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rabelais WELCOME
2020
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
MUNCHIES
SURVIVAL KIT
TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE CLUBS ON OFFER AT LA TROBE. GET INVOLVED AND MAKE SOME FRIENDS.
A DECISIVE GUIDE TO ALL THE BEST FOOD AND COFFEE ON CAMPUS. FIND YOUR FEED.
STUDENT WRITTEN TIPS AND TRICKS ON HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR TIME ON CAMPUS.
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Rabelais team acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples, the traditional owners of the lands in which La Trobe University and its student union are located. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri, Latjie Latjie, Barkindji and Yorta Yorta peoples, whose sovereignty was never ceded. Rabelais is committed to honoring Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas. We pay our respects to Elders both past and present.
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Letter from the Editors W
elcome to the first edition of the 2020 Rabelais Magazine, the Orientation Week edition. We are coming back into this new year with a passionate team and plenty of exciting ideas!
We are eager to start this semester and hope that students, new and old, will enjoy life on campus. In this special Student Survival Guide edition, we reunited all the information that we think La Trobe University students should know, for you to have the best year possible. You’ll find an introduction for each of our Student Union Office bearers, a clubs and societies guide, a coffee and food guide around campus, and much more! Rabelais’ goal is to allow all students to express themselves and provide them with an outlet for their creativity. Without students’ contributions, we would not exist, so do not hesitate to get in touch, we want to hear from you! “Hey, my name is Clodie, I’m teaming up with Chris this year as an editor for the magazine. Coming from France and after two years of studying journalism, I hope to use my background to bring a new fresh touch to Rabelais! I am really excited to be working on such a cool magazine and I can’t wait to read and see what students have in store for us.” “Hey pals! I’m Natalie Williams and this year I am the Chief of Staff of Rabelais and will be working closely with the fabulous Clodie and Chris. We’ve got a brand new, bigger team and I am super excited to see what 2020 holds for Rabelais! With my Creative Arts background and my deep passion for print magazines, I’m really looking forward to bringing a fresh new flare to Rab and can’t wait to see what you all submit!” “Hey all, I’m Chris and I am returning as the Editor in Chief for this year. It was a pleasure to work on Rabelais for 2019 with Sean and Tynique, and I can’t wait to return and see the magazine continue to be enjoyed by all students at the university. Send us all of your cool content!”
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LWhat’s in this Edition? A Letter from your President Rabelais Jukebox Vice Chancellors Welcome First Year Survival Kit What in the World is a WAM? Tech for Success It’s Okay to be Alone A guide to Ice-Breakers Useful Study Spaces Making Friends in your first week The Student Diet LTU Eats Your Daily Grind So what is the LTSU? Clubs and Societies Guide Meet your LTSU Reps Moat Festival Guide The Ashes MASO The Art of Crafting Yourself Contributors
6 8 9 10 12 14 17 19 21 22 24 26 28 30 48 52 62 65 66 68 70
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A letter from your President Hi all, my name’s Annabelle Romano and I’m this year 2020 LTSU President. First off, I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today, paying my respect to the Wurundjeri people and Elders past and present. This year there will be so many exciting events and activities happening and it’s all a part of our clear vision for 2020. We’ll be continuing the Be A Better Human campaign which we launched last year as well as all our major services like the Chill Out Trolley on Monday nights in the library, Wednesday’s brekkie stall and everyone’s favourite - our free weekly BBQs held every Tuesday. Be on the lookout for the LTSU Student Representatives on all these services in our bright purple t-shirts! As well as front-facing services, we have in house services which include free financial and legal advice as well as free advocacy. Our advocacy team is always here to help students out. Whether you’ve failed a subject at the end of the semester and don’t know what to do or you’re struggling during the semester and need help finding the best way forward for you! If you know me, you know I always say that clubs and societies are the heart and soul of what we are at the LTSU and La Trobe University, and once you join a club you know exactly what I mean! I couldn’t recommend anything better than to join an LTSU club as there is something for everyone. From linguistics clubs, sporting groups to clubs for specific courses, there are over 90 clubs and societies to join both online and in person at our events or club days. On behalf of this year’s team, we’re so humbled and feel extremely lucky to be able to represent the student body in the capacity that we do. Thank you for electing us and we hope we do you proud this year. Annabelle Romano LTSU President 2020
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rabelais jukebox Start Me Up THE ROLLING STONES Song 2 BLUR Soaked BENEE Freaking Out in The Neighborhood MAC DEMARCO Take Me Out FRANZ FERDINAND Mojo CLAIRE LAFFUT Bad Reputation JOAN JETT Na Na Na (Na Na Na...) MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE Purple Hat SOFI TUKKER Alien Boy OLIVER TREE Entitled Generation TINY LITTLE HOUSES Praise You FATBOY SLIM Adore You HARRY STYLES Heavy Hearted THE JUNGLE GIANTS Sugar Man RODRIGUEZ Join the Club HOCKEY DAD
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Vice Chancellor’s Welcome Wominjeka – Welcome to La Trobe University. On behalf of everyone here at the University, welcome to La Trobe. You’ve made the right choice to study at a university that is committed to giving you every opportunity to learn and succeed so that you can have the best possible start to your career. La Trobe is Victoria’s third oldest University, and since opening our doors in 1967, we’ve provided a pathway to success for people from all walks of life. We put our students at the centre of everything we do, and we’re delighted that you are following in the footsteps of 200,000 La Trobe alumni who have gone on to make a difference in so many different ways. This first edition of Rabelais for 2020 includes an O-Week Guide and will help you get started for the year. I encourage you to make the most of the activities on offer during O-Week. The Clubs and Societies Fair on Simpson Lawn is always a highlight for me, and I urge you to check it out. You’ll get a real sense of how lively student life can be on campus – and how lucky we are to have inherited such a strong tradition of student-led social activity on campus. I’d also like to acknowledge that the beginning of semester 1 this year will be different for our students who have been impacted by the outbreak of the coronavirus and the Australian Government travel ban, especially our international students from China. I can assure you that the University is doing everything it can to support affected students by offering personalised study plans, online orientation and other measures to minimise the impact on your studies. I’d also like to remind all of our students that La Trobe is a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community. Unfortunately, we’re aware that the travel ban has resulted in some negative and unacceptable behaviour towards the Chinese community in Australia in recent weeks. It’s important that we all treat one another with respect. Finally – please do get involved in campus life. La Trobe is a place to challenge your thinking, make new friends and broaden your horizons, and I’m sure you will have a memorable time with us. Professor John Dewar
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first year survival kit Backpack. Handbags are adorable and have easy access for keys, laptop and snacks but for extra space, comfort and durability. a good old backpack will be a life-saver for all of that (mostly unnecessary) stuff we lug around all day!
5 subject notebook. All your notes in one place and you’ll never forget any notes for class.
Friends. Take it easy. It’s unlikely you’ll meet your soulmate in your first class. You can always come back to this box later. However some of the top places to meet people who share the same interests as you are La Trobe’s very own clubs and societies you can find on p. (28) in this edition.
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Team player attitude. Get used to it. You’re going to have to *shudders* talk to other people and actually work together for assignments. A lot.
Jacket. You’ll never know when you’ll need it and classrooms can get cold.
Confidence. Don’t be scared of raising your hand and contributing to class, it’s a great way to consolidate your learning and makes revision smoother.
Lastly but not unimportant, snacks. Never underestimate the power of 2-4 hour lectures and their ability to make you famished. Don’t forget your water bottle too!
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What in the world is a W.A.M? ? Let’s be real. Numbers are scary. This may sound complicated, but it’s actually quite easy. what the hell am I looking at? To give an indication of how well you are doing in your degree, the university uses a weighted average mark or ‘WAM’, to give you an indication of your average mark across your course in the subjects you’ve completed.
how is it calculated? It’s simple. All of your subjects are graded out of 100. When you sum the grades of all your completed subjects, multiplied by the credit points per subject, you will get an aggregate of your grades. Then, when you divide this number by the total number of credit points you’ve completed. A subject completed over a single semester is usually worth 15 credit points, but in some cases a subject could be worth 30 points.
Still confused? Don’t worry, we’ve done the maths for you! Imagine if you have completed four subjects in your first semester. Maths: 80% English: 72% Science: 88% History: 76%. All these subjects are worth 15 credit points. 80 x 15 = 1200 72 x 15 = 1080 88 x 15 = 1320 76 x 15 = 1140 Your total aggregate Mark = 4740 15 credits x 4 subjects = 60 credit points. An aggregate of 4740 / 60 credit points = 79 = Your Weighted Average Mark is 79%!
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why should I care? Well, WAM is important because it usually helps to open up more opportunities for you, such as course transfers, scholarships, internships, and overseas study trips. Whilst a high WAM isn’t everything, and similar to your ATAR, doesn’t define your intelligence, it can help make certain processes a little bit easier for you than others.
I messed up, am I screwed? Having a poor WAM isn’t the end of the world. We all go through times when we perform badly, and a few low marks, or a couple fails will not define or ruin your future potential. The University wants you to perform well, and as such, there are many resources you can use to ensure that you can get yourself back on track to success. The Student Union offers an awesome advocacy service
which is free of charge, and provides academic support and confidential advice for students struggling with their degrees. If you ever fail a subject, are struggling with your study load, have been hit with three 2000 word essays, or maybe require attending an academic tribunal, our advocates can represent you on your behalf and assist you through the process. If you need to have a chat with an LTSU advocate, you can contact them at (03) 9479 6503 or come up to the LTSU Reception, past the Student Lounge, on Level 2 of the Agora. It’s important that you don’t make your university life completely about your subjects. Get out there, join a club, make some friends, and make life a little bit easier. These results or your WAM are not a barrier to your success or dream career, and shouldn’t be something you ever lose sleep over.
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TECH FOR SUCCESS Rebecca Borg
I
magine if there was a guide that had all the answers to passing uni. Something that gave away little tips, tricks and uni hacks when it came to completing your work and assignments. Well you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re a first-year or a third-year, I am here to save you from pulling your hair out over missing your assignment dates and the scramble through notes on the night before your exam. Here are the most helpful, ‘must-have’ apps and programs that will help you take control of your learning in style:
1. LMS (Learning Management System) The LMS is the one online program every La Trobe student needs to use and understand. All readings, assignments and grades will be posted on this platform among other things for every subject. You can use the LMS to see what you will be doing in upcoming classes. The LMS also has links to Echo, where all your prerecorded lecturers live just in case you’ve missed one or need to review the content. Prior to the semester starting, take a look at each subject to see what you will be learning throughout the semester and decide if it’s the right subject for you. The LMS also has access to library facilities, ASK La Trobe and multiple other modules that must be completed once a year. The LMS is basically your La Trobe Bible, with all information required about studying at La Trobe all on the one platform. 2. One Note I didn’t start using OneNote until the second semester in my first year and wish I had started using it sooner. OneNote is basically a digital notebook with all the colours, highlighters, diagrams, pictures and fonts included. Not only will your notes be more organised, but you can also attach audio files that can be recorded whilst using OneNote, which will be perfect for lectures or group discussions. It’s a simple program to use and most students use it. I previously hand wrote notes in
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my lectures and then typed them out, but OneNote does it all at once whilst providing you with an easy way to access notes upon notes. As a student from La Trobe University, you are entitled to most Microsoft programs for free. All you need to do is type ‘Microsoft Plus Pro’ in the LTU website search bar and click the first option ‘Install Office Pro Plus, Help and support’ and follow the steps on downloading the programs to get OneNote 3. Google Docs (or Google Drive in general) Google Docs is an online document that can be shared and worked on by multiple people at once. These documents can then be stored on Google Drive, an online platform that acts like a cloud storage system. Google docs is great in the sense that you can work on the same document over multiple devices, so if your laptop battery is flat, you can use your phone or iPad instead. This program is perfect for all your group assignments! (And it doesn’t crash like Word does! Everything is saved online). 4. Lost on Campus La Trobe is HUGE and it is most likely that you will feel lost at first. Lost on Campus is perfect for directing you to your classrooms, cafes, study areas, bathrooms and lecture halls. Simply type in the room code that you’re looking for and the app will direct you to your room from your current location. Your location services must be turned on. You can also select your favourite places for quick access by tapping the heart next to the name of the place. This app stops the stress of having to try and find your classrooms. It does take a little getting used to, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be as knowledgeable as the La Trobe tour guides! 5. My La Trobe The My La Trobe app has all of your uni programs in one place, including the LMS, Allocate+, access to campus maps, public transport and the academic calendar. You probably won’t use this app as much as the LMS, but it does definitely give you easy access to important details without having to get your laptop out. There is also a link to calling campus security in the ‘support’ tab of the app, in case of an emergency.
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6. Grammarly This app assists in perfecting your written work and assignments. Whilst you write, Grammarly will identify spelling and punctuation errors, word misuse, long sentences and will comment on the tone of writing. Unlike basic spellcheck, Grammarly justifies why the underlined words or phrases should be changed. Although this app helps with editing your work, remember to not solely rely on it as your own editing skills will also be judged when your assignments are marked. 7. EndNote This program is another useful platform for your assignments, particularly essays and PowerPoints that includes information that needs to be cited. EndNote manages bibliographical references by compiling, storing and maintaining a library of your past and current bibliographies. Your bibliographies are just as important as the rest of your assignment, as they are also marked. This is why a reliable program like EndNote is important as it will structure your bibliography appropriately so you can receive those marks, placing you on the road to success! 8. Spotify We all need something to unwind and relax, and for most of us it is music. Spotify has every playlist and song imaginable to get you through any type of uni situation. The platform always offers ongoing discounts and trials for their paid premium service, which allows you to listen to your saved songs offline and without advertisements. Luckily for us uni students, the platform also offers a student rate of only $5 a month for unlimited access to Spotify songs, playlists and albums. Check out Rabelais’ O-week playlist while you’re at it on page 6.
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it’s okay to be alone. Carly Mitchell
T
hroughout both O’Week and the first month of university I heard all the same advice: make friends, join a club, be social – or you’ll statistically not do as well as your fellow classmates due to loneliness and poor self-esteem. And that was kind of a problem for me. Dear reader, not everyone is a social butterfly. Not everyone can strike up a conversation willy-nilly or make friends with the snap of their fingers. A lot of the time, being in a classroom full of new people is daunting. Ice breakers suck. You feel awkward. You feel alone. And that’s okay. Here’s what my experience consisted of. From the perspective of an introverted, shy person with anxiety. Enjoy. I came over from another state, so that meant I didn’t have my high school friends to fall back on. It was a clean slate. I had to start over. In the summer holidays, all I had was my parents to hang out with. I felt like a complete loser. My anxiety was worse than ever, and I often cried when no one was around. I was terrified for university to start. I didn’t go on my scheduled O’Week Arts trip, and I was worried everyone would know each other and I’d be the odd one out. I went to O’Week by myself and felt like crying because I was the weird person walking around by myself while everyone else had a friend or two. The posters telling me to meet new people (OR ELSE!!!) made me
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feel as if there was a ticking time bomb on my back. From there, I joined a sports team. Which was stupid seeing as I was the kind of kid who only got participation trophies. I thought that maybe being a part of a team meant the other players would see me around the campus, maybe invite me to sit with them. What I didn’t know was it was full of people who had already graduated from university. So, while I was getting exercise and technically meeting new people, it didn’t help me not look like a loner at lunch. I tried talking to the people I was sitting close to in lectures. I added them on Facebook. I felt hopeful. Then I found out they were in different tutorials, so we ended up not talking. Tutorials came around, and we did the ice breakers and the small talk thing. And I still felt like the weird loser who had no friends to talk to. If this is you as well, it’s okay. Eventually, small talk turns into acquaintances. Sometimes you just randomly click with someone and they become your best friend. And sometimes, the girl who you thought was super popular, invites you to join a group where you can express yourself and publish articles about your many flaws instead of going to therapy. All this happened to me. Maybe it took some time, but I’m far from the wide-eyed person who walked into the Agora for the first time. Whether you already have friends or all your high school friends have ditched you, or you came from another state or country, there is hope. Don’t let anything scare you – your people are here, somewhere. Take your time, take care of yourself, and let things build naturally. It’ll all work out.
A GUIDE TO GETTING THROUGH ICE BREAKERS.
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Rebecca Borg
Walking into the classroom for the first time ignites a feeling like
no other. Upon entering, the room grows cold, sending shivers down your spine. The hairs on your arms begin to stand as you look around. So many unfamiliar faces with nowhere to go. You can almost hear the horror music begin to play. In the corner is your teacher, standing there with an evil grin. The tension grows as they open their mouth and mutter the dreaded phrase: “Let’s do an icebreaker!” Ice-breakers are the teacher’s ‘go-to’ in ensuring that they don’t spend the next 12 weeks sitting in silence when asking the class to participate in group discussions. Common ice-breakers include human bingo, two truths: one lie and speed dating, all of which include a considerable amount of human interaction and social contact. Ice-breakers, at times, are simply unavoidable - unless you decide to make a dramatic exit towards the Agora. So what can you do to get over the overwhelming sensation of social anxiety when confronted with an ice-breaker activity? Here are 5 ways to beat the awkward stutter and social blues: 1. Just breathe. Passing out mid-way through conversation wouldn’t make a very good first impression, unless you’re in a nursing class and are volunteering to have CPR performed on you. Ensure that you come up for air and breathe at your regular rate throughout your discussions with others. Yes, it seems quite obvious, but you would be surprised at how relaxed you would feel if you breathed steadily. The same rules apply for those who are afraid of public speaking. University will bring you to face many situations where you are forced to speak in front of an audience. If you take a few big deep breaths before you start your speech, you will be able to take control of your nerves and can focus on delivering your speech with confidence! 2. Start with the five Ws and the H. You can’t go wrong with the good ol’ ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘where’, ‘why’ and ‘how’. When you want to get to know someone these six key questions, or key question starters, will enable you to find out the most
20 about someone in a short amount of time. They also assist in keeping the conversation going so that you can avoid those long silent gaps of awkwardness. I’ve even given you a few examples to get the conversation going: a. b. c. d. e. f.
Who is your greatest inspiration in your area of study? What do you hope to achieve this year? When did you decide what to study? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Why did you choose La Trobe? How are you going to reach your goals?
3. Remember that there will be other students who feel as socially anxious as you. Even if you’re not a first year, ice-breakers are always going to feel awkward, unless you’re in a drama class and are ready for all kinds of fun. As much as we dread ice-breakers, our teachers and lecturers are doing us a favour. Whether you believe it or not, ice-breakers are preparing us for the even more dreadful concept of group assignments. They’re not only about getting to know one another but ultimately help in setting up a network of people that will later go through all the blood, sweat and tears with you when it comes to producing a completed assignment. Who knows? Maybe the relationship you’re building with the person you’re talking to about your cat, will be the difference between passing and excelling in your next group assignment. 4. Research the most commonly used ice-breakers if you really want to be prepared. I’ve already hinted at a few of them, but a little bit of research goes a long way in preparing for all kinds of situations that come with doing an ice-breaker activity. If you’re not all for spontaneity, researching will be the right way to go to prepare yourself for those unexpected questions or awkward answers. Take note of the recurring pattern in the questions asked over multiple ice-breakers and use any fun facts about yourself to an advantage. This is what others tend to remember you by. 5.Remember that ice-breakers will get easier the more you do them. Just like anything, ice-breakers will become easier the more you do them. If you remember that everyone is in the same boat, you will realise that everyone is feeling the same way as you. Once you find someone that you can connect with, the conversation will be easier and flow better as you will genuinely want to discover more about that person. If you’re really comfortable, get to know your teacher or lecturer and include them in the activity as well. Remember: no one knows you better than yourself. You’ve got this!
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USEFUL STUDY SPACES Finn Cosolo
First Years. Study. Let’s face it; we all have to do it. “Where?”, might you ask. Keep reading.
The Learning Commons, Level 4
The Learning Commons features four levels of classrooms, shared study spaces and individual desks with power supplies. It is often over utilised so work out those quads to level 4, where there is less foot traffic.
The “Harry Potter Room” TLC Level 4
Speaking of The Learning Commons, the “Harry Potter Room” on level four just next to the stairs features a couch, armchairs and a table. One of the quieter communal areas.
Donald Whitehead Building
Just in case you forgot which degree is associated with money, the commerce building is there to remind you. It is filled with timber paneling and neat nooks and crannies in which to hide away from the world and study.
George Singer Building
I can only presume that its brown colour scares people off, but if you go through the building you’ll find a serene study space.
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Making friends in your first week Fergus Black
I
think we all come to our first week at university with the same relative goal in mind. Whether you’re stepping in straight off the back of high school or returning to study, there is an implied and universal truth that this is the perfect environment to meet a variety of new people. It can, however, be very easy to underestimate just how difficult it is to form meaningful and reliable connections. The thing is, there is a distinct difference between the social environment in high school and the university ecosystem. High school is a closed environment where we are essentially forced to find whatever common ground we can grasp in a tiny sample of very different people. University gives us the opportunity to explore our identity in an environment that permits experimentation. So how do we navigate this? It’s easy to assume that as long as we stick to our specialisations, we are bound to encounter peers with common ground. But that can only get us so far. Many students will be committed to their study above everything else and may not be as keen to make new acquaintances. My first piece of advice; attend the clubs and societies festival on Tuesday the 25th of February. There are a lot of gimmicky clubs and a lot of people willing to show you the ropes to a great variety of hobbies. Put your name down to a few, attend some come-and-try sessions, maybe try a few things you haven’t considered before. If you’ve missed it,
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check out the clubs and societies tab on the student union website. If you want to fast track the whole process, join some of the more obscure clubs with less members. As long as you’re open to taking up a bit of responsibility, you may find yourself in the centre of a fast-growing enterprise. As long as you’ve picked activities that you have a personal interest in, you are bound to make connections. Not everything has to be associated with a club. Consider playing to the strengths of your course. If you are studying something that values writing, consider writing something for the La Trobe Student Theatre and Film or maybe try submitting something to this magazine: Rabelais (I know, am I being subtle enough?). There is a surprising amount of opportunities to engage with in the student community that tend to slip under everyone’s radar. The unfortunate truth however is that not all of us have the precious time to dedicate to extra-curricular activities. For some of us, the time spent in class may be the only real time we have to engage with the La Trobe community. In this case, it is important to make the most of your time in class. Try to build a rapport with your table groups, make a point of sitting in the same general area each class, and most importantly don’t be afraid to ask people to join you for coffee. It’s a rare courtesy that I’ve never seen go unappreciated. Never underestimate the group assignment. It is the perfect place to draw your earliest connections very quickly. Especially considering that you already share a common ground in your choice of subject area. Engage in discussions, pull your weight and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’ll probably find the more willing you are to engage with the work the more people will be willing to engage with you. Remember, don’t expect to meet your best friends in your first semester. Valuable connections come with time and experience. Also, come check out the lacrosse club! We need players :D
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THE STUDENT DIET It’s easy to rely on quick and gratifying two-minute noodles every day for the rest of your university life. Put that Redbull back and check out these tips for healthy and easy fixes!
Eggs. You’ll need lots of them. They’re a great source of protein and there are 50 different ways to eat them. My favourite is scrambled with cherry tomatoes spinach and mozzarella cheese! Chickpeas. Great vegetarian/vegan option and again very versatile. Add to a salad for extra protein and texture or add a spicy sauce to give it a kick and pair it with pita bread. Bowls, bowls and more bowls. Load it up. With anything. My favourite combo is some crushed avo, black beans, cherry tomato, corn, capsicum and tzatziki. Also great for meal prep.
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Avocado. You can never go wrong with some good old avo, a cult favourite. Rye bread smashed avo and sun-dried tomato and you’ve got your perfect sandwich. Did someone say tuna? Yes, lots of tuna, not the greatest smelling food but very filling and easy to pack! Or if tuna’s not your style, don’t be afraid of a little tinned salmon! Any stuffed vegetable of your liking and rice. Go to town with your stuffing, if you’re feeling frisky, saute some onions, garlic and ground beef and stuff some tomatoes then pop it in the oven!
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LTU EATS Stephanie Briese
Welcome to LTU! Get yourself prepped for Semester 1 by reading the most crucial article to your uni success: where to find great food on campus! Here’s the best of the best, designed for everyone from the budget savvy to the food connoisseur!
HOUSE OF CARDS Thomas Cherry Building This incredible spot specialises in ethical roasting, gourmet jaffles ($5-$8) and THE BEST potato gems known to woman ($4-$7). Each order lets you choose one of four charity organisations you’d like House of Cards to support, with the most popular choice receiving $1000 each month. PLUS for $1 you can go into the draw to win A YEAR’S WORTH OF FREE COFFEE! Even better, you choose the charity that the proceeds go to (running until the end of Week 2). HOT tip: let the jaffles cool a little unless you want to feel molten hot cheese on your tongue!
GRAIN EXPRESS Level 2 Agora One word: dumplings. If you’re looking for a way to solidify a new friendship during O-Week, do it with a whole mound of dumplings. $10.50 for 15, or $11 for pan fried.
WRITER’S BLOCK: Level 1 Library Are you a millennial who never wants to own a house? Well then do we have the smashed avo for you! For just $12.50 (!!!!!) this tasty meal is 5000% cheaper than any brunch spot in Melbourne. With those savings, you’ll be able to afford that house deposit in no time!
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FUEL Agora Looking for a fruit fix? This funky spot puts Boost Juice to shame with their smoothies ($5-$7). On the hungrier side? Grab a smoothie bowl for $9 – they’re as Gram-worthy as they are delicious!
FUSION Agora Theatre A fan favourite of the LTSU, Fusion’s chips with feta are out of this world, and only $5!
CAFFEINE Agora Theatre After a Burrito? Then Burrit-Go to Caffeine! Ha ha!! So punny!! But in all honesty, their lamb, chicken or bean burritos come with a side of sour cream and guac and (insider knowledge) are a great hangover cure for $9.50. They also do fresh sushi for $2.90.
NUTS-ABOUT-TELLA: Between Agora and Thomas Cherry Hey Taylor, Imma let you finish… but Nuts-About-Tella has some of the best burgers of all time. That’s what you’ll be saying after a feed at this joint, where ALL MENU ITEMS are named after Kanye West! Burgers range from $9-$15 and cover meat lovers and vegans alike. We recommend the Chick-argo (get it??).
CHARLIE’S Agora How could we forget a cheeky kebab? Great for a late-night study session, and only $9 for a massive feed.
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YOUR UNI GRIND Christopher Graham
Writers Block ★★★★★ Library Foyer, across from Ask La Trobe. With writer’s block, you can’t go wrong. With the chillest of vibes, you should head here during the most stressful of moments for what is probably the best smashed avo on toast you’ll have in the area. Smashed avo and a small coffee for $10 is what I would call a bargain! Whilst it’s a tad more expensive than the other options, this is probably the best tasting coffee you can get on campus. Ideal for that group meeting or frantic late minute assignment you need to smash out. Grafalis ★★★★★ Under the stairs, Agora. At this little cafe, you’ll find friendly staff who will always remember your name, and your order. This is probably the best value you can get for a coffee on campus. With the cheapest coffee, and the largest cups; a regular size will run you about $3.60, and you can throw in a delicious bacon and egg muffin in a combo! You’ll probably receive amongst the best services on campus here. House of Cards ★★★★☆ Near the bus stops, Thomas Cherry Building The newest cafe on the list, House of Cards offers a chill outdoor vibe, a delicious variety of jaffles and coffee that helps to make an impact. Upon making an order, students will receive a playing card which they can use to select a charity of their choice that will receive a proportion of that month’s earnings. So if you want to change the world but also enjoy a delicious meatball jaffle with a side of potato gems, this place is your best choice. Caffeine ★★★☆☆ Next to the Kebab shop, Agora Theatre. Moody vibes, delicious brekkie burritos, and fairly decent coffee defines this small establishment tucked away in the Agora Theatre. Come here if you need a quick and easy breakfast before that two hour lecture. Unfortunately, the coffee is quite expensive, and the serving cups are rather small, so if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, this might not be the best choice.
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So what is the LTSU? Annabelle Romano
W
e’re the peak representative body for students at La Trobe University. The LTSU represents students living both on and off-campus, aims to improve the general welfare of students as well as provide support through the services and amenities that are available to all of La Trobe campuses: Melbourne, Bundoora, Shepparton, Albury-Wodonga and Mildura. Some of the departments include the activities committee, post-grad committee, club and societies, and education council. The values and drivers of the LTSU are mentioned on their website: https://www.latrobesu.org.au/aboutus - enhancing the learning experience of students while at the University; - promoting the interests and welfare of students; - representing students within and outside the University; - co-ordinating and supporting the activities of students; and - providing amenities and services for students, other members of the University community and the public.
why should you join the LTSU? These services include financial counseling, advocacy, and numerous scholarships. How do we make life at uni more enjoyable I hear you ask? We provide a FREE lunch every Tuesday afternoon
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and a FREE breakfast every Wednesday! We support over 90 clubs and societies that affiliate to us, so there is always somewhere for everyone to feel included. This is funded by the Student Services and Amenities Fee that every student pays each semester, so you may as well take advantage of everything we have to offer. Joining the LTSU gets you lots of exclusive merch and benefits, including LTSU brand Airpods, hoodies and backpacks as well as discounts both on and off-campus! Volunteers are the lifeblood of what we do, and without them, we wouldn't be able to run many of the services that you see every week, like the Chill Out Trolley in the library. In addition to the heartwarming feeling our volunteers get from helping out their fellow students, there are also many rewards and benefits to signing up! Volunteers can receive LTSU merch, movie tickets, free training and enjoy an end of year celebration as a thank you for all your hard work. Not only this but each milestone that our volunteers reach will be recognised as the LTSU awards ceremony. So this is what the LTSU is all about. We're students here to make life at uni a little more bearable for everyone else, and we love every minute of it! Come and find out more on the second level of the Agora!
clubs & Whether it’s your first year at La Trobe, or you’re heading into your fourth year - we’ve got all your clubs and societies needs. There are great clubs across campus that you can get involved in. Joining a club is a great way to both explore your passions and meet new people so why not try it out? Here is our guide to all the clubs across campus you can get involved in!
ALIAS
Cultural Clubs A Look into African Society (ALIAS), is a society that aims to bring together African students and celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of Africa. Our mission is to create a community of respect that provides a welcoming and supportive environment for all members. Through events and community engagement, we hope to build pride and an appreciation for the African continent.
CSC
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Chinese Students Club (CSC) is a group that helps students to get a better understanding about Chinese traditional culture and allows them to be involved in many festivals, activities and events that help to celebrate Chinese culture.
societies
MC
ISC
LUGS
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La Trobe Greek Society is a rapidly growing Greek-Australian social/cultural club that seeks to unite both the Greek Australian and international youth at La Trobe University. As young Hellenes in the diaspora, we want to ensure that our connection to our culture, traditions, history and language never fades.
Indian Students’ Club aims to create a ‘home away from home’ for new and existing students. Though the name says ‘Indian Students’ Club’ and we primarily intend to promote Indian culture and traditions, we embrace diversity and are open to people from all cultural backgrounds as one of our club’s beliefs is ‘Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day’.
Marathi Club is our humble attempt to preserve our Marathi culture and heritage. Maharashtra is a state in the western region of India and is India’s third-largest state by area and is also the world’s second-most populous sub-national entity. Our club members are proud to be good human beings first, proud Indians, proud Australian residents, and proud Marathi people.
SLSA
PSALTU
NEPSA
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La Trobe Nepalese Student Association (NEPSA) is established with a vision of providing a homely environment to Nepalese students coming to Melbourne. The primary goal of the organization is to provide assistance to Nepalese student with their requirements. We act as a cultural bridge between Nepalese students and students from other countries.
The Pakistan Students’ Association at La Trobe University is a non-political organization, representing the Pakistani culture through social interactions. The society aimis to promote cross cultural integrity, social ethic, welfare, educational and cultural activities. The association serves as a platform for both newly admitted and existing students to interact with each other, promote goodwill and understanding amongst Australians and Pakistani students.
Sri Lankan Students Association. Situated nearly quarter a globe away from La Trobe, Sri Lanka is a small island nation which is often referred to as the “pearl of the Indian ocean”. Also known by the historic names “Ceylon” and “Taprobane”, this beautiful country is home to about 20 million people from various ethnic and religious backgrounds. Our main scope is to look after well being of the members of the association and to share information about Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan culture.
LAVISA
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Vietnamese Students Association (LAVISA) aims to establish a connection among Vietnamese students either to share or exchange knowledge, information and their experience of living and studying at La Trobe University. Don’t walk, let’s run to LAVISA. LAVISA always welcomes all of you to come and join with us.
ARS
AMNESTY
Activist Clubs Amnesty International. We are a group of La Trobe students who are passionate about social justice, equality and human rights! We intend to raise awareness through our campaigns and create a space for students to discuss some of the most pressing issues surrounding human rights. Throughout the year we hold a variety of social and educational events including fundraisers, dinners, movie nights and discussion panels.
Animal Rights La Trobe is the on-campus voice for animals. We are open to all students, vegan, vegetarian or veg-curious! We make an impact through vegan outreach, lobbying, fundraising, awareness, volunteer opportunities and promoting compassion towards animals in all their forms.
LITTER BUSTERS
LTHS
ESP
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Equality Sustainability and Peace is a space for discussing, organising, acting on and spreading awareness of issues surrounding equality, sustainability and peace. Get involved through weekly meetings, stalls, movie screenings, campaigns, fundraising events, workshops, skillshares and more! We aim to build networks, develop educational activities and engender change by providing information, resources and tools for action, both here and globally.
The Humanitarian Society. Our main purpose is to aid countries and places that are in need of immediate humanitarian aid. We aim to help through raising funds, gathering clothes for donations, supplying sanitary needs and food. Anything that can help!
Litter Busters was started in April 2016 and look forward to holding litter clean-up days every month to maintain a positive and caring culture on campus. We meet up on the second Friday of each month and separate into groups that tackle litter in different areas of the campus for only 15 minutes. Help keep La Trobe beautiful and clean! Join the La Trobe Litter Busters!
SEVEN WOMEN
RED CROSS
OXFAM
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Oxfam La Trobe was established in 2013 and has grown to become an embraced NGO presence on the Bundoora campus. The club links to Oxfam groups at other universities as well as Oxfam Australia. Oxfam La Trobe is an open and inclusive student group which welcomes students from all walks of life. Being a culturally diverse group with a large international student membership gives us a greater range of ideas and contextual understandings which we hope will make our social justice events interesting, engaging and meaningful for the La Trobe student community.
Red Cross is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. Red Cross is there for people in need, regardless of nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. We are impartial, neutral and independent. The La Trobe University Australian Red Cross Club is made up of a group of people who wish to engage in direct humanitarian action, have fun, and create an inclusive community on campus. All are welcome!
Seven Women La Trobe is a volunteer group that runs a fair trade stall every Wednesday in the Agora. We are one component of the Seven Women not-for-profit organisation, a grass-roots project empowering women in Nepal through education and income generation. You can get involved with Seven Women by joining our lovely, welcoming volunteer group or by visiting our stall and supporting fair trade. If you have a couple of hours to spare on Wednesdays and you would like to volunteer please contact us!
TBOS
STF
38 She’s the First provides scholarships to girls in low-income countries fostering first-generation graduates and cultivating the next generation of global leaders. Throughout the year we fundraise on campus to raise funds for our scholars in Nepal. We also aim to bring awareness about the power of girls’ education, gender equality and other global issues through our Global Awareness Program and other events. She’s the First - La Trobe is also the first STF campus chapter in Australia.
Two Birds One Scone aims at saving wasted food on La Trobe University grounds. We collect, package and deliver all unsold (and otherwise wasted) food from all major vendors on campus. The food goes to local churches that hold community lunches and dinners each week. Volunteering hours are up to you! Whether it be one or two days a week, volunteer hours start after 5pm and this is an opportunity to be a leader and be a part of change.
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LATUCS
CGC
APCAS
Social Clubs Asian Pop Culture Appreciation Society is a space for those who have a common interest in all things associated with Asian pop culture. Whether your interest is towards K-Pop, J-Pop, V-Pop or even K-dramas/variety shows, we hope to unite members and establish a family where we can experience Asian pop culture without having to step into our TV screens! All are welcome!
The La Trobe Card Gamers Club is a club dedicated to providing a venue for people to get together to play, trade and generally enjoy playing collectable card and other non-traditional card games. Members enjoy playing a variety of different card games from collectable card gaming to specialty hobby games. So if you’re an old hand at card gaming or just interested to see what this exciting hobby is all about, feel free to rock on down to a meeting and join in the fun!
La Trobe University Choral Society is your local choir on La Trobe’s Bundoora Campus. If you like to sing, come along to our rehearsals! We’re open to all students, staff and members of the public – anyone who wants to have a sing!
CINEMA CLUB
LTU COGS
SCA
40 The College of St. Cecilia is a part of the The Society for Creative Anachronism, or SCA, an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts, skills, and traditions of pre-17th-century Europe. The SCA study and take part in a variety of activities, including combat, archery, equestrian activities, costuming, cooking, metalwork, woodworking, music, dance, calligraphy, and more! If it was done in the Middle Ages or Renaissance, you’ll find someone in the SCA interested in recreating it!
Competive Online Games Society seeks to create and grow a community for competitive online gaming, with a focus on League of Legends, CS:GO, HotS, and DOTA2. This fosters interaction between LTU students and the wider eSports player base in Victoria. It’s a place to get together and discuss recent eSports events, play a casual game or two, watch competitive tournaments, and participate in tournaments with both new and experienced players.
Cinema Club is a new society for film and cinema lovers. The main idea behind the club is to be organising and running regular free film nights in the Agora Cinema. Aside from regular film nights we could also organise other activities such as outings to other cinemas, and screenings of local/ independent/student made films.
HN
LTSU QUEER
DA
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Dumbledore’s Army. Are you a Harry Potter fan? Whether you have only read the books or seen the movies to fantasising about getting your own wand; or if you just have an uncontrollable urge to talk about Harry Potter all the time (or all of the above).... You have come to the right place! Dumbledore’s Army: La Trobe Division is the Harry Potter fan club on campus for all past and present LTU students/alumni and faculty members.
The LTSU Queer (LGBTQIA+) collective is a group of people who come together through the LTSU Queer department. We have events, activities and social mingling. Click on ‘join now’ to stay in the loop with everything queer at La Trobe! This collective is facilitated by your LTSU Queer Office Bearers.
Hakama Nakama is the official Japanese Club of La Trobe University (Bundoora Campus). The goal of the Japanese Culture Club is to inform more people about the Japanese language, society and culture. We actively encourage our members to participate in a range of social and cultural events, as well as events that take place outside of the club.
LDC
Welcome to the FIRST KNOWN Australian University Based Kyudo Club! As both a student at LaTrobe, and in Kyudo, I would like to welcome our members to the path leading to their own Kyudo journeys. We are hoping to be able to provide a space for Kyudo-jin - beginners and more experienced alike - to train and grow; especially for our international exchange students from Japan, Taiwan and other countries where Kyudo has been an established Martial Art.
Latin Dance Club. This club is for all students and staff to learn to dance Salsa and Bachata dancing. We have absolutely FREE beginner dance lessons. Our vision is to help students to enjoy their time on campus, de-stress from workload pressure, meet new people and make friends and contacts, exercise and have FUN!
LUNASY
KYUDO
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Ever wonder which end is the head of a chocolate cornet, or how forming an idol group can save your school? Perhaps Lunasy is the group for you. The La Trobe University Noble Anime Society is a club dedicated to the love and appreciation of Anime and Manga. Whether you’re a protagonist or a side character, this club will be perfect for you. Attend our weekly screening and events and find us on Facebook or the Lunasy website.
PIPE BAND
THE PATCH
LOUD
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Organised University Debating. Want to achieve killer self confidence and communication? Become an awesome general knowledge badass? Super charge your employability? Be a master in the art of persuasion? Then we’ve got just the club for you! We are a group of fabulous people wanting to get other fabulous people interested in the art of debating. We have big plans to have lots of debates happening around campus and even off campus. So we really do urge you to come along and see what we are all about and meet some new people.
The Patch (formerly known as the Community Garden!) is a vibrant community gardening group, located behind the Borchardt Library. Students and staff are always welcome to join and participate in the regular events we hold. But, what do we do exactly? We organise weekly gardening and working bee sessions throughout the semester, including a range of regular workshops for students to learn new skills, social events and excursions and trips to gardens/ gardening related events in Melbourne.
The aims of ‘The Band’ are to adopt Highland Pipe Band music for enjoyment and social interaction, continuing the Scottish/Irish tradition. The club plays and promotes traditional Highland Bagpipe music, performs Celtic music including vocal renditions as an Ensemble group, performs Highland dancing and provides a forum for teaching and development of music skills with students, La Trobe staff, past students and assisting playing members.
SSDP
LUSoM
LURG
44 The Role Playing Group is a group of individuals who all share a passion for role playing. It is a social activity where people get together to collectively tell a story. It combines elements of problem solving, emotional explorahhtion and acting into an enjoyable and stimulating pastime. There are many different types of role playing games that cover all manner of subjects and settings, from fantasy and science fiction to realistic portrayals of the contemporary world.
Writing a song? Beginning a band? Mozart in the making? Latrobe University Society of Music connects musically-minded individuals to play, perform and appreciate all styles of music in a supportive environment. Meetings are held twice a week where we socialize, unwind and play our instruments in a group setting. We promote performance opportunities throughout the year to anyone looking to expand their performance skills. Finally, our aim is to connect students with the networks and support they need to keep doing what they love.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy Australia is a coalition of young people and students working together to educate the community and advocate for research-driven drug policies grounded in compassion and human rights. We are committed to challenging the stigma of drug use and creating an inclusive environment that welcomes the participation of all people.
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CU
Faith Clubs The Christian Union is a non-denominational student Christian group at La Trobe. We meet together regularly to support and encourage each other and to learn about God through the Bible. We want to tell people about God and the fantastic message of Jesus and do so through Bible studies, weekly meetings, camps and other events.
FOCUS
“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake,” 2 Corinthians 4:5
FOCUS stands for Fellowship of Overseas Christian University Students. We are a La Trobe University student club. FOCUS aims to help international students make new friends and find out about Jesus and why he is worth having a friendship with. Each week we have an international meal together, sing some songs, study the bible and pray together. You don’t have to be a Christian to come along. We welcome anyone who is interested. So, if you are interested in Christian fellowship, learning about God and Jesus, going to social events and making new friends, then FOCUS is for you.
PLANET UNI
LTUIS
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La Trobe University Islamic Society. Our objectives are to serve and facilitate the religious, social and academic needs of Muslim students, both local, international, students and staff as well as to teach and present Islam to both Muslims and non Muslims on campus. We are in charge of the female and male Muslim prayer rooms on campus which are located in the HU-ED building, where Muslim students and staff can perform their daily prayers, study and socialise. We hold various enjoyable events throughout the semester which include welcome back barbecues, a sisters high tea, dawah campaigns and we also organise an annual Islamic Awareness week with the purpose of helping people in the wider community to understand Islam better.
At planetUNI we believe that university life is much more than just libraries, exams, and tutes. We are a student club associated with Planetshakers Church and we would love to meet YOU! We run drug-and-alcohol free social events, and we love to give out free stuff (Did we say free? Yes we did!). Come along and say hi at our O-week booth to grab our free magazine and other great goodies! A few things we do on (and off) campus include: planetUNI Central - o ur bi-annual Orientation party! Social Hang-outs - Dinner, heading out to the movies, ultimate frisbee, board games night, pizza night, you name it! Prayer Meetings - planetUNI is committed to believing the best for our campus.
UNICARE
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Unicare is the University student ministry of Encompass Church Bundoora. We are a warm, friendly community of people supporting and connecting with students. Throughout the year we hold fun events and group nights and also special sightseeing Day Trips! We run free dinners and ‘connect groups’ to discuss a wide range of different topics!
GREENS
Political Clubs La Trobe Greens. If you support progressive causes like equal rights for the LGBTQ community, social justice and the fight against climate change, then the La Trobe Greens are for you! We discuss, debate and promote the values of the Australian Greens - the third largest political party in Australia and the only one that truly stands by its values. Join our club and come to one of our meetings, where you can share with us what you think are the most pressing issues in Australia, and at the same time be inspired by other passionate and politically active La Trobe students. The only way things can change for the better is if you get involved, so come and get involved!
SA
LABOR CLUB
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The La Trobe Labor Club is one of the biggest and most vibrant clubs on campus, and is a great way to meet new people and make friends from different parts of life inside and outside of La Trobe. We offer students with a wide variety of both formal and informal events and training such as parliament tours, trivia nights, student campaigns, debates, seminars with guest speakers and a lot more. The Labor Club is open to anyone interested in politics, social and environmental policy, and the labor movement. We have close relationships with the Australian Labor Party, various student unions, organisations, and trade unions across Australia. The La Trobe Labor Club aims to: Encourage a diversity of ideas and opinions within the labour movement, engage students in ideas, policies, actions, events, and activities relevant to the labour movement, highlight the importance of workplace rights and minimum working conditions and highlight the importance of Trade Unions and unionism within Australia.
Socialist Alternative is a left-wing, anticapitalist organization. Our La Trobe club is active in promoting and building activities in support of students and workers rights, against war and racism and progressive causes more broadly. We hold regular meetings both on and off-campus to discuss Marxist ideas and their continuing relevance today.
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YOU SHOULD GET INVOLVED
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Meet your LTSU Representatives! General Secretary - Abhishek Madan
Hola Amigos, I am Abhishek and your LTSU General Secretary for 2020. It’s a pleasure to welcome you all to La Trobe. As we all know, La Trobe is home for all students from diverse cultures and backgrounds. There are various events and activities that take place to keep you entertained and excited throughout the year. The year is going to kick start with a fantastic and engaging O-week with Clubs fests, BBQ’s, Welcome Expo and several other fun activities. La Trobe is not just about academics and classes for we have a great number of clubs running on campus. If you are new and looking to get to know new people or get involved with things other than your academics, clubs and societies are the best way to do it and it’s the best way to make new friends too! As Barney Stinson said and I will quote, “It’s not Legendary if your friends are not there to see it,” making O-week the best time to join a club. There will be something for everyone, so, don’t miss out on the LTSU Clubs and Societies Festival or you’ll regret it! I’m not saying that because I organise them, but rather for a fact. Plus, if you see me around campus, feel free to come say hi! I am always down for a chat. I am a big movie buff, so our conversations are guaranteed to be interesting! My work will focus on running things smoothly across campus and creating more events and opportunities for everyone, be it domestic or international students, to get involved in this year. You can keep up to date by watching the LTSU webpage and this space for all the events and plans for the coming year. Cheers!
Vice President - Ashraf Imam Hello, I am Ashraf and I am your Education Vice President in 2020! As your Vice President, I will help to ensure that you will succeed in your studies here at La Trobe, through consistent support and advocacy on your behalf. I will always aim for students to have a great and memorable experience on campus, so if you ever require support or assistance, please get in contact with me and I will help you with anything that you may need! I hope that 2020 is a great year for everyone and I cannot wait for this year to get started!
Postgraduate Officer - Musa Qamar
Hello. My name is Musa Qamar and I’m the Post Graduate officer for 2020. This year I’ll be organizing various fun events, big and small, welcoming both new and current students as they make La Trobe their second home. From my side, I’ll be hosting fun trips, movie nights, game nights, info sessions and I will also be taking suggestions from the students, so if you have any fun and interesting ideas, let me know! For any assistance or guidance, my door will always be open to all students, so don’t be shy and come down to the LTSU office and ask for me! I was also appointed as a Residential Assistant and student leader by the La Trobe Accommodation Services in the year 2019 so if you need any advice regarding on campus accommodation, hit me up anytime. I look forward to meeting and welcoming you all and hope that your transition into La Trobe is as smooth as possible. Cheers.
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Education Public Affairs - Robert Campbell & Steph Briese
Hey LTU! We’re Steph and Robert, your 2020 Education and Public Affairs Officers. This year, we’re excited to expand upon previous EdPub initiatives, like rolling the Chill Out Trolley through the library every Monday night so you’re caffeinated and well fed (for free!). We’re also excited to throw a massive Education Day early in Semester 1, where we want the focus to be around what you need in order to be successful at University. We’re also passionate about a number of causes, including abolishing assignments worth 50% or more, scrapping hurdle assessments, and making sure all lectures are recorded. Please come txqo us with any issues relating to your course. We can help you and your classmates with advocacy, and we’re open to hearing any and all feedback around your uni and course experiences. We’re excited to show you our passion and our ideas in 2020!
Environment - Jake McGuinness & Lewis Kimpton Drake Hey, we are Jake and Lewis and we are your 2020 Environment Officers. This summer, Australia burned; thousands of homes were destroyed by the fires, more than a billion animals and 33 people lost their lives to the flames, whilst the east coast choked on endless weeks of smoke. Such was the brutality and shock of the crisis that the words of powerful climate deniers in our society rang hollow, and the nation finally awoke to the fact that the climate catastrophe is not something to be faced by our children, but an emergency that already threatens our nation and planet. In the coming year, we both look forward to working closely with the fantastic societies on campus like the Patch and ESP, as well as helping to build an inclusive activist movement at La Trobe to join the millions around the world demanding genuine climate action. As your environment officers, we will demand that both the LTSU and University properly recognise this threat by declaring a climate emergency, and committing to significant sustainable action. Despite the terror and despair of the summer, we are filled with hope that this will be a landmark year for the climate movement and a turning point for society. We can’t wait to work with passionate individuals at La Trobe, ready to fight for a better future.
Disabilities
- Olivia White & Edison Yu Hello everyone! Our names are Olivia & Edison and we are your new 2020 LTSU Disability Officers. In 2020, Edison and I plan to review current facilities and policies that have been in place to help our fellow students in need. We also plan to create new policies that could further help students and their individual needs. We also want to have events where everyone can get involved, but we can’t do this alone. We would love feedback from our disability students from all ends, so we can make a change that really suits you!
Ethnocultural - Sayed Durraiz & Shebhaz Sandhu
Hey! We are Sayed and Shehbaz and we are proud to be your 2020 Ethnocultural Officers. La Trobe University is so diverse, and because of this, we want to foster a community where students can feel welcome and happy to make new friends and enjoy their years at university. Through ice breaking events, we can celebrate this diverse culture at LaTrobe, together in collaboration with all the different ethnic student societies. We cannot wait to show you all our plans!
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Welfare - Cooper Dickson & Jasmine Kinderis
Howdy Howdy! We’re Jasmine and Cooper, and we are your two Welfare Officers! You may recognise us from such uni experiences as the free Tuesday barbecue and (when Jasmine manages to wake up on time) Wednesday mornings free breakfast! Jasmine is living on campus and is always around to point you in the right direction of any welfare related issues you may be facing and Cooper is always around too (not living on campus, he just doesn’t have a life). As a proud regional student hailing from a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, Jasmine knows what it’s like to change cities too. Whether you’re feeling homesick, can’t work out how to use Studiosity or aren’t sure where to find a Peer Learning Advisor, Jasmine will be there to help! Frequently seen getting coffee and staring at his phone, Cooper is always eager to talk to new people around campus and find out what people want to see around the uni. Whether you have questions about uni life, study habits or just general welfarerelated questions, you’re always welcome to see us; We’d love to meet you.
Queer- Kate Benesovsky & Hannah Proasheck
Hi everyone, we’re the 2020 Queer Officers – Hannah Proasheck and Kate Benesovsky. At La Trobe we are very lucky to have an incredibly present and wonderful queer community, which has been fostered over many years. As the 2020 Queers officers, we not only continue the queer representation and community at the University, but also hope to increase accessibility for all students. This year we will foster increased community inclusion by improving awareness around less visible identities, making events more welcoming for neurodivergent people, and having a variety of new events which can be attended by allies and community members alike! Our major event for the year is Pride Week – running from the 23rd to the 27th of March, which showcases and celebrates the La Trobe Queer Community as a whole. Don’t worry though, we have plenty of other events planned for the rest of the year, like IDAHOBIT day and TDOR. Additionally, we have weekly events such as Queer Chat – located within Counselling, which is an open, group discussion focusing on different topics each week. We also do frequent chill hangouts like board games and craft days, picnics, and movie nights. Together we are super excited for 2020 and what things we have instore for allies, students, and the Queer Collective! We can’t wait to show you what we have planned!
Activities - Angus Turner & Steve Frampton
Hey everyone, our names are Angus & Steve, and we are your 2020 Activities Officers. We are pretty similar people who are always up for a chat, so if you see us around at uni, come say hi! There is a consistent debate over How I Met Your Mother vs The Office and we’d like to hear from you, so feel free to put in your two cents. We are so excited to start this year and get into all the amazing events and activities we have coming up. We are trying to make this the best year possible by having plenty of fun activities and events throughout the year to help with de-stressing from uni, meeting people or just to hang out. Coming up soon is our Orientation Party - ‘Welcome to the ‘20s’ which has had a lot of effort put into it so we hope you like it. Also, make sure to keep an eye out for our Night-Market/Movie-Night coming up shortly, our summer sessions and themed eagle bar nights throughout the semester. We’re looking forward to an amazing year ahead and we can’t wait to meet everyone. If you ever wanna get in contact, feel free to email us!
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Womens - Roja Mudundi & Sumii Adnan
Hey everyone! Sumiyyah and Roja here and we are your 2020 Women’s Officers. We both love volunteering for social causes, travelling, watching movies, making new friends and learning from their stories. We are particularly interested in promoting female empowerment, so please feel free to pop into our office in the LTSU or contact us through email so we can hear your stories. Our goals for this year are all about supporting and helping our La Trobian female students, focusing on gender diversity and inclusion on campus to bring women together from all walks of life. We intend to follow through with these goals by starting the semester off with our special Women’s Day celebrations in the Agora on the 10th of March. We also want to make La Trobe a more safe and secure environment for our fellow female students. This will be done with the goal of installing more security cameras across campus and organising self-defence classes for women.We aim to work together with our female students to leave a positive mark in our university. Last year’s goals of installing sanitary dispensers in female toilets was a huge success and we will continue to welcome new ideas to support female students at La Trobe. We are looking forward to organizing events which focus on discussing women centric social issues and how we can overcome them.
City Campus - Pooja Ganesh & Anushi Goyal
Hello, we are Anushi and Pooja and we are your 2020 City Campus reps for La Trobe. We are here to help all our students to come together and to provide opportunities for them to develop their skills and abilities in order to prepare them for their future careers. This year, we will bring our services to the city campus, such as the awesome chill out trolley, networking events, dinners, and themed food days! This is only a small look at what we want to achieve, and we can’t wait for you to see what else we have in the works!
Indigenous Officer - Jayde Hopkins
Hey, I’m Jayde and I’m your 2020 Indigenous Officer! As the 2020 LTSU Indigenous Officer I have a lot of ideas and activities I would love to implement. My first action will be to set up a weekly catch up at the Eagle Bar for all Indigenous students and whoever else would like to join. It’ll be an open table where we can study or talk. Confirmation of the day and time coming soon!
To learn more about the LTSU, or to contact our team members, visit www.latrobesu.org.au/students-rep
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moat
festival
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elcome to STF’s annual Moat Festival, the longest continuously running student theatre festival in Australia. 2020 marks another big year of student theatre, as we celebrate our 36th Moat Fest. The 2020 festival is full of interesting and dynamic plays showcasing some of the best student actors, directors, writers, and artists at La Trobe University. This year features a very exciting international collaboration with Hong Kong SHAX Theatre Company presenting William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. The production involves six Australian cast members and six Hong Kong cast members, who have rehearsed together in Hong Kong and in Melbourne. The show will be performed at La Mama Courthouse as part of 2020 Asia TOPA: the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts. The production will then be brought back to campus, performing at Menzies Theatre. The 2020 festival then kicks off with the historical Australian play Blackrock, written by NickEnright, and performed in the Moat Theatre and Sarah Kane’s experimental work Crave in the Playroom. The second week of Moat features a touching student-written play, Uggo, written and directed by Helen Krionas, performed in the Studio, and Yasmina Reza’s hilarious play ‘Art’ in the Playroom. Moat Fest 2020 closes with The Illusion, Tony Kushner’s melodramatic adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s 17th century play L’Illusion Comique. We hope you enjoy Moat Festival 2020 and support the hard work and passion of the students involved.
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“
A sad tale’s best for winter…
”
illiam Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale Directed by Bob Pavlich and Rosalind Wong. Two groups of students from Hong Kong and Melbourne unite to explore their shared appreciation of the universality of Shakespeare. In a fit of wild and unfounded jealousy, Leontes, a civic leader of 1920s Hong Kong, is convinced that his wife Hermione is carrying the child of his best friend, the Australian politician Polixenes. Once born, the child is exiled and seeks refuge in a rural community in 1970s Australia. Things go well for the child until she falls for the son of the bigoted Australian politician. Leaping from Hong Kong to Australia and from the 1920s to the 1970s, this unique setting of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale sheds light on the far-reaching impacts of politics in both countries. This is a co-production between Hong Kong SHAX Theatre Group and La Trobe Student Theatre & Film. Venue: La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street, Carlton
4 - 6 March
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A WINTER’S TALE
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moat festival launch! MENZIE’S THEATRE Friday 28 February 6pm
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ur big event to launch Moat Festival 2020 and the rest of the 2020 La Trobe Student Theatre & Film program!
The night will feature sneak peek performances from some of the plays of Moat Fest 2020, a short overview of the festival and the upcoming 2020 program, as well as a very special performance from alumni comedy duo, The Astruds! The Astruds are Sarah and Freya - two gals who met through the La Trobe University Drama program and became best pals through Student Theatre. They started writing funny songs in 2014 to make light of tricky millennial situations and debuted their first full-length show RENT: is due at The Butterfly Club in 2016, following it with Retro Grade in 2017. After a long hiatus spent working on other creative projects, The Astruds are reunited and thrilled to be back where it all began, opening this year’s Moat Festival. The Moat Festival Launch will end with light refreshments, allowing the audience to mingle with our Moat directors, actors, and the STF team. RSVP via latrobesu.org.au
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6, 9, 10 11, 13, 14 & 15 March MOAT THEATRE
BLACKROCK Written by Nick Enright Directed by Rachael Taylor
Celebration turns to sorrow. When Cherie arrived at the party, she expected the usual: drinking, drugs, and fun with boys. The last thing she expected was her friend becoming another story on the news. The night is hazy, the moments lost, but the sight is never forgotten, especially for Rachel. The towns relationship is strained and put to the test. They must ask themselves: ‘who is responsible?’. Blackrock is more than just a play; it depicts society and the fight against rape culture and misogyny as we see how characters react, respond, and are regarded and therefore raises the question: ‘how do we stop this happening again?’ Blackrock, performed in the Moat Amphitheatre, takes natural elements from the Earth, with plain set pieces and minimal props; a raw stage. Because Blackrock is raw. It is sensitive. It is painful. It is our reality. Bookings via latrobesu.org.au
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CRAVE Written by Sarah Kane Directed by Brigid Charis Crave (kreiv): verb - feel a powerful desire for Four voices unite to explore the hidden languages of trauma and healing. Premiering under a pseudonym in 1998, Crave marks Kane’s shift from staged violence to nonlinear, poetic style playwriting. Set-in modern-day Melbourne, this production showcases the universal feeling of isolation in desire. Bookings via latrobesu.org.au
7 - 11 March THE PLAYROOM, UNION BUILDING
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UGGO Written and directed by Helen Krionas Tired of living in a shallow world that rejects diversity, uni student Uggo plots to dismantle the patriarchy with words. The only things standing in the way of a feminist revolution are Uggo’s cute housemate, an impromptu visit from her beauty-influencer sister, and the small matter of actually leaving her flat‌ Uggo is a story about self-acceptance, deciding what defines you, and what happens when fear makes all your choices in life. Bookings via latrobesu.org.au
13 - 17 March THE STUDIO, UNION BUILDING
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‘ART’ Written by Yasmina Reza Translated by Christopher Hampton Directed by Rae Tuck Serge has bought a new painting. Marc hates Serge’s new painting. Yvan thinks he needs to see his therapist a little earlier this week. How are you supposed to react when your best friend spends his life savings on a plain, white canvas? One argument leads to another as Serge, Marc, and Yvan discuss the age-old question: what is ‘Art’? And why the hell they’re all still friends when all they do is fight each other.
Written by the French playwright Yasmina Reza, this Tony awardwinning comedy is the perfect example of her dry wit and satirical humour. Reza not only touches on a widespread debate but makes a mockery of it in a non-stop squabble between three old friends. Bookings via latrobesu.org.au
17 - 21 March THE PLAYROOM, UNION BUILDING
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THE ILLUSION Written by Pierre adapted by Tony Kushner
Corneille,
Directed by Jessica Polites & Belinda Graham Pridamant of Avignon, at risk of life and limb, has travelled into this lonely cave to seek the services of the magician Alcandre. His request? To find his long-lost son. Alcandre’s conjured visions promise some clarity, but not all is at it seems… Adapted from Pierre Corneille’s 17th century play L’Illusion Comique, Tony Kushner’s The Illusion promises all the joyous
highs and crippling lows that a night at the theatre can provide. Directors Jessica Polites and Belinda Graham hope that you too can enjoy the comedic, mysterious, tragic, and romantic tale that Tony Kushner has weaved. Bookings via latrobesu.org.au
18 - 22 March MENZIES THEATRE, MENZIES COLLEGE DH
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The Ashes Esme James
The air is murderous. Stay indoors, windows closed. Keep activity levels as low as possible. Four presents discarded in the corner. We couldn’t open them, it didn’t feel right. A childhood dream finally real. Australia has had its first white Christmas. My apartment, suffocated by a cloud of smoke. Remnants of homes, of beings, fill the sky. I can’t see passed the memories. Who do they belong to? There are no longer faces in the streets Only masks. Try not to breathe too deeply. We have forgotten what the sun looks like Days and nights merge in the smokey haze But we can feel it, the heat Creeping into our throats, finding a home there. No one speaks except for the phone buzzing Issuing new warnings.
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I used to love the smell of fire. I was eight, sitting in that computer lab. Gawky, green word-art on screen. In 100 years from now, the world will be burning. There was laughing. Matt pretended to be on fire. I went home and turned off every light switch Googling conservation, preservation, words I didn’t understand Crying while my mother held me. 100 years is a long time away. Yesterday, that computer lab burnt to the ground. They tell us that we are at war One waged on ourselves And we are losing. Twenty three years packed up in a single cardboard box I’d never thought about which memories I valued before. My dad’s is empty. It’s all or nothing. We switch on the TV, the numbers rise Pixelated stick figures symbolise bodies Who did they belong to?
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An entire nation holding their breath Staring at phones, waiting for signs. I’d forgotten about the cricket until marketing reminded me. An old face stares up from that screen today You used to sneak me apples when dad bought his groceries We shared laughs but never our names. Under a pixelated stick figure, I finally learn it. I try to call out to you, to thank you. The sound falls as ashes into my hands. Breath building in our lungs Ready to burst, pour from us as Tears we’ve been too afraid to cry. I am done with waiting. Tell me where the heart of the fire is I will comfort it, hold it 100 years is not so long away. I am living in a world and that the world is burning. Let me listen to what it has to say.
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the mature aged student organisation (MASO) Kate De Witte
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he Mature Aged Student Organisation provides support for students who are commencing study at the age of 21 or older. MASO aims to connect mature age students with each other through events and activities and assist in connecting students with the La Trobe Student Union's range of advocacy and welfare services. We also create campaigns to assist in combating issues for mature age students within the the university and give students assistance in finding the right services and people on campus through our friendly volunteer committee. You can find us in the MASO lounge located in Level 1 of the Union Building, best found by taking the steps down through the glass doors just beneath the union hall entry ramp. The lounge features many facilities including a kitchenette stocked with refreshments, a pool table, and couches. It is open for student use from Monday to Friday. In the first week of classes, we will be holding a 'welcome back' party. More information about our events may be found on our Facebook page or on the LTSU website. Thank you, Kate De Witte, MASO President
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The art of crafting yourself Ansh Verma
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elcome to La Trobe, adulthood and university life. There will be plenty of coffee for you, you will need it for those 8 am tutorials and late-night essay submissions. Believe it or not, you are at university and your life is about to change; for better or for worse. Change is inevitable but the change you choose to bring in life depends on you. At university, it is important to challenge yourself, push your limits and try new things. Bygone are the awkward teenage years and the high school drama This is your ladder into the real world. University is a great environment to create yourself and find likeminded people while having fun along the day. Based on my experience, here are some tips on how to make yours better. 1. Don’t come for the lectures, come for the experience. There is hardly a dull few weeks at La Trobe. From the first day of O-week until the last day, there is always something going on. Never tried Skiing or Surfing? There is a surf club at La Trobe and a Mountaineering Club. From Soccer to Mathematics; everything has a club, find your niche or maybe try something new, don’t come to university only to attend a boring lecture. Get involved in things and put in work beyond the classroom. 2. Get to know your professors/lecturers, some of them are pretty cool.
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I think a lot of students struggle with this. Our archaic school systems created a hierarchy between students and teachers. While professors adhere to professional and personal boundaries, quite a lot of them are more than happy to chat with you. Talk to them, not as a student but as a person. This will excel your experience at university. Usually they won’t know everyone in the class, so by building a rapport with them, you will be able to enhance your learning experience. 3. Adopt a Growth Mentality The single best thing you can do at university is to seek a connection from the people and opportunities that surround you. There are a plethora of resources available to students, take advantage of them. Thought of taking a semester in Japan? Investigate your options. Thought of learning a language? Take a language as an elective subject. Go talk to people from other cultures and backgrounds, share your experiences with them. This also goes for international students, go outside your comfort zone, learn more about different cultures and upbringings, you will always learn something new. 4. Help will always be given at La Trobe to those who ask for it. Life isn’t constant, there are always tough times and good times. If you find yourself in a difficult position, it is important to know that you can ask for help. La Trobe Student Union is a good place to start, if you are facing any difficulties, they are there to guide you in the best way possible. Students also get access to counselling via student wellbeing services located in Peribolos East building. If you are struggling academically, there are Peer Learning Advisers at the Library that are accessible for free.
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Contributors Editors
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Contributors
Christopher Graham & Clodie Veyrac
Natalie Williams
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Zara Green
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Carly Mitchell Rebecca Borg
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Isobel Gammon
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Elektra Thea
Contact
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Annabelle Romano John Dewar Abhishek Madan Ashraf Imam Musa Qamar Sumi Aziz Roja Mudundi Kate Benesovsky Hannah Proasheck Cooper Dickson Jasmine Kinderis Stephanie Briese Robert Campbell Finn Cosolo Lewis Kimpton Drake Jake McGuiness Angus Turner Steve Frampton Sayed Ahmed Shebhaz Sandhu Olivia White Edision Yu Jade Hopkins Anushi Goyal Pooja Ganesh Ansh Verma Kate de Witte Fergus Black Esme James
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BUNDOORA’S BLOOD PRESSURE IS RISING 353 new blood donors needed this month
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