Empire Times 47.7

VOLUME 47

EMPIRE TIMES ISSUE SEVEN • CONNECTION

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47. 7

Connection Empire Times would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians—the Kaurna people— whose land extends from Cape Jervis up to Port Wakefield, encompassing Flinders University’s many Adelaide campuses. We would like to pay our respects to the Elders of the Kaurna Nation past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to the other First Nations people as well. We recognise that this land was stolen and that it was never ceded. It always was—and always will—belong to the First Nations.

Editors Amy Bennett Bec Manser Carmen Giffen

Sheridan Phillips Taygan Beaton Tony Saad

Cover Art Sub-Editors Courtney Lawrence Dani Nguyen Elissa Unfedorben Joshua Collison Melanie Ross Tully Templeman

Writers Amy Bennett Amy Lowe Alicia Wood Bec Manser Brie Dark Caleb Nikolaeff Carmen Giffen Ethan Zimmerman Emma White Hollie Gardner James Watson Jasmine Phillips Kienan McKay Kyra Lawrence Maddie Hand Madi Percey Maskeen Kaur Nathan Cheetham Payton Hogan Rebecca Stevenson

Rebecca Stevenson // ‘Sift’ 1

Visual Artists Bec Manser // 3, 8, 29, 31 Brie Dark // ‘Pass By’ 20-21 Carmen Giffen // 37 Kyra Lawrence // 30 Rebecca Stevenson // 28, 30

Masthead & Logo Bec Manser

Photography Amy Lowe // 19 Amy Bennett // 22-25, 38 Maskeen Kaur // ‘Connecting to my homeland’ 13 Unsplash // 36

Join the Team Empire Times is always looking for contributors.

If you’re a writer, photographer, illustrator, or sub-editor, send us an email or visit our website for details and get involved for 2021.

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Empire Times is a publication of Flinders University Student Association (FUSA).

The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editors, Flinders University, or FUSA. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that Empire Times articles and other information are up-to-date and as accurate as possible as of the time of publication. No responsibility can be taken by Empire Times for any errors or omissions contained herein.

Special Thanks FUSA Team Jess Nicole Robin Cole

Printers Newstyle Print

And all of our beautiful contributors!

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contents The Moth Effect 6 // A poem

Casper 7 // The friendly mental health assistance dog

Speak from the Heart 8-9 // L’histoire d’un Multilingue

Creative Competition Results 10-11 // Winners and runner-Ups

Humans of Flinders 12-13 // 2019 Editors’ edition

Cartographically Challenged 14-16 // A short story

Reconciling with the Self; Guilt, Pain, and Acceptance 17 // Dealing with the doubts about where my life is going

Connecting to my Motherland

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Connection to Flinders 22-25 // Campus perspectives

Plants of Flinders 26-27 // A tribute to our leafy friends

Roll for Friendship 28-30 // Bonding through D&D

Changing Names 31 // The power we give names

Meet the New Editors for 2021!

32-33 // See the fresh faces of ET

Connection 34 // A poem

Puzzles & Comic 36-37 // The finale

The Cook Nook 38 // Kronk’s spinach puffs recipe

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contents

18-19 // Photography

From the Editors

ndings are always bittersweet, and despite the gruelling hell that has been 2020, it’s still sad to be saying goodbye to this magazine as an editorial team. ‘Connection’ is a theme we came up with back in ye olde days of the “before” times, but it rings true, especially now. This year hurt the most when we felt disconnected from our loved ones, but now that it looks like we’re moving past those times (touch wood!), we can rekindle those relationships once more and hold each other close. Very close. Give this magazine a hug, now.

We love you.

At times, this magazine was an escape from the disasters in the world, or a smack in the face to remind us that we still had responsibilities. But the best part of it was when we were able to talk to contributors and readers—when we knew that others were involved in this, too, and not just three nerds with computers and eight different Adobe files labelled “goodFINAL.01!!”. And now, after too long and yet barely any time at all, our leg of the trip is over; ET has a new editorial team for 2021, new ideas, and new directions to help this little magazine keep chugging along, and the three of us are ready to jump into the next adventure. From road trips to organising marathon Dunegons & Dragons sessions, or late nights finishing an issue while blasting the Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron soundtrack on the work computers and ordering Domino’s pizza to the Registry carpark, we’ve stuck this out together.

Thank you, all. This editorial team bids you farewell, but Empire Times will still be here to say hello.

Amy, Bec, and Carmen

Empire Times Editors, 2020

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the moth effect Like old bank notes, Faded and creased from the handling of trade.

Realised and unrealised plans written on pieces of dead trees, The lungs of the earth burnt to bullae, Filling with fluid from the rising seas.

Flapping towards the light, Buffeted around by stressors and dazed by pressures.

As light and aerodynamic as plastic wrap, Cast off a single serve meal, Peeled off and discarded, Disregarded.

Their navigation disrupted, Light is not the subject of investigation, Nor the intended destination, It’s a navigational procrastination, Light turns circles, helixes and spirals into consequences.

A warm orange glow, like honey in tea.

Like the way that people find comfort, In propriety, and piety to a society.

Circling the light, Senses overridden Political economic pressures hidden, Latent as an occult, With the stinging, hemorrhagic potential of a cult.

A moth flaps its wings at night, And ends up encircling a lamp.

~ words by Emma White Bachelor of Nursing

CASPER The Friendly Mental Health Assistance Dog-in-Training

In March I brought home a tiny 10 week old puppy and named him Capser. He is now nine months old and about to properly begin his official Mental Health Assistance Dog training.

Casper is a black and tan miniature dachshund with patches of silver dapple. He has heterochromia, which means his eyes are different colours. The condition does not affect his vision but it is mesmerising to look at.

For most of my life, I have felt that I don’t quite fit in which has triggered deep feelings of disconnect from the world, from other people, and even from myself. I was recently diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder among other things. Although I was already in the early stages of being symptomatic at the age of six (as far as we can determine from reflection on my feelings and behaviours in therapy), it wasn’t until 26 that I reached out for help. I had been afraid to get help because of the stigma around mental illness and I had concerns over how a diagnosis could negatively affect my life—specifically my employability. However, this fear blinded me to the benefits that getting help could offer, and, although I still have bad days/weeks/months, I am definitely better off now than I was before, even if I am presently unemployed.

After having spent two years on antidepressants with many dosage adjustments and even a total change of meds altogether, I began to think that medication alternative therapies might suit me better. I knew someone with a mental health assistance dog, so I made enquiries and learned that I qualified for an owner trained assistance dog program. Casper and I are in the beginning stages of his training right now. Although I am still

medicated (semi-succussfully) at present, if Casper passes his training I can then begin to work on coming off the medication altogether.

Before Casper, interacting with others, especially those I don’t know well (a regular occurrence as a uni student) was exhausting and overwhelming and I felt I was not doing it well. I also never felt like I could connect with many people in a way that could have great long-term meaning. I’d given up on the idea of developing lasting meaningful connections with other people. Since getting Casper I have connected with other people, succesfully begun a volunteer career in wildlife care and find that communicating with the strangers—something that was incredibly difficult in the past—is now considerably easier, especially when I am able to pat Casper as I do this (look up sensory affects on axiety)—and I have met the most wonderful man with whom I now share a very safe, loving, committed relationship. I think this increased ability to connect comes from having Casper by my side because patting him interrupts some of the anxious tendencies which I have, and this allows me to focus more on the people and task in front of me. I still have bad days but I am beginning to have more good ones now. I do wish that we could normalise this kind of therapy more though. I’d like to see more affected people benefit from this kind of therapy.

~ words by Amy Lowe Bachelor of Arts

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SPEAK FROM THE HEART Languages are essential to human civilisation.

L’histoire d’un Multilingue

Since the invention of the alphabet in antiquity, they have become the prime means of communication. In this age of glorious (or vile) globalisation, the process of acquiring a language is not only helpful, but also rewarding. No, I’m not writing another one of those ‘language is helpful for your mental health’ propaganda pieces. Au contraire. Instead, I will tell you my story; the story of how I developed so many connections, memories, and grew into the man I am today. A major part of my growth is languages. I discovered so many beliefs, habits, quirks, etc. that led me to making new friends everywhere. I speak a grand total of four languages, and I’m learning a fifth one as I write this. I love languages, and the background behind them will reveal to you why.

ENGLISH

This is the language that opened the world to me, and thus it’s my strongest linguistic asset. I became fascinated with English culture since Year 6, from Western traditions to Rock ’n’ Roll music.

That was when I got the chance to discover—up close—the beauty of Western band music, arts, and perspectives. But the most important thing for me was discovering the things I never knew about. English is such an international language that I could communicate with anyone anywhere in Australia. I got to learn about people’s cultures, their countries, and their personal stories of how they ended up here just as I have. I became more open-minded through speaking English and have made more friends. As a result, my passion for languages only grew from then on.

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FRENCH

I love French; it’s my personal favourite of the languages I speak. It is the language with which I distract myself into a world of imagination. When I was a kid, I read Asterix and The Adventures of Tintin comics in French, and saw many cartoons in French as well. The language entertained me, mesmerised me, and seduced me. For a while, the language was all I could understand. When I first started uni, I just had to learn more about France, and enrolled in a Bachelor of Letters degree. I was introduced to, and joined, the French at Flinders club. There, I got the opportunity to make new friends with other francophones and to immerse myself into French culture through conversations, movie nights, and luncheons. For me, French is the language of escapism, of curiosity, of seduction, and of ecstasy. I am always in a pleasant mood when I think of French.

So, you see, languages are truly a gift to mankind. It is how we meet new people. It is how we discover the world.

ITALIAN & LATIN

I began learning Italian in 2013, six months after I moved to Australia. At the time, I did not know much about Italy, nor did I take much interest in it. But that soon changed. The more I learned about the Italians, the more I realised that I—as a Lebanese—had a lot in common with them. For instance, we both talk bombastically, we are—in a way—laid back, and we value family over anything.

This was when I met some of my best friends—such as Brynley—at high school. Early this year, Brynley invited me to learn Latin with him at church, which I gleefully accepted. Having learnt Italian, it made sense for me to learn Latin, too. In the process, not only did I learn about Catholic history, but it also

allowed me to forge a deeper friendship with my friends, and especially with the Davies household.

ARABIC

My first language, and the one that sustains my most fundamental connections. It is the language of my ancestors, my people, and my country. This is the language I use to communicate with my family, pray, and above all, maintain a connection with my homeland, Lebanon. Without it, I might’ve never bonded to a more blessed culture, and I might’ve never become the man I am. Arabic is the language I think in, feel in, pray in, and love in. It is also in Arabic that I reminisce about my summers in my grandfather’s grove, in Jezzine, in Hadath—my hometown—and other places in Lebanon. Arabic is the language in which I can find the sources of my strength: they are my family, my faith, and my love for Lebanon. Without them, I would never be who I am, or where I am.

~ So, you see, languages are truly a gift to mankind. It is how we meet new people. It is how we discover the world. Most importantly, it is how we grow as individuals and as a civilisation. You don’t need to know dozens of languages (even I’m not at that level yet!), but the process of learning is a beautiful one. You’ll never know what blissful memories, thoughts, and beliefs you might pick up along the way. I certainly picked up a thing or two, and I don’t plan on stopping.

~ words by Tony Saad Bachelor of Creative Arts (Screen) & Bachelor of Letters (French)

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Creative Competition

WINNERS & RUNNER-UPS

Find all of these amazing pieces on our website below: empiretimesmagazine.com

Brie Dark “Ham, Cheese & Tomato” Fiction Winner

“In the corner of my eye, a figure jumps deftly in the borders of my view. Is the sea getting to me?

But no, I am certain there is a person just beyond the body of my boat...”

A tale of an endearing friendship between a charming mermaid and a deaf fisherman.

Carmen Lac “Into the Dream Machine” Fiction Runner-Up

“She searches for the source of the illusion and finds none. There are no projectors or lights or any explanations at all. She stares into the void and the void ripples like a shrug, as if to say, well, what now?...”

“Into the Dream Machine” applies elements of dark, twisted fantasy to explore feelings of grief, trauma, addiction, and denial.

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Rebecca Stevenson “Magnet Photos”

Nonfiction Winner “I think, by now, you would have heard the quote ‘every seven years you’re a different person,’ because of the rate of our cells replacing themselves. While it isn’t factually correct, I still think the sentiment applies to those seven-yearold-photos...

“Magnet Photos” is an artistic exploration on curating memories and significant life events through magnet photos on a refrigerator.

Taygan Beaton “Bell’s Palsy”

Nonfiction Runner-Up “Days later, I was speaking down from the mezzanine, negotiating our last checks with the burly, paranoid farm owner as he stood backlit in the entryway. I remember asking ‘what is going on with my tongue?’ I had the weirdest taste in my mouth as we said our goodbyes...”

A recount of the days leading up to the authors’ experience with Bell’s Palsy whilst abroad in North America, and their reaction to its inevitable appearance.

Ivy Blacker “Dualism”

Photography Winner

Anniepreet Tuteja “Fear”

Poetry Runner-Up “You catch me by surprise each time you spin that delicately woven cobweb...”

An out-of character still amongst the yakka bushes, capturing the calm energy of usually playful siblings.

A deliciously frightful poem that explores the universal feeling of fear that we find in all things.

Rebecca Stevenson Mey Yeng Wong “The Lights of Tradition” Photography Runner-Up

“The Lights of Tradition” showcases the idyllic moment of a craftsman working on his beautifully vibrant creations in Hoi An, Vietnam.

“Winter’s Breeze” Visual Art Winner

An art nouveau-inspired artwork with a winter goddess at the centre.

Carmen Lac Laura Morden “See Me”

“Signal to Noise”

Visual Art Runner-Up

Poetry Winner

“Cigarette smoke and familiar eyes Your fingers curl around tendrils of my hair You are dangerous...”

A poem about the delightful excitement and painful yearning surrounding relationships, and wishing to forge connections between people.

A captivating artwork that overwhelms with its detail, alluding to the many constant distractions that we have in our lives.

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HUMANS of FLINDERS

2019 ET Editors Edition What was the most important part of being in ET for you?

Alicia When I was a first year Creative Writing student, I gathered up my courage and submitted a short story to Empire Times. The theme was ‘Dreams and Nightmares’, and my story was based on a strange dream I’d had. Three years later, that tiny piece of writing is now a five-novel series, one that I’m immensely proud of.

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ET was important to me as an editor as I got to share the incredible feeling of being published that I’d felt as a contributor. I loved receiving our writers’ and artists’ beautiful, thought-provoking work. That was the other very important part about ET: the people. I’ve been asked to be referee for contributors on their resumes, and I have an abundance of praise to give them all.

Working with Kienan and James was the time of my life, too. They are two of the best people I know, and I’m proud to say that we’re still a fantastic team, only busy with our own projects now; I have several novels in the editing process, James’ plays are being brought to the stage here and interstate, and Kienan is currently a resident artist with a big project underway. Managing to pull together something as big as ET with such a small team was a real test, but it made us ten-times better; along the way, we made some valuable friendships and published a lot of work I’m still very proud of.

Kienan The most important part of ET in my opinion is giving a platform to early emerging artists and writers—particularly one they could be proud of.

Future journalists, artists and writers don’t just fall out of the sky, they started somewhere: and in truth what they were creating when they first started out wasn’t very good. Giving someone a platform provides a purpose to honing and improving their work, and a network to offer feedback and support. They’re not going to nail it the first, second, third time, but the point is they’re improving. The same goes for being an editor.

Creating something requires the kind of thinking that can’t be taught – the best way to improve is by trial and error and trial again. When I think of my time editing ET I’m reminded of the writers and artists who weren’t afraid to fail in order to learn.

James I think that academia is only a small part of one’s potential university experience. To me, the relationships I formed are the real highlight of my time at uni. Some friendships can last just as long as a HECS debt, too (and are usually far less burdensome)! Empire Times was where I really solidified my already existing friendships, and where I created a lot of new ones as well. Being involved in any activity or club at university helps you meet people with similar interests from all across university, and I cannot recommend it enough to all students reading this! With a campus as big as ours it was hard to meet people involved with other faculties, but working with ET brought me into contact with a wonderful and diverse array of people that I will never forget. I’m sure that Kienan and Alicia would agree that being editors together has made us lifelong, restructure immune, funding-cut enduring, and hard-partying mates.

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Cartographically ‘Eliza, I never thought you were interested in anyone. I mean, you’ve almost always got your nose in a book. You have to tell me everything.’

Gwyn said, pulling in an embroidered cushion into her lap. She grinned, her eyes glittering.

Gwyn had made herself comfortable on Eliza’s chaise lounge, sprawling happily, exhausted from their visit to the local tavern. They had had perhaps one too many meads, and Gwyn had sung and danced with the travelling bard until Eliza had to physically drag her back home.

‘Claude and I—we’re not like that,’ Eliza stammered unconvincingly. She pushed Gwyn’s feet off her lap.

‘We’re just friends, Gwyn.’

‘Sure you are,’ Gwyn rolled her eyes. ‘Come on, you can tell me.’

‘When I set out to find you, I never expected to meet someone—anyone—along the way. It was a mission, a quest if you will, of great importance, and your fate relied on my success. This goal was the only thing on my mind.

‘I wasn’t looking for help or companionship, both is what I got just barely days into my journey. He’s a most wonderful person, but I really didn’t think of him as such at the time. In fact, I thought he was the most obnoxious, self-obsessed idiot I had ever laid eyes on.

‘I was reluctant to let him come with me, but deep down I knew I needed him—though I’d never admit that to him. He was a member of the rebels that kidnapped you.’

‘Hold on. He was what?’ Gwyn’s mouth hung open.

Eliza watched her for a moment. ‘You’re not going to let me be, are you?’

‘Nope.’

She sighed deeply. ‘Fine, you win. None of this would have ever happened if you hadn’t gone and got yourself kidnapped—’ ‘That’s not my fault and you know it!’ Gwyn interrupted. She folded her arms and looked away, pouting.

‘Anyway,’ Eliza stared pointedly at her. Gwyn gestured for her to go on. Eliza cleared her throat, and began.

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‘Okay—that sounds bad, but he was a part of another faction. Claude didn’t have any prior knowledge.’

‘How lovely…’ Gwyn said hesitantly.

‘I bumped into him, quite literally, as I was sneaking into what I thought was their camp, fully intending to steal you away before they even knew you were gone. Obviously, I failed…’

Eliza watched for movement across the path as she snuck over to a large tent. Somehow, she’d managed to reach the middle of their camp unseen. As she moved, Eliza could see the light of the campfire and hear the rebels chattering. She quickly found refuge behind a lone bush as footsteps approached.

Challenged A short story Eliza gaped at him. ‘You mean—’ Shadows of men flickered with the flames, and Eliza’s heart almost stopped when one of the men came close to her hiding spot. She froze for several moments before risking a glance out between the leaves. They had far more weapons than she had previously noted.

She was sure that she was getting closer to her sister, and it became even more crucial that she not be caught. There were fewer guards than Eliza anticipated, but they were fully equipped with armour and longswords.

Eliza began moving again, but as she turned her attention back to the tent beside her, she slammed into something. For a moment she was worried she’d walked into a tree, but that fear was swiftly overridden when hands grabbed her upper arms. Eliza instantly began squirming, panic flaring inside her.

‘Calm down,’ the man restraining her hissed. ‘I’m not going to hurt you.’

He dragged her aside, pulling her into an empty tent and quickly glanced around before shutting the flap.

Eliza peered up at the man. He was young, around her age, with short blond hair. If she wasn’t worried about her predicament, she’d think he was attractive.

‘You’re with them! How can I trust you?’

‘Who are you exactly?’ the man looked mildly confused.

‘You lot have my sister. Don’t try to deny it.’ Eliza waved her hands around frantically.

‘Yeah. I think you want the one across the river.’ He pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. ‘Man, you can’t even find the right place on your own…’

‘Claude thought that I was so incompetent—’ Eliza wrinkled her nose ‘—that he just had to help me. He said that he couldn’t stand by and let me be killed.’

Gwyn snorted. ‘You walked into the wrong camp. If I was there, I’d tease you, too.’

‘He was terrible!’

‘He was helping you.’ Gwyn had repositioned herself onto her stomach, her chin resting on her cushion. ‘He doesn’t sound like a self-absorbed idiot. Are you sure you used the right words?’

‘You didn’t know him then, Gwyn. He was insufferably reasonable.’

‘And that makes him an idiot?’

‘It does,’ Eliza said stubbornly.

‘I’m surprised you have any kind of relationship if this is how it began.’

Eliza ignored her, continuing, ‘We were like oil and water; everything he did annoyed me, and the same could be said of me. But then he saved my life, risking his own in the process, too.’

‘That’s sure to make a girl swoon.’ Gwyn mocked...

He stared at Eliza blankly. ‘I think you have the wrong camp.’

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A knife swiped at Eliza’s stomach, and she barely stumbled away in time. She tripped over a tree root and with a small shriek, she fell hard to the ground. Her makeshift weapon slipped from her hand. The hooded figure came closer as Eliza groped at the ground around her blindly, unable to tear her eyes from them.

Her fingers knocked against her weapon just as the person in front of her raised their blade.

Unexpectedly, the figure crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap. Eliza blinked.

‘You’re welcome.’ Claude stood above them with a rock in his hand. He looked at what she was holding, and snorted before bursting out in a deep belly laugh.

Eliza’s brow twitched.

‘I could have handled it, Claude!’ Eliza huffed. ‘I didn’t need your help.’

‘Yes, I could see you and your bar of soap had the situation under control.’ Claude looked amused, so much so that it infuriated Eliza.

‘You had your pack with you, and the only weapon you could use was the least deadly thing you own?’ He shook his head, exasperated. ‘Maybe next time you can use a spoon. That should do plenty of damage…’

‘You used soap as a weapon?’ Gwyn guffawed. ‘I can’t believe you survived, let along succeeded.’

‘Hey!’ Eliza snapped.

‘What are you two talking about?’ Claude leant against the doorframe of the small sitting room, an embroidered coat folded over his arm. His hair was longer, almost touching his shoulders. Eliza made a mental note to nag him to get his hair trimmed later.

Gwyn glanced slyly at Eliza. ‘Eliza was just telling me about how she fell madly in love with you.’

Claude remained utterly unaffected, as if this sort of talk came up often. He concealed a grin.

She turned red. ‘He surprised me!’

‘I was not!’ Eliza’s face warmed.

Claude smiled softly. ‘I know, darling.’

~ words by Kyra Lawrence Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing)

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reconciling with the self; guilt, pain, and acceptance acceptance G acceptance acceptance acceptance rowing up in public housing in the southern suburbs of Adelaide to non-religious, apolitical parents, I was never bought up with any specific way to view the world, let alone myself. This, I believe, has given me strengths in some areas, and weaknesses in others.

On one hand, I was able to form my own political and spiritual worldview absent of any pressure from family or organisations, and on the other hand, I lacked guidance throughout my life— specially in regard to my teenage and young adult years.

If you were to have asked me five years ago, ‘where do you see yourself in five years’ the answer would probably have been along the lines of ‘working full-time in some sort of cybersecurity role, living out of home, and enjoying life’. Instead, I find myself six assignments overdue, unemployed, and in the midst of a quarter-life crisis, compounded by fairly severe mental health issues.

dealing with the doubts about where my life is going

In many ways, I don’t see myself as a whole lot different to the person I was at age fifteen, seven odd years ago. That being said, those who knew me back then would be quick to remind me how substantially I have changed.

I tend to organise my life into different years with different names, and then sub-categories within those years. For example, 2019 has three phases, falcon/sonata, mid-year wagon, then Indo trip.

This is something I do in order to remain intimately familiar with myself, though this familiarity has blurred in recent months, and at times I fail to recognise the person staring back at me in the mirror. Is that me? Am I an imposter who took this

acceptance acceptance

body over all those years ago, and was responsible for the fallout of misdeeds and transgressions passed? Or have I always been the same old me, never learning, never changing, remaining a fixed point within my own universe? The person who I believe to be me doesn’t seem to match up with how the world views me.

the person who I believe to be me doesn’t seem to match up with how the world views me The good news is, despite living quite deeply in my own delusions and warped sense of reality, life around me continues, and it thrives. I’ve mended friendships with those who I’ve hurt, created new experiences, met the love of my life, and I now look after a beautiful, curious, and intelligent rescue cat by the name of Sausage. This just goes to show that, while life may not have turned out how I anticipated, if given the opportunity I’d do it all the same.

~ words by Caleb Nikolaeff Bachelor of Arts (History & Politics)

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connecting to my motherland The picture is taken at the ‘Saras

Mela’ that is a fair my city hosts annually. Artisans and craftsmen from all parts of India come to display their work. The adorned elephants, delicate green and yellow beads and hues of pink take us to the rural Rajasthan representing the brightness of Indian Culture and connects us to the vividness of it. I, as an International student, wish to stay connected to my home country, the land which has taught me gentleness of mind and a unifying love for all human beings.

~ words & photography by Maskeen Kaur Bachelor of Psychological Science

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connection to flinders

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We would like to begin by acknowledging the Kaurna People, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather today, and to pay our respects to all Elders past and present. I extend this respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As the Flinders University website states, the site of Flinders’ Bedford Park used to be named Burbank. Previously, this site was used as a horse station, a reformatory for young male offenders, and a sanatorium for soldiers. In 1964, the Liberal Government appointed eight hectares of this land to be utilised as a teacher’s collage in the near future. In 1966, the college was named ‘Flinders University’ in honour of Matthew Flinders, an English sailor who surveyed and explored the South Australian coastline in 1802.

SHERIDAN

Throughout 2020, all of my classes have been online, for both semester one and semester two.

But before that, my sister and I would have weekly lunches at the Law and Commerce building’s café whenever our schedules allowed it. This was a way Flinders had helped to keep the connection I have to my twin sister. My life is a lot different to hers in some ways. As mentioned in one of my previous articles, I moved from Victor Harbor when I started uni, but she wasn’t able to. Now, it’s an hours drive each way to see each other. Going to the same uni and having classes in the same buildings has helped us see one another more frequently and become as close as we used to be. Another important connection to me is Empire Times itself. It is the first place I have had my writing published. I will always remember that the university’s magazine was where I began to be published.

JASMINE

Peter Karmel was Flinders University’s founding Vice Chancellor. When planning for the opening of Flinders’ Karmel stated, ‘We want to experiement and experiement bravely.’ Being true to his word, Karmel devised a non-traditional academic structure for the university and aimed at broadening student experiences. Karmel established four schools: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Language and Literature. When the University opened, it had a total of 400 students and 90 staff. 70 of these students were medical students, 150 in sciences, and 250 in arts. This is just a brief history of how the university, which both my sister and I have attended for the past four and three years respectively, came to be. We both graduate at the end of this year, completing our degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Criminology.

My connection to Flinders has changed over the four years I have spent studying, but one thing has stayed constant: my love for the campus. Walking through the buildings, studying in the library, and having lunch in the plaza makes me feel part of the Flinders community. I’m not a very social person, and didn’t attend many of the planned events, but the campus still made me feel connected to others around me, and when my sister joined the university, it helped strengthen my connection with her. At the end of this year, I am graduating from my Bachelor of Criminology degree, but I don’t think I am ready to let go of the university and its campus, and am considering doing honours or even another degree entirely! With whatever I choose to do, my connection with Flinders won’t end, even if it will change.

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No matter what your connection to Flinders University is, whether you have a favourite study spot, favourite cafĂŠ, lecturers, classmates, or special hide-away, it is unlikely that you will forget the university you have (or will) attend for multiple years.

~ words by Sheridan & Jasmine Phillips Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Criminology

Memory is our relationship with people and places. It can be passed down through generations with storytelling or rituals: re-experienced in performances or museums, celebrated in festivals and parades, and mourned in funerals and memorials. These are our ways to imprint our memory in a tangible way so that it will never be forgotten, steering us away from repeating mistakes. They allow us to remember injustices and our own faults so that we, as individuals and as a society, can do better and be better.

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Memory is our personal subjective reconstruction of what happened and can never be wholly true.

Two individuals can share the same history but remember a different version of events. Memory fades with time, just like other parts of our body, both physical and mental. Although, when tied to a location, some memories may linger a little longer.

Places that we have a special connection to, such as our childhood homes or where something lifechanging occurred, can bring back memories from years ago.

The Bedford Park campus is a maze that I have wandered through countless times, having studied on both sides of the lake. I’ve been into every building at one time or another and each one evokes a different memory and different stage in my life. In first year, I spent a lot of time with my high school friends, catching up with them weekly at the Tavern or the Laneway. In second year, between being on different campuses and having different timetables, catching up became difficult.

However, during that time, there were two specific instances where I met up with people, and, though unexpected, it had a real impact on me. I met one randomly on a Social Sciences staircase, and had an important chat with the other on a Bedford Pine Forest path. By third year, I was reaching the end of my degree and I had to figure what I was to do next, when I suddenly realised that each time I was in a particular tutorial room or spot in the Hub it could very well be my last moment there.

In my two later years, I had really gotten into the groove of university life, which felt quite distinct from the mundane patten of high school. I enjoyed my first three years at university, where topics and rooms changed each semester but I saw the same familiar faces all year round. I was comfortable

with the predictability of it. In the break I had the freedom to see friends and work on my hobbies. I travelled to Melbourne for a week and went on a four day long roadrtip to Mount Gambier and back.

But fourth year has had a different rhythm to it. It has been one of—if not the—most difficult times of my life for a multitude of reasons, though I have no doubt that 2020 was a dud of a year for most.

Staying motivated and up to date with university tasks has been challenging, though I expect it to be one of the most worthwhile and rewarding years yet.

After this chapter of my life ends, I am not sure what is exactly in store for me. I have an idea of where I would like to be working and where I want to be in my life, but no concrete plans currently to put that into motion. It is scary with the future being so unknown and uncertainty lingering in the air. Sometimes I feel lost and alone, for the first time not having planned my next step. Walking around the Bedford Park campus makes me feel a little better, reminding me of everything I’ve been through and the bonds that I have made, knowing that I am not alone and that some things have changed for the better. Some places in particular have a strong hold on me, bringing back memories with different people at different times in my life: when I caught up regularly with a large group, or when a very personal moment is shared between two friends; seeing an old school mate and pausing for a moment, or sometimes it’s a memory of an old school trip.

Memory is grounded by our emotions. When something changes me that has a large impact, I remember how I felt at the time. I have had conversations with people and not remember what was spoken between us that day but rather what I

was feeling. Similarly, when I pass places important to me, they evoke particular emotions, whether it’s a feeling of uneasiness or one of comfort. I have made both great and poor decisions in my life and while I’ve accomplished a lot, there are some things I regret; there are opportunities I didn’t chase, friendships I let slide, and problems I wished I’d noticed sooner. Living in the past, in my fear, can hold me back. I just have to keep looking forward and be brave for whatever comes my way, good or bad. The past has shaped me and my future, but I choose what path I take.

~ words by Maddie Hand Bachelor of Science (Honours)

~ photography by Amy Bennett Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing)

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NATHAN CHEETHAM

- i like French onion dip on water crackers -my favourite colour is the colour of spider webs - my hobbies include taking long steamy showers—the humidity is great for my pores!

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roll for friendship Left to right: Adrik (Rebecca), Tallow (Amy)

Left: Stumblegoose (Madi)

In our first year of university, someone suggested starting a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaign.

We were all very new to the table-top roleplaying game but eager to spend time with each other and geek out. It was a bit of a tough nut to crack—and organise!—in the beginning. The game needs a lot of hard work and focus to be worthwhile and frankly it can be quite exhausting. But we slowly started getting better, even launching two more campaigns on top of our original one. It became something that bound us together—and it was a whole bunch of fun, too.

So, here’s just a few words from our players and dungeon masters (DMs) on what the game of D&D has meant to us.

~

CARMEN GIFFEN

It was the group chat question at the end of my first year of uni that changed my life. Thinking of starting a small D&D group? I asked, and quickly became our first DM. It was through making a point of talking to each of my players that I was able to get to know everyone better, and I owe certain friendships to their fictional characters.

This year was the first time I had my own player character, and after unexpectedly finding a place in my heart for my troubled Elf Warlock boy Theren, I suddenly found myself writing again—a passion I’d lost for a few years and was growing increasingly concerned over losing, considering my degree. I owe the best parts of my uni experience to this bunch of nerds, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

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REBECCA STEVENSON

Besides the obvious getting to hang out with my friends and being able to weave a story together with them, I’ve really loved travelling around Adelaide. I live the furthest away from anyone in the group—quite literally on the other side of Adelaide—so D&D has been a great excuse to explore the parts of Adelaide I would have never seen otherwise. It’s super cheesy, I know, but it’s felt like my whole world has expanded by seeing more of the city I love. I get to experience the world of other people, not only through the eyes of the characters we play, but through the eyes of my friends as they drive me around their favourite places in their parts of Adelaide.

Right: Kelolg (Brie)

HOLLIE GARDNER

When we started playing D&D, I saw it not only as a chance to play what seemed like the ultimate nerd hobby, but also as a way to practice character creation. If I was able to get inside the mind of a character then I could write them, and D&D seemed like an excellent way to do that while also enjoying an afternoon with friends. Two years and three campaigns later—all three currently ongoing at the same time—the characters and stories we’ve carefully crafted together have become something so much more than just playing make-believe with dice. My Druid, my Bard and my role as a DM have given me the chance to create friendships I know will last a lifetime.

BRIE DARK

In the beginning, I was also a part of this D&D party. My character, an Drow Elf Bard named Kelolg, was mostly a liability to the team. He was always a light shove away from death (in fact, an annoyed elbow from the team’s Druid, Illia, nearly killed him). Yet, we all still loved him and his inability to aim his knife at an enemy (stabbing a certain Druid instead). Even though I no longer actively participate in the game, I am thankful I did. The friendships I had developed through the course of our sessions proceeded to grow thereafter. My friends have progressed in the game without me, and I am delighted they are still enjoying themselves. And although I don’t play anymore, they haven’t left me, or Kelolg, behind.

KYRA LAWRENCE

I jumped on the D&D train pretty late. My friends formed a group together a while back and at the time I wasn’t interested. Every now and then they’d talk about D&D when we were hanging out but all of that flew over my head. I honestly felt a little left out, so when they offered to add me into one of their campaigns recently, I accepted eagerly.

After one session, I ended up diving into another two campaigns and I’ve found that I love both roleplaying (although I’m still really bad at it) and getting to hang out with my friends more. It makes me really happy that I’m able to connect with them on a deeper level and spend more time with them outside of uni.

MADI PERCEY

Embarking on any new phase in life is daunting. The people in my degree realised very early on that we would have to become a tight-knit group in order to make the absolute most of our time at uni. Sharing almost every topic we took, as well as a passion for all things nerdy, made this task almost effortless and the key binding agent to our now iron-clad friendship was D&D. Playing pretend served to forge connections that will doubtlessly outlast graduation and helped us to connect with each other. I could not be more grateful for nights spent reading gory descriptions by candlelight, rolling for initiative to see who can take the first whack at whatever mad creature we happen to be facing, and having fun talking in accents. I love my ragtag band of misfits, both ingame and IRL.

AMY BENNETT

Below: Finellen (Bec)

Playing D&D really helped me to learn how to write my own characters.

Creatively, it has done wonders for how I write and read now. I never expected actually playing my characters, Tallow or Sun, to help me understand how much they can change or develop as they interact with the story and the world. Even if that means giving my D&D original characters bad habits on the fly (such as Tallow taking a very questionable liking to all muscle-bound orcs and Sun also being very ready to throw the fuck down for any information on her grand quest). Which makes for hilarious, or sometimes exceptionally tense, in-game sessions, and acts as a great bouncing board for future ideas to explore, especially when excitedly talking to my friends about it! Its just good ol’ pure shit-talking fun.

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Right: Theren (Carmen)

Kyra!), it has been a good time for all; character creation and roleplaying, figuring out combat, and sharing a hobby together is something we’ve all come to celebrate with junk food, soft drink, and mountains of cool new dice in hours-long sessions.

D&D is something that has made us much better friends, and for that we would not give up a second of it for anything.

Left to right: Monni (Rebecca), Tealia (Hollie)

Below: Tiz (Kyra)

BEC MANSER

To begin with, roleplaying around a bunch of people I knew but not so well was extremely daunting, so much so that my lil’ Dwarf Cleric girl became mute because I’d freeze up too much when having to speak as her. But, after three years and just as many campaigns on the go, I’m more confident in myself—confident enough at least to attempt a (dodgy) accent for my Half-Orc Barbarian boy. Playing D&D with this tight-knit band of nerds is up there in the best decisions of my life; I’ve gotten to be more connected to them and even to art again, something that I’d moreor-less had a block in since uni. With every new character comes the burning need to draw them and every outfit change they could possibly have.

~ Though, initially, we fumbled through the game a lot, it is something we will cherish during our time at uni and hopefully beyond that. Even if players come and go (goodbye Brie and hello

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~ art by Bec Manser, Rebecca Stevenson, & Kyra Lawrence

changing names What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet.

What is in a name? A rose in full bloom may smell as sweet, but what if the rose were decaying?

What of the bulbous rose hip? What is a noun without verbs and adjectives? Perhaps the answer lies in my experiences with changing my proper nouns.

When I was 11 (in true 90s fashion) my friends and I abbreviated our first names and added the same letter: M.J, L.J, T.J. When I was 16, this shortened version was convenient for the sports field, and although the “J” is meaningless, my father also likes it.

a name is worth the weight you give it At 22, I was reading an essay by Lorna B. Williams’ in the book Child Honouring: How To Turn This World Around, and I learned that the people of her community of Indigenous Canadians, the Lil’wat, were given four names throughout their lives. That included a temporary, endearing name at birth, an ancestral name a few months later, a formal name at the time of puberty, and then one final change to mark the transition to community elder.

This respect for the stages of a single human’s life resonated with me. So, I promptly changed my name to ‘Doe’ (to honour the deer) in the most official of ways: on Facebook.

When I was 26, I was married. In the months leading up to our wedding we discussed names often, and my loving, adventurous partner

suggested we both discard our last names; that we pick our own like the rebels that we fancied ourselves to be. In that same year, the wisest boss I ever had shortened my name to a capital T to stop himself from calling me the wrong name continously.

At 28, I enrolled in university with my ‘preferred’ name, which was the first time I was asked if I preferred a name other than the one allotted by my mother, a liberation I have now come to expect.

What does all this mean? Perhaps I fancy titling my stages of life. But what is in a name really? If you go by a single name for a lifetime this does not indicate your character arc is lacking, or that your stages of growth are less frequent than those of us in a continual state of misnomer flux. I believe a name is worth the weight you give it; perhaps it’s a metaphorical connection to the being that is you. Perhaps it’s something you give up to honour another.

I conclude that by any other name you’d smell as sweet.

(You can download Child Honouring: How to Turn This World Around here: http://www.raffinews.com/ files/child_honouring/child_honoring.pdf)

~ words by Taygan Beaton Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) & Bachelor of Letters (Creative Writing)

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meet the new editors for 2021!

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left to right: Artemis Perry, Nathan Cheetham, Brie Dark

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connection

We met up in the park when the lights On their posts were distant, and the moon Hung above us in the sky We sat in the dark, at times quiet and Other times murmuring through the veil Of the night, letting our voices Be carried away by the wind Such behaviour is ill advised — danger May be lying in wait behind any tree, Or inside any ditch, But it’s hard to feel any fear when it seems The entire world is suspended in the air As we sit on this bench, ice creams in hand, Commemorating the end of a months long separation The distance between us and everything Stretches as long as the breaks between heartbeats That no longer rush; no longer alone

~ words by Payton Hogan Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing, Sociology & Women’s Studies)

PUZZLE SUDOKU

Check the answers here!

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&

~ comic by Carmen Giffen Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing)

“

”

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The Cook Nook Kronk’s Spinach Puffs Vegetarian delicious for KUZCO

INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • • •

1 tablespoon oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups spinach, chopped 3 eggs 1/2 onion, chopped 1/2 cup feta cheese 1 cup cheese Frozen puff pastry Egg wash

METHOD: 1.

2.

Heat oil in a saucepan Add both the garlic and spinach and cook for about 10 minutes or until spinach is wilted 3. Whisk 2 eggs together in a bowl 4. Combine the spinach and garlic mix with the onion, feta cheese, and other cheese together in the same bowl with egg 5. Cut each puff pastry sheet into four squares 6. Crack 1 egg and whisk it to make an egg wash 7. Brush the egg wash along the edges of the puff pastry squares 8. Spoon mixture 1-2 tablespoons of mixutre into the centre of the sqaures 9. Seal two edges of the pastry to form a cone shape, brushing egg wash along the seam 10. Cook until the egg wash is golden brown

TO SERVE:

The spinach puffs can be eaten however you like!

I had mine with a nice pot of jasmine tea, but you can do anything you want (avoiding the poison for Kuzco (Kuzco’s poison) as in Emperor’s New Groove).

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~ photography by Amy Bennett Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing)

Fusassociation FUSA.EDu.AU

08 8201 2371

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ET 2020 EMPIRE TIMES // 47.7 Advena Page // Alicia Wood // Amy Bennett // Amy Lowe Annabel Bowles // Anniepreet Tuteja Anon // Anu Francis // Audrey Lian // Bec Manser Brie Dark // Brooke Cantley // Bryce D. Edwards Caleb Nikolaeff // Carmen Giffen // Carmen Lac Celeste Northcott // Clare Perilli // Connor Phelan Courtney Egan // Courtney Lawrence // Courtney Sealey Christine Magracia // Dani Nguyen // Ebony Algate Elissa Unferdorben // Emma Brennan // Emma White Emily Mae Boxall // Emily Vonderwall // Ethan Zimmermann Evangelia Karageorgos // Hari Prasad // Hollie Gardner Huy Le-Tran // Imogen Deller-Evans // Ivy Blacker Jack Williamson // Jacob Barrey // James Watson Janelle Chaptini // Jasmin Algate // Jasmine Phillips Jessica Rowe // Joshua Collison // Kate Douglas Kate Mandalov // Kendrea Rhodes // Kienan Mckay Kieran Thornton // Kyra Lawrence // Laura Morden Lauren Rose-Heard // Lawson Dodd // Liz Waldron Maddie Hand // Madi Percey // Marteenah Shonoodh Marina Deller-Evans // Maskeen Kaur // Melanie Ross Mey Yeng Wong // Mia Guerreri // Mia Maric // Molly Manson Monique Hausser // Natasha Nagle // Nathan Cheetham Nick Prescott // Payton Hogan // Phoebe Sydney-Jones Rachelle Boyle // Rachael Stapleton // Rebecca Stevenson Samantha Tennant // Sarah Sammut // Shaiykirra Jones Shanii Sparrow // Sheridan Phillips // Sheydin Dew Simran Kahlon // Sly // Sophie Hercus // Tabby Knight Taygan Beaton // Tony Saad // Tristan Newsome Tully Templeman

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Want to be involved in ET 2021? It’s never too early to get your foot in the door! empire.times@flinders.edu.au