VOLUME 2: GLITCH

VERTIGO GLITCH

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3 NIGHT STAND WITH RESPECT.NOW.ALWAYS

by Olivia Mathis and Sevin Pakbaz CYBORG WITCH THEATRE

by Janey Li

TECHNOLOGY’S IMPLICIT RACIAL BIAS

by Katherine Rajwar

Need Need a a lawyer? lawyer?

The UTSSA Student The UTSSA Student Legal Service Legal Service provides free and provides free and confidential legal confidential legal advice for students. advice for students.

Contact us to make an appointment.

Contact us to make an appointment.

(02) 9514 2484 | studentlegalservice@uts.edu.au (02) 9514 2484 | studentlegalservice@uts.edu.au utsstudentsassociation.org.au/legal utsstudentsassociation.org.au/legal

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The University of Technology Sydney would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians and Knowledge Keepers of the land on which UTS now stands, and pays respect to Elders past, present, and emerging.

Maree Graham Deputy Director, Students, and Community Engagement Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

PERSONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Vertigo would like to extend a personal acknowledgement to the Traditional Custodians and Knowledge Keepers of the land where we lived and worked as editors and designers during the creation of this magazine. We pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging, and extend this respect to any First Nations’ people reading this volume.

As students, we must acknowledge the Indigenous contributions to academia that have enriched our understanding of Australian history and culture. We exist on stolen land, and recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded.

Hannah Bailey and Alice Winn would like to acknowledge the Garigal and Dharug people of the Guringai Nation.

Erin Ewen would like to acknowledge the Larrakia People, of the Larrakia Nation.

Mauli Fernando would like to acknowledge the Dharug people of the Eora Nation.

Tara Frawley would like to acknowledge the Bidjigal and Gweagal people of the Eora Nation.

Angela Jin and Rachel Percival would like to acknowledge the Wallumedegal/Wallumettagal people of the Eora Nation.

Sevin Pakbaz and Katherine Zhang would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.

If it is within your means, please consider donating to an Indigenous organisation such as: Blak Business — “Bringing together information, knowledge and resources to facilitate broader learning and discussion about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander topics.” — blakbusiness.com.au IndigenousX — Indigenous media organisation — Indigenousx.com.au Seed — Fighting for climate justice — Seedmob.org.au Black Rainbow — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Sistergirl and Brotherboy (LGBQTI+SB) Organisation — blackrainbow.org.au ANTaR — Advocacy organisation dedicated to justice, rights and respect for Australia’s First Peoples — antar.org.au

GET INVOLVED

More organisations can be found here: thelatch.com.au/indigenous-organisations-to-donate-to

Passionate about change?

Get involved with your UTS Students’ Association.

Photographer: FJ Gaylor

utsstudentsassociation.org.au facebook.com/UTSStudentsAssociation

Dear Vertigo readers, The first semester of 2021 is well underway. For many of you, it’s the first time you’ve been back to campus for quite some time. For others, it’s your first time entirely. We hope you’re adjusting well, and that uni life is starting to live up to what you were promised. We’re also aware some of you are reading this via pixels on a screen. How fitting.

Last year acutely changed the way we use technology.

So, for this volume, we made it our mission to explore the dark corners of the internet—as though we don’t live there already—to scrutinise its malfunctions and learn how to troubleshoot our problems away. We wanted to examine, dissect, interrogate and expand how we view, use, and in some cases, are used by technology. This issue is our ode to Neopets, pink flip Motorolas, and MSM. These humble roots lead us into the world of social media dominance, facial recognition tech, artificial intelligence and online landscapes.

The start of semester was not without its digital hiccups.

While putting this volume together, we experienced a glitch of our own. For just over a week, Vertigo’s Facebook presence was muted as a result of the media bargaining code disputes. We were shocked (and a little heartbroken) to have lost our Facebook page, where most of our interactions with students took place. It was disheartening to not only lose our own page, but to also see the presence of other Australian university publications wiped from Facebook.

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Naturally, we obeyed the whims of the tech overlords and urged all of our readers to follow us on Instagram (@utsvertigo). We still stand by this plea, as who knows when those tech giants will become trigger happy again and decide to block Facebook news content for an entire country overnight. We extend our gratitude to those who followed us on IG upon finding our Facebook page to be defunct.

We also want to thank you all for the glowing reception of Vol. 1: Remedy. We were overwhelmed with positive comments and can only hope to carry this energy on throughout the year. To our absolute delight, copies of Remedy flew off the stands and allowed us to print the very issue you are reading now. Your engagement is the reason this publication exists, so we thank you for your support and contributions.

Now, we want to pose a challenge to you, dear readers, before delving into the pages of Glitch. Will you be able to hold onto your true identity, or will you surrender to your online persona? The digital sphere can offer support, validation, and condolence as easily as it can coerce, violate, and intimidate. What will your verdict be?

Love,

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CONTENT WARNINGS

CONTENTS

Vertigo readers should be advised that there are content warnings before relevant pieces. Please keep this in mind as you enjoy our magazine; your health and safety are important to us.

Some articles and images contain themes or references to abuse, addiction, alcohol, blood, cyber bullying, death, depression, discrimination, drug use, eating disorders, mental ill-health, online harassment, paedophilia, racism, r*pe, sexual assault, sexual themes, suicide, trauma, violence Please keep this in mind as you enjoy our magazine; your health and safety are important to us.

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BATTLE OF THE 'BERGS: AN EXPLAINER Ella Smith

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SELF-DIAGNOSING 8 MENTAL ILL-HEALTH Evlin DuBose

TECHNOLOGY’S IMPLICIT RACIAL BIAS Katherine Rajwar

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THE ETHNOCULTURAL COLLECTIVE'S RESPONSE TO THE COUP IN MYANMAR

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COMATOSE IN THE COMMENT SECTION: INTERNET TROLLS, DOOM SCROLLING AND PROCRASTINATION Nour Jamal

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PHISHY BUSINESS 30 Vanessa Love, UTS Cyber Security Society DISMANTLING TOXIC DIET CULTURE Eva Harrington

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MUSIC IN THE ETERNAL PRESENT Luca Moujaes

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ZOOM FATIGUE 68 Anna Lei POSIMENTE: TECHNOLOGY 74 MEETS MENTAL HEALTH Pnina Hagege CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL SWIPER Milly Guiffre

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GAMESTOP NEVER GAMESTOPPING? Jaimee Lee

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FICTION OUR CONVERSATIONS AS BODIES, AS DAMS Rebekah Baston

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SUCCUMBING TO DYSTOPIA Angela Jin

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MY LIFE AS A DIGITAL HOARDER Erin Ewen

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<B>SCHISM</B> 66 Tony Phan PREF+ 78 Ch’aska Cuba de Reed 10-20-40 86 Joseph Lucas

Contact the UTS Counselling Services on 9514 1177, or visit the UTS Counselling Services website to find out more and access the extensive online self-help resources.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please consider speaking to your local GP, a healthcare professional, or calling one of the numbers below.

Lifeline — 13 11 14 Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636 If you or someone you know is experiencing or has experienced sexual abuse, you can call or refer to the following confidential hotlines.

General — 1800 737 732 Counselling — 1800 211 028 Crisis Centre — 1800 424 017

If you are struggling with self-injurious behaviour, such as self-harming or an eating disorder, please reach out to the following: Butterfly Foundation — (02) 9412 4499 If you, or someone you know, is struggling with or has struggled with drug or alcohol abuse, please consider speaking to your local GP, a healthcare professional, or calling the numbers below.

Alcohol and Other Drugs Information Service (ADIS) — 1800 250 015 NSW Quitline — 13 7848 (13 QUIT) Available Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Available Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SHOWCASE

WRAPPED UP IN 'TOWEL HEAD' Alice Winn

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SCREEN AS___ 12 Joanna Shuen

IN CONVERSATION WITH UTS STARTUPS Sevin Pakbaz

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3 NIGHT STAND WITH RESPECT.NOW.ALWAYS Olivia Mathis + Sevin Pakbaz

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WAR 35 Brandon Siow CLOUD GARDEN 42 Doreen Zhang CYBORG WITCH THEATRE Janey Li

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OFFHAND

NIGHTLY ROUTINE 58 Julia van Oppen

A GLITCH PLAYLIST

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GEOMETRIX 70 Jenna Parker

3 WAYS TO NAIL YOUR NEXT JOB INTERVIEW Anisha Premawardhana

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GLITCH 83 Ruben Saverigo HYALINE 106 Katherine Zhang

AMPLIFY CATCHING UP WITH ANDY GARVEY Katherine Zhang

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FRIEND OR FOE-NE 82 Joella Marcus IT'S A CROSSWORD! THANKS! Angela Jin

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TOP 3 MODERN FACILITIES AROUND CAMPUS Sevin Pakbaz

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HOROSCROPES 112

Self-Diagnosing Mental Ill-Health

by Evlin DuBose CW:

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Mental ill-health, suicide, sexual assault, trauma, discrimination

“You ever been in a war, Councilman? In a firefight?

Did you feel an over-abundance of control?”

Nick Fury, The Avengers (2012) I am a habitual self-diagnoser. I’ve thought I had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), appendicitis, diabetes, hernias, at least three different kinds of cancer, and COVID-19 galore. Still partially convinced I have OCD, a hypersensitive nervous system, and an incorrigible case of maladaptive daydreaming—the latter of which, I’ll clarify, is not currently recognised by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the World Health Organisation (WHO).

To the hypochondriac, diagnosis is an addiction. Every time I find an explanation for any odd symptom, it hits like giddy adrenaline. A shot of dopamine coupled with the possibility of connection. Except for the poor bugger who first got COVID-19, humans are rarely harbingers of illness.

Somebody somewhere has had what you have, and hey, it’s great to have something in common. After all, unnamed, formless monsters are far more frightening than Bob the Anxious Brain Gremlin. (Fuck you, Bob).

Heading down the analysis rabbit-hole, as it turns out, is a coping mechanism. Both my therapist and mother, a registered nurse, have made this abundantly clear numerous times, often out of the utmost patience for

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my neurotic questioning. Nowadays, I simply need someone I trust to clarify reality so that I feel safe and in control. Is this normal? They can tell me yes, no, with qualifications.

But my experience is one of relative privilege. Not everyone has health insurance, or easy access to qualified, sustained healthcare for chronic illnesses like mental ill-health. Not everyone (with good reason) trusts doctors to do right by them. And one of the many side-effects of social media, for good and bad, is the quick candour and lack of censorship given to people of all lived experiences. We’re talking about mental ill-health now more than ever. What it looks like, feels like, how to cope and how to give care. All things up, we have an environment that clues people into questioning symptoms they may not have otherwise, and drawing their own conclusions. Lack of access, lack of trust, and a wave of digital vulnerability has created a generation of self-diagnosers.

Self-diagnosis isn’t inherently bad. A lot of good can come from paying attention to your body and what feels right for you. Seeing yourself in the lives of others can provide you with vocabulary, community, and clarity. People have realised they’ve been living on the autism spectrum without help, or that others like them struggle with the same obscure phobias, compulsions, and shames. Identifying with a Tumblr post about PTSD or joining a Facebook

group for gender dysphoria can help you feel understood and like you belong. As Andrew Solomon once wisely surmised, there is no such thing as the placebo effect with mental illness because it’s an illness of the mind. If the treatment makes you feel better, then it’s worked because you feel better.

But—here comes the big however—we’re not all doctors.

Not everything on the internet is true. People under- and misdiagnose themselves all the goddamn time. That time I thought I had appendicitis? Constipation. Blood cancer?

Anaemia. When I thought I’d stop breathing if I didn’t ‘manually’ control every breath? Plain ol’ anxiety. (Fuck you, Bob). For every Tweet from a person legitimately realising they have OCD, there are many more asserting that their vague (and currently justified) fear of germs holds as much water as a thoroughly-tested, psychologistapproved, bonafide medical diagnosis. Mental illness is serious business, and deserves to be taken seriously by professionals. I promise you, Aunt Karen’s bad experience at Macca’s did not give her PTSD. To say otherwise trivialises the story of every survivor.

"Lack of access, lack of trust, and a wave of digital vulnerability has created a generation of self-diagnosers."

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More caveats: not all assertions are disingenuous, and many posts can be legitimate cries for help. There are so many valid and nuanced reasons why someone might keep their diagnosis to themselves or online, wary of seeing a doctor or unable to access one at all. The pandemic, like many things, revealed a startling lack of trust in our society—of each other, our media, and relevantly, healthcare. The latter depends entirely on lived experience.

Black, brown, Indigenous, Queer, trans/nonbinary, female, and fat bodies undergo staggering rates of under- and misdiagnosis by healthcare providers. Fat women are consistently told to lose weight when they’re in dire need of something else, such as counseling for surviving sexual assault. Black people, particularly Black women/femmes, are frequently undertreated for pain (and one need not mention the many, many times, as recently as 2020 in South Africa, that Black bodies have been used for shady clinical research). Indigenous Australians, particularly Aboriginal men, have enragingly high rates of suicide.

Trans and nonbinary people consistently find themselves having to convince doctors of their own identities, let alone that they might have an unrelated illness. In these cases, doctors, if they show up at all, tend to miss the flames for the smoke pouring from the house fire. They also spend a good deal of time, it turns out, focusing on the make and model of said house to determine if there even is a fire.

The point being: racism, sexism, homo/trans/fat-phobia,

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"Self-diagnosis should be one imperfect tool of many in the kit. It won’t solve the problem on its own, but it’s one way to begin the process of tackling legitimate mechanical failures."

Search webmd.com

and classism all compound how society views and treats you, in every aspect. So even for the people who genuinely need help, they often don’t get it, or don’t receive the quality of help they deserve. And that guts me.

we’re living. But, if I may put my own diagnosis skills to the table—and without question, I’m no expert—it seems to me that at a fundamental level, we all suffer collectively from a dearth of control.

In all fairness, the vast majority of medical professionals, my mother included, become so because they have empathy and education, and they care. However, they are still members of a system coded for White, male, cis-het, wealthy dominance, like all professions. That is hard to undo and requires action to work against. For many people living with the traumas they’ve inherited just from living as themselves, access is already an act of faith. Once we show up, we’re asked to trust someone (who frequently looks like the enemy) to treat us as human. It’s a big ask. What a mess. What a terrible let down.

Trust is an act of surrender. You have the power to hurt me, and I am giving you that power out of faith that you won’t abuse it. There is no greater vulnerability than sitting alone in that white room with someone who may potentially see you for who you are and what you’ve survived. Add to that the shame of ill-health: the terror of feeling broken, that we’ve failed to thrive on our own terms, that the doctor will make real what we’ve only suspected until now. After all, without an official diagnosis, it’s easy to pretend that we may not be sick at all. Or if sickness provides a comfort, a scapegoat for all the ways in which we feel inferior, a means to consolation and connection, then an accurate but different diagnosis destroys our sense of safety. In all cases, we lose control.

Add to that all the influencers, from TikTok to Instagram, taking advantage of vulnerable people, especially minors from the aforementioned identities, by participating in challenges that misdiagnose, misinform, misguide, and misconstrue. Instead of amplifying resources, these influencers present themselves as the resource. Put a finger down, ask the influencers, if you’ve had any symptoms, as they try to ‘raise awareness’ by showing how universal the signs of illness are. Put a finger down if you’ve felt like an imposter, worried excessively, had trouble getting out of bed, felt unworthy, lost, or unloved, regardless of reality. I guarantee we’d all put at least one finger down. (And I’ll raise one up in response to those influencers and their ‘activism’).

The mess seems irrevocable, and inextricable to how

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And humans need to feel in control. We need to feel safe.

Trauma is the unraveling of those fundamental needs. It’s a fear of powerlessness and failure, of dehumanisation.

Nobody deserves to feel that way, like they’re just caught in a cosmic pinball machine, vulnerable to any random attack on their person and sense of self. And doctors can be the worst of it: they have power over life and death. They open us up and mend our wounds, confirm our worst fears and greatest dreams. They can control our own reality. Selfdiagnosing eliminates this white-coated middleman and gives us a chance to regain that power. For people who’ve

been abused by the system, asking them to give that power back to the doctors can feel like the ultimate insult.

These are our bodies, after all. We deserve to govern them.

If you have access to a good doctor, I’m thrilled for you.

They can be a powerful tool in your personal arsenal, and any doctor worth their salt will fight your battles faithfully alongside you. Everyone I’ve ever trusted sings the same song: recovery is a nonlinear, imperfect, worthwhile journey, so no matter what yours looks like or where it begins, treat it as such. Self-diagnosis can be a first step if you need one.

UTS and HeadSpace have free counselling services, which can be accessed here: https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/support/healthand-wellbeing/counselling-service-and-self-help https://headspace.org.au/

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But even if you don’t know all the answers, I encourage you to pay attention to the fact that you’re asking the right questions. If you feel something’s wrong, if you don’t feel understood, you are worthy of help and feeling better.

There are organisations devoted to regaining our trust and improving access, and a slew of good-hearted people on the internet ready to encourage you every step of the way. We don’t call it ‘battling’ illness for nothing: you have comrades in arms ready to support you in the war. Instead of completely demonising or dismissing it out of hand , I’d say self-diagnosis should be one imperfect tool of many in the kit. It won’t solve the problem on its own, and may not even be the right tool, but it’s one way to begin the process of tackling legitimate mechanical failures. It’s one more hearty fuck you to Bob the Brain Gremlin.

Where to Get Help

Call Lifeline at 13 11 14 at any time for crisis support and suicide prevention.

Call Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636 at any time for crisis support, or visit their website for the chat function and email address (with 24-hour guaranteed response).

Where to Read More Johann Hari, Lost Connections (2018).

Brene Brown, I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) (2007).

Andrew Solomon, “Anatomy of Melancholy” (New Yorker op-ed, 1998).

Isaac Chotiner, “The Interwoven Threads of Inequality and Health” (New Yorker Q&A, 2020).

Rebecca Jennings, “This week in TikTok: How does TikTok know I have ADHD?” (Vox 2021).

But keep on stepping.

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Screen As_____ Digital screens are evolving into thinner, smaller, and even flexible forms. Screens are omnipresent, but they are receding from our consciousness, with their full potential going unrealised. ‘Screen As____’ uses design to inquire, investigate, and reflect on the screen as a material, and discover new methods of viewing and using the technology. By exploring alternative screen practices, this project aims to bring our attention back to these seemingly immaterial surfaces.

‘Screen As____’ is an ongoing suite of experiments that use modern technology in unusual ways to explore the potential of screens. Guided by themes of deconstructing, defamiliarising and reconfiguring, the tests extrapolate the screen into the real world, beyond the typical four-edged format. For example, in the experiment ‘Screen as Analogue Feedback’, the monitor’s reflective glass surface is used to manipulate a photograph through a feedback loop, an unfamiliar use of the screen. The diverse range of exploration and results expands the possibilities of interacting with the technology, in turn portraying the screen as not only a display device, but also a sophisticated material space.

‘Screen As____’ is a honours research project completed in the UTS Faculty of Design.

Joanna Shuen

SHOWCASE

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JOANNA SHUEN

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JOANNA SHUEN

SHOWCASE

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CATCHING UP WITH

ANDY GARVEY AMPLIFY

Photography by Katherine Zhang

BY KATHERINE ZHANG 18

Andy Garvey is a notable woman of many feats. She is an individual with exceptional drive and determination, having continuously brought vitality to Sydney’s nightlife and music scene. She’s an unstoppable force with her multifaceted abilities as a radio presenter, DJ, music producer and avid tomato-eater.

I was lucky enough to sit down with her in the studio to delve deeper into her experiences of navigating around the industry, her relationship to dance music and the importance of supporting one’s community to succeed.

KZ: Amidst the chaos of 2020, what helped bring you out the other end of the tunnel? Were there any projects that were inspired by your time in iso?

Music came in waves. Because I didn’t feel super creative a lot of the time, I put a lot of energy into the label that I run — Pure Space. So, being able to give other people opportunities and work creatively with other artists was definitely a really solid thing that made me feel connected to music, while I personally wasn’t feeling super creative myself.

KZ: Growing up in Canberra, how did you navigate yourself around the music scene? What influenced or drew you to dance music?

AG: Growing up in Canberra was very much small-town energy, but I didn’t have a reference to realise that at the time. It felt very safe and there was definitely a bit of a music scene. I had a few friends throw parties at places like Transit Bar and Trinity Bar. Even though the shows that happened there were quite small, sometimes there would be a headliner who I was really excited for, playing to 30 people. You would have this sort of intimate community

AMPLIFY

AG: 2020 was definitely difficult. I was meant to live overseas for a long period of time and was planning heaps of shows and had multiple tours booked. So, having that slowly get cancelled was really difficult and made it hard to engage with music. But, I definitely found hobbies outside of music that ended up having a very positive impact on my time. I got really into running, to get out of the house and feel empowered by moving your body. I also got really into plants, like fostering a garden, looking after things. My morning routine is still very much: get up, make a coffee, check every single plant, make sure it's happy. Caring for something like that became a very important part of my routine.

that was excited by music. You could also warm up for your favourite DJs. I wanted to understand the music industry better and wasn’t actually sure what I wanted to do. So, moving to Sydney made more sense to explore what was out there. There were more record labels up here and bigger events to work for. Getting to Sydney and finding out about FBi Radio was kind of the clincher. That’s where I began.

KZ: FBi Radio has always been a pioneer of promoting local emerging artists and music to amplify independent culture in Sydney. How large of a role do you believe FBi plays in our local culture?

AG: I think it’s quite enormous. The model that FBi runs off — 50% Australian music and 50% of that being from Sydney — is very rare. Most stations might have a quota of Australian music, but to have it that rigid and to have all the presenters being aware of that, is very specific to FBi. They have a really open-door policy with making connections with new artists. The big tracks program that they run is amazing for that, and has had heaps of artists from Western Sydney come through. They have a day, once a month, where you

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can meet with the music director and bring your tracks in as an independent artist. I think that is also amazing. They also listen to every single track that comes through the music inbox. If you are making music, it can be picked up really quickly. And, I think having a Sydney music show that is on every night of the week brings a lot of opportunity. I think the main thing is that not many stations have that structure and accessibility.

AMPLIFY

KZ: Alongside radio-presenting at FBi, you were also coordinating an annual program called Dance Class which allowed young female DJs to gain industry advice through a set of workshops. Could you please elaborate on what the project is about and what it meant to you?

AG: That project was actually first initiated by a friend of mine, Avani Dias, who now hosts Triple J’s Hack. She brought the idea to the then program coordinator. They reached out to me to see if I wanted to help structure the program. I eventually took the reins and am very thankful for being able to do it. I think the program and how it’s put together — with the workshops and the mentorships, and being able to DJ at your first party, functions effectively to develop new artists.

There have been some artists, like Ebony Boadu, who came through that program and is now on Triple J. Lauren Hansom was booked for Dekmantel. So, there’s these big artists that have come through FBi’s Dance Class, which is amazing. A lot of people who are promoters and bookers, will refer to that program to see the next gen of artists. Helping these young artists navigate themselves around specific questions, like if someone books you, how much you should be charging, information about the industry that you can’t just Google, is very much part of ‘Dance Class.’

KZ: You have transported many of us into your intergalactic universe through ‘Pure Space’. What prompted this project and was this a long-standing dream of yours?

AG: It definitely was a dream of mine since I was a teenager to have a record label, but I just knew no artists and didn’t even know how to conceive starting a label. When I finished high school, I was obsessed with Future Classic — the big independent Australian label. I ended up interning with them just as I was finishing uni and stayed on for a while. It was definitely impactful on how I understood the inner workings of a label. I discovered the importance of giving value to artists, to give them a platform, to sell music, to make sure it’s visually appealing and reaches as many people as possible. Having that back-end knowledge to drive how I

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“THE MODEL THAT FBI RUNS OFF — 50% AUSTRALIAN MUSIC AND 50% OF THAT BEING FROM SYDNEY — IS VERY RARE.” wanted to run a label was really important. The managing director at the time, Anna Burns, was very influential on managing the financial side of it. With every project she would ask “How can we make this, so it always breaks even?” I think being that discerning over those kinds of things at the time, has meant that I can try as hard as I can to create value for artists, while not constantly losing money; which is very easy when you’re running a small label.

KZ: You also mentioned that you were inspired by ancient alien theories and the altered state of consciousness. What about the elusive and the intangible captures you?

AG: I was really deep into quasi-conspiracy theories and ancient alien theory. I had to actually pull myself out of how deep I was in it, because you can just keep going. I’m definitely a spiritual person in that kind of way — I really like questioning everything. I think questioning everything is important to understand more about yourself and what you want from the world and the life that you have.

KZ: Did it influence your music at all?

AG: I think allowing myself to be creative has definitely been a part of it. To give yourself the space and time to create is sometimes really hard to do and I didn’t necessarily come from a very creative family. So, feeling like that was purposeful took a little while. Also, calling myself an artist or musician; those words still feel very weighted. I think having that time and space, and allowing creativity to be there, is derived from those, What’s the point? What’s the purpose? kind of questions.

AMPLIFY

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KZ: What determines if you play a particular record during one of your sets? Is there a certain criterion other than pure subjectivity for selecting what to play at a gig?

AMPLIFY

AG: Yes. I definitely have an ear for specific dance music. I think dance music is endless. There are endless spectrums between genres and styles. There are also older tracks that are mastered differently, they sound different in the clubs, so you might not want to always be playing old music. Or maybe you do, if you’re wanting a rustier set. There are all these little technical things to think about when you’re picking tracks. I have a refining process of collecting a lot of music, playing it at home, playing it on the radio and finally testing it in a club and kind of knowing how tracks are going to hit. I like feeling the emotion in them, or tracks with the big wow moment. I think my mixing style is very fluid and progresses throughout the set, I don’t do very quick transitions. Or when I do, it’s for a purpose. For most of my mixing, I never want you to think that I’ve played a new track.

I want it to always be very fluid.

KZ: With an oversaturated market of streaming culture, there’s so much music available. It is becoming increasingly hard to know what constitutes an original and a remake anymore. What’s your opinion on the importance of roots, traditions, respecting originals and sources?

AG: I think it’s hugely important and I think more and more people are becoming aware of understanding where the music they love was first created. All of dance music is rooted from music created by people of colour. A lot of that, from Detroit and Chicago — and this means understanding the stories behind those artists. If you’re a dance music lover, [it means] understanding the things that came through jazz, soul and funk, led to disco. And disco led to house, and that branched out into electro and techno, also having influence on hip hop.

Those connections are really important to understand. I think by particularly being an Australian artist, we have such a distance between our culture, and those unique and old cultures.

Acknowledging that these cultures and communities overseas are so inherently ingrained within the music that we love, is the very basic first step. But I also believe that more artists should be crediting their references as well.

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"YOU REALLY NEED TO GIVE TO YOUR COMMUNITY, TO EXPECT ANYTHING FROM IT." KZ: You’ve been an undeniable force within the cultural and musical landscape of Australia, what advice would you give to individuals who follow such aspirations?

AG: One of the things that I say to myself is, and I’ve said to myself through every opportunity that I’ve received, you really need to give to your community, to expect anything from it. I’ve lived by that for many, many years. If someone needs you to volunteer their time, if someone asks you to do or be part of something — saying yes is really important.

I think giving up your time and being available for your community, fosters more creativity and opportunities for other people. If you want to be active in the community for a really long time, building those roots and supporting other people is the key.

CHECK OUT ANDY'S MUSIC

OUR CONVERSATIONS AS BODIES, AS DAMS

by Rebekah Baston CW: Blood I’ve just got to get this out.

In the dark, the violent dark, how was coffee? — how’d you sleep?

I drown in nothing.

The best years of your life!

Down and out, I’m out. I’m out.

Back to depth, in seconds he’s gone. crisp and black — pretty badly.

But then back to the pitch, to the white buzz.

The city sleeps its desperate slumber,

The bus, louder than an ocean, crisp and blue, it calls me back.

twinkling, clambering to keep the little people awake.

The moon lingers still, shallow and feverish, with eyes pink and puffed like cotton.

Concealed blue skies, and tears.

The people almost make me laugh,

And I sink into lonely, again and again, that gasps of air can’t quite quench.

(arguing with themselves and empty seats) were they not so damn angry.

Waking up to him feels like an alarm, different time zones, like waiting for lunch.

Zombie hands, zombie arms, legs.

I’m still asleep. I’m getting paid to sleep.

I laugh and cry into my phone, strings of ones and zeros like long, empty roller coaster escalators.

But he’s still there, he always is.

I miss him in every second.

I pick fights, like my teeth, with hands and lips, dry and open.

I know it hurts, I can see the blood,

FICTION

Our conversations as bodies, as dams, and my job at four am.

In every missed call.

Wandering, recounted days.

I want to feel the skin behind my screen.

Then fall asleep to laptop night lights, heavy breathing like he’s right there.

I hope he has a good night’s sleep.

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AMPLIFY

Reviewed by Alice Winn

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CW: Racism

More often than not, Western media’s representation of people of colour is severely lacking, misinformed or deluged with stereotypes and bias towards assimilation. Mainstream movies and TV shows — and Australian media is no exception — are still predominantly white and largely responsible for circulating Islamophobic perceptions in society throughout history, most notably in the 2000s.

Even recently, with the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the considerable spike in racism and abuse towards the Asian community, it is glaringly evident that harmful archetypes towards people of colour are still prevalent.

Director Sereen Oman, states, “the representation of Muslim people in mainstream media has always been violent and oppressive.” Her debut film, Towel Head follows a young Muslim musician, Layla, struggling in a prejudiced music industry for the sake of her passion, self-love and identity. As a young Muslim woman herself, Sereen emphasises that not only was she not represented on TV in any way, but she felt as if assimilation was the only path towards acceptance into white society. Prevailing stereotypes notoriously steer people of colour into narrowed pathways of success, mostly consisting of STEM or healthcare-related careers. Thus, making more creative pathways, such as music and film, even harder to pursue than they already are.

AMPLIFY

I had the privilege of viewing Towel Head prior to its release. It was produced for a UTS Media Arts and Production Capstone project, with Raeanne Chami as the producer, and a collective of other young talents whose combined skills bring this story to life. As a person of colour myself, there were many moments in the film’s duration that resonated with me. In particular, the demeanour of the judges was eerily remnant of many (or most) of the encounters I have had with white people, especially those in positions of power. The condescending mannerisms, flaunt of power, and air of superiority as they place a value on you, based on their standards, hit very close to home.

Layla was wonderfully portrayed by Safia Arain (from the upcoming Stan Original Series Bump). It was incredibly refreshing to see a Muslim character who had no personal issues with her religion, yet still suffered due to the worlds’ issue with it. The film also explores other relatable struggles such as self-criticism and insecurity. Many young immigrants or first-generation Australians suffer from multiple identity crises while they grow up in Western society, largely due to limited representation in mainstream media. It made such an impact to see unspoken, unexplained acceptance for one’s culture and faith — as if it were a given. Additionally, the invasive presence of Layla’s rather loud and obnoxious subconscious captured what many creatives go through. The pursuit of her dream is challenging enough as it is, hence, the judges’ prejudice against her hijab was a jab of injustice I could not swallow, but was not surprised by.

Towel Head succinctly encapsulates the many layers of Layla’s story in only 14 minutes. When representation makes all the difference, it is very inspiring to see the next generation of filmmakers and creatives alike develop work of deeper meaning. Unapologetic, authentic and true; seeing Layla overcome her personal obstacles and take a stance in the face of her oppressor truly reflects the energy young people of colour have fiercely emanated in recent times. I’m truly looking forward to the future works of the talent behind this production; changes come in waves and I sense a strong one.

Find out more @towelheadshortfilm

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NON-FICTION

Comatose in the Comment Section: Internet Trolls, Doom Scrolling and Procrastination

by Nour Jamal

Like zombies undead, we collectively tap that video on our newsfeed. It’s trending now, three years since it was uploaded. Alas, today is the day this video brings out the wrath of us all. Together we head to the comments section. Suddenly, we all have something to say. “Conspiracy theory.” “Fake.”

Unconsciously, the comment section becomes a tangle of fallacious arguments, memes, and frazzled nerves.

There’s little meaning behind this kind of nonsense — no genuine recognition.

Nothing but the trophy of getting the most likes; a worthless certificate that only proves you’ve been trolling comment sections long enough to know that blatantly commenting hate is the easiest way to plant your metaphorical flag in the data dirt pile.

We’ve all seen those problematic pages — usually anonymous — that post purposefully antagonistic content to incite reactions. It’s a damaging cycle.

We follow them. Then unfollow them. Then follow them once again. We love scrolling through the contentious content. Without fail, we repeatedly prove one of the most shameful faults in the human condition: the desire to seek out controversy. We like to see our prejudices exposed. We find enjoyment watching people disagree, argue and blame each other — it’s entertaining.

Yet, online, people are rarely what they seem. Some become nothing but a phantom of perfection, squeezed into Instagram stories and constructed through filters. Anything to feel relatable. Anything to boost engagement.

Those scattered hearts feel like warm hugs, peeking out from underneath angry-reacts and meaningless comments.

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ENTER THE VOID You scroll as insincere invitations seem to possess your thumb. Images capture your interest in moments of suspense. You’re captivated by clickbait thumbnails, despite knowing they aren’t real. It’s the imitation of reality that intrigues you. Thoughts that crossed your mind that minute, days — or even months — before, present themselves to you. You’ve found what you’re seeking.

You find recommendations, suggestions to join others, and you enter the labyrinth. Every step is uncertain but thrilling.

In a rare moment of distraction, you notice more and more recommendations. Is it so wrong to console yourself with some satirical memes? A little laugh in the darkness can’t be so bad.

NON-FICTION

Walls have ears. Doors have eyes. But the traveller’s intuition is weak. The recommendations — they soon begin to scare you — they begin to push the boundaries of comfortability.

You want to back away... but you’ve made it so far.

Something shifts — Just another illusion. But why is your heart beating so fast?

You’ve shut your eyes just to open them again.

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“Time isn’t really passing if you’re not feeling anything.”

THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND You’ve been scrolling for some time now. Your open tabs sit stationary. Your to-do list remains untouched. Time isn’t really passing if you’re not feeling anything. You put off the day ahead and jump into another rabbit hole of purposeless content.

Nothing but music marks the passing of time. The changing ambience set by each song makes for a confusing mood, sometimes disturbing. Every song acts as a marker, reminding you of another time — a playlist of empty memories — however none of them are able to pull you from the void of your newsfeed. The songs amble past, syncopated with the disconnected rhythm of your scrolling fingers.

NOUR JAMAL

You’ve now joined the army of the lifeless. Exanimate, you scroll. Nothing seems to truly fill the void of uncertainty.

One more thread. One more reaction. One more argument between someone you don’t know and their cousin from 2014.

Time, emotions and intention — they all get warped online.

That’s why thoughtlessly scrolling through the content of strangers can be dangerous. We don’t register the emotions of a Tweet the same way we read the facial expressions of another person. In real life, we decide in a split second whether to laugh, or to show empathy, compassion, and understanding. Online, it feels like only shreds of these emotions seep through the screen. It’s so easy to get caught in the whirlpool of opinions, forgetting there are complex human beings sitting on the other side of the screen.

The next time you enter a doom scroll cycle, try to remember that others online are worth more than a mere fragment of our consciousness.

Clutch onto that, and try to dream brighter than your screen.

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A Glitch Playlist Immaterial by SOPHIE Hot Sugar by Glass Animals Claws by Charlie XCX Martini by The Presents Before by James Blake OFFHAND

Blue by Eiffel 65, Flume At Night by Shakedown, Peggy Gou Cyber Sex by Doja Cat Skinrat by Big Yawn Around the World by Daft Punk Video Girl by FKA twigs OneFourThree by Hermitude So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings by Carlone Polachek TESSELATE by BAYNK, Tei Shi Cyber Stockholm Syndrome by Rina Sawayama Flaphead by Aphex Twin So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth by Grimes Meta Physical by Andy Garvey

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Phishy Business: A Guide to Cyber Security

NON-FICTION

by Vanessa Love, Director of Education at UTS Cyber Security Society.

Our societies now run on new technological infrastructure that, if compromised, could result in frustration, extreme loss or even the destruction of our civilisation as a whole.

Beware of Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are sent by bad actors in an attempt to In this article, we’re going to teach you some basic security get you to reveal sensitive information about yourself. measures you can implement to avoid identity theft, Often these look like legitimate emails you would receive being hacked, and the loss of personal data and accounts. from companies, however, when you click on links, download attachments, or respond to these emails, you’re actually sending your data to the hackers. There are some ways to identify these emails. First, check for any common spelling mistakes. A poorly drafted email could be a phishing attempt. Second, look at the company that’s Implement 2FA sending the email and ask yourself questions. Do I have 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) is offered by most websites an account with this website? Have they ever contacted as a way to keep your account secure. This involves me before? They’re asking for my bank details; shouldn’t downloading an app on your phone and connecting it to they already have them? Third, go into the properties of your account. When you next log into your account and the email and check the address in the reply field. If the provide your password, you will also be asked for a token URL is not correct and redirects to a suspicious domain, from the app on your phone. Entering this code as a this is a phishing email. Fourth, even if you think the second method of authentication prevents bad actors email is legitimate, always go to the actual website to from being able to access your account if they crack your login as you usually would. There’s no need to click the password as they don’t have access to your 2FA token. link they provided you when you can go to the website online yourself.

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Encryption When storing data on hard drives or USBs, you can encrypt those devices first to help protect your data.

Using a tool like Veracrypt, you can format the drive with a password that needs to be entered every time you plug the device in. This ensures that even if you lose the device, you don’t have to worry about other people accessing your sensitive information. A word of caution though, make sure you write down the password or use a password manager. If you lose your password, you’ll be the one locked out.

Data Collection

A password manager is essential in today’s world as people usually have a variety of different accounts for services they use or have forgotten about. A free, opensource password manager like Bitwarden can help protect you online by generating strong, unique passwords for each website you visit and storing them securely in the cloud to ensure access on multiple devices. This helps avoid password re-use which can dramatically reduce your online safety because if hackers crack your password on one site, they have your password for every other account you’ve used it for.

Every account you sign up for, will collect some kind of data on you, and start to establish a profile of your online presence. Reading the terms and services of websites can be a very tedious process that no one really does, but there is a handy browser extension for that. It’s called ‘Terms of Service: Didn’t Read’ and allows you to discover at a glance how intrusive a website’s data collection and privacy policy actually are. Also, note that browser extensions themselves might not always be safe, so do your research before installing anything on your computer.

Avoiding some services altogether isn’t really an option for most people, so it’s important to remember that you are being tracked across the web and the data collected on you is being sold to other companies without your consent. Spoofing your details for accounts and deleting old ones that you no longer use is a good way to help reclaim some of your privacy and digital safety back as the fewer accounts you have, the smaller your digital footprint, and thereby the smaller your attack surface is.

“The fewer accounts you have, the smaller your digital foot� print, and thereby the smaller your attack surface is”

NON-FICTION

Password Managers

Even something as simple as going through and changing your browser settings can help to improve the privacy and security of your browser. The landscape of cyber security is constantly changing, and with it, the recommendations and courses of action you should take for your online protection. Be vigilant, not fearful, and you’ll have the best chance of staying safe online.

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NON-FICTION

CW: Eating Disorders

by Eva Harrington 32

Toxic diet culture runs rife in our society. It’s so ingrained in our lives, that it becomes an unavoidable and unfair consequence of sitting through The Bachelor ad breaks, scrolling through your Instagram on a Monday night, or reading the news articles. While diet culture was alive and thriving before the age of the internet, it has only been amplified by the speed at which deceptive, and often false, information can now travel the globe. From TikTok’s infamous ‘What I eat in a day’ trend, to Instagram influencers being sponsored by weight-loss (i.e. laxative) teas, and Youtube’s handy tips on ‘How to lose 5 kg in just 5 days’, notions of extreme dieting have been romanticised into an image of wellness and self-care.

“Notions of extreme dieting have been romanticised into an image of wellness and self-care.”

NON-FICTION

I’ve wasted many long hours, weeks, and months wishing that my body was not mine. I’ve seen the seasons shift and the weather become warmer, yet I remained stuck inside a body that refused to change. I have fallen victim to the endless scroll — the internet’s great big black hole of weight-loss tips and low-carb diets. I have swapped out foods, drank lemon water, and ran 10 kilometres, only to find myself more exhausted than refreshed. I have read up on my type of metabolism, swallowed more vitamins and counted more calories than I have spent time asking: why am I trying so hard to make myself smaller?

Seek, and you shall find. But fall too far in, and you will get caught in a sticky web of celery juice and calorie deficits, making it hard to decipher fact from fiction. The most malicious part about toxic diet programs is that they don’t work. You are always left feeling as empty as when you first started. And it’s in this moment of vulnerability and failure that they tell you to try again, with a new program or product. Some are pyramid schemes, filled with before and after photos, and falsified success stories. The cycle of low-carb diets is so addictive, it’s almost hard to break. Therefore, it’s of no surprise that many of us experience moments of profound anxiety and insecurity about our bodies. In fact, 15% of Australian men and 35% of women list body image as their number one concern.1 It is important to note here what I mean when I refer to toxic diet culture: any programs, regimes or advertisements which promote extreme weight loss and

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restriction, as well as any magic pills or meal replacement products. Simply put, if a qualified health professional wouldn’t advise it, it’s probably not the go.

EVA HARRINGTON

Unfortunately, toxic diet culture has become the internet’s most manipulative friend, creating a cyber club of selfcomparison and inadequacy. One that, without great regulation and constant vigilance, can become a danger to the mental health of count-less individuals. So, the question stands: how can we repair this glitch in the system? Can we filter out what we do not wish to hear?

If we ignore it for long enough, will it just fade away?

The problem that lies within solving toxic diet culture is that we created it. In turn, many people and businesses profit from the insecurity, guilt and unfair comparisons, which live rent-free in our consciousness. It is a byproduct of the unrealistic and unattainable body standards society has placed upon us. We cannot repair this glitch, because that would insinuate that this was an error, but toxic diet culture is not a mistake. It is a carefully curated masterpiece of manipulation.

Perhaps the best, and only way to overcome toxic diet culture is to dismantle it from the inside. We can’t go over it. We can’t go under it. So, we’ve got to go through it. By this, I do not mean become complacent at the feet of diet culture, or give in to another poorly made ad. We must call out the businesses and influencers who prey on the insecurities of others, we must ask more questions and think twice before buying a diet product online. And we must ask for qualified advice. We should follow people who adore their natural bodies, and give ourselves the space to do the same.

I am still trying to stop myself from wanting to be smaller, but with each step I take away from toxic diet culture, I feel more and more fulfilled. Dismantling diet culture means putting yourself first. It means unplugging and rewiring all the parts of the internet that said you were too much of this, or too little of that. It will take time and it may be slow, but the earlier you start, the quicker you will grow into yourself.

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“We cannot repair this glitch, because that would insinuate that this was an error, but toxic diet culture is not a mistake. It is a carefully curated masterpiece of manipulation.”

References

1. The National Eating Disorders Collaboration. (2010). "Eating Disorders Prevention, Treatment & Management: An Evidence Review." 1library.net/document/y90r1xry-disorders-prevention-treatment-management-evidence-national-disorders-collaboration.html

WAR

BY BRANDON SIOW

SHOWCASE

He’s always there, waiting to taunt me.

It was only recently that we finally got to meet Yet I still don’t know why he’s after me.

He said I should never draw him out again but I would suffer if I don’t try.

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SHOWCASE

SHOWCASE

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MUSIC IN THE ETERNAL PRESENT

by Luca Moujaes CW: Death

NON-FICTION

Pre-internet albums that have been acclaimed years after release you should check out: Fishmans – Long Season Fishmans – 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare Sweet Trip - velocity : design : comfort Slint - Spiderland

In this age of the eternal present, the entire history of music is just a few clicks away.

Not only does this enable artists and their music to reach the most distant listeners across the world, but an underlying side effect of streaming services is the resurgence of artists that may not have been recognised for their incredible art during their active years.

Sites such as RateYourMusic (RYM), Reddit and 4chan have become synonymous with championing and successfully spreading such albums. So much so, that albums such as Fishmans’ Long Season have far surpassed their popularity from their active years.

Fishmans is a Japanese dub/dream pop/psychrock band that barely gained international attention throughout their career (1991– 1997). Whilst selling shows of a couple thousand in their home town of Tokyo, their fan base was mainly in Japan. After six years of small, national tours, lacklustre sales, and six albums, they decided to disband after their bassist, Yuzuru Kashiwabara, grew disinterested in continuing his musical career.

Fishmans performed their final live show on December 28, 1998, playing songs across their whole discography and finishing with a full, epic performance of their one-track album Long Season — a 35-minute long, single-track journey through psych-rock, dub and dream pop. This concluded an incredible 130-minute performance, spanning some of their most acclaimed songs.

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However, three months after this final performance, Fishmans’ lead singer, Shinji Sato, known for his distinctive, unique voice, died suddenly and tragically on March 15, 1999.

This final concert was released as a live album on September 29, 1999. The album called 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare (aptly translating to ‘A Men’s Farewell: December 28, 1998’) is Fishmans’ final and most acclaimed release. RYM users have rated 98.12.28 as the 16th best album of all time, following some of the most acclaimed artists in history, such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead and David Bowie, as well as ranking it the best live album ever. It also has the highest user rating of all time, with an average rating of 4.37 out of 5.

the incredible smorgasbord of sounds and beautifully hypnotic build-ups and solos.

The album is an exploration of sound that has an uncanny ability to whisk me away to some river along a lush forest, or the middle of a lilylittered pond. Shinji Sato’s vocals are a wisp of fresh air in a blissful instrumental landscape.

NON-FICTION

My first experience with Fishmans was listening to the 35-minute long piece Long Season on a regional train out of Sydney. The train ride was the perfect environment for this first listening experience of Fishmans; as my journey progressed from urban to relatively rural, coastal scenery, I was absorbed in

“LONG SEASON WILL ALWAYS STAY WITH YOU. IT WILL GROW, IT WILL GET ENORMOUS, IT WILL BECOME A TITAN. AND THEN, IT’LL BECOME A LILY IN A SMALL POND AGAIN.”

Fishmans – Long Season

Long Season is charming in so many ways.

It has a sense of progression I had never quite heard before. Whereas most classic prog-rock albums and rock releases generally revolve around length and progression, slowly metamorphosing into an air of enormity and greatness, into being more extensive than the listener and drowning them under a wall of sound. On the other hand, Long Season will always stay with you. It will grow, it will get enormous, it will become a titan. And then, it’ll become a lily in a small pond again. It will take you to the end to keep you at its level, which leads me to my second point: Long Season is your friend.

There is something about the arrangement that makes every single instrument and moment of this album friendly and charming.

When the simplistic piano melody that kicked off the album returns around the last leg, it’s like reuniting with an old friend you lost barely 20 minutes ago.

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LUCA MOUJAES

Finally, to me, this album takes inspiration from life itself, ending how it started, so short, and yet so beautiful, with some ups and downs, but all precious in the end. The end is built into the beginning.

But Fishmans’ most stunning release is 98.12.28. Every note is played with purpose, with a desire to close a chapter of a vast book as beautifully as possible. The live rendition of Long Season is probably my favourite piece of music ever; every time I listen, I listen to the whole 45 minutes. It feels like a final goodbye to Sato’s world and, though hard to imagine, is arguably better than the studio version.

Fishmans – 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare

And it is stunning how, with lyrics that I cannot understand and, from what I’ve investigated, are quite simplistic, this album can make me feel so much. You can feel the love in each note played, not only the love for the music, but also a genuine love of life.

As the track concludes, gradually, each instrument fades away as Sato hums his final harmonies to that same synth line repeated throughout the track for so long, until that too fades away. Like that, one of the most outstanding live performances ever, ends. As it ends there’s a feeling of bittersweet, hopeful catharsis, and you’re left thinking, ‘what now?’.

This is dream-pop/dub taken to its logical conclusion. No album in the genre has ever exceeded it. It’s a tragedy because, not only did it take far too long for Fishmans’ music to gain some form of international recognition, but neither the keyboardist, Honzi (who died in 2007), nor Sato lived to see it.

Perhaps this album has seen so much love and respect in retrospect due to the circumstances surrounding it, because as utterly wonderful as 98.12.28 is, it’s also a significant ‘what-if’ of pre-internet artists. How many albums out there will generations to come discover and push into the limelight years after their creation?

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Want more Vertigo?

VERTIGO

VERTIGO GLITCH

VOLUME TWO:GLITCH

2

3 NIGHT STAND WITH RNA

by Olivia Mathis and Sevin Pakbaz

2021

COVER ARTWORK

by Tara Frawley

CYBORG WITCH THEATRE

by Janey Li

TECHNOLOGY’S IMPLICIT RACIAL BIAS

by Katherine Rajwar

READ VERTIGO ON ISSUU

CLOUD GARDEN

by Doreen Zheng

SHOWCASE

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DOREEN ZHENG

SHOWCASE

Cloud garden is a visualisation of processes, as objects are pushed through various material forms. This transformation is mapped in a layered point cloud space, where participants can travel through the process itself.

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SUCCUMBING TO DYSTOPIA

by Angela Jin

NON-FICTION

The smell is ever present, but the cold air is refreshing.

People are drawn indoors. They know today is not the day to be outside. Buildings, not ten metres ahead of you, appear hazy behind a thin layer of smog.

You open up the air quality app, as if expecting different news. The little cartoon face next to ‘Sydney’ — home — is green and smiling. But you are not in Sydney; you are not home. The face next to the city you’re in is deep purple and wearing a respirator mask.

Avoid outdoor exercise. Close your windows to avoid dirty outdoor air. Wear a mask outdoors. Run an air purifier.

The words mean nothing to you anymore.

You admonish yourself for running an errand today. Your phone pings as your relatives remind you to stay indoors.

You don’t want to go to the hospital again, just because you started coughing blood. Just China things, you guess.

If you must go out, wear a good quality mask with a filter.

Suddenly, out of the smog looms a billboard. There’s nothing else in sight.

抖音记录美好的生活

The hazy air gives the lights and the billboard an ethereal quality. Your eyes sweep over the message, the smiling woman, the logo, and you keep walking.

“Do you have Douyin?” your aunt once asked you.

“No,” you replied. You’re not interested in this Chinese app, but she nonetheless makes you watch some very unfunny (and frankly, kind of misogynistic) Douyin videos, reminiscent of 2009 YouTube skits.

You head into a shopping centre, hoping to get a hot drink.

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You’re not thirsty, but the wind has chilled your fingers until they’ve gone numb, despite the label on your gloves saying wind resistant.

As you wait for your matcha latte — because the coffee here is a travesty — you see a row of claw machines and mystery box vending machines just beyond the seating area of the cafe. They all sport the black, light blue and red 抖音 Douyin logo. You didn’t know that claw machines could be sponsored. You absentmindedly wonder if Twitter would ever do something like this — have their own range of vending machines.

You stumble down the stairs to the subway station. You walk down a tunnel with glowing clean, white ads on the walls. You don’t register what is being sold, only that fifty metres of ad space were all promoting the same thing.

Over and over again.

You take off your bag and heavy coat to put through the X-ray machine at the entrance. A station attendant takes your water bottle aside to make sure that you are indeed carrying water, and not something more dangerous.

Finally, you walk up to the ticket barrier. Your matcha latte from earlier was not able to defrost your fingers entirely; they are still clumsy as you try to pull out your metro card. You might miss home, but you certainly don’t miss Sydney’s third-rate transport system.

As the two sets of doors open for you, you squeeze onto the train. You stand awkwardly between a tiny old lady sitting on a bag big enough to envelope her, and a gangly young man. Two middle aged men on either end of the carriage are on their phones, their volume at full blast. You wonder if they’ve ever heard of earphones.

People around you glance at you — you’re a girl with blue hair, after all — then bow their heads to look at their phones again. You see their eyes shine from the glow of

their screens. You’re curious. You peek at a screen near you.

You recognise the interface. You recognise the logo.

You look at another screen. Douyin again.

Your attention and confusion pique. You’re not sure if it’s the cultural difference, or if Douyin videos just aren’t that good — your 60-year-old aunt isn’t exactly known for her good taste in humour.

The reception underground isn’t strong enough for your VPN to connect. You sigh. No Instagram or Reddit scrolling until you alight and rejoin the surface world.

You gaze out the window to the zoetrope subway ads.

Hundreds of screens, mounted to the wall of the subway tunnel, fly by; all playing the same advertisement until they blend together into one moving image. There is no sound, of course, but you see a man — a talk show host well known enough that even you, a foreigner, would recognise — baking in the kitchen. He’s having a great time. You see the Douyin logo in the corner.

Oh, you realise, it’s a Douyin ad.

Your eyebrows draw together and your forehead creases as you try to remember the last time a Western social media platform went this hard at promoting themselves.

You don’t think Zuckerberg would even have the gall to plaster Facebook ads on every surface of the real world.

No one in the train sees the ads outside the window. They are all watching their own Douyin apps.

NON-FICTION

Oh, it’s Douyin.

Of course, it is.

When you’re finally in the back of a taxi — over population means that labour here is dirt cheap and you can afford to catch as many taxis as you want — you connect to your VPN and open up Instagram. The caption underneath a selfie of a beautiful, young influencer reads: Guysssss, I FINALLY made a TikTok account! Go follow me @...

Confusion piques again, as does something else. You think it’s dread. You don’t understand why anyone in the Western world would want to download this dystopian app.

The taxi weaves in and out of the traffic jam almost effortlessly, with precision and callousness that you don’t have. Across all twelve lanes, there are twenty other taxis doing the same. You would never survive the regular roads of China, let alone the fury roads. You don’t think about how sustainable it is for China to have over 240 million cars on the road.

You drive by another billboard — a huge digital, LED screen that is probably responsible for half the light pollution in this city — and read its message. An actor is going to do a live broadcast on TikTok tomorrow. The tagline is the same as it’s always been:

抖音 – 记录美好的生活

Douyin. Record your beautiful life.

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Cyborg Witch Theatre SHOWCASE

by Janey Li

T

his project was made as part of the 2020 Visual Communication Honours course. Thank you to studio leader Andrew Burrell, course director Zoe Sadokierski, and faculty members including Jacqueline Lorber Kasunic, Ali Chalmers Braithwaite, and Jacqueline Gothe. And to all my peers in the 2020 Viscom Honours cohort.

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C

yborg Witch Theatre is a website where intersectional identity is constructed and performed, through the metaphor of a theatre.

Users are invited to take to the stage in this exploration of queer, Chinese-Australian identity as a performer, observer, and voyeur.

Enter the site here:

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JANEY LI

Scene 1: Cyborg Love Poems Enter — Cyborg Witches X, Y, Z Z: Initialise 🡢 sweetened speech Y: Machine 🡢 learning we teach.

X: A stage, wouldn’t you 🡢 rather?

Y: Take the tongue 🡢 of the mother X: Now an offering of 🡢 your own Z: This 🡢 wordWorld thus sown.

Y: Next, to spit 🡢 out the spoken X: These cyborg love 🡢 poems.

[Play scene] X: Spelled and stewing 🡢 Z: Your 🡢 voices are brewing.

X: Summoned! So we float 🡢 Y: Fresh bodies to 🡢 remote.

— Exit

T

he first scene explores speech as spell, using speech recognition and machine learning poetry.

These ‘Cyborg Love Poems’ were generated with a model trained on Chinese poetry, and once uttered by the user, are magicked across the stage.

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From one year to next, A year from the skin flashed goodbye.

The thick mouth taken The long inverted yarn falls deeper still.

Boil and boil, white cloud nest.

The window is hot from the city noon Where people are entangled in the road.

Calling dragonflies, wind and rain The flowers are in the dust once more.

Our small days, a passion for eating

Incense calls from the young and the old.

Rain Road, the hands awkward and sweet It is better to show your intentions.

Listen to gold We swim in flowers Peach leaves with love, our joyous meeting Poems do not understand do not dare listen.

SHOWCASE

The sweat of the season Fresh air without washing It’s hot out of darkness Take the most strange pond flowers in the south and spit out the scent.

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JANEY LI

S

cene 2 transforms gesture into ritual by using motion tracking to conjure an interactive opera.

Inspired by the orchid hand gestures of Chinese opera, users are invited to use their movements to conduct the 3D hands and orchid props, and cue sound files as instruments.

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SHOWCASE

Scene 2: Opera of the Orchid Enter — Cyborg Witches X, Y, Z 🡢 Z: Gestures we have seen 🡢 Y: Desires do they glean. 🡢 X: Here the mirrors do know Y: Greet them for 🡢 a show. 🡢 X: The orchids will perfume Z: By hands 🡢 heirloom’d 🡢 Y: This opera thus cast 🡢 X: Not to answer, but to ask.

[Play scene] 🡢 X: For whatever’s yet to input Y: Your futures are 🡢 afoot.

Z: And all 🡢 that’s left unsaid 🡢 X: Your choices be not bled.

— Exit

My Life As a Digital

Hoarder

by Erin Ewen

FICTION

04:02 I wake up to my phone vibrating. I forgot to turn on Do Not Disturb last night when I fell asleep watching Aladdin (1992). I’ve contorted my body into the shape of an avantgarde pretzel to stop my laptop from falling off the edge of the bed. I’m really glad I bought Disney+. And by bought, I mean, I’m glad I have access to my boyfriend’s account.

I need to pee, so I get up, trying hard not to wake him.

“Can you pass my phone?” he mumbles to me as I slide back into bed.

09:00 Now my wrist is vibrating. It’s the daily alarm I’ve set on my FitBit. A little bird flashes on the screen, chirping. Or maybe it’s playing the trumpet. I can’t remember because I always silence it so quickly. The buzzing really annoys me. Gotta take my pill.

09:17 I’ve already seen three different videos about baked feta pasta.

09:30 18,629 unread emails. I try not to look at the number when I open my Outlook. It overwhelms me. I scroll through my inbox, past new emails from Menulog, Facebook, eBay, Glassons, Sydney Opera House, Indeed, Domino’s and Moshtix. I make a mental note to separate my spam from the rest of my emails.

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Some people collect old newspapers, Pokemon cards, or shoes. My hoarding problem is far more insidious. I keep data.

Emails, photos, messages. I have a strict aversion to deleting anything from my phone or computer that I might one day need. Apparently, this includes a 2 for 1 pizza voucher that expired three years ago. Or, multiple pictures of an old man holding a giant onion.

09:46 I open Facebook. My notifications are mostly from random people, talking on pages I don’t actually care about.

Someone’s looking for a new housemate on FairyFloss. I left Melbourne over eight months ago. I hover over some messages I received days before. Should probably respond to those today. I make another mental note.

FICTION

09:55 My to-do list is up to date. My tasks sit in neat little rows, waiting to be ticked off. I watch the fourth video about baked feta pasta for the day. When did Instagram even get the reels update? I can’t remember what I used to spend my time doing before it.

10:02 Okay, well I didn’t start on the hour so I’ve gotta wait until 11, obviously. I watch videos on Youtube about how to be more productive.

10:44 Your disk is almost full It’s been doing that for a while. Without a second thought, I click ignore, and the notification on the top right hand corner of my screen disappears. For now. The yellow warning sign clearly isn’t enough to motivate me to trawl through years of files.

11:12 Okay, no, seriously. I need to start working. I open my Gmail.

Oh my God, why is Youtube sending me so many emails?

Wait, no. Wrong inbox. I open my other Gmail. Mark as important. Update to-do list.

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11:36 My desk plant has a new sprout! I go to take a photo, but my phone storage is full. Shit.

I’ve really gotta sort that. I wonder where my hard drive is?

I think about the almost immeasurable weight of my phone as I put it back in my pocket.

I carry years of junk with me at all times.

Sometimes, I think about the scope of my digital footprint, and quite frankly, it scares me. I remember the iMac photo shoots uploaded to MySpace. The keyboard warrior arguments with strangers on Facebook. My ‘About Me’ tab on Tumblr from 2014. My chest starts to hurt a little. Are my Neopets dead? Has the Hotmail I made when I was 11 been hacked? Hey Google, how do I track down every photo of someone, ever uploaded to the internet? Asking for a friend.

And yet, even the things I can control, I let fester, until I’m routinely pressing that sweet little ignore button while I’m four Bridgerton (2020) episodes deep.

FICTION

I’m the only one being hurt by this kind of procrastination. And yet, I seemingly refuse to change. I need Mari Kondo to declutter my digital life.

12:05 Pee break. On my way back to my desk, I find myself laying on my bed, scrolling. Get up, I think. Baked feta pasta, replies TikTok.

17:52 Somehow, I reach a point where the dent in my to-do list feels satisfactory. I close my laptop with a sigh, as if I’m not about to spend the next few hours staring into its screen again.

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18:30 We decide to watch The Thing. It’s on Amazon Prime, which is perfect, because I’m already subscribed. I know this, because they take $6.99 out of my account every month. I’ve never actually streamed anything on Amazon Prime, I just wanted a discounted book for my Kindle, and accidentally signed up.

I can’t remember my password. This is a common occurrence. I try to recover it, but it requires me to input a special code sent to the number I had when I set up the account. That number is connected to an overseas SIM card I had one-and-a-half years ago. I can’t update my details without authenticating the account. I chastise myself for being so disorganised. I’m too afraid to go on Putlocker because I don’t want to get a virus on my computer. I have too much important stuff on there. We decide to watch Twilight instead.

ERIN EWEN

20:39 We continue with back-to-back episodes of Parks and Recreation. I start to get a bit of headache and think maybe I should buy those blue light blocking glasses. They’ll probably do the trick.

22:27 “Where did we get up to in Aladdin last night?”

My boyfriend asks.

“Just after ‘A Whole New World,’” I reply. “I think.”

01:16 We treat ourselves to another little scroll before sleeping. People have started putting capsicum, and olives, in their baked feta pasta. I put my phone down, and forget to turn on Do Not Disturb again.

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SHOWCAE

SHOWCASE

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IN CONVERSATION WITH

UTS STARTUPS

Interviewed and photographed by Sevin Pakbaz

AMPLIFY

“Our job is to inspire people at UTS to become entrepreneurs...”

At the forefront of modernisation in the commercial world knowledge and confidence that needed to explore has been the rise of startups. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundations highlighted the popularity of tech-startups, reporting that computer and electronics manufacturing startups have boosted by 78% from 2007 to 2016. Right now, America leads the global market for tech related startups, with their profits coming in at $1.6 trillion in 2019.

New technologies are constantly being implemented around the world to solve problems across various startup industries and sectors. Last year, the global community especially relied on advanced startups, local and international, and their online functions to operate in lockdown. Companies such as AfterPay, DoorDash and Uber were popular. Let’s not forget how our beloved social media apps — Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and WhatsApp — initially launched in home offices too.

We rely on services like these, everyday.

However, getting involved in this vast, fast-paced and ever-changing sector can be scary to students, particularly those who are encouraged to follow traditional career paths. Often entrepreneurship can be misunderstood and may seem overwhelming — strict deadlines, hours of planning, and a crucial need for self-discipline — but UTS Startups is here to help students dip their toes into the field, with no strings attached. Not only do they guide students in developing the skills,

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entrepreneurship, but they also host events to give participants a taste of startup culture, and inspire them to tap into their inner entrepreneur.

Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Emma Early, the UTS Startups Operations Manager, in the impressive and progressive UTS Startups headquarters in Building 16.

Emma is not only a forward-thinking powerhouse, but a former UTS Law student. As an alumna, she’s very familiar with the way UTS operates as a university and uses this knowledge to better UTS Startups for everyone involved.

During our chat, Emma explained how UTS Startups goes above and beyond in their practice, in an effort to get different types of individuals involved, especially more female-identifying entrepreneurs. She also spoke about their attitude towards work-life balance. Emma also weighed in about UTS Startup’s approach to ‘toxic grind culture’.

UTS Startups have been harnessing new technologies, with the goal to improve people’s lives. The inspiring work they do is just a small glimpse into what the high-tech future holds.

UTS Startups is the home of entrepreneurship at UTS. Our job is to inspire people at UTS to become entrepreneurs, and then support them on their journey, whatever that may look like. We do that in a number of ways. There are lots of different ways to dip your toe into the water of entrepreneurship, there are lots of different opportunities. We start by helping develop the entrepreneurial mindset and skill set by providing lots of different relevant opportunities.

At the earlier end of the scale, we want to help through workshops and events. We’ve got some online digital entrepreneurial experiences on our website (startups.uts. edu.au) that you can access on demand, whenever you want. This year, excitingly, we will hopefully be doing more of them online. Most of our things will be available in hybrid format, just so it’s more accessible. But we’re definitely finding the engagement levels on Zoom or Microsoft Teams just can’t beat in-person engagement.

AMPLIFY

What exactly does UTS Startups do?

We also support students to get internships, whether they are for credit, or voluntary. All internships are great, but we focus on interning with a startup, so you can really get some insight, knowledge and experience.

We also work with subject coordinators on in-subject workshops and projects. In-subject projects are actually really cool. It might be an assignment, for example, in Digital Marketing, student teams work as the ‘agency’ and the startup works as the ‘client.’ Then you have to come up with a brief. So it’s work integrated learning.

What faculties do you work with? And what are some requirements?

All of them! UTS Startups is a program within the Innovation and Entrepreneurship unit, so we support all faculties. The UTS Startups community has students launch startups from every faculty.

All students need to apply an idea that addresses a large market, using technology. We’re all about scalable startups, facilitated with technology, to reach a lot of people really

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quickly. They need to have one person on the founding team that’s a current UTS student, or was a student within the last 12 months, meaning, other people on this team can be from outside UTS. We run an event series called, ‘Find Your Co-Founder’. So, we actually help connect people who have an idea with those who want to join their team.

SEVIN PAKBAZ

How do you help your students?

Through surveying lots of UTS Students and other team members, it was highlighted that there were three key pain-points in taking the next step. Firstly, ‘I don’t have an idea,’ secondly, ‘I don’t have a team,’ and thirdly, ‘I don’t know where to start.’ From that, we literally developed Find My Idea, which started off as an in-person workshop, but then creatively and quickly changed to an on-demand, digital experience. So now you can go to UTS.ac/findmyidea, and you can start having a look at your customer or potential idea, and turn that into a little elevator pitch. That might only take you 10 or 15 minutes. It’s basic but it can help you find your first idea (or second or third) and kickstart that.

The second issue was, ‘I don’t have a team.’ Firstly, you don’t need one. You can be a solo founder, and then grow and add to your team as needed. But if you do want to find someone, we run, Find Your Co-Founder.

This year, we’re trying to test a collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, because quite often the most common team member that someone is looking for is the tech person. Coming up soon, we are collaborating with Deep Green Biotech Hub, a program within the science faculty, and it’s going to be a ‘green sprint.’ So, a two week sprint for either people that already have a startup or students that don’t, who want to quickly find an idea, to support sustainability and the green economy. That’s exciting!

“We’re all about scalable startups, facilitated with technology, to reach a lotDo you find that the UTS Startups space is mainly male dominated, or is there equality between male and female of people really quickly.”participation?

Great question. One of the things that we’re really proud of — we track and also optimize for — is balanced representation and balanced participation. I’m purposely choosing not to say equal, as some people identify as non-binary. But what is really great about UTS Startups is that we’re well above the industry average in terms of females within the community. The average, according to Startup Muster, is around the 26% mark for women in the startup ecosystem. We are sitting at 30 to 31% mark. We’re very proud that it is above industry average, but we still don’t think it’s enough. We are continuing to work on that.

Coming up is International Women’s Day. We’re opening up to everyone, you don’t have to identify as female to come, but we’re going to open to the women in our community, as well as anyone who’s not in the UTS Startups community

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yet. There’ll be a panel, we’re collaborating with the Transdisciplinary Innovation (TDI) faculty, as well as, Kick Your Heels Off, UTSOC and maybe more. Julia French, an academic from TDI who used to work in a lot of tech startups in Silicon Valley, will be sharing her experiences on stage, as well as, one of our startups, Y Power, who help empower young people, particularly Gen Y women. One of the cofounders will be leading a workshop to help people figure out their challenge for the year, how we can contribute to moving forward together, and getting a little bit closer to a gender balance and equality.

What are the best projects that have come out of UTS Startups?

We also have Urban Plant Growers, who have developed an at-home hydroponics kit, which can grow plants, herbs, vegetables, at home on your kitchen bench. It’s nice and compact and looks great.

AMPLIFY

Last year, one of the things we were proud of was to hit 400 active startups in the UTS Startups community. The more qualitative feedback we get is that students feel more confident in their skills. They had no idea what to do when they came in, how to start working on their idea, or even how to introduce themselves to someone new. And now, by coming along to events and feeling supported and having a community of like-minded people, with hundreds of other people just like them, who know their fears and what they’re going through, has been really beneficial.

What are some current startups working on?

Steph Weiss from Arula is currently 3D printing breast prosthesis for women who have had mastectomies, due to breast cancer.

Maslow are working on a voice directed app to support young people who are living with paralysis.

What kind of interesting or inspiring Sydney city technology has come from UTS Startups?

BindiMaps are UTS Startup members, run by UTS Students and business lecturer Anna Wright, who make physical spaces more accessible for people with vision impairments.

Some of their technology is installed at UTS TAFE, shopping centers and hospitals.

“We’re a co-curricular Digitisation is affecting almost every aspect of our lives, after 2020. How does UTS Startups feel about program that wants especially workplace digitisation? to flesh out your full I personally think for UTS Startups in particular, irrespective of how new technologies emerge and are implemented university experience.

— hopefully done so carefully and thoughtfully — we can It will also look greatnever replace a physical space, with people working together, on something important. on your CV, so you’re a more attractive graduate, which is a win for everyone.”

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AMPLIFY ‘Toxic grind culture’ is often associated with startup culture.

It’s usually promoted online through bloggers and Youtubers who support the idea of waking up at 5 am, and ‘grinding’ non-stop in order to become successful. Can you comment on this unhealthy standard?

We’re not promoting that grind culture at all. I think it’s something that impacts a lot of industries, particularly in the broader startup world. It’s something we are conscious of here as well, and we try to be careful in our communications to make sure we’re not about that.

We also have our Zen Retreat in our Building 16 collaboration space, which can be used for a bit of quiet time — that could be meditation, or reading a book. It used to be an old podcast studio, so it’s soundproof and can be completely dark as well. We also encourage things like community sports days. On RUOK? Day we did a group plank. It’s important to recognise that your physical health and mental health go hand in hand. So we’re just trying to have diverse and varied offerings for members so they can dip into what they need.

Where can students find you?

We strongly value the mental health of all our members, including our staff. We are trained in mental health first-aid and how to identify potential issues for students at UTS, so that we can then refer them to relevant UTS counselling or other services. As part of the induction, and within our community resources, we have a mental health section to help keep it front-of-mind but also to provide resources if and when members need it.

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Our website, startups.uts.edu.au. On Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn we are @UTSStartups.

Can’t keep up?

Make your academic life easier with our Peer Tutoring program.

Photographer: FJ Gaylor

Enquire Now UTS Tower Building, Level 3, Room 22 | (02) 9514 1155 utsstudentsassociation.org.au/peertutoring

Art by Doreen Zheng

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<b>Schism</b>

by Tony Phan Chaos reigns within me.

That’s fine —

as long as nothing spills over.

These guys throw jokes onto the table

so easily.

My cards are invisible.

That’s fine —

I know a few hackers who can see them.

FICTION

The world seems fractured

by zealous disease — factions at war for unknowable gods, starving for love

that’s never enough.

That’s fine.

<i>As long as I dream of peace beneath these electric trees — it’s fine.</i>

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ZOOM FATIGUE

BY ANNA LEI

The digitisation of the workplace and the loss of campus culture — what our generation is (silently) facing.

NON-FICTION

As the new year began, another lock-down seized Sydney. Since then, snap lockdowns around the country put capital cities at standstill. State borders have been opening and closing so fast, it’s hard to keep track. Amidst all the chaos and confusion, one thing remains certain — the future for those entering the workforce has changed indefinitely. As an approaching graduate who has spent her past three years involved in campus life, hustling through countless networking events and meeting a handful of mentors, there is still an unshakeable feeling of doom and despair whenever thoughts of what was and what could be, arise.

What has seemed to slip the minds of many who have already completed tertiary education, is that classrooms — the learning hubs that nurture the next generation — have changed dramatically. From my experience and observations, it appears that mass digitisation will cause major consequences that reshape campus and workplace culture. While working from home has strong benefits, including reduced commute time, potentially improving productivity, and schedule flexibility, the social settings that traditionally provided opportunities for upskilling and networking have been stymied.

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ants

Zoom Meeting

Long gone are the days where you could ask a classmate to join you at a study session after class, or grab drinks at The Underground after a successfully completed assignment, or even just having a heated debate in class over which version of The Office is superior.

These seemingly trivial interactions contribute to a bigger social network that is now under threat.

The value of in-person social interaction cannot be virtually manufactured no matter how many breakout rooms are used on Zoom and no matter how many Friday night drinks are held on Microsoft Teams.

This problem is exacerbated in many workplaces where flexible work arrangements and remote working have already been introduced, with no plans to revert back to what it once was. A Gartner, Inc. survey conducted in March 2020 revealed that 74% of those that answered will move at least 5% of their previously on-site workforce to permanently remote positions post-COVID-19.1 Disconnection between colleagues, especially those that are just getting their foot in the door (such as interns and grads), have had to face more barriers than usual, namely Zoom fatigue and the loss of conversations around the water cooler. Friends I know who are just starting out their internships have grappled with not only starting a new job in a new environment amid a pandemic, but also struggling to become friends with their colleagues.

regular workplace. My mentor, who has diagnosed depression, has found the flexibility of deciding when she works has allowed her to successfully navigate her mental health whilst still executing award-winning work. Such empowerment is very telling of previous societies limitations, and should also be considered moving forward.

Long-term ramifications can be seen in how the loss (or gain) of opportunities will result in a pivotal change in workplace culture, and life, beyond university and COVID-19. What may seem to be innovative and progressive changes to workplace structures, need to be reconsidered or urged to take into account the students and young professionals of the now, who have otherwise been forgotten. How do we intend to revive what we lost, and keep what we gained for the next generation?

REFERENCES 1. GARTNER CFO SURVEY REVEALS 74% INTEND TO SHIFT SOME EMPLOYEES TO REMOTE WORK PERMANENTLY https://tinyurl.com/wjna759k

I had the privilege of mentoring some first years from the 2020 Communications cohort last year.

One of my first observations was that within the first semester of online classes, the students were already exhausted and lacking any motivation to continue their studies, which they had only just embarked on. Barely four months in, dissatisfaction was rife and many considered taking a gap year.

However, I’ve also since encountered a growing acceptance of this new lifestyle which notably, has afforded more opportunities and opened more doors for people who face barriers and stigma in the

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3 Ways TO NAIL YOUR NEXT Job Interview

p START

OFFHAND

by Anisha Premawardhana

å ÉïNEW å ÉïNEW å ÉïNEW So, you’ve sent out dozens of polished resumes to prospective employers and you finally hear something back. Thrilled at the idea of getting through to the next round of a potential new gig, the reality sinks in. No more hiding behind polite email greetings. It’s time to meet face-to-face and be the best damn candidate that steps in the room. Are you nervous? Of course. But with these 3 fool-proof job interview tips, you’ll be sure to walk out of your next interview wanting to hire yourself.

Be Smart About Your Preparation Always prepare for your interviews. Whether it’s for an unpaid internship or your dream full-time job, the right preparation will allow your natural confidence to shine through your answers.

The trick to nailing any job interview is to have a strong understanding of what you want them to remember about you. Most generic interview questions are a variation of one another. For example, more traditional questions including, “What are your greatest strengths?”, “What skillset can you bring to the role?” and “Why should we hire you?” could essentially be answered the same way.

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Pick out the most interesting aspects of your strengths and qualifications that you want to convey. It is not enough to rattle off a generic list of skills, so come prepared with specific and relevant examples from your previous work experience that exemplify each point you are trying to make. When describing your examples, feel free to get creative and relay memorable anecdotes, or showcase your personal portfolio where appropriate.

Also, don’t forget to do your due diligence and research the position, and the business beforehand. The more you know, the better you will feel walking in.

Most importantly, remember to be your own cheerleader and back yourself 110%. If you genuinely believe you’re the perfect fit for the role, they will too.

Masquerading as a deceivingly simple throw-away question, this final remark can truly stump the best of us.

‘Do you have any final questions?’

When responding, it is vital to end your interview with the same energy you started with. Use this time to your advantage by demonstrating your eagerness to be offered the position.

You’ve been granted a golden opportunity to inquire about aspects of the job you may not have covered during the interview.

‘Can you walk me through a typical day in this job?’

OFFHAND

Turn Nerves Into Excitement

Master That Dreaded Last Question

‘How would you describe the work culture here?’

Nerves are to be expected when interviewing and, in most cases, symbolise that you are gunning for something you really want. If your nerves seem to be getting the better of you before the interview, flip your inner narrative. Run through a list of all the reasons you have to be grateful or excited for this interview.

Here are a few to get you started: You’re grateful to have the opportunity to be offered an interview in this job climate.

You are excited to showcase all your previous hard work.

‘Are there opportunities to upskill within this position?’

‘What does success look like in this position and how is it measured?’

‘Do you have any hesitations about me or my qualifications that I can address before I leave?’

Remember that your main mission when it comes to job interviews, is to sell yourself to the employer. Your best chance at standing out as a top candidate is by truly being authentic to your personality when answering their questions.

You’re grateful to have more interview experience under your belt.

You’re excited about what this could mean for the progression of your career.

The built-up anxiety will eventually subside once you are in the actual job interview. Hype yourself up with a killer pep-talk, stay positive and trust in your preparation.

10010010100101 do you accept? åÉï=ë ãë

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POSIMENTE: Technology Meets Mental Health Management

by Pnina Hagege

NON-FICTION

CW: Mental ill-health, suicide, abuse

As vaccine-filled planes hit Australian soil, most of the country — including myself — rejoiced and indulged in a deep, long-overdue, sigh of relief. We watched on as our nation’s COVID-19 recovery effort began before our eyes.

Every politician’s Instagram post of a needle to the arm reconfirmed that this devastating chapter of the world’s history was beginning to end.

But just as we took that breath, a daunting statistic reemerged and cascaded across the mainstream media landscape in the context of COVID-19. “For every 1% increase in unemployment, there is a 1% increase in suicide rates.” (The Lancet)1 This statistic, plainly stated in black and white, quashed any of my wishful assumptions that our nation, despite being leaders in the response against the pandemic, would come out of this epoch unscathed and unburdened by the longlasting consequences. While concerns surrounding the physical effects of the virus have mostly subsided, we are seeing a spike in joblessness and the universal experience of pandemic-anxiety take a toll on the mental health of citizens worldwide. Experts are predicting a “second epidemic” 2 as the long term social effects of COVID-19 take hold.

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“The platform offers an innovative, centralised and holistic approach to one of the greatest challenges in our generation.”

While we couldn’t anticipate the immense impacts the pandemic would have across the globe, Australians are now at the very forefront of addressing the mental and emotional issues, anticipated to peak at the denouement of the pandemic, with the help of technology.

Cue Posimente — an intuitive platform, designed to give students and their support networks a stronger gauge on their individual mental health and wellness.

Headspace, a youth mental health service, experienced a 50% rise in referrals for young people experiencing a mental ill-health crisis.3 Statistics like this one come as no surprise; the looming, perpetual concern of becoming ill from the virus, or infecting somebody else, was (and still is) a universal experience that doesn’t discriminate.

Until now — aside from the occasional Oprah meditation podcast — technology has rarely been associated with bettering mental health. Rather, phones, laptops and all things social media are infamously synonymous with antisocial behaviour (at least by those who aren’t Millennials or Gen-Z).

However, Posimente has been designed as an intuitive platform to help students better understand their mental wellbeing. Posimente enables “educational communities” (so, schools and parents) to “easily identify, track, manage and garner insights into wellbeing within the student, teacher and family dynamic.” Anyone within this relationship trio is able to log any potential concerns — from seemingly harmless influences like sleep, physical health and friendships, through to more severe issues like bullying, mental ill-health and abuse.

NON-FICTION

This new technology has been created with a focus on early intervention, in hopes of rapidly scaling up the support available to students, their teachers and families.

So, why is this so important now? COVID-19 has propelled the already pertinent need for an improved understanding and management of mental wellbeing. The effects of the lockdown have only exacerbated issues surrounding financial distress, employment, housing security, personal relationships and social connections, across the nation.

Not to mention the unforgiving trickle down effects of joblessness and financial insecurity. The need for innovative ways to tackle emerging mental health problems has never been more pertinent. Posimente has been introduced to protect some of our most valuable members of society — students.

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PNINA HAGEGE

“This technology is a far cry from the tired, and predominantly ineffective presentations about mental health during school assemblies, that most of us were well accustomed to.”

Dan Godden, former teacher and Posimente representative says that: “Posimente was developed in collaboration with mental health professionals... to create a platform that acknowledges unique and complex mental health and wellbeing challenges. This platform will enable families, teachers and schools to contribute and seek support.

Essentially it gives everyone a voice and tries to ensure that voice is heard.”

The platform offers an innovative, centralised and holistic approach to one of the greatest challenges in our generation. This technology is a far cry from the tired, and predominantly ineffective presentations about mental health during school assemblies, that most of us were well accustomed to. Instead of being told to ‘just breathe’ or ‘let it go,’ schools and parents are being proactive with the mental health of students. It encourages students to seek help, and seek help early. It isn’t just a way to monitor a student’s mental health progress — it is symbolic of the collective responsibilities and genuine care that families and schools have for their students.

Director of Counselling and Family Therapy at Tyndale Christian School, Jan Lonsdale, says: “This new technology enables us to scale up our support, identify emerging issues and quickly get a handle on any concerning patterns.

We know that early intervention is crucial for successful support and management.

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“With most educational communities still utilising paperbased, or ad hoc manual systems, adopting a more efficient and centralised approach allows data to be analysed, trends identified and provides a more proactive method to support best practice. For instance, if there are multiple reports of bullying in a particular year, a school can quickly intervene to stamp out this behavioural concern.

Alternatively, there may be a pattern identified of student or teaching faculty stress.”

The platform, newly available for Australian schools, was piloted in 10 locations last year, across the country.

Institutions included primary, secondary and tertiary campuses, including TAFE. A myriad of resources have been allocated to the platform’s development, such as the employment of industry professionals and a vast collection of research.

It sounds almost too good to be true. So, will it work? Or does this have the potential to develop into a ‘Big Brother’ style approach towards mental ill-health detection?

Personally, the concept still feels foreign to me, even as a Millennial, so deeply entrenched in technological platforms. But, perhaps that is the key; younger students are already accustomed to using online platforms. They feel comfortable, and even confident using new technology.

Maybe Posimente will offer familiarity in addressing mental health concerns — a topic that can be often strange and unapproachable.

The real challenge that lies ahead for schools and parents is what to do once mental health complications have been detected, and if there are enough resources to adequately address their mental health concerns. Posimente appears to have nailed the method of mental ill-health detection in students. But beyond that, most schools are still illequipped with the standard ways to address mental illhealth concerns.

1. The Lancet, Covid-19, Unemployment, and Suicide. <https://www. thelancet.com/journals/ lanpsy/article/PIIS22150366(20)30141-3/fulltext>

2. CSI, Covid and Mental Health. <https://www.csi. edu.au/media/uploads/ csi_fact_sheet_covid_ and_mental_health.pdf>

3. World Socialist Website, Australian Study Reveals Rise in Mental Health Problems during COVID-19 Pandemic. <https://www.wsws.org/ en/articles/2020/09/10/ ment-s10.html>

If subsidised counselling services are still under-resourced and unemployment is becoming an even greater threat to mental wellbeing, students may well still face problems with such strains on their mental health support networks.

NON-FICTION

Posimente is clearly a step in the right direction in the ever complex journey of understanding how to combat mental ill-health. But it must be matched with unwavering support in the form of government funding for mental health services, and towards research. If not, we risk the next global crisis being even greater than the last.

Posimente is available for educational communities from primary to tertiary, supporting every level of care, from low to high risk.

For more information, visit posimente.com.au

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Pref+

by Ch’aska Cuba de Reed

CW: S

exual theme s, sexua l assa ult

PLAINTIFF: JANE DOE DEFENDANT: REDACTED WITNESS: ANN WITHAM, CEO ‘PREF+’ REPORTER’S PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDING Did I regret the application? No. If we hadn’t created it, someone else would have, and who’s to say they would have done it any better? Do I regret what happened with it? Well, I suppose to an extent. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, if that’s what you mean. But again, I don’t regret its existence, and I certainly don’t think that the application is to blame.

FICTION

Know yourself. Know your partner. Pref+.

The idea was simple. I’m honestly surprised it hadn’t been done before. We put everything on our phones and yet, I was still having these same tedious and drawn out conversations, awkward and flailing. What do I like? What don’t I like? What if I like something done by one person and not another? So, we simplified it. Here is my profile and here are my wants and needs. My preferences, if you will. Check a box here and there, share the link, and now you can access all this information yourself. Pore over it before our third date — I’m a third date kind of girl. Sorry. That was a joke. I didn’t mean to offend.

But, that was the point of the app, to take awkwardness out of the equation. To streamline the conversation. And it worked!

It worked for millions of people who downloaded in our first year. Sure, we had that initial pushback, but so did Tinder. And now online dating is the norm. As is having a Pref+ profile. My parents use it. It’s just as helpful for couples as for singles, maybe more so. And it’s about self discovery too. There are terms on there I haven’t even heard of! No, not because I claim to know a lot about this area — I mean, I do, but I don’t, you know. I just mean as the creator. Even I was discovering new things every day, new kinks, new methods of exploration.

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If communication is the lock, Pref+ is the key.

Consent can be a confusing thing. We have never claimed to understand it completely, or to have addressed it perfectly — sorry, scratch that. What I mean is that consent is a tricky thing and we have addressed it to the best of our abilities in the terms and conditions. Sharing your profile is not consent, having a profile at all is not consent. This is something Pref+ takes very seriously. Our mission statement has always included caveats regarding consent. Our aim is not to replace real life conversation. We believe that communication is always of the utmost importance. Pref+ has always considered itself a facilitator to relationships.

FICTION

Yes, we were aware of how the sharing method evolved and manifested amongst the 16 to 18-year-old user bracket. That is the nature of all applications. The intention may be different from the final expression. The reason we made it available, from what some consider to be such a young age, is because that’s when you reach the age of consent. If you’re old enough to consent, you’re old enough to have preferences. That is our belief. We are a sex-positive company, after all. And yes, we are aware of the trend amongst our younger users of needing to be their most adventurous selves in order to be more interesting, more desirable. That is outside of my scope of comment, I’m afraid. It is not an idea that the company subscribes to, I can tell you that.

Pref+. Where you can be yourself, with others.

I cannot reasonably provide a conclusion to this case. As it goes, my heart and the entire company’s heart goes out to both individuals involved. The confusion on either end is, clearly, incredibly hard to broach. Hard to clear up.

However, I — and the company — maintain that the application is not at fault. No application can be. There is still always someone on the other side of the screen.

END TRANSCRIPT

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CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL SWIPER

by Milly Guiffre CW: Sexual references

NON-FICTION

I’m sure most of us have either fallen down the dating app spiral, or witnessed it. You’re at a party with friends, wanting to set each other up, or perhaps you’re just in need of a pick-me-up via the validations of complete strangers. It’s harmless, right? You set up a profile, choose some cute pictures and write a funny bio. Then BOOM, you make a match. Then another, and another. Suddenly, you’ve scheduled yourself for a date with a stranger you’ve spoken five sentences to.

Fast-forward a month or two, and now you’re pining over why they’re viewing all your stories, but won’t respond to your messages. You get more and more frustrated, continually refreshing all your different socials — you spiral deeper into a constant obsession. Finally, after giving countless chances, you come to the conclusion that maybe it’s time to move on… and so you repeat the process.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve witnessed success stories via dating apps. However, I feel the majority of us get sucked into the deep abyss of obsessing over our self-image, likes and cheesy compliments, instead of actually trying to meet people. You had hopes of coming out the other side, feeling better about yourself. Yet, you end up in a worse state than before you hit that dreaded download button.

I think it’s time we detoxed these apps from our lives. (I’m not one to talk though… I just had a mad swipe sesh while writing this.)

In all seriousness, it really does become a bit of an addiction.

We enter a loop of seeking the reward, as the chances of finding a match is unpredictable, so the desire to achieve it becomes like a game.

Seeing that ‘new match’ message, or notification popping up, provides us with a short-lived rush of dopamine, encouraging us to keep chasing this high. Does everyone feel that sense of validation that they’re not completely ugly when the 99+ likes screen appears on your Tinder?

However, this rush comes at a high price — falling into the cycle of opening Snapchats containing unsolicited nudes, an absurd amount of fishing photos, getting recruited by sugar daddies (I can’t be the only one… right?) and of course, the thirst trap photos used to lure us into someone’s threesome. Seriously, I don’t want to join you and your boyfriend, Elly, no one does.

Everyone has had their own experiences with these apps, but I’m sure I speak for the majority when I say it’s not easy out there. It’s hard to wear your heart on your sleeve when you’re traversing a digital wasteland.

That being said, I am definitely still in no hurry to find my soulmate. It can be hard enough to love yourself sometimes. But if anyone wants to take me out for a cute date to an art gallery, or grab a gin and tonic... you have my Instagram. ;) Sincerely,

A Serial Swiper @lushicequeen

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SHOWCASE

Illustration by Milly Guiffre

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FRIEND OR FOE-NE

by Joella Marcus What is one thing you always have on hand? Let me guess, it’s your phone. In today’s world our phones have almost become an extension of ourselves, glued to our hands and never leaving our sides. We take them everywhere. We remain constantly connected, in-touch and accessible. This personal networking device ensures that a whole other world remains just a click away. The (arguable) overindulgence into this virtual reality, creates new levels of dependence, causing us to question just how far we’ve strayed from the intended purpose of phones. The average person’s daily screen time often clocks in between eight to 10 hours — almost a third of each day is spent absorbed in a digital void, created by a temporary cyber landscape. Consider this: imagine you saw the same friend consistently for eight hours a day, wouldn’t you get sick of them eventually? Get to know them a little too well? It could even get a little toxic? As we progress further into the digital unknown, our phones have become a little bit like that obsessive toxic friend.

OFFHAND

Why Foe-nes SUCK ... (sometimes) 1. They are needy as hell. Um hello? 24/7 notifications.

2. They isolate you — I mean how many times have you dazed out of reality to be with them and check on them?

3. They constantly talk about you, behind your back. Who gave them the right to strip your privacy and give all your info to their best friend Facebook, huh?

4. They attempt to control you and change you all the time through their scheming systems and stupid ‘personalised’ experiences, acting like they know you that well.

5. They lack all kinds of empathy. Were they there for you when you called your ex and ordered UberEats for the seventh time this week? Didn’t think so.

Look at it through rose-coloured glasses and it could be a Serena and Blair situation, but before you know it, you’ll have your own little enemy glued to your hip. But hey, I guess keep your friend close and your enemies closer.

Watch your back babes x

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RUBEN SAVERIGO

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RUBEN SAVERIGO

SHOWCASE

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Illustrations by Tara Frawley

by Joseph Lucas

FICTION

CW: Drug use, underrage drug use, addiction, depression, emotional abuse of a minor, fatphobia

nna stormed into the kitchen. It’s gotta be here, she thought. She rummaged through the draws and cupboards; looked in all the nooks and orifices. She searched and searched, but her lucky headband did not return to her. She yearned for it to materialise. In her panic, Anna clumsily bumped the kitchen island, sending her mum’s canister of diazepam into flight. The container hit the ground, leaving a smattering of little white pills scattered across the tiles. Before her mum could notice (although knowing she was comfortably sedated, in a prolonged depression nap), Anna swiftly scooped up the tiny pearls. She looked around, to confirm she had not missed any, and noticed a tip of black plastic sticking out from under the lip of the oven.

The headband! She yanked it out with urgency and, as if it were a fresh spring dandelion, blew a puff of air onto it to remove the dust. She slid the headband on; now she was ready. Wait. She opened the fridge, retrieved a fresh 2L bottle of Mountain Dew, unscrewed the lid and skewered the liquid with a metal straw.

Now she was ready.

The light in Anna’s room was scant. The sun only just splintered through the lace edges of her curtains, which remained drawn at all hours of the day, spilling shards of light onto her desk. Her room was dusty; her lamp, books and shelves had grown a furry skin of thickly gathered dust. Her floorboards served as a memorial to exsanguinated Mountain Dew bottles, thrown carelessly into an unkempt head. A graveyard of green plastic surrounded her.

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FICTION

Anna wheeled her gaming chair out from underneath her desk, and sat down at her PC. The annual Mathletics Championship had been whittled down from thousands of mathletes from all over the globe, to just four competitors.

The race was hot. While Anna had only been alive for 12 short years, she felt her genius rivaled that of a young Turing, or Einstein. In reality, she possessed the mathematical wit of maybe a studious 17-year-old. A flurry of simple BODMAS equations posed to competitors would determine one’s triumph and ownership of a glittering, virtual cup. The first competitor to cross the virtual finish line, would win. Nina from Belgium was Anna’s most fearsome competitor. Nina had been crowned champion for the last two years running. But after reviewing her matches and gameplay, Anna had found Nina’s weak spot — her seventimes tables. A large majority of Anna’s study and preparation had been spent brushing up on her seven-times tables, timing how quickly she could bash the answers into her num-locked keypad. Anna felt well-rehearsed and was practically salivating for the race. She guzzled down her Mountain Dew in a few large gulps. She logged in, positioned her fingers keenly over the keyboard, and waited for the race to start.

As the race began, Anna began pounding the keyboard with answers in quick, lightning-fast succession. Nina, always an answer or two ahead of her, maintained a tight chokehold on the race. The other two competitors were left to drown in their missed answers. They would never be able to catch up now. This race was clearly between Anna and Nina, alone. Perhaps it had always been between them. At that moment, a surge of seven-times table questions cropped up and Anna answered them boldly. She glanced over at the virtual map of the race. For the first time, she was a few answers ahead of Nina. The finish line was near. She had a good chance to win this. She had to win this. Correct, correct, correct. Anna cleared right answer, after right answer. She was so close to the finish line that she could almost taste the success; granules of it teased the tip of her tongue. Maybe this time, her mum would be proud of her. Then, in a flash, almost at the lightning-fast speed of her answering, the computer screen went cobalt blue. Then to static-y fuzz. Then completely blank. Anna hit the edge of her screen a few times with her palm, to no avail. She pushed the power button and held it, desperately begging for its revival. It woke up, albeit too late. When the screen returned to the Mathletics Championship home page, pixelated fireworks danced around a virtual cup in celebration, with her name plastered in big bold letters. Not Anna’s name, but Nina’s. Anna slammed her laptop screen shut with such anger she risked shattering the glass and crippling the keys.

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She so desperately wanted to swipe her desk clean of her laptop and watch the plastic crack and clatter as it hit the ground. She wanted to punch it, until her knuckles bled red-raw. Then, she wanted to take a bat to it, sending plastic and glass shrapnel flying around the room. She wanted to reveal its innards, the guts of steel, mesh and fizzing copper wire that held it all together.

And then break all of that too.

Anna so desperately wanted to do all of this, but instead, she sat in all-encompassing silence. She sat so quietly that she heard the hum of the machine. The whir of its heart awaited her next command. Anna removed her lucky headband — her crown — and laid it on her desk.

--

JOSEPH LUCAS

The sun shone brightly and drenched the grass in warm, sticky honey.

The wind rustled through the trees overhead, almost singing through the branches. To Anna, everything smelled sweet, like berries and sugary fruits.

She sat, cross-legged on the grass, and watched as her mother glued plastic rhinestones onto a headband next to her. Anna had picked out an assortment of gems in different colours and sizes for her mum to adorn the headband with. As she worked, she whistled “My Funny Valentine” by Ella Fitzgerald.

It was a song her mother always sang. She knew it well; it spilled from her mother’s mouth like honey. Anna thought it was a strange name for a song.

Whenever she heard it, she would feel a little strange inside too. There was a tinge of sadness to the melody, the way her mum lingered on the ending notes, holding on for too long before moving on to the next line. Her eyes withdrew from herself as if she were looking at something incredibly boring, like a white wall or a line of ants. When her mother sang that song, Anna felt the world slow around her and she noticed the sweet, sticky sun shy away and nuzzle beneath the horizon. She felt the wind fall dead, as well as the cold and the darkness draw in, as if everything in the entire world stopped.

Once the headband was complete, her mum slid it onto her head, tucking it behind her ears. Her mother watched as the light reflected off the crystals’ many shimmering faces, like fistfusl of glitter in the sun.

“Well, now don’t you look pretty?”

Anna blushed and her mother smiled a brilliant grin. Anna felt that grin warm inside her like a spoonful of soup. She felt for the first time in her little life that her mother was proud, and loved her just as deeply.

--

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FICTION

Anna headed back down to the kitchen. She noticed her mother in the living room, sunken in her armchair, gin and tonic still in hand. Anna tried to tiptoe past her with tiny, agile, cat-like steps but her mother stirred before she could get past.

“I never get to see you when you’re on that computer all day.”’

Anna froze. Her frustrations, disappointments and dejection built up inside of her, like bile. She wanted to erupt and vomit it all up. Words fizzed on her tongue. She opened her mouth. But she choked it down.

“Sorry,” she replied.

Her mother sat upright and looked over to her, pausing to take a deep long look at her daughter. Anna hated this look, she felt undressed and completely exposed. She could feel her mum noticing her imperfections; the way the folds of her clothes hugged around her hips and stretched over her stomach, the way her fingers jutted out of her palms like cocktail sausages.

And when Anna returned her mother’s gaze she would get lost in the pits of spooned-out flesh where her eyes should be. The darkness. The contempt.

“I think you’re drinking too much of that Mountain Dew. You should quit.”

As she spoke, she lifted her glass to her lips and gulped down the rest of her gin and tonic, like a pelican would with water.

I hate you, Anna thought.

Anna walked to the kitchen. The bottle of diazepam sat untouched, exactly where she had left it. She shook a few pills from the bottle into her palm.

She looked over one shoulder, then the other, to confirm that her mother wasn’t looking. Of course, she wasn’t. She went back up to her bedroom, holding the pills firmly in her hand. She pressed them into her palm so tightly they left little round imprints on her skin. She shut the door behind her and went back to her laptop.

Anna looked at her headband, sitting on the desk. Immediately, that funny little melody her mother would always sing entered her mind. With two clicks, Ella Fitzgerald’s voice filled the room as she turned the volume up to full blast.

“My funny valentine sweet comic valentine you make my heart smile” Anna put the pills in her mouth and swallowed them with a warm wash of Mountain Dew. In blurry ecstasy, she danced around her room, silly and denied selfawareness. In this bliss, she danced, but she danced alone.

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Gamestop Never Gamestopping?

NON-FICTION

by Jaimee Lee

By now, we have all heard about the war between the Redditors of r/wallstreetbets and the big hedge funds — and whether you are investing in the market or not, you’ve most likely heard about the phenomenon of Gamestop.

Arguably, it has become a household name due to ridiculous circumstances.

For those who don’t know the story: Melvin Capital, a hedge fund, believed they could make a profit by short selling Gamestop shares. Short selling, or shorting, means an investor, (in this case Melvin Capital) borrowed a number of securities (stock or assets) from a company — Gamestop — with the intention to sell them on the market.1 The hedge fund sold the stock, with the expectation that the price will drop. If it had dropped, the stock would be bought back cheaply, and returned to Gamestop. The difference between the selling and buying price then becomes profit to the hedge fund. This privately organised financial strategy isn’t a new concept, however, as Redditors of r/wallstreetbets caught wind of what the hedge fund was planning to do and drove up the stock price by buying the shares, with no intention of making a profit — committing to holding the securities they bought to ensure Gamestop stayed afloat.

All of this was possible because of the media attention Gamestop and r/wallstreetbets received. Because share prices are determined by demand, much like how the price of certain commodities soared during the panic-buying

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stage of COVID-19 last year, Gamestop shares (GME) also appreciated, but for different reasons. Over the course of January, GME slowly saw an increase in value, until people noticed what the Redditors were doing and began to jump on the bandwagon. There was a rapid escalation of security purchases, with individuals joining the cause for reasons such as: trying to ‘get rich quick’ or just sticking their middle finger to larger institutions. Whatever their reasons, the bandwagoning resulted in what is known as a short squeeze.

On the 26th January, GME closed at $147.98 USD, a dramatic increase from the previous day’s close, of $76.69 USD. A day later, GME closed at an incredible $347.51 USD, and currently has a 52-week high of $483 USD. It’s a large stretch to say anyone could have anticipated this. The Gamestop situation has made it clear that successful short selling requires money, expertise, and a capacity to take risks.

What we see is the result of spite, opportunity, and desperation to save a well-loved company. But let’s talk about the opportunists. In my opinion, they are the reason the short squeeze occurred. In economics, the greater fool theory states that the price of an object is determined by demand, and people can make a profit from this by selling an asset to someone who is willing to pay a higher price.

Put simply, you are a fool selling something to a fool greater than yourself. For the opportunists, GME was a short-lived gold mine, and the problem with investors suddenly buying into it was that it created a temporary market price bubble,

where the price of a good rises far above the item’s real value.2 It’s unsustainable and has resulted in a market correction, which we now see in the GME trend.

Hedge funds are, understandably, seen as the bad guys, who’d do anything to make a profit. This reputation is not unwarranted; hedge funds are exclusive to, and run by, the already wealthy. Rich people are able to get even richer by investing in high risk stocks. The nature of the industry also attracts ambitious people driven by money. We see this trope in films like The Wolf of Wall Street — good people are corrupted by the ruthless work culture and become greedy. Martin Scorsese paints a grave reflection on the sordid nature of society, by emphasising all that is wrong with our work ethos. Though, it’s important to take such media portrayals with a grain of salt. Short sellers have a legitimate and positive role in the efficiency of markets as they can help provide the opportunity for price discovery

in the stock market. Essentially, it involves finding where supply and demand meet, determining a suitable price of an asset by acknowledging ‘investor risk attitudes, and the overall economic and geopolitical environment’.3 It’s when short sellers seek to manipulate pricing for their benefit, and potentially break securities laws, so they become a detriment to the orderly conduct of financial markets.

NON-FICTION

“A bunch of Redditors pulled off a glorious stick-it-to-the-man moment and it is difficult not to be amused by it.”

The reality is businesses fail, and what the hedge funds are doing is merely making risky bets on companies they believe will go under. A bunch of Redditors pulled off a glorious stick-it-to-the-man moment and it’s difficult not to be amused by it. Among all the excitement and speculation, I cannot picture what this means for the future of hedge funds and investors — though, it seems like it was a win for the little guy this round.

References 1. Beers, B. 2021, ‘Short selling basics’, Investopedia, 28 January, www.investopedia.com/ articles/investing/100913/ basics-short-selling.asp

2. Kenton, W. 2020, ‘Bubble’, Investopedia, 10 October, www.investopedia.com/terms/b/ bubble.asp

3. Chen, J. 2020, ‘Price discovery’, Investopedia, 12 December, www.investopedia.com/terms/p/ pricediscovery.asp

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Battle of the ‘Bergs: An Explainer Why Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and the Federal Government took on Mark Zuckerberg and the tech giants... and what happens now? words by Ella Smith illustration by Romy Lester

You’ve probably heard a lot about this media bargaining code recently... or maybe you just noticed more photo uploads from your great-aunt while news and current affairs weren’t on Facebook. In mid-February, news (and temporarily, posts from state health departments, charities and the Bureau of Meteorology) disappeared from our timelines.

But, why?

Essentially, the Federal Government wants Facebook to pay news publishers for the content they share on their platform. On the 24th of February, the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code, (we will refer to it as the Code, from now on) passed the Senate, with amendments. Meaning, Facebook has to strike a deal with Australian media organisations, or the government will step in.

It’s been in the works since April last year, when the Federal Government announced that they’d directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to ‘develop a mandatory code of conduct to address bargaining power imbalances between Australian news media businesses and digital platforms, specifically Google and Facebook.’1 These ‘power imbalances’ refer to the advertising dollars that the tech giants are taking away from news publishers,

NON-FICTION

What is the media bargaining code?

while simultaneously making it harder for them to make money through algorithm changes — just like the 2018 change which prioritised user-posted content in our timelines, decreasing the reach of news content. This saw some sites’ traffic decline by up to 50%.2 Yikes.

It’s essentially in the name of public interest journalism — to ensure that media companies are fairly remunerated for the content that is shared on major platforms. It’s meant to incentivise platforms to enter into commercial deals with news publishers. If they don’t, the Code will be enforced, and they’ll have to pay the publishers an amount determined by an arbitrator.

But there’s a lot more to it...

Why so much tension?

The main players in this saga are the Federal Government, Facebook and Google, and the major news publishers: Seven West, Nine Fairfax, Guardian and News Corp. The former and the latter have all supported the bargaining code.

Facebook and Google have not. Both tech giants argued that they were being made to pay for content they hadn’t asked for. But the government persevered.

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Google initially threatened to pull Google Search from Australia, but then changed tack. They maintained their argument that having to pay publishers for a hyperlink and snippet of a page — which has long been viewed as free user traffic for the websites — would ‘break the way Google works’.2 Over the past few months Google made deals with major news publishers, including the four mentioned above, and regional news company ACM. They are also expected to make deals with SBS and ABC.

What about the small publishers?

Facebook took a different route. They argued that the code was unworkable, and tensions between the tech giant and the government have simmered for the past year. They bubbled over when Facebook removed all news from its site on February 18th (for Australians) in direct response to the bill passing the Lower House the day prior. Since then, the bill has passed the Senate after some last-minute amendments that the Treasurer made after negotiations with Mark Zuckerberg.

In order to sign up to the bargaining code as a news publisher, you must meet some conditions — including earning $150,000 annual revenue — which immediately excludes smaller, fringe companies. These companies will be less likely to show up on Google Searches, severely limiting their traffic and potential subscriptions. On the other hand, some publishers do meet the conditions, yet are far from the size of behemoths, like News Corp. They would need the resources to bargain with Facebook and Google, but could also see increased revenue and site traffic from this. However it’s too early to tell how positive the influence of this new legislation will be.

NON-FICTION

What did the amendments do?

The changes are small, but important, and essentially provide these big platforms a way out of adhering to the bargaining code, if they can prove that they have struck commercial agreements with news publishers.

The changes necessitate that the Treasurer must assess whether these agreements have made a “significant contribution to the sustainability of the Australian news industry”3, and if they have, they are not answerable to the Code. If the Treasurer finds these agreements unsatisfactory then he will ‘designate’ the platform, enforcing the Code. If this decision is made, the amendments posit that the platforms must receive 30 days notice, during which they could broker more deals. It’s worth noting that if Facebook is designated, they might pull news from their site again. This could be devastating for some publishers, who saw the total number of visitors drop by 16% on February 18th.

There’s been a lot of talk about small and regional publishers losing out in this bargaining code. Big publishers will have some sort of win regardless, either by negotiating a deal with the platforms or through enforced payment if they enter arbitration. Many smaller publishers have been vocal in their dissent, but some have also expressed neutrality or favour towards the Code.

This saga has also brought the issue of media diversity to centre stage (i.e. the monopolisation of local news by large companies, the struggle for independent organisations to compete) so much so, that it prompted a Senate inquiry in late 2020. While this conversation needs to be had, it goes far beyond the parameters of pros and cons of the Code.

“Both tech giants argued that they were being made to pay for content they hadn’t asked for.”

Another amendment extends the three-month negotiation period to include an additional two-month mediation period, before the Code is enforced. This makes it easier for platforms to avoid paying a price determined by an arbitrator — the last thing they want — because they’ll have more time to strike a deal.

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What about student publications?

“This saga has also brought the issue of media diversity to centre stage...”

What about me?

We can’t be completely sure how this will change the news we see in our feeds and in our searches — it really depends on whether the Code is enforced, and which companies have made agreements. It may not have a significant personal impact at all. Personally, I made the jump to podcasts for my news a while ago and have not looked back. And don’t get me started on all the incredible, independent news pages on Instagram (@zee_feed, @ thedailyaus, @shityoushouldcareabout). News sites have also gone into email newsletter overdrive (it’s hard to open a website without getting a pop-up), and they’re a fantastic way to get a snapshot of the news that you want to read, while supporting these publishers. And if you can, pay for your news through donations or subscriptions. This whole Facebook vs. Australian media saga has proven that quality journalism will stick around, only if we actively support it.

ELLA SMITH

Unfortunately, Vertigo was caught up in this rigmarole when their content was taken down as part of Facebook’s retaliation. So were other student publications, including USYD’s Honi Soit and UNSW’s Tharunka. Facebook is one of Vertigo’s key networking and advertising platforms, so seeing their hard work disappear with a click was alarming, to say the least. Even more frustratingly, Vertigo readers do not pay to access this content. Vertigo is funded and supported by the UTSSA, and does not exist to turn a profit.

They exist to give publishing opportunities and experience to students, so seeing this stifled was even more disheartening. We can only hope that Vertigo’s reach isn’t impacted by negotiations between bigger fish, especially if Facebook decides to pull news content again.

“...quality journalism will stick around, only if we actively support it.”

1. News Media Bargaining Code https://www.accc.gov.au/focusareas/digital-platforms/newsmedia-bargaining-code

2. News Media Bargaining Code Concepts Paper https://www.accc.gov.au/ system/files/ACCC%20 -%20Mandatory%20 news%20media%20 bargaining%20code%20 -%20concepts%20 paper%20-%2019%20 May%202020.pdf

3. Google in Australia: An open letter https://about.google/googlein-australia/an-open-letter/

4. Amendments to the Bargaining code https://ministers.treasury. gov.au/ministers/ josh-frydenberg-2018/ media-releases/additionalamendments-news-mediaand-digital

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KATHERINE RAJWAR

TECHNOLOGY’S IMPLICIT RACIAL BIAS: INSTAGRAM FILTERS, SECURITY AND FACIAL RECOGNITION

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Here’s a question — why is my Instagram so intent on making me look white?

Filters, to some extent, have become an integral part of the user experience on social media. Since the app’s development in 2010 — yes, you read that right, Instagram is more than a decade old — we’ve become accustomed to enhancing our photography through the lenses of Gingham, Moon, Juno and Lark. In 2016, the launch of Instagram stories changed the game entirely. At first, flower crowns and puppy ears seemed like a fun enhancement to ye olde mundane selfie, but the inclusion of so-called 'beauty' filters point to something far more sinister lurking beneath the surface.

Augmented reality filters have already received much criticism for perpetuating unattainable beauty standards.

I can take a photo right now and transform my real face into a pore-less, blemish-free, baby-faced beauty. There are several accounts of dysphoria around these filters, suggesting that there’s an inherent disconnect between the user’s physical appearance and the version of their face which they have manipulated using the app. What’s more, several plastic surgeons have encountered clients who request that their filtered face be used as a reference point for cosmetic surgery procedures.1 There are, of course, inherent arguments which can be made in favour of these filters — namely the confidence boost which they can provide users with. Particularly with regards to influencer led campaigns, using a filter to appear more professional and put together is no different to a television show host donning a face of makeup to appear on screen.

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“MANY OF THESE ‘ENHANCEMENTS’ OFFERED BY BEAUTY FILTERS ARE GLARINGLY IN FAVOUR OF EUROCENTRIC BEAUTY STANDARDS.” The effects of these filters can seem slightly damaging, yet ultimately harmless, especially when your beautified face is accompanied with cat paws and a funny voice. This seems to be the case, until we acknowledge that many of these 'enhancements' offered by beauty filters are glaringly in favour of Eurocentric beauty standards.

Right, let me explain. As I write this, I have the front camera open on my phone, and before me sits my face, via Instagram. Using the browse filter option, I’ve searched broadly for 'beauty.' There are a few commonalities offered in all the filters I can choose from. The first is that my skin, while smoother, is significantly lighter. Secondly, my bone structure has changed dramatically. I have cheekbones that could cut glass. My eyes appear far lighter, and perhaps more alarmingly, my quintessential south Asian nose, inherited from my Indian grandfather, is gone. In its place sits a high-tipped, tiny, Kylie Jenner-esque nose, staring me in the face. I hate to admit this, but then returning to an unfiltered selfie is somewhat alarming. My own flaws glare back at me — my brown skin, my blemishes, my nose, my eyes (now a lot less opened).

But it’s just an illusion, right? Just a bit of fun? There’s a blatant issue here, one in which Instagram regards certain features as 'flaws' and others as 'enhancements.'

This begs the question: can technology be racist? Oh yes, my friend, yes it can. Allow me to elaborate. Instagram is

“THERE’S A BLATANT ISSUE HERE, ONE IN WHICH INSTAGRAM REGARDS CERTAIN FEATURES AS ‘FLAWS’ AND OTHERS AS ‘ENHANCEMENTS.’” not the only facet of technology in which facial recognition technology gets a little murky. Apple’s very own Photos application provides a feature in which it groups photos of the same person together. My very own phone has grouped photos of me and another South Asian friend, as being the same person.

As if this wasn’t enough, a shallow dive into Reddit retrieves multiple accounts of 'My iPhone Face ID thinks I’m my sister.'

These responses are overwhelmingly from people of colour.

Worried yet? Allow me to take this one step further. What happens when we consider the implication of racially biased software in facial recognition technology used by our government?

The Federal Government introduced a new piece of legislation in 2019, known as the Australian Passports Amendment ('Identity-matching' Services) Bill. The bill proposes an increased use of facial recognition technology, particularly with border security — so that’s airports, seaports, etc. The statute was put forth on the basis that it would “prevent crime, support law enforcement, uphold national security, promote road safety, enhance community safety and improve service delivery.”

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A quick Google and there’s a plethora of accounts of similar incidents. A study done at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which measured how facial recognition technology worked on people of different races and gender, found “three leading software systems correctly identified white men 99% of the time. But the darker the skin, the more often the technology failed.”2

While the use of facial recognition technology seems somewhat unavoidable (there’s talk of it being built further into our security systems) the possibility of mistaken identity in the case of racial minorities is alarming, to say the least. The mass incarceration and death of Indigenous people in Australia, and the events from the Black Lives Matter movement last year, sparked by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police, indeed highlights the implicit bias which people of colour already face in the eyes of the law. But when the law is informed by technology, with the potential to commit such errors, things get worrying indeed.

So, the question remains — what now? It seems as though facial recognition technology is so embedded within our lives that it’s somewhat inescapable. Perhaps, a benchmark which mandates the standard to which this technology operates is necessary. Such developments must be designed with all individuals in mind — considering race, ability and gender. Ultimately, access, and more so security, should be an option for everyone.

REFERENCES 1. SNAPCHAT PHOTO FILTERS LINKED TO RISE IN COSMETIC SURGERY REQUESTS https://tinyurl.com/3zm6jb8f

2. STUDY FINDS GENDER AND SKIN-TYPE BIAS IN COMMERCIAL ARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS https://tinyurl.com/93t6xwnj

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3 Night Stand with Respect.Now.Always FT. VERTIGO’S REVIEW 001

by Olivia Mathis CW: Sexual references, sexual assault, violence, alcohol

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This article originally appeared in UTSoC’s The Comma, and is reproduced here with permission.

The assumption that we understand all there is to know about consent underestimates just how impactful, meaningful and information-packed a single concept can be. In a sexual context, we generally understand consent through its succinct, but over-simplified, definition: an agreement between two (or more) participants to engage in sexual activity. Of course, this definition is correct, however, consent is much more multi-dimensional than a single agreement.

002 Just when I thought I knew pretty much everything there was to know about consent, I was invited to a Respect.Now.Always panel on the very subject. The panel, ‘Uncensored: Exploring the Edges of Sex,’ featured: Kim Cumms, a porn actress and erotic filmmaker, Mistress Tokyo, a professional dominatrix, and Professor Alan McKee, a professor in the UTS Arts and Social Sciences faculty. I mean, if you want to learn more about a subject, who better to learn from than professionals who teach and practice it on a regular basis? I was invited to a subsequent interview with Kim Cumms and Mistress Tokyo to ask the attendees’ most popular questions, and was not disappointed in the amounts of interesting and important information that I was able to take away.

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Defining consent. Consent in the context of alcohol. Non-verbal consent.

The experiences of sex-workers in a professional and personal environment.

These topics and many more were explored during the night. So, I present to you my takeaway from the ‘Uncensored’ panel. Also, did I mention that free ice-cream was given out to attendees? What a night!

WHAT IS CONSENT?

‘I’m not sure’ does not equal yes. In other words, a lack of ‘no’ does not mean ‘yes’. In order for our sexual encounters to be as enjoyable as possible for each participant, consent is absolutely crucial.

Figuring out what your partner(s) would like to do, or not like to do, is just as important.

When exploring consent, there are many questions that you can ask to assure that you’re finding out, to the fullest extent, what you can and can’t do. You may ask, ‘What do you feel like doing?’ Or, ‘I don’t understand what you want, do you?’ Hearing things like, ‘Does this work?’, and ‘Is this good for you?’ are just as helpful too.

Consent is not only an affirmative indication of what one may want. Consent is a conversation that should happen not just at the beginning of a sexual encounter, but throughout.

GIVING CONSENT It’s assumed that asking for or giving explicit consent at the beginning, or throughout, a sexual encounter can ruin the mood. Fear not, this is far from the truth. Nothing is sexier than knowing your partner is openly, and willingly, enjoying a shared experience. In fact, the panellists spoke about how hearing a ‘no’ from your partner(s) is not only informative, but a turn on! Understanding the dislikes of your partner(s) shapes and develops your own understanding of their desires. Through this, you can be more in tune with what people are happy to do, and you’ll figure out what you have in common. So, no. Giving consent is not, and should never feel awkward.

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Consent is more than a verbal agreement. As Mistress Tokyo put it, “consent is saying yes with your body and with your heart.” While some may say ‘yes’ to being a willing participant in any act, paying attention to their body language is still pivotal. If a person’s body language is signalling a sense of hesitance and they do not physically appear to be sure of doing something, it’s important to stop and touch base. During the opening discussions, Kim Cumms added, “‘Yes’ does not mean free reach.” In this sense, when someone verbally consents to doing one act, it does not necessarily mean they will consent to another. Consent involves giving a definitive ‘yes’ to any new act. It is imperative that consent is granted verbally, through heart and body, throughout the entire course of a sexual encounter.

Professor Alan McKee recommended a very useful quiz, titled ‘Yes/No/Maybe’, for partners who want to figure out what they’re mutually open to and happy to do. The survey is only a Google search away, check it out and give it a try!

Whether you’re in a new relationship, or a longterm established one, consent should never stop being considered. Even though you’ve known someone for a while, boundaries do change! What someone may have liked two weeks ago, may not be what they’re into today, and this change needs to be communicated through consent. You should be regularly letting your partner know what works for you, and what doesn’t. As the panellists stated, “Don’t just assume your partner knows what you want.”

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OLIVIA’S INTERVIEW WITH THE SEXPERTS CONSENT IN THE CONTEXT OF ALCOHOL

OLIVIA MATHIS

The panelists unanimously agreed that this is a tricky subject. Alcohol affects decision-making, so you may not be in a rational state of mind to judge what you do and don’t want to do. This being said, it can’t be assumed that any time someone is drinking, they can’t consent. A lot of people happily engage in sexual activity after drinking. In this instance, you must continuously check in on your partner throughout the encounter and make sure that they’re perfectly okay with what is occurring. Also, check in on yourself.

You should ask yourself, ‘Why am I drinking before engaging in sexual activity?’ If you feel that you’ll only have a good time because you’re intoxicated, or you feel that you’ll give in to an act easier, then this is not an appropriate time to engage in sexual activity. If, for any second, there are feelings of doubt by either you or your partner, stop what you’re doing.

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I was granted the opportunity to speak privately with Mistress Tokyo and Kim Cumms after the panel. What was meant to be an interview, transformed more into a conversation about personal experiences surrounding sex work.

I wanted to know if, in their personal lives, it was common for people to assume that their consent was an unspoken guarantee only because of their lines of work. Mistress Tokyo responded that people will often assume she is “at the ready to provide services to them”, and that judgments are commonly made about her “morals and ethics.” We discussed that, as unprogressive and upsetting as it is, the ‘Madonna whore’ paradox remains in 2021. People will ignorantly assume that sex workers are constantly at service for the sexual needs of others.

Read the rest of the interview, and the full version of Olivia’s coverage of here: <http://www.utsoc.com.au/ thecomma/2021/3/2/sexworkis-a-superpower-a-conversationwith-the-sexperts-on-consent>

Respect.Now.Always’ ‘Uncensored’ Panels VERTIGO’S REVIEW (PANELS 1 & 3)

by Sevin Pakbaz CW: Sexual references, sexual assault, violence, alcohol Last week, Vertigo was lucky enough to attend all three nights of the Respect.Now.Always Panel: ’Uncensored: Exploring the Edges of Sex’.

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As a young woman, it felt amazing to hear such relevant and crucial conversations about sexual health and wellbeing occurring in a safe zone — the UTS campus — secured by the university’s open-mindedness.

PANEL 1: IN TOUCH WITH YOUR SEXUALITY, AND YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH For this session, the panelists included the incredible Samantha Blake from Sexual Health Info Link, UTS Queer Collective member Cal McKinley, Harrison Sarasola from ACON, a sex-positive community organisation, and UTS Faculty of Science Associate, Professor Willa Huston.

As many of us forget, sexual-health is critical for our overall well-being. On the first night, the expert panelists emphasised that good sexualhealth is not just about physical hygiene, but also about having the liberty to access accurate information in a stigma-free environment, away from discrimination.

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What’s more, it includes the right to healthy, respectful, and consensual relationships. While sexual-health facilities and support systems should be available to everyone, in reality, not every individual individual is privileged enough to access such resources, and may even struggle to receive help based on their intersectionalities within society.

SEVIN PAKBAZ

A major point of discussion that night was the nuanced difficulties faced by the LGBTQI+ community, especially their drawn-out battle with stereotypes. As a sexual health advocate, Harrison Sarasola, is passionate about this topic and brought up an excellent point: if we’re going to start talking more openly about sexual health, it needs to be inclusive. And to do so, we need to destigmatise the way we approach the conversation.

“One of the things that we really need to be careful with, whenever we’re talking about sexual health, is moralizing the issue. As soon as we moralize an issue, we suppress it. So we’re basically saying to people, if you don’t use a condom, if you don’t use PrEP, you’re a bad person,” he said.

“Specifically within the gay community, when the epidemic was [at its peak], when people were dying, the message we were getting from people in positions of power was that [HIV] is a gayrelated immune deficiency. It was called ‘GRIDS’ originally, not HIV — Gay Related Immune Deficiency Syndrome. And it was all moralized,” he continued. “So our communities are incredibly sensitive when it comes to these sorts of things.

[A common] misconception around gay men is that we’re just sluts, we don’t take care of ourselves [and] we’re really, really prone to STIs because of that. But that’s just not reality. The reality is the types of sex that we’re having do put us at risk for different types of STI. We just [accept] that because we have to.”

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Another prevailing myth about sexual health — which was debunked on the night — is that you cannot get STIs from oral sex. According to Samantha Blake, this is incorrect and can be problematic when it comes to oral safety. “I think it’s important to speak to the reality that most people don’t use barriers for oral sex.”

Society also wrongly believes that sex workers are the major carriers of oral infections, when in fact, “people who use [condoms] the most are actually sex workers. Sex workers have some of the lowest rates of STIs, and that’s because they use condoms more consistently, and test more frequently than the general public.”

Within the boundaries of UTS’ inclusive environment, it’s easier to be open about these topics, but not everywhere is a safe space. Cal McKinley, from the UTS Queer Collective, really expanded on the importance of finding a hub where you can express yourself sexually without the risk of danger.

They said: “I can say my pronouns [at UTS], and people are just going to go with the flow like it’s normal. However, [when] I go back home, I interact with my family who I am closeted to. I worked at McDonald’s in Western Sydney, and that was a very queer-phobic environment. It is really difficult. People say homophobic things and make terrible comments.

But there’s that level of unsafety if I speak out about this. I am surrounded by a bunch of buff 21-year-old straight dudes who [have] openly expressed transphobic, violent ideations before.

And in an ideal situation — if I was at uni, and someone made a transphobic comment — I would have no qualms about being like, actually, that’s incorrect. Or actually, you shouldn’t say those things. Because all we can do is push back against people with these harmful ideas. And how do we do that, while keeping ourselves safe?

I don’t know.”

As we progress, these conversations — which cover taboo topics — are becoming more normalised in society.

DAY 3: YES AND NO: WHEN CONSENT GOES WRONG IN LAW AND LIFE On the final night of the series, there were two guests on the panel unpacking the legal discourse surrounding consent and sexual harassment: academic Karen O’Connell from the UTS Law Faculty, and media lawyer, Gina McWilliams from NewsCorp.

Is the law inherently sexist? Does the law reflect society’s values or vice versa? What’s happening with revenge porn legislation? Will the #MeToo movement continue its momentum in the future?

All of these questions, and more, were covered in this final session.

The most saddening fact I learnt from the experts, is that we still don’t have a concrete, agreed-upon definition of consent. I should say, I am disappointed but not surprised.

McWilliams added: “I think the approach,

Lawmakers are constantly reviewing models of consent. Currently, the NSW Government is looking to introduce consent principles to ensure everyone is on the same page, and educated about the concept of lawful consent.

Although progress is being made, according to the panelists, certain legislation is inconveniently created as an ‘umbrella solution’ and not implemented in practice. Changing the wordings of law might seem like the end of the story, but so much of the underlying issue stems from the attitudes of society towards consent.

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Young adults, at the peak of their sexual youth, should be able to freely reveal their sexuality, sexual health issues, and sexual needs without coercion or judgment from another. Want to be part of this sexual revolution? You can help by attending, listening, and engaging in sexual health related conversations. Ditch the awkwardness. Normalise discussions on discharge, consent, sexually transmitted infections. Let’s talk about oral sex, group sex, and most importantly, non-heteronormative sex. And don’t forget to take your sexual health seriously — sexual health clinics are your friends and routine check-ups are vital!

particularly in sexual assault law, has been to break things down into its tiny little pieces. We used to have one offense: the offense was r*pe.

It was basically penis-vagina [penetration], no consent and you’re guilty. Now if you look at the legislation everywhere around Australia, it’s a sad fact that you’ve got all of these different fences for different points of consent, in any kind of sexual encounter.”

In the latter half, the experts delved into the Brittney Higgins case and emphasised the importance of owning one’s narrative. Mainly, they recommended, we should re-label victims of sexual assault as survivors. We should move away from the misconception that women are ‘liars’ in these horrific cases, and work on minimising victim-blaming behavior.

When it comes to consent, sexual health, sexual harassment, and sexuality, there is still a long way to go. Events like these RNA panels help expose individuals to ongoing issues that are often swept under the rug for being too difficult to talk about. Education, allyship, and openmindedness are all a big part of becoming sex positive. Bottom line is, join the discourse and make the conversation louder.

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BEN CROTHERS OF BRIGHT PILOTS

RNA PANELS

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SHOWCASE

HYALINE

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KATHERINE ZHANG

SHOWCASE 107

ANSWERS Across: 3. ADAM 5. ROAD 10. CHILIS 12. COUNTRYBOY 14. HEMORRHOIDS 15. NUGGETS 16. MELTING 18. TARGET 19. GAY 20. TAKE 24. ROOMMATES 25.

HELP 26. ACCENT

108 Down: 1. DEAD 2. KERMIT 4. JAVER 6. ANIME 7.

LEBRON 8. WEED 9. RUN 10. CROISSANT 11.

HOE 13. YEET 17. SHAVO 21. KUSH 22. JARED 23. KYLE

(Sorry if your favourite vine isn’t here) OFFHAND

It’s a Crossword. Thanks!

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3. *Blows smoke* ____! (4) 5. ____ work ahead? Uh yeah, I sure hope it does! (4) 10. Hi, welcome to ____ (6) 12. ____ __ I love youuu ah nnmmmm (7,3) 14. Actually Megan, I can’t sit anywhere, I have ____ (11) 15. I don’t have enough money for chicken _____ (7) 16. Polar bears are dying. The icecaps are _____ (7) 18. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to T-T-T-T-T-__ (6) 19. Five feet apart because they’re not ___ (3) 20. *Opening riff to __ On Me* (4) 24. Oh my god, they were _______. (9) 25. Stop it. Get some ___ (4) 26. Ooh, I like your ____, where you from? (6)

1. Ms Keisha? Oh my fuckin’ God, she fuckin’ __ (4) 2. *__ voice* Shawty I don’t miiiiind (6) 4. Um, I never went to Oovoo ___ (5) 6. Don’t fuck with me, I have the power of God and ___ on my side! (5) 7. ____ Jaaames x5 (6) 8. Chris! Is that a __? (4) 9. *Dramatic music* ____ (3) 10. Ah! Stahp. I coulda dropped my_____! (9) 11. Whoever threw that paper, your mom’s a ____ (3) 13. This bitch empty, __! (4) 17. Fre ___ cado (5) 21. Dad, look! It’s the good __ (4) 22. I’m ___, I’m 19 and I never fucking learned how to read (5) 23. What the fuck is up, __? (4)

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TOP 3

MODERN FACILITIES AROUND CAMPUS

SEVIN PAKBAZ

Being the #1 young university in Australia isn’t an easy feat. As an educational institution, UTS has allocated billions of dollars into its modern campus to reindustrialise its facilities for students and uphold its progressive reputation. UTS prides itself on being part of the Australian Technology Network, and keeping students up-to-date in their fields. The UTS 2027 strategy outlines its vision to be ‘a leading public university of technology recognised for [its] global impact’, and it’s well on track for that. While there is always room for growth, below are three spots on campus that reflect just how technologically advanced UTS is.

UTS 2027 STRATEGY https://www.uts.edu. au/about/uts-2027strategy

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UTS DATA ARENA dataarena.net

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THE UTS LIBRARY RETRIEVAL SYSTEM

THE DATA ARENA

Not only is technology all around us at UTS, but it’s right at our feet. Ever sat on the Alumni Green?

You’re actually sitting on top of books! Don’t believe me? Just ask the UTS librarians. Only the second of its kind in Australia, the Library Retrieval System (LRS) is an underground storage facility that keeps a physical collection of books that aren’t in dire need.

This modern space can hold up to one million items.

By the end of 2014, about 345,000 items had been relocated to the LRS. When an online request is made from the library, a fast-travelling robotic crane fetches the item and delivers it to the book lift next to the Reading Room in Building 2 for pick-up. Try this out before you graduate, and flex about having a robot personally deliver a book to you.

Located in Building 11, home to the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, the Data Arena contains 360° screens, where you can blow large sets of data around you. Not only does the collaborative visualisation enhance accessibility for students, but this interactive data facility tries to change the way we view and interact with data. How does it work? UTS has provided a thorough explanation, stating that, ‘a high performance computer graphics system drives six 3D-stereo video projectors, edgeblended to create a seamless three-dimensional panorama’. Pretty cool, huh? To virtually explore the many UTS projects that have emerged from this dynamic space, visit the UTS Data Area site.

Or you can book an in-person demo to see firsthand what the future of data science holds.

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3 PROTOSPACE Building 7 is home to the UTS ProtoSpace ‘an additive and advanced manufacturing facility that actively supports education, exploration and innovation’. It contains Australia’s largest collection of additive manufacturing technologies. You can access advanced 3D printing services, modern scanning technologies, and expert technical support from the talented team who operate in this futuristic space.

Fun fact: During the height of the pandemic, and the onset of virtual teaching and learning, a large group of UTS staff and intern students came together in the Protospace to create over 300 essential face shields for medical workers in Papua New Guinea.

This project was done using the Protospace 3D printers. Go UTS!

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It’s time to stop scrolling through TikTok and go outside! Avoiding laziness — which you may be currently indulging in a little too much — will bring you endless rewards this month. Prioritise spending time with your family and friends, and you’ll reap the benefits of having them around. Seriously, put your phone down.

Mercury Retrograde went easy on you… but the good news is that more positive energy is coming your way! Offer help to a friend to show them just how adaptable you are. While you’re not used to consistency, there’s nothing wrong with a healthy routine either.

Learn to adjust as you go along; trust yourself.

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Coming out of Mercury Retrograde isn’t easy, especially for an Aries who does not like to be messed around.

Maybe your technology gave up on you, maybe you lost your wallet or had a messy breakup. It’s time to gain direction in your life, just like the boss that you are. Try downloading a meditation app.

Tap into your calm side — while this isn’t your natural instinct, it might just pay off…

While you’re always seeking balance, now is the time to throw caution to the wind! Buy all those cute outfits on your wishlist. They’ll come in handy this month as you socialise more and more with good friends. Avoid slipping into your spiral of self-pity this month.

Mute your ex on social media.

It’s not worth it.

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It’s time to declutter your digital life. Unsubscribe from those spam email accounts. Backup your hard drive and delete those old pictures off your phone. You’re running low on storage anyway!

Unfollow the people on your newsfeed you don’t care for.

Make your digital space breathable again.

Go on an adventure this month.

A Google earth adventure.

Travel to the most distant corners of the globe and write about your experiences. Imagine the people you’d meet. The food you would eat.

Then don’t actually do any of those things because of COVID-19.

Sorry, adventure awaits.

Probably next year.

Tread lightly, sweet Cancer. The planetary shifts might make you unsteady on your feet. Keep your shoelaces tied and always follow the route Google Maps tells you to. This is not the time for spontaneity.

Update your profile picture. Your new haircut looks amazing and it’s been a while since you reminded your ex how hot you are. Shower yourself with likes and love-heart reacts. You’re gorgeous! It’s not always about you, but this time, it is.

Ah, the joy of a fresh semester. Polish off your highlighters and Google Calendar. It’s time to get organised.

Read all your subject outlines and make detailed, alphabetised notes.

Plan your days in hourly blocks to maximise your time. Remember, worklife balance! Schedule at least one self care day fortnightly.

Or don’t. I’m not your mum.

OFFHAND

People are often drawn to your wisdom and headstrong nature. You may not have felt that appreciation recently, but as Mercury moves on, you can relax into your responsible and self-assured nature again. For the next few weeks, keep your calendar packed with social events to balance out your workaholic nature.

Have you been having trouble with your social media presence lately? Have your Tinder matches been sub-par?

Or perhaps you’ve been having issues with some people close to you? Your humanitarian nature won’t let you hold onto grudges. But perhaps, you can make a fake Insta account to stalk your recent ex, who (oh-so cruelly) broke your heart.

Pisces, it’s your season! Your time to shine for the year is upon us.

Keep romanticising your life everyday. Enjoy the harmony around you.

Things are starting to sync up. Get down and dirty and focus on selfexpression. But try not to procrastinate too much! This month will bring you a sense of achievement and fulfilment if you embrace all that’s ahead.

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Student’s Association Reports Aidan O’Rourke PRESIDENT Hello Vertigo readers, Check out what I’ve been up to: A number of items were raised with Shirley Alexander (Deputy Vice Chancellor—ES) during our most recent meeting, including addressing extended wait times for e-requests, reintroducing Association services, securing a funding agreement for the Association, digital inequality, and other individual student concerns.

I joined a meeting with FASS Association Dean, Maryanne Dever, alongside the Education Officer, Ellie Woodward.

We received a comprehensive explanation of the course restructures occurring within FASS, in addition to other issues raised in the Education Action group (EAG) meetings.

The Education Officer led a well-informed discussion. Key items to watch include the introduction of the Indigenous Graduate Attributes in FASS and the delivery of content relating to and critical of colonialism and imperialism.

I received a detailed briefing from Patrick Woods (DVC & VP), in company with the CFO, on UTS’ financial situation. If any councillor or student would like to discuss this meeting and receive further detail, they can make an appointment with me.

In January, I had a meeting with the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) President, Errol Phuah.

We discussed a range of postgrad issues and Association affiliation. I referred CAPA President to our Postgraduate Representative, Peter Munford.

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Camille Smith ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY As raised with Council last meeting, I have undertaken a review of the Association regulations including benchmarking and reviewing documents provided by King & Wood Mallesons. In January’s Meeting, I submitted minor alterations to the by-laws. At the most recent meeting (February), I submitted Standing Orders that have been substantially drafted and reviewed for consideration by Council. The details and explanation of the standing orders have been included in the motion presented to Council.

I attended a number of committees including the Teaching and Learning Committee, Sustainability Steering Committee, and the Informal Learning Spaces Committee on behalf of the Association. We discussed the reactivation of campus and statistics revealing higher rates of dissatisfaction amongst domestic students in comparison to international students. The Sustainability Committee heard about the Association’s long running campaign to encourage UTS to divest 100% from fossil fuels. We recently heard news that UTS has taken large steps in this direction. Finally, the spaces committee looked at ways to make informal learning spaces more attractive and to increase the volume of study spaces on campus. We also reviewed how the use of technology can be used to monitor traffic in study spaces to more efficiently direct students to under-utilised spaces.

O’Week went well for the most part. The location of Association stalls made it difficult for the Association to maximise outreach, and the lesser amount of foot traffic made it harder to reach students. Regardless, our power bank giveaway increased signups by 65% compared to last year, which is encouraging. The Association is excited to relaunch Bluebird Brekkie and Night Owl Noodles on campus which will hopefully drive up engagement.

We’re proud that going forward we can ensure students have a nutritious breakfast and dinner a few times a week so please come and get yourself some food in the Building 1 foyer at the following times: Bluebird Brekkie – Tues & Wed 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Night Owl Noodles – Tues & Thurs 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

I have been working closely with the Indigenous Officer in the last few weeks, planning for the stall on O’Day, which despite unfair and unfortunate stall placement by Activate, was a success. We have over 30 new members and we’re looking forward to our first social event.

We’re hoping that next year, we will be allocated a better placed stall in order to engage additional Indigenous students. Excitingly, we had some non-Indigenous students enquire at our booth throughout the day about our work, our future work, and how they can get involved in supporting Indigenous students as allies. I also spent the first day of our O’Week handing out free power banks to new and returning students. We gave away almost 2000 Power Banks over three days to students who signed up for Students Association emails. Many students asked a lot of questions and were very interested to hear about the Association and the services we offer. Expanding the engagement of students during events like this will hopefully increase awareness of the Association, the services we offer in the hopes to help struggling students.

Overall, I believe O’Week was a success, and I’m looking forward to engaging with new students throughout the year.

After a very busy start to the year, many of us in the SA were left already burnt out, unable to enforce healthy boundaries between our work in the Student’s Association and our personal lives. It occurred to me that while the UTSSA offers mental health support and advocates for students access to it, we haven’t been following our own advice. To remedy this, I collaborated with the UTSSA Welfare Officer, Sabrine Yassine, on a mental health-based Communications policy. This policy will ensure all members of the SA can actively distance themselves from stupol work outside of a regular workday and therefore, be able to commit themselves healthily to the various features of their lives.

We are also very excited for Bluebird Brekkie & Night Owl Noodles to begin again this month. The chaos of 2020 meant that many students were left without jobs leading many students to lose access to healthy meals.

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Sabrine Yassine

Zebadiah Cruickshank

WELFARE OFFICER

INDIGENOUS OFFICER

As we make our way through the semester, we begin to fall into some old habits, but also develop some new ones.

With many people returning to campus we get a sense of normalcy back, or for those who started in 2020 like myself, we get a taste of the university life that we thought we were in for. However, with the positives that come with being back on campus, are also the struggles that we may have forgotten about in a year of online university.

This month was spent focusing on recruiting for the Indigenous Collective during O’Week. Organising began with contacting the Jumbanna Institute about possible collaboration with the Indigenous Collective. I spoke with Sallie Paternoster, the Student Success and Engagement Officer at Jumbanna, and was offered a speaking time at Jumbanna Orientation to advertise the Collective to all of the first-year Indigenous students.

Having class on campus, and with many social activities being back in person, we are generally going to have a lot less extra time laying around than during quarantine.

Adjusting to a more involved university life can be overwhelming. This can affect one’s mental, physical, and emotional health which is why the Welfare Collective is focusing on mental health initiatives, partnering with other collectives to bring attention to our mental health in an ever-changing world.

Next was the organisation of the O’Day stall. Our member Camille Smith sorted leftover 2020 tote bags, throwing out expired chips and condoms, as we planned to recycle them for this year’s O’Day. She ordered blank badges so that we could make Indigenous Collective badges. I booked the Activist Space and we produced 60 badges. The design of the badges was an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flag with the slogan, ‘Who’s your mob’ and UTS Indigenous Collective at the Bottom. We were also able to reuse the Invasion Day banner.

Being out-and-about more also means additional financial pressure on students especially in terms of transport and food costs. Which is why we are really looking forward to the re-launch of our Bluebird Brekkie and Night Owl Noodle services to provide free meals for students as a way to relieve some financial pressure and be able to meet other students on campus.

Even with some new obstacles, we must of course remember all the benefits in coming back to campus, including being able to host a very successful O’Day Welfare Stall. Thank you to all the people who visited the Welfare Collective Stall. We hope you enjoyed our on-brand candles! Through the stall we were able to inform both new and old students of the services we provide and get new students on board to be a part of the active collective. I encourage anyone who has ideas on how we can improve student welfare at UTS to contact me at: welfare@utsstudentsassociation.org Also, follow us on Instagram @uts.welfare.collective for more updates on our upcoming projects.

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Finally, I had UTSSA President, Aidan O’Rourke, collect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags from Tanya Plibersek’s Electorate Office. With the preparations complete, we were ready for O’Week.

Kicking off the week was the Jumbanna Orientation where I was able to sit down and speak to all the first-years about the Collective during lunch. I felt most were quite eager to engage with a collective just for Indigenous students. Then came O’Day. Camille and I were able to attract Indigenous students to give our merch to and have sign up to the Collective (literally having to lead students to the stall in one instance). Through my and Camille’s combined efforts, we have been able to solicit around 35 students and hope to have a welcome barbeque to start the collective for this year.

Queer Collective In the last couple of months, the Queer Collective has been working on getting prepared for the year ahead and ensuring that as classes resume, we will be ready to kick off an awesome year. We did lots of preparing for O’Day, which involved making hundreds of pronoun badges, and ensuring we could help as many new queer members of the community as possible. O’Day ended up being a big success! We were able to meet so many wonderful new people who we hope to see become active members of our little queer family. Much of the community of the Queer Collective is built on being around each other in the queer space on campus, and with last year’s restrictions, that was missing for most of 2020. We are eager to have our physical spaces on campus once again become a touchstone for the queer community.

Our hopes for spending time with each other came to fruition with a wonderful welcome picnic we held on the Alumni Green in the first week of classes. We had plenty of food to share and picnic blankets to sit upon and around 40 people in attendance, many of whom were new to the university and the Queer Collective. After the picnic, we showed a number of new members around the queer space and there was an overwhelming sense of joy at the new connections and friendships we were creating.

The most recent event the Queer Collective attended was the Mardi Gras march on the 6th of March. In response to Mardi Gras being a paid, ticketed event this year, a number of groups organised a takeover of Oxford St to push back against the continued corporatisation of Mardi Gras. For an event that began as a protest fighting for queer liberation, it is a shame that over the years Mardi Gras has morphed to focus on assimilation into broader capitalist society.

Mardi Gras is now backed by corporations looking to make a dime from a veneer of progressivism and police officers who are complicit in the oppression of all people, queer people included. This rally fought against all of that, with demands for striking down the proposed religious freedoms bill that is attempting to prevent transgender education in schools, and demands for the ending of mandatory detention for refugees, the support of the Black Lives Matter movement, the decriminalisation of sex work, and the decriminalisation of drug use. These causes are in line with the spirit of radical change and liberation for the

queer community that initially drove Mardi Gras and other queer rights movements across the world. The rally was a big success, with a number of students from the Queer Collective attending. The action was granted a COVID restriction exemption the day before and so faced only minimal interference from the large police presence. It was inspiring to see so many queer people coming together to celebrate our identities and fight for our rights and the rights of all oppressed peoples. The rally concluded with a fabulous dance party in Hyde Park and felt like a perfect celebration of everything we had been fighting for.

Enviro Collective As we continue into 2021, the Enviro Collective is focused on growth, both within the collective and within the climate justice movement.

We have spent the last few months strengthening our connection with the Sydney climate activist movement.

Recently, we assisted the Australian Student Environment Network (ASEN), Workers for Climate Action, and Uni Students for Climate Justice in building their event, the ‘Climate Jobs and Justice Now! No Narrabri Project, No Gas-Fired Recovery!’ Rally on the 20th of February. This action broadly demanded a just transition away from fossil fuels, towards renewables and well-paying, dignified employment. It directly opposed the Morrison government’s gas-led recovery plan, which has already resulted in the approval of the Narrabri gas project. Fracking giant, Santos, will be allowed to drill coal seam gas mines in the Pilliga Forest, decimating the cultural heritage of the Gomeroi people, and polluting the native ecosystem and water sources. The Liberal government has wholly greenwashed this project as a mechanism to recover sustainably from the COVID-19 crisis. It epitomises why we must continue to fight against the Australian Government’s weak response to climate change.

We found talking to new students on O’Day beneficial. It can be especially intimidating to attend rallies during the COVID-19 pandemic, when attendee limits are so strictly enforced. So, having the opportunity to encourage new students to get involved in the climate movement and

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Ethnocultural Collective Hello! giving them a safe contingent to attend with was brilliant.

The collective will continue supporting the fight for climate justice, working to help build the movement back to its preCOVID-19 power and beyond.

In order to drive environmental action, it is essential that we grow as a collective. Preparing for O’day was particularly important. A lot of current Enviro members were eager to help out in the stall and with social media promotion during the day. We recognised that recruiting new members was a necessity if we were going to continue with our ambitious plans for 2021. We also aim to focus on social media as a means of promoting the collective and sharing our voice with students. In February, we launched our Humans of Enviro Campaign which amplifies the diverse range of environmental issues.

Every week, we introduce a member of the collective and share an issue they feel passionately about. Not only will this get new members engaged, it teaches us all about the intricacies of the climate movement; everything from capitalism and greenwashing, to the intersectionality of faith and environmental justice.

The UTS Enviro collective is incredibly excited for 2021. We hope to spur one another on through a year packed with rallies, banner paints, poster runs, movie screenings, and even some social events.

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The UTS Ethnocultural Collective is an autonomous Collective made up of students who identify as Indigenous, a Person of Colour, or as marginalised by mainstream Australian monoculture. Together, we work towards antiracism, in our shared safe space.

In the past two months, the Collective has participated in numerous initiatives. First of all, thank you to everyone who came by our booth at O’Week in February! It was a pleasure to meet and chat to so many lovely people.

Our article titled ‘Breaking down Attila’s anti-racism statement’ was published on page 104 in Vertigo vol. 1: ‘Remedy’. We urge that you give it a read! You can find it on issuu.com/utsvertigo. To summarise, our article breaks down the language of the statement and raises questions of Attila and his anti-racism statement. The article precedes an open letter we plan to launch, calling for a commitment to anti-racist action and policy. By the time this Vertigo volume is published, it may have already been launched!

Please see our Collective’s Facebook and Instagram to keep tabs on how that’s going, and to support us and our work.

Another initiative I’ve been working on, as Ethnocultural Officer, is collaboration and communication with UNSW’s and USyd’s respective Ethnocultural Officers in planning an inter-university picnic! The picnic would be in a social capacity, building funds going towards Grandmothers Against Removals, an Indigenous-run grassroots organisation advocating against the ongoing Stolen Generations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being removed from kinship. As People of Colour, and migrants on stolen land, it is important that we ‘pay the rent’ back into Indigenous communities and their self-determination, acknowledging them as the Traditional Custodians of the land that we live, breathe and organise on.

Luna Manandhar INTERNATIONAL OFFICER The Ethnocultural Collective also recently staged our first social event of the semester, a movie night! The movie was Cinderella (1997), starring Brandy, Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg. Among the singing and music, however, was the deep-rooted and earnest colour-blind casting of the film. Representation matters; it is important that children of marginalised communities are exposed to media that reflects their image, thus empowering them in a world that’s default ‘white’ European. Not everyday do you see yourself represented in a fairytale Filipino prince, or for others, a Black heroine. Representation is important, and representation is powerful!

As always, if you yourself qualify for the Collective’s autonomy (by being Indigenous, a Person of Colour, or as marginalised by mainstream Australian monoculture), you are so very welcome to join us for meetings and social gatherings, and have a say in the direction of this group!

Sign up for emails at utsstudentsassociation.org.au/ collectives/ethnocultural, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram (both @utsethnocultural).

Read about The Ethnocultural Collective’s response to the coup in Myanmar on page 120.

My name is Luna Manandhar, your International Officer for 2021. I am from Nepal and I am pursuing my Bachelors degree in Nursing. The International Collective had their first meeting on December 22nd, 2020, where we decided to change our logo to represent all the international students across the world. You can now see the new logo on our social media. On December 29th, we elected Antara Narayan to be our International Collective Convener for 2021.

After O’Week, we posted a survey on our social media to engage with international students and better understand the problems they are facing that we might be unaware of.

We will also be working closely with international student services at UTS and other student collectives to provide more support and welfare to international students. This year, we are focused on interacting more with students, and making them aware that they have a student union as their voice, who will always advocate for students. To make this happen, and if you would like to know what’s happening in 2021 in detail, we would like international students to get involved with the collective.

Follow us on Instagram @utsinternationalstudents. Like and follow us on Facebook @UTS International Collective, or email us at international@studentsassociation.org

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The Ethnocultural Collective’s Response to the Coup in Myanmar CW: Death, mental ill-health

NON-FICTION

An initiative the Ethnocultural Collective has taken on is the advocacy for UTS students from Myanmar, in solidarity with protesters against Myanmar’s military coup.

This advocacy has been in accordance and consultation with students of the Myanmar community, in the guidance of their own movement.

At the February SRC (Student Representative Council) meeting, I (Melodie) presented and moved two motions pertaining to the welfare and advocacy of the Myanmar community, of which both were unanimously passed. I attach them below: Context: “On February 1, de facto leader and state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, many heads of states, NLD party members and NLD supporters were detained due to allegations of voting fraud in the 2020 election. The military has declared a state of emergency and announced their one-year rule.

With the military in power, internet and phone lines are regularly shut down to stop the news from reaching global headlines.

Nationwide protests have begun as a result of this, as well as a civil disobedience movement.

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As of the SRC meeting, the situation has escalated with the license for the military to shoot and kill at nationwide protests approved, as well as martial law imposed with curfews set.

Such traumatic events and news have a negative effect on the mental health of Myanmar international students and thus, mental health support and counselling services have become essential. It is our understanding that UTS offers free counselling services to all the students and we are grateful to know that.

Motion 1: Stolidarity with Myanmar As conflict in Myanmar persists and civilians fight back against military rule, the UTSSA should take a stand as allies of the Myanmar community, acknowledging the Myanmar community’s autonomous leadership and guidance as essential to allies’ support of the Myanmar freedom movement.

The UTSSA Student Representative Council stands in solidarity with both the protesters in Myanmar, fighting for freedom and against a military coup, as well as domestic and international Burmese students at UTS and in the Sydney community.

Motion 2: Advocating for better access to affordable mental health services for Myanmar international students at UTS — motion supported by Luna (UTS International Officer)

This may include, and is not limited to: - Advocating for greater access to affordable mental health services for Burmese international students (eg. priority appointments).

- Advocating for university divestment from corporations linked with the Myanmar military government.

- Advocating for close consultation with UTS students of the Myanmar cultural community in guidance of issues pertaining to the welfare and advocacy of the Myanmar community.

NON-FICTION

For the free counselling service, it would be great to have priority appointments, Burmese translators; and/or Burmese speaking counsellors; and/or counsellors with an understanding of the situation in Myanmar, as well as mental well-being support groups for Myanmar international students who are experiencing similar issues.”

The UTSSA Student Representative Council empowers its President and executive team to advocate for the well-being of Burmese international students to both UTS management as well as the National Union of Students.

As mentioned, both motions were passed unanimously by the SRC. I want to express acknowledgement and appreciation to the students of the Myanmar cultural community for their guidance, leadership and consultation, through the making of these motions and in continued efforts. It is important that the Myanmar community be listened to and be given the opportunity to lead in such a movement of their own; that the Lived Experience of their community and this crisis precedes all else.

If you identify as being part of the Myanmar community and are interested in getting involved, please get in touch! You can contact either by email (ethnocultural@ utsstudentsassociation.org), or by messaging the Collective Facebook page.

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HOLOCENE: THE GREEN ISSUE

VOLUME 3

SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN closing april 10th We’re seeking stories about sustainability, the environment, climate change, and ethical living.

Send your submissions to: submissions@utsvertigo.com.au

Brekkie & Dinner On Us! The UTSSA runs Bluebird brekkie and Night Owl noodles, right in the heart of UTS.

Follow us on Facebook for regular updates www.facebook.com/BluebirdBrekkie

How to Submit Vertigo is always on the lookout for pitches and submissions of creative writing, non-fiction, visual art, feature articles, news and reviews in the following sections:

FICTION

Short stories, poetry, flash fiction: we want it all!

NON-FICTION

We want non-fiction and creative non-fiction writing from all facets of life: essays, opinion pieces, memoirs and campus issues. Anything you’re interested in, we’re interested in too.

AMPLIFY

Home to culture, music, fashion, arts and lifestyle. This section showcases individuals in their creative elements.

We’re looking to support and promote the creative scene of UTS and cover events near you.

OFFHAND

This weird and wonderful section features quizzes, games, playlists, satire and comics. Nothing is too quirky or weird!

SHOWCASE

Interested in presenting some visual art you’ve created?

We’re always looking for standalone artworks, as well as visuals to feature alongside written pieces. We want to see any of your architecture, fashion, photography, typography, or any other art-related works.

COLD SUBMISSIONS

Have something you wrote a while ago? Or maybe an assignment that you’re quite proud of? Send in your completed piece to submissions@utsvertigo.com.au with a brief summary and what section you would like to be featured in!

PITCHES

Have an idea that you’re not quite sure how to finish? Send it over with the following: • Title • Summary of themes and content • Style and tone • How long you’d like the piece to be If you have any examples of previous work, please attach them to your email too!

CONTACT US

Email your work or ideas at submissions@utsvertigo.com. au and one of our editors will be in touch! Remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for callouts!

For other inquiries, please contact us at editorial@ utsvertigo.com.au

SOCIAL MEDIA @utsvertigo @utsvertigo @Vertigo (for playlists) @UTS Vertigo Magazine (for our podcast)

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Rebekah Baston

Nour Jamal

Ch’aska Cuba de Reed

Angela Jin

Rebekah is a second-year Communications and International Studies student. You can find her on Instagram @armchairgirl

Ch’aska is a second-year communications student.

You can find her on Instagram @chaskacdr

Evlin Dubose

Evlin is a Media Arts & Production and Creative Writing graduate. She’s an Australian-American, daisy-punk creative with music on Spotify and short films on YouTube.

You can find her work at linktr.ee/evlin

Erin Ewen

Erin is a final year Journalism and Creative Writing student.

It’s been three years, and she still refuses to decide. You can find her on Instagram @erin_ewen

Milly Guiffre

Milly is a third-year Visual Communications student. She loves to draw and has an eerily good social media stalking ability. You can find her on Instagram @lushicequeen

Pnina Hagege

Pnina is a final year Journalism & Political Science student.

You can find her on Instagram @pninahagege or on Twitter @pninaaaaa

Eva Harrington

Eva is a third-year Journalism and PR student. You can find her on Instagram at @evaharrington_

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Nour is a second-year Communications student. She is a Slytherin and loves admiring art. You can find her on Instagram @ink.tings

Angela is in her final year of Creative Writing, Public Relations and International Studies. She really, super-duper, definitely, 100% had a great time doing her ICS in China.

You can find her on Instagram @angelajin

Jaimee Lee

Jaimee is a fourth-year Music and Sound Design student.

She is a Christian who frequently over-commits to things and is currently attempting to improve her discipline by blog posting everyday. You can find her on Instagram @ mosquito_jam and examples of her other works at https:// shuimun.me

Anna Lei

Anna is a fourth-year Public Communication student. She is a textbook Aries and not afraid to say it how it is. You can find her on Instagram @_annalei

Janey Li

Janey is a sweaty designer and a Visual Communication (Honours) graduate. You can find her at home making soup or in cyberspace at janeyli.com or on Instagram @jane.ey

Vanessa Love

Vanessa is a third-year Bachelor of Science in IT student, majoring in Networking and Cyber Security. She likes creative writing and video games. You can find UTS Cyber Security Society on Facebook @UTSCSEC

Joseph Lucas

Ruben Saverigo

Joella Marcus

Brandon Siow

Olivia Mathis

Joanna Shuen

Luca Moujaes

Ella Smith

Joseph is a third-year Media Arts and Production student.

He makes quick work of a Cherry Ripe and enjoys a happy hour beer (he makes quick work of that too!) You can find him on Instagram @josephlucasworld

Joella is a second-year Visual Communication student, who is currently addicted to Depop & spicy food. You can find her on Instagram @jj.oella.

Olivia is a third-year Communications (Public Communication and Journalism) student. She is a Grimes stan and self proclaimed Russian historian. You can find her on Instagram @oliviamathiss.

Luca is a third-year Product Design & BCII student.

You can find him on Instagram @lucamoujaes

Sevin Pakbaz

Sevin is a final-year law student. She’s a textbook Aries and has a chilli tattoo on her hip to keep life spicy. You can find her on Instagram @seviiiinnnn

Jenna Parker

Jenna is a fourth-year Media Arts and Production student.

She loves the X-Files and 80’s synth tunes. You can find her on Instagram @p.arkr

Tony Phan

Tony is a postgraduate Pharmacy student. He’s accidentally awkward, but he’s working on it. You can find him on Instagram @WinterlyHeights

Anisha Premawardhana

Anisha is a Journalism and Social & Political Sciences graduate. She loves nothing more than a boozy board game night and never-ending belly laughs with her mates. You can find her on Instagram @anisharapthi

Katherine Rajwar

Katherine has just completed her third year of a Communication (Journalism) degree. When she’s not writing, she works as a bookseller, where she spends too much of her paycheck on buying more books. She aspires to work in the publishing industry.

Ruben is a second-year Visual Communication student.

Catch him glued to a screen, or somewhere along the beach. Alternatively, you can also find him on Instagram @rubenbaz.jpeg

Brandon is a Visual Communication graduate. He is fascinated by war photography and medieval philosophical art. You can find him on Instagram @br.6ndon

Joanna is a 2019 Visual Communication graduate. You will most likely find Joanna (and her home) covered in remnants of her current project. Catch the fruits of her labour on Instagram @joanna.shuen

Ella is a final-year Journalism and Political Science student.

You can find her podcasting about women’s sport at wispsports.com/listen/beyond-the-balls or on Twitter @EllaRose_Smith

Julia van Oppen

Julia is a third-year Animation student. She loves drawing about her life and drawing fanart, and the colour purple (even though she swears she isn’t a purple girl anymore).

You can find them on Instagram and twitter @lukalunar

Alice Winn

Alice Winn is a fourth-year Civil engineering and Diploma in Languages student. Soy chai lattes give her more energy than actual caffeine. You can find her on Instagram @its.eiei

Katherine Zhang

Katherine Zhang is a fifth-year Visual Communication and International Studies student. You will most likely find her on a comfy couch or searching the web for mukbang videos. You can find her on instagram @katherinezhangles

Doreen Zheng

Doreen is a third-year Visual Communication student. She spends her time buying pretty books, hoarding nice paper, and having a good cry at the cinemas. You can find them on Instagram @dullring

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Having Having academic academic issues? issues?

Speak to our Student Speak toAdvocacy our Officers Advocacy for Student independent Officers for and confidential independent advice. and confidential advice.

Drop in

Appointments

10:00am-12:00pm, Tuesdays Drop in utsmeet.zoom.us/j/484728509 10:00am-12:00pm, Tuesdays 12:00pm-2:00pm, Thursdays utsmeet.zoom.us/j/484728509 utsmeet.zoom.us/j/120281737 12:00pm-2:00pm, Thursdays utsmeet.zoom.us/j/120281737

To make an appointment email Appointments students.association@uts.edu.au To make an appointment email students.association@uts.edu.au

COVER ARTWORK

by Tara Frawley