Lot's Wife Edition 1 2024

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Thank you to our wonderful 

contributors! 

We are always on the lookout for new writers 

and artists to contribute to future editions. 

If you would like to get involved, shoot us a 

message on socials, email or pop your head 

into our office! 

Writers 

Birat, Amelie Blanc, Sasha Braybrooke, Madi Curkovic, Ash 

Dowling, Gerardien E.A, Campbell Frost, Will Hunt, Luka Kiernan, 

Lucia Lane, Mary Elizabeth, Georgie McColm, Abigail Oh, Dilhan 

Simsek, John Sopar, Hannah Torregosa, Thomas White, David 

Williams 

Artists 

Lucinda Campbell, Ruby Comte, Louis Perez, Spencer Slaney, 

Mingyang Yuan 

Editors 

Contact us 

Mandy Li, Samantha Hudson and Angus 

Duske 

Email: msa-lotswife@monash.edu.au 

Instagram: @lotswifemag 

Facebook: Lot’s Wife 

Lot’s Wife Office 

Level 1 Campus Centre, next to Sir John’s Bar 

Disclaimer 

Lot’s Wife is the student magazine of Monash Student 

Association (MSA). The views expressed herein do 

not necessarily refl ect those of the MSA, the printers 

or editors. All material remains the property of the 

accredited creators and shall not be redistributed without 

consent. 

Lot’s Wife is produced and published on Aboriginal land. 

We acknowledge the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi 

Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation as the traditional 

and continuous owners af the land. Sovereignty was never 

ceded. 

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LW 

EDITION ONE 

TWENTYTWENTYFOUR 

6 - MSA DEPARMENTAL REPORTS 

14 - 2024: A NEW YEAR, ABSURDITY 

AND CHAOS 

16 - MURAKAMI CLOTHES 

17 - ALIENATED 

18 - NEW HOME, SAME AWFUL 

ATTITUDES 

20 - INTERSECTION OF PATHWAYS 

22 - COME BACK HOME 

23 - FREE PALESTINE 

25 - SHOUTS AND WHISPERS : 

STUDENT ACTIVISM, OUTCOMES AND 

EXPERIENCES 

28 - BAR JOKES AND BREAKDOWNS: 

SHIVA BABY AND THE (FALSE) 

PARADOX OF STRESSFUL COMEDIES 

30 - TOMATOES (ART) 

31 - ANCHORED 

32 - STAFF TEACHING CONDITIONS 

ARE OUR LEARNING CONDITIONS 

34 - WHY YOU SHOULD GET 

INVOLVED IN RADIO MONASH 

36 - CHANCE 

37 - ROSE-COLOURED GLASSES 

38 - EDUCATION? IN THIS ECONOMY? 

40 - BOYS LIKE FLOWERS TOO 

42 - HOME SWEET HOME 

44 - INSIDE THE CULT OF THE 

MONASH SOCIALISTS 

46 - TWO YEARS HARD LABOR 

48 - VASCULAR INK 

49 - WHY YOU SHOULD BE A 

SOCIALIST 

51 - PREPARING FOR NEW 

CHALLENGES (ART) 

52 - BELONGING 101 

55 - THE STATE ELECTRICITY 

COMMISSION: A SEC-XY WAY 

FORWARD FOR OUR FUTURE 

57 - VAMPYRE 

58 - A TRAILBLAZER’S BALLAD 

59 - CLUBS AND SOCIETIES 

PROMOTIONS 

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WELCOME TO LOT’S WIFE! 

Greetings Monash! Welcome to the first edition of Lot’s Wife for 2024. Though more 

importantly, welcome to 2024 here at Monash, whether you are just commencing 

your university journey or are a seasoned hand at getting around campus, we wish 

you all the best for all that university life may throw at you. 

2024 is a particularly special year for Lot’s Wife, as it marks sixty years of 

publication - its Diamond jubilee if you will. In recognition of that fact we hope 

to make 2024 the year that Lot’s Wife is reinvigorated in the spirit of its Biblicallyinspired 

creed ‘Never Look Back’, as the last true bastion of the student voice 

at Monash University, where we, the official publication of the Monash Student 

Association, shall fight for the right of students to be heard until our last - with a little 

bit of fun sprinkled about for good measure. 

Though however valiantly we may try, we three editors cannot do it alone. Which is 

why we are calling upon the brethren of literary and artistic luminaries in our orbit to 

be a part of a milestone year for Lot’s Wife. We want to hear from you! We believe 

that there is a story in everything, and anyone is capable of writing that story. 

If you’ve been affected by unit cuts in the last year. Write about it. If you are 

concerned about recent Government policy. Write about it. Or if you just want to 

express your emotions in the form of poetry, we want to hear from you, because 

you’ll certainly be hearing from us as we keep you posted on how the MSA is faring 

in this great battle. 

And this battle has already begun, for while you have been basking in the summer 

sun free from the burden of study, we have been hard at work crafting edition 

one. And it is thanks to our contributors, who represent but a slice of our diverse 

community, that we have amassed this eclectic collection of pieces for your literary 

pleasure; ranging from discussions of the University’s problematic cost-cutting 

practices, reflections of coast-dwelling childhood, finding a sense of belonging at 

uni and more. 

Finally we would like to thank all of you who have taken time in their hectic lives 

to sit down and breathe some life into the pages of this magazine. Without their 

contributions we would have been rushing about like headless chickens. Though we 

are pleased to report thanks to our wonderful contributors, no chickens, nor editors 

for that matter, were harmed in the making of this edition of Lot’s Wife. And thanks 

also to you the reader, who we hope are using their time perusing our little creation 

to put their feet up and enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it. 

LOVE FROM ANGUS, MANDY AND SAM :) 

2024 EDITORS 

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MSA Department Reports 

• MSA Executive 

President: Chloe Ward (she/they) 

Hi, I’m Chloe, and I am your Monash Student Association President for 

2024! So what is the MSA? It is the student union run by and for students. 

Our message is clear; to empower each and every one of you throughout 

your academic journey. We understand the unique challenges and 

triumphs that come with university. Whether you’re a fi rst-year student 

fi nding your way around campus or a seasoned student looking to make 

the most of your university experience, the MSA is here for you. 

As an advocacy body, we strive to amplify your voices and address issues 

that matter most. We believe in an environment where students feel heard, 

valued, and supported. Our goal is to fi ght for you and represent your 

voice to the University. 

I am so excited to get stuck in and ensure that Monash is not just for 

education, but a home where students thrive. 

Secretary: Zareh Kozanian (he/him) 

Hey Monash, Zareh here, your MSA Secretary for 2024. I have 

released the Monash Student Council’s (MSC) Schedule for 2024 

and shared it with all the MSC members. The MSC has many 

responsibilities, including the governance of the MSA, managing 

policies, strategic planning, and ensuring that all office-bearers carry 

out their duties.. 

Moreover, I am reassessing the MSA’s structure to enhance its 

efficiency. To this end, the MSC’s standing orders are being reviewed 

to ensure it is kept up to date, and introducing some positive 

changes. Furthermore, additional sponsorship opportunities with 

public and private entiites are being explored. These initiatives are 

the fi rst steps in our long-term goal of fostering a more inclusive and 

engaged student community. 

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Treasurer: Joshua Walters (he/him) 

Hi, I’m Joshua, and I am your 2024 MSA Treasurer. 

As Treasurer I oversee the MSA’s finances, as well as support the President 

in their role. I recently finished collaborating with both the 2023 and 2024 

Executive as well as Senior MSA Staff to complete the budget process. This 

went smoothly and has set up the MSA for an excellent year in 2024. 

I’ve also been doing my part to help prepare for O-Week. The entire MSA 

team has worked very hard to make O-Week an amazing time for not only 

first-year students but everyone who attends, and I’m keen for the Monash 

community to see the effort we’ve put in. 

I’m very excited to represent the student body as Treasurer this year. 

• MSA Office Bearers 

Activities: Fatima Iqbal (she/her) and Raage Noor (he/him) 

Hey! We are Raage and Fatima. We welcome you all to an amazing upcoming year full of 

exciting events. We are stoked to be elected as Activities Officers for 2024. You have no 

idea how awesome what we are planning to do this year will be! We will be hosting our 

first ever blockbuster O-Fest After Dark celebration party during O-Week on Tuesday 20 

February. But that’s not all – we’ve got sporting carnivals, multicultural festivals and so much 

more in store for you… Your presence is important to us, so stay tuned, follow our social 

media @msa.clayton and don't forget to Like our ‘MSA ACTIVITIES’ Facebook Page! All the 

best for the beginning of the new semester! 

Upcoming Events 

O-Fest After Dark - Tuesday February 20 8:00pm - Royal Melbourne Hotel 

Creative and Live Arts: Gina Ford (she/her) and Haider Shah (he/ 

him) 

No report received from this department. 

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Disabilities & Carers: Gerardien Afifah and Charlotte Sutton 

Hey everyone, we are Charlotte and Gerardien, the 2024 Disabilities & Carers 

Officers. Charlotte has lived experience with chronic illnesses and mental health 

conditions, and Gerardien is neurodivergent (ADHD) with lived experience of chronic 

health conditions. We know firsthand the challenges that are faced by disabled uni 

students, and continue to work on advocacy to make sure disabled students are 

supported and able to be fully involved while at Monash. 

In the next few weeks, we will be running several community and ally friendly events 

including free beginner AUSLAN sessions, community hangouts, and Neurodiversity 

Celebration Week. We also provide Hidden Disabilities Sunflower resources in our 

lounge on Level 1 of Campus Centre. 

If you would like to discuss any concerns or have chat about anything please email us 

at msa-disabilities@monash.edu 

Upcoming Events: Hangout at the Lounge - February 28 1:00pm - Disabilities & 

Carers Lounge 

Free AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language) Classes - Wednesday March 6 

Banquet Hall, Campus Centre 

Education (Academic Affairs): Naomi Drego and Grayson Lowe 

Hi everyone! We’re Grayson and Naomi, your Education (Academic Affairs) 

Officers.We’re very excited for the year ahead, and we wanted to take this opportunity 

to tell you about our plans. 

We heard the student population of Monash loud and clear – the loss of 5 day shortextensions 

was unacceptable. That is why our main goal for 2024 is to advocate for 

their return. 

Another focus for us is to advocate for a universal submission time of 11:59pm, across 

all faculties. This is a common-sense policy that will create consistency for all students. 

We will keep you updated on how we are progressing with these goals throughout the 

year! 

And finally, if you are experiencing any academic difficulties, please get in contact with 

us. You can email us at msa-education@monash.edu, or visit us in person at our offices. 

We want to hear from you, and we are here to help. 

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Education (Public Affairs): Sahar Farukh (she/her) and Nafiz Islam 

(he/him) 

Hey, Nafiz and Sahar here – your Education (Public Affairs) Officers for 2024. 

Education plays a very important role in our lives. It shapes our personalities, futures, 

and gives us goals to work towards. However, the current student experience is far 

from perfect. Which is why the EdPub Department will strive to enhance the student 

experience to ensure everyone has the best university experience possible. 

From advocating for changes in Special Consideration policies to liaising with DSS, 

we will continuously push for change. 

As new OBs, we are going to try our best to achieve the following: 

• Greater flexibility with DSS; 

• Advocating towards 5 Day extensions; 

• Interactive events to promote communication and awareness amongst students; 

• Introducing an anonymous dropbox for students; and 

• Hosting interactive and beneficial events. 

As your elected representatives, we want to be there for you. 

For any questions or queries, feel free to contact us on: msa-education@monash.edu 

Upcoming Events: Meet & Greet with Student Support Staff & Faculty 

Representatives 

Environment & Social Justice: Sophie Allen (she/her) and Thomas 

White (he/they) 

Hello Monash, we are Sophie and Thomas, the ESJ Officers for 2024! 

The MSA’s Environment and Social Justice Department is passionate about organising 

campaigns, events, resources, & actions to further students’ understanding of, and 

involvement in, environmental and social justice issues. We are passionate about 

championing sustainability at a University level, pushing Monash to take strong 

action to combat the imminent climate emergency, and encouraging social inclusivity 

through advocacy. 

This year we are planning on running a variety of events to keep students engaged 

and informed at uni. This will include panels, debates, trivia and of course…protesting 

(Such as last month’s Invasion Day Rally). We work with many students from a variety 

of environmental and social justice backgrounds and varying levels of experience, so 

don’t be afraid to come and have a chat or ask questions! 

Upcoming events: Paint Your Own Protest Shirt: Tues Feb 19th - OB Marquee 

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Indigenous: Marlley McNamara (she/her) 

No report received. 

People of Colour: Anshuman Das (he/him) and Tooba Javed (she/ 

her) 

HI ALL! It’s Tooba and Anshuman here, thrilled to be your POC Officers this year! 

We’re eager to embark on an exciting journey with you, beyond hosting captivating 

events, we’re passionate about working behind the scenes. Our commitment extends to 

using our platform and status to voice the issues you encounter on campus, serving as 

advocates for positive change. 

Get ready for a year filled with engaging events, from the multicultural POC-nic, where 

we’ll celebrate diverse and delicious foods, to a Ramadan night event uniting brothers 

and sisters in breaking fast together. We’re also planning a festive Mid-Autumn Fest and 

a lively Diwali night to end the year with love. 

Our aim is to not only bring our community together but also to illuminate various cultures 

and traditions. With your support, this year promises to be an unforgettable journey of 

unity, advocacy, and celebration. 

Thank you for the opportunity! 

Queer: Madi Curkovic (she/her) and Kelly Cvetkova (she/her) 

Hey everyone! We’re Madi and Kelly, your Queer Officers for 2024! 

As socialist queer activists we want to organise activism that takes on the inequality 

and oppression of capitalism. On and off campus we’ll be organising demonstrations 

to take a stand on queer rights and other left-wing social justice issues. All over the 

world, and here in Melbourne, queer rights are under attack from far-right movements. 

Homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression thrive under 

capitalism – so there is no shortage of injustices to campaign against. 

In O-Week, we’ll be hosting a Queers for Palestine banner painting workshop, where 

we’ll be making signs to bring to that weekend's Rally for Palestine. You can also find 

us at our stall, so make sure to swing by for a chat and to hear about the key activist 

events of the year. 


Queers for Palestine Banner & Sign Making - Wednesday February 21 3:00pm - 

Lemon Scented Lawn 

MSA Queer Contingent to the International Women’s Day March - Thursday 

March 7 5:30pm - State Library of Victoria 

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Residential Communities: Ariq Ilham (he/him) and Aylin Vahabova 

(she/her) 

Hey everyone! Our names are Ariq and Aylin, and we’re so excited to be your MSA 

Residential Officers for 2024. As promised, we have approached MRS to begin investigating 

the introduction of air conditioners/water coolers in residential halls. We have 

taken measures to show evidence of inhabitable living conditions with the current fans 

in Res. We have also initiated our food drops supplier to MyMuscleChef and have 

planned four food drops with efforts in place to ensure residents get enough nutritious 

food. We have also planned for a barbecue night for residents during O-Week. Follow 

our instagram, @msa.residential to learn more about our events and initiatives! 

Welfare: Jesse Fraser (they/he/she) and Teagan Hayward (she/they) 

Howdy! We are Jesse and Teagan, the Welfare Officers for 2024! The Welfare Department 

is very excited for the new semester, and we have a lot planned, including Free 

Food Mondays and Welfare on Wheels. For the first two weeks of the semester, Free 

Food Mondays will be a barbecue at the Lemon Scented Lawns but from week three 

onwards we will be moving to Wholefoods, which is located on the first floor of Campus 

Centre (upstairs). 

In addition to giving away free food, our Department also aims to research and raise 

awareness for welfare issues that students face. We are always looking for student 

statements and input so please feel free to reach out to us at msa-welfare@monash. 

edu. 


Free Food Mondays - Monday February 26 and Monday March 4 5:00pm - Lemon 

Scented Lawn 

Womens: Zoe Binns (she/her) and Katya Spiller (she/her) 

Hey! We are Katya and Zoe, your MSA Women’s officers for 2024. The Women’s Department 

has started the year with lots of planning to make sure 2024 is the best it can 

be! We’ve started getting in contact with our fabulous committee and can’t wait to work 

with them this year. At the moment we are getting some exciting events together including 

International Women’s Day celebrations and planning for the much loved ‘Safe and 

Sexy Week’. We’re also really excited to be a part of O-Week and looking forward to 

meeting everyone! Please come down and say hi! 

Continuing the previous great work from last year’s Res and Women’s OB’s, we are 

looking forward to ensuring the successful implementation of the Residential Period 

Positivity Project. We are also in the process of overviewing Monash policies regarding 

sexual harm prevention, women’s health and safety on campus. 

We are looking forward to a great year collaborating with student voices! 

Upcoming events 

First Tea Time Talk - 14th March - Women’s Lounge 

International Women’s day - 7th March - details TBC 

Details will be updated via Instragram: @msa.womens 

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• MSA Divisions 

Clubs and Societies: Paul Halliday 

2024 is shaping up to be a big year for Clubs & Societies. In mid- 

January, the C&S Executive held a planning day and has drafted 

a calendar of events and training opportunities for club leaders 

in 2024. In February C&S held a Club Office Bearer Training Day 

covering in depth the intricacies of running a club and good 

governance practices. The event also provided club leaders with the 

opportunity to network with one another in the lead up to O-Week. 

C&S has also been working with the university to make O-Week the 

best it can be for clubs and new students by showcasing the range 

of benefits clubs offer to student’s uni life and encouraging them to 

get involved. Behind the scenes C&S in working to streamline and 

simplify processes to improve efficiency and offer clubs improved 

support faster. 

Mature & Part Time Students (MAPS): Stuart Gibson 

No report received from this department. 

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Monash University International Students Service: 

Zongjun Zhang 

MUISS aims to facilitate cultural exchange, provide practical support, 

and create a welcoming community for students from all corners of 

the globe, through a series of initiatives and events. 

Events we are planning to organise: 

1. Guide to Melbourne Event 

Recognising the challenges faced by international students upon 

their arrival, we are planning to organise the ‘Guide to Melbourne’ 

event. This initiative provided essential information on critical aspects 

like student insurance, ensuring a smoother transition for new 

students. 

2. Welfare Launch: 

We are planning to host the ‘Welfare Launch’, every two weeks, a 

free lunch event for students, which serves cuisines from different 

countries. This gathering not only offered a taste of different cuisine 

but also served as a platform for students to network. 

3. Day Trip: 

To further introduce students to the vibrant City of Melbourne, we 

organised a day trip, which will be happening on March 1st. 

Radio Monash: Georgie McColm 

Radio Monash was a hub for creativity last year, as we broadcasted 

radio shows, recorded podcasts, and produced music. We held some 

amazing events like Languages Week, Vibe Night, and a Live to Air. 

We are also very proud of our journalism department which began 

to thrive once again. 

This year, we aim to continue providing opportunities for students to 

publish media, through radio, podcasting, or journalism, as well as 

giving a platform to student artists to promote their music to wider 

audiences. Radio Monash has always been a strong community with 

a long history, and we hope to continue on its legacy by being a 

space for students to build friends, connections, and skills. 

We want to build our listener base and create awesome events for 

students to enjoy. Our first event this year is Training Night, which is 

the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to get involved! 

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2024: A NEW YEAR, ABSURDITY AND CHAOS 

WORDS BY AMELIA BLANC, ARTWORK BY RUBY COMTE 

New Year’s Eve tends to be this poorly thrown-together affair, a 

letdown of a celebration that’s basically an excuse to drink, coupled 

with the added stress of making it some kind of extraordinary night, 

setting us up for inevitable self-sabotage. A lukewarm evening 

culminating in a brutal hangover the next day. Now, imagine my 

surprise when my Dad questioned why I hadn’t sent him a New Year’s 

text or made a celebratory call. 

Coming from Europe, where the academic and professional calendar 

starts in September and ends in July; the whole New Year’s fuss feels 

out of sync. It’s like birthday celebrations all over again, hyper-aware 

of their significance, yet it’s just another 24-hour cycle. Birthdays at 

least mark another trip around the sun; the new year, on the flip side, 

is so mundane and devoid of meaning that it’s almost liberating. 

Let’s face it, the New Year is merely a time marker, a human-made 

concept that could easily be swapped for any other day. 

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When you ponder the year ahead, with its fears and aspirations, you’re 

essentially reacting to the moment and projecting yourself based on 

your current knowledge. And here’s the mic drop: you can do that any 

day. It’s not about saving the planet or making grand resolutions for the 

upcoming year; it’s about taking action now. 

Resolutions? They shouldn’t be an annual ritual; 

they should be an everyday thing. 

That anxiety about the impending year? Treat it as a present reality that 

demands action right now. We’ve built up this idealised notion of the new 

year, loaded it with unnecessary pressure, and unwittingly set ourselves 

up for sabotage. Let’s break free from that cycle, shall we? 

Now, the harsh reality is that we’ve been placed on an earth, where the 

ticking of the clock signifies a worsening state of the world. Transitioning 

from 2023 to 2024, like any other year, is a chilling prospect in the face 

of our tumultuous reality. Yet, it’s peculiarly banal. Our daily existence 

isn’t solely centred around humanity’s failures; it’s about navigating the 

ordinary. 

Nevertheless, maybe 2024, will be for you what 2023 was for me; a year 

of transition, a whirlwind of new experiences that demands a spotlight 

on oneself, not in an egotistical manner, but out of sheer necessity. As for 

me, I’ll be retracing my steps, delving into my second year of university, 

no longer entranced by the novelty it once held. It’s a return, slightly 

embittered. 

When the new year is spoken of, I grasp the celebration of fresh 

beginnings. Yet, for those without a new chapter to toast to, there’s an 

undeniable careless liberation. You’re unburdened by societal pressures, 

free to instigate change whenever the mood strikes, and authentically 

attuned to life’s disappointments and bitterness. Not in a way that drags 

you down, but in a liberating way fuelled by absurdism and the humour 

found in self-deprecation. Embrace life’s quirks with a lightness that only 

the absurd can bring, finding joy in the chaos and sharing a laugh at the 

15

MURAKAMI CLOTHES 

BY WILL HUNT 

MY WARDROBES ARE FACSIMILES OF YOU 

CARRYING WITH THEM THE UNPRINTED TEXT, 

INVISIBLE INK LYING ABOUT WHERE IT WAS 

FROM WHAT IT WAS: PIECES OF COTTON 

AND LINEN THAT LIES THERE DORMANT 

IN THE WOODEN FRAME, WHISPERING 

WHAT HAVE I DONE, WILL YOU 

WEAR ME AGAIN, AND SMILE? 

IT’S THAT STUPID MURAKAMI SHIRT 

THE ONE THAT MURMURS: 

‘DON’T LET APPEARANCES FOOL YOU’ 

MIRRORED AND UNREADABLE, A MIRAGE 

LIKE BLACK AND WHITE SWIRLS TO FALL IN 

AND LOST. SOMEWHERE, A CRUMPLED SHIRT 

FOR THE OPTICAL OP-SHOP BIN, CREEPING AROUND 

SILENT AS A FRACTURED THOUGHT, 

THE EVERYTHING FROM NOTHING THAT WHISPERS 

AND DECLINES. 

WHEN YOU PUT IT ON CLOTH IS 

A CHAINMAIL OF MEMORIES, HALTING ARROWS 

OF HER THAT SCREAM AND THRUST BACK 

OVER WAR ZONES OF MUDDIED MASSES 

TO THE SIMPLE SAID WORDS, ACTUALISED BY 

INNOCENT AMICABILITY, THAT SAY OVER THE BATTLEFIELD: 

MY DAD OWNS THAT SHIRT TOO, 

THE ONE WITH THE MOON AND MURAKAMI WORDS. 

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ALIENATED 

BY ASH DOWLING 

EVERY TIME THAT I HANG OUT WITH YOU AND THEM 

I FEEL SO ALIENATED 

BUT I FEEL LIKE AN ALIEN WOULD FIT IN MORE THAN ME 

BECAUSE THEY ARE INHERENTLY INTERESTING AND 

I JUST FEEL LIKE THE MOST BORING PERSON ALIVE 

I CAN’T KEEP UP WITH ANY OF THE JOKES 

WHILE THE THREE OF YOU GO BACK AND FORTH, FASTER AND FASTER 

AND 

I FORCE MYSELF TO LAUGH 

IN GRATING HARMONY 

I GRAPPLE WITH POSSIBLE THINGS TO SAY BUT 

NONE OF THEM SEEM WORTHWHILE 

SOMETIMES ONE OF YOU SAYS SOMETHING I HAD THOUGHT OF 

AND I RESENT MYSELF FOR NOT HAVING SAID IT 

INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING HERE LIKE A LUMP 

WITH A LUMP IN MY THROAT, SO STUCK IN MY HEAD 

REMINDING MYSELF THAT IN OTHER CIRCLES 

I AM FUN AND FUNNY AND WELCOME 

17

NEW HOME, SAME AWFUL ATTITUDE 

BY ANONYMOUS 

Not long after they leave, Will arrives. He is here to build my 

bed for me. I greet him with red eyes and a tired smile, he 

knows I’ve been crying. It’s just the two of us, surrounded by 

boxes and a hopeful future. We head into my bedroom where 

I show him the box of the bed frame. I bring the floor cushion 

into the room to watch as he starts unpacking. He tells me he 

has done this twice before, so my expectations are big. It took 

us four hours. Four fucking hours to build the frame. It got to 

the point where we would take it in turns to screw half of the 

screw into the wood and then swap over. We giggled a lot, 

yelled, and threw things in frustration and enjoyed spending 

time together. 

x 

18

As the four of us sat around, surrounded by boxes and wine, I 

couldn’t help but think that it almost felt normal. Will was joking 

around, actually speaking (which is big from him). When Anita 

and Dylan speak, we give each other knowing looks, it’s as if we 

can read each other’s minds. We are joking about my ex; he says 

he knows me better than Harry – he is correct but it feels like a sin 

for him to say it out loud. 

It felt nice, I could get used to it. I got very drunk. Embarrassingly, 

stumbling through my house drunk. Will watched with amusement 

in his eyes. He says I need to get onto Chapel Street, I tell him 

not to tease me. As Anita and Dylan unpack my kitchen, the two 

of us are in my room, he sits on my bed. It feels suffocating. It’s 

overwhelming. We have spent the last few hours together. I feel 

so observed and perceived when I am with him. He doesn’t feel 

like a threat, he feels like safety. Anita and Dylan offer to drive 

him home, he grins widely. I put myself to bed after they leave. His 

scent lingers. 

19 

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20

INTERSECTION OF PATHWAYS 

Artwork by Lucinda Campbell 

Artist’s notes; 

This oil painting depicts Shibuya Crossing and the Tsutaya 

Building at 11:00pm on a Tuesday night, in the middle of winter, 

highlighting the way in which such a place remains busy at 

almost all times. Whilst the sounds of the city and its billboard 

speakers cannot be emitted by this painting, an abundance 

of bright lights, billboards, and people have been included to 

reflect Shibuya’s lively atmosphere, and to encourage viewers to 

feel immersed in the scene. In fact, the advertisements depicted 

within this work capture a moment in time, indicating the music 

that could be heard whilst crossing this road. 

Given that the intersection is situated beside the famous 

Hachiko Statue Meeting Place, the intersection itself becomes 

representative of the act of crossing paths, along with the 

intertwining and sharing of stories. 

21

Come back home 

CW: violence, warfare, death 

The left breast pocket of his torn shirt, 

That is where a photo lies. 

A beautiful girl, his lover perhaps, 

Of angelic smile and innocent eyes. 

The photo was old, half-drenched in blood 

But so near to his heart. 

Symbol of the promises to stay together, 

Now a thousand miles apart. 

Come back home, lost soldiers, 

No sacrifice has to be made. 

Reminisce those days of laughter, 

No graves are left for the dead!! 

Dried up in blood, in the battle field 

The enemy’s bullets he bore. 

Cold body, eyes wide open, 

His heart was beating no more. 

A friend has fallen, a son is lost 

A comrade bows his head. 

The unborn child has lost her father, 

The widow sleeps lonely in bed. 

Come back home, lost soldiers, 

No sacrifice has to be made. 

Reminisce those days of laughter, 

No graves are left for the dead!! 

Words by Birat 

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FREE PALESTINE. 

By Luka Kiernan / CW: genocide, war, death 

Luka Kiernan is a member of Socialist Alternative Monash and Students For Palestine 

“There’s an acronym that’s unique to the Gaza Strip, it’s WCNSF - wounded child, no 

surviving family - and it’s not used infrequently.” These are the words of Dr Tanya Haj- 

Hassan from Doctors Without Borders. WCNSFs have been proliferating throughout 

the Gaza Strip. A conservative estimate on December 11th last year put the number of 

orphaned children at 25,000. Now the number is so high as to be impossible to estimate. 

At the time of writing (January 2024), the child death toll has just surpassed ten thousand 

confirmed deaths, with tens of thousands more missing, presumed buried under rubble. 

The total death toll has reached 25,000, and 1.8 million have been displaced. The 

obliteration of hospitals, religious centres, and other public services; – war crimes by any 

definition – has become so commonplace as to barely register in global news. Among 

the surviving population, the situation now borders on starvation, only a tiny fraction of the 

required aid getting through the border crossing into Gaza. 

Gideon Levy, a self-described “Israeli Patriot”, who is a journalist for Israeli newspaper 

Haaretz, described the situation this way: “Destruction, killing, starvation and siege in such 

monstrous dimensions can no longer be explained or justified.” 

Israeli politicians have been upfront about their intentions from the beginning. Ariel Kallner, 

member of the Knesset in Netanyahu’s Likud party pushed for “Right now, one goal: 

Nakba! A Nakba that will overshadow the Nakba of ’48. He is referring to the ‘Nakba’ 

(catastrophe in Arabic) in 1948, which saw the displacement of millions of Palestinians. 

Another Likud politician, Tally Gotliv described what this would mean: “It’s time to kiss 

doomsday. Shooting powerful missiles without limit. Not flattening a neighbourhood. 

Crushing and flattening Gaza ... with penetrating bombs. Without mercy! Without mercy!” 

A former general said “We must create an unprecedented humanitarian disaster 

in Gaza. The ultimate tool – damage to the water system”. Against that invasion, 

President of the United States Joe Biden was unequivocal: “The entire world has a 

stake in making sure that no nation, no aggressor is allowed to take a neighbour’s 

territory by force.” Interesting. 

President of the European Commission – the executive of the European Union – 

Ursula von der Leyen put it this way “Russia’s attacks against civilian infrastructure, 

especially electricity… are war crimes. Cutting off men, women, children of [sic.] 

water, electricity and heating with winter coming – these are acts of pure terror. 

And we have to call it as such”. Sounds pretty familiar. 

23

Biden and von der Leyen are right. These 

things are war crimes. It is terrible that 

countries invade each other. But if cutting 

off essential supplies are acts of ‘pure 

terror’ in Ukraine, then they have to be acts 

of terror in Palestine too. 

In fact, the attacks on civilians are orders 

of magnitude more severe in Gaza than in 

Ukraine. In two years of war, 510 children 

have been killed by the Russian invasion of 

Ukraine. At the time of writing roughly one 

hundred children per day have been killed 

in Gaza for more than one hundred days. 

The noble principles of Biden and von der 

Leyen, or for that matter, any politician 

in a major party in the West, have not 

prevented them for one moment from fully 

backing the offensive in Gaza. 

Rather than condemning atrocities 

committed against Gazans, Biden pushed 

something amounting to a conspiracy 

theory, saying he had “no confidence in 

the number [of dead] that the Palestinians 

are using”. Von der Leyen on her US trip 

said she was proud to be cooperating 

with the US on “Supporting Ukraine in its 

fight for freedom [and] Standing by Israel”. 

Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign 

Affairs, declared after the destruction of 

Al-Shifa Hospital, and the resulting deaths 

of more than five hundred people, that 

it was “very difficult from over here to 

make judgments”. The reality is that these 

people could not care less about so-called 

international law or any principles behind 

them. They support Ukraine against Russia, 

because Russia is an enemy to the West. 

They support Israel against Palestine 

because Israel is a key plank of US strategy 

to dominate the Middle East. 

There is no hypocrisy too shameful, or for 

that matter, too risible, for these leaders to 

back away from their imperialist project. 

There is no amount of violence Biden is not 

not willing to turn a blind eye to maintain 

24 

But while our leaders have been covering 

themselves in shame, lining up on the 

wrong side of history, all around the 

world people have been taking a stand. 

Hundreds of thousands of people around 

the Middle East participated in mass 

rallies, often outside the embassies 

of Western Governments. As many as 

half a million marched in London in 

support of Palestine, and against the 

Tory Government’s unabashed support 

of Israel. On top of mass rallies in many 

cities, US campuses have seen a whole 

generation of people politicised behind 

opposition to apartheid and genocide. 

On many campuses and in many cities, 

the protests have been led by anti-zionist 

Jewish activists. 

Australia has been no different. The 

largest High School Strike for Palestine 

in the world occurred in November, in 

Melbourne. Our weekly demonstrations 

continue to attract tens of thousands 

every week, from a whole variety of 

backgrounds, and have for more than four 

months straight. These have put our mealymouthed 

government under pressure, and 

we need to keep it up. 

At Monash, Students for Palestine here will 

be organising campaigns to oppose the 

genocide in Gaza, and university student 

contingents to rallies around Melbourne. 

If you want to be a pro-Palestine activist, 

and stand on the right side of history, 

join us by coming along to our weekly 

organising meetings! 

Provided references for this article are 

available on our website.

SHOUTS AND WHISPERS: STUDENT ACTIVISM, OUTCOMES 

AND EXPERIENCES 

BY THOMAS (TIO) WHITE - 2024 MSA E&SJ OFFICER 

When most people think about student activism, they think that they don’t know 

enough to participate. They think that the issue is too complicated, isn’t about 

them, or not a part of their direct university experience. 

Somewhat predictably, as one the 2024 Environment and Social Justice 

Officers, I don’t think it has to be this way. I want to offer an alternative way of 

viewing this space of student empowerment and advocating for change. Student 

activism and student experience are not necessarily mutually exclusive, where 

an activity inherently contributes to one or the other, but are instead intertwined, 

connected, and part of each other. Student activism will of course never be for 

everyone, but the point we are trying to make is that it CAN be for everyone, 

and can make a real difference in your experience at university, and the 

outcome of all the time you spend here. 

In our mind, there are three big questions here; firstly, in what way is student 

activism relevant to me? And secondly, in what ways does my experience at 

university improve by being a part of student activism? And finally, how does 

student activism need to change to meet students where they are? 

• SO, WHY IS STUDENT ACTIVISM ABOUT YOU? 

Let’s break down what we mean by student activism a bit. Activism may mean 

different things to different people, but I like to focus on the idea that activism 

is grounded in change. Activism represents collective action from people who 

aren’t in decision-making roles to advocate for change regardless. This applies 

to young people, to the disenfranchised, to marginalised communities, and yes, 

to students as well. 

Student activism is inherently connected to an idea that a university is not just 

a service but a community, that a university is in some way accountable to us. 

This isn’t just because universities are public institutions and therefore in a way 

accountable to all Australians, but rather that as ‘users’ of the university, we 

have a certain right and responsibility to participate in its decision making. 

We think that this is particularly exciting, because it means that student activism 

takes so many amazing shapes and forms. A university isn’t always going to do 

things that we like, and when that happens, student activism is our response. 

This can look like solidarity campaigns, protesting, launching our own 

campaigns (stay tuned with the ESJ on that one), or building mass movements 

behind certain proposals. Monash has a strong history of student activism. We 

were a hotbed of radicalism, of student democracy, and advocacy. 

It is our view that we can bring that back to a new era of student activism. 

25

SOPHIE ALLEN AND THOMAS WHITE, 2024 E&SJ OFFICERS 

• SO WHY IS STUDENT ACTIVISM ABOUT US HERE AT MONASH, AND 

WHY DOES IT MAKE OUR MONASH EXPERIENCE BETTER? 

The past few years have made it blatantly obvious, students are struggling, and 

universities need to change. 

Thousands of students have been impacted by conflict abroad, many with 

families and friends in Gaza, Myanmar, Congo, Ukraine, or many other places 

around the world suffering from famine, civil conflict, or war crimes. Natural 

disasters both in Australia and abroad mean students are going days without 

knowing if their families are okay. Rising hate in the form of anti-semetism, 

islamophobia, anti-immigrant sentiments, and trans culture warring are making 

already vulnerable students feel even more targeted. 

And even outside of especially vulnerable students, we all need greater support! 

We are the pandemic generation after all, but outside of that, a university 

where students are better cared for, more involved in decision-making, more 

empowered, is SURELY going to be one where we all do better. 

From a very cynical view, the less that you are worrying about food insecurity, 

about climate change, about mental health support, or about being targeted for 

your identity, the more you can focus on education. 

Monash isn’t doing enough. And the good news is, we can change that! 

26

We need a university that provides expanded support to students; leads 

a compassionate institution willing to understand and account for those 

impacted by global events; willing to take responsibility and be transparent 

about its climate impacts and commit to greater action; and care about what 

its own students want. 

• HOW DOES STUDENT ACTIVISM MEET ME WHERE I AM? 

But above all of this, the biggest myth I want to dispel about student activism 

is that it has expectations that you have to meet. Conversely, student activism 

can and should be meeting you where you are. 

The thing that I think is often overlooked about disengagement is that too 

often, it is talked about as part of the problem. I’ve seen this from universities 

ALL THE TIME. ‘I know our student satisfaction numbers look bad, but if 

students were just able to engage with the activities we provide them, that 

would be fine’. Rather than being a part of it, disengagement is a symptom of 

it. 

Everyone cares about something, and everyone (or hopefully everyone) has 

the capacity to empathise with fellow students, young people, and humans 

generally. So, the student activism I want to support on campus and create a 

framework around is there to meet students where they are, understand why 

they might be disengaged, and, most importantly, find the way that actually 

speaks to them. 

Student activism IS student experience. Through it, we can advocate and 

protest for a compassionate Monash, a green and sustainable Monash, and a 

Monash where every student has a voice. 

So I think that if Monash is looking for ways to enhance and enrich the lives of 

its students, it might not like part of the answer. But that doesn’t mean it won’t 

work though. 

To get involved in student activism on campus, follow the E&SJ team on 

Instagram @msa.esj or email msa-esj@monash.edu. 

27

Bar Jokes and Breakdowns: Shiva Baby and the 

(False) Paradox of Stressful Comedies 

By Hannah Terregosa 

What better way to welcome the academic year than with what is possibly the 

most nerve-wracking film about post-grad anxiety to date? 

Shiva Baby (2020) is a comedy film that takes place at a shiva, a Jewish weeklong 

mourning ritual for immediate relatives of the deceased, and follows 

Danielle (Rachel Sennot), a college senior, who, like many college seniors, is met 

with a barrage of questions about what their post-grad plans look like at every 

family gathering. It’s a time that dictates the climax of a young person’s life with 

decisions that will, supposedly, pave the path towards the rest of their life. But 

like many college seniors, Danielle has no clue where she’s heading. But unlike 

most college seniors at family gatherings, Danielle runs into her high-school exgirlfriend 

Maya (Molly Gordon), her secret sugar daddy Max (Danney Deferrari), 

and the sugar daddy’s wife and baby that she didn’t know he had. Also, she has 

no idea who’s shiva she’s actually attending. “Wait, Mom [Sic.]. Who died?” 

From before she gave us Bottoms (2023), an offbeat queer comedy about two 

high schoolers who start a fight club to impress girls, Shiva Baby was Emma 

Seligman’s directorial debut and an adaptation of her New York University 

Tisch School of the Arts (NYU) thesis project. Released only a few years after 

graduating, the film captures the essence of its subject matter in a way only a 

young emerging filmmaker could. 

In The Washington Post’s interview article ‘How Shiva Baby Captures the Anxieties 

of Being a Young Woman’, Seligman revealed that she “initially thought of it as 

a bar joke – a girl runs into her sugar daddy at a shiva, and what happens after 

that? But as I was making it, I realized [Sic.] I was putting a lot of my insecurities 

into it, especially the way I felt when I was approaching graduation. All the 

pressure I felt”. 

Now when I think of coming-of-age films I picture montages of laughing 

characters bathed in warm lighting that’s accompanied by a nostalgic 

soundtrack, painting heartwarming scenes of youth and self-discovery. 

But the majority of Shiva Baby takes place in one pressure cooker of a day, 

at one event, and at one location that’s accompanied by the claustrophobic 

symphony of hushed chatter, awkward interactions, and a crying baby. Composer 

Ariel Marx only ever interrupts the naturalistic ambience with a horror-esque 

score of shrieking string instruments that heighten moments of tension and invite 

viewers into the chaos of Danielle’s mental state. 

Really, the bar joke foregrounds Seligman’s refreshingly grounded exploration of 

female sexuality and empowerment; cultural and familial expectations; financial 

dependency; education, and career paths. 

28

We see Danielle’s attempt at navigating a house full of complex relationships 

where she’s consumed by casually judgmental quips and glances, desperately 

fighting for control in a situation where she feels she has none. All these aspects 

provide what Seligman goes on to describe in the interview as “a window into 

the horror of being a young woman”. 

Ironically, this claustrophobic film about a packed family gathering premiered 

digitally at the 2020 South by Southwest Film Festival and was released in 

cinemas in 2021, as an indie film premiering at the height of the COVID-19 

pandemic, Shiva Baby was an unlikely hit. It achieved the kind of success that 

may have only been possible in the streaming era through the help of digital 

word-of-mouth promotion and platforms like Letterboxd that garner attention 

to indie films without big-budget marketing and success outside of cinema 

screenings. 

With pulse-pounding dramedies like Beef and The Bear being met with 

overwhelming critical and commercial success and dominating this year’s Emmy 

Awards, there seems to be a noticeable rise in comedy shows aiming to get us 

laughing and sweating at the same time, raising questions of whether this type 

of media should even be considered comedies in the first place – though a 

controversy Beef avoids, being submitted in the ‘Limited Series’ awards category. 

However, it’s important to note that comedy and laughter aren’t mutually 

exclusive to the qualities of any other genre or sensation, and delving into not-solighthearted 

themes doesn’t always necessarily mean something less comedic. 

Comedy is cultural. It’s a genre that’s inherently subjective, relying on cultural 

references, language and wordplay. It feeds off of shared understanding and 

relatability. And it’s infamous for ageing poorly and not translating well across 

different languages and cultures. Dark comedy may not always be laugh-out-loud 

funny for everyone, but nothing really is. 

Comedic irony can be a powerful tool for social commentary and scrutiny – like 

criticising when familial events of mourning turn into gossip hubs. It can promote 

empathy with humour acting as a catalyst for visibility and open dialogue in a 

way that may be more appealing than a strictly sombre piece might. In Shiva 

Baby Danielle’s experiences as a young Jewish bisexual woman trying to find her 

way in life aren’t the bud of the joke, they’re the propellers of it. 

When it comes to film and TV award categories there are a lot of other factors 

that play into it, such as the length of TV episodes and which categories the film/ 

show is submitted for to begin with. But artists playing with ideas and genre, 

diversifying what it means for something to be called a ‘drama’ or a ‘comedy’ 

is something that should be encouraged. Art wasn’t meant to be boxed into 

categories anyway. Art wasn’t meant to be boxed into categories anyway. 

29

30 

“Tomatoes” 

Artwork by Ruby Comte

ANCHORED 

BY WILL HUNT 

You walk along the campsite’s edges, sprawling onto Mason Smith’s Road like 

overgrown grass. Gravel flicks back up against your calves as you waltz down in 

flip-flops, before you fling them aside and your toes seep through soft sand. You 

trace footprints through the sands, following their every course, leaving your own 

mark. You map yourself along the shoreline, through volcanic rocks, through reefs 

and dilapidated jetties. You pass houses you always wanted, and pass spots where 

you used to dig and play. The sandcastles have long blown away. 

In the distance, you can see Phillip Island and Seal Rock, sprouting from wading 

waves into pale grey clouds. You can see the ten kilometres of azure water, a basin 

for dolphins and seals, weedy sea dragons and great white sharks. You remember 

your Dad surfing the point, etching his surfboard like a pen across the waves, 

white water spraying into the air, disappearing. You remember swimming with 

an inflatable Simpsons doughnut, now long since deflated, waving back at your 

parents on the shoreline. You remember Alfie, running back from his vigil alongside 

Mum and Dad, doggie-paddling towards you. Talk, Alfie, you would say, and he 

would sing along with the splashes on the water. Somewhere in the sands he 

remained, and you think, I’m sure he is still singing, here, down Balnarring Beach. 

You remember the cliffside, and Sienna talking about the light from the Moon. 

Her, with that glint in her eyes when she knew she was being silly, but was going 

along with it all anyway. You remember smiling, and thinking, she must think I’m 

an idiot too. Then you laugh, because you think that maybe you just want to be an 

idiot with her forever. And you listen to ‘Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence’ together as 

you plunge through seaweed and sand, holding back your hair from the wind and 

smiling, and thinking, ‘I love you.’ 

You remember New Years and fireworks. You remember skinny dipping and drinks 

with mates – beers still buried in the sands, a tantalising maybe, an alluring 

possibility that one day you will be old, and you’ll return to find nostalgic treasures 

of decades long past, with friends no different to as they were then. You remember 

standing in the sinking sand with Abdul, the water warm and whispering along its 

waves. You remember talking about her, and your mistakes. You remember talking 

about Dad, and where he used to surf, just over there. You remember talking about 

Alfie, and how he would sing – just like this. 

You remember your back on the sand, your eyes on the stars, and your mind on 

the water. You remember the waves releasing their white foams upon the shores, 

shuddering through the sand before leaving again. 

They retreat, and all is quiet again, before they snuggle back up to you once more. 

You feel the cold whispers on you, and you remember. 

Your body is anchored by Balnarring Beach. 

31

TEACHING CONDITIONS ARE OUR LEARNING CONDITIONS 

BY DILHAN SIMSEK 

If 2024 is the beginning of your journey at Monash University, prepare for what is 

shaping up to be a year marked by significant industrial action. 

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) represents university workers of all 

types across Australia, advocating for safe and secure employment, and a brighter 

future for higher education. A well-supported university system, with staff in secure and 

well-compensated positions, is crucial for 

delivering quality education and leadingedge 

research. In 2021, reports emerged that 

approximately 4,500 staff at Monash University, 

including around 3,100 current casuals and 

more than 1,400 former employees, were 

victims of wage theft, totaling over $10 million. 

Wage theft in higher education manifests in 

several ways: being paid for fewer hours than 

worked, piece rates for marking or lecture 

preparation instead of actual time spent, 

and sham contracting to avoid Award and 

Agreement entitlements. However, this problem 

extends beyond Monash. The unchecked 

corporate influence and lack of accountability 

in public universities have exacerbated the 

issue. Addressing this challenge is essential for 

the future of higher education nationwide. 

It’s such a shame that two-thirds of Australian university staff are employed on insecure 

casual or fixed-term contracts, even though their work is often ongoing. Educators 

having to reapply for their positions every six months, regardless of their decades-long 

experience in the sector, highlights broader systemic issues. 

In June 2022, the Monash University Enterprise Agreement expired and after more 

than a year of negotiations, it’s apparent that the University is not engaging in good 

faith. The NTEU is advocating for improved class sizes, leave entitlements, wages, 

job security, and work safety conditions. The University’s current offer is inadequate, 

leading to excessive workloads and a pay increase below the inflation rate, effectively a 

real pay cut. The NTEU is committed to a better university, one focused on educational 

rather than business principles, and which prioritises the welfare of staff and 

students. Relying on a patchwork of contracts and multiple jobs to make ends meet is 

unsustainable. Ultimately, the quality of education suffers. In October 2023, the Monash 

Branch of the NTEU engaged in a 48-hour strike, the most significant industrial action 

at the University in decades. Concurrently, University of Melbourne staff in the NTEU 

conducted a week-long, branch-wide strike. During these actions, NTEU members 

refrained from conducting classes, working, communicating with students, or planning 

lessons. If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that this is just the start of what will be a hard 

fought battle and it seems the NTEU are just getting started. It’s no exaggeration to 

state that the Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) is in crisis. A few years ago, 

32

FIT committed to an “Education Transformation”. Many units in the handbook now 

have this subtle yet damning notice. 

From my personal experience and discussions with many teaching staff, it appears 

this so-called transformation is a cost-cutting exercise disguised as reform, severely 

impacting teaching quality in the FIT. During the second semester of 2023, the FIT 

implemented widespread changes to teaching arrangements with little notice and no 

genuine consultation, causing major disruptions. 

Despite being a surplus unit within the university and increasing profi ts by over 

$20 million from 2022 to 2023, more cuts to the FIT mean that these fees are not 

enhancing students’ educational experience. Instead, they are being used by the 

university to bolster their bottom line. Education should not be corporatised. 

Under this “Education Transformation”, all tutorials and lectures have been abolished. 

The Faculty has shifted to “applied classes”, which don’t seem to offer robust 

pedagogical benefi ts. Teachers now receive half the preparation time they once did, 

only being paid for 30 minutes to prepare for a one-hour class. The time for marking 

assignments has also been drastically reduced. In a fi eld like IT, where every line of 

code matters, insuffi cient grading time means students’ work risks being undermarked. 

It’s been suggested to staff that they avoid consulting with students or answering their 

emails, ironically the same activities for which the university was previously caught 

not paying staff, under their wage theft scandal. This cost-cutting approach is directly 

affecting the FIT staff’s ability to teach effectively and the quality of education. 

This has led to signifi cant increases in teaching workloads for fi xed-term and 

permanent academics in IT, who now face less time for student consultation and 

teaching preparation. Class sizes have increased, and there were reports last 

semester of overcrowding in some lecture rooms, with students sitting on stairs and 

fl oors in FIT applied classes, posing clear occupational health and safety risks. 

The university implemented these changes without real consultation, refl ecting a 

general reluctance of Monash managers to listen to staff feedback. 

The NTEU issued a formal Dispute Notice over these changes and the lack of 

consultation. As the Union believes the Enterprise Agreement has been breached, both 

in terms of the lack of consultation and the teaching changes themselves. In response, 

the university adopted a hostile stance. When the NTEU requested a meeting with 

the Dean of IT, Professor Ann Nicholson, she assured staff that everything was fi ne. 

However, Monash HR’s responses in meetings were dismissive, claiming these 

changes were part of a two-year-long “education transformation” (we all now know 

what this means). Staff involved in the transformation discussions contradict this, 

stating that the increased workloads and reduced preparation time were not part of the 

original discussions. 

For students who experienced the quality of education before these changes, their 

university experience has deteriorated. However, those who are new to the institution 

will graduate with a lesser education, unaware of what they have missed. 

Staff have said that enough is enough, and it’s time us students do too. 

Provided references are available on our website 

33

WHY YOU SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN RADIO MONASH 

BY GEORGIE MCCOLM 

Georgie McColm is the president of Radio Monash 

Radio Monash, aka Radmon, is one of the coolest places you can be on campus. 

Starting all the way back in 1972, we have a long history of providing students with 

awesome opportunities to get into creative media. Whilst we may have radio in the 

name, Radio Monash is a lot more than just radio! 

So What is Radio Monash, and What Do We Do? 

Radio Monash is an independent radio station that is run for students, by students. We 

are the only student radio station left in Victoria that is completely operated by a student 

committee, which makes our community so unique and vibrant. 

The main thing we are known for is providing students the opportunity to host their own 

radio shows! Live to air every week, students can come and talk about a variety of topics, 

play music and bring the vibes from our station based on the second floor of Campus 

Centre next to Sir John’s Bar. 

The broadcast studio can also be used to produce podcasts as well! So if you have ever 

wanted to try recording your own programme, here is the best place to do it. 

Not only are we a radio station, but we have a long-running history of supporting student 

artists and bands. One of the ways we do this is by having our very own recording 

studio! That’s right, we have two amazing studios at Radio Monash that are free for 

our members to use. This space can be used to record any style of music you like, or 

have a band rehearsal. Radio Monash also has a thriving Journalism department that 

specialises in music and radio journalism. We pride ourselves on having reputable 

articles that are edited and curated by our awesome directors. So why not send in an 

article about a gig you’ve seen lately? As a result of our deep roots in student music 

culture here at Monash, we also have some really awesome events. If you’re interested 

in live music from local talent, come and check out the events that we host throughout the 

year! We also do academic broadcast events too! 

Why Should I Join Radio Monash? 

Switching to first person here, I believe if you want to make the most out of your university 

experience, regardless of if you’re a new student or in your final year, joining a place 

like Radio Monash can bring you so many opportunities. You can meet people from all 

different types of degrees with a variety of interests, and join an awesome community 

that supports and encourages one another. We have the benefit of having a physical 

space on campus that is welcome to all of our members, so you’ll normally always find 

someone in there open to having a chat. 

Maybe you might want to host a radio show, record music, or write an article for our 

journalism department, but you can also just come and hang out and enjoy being a part 

of an awesome community. 

34

This sounds awesome! How can I get involved? 

Become a Member! Go to the MSA website and become a member today. 

Host a Radio Show! Check out our socials and website to find out more about when we 

release show applications. Hint: submissions are open from February 19 to March 15! 

Join our specific Presenter shows! We will be having some specific shows that are 

already looking for presenters, so send us an email or DM if you’re interested. (Check out 

the website too!) 

Use our Recording Studio! Walk in and meet our recording studio director, or book 

online to get inducted to use the space. 

Join our Subcommittees! Keep an eye out on our social media pages for when we are 

recruiting. If you’re interested in dipping your toes in without the full commitment, this is 

the perfect place to start. 

Join the committee! We are always on the lookout for people that want to get seriously 

involved! Send us an email or DM, or just pop into the space and have a chat with our 

lovely committee members. 

Become a MSA volunteer: We also run volunteering stuff through the MSA that can 

range from O-Week to worker bees! 

To conclude, if you are looking for a place to be during your uni life, come and check 

out Radio Monash. We promise you won’t forget it! You can find us on our socials @ 

radiomonash on Instagram and Facebook, our website: radiomonash.online and on the 

second floor of Campus Centre! 

35

CHANCE / WORDS BY ABIGAIL OH 

IN THIS RECURRING INSPIRATION 

LIES A CRAVING 

FOR THE INEVITABLE– 

A HOPELESS DESPERATION 

FOR A NEGLIGIBLE 

SPARK TO LIGHT THE WAY. 

ART BY LOUIS PEREZ 

36 

DROWN THESE MISGIVINGS. 

LIFE BEGINS AGAIN WITHOUT CONSIDERATION. 

IT REVEALS ITS BEATING 

REMNANTS IN THE IRREVOCABLE 

SECONDS BETWEEN FAILURES. 

THERE IS NO GREATER POWER ANNOUNCING THE 

START– 

IT’S ALREADY BEGUN.

ROSE-COLOURED GLASSES / WORDS BY LOUIS PEREZ 

I WAS ONCE INFORMED 

THAT 

LIFE TRAVELS BLISSFULLY WHEN MOVING AHEAD 

BUT IF YOU TURN AROUND, 

THE ROAD YOU CONSTRUCTED 

YEARNS TO RETRACE YOUR STEPS. 

RETREATING, 

BEING SURROUNDED 

BY OUR MEMORIES. 

OFFERING AN ESCAPE, 

A SENSE OF COMFORT 

LIKE A WARM BLANKET 

DURING THE WINTER. 

IT IS SO TEMPTING 

SHOULD I STAY. 

SHOULD I TRY 

TO RELIVE THE BEGINNING. 

ISN’T IT BETTER THAT WAY? 

OR SHOULD I CARRY ON 

WITH MY JOURNEY 

I’M TORN 

AM I SEEING THINGS 

THROUGH ROSE-COLOURED GLASSES 

OR AM I 

AFRAID 

OF FACING 

WHAT’S RIGHT 

IN FRONT OF ME 

ART BY LOUIS PEREZ 

37

Education? In this economy? 

By Sasha Braybrooke 

Welcome to the 2024 academic year, and more importantly to the 

institution, which is supposed to serve you with quality education, 

equivalent to the amount we pay. 

Except it doesn’t. Now, more than ever, universities are shifting 

towards an increasingly privatised model that cares little for the 

standard of education it delivers. 

Historically, university and access to education has long served as 

a barrier to divide the ruling class from those below them. Today, 

although there have been advancements in access, particularly for 

historically disenfranchised groups like women, universities remain a 

ground for profit making and division. Instead of setting out to deliver 

students with the education that will set future generations up for 

success, universities function to line the pockets of those who head 

them up. 

Intriguingly enough, this hasn’t been consistent throughout Australian 

history. When the Whitlam government abolished university fees in 

1974, we saw an increase in female and/or working-class students 

seeking higher education. But by 1989, the introduction of HECS 

fees changed this. Further still, Australian universities have grown 

increasingly privatised. 

Why? This is not a problem exclusive to Monash University. From 

the abolition of free university education in 1989, universities have 

increasingly stipulated high fees from students and education has 

suffered from a lack of public funding. 

Monash, and indeed other universities in Australia are no exception 

to this. In 2020 universities recorded profits of 5.3 billion while 

students remained at home dealing with the hardships of the global 

pandemic. Then again in 2021 Monash University recorded the third 

highest surplus of $300 million, closely following Melbourne University 

($600 million surplus) and University of Sydney ($1 billion surplus). 

38

These numbers are meaningless without considering what this means 

for you as students. On average we can pay anywhere between 

$20,000 to $45,000 per year. This does not include the added costs 

required to study - textbooks, equipment, added bills, and daily 

needs. 

International students, and those studying humanities degrees like 

law, are particularly subjected to high fees and costs. Under the Jobs 

Ready Graduates Package, introduced by the Morrison government in 

2021, students were increasingly pushed towards degrees and hence 

careers that matched ‘labour market demand’ and away from those, 

particularly in the humanities (excluding languages). 

The wrong assumption that students should alter their study to fit 

what will make them most employable disadvantages students 

who already must sacrifice interests and personal time to care for 

themselves. 

Don’t breathe a sigh of relief either STEM students, while our fees are 

often lower than those of the artistic and humanitarian inclination, 

declining standards in education and poor staff conditions haven’t 

seen us benefit from the lack of public funding in universities. 

So Australian universities did not rush to improve the lives of their 

students and teaching staff during a global pandemic, and they 

certainly are not doing so now, when the climate so desperately 

requires it. With the cost-of-living crisis, many students are doing it 

tough, footing bills, studies, work, and their own personal needs. 

Universities, ultimately do not care if you fail. They do not care if your 

education suffers at the hands of corporate greed. A failed class 

means yet another student taking a unit, and yet more income. An 

overworked staff member unable to balance their own lives with 

effectively teaching content means nothing to the hegemony of the 

university. And most of all, inadequate education is of no concern to 

those making millions in profit. 

So, as an associate of mine quipped to me, ‘Welcome back to this 

meaningless cash grab where we lock your career behind exams that 

finish at 9 pm’. 

Provided references for this article are available on our website. 

39

Boys like flowers too By John Sopar 

Content Warning: Discussions of abuse and homophobia, transphobia 

Author’s disclaimer: ‘I need to emphasise that this is my own story and 

experiences. I don’t want to see this used to campaign against the rights 

and lives of trans and non-binary people. Trans and non-binary rights 

are human rights; the right to self-expression, to self-creation, and most 

importantly, the right to personal safety.’ 

I grew up in an extremely conservative Christian household. My family 

was heavily involved with the Church that was attached to the school I 

attended for 16 years. Every part of my life was bathed in the blood of 

Christ and his doctrine, from my baptism at age eight to my first sharing 

of testimony at age thirteen. My life revolved around the Church, around 

biblical manhood, around becoming a loving husband and disciple of 

Christ. 

This was what my life looked like at the surface at least. 

Underneath, I realised that I was gay around the age of ten. This 

started me on a long journey of delving into what my faith meant to me 

personally, including whether I even had a faith at all. Most important to 

this story is that it made me start to deeply analyse everything around me, 

particularly in the sphere of gender. 

This was when my disillusionment with manhood, or manhood as I was 

taught, began. It was when I first became cognisant of the verbal and 

emotional abuse inflicted on me by the male figures in my life, particularly 

from within the Church. It was when I fully noticed that weekly youth 

sessions, held divided by sex of course, featured the girls going off to 

have meaningful conversations about their faith and personal lives, while 

the boys went off to play basketball for the remaining forty minutes. 

When I stopped and looked around at the different ‘role models’ present 

in my life, I noticed that all the men were angry, childish, and abusive, 

while the women were understanding, compassionate, and, in my eyes 

at least, truly powerful. I grew to despise being born a male, that I might 

be grouped with these neanderthals, forced to play basketball and only 

allow my emotions to show in outbursts of rage and aggression. I grew to 

see men as weak, allowing their emotions to overwhelm and control them. 

I hated being a man. 

40

I worked to distance myself from manhood. I never attended the annual 

men’s camp as I grew up. I avoided using men’s bathrooms and changing 

rooms where possible. I distanced myself from everything that men were 

shown to be to me. 

One of my old youth group leaders wrote me a letter at the end of 

the year that I was in his group. “This is our prayer for you,” the letter 

declared, “You are a masculine man! May God strengthen your vision of 

who you are.” 

When I came to Monash my vision of who I am did indeed strengthen. 

Whether it was through the providence of Jesus Christ of Nazareth or just 

the simple fact of being in a new environment is up for debate. Being 

exposed to so many people from diverse backgrounds did particularly 

strengthen my own view of myself and where I stood in the wider world. 

For a time, before I entered Monash, I considered that I may be a 

transgender woman, so far removed from my birth gender did I feel. 

Being exposed to many different forms of masculinity, particularly of the 

healthy, non-stereotypical variety, challenged this for me though. While I 

no longer consider identifying as a trans-woman (instead preferring the 

non-label of non-binary), I no longer feel repulsed by men and being a 

man at an emotional level. 

I learnt that there was more to being a man than playing basketball 

and punching things, as obvious as that may sound. I no longer see men 

as the weaker of the binary sexes. I’ve seen men be as strong as the 

women I grew up around, as confident in their identity, as healthy in their 

emotional expressions. 

Now I have healthy role models in my life of all genders and sexes. Now I 

don’t feel that the body I was born into is something to despise and wish 

so desperately to escape. Now I enjoy going on boys’ trips. Now I know 

that boys can like flowers too. 

41

HOME SWEET HOME 

WORDS BY MARY ELIZABETH / ART BY SPENCER SLANEY 

CW: violence 

There was a house up ahead on the left. Amidst the gloom of what was a cool winter’s 

night, it appeared tall and grand in what seemed like an abyss of nothingness for miles 

on end. There I remained, confined to its interior with very few visitors. It made sense to 

pass it– surely there were signs further down the road; why stop for help? Hence why I was 

thrilled to see the lost couple quickly pulling into the driveway. 

The two-storey house, further away from the others down the road, appeared rather large 

with a decently sized front yard. I watched out of the living room window, while the two 

stared in awe, hoping the decorations would entice them to knock on the door. As snow 

continued to fall, the couple noticed several snowmen standing as silent sentinels on the 

front porch, all scattered and of varying sizes. I observed them as they approached the 

doorstep, the flash of Christmas lights illuminating their path in a myriad of colours. 

“Just ask for directions,” I heard the husband reassure his wife, “then back down the 

highway we go!” 

It was easy to assume the house would’ve belonged to a large family: seven in total, 

excluding the dog. So it would’ve been much to their surprise to find that, after knocking, 

the couple only found me on the other side of the door. 

But oh! how exciting it was seeing them there! I had new guests! Never mind their 

concerned expressions, they had arrived just in time for supper. How cold they must’ve 

been; they should at least come inside for a nice warm drink? 

While seeming insistent to continue their journey, the couple obliged, taking off their coats, 

which I hung up with delight. The house reeked of old wood, the floorboards creaking with 

every step down the narrow, dark hallway. Every room appeared abandoned, not a sign 

of life in sight. The only source of light emanated from a room further down on the left, and 

the smell of freshly cooked potatoes wafted into our nostrils. However, that wasn’t the only 

thing evident on the dining table. An assortment of different foods, all freshly cooked, had 

been laid down neatly, steam emanating off each dish as if yearning to be consumed. 

42

This dinner certainly seemed prepared for more than one. It would’ve appeared as though I’d 

been expecting them all along. Observing the food with disbelief, the couple weren’t sure how 

they’d been enticed so easily. They’d almost forgotten why they’d knocked in the first place. How 

silly! – wandering into a stranger’s home without a second thought. But never mind that; the 

turkey is almost ready! 

The two glanced with pitiful looks, what a shame to let all that good food go to waste. After all, 

they had been welcomed in quite generously, I’d say. 

One bite wouldn’t hurt. Maybe a few would seem polite. Then they could continue their drive 

with perfectly full stomachs, considering they had already missed Christmas dinner back home. 

So there they were, splendidly eating across from each other, while I remained at the head of 

the table observing the couple’s ravenous appetites. The two were naïve to notice how I didn’t 

have a single bite of food from my full plate. Neither could they see that my food was stone 

cold, how it had been sitting there for days. Why would the couple notice with so much fresh 

food in front of them? How lucky they were to receive such hospitality while I sacrificed my 

appetite for the sake of their homestead. Piece by piece, bite by bite. Fatten them up enough so 

they could never leave. Then their company would remain foreve–... 

That was when the clinking sound of cutlery faded, and I noticed the two had stopped eating. 

From the looks on their faces, it appeared they’d quickly grown full. All that remained on both 

their plates was a slice of blueberry pie – ooo my favourite. Yet, they refused to touch it, insisting 

they were grateful but ready to head out. 

“Grateful… but you didn’t finish your dessert.” 

The couple smiled sympathetically; my smile slowly faded. 

“But you must stay! Haven’t I made you feel so welcome?” 

The couple nodded in agreement, so why they were in such a hurry I couldn’t understand. 

Abruptly, they asked for directions, but I had completely blanked. So suddenly had things fallen 

apart, the illusion fading swiftly like the snow flying past the kitchen window. 

You see I had been a very welcoming host; all this food, this generosity, and yet neither wished 

to stay a minute longer. The snowmen outside were laughing at me; I had been the naïve one 

after all. 

“You haven’t been very welcoming now, have you?” 

Their smiles quickly dropped, yet mine was now brighter than ever. One bite wouldn’t hurt. 

Maybe a few would seem polite. Then I would let them go; it wasn’t like they would make it 

home in time for dessert anyway. 

The woman was first to oblige. From the look on her face, following her first mouthful, I could tell 

the pie was bitter. Just the way I liked it! Her husband grew concerned as his wife slowly turned 

pale. He watched in horror while she choked, too tense to notice the knife I’d been holding 

under the table now appearing in front of me – the same one I’d used to carve the turkey 

earlier. You see, if I must feel unwelcomed every year why shouldn’t everyone else? If this was to 

be the most wondrous time of the year, why must I be the only one who suffers alone? Now that 

just wouldn’t be fair, after all, I have been a wonderful host, haven’t I? 

Thankfully, the couple ended up staying. They’re outside in my front yard right now, with all the 

others. I’m sure they won’t mind the snow too much, nor the carrots for noses, sticks for hands 

and buttons for eyes. They make a great addition to my collection. 

My yard is getting pretty full now; it won’t be long before someone new spots them. Oh, look!– 

there comes a car now! I hope they don’t mind the dessert I made – apple pie! I’ve made sure 

it’s extra bitter this time! 

43

This dinner certainly seemed prepared for more than one. It woul 

INSIDE THE CULT OF SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE MONASH 

BY ANONYMOUS 

Disclaimer, this piece talks about the Monash Socialists and may elicit memories of 

traumatic experiences. 

Many young left-leaning students view the Socialist Alternative (or the Monash 

Socialists, as they call themselves) as a potential answer to global inequality 

and systemic class problems in capitalist societies. This view may stem from their 

encounters with the group and its tactics at weekly Pro-Palestine rallies held since the 

October 7th Attacks, or perhaps at a 'School Students for Climate Justice' strike. At first 

glance, this perspective is understandable. As someone who was once sympathetic to 

the group, I shared views similar to these. However, beneath its surface, the Socialist 

Alternative resembles a group best described as a cult, manipulating student leftists to 

join their cause – which, let's face it, is gaining a seat in the Victorian Parliament. 

This is why it's important to recognise and understand the potential dangers posed 

by the Socialist Alternative. The approach of the Socialist Alternative has long cast a 

negative light on left-wing politics, student activism, and has discouraged students from 

engaging in politics on and off campus. While their intentions might be to be militant 

activists, their methods have not been well-received for years. There’s no doubt these 

actions assist them in gaining some members, but they have significantly alienated the 

majority of the campus community. 

It’s disheartening to see that a significant number of their members appear to be 

drawn to the group more for social enjoyment, rather than genuine activism. The 

Socialist Alternative often capitalises on the isolation many students experience in 

the overwhelming university environment, manipulating them into feeling valued 

and connected to a community. This approach often traps individuals, and before 

they know it, they become deeply entangled, mirroring the almost extreme socialist 

behaviours they previously avoided If you were to return to campus five years after 

graduating, you might still encounter familiar faces from the Socialist Alternative, 

persistently attempting to recruit new members into their organisation, often 

described as a pyramid scheme. These individuals are often known to prolong their 

undergraduate studies, stretching them out for as long as eight or nine years, and 

frequently transferring between universities and changing courses. It appears that their 

motivation for doing so is to continue receiving financial assistance from programmes 

such as Centrelink, all while working towards achieving their revolution. Often, they 

opt for the bare minimum course load, focusing on what what they refer to as ‘bludge 

subjects’, which they can easily pass without attending classes. It is worth noting that 

many students genuinely depend on government support to pursue their education and 

make positive contributions to society. The hypocrisy of criticising the government while 

exploiting its benefits is striking. Members are also commonly criticised by the Socialist 

Alternative for prioritising family and other commitments, leading to active shaming. 

44

ould’ve appeared as though I’d been expecting them all along. 

Reports of passive-aggressive 

messages and threats to the 

membership of those who didn’t 

dedicate every free moment to the 

organisation have recently come to 

light. This pressure to prioritise the 

group above all else creates an 

oppressive atmosphere that makes 

it challenging for its members to 

engage in meaningful political 

discourse. However, that’s not all. The 

Socialist Alternative has a mandatory 

membership fee (image available on 

digital version of this article) that varies 

based on an individual’s income. 

During a cost of living crisis, when 

students are struggling with expenses 

like housing, university fees, and bills, 

the Socialist Alternative’s fee structure 

seems indifferent to the plight of the 

disadvantaged. Despite all their claims 

of representing workers and the less 

affluent, this high fee system ironically 

excludes those it aims to advocate 

for. This approach not only limits 

the diversity within the organisation 

but also biases its demographic 

towards those privileged with financial 

resources. Activism and participation in 

social movements should be open to 

all, regardless of economic status. 

Attempting to further increase their 

revenue, the Socialist Alternative 

produces and distributes a newspaper 

called Red Flag, which members are 

forced to sell in various locations. 

The newspaper’s front cover usually 

highlights stories about popular 

causes that align with left-leaning 

perspectives, appealing to a broad 

audience. This publication is often 

sold at rallies and protests, giving the 

impression that the proceeds support 

hese causes. However, this approach 

is seen as a tactic to mask their actual 

fundraising strategies and meet their 

goals of selling as many copies as 

possible. 

What we do know is that the Socialist 

Alternative aren’t going anywhere in 

2024, and their presence on campus 

will continue to increase. It’s on every 

single one of us to call them out for 

what they are, and protect vulnerable 

students at Monash. 

Provided references for this article are 

available on our website. 

45

Two years hard labor By David Williams 

Content Warning: References to Racism, Cost of Living, War, Genocide 

David Williams is a member of the Monash Socialists 

May will mark 2 years of the Albanese Labor Government being in power. 

Since the 2022 election, Labor has pushed the Liberal Party from power 

in every state except Tasmania. But what has the Australian Labor Party 

achieved in these last two years? In short, nothing. On every front, things 

have gotten worse. 

For years now the cost of living has been rising dramatically both in Australia 

and across the world. The cost of groceries, electricity, gas and housing 

have skyrocketed. Australia has had the largest decline in living standards in 

the OECD. Labor could stop this, but all we get is hand-wringing and empty 

platitudes. 

Take housing for instance, where the cost of living crisis is at its most intense. 

Rent freezes and caps would immediately cut rental prices, but they have 

been rejected by Labor. Why? Labor supports for-profit housing. High prices 

mean that the firms that own the bulk of rentals are making a killing. That is 

why Labor repeatedly claims that the problem is supply, despite the million 

empty dwellings in Australia, because anything else would undermine profit. 

Labor’s housing bill, the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), left landlords 

with no restrictions on how much they could raise rents. Instead it was a 

hand out to those that created this crisis. The ‘fund’ will gamble on the 

stock market and, if it makes enough money, they might build a handful of 

‘affordable’ homes. 

Not new, quality public housing but ‘affordable’ and ‘community’ housing. 

Instead of being owned by the government and provided based upon need, 

these are private rentals. The owners may charge ‘slightly’ less than average. 

Many of these rentals are owned by religious institutions that are renowned 

for discriminatory practices. 

What public housing that’s left is being dismantled by Labor, like the 

demolition of 44 public housing towers in Victoria. 

Housing keeps worsening because Labor has no interest in interfering with 

the profits it makes. The same logic follows with other essentials and public 

services, like gas and electricity which were sold off, and such prices have 

since risen by absurd amounts, making a handful of companies filthy rich. 

46

How about wages? A big part of the 2022 election campaign was that 

Labor would raise wages to meet the cost of living. This never materialised, 

instead we are warned to tighten our belts. For most workers, wages went 

backwards. Including public sector wages, which state Labor has held 

down for years, now contributing to shortages in teaching and nursing staff. 

If Labor had any inclination, they could raise wages overnight but they 

choose not to. This is equally true for welfare, which remains well below 

poverty level. 

Why has Labor failed to address cost of living? They claim there isn’t any 

money, that an increase in wages, or action on housing would only drive 

up inflation. But this hasn’t stopped them from supporting the stage three 

tax cuts, giving more money to the wealthy. Nor has it stopped them from 

throwing a half trillion dollars towards building death machines. That money 

could end the cost of living crisis. In truth, Labor is for the rich getting richer, 

and cares little for ordinary people, meaning they can facilitate the greatest 

transfer of wealth to the rich in decades. 

What about other progressive issues? 

Albanese has recommitted to the AUKUS pact, an agreement with the 

United States and United Kingdom to prepare for war with China. Meaning 

Australia has committed itself to antagonistic exercises in the South China 

Sea. Should any of the increasingly common “close calls” escalate, it could 

start a world war or a nuclear war. 

But Labor are also perpetrators of Indigenous oppression. For years state 

Labor governments have been increasing police budgets. They have 

overseen a dramatic rise in the rate of indigenous incarceration, led racist 

fear campaigns, including suspending human rights in Queensland to lock 

up more Indigenous kids. When Indigenous youth rightfully resisted Western 

Australia’s barbaric youth detention system, then premier Mark McGowan 

condemned them as terrorists. 

This is only a small glimpse of the issues that Labor is responsible for. But 

why is this important? These issues are mobilising more and more people 

and it is important to understand that Labor will stand in opposition to 

meaningful change. If you want real action on cost of living, housing, 

wages, or climate, if you oppose war, racism, and oppression, you have to 

demand more than what the Labor Party offers, you need to be a socialist. 

Provided references for this article available on our website. 

47

VASCULAR INK 

WILL HUNT 

ENERGY DRIPS FROM HANGING VINES — 

YOUR VASCULAR FORM, TWISTING ROPE 

THREADS IN A VIOLENT MOVEMENT, CONJOINING 

SEMANTIC WITH SOMATIC FINGERS, 

ELECTRIFYING NEURONS TO HOLD, TO INK. 

THE PAGE A STELE OF MEMORY 

ETCHED FROM THE INCISION OF COGNITION 

INTO RUDIMENTARY WORDS, POOR URNS 

FOR THE ASHES OF YOUR “WHO”: 

POTTERY PIECES FRAGMENTED AND FORLORN 

LIKE RUNES AND HIEROGLYPHS OF HEATHENS 

AND ROMANTICISTS WHOSE REALITY’S ROSE WITHERED; 

PAPER BURNING, POTTERY BREAKING— 

INK, A WATER COLOUR DRENCHED TO PALE NOTHINGS, 

BLEEDING WHITE. 

BUT THE MOVEMENT EXCITES YOU 

IF IT DOES NOT MEMORIALISE YOU. 

EXEUNT, THE ELEGY AND THE FAREWELL: 

FEEL VITALITY, VITRIOL; LOVE AND 

HATE THE FLEETING FINALITY, 

BREATHE BLOODY EVERYTHING — 

THE PEN INK MOVES RED WITH 

MUSCULAR ENERGY, ELEGIAC MUNITIONS 

AND THE BODY WRITES WITH POUNDING VEINS. 

48

WHY YOU SHOULD BE A SOCIALIST BY LUKA KIERNAN 

Content Warning: References to Genocide, Bigotry, Abortion, War 

Luka Kiernan is a member of Socialist Alternative Monash and Students for Palestine 

Over the last decade a peculiar new industry has sprung up for the super-wealthy: 

Luxury Doomsday Bunkers. One particularly opulent refurbished missile shelter 

boasts “restrooms having a whirlpool bath, double sinks, and rainfall showers, a 

spa, swimming pool… cinema, a splendid bar, an extravagant wine cellar” – all the 

essentials a billionaire might need to see out the apocalypse, all while keeping out the 

plebeian masses. 

Capitalism is in an intense crisis. Crises of the climate, finance system, imperialism, 

health, and everything else the system produces. The rich are now enjoying the greatest 

level of wealth inequality in all of human history. Australia’s three richest people have 

been making 1.5 million dollars per hour for the last 4 years. 

Marx famously declared that capitalism entered the world “dripping head to toe, from 

every pore, with blood and dirt.” In his time, the blood and dirt was chattel slavery, the 

horrific conditions of factory workers, the genocidal colonial occupations, and whatever 

else. Capitalism’s blood and dirt continues today. 

At time of writing, over 24,000 Palestinians have been confirmed to have been killed in 

the genocide of Gaza, almost half of whom are children. Western politicians’ criticism is 

limited to the most tokenistic finger-wagging, because the genocide is being carried out 

by an important imperialist ally. 

The far-right is pushing a sexist, racist, anti-LGBTI+ agenda around the world. Since 

the overturning of Roe v Wade, more than 1 in 3 women in the United States have lost 

the right to abortion. In some states, such as Texas, doctors facilitating abortions can 

face sentences up to life in prison. The United Kingdom is modelling its refugee torture 

regime on our home-grown Australian system. The much lauded United Nations COP28 

was headed by the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Somehow worse 

than being just another greenwashing exercise, the conference was also a networking 

opportunity for fossil fuel executives, who used it to make plans to boost the industry 

in the global south. The system itself is totally impotent to provide change. Hope in 

Australia for the Labor Party or the Greens to take meaningful action, has been well 

and truly dashed. Albanese has ruled for the rich, while Australia sees the greatest 

decline in living standards in the OECD. He has allocated at least 330 billion dollars in 

signing us up to AUKUS - a nuclear war death pact. The Greens have put up only token 

opposition to Albanese, rubber-stamping his worthless, greenwashing climate bill, and 

– after slightly stiffer resistance -- the woefully insufficient HAFF Bill. Their milquetoast 

electoral manoeuvring shows no way forward. 

So where does that leave us? The only answer is getting rid of the system entirely. 

While capitalists have all of the powerful institutions of society on their side, they can’t 

do anything without us. Brecht put it most beautifully in his poem ‘From a German War 

Primer: “General, your tank is a powerful vehicle. It smashes down forests and crushes a 

hundred men. But it has one defect: It needs a driver.” Just as this is true for the army, 

49

50 

it’s true for the economy. Gina Rinehart has neverlugged a piece of coal out of the 

ground, Bezos doesn’t wrap packages in his warehouses, and Musk doesn’t screw the 

doors onto his overpriced trucks. While capitalists amass ungodly amounts of wealth, 

they do so only off of our labour. Around the world over the last few years, our side 

has been using this to fight back.. 

In Iran, the brutal murder of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini by the state ‘morality police’ 

provoked millions across Iran to participate in the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement. 

University and high school students initiated mass protests, and were backed up by 

tens of thousands of striking teachers, oil, gas, and petrochemical workers. 

Right now, new President Javier Milei is attempting to force through austerity on 

Argentine workers, and a general strike against him took place on January 24. Over 

the last few years, other countries including France, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Chile, the US, 

Myanmar, Thailand, Colombia, Algeria, India, and Hong Kong, have all experienced 

serious mass struggles. 

Australia hasn’t seen such intense levels of class struggle, but there is no shortage 

of meaningful activism to be a part of here. But it’s not enough just to think socialist 

thoughts, and maybe attend some protests by yourself – though that’s a great place to 

start. We have to be organised. 

Socialist Alternative is Australia’s biggest and most serious socialist group. If you want 

to be a left-wing activist, you should join us. To give you a sense of what we do, I’ll just 

give an abbreviated list of some of our political efforts last year. 

In March, far-right provocateur Kellie Jay Keen (aka Posie Parker) held transphobic 

rallies around Australia, and was decisively shown up, outnumbered, and humiliated 

by trans rights activists, in rallies around the country organised by SA member and 

National Union of Students Queer Officer Grace Hill. The next weekend, Victorian 

Trades Hall organised the largest pro-trans rally in Australian history, where more than 

five thousand people came out to declare their support for trans people. 

Socialist Alternative’s members in University workplaces were instrumental in leading 

strikes around the country, including at the University of Sydney, RMIT, Monash, and 

record breaking strikes at the University of Melbourne. 

As a part of Palestine collectives in each city, we have played a major role helping 

organise the historic protests. Our members have spoken at the rallies of tens of 

thousands every weekend, and our high school members organised the biggest School 

Strike for Palestine in the world. 

But we also think you need to understand the world in order to change it. Our 

organisation puts on the Marxism Conference every year, and prints Red Flag, and 

the Marxist Left Review. The biggest and best socialist conference, newspaper and 

theoretical journal respectively. On campus, we organise reading groups, public 

meetings, and much more. 

Capitalism is in a death spiral. We have to fight against it. But to do that, we have 

to be organised. Join Socialist Alternative at Monash to be a part of that. Message 

our Facebook or Instagram pages to get involved, or come along to one of our many 

events. 

Provided resources for this article are available on our website.

minyang yuan, “preparing for new challenges” 

51

52 

Belonging 101 

By Gerardien E.A 

“There is a club for everyone at Monash,” – MSA Clubs and Societies. 

As someone who comes from overseas, I remember struggling to find a sense 

of belonging at university. On one hand, I knew that I received an offer to study 

here, therefore I should have felt like I ‘belonged’ as a student (If I passed all the 

qualifications, then surely, I was ‘meant’ to be here, right?). However, I soon learned 

that a sense of belonging cannot be achieved just by entering the door that was 

made open for you; you also need to feel connected with the people and sociocultural 

dynamic of the spaces you have entered. 

In her paper about belonging, Dr. Kelly-Ann Allen, Associate Professor of Educational 

and Developmental Psychology here at Monash, conceptualised belonging as a 

“profound feeling of being connected with one’s physical environment and collective 

experiences”. It is considered as a fundamental human need that is correlated with 

better mental, physical, and socioeconomic well-being. It is proposed that belonging 

can be evaluated through an integrative framework that contains four components: 

competency; opportunity; motivation; and perception. Through this article, I shall 

teach you how you can use these components to find a club or society that will boost 

your sense of belonging here. 

Competency: This component refers to one’s ability to form meaningful connections 

with their community. When analysing this within yourself, it is good to ask reflective 

questions, such as: 

“What are some skills or knowledge that I already have and feel confident in?” – 

perhaps you have watched all episodes of One Piece or know all the lyrics to TWICE 

songs, why not consider joining the Society for Anime and Manga Appreciation or 

the Korean Appreciation Student Association? Your competency does not have to be 

related to your academic achievement or the way you carry yourself in social setting, 

it can be something as simple as “I know a lot about this [hobby, topic]” or “I have a 

lot of experiences playing this [sport, game]” 

If you already have something that you are confident in, but you are worried about 

your language competency, perhaps joining English Connect activities might help 

you feel more confident in your ability to connect with your peers! 

Opportunity:Now that you have reflected on what you are good at, the next step 

is to evaluate how many chances that you can get from a club to form meaningful 

connections. 

Some clubs organise weekly meetups and major events, while others might focus on 

hosting a few medium-sized events. It is good to know if your schedule aligns with 

the clubs’, so you will have more chances to foster a sense of belonging! 

If you are reading this during Orientation Week, hop over to the festival at Lemon 

Scented Lawn and mingle with the clubs that you are interested in. Ask them if they 

have a list of events that they are planning to run this semester and see if you will be 

able to attend them.

53

54 

You can also reflect on your preference for socialising; If you prefer sitting down with 

your peers in a more intimate setting, perhaps the best opportunities for you would 

be the book club discussions at SURLY. 

Or, if you are looking for an opportunity to mingle in a big social setting, why not 

consider attending the cross-university ball that the Monash Student’s Neuroscience 

and Psychology Society is organising with the Melbourne University Psychology 

Association at the San Remo Ballroom on April 30? It is open for everyone, and you 

might even stumble upon the author of this article (Bridgerton fans, am I giving Lady 

Whistledown-esque vibe yet?) 

Motivation: Everyone has a different reason to seek out belonging. A great question 

to ask yourself is, “what does ‘belonging’ mean to me?” – when you visualise yourself 

as someone who belongs in the community, what do you see yourself doing? 

Perhaps you see yourself as having a support system while you are studying, eating 

your cultural food while laughing with a group of friends, or having a group hug after 

a sports competition. 

Understanding what drives you towards connection can help you in your quest of 

fostering a sense of belonging at university, especially when your motivation is 

aligned with the purpose of the clubs and societies you want to partake in. 

C&S divides clubs into different categories. If you know that your sense of belonging 

is culturally-driven (e.g., your personal values are heavily aligned with your culture 

and you often experience homesickness), perhaps joining cultural clubs will be more 

of value to you than joining other types of clubs. 

Perception: This final component refers to your cognition (i.e., thought processes) and 

feelings about belonging. Someone can be motivated to seek out belonging, have 

plenty of opportunities to interact, and is competent in forming connections, but still 

struggle to perceive themself as a person who belongs. 

Our perception is greatly shaped by our past experiences, even if we came from 

the same cultural background, there are still combinations of events in our lives that 

make us see the world through unique lenses; and Monash is a highly multicultural 

space! 

If you come from a highly collective culture like I do, you might be thrown off by the 

individualistic nature of Australian society, and it might be easy to perceive someone 

who sets a lot of personal boundaries as them rejecting you and not wanting to 

connect with you. The Intercultural Competence online module on Moodle is one 

resource that has helped me a lot in navigating my way through cultural differences 

here at university, and I cannot recommend it enough! 

However, if you are someone who has experienced a lot of social rejection in 

the past, then this might impact your perception of belonging even if you are 

interculturally competent. The counsellors at University Health Services might be the 

best people to go to if you have identified some psychosocial challenges that you 

would like to overcome. 

Do not hesitate to reach out, and I hope this article helps you find that sense of 

belonging this year!

THE STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION: A SEC-XY WAY FORWARD FOR 

OUR FUTURE 

BY CAMPBELL FROST 

About a week ago, I found myself immersed in the often overwhelming discussions 

around climate change, scrolling through the grim realities and political 

complexities that dominate the environmental discourse. However, within this sea 

of disheartening news, a beacon of hope emerges – Victoria’s State Electricity 

Commission (SEC). Today, let’s delve into what the SEC is up to and why it holds 

significance for us, the students of Monash University. 

In 2022, the Andrews Labor government made a bold commitment to revive the 

State Electricity Commission of Victoria, marking it as one of the most audacious 

sustainable energy initiatives globally. This initiative isn’t just confined to local 

boundaries; its impact is resonating globally, with similar policies being considered 

by the UK Labour Party in their yet-to-be-announced general election. While some 

political parties engage in performative rhetoric, like the Victorian ‘Socialists’ or the 

Greens Political Party, those familiar with Victorian state politics understand that it’s 

the Labor Government consistently translating words into actions. 

As per its Strategic Plan, the SEC is already contributing 38% of Victoria’s energy 

from renewable sources, a commendable feat. However, despite ranking fourth 

nationally in renewable energy capacity, there’s room for improvement attributed to 

past underinvestment by the former Coalition Government and a COVID-19-induced 

slowdown in infrastructure development. Undeterred, the SEC has set an ambitious 

target: achieving 95% renewable energy by 2035. 

Exciting projects, such as the Melbourne Renewable Battery Hub, are underway. 

This project is designed to store enough energy to power around 200,000 homes 

during peak times, emphasising that the SEC’s focus goes beyond environmental 

concerns; it ensures a seamless transition away from fossil fuels without 

compromising essential energy needs. 

This pivotal shift comes after a decade of relative inaction. For us university 

students, the question arises: What’s in it for us? Beyond environmental benefits, 

the SEC is paving the way for exciting career opportunities for Monash University 

students. With the burgeoning green energy revolution, we have the chance 

to contribute our skills to groundbreaking projects, being part of something 

transformative. 

Yet, it’s not solely about environmental stewardship, though that’s undeniably 

crucial. The SEC’s plan aims to put money back into the pockets of Victorians. How? 

First, by transitioning away from fossil fuels through infrastructure projects, and 

second, by ensuring that all new homes built from 2024 onward are all-electric. The 

estimated outcome? Families could save approximately $2,740 annually on their 

electricity bills. This isn’t just about reducing carbon footprints; it’s about tangible 

economic relief for everyday Victorians. 

So, the SEC transcends the checkbox approach to environmental initiatives. 

55

meaningful employment, and financial savings. The SEC isn’t just generating power; 

it’s catalysing a new perspective on our energy future, a perspective that aligns with 

the values of sustainability, economic well-being, and a collective commitment to a 

better future. 

Now, let’s delve deeper into why this matters specifically for us, the Monash 

University community. The SEC’s transition to renewable energy isn’t a mere 

catchphrase; it’s a gateway to potential careers. As the green energy revolution 

gains momentum, students at Monash University have the opportunity to actively 

contribute, applying classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. Imagine 

being at the forefront of a movement that isn’t just about progress but also about 

sustainability, making a genuine impact on the world. 

For Monash students, this isn’t a distant future. The SEC’s initiatives bridge the gap 

between academic learning and the challenges we’ll face in our professional 

journeys. It’s an opportunity to be pioneers in a field that’s not just booming but is 

crucial for the planet’s survival. 

The economic implications are substantial as well. The SEC isn’t solely about 

environmental conservation; it’s about economic empowerment for Victorians. The 

projected creation of 59,000 new jobs by the SEC adds another layer to the ripple 

effect – families saving money, students building meaningful careers, and a state 

setting a new standard on the global stage. 

As we navigate the complexities of our time, the SEC isn’t just a bureaucratic entity 

making decisions in a distant office. It’s a catalyst for change, a beacon of hope 

that not only articulates its commitment but also acts upon it. For us, the students 

at Monash University, it’s an opportunity to be part of something transformative, an 

opportunity that extends beyond textbooks and becomes an integral part of our 

lived experiences. 

In conclusion, as I sit here and gaze upon the endless lights of the Greater 

Melbourne Area, I realise that the SEC isn’t just about numbers and power grids; 

it’s about people and the future we’re all going to inherit. As Monash University 

students, we’re not just bystanders; we’re the future professionals, thinkers, and 

innovators who can turn these initiatives into reality. So, let’s not just watch from the 

sidelines; let’s get in there, contribute our skills, and be a part of shaping the future 

that awaits us all. 

Provided references for this article are available on our website. 

56

VAMPYRE 

BY LUCIA LANE 

CONTENT WARNING: GORE, DEATH 

YOU LOVE TO PLAY GAMES, 

HIDING UNDER THE BED 

WAKING ME UP WITH PRETTY FANGS IN MY NECK 

HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING ALL THESE YEARS 

CARMILLA, MY DEAR? 

I KNEW YOU BEFORE LIGHT, 

BEFORE TIME 

SOMETHING UNGODLY PROMISED 

YOU WOULD BE MINE 

ANGEL OF THE TINIEST DEATH, 

LEAVING ME SHAKING AND STRUGGLING FOR BREATH 

HOW CAN SOMEONE SO SOFT - SENSITIVE, 

COMPLETELY TRANSFORM AFTER SUNSET? 

IF HEAVEN WON’T HAVE YOU THAN THEY’RE NOTHING 

HOLY, 

THIS CREATURE OR DEMON HAS SHOWN ME MORE 

LOVE 

THAN ANYTHING GIVEN BY THOSE UP ABOVE 

HOLD MY STILL-BEATING HEART IN YOUR HANDS 

I BEG YOU 

I WILL DRINK EVERY DROP OF YOUR POISON 

AND THANK YOU FOR IT 

57

58

MSA Clubs and Societies 

Clubs offer you a chance to make the most of your uni life, and 

get involved in the Monash community. You have over 100 clubs at 

Monash Clayton to choose from across a range of categories including: 

academic; special interest; spiritual; and cultural. There truly is 

something for everyone. By joining a club you’re becoming a part of a 

vibrant community of like-minded students. Clubs are run by students, 

for students meaning they have your interests at heart. Join a club 

and enrich your university experience. Lay the foundation for enduring 

friendships and lifelong connections. 

Personally, clubs and Societies have been incredibly important to my 

own uni journey and I’m an active member in a range of clubs. This 

participation led me to serving on two club committees, and ultimately 

the C&S Executive – the governing body for clubs at the Clayton campus. 

In this time I’ve met some of my closest friends and learnt skills 

I’m sure will benefit me for years to come. 

Whether you’re looking for an academic support network; to enjoy a 

current hobby or pick up a new one; or to be part of a spiritual or cultural 

community at university I encourage you to join a club or maybe 

a few. I’m sure you won’t regret it. 

Paul Halliday 

2024 C&S President 

59

Clubs & Societies 2024 - Academic 

Monash Accounting Students Society (MASA) 

Monash Accounting Students’ Association (MASA) is a not-for-profit, 

student-led organisation with the primary objective of fostering 

meaningful connections between university students and corporate 

fi rms. We create a robust support network of driven individuals to 

help students with an interest in accounting to further their professional 

development and broaden their network. To fulfi l our mission, 

MASA organises and hosts highly engaging and value-driven networking 

events throughout the year, tailored to cater directly to our 

participants’ diverse needs. MASA’s three fl agship events offer the 

chance to connect with industry professionals – become a MASA 

member now to fi nd out more! 

Society of Arts Students (SAS) 

The Society of Arts Students (SAS) is a welcoming, fun-loving, and 

supportive student-run society at Monash Clayton, ready to bring 

students various unforgettable events throughout their degree. 

SAS offers students the opportunity to enrich their university connections 

through our range of social events, such as Trivia Nights, Arts 

Camp, and our Ball. We also provide opportunities for professional 

development through our range of academic events. Providing opportunities 

for a range of degrees. SAS welcomes all students! 

We hope you are as excited for 2024, as we are and we hope to 

see you at our events across the year! 

Society of Chemistry Students (SoCS) 

The Society of Chemistry Students is a friendly community of budding 

scientists who love all things chemistry related. From backyard 

scientists to titration competition winners, anyone with an interest in 

chemistry is welcome! 

Grind out your lab report, be a trivia champion and tour commercial 

analytical labs all with your new friends from SoCS. Our committee 

also works with the School of Chemistry to help support you 

through your chemistry units. 

Join SoCS, because every good relationship needs a little chemistry. 

Computing and Commerce Association (CCA) 

As the only joint commerce and IT club at Monash, we’re passionate 

about business, technology and the intersection of the two. 

We know how daunting it can be to navigate the challenges of 

uni, internships, and life beyond uni. That’s why we strive to equip 

our members for working life through opportunities to connect with 

working professionals and each other. 

Among our large variety of events, our 3 Flagship Events are our 

Trivia Night, Entrepreneurship Evening and Corporate Dinner. 

There’s something for everyone so keep an eye out! 

60

Monash Advanced Science Scholar Society (MASS) 

Greetings Monash’s to-be scientists, fi nd a community for yourselves 

here at MASS3 amongst fellow passionate science students! 

Free for all those with MSA+ and in one of the advanced science 

degrees (Research, Global Challenges, or Applied Data Science 

Advanced), the Monash Advanced Science & Science Scholars 

Society offers a space for advanced science students (and everyone 

else interested) to come together to appreciate, and complain, 

about our degrees. 

In addition to fun events to get to know other like-minded students, 

there are opportunities to network and learn alongside alumni and 

academics, so see you there! 

Monash Engineering Students Society (MESS) 

MESS is Monash’s largest engineering club. Our mission is to support 

the growth of all engineering students throughout their journey 

via our four portfolios: 

• Academic – Offers helpful resources such as an education 

guide and revision sessions; 

• Industry – Works to connect students with industry professionals 

via networking events and a careers guide; 

• Social – Provides opportunities for students to socialise through 

events such as cocktail night, a ball, and BBQs; and 

• Wellbeing & Equity – Connects, educates, and advocates for 

all Engineering students, with a podcast aiming to destigmatise 

relevant issues. 

See you at our events and stay MESSy! 

Monash Education and Teachers’ Association (META) 

Hello! We’re META, the Education Faculty’s student society, encompassing 

all future teachers and educators at Monash! Our goal is 

to provide a nurturing space for education students and emerging 

teachers to learn and grow, whilst offering opportunities for you to 

boost your professional knowledge. We run a host of social events 

such as exciting bar nights, BBQs, along with our iconic MET-A 

Gala. On top of this, META organises various academic events such 

as placement information sessions, LANTITE presentations, and Q&A 

panels with graduates and professionals in the community! We look 

forward to meeting our new future educators! 

61

Society of Monash Electrical Engineers (SMEE) 

The Society of Monash Electrical Engineers (SMEE) is a student-run 

committee with the goal of enriching your student experience. This 

is achieved through our exhilarating Robot Building Competition, 

must-go Tech Industry Night, practical workshops and our social 

coffee and barbecue get-togethers! SMEE also sells electrical components 

for your academic or personal project, feel free to come 

along to the SMEE Room (Building 35, Room 111) for a capacitor 

and a coffee.Being the student body for electrical engineers also 

allows us to pass on any queries you may have to the ECSE department. 

Come join us in our Discord Server! 

Engineering Without Borders Monash (EWB) 

EWB Monash aims to educate students about the power of humanitarian 

engineering and how engineers can make a difference in 

society. We host a variety of events throughout the year, including 

a trivia night, networking events, social events and the Ideathon. 

We also have a youth outreach programme which aims to educate 

students about humanitarian engineering. 

Financial Management Association of Australia (FMAA) 

The Financial Management Association of Australia (FMAA) is 

Australia’s largest professionally-focused student society that 

actively promotes career awareness to students. The FMAA strives 

to facilitate connections between students and Australia’s leading 

employers in investment banking, asset management, management 

consulting, fi nancial and professional services employers through 

networking, sponsor tailored events, as well as its various case competitions. 

With the continuous support of our founding Gold Sponsor, 

Macquarie Group, the FMAA has branches across Australia’s top 

six universities connecting over three thousand members to over 

sixty sponsor fi rms. 

GLEAM: Queers in STEM 

GLEAM is a student-run group for Queer+ identifying students in science, 

technology, engineering and maths at Monash university. We 

have continued to run popular social events including: Crafternoon; 

Pride Picnic; Queer Night Out; and much more! We also provide 

career and industry related resources and opportunities through our 

newsletters and LGBTQ+ friendly STEM networking events. Be sure 

to follow us on Instagram & Facebook and become a member to 

keep up to date with events and newsletters! All are welcome :) 

62

Humanities and Social Sciences Club (HASS) 

The HASS Club is the go-to club for lovers of history, anthropology, 

sociology and anything else that falls under the humanities banner. 

HASS offers students that are interested in the humanities and 

social sciences a space to engage with their interests, exploring the 

humanities at Monash and beyond. We value creating a community-led 

university experience and are committed to inclusivity and 

social justice. As a club, we aim to run a wide variety of events from 

panel events, book clubs, speaking events, industry engagement 

opportunities, and so much more! Stay tuned! 

Monash International Affairs Society (MIAS) 

Monash International Affairs Society (MIAS) is an apolitical student 

society at Monash University, Clayton that works towards establishing 

a network for students passionate about international affairs 

and global relations. We aim to develop students’ skills in vital areas 

such as debating, negotiation, leadership, problem solving, and 

understanding of international affairs. Previous event guests have 

included: the Ukrainian Ambassador; the Italian Consul General; 

board members of NGOs; and United Nations representatives from 

departments such as the WHO, UNGA, and the WMD Branch. 

MIAS is open to students from all disciplines who share an interest 

in international affairs. 

Monash Music and Theatre Society (MATS) 

Hey there, future rockstars and theatre afi cionados! Ready to turn 

your uni experience into a symphony of epic proportions? Meet 

MATS – the Music and Theatre Society at Monash University! We’re 

not your average club; we’re a vibe, a community that unites musicians 

of all genres – jazz, classical, pop, you name it – and theatre 

lovers alike. Jam sessions? Check. Cheeky BBQ’s and bar nights? 

Absolutely. Want some extra help with your theory? Come study with 

us! Your adventure starts here with MATS – See what we are up to 

at @monashmats on Instagram! 

Monash Nutrition and Dietiics Society (MNDS) 

Welcome to the Monash Nutrition and Dietetics Club, where health 

meets community! In 2024, our goal is to foster a vibrant space for 

members passionate about nutritious food and fi tness. We aim to 

elevate knowledge through insightful events, exciting opportunities 

to network with new people, and expert talks. Join us in promoting 

a holistic approach to health. Exciting opportunities await as we’re 

hiring enthusiastic First Year Representatives and a Social Media 

Coordinator to amplify our online presence. Be part of a dynamic 

community shaping the future of nutrition and dietetics. Your journey 

towards a healthier, informed lifestyle begins here! 

63

Monash Philosophy Society (MPS) 

EVER CONSIDERED HAVING AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS? 

Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in this thought-provoking 

lifestyle for the fi rst time or yearning to relive your glory days, the 

Monash Philosophy Society (MPS) has got you covered! 

In all seriousness, you don’t have to be a snooty scholar, nor a hedonistic 

hippie to make the most of everything we have to offer. From our 

weekly musings on a wide variety of engrossing topics to our recurring 

talks, panels, debates, and workshops with fellow thinkers near and 

far, there’s never a dull moment here at MPS! 

Monash Science Society (MSS) 

Monash Science Society (MSS) is a student-run club where we strive to 

help science and non-science students alike gain the most from their 

time at university. We’re here to throw the best social events out there, 

such as our First-years Camp and Annual Ball, helping you meet new 

friends, and have a blast amidst your studies. Speaking of studies, MSS 

is also committed to ensuring that science students are set on the right 

career path, through hosting multiple academic and networking events 

throughout the year. Here at MSS, we’ve got something for everyone, so 

make sure to sign up!! 

Students’ Neuroscience and Psychology Society 

(SNAPS) 

Hello! We are an award-winning club for students who are interested 

in Neuroscience and Psychology. Alongside academic and 

social events, we offer useful and evidence-based resources on 

brain research, mental health, study skills, and personal development 

through our newsletters and socials. Our members will have 

access to our resources, and get special discounts for our events 

and merchandise. Best thing is, it only costs $3 to join us for a year 

with MSA+! We have an amazing line-up of events planned this semester, 

including a joint ball with Melbourne Uni Psych Association. 

Women in Engineering at Monash (WEM) 

Women in Engineering at Monash’s (previously FEM) core mission is 

to support women in engineering, science, technology, and maths. 

The club holds a variety of industry, social, and outreach events. 

These events create a support network specifi cally directed at 

women-identifying students in engineering while also welcoming all 

STEM students. 

WEM’s goal in 2024 is to continue to encourage the role of women 

in STEM. Our focus this year is to increase the size of our current out- 

64

Cultural & Spiritual 

Monash Arab Society 

Habibis and Habibtis! Look no further, as the long-awaited arrival of 

an Arab student society at Monash has fi nally happened in 2024! 

In classic Arab style, we’ll deliver to you what we feel the student 

experience has been lacking, in the best way we know how. 

Through Cultural breakfasts and dinners, Karaoke Nights, and so 

much more, we aim to provide a hub for Arab students seeking a 

vibrant community to interact and celebrate their traditions in, while 

representing our diverse and beautiful culture in the wider Monash 

community. 

Come visit us at our O-Week stall for more information and a 

chance to win some cool limited edition gifts. And keep your eyes 

peeled on our Instagram and Facebook page for regular updates 

and posts! 

Monash Catholics 

Hey there! We’re Monash Catholics, a group of students who love 

Christ and His Church. Our motto, ‘Lumen Beatum Praedicans’, 

expresses the club’s purpose: to support each other and foster our 

relationship with God. 

Our events give students an opportunity to learn more about the 

Catholic faith. This year, we offer Bible Study Sessions and Catholicism 

101 Talks, held in the Religious Centre. Additionally, we host 

various social events throughout the year – keep an eye on our 

social media for details! We hope to see you around. God bless! 

Monash Hellenic Students Society 

Monash Hellenic Student Society (MHSS) seeks to connect the 

Greek and non-Greek students of Monash by providing an enriching 

cultural and social space for our members. We want to share 

all things Greek, including: food; language; music; dancing; soccer; 

and philosophy. 

We hope to see you at our Souvlaki Days, Sweets Days, annual 

Tavern Nights, and more! 

Monash Japanese Club (MJC) 

Hello there! Yokoso to the Monash Japanese Club (MJC). We strive 

to provide a place to freely discuss Japanese culture and language 

and make friends with those who are interested in Japan! We hold 

weekly Kaiwa (conversation classes) where you can come and 

socialise while learning about the Japanese language and culture! 

We also hold fortnightly events that are purely for laughs and giggles. 

Come join us to have some easy-peasy Japanese-y fun!! 

65

Monash Jewish Students Society (MonJSS) 

MonJSS is the Jewish students’ representative body at Monash 

University’s Clayton Campus, coordinating year-round social, 

cultural, and political events. MonJSS is a pluralist club and aims 

to create a supportive and welcoming community environment 

for all Jewish Students. In 2024, MonJSS will be running frequent 

social events, as well as providing opportunities for students to 

enhance their understanding of topics relating to Judaism on a 

local and global scale. 

Monash University Malaysian Students Union 

(MUMSU) 

Established in 1972, MUMSU has become one of Monash 

University’s biggest non-faculty organisations. Here at MUMSU, 

we seek to not only represent all Malaysian students within the 

Clayton Campus, but also to share our rich Malaysian culture and 

traditions with the broader community. As a not-for-profi t student 

union run by students, our events cater to fellow Malaysians 

as well as other international students! We strive to enrich your 

experiences here at Monash University with priceless experiences 

and timeless memories. 

Pakistani Association at Monash (PAM) 

The Pakistani Association at Monash (PAM) is one of the newest 

clubs at Monash University, created for the wider student 

community. We aim to introduce and promote Pakistani culture, 

language, and traditions to everyone at Monash. In addition, the 

society aims to create a dependable support network for Pakistani 

students by providing a more wholesome university experience. 

Movie nights, game nights, cultural nights, as well as more fun 

social events are a few initiatives our committee plans to bring to 

you this semester. We’re keen to see you at future events! Make 

sure to follow our socials! 

Spainish and Latin American Club (SLAC) 

Hola Everyone! 

If you are interested in having a good time, and exploring Latin 

culture, come join us for some fun and educational events this 

year! We will be hosting exciting social events and conversation 

classes for all levels of Spanish. 

SLAC is a cultural club that aims to promote Spanish and Latin 

American cultures, as well as providing a safe social space for all. 

Anyone is welcome to join our club, regardless of your background. 

You don’t need to know Spanish to join! 

66

Vietmanese Students’ Association Monash (VSA) 

Here at VSA Monash, our ethos revolves around consistently 

challenging our limits to champion and preserve the Vietnamese 

identity. At our core, we hold fi rm our unwavering commitment 

to support the Vietnamese community through volunteering and 

charitable endeavours. 

Simultaneously, we embrace the diversity of those who join us to 

revel in the depths of Vietnamese culture, while actively working 

to foster growth and inclusivity. Throughout 2024, VSA Monash 

will build on existing foundations to nurture a vibrant collective 

dedicated to reciprocating the warmth that many of us know and 

appreciate Vietnamese heritage for. 

Political & Special Interest 

Monash ALP (Labor) Club 

Hey everyone! We’re the Monash ALP (Labor) Club. If you have an 

interest in progressive politics, change starts here! 

From LGBTQIA+ rights to feminism to climate change, the ALP 

Club believes in using our platform as students to advocate for 

better outcomes for all. In 2023, we got to learn fi rsthand from 

people within the movement, from MPs to prominent activists. We 

campaigned to support the Voice to Parliament, and ran social 

events such as Politics in the Pav, trivia nights, and movie nights, 

which will continue in 2024. Reach out if this interests you! 

Monash Boardgames Society (MBS) 

We’re the Monash Boardgames Society, and we offer what 

you expect – playing board games! Every Monday night during 

semester, we roll a big trolley with over one hundred games, with 

anyone free to play! From Exploding Kittens to Eclipse, Antidote to 

Wingspan, we have a large range of games from the casual to the 

complex, and a friendly community to play them with. 

We also run a tournament each semester, pizza nights, collabs with 

other clubs, and Thursday Night BYO. 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or join our Discord to stay in the 

loop. 

Hope to see you there! 

67

Monash Card Collective (MCC) 

The best place on campus to jam all your favourite CCGs and 

TCGs. We boast a thriving Magic: The Gathering scene across 

all levels of competition and a wide host of die-hard Yu-Gi-Oh! 

Regulars! Between pre-releases, cube drafts, set drafts, insemester 

leagues, Swisse bracket tournaments, and our newly 

launching competitive testing teams, we have events running 

almost every week. Wanting something even more casual? We 

have a wide and dedicated group of commander regulars with 

decks ready to fi ght or lend. 

Don’t know how to play? Come along anyway! Our on-staff 

judges and friendly regulars are always keen to indoctrinate… I 

mean teach new players! 

Monash Association of Debaters (MAD) 

Do you want to make friends, learn new skills, and have the best 

time possible at Monash? 

Come down to the Monash Association of Debaters on a 

Tuesday or Thursday! With tons of stuff planned for the year from 

game and movie nights, to on campus socials, we are super 

excited to have new people along for the ride. 

Worried about being a new debater? Don’t fret! We make 

everything as accessible as possible, including our super exciting 

collaboration event with Queensland University on March 9 – so 

come down and get involved! 

Monash Disney Society 

Second Star to the right and straight onto Disney Society! We’re 

a tiny but mighty special-interest club here to help you hakuna 

matata away your time at Monash University. Hundreds of 

members join us every year for fun Mickey Mouse Clubhouselike 

activities, making us one of the largest non-academic clubs 

on Clayton campus. With frequent movie nights, as well as 

many other exciting events! You should see “How Far [We’ll] 

Go” to spread our club’s pride and enthusiasm in many Disney 

trivia and karaoke-themed nights throughout the semester! The 

highlight is when we bring the magic of Disney to our awardwinning 

Ball with themes to absolutely knock your socks off! If 

you’re looking for loving, inclusive, like-minded people – look no 

further than Monash Disney Society.! We can’t wait to see you 

there

Fantasy and Sci-Fi Association (FASA) 

The Fantasy and Sci-fi Association is the home of geeky media at 

uni. Whether you’re an avenger, whovian, hunter, pirate, or dragonrider, 

we welcome and celebrate all things fantasy and sci-fi . FASA 

runs weekly meetings where you can meet with like-minded people 

and play nerd centric games, all whilst escaping from the uni 

pain. After all, it’s only a fl esh wound. Whether it be Telestrations, 

Scattergories, Celebrity Name Game, or Werewolf, our activities will 

always be fun. Simply speak friend and enter, it’s as easy as that. 

We also host other fun events like cinema screenings of new fi lms, 

annual dinners and fortnightly movie nights! Come check us out at 

O-Week or sign up online to get emails about our events. So grab 

your Fez, ignite your lightsaber, cast your spells, hold onto your butts 

and set your phasors to stun. This… Is.. FASA! 

Monash Film Society (MFS) 

The Monash Film Society (MFS) is a social club for all who love 

movies. From dedicated fi lm buffs to casual movie-goers, all are 

welcome at MFS! Our club hosts weekly events, ranging from free 

movie screenings for members, to guest speakers, giveaways, 

pizza, and trivia nights – the perfect remedy for the study blues. We 

also host workshops for those wanting to pick up the camera, have 

discussions about fi lm, and off campus social events, with activities 

catering for casual movie viewers and cinephiles alike! 

Monash University Greens Society (MUGS) 

Are you angry with the state of Australian politics? I mean, why 

wouldn’t you be? You have a “progressive” left-wing government 

opening up new coal and gas projects at a higher and faster 

rate than the previous government (Climate Council); rents are 

increasing, everything is expensive, all whilst the rich continue to get 

richer. MUGS is a club comprised of like-minded young, progressive 

students who aim to promote green values. We have many plans 

for 2024, such as Q&A sessions with MPs, Weekly News Nights, 

Politics in the Pub, etc.! Join us for FREE if you’re an MSA+ member. 

Monash University Liberal Club 

Founded in 1962, the Monash University Liberal Club is the only 

centre-right club on campus, providing an outlet to students 

interested in conservatism, liberalism, and an alternative to the 

left-wing orthodoxy on campus. In addition to regular weekly 

meetings every Wednesday at 1:00pm, club members will have the 

opportunity to attend numerous pub nights, campaigning events 

and dinners; not to mention the annual Canberra Budget Trip! 

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Monash Medieval Club 

We are the Monash Medieval Club — for people who are interested 

in history and hanging out. While we are called the Medieval 

Club, we explore pre-sixteenth century history in general, catering 

to many different historical interests. If you are someone that likes 

to chill while learning about mediaeval life, we run weekly arts 

and craft-based activities such as embroidery, garment making, 

and mediaeval dancing. There is also weekly mediaeval combat 

training where you get to dress up in armour. Throughout the year 

there are one-off events like tourneys, camping events, and BBQs, 

so there is something for everyone. 

Monash Muggles 

Do you love Harry Potter and want to make friends with like-minded 

muggles? Then this is the club for you. Our club is welcoming to 

everyone and is a fun, safe place to talk and do all things Harry 

Potter. We run many events throughout the year including movie 

nights, trivia and game nights and more. Follow our socials for 

updates on upcoming events and to meet our committee! – mischief 

managed. 

Monash University Role Players (MURP) 

Monash University Role Players is a club about tabletop roleplaying 

games. We aim to connect game masters with players and 

facilitate groups playing all types of TTRPGs at Monash, from 

Dungeons and Dragons to Call of Cthulhu. We help establish 

weekly games and other role-playing events such as our Infernal 

that runs on the Thursday of Week 1 of each semester or our 

General Meetings and game spruiks, where most of our games are 

advertised, which occur in Week 2 of every semester. 

Society for Anime and Manga Appreciation (SAMA) 

Are you also a fan ofanime, manga, and anything in between? 

Then the Society for Anime and Manga Appreciation would love to 

welcome you! We host unique events each week and have weekly 

social meetups, art meetups, and anime screenings, providing 

perfect opportunities to meet others with shared interests and 

enrich your social experience! Our reputation as one of the biggest 

university anime clubs in Victoria has given us the honour of offering 

our members discounts on anime goods from both online and instore 

merchants around Australia. 

We hope to see you soon! 

To view a full list of MSA Clubs and Societies, head to 

clubs.msa.monash.edu 

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LOT’S 

OF 

LOVE... 

UNTIL NEXT TIME! 

Edition One, 2024 / Front cover art by Ruby Comte

Lot's Wife Edition 1 2024

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