Nexus 2018 Issue 19 by Nexus Magazine

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Editorial FOMO Easy News News Entertainment Reviews Centrefold Random Audit Bachelor of Being Broke How to Fix Everything Rad Rags for Ladies and Lads Guest Column: What to Eat for Glowing Skin and Healthy Hair Dating Doozies Arts Waikatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Flats Page 37 Blind Date Page 38 Horoscopes Page 39 Snapped Page 40 Puzzles

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Issue 19, 3rd â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7th September 2018 Editor: Lyam Buchanan editor@nexusmag.co.nz Design: Vincent Owen design@nexusmag.co.nz Managing Editor: James Raffan james@wsu.org.nz Sub Editor: Jennie-Louise Kendrick jen@nexusmag.co.nz Deputy Editor: Grace Mitchell grace@nexusmag.co.nz News Editor: Alexander Nebesky alex@nexusmag.co.nz Reviews Editor: Archie Porter reviews@nexusmag.co.nz

Contributors: Scott Carroll, Conor Maxwell, Candra Pullon, Nicola Smith, Jared Ipsen, Kaitlin Stewart, Kim Sare, Dr Libby, Peter Dornauf, and the tenants of the Helena Engine Room. Cover: Kid Kura Instagram: @kid_kura Online: www.kidkura.com Centrefold: Helen Li Instagram: @helen.of.koi Online: helenofkoi.co Podcast Editor: Caleb Bird Instagram: @biobirdnz

CV Driven Student Economy You’d never apply to be a University Ambassador because you want prospective students to experience everything Waikato has to offer, you’d never skip a night of O’Week to volunteer on a WSU BBQ because you care so deeply for the wellbeing of steamed freshers, and you’d sure as fuck never become an RA because you want to ensure a bunch of high-school leavers enjoy their first year “as much as you did”. Employability is the only way to entice or justify extra-curricular activity – something which the University needs to change, but not through implementing their “Employability Plus Programme” (EPP). A lot of us would’ve chosen Waikato over other universities based on the premise that it’s less competitive. Within reason, you can study whatever you want without the fear of not being accepted, or the stress of not having a high enough GPA for the next year of your degree. However, this lack of pressure should also be blamed for the piss-poor student engagement on campus. While it makes sense that less academic pressure would result in more availability for extra-curricular involvement, the absence of a competitive tertiary environment results in the majority of students not feeling the need to “get ahead” or “stand out”. Instead of a culture where students are actively getting involved with campus life because they want to have a positive impact, we’re left with a relatively small group—split between the University and WSU—who are just “doing it for the CV” yet end up being the voice for the entire student population. At the start of 2017, the University attempted to remedy the situation by bringing in the EPP. Essentially a bribing tool to increase campus engagement, your “personal development, community volunteering, and University participation” are all tracked and result in a shiny new token for your CV, ranked at either “achieved, merit, or distinction” – depending on how much of your soul is sold to the University. All of which is “designed to help you in your personal and professional life”. Get fucked. If an employer saw that over the duration of your degree you relied solely on your institution to measure and provide a scale of how much you’ve developed and achieved outside of your studies, they’d skip until they found someone who showed initiative and substance. At least if there was some form of competition, that attitude of getting ahead would impact more than just academic pursuits and result in students who’d want to have more of a positive impact than whoever came before them – this in itself would prove to be more of a reason to be engaged with student life than the vague promise of it “looking good on your CV”.

– Lyam

Important Information for International Students

This information is specifically directed at new international students – although it is useful to people outside of that bracket. This is all information you would’ve been given during orientation, but a reminder never hurt anyone. It is advised to save the following numbers on your phone as they may come in handy: • If you ever feel unsafe, please do not hesitate to call 111. • If you notice anything that threatens your security/safety or that of others around you, the number to call is 0800 555 111. • If you have your property stolen, please report it through 07 858 6200. • Other avenues through which you may report security issues to the Police are: www.crimestoppers-nz.org and www.police.govt.nz. This information is brought to you by the University of Waikato International Students’ Ambassadors in conjunction with the Waikato District Police.

Share Your Qualifications with My eQuals

You can now securely share your official academic documents online with potential employers and other universities, via My eQuals. Request your official academic documents through the ‘Exams and results’ tab on MyWaikato. For more information visit waikato.ac.nz/go/myequals

Planning to Graduate Soon?

Don’t worry – you don’t need to do anything just yet. Once your faculty has confirmed that you are on target to complete at the end of the semester, you’ll receive an invitation to graduate in MyWaikato. You should see your invitation message and the ‘Apply to graduate’ option towards the end of September.

Make Your Summer Count

If you want a summer placement that involves real-world research and academic experience, check out the Summer Research Scholarship projects on offer (worth $6,000 each). Applications close September 15. To see what’s available, visit bit.ly/UoWSummerResearchScholarship.

Te Pūnaha Matatini Summer Internships

Keen to expand your data analytics skills and get paid while doing it? Applications are now open for a 2018-19 summer internship programme run by Te Pūnaha Matatini, a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence for Complex Systems and Network Science. For further info and to apply, visit: https://bit.ly/2uCKZJH 3

WEEKLY RECAP:

95%

of Swiss university graduates have found work within a year of finishing their studies.

1 in 5

vanilla ice-creams contain no vanilla, cream, or fresh milk. Ingredients have been substituted with partially reconstituted dried skimmed milk, and in some cases, whey protein.

>6000

have been killed in the past 6 months as a result of the rise in AntiChristian violence in Nigeria. The United Nations has been urged to take serious action.

$500,000,000

has been invested by Toyota in Uber for the development of self-driving cars. 1.

Air pollution has been found to cause a “huge” reduction in intelligence. New research shows that the damage caused by toxic air is far more detrimental than previously thought – the cognitive impact has now been recognised as “equivalent to having lost a year of education”. Thousands of champagne makers in eastern France are celebrating what is expected to be their best harvest in a decade. As a result of ideal weather conditions, winegrowers throughout the region are expecting to yield a huge crop. Experts are also expecting this to be recognised as a “vintage year”. Climate change is set to make hundreds of millions more people nutrient deficient. Crops grown in high CO2 environments are less nutritious, and contain less protein, zinc, and iron. Experts believe that by 2050, 175 million people will develop a zinc deficiency, while another 122 million could become protein deficient. This could lead to issues surrounding wound healing, infections, stunted growth, and complications with pregnancy.

40,000

giraffe parts have been imported in the US over the past 10 years. According to the US Humane Society, purchases have been used in the forms of pillows and Bible covers.

40 full-time

equivalent staffing positions are to be cut from the Society and Culture faculty at AUT, blaming a lack of interest in the humanities.

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Tech of the Week HP Omen Mindframe

When it comes to long periods of gaming, comfort is key. HP has once again come to the rescue of summertime introverts, developing a headset that utilises thermoelectric magnets to keep your ears cool. Kitted with all the other features you’d expect, the estimated cost of $300 is a small price to pay for auditory cooling. Why should you buy this? • Overly moist ears aren’t the best for hygiene or self-confidence. Why shouldn’t you buy this? • Taking a break would cool your ears down just as efficiently.

From the Archive

Nexus Magazine – 2002 5

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Tepid Rentals ALEXANDER NEBESKY Winter in Hamilton is a cold and wet affair, especially for students, plenty of whom inhabit uninsulated, unheated, damp rental properties. Ahead of Labour’s rental Warrant of Fitness, we decided to investigate the state of rental properties inhabited by Waikato students – and to see what impact a warrant of fitness might have on students who claim they can’t afford to heat their homes. As it stands, the rental warrant of fitness is an opt-in scheme which, according to the NZ Rental Warrant of Fitness website, offers “a common sense approach to auditing New Zealand’s rental properties”. According to Minister for Housing Phil Twyford, rental housing is more likely to be older and of lower quality than the owner-occupied homes. ‘That’s why one of the first things our Government did was to pass the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act to make rental homes warmer and drier. The Government doesn’t hold Waikato-specific information. ‘Landlords must also ensure that their rental properties meet health and safety standards under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). However, not all living arrangements are covered by the Act... To make life better for renters, we will soon be consulting on proposed minimum mandatory 6

standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draftstopping’. However, the RTA and an awareness of the age of rental properties does not a Rental WoF make. ‘The Green Party policy for the rental WOF was incorporated into the Government’s Healthy Homes Guarantee Act to make rental homes warmer and drier. Improving the quality of rental homes is likely to have the same benefits and costs for students as it would for the wider renting population’. What those costs were, the Minister did not outline, though we suspect they may include rising rents and bonds. The Rental WoF, intended to protect renters from damp and unhealthy homes, has not been implemented nationally but has had a dry run in Wellington where it has been poorly received. RNZ reported, at the beginning of this year, that only two houses had been submitted for a WoF in the first two months of the WoF being available. One Wellington landlord, Joseph Williams, told Stuff back in October that while he supported the initiative and wanted all of his rental properties to pass muster, the system needed some changes after one of his properties failed on account of a broken lightbulb and window fixtures. ‘I don’t know how they’re

trained and what qualifications they have’. Back in Hamilton, National Party MP David Bennett feels Hamilton renters have a mixed bag. ‘Particularly in Hamilton, there is a shortage of good rentals especially around the University and the Hospital’. ‘It’s better than places like Dunedin for example, there are a lot of low-quality flats there. Wellington has a lot of low-quality flats, and in Auckland, there’s demand more than quality issues’. Local requirements established by the previous Government surrounding heating and insulation have been continued by the current government, requiring landlords to present plans on how they intend to complete insulation of their homes and heating options. ‘Some of the new policies proposed by this government could be quite onerous on landlords and could backfire in the sense that landlords might be less likely to invest in the property market. It will have an impact on students in the sense that they will have to pay more rent to pay for, say a $3000 heat pump. The requirements have a real cost to the landlord, and the landlord will pass those on to the tenant,’ said Bennett. ‘I think everyone’s spent time in a bad student flat and it’s not the end of the world, and you have choices on where you live’.

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Students Have Their Say

We surveyed a bunch of Waikato University students in rentals, to get the inside scoop on the state of their rental homes and find out what they thought could be changed. While we could’ve conducted formal, informative, indepth interviews – here are the highlights of our somewhat professional-adjacent survey.

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How much does your heating cost? Can you afford it? ‘We ran it pretty much constantly through winter, and although I don’t know exactly how much it costs, it was pretty manageable’. ‘I have no idea’. ‘No need for it’.

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How do you keep warm in the chilly season? ‘Put more clothes on’. ‘We leave the heat pump on constantly’. ‘We don’t, I wake up to condensation from my windows dripping onto the floor every morning and SLUGS ON THE CEILING’. ‘By lying in bed all day’.

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How would you describe your flat in terms of warmth and dryness? ‘Not really warm, kinda comfortable and medium dryness’. ‘Cold, miserable and wet’. ‘Warm enough because of heating but very damp and mouldy’.

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How do you keep your flat from being damp? ‘We try dry clothes outside or open windows during the day’. ‘Turn the dryer on and leave the lid open’.

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How‘s your relationship with your landlord/letting company? All participants surveyed seemed to think their relationships were positive. ‘Pretty good, they try hard to please us and meet our requests— they feel bad about how shit the flat is’. ‘Good, he’s easy to contact and pretty quick to act if we need something’. ‘We see each other three times a year—it’s good’. Could your landlord improve the quality of your flat? ‘Aside from the slugs, mouldy carpet, chipped paint, cockroach infestation, and lack of insulation? Nah, it’s a palace’. ‘Nah, maybe just by being a bit less professional, to be honest’. How do you feel a rental WoF will impact renting? ‘I know a lot of people who are frequently sick as a result of their flats, it’s something that needs to be addressed. What worries me is that it will push up rent prices which would be less than ideal for students’. ‘It will mitigate renting issues but will probably be a hassle for those who don’t have issues with their flat—I hope it doesn’t cost much’.

89% of the students surveyed have heating in their flats.

78% have private landlords.

70% agreed improvements could be made to their flat, though only one respondent could name something other than “shit carpet”.

~60% of respondents prefer passive forms of heating such as blankets, clothing, and skin to skin contact with lovers.

What We Learned

While National and Labour have failed to come to an agreement on how best to manage rental property standards, it is evident that both parties see the necessity for some form of guidelines to ensure homes are warm, dry and comfortable. Though there are concerns with regards to rising rents being passed on to renters, at the moment, it seems many students are okay with their student rentals. With this in mind, however, there are still many damp, cold flats Waikato university students inhabit and although none of the students we spoke to were on dire straits, warmer, drier homes would certainly be welcome. 7

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WSU Scholarships 2018

Last week, the WSU held a small awards ceremony for the 2018 recipients of scholarships like the John Houstoun Memorial Scholarship, the Scholarship for Cultural Contribution, the WSU Sole Parent/Caregiver Award, and the WSU First in Family Scholarship.

The John Houstoun Memorial Scholarship:

This celebrates both outstanding academic achievement and contribution to the student cultural and sporting life of the University of Waikato. The recipient this year is Genevieve Palmer who is in her third year of a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Earth Sciences. Genevieve’s academic ability is shown with a GPA of 6.8. Her cultural and sporting contributions are rich and diverse. She has played rugby for the Varsity club and co-founded the Waikato University Club. Genevieve is also vice-president of the Waikato Science Club where she helps organise events such as Pub Crawls, Study with Puppies, Clubs Day stalls, and a range of fundraising opportunities. Genevieve is also a Student Ambassador, helping out at Open Day and regularly representing the University at school visits, as well as public events.

The Scholarship for Cultural Contribution:

This recognises and celebrates students who demonstrate an outstanding contribution to the culture of the university. This year’s recipient is Nadia George who is studying a Post-Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching. Nadia has been heavily involved in the Cook Islands Student Association throughout her years at Waikato; from the social executive, to president in 2017, and this year as vice-president. This has enabled her to keep in touch with her cultural heritage through dancing, singing and connecting with like-minded Cook Islanders. Nadia’s most memorable year of being in the association was her presidency in 2017, when she led WUCIA into one of its most successful years. They took on a larger voluntary role with the WSU, performing at Village Green events, volunteering at the O’Week Safety Zone, and helping cater at the Hukanui Marae. That year was also dedicated to the participation of the club in the annual Ta’okota’ianga Tertiary conference. With the funds raised, Nadia took 15 students to participate in this event that was hosted by Victoria University. Other rewarding moments include the nomination for the WSU Club 8

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of the Year in 2017, and winning the Wallace Corporation University of Waikato Blues Award for Club of the Year in 2017.

The WSU Sole Parent/Caregiver Award:

This was established in 2007 to encourage and celebrate the efforts, achievements and contributions of students who are sole parents or caregivers. Two awards are given each year. The first recipient is Te Aomarama Anderson who is studying towards a Master of Māori and Pacific Development. Te Aomarama is a single parent to two young children enrolled in Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori. Her return to study was driven by her wish to learn Te Reo Māori alongside her children and to provide better long-term opportunities for her family. Doing so has been extremely challenging for her at times. For Te Aomarama, this has meant studying late into the night after putting the children to bed, being unable to attend study groups in the weekends, and missing classes if the children are sick. The second recipient is Catherine Dreadon who is studying the Bachelor of Social Work at the Tauranga Campus. Catherine has proven to be able to manage her time expertly to both complete her university workload and be available to her five children and grandchildren. She has experienced a variety of struggles on the journey and knows how difficult it can be to meet the weekly costs of running a household—as well as the extra costs involved with study, such as fuel, photocopying expenses, and textbooks. Catherine has received a great deal of support from various community agencies and now sees her social work degree as an opportunity to ‘give back’. In her spare time, Catherine is involved with Waka Ama with the Tauranga Moana Outrigger Canoe Club, making it a priority as an activity that enhances te taha tinana (physical well-being) and te taha wairua (spiritual well-being).

The WSU First in Family Scholarship:

This scholarship was established in 2010 by the Waikato Students’ Union to acknowledge, celebrate, and support undergraduate students who have never had an immediate family member attend a New Zealand university. The recipient this year is Joshua Wetere who is studying a Bachelor of Teaching. Joshua comes from a low socio-economic background where making sure there was always food on the table took precedence. This meant that as a child, higher education was never really an option and following older siblings into the workforce was the natural step. However, when Joshua’s father passed away, he decided to come to the University of Waikato to learn Te Reo Māori. From there, he decided to further his journey and become a teacher. Joshua is a father of three and full-time caregiver of his youngest brother. Despite this, he has been able to maintain good grades and uphold leadership roles as a Māori mentor and representative for his whanau and hapu.

President’s Column It’s weird to think that as you’re reading this, you’ll be starting the final six weeks of your academic year. For some, this will be the end of your first year of study – the point where you begin to transition from living out of the halls to adulthood. For others, this could be the end of your time at university; your eyes are probably already set on your next chapter, new jobs, new towns, and the next version of you. As I’m writing this, we’ve just finished our first strategic planning session to organise the upcoming AGM. As part of that exercise, we’ve gathered a few stats that were a little shocking – it turns out we’ve been so focused on getting out there and doing everything, that we hadn’t taken the time to reflect on what we’ve actually achieved. Here’s a sneak peak of what we’ll be covering at the AGM: • 177 events put on by our network of clubs and Roopu Māori • 88 clubs are currently affiliated (or in the process) • $15,177 has been given in grants for activities, events, and rehearsal spaces • 25 students have been provided with emergency food packs • 41 Community Law Clinics • 49,000 copies of Nexus will have been printed by the end of the semester We are really excited at the possibilities and can’t wait to share more of it with you on September 19 at MSB.1.01. But for now, just enjoy the next six weeks—it’ll be over before you know it. 9

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Hitlist: The Project

Idea Thieves to the Last

As a university publication, Nexus lacks the resources of, say, MediaWorks journalists. Still, we prefer to discharge our journalistic duties with the utmost of care – discretion being the better part of valour and all. Others don’t like to do that. Even nationally broadcast “current affairs entertainment” shows don’t always do the hard yards themselves. On August 20, the least entertaining show on television, The Project, stole a Nexus news story and presented it as their own work. It was rude, predatory, and worst of all, it was just so fucking unfunny. As the hard-hitting investigative journalists we are, we broke the significant and monumental story of a Waikato University lecturer who had requested his students not use laptops in his class. Our story was published on August 9. Eleven days later, assuming (incorrectly) that our devoted readers, who look to us to keep abreast of current affairs, would 10

have forgotten such an impactful piece of journalism, Jesse Mulligan, Kanoa Lloyd, and their band of wasted talent swooped in like a bird of prey and carried our story away. Using it as the setup for a handful of stillborn jokes from The Project cast, Three’s mediocre Seven Sharp clone paid no mind to the true journalists as they steamrolled our work with flatlined quips like a mighty juggernaut of creative and comedic bankruptcy. We feel that we have been most egregiously harmed. All 200 of The Project’s nightly viewers now believe that The Project broke the story. There was no mention of Nexus, there was no attention paid to the hard work of student media, there was only a big corporate dog stealing the work of we plucky few. We demand retribution— preferably in a single combat duel with Jesse Mulligan, but an apology will do. The ball is in your court. We will be counting the days until one or both of our conditions are met.

JESSE MULLIGAN

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LYAM BUCHANAN The Lawrenson Group recently announced that Bar 101 Hamilton will soon close its doors for the final time. What started off as a series of rumours was confirmed after the creation of the Facebook event Bar 101 Hamilton Closing Party – the news leaving local punters in a state of distress. On the hunt for the truth, we tracked down John Lawrenson of the Lawrenson Group for a rather emotional chat. NEXUS: Are you able to confirm why it’s closing down? JL: As many of your readers will know, there are plans for the building, in which Bar 101 is located, to develop a regional theatre and hotel. With Bar 101 in need of an expensive refit and a lot of uncertainty over the future of the building, we had a chat to the landlords about their plans, and decided that it would be best for all parties if we exited the lease now – rather than pump money into a building that might be completely redeveloped in the not too distant future. NEXUS: Is this closing down 12

similar to that of “The Hood”? Can we expect the opening of a fresh Bar 101 in a new location in the near future? JL: The major difference is that the Hood had to close because members of the police and the District Licensing Committee were opposed to the license, whereas here, we are closing Bar 101 of our own accord. We can’t confirm or deny yet what we will be doing. There are a couple of empty sites closer to bars like the Outback and we are considering all our options. NEXUS: Does this have anything to do with the proposed “one-way door policy”? If so, can we expect the fresh Bar 101 to link up with Outback/Backbar/Factory? JL: We are definitely concerned about the one-way door policy and its potential for serious damage to what is left of the central city. But this closure isn’t related to that. Fortunately, the council seems to have gone quiet on lockout laws recently. Long may it stay that way! We are definitely planning another nightclub linked up to BackBar/ Outback/Factory.

This combination of clubs would be able to hold around 2,600 people so if they did bring in a oneway door, a lot of people would just be able to pile into those four venues just before 2 am and party ‘til 3. Whether that nightclub will be Bar 101 or not, we can’t really say yet. There are a couple of options I am looking at. NEXUS: Is Bar 101 closing in order to accommodate a full-sized “Wongs Late Night Diner”? JL: I’m meeting with the owners of Wongs later in the week, and while I hadn’t thought of this myself, I will definitely be pitching the idea to them now. I think Hamilton needs a bigger Wongs Late Night. Let’s be honest, the queue for Wongs is usually longer than the queue for any of the clubs. NEXUS: Following the closure of Bar 101, will Outback/Backbar be able to cope with the extra traffic? JL: Yeah, I think so. Students seem to go most places, so Bank, House, and Shenanigans will probably all get a bit more attention, along with the Hood

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version 3.0 which is doing a pretty healthy trade in Alexandra Street at the moment. NEXUS: We’ve heard rumours that Easy Tiger, Keystone, and Bluestone could soon follow suit – can you confirm whether or not any other iconic Lawrenson bars at risk of shutting? JL: Bluestone is trading really well and there are still a couple of years left on the lease there, so there are no plans to close Bluestone. Even though Bluestone is in the same building as 101, that part of the building has a different landlord to Bar 101 and so does Easy Tiger, which means the opportunity to do a similar deal as we have with Bar 101 doesn’t exist. Easy Tiger’s lease is up for renewal in a few months, so we will be making a decision there soon. Keystone is in a separate building on the other side of Sapper Moore Jones Place, and is the go-to for Hamilton’s cougar community, so with that important role in the Hamilton market, we wouldn’t be looking at closing Keystone. NEXUS: Will Bar 101 Auckland now be renamed as simply “Bar 101”? JL: I guess we’ll have to. NEXUS: What is expected to happen to the stellar Tui merch in the current Bar 101 Hamilton? Is it true that you’ll be running an “if you can carry it, it’s yours” policy to clear out the venue? JL: Haha, haven’t heard that one yet, but that could be a good plan. That seemed to be the theory when we first opened Bar 101. Within weeks, anything that wasn’t glued, screwed and nailed to the walls had disappeared to Hamilton East to decorate the flats and halls of the students from 2008. We’d probably have to provide crowbars and chisels at the end of the night to dislodge most of it. Of course,

if we decide that we are going to move Bar 101, then we will probably need to hang onto that stuff. It was pretty hard to come by the first time! NEXUS: Can you confirm whether or not the replacement venue will feature soap dispensers in the bathrooms? JL: If anyone has a supplier of a student-proof soap dispenser, then we would definitely look to include these in any new venues. If you refer to my answer to the previous question, we haven’t found one yet that we can glue, screw or nail effectively to a toilet wall for longer than a weekend. NEXUS: Do you have any other plans for your Hamilton nightlife precinct that you can share with us? Any exciting developments leading up to summer and Orientation Week for 2019? JL: We definitely have at least one completely new bar concept coming within the next 12 months that will be a big site and we expect it to have a strong student following. It will have very affordable food, under $10 all the time, and heaps of well-priced drinks too. We’re looking forward to starting work sometime in December or January. We also have two massive acts confirmed for the end of February and the start of March for the Factory. One international and one local. We can’t say any more until they are announced by the promotion companies. Doors have been confirmed to close for the final time at 3 am on September 16 – concluding nearly ten and half years of messy nights, questionable mistakes, and stellar memories.

Bar 101 Obituary The iconic Bar 101 has been the home of student nightlife for over ten years in Hamilton. Love it or hate it, most of us have a memory to share. “Dear Bar 101, It has come to my attention that you will be closing down in the near future, I am deeply saddened by this. However I want to thank you for the good times I’ve had over the years coming in as a fresher and leaving now as a seasoned expert at both downing your cruisers, throwing arms to party in the usa and overcoming very dusty days at work after student nights regularly... You’ve also always been a good location to re-group and have a cheeky dart in your well set out smokers area. With all this said you will most definitely see me making the most of your cruiser deal on every night possible leading up to the day where we must part way. Mark my word if this is the end of Bar 101 Hamilton I tell you Bar 101 Auckland better watch out. When I see you again. #101tilltheend #neverforgetyou” – Joel Hedley “I am truly lost for words. Bar 101 Hamilton is certainly a ‘one of a kind’ place, and a location I have now for multiple years called home. R.I.P101 we will never forget you” – Matt Shanley “I drunk 100 jäger bombs and got on ya wall of fame I would love to have my plaque back to explain to my kids on where all my money went when I was 21” – Dave Marris “Just thought I’d throw it out there, I had to delete/untag a total of 940 photos I had been tagged here over 5 years. Fucking dedication if you ask me. See you all there.” – Philip Hawkins 13

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Queer is the Love? LGBTTQIA+ Mental Health Crisis JENNIE-LOUISE KENDRICK In light of Issue 18’s news piece ‘As Time Ticks By, Uni Sticks to the Straight and Hetero’, Nexus has launched an investigation as to queer culture on campus. In the wake of the University vetoing Rainbow Tick accreditation, a “quality improvement cycle designed to make an organisation a safe, welcoming and inclusive place for people of diverse gender identity and sexual orientation”, the impact of a lack of queer visibility has prompted us at Nexus to wonder how this is impacting students and what support is offered on campus. The mental health of young Kiwis is a key issue facing our country, with a survey by NZUSA revealing more than half of university students had considered dropping out citing the stresses of living with mental illness. A 2012 report commissioned and published as part of the Ministry of Health’s Suicide Prevention Research Fund in 2012 found that LGBTTQIA+ people have a higher lifetime risk for mental health problems including depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm than their peers. Another study found queer youth to be five times as likely to contemplate completing suicide. According to Youth 2012, a major national survey of the health and 14

wellbeing of secondary school students carried out by the University of Auckland, almost half of queer youth had seriously considered suicide in the year previous to being surveyed. One in five had attempted suicide, compared to one in 20 of nonqueer participants. It is the latest study of its kind. Rainbow Youth support manager Morgan Butler told the New Zealand Herald that isolation was a key factor for suicidal thoughts, isolation brought forth by the rejection, or fear of rejection, at school, church, or from family and friends. ‘The silence and prejudice or lack of education in these natural support systems mean that queer and gender-diverse young people fall through the cracks’. Tertiary provides a chance to explore gender diversity and sexual orientation because of the relative anonymity of a large student body, the ability to accept services independently without parental knowledge, and a higher perception of tolerance. University of Waikato student Ellie* told Nexus, ‘university was my first chance to meet other people like me, and I finally felt confident coming out—something I wasn’t able to do at my religious high school, where same-sex couples were discouraged from

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going to the school ball together— but the lack of pride events and the annexing of a specific queerfriendly space to the Cowshed is pretty discouraging. It’s a big neon sign telling you not to rub it in peoples’ faces—to hide it.’ The University of Waikato boasts a Rainbow Alliance and collaboration with UniQ and WaQuY to encourage inclusivity of all staff and students under the sex, sexuality and gender diversity umbrellas, but some have complained of lacklustre support. Haring*, a staff member, said, ‘it baffles me that the University does not see any value in hiring an LGBTTQIA+ officer, or funding pride events, to ensure that there is a safe and accepting culture on campus. ‘Likewise, the Students’ Union should have the betterment of student lives as its sole purpose— it’s in the name. Unfortunately, it seems the WSU staff have confused “betterment of student lives” with shooing queer folk off to a dark, cold room to play board games.’ The Hamilton campus counsellors responded as a collective, ‘The Student Counselling Service provides a counselling service that is inclusive and very supportive of the LGBTTQIA+ community on campus. All of our counsellors work on a model of inclusiveness and diversity, which underpins our practice. We strongly advocate that the University work towards prioritizing training for all staff to provide LGBTTQIA+ competent services to our students.’ PhD student Juliana Brown has interviewed queer people across all faculties at the university, and said she found that ‘although the majority of participants had not experienced

explicit marginalisation, there were a number of implicit issues mentioned that could be addressed to improve the campus space’. ‘Some suggestions included; inclusion of sexuality and gender in the university bullying and harassment policy, all gender bathrooms, more awareness from staff about gender and sexuality diversity, and more visible awareness and celebration of queer people in the university space.’ A sentiment echoed by Sam*, a Māori student who identifies as takatāpui. ‘The University is so invested in spending money for future students! What about current students? Waikato, as a region, doesn’t really have a tolerant image—spending money on pride events or just providing more all gender bathrooms would be a good show of support for queer students. As students, we spend so much money on tertiary education and it is disappointing that diversity, of any kind, is relatively invisible on campus’. The Reverend Brother Andrew McKean, of the Lady Goodfellow Chapel, acknowledged that while the Anglican church has not been welcoming of the Rainbow community in the past, as the Ecumenical Chaplain on campus, his door is open to everyone. ‘I have a Straight Ally banner in my office window because that’s how I see myself. Since a helpful conversation some thirty years ago with a gay lecturer who was also a committed Christian, a person’s orientation has not been an issue for me. Whoever you are, there’s a place for you here at the Lady Goodfellow Chapel. If there were a club on campus for Rainbow people of faith, I’d be very happy for them to meet in the chapel’.

Where to get help: •

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Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP) Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) OUTLine NZ – 0800 688 5463 (OUTLINE) Waikato DHB Crisis Team – 0800 505 050 Tauranga DHB Crisis Team – 0800 800 508 15

Crush of the Week: Reusable Coffee Cups They’re environmentally-friendly. You save extra dosh on coffee discounts. They look way cuter than disposable cups. People working at cafés are actually nicer to you. All of this allows you to justify an unnecessary habit that serves no true purpose other than, well, holding coffee gives you something to do with your hands, and it just kinda makes you feel better when it’s cold outside. What are you waiting for? The bandwagon awaits (and it’s probably electric).

Clickbait Moodboard: Theme: Trying to find a new flatmate.

What’s Hot: •

Not realising it’s teaching recess because you never go to class anyway

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Breaking your ankle in Outback

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Passing your WOF first time

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Returning to class after utilising the two-week break to get on top of your studies and prepare for the weeks ahead

What’s Not: •

The University booking out entire rows of the Gate 1 car park for ‘concert attendees’

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Rumours of potential increase to the cost of paid parking on campus

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The Project

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Frozen Cokes when they’re that off colour with the weirdly thick/ creamy consistency

TOP 10:

Tinder User Falls in Love After Unique Name-Related Pun

After receiving a third “You’re not a serial Kayla, are you?” within the hour, the 19-year-old communications student was certain she’d found the one. Following consultation with a minimum of two group chats, the ideal response was deemed “Haha that’s clever. So how are you?”

Graduation Becomes Distant as Inability to Make Decent Decisions Sets In

A combination of constant poor life choices, self-destructive tendencies, and coasting the duration of high-school has led *generic fourthyear student* to weigh up the pros and cons of extending their studies by an additional semester. ‘Reckon I’ll still get Studylink?’

Lonely Sociopath Continues to Provide Relationship Advice to Anyone That’ll Listen

‘So how’s x going? Honestly, I think you should go for it… Oi, no, trust me, they’re into you, I promise... I’ve watched both of you talking recently and there’s definitely chemistry there… No, of course, I’m not keen on them, I’m not into anyone – I’m just focussing on me at the moment.’

People And/Or Groups Which Should Be Banned from the Country

Dunedin MP Michael Woodhouse is publicly suggesting that NZ should ban US whistleblower Chelsea Manning (of the Wikileaks scandal) from entering the country. Since Woodhouse wants to ban people from the country, we thought we would compile our own list to submit to him. 1. Tiki Taane – he may need to leave the country before being banned from entering, but surely, it’s about time someone stopped him from playing gigs. 2. The entire subculture of Furries – we’re not endorsing kink-shaming, but is this the exception to the rule? 3. Action Bronson – as a headlining artist for Northern Bass, some would say it’s likely he’ll pull out. At least if he was denied entry, it’d be a solid excuse. 4. People who don’t thank the bus driver – who do you think you are? There’s no excuse. 5. The Japanese Army of World War II – the guns in Raglan would probably do a piss poor job of protecting our shores. 6. People from Iceland – y’all already have beautiful mountains, pretty lakes, and all them natural wonders, why would you bother flying to the other side of the globe just to look at the same shit? 7. Soviet Spies – Jacinda couldn’t find the last ones, let’s not add any more. 8. Adam Sandler – as the home of comedy trio ‘Frikin Dangerous Bro’, we’ve got enough unfunny shitbox hacks. 9. Anyone who gets engaged under the age of 25 – they’re obviously incapable of well-thoughtout life decisions. 10. Mumford and Sons – while there are many reasons why people don’t romanticise 20092012—alternative folk rock is more or less the root cause.

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CLIMAX – GASPAR NOÉ REVIEW: ARCHIE PORTER

THE RIGHT HAND OF THE SUN – ANITA MASON REVIEW: SCOTT CARROLL

Climax is the latest film from infamous French provocateur Gaspar Noé. The story follows a group of urban dancers at a strangely secluded party, as they dance, drink, and eventually devolve into rabid lunatics due to sangria spiked with LSD. While the concept may not sound particularly intriguing, especially to someone who, like me, despises dancing and partying, Climax is a visually arresting gut-punch and the scariest film I’ve seen in a long time. The film amalgamates previous topics that Noé has explored, such as violence, sex, death, and drugs, and infuses them to create a terrifying nightmare with surprising cohesion. Unlike his prior films such as the erotic Love, or the stunning yet long Enter The Void, Climax feels incredibly tight and immediate, somewhat restrained—for the better. The mesmerizing cinematography dreamily glides through long, sprawling sequences, often dizzyingly flipping sideways and upside down, lulling us into the film’s sensory onslaught. The soundtrack is excellent and surprisingly diverse, propelling the film along on its nightmarish odyssey. Narratively, it is less concerned with dance and more interested in pushing the boundaries of intensity, challenging the audience, drawing on horror films such as Dario Argento’s Suspiria, and Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession, as obvious stylistic influences. While it is undoubtedly not for the fainthearted, Climax is a 90-minute bad trip, a harrowing freak-out on acid, that grabs you by the throat and constantly tightens its grip. It is also hands down the best film I’ve seen all year and, perhaps, Noé’s best work to date. 18

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Historical fiction is an interesting genre. It’s flexible in that it allows for creative freedom, imagination, and vivid moments of sincerity not always possible in your average thrillers or crime novels. Anita Mason understood this when writing The Right Hand of the Sun. Set during Hernán Cortés’ conquest of the Aztec Empire, Mason’s book details not only the epic journey of the marauding Conquistadors, but a plethora of individuals within the expedition— all of their schemes, desires and passions hindering or helping the great Explorer. The Right Hand of the Sun captures the idolized feeling of adventure necessary to the scope of the conquest of America; cultures vast and varied rendered authentically, historical figures portrayed with dignity yet without compromise. However, like most contemporary historical fiction, it fails to capture an overall sense of authenticity, forcing an awareness on the readers’ part of the narrative. It becomes distracted with numerous personal plotlines; characters break convention with oddly phrased monologues or confessions—the worst being vernacular that just doesn’t translate to their timeframe. Anita Mason attempts to portray Mesoamerica the same way Jorge Luis Borges could portray England, or how Robert Graves could portray Ancient Rome, but Mason doesn’t quite hit the mark. Despite grumbling about experiences of authenticity, The Right Hand of the Sun is still a great read and worth looking for if you like historical fiction.

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Film WINGS OF DESIRE – WIM WENDERS

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Excellent restoration, moments of brilliance, but a meandering narrative drags the film down.

HITMAN – IO INTERACTIVE REVIEW: CONOR MAXWELL e_01. eps

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When a popular franchise becomes a longrunning series, changes need to be made to keep the fans engaged. Sometimes those changes lead the series away from what made it great; look at the Star Wars prequels, for example. 2016’s Hitman is actually the fifth game in the Hitman franchise, but as its minimalist title suggests, it is a reinvention of the popular murder franchise… for better and worse. This episodic game follows Agent 47 as he fibre wires his way through exotic locations from Bangkok to Marrakech in a new story of betrayal and revenge. These new locations are vast and actually feel like real cities, with hundreds of NPCs and many creative ways to kill a target. What the game offers in aesthetic, though, it lacks in difficulty. A mechanic called “Opportunities” walks you step-bystep towards unique assassin goals (saving you the hassle of exploring the world yourself) and enemies in this game are significantly less observant than in its predecessor, Hitman: Absolution. If an assassin dressed as a masseuse can strangle a political prisoner with his sexy masseuse hands, leave the body on the massage table (to avoid clean up) and never once raise suspicion from the personal bodyguard right outside the door, then maybe this whole “professional murder” thing is easier than it looks. As a fan of the series from the very start, Hitman held my interest but not my investment. It’s hard to feel like a powerful, genetically-engineered superweapon when it seems anybody with two hands and a lethal syringe could do the job just as well as you.

Album SWEETENER – ARIANA GRANDE A good exhibit in the Pharrell Williams Museum of Music Production, but not a high note for Grande.

Album CLEAN – SOCCER MOMMY If Gilmore Girls was a coming-of-age film, this would be the soundtrack.

Single ANIMAL – TROYE SIVAN He’s better off keeping it upbeat – everyone can get melodramatic but not everyone can bop. 19

NEW PODCAST ON SOUNDCLOUD.COM/NEXUSMAG

ECONS101-18B Business Economics and the New Zealand Economy There’s a strange feeling of conspicuousness attending a 100-level lecture when you are not a first year. It seemed like some of the dudebros in the PWC picked up on it by the sheer number of blank stares I received throughout the one hour out of two I stayed—am I being paranoid, or is that genuinely because there’s a lot of sexually-charged eighteen-year-old wannabe business moguls? It felt like walking into some kind of fucked high school economics clubs for the cool kids. I’m not kidding – just about every clichéd popular clothing label, shit chat, and a penchant for MacBooks, fluffy key rings, and unnecessary baseball caps. Even the lecturer blended in with his hoodie—keeping it fre$h. Now, I can’t lie to you guys; I honestly cannot remember a single thing that went on apart from that, which pretty much speaks to how memorable economics is for me. I mean, I get the whole demand/supply curve and how foreign money exchange works, but when we really get down to the core of it, are people actually struggling to understand that making something cheaper makes more people want to buy it more? Like, when they’re teaching this kind of thing, is this an epiphany moment for some people? Don’t get me wrong—shit gets complicated in this subject for sure, but I truly hope for the sake of the millennial generation that there’s some iota of common sense left in the world. Good luck to all of you currently producing graphs, calculations and essays in order to prove that business do stuff to make money—or whatever else you do here. If you can take away about 10% of what you’re being taught, you might be able to start that successful vlogging career you’re planning instead – or maybe you’ll spare a thought for everyone in the year above you when you grasp the concept that our taxes are paying for your study whilst ironically, we try to make a dent in our own first year payments. Not that I’m bitter.

Understanding Kiwi Saver NICOLA SMITH The New Zealand media has a hard-on for stressing millennials out about whether they’ll be able to buy a house, get a mortgage, find a good job, and even retire at a reasonable age. Beyond their belief of avocado on toast being the only variable to blame, it also has a lot to do with the spending habits. Not everyone has bad spending habits, but it’s definitely more difficult for a student juggling part-time work to pay for present bills regardless of thinking about the future ones. This is why KiwiSaver is such a helpful tool and a great initiative if you use it right! Employers often struggle with explaining the scheme and getting employees to sign up which is where I come in. KiwiSaver is a threeway between the contribution of an individual, their employer and the government. Alongside a contract for a new job, there’s the option to enrol in KiwiSaver. It’s as easy as ticking a box and deciding whether 3%, 4% or 8% your annual income is going into the fund. Your employer assigns the KiwiSaver to their preferred bank and anyone has the ability to change this whenever they please. The contribution comes out as soon as the first pay cheque does; it’s usually so minute, you barely notice. The generic scheme assigned is typically low risk and low return in this investment, so it is up to the individual to change based on what suits their lifestyle and plans for the future. Here’s a brief outline of the baseline of each scheme, interchangeable with providers* in order of low to highest risk: 24

‘Defensive’ may be a viable option for you if you expect to spend your KiwiSaver fund within the next three years. Because you are planning to access the money in the near future, your fund doesn’t hold much potential in terms of growth assets (up to 10%). There will be minimal loss to your account but also minimal growth because this investment has not been risky enough to yield great rewards. ‘Conservative’ is low to medium risk, seeking a higher return in slightly long-term with 10%–35% asset growth. This is beneficial when you anticipate spending your KiwiSaver money in the next few years, and is not too risky so as to be able to have money accessible in that time space. ‘Balanced’ is as it sounds—balanced for someone who wants an added value to their long-term investment. Yet again, there is more risk with this and is when someone expects to spend KiwiSaver within the next 5-12 years and the growth assets hold the potential for a 35%–63% increase. ‘Growth’ is for people wanting fairly high returns over a long time – around 10 years. A bit of selfdiscipline is needed because the account balance does have the risk to fall with 63%–89.9%, but it also could skyrocket by the time you want it with a fairly high growth return. ‘Aggressive’ is for the brave that are intending to leave the money in KiwiSaver for at least 10 years. This has a high risk of the balance falling fast and needing to stick through that in hopes of strong long-term growth.

It is up to each and every individual as to which scheme they want to use. It is dependant on if their priorities are in a house or mortgage soon or waiting for a rainy day. Each fund, like each life, is completely different and this is why understanding the various schemes is helpful. Another thing to know is the Government’s ability to contribute to the balance. At the end of the financial year, around the first June that an individual has been contributing to KiwiSaver, the Government offers an incentive to continue – they will contribute 50 cents for every dollar that is contributed to your KiwiSaver account. This is capped at $521.43. So, if an individual had saved $1000 over the financial year in their KiwiSaver fund, Cindy will add an extra $500 to the bucket. So, when can the money be withdrawn? It becomes available when an individual is eligible for their NZ SuperAnnuation (currently 65 years old), or if they have been a member for at least 5 years with the scheme. However, there are opportunities to get the money out earlier if buying a first home, moving overseas permanently, suffering from intense financial hardship or serious illness. It’s important to be aware of these circumstances because the compulsory saving of KiwiSaver can be a lifesaver and make it easier to stay afloat.

*List of Default Providers

Website

AMP

www.amp.co.nz

ANZ Investments

www.anz.co.nz/personal

ASB Group Investments Ltd

www.asb.co.nz

BNZ

www.bnz.co.nz

Fisher Funds Management Limited

www.ff2kiwisaver.co.nz

Kiwi Wealth Limited

www.kiwiwealth.co.nz

Mercer (NZ) Limited

www. mercerkiwisaverscheme. co.nz

Westpac

www.westpac.co.nz

How To Discover The Best Times To Post On Instagram Without Wanting To Bash Your Head Through A Wall JARED IPSEN When people ask what Barracks have been up to, I usually just say “fuck all”. And outwardly, it’s true. We haven’t posted much on social media, released any new music, or played a show in over a year. Even though we’ve been practising most weekends, writing new songs, and playing NBA Live ‘18, for all intents and purposes, we don’t exist. We should really be posting more online. Now that things like labels and managers aren’t as necessary as they were before, the burden of ‘selfpromotion’ falls to the artist – and it’s nowhere near as fun as writing new songs or NBA Live ‘18. Brand identity, driving merch sales, sending out press kits, paying invoices, networking... Being ‘DIY’ and having complete ownership over your shit is great—until you get yelled at in your face by the Powerstation owner about not understanding how percentages work. It’s a constant struggle to stay “relevant” as a musician in this era. People need to be constantly reminded that you exist, or you risk fading into obscurity like so many Zeds and Elemeno Ps before you. But why should we always be spewing out a live feed of bullshit, anyway? Musicians like Frank Ocean, Katie Dey, and fuvk choose to live in relative obscurity instead of posting all over the internet and they seem to be doing just fine. 26

I used to go hard on promoting my band; spending a few hours every day planning content, booking shows, and sending countless emails to people who ultimately didn’t give a fuck about us. And it worked—a little bit. We almost got signed twice, cracked a few thousand internet points, and got some decent reviews in the blogosphere. But now, I sort of feel like it was just a big circlejerk between a band that wanted fame, and promoters that thought they could provide it. More and more, people are rediscovering that the most effective form of advertising is word of mouth. Thanks to the efforts of Facebook and Google’s attempts to follow you around the internet and watch you through your webcam, people just don’t trust traditional advertising anymore. If you see some ad on your feed about Travis Scott’s new album, are you gonna listen to it? Maybe not. But if your friend Jared tells you that ‘CAROUSEL’ is the best song of 2018 (it’s lit!), you might be more inclined to give it a spin. I don’t think it matters if you are posting on Insta every day, if your tweet gets 100 likes, or whether your latest album is plastered all over the iTunes homepage—if someone hears something they like, they’re gonna share it around. If your art is good enough, an audience will find you. Even if you don’t want to be found.

Brand Spotlight KAITLIN STEWART In this current day and age, prestigious brands run the fashion game. Big players like Supreme, Gucci, Balenciaga, and Off White are well known mostly for their prestigious logo. Sure, these brands are cool, however, the affordability of each is so far off the scale, you’ll have to sell your firstborn son in order to cop the latest drop. When it comes to high-quality garments, big prices and rarity are inevitable. But, to take you away from these big name, crazy expensive brands, let me enlighten you with a few fresh fashion houses. Lazy Oaf is a London-based brand, started by Gemma Shiel in 2001, while she was at university. So there is some hope, folks—start a fashion line right now and who knows, if your career of choice flops, you could sell clothes. Having done collaborations with the likes of Vans and Doc Martens, they are well on their way to becoming universally known. The pricing, however, is all I would be cautious of. The pricing on new garments is a little over what is considered average spend because Oaf just dropped three new collections. However, the originality of such a piece is definitely worth the chump change. Their clothing can be bought through ASOS, Good as Gold, and the Lazy Oaf website. Yet another British brand, Scrt joined the fashion game in 2010. Many of their pieces appear extremely simplistic, however, the quality is unbeatable. Again, the pricing is similar to Lazy Oaf—reasonable but not cheap. With graphic tees that feature famous faces like Travis Scott, Frank Ocean, David Attenborough, and David Lynch, it’s definitely worth checking out. Lastly, a brand I would hope many are aware of due to its popularity in the streetwear scene is Pleasures. Having garnered much interest due to their controversial graphic tees, this LA-based brand sky-rocketed into stardom. Gathering influence from punk, metal, and grunge pop culture, the imagery has proved disturbing to some. Kurt Cobain’s suicide note was printed on a jacket, whilst RIP Morrissey featured on a cap. Despite the harmlessness promoted by the owners, these pieces went viral. Their shirts are original, artistic, and something I need to get my hands on. The Weeknd and Kylie Jenner have been spotted wearing Pleasures attire, this being the only way for me to guarantee quality, but also reinforce high prices (sorry).

What to Eat for Glowing Skin and Healthy Hair DR LIBBY You have probably noticed that certain nutrients appear in skincare products for topical application. I am a fan of supplying all of the cells inside the body with those nutrients so that they can be distributed where they need to go, including to nourishing your skin. Here are some of the top nutrients for beautiful, luscious skin and healthy hair: ZINC: This essential mineral is critical for wound healing—whether that’s a cut on your finger or the aftermath of a pimple. Zinc is necessary for the skin involved in these traumas to heal, and it helps prevent scar formation. It acts in the control of the production of oil in the skin and it also helps balance some of the hormones that can be involved in driving acne. Zinc also nourishes the scalp, helping to maintain the integrity and strength of hair. VITAMIN C: This superstar nutrient is highly effective at reducing free radical damage, such as that caused by overexposure to the sun or pollution. Free radicals consume collagen and elastic, promoting wrinkles and other signs of premature ageing. Vitamin C is also involved in the production of collagen, a protein that is found in the skin, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and blood vessels. Foods high in vitamin C include berries, capsicums, citrus fruits, kale, parsley and broccoli. B-GROUP VITAMINS: The various B-group vitamins are essential to skin health. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) increases blood flow to the cells and is therefore beneficial to hair and skin, vitamin B3 (niacin) and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) are helpful in the 28

process of skin regeneration, and can help slow the signs of ageing skin when consumed daily through diet. Great energy and vitality also contribute significantly to our sparkle, and the only way we are able to get fuel out of our food is when we have optimal levels of B vitamins. Good food sources of vitamin B1 include seeds, legumes and nuts. You can get vitamin B3 and B5 from meats, fish, chicken, eggs or most other protein-containing foods. ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS (EFAS): Dry, inflamed skin, or skin that suffers from the frequent appearance of whiteheads or blackheads, can benefit from an increase in EFAs. They play a major role in skin repair, moisture content and overall flexibility. Since the body can’t produce its own EFAs they must be obtained through the diet. There are two types of EFAs—omega-3 fats and omega-6 fats. Increase your omega-3s with oily fish such as salmon and mackerel or through chia seeds, flaxseeds and walnuts. Good sources of an essential omega-6 fat include evening primrose oil, blackcurrants (seed included), nuts and seeds. VITAMIN E: A powerful antioxidant that can penetrate through layers of skin, assisting the body with the natural wound-healing process. Vitamin E also helps to renew skin cells, making them stronger by reducing oxidative stress. An optimal intake of vitamin E may also help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Food sources of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, eggs, almonds and avocados.

GRACE MITCHELL Many of you have experienced a few heartbreaks by this stage of your life. As a result, you may be left feeling like an amputated soldier dragging through the battlefield of love (Pat Benatar said it, not me); wounded, mentally scarred, yet continuing in hope of victory. Others of you may have yet to make contact with the opposite sex, which is honestly pretty fucking smart. Regardless, because the whole love thing is a bit of a ‘mare, I thought I’d impart the advice your mother would give for a couple of common dating crises, especially those particularly popular in the online community…

You’ve Been Ghosted.

And it probably feels a bit like a punch in the gut when they suddenly disappear. The banter seemed to flow, you were full of compliments for each other, and you may have already begun planning the cute couple pics you’ll be posting all summer (or is that just me?). You’re going to feel cut because A: you were feeling hopeful, and B: rejection hurts worse than missing out on a sold-out summer festival. I hate to confirm your fears, but it’s time to rehash He’s Just Not That Into You – because they obviously weren’t invested in this, and I’m afraid they don’t see a future with you. Realise that this person is emotionally dismissive; they’ve been stringing you along and didn’t have the decency to say goodbye. There’s likely some emotional drama/instability going on in their lives that you aren’t aware of (or they’re just a fuckwit) and frankly, 30

you’re better off without it. Maybe they didn’t have the confidence to communicate their feelings, so they took the coward’s way out. Leave them to deal with their insecurities, because that shit isn’t your responsibility. I promise you’ll find someone way more amazing in due course. So, what should you do about it? Well, nothing. Don’t message them, you’ll look desperate. Retain your dignity. Scribble down everything you wish you could say to them, but never send it. If they want to go, let them, and have enough love for yourself to know that they’re the one missing out. Understand you’re probably building this thing up in your mind to be better than it actually was. Keep your feelings off social media and vent to friends instead; don’t resort to overly attention-seeking posts. There’s no point wasting your energy trying to figure out what went wrong, or seeking the closure you’ll never get. Refocus your energy on doing the things you love, with the people you love. Time will heal all wounds, so don’t be scared to get back in the dating saddle. Remember this and use the experience to help weed out the red flags in future – better you found out sooner rather than later.

They’re a Breadcrumber*.

*a person who keeps you guessing, leaving a bare minimum of hints at their possible interest in you to keep you on standby, whilst expending as little energy as possible. Read: an attention-seeker who has

no intentions for a serious relationship. Man, have I wasted my time on these kinds of people! The suspense of it almost kills you – when you only receive their responses every few rotations of the planet, your heart could burst with excitement. You like them so much that you low-key dig the game and mystery of working out whether they feel the same. Doesn’t that sound exhausting in itself? This person is manipulating you! No matter how caring they may act, they’re being the worst kind of fuckwit by lazily, knowingly keeping you on your toes whilst toying with your emotions something chronic. Wouldn’t you rather have someone who’s sure? Someone who doesn’t keep you up at night with feelings of jealousy, loneliness, and longing? Understand this is more about feeding their ego than it is about you, and don’t let your time be wasted. Keep going out, have good times, and prove (to yourself!) that you’re worth sharing more than just a midnight cuddle with. The only way to win this game is not to play. If they seem to be keeping you like an open tab, close lose yourself off as an option. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s usually not—if it’s healthy, it’ll feel easy, and the pace will be steadily increasing rather than following a sporadic pattern. Call them out on what they’re doing. Your conversation is a priority, not an alternative to talking to the other ten people they may be rotating between. If they really wanted to hang out with you, they would follow through.

Humans treating each other badly is nothing new, and with the superficial nature of dating apps— honestly, it shouldn’t be as surprising as it feels. However, we all get lonely, so heed some general advice… I mentioned He’s Just Not That Into You. Yeah, you should watch that. Know how shit it feels to be toyed with. PROMISE me you’ll communicate your feelings instead of acting like the aforementioned fuckwits—because it’s okay if you aren’t feeling it, but that’s no justification for being a shitty person. Learn to be honest with yourself. Evaluate the way people are behaving towards you, rather than blocking out any warning signs. It’ll help to reduce that “blindsided” feeling when things turn to shite. Find something else to do. Enjoy your hobbies, socialise, and turn up to things your friends invite you to. These are better ways to meet people, anyway. There’s a lot to gain from diving into some cheeky inspirational quotes/films/books/music to boost your self-esteem. Confidence in yourself as a strong, independent person is key. Go on a Nexus Blind Date ;-) Remember, you accept the love you think you deserve, so the more fulfilled you are in yourself, the higher the chance you’ll find a happier, healthier relationship in turn. How’s that for some Nexus psychology? 31

Book Month PETER DORNAUF August has been a month crowded with things arty and literary in Hamilton. From the Contemporary Art Award at the Museum to Book Month and back, it’s been crammed with goodies. Wintec’s annual Spark Festival featured in the month along with the International Film Festival which tracks into September, plus Toi Wāhine, a Festival of Women adding to the rich mix. In between all that, the various dealer galleries around town have been showing works of exceptional quality. It’s a virtual cornucopia of commodious and capacious cultural activity out there. Starting with the Contemporary Art Award, the winner pocketed a cool twenty grand along with the kudos that comes with winning such a prestigious prize. ‘You and Me. The Weight of History’ by artist, Sarah Ziessen, was the winner on the night with a work that demonstrated an unconventional handling of paint. Don’t fit your lids properly on your paint tins and what you get are those annoying and wasteful layers of paint skin across the top. Not so annoying for Ziessen, who cleverly crafted a pair of coats from such skin layers, and then painted them (paint on paint) with designs taken from Maori motifs, the koru, in particular, using traditional indigenous colours. The coats hang on the gallery wall like garments hung up behind the door in one’s closet. 32

Ordinary but extraordinary in various ways. History and its weight has a lot to answer in this neck of the woods. It’s interesting, in this context, to look at the history of art itself and draw a few lines of contact. Back in the Pop Art days of the sixties, American artist. Claes Oldenburg was making plaster models of shirts and presenting them as sculptural pieces. In New Zealand more recently, Rohan Wealleans was playing with layers of paint skin and cutting into the sections of pigment, inches thick, to expose the stratified layers. The materiality of paint was also the passion of Helen Calder, who constructs huge dollops of bright thick skin layers of paint, which she hangs down, like large solid towels, off supporting wires and rods. So there exists an interesting tradition of similar work behind the winning entry that has informed and fed into its making. Book Month highlight would have to be the Literary Pub Quiz that took place at the Londoner, beautifully crafted and controlled by Richard Swainson and his wife, Janine, (aka Miss Betsy Rose Lee). Among other things, if you knew your Kafka, you would have scored handsomely by recognising the opening lines to The Trial: “Someone must have been telling lies about Joseph K, for without having done anything wrong he was arrested one fine morning.”

Helena Engine Room

While some would call it the birthplace of student culture, others would argue this abode is simply a perpetual kickon gone wrong. These permanently steamed residents have managed to harness their geothermal potential, resulting in the creation of their very own never-ending third-year utopia.

She considers the most promising thing about our Blind Dates to be the peace of mind that the attendees have hopefully all finished high school, and as a result, she’d like to move her “hoeing” from Tinder to Nexus. He’s your generic “lads” kind of lad, another “semi-professional” athlete known for his stellar rig but arguable chat. SHE SAID:

HE SAID:

It all started with those damn three words: “I bet you wouldn’t”. Luckily, Momma didn’t raise no little bitch. Though, sadly, I was too lazy to shave my legs so this lover boy wouldn’t be getting laid tonight. Like any reasonable person, my biggest fear was either that he’d be shorter, or younger than me – and like any proper, grown-ass woman would do, I showed up late because I started my night with a trip to Pak’n’Save instead. When I finally made it there, I saw a dashing man sitting alone in the corner. I told the waitress that I was there for the blind date and she directed me in the opposite direction. Nah, let’s just say that I never knew that a guy could suit a tight grey shirt. To this day, I’m still not sure. Fast forward to when dinner finally arrived; just to put it into perspective, he ate a single taco, while I opted for the ‘it’s bulking season’ approach and ate half his dinner, dessert, my burger, and the goddamn appetizer. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my squad creeping in the corner. So I went to the bathroom for a ‘poo length’ amount of time to catch the squad up on the goss. I would definitely recommend him to a friend, especially one that’s a communications major, who he definitely did not slam on. The highlight of my night was definitely my highlighter. Overall, I would rate the food a solid 7.5/10, and the date 15th August. P.s if you’re reading this, maybe you shouldn’t skip leg day ;)

Without even bothering to get under the sheets, we found ourselves ripping each other’s clothes off. Our sweaty, moist, careless body parts tangling together, we carressed parts of each other reserved for only select few. About five minutes later, I found myself completely naked, gazing upward at her shapely curves – those only earned by lucky genetics, and regular UniRec visits. What really happened… A touch late, I bounced up the all too familiar House walkway and was greeted by some attractive, yet underpaid waitress who is just doing her best to pay rent each week. Said waitress thankfully directed me to a table and returned with a G’n’T. The drink of choice for lads lacking the sack and bladder space to smash copious beers. A few minutes later, I was introduced to a nice enough, slightly foreign girl with a hard to place accent. A foreign girl who I later found out had hidden behind the nearby flaxes, in a mildly adorable serial stalker manner. Poised, waiting for her prey (me) to enter the warm embrace of House’s arms. I had been feeling a bit off so stayed away from too much food – choosing instead to pump my way through the G’n’Ts. My lack of appetite was evidently offset by hers as midway through her burger she proceeded to drop it, fill it with fries, then resume her feeding pattern. The chat flowed about as well as my bladder 45 mins later. I brushed off some (admittedly, correct) stereotypes of a post-pubescent male sitting there in a crispy Calvin Klein shirt, ripped jeans while sporting a socially acceptable haircut. All in all, a pleasant enough night with an interesting girl. In conclusion, a 7.92/10 experience.

Brought to you by House on Hood Street. If you’re keen for a Blind Date, email editor@nexusmag.co.nz

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22) Your love for organisation has served you well through the stresses of university life. Prepare to be bombarded as those less gifted than you beg for help with the arrival of flat hunting season. Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22) Vulnerability will be necessary this week, as soulful connections are heading your way. Allow your new suitor to see the real you, and you may discover a shared love for shiny surfaces. Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21) A people pleaser, your love of mediation has always been a strength. However, our crystal ball sees anger in your future as those close to you discover your true talent of sharing everyone’s secrets. Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21) As your to-do list grows longer, stress may begin to settle in. Ignore all feelings of worry and the growing pile of assignments, for another Thursday night in town is calling and you must answer. Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19) Wide social circles are a blessing you hold dearly, but be sure to use caution. Excessive mingling can lead to a lack of genuine bonds and result in you suffering through 2 am meltdowns alone. Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18) Your strong instinct is a trait you pride yourself on, but sometimes, reassurance is comforting. Be sure to ask your friends for advice regarding your new romantic situation before completely ignoring them and doing whatever you want.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20) Your gift of persuasiveness shall come in handy as the moon completes its orbit. Use your talents to convince your mates that hospo night is a good idea, before bailing at the last minute for a night in with your significant other. Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19) Mercury is in your fourth house of communication, and your message must be shared to all. Be sure to hold conversations at peak volume at all times, as the whole campus loves to hear about your latest activewear purchase. Taurus (Apr 20-May 20) As Pluto enters your ninth house, relief will be on its way, if only you can build up the courage to make a choice. Defy societal expectations and drop out, you’re sure to be much happier. Gemini (May 21-June 20) As we reach the end of Leo season, the stars are predicting a new love on your horizon. Be sure to tag them in comments across all social media accounts to get their attention, and you’re guaranteed an updated relationship status. Cancer (June 21-July 22) An emotional soul, you can struggle to clearly communicate your feelings. Bear in mind that spamming their private Instagram after avoiding them for weeks may send mixed messages. Leo (July 23-Aug 22) This coming celestial period will see shifts in relationships. Embrace the opportunity for character building, and try to take being dumped in your stride.

Keen for some free Burgerfuel? Simply snap us the shitfest of your student lifestyle for the chance to win. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve accidentally sent us something you shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have, just email editor@nexusmag.co.nz with all the details. Prizes can be claimed from reception in the SUB (between Unimart and the gym). 39

Puzzles

CODE CRACKER 14

5 9

WORDFIND

Q W

W N

W M

W H

8 4

EASY SUDOKU

4 3

9 4

7 9

5 4

2 12

8 21

6 21

= 110

)−

= -90

(

= 802

DIFFICULT SUDOKU

5 3

4 6

3 1

8 1

9 5

3 7 4

9 1

3 8

(

2 21

ALGE-BRUH

21 19

A B C D E F G H I J KL M N O P Q R STUVWXYZ

MEDIUM SUDOKU

Characters from Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse and some of the Twelve Apostles. Bartholomew Nikki Thomas Tawny Matthew

THEME:

Raquelle John Ryan Philip Teresa

Peter Barbie Andrew Ken James

9 1

3 9

plea se mat ch t he hed s with

SIMPLE PUZZLES FOR SIMPLE PEOPLE

CROSSWORD 1

ALGE-BRUH ANSWERS:

8 9

17 18

LAST ISSUEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ANSWERS:

WORD TWIST

ACROSS:

DOWN:

1. Tune (6) 4. Shriek (6) 9. Elaborate ceremony (7) 10. Youngster (5) 11. Plaudit (5) 12. Dried grapes (7) 13. Comfort (6) 15. Slapstick (6) 18. Lamp (7) 20. Legally acceptable (5) 23. Happening (5) 24. Coach (7) 25. Tallies (6) 26. Tiers (6)

1. Tree (5) 2. Licit (5) 3. Extreme (7) 5. Desert plants (5) 6. Building (7) 7. Freedom from vanity or conceit (7) 8. Rear part of a ship (5) 13. Prominent (7) 14. Soft or indulgent (7) 16. Avert (7) 17. Combine (5) 19. Laud (5) 21. Spear (5) 22. Sews (5) 41