VOL 90 SEM 2 WEEK 2

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

FitzSimons Life of an Ramsay Centre Scandal Astrologer FUN PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The University of Sydney – where we write, publish and distribute Honi Honiscopes Artwork by Momoko Metham Soit – is on the sovereign land of these people. As students and journalists, we recognise our complicity in the ongoing colonisation of Indigenous land. In recognition of Jenny Cao has some advice ... and fam, if I were you - I’d take it! our privilege, we vow to not only include, but to prioritise and centre the experiences of Indigenous people, and to be reflective when we fail to. We recognise our duty to be a counterpoint to the racism that plagues the mainstream media, and to adequately represent the perspectives of Indigenous students at our University. We also wholeheartedly thank our Indigenous reporters for the continuing contribution of their labour to our learning. EDITORIAL CONTENTS There’s a much nicer world out there somewhere where I don’t exist. Or at least I’d like to think there is. I’m constantly thinking about what could have been – 4 NEWS about what’s possible. 9 FEATURE This past week, that thought process led me to a question: is anything possible? 12 PERSPECTIVE I went out and asked for stories of people talking about stretching the bounds of what constitutes the realm of possibility to find out. 16 CREATIVE The result? In this week’s edition of Honi, as with every week, the stories are ones 18 PUZZLES of possibility. USyd can have its own special edition of Monopoly. It’s possible to Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer create a web series both awful and irresistible using nothing but grant money and “Certified ‘Fire Emoji’” “Please don’t cry in front of me” “She’s tired” “lil soft shell crabby” university students. THANKS TO Going through heartbreak and loss It’s been a tough couple of weeks You’ve put your health on the Editor-in-Chief You have strength in all things. It’s also possible to be born into a dynasty of astrologers. It’s possible, too, that has made you realise who your real Elijah Abraham Except your bladder. with lots of changes. You may find backburner for way too long. Try people out there believe the Earth is flat. friends are. it hard to grapple with them but Flora Proactiv Buttery Spread. honestly it’s just a fucking bag. Made with REAL buttermilk and Editors Therein lies the problem with possibility. It’s as limiting as it is limitless. There are Time to find some new friends! Liam Donohoe, Janek Drevikovsky, Nick Harriott, Lamya Rahman, Andrew Rickert, LEAVE ONE IN THE CAR! is clinically proven to lower your an endless amount of possibilities, but time is linear. At the end of your life, you’ve Millie Roberts, Zoe Stojanovic-Hill, Lena Wang, Alison Xiao cholesterol! #ad lost just as many, if not more, possibilities as you’ve found.

Contributors Maybe that’s a good thing though. Accepting that anything is possible also comes Sasha McCarthy, James Newbold, Katie Thorburn, Liam Thorne, Joe Verity, Annie with accepting the worst: the sorry, the unassuming, the wrong, is possible. Zhang, Alan Zheng There are those who wield possibility like a sword. The Narutos of the world, Artists telling the world to ‘believe it’ as they run, arms stretched behind them, fearlessly Harriet Cronley, Momoko Metham, A. Mon, Eloise Myatt, Yasodara Puhule- towards the unknown. Gamayalage For the rest of us, it might be better if anything isn’t possible. Maybe then I could Cover get a little sleep. EA Mathew Philip

Proofreader Shivani Sankaran

Leo Scorpio remaining time as an Independent Councillor, I apologise had died there Virgo Libra “That Bitch” “~sxc_n_mysterious~ but evil” for not informing the Honi Editors of this information. It’s like disneyland where if someodbrye dies they take “Knows when to use “Wishes they were That Bitch” MAILBOX My SRC voting record has reflected my independence them off into the carpack rjuyst so they can say that nob- orient and orientate” Ok listen here you hot lil shit - People always ask “why are throughout the year already, which the Honi Editors doy dies at disneyland ... the happiest place on earth Taking time to learn about your it’s LEO SZN so you better be I know you don’t really believe emotions will be crucial this week. You scorpios just the WORST?”, “why Clouded Vision would be fully aware of from their attendance at Council what If I told you that for 20 years a killer stalked his prepared. Get your taxes sorted, are scorpios so mean?”, “why Meetings. I was also the only Vision Councillor to not prey in the very grounds of thihs university in all this stuff but sir can you may feel angry and exhausted or you Dear Editors, double cleanse and do your don’t they die after they sting hand over my ballot papers during repselect last year would you be shocked or surprised please lower your voice. might just have the common cold. The readings. In that order. you like the bees?” In the most recent edition of Honi I received a brief and thus voted independently from the very start. While I they doent want you to know about this You’re scaring the children. symptoms are very similar. I’m looking out for us! Hmm, something to think about. mention in the Deep Tea Diving section (big fan of the recognise that the company one keeps may allow certain they’re all in on it section), that I was ‘Liberal-adjacent’. I found this to be characterisations to be drawn, surely, if their ideas, If they deny it, then they’re part of the cover up a rather loaded, puzzling, and incorrect term. I’m not a thoughts, and actions contradict such characterisation but there was a man Liberal and have never identified as such. I have made this it may be fair to say that the initial characterisation was we don’t know his name and he goes by the nickname clear to present and past Honi editors. Current editors poorly constructed. that students came up with at the time beefore they were clarified in private messages that the use of adjacent was censrored to simply mean that I have a personal relationship with Yours independently, HONI SOIT from back in the day has been censored. some Liberals that I put into action in a student politics Tim Seguna they started to notice something was strange and were context (I also have personal relationships with members Master of Public Policy I reporting on it of other on-campus political factions). This is somewhat (‘Deep Tea Diving’, Semester 2: Week 1) late one night there archive was stolen. No doors or laughable as I ran for SRC with a four-year strong personal windows were broken. the thief had access to the build- brand and managed a USU campaign because I felt the ing. University and USU had not done enough to improve their nothing was missing except for the few hundred ar- environmental policies and believed that the candidate I PERSONALS chive copies thart they had kept from their year as editos was running could make a valuable contribution. While it it was forgetton and left as part of the past. except the- may have been the intention of the Editors to showcase Who is this? honisoit archive is now complete and available online. my supposed close friendships, I don’t think it can be but all of the references to him are gone and replaced presumed that a reader’s interpretation of ‘adjacent’ They don’t want me to tell you this and there’s not much with new articles Sagittarius Capricorn Pisces Aquarius related to personal relationships and not political time. find the merewether killer and find who is pulling the “Don’t @ me” “G.O.A.T” “Fish Boi” affiliations. Look at what happened when the editors of HONI SOIT string behins theis university “32 unread Facebook messages” I have recently left the Vision team and will sit out my talked about St Michael’s college and said that soemeone before its too late Strength comes from within. You’ve been conflicted and You’re the kind of person Hey can you please open my So does beauty, resilience and bile. confused recently but it’s about who always says laughter is Facebook message? The human body is a beautiful time you be honest with yourself. the best medicine. You also Disclaimer: Honi Soit is published by the Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney, Level 1 Wentworth Building, City Road, University of Sydney NSW 2006. The SRC’s operation thing and so are you! Ratatouille is the best animated need a new doctor. costs, space and administrative support are financed by Sydney University SSAF. Honi Soit is printed under the auspices of the SRC’s directors of student publications: Vincent Wang, Charlotte movie of all time. Haunton, Rebeccah Miller, Alexi Cassis, Sarah Cutter-Russell and Chanum Torres. All expressions are published on the basis that they are not to be regarded as the opinions of the SRC unless specifically stated. The Council accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions or information contained within this newspaper, nor does it endorse any of the advertisements and insertions. Please direct all advertising inquiries to [email protected]. - 3 - NEWS NEWS Sexual assault reporting portal ridden with errors VC’s staff waived fees for Turnbull event Corrupt IT Elijah Abraham reports. Liam Donohoe reports. manager USyd has unveiled a new sexual assault only student experiencing issues with Documents have revealed that the Uni- reporting portal during Wednesday’s the portal’s reporting options.” versity waived $5020.40 in booking fees National Day of Action rally against It was also revealed that the staff for a private Gala Dinner attended by sentenced sexual violence at universities. portal currently does not allow staff Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The Following the launch of the portal, members to make a formal sexual abuse application for free hire of the Great Hall A former staff member has been found students’ predictive criticisms were or harassment complaint on their own for the Republican Movement’s 25th An- guilty of defrauding USyd of $43,065, proven correct as more problems behalf. The portal provides users with niversary celebration in 2016 was sup- and has been sentenced to at least emerged, including potentially faulty the option to make a ‘disclosure’ on ported by Peter FitzSimons in his ca- twelve months behind bars. logins, a lack of staff reporting options, the behalf of a victim’s behalf, for the pacity as Pro-Chancellor and Fellow of Brett Roberts was employed as an IT and a broken Google link. purpose of providing data without the Senate at the time. FitzSimons was manager by the University of Sydney, The portal was introduced as part lodging a formal investigation. But for also chairman of the Australian Republi- Macquarie University, and the University of the University’s new policy for sexual staff, this is currently the only option can Movement (ARM), a position he still of Newcastle. The Newcastle Herald assault and harassment, which was available. holds. reported that over an eight-year period, released today and disclosed in an email Another issue identified by a number Under ordinary circumstances, Roberts “caused or attempted to cause to all students. of students was that accessing the third-parties are charged a hiring fee payments of false invoices” totalling over USyd implemented the policy based portal directly from Google directs for use of USyd venues, paying extra $100,000. on recommendations made in the users to a 404-error page. This issue was for security and other amenities. In Roberts was found to be corrupt Australian Human Rights Commission also resolved later today after the SRC this instance, ARM booked the Great in 2015 after an investigation by and Universities Australia’s Change the contacted the University. Hall ($3894), Quadrangle Lawns ($440), Macquarie University. Itnews reported Course report. The SRC have accused the University and Nicholson Museum ($686.40) for at the time that a 2013 internal inquiry The Students’ Representative Council of rushing the portal release to coincide $5020.40 in total. This amount was at the university had “uncovered his (SRC), who were consulted for feedback, with the anniversary of the Change the waived, and ARM instead only had to pay misconduct, which the university have come out strongly against the Course report. for security and fire isolation, slashing handed over to ICAC”. University for going ahead with the “The University is prioritising their costs by approximately half. Roberts was sentenced last month to portal at this stage. the press announcement and cheap NUS and WoCo, was attended by Federal to allow anyone to make a disclosure.” The invite-only Gala Dinner, charged 14 months jail for “dishonestly obtaining In their feedback to the University, reputational wins above doing the job Labor Party Deputy Leader Tanya Other speakers at the rally from attendees $150 a head or $3000 for a benefit by deception”, as well as 17 SRC figures highlighted a number properly”, Grant said, accusing the Plibersek and NSW Greens Senator Lee universities across Sydney spoke about a table, and was attended by Prime months jail for “giving false or misleading of critical problems with the portal, University of having “undermined the Rhiannon. the inadequate handling of sexual Minister and former ARM chair Malcolm evidence to ICAC”. Both sentences come including that it times out after ten entire project, neglected meaningful At the rally, Ward spoke about the assault at their own institutions. Turnbull. The 250 guests were also Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was keynote speaker at the event. with a non-parole period of 12 months. minutes, sets word limits on responses, collaboration and placed survivors in portal, saying the University’s solution End Rape on Campus Australia treated to a performance by Kate Image: Australian Republican Movement An IT consultancy company, requires a Unikey to sign in, and asks a position where they are bearing the was “not good enough”. revealed that seven Australian Ceberano. While the amount netted Management and Professional Services respondents to provide information brunt of a broken portal. Plibersek also spoke, delivering a universities, including Western Sydney by the night’s auctions is unknown, on Pty Ltd (MAPS), was run on behalf of such as their gender, sexuality and post- “We will inevitably see University message to the University in light of University and the University of Notre ticket sales alone the ARM would have FitzSimons thanked events coordinator Dene Roberts by Christopher Killalea. Roberts assault therapeutic history without any management use the portal to posture its response: “if you can’t fix it, the Dame, had still been directing students made at least $35,000 in revenue. Anemogiannis for recognising the “VERY used his positions at the universities to clear indication of which staff will be at being at the forefront of institutional government has to step in and make you to a sexual assault hotline that had its FitzSimons, an author and Fairfax KIND understanding” receive and pay invoices to MAPS for able to access the portal’s data. reform when, in reality, they ignored the fix it. funding cancelled in November of last journalist, served on the University’s non-existent services. advice of anti-sexual assault advocates “It is not right that students and year. Senate as one of five Fellows Roberts told ICAC in 2015 that the “It is not right that and went ahead with releasing a portal staff feel unsafe at their place of work or Anna Hush, Director of EROC representing alumni from his election in the potential for backlash. On December and Vice-Chancellor’s Offices, one with pair had designed the scheme together, with critical flaws”, a move which Grant study.” Australia and former USyd Wom*n’s November 2009 through to December 14, University Venues Manager Caroline the subject line: “Sincere thanks from a claim which Killalea denied. ICAC also students and staff feel and the SRC have decried as “unethical Rhiannon also criticised the faulty Officer called it “deeply irresponsible”, 2017, when the five alumni positions Marin-Edwards expressed concern that one republican to another”. FitzSimons, found Killalea to be corrupt, and he unsafe” and irresponsible”. reporting portal, while joining Ward’s saying that “if universities are genuinely were removed as part of a restructure. “because it was not an event directly a former international Rugby Union was sentenced with a five-year good USyd Wom*n’s Collective (WoCo) additional calls to abolish the colleges, concerned about students’ access to The Senate is the University’s highest related to the University” the decision player and husband of Lisa Wilkinson, behaviour bond and fined $4500. SRC President Imogen Grant reported Officer Maddy Ward said “the fact that saying it was “past cleaning them up.” trauma counselling, they should increase decision-making body. to grant a fee waiver was “not clear would also later follow up with the While at the University of Sydney that she logged on and was given access the portal has been malfunctioning in In a statement given to Honi, USyd funding to these services on their own The documents, disclosed to Honi cut”. Given “Peter’s support”, however, University, thanking events coordinator from 2009 to 2011, Roberts worked as a to the staff view of the reporting portal the days since its release proves that it appeared to have backed down on going campuses, rather than overburdening following a Freedom of Information she requested guidance from Rosalind Dene Anemogiannis for recognising project manager on “its shift to shared and not the student one. should have never been released in its ahead with the portal in its original state. already stretched community services.” request by the Australian Taxpayers Oglive, the current University Chief of the “VERY KIND [emphasis in original] services”. He certified the payment of “I have never been a staff member current form. A spokesperson said “we have received The University said that they were Alliance, suggest FitzSimons, who Staff, to avoid “ruffl[ing] any feathers”. understanding he had with Ken nine invoices to MAPS in December or entered into any contract with “The issues with the portal are not so feedback from students that the online aware of the issues and that “every “created the event”, was involved in Oglive, who only began in that role a [Gilbert]”. 2010. the University, so I was completely insignificant that they may be reviewed portal for reporting sexual assault has effort is being made to fix the issues as the decision to host it at USyd, and few months prior, suggested it would The scheme began at the University bewildered.” in 3 months: they are large, gaping holes some technical issues. soon as possible. instrumental in obtaining the fee waiver. be allowed given ARM’s status as a of Newcastle, where MAPS first received Although the issue has since been in the very design of the technology “We have already taken steps to “The portal will be updated in the Emails reveal that FitzSimons made the charity, but recommended that Marin- $27,750 in November 2006. Between rectified, after Grant brought it to that needed to be resolved before it was amend some issues, including the coming months to enable anyone to request following a conversation with Edwards seek out precedent. But when “Under ordinary 2012 and 2013, Roberts ramped up the the attention of the University, Grant made available to students and staff.” removal of a time limit, and we will look make a disclosure, including staff.” Ken Gilbert, a divisional manager with Marin-Edwards later replied that “all circumstances, third- invoices, beginning with $32,450 in believes “it is very unlikely that I am the Wednesday’s rally, organised by the to update the portal as soon as possible Campus Infrastructure Services (CIS), fee waivers approved in the last 2 December and $10,450 in January. In on November 4. This was later followed years” had “direct connections with the parties are charged May, Robert submitted three invoices, up by ‘FrontRow Group’, the agency University”, and that there was therefore a hiring fee for use of each for $32,450. Not all invoices were managing the event, who feature a “no direct example” from which to draw USyd venues” paid, with The Sydney Morning Herald Fellowships: ARC & Google launch USyd programs picture from the Gala on their homepage. precedent, Oglive assured her to “not reporting the total fraud amounted to Separate emails also show that as the worry too much” as the event would almost $114,000. The final three invoices Andrew Rickert reports. event drew closer, some staff considered “happen regardless”. Director of CIS raised a red flag at Macquarie University, Greg Robinson approved the fee waiver Imogen Grant, President of the who terminated Roberts’ employment A round of grant funding has seen a boost projects, while Linkage Project funding the research projects “span the fields in improving the “performance and request shortly thereafter. USyd Students’ Representative Council, and received a partial refunded. of almost $6 million to USyd research is designed to partner academics with of cosmology, epigenetics, computer efficiency of network applications”. Alex Cullen, a research assistant told Honi that the “majority of young “The inappropriate financial projects, including seven fellowships government and industry partners on vision, grid systems, nanotechnology, USyd also announced that it would at the Australian Taxpayers Alliance, people passively support the Republican behaviour by Mr Roberts was picked and a project grant. “complex problems” and “fast-track and nanoscale characterisation.” become the first Australian university questioned the decision, telling Honi movement, but would be horrified to up by the university’s own financial Last week USyd announced that solutions to benefit end-users”. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) within the Airbus Global University that “it is absurd that a partisan political learn that its wealthy leadership are safeguards and systems,” Macquarie told six projects would receive Future Professor David Schlosberg was Professor Duncan Ivison told Honi that Partner Program, which gives cause gets special treatment at a public granted extraordinary handouts from the SMH in 2015. The investigation was Fellowship funding from the Australian awarded a $425,500 ARC Linkage Project he is “sure [that these fellowships] will engineering students access to Airbus’ institution and the university needs to the University.” referred to ICAC who held a three-day Research Council (ARC), as well as one grant for the Sydney Food Incubator, deliver...extraordinary discoveries and 100-employee campus team and global be accountable for that.” Alex, also a member of the Macquarie hearing into Roberts’ conduct. Linkage Project. The funding was part a joint project with the City of Sydney benefits for Australia and the world.” exchange opportunities. The rationale behind the University’s University Students Representative Killalea told ICAC that he had acted of the ARC’s $180 million round of mid- and partners at UNSW, TAFE NSW, and USyd also benefited from Google’s USyd will participate in the program decision remains unclear—there is no Committee, added that “the university out of “blind friendship” to Roberts. year funding, which awarded 100 Future FoodLab Detroit. It focuses on tackling PhD Fellowship program, receiving one immediately. Dean of the Faculty of evidence to suggest the decision was a has chosen to forego thousands of Killalea would later tip-off ICAC about Fellowships and five Linkage Project food insecurity—something which of the four coveted awards. USyd Ph.D. Engineering and IT, Professor Willy political one that reflects the University’s dollars that could contribute towards Roberts’ behaviour. grants to researchers across Australia. affects 17,000 residents of Sydney. candidate Stephen Mallon will receive Zwaenepoel, will visit the Zhuhai Air position on Australian Republicanism. teaching, research or student services Roberts has filed an appeal against Future Fellowships fund “mid- The six ARC Future Fellowships grants funding and be “matched with a Google Show in China this November to formally Emails do however show discussions whilst asking students and staff to bear the severity of the sentencing, which career researchers” over four year range from $768,125 to $1,018,125, and Research Mentor” in his research sign a partnership agreement. between secretaries in the Chancellor’s the brunt of budget changes.” will be heard on 24 September.

- 4 - - 5 - MONOPOLY MONOPOLY How to own a piece of our university

Janek Drevikovsky reports.

If you’ve ever dreamed about buying the Quad and redeveloping it into a hotel, dream no more: with paper money, plastic tokens and some cutthroat capitalism, soon we’ll all be real estate emperors— right in our own backyard. Introducing: USyd Monopoly. That’s right, the USU is developing a USyd- themed edition of everyone’s favourite board game. And by “favourite” we mean “most likely to ruin a family holiday after your sister got to be banker and didn’t give you enough five-dollar notes”. So far, information on the project is scant: it’s in the “very early stages of development”, according to USU Head of Commercial Operations Jess Reed, and the USU is currently “working with the University and the licensed [Monopoly] distributors in Australia”. Hasbro, the global toy giant, owns Monopoly, but local licensing seems to be handled by Winning Moves, a company known for producing variant board games. Winning Moves sells a wide range of Australia-specific Monopoly editions, featuring Sydney Monopoly, AFL Monopoly, NRL Monopoly and even Holden Monopoly. Presumably, the game will form part of the USU’s merchandise range, which retails at outlets like UniMart and Footbridge Station. Until recently, USU merchandise was dominated by keyrings, branded jerseys and overpriced umbrellas. But things got spicy with the recent triumph of the USyd-themed snow globe: with its miniature Quad and sparkly flurries, the globe has sold over 5000 units since its April launch. Commercial Ops must be hoping for a similar entrepreneurial coup with USyd Monopoly. On game design, details are also thin. Like regular Monopoly, it will probably feature a rectangular board with squares representing pieces of real estate for sale. Unlike regular Monopoly, these buildings will probably be real life USyd locations. Which buildings will make an appearance is as yet unclear, and it’s likely the USU itself doesn’t know: the name and likeness of any USyd asset will, in most cases, have to be licensed from the University itself. And as University spokesperson confirmed to Honi, “discussions are yet to be had around licensing or building choices”. But that leaves room for some wild speculation: will the Quad serve as Mayfair, Monopoly’s most expensive property? Will the Bosch Building, a suspected asbestos hotspot, be Old Kent Lane? Will players collected 200 credit points when passing go? Will academic misconduct proceedings be jail? And, after the Baird government crushed our locomotive ambitions, what on earth will the train stations be? There’s a commercial justice to USyd Monopoly. Universities bid for us with slick marketing. They charge us extravagant ‘rent’ in the form of course fees. They expose us to the merciless chance of inconsistent marking standards. They force us to do laps through the labyrinth of student services and tortured degree progressions. It’s time to turn the tables: with USyd Monopoly, it won’t just be rich donors who can own a piece of our university. But, as with all good things, you’ll have to wait: USyd Monopoly won’t be in stores before semester one, 2019 at the earliest. - 6 - -7 - PROFILE The rural fight against fascism Katie Thorburn looks into the group saying no to bigotry in New South Wales’ Central West.

USyd is a hotbed for politics. Yet often enough we don’t and Toby Cook—well-known fascist look outside our university bubble to see the activism leaders—have directly tried to occurring in other communities, particularly regional influence the area by visiting into and rural communities. There’s a stereotype that those towns like Lithgow. Infamous far- outside of the inner-city are bigots or, at the very least, right figure and current Australia politically disinterested. I looked into a Facebook group First Party chairman Jim Saleam that is fighting the far right in regional towns, to see if even attempted to run for the the Central West features more bigots or resistance to seat of Cootamundra in last bigots. October’s by-elections, coming The page ‘The Central West says “no” to Bigotry last in the process. and Fascism’ is largely run by residents of Bathurst, a “The target audience of this regional town in Central West NSW. Bathurst is one page is anyone who opposes of the largest regional cities in the area, alongside bigotry in all forms,” the admin Orange and Dubbo. Over the years far-right groups says. “Although I started this like Antipodean Resistance, Reclaim Australia, and the page in response to what was UPF have tried to influence the locals. happening in my own town, “The Antipodean Resistance activity here in Bathurst I signal boost for left-leaning is the major issue,” the administrator of the page tells pages all around Australia and me. The source, who wishes to remain anonymous, sometimes beyond, and I have adds that “there are a number of Newcastle True Blue followers around the world at Crew who moved into Lithgow to stir up opposition to this point.” a proposed mosque there.” The page has had several wins so far. It has prompted locals to “There are actually quite take down Nazi posters and speak up in discriminatory situations. a lot of left leaning people The page has also networked with in regional areas, other anti-fascist groups, such as Yelling At Racist Dogs. the problem is with them Predictably, the page faced backlash at first. meeting each other.” The admin says that there were “a number of nippers (highschool aged wannabe nazis) in Blayney and Mudgee” targeting the page when The page started in response to posters advertising it launched. the Antipodean Resistance group in Bathurst in early The admin says that there is a bit of truth January. The Antipodean Resistance is a neo-Nazi to the claim that rural people are intolerant of and fascist group in Australia whose slogan is “white difference. revolution is the only solution.” The likes of Nick Folkes “I do believe there is [a] stereotype of

regional towns being bigoted and it was somewhat true of the older population,” they said. “Until about 2015, people I knew were starting to follow pages like Reclaim Australia [and] UPF.” However, they added, “But Bathurst at least had been pretty progressive among younger residents.” “I wasn’t radicalised by the left, it was exposure to the right that radicalised me.” The rise and fall

There seem to be structural issues affecting left-wing organising in regional towns. “There are actually quite a lot of left leaning people in regional areas, the problem is with them meeting each other,” they explained, “Finding the other people who share your views & organising is the hardest part about fighting fascism in regional areas.” of the Ramsay The admin suspects that long-time locals are not members of Antipodean Resistance; they think that the fascist group has probably sent members from the city to Bathurst, to spread their message westwards. “You could say I’m becoming radicalised,” the admin reflects. “But I wasn’t radicalised by the left, it was exposure to the right that radicalised me.” Empire

WORDS / LIAM THORNE & JOE VERITY

ART / A. MON

- 8 - - 9 - FEATURE FEATURE

student demand for teaching—rather than on and academics wary of ideological agendas. John already turning to private donors to fill the gaps left Artwork by A. Mon intellectual merit. Howard, a member of the Ramsay Centre board, was by public cuts, having received $16.4 million as “Look what happened to Indian history: it responsible for directing twenty-five million dollars of August 1 from the Paul Ramsay Foundation. disappeared. And where is African and Islamic Studies towards the USSC at its inception to promote the Although the Foundation is a separate wing in this faculty? Entire civilisations are not taught.” Australia-US alliance. of the Ramsay Centre’s operations, the Along with an absence of historians of Africa, the To a large extent, the USSC has served its purpose—a grant displays the wide reach of the Department of History is also lacking in academics source with inside experience at the USSC told Honi ideologically-charged group. specialising in Indian history, as noted by Honi in late that the think tank component of the Centre is an The University of California, 2016. Moses thinks there’s a potential overlap between the vision held by Haines and units currently offered at Perhaps, as public funding declines, universities USyd. As noted by Vice Chancellor Michael Spence on will have no choice but to “hitch their sail to unfettered Q&A in June, the University currently teaches a ‘great books’ program, which shares some of the features capitalism” proposed by the Ramsay Centre. One of the units, ‘Great Books that Changed the World’ (FASS2200), promises to extend students through the “intensive “echo chamber” and “essentially a branch office of the Berkeley demonstrates the implications of a reading” of “challenging texts”. The unit has restricted US embassy”. At the same time however, conservatives corporatised funding structure. In response to access however—it’s part of the Dalyell Scholars are dissatisfied with the critical research produced by dwindling state support, Berkeley instituted private program, meaning only students with an ATAR of the Centre, echoing the oft cited remarks of former support as a replacement. Between 2013-17, the public ninety-eight and above have access to it. Thatcher speechwriter John O’Sullivan that “every university raised almost two billion in private funds, a “Let’s democratise the Dalyell program by making organisation that’s not explicitly right-wing, over time figure that continues to rise. In the 2016-17 fiscal year positions. Of the fifteen remaining positions, six it generally available,” argues Moses. “If you want to becomes left-wing”. The Australian’s Gerard Henderson alone, $191 million of philanthropic support was given are external appointees with previous experience democratise it, though, you need to devote resources lamented that the academic component of the USSC for scholarships and fellowships. as CEOs, executive and non-executive directors in for the small-group teaching. I have no problems is “stacked with leftists” and has an “acute lack of Although arguably preferable to a mere absence corporate business. Students now hold only two with Ramsay contributing them so long as we run the political diversity”. For academics and ideologues alike, of funding, the result for Berkeley has been the positions, and only one representative of the NTEU sits program on our terms. But we should walk away if the USSC has provided a precedent that informs both funding of, for example, Lawrence Livermore National on the board. When asked by the NTEU whether the The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation is in a differences over [its] governance” reflected in an Ramsay insists on calling it “western civilisation” rather sides the Ramsay debate. Laboratory, responsible for explicit research into Senate would allow the Ramsay Centre’s programme uniquely difficult situation: it currently has three “extraordinarily prescriptive micro-management than “great books”—a political rather than academic The Ramsay Centre’s proposed degree also has an anti-terrorist responses. In recent years, Australia has to pass, Spence gave words of assurance about the billion dollars, but nobody to give it to. Intentionally approach” which sought to undermine the autonomy project.” obvious analogue in the ‘Contemporary Civilisation’ witnessed the rise of similarly political and privately- other processes that would need to first be passed or not, the late Paul Ramsay has left the country not of the university by dictating curriculum as well as Beyond financial considerations, Moses argues that course run by Columbia University in the US. Students funded think tanks. The Institute of Public Affairs, a before the Senate was consulted. However, given the only one of the largest educational funds in Australian staffing. Despite defending the independence and to engage the Ramsay Centre rather than ignore them are required to take a ‘Core Curriculum’ in addition prominent beacon of climate change scepticism, was Senate’s supreme power and recent trends suggesting history, but a new and high stakes battleground in integrity of an institution which Ramsay supporters would be politically tactful. to their own studies, where they learn about “the found to source eighty-six per cent of its funding from an ever-enlarging overt corporate influence, Spence’s the seemingly interminable Australian culture wars. point to as a jewel in the crown of Western civilisation, “We can’t be seen to be a priori against the history of moral and political thought from Plato to the private individuals, have close ties with the Liberal comments did not satisfy all. Negotiations between the Ramsay Centre and the Schmidt was lambasted as a “left-wing ideologue”; proposition. We would fall into the stereotype of present.” First implemented in 1919, the course arose Party, and receive $4.5 million from mining-magnate Even though Moses spoke with relative confidence that University of Sydney have not only caused concern a cultural Marxist blindly opposed to the study of a PC university, which is what our critics want. If amid post-war xenophobia. Students were expected Gina Rinehart. the worst parts of the Ramsay Centre’s course would about the legitimacy of Western civilisation in Western civilisation from the outset. negotiations falls down, it should be because Ramsay to gain an appreciation for ideas like capitalism not pass, he was also quick to concede that any proposal academia, but have also raised questions regarding the As the dust settles in Canberra and the Ramsay was intransigent, not us.” and democracy, instilling within them a renewed with such political overtones needs to be approached compatibility of academic autonomy and an increasing Centre retreats to the alma mater of its board director, “I have confidence in my colleagues. I’m confident patriotism and ultimately affirming the West’s place at with extreme caution. Of course, not all corporate reliance on private sponsorship in the context of public both advocates and sceptics of the proposed degree that the VC and the Dean would not accept a deal that the forefront of global politics. sponsorships hold explicitly ideological overtones— funding cuts. appear divided. Since the publication of Abbott’s would compromise university standards. I’m confident As the Contemporary Civilisation course take last year’s multi-million deal between USyd and Since June, the Ramsay Centre has joined the ideological manifesto, Ramsay Centre CEO Simon that the university’s vetting procedures would produce approaches its centennial, it remains criticised Microsoft to provide research grants and technology. ranks alongside fabricated ‘African gangs’ and Haines has been tasked with recovering a respectable an outcome that would issue in a serious great books for over-emphasising the importance of Western Moses, who completed his Ph.D. at Berkeley, sees The deal hopes to “reshape national and global reusable plastic bags as one of the nation’s foremost front for future operations. This draws a distinct line stream.” contributions to global history and philosophy. The the university as a model for USyd’s potential future. security and revolutionise medicine, communications cultural crises (at least according to the indefatigably between him and his radical conservative colleagues programme has certainly shed much of its original “For good or ill, a UC Berkeley style funding model and transport.” Despite being relatively uncontentious indignant conservative commentariat). This process (two of whom, coincidentally, are former prime nationalist ideology, however, mainly due to the could be the future for the university, meaning a vast in comparison with the Ramsay Centre, the Microsoft was accelerated by the dramatic and apparently ministers). Haines, a former academic himself, has efforts of student and academic protest. Reforms majority of its income is privately generated.” deal illustrates the integral role corporate sponsorship acrimonious breakdown of negotiations with the gone to lengths to position himself above the perceived in the 1980s and ‘90s expanded the scope of the For those who take issue with the Ramsay is already playing at USyd. Australian National University, a disagreement elevated ideology of the Centre, lamenting the blemish left on course from its Eurocentric origins to include a Centre, an outcome similar to the Perhaps, as public funding declines, universities will to the status of national news by the unexplained what he sees as an honest educational mission. It’s no relatively more diverse and intersectional array Lawrence Livermore labs—or even worse, have no choice but to “hitch their sail to unfettered intervention of the Prime Minister. mistake that over the past two months Haines, not On the other side of the debate are the so called of perspectives, such as Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj, the Institute of Public Affairs—is precisely capitalism,” as Moses so eloquently puts it. Perhaps, ‘Sydney 200’—the roughly two hundred USyd Du Bois’s The Souls of Black Folk, the Qur’an, the dystopia in mind. One fear is as the optimists would suggest, this model is not academics who signed an open letter from the National Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth, and de incidents similar to the firing of Steven altogether incompatible with independent academic “Another way of describing ‘not engaging in the culture wars’ Tertiary Education Union to Michael Spence urging Beauvoir’s The Second Sex. Disagreement Salaita, a tenured Palestinian-American rigour. But in the trilemma of corporate funding, is ‘letting the right win them’”, he argues. The only way to against any arrangement with the Centre, citing the over whether USyd might be able to adopt a professor of Indigenous Studies at the academic autonomy and ideological warfare, only two intention to “predetermine academic outcomes” and similar course in collaboration the Ramsay University of Illinois, in 2014-15. Having can survive. We can only hope that the latter remains prevent the politicisation of universities in the future is to prioritise students with an interest in the West. The Centre ultimately boils down to one’s tweeted criticisms about Israel’s 2014 confined to the petty squabbles of opinion columns, turn away the ideologues without hesitation. student movement ‘Keep Ramsay Out of USyd’ is willingness to trust university management attacks on Gaza, Salatia was later rather than in our tertiary syllabus. aligned with these academics. and their ability to resist intruding demands fired. After filing a lawsuit against the Dr Nick Riemer, senior lecturer in English and presented by large corporate benefactors amidst university, documents obtained through Though negotiations shuffled along quietly for the Abbott, has been the face of the Centre. linguistics, and the first signatory on the NTEU a political context of tertiary education cuts. Freedom of Information requests showed first half of the year, receiving little attention outside With Haines and the ragtag bunch of former prime letter, flatly rejects both the financial and political It stands to reason that even if USyd is that his firing came following pressure of academic spheres, Ramsay board director Tony ministers knocking on USyd’s door, the response from justifications for engaging the Centre. To engage able to decline Ramsay’s offer from donors, who threatened to UPCOMING EVENTS Abbott characteristically invited controversy in late academics can be broadly grouped into two categories: them, he claims, even with a healthy degree of today, a similar offer could withdraw financial support May after publishing an online essay in Quadrant those who are willing to inch the door open (albeit scepticism, would be to afford it “social capital” and be unceremoniously from the university FORUM: NO TO RAMSAY, about the proposed degree. The former Prime with the security chain firmly in place), and those who “academic respectability”, potentially strengthening accepted at some if he was not Minister triumphantly declared that negotiations were would leave the call unanswered. the future bargaining position of the Centre with point in the future fired. Despite THE MYTH OF WESTERN reaching a close, and that the Ramsay Centre was Dirk Moses, professor of Modern History at USyd, other universities less protective of their academic when funding for inevitably on the precipice of restoring Western civilisation to falls into the former camp. Moses became a leading autonomy. the arts is in even reaching a CIVILISATION its rightful prominence in tertiary education. Finally, voice in the Ramsay debate overnight after writing As for the political implications, Riemer thinks more dire straits. settlement, it WED AUGUST 8, 6PM, Abbott declared, after years of suppression, Western an article which drew indignant criticism from rejection is the only option. “Another way of describing In June 2018 is not difficult civilisation could be taught free from the pesky conservative commentator Chris Kenny. Despite ‘not engaging in the culture wars’ is ‘letting the right alone, tertiary for USyd CARSLAW 175 pervasion of Asian and Indigenous perspectives— his firm opposition to Kenny and the conservative win them’”, he argues. The only way to prevent the education academics to unhindered by the radical notion that “all cultures are vilification of universities he represents, Moses thinks politicisation of universities in the future is to turn institutions were dealt with significant cuts as a result imagine similar events at their own campus, should equal”. that USyd should engage with the Ramsay Centre, away the ideologues without hesitation. of a Liberal government funding freeze, arguably laying the university accept funding from an explicitly pro- STOP THE RAMSAY CENTRE! ANU’s withdrawal was supported by a lengthy though with caution. Like many academics, he thinks Advocates, sceptics and opponents of the Ramsay an imperative for greater reliance upon higher student West source. explanation from the Vice Chancellor, Brian Schmidt. that the Arts faculty simply cannot afford to refuse Centre alike all act with vigilance instilled by past fees in a deregulated environment, or alternatively, There is reason to believe a similarly corporatised PROTEST AND DIE IN Under siege by aggrieved conservatives from Sky News, funding. experiences. The United States Studies Centre, a on private sponsorship. USyd will receive 2.8% less university has already taken shape. As of 2016, the WED AUGUST 15, 1PM, The Australian, and the Federal Parliament, Schmidt “Research for research’s sake is not indulged like research institute and think tank located at USyd, than expected, equating to a $62 million cut. Smaller Senate—USyd’s governing body—changed its make up declared that negotiations were halted not due to the it used to be,” he explains. “Similarly with teaching, has provided lessons for both conservatives keen to universities like the University of Newcastle were also with very little student consultation. During student EASTERN AVENUE substance of the program, but due to “irreconcilable resources are allocated like a business—meaning combat the perceived left-wing slant of universities hit hard, losing $30 million of funding. Newcastle is exams in 2015, the Senate cut seven of its twenty-two

- 10 - - 11 - CULTURE The Stars in our Faults

Alan Zheng ponders the shining industry of professional stargazers. Artwork by Momoko Metham

My first interaction with astrology came events. According to Gallup polls in introspectivity, so when he was Cainer’s work, the forecast concluded when I was eight. It began with a neon undertaken in Britain, Canada and the shown a birth chart which accurately with a well-timed call to action ‘you pop-up which flitted onto my virus- US until 1996, up to a quarter of people summarised his personality, he was can do it!’ What ‘it’ necessarily entails, infected MSN homepage one fateful believed in horoscopes. Nicholas hooked. however, still escapes me. day. The ad was neat and gaudy, a relic Campion’s recent book ‘Astrology and After his world-class education, I often wonder what a life of of Windows XP programming. ‘Discover Popular Religion in the Modern West’ Jonathan ultimately came to accrue interpreting and relating the stars to who you really are here,’ it flashed in alleges 90% of the British population an astrological fortune and created an human behaviour does to a person’s glittery rainbow text. Bored and left know their zodiac signs and 50% believe empire in his name. His byline rapidly thinking patterns. Certainly, the unsupervised, I clicked into the pop-up, them to be accurate descriptions of appeared in the daily astrological underlying causation is dubious and unbeknownst to the fact that I had their identities. The scale of astrology’s forecasts of Hello, Sunday News, Daily to work in a field constantly criticised just downloaded a Trojan Horse onto impact on human thinking and social Mail, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, Japan’s by sceptics must grind you down my computer. I was too preoccupied norms cannot be understated, even if it Misty Magazine, the Herald Sun and until you too begin to doubt the to notice, confronted instead by an is all mere bullshit. the Sunday Times. According to the stars and question the value of their invitation into a cosmic universe Through it all, dedicated horoscope Observer, more than 12 million people signs. It’s not too much of a leap to of answers dating back to Ancient sections have secured their place have read Jonathan’s predictions. The assume that what keeps horoscope Babylonian practices in 2000BC. as a familiar feature of national and scale of this audience demanded that writers in the business is at least That rainy afternoon took me down global tabloids. According to research when Jonathan passed away in 2016, partially attributable to the multi- a rabbit hole. I discovered I was an undertaken by the University of Wales the enormous and prodigal weight of billion-dollar industry. However, what Aquarius, which meant I was compatible Trinity Saint David, 70% of people interpreting the stars be inherited. might also underlie the production with Leos. My young mind reasoned between the ages of 18 and 21 read a Jonathan’s charismatic nephew, of these horoscopes are the personal that this was an astrological destiny, a horoscope column once a month. This Oscar Cainer, donned the trademark struggles and experiences driving sign from above that my August-born is surprising because it subverts the velvet suit and became an heir the astrologist’s work. They learn to crush would be destined to fall for my established archetype of the increasingly overnight, continuing the legacy of compress these into a creative output, cool and calm air element. In a panicked secular and rational millennial. the characteristic Cainer horoscope, perhaps powered by an enduring belief ecstasy to learn more, the teachings If you have ever read a horoscope, identifiable by its discursive, almost in the interpretive value of their own from the zodiac began to govern my life. you will likely have come across the irrelevant imagery. Last week, the craft. After all, the astrologist’s first After school, my train journeys were renowned work of the late Jonathan Daily Telegraph’s Cainer horoscope reader is themself. occupied with the consumption of daily Cainer. A high school dropout, Jonathan reminded me of the apparent aphorism Daily horoscope writers are not horoscopes in the mX. I clung to abstract worked odd jobs as a petrol pump ‘metal and custard have more in struggling for work. In addition reaffirmations. I embraced labels attendant and at a school nursery, common than I think’. I interpreted it to managing phone support lines, which had been bestowed by the stars, before enrolling at the now nearly 70- as a subtle allusion to the rigidity in monetising horoscope readings wilfully blind to their contradictions: year old sandstone institution, the my life. After all, here I was, in the third through exclusive access packages extroverted yet shy, temperamental yet Faculty of Astrological Studies (FAS). year of a five year degree, still feeling like the Daily Telegraph’s ‘premium emotionally stable. This was me. The college currently enrols more than post-break blues. My imagination was horoscopes’ and working to short Horoscopes became my guilty 10,000 students from 90 countries ignited by the thought of leaving the deadlines, astrologists are creative pleasure, exerting a unique explanatory and awards certificates, diplomas and timetable-grind behind and pursuing agents continuously pressured by power on my life as they have done even Ph.D.s in Astrology. Testimonials some romantic odyssey in Europe, a line of work to move at planetary for so many others. Depending on on the FAS website depict a range of away from Taste baguettes and Campos speeds. who you ask, astrology ranges from reasons for studying astrology but each coffee. The horoscope prompted that The industry is balanced precariously ‘pseudoscientific’, ‘misguided’ and a is joined by a golden thread: an interest this sensation of an unwanted stasis on people’s continued faith in this ‘mass cultural delusion’, to a “meaningful in the metaphysical, mystical and could simply be cured with excitement belief system, and whether astrology connection between mankind and human liberation. Jonathan’s reasons and desire. I filled the blanks mentally can maintain its longevity through this the wider cosmos”. To astrologists for enrolling were likely a blend of and reminded myself to approach the pandemonic century is still undecided. and horoscope readers, the claim of necessity and curiosity. He was without day with more excitement. I asked So far, it seems written in the stars astrology is simple and uncontroversial: qualifications and undoubtedly bored many overenthusiastic questions that horoscopes are here to stay. there is a meaningful impact on the of working in his most recent job in a in my first tutorial of the semester. substratum of human affairs by celestial factory. Jonathan was also interested Possibly too many. As with much of

- 13 - CULTURE CULTURE Not so Bright Ideas Digging deep into flat earth Nick Harriott has no idea where the money goes. Joe Verity travels around the world in 80 days. Artwork by Harriet Cronley Bright Ideas is an annual grants program which Similarly, Bruno Dubosarksy directed his short film expectations, it’s probably not because it was a bad For all its privacy issues and data breaches, the internet The twenty-first century has fast become the era of distributes “financial assistance, marketing support, Method using 2017’s allocation, and throughout the idea but rather that it wasn’t adequately incubated by is still able to deliver the irresistible allure of anonymity obscure, paranoid conspiracy theories. Climate change mentoring, business advice [and] access to industry process the film’s team was not offered the support the program that commissioned it. that drew so many in its infancy. Behind the haze of scepticism reigns as the most high profile of these contacts” to USyd students who want to a develop a initially promised. “There weren’t any industry contacts The USU does not follow up projects that miss screen names and private forums, users are able delusions, and is definitely the most dangerous. creative project. Successful applicants are handed involved,” he said. “I never asked them for any but it deadlines and sit in development hell, nor does it revoke to congregate around the esoteric and bizarre, Simmering on the fringes of society, gradually around $2000 to finance “fashion, art, theatre, music, certainly could’ve been useful to have someone to give their funding. Bright Ideas doesn’t even publicise free from the imperious gaze of decriers. inching inwards, is a plethora of similarly word, food and design” projects, which somehow also guidance on film production.” upcoming projects on its social media page, and only Intrigued by the mainstream traction contrarian conjecture. Anti-vaxxers have extends to ideas like the recently resurrected Manning It’s not just technical and creative guidance where promotes the rare few it deems ‘success stories’ in some of these groups have started to representation in federal parliament, and Bar bingo. professionals would come in handy. Budgeting advertising material for the next round of grants. On gain, and curious as to what extent it deep state paranoiacs have become a dime The rationale behind what is and isn’t a “Bright Idea” assistance should be provided to the projects to ensure the surface, staying an arm’s length away from its represented a legitimate belief, I found a dozen. In the US, a 4chan conspiratorial seems unclear. Are these ideas selected on merit? that every dollar from the grant is invested wisely. creative teams appears to allow creative freedom—the myself voyeuristically trawling through entity called ‘QAnon’, which claims to The financial demands of the project? The diversity Most of Dubosarksy’s funding went towards renting program doesn’t check or approve any material before a number of major flat earth forums, have “high level security clearance”, of the applicants? Whatever the reason, it seems like professional gear, which his crew couldn’t have it is launched, and according to Richmond, “they kind hoping to gain insight into the logic has convinced legions of regular people very little is turned down by the program—which otherwise afforded. However, it is unclear why the of just let [Holt!] do what we wanted”. However, staying that has attained notoriety around (er— that the the mass media is part of a isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it makes you wonder USU could not make an arrangement to loan out the completely out of the loop is more lazy and negligent across) the world. repressive CIA conspiracy. whether too many projects means too little money to filming equipment already owned by the Department than productive. Despite once representing an In some ways, this kind of behaviour spread around. of Media and Communications, thereby allowing teams For all its misgivings, Bright Ideas does play a archetypically absurd conspiracy, is nothing new. Rejection of conventional $2000 per project sounds like a lot but it doesn’t to use the funding on other necessities, like paying vital part in kickstarting creative projects that would the internet age has afforded flat thinking is a hallmark of democratic stretch very far for most projects. Once you’ve hired actors. Perhaps these shortcomings wouldn’t seem so otherwise struggle to get made. For the majority of earther-ism renewed cred. B.o.B famously society, a reflection of the radical scepticism a theatre for a show, a studio for your band or film dire if the promises made in the Bright Ideas mission projects, grants provide the lion’s share, if not sole released its unofficial anthem in 2016, the perceived equality of citizens instills. You’re equipment for a couple days of shooting, you’d be statement were met more frequently, but as it stands, source, of their financing; but without the financial ‘Flatline’, in which he decried the malevolent no better than me, so why should I believe what lucky to have enough room in the budget for a few the USU seem to be promising more than they have the and technical assistance promised, these projects “cult called science”. Flat earth conventions have you say? That said, the state of paranoia in 2018 has sandwiches. And $2000 stretches even less without capacity to deliver. may as well be made for nothing. If you were given the popped up across the US and Britain, and Australia been taken to new heights. British breakfast show This industry professionals helping you use it. Although For instance, Holt! was promised a planning and opportunity to receive $2000 and just run with it, or would have had its own by now but for the infighting how said model is inconsistent with the way the sun Morning recently featured a guest who claimed that “mentoring” is touted as a privilege of being part of rehearsal space, which the USU did provide—but it have an industry professional show you how to make amongst its organisers. A common belief amongst the looks when you stare at it. the moon was not solid. the program, various groups have found themselves lacked desks, computers and printing resources at $2 look like $2000, which would you take? attendees of these conventions and tens of thousands Flat earther-ism and all its parallel theories are without guidance. the time. It was only open during semester, meaning Applications for Bright Ideas 2018 open early of online disciples is an aggressive, almost evangelical The state of paranoia in symptomatic of a society riddled with debilitating anti- “They were originally [going] to have fortnightly projects planned during long holiday breaks were September. With the next round of candidates around denunciation of conventional wisdom, an admission establishment sentiment and distrust of authority. meetings with us, which fell wayside,” said Alex forced to make alternative arrangements, despite that the corner, I can only hope they commission a little that perhaps flat earther-ism isn’t entirely cogent, but 2018 has been taken to new Contrarian conspiracies are concocted with little Richmond from Holt! The Musical, a student production being the ideal time for students to engage in creative less, fund a little more and connect their successful that it sure is better than the globe theory. heights question given as to why any government or illuminati that had its premiere run at the Seymour Centre mostly pursuits. applicants with industry professionals that will elevate Flat earther-ism is a fairly diffuse body of theory, at would bother crafting such meticulous and far-fetched funded by Bright Ideas. When a Bright Ideas project fails to meet the projects to places that money alone cannot. least by the standards of the cult of regular science. In isolation, flat earther-ism isn’t particularly cover-ups. They’re simply a rebellion against an ‘elite’ Wouldn’t that be a Bright Idea. Arguments often centre around the “well how do you alarming. It’s not hard to imagine that there is a that is perceived to be arbitrarily repressive and prove that?!” mode of observation—for instance, my large overlap between flat earther-ism and generic exclusive. Flat earther-ism is relatively innocuous for news feed now primarily consists of photos of the shitposting, even if a remaining percentage is done now, but let’s hope societies can win back the cohesion horizon with a caption along the lines of, “looks pretty in earnest. The real cause for concern is the broader that affords us reprieve from any more B.o.B singles, Suck on DEEJ nuts flat to me!!!!”, or photos of bizarre papier-maché models trend of anti-intellectual populism flat earther-ism is or worse. of the earth accompanied by confusing explanations of a part of. Millie Roberts stans USyd’s version of The Room.

DEEJ has a curse. You watch the web series, and “You have to look at where it comes from. Our [Bright Yet some cult films age like a fine wine; obtaining through primal instinct, are compelled to show it to Ideas] budget wasn’t necessarily big and everyone was a “later appreciation for being untimely, they are The lord of the dance someone else, spreading it like a virus, unloading the trying to do it around work and uni commitments. You recognised for being so of their time that the time in burden onto others and perpetuating the cycle again kind of get what you get, and I think it’s about the ideas question couldn’t see it.” Gettin’ jiggy with Sasha McCarthy. and again. Nearly 7,000 times across Facebook and that can be developed,” said Lynch. Perhaps this is what we’re missing with DEEJ: it’s YouTube to be specific. The four-episode season, “I think that’s the point of the Bright Ideas program. so 2018, the audience doesn’t even know it yet. Lynch Irish dancing began as a traditional form of dance in competition. enough most of the big dressmakers are actually which launched in March this year as part of the USU’s Rather than producing finalised works, I think it’s the justifies his succinct medium of choice as a product the 18th Century, as a way to celebrate and promote Secretary of the Australian Irish Dancing Association teachers and adjudicators, and they’re the ones... 2017 Bright Ideas grant program, is so bad it’s good— beginning of the start of a conversation […] to see of our time: “Netflix is the way of the future, and so I Irish nationalism. (AIDA), Ciara Podesta, told me that makeup, wigs, fake making them short,” Podesta said. “Adjudicators like to and it lacks the veneration it deserves. where it develops out.” think you have to try and create content that people Most people recognise Irish dancing by its unique tans and elaborate dresses only gained popularity in see the kids legs.” DEEJ is yet another variation of Molière’s 1665 play, As Dr Rodney Taveira, a Lecturer in literature, will see […] and also I don’t think people’s attention technique. Stiff arms pinned to the torso and rapid foot the ‘80s and ‘90s, coinciding with increased global In addition to the cost of costuming, competing Don Juan, which follows a seductive, manipulative film and television at the United States Study Centre spans are that great”. Extra episodes were cut in hopes movements in a bouncy, jig style. Legend has it that interest in Irish dancing. dancers and their families are expected to fork out fuckboy who ends up in Hell. However, in 2018, Deej explains, subjective responses mark “the limits of to preserve quality and time. this strange style developed because the dance was Podesta grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where thousands for travel expenses to attend Feisanna both is a queer-identifying man whose own perdition is [one’s] imagination and intelligence” and come down But the choice to make DEEJ a web series, which by customarily performed on top of barrels and tabletops. both her mother and grandmother were Irish dancers. nationally and internationally. “When my kids were being trapped in a conventional, nuclear family unit, to taste. nature targets young people who wouldn’t necessarily Today, Irish dancing now is a glamorous global affair, “There was a lot of conflict in Northern Ireland,” young, the goal was to do well at the Nationals, now burdened by the responsibilities of fatherhood. Dr Taveira’s own response to DEEJ transitioned have come across Don Juan unless they had a theatrical with a ripe following in countries like the US, South Podesta said, “so Irish dancing was something that we most students are focused on overseas...they want to “The topic [of the original play] always came back to over time: “cruel” laughter, annoyance, reflection, or literature background, without contextualisation, Africa, and Australia. ‘90s dance shows such as ‘Lord of did...sort of in defiance.” win the Worlds,” Podesta said. misogyny [...] So rather than Don Juan being a heroic an “‘at least they are doing something’ begrudging is contradictory. Audiences shouldn’t have to be the Dance’ and ‘Riverdance’ catapulted the genre onto The current Irish dancing industry is structured The globalisation of this traditional dance has figure […] especially in light of Harvey Weinstein, he appreciation” to a final “let them be.” familiar with the play to pick up the the title’s pun, or the global stage, sparking an international frenzy of around competitions, or ‘Feiseanna,’ which are highly undeniably changed the face of Irish dancing forever, becomes not particularly attractive, not particularly We lap up The Room because it throws our understand the web series at all. furiously fast feet. expensive affairs. repackaging it into a palatable form for international great, his actions aren’t good at all,” said DEEJ’s expectation of film under a bus. With an inordinately That’s why it needs to evolve beyond a streaming Former Irish dancing dressmaker, Ina Ogilvie, said consumption. director, producer, writer, principal photographer, and large budget, the obscure concepts and narrative product. The series is worthy of being shown once The globalisation of this dancers would have a new dress made every one to Dr Guy Redden from USyd’s Department of Gender supporting actor, Eugene Lynch conflict with professional standard of filming. DEEJ a month at a USU venue, with devoted fans yelling two years, “depending on how spoilt the child was and Cultural Studies argues that commodification of Like Tommy Wiseau’s The Room, you hardly know emphasises the former—calling on surrealism, 20th iconic lines at the screen for 17 minutes, and throwing traditional dance has and how competitive the parents were.” When she cultural traditions is not uncommon. what’s going on in DEEJ, and the more you watch it, the century European cinema and auteur theory—but on an equivalent to the plastic spoons used at The Room undeniably changed the face stopped making Irish dancing dresses about five years Dr Redden said that while this practice can be less it makes sense. Between the bland shots, jumpy an amateur scale and with significantly less financial screenings—despite the DEEJ’s own minimal motifs. ago, Ogilvie said the costumes then would put dancers positive because, “it maintains performances of editing, left-field concepts, and plot holes, you’re allowance. This way it can be appreciated not as a standalone of Irish dancing forever, back approximately $1500-$2000. They currently cost traditions that might otherwise die out in the modern either shocked into silence or laughing aloud. As Dr Taveira points out, products like The Room product, but as an interactive experience. It should be repackaging it into a palatable between $2500-$3000. world,” it ultimately dilutes the original significance Alfred Hitchcock believed that drama was “life with gain notoriety by being “missed or misrecognised by consumed less as a complex text needing intellectual As a dressmaker, Ogilvie had to work within AIDA’s of the tradition. “Many people today engage with the dull bits cut out”, but it’s the dull bits that make the majority of consumers the first time around”. The digestion, but rather as a unique, entertaining show that form for international presentation standards, which attempt to preserve cultural traditions as consumers who pay money for an DEEJ more exciting. It’s unclear what’s experimental smaller initial audience, he explains, expands until the strikes at our core, innermost emotions. While virtual consumption the modesty of young dancers. The standards dictate experience,” said Dr Redden. choice and what’s mistake: background noise buzzing film’s appreciation shifts from a niche to cult status. word-of-mouth has spread DEEJ into an underground that dresses must be no shorter than 10cm above the In my experience, Irish dancing is extremely in the background, unfocused cameras, distracting “Cult films get read ‘against the grain’, that is, viewers nichety, it deserves a public cult following. Most Fridays from ages seven to eleven, I arrived at knee, with full-length sleeves to the thumb knuckle. powerful and exciting, regardless of the superfluous French sequences and poorly characterised, one- see something in them that the makers, distributors, When I ask Eugene if there’s another season on primary school with fake tanned legs and my hair in Ogilvie said, however, that despite the guidelines, they costuming and customs that have become a part of the dimensional female characters. Clearly DEEJ tries hard most critics or mainstream audiences didn’t like, the horizon, he seems cautious but optimistic: “Who rollers, in anticipation of a Saturday Feis. Years later, were largely ignored at competitions with “no visible art. With any luck, future years will herald a renewed to be a postmodern masterpiece, but falls short as a refused to see, or didn’t know was there,” Dr Taveira knows? We’ll have to see what [the USU] says in a I started to ponder how the traditional dance, native consequences that I knew or heard of.” focus on the beauty of the form, and a shift away from disjointed, anticlimactic fever dream—and that’s okay. says. couple of months”. to my father’s place of birth, evolved into a glitzy “Some judges will pull the child up, but funnily the unnecessary extras.

- 14 - - 15 - CREATIVE LIFESTYLE

M4 Look. Somewhere only we know: Penrith There is the sun, see, setting over the M4. Look at that pink, how it spills over the sky like strawberry milk— Penrith is not so ‘far away’, writes James Newbold. Look at the amber seam of the pocket where highway meets horizon, into which the sun slips, lower and lower. “Wow, you’re from Penrith! How long on the train What we call Penrith was violently stolen from the but connect Penrith to bustling suburbs, sparse but And then there is you. You in your black Mazda, trundling down the road at a safe 90km/h with Hope 103.2 playing from the speakers. You are enraptured by the sky, is that?” is something I hear a lot at uni. My well- Darug, whose land stretched from the Nepean River beautiful rural areas, and mountainous national parks. wishing that Hao were here so he could take out his phone and capture this moment for you—those strips of glowing light low on the horizon. rehearsed answer is, “An hour, but only fifty minutes (yandhai) to the Hawkesbury River (deerubbun) where The sunset over the mountains is something I get to You don’t realise you have drifted into the next lane until a car behind you blasts its horn, rousing you from your thoughts. You swerve back into your own lane. The other on a Blue Mountains express train.” they would trade with the Eora and Darkinjung. With see often, but it’s a view that has changed over time. car speeds past you, into the distance. For me, Penrith is defined by its relationships to the onset of colonialism, Europeans used Penrith as an A housing estate has sprung up behind my house in Your heart thuds. You wonder what Hao would say if he were with you. other places. Thirty minutes north or south becomes outpost of the Blue Mountains. the last few years. Travelling to uni takes me over the Parramatta’s towers rise up before you, serrated outlines against the sunset. They shine. a rural road trip. Thirty minutes west and you’re As the sun sets over the Blue Mountains it casts a newly-constructed bridge over Penrith train station, bushwalking in the Blue Mountains. Thirty minutes shadow over the suburbs, beginning in Penrith and the tracks stretching up the mountain into the sky. Hume Highway east and you arrive in the diverse and developing cities spreading across the West until all of Sydney is cloaked There is Chan’s seafood restaurant, rising out of the dark. There is the Jolly Knight Motel, its sign garishly bright amidst the stretch of suburban houses. There is the Italian of Blacktown and Parramatta. Double that and you’re in night. The Blue Mountains and Nepean River do In resisting the pressure restaurant that is covered in fairy lights, the word Ristorante lit up in neon. in Sydney CBD. not reside within Penrith’s geographical bounds, You remember a story Hao told you, once. to leave for an Inner West “Until I hit high school, I thought restaurant was spelt ristorante,” he’d said. “And it was ‘cause we always drove past the sign for that Italian place on the way to school. I sharehouse...I am defending was so confused when my teachers marked me wrong… But I kept thinking nah, they’re the ones who can’t spell, not me.” not just a place but an Before you got your reds, Hao was always the one driving you home. The two of you would be in his white Toyota Camry, which always seemed to smell of fries. Last time, he took you to the drive thru at Maccas Liverpool South for a midnight snack. You accidentally left a half-open packet of sweet and sour sauce in his glovebox to congeal. identity “Notice how I brake?” Hao had said that night, whilst approaching a red light. You had been sitting in the passenger seat, eating a melting soft serve off a plastic lid. “Notice how I leave myself enough time and space to slow down and come to a gradual stop? Did you feel that stop?” I still remember the Penrith Public School song: “No,” you’d said reluctantly. In the shadow of the mountain, by the broad Nepean side “My point exactly.” Stands a school we will remember as we forward go with Without Hao, the drive is calmer. You enjoy the quiet, and the lights, and the night. pride The traffic lights coming up before you turn orange. You squeeze your foot down on the brake…just a little…a little more… now all the way down— The song urges us to “remember” Penrith even while The car stops, and you jerk forward in your seat. we are there, creating a preemptive sense of nostalgia that will only truly be felt after we leave. But resisting Camden Valley Way the pressure to leave for an Inner West sharehouse It is raining. Your nails dig into the steering wheel until the stubs of your fingers feel raw. The inside of your car is fogging up and the windscreen wipers are going as fast makes me feel that I am defending not just a place but as they are able. You can only sort of see. an identity and a way of living. Through the rain, your car slips sleek as butter down the hill towards Crossroads and Red Rooster. The taillights of the vehicle before you glow red and you slow down, We’re all like Penrith, the intersections in webs of stuttering to a stop and indicating right for Beech Road. You adjust the speed of the windscreen wipers and watch as the window clears, then dots with rain, then clears, relationships, without which we are little. then dots with rain again. Briefly, you marvel at the dark sky, all crowded with clouds. Hao lives near here. When you got your reds after five years of putting off the test, you started doing most of the driving. Repayment, you’d said, for your two years of good service. You’ve taken him home via this route countless times. Lightning flashes in the sky like a beacon. The lights change and you start forward, curving in a smooth arc onto the next road. shredded the papers. SASS remains a rort Deep Tea As it’s unknown with whom Grant’s Punchbowl Road communication was sought, there are Being out-of-pocket as a society Things Hao used to say to you when you were driving: Diving no leads as to the culprit. Certainly executive is not an uncommon - Oh my God, did you just hit the curb? the timing suggests the breach was phenomenon for the average - Are you serious? Did you not see that the light was red? politically motivated, with Grassroots committed CV-stacker. However, - Brake now! pre-selection and SRC elections just we’ve decided that when its the - Not bad, not bad. You didn’t almost cause an accident today. around the cover. biggest society on campus, it deserves Things you do miss: The trespass has rocked the a shoutout in the only print weekly - The smell of fries in the car foundations of the SRC, which newspaper in Australia. - Singing along to Stan Walker operates as a high security compound­. 2017 ARNA Publications Director - The Great Debate: Livo South vs Moorebank Maccas SRC Hackathon Imogen Grant was informed by SRC The president’s office at the Izabella Antoniou remains out of pocket - Free entry to Costco Casula Sunset on the M4 Administration and Systems Manager SRC is locked, and only Grant and for the bar tab and band expenses The SRC offices have been Chitra Narayanan that print-outs had Narayanan have the key. The offender incurred at last year’s launch of the Annie Zhang compromised. Despite the been found in the reception printer presumably assumed that Grant had Arts Society creative journal. Despite introduction of a new swipe card which included a screenshot of Grant’s her own printer in the office, and chasing up the owed amount with last system only one month prior, the desktop and copies of her Facebook bolted when no papers emerged from year and this year’s executive, Antoniou security of the Wentworth Building correspondence. Reportedly, these any printer within earshot. Surely has not received reimbursement. We has been shaken to its core by an could only have originated from these sticky beaks could have done a hope if nothing else, this column can The sky is pink. It’s another sunset, and this time you are watching it from the bridge on Punchbowl Road. old-school computer hack. The Grant’s desktop computer. The exact little more reconnaissance. How can hold societies to account as they leave You used to work in a restaurant just off the next intersection. Hao would drop by sometimes, to see you screenshot-and-print kind. details are unclear, as upon finding the they run for election if they can’t even their hard working executives without and to try the shisha. You couldn’t drive yet then, so he would hang around and take you home afterwards. Late in the winter break, President documents, Narayanan immediately print documents. recompense.

Students’ Representative Council, Nominations for the Students’ Representative Council Nomination forms can be downloaded from the SRC website: University of Sydney Annual Elections for the year 2018 close at 4:30pm on www.srcusyd.net.au/elections, or picked up from SRC front office

Wednesday the 15th of August 2018. (Level 1, Wentworth Building) from 4:30pm July 25th 2018. Notice Polling will be held on the 19th and 20th of September 2018. Nominations must also be lodged online along with your policy statement Pre-polling will take place outside the Jane Foss Russell building and Curriculum Vitae (optional), by close of nominations at: www.srcusyd. of 2018 on Tuesday the 19th of September 2018 from 10am–3pm. net.au. For more information call 9660 5222. You don’t work there anymore. And now, at last, you can drive. All undergraduate students who are duly enrolled for attendance at Original signed nomination forms and a printed copy of your online The sky is a marvel, all orange light and flushed rosy clouds. You think of all the routes you know by heart now, the highways that Students’ lectures are eligible to vote. Members of the student body who have nomination must be received no later than 4:30pm on Wednesday no longer frighten you. This familiar slant of sun through the windscreen, dappling your hands. paid their nomination fee to Council are eligible to nominate and be 15th August, either at the SRC front office (Level 1, Wentworth Building), nominated, except National Union of Students national office bearers. OR at the following postal address: Everything is warm. Representative Full-time officebearers of the SRC may also nominate as NUS delegates. PO Box 794, Broadway NSW 2007. Council Nominations are called for the following elections/positions Nominations which have not been delivered (printed, signed, hardcopy) and open on the 25th July 2018 at 4:30pm: either to the Electoral Officer at the SRC front office or to the post office box shown above and submitted online by the close of nominations will Annual (a) The election of the Representatives to the 91st SRC not be accepted regardless of when they were posted or received. (33 positions) Election The regulations of the SRC relating to elections are available (b) The election of the President of the 91st SRC online at www.srcusyd.net.au or from the SRC front office, (c) The election of the Editor(s) of Honi Soit for the 91st SRC (Level 1, Wentworth Building).

(d) The election of National Union of Students delegates for Authorised by K. Chau, Electoral Officer 2018, the 91st SRC (7 positions) Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney Phone: 02 9660 5222 | www.srcusyd.net.au Artwork by Eloise Myatt - 16 - PUZZLES

Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney

Cryptic Across Down Quiz 7 St. Damian avoids macadamia nuts in 1 A revolutionary causes pain (4) 2018 SRC Elections Portuguese colony (5) 2 Only the queen is more fair (6) 1. Which four cities in the U.K. have underground rail systems? 8 Said to glare competently at step 3 A star back to front—like Bob Marley 2. What American sitcom featuring Lisa Kudrow canonically takes place in the same assembly (9) (5) Postal Voting universe as F.R.I.E.N.D.S? 9 Pesto stew cooked to just the right 4 Morgan is—head to toe—a living thing 3. What is the only mammal that can fly? point (5,4) (8) 4. What do the letters in the acronym SCUBA stand for? 10 Assistants develop ideas (5) 5 Reinserted invention for beating your 5. El Clásico is the name given to matches between which two football teams? 11 Palpatine, Nero, and Penguin? (7) meat (10) Application Form 6. ‘I’ is the chemical symbol for what element? 13 Officer Rachel is regularly violent and 6 Left uni half a semester after first 7. Who wrote and composed the song ‘Heal the World’? aggressive (6) college gathering (7) 8. The famous highway ‘Route 66’ historically connected which two U.S. cities? 15 Trevor George Smith Jr. or 2 Down, 7 Some emus terrorise—rally the 9. In regard to data storage, what does the acronym SSD stand for? 3 Down, 6 Down, 7 Down, 14 Down, troops! (6) 10. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen was released on what album? 17 Down, 21 Down, 22 Down, and 19 8 The leader of Sydney University, to

POSTAL VOTING Opera Across? (5,6) every bloke, is a hero (8)

5. Real Madrid & Barcelona 6. Iodine 7. Michael Jackson 8. Los Angeles and Chicago 9. Solid-state drive 10. A Night At The The At Night A 10. drive Solid-state 9. Chicago and Angeles Los 8. Jackson Michael 7. Iodine 6. Barcelona & Madrid Real 5. 19 Unfortunately, Stanley Kubrick cut 12 Sign of maturity: selfless discipline If you wish to vote in the 2018 SRC elections but are unable to Apparatus Breathing Underwater Self-Contrained 4. Bat The 3. You About Mad 2. r Liverpool Glasgow, Newcastle, London, 1. vote EITHER on polling days Wednesday 19th or Thursday 20th kinky cab sequence from ‘The Shining’ and personal development (10) September at any of the advertised locations, OR on pre-polling (6) 14 Flippin’ ‘struth! Her Majesty is a day (on main campus) Tuesday 18th September, then you may apply 20 Weather in Frankfurt, and therefore pushy one! (8) for a postal vote. in Rome, ... (7) 16 Sèvres provides dishes? (6,2) Target 23 ...is material from pre-issued 17 Confuse strong sexual desire with Fill in this form and send it to: estimates (5) the queen (7) Electoral Officer 24 At start of tribunal, English Chief of 18 Reverend’s wild card old man? (6) Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney Police is giving evidence (9) 21 Cleaning product for Neo’s coat? (6) PO Box 794, Broadway NSW 2007. 26 Have a meeting with first Esquire, 22 Bygone article of Mediterranean then finally a nobleman and a monarch fare... (5) PLEASE NOTE: postal vote applications MUST BE RECEIVED (9) 25 ...the Greek character, who was AND IN OUR PO BOX by Thursday 23rd of August at 4.30pm 27 Play a part in English production of mistress of Zeus and from the coasts of or they will not be considered. No exceptions. ‘Rent’ (5) Tenea (4) You may use a photocopy of this form. Quick Name of applicant:

Student card number: Across Down 7 Mushrooms (5) 1 Break (4) Faculty/year: 8 Uneducated (or a student at USyd) (9) 2 Be a snitch (3, 3) 9 Ad-lib (9) 3 Make opaque (5) Phone number: ( ) 10 Name of the Zimbabwean lion killed 4 Round Table dude (8) in 2015 (5) 5 Queensland’s parliament is this (10) Email: 11 Adroit (7) 6 Arcadian, blissful, naturey (7) 13 Dolph Lundgren, Chris Brown, and 7 Easily damaged (6) Mobile: Germaine Greer (6) 8 Unpudent (8) 15 Paranormal investigator (11) 12 Without being late (2,4,4) 19 Weathers (6) 14 Best loser (6-2) I hereby apply for a postal vote for the 2018 SRC elections. I declare 20 Long short story (7) 16 Covered in 3 Down (8) that I am unable to attend a polling booth on any of the polling 23 Language that the words avocado, 17 In practice (2,5) days, OR on the pre-polling day, for the following reason: chocolate, and tomato come from (5) 18 Fictional dog (6) (please be specific. Vague or facetious reasons will not be accepted. The Electoral 24 Pre-issued estimates for weather (9) 21 Quantity with magnitude and Officer must under section 20(a) of the Election Regulation consider that the stated 26 Record of the date and time (9) direction (6) reason justifies the issuing of a postal vote.) 27 Sheepish (5) 22 Reportedly awful food (5) 25 Cut (4)

hmm.. not quite the right one yet Puzzles by CloudRunner

Signature: This Way & That Please send voting papers to the following address: Solutions

State: Postcode:

I require a copy of the election edition of Honi Soit: YES / NO The answers down and across are the same 1 Fashionable (4) For more information: 2 Vagrant (4) Contact Karen Chau, 3 Bird (4) Electoral Officer 4 Comfortable (4) 02 9660 5222 a modern romantic getaway

Authorised by K.Chau, 2018 Electoral Officer, Students’ Representative Council, University of Sydney 02 9660 5222 | www.srcusyd.net.au by Yasodara Puhule-Gamayalage

- 19 - SRC REPORTS SRC CASEWORK HELP President Health Care Cards Imogen Grant for Students Last week myself, the casework team power and control to survivors. Placing medical services they might have occurred and will continue pushing and the Women’s Officers were busy arbitrary restrictions on how survivors accessed post-assault such as STI for our recommended changes to the responding the University’s botched express themselves undermines testing or abortion. portal, including consultation from sexual assault reporting portal. In case survivors and exacerbates trauma. The primary purpose of the experts. you haven’t been following the news, Total anonymity is not at all ensured, reporting portal is for survivors to lodge Finally, nominations for the SRC’s the University of Sydney has developed as students must access the portal complaints - not to survey them for annual elections are officially open. an online portal for students to report through their university log-in, with no internal data analysis purposes. These elections will determine the new

their experiences of sexual assault, sense of clarity as to who is accessing The Students’ Representative Council President of the SRC, the editors of Get free help with and has been criticised by the SRC as survivors’ reports. This also excludes pushed for the University to delay the Honi Soit, the councillors for the 91st NAT 72807-05.2016 [JS 36891] “unethical and irresponsible” due to members of the public who may need to release of the portal and to consult with SRC Council as well as your delegates to your tax return from a series of egregious flaws. The portal report, such as a year 12 student raped experts and staff in its development. the National Union of Students. If you Get freeGet Gethelp freefree with helphelp withwith was thrown together in less than a at a college formal. University management failed to act have ever wanted to get more involved a Tax Help volunteer

month in order to be released in time The portal also asks survivors for on any of the major concerns, instead in the SRC this is your chance. You your taxyouryour return the ATOtaxtax frombefore your returnreturn Tax Help appointment. fromfrom myGov account and link to for the anniversary of the Australian their gender, sexuality and post-assault pushing ahead with releasing the portal. can visit srcusyd.net.au/elections/ for › Create Are your your tax affairs simple? Human Rights Commission ‘Change the therapeutic history. As a result of the rushed release, more information. a Tax Helpaa GetTaxTax volunteer HelpfreeHelp help volunteervolunteer with Course’ report. This is an intrusion and irrelevant the portal was released with additional Feel free to email me on president@ › Do you earn around $50,000 or less? A Health Care Card entitles you to Who is eligible for a Health Care Card? It also sets word limits on survivor’s to how the University processes the flaws - a student was transferred to src.usyd.edu.au if you have any concerns › Are youryourTo tax find affairs ›out › Are Are taxsimple?more, your your contacttax returntax affairs affairs the simple?ATOsimple? fromon 13 28 61. receive certain discounts and services. stories, only current students and staff complaint. Students should not feel the staff not student reporting options. or wish to get involved with the SRC. I In NSW this includes: Anyone who is on Youth Allowance, › Do you earn around› Do $50,000 you earn or around less? $50,000 or less? can lodge reports, and has no clear like their ability to lodge a complaint is And the link to the reporting portal was wish you the best of luck for the year a Tax› Do you Help earn around volunteer $50,000 or less? Austudy, Newstart or a pension from safeguards around which staff can conditional on their willingness to have broken for days after the Wednesday 1 ahead and look forward to seeing you To find out more, ToTocontact find find theoutout ATOmore,more, on contact13 contact 28 61the the. ATOATO onon 13 13 28 28 61 61. . • Reduced pharmaceuticals Centrelink is eligible to get a Health access the portal’s sensitive data. their privacy violated. August release. on the streets! Available to ›USyd Are undergraduateyour tax affairs students simple? through the (about $6) Care Card.

It is clear that this portal is not Asking about therapeutic history is We are now in talks with senior Students’ Representative Council (SRC)

13 28 61. trauma-informed and does not restore as appropriate as asking about what management to find out how this To find› Do out you more, earn aroundcontact $50,000the ATO oron less? • Free ambulance cover As a student you may also be eligible

To book an appointment call: if you are a “low income earner”. This To find› Do out you more, earn aroundcontact $50,000the9660 ATO oron 13less?5222 28 61.

Available until the end of semester 2. • Access to free dental care (though means about $552* per week over an

› Are your tax affairs simple? the waiting times are very long) 8 week period for a single person, or Create your myGov account and link to

the ATO before your Tax Help appointment. $954* per week for a single person with Queer Officers a Tax Help volunteer • Free prescription lenses and frames a dependent child, or a couple. This

(very limited choices) figure increases by $34* per week, for Create your myGov accountCreateCreate and your your link myGov myGovto account account and and link link to to

Jazzlyn Breen and Ray Prout your tax return from

the ATO before your Taxthe ATO Helpthe ATO appointment. before your before your Tax Tax Help Help appointment. appointment. each additional dependent child.

NAT 72807-05.2016 [JS 36891] • Discounts to most alternative

Hello semester 2, the queer action in their future activism and leadership. Our plans for the rest of the semester acceptance of diverse gender and sexual Get free help with medical practices collective would just like to reiterate to The opportunity to connect with activist include interaction with the anti identities. This is just one of the reasons Create your myGov account and link to all conservatives reading this that we and student leaders on a national level Ramsay centre campaign. As a collective we are opposed to a centre buying a NAT 72807-05.2016 [JS 36891] NAT 72807-05.2016 [JS 36891] the ATO before yourNAT 72807-05.2016 [JS Tax 36891] Help appointment. are still angry communists intent on is an opportunity which will allow for we understand that it was western slot in the education system to teach The easiest way to apply is online at www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet. destroying all that is good. grater organising and activism across imperialism and capitalism which content which is “not merely about nsf/forms/ss050.htm Over the break members of campuses in the future. allowed homophobia and transphobia Western civilisation but in favour of it” as our collective attended 3 separate In week one of uni collective to grow and spread throughout the explained by Tony Abbott, who happens *This figure is current until 30 June, 2018. NAT 72807-05.2016 [JS 36891] conferences; the National Education members and office bearers attended globe. It was spread to places such as to be a director of the Ramsay centre. conference in Adelaide, Students of and spoke at the National Day of Action Australia and the countries of Africa As a collective we will also continue Sustainability conference in Melbourne rally against sexual violence on campus. which previously enjoyed a wide our support of refugee activism as the Do you have a legal problem? and Queer Collaborations in Queensland. As a collective we continue to provide gender diversity and freedom of sexual crisis of offshore detention centres * These conferences provided the our support to survivors. We condemn expression, but now carry the colonial continues to remain unchanged and as We can help you for FREE! Enrolment Deadline opportunity for student representatives the universities lack of real, meaningful legacy of homophobia which exists in horrific as ever. and collective members alike to acquire action to stamp out sexual violence on laws and social norms. These imposed In love and rage, Last Day to Add Units – Friday 10th August. new information which will aid them campus. structures erase the indigenous cultural Jazzlyn Breen and Ray Prout You can withdraw from a unit any time up to the end of August BUT the Police, Courts deadline to add a Unit is the end of week 2, Friday 10th August. Check your Disabilities & Carers Officers Car Accidents degree requirements, get any advice you need and take action by then. Consumer Disputes Robin Eames, Mollie Galvin and Ren Rennie Visa Issues Ask Abe In 1979, Joan Hume led a protest of and a petition with 10,000 signatures, placement of tactile paving. an autonomous issue of Honi Soit. The Work Issues wheelchair users and supportive allies at ONE lift was installed at Redfern We’re hoping to organise this issue will be released during Disability SRC caseworker HELP Q&A the opening of the inaccessible Eastern station. The other 10 platforms are still semester around public transport Inclusion Week (3-7 September). If you’d Govt Services Suburbs Railway, the first of its kind in inaccessible. inaccessibility in general and Redfern like to be involved in the editorial team, TAX: Getting help with your tax return Australia. The premier who presided Our buses and trains are only station inaccessibility in particular. or you would like to write or create over the opening later said that the (partially) accessible because of the work If you’d like to get involved, keep an art for the issue, chuck us an email at protest inspired him to introduce the of our activist forebears. The work isn’t eye on our Facebook page (USyd SRC [email protected]. first wheelchair accessible taxi service done yet! 45% of Sydney’s train network Disabilities Collective & Caregivers We’ll be posting a Facebook event soon Dear Abe, where Australian Taxation Office trained in Australia. is still inaccessible to wheelchair Network) and the Lift Redfern Station with a call for editors & contributors. volunteers can help you to complete In the 1990s, Bronwyn Moye led a users. Much of our public transport Campaign – Make Redfern Station Love & solidarity, This is the first year that I have to do a your tax returns, including ones from protest of Sydney wheelchair users who infrastructure is designed in a way that Accessible Facebook page. The 2018 Disabilities Collective tax return in Australia and I’m not sure previous years. As with all programs at blocked off Broadway to protest bus is dangerous for people who are blind or In brighter news, we’re delighted to Officebearers what I need to do. Can you help please? the SRC this is a free service. inaccessibility. have low vision, due to things like lack of announce that for the first time ever the Robin Eames, Mollie Galvin, and Ren In 2015, after years of campaigning audible announcements and haphazard Disabilities Collective will be producing Rennie ...and more Sincerely, If you are self employed (e.g., musician, First Tax tutor, food delivery, ride share driver), 法律諮詢 you will need to consult with an 法律アドバイス accountant or tax agent. Dear First Tax, Level 1, Wentworth Bldg, University of Sydney We have a solicitor who speaks To make an appointment for TaxHelp 02 9660 5222 | src.usyd.edu.au Cantonese, Mandarin & Japanese If you have a “simple tax return”, which call the the SRC office on 9660 5222. solicitor @ src.usyd.edu.au means you earn $50,000 or less, and ACN 146 653 143 | MARN 1276171 Liability limited by a scheme approved have a job (as opposed to being self Sincerely, under Professional * This service is provided by the Students’ Representative Council, Standards Legislation. University of Sydney and is available to USYD undergraduate students. employed) you might be able to get Abe - 20 - advice from the SRC’s TaxHelp program, ///// hunny ///////////////

NEWS USyd Replaces Online Sexual Assault Portal with Portal to Dimension Durex Introduces Where USyd Actually Cares 15c Thicker, Nick Harriott Astral Traveller DOON & Reusable Condoms ANDY’S HOT BOX Nick Harriott Double Bagger Deep Tea Digging Up responsible in her serving of alcohol, adamantly refusing Earlier today, major prophylactic new environmental policy after The Fake News Media patrons after the serving deadline manufacturer Durex announced they made a similar switch Establishment ‘Deep Tea Diving’ had passed. that it will begin phasing out themselves back in 2016. have struck again with their its single-use condoms, with “We used to sell a three-holed pseudofactery. Last week’s column aims to replace them with more plastic cock ring that was very noted: environmentally-friendly, popular with our clients, but reusable condoms by the end of after we discovered our products “Punters have speculated that Nell 2019. were polluting the waterways Cohen is in talks to come aboard.” Durex was quick to reassure and strangling sea turtles—and their customers, explaining that not in the good way—we had The only thing worthy of their new condoms will pair no choice but to discontinue the speculation here is the source of the the convenience of single-use product,” explained Mr. Kinko. “mermaid’s” gossip. Nell Cohen is condoms with the strength and “Yes, Durex should expect not rumoured to be connected to a durability of their less popular some backlash,” he continued, Honi ticket, let alone one affiliated green canvas condoms. “there is a greater societal shift with Messers Jha and Verity. Nell In a phone call, Durex taking place, and Durex is but a O’Grady, on the other hand, Gen. Spokesperson Penelope Durex small part of that change.” Exec. of SURG and upcoming Verge admitted that “customers There’s still plenty of time Festival Coordinator, is a far more Pulp Fiction weren’t as quick to warm up between now and 2019 for likely candidate and target of to the canvas condoms as we Durex’s lofty plans to get gossip. We all have times of identity anticipated. Feedback across waylaid, and only time will tell if crisis—picking a ticket name, the board was that the material they can see their plan to fruition. Nell refused to confirm or deny converting election momentum was too coarse, and that people However, other brands can also rumours, telling The Hot Box into actually running a paper, weren’t sure what to do with the see the writing on the wall and she was “looking forward to the redesigning the paper anew each handles.” are jumping on the reusable semester.” We don’t, however, year. We won’t lie; it can take a Following the disastrous rollout of combating sexual assault on campus. real challenge of the past two years at this university. To be frank, The success of this product bandwagon. Skyn condoms, one remember which one we spoke to. toll on your humble eds. “There have been misleading we’ll be hopping over to the other USyd’s online portal for reporting was tearing a hole in spacetime to a remains to be seen, it does rely of Durex’s competitors, have sexual assault, the university has reports claiming that we’ve been universe where student wellbeing is side later today to have a quick on the public’s willingness to also announced that they are For who the Nell tolls, as they say. So we spare a thought this week developing our online sexual assault chat and see how they managed revealed its replacement: a literal an actual priority.” make the switch, but Durex have developing their own thicker, for whoever was running the portal for the past two years, it!” portal to another dimension. This When asked why the university already been applauded by fellow reusable product. Pulp Facebook page after the which is grossly inaccurate,” said a hunny reached out to Returning, officer doorway through space and time administration chose to spend so industry leaders for leading They are yet to reveal launch of their new website. leads to a world that looks and spokesperson for this dimension’s much of their time and resources on representatives from the the charge in environmental an official timeline for the Leftists of all stripes and sects The page quickly drew the ire of sounds a lot like ours, but with one University of Sydney. “Just one such a costly project, their response University of Sydney-B for awareness. product’s release so there is no converged on iconic Newtown ‘Fashion Police of USyd’, and a main difference: the University look at the hastily developed portal was simple, “It’s actually easier to comment but they were too busy Sex toy company Kinko’s— word on when we should expect institution Gould’s bookstore on fracas quickly erupted as a stream of Sydney in that dimension is enough to show you we pissed punch through the fabric of reality at the opening of their University not that Kinko’s, the other Thick Skyn on our supermarket Saturday night to say farewell of Bianca Farmakis-adjacent is proactive and sincere about that out in an afternoon. No, the than it is to enact meaningful change train station. Kinko’s—fully support Durex’s shelves. to the beloved purveyor of Facebook pages boosted react revolutionary literature. counts and engineered some traction. Survivor Amid drinks, books, and general Noot Noot! reverie, many were shocked to see Are we being too obtuse? Bianca Contestant Fails former USyd SRC Electoral Officer wields control over TIME for to Readjust to Report: Feels Paulene Graham on the bar, none Honi, Fashion Police, and Pulp, Nude Noods? more so than Grassroots-adjacent among others, under one all- Civilian Life, Great to Decline folks still scarred from last year’s powerful thumb. Let’s break up Pingu Arrested for the monotony: next time you need Wrestles Coles infamous #nomgate. Imogen Invitation, Savage Grant, current SRC President, told the traction give us a shout. Employee for Public Nudity at The Hot Box “Eep!” Ramen Noodle Bar to Not Get One Here at Doon & Andy we say: Roast Chicken Fortunately Paulene was “bring back the biff.” >> pg. 9 >> pg. 13 >> pg. 17

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