Dircksey ed. 4 vol. 1 "Grey Matter"

Editorial

‘Grey Matter’ is a collection of theories, experiences and knowledge. None of which have any reasonable scientific explanation.

Science is the organisational backbone of our society, but there are particular moments in our interactions which are downright weird and confusing. This it not exclusively on biological, physical or chemical levels; it includes our social, sexual and psychological behaviour too.

A special thank you to everyone who travelled into murky territory and made a contribution and a special thank you to you yourself, the reader.

I’d also like to encourage your right of reply to anything you see or read in this edition, including that of any previous editions of Dircksey. Your constuctive feedback is much appreciated.

Our next contributors’ meeting is on the 31st of August, come along! All are welcome. You can stay in touch by finding us on online at www.facebook.com/dircksey Cheers, M

Nominations are now open for the 2016 Guild elections.

Elections commence 6 - 8 Oct. Nominations and elections are open to all Guild members. Nominations close Friday 18th September.

For more information visit ecuguild.org.au

Contents MH17 ... Page 6 Perspective Transendence ... Page 8 Genetics... It’s a Gay Thing ... Page 12 Gay and Growing Grey ... Page 14 The Real Side of BDSM ... Page 18 Sunlight and Suicide? ... Page 20 Film and the Unknown ... Page 24 An Exception to Political Grey Matter ... Page 26

Editor and Design: Michael Donnelly editor@ecuguild.org.au Contributors: Hanifa Abdiraihan, Michael Donnelly, Erin Fewster, A. Student, Frankie Mann, Emma Stevens, Brock Covich, Simon Waddilove, Michael Inouye, Sita Carolina Cover Illustration by Michael Inouye

Supervisor and Advertising: Tom Reynolds communications@ecuguild.org.au Photography on pages 3, 4, 6, 12, 16, 20 and 26 by Frankie Mann Photography on pages 8, 14, 18 and 24 by Sita Carolina Illustrations on pages 10 and 22 by Michael Inouye Disclaimer: Dircksey is editorially independent of the ECU Student Guild. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor, the ECU Student Guild or the Advertisers. The Editor reserves the right to republish material in Dircksey and its affiliated formats, as well as to make changes to submitted material for clarity or spacing consideration. Contributors retain all other rights of resale or republication.

Ruminations

MH17 Hanifa Abdiraihan I don’t understand MH17.

I don’t understand why 298 people had to lose their lives in a war that wasn’t theirs and in an event where all the sides took advantage of the chaos.

I don’t understand the lack of accountability, apologies, anything tangible from anyone. The way each political bloc wasted no time in accusing others, releasing supposedly definitive evidence to incriminate their chosen scapegoats. The way much of the media was just as irresponsible in the immediate aftermath, descending upon the scenes of charred remains and wreckage like hungering Valkyries. They hunted for wailing emotion without even a thought for mourning loved ones.

Those looking for a story wouldn’t have looked far. There was no shortage in the delivery of information. Material was ‘leaked’, even as recently as the 17th of July, presented to support certain narratives; the missile’s origins have been deconstructed and discussed countless times.

The result is a nauseating, disorienting maelstrom of information that many don’t even realise is mostly, if not completely, comprised of speculation.

There is absolutely no shortage of information at all – right until it came to questioning accountability across the board.

It should’ve gone beyond fourth-estate duties; 298 people were lost through negligence and there was barely a peep for accountability that made it to coverage, driven mostly by bereaved families.

There was just a horrible silence. Sickening.

Infuriating.

Governments can demand whatever answers they want from other governments, but those involved owe everyone their answers. Theoretically, it is their job to make sure this sort of thing

doesn’t happen – where were they, aside from pointing fingers? Where are they, after all this?

The Dutch investigations will produce a report in October, and there have been calls for an international tribunal, but the non-existent transparency throughout the entire sordid affair is bloody shameful. Acknowledgement of human life was buried amongst politically driven claims from proponents who themselves have refused to offer a real and apparent contribution.

In short, it’s been a complete clusterfuck.

But it doesn’t seem to matter how much one tries to make sense of it. I still don’t understand MH17. I still don’t understand why there hasn’t been a bigger emotional impact; I still don’t understand how it came to be that two brothers even younger than me were shot down by a missile of all things on their way to holidays.

I don’t understand such violent deaths, and I don’t understand how we are okay with not understanding – what else does this hideous silence mean?

Because the government is handling it? Because it’s not our responsibility? Because, fuck, it’s been an entire year and it’s time to move on?

The problem is that there hasn’t been anything to move on from. Promises and reassurances doled out on television mean jack shit when a state military – whichever one it is – shoots down your loved ones and they fall from 32,000 feet high and die and have pictures of their belongings circulating around with headlines accusing someone or other, only to have absolutely no progress more than a year later.

No, I’m not okay with not understanding, god damn it, and neither should everyone else. My greatest fear is that the answers will never be forthcoming.

Because then we’ll never understand.

Perspective Transcendence Michael Donnelly What if we were already walking the plains of both heaven and hell?

What if you applied only the concept of heaven, hell and indeed all the manifestations of the afterlife and applied it to the physical world?

Well, nothing. It’s merely a perspective. It serves no truth or conquest.

However, the commonly preconceived idea that the plains we walk serve as some sort of middle point between the best and the worst is also merely perspective.

Our collectively diverse imaginations of the afterlife are all born only from our existence and experience on planet earth. So would it not make more sense that heaven, hell and everything in between exists within the very fabric of ourselves and our footprint?

Much of the contemporarily fearless and fearful imagination about the afterlife has been constructed by the violent and murderous disagreement with other fundamental imaginations of the afterlife. It sounds so presposturously inhumane and stupid it could very well be from another world. Unfortunately, it is the only quantifiable truth amidst a plethora of different perspectives.

The Pope launching the Crusades, the merciless judiciary of The Inquistion, the genocide of Armenians in their thousands at the hands of Turkish muslims, the path of the jihad, the Israeli Jews building separation barriers around Palestine... it all resembles hell to me, a living hell that could not possibly be any more terrifying in any other place.

Although some believe we’re exclusively walking the plains of heaven on earth. That’s an idea I can agree with, or at least see the logic in.

Amongst all the politically and religiously (often both) motivated horrors the human race has borne witness to, there is a lot of beauty in the physical world we have fortunately gravitated to and in the emotional worlds we immerse ourselves in. No matter where you believe you will transcend, the only sure fire time and place you know you can actually exist, is right now and right here... and you should count yourself lucky you’re in such a beautiful place.

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I must emphasise that this is not an effort to degrade any particular belief. One could look at atheism as a sheepish idea simply for not considering heaven and hell as interesting concepts - open to what should be, nonviolent interpretation.

I emphasise that misfortune is often a catalyst for religious transition and if belief in the afterlife is helping one lead a happy, productive life - then power to that person.

But is it not plausible that heaven and hell is only self-perpetuation? Are we fixated on quintessential happiness and reject our bad experiences as what could be learning curves? Do some of us simply hope out of fear, there is a better afterlife because we’re not making the best out of the life we have?

Motivation aside, no one has the answer. Will you transcend to a happier place full of beauty, otherwise known as heaven, once you die? Possible.

There’s beauty, and indeed kindness, in the nutrients you will give to the organisms that will decompose your body once you die, that’s one way to look at it.

But can you transcend to a happier place while you’re still breathing? Well, that’s just as possible.

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Genetics... It’s a Gay Thing Erin Fewster Let me begin by stating that I am a genetic lesbian. I’ve never referred to myself as a genetic lesbian before – a lipstick lesbian perhaps, a fucking awesome lesbian – definitely. But genetic? Well, I guess even in the gay world there are firsts for everything.

As the country sadly lags behind in the worlds’ tide of acceptance for same-sex marriage, the basics surrounding the ‘origin’ of homosexuality still circulate our discussions.

Is homosexuality genetic? Are we pre-programmed to be attracted to the same sex or do we develop this way over time? Have we adapted to our environmental impacts? Perhaps homosexuality is simply a state of curiosity or sadly, a defence mechanism.

Well, for some perhaps the above is true… but for me, I’m 100% genetic.

I was born to hold the hand of another woman. I was absolutely pre-programmed to look better in crisp collared jackets and say no to the patterned frill. My hair genetically looks better short and I’m pretty sure if you look closely enough you will see that even my DNA strands are rainbow coloured.

Now this is not to say that I speak for all of my lesbian and gay friends, this is purely an insight into one lesbian’s sexuality.

So how I am so sure my sexuality stems from my genetics? Well I love the female body for one. That always a dead give away.

And men? To me they are all fathers and brothers, strong and loyal. But never an object of attraction.

Now what happens when someone fails to see sexuality as genetic? A stupid question pops up, that’s what happens. For example a male work colleague of mine once asked me ‘if Brad Pitt came into the office right now, would I sleep with him?” Now this has to be one of my favourite questions to be asked as a lesbian. Because that’s what you love talking about isn’t it? Sex with men?

Well I remember blankly staring back at him and replying, ‘No, would you?”

To which he replied ‘No, of course not!” He seemed shocked that I would even ask this. I explained to him that asking me was just as ludicrous. Because I sleep with … you guessed it, women.

The thing to remember is that for me, being gay isn’t like deciding what to have for breakfast… it’s kind of a permanent thing. My attraction to women was decided for me, as was the colour of my eyes.

Nevertheless, perhaps my comments can prove to be some food for thought. In summary, I believe our DNA deserves some mention into the creation of sexuality. For me, genetics, it’s simply…a gay thing.

Gay and Growing Grey A. Student Most of us know about the milestones of human rights in Western society. For example, on the issue of racism, we all know who Martin Luther King was and we know about the freedom marches in the southern states of the US, which led to at least legal equality for African-Americans.

In the context of indigenous Australians, we have all heard of Eddie Mabo and his role in gaining aboriginal land rights.

With women’s rights, we are aware of sexual revolution in 1960s and of their predecessors the suffragettes who campaigned for the vote.

With racial issues and feminist issues, the majority of people - not just those who belong to these minorities - have a basic knowledge of the people and events that contributed to these areas of human rights.

However there is one minority with growing significance, where there is very limited knowledge even among those who belong it.

Who do we acknowledge as the pioneers of gay rights? What are the significant events in this movement?

Indeed, when did modern Gay Liberation actually start? Is there a specific time or date?

Do not reproach yourselves if you can’t answer any of these questions. In my experience, there is a general ignorance among gays themselves, particularly those born after the 1980s. I recall giving a paper at a Queer Collaborations conference a few years ago on this very topic. It was clear that even some of the legal milestones in this country were not familiar to most of the audience.

If this is typical of gay people in general, it might not be all that surprising that the broader community is not that well informed.

Recently I had a discussion with a young relative: I was telling him about the gay scene in Perth in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was surprised to learn that in those ‘dark ages’ most people hid their homosexuality from others. This brought home how much things have changed during the past 40 years or so.

The gay rights movement and its successors have accomplished great things; society has become both

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more tolerant and accepting of individual difference. Over the past four decades, more and more people have decided to be ‘out and proud’.

With the modern movement approaching 50 years, there has been significant generational change.

There might be a parallel between this lack of interest in gay history and the ‘status’ of older gay individuals within this minority group. Perhaps the prejudices of society run deeper than any of us would like to admit.

Having had the benefit to attend university before the advent of HECS fees and at a time when much was happening in student politics and social activism, it is not surprising I am aware of this history. Originally in Perth, this movement was largely the preserve of university students and academics, making it rather youth focused. Groups such as PFLAG (parents and friends of gays) did not yet exist. A decade or so later there were more activist and support groups. The advent of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s led to many being dragged out of the closet involuntarily. One consequence was that gays became more visible than before both as celebrities (Rock Hudson, Liberace, Rudolph Nureyev) and ordinary people from everyday life.

Periodically, I remained involved with gay rights activism. But I did notice that many of my colleagues gradually withdrew from the movement, not only activism but also from the social side of it. Perhaps, society sees this type of activism as the preserve of a younger generation.

Generally our society tends to be ageist and this is pervasive throughout most groups within it.

Years ago, I recall once sitting in a gay clubroom at another university and being asked why I was there.

Similarly, I rarely was ever asked anything about myself and learnt quickly not to talk about any of my previous experiences as an activist. It was clear that no one was interested. I thought people born after the first or even second wave of gay liberation at least would be curious about life in the ‘distant past’.

Perhaps I am truly boring but I never was asked anything about the ‘bad old days’ and didn’t offer information. The interest did not seem to be there. It struck me as odd.

Perhaps the generation that takes being open for granted, that never had to fight for legal rights or experience blatant discrimination doesn’t appreciate what others went threw to achieve

progression. It is ‘old news’. Later, I learnt that many of my peers had had similar experiences as matured aged students.

If this is the case, then does this not devalue the things achieved by previous generations? If the achievements of older generations are not worth the bother, what about the people themselves?

Are they irrelevant anachronisms? Are they viewed as ‘apart from’ rather than ‘a part of’ this diverse community?

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Observations

The Real Side of BDSM Francesca Mann 50 Shades of Grey exploded onto the scene in 2011, forcibly dragging the taboo practice of BDSM (Bondage, Domination, Sadism and Masochism) into the limelight. It became the fastest selling book; the film rights sold for $5 million and a line of adult toys were released, featuring a Christian Grey tie and ‘Inner Goddess’ pleasure balls.

But the series hasn’t avoided controversy. In fact it’s been nicknamed 50 Shades of Abuse following multiple claims of men and women being abused in similar circumstances. Introducing a fairly unknown and often shunned sex practice into the mainstream world is bound to peak people’s interest. It’s something risqué, different and unique.

But should the series be taken as an introduction to BDSM? Perth has a surprisingly large and supportive BDSM community that regularly meet up for events. They’re always willing to offer advice on the often ignored topic.

Ash*, a member of the community for six-years, believes 50 Shades of Grey represents an abusive relationship instead of a healthy kink-influenced one. “It’s a blatant misrepresentation,” she said. “The fact that she never actually consented or agreed, it was just him forcing that kind of dynamic on her, that’s what makes it abuse.”

Consent is one of the most important parts of a BDSM relationship. Everyone should follow the BDSM mantra - safe, sane and consensual - when entering a kink relationship or “play time”.

Club Freak organiser and dungeon master, OTKDaddy*, thinks no matter how mild the play is it should always be consensual. “Without consent the only word you could use would be abuse,” he said. “Exerting power over someone, or attempting to, without that persons consent is exactly what abuse is.”

Safe words are a crucial part of “play”, as it provides both participants a way to halt the action for any reason, whether it’s pushing their limits or they just need a break. When Anastasia uses the safe word they both agreed on, Mr Grey completely ignores her pleas and continues. This set off alarms bells in the community.

“When the female character says no to sex, she is bullied into it through force, manipulation and intimidation,” OTKDaddy said. “When she uses a safe word, it’s ignored. There’s nothing safe, sane or consensual about it.”

For Harlot*, also a member of the community, trust and communication needs to be considered in a kink relationship.“You need to trust that the person you’re with will talk to you about their limits and what they want to do,” she said. You can’t submit to someone or you can’t dominate someone without having that communication and trust.”

Perhaps surprising to some, studies have suggested people who are involved in a BDSM relationship are likely to be more mentally healthy.

Andreas Wismeijer - a psychologist at Nyenrode Buiness University in the Netherlands and the lead author of one of these studies – believes this may be because BDSM practitioners are more aware of their sexual needs and desires, resulting in less frustration in the bedroom and in relationships.

Wismeijer told LiveSciene, “we did not have any findings suggesting that people who practice BDSM have a damaged psychological profile or have some sort of psychopathology or personality disorder”.

Fai Shuster-Kur, a sex therapist, believes communication is the key to a BDSM relationship.

“BDSM revolves around consent and communication,” she said. “It’s respectful and a safe space with boundaries. It’s not good for you if you can’t communicate your needs or boundaries.”

Fai has seen the positive impacts BDSM has had on her clients. “People exploring BDSM feel empowered, seen, heard and understood,” she said. “They often develop a new relationship with their body.”

Ash says this is due to the amount of communication needed to be in a successful kink-relationship. “In the BDSM community people are always talking about what they enjoyed, what they don’t enjoy,” she said. “Because people talk more, any issues they have are going to be more obvious. Depression and various other things would be able to be diagnosed a bit quicker because this person has stopped communicating as well as they have.”

If 50 Shades of Grey got it so wrong, how can you experiment with BDSM? “Make sure you and your partner are very clear about what you want to try, including what you don’t like and absolutely refuse to do,” OTKDaddy said. “Clear boundaries make for a safe experience. Negotiate what will take place so you are both on the same page, and then have fun. Make sure to set a safe word, and have a clear plan of action for what to do if it is used.”

Jane*, who is in a submissive/dominant relationship, advises you take it slow your first few times.

“No one can be belted across the behind with a belt on their first go!” she said.

“Use ribbons before rope, use vibrators before butt plugs, and use blindfolds before gags.”

The Perth BDSM community is certainly not shy in giving advice and promoting safe, sane and consensual “play-time”. Every few months the Rocket Room is taken over by Club Freak and features a night of live demonstrations in a friendly environment.

OTKDaddy, the creator of Club Freak, wanted to devote a space that would allow people to show who they really are.“Club Freak was established to be a social space for members of the kink community in Perth to come together and enjoy a safe space and a night out,” he said. “Traditionally the kink community is quite private and consists of parties at private residences or professional dungeons, but I wanted to create an easier way for people to access each other.”

Club Freak also allows “newbies” to come along and practice safe techniques in a controlled environment.

“We get a lot of curious attendees and people that are only beginning their exploration of kink and fetish coming along,” he said. “It’s great for them to be able to get an entry level experience without necessarily being brave enough to go to a dungeon.”

Before each Club Freak a BDSM101 workshop is run.

“We run new people through the basics of safe play, both privately and publicly,” he said. “We also take them through the basics of consent, how to use a safe word, how to begin and end a scene, how to look after each other after play has ended and what to look out for in terms of warning signs.”

The workshops also teach basic BDSM skills such as flogging, using canes and how to safely tie someone.

Ash believes getting out to these events is a great starting block.

“Get out to events and actually meet people that are willing to get out there and show their faces,” she says.

“You’ll be welcomed with open arms.”

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Sunlight and Suicide?

Emma Stevens Three million Australians live with a mental illness. Unfortunately, suicide is the leading cause of death in Australia. Estimates show that on average, 2000 people end their lives every year in Australia and suicide rates are dramatically higher in males than in females.

In 2013, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggested that approximately 75% of people who died by suicide were male and 25% were female. The highest suicide rates observed in men were in their middle ages. In women however, there were no consistent age brackets in suicide.

There are many reasons why people commit suicide. Those who suffer with mental disorders, drug and alcohol abuse problems and young Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander’s are at high risk of attempting or committing suicide.

Recent studies document that suicide rates have increased during spring and summer. A case study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found the occurrence and severity of some affective disorders such as depression and mania were more pronounced in spring and summer between 1997 and 2007.

Many case studies suggest that the increased rate of suicide is due to prevailing levels of sunlight. It is also hypothesised that sunlight exposure alters biological mechanisms and it is possible for sunlight to affect levels of serotonin in the body. Serotonin influences mood, impulsivity and aggression. However, serotonin can also affect the effectiveness of antidepressants.

A case study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests the particular seasonality of suicide was more common for those in rural areas compared to urban areas. It was argued that this was because of the intensity of rural work such as agriculture.

Agriculture and construction work usually have intense activity in spring and summer.

The same case study found there were more violent methods of suicide during the sunny periods. A number of researchers found that suicide methods of hangings, poisoning, and firearms are most prominent in males. In contrast, they found suicide completion peaked by poisoning or hanging in spring.

Many case studies found that there was no definite link between sunlight and suicide. However the origin of this occurrence is still poorly understood. Demographic and environmental factors have inconsistent results related to seasonal suicide.

Suicide is a complex thing for many to understand as there are many risk factors involved. It’s important to realise that a mental disorder is neither assumable or predictable. It’s also impossible to assign suicide to any particular time, place or person - regardless of a mental health history.

Need help now? Call Lifeline’s 24 hour crisis support telephone line on: 13 11 14

WE WANT YOU!

What does the Undergraduate Studies Department do?

Ensures students’ concerns are heard and addressed Can provide help with academic issues Can provide help with advocacy to the University Can provide help with wider education issues The Undergraduate Studies Department is chaired by the Vice-­‐President Academic, and has Faculty Representatives, School Representatives and General Members within the Department. Each semester, every faculty hosts at least one event, and our faculty representatives attend Faculty Meetings.

How to get involved Attend our upcoming Undergraduate Studies Department Meeting, email academic@ecuguild.org.au for more details, or check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ECUUndergrad

Film and the Unknown Brock Covich Films have always been a vehicle for artists and audiences to venture into the unknown an explore topics and themes which do not normally feature in your typical conversation by the water cooler.

Whether it’s films about space exploration and extraterrestrial life beyond Earth, paranormal activity, conspiracy theories or the examination of the human mind, films can leave us asking more about the ideas presented and even question ourselves.

Stanley Kubrick’s science-fiction epic ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ was groundbreaking back in 1968 due to its use of special effects. The film scrutinized concepts such as extraterrestrial life and the evolution of humans since our primitive years.

Such was the films impact it was chosen by the United States Library of Congress in 1991 to be saved in the National Film Registry because it was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. It has also served as inspiration for directors such as Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan who have since gone onto direct their own science-fiction movies.

‘The Exorcist’ shocked audiences back in 1971 for its frightening take on the possession and exorcism of a 12-year-old girl. The main character Regina (Linda Blair) starts displaying strange behavior after playing with an Ouija board. When the doctors can’t find anything scientifically wrong with her it’s left to two priests to try and free her soul from the grips of a demon.

Based on William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel, the film doesn’t shy away from the supernatural, as it featured several graphic scenes and coarse language. ‘The Exorcist’ definitely tested audience nerves with some cinemas offering spew bags because of the confronting content.

One of many hit science-fiction movies from the 70’s was ‘Alien’, directed by Ridley Scott. Alien tells the story about a crew of astronauts onboard Nostromo, who are terrorized by an alien life form. The film is essentially a horror movie set in space and contains many gruesome scenes.

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The crew struggle to stay alive as an alien attempts to pick them off one by one, bringing to light the potential dangers of extraterrestrial life. The success of ‘Alien’ helped to turn it into a template for future horror movies and spawned sequels that are currently in production.

David Fincher’s ‘Fight Club’ opened up our eyes to the inner workings of the human mind. This film commentated on our place in the world towards the end of the 20th Century, as advertising and consumer desire for material possessions intensified. The film also portrays how people can construct their lives in their mind differently to reality.

Pointedly quotes such as “the things you own, end up owning you” and “it’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything” by Brad Pitt’s character Tyler Durden, call out the dangers of materialism. These statements highlight the boundaries that material possessions place on our own lives and the impact that they have on our thought process. The movie also spends time pulling apart the American dream and offering a minimalist approach to life.

Award winning ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ is a feature length documentary directed by Michael Moore which caused major controversy upon its release in 2004. After its take on the way the U.S. Government acted after the events of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the motives behind going to war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Moore’s documentary took aim at how George W. Bush came to win the 2000 election and the role that Fox News Channel had in Bush becoming leader. Bush’s reaction to the attacks is analysed as is his family’s business relationship with the bin Laden family. It also alleges that on top of 9/11; poppy fields, gas and the annexation of pivotal transport routes were part of the reason for invading Afghanistan.

Although it may only be a few hours in front of a screen; film has the power the to induce, upgrade or reinvent our grey matter. It’s a silently achieving artform that often strives to shape mindfulness and identity.

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An Exception to the Political Grey Matter Rule Simon Waddilove According to a 2011 Current Biological article, neuroscientists in the UK conducted brain scans on 90 leftwing and right-wing students to identify if their political preferences were already hardwired to the brain.

The idea would make sense looking at international and federal politics, and gives explanation as to why politicians never seem to agree - because their grey matter is hard wired differently. Though as they say, to every rule there is an exception, and could we consider our very own ECU Guild that exception?

The ECU Guild, upon examination isn’t in your face - nor does it have factional infighting. The Guild hosts regular events, provides services, represent students and is getting on with the job of being a guild. It’s senate and employees are united.

ECU’s last intensive Guild election was back in 1997 when the then National Organisation of Labor Students (NOLS) (now National Labor Students) held effective control of the Guild through most of the 90’s. A push by alternative left activists formed a ticket on the issue of reforming the National Union of Students (NUS). The ECU Young Liberals and a group of apolitical independents formed a ticket under the name STAR, where they won two councillor spots. NOLS continued to maintain the presidency and other key positions.

The de-politicking of the Guild started in 1999 when the Guild went into liquidation, by 2001 it virtually collapsed due to bad financial management and voluntary student unionism (where student membership was at 10 per cent). The different political clubs and groups gradually had lesser influence as the survival of the Guild become more important than who had control.

Over the coming years following further funding crises in 2003 and coming to a funding agreement with the ECU Administration in 2005, the Guild has begun to see a vibrant and active community once again, but is still heavily reliant on the Student Service Admittance Fee money for a large part of funding activities.

Over the past few years we have witnessed mostly apolitical tickets winning guild elections with much cooperation between people all over the political spectrum. ECU has created the foundation for a very successful Guild as we have witnessed new events, upgrades to services, a community garden, the revamp of the ECU student magazine now called Dircksey and a wide range of services for students. The politically active students on campus put their differences aside to work together for a better student Guild.

The factors of unity, dominantly apolitical tickets and co-operative students puts ECU in a very fortunate positon. The forming of the 2014 Guild ticket called Connect was conducted in that very fashion and won all of the Guild positions. Student participation has increased for events and use of services, but at elections student participation on the whole remains low with less than 400 students voting in the last ECU Guild election.

While other Guilds have had dogmatic and uncooperative elections, you could blame that politically interested students grey matter is just naturally built that way. Maybe, just maybe having a cooperative and open process between those in Guild and various political clubs like the ECU Labor Club, ECU Liberal Club and independents has allowed a coming together for a negotiated joint ticket and a stronger and better Guild.

For more information on the current Student Guild ticket “Connect” visit www.conectecu.org.

Applications are now open for the 2016 Dircksey editorship.

We are looking for enthusiastic candidates passionate about editing and designing an independent student magazine. No previous involvement is necessary. Candidates will need to demonstrate some relevant experience and a strong vision for Dircksey in 2016. The editorship includes an honorarium.

Applications close 1PM November 9 www.ecuguild.org.au