Verse Magazine Edition 24 - The Sex Edition

FREE Edition 24 | September - October 2018 Your Student Mag

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Throughout September you can collect a free sexual health pack from your USASA campus counter!

The pack contains: • A booklet with some useful info • A condom • A lube sachet • A dam • A sticker • A Chupa Chup • All in an inconspicuous calico drawstring bag!

Developed with SHINE SA, the pack aims to answer questions about sexual health.

Visit USASA.sa.edu.au/Uncensored to read the info in private.

Contents Edition 24 | September - October 2018

02 Editor’s Letter 04 What's the Buzz?

06 Hostel Hookups 08 The Rainbow Club 10 I Have a Question 12 Getting Intimate with Interviews 14 Songs to Grind To 17 In[ter]view: SHINE SA 22 Contraceptive Compilation 24 Imag[in]e: Olivia Toth 34 Hop, Skip, Jump.

36 Safewords 38 A Cocky Farewell Present 39 Spirit Sex 40 VOX 42 BDSM for Beginners 44 Amie DD 50 Let's Talk About Sex (ed) Baby 52 President's Letter 53 USASA Calendar 54 But, He's Nice 56 Easy as One, Two, Pee 58 First Encounter

Cover Image Maria Dizazzo

Above Image Olivia Toth

Verse Magazine is brought to you by

60 Review: Obscure Sex Positions 62 The Signs As: Pickup Lines

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Editor's Letter Head Editor | Jesse Neill

Welcome to our sex edition!

We wanted to take a more light hearted tone with this issue because we believe there’s too much stigma surrounding sexual health. We want to show that it’s sexy to look after yourself and that it can be extremely liberating to explore all different forms of sex (if done safely and consensually of course).

Sex can be between two lovers, two friends, two soul mates, two strangers, or even more than two if you really want some fun – nothing wrong with some solo practice either. Most of all though, it should be a pleasurable experience for all, there should be no shame.

Sometimes it might be a bit weird and awkward, but that’s the whole point. It’s about allowing yourself to be vulnerable to someone else. So as always we give many thanks to all the contributors for opening up to us. We hope you enjoy reading this and are inspired to stay safe and get funky.

The Verse team acknowledges and pays respect to the Kaurna, Boandik and Barngarla people as the traditional custodians of the land that we create, publish and share on.

Head Editor Jesse Neill | Editor Simon Telford | Communications Editor Georgia Lake Graphic Designer Sascha Tan | Printer Newstyle | Design & Production Consultant Jackson Polley The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily representative of the views of USASA or the editors.

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Edition 23 Contributors Dear students of UniSA, we sincerely thank you! Thank you all so very much for helping put your magazine together!

Below are the names of this edition's written and visual student contributors.

We want to add you to the contributors list!

Students are the back bone of this magazine and it doesn't run without your valuable input. Send through written or visual work that you want to show off! With open arms we accept all student work; written, drawn, typed, recorded or scrawled, you name it- we want it!

Submit using the online form at:

VerseMag.com.au/Submit Jesse Neill @jesse_neill Simon Telford @s.z.telford Sascha Tan @saschatan Georgia Lake @georgialakee

Victoria Knight Sarah Rouxel @sarahroux.illustration Tracey Davis @phantasmagoria_design The Rainbow Club Zoe Kassiotis Kiralea Schleyer Bianca Hoffrichter @bianca.hoffrichter SHINE SA Olivia Toth @ot_photog Moxx Amelia Fox @abwfox Ryan Colsey

Specifications for written work: We are looking for short articles 600-1200 words and longer articles 1200-2400. Articles can be on any topic but we especially love opinion pieces!

Specifications for artwork: Send us images at the highest resolution you can (300 DPI or larger in .jpeg, .tiff or .pdf file format). We love all visual styles and mediums.

Olivia Huynh @olive.dsgn Grace Lion-Hunter Jaspreet Sidhu @imjsidhu Dallas Nery @dallas.cc Amie DD @amiedoubled Maria Dizazzo @maria.makesthings Jordan Mumford Grace Dixon Tanner Muller @tanner.muller

@versemagadelaide @versemagazine @versemag_adl

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Last year, I took one of my most momentous steps into adulthood. It wasn’t buying a car, or getting engaged – no, it was far more important. I bought my first vibrator.

Words by Victoria Knight | Illustration by Sarah Rouxel

It was not an easy road to the intertwined bliss that my vibrator and I now share, and the story of my purchase has even been immortalised in film (okay, so it was a student film, but a film nonetheless).

Interestingly, it was a journey I took alone. While they are not prudish or conservative in the least, I functioned as the pioneer in my group of friends.

Ever since I learned what they were – vibrators, sex toys, marital aids, whatever the name – they’ve been a symbol of adulthood for me. I couldn’t tell you when I first learned about sex toys, but I knew that at some point in your grown-up life, you presumably bought them (unless, of course, some kind of dildo-stork delivered them to your door at a predestined time). As the years passed, my hope of avian delivery faded, and so did my hopes that I would eventually hit the point where my friends and I would start talking about sex toys, let alone get our hands on our own.

I was always younger than my friends, but I was never prudish, and when the hushed conversations about sex started up I was always involved. I suppose I expected the sex toy boundary to be crossed at some point after I left high school, but it wasn’t. Adulthood came with my eighteenth birthday, and still nothing. Another couple of years passed and apart from one awkward conversation at a house party, my friends and I still hadn’t breached the walls of the sex toy fortress.

It was around this time that I began going onto websites that sold these kinds of toys (shout out to Lovehoney, a site where you can get a student discount – I’m not sponsored, I just think you should get on that), filling up a cart and then getting too nervous to click ‘confirm order’. I was afraid for two reasons. One, I still live with my parents. They’d

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never checked my packages before, but it would be just my luck that they checked when their sweet, innocent daughter had bought something like this. Secondly, I was truly worried about the reaction I might get from my friends. I wanted to share this with them, just like I’d share anything else with them, like they would share intimate stories about their lives with me. I was concerned that this was a wild leap into something too taboo for us at this stage of our lives.

So I always exited the cart without making a purchase, kept my thoughts to myself and stayed quiet on the familiar side of not-quite-adulthood.

This was until a point I got to last year. A point where I said ‘fuck it’ (pardon the pun) and became the proud owner of a vibrator.

Well, I say proud. It wasn’t that simple. It’s still not that simple.

I remember when I told my mates that I’d finally ordered a sex toy. They seemed both shocked and intrigued, almost disgusted – not openly, nor intentionally, but disgusted nonetheless. We didn’t talk about it at length, despite having long conversations about things far more scandalous and taboo. When we did talk about it, there was some intrigue. It was as if there were questions bubbling under the surface. Questions they wanted to ask – which I was willing to answer – but there was something stopping them and to a certain extent, there still is.

Eventually, my vibrator arrived in a subtle brown box (they had said there was discreet shipping, but I quietly expected it to arrive in a massive phallic, buzzing package) and I opened it sneakily in my

“I’d sat through years of hearing my friends tell me about their romantic and sexual escapades and now that I was having one, it wasn’t important enough to listen to because it was battery-powered?” room. I truly felt more like an adult that day than I ever had before, and I stowed the vibrator away in my sock drawer in an isolated rite of passage that I honestly wanted to share with someone. I tried to share it with my friends, letting them know that it had arrived and that it was an enlightening experience to say the least – but again, something stopped us from having any in-depth conversations.

I’d sat through years of hearing my friends tell me about their romantic and sexual escapades and now that I was having one, it wasn’t important enough to listen to because it was battery-powered?

There’s something important to clarify here. I’m not resentful about the way my friends reacted. I love my friends dearly and they are not at all prudes, in fact they are more open about this than most would be. Not to mention the fact that we’ve all gotten a lot better at talking about the taboo subject that is the elusive vibrator. Mostly, I want to highlight the fact that it’s the worst-kept secret in the world that people own sex toys. Single and partnered people of all genders own sex toys, and yet to talk about it is still taboo for no good reason at all.

Is it because it’s seen as shameful to need these

devices to get off? Is it because they’re typically associated with women and so it has to do with misogyny? Is it some kind of idea that they’re too taboo for innocent eyes to read about, let alone use?

I don’t know – but what I do know is the fact that none of these reasons are good enough, and they’re all about one thing at their core: shame.

There’s so much shame for me personally around this topic. So much shame that I considered not writing or submitting this more times than I can count, and even then, thought about submitting it anonymously. I then tried to write this about the aforementioned time my vibrator-buying experience was made into a student film, as well as my struggles with my libido on antidepressants, before realising that there were bigger issues at play here. Why couldn’t I write a piece that was just about the fact that I owned a vibrator because I wanted one with no ulterior motivation? I’ll give you the answer to that one for free – I was ashamed. And if I was feeling shame, then maybe others felt shame too. And if they did, then I didn’t want them to. So here we are.

If you take nothing else from this piece, then take this one thing – if you’re thinking about buying a sex toy, or even just talking about them, then take the plunge. It’s good for your health, good for the soul and good for…I don’t know, something else, probably. I’m no doctor. I’m just one person with one story and one life that I’m trying to live without shame – with my vibrator.

(But if you’re really only taking one thing from this article, make it the part about the student discount. Seriously.) ◊

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Words by Anonymous | Image by Tracey Davis

I’m a backpacker. And shit, we fuck like rabbits.

But that’s hardly surprising isn’t it? Put a bunch of twenty somethings in new, mysterious locations; add alcohol, accents and freedom. It’s backpacking culture at its finest. In fact, science even backs this with research stating backpackers tend to be even more promiscuous than most, with sex more likely to be “unconventional and adventurous” as “an integral part of the adventurous ethos of the backpacking experience” - but hey, any traveller could tell you that.

So here we are. Dorms. Boats. Bathrooms. Music festivals. Cobbled European alleys. It’s time to navigate the hookup culture abroad and the fine art of dirty hostel sex.

The Private Room It’s the most obvious answer to all your problems.

It’s the privacy other hostel accommodation lacks and the respect your roomies deserve. But private hostel rooms are expensive and I know my budget can’t accommodate the ‘possibility’ of a hookup, so read on you horny bastards.

The Showers It’s undeniable the bathrooms are infested with sexual activity, but try not to hook up in the morning when people are showering. A hostel I once stayed at basically catered to it with an upstairs lockable bathroom that everyone shared their sex stories in. But some hostels don’t have locks on their showers, opting for more communal showering experiences, so proceed with caution.

The Laundry Who spends all night doing laundry anyway? Plus, I’ve heard it’s quite the experience doing it on a working washing machine – wink wink, nudge nudge.

Avoid the top bunk Insist on going at it in the room? I’ve been there, but avoid the top bunk. You’ll probably traumatise the person underneath and wake the entire dorm.

Top bunks are always squeakiest. Save yourself an embarrassing early check out and claim a bottom bunk.

Stay in a large dorm There are 40 person dorms and there are four person ones. Trust me, you ain’t hiding anything in a small room. Larger rooms also tend to be that bit noisier, meaning it might be able to mask any, ahem, disturbances.

Take it to the streets Is there anything more romantic than doing the deed in a cobbled European alleyway? Probably – but hey, it’s not my job to tell you that. I’m here to give you places to get laid and this is a very viable option. Public sex may be frowned upon, but only if you get caught.

Party Hostels Firstly, you’re much more likely to find someone interested in a hookup at these babies over somewhere low key. And secondly, these hostels have a reputation for fooling around, so everyone there will be much more lenient in your conquests.

So now you know where to take your one-night lover, but where do you meet these beautiful people in the first place? Well the best place is in the hostel itself, especially at their pub crawls. Other fan favourites include tour groups like Contiki, music festivals, Tinder and your local bar or club. Easy.

Just one final note before I leave you to smash uglies, BE SAFE. Yeah, you really don’t want to catch yourself an STI or a pregnancy on holiday, especially if you’re travelling long term. Screw each other responsibly. But also be safe in the literal term. Don’t be the girl at my hostel who got in the car with an unknown guy in Croatia. He did a line of coke before driving her home – with his knees – while texting and getting her to pass him his beer. You better believe it. Now, go get ‘em tiger! ◊

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UniSA has many great clubs that offer all sorts of opportunities, communities and services for a whole range of students. In this edition we talked to The Rainbow Club about what they are all about and how to get involved.

Interview conducted by Simon Telford Images provided by The Rainbow Club

The Rainbow Club has been around for a while now, when did it get started and how has it changed over time?

UniSA briefly had a Pride Club between 2011 and 2014, but unfortunately the people who ran it graduated with no one to handover the Club, so we were again left without a club for queer students.

In late 2015, a few of us wanted to start up the Club again, so we met, formed a new Executive Committee, and registered the Rainbow Club with USASA. It was certainly an exciting inaugural committee, with people across the political spectrum finding a common cause to work towards.

We’ve come a long way over the past 3 years.

In 2016, most of our events were either poorlyattended drinks nights or barbeques. 2017 was a tough year, so we focused more on activism like putting up ‘YES’ posters on campus, to having Penny Wong join us talking to students about enrolling to vote in the Marriage Law Postal Survey. We also began collaborating with our equivalent clubs Flinders University Queer Society (FUQS) and the Pride Club of the University of Adelaide on running a joint event during Feast Festival, which helped boost our profile and attendance at our events.

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We ended up being the seventh largest USASA club with 112 members - a huge difference given that our predecessor club had a mere 24 members at its conclusion. In 2018, we've expanded our Executive Committee, made a commitment to run pop-up Rainbow Room and bake sale events on all campuses, continued working with staff to improve queer rights at UniSA, and kept collaborating with FUQS and Pride Club Adelaide. We’ve also collaborated with other USASA clubs on events, and are working with the Australian Queer Students’ Network on the Ending Queer Youth Homelessness campaign, so we’re always busy either doing or planning something; our exec group chat is active every day.

Is there a mission statement that the club follows?

Yes, our mission is to provide an inclusive, safe, fun, engaging campus environment, and bring representation to students of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and biological sex at the University of South Australia.

What sort of services do the Rainbow Club offer?

Our close links with many queer-specific groups and services throughout Australia enable us to

provide a variety of opportunities. We hold events such as coffee and pub crawls, competitions, bake sales, see performances, march at rallies, promote awareness days, and participate in community workshops. Our Executive Committee attend conferences, and engage in regular meetings with university staff. We are managed by queer students, so we understand the sensitive nature of issues such as coming out as queer-identified, finding likeminded friends, internal conflicts (personal, moral, and religious), questioning one’s gender identity and sexuality, as well as relationship challenges.

We aren't a counselling service, but we can provide a connection to appropriate counselling services such as QLife. Our Club is also very culturally and ethnically diverse, so this year we had our brochure translated into Arabic, Mandarin and Spanish so that we can reach out to students who speak English as an additional language - these brochures are available on our USASA page, and translations into more languages are being planned.

Why is the Rainbow Club so important to the University of South Australia?

Unfortunately, UniSA is one of the worst universities in Australia for queer staff and students. We’re one of the few universities in Australia without a dedicated queer space, Ally Network, and Queer Officer student representative.

Thankfully, the university has been supportive of addressing our concerns, and is committed to making UniSA one of the most queer-friendly universities in Australia. We’ve been working together to develop an Ally Network and training program for staff, and auditing toilet facilities to find unisex toilets on each campus. The more complex issues of the female/male binary system, getting a dedicated queer space on campus, and having a Queer Officer on the USASA Student Board are long-term projects – but we’ve started working towards them. It’s shameful the reports students and staff have given us about discriminatory behaviour they’ve experienced here. We’ve had a range of issues brought to our attention such as; counsellors refusing to help same-sex attracted students; campus central staff refusing to change the titles and sex/gender markers in the files of transgender students; intersex and non-binary students being refused placements thus being unable to complete their degrees; and only having the binary options of female or male when enrolling as a student or signing a staff employment

contract - despite it being legal in South Australia to be non-binary, intersex, intermediate, or unspecified since 2017. It’s unacceptable, and nothing was being done until our Executive Committee brought a list of concerns to the Pro Vice Chancellor of Student Engagement and Equity.

If someone was to go to a typical meet up for club members, what could they expect?

They’ll meet our Executive Committee, and other queer students. Every event is a little bit different. Our more recent events have been our Pop-Up Rainbow Rooms, which has a chilled-out vibe, both for studying and for meeting new people. At a joint event they'll have the opportunity to meet queer students from Adelaide and Flinders.

If the Rainbow Club was to be described in three words, what would those words be?

Dedicated, compassionate, fabulous.

If someone wants to join or find out more information about the Rainbow Club, what can they do?

Membership is free and open to anyone, not just UniSA students or staff. Click the blue Sign Up button on our Facebook page, then log into/register your USASA account, and click ‘Join or Renew’ on our Club’s page. We also have a secret Facebook group for people who aren't out. Come along to our Executive Committee meetings with ideas and suggestions, or join our volunteer Facebook group.

We hold our Annual General Meeting in March, where we elect our Executive Committee for the year. ◊

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I Have a Question Words by Zoe Kassiotis Image by Sarah Rouxel

Did you convince yourself it was just a booty call or did you feel the walls creak to life at seeing the left side of the bed warm did you see my insides glow when your lips battered with heartbreak brushed my forehead did you hear the lonely air whispering desperate pleads for you to stay or was I just a vessel a convenient harbour for your resentment

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Getting Intimate with Interviews A snapshot of the life of one South Australian couple Interview conducted by Simon Telford Illustration by Sascha Tan

Victoria and Lindsay are a couple living in South Australia who have recently entered the Adelaide BDSM scene. Verse reached out to get their view on sex, couples, and relationships.

Can you give us a little bit of information about yourselves?

Lindsay is a male, 23 years old, and pansexual (which means he doesn't base his attraction to someone on their gender; he still has his preferences, but it's about more than what's just between their legs).

Victoria is a transgender female (legally female), 22, and bi-curious. We have been together for nearly 2 years.

How would you describe your relationship? Has this evolved over time?

We would classify it as a polyamorous relationship. This means we are both open to having relationships with other people, either purely sexual or emotional, but still remain each other's primary partner. For reference, polyamory translates to 'many loves'. We began our relationship based mainly on sex, but that evolved to an emotional connection, eventually leading to our current lifestyle.

Can you explain what Switch is?

Switch (or Switch SA) is Adelaide's main BDSM/Kink/ Fetish community. Events are held more or less monthly, where people are encouraged to dress how they like (often to fit a monthly theme), and express their often taboo or stigmatised lifestyles

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“We began our relationship based mainly on sex, but that evolved to an emotional connection, eventually leading to our current lifestyle� in a friendly, open, and respectful environment.

What is a typical night like?

Switch events are generally held in a nightclub.

The night usually involves a few drinks and socialising, as well as the BDSM aspect. There is a best dressed competition, main stage show (put on by the more theatrical members of the community), and there are also several 'play areas' for people to engage in public kink/fetish activities (such as rope, needlework, St Andrew's Crosses for impact play or flogging, and other activities).

Is it purely sexual or is there other benefits you gain from attending?

For some it is a purely sexual experience, but it's also very common for people to partake in some activities to learn, express themselves, to have fun, or many other reasons relating to that particular individual.

Have you seen any change to your sex life since joining?

Yes. We have started to incorporate new toys, such as dildos, wrist restraints, tape, and often are rougher with each other. We both enjoy choking, spanking, slapping, and other aspects of impact play. We also recently had our first multi-partner sexual experience - a four-way with another male and female.

Have you seen any change to your relationship since joining?

We have progressed our relationship from what we classified as an open relationship – meaning we were free to sleep with other people – to the polyamorous relationship we have at the moment. We are also learning more about ourselves sexually, and what kinks or fetishes we enjoy or don't enjoy.

“Open relationships are certainly not for everyone, but if everyone involved is comfortable and honest, it can be a very rewarding lifestyle”

way. Females are also often regarded as sluts, or shamed for expressing themselves in sexual ways.

This trend seems to be on the decline as people become more accepting, but there is still some work to go. It's not hard to let people live their lives their own way.

What piece of advice would you give to others who are interested in BDSM or open relationships?

Communication is absolutely paramount. If at any point you become uncomfortable with your situation, you must say so. Not doing this can easily lead to unsafe and dangerous scenarios. Open relationships are certainly not for everyone, but if everyone involved is comfortable and honest, it can be a very rewarding lifestyle.

What are some misconceptions about the scene and about relationships that you would like to dispel?

What can people do who are interested in learning more about Switch?

Often people think those with more moderate to severe kinks (such as heavy impact play, watersports, consensual non-consent roleplaying, things like that) are weird, or even mentally ill. This obviously isn't the case, they are just people who wish to express themselves in their own

The easiest way is through the Switch SA Facebook page. You can find information on regular events, ranging from casual meetups to rope learning nights to the main Switch club events. ◊

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SONGS TO

GRIND TO Find our playlists: @VerseMag on Spotify!

Words and Illustration by Sascha Tan

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01

02

03

SOFT PORN

GIRL WITH THE TATTOO

LOVELY

PUMA BLUE

MIGUEL

BRENT FAIYAZ

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05

06

TRIED UP

DON'T YOU

A PLACE LIKE THIS

AMA LOU

SAGE THE GEMINI

MAJID JORDAN

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08

09

PAPI PACIFY

THAT OTHER GIRL

ADDICTED

FKA TWIGS

SEVDALIZA

VANJESS

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DMT

DOLLAR BILLS

PRBLMS

XXYYXX

SYD feat. STEVE LACY

6LACK

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SUCKA FOR LOVE

PINNED UPON

COMMUNICATION

TCVVX

POLOSHIRT

ARIN RAY feat. DRAM

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In[ter]view: SHINE SA

Interview conducted by Jesse Neill Photo supplied by SHINE SA | Illustrations by Sascha Tan

Jesse Neill spoke with SHINE SA's Amy Moten, one of Australia’s leading not-for-profit providers of education and primary care services surrounding sexual and relationship wellbeing asking various questions students may have regarding their own sexual health.

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What does SHINE SA do and what is your role?

SHINE SA is a key sexual health agency in South Australia. It provides individuals and communities with services and information to improve their sexual health so they can enjoy their relationships with safety, pleasure and respect.

My role as a medical educator is to educate other health professionals to enable them to provide sexual and reproductive health services to the community.

Clinical services at SHINE SA include STI testing and management, contraception services, pregnancy testing and referral, and vaccinations for hepatitis A, B and HPV, which are free for eligible people What is an STD/STI and what is the difference between the two?

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) is the old term for Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). While it is important you be tested and treated if you have any chance of an STI, not all infections cause “disease”.

Using the term STI reduces some of the previous shame and stigma which came with using the term STD. What ever you call it, reduce your risk by using safer sex and have regular testing.

How many young people have STIs?

Is there a link between cold sores and herpes? Could I catch an STI from kissing?

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, most commonly herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1).

Although HSV 1 can be transmitted by kissing, most people get exposed to HSV as a child, and many people who’ve been exposed to HSV 1 never get cold sores.

The type of HSV that causes genital herpes doesn’t usually cause cold sores, but if someone with a cold sore gives oral sex it can occasionally cause genital herpes. If you have a cold sore you should avoid kissing or giving oral sex until it has healed.

Can I get an STI more than once?

You can get STIs such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea with repeat exposure, even if you’ve been treated. That’s why it’s important to make sure you don’t have sex with any partners who also might have been exposed until both of you have been treated, for at least 7 days after treatment. Any new sexual partners can also give you an STI even if you’ve been treated before.

You can get a test of re-infection after 3 months and with every new sexual partner.

Is it possible to catch an STI from a toilet seat?

No. Just no!

People under 30 who are sexually active have the highest risk of getting an STI. In SA there are close to 6000 cases of chlamydia diagnosed each year, and around 80% of these are in people under 30. The rates of chlamydia and gonorrhoea are increasing every year.

What are the symptoms of common STIs? Symptoms of STIs can include pain when urinating, discharge from the penis or vagina, anal pain, pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding during or after sex and bleeding between periods. Up to 70 per cent of people with chlamydia, which is the most common STI, have no symptoms. That’s why using condoms, and regular testing is important, even if you don’t have any of these symptoms.

Can people catch an STI from mutual masturbation, anal or oral sex?

Yes. Some STIs can be transmitted through bodily fluids and skin to skin contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes and genital warts. HIV and Hepatitis B can’t be transmitted through these types of sex.

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Can common STIs be treated and cured?

Yes, common STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately the antibiotics we use for these STIs are losing their effectiveness. There have been 2 cases of multi resistant gonorrhoea recently detected in Australia and there has been an increase in drug resistant gonorrhoea worldwide. If you do need antibiotics for an STI it’s important to make sure you finish all the tablets and have any follow up tests that are recommended.

Do any genders have a greater risk of contracting an STI compared to others?

STIs don’t discriminate. Anyone can get an STI regardless of their gender, sexuality or sexual orientation.

What could happen to an STI that goes untreated?

STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea can infect the reproductive organs and can lead to infertility, chronic pelvic pain and increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Untreated hepatitis B can cause severe damage to the liver.

Should you tell your sexual partners if you have an STI before engaging in any type of sex? Is it illegal not to?

You should take every reasonable precaution not to pass on an STI, such as using condoms.

Who should get a test?

Routine STI screening is recommended for any new sexual contact, or if your partner has had a new sexual contact. You should also be tested if you or your partner develop symptoms of an STI, or if you know a recent partner has had an STI. You should be tested every 3 months if you have new or multiple sexual partners but anyone under the age of 30 should have at least 1 STI test per year.

Where do I go to get tested and can I do this anonymously?

You can get a test at your GP, at any SHINE SA clinic and Adelaide Sexual Health Centre at 275 North Terrace, Adelaide. Your Medicare records are anonymous but it’s a good idea to get your own Medicare card once you turn 15. If you are aged between 14 and 17 and have an online My Health Record you should apply to have control of this record yourself.

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Whether you disclose your personal health information is up to you. However getting tested and treated before you have sex is important to stop passing the infection to others and getting reinfected yourself.

If you are diagnosed with an STI and need to tell other partners that they might have an STI you can tell them anonymously by SMS or email.

Anonymous partner notification sites are: http://www.letthemknow.org.au/ https://www.bettertoknow.org.au/ http://www.thedramadownunder.info/notify/ How does sexual health affect relationships?

Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It needs a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Sexual health contributes to healthy relationships and healthy relationships are an essential part of sexual well-being. ◊

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Not all sexual education programs are created equal and sometimes information regarding contraception can difficult to easily access. Below is a list of contraceptive options so you can make an informed decision on what works best for you.

Interview conducted by Simon Telford Illustrations by Sascha Tan

Condoms The rubber latex sheath that forms around an erect penis to prevent pregnancy. The condom is the greatest protection against STI’s when the condom covers an infected area and can be used vaginally, anally and orally. Using a waterbased lubricate can help prevent the condom from breaking. Condoms come in various sizes, textures,

and taken out for one week each month. When used perfectly the ring is 99% successful at stopping pregnancy but typically the success rate is around 91%. A prescription is required to purchase the ring and can be obtained from your doctor, SHINE SA and community or youth centres. Some side effects can be associated with the ring so take this into consideration.

shapes and even flavours. Most packages of condoms come with a guide on how to effectively use one. A plastic condom is also available for those with a rubber allergy.

Vaginal Ring The vaginal ring is a soft plastic ring you can place inside the vagina once a month. The ring releases oestrogen and progestogen, the same hormones produced by the pill. The vaginal ring is used to prevent pregnancy and does not prevent the chance of receiving or passing on an STI. The ring is left inside the vagina for three weeks

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Diaphragm A diaphragm is made of silicon and is available in Australia with a one size fits most design, estimated to fit around 80%. It fits into the vagina to cover the cervix. The diaphragm acts as a barrier for sperm to prevent pregnancy and needs to be left in for at least six hours after intercourse. Diaphragms are less effective at preventing pregnancy compared to some other contraceptives, at around 80% effectiveness. The positives of using a diaphragm include the lack of effect on your menstrual cycle, fertility and breastfeeding. A diaphragm does not use hormones as a contraceptive.

Contraceptive Implant Inserted into the upper arm, the contraceptive implant is a small white plastic rod that releases progestogen into the body. Progestogen changes the lining of the uterus to prevent fertilised eggs from taking hold, stops the release of an egg by the ovaries and makes mucus thicker to stop sperm from entering the uterus. The contraceptive implant is 99.9% effective at avoiding pregnancy and lasts for three years. If you wish to become pregnant whilst the implant is still inserted, the implant must be removed by a doctor. There are side effects associated with the implant, many involving heavy bleeding or bleeding for extended periods of times as well as some other possible symptoms. The implant is not recommended for some.

The Pill (Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill) The pill is made up of two artificial hormones (oestrogen and progestogen) which is taken to prevent pregnancy. The pill can also be taken to control periods and improve acne. There are several different types of pill that can be chosen, so speaking to your doctor or health consultant can be a good place to start. The pill can only be obtained with a prescription and is between 91-99% effective depending on how well it is used. The pill requires discipline with scheduling to ensure effectiveness. If you do forget a pill you can take it up to 24 hours from the usual time to remain safe. As with many hormone related contraception side effects can happen so you should ask about these with your doctor or health consultant and weigh up your options.

Injectable Contraceptive An injection of progestogen into the buttock or upper arm. There are two brands available in Australia known as Depo-Provera and Depo-Ralovera.

This contraceptive works similarly to the other progestogen contraceptives mentioned, such as stopping the release of an egg by the ovary. The injectable contraceptive is 99% effective and you’ll need to have an appointment with your doctor, SHINE SA or community health clinic about if this is right for you and to organise a time for the injection. After being injected you should use condoms or another non-hormonal contraceptive for seven days, then the injection will have taken effect. This will last for three months of

protection although the hormone may linger for longer that can impact menstrual cycles. There are side effects associated with taking the injectable contraceptive.

Progestogen-Only Pill The progestogen-only pill, also known as the mini pill, uses one hormone (progestogen) rather than the two hormones used in combined oral contraceptive pill. The progestogen-only pill is 9299% effective and is less likely to cause headaches and nausea in those who take it compared to “the pill”. It is likely there will be changes to your period and some other side effects such as breast tenderness may take place for the first month or so. It is important to take the mini pill every day at the same time. Vomiting or diarrhoea, missing a pill and some other medications can interfere with the effectiveness of the progestogen-only pill.

Intra-Uterine Device An Intra-Uterine Device (IUD) is a contraceptive

device that is placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. SHINE SA has two types available; a hormonal IUD made of plastic that releases progestogen and a copper IUD made of plastic and copper. IUD’s effect sperm movement and modify the lining of the uterus to make it harder for an egg to attach. IUD’s are extremely reliable with the “Copper T” lasting for ten years and “Multiload” and “Mirena” being effective for five years. They can be taken out but only by a specialised doctor or nurse. There are several differing side effects that can happen depending on what type of IUD you use. Whilst IUD’s have many benefits they also have many things to consider, which your doctor or sexual health consultant can take you through, such as checking on positioning inside the uterus, STI checks, pap smears and more.

Information taken from SHINESA, to find out more go to www.shinesa.org.au/health-information/contraception.

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Imag[in]e: Olivia Toth Verse Mag's regular student Art & Design feature

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Interview conducted by Sascha Tan Photography by Olivia Toth

Sandwich maker, contemporary art student and aspiring film photographer Olivia Toth writes about the nostalgia of Polaroid film.

Olivia shares with us her love for capturing effortlessly intimate moments through an instantaneous process.

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Tell us some things about you and what you’re studying.

I’m an aspiring fine art photographer currently finishing up my degree in Contemporary Art (formerly Visual Art). I experimented with film photography back in high school and ever since the interest has just kind of stuck. There’s some kind of constant nostalgia that I associate with film photography and I think that’s because growing up that’s all we had for the most of my childhood. When I’m not at uni or at work making sandwiches (someone has to right?), I enjoy researching literally anything about photography and dreaming about the extensive (maybe I mean expensive?) equipment I might have the pleasure of owning one day. I also love good wine and spending time with loved ones! Oh, and I talk way too much when I’m comfortable.

The theme of intimacy is strong in these photos, regardless of the subject. How would you describe what intimacy means to you?

Oh, how I love this question! To me, intimacy means a lot more than what often first springs to mind (which is generally something sexual). It’s such a broad topic that I really want to express with my viewers and create relationships with them through my work. Anytime that I am experiencing a private, loving and/or enlightened moment either by myself or with someone I care about, I see it as an intimate moment. I could be at home alone and find myself deep in thought with a realisation or feeling of a particular emotion or mood and to me that’s an unique intimate moment with myself.

I could also be sexually intimate or emotionally intimate with my boyfriend, both of which we are developing deeper.

Wrapping up (I could go on and on), for me it’s anything close and sacred, either mentally or physically, that causes me to feel developed or improved with my relationship with myself or close friends and family.

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I noticed you created another series of photographs with a similar theme a while ago, what drew you to experimenting with Polaroids this time around?

I shamelessly have an obsession with just plain gorgeous vintage cameras, and this is how I stumbled into the glorious world of Polaroids.

While I love shooting film, there is a process to having the final image – this is a major influence as to why I use film. However, for my current series instantaneous images represent the true intimacy of a particular moment. It’s also important to me to create a relationship between myself and my work, my work and my audience, as well as myself and my audience. With Polaroids being such a small image, it forces a viewer to look closely at the image, creating a relationship between themselves and my work, literally. Therefore, Polaroid was the best option for me to express what I am wanting to achieve (plus they pick up and reflect sunlight and skin tones so beautifully).

Tell us about the moments that these photos were taken in.

Each photograph I have in this series is taken in the exact moment it is experienced. All my images are based around the home, which I think most people will find is their most intimate place of all. My favourite place to shoot is the bedroom.

It’s the place to wake up and get motivated for the day and let go and fall asleep in the evenings as well as everything else in between. I can’t say that any of my Polaroids have represented a sad or depressive state that I’ve had, and though I may feel alone sometimes, it’s a good type of lone feeling. Sometimes the moments are full of passion and strong emotion, sometimes it's a dwelled upon thought or feeling, and others it’s just realising a beautiful moment that feels personal and unique.

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I absolutely love how your Insta bio says “The body isn’t an explicit image unless viewed explicitly”. Would you elaborate on this?

I think this is the proudest lil’ line I’ve ever come up with! In early stages of expressing intimacy, I photographed a small series of my boyfriend nude while he showered. Nothing remotely sexual, I simply photographed natural moments of a daily activity. Later, after I uploaded the series to my Instagram, a photograph had been reported and removed. This happened twice, again after I reposted. The photograph had neither sexual intent nor any inappropriate content. So after this experience I questioned a lot about equality and perspective, and I thought “heck, just because you see some skin doesn’t make it sexual”.

Would you say that you’ve learned anything more about yourself or your relationships after taking these photographs and showing them to the world?

Definitely. Firstly, I’ve learned people can be way too sensitive. I am sensitive, like really sensitive, but I am able to have a broad enough mind (well I hope) to attempt to understand more than just an initial assumption or judgement.

The most important learning I have done is about myself. I’ve become more in tune with myself, more understanding and certainly more appreciative of the experiences and relationships I have.

What can we see from you in future work?

I think intimacy will always be a feature in my work, intentionally or not. Whether it's creating a new series of artwork, photographing friends and family, or even a lifestyle shoot, I think it’s in my blood (so to speak) to have this element so prominent in my work. ◊

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Words by Kiralea Schleyer Image by Bianca Hoffrichter

Hop, Skip, Jump.

Hearts beat faster.

Hey listen. Listen to her breathe.

Hear her breath hitch as hands dance lightly down, and then up her sides.

Oh. Her head won’t stop spinning.

Delicate lips move gently down grazing his neck, shoulder, collar – before desperately finding their place at his waiting mouth once again.

Soft moans, laughter and sighs combine, The musician’s favourite melody – a song of which only he is worthy playing as his goddess stares adoringly, Eyes locked, legs linked, tangled together.

Jump, Skip, Hop. Play time is over, now it’s time to sleep.

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A little money for your big ideas!

Have an exciting idea for your club or campus that needs a kick-start?

Apply for grants ranging from $500 - $2,500 each month.

Find out how to apply at USASA.sa.edu.au/Grants

THEMES:

rape, mental illness, self-harm

Safewords

A love letter to my ink and my kink family Words by Moxx | Image by Amelia Fox

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Desire and libido swing and dance, unpredictable.

Self-confidence dips and soars, and for me, sexual relationships are a minefield. I exist in the awareness that I am not blessed with beauty. I am the kind of ugly that notably repulses others.

Reflected in their eyes, I see all the ways I fall outside of what is acceptable. Short, fat, bad skin, queer, double chin, shaved head, smart mouth, moustache, tattoos. Being on the receiving end of sexual desire almost always means I am being fetishised or pitied. Self-conscious, vulnerable, and too anxious about my otherness, I inevitably end up alone. Yet I am not lonely. There are two distinct spaces where I can be safe in my exploration of sensuality, free from objectification and ridicule. One is the tattoo parlour. The other is the world of BDSM. The lines etched into me are the markers of my courage; promises to myself that I will continue fighting guilt and shame. Ink suspended in flesh as reminders. Each symbol a victory over self-harm.

Every morning in the mirror I trace the timeline of my recoveries, savouring the spectre of the tattoo needle breaching my flesh with its cut, burn, sting, and stain sensation. I am an artwork in progress.

Each tattoo and its location is inscribed with a pact between me and my heart. On the right side of my pelvis; I will not tear my hair out any more.

On the left ankle; I will not burn my feet with cigarettes. On the spine; I will not starve myself.

On the right forearm; I will not hide from the pain inside a bottle of vodka. On the right shin; I will not slice the inside of my cheeks with razorblades.

“I’m not seeking self-destruction.

I’m seeking exhilaration. I am taking pain as an act of service, freeing myself through masochism and submission” And yet I still seek pain. Pain for the quieting of the mind. Pain for the way it sings to me. Pain for the pleasure in the moment and the comfort in the aftermath. The difference is the motivation behind it. I’m not seeking self-destruction. I’m seeking exhilaration. I am taking pain as an act of service, freeing myself through masochism and submission. And so the next tattoo will be written on a body that is loved and safe. The next tattoo will be scribed in full colour, a witness of

transformation. Living, writing, creating, inked, every love bite a work of art. I am marked. I am released.

The BDSM world offers the same emancipation as the tattoo parlour. Rape for me brought with it PTSD, a limiting illness, accompanied by almost constant sadness. Melancholy has a rhythm. It thrums through the body, a drone with a pulse, and the chatter in my mind lilts along the top in counterpoint, reminding me just how much of a monster I am. Most of the time I can tune it out, muffle it down to a whisper while I get on with other things. BDSM provides those rare and magical moments where the noise stops completely.

When I am engaged in a kink scene, my mind is quiet and I can finally breathe. When I am being tied up, flogged, stuck with needles or skewers, or spanked, I am aware only of my capabilities and my connection with my partner/s. I am no longer a monster. For those few precious moments I am free from the heaviness of self-loathing. These moments have made me feel safe enough to have sex once again. Sex that is kinky through and through, consensual, respectful, and deeply fulfilling.

My kink family consists of treasured friends who celebrate and encourage me at every turn, who champion enthusiastic consent, respect limits, and understand that sensuality is nuanced and complex.

Sexual expression is not just about penetration and orgasms. It’s so much more. It’s the gasp of air when a hand is around my throat. It’s the way I yell when a skewer pierces my shoulder blade.

It’s the goofy smile that lights up my face when I’m bound by rope. It’s the uninhibited giggle that escapes my mouth when nails rake my thighs, drawing blood. My kink family make room for me to prove to myself how courageous I am. How desirable I am. When I’m with them, I am brave and beautiful.

I am not alone, and I am safe at last. Safe to be sexual. Safe to let go of the guilt and shame, even if it’s only for a little while. Safe to be me. Safe enough, even, to be loved. ◊

We We We It As

met in class in first year kissed while drinking dark beer bonded tight felt so right she held me near

On exchange from Nordic lands Love was never in the plans But what the fuck We tried our luck!

Holding more than hands Then one day back home she head “I’ll leave you a surprise,” she said “A parting gift…”

“That’s kind of thrift…”

“It’ll make you blush red.”

Soon after, we’d fallen out Getting gifts was now in doubt But then they came On them my name Gifts that made me shout There had arrived, without fail Three bright dildos in my mail The blue one long The red one strong The pink like a tail ‘Go fuck myself’ I had thought The message of the cocks she’d bought But I was wrong About the dong What was being taught?

A Cocky Farewell Present Words by Ryan Colsey Illustration by Olivia Huynh

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I rang so she could explain to me Why I had these dildos three She wasn’t irate “I have no hate… …you are now set free.”

At the time it didn’t make sense Even now I don’t get it; hence Wearing my fleece I wrote this piece …am I being dense?

A gift’s a gift I suppose Though I would’ve preferred clothes And to this day I do still say Why…why the dildos?

Words by Grace Lion-Hunter Image by Jaspreet Sidhu

I read the Bible once The Word called me Bride So I’m having sex with my spirit guide If spirit is formless and if spirit is breath Then in each moment sex is just an echo of my spine-tingling spirit sex The same breath that you breathed when you touched yourself free I now breathe into being that same freedom seed

She grows as the Tree of Life in whose fruit is my delight The Tree of Life The divine breath We all breathe Just like this tree our life is an orgy Overlapping chemistry Entirely pure and most innocent Without dicks Without clits Just our breath There is no mess [take a breath] It’s Spirit Sex

V

X: Student Voice Looking to these Verse contributors to be inspired and motivated!

Dallas Nery What work of art/writing are you inspired by?

I am inspired a lot through music and photography, one of my favourite artists being Ta-ku, a multidisciplinary artist who is successful in both the music and creative industry.

If you could only experience one medium of art for the rest of your life, what you would choose?

Muzik

Ryan Colsey What is the creative process like for you?

I am a serial over-thinker and my brain is constantly thinking of stupid ideas, but if I am alone there is nobody to tell me they are stupid so I just pursue them. You gotta give everything a shot, after-all, you miss 100% of the shots you never take.

If you could only experience one medium of art for the rest of your life, what you would choose?

Definitely the art of sound, I'm very much an aural person. Throw your TV's out the window and put your paintings in the bin, give me a Walkman to listen to and I'm set for life.

Olivia Huynh What is the creative process like for you?

Frustration and then full steam ahead. It’s a very last minute, work for 12 hours straight type of thing.

What work of art/writing are you inspired by?

The work of my friends honestly. Their stuff pushes me to do and be a better designer.

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Tanner Muller What is the creative process like for you?

For me, the creative process can be unexpected. Sometimes you just never know when an idea will reveal itself to you.

If you could only experience one medium of art for the rest of your life what would you choose?

That would definitely have to be short stories. I find it remarkable how some writers can express so much in a piece of text that doesn’t have a massive word count.

If you could only experience one medium of art for the rest of your life, what you would choose?

That would definitely have to be short stories. I find it remarkable how some writers can express so much in a piece of text that doesn’t have a massive word count.

Grace Lion-Hunter What is the creative process like for you?

Life creatively flowing through you makes you feel humbled & proud all at the same time. Being in my dirty thirties now, I have my specific processes in place for most artistic projects I'm engaged with...but at the core of all of them all is simply to be and to do from my knowing.

Follow the inspiration. Follow the spirit.

What work of art/writing are you inspired by?

I'm inspired by doing - the process - because of how it feels.

Inspiration leads to action but also action leads to more inspiration.

Second to that, I'm inspired by others doing what they love.

If you could only experience one medium of art for the rest of your life, what you would choose?

As much as I'd love to say video because that's what I'm enjoying right now... I'd have to trust my life partner - the humble acoustic guitar - to deliver the goods the way she always has. So for me...I'm married to music for life.

Bianca Hoffrichter What is the creative process like for you?

In two words: functional chaos. I have a short attention span so I jump between a lot of mediums, and I really enjoy learning new techniques not taught in a university setting.

What work of art/writing are you inspired by?

I look a lot to contemporary and traditional Eastern art. I studied a lot of Japanese culture and language growing up and that beautiful aesthetic is like a breath of air to me. I [also] want to look at connecting with the notion of the "Female Gaze" that is emerging.

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Words by Anonymous | Illustration by Dallas Nery

The Oxford defines BDSM as the following: “Bondage, discipline (or domination), sadism, and masochism (as a type of sexual practice)”.

In recent years, in popular culture BDSM can be identified in big Hollywood movies such as Fifty Shades of Grey and The Secretary. That said, BDSM has also become a ‘catch all’ under which most non-standard sexual practices and lifestyles can be included. In reality, in the 21st Century the acronym should be BDDSSM and incorporate Dominance and Submission.

Over the years, bondage has been seen as both a source for sexual satisfaction and liberation, as well as a means of cultural and artistic expression. Consider, if you will, Japanese rope bondage, also known Shibari. Shibari ‘master’ and photographer, Hikari Kesho, states that “among the many uses of Shibari are dynamic living sculpture, shared meditative practice, deep relaxation for flexibility of mind and body, expression of power exchange, and intimate erotic restraint”.

BDSM is a lifestyle, however one identifies oneself is a lifestyle in which one can experience, in one form or another, a mental escapism, and experience pleasure in many consenting forms, to add to one’s sexual liberation.

Discipline: The Dominant Guide states that “Discipline is the use of rules and punishment to control overt behaviour”. For example, in such a scenario as back-chatting or sarcasm, ones Dominant may feel it necessary to withhold an orgasm or just completely ignore their play

Consent: The most critical element is that ALL BDSM activities must be clearly consensual.

There is no room for coercion, and any activity which is not clearly consensual is assault. This is particularly an issue for Dominants as they have a responsibility to ensure that any other party participating in activities is doing so in an informed and consensual manner. Many longer term BDSM relationships operate on a trust basis but consent is still present. This consent can be withdrawn at any time through use of what is known as a “safeword”.

A little bit about BDDSSM and what each letter stands for Bondage: Bondage is defined on Dictionary.com as “the state or practice of being physically restrained, as by being tied up, chained, or put in handcuffs, for sexual gratification”.

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partner altogether. This may not seem too extreme to a person reading this, however, being ignored or left alone can be quite distressing or psychologically traumatising for some. Hence, why punishment or discipline is such a crucial aspect to the lifestyle. It can assist in the training of a submissive, and in the growth and evolution of the relationship between Dominant and Submissive individuals.

D/S, or Dominance and Submission, is a set of behaviours, customs, and rituals involving the giving by one individual to another individual of control over them in a BDSM erotic episode or lifestyle relationship.

Sadism: Oxford dictionary defines Sadism as “the tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering,

“BDSM is a lifestyle, however one identifies oneself is a lifestyle in which one can experience, in one form or another, a mental escapism, and experience pleasure in many consenting forms, to add to one’s sexual liberation” or humiliation on others”. The origin of the word ‘sadist’ comes from an infamous writer of the 16th century, Marquis de Sade. A French nobleman, revolutionary politician, philosopher, and writer, de Sade was famous for his libertine sexuality. He was institutionalised as a result of his so-called ‘contemporary libertine-like’ lifestyle. He would write his literature as a result of his needing to express himself whilst institutionalized. Such works include Philosophy in the Boudoir, Justine and 120 days of Sodom.

Masochism: Masochism is the tendency to derive sexual gratification from one's own pain or humiliation. For instance, if one was to experience needles being administered into their skin (which is sometimes a contemporary BDSM activity), there is a chance that the individual receiving the needles feels a euphoric-like feeling of ecstasy. This type of pleasure is received as a result of the pain experienced by a masochist.

In the 21st century, as everything in the universe has to flourish and evolve – so too does the BDSM (or more appropriately, BDDSSM) lifestyle. In this modern internet age we have more opportunities to keep in contact with BDSM related friends than ever before, by using websites such as Fetlife.com – which currently has over three million. In particular, the recent 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon, whilst fiction, has enabled people who identify with elements of BDSM to feel empowered in expressing their sexuality, with less fear of ridicule and discrimination.

This also encourages us to seek out people with knowledge and experience in all aspects of BDSM related lifestyle and sexuality.

If you do wish to learn more, there is a notfor-profit organisation and peak body called Knotbound, which can assist you with both enquiries and questions. If you wish to get in contact with the journalist behind this article please enquire with the magazine staff. One of the National Directors of Knotbound is resident in SA and is happy to talk to anyone about BDSM, either as a casual practice, or as a lifestyle.

Follow this address http://www.knotbound.com.au to find out more. ◊

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Amie DD

Programmer, Cosplayer, and

Magical Unicorn Software Engineer Interview conducted by Jesse Niell Images provided by Amie DD

In an interview with Verse Head Editor, Jesse Neill, Amie DD discusses her ‘superhero origin story’, being a female in the male-dominated tech industry, her workshops in Adelaide she recently conducted, sexual fantasies in cosplaying, and how making costumes has helped her programming.

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do. I think this is the ‘superhero origin story’ moment in my life where I realized that I could tell the computer what to do.

You also make highly intricate cosplay costumes. How has this helped your programming skills or vice versa?

Debugging is always something I struggled with and still do. Making a physical cosplay sword really helped my mind to slow down and see what I was doing step-by-step, and how detailed pieces fit together. I’ve applied that to my code. If my program isn’t working or if there is an error, I try to break it down step-by-step to walk through the process.

Amie DD is a US-based software simulation developer, as well as a highly talented cosplay creator.

She describes herself as a programmer, engineer, technologist, maker of things, and is a self-professed wizard. Amie DD is a passionate supporter of greater diversity in the tech industry, and is also a cofounder of ATAT Tech, an augmented reality, video game, and robotics development company in Texas.

Supported through a partnership between MOD. and Hybrid World Adelaide, Amie DD visited Australia to run a range of workshops that invite curious teens and adults to play, explore, and experiment with electronics in a collaborative environment. These workshops allowed participants to build objects to take home, as well as help Amie DD create her latest cosplay costume: the ‘Space Junk Punk’.

How would you describe what you do?

I’m a software simulation developer. I write code and tell the computer what to do. Basically I’m a wizard.

Tell us how you began your career in programming?

“You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here.”

Zork, a text based adventure game similar to the choose your own adventure books. Zork was this digital storytelling adventure where my choices impacted the outcome of the game. I remember thinking “wow computers are so smart”, reality is they just have better memory than humans. A computer only understands what you tell it to

I’ve also learned about sharing my progress of my costumes and code. I’ve learned more through failure than success ever taught me.

What is it like as a female in the gaming industry and as a cosplayer?

Most game programmers and designers got into the gaming industry because they liked to play games.

They are fans too. They are fans of their work, so when they see people in the cosplay world bring their game characters to the real world through costumes and props they get excited.

When I was in college, I would specifically make sure I wouldn’t wear makeup or do my hair, or anything that would pertain as being girly or over sexualised. I wanted to make sure I was taken serious in a room full of men programmers where beauty and brains had to be a divided thing.

The argument often comes up of inequality women face in the tech industry. How about instead of focusing on “this isn’t fair”, we start treating everyone as a human being.

As it is our sex edition, we have a couple of raunchier questions to ask if you feel comfortable answering them.

You mention in your bio that tech is sexy.

How do you think our attitudes towards ‘techies’ and people who would traditionally have been referred to as ‘geeks’ have changed over the years?

Now all the geeks and techies are starting to grow up and we are now the ‘adults’. We have become a generation defined by our hobbies. I had a discussion with a friend who is also a software developer during the week of a coding conference.

I mentioned that I was homeschooled and I was the weird kid for liking Star Trek and electronics.

People would make me feel shameful because “little girls weren’t supposed to like those things”. He said that by saying I was a weird girl that liked those things, I was classifying myself as the weird kid, to which my reply was, “but I am weird, and that’s ok, there is no one I’d rather be than me”.

Do you feel a sort of sexual confidence or empowerment in your cosplay outfits?

When you dress up in a costume as your favorite character, you have spent countless hours on that character costume. You are involved in the story and the details. You become that character through making that costume. That character or costume has had an impact on your life in some way. You get comfortable being uncomfortable, and you learn a lot of things about yourself along the way.

For example, I don’t feel confident wearing heels, in real life or costume. The empowerment I get is more along the lines of “I’m proud of myself, I made this, I finished it, and I’m wearing it,” that to me is a definition of sexy.

I get empowerment from learning new skills when making costumes, the research and development going into the project, and sharing the costume with others.

What crossover do you believe there is between cosplay and sexual fantasies?

Ha! I mean would you be asking me this question if it wasn’t? One of my favourite game series is The Witcher. If you’ve never played the game (or

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read any of the books) just know that there is an option you have in the game where you can choose to have sex on a unicorn. I think there is a desire of what you are grown up to think is normal, and anything outside of what you normally pursue is a fantasy. I like the idea of fantasy, because in my mind it’s a safe place where no one can judge my actions. We are curious by nature and I think if more people asked questions and discussed sex, cosplay, and tech in a way that people can feel comfortable, we could all learn to communicate more effectively and maturely.

“The empowerment I get is more along the lines of ‘I’m proud of myself, I made this, I finished it, and I’m wearing it,’ that to me is a definition of sexy” You made your first visit to Australia as part of the workshops MOD. and Hybrid World Adelaide organised, can you tell us a little bit more about these workshops and advice for those with similar passions to your own?

I taught six workshops, each workshop had a different focus from learning to solder, working with foam, making castable LEDs, basic robotics, 3D Printing, and then applying that new skill to contribute to my latest ‘Space Junk Punk’ costume that I wore (which is on display at MOD.). I wanted this to be an open-source cosplay project of sharing.

So many people contributed to making this ‘Space Junk Punk’ come to life through these workshops. In terms of advice, I always encourage people coming to the workshop to ask questions, share their knowledge and stories. Everyone knows something you don’t know, so ask. Don’t be afraid to be a beginner!

What made you start doing these workshops and how long have you been doing this for?

I taught my first cosplay workshop three or four years ago, it was more of a no pressure community hangout, and that’s what I try to incorporate in my workshops today. I started showing software developers how to work with hardware and I started to use some hardware in a few of my cosplay costumes and props. Friends, family, and strangers would ask me to show them how I made certain pieces

of my costume, or what tools I used, so I started sharing some of my basic code, schematics and BOM (bill of materials) on places like Hackster.io, Github and Twitter.

How do you believe we can encourage more women to join STEM fields?

I’m still surprised at how many people are unaware of what programming is. I gave an inspirational talk to elementary school teachers when they were introducing 'Hour of Code' to their classrooms for Code.org. I was surprised by one teacher who said that she didn’t feel it was important to spend one hour a day, once a week, to teach the students programming.

printers to make a sword for my costume that I realised how many ways I could apply 3D printing to a project that I enjoyed. Cosplay has taught me to finish a project. Like most engineers, I feel like I can keep working on my code, just change one more thing, it’s the engineering predicament of never feeling that your code is complete.

Cosplay and programming have been ways to connect to the world, share what I’m doing, break it, and then improve it. ◊ Find more from Amie DD here: www.amiedd.com Twitter, IG & FB: @amiedoubled Github: AmieDD

“I’m not an artist or creative, I’m obsessive. Being obsessive has helped and hindered problem solving” Advice from an Oracle (aka my college professor), he told me “if you can’t explain what you are working on to a five year old, you don’t understand it well enough yourself”. You have to apply sciences, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to something that girls are interested in. Programming is about problem solving, it doesn’t matter if the problem is how to sew the stitch on a purse, or the design to 3D print that purse. They are both challenges.

Reality is everyone is terrible and doesn’t know what they’re doing from the beginning.

Finally, to what extent is cosplay and programming linked for you, and how can these creative outlets be used as an instrument of empowerment?

I’m not an artist or creative, I’m obsessive. Being obsessive has helped and hindered problem solving.

I used to tell people to work on something they’re passionate about, but some people don’t know what they enjoy doing, or don’t have hobbies. Advice I give to those people is to say yes to doing more.

Go to a new book store, attend that conference your friend invited you to. You’ll find your adventure, it’s out there.

I used to work in R&D (research and development) with daily processes of additive manufacturing and 3D printing. It wasn’t until I used one of our work

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Let's Talk About Sex (ed) Baby

Sexual education is important, not only for our physical health and safety, such as the prevention of STIs and unwanted pregnancies, but also for our overall mental health and wellbeing. Sex education in Australian schools just isn’t cutting it.

Words by The Rainbow Club | Illustration by Maria Dizazzo

Sure, maybe if you’re lucky and your school has the funding you get taught the basics. Almost everyone has nervously giggled their way through sliding a condom on a banana or filling out word searches naming all the different STIs. For the most part, you learnt that sex would lead to pregnancy, and depending on your school you might even have been taught – to quote Mean Girls – “don’t have sex, or

appalling. Consider how boring and mostly irrelevant your own sex ed classes were in high school. Maybe you didn’t have a partner, or had no interest in sex, or maybe your school just didn’t teach anything your parents already hadn’t told you about. You just kind of tuned it all out and sat through it with a glassy-eyed stare.

Now, imagine that you were same-sex attracted,

you will get pregnant and die.”

or somewhere on the queer spectrum and couldn’t imagine any of this applying to you in any way because you knew you’d never be interested or engaging in ‘traditional’, aka penis-in-vagina, sex.

But did you learn anything you really wanted to know? Did you know that internal female condoms and dental dams exist? Or that virginity doesn’t physically exist, and that it does not in any way matter how many partners you’ve slept with? Or, most important of all, were you taught anything to do with negotiating consent and establishing healthy relationships and sexual boundaries?

We could create an endless list of the things we’ve had to find out on our own, mostly through stumbling across educators such as Doctor Lindsay Doe, who presents videos on the YouTube channel Sexplanations, a channel which we highly recommend watching.

The main point here isn’t about the negligent state of sexual education, although it is

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It might be fair enough to assume that same-sex students can figure out the basics, but simply being left to figure out the basics isn’t good enough when it comes to our physical and mental health. Nor is it enough to expect us to do all the research for ourselves, especially for things they might be embarrassed or ashamed about. Leaving queer perspectives out of sex ed encourages the thought that there’s only one ‘right’ way to have sex, which isn’t remotely true and is not only harmful for the normalisation and acceptance of queer relationships, it is also harmful to anyone having a healthy attitude towards sex and sexuality in general.

Over the years we’ve had attempts at queerinclusive comprehensive sex ed. In 2003, SHINE SA initiated SHARE, a program similar to the recent Safe Schools projects in that it sought to normalise queer relationships and teach inclusion for all, with the added bonus of also teaching about safe and healthy sex. Topics covered by the SHARE program included sex positivity, pleasure, desire, gender, and power. Unfortunately, as you can guess by the fact you’ve probably never heard of it, SHARE was shut-down after the end of its trial period in 2005, as a fear campaign turned away even those who may have otherwise approved of it. The backlash against it was generated by conservative lobby groups and the media sensationally promoting it as a ‘sex course’, even though the curriculum was not graphically explanative. In fact, it was no more so than the average explanation of penis-in-vagina sex, except with the inclusion of non-reproductive acts.

“We know it’s not your job, but isn’t it worth taking the extra time to make sure everyone has a healthy attitude towards and full understanding of sex?”

recent and ongoing backlash towards the Safe Schools program. Safe Schools is specifically and only about queer awareness and inclusivity, it is about providing support for young people who desperately need it. And yet, the same fear campaign that arose from SHARE was again spread, this time nationwide. If we as a nation are not even willing to have and understand the need for a program such as Safe Schools, what hope is there for one like SHARE? And so, we ask that people take their own initiative as someone’s friend or sibling, to be educators. Research sexual education issues, going far beyond what is taught as ‘traditional’ and pass it along. We know it’s not your job, but isn’t it worth taking the extra time to make sure everyone has a healthy attitude towards and full understanding of sex? It’s worth noting here, by ‘healthy attitude’ I do not mean you must want to have, or even enjoy having sex. Shout out to Asexuals, you are also completely valid! Pass on what you learn, share pleasure tips if people want them, make sure they know that even BDSM has to be “safe, sane and consensual” and then hopefully, one day we won’t have to pass on our knowledge anymore. It’ll be normalised to the point where people learn it in sex ed class, just like they should. ◊

You can’t be blamed for thinking with marriage equality now being legal, people are going to be more open to the idea of an update to the sex ed program to make it more inclusive.

Unfortunately, we’re not even close. Think of the

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September & October Here’s a whole stack of things to do September 4

Business & Finance Bake Sale (CW)

5

Contemporary Arts Soup Sale (CW)

6

Contemporary Arts Bake Sale (CW)

10-21

USASA Board election nominations open

11

Harry Potter Bake Sale (CW)

11

Afghan Students Bake Sale (ML)

13

Professional Internships Speech

13

Comm Design Muffin Bake Sale (CW)

13

Contemporary Arts Bake Sale (CW)

13

Overseas Christian Bake Sale (CE)

14

CubCrawl

15

Arch Ball

17

Verse Mag last day to submit

19

Contemporary Arts Bake Sale

28

Club & Leadership Grants Monthly Closing Date

October 2 9, 10, 16, 17

UniSA Art Community Painting UniTopia

11

Nursing & Midwifery Bake Sale (CE)

16

Curry Sale (CW)

RECURRING EVENTS More than weekly

Bangladeshi Badminton (Mawson Lakes)

Weekly

Overseas Christian Fellowship Friday Sessions

Weekly

Islamic Society Sports

Weekly

AJAS Weekly Screening

Weekly

UniSAGA Weekly Gaming Session

Fortnightly

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UniSA Ballet Classes

Weekly

Toastmaster Meetings

Check these events and more out at USASA.sa.edu.au/Events

A Quick Update Words by Jordan Mumford and Grace Dixon

One of the core values of the University of South Australia Student Association (USASA) is recognising and promoting the diversity of our student cohort, and I’m proud to lead such a diverse team at USASA. USASA are excited to partner up with SHINE SA and UniSA Medical Clinics once again, putting together our 2018 Sexual Health Awareness Packs. We’ve made 4000 of these packs and they will be rolled out across all six UniSA campuses. You will find them at UniTopia and you can also grab one from your local campus counter. They feature a condom pack, a dental damn, and a fantastic information booklet which features sections on consent, contraception, unplanned pregnancy, and heaps more!

As a member of the LGBT+ community, I know the importance of the student association being an advocate for our diverse student cohort. USASA took a public position in support of marriage equality and last year I was proud to support the campaign and run enrolment stalls on my campus. Winning marriage equality was a milestone for the LGBT+ community, but we know there is plenty more work to do. USASA will keep working to make the university a safer, more inclusive, and more accessible space for all members of the community.

- Jordan Mumford, President This edition of Verse Magazine is all about sex - so let’s chat about it.

Sex is never an obligation. It’s something you should enjoy. Safer sex means both partners experience pleasure. So if you’re not into it for any reason it’s your right to say no at any time. It’s OK to

ask to stop - this includes during sex. It is your responsibility to check in with your partner to make sure they’re enjoying themselves and want you to proceed. Pick up one of our sexual health packs to read more about consent!

In this day and age where organising a hookup is as quick and easy as ordering a pizza from our smartphones – we should be smart enough and mature enough to talk openly with our friends and sexual partners about something that is still very much taboo…STIs. With our current culture of sexual liberation for both men and women, something else we should be liberating is the open conversation of sexually transmitted infections, without our faces involuntarily cringing in disgust and judgement. The latest data shows that gonorrhoea (a once uncommon STI) has increased by 63% over the past five years, with particular rises among young heterosexual people in major cities. There has also been 700% increase in recorded cases of chlamydia in the past 10 years!

If we believe we are mature enough to engage in sexual activity then we should be mature enough to be able to talk about everything that comes with it – including having the somewhat embarrassing conversations about “getting tested”. Getting an STI check is realistically something you should do every time you have a new partner or at least every 3 months to ensure your own health and the health of your partner/s isn’t compromised.

- Grace Dixon, USASA Welfare Committee Convenor ◊

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Words by Georgia Lake Illustration by Sascha Tan

We’re walking to my car after the movie and he puts his hand on the small of my back. I turn around rather suddenly, wondering if he’ll kiss me.

He bought the tickets, let me choose the movie, walked me to my car in the dark. He’s kind of dull and this will probably never lead anywhere, but he’s nice and at least deserves something. It’s just a kiss — it’ll make it less awkward if I get

at first. I don’t think he hears me. I close my eyes and dig my nails into his shoulders and hope it’ll be over soon. It’s the least I can do — he bought me drinks all night and paid for the Uber. This is how I’m supposed to thank him. Right?

it over and done with.

understand, but it taught me something I’d already been told a hundred times over: you don’t owe him anything. The risk of upsetting someone is not an excuse to comply. His satisfaction does not outweigh your silence.

I feel bad. Maybe I’m overthinking this — he is a nice guy, maybe I should give him another chance?

I turn up at his house and he cooks me dinner.

Soon enough we’re at it on his couch and all I can think about is what my breath smells like. His hands travel up my thighs and start unbuttoning my jeans. I tell him I’m on my period and can’t have sex tonight — it’s easier than saying an outright no just because I don’t want to. I’d feel bad then.

We went out with some friends tonight and he wants to take me back to his place. The girls are saying go for it; his mates are already congratulating him. Some of them wink at me. Hey, what’s the harm?

So now I’m laying underneath him, and he’s getting all sweaty and I’m trying to say he has to go slow

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Wrong.

That night left me with an emptiness I couldn’t

You are powerful and you can say no — without reason. Your body is yours and you shouldn’t have to ‘get it over and done with’. You have a voice and you should use it; don’t ignore it like I did. ◊

Want to be a

student leader?

Develop confidence and leadership Build networks with staff and students Increase your employability Receive professional development Assist with events Give a voice to all students Gain experience on Boards and Committees Take part in university decision-making

Become a USASA

Student Representative!

14 student representative positions are available: President, Postgraduate, International, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander, and campus reps.

Nominations open 10 September and close 21 September. Elections will take place in October.

Full info and nomination form at USASA.sa.edu.au/Election

Easy as One, Two, Pee Verse Editor Jesse Neill, visited SHINE SA’s Hyde Street clinic and took a general STI screening test to explain to readers how easy the process is and how important it is to get tested.

Words by Jesse Neill

I held the cup in my hand for a while; I’d never peed in a cup before. I closed my eyes and tried to think of something relaxing, to go to my hap-pee place (sorry for the very bad dad joke, I couldn’t resist).

Doing that never seems to work though. Stage fright had well and truly hit me. However, after a few more awkward moments of silence there was the release, and what a relief it was. I was careful with my aim and slowly filled up my cup – I didn’t want this situation to end like an out of control fire hose, flailing around like the arms of inflatable bodies that wave around the front of car yards.

Anyway, I did my business and put the lid on top of the cup before placing it into a brown paper bag.

I returned to the consultation room and handed the doctor my urine sample. I was visiting SHINE SA for a check-up, but not the typical GP kind. I was there for a general STI screening test. I decided to take an STI test as part of this edition to share my experience and show how easy it is.

Prior to peeing in a cup, I had to make a booking.

I rang up the Hyde Street clinic and they offered me options for an appointment (this particular clinic also offer a walk-in service on Fridays). I chose an afternoon session so I could have extra time to speak with the doctor. I was told how to get there, to bring my Medicare card, and that parking would be a pain in the ass. Other than that it was a relatively brief chat, just like making a booking for any other health service – no personal questions or nasty warnings.

The following day I miraculously found a free parking spot in the city and walked up to the centre. To be honest I was a little nervous

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walking into the clinic and I think that’s one of the reasons we need to reduce the stigma around STIs and STI testing. They’re just like any other infection or illness; we wouldn’t judge someone for going to visit their local GP to receive medicine for the flu, so why should we judge others for visiting a sexual health clinic?

A particularly important point I should mention about SHINE SA’s Hyde Street clinic, is that it is a general practice, meaning there are psychologists, GPs and counsellors all within the same centre. This makes the visit completely confidential. As there are many different options offered at the one clinic, people have no reason to suspect that you are going there for an STI test or treatment specifically.

I walked into the facility and mentioned I had an appointment. They asked for my name and gave me a form to fill out. I walked into a waiting room and filled out the form, it asked for my personal details, some health questions, my culture, gender and sexuality. Aside from that, there was nothing too personal about my sex life, which if you’ve ever filled out a blood donation form, would know is far more in-depth.

I should also mention that I felt some nerves once inside the clinic. This anxiety wasn’t about doing the test, or perhaps bumping into someone I know, or even having an uncomfortable experience – I was nervous to find out the result. Maybe I had an STI and didn’t know? It is quite possible as there are several sexually transmitted infections that don’t show symptoms or can have a delayed onset. I think this apprehension is all the more reason young, sexually active adults need to be tested, because

it is far better knowing about an infection you have contracted, rather than avoiding a test due to embarrassment or worry. Getting an STI test is an important step in treating yourself and preventing the spread of infection to others.

I had a short discussion with the doctor after the consultation about the importance of testing, as well as discussing who should get tested and why.

These were some of the most important takeaways I can recall:

After filling out the form, I sat in the waiting room for a few minutes, not really knowing what to expect. I was called into the office by the doctor, took my seat inside and started the consultation.

It began with a few general queries before I was asked more specific questions that would highlight my risk of exposure to certain STIs and the type of testing necessary for these. The questions were based around my sexual activities: my recent sexual encounters, the last time I had sex, the last time I had sex with a different partner, and if I had been sexually active overseas or interstate. It can feel a little exposing to be sharing this sort of information with someone you’ve only just met, but in a way it’s actually kind of easy because there’s’ a sort of distance between them and the people you usually interact with in your daily life. You can also rest assured that this information will be kept confidential and the questions are asked in a non-judgemental manner. The doctors do not criticise and do not respond negatively to your questions, they are just looking for the information they need to assist you and to help in providing the most accurate testing. They will then discuss your need for a test and what sort of tests you should have, based on the answers provided. After answering the questions I was told that I could take a general screening test if I wish.

1.

You should get a test every few months if you are sexually active with multiple partners, especially if they too are sexually active with others.

2.

Non-viral STIs are curable and the symptoms of all STIs can be treated and managed with certain medications.

3.

Chlamydia is the most common STI in South Australia and can be passed on without any clear symptoms showing up.

4.

There have been many advances in the treatment of HIV in the last ten years, in particular the adoption of PrEP and PEP medications, which have shown remarkable success in the prevention of HIV transmission.

5.

If you are with a new partner you should encourage each other to take a mutual STI test.

6.

And my personal favourite, one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent STIs is to wear a condom or use an internal one. So grab a rubber if you’re gonna hubba hubba.

“…one of the easiest and most

reflecting though, I can’t understand why something so easy, pain-free and confidential should be something we are so apprehensive towards. It’s for the good of your own health as well as those you have sex with. Health isn’t something to take chances on. I encourage you all to go get tested so you can get down to business knowing everything is all good under the hood. Sex should be fun, so let’s make it safe too. ◊

effective ways to prevent STIs is to wear a condom or use an internal one. So grab a rubber if you’re gonna hubba hubba” I was given a urine cup and asked to pee, luckily I’d drank a lot of water beforehand, something I thoroughly recommend. There’s nothing worse than being forced to pee when you really don’t feel like it. After providing the urine sample, I also had the option of taking a blood test, which I chose to do, as it provided a more extensive range of testing. The blood test was really quick and I was then asked if I had any personal queries before concluding the consult.

I’ll end this by saying I was relieved to receive a message from SHINE SA the following week, showing that my results had come back negative. On

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First Encounter Words by Tanner Muller Illustration by Sascha Tan

Jarrad and I would tend to skip class during our senior year of high school. We’d sit in the park usually, ingesting mouthfuls of Rockstar and mixed lolly bags from the trucker’s deli down the road.

To pass the time, we amused ourselves by messaging smut to some of the users on Grindr. We found it remarkable how these men were so credulous towards someone they briefly spoke to online. Sometimes, they didn’t require much convincing or reassurance, nor would they ask for a name. Their minds were purely driven by the possibility of sex.

As any typical adolescent boys would, we took advantage of the situation and convinced these horny men into believing they were about to engage in a sexual act with someone who was twenty-six and had the body of an Olympic swimmer. On several occasions, we’d send our location to them for the fun of it.

The profile we operated was blank so there was no way to identify us.

Some of them would appear instantaneously. We’d never make direct contact when they arrived — we were always cautious of that. Our uniforms were our ninja suits.

But we found it quite amusing to witness their lustful desires subside and deflate with disappointment.

Overtime, I naturally became enticed by the idea of engaging with some of these men. I hadn’t experienced much (if any) sexual activity at my age and my hormones were practically drawing penises and miming the letters S-E-X in my brain. The thought was unsurpassable.

During one of our escapades, I decided to message a man in his thirties. His username was ‘NSA fun.’

Nothing more, nothing less.

New to this

Hey there, how’s it going?

I sent an image of myself.

NSA fun

Hey handsome. I’m good thanks, what about you?

He sent a picture of himself.

New to this

Pretty good thanks. Just enjoying the sun.

NSA fun

Is that so? Whereabouts are you?

New to this

At the park with a friend.

NSA fun

Oh really? Is your friend into guys as well?

New to this

No, he’s completely straight lol.

NSA fun

Come on, he’s not even just a little bit curious?

New to this

I’m afraid not, sorry.

NSA fun

That’s a real shame. Would be down to have a bit of fun with the both of you. By the looks of it, you seem pretty hot.

New to this

Hey there, how’s it going?

NSA fun

Hey handsome. I’m good thanks, what about you?

New to this

Pretty good thanks. Just enjoying the sun.

NSA fun

Is that so? Whereabouts are you?

New to this

At the park with a friend.

‘What ’s he saying?’ asked Jarrad.

NSA fun ‘He was wondering if you were gay,’ I replied.

Oh really? Is your friend into ‘For fuck's sake, what’s wrong with some of these people?’ guys as well?

‘He seems alright.’

‘You’re not seriously considering this are you?’ New to this ‘I might be, but I know what I’m doing.’

No, he’s completely straight lol.

In that moment I was blinded by the excitement of it all.

NSA fun I craved some male attention dammit. Scrolling through Come on, he’s just wasn a ’t enough to satisfy my the endless pagesnot ofeven Pornhub littleanymore bit curious? urges . I had to experience the real thing.

New to this

I’m afraid not, sorry.

NSA fun

That’s a real shame. Would be down to have a bit of fun with the both of you. By the looks of it, you seem pretty hot.

New to this

Well if you come here, I can show you a good time. I don’t mind public.

Before his arrival, I replaced my school shirt with a plain black top that I kept in my bag. Jarrad cautioned me about hypotheticals.

‘What if he tries something stupid? For all you know he could be a criminal. He might kidnap you. What would your mum say if she found out?’

‘Well, about that — could you keep a look out in case anything happened? You could call the police.’

Jarrad agreed, hesitantly. Moments later, the man arrived in a monstrous four-wheel drive. The engine groaned and rumbled like a broken washing machine.

He took notice of me in the distance and smiled. I stared back at him with a shy grin and approached the vehicle.

‘How’s it going?’ the man asked. His voice sounded deep and rough.

‘Yeah, not too bad thanks,’ I replied. I stepped into the front seat, feeling tense but willing.

‘You want to get started?’ the man asked.

I nodded, timidly, as he proceeded to reveal what was hiding under his shorts. For awhile, regret didn’t cross my mind. Instead I felt content in my decision, a sense of pride. I even bragged about the encounter to one of my friends on the bus ride home. But was I satisfied? Was losing my innocence worth it? ◊

NSA fun

Okay, we can do it in my car.

New to this

How long will you be?

NSA fun

In about ten minutes.

New to this

Ok, perfect.

Review:

Obscure Sex Positions Words by Jesse Neill | Illustrations by Sascha Tan

The Spider

The Triumph Arc

The Waterfall

If you were to associate an insect with sex you might get a few questioning looks, but if you equated sex with a spider, you'd probably get extra special attention. Spiders are the antithesis to sex (I must confess this review may be biased against the eight legged behemoths, as I have a deeply turbulent past with them). Aside from the less-thanideal naming of the position, the spider requires both partners to be fulltime CrossFitters just to stay in position. Be prepared for the moments your arms and legs grow tired and collapse into a pile of frustration and embarrassment.

No Lumbar support, how irresponsible! Look, sex is meant to be fun (emphasis on meant), however you might not think that after trying this one out. You shouldn't have to be a superbendy yoga fanatic, a life-long ballet dancer, or gravity-defying contortionist to enjoy sex. If laying with your body under your feet has never been a problem, then go ahead. You'll want to keep your fingers crossed that you can last this one without cramps or hyperextending your knees.

Actually, don't cross your fingers,

Don't go chasing this waterfall.

This position is maybe the most accurately named, because it will be flooding with a certain kind of water downstream: tears of regret. Just thinking about it is painful. Too much blood in your head also means not enough in your genitals...I'll let you do the maths. In all likelihood, one of you is probably going to pass out before you get to the good stuff, and even if you don't, it's not like you're going to feel much by that point anyway. The good news is, from

you're going to need all the lose appendages you can. Surviving this position is the real triumph.

the floor you're able to see what you did wrong in pursuing this position.

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Ah sex. There's many ways to get down to business, however if a position puts you out of breath before you even start...it's probably not worth it. For this month's review we're going to cover six awkward sex positions that you're better off avoiding.

The Wheelbarrow

The Propeller

The Pool Party

Of all the tools to find in the garden shed, there's nothing that exudes hot sex more than a wheelbarrow. It's basically the same as manual labour you'd be doing with a real wheelbarrow, except there's a dick involved.

Also, I'm pretty sure if you went to Bunnings to buy a wheelbarrow and found a penis inside of it, you probably wouldn't buy that wheelbarrow; because for all intents and purposes it's now a 'dickbarrow', and no one wants that. If you've leaned into your partner's ear and whispered "I

You might be looking at this one and thinking to yourself "how would this ever work?" and our honest answer is we have no idea. As this is more like a recipe than sex, I'll explain it in cooking terms. This is basically like churning butter, you plunge a stick into a skinny barrel and mix it until you turn cream into butter. Of course you can figure out this is an analogy, but if you do manage to make butter please let us know, then probably go see a doctor.

The downside is that this is

This one seems like the obvious erotic choice, because who doesn't get horny at the smell of chlorinated water and the thought of getting funky in tepid urine. Ranking lubricants, chlorinated water is near the ass end of the list, above sandpaper but below mayo. Although, the biggest issue is other swimmers. As if swimming in diluted piss isn't bad enough, tainting the water with your internal bodily fluids complicates matters further.

No-one wants to play Marco

wanna fuck you like a wheelbarrow tonight," congratulations, this one's for you.

nowhere near as much fun as making real butter.

Polo with your floating love of jellyfish...and this one won't turn blue.

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The Signs As: Really, really bad pickup lines Words and Illustration by Sascha Tan

I need your help i’m the police what’s up So I’m writing a book ok Well it’s a phonebook and it needs your number 000

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ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

Are you a cast?

You look sad are you feeling down?

Damn, I wish I could take you to the movies

Let me help and feel you up.

Too bad they don't let people bring snacks in there.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Are you into cancers?

Are you a glove?

We can 69 if you like.

I'm cold and you look like you could warm me up.

Are you a piece of trash?

March 21 - April 20

I can't wait to get you off.

June 22 - July 23

April 21 - May 21

July 24 - August 23

May 22 - June 21

August 24 - September 23

I'm conscious about saving the environment and I'd like to pick you up and take you out.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Can I follow you on Instagram?

I see a good person in you

Are you a mirror?

My mum told me to follow my dreams.

It's me.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

My iTunes keeps playing up

Are you from outer space?

I used to think happiness started with H

They don't have you as the hottest single.

You have one celestial body.

But now I know it starts with U.

September 24 - October 23

December 22 - January 20

October 24 - November 22

January 21 - February 19

November 23 - December 21

I can see myself inside of you.

February 20 - March 20

Edition 24 2018

65

October

week 1 1st - 5th

Sleep Awareness Week

UNISA wellbeing Month week 2/3

9th, 10th, 16th, 17th

A free, wellbeing event for all students.

Sleep Health Foundation

week 2

8th - 12th

World Mental Health Week

week 3 15th - 18th

Visit UniSA’s Wellbeing site for tips to improve your wellbeing UniSA.edu.au/Wellbeing

Nutrition Week Nutrition Australia

week 4 22nd - 26th

Physical Health Week

WIN Share how you stay healthy and go into the draw to win a trip to Kangaroo Island Facebook.com/UniSA/Events

A free wellbeing event for all students.

11 am - 2 pm City West // Tue 9 Oct City East // Wed 10 Oct Mawson Lakes // Tue 16 Oct Magill // Wed 17 Oct

USASA.sa.edu.au/UniTopia