debate 04, 2013

Issue 04 | MARCH 2013 www.ausm.org.nz

Directory

reception City Campus Level 2, WC Building 921 9805 Mon-Thurs: 9am-5pm Fri: 9am-4pm North Shore Campus Level 2, AS Building 921 9949 Mon-Fri: 11am-1pm Manukau Campus MB107 921 9999 ext 6672 Mon-Thurs: 9am-3.30pm governance & leadership Kizito Essuman AuSM Student President 921 9999 ext 8571 kizito.essuman@aut.ac.nz management Sue Higgins General Manager 921 9999 ext 5111 sue.higgins@aut.ac.nz advocacy Nick Buckby Liaison Manager 921 9999 ext 8379 nick.buckby@aut.ac.nz marketing Kate Lin Sales and Marketing Co-ordinator 921 9999 ext 8909 kate.lin@aut.ac.nz events Carl Ewen Student Life Manager 921 9999 ext 8931 carl.ewen@aut.ac.nz media Matthew Cattin Publications Co-ordinator 921 9999 ext 8774 matthew.cattin@aut.ac.nz vesbar Zane Chase Vesbar Manager 921 9999 ext 8378 zane.chase@aut.ac.nz volunteers & clubs Nathan Bromberg Volunteers Coordinator 921 9999 ext 8911 nathan.bromberg@aut.ac.nz

www.ausm.org.nz

Issue 04 | MARCH 2013

p06

p10

Cover

Photo by Heather Liddell

editor p24

p26

p28

Matthew Cattin matthew.cattin@aut.ac.nz

sub editor Nigel Moffiet

designer 5 Editorial 6 Article: 50 Shades of Farrier 9 Artist of the week: Heather Liddell 10 MUSIC: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 12 MUSIC: The Leers 14 AuSM: Updates 15 NEWS 18 Athlete Profile: Tivoli Guthrie 19 Memorandum Auckland's Got It Going On 20 Article: Hors D'ouvre 21 Article: Seven Sharp - Not So Sharp 22 Article: The Steubenville Reaction 24 INTERVIEW: Tyree: I Do It For My City 26 ARTICLE: Meanwhile In 'Murica...

26 FILMS: 2013 Films To Get Sweaty About 28 Article: Carved In Culture 30 REVIEWS 32 Caption Corner Recipe 33 10 Things People Need To Stop Doing Myth Buster Rob

Ceapum Kaushish ceapum.kaushish@aut.ac.nz Ramina Rai

contributors

Abigail Johnson | Amber Rinkin | Ceapum Kaushish | Che Crawford | Elesha Edmonds | Erica McQueen | Ginny Green| Hazel Buckingham | Jarred Williamson| Jason Walls | Jennifer Choat | Kahlia Finch | Kieran Bennett | Louis Houlbrooke | | Mike Ross | Nigel Moffiet | Rebecca Savory | Robert Vennell | Scott Yeoman | Suzanne Suisuiki | Zac Fleming |

Illustration & Photography Annupam Singh | Connor Crawford | Matthew Cattin | Nicole Koch | Ramina Rai

advertising contact Kate Lin kate.lin@aut.ac.nz

printer

PMP Print Ltd.

publisher

AuSM all rights reserved This publication is entitled to the full protection given by the Copyright Act 1994 (“the Act”) to the holders of the copyright, being AUCKLAND STUDENT MOVEMENT AT AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED (“AuSM”). Reproduction, storage or display of any part of this publication by any process, electronic or otherwise (except for the educational purposes specified in the Act) without express permission is a break of the copyright of the publisher and will be prosecuted accordingly.

Inquiries seeking permission to reproduce should be addressed to AuSM. disclaimer Material contained in this publication does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of AuSM, its advertisers, contributors, PMP Print or its subsidiaries.

debate is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA)

www.ausm.org.nz

3

Loyalty Card.pdf

1

20/03/13

11:11 AM

for exclusive discounts, early bird tickets, speacial offers and lots more

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Ask for a Loyalty Card application form at the bar.

Advocacy.pdf

1

27/02/13

3:45 PM

AuSMConnect_A3.pdf

1

13/07/12

11:23 AM

AT&T

C

M

C

M

Y

Y

CM

CM

MY

MY

CY

CY

CMY

CMY

K

K

Editorial

Editorial

by Matthew Cattin

Like the mythical Easter bunny, an AUT network failure comes around once a year like clockwork. And what’s more! It usually bares gifts. Assignment deadlines are shifted, classes are cancelled and lecturers struggle more than usual to work YouTube. Students walk onto campus, check their iPhones to see AUT-Unisurf is down, turn around and catch the next bus home - it’s fabulous.

But while the network failure giveth it also taketh away. Without Facebook, irritable undergrads are forced to listen in lectures. The once majestic sea of Macbooks displaying Facebook status updates and selfies is instead a bare canvas of empty Word documents.

Eyes are twitching, skin is itching and students are ditching – it’s a cold turkey exodus and not even the “Tree House” in WG can provide comfort.

Here in the AuSM office, it was a day of productivity (I jest), surprises and cleaning. With no internet, emails or access to debate files, it was like riding a dead horse – riveting. Luckily I had a few phone interviews scheduled so I managed to keep busy - but for others in the office, it was time to clean. Desks were cleared and piles were shifted, revealing some surprising results.

An Islamic cassette tape called “The Purpose of Life” surfaced from the depths of workspace clutter. How long it has been there, religious messages unfulfilled, is anybody’s guess but the

fact it’s a cassette suggests it’s been years – decades even. Another find was a scandalous toy cat o’ nine tails, perhaps once used to whip interns to shape. Once again, anybody’s guess.

Trying to work on the mag without my beloved internet was damn near impossible. I felt like Ron doing homework without Hermione. It got me wondering how anybody managed before the glory days of computers. When copy-pasting something meant scissors and glue and ctrl + v was a careful stroke of twink. Does twink even still exist?

It’s been years since I laid eyes on the stuff. And never mind the nitty gritty production processes, imagine trying to find out ANYTHING without Google?

It would have been all phone enquiries, dictionaries, interviews and photography - or in other words, real journalism.

Today’s online world has turned me into a true softy – it really has. When the office phone blares at me, it usually takes me a few rings to compose myself enough to answer the call, and don’t get me started on face to face interviews…

The internet has done an unprecedented job at making the world a smaller place, but is it cosier? More intimate? Not at all.

It’s stretched us further apart than ever before. My antisocial media interactions have, I believe, inhibited within me a willingness to connect to people face to face. And when technology has enabled

the world to e-meet from the comfort of office swivel chairs, I imagine it will be a hard habit to break. Yet I am trying!

Because for all my fears and anxieties of “real” contact, I know deep down the handshake beats the email signature every time. Real journalism lies in the experiences of real contact, of avoiding comfort zones and reaching out. And I am determined to see my goal through this year; I want to break the habit. So if you’d like to contribute, come in and see me! Delight at my awkward conversation and small talk on the weather. It’s baby steps for now but yo, I’m up for the challenge.

In other news, our beloved debate designer Ceapum Kaushish is leaving the roost and off on a new adventure. This is the last issue with her on board and I’d like to say thanks C! You owned it. The office will miss your charm and smiles.

Where there is sadness however, there is also light. I would like to introduce our delightful new designer, photographer and all round cool kid, Ramina Rai to the mix. She’ll now be in charge of making debate look awesome and I have every confidence she’s got this in the bag.

Enjoy your Easter break but go easy on them waistlines!

Matthew

www.ausm.org.nz

5

Article: 50 Shades of Farrier

With over 17,000 dedicated Twitter followers, a solid flow of freelancing journalist work and a closet of cute animal shirts TV3’s David Farrier is a celebrity in his own right, even if he thinks me saying this is going “a bit far”.

6

www.ausm.org.nz

Article: 50 Shades of Farrier

Rebecca Lee meets the man behind the tweets, David Farrier, to talk emos, turning knobs for a living and being "bi-everything".

If it hadn’t been for his obsession with seeing his own writing in print you may have only been able to catch Farrier at your yearly doctors check up – or if you tried to shank a pilot.

It was during the first year of med school at Auckland University when David started writing for the student paper, Craccum, and discovered his true calling.

“It was a weird sort of start [to journalism], I wanted to be a doctor when I left school, so I went and tried to get into med school – but I wasn’t very good at it. During that med school year I started writing for Craccum and I got obsessed with having my stuff in print – I found that really interesting,” says the 29-yearold.

So with that he put down the scalpel, picked up a pen and signed up for a Bachelor of Communications at AUT. “I never wanted to be a doctor,” he confesses, “it was just the logical thing to do.”

David’s first job was playing a role in New Zealand’s homeland security post911 where he was a “security guard” at Auckland Airport.

“It was a behind the scenes kind of thing.

We didn’t have to secure any people.

We were like a search team…” he takes a prolonged pause before he adds, “for pointy objects.”

Lucky for us, and his loyal followers, TV3 had a job opening as an auto-cue operator.

In simple terms - turning knobs. He turned knobs for a year before working his way up through the ranks until he landed the role as entertainment reporter.

“I actually ‘ummed’ and ‘aahhed’ for a while because the security job was really well paid and it was kind of fun. I was like, “Do I really want to turn an auto-cue knob for a year?” But, if I wanted to get into TV, which I did by then, I had to.”

His first story was about adults who collect toys, “man toys”, but the story he is most proud of, was his second story. He paid his way to Sydney to interview his favourite person in the world, Trent Reznor, the lead singer of industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails.

If you know anything about David Farrier you would know he doesn’t settle for the

conventional news stories. He is into the “odd” things of the world. He has compared emus to emos, interviewed emo boy band My Chemical Romance and delved into the craze that was, Gangnam Style.

Although he tries to focuses on the lighter side of life, he burst onto the TV3 scene as a unique individual ruffling up feathers with controversial topics.

“Its nice to have a little bit of positivity rather than thinking we’re all fucked. Even though we probably are, I suppose.

“But it’s nice to pretend.

“When I started I purposely tried to - you know, that emo/emu story, I knew that would rile people up.”

When he did the piece on My Chemical Romance he received “proper death threats,” but he wasn’t fazed.

“I got some really hateful, amazing stuff.

I’m not bothered by it, it’s just kids. At least they're passionate about something,” he laughed.

When I suggest to the pop culture guru that he’s world famous in New Zealand, he scoffs.

“I think that’s a bit far. I think, maybe, I have enough uniqueness that people remember me.

“The things I cover are a little more memorable. The stories I cover and the people are a bit more interesting so that’s what they remember. It’s not really me.”

That may be the case for the every day Kiwi but for @davidfarrier’s 17,000+ followers it’s more likely to be his infectious lame humour, good looks and signature above-the-knee shorts.

Farrier has sent nearly 24,000 tweets into the twittesphere and admits he loves the site and tweets everyday. He says the real time feedback from followers encourages him to continue his unique journalistic style.

“In the newsroom stories are always getting put out and no one gives a shit.

“If you’re putting out stories to what feels like an empty space, with no feedback, it kind of feels pointless. I think that’s why I tweet so much and like it so much and

try to engage with it, because it’s such a valuable learning tool and feedback tool.”

David has been in the limelight recently for coming out as bi-sexual. He was with his partner Grayson Coutts for about six months when he decided to be open about the “non-issue” of same sex marriage.

“I wouldn’t have made a song and dance about it but the marriage bill was drawn, same sex bill was drawn, and I thought it was a good reason to be another voice to say hey, its not that shocking if you’re bi.”

Farrier has always been a cat man. With the help of his pure breed cat Chandler, who passed away a few years ago, he won a cat show against “hard-core catters” in 1996. However, he has a new found love for dogs which was encouraged by Grayson’s loveable pet Samoyed. He admits he now has a mutual love for both cats and dogs.

“I was always cats but I’m won over by dogs now. I’m a bi as well with the dog and cat world.

“Bi-everything!”

He swims for exercise and to clear his mind. He drinks strawberry pash smoothies and enjoys tea. He watches movies and enjoys seeing these in raucous settings. He collects everything to do with Nine Inch Nails as well as comics and DVD sets. He writes for Rip It Up and features on a number of blogs. He hosts a George FM show dedicated to cryptozoology, the study of invisible animals. He models shirts for Mr Vintage. He is a selfproclaimed “huge nerd”.

Yet he tries to claim he is boring.

“I get enough out of my day job so on my days off I like to just sloth about,” he says.

Living in a shared flat with three students and two professionals he still can’t get his head around that he is, in fact, a professional.

“It still feels like I’m faking it. It doesn’t feel like a job. I feel like I’m going to be found out one day and they’ll say, ‘you can’t do this job. This isn’t a job – you’re not good at it. You can’t put this on TV.’ And it will be all over.

“But while it lasts – I’ll take it.”

www.ausm.org.nz

7

Artist of the week

Like many other photographers, Heather’s love of photography began in a dingy high school darkroom. From there she entered into tertiary study and during her Diploma in Contemporary Photography, she found herself drawn to fashion as an outlet for creativity. Meeting Amanda Betts at Red Eleven opened up doors for Heather and she soon found herself shooting monthly editorials for Real Groove Magazine (RIP) - collaborating with Zara Mirkin and Kate Elliot to create quirky and musically inspired spreads.

After taking a break to travel, Heather has thrown herself headfirst into fashion

8

www.ausm.org.nz

shooting, realising that the worst thing that she could do is become stagnant. It’s a trial by fire experience.

Most of Heather’s shoots, even when following a brief, have a narrative behind them. As a film addict with an overactive imagination, even the most mundane moment can develop an elaborate and completely fictional backstory. Heather’s recent spread for Remix was inspired by an iconic photograph by Richard Avedon of Marilyn Munroe looking lost and tragically sad, “I wanted to create my own unbalanced and heartbreakingly beautiful screen siren; channeling classic mod with

a big-haired Lana Del Rey”.

Heather’s process also involves a fair amount of internet sleuthing; “I also like to steep myself in internet culture on a daily basis…. basically that’s a euphemism for a blog addiction. But that constant processing of good and bad imagery will often spark some interesting concepts for shoots and designs, as well as help me refine my eye for what I do and don’t like.”

www.heatherliddell.com

Artist of the week

www.ausm.org.nz

9

By Jason Walls

10

www.ausm.org.nz

Music: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, the two men that gave opshopping, or ‘thrift shopping’ as they call it, more popularity than a casual Sunday afternoon trip to the mall. Their chart smashing song Thrift Show has been viewed hundreds of millions of times on Youtube and played countless times on radios all over the world. After selling more than 3 million copies and going triple platinum, it peaked at number one in the charts in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Denmark, Australia and our very own New Zealand. Pretty impressive considering Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were practically unknown to most of us this time last year. But The Heist is more than just an album with a popular song and some catchy beats; it is musical revolution that is changing the very fabric of the music industry as we know it.

Born in Seattle Washington, Macklemore (Ben Haggerty) did not have the upbringing of a conventional hip-hop artist. He came from a good home, and a nice neighbourhood.

“I grew up on Capitol Hill with two parents and two cars. They had a beautiful marriage; we even had a swing set in our yard” he explains in his song Claiming the City. Introduced to hip-hop at an early age, Ben drew inspiration from his own life, and the struggles of people around him. He was part of a program called Gateways for Incarcerated Youth, where he facilitated music workshops for young inmates.

His career began in 2000, with the release of his first EP Open Your Eyes and in 2005, releasing the album The Language of My World. However, his music began to flourish when he met up with producer, Ryan Lewis in 2010.

After a few years of collaboration and the release of a few popular songs the hip-hop duo released The Heist in late 2012.

The unique thing about this album is that it’s completely independent from established record labels, which is ironically – I believe – the reason for its massive success. This decision meant that they had complete creative control over their content. They didn’t have a group of executives hovering over their shoulders telling them that focus groups between the ages of 18 and 26 prefer songs about ‘bitches and hoes’. They did not have to worry about stakeholders profits going down if their lyrics were

‘unconventional’ and did not appeal to various demographics. In fact, in the song ‘Jimmy Iovine’ Macklemore talks about his meeting with a recording label president. The song portrays how badly Macklemore wanted to make it in the industry, but how he would not sell his soul to a label to do so. After being presented with a ludicrous offer that in Iovine’s opinion is “not bad, I’ve seen a lot worse”, Macklemore replies “I appreciate the offer, thought that this is what I wanted; rather be a starving artist than succeed at getting fucked”.

This complete freedom from record labels with ulterior motives, has paved the way for one of the greatest songs I have ever heard, Same Love. More of a poem with a beat, Same Love is a vastly unorthodox hip-hop track, both lyrically and technically. Without distracting sirens and overbearing horns, we are free to listen to a song that addresses homophobia in the hip-hop community and challenges society for their lack of acceptance of the gay community.

Macklemore states that “If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me. Have you read the YouTube comments lately? ‘Man, that’s gay’ gets dropped on the daily, we become so numb to what we’re saying” Although he makes the generalisation that all “Right wing conservatives think that [being gay] is a decision”, this song is an anthem of hope, love and equality; a stark contrast from a hip-hop culture that more often than not belittles, hates and oppress.

The raw emotion, hard hitting lyrics and challenging content makes this sort of song something that record labels tend to shy away from, and most likely wouldn’t have existed should Macklemore have accepted Jimmy Ioving’s offer. Yet, here it is in New Zealand at #1 and doing well overseas too. Macklemore and Ryan exploited this creative control and used their music to challenge and inspire. This is again evident with Macklemore struggle with substance abuse. Where a lot of rappers endorse how much they drink, or how often they get high in their songs, Macklemore talk about his struggle with substance abuse, and relapsing. In the song Starting Over, he talks about his relapse and how ashamed he was. “Those 3 plus years, I was so proud of and I threw ‘em all away for 2 Styrofoam cups”. However, Macklemore didn’t give up; instead he

decided that “If I can be an example of getting sober, then I can be an example of starting over”. Again, this sort of content is very separate from that of the normal hip-hop community, and would not have gone down well with a record label.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were in the country a couple of weeks ago and I was lucky enough to attend one of their shows. In Auckland they went from a venue that could hold 500 people, to the mighty ‘Vector Arena’ where he performed in front of 5500 people, which is testament to how influential their music has become. The energy they put into their performance was unparalleled by any other performance I have ever seen. You feel that when Macklemore is rapping, he is not doing it as a means to make money; he is genuinely doing it to send a message.

Whether that message is of hope if you are hooked on drugs, love if you have been oppressed for your sexuality, or of freedom if you are trapped by consumerism; Macklemore and Ryan gave everything they had.

So why is ‘The Heist’ so important? Yes the songs are meaningful and address a lot of ‘hip-hop taboo’ subjects, but then again the likes of Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco have been doing that for years. The reason that Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s ‘The Heist’ is so important for the music industry is because of its deliberate segregation from any record labels. Macklemore & Ryan were the first unsigned artist in almost over a decade to hit #1 on U.S. Charts and ‘The Heist’ is one of the most popular independent albums in history. Their success will pave the way for many other artists to emerge, not moulded by cooperation’s with finical agendas, but pure and purposefully independent music. For now, the eyes of the hip-hop community, and indeed the world, are two men “Draped in a leopard mink” and wearing “Dookie brown leather jackets”. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, the mainstay of modern day, pure hiphop.

www.ausm.org.nz

11

Music: The Leers

COME WITH US

by Erica McQueen

12

www.ausm.org.nz

Music: The Leers The Leers are a bunch of mates from Tauranga currently kicking it in Auckland. They got together while all at Mount Maunganui College spending lunchtimes together in the music room. The Leers’ music is a good mix of anything you could want to listen to, if all you like is alternative-indie-pop-rock goodness! I still can’t decide who these guys sound like, but trust me they’re fabulous!

And it’s probably good that no other sound comes to mind immediately, no one likes a second class copy anyway. The Leers have been together around five years and are fortunate enough to all live together in a schmancy Auckland suburb. They have a pretty rad band practice room with lots of coloured fairy lights and double door entry. This makes almost daily jams possible.

To be honest, I can’t remember what the Leers’ live show dancing is like. But if the moves from their latest music video are anything to go by, you’re in for a treat. The fact these lads are good-looking isn’t the only reason I’d advise you to hit up one of their gigs.

These boys know how to partaaay (is that word still cool? Or should I have left it in the ‘90’s?). They’re bound to have your feet tapping and your hands clapping. Their beats are infectious and their in between song banter is pretty superb too! Not only will you be dancing along but chances are they’ll have you singing along to their latest single Come With Us in no time too. The Leers are regulars around Auckland and also play the odd gig in Hamilton and Tauranga alongside the likes of Cut Off Your Hands, Two Cartoons, Clap Clap Riot and Collapsing Cities. This year they also played at Rhythm and Vines.

The Leers have released a debut self-titled EP and late last year they released a couple of singles from their sophomore EP Pockets (Escapades and Come With Us) as well as a spectacular music video. I’ve been assured a full length album is on its way and no doubt a bunch of gigs.

So here’s the part where I recommend you give these lovely lads a listen. I also had a chat with two of the guys, Matt and Jacob.

Check it.

1. Who's in the band and what do they do?

James Kippenberger - Guitarist Jack Furniss - Drums Jacob Buchan - Bass / Backing Vocals / stage dancer and me Matt Bidois - Vocals/Guitar

2. And how'd y'all get together?

Matt: One morning I woke up and just decided I wanted to start a band. I asked Jacob, Jacob asked James, we all asked Jack and booom.

3. Favourite lyric/line from a song?

(yours or otherwise) Matt: “You’re one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan designed and directed by his red right hand” - Nick Cave - Red Right hand.

Jacob: Mark Bolan -"You've got the universe reclining in your hair" - T. Rex - Jeepster.

4. Band name meaning?

Matt: Band names are a tricky thing.

We’ve found in the past that names turn from a major issue to just being something to describe your music so if your music is good, your name therefore (within reason) will be good, e.g Red Hot Chilli peppers (horrid name, decent band)The Leers came about because we wanted a short, easy to remember name that held no connotations, so when you said it nothing would really come to mind, kinda like a blank canvas to paint on. Out of five names that’s what we chose.

5. The last CD/song you purchased/ downloaded was?

Matt: So much! The very last c.d i bought was ‘Night Swimming’ by Young Lyre though.

Jacob: I last purchased the "Tiny Terrors" EP from Two Cartoons.

6. Describe your 'sound' in three words or less

Jacob: Great. Big. Fun.

7. What can you never leave home without

Matt: My patience, you need a lot of that in Auckland.

8. If you were a crayon what colour would you be?

Matt: When I was young I tried to glue two crayons together to make a super crayon.

I would be that crayon. (I think it was blue and grey?)

Jacob: Issued in 1998, I'd be "Caribbean Green". #24 on the Crayola colour chart.

9. Who's been most influential on your song-writing/music-making?

Matt: It’s hard to narrow down! I must say in my lyric writing I’m constantly inspired

by Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys. He has a way of playfully stringing together the best rhymes and submerging them into amazing melodies. Nick Cave is also another amazing lyricist I admire.

Jacob: Even that changes all the time as of my last few jousts with it, Paul McCartney.

10. If you could offer one bit of advice to those starting out song writing, what would it be?

Matt: It’s a looooong hard road. But if it’s what you really want to do in your life and you’re prepared to do anything for it because you enjoy it THAT much then you’re on your way. Also don’t discover an ego. There is NOTHING worse them meeting a fellow musician with an oversized ego.

Jacob: Listen to Paul McCartney haha, but really listen to the Beatles. There's a reason they’re referred to so often as being the best.

11. Fist pumps of high-fives?

Matt: I’m all about the handshakes ae.

You can tell a lot about a person in a handshake.

12. What rumour would you like to

start about yourself?

Matt: That I drum for the band banglade$h as well as sing in the leers haha.

Jacob: I'm known in Mongolia as the "prince of peanuts" and if ever a man is in need there shall be peanuts for all.

13. Craziest thing you've done for The Leers ?

Matt: Definitely running naked down Remuera road naked as part of an ultimatum to get our facebook to a 1000 likes.

14. If I wasn't playing music I'd be…

Matt: Thinking about playing music haha.

I do have a day job working for Havaianas NZ but music is definitely my obsession, I’ve tried to live life without writing music for a few months and found it unbearable, but obviously priorities change eventually.

Hopefully my priorities don’t take away my music.

Jacob: Lost

15. Favourite smell?

Matt: The smell that comes when there’s an afternoon shower of rain in the peak of summer and the road is still hot. I have the best memories of surfing with my Dad at home in the mount accompanying that smell.

Jacob: Pinetarsol – it’s an anti-itch solution that I used as a kid when I had chicken pox. Oooooooooh what I’d give for some Pinetarsol right now..

16. What can we expect to see from you over the next year?

Jacob: An album. At the moment, that's where our main focus goes, writing for an album, few gigs but for now that's it.

Which is something we are all extremely looking forward to; my mouth is watering thinking of it.

17. Any final words of wisdom?

Matt: Life is too short to be a dickhead.

Jacob: Stressing is for chumps. www.ausm.org.nz

13

Ausm updates

AuSM Update Movie Screenings are back!

AuSM movie screenings are back! First movie to catch will be Warm Bodies. AuSM and Event cinemas Queen St are going to hook you and your friend up with an advance screening for it on 10th April 2013. Check out the Competition page on the AuSM website page to enter the draw for the movie! Oops.

Did I mention about FREE popcorn and drinks too?

followUs.pdf

1

25/11/12

8:39 PM

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

KEEP UP WITH WHAT’S GOING DOWN

14

www.ausm.org.nz

AuSM Connect APP Search “AuSM Connect” in the APP store or Google Play and download it free. You can easily keep up to date with AuSM news and events, plus put all your classes and assignments in to keep you on track!

Follow Debate @debatemag Debate fans! Great news!

You can now not only get to read debate weekly but also follow Debate @debatemag at twitter! Follow now, you must.

Nifty NEWS

Nifty News

Project Director Jason Armishaw and Prime Minister John Key at the launch of LIFEHACK

Calling all ‘Hipsters, Hackers and Hustlers’ it’s time for a change!

by Rebecca Savory

Youth mental health issues are finally being tackled by the people who really understand them…youth! LIFEHACK, a new initiative to combat youth mental health issues, is calling for young New Zealanders to create new solutions to their own problems, using mobile technology and social media.

It will bring together up to 75 ‘hipsters, hackers and hustlers’ in each of New Zealand’s main centres for a LIFEHACK weekend of brainstorming, designing, and developing, this April.

problems better than anyone else. So why not give them a chance to solve them?

They are closer to the issues, and they can relate to them on a much deeper and more honest level.”

Armishaw believes that giving youth the opportunity to harness their own solutions could dramatically change the way they talk about and deal with mental health issues.

“They’re using digital technology…talking about mental health issues in their own language. What is created is totally up to them, whether it be a mobile app or game or something else.”

Head of Counselling at AUT University Kevin Baker says that they are aware people already turn to the internet looking for information or help, and that LIFEHACK has serious potential to create a credible and reliable platform for these people.

Chief hustler and project director Jason Armishaw says the idea was born from the frustration of mental health issues in youth being unsuccessfully tackled by people who aren’t close to the issue.

“People can access any information over the internet but don’t know whether it is a reliable source or not. People may be reading un-informed or inaccurate information. An online option would probably be better as a way of finding information, helping people to connect, building social connections for people who often feel lonely, or encourage people to seek help.”

“I believe that youth know youth

According to a New Zealand mental health

The winning ideas will be funded and developed to make them a reality, before hitting the New Zealand market, and next, the world.

survey in 2004, nearly 30 per cent of young people aged 16 to 24, experienced a mental health disorder over a 12-month period.

Based on her own experiences, university student and previous depression and anxiety sufferer Hollie Procter believes LIFEHACK will be a better way to reach out to youth who need support.

“If someone of a similar age could reach out and help then it would make you feel more ‘normal’ and make talking and finding help easier. Using technologies will appeal to the younger generation, making getting help more relatable.”

She believes accessibility is an important factor.

“Having something that can help you in your pocket at all times of the day would be a huge help.”

Hollie has already signed up to be a part of the LIFEHACK weekend, and the future of mental health solutions.

“I really want to be able to help others, so they don’t have to go through the things that I had to. I want to help make a difference to the way these issues are dealt with and seen."

To sign up, visit the LIFEHACK website http:// lifehackhq.co/ and be a part of the change.

www.ausm.org.nz

15

NIFTY NEWS

David Phuah has a long journey ahead of him as he prepares to reach his dream of competing in the 2016 Paralympic Games.

The 22-year-old AUT business student is the number two boccia player in New Zealand. Boccia is a precision ball sport originally designed for people affected by cerebral palsy, which David suffers from.

Funding Cuts Burden Burgeoning Boccia Club

by Ginny Green

If you would like to volunteer for the Onehunga Boccia Club contact Francis Phuah at francis_phuah@hotmail.com

He plays with the Onehunga Boccia Club, along with nearly 25 other members, every Saturday at a church in Onehunga.

Four of the members have set their sights on the Paralympics. The club is constantly growing, but they are struggling financially.

The club is recognised by the Charities Commission New Zealand however it is not funded by Sport New Zealand. The president of the club Dominic Hagar says that after many losses five years ago, Sport NZ stopped funding.

“Boccia New Zealand lost momentum about five years ago, and all funding stopped. In the last two and a half years the sport has been revived.”

At the moment, the club is funded through private donations and members fees. Yet this financing is not enough to cover the costs of providing the right facilities for Boccia. They need larger facilities for everyone to play socially and competitively, as well as more funding for players to travel.

A sneaky few minutes playing Angry Birds never hurt anyone, until a loudspeaker was installed.

The repetitive squawks of angry birds have been heard lately throughout the Hikuwai Plaza, at AUT’s city campus.

The installation of the BirdXpeller Pro, positioned on the corner of the Hub Café, can be heard from as far away as the library entrance.

AUT Staff Caught Playing Angry Birds On Campus

by Elesha Edmonds

AUT student, Eden Radford, says even though the device is designed to scare off birds, the sound is more annoying for humans than the birds themselves.

“I’d rather listen to real life birds then have to listen to something like this,” she says.

Natalie Cyra agrees saying, “It’s a bit startling when you suddenly hear birds screeching from a speaker.”

Erica Donald says the noise reminds her of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film, The Birds.

16

www.ausm.org.nz

David’s father Francis Phuah says it can be an expensive sport.

“It would be about $10,000 annually to rent a club large enough to house all the players.”

At the end of April, some members of the club including David will travel to Wellington to compete in the Lower North Island Championship. In May, the Australian National Championship is being held in Sydney. Then there is the precursor to the Paralympics in October, the Oceanic Pacific Games.

Francis says to send eight players to this game will cost roughly $55,000. Some players cannot afford to the trip, but it is the best way to feel the competition, he says.

Recently, David sold artwork that he had painted, to buy a new ramp to help him in his competition, which cost him 1500 pounds.

Not only is the club lacking funds, it is also lacking volunteers. It needs up to 12 students to help out on Saturday mornings. Volunteers help set up, score keep, time keep and so on.

David says the competition is tough, and he has been training hard to achieve his goal.

“You kind of expect a flock of birds to fly at you at any moment,” she says.

Bird researcher and ecology student, Asher Cook, says that the installation of the device is probably to protect the building.

Asher says the problem with birds is their bathroom habits, which can damage the buildings structure.

“You don’t want them [birds] on ridges,” he says. “Their droppings are acidic so the structural foundations of the building deteriorate rapidly.”

Asher says the fake bird call frightens the bird away before they mark their territory.

“The aggressive bird call keeps the birds out of that territory,” he says. “The birds avoid the area so there’s no risk of conflict [with other birds].”

Nifty NEWS

$457. Most students interviewed said the coverage of the law’s failings in the media have made them comfortable they won’t get caught.

“You never see anything on the news about people getting caught, just stuff about how stupid the law is and how it doesn’t work,” said Ezra Whittaker-Powley, a graphic design student at AUT. The media even shows you how to pirate material without getting caught. Articles on how to do it are scattered over the news with experts brought in to explain things like IP masking.

“What they say is true - it’s easy as, to download it other ways and not torrent so you get past it and can’t get caught,” said Mr Powley.

To ease concerns even more, the New Zealand Federation Against Copyright Theft (NZFACT), which protects the copyright of the movie industry, said it would not be pursuing copyright cases under the new law. They say the cost of issuing infringement notices is too high.

“If they (NZFACT) aren’t going to try fine people for movies and TV then I’m definitely going to keep doing it,” said Eden Short, a third-year student at AUT.

Weak Copyright Laws Give Pirates Courage

by Zac Fleming

It’s no surprise then that even with the threat of prosecution, students are still downloading as much as ever. All but one of the 30 AUT students asked said their downloading habits haven’t changed since the introduction of the new copyright law nearly two years ago.

The cost of paying for music is almost nine times that of the average fine for illegally downloading it.

The law is clearly not deterring students despite there being four fines handed out in the last month of $616, $557, $797 and

Flu vaccine now available for AUT students

and Wellbeing practice manager Stella McFarlane. “It causes epidemics every year during the winter months, with one in five people getting sick.”

The 2013 flu vaccine is now available for AUT students at Health, Counselling and Wellbeing.

Students can receive the vaccination for $11 (PHO-enrolled students) or $26 (non-enrolled and international students). People who are pregnant or have chronic health conditions may be eligible to get the vaccination for free. Maori and Pasifika students who are enrolled with AUT Health, Counselling and Wellbeing as their main doctor are eligible to have the flu vaccine for free.

“It doesn’t matter how fit and healthy you are, the flu is just as likely to affect you,” says Health, Counselling

Influenza can be a severe and sometimes life-threatening infection, usually striking from May to September. The virus is spread through the air through infected people sneezing, coughing, sharing utensils or from surfaces they have touched such as shared textbooks or computers.

“Students miss classes, assignments and exams when they get the flu, and can spend weeks in bed. The flu vaccination is a practical way of preventing yourself from getting seriously ill during winter,” says Stella.

Immunity can take up to two weeks to develop after the vaccination — so to get protected during winter; you need to get vaccinated now.

So you can either pay for a cinema ticket or watch it for free using the Internet you already pay for – no brainer really. Save $14 on a movie ticket and buy a pack of Diesels and a pie instead.

Streaming is hella easy (my favourite is www.noobroom.com) or if you want a copy to watch later, download it.

Torrenting is easiest, just google ‘how to torrent guide.’

Students can make an appointment with Health, Counselling and Wellbeing by phoning 09 921 9992 (City Campus) or 09 921 9998 (North Shore Campus).

Manukau Campus students are welcome at either centre. You must wait 20 minutes after the vaccination.

Stella explains that the most common concern about the flu vaccine is about contracting the flu.

“It is not possible to get the flu from the seasonal influenza vaccine. Although there is a new flu vaccine every year, it’s made using the same ‘tried and tested’ methodology used by the World Health Organisation over many years.”

The influenza vaccine is a prescription medicine, so make sure you talk with the nurse or your doctor about the benefits, possible risks and side effects. You can also visit the website www.fightflu.co.nz for more information.

www.ausm.org.nz

17

Athlete PROFILE

Tivoli Guthrie Profile by Kahlia Finch

Tivoli Guthrie is a 3rd year student, currently completing a double major in Sport and Recreation at AUT University.

He is a New Zealand Touch representative, and has won the AUT Blues Sports Award in 2011 and 2012. Tiv is one of the Code Coordinators for the AUT Touch Squad, and has led the team to two consecutive wins at the New Zealand Uni Games Tournament. In 2013, Tiv is coaching the AUT Touch Development Team, who is travelling to NZ Uni Games from 21 – 24 April.

We played Australia in a three-game series in February and won it! The last time the Men’s Touch Blacks team beat Australia in a trans-Tasman was back in 1993. So in the first game, we beat them 6-5 in a drop-off (extra time), and then wrapped up the series in the second game beating them 5-4. It was the first time we’d won a transTasman in 20 years. My club team, Playin Up, has won the annual Whakatane Club Champs twice in the past 3 years. Most of my teammates in this team play with me for the Auckland Open Men’s as well, who haven’t lost a game at Touch Nationals for the past two years, winning in 2012 and 2013.

2. What is the best tournament you’ve been to so far? Why?

In 2011 I made my debut for NZ Men’s Touch Blacks at the Touch World Cup held in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was amazing to have the opportunity to not only play for my country, but also get the opportunity to travel to the other side of the world, experience a whole different culture and do a bit of sight-seeing as well which was awesome.

New Zealand UniGames Trials Trials are now completed for the 2013 NZ UniGames Contingent. Congratulations to all those who trialled! Team announcements will be on Facebook and via email.

18

www.ausm.org.nz

3. How did you get into your sport?

My brother started playing when he was at school and started to get good and so my sisters started playing. When they all started making rep teams I didn’t want to be the only Guthrie who didn’t play touch, so I started playing. I was rubbish to begin with, but eventually got there.

4. How do you fit sport around Uni life?

Luckily for me touch is a summer sport, so it’s perfect in terms of uni. Although some rep tournaments have come up during uni so I’ve had to apply for a couple of extensions and had to take some study material with me on trips so that I keep up as much as possible. If I do six hours of training in a week, I try to do twelve hours’ worth of study/assignment work.

5. What is your most memorable sporting moment or achievement?

Without a doubt, it would have to be winning the Super Trans-Tasman series in February. The series had youth, masters and open grades all playing at the same tournament and New Zealand managed to win two of the grades and the overall

Upcoming Sports Events at AUT

1. Tell us about your recent tournament

Trans-Tasman Cup. It was the first time the Men’s Touch Blacks had won in 20 years as well, so it was awesome to be a part of such an historic moment in NZ Touch. I was also given the players’ player award which was extremely humbling.

6. Most memorable speech by a Coach or Captain?

NZ Touch Legend Mike Daly gave a speech right before our first game of the Super Trans-Tasman series where he talked about the winning team of 1993, the history of the Open Men’s grade and the frustration of not winning a series in 20 years. More than a few f-bombs and c-words were thrown in aimed at the Aussies which showed how much passion he has for touch and NZ. That stirred a bit of passion in the boys and got the blood pumping.

7. What are your sporting goals?

I would like to be a part of the first ever NZ Men’s Touch Blacks team to win a World Cup, and I also aim to captain the team sometime in the future. To be recognised as one of the best ever players in New Zealand is my big goal and one of my main motives when I play.

Inter Faculty Touch Tournament – 28 March – Hato Petera New Zealand UniGames – 21 to 24 April – Dunedin New Zealand University Rowing Regatta - 26 to 28 April – Lake Karapiro Rotorua Marathon - 3 to 5 May - Rotorua www.aut.ac.nz/community/sport-at-aut | www.facebook.com/autsport

A Memorandum

by Scott Yeoman

ARTICLE- A Memorandum Memorandum [mem-uh-ran-duh m] A short note designating something to be remembered, especially something to be done or acted upon in the future; reminder.

Don’t forget – It doesn’t matter how many human rights violations you have committed, you are still welcome at church with Robert Mugabe this Sunday.

There’s no better time than the week leading up to Easter to stir a religious debate, but I assure you, I won’t be the one doing it. I’m in no position to pass comment or judgement on the Catholic Church, or any church for that matter.

That’s not what this week’s column is about, nor will it ever be. This week I’m simply mulling over the subject of forgiveness and whether there is such a thing as an unforgivable offence – I believe there is.

As many of you may know, the new Pope – Pope Francis I – held his first church service last week. Among the many representatives and politicians attending the service from countries around the world, including our own, was controversial ‘dictator’ Robert Mugabe.

The Zimbabwean President not only attended the Pope’s inaugural mass, bu t he was given the right royal treatment – he received a personal greeting from Pope Francis himself and was seated in the VIP section during the service in St. Peter’s Square.

I should probably explain at this point that since 2002 the European Union has enforced a travel ban on Mugabe over his alleged human rights abuse and vote rigging. A ban not lightly handed down I would think, and one equally unlikely to stem from empty accusations. But because Vatican City is considered its own country and not a member of the EU, this ban does not apply to them. And so with the Vatican more than happy to play host to a man who has been in power in Zimbabwe since 1980, and lawfully, being absolutely free to do so, Mugabe went to church last week.

Why you may ask? Forgiveness.

No, not Mugabe, I’m sure he thinks he’s done nothing to which he has to apologise for.

No, forgiveness - the moral basis of the Catholic Church, or at least that’s what my extensive family history with the Catholic faith leads me to believe.

The Vatican accepts Robert Mugabe, as it has always done, because they forgive him - everybody deserves forgiveness.

Now I agree that forgiveness is vital if we as humans are to live and co-operate with each-other every day. But what I don’t agree with is that everyone deserves to be forgiven - especially if that person is Robert Mugabe.

His history of human rights abuse and corruption, both of these at the highest level, is enough for me to tell him to get stuffed when he comes knocking on my door asking to be involved.

Because, to be honest, that is the only reason he went last week. I don’t believe he travelled all that way, at his age, because he is a devout Catholic.

Catholics are good, honest people. At least all the one’s I know are. I hear there are a few duds out there?

But hey, enjoy the few days off.

Auckland's Got It Going On

by Mike Ross

A student guide to the best bits and bobs our glorious supercity has to offer.

Yes! Yes! Yeeeuss!

Yeeeeeeeeuuuuusssss!

How many yes-ses was that? Four! How many work days in this week? Four! How many days was Jesus supposedly dead for before he rose? Three!

If only he'd stayed in the cave one more day that line would have been the perfect way to start this mediocre, Easter-special column. Yes, you heard right, Easter special! So plop yourself on the couch, grab a chocolate egg, and begin adding to the global obesity epidemic.

As always, if you're after any more info about this week's events: www.google.com

Early-on-in-the-week I've always been a firm believer in Monday night BYOs - you'll hopefully have shaken the weekend hangover, but a wee bit of hair of the dog never hurt anyone. If you're looking for a new establishment to hold such an event, then look no further than Pane & Vino at the top of Williamson Ave in Ponsonby. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to swear in this column but fuuuuuuuuuuuuua aaeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrk this place is top notch. Best pizza in Auckland? It's a huge call, but possibly.

the party that hosted Major Lazer & Calvin Harris at the end of last year. Well it's back, this time with hip hop legend Grandmaster Flash headlining. They're promising an all night, 'sunset to sunrise' event, and there's a massive local support lineup too - read: Jetski Safari, Jupiter Project, Optimus Gryme, Nark Live…shameless plug here, but I'll also be DJing as one half of the Paris Is Burning DJs. Ka-ching.

THURSDAY The Hound at Bin Bin Deluxe There's one limiting factor about the Takapuna strip, and that's the fact that the bars' licences run out at 1am. The boys behind 'The Hound' believed that this was far too early for bed time, and so once a month Bin Bin Deluxe remains open and serving until 3am.

Although the Bin Bin's busy every Thursday, this is the one week each month that you don't want to miss.

It's Good Friday but that doesn't mean you can't get naughty. God that was a horrible sentence. If you're still reading, try and erase it from your memory by attending this wee shindig. DPTR CLB (or Departure Club without vowels) events are always pretty bumping, and showcase a wide variety of cutting edge music. 'Totems' are headlining, and the Facebook event promises you will 'get sweaty with people you may not want to get sweaty with'. Enticing. Spray on some antiperspirant deo (I use Lynx Africa, for the sophisticated man), and get down there.

THURSDAY Our:House presents: Nite:Life at Ellerslie Events Centre You may remember Our:House as

FRIDAY DPTR CLB at 1885

www.ausm.org.nz

19

ARTICLE

20

www.ausm.org.nz

Article: Hors D'ouvre

By Hazel Buckingham

I never grew up with that undying urge to ask Daddy if I could have a pony. My first (and only) memory of being around a horse was riding one on my neighbouring friend's farm. It was bareback, and I think I lasted about three seconds of bouncing up and down as the horse trotted (yes I managed to pick up some lingo) along the paddock before I screamed my heart out to let me off.

The whole "riding horses bareback down a beach at sunset" has never conjured up thoughts of romance in my mind, only terrifying, imminent death. The only fond thought I have in relation to horses is my recent attempt to read Anna Karenina - in which there is a beautiful horse named Fru Fru. Now who would not love an animal with a name Fru Fru? But it is safe to say, horses aren't my favourite thing. However, the idea of being served up Black Beauty for dinner is, well....a little disturbing to say the least.

Now let's unpack the psyche of that for a minute. I was raised on a dairy farm, brought up with the knowledge that animals are reared to be eaten. Sure, when I was younger I was led to believe all sorts of visions of a fantasy farm that the animals went to when they were too big for our farm but I soon cottoned on when I asked if we could go to said fantasy farm to visit my childhood lamb Chopsticks.

So I knew first hand where the meat on my plate came from. Just like 99% of us do - unless you're living in the world where the fantasy farm still exists and storks just drop eye fillet steaks out of the sky (in which case, disregard anything I said earlier that does not support that claim - it's like telling a little kid Santa isn't real).

And we're all perfectly okay with eating cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. But when it is suddenly "uncovered" from DNA testing in Ireland that some UK beef products don't necessarily contain 100% beef (shock horror!) and that potentially we have been eating equine meat - more affectionately referred to as our dear Fru Frus, Black Beauties and Shadowfaxes of the world- we are outraged!

Flashback - Horse meat has been a delicacy in many countries and cultures throughout history (and still is some places today). It slides in along with the likes of frogs, balut (a fertilized duck egg, mmm yummy), camel, snake and shark. As a human race we are known to eat pretty strange things. So really, we're going to let a little horse frighten us?

If you ask me (and if you've made it this far through the

article with all my witty asides and sarcastic comments, I obviously cannot deprive you of my opinion), the issue isn't the fact people have been eating horse. It's the fact that we've BELIEVED we were eating beef, and companies have snuck something else in there. If it was straight up labelled to us as horsemeat, we could have had our own personal dilemmas and ethical blunders and made our own decisions. But we were deprived of that process.

Hooooooowever. To play devil's advocate, it is an interesting question of who really is to blame. It is a bit of a never ending circle and with three equally guilty players, who can we blame?

1. Consumers. In a rapid market place in the current economy, consumers are becoming more demanding than ever before. (What, us? Never!)

We continuously demand cheap products to be put on our shelves.

2. Food companies. To keep up with the demanding customers, food companies have gone on a drastic search for a way to lower prices. They find a supplier who can give them the required product at the low price, and the thought train stops there.

Low price - check, seemingly beef meat - check. All is well in the world.

3. Suppliers. Now feel a little sorry for these guys - they not only have the consumers' demands to meet, but also the food companies' as well. There’s pressure, pressure, pressure for cheap meat - but at what cost?

I'm ringing the bell for anyone who can tell me, what is the big deal about horsemeat? As someone who grew up with pet lambs and chickens, yet happily eats a roast dinner, I fail to buy the "oh but they’re my pet, I see them differently" argument. It can't be the taste, because everyone was happily eating horse before they found out it was Fru Fru on their plate. Hats off to the vegos who never ate either beef or horse - looks like you guys win this one.

Looks like it's back to the world of fantasy farms and storks in the sky - back to the world where everything that is written on a label is absolute gospel - back to the world where we eat cow every day, but when it's horse, we say nay.

www.ausm.org.nz

21

Article: Seven Sharp - Not So Sharp

NOT SO SHARP

by Jarred Williamson

Forgive me for disagreeing with some academics and commentators, but current affairs in New Zealand is not dead…yet.

I’ve heard it is: boring, old and that apparently no one watches it.

I agree it can get boring at times but I think, in my own words and everything, New Zealanders still want current affairs and they are watching it. So APA reference that.

The first sign of this fact is the number of current affairs shows returning to air or new ones being launched: The likes of 3rd Degree on TV3 and Seven (not so) Sharp on TVOne. The fact current affairs is still here is a good sign. It means people don’t need to simply rely on news for being informed, they can also have an issue explored deeper in a longer format show. This is still the case today albeit in a changing format, that is, for the better and worst.

Why marketing and news don’t mix: Seven Sharp. Or as I will refer to it as Seven ‘not so’ Sharp.

I don’t know where to begin on this one but I think I will say: what the heck was TVNZ thinking on this one?

If you haven’t yet seen the show, don’t be too worried.

Media releases prior to the show were confused. Through the PR-speak, it was

22

www.ausm.org.nz

clear that no one knew what the show was about or what it would do.

TV3’s war with intelligent programming:

The publicity talked about the show being ‘funny’ and ‘informative’. I’ve felt more awkward and patronised after watching it – especially Jesse Mulligan’s 40 second segments on the show describing a story of the day.

So far in 2013, Campbell Live has been performing well. It’s a clear and focused show – running with the slogan: “you’ve got questions, now it’s time for answers”.

As time has gone on since its launch, it has been made clear that the show has been bought in under the direction of TVNZ’s marketing department and the head of news and current affairs.

If anything, it’s a clear sign news and marketing are two separate things – they don’t mix.

Bill Ralston put it nicely: “The marketing department don’t like news, they don’t watch it and they don’t know it”.

Put simply TVNZ have set out for the younger advertising dollar. Instead they’re competing against sister channel’s Shortland Street and to make it worse; they are still behind Campbell Live in the younger demographic ratings.

TVNZ said people wanted sound bites and snappy current affairs. Well, show us the research. The ratings don’t agree.

For the first time in history TV3 rated higher than TVOne at 7pm. Sorry but it just hasn’t worked.

If the show sees out the year with lower ratings, it will be interesting. It is clear half, if not more, of the viewers have quit.

TVNZ’s past actions dictate if a show performs poorly it is either shifted or dumped.

The format could work once a week later at night. But I don’t think people want it at 7pm weeknights.

It’s had some style changes too: John Campbell now stands to present, like Mark Sainsbury did on Close Up. There are longer piece-to-camera shots with more dramatic and slow zooms. The camera even pans!

Style comments aside, the content on the show is fantastic. Mixing the hard stories of the day with lighter ones. I haven’t really seen any pressing issue explored sharply on Seven Sharp.

With the drop in ratings, the gap between TVOne and TV3 is very close and for a couple of nights the two shows were exchanging number one slots. In the media it has been made clear TV3 are challenging TVNZ’s rating dominance with intelligent programming. Countering TVNZ’s claim there is no demand for it.

March saw the launch of TV3’s new show to replace 60Minutes. 3rd Degree now has two former political editors as hosts – Duncan Garner and Guyon Espiner.

It’s early days to judge the program effectively – but the unscripted studio introductions are an interesting dynamic to include. Certainly the team of journalists on the show, to a media freak, is one of the best in a while.

Certainly current affairs do not bring massive profits to a broadcaster but it can make a return. Especially without turning it into New Zealand’s Hottest Journalist Baker.

ARTICLE: The Steubenville Reaction

The Steubenville Reaction

by Abigail Johnson

On the 17th of March, high school football stars Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond, of Steubenville Ohio were found guilty of rape and sentenced to short stints in juvenile detention. It’s a tragedy, certainly, but ho-hum right? I mean, rape cases occur every day.

It was what happened next that shocked the world, setting social media alight.

CNN lamented that “lives were ruined”. They reported the tears, the families clinging to each other, the people who were forced to witness their lives fall apart before them. They reported the impact this would have on futures. But it wasn’t the victim and her family they yearned for. It was the rapists.

You read that right.

There was in fact no coverage of the victim, who is referred to as Jane Doe. Instead, one of CNN’s principal woes was that these ‘kids’, who are 16 and 17 years old, would be labelled ‘registered sex offenders’ for the rest of their lives. And that is the main problem I have with the reporting of this case. The rapists are being treated, by major American news networks, as victims. The reality is, they are not being ‘labelled’ sex offenders undeserved, they earned the title when they chose to rape a passed out 16 year old girl. The term is not a ‘cross they are now forced to bear’, but a warning to all future neighbours and employers; a way to keep communities safe.

I am vaguely reminded of New Zealand’s own Clayton Weatherston, a man we watched bemoan his horrible life; with no regard to the victim he stabbed to death. Neither Weatherston nor Mays or Richmond showed any remorse towards their respective victims.

When found guilty Richmond cried, “My life is over. No one is going to want me now,” and Mays issued a half apology with, “I would truly like to apologize to [the girl], her family, my family, and community. Those pictures shouldn’t have been sent around, let alone taken.” No mention of how his body parts should have been nowhere near her body parts while she was too drunk to give consent.

Why does this happen? It is droned into us that rape is wrong, but in a culture that slut-shames, victim blames and empathizes with convicted rapists, the messages are conflicted. When a major network like CNN sympathizes with rapists, and questions the victims sobriety (or outfit, or sexual history) we teach potential rapists that their actions won’t be met with consequences. We teach men that women wearing short dresses and drinking alcohol are, in the eyes of the media, ‘asking for it.’ And if a girl is raped because we as a culture failed to put the blame on the perpetrator, then we can also put that blame on ourselves.

www.ausm.org.nz

Photo by-JvL-'s photostream via Flickr

There is a term for the reporters of CNN: rape apologists. They wagged their fingers at the girls drunken state, they wept for the potential these criminals once had. There was even a touching father/son moment. “I’ve never heard Ma’lik’s father say I love you… but he just did today. Oh, don’t you just want to hug him?!

Give him a pat on the back, and a kiss? Oh wait, no I don’t, because having a neglectful father does not give someone the right to violate another human being in the most intimate way.

23

It was a bright, sunny Auckland day when I met Tyree Tautogia. We sat inside the meeting room of Warner Music HQ, a large circular table and a TV mounted on the wall. It was here Tyree got his first big record deal. Since then, the Auckland rapper has found huge success with his group Smashproof and received the Best Male Artist award at the Australasian Urban Music Awards.

Tyree had just finished a radio interview when I arrived. He was in good spirits – six years after his debut album, he was busy promoting his follow up, Motivation - an album that almost never was. Those six years were tough for Tyree and he admits he almost gave up on music altogether. At times he thought “fuck this” and he was willing to “throw in the towel”.

Tyree sits at the table in dark shades, slick hair and ink running up his neck.

An imposing figure. I would start my questions carefully. Yet for a solid, tattooed Niuean, he doesn’t shy away from his vulnerabilities.

The first thing I find out about him is he’s afraid of heights. In order to celebrate the release of his new album he was planning to conquer his fear and go skydiving. The second thing he tells me is he’s suffering pain in the side of his stomach. It’s been there a few days and he asks me: what could it be? I venture a few guesses – butterflies? Stitch? Appendicitis!? I tell him I’m not really qualified to diagnose the pain and that he should see a GP. He nods and we start talking about music.

Motivation is a more mature work than his previous effort. At 28, Tyree has found inspiration in his family, his cultural roots and his young daughter, Mila.

Tyree: I Do It For My City

by Nigel Moffiet

He admits there has been a lot of “growing up for him” since his debut, Now or Never.

“I had a daughter and my whole outlook on life is just different,” he says. It’s this growing up and ties to his family which are “translated” into his music.

And with maturity comes fresh ideas – Motivation is the album’s title and opening track. In the song, Tyree confronts the challenges that almost conquered his passion and, as he raps in the song, “everything that was weighing him down”.

I ask him about the things that weighed him down. The song suggests the music industry itself deflated his enthusiasm.

He admits he reached a point in his life where his music career became uninspiring. “It just wasn’t doing anything for me,” he says.

24

www.ausm.org.nz

Interview: Tyree - I Do It For My City

After one performance Rihanna acknowledged Tyree and said “wow, you were good.”

Yet, with the success of his group Smashproof, who achieved New Zealand’s longest running number one single with the 2009 hit Brother, Tyree found the inspiration to pull himself out of a tough slouch.

describes as an “awesome experience”.

Next to his family, Tyree draws heavily on his roots – he’s a Niuean boy who, like many outstanding Kiwi rappers, grew up in South Auckland.

During the Melbourne show a fight broke out in the crowd while Tyree was on stage.

He had to muster all his skills to keep the audience’s attention. Tyree says he was “young and hungry”.

“I think it’s really important, not just for me, but for anyone to know where they come from and be proud of where they come from,” he says.

Tyree addresses these issues in two standout tracks on his new album.

In the track I Do It For My City, Tyree pays homage to South Auckland. The video to the track, directed by Roko Babich, is a warm embrace of the places Tyree grew up, the faces, the smiles, the characters, and the Mad Butcher shop on the corner. The streets are the central characters: Puhinui Road, Great South Road, Massey Road, Papatoetoe, Mangere, Manurewa.

Meanwhile, the closing track Survivors features fellow Niuean and New Zealand musical treasure Che-Fu. Introduced with some Niuean language and rapping about the threat of a dying culture, Tyree and Che-Fu stand tall, Niueans will stand strong and won’t fade; they rap with pride.

“There’s a lot of Niuean people out there that don’t practice the culture and in turn it gets lost,” he says musefully.

The track is a challenge in a sense.

“We’re letting the world know that we’re here, we’re surviving. No matter if there’s thousands more that live in New Zealand than the actual island, I’m proud to be Niuean,” he says purposefully.

As well as having a lot to be proud of, Tyree has some good stories to tell too.

Touring with Jay-Z? Check! Getting mad props from Rihanna and Ne-Yo? Check!

It was the 2007 Australian tour, and one of the highlights of Tyree’s career which he

“It was the first time I performed to more than 2,000 people. It was 20,000 people.

I remember thinking ‘damn man, this is crazy.’”

After one of the shows Jay-Z walked into the locker room and he says there was a special aura as everyone fell silent. “He was just like ‘what’s up?’”

Although Jay-Z was slightly untouchable and aloof, Tyree did get “to kick it” a bit with Rihanna and Ne-Yo – their locker rooms were all close to each other.

Tyree would see Rihanna in the hallway looking like a ‘Barbie doll”. After one performance Rihanna acknowledged Tyree and said “wow, you were good.”

Ne-Yo was supportive too. The Grammy award winning singer even took time to stand on the side of the stage and listen to Tyree’s set.

“I walked off stage and he said ‘you did your thing, man,’” he explains with the clap of his hands.

These are stories that Tyree is “humbled by”. They are stories a long way from the streets of South Auckland, but are a mark of how far he’s come.

But it’s hard being a musician. In between albums Tyree still has to make a living. He joked that he was “just hustling” before the release of Motivation, he laughs.

He’s smiling now and eager to promote his new material. After a few bumps, he’s hoping for some smooth sailing. He’s back doing what he loves.

“I’ve just come to a place where I’m like ‘fuck it’, I just want to do what I do. If you like it that’s cool, if not, that’s cool too.”

www.ausm.org.nz

25

Article: Meanwhile in 'Murica...

Meanwhile in ‘Murica...

(Don’t drone me, bro)

by Louis Houlbrooke

"I will speak until I can no longer speak" On Wednesday March 6, a politician in Washington stood up and gave a speech. For 13 hours.

The Senate was due to confirm John Brennan as the next CIA director, but Senator Rand Paul wasn’t going to make this easy.

Paul, a Republican, had chosen to delay the director’s nomination, not by taking the popular route of making pointless interjections and demanding votes on useless amendments, but by embarking on an old-school filibuster – he would stand up and refuse to yield the floor for as long as possible. “I will speak until I can no longer speak,” Paul said.

Rand Paul’s concern was not simply with the credentials of the next CIA director. Paul was taking this opportunity to stage a wider protest against and to draw attention to Obama’s expansion of the drone programme. It is becoming increasingly likely that armed drones will be used inside the US on people Obama deems a threat to national security. Paul explained his demands, saying “I will speak as long as it takes, until the alarm is sounded from coast to coast that our Constitution is important, that your rights to trial by jury are precious, that no American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being charged with a crime, without first being found to be guilty by a court.”

All Rand Paul was asking for was confirmation that US citizens would retain their right to due process. But over the past few weeks all Obama’s promises had amounted to was “we probably won’t randomly drone US citizens for acting suspicious”. So, faced with a seemingly nonchalant public and dismissive Senate, Paul stood up at 11:47am and started speaking.

Hours passed. When Paul ran out of written notes, he began to ad lib, to speak from his heart and from his knowledge of the Constitution. Eventually, a few of his allies joined in, giving Paul the chance to have the occasional break without yielding the floor, by asking ‘questions’ which took the form of supportive speeches. #StandWithRand began to trend on Twitter. As the afternoon wore into evening, the hashtag went viral and shot to the top of the US trend list. Paul continued his speech, visibly exhausted, speaking through mouthfuls of Snickers bars and M&Ms he’d stashed in his Senate desk. He was not permitted to take bathroom breaks, as leaving the Senate hall would force him to yield the floor, ending his marathon.

Eventually even a Democrat leant his voice to support Paul, and Republicans who’d supported the drone programme under Bush jumped onto the anti-drone train, keen to be seen backing the Paul’s display of principles and patriotism. The speech lasted until after 1am, when the tired Senator finally confirmed that he would have to answer a call of nature, ending his filibuster.

26

www.ausm.org.nz

Over the course of one evening, Rand Paul, once considered a political outcast for his libertarian views, may have changed direction of the Republican Party entirely – from warmongers to the new champions of civil liberties. Meanwhile, Obama and other Democrats who had once campaigned against Bush’s use of drones are suddenly looking like stone-cold neoconservatives.

With Paul now thrust into political stardom, there is much talk of him making a presidential bid in 2016. Last year, Mitt Romney failed to rejuvenate the Republican Party. Could the libertarian Rand Paul be the man for the job?

FILMS

2013 FILMS TO GET SWEATY ABOUT Warm bodies (April) I must admit I have a fleshy fetish for zombie films and Warm Bodies has me gnashing my teeth in excitement. Nicholas Hoult (Tony from Skins) stars as an un-dead zombie who falls in love with an actually un-dead girl. Romantic comedy of the year or Twilight with zombies? You decide.

Evil Dead (May).

Tagged as “the most terrifying film you will ever experience”, I am in two minds about the remake of the 1981 cult classic. The original is low budget, tragically over-acted and hilarious but the remake’s trailer is bloody and horrifying. With any luck, having Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell as producers will mean it retains the dark humour of the original – otherwise I think I’ll shit my pants.

Oblivion (April) Tom Cruise is a giant knob and Morgan Freeman is more cliché than a bearded wizard but the trailer for upcoming sci fi Oblivion has my curiosity – which is impressive considering my feelings towards T Cruz. Curse my apocalyptic love!

The Great Gatsby (June) Literary masterpiece The Great Gatsby is once again getting the film treatment and with the fantastic Leonardo DiCaprio on board, I have every faith it will be a success. After all if there is one thing Leo does well, it’s wealthy and eccentric (Django Unchained & The Aviator). If the trailer is anything to go by, it promises melodrama, a contemporary soundtrack and phenomenal performances, altogether rendered in a dazzling and flamboyant style.

The Lone Ranger (June) I predict Johnny Depp will steal the show in upcoming action comedy The Lone Ranger, the same way he did with that pirate trilogy (what was it called?). I also predict the dark and beautiful Helena Bonham Carter will play a peculiar character with permanent bed hair. And to top it off, I predict huge box office success.

Man of Steel (June) Oh yes. Superman finally getting the Nolan treatment. While the director’s chair is filled by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen), Nolan produced and co-wrote the script so same diff really.

Unfortunately, since superman is a lame superhero, it will never be The Dark Knight, but I expect to be blown away by action scenes and I think I’ll enjoy what looks to be a darker, less camp version of the Metropolis Marvel.

World War Z (June) I love zombies, I love the book, I love Brad Pitt, I hated the trailer…

But I’ll queue to see the film. Well I guess I didn’t hate the trailer…

I liked bits and pieces of it. But can someone tell me why the zombies look like a CGI army of super humans?

The Wolverine (July) In 2009, the Wolverine story was portrayed abysmally in a film I had high hopes for. Perhaps foolishly, the promise of another has my hopes high. It’s the role Hugh Jackman was born to play, Wolverine is my (everybody’s) favourite mutant and when he loses his shit, I lose mine. Can we please have a plot this time though?

Kick-Ass 2 (August) Kick-Ass was one of the best superhero films of the decade; original, hilarious, brutal and shocking. Whether the sequel can deliver, I have no idea, but it is reassuring that Matthew Vaughan (director of the original) is staying on as producer. Oh, and Jim Carrey is coming on board as a vigilante hero – be excited.

Elysium (August) Neill Blomkamp, the guy that brought us District 9, has stuck to his sci fi guns, casted Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, and given nerds everywhere a hard on with his upcoming film Elysium. In terms of hush-hush, it’s pretty well hushed and it’s generating quite the hype online. August cannot come around sooner. www.ausm.org.nz

27

ARTICLE: Carved In Culture

MY FAMILY

Traditional Pacific art meets the contemporary world.

By Suzanne Suisuiki March is typically the month where the vibrant South Pacific culture takes over Auckland city. With Pacific-themed festivals such as Pasifika and Polyfest it has always attracted a lot of crowd goers and this year, I was proud that my own uncle, Tuailevaoola Pio Timu, a master carver from Samoa would be introducing the art of traditional woodcarving to the people of Auckland.

It is a rare occasion for Samoan carvers to allow public viewing as the form of art is seen as sacred.

Wood carving is an integral part of my family history, and the knowledge and teachings have solely been passed down from generations to generations. The finished wood carvings would mainly go towards village meeting houses or church buildings, however in the late 70’s the famous hotel founder, Aggie Grey approached my grandfather to carve multiple poles for the hotel that still stands today in the heart of Samoa’s capital, Apia. It was there that my grandfather recognised that our family trade had the potential to become a commercial success but also realised that it would be exploited hence the reason why traditional woodcarving remains something we value so highly.

If you were to observe a master carver at work, you would usually find him with only two main tools and a pine log. It takes about two to three days for the work to be completed and the finished art becomes a pou (pole). The motifs on the pou are representations of flora, fauna or village life within the islands.

The tradition has connected us with other Pacific Islands and it is a beautiful sight watching the master carver establishing distinct symbols from each island on to the pou. For example, a classic Samoan pou would have symbols that represent the taupou (the village virgin) which would usually be an

28

www.ausm.org.nz

elaborate headpiece called the tuiga, equivalent to a princess’ tiara. On a Niuean pou, the distinct symbol that stands out is the uga, the coconut crab which is Niue’s national symbol and delicacy.

Petelo Esekielu, a former AUT student and Spatial Design graduate who has gone on towards becoming a consulting artist decided it was time to establish the project, Tagaloa Designs. The objective of the project is to start combining traditional Pacific craft with contemporary New Zealand buildings.

Tagaloa Designs is a result of an idea that sparked up when relatives were after traditional wood carved pous that represented five Pacific islands to go towards the construction of a building for a new Pasifika early childhood centre in Mangere.

Since the establishment of Tagaloa Designs, Petelo, alongside Tuailevaoola Pio have held four observatory workshops at both Pasifika festival and Polyfest, Unitec and at the Auckland Museum. The response from the public and the media has been phenomenal. I was lucky enough to work alongside both of my uncles as a hostess, explaining to people what was going on, as well as explaining through the meaning and significance of the art. My favourite moment during the experience was meeting two deaf males who were amazed as I explained to them how long it took to carve just one pou. They told me in a mix of sign language and lip movement that my uncle was doing a beautiful job and encouraged our family to keep the tradition alive.

A Facebook page dedicated towards the project has been created, simply search for “Tagaloa Designs”.

You can glimpse through the pictures, updates and watch the progression of the pous being carved before they stand within the early childhood centre.

'TUIGA' HEADPIECE WORN

BY CHIEFS DAUGHTER

AGGIE GREYS HOTEL SAMOA

MY UNCLE TUAILEVAOOLA PIO TIMU CARVING

SAMOAN POUS

www.ausm.org.nz

29

Reviews

I I Give It A Year

Starring: Marion Cotilard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Armand Verdure.

Directed by Dan Mazer.

Directed by Jacques Audiard

◊◊◊◊◊ Reviewed by Kieran Bennett

◊◊◊◊◊ Reviewed by Matthew Cattin

I like English comedy. There’s some word play thrown around, whole scenes are built up for the sake of just one line and on the whole it's funny, biting and witty. I Give it a Year is on the other end of the spectrum however. It's a little bit awkward at times and many of the laughs come from the plain fact that what’s happening is just socially awful. This does not however mean the film isn’t good. I Give it a Year is a romantic comedy with a slight twist. It begins with the happy marriage and fairy tale ending and tracks the gradual decline of it. I Give it a Year is not the traditional ‘marriage is the be all and end all’ kind of film and it’s pretty damn refreshing.

Josh and Nat have been married for nine months and through showing key (disastrous) events in their marriage by telling them to a therapist, it becomes quite plain that neither are really right for each other. The whole thing gets a little more complicated when Josh’s ex-girlfriend comes back from Africa (of course) and Nat’s new client is (again, of course) incredibly handsome and charming. What follows is in many ways utterly predictable, but the divorce twist keeps the story on its toes; bringing the cliché filled realm of the romantic comedy back into the ‘real world’. The story starts off fairly rushed, but this is to be expected as an entire marriage worth of character connections has to be established quickly and given the circumstances, it does a fine job. Being a comedy, each scene is in many ways just another set piece used to tell jokes and advance the plot, but it does it well. I Give it a Year takes the topic of divorce and the idea that maybe marriage isn’t for everyone and manages to craft an interesting and genuinely funny story from it.

Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall as Nat and Josh are fairly charismatic in their roles, which is good as neither Nat nor Josh are that likeable. They manage to take characters that are a little bitter and miserable, sometimes just unpleasant, and make them a little less so. Simon Baker and Anna Faris as the potential love interests for Nat and Josh however do another excellent job of essentially playing themselves, which is great of course as they are both quite charming anyway. It must be said however that Rafe Spall does have a few weak moments and descends a little too much into the stereotype of the bumbling, clueless English man; making some scenes just a little grating.

I Give it A Year is definitely funny, it’s cast deliver their lines with precision (most of the time) and the script is solid. It’s let down by some pieces of the story that are little hard to swallow and by a few weak moments from actors. But all that becomes inconsequential in the face of what is at heart, yet another funny English comedy.

30

Rust and Bone (De Rouille et d'os)

Starring: Rose Byrn, Anna Faris, Simon Baker, and Minnie Driver.

www.ausm.org.nz

Sometimes love is a bitch – a painful, confusing, hardship that you won’t miss until it’s gone. But in cinema, this is rarely the case. Instead, stars are thrust together to sweep one another from their feet, have a minor (yet easily resolvable) scuffle towards the end, and live happily ever after. Not so in Rust and Bone, a touching yet unromantic story of an unlikely companionship, getting knocked down and ultimately, finding your feet.

When beautiful orca whale trainer Stephanie (Marion Cotillard) is injured in a night club scuffle, hefty bouncer Alain comes to her aid, abandoning his new job to drive her home safely. When he invites himself in to ice his own injuries, he is confronted by a less-than-pleased boyfriend who reeks of woman abuse. Alain leaves his number behind, arming Stephanie with an alibi, and sees himself out. Soon after, Stephanie loses her legs in a freak accident at the aquarium. Abandoned and dependant, she calls on Alain for help and thus begins the guts of the story.

The film’s title, Rust and Bone, perfectly sums up the gritty, imperfect relationship between the crossed characters. Stephanie, disabled by her accident is fragile and flaky, self-conscious of her metallic limbs and sexual desirability. Alain on the other hand is all meat and heart, yet he rarely lets his brain enter the equation.

Boning everything on two legs, insecure Alain hinders the onset of the inevitable relationship, confusing things all the more - but like I said, love is a bitch. As a father of a young boy, Alain is as legless as Stephanie and they soon discover that it’s each other they need if they are to learn to walk.

Supported by beautiful cinematography, strong performances (by Cotillard in particular) and a gorgeous soundtrack (Bon Iver fans will delight), Rust and Bone is touching and memorable. A pleasant change from Hollywood films, it’s nice to sit back and enjoy subtle film making every once and a while. While it’s not life changing, it is definitely heart-warming but unfortunately, it wasn’t quite as good as the sum of its parts.

Reviews

Beautiful Creatures Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons.

Directed by Richard LaGravenese

Urban - Auckland Art's Festival ◊◊◊◊◊ Reviewed by Ceapum Kaushish

◊◊◊◊◊ Reviewed by Ché Crawford

Ethan longs to get out of fictional Gatlin, South Carolina, where he’s lived his whole life. His ‘mom always said there are two types of people in Gatlin; ones too stupid to leave, or ones too stuck to move.’ His life changes when he meets Lena, a girl who has been haunting his dreams for the past month, and whose family is hated by the prejudice and religious townsfolk. Lena, it turns out, is magic, and on her sixteenth birthday will be taken by either the light or the dark, depending on her true nature.

Played by Alden Ehrenreich, Ethan has a drawling charm that manages to win Lena over, and also the viewers, making what could be only a very typical and cliché film as of late, to one still watchable and even slightly endearing.

The film has a mix of interesting supporting actors and characters, ranging from dark-castor cousin Ridley (played by Emmy Rossum, Phantom of the Opera) to Jeremy Irons (Eragon), as Lena’s Uncle Macon. Perhaps the most stand out performance was by English actor Emma Thompson, who plays evil in both forms. One as the pillar of the narrow-minded community, Mavis Lincoln and the other as Lena’s dark, unloving, castor mum Seraphine, who wears Mrs Lincoln as a body.

Unfortunately, the film still has an overall feel of one produced purely for what is popular in the market after the success of Harry Potter and Twilight. Beautiful Creatures is adapted from the young adult fantasy novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

This makes the film exactly what the viewer expects it to be; two star-crossed lovers (or infatuated teenagers), coming together against all odds to try and overcome evil. The film delivers on all the core ingredients of a supernatural love story, making it neither good nor bad; only expected.

Reviews all around are largely average, with a 45% positive rating on rotten tomatoes. I personally give some praise for the civil war flashback scene, where Ethan and Lena are in a theatre, but only they can see the memory. And for when two of Lena’s classmates get a face full of glass after declaring that Lena is an agent of Satan and pray loudly in class for protection from her.

So while the film is perhaps not full of interesting ideas, if you are a lover of a generic supernatural love story, this film ticks all the boxes.

The lights of the magnificent Civic Theatre dimmed and the audience settled in. After a short opening performance by two female acrobats, the stage exploded with energy! Out came a troupe of some of the strongest and most agile men I have ever seen, and for the next 75 minutes I witnessed a show of gravity defying, heart-stopping acrobatic prowess. This was Circolumbia's – PURE ENTERTAINMENT. Circolumbia comprises of graduates of Circa Para Todos, Circus For All - the world’s first professional circus school for disadvantaged youth. Based around the streets of Cali, Columbia; Circolumbia's Urban can't really be classified as your usual circus.

It was much more. There was something for everyone in this show – mind blowing and perfectly mastered acrobatics, original Latin-American inspired reggae and hip-hop beats performed live by the artists during the show, high-octane dance routines, lifts, gymnastics – absolutely no chance of getting bored. What also set it apart was the fact that the entire show was full of personalized stories and was deep-set in its Columbian roots. The three screens at the back of the stage, showing images of Cali Streets, helped set the mood. But to be honest, once the group started throwing each other in the air, building human pyramids, walking and jumping on a rope and performing aerial routines (with no safety nets) – nothing else mattered. The audience was mesmerized by the charismatic acts.

My only problem with the whole act was the fact that it was all set in Spanish and my non-existent Spanish skills were making it a bit challenging for me to engage with the narrative. And although it did make the act feel a bit incomplete and made me wish I had a translator to assuage my curiosity, I did manage to string the act together taking cues from the imagery on the screens and the lighting setup. The show reminded me of Cirque du Soleil.

However, on comparing the two I think Urban has a roughness to it that I found quite refreshing.

The performers called themselves “the poets of the street who write with their feet” and that is what they did. Urban took the audience straight to the streets of Cali, Columbia and told us a tale of confrontation and redemption, of gangs and individual freedom, of hardships and determination. Their positive attitude and vibrancy was infectious and the evening ended with a deafening applause. It was fantastical!

www.ausm.org.nz

31

Photo from Flickr

Caption Corner

Crispy Schnitzel with cheesy garlic mash Amber Rinkin

Caption:

This doesn't sound so healthy but by making a few minor adjustments to the conventional method of this meal it can be! Serves 4. $11.60

Name Phone Email Campus

Ingredients

Issue 4 Congratulations to : JORDAN MILROY City Campus who scored two Squawk Burger vouchers Winning caption:

Khoder Nasser presents: Sonny Bill Williams' next boxing opponent.

-4 pieces of beef schnitzel or chicken breast flattened to schnitzel size/ thickness (un- coated) -Wholemeal bread crumbs -2 whole eggs beaten with 4 tbsp milk -Plain flour -1/2 cup grated parmesan -Salt and pepper -Olive oil -4 medium potatoes -Splash of milk -1/3 cup of cheese of choice (mine’s gruyere or mozzarella) -2-3 large cloves of confit garlic (garlic slowly cooked in oil, you can purchase this in the pre- prepared garlic/ pastes section at the supermarket or have a go yourself!)

-25g margarine Side salad of choice - lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot, onion.

Try to get things in season

Put your thinking cap on, turn it to the side, and come up with a caption for this week’s picture and you could win. Drop your entry into your nearest AuSM office, or the box on the side of the red debate stands, or post to debate PO Box 6116 Wellesley St before 12pm Thursday. What’s up for grabs? Two “squawk burgers” vouchers for Velvet Burger on Fort St, Auckland CBD.

Method 1. Wash, peel and wash again the potatoes then chop into even pieces, place into the pot covered with warm water and salt, bring to the boil and cook till soft in texture.

2. On a large plate mix enough breadcrumbs, parmesan and S&P to coat the schnitzels. On another plate place enough flour and season with S&P and in a large bowl beat the eggs and milk together.

3. Coat the schnitzels with flour, then dip in the egg to cover then cover with the parmesan bread crumbs.

4. In a large pan heat 3 'turns of the pan' of olive oil and cook schnitzel one at a time. Once cooked place on a grill rack over a baking pan to let any excess oil drip out, this leaves the schnitzel crispy, tender and lower in fat.

5. Drain the potatoes and add the margarine, cheese, milk, garlic (mashed), and S&P. Mash with a potato masher, then to finish beat with a whisk. This will give you super creamy mashed potatoes.

Finish with the side salad and serve. Enjoy!

32

www.ausm.org.nz

1.

Reality talent show contests. If you don’t think you are the best singer/juggler/dancer/comedian in New Zealand then don’t go on the show and waste my precious time. I could be massaging my dog’s nipples.

2.

SAYING HASHTAG OUT LOUD. No explanation necessary. #die #notjoking. Also, Instagramming food.

3.

Taylor Swift dating boys. She’s a consistently worse partner than Chris Brown. I didn’t do a lot of maths at school, but I do know what a ‘common denominator’ is.

4.

Saying ‘post-modern’. What even is post-modernism? The future? Ain’t no one got time for that. No one understands ‘post’ anything. I almost couldn’t hear you over your pretentiousness anyway.

5.

New Zealand trying to create a ‘celebrity culture’. Colin Mathura-Jeffree is not and will never be a celebrity. I don’t care where he ate lunch on Wednesday.

6.

Selfies. Everyone knows what you actually look like. You’re just fishing for compliments. And don’t try make yourself look pretty and retake the picture 18 times because we all see you looking pretty putrid sometimes.

7.

Any mention that you have just been at or are about to go to the gym or any related speak. This includes talk of protein shakes, the words “mirin’” or “chestbrah”, mentioning your DOMS (especially after leg day), or any picture of you in one of those super stringy low cut singlets. If only you spent as much time developing your personality as you do your body, you might actually be a decent human being, rather than a boorish, preliterate oaf.

8.

Girls complimenting each other on how long their hair is. You don’t have to do anything to have long hair. Just wait. It’s not an achievement.

9.

People giving Lance Armstrong crap. Everyone was doping, but he was the best one. I think he’s a hero.

Additionally, the other core tenet of homeopathic treatment is the act of dilution, where the intended active ingredient goes through a series of dilutions either in alcohol or water. It is argued that repeated dilution increases the potency of the remedy. This too makes no sense within our current understanding of physics, chemistry or pharmacology. For the majority of homeopathic remedies, this dilution process either removes all molecules of the original substance, or it remains in infinitesimally small traces that would be unable to have any effect.

Modern practitioners often defend the implausibility of this mechanism by propounding a theory of ‘water memory’, in which the water molecules ‘remember’ substances that have been previously diluted in them.

Needless to say, this also makes no sense and would rewrite our understanding of the physical sciences.

Homeopathy is popular in various parts of the world with varying degrees of regulation and in places such as the United Kingdom some homeopathic treatments are covered by the public health service. In New Zealand homeopathy is practised but remains unregulated, and it is sold widely in pharmacies. Generally it is shelved alongside effective medical drugs and marketed as a “natural remedy”, with little or no mention of how it is prepared and the philosophy it is based on. www.ausm.org.nz

Illustrations by Nicole Koch

10.

Tagging people in their own statuses. They get the notification anyway.

Homeopathy is a form of alternative medical treatment that is based on the notion that “like cures like”; that a substance that causes symptoms of disease in a healthy person, would cure the same symptoms if administered to a sick person. These “hair of the dog” remedies are advocated by practitioners in treating a range of illnesses and ailments, and at the more extreme end are argued to be effective in treating all disease. In controlled, double-blinded experiments however, homeopathy has never been proven to have any significant effect beyond placebo. This is not surprising given that the purported mechanism for homeopathy makes no sense within the current understanding of disease.

33

AuSM O- Week...

HURRY IN!

25% off all 2013 diaries and * wallplanners

Stock will vary between stores. Valid until 31/3/13 or while stocks last. NETT Price - no further discounts.

*

AUT City Campus AUT Akoranga Campus 55 Wellesley Street East, Auckland City 90 Akoranga Drive, Northcote Tel: 366 4550 Fax: 366 4570 Tel: 489 6105 Fax: 489 7453 Email: aut.city@ubsbooks.co.nz Email: aut.akoranga@ubsbooks.co.nz Web: www.ubsbooks.co.nz Open Monday to Friday or shop securely online 24/7