AUTONOMOUS COLLECTIVE AGAINST RACISM

Disclaimer: Trigger Warning: The opinions of individual This edition contains authors published in this personal and at times edition do not necessarily graphic accounts of reflect those of ACAR. experiences of racism and other oppressions.

e are extremely proud of Most of all ACAR is a community; we’re For our white-identifying readers: cultures and identities provide us. our second ever issue of constantly striving to fulfil our role as we hope this edition provides some We hope that you will find the same WHoni Soit, edited by the a safe space, and as a place of growth further insight. We hope you don’t empowerment and solidarity within Autonomous Collective Against Racism and learning for those who experience take offence, but rather set aside these pages too. (ACAR). As an ode to the importance racism—this ethos extends to our sensitivities to internalise our voices of self determination, autonomy and edition of Honi Soit. This very edition is and consider ways to challenge and We would like to thank the wonderful independence, this issue was written the product of a community that rallied deconstruct the oppressive structures ethnocultural individuals, both on and Acknowledgement Of Country and edited solely by individuals together to create this issue in under you happen to uphold. off campus, for their contributions who identify as a Person of Colour, two weeks, after a major deadline shift. in this edition. It is not always easy efore you begin reading this Indigenous community. Any anti-racist indicate that the White Australian leaders throughout history, who, Indigenous, from an ethno-cultural In a momentous effort, we’ve gathered For our fellow people of colour and to share experiences and thoughts so edition of Honi Soit edited by victories claimed by those who are government’s legacy of disregard against all odds, fight to defend their background, or marginalised by White these pages here for you; we have ethnocultural kids: this is the end freely. Many personal pieces can be the Autonomous Collective non-Indigenous are empty, without full towards Indigenous people, land and land, culture, communities and way of supremacy. Last year we debuted our found the space to express ourselves, to of allowing ourselves to feel shamed triggering and difficult to overcome B or embarrassed by our cultures and emotionally. And while many people Against Racism (ACAR), we ask you to freedom for Australia’s First Nations. culture continues to this day. life. We pay our respects to every brave first edition, which reflected so much challenge assumptions and to defy the join us in acknowledging the Cadigal Therefore we stand in solidarity with warrior fallen during the Frontier Wars. of who we are as a collective and all restrictions of white supremacy that identities. We’re rediscovering the remain concerned with sharing their people of the Eora Nation, upon Indigenous peoples and acknowledge We acknowledge the role of the We pay our respects to the scores killed the experiences both shared and never this nation was built upon. empowerment and solidarity that our opinions or reliving their experiences, whose stolen land the University of that anti-racist activism in Australia police in continuing to suppress the by foreign diseases from the colonisers’ before said. In this paper, we their stories are equally powerful, Sydney stands. The Cadigal people are will never be successful without the Indigenous population through racial use of biological warfare. We pay our aim to once again give voice and we hope that this edition will be variously described as the traditional restoration of land and sovereignty to profiling, police brutality and deaths in respects to every Indigenous child, to those who are left voiceless of solace to them. owners, custodians and caretakers of them. custody. These are injustices that occur woman and man who has died at the in mainstream media, and the land that spans Sydney’s CBD and everyday and contribute to the fact that hands of White Supremacy and to all provide a platform for those Once more this edition clarifies Inner City. However it would be just as We acknowledge the atrocities of Australia’s Indigenous people continue those who continue to live in the face whose stories of oppression that the stereotypes of people accurate to say the opposite; that this the Stolen Generations, the untold to be one of the most over-policed and of it. are too often dismissed in of colour, Indigenous people, land is the traditional owner, custodian destruction it wreaked on Indigenous over-incarcerated populations in the everyday life. ethnocultural minorities and and caretaker of the Cadigal people. families and individuals through the world today. However, we regret to admit that there individuals marginalised by White In truth there is no way in the English forcible removal of children from are no Indigenous voices represented We are proud to present a supremacy are wrong and informed language to sufficiently summarise their families. This attempt to ‘breed We acknowledge that the court in these articles, nor were there any collection of varied experiences by ignorance. To many of the the complex, symbiotic and spiritual out’ Indigineity was nothing short of system continues to be deployed as involved in the editing process. This of people of colour, Indigenous, uneducated wider community, we relationship the Cadigal nation has genocide and no amount of reparation a technology of colonial power. The is a failure we endeavour to remedy ethno-cultural minorities, exist solely as the racial cliche that with this sacred land. will ever repair the damage that has legal regime of this country continues in future publications, and seek to and individuals marginalised politicians and the media portray us been done. We also add that the to prioritise White Supremacy and consciously and respectfully pursue by White supremacy. as. However, as we can see in these We acknowledge that those of us kidnapping of Indigenous children and Indigenous dispossession. This legal the insightful stories and perspectives Intersectionality has always pages, we are writers, editors, poets, who are non-Indigenous and identify the calculated attempt to dismantle system is a daily threat to the lives of our collective’s Indigenous member played (and will hopefully illustrators, photographers and as a Person of Colour, from an Indigenous families continues to this and liberty of First Nations people. that we know are multiple, nuance and continue to play) a significant curators. We exist. Ethno-Cultural background and/or day, with more children than ever being For these reasons, we are wary of unique. role in ACAR’s politics. We marginalized by White Supremacy must taken away from their families by the superficial legislative solutions to sought to include voices that confront our own participation and colonial Australian government. deeply foundational racism. We acknowledge that Australia is are often left behind in non- benefit in the ongoing colonisation of not a post-colonial nation. That this inclusive activism, and we hope sovereign Indigenous land. Whiteness We acknowledge the crimes of We stand in solidarity with Indigenous land was never terra nulius—a myth to empower such voices in this in this country is intrinsically linked the ongoing Northern Territory wom*n who face the highest rates of retrospectively concocted by a colonial edition. Editorial team at 5:55am, 17 continuous hours in this office. Rekt. to the power to colonise and settle Intervention, now in its seventh year. sexual assault and domestic violence regime to justify the genocide and Indigenous land—in this capacity we This military occupation of sovereign in this country. We stand with dispossession it was already enacting. must recognize that all non-Indigenous Indigenous soil blatantly disregards the Indigenous men who experience the That Indigenous sovereignty wasnever carry with them a piece of Whiteness. Colonial State’s own legal obligations highest rates of incarceration and ceded and that until the treaties are and highlights its moral bankruptcy. suicide in this country. And we stand signed, the occupation is ongoing. We acknowledge that Cadigal people We condemn the gross fabrications of with non-binary Indigenous people, ACAR Office Bearers’ Report and the greater Eora nation were ‘paedophile gangs’ and ‘child sex rings’ whose culture’s progressive stance Finally, we, ACAR, acknowledge that the first to suffer, resist and survive used to justify this intervention. These on gender and sexuality was first White Australia has a Black History. bettering the group for all the brutalities of White Supremacy are nothing but old colonial stereotypes suppressed by conservative settlers and By Eden Caceda, Lamisse Hamouda & Kavya Kalutantiri its members. in Australia. Therefore we recognize of deviant black sexuality mobilised to their repressive laws, and then later And we pledge to fight for a Black that our struggle for liberation is facilitate new colonial goals of control, whitewashed by liberal ones. Future. s we approach the middle of Student Representative Council (SRC) for this role. Through this, we also As ACAR continues to intrinsically linked to the centuries- dispossession and criminalisation. second semester and celebrate were elected from the collective. Earlier intend to change the name of the thrive, we still have detractors and long resistance of the Australian With bi-partisan backing, these policies We pay our respects to Indigenous the publishing of this incredible this year we were fortunate to have an department from ‘Ethnic Affairs’ to cynics who are hostile towards our A presence. Last year we received second Autonomous Collective Against Orientation Week stall and be involved ‘Ethnocultural’. This is something we Racism (ACAR) Honi Soit edition, we with welcoming new students to the believe will reflect the autonomy and volumes of hateful messages about take this chance to look back at the collective and the university. self representation we have sought to our group, its place in campus life and progress this collective has made in the bring to this position. our influence. These comments, if Credits past year and a half. We’re also looking forward to an anything, simply signify the need for upcoming ACAR revue performance, Many of our ideas are still yet to be this collective even more. Originating as a small group a joint resource sharing platform implemented within the collective, as Editors: Eden Caceda, Lamisse Contributors: Rafi Alam, Fahad Ali, Artists/Illutrations: Whitney Duan, of empowered people of colour campaign with UNSW and PoC Poetry always there is an abundance of passion We believe it is essential to enshrine Hamouda, Kavya Kalutantiri, Tom Justine Amin, Eugene Cheung, Bridget Emily Shen, Richard Tong and Michael determined to create a safe space for Slam Feature night for Verge Festival. and a restriction of time. We hope to self-representation within our Joyner, Naaman Zhou, Nabila Harilaou, Yifan Kong, Jamie Lowe, Lotsaris all ethnocultural students, ACAR has Despite taking a semester to find our pass this collective on to individuals institutions for people of colour, Chemaissem, Shareeka Helaluddin, Liam Luangrathrajasombat, Jamie grown to hold 300 diverse members feet, our efforts in semester two are who will carry on the incredible and people from minority ethnocultural Millie Roberts, Whitney Duan, Lowe, Tabitha Prado, Lamya Rahman, Cover art: Stephanie Barahona and who regularly contribute to active testaments to how ACAR continues necessary work of this collective. We backgrounds and Indigenous people. Emily Shen, Fatima Rauf, Stephanie Radhika Rajan, Xiaoran Shi, Michael Fatima Rauf discussion and work together to make with realising its potential and growing hope that with new people, come We stand “against racism” but we Barahona, Aulina Chaudhuri, Adam Sun and Una Madura Verde. change both on and off campus. strong, and providing platforms new policies and ideas; all of which also stand for friendship, community, Ursino and Ada Lee. for people of colour from different will continue to change and develop empathy and for a better future For the first time ever, all current disciplines and interests. Lastly, we the way ACAR grows. We believe all collectively and individually. We hope office bearers of the Ethnic Affairs are in the process of enshrining in SRC collectives must invest in exploring new to continue to remain positive and department of the University of Sydney regulations the necessity of autonomy pathways and always be conscious of strive towards a better future.

2 3 autonomous collective against racism How The Sausage Lived/Academia

t’s a Saturday and I desperately need My brother doesn’t have an accent. My engagement with race has been to The beauty of accepting the to catch up on my university work. English is his first language. If anything, understand my own lived experience supplementary nature of academic Gets Made II sit in the secluded guest room he has an accent when he speaks Arabic. through academic racial discourse. I racial discourse is that we create a skimming over my overdue cases. My let the brilliant minds of academics more inclusive space. Critical race and here’s one big fib they teach you at how the sausage gets made? “Most people are polite, they enjoy my most diners actually want to see ethnic brother’s singing interrupts me. “I am, “It’s like you’re told to assimilate right, and activists of colour guide my postcolonial theory should not be Tin primary school. It’s a case of food, they smile, they get to know me. faces. It’s a question of authenticity: if you are, we are Aussssstraaaliiiiaaaan,” and you do, but people will still be like understanding. In this sense, my viewed as the domain of the far left, twisted biology: that you can get to the Apinya runs a Thai takeaway down the When people taste my food, they’re it’s a Korean restaurant you want to see he belts from the kitchen as he makes fuck off you’re not REALLY Australian, lived experience and intellectual because my reality cannot be placed heart through the stomach and tongue. St Peters side of King Street. Her story, happy. They come back and they refer a Korean face; a Chinese restaurant, a himself a cup of tea. “Unless you’re or they will imply it, or whatever.” understanding of race coincide to inform on the political spectrum, nor should It’s the lesson at the core of the great when she tells it, is a rejoinder to mine. to me as family, as their sister or auntie. Chinese face. eeeeeethhhhniiiicccc!” He follows up. my racial politics. His understanding of it. Attempting to do so strips away my Australian bring-your-ethnic-food-to- There was a lady—she’s now moved to He grabs his tea and ends his rant there. race is far less considered. He simply agency and autonomy as a person of class day; that formative mess of share- Apinya came to Sydney in 1988 and Gosford—but she would call me up and For Apinya, the harmony day narrative allows his lived experience to illuminate colour, and confines me to political plates and finger food. the presence of food, prepared and tell me that I was like her sister.” rings true. Her experience, with two By Justine Amin My brother experienced a micro- the racial realities that people of colour positions that lack nuance. I deserve consumed, smoothed the way. “Coming children born and raised in Sydney, aggression. That’s the academic term inevitably encounter. In describing our the breathing space to be complicated. over,” she tells me, “wasn’t too bad an I ask her if her experience of immigrating is that their food has only ever been for it. He doesn’t know that. My racial realities, our articulation is highly No one has the right to claim me or my By Naaman Zhou experience.” Her aunt had owned a would have been harder if she didn’t appreciated, a source of pride in the I laugh. “So I was at uni and this dude brother has never engaged in critical convergent, but the substance is the narrative. comes up to me and asks me what racial discourse. He hasn’t read same. ‘natio’ I am,” he yells over. I already Edward Said, or deliberated over the The significance of my brother’s brief For hungry student and hurried know where this is going. “I told him, intricacies of orientalism. He hasn’t To me, this revelation is significant. rant is the unifying thread of experience educator alike, food is always the go- mate, I’m Australian.” At this point, I stayed up admiring the depth of When engaging in highly intellectualised that alerts people of colour to the to metaphor for multiculturalism. It’s should probably point out my brother is Crenshaw’s groundbreaking work on racial discourse, one can easily become nature of society. We need to always a wonderfully elemental tactic, rooted Egyptian. Dark brown skin. Dark thick intersectionality. No, my brother hates consumed in the concepts, the remember that the realities come first, in instinct and alimentary canal, this beard. the humanities. terminology, the politics of it all. It can and our attempts at explanation come idea that tolerance can be bred around seem distant, abstract and alienating. second. We need to reclaim academia as the picnic table, the unfamiliar made “I’m guessing he didn’t accept that He’s an engineering student, he loves Indeed, it can become exhausting. Our a qualifier to our experiences, it should palatable via palate. It’s also a bit of an answer?” cars, his favourite show is Top Gear, racial discourse should not exist in some act as a tool of understanding, not a oversimplification; not untrue, but just and would very easily be described as bizarre, inaccessible academic realm, but means to pigeonhole us. prone to hypocrisy. “Nah. He looked at me funny, told me I a ‘dudebro’. It’s safe to say, we are very rather as supplementary to the reality of had an accent—asked me where I was different people. people of colour. Sydney prides itself on the diversity of REALLY from.” its food culture. Ethnic food, in its ready availability and high quality, is a selling point on the Destination NSW website. But it’s also something of a forgotten Illustration: Michael Lotsaris gift—absorbed by most but not restaurant in Thailand and by 1990 had have the restaurant. She’s not so sure. playground. Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney Annual Election explicitly appreciated. Think for example one in Newtown. She gave Apinya a job, how the modern Broadsheet-bohemia and it helped her settle down. Though she knows she doesn’t speak Apinya’s story is the fable we’re all told, of the inner-city rests on a bedrock of for everyone, Apinya denies she has but it too often gets elided. We brand early immigration. The shiny pop-ups For Apinya, the migrant restaurateur experienced racism as a restaurateur, the cheap Newtown Thai scene as a part and micro-dumpling bars are the fruit of experience has been relatively idyllic; even in the early 1980s. “I’m very lucky,” of the student experience, we don’t Polling Booth Times a few hardy souls who she smiles. attribute it to a very unique quirk of sold food in the face immigration. of a pretty unfriendly It’s the others who weren’t marketplace—and “It’s a wonderfully so fortunate. “Before I It’s a selective blindness where certain and Places 2015 we just sort of forgot opened my restaurant here, ethnic foods are accepted, and in about it. there were a lot of Thai the process lose their ethnicity. It’s a elemental tactic, this idea people who lived down the dissonance where the exploded, one- For all the Harmony road. I saw so many shops of-every-colour approach to food is Polling Wed 23rd Thurs 24th Pre-Polling Days and school-hall that tolerance can be bred open and disappear. Three acceptable, but any en-masse bloc of a buffets, there remains months and then they single cuisine becomes a ghetto. Ethnic Location Sept 2015 Sept 2015 a certain disjoint were gone. They said it was food is fine as long as it’s pleasantly between the theory around the picnic table” because the locals didn’t anthologised—the shopfronts as of food-as-bringer- like Asians. Everybody distinct as possible, as slim and crushed together and its practice. It’s the the intersection of food and race largely knew.” together as terrace houses. Fisher 8:30–6:30 8:30–5:00 Pre-Polling cognitive dissonance of the person who untroubled. Most of her customers are proclaims to ‘love’ Asian food but balks white Australian—office workers and Apinya’s partner is white. Her friends will also be held at Asian faces in their child’s classroom. young locals—and she tells me that they say this is why their shop survived. Manning 10:00–4:00 10:00–4:00 How can you enjoy the food but cringe are overwhelmingly warm and friendly. Nowadays though, she points out that outside the SRC Cumberland 11:00–3:00 11:00–3:00 Offices, Level 1 SCA 12:00–2:00 No polling Wentworth Bldg, Engineering No polling 12:00–2:00 on Tuesday 22nd September from Coming soon: Conservatorium 12:00–2:00 No polling 10am–3pm. ACAR podcast Jane Foss 8:30–6:00 8:30–6:00

facebook.com/usyd acar Authorised by P. Graham, SRC Electoral Officer 2015, Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney | p: 02 9660 5222 | w: src.usyd.edu.au

5 autonomous collective against racism Fair Go (Back To Where Dear SUSLAS, By Una Madura Verde Dear Sydney University Spanish and 4. If possible, consider the use of a electoral success was eliminated amid Latin American Society, different flag as an opportunity to knowledge of pre-existing alliances which educate your executive and members of course cemented pre-determined When I found out about your society of that country’s independence from decisions about who the next crop of You Came From) earlier last year, I looked forward to a imperial rule. leaders ought to be. What I observed place where moments of friendship or from this experience is that you run acquaintance could be based on a shared Example two: You are one of the few your society on a “who thinks and acts Brisbane patroller was called a “n*****” commuters. What has been termed as The end of 2015 marks sixty years since commitment to what I deem to be my clubs and societies at the University like me” basis rather than any principles By Millie Roberts and a “black c***”, while he was also told ‘passive’ or ‘casual’ racism is so insidious, Rosa Parks first brought the topic of Latin@ identity. of Sydney which does not pay respect of the democratic governance. This type to “learn some fucking English, cause this that most of us cannot even identify racism on transport into the public sphere. to the traditional owners of this land. of leadership and governance creates an is Australia”. when it is happening. It is a different world now. We’ve come “Do you wear [the hijab] so you can marry Instead I was confronted with a very Speaking from my own experience, you intentionally exclusive space for what far enough to eradicate the segregating exclusive claim to Latin American a man who’s going to marry a 6-year-old?” have never have paused to acknowledge could provide genuine opportunities for Recorded on smartphones and other It is the staring at the traditional attire on laws that separate ‘whites’ from ‘blacks’. cultures, languages and the people country at your events or routine society intercultural exchange, education and personal devices, these rants, slurs and the passenger in the seat opposite. It is the We’ve come far enough to realise that they represent. One which sought its Good old ’straya: a land that prides activities. This is outright offensive. This engagement. taunts often infiltrate the news due to shock of hearing a tongue foreign to your bigoted and racially-motivated outbursts, expression from a handful of people who is unequivocal denial of the conscious and itself on the surface values of diversity, their shocking and extreme nature. But own when they make a phone call. It is the especially on public transport, are morally despite identifying as either Latin@ or continued efforts on behalf Australian and Recommendations: multiculturalism and all-abiding how often do such cases go unheard subtle shuffling away from the person of wrong and socially taboo. We’ve come far enthusiastic students of my ‘culture’ or Latin American indigenous populations acceptance. And yet the plague of racism, enough to declare unwavering support ‘language’, flaunted an air of indifference to the making of their histories, the 1. Practise the democracy you preach. deeply embedded into the core of our for the victims and show our outrage towards what I wrongly thought to be a recovery of their identity, their land society, still prevails—flourishing against the perpetrators in the videos we unique opportunity to create and sustain and lastly, to the recognition of their 2. For the sake of your members, host most vociferously on our public see on our screens. a complex, pluralistic and above all, continued oppression as consequence of elections which grant opportunity to transport system. inclusive space. centuries of european colonisation. candidates of merit. In other words, vote We have come far—but have we truly not for your friends but the change, ideas Earlier this year, a video of an elderly come far enough? I was confronted with the claim that my Recommendations: and innovations they claim to guarantee woman berating a Muslim family on a Latin@ identity is nothing more than a during their tenure. Sydney train emerged, causing a viral If you witness racism on public transport, dose of feverish excitement available to Always pay respect to the traditional uproar with nearly 80,000 views. be it covert or overt in its nature, you, those looking to do nothing more than owners of this land past and present As my letter draws to a close I would like In a media statement, 23-year-old as a bystander, are not entirely without overcome the stress and monotony of to remind you that its purpose is not Stacey Eden, the woman who stood influence. If (and only if) it is safe to student life. Actively acknowledge the shared histories to attack you or members personally. up for the couple and their children, demonstrate your opposition—do so. of colonisation between Australia and Rather this letter should be taken as an expressed that she “just felt like if no Whether it be through confrontation, If you think that I am exaggerating, think Latin America. opportunity to increase inclusivity and one said anything, it was just going every day? How truly common is public colour next to you, the subconscious turn showing support to the victim or even twice. Here are four examples of both respect of those people who own the subtle and obvious ways in which you Example Three: Language matters. Firstly, cultures, identities and languages which to keep going” because “people like [the transport racism, and is it always as of your nose or the sense of fear burning simply contacting a staff member or the have made and continue to make, my if you are going to use gender neutral you are trying to represent or make your offender] are just very ignorant”. extreme as the YouTube videos portray it within you because they look, smell or police, you have agency. Hundreds of claims bleed true: language, use it consistently. Secondly, members ‘experience’. Moreover I am not to be? sound different. It is the awkward flit of cases across Australia go unnoticed and This is but one of many examples from if you are going to skip between English insisting that there is some ‘true’ version your eyes and the bow of your head when unreported everyday. an outburst of ‘bias-motivated crimes’ Example one: Have you considered that and Spanish, make sure your sporadic of Latin@ culture that you should adhere *** you hear a racist remark directed at them. your society name may be problematic? bilingualism is well considered. Both of to. Suggesting that will in itself involve over the past nine months. September Danger lies in our complicity. You are enclosed, trapped within the By insisting that Spain precedes Latin these inconsistencies have the capacity taking your side and weakening my of last year saw an unprovoked attacking It is not these raucous displays of abuse confines of the carriage, with seemingly America without any justification to insinuate and reinforce populist or defence against the metonymic reduction of a Muslim woman at a Melbourne train that cause the most harm, but also the no other choice but to look away. except perhaps that history privileges stereotypical Latin@ personality traits, of the customs, traditions, histories, station, who was bashed and later thrown inaction and complicit silence of other the colonisers, you are proudly and identities, genders and from this, cement identities and so forth which have and onto the train tracks. A month later, a Illustration: Michael Lotsaris publicly parading a Eurocentric, neo- essentialised ideas or criteria of what is continue to shape my Latin@ identity colonialist version of Latin America, and or isn’t Latin@. Consider for example, today. by extension, consciously reinforcing how comments like ‘even if you can only perceptions of Latin America as the say “hola” and “me gusta la cerveza” Lastly, this letter serves not to interpret colonised other. Moreover, have you (the important things)’, involve treating non-Hispanic or non-Latin@ interest considered how the use of the Spanish cultural pluralism as a facile, feel-good in Latin American cultural productions flag as one of main visual reference concept which fosters tolerance rather as unequivocally good or unequivocally points to your society suggests a than intercultural education and thus bad. Rather it is a heartfelt assertion Split Down The Middle Of Me metonymic reduction of Latin American a missed opportunity to address the about the appropriation, reduction cultures, languages and peoples to the myriad of structural barriers which and manipulation of my identity; an Here’s a fact about me: Zayn Javad Malik Regardless of whether the speaker in Abbott’s. However, this doesn’t translate people of colour can probably relate to the habits, customs, religious practices and prevent any real inclusion of “others” into assertion that contends that identity is and I share an intense experiential bond. question is white or a person of colour, we’re into “Australian-ness”, which is notoriously experience of finding themselves caught up diseases exposed to them during and mainstream society. real, cultures are real, and languages, the a tangent in the ongoing discussion about unachievable for people of colour. between their family backgrounds and the after colonisation? Are you aware that voices by which these lived realities are race. This is not an intentional exclusion. society they live in. this triggers memories of centuries of Recommendations: expressed, defined and contested, are Navigating issues of race in Australia is I’ve had the Australian proverb “go back oppression and continued political, real. By Jamie Lowe 1. Use gender neutral language difficult enough without throwing mixed where you came from” tossed my way But, it’s worth remembering that while economic and cultural arbitration? consistently. Having said this, it is up to you to listen race experiences into the discourse. We more than once. Regardless of what white some of us might end up stuck in the border Indeed this pride in the long-gone Spanish and consider the validity of my claims. He doesn’t know it yet, but we’re actually complicate things. I’ve sometimes said, Australia might say, my mother’s family zones, we’ve always been able to create our empire renders your society a space which 2. Educate members about the At the end of the day, you have made it connected on a deep and meaningful half-jokingly, that I’m too brown for the think of me as more ‘Australian’ than own spaces. In the words of Zayn Malik: unnecessarily, yet consciously, thrives in the past, and consequently a space which importance of language, memory and clear that this is your society and not level—hopefully one that transcends his white people and too white for the brown anything else. Meanwhile, my father’s “Fuck a beat… I go acapella”. actively and unapologetically suggests visual imagery in achieving genuine mine. At this point all I can do is reassert Twitter feuds and questionable life choices. people. relatives tacitly agree that my sister and I opportunities for intercultural are “from overseas”. How we are supposed European colonisation to be the starting that failure to consider my concerns may interaction and opening up spaces result, among other things, in my identity Let me be clear, this is about more than Personally, I know that no matter how to reconcile these labels is beyond me. point of Latin American history, identity wherein it can occur. becoming a mere excuse for university his perfectly symmetrical face and angelic much I try to learn, there will always be and political agency. funding. vocals (although I’d be lying if I said they parts of my mother’s culture that I just The borders might be porous and they Please note: hosting occasional film weren’t contributing factors). I recently won’t be able to join in the same way that might also be arbitrary, but they’re still Recommendations: nights or peppering your weekly Just as the publication of this letter found out Zayn Malik and I are both from other people do. I don’t speak the language, there. When I say mixed race people live 1. Educate your executive and your newsletters with random country profiles represents collective shame and mixed race families, and that our parents I’ve never been to the country, and I’ll never in a liminal space, I don’t mean that we members about Latin American foreign doesn’t count as an attempt to explore indignation towards the workings of your are of similar backgrounds. quite know how to play the part right. But can shift from one culture to another. In relations. and address broader issues of cultural society, there exists the real danger that then again, nobody really expects me to. my experience, culture isn’t a confined to ownership, cultural identity and cultural your indifference to my claims may result It’s strange to think that someone like The lack of rules when living on a cultural a set of learnable features. Even if you can 2. Reorder your society name to read interaction. Leadership on these matters in your society representing nothing Zayn could understand what it’s like to fringe is a rule unto itself. There are rules adapt to fit whichever side of the family ‘Latin American and Spanish Society’. needs to happen on the ground first. more than the mere caricature it has grow up between two cultures. It’s always for living on the cultural fringe, and one of you happen to be hanging out with, it’s no already become. a surprise, and in some ways a relief, to them is that there are fewer rules. substitute for a stable cultural identity. 3. If you are going to use flags, you are Example four: There seems to be a trend remember there are other people who spoilt for choice. There are 22 Latin in SUSLAS that only your friends or your inhabit liminal spaces, living on the border At the same time, I’ll never be an Ultimately, some mixed race people are American countries in the world. Grant partners get into positions of power. between one cultural category and another. unquestioned member of my white father’s never really going to identify with a singular them representation; use their flag. When I tried to get elected in your Illustration: Emily Shen It’s an unstable way to exist. culture either. It’s satisfying to know that cultural identity, and that’s not something executive last year, any possibility of my my family has been here longer than Tony that’s unique to us, either. Most Australian 6 77 autonomous collective against racism (Im)possible Desires

its stereotypical gender roles, but I feel homosexuality: “I really like Beckham.” By Shareeka Helaluddin this is an insufficient reading; as Jess navigates Britain as a racialised and The dislocation of queerness onto the here are very few coming-of-age Jess interacts with her Indian identity sexual being as well; orienting her in a body of the male supporting character, films made for girls of colour, at as if it were a burden, and negotiates specific direction, thereby affecting how rather than the central female character, least not in the way there are for this through challenging stereotypes she ‘takes up’ space. is an act of making invisible the queer T female experience. Denying Jess’ queer white girls. When Gurinder Chadha’s of what a ‘proper’ Indian girl is. This film Bend It Like Beckham was released fragmentation of identity is a narrative ‘Bending’ also lends itself to a queer potential erases the ways in which queer in 2002, it was the first time I was able many young South Asian women, interpretation, but Chadha opts for its female identities intrude, resist and to see myself in pop culture: in a young including myself, can relate to. Jess feminist implications. Yet, there are reconfigure ‘home’ spaces. South Asian girl struggling to reconcile is resistant, resilient and disruptive many scenes between Jess and Jules her passion and identity with that of her in more ways than one. She embodies charged with coded queer desires: It may seem like I am affording Chadha’s Poetry Suite by Michael Sun family’s seemingly conservative ideals. the paradoxes of what it is to wield Jules’ awe and wistful staring, the film with more political potential than Thirteen years since the film’s release, a hyphenated diasporic identity and ‘almost’ kisses, the mis-recognitions of it deserves, but I think it can offer a brine i it still remains formative. Queer-ing be a young woman of colour in a a lesbian relationship? These fuel the platform and accessible starting point Bend It Like Beckham is an attempt to predominantly White community. Jess’ queer imagination, and leave lingering to interrogate ‘broader’ issues regarding You soaked me in brine I am a Bad Ethnic Boy both coalesce my love for the film and potential queerness complicates this a dialogue about the potentials of queer gender, sexuality, race, class, caste, interrogate my experiences and growing further, and dispels presumptions about diasporic representations. culture, nation, diaspora. Exploring Desiccated my skin I do not, will not behave consciousness as a queer, South Asian South Asian girlhood and being part of moments of deviation from presumed woman of colour. a diaspora. Despite this, there are many derisive scripts of identity is vital for alternative I was a vacuum-packed yellowfish I do not, will not wash my feet references to lesbianism via comedic communities that are inclusive and I’m convinced that there was an I’m definitely not advocating for a plot lines of multiple mis-recognitions committed to sustained intersectional I do not, will not comply And you my vagabond vendor unrealised romantic relationship ‘coming out’ story, but rather I’m saying of lesbianism—trivialising same-sex politics. between the two female leads Jesminder that queerness here could operate relationships with one-liners. “Mother, “Jess” Bhamra and Juliette “Jules” on multiple levels: sexual, social and just because I wear trackies and play The omission of Jess and Jules’ Paxton. An interpretation that is not political. Queer in this sense refers sport does not make me a lesbian,” love story upholds the erasure and I will listen to your corporeal symphony Your whispered incantations only based on suggestive queerness to non-normative sexualities, but is intones Jules. The attitudes around impossibility of queer female desire, in the girls’ interactions (ok, and my more than ‘just sex’. Queerness is also same-sex relations (from both the South which further isolates these members Rapture by Yiu Nam Lost rituals, crystallised in I will rationalise your mortal cacophony fantasy); but also the persistent yet about disorientating and complicating Asian and British communities) in this of diasporic communities. This Instagram: @yiunamcheung unconfirmed rumours that there dichotomous understandings of film, however trivial, present these contributes to nationalist, patriarchal Your whitewashed linen I will soak the TV into me was a love story between Jess and identity. Queer, for me, offers the non-normative desires as unacceptable, and colonial narratives that shrouds Philippians 3:20-21: But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we Jules, denied out of fear of isolating political potential of intruding and inadvertently implying that diasporic and reinscribes norms, which queerness Bleached and re-bleached and re-bleached We will be await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly mainstream audiences. shattering dominant modes of queerness is in conflict with racial and shatters. The relationship between body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even gender subordination. Jess and Jules could have served as an whitewashed bodies on whitewashed linen understanding and interacting. to subject all things to himself. Rapture is a triptych of portraits Exploring this seemingly impossible example of respectful and considerate that seeks to explore the displacement of South Asian identities. Though the film is progressive in many alliances across difference, as well as the Linens draped over my body I am a Bad Ethnic Boy narrative between Jess and Jules could No doubt, the film sets out to challenge The photographic subject exists as a figure of beauty, confidence unearth the radical potential of queer gender roles and narrow conceptions senses, mobilising a queer diasporic complexities that come with interracial, and poise even in the face of a confronting diasporic experience. framework reveals how Chadha utilises queer relationships. That’s a film I Curtaining my form - behold! South Asian female desire as a form of femininity and masculinity. The Positioned against a biblical framework, the photos aims to draw of resistance. Queer identities within title itself, refers to girls ‘bending’ a conventional trope of shutting down want to see. But this potential remains ironic comparisons between colonial ideology and the second the possibility of queer female desire. unrealised, liminal, impossible. I was a spectre shapeless diaspora introduce bodies and identities prescribed cultural and gender roles, coming of Christ. that disrupt gender normativity and as well as taking up space in (literally) Jess is decreed as heterosexual, and challenge the dominant whiteness of a male dominated field. Both Jess and queerness is displaced (with little effort) queer stories. Jules have to resist the patriarchy and to her best friend Tony. He confesses his

8 9 autonomous collective against racism I Am A Muslim Woman, Struggling Against, And Would Like A Moment Of Your Time Not Just Within

dentity politics proposes that of the Racial Discrimination Act and drive for capital to colonise continents, the focus of activism and politics policies advocating for a ‘multicultural’ enslave entire nations, pillage the wealth Ishould be in the representation of Australia. However, ‘multiculturalism’, of people who looked different? perspectives from minority groups— albeit well-intentioned in its aims, is women, queer people, trans people, betrayed by the wording of the policy Class is not just an economic abstract people of colour, people with disabilities, itself, which describes itself as one of compared to the deeply felt phenomena etc. In organising around identities, the “manag[ing] cultural diversity” and of racial identity. It is connected. As people who suffer from a particular accommodating immigrants and foreign Selma James points out in Sex, Race, oppression lead the struggle against cultures within the immutable core of and Class: “Culture is how you feel on that oppression, are given priority of white Australia. Monday morning at eight when you voice, and determine the direction of the clock in, wishing it was Friday, wishing movement. Thus, it is not difficult to see exactly your life away... Culture is making the tea while your man watches the news on By Rafi Alam & Xiaoran Shi the telly.” When we constantly use our energy Identity politics hasn’t been entirely how conservative multiculturalism is, to fight ignorant White people, we am a young girl, no more than five, I’m from by people who aren’t satisfied covers the hair but not the face). “We just came and sat down next to me and irrelevant to activism and the left. It’s namely in its devotion to valorising and submit to a belief that our struggle is and sitting in the car as my mum when my answer is ‘Australia’. So I have were discussing implications of it, and wouldn’t stop asking me questions about undeniable that these political currents maintaining ideals of a culture inherited against them for survival in a world that parks in front of a grocer in Liverpool. to tell them that my parents were born there’s a lot of white boys in the class. being Muslim. And I could sense that she were, and still are to a lesser extent, from a bygone Britain and bolstered by currently favours them, when in fact, I I ask her to please get me a Kinder overseas but that I was born and raised And they’re like, ‘it’s restrictive, they wasn’t trying to offend me…but she was dominated by White straight cis men. Christian morality. Non-Anglo-Celtic our struggle is against the wealthy and Surprise, more for the toy inside than in this country. The response to this is feel like they can’t talk to you’.” But so ignorant and so racist in her beliefs immigrants are to be “tolerated” and powerful who withhold from all of us, the chocolate exterior. My mum nods almost always an awkward knowing who, other than Western media, paints about Islam that I was just internally But the utility of identity politics ends viewed with the expectation that they white and non-white. and smiles down at me before getting out smile, as if I’ve given an answer that it as a restriction? Time and time again cringing and laughing at the same time. at the point where people are internally will conform to the narrow strictures of the car. I’m about to follow her when could not possibly be right. Muslim women have appeared on She was just like, “oh god, so like you’re reforming their organisations or social of an Australian national identity, I see a middle-aged woman with blonde television as part of interviews, and said educated and stuff”…“it’s so great that circles to be more accommodating of but never have a stake in full cultural hair, who is older than my mother and These are not new or foreign experiences, repeatedly that the scarf is anything but Muslim girls are now going to uni”. I was minority voices. No matter how hard participation. carrying a bag of groceries in each hand. but rather constant reminders to myself a restriction. How can it be fair to view like Muslim girls have been going to uni we work to create safe spaces, it can She stops, puts down the groceries, and and my Muslim sisters—reverts and a religious practice that is not Western, for a long time!’ never be the end goal; safe spaces must Another supposed aim of identity hurls expletives at my ‘wog’ mother who, those born into Islam—that we live in within a Western framework? be used as radical places to organise politics is to promote intersectionality. according to her, should ‘fuck off back to a society that barely knows us or treats Islamic tradition is full of female the liberation of a restrictive world, or However, people who profess to believe her country’. Seventeen years later and I us with the same kindness and inclusion And often times it goes beyond role models; Khadijah, (may Allah be else they become pockets of safety in a in identity politics use intersectionality still see that experience as the one that that we see afforded to others. I am an just ignorance. Juman Abdoh is an pleased with her), was a woman who fundamentally unsafe world. as a framework to show how intersecting “Intersectionality really, truthfully showcases mainstream Honours student majoring in English Australian-born Palestinian woman, and governed her own business in Mecca, identities of oppression lead to ideology towards Muslims. literature, and just two months ago I was at the end of 2014, was ‘giving out flyers who proposed to the Prophet rather Identity politics can neglect engagement worsening oppression; this is a given. asked if I planned to use my Honours for an event for SUMSA’ on the busy than waiting for him to make the move, with politics, with ideology and instead should instead be used education to become a translator. bridge above City Road. ‘And then there and who remained his rock till the day concerns itself with defining and Intersectionality should instead be used By Nabila Chemaissem was a lady; she was in her early 20s ... she she passed away. If to be a successful, coalescing around the parameters of the as a foundation for a common struggle as a foundation for a This is real. This is the prejudice, the came up to us. My friend was giving her well-learned, and ambitious woman is so ethnic and racial groups to which people where the common struggle is in class. I am eight and in the passenger seat; ignorance, and the presumptuous a flyer and she attacked her verbally…. wrong in Islam, then the Prophet would can belong. This is harmful not only my mum is driving along the Hume attitudes that we deal with every day. “You bloody Muslims! Go back to where not have loved her so dearly and wept so because it furthers the essentialising By ignoring class struggle as a common struggle where Highway. I’ve just begun to notice the you came from! You’re the filth of this ardently at her passing. of racial and ethnic constructions, but fundamental aspect of racial liberation, strangeness with which the man in the country!” It was very in your face’. But also because it contributes to the ‘divide we can give in to the belief that ‘working But surely in university, in an the common struggle is white Commodore ahead of us is driving. perhaps the worst part was that no Today, culture and the abhorrent actions and conquer’ schema implemented class’ means poor white man and environment where all kinds of people He keeps braking suddenly, and my mum passers-by said anything. ‘They sort of of a minority are so easily mistaken for by imperialist powers to formulate nothing more, even though globally we come to learn, surely those assumptions tries to merge into another lane to move just separated and walked around us.’ religion, that we fail to see that arranged and disseminate myths promoting see that people of colour and women in class.” would no longer be an issue. Except that away from him but he follows, merging marriages in Pakistan, the horrors in a normative and homogeneous make up the large bulk of the working they are. Mariam Bazzi attended her first in front of us. He brakes abruptly again, ‘I might be the only Quran anybody Iraq, and an inability to drive in Saudi nationhood. population, even in majority White day of university with the same naivety and once more my mum tries to move countries. We see over and over again that we all do. “I thought I was going into reads,’ Mariam says, understanding Arabia are not in any way reflective of away from him. This time he stays in Let us take the example of Australia that many of the social and labour an environment where like, they’re so that people may not ever read a physical Islam or its teachings. The rulings of ISIS his lane—the one on our right—and he and its dark history of institutionalised struggles of our time are led by people open-minded and going to accept me for Quran and that, as a result, she must and Taliban are not in any way indicative and his friend begin to yell at us from racism. The White Australia Policy of colour and women. Race and gender who I am… but on the contrary, y’know. remain an accurate representation of of the fundamental teachings of Islam, their car. Before we can do anything, was wholly dismantled, at least in the aren’t delinked from class, capital, and I remember my first History tutorial. I Islam regardless of the Islamophobia and to conflate the two is harmful. the friend hocks back and spits directly legislative sense, by the 1970s with the labour—they are products of it. Would walked in, and this guy walked in late, around her. through the open window and into Whitlam government’s introduction the myth of race exist if it wasn’t for the and there was only one seat left next to My dad was agnostic for a time because mum’s face. They speed off, laughing, me. And he was so hesitant to sit next to Her identity as a Muslim woman is he believed that Muslims did a poor job and I stare up at my mum who’s now me. And when he sat next to me he sort an ‘advantage… [it] pushes me every of representing their religion. I know too crying angry tears, and wonder what she of moved his seat over so he didn’t have day… It’s my drive.’ And yet the media what it means to have doubt, and what it had done to offend them. to look at me or speak to me.” would have us believe that being Muslim means to be surrounded by people who requires that we remain ignorant and call themselves Muslims but do nothing I am ten and now wear the scarf. We’ve But maybe he was just anxious to sit subservient, as if our Islam oppresses that Islam asks of them. However, that just landed back in Sydney after a visit next to a woman? That may be true, us. Juman’s desire to excel is not the isn’t Islam’s fault. to Lebanon to see our family. I’m making but we experience the same thing with exception to the rule; it is the rule. small talk with the white woman in front non-Muslim women as well. Most, if Fatima al-Fihri in the year 859, founded Who we are, as Muslim women, is unique, of me, who’s from Britain and in Sydney not all of my undergraduate classes were Al-Qarawiyin in Fez, Morocco, the first varied and encompasses a multitude of on a two week business trip. She asks me spent sitting alone, watching as men and degree-awarding university long before aspirations and experiences; every one how long I plan to stay in Sydney, and women filed in after me and took their Western civilisation stopped deeming of those experiences are as valid as each I reply that I was born and raised here. seats at tables that were not mine. women as property and non-whites as other. ‘Oh,’ she says, and turns around. That’s racially inferior. Getting an education in the end of our conversation, and staring ‘There’s a definite consensus that the Islam is mandatory. So put down the Western lens and let us wide eyed at her back I wonder what I scarf makes us unapproachable,” says show you who we are. had said to offend her. Fatima Alameddine, in reference to During a temporary stint at a small her observations of discussions in her law firm, Fatima Rauf found herself I’ve been asked multiple times where class about the hijab (the veil which acquainted with a white woman ‘who 10 11 autonomous collective against racism What A Shame Stranger

[Trigger Warning: this article discusses mental stock image psychologists and doubt they itself—within ethno-cultural communities in Australia, our voice in ethnocultural ow you identify and how others At eighteen you start studying your You decide to go on exchange, to in Indonesia. You have heart here. illness and suicide] could begin to understand the plethora of seem assimilationist in nature, necessitating matters have lost validity as judge from a racialise you is a limbo so mother tongue at university, because live in Indonesia. You don’t really experiences hinged on my cultural identity. the need to find a solution that balances the point of incredible privilege. Attempting difficult to navigate, you may it will be an easy subject, right? And I remember making the decision or Even though you’re living in a city with Without the necessary support networks importance of mental health awareness with to destabilise another nation’s cultural H one of the highest average standards of as well explain your ethnicity one more guess you’re kind of interested. Which why; it just starts to happen. After By Whitney Duan and social services, I, amongst multitudes respect for cultural autonomy. conceptions of mental illness disrespects of PoC, stayed silent, internalising the its right to autonomy by forcing change. time. Not just for their benefit, but to mother tongue exactly? Not Mandarin, all, it is the culture that has had the living; with air-conditioning, a queen victim-blaming mentality taught by our In initial conversations with activist Lily For immigrants, the strongest and most remind yourself that you are real. your mother doesn’t speak that. Not largest influence on your life. You are bed and and a private bathroom, you “Suicide is selfish.” That was the pearl of communities. Guo*, who has shared similar experiences as impacting voices do indeed come from Greek, your father only speaks Indonesian. There’s just one small don’t feel the irony just yet. You feel wisdom that slipped out of a three-year-old’s an East Asian Third Culture Kid with mental “home”. PoC diaspora, my parents amongst that to his parents. Bahasa problem. You haven’t been there since Indonesian. For once, you feel part of mouth, Michael, my oldest and closest friend It wasn’t until I left school that I realised this illness, she offered solutions beginning with them, are significantly more receptive By Bridget Harilaou Indonesian. Too bad you didn’t you were five. the mainstream. —we were born only three days apart. “What deeply-ingrained shame was instilled in the “education from within” by PoC aware of the to dialogue from their original country realise your Mum spoke a words of wisdom for such a young child,” my collective consciousness of many immigrant continual sidelining of mental illness within than that from their new one. Of course, Jakartan dialect from the 70s. So how do mixed-race Third Culture But the questions don’t stop. How do mother said to his mother. “You are so lucky communities. Within these communities, their communities. She suggested methods the problem is that whilst mental health Your mother’s family has lived in Class isn’t as easy as you thought, but Kids who’ve grown up in entirely you balance your Western privilege —your son will most certainly have a very mental illness is widely considered a first including educative seminars held in ethnic awareness bred at the origin would produce Indonesia for three or four generations, you’ve still got a leg up on everyone different countries, with immense with your Indonesian identity? How successful future.” world luxury for the white upper middle community spaces, articles in foreign the instantaneous and widespread reaction but they are ethnically Chinese with privileges and no real understanding of do you reconcile the ridiculous amount class to indulge in, and something PoC language newspapers, PoC in positions of we need, it is difficult to express how else. of money you have compared to the Years later, when I was 14, our mutual family don’t have time for. Gloria Flores*, a Latin power speaking out, involving international important this issue is without crossing the no marriages outside of this specific the country their parents are from, deal friend Aunty Aily suddenly stopped making American immigrant, admits that despite organisations and perforation of the issue in boundary of paternalism. category until her marriage to your As you get more involved in politics at with this? How do we claim a culture millions of Indonesians living below weekly visits with her shopping bags of trying to be sympathetic towards her ex- arts. However, she was also quick to notice father. Your father is Australian, a university, you grow increasingly race we’ve never lived in, whose customs we the poverty line? You have never even snacks and fruit on Sunday afternoons. At husband’s anxiety, there was always an that her activism had been conditioned Ultimately, there is no great solution, no second generation migrant whose conscious. You start to realise that all don’t know? lived here before your Australian night, I overheard Michael’s mum gossiping element of intolerance she had inherited to be White-centric with most of these momentous watershed moment. While parents are from Greece—“Wow! What the anger you had towards your mother government funded exchange, you are a with mine, “She says she has depression but from her family. “I would be at work trying suggestions of questionable effectiveness the attitudes inherited from our ancestral an interesting mix!”—blah blah blah. was because of how people racialised When you get to Indonesia, a lot of stranger to this country. Are you even a she’s over-exaggerating and I just can’t stand to calm him down over the phone,” she said. in ethno-cultural communities. While homelands remain an inherent issue, it is her, and how that racism dripped onto people think you’re half Indonesian part of the diaspora, with your Chinese her whining anymore.” “But quietly I would think ‘If you were back indeed these methods may be very effective a difficult topic to navigate as it’s not our So Greek people think you look you like burning wax. You start to because of your darker skin (oddly culture and mixed race complications? in the old country, you couldn’t do this. You in beginning dialogue on issues of social place to effect change. Change needs to Chinese, and Chinese people think you identify as a Person of Colour, who has enough, you have the island of Samos But it’s comforting to know you are “What a shame.” would be left to die.’” justice in Western society, it treats PoC as a begin in Australia within PoC circles. “We homogenous group without understanding must promote change here with hopes than look Greek and White people think you experienced racism all your life. These in Greece to thank for that). Most not alone. You know other Third look Indian, Latina, Fijian or “Arabic”… people you meet say to you “Sudah Culture Kids who are returning to Aside from the midnight gossip sessions on Having escaped political unrest in 70s different cultural conceptions of mental it may penetrate beyond our shores, in the flashes hit you every now and then, of the phone, my mother has never mentioned Argentina, Gloria, like most immigrants, illness. age of digital mass media,” Lily concludes. which is a language, not an ethnicity. things that happened to you that make lancar”—already fluent, or ask you their motherlands, trying to go back mental illness in conversation; it was a “not was taught to be profoundly appreciative of Beginning with small steps like multilingual Where does this leave your identity? you realise: that was racism. That was “Berapa tahun tinggal di Indonesia?” and make a difference, to use our in front of the kids” topic, as if talking about her new home. By extension, mental illness As Third Culture Kids, we feel a sense of resources in ethno-cultural spaces, increasing Both your communities ‘other’ you, and whiteness burning a hole into your —how many years have you lived privilege and create change. To reject it with my brother and I would somehow —wrongly understood as merely negative helplessness being stuck in the bewildering PoC psychologists in social services and mainstream (read: White) Australia sense of self. here? It’s a comfort to know you’re the countries we were raised in and the contaminate us with a ‘mental illness virus’. moods—was construed as ungratefulness. limbo between two ethno-cultural identities media attention in diverse language print likes to ask you where you’re from not usually considered a bule (albino, affluence reaped from the colonisation, Remembering the East Hills migrant where our voices are ignored for being “too and digital platforms such as newspapers —“No, where are you really from?” So you identify as Asian, which any white, foreigner; take your pick). To theft and genocide of black and brown My childhood and teen days were a mindless, hostel provided by the Fraser government corrupted” by the other identity. While and social media will make significant —your identity is a maelstrom of person from ‘Asia’ would laugh at. How speak only Indonesian and have it bodies. We explore the yearning to find for immigrants with free housing, food we are at the epicentre of the problem as ripples globally. Perhaps dialogue around mechanical manifestation of the stoic misunderstanding, internalised racism can you identify as a continent? Well in come out easily, to be able to blend in a that something that’s always been more mantra of a child of two Chinese immigrants; and entertainment, Gloria articulates her victims, in conversations with members mental illness in PoC communities won’t and an intense fear that everyone is Western countries it’s pretty easy—“All little more, to know people see you as disconnected in us than in anyone else. head down, work hard, don’t be a burden family’s attitudes toward mental illness: of our ethno-cultural communities, our be the instant and enormous international on anyone. Indeed, I was never a burden. I “You were safe, you had a roof to live under input is compromised by our Westernised attention we really need, but it can only get going to find out your middle name is Asians are the same”—an erasure, but part of the majority, it legitimises your And when the wind whistles past your refused to share my sorrows with my closest and enough food to eat—what was there to thought that is often paternalistic in tone. better from here. Ying. That is your best kept secret for one that also creates solidarity. identity. Your accent improves, you ears, you hear it. friends, kept quiet about suicidal thoughts be depressed about?” Any attempt at starting dialogue is usually 15 years. learn the phrase “Saya ada hati di sini” around my family, and kept a cold distance immediately stifled by interjections from *Names have been changed. —I have heart here. That’s why you’re Saya ada hati di sini. from people I knew with mental illness, The shaming and victim blaming of mental family and friends: “You don’t understand especially when they needed me most. I felt illness victims within ethno-cultural our culture, you didn’t grow up in the old Support is available for anyone who may deeply ashamed to need help and like most communities fundamentally stems from country”, “you don’t know what’s best for be distressed by phoning Lifeline 131 East Asians I was prepared to take my shame a lack of dialogue. PoC don’t receive the our country because you’re a westerner 114. to the grave. necessary educative tools, resources or now”, “you’re sounding just like a White support systems to understand mental person”. I had never considered my shame to be an illness or its victims. Moreover, its hyper- issue shared by People of Colour (PoC). stigmatisation perpetuates a vicious cycle And indeed, as Australian Third Culture Podcasts By People of Colour Mental illness only ever seemed to prey on of shame and silence, further suffocating Kids, we often forget we speak from a place white people, according to the pamphlets any hint of meaningful interchange on the of privilege with our attitudes towards they handed out in PDHPE. I would look issue. However, attempts at fostering a our ancestral homelands tinged with neo- down at the pale complexions of their culture of acceptance—a White concept in colonialism. Perhaps having grown up You Should Be Listening To (an incomplete list)

Pushing Hoops with Sticks. A 2BrownGirls. A pop culture podcast Minority Retort Podcast. A new, The Back Talk. A powerful podcast new pop culture podcast by editor of by two women of colour writers/critics/ Sydney-based critical film podcast featuring conversations, essays and Notice of Council Meeting DATE: 2nd September The New Inquiry, Ayesha Siddiqi. The friends that feels like you’re listening by people of colour. Unpacking anecdotes from young women of colour. uniquely entertaining podcast features to your older sister and her friend rant ‘what makes a good film’ through Discussions about confidence, self love conversations with artists that both about cool stuff and cute boys (Zayn current reviews and old faves, whilst and grappling with identity. consume and produce the values Malik). Because of the candid nature of interrogating the dearth or tokenistic TIME: 6-8pm that shape how we see race, gender, the podcast it can get quite intense, but representation of non-white stories on The Read. A witty and distinctive duo sexuality, class and how we narrate our have become a unique identifier of the film. that discuss pop culture and racial 87th Students’ lives via pop culture. Kanye comes up show itself. issues with their typical honesty and a lot. Untitled Kondobolou Podcast. profanity. Throwing shade, spilling tea. LOCATION: Professorial #GoodMuslimBadMuslim. An Brothers Hari (comedian) and Ashok Representative Another Round. Podcast by two amazing podcast by two Muslim (former rapper for Das Racist) ramble Black Girls Talking. The title is Buzzfeed editors not short of the wit women that dispels any assumptions about seemingly mundane events that pretty self explanatory, four black Board Room (Quadrangle) and blunt commentary from their about growing up Muslim, and actually weave important but hilarious girls from varied experiences and writing at Buzzfeed. The ladies are counteracts the current discourses on commentary about immigrant and backgrounds talking about pop culture, Council, University drinking throughout the podcast so the Muslim community. Taz and Zahra diasporic experiences. representation of people of colour, and things get pretty interesting towards are both intelligent and humorous, the pursuit of the perfect body oil. the end of each episode. comforting and generous. of Sydney Students’ Representative Council, The University of Sydney Phone: 02 9660 5222 | www.src.usyd.edu.au

12 13 PALESTINE HONI Linking Activism Across Settler- Colonial Nations The Case-Study of Australia and Israel

hen I was about nine or 10 was one of the first recorded massacres Wars, the presence of Stolen Generation different to what is needed in Palestine. years old, I saw a clip on in which up to 200 Gundjitmara peoples deniers like Andrew Bolt in the public In Australia, we need to be working Wthe evening news about the were unjustly slain. Without this legacy space, to the Intervention and ongoing toward a decolonisation of our mind second intifada. I had no idea what it of white settlement, my mother would acceptance of racism evinced by the and our culture; just like our Israeli was but I knew one thing; they were have never been a naive 21 year old recent Adam Goodes situation; we are so counterparts, we won’t be leaving to give Arabs. As a mixed-race Australian- Australian woman who fell in love quick to condemn others before facing back this land to Indigenous peoples Egyptian, I was born an identity crisis with an Egyptian sailor at the port of our own horrific settler-colonial history. anytime soon. And this is where we but something about this clip had me Portland, Victoria. completely diverge: the settler-colonial wandering down the hallway in search Israel is not an anomaly; it was just project in Australia is a sophisticated of dad to ask him some questions. Who Pro-Palestinian activism maintains late to the settler-colonial party. and entrenched system that has were they? Why were they fighting? And a consistent presence in the lives of We’re witnessing the horror of settler- morphed beyond the crude violence of stones? Don’t they have guns? Do we many Australians, irrespective of colonialism in real-time, with all the its early years, a violence which Israel is know them? religion or ethnicity. Palestine has politics and awareness of the violence still grappling with as it seeks to expand transcended physicality and become a it needs to survive. That’s why your and entrench itself across historical By Lamisse Hamouda universalising cause to be adopted by Palestinian activism, as a citizen of Judea and Samaria. any progressive seeking to take the side Australia, is meaningless without a of the oppressed. Co-opted by political commitment to allyship and support of Thus, the 20 million or so of us My dad, a man deeply invested in movements and politicians, the range of Aboriginal peoples. Whether you are a Australians who exist with citizenship Middle Eastern politics, was so excited semiotic meanings ascribed to the tiny white-Australian, or a recent migrant, and without Indigenous heritage, it by my interest that he sat me down sliver of land by the Red Sea is nearly you benefit from the structures built becomes imperative that we work toward and explained the conflict to me from innumerable. The images birthed in by a settler-colony at the suffering of supporting the efforts for recognition, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to Palestine are instantly recognisable, its Indigenous population. And if you safety and self-determination of 1948 to 2000-and-whatever-the-year- from Rachel Corrie, to pictures of choose to condemn the violence of the Aboriginal people beyond tokenistic was-that-year. I don’t remember any of young men throwing stones to plumes state of Israel, the violence of the state of gestures undermined by paternalistic it, I just remember being really, really, of tear gas, IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) Australia deserves your condemnation. policies and police brutality. If we can really shocked. My whole little, innocent uniforms, flattened concrete houses, be a shining example of the success world came crashing down beneath the uprooted olive trees, and the Golden Naturally, complex nuances exist and of settler-colonialism (along with our weight of incomprehensible political Mosque of Jerusalem upon its contested Australia and Israel possess unique cousins, America and Canada), then realities and dad’s unmistaken passion ground of the Temple Mount. People get and divergent histories. Yet, on an would it be not be too much to consider for this topic. excited about volunteering in the West overarching scale viewed through the that we can, one day, become a success Bank, attending fundraising events, lens of settler-colonialism, it becomes of modern decolonisation? I’ve spent a lot of time plumbing the wearing a keffiyeh, eating knafeh and a case of dizzying similarities. Consider complexities and intersections of purchasing ‘Free Palestine’ woven some of the parallels; Gaza is an open- So, if you consider yourself an ally of my identity as a Muslim-Australian- bangles. It shocks us, awes us, moves air prison, and so were the reserves Palestine, passionate about Middle Egyptian woman. However, it was on us, and we cry over the deaths of Gazan where Aboriginal peoples experienced Eastern politics and history or an avid a trip to Palestine and Israel that I had children and the ongoing suffering restricted movements along with food reader of Ilan Pappe and Edward Said; a realisation that forever shifted my caused by blockades, water-shortages, rationing and minimum calorie intakes. if you’re studying Arabic or Hebrew, perceptions. For days, all I could think health-care limitations, checkpoints We might not have used phosphorous reading Benny Morris, taking the subject was, “I am an Israeli.” My mother’s and settler violence. We want to support acid, but we used starvation and ‘the Arab-Israeli Conflict’ or watching ancestors came to Australia in the mid- Israel and the right to a safe homeland smallpox; we might not have built Paradise Now and thinking of going to 1800s and settled in country Victoria; for Jewish people, but we can’t abide by checkpoints or an apartheid wall but Palestine, but have never taken a subject they’ve a road named after them and the violence. we share a history of segregation and from the Koori studies department or more than a few headstones at the local vicious settlers who enacted violence interacted with your local Indigenous cemetery. My great-grandfather recalled And I ask, why? upon Indigenous groups in the vicinity community, then consider something; a time when local Aboriginal men were of settler towns. In various forms, consider the reason we are able to attend rounded up and shot behind cattle Is not the violence enacted upon the economic disparities and disadvantage the University of Sydney. sheds. I’ve searched for verification but Indigenous people of our country continue alongside disproportionate I can only conclude it further proves also worthy of our concern? When do incarceration and deaths in custody. A university built upon the land of the the countless uncounted deaths that we question Australia’s presence on Gadigal people of the Eora nation. have occurred over the centuries, this land by posting petitions about It’s not easy; as I wade through my own unrecorded by White settlers and local BDS (Boycott, Divest & Sanction) for feeling of complicity, I find guilt does law enforcement. The local population the Australian government over its nothing but centre myself in an issue there are the Gundjitmara peoples. The treatment of Aboriginal people? From that isn’t about me. The type of activism Convincing Ground massacres in 1833 the unreconciled horrors of the Frontier needed in Australia is diametrically

14 15 PALESTINE HONI Illustrated Historical Guide Why BDS? To The Palestine-Israel Conflict Apartheid in South Africa was not This fact is echoed by those who fought anti-democratic and brutal and slow- most advanced militaries. demolished overnight. on the front lines against apartheid, dose suicidal, the word apartheid did not from the African National Congress to apply. I’m not one of those people any The alternative to action is at best a Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond more.” maintenance of the status quo, and the By fahad ali Tutu. human suffering along with it, and at The world is slowly coming to recognise worst an intensification of violence and It took an embarrassingly long period of It is echoed by Jewish-Israeli journalist the enormity of the injustice perpetuated segregation. time before international pressure was Gideon Levy, who writes: “From every by the State of Israel. This is in no small brought down to bear on the system of West Bank Palestinian village, from part due to the efforts of the Palestinian This month, former US president Jimmy segregation, violence, and social control every reservoir and power grid that is civil society call for ‘boycott, divestment, Carter declared that the internationally that categorised the Boer regime for for Jews only; apartheid screams from and sanctions’ (BDS) upon Israel until it preferred “two-state solution” was dead, almost five decades. every demolished tent encampment complies with international law. and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin and every verdict of the military court; Netanyahu did not have any intention to The coup de grâce was delivered with the from every nighttime arrest, every The call for BDS was issued in 2005, move towards peace. introduction of international sanctions. checkpoint, every eviction order and and brought together an extraordinary The issue was brought before the United every settlement home. No, Israel is cross-section of Palestinian civil society And why would he when the stakes are Nations in 1962, with a majority of not an apartheid state, but for nearly organisations, trade unions, and so low? nations voting to establish a Committee 50 years an apartheid regime has ruled humanitarian groups. Taking inspiration against Apartheid calling for various its occupied territories. Those who want from the successful anti-apartheid BDS exists for this reason: to raise the sanctions upon South Africa. to continue to live a lie, to repress and movement, it calls upon “international stakes, and to make the occupation to deny are invited to visit Hebron. No civil society organisations and people costly and undesirable. The international The entire Western world boycotted a honest, decent person could return of conscience all over the world to community came together to stand up boycott of gross human rights violations. without admitting the existence of impose broad boycotts and implement against apartheid in South Africa, and apartheid. Those who fear that politically divestment initiatives against Israel we must do so again, and by the same It took some two decades before the incorrect word have only to walk for a similar to those applied to South Africa means. issue of sanctions gained momentum few minutes down Shuhada Street, with in the apartheid era”. within the West. Finally, in 1994, after its segregated road and sidewalks, and Burston says it best: “Years ago, in years of economic and cultural pressure, their fear of using the forbidden word The guidelines of BDS are clear: it is apartheid South Africa, Jews who loved apartheid in South Africa was dissolved. will vanish without a trace.” a tactic, not a dogma. As such, the call their country and hated its policies, took refers to a boycott of organisations and courageous roles in defeating with non- In 2015, only one state in the world It has become so undeniable that institutional links, not individuals. The violence a regime of racism and denial maintains a regime of racial division and Bradley Burston, an award-winning boycott does not preempt any political of human rights. May we in Israel follow state-sponsored violence that parallels Israeli journalist was last week forced to solution, but it does place economic their example.” the experience of Black South Africans admit: “Our Israel is what it has become: pressure upon Israel to comply with at the height of the apartheid era in Apartheid.” international law and take concrete For more information about BDS, visit South Africa. steps to end the occupation. bdsmovement.net Burston writes: “I used to be one of those Israel is an apartheid state. There is people who took issue with the label of In effect, what it does is level the playing If you want to get involved with Students no sugar-coating this subject. It is, for apartheid as applied to Israel. I was one field—negotiations don’t work when for Justice in Palestine contact the anyone who has visited the occupied of those people who could be counted one side has an obliterated economy Executive at [email protected] Palestinian territories, clear as day. on to argue that, while the country’s and slingshots and the other enjoys settlement and occupation policies were booming trade and one of the world’s

The poem that spoke when I could not

They call us now. It doesn’t matter that that there’s no one here or your shoes

Before they drop the bombs. there is nowhere to run to. except you and your children or to gather everyone in the house.

The phone rings It means nothing that the borders are who were cheering for Argentina It doesn’t matter what you had planned. closed and someone who knows my first name sharing the last loaf of bread for this It doesn’t matter who you are and your papers are worthless week calls and says in perfect Arabic Prove you’re human. and mark you only for a life sentence counting candles left in case the power “This is David.” goes out. Prove you stand on two legs. in this prison by the sea And in my stupor of sonic booms and It doesn’t matter that you have children. Run. glass shattering symphonies and the alleyways are narrow You live in the wrong place Lena Khalaf-Tuffaha is a Palestinian- still smashing around in my head and there are more human lives American writer. This poem, along with and now is your chance to run more of her work, can be found on her I think “Do I know any Davids in Gaza?” packed one against the other blog: http://www.lenakhalaftuffaha. to nowhere. com/running-orders.html They call us now to say more than any other place on earth It doesn’t matter Run. Just run. that 58 seconds isn’t long enough You have 58 seconds from the end of this We aren’t trying to kill you. message. to find your wedding album It doesn’t matter that Your house is next. or your son’s favorite blanket you can’t call us back to tell us They think of it as some kind of or your daughter’s almost completed the people we claim to want aren’t in college application war time courtesy. your house

17 PALESTINE HONI The Best Place Malcolm X In The World In The Modern Age Talking Palestine With Mohammed Abu Eid

alcolm X described John F. the systemic privilege to create change It is fundamentally important to avoid There will always remain numerous Kennedy’s assassination as in other ways” (admittedly, though, I dismissing Malcolm X as an angry, responses to racism. Peace and violence “the chickens coming home to was a little less civil—was I channelling hypermasculine black man with a are purportedly opposite approaches, itting behind Manning House, And what are some of the things be strong, you need to be united. And So I explain to them Palestine; I say M roost”. During his presidency, Kennedy my inner Malcolm X, who insisted predilection for violence and aggression. but equality and justice are the shared tucked behind hedges and The safety; it’s a very not just by always struggling against you know Jordan? Egypt? Syria? Well, you’ve learnt? had failed to effect meaningful change “when people get angry, they bring Not only is it a vastly inaccurate goals. Malcolm X’s most resonant avowal overlooking the soccer field, safe place. And the friendliness. I’ve occupation, but to be thinking of new we are in the middle. Then they’ll ask S to advance the civil rights of African about a change”?). representation, but it neglects other was perhaps that “a man who stands I sat down to have a chat with an seen that all people are friendly, not ideas to resist. Not just by stones, but if I can show them Palestine on a map. Americans and his death, Malcolm salient aspects of his activism. He was for nothing will fall for anything”. In international student from Palestine. just Australians or local people. It by education. We’re not just thinking But then there is no Palestine on the X posited, was retribution for this. Both Ferguson’s riots and my subsequent almost prophetic in his assessment 2015 Australia, it’s important that we Having grown up through the second seems that many people come here and about the Palestinian future, we’re map! So then they say, ‘but where is Malcolm X was assassinated less than Facebook argument illustrate a broader of governments. He reminded the heed this advice: shackled to a system intifada, Mohammed was softly change their minds because they learn thinking about the world future and Palestine? There is only Israel here?’ two years later. His contemporaneous issue: as people of colour, we are American public that “America necessarily characterised by white spoken but fiercely passionate about to follow the culture of the place—but I think the Palestinians are some of And this is starting point to talk about detractors similarly described his inherently perceived through a lens preache[d] freedom and practice[d] supremacy and in the face of a draconian Palestine. Edited for clarity, here is our everything here is beautiful. the most educated people. If there is our issue… murder as the chickens coming home to obscured by whiteness. Accordingly, any slavery” in the same way that Australia government, people of colour need to conversation. no occupation, you’ll see a different roost, a consequence of his polarising attempts at resisting racism in a manner now preaches multiculturalism stand for something. We need to stand And have you experienced anything situation in Palestine. I believe we That’s a very frustrating but views and outspoken nature. that isn’t underpinned by pacifism and and racial acceptance, but practises for justice and equality. We need to be Please, introduce yourself and that is maybe, not beautiful in would be like Australia or other revealing conversation you are harmony run the risk of our vilification. exclusionism, xenophobia, and toys able to do this by any means necessary. where you’re from. My name is Australia? I’m not sure; I think the developed countries by now. having with people; it really Sadly, this vilification can run counter to with the repeal of a section of the Racial Mohammed Abou Eid, from Jenin. This most of that I miss my family. When highlights the erasure of Palestine By Adam Ursino the change desired. This was emphasised Discrimination Act. is a small city located in the West Bank, you live alone, you feel very bad. I have And what is the best thing about from popular memory and in Ferguson, where inevitably, ‘angry’ Palestine. extended family in Palestine. I have 5 I’ll tell you a story; about Palestine? geography. Do you ever get tired 2015 marks 50 years since Malcolm people of colour were presented as He was supremely intelligent; he sisters and 1 brother, unfortunately my three years ago I went to Jerusalem. No, I feel of discussing Palestine? X’s assassination, but his words and primitive, uncivilised, and wild. repositioned the fight for the rights father passed away couple of years ago. That was the first time for me to go to very passionate when talking about By Lamisse Hamouda actions haven’t remained confined to of minority groups from a domestic And we have a lot of relatives so we are Jerusalem. And when I entered the old my country. And I don’t mind to his context; they still endow thousands The issue is not unique to the US, though. context to an international one, arguing always with people around us. city, I felt something I cannot explain explain a lot because when I’m talking worldwide with empowerment and The recent Reclaim Australia rallies were that black rights equalled human rights. And what is Jenin like, as a city? with words. You know, to express your with people I know they will begin to solace. This milestone begs the question: (rightfully and thankfully) answered His influence has not evaporated. Jenin is an agricultural city, and most In Australia, there is a fair bit of feeling as to how it is to live in Palestine understand. It’s a good chance for me to have we made proud strides towards with counter rallies more abundant people are working in agriculture and activism for Palestine. However, or when you visit Palestine, you can feel promote my issue, our struggle against equality and justice for people of colour, in number and void of discriminatory farms. It is the last city in the North, it’s often not spearheaded by something you cannot explain or tell the occupation. or are we disoriented and apathetic, hatred. However, while both rallies near the border with Israel. It is a very Palestinians. Do you have some other people. meandering lazily towards the were violent, various media outlets small city, like village, if I compare to advice to people who are not I want people to know what Israel is intangible ideal of a post-racial society? depicted only the counter rallies as such. other cities in Palestine. But it is a very Palestine, as a whole, is not just a doing everyday in Palestine. Everyday I Palestinian, but are very passionate Malcolm X implied the possibility of nice city… it’s a beautiful place. about Palestine as activists? I beautiful country… it attracts you to watch the ABC news since I have been There was a false dichotomy established this by arguing that the media “have the Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney think the important thing we have want to stay. Even non-Palestinians, here in Australia. So far, I’ve never yet between Malcolm X and Martin Luther power to make the innocent guilty and So what are you studying? I’m doing to mention in our struggle to get our who come to Palestine, you ask them seen something about Palestine and I King: the former was considered to make the guilty innocent”. It is in the a Masters of Public Administration at freedom is to explain to people how our ‘do you want to go back?’, they say no! have been here 7 months. Especially “violent” and the latter “peaceful”. While best interests of the white supremacist the University of Sydney, but I did my issue started. Because, all colonialism Even though the political situation about the last thing that happened in the reality of the situation was much system to vilify and silence people of Bachelor in Accounting at Al-Najjah and occupations started from one in Palestine is very bad and not safe, Palestine! Some Israeli settlers burnt more nuanced, the two giants of the colour to maintain the status quo. If this Want some work? University in Nablus City, in the West country, state to state but our issue is the best thing in Palestine is the an 18 month old baby in a house-fire. civil rights movement pursued starkly is how a broad coalition of anti-racist Bank. different. Groups coming from many people living in Palestine too. They’re I’m always surprised that they have different methods to achieve the same protesters are treated and presented, it’s different places all over the world are friendly, they’ll feed you from the first transferred their suffering and are objective. Malcolm X’s belief that “white harrowing to imagine the treatment of Polling Booth I’ve looked into sourcing coming to Palestine and then they meeting! When they see you, they’ll causing suffering to us in Palestine. The people are devils” and his partiality for an autonomous group of people of colour scholarships for some of former started their country in Palestine. say “oh can you come to my home and suffering is everyday. I think that if I segregation were views he abandoned acting in similar ways. The treatment of Palestinian students from when I Many people do not understand this we’ll have lunch together?” and you’re suffered, I would not want it to happen in the final year of his life. One idea, Ferguson’s protesters and anti-Reclaim Attendants Required taught English in the West Bank, issue and how the Palestine issue like ‘but you just met me? How can to other people. I don’t want people to however, remained constant: Malcolm X Australia protesters both indicate the they’re quite difficult to find started, so it is important to explain you invite me to your home?” They suffer from the same pain. believed that African Americans should difficulty of striving to achieve justice and there a lot of restrictions… and understand the history. are very friendly. And when you go to aim to achieve and defend justice and by any means necessary while still being how did you find your way to somewhere like Ramallah or Nablus, so Also, it’s important to know how equality “by any means necessary”. Of heard and not simply being written off Sydney University? Actually, I have Many people don’t know Israel was many people know you and say hello. Palestinians resist Israeli occupation; course, because of his socio-historical as aggressive, primitive racial “others”. a scholarship from the Australian established in 1948; they thought, It’s connected, many people know each it’s not bombs and rockets. We have The SRC is looking for people context, much of Malcolm X’s activism government from the AusAid program. or they think, that Israel is already other in many places. We have very to use simple things from stones to pertained predominantly to African Contemporarily, metaracism (or I also work for the Palestinian Ministry existing like Britain. So we have to wide friendship circles and networks. flags. Almost all our struggling ways is to work on the polling booths Americans, but the frustrating systemic racism) is the most potent of Finance, and my ministry have explain to people that is a recent peaceful, just by being alive. You have universality of racism provides his views type of racism. This is punctuated with chosen me to go to Australia to study country, a new country that was And when I got permission Jerusalem, to resist; because people are coming for its elections this year. with broader relevance to people of occasional examples of dominative (or Public Administration so I can go back established in Palestine and other it was for one month during Ramadan to our homes and telling us to go out, colour internationally. blatant) racism, including Ferguson’s If you can work on and work for the government and my countries were devastated because this so I went to Jerusalem every day! I telling us this is MY home now. And protests and the Reclaim Australia department. new country came to a land and said to wanted to invest my time and my you ask them, what is the reason? Your Wed 23rd Sept and/or Thurs 24th Sept, The death of US teenager Michael Brown rallies. The decline in dominative racism the local people, the indigenous people, permission to visit Jerusalem every logic? Your evidence? And they say no, and attend a training at 4pm Tues 22nd Sept, just over a year ago elucidates how parallels the decline in the perceived Wow, that’s incredible. What do ‘go outside!’ and sent them to live in day. Every day! I know this was costly this is our land because David lived here communities (in this case the Missouri necessity of figures like Malcolm X and, we want to hear from you! you hope to take back to Palestine other places. for me, but this was such a nice thousands of years ago and so this land city of Ferguson) can unite to achieve by extension, his ideologies. then? Actually, I came here just to get opportunity to visit the best place in is for us. So what? I can go to Saudi and justice by any means necessary. After the political system and government What do you find is the most the whole world. tell them to go out because Mohammed $33.02 per hour Brown’s death, the African American This decline doesn’t necessarily translate experience… but when I arrived I’ve difficult aspect of the occupation of lived in Makkah thousands of years ago community protested to express their into the notion that Malcolm X’s views There may also be an opportunity to seen different things that are not just Palestine? You cannot know when you So I’m curious, when someone and I am Muslim? Or Christians can disapproval of an unashamedly racist have no place in modern Australia. undertake additional work at the vote count. related to my studies. From the lifestyle could lose your brother or your sister asks you where you’re from, and come to Palestine and take Nazareth police force and the inescapability of Importantly, the capacity for peaceful Application forms are available from the SRC Front Office to the multiculturalism. Everything or your friend. They could be killed you say ‘Palestine’ and they don’t and Bethlehem? It doesn’t make sense. systemic racism. and harmonious collaboration to create here is something I can move with anytime. Or going to jail anytime. So (Level 1 Wentworth Building). For more info, call 9660 5222. know what Palestine is, what do change (while inarguably legitimate) me to Palestine—new ideas, new maybe you are suffering everyday from You know what is the I am a Applications close 4pm, Tues 8th September 2015. you tell them? Finish this sentence, I am…? I vividly recall arguing with somebody is limited. In the words of Malcolm behaviours, new culture. Actually, I’ve this, but no one knows. problem I’ve faced most in Australia? Palestinian. I am Palestinian forever. on Facebook shortly after the riots X, “if you want something, you had seen in here many, many interesting Is that, when I say I’m from Palestine, began. They commented on a post a less better make some noise”. By the same and beautiful cultures and people and How do you stay strong? many people don’t even understand articulate version of “this is why black token, this decline may be indicative of landscapes. So I’m not just going to what I’m saying. You know, especially people are getting killed; it’s because they ineffectiveness. Malcolm X’s claim that move my experience from my studies, By being united. Of course there is when I’m talking to other international act like this”. I replied with something “non-violence is the philosophy of a Authorised by P Graham, SRC Electoral Officer 2015. I’m going to move transfer many very bad occupation in Palestine, students. They listen and they hear it as to the effect of “it’s their way of being fool” does not carry unfettered weight. Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney | p: 02 9660 5222 | w: src.usyd.edu.au things that I’ve learnt from Australia to but there is very very bad isolation ‘Pakistan’. heard. People of colour often don’t have Palestine. between Gaza and West Bank. So to 18 19 autonomous collective against racism Normalising racism Checking ast month there was significant but apparently not against Muslim mainstream has been utilised and built- as acceptable forms of protest. That debate when Mackay Member people. “We love the Germans, we upon by Reclaim, thereby contributing this practice exists is worth mentioning Lof Parliament and Liberal oppose the Nazi philosophy. We oppose to the normalisation of racism and regardless of how few or how many Party politician George Christensen the communist philosophy but we love bigotry in Australia by dressing it up as members of Reclaim Australia engage announced that he was to attend the Russians and Chinese,” he said. everyday patriotism. in it. and speak at a Reclaim Australia “Likewise, we oppose Islam but we love The Boxes rally in Queensland. At the time, the the Muslim people.” Though attempting The Guardian Australia contributor As “patriots”, Reclaim Australia and Labor Party condemned Christensen to make a profound point, Nalliah’s Jeff Sparrow is one of many observing the growing support of assimilation Disclaimer: I am a Chinese person writing in the most arbitrary way possible (a that this man had never had to navigate I could only begin to understand the for attending, while conservative inability to differentiate Muslim people parallels between the pure bigotry go against the freedom of choice about Postcolonial literature. Postcolonial combination of memory work and between different cultures. He had vast implications of Postcolonialism. columnists applauded his stand for “free from Islam, as well as incorrectly of Reclaim Australia and traditional and religion, purportedly upheld as literature is an inconceivably large and pandering to the marker). When never been made to feel ashamed of Even then, I doubt I have even dipped speech” against the “politically correct”. implying that Muslim people are a anti-Semitism. In fact ties are closer symbols of our democracy in Australia. diverse body of literature, which includes you combine this way of thinking his ethnicity because it was deemed my toes into the Wide Sargasso Sea of race, conflates religion with violence than ever, with reports that neo-Nazi While Reclaim Australia continues to a multitude of different voices and culture. with complex and deeply significant as lesser. He never had to wish that Postcolonial literature. and simply repeats many unfounded websites in the United States are being supposedly fight for free speech and I do not intend to speak on behalf of all expression such as Postcolonial he could wake up as a white person so opinions that exists in the public space. used to recruit members to attend expression, they concurrently stifle Postcolonial perspectives, instead I only literature, you face a problem. You are that he wouldn’t have to walk down I understand the defence that in a By Eden Caceda the Reclaim Australia rallies. While those very same freedoms. write from my own experiences. essentially teaching students cultural the street and fear harassment and purely academic discussion, it is fine Further, according to their website, Australia isn’t experiencing anything empathy in a sterile and removed discrimination. The class of students, to have someone who is very well-read What is most surprising is that, despite Reclaim Australia want to preserve close to the devastating crisis faced by Indeed, the bigoted views and context where Postcolonialism is albeit far younger than, would probably and scholarly teach Postcolonialism. problematic ideologies, groups such “traditional values” like “Christmas and Germany during the Weimar Republic, xenophobia of Reclaim Australia’s By Anonymous reduced to mere token words, It’s conceivable, and it happens. But I as Reclaim Australia are considered Easter and ANZAC day”, reaffirming the we are experiencing a prevalent and supporters are symptoms of structural scattered throughout a piece in “You can’t truly teach firmly stand behind the notion that you legitimate “activist” organisations, group’s position that Australia is first ever present bigotry radiating from racism and white supremacy in s I handed in my Postcolonialism order to get high marks. Postcolonialism on a deeper and can’t truly teach Postcolonialism on a and Christensen’s attendance was and foremost Christian. I, myself, have the media, political parties and on Australia. Worryingly, a large aspect of creative piece to my Year 11 deeper and more spiritual level unless ultimately considered a reasonable never heard or read about minority social media. As history and human Reclaim Australia’s continued growth AEnglish teacher, he made sure I am more than willing to call more spiritual level unless you you identify with those authors who decision. However, to understand groups actively campaigning against nature have proved, there is very and success comes from politicians not to ask if I had included ‘hybridity’ myself out for my previous identify with those authors who are speaking. And that retaining a deep, Reclaim Australia’s place in the current Christian religious holidays, and should little separating ‘fringe’ beliefs from calling out bigoted, ignorant and racist and a ‘marginalised culture’ because insensitivity—I viewed spiritual level is the very thing that is so landscape of Australian politics, we a Reclaim Australia member be asked attracting mainstream audiences in views in everyday public life. the aim of the course was to ‘capture Postcolonialism as a list of one- are speaking.” vital to continuing and foregrounding need to look closer at where Reclaim from whom this statement was made, times of war, economic hardship and Postcolonial elements’. The richness of dimensional words that I could those voices which were buried for so Australia stands within the context of there is a high chance that they would global instability. Reclaim Australia aren’t outsiders in Postcolonial stories had been reduced to copy and paste into a narrative so that a understand what that felt like more long under Colonialism. contemporary Australia. be unable to determine the source of it the Australian political landscape. Their a series of checkboxes. 12 out of 15 would numerically classify than he did. If he had never experienced too. Reclaim Australia’s position seems to views and ideologies are born of the my (truly) piece-of-crap writing as true cultural marginalisation, how could Learning Postcolonial literature is a Said to have formed in the aftermath of be primarily informed by our national same mindsets which other Australians Don’t get me wrong—I am a staunch somewhat Postcolonial. This was wrong, he convey the depth of feeling and sense hugely important task, and I applaud the December Sydney Lindt Cafe siege, Regardless, the inherent hatefulness leaders, those very same individuals simply keep secret. However, we need to supporter of Postcolonial literature and I am not proud of this way of of loss that many Postcolonial writers the sharing and discussion of it. But Reclaim Australia consider themselves and xenophobia demonstrated by who run our country and ought be talk about these issues in order to make and reclamation. I think the study of thinking at all. But it’s pretty terrifying were trying to evoke? such a significant and meaningful a national “grassroots movement” of Reclaim Australia is only an indication delivering accurate information to Reclaim Australia less of a problem literature and art is extremely valuable to think that if I was capable of viewing body of work needs to be shared in a relatively average individuals who “want of deeper social issues within Australian the public. As Tony Abbott continues and more of a fringe group. We need to society, especially when it discusses Postcolonialism in this light, then I don’t claim to be a Postcolonial respectful way, not one that is abused to retain our successful Australian way society. While not every member or to blur the lines of truth to promote to stop normalising racism and start race and culture. What isn’t valuable perhaps other students also did too. literature expert. I only really started for the sake of higher marks. of life”. Expanding into the national supporter of Reclaim Australia is a neo- ultranationalism by calling for “the condemning it. We need to sit down and to society is a system of teaching that to kind of understand hybridity and consciousness this year with rallies in Nazi or fascist, the group is certainly end of radicalisation of Muslims in have a discussion about why it is that evaluates artistic and critical expression Not only this, but my class (largely the idea of a voice and autonomy later April and July, the group appear to be a more extreme version of the general Australia”, he remains silent regarding Australians are so afraid of the dreaded with a hard, dry number. ethnic minorities) was taught by an old when I was doing my own research growing in numbers and are only one attitude in contemporary society and the presence of racism and extreme migrant, so that we can, altogether, live white man. That isn’t to say he was a into my ethnic identity. It was only by of many “patriotic” and “pro-Australia” uses current issues to further their own white supremacy in the public sphere. in a kind of Australia that’s inclusive Unfortunately, the HSC has to rank and bad teacher; in fact, he was a fantastic relating my experiences as an ethnic organisations popping up. agenda. and understanding of all people. evaluate kids’ ‘intellectual capability’ teacher. The problem lies in the fact minority in a Western community that While a majority of Reclaim Australia Reclaim Australia appear to be In the past few years, the asylum seeker supporters co-opt the Australian promoting a number of ideals that, issue has been unjustly tied to national flags and Vegemite as a means of when reduced to buzzwords, appear security by being conflated with Islamic “representing nationalism”, other more completely reasonable. They fight for extremism. This issue has driven many radical members conceal their faces with “equality and tolerance of all races and of the xenophobic attitudes towards masks or flags while out protesting. For religions”, “equality of gender” and Muslim people, and has converged with a collection of individuals who believe Emotional Labour “freedom of speech”, but underneath the fear of “changing Australia and they are acting in the best interests of this doctrine lies an exclusive support its cultural identity”. As hate towards the nation, their aggressive behaviour for White Australians, alongside clear immigrants increases—particularly and refusal to express their beliefs By Aulina Chaudhuri, Tabitha Prado & Shareeka Helaluddin anti-immigration and anti-multicultural towards Muslim migrants—collective unmasked is telling. Historically, hate sentiments. national attitudes are also moving groups have covered their faces, aware motional labour is the societal, it is important to take a step back and amount of energy looking after the don’t share my privilege to make sure towards being increasingly opposed to that their anti-social behaviour and occupational and interpersonal assess our own complicity in oppressive other person’s emotional needs as I’m I’m helping to make our shared social In fact, all of the “reclaims” of the group individuals of different races, cultures activism is simply crime camouflaged norm that promotes individuals to interpersonal interactions. asking them to spend on mine? circles safe and comfortable for them? Photo: Nabila Chemaissem E are based on straw man arguments and religions. regulate and accommodate others. This (informal fallacies based on giving the Taken from Jess Zimmerman’s Article If I’m privileged in a way that other Do I need to perform similar amounts role is gendered, as wom*n are implicitly impression of refuting an opponent’s After a photo emerged in April of a ‘Where’s my cut?: on Unpaid Emotional friends of mine are not, do I use my of emotional labour to a woman who and insidiously required to absorb their argument, while actually refuting an person of colour being confronted Labour’ here are some key points to privilege to support and amplify their shares my class background, economic surroundings and accommodate others. argument which was not advanced by a white supremacist during the help start engaging in Introspective voices as well as personally advocating instability or other oppressions? Once we begin to unpack the impact by that opponent); none of the Reclaim Australia rally in Melbourne, Activism. for their rights and well-being? of racial dynamics on these gendered aspects of Australian life that they the organisation has been trying even These are not easy questions to ask roles, it becomes apparent that wom*n deem to be under threat are facing harder to distance themselves from Do I actively maintain my mental health Do I work to create a social atmosphere yourself, but necessary if we’re striving of Colour are often left to ‘loves labour’s any peril whatsoever. Rallies have the extreme right and ultranationalist and do my own emotional work? where women feel safe and for meaningful and sustainable lost’, where our emotional capabilities included ludicrous claims that Islamic behaviour of white power advocates. A comfortable? politics and relationships. This does and strength are all too often exploited. leaders intend to force religion upon Reclaim Australia spokeswoman, who Am I aware of where my body is in space not mean that there is no room for Australians, religious taxes are to be chose to remain nameless, told The Engaging with this unpaid labour can and how that is likely to affect those As a white person, do I vocally oppose anger. Rather, we can create multiple added, and Islam’s intention to invade Australian newspaper in early August result in interpersonal stress due to around me? E.g. Walking in a direction racism? spaces and engage in dialogues that Australia and segregate men and that “plenty of people are trying to a mismatch with felt emotion and where I will intersect and force someone are critical, kind, passionate, generous women is a looming, immediate threat hijack us. Reclaim is the voice for that, which is required to display. The to step aside, walking or riding three or Do I educate myself on the history and and actively self-aware. This can be —all unsubstantiated claims that have everyday Australians to say what many pressure to be ‘approachable’, ‘friendly’ four abreast so that no one can get past. current situation of minorities in my transformative and radical. We all fuck been falsely reported. Australians think, but don’t always or ‘kind’ can be insurmountable for community, rather than asking my up, but we should strive to hold each say.” Do I demonstrate care towards other friends to teach me something I could other accountable in a way that is not many, and for many wom*n of colour, Danny Nalliah from the Rise Up people? Google? tokenistic, exploitative or, ultimately, this is an all too tired reality. For those Australia Party addressed the recent However, it’s inaccurate to brand aligning their morals with progressive disposable. Am I spending approximately the same Do I check in regularly with friends who rally in Melbourne, endorsing his Reclaim Australia as a fringe ideals in search for equality and justice, opposition to the teachings of Islam, movement. Pervasive racism in the 20 21 autonomous collective against racism

Ties by Kavya Radical Love or Wom*n’s Honi this year, Astha jokes at the expense of asylum seekers second generation. I dreamt of children little phrases in my native tongue to Kalutantiri Rajvanshi wrote an article or use accents to mimic my family. They named Belle and Rosie, and to change entertain my mother and eats curry entitled ‘What I Learnt About sat open mouthed at the possibility I my surname from the disconcerting with his hands alongside my father. He Inspired by the art style my grandfather was a F Love’ in which, based on her reading had not read Kafka or watched The Castle reminder of our life before Australia to cheekily whispers to me when I set the master in, Ties explores my relationship with of Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche’s and condemned me for “fetishising my something more innocuous, like Smith table incorrectly at his house and comes my Sinhala cultural identity and family ancestry Americanah, she extrapolates the race too much”. Their parents asked me or Baker. to my defence when his sister sweetly through art. With the passing of my grandfather politics of inter-racial love. She explores whether or not I had come to Australia and unknowingly asks, “why did you almost a year ago, I have come to realise that art the story of the novel’s protagonist, legally and complained about how At the end of her article, Astha posits an come here anyway?” is the vehicle that has allowed me to understand outspoken and confident Ifemelu, and difficult the “greedy and uncivilised uncomfortable and difficult possibility. and explore the country my parents left behind her relationship with Curt—a white Chinese” were to do business with. She says, “Adiche’s notion of love can We speak of a future where we combine but still fiercely love. male of wealth and privilege. Despite this, in a unique blend of never be a happy, blissful one…but at our surnames together as some strange acquiescence conditioned by gender and least it will be real.” With all due respect inter-racial metaphor (my name first of otherness defined by race, I said nothing to Astha, my experience would indicate course), where our children will go to the By Radhika Rajan in opposition. the converse. Despite the pledge to strip temple with my parents and celebrate myself of heritage, culture and colour, Christmas with his. It is a radical love in I wondered why all these relationships in the last year I feel I have experienced which we embrace our differences and I have dated many Curts. In fact, much had failed miserably, bringing it down the radical love that Chimamanda and the power structures that separate our to my dismay, they have been the only to my own inability to compromise, Astha speak of, and it has been the lives, but let that process be part of how subjects of my affection. Heterosexual my need to pick fights—anything and only blissful one of them all. Radical and why we love each other so dearly. white men who had all had the privilege everything that left them unscathed. I love acknowledges the power dynamics of going to North Shore or Eastern would constantly remind myself how that seep into our relationships and The love that is blissful and is freeing suburbs private schools. Through a lucky I was, how few friends I knew in challenges them unashamedly. It is therefore not that which confines us gradual but mounting process, these inter-racial relationships—scoffing at involves a conscious and committed within the same structures that dictate men taught me to worship whiteness for those around me who had settled for process of asserting and embracing this oppressive world, but one that all that it could bring me—ski holidays anything but the trophy of whiteness. difference, ensuring that societal norms figments an alternative fantasy. It is to Japan, family dinners at Mr. Wong’s, do not simply reinstate themselves in a love where race is not only seen, but and stunted dinner table conversations These men were a signifier of the paradigm of love. also discussed and overcome—where spent scanning the table to check the assimilation, a badge of honour I whiteness is not the victor by default. cutlery was not ill placed in my painfully wore home to conversations with My current partner and I love each other brown hands. my parents—they could never meet radically, fully and uncompromisingly. them of course, or the ruse would be He is still a Curt, but a Curt that is self- At times they would laugh at me for over—all of us impressed at how well I aware of his privileges, negotiating his pronouncing words incorrectly, make had started to pave the future for our gained profits to those I lack. He learns

Westside Racism

iving in Western Sydney has me. The words went in one ear but failed students imitating gunfire and grenade none of us have ever fought back. taught me three things: racism is to escape the other. I couldn’t shake off sounds in their presence. seemingly a non-issue that just that they weren’t just insulting me, but Living in Western Sydney often means L “Is Blacktown next?” they asked my that racism makes for good banter, but makes for good watercooler talk; those insulting something that is inherent and who suffer do so together; and don’t inescapable—a trait beyond my control. friend with a turban, giggling to this banter is another way of insulting rock the boat. I’m still a person, so why is my colour a themselves. Their jokes can’t kill us. We each other and revealing intolerance. So mark of difference? we’ve learnt to ignore and to walk away We have to change the way we see from provocation. racism. They spit in our faces. They laugh at “‘Is Blacktown next?” us. They tell us to go back. Intolerance In our suffering, we’ve created a But it’s okay, people say, just look at is nothing new in Western Sydney, They asked my friend community where we come together, all the Asians in Cabramatta and the we talk and we vent. We protect with a turban, giggling ourselves, and each other, from the pain By Liam Luangrathrajasombat that is caused us by people who barely to themselves.” understand who we are. We laugh and brush off the comments. Indians in Blacktown. Penrith High has irrespective of its demographic a school population that is only one fifth diversity. It’s a cultural sphere where try to rise above it, but suffer in silence. We don’t look for racism, but racism white Australian. What more do you people protest a mosque in Penrith always seems to find us. want? because it apparently turns our youth When my friends and I hang out, one into ‘terrorists’. These perceptions and particular type of story always pops up. What do we want? We want to be treated attitudes need to be challenged—we the same. need to change the way people see ‘Remember that time that kid called us.’ themselves and others. I walked down High Street in Penrith, ‘How about when they threw that.’ when a honk came from the road and the My friends walked past Blacktown words “chink” and “go back” flew past Station, encountering high school The stories are always the same, and

22 23 autonomous collective against racism Jokes I Never Wanted To Hear Take What Is Yours: I can’t come to your house,” is first remembered experience ofdoes humour exist in a vacuum. Rather, even when defended as a form of ‘satire’ the message that pops up on the Islamophobia, but definitely not the last. humour is a form of rhetoric informed by by non-Muslims, is still fundamentally bottom right hand corner of my its environment and complete with a set useless and damaging. desktop. Reflecting on my life since that moment, of purposes and effects. In many senses, Rihanna And Radical Entitlement “ I am fortunate enough to say that my humour is also a science—the reason It’s useless because it allegedly works By Lamya Rahman experience with overt Islamophobic we find something funny is very telling on raising awareness for the ‘absurdity hen I set out to write this System, BBHMM presents a fleeting revenge. Rihanna reveals a man to be white wom*n receives the brunt of statements have been few and far of our own biases and attitudes and has of racism’ when in reality, the Muslims article, I remembered the day image of semi-oppressive power that the ‘bitch’, something that might have maltreatment throughout the video, the between. Of course, I say this with been the subject of much psychological who are the subjects of these jokes are the Bitch Better Have My they can’t appropriate. Rihanna offers been surprising to some unfamiliar focus of Rihanna’s anger is pointed to the awareness that I am a less visible and philosophical research. already aware of the racism towards W It’s August 2005. I am eight years old target for racism than my other Muslim them. In the end, it doesn’t add anything Money (BBHMM) video was released them the position of the kidnapped with how the word is used in African men. and its immediate reception on Twitter wife, or the position of the henchwom*n American vernacular (AAVE). Also, the and using the family computer to do friends—I don’t wear a hijab. As Thomas Hobbes suggested, we tend to their cause, doesn’t tell them anything and Tumblr. Provocative as it is, the who does a little extra heavy lifting. ‘wife being in the backseat of my brand Cultural representation is dynamic, some research for a school ‘assignment’. to laugh at others because we think they don’t know, and only results in Additionally, I say this with the (white) feminist reception was not That’s it. new foreign car’ wasn’t as thrillingly neither seeking the ‘truth of our Though in reality, I was shamelessly we’re superior to them and their faults. them having to sit awkwardly and awareness that I have increasingly, like surprising as they either lauded it as queer as I initially wanted to imagine. experiences’ as Stuart Hall discusses, chatting with my friends on MSN In the case of jokes that demonise uncomfortably as the joke continues. many other Muslims, been the target a feminist anthem, or discredited it Rihanna refuses to be consumed by men nor where identities are fixed carbon Messenger. Muslims, and are made by non-Muslim As Saladin Ahmed says, “In an unequal of a different kind of racism; a kind that for its depiction of sexual violence. so long as it does not overwhelmingly Representations of sexualised violence copies. Instead, representation is a ‘progressives’, this appears to often be world, satire that mocks everyone “Why not?” I type back. Or perhaps manifests itself in casual Islamophobic It feels weird to look at the video in benefit her. Rihanna says no to the eyes are not subversive, though wom*n process of exploring, of re-imagining. true. Humour is a tool they wield to equally ends up serving the powerful. more accurately: “y not???” accompanied jokes shared over lunch break, a kind a measuring way. Or even to look that follow her braless figure. No— perpetrating the violence isn’t the It can be used to humanise people, express, and simultaneously conceal, And in the context of brutal inequality, it with an obnoxious number of recently that brings back the same feelings of at anything and think, “that’s a real unless you have something that I want. norm. Rihanna isn’t interested defying stereotypes and forming bigoted outlooks. is worth at least asking what pre-existing downloaded glittery emoticons. The shame and awkwardness I felt in August feminist thing”. ‘Feminist’ isn’t a static, She’s not looking for a man. The men in presenting an image we can all sites of empathy and connection. But injuries we are adding our insults to.” response comes instantly and with the 2005. However non-Muslims making these unchanging quality. It’s a word used to look for her, but she only shows her comfortably play around with. She’s representation also helps to reprocess kind of offhanded innocence that only a jokes have consistently reassured It’s damaging because, as research describe a kind of active commitment clear latex clothed body when she kills getting what she wants, and if white and grow within our own identities. child could muster: “You’re Muslim and *“It’s nothing,” is often the response me that it’s not the case. They aren’t has shown, these kinds of jokes have to a truth: that all wom*n are complex yet another man who fucked her over. wom*n get in her way, she won’t extend Representation can be where you see my parents don’t want me hanging out whenever I call out others on casually laughing because it’s reinforcing their serious negative consequences on both That is why when people ask me what it’s like living as a Muslim girl in Sydney, I can never tell them that racism and dynamic people, despite what Her body is not waiting for you. It is them the humanity that they refuse her yourself for the first time. The BBHMM with Muslims. Sorry….” racist jokes involving Muslims. “It’s just superiority and their ego. They’re an individual and macro-sociological in Sydney is no longer an issue. As long as casual racist jokes fly under our radar, unacknowledged for what oppressive cultures might otherwise hers, and it’s covered in the blood of yet on a daily basis. The wife is returned video and song instead have an a joke.” laughing because, apparently, this type level. At the individual level, these jokes they really are, racism will continue to thrive in our society. say. another man who fucked her over. Does in the end—the ransom plan didn’t emotional, political power. One which It’s been a month since the 7th July that upset you? work, a comment on even the value of is not dependent on the maltreatment of humour functions as a form of satire reinforce negative stereotypes and London Bombings. Four Islamic The issue here is that humour is being white wom*n within white patriarchal of the white wom*n itself, but what that that points out the absurdity in racism. attitudes towards the targeted group. By Tabitha Prado extremists had detonated a series of used to hide discriminatory judgement The final image of the video is Rihanna supremacy. Rihanna shows her range maltreatment represents in a culture And because of that, this type of humour At the macro-sociological level, they bombs in the London Underground, rather than provoke meaningful thought bloodied, calm, sitting on a chest of of weaponry, each tool designated for which necessarily places people within a is okay. work to maintain the racial hierarchies killing fifty-two civilians and injuring around the issue. Humour does not just Counteracting the common assumption money. The transaction is already a particular kind of man. Though the hierarchy: prioritising yourself. in society and act as a means of social even more. The case had been widely mean that something is funny or non- My main qualm with this line of that female performers have little completed—she is naked, but not control. reported in Australia. This was my serious and should be taken as such; nor argument is that casual racist humour, creative freedom, Rihanna directed selling herself as much as she is the BBHMM video herself, posting on reminding us of what she is already Instagram that she was nervous before worth. Her song ‘Pour It Up’ is it was released. It makes it easy to take filled with visual links between her INit for whatA it is. PICKLE?Living in a world that body and the cash it commands. IN A PICKLE? commodifies blacknesses into a single, She strips for nobody, her nipples On Being An Artist Of Colour essentialised blackness, we’re reluctant are pointed diamantes, a panning to accept diversity of perspectives and shot of her crotch is interrupted by atima: As sad as this is for me to and art. draw PoC but it’s intention from black artists. There is a glistening Chanel logo. Accepting admit, I’ve realised that I pretty a very conscious overlap between black artists as long the 2014 Fashion Icon Award at much only draw white people. decision. And it is as there is shared history and culture, the CDFA Fashion Awards, she F still something that but Rihanna is clearly uninterested in wears a translucent crystal gown, Steph: Me too! I regularly draw for Fatima: What makes I have to remind fitting a mould. Rihanna went bad in and remarks later: “Do my tits Honi and this question always comes to it worse, I think, is myself of each time I 2007. She ran out of fucks to give. To be bother you? They’re COVERED in mind. Last semester, I pitched a cover that artists of colour draw. bad is to refuse. Swarovski crystals, girl!” No less, that required me to draw a person. My themselves don’t draw PoC from Maya Angelou: “Does my thoughts during the art-making process due to a fear of backlash In the creation of art, Rihanna refuses feminism so long as it sexiness upset you? Does it come included: should this person be a person or questioning of motives, comes the cliché that holds her to moral standards. BBHMM as a surprise / That I dance like of colour (PoC)? Then, when I finished which in turn makes it ‘a picture is worth is not a Criminalsong for all wom*n Charges to sing. It I’ve got diamonds / At the meeting Criminal Charges it—leaving the skin blank—I wondered even more difficult for PoC a thousand words’. is a survival song for the wom*n at the of my thighs?” Coming out of why did I assume that it was finished, to be represented in art. The truth of this bottom of the heap. It is about taking histories of being sold, of being a when I hadn’t added any colour to my statement echoes in what is yours, because it was never body to be used by others, black person’s skin? That’s when I realised that Steph: I guess we have the process of the Motorgoing to beVehicle given to Accidentsyou anyway. It is a people’s relationship to capitalism Motor Vehicle Accidents I feared that drawing a PoC, because I unconsciously accepted artist becoming race- song about radical entitlement, to what Finesis complex. Rihanna embodies Fines thought it would be seen as some kind of that white people have conscious, and the you deserve, and accepting no less. her wealth in reference to those a political statement. become a template effort to decolonise histories: she has momentarily the mind. Through The whiteInsurance feminist gaze looks on black bought her body back. Insurance By Fatima Rauf & Steph Barahona this process of wom*n, black media, looks to images Debts Debts cultural and mental of black empowerment to see what can Angelou’s poem ‘Still I Rise’ decolonisation, we’re be taken. The white feminist looks to follows: “Out of the huts of Fatima: Yes, it’s really upsetting that for artists and this is striving towards a the wom*nImmigration of colour in their circles,...and morehistory’s shame / I rise / Up from a Immigration ...and more we view white people as the default and something that doesn’t get de-centring of the their Facebook groups, waits for their past that’s rooted in pain / I rise / then if we do end up drawing PoC, it’s discussed at all. I have just unconscious practice comments, to regurgitate later without I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide not seen as a neutral decision but rather ended up drawing dark of privileging credit and with a newfound egoistic / Welling and swelling I bear in the a radical statement of some kind. hair for all my cartoons; whiteness in art. authority. White feminist attachment tide.” Rihanna is rising, and very it is the only thing that I If Youto black Have feminist politics, a Legal to wom*n ofProblem, literally takes the elevator up to If You Have a Legal Problem, Steph: Exactly! When I looked at the think I can get away with Wecolour politics,Can is exploitationHelp for of labour. FREE! abduct the white wom*n. They’re We Can Help for FREE! finished product of the Honi piece, I without being questioned. It’s not theirs to take. on the same level. She barely looks thought to myself: would people have at Rihanna, a classed and racialised assumed that there was a deeper or Fatima: Exactly. I used to because I was born and raised in Pakistan Illustration: Fatima Rauf And so, this video is confronting for moment of being invisible, and a hidden message if I had drawn a PoC? draw a lot of portraits in high school and and yet, even as a child, all my cartoons/ We have a solicitor We have a solicitor white feminists. While they’re法律諮詢 used to fatalwho speaksmistake Cantonese, on her part. 法律諮詢 who speaks Cantonese, This applies to drawing cartoons as well. they were all of conventionally attractive drawings depicted white people. I never happily consuming imagery of法律アドバイス powerful Mandarin & Japanese 法律アドバイス Mandarin & Japanese It is really troubling since PoC I know are white celebrities. I don’t think I ever even thought about it until recently. Level 1, Wentworth Bldg, University of Sydney Level 1, Wentworth Bldg, University of Sydney drew a person of colour. It’s especially sad Now when I’m drawing, I purposefully p: 02 9660 5222 |white w: src.usyd.edu.au wom*n working within The Liability limited by The videoThis service is is providedabout race and p: 02 9660 5222 | w: src.usyd.edu.au Liability limited by This service is provided severely underrepresented in the media a scheme approved to you by the Students’ a scheme approved to you by the Students’ e: solicitor @ src.usyd.edu.au under Professional Representative Council, e: solicitor @ src.usyd.edu.au under Professional Representative Council, Standards Legislation. University of Sydney Standards Legislation. University of Sydney ACN 146 653 143 | MARN 1276171 ACN 146 653 143 | MARN 1276171

24 25 src officebearer reports src officebearer reports

These pages belong to the officebearers of the SRC. They are not altered, edited, or changed in any way by the Honi editors. Queer Officers’ Report Joshuan Han

President’s Report ilary Clinton once said that recognise and celebrate sexual and gender we are to have queer liberation, with this in experiences that we bring together. This is a “being gay is not a western diversity in ways that western society does mind, the Queer Action Collective strives difficult yet empowering process, as we are Kyol Blakeney invention.” In many ways, she not, however western cultural hegemony to be intersectional. Although my own all socialised to be racist, sexist, ablist and His wrong. Western society establishes white-washes this, with the extreme cases experiences as a queer person of colour in queerphobic. few editions ago I reported on the Policy, including the policy on Simple in January 2016 but there is still time would also like to take this time to heteronormative social relations, so that of this hegemony being in the form of queer activist groups (including this one) as existence of the Simple Extension. I Extensions. The proposal was to remove to discuss this further with University congratulate our Education Officers, “being gay” (or lesbian, bi, pan, trans*, non- colonisation. This is certainly the case well as those of other queer people of colour saidA that they were important to those in all reference to it entirely. Before then, I Management and save Simple Extensions. IBlythe Worthy and David Shakes, along binary for that matter) has to be labelled in this country, as non-binary gender have often found that these spaces are the student body who rely on the face to had students messaging and emailing me with the Education Action Group (EAG) and marked, to indicate that our identities identities are a norm in many Indigenous white dominated and erase our experiences, face relationship between staff and student asking that I argue the value of the Simple hroughout the next month I ask for organising a brilliant National Day fall outside of socially constructed norms. cultures of Australia. Decolonisation of we are all learning to be more respectful of and those who may have anxiety when Extension to the Academic Board, which that students continue to send me of Action last week in the name of Free There are many non-western cultures that concepts of gender and sexuality is crucial if other voices and aware of the diversity of dealing with University Administration myself and representatives from SUPRA theirT thoughts on Simple Extensions to Education. I encourage everybody to use teams in the formal process of applying did. Following the debate, I moved an help me gauge what the Student Body the NDA to keep momentum up in the for Special Consideration. amendment to the proposal to keep is thinking and structure an appropriate campaign against the threat of Education the policy around Simple Extensions. debate that would benefit the students of Minister, Christopher Pyne’s deregulation International Officers’ Report Last week the Academic Board met to Unfortunately the vote narrowly lost. our University. bill. debate the new Assessment Procedure These changes are set to come into play He Lu

i, I am He Lu, the International students and local students as a welcome considered to be held for sharing problems or any idea you would like to share. The Student Representative in party for the new semester. Free drinks and gathering advice. Language exchange collectives of International Student Office Wom*n Officers’ Report Student Representative Council and foods were provided at the time. New programs are still welcoming all students would always like to help you with the (SRC) of the University of Sydney. ideas and questions were shared during who are interested in. Also, connection problems and also welcome any of your Subeta Vimalarajah H This is the first report I made for this the meeting. We also made the language has been made between International idea. new semester. Semester 2, 2015 (July) exchange sessions. Additionally, problems Student Office of Sydney University and Please do not hesitate to email t’s an honour to write for ACAR Honi, From critiques of Patricia Arquette’s white dead in her jail cell, after an unwarranted the whitewashing of the new Stonewall film, will be the second semester we work as about International students’ visa were the councilors in UTS. More events have [email protected] , if as feminist spaces have a long, toxic and feminism, to analyses of race and emotional arrest. We especially remember the trans white feminism and white-centred politics International Student Representatives in talked with councilor inside SRC and been planed in order to work united. More you have any concerns of your university continuing history of championing the labour, the prison system and the role of women of colour who have been murdered are being dismantled with greater vigour SRC. Honi Soit. Working visa and jobs will still events and information should be released life. Ivoices of white women at the expense of photography in decolonisation, there were this year. In the USA, of the 19 that we every day. We can only attribute this to the Last semester, International Student be our focus this semester. during this semester. We strongly hope women of colour. This is a reality that our own pages of articles that centred the experiences know the names of, 13 women were black centuries of activism of women of colour. Office created an event for international In this semester, welcome party has been more students can give us more feedback Wom*n’s Collective has not been immune of women of colour. In spite of this, we and 17 were women of colour. Australia is We quote the words of women like Audre to. We cannot understate the struggle and recognise that the Wom*n’s Collective will not separate to these systems of violence, Lorde, bell hooks and Gayatri Spivak (and persistence of the amazing women who took never be a “safe space” for women of colour, but implicated in them. We must never the countless others) often, but today we (and take) the time and emotional energy to as the world is not a “safe space” for women forget the colonial legacy of sexual violence take a moment to truly and graciously thank educate others and in doing so helped the of colour. and exploitation of Aboriginal women that them. It is the activists of the past that have Wom*n’s Collective to be a space that now defined and persists in defining our nation. given us a liveable present, and who provide Ask Abe practices intersectionality. Every day there are stories of women of the foundations for our continuing fight to colour being bashed, beaten, harassed To end more optimistically, things are smash the kyriarchy. SRC Caseworker HELP Q&A Wom*n’s Honi, despite being the source of and murdered. Just this year, we heard starting to change. Whether it’s the number many conservative tears (sorry not sorry Mon the horrendous story of Sandra Bland, an of #teamnicki tweeters doubling the number Droit and Nick Cater), was a tribute to this. African American woman who was found of #teamtaylor tweeters, or the response to Abe, Dear Cen-suss,

I am very confused about what the The census date is always the 31th August Indigenous Officers’ Report census date is. This is my first semester. for semester two (31th March for semester Do I need to do anything or is it all one). It means that whatever you are Georgia Mantle automatic. officially enrolled in on that day, you will be billed for. This is for local students with s it possible for a country founded on from us. This is most clearly seen down at has caused the United Nations to openly In looking at the issues Indigenous people Cen-suss. HECS or for international students. The racism to ever move past its history The Block in Redfern where Aunty Jenny condemn the Australian government face today has there really been progress? census date is approaching now, so look to accept not only this country’s and the whole mob down there are facing actions, yet still nothing has been done. Yes we are now counted as citizens, a carefully at all of your Units and make sure Indigenous people but people of every race? eviction from their land as they demand the With little to no improvement in education momentous step in the rights of Aboriginal that you are happy to be doing the ones I basic human right of affordable housing. and literacy rates within these communities and Torres Strait Islander people but you are enrolled in. Last week on my facebook Newsfeed It seems that in the face of ‘progress’ and it seems that even the so called ‘positive’ citizens of what? A country that still vilifies Abe is the SRC’s welfare dog. Amnesty International Australia posted development human rights get left behind aims of the Intervention havn’t been made, a whole race? A country that still refuses the This column offers students the Remember: if you are receiving Youth the iconic image of Gough Whitlam as he while racism prevails. so why are they still there? accept the true history of colonisation? A opportunity to ask questions on Allowance or Austudy you will need to poured a handful of Daguragu soil into the country that counties to break international anything. This can be as personal maintain a minimum full time load, which hand of Gurindji elder Vincent Lingiari Human rights seems to be all but forgotten The Paternalistic approach to indigenous human rights laws? Has anything really as a question on a Centrelink is 18 credit points or more. If you have a as a symbol of the land being returned to in the Northern Territory as the NT issues has prevailed since colonisation and changed? Are we not still the victims of payment or as general as the state “temporary incapacity” such as illness or the Gurindji people. As I looked at this Intervention continues with little protest reinforces the idea that we are not able extreme discrimination and prejudice in of the world. Send your questions to a longer term disability that prevents you powerful image for a fleeting moment, I from the wider Australian community. to help our self. That some how we are our own country? Until Australian truly [email protected] from studying full time then talk to SRC was empowered by this historical step in The Australian government have restricted different from non-indigenous Australians addresses the history of colonisation and its Abe’s answers can provide you Help to see if you can get Centrelink on a the Land Rights movement, however this individuals rights and freedoms but and that we need the government. This past and current treatment of this country’s excellent insight. lighter study load. feeling left as quickly as it came when I have done so purely based on race. The idea is rooted in racism that allows the Indigenous people we will always be living realised that not much has been done since measures introduced within the Northern government to exercise control over the in a racist country. Abe then. Land rights are still a fundamental Territory communities only apply to Indigenous population under the guise of issue for Indigenous people as we fight for Aboriginal people, this discrimination and helping. the right to something that was taken away stigmatisation of the Indigenous people

2620 supra supra

This page belongs to the officebearers of SUPRA. A Welcome to the Sydney Medical It is not altered, edited, or changed in any way by the Honi editors. Obstetrics & Gynaecology Society Trang Vo

he Sydney Medical Obstetrics an advanced sexual education level and women and men so that they can make As a medical student, my initial hopes & Gynaecology Society will be often can rely on friends and the internet the best decisions regarding the timing with regard to starting this society were launching in the near future, to inform them. We encourage as many of starting a family, whilst balancing their geared around finding ways to break down hereT to promote all things women’s health people as possible to attend and learn about careers. the barrier between doctors and students, related. This society was established by sexually transmitted diseases, different on issues pertaining to women’s health. medical students to educate and raise types of contraception etc. This forum will While issue of women’s health concerns It quickly became apparent, however, awareness of women’s health issues and be interactive and we encourage audience us all on a individual and communal level, that issues of women’s health are wide- Student Organisations and Student Advocacy Services also to foster the interests of medical members to get involved and ask the it is also something that, from a global spanning and pertinent to us all. Our students towards this career path. Through speakers questions. This event is pertinent perspective, is in dire need of our attention. society hopes to bring the postgraduate Adrian Cardinali, Student Advice and Advocacy Coordinator this society, we aim to be the voice of to everyone, regardless of faculty, as there is One of the most prominent issues that community together, regardless of women’s health through policy and knowledge that every person can gain that come to mind is the inequalities and educational backgrounds, to stimulate he purpose of this article is to introduce democracy and radicalising students around the 4600 of those being research students and the The third and final thing that has focused my advocacy and also through giving back to can affect their lives and their community. inequities that exist between the developed discussion and find common ground on a series of articles on stigmatized world against imperialism, racism and hierarchy rest enrolled in coursework degrees. There has attention on postgraduates as a kind of embodied the community. This will take the form and developing countries, with regard issues that affect the women in our lives or under-discussed issues affecting in all its various forms. He conceptualised the been a dizzying proliferation of postgraduate exemplar of the impacts of our digitised and of seminars and forums for the wider We are also hoping to run an event on to maternal and infant mortality rates. and the women of the world. postgraduateT students. The series is going to student response as the expression of a kind coursework programs over the period under globalised age, was a seminar I organised earlier community to connect and to learn from reproduction & infertility with age to Interest and awareness of these matters be written by staff from the Advocacy and of innate impulse for freedom. In the 1980s consideration. The 2016 edition of the this year from the NSW Ombudsman for each other and from health professionals. education postgraduate women about is something that is reasonable to expect Look out for our soon to be up and Legal Services of SUPRA, as one part of our George Katsiaficas released the first history of University’s Postgraduate Program Guide tells student advocacy workers across NSW. Without their fertility going into their future. There from postgraduate students, as a sense of running Facebook page, where you can commitment to delivering multidisciplinary the student movement from this global Marcuse us that there are more than 450 courses on offer prompting the staff member who came to see Later this year, we are hoping to run a are a lot of misconceptions regarding the social responsibility will demanded by find the details of our future events. professional services appropriate for an inspired perspective. He emphasises the way in at postgraduate level. The vast bulk of those are us asked to talk about handling of postgraduate sexual health forum open to all SUPRA ability to have children later in life, as this future employers regardless of the fields in independent student organisation. In order to which the student movement was a genuinely coursework. For comparison consider that the student cases, and in particular he wanted members. Research has shown that becomes increasingly difficult with age. which we’ll work. properly get to the rationale and general outline global force. Of particular interest in his work is strategic planning process underway internal to discuss the Ombudsman’s independent most university students do not have This session aims to inform postgraduate for the series, I detour through two related claims the account of extraordinary bravery of students to the University wants to leave postgraduate observation that they were the most intense about the multidisciplinary model of service in their protests right throughout the then first, offerings untouched, and reduce undergraduate and involving and strongly felt. The NSW introduced by Hayley Stone last week. The first second and third worlds. In the end Marcuse and degrees to about 20 courses. Implied in there Ombudsman is looking to develop their own is that the character of our services can be best Katsiaficas convincingly argue that the student being so many postgraduate course offerings is work approaches to better address postgraduate TPP: Perfecting trade understood with reference to the evolution of the movement was strongly and characteristically that the spectrum of demands on immaterial cases, as well as make recommendations to student movement and student organisations. marked by refusal of hierarchy and desire for labourers has broadened in our more globalised Universities over how they can do better. I will The second is that our multidisciplinary model freedom from the strictures of both American information age. Within degree programs that be talking to them again this week over our input in an imperfect system? of practice is well suited to the generalised nature capitalist democracy and Soviet style socialism. can all translate into intense demands and self- on this topic. One of the things I will be saying of what it is like to be a postgraduate student expectations on postgraduate shoulders. is that the intensity they observe and that we see Michael Player right now. Interesting from today’s perspective is that at much closer quarters, is manifested in a certain the emergence of the student movement was As grass roots evidence for the kind of intensity proliferation of the kinds of issues students he United States is only a few foreign investors access to international the shift to a market state order in an the opportunity for broad cooperation is In relation to my first claim, insofar as student during a time of early massification of higher I hypothesise, I am struck by three experiences need to address. In turn that does mean having months away from reaching arbitration in cases where they believe era where economic activity has become missed. Read – before China dictates it’s organisations are the institutional embodiment education. Somewhat similar to today, increased of the recent past. First is our self-experience teaching and support services in place that can agreement on the Trans-Pacific the host country has taken actions that detached from national boundaries and own regional terms that sit in opposition of the student movement, understanding their enrolments were to deliver economic benefits of casework with postgraduates. I do advocacy adequately address those needs. Partnership (TPP) according to diplomat, breach the State’s investment obligations. hyper-mobile capital is the norm. There to the US. character should help to make sense of the nature T as industrial societies shifted towards post- casework as does the whole team of 5 advocacy Kurt Tong. At a recent United States The frequent line of attack is that the is a much more legitimate concern of of the services we provide. Such organisations industrial economies. It was not anticipated by staff I coordinate, as does our Legal Service All of that brings us back to SUPRA’s services Studies Centre (USSC) lecture, Tong, who right to compensation threatens national curtailment of state power here, as the In this regard, the TPP is less about may at various times be more or less progressive capital that students would rebel against their solicitor. As a consensus generalisation across a and the reason for writing this series of articles. has been an economic affairs diplomat for governance and weakens the State’s ability commitment may severely limit the ability levelling the playing field and more about or conservative, or may be felt to be anathema presumed role as technocrats and administrators large number of cases, we observe an internalised If we share an organisational genealogy that the US State Department since 1990, said to regulate or legislate decisions in the of Australia and other member nations to a shift in the strategic posture of the US to the spirit of the contemporary student of decentralised and global production. What is intensity of commitment to and need for stretches back into the student movement of the 30 chapters of the historic regional trade public interest. Australia’s Trade Minister, impose capital controls and protectionist as an enduring Pacific power. This view is movement or else its living and breathing arguably different now, is that immaterial labour postgraduate education that we don’t quite see last several decades, then we share a genealogy of pact had been basically finalised, with the Andrew Robb, has roundly dismissed industry policies in times of economic given further credence when you consider manifestation. Whatever the case for any of the kind University students are trained and replicated at undergraduate level. In turn that refusal of the status quo. We share a genealogy remaining wrangling over market access the claim, but ISDS does raise some crisis. that the proliferation of preferential particular organisation or organisations and at skilled up to do, has become ubiquitously required plays a part in generating complicated and of refusal of dominating hierarchies. Our to be resolved between trade ministers. interesting questions about the balance of bilateral and regional trading agreements any particular time, there is a certain centre of right throughout material and immaterial multifaceted cases that are intense and demanding postgraduate student members are a group investor and State rights. For now, the focus of President Obama is actually creating a ‘patchwork’ of gravity or touchstone to which they often relate. production processes. At times it seems like one for caseworkers. It seems to be intensifying year that are literally living the intensity of the The controversial trade agreement, which will be on passing the trade deal through different rules that compete with rather Generally that centre of gravity goes back to the needs a masters degree to get more or less basic by year and that’s likely to be reflected in an immaterial turn in production and all of the stalled at the latest round of talks held in In defending the provision, Tong Congress before the 2016 presidential than complement the WTO’s multilateral emergence of the modern student movement in entry level jobs. We have gone through well over a extraordinary jump in our 2015 statistics. Second lived issues that come with it. In that context Hawaii, has divided opinion. If successful, argues IDIS has been “egregiously race stymies the legislative agenda. But regime. the 1960s. One prominent way of understanding decade of accelerated and renewed massification and related was an excellent workshop given by and in differing ways issues like violence and the TPP will more closely integrate mischaracterised” in media coverage, for Tong the longer-term strategy of the nature of that movement is as a more or of higher education driven partly by this context. one of my colleagues, Senior Student Advice and bullying on campus, the stigmitization of and align 12 Asia Pacific economies highlighting that historically international US economic engagement in the region Given there is no effective international less self-conscious though decentralised and Advocacy Officer Margaret Kirkby, on the topic postgraduates who do sex work, and use of that account for 40 per cent of global tribunals have only been used in cases is just as immediate. Like many in the mechanism to harmonise national global refusal of hierarchy. This particular vein of All of the above leads me to a discussion of my of “Does Postgraduate Study Make You Sick”. drugs and drug problems amongst students, gross domestic product and generate where a State has expropriated investor State Department, Tong recognises institutional differences the broader thought arises in all manner of writings, though second claim about the suitability of our model Born out of a lifetime commitment to the student all come up but find no resolution. These productivity gains in supply chains property. He points out that the ISDS the challenge the rise of developing effect is to entrench an asymmetry in Herbert Marcuse’s work on liberation is arguably of multidisciplinary practice for postgraduate movement and having worked extensively with are just some of the topics we will write on across the region. The principal objective provision in the TPP is narrowly designed economies in the Asia Pacific present to trading relations. This unfairly penalises the most influential in contexts such as the students. I can’t make good on that claim undergraduate and postgraduate students over this Semester. By writing about these issues according to Tong is to create a “common to ensure corporations cannot sue States the establishment of regional trade rules developing economies like Malaysia and United States, and mushrooming from there it without a generalised comment on the nature the years, her working hypothesis was that this we make a contribution to letting students set of rules and practices” to govern labour over appropriate actions that protect the and practices. Vietnam and strengthens the position of has been influential across the world. of postgraduate study. And here I want to say described intensity is having a substantial impact know they are not alone in facing them. and environmental standards, investor public interest and that if such cases were more developed economies like Australia that if there was any general student type that on the health and well-being of postgraduate We also do our bit to make it that little bit protections and market access enabling brought to an international tribunal they As an extension of foreign policy, Tong and the United States. While Tong What makes Marcuse’s insight particularly embodied all of the pressures and complexities students. The seminar was delivered last year and easier to talk about them and challenge the “faster, more inclusive growth”. would be thrown out in the first order. argues the TPP is not about containing acknowledges the risk of a fragmented helpful is that it explains the kinds of issues and ambiguities of the new student situation, was part of a national conference of workers of prejudices and hierarchies that keep them the rise of China or any one nation. trading system, he sees no other alternative the student movement was interested in and then then I believe it would be the postgraduate student organisations. The observations offered in place. And that is very much in keeping For those opposed to the trade pact, the The investment obligations under the With the Doha Development Round to perfect trading relations in an otherwise catalysed its growth. Marcuse’s own work student. Using the University of Sydney as by Margaret resonated strongly with the whole with the spirit of the organisation we work most troubling feature is the Investor State TPP also extend multinationals the right stalled, the United States is left to pursue imperfect system. emphasised the role of the Vietnam war in a case study there are presently over 19,000 room. for. Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provision. to freely move capital relating to their regional trade agreements to institute “fair removing faith and hope in American capitalist postgraduate students, with approximately Basically, the ISDS provision provides investments. This commitment exemplifies and transparent arrangements” before

2822 2923 Earth’s Sun Finally Admits It’s Racist Against White People Naaman Zhou defeats all spellchecks

n a move that has stunned astronomers, the “Sure, I’ve seen years of imperialism and decades legend” to justify its points. Earth’s Sun, a thermonuclear star measuring 1.4 of history and heaps of videos of abuse on public million kilometres in diameter, has declared in a transport. But I’ve read a lot of interesting stuff on “Oh I’m not a racist,” the star said. “Some of the I closest planets that orbit within my gravitational press conference that it considers itself proof of the the internet and I’ve realised that small slights to a controversial concept of “reverse racism”. person’s feelings are the same as like, legit murder sphere of influence are black, or at least appear that right?” way to the human eye under certain ultraviolet The Sun, best known for its constant provision of spectrums.” heat and light, fiery demeanour and pivotal role in the “People of colour struggle with casual racism, but 1996 Bond film The World Is Not Enough, spoke to an white people experience guilt and have to be more “At the end of the day, the only reason I’m telling attentive audience, breaking its silence of millions of careful when re-applying sunscreen. We all have our you #AllLivesMatter is because I’m just a roiling ball years. crosses to bear.” powered by miniature explosions, sending cancerous rays down on you all. Unless you are a plant I will fuck “I’ve got a pretty good view from up here”, it said, “and When questioned on its views, the Sun reacted you up.” I’ve seen a lot of white folks copping a raw deal. I feel belligerently, asking why there wasn’t a ‘White History it’s time to speak up.” Month’ and repeatedly using the phrase “ANZAC

Congratulations, You’ve Got An All-White Panel!

30 31 Dear Dr. Spence, Dear Mr Jones, e write to express our grave concern regarding some Ms K Hartman-Warren, of your comments at the Academic Board meeting on the 19th of August, 2015. In a robust debate regarding Wthe continued survival of simple extensions in University policy, Mr T Greenwell and you, intentionally or otherwise, cast aspersions upon the sincerity and integrity of students requesting simple extensions due to Mr K Blakeney, adverse circumstances. Your pejorative tone, and the remark that simple extensions would go to they ‘who [are] the best actor’ hank you for your letter, delivered by hand yesterday, betray considerable disrespect and contempt for the entire student regarding the Academic Board meeting on 19 August. population. To make matters worse, you did so in the name of It is sobering to read your interpretation of my remarks, Twhich were not intended to cause offence. Rather, I was trying to fairness. emphasise the gross unfairness of the current practice of informal Is it fair that a student who is too ill to leave the house to secure a applications for special consideration. doctor’s certificate be denied just a couple of extra days to polish off the final proofread of a major assignment when their head cold I am concerned that the uncertainty and variable nature of the has cleared? Is it fair that a student, gripped by the darkest hour current process for granting extensions across the University of a depressive episode, is unable to cover the cost of $20 for an is not equitable or transparent. I have received advice on this already subsidised appointment with a psychiatrist, and the $5 to issue from many quarters, including directly from students who get to the clinic, and thus unable to secure a certificate? Is it acting have expressed concern that practices vary so widely (from no when a student requires an extra day to recover emotional stability extensions are allowed as a matter of principle, with a mark to fill out the conclusion of an essay after hearing a family member of zero for any minute over the due time, to sometimes many or partner has been diagnosed with life threatening illness? Is weeks extension for no documented reason, and with no penalty it falsehood that a student may request an extra weekend on an applied). assignment while they fulfil the traditions of mourning when a relative passes away? The current informal process is dependent on the faculty in which the student is enrolled; the size of the cohort of students; the Further, your sarcastic comment that a lecturer would offer a individual tutor’s views on the granting of informal extensions; and student simple extension to a student based upon the ‘colour of the student’s own level of confidence in asking for an extension. their jumper’ betrays the lack of faith in your staff members to It unfairly privileges the confident students. I passionately believe make prudential, ethical judgements concerning the needs of that this inequitable system lacking certainty for students should students and their circumstances. It also speaks of manner in not continue. which you regard students as little more than liars and children who do not take their studies seriously and are unable to make That said, I understand the concern in your letter and the value of mature decisions about their academic progress. It is, frankly, an simple extensions. This is why I proposed in the Board debate that open handed insult that must not be countenanced. all students should have a normal grace period of a few days that they could claim without documentation beyond the online form. That you would cast aspersions upon the entire student body, This would mirror the practice of most employers in requiring a disregarding any possibility of adverse circumstance to which medical certificate for illnesses of say, three days duration, but no one would require only a handful of days to adjust, and upon the less. Unfortunately, the Board did not take up my proposal and I capacity of your staff to make sound, reasonable judgements free am told that it would be unlikely to be popular with academic staff of favouritism, is disgraceful. This sentiment is unbecoming of one who stress the importance of meeting deadlines. in the position of Vice-Chancellor. To have heard you imply such a sentiment fills us with both dismay and disgust. As you are aware, following the discussion, the Academic Board adopted the new policy. The chair of the Academic Board, You are hereby offered the opportunity to apologise for these Associate Professor Peter McCallum has agreed to meet with each remarks by 5:00pm on Friday the 21st of August. This letter shall of you to discuss any concerns. be published in Honi Soit the following Monday, with or without your response. I apologise for causing any concerns through my tone or demeanour at this meaning. It was unintended. Yours sincerely, Yours sincerely, SUPRA Presidents SUPRA Vice-President Christian Jones Thomas Greenwell Michael Spence & Kylee Hartman-Warren

SRC President Kyol Blakeney