On Dit Issue 85.12 by On Dit

On Dit

Issue 85.12

~ On Di t ~

See you next year!

Editorial

~ On Di t ~

n this, our last editorial for our tenure, we would like to indulge ourselves a bit and discuss what independent media means to us. We have received a bit of criticism this year that we are too left-leaning or that we disproportionately report on conservative scandals. Those who criticise us for this imply that our left-leaning tendencies preclude us from being labeled ‘independent’. We would like to make one thing clear, independent media is not the same thing as impartial media. Independent media is the ability for editors, for writers, and all other contributors to scrutinise any and all political actors without fear of retribution. It is the absence of outside political influences onto the publication. We are independent because no one else at this university–except for our readers–can influence how this magazine is made. A reader once commented that “conservatism is the ideology of the cornered animal”. An apt metaphor, but we prefer to think of conservatism as the ideology of the sadomasochist–at least at the university level anyway. No other ideology on campus has spawned such self-flagellatory nonsense as voluntary student unionism, deregulation of university fees, refusal to support the ‘Yes’ vote for SSM, support of penalty rate cuts, or homophobes in urinals as the conservative ideology. We understand that #NotAllConservatives are like this, but we can’t help but wonder what would

compel any student to support such beliefs that not only hurt others, but also themselves. Independent media is the ability to call this out for what it is. Impartial media is sticking to the sidelines out of fear of being labeled biased. In many ways, impartial media is the ideology of the cornered journalist; ever happy to sit on the fence and keep their readers in the dark. It is the role of student media (indeed media itself) to hold our decisionmakers to account. Once this role becomes eroded through decision-makers calling for ‘more diversity of content’ (read: more food reviews, less reporting), the entire existential purpose of publications like ours are called into question. One of the main complaints we received in our eSELTS this year was a perceived left-wing bias. We came into this publication as three left-wing students and that is exactly how we are leaving. We are biased and that’s what makes us independent. Student media will always be independent at this university, we just pray that it is never impartial.

It’s been an absolute pleasure, Tom, Jesse, and Jenny

~ On Di t ~

On Dit

Contents Editorial

State of Union

SRC Column

Correspondence

Vox Pop

Cover Art

Left, Right, and Centre

Michelangelo

Editors Tom Haskell, Jesse Davidson, & Jenny Nguyen

Designers

Articles

Jesse Davidson, Tom Haskell, and Jenny Nguyen

Empathy is Not Dead

Contact

Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;all Aint Rebels

ondit@adelaide.edu.au

Where Is My Woke Awakenings

An Argument for Adelaide

Uni Library Changes

Grief

Rantspace

Buffo Marinus strikes again

Eselts

Ngaldu tampinthi Kaurna miyurna

Movie Review

yarta mathanya

Review of Reviews

Wa m a Ta r n t a n y a k u

Poetry

Thankyous

We r e c o g n i s e t h a t t h e K a u r n a Pe o p l e are the traditional land-owners and custodians of the Adelaide plains

~ On Di t ~

STATE OF THE UNION Words by AUU Board President Brodie Scott

It’s the last State of the Union for 2017, and the end of another year in student politics. Yes, student politics – not the most wellregarded part of the university experience. The editors of On Dit have spent a lot of time covering it on other pages while this column has, as much as possible, featured what the union is doing and has to offer students. It’s an arrangement that’s worked out well. But if there was something worth mentioning from my time among the political factions as a representative of this University’s only a-political team, it’s how our representatives (from Labor’s ‘Activate’ and Socialist Alternative’s ‘Left Action’ in particular) will regularly do what they’re told by regional branch leaders of a bigger political party, and even sitting South Australian MP’s, before considering their roles as our representatives and our actual interests as students. Weird, I know, but probably not surprising. For that reason, anyone who associates the union with student politics is left with the impression its institutions waste time with issues that don’t matter, or mean very little to them. Important groups on campus are also left behind by representatives when they aren’t seen by the factions as ‘bringing in the votes’, aren’t in the same social circles their members are, and have no commitment to the goals or vision of one political ideology. These are the people at university left out by every other team claiming to represent all of us; they are the forgotten students. They’re our international students,

supported by their hardworking families or by their own means to be a part of our community. Next year you will have a greater say in what we can do to help; whether it’s through grants or encouraging networks that lead to better support, information to stay for the time you need to find opportunities or to return home with the best prospects for the future. They’re our Roseworthy and Waite students, whether they are commuting long hours to study intensive subjects or live distantly from the main campus. In 2018 the union and our representatives will be more active in listening to you and delivering what you want for your campus, as well as promoting more events, long established and new clubs and student media coverage. And they’re our non-political students, sick of trivial, self-important and pointless drama the factions regularly engage in. They came out in large numbers for the first time to vote for the representatives in our team, Progress, when we ran as an alternative to what was happening this year. By making the SRC more relevant to you, putting on more events, supporting your clubs and raising the profile of your union, I’m confident you will do it again. From what I’ve seen happen in student representation this year, I guess it’s been great to indirectly work beside what is probably a very wide range of talented faceless figures from the South Australian, and potentially, Federal Parliament. My successor will miss out.

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SRC PRESIDENT Words by SRC President Mark Pace

Hey Comrades, the time of year has finally come

other student representatives, like our own AUU

where I write and submit my last column for On

President, have chosen to ignore the impact

Dit as SRC President. Over the past 11 months

the plebiscite is having on queer identifying

the SRC has worked it’s arse off to provide

students, the SRC is proud to stand in solidarity

you with the highest quality and accessible

with them and represent the overwhelming

education. Rain or shine. Turnbull or Trump.

majority of students who do support marriage

The year 2017 hasn’t been easy for students.

equality.

We started our year with automated Centrelink

As a council we’ve worked extremely hard

debt notices, then we had our penalty rates cut

to combat all the disempowerment students

while the Federal Liberal Government gutted our

are dealing with on and off campus. We’ve

higher education system, and our State Labor

lobbied state and federal governments through

Government simultaneously attacked our rights

academic

on University Council.

campaigns on issues from penalty rates to

submissions,

run

educational

Trump’s presidency and the rise of right

the Adani Coalmine, protested cooked higher

wing rhetoric has had a far reaching effect on

education legislature (and fucking won), and

marginalised students at Adelaide Uni. We’ve

engaged with the university through committees

seen an increase in racist and homophobic

to make sure we see structural, meaningful

material distributed on campus as well as a

change to address rape culture at university.

rise of hate crimes and attacks against Queer

We’re the first SRC in four years to achieve our

and Muslim students. We’ve seen this attitude

key performance indicators set by the university,

reflected in our own federal parliament. The

and while we may not agree with university

marriage equality plebiscite has meant that the

administration on many issues, we’ve built on

rights of queer people have been up for public

our relationships with university management

debate, and in this space the Right continue

and

to deny the very real experiences of the Queer

effective SRC on campus. We reintroduced and

community in this country.

revitalised the SRC’s Counter Guide, a tradition

demonstrated

the

importance

With compassion we’ve fought back harder;

recently lost, which extends for more than forty

running enrolment stalls, organising bright and

years and provides you with honest student

colorful stunts around campus, building mass

course reviews from all faculties. We’ve done

rallies in support, and, in case you haven’t seen,

a makeover of the SRC office and introduced

flooded the campus with rainbows. Where

open hours so that all students can share our cont.

~ On Di t ~ resources, because we know representation is

Adelaide University Union appear to be above

much more than just an election in late August.

politics, instead it appears simply indifferent

Thanks to the support from the AUU Events and

to the struggles students are facing. A divided

Marketing team, our large annual events such

student union deeply embittered by political

as the Lazy Breakfast, George Duncan Memorial

machinations that seeks to drive opposition

and Stress Less Day have proven to be more

voices out of the union cannot sustain itself.

successful and attracted larger crowds than ever before.

I am incredibly proud of what the SRC has accomplished this year. Our achievements

There are people who have attacked the

speak for themselves: we’ve achieved important

SRC. They made claims that the political arm of

wins for students and helped create an

the student union was, in fact, too political. It

inclusive, vibrant campus culture. Thanks to all

is a sad day when having the courage to stand

the students and fellow SRC members who have

up and act on the real issues affecting students

worked incredibly hard this year and supported

- instead of offering cosmetic consultation to

us, 2017 has been fantastic! I’m stoked to see

students’ detriment - is labeled overly political,

the lasting effect that this team will have on

and passion in elected representation is derided.

students at Adelaide.

I fear that despite the SRC’s best efforts, this will be the year the Adelaide University

Pace Out

Union will be remembered as being too afraid to tackle the big issues and create meaningful

Mark Pace

change for students. Refusing to take a stance

SRC President 2017

on cuts to higher education does not make the

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~ On Di t ~

CORRESPONDENCE Dear Editors, When I had the grave misfortune of reading issue 1 this year, I told myself that these three inexperienced cretins were just having teething issues. Fair enough. But having slogged my way through the other ten issues since, I can say definitively that these weren’t teething issues. For starters, there is definitely less content than previous years. I know this because the magazine is smaller and the page numbers are the same. Never mind the fact that the font sizes are smaller and there is less hectic white space in the magazine, I just feel that there is less content. Also, talk about inconsistent. One minute you’re doing ten issues (according to an angry letter you received in August), the next minute you’re doing twelve?!? And those staples, issue one and then none? MAKE UP YOUR MINDS! And then there was that one right-wing article you printed in like April or something. How wildly irresponsible of you three to print something exactly one time that doesn’t coalesce with my own worldview. You truly are doing your mentors in parliament proud. And finally, you three were so inexperienced before coming in. That means that you hadn’t written or proofread enough articles to be arbitrarily qualified for a student media position. And as I’m sure you would all be aware by now, editing and writing are pretty much the same thing. Regards, A total fucking loser

~ On Di t ~

Vox Pop THOMI

ROSE

Classics and Histor y

English Honours

1 - Live lectures .

1 - Both.

2 - My course finishes and I get to graduate.

2 - Finishing my thesis and being able to relax.

3 - I can’t cook .

3 - Yes, I like to cook so much so I can’t pick a speciality.

4 - The bunnies. 5 - Espresso martini .

4 - I honestly prefer cats, but I’ll pick the lamb. 5 - Mojito or Gin & Tonic .

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1 - Would you rather online or live lectures? 2 - What is the best thing about the end of this semester finishing? 3 - Can you cook and what is your speciality dish? 4 - What is your fave animal at the stress less event? 5 - Drink of choice for a summer session?

SHIN JAN

FRASER

Food & Nutrition Science

Ar ts

1 - I prefer going to lectures, but because I’m based at three different campuses having both is convenient.

1 - Live lectures because it makes me feels more engaged with the course. It’s hard to focus with online lectures.

2 - I get to go home to Malaysia for the summer holidays.

2 - I can sleep more.

3 - I can cook and cook with whatever is available in the fridge. 4 - The lamb.

3 - I’m an awful cook but I can do pasta and mediocre sauce. 4 - The bunnies . 5 - Water because it’s hydrating .

5 - Iced Lemon Tea.

~ On Di t ~

Left, Right & Centre Where we ask three hacks across the political spectrum what their take is on the hot issues around campus

Left

Centre

Benito Crago

Charlie Wenk

Adelaide University Communist Club

Adelaide University Labor Club

1 It is an undemocratic act, having fewer student voices is not ideal. Universities are an organisation run for the benefit of students and society. Reducing the number of student voices heard is counterproductive and seems to follow a pattern of successive Liberal and Labor governments disenfranchising students and promoting political apathy in society.

1 This should not have happened – students having a voice in the governance of their university is a position taken in the ALP’s National Platform. This decision has been justified by claiming that it brings the University of Adelaide in line with University Australia’s Voluntary Code of Best Practice for Governance, yet in 2015 the University of Adelaide claimed they fully complied with the code with the previous level of student representation on the council. This begs the question: if the University itself believes it was following the Code, how was it decided that change was needed in order to comply? To put aside my pedantry on the bureaucratic excuses made for this cut to student (and staff!) power for a moment, I would like to affirm the University of Adelaide Labor Club’s commitment to improving staff and student representation in decision making bodies. Three council members are awarded a position on the council ex officio and 7 appointed by committees in which the VC and people appointed onto those committees by the VC hold a majority. Only 5 are elected positions. The Vice Chancellor’s office has been given extraordinary power in

2 I would like to see a university owned service providing subsidised student meals on campus. A service that is offered to students in many other countries. Students are already struggling to make ends meet. The Student Services and Amenities Fee should also be abolished and the current services increased. There’s no reason to increase the future taxation of students with this fee, or to make them pay out of pocket when they are struggling financially and studying full time. The federal government already has the ability to fund these programs and more without an increase in taxation. The government is not budget

constrained, it does not tax to spend and it does not borrow to spend, it creates Australian Dollars. Federal spending can fill the gap left by removing the Fee with no increase in inflation. The funding for these programs should be increased and the AUU given greater control of how these funds are spent. The current profit seeking behaviour of the university increases prices of food on campus. The recent example of the St Raphael’s Coffee Cart shows the university currently cares more about entrenched private business interests than providing services to students. 3 Albanese plays some Pixies when he gets the chance to DJ. He probably has some pretty wild house parties too. Pyne is on the record as an ABBA fan. The Internationale best represents our club’s ideology, although there is some argument around which version is the best. 4 No. Same goes for ‘Shame’, the whole of the country isn’t the parliament. I hate seeing people interrupted.

~ On Di t ~

1. What do you think of the recent State Government decision to halve University Council undergraduate representation? 2. What should the SSAF be spent on? 3. Do political heads even listen to music? If so, what song best represents your ideology? 4. Is shouting ‘Hear Hear’ in public a socially acceptable practice?

Right Hugh Sutton

Adelaide Uni Liberal Club deciding the strategic direction of the university in this legislation and students frustrated with some of the recent ‘strategies’ (such as decreased contact hours) should be concerned about what this means for the future of UofA’s student body. 2 Student advocacy and support – Both the University and the Union provide services for students and right now, the university takes the largest share of the SSAF as well as your tuition fees. In my opinion the union’s level of student support and services are not reflected in the share of the SSAF that is received. If they were, students would see a huge uptick in club funding and welfare programs like free breakfast, that are run and organised by student led bodies. 3 There is Power on a Union by Billy Bragg 4 Absolutely. Shame for even asking this question.

1 The decision made by the Weatherill Labor Government is rather disappointing. For undergraduates (who make up a large part of the university community) to have their representation halved is a genuine shame. As an undergraduate myself, I would expect that my cohort would have a say in the direction of the university and how we think the university can better itself. This is just another example of Labor cuts, they can’t be trusted around higher education. 2 First and foremost, the SSAF is compulsory student unionism under a different name. The fact that you have to pay an amount towards ‘non-academic’ amenities that you may or may not use is an anathema to the notion of personal choice

and freedom. Students should be provided with the opportunity to decide if they want to pay the SSAF, and use the services it provides. So essentially, SSAF should be abolished or amended to reflect that freedom of choice. That said, the SSAF should focus on university infrastructure, and improving the quality of the university facilities. 3 I’m In Love With Margaret Thatcher – The Nonsensibles, 1980 4 I don’t think so. Leave it for the political speeches and dinners; otherwise you’re ‘that hack’ who doesn’t know how to act in a non-political setting. Yelling out ‘shame’ is okay though.

~ On Di t ~

EMPATHY IS NOT DEAD Words by Aislinn Rossi

In Issue 85.4 of On Dit, Henry Blacketer wrote a scathing criticism of compassionate

towards fear, anxiety, and disillusionment. This may soon be the age of demagogues.

politics. I have been thinking about it ever since.

Blacketer claims that policy “should be

To Blacketer, the focus on empathy at the core

seen not through the looking glass of emotion

of politics is “leading us away from policy

and feeling, but rather the more difficult and

responses to the big political questions of our

ultimately rewarding microscope of sensible,

time.” Yet the past two years has seen a global

sober analysis of the problem and it’s details,

shift away from empathy and connection. If

and the long term effects of government

the last two years of editorials from The BBC,

actions.” At first glance, I would agree, except

VICE, and The Guardian are to be believed,

that I fundamentally question the assumption

globalization is dead and we are in the era of

that policy can’t be seen through both looking

popularism and self-centered voting habits.

glasses at once. Most of us have two eyes,

The Guardian, in particular, is extraordinarily

after all. If we abandon emotion altogether,

pessimistic about the whole situation. The

why bother with politics at all? What are we

trouble is, we’re not moving towards the cold,

doing any of it for, if not to make as many lives

hard reason that Blacketer advocates, but

better as possible, through whichever means

~ On Di t ~

“I’d like to know who ever questioned the fact that the Australian navy could stop a slow trickle of overcrowded fishing boats from crossing into our waters? Proving we are the biggest bully of the pacific by no means makes our policies a success.” one happens to believe would engender such

we apply to it, no other country in the world

a result?

does what we do, and not for lack of military

So to claim that Australia’s policy on

strength. Italy, for example, projected in 2013

refugees is a success because it has had

that 100,000 asylum seekers would arrive on

the intended result, i.e. stopping the boats,

their shores by 2015, and launched ‘Operation

doesn’t sit well with me. Personally, I’d like to

Mare Nostrum’, with the backing of the EU, in

know who ever questioned the fact that the

preparation. The Italian navy now rescues the

Australian navy could stop a slow trickle of

‘boat people’ Australia would send back, and

overcrowded fishing boats from crossing into

brings them ashore for processing. In the US,

our waters? Proving we are the biggest bully of

tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors

the pacific by no means makes our policies a

fleeing violence in Latin American countries

success. Particularly not when the downward

such as Honduras and Guatemala cross the

trend in boat arrivals began in August of 2013,

Mexican border to apply for asylum every year.

one month before the Coalition came into

Only about a thousand get deported.

power and four months before the first boat turnaround by the navy.

Government data shows that around 90 percent of arrivals to Australia by boat are

The truth is Australia is alone in it’s policy

later found to be genuine refugees (this is long

of both turn-backs and long stretches of off-

after they are detained on Manus or Nauru)

shore detention, which many human rights

compared to about 50 percent of those who

groups, among them the United Nations, have

arrive by plane. This is demonstrably not

decried as inhumane. Whatever numbers

a policy of turning back the undeserving.

~ On Di t ~

All over the world, the people who attempt

I’m sure this would look like a victory.

such dangerous journeys are the truly

Well, I reject that. Just as I reject the

desperate. Abbott, and Turnbull after him,

idea that empathy has no place in politics.

have claimed repeatedly that 1,200 people

As a writer and a journalist, my life requires

died at sea as a direct result of Rudd-era

empathy just as much as research, data

policy. This is also the figure which Henry

and facts, and what I have learned through

Blacketer quoted in his article. According

my work is this: most people want the same

to immigration minister Peter Dutton, 28

things; safety, happiness, and opportunities

boats carrying 743 people were turned back

for themselves, their family, and their

to their country of origin last year. Since the

community. Most people want the best

beginning of Operation Sovereign Borders,

for other people, even strangers. Without

the Coalition claims no lives have been lost

empathy, you miss half of the picture. Yes,

at sea. Zero. And that may be true – but only

policies must be backed up with evidence,

of the ‘at sea’ part. Because if 90 percent of

logic and reason, that much is true. But

those 700+ who were turned back are true

logic cannot extend to treating human lives

refugees, how much harm have we done

like singular data points. The reality of these

by sending them back to the very situation

issues is far more complex than that.

they were fleeing? How many lives have we truly saved?

“Logic cannot extend to treating human lives like singular data points. The reality of these issues is far more complex than that.”

As 2017 wraps up, I’m hoping that the world is sick of the last two years of fear. Brexit negotiations are in shambles and Trump’s presidency has been a marked disaster by almost every measure. Populism is dead. 2018 is a new year. Many of us will graduate, and all of us will have a chance at a new start, including our law makers. So I’m going to be optimistic about it, and predict a trend towards hope, compassion, and empathy, at least among the younger

THE UNHCR’s 2016 fact sheet on global

generation. The big questions of our time

forced displacement found that one in every

aren’t about to go away overnight, and

one hundred and three people were affected.

I’m not about to pretend that compassion

Australia turning back the boats doesn’t fix

alone will fix them, but I know no one could

this issue, it just displaces it to some other

them alone. It takes emotion to get people

country, likely one poorer and less equipped

moving.

to deal with it. But to someone dealing only in facts, stats, and measurable outcomes,

~ On Di t ~

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~ On Di t ~

Y’ALL AINT Words by Zayaan Ali

content warning: some mentions of assault and racial/transphobic violence Turns out, we’re in 2017 and colleges are still intent on not just providing platforms and literal safe spaces, police presence and full security and barring protesters and all, for racists, misogynists, and white supremacists. Most recently, the University of Florida (fuck off). Honestly, there’s something that unsettles me about the idea that we should welcome “controversial” guests (often shorthand for virulent racists or misogynists) being invited to speak on college campuses, or that it’s an example of how the American college campus is this bastion of free speech where students have to face up to difficult ideas and be challenged intellectually. Let’s leave aside for now that it’s cruel and unfair to ask people of colour or women to have to argue our right to freely exist in a public sphere on the terms of someone that opposes our basic rights, or debate the merits of our being here, or argue for why our struggles for liberation should be treated with respect instead of scorn. Let’s leave aside that there’s something both gross and cruel about asking students who are directly affected by racism and misogyny to accept their invasion into our spaces. Let’s put aside that institutions are so easily bullied by small but highly organized groups of online Nazis who create enough of a clamor to seem like their outrage

is much more prevalent than it is, that institutions somehow seem clueless on this fact when we all know this, and that institutions seem to take these voices far more seriously than that of women and people of color and LGBTQ folks and immigrants speaking out about the harm it causes. Honestly, it’s public knowledge that the alt-right mobilizes to create much more noise than what would reflect numbers, yet our esteemed public institutions seem not to know this when capitulating to those wishes. Feels pretty suss, almost as if altright views are familiar enough to elicit far more empathy than minority voices or the left speaking out against it, but let’s leave that for later.

Put aside that for all the talk about freedom and balance even when it comes to literal Nazis, freedom of expression and activity in academia is routinely shut down for those deemed past an appropriate threshold to the left, for those talking too viscerally about the violence of everyday white supremacy or male violence instead of with sufficient academic detachment, for participating in boycott or divestment movements, for those suspected of communist sympathies. The way that ideas from as far to the right as possible are considered valid and vital additions to the public square in universities doesn’t square with this. Despite what culture-war

conservatives seem to insist, and despite a generally liberalleaning student body, universities as institutions are often relatively conservative, with mostly white and mostly male and mostly upperclass and entirely wealthy members in halls of power, funded by wealthy and powerful alumni and donors or the state itself.

Let’s be honest about that, because generously, a false self-image of universities as being far-left institutions might be why the far-right is considered balance. That’s not true. Less generously, and probably more accurately, the intense opposition to any platform for views from the left as brainwashing and as needing suppression or artificially provided balance (here’s looking at you, recent moves in the UK towards “balance” which seem to support mandating conservatives give speeches at leftist events, but has never raised the idea of having socialists speak at events for Young Tories) reflects the real centers of power. The intense pushback against minority voices, or addressing white supremacy, or moves to battle campus sexual assault and proactively advocate for consent, or have more trans visibility - in all of these, on one side you have nothing more than a marginalized group of people deciding to stand up for themselves and push something they believe in, and on the other you have the entire weight of the status quo pushing back with

~ On Di t ~

NT REBELS scorn and outrage. The idea that the push for minority rights by minority individuals, as opposed to society and all its institutions, is where the real power is? That’s an absurd doublespeak and the fact that that’s a mainstream idea is inexplicable, so let’s stop entertaining it.

someone’s peaceful protest of an anthem are the ones telling black and brown folk, merely exercising their free speech to call for the exclusion of racists from their campuses, that in the real world they’ll have to see opinions and ideas that differ from their own. People so threatened by the presence of minorities that they feel their entire culture, way of life, and western civilization itself is at risk from plurality or multiculturalism bemoan a “culture of victimhood” and proselytize

hatred of strangers that sent death threats, strangers that could easily cause you physical violence, to the possibility that any person you talk to might be that one violent asshole that gets furious at your views, women opening themselves up to gossip and scorn and being labeled and smeared, women who Let’s even put aside, for now, that talk about their assaults knowing the snowflakes-and-safe-spaces it’ll open them up to disgusting line of conservative attack from speculation and have people blame the right, especially the younger them or call them liars, women who right-wingers, is a bizarre form of call out those in power and risk their projection coming from careers and friendships: folks so offended by the “People so threatened by the those aren’t snowflakes, visibility and the advocacy and they’re venturing of minority groups for presence of minorities that they out into spaces that are more seats at the table, by feel their entire culture, way of pointedly unsafe in order women demanding safety, to carve out spaces for and western civilization others. People who speak by the very possibility of life, consequences for actions itself is at risk from plurality out about racial inequality that hurt the previously and white supremacy, multiculturalism bemoan knowing the pushback it’ll voiceless. The people that or can’t handle a remake of a a “culture of victimhood” and get, knowing it could affect 80s movie with a different their careers, knowing it will cast or one video game proselytize about the importance pin them as troublemakers: with a female protagonist putting themselves of exposure to opposing views.” they’re amid hundreds with out into unsafe spaces for male characters without something they believe in. completely losing their shit are the about the importance of exposure Trans people, knowing the incredibly ones talking about feminist women to opposing views. high rates of violence against them, being easily offended crybabies. deciding to be openly trans and People that get apoplectic about This is the gaslighting of an entire advocate for trans causes, to not Islam or alternative gender identities generation, a gaslighting that’s be denied rights the rest of us take so much as being mentioned in their become woven into our cultural for granted, knowing that there classroom syllabuses are the ones mainstream, and it deserves to be is a real risk of death for a trans talking about how the world isn’t a called out for what it is. Women individual crossing over into spaces safe space, and that in the real world going out into a world that is men have considered their own- the you have to face opinions that you physically hazardous, speaking out world isn’t a safe space, dating isn’t don’t agree with. People demanding on the internet and on campuses a safe space, activism isn’t a safe institutional retribution over opening themselves up to the space. Every one of the folks that

~ On Di t ~

get labeled snowflakes for fighting is more hardcore than anyone calling them names or pushing back against their work. Now, though, those of you who see women request a content warning on readings so they can prepare themselves to avoid unexpected PTSD flashbacks, or see black folk quietly protest injustice, and take this, among everything there is in society worth fighting against, as something to fight tooth-and-claw? Maybe you’re a snowflake. Maybe you’re just an asshole. What you definitely aren’t is edgy or brave or a rebel, because what you’re doing has no real consequences - no serious threat of assault, or censure, of being blackballed. The only real consequence is your peers not liking you and girls not wanting to sleep with you. Maybe that’s because, as people putting themselves out there for their beliefs, they can’t respect you for not actually risking anything real beyond people thinking you’re a prick. Maybe it’s because feeling self-satisfied and acting like you’re a rebel for fighting to maintain the status quo exactly as it is makes you look like a prick. Maybe it’s because

“Maybe

that’s

because,

people

putting

themselves out there for their beliefs, they can’t respect you for not actually risking anything real beyond people thinking you’re a prick. Maybe it’s because feeling self-satisfied and acting like you’re a rebel for fighting to maintain the status quo exactly as it is makes you look like a prick. Maybe it’s because you are a prick. I don’t know for sure.”

you are a prick. I don’t know for sure. But okay, let’s put that all aside, and look at how spineless and disingenuous the insistence on giving racism and misogyny and homophobia and transphobia and anti-immigrant sentiment protected platforms often is. A university giving a platform to someone who denies the basic humanity of people on whatever level is a necessary or productive way to foster dialogue. It’s giving a voice and some veneer of legitimacy to abhorrent views that are patently wrong, and a university shouldn’t give that a platform as an academic institution any more than they would an anti-vaxxer, or your local conspiracy theory crackpot who says the world is ending in five weeks, or someone who insists very firmly that Shakespeare is actually fake and was written into history by academics in the 1960s (a controversial enough assertion, sure, but also completely wrong). A university would dismiss all those out of hand and see giving

~ On Di t ~

“‘Safe spaces’, a concept to ensure an environment conducive to talking about controversial things like misogyny or racism or the institutional and cultural enabling of sexual assault by ensuring that students are given a forum to discuss them in a space moderated to remove obstacles that aim to shut down such speech, is reframed as people being unable to deal with the difficulties of reality.”

them a platform as anti-intellectual disinformation; not doing the same for overt racism implies that those ideas are somehow more academic or more legitimate than every other one of the aforementioned antiacademic, anti-science, anti-learning nonsense. And unlike vicious racism, moon landing conspiracy theories don’t even actively harm or dehumanize people! Academia seems as suspect to the moral panic as any other field, if not more so - a moral panic that perhaps betrays, more than anything, an unexamined conservative position of privilege. Bodies of academic thinking which to critique established ideas and question fundamental assumptions and epistemologies - feminist and postcolonial interpretations and reinterpretations, their questioning of methodologies, their examining of possible biases and blind spotsare subject to a reactionary impulse

which reverses the role of examiner and establishment. Having students consider a plurality of views, learn different perspectives from which to challenge the ideas they learn, is framed as leftist brainwashing. The reassertion of unquestionably following historical establishment in academic fields, is reframed as not just brave but intellectually rigorous, as what’s actually in the spirit of inquiry. this is pushed by folks so coddled they’re threatened by having to face critiques that may challenge the ideas they’re comfortable in, that may ask of them to look at things from other perspectives unfamiliar to them.

to remove obstacles that aim to shut down such speech, is reframed as people being unable to deal with the difficulties of reality. (And yes, talking about the misogyny or racism of our society and institutions is controversial in our society, and something that invites a lot of defensiveness and pushback, which is something everyone who has ever talked about them knows. The only way you could believe that speaking up about misogyny or racism or rape culture faces no pushback from society is if you live in a right-wing filter bubble where you think that the real world is a much nicer place, united around the condemnation of things that should “Safe spaces”, a concept to ensure be condemned, than the very sexist, an environment conducive to racist, rape culture promoting place talking about controversial things that it actually is.) like misogyny or racism or the institutional and cultural enabling The fight against content warnings, of sexual assault by ensuring that a powerful accessibility tool widely students are given a forum to accepted in pedagogy- as anyone in discuss them in a space moderated a teaching degree would have learnt-

~ On Di t ~

is framed as a courageous stand for academic freedom, when in fact the conservatism of institutions in refusing to embrace inclusion is as old as academia itself. Smirking agreement to keep things as they are between self-satisfied professors to wealthy donors is framed as courageously standing up to- what, the powerful establishment of poor undergraduate women? Universities ignoring criticism of their intellectual traditions or pedagogy by their students is many things, but brave and bold isn’t one of them. A double standard that allows pseudo-scientific racism and sexism in a hall of academia as “alternative views” is a hypocritical and disingenuous nod at being a bold critical center of free expression. It’s an easy way to seem like a courageous bastion of critical thinking, to get some good press from millennial-bashing publications and a few fat checks from impressed conservative donors (here’s looking at you, whoever at the University of Chicago that patted themselves on the back for being a rational free-thinker as they drafted that letter about no safe spaces). But ultimately, racism and misogyny are just variants of old, conservative ideas that are still deeply present in society today, things that a lot of people still think: giving them a slightly more overt platform isn’t the boldest move in the book, and thinking of yourself as bold for doing so is kind of pathetic. This is something worth noting, since there’s plenty of actual controversial material in academia that clearly makes a lot of people uncomfortable and challenges them intellectually - things like POC or queer critiques of mainstream social norms and the Western

canon, for example. The idea that this is controversial in a university might get some pushback from people who argue that this is already what the norm is on campuses. I think that’s wrong and shows a real lack of understanding of academia, at the expense of hysterical myths about a fragile millennial generation. We know that academia is often very white, quite intellectually conservative, and very defensive about critique. The aforementioned critical ideas may be more widespread on college campuses than anywhere else, but they’re by no means the norm in academia, by no means the norm in lecture halls and tutorial classes and conferences and students’ dorm halls or frat parties.

“Ultimately, racism and misogyny are just variants of old, conservative ideas that are still deeply present in society today, things that a lot of people still think: giving them a slightly more overt platform isn’t the boldest move in the book, and thinking of yourself as bold for doing so is kind of pathetic.” What that would do, though, is probably get your university a snarky op-ed by a middle-aged journalist, and turn off a few big donors who feel threatened by the proliferation of ideas which are, say, uncomfortable, or intellectually challenging, or difficult. Let’s at least acknowledge that.

~ On Di t ~

HAIKUNOMICS As

the

2017

academic

year

comes

close,

students

and

fellow travellers of economics look back on the year with a sense of nostalgia and pride. Hence for the final EconDit, we reflect and bring forth our personal musings in the form of a haiku. We both bring our cows

Market forces correct

To a non-exclusive field

To an equilibrium

Trag’dy of the commons

Then never stray again

ML Reschke

M Ressky

Today’s consumption

We, in the long run,

Will be paid for tomorrow

like the late John Maynard Keynes

You optimised?

are completely dead

L Resushiki

WDR Horton

Supply and demand

Capitalism

Find the equilibrium

Aight in the 1990s

That’s economics

Not in ‘08 though

CF Wenk & JP Jaensch

RS Sihombing

A haiku is not

Inequality

Ideal for economic

Shit’s getting pretty damn high

Discourse. Rethink this.

That’s kind of fucked, right?

EJ Penglase

PS Rocconi

One two three four five

Economics is

One two three four five six sev

At Adelaide uni now

One two three four five

Ha lol (el-oh-el)

JJ Parker

MR Boombastic

Party rock is in

Uh Ruh Roh Raggy

The house tonight every

我们都工党贱人

Body have a good time

Taxation Is Theft

AK Bedford

N Burnet

~ On Di t ~

Where is my woke awakening? words by Idris Martin

I’ve spoken to the police way too much in the last two months. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve been diligent in executing their duties and securing the safety of the public in my interactions with them, but I’m confident the Sergeant I’ve been speaking to would 100% understand where I’m coming from when I say I honestly wish I’d never had to have met her. We live in the real world though–not a world of wishes–and in the real world some guy punched me in the face for being a bit too Muslimy in public. It was Eid al-Adha on September 1st and after a day of worship (and study), I went to the pub with a reasonably large group of friends. As we were leaving the pub after several drinks (even got a little haram myself and had a couple), one of my friends asked about going to the mosque for Eid al-Adha and–to cut to the climax–an eavesdropping drunk dude slugged me for it.

The aftermath of being punched in the face was pretty straightforward – stumbled down to the police station on Hindley while I asked about six times if I’d been punched in the face; the police caught the guy and his mates; my partner took me to the RAH where the ER doctor was a stud and told me that it wouldn’t kill me if I smoked a cone (or ten) before going to sleep that night. Just a quick PSA here: having a swollen lip will make it look like you went to get fat injected in your lips but chickened out after the first injection. Everything since then? Well, let’s just say I had some reasonably unrealistic expectations about my immediate future. And I blame The Guardian a little bit. Maybe it’s just some lingering resentment from a news comparison assignment from earlier this semester (just kidding, you’re great Sal, love your

~ On Di t ~

“As opposed to the Woke Awakening I had low key been hoping for, it feels like I’ve been poisoned by the same bile that helped this guy justify assaulting random Muslims in the street to himself.”

work), or some weird confirmation bias at work on my end, but have you noticed how full of hope columnists in The Guardian are?

get the name and residential address of the defendant? I’ve never studied Law so this was an unpleasant surprise for me.

Every time there’s some sort of traumatic event or conflict, there’s a feature column from a victim talking about how their experience of adversity taught them strength and how to love.

It wasn’t as though he lived anywhere near me or anything like that – I simply wasn’t prepared for how ready I was to get my own. Boy was I bitter and ready to take up every offer to egg his house or key his car – and there were plenty of folks who offered to.

I’m not going to say that I went to bed that night expecting to wake up as a Woke Messiah Who Speaks Words of Healing and Hope, but there was a small part of me that was definitely rooting for that outcome. Instead, I woke up confused. Then about a week later I received the Record of Outcome from the guy’s court appearance and that was when the anger really hit me. Did you know that when you’re the victim of a crime and you receive the Record of Outcome from a trial, you

As opposed to the Woke Awakening I had low key been hoping for, it feels like I’ve been poisoned by the same bile that helped this guy justify assaulting random Muslims in the street to himself. I’m not a stranger to racial conflict. Racial conflict has been a defining feature of my entire experience on this Earth. When you’re born to a brown mother and a white father, it’s impossible to stray far from the narrow path that borders your two

~ On Di t ~

“It is still a fucking effort on my part not to give in to my bitterness and anger. It has been a monumental effort on my part to not allow this incident to change how I move in the world, how I engage with the world.” worlds. But a mixed-race perspective also often leaves little room to reject a clash of cultures as wholly undignified or ugly. I am the product of such a clash and then the joining of different practices of what it means to live a life. My entire life has been signposted by the racial resentment of my peers, my elders, my friends, my family. One of my early memories is being a child of six: my sisters and I had successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre of Malaysia, but very quickly it turned into a harrowing period of my life. We were ostracised early on, the only halfwhite ones in the troupe. They designated us anak syaitan, or devil spawn. It was easy, then, to resent my Malay heritage – my Malay identity. Beyond that, even my own Malay family exhibited uneasiness around my father, my siblings and I – and I saw that my mother still copped some flack for marrying a white man. By the time I was sixteen and knew that I was into other dudes, this feeling of resentment had taken a backseat to my determination to GTFO of a country that had some religious police force out to get me for being into dudes. It was still there, though, when I stepped off the plane in Australia.

I grabbed my father dramatically and gasped “Dad, I see white people. Everywhere!” like a browner, betterlooking Hayley Joel Osment (don’t @ me about this, have you seen a photo of HJO today? His face is out of proportion to his head now). Despite my joke with my father, I was excited and just assumed that the country that was okay with me being gay would be okay with me being brown. I was quickly disabused of that notion, and since going into the memory banks for every piece of racist harassment or abuse I’ve experienced, I’ll put it this way – there literally has not been a single Australia Day that I’ve experienced in Australia where I haven’t been on the receiving end of verbal racist abuse from a white stranger. You know things are a bit messed up when you start to categorise being called devil spawn as a kid as mild verbal abuse though. Then there’s the beautiful clashes of culture. The ones where extreme discomfort or even outright hatred slowly turns into tolerance and acceptance. You can see it in both sides of my family. It wasn’t long ago that I was arrogant enough to claim the credit for that

~ On Di t ~

growth for myself. My mere existence, I reasoned, was enough to force both sides of my family to reconsider their preconceived notions of the other. I’ve been humbled enough now to recognise that that growth was never mine to claim. I can remember with searing clarity most, if not all, of the instances where a cousin, an aunt, an uncle or even a grandparent slipped up and showed a glimpse of their racial prejudices. What is less clear, in my memory, is the conflicts that came from those and the healing that followed. What I never paid attention to was how much effort it took my aunts and my uncles to reach the more accepting place they’re at today. I guess you could say the closest I came to a Woke Awakening following being punched in the face was a sombre violent reminder that tolerance takes some serious fucking effort. I would say it’s self-evident, but a lot of people don’t seem to realise how much people rely on their own innate sense of right and wrong to arbitrate judgements of their own racial prejudices. It’s remarkable how resistant this make people to criticisms of racism and thus to investing the effort necessary to address that. My family’s experience speaks to the monumental active effort it takes to correct your own behaviour even once you’ve seen the error of your ways. It is still a fucking effort on my part not to give in to my bitterness and anger. It has been a monumental effort on my part to not allow this incident to change how I move in the world, how I engage with the world. Some teenage kids scared me on the bus late one-night last week – do you think I wanted to feel like they had done it because I’m brown? I rationally know that they almost definitely didn’t do it for that reason – it was after 11pm, I was the only person on the bus and I remember

how much fun being an obnoxious teen was. That didn’t stop me privately resenting them for an act of racial harassment they hadn’t committed for the rest of the trip home. I wasn’t kidding when I said I feel like I’ve been poisoned by the incident. Maybe I’m just in denial about the ugliness in my own soul but what I know is either way, it’ll take effort to get through. I’m jumpier these days – sudden sounds shock me; I don’t like being alone in public at night anymore; I don’t feel so bold in the face of racism. I feel smaller and darker. There have been some clearer moments in my mind though. I’ve wondered about my assailant – about what he’ll turn into. How many years will it be before he starts to cringe about that time he punched someone for being Muslim? Will he ever make the effort to reach that stage? Of course, my biggest question about him is why. Why, and how to stop the same thing in someone else. Unfortunately, despite the hope I’ve projected onto The Guardian, wisdom doesn’t come from trauma and answers aren’t found in conflict. It takes uncomfortable, sometimes even painful, effort. In the meantime, at least there’s Victims of Crime Compensation to help get papa a new PS4. Looks like I might have gotten what’s mine in the end after all.

~ On Di t ~

AN ARGUMENT FOR ADELAIDE Words by Michaela McGrath

I’m

unashamedly

member

Team

culture and beaut climate, I couldn’t have

Adelaide. Assuming the ever unpopular

been more wrong – we Adelaidians are truly

minority of those with a profound affinity for

#blessed.

Adelaide, I find myself defending our great city on a regular basis.

For the food obsessed amongst us, Adelaide is a haven of endless culinary options.

I sit on the fence of two starkly contrasting

Showered with top-notch local produce and

Adelaidian tropes: the overwhelming state-

an abundance of world-class wine regions,

pride

bold

a primo brunch spot or pizzeria is never

slogan ‘the mighty South Aussies’, and the

far from reach. Whether you love a good

self-deprecating masses that make up Shit

degustation dinner, sinking your teeth into a

Adelaide’s 60k strong Instagram following.

burger, or prefer an Insta-worthy smoothie

If you fall into the former then read on with

bowl, Adelaide is teeming with eateries

glee as I defend your (probably footy driven)

serving up mouth-watering eats and treats.

pride, but for those inclined to whinge about

Not to mention our coffee, always strong

good ol’ ADL this one’s for you.

and extra hot, that has come to rival even the

championed

Foodland’s

most speciality of Melbourne coffee shops in I’ll be honest, my love for our great city has

recent years.

been a slow-going process. Like many teens,

I was partial to a whinge (or six) about how

Adelaide’s

cultural

landscape

also

absolutely boring Adelaide is. But, between

booming. No longer restricted to the buzz of

our thriving creative scene, abundance of

Mad March, our city’s calendar is fast filling

festivals and cultural events, booming foodie

up with festivals and cultural events. From the

~ On Di t ~

Fringe, OzAsia and Adelaide Fashion Festival

markets, laneway gems, boutique bars and

to the musically inclined Oh Yes Festival,

quaint cafes or sip and slurp your way around

Laneway and Groovin’ the Moo, Adelaide is

the Fleurieu’s award-winning wine region.

fast becoming an artistic hub all year round. Hell, the fashion gods of Vogue even dubbed

Last but certainly not least, enjoying relatively

us worthy of a festival last October. Not to

mild

mention the support for local musicians,

Adelaide’s climate is an integral part of its

designers, artists and other creatives. SALA

attraction. Thongs are always appropriate

sees hoards of artists showcase their work

attire and no one will judge you for donning

each August, while smaller exhibitions and

your finest swimwear to the super market, we

gigs keeps culture at the forefront 24/7/365.

catch a tan quicker than many sun-chasers

winters

and

blistering

summers,

would dream of. Even a spring time thunder A common complaint of Adelaide is the lack

storm can’t kill Adelaide’s vibe, with venues

of things to do. Luckily, this is easily remedied

such as NOLA transforming the blackout of

by the diverse surrounds of our very own

2016 into a party.

backyard. Step outside of your suburb and uncover a world of possibilities. Hop to the

From

vineyards

sunny

shores

and

hills for cooler temps, delicious produce and

everything in between, what’s not to love

stunning surrounds, or get beachside and

about our ‘mighty’ city after all? For those

lap up one of Adelaide’s abundant golden

unconvinced of our city’s charm I suggest

shores and crystal clear waters. Nature not

dipping your toe in the Team Adelaide waters

your thang? Take a trip into the CBD and

- its warm once you’re in, I promise.

surrounding suburbs to uncover hoards of

~ On Di t ~

‘Liaison Librarians’ to take over as Research Librarians become phased out Report by Tom Haskell

Over the next eight months,

research librarians will be replaced

The University tells On Dit that

Adelaide Uni will be losing 150

by liaison librarians who will

while the current library research

years of experience from its

deliver research support across

model has fostered extremely

Library staff. This will come in the

entire faculties rather than specific

skilled research librarians around

form of four highly skilled research

disciplines.

specific disciplines, they have

librarians who are opting to retire

This model will see research

identified

some

disadvantages

from the Barr Smith Library as the

librarian staff reduced from three

of the current system. They cite

Uni makes way for the introduction

to four librarians per faculty to just

“inequity and uneven support

of ‘liaison librarians’.

two and even one in faculties such

across the faculties; single points

research

as Law and Music. The two staff

of failure as individuals have

assistance in the library has been

members per faculty will be in the

largely operated in isolation; and

delivered by research librarians.

form of one librarian allocated to

lack of support for knowledge

These

Traditionally,

are

the ‘Learning & Teaching Team’

sharing,

highly specialised staff who focus

and another allocated to the

or career development of the

on supporting specific disciplines

‘Research Team’. Of course, for

individuals who have become

rather than entire faculties. Under

Law and Music, the one staff

so specialised” as the most

the ‘Library Liaison Support’ model

member will be allocated to both

concerning disadvantages of this

to be implemented next year,

teams for their faculty.

system.

research

librarians

succession

planning

~ On Di t ~

“The middle 80% of students will be largely unaffected by these changes, but it’s that top and bottom 10% that is really concerning. These will be the really curious students and those seeking assistance that will be largely affected.” However, there are significant

of specialised staff will significantly

librarians will be paid on an

concerns that shifting to the

impede the ability of the library

HE07 classification, $10,000 less

liaison

will

to deliver suitable services to

remuneration than what research

disproportionately affect certain

students. Head librarian, Teresa

librarians are currently awarded in

students. As one research librarian

Chitty, addressed these concerns,

their HE08 classification.

has told On Dit, students seeking

arguing that students will still

Teresa Chitty says that “this is

specialised

support

receive the same standard of

an issue of position classification;

could suffer. They say that these

support as they currently do under

they will still be able to deliver the

students will be the ones with

the research librarian model.

same standard of service as our

librarian

model

research

initiative, mature age students,

“There will still be a discipline

students with disabilities, and any

focus, but [liaison librarians] won’t

This restructuring comes as

other students requiring specialist

be as specialised as the research

HE03 library staff were informed

support in research.

librarians who are retiring.

earlier this month that at least

“The middle 80% of students

research librarians currently do”.

“They may not initially have the

seven out of the twenty-seven

same level of in-depth knowledge

staff will be made redundant

these changes, but it’s that top

of specific disciplines, however

following proposed downsizing by

and bottom 10% that is really

our focus is to provide a better

the University led by Teresa Chitty.

concerning. These will be the

standard of support to students.

will

largely

unaffected

really curious students and those

“There will be a broader focus

seeking assistance that will be

largely affected”

outreach to students”

They

further

external

engagement

and

expressed

As well as restructuring the

concern that reducing the number

model of library research, liaison

Under the plan, the remaining twenty staff will be assessed and interviewed for the remaining pool of twenty full-time equivalent positions.

~ On Di t ~

Good Grief words by Soph Landau CW: References to suicide and mental illness

y dear friend took her life not long ago. I truly admired this fiery, powerful woman. My heart hurts for everyone who was lucky enough to bond with the generous, German goddess she was. Her touch was so comforting and her strength was infectious. She was a mischievous, beer-drinking source of warmth — and a guide during some of my darkest moments. Her genuine care for others astounded me, and she tried her best to care for herself. Reacting to death is weird, and I know there’s no right way to do it but my GOD did I feel like I was doing it wrong. I was in the midst of a prolonged ‘high’ when I first learnt of her death, a level of wellbeing and performance I would describe as overjoyed, high-functioning and quick. When I’m in a high I can’t imagine ever being low again, and

conversely during my lows I feel as though nothing will make me smile. I thought to myself, “thank fuck I’m feeling this good right now, at least it won’t affect me.” My wellbeing balanced and the good sadness hit me, as the initial feeling of grief gave me ease and comfort. It felt cathartic to cry for my friend, who must have been in so much pain in those moments leading up to her leaving us. I hurt for her community and everyone who loved her. I tried to communicate with her, and I tried to make sense of the mess through some kind of deranged reasoning, thinking perhaps her suicide could be justified. The questions I continue to ask myself can never be answered. Was she always meant to go like this? Weren’t there enough highs for her to stay?

~ On Di t ~

“Honestly, I didn’t think this ‘domino effect’ would get me. Once I realised I wasn’t doing too well, I had to start talking.” Some say suicide is selfish, for leaving everyone behind and for causing grief and sadness and pain. I’m not sure if that’s fair, although I started feeling different. I felt kind of mad. Not mad that she left us, but mad that she got to go. I was mad that she got to leave. And I was angry that I couldn’t. I don’t allow myself to indulge in suicidal ideation, and she made me feel like it was an option. I began to wonder how many of her special people were struggling too. I was warned that a suicide in a community or friendship group can cause a ‘domino effect’ of suicides within the circle, as the event can increase the risk of suicidal ideation, influence the romanticisation of death, and trigger those already struggling with their headspace. What’s more concerning is that suicide contagion can affect anyone even vaguely involved with the person, like knowing their dog’s birthday through Instagram or serving them vodka mojitos at EC (seriously, what’s up with your drink, girl). Other factors like living close to them, witnessing their death or being exposed to it are considered very risky, as well as the contact or interaction you had before their death. Identifying with them closely due to shared cultural or social values can be harmful as you may feel a connection through these similarities, while relating to the pressures and issues they faced can also impact your wellbeing. Of course friends, family, romantic partners, and

everyone within your social circles are in an incredibly compromised position, so we’ve really got to look out for each other. Honestly, I didn’t think this ‘domino effect’ would get me. Once I realised I wasn’t doing too well, I had to start talking. I’m still not sure if taking one’s life can ever be justified, but I feel a sense of ease in asking these questions. Yes, we have ultimate control over our lives, but does that give us the right to do as we wish? Even when it means putting the ones closest to us at risk? My dear friend wouldn’t hurt a fly. No, really, I’ve seen her stand up for the land rights of spiders. She never meant to hurt us, I just hope she’s at ease. My assertive friend once said that she was ‘unapologetically’ herself. I miss that sparkly unicorn-human hybrid of a woman, but I wouldn’t expect her to apologise now.

...

If this article has raised any issues for you or someone you know, please call one of these numbers listed below: Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online Headspace on 1800 650 890 or chat online Adelaide Uni Counselling Service Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

~ On Di t ~

R A N T S PA C E 2 0 4 9 Wo rds by Gin a Camero n

I recently saw Blade Runner 2049. The

Hollywood, it’s completely stooped in

original is a favourite. It’s emotional

double standards. There’s a reason so

nuance and incredible visual detail

many chicks don’t dig sci-fi.

captivates I

with

wasn’t

nervous

instalment.

Denis

each

about

viewing. this

new

In film’s featuring male AI, we ask the

track

questions of the Turing test. Am I man

record of Sicario and Arrival is spot on,

or machine? A male android seems only

and cinematographer Roger Deakins

to be determined by his ability to feel

can get it.

emotion or write poetry. Think Michael

Villeneuve’s

Fassbender I’m a huge fan of science fiction films.

playing

the

flute

with

himself in Alien: Covenant.

There are so many wonderfully crafted cinematic

explorations

the

The sexual undertones are more overt

dangers and wonders of science. And

when you flip the gender. Instead, we’re

yet after walking out of the cinema I

asking a different set of questions.

realise a trend has appeared when it

Can she fall in love? Is she coded to

comes to examining the implications

meet the desires of me, the next male

of Artificial Intelligence. Like the rest of

protagonist/audience

surrogate

that

~ On Di t ~

enters the screen? Essentially, can I

enjoys it, thanks.

fuck it? Science fiction is supposed to be Meanwhile the camera hovers over

commenting on our reality, and these

the

ass,

examples can be read to comment the

mathematically coded to exactly fit the

commodification of women’s bodies

Golden Ratio. At what point does she

tailored to a male gaze. Blade Runner

become the Austen Powers fem-bot

2049 does this as well, but it’s a mere

with machine-gun jubblies?

holographic projection onto a more

perfect

curvature

her

pressing male story. These themes are examined in Alex Garland’s

Machina

Spike

Given the most recent Harvey Weinstein

Jonze’s Her. Both stunning films with

allegations, I guess this complaint is just

intentionally

another teardrop in the rain of larger,

kinky

and

undertones

that

really piss me off. As a girl, I’d like to see

pressing

this story where the plot doesn’t feel the

issues.

and

institutionalised

need to at least hint at the possibility of a man having sex with a robot and she

~ On Di t ~

“So just what IS the problem, you scraggly skinbag?” Words by Buffo Marinus, PhD

It’s been a busy few years here in Adelaide.

our electricity prices. For how will we carry on

There’s a new hospital that’s so advance that it’s

while #jayfail continues to make our electricity

built to accommodate for the retrofitting of robot

expensive (even though we had the chance

food delivery systems. There’s a massive surplus

to route a long-distance power connection to

that’s just been handed to the Queen Elizabeth

NSW in the late 90s but refused to on the basis

hospital in the west. There’s a tramline extension

of ~decisions~)? “I pay so much money for my

being built along North Terrace that’s going to

electric water heater to work and I’m very angry

be a godsend for people in the inner west/south

Jay u ruined my life now I can’t buy my kids toys

who need to zip over to uni/rundle st to slaughter

for chrimbus”. Don’t you salt of the earth morons

some jugs. There’s a highway going through the

living in Adelaide get it? It’s understandable that

guts of Adelaide north-south (An idea proposed

the Port Augusta plant was shut potentially

in the 60s by a German transport expert that

too early, but the entire focus of the last 18-24

was reneged and eventually discarded due to

months has been to fix our electricity problems,

~decisions~). There’s an O-Bahn extension that’s

and you’re literally blaming the guy who’s trying to

getting spit on by every second dog living in the

make it better. Our energy “market”, as we call it,

glorious virgin Eastern suburbs. A commute time

is shit, but things ARE getting better. The recent

reduction of only 1-5 minutes for those living

Tesla announcement has the air of stinky stinky

in the northeast apparently doesn’t justify it,

because of its eccentric nature, but the beauty of

according to those who don’t use public transport

it is that we only think it’s wacko because we’re

and instead enjoy the pleasure of a 2015 Audi

the first to do it!

4wd with bangin’ Bluetooth connectivity. We’ve never been able to establish a decent transport

In summary, Jay’s spending some money on the

network into the city because the public spending

state, but do you really think he’s just farting it

isn’t warranted and we’ve got a fabulous green

into thin air? Do you think it’s not getting spent on

belt (which looks even better from the inside view

things we could potentially as a society consider

of my huge BMW with twin headrest monitors, a

useful?

drink dispenser containing a decent single-malt and only 2200 litres of fuel per 20,000km). Again,

Also, fuck your SUV.

~ On Di t ~

eSELTS

he electronic student evaluations of learning and teaching (or eSELTS for short) are a bi-yearly staple of a student’s end-of-semester checklist. They offer the chance for students to vent about their shitty tutors or dodgy lecturers, or maybe even praise the outstanding staff who make their degree worthwhile. More often than not, the eSELTS are extensively analysed by the university to make changes to the way in which courses are taught and to see just how salty their dumbass students are (lmao). This year we asked our readers to evaluate the performances of the AUU Board, the SRC, and On Dit. We posed a series of questions to our respondents asking them things like what grade they would give these three organisations for their performance this year, or to which end of the political spectrum their decision-making has fallen on. Before we show the results (which are on the following page), we want to point out a few issues with the results, as well as award our own grades to AUU and SRC.

Editorial Grades

Issues with the survey

AUU Board (PASS)

Sample size is too low

As you will see on the next page, the average grade that our respondents gave the Board this year was a big fat fail. For ourselves, we feel that this grade should only really be given to Boards that pose an existential threat to the Union itself. Yes, their decision not to endorse the ‘Yes’ vote poses a crisis of membership renewal, but we don’t think it’s likely that this decision alone is enough to completely destroy the Union’s credibility. We think that the Board has done a particularly awful job this year, but the Union is still standing, and for that alone we award a passing grade.

Response bias

SRC (DISTINCTION) From responding to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s report into Sexual Harassment and Assault at Australian Universities, to working relentlessly to advocate for the ‘Yes’ vote, we think the SRC has done a pretty good job this year. Their decisions don’t carry the same weight as those of the AUU Board, but SRC’s have always been the more direct activist voice on campus. Mark Pace’s leadership should also be commended for spearheading most of the SRC’s initiatives this year. We can’t award an HD as certain members of the SRC were perhaps a bit lazy this year, though you’re always guaranteed to get a few lazy office-bearers on any SRC.

With 68 respondents out of the 3.7k followers we have on Facebook, 68 respondents represents 1.8% of our online readership. Typically, a reliable sample size would be around 25%. For this reason, these results aren’t reliable, though they are interesting.

Of those who responded, most would be frequent readers of On Dit who would have preexisting biases towards the organisations being reviewed. Further, it is likely that respondents completed the survey after seeing it in their news feed on Facebook. Posts by On Dit will normally appear in the news feed if followers frequently interact with our posts. And honestly, how likely would you have seen the survey if you fucking hated us?

Google forms

Our google form did not require respondents to sign in to an email address or an account to complete the survey. This means that respondents could have potentially answered the survey multiple times, thus skewing the results.

~ On Di t ~

eSELTS - AUU Results

AUU - How satisfied are you with the AUU Board’s decisions this year? 67 responses Extremely unsatisfied = 28% Unsatisfied = 28% Not sure = 14% Satisfied = 14% Extremely Satisfied = 16% AUU - How closely have you been following the decisions of the AUU Board this year? 67 Responses Very closely = 27% Kept up with most decisions = 45% Have only followed a few decisions = 25% Haven’t been following at all = 3% AUU - The AUU Board this year has been 67 responses Left wing = 0% Moderate = 29% Conservative = 54% Apolitical = 17% AUU - Do you feel that the AUU Board has been representing you effectively this year? 66 responses Yes = 20% No = 48% Not sure = 32% AUU - If you were to give the AUU Board a grade on their work this year, what would it be? 67 responses Fail = 33% Pass = 25% Credit = 22% Distinction = 9% High Distinction = 11% AUU - Is there anything you have been particularly pleased with this year in regards to the AUU Board? 35 responses Answers saying ‘No’ = 11 Answers pertaining to the Board’s decision not to endorse the ‘Yes’ vote on SSM = 7

~ On Di t ~

AUU - If you were to give the AUU Board a grade on their work this year, what would it be? (67 responses)

High Distinction 11%

Fail 33%

Distinction 9%

Credit 22%

Pass 25%

AUU - Is there anything you have been particularly displeased with this year in regards to the AUU Board? 52 responses Board’s decision not to endorse the ‘Yes’ vote for SSM = 22 responses Brodie Scott = 11 responses Other responses include: “Curtailing the freedom of On Dit to publish anti-board articles and to retaliate against them for printing blank pages. Also The Club’s committee dismantling the Whitlam Club The board’s inability to replace a vacancy along with constantly failing to stand up with a spine for students”

Analysis

Respondents view the AUU Board’s performance very negatively. Most were unsatisfied with their decisions and only few felt that the Board had adequately represented their concerns as students this year. Respondents considered the Board to be largely conservative in their decisions. Respondents were generally displeased with Brodie Scott’s leadership as AUU President, and many were particularly displeased with the Board’s decision not to endorse the ‘Yes’ vote for the Postal Survey on Same Sex Marriage–however, we do note that there was a notable dissent of 10% of respondents who expressed that this was a good decision. On average, respondents gave the AUU Board a Fail Grade for their performance this year.

~ On Di t ~

eSELTS - SRC Results

SRC - How satisfied are you with the SRC’s decisions this year? 64 responses Extremely unsatisfied = 8 Unsatisfied = 2 Not sure = 30 Satisfied = 17 Extremely unsatisfied = 7 SRC - How closely have you been following the decisions of the SRC this year? 64 Responses Haven’t been following at all = 17 Have only followed a few decisions = 25 Kept up with most decisions = 12 Very closely = 10 SRC - The SRC this year has been 59 responses Left wing = 31 Moderate = 25 Conservative = 2 Apolitical = 1 SRC - Do you feel that the SRC has been representing you effectively this year? 61 responses Not at all = 11 Mostly not = 2 Somewhat = 21 Mostly = 22 Absolutely, 100% = 5 SRC - If you were to give the SRC a grade on their work this year, what would it be? 67 responses Fail = 9 Pass = 10 Credit = 12 Distinction = 23 High Distinction = 5 SRC - Is there anything you have been particularly pleased with this year in regards to the SRC? 26 responses “Taking a firm stance and real action on addressing the issue of sexual assault on campus.” “Mark Pace’s presence around campus was a great step up from last year as well as the SRC being a voice for students.”

~ On Di t ~

SRC - If you were to give the SRC a grade on their work this year, what would it be? (59 responses)

High Distinction 9% Distinction 39%

Credit 20%

Fail 15%

Pass 17%

SRC - Is there anything you have been particularly displeased with this year in regards to the SRC? 20 responses “I don’t know what the SRC is. It would just make sense if Brodie scott was running the show.” “Why have big governance. I will have to give them a ‘pass’ grade because I have never seen them” “I feel like they focus too much on political issues and protesting and need more of focus on actual change on campus” “A few of the members don’t reply to emails and are hard to contact”

Analysis

Respondents looked favourably upon the performance of the SRC despite most not following their decisions. An overwhelming majority answered that the SRC has been either left-wing or moderate in their decision-making this year, and most feel that the SRC has adequately represented them as students this year. Certain respondents praised the SRC’s action following the AHRCs survey into Sexual Harassment and Assault at Australian Universities, and others commended Mark Pace’s leadership as SRC President. The average grade that respondents gave for the SRC’s performance this year was a Distinction.

~ On Di t ~

eSELTS - On Dit Results

On Dit - How satisfied are you with On Dit this year? 67 responses Extremely unsatisfied = 10 Unsatisfied = 8 Not sure = 11 Satisfied = 23 Extremely satisfied = 15 On Dit - On Dit this year has been 66 Responses Left wing = 40 Moderate = 17 Conservative = 0 Apolitical = 9 On Dit - Has On Dit been better or worse this year compared to previous years? 63 responses Better = 18 About the same = 26 Worse = 19 On Dit - Evaluate this statement: On Dit this year has been relevant on campus? 66 responses True = 36 False = 20 Not sure = 10 On Dit - If you were to give On Dit a grade based on their work this year, what would it be? 65 responses Fail = 11 Pass = 11 Credit = 10 Distinction = 24 High Distinction = 9 On Dit - Was there anything in particular this year that you were pleased with in regards to On Dit? 31 responses Answers pertaining to On Dit’s coverage of student politics: 11 responses “Better coverage of campus news and issues, more stylistic and ideological diversity, advocating for students’ interests” Answers pertaining to the typography and design of the magazine: 3 responses

~ On Di t ~

On Dit - If you were to give On Dit a grade on their work this year, what would it be? (65 responses)

High Distinction 14%

Fail 17%

Pass 17% Distinction 37% Credit 15%

On Dit - Was there anything in particular this year that you weren’t pleased with in regards to On Dit? 29 Responses Political bias: 7 responses “The evident bias in reporting. On Dit is quick to disparage the opinions and activities of the AUU Board, the AULC or anyone who disagrees with the majority. As a so called form of ‘student media’, it would be in the best interests of On Dit to adequately cover the views of other students on campus, as we do exist.” Communication with contributors/readers: 4 responses “Responses to emails were poor. They wanted articles I wrote up one and then never heard back.”

Analysis

Respondents were generally pleased with On Dit’s performance this year. Although there were a significant amount of respondents who were unsatisfied with our performance this year, most were satisfied and answered that On DIt has been about the same as it has been in past years. Other respondents were torn between arguing that this year has been an improvement over previous years and others saying that it has been worse. Respondents typically viewed On Dit as being a left-wing magazine this year, with a fair proportion of respondents arguing that the magazine has been biased against conservative bodies on campus as well as the AUU Board. Further criticism was expressed towards our communication with contributors and readers this year, and others criticising us for our editing this year by pointing out grammatical and structural mistakes in the magazine. However, many respondents applauded our coverage of student politics on campus this year, as well as the design and content of the magazine throughout the year–though some noted some poor articles towards the start of the year. On average, respondents gave On Dit a distinction for their work this year.

REVIEWS

~ On Di t ~

BLADE RUNNER 2049

Words by Andrew Showell

It’s been 35 years since Blade Runner first graced our screens. Despite being one of the most beloved science fiction films in history, it was not particularly popular when it was released. Thanks to director Denis Villeneuve, we finally have a sequel in the form of Blade Runner 2049. But is it actually any good? Well yes. In-fact it’s great. 30 years have passed since the events of Blade Runner. Earth’s environment has gradually gone haywire. Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) has disappeared while Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a new Blade Runner, is tasked with retiring older, Nexus 8 Replicants. When K discovers a secret that could have disastrous implications for both Humans and Replicants, he is led on a journey of self-discovery, eventually crossing paths with Replicant creator Neander Wallace (Jared Leto). The existential crisis at the core of many of Blade Runner 2049’s characters, much like the original, is just what it means to be human. While 2049 runs with this a little more heavyhandedly than the original, it still raises some poignant questions about our relationships with Artificial Intelligence and also self-identity. If you’re looking for an action flick as the trailers may have suggested, you will not find it

here. 2049 is, much like its predecessor, a very slow-burn. Clocking in at around two and a half hours, everything is given more than enough time to breathe; something that many films these days could learn from. Visually, the Blade Runner 2049 is gorgeous. Acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins gives the film a unique identity, from the warm glow of high-rise buildings to the grim dystopian wastes of Los Angeles. However, while 2049 is set 30 years after the original, things still felt a bit too clean for a world devastated by climate change and famine. Vangelis’ synth-filled soundtrack from the original film was near-perfect with its synthesiser-infused eeriness. Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch do their best to pay homage to the original score while creating their own, perhaps overly bass-blast ridden, style. Fans of the original film will certainly find themselves smiling at a few well-placed callbacks though. Ultimately, while it isn’t quite perfect, the benefit of a stunning visual identity, fantastic writing and an obvious deep respect for the legacy of the original mean Blade Runner 2049 is certainly one of the best films of the year and perhaps one of the best sequels of all time.

~ On Di t ~

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Words by Phoebe Christofi

Eggsy (Taron Egerton) returns for the sequel

and anti-climatic. His reappearance makes death

to the widely popular and extremely hilarious

seem temporary, and you find yourself wondering

film, Kingsman. In round two of the Kingsman’s

if you’ll see another appearance of a deceased

adventures, Eggsy and Merlin (Mark Strong) seek

character. Furthermore, it’s not a secret that Elton

the help of the American spy agency, the Statesmen

John has a “cameo” role in the film. I say cameo

(Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum, Halle Berry), in

loosely as it is less of a one-time appearance

their quest to end the international drug empire

and more of a comedy act taken too far. Being

led by Poppy Adams (Julianne Moore). As you

on screen more times than some of the main

can imagine, the film is just as crude, if not cruder,

characters, his presence, whilst adding a comedic

than its predecessor with raunchy scenes featuring

novelty, becomes more of a gimmick. An example

Poppy Delevingne in addition to a reappearance

of this is John making eye contact with the camera

from Eggsys love interest, the Swedish Princess

as he partakes in some Kung-Fu. By breaking the

Tilde (Hanna Alstrom)

fourth wall it completely brought me out of the film.

As spoiled in the trailer, we see the return of

Despite having big shoes to fill from its predecessor,

Harry Hart (Colin Firth), which I believe makes the

Kingsman: The Golden Circle still possessed the

entire concept of death in the film quite uninspiring

same kind of hilarity and wit that everyone loves.

~ On Di t ~

A Review of Reviews By Emily Walker

I think I enjoy watching movies just as much

being interested in that genre. Please check

as I enjoy watching or listening to other people

them out if you haven’t already and thank me

discuss and deconstruct them. So without

later.

further ado, here are some of my favourite places I go to enjoy a chinwag about movies.

Recommended video: Half in the Bag: Jack and Jill

Red

Letter

Media

(youtube.com/

redlettermedia)

2. Every Frame a Painting (youtube.com/

Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and famous

everyframeapainting)

for the Mr. Plinkett Star Wars: The Phantom

This is the first of a few YouTube channels

Menace review, RLM is well-known across

included in this list dedicated to pure film

the Internet. Unlike most fans though, my

analysis in a style often referred to as the

introduction to them was through one of

“video essay.” Video titles such as Edgar Wright

their other series, Half in the Bag, in which

– How to Do Visual Comedy and Joel & Ethan

they mostly review new releases. While this

Coen – Shot | Reverse Shot give you a good

format sounds done-to-death, Mike and

idea of what this channel is about. All the

Jay’s friendship, film-making know-how, and

videos are brilliantly constructed by Canadian

comedic nature combine to keep it fresh.

Tony Zhou and cover a lot in their relatively

Additionally, each episode is normally book-

short duration. If you want to learn more about

ended with a sketch that contributes to a

why directors make the decisions they do, this

long-running continuing narrative, where Mike

is for you.

and Jay play fictional versions of themselves that work as VCR repairmen. The episodes

Recommended video: Jackie Chan – How to

reviewing blockbusters often receive over

Do Action Comedy

a million views (see: Batman V Superman,

Ghostbusters 2016, Suicide Squad), however

3. Lessons from the Screenplay (youtube.

they also review smaller movies to try and

com/lessonsfromthescreenplay)

keep a healthy balance. A great example of this

Very similar in style to Every Frame a Painting,

is when I checked out two movies last year on

Lessons from the Screenplay instead has its

their recommendation, despite not normally

focus set firmly on the story. Michael Tucker

~ On Di t ~

based in L.A. explores topics such as the

Reasonable

Beef

(soundcloud.com/

control of information in Ex Machina and the

reasonablebeef)

elements of suspense in Inglorious Basterds.

For the final entry on this list, I thought I’d switch

Michael also often directly compares the raw

things up and include a podcast. Formerly

script to the final product, such as in American

Talkin’ ‘Bout in video form on YouTube, Tim E.

Beauty – The Missing 27 Pages, a fascinating

Kish and Dom Fera now discuss movies into

look at how director Sam Mendes changed the

your ears. They are often joined by a guest,

originally scripted ending during editing that

and as the title suggests, are only allowed beef

completely transformed the tone of the film.

with a movie if it’s considered reasonable. I like this approach as it encourages everyone

Recommended video: Whiplash vs. Black Swan

to look at the movie being reviewed from a

– The Anatomy of the Obsessed Artist

positive standpoint. Occasionally, in-between their typical schedule of reviewing new

4. The Nerdwriter (youtube.com/nerdwriter1)

releases, is Defenders of the Rotten. In these

The final video essay channel to make it on

special episodes, the group discusses movies

this list is L.A.-based Evan Puschak’s The

that have lower scores on Rotten Tomatoes

Nerdwriter. His channel has a broader scope

than they think deserve, before re-assigning

than those previously mentioned, however

them a score. They also discuss interesting

a decent cut of his channel is dedicated to

topics outside of pure film analysis, such

analysing film and TV. From Scott Pilgrim: Make

as the social issues surrounding films and

Your Transitions Count and Arrival: A Response

whether that should have any bearing on their

to Bad Movies to a personal favourite, Harry

quality. All the episodes I’ve listened to so far

Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban: Why it’s the

had an excellent flow to them and I’ve found

Best, his videos provide a balanced discussion

that the hour flies by.

of direction and story, as well as often branching out beyond these technical aspects.

Recommended episode: La La Land

Recommended video: The Darjeeling Limited: How Brothers Communicate

~ On Di t ~

VALENCIA Wo rds by Ban jo We at he ral d A rt by M er ri ck Li ao

Today I picked an orange from my backyard tree. The orange was sour. Picked too soon I suppose. Last time you were here the oranges were little green balls like those that hang on Christmas Trees or from the ears of your friend who wore that black dinner dress. That was summer, and there is a photograph of us squinting and eating watermelon. Now it is autumn and the fruit hang like yellow festoon globes. It is cold outside and I wear a plum scarf that you gave me for my birthday when the orange tree was just in blossom. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear from you anymore and in a few weeks the oranges will be sweet. I suppose I will have to eat them all myself.

~ On Di t ~

I am 15 days away from the final presentation of my degree. Ever since I was a small child I have wanted to be an architect. I still do want to be an architect. I love it in the same way I would a sibling who never pays me back. No one warned me about what studying architecture would be like. I dedicate the following poem to current architecture students, as catharsis; to future architecture students, as a warning; to the last seven years; to my studio mates who were there with me to eat together, draw together, cry together; to my former self before I was forever altered by sleep deprivation… to architecture. Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck lol Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck

architecture architecture school architecture professors the CAD lab the school computers logging off at 6am and stopping your render Maxwell Rhino meshtonurb the drape command Boolean Split Boolean Union Boolean Difference Make 2D AutoCAD ctb files line weights line hierarchies Adobe Illustrator’s tendency to crash when it thinks your document has too many lines files crashing Officeworks and their shitty printing quality standing on a bus with arms full of posters and models parking fines memory problems Adelaide Uni for decreasing our printing credit when it wasn’t enough in the first place presentations doing presentations on no sleep sleep deprivation all nighters the expectation of all nighters doing minimum one all nighter a week coffee addiction bad coffee coffee going to the Exeter on a Tuesday arvo after pinup because you can’t deal with the stress the post-submission bottle of rosé smoking to stay awake and not have a stress-induced heart attack heart palpitations hearts the pain you get in your belly when you’re awake for too long 3am 4am 5am 6am time leaving uni at 7am to the sound of the day starting sunrises models foam core high density foam that gives you cancer acrylic super glue glue screens technology

~ On Di t ~

Words by Daisy Freeburn

Fuck hand drawing Fuck lines Fuck cartridge paper Fuck paper Fuck artliners Fuck ink smudges on my hands Fuck scanners Fuck my eyesight’s fucked Seriously I think I need glasses now Fuck not having a social life Fuck not having weekends Fuck people that say ‘what! you’re going to uni on a weekend? Laaame’ fuck off Fuck ‘but you just draw buildings it can’t be that hard’ seriously do you want a cactus up your arse Fuck ‘when you’re done can you design my house’ no, I know you have no money Fuck fresh-faced starry-eyed first years brimming with enthusiasm and wonder Fuck not caring about literally anything any more because you’re too tired Fuck trying to make the world a better place through architecture Fuck urban design Fuck the environment Fuck earth tubes Fuck passive cooling Fuck TODs Fuck studio Fuck modernism Fuck post-modernism Fuck parametric design FUCK GRASSHOPPER TO DEATH IN THE EYE Fuck facades Fuck construction Fuck trusses Fuck universal beams Fuck mullions Fuck curtain walls Fuck sheer walls Fuck walls Fuck doors Fuck windows Fuck plans Fuck the ground floor Fuck sections Fuck elevations Fuck exploded axos Fuck renders Fuck circulation Fuck ramps that meet BCA regulations Fuck the BCA Fuck program diagrams Fuck aggregation Fuck key spatial moments Fuck attunement Fuck materiality Fuck metaphysical qualities Fuck atmosphere Fuck Zumthor Fuck Pallasmaa Fuck Corb Fuck Mies so much Fuck Gehry Fuck Bjarke Ingels Fuck Scarpa Fuck Koolhaas Fuck Libeskind Fuck ’em all Fuck studio Fuck design Fuck architecture

~ On Di t ~

Thankyou! Kearin Hausler A huge thanks to our communications manager from the AUU. Thankyou for putting up with us through our mistakes, our headaches, and all the trouble we have caused you this year. We could not have asked for a better first port-of-call. Neil from Graphic Print And to everyone at Graphic Print for that matter! Whether it was us revising proofs multiple times before delivery, or changes to the specifications of our magazine, we greatly appreciate your patience and professionalism this year when working with three amateur editors. Daisy Freeburn & Sharmonie Cockayne Thanks to these two former editors (2014) for mentoring us through the more difficult parts of this year. And cheers for letting us vent to you both about the people who piss us off! Sophie Siciliano Big thanks for getting Ads in time, it was about the only part of the magazine that was ever on schedule! Stupol Hacks of Adelaide Uni Thankyou for participating in Left, Right, and Centre this year. We are really pleased with how it turned out. Your diversity of cooked and well-reasoned views made it a pleasure to read. Stupol Hacks of Adelaide Uni (Again) Thanks for giving us things to write about. Whether it be probo shit happening during student elections, or probo shit happening during Board meetings, we were definitely spoilt for scandals. Our Readers Without a readership there would be no magazine. Without a readership willing to engage with their magazine, there would be no improvement. You have kept us honest this year and have often forced us to improve in your demand for a better publication. Thank you for reading our volume this year, we hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed making it. Our Contributors Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty obvious that content is the lifeblood of the magazine. Without people actually writing or illustrating for us, we would be forced to print 48 pages of blank paper 12 times a year. We may be a bit biased, but we think your contributions to On Dit this year have been the best contributions that this magazine has seen in a long time. The diversity of opinion, the skill to which you have honed your craft has inspired us tremendously this year. Thanks to each and every one of you.

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Class of 2017 Aidan Mounkley Aiden Bedford Aislinn Rossi Alex Adamson Ali Amin Andre Bemmer Andrew Olsen Andy Nguyen Andrew Showell Andrew Velickovic Angus Yallop Ann Jackson Anonymous contributors (13) Austin Frape Banjo Weatherald Beau Brug Benjamin Carr Benito Crago Brittany Smith Brodie Scott Caitlin Wringe Charlie Kay Charlie Wenk Chiranjika Grasby Connie Tran Courtney Bristow Daisy Freeburn Dalena Nguyen Daniel Glynn-Roe Darcy Mounkley Declan Price-Brooks Dom Symes Dylan Ho Dylan Rowen Elana Bartholomeusz Ella Michele Ellen Schulz Ellie Nesbit Ellie Stamelos Emily Walker Emma Carson Emma Ferraro Emma Heyen Erin Gear Ethan Penglase Evangeline Polymeneas Felix Eldridge

Fi Fraser Francesca Castandiello George Thalassoudis Gina Cameron Grace Nankivell Hana Jay Hayley Mohacsy Henry Armfield Henry Blacketer Henry Colovic Henry Lodge Hugh Sutton Idris Martin Ivan Bucalo Jack Crawford Jack Lowe Jack Newton Jack Rau Jade Chantrell James Beshara James Brooks James Davis Jennifer Li Jessica Liebelt Joan Selrahc John Swan Jordan Coombes Jordan Vihermaki Katie-Jane Nance Kiri Marker Kyriaco Nikias Lani Gerbi Laura Coppola Lauren Copland Lauren McKechnie Leigh Briar Leila Clendon Lewis Hodkinson Linda Shmith Louis Guglietti Louise Horobin Lucy Summerhayes Luke Reichstein Madeline Nolan Maisie Gilchrist Mark Dinggle Mark Pace Matt Boughey Max Wurm

Merrick Liao Mia Formichella Michael Nicholson Michael Reschke Michaela McGrath Mickaila D’Orsi Millie Lewis Mitchell Salt Montgommery Do-Wyeld Nicholas Burnet Nicholas Garbas Nick Duddy Nick Falcinella Nicole O’Rielley Nozhat Hassan Oliver Lacoon-Williamson Olivia De Zilva Olivia Savvas Paddy Reynolds Patrick Stewart Phoebe Christofi Phoebe Montgomery Rachael Ingleton Richard Poor Ricki Huang Rohan Neagle Rose Gillespie Rui Sihombing Ryan Aitken Sarah Tynan Sebastian Vivian Shaylee Leach Sinead O’Shaugnessy Soph Landau Sophie Peil Sophie Ward Stephen Hok Steven Nguyen Tamsin Anspach Ted Burston Tim Gaze Tom Auld William Cheffirs William Miller Zayaan Ali Zeyu Xiao Zoe MacPhail

is your student gym on campus.

Free Weights · Pinned Loaded · Ladies only area · Functional Rig · Boxing area Personal Training · Workshops · Nutrition · Bootcamps · Seminars Memberships (Off Peak) from $6.29 per week P 08 83136999 · W thefitnesshub.com.au · E thefitnesshub@adelaide.edu.au

Level 5 Union House, University of Adelaide