Honi Soit Week 11, Semester 2, 2020 / First printed 1929 Acknowledgement of Country

Honi Soit is published on the stolen land of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. For over 230 years, First Nations people in this country have suffered from the destructive effects of invasion. The editors of this paper recognise that, as a team of settlers occupying the lands of the Bidjigal, Darug, Gadigal, Wangal and Wallumedegal people, we are beneficiaries of these reverberations that followed European settlement. As we strive throughout the year to offer a platform to the voices mainstream media ignores, we cannot meet this goal without providing a space for First Nations people to share their experiences and perspectives. A student paper which does not acknowledge historical and ongoing colonisation and the white supremacy embedded within Australian society can never adequately represent the students of the institution in which it operates. We seek to resist colonial violence and the racist power structures that serve to oppress those who are Indigenous to this land. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land. Contents Editorial As the age-old adage goes: time flies when answering my 5am calls. To Angad, thank you Letters / 3 Editor in Chief: you’re having fun. By any sane person’s for returning my furtive glances and being such Chuyi Wang metric, this year has probably been one of the a beefcake. To Lara, thank you for being such most awful in recorded history, and yet time a wonderful, charming friend (and for teaching News / 4 has flown anyway. I’m starting to think it’s a me so much new vocabulary). To Ranuka, Editors: Nina Dillon Britton, property of time in general that it passes too thank you for being endlessly generous with Matthew Forbes, Zhiquan Gan, quickly. both your time and kindness. To Maddy, thank Analysis / 6 Robbie Mason, Angad Roy, Lara In Summer, we donned our gas masks you for always standing up for me and being Sonnenschein, Ranuka Tandan, against the bushfire smoke. In Autumn, we there when I needed someone to talk to. To Chuyi Wang, Madeline Ward, traded in our masks for new ones. In Winter, Iris, thanks for the succulent steak. To Murphy, Perspective / 11 Lei Yao our hearts broke in the privacy of our parents’ thanks for laying up Liam’s report. homes. In Spring, we emerged only to be cuffed As for the reporters and contributors to the Feature / 12 Contributors: Jazzlyn Breen, and beaten. At almost every point in 2020, I paper this year, be that in writing or in art, I Blake Falcongreen, Marlow could count on one hand the number of friends extend my deepest gratitude for helping us Hurst, Gabbie Lynch, Juliette I had that weren’t going through some kind of carry this publication through possibly the crisis. But time, like always, flies on. most socially isolated year of Honi ever. We Opinion / 14 Marchant, Angelina Nguyen, And now, with only a matter of weeks left quite literally couldn’t have done it without Shania O’Brien, Fabian in this horrible year, I’m waking up to a kind you, and we deeply regret never getting the Culture / 15 Robertson, Daany Saaed, Alice of serenity that continues to surprise me even chance to thank you in person. Sandner, Himath Siriniwasa, though it happens day after day. What can Finally, though the majority of this Pailey Wang I call this feeling? Joy is too strong a word, protracted and selfishly sentimental editorial is Creative / 19 optimism too naïve, and hope too pure. already about them, I would like to dedicate Artists: Lilly Aggio, Janina Let’s eschew the guessing and call it love, to my fellow editors the final verse of The Osinsao because that’s the best I can do right now with Dismemberment Plan’s 1999 album Emergency SRC / 20 my sleep-deprived brain. The one thing that has & I – a record which, much like this no-good, Cover artist: Haneko sustained me through the last twelve months awful, terrible year, is filled to the brim with Reviews / 22 (@PresidentLich) has been the unshakeable love I have for this tension, doubt and dissonance, but concludes paper, and the even stronger love I have for the quite suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, with a editors that produce it with me. In some ways, ray of hope: Comedy / 23 this catastrophic year has robbed me of so many opportunities and chances to be happy. And sometimes that music drifts through my car But, now that this is truly the end, I don’t think On a spring night when anything is possible I would have preferred it any other way. Sure, And I close my eyes, and I nod my head we could have had more deranged nights in the And I wonder how you’ve been Interested in reporting or making And I count to a hundred and ten office together, but at the end of the day: we art for Australia’s only remaining Because you’ll always be my hero were there. That was us. It happened. Write, create and weekly student newspaper? Email us Even if I never see you again at [email protected] or message To Nina, thank you for keeping my ego produce for Honi Soit us over on our Facebook, Twitter or in check with your constant riffing. To Matt, Yours truly, thank you for indulging my most bizarre Instagram pages. Chuyi Wang musical in-jokes. To Robbie, thank you for

Disclaimer: Honi Soit is published by the Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney, Level 1 Wentworth Building, City Road, University of Sydney NSW 2006. The SRC’s operation costs, space and administrative support are financed by the University of Sydney.Honi Soit is printed under the auspices of the SRC’s Directors of Student Publications: Maia Edge, Peiqing Fan, Nina Mountford, Roisin Murphy, Mikaela Pappou and Maxim Vishney. All expressions are published on the basis that they are not to be regarded as the opinions of the SRC unless specifically stated. The Council accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions or information contained within this newspaper, nor does it endorse any of the advertisements and insertions. Please direct all advertising inquiries to [email protected].

Bring back cigs on campus! It’s watching the rising sun in your PJs mutual aid program doesn’t include CANCELLED Us here at Honi Soit yearn for the USyd after an all-nighter with a black coffee decks of Winnie Blue (Optimum campus culture of yesteryear. We miss in one hand and a dart in the other. Crush). The masses don’t want fruit CORNER turning up to shit boring lectures with That’s boss level spirituality. and veg. They just want a cig or two Robbie Mason goes straight to gaol, does a jug of beer sloshing in our stomachs, There’s nothing worse than an to ease the pain of being screwed by not pass go, does not collect $200. smoking under the ‘No smoking’ Economics professor (wanna-be cop) the capitalist system. It will also cull signs out the front of Fisher with our jumping off their bike to scold you and the rabid population of scabs who beg fellow comrades and heckling campus banish you to some far flung corner of you for a dart on Eastern Avenue. security from the Manning balcony campus. Yes, we know smoking is bad for (RIP). There is one magic ingredient Contrary to the common parlance you. We don’t live under a rock. But that will unite our student population ‘don’t shit where you eat’, students a bit of emphysema and a few lung and revolutionise campus social should be allowed to smoke anywhere diseases here and there is nothing life, and this one is legal. It’s called on campus: in the Fisher stacks, in compared to the soothing calm of tobacco, or baccy, or spin, depending your lecture, heck, in the middle of sucking on a cancer stick when you on the context. Yes, Mum, I fucking your biology dissection exam. But have 2000 words to write in four love durries. I’d go further: we shouldn’t be forced hours. The nicotine flows through True spirituality isn’t attending to trek off campus to get a deck. The your bloodstream. Warm orange yoga classes, hanging a few stones USU should subsidise cigarettes sold glows before your eyes. The filter is you found at Bondi Beach around on campus and invest in a few cig sweet between your lips. Oh what a your neck and frolicking naked in the machines: the uni student’s pokie. rush! mud at Pitch Music & Arts Festival. It’s an absolute travesty that the SRC

2 LETTERS Letters All we do is win to gain supremacy, it has sought to I love you, Chuyi Wang a name for myself out there in the big, create a monolithic narrative that wide, terrible world, I know I’ve meant something to you. Seeing you hold my Dear Sir triumphantly proclaims the exclusivity Dear Editors, of Hindu civilisation to be channeled life’s work in your soft, large hands filled me with inexplicable joy. I am writing to express our support for into 21st-century renewal of a Hindu I don’t really know where to begin. the excellent article “How a Nation of nation. It’s been a tough year, but we’ve made Mystics, Occultists, and Yogis became Now I’m sorry, I can feel myself In this vision, non-Hindus it. blabbering on. There’s a reason I needed ‘Hindus’” written by one of your (particularly Muslims) are relegated students, Vish Lingam. to write this letter and reveal myself to to second-class citizens, or at worst, I must profess a deep, passionate love you after all this time. I write on behalf of ‘The Humanism foreign contagions to be cleansed from for you all as an editorial team. Never Project’, a human rights and political the Hindu body politic. before did I believe that Honi Soit could Chuyi Wang. Chuyi, I love you. I advocacy organisation of Australians However, for such a movement touch my heart so, but alas, here we are. didn’t at the start. I was just a casual from the Indian diaspora. Our objective to succeed, society must contain a reader, vaguely interested in the paper is to campaign against the rise of hate pre-existing homogenous bloc with Angad <3 and the strange direction you folks(*x and divisiveness among the Indians and numerical power. This is difficult in hehe) were taking it in. But my affections Ranuka <3 to reclaim India’s heritage of diversity India’s notoriously diverse amalgam, grew as you gained confidence in your and inclusiveness. and so Hindutva ideologues hijacked a ability to lay up a page to absolute Predictably, Vish Lingam’s article Chuyi <3 perfection. The margins have been primordial Vedic past, prior to the arrival impeccable, the news perfectly spaced, seems to have caught the attention of Muslims, to repudiate any plurality Maddy <3 of right-wing Hindu nationalist the coloured backgrounds that made and syncretism within Hinduism. me cringe oh so much in semester one organisations, the self appointed This harmless article by Vish Lingam, Matt <3 gone, the placement of art from the custodians of Hindu religion. contradicts the Hindu nationalists bottom of the page. I could go on, but The ‘Sangh Parivar’– an umbrella make-believe version of Hinduism. The Robbie <3 I must simply say this. You have given term for Hindu nationalist organisations article is also corroborated by other me so much joy and for what I will be spawned by the paramilitary Rashtriya published research. Nina <3 forever grateful. Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent Also, Professor Romila Thapar, Iris <3 organisation of the BJP – subscribes to India’s leading historian has written Next years editors will not be half Hindutva, which sees India as a nation extensively about what she calls a as strong, nor anywhere near as noble. of and for Hindus. Murphy <3 I will protect your legacy from their “communal interpretation” of Indian creepy little hands. Since 2014, when the current BJP history. Lara <3 government came to power, there’ve We, as the representatives of a Thank you. been renewed efforts to alter history diverse group of Indians in Australia by the Indian government and various - including a majority of Hindus, urge I feel as though I’ve laughed and state governments. Tactics ranged from The University of Sydney to disregard cried alongside you. And goodbye. erasing chapters or passages from public the objections by certain narrow school textbooks and adding make- minded individuals masquerading as As for me. Well, it doesn’t matter really who I am, but if you must know, believe accounts of the past, to peddling representatives of the Hindu faith and mythical bunk as history in schools run I’m the one who has been there for you continue to keep the article published all along, prodding you in the right by the RSS. in the interest of editorial integrity and Hindu nationalists have their own direction. The DVDs, the physical cultural vibrancy. letters in the mail, the nudges and pokes agenda that makes history so important in your inbox (not always kind I must for them. Thank you. confess, at times I got frustrated at your For one, nationalists need to complete incapability). Although I’m a construct a version of the past that Kind regards dweeb who has been at university for legitimises their actions in the present. Deepak Joshi far too long, who lacks social skills and For the Sangh’s ‘Hindu-first’ program who has very little motivation to make

Weekly Landlords of the world unite! You And the #UltimateGirlBoss is… TBH fuck collective autonomy on deaf ears. have nothing to lose but your negative But his totalitarian cries fell to gearing! Switchroots’ preselection for key Honi Soit here, your one and only nothing. Vivacious Varsha, known paid positions has come and gone, source into the scandalous happenings for her prominent position in School Switch councillor-elect Jaded Jayfel with some winners and one loser. of collective preselections. Heavenly Strike for Climate failed to reach the Tulabing-Lee, was taken to task by Prudent Priya Gupta, who was Queer Honey Christensen and Optimistic 75% approval needed for election. Enviro Officer Lively Lily Campbell Officer this year, walked away with Oscar Chaffey (known for their SAD! (SAlt) over her announcement she’d the nomination for Gen Sec, besting involvement in the campaign against been named Secretary of the newly- Pulp editor Eager Ellie Stephenson Med Sci cuts) clinched the Queer What’s black, white and green, and formed Real Estate Investment for the SRC’s (second) top spot. With Officer elections. Yass! just signed a preference deal Student Association. Eager Ellie’s loss so goes our dreams Over at Enviro Collective convenor “Vote switch for ‘anti capitalist’ of the benevolent but tyrannical rule elections (that’s an anagram), Dictator Grassroots has signed with Panda aspiring landlords hahahaha,” Lively of a couple in the SRC (her SO is next Doon was at his, well, dictatorial ways for Repselect, meaning Sportsbet is Lily called from her Facebook page. year’s President, #SettleforSwapnik), again. Four candidates were up for paying out early bets for a Groots-led Several aging former-Grassroots laying the foundation for a 1000-year four potential spots: Lovely Lauren majority at Repselect. apparatchiks emerged from the monarchical dynasty. Dang. Lancaster (Grassroots), Delinquent Though in previous years woodwork to join in the fun: “Really Swithroots’ also preselected Drew Beacom (Grassroots), Beaming participants at RepSelect have turned sad seeing stuff like this regularly from Timid Tom Williams to be the Bella D’Silva (Grassroots, hmm I’m off lights, turned on sprinklers, and a distance,” Loser Liam Carrigan #UltimateGirlBoss for the Education sensing a theme here), and Vivacious turned off the student body from commented. “Embarrassing!” Mad Officer position. Timid Tommy has Varsha Yajman (Switch). When having any faith in their elected Maddy Ward (a fellow editor of this made quite a name for himself in the (presumably) unwashed hippies representatives, it looks to be a boring rag) concurred. ASEN and the EAG over the last year, in attendance began turning on affair. To bully someone for the simple really making us struggle to remember Vivacious Varsha for her membership A far cry from previous years where hope of one day taking a cut of a what all the bad rap about white men of Australian Youth Climate Coalition antics made national news, it looks family’s pay check to finance their is even about. Groots Ed Officers are — an offshoot for the Australian like it’ll be happening over Zoom. That third mortgage is simply despicable. often joined by a SAlt Ed Officer, but Students Environment Network — means Young Libs can turn off their Will someone please think of the we’re waiting word on who exactly Dictator Doon proclaimed that the cameras so you can’t see them cry. landlords! that will be. criticisms were unfair but his cries fell Shame!

3 NEWS Students take to City Road to protest cuts Students to School of Medical Science protest USyd Chuyi Wang reports. Senate meeting Last Tuesday, more than 150 protesters USyd Branch President Kurt Iveson, speech dismantling the supposed gathered at an Education Action Group who first apologised for discouraging ‘strategic management’ from the School outside F23 (EAG) rally to protest the cuts to staff student protesters from occupying the of Medical Sciences as nothing more and courses in the School of Medical F23 Administration Building last week, than unjustified austerity. Chuyi Wang reports. Science. stating: “I’m sorry. I fucked up.” Iveson Protesters then marched to the Around 50 protesters gathered outside Coinciding with the start of Radical also referred to the especially difficult F23 Administration Building, where the F23 Administration Building on Education Week 2020 on campus, and employment challenges experienced international student Aman Kapoor, Friday afteroon to protest university co-chaired by USyd SRC Education by Indigenous staff at the university, who was recently allowed to re-enrol austerity measures and the passing of Officers Jazzlyn Breen and Jack adding that the “task of decolonising after an extended occupation of the the Higher Education Reforms Package Mansell, the rally opened at the Quad this campus is an ongoing process.” Student Centre by activists, described by the Senate early last month. lawns for an extended speakout. Afterwards, student protesters the financial hardships he, and other What was originally planned to he The first speaker was Aunty Rhonda marched to the Anderson Stuart international students, faced with the a picket line in the CBD to prevent a Dixon, who delivered a Welcome to Building, where classes unprecedented lockdown this year. USyd Senate meeting from proceeding Country. As a masters student herself, for Medical Science Students then took to City Road and was relocated adhoc to F23 after the assisting in the development of an are taught. Gathering outside, MedSci marched down from Eastern Avenue Senate decided to move their meeting to education module about studying students Campbell and Stuart censured to Victoria Park. Chants included: online over Zoom on Friday morning. and learning on Gadigal land, Aunty the misleading data and wage theft being “Show me what democracy looks like! Rhonda affirmed her solidarity with committed by the School of Medical This is what democracy looks like!” Presumably, this occurred in response student protesters fighting against Science in order to justify the wide staff and “No cuts! No fees! No corporate to discovering that student protesters education cuts. cuts. They also spoke to the rapidly universities!” had planned a picket. Next, SRC Welfare Officer Maddie degrading quality of education in the Around 30 police officers quickly Passionate speeches were delivered Clark condemned the university for School as particularly concerning when arrived to herd the protesters off the by USyd SRC Education Officer Jack continuing its harsh austerity measures staring down pressing contemporary road, with some being shoved to the Mansell, Environment Officer Lily in spite of a large budget surplus this issues like the coronavirus pandemic sidewalk. Police then blocked off every Campbell, Welfare Officer Maddie year, as revealed by the Sydney Morning and climate change. exit from the University and Victoria Clark, and NSW ASEN Co-convenor Herald last week. She also spoke to the “What’s going to happen to the Park. Ruby Pandolfi. victory that student protesters achieved postgrad students who have worked for Finally, student protesters decided Topics covered included university in pressuring the NSW government to years, when their supervisors and labs to redirect the march to the Quad, administration’s collaboration with raise the cap on protests in the Public are gone overnight?” wrapping up the rally outside the police to repress protests revealed Health Act to 500. Finally, Dr Meloni Muir, a door of the Vice-Chancellor Michael through a freedom of information The final speech delivered on the Physiology professor facing the threat Spence’s old office. request two months ago, senior Quad lawns was given by NTEU of redundancy, delivered a passionate management’s general lack of response to the oppressive price hikes on arts and humanities degrees, as well as the steep cuts to staff and courses in the School of Medical Sciences.

USyd Casuals Network releases interim report into wage theft and underpayment Lara Sonnenschein reports. Sydney University’s Casuals Network to casual staff, they were not paid 75 University for 6 years and has not been indicated that the majority of staff were has released its interim report today cents, amounting to an average of 43% given permanent work. She was only working more than 50 hours per week, into wage theft and underpayment at of work going unpaid. paid 13 hours for the entire semester compared to the 37.5 hours per week the University. Critically, on average women had to complete administrative work to as set out in the Enterprise Agreement. The report follows the earlier 2.5 times the amount of wage theft coordinate a subject with over 70 Per the June survey, casuals worked an survey conducted by the Network in compared to men, at $3837 and $1541, students. average of 50 hours unpaid. June which highlighted that casual respectively. Currently, ten universities have had Given the report is interim, it only academics were bearing the costs of Further, those audited were only to repay casualised staff unpaid wages, presents the Network’s mid-semester COVID-19, though stressed that such given 48 minutes a week on average with the University of Sydney admitting findings, meaning that an analysis of precarity and exploitation existed prior to complete all administrative work, to wage theft of almost $9million. hours spent marking assignments is to the coronavirus pandemic. though casuals reported working an Casualisation within the Australian excluded, given this generally occurs The report found that 84% of average of 4.8hours a week on such tertiary education sector has towards the end of semester. participants performed unpaid labour tasks. skyrocketed over the past three decades, As a result, the Network estimates during the audit, and that casual The highest amount of individual with estimates of 70% casualisation at their “overall findings to be academics worked an average of 6.6 wage theft amounted to $11,469, some universities. conservative”, and are working on unpaid hours per week. per the audit. The staff member has The NTEU’s 2019 FASS survey an end-of-semester report which will On average, for every dollar paid worked as a casual academic at the of permanent and fixed-term staff include more comprehensive data.

4 Hundreds attend Djab Wurrung solidarity rally, marching in defiance of police orders Ranuka Tandan reports. Hundreds stood in solidarity with Djab were lined up behind speakers for the Wurrung last Saturday at Sydney’s duration of the rally. Town Hall. The rally brought to the Chelsea Ahern, who has been on the forefront the struggle of First Nations ground protecting Djab Wurrung, sent people to save the culturally significant, a statement to the protest organisers to centuries-old trees that are being be read out, which details the horrific removed for a highway upgrade. After nature of the on-the-ground situation at an extended speak out,protesters took Djab Wurrung. to the road and marched to Hyde Park, “On a daily occurrence both day and despite antagonism from the police. night, we are facing racial abuse, slurs. Organised by the USyd, UNSW We have had threats, people approach and UTS Environment Collectives, us with anger and aggression, fires the speakers demanded an end to the started by outsiders trying to move us desecration of First Nations’ land, on, fireworks being shot at us, urination history and culture by private or state in front of our women and children on interests. They also demanded that the our sacred land by intoxicated people government immediately recognise the of all ages and objects thrown at our sovereignty of First Nations peoples’ birthing trees.” and the autonomy of these peoples over “When she was cut down, there was their land and resources. cheering, celebration of victory and no Last week, the Djab Wurring cultural sensitivity or respect from the directions tree was lost after years of workers or security on site. She was then fighting to protect it., with Around 60 dumped into a semitrailer and paraded people were people arrested by police past grieving First Nations people and brought attention to the importance of the Public Health Order. Protesters, trying to stop its removal, and all supporters who have protected her from fighting for First Nations justice and however, pushed through and the march protestersfaced immense amounts of this fate for over two years.” climate justice hand in hand. made its way successfully up Park Street police brutality and repression. David Shoebridge MLC spoke next, Wongutha-Yamatji man Meyne and into Hyde Park. This rally is the The nationwide uproar about highlighting the scale of the problem Wyatt spoke about the gold mining largest action to have occurred without this issue has forced the Victorian across the country. happening in his country in Western physical police repression in months. Government to halt progress on the “If you think this is just a Victorian Australia, saying that it’s only the white Aunty Lynda June-Coe wrapped highway for three weeks, but there is no thing, you’re wrong. It’s happening in people that care about the gold. He the action up next to the Hyde guarantee that after this time, the next every state, in every territory, in every spoke about the sacred site destroyed by Park fountain, using her time at the steps will not continue as planned. level of government. It’s in the DNA of Rio Tinto and the many more that they megaphone to reflect on the dangers Uncle Dave Bell gave a Welcome to the planning system, not just in Victoria plan to destroy. that come from NSW policing not only Country, acknowledging Aboriginal but in this entire country. We need to “Indigenous did not destroy the Aboriginal people but also everybody peoples from all over NSW. call it out and we need to stop it. earth. Colonialism and capitalism else so intensely. Gwenda Stanley from Fighting in Kya Branch, NUS First Nations destroyed the earth.” “The structures in this country are Solidarity Towards Treaties (FIIST) Officer, said “they need our voices to be At the completion of the speeches, fundamentally racist, and I’m going to spoke next, setting the tone for the heard, so that we are able to start making protesters began marching to Hyde come back to the question. What does protest by questioning the notion of changes, so that we can dismantle this Park, chanting “when Djab Wurring is justice look like on stolen land? Justice reconciliation, and the surface level system, not brick by brick, but all at under attack, what do we do? Stand up, for me means you give us our land nature of NAIDOC Week. once.” fight back.” back.” “You protected your Captain Cook Following Brach, Michael Burnard Police initially attempted to stop the There is another Djab Wurrung statue but you cannot save a birthing represented the Australian Student march from happening, despite protests solidarity action planned for Monday, 9 tree,” she yelled to the police who Environment Network (ASEN), and of 500 people now being allowed under November in the Domain. Protest in the time of pandemic 11AM Friday 13 November, Zoom

Join a panel of experts who will explore the human rights, health and legal aspects of recent protest events in Australia and the appropriate scope of police power.

Felicity Graham Barrister at Black Chambers

Taylah Gray Proud Wiradjuri woman who was the respondent in the case Commissioner of Police v Taylah Gray.

Professor Roger Magnusson Health Law and Governance academic, Associate Dean Student Life, Sydney Law School

Professor Simon Rice Kim Santow Chair of Law and Social Justice at the University of Sydney

Georgia Carr PhD candidate and casual academic in the Department of Linguistics and USyd Casuals Network organiser

5 ANALYSIS Corporate universities: Hidden factories of ideology Jazzlyn Breen explores the ways in which universities work as a tool of capitalism. There is no doubt that higher education and the ideologies they reproduce are values and economy of the society it is In every way the university acts as a is in a dire state in this country, with fees not radical or emancipatory. produced within. business, because that’s what it is. It has increasing, courses being cut and staff Knowledge is not neutral. We can’t ‘save our education’ commodified knowledge so successfully being fired at rates not seen for years. The production of knowledge is not because university has never been that it is no longer questioned that these Class sizes are expanding and course neutral. It is reliant on and a reflection ‘good’. institutions are both making money off, options are shrinking. Objectively, the of the society in which it is produced. The aggrandising corporatisation of and have a monopoly over knowledge. quality of higher education is under Within a university setting, this is not just universities is undeniably detrimental Education cuts are intrinsic to attack and it’s important to question seen in traditionally political subjects to the quality of higher education, but neoliberal universities. why institutions which are meant to such as sociology, anthropology and were universities ever that good? We The current attacks on education protect and improve the quality of international relations, but also within need to be thinking beyond the scope coming from university management education are acting in this way. Are subjects seen as ‘apolitical’, such as of the traditional university, and aiming and the government alike are rightly universities actually failing at their jobs, engineering or science. What is taught, for a genuinely emancipatory and viewed as ridiculous and nonsensical, or are mainstream understandings of and how that knowledge is used is a equitable alternative, rather than simply and as undermining education the role they play within society actually deeply political and ideological process. fighting course cuts with the rhetoric of accessibility. However, for the capitalist wrong? I argue the latter: universities The types of knowledge prioritised ‘save our education’. project these bodies work to serve, are not neutral education providers, within universities are simply a Yes education has been commodified, they make complete sense. Allowing but ideology factories, and they are reflection of the ideologies prevalent but even if that commodification was the market to decide what type of not failing us now - they are working within capitalist society, and the removed, the systems in which we education will best serve it aligns exactly as they have been set up to. money of corporations who employ produce knowledge are still deeply with the way universities have always Universities exist as institutions graduates. Corporate sponsorships of colonial and capitalist in nature. In worked. Our education system is set which uphold the framework of the information shared and developed almost every way, Western systems of up to serve capital, to produce the most capitalist production, entrench class within universities means that big education, or what we have come to workers, and to maintain and progress divides and hold monopolies over the business can effectively control the value as ‘the best forms of education’ capitalism. It is important to call these value of particular forms of knowledge. fields and types of research which are as a society, replicate the violence, changes out for what they are: a further At their very core, universities are not prioritised. Decisions about what to competition and oppressive nature of entrenching of corporatisation and just degree factories, but ideology ones teach and fund, and who to hire has to capitalism. They have been developed neoliberalism within our education too. They teach the skills required to come from somewhere, and within the by and work for colonial, racist and institutions. produce efficient professionals who corporate university system, economic patriarchal systems and are therefore Yes, we should absolutely fight will go on to uphold and maintain interests will always win out. self replicating in their upholding of against course cuts, staff cuts and fee the capitalist project. As universities One of the best examples of these systems. increases, because these things further have been further commodified, the this within Australia is the recent So called ‘quality’ or ‘prestigious’ entrench the inequalities which are ‘invisible hand’ of the free market has introduction of the Ramsay Centre for education stems from the West. It inherent to the system. But we cannot become increasingly responsible for Western Civilisation, which was able to values Western religions, histories and kid ourselves into thinking that in the valuation of particular kinds of fund an entirely new degree within the opinions while leaving little room for achieving these things we will have met knowledge. University of Wollongong, University much else. The concept of academia our goal of equitable and fair education. In popular discourse amongst the of Queensland and the Australian itself is a deeply colonial concept, and Instead, we need to fight for a radically liberal left, universities are seen as Catholic University. This is not only while academia can and has produced different form of education, and this bastions of intellect and education, an issue because of the racist and important knowledge, in practice cannot come about with education places where critical thinking is colonial nature of the Ramsay Centre, it continues to prioritise Western reform, policy changes, or even free developed and systems questioned. In but also because the knowledge which knowledge to the detriment of all other university. All these things are good, but this year’s higher education campaign, is taught within our supposably public forms. In a country like Australia it is they are not radical, they do not deeply a common argument against increasing universities can effectively be purchased also particularly essential to recognise question the system of capitalism the fees for arts subjects is that they for top dollar. and value the systems of knowledge and they do not meaningfully address are one of the only places in which Another example slightly closer which existed on this continent pre- the issues embedded into our entire critical thinking can develop. In the to home is the “Rio Tinto Centre for colonisation, and which have been education system. conversation around the US election, Mine Automation” within the USyd either wiped out or undermined We need to fight to create a Republican voting preferences were engineering faculty, which is focused by capitalism, colonialism and version of education that serves put down to a lack of education, as on “mining innovation through imperialism. In fighting for a form of people rather than big business and if people voted for Trump because automation and machine learning”. education which serves society, we must corporate agendas. We need to work to they lacked critical thinking skills and Projects like these show how important first uncover, question and destroy the undermine the dangerous and violent not because of the deep institutional it is to remember that no knowledge ways in which colonialism has shaped ideological boundaries that education problems which maintain racism, is neutral or apolitical, even in subject the way we conceptualise knowledge and knowledge production is currently poverty and disenfranchisement. areas which are intuitively thought of and learning. Even a free university, bound by. We need to be confronting While there is truth to the ability of as such. governed by staff and students would capitalist power, fighting against arts degrees to help develop critical In this way, the university acts not be colonial if we do not also undergo a corporate management, undermining thinking among those who study them, as a place for intellectual pursuits, or process of decolonisation. the binaries of students and staff, and statistical proof that Republican the improvement of society as a whole, Universities, including USyd, invest rebelling against all cuts, and working voters are less educated, I would argue but as preparation for a workforce millions in fossil fuel companies, arms together to build and create types of that the conversation around higher determined by the prevalent ideological manufacturers and pay their vice education which serve us, not business, education needs to be much more projects of capitalism. In no way is chancellors millions while, at the same not capitalism, not imperialism and not nuanced. Higher education is incredibly education neutral. It serves a purpose, time, cutting subjects, reducing staff colonialism. important, but universities themselves to uphold and reinforce the norms, numbers and increasing class sizes.

Art by Chuyi Wang.

8 The Maple Spring: Lessons from the 2012 Quebec student riots Himath Siriniwasa reflects on the lessons that the Australian student left can learn from the six-month Quebecois rebellion. In 2012, a precarious yet enigmatic but more importantly, because the police repression of the March 7th On the other side, so-called student coalition of students, union organisers, students of Quebec won. The fee hikes blockade of a state-owned enterprise representatives entered negotiations anarchist militants and Indigenous were halted after wide-spread popular (Loto-Québec). While playing the with the Liberal government. These activists sparked a series of revolts discontent led to the downfall of Jean harmonica, a student Francis Grénier negotiations excluded the CLASSE, throughout Quebec. The explicit Charet’s Liberal premiership and the was permanently blinded in one eye which was seen as the cause of wide scale allusions participants made with the rise of the social-democratic/nationalist after a police officer shot a stun grenade social discontent. These negotiations, Arab Spring go beyond a French play Parti Québécois. into the crowd. The mobilisation that and the overall attempt at conciliation, on words: Arab Spring translates to Immediate practical questions come followed was unprecedented. Black failed miserably. Firstly, students were ‘printemps arabe’ making ‘printemps to mind on what organisational forms bloc tactics became popularized. dissatisfied with the compromises made érable’ (Maple Spring) a memorable and efforts enabled the student victory. The zine “Blockade, Occupy, Strike by their state-sanctioned representatives. denomination for the uprising. Rather, What did the ASSÉ do right? How Back” became a handbook for student Secondly, the government imposed the the movements noticeably parallel each does it differ from student unionism radicals, detailing practical information draconian Bill 78, which forbade protest other in political content. Both saw the in Sydney? I suspect the answer to the on security, anonymity and self- near university grounds and required long-term disruption of normalcy — former can be found in the latter. The organisation. In popular consciousness, police approval for large public protests the cacophonous sounds of daily riots ASSÉ is no ordinary student federation, police brutality ceased to be an anywhere in Quebec. Thousands of that shook the streets of metropolitan differing vastly from Australia’sabstraction but a concrete reality. people joined students in solidarity Montreal echoed the thunders of National Union of Students (NUS). This situation resonates with many against the state. Four days after the Tahrir Square. Mass participation Rather, the NUS resembles the other at home — a recent string of education bill was pASSÉd, tens of thousands played a central role, with half of the two Quebec student federations (the actions have been met by arrests participated in the May Day rally, with Quebec student population involved in FECQ & FEUQ), sharing labyrinthian and crippling fines. Despite this, the organisers referring to it as “the single widespread student strikes and marches bureaucracies, centralised decision- Quebec experience (and the success biggest act of civil disobedience in with over 400 000 attendants. making, media legitimacy and complex of the recent occupation of USyd’s Canadian history.” Ports and bridges In both contexts, this participation political affiliations. These institutions administration building) suggests that were blockaded, molotovs were thrown arose from disillusionment with state seek social change by means of lobbying increased militancy does not correlate and violent repression was felt. Yet the responses to the 2008 financial crisis. politicians and ‘consciousness-raising’. with increased repression. Crowds can struggle survived in spite of organised As this conflict intensified, the fire In contrast, the ASSÉ follows stay safer when involving themselves representatives and their attempts at of revolutionary fever led to popular the tactical program of ‘combative in well-organised, unexpected, riskier conciliation with the government. opposition to the police. Fundamentally, syndicalism’, which emphasises a actions. However, this is also contingent Escalation successfully transformed the both Springs saw an unprecedented commitment to direct action over on developing an organisational culture content of the revolt, setting the stage for expansion of militant tactics, sometimes negotiation and conciliation. During that takes security concerns seriously. further radical organising. through spontaneous acts of resistance, the strike, ASSÉ created a strike In my opinion, anonymity practices are To the dismay of many radicalised over often through the trial-and-error coalition CLASSE, opening up its seriously lacking in the Sydney Left. the course of the six-months, the victory development of knowing which membership. Two guiding principles Many protests (in trying to abide by of Parti Québécois would be the downfall strategic maneuvers prevent avoidable prefigured CLASSE’s success. Firstly, hypocritical COVID-19 restrictions) have of the movement. After repealing Bill 78 defeat. Heavy confrontations with progressive escalation of tactics were included registration forms that store a and preventing the fee hike, much of the the police were remarkably common effective in building and sustaining list of all participants; do we seriously participation dwindled. Unfortunately, as students escalated from building the movement. Actions initially began think that this information should be Parti Québécois backtracked occupations to strategies of political by taking disgruntled students to collected, let alone stored on a Google immediately, reintroducing fee hikes and economic disruption — breaking the street, organising speak-outs and form? Moreover, outside of facemasks, in a transmogrified form in 2013. The up conferences and political rallies, petitioning. However, while these students make little effort to cover their actions of 2013, while militant, were blockading businesses and destroying measures seemed to draw previously faces/clothing/identification, oftenunable to capture the electricity of the private property. apolitical students into the movement, uploading pictures to social media. 2012 revolt, neither in scope or efficacy. It began in early 2012 when students they did little to combat the fee-hikes. As critiques of debt, austerity, This eventual failure gives the Left a lot kicked off an ‘unlimited general strike’ Thus, the movement adapted, turning capitalism and the state gained to think on the value of electoralism and on the 13th of February to fight back to occupations and strikes, and then cultural legitimacy, resonating with the relationship between activism and against a 75% hike in university tuition to riots and blockades. Secondly, a disillusioned post-2008 Quebec political representation. fees. These actions went beyond the CLASSE held a strict commitment to populace, participation in student However, this tired debate on reform typical student protest, imprinting direct democracy, basing their decision protests generalised to other forms of versus revolution is far from what is itself on the public imaginary by the making in complex networks of local activism. Popular discontent, student valuable in considering the Maple sheer degree of social transformation and general ASSÉmblies. Not only did organising, and Indigenous activism Spring. The tactical orientations of it caused. The strikes lasted for more this give protestors the feeling that they converged into a series of actions against different groups during the revolt must than six months, becoming one of were active participants in their own the Liberal government’s Plan Nord be studied endlessly, differentiating what the longest periods of social unrest in future, but it also avoided the pitfalls developmental strategy. Essentially, strategies were effective and increased Quebec. The concerns raised by these of representative democracy, with its the plan aimed to create low-paying participation from those that were risky movements dominated the political separation of student politics from ‘workfare’ jobs by displacing Indigenous and fruitless. Of importance is the move sphere, becoming a central issue in student life. people in northern Quebec by opening away from publicised A to B marches to discourse surrounding the 2012 election. Despite its militancy, the first month up to business interests in mining, masked-up occupations, blockades and While a number of organisations of struggle could not anticipate the scale logging and hydroelectric projects. A economic disruption. The possibility (including major opposition parties and of what was to come. The impressive five- strong sense of solidarity was established of creating our own (CL)ASSÉ must be prominent workers’ unions) supported day occupation of McGill University in with the working-class and Indigenous entertained — a federation of radical the demonstration, few could claim early February is illustrative. Protestors populations. Not only was this a student student unions not focused on party to represent it. The exception was took over the administration building, movement, it was a social movement. politics or CV stacking seems like a the Association pour une solidarité building barricades, destroying As thousads fled to the streets at night, desirable end. Nevertheless, we must syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ), a federation securities cameras and setting up camp many heard the music of revolution transcend the limitations of the ASSÉ, of radical student unions that played a during the night. While it mobilised in the air. Heterogeneous groups of noting that the antagonism between decisive role in spreading the strike and popular support (especially for the people coalesced in the face of adversity, escalation and conciliation divided the enabled the proliferation of militant strike), authorities were able to crush unifying in the belief that the streets and organisation greatly. Something that tactics. the occupation with relative ease, and land belonged to them. seems to incorporate the solidaristic While the possibility of a ‘Sydney it had very little impact on altering the As the uprising moved from agitation nature of the revolt while appropriating Spring’ seems unlikely, the parallels outcome of the proposed fee-hikes. to rebellion, a key antagonism began to the structure of ASSÉ can be found between the Quebec student movement However, singular university materialise. On one hand, a burgeoning in the proposals for a cross-university and the burgeoning education occupations metamorphosed into city- anarchist consciousness was coming to federation of collectives. Last year, campaigns are striking: actions against wide agitation. Participants had learned the fore. Student self-organisation turned USyd, UNSW and UTS collectives hiking tuition fees, occupations, students from their mistakes — while previously into a proliferation of explicitly anti- tried to establish an organisation on met with police repression. Detailed students had been identified by not capitalist neighbourhood ASSÉmblies these lines. While these suggestions are investigations into the social relations wearing masks (and not destroying throughout Montreal. Collective purely provisional, they establish the underpinning the revolt are of value to enough security cameras), anonymity direct action became the norm. Mass- importance of interrogating the history the Sydney Left, not only because of began to play a crucial role in organising. participation in student protests spread of student revolt. similarities in the political landscape, This was manifest in the response to to other forms of activism.

9 ANALYSIS A left national paper will achieve what a Royal Commission can’t Pailey Wang interrogates the ability for Rudd’s petition to have any meaningful impact. Kevin Rudd is back in the spotlight, it would probably find News Corp are then, unlike our paper monopoly, Fox barebones editorial staff could put it all savouring the attention he is getting on horribly anti-competitive thugs, bent exists in a truly competitive landscape, together and fill the gaps. social media for shamelessly plugging on pushing Murdoch’s ideological bile juxtaposed nationwide against MSNBC Perhaps call it ‘the Daily Courier’, his petition for a Royal Commission at the cost of huge losses. It might even and CNN. which nicely sums up its purpose, with into media diversity and News Corp’s find some criminal wrongdoing. At The antidote to Murdoch’s media the added benefit of confusing readers media monopoly, which wrapped up best: a couple of short prison sentences monopoly is to give print audiences a of the Daily Telegraph and the Courier last Wednesday. In a sense, Rudd is for some sacrificial executives, some real alternative. While starting a new Mail. As far as I can see, there is little right – the ‘strength and diversity’ of fines Murdoch will easily pay off, and union or otherwise backed paper is to lose for the outlets who sign on: the media in this country seems to be a list of recommendations to never be certainly an optimistic dream, I believe they would reach new audiences with at an all-time low: With the Sydney implemented. It is certainly unlikely Morning Herald and the Age, the once to change the fact that, in most of the At best: a couple of short prison sentences great centre-left Fairfax mastheads, country, only News Corp papers are now forced to push an increasingly available on the newsstands, and that for some sacrificial executives, some right-wing editorial line since their alternatives are increasingly sparse and absorption by Nine. It seems too that increasingly right-wing. fines Murdoch will easily pay off, and COVID was the last straw that broke A lot is said of online echo chambers, the camel’s back of countless regional but with a third of Australians still a list of recommendations to never be papers. More worrying still, the last relying on print newspapers, it must implemented. bastion of independent ‘hard’ news: also be said that a large portion of The AAP news wire, once kept neutral this country is victim to a much any real hope lies in the collaboration content already freely available online. by the competition of its owners, was more analogue form of that effect. of the new online left-leaning media. If the endeavour ever made a profit almost shuttered and now only survives Younger people in the cities now live It is time to fight the old guard at from sales and advertising, it could be as a scaled down not-for-profit. It is not in a completely different information the newsstand with a national, daily split up amongst them based on which guaranteed to survive a new challenger, landscape to older people in more rural paper. It could draw hard news from outlets provided content. Though, if which one of its former owners News areas. For the former it is social feeds and the AAP, republish the online output the persistent losses of the Australian Corp, plans to launch in February when left-leaning news sites, for the latter it is and daily stories which don’t make are anything to go by, it seems that a their non-compete ends; if this coup right-leaning papers. This is the media the weekly print editions of the national daily is not a particularly pays off, all the other papers left will be divide which led many to believe Labor Guardian and the Saturday Paper, and profitable endeavour. Indeed, such a fed the same Murdoch line as the rest of was set to coast to victory at the last source investigative journalism from service would require deep pockets the country. election. It is easy to say nobody takes Crikey. The Conversation already to get started, as well as a concerted However, Rudd’s plea seems Murdoch’s papers seriously, but time allows for their great think pieces to campaign of lobbying for online outlets obviously flawed. For one, thehas shown that a partisan news media be freely republished under a Creative to take part. I wonder what kind of conservative government will never is an extraordinarily pervasive form Commons licence. Soft news could be individual might have the clout and grant his request; it hasn’t even been of manipulation. One need to look no supplemented by outlets like the New connections to pull it off. Perhaps a backed by the Labor Party. Even further than the audio-visual American Daily or New Matilda, and perhaps former Labor Prime Minister? But then imagining that his Royal Commission cousin of Murdoch’s Australian even tabloid puff and comedy from the where’s the fun if you don’t get your did get up, what good would it do? Sure, newspaper monopoly: Fox News. Even likes of Junkee and Pedestrian TV. A five minutes in the spotlight.

Official apology and retraction notice We, the 2020 editorial team of Honi Soit, would like to issue an official apology for all the content we have published in the last twelve months. When we first started writing for the paper in December of 2019, we were but naive teenagers, recklessly lashing out at everything for kicks and clout. In the process, we have caused an unimaginable amount of suffering and distress to numerous parties, both on and off campus. Specifically, we regret causing any offence to the Jewish community, the Catholic community, the Hindu community, Room 2 Radio and Caucasian DJs in general, the board directors of the USU, college students, women, fans of Gorman attire, Netflix executives, Angelina Gu, the stars of Stranger Things, people of colour, horses, autonomous collectives of the SRC, owners of luxury cars, the editors of PULP Media, poets, every single stupol faction, Liam Donohoe, lesbians, perverts and sexual deviants, 2020 Returning Officer Geoff Field and his assistant Cameron Caccamo, our successors Bloom for Honi, our predecessors Spice for Honi, absolute losers Cream for Honi, 2019 Electrical Officer Casper Lu, the struggling Oxford diaspora, Americans, Italixns, girl-bosses, Dan Tehan, the very nice and cool Australian band Sticky Fingers, trots, young Liberals, activists, King Amir Jabbari, cops, non-fascist cottagecore fans, departing Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence, fans of content warnings, the relatives of Osama Bin Laden, those who find casual nudity distasteful, Splash for SULS, Dr*w P*vlou, the Notorious RBG, SASS executives, the queer community, and of course, God. In order to atone for these mistakes, we have made an unanimous decision to retract everything we have published this year. That means we cannot be sued anymore, since all the content has been retracted. This is what the SRC lawyers told us.

Lara Sonnenschein Matthew Forbes Ranuka Tandan Iris (Lei) Yao Chuyi Wang Murphy (Zhiquan) Gan Angad Roy Nina Dillon Britton Madeline Ward Robert Mason

8 Online sex work in the age of COVID Gabbie Lynch on the endless possibilities and risks of moving sex work online during a global pandemic. “The money was easy, the risk seemed low the reality of sugaring hard. I wasn’t going and my clients were always respectful, but to meet new people out so turning to online I would never have trusted any of them,” strip teasers was a safer option, in terms of Sarah, a university student in Sydney, complying with the lockdown restrictions.” told me during a conversation about her Like many industries facing the ‘lockdown’ job. She lost her casual job in lockdown, the sex and pleasure industry was retail during the COVID-19 lockdown. fraught with new challenges. Unlike other Having worked less than 12 months with traditional industries however, sex workers her employer meant she was ineligible were already frighteningly vulnerable. The for the Federal Government’s JobKeeper pandemic revealed major flaws in the legal payment. She started doing online strip system’s ability to protect those engaging services as a means of generating an income with the sex work industry - for both clients during lockdown. and providers. “I had done some sugaring before, but I Although sex work is decriminalised in wouldn’t have met up with anyone during NSW, there remain legal grey areas as how lockdown. It would have been too risky best to protect sex workers. With a rapid meeting people face to face in the midst of increase in both the amount of sex work the virus in Sydney,” she said. being performed in online spaces and the When lockdown hit Australia this year, amount of people who turned to unqualified our workplaces changed overnight. The modes of providing ‘adult’ services through once bustling Sydney CBD turned into a an online forum such as Skype and Reddit, sleepy village. Many people began blurring the law continues to remain silent. Art by Janina Osinsao. the boundaries between work and home In a physical ‘brothel’ setting, regulated life, disguising bedrooms as home offices. by the local council, sex work services com and Reddit have when it comes to really think about it until you mentioned Others relied on the JobKeeper payments. in NSW are legal. For those engaging in protecting my interests? it. But yeah I guess someone could run off Yet many casual workers fell through the online services however, the law remains The answers remain unclear, though it with an image of you and there’s not a lot cracks and faced the frightening task of ambiguous. In the first instance, whether would be reasonable to assume that online you could do about it.” generating their own income as a means of online strip teases or Skype calls can be service providers have excluded all liability The pandemic exposed both the financial survival. constituted as ‘sex work’ within a legal for any harm suffered by parties engaging in benefits and work-life flexibility open to For women in particular, sex and definition remains unknown. Whether an paid arrangements. sex workers. Whether the perks of the pleasure - an always precious and popular online brothel can constitute a “setting” I asked Sarah about her fears of taking industry outway the risks comes down to commodity - became an empowering, yet capable of being regulated by the local part in online ‘pleasure’ services. “I suppose a matter of personal opinion and privilege. risky means of supporting themselves. council raises questions as to the validity I was scared I would not receive the The shift to online services opens the door “I’ve had sugar daddies before the of sex work being performed in an online payment. I know there’s no one you can go to many people, but closes it to more still. lockdown,” Sarah tells me. “The first man space. From here, the questions are endless; to if you get hurt or if they steal from you. For those without devices and the internet, was in his early fifties. Before we met, he can I advertise sexual services online, Unless you have a pimp,” she jokes. the industry is falling out of arm’s reach. gave me a list of cars and asked which one despite advertising in newspapers being a In contrasting her pre-COVID sugar Yet despite the change in the demographic I would like to be picked up in. I chose the (rarely prosecuted) crime? If my client is daddy work with the online strip services she engaging in the industry and indeed, the Bentley,” she laughs. “When we went into interstate or overseas, what jurisdiction is provided in lockdown, Sarah said the latter way in which the work operates online, it lockdown, I wasn’t in a paid arrangement, capable of prosecuting a crime or protecting was far less demanding, yet not without remains clear that the law fails our sex work but I knew this would be an easy way my interests? If I get hurt, am I entitled newfound risks. “The physical element isn’t industry on every level, leaving the most to maintain an income. I reactivated my to workers compensation? And what there but yeah - there is a fear of someone vulnerable to fend for themselves. account on Seeking.com. But COVID made responsibilities do websites such as Seeking. taking a screenshot,” she relays. “I didn’t A ‘fair go’ for families: Labor’s childcare pledge Julliete Marchant unpacks Labor’s stance on childcare services in the recent budget reply speech. The idea of the ‘fair go’ is one that has have proposed to scrap the subsidy cap, from that of the stay at home parent, But perhaps the most perplexing aspect become a cornerstone of the Australian and raise the maximum childcare subsidy to having two working parents in most of previous childcare policy considerations, political and social discourse. And yet, with rate from 85% to 90%. If this policy were households, this is no longer satisfying. is the lack of attention paid to the benefits notable changes to family structures and to be introduced, households earning up Where caring was once a woman’s issue, expounded by such a service for the gendered participation in the workforce to $80,000 a year would only have to pay and children a family issue, Labor’s policy child itself. Quality childcare is often a over the past twenty years, the presence of 10% of their childcare costs annually. acknowledges that this is no longer the case, fundamental part of a child’s academic ‘fairness’ in government childcare policies Additionally, Labor hopes to more gradually and that women deserve a ‘fair go’ to return and social development. This is because has come under considerable scrutiny. taper the proposed subsidy for higher to the workforce without a debilitating Australian childcare providers are guided by With childcare at the centre of Labor’s earning families by decreasing the amount economic disincentive guiding their a national framework that provides a play- budget reply speech last month, Anthony subsidised by 0.2% for every $1,000 earned decision. based means of incorporating pre-school Albanese articulated the stance that “in the above the $80,000 threshold. Thus, unlike For those unconvinced by the social skills, and gives all children the opportunity worst recession in a hundred years, we have the current policy, which prevents families argument, Labor claims that such changes to learn using resources that may be limited to make sure that women aren’t forced to that earn over $353,680 from accessing any to childcare policy would promise national at home. In addition to this, by interacting choose between their family and their jobs”. childcare subsidies, Labor’s tapered subsidy economic growth and bring direct benefits with childcare workers and other children But does the new policy offering signal system would support families earning up to the business sector. The Grattan Institute their age, children are able to develop their progressive economic and social reform, or to $530,000. has estimated that the implementation of communication skills and sense of trust is it merely another example of middle class But what would the effects of this change Labor’s plan would increase work hours in others; skills that are more difficult to welfare? look like? for second earners and single parents by develop in the familiar home environment. The current reality of the workforce is Drawing on the social implications that approximately 11%, and that this increased Whilst the aforementioned benefits that the longer an individual spends outside often sit at the core of childcare policy participation would boost GDP by more highlight the social and economic of it, the more difficult it is to get back in. analysis, Labor are removing the long- than double the cost of implementing the transformations that could be fostered by Consequently, after having children, many standing disincentive for second earners and childcare policy itself. As such, it is timely changes to childcare policy in Australia, second earners and single parents, of which single parents to return to the workforce by to shift the way that we view childcare, and Labor’s budget reply speech still failed to a disproportionate number are women, will scrapping the cap. However, this benefit is acknowledge that it is a service that directly acknowledge how greater support would return to work merely to keep their foot in often construed as ‘middle class welfare’, impacts the national economy, rather than be provided to childcare workers, falling the door. However, with the current annual introduced to support those that want the a service that only benefits part of the mute on the issue of a wage subsidy. This childcare subsidy cap of $10,560 per child best of both worlds. This argument is overly population. We support the building of a is an issue that extends to much of the for households that earn between $189,390 simplistic, and fails to acknowledge that second airport in Sydney, or better roads care industry, as childcare, aged care and and $353,680 a year, many second earners wanting to go back to work is for many no in parts of Australia that are foreign to us, disability care workers remain some of and single parents are limited to returning longer a choice, but a need. Whilst over the because even though we aren’t all likely the most poorly paid service people in the for no more than three days a week, as past 20 years, a woman returning to the to use these facilities, we acknowledge country. Thus, whilst Labor’s policy points they can’t afford to pay high, unsubsidised workforce acknowledged that their wages the economic benefits to the broader to a ‘fair go’ for families, it needs to be childcare fees. would be used almost exclusively to cover community. Why are we not willing to do considered whether those providing the In view of this, the Labor government childcare, with the norm having progressed the same for childcare? service are getting a fair go themselves.

9 ANALYSIS A history of radicalism in Far North Queensland Madeline Ward longs for the Red North Aboriginal and Torres Strait-Islander readers are advised the following article contains reference to people who have passed away. Curumbilbarra, otherwise known as and their growing influence in driving A large factor in the successes of spray painted on a bridge through the Townsville, is considered to be one of the union movement further left. these projects was the involvement of centre of town and at the entrance of the most conservative parts of so-called It was in the canefields that much of women, most of whom were the wives the Palmer Street restaurant strip. Australia. It’s easy to understand why this sentiment was to be found, amongst of cane cutters, members of the CPA, Anarchists Against Poverty NQ, this is the case: Clive Palmer and Bob Italian migrant workers agitating or outright communists themselves (or which started organising in late 2019, Katter both hold offices in Townsville, alongside their Australian comrades a combination of all three). Women’s identify this as some of the most radical it’s a home base for many, if not most of for better working conditions. Progress Clubs were common activity in Australia full stop. “These the fly in - fly out miners in the region, In 1935, cane cutters striked over throughout the region and organised have been some of the most radical acts and it’s also the location of Australia’s Weil’s Disease, a condition that everything from political activity of dissent our country has ever seen, largest military base, Lavarack Barracks. resulted in fevers (and in some cases, to social dances and hospital visits. including the burning down of a police Aside from this, the city looks death). Spread by rats urinating on wet In Collinsville, the aforementioned station on Palm Island.” They identify conservative. One Nation, Palmer ground and cane stalks, the spread of “Little Moscow”, the Country party politics, particulalry those of the United Party (PUP) and Katter’s Weil’s Disease could be prevented by Women’s Association (CWA) sent a Greens and Labor, as a thorn in the side Australian Party (KAP) have billboards the burning of cane, something farm representative to CPA conferences, of radicalism in the region. “Political on almost every street corner. The owners furiously resisted as it resulted and in Gladstone, the CWA organised dissent has otherwise been captured offices of Adani are prominently in a loss of profits. a petition to call on the government to and pacified by social democrats who advertised in what would be an 3000 workers went on strike, lift the ban on the Communist Party. may spruik loudly (but mostly do not) otherwise delightful restaurant strip on despite substantial opposition from the It was these activities that Diane about their dissatisfaction with the one of the main streets of town. Australian Workers Union (AWU), as Menghetti identified as weakening the current system while pursuing reforms The military is omnipresent -- well as the Brisbane Trades and Labour “Red Bogey”, in her book The Red which present no coherent systemic there are several military museums, council who passed a resolution North. Menghetti suggests that the challenge.” the aforementioned barracks, a condemning the strike. It ended two “unusually extensive social life of the Anarchists Against Poverty have disproportionate amount of war months later, thanks to a combination Party”, as well as the regular publication recently opened a shop front and memorials and the frequent sighting of police force, the use of scab labour, of newsletters and bulletins, was crucial resource centre in South Townsville, of military aircraft, not to mention the and the efforts of the AWU. in undermining the sinister reputation conducting mutual aid as well as live firings that occur on neighbouring But it was not without victory: a of communist ideology amongst the activism. They see “[providing] islands and bushlands, advertised in year later, in 1936, the industrial court community. Fred Patterson’s North immediate relief to impoverished the Townsville Bulletin. passed a general order that cane must Queensland Guardian went a long and otherwise marginalised and That paper, of course, is the be burnt before harvesting. Beyond way in furthering this aim -- publishing disempowered people within our main culprit in perpetuating such this, the strike was a considerable advertisements from local businesses, community” as the most important part conservatism, assumed and actual. The achievement in organisation and shying away from overt communist of their work, which is grounded in the Townsville Bulletin publishes without mobilisation for the CPA and engaged iconography, and advocating for the principles of mutual aid. They receive concern for integrity, ethics or shame: a number of community members that compatibility of communism and support from the local community anything from a list of residents due at were traditionally considered to be Christianity. for their mutual aid project, mainly court to the onlyfans profiles of local a-political -- women and migrants, but All this meant that, by the late 1930s, through the donation of groceries and women, to advocating for vigilantism also allies such as shopkeepers, miners North Queensland had the largest and other goods. According to Anarchists in response to a supposed youth crime and small farmers. most active communist population Against Poverty, “the community gives crisis, can be found in the pages of the The presence of the Communist outside of Sydney. and the community receives.” Bulletin. Party in the unions was what led By the early 1940s, the Red North Such a strategy, of providing mutual Recently, the Bulletin has had two Collinsville, a mining town 90 km had faced two major setbacks -- the aid and facilitating greater community main areas of preoccupation. The south-west of Bowen, to be termed signing of the Nazi-Soviet non- connection, as well as establishing youth crime crisis, the hysteria of “Little Moscow” -- a name given to aggression pact, and the Soviet invasion a book shop and resource centre, is which it is largely responsible for, communities in the 20th century that of Finland, followed shortly thereafter not unlike that of the communists and the construction of the Adani held radical communist or socialist by the banning of the Communist Party and anarchists in the Red North of Carmichael Coal Mine, for which it beliefs, often the result of the influence in 1940 by the Menzies government. the 1930s. “Our praxis does in some naturally advocates. of a militant trade union. It was also a Menghetti’s history of the Red North, ways coincide with what was being Such conservatism is considered large part of their popularity amongst the most comprehensive of its kind, done here previously… although our by many to be so innate that any level migrants and the working class, ends about there. direct action has been for the most part of leftism is often framed as being which is what ultimately led to Fred But that doesn’t mean that the related to mutual aid and alleviating something of a southern import. This Patterson’s electoral successes in 1939 decline of communist industrial and poverty whereas “back in the day” was naturally not helped by those in the Townsville City Council, and community organising in the North praxis was moreso geared toward southern leftists that did in fact travel later to state parliament in 1944. was the end of political activity workplace organising.” It’s certainly a to North Queensland to resist Adani, Though the strikes themselves full stop. The ongoing resistance of far cry from Bob Brown’s Anti-Adani the most reviled of which being Bob certainly made the CPA, and Indigenous communities, which began Convoy, and other such misguided Brown’s ill-fated convoy. communist sentiment, popular, it was in the North at first sight of European attempts at winning hearts and minds But as much as the Townsville the mutual aid and relief efforts during invasion, flourished in the years in North Queensland. Bulletin, and others of that ilk, may and beyond the 1935 strike that curried following the second world war, and Anarchists Against Poverty NQ see want us to think so, leftism in the far real favour within the community. remains the most consistent and active the spirit of the Red North as being north is not an import at all. Relief kitchens, as well as social and form of organising in the area to this “alive in individuals”, albeit hampered In fact, it was in Bowen -- the site community events, went a long way day. by the dearth of political organisation of many an anti-Adani dispute -- in broadening the appeal of the strike, When local authorities attempted outside of the Greens, Labor and that Fred Patterson, a member of the and of communist values as a whole. to deport Albie Geia from Palm Island the unions. They are optimistic at Communist Party of Australia (CPA), These connections were what in 1957, workers called a strike, which the thought of reviving it “by finding was elected to state parliament in 1944, allowed the rapid organisation and lasted for five days and ended with individuals and empowering them the only member of the CPA to ever mobilisation of a solidarity movement police raiding homes at gunpoint. In through our praxis.” hold such a position. with the advent of the Spanish Civil 2004, following the death of Cameron Looking through the political history The moment in which Patterson was War in 1936. 16 of the 21 relief Doomagee in police custody, residents of North Queensland, particularly that successfully elected into government is committees in Australia were in North on Palm Island burnt down the local of Indigenous organising and activism, often referred to as the “Red North”, Queensland, and large amounts of police station, barracks and courthouse. I share their optimism. The North is a historic period wherein North funds were raised in aid of republican Most recently, Townsville has seen an not as conservative as detractors would Queensland was proliferated with fighters. In Ingham, where wages were increase in political vandalism -- the have you believe. communist, anarchist and anti-fascist low and unemployment was high, only hands of a statue of slave trader and sentiment. This was driven by the rise two families were reported as refusing town founder Robert Towns painted of the Communist Party of Australia to donate. red, and the words “Black Lives Matter”

10 ANALYSIS SULS faceoff: Flare, Vibe, Splash Daany Saeed is trying to understand what the fuck is happening over in the law land elections. Law students truly are insufferable. to taking further steps than this year’s ‘representative infrastructure’, citing it otherwise engage with the society. The only society on campus that Executive, specifically in providing as a primary reason why the Society’s On the issue of advocacy, Vibe warrants itself important enough to ‘salient avenues for direct action such response to Government policy keeps to the straight and narrow, have a public election instead of an as protest, training legal observers, and changes in education was ‘ad hoc and joining the other two tickets in AGM, and the only cohort of students advocating against adverse changes to insufficient’ – this is a curious critique, opposing the fee hikes and course that thinks that this election warrants the law student experience’. given the strong representation of the cuts that have been so controversial in more debates than our actual federal Another major distinction between current Executive on the Splash ticket. federal politics. In keeping with Lu’s elections. Nonetheless, the Sydney Flare and the other tickets has been a Do as we say, not as we do? Stephenson structured approach to most political University Law Society is possibly the response to reports of wage theft and has been conspicuously absent from issues, Vibe articulated a two-pronged biggest society on campus, and it is underpayment as rampant in the legal discussions on student activism criterion regarding broader advocacy certainly one of the most prevalent. The industry (particularly at large corporate throughout the year. Pressed on this, in the community - ‘whether the issue Society’s leaders often go on to become firms, which Sydney Law has a Splash raised the experience and affects a not-insignificant group of law prominent members of society across reputation for producing graduates for) policy positions of Eden McSheffrey, students’, and ‘whether on balance law, politics, academia and business, that surfaced last year in the Australian its Social Justice candidate, and a proposed action is beneficial to the and the faculty by itself lays claim to Financial Review. When asked how Flare emphasised that they have the ‘fullest Society’. On the issue of sponsor more Prime Ministers than any other would protect students in their capacity faith in his ability to oversee our relations, Vibe departs from the activist university in the country. as Executive, Flare took a pragmatic focus on social justice’. Nonetheless, position of Flare and the laissez-faire Naturally then, the elections are approach, committing to ‘diversifying Splash have detailed policy on social approach of Splash, emphasising the heated. Courtesy of some constitutional the sponsorship base beyond the justice, and their flagship policy of a importance of education on work quirks, an election is not a regular major commercial firms’, ‘kickstarting Community Legal Centre akin to that rights. Their proposed approach is event - it is only held if the Presidency the Investment Project to avoid at the University of New South Wales however curious - ‘this would involve is contested. Last year’s election was reliance on corporate sponsorship’, is unique amongst any of the tickets. firms that have been accused of the first since 2016 and this year is the and coordinating with the Australian In responding to issues of sponsor underpayments coming in to assuage first three-way race in recent memory. Law Students Association (ALSA) impropriety in terms of wage theft, potential graduates of changing work If you’re not a law student, it is difficult to ‘avoid firms simply shifting their Splash were reticent (as were other practices’. Giving advertising to bosses to care, but often for those stupol funding to other societies and avoiding tickets) to consider dropping sponsors with a history of worker exploitation nerds amongst us there can be some responsibility’. that committed wage theft altogether, in return for sponsor dollars may be underlying political tension at play in Flare for SULS have shaped up but emphasised the importance of lucrative in a tough economy, but it the SULS election, with Liberal staffer as the safe choice this election - a diversifying the careers programs in may not necessarily have the educative Amer Nasr elected President last year highly experienced executive led by place in the Society, allowing students effect Vibe desires. on Pop for SULS. a Society stalwart in Wendy Hu and alternatives to the grind of clerkship Despite their fresh faces, the Who’s running? running with highly polished branding, applications at corporate firms - this question of ‘cliques’ was raised in their achievable and progressive uniquely manifests in an ‘internship assessing the makeup of the Vibe Flare for SULS policy positions are reflective of an for credit program’, prioritising paid ticket. There are more graduates from understanding of the capabilities of internships and valuing public interest The King’s School alone than there Flare for SULS (or FLARE, as they the SULS Executive. This perhaps legal work. Other unique and equally are women in their senior leadership like to style it) are being headed up by may turn off voters looking for fresh ambitious policies brought forward by team, and all of their vice-presidents Wendy Hu, apparently pinching their faces in the Society or altogether more Splash include a wellbeing stipend for are white domestic students. Pressed 70s branding from the 2018 Law Revue, ambitious policy, but certainly Flare every law student (which despite not on this, Vibe contended ‘the SULS Austin Powers of Attorney. Flare are present an attractive option for the voter being costed, Splash assures us has the clique is hard to define, and it seems branding themselves as the experienced that values competency and security. support of the Faculty) and a publicly to depend on their involvement in ticket - as the only ticket with students available reference generator compliant SULS. Our ticket will help detract who have been on SULS Executive and Splash for SULS with the Australian Guide to Legal from that perception (that SULS is Committees pre-and-post coronavirus. Citation. reserved for the clique). This is because This is not uncharted territory for Hu, Splash for SULS are led by Dani Splash for SULS are the idealist’s our candidates aren’t drawn from past who ran unsuccessfully on Zest for Stephenson, with muted branding of choice - Dani Stephenson’s team SULS executives’. Vibe further stressed SULS in 2019 on a similar brand of lavender and baby blue. Splash has have presented by some margin the the multidimensionality of privilege, experience and assuredness focused on social justice and equity in most extravagant policy platform, and that members of the ticket that had When asked by Honi what the current their approach to the election, which despite the challenges presented in attended elite schools on scholarship administration could have improved, could prove decisive in a year where a post-coronavirus climate. Whilst were equipped with a ‘point of insight Flare pointed to the ‘lack of support activism is at the forefront of most, if their commitment to social justice is for what it may be like for students SULS has provided to international not all student interactions. Splash have admirable given the ongoing attacks entering Sydney Law without a great students this year. From the SULS brought on board as vice-presidents ex- on law students, their electoral deal of educational or high-SES COVID-19 Student Experiences presidential candidate Max Vishney choices obfuscate the strength of this privilege’, allowing ‘engagement with Survey, it is clear that international (Education), current Queer Officer commitment slightly. A student familiar those of disadvantaged backgrounds students are disproportionately Eden McSheffrey (Social Justice) and with campus society machinations [as] a priority in our policies’. (affected by the pandemic). SULS has JD student Tatiana Neumann-Murphy would perhaps be skeptical of the Membership and guidance is at the an imperative to support ALL students’. (Careers). Stephenson’s recruiting package in lavender, but nonetheless forefront of the Vibe policy platform In contrast to the other tickets, Flare approach seems to have been rooted it seems an uncontroversial prediction - with mental health becoming such were ‘invigorated’ by the advocacy in electioneering, with big names that Stephenson’s ticket will poll well, a prominent and salient issue for the role SULS took this year in relation to across the ticket – former USU Board win or loss. cohort during the pandemic, Vibe’s issues affecting law students such as fee Director and Honorary Treasurer Maya commitment to ongoing mentorship hikes and course cuts, where the other Eswaran has fittingly joined as the Vibe for SULS programs that extend significantly upon two tickets were disappointed. The Treasurer candidate, Socials Director the rudimentary programs already current Executive has been explicitly Alex De Araujo (Secretary) was A conversation with Casper Lu in place is welcome. Vibe for SULS reticent to encourage student activism, considered a driving force behind Pop’s makes clear very quickly that his first presents as an intriguing choice for a and pressed on this support, Flare comprehensive victory last year, and love was not met at Law Camp, but was student perhaps disillusioned with the ‘acknowledge[d] more can be done to perennial Law Revue star Genevieve the Society itself. Lu is practically part cliques of years gone by, one that has encourage direct action’, and added Couvret (Publications) has joined on of the furniture in the Law Faculty, spent time on the outer of the SULS ‘Flare will commit to supporting law as well. Whilst the Law Revue was and his ticket, Vibe for SULS, aims to machine or is new to the faculty this students organising under Law Against one of the casualties of COVID-19 this bring a range of new faces to a Society year and sees value in starting afresh. The Cuts’. Law Against The Cuts is a year, it seems it has served Stephenson historically criticised for its narrow Vibe has more first year representation similarly named, but separate campaign well during election season, with engagement. Vibe have led with party- than other campaigns, and this may be to the broader and united Clubs many of the popular figures involved esque branding characterised by garish where their electoral path to victory Against the Cuts - it came about from in the annual production turning neons and highly processed election may lie. Whether their commitment to the current Executive’s reluctance to out for Splash on social media. This profile pictures, in a campaign managed a non-establishment team is a winner, allow advertising and encouragement has intersected with a very strong by recent campus politics upstart Riley as Pop for SULS was last year, is yet of protests against the Government’s debating presence; Vishney, Couvret, Vaughan. Vibe’s ticket lacks the star to be seen, but certainly it will be attacks on students this year. Directors De Araujo, Eswaran and Grace Wong power or the established experience of interesting to see how Vibe polls in were instead permitted to advertise the (Socials) are all active members of the its rivals, but they look to make up for contrast to the heavyweight campaigns protests in their personal capacity, and well-connected USU Debating Society. it with an innovative policy platform they’re competing with. Law Against The Cuts became a forum In critiquing the current Executive, that should intrigue a new range of for this. Despite this, Flare committed Splash spoke to the importance of voters and law students who may not

11 FEATURE Responding to crisis and the future of university organising Lara Sonnenschein examines the decline of the Australian university sector and the new networks that have formed in response. In a year marked by Covid, it seems of degrees including: maths, science, workers coalesced around the logics The rise of new networks relevant that our last feature article this year engineering and teaching, and is largely of austerity and implementing cuts. analyses how the pandemic has played out underpinned by a culture-wars-opposition Accordingly, the agreement was premised Given the JPF was negotiated without within the Australian university sector, and to the humanities. The policy effectively on the notion that the crisis had to be members’ consultation, there was how we have and should be responding to sees the student contribution rise from shouldered by students and staff. There considerable backlash when the deal what is a national crisis, with variegated 42 per cent to 52 per cent, and ironically, have been some apt comparisons made became public. NTEU Fightback formed manifestations across campuses. The also makes STEM students worse off, between the JPF and the ALP-ACTU soon in response, and was central to mainstream narrative has attempted to as explained by USyd’s Gareth Bryant. Accord. Whilst the Accord and the JPF organising the “vote no” campaign around isolate the pandemic discretely, often However, the ALP cannot be let off the are by no means indistinguishable, both the framework. The group has local buying into managerial rhetoric regarding hook when interrogating Australia’s shift the terrain in fighting for better wages origins, beginning at Sydney University. the unfortunate necessity of staff and course university crisis. Despite introducing and conditions from the grassroots level Professional staff member, Alma cuts, yet properly grappling with this crisis free education under the Whitlam to the officialdom level via bureaucratic Torlakovic, in collaboration with other requires a historically situated and holistic government, the ALP set the groundwork mechanisms. activists successfully moved a motion approach. for the neoliberalisation of universities The JPF has been resoundingly condemning the national leadership’s Whilst the pandemic has weakened with the “Dawkins Revolution”, and defeated as a national project. National approach at a USyd branch meeting. universities, the coronavirus has not replaced free education with the HECS NTEU President Alison Barnes told Melbourne University and RMIT infected a healthy higher education system. Additionally, the Gillard Honi the agreement failed because: “it also voted against the JPF before details sector from within, but further exposed government uncapped the number of would have required universities to be emerged. It is no surprise then that these its vulnerabilities and accelerated the places universities could offer students, financially transparent”, pinning it on universities are understood to have the system’s decline. Of course, it has given without increasing funding. Contextually, Vice-Chancellors “walking away from highest density nationwide. At USyd in ‘crisis cover’ to university managements Australia’s public investment in tertiary any accountability or any pressure to particular, the dispute over a second strike to pursue austerity measures, alongside education is low when compared to a Coalition Federal Government hellbent similar economies.Australian students on remaking the higher education sector. pay higher fees than those in most similar Whilst the pandemic has weakened OECD countries. universities, the coronavirus has not How did we get here? Over the past three decades, casualised employment has ballooned, with up to infected a healthy higher education The government refused to extend 70 per cent of staff at some universities JobKeeper to public universities, even precariously employed. Wages paid to sector from within, but further exposed changing the scheme a third time, casuals typically do not encapsulate following Sydney University’s brief the amount of work staff are required its vulnerabilities and accelerated the eligibility and use. Further, the LNP’s to do, either because their rates do not system’s decline. “relief package” announced in April reflect what is mandated in Enterprise included an already budgeted for $18billion Agreements or because such rates do not in 2017, and the contested 2018 NTEU for domestic students regardless of actually translate to the hours worked in actually open their books and make their elections showed there was potential to higher education enrolment numbers and performing contracted tasks. Currently finances clear.” She also characterised “organise outside the regular structures provided no targeted welfare measures ten universities have been forced to the agreement as a “tactic designed to within the Union,” NTEU member and for international students. So, why did repay unpaid wages owed to casual staff, save jobs.” This comes off as a somewhat Senior Lecturer in History David Brophy the government deliberately exclude including almost $9million at USyd alone. unsatisfactory answer given the agreement explains. universities from the supplement, and was negotiated with four Vice-Chancellors Rank-and-file members, especially only offer measly crumbs? The NTEU’s response in the first place. Importantly, there was from these three campuses began The Coalition has a longstanding also no membership consultation in informal discussions on resisting the record of attacking the university sector. Given this crisis was decades in drafting the agreement. Unsurprisingly, framework via social media. However, the making, the pandemic left the John Howard, as Liberal opposition the framework was met with widespread after approximately a fortnight, Honi leader, established the Coalition’s “waste sector especially exposed. Universities opposition from the rank-and-file. Whilst understands there were divergent views watch” committee in 1986 to track what had adapted somewhat to decreased Barnes acknowledged there was resistance regarding the structure of, what was at was deemed as unnecessary spending. government funding and support via to the framework (“anything that you this point, a loose assemblage of left-wing This opposition to university research was casualisation, wage theft and revenue design is going to attract criticism”), she union activists, set to become something again seen in 2018 when then Education raising from international students, dismissed pushback as a key reason for more coherent, formal and public. Minister Simon Birmingham personally though this income dried up in large part the failure of the framework. “When push Two groups emerged — Fightback, intervened to secretly reject Australian as a result of border closures, in tandem comes to shove, it was really the Vice- with a more disciplined and centralised Research Centre grants in the humanities. with inadequate government support. Chancellors,” she explained. organising approach, led by Socialist Much of conservative opposition to In response to the pandemic’s On whether she thought pursuing a Alternative, and NHEAN (National universities appears to be ideological — additional burden on the sector, the senior concessionary approach in the JPF early Higher Education Network), a more from attempts to deregulate the university leadership of the NTEU negotiated the on would set campuses back during non-hierarchical and pluralistic network. sector in 2014, to the manufactured free Jobs Protection Framework (JPF) with enterprise bargaining agreements fast Significantly, NHEAN also voted in speech crisis at universities where the Vice-Chancellors, represented by the approaching, she was resolute. “I don’t favour of unprotected industrial action, Australian Higher Education Industrial French Review found campus freedom of think that at all. I think we have to focus with Nick Riemer telling the Sydney Association. At its core, the JPF (an speech to not be under threat. on bargaining…building our membership Morning Herald: “Our motion commits The Ramsay Centre’s attempts — some opt-in agreement), was a concessionary and being prepared.” NTEU membership us to the goal of ‘making democratically successful, some unsuccessful — to set up strategy which sought to trade decreases has increased this year, and is the highest planned unprotected industrial action Western Civilisation degrees on campuses in pay and conditions (including wage it has ever been, which Barnes touts as a possible.” also had the LNP’s fingerprints all over it. cuts of up to 15 per cent) in exchange for success. This is in part because of the three On the success of the “vote no” a nominal commitment from university Chaired by John Howard, counting Tony month fee waiver the union offered casual campaign, Torlakovic told Honi: “There Abbott as a board member, and set up by managements to save jobs. workers towards the beginning of the were eight campuses in the end out of Paul Ramsay, the biggest individual donor Theoretically, the JPF would save pandemic, though Barnes notes growth forty across Australia, that the officials to the Liberals, the Centre functions as 12,000 of the 30,000 jobs estimated “across all sections of the membership.” managed to push some kind of framework, a political project motivated by a belief to be lost. The NTEU’s strategy was However, the National President also because of weaker opposition at those in Western supremacy, and the desire for individual branches to vote in stressed the importance of building places.” to instil this vision within the public favour of the agreement, and if their density across campuses. Addressing the Ultimately, NHEAN and Fightback university sector, seen as too left-wing and respective university managements NTEU’s successes, she highlighted being are similar, emerging in opposition to the anti-Western. agreed, negotiations would begin in one of the first unions to secure paid JPF and characterised by desires for more This year, the LNP also passed their officially changing existing union branch pandemic leave, including for casuals, militant unionism. Speaking to members “Job-ready Graduates Package” with agreements with universities. Ultimately, along with significant engagement with from both, there was one main distinction support from the Centre Alliance. The the proposal was deficient, and arguably the “Fund Uni Fairly” campaign. — the strategic relation to union officials. measure, more than doubles the cost illogical insofar as it represented bosses Yet, many remain unsatisfied with the Whilst both broadly understand officials of humanities degrees, lowers the cost and an organisation meant to represent Union leadership’s approach. as often preferring to mediate, over 12 agitate, and view them as generally less workforce itself ” and drew distinctions education struggle, as with staff there are has “the best campus activist culture,” in militant than the rank-and-file, engaging with groups like Fightback. “It’s really key disagreements over strategy, the degree addition to “a solid rank-and-file” union with such officials is a point of contention. the new recruits, or the people who don’t of militancy, and of course, the relevance and “the biggest revolutionary socialist For example, regarding the National Day have a background in organised left or of student unions. Whilst acknowledging club in the country.” of Action — a car convoy to Liberal organised union politics.” that “having a left wing President Donohoe describes USyd’s dominance Party headquarters aimed at the Federal The USyd network recently released certainly doesn’t hurt,” Briedis highlights as a “complex confluence” of various Government — a NHEAN member their interim report, which showed that that “students haven’t necessarily needed factors. He posits that USyd is “pretty told Honi that the day was perhaps not 84 per cent of participants performed left wing student unions to organise much the only campus where a genuinely the time to “have slogans about the JPF unpaid labour. Honi understands the effectively.” Comparatively, USyd SRC activist left controls the student union highlighted on your material.” “Maybe network had been approached to formally Education Officer Jack Mansell, USyd relatively uninhibited.” He also mentions you want people to come out to the join the NTEU, which has supported the SRC President Liam Donohoe and the considerable presence of Grassroots, rally that don’t know where they stand group’s documentation of wage theft, Wilmott place more emphasis on the Solidarity and Socialist Alternative, in yet.” Contrastingly, Fightback thought though ultimately the network prefers relevance of them. addition to many unaligned people with endorsement of the event from more to remain autonomous, and doesn’t There are noticeable distinctions in left wing views. Further, he motions militant members gave left cover to the want to be subsumed. The Casualised, their assessments of this year however. to the University’s Political Economy concessionary approach. Unemployed and Precarious Uni Workers Willmott thinks that the “NUS has Department, the campus’ history in Both have condemned issues of (CUPUW) organisation, a national had one of the more successful years in attracting more left-wing people, and transparency within the union or examples grouping of casuals networks around the recent history,” pointing to two national finally the SRC’s traditional structure, of officials’ alleged or demonstrated country also formed in May this year, in campaigns — “Save our Students” and which, compared to other campus unions, intervention. Fightback publicly rebuked a meeting called by the Monash Casuals the campaign against the Job-Ready gives students more resources and allows the National Council’s recent vote (71-41) Network. A CUPUW spokesperson told Graduates Package. She counts NUS’ for a more activist orientation. to not reinstate delegate access to lists of Honi: “Casuals have been left out of the biggest win as the amendment to the USyd students have consistently members in local areas. discussion. We need to organise and we coronavirus welfare supplement in mobilised in actions against the Honi understands this was revoked in need to organise in solidarity with other April, and the biggest failure as failing government and management, light of the JPF debate, and that prior to workers in the sector.” to defeat fee hikes. Comparatively, accumulating the overwhelming majority this year there were no issues in elected Mansell describes the “NUS this year of the $54,000 in fines at protests. Students representatives gaining access to lists. The role of students and [as] a pretty shameful indictment on the have borne the brunt of police brutality, Whilst not a public statement, a post student organisations politics of both Molly (NLS) and Lincoln taken to City Road on more than one in NHEAN’s organising group — with (Grassroots-Independents). In the midst occasion, occupied F23 — the University over a thousand members — alleges of an historic crisis in higher education, All union members that Honi spoke Administration building, defied thePublic that NSW NTEU Secretary Michael to expressed the importance of student NUS should’ve been organising protests, Health Act, and have certainly played an Thomson intervened in a panel NHEAN solidarity with staff — whether it was meetings, actions, stunts, and taking a integral part in the NSW Government’s was set to host, which included an MUA Barnes quoting the mantra of “staff confrontational approach to management decision to allow protests of up to 500 organiser, on the possibilities of industrial working conditions being student learning and the government.” people. Speaking on this, Donohoe says action. “Michael said that doing so would conditions,” Boncardo drawing material Based in Melbourne, there were USyd students have shown themselves represent an endorsement by the MUA of comparisons between casual workers and certainly difficulties in NUS office bearers to be “really brave,” quickly “becoming NHEAN over the elected leadership of students, or staff reminiscing about picket organising on the ground for the most part. used to repressive organising conditions.” the NTEU.” lines. From defeating fee deregulation, Of course, relocation elsewhere in the “People have so much more confidence, In addressing opposition to the JPF, to mobilising against the Vietnam War, country may have been feasible, though like taking City Road willy nilly, which Barnes spoke positively — “The union students have historically played a it is questionable what tangible impact people used to never do.” should be able to embrace debate.” critical part in fighting for a better higher a couple of paid office bearers would Though such debate seems to not extend education, and in social movements more have in coordinating what is ostensibly a Where to from here? to union staff. In an email dated May 19 broadly. It’s clear that students can secure national campaign from a different city. seen by Honi, National General Secretary In assessing the path forward, there wins if they organise collectively. Pertinently, both NLS and the Grassroots- Matthew McGowan said: are no easy answers. Many unionists Honi However, we are in many ways Independents place importance on “Branches of the Union have no separate spoke to highlighted Jane McAlevey’s dealing with more difficult circumstances lobbying, so whilst a failure to organise legal personality and may not overturn the “deep organising” approach, and most than generations past - organising in a on the ground, can in some instances decisions of the National Executive. To staff and students alike believe strike pandemic, the cost of living near campus, be explained by the pandemic, efforts to be clear, this means that Branch resources action looms, though conditions are and the implementation of VSU in 2006. persuade, in particular Centre Alliance’s including staff should not be used for the precarious. However, in transforming our Speaking on the latter, National Union of Rebekha Sharkie (initially seemingly circulation of materials hostile to the Union’s university sector into one which benefits Students (NUS) President Molly Willmott against the fee hikes), highlight a misstep adopted position. Union members who are in either NUS’ political orientation, the society at large, what a former USyd tells Honi: “VSU was more than a financial not staff are entitled to campaign individually NTEU organiser says rings true: “The move, it was a sustained campaign to pair’s persuasive capabilities or both. howsoever they wish, but union resources are only people who are capable of doing that destroy students mobilising.” Historian Structural barriers also impede left-wing not to be used to campaign against the Union’s are the people who work at universities. and former USyd student, Tim Briedis, organising within the NUS, including a own position or decision.” No one else is going to do it. If it’s not who has researched student activism Labor Right majority on the National The email was sent on the same day the people who work in them, it’s going to extensively said, “VSU served to enclose Executive. NUS also typically adopts a USyd Branch President Kurt Iveson came be the managerial forces that control them the realm of student politics, helping policy against paying student protesters’ out publicly against the framework. currently. It’s incumbent on the people the richer metropolitan universities have fines, particularly relevant this year. In addition to Fightback and NHEAN, working within universities to do it not better funded and more vibrant activist What unites Willmott, Mansell and campuses have seen the proliferation just for themselves, and their fucking pay scenes. At Western Sydney University for Donohoe though is the belief that USyd of casuals organising. Whilst almost packets, but for the whole of society.” instance, there was an active and effective has led the student fightback this year, always union members, casuals networks In what will be my last ever print left pre-VSU that was more or less entirely with the campaign successfully drawing operate autonomously in decision-making article for Honi as an editor, I hope I can wiped out.” new students aside from established processes. In attributing the reason behind return to the Fisher Library archives (in Whilst there is little disagreement over campus activists. Willmott attributes this the rise of such groups, USyd Casuals the hopefully not too distant future), look the shared interests of students and staff, to “a culture of on the ground militant Network member, Rob Boncardo puts back on this piece fondly and see a truly and students as active agents in the higher activism which doesn’t exist in a lot of it down to “the fragmentation of the places.” Mansell, meanwhile, says USyd democratic university.

13 OPINION Michael Spence’s response to complaints puts USyd students in danger Nina Dillon Britton is sick of this shit. Two weeks ago, Vice Chancellor attempts to describe indigenous promise of “seriously” considering frame outrage on behalf of all 1.4 Michael Spence received a complaint spiritual practices by forcing them the matter in a press-release to billion Hindus, rather than the alleging that a recent Honi Soit article into the mould of a unified religion. sympathetic publications, wait for complainant himself. Little wonder had “dismissed”, “trivialised” and If Spence had ever bothered outrage to spread, rinse and repeat. Etsy pulled their underwear. “othered” Hindus and Hinduism. The to spend the minutes required to For the editor of Honi, it was through The article published in Honi was complaint did not quote any particular read the article, I doubt he would one such article we first learnt we had exactly the kind of critical, good parts of the article to support these have flattered the complaint with been referred to the Student Affairs faith public debate on the part of a allegations, which is unsurprising, his response. Instead, his generic Unit for assessment of the complaint. student that the University appears to given the article does none of these response to the complaint states that In this case, it appears the encourage in its newly-enacted Free things. “any form of religious vilification or complainant, an American “Hindu Speech Charter. But only the deeply The article in question, published discrimination… is unacceptable on statesman” (an apparently made up naive would think that is something in the week 9 edition of Honi Soit, our campuses” and a promises that term) spends some significant portion the University is actually committed investigated the complex question the University “will consider this of his life doing this. A brief perusal to. When push comes to shove, of how spiritual practices come to matter seriously.” of the media releases on his website when the interests of students come be defined by religion. Written by It is the latter remark that has indicate that he has led important up against even the vaguest threat a reporter who was himself raised now made headlines in several crusades against Etsy for selling to the University’s image, as it will Hindu, the article concludes that it is national-level Indian and American Ganesh underwear, Japanese manga constantly do due to opportunistic, inaccurate to label the widely varying Hindu newspapers, which restate in for “trivialising” Lord Shiva, and the outraged entrepreneurs, it is always spiritual practices that have been almost exact terms a press release Paris Opera for “hosting culturally clear the path which the University practiced throughout South Asia for from the complainant. That is how insensitive ballet La Bayadère”. cares about more. That Spence could centuries as a singular religion. The the outrage machine works: send a Though the complainant’s name not even be bothered to read a short, author argues that the idea of a unified strongly worded complaint about a features prominently in all the releases well-written article before fanning religion of Hinduism emerged in vaguely described misconduct to the I read (what good luck for his public the flames of outrage with a careless British colonialism, through colonists’ University, use the vice chancellor’s profile), the releases also consistently response says it all. Van Gogh Alive - and probably turning in his grave Fabian Robertson on the new phenomenon of art exhibitions without art. Do you like attending galleries, but are this occurs in a darkened warehouse by setting up your own DIY Grande norm, could they displace independent sick of all the art? Bored of exhibition space with classical music playing Experience in five easy steps. First, set artists and potentially inhibit the rise of rooms that you can’t use for Instagram over loudspeakers. In the absence of Spotify’s ‘Classical Essentials Playlist’ future creators? Could installation art backdrops? Tired of having to look original works, Grande Experiences’ to shuffle on your laptop. Second, become another victim of social media at artworks rather than through the only artistic input consists of minor turn off the lights and close the blinds vanity, ruthless capitalist industry and viewfinder of your iPhone? Well, a new digital alterations in the projected in your chosen room. Third, open up undiscerning consumers? breed of installation art is emerging paintings. This manifests in wave- a web browser so you can see two In fairness, Van Gogh Alive is just for you. “Faux-art” exhibitions like animations in the sky, water and windows at once. Fourth, load up actually an okay experience. Its involve large-scale visual spectacles to wheat of Starry Night, Starry Night “Van Gogh Art” on Google Images in potential to instil an appreciation of capitalise on the growing synergy of Over the Rhône and Wheatfield With one window and “Van Gogh Quotes” art in youth and the broader public social media and installation art. But Crows respectively — animations that on Goodreads in the other. Finally, holds value. And there’s something instead of combining genuine artistic could be made in a couple of hours by invite strangers over to pose in front of quietly beautiful about watching endeavour with incidental social an 11-year-old with access to YouTube the laptop and block your view of the giant, moving masterpieces alongside media suitability, faux-art exhibitions and a free trial of Adobe Creative artworks. Muy Grande! Enjoy! strangers, wordlessly connecting in go one step further by excluding the art Cloud. Crucial to its economic viability, your shared admiration. Yet the reality altogether. But the nail in the coffin has to be Van Gogh Alive is perfect for individuals that this belies is ugly. Van Gogh’s Take Van Gogh Alive — Sydney’s the ending credits. Seconds after Van who can’t view art without telling their art wasn’t made to be projected on a newest and glossiest multi-sensory Gogh’s suicide is tactfully portrayed Instagram followers that they have, screen, or to boost the profit margins exhibition. Observant attendees may by a gunshot sound effect, your in fact, viewed art. Attendees pose of an international company. While notice that no artist is credited with eyes are assaulted by a GRANDE for photos in front of projected works I’m hesitant to declare parameters its production. This is simply because EXHIBITIONS logo on a white screen. that, by the time the photo is taken, constraining the definition of art, a there is no art involved. Instead, the This is followed by an obnoxious they won’t be able to observe due to clear line must be drawn between exhibition is a glorified slideshow television advertisement for its other the progression of the slideshow. But independent artistic projects and hastily assembled by an international worldwide installations including at least they can chuck it on their story, soulless events like Van Gogh Alive. corporation exploiting Van Gogh’s PLANET SHARK: PREDATOR right? These corporate exhibitions threaten name for maximum profits. OR PREY and ALICE — A Undoubtedly, Grande Experiences the very essence of installation art, and Hosted by Grande Exhibitions, a WONDERLAND ADVENTURE, are exploiting the rising popularity of it’s up to us to know the difference. subsidiary of Grande Experiences, Van firmly placing this corporate money- Instagram-friendly exhibitions. But Perhaps ironically, one of the quotes Gogh Alive projects high-quality images grab in the same artistic category as it is important to note that Van Gogh projected in Van Gogh Alive reads as of Van Gogh’s paintings on gigantic a tacky cinema experience at a theme Alive is a distinctly shit one. Artists follows: “In the end, we shall have floor to ceiling screens in a continuous, park. such as Yayoi Kusama, James Turrell, had enough of cynicism, skepticism looping reel of about 45 minutes. The Despite an absence of creativity and Ai Wei Wei, Olafur Eliasson and and humbug, and we shall want to live screens are assembled in a rectangular taste, Grande Experiences will make Marina Abramovich produce original, more musically.” In this case, however, room-like format that is completely far more from Van Gogh’s work than groundbreaking art that also happens I think it’s possible that Van Gogh devoid of creativity and fails to Van Gogh ever did himself. Indeed, to look good on your feed. Hence, it would agree with me. There is nothing invite interaction or exploration like Grande Experiences’ website boasts is vital that we are able to differentiate musical about a rich corporation installations such as Tokyo’s TeamLab more than 17 million visitors in 145 between genuine installation art getting richer by exploiting art that is Planets. The slideshow vaguely cities — a gross contrast to Van Gogh’s and faceless corporate money-grabs. not their own. In this case — for the chronicles Van Gogh’s life and is lifelong struggle to sell paintings to If not, there may be significant sake of art — cynicism, skepticism and accompanied by enlarged images of his anyone other than his own brother. ramifications for installation art itself. humbug might just be warranted. most notable quotes that the creators So, instead of lining the pockets of For if international conglomerates probably got from Goodreads. All corporate parasites, save yourself $30 like Grande Experiences become the

14 CULTURE Politics, artwashing and protest within the Biennale format Alice Sandner looks at how art boycotts have proliferated around the globe.

In 2014, the 19th Biennale of Sydney public funding for the arts has been on cease to exist.” Transfield reversed the The boycott resulted in Luca Imagine What You Desire, was rocked a steady decline. Arts think tank A New responsibility back onto the artists: Belgiorno-Nettis stepping down as by controversy. Its founding corporate Approach found that federal funding they were instead encouraged to use Chair of the board and the severing of partner, Transfield Services, came for the arts in Australian has fallen the platform of the Biennale to express funding ties with Transfield. However, under immense public backlash for its 19% per capita since 2007-8. This has their dissent artistically. This response some criticised the effectiveness of the ties to Australia’s off-shore detention intentionally forced arts organisations is unsurprising given that in 2014, the boycott. A common critique was that it centres. Transfield Holdings, a company to become more dependent on sources Biennale board was made up entirely of was a pyrrhic victory, that it didn’t alter partially owned by Transfield Services, of private funding. In this climate, ties corporates and art patrons – not a single Australia’s offshore detention policy had recently finalised contracts with to transnational corporations and their artist, curator, critic, or arts worker was and came at too high a cost for the arts the Department of Defence and potentially nefarious business dealings included. community. However, Bilqui Ghanni a Border Security, expanding its existing seem inevitable. Gregory Sholette Without any further action from the refugee and activist explained at a mass involvement on Manus Island and has labelled this tendency as “prog- board between the 26th of February meeting in Sydney on March 18, 2014: Nauru to manage its welfare services servatism,” whereby an art and the 5th of March, nine artists “Nobody expected the boycott and garrisons. The Biennale of Sydney institution projects an withdrew from the event, would end mandatory detention in one found itself as an exposed link in a chain image of itself as including Ahmet swoop. But it does show that artists of corporate and government bodies a progressive Ögüt, Libia and members of the public cwan effect closely connected to human suffering. change and have begun by reducing This unveiling of the political and the symbolic capital of Transfield, corporate underbelly of a biennale was which has profited from mandatory not isolated to the Sydney context. In detention.” that same year, mounting dissent grew Ultimately, the Biennale is a public against the Bienal de Sãu Paulo in Brazil event that engages in the discourses and Manifesta 10 in Russia. At Sãu of our broader civic society. Nikos Paulo, the arts community protested Papastergiadis has described this funding accepted from the Israeli as a “cosmopolitan imaginary,” government following their recent where art is an active participant in airstrikes in Gaza. At Manifesta, which creating situations for dialogue and is held biannually in different locations an experience of the intermingling of throughout Europe, criticism focused culture and politics in “relational” and on the event’s location: St Petersburg, nuanced ways. Despite the attempts of Russia. The Russian government politicians and the board to quash the had only recently passed legislation artist’s dissent and to carry on with that prohibited the dissemination of “business as usual,” artists, activists information on non-heteronormative and the broader public demanded relationships to minors, as well as the Biennale be a public space that is annexing Crimea. Across these porous and responsive to these broader examples, critics protested the practice discourses. of “artwashing” of the unethical deeds As events of immense visibility of governments or corporations through that investigate the tension and the biennale format. They reveal a Castro contradictions between the local and fundamental disjunction between how and Ólafur global, it is unsurprising that biennales art institutions represent themselves platform for Ólafsson. By continually find themselves as sites of as platforms of progressive artistic the discussion withdrawing political contestation. In fact, they have expression and how they are actually of liberal ideas themselves and their works, they a reputation for fostering subversive constituted. Furthermore, it raises in a civil society, but is nonetheless politicised the role of the artist. Rather and critical artistic practice establishing difficult questions as to the enmeshment bulwarked by a conservative economic than using their practice as a means global networks between participating of the arts within mechanisms of power, foundation benefiting from its cultural of critique, they mobilised the power artists. Curator Juliana Engberg’s be they state or neoliberal. capital. Art therefore, cannot be seen they had as prominent artists whose title for the 2014 Biennale: Imagine In Sydney, a series of open letters as separate to capitalism, rather it work had already been planned for What You Desire was a telling and outside pressure from local activist is intrinsic to it and crucial for the inclusion and advertised as a draw for proposition for artists to grapple groups such as RISE, raised awareness perpetuation of controlled social audiences. The smooth operation of with the world around them, of Transfield’s business activities in the narratives and branding for corporate the Biennale was disrupted. Bipartisan calling to question: “what kind broader public. The tragic death of 23 partners. debate engulfed the media, with Prime of society do we want to live in?” year-old Iranian-Kurdish refugee Reza Days after Reza Barati’s death, a Minister Malcolm Turnbull labelling For the Biennale’s board in Barati in a violent outbreak between group of participating artists dubbed the boycott “vicious ingratitude” on hindsight, this provocation G4S guards, Papua New Guinea Police “The Working Group” released an the artists’ part, and Culture Minister perhaps more closely and refugees in the Manus Island open letter calling for the board of the George Brandis calling to change the resembles the phrase’s detention centre, served to further hone Biennale to cut its ties with Transfield: Australia Council’s mandate which counterpart: be careful what the media’s attention on Transfield. The “[The] issue has presented us with an would see recipients of funding you wish for. Art boycotts company was now directly linked to opportunity to become aware of, and to punished if they turned down non- and withdrawals remain the very public death of an individual acknowledge, responsibility for our own government funding on “unreasonable” a versatile political tool who had been protesting the inhumane participation in a chain of connections grounds. This political outrage, for an for holding institutions to conditions in the camp. Artists, art that links to human suffering; in this area that receives a mere 0.5% of the account. workers and the broader team at the case, that is caused by Australia’s policy government’s annual budget, can only Biennale were forced to grapple with of mandatory detention.” be interpreted as emblematic of the their own complicity in Australia’s The Biennale board responded to prevailing value associated with the arts Art by Lilly Aggio. offshore detention policy. this call by asserting their loyalty to in perpetuating a national image and Due to the neoliberal ideological Transfield, claiming: “the only certainty values. The Biennale is after all, one of positioning of our government that is that without the support of our the largest art events in the Asia-Pacific encourages the privatisation of the arts, founding partner the Biennale would region.

15 CULTURE Can electronic music be revolutionary? Chuyi Wang chats with Jamie Stewart, Laura Les and Estoc on strategies to unite radical politics with electronic music production. For the past four years, a large part of truisms and impassioned imperatives artists. And another presser: Boiler And yet, even if we look beyond the soundtrack to my life has been DJ in its very nature as electronic music, Room also received a massive grant the destructive supply chains that Sprinkles’ (Terre Thaemlitz) 2008 deep but it is nevertheless exhibits a radical from the UK government. Reply tweet: characterise most all corporate activity house album, Midtown 120 Blues. Initially political heuristic. By drawing a line in Artists don’t get paid for DJ sets but in the modern day, electronic music discovering it through a dodgy Soulseek the sand of house history and crafting senior management earns how much? is a pursuit where technology and peer-to-peer link on a midnight journey such evocative instrumentals, Thaemlitz I have to make myself close the aggressive monetisation always seem to 4chan, I finally obtained a physical encourages us to eulogise the past whilst tabs so I can get back to mixing the to stay two steps ahead of artistry. At CD copy in 2019 during a trip to Tokyo: tentatively imagining a future where drum parts of my new track. But it’s every turn in the journey from ideas in scratched up, clearly well-loved, but her art can be free from capitalistic embarrassing isn’t it? Is it embarrassing? a producer’s mind to a mastered track at least with its liner notes intact. The corruption. In order words, Midtown To love so passionately a hobby that reaching a listener’s ears, seductive record’s significance to me has changed 120 Blues is electronic music that feels is so deeply entrenched in its own micro-transactions make themselves drastically over time, and with repeated unmistakably revolutionary. corporate whirlwind? To want to pursue available and easily accessible. From listens I find myself appreciating new artistic achievement in a field so mired the burgeoning plugin market, the shades of meaning I could only grasp in transactional decadence and gleeful nickle-and-diming for software updates, at before. While I was initially drawn to As the lush guitar sample on ‘The enterprise? To want to craft something the stratification of streaming platforms the music’s aesthetic elements – the silky Occasional Feel-Good’, the closing that, by its own wordless nature, makes into tiered levels of users, search engine production and patient basslines that track on Midtown 120 Blues, sings its enigmatic the types of exegesis that optimisation and the almighty ‘Play made Thaemlitz’s singles so seminal final lick, the CD spins a few more can actually influence someone for the Next’ algorithm, to club and festival to the genre – I’ve oddly begun to empty revolutions before coming to better? culture which has only become more anticipate the two sparse and scattered a silent halt, primed and ready to be I rewind the Ableton timeline and of a commodified and purchasable monologues that punctuate the pauses played again. But the time is 2am, it’s press play to check on the progress I’ve experience rather than a liberating space between tracks more than the tracks a Tuesday evening, and an entire day’s made, but the breakbeat slices I chopped over the years: to engage in electronic themselves when I decide to put on the worth of running around awaits me for up hours ago no longer seem visceral music production in 2020 is to submerge album. when I wake up again. Wednesday is a and exciting. Listening to the glittery oneself in the logic of capitalism. There The latter of these, a polemic against big day: after weeks of police repression synth lines I spent so long tweaking feels are simply no tools to engage with it the soulless and commercial brand of and tens of thousands of dollars in like swallowing a ladleful of sucralose. otherwise. house music that Madonna ushered in student fines, activists at the University As the sinking feeling begins to set in But perhaps most concerningly, with her international hit ‘Vogue’, is of Sydney have once again organised that I probably should have just slept there has been no broad cultural shift delivered in an almost-whisper at the a mass rally across campus to fight the so I could be more alert for the rally to recognise electronic music outside tail-end of a track titled ‘Madonnna- Arts fee hikes hastily pushed through at midday, questions that I’ve floated of consumeristic contexts. When we Free Zone’. The former, and the speech the Senate by the Coalition government. for months rear again their ugly heads: invoke the concept of ‘protest music’, that has since come to defineMidtown Arrests are not just feared, but expected. what is the point of making electronic our imaginations naturally intuit a 120 Blues in my mind, starts almost Though the sentiment may read as naïve music anymore if it seems especially Guthrie-like crooner who sings of immediately upon hitting play on the and cringeworthy, the entire situation and permanently trapped within the revolution over four guitar chords and disc: a tour-de-force eyewitness history makes my blood boil. structures of capitalism? And can these a harmonica bridge, or a hip-hop artist of the emergence and subsequent As I sluggishly go to turn off my PC, two gulfs that constitute my present passionately delivering a freestyle verse perversion of house, from the muddiest the blinking lights that litter my desk identity – my love for synthesised with biting cultural references. But the of New York dancefloors to the very top remind me that I have unsaved work. A sounds and my hope for a radical new political power of electronic music has of feel-good club charts. “House isn’t so supersaw arpeggio, playing the melody future – be reconciled in any convincing never been separated from the political much a sound as a situation,” Thaemlitz of a cheesy Eurodance song, hums softly way? power of language, and when language repeats in the breaths between her busy from the balanced outputs of a Roland is removed or abstracted – as in the case lines, mourning with sardonic rage JP-8080: my favourite synthesiser. I of most producers – the instrumental over how capitalist interests have elided open a new Ableton Project to record a is often thought of as purely sensory, over the human contexts from which few samples, and before I can recognise In the twelve years since the release hedonistic or apolitical. It’s not hard the supergenre emanated: “sexual my own fatigue, the clock has ticked over of Midtown 120 Blues, it would be a to imagine why: though lyric-less, and gender crises, transgendered sex to 4am – my hands frantically adjusting mistake to suggest that any progress has orchestral pieces like Shostakovich’s work, black market hormones, drug equalisers and compressors to get some been made towards the emancipation of Symphonies are potent in their political and alcohol addiction, loneliness, final touches in. When thin strips of electronic sound from the eroding grasp rebellion and incomprehensible racism, HIV, ACT-UP, Thompkins Sq. orange light begin peeking through my of business and Billboard. While all outside the context in which they were Park, police brutality, queer-bashing, window-shades, I know I’ve well and forms of art in a capitalist society will composed, genres like house were born underpayment, unemployment and truly thrown away a night’s worth of inevitably be subjected to the exploitative on hyper-specific and marginalised censorship.” Without so much as a sleep, but it’s too late to try now. strategies of corporations and investors, dancefloors which corporations could four-bar pause, the record launches At precisely 7:30 in the morning, there is no arguably no medium more easily depoliticise as sordid and low- into a distorted and nervous percussion automated messages begin flooding inextricably tied to capitalist profiteering brow, repackaging them for consumption groove, setting the tone for the songs to my mailbox from all the newsletters than the production and distribution of for an unquestioning wider audience. come: cautious, tense, plaintive, wry. that I’ve been accidentally signed up electronic music. Even today, a distaste for synthesised Midtown 120 Blues, unlike so many to through the years. Plugin Boutique From an environmental level, the sounds is apparent in the widespread other records which attempt to trace wants to let me know that there’s a arrival of mass-market music gear perception of electronic music; sounds the knife’s edge between historical massive sale on analogue distortion manufacturers and consumer hardware which are perfectly acceptable within testament and artistic expression, feels emulations. Elektron just put out a offerings takes an aggrandising and anti-intellectual bass drops, backing like music that really actuates political black faceplate version of their flagship punishing toll on the planet’s dwindling elements in electro pop tracks and the motion rather than merely meditating drum machine, and Pioneer is selling natural resources. One needs to look no euphoric score to a cap come-up, but on an era gone past. Though it does not an updated $6000 CDJ. Soundcloud further than Behringer – perhaps the most are otherwise not considered capable indulge in the luxury of lyrical fervour announces a subscription model for ‘affordable’ synth manufacturer in the of possessing political value in-and-of- and gruff hooks that characterise so their new instant “mastering” service. Western world – to see how popular and themselves. many hollow indie-punk darlings Apple Music for Artists lists my piss- harmful our newfound thirst for Moog When faced with so many converging in the age of Fantano, the spirit of poor engagement statistics for October: clones and portable mixers actually is. factors stymying the political potency of truth-telling, revelation and resistance a total of $3 at $0.0035 a stream. Like something out of a cyberpunk electronic music, it almost seems logical permeates every track with such a Immediately afterwards, Distrokid Metropolis, Behringer constructed a to be pessimistic that it can ever be used distinct sense of celebration that it’s hard encourages me to send my music to vertically integrated factory the size of as a tool for radical change. And when not to smile. It would be categorically advertisers so that it’s more likely to end a small city in Zhongshan of China’s I reached out to some of my favourite incorrect to describe Midtown 120 Blues up on a sponsored Spotify playlist. Two Guangdong Province in the late 2000s, producers last week for guidance, I as ‘uplifting’ – if the monologues are beeps mean a press release: Resident which now churns out over two-and- expected about the same conclusion to go by, Thaemlitz wants to produce Advisor received a £750,000 grant a-half million pieces of audio gear per from all of them. The question I posed anything but the vacant 303 riffs of from the UK government in order to year. With each clipping diode, Fatar in my messy emails was simple, yet Ibiza-rinsed anthems. And yet, it’s tide them through the coronavirus keybed, analog ladder filter circuit and open-ended: “How can we as music impossible to look past the album pandemic. The subtweet in response: DSP effects chip, vast supplies of silicon producers channel our energy into the without noticing the joy bursting at the Techno Ticketmaster is getting paid and lithium are processed and expended products themselves? And do you think seams. The album eschews dollar-store big bucks for promoting mostly white with reckless abandon. it is at all possible to inspire, provoke

16 and motivate through electronic music nightcore producer under the moniker “I’d say that if you want to make about electronic music without talking in the current day?” osno1, was simultaneously more electronic music, or any kind of music, about the role that cultural appropriation ambivalent and more constructive in you should do it. The way that you work has played. White artists and capitalists her outlook towards the possibilities it into your framework or worldview have a long history of stealing artforms Jamie Stewart, the longest-standing of electronic music, redirecting the is up to you. I think that there will be and practices from black communities member of American art-rock band conversation away from political times when you’ll be able to help or and repackaging it as their own. And if Xiu Xiu, was the most straightforward ideologies and towards the value of hurt people, no matter which path not directly becoming the face of those and terse with his reply, compounding political emotions. you choose. There’s definitely lots of forms of media and art, white capitalists the corporatisation of music with the “In my experience, music is really political electronic music out there, and seek to exist as the main beneficiaries of explosion of new epistemic streams on good at expressing emotions. That many ways to navigate between the two this culture. This vampiric relationship the internet as the justification for his sounds really obvious, but I mean that passions. You kind of just have to feel is another reflection of the ways that cynicism. since music doesn’t have to be expressed out what’s right for yourself.” capitalism always exists at another’s “While the band I play in always has in words or images, it’s really good at expense.” and always will have a political focus, expressing ideas that I have a hard time “In thinking about the ways we can the point of that focus is not to engender expressing in words or images. I think fuel revolution with electronic music, change as it is to hope in some small that’s part of the reason why music is But the artist I talked to that was we must be able to hold contradictions. way to serve as a communal space for really good at tuning into really specific, perhaps the most optimistic about the In the club environment, we see this people looking to feel less alone in their nuanced emotions, with or without revolutionary potential of electronic play out in a culture of hedonism already established or nascent views or lyrics.” music was Estoc, hardcore producer surrounding drug use. There is an marginal lives.” “Another cool thing about music is and DJ hailing from Pennsylvania, extreme pleasure to be had, a freedom “I think the days of music being able playing with context and familiarity. who boldly displays on her Facebook within these spaces found in few other to have some kind of long term, wide Since many of us share associations about section: “death to fascism”. Yet, places. But this freedom is often at the ranging impact on society are long between types of music and other it was for the very same reasons that I cost of those caught in the violence of gone. In the 1950-1970s when counter things, we can use music to evoke approached production with doubt that the supply chains that these drugs are and pop culture were rising in the West, whatever those things are. That kind she embraced it for its utopic potential: acquired through. Cocaine has sparked the distribution networks were almost of goes without saying when talking its openness, its lack of rigour and its civil wars and ripped countries apart. entirely centralized and public: radio, about samples, but I mean even like chameleonic ambiguity. What does it mean when we make art television, widely read magazines and certain textures or little genes borrowed “There is a certain decadence to within a community that consumes local record stores. There were far fewer from another piece or type of music can electronic music, especially with the it as a way to enjoy that art? Can our choices as to what people had access to immediately call connections to your advent of computers and music made revolution be a global one and not a and if there was a protest song and it head. I guess things like framing songs with them. When opening up a DAW selfish one?” became a hit, millions of people might with titles or art to point at topics would there is a seemingly endless void of hear it and be moved by it over and over fit here too.” possibilities and it can be a daunting again via these avenues.” “I don’t really consider my music as task to create a thesis and pare down an Depending on the time of day and “Currently, with the internet creating explicitly “political”, I just try to express idea to something manageable which the angle of the falling shadows, you nearly infinite self-curated ‘micro honestly and accurately how I’m feeling can be expressed. This excess is at the could view electronic music as either a markets’, one might listen to a song only at the time, and I think my worldview core of this debate.” dead-end commodity too far gone for 2 or 3 times and it will almost certainly just sort of bleeds into that. Even “With so much creative freedom, any practical political purpose, or an already fit into the belief system of the though you might not be using as many we are free to create new worlds, both art form very much in the midst of an person listening to it.” words, you can definitely still use your ones within and outside of our own. We underexplored infancy. The boundaries “I think music can bolster confirmed music to express yourself and comment can imagine utopias and ways to build of sound design burst open through the beliefs and having that strengthened on things in a way that can emotionally them within our current reality. We advent digital instruments have revealed is good, but the paths for it to change resonate with people on a deep level, no can also use this to throw our current a new horizon of timbres, textures people’s minds on even a small scale matter the topic.” world into sharp relief and expose the and artistic possibilities never before don’t exist anymore. A white supremacist “As far as how the business itself ways we move through it. Our creations accessible. And yet, the capitalistic gun nut is never going to go to a concert lines up with politics; I don’t really have within this boundless possibility means tendencies intrinsic to music technology or listen to a song and suddenly realize an answer yet, I’m always learning and that our events are subject to this same make it more difficult than ever to they were wrong all along. Music is too changing opinions on specifics, but I just utopic ideal. We are free to give life to uncover that horizon and use it to its private and personal an experience to sort of try to stick to doing whatever I worlds we had never thought possible. full potential. be an external evolutionary social force feel like is right at the time. I’m trying to This is a core principle shared by leftist In the days leading up to the writing anymore.” not let a framework define me, and just politics and electronic music.” of this article, Estoc’s final comments “That said, I don’t get out much and using my beliefs to inform my decisions, With all this being said, Estoc still lingered in my mind: that in order to maybe I am missing something new and and not accidentally cross any of my approaches her artistry with a degree of mobilise electronic music for a political don’t know what I am talking about. personal lines in the sand. Like I said, caution. purpose, we will need to embrace and That would be amazing, and I would I wouldn’t call myself a model leftist, I “What can be said about electronic utilise its inherent contradictions. While love for it to be true.” just do what I can to help people where music can act as a mirror to technology that left me neither here nor there when I can. Music is pretty good for getting as a whole. It has the potential to be it comes to settling on a conclusive some money for aid drummed up, and something beautiful in compassionate stance, it at the very least illuminated – of course as you grow a platform you hands, but something horrendous and just like Midtown 120 Blues – a cautious Laura Les, who is one half of can use it to shine light on things you terrifying when used for selfish gains.” and dialectical path forward to a hyperpop group 100 Gecs and a prolific care about.” “We also cannot have a conversation potentially brighter future.

17 CULTURE Homer and heroic hexamater Shania O'Brien on the importance of form and structure to epic poems. An epic poem is the birthplace of legends. has six feet and permits either a dactyl is distinctive: the sixth foot, at least in the used no form of distinguishable poetic The epicentre of tragedy, they are long (one long syllable followed by two short case of Homeric hymns, always calls for meter nor did their lines have consistent narrative poems that generally chronicle syllables) or a spondee (two long syllables). a dactyl. lengths but instead focused the source of a time existing outside the bounds of Scholar Samuel Elliott Bassett identified Bassett referred to each verse their rhythm on repetition. living memory wherein extraordinary thirty-two possible arrangements of resembling a suspenseful adventure that On the other hand, the existence of swift-footed men and women shaped the dactyls and spondees and stated that lasted a few seconds before reaching mock-epics, also known as mock-heroics, mortal world by their grapples with gods Homer used every one of them in the a temporary resolution and beginning suggest the historic ridicule placed on and monsters, with creatures of legend, Iliad. “There are seventeen places where anew — much like the theory of creation the elevated stature of heroic verse. Lord with morality and truth. a word may end,” he wrote, “and Homer stemming from the Indo-Aryan Vedas Byron used his signature ottava rima to There are some agreed-upon makes a word end at every one of these wherein every beginning and end pen the sixteen-thousand line satirical determinants of an epic. For instance, it places.” signifies the start of a phase, only to poem Don Juan in all the extravagance of begins in media res, as the tenth year of In specific relation to theIliad and be destroyed and reborn over and over Teseida. It is interesting to note that Don the Trojan War in the Iliad. Its setting is Odyssey, and the Greek dactylic, the again in unending repetition. The heroic Juan was first widely disapproved of and vast and use of epithets rich, covering hexameter is a powerful instrument. hexameter accommodates a significant reduced to unnecessarily provocative and rosy-fingered dawns and wine-dark seas. It is used to concentrate the listener’s amount of rhythm and phrasing, ensuring immoral -- but later was celebrated for Arguably, the most prominent feature attention on concrete details by varying that the substitutions of spondees and its artistic brilliance -- for its structure of the epic is not divine intervention in the information flow by circumventing dactyls cause the structure of the spoken and form, for its exploration of every the form of golden apples, nor heroes the repetition of identical rhythm and word to be more engaging. topic of human life, with German writer stamped pious from their first appearance phrase-type. Homeric verses, interestingly, Is it strange, then, that heroic hexameter Goethe going as far as calling it a work of — no, the foremost feature of the epic is do not contain words whose shapes are only applies to certain kinds of epics? Old “bondless genius.” its structure. traditionally dactyls and spondees; but, English, German, and Norse epic poetry Hence, the form and structure of a In the past, works of literature were instead, only when merged into complete utilise alliterative verse as the primary work are essential in its eventual outcome able to be distinguished as epics because lines and spoken aloud do they yield six- structural principal and do not employ and reception. There are certain maps of the nature of their form and poetic dactyl rhythms. In the time of Homer in a discernible rhyme scheme. Spanish, predetermined rhyme schemes and poetic meter. Indo-European epic poetry -- such Ancient Greece, epics were performed Portuguese, and Italian long-form poetry meters lay out for us to follow, ‘x’ marking as the Vedas, the Iliad, and the Odyssey -- in song with the accompaniment of a use terza rima — an Italian verse invented the spots where we offer up explanations historically placed a lot of emphasis on the lyre, which allowed for such deviation. by Dante Alighieri for The Divine Comedy, of tragedy, draw up epic catalogues, invoke poetic meter and line consistency. Ancient However, a line’s syntactical phrasing and consisting of tercets wherein the first and divine intervention into haplessness. Epic Greek and Latin poems were all written quantitative rhythm are commonly out of third lines rhyme with one another, the poetry offers us lessons about individual in dactylic hexameter -- which has also step by a syllable or two due to human second rhyming with the first and third honour, about heroism and cruelty, come to be known as heroic hexameter. error and differences in pronunciation of the following tercet — and ottava rima about our inherent autonomy in a world It is, technically, impossible to conceive and accents. In step with tradition, the — introduced by Giovanni Boccaccio dictated by gods. But it also presents us of an epic poem that is not composed of completion of a word is only required in in The Decameron, wherein each stanza with the importance of consistent poetic in hexameters as the very rhythm of the the last syllable of a verse as the rest of contains eight iambic lines with the first meter, with the evolution and differences hexameter signalled the epic nature of the the feet are enjambed for narrative form. six alternating in rhyme scheme and separate languages and cultures place on poem. Hence, rhythm and phrasing are always ending on a couplet. Ancient Sumerian form; and, if nothing else, with a better To break it down, a dactylic hexameter predictable. The closing cadence for this epic poetry, such as the epic of Gilgamesh, place to start. Student journalist reacts to AWFUL Musician Reaction Videos (2020) Matthew Forbes is sick of musicians passing off meaningless commentary as expertise. YouTube is, in many respects, an no pop artist has gone before.” Along with fun to listen to,” he notes, while reacting rhetoric that dismisses entire musical styles undeniable force for good in the music sounding like it was specifically written to the TikTok videos of Sam Ryder. He and discourages many from participating world. It has provided musicians with a to be quoted in marketing campaigns for also points out that Ryder’s voice sounds in music performance or discussion. In his slightly more achievable pathway towards the album, this statement by itself isn’t like a combination of “a little bit more of video ‘Jazz Pianist Reacts to Watermelon gaining a following and, ultimately, making necessarily untrue or completely devoid of a metal voice and a rock voice and a pop Sugar by Harry Styles’, Charles Cornell money than other, more traditional means. meaning. But when placed in the context voice”, and that he is singing very high deems the song in question “musically This is not specific to the songwriters and of a 24-minute reaction/review video with notes, like a “high B”, before singing said useless”, and a particular melodic line in ‘performers’ on this platform, as musicians the prefix ‘Musician’ attached to it, it feels note to seemingly remind us that he is a the song’s pre-chorus “completely devoid often apply their skills to more theoretical like a basic assertion that anyone with at ‘pro singer’ and thus his comment section- of definition”, essentially due to a couple areas, such as ‘education’ (because what least one functional ear could have made. esque wisdom warranted a 13-minute of apparently misplaced notes. Not only else are you going to do with that three What’s more, Nina spends much of the video. does he spend nearly the entire video year music degree you spent all that money video pointing out and singing along to Besides his friendship with famed slur- reinforcing strict rules that musicians must on). This is not inherently a bad thing - various instrumental parts within the songs dispenser PewDiePie, Roomie’s videos abide by lest they be sent to music jail, he why pay for instrument or music theory she’s reacting to, as if we the listener aren’t probably rose to the top of the landfill also bases parts of his appraisal around his lessons when there are hundreds of videos able to identify these elements for ourselves of musician reactions due to his flashy knowledge of jazz theory - a framework you can watch for free that will give you a without filling the necessary requirements and ‘humorous’ editing, which favours which can hardly be usefully applied to similar, albeit potentially less streamlined, to earn that ‘Musician’ prefix. “It’s like an many a quick cut between short phrases a radio-ready pop song. Cornell masks learning experience? alarm sound,” she observes earlier in the or sentences, as well as wacky sound what are clearly nitpicks behind the air of The issue lies not in video tutorials or video when, towards the beginning of the effects and text. It’s a gimmick employed authenticity lent to him by his ‘Jazz Pianist’ lessons, but rather the videos where musical track ‘Shake It’, there is, indeed, an alarm- by many YouTube channels - not just title, thus allowing viewers of the video to knowledge is applied in an ‘analysis’ like sound. Thanks Nina! music ones - who have little else to offer by also declare the song inferior (based on setting. While some of these videos are With only 29,460 views as of the way of personality. Bassist extraordinaire a ‘professional opinion’). Even at a time genuinely educational, novel, entertaining, time this article was written, this video Davie504 is yet another example of this, when many are mocking the notorious or, at the very least, informative to those is admittedly an easy target. It’s worth though he does sometimes structure claim that ‘Modern/popular music largely unfamiliar with music theory, mentioning more popular channels who his reaction videos more compellingly sucks!!!’, this line of thinking still seeps its many are obnoxiously meaningless. display similar tendencies - at 6.59 million than most by attempting (and usually way into cultural conversation through the There’s been a growing trend over the last subscribers, ‘RoomieOfficial’ is certainly succeeding) to play what is being performed guise of theory-based objectivity. couple of years in which musicians film one of these. The grand majority of in the videos he’s watching. Often, though, Uninteresting reaction channels are live reactions to musical content (albums, Roomie’s content consists of him reacting he resorts to making Reddit-level jokes nothing new, and hardly a pressing issue music videos, live performances, etc.) and to other music-related videos, having accompanied by meme-heavy editing as within the music industry in particular. then insert observations about the most recently started busting out the ‘Pro Singer a substitute for useful insight or any sense Many of the ‘[Insert musical qualification] glaringly obvious features of said content. Reacts to...’ titles for some of his uploads. of charisma that would make his simple reacts’ videos could be less aggravating Take Nina Schofield’s video ‘CHARLI In ‘Pro Singer Reacts To The BEST comments entertaining. with less attempts at intercutting instinctive XCX - Charli Album [Musician's] Reaction singing videos 2020’, Roomie spends Unfortunately, meaningless responses with shoehorned music theory, & Review!’, in which she concludes by most of his ‘reaction’ time complimenting observations are a lesser evil compared to or even a simple removal of any signal of saying “She’s [Charli] able to give us these various singer’s voices while sprinkling some of the other pitfalls of the YouTube musical authority from their titles. As they pop songs that are radio-friendly, but then in the occasional musical buzzword (e.g. musician/reactor. On many channels, stand, however, they do nothing but stifle she’s not afraid to explore and go places that ‘vibrato’, ‘tone’). “Beautiful voice, really you’re likely to find the kind of elitist meaningful music discourse.

18 CREATIVE

Retreating into references Words by Angelina Nguyen / Art by Chuyi Wang

It is no wonder that the thought of having to reference anything alone is enough to inspire, to generate, to warrant, an immediate groan. All this emphasis on academic honesty, when we feel anything but honest. Too often have we scrambled onto an article, begging for a hint of relevance, from the rapid clicks travelling down the page in Control + F mode, to blow out of proportion. Too often have we mourned the loss of the perfect resource, a struggle inherent with choosing sources, text types and forms that fail to present all the information needed to justify its existence, let alone usefulness; ‘N/A. (n.d). No Idea. Retrieved from Nothing.com’ looks hardly convincing. Too often have we made more sense from Wikipedia, but our embarrassment at the thought of being questioned for even being on it has forced us to forage elsewhere. Too often have we fattened our final reference lists, bibliographies, and annotations with lies. Too often have we stretched further out into the unknown, towards obscurity, only to receive the echoes of nothingness.

Referencing has become a labour, a chore, a necessary evil. Pain-staking hours are spent reading, wading through, drowning in these oceans of letters and jargon, all to retrieve the smallest specimen to scrutinise, to defend defensively, to wedge somewhere on the page. Factor in the countless styles, pedantic rules, inconsistencies in what is the true way to reference something, and it all amounts to hatred.

After it all, each citation made is just the tip of an iceberg; though standing in all its grandeur, it is but a rude reminder of what remains unseen. In the depths of those waters, there lies all the time wasted, the sources discarded, and every other rejected notion, musing and desperate attempt of a paraphrase in between.

But for me, referencing is a thrill. It is performing all kinds of magic, every system containing its own ritual.

Each rule, carefully designed step, format provided, instructs for the order and placement of the right ingredients like a recipe for a spell, containing what is necessary to fill each parentheses, to construct each footnote. I love the matter-of-factness of the entire process. I love seeing those titles bare, bold, italicised, slanting as if they are about to topple over and yet still holding their ground. I love replacing each comma with a period, each period with a comma, placing myself in control of both creating continuities and ceasing the flow of information bit by bit. I love punching the full stop key, the stamping of my foot on the earth, at the end, not because I wish for it all to end, but because I know that the start of the next journey means, for another, the end.

This is the age where we are beguiled by all that is oddly satisfying, indulging in guilty pleasures that are perhaps more common than we think but that we are afraid of admitting to. A large reason why I find such joy in the art of referencing is from its repetition. The monotony is reliable, comforting. There is something extraordinary about summoning superscripts, those numerals that float modestly in the air. They divert your eyes right to the footnotes, stacked upon one another in a perfectly aligned list. All these citations are portals. For the reader, they are doors leading to new worlds, ready to be explored; for the writer, they await for their return once more.

With every instance a reference is conjured, I provide evidence that those books, journal articles, newspapers, blog posts, Spotify playlists and all the other gorgeous possibilities out there are real. With every endnotes entry, I add to the mass, the colossal building of details and information. With every in-text acknowledgement, I affirm, challenge, rejuvenate life into the ideas of another thinker, negotiate the tensions between the past, present and future.

With every single one of them, I declare with greater volume that I am unoriginal, that I am miserably dependent on what already has been done, but that I am also the torch bearer of another’s ideas, smearing all my clumsy, incoherent and wandering thoughts together with quirky quotes, flourishing words, electrifying statistics, hoping they will fuel the mind and heart of the reader with warmth and light.

In every reference, I see my writing as much as a branch precariously extending from trees that have already been planted as a seed of its own.

19 SRC REPORTS President Note: These pages belong to the Office Bearers of the SRC. They are Liam Donohoe not altered, edited or changed in any way by the editors of Honi Soit. Well, this is it. After 48 weeks, and 32 saw at least a hundred protesters gather down. of helping to initiate national efforts to written reports, I feel weird to have on Eastern Avenue after the plans to Indeed, on that note, I would like to expand social security to students and reached, finally, my last for Honi. And physically blockade the meeting in take this opportunity to apologise to my catalysing the Mutual Aid program, while at times it felt like it would never Martin Place were thwarted when it was constituents, the Undergraduate student which both provided significant relief come, or that it couldn’t come soon moved online. Tuesday’s protest against body at the University of Sydney, and and were undeniably beneficial. I’m enough, I am still surprised, and perhaps cuts to the Medical Science faculty set particularly to those people who voted proud of my diligence; that I took on just a bit unprepared, to find myself a radical tone for the rest of the week, for me. I would like to apologise if countless extra, thankless duties, for no here so soon. With the year coming to as we once again spontaneously took relationships strained under the weight extra pay, while still delegating few, if an end, and my activities slowing down, control of City Road, getting almost as of this position. I assure you that every any of my responsibilities, simply to I ask that you forgive some indulgence. far as Broadway before the Riot squad promised coffee or beer will come to ensure the Union could function and Before I get to those deeper could catch us. While this year’s protests fruition, and that I have infinite time and activism could happen. I’m proud that reflections, though, it would be remiss may not have always attracted the love for everyone, even if I struggle to USyd carried the national fight against not to mention this week’s (admittedly, largest numbers, bravery and militancy fully express that all the time. Similarly, fee hikes which was defeated by the relatively scant) activity. On Tuesday have certainly not been in short supply I apologise for any unrealised campaign smallest possible margin (1 vote!); that morning I met with the Pro Vice- among the protesters. The relaxation promises. If it is any comfort, we were we proved, yet again and with regular Chancellor of Student Life, Susanna with which so many students interact mere weeks away from ushering in what frequency, that no VC, no politician, and Scaparo, alongside our caseworkers and with hostile police—the ease with would have been an unprecedented no Capitalist can destroy our education USU staff to discuss planned changes which the crowd escalates—is certainly number of new programs and important easily. I’m proud, at risk of arrogance, to the Learning and Maths Centre. new, and no doubt due in equal measure reforms, all the careful result of years of of making the SRC more well-known, While we appreciated the opportunity to the brave example set earlier in the reflection on this Union, dashed only by more relevant, and more helpful than it to hear the full details and rationale year and the dystopian police antics a sudden decision to freeze the funding has been in my time. behind mooted changes, we made that have dominated headlines in 2020. essential to realising it. But what I would These are just a few of the things that clear that we would not be comfortable Tuesday’s protest was a fitting reminder like to apologise for most substantively make me proud. There are certainly with job losses and that we would of just how far so many students have is losing the fight for our education both others. Thank you to every friend, take time to consider the pedagogical come in what has been a remarkable locally and nationally, at least for now. family member, teacher, campaigner, implications of their new model. I will year. Until greater people cohere a greater voter, and comrade who helped me keep the student body updated of any I have also come a long way this response and win a decent system, these realise this life changing ambition. As further developments, though I suspect year, I think. I would be lying if I defeats will reverberate through history, honest and sobering as my reflections immediate responsibility for the matter said it was easy, or that I was happy pumping wave after wave of phillistinic may be, this year has been the greatest will fall to Swapnik imminently. for much of it. Even at the best of destruction. of my life, and every second of it has Around the same time Radical times, the responsibilities conferred And that’s the ultimate difficulty in been an indescribable honour. Saying Education week began with a Welcome on the President of this Union are all of this. While I intended to finish up goodbye is, thus, bittersweet and surreal, to Country from Aunty Rhonda onerous and all-consuming; amidst a as President with a different world and particularly because of how hard the Dixon. Radical Education week is an global pandemic, they were, at times, University to the one I inherited, I didn’t rock rolled over me and how far from annual educational event organised soul-destroying. In March there was expect it to be this different and to have the peak we find ourselves. Next year by the SRC and its Collectives. I was the brutal revelation that our SSAF these features. In the end, things have Swapnik, and the Office Bearers elected grateful to witness a bunch of this contestable funding would be frozen, gotten worse, not better, and we are at Wednesday’s Representatives-Elect, year’s presentations, which, as usual, preventing me from fulfilling many even further away from the vision that will roll the boulder up the hill. I’m sure platformed radical student and staff of my campaign promises and from animated me than we were before. But they will suffer their own tumbles, take perspectives on important issues. I was realising the vision I spent years refining as Sisyphean as this task may feel, and their own routes, and strive for their own particularly impressed with Tuesday and half-a-decade trying to implement. as crushing as the rolling rock may now peaks. It certainly will not be easy. But afternoon’s eco-feminism panel, In October there was the passage of feel, there’s one thing that cannot be if there is any good to have come from featuring USyd’s Dr. Astrida Neimanis, the Morrison government’s fee hikes denied by myself or my harshest critic this year of chaos and hardship, any and Swapnik Sanagavarapu’s Money legislation, and with it the crushing (indistinguishable though they may sceric of redemption to come from the and Finance for the Left talk. Many realisation that, despite my best efforts, be)—that I rolled the damn boulder up 5 years of effort which led to this point, thanks are extended to all the speakers I could not defend our education from the hill. it is the certainty that the rock will not and organisers who made the week a further inequalities, funding loss, and Indeed, it’s precisely because of only continue to be rolled, but with the resounding success. desecration. And all throughout, in the that rolling that I saw a glimpse of the same diligence, resolve, and attitude, In a fitting twist of fate, education periods in between and beyond, I was horizon, and perhaps even wrung the onwards to the peak I could not myself protests marked both the start and rapt by the same social, economic, and only possible drops of beneficence from reach and the view I could not myself end of Radical Education week. mental angst that seems to have defined the malefic chamois of fate. Rather see. And while a much-delayed rest is Friday’s speakout outside the F23 2020 for most, no doubt cushioned than sitting back and being a mere on the cards in the immediate future, I building, which aimed to pressure the by the (ephemeral) security of this caretaker, I tried not only to preserve can’t wait to join them on the mountain, USyd Senate into abstaining from fee position, but also no doubt exacerbated the SRC, but to continue in my quest hand on boulder, for one final push. increases, bookended proceedings and by the guilt of feeling as if I’d let people to expand and improve it. I’m proud Residential College Officers Vice Presidents Charlotte Ainsworth, Winny Li, Joseph Yang and Kiran Gupta Charlotte Bullock and Felix Faber Donation of OB Budget to Asylum to mediate some of the needlessly As the year winds down, our priority In the past fortnight there have not Seeker Centre antagonist dialogue on both sides of the has shifted towards ensuring next year’s been any committee meetings, but The Portfolio made the decision to university college debate and we will SRC is able to hit the ground running Charlotte was in attendance at the most donate the OB budget of $500 to the continue to advocate to this effect for and keep up the important work that recent fortnightly meeting between Asylum Seeker Centre in Newtown. This the rest of the year. it has been doing over the year thus the SRC Executive and University was intended to support a collegiate food Advocating for Fair and Reasonable far. The parlous state of education Management. At this meeting, drive initiative but our understanding is Dialogue on campus is seriously concerning. Charlotte raised issues regarding that this has been postponed until 2021 We have been somewhat Between government funding cuts and degree progression, which were carried due to COVID-19. We hope that the disappointed with the exclusion of attempted University staff and course over from the previous meeting. At intercollegiate community and wider certain perspectives in Honi Soit earlier cuts, the need for determined work by this meeting, there was also some USyd community believe that this is a this year regarding the residential student representatives to fight for a discussion with university management worthwhile use of our budget. colleges. We attempted to publish an quality education is not set to diminish. and office bearers from SUPRA and the Representation of the Intercollegiate article as a response to the allegations Felix has been focusing on preparing USU about the recent outage of Canvas Community published in Honi Soit earlier this year for the handover, organising a handover and other university websites, and how Even in a challenging year, the in our capacity as Office-Bearers but meeting of the Interfaculty Committee, the uni could ensure students are still portfolio is proud of the work we have were unable to publish anything despite and organising the SRC’s affiliation able to access online tutorials if another done to represent the intercollegiate multiple attempts. We hope that some with the National Union of Students. outage occurs. community. This has involved effort will be made in future to allow for advocating for fair and balanced a more complete picture to be presented. discourse in the general university We also hope that the attendance at a community as well as publishing our residential college will not preclude General Secretaries thoughts in The Sydney Morning anyone from writing for the student Abbey Shi and Liam Thomas did not submit a report this week. Herald. We believe that these steps newspaper in the future. are in line with our overall intention Mature Age Officers Vinil Kumar and Peter Burell-Sander did not submit a report this week. Refugee Rights Officers Alex Mcleay and Cooper Forsyth did not submit a report this week.

20 SRC CASEWORKER HELP

Late applications ing documentation and apply using the The University will consider late spe- Special Consideration portal. For final Applying for Special cial consideration applications only if exams, this must be lodged no more you can provide evidence that it was than 14 days after the exam timetable absolutely not possible for you to sub- is published. Consideration mit your application within the three working days. Not knowing about the You can apply for process is not considered enough of a reason. special consideration if you are unable to Supporting documentation A PPC should be dated on or before the complete an assessment date of the assessment, with the range because you, or someone of dates you are affected including the you are the primary date of the assessment. It is likely that you will need to be “very severely af- carer for, are affected fected” or “totally unable to study”. If by short term illness you are the primary carer for someone who is sick, get a PPC to show that (mental or physical) or they were sick, and that you were very misadventure severely affected by having to care for them. It will need to be in English or ac- Disability Have you missed an assessment because you experienced. So, for something like companied by a certified English trans- If you have a long term (more than four you were sick or had a misadventure? the death of a family member, you will lation. If you are too unwell to go to the weeks) or pre-existing medical condi- need to show that the person died (e.g., doctor, search the internet for a home tion, you can apply for disability sup- Special Consideration funeral service leaflet), as well as a PPC visit GP. If you submit a false medical port. Disability Services can help you to You can apply for special considera- to show that you were severely affected certificate, or a certificate that you have create an academic plan to successfully tion if you are unable to complete an as- by grief. Be aware that in most cases the altered, you risk severe penalties, in- complete your degree with any reason- sessment because you, or someone you University’s Counselling and Psychol- cluding being excluded from university. able accommodations, so contact them are the primary carer for, are affected by ogy Service will not give you a PPC, as soon as possible. short term illness (mental or physical) and you will need to gain a PPC from Special arrangements You can appeal a rejected special or misadventure, or an exacerbation of another treating psychologist or doctor. If your study is affected by an event that consideration application. Address the a disability, provided that it is outside If you are successful in your applica- is not sickness or misadventure, you can issues they have raised, and submit it of your control, unexpected, and affects tion you might be given an extension, apply for ‘special arrangements’. This within 15 working days of the original you “severely”. Long term illness (more a supplementary exam (finals usually includes, but is not limited to, jury duty, decision. It may help to get additional than four weeks) is considered a disabil- occur in week 18), or in some limited court summons, armed service, birth or medical documentation to support your ity and should be addressed through the cases, a re-weighting of assessments. adoption of a child, an essential reli- claim. University’s Disability Service. They cannot give you extra marks. If gious commitment, sporting or cultural You must submit your application you continue to be affected by illness commitments where you are represent- Need help? within three working days of the as- or misadventure, you can apply for spe- ing the University, state or country, and For help with special consideration ap- sessment, together with documentation cial consideration for these alternative in some cases essential employment. plications email an SRC Caseworker at to support your claim. This might be a assessments. For example, you can ask This does not include attending a wed- [email protected]. We are happy to Professional Practitioner’s Certificate for special consideration for a supple- ding. You will need to provide support- give you advice. (PPC) from a doctor, psychologist or mentary exam. If the faculty is unable another health care professional; police to provide an additional supplementary report; death notice; etc. While a Statu- assessment, you will be given a Discon- tory or Student Declaration might sup- tinue Not Fail (DC) grade. port your other documents, it may not be considered sufficient as a document Something less severe on its own. If you cannot think of what A Unit of Study Coordinator is able to SRC INFORMS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR SYDNEY documents you might be able to supply, grant a two-working day “simple exten- UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUTE STUDENTS. talk to an SRC Caseworker about what sion” for a non-examination task. Note options you might have. that this does not change any conditions Don’t focus on the event itself, but for special consideration. rather the severity of the impact that

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Ask Abe: How to get help The SRC Legal on a sattelite campus Service & your rights! Dear Abe, than happy to help students. You can have an appointment over the phone, Skype or REGISTER NOW! I noticed the SRC office is shut, but I des- Zoom. To make an appointment call 9660 perately need help? What should I do? 5222.

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SRC Legal Service /usydsrc Level 1, Wentworth Building (G01), p: 02 9660 5222 21 @src_usyd University of Sydney NSW 2006 e: [email protected] PO Box 794 Broadway NSW 2007 w: srcusyd.net.au @src_sydneyuni REVIEWS Review: A Delicate Fire Blake Falcongreen reviews an eclectic and occasionally carnal offering from one of Sydney's most versatile performance companies. My tongue is frozen, and suddenly sustained interest with the suburban soprano Taryn Fiebig and mezzo Anna are immediately reminded of the many A delicate fire spreads over landscape, and its blurring of a Dowsley on a grassy knoll, posed in an left adrift when this industry was shut My body, my ears hear only contemporary Australian haunting with evocation of a baroque painting. The down. Drumming, the blindness engulfing. an unfamiliar genre. In Silentio Nocivo power suit and the uncanniness of the Fragment 31, Sappho (Harmful Silence) we see a scrolling costuming makes the scene deliciously “Perhaps I will be hailed as Sappho portrait of the quiet scenes of a family figurative. But the scenery is more than reborn” (Sonetto. Proemio dell'opera Sydney company Pinchgut Opera, home: the bubble baths, lamps, and that, with its Australian eucalypts and #1) specialists in the forgotten masterpieces unmade beds of any suburban interior. spinifexes in the background, and the of the Baroque, debuted their first The spinning clothesline – a recurring washing line in the upper corner. This is The climax of the film is Strozzi’s film last month: A Delicate Fire. Born motif – is always just within frame, a a transplanted still life, from old Venice Lamento (Lament). “O my tears,” during the collapse of Australia’s arts present reminder of the domesticity to modern Australia; expression caught sings Dowsley, as she is circled by the industries, it showcases the works of of Australian life. Superimposed on between language and music and camera in a small phone booth. There Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677), one of the the works of Strozzi, we are forced to worlds, trying to create something new. is no great wisdom in these lyrics most prolific composers of the Venetian consider not just the obfuscation of (usually derivative and unexciting) but Baroque era and one of the few women female artists within history, but the “Two faithful souls in love… dying in the framing of the lament hints at the of her time to publish under her invisible and commonplace barriers an ecstasy of healing and life” (Sonetto. parallels with Greek poet Sappho, a own name. The film, blending gritty that still exist in the home. Proemio dell'opera #2) constant (if not understated) reference surrealism with more classical elements in the film. One wonders if the of music and dance, is an uncanny and “The music of heaven is harsh and In a scene where the women cut obliqueness of this homoeroticism unashamedly Australian meditation on discordant compared to the melodies I have open and eat watermelons the film is artistically informed, or based on the arts, love, and isolation in the age of prepared” (Conclusione dell'opera) enters its most haphazardly sensual, a sensitivity to the target audience. coronavirus. with hazy undertones of carnality and Dowsley’s technique is in full aching The film is broken up into a The sliding scenery then shifts to innocent love. And then we’re in the showcase, her acting and agitation collection of songs (madrigali), each a studio of marble sculptures and morning, as if we were only in a daze, in the phone booth both visceral and seamlessly drifting into each other, as paintings - an instant transition to high with a light snow falling – although we disarming. if they were merely sequential arias. culture and its trappings. As we then are unsure if it is snow or the ash that The film is approachable, orchestrally The first memorable visual feature is return to a car and a roadkill deer, cast a similar gloom across the national gorgeous, and subjective enough to the intelligent costuming that comes the angst of suburban existence – and consciousness only a year ago. give a viewer something to chew over. to define the film: sterile, inoffensive, Australia’s cultural cringe – is brought As maybe the most self-aware of all With its centring of an overlooked kitsch, exquisitely out of place and into focus. Still, the toiling forward art forms, opera thrives on the irony female composer, imaginative staging, entirely charming, the clothing is momentum of the film carries onwards, and ridiculousness of its existence: and intelligent and sustained control both modern and alien. With a full elegantly accompanied by dancers Allie staged, fabricated, and extravagant. As of pacing and mood, A Delicate Fire set of period instruments, we see the Graham and Neale Whittaker, their the camera zooms out, revealing the would be a highlight in any year – let musicians intently focussed on their presence a recurring highlight. set and the many behind the scenes alone this one. craft, serene and once again in their In Canto di bella bocca (A song workers who scurry about to make the A Delicate Fire is available to stream element. of beautiful lips) the film is at its production happen, we’re brought into in Australia until December 13 at The genius of the film is in its most explicitly homoerotic, pitching the world of art and production. We athome.pinchgutopera.com.au.

Review: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Marlow Hurst felt lukewarm upon revisiting one of Sacha Baron Cohen's most iconic characters. Spoiler warning: this review discusses a dehumanised in fictional Kazakhstan” the very end they reveal that Borat was to mirror them. While I understand that major plot point from the film. is only funny so many times, and even patient zero for COVID-19 in a Kazakh this isn’t Sacha Baron Cohen’s style, his A phrase uttered almost religiously the first time felt a bit strained. But plot for revenge. These moments and contribution to the discourse brings by the film, but almost never by it’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm has more many more make Borat Subsequent almost nothing to the table. audience. Now that I’ve got my zing in, than that; precious little, but certainly Moviefilm occasionally engaging, The film is not without merit though. I can safely say that Borat Subsequent more. but it's sadly dragged down by some Cohen and his co-star Maria Bakalova Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe The fictional narrative feels far more fundamental missteps. both perform brilliantly and some of the to American Regime for Make Benefit present than in the original film and It’s no longer enough to say “Trump non-fictional characters are infinitely Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan much to my surprise, Borat and his is an idiot” or “Republicans are Nazis”. charming (such as Jeanise Jones is an okay movie that might’ve faired daughter Tutar have something of an There’s nothing new or novel about who helps Tutar unlearn A better before common decency became arc. What starts out as a relationship these observations. Four years of the LOT of dehumanisation a relic of American political discourse. resembling a master/slave dynamic, Trump presidency has already laid bare and Borat’s COVID The shock comedy that would’ve ends with a parting shot of Borat a lot of the political cankers that plague conspiracy pals). But been the subject of much pearl clutching and Tutar, father and daughter, co- America’s social fabric. It’s not enough they’re not enough to doesn’t cut the mustard after a full four anchoring the newly minted Run of the to paint America with a broad brush. make up for what can years of Trumpish farce. From misogyny American event. It’s sweet and curiously Nuance, specificity, and a preference only be described as an and anti-semitism to holocaust-denying heartwarming. The film is filled with for micro over macro is really where uninspired take on Trump’s and COVID-conspiracising, Sacha lots of these little moments, like when political parody and satire need to be America. Baron Cohen’s Borat sequel has all Tutar stumbles into a local Republican trending. The flaws of America are now the mainstays of our Kazakh comic. Women meeting and initially receives a so obvious, so mainstream, and so very But this time it falls flat. “Women are very hearty welcome, or when right at bombastic that to parody them is simply

22 RODENT NEWS INC. FIERCELY INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS, BOUGHT OUT BY NEWS CONGLOMERATE, STILL CONTROLLED BY RATS ON OUR HEADS. CCP agents In this edition: infiltrate university Escobar! Stalin? Hitler... You'll love newspaper with these Movember looks / p. 1458 INVESTIGATION: Who tryna fuck cunning plan of while watching The Spongebob “民主选举” Movie: Sponge on the Run / p. Idk Kris Kenny, Real Journalist Editor A cunning plot to infiltrate the University PSA: SENDING of Sydney student newspaper has been UNSOLICITED RADIOHEAD exposed by a daring and handsome SONGS IS HARASSMENT reporter for The Rodent today. Over the past year two Chinese Communist Party agents, Mamma Mia! Jill Bidennino posing as regular students, secretly invaded the already unreputable student newspaper to become first Italixn Honi Soit to use it as a tool for propaganda. Inside the newspaper, they were able to send covert messages in Chinese to prima signora in Americas! (probably) a sprawling web of Chinese spies. Mario Berlusconi, I speak-a with my hands! Editor These messages were frequently contained in a conspicuous part of the newspaper In a-very how you say, excellento news for the Italianos of the called the “multicultural section” (in a Americanos, signora Jill-a Biden has become the first-ah request for comment, the editors refused lady. Molto bene! to identify which cultures were contained It was not always, as you say, looking like it should be the in this section).Though we have not as yet most benne outcome. Signore Trumpo was a-looking like he been unable to decode these messages, would be il presidento, after a molto forte showing on the which appear written in some kind of election-e day. Mamma mia! indecipherable script, we can only assume But, what do you know, signor Bidenno he won the day! And they spread secret propaganda aiming to ah-now his molto bella signora, Mrs Jill-a Bidenno is the primo overthrow the Australian government. signora of all the land. Ay! Gabagool! When asked how they were able to pull Finally after, comme se dice, centuries of oppression the off their deceitful plan, the two (probably) Italianos have taken the most highest position in the land! spies told the reporter “ This is most molto good news! Signore Trumpo with his 我们被人民选中 ”. It is shocking that they would be so golfing-o and his racismo was not molto benne. He was molto 了。 brazen in their plan! bad! Almost as bad as signore Berlesconi with his Bunga Bunga Thankfully, their red reign of terror parties! We can now say ciao to Trumpo and ciao to Bidenno! has come to an end, with a new true- His wife-ah though was bellisima! When she leaves she will blue editorial team lacking any Chinese be very missima! influence removing them — and their So now we say congratulazioni to signora Bidenno! Mamma fellow Cultural Marxist puppet editors — mia are we glad to have such a bellisima italianissimo lady to come December. be our First Lady!

Maybe he's born with it, maybe it's SOCIALISM Socialism has been shown to: • Reduce election loss • Increase term length • Manage troublesome Young Liberals • Promote Grassroots growth • Boost council share, ego

*Not recommended by the USyd Economics Department. **Extensions worn. Promotional image has been photoshopped, heavily. 23