The Bullsheet 2022 - Issue 3

THE

BULLSHEET

A JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY STUDENT ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION

STUDENT ELECTION EDITION

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From The Editor

Welcome new and returning student to Student Election Edition of the Bullsheet!

In this edition you can find the students who were elected into the 2023 student council. You can also read a message from four of the six council members to learn more about them and what they want to accomplish in the next year. Exciting LGBTQIA+ updates are also found in this edition on page 8.

There are two student creative works in this edition, Siblings by Claudia McSwain and Bubble by Mohammed Matar.

If you would like to see your work in future editions or on our online site send me an email. We welcome works of all styles surrounding your opinions, aspirations, experiences and emotions about university life and all that impacts it.

Our prices vary depending on length and medium. If you have any projects that do not fall into any of the catagories listed, send me an email.

Fiction: $0.04 per word, paid up to maximum 1000 words = $40

Non fiction: $0.04 per word, paid to a maximum of 1000 words = $40 Poetry: $1.00 per line up to a maximum of 20 lines = $20

Photography: $5.00 low resolution / $10.00 high resolution

Meme: $5.00

Drawing: $30.00

Comic: $30.00

Without further ado, I present the Student Election Edition of The Bullsheet - Happy reading!

Karla

Elected Student Council

Cairns Campus Officer

Romanov

Garrett Swearingen

President

Hey! I’m Garrett, and I’m your 2023 JCUSA President.

I’ve been on council for two years already, so I bring a lot of experience to the role. I’m keen to help make our Association more relatable to you. For the past two years I’ve been Cairns Campus Officer and so far, I have helped establish Rainbow Rooms on both campuses (more on this soon!), kept the Cairns gym open, innovated with events on Cairns Campus, been involved in coordinating the Mid-Week Mingles in Cairns, and running the VC Postcards campaign!

I’m an environmental practice student, and I have a background in environmental advocacy. I ran for President so I could empower students to have a say within our University. I’m also keen to hear from you how the Student Association can provide more for students.

One of my main big focuses is making our campuses, and the university as a whole, more sustainable. I also want to see our campuses continue to revive, with exciting new events and reasons to stay on campus after class. Most of all, during my time I will aim to engage better with students through our Bullsheet, social media, and events.

I hope you’ve had a good 2022 and I look forward to leading your Association in 2023. If you have any suggestions you’d like to see from the Student Association in 2023, please email me via jcusa.president@jcu.edu.au

Amie Hewlett-Parker

Vice President

Hello I am Amie, and I am your 2023 Vice President!

I am 25 years old, from South Australia and am currently studying my Masters in Science, majoring in Global Change Biology. I moved to Cairns in February 2022, have fallen in love the wet tropics region and like to spend my free time exploring it.

I applied for the role of Vice President for JCUSA because I am interested in taking an active role to engage students by creating events and spaces for students to relax in. I am a people person who enjoys networking and making connections, and I’m looking forward to doing this during my time on the student council.

My goals on the student council include creating some exciting events, opening up the Uni bar on Cairns campus and making a more active atmosphere on campus. I hope to meet these goals while also being able to best represent students.

Manisha Kulasinghe

Women’s Officer

Hey hey, I am Manisha.

I am currently in my second year of Medicine. When I’m not in the gym or trying not to fall asleep in a lecture you can find me in the kitchen baking up a storm.

The reason I applied for Women’s officer for 2023 is because seeing the barriers and hardships many of my friends and myself have experienced on campus or off has spurred me to make a change. I want to make this university as safe and comfortable for anyone identifying as a woman so that they can flourish in whatever they pursue.

Having been part of the 2022 JCUSA as the Equity and Diversity Officer role I will use my experiences to fight for feminist change. My vision is to create a safer campus and increase access to sexual and reproductive health services and facilities.

I am excited to begin next year, and I welcome anyone to share their views or ideas with me.

Tyá Dynevor

Environmental Officer

My name is Tyá Dynevor and I am a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Woman.

I was born on Dharawal Country in Campbelltown, but grew up between Darwin, Larakia Country and Cairns, Gimuy-walbarra Yidinji and Yirrganydji Country with my Mother. My Mother’s People are the Gudjal People from Charters Towers; Gurindji People from the NT and the Gumuligal of Wagedagam Peoples from Mabuiag Island in the Torres Straits. My Father’s People are the Kullili tribe from Thargomindah, South-west QLD.

I am in my second year of my degree; Bachelor of Science, majoring Zoology and Ecology. I have deferred my studies for 6 months, however, will be returning in February 2023. My interests that I enjoy are tennis, spending time with my two dogs, family and friends, watching movies, exercising/yoga, cooking/dining, listening to music, reading, caring for Country and volunteering my time with CAFNEC.

I originally applied for the position First Nation Officer; however, I was offered the Environmental Officer role instead which I have gratefully accepted and look forward to start in this role with a positive and fresh perspective.

My previous experience as Environmental Officer was when I was employed in 2020 as an Environmental Officer for an Indigenous Women’s health service located in Nowra, South Coat of New South Wales. This organisation is called Waminda – South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation.

What I wish to accomplish as Environmental Officer during my time at JCUSA is to support, encourage and listen to my colleagues and all JCU student’s desires. I intend to participate and collaborate with all Council members, especially the First Nation Officer and liaising with our Science sector of JCU but most importantly, engage with the Indigenous Education Research Centre (IERC) and all the other student associations across all campuses.

The tasks and responsibilities that would be expected upon me as Environmental Officer would be bringing more cultural and ecological awareness, knowledge and safety into the JCUSA space and broader JCU communities. This is where I can demonstrate my diligence to commit as Environmental Officer, by taking the initiative to recognise, promote and respectfully acknowledge all significant environmental and sustainable days and/or events that are held in Far North Queensland and Globally. Where we can celebrate, embrace, understand, teach and learn about these significant ecological days and events.

Siblings

Claudia McSwain, Veterinary Science

Strange creatures, maybe a best friend or a sworn enemy.

They know how to make you tick

What makes your blood boil in your veins. It heats like a frog in hot water, you don’t notice until it’s too late.

They make you want to scream and cry

They make you feel pride and valued.

They see through the walls, but hide what they know. We want to hold them sometimes and whisper all will be fine.

We forget we are their side characters and not the main act.

There’s a lot that’s missing, and it comes with age. We yearn their respect and loyalty. We know their round chubby faces as kids and wild imaginative games:

Ninja turtles’ marathons and couch forts.

But there were tears, and there were fights. A lot of ‘mine not yours’ And when we’re old, separate rooms and planets.

And friends and views and clothes. We tend to lose the feeling of sibling rules and vows.

We drive them to that party, in silence or awkward halts.

Feeling like we’ve missed it, this growing apart that shows.

Dinosaur-shaped mac n’ cheese and runny ice cream bowls.

Until we find that quiet, amongst the waves and sand. The lights that glow like entities from far off foreign lands.

And then the feeling grows that closeness so familiar

you withhold that smile biting at your lips, please don’t let this end and pray for time to drip.

PRIDE PROGRESS

The past and current student council, as well as the student club Rainbow Lounge, have worked hard to make the Townsville and Cairns Campuses more welcoming and safe for LGBTQIA+ students during 2022.

Both campuses are recieving Rainbow Lounges - safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ students to spend time with one another! The Cairns Rainbow Lounge is launching Friday 21st of October 2022! The Townsville room is coming soon.

Cairns has also recieved the first Pedestrian Pride Crossing, pictured to the right.

These rooms are part of our efforts to put an end to the discrimination that has plagued our community in the past. We call on all members of the JCU community to support this important initiative and to call out homophobia wherever they see it. There is a growing thriving queer community on campus and this is a step towards making them feel seen and valued.

LGBTQIA+ students are valued at JCUSA and we will continue to work to support them.

The Bubble

Mohammed Matar, Geology Student

Mohammed has written short stories since childhood. His first novel was published in 2018. All his stories are originally written in his native Arabic language. The Bubble is an attempt to translate one of his earlier works. This story is part of the short story series called “Meaningless Stories”.

He ran as fast as he could along the grass pathway. Between one second and the other, he stopped to catch his breath and kept staring at his prey with a desperate look. He can see what he wants and yet cannot reach her. Although she is small and light, she kept challenging him while floating into the air. All he needs to catch his prey is a pounce like a lion, but he is not a lion, and she is not prey. They are just a stray dog and a bubble. The bubble can fly as high as she can, at the same time she knows that she cannot dare risk that because she will disappear in a blink of an eye. In fact, she cannot move the way she likes, it was always the wind who is playing with her the way it likes.

Oh, poor bubble.

She moves forward, and the dog follows. As long as the dog can see her, that means there is still hope. Just a slow, transparent foam flying into the air towards a park. A little girl is sitting on a wooden bench. She is thinking of something, what could that be? The bubble and the dog kept chasing each other as they passed by her. This little girl is the only one who can save the bubble, and she is the only one who can scatter the dog’s hope. The stray dog managed to jump when the bubble was close to the ground, but the little girl decided to save the bubble with her hands. The girl held her tight and close.

What just happened?

The dog started to look in all directions and could not find her. Likewise, the little girl started to look at her hands, and nothing was there. She just murdered the bubble and let her go into the thin air. Instantly, the bubble became nothing, just a tiny thing from history. The stray dog turned on its heels and return back disappointed. Immediately, everything around the girl turned into a white colour. No blue sky or green land. She looked around very frightened and noticed the wooden bench now become a huge desk. She is in a courtroom and guilty of killing the innocent bubble, and justice will be served. The bubble’s judge showed up and sat behind the desk. The little girl started to cry- she wanted to save the bubble not to kill her! The bubble’s judge opened his mouth to speak, his voice was muffled, as if it is like the sound of a boiling jug or balloon being breezy. With every word he spoke his whole circular body became smaller until he disappeared too. The little girl re-entered her reality and got away with a murder.

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