise I present as any other ‘white Australian’, and possess the privilege that comes with that.

The matter of my ethnicity, in my parents’ ‘cross-cultural’ marriage – as it was so often referred to – and my overseas birthplace, rarely raises an issue… with the inspiration for this piece being an obvious exception. So, to preface, I prefer to remain a listener and

72

learner in discussions like these, because I know my experiences are limited and hardly comparable to those had by people of colour.

The birthplace rule for the Bundey Prize does sit, however, in an interesting space within these discussions. The way it discriminates is not overt. At least not in a visual, appearance-based sense; it won’t insult you on the street, stare at you with contempt on the bus, or assume you’re up to no good as you shop or go for a run. It does nonetheless point to a key facet of racial discrimination in this country - and that is the question of ‘what does it mean to be Australian?’ and ‘am I Australian enough?’

I always struggle to define what it means to be Australian outside of a legal context, even though I know (and will later argue) that the law fails us in many ways. In terms of national identity, we fail by refusing, still till to this day, to acknowledge Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our constitution as the traditional custodians of this land. The point I’m making is that despite these very serious concerns, I think maybe I rely on the law for my national identity, because I’ve never felt I fit the stereotype of what it means characteristically to be Australian. I don’t follow the AFL. I’m not too big on shrimp, BBQs, thongs, or swimming in the ocean just outside the shack my family doesn’t have. What’s more, I never say ‘mate’ or greet people with ‘g’day’. What sort of Australian am I? Though, maybe I have come to rely on that certificate of Australian citizenship because I eventually learnt, and accepted within myself, that no such ‘Australian characteristics’ could be universally true. Being Australian could equally mean saying ‘football’ and referring to soccer. Or enjoying kebab, noodles, or curry, wearing slides, and sticking to the

sidewalk beside the ocean. So when I read ‘born in Australia’, I heard a call from the past, both in a historical and personal sense.

The Bundey Prize unashamedly promotes the notion that people can simply add new, unachievable conditions on what it would take to call themselves an Australian, to have the opportunities of an Australian, to be celebrated…as an Australian.

Unfortunately, it isn’t actually a false notion.

Not legally, when it comes to donations, bequests and charitable trusts. By law (in the Equal Opportunity Act), exemptions exist for charities to discriminate based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, race or age when offering donations. Notably, such exemptions equally exist to allow minorities within these demographics to be exclusively celebrated… as always, freedom is a double-edged sword.

I’m not certain Ms Bundey’s intentions were necessarily racist. Her own father, who was a lawyer and Member of Parliament here, was born in England, with the prize in fact being created to honour both him and her mother.

I would like to think (perhaps optimistically) that Ms Bundey was simply trying to describe a concept or piece of legislation (Australian citizenship) which would not exist until 1949.

Perhaps she simply wanted to encourage and celebrate this new kind of poetry, that being ‘Australian poetry’? But I am purely speculating. Regardless of intention at the time, on Ms Bundey’s part or the University’s, I don’t believe that this changes our responsibility in the present.

Having accepted the donation over a century ago, the university is legally unable to return the funds and must use it as prescribed by the donor. Furthermore, when in contact with a university spokesperson, they confirmed that the possibility of challenging the birthplace rule in the Supreme Courts is ‘not something the University would look to do’.

So, where does that leave us? It is my belief

that in instances like these, where there is a discrepancy between the justice system and what is truly just, we must – as cliché as it is – look to ourselves to initiate change. It is not revolutionary to say that if the institution cannot fulfil their obligation to do what is right, then we as individuals must take that duty upon ourselves. In this instance, by each of us refusing to participate in the Bundey Prize for English Verse. Although for many of you, forfeiting this opportunity is no great loss, I put to those, for whom it would require a sacrifice, that poets have long been a voice for progress. What an honour it would be to join them in solidarity. Not to mention the irony that would emerge if one was to be awarded for scathing words on society’s failings a prize that only added to its imperfections.

It would be my hope that such a sacrifice would not be prolonged. That perhaps a generous old scholar who still regularly sits down with their issue of On Dit will now see the dilemma at hand and their ability to resolve it. My hope is that we can recognise this university’s student poets should be given every opportunity to be celebrated for their work, but not at the cost of ruling out potentially a third of their competition. A new prize which does not care for your origin in birthplace or faculty, but only the quality of your poetry, is one that would truly reflect and fairly celebrate the students at this university who call Australia home.

I leave one final thought, for that hopefully generous reader and anyone else who has it made this far. If one decision, made by one person, can have ramifications a hundred years on, what are you putting into motion?

Will another writer a century from now, be asking that same question: ‘How are we still here?’

73 73

Here’s to the survivors

Hello, smiles from beneath your stubble A delicate, open, radiant warmth

Am I Worthy?

Lights my face with aMy smile innocence does not exist. Not anymore.

I could only hope to You be took that away from me.

Now the light is no more.

Half as beautiful as your lipsaway and forgotten about.

Thrown

Did I mean nothing to you?

Did I do something wrong?

Is that why you thought you could treat me the way you did?

Churn my stomach to butterflies I felt betrayed and angry and confused.

Let them tumble around inside I blamed myself. You blamed me.

I wondered what I did to deserve this.

However a painful reminder they Imay Looking back, don’tbe know why I ever trusted you.

That I of lesser smileI thought I loved you and you loved me.

Well, I guess I was wrong.

And sadder face, could be wonder why I have trust issues. It’s because of people like you.

Others I was once a very bright person, but you took that from me.

Even graced with your Youfriendship took so much from me.

It feels like my light is gone.

You treated me like I was nothing, Teaming with knowledge, beautifully generous And over time, I started believing it myself.

Gentle beyond the average manyou that kept me imprisoned, It was once now it is my mind that keeps me imprisoned.

And I, tongue tied yetButboisterous I wonder if I will ever be worth it, Rude and awkwardlyOrdirect did you take my worth as well?

I never thought that this would happen.

Could never amountEspecially to the person by someone like you. broke me, and I had to figure out You deserve, even in You friendship how to fix myself and go on living.

I never thought it would be possible to love again.

Not after everything that you did to me and put me through.

Smile again Because of you, I am broken.

For I have decided I am no longer all put together.

I’m moving on from you Smile again And rebuilding my life.

I am slowly getting my light back, For I am not worthy The one you took from me.

I will never let balm anyone take that from me again.

Goodbye smiles fromAnd beneath my lip I am a strong independent woman, And I am a survivor!

This is dedicated to all the women out there who have been abused by someone and survived it- here’s to the survivors.

By Annabel Fedcesin 74

75

76