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CONTENTS 3 5 6 7 9 10 13 21 23 25 28 30 31 33 35 36 37 39 40 41 43 45 46 47
Meet the Team Contributors ‘Allo from the Editor Presitorial Thoughts on my first semester Captain Trying to find yourself In search of grand narratives I completed the ration challenge, here’s what I learned Rational discourse, irrational outcomes: understanding the erosion of community through economic discourse Red Scintillate When the lights go dim Thoughts The Divine Tragedy Butterfly Bad Girl: A Review Get Out: Film Review Hans Zimmer Live in Melbourne: A Review #FOMO: For those who missed Van Gogh FFS Swinburne Growing the student movement: strength in numbers Our Union Steps into a National Position Respect, Now, Always: Explained
MEET THE TEAM
Meet the team // 3
IMOGEN BAILEY
RYAN CAROLAN
Avid lover of the well written word, dogs and a good coffee. I write, read and will correct your grammar without hesitation. Teaming up with these other legends to provide you with some sweet content throughout 2017. Love it.
I am 26 years old and have just begun my PhD in philosophy under the mentorship of the brilliant Arran Gare. I am shocked by people’s indifference both to politics, to education and to life. It is therefore my goal to change that in at least one person.
SARAH SORDELLI
FELIX MCPHIE
I am a third year Communication Design student. I have really bad OCD in graphic design, making sure everything is aligned. From the last 2 issues, yes, I’m still on my phone.
I am the newest recruit! Happy to be working with Sarah and the team on the Swine magazine. Giving the magazine a brand new sheen, so that it doesn’t reek, so to speak. I know that was weak. I only had a week.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
DESIGNER
Meet the team // 4
DESIGNER
EDITOR
Contributors // 5
CONTRIBUTORS Luke Te Moni Julius Dennis Abbey Thorpe Alex McGilvray Avi Leibovitch Nikki Nievaart Zaheer Qazi Mia Burgess Aaron Richards Sumi Verma Jonathan Greenwood Sophie Evans Ana Tinc Faraz Haider Daina Peet Z. Ixeas Sam McCarthy Ryan Carolan Imogen Bailey Chloe Morgan (Photography)
'ALLO FROM THE EDITOR Imogen Bailey
This third edition of SWINE is chock-a-block with good stuff! We’ve got some beautiful poetry to immerse yourself in, some scrumptious reviews to eat up, as well as some stunning photography to get lost in! The Media Committee would also like to formally apologise to Sophie Evans, Brenna Dempsey and Z. Ixeas whose names did not appear next to their pieces in the second edition of the magazine. We are deeply sorry that you were not credited for your work and have ensured that this will not occur again. That’s all from me; hope you love this edition as much as I do! Say hi to your dog for me!
Cheers, Imogen Bailey Editor-in-Chief
‘Allo from the editor // 6
Hello! Welcome back to semester two! Hope your holidays were filled with many a sleep-in, loads of food and some de-stress time. And if you’re a mid-year intake student; welcome to your first semester at Swinburne!
PRESITORIAL Presitorial // 7
By Ana Tinc
With open arms, we welcome our new and current students for the final semester of the year. Whatever your work load, and whatever your goals may be, I am so proud of you-yes you, that you have chosen to dedicate this year to broadening your life perspective, enriching yourself with knowledge and skills, and breaking out of your comfort zone. You are a star! At the end of the day, university isn’t about the skills you learn in the classroom, it’s the skills you learn pretty much anywhere else, that really shape who you will, or want to become. Here are my tips to get the most out of this semester. One: Look in the mirror and let the pride swell in your eyes. Yes, let’s begin with some self-reflection. Sure, I am proud of you, but you need to be too. I encourage you remind yourself of how RAD you and your efforts are. Look at all your achievements and all of your failures and be grateful for all the lessons you have learned. Two: Practice emotional hygiene. If you don’t watch Ted Talks, don’t worry I’ve got you covered (I’m addicted). There is a talk floating around YouTube that stresses the importance of treating emotional health as equally as you treat your physical health. For example, when you break your leg for one reason or another, you don’t think, ‘why
am I so clumsy, I’d better repeatedly hurt this leg more’, yet we do this every time we face vulnerability, failure, and rejection. Think of a time you might have gotten a lower score than you anticipated. For how many hours or days did you overthink your result and stress about your failure? That is not ok. Just because you can’t see your mind, does not mean it doesn’t get hurt. Please, please, please treat yourself like you would a little puppy that wants a pat. So next time you’re faced with a situation in which you are emotionally hurt; one: pay attention to your emotional pain; two: stop negative mental cycles that may hurt yourself even further; three: protect your self-esteem (keep staring at, or envisioning your beautiful face in the mirror!); and four: battle your negative thinking. If you want more information on this (which, trust me, you do) his name is Dr Guy Winch. Three: Visit them. There are so many services available to help you through your studies that I literally can’t even name them all- mainly because I’m also still learning about them too, oops. Need help with your assignments? LAS are your folks. Need FREE counselling or GP consultations? Level 4 of the George building is your zone. Need like minded people to hang around
with, because you’re a social creature and don’t really speak to your classmates? Join a club on campus! Received an unfair mark, or difficulty from your unit? We have FREE advocacy on campus. Need a space to unwind and feel safe? We have queer and women’s rooms located in the AD building. Honestly, we might be a small and growing campus, but there is a community of staff and students just waiting for you to visit them, so please, visit them! Four: Don’t suffer alone.
As we are not qualified psychologists, or psychology students at all, our help can only go as far as a friend who will listen, and support you through reporting sexual assault. So that’s all from me, feel free to email me at any time. Enjoy your semester!
Ana Tinc, President, Swinburne Student Union president@ssu.org.au Alex McGilvray, Welfare Officer, Swinburne Student Union welfare@ssu.org.au Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1800 806 292 (free call)
Presitorial // 8
Our welfare department is here for you. We provide an anonymous food bank with 24 hour accessibility and free food on Thursdays; on top of our free daily breakfasts and weekly BBQs. But our help runs further than that. Our greatest priority this semester is to address sexual assault that happens to students on campus. Sexual assault is never okay, and we want to be there for those it has impacted. The welfare officer and I encourage you to report any sexual assault and will be there to help you through the process. You are so strong, you are so important, and you are not alone.
Thoughts on my First Semester Thoughts on my First Semester // 9
By Jonathan Greenwood
My first semester has passed already. It’s been an exhilarating ride with some of the best people alongside me every step of the way. There were some challenges, to be sure, but they were dealt with then, and this is now. What is now? Now is the promise of a new semester with new things to do and learn. Now is the promise of new friends to meet and new relationships. Now is the sweet nectar of hope found in the flower of new possibilities. Pardon me; I have the tendency to wax poetic when I am in the mood for doing so. I suppose that now I’ve done my first semester, I should offer some thoughts and perhaps some things that stood out for me. Well, the first thing that struck me was how relatively casual uni was. High school felt somewhat strict, whereas uni gave me freedom to study what I wanted, as well as freedom of clothes to wear (a big plus!) Of course, there was an emphasis on study, but there was a casualness I could sense that made my experience a fun one. The second thing that struck me was how lecturers treated being late to class. Once, I was late to a lecture due to public transportation difficulties. I emailed my lecturer, who wished me well on the journey
to uni and basically told me not to worry about it. Again, very different from school but nonetheless it was a refreshing change. The third, and best, change was autonomy. As a uni student, I am free to beat to my own drum, pursue my interests, be involved in different things and be my own person. Uni allows me to be my real self, the curious, exploring self that loves language and people. That is the self I want to foster, and Swinburne helps me do that. In short, Swinburne feels like the start of the next chapter of my life, the next step to the career of my dreams. It’s different from high school, but I relish this. I am really grateful to be accepted here, and I can’t wait to start the second semester.
CAPTAIN By Julius Denns
remaining slices for later in the day when they are covered in ants.
We adopted him from the pound in August 2016 and he immediately captured the household’s collective heart. When we met him for the first time, his printed profile said his name was ‘CAPTAIN CALAIS’. We decided to ditch his second name, he had a hard enough time remembering the first one.
Despite these antics we love him, it is impossible to stay mad at him due to the ridiculous ‘puppy-dog-eye’ that he can pull off. So full of sorrow and regret, all he wants is your love. And whatever is in the bin.
A Sharpei-Staffy cross, he is a twitchy beast; one eyed and even more blind than one would expect a one-eyed dog to be. One time on a walk, he ran straight into a metal pole; his head made a loud ‘thunk’ but he just shook it off and kept on grinning because that’s what he does. He immediately became a central part of household life. Four twenty-year olds living away from home with a huge dog, you can imagine the type of mischief he is allowed to get away with. Bins equal snack boxes to be torn through; the hallway is a race track; and the backyard a glorified and overused bathroom. One of his favourite things to do is steal loaves of bread and eat half, and then lazily half bury the
His sense of smell is also sub-par when compared to other canines. For Captain to notice another dog they have to be very much down-wind from him as well as within a few feet. Captain is in love with the idea of other dogs but less impressed by their actual physical presence. He will whine and sprint around the yard at the sound of their barks while we sip wine and whinge about his whining. When he actually comes in contact with other dogs he is uneasy; if a dog approaches him on the wrong side (the blind side), they best be careful. Right for the neck he goes, it’s his killer instinct. So Captain walks at night, when he can roam his kingdom alone.
CAPTAIN // 10
Our dog’s name is Captain but I believe he has had at least one other name, if not more.
Captain’s favourite food is canned sardines, which I feed him every morning along with a scoop of dry food and a scoop of brown rice because he needs the fibre. Each day without fail he bursts into my room (he can open the door himself) at the first sound of my awakening. He leaps on to the bed, often stepping on me or my girlfriend causing yelps of pain and shrieks of laughter. The ‘dean dog’ has arrived and its breakfast time. For such a large and visually intimidating dog, strangely, Captain cannot bark. However, he does howl when overwhelmed with excitement, which usually has something to do with sardines. It is an odd howl that originates at the back of his throat and is projected slowly out of his fat snout, rustling his floppy jowls on the way.
CAPTAIN // 11
If I were to attempt to spell the sound of the howl I would spell it, ‘Awoooooooo’, but I’m not sure if that is correct. While I can claim to hear the most howls, (or awoooooo’s if you prefer) I cannot claim to be the most loved human in the house. Captain’s true obsession is my housemate Libby. A friendship that was formed the day Libby and I met Captain at the pound. He was the oldest (although only six) and the most forlorn, he gave us his now famed ‘look’ and broke our hearts right there on the spot. One-eyed and droopy, he followed her out the door and has been following her around ever since. Prancing around the tile and hardwood floors of our house, nose to the ground, his feet make a happy ‘click-click-click’ in his pursuit of Libby. The only time that Captain feels any feelings of distaste for Libby is when it comes time for his monthly shower. He hates his showers. As soon as he sees the hose he backs away, betrayal in his eye. ‘Libby why? How could you wash away all my lovely stink?’ After his shower we rub him all over with coconut oil and he sits and pouts in the sun for hours licking it off.
Aside from Libby and sardines, Captain has two other obsessions, both of which live in the backyard: the compost bin and birds. He once killed a bird who dared to enter the house and attempt to steal from his bowl while he was eating. That day Captain had dry food, rice, sardines and pigeon for breakfast. Killer instinct. Since then whenever he notices a bird (which is not that often due to the blindness) he is all ears and tail up, watching the space he last saw the animal. However, this search is generally fruitless ever since the bird-forbreakfast incident. The compost obsession is much odder. Ever since he moved in he has spent multiple hours of each and every day staring at the black box of rotting food in our backyard. One can only imagine what he thinks is in there. My best guess is a portal to another world, or perhaps something to rival Libby’s love for him. One-night Captain spent many hours in the backyard being weird. We should have known what he was up to. He blew through the doggy-door around midnight full of avid excitement and a look of wonder in his eye. Upon inspection of the backyard we could hardly believe what we were looking at: the box had been torn apart, food thrown in all directions, cobs of corn and avocado pits stuck out around the garden as trophies of Captains victory. No portal, no rival, just food glorious food. Oh the joy Captain felt that night. On other less exciting nights, Captain spends his hours lounging in his multitude of beds. The list of his beds (in order of favourites) is as follows: 1. Libby’s bed, of course. 2. My bed, which is only allowed on sometimes. 3. The couch, which he is supposed to be banished from but often finds himself on. 4. His bed in the lounge room next to the TV so he can stare at all of us.
5. His bed in the kitchen with a stuffed lion which he ripped the eye out of. 6. His bed in the backyard. (This bed occasionally may rank higher on sunny days). When all the humans go to sleep he prances around in confusion for a few minutes or hours before deciding on a bed for himself. Tonight he is in the kitchen; maybe he will come in here later on. He is an unpredictable beast. One thing that is predictable and certain about Captain is that tomorrow morning he will be busting in here, ready for some sardines and another day in the adventurous life of a one-eyed dog.
CAPTAIN // 12
TRYING TO FIND YOURSELF Sam McCarthy
In Search of Grand Narratives // 21
In Search of Grand Narratives By Z. Ixeas
Dedicated to Felicity Oriander, for her enthusiasm and inspiration. As furtherance to my previous article The Dangers of Hitting the Ground Running, described here are a few suggestions on how we can start to build narratives and a common grand narrative for society. In this regard, we may be able to start to resolve some of the broken relationships in our community, and some of the unethical and un-ecological behaviours that have led us into this position of global climate destabilisation. Firstly, let us discuss our awareness of language as a significant tool to create and continue culture. Cultures are built and change through the language that is used to express them, so to take control of that power consciously is a huge step into imbibing a style of life in society that you can be proud of, enjoy, and flourish in. The phrasing and order of words as well as the words specifically, their intonation, and the purpose to which they are offered, should not be ignored. It is amongst the literature at the moment to talk of redefining words and concepts to prevent nihilistic tendencies in our patterns of thought, yet I would argue that the problem is not necessarily in our understanding of the definitions of words, but our care in their usage. To think about what you are saying, how you are saying it, the context you are in, and the
people around you before you speak, can be a precious and influential skill as it will enable you to impart the greatest vision of your ideas onto others and enable you to understand more deeply the ideas of others. Saying and writing words without proper thought to their meaning and implication can lead to the butchery of language through misinterpretation, so that in the end – as is the case today – we see it in its lowest form, that it is only a form of efficient communication. One only has to examine the decline of the arts and humanities within universities to understand the decline of this aspect of language. Secondly, I would advise to not just wait for your turn to speak. Perhaps thinking about the purpose of conversations could help to create these narratives? Engaging with conversation for the sake of the search for a path and for purpose, in some cases for truth, might help us to explore what it means to be a part of society, to contribute to politics and the governing of communities, or what it means to be human and the relationships we build. Each person, at this stage, is on an individual path and those who are discovering and talking about the problems and issues of the neoliberal, capitalist agenda are going through a difficult process. The crises in the world today – environmental, political, economic, social, communal – and all the troubles that they bring, can be very overwhelming. The process of awakening to these is different for each
person, so to communicate meaningfully and with the intent of exploration and support can be extremely helpful in fostering an atmosphere of compassion. This, I think, is crucial for an understanding and ecologically viable grand narrative.
The Ancient Greeks often viewed the purpose of society, and of life, as the bettering of character and the discovery of wisdom. However, as far as we can tell they did not see it as a journey that had an end, but as a journey fuelled by the love of discovering small inklings of truth, which were as changeable as the conversations they had. Penultimately, perhaps it could be recommended to read utopian and dystopian fiction to help develop some ideas and visions of your own, and also with your friends and families. Dystopian scenarios can be helpful in becoming aware of some of the deeply rooted problems of our current global system, and utopian visions can be helpful to explore ideas about what a model society would look like, what ethics and values you personally uphold, and more importantly why you uphold them. Reading these things can act as an aid to philosophical thought and debate about what we are striving for, and any actions along the way which may instead lead us down a dystopian path instead of a utopian one. Finally, I might add a note on faery tales and fables. Start telling those stories and ballads that you heard as a child, or, if you can’t remember them, make up some faery tales that express the ideals and the beliefs
These are my suggestions for sustaining long-term thinking and resilient, adaptable relationships, which, as mentioned above, might help us move towards a new grand narrative for ourselves and society. I, of course, am only one human though, and so cannot have all the answers and may indeed be wrong about some of these things. So, if you feel inclined please do speak up with sincerity and consideration, don’t let your voice be drowned out. Here are some utopian fictions to get you going: Entropia by Samuel Alexander The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk The Free by M. Gilliland Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursulak Le Guin Here are some dystopian fictions to get you going: 1984 by George Orwell Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess The Road by Cormac McCarthy
In Search of Grand Narratives// 22
Thirdly, we should talk about ethics, morality, and right-action. Have those difficult conversations about the purpose to life; what would you like to have achieved by the time you’re on your deathbed? Do you think it’s acceptable to destroy ecosystems in order to produce grain to raise cattle for slaughter? Is democracy the best form of governance? Is the current capitalist economic system the best for the world? Should society be a place where we focus our efforts on consumption, or would it be better to be a place of character development? It is my suggestion that the very process of asking these questions and exploring these ideas should be regarded as part of the grand narrative, as that way we can start to see life as a journey in itself – change is the only constant, and to hold on to one set of ideals rigidly would be to battle against the Universe.
you wish people to embody. We used to read and invent fables with the purpose of demonstrating a moral dilemma or behaviour; opening our understanding to the journeys and tribulations that life offers, and the process we go through in overcoming and being a part of that. The customs of storytelling are being swept under the carpet and taken seriously no longer; more often than not they are treated as only forms of entertainment and pleasure. However, we can regain that sense of realisation and learning again, we can fill our minds with wondrous messages and beautifully crafted wisdom. It won’t necessarily be quick, but sometimes the best things in life take a little time.
I completed the Ration Challenge // 23
I completed the Ration Challenge; here’s what I learned. By Imogen Bailey
For one week in June, I took part in the Act for Peace Ration Challenge, whereby I ate the same rations as a refugee would eat in a refugee camp in Syria. I raised a total of $911.48 for refugees, which will go towards providing food rations, medical supplies as well as mental health support.
The food I was allowed to eat came in a small box and it contained small amounts of: Lentils Chickpeas White rice Flour Kidney beans Sardines Oil There was also a rewards system in place; so if you hit fundraising targets you were rewarded with extra food. My rewards were: A spice of choice (Cajun) 8 teabags 170g of a vegetable for the week (I picked mushrooms) 120g of protein for the week (I had 1 egg and then the rest was chicken) 50g of sugar
Throughout the week I also became incredibly resourceful and non-wasteful. I had made flatbreads (a thicker version of a wrap; made with flour and water) with my allocation of flour. These bulked up my meals, and although they were tasteless and chewy, I made them last 5 of the 7 days. Although my stomach roared for a full flatbread, I only let myself eat a quarter. The one egg that made up a portion of my protein lasted two days, one half one day, the other half the next. I didn’t allow any of my food to go to waste; if a bit of mushroom fell on the floor, you bet I was still going to eat it. My plates were spotless after every meal. Us human beings can be incredible resourceful when circumstances require. The lack of colour in my meals was also a big shock. Every meal was beige with a bit of brown (from the kidney beans, which by the way, were SUPER flavoursome compared to everything else) and that didn’t change through the whole week. I wasn’t motivated to eat and on the days that I could, I would lay in bed a bit longer so that I could get away with eating only two meals during the day. The week felt really long and I often went to bed with my stomach grumbling.
However, the biggest difference I noticed was the lack of freedom I had. I was restricted in what I could eat, how much I could eat, where I could eat and when I could eat. This, I think is the biggest signifier of wealth; the freedom to choose. Being able to choose what goes in to your body; whether you eat vegan, avoid gluten or chomp down a Big Mac, having the freedom and resources to decide what you consume or don’t consume, means that you’re wealthy, in the most basic form.
I completed the Ration Challenge // 24
During the week I found that I was extremely fatigued and lacked motivation to be productive throughout the day. My roadrage hit an all-time high, and patience with customers at work wore thin very quickly (not that it doesn’t anyway, but boy oh boy). I also noticed how much food is around us constantly; in the cupboard, in the fridge, in shopping centres, on freeways and busy roads; it’s almost inescapable. The convenience factor of the food that I regularly consume, was gone during the ration challenge week too. Instead of just pouring my museli for breakfast or grabbing a piece of fruit as a snack, I had to pre-prepare everything I wanted to eat. The rice had to be cooked, the lentils soaked and boiled; I had to have access to a stove to make and then consume any meal. I had to be organised, otherwise I had nothing to eat. I saved a lot of money not buying food while I was out; so being organised did have its perks.
Rational discourse irratoinal outcomes // 25
Rational discourse, irrational outcomes: understanding the erosion of community through economic discourse By Ryan Carolan
Just a few weeks ago I found myself in the town of Morwell; a two-hour train ride east of Melbourne. It was a Sunday, around midday, when I decided to wander down to the shops to grab a coffee and some lunch. However, everywhere was closed except for the general symbols of a global economy – Maccas, Subway etc. Furthermore, the streets were absolutely dead; of the three people I saw, two looked like lost tourists and the other’s face was cover by a beanie and bandanna, resembling a bank robber. The first thing to note is that this is not my first time in this part of the world; my mum has lived there for the last few years. So while I am not a local, I certainly know my way around. Further, I am from the small town of Heyfield in Gippsland; I grew up in the country. So the question is: is it me who has changed, or the country? During the last five years I have spent in Melbourne, these towns have changed in a way that seems to have simply destroyed the community. But is this the right question to ask? What is becoming clear around the world is that the narrative of a town like Morwell is not the exception to the rule, but is fast becoming the rule. When Morwell had a healthy community, which it once did, it was on the back of incredibly unsustainable activity: the burning of brown coal. Now that this industry is drastically scaling back (a good thing), it has
a domino effect that ripples through the whole community (a bad thing). So too is the case in the de-industrialised areas of Britain and America which, to the surprise of most city dwellers, voted for Brexit and Trump. How can this be avoided? Firstly, it is important to understand some theory. Economic theory essentially dismisses the environment as playing a decisive role in the creation on ‘wants’ but claims that the only way to satisfy everybody’s wants is through continuous economic growth. As such it is ‘rational’ to build a society on an unsustainable foundation which, in turn, attracts jobs, money and people that keep the community alive. However, after the jobs, money and people leave, the only way to ‘rationally’ maintain the health of these de-industrialised towns is to promote economic growth. And while sustainability might be a claimed to be a goal, it is always subverted to the central goal of growth. Thus greater strain is always placed on the environment as resources are pillaged at unsustainable rates. Because this view of economic rationalism is accepted as the clearest conception of reality, institutions with significant amounts of power (notably universities) are ‘rationalised’ upon this view, turned into safe-spaces (a good thing), which means that any attempt bring to light this destructive contradiction is dismissed through fear (being dismissed as Marxist,
un-Australian, etc.) or avoided because these arguments force people to face up to an extremely difficult question: the validity of the very fundamental pillars of our society. It is this ‘rationalism’ – always ‘knowing’ what is required -economic growth, technological development through resource exploitation etc, which continuously fails to deal with social problems, because it fails to recognise that community participation is contingent on whether one can pay; an oxymoron which always divides the ‘haves’ from the ‘havenots’. When this is the case, the ‘have-nots’ tend to get angry that their struggles are not taken seriously. So rather than seeing this from the position of subjectivity; ‘is it me or society that has changed?’ we must ask: what is the outcome we are looking for; what is our desired solution?
Firstly: what is required to establish a community? The concept to understand is that economic rationalism and community are antithetical. Economic rationalism sees competition as the driving force of evolution; communitarianism sees competition as merely an aspect of evolution. However, in our ‘rational’ world, the person who generally succeeds is the one who accepts competition; one who is capable of expressing their ‘true’ bestial nature. With this in mind, it should not be surprising that our economically rational ‘communities’ exist with such amounts of paranoia because, when one accepts the rat race as ‘reality’, one also has to accept that any potential confidant could become their exploiter. It gives new meaning to the saying: ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’ Paranoia and fear drive people on a pathological mission to make places
So when dealing with social problems in country towns we should not see them in isolation from impacts of broader trends. Instead we should see them as manifestations of the broader trends. The basic assumption, held by both economists and mainstream biologists, is that evolution proceeds through unconstrained competition. Thus, in a strange way, those promoting ‘safe’ spaces actually support the current regime of logic because they accept that categorization of nature and try to constrain it. As a consequence, they stop this conception of nature from being brought into question and exposed as the myth that it is. A healthy community provides what the American biologist, Howard Pattee, described as ‘enabling constraints’. For example, by constraining the ability of the very rich through higher taxes, society becomes more free rather than less. Economic rationalism, however, tries to gear every activity to serve the economy. As such, something can only be ‘good’ if it serves the economy; or, in other terms, a thing only reaches its potential when it is commoditised and consumed by maximum amounts of people. What emerges from this general world-view, is the belief that technological developments that cut labour costs are ‘good’, because they extend the ability to grow the economy. Consequently, power and energy centralise, at the expense of the fringes. Morwell suffers as Melbourne grows. Perhaps nowhere is a better example of this theoretical error than the Latrobe Valley, where economic prosperity is radically contingent on coal power stations providing people with spending power. This process, however, could hardly be considered an enabling constraint if a necessary aspect of the process is unsustainable exploitation of the environment which will eventually affect everyone. The final collapse will be global, not local. Thus it is necessary to recognise that the crisis in energy is related to distribution and consumption, rather than amount, and
Rational discourse irratoinal outcomes // 26
With this in mind it is essential to evoke the greatest threat to humanity: the environmental crisis. This is the most fundamental crisis because continued resource exploitation and ecological destruction could render life on planet earth impossible. Irrespective of the decisions of one or another paranoid politician, even with global cooperation (which, as the US have shown, is unimaginable) humanity may not avert catastrophe. Humanity can only avert catastrophe if we firstly think very carefully about the world we are striving to create rather than simply the world we are trying to avoid. So how could it be possible to create a globally responsible community capable of working toward cultivating healthy communities?
‘safer’, employing managers to micromanage problems for the sake of efficiency which consequentially undermines the capacity of communities to organise themselves to overcome problems. This is because the most fundamental crisis – understood in all its complexity – facing humanity is difficult to accept and obviously upsetting.
Rational discourse irratoinal outcomes // 27
the way society is organised facilitates this misconception. The general argument in today’s political landscape is that all problems are related to, or understandable through, the economy and, as such, to deal with any political problem requires economic growth. Thus, the massive social problems in Victoria’s small and medium sized communities can only be solved insofar as there is economic growth; if there is no growth there can be no solution. Thus nature must be continually exploited for the sake of economic growth, whilst civilisation stumbles towards collapse. Rather than conceiving things in this way, we should understand these problems through the slow erosion of community values and nature. Any attempt to re-establish community in regional towns must be facilitated through a utopian project of land restoration and cultivation of core values to defend this project. Nature needs to be understood as the facilitator of community. Thus what is needed is not more Maccas’, more Subway’s and more economic projects, but rather more projects to rebuild community which have been, despite most people being unaware, shattered by economic ‘rationalism’. So is it me that has changed, or Morwell? Or is this simply the wrong question to ask? Change is necessary, the question is: what do we, as a whole, want to change into?
RED By Aaron Richards
When we first met, we were immediately attracted. It started with our favourite colours— both red—and rapidly grew to encompass every facet of our personalities. You could call it ‘love at first sight’. We were absolutely head-over-heels for each other and it showed. Our romance was less a whirlwind and more akin to a tornado. In a matter of weeks we had moved in together and were planning our family. Neither of us could imagine a life without the other. Neither of us could imagine a moment without the other. Every moment we spent together was perfect. But not everyone saw it that way. Her family didn’t like that she’d moved out of home so young. Her friends didn’t like that I went with her to their gatherings. Her colleagues didn’t like that she no longer met with them after hours in favour of spending time with me. It was as if, for whatever reason, they thought I was taking her away from them. Stealing her from them. I tried to convince everyone otherwise. I approached each of them in turn, and explained what I thought. Every argument they
held was met with a counter-argument of my own. But still they argued that I was bad for her, that this wasn’t what she was really like or what she really wanted. They protested until they were red in the face. How presumptuous of them to speak for my wife! What did they know? The two of us were married, after all. Who better to know what my wife wanted than me? Those times were hard. All the friction her friends and family created caused a lot of stress for me and my wife. She’d often come home crying, her eyes swollen red with tears. All we wanted was to be together and for them to accept our union. Why was that so hard for them to understand? But still they persisted, if not overtly then behind our backs; snide disapproval was laser-guided among her entire social circle like a weaponised game of Chinese Whispers. No matter how they tried, though, the attacks always made it back to me. I got quite skilled at spotting the red flags they raised. Slowly, but surely, I managed to weed out those conspirators and sever their negative influences on our lives. It was incredibly hard on us emotionally, and from time to time there was the odd social relapse, but eventually we managed to work out exactly who we could trust. The number wasn’t many, but it was enough. We had our new social circle; one that accepted us for exactly who we were and nothing else. The glowing
RED // 28
I loved my wife. She was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. Her eyes twinkled blue like the sky, her cheeks were rosy pink like a cherry blossom, and her hair glowed red like a roaring fire. Everything about her was perfect. And she was mine.
red aura of danger began to fade. Finally, our lives were perfect once again. Then one day I found my wife with another man. He was her childhood friend, as I recalled; they went to school together. I found them in our bedroom after coming home early from work. She was crying, and he was comforting her. I shouted; they both started violently. The man stood from our bed and approached me with an angry look. He said some choice words to me, but I didn’t hear what. He gestured something to my wife with his hands and his expression, but I didn’t see what. All I heard and saw was red.
RED // 29
Red. Burning, passionate, angry red. The man noticed my souring demeanour and changed tactics. He stopped talking— stopped pleading—stopped arguing. It did him no favours. I was tall and muscular; he was not. For all his best efforts, his onslaught only landed him on the ground: disabled, immobile, and unresponsive. What a fool he was. Did he think he could conceal his treachery from me? Did he think he could justify his debauchery to me? Did he think he could pit his body against mine? My wife shrieked. Understandably so; I would also have been shocked if I were in her position. Even more so if her assailant had ended up like this as a result. That much I was willing to forgive. I had faith in my wife. I respected her autonomy. So I let her scream. The shock would wear off momentarily and we could sort out the situation properly when it did. But my wife didn’t settle down. She leapt off the bed and fell to her knees by the man’s side. She shouted his name, again and again. She felt his body all over, sobbing over his limp form. My hand reached for her shoulder, trying to pry her away from her captor, but she slapped my hand away and fixed me with an icy glare. I couldn’t understand; I had saved her from the unwelcome advances of this foolish red devil who had tried to take advantage of their shared history. But here she was, crying and shrinking away from me like I was the monster. And then she took my heart, and tore it to ribbons. She put her lips to that man’s, and kissed him. Not a mere peck; both their mouths were wide, her hands fiercely groping
his chest as if to reach inside and pluck out his still-beating heart. My ears began to ring. My eyes began to blur. My fists balled, and my teeth grinded together. This would not do! I would not allow this man to steal my wife from me! I dove upon them. That man, still prone, accepted his fate with no resistance, his face as calm as the moment he hit the ground. My wife screamed bloody murder. Her legs kicked and her arms flailed and her fingers clawed at me. It was no use. I was too big, too strong. Nothing she could do could harm me any more than betraying my trust as she had just done. For every ineffective blow she inflicted upon me, I inflicted an equal punishment. I had to show her just how much she had hurt me. When I was done, she lay perfectly still, in complete deference to my will. There was no resistance in body or in mind, and nor would there ever be again. This was the way that things had to be. She was foolish, and vulnerable, and I had to protect her. From the world, from others and from herself. What unfortunate circumstance, for one to be born so weak and timid. She was lucky to have had me to save her. Despite her trial, she was crying tears of happiness. The sight of it likewise brought a tear to my eye. I loved my wife. She was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. Her eyes were blackened and swollen, her cheeks were white like alabaster, and her hair was dyed red with blood. Everything about her was perfect. And she was mine.
SCINTILLATE By Diana Peet
SCINTILLATE // 30
When the lights go dim By Faraz Haider (Aazaad)
O captain, My captain! If nothing more than emptiness, Then ‘twas the emptiness and I
When the lights go dim // 31
Notes of your voice in memories sing Words, lips blanketed in chords; in melodies, pass by The thoughts as read in crimson inks A soul in words, the dead poet was I
Willow The willow stands Along the banks Truly, a source of shade The traveller breaks Flaccid on the sands In remorse, amidst the haze
O River! Take me away, O river; let me drown in your waves We can explore the oceans and find ancient ways Take me away, O river; let me drown in your waves In glistening summer rays, we will find shallow graves Take me away, O river; let me drown in your waves Let us swim together in memory: reality couldn’t find a way
Parallels Two sides and one layered with gold In parallel resides an earthy soul Dawn to dusk and in the darkness shining Bear witness to the reality Duality of this coin, present since time Knowing so yield not; revolt As and for the ‘Earths’ soul The weight of the gold digs The blood of siblings is, in trade Rain exists as nothing but a folklore Traveller
Gardens stretch across Flowers unlike any seen Breathing in vivacious scents Instincts to refrain and to digress Further along as it dulls to a stroll A laughing lily on your garden’s floor Does it imprison the eyes and the heart so Continuing would be a pain even more Hidden Agenda In a world of presumptuous realities Let’s talk of a hidden agenda Inspired from cruel dualities Let’s search for the hidden crow Not hidden well, in the window whispering To enlighten, not much required but a single puff Yet, all living in the fog, not living One with the mist and in the darkness alive End to end, each green blade it encapsulates Sparks that enlighten yet muffled Walk in the midst of these rising flames To discover pages, in steps, where the ambers stay
When the lights go dim // 32
Just another traveller on a path Most attractions demonised Feet bleed, walking endlessly
Thoughts By Sumi Verma Questions? They arise,
Mostly expected but sometimes a surprise,
When it is felt there is nothing that can be done,
Some carry with them a mark of wise,
Just before illumination knocks at door to be welcomed
Some symbolize common sense’s sad demise.
Thoughts // 33
That takes endorphins to higher level.
May you be blessed with the magic,
That takes away the pain without logic.
Some seem so cute like apple pies,
Those come from people very prized,
When it is believed one is all alone,
And so, the answers are with sweetness upsized.
Just before the party of people comes to show
Some inquire if feelings are disguised, You want to answer those looking straight into eyes,
May you be blessed with glory, That prepares heart to brighten each story. When it becomes impossible to wait,
May be with one hand on heart and words precise,
Just before the desserts are served in the plate
Else a cherished relationship dies.
May you be blessed with grace,
That calms inside, each and every place.
Some are targeted to criticise.
Others may lead to our existence, revolutionalised.
When it is thought that human limits are known,
Oh, yes! These are the questions: who? What? How?
Just before all set records are blown
When? Where? and Why? May you…
When the darkness is deep, Just before the first ray of sun creeps May you be blessed with miracle,
May you be blessed with a dream, That revives every time after last one has made you gleam.
Thoughts // 34
The Divine Tragedy The Divine Tragedy // 35
By Aaron Richards
I wished for a birthday that I would never forget, So that heavenly body cast its inferno down upon me. Never can I forget it now. I curse my fate borne of the stars. In that suffocating purgatory I lay, terrified; alone in the world. Shielded from everything to ensure my survival, I could not even turn my head to look out the window at the stars. I met him by chance: that boy, who would be my guide into paradise— Whose smile beams comforting warmth— Whose heart beats both weak and strong— And whose eyes sparkle like the stars.
Butterfly // 36
Butterfly By Daina Peet
Bad Girl: A Review Bad Girl: A Review // 37
By Luke Te Moni
Recently I had the chance to conduct an interview with Australian writer and director, Fin Edquist to discuss his first feature film Bad Girl. A self professed, “Tightly wound thriller that will have the audience squirming in their seats and spark conversation for days to come,” Bad Girl delivers this promise. Bad Girl is a relentless thrill ride, constantly contradicting the audiences’ expectations with each twist and turn. The film explores themes such as desire, identity, and betrayal that weave together seamlessly throughout the plot. Edquist is greatly influenced by the work of David Lynch and the way he, “unpacks the seedier side of everyday life,” he said. Edquist also made reference to the old thrillers of the 80s, “On the one hand they were pulpy and satirical yet they also have something to say about desire and society,” he said. All of this clearly translates in Bad Girl. This was Edquist’s first feature film working as a solo writer and director, “it was very scary, exciting, and demanding all at once,” he said. It’s vastly different to his other projects; “You grow emotionally connected to the characters and the story, and as a result there’s more
pressure to succeed,” he said. But overall, “it was a terrific experience,” Edquist said. When it comes to acting, the small cast delivers a compelling performance, however the spotlight is truly on the leads; Samara Weaving as Chloe, and Sara West as Amy. West portrays the rebellious teenager-withouta-cause, with conviction, and Weaving is downright enthralling at times. The biggest compliment I can give, however, is the way the two depict the characters’ gradual development over the course of the film. Both leads utterly transform throughout the film, reflecting the evolution of the individual characters as the events of the plot play out. However, at times, West’s character Amy does cross the line between character and caricature; seemingly acting out without any justification other than she’s the ‘edgy teen’. The film also has some pacing issues; taking its time to get moving, dragging on during the first act, however, once the film does get moving, it is enthralling.
A personal highlight for me was the film’s
score. Composed by Warren Ellis, the score is at times a character in itself, creating a tension filled atmosphere, putting the audience on edge with deep brass instruments and eerie strings, constantly building to an ear piercing climax and sending shivers through the viewer. Cinematographer, Gavin Head, also does a marvellous job capturing the essence of the film, exposing the gothic beauty of every day suburban life with slow panning shots and close ups, followed up by quick violent cuts, once again driving home the tension filled nature of the film.
Bad Girl: A revi // 38
Edquist said he wants the audience to leave Bad Girl thinking about identity and family; taking the events of the film and relating them to their own lives. He wants people to experience a thrill ride that will leave them thinking, outside of the cinema. I believe Bad Girl delivers on this, and would most definitely recommend you see it if you get the chance.
Get Out: Film Review Get Out: Film Review // 39
By Abbey Thorpe
The thriller has always been my favourite genre of film; however lately I feel they have let me down- with the exception of Gone Girl, I have not seen a thriller in the last few years that has completely blown me away. But oh, how satisfied I felt when I saw first-time director, Jordan Peele’s film Get Out. When the credits began to roll, I sat in my chair stunned, trying to get my head around the film that I consider to be the best thriller in the last five years. The film very intelligently blends social satire with terror, making the audience laugh but feel uncomfortable at the same time. Daniel Kaluuya gave an outstanding performance as the main character, Chris Washington. Never more have I felt a character’s, fear, discomfort and confusion in a film. The supporting cast is just as strong; they were so intriguing that I spent the entire film guessing at what their characters’ motivations were, but they didn’t give much away. The film slowly moves from three different levels of discomfort; from meeting a girlfriend’s parents to a social satire and then to a horror film.
The main job of the thriller is to keep the audience in the dark and slowly let them in on the secrets. did this brilliantly, I spent the entire film guessing, and just as I thought that I had figured the film out, it would throw something else at me. While there are some jump scares, as is traditional of the horror genre, the film’s real terror comes from the uncertainty and uneasiness felt by the audience, as well as the realisation that this film takes place in the culture of modern day America, even if it is a satirised version. I went into the cinema to see a film that I knew very little about, from a first-time director that I had never heard of, and came out marvelling at the film that I believe to be the best of 2017 so far.
Hans Zimmer Live in Melbourne: A Review On the 4th of May, Melbourne was in for a real treat. Hans Zimmer, the man responsible for composing many of Hollywood’s greatest film scores, performed his iconic work, live in Rod Laver Arena. Together with his dedicated band, Zimmer played the themes of Sherlock Holmes, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, Gladiator, The Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, along with a few other film soundtracks. The concert was spectacular. The thundering and harmonious sounds of the drums, bass, cello and violins vibrated through the audience; a sensation that made me feel like I was in the midst of the music rather than just a spectator in the distance. Visual effects of synthesised lighting and images were projected on a screen behind the musicians, enhancing the power of the performance. Every amazing rendition of the composer’s work had the crowd erupting in applause. Zimmer alternated between instruments, sometimes playing the piano; other times rocking the guitar. Even though he was the main star of the show, other members of the band claimed the spotlight as the lead musician for different themes. The lead celloist, violinist, drummers and guitarist all had a turn to take control of different scores, with Zimmer introducing them individually. While some scores were more anticipated than others, every theme grasped a strange and powerful hold over the audience. Zimmer was excited to introduce Lisa Gerrard, the original voice for the Gladiator theme, as a special guest to perform in her home city. The
composer was just as eager to present Lebo M, the original vocalist for The Lion King score, to sing with his daughter. Zimmer briefly shared Lebo’s inspiring journey from being a political African refugee to becoming a renowned music producer. The singers carried beautiful, strong and elegant voices, awakening nostalgia towards the relevant films. In between scores, Zimmer addressed the people of Melbourne, revealing details of what it took to create different soundtracks, and shared the personal journey of a musician. He explained how while it involves great discipline and commitment to perform music, it also requires one to be creative and to ‘play’ with the melody. “’Play’ is the operative word,” he said, as it is the action of a musician. While the concert inspired an uplifting energy within the audience, there was an element of severity, even grief, when Zimmer spoke of the late Heath Ledger’s acting in The Dark Knight, and of the victims of the cinema shooting at the Dark Knight Rises opening. It was a respectful tribute to the ‘fallen stars’ before the performance of the Dark Knight score. At the encore, Zimmer played ‘Time’ from Inception on the piano. The soft, but powerful melody was a heart-warming end to composer’s first Melbourne performance, one that will stay with the audience for a very long time. Attending Hans Zimmer’s live concert was a powerful and enchanting experience, and one that’s recommended to even those who are unfamiliar with his work.
Hans Zimmer Live in Melbournel: A Revi ew // 40
By Avi Leibovitch
#FOMO FOR THOSE WHO MISSED VAN GOGH // 41
#FOMO: FOR THOSE WHO MISSED VAN GOGH By Sophie Evans
The most-attended exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria is sadly coming to its end in the coming weeks. This year’s Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Van Gogh and the Seasons, celebrated the life, inspirations and stunning works of Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890); a Dutch artist whose expressive brushstrokes and love of the seasons still captivates art lovers today.
His work developed over time from Impressionism to Neo-Impressionism, following on from the works of Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro; and he predominantly became an Expressionist thereafter. The time spent painting olive groves and wheat fields in the Impressionist style benefited Van Gogh’s experience as a landscape painter. During his time in Arles in 1888, he wrote:
The recognition of Van Gogh’s work only began to gain traction after his death by suicide in 1890, with his expressionist style becoming an inspiration for 20th century artists during the Fauvism period of 1904-08. From then, his work garnered himself legendary status and commercial success— something Van Gogh may not have believed would happen given that many considered him to be creative, but at the same time, a madman.
“I know very well that not a single flower was drawn, that they’re just little licks of colour, [sic] red, yellow, orange, green, blue, violet, but the impression of all those colours against on another is nonetheless there in the painting as it is in nature.”
Van Gogh was very much inspired by Japanese art, particularly wood block printing. The beginning of the exhibition showed many examples of these pieces, as well as various prints collected by Van Gogh to serve him in developing his personal style. It came as much a surprise to see Van Gogh’s own prints, using pen, pencil and/or chalk on paper to depict scenes around his home in Arles, France. They were strikingly unexpected and raw, especially since many of Van Gogh’s pieces are recognisable by their vibrant scenes.
The second half of NGV’s exhibition was a progression through the seasons beginning with Autumn— Van Gogh’s favourite. The warm oranges blended into yellows, and hues of green melted into the grey branches in Pine Trees at Sunset (1889). The collection of paintings completed in winter were beautifully bleak; dove grey, the palest shades of blue and green, and barely noticeable streaks of orange-browns or purples to accentuate shadows. He used the time he spent in psychiatric hospitals in both Arles and Saint-Rémy to great advantage, painting and sketching numerous landscapes of the surrounding gardens and buildings. In Trees and
undergrowth (1887), Van Gogh displayed his Impressionist abilities with dots and small strokes of colour across the canvas of green. Spots of pale yellow in the background created depth with blue, red and white dots creating the depiction of the undergrowth of the purple-hued lower tree branches.
Van Gogh’s life and career, with all its ups and downs, show the true romanticism of the typical tortured artist; his flourishing talent recognised by none except his brother Theo. The last painting of the exhibition was a self-portrait painted in 1887, with his orange beard contrasted with a teal blue background and clever strokes of the same hue around his eyes to create the shadow of a pained soul. It’s a wonder to think whether these masterpieces would have existed if it weren’t for his depression and delusion; or how truly amazing he could have been had he not ended his life. He sure had a rich life while he was alive, and has enriched the lives of art lovers forever.
#FOMO FOR THOSE WHO MISSED VAN GOGH // 42
Although Van Gogh loved the melancholy and light of autumn the most, he obsessed over the interrelationship of all the seasons and how they existed for one another. His summer depictions of wheat fields in the south of France, surrounded by cypress trees and barns are some of his most famed. The swirling strokes of blue and white to create clouds and a sense of wind flaunts his expressionist style, and it is the red smudges representing poppies that you can only notice close-up that really confirm his expertise as an Impressionist— not a detail is missed.
FFS Swinburne! FFS Swinburne! // 43
By Nikki Nievaart
Students entering into a Bachelor Degree at Swinburne University have been hit with data stating that 29.91% of them will drop out of their course in their first year of study. This is the highest dropout rate in the state. Compare that to the 7.5% of students that drop out in their first year (Bachelor Degree) at The University of Melbourne. When are we going to start asking ourselves, ‘What is Swinburne doing wrong?’ Melbourne and Monash unis are ranked in the top 100 Universities in the world, so looking at the provisions for students at these institutions is a good place to start in our comparison. Monash and Melbourne are both renowned for their beautiful landscapes and gardens. Walking from class to class is a delight for all of the senses; from the architectural beauty of the historic buildings at Melbourne; to the indigenous, Japanese and rainforest gardens at Monash Clayton. Embracing the heritage and the culture of their surrounding areas, paying homage to the history of the land they occupy, in a way that Swinburne doesn’t. We have one heritage building that has been appreciated and retained to its full extent; one singular building to stand tribute to where we’ve come from. The rest are entirely gutted and the façades merely glued onto the outside of yet another ‘revolutionary modern design’ that always seem to result in appearing similar to a painting on the side of a cardboard box. The grounds of the Hawthorn campus are torn up to
make way for fake grass and glaring LED signs that primarily display stock photographs; and to get to our one comparable garden you have to leave the campus! Another stark difference between our institution and the renowned Monash and Melbourne is the lack of campus culture. Local musicians performing in between classes, clubs hosting spectacular activity days, festivals celebrating the cultural diversities of their students; all of this activity giving students not only a reason to stay on campus but a desire to get involved with all the opportunities they have presented to them. Where is the heart of Swinburne’s campus culture? At the pub across the road! There is so little activity happening on campus that there is no real need for students to stick around after classes. Even breaks for lunch are spent out on Glenferrie Road. While the few cafes that Swinburne boasts have great offerings, the majority of people that actually stop and eat there are university staff. The number one complaint that I hear from students is that there is a lack of familiarity at Swinburne; there is no reason for them to feel a sense of belonging or pride outside of academic achievements. We have fewer active clubs than our counterparts, we have fewer celebrations on campus, we have fewer people in our management that recognise that engaging students outside the classroom can
actually help retention rates. Swinburne needs to acknowledge that creating a sense of belonging in students will make them more likely to stay on campus. Acknowledge that the current system of only offering clubs on one day to showcase their worth, achieves nothing. Acknowledge that we cannot continue to operate the same way and expect to thrive as a university; these are things that our management need to realise if we have any chance of improving.
Regardless of how much I may want to, I’m not going to tell you that you need to join the student union in order to help bring life back to Swinburne. I’m not going to tell you to join all of the clubs you can, or start one up yourself. I’m not going to tell you to get involved with every opportunity that is handed to you. It is up to you to decide how you experience university; but if we can put enough pressure on the management of Swinburne and show them that we know where the heart of the campus lies— not in the lecture theatres, but in the students— then we can start to become a university that others compare themselves to.
FFS Swinburne! // 44
The restrictions that the university place on the SSU and clubs drastically limits the amount of student-driven activity these groups can provide to the Hawthorn campus. The lack of financial support from the university stops the student union and clubs from being able to help Swinburne reach its full potential, only to be further hindered by the hundreds of hurdles they throw in attempt to retain their perceived order. There is a great lack of understanding surrounding the best methods of student engagement; where members of staff believe that holding more lectures and more information sessions are the way to draw students back to the campus. When will they realise that it doesn’t matter how good their intentions are, if they’re neglecting the groups of students who are actually able to accomplish what they can’t?
Growing the student movement // 45
Growing the student movement: strength in numbers
By Alex McGilvray I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that students are being fucked over at the moment. Wages are stagnant, house prices are rising, and they’re threatening to make our degrees more expensive. If you’re lucky, you might get some help from Centrelink. But even then, it’s unlikely you’ll be classed as independent, and the 200 bucks a fortnight they oh-sograciously grant you will fail to feed you and house you.
The system needs to change. The funding of Australia’s university sector is in significant uncertainty, and the Liberal government is determined to cut spending at the expense of our education. Our valued teaching staff are at risk of casualisation and job losses, and students are hurt by cuts to penalty rates and the impossibility of the housing and rental markets. Here at Swinburne, many of us just accept this, and re-adjust our lifestyles and budgets to match the life of a struggling student. But Australia-wide, there is a movement. A movement to improve student rights, a movement that supports young people and encourages their wellbeing. A movement that says you don’t have to accept this constant struggle as the norm. Student unions around the country are banding together to fight the war on students.
Don’t let the government take things away from you. Don’t let them take advantage of you. Students are strong when they are united, and we must unite to fight against the cuts proposed to higher education and the unfair changes to our welfare system. Join the student union. Access the services they provide. Every Wednesday there’s a free barbecue in John Street, every morning there’s a free breakfast from 8-10.30am, and every second Thursday there’s a free food market on Level 4 of the UN Building. Be there at the national protest on Tuesday August 8th. We’ll be leaving campus at 1.30pm from the John Street BBQ and will head into city, as we band together to show the government that Swinburne students do not support cuts to universities.
By Zaheer Qazi
For the first time in seven years a student from Swinburne University has been elected to CISA; the peak body for international students in Australia. The Swinburne Student Union (SSU) has made all their efforts to make this happen for Swinburne University and I am very thankful to SSU for helping me be who I am today. SSU have played a major role in building this connection for me, and government stakeholders now know that the SSU creates leaders to help international students. I am thrilled that during the CISA National Conference 2017, I was elected as National Welfare Officer for the amazing, multicultural and diverse range of international students of Australia. Welfare of international students has been a big concern in past years, and people from different states are working for the betterment of the international students’ experience. As a National Welfare officer, I will be working on different areas such accommodation, change in visa rules, women’s representation, safety of international students and other student affairs. As of now we as a national peak body are in the process of making strategic plans for 2017-2018. My plans as National Welfare Officer are: 1.
Create awareness to help women’s empowerment and representation on a national level.
2.
Deal with accommodation issues of international students in Australia.
3.
Work with Australian Human Rights commission on sexual assault report and collaborate with them to find a world class solution.
4.
Work with the Excellence Commission and Mental Health Australia to identify the challenges faced by international students.
5.
Promote awareness and encourage international students to volunteer with not-for- profit organisations and NGOs.
As the President of the Swinburne International Students Association at the SSU, I have gained real experience in dealing with student affairs for the past year. During this period, I was heavily engaged with students, volunteers and reps from the union to build a strong relationship with students at Swinburne University. Helping international students was my goal when I started this position, but I have realised that a lot can be done to bring about change. A valuable change is something that you start from home and take to a higher level. I am excited to commence my new position as National Welfare Officer, to bring about valuable change.
A Union Steps into a National Position // 46
Our Union Steps into a National Position
Respect, Now, Always // 47
Respect, Now, Always: Explained By Mia Burgess Content warning: This article discusses sexual assault and harassment. What are you thinking about as you head to campus? Maybe it’s where your next tutorial is, or the name of that person in your group assignment you’re due to meet. Maybe it’s deciding where to spend your lunch-break. When you arrive at uni for your lectures and tutes, sexual assault and harassment shouldn’t be on your mind at all. In August this year, data from a national prevalence survey on university student experiences of sexual assault and sexual harassment will be released. Tens of thousands of students participated in the anonymous survey in late 2016. The results will give Australian universities a clearer, evidence-based guide to further work to prevent and address sexual assault and sexual harassment. The survey is part of a national initiative called Respect.Now.Always (RNA), launched in February 2016.
The RNA initiative highlights the determination of Australian university leaders to ensure their campuses provide a safe and respectful environment for their students and staff. President of the Swinburne Student Union, Ana Tinc, is encouraging students to reach out for support and to report sexual harassment and sexual assault. “The Australian Bureau Statistics recorded 21,380 individuals reporting sexual assault in 2016, of which four out of five are women,” Tinc said. “If you have experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault, you are not alone. The Swinburne Student Union encourages students to reach out if they need support. We are here to help, every step of the way,” Tinc said. Swinburne’s Vice-President (Students), Dr. Andrew Smith has been an advocate for the campaign since its inception. “Swinburne has zero-tolerance for sexual assault and harassment and we want safety and respect to be central to our university culture. The survey results will be used to help inform how Swinburne continues to address and prevent sexual assault and harassment in our community,” Dr. Smith said.
Support services If you are feeling distressed or are concerned about a friend, family member or work colleague, support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT. Sexual assault resources can also be found on Swinburne’s website: www.swinburne.edu. au/respect Current students studying at any Swinburne campus, Swinburne Online or Open Universities Australia (studying a unit at Swinburne) are eligible to register for free counselling services. To find out more call 9214 8483 or head to the student support services page on the Swinburne website.
This story originally appeared on Swinburne’s student blog Knowing: knowing.swinburne. edu.au
Respect, Now, Always // 48
Swinburne Student Union President Ana Tinc and Welfare Officer Alex McGilvray have also offered their support to students and can be contacted by email at president@ssu.org.au and welfare@ssu.org.au