E:-D-I:Ii*Ii» MIDNIGHT OIL •San0ir^&^^^^Siijtura E DUGITES • INXS • Brisbanll^ -I^ PLUS HOLIDAYS and G1NEMA PASSES Ttj BE W^ Editorial Contents
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
J"' > (?»"WJ Wm^ m miS S E:-D-i:ii*ii» MIDNIGHT OIL •SAN0ir^&^^^^SiijTUra E DUGITES • INXS • BRISBANll^ -i^ PLUS HOLIDAYS AND G1NEMA PASSES ttj BE W^ Editorial Contents 3 AUS IN TROUBLE You thought John Henzell was always in more trouble than Burke and Wills? • •• •• yf\ B Well, compared to current state of affairs at The Australian Union of Students There can't have been many people who missed the anti-Asian graffiti (AUS), John's problems are but minor. GAVIN SAWFORD investigates why that appeared on the walls around the University a couple of weeks ago. the trouble has erupted and which unis are still affiliated, But»while the condemnation for the graffiti was more or less universal from stu 4 CIA DEVELOPS NEW WEAPON: Victims Bored to Death dents, staff, and almost all of the media that covered the story, the blame has been Everyone knows of the grand stage shows that are put on at half-time in over a number of areas. American Football games. However, these will fizzle in comparison to what the One of these areas was Semper (although Geoff Airo-Farulla accused me of doing Americans are planning for the 1984 Olympics. JULIE WHITE reports on it personally) because we published an article on the anti-Asian actions of "White preparations for the Games and how the US propaganda machine is already in Australia" group in New South Wales called National Action. full swing. There would appear to be some credence to these claims since some of the slo 5 HUMORIST SIGHTED OVER CHEESE ISLAND gans were "signed" National Action, we were the only group to give any real publi The Cambridge Footlights Revue was recently in Brisbane so Semper sent along city to this name and it is extremely doubtful that it was actually National Action SIMON HOUGHTON to interview one of the madcap performers, Martin who did the painting. Bergman. Read on to find out how this Revue lived up to its famous reputation. But while Semper caught some of the blame for the graffiti, some saw it as a good 6 POLICING THE POLICE: Solicitor Speaks on Civil Liberties in Old reason for Semper not to report such activities to avoid a repeat performance. This Yes, you're right again - Semper has done another interview. Well, sort of. is incorrect because although it is likely the article was the catalyst for the graffiti, This time we sent along LENORE TAYLOR to see what Brisbane solicitor, it was merely the manifestation of an anti-Asian feeling that already existed. We Terry O'Gorman had to say on the subject of civil liberties and police powers. didn't cause this anti-Asian feeling, we just brought it to the surface via the hands It makes fascinating reading. of a few idiotic people. The graffiti wasn't a knee jerk reaction to the article; there was a gap of about a 7 WASHINGTON SHOOTOUT What! Another interview! Yep. Here MARIA RAMPA has a talk to Dr Bmce month between the publication and the graffiti meaning that the graffiti was a pre Steinbrickner about the current state of the American Presidential elections, meditated act. and particularly, who is leading the race for the Democratic nomination and So, while the graffiti may have been the work of National Action (unlikely) or why, some conscientious copier, and the Semper article may have been the catalyst, we cannot take the full blame for the graffiti. If our article hadn't brought it to the 8 NEWS .. including Ansett-Pioneer draw for the trips away, and JANINE LITTLE point of physical action, something else would have, be it this week or in the next asks what is happening to our Alternative Handbook. few months. The responsibility of the media in a case like this is one of the major issues that 9 LETTERS the graffiti caused. For once the editors get a little praise. Amazing. But we won't let it go to our heads because there is some criticism as well. (Note. We received too many Opinion fell between ignoring it and hoping it would go away due to lack of publi letters for this issue so the ones put in are there because we got them first). city, and giving the public information that they needed to know. This applies to both causatory articles (like our NSW racism article) and reporting after the event. 10 UNION NEWS While the suppression argument may have temporarily delayed the anti-Asian Our cver-Ioving Secretary, RIG MOORE, fills us in on what is happening around the Union. Also on this page TONY HARPER reports on the state of the action emerging, it certainly wouldn't have stopped it and it certainly isn't a justi recent TEAS March (sorry about cutting your article Tony!). fication for withholding important information. The "cotton wool" solution is just a method of delaying the inevitable, not a 11-18 ROCK'S IN OUR HEADS positive action to stop the action occuring, Watch out! This is Semper's bumper Rock Music supplement. It covers EIGHT A second argument emerged that publicity after the event gives a rallying point pages and includes interviews with such bands as Midni^t Oil, INXS, The for the anti-Asian groups, and helps to legitamise the act. Dugites, Sandii and the Sunsetz. HOWARD STRINGER gets the centre pages for his informative opinions on local bands (Anyone upset — go and see While it may help to link some of the anti-Asian groups together, it also serves as Howard!) a rallying point and a motivator for the anti-racists. So it does work for both sides and because the racist side is a very very small minority, it probably does better for tfie anti-racist argument. The absence of any strong reaction against the graffiti due Herecome the REVIEWS: to non-publicity would be seen to many people as a statement that nobody is espe 19 Miscellaneous reviews - FRANK MERINO looks at the movie Gorky Park, cially upset about it. This would, in effect, legitamise the act for the graffitist and while ANNIE O'HARA looks at Hamlet on Ice. Semper also reviews Sophie's Restaurant and The Samford Restaurant. wouldn't stir as much support in the anti-racists. The President and a lot of the executive of the Union follow the "ignore it and 21 The movie reviews are on this page. HARRY DUNSTALL looks at Footloose it'll go away" argument for publicity about the graffiti. and Blame It On Rio, while that man SIMPSON checks out Razorback. 23 Books - have a look for yourself. I disagree. 24 Once again KAREN VENZKE compiles WHAT'S ON and does a top job of it, JOHN HENZELL as usual. No doubt this editorial (like every other) will generate the usual amount of hate mail so I thought I may as well explain my attitudes towards Letters To the tditor. 25 Records - too numerous to mention, but they include: Sunny boys, Hitler I welcome letters disagreeing with my editorial polices because everyone needs to have their Rap, Billy Idol, The Smiths. vievw constantly questioned in order to further validate (or invalidate as the case may be] those views. 26 This is our crossword and Quiz page. See if you can do the Countdown/ Fine. But it's one thing to have letters that present a plausable argument against my policies, Countacross crossword, and HARRY DUNSTALL has set on the hardest it's another thing to get down to personal abuse like was seen in the previous Semper which sporting quizes you will ever see. does neither the letter writers' arguments or my openmindedness to those arguments any good. Abusive letters serve as much constructive purpose as throwing eggs at Prof. Levin at his lec 27 ODDS AND ENDS and Carstairs is back. Thank goodness! tures last year did. 28 Ever wanted to know what "french" was in French? Well. JULIE WHITE looks at a new book: MERDE! and conducts a quick course in foreign four-letter words. EDUCATION AXIS. IN TROUBLE Internal Faction threatens Australian Union of Students The recent disaffiliation from AUS by two major universities — Adelaide Uni and the University of Western Australia- has highlighted the problems of the national body and the growing dissatisfaction with it. GAVIN SAW- FORD investigates why AUS may be falling apart and which faction is cau sing the disintegration. Something is rotten in the state of ments against AUS is its apparent lack of the Australian Union of Students. lobbying in the area of education, which, given its title, would appear to be its major There would have to be something role. wrong with an organisation with three of AUS opponents claim that the Union has its executive members committed to abo spent only $13,000 of its $512,000 bud lishing it. get on educational issues. However, accor But this paradoxical state of affairs is ding to a financial statement from an AUS only part of the turmoil surrounding AUS administrative officer, 42% of total AUS and its uncertain future. AUS has never expenditure was on education. had a peaceful existence, but the current Despite such a plethora of contradic internal struggles, the factionalism, the in tory material, "factions" arc easily dis- fighting and public slandering carry the cernabie within AUS. Nowhere are these potential this time to destroy the organi more obvious than at the executive level sation. where there are three distinct groups. But then there is more than one faction The first, boasting four members, is which would like to see that occur.