Lot's Wife Edition 2 2016

LOT’S WIFE
— EDITION TWO —

Urban
Market
The market that makes
a difference
10am – 3pm
Wednesday 13 April
Northern Plaza
Monash Clayton campus
handmade, homemade, vintage & upcycled goods
l food l music l workshops
monash.edu/urban-market
BYO bag and cup
What is Consent?
When it comes to sex, consent is the most important part.
In Victoria, consent means a ‘free agreement’, so for someone to consent they need to
understand what they’re agreeing to, communicate their consent by words and/or actions
the whole time, and be agreeing of their own free will, not out of fear or force.
How can you make sure you have consent?
• Remember, it’s your job to ask. Try asking, “Do you want me to…?” and only act if they
say yes.
• Pay attention to their body language, and make sure to stop and check in if they look
uncomfortable
• Never make or act on assumptions on what someone is agreeing to without asking
them.
• Remember that if someone is asleep, unconscious, or too intoxicated to make
reasonable judgement, they cannot grant consent.
Engaging in any sexual act, without consent, is an act of violence and a criminal act.
For information, advice and support in a safe environment, contact the Monash
University Safer Community Unit on 9905 1599 or dial 51599 from a Monash
phone.
The Safer Community Unit website also lists resources and links to external
agencies http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/safercommunity/

CONTENTS
Lot’s Wife is entirely written,
illustrated, edited and
distributed by students,
just like yourself!
If you would like to be
involved, we are always
always always looking
for new contributors and
volunteers.
Say hi anytime:
Lot’s Wife Office
1st Floor, Campus Centre,
turn right at the MSA desk.
Or drop us a line at
lotswife2016@gmail.com
Advertising inquiries:
E: msa-lotswife@monash.edu
P: 03 9905 8174
About the cover artist
Viet-My Bui is a third year
Communication Design
student. After graduating
from uni with a law degree
in 2012 and working a few
years as a paralegal, she
became deeply disillusioned
by her job and decided to
abandon it all for her love of
art. She hasn’t looked back.
Instagram: @vietmy.bui
STUDENT
07
09
10
12
13
14
15
16
Rising out of Chaos
It’s as easy as ABC
The best years of your life
Running at 601 percent
Beware the night (exams)
Fossil-free Monash
SCIENCE
CREATIVE
SOCIETY
19 How to break a city’s heart
21 Patriotism: It’s un-Australian
22 A leg to stand on: your myki rights
25 The ‘Freedom Boy’ for Goldstein
26 Behind bars: failures of the
prison system
28 Wot’s Life With Daria & Quinn
CULTURE
35 Detecting a wiggle in space-time 43 The hunting ground
36 Interview: Eric Thrane
45 Death of an icon
37 Ice, Ice, baby!
47 April gig guide
38 Components and competition:
Apple’s pricing game
48 Autumn Adventures
40 We put the fun in funerals 51 A fresh look at reinventing
the R-rated superhero
41 Puzzle: Science Crossword
52 No Capes
55
56
58
F.O.I – not for you and I
Office Bearer Reports
The Proposal
Beware: the choice is yours
Impossible Diplomacy
BONUS
30 Centrefold: Pull-out
calendar and poster
58
Cut-out: How to fake your
way through uni
Lot’s Wife | 3

EDITORS
DESIGN
Timothy Newport
Carina Florea
Lisa Healy
Natalie Ng
SUB-EDITORS
STUDENT
SOCIETY
SCIENCE
Tricia Ong
Jermaine Doh
Rajat Lal
Matthew Edwards
Ishana Srivastava-Khan
Maddy Luke
Kinto Behr
Kathy Zhang
Mevani Amarasinghe
CARINA FLOREA
CULTURE
CREATIVE
Lot’s Wife Edition Two
April 2016
© Lot’s Wife Magazine
Level 1, Campus Centre
Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3800
Lachlan Liesfield
Layla Homewood
Melissa Fernando
Amber Davis
Audrey El-Osta
Sarah Kay
Published by Mary Giblin, Printgraphics, Mount Waverley
As you read this paper you are on Aboriginal land. We at Lot’s
Wife recognise the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung peoples of
the Kulin Nations as the historical and rightful owners and custodians
of the lands and waters on which this newspaper is produced.
The land was stolen and sovereignty was never ceded.
Lot’s Wife condemns and will not publish any material that
is racist, sexist, queerphobic, ableist or discriminatory in any
nature. The views expressed herein are those of the attributed
writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors
or the MSA. All writing and artwork remains the property of the
producers and must not be reproduced without their written
consent.
First things first. I fucking hate writing my editorial.
I can never think of anything to write and I always leave it to the
last minute. I don’t know how to be witty or entertaining, I only know
how to creatively place obscure Simpsons references into my writing and
curate an amazing holyshitourdeadlineisintwodays playlist. Therefore, for
my editorial, I bring you a playlist that describes the Lot’s Wife editing
process from my perspective.
A looming Lot’s Wife deadline brings about many emotions.
Ungodly amounts of stress and fear are two that spring to mind instantly.
I don’t know if I’m the only one but copious amounts of noughties So
Fresh hits sooth my troubles. So here’s my playlist, starting from sending
the previous edition to print, to the content meeting at Sir John’s for this
one, to finishing my editorial five minutes before deadline:
• ‘Mr Brightside’ – The Killers
• ‘Sunsets’ – Powderfinger
• ‘Ignition’ – R Kelly
• ‘Freestyler’ – Bomfunk MC’s
• ‘Let’s Get It Started’ – The Black Eyed Peas
• ‘SOS’ - Rihanna
• ‘Wake Me Up Inside’ – Evanescence
• ‘I Just Want To Live’ – Good Charlotte
• ‘Lift’ – Shannon Noll
For more information on Grand Funk, consult your school library.
4 | Lot’s Wife

LISA HEALY
Hello! Welcome to edition 2. This baby’s been basted and
cookin’ for a while. To answer the question on none of your
lips, NO I have not become an Amazon woman (please refer
to image above if dazed and confused). In fact, it’s a hard life
not being an Amazon woman and sometimes I feel a little lost,
y’know? So to help me help myself on the slippery, slippery
slope that I am already on, I thought I’d write a comprehensive
to-do list (‘to do’ when I have the patience to follow a to-do list
and feel like I can really ‘do’ it!).
1. Devise wardrobe modelled off of Donna Summer and
Cher circa 1970’s. Prepare yourselves for billowing fabric,
possibly too much hair and liquid gold glittery goodness
2. Get more sleep or alternatively, tattoo eyes onto my eyeballs
so I can sleep during v. important business meetings
that are yet to occur in my life but feel are imminent
3. Stop saving so many stupid links on Facebook and just
read the actual article, god dammit
4. Drink less goon (*cough* Carina)
5. Resort to Seeking Arrangements if all else fails, which
may also lead to an upgrade from goon to champagne. May
also result in having someone to talk to that legitimately
believes I am ab fab. Will ditch if they become clingy and
decide not to buy Moet.
TIMOTHY NEWPORT
The bad news: if you think you’re not doing enough work,
you’re probably right.
The good news: if you think that, you’re doing better than
the chump over there who thinks they’re on top of everything.
Yeah, that chump. Stare at them. You know their secret.
The semester’s started, and then stopped (thanks Easter),
and now it’s back again! Did you know you’re a full third of the
way through? Yeah, don’t worry, it flew past us as well.
If you’re stressing right now, here’s my hot tips:
• P’s get degrees. HD’s get internships, placements, and
exchanges. If you don’t need the top shelf, don’t strain
something reaching for it.
• Video games can relax you, improve your reactions and
problem-solving skills, and drain your wallet.
• Try sleeping? Idk, it worked for me.
If you’re totally chilled out right now, here’s my hot take:
That’s it for now. Send your to-do lists (with love) along
with weekly updates so I know that I’m not the only one flailing
and failing in this world.
Lot’s Wife | 5

STUDENT

STUDENT
Rising out
of Chaos
by Kate Mani
Illustration by Carina Florea
A flashback to our former self.
Chaos. In the week leading up to a Lot’s Wife printing
deadline it may seem like the paper’s middle name.
Well, not all that long ago it was.
Undoubtedly the greatest keeper of Lot’s Wife stories
is past Monash student, Pete Steedman. A former federal
parliamentary member for Casey and Executive Director of
not-for-profit company Ausmusic, Steedman reported for,
edited and revolutionised both Lot’s Wife and its predecessor,
Chaos, during his time at Monash.
“Monash had this incredible reputation of being
radical,” he says. “When you sum it down…the only thing
radical was what was coming out of Lot’s Wife!”
The revolutionary nature of Monash student press
reflected the environment into which it was born. Monash
University was founded in 1958, the only new university
at that time to ‘start up from scratch’, not evolving from a
pre-existing TAFE or college. “That’s what makes [Monash]
so unique,” Steedman says. “There was no peer group, no
establishment, no ground rules, no laws, just fucking mud
everywhere. You didn’t have anybody to lead you into
university or explain anything, you created everything on
the spot.”
The paper students created was truly their own.
During O-Week in 1962, a bold tabloid hit the Monash
campus, Chaos. A world away from today’s glossy magazine,
Chaos was first and foremost a newspaper. Highly political
and controversial, Steedman recollects writing articles
“attacking the coppers, attacking the university, attacking
everybody.” Covering contemporary social issues from
police brutality to the existence of God, Chaos was known
for doing its research. “Chaos didn’t act as propaganda,
it showed all sides of an argument,” Steedman says. Its
capacity to generate debate and therefore influence students
is what Steedman believes made it dangerous, as people
were able to learn from it, trust it and adopt new ideas.
In 1964 the paper was edited by a new team including
Emeritus Professor Ross Fitzgerald, now an Australian
academic, historian, writer and political commentator. The
group “decided they were going to be…revolutionary” and
the blank spaces where articles should have appeared in
editions of their paper are a testament to this. “Because the
printers wouldn’t publish some of their bullshit they left
spaces and then published the articles in separate sheets,”
Steedman says.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the printers of The
Age, who printed Chaos and then Lot’s Wife, acted as a censor
on student press. Further restrictions by this conservative
printer in 1965 saw the editing team search for another
company and discover a small printer in Waverley. This was
one of the first printing presses in Victoria to use offset
printing, then a modern technique whereby inked images
were transferred (or “offset”) from a metal plate to a rubber
blanket and pressed onto the printing surface. Always ahead
of its game, in 1965 Monash also boasted the first colour
student newspaper in Australia.
Steedman was never put off by the university’s
attempts to censor him. “I didn’t cop that [censorship],” he
says. “I asked the uni what are you going to do about it?” But
Lot’s Wife | 7

STUDENT
“I never
censored
anybody.
Everybody
got a go.”
Steedman’s refusal to keep quiet had consequences reaching
further than just university disciplinary action. During
later periods of editing at Melbourne University’s Farrago,
Steedman received a ‘D-Notice’ stating he had threatened
the defence of the country. The article in question, which
was pulled off the printing press and denied publication,
had been written by a welfare officer in the Northern
Territory and discussed the way Aboriginals were being
treated in the 1960s. “That article was harmless but I was
served a ‘D-Notice’ by the Federal Police,” he says.
As a child of the 60s, it’s no surprise that Chaos,
soon to become Lot’s Wife, reported extensively on the
Vietnam War and conscription. The 1965 National Forum
on Vietnam was held at Monash University and hosted a
string of high-profile names, including leading anti-war
figure Dr Jim Cairns and External Affairs Minister and later
Governor-General, Paul Hasluck. The Forum was covered
in detail in Lot’s Wife by co-editors at the time, Phillip
Frazer and Peter Moylan, but it wasn’t just students who
did the reporting. Lecturers and university staff were often
published in Chaos and Lot’s Wife, such as senior politics
lecturer Max Teichmann’s contribution to the conscription
debate and economic lecturer Ian Ward’s article on Vietnam.
But it wasn’t all politics. “The highlight of the year,
which of course upsets people now, was the Miss Monash
contest,” Steedman says. While photos of Miss Science, Miss
Engineering and Miss Economics would not be accepted
now, Steedman insists the some of the most prominent
feminists of the day were crowned Miss Monash at some
point.
In 1964, Chaos was renamed Lot’s Wife by the now
prominent science fiction author and science writer,
Damien Broderick. Supposedly a move to tidy up the paper,
Steedman states “Damien had this thing about not looking
back.” In the Old Testament, Lot and his wife fled the
destruction of Sodom with God’s promise to spare them if
they left behind their burning town without a backwards
glance. Lot’s wife, upon looking back, was turned into a
pillar of salt for not obeying God’s orders. While the new
title suggested a fresh start, the paper’s content remained
as radical as ever. In the first Lot’s Wife edition, a front page
report on an inquiry into police brutality in Sydney towards
eight university students showed that the paper had no
intention of backing down from questioning authority.
According to Steedman, Lot’s Wife gradually became
less hard news and more “the youth package,” reviewing
everything from music and concerts to fashion. “This is
Barrie Humphries when he first started up,” Steedman says,
pointing to an article promoting his stage act, Excuse I. “Mrs
Everidge had just started,” Steedman notes. “Humphries
invented her in the late 50s.”
1966 saw the relationship between Lot’s Wife and
Farrago come to share more in common than just their
status as university newspapers. As Lot’s Wife editor,
Steedman joined forces with the University of Melbourne’s
Ian Robinson to create a highly controversial joint Lot’s
Wife/Farrago edition. “That really upset [the students],”
Steedman says. Pooling resources gave the publication the
money to print more articles and develop more content.
The front cover set the tone for an anti-Vietnam War issue,
with a cartoon in which US president Lyndon B. Johnson
confessed to “raping” Vietnam, but sought justification in
that if he had not, Chairman Mao, portrayed on crutches,
would have done so.
While the original tabloids Chaos and Lot’s Wife seem
vastly different from today’s glossy publications, they share
a similar ethos, allowing all students the chance to write.
“I never censored anybody,” Steedman says of his time as
editor. “Everybody got a go.”
Despite evolving and differing political and social
issues since those early days, there are certain student
concerns which are unlikely to fade. “This was an article
attacking parking,” Steedman says with a laugh, pointing to
the faded, yellowing clipping. It seems there are some things
about Monash life that never change…
If you’d like to read past editions of Lot’s
Wife, all the way back to 1961, check out
lotswife.com.au
8 | Lot’s Wife

STUDENT
It’s as easy
as ABC
by Nadia Dimattina
Languages have been around for thousands of years,
continually changing with the addition of new words
and deletion of others. For a country that has such a diverse
range of cultures you’d think that Australia would promote
the study of languages in schools and universities.
However, this doesn't seem to be the case. In order
to bridge this language gap, it is very important to learn a
second language at some stage in life and what’s better than
studying a language at university?
Monash University offers a range of foreign languages
that students from any faculty have the opportunity to
study. Whether it’s German, Spanish or Indonesian, learning
a new language brings a long list of advantages. Here
are my top 5 reasons why you should consider studying a
language at university this year.
1. Benefits the brain
It has been shown through various studies that learning
a second language enhances brain power. These studies
have demonstrated improvements in both brain function
and cognitive skills of bilingual speakers when compared to
adults who speak one language. Bilingual speakers also have
demonstrated improvements in general intelligence, planning
and decision making, as well as better memory, focus
and concentration. Understanding a new language is one of
the biggest challenges for your brain, so don't forget that
as you are learning new words or how to form a sentence,
you are giving your brain a workout making it stronger and
smarter each day.
2. Increases career opportunities
We live in a globalised country as many companies in
Australia are reaching out to overseas and communicating
with people from all around the world. Therefore, when it
comes to choosing the best person for a job, someone who is
bilingual is more likely to be preferenced as it shows a whole
new area of expertise that will benefit globalised companies.
3. Travel
If you learn a foreign language it opens a new door of opportunities
allowing you to travel to a new country and learn
so much more about the language and culture. When you
travel with the knowledge of a new language you don't stand
out as a typical tourist due to having an understanding of
the language itself as well as your surroundings. By travelling
to the country of the language you have learnt, you
greatly improve both your listening and speaking skills. So
for those students who are currently learning a foreign language,
make sure you get involved in overseas exchanges or
Illustration by Jenna Oakford
even living overseas for a period of time as it will definitely
improve your abilities to speak another language as well as
provide an unforgettable experience.
4. Creating life long friendships
Traveling overseas with knowledge of another language
makes it easier for you to interact with locals and in doing
so, you can create life long friendships with people from all
different cultures. By making friends with people overseas,
you can regularly practice the language with them and further
improve your speaking abilities beyond the classroom.
From experience, learning a second language allowed me to
create new friendships with people in Japan and Italy and
these girls have now become some of my closest friends.
Having friends who live all around the world is a benefit in
itself as it gives you the best excuse to travel in order to visit
them and then see the country or city not as a tourist but as
a local, making the travel experience even more rewarding.
5. Learning new languages is simpler
Once you have mastered one language, learning another
language seems like a piece of cake. It is always simpler to
learn a new language having already learnt one as you have
already used the part of the brain responsible for language
learning. Therefore each time you learn another language
it just becomes easier as well as even more impressive than
you can speak multiple languages.
As a linguistic and foreign language student, I have learnt
that studying a language is easiest during your primary
school life as this is your critical learning period when your
brain is still developing. Yet as you grow older, it slowly
becomes more and more difficult to learn new languages but
it’s not at all impossible. So, don't keep waiting to learn a
new language. It may seem daunting at first, but it is a really
rewarding experience with endless amounts of benefits.
Lot’s Wife | 9

STUDENT
The best
years of
your life
by Sophia McNamara
“Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s
holy ground. There is no greater investment”.
- Stephen Covey
o what are you studying?” the student in my halls of
“Sresidence elevator asks nervously, breaking the ice.
“Law and Arts. You?”
“Engineering and Commerce”
“Nice. We’re both in long degrees, huh?” I said back,
thinking about how unfortunate it was for both of us that
we’re tied down at university for 5+ years.
As I walked to my class it got me thinking. Is it really so
bad to be studying at university for five or more years? You
know, they say the years you spend at university are the best
years of your life. With all the stress of exams, all the stress of
being perpetually broke, all the stress of spending a thousand
dollars on a subject that you could potentially fail, are these
years really so great?
10 | Lot’s Wife

STUDENT
Being a student
is like a get-outof-jail
free card.
You’re allowed
to be broke and
eat junk food.
You’re allowed to
stay up all night
completing an
assignment in its
entirety.
University is a unique time of your life. I’m in my third
year and I had to change my course twice before I settled
on something I was finally happy with. For me, university
has been a journey of self-discovery and growth. It taught
me responsibility and independence, something I thought I
had at high school but I hardly did. University, for me, was
a gateway to moving overseas and experiencing something
different to the familiar ground of New Zealand that I grew
up in.
I’ve been a waitress and I’ve been fired. In fact, I’ve
gone through a handful of different jobs. I’ve learned how
to make coffee, how to cater for a wedding, how to use the
checkout register at McDonalds, how to sell suitcases and
how to cook hamburgers; grounding experiences that I
would never have been through if I wasn’t a student. I’ve
been in overdraft multiple times, survived on two-minute
noodles on numerous occasions, spontaneously spent my
pay-cheque on flights to New Zealand the day before I left,
and of course, spent money on clothes I probably didn’t
need. But to me, those mistakes are okay. They’re okay
because they happened throughout the journey of something
much greater. And that’s the wonderful thing about
university – it’s a long-term investment of knowledge,
experience, discovery and growth. Making mistakes is okay
because they happen as you acquire new skills and build
yourself into something far greater than what you were to
begin with.
Being a student is like a get-out-of-jail free card. You’re
allowed to be broke and eat junk food. You’re allowed to stay
up all night completing an assignment in its entirety. You’re
allowed to abuse caffeine because you have exams. You’re
allowed to call your parents two days before payday and
ask them for money. You’re allowed to get hopelessly drunk
on Saturday night and spend all Sunday in bed recovering,
only to stay awake all night again watching Netflix before
crawling to your Monday 9am lecture in your old jeans and
a hoodie. Do you think you could maintain such a chaotic
lifestyle so successfully and free of judgment while working
a 9-5 professional job?
You are not working for another person or a corporation
– you are working for yourself. These are years you can
spend shamelessly focusing on no one but yourself, figuring
out what you really want to do in this world. You can change
your mind about what course you want to do but nothing
will be wasted, because with every subject you take comes
a new set of skills and new knowledge that you will take
with you everywhere you go. No one is forcing you to do
anything. You can take classes that really captivate your interest,
and write essays on topics that really matter to you.
You are the curator and sole author of your own
future, and gosh, aren’t we so lucky to be in that position?
Never again in our lives will we get three-month holidays.
Never again will we have the opportunity to travel, the opportunity
to try new things, to study different fields, to go
on exchange and live in a different country, to paint our own
destiny and be whoever it is that we might want to be.
After spending the last two years being scared of the
fact that I’ve tied myself down for 5+ years into a conjoint
law/arts degree with honours, I think it is time to see these
circumstances as nothing short of a blessing.
See our inside back page for some tips and
tricks for making through the daily grind.
Lot’s Wife | 11

STUDENT
Running at 601 percent
by George Kopelis
Illustration by Amber Francis
It’s fair to say Huntingdale station and the nearby 601 bus
stop are rudimentary, and not as sophisticated as most
other train station and bus interchanges. Lack of shelter at
the interchange, poor accessibility, car parks and roads to
cross would be bearable, if the actual service itself was up to
scratch.
But back to the bus interchange for a second. Weren’t
we promised a nice shiny new upgrade that would solve
all our woes? That was back in 2014, before the November
State Election. The Victorian Labor Party promised $5
million for the Huntingdale upgrade. In September 2015,
Monash University said it would contribute $200,000 to
this upgrade. An integrated bus, taxi, car and train interchange
was promised to better connect transport links,
provide shelter and improve safety.
It’s 2016 now and we still haven’t seen any significant
progress. The local Member of Parliament for Oakleigh,
Labor’s Steve Dimopoulos, said on Twitter “planning work
was well advanced” and a final design could be expected
in June. Construction will begin later this year, with work
to be finished by late 2017. Public Transport Victoria did
not respond to queries regarding construction or proposed
designs.
One and a half years since the election isn’t a long
time to wait, so let’s not point the finger at whichever
party was or is now in power. It’s the lack of consultation
and information that is more problematic, but the issue of
upgrading some facilities is minor compared to the actual
problem – the 601 bus service is not good enough.
Monash does a survey of the 601 every March and
August, and between 2011 and the March 2015, patronage
grew by 74% and is now the busiest bus route in Victoria.
More than 6000 Monash students use the route each day.
But in that time, the service has never changed from a bus
frequency of every four minutes.
Back in 2014, Monash’s then Vice-Chancellor
Margaret Gardner said the 601’s “existing facilities are
already at capacity”. If it was at capacity two years ago, then
that explains why the queue for the 601 stretches around
the corner and up Huntingdale Road on an average day. A
bus every four minutes in the morning and evening peak
doesn’t cut it – students should not be stuck at Huntingdale
waiting in line and missing classes because they can’t get on
multiple buses in a row. With the car parking pressures increasing
at Clayton campus this year, poor public transport
services will only become worse if they are left neglected.
12 | Lot’s Wife

STUDENT
Beware
the
night
(exams)
by Jessica Stone &
Daniel-Ffrench-Mullen
For us at the MSA Education (Academic Affairs) department,
Monday the 14th of March was a D-Day of
sorts. That morning, a global email was sent out by the
Monash Examination Services to inform students that
this year, at Monash University we will have night exams.
We spent a long time on StalkerSpace that day responding
to a myriad of comments showcasing a wide variety of
opinions on the changes. Now that the dust has settled,
we think it’s worth outlining what the situation is and why
the MSA is opposed to the introduction of night exams.
What’s actually going on?
Here are the basics of night exams: instead of the
normal two exam sessions per day at Caulfield Racecourse,
we will now have three. This third session (the night
session) will begin at 6pm and finish (ideally) at 8:10pm.
It will only be for two hour exams and Monash has stated
that no one will get three in one day. Nor will anyone get
a night exam and then a morning exam the very next day.
We don’t as yet know if you can have a three hour exam
in the afternoon session and then a night exam or some
other soul/gpa destroying combination.
Why is this happening?
Monash say that night exams are being implemented
due to overcapacity. Since the cap on places at universities
was removed by the federal government in 2009 (in
full in 2012) enrollment numbers have steadily increased.
As such, there are more exams that need to be held at
the end of each semester, and Monash says they’ve now
reached the ceiling for the normal exam period. So now
that Monash can’t fit more exams into the normal exam
arrangements, something needs to give. Of course we entirely
understand that Monash has to do something about
the exam ceiling; we’re not unreasonable people. But we
believe that making students sit exams at 6pm is not the
right solution.
So why does the MSA oppose this?
There are three primary reasons we’re against the introduction
of night exams. They come down to transport,
safety and concentration.
Transport: Monash University is not an American
College where everyone lives in dorms. Nor is Melbourne
a small European university town where everyone and
everything is nice and compact. It’s a sprawling behemoth,
with suburbs stretching over 50km from the CBD, and
public transport is not up to scratch. Many students take
huge routes of connecting buses, trains and even trams to
get to uni each day, and for some it takes over two hours.
So straight away, making students who are getting out of
an exam past 8 o’clock travel two hours to get home is a bit
harsh. Now maybe that wouldn’t be a big deal for some if
all services were still running, but again this is Melbourne:
they’re not. Most buses stop around 9pm. So if you get on
a train from Caulfield station around 8:30, take a trip that’s
over thirty minutes and then have to get a bus to get within
walking distance of your house, you’re probably going to be
left in quite a pickle, to say the least. Now for those of you
reading this now and thinking, “But heaps of uni students
go out at night and have to deal with the same transport
issues anyway,” that’s true but there’s a difference between
having to pay for a taxi home after you’ve decided to go
out drinking, and having to pay for a taxi/suffer because
Monash forces you to sit a night exam. It’s about who
should bear responsibility: night exams are not a student’s
choice so it’s shouldn’t be their responsibility to ensure that
they can easily get home, and Monash can’t change the fact
that many won’t be able to.
Safety: There are more issues than just whether your
bus runs at night, unfortunately public transport is not
always a safe way of travelling, particularly at night. In fact
crime on public transport has increased in recent years.
Again, even though many students go out at night in their
own time, we feel that when the university is making a
decision that will impact students, it is their responsibility
to ensure students’ safety. We know Monash would like to
make it safer for students if they could, but they just can’t.
And so despite good intentions, night exams simply can’t be
done safely.
Concentration: A lot of people have stated in our
survey that they would struggle to concentrate at that time
of day, particularly if they’ve had an exam earlier that same
day. Even if you’re a night owl, think about it like this: the
night exam time slot is dinner time. Think about how many
people are going to be writing with one hand and noisily
eating with the other, and that’s just plain annoying.
What now?
Whether you think we’re on the money, or completely
out of touch, we want your opinion.
Please fill out our survey on night exams by visiting
the ‘MSA Education’ page on Facebook.
And please feel free to contact the Education
(Academic Affairs) Department at
daniel.ffrench-mullen@monash.edu and/or
jessica.stone@monash.edu
Lot’s Wife | 13

STUDENT
Fossil-free Monash
Fossil Free Monash - you’ve seen the stickers around and
wondered ‘what does that even mean?’ Well, it means
a Monash that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels. Did you know
that Monash has over $400m invested in various shares
and companies, of which part is in fossil fuels? Our purpose
is to sever the relationship between Monash, a university
that prides itself on being ‘green’, and the industry that is
most responsible for submerging Pacific islands, destroying
glaciers and ruining ecosystems.
Monash is currently creating an environmental, social
and governance (ESG) policy that will influence its investments
into the future. We met with them and they proposed
to us that they feel they can create better environmental
outcomes through engaging with fossil fuel companies rather
than divesting from them. Divestment is symbolic; it’s
about delegitimising the fossil fuel industry and removing
their social license to pollute. Monash cannot continue to
invest in fossil fuels when they are creating a systematic risk
to our future - we cannot change the system by individually
recycling or saving water, we need respected institutions
to be the change that we want so we can get the change we
need. We need leadership and brilliance - so far we’ve gotten
‘take the bus’.
Divestment has been deployed before, and to great
effect. In the 80’s there was a push led by students to
divest from South Africa to protest against apartheid. Over
10 years $350m of investment was withdrawn from the
country, with major institutions like Barclays Bank citing
the campaign as the reason they divested. The campaign
by Rhyss Wyllie
Illustration by Georgia Braun-Hutchison
even reached the U.S. Government, which enacted the
Comprehensive Anti Apartheid Act in 1986. That is what
divestment is about - it isn’t about the money, it’s about the
power. The power to say ‘we won’t be part of this system,
we won’t add legitimacy to it by participating in it, and
we won’t be quiet about the destruction it wreaks.’ Our
campaign at Monash is similar - their share of money in
fossil fuels globally is a drop in the ocean, but imagine the
pressure, the attention and the power that can be harnessed
if a prestigious university like Monash washed its hands of
fossil fuels?
We’ve built our campaign from the ground up - it’s a
grassroots movement based here, run by students and for
students. We have support from 350.org, a global climate
organisation, but everything we do is decided by us. We own
our campaign and we invite you to become part of that ownership.
We work with 4 other universities in Victoria, sharing
skills, networks and capacity. Universities all over the
world have divested, including Stanford, Syracuse, Glasgow
and Warwick University, Monash’s ‘strategic partner’. In
Australia, both the ANU and The University of Sydney have
made moves towards divestment, however neither has fully
divested. This semester, we are launching Flood the Campus,
a national campaign of 6 universities aimed at escalating
the fossil free movement in Australia. We’re partnering with
our friends at Fossil Free Melbourne University (FFMU) and
while we can’t give much away, we can guarantee it’s going
to be big, and you’re invited!
14 | Lot’s Wife

STUDENT
F.O.I. – not for you and I
by James Temple
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI) was one of
the many legal and administrative reforms brought in
by the Cain state government. Prior to this, the government
was not obliged to disclose information about its internal
operations to the public. The Act represented a step towards
greater transparency, with the objective of extending “as far
as possible the right of the community to access to information
in the possession of the Government of Victoria and
[governmental agencies].” 1
It increased public scrutiny and debate over the operations
of government and other major public institutions.
Recently, FOI legislation has been used to inquire into travel
logs of members of parliament and government officials,
such as Bronwyn Bishop and Tony Burke. The scandals
generated by the revelations of extravagant travel expenses
being charged to the taxpayer, such as Ms. Bishop’s helicopter
ride, reveal how important the Act is in holding politicians
accountable. It helps to protect against corruption
and the abuse of power in government agencies, by allowing
ordinary people quick and reasonably low-cost access to
information. Or rather, it should, were the Act adhered to as
it were intended.
In 2012, the former premier John Cain slammed
consecutive governments for manipulating the legislation to
avoid releasing documents and dealing with public scrutiny. 2
Public servants and bureaucrats are adept at disposing of
problematic requests: such requests are usually for documents
that would reflect poorly on the agency, e.g. lists of
donors to political parties, or the personal journal of George
Brandis. The directive for a bureaucrat to reject a particular
request can come from the highest positions of power, executive
councils and even ministers.
In 2010, the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC), an independent body to report on
how the public sector collects, uses, and discloses information
was established. It is also to serve as the watchdog for
the administration of freedom of information and privacy
requests. Despite hopes of ushering in an era of greater
transparency and disclosure of information, the office has
been much maligned since its inception, and chronic reports
of inefficiency and understaffing culminated with the
Coalition’s decision to scrap it in 2015. John McMillan, the
first information commissioner, commented in an interview
that politicians “hate” freedom of information laws. 3
He went further saying it’s “culturally acceptable, to
thwart FOI requests” 4 and that the tone was set from the
top, by senior levels of government. Political interference in
requests to protect an agency from damaging its reputation
is common, and application of the Act has been eroded in
serving the interests of government, to the point where the
original wording seems almost laughable. The Act stipulates
that it must “be exercised as far as possible, so as to facilitate
and promote, promptly and at the lowest reasonable
cost, the disclosure of information.” 5 Clearly this attitude is
not in keeping with the spirit of the legislation, but how are
requests actually defeated, and is it legal?
The short answer is yes, there are many ways the
legislation can be manipulated or inappropriately applied to
deny the request. In my own recent experience with Monash
University, I have been on the receiving end of what I
believe to be deliberate attempts to sink my request. In July
2015, my request for a file list from the senior executive
database was knocked back for being unclear, unironically
signed off by executive services. This meant that the request
could not proceed, because it had not been deemed valid,
and consequently could not be appealed. To remove any
doubt about the clarity of my request, I conducted some
research and discovered the name of the database used by
several key administration units, TRIM Context. I amended
my request to seek a file list directly from TRIM, which was
then to be refused under section 25A(6) for being an unreasonable
drain upon resources.
Sourcing the documents, from the executive services
database with a print file list function, notifying me of a
decision and actually printing the documents were part of
what was considered too burdensome, despite all being the
most basic requirements of the legislation. More research
on the classification structure of the database allowed me
to progress by narrowing the scope to only two fifths of the
database, which was eventually accepted. In the only consultation
I had with a member of executive services, I was
advised to drop the request because it would never succeed.
No effort was made by the University to provide me the resources
I might need, even though the Act obliges them to.
From my experience, Monash too, it would appear, does not
follow the Freedom of Information Act in good faith.
1
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/foia1982222/s3.htm
2
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/foi-architect-blasts-political-interference-20121117-29j25.html
3
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/30/
politicians-hypocritical-on-freedom-of-information-says-former-commissioner
4
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/oct/01/governments-do-not-like-freedom-of-information-the-war-on-australias-privacy-and-information-watchdog
5
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/foia1982222/s3.html
Lot’s Wife | 15

OFFICE BEARER REPORTS
MSA PRESIDENT ABBY STAPLETON
Hey everyone! Hope you’ve had a good start to the semester and are taking it easy for the first few
weeks back. I also hope you got the chance to attend the orientation festival and join a whole bunch of clubs!
Our departments were out and about during the week talking to students about a whole bunch of key issues
to keep an eye on this semester. One in particular is the Student Day of Protest coming up on April 13th. All
of us have been very busy spreading the word about the protest, and I would love to see as many people there
as possible. On April 13th students across Australia will gather together and march through the streets of our
major cities demanding more funding for higher education. It’s a pretty amazing thing to be a part of so if
you’re keen make sure you have a chat to an MSA rep for more details! Another issue that has kept me busy is
parking. Last week I released a petition asking the university to ‘Fix the Parking Mess’. You might have seen it
on stalkerspace or heard from a friend, but paying $400 for a parking permit and driving around for an hour
in the morning trying to find a park is not what I would call fair. The university have also introduced a $75 fee
for carpooling! If you think this is as ridiculous as I do make sure you sign the petition!
TREASURER MATILDA GREY
Hey gang! I hope you’ve all well and truly settled into semester 1 and the university routine.We’ve been flat
out here at the MSA, with O-Week and Members Week running in the first 2 weeks of semester. Orientation went
smoothly and successfully – we had students piling in to join and engage with clubs and societies and to enjoy the
freebies and live entertainment provided throughout the week. It was so wonderful to see students supporting their
union, with MSA membership sales smashing those from last year! MSA Members Week, which ran throughout week
2, was also a huge success! Current members reaped the benefits of joining their union with our free food events, twilight
cinema, carnival and discount days. Hopefully plenty of others signed up when they saw some of the wonderful
things that the MSA does to give back to students! I’d like to sincerely thank all of you divine beings who helped out
during the week, sometimes without even being asked. It wouldn’t have been the week that it was without you

OFFICE BEARER REPORTS
QUEER
Well looks like we’re well underway for a big queer year, with O-week being a huge success and tons
of new students in our midst, especially with our highly successful weekly events like the queer morning tea
(11am-1pm tues) and Queer Beers (4-6pm wed). Our biggest gathering so far has been our Trivia Night where
we tested the knowledge of students from across the board whose winners won rainbow garments and tickets
to our Queer Ball but with my excellent cooking everyone was a winner. But our focus now has shifted towards
Queer week in week 5, with many events planned like our coming out by candlelight, our guest speaker
Sally Goldner from transgender Victoria, and our spectacular Queer Ball at Sir John’s Bar with a Cartoons and
Comics theme. If there are any students who want to get involved we have a secret facebook page you can be
added to by messaging our public facebook page: MSA Queer
WELFARE
We’ve had a hectic few weeks organising and running events! Our three Free Food Mondays nights
have been a major success, almost too good, with very good numbers coming out to appreciate our food.
Massive shout out to all the Volunteers who have helped out thus far – literally couldn’t do it without you.
That being said anyone who would like to help out during the semester join our MSA Welfare Volunteers
group on Facebook. In Week 2 we also ran our Second Hand Book Fair, over the two days we had some record
sales which helped over 70 students recycle their pre-loved books. Survival Week is next week in which we
hope to run some interesting events and activities so stay tuned.
ACTIVITIES
After the success of Luna Park and trivia, MSA Activities is presenting a Boat Cruise! It’s TV and
Movie themed thus come dressed as your favourite character or show and chill with us wink emoticon Tickets
can be purchased at the MSA reception desk and they are very limited! We are also working on a few more
event during this semester, and I know it’s early days but get excited! We are also providing free food every
wednesday between 12-2pm on the Lemon Scented lawn. Come say hey and bring your friends! The more the
merrier! Hope you’re all enjoying your first few weeks of uni!
ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Environment and Social Justice department has had a very busy start to the year promoting left
wing politics on campus and getting involved in a number of important campaigns. As part of the #letthemstay
campaign, we organised a snap protest outside the immigration and border security department which
got national news coverage. On campus, we also hosted a political forum on the issue and a group photo to
show support for refugee rights and demand an end to deportations. Check out our Facebook page ‘MSA
Environment and Social Justice Collective’ for the results.Education is still under attack. The liberals want to
cut 20% from federal funding to the higher education sector, which will translate to our degrees costing 20%
more. Left wing students need to come out and defend education rights at the student protest Wednesday
April 13. There will be free buses into the city for this so see you on the Menzies Lawn at midday. There's
heaps more stuff we want to campaign around and discuss so hit us up on FB or pop by our office upstairs in
the campus centre if you want to get involved!
INDIGENOUS
WOMEN’S
Hello! So far this semester we have continued our weekly discussion groups (Wed 1-3pm), run afternoon
teas (Thurs 12-2pm), attended the International Women’s Day March and hosted a movie screening
to celebrate! But oh, we have so much more in store! We are now looking for delegates to attend the 2016,
Network of Women Students Australia’s conference, held at the University of Technology Sydney. It includes
speeches from high profile women, workshops and panels on the different oppressions that face women
and social events with opportunities to network. It will be held in the mid year break between the 11th and
16th of July. To express your interest in attending contact the Women’s Officer. To raise funds for the trip,
we will be hosting our annual fundraiser the Twilight Market on Thursday the 25th of March at 4:30pm in
Wholefoods. There will be a bunch of stalls with lots of goodies, live performances, food, drinks and a raffle!
So come down for a delightful evening.
Just a reminder to all that if you aren’t receiving them already, you can sign up for our newsletter on
our Facebook page to stay informed, join the Facebook group to interact with other students and as always,
come on in to the Women’s Room on level 1 of the Campus Centre and say hi!
The MSA Indigenous Department has been committed over the past several weeks to ensuring that
Indigenous students as well as important issues surrounding Indigenous people are highlighted at Monash.
This has taken the form of the National Close the Gap day, which emphasises closing the gap in Indigenous
and non-Indigenous health. The day will feature guest speakers, entertainment and other valuable resources,
which will assist people in understanding the issues at hand. In addition to this, the MSA Indigenous department
has been successful in engaging new students and ensuring that events held have had suitable turnouts.
Moreover, planning for the National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games (NITESG) is already
underway. These games provide the perfect opportunity to allow Indigenous students compete nationally
in dynamic and engaging games. We look forward to assuring that Monash has a successful time this year
competing and having fun. Overall, the MSA Indigenous Department has been focused in fulfilling our goals
in creating a better atmosphere on campus that promotes Indigenous topics and helps engage students both
socially and academically.
Lot’s Wife | 17

SOCIETY
How to
break a
city’s heart
by Ovindu Rajasinghe
Illustration by Elizabeth Bridges
Step 1: Use the tragic deaths of young men
to create a public panic about young people
going out and drinking
Step 2: Introduce draconian lockout laws
that restrict access to alcohol after certain
times of the night
Step 3: Watch as your city’s once-vibrant
nightlife and live music scene is destroyed
Does this formula sound familiar to you? It might well
be, because it almost happened to Melbourne. In June
2008, the Brumby government introduced lockout laws in
inner-city Melbourne. Three months later, amidst massive
public uproar, the reforms were abandoned.
The NSW government introduced lockout laws of their
own in November 2014, following a series of high profile
one-punch deaths. A scathing piece by entrepreneur Matt
Barrie criticising the lockouts, and Premier Mike Baird’s
subsequent response, has recently led to an explosion in
public debate about the lockouts.
But what are the lockout laws? They refer to a suite of
measures designed to restrict access to alcohol at licensed
venues, so as to reduce violence on the streets. There have
been various versions of lockout laws previously or currently
in force across different Australian jurisdictions. The NSW
lockouts prevent people within the CBD and King’s Cross
precincts from entering licensed venues after 1:30am, and
enforce last drinks at 3am. They also enforce a state-wide
ban on takeaway alcohol sales after 10pm, crack down on
licensees breaching conditions, and increase punishments
for individuals causing trouble. However, the controversial
part of the laws are the lockouts and last drinks.
Opponents of the laws love to call them an example
of Australia becoming a ‘nanny state’. I hate that phrase,
because it suggests that the government has no role to play
in regulating our private life to ensure equity and safety. The
government is absolutely obliged to tax the rich to support
the poor, or to force people to wear bike helmets to prevent
head trauma. The question we must ask is this: can the restriction
of our freedom be justified by the net benefit that
we receive?
Once you look past the spin and hysteria, it is clear
that lockout laws, in Sydney and elsewhere, are an enormous
public policy failure that have a limited effect in
stopping violence, and immeasurably change large cities for
the worse.
The main benefit claimed by Baird and his counterparts
is a drastic reduction in violence. It is correct that
since the introduction of the lockouts in Sydney, assaults in
the Kings Cross and CBD entertainment precincts have declined
by 40%. However, foot traffic in these areas have also
declined by 58-80% between 11pm and 4am. While violence
has been reduced, this has been an obvious consequence of
reducing the number of people in the area.
Dr Jeff Rich, a senior public servant in the Victorian
Department of Health, who advised the Brumby
Government on alcohol policy, is unsure that, “alcohol related
violence is a huge problem: it’s hard to work out what
constitutes alcohol related violence.” Public alcohol related
violence is, by nature, extremely visible. This violence
generally involves young people. Therefore, it presents an
easy target for populist governments who want to be seen
as tough on law and order. It is simple for governments and
police forces to restrict the liberties of young people, so as
to win the votes of Herald Sun readers.
Young people are an easy scapegoat for governments
everywhere. With an aging population resulting in ever
older, conservative and cautious voter bases, it is easy to
portray young people as out of control and reckless, and use
this image to justify crackdowns on their freedom. Let’s be
real: the key stakeholder affected by the lockouts is young
people. Young people make up the majority of people who
are out on the weekend. Young people dominate crowds in
live music venues. Our voices of protest against the lockouts
are not being heard because of a power imbalance between
generations. Younger generations do not have the same
access to money and power as older people, and so our views
and concerns are not as easily heard.
The problem with only targeting violence in the
streets is that it ignores other, more pernicious, forms of
violence in our society. While statistical analysis by the
NSW government shows that violence has not moved to
entertainment precincts outside the CBD, the lockouts do
nothing to stop people from punching on at house parties
instead. As usual, women are also sidelined. Domestic
violence, as well as sexual violence against women, occurs
primarily in the home. Since it’s not as prominent as street
brawling, and doesn’t win as many votes, governments have
not responded to this problem nearly as drastically. Because
law and order does not extend to invisible women being
assaulted in the privacy of their own homes, does it?
Lot’s Wife | 19

SOCIETY
It is simple for
governments
and police forces
to restrict the
liberties of young
people, so as to
win the votes
of Herald Sun
readers.
Moreover, Rich is adamant that the government needs
a serious focus on alcohol health policy, to achieve better
acute and long-term health outcomes. “We need to encourage
people to drink less alcohol, for health reasons, regardless
of the violence. Unfortunately, the health concerns are
not as visible as the rowdiness on the street.” This is another
major problem with the government’s purported benefit: the
hysteria surrounding lockout laws means that the incredibly
important conversations regarding alcohol health policy are
obscured by governments with perverse incentives.
So we’ve established that claims of government and
police are dubious at best. But what about the harms caused
by the lockouts?
The decimation of small business has been explored
extensively in the media, particularly in Barrie’s essay.
However, a city is not just its economy: the character and
soul of the city is largely defined by its nightlife and culture.
A city’s live music scene is particularly important for this.
Baird’s incredibly patronising Facebook post described
the effect of the lockouts as, “that you can’t drink till dawn
any more and you can’t impulse-buy a bottle of white after
10pm.” What Mr Baird does not understand is that a city’s
nightlife is much more than the means for you to get gacked
with your mates.
A city’s nightlife is the beating heart of the city.
The buoyant atmosphere when the streets are filled with
revellers. The excitement of dancing into the morning. The
wonder of exploring lanes and alleyways that are so changed
from their daytime visage. These things are essential to a
city’s culture. The entertainment industry cross-pollinates
other aspects of our culture: food, music, art, sport. What
various governments do not seem to understand is that for
cities to be liveable, they need culture. Not state-sponsored
growth plans and redevelopments, but organic, grassroots
culture.
An essential part of this culture is the live music
scene. Venues that cater to live music feed the unique character
of the city that develops through its local music. More
importantly, it provides a means for small bands to form,
develop, and grow. Without a vibrant live music culture,
many budding bands would never get off the ground. Recent
figures show a 40% drop in live music revenue, and the
closure of several iconic Sydney venues such as Soho and
Hugo’s Lounge. These venues have been bastions of Sydney’s
culture for generations, and cannot easily be replaced.
How does the situation in Sydney compare to
Melbourne? In 2008, the introduction of lockouts was immediately
met with widespread public protest, with strong
backing by the live music industry, and venues such as the
Toff. By contrast, in Sydney the opposition to the lockouts
was initially sluggish and only began to convincingly marshal
itself this year. What a difference this has made.
In Melbourne, Premier Daniel Andrews’ government
actively encourages a vibrant late-night culture. People are
not prevented from going out and enjoying themselves with
a drink, but are able to immerse themselves in a cosmopolitan
and thriving culture. People don’t just go out to get
fucked up. They are able to enjoy all night celebrations of
culture such as White Night, night markets, and moonlight
cinemas. Importantly, the Victorian government’s new
public transport Night Network also facilitates safe and
accessible travel for people who want to be in the city late
into the night. Allowing people to safely enjoy themselves is
what makes a great city.
Stopping violence is imperative for governments
everywhere. However, we need to recognise that violence
does not only occur on the streets. We also need to look at
the health effects of alcohol, rather than just the violence
that it might prompt. According to Rich, “there are other
ways of achieving [a reduction in violence], and these laws
come at too great a cost at some people’s freedom... In
Victoria, people curbed their behaviour without the lockouts,
and violence also decreased.” What is needed is government
and community led cultural change, rather than
arbitrary controls on when and where we can have fun.
The lockouts represent a cynical political calculus that
looking tough on law and order will win over nervous conservative
older voters. It is a clever ploy, and it has worked.
In NSW, the lockouts enjoy majority public support. These
dreadful laws will help to ensure Baird’s government is
re-elected, but at the price of breaking Sydney’s heart.
20 | Lot’s Wife

SOCIETY
Patriotism:
it’s un-Australian
by Claire Noonan
Illustration by Ruby Kammoora
f you don’t love it, leave”. This message, plastered
“Iacross the image of a bold Australian flag, was sold on
a men’s singlet in a Woolworths in 2014. Tasmanian MP
Jacqui Lambi, reciting the Oath of Allegiance and dressed
in a sequined Australian flag dress, expressed that same
message. It was also stated by Neil El-Kadomi, a prominent
Mosque chairman, after a 15 year old, radicalized by Islamic
extremists, shot a man outside a Parramatta police station.
While the motivations behind the sentiment may differ, the
implication remains the same: those who seek to rectify and
criticize issues within Australian society essentially have
less of a right to be here.
Th e fervour and rituals involved in many displays
of patriotism seem almost religious in nature. Sing the
national anthem, put your hand over your heart, pledge
your allegiance. As a citizen, there is a social obligation to
partake, with enthusiasm, in the rites of patriotism that is
akin to the expectations of a church’s congregation. As so
many who have attempted to reform religious institutions
have been excommunicated from their communities, the
disenfranchised public are told to ‘leave’ their homelands. A
true patriot feels unquestioning affection and pride for their
country and its perceived culture and ideology. Through
patriotism, the successes of a country are emphasized, and
its failures overlooked. But as ‘patriotic’ Australians, what
do we have to be so proud of?
Many argue that patriotism benefits Australian society
by bringing people together through a shared cultural
experience and sense of national identity. But the emotions
of identity shouldn’t disallow the progress and tolerance
that is a fundamental principle of democracy. Like many
Western nations, we pride ourselves on the supposed
‘freedoms’ and rights that are allowed to our people. The
notion that the rights of all Australians are upheld and protected
brazenly disregards the experience of impoverished
Aboriginal communities, members of the LGBTI+ community
who are not allowed equal rights, and the indefinite
detention of asylum seekers that we are morally and legally
responsible for.
In a display of clothing-based ignorance similar to that
of Woolworths, Aldi withdrew its Australia Day-inspired
t-shirt design which stated “Australia Established 1788” in
January of 2014. It is painfully ironic that one of the groups
most marginalized and excluded by widespread Australian
patriotism is our country’s Indigenous people. The mere fact
that our nationally acknowledged day of celebration marks
the day of the invasion of their sovereign land demonstrates
the insensitivity and callousness of white Australia’s
attitude towards the rights and interests of our Indigenous
population. It is not enough to apologize, to obligatorily
recognize the traditional owners of the land at the start
of a school assembly, or to play a special game of football
every year and call it ‘Dreamtime at the G’. How can we, the
children of immigrants and colonizers, call ourselves proud
Australians, until we ensure that the children of the rightful
owners of this land have equal access to the opportunities
and privileges that we possess?
While contemporary displays of patriotism more
often involve drunkenly waving an Australian flag while
drinking a VB than dying for one’s country, the politics of
patriotism is still just as much at play. Leo Tolstoy famously
wrote in his essay ‘Patriotism & Government’ that “patriotism
as a feeling is bad and harmful, and as a doctrine
is stupid”. The xenophobic ideals that plague Australian
society are informed by feelings of patriotism and national
superiority, which have the capacity to exclude and marginalize
groups perceived as ‘other’. The patriotic view that not
only is our country and its way of life great, but superior to
that of others, contributes to an environment of racial and
cultural tension which dangerously mitigates our empathy
for those who are not like us.
It is not a sense of patriotic duty that implores
Australians to help their countrymen in times of need, but
human compassion. That duty extends beyond the people
who live in the same country as you, or who share your skin
colour, your religion, or your political beliefs. Within recent
years, this discussion has been brought to the forefront of
societal discourse with the refugee crisis. The scare tactics
of the Abbott government, as well as media outlets such as
the Herald Sun, misinformed and manipulated the general
public into a false sense that the Australian ‘way of life’ was
under threat. Supposedly our shores are being inundated
by fearsome Muslim ‘boat people,’ who seek to ‘abuse our
women’ and ‘impose Sharia law’ in Australia.
As our own national anthem states, “for those who’ve
come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share”. This
is a lesson that the leaders of our country, as well as its
general population, need to learn. Maybe we should start
singing the second verse more often.
Lot’s Wife | 21

SOCIETY
A leg to stand on: your myki rights
by Nicholas D’Arcy
Illustration by Lucie Cester
Is something rotten at the heart of Melbourne?
Much has been written on the deficiencies of
Melbourne’s myki ticketing system. However, the myki
controversy has raised more serious issues regarding public
administration in Victoria. The Victorian Department of
Transport has come under legal criticism for its application
of the absolute liability concept to myki fines.
Dr Andy Schmulow is a former legal academic
at Melbourne University and now Principal at Clarity
Prudential Regulatory Consulting Pty Ltd. He referred an
early myki infringement case to prominent Melbourne
barrister Julian Burnside QC. Mr Burnside has since
established a pro bono ‘flying squad’ of barristers and law
students, who have helped over three hundred commuters
fight their myki fines in court.
The Department’s application of
absolute liability.
Absolute liability offences are crimes where a person
is guilty regardless of their intentions. By performing the
prohibited act, they are automatically guilty, regardless of
whether they meant to do it or not. The terms ‘absolute’
and ‘strict’ liability are interchangeable and both are used by
lawyers to refer to this single concept.
Mr Burnside described the common case of a commuter
who receives a fine for not having a valid myki, and declines
the option of paying $75 on-the-spot. The commuter
is sent a routine letter by the Victorian Department of
Transport, which sets out the increased fine of $223 and
lists several payment options. If the commuter writes back
and requests that the Department review the fine, they are
then sent another letter. This letter informs the commuter
that they must pay the fine because it is a crime of ‘strict
liability.’
In 2014 Dr Schmulow received his letter from the
Department of Transport stating that his myki fine was a
matter of absolute liability. He pressed the Department of
Transport about how they came to understand that myki
fines are crimes of absolute liability, and in response to his
question, the Department cited the 2002 Victorian Supreme
Court case Mounsey v Lafayette.
In Mounsey v Lafayette, the defendant, Lev Lafayette,
was approached by a ticket inspector on a Melbourne tram
and failed to produce a ticket upon request. This was an
offence under section 221(4) of the Transport Act 1983,
and he was duly charged. He submitted that he had the legal
tender to buy a ticket, but the ticket machine only accepted
coins. At first instance, the Magistrate acquitted him under
Section 221(2) of the Act. This section states that an individual
can travel on public transport without a ticket, if they
have taken reasonable steps to buy one before the journey,
there is no reasonable opportunity to buy one during the
journey and they intend to buy one at the journey’s end. Mr
Lafayette’s assertion that he intended to buy a ticket at the
22 | Lot’s Wife

SOCIETY
What to do if you are unjustly fined?
Mr Burnside advises commuters in this situation
to write the Department of Transport a letter asking for
CCTV footage of the Myki machine they purchased their
card from. The commuter should also request the Myki machine’s
service records the twelve months leading up to the
incident, as well as any reports concerning functionality in
the Myki system.
Interestingly enough, Mr Burnside stated that the
Department has so far been unwilling to provide this
information. Mr Burnside said that if it came to a contest
between the commuter and the ticket inspector’s accounts,
the Department’s refusal to provide evidence would mean
there would not be a conviction.
end of his journey was held to satisfy section 221 of the Act.
On appeal, however, the Supreme Court held that the
existence of a coin only ticket machine was in fact a reasonable
opportunity for Mr Lafayette to purchase a ticket during
his journey. The court also held that Mr Lafayette’s intention
to purchase a ticket after his journey was not enough to
satisfy a defence under section 221(2) of the Act. During the
judgment, Justice Nettle touched on the concept of absolute
liability, stating that he saw no room in section 221(4) of
the Act for a defence of honest and reasonable mistake. He
explained that it would be excessive, given the defences
already available under section 221(2). According to Justice
Nettle, section 221 of the Act ultimately creates an absolute
liability offence, while being subject to a statutory defence
via section 221(2).
Legal criticisms of the Department
After receiving his myki fine, Dr Schmulow sent an
email to Andrew Walker, the then head of the Department
of Transport. This email expressed Dr Schmulow’s concern
that ‘the Department of Transport is contending that certain
legal conditions exist, when, in my view, they do not.’
Dr Schmulow pointed out that Mounsey v Lafayette was
decided in 2002, while the Infringements Act - the legislation
currently governing myki fines - was passed in 2006.
He informed Mr Walker that ‘a first year law student would
have advised you that legislation trumps precedent.’
According to Dr Schmulow, Mounsey v Lafayette is
no longer good law. Dr Schmulow advised Mr Walker that
in the case, Justice Nettle relied on section 221 of the
Transport Act 1983 when he made his ruling. This Act was
repealed and replaced in 2010 by the Transport (Compliance
and Miscellaneous) Act 1983. There are no such comparable
sections in the subsequent Act. Dr Schmulow stated that
the relevant provisions are now contained in section 22
of the Infringements Act. He said these provisions ‘clearly
state’ in subsection 1 (b) & (c) that appeals against an
infringement may be made where ‘special or exceptional
circumstances exist.’ Dr Schmulow advised Mr Walker that
if his reading is correct, an internal review would seem
incompatible with the concept of absolute liability.
Mr Burnside’s criticism of the Department of
Transport is based on the way in which they have applied
the doctrine of absolute liability. Mr Burnside concedes that
on a ‘strict legal analysis,’ the relevant legislation can be interpreted
as creating an offence of strict liability, as “I didn’t
mean to” is not a defence. However, Mr Burnside asserted
that the Department applies the doctrine in a misleading
way; effectively telling commuters ‘we don’t have to prove
that you did something wrong…. our assertion is enough’.
This approach is predicated on the commuter having committed
an offence, but the claim of absolute liability is made
before a court, and it is the court that decides whether or
not the commuter is guilty of fare evasion.
Mr Burnside’s view of the Department’s misapplication
of absolute liability is highly relevant when seen in
light of his courtroom experience. Out of the three hundred
commuters who have contacted his pro bono team, not a
single one has had a myki fine upheld in court. According to
Mr Burnside, cases that proceed to court are either dropped
by the prosecution before the hearing, or result in the
Magistrate finding the matter proved, but dismissing the
offence. There have been over one hundred myki prosecutions
withdrawn by the Department of Transport. This
supports Mr Burnside’s view that the Department are using
the doctrine of absolute liability to avoid legal arbitration.
When forced to prove the commuter’s guilt in court, the
Department has been wildly unsuccessful.
Wider implications
The collapse of absolute liability as the Department’s
centrepiece strategy in court has implications for the myki
regime. According to Dr Schmulow, the absence of absolute
liability challenges the rationale for the 2013 introduction
of optional $75 on-the-spot fines as commuters have a
chance to win in court.
Dr Schmulow stated that Transport Minister Jacinta
Allan must abolish the on-the-spot fines, and set up an
independent internal review panel to review myki fines. Dr
Schmulow has written to the Department offering to take
on the role of an independent reviewer pro bono, but so far
has not heard back from them.
Meanwhile, Mr Burnside’s pro bono team continue
to fight on behalf of commuters threatened with myki
fines. He is not interested in helping fare evaders, but has
represented many defendants whose fines look like a ‘crook
exercise.’ Dr Schmulow has commented on Mr Burnside’s
team, stating: ‘If public interest lawyers are scoring three
hundred out of three hundred, the way you are applying the
law is wrong.’ The Department’s absolute liability argument,
according Dr Schmulow, is ‘not the nature of a society based
on rule of law.’`
Lot’s Wife | 23

24 | Lot’s Wife

OPINION
The ‘Freedom Boy’
for Goldstein
By Julia Pillai
Illustration by Julia Pillai
Four hundred thousand buckaroos. That’s the yearly salary
for the taxpayer-funded role of human-rights commissioner,
a role with a five year term. I dunno about you folks, but
if I were in such a role, I probably wouldn’t get wanderlusty. I’d
stick around, and they’d probably end up giving me some cool
catchy nickname for my role, like ‘Liberty Commissioner’. I’d
make up a superhero-esque theme-song for myself (“Liberty
commissioner, liberty commissioner, friendly neighbourhood,
liberty commissioner…”) that I would sing to myself while
fighting for human rights and kicking ass. It would go on for
five years, and when my term would end, I’d be dragged out of
my office screaming, “I’m the real Liberty Commissioner! This
isn’t fair! I think I need to send a complaint to myself!”. But
oddly enough, some people think differently.
After only two years in his role of Human Rights
Commissioner (where he was dubbed ‘Freedom Commissioner’
by George Brandis), Monash alumnus Tim Wilson has resigned
from the Australian Human Rights Commission to run for
Liberal pre-selection in the seat of Goldstein. In other words,
he has left a stable, highly regarded, taxpayer-funded job at an
independent organisation with three years left in his term, to
run for possibly being a liberal candidate (which is by definition
partisan), so he could possibly be a member of parliament. Is
that wacky? Maybe. Though in some ways, this may be pretty
unsurprising.
Prior to becoming ‘Freedom Commissioner’, Wilson
was a policy analyst at the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), a
prominent right wing think-tank, that advocate mainly for
issues such as free speech and other civil liberties. At this time,
Wilson was also a member of the Liberal party, however when
appointed as the HRC, he discontinued his membership. His
experience in the IPA and prior Liberal party involvement clearly
shows his political leanings, even if he wasn’t active in those
groups at the time of his post as Human Rights Commissioner.
As a commissioner, some saw Wilson’s views and position
as controversial. When he was appointed commissioner, the
role of a full time Disability commissioner was scrapped under
the Abbott government’s 2014 budget. This lead to the resignation
of Graeme Innes and resulted in Age Discrimination
Commissioner Susan Ryan taking on the portfolio. With 37%
of complaints given to the commission regarding discrimination
on the basis of disability–a figure much higher than
others–many in the disability community saw this as concerning.
Wilson was also an advocate of the removal of section 18c
of the Racial Discrimination Act, an act that forbids the use
of language that will “offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate
another person or a group of people” on the basis of race,
ethnicity or nationality. This view additionally placed Wilson
firmly in the right.
However what should be noted is Wilson’s relative progressiveness
on LGBT issues, which sets him apart from more
socially conservative sections of the Liberal party. As an openly
gay man, Wilson has expressed support for same sex marriage.
After a series of transphobic tweets appeared on Q&A in
October 2015 regarding transgender Group Captain Catherine
McGregor, Wilson showed his support for the transgender
community, and called for a greater discussion on transgender
issues in the Australian public.
The district of Goldstein covers the suburbs of South
Caulfield, Bentleigh, Beaumaris. Brighton, Cheltenham,
Gardenvale, and Sandringham, and is a safe liberal seat. The
current member of Goldstein, Andrew Robb, has decided to
leave politics after serving the electorate since 2004. In the
2013 election, Robb had 61.03% of the vote in two-party preferred,
making his position stable. It’s unclear who will run as
the Liberal candidate in Goldstein, so there is now an incredibly
competitive race for liberal pre-selection.
Wilson will be competing against some formidable
opponents in the pre-selection race. They include Georgina
Downer, the daughter of Howard government foreign minister
Alexander Downer. Additionally, software developer Marcus
Bastiaan and international relations expert Denis Dragovic are
also running for the seat of Goldstein.
So what are Tim Wilson’s odds? Monash politics lecturer
Dr Nick Economou believes he has a chance. “Wilson is backed
by party power-broker Scott Ryan. However, Liberal rules give
the local branch members a lot of power over pre-selections,
and the Brighton to Sandringham region is not one of Scott's
areas of great influence.” As for Wilson’s socially progressive
views, and how it will affect his chances in the electorate,
Economou states his views are “not a problem for the seat, but
Wilson first has to convince the local Liberal members, and I
would expect the Liberal branch members of Goldstein to be
very socially conservative. They may find Denis Dragovic more
to their liking.”
I spoke to Max*, a Monash student who lives in
Goldstein. He says that he is not a Liberal voter and even
though he thinks Wilson is likely to win preselection, his vote
would not change. “Wilson is more socially progressive [than
Robb] so that may even the playing field for progressive parties
like Greens. I think more so it gives a chance for the smaller
conservative parties, like Family First. Sadly as their policy
would tend to stand out more, and perhaps be more in line with
some more conservative Liberal voters, they could benefit the
most. Assuming he wins pre-selection, I think Tim Wilson will
win Goldstein. While I still won't vote for him, we could do a
lot worse. If anything else, it would be good to have a member
who is an advocate for same-sex marriage, and is openly gay.
Hopefully he can bring some humanity to the Liberal Party.”
Tim Wilson is taking a massive risk running for the
fiercely competitive Liberal pre-selection in Goldstein. While
being a well-known figure, there is every chance that he could
lose in pre-selection. If that were to happen, what would be
next for Freedom Boy? He may have sacrificed a more than
enviable role in the human rights commission for nothing.
* Names have been changed.
Tim Wilson could not be reached for comment.
Lot’s Wife | 25

OPINION
Behind bars:
failures of the prison system
by Maddy Luke
There is something very wrong with our criminal justice
system.
From a very early age, we’ve had it ingrained into us
that naughty people who break the law go to prison, and that
prisons make the problem go away. The strange thing about this
notion is that it sees prison as an end, and not as the means to
help an offender improve their behaviour. While we might like
to think that putting somebody in prison solves the problem,
in the case of minor crimes such as theft and drug use, it often
just makes it worse.
In an ideal world, an individual shouldn’t be going to
prison more than once in their lifetime. If the system worked
as effectively as it should, an individual would make a mistake,
serve their sentence, receive some kind of rehabilitation and
then come back into society with a new chance at life.
Yet, in an age dominated by the political rhetoric that we
should ‘lock ‘em up and throw away the key’, this couldn’t be
further from the truth. It’s important to compare the reality
of incarceration with the ideal world we perceive whenever a
particularly bad one finally makes it into the slammer.When
thinking about punishment, a few aims come to mind thanks to
the rote learning of VCE Legal Studies: retribution, protection
of society, and rehabilitation.
Without a doubt, prisons serve a very painful retribution
on offenders. Formally, they face a crippling isolation, as they’re
cut off from the rest of the world, alongside a loss of liberty and
privacy. There’s also the black mark on their record that heavily
impacts all aspects of their life once they’re released.
Informally, however, things get uglier. There’s a high
prevalence of sexual abuse within prisons, initiated by inmates
and workers alike. On top of that, there’s a distinct shame
placed on offenders by workers. Studies show that females
face this more harshly than males, almost as if they’re being
punished for not only breaking the law, but for not conforming
to gender roles as well. This creates an ‘us and them’ mentality,
heightening the hostility between inmates and the workers who
represent ‘the system’.
Next, there’s protection of society. I’m half-half on this
one. Obviously, prisons are damn effective at keeping offenders
away from the population. It’s pretty hard to mug somebody
when you’re behind bars, and as much as cartoons would love
to convince us that freedom is as easy as digging through your
cell wall with a spoon, I’m certain that reality paints a different
picture.
But there’s a reason I’m not sold on this idea, that prisons
are the pinnacle of societal protection. While prisons are secure
enough to keep an inmate detained for the length of their
sentence, what happens once they’re released? This brings me to
the final aim: rehabilitation.
When 60% of current prisoners have already been incarcerated
before, I can’t help but be dubious about how effective
the rehabilitation programs within prisons actually are. In
June 2015, the grand total number of prisoners in Australia
hit 36,134. That’s 36,134 very complex, very different individuals
that are trying to be rehabilitated. It’s simply not possible
to take into account every person’s needs. Though there are
programs available that focus on dealing with issues like drug
abuse, is it really enough? The programs assume that every
drug user faces the same experience, and this one-size-fits-all
approach simply doesn’t work, as shown by the high rates of
recidivism. Furthermore, inmate participation in some drug
programs is limited due to a lack of funding. Just how are some
inmates chosen over thousands of others to use this rehabilitation
program? What test could possibly prove that somebody’s
circumstances aren’t severe enough to get them the help that
they need?
26 | Lot’s Wife

Finding your
feet in a rapidly
changing society
after you’ve been
imprisoned is like
trying to walk on
water.
It’s also very difficult to become the ideal, law-abiding
citizen the government would like when your core social circle
consists of other law-breakers. Looking at the situation realistically,
putting a lot of antisocial people together and expecting
their behaviour to transform into society’s ideal is a pretty
ridiculous expectation. When considering the recidivism rates
again, I’d argue that prisons are making more criminals than
they’re ‘fixing’. The restrictive and outright abusive conditions
of incarceration sets somebody back in terms of their mental
and physical health. With rehabilitation programs already proven
to be lacking, somebody is likely to leave prison far worse off
than when they entered. How is this possibly going to reduce
their chances of reoffending?
Tying all this information together shows how ineffective
prisons are. To begin with, somebody breaks the law. It
could be any of us; between offences such as driving violations
and casual drug use, these days I feel as though I know more
law-breakers than I do law-abiding citizens. The offender is sent
to prison, where they are likely to face abuse from those working
there. This makes them develop a dislike for ‘the system’,
heightened by the fact that their social circle now consists of
other offenders. Through repeated contact with other prisoners,
who they’d come to consider friends, they become desensitized
to criminal activity.
After being pushed through rehabilitation programs that
aren’t what they need, or perhaps being denied them entirely,
the offender’s sentence comes to an end. Release day rolls
around, and suddenly this ‘rehabilitated’ individual is back in
society, just trying to find their feet. But finding your feet in a
rapidly changing society after you’ve been imprisoned is like
trying to walk on water. Having a criminal conviction, particularly
imprisonment, hinders somebody’s ability to survive. For
one, in a world where most employers require a police check,
this eliminates a lot of job prospects. The same can be said for
renting a home; real estate agents and landlords don’t look
favourably on ex-convicts. Even your typical, drunk university
student who is likely to munt all over the carpet has a higher
chance of success.
Stuck with no money and no home, and with a new set of
values that tell them that breaking the law may not be so bad, it
would be enough to make anybody consider illegitimate means
to achieve what they want. If somebody can’t get the bare
essentials to survive when they’re doing the right thing, then
maybe doing the wrong thing is all they have.
SOCIETY
I return to my earlier point; while it’s damn hard to mug
somebody while you’re behind bars, the second you’re thrust
back into society with nothing but a criminal record to your
name, the story changes. Is society really being protected from
crime in the long run?
I believe that the prison system is largely working to fulfil
the aim of retribution on offenders, which overshadows the
other aims. With ineffective rehabilitation comes inevitable
recidivism; hand in hand, this leads to an increased danger for
society.
Personally, I don’t believe that prison should be used as
anything but a last resort, given that it serves to worsen the
problem rather than solve it. Surely such an extreme measure
should be reserved for only the most extreme situations, where
it is necessary to get the offender away from society? In particular,
I’m thinking about crimes such as murder, manslaughter,
sexual assault and treason.
But who is to blame for prisons being so well-liked as a
punishment? I’m going to pin it on people’s fear, which inspires
the ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric that we hear so much about leading
up to an election. Ironically though, this movement should
make us more scared. It targets the minor crimes of society,
crimes committed either out of desperation or by complete
accident. For the former, it leads to disadvantaged minorities
dominating the prison population, such as Indigenous
Australians and Torres Strait Islanders making up 2% of the
Australian population, but 27% of the prison system.
The question then arises of what could possibly replace
the prison system, even just for minor crimes. Honestly? I don’t
know for sure. Expanding the community corrections program,
which keeps an offender in the community throughout their
punishment, could be worthwhile. It’s far more cost-effective
than imprisonment, and in terms of reintegration, is more
effective, as offenders are still part of their community. This
could prevent some of the hostility between offenders and society.
However, it could be seen as the easy way out, and when
it comes to public safety, it lacks the security of prison. Still,
I’d be interested to discover what the community corrections
program is capable of, if it were allocated more than the measly
amount of funding it currently receives.
Ultimately, I understand that sentencing is complex. This
piece has only shown part of the story, and there are obviously
many factors to consider, particularly from the perspective
of the victim. Prison does remove an offender from society,
and that’s sometimes needed; there are too many people who
shouldn’t be allowed to walk freely among us that do. Having
said that, victims surely cannot feel safe in the knowledge that
the person who harmed them may break the law again upon
release, and offenders themselves are often left with no other
options.
The current system is letting everybody down. Prison
shouldn’t be the finale of the story; it should be part of the
resolution that leads to a better end. The reality is that it’s not,
and I doubt it could ever be.
Lot’s Wife | 27

Wot’s Life
with Daria & Quinn
“In your opinion, what is the best kind of pizza?”
D: The free kind.
Q: None! Pizza is greasy and grease gives you acne. You don’t
need that negativity in your life.
“How do I make a statement?”
D: A statement is a sentence that declares something, and
doesn’t end with an exclamation or question mark. To make
one, you – oh, you meant a social statement? Well, I heard meat
dresses are getting popular.
Q: The biggest statement you can make is not making a statement.
Just try to blend in, while looking slightly better than
everybody else. Trust me, trying to stand out in a crowd just
makes you look desperate. This way, people will respect you
for your confidence and cuteness, but if you don’t have either,
it’s probably better that you don’t draw attention to yourself
anyway.
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately, and I’m getting
kind of freaked out. Why am I here? What am I
supposed to do with my time on Earth? What is my
purpose in life?”
D: Your purpose in life is the same as everybody else’s; to grow
up, get a job, get married, buy a house, have kids to please your
parents before they die, and then watch your kids have kids before
you die. You’re here to continue the incredible cycle of life.
Q: Purpose? You mean, something more than striving to
achieve the cutest look you can?
“Do you have any motivational study tips?”
D: Motivate yourself with the knowledge that getting good
grades means you’ll get into college and out of your hometown.
Q: You don’t need to study! If you date a guy from your class, he
can help tutor you.
D: By ‘help tutor you’, do you really mean ‘do your assignments
for you’?
Q: Don’t be silly, Daria, that counts as tutoring.
Illustration by Angus Marian
28 | Lot’s Wife

NUS Na
Of Acti
Menzie
12pm
Campaign Against
Racism and
Fascism protest @
Fed Square
Week 5
Women's
discussio
Week 6
Week 7
SAS Pub Crawl
Week 8
ANZAC Day
(University Closed)
Exam
Timetable
Published
Want your event featured in next month’s calendar?
Email us at msa-lostswife@monash.edu

TEAR ME
OUT!
Mid Semester Break
Ends :,(
weekly
n 1-3pm
MSA Activities
Cocktail Night
MSA Queer Ball
tional Day
on
s Lawn @
MSA Activities
Boat Cruise
May already? Turn over for a killer
poster by Harmony Wong!

A wiggle in
space-time:
detecting
gravitational
waves
SCIENCE
become gravitational waves. In the same way that there are
troughs and peaks in the water waves, there are compressions
and expansions of space-time as a gravitational wave travels.
Any mass moving through space-time will produce waves as
it does so, just like a boat in the ocean. These waves are space
itself compressing and expanding.
That should be pretty easy to detect, right? People should
be getting noticeably shorter and fatter when a star goes supernova
half a million light years away? Wrong. Because the effects
of gravitational waves are so incredibly, unimaginably small.
The change in height of a person is on the scale of tiny fractions
of a proton. It seems almost impossible to even feasibly be able
to measure such a distance; this is where LIGO comes in.
LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave
Observatory. It features two perpendicular lasers bouncing
By Isaac Reichman
back and forth within the 4km-long arms of the detector.
Illustration by Sigrid Lange
Initially the beams are perfectly in sync, but if a gravitational
wave passes through the detector the beams become out-ofsync,
as it compresses one of the 4km arms and expands the
other. If the beams become out of sync, there is a variation in
Over 100 years after its first publication in 1915,
the light output.
Einstein’s
General
theory
Relativity
of general
and Gravitational
relativity has
Waves
finally been
– Isaac Reichman The output signal is then compared against theoretical
completely verified by experimental evidence. But what was signals calculated using Einstein’s equations. Analysing the raw
Over 100 years after its first publication in 1915, Einstein’s
the final piece of the puzzle, why did his theory take so long to output
theory
signal
of
itself
general
would
relativity
be a nightmare
has finally
as
been
a tremor on the
completely verified by experimental evidence. But what
verify, and why should you care?
other was side the final of the piece world of is the ‘loud’ puzzle, enough why to did be detected his theory by LIGO.
take so long to verify, and why should you care?
General relativity is Einstein’s interpretation of gravity.
What was the smoking gun that proved gravitational
To date, it is the most accurate and elegant way to describe the waves?
General relativity is Einstein’s interpretation of gravity. To date, it is the most accurate and elegant way to
complexity of the universe at astronomical and cosmological
When two black holes are orbiting around one another,
describe the complexity of the universe at astronomical and cosmological scales, and it does so in relatively
scales, and it does so relatively (pun intended) simple terms. it is called a binary black hole system. After millions of years,
(pun intended) simple terms. All of the burning balls of plasma and massive clouds of cosmic dust are
All of the burning balls of plasma and massive clouds of cosmic this orbit can deteriorate, and when the two black holes get
described in perfect detail by 12 – or rather 16 – equations that represent the dynamics of existence.
dust are described in perfect detail by 12 – or rather 16 – equations
that represent the dynamics of existence.
close enough to one another, something interesting happens.
They begin to orbit each other tightly, speeding up and warping
space-time as they do. As their orbital distance contracts, the
black holes emit massive amounts of their mass as energy in
RR μμμμ − 1 2 RRgg μμμμ + ΛΛgg μμμμ = 8ππππ
cc 4 TT μμμμ
the form of gravitational waves. In the moment of merging, the
At first glance, this would be absolutely terrifying to black holes are orbiting one another at the unimaginably fast
At first glance, this would be absolutely terrifying to most people: all those subscripts and Greek letters
most people: all those subscripts and Greek letters replacing speed of half the speed of light.
replacing the more pedestrian FF⃗ = mmaa⃗ of high-school physics.
the more pedestrian F=ma of high-school physics. But upon
Once But they upon merge, closer a inspection, mass equivalent it reveals to about a rather three times
beautiful simplicity. The left side of this equation describes
closer inspection, it reveals a rather beautiful simplicity. The that the of our geometry sun is converted of the fabric into gravitational of the universe energy. and It’s how
it ‘bends’ or ‘warps’. The right side describes how the matter
left side of this equation describes the geometry of the fabric fitting that and energy it would within be the the first universe event to moves. produce This gravitational
of the universe
beautiful
and
equation
how it ‘bends’
allows
or ‘warps’.
us to understand
The right side
many
describes
how forming the matter nebulae, and energy the orbits within of the planets, universe and moves. even cataclysmic evidence of events such a like binary the black merging hole of system, black which holes. would Space have
of the waves wondrous that we events could that detect, occur as it within is so ‘loud’. our universe: It’s also our star-
first
This beautiful and equation time are allows described us to as understand one the many same; of the components been of unable Einstein’s to detect fabric: using space-time. light astronomy Space-time as this is is made a ‘dark’
wondrous of events the three that occur dimensions within our of space universe: – up star-forming
and down, left and event. right, forward and back –and a fourth dimension of
nebulae, the time. orbits What of the my planets, main man and Einstein even cataclysmic explained events with the above equation Einstein, using is that no gravity more than is simply a pen a and manifestation
paper, was able
like the merging of matter of black warping holes. space-time. Space and time are described to use mathematics to derive the secrets of the universe. His
as one and the same – components of Einstein’s fabric: spacetime.
Space-time
ideas have not only had profound impacts on physics and the
The merging
is made
of
of
two
the
black
three
holes
dimensions
is a perfect
of space
example of philosophy a cosmic event of science, that releases but have so enabled much humanity energy that to it grasp far
– up and down,
produces
left and
periodic
right,
ripples
forward
in
and
space-time,
back –and
i.e.
a fourth
gravitational further waves: than the we last ever unverified could have prediction without them. of general No theory is as
dimension relativity. of time. What As of my February main man 2016 Einstein however, explained these waves with have well-known been discovered. or as accurate. It is now completely and unequivocally
supported by experimental evidence. Where do we go
the above equation is that gravity is simply a manifestation of
What is a gravitational wave?
matter warping space-time.
from here? There are still plenty of unknowns in the universe:
The merging of two black holes is a perfect example of from dark matter to dark energy. We may need a new theory in
Imagine throwing a stone into a pond. The ripples travel across the surface of the pond transferring energy as
a cosmic event that releases so much energy that produces order to understand them, but regardless, Einstein will always
they go. Now we replace the water with space-time and the ripples become gravitational waves. In the same
periodic ripples in space-time, i.e. gravitational waves: the last be among the likes of Newton: the giants, on whose shoulders
way that there are troughs and peaks in the water waves, there are compressions and expansions of spacetime
as a gravitational wave travels. Any mass moving through space-time will produce waves as it does so,
unverified prediction of general relativity. As of February 2016 we stand to see further.
however, these just like waves a boat have in been the ocean. discovered. These waves are space itself compressing and expanding.
Imagine throwing a stone into a pond. The ripples travel
across the That surface should of the be pond pretty transferring easy to detect, energy right? as they People should
See
be
over
getting
for
noticeably
an interview
shorter and
with
fatter
Eric
when
Thrane,
a star
Monash’s own gravitational waves expert.
go. Now we goes replace supernova the water half with a million space-time light and years the away? ripples Wrong. Because the effects of gravitational waves are so
Lot’s Wife | 35
incredibly, unimaginably small. The change in height of a person is on the scale of tiny fractions of a proton. It
seems almost impossible to even feasibly be able to measure such a distance; this is where LIGO comes in.

On the
shoulders of
giants
INTERVIEW
By Isaac Reichman
Dr. Eric Thrane, who lectures
in physics at Monash, was part
of the LIGO team that made the
groundbreaking discovery of
gravitational waves.
We spoke to him about coffee,
black holes, and the thrill of
discovery.
Photo supplied by Monash University
Dr. Thrane, what is a typical “day at the office” for you at LIGO?
I’ve spent only a couple months of my career actually visiting
LIGO. I carry out most of my work at Monash University. In
this respect, my typical day is probably similar to one at a
company like Google or Facebook: I meet with colleagues to
discuss strategies, I work on a computer to solve problems, and
I consume a lot of coffee.
What was the process that LIGO went through in order to ensure
that the gravitational wave they detected wasn’t simply random
noise or a misreading of the equipment?
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and so
the vetting of this detection was extremely thorough. The
LIGO Collaboration (and our partners The Virgo Collaboration)
wrote an entire paper devoted just to this topic. To make a long
story short, there are no known detector artefacts that mimic
the very particular signature of binary black hole system,
and the fact that we see the same signal in two detectors on
opposite ends of the USA very strongly suggests that it was
astrophysical.
Can you describe how it felt when you saw the results that proved
gravitational waves?
It was a roller coaster ride: excitement, disbelief, relief. It’s also
important to point out that, at first, we didn’t know that the
signal was real. It took weeks of detective work to gain confidence.
Thus, the initial excitement was tempered with caution.
Einstein has now been completely vindicated. Where does astrophysics
and cosmology go from here?
As a gravitational-wave astronomer, vindicating Einstein is just
the beginning. With the first detection of gravitational waves,
we are opening up a new window on the Universe. Now we
can probe a side of the Universe we’ve never seen before. Who
knows what we’ll find.
How do you feel personally now that Einstein’s theoretical legacy is
completed?
It’s a source of pride to have any connection to Einstein. He’s
such a towering figure in physics.
To hear what gravitational waves
sound like, scan this code!
36 | Lot’s Wife

SCIENCE
Ice, Ice,
baby!
by Hashwina Vimalarajan
Illustration by Lily Greenwood
What would you do if you were given the rare chance to
extend your life? Would you accept it, or would you
deny it? Would you watch the Twilight saga all over again
just to see how immortality works? Or would you just be
baffled by everything that’s going on?
These were some among the many questions running
through my mind as I read about the scientific breakthrough
of cryonics.
Freeze!
Cryonics is the science of human preservation at low
temperatures. It involves freezing cadavers to extremely low
temperatures so as to delay their decay, in hopes that they will
be revived in the near future. Although this does sound like science
fiction, there is much more modern actual science involved
in the process.
The preservation process involves taking a cadaver after
it is legally pronounced dead, restoring respiratory function
with a resuscitator and/or an artificial lung, and treating the
patient with cryoprotectant drugs such as glycerol to minimize
damage from the freezing process. The body is submerged in
liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196°C, so all physiological,
chemical and biological activity is arrested. It is then stored in a
cryo chamber filled with liquid nitrogen and many other gases.
This cooling procedure takes approximately 2 to 3 days
for whole body patients and 1 day for neuropreservation
patients, where only the brain is frozen, because you couldn’t
give a damn about the rest of your body and also because you
consider yourself pretty smart to be freezing your brain.
The body is preserved until the time has come where
advancements in medical science have progressed enough to
cure the specimen of its various ailments or bring it back to its
full vigor.
Forever Frozen
However, cryopreservation his hasn’t been easy because
this entire process has had its own trials and tribulations.
On one hand, you have enthusiastic go-getters, hipsters,
celebrities, wannabe geeks and open minded millennials who
are quite amazed and enthralled by this New Age innovation.
Simon Cowell, Larry King, Britney Spears, Seth McFarlane and
Paris Hilton are some of the celebrities who are already interested
in freezing and retaining their bodies.
There has been some heavy opposition to this cause as
well. Theologists, biologists and certain religious, social and
political groups around the world are rallying against it and
petitioning to stop it. The real argument is amongst sceptics
and evolutionary biologists, who tend to ignore the fact that
this technique has been scientifically tested and proven with
other animal species but find it hard to accept the possibility
of revival of life in humans. It’s just common skepticism, but
in a way, it is also a sort of fear. Nobody favors the concept of
‘playing god’.
Currently, cryonics is not a fully developed technique.
While it is a scientific proposition which is in practice today,
its feasibility in humans can only be examined using theoretical
science. The theory may remain hypothetical regarding
humans, but with other organisms, such as mice, it has been
tested and proved. This instills in us, hope for the future. If this
technique succeeds, in the future we could abolish diseases,
cryogenically freeze damaged organs and regenerate them back
to life, and finally stop saying YOLO ‘cause it wouldn’t make
sense anymore.
The way I see it, this whole plot is like one bad version of
Frozen, where Elsa singlehandedly freezes her victims and tries
really hard to bring them back to life. But hey, we all know how
that story ends.
Lot’s Wife | 37

Components and
competition:
Apple’s pricing
game
by Steph Siomos
Illustration by Karla Engdahl
In 1965, Gordon E. Moore, the co-founder of Intel, predicted
that the number of transistors (tiny electronic
devices found within phones and just about every other digitalized
device that are responsible for regulating current or
voltage flow and can also act as an on/off switch) in a dense
integrated circuit would double every year.
A decade later, he revised the expected frequency of
doubling to every two years. So far, this prediction, which
came to be known as Moore’s Law (technically a misnomer),
has been vindicated by the triumphant march of technological
advancement, and explains why phones, and everything
else, are becoming faster. This increasing capacity is linked
to another interesting feature – a decrease in price of components.
As The Economist put it in “Beyond Moore’s Law”
(2015), “the cost per transistor is almost inversely proportional
to the number of transistors crammed in a chip.”
This graph shows that over time the cost per transistor
per Hertz (the frequency, or the number of cycles
per second) has decreased steadily over years. Hence, it is
getting cheaper and cheaper to produce a transistor. Today,
it costs close to $10-19 to produce a transistor for every
Hertz the transistor outputs, compared to $10-13 in 1995
Essentially, as we build chips with more transistors in them,
the cost of production should decrease. Yet, in the case
Graph credit of Singularity University.
38 | Lot’s Wife

SCIENCE
Apple’s price
increase was not
something that
came from the
mouths of CEOs,
but rather the
consequences
of a competing
presence in the
smartphone
market.
of the (apparently) inimitable iPhone, the opposite has
occurred.
The first model to officially hit Australian shores in
2008 was the iPhone 3G. The latest model, the iPhone 6S,
was released late last year.
A comparison between the 16GB iPhone 3G and
the 16GB iPhone 6S shows that the 6S has 15.6 times the
amount of RAM as the 3G, runs with a dual core processor,
and is in fact 44% more expensive than the iPhone 3G.
Wait.
What about that Moore guy?
Why is the iPhone 6S more expensive than the 3G
even though it is theoretically cheaper to produce the 6S?
Perhaps there is an economic explanation for this
defiance of Moore’s Law. Can inflation explain the pricing
difference?
In 2008, $750 got you the new iPhone 3G. According
to the Reserve Bank of Australia, in today’s economic environment
that $750 item would now cost you $880. With an
average annual inflation rate of 2.3%, the total increase in
cost over the 7 years amounts to 17.4%.
However, $880 is still less than the iPhone 6S’s $1079
RRP. Maybe it was a combination of inflation and a change
in demand?
This could make more sense considering Apple’s market
share has increased since the release of the iPhone 3G.
In 2008, Apple held 8.2% of the worldwide smartphone
market. At this time, Nokia held 43.7% of the smartphone
market.
Apple’s market share has increased to 13.9% in 2015,
suggesting an increase in consumer demand. So what happens
economically if more people want Apple’s products?
Will the price of the iPhone increase or decrease?
From 2008 to 2015, Apple has experienced an overall
increase in demand for the iPhone.
This can be tricky to understand, but put simply it
works like this: an increase in quantity demanded can be
caused by changes in price. An increase in demand overall
typically originates from external factors like competitors
or income. It is highly likely, that as substitutes emerged in
the market (like the Samsung Galaxy series) and increased
in prices, Apple’s demand and thus their prices increased.
Apple’s price increase was not something that came from
the mouths of CEOs, but rather the consequences of a competing
presence in the smartphone market.
The iPhone’s pricing may not be in strict adherence
to Moore’s Law, but it is certainly making a bit of sense
economically. If someone else enters the market with a
comparable product, your prices are likely to go up. You
need to advertise more, design better products and still sell
to consumers.
It is no secret that Apple has pioneered technological
design. This premium design thus carries a premium
cost – one that increases as the iPhone’s design evolves into
something more complex and as competitors pioneer their
own uses of different materials.
The iPhone introduced many things to consumers.
Who would think that people (at one point) would want a
phone entirely made of glass? Could we have predicted that
iPhones would make us want to game, search the web, edit
photos and reply to emails from our pockets? Probably not.
But for all that the iPhone has given us, it has not totally
defied the current technological and economic rules of the
universe. Steve Jobs may have been a mastermind, but he
wasn’t that good.
Lot’s Wife | 39

SCIENCE
We put the fun in funerals
by Tracy Chen
Illustration by Julia Pillai
It’s Easter, and although Jesus might have had the miraculous
ability to resurrect, we’re not so lucky. Us mere
mortals, who are decidedly less prone to coming back from
the dead, have to explore some other alternatives.
There’s the more traditional burial, a coffin or casket,
and dirt. For the rich and important, maybe a mausoleum to
rival the likes of the Taj Mahal. For more casual folks, maybe
a sky burial instead. Typically a Tibetan Buddhist practice,
which believes our bodies are empty vessels after death, a
sky burial aims to dispose of our remains as generously as
possible. In an act that’s reminiscent of Mufasa’s “Circle of
Life” speech in Lion King, the body is left on a mountaintop
to decompose, eaten by scavenging animals.
Unfortunately, such practices take space, a commodity
that we have precious little of in modern society. This
explains the increasing popularity of cremation. The body is
incinerated in a 1000 degree furnace, and if no explosions
occur (due to untoward materials left in the body), the dry
remains are pulverised and the ashes are neatly packaged
and returned to the family to do with what they will. Done
and dusted.
Yet, there are more interesting ways to be kept
post-mortem than in an urn. Companies will send a portion
of your ashes, amongst others, into space where it can orbit
the Earth for a few months before burning up on re-entry
- all while being monitored on an app and livestreamed by
loved ones.
As for the rest, why destroy when you can create? Like
a literal phoenix you can be reborn as the nutrients for a
tree. Labs can personally extract carbon from your ashes to
grow a diamond or even graphite. As a pencil, you could be
the tools for the next Michelangelo... or you could be used
to do maths homework.
For the more scientifically inclined, science likes
you in both life and death. There is of course, organ donation
and donation to scientific research, but there are
body farms too. Newly opened and hidden in a secret
location in Sydney, researchers gather data on the effects
of the Australian climate on the decomposition process.
Entomologists observe the life cycles of insects to refine
time of death estimates, and forensic scientists try to
capture the odour of decay for police dogs to track. It’s not a
glamorous process by any means, but it is for science.
On the less gory side, science promotes self-love too.
You can see your body immortalised in all of its beauty
in the downward dog pose through plastination.The fat
and water in your system is replaced by plastics and the
preserved result neither smells nor decays. For a full-body
plastination, it takes 1000 to 1500 man-hours. If that’s not
flattering for the dead, I don’t know what is. Of course, the
goal is to educate the public about health and anatomy, but
a little after-death exhibitionism at a museum never hurt
anyone.
You might not choose to die, but you can definitely
choose what happens after you die.
40 | Lot’s Wife

PUZZLES
1 2
3 4 5
6
7 8 9
10 11 12
13 14
15 16
17 18
19
20
ACROSS
ACROSS 1. Type of radiation created by accelerating
charged particles
1. Type of radiation 3. An Australian created by accelerating born scientist charged who particles was
awarded a Nobel Prize for his work on x-ray
3. An Australian
diffraction
born scientist
(Last
who
Name)
was awarded a Nobel Prize for
his work on x-ray 7. The diffraction force that (Last attracts Name) objects to the
ground
7. The force that
9. Country
attracts objects
where
to
Albert
the ground
Einstein was born
9. Country where 10. Einstein Albert Einstein is famous was born for his Theory of….
13. Measure of electrical resistance
10. Einstein is famous for his Theory of….
17. Unit for measuring frequency
13. Measure of 18. electrical Abbreviation resistance for Graphical User
Interphase
17. Unit for measuring frequency
19. An English physicist who was President
18. Abbreviation of the for Royal Graphical Society, User Interphase famous for work on
motion and gravity (Last Name)
19. An English physicist who was President of the Royal Society,
20. Collection of multiple stars all clustered
famous for work in the on motion same location and gravity held (last together name) by gravity
20. Collection of multiple stars all clustered in the same location
DOWN
held together 1. by Capability gravity to perform work, measured in
joules
2. Einstein’s first name
4. Wavelength of light Puzzle that is not by visible Rajat to Lal
naked eye. Used as hospital diagnostic and in
DOWN
protein crystallography
5. Field of science that studies matter and its
1. Capability motion to perform of space work, and measured time in joules
2. Einstein’s 6. first An name English physicist famous for theories
on time, work in relativity and black holes.
4. Wavelength (Last of light Name) that is not visible to naked eye. Used as hospital
diagnostic 8. and A way in protein to measure crystallography the order in which
events have occurred.
5. Field of science 9. A recent that studies discovery matter confirmed and its motion Einstein’s of space and
time prediction of ___ Waves.
11. The name of the
6. An English experiment/observatory physicist famous for theories that on helped time, work find in relativity
and black holes. proof (last for name) the answer in clue 9 Down
(Abbreviation)
8. A way to measure
12. Famous
the order
national
in which
park
events
in California.
have occurred.
9. A recent discovery 14. A substance confirmed that Einstein’s occupies prediction physical of space. ___ Waves.
15. The person in clue 19 Across postulated
11. The name
the
of
3
the
laws
experiment/observatory
of….
that helped find proof
for the answer 16. in The clue event 9 Down that (abbreviation) is believed to have
formed our universe.
12. Famous national park in California.
17. Energy transferred from a warmer
14. A substance object that to occupies a colder physical one space.
15. The person in clue 19 Across postulated the 3 laws of….
16. The event that is believed to have formed our universe.
17. Energy transferred from a warmer object to a colder one
ANSWERS AT LOTSWIFE.COM.AU
Lot’s Wife | 41

CULTURE

CULTURE
The
hunting
ground
by Layla Homewood
Illustration by Olivia Rossi
Content Warning: This article contains
discussions about sexual assault and rape
Sexual assault happens. On the street, in bars, in homes
and for a lot of young people, it happens at their university.
The Hunting Ground is a 2015 documentary which
focuses on sexual assault and rape on American college
campuses. Following numerous men and women who claim
to have been assaulted on their college campus, The Hunting
Ground has a central focus on the lack of support that college
administrators provide during the traumatic experience
and the arduous challenges these victims face from other
students and, in particular, the university faculty.
The film provides a great insight into how American
systems deal with sexual assault, and raises issues that
the students who are attacked face when coming forward
about the assault. While there is a vast difference between
America and Australia in regards to culture and the structure
of tertiary institutions, the issues raised by the documentary
remain prevalent in both societies.
The Hunting Ground raises many key focal points and
issues surrounding sexual assault with college students and
it is clear that in the case of American colleges, where the
documentary obtained its statistics and participants, the
college's image was more important to them than the justice
system. The Hunting Ground tears apart the colleges' process
(or lack thereof) with reporting incidents of sexual assault,
and shames institutions that actively prevent victims from
prosecuting their attackers for fear of tarnishing the college's
name.
It was found that in some colleges when a victim
searched how to seek help and guidance after a sexual
assault, the college website and other information providers
only offered support and advice in the case of being falsely
accused of a sexual attack. The college deliberately made
it difficult for the victims to access a support network and
report the incident, all the while spending their time and resources
helping those who were accused of being an attacker
whether this accusation be true or false.
Of course, it's not only in America that we can see
sexual assault claims being silenced. An Australian survey
in 2015, Talk About It, asked over 1300 participants about
their sexual assault experiences and how their university
and police departments processed their claim and supported
them through the ordeal. While many respondents were
pleased with their university's support network, the overwhelming
majority were disappointed in the institutions
which are meant to help them through such a hardship.
Both the universities and police departments have
failed to help the victims and achieve an appropriate outcome,
and are guilty of victim blaming with a NSW student
being "told I was simply drunk and it [the attack] wasn't
worth investigating". A number of comments focus on
the victim's feeling of uselessness and frustration in their
inability to reach justice. A respondent in Sydney said, "I
know that my rapist has since become a member of staff
but I can't do anything about it" and the majority of cases in
The Hunting Ground have a similar result with the attacker
remaining free on campus.
But aren’t things different here? Of course Monash
says that it listens to all students equally and handles sexual
assault claims with the utmost care, protecting anyone who
is a victim of the horrible crime. Sadly though, I’ve discovered
that Monash, like every other university, is predominantly
concerned with itself.
After speaking with a number of Monash students
about their own experiences, every report made the same
claim that our university swept the assault under the rug,
and made little or no attempt to support the victim. One
student was followed back to the Halls of Residence late in
the evening following a night out. The man who was walking
ahead of the victim repeatedly checked behind him to make
sure she was still there and alone. She crossed the road several
times, actions which the man mirrored, before calling
campus security and hiding from the predator in a nearby
car park.
Security acted quickly to her distress call and, even
though they did not catch the man accused of following the
victim, clearly acted under a fine protocol. However, the
issue lies with the members of residential staff and their
inaction regarding the near assault. The victim noted that
"there is evidently an underlying problem with the attitudes
towards it [sexual assault] present in major figures in the
uni" after she was accused of having had too much to drink,
and told that she shouldn't have been alone in the first place
by a senior member of the staff at her residence.
Do we still need to be fearful at night? Do we still need
to walk around like we're five year olds with a buddy system
in school? Make sure you hold your buddy's hand! Don't let
them wander off alone! I was once confronted by security
while walking home in the dark being told, "It's pretty dangerous
around here; you shouldn't be walking by yourself."
"No, Mr Security Guard, there shouldn't be rapists out
on the street."
Lot’s Wife | 43

CULTURE
“Everyone should
feel safe enough to
go the 500 meters
back to their home
without having to
hold their car keys
in one hand .”
Okay, I know he was only looking out for me, but
regardless, everyone should feel safe enough to go the 500
meters back to their home without having to hold their
car keys in one hand and 000 dialled on their phone in the
other.
Aside from university faculty departments dismissing
claims and not taking victims seriously in their need for
support and justice, both the documentary and survey focus
on the location of sexual attacks, and how this relates to the
university or college under scrutiny. While most assaults on
students appear off campus in private housing and public
locations, over 12% of assaults in Australia are at student
organisation events where predators have a whole pool of
new victims to pick and choose from.
Another Monash student came forward about her
assault that happened in O-week of her first year. At a
Monash party (a party that still runs every O-week), where
first-years, all other students, and sexual predators are
welcome to attend, she was approached by someone who
repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances. After mostly
ordering water to drink all night, she began to notice feeling
hazy, and knowing that she hadn't had enough alcohol to be
drunk, realised that her drink had been spiked.
She quickly turned to a friend and ordered a taxi home
when her physical responses became so slow that she was
unable to stand on her own or form a single sentence. She
was carried back to her on campus home by a number of
close friends who notified the residential team before deciding
to call an ambulance.
The following morning when the victim woke, instead
of being assured that she was safe and that the university
would make every attempt at justice, she was accused by
residential staff members of heavy drinking and provocative
or misleading actions towards her assailant. Even though
the victim was certain of the attacker being the man who
continually approached her, the Halls of Residence and
societies who organised the o-week event failed to further
investigate the claim, and dismissed the ordeal as a merely
unfortunate evening, leaving the culprit free to attend more
university events.
Instead of trying their best at supporting victims and
punishing the attackers, universities are putting their time,
money, energy, and resources into ensuring that current,
future and past students aren't aware of these assaults that
occur all too frequently. This silencing of claims is a vital
focus in The Hunting Ground that clearly remains relevant
in Australia. It’s also abundantly obvious in both American
and Australian cases that student organisation events and
other money making schemes for the universities are not
condemned for their high sexual assault rates. Instead of
truthfully branding them as events where attackers can
seek out prey and warning future victims, these instances
of assault are left unaddressed so that the universities can
maintain their positive reputation.
It's all about the university's image. If potential students
are aware of the immense rape culture at their dream
institution, it won't be their dream any more. If alumni
learn about how their classmates were accused of sexual
assault, they won't donate. If the current students discover
a predator in the class, they'll switch.
There needs to be an even ground whereby all universities
must accept any and all sexual assault cases with
equality and empathy. These issues should not be dismissed
on victim blaming or fear in the university being tarnished.
If all colleges and universities administered the same policies,
yes, statistics showing sexual assault among students
would rise by a staggering amount and raise questions
about rape and assault culture at the university. But this
rise in statistics would only be a reflection of the truth, and
encourage more men and women who are victims of such
crime to come forward and further promote justice.
Resources for reporting or discussing sexual assault:
Life Line| 13 11 14
Sexual Assault Report Anonymously | Download the app
for free or report online at www.sara.org.au
Monash Safer Community Unit | safercommunity@
monash.edu
44 | Lot’s Wife

CULTURE
Death of an icon
by Verity Norbury
Illustration by Declan Trevv
century has passed and life has flourished around
A me. Thousands of people erupting in applause,
‘Bravo! Bravo!’ they cry! ‘Encore!’ I am freedom, a flaming
beacon of hope and passion; the key to ignite the soul.
Now, the world is colder, only shadows, darkness looms
as my walls crumble, and all that was flaming glory now
turns to ash – death is imminent, breath escapes me as I
wait my fate…
The Palace Theatre is doomed to demolition if the
Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) rules in
favour of the premises’ new owner, Jinshan Investments in
the trial which occurred in late February. The question is:
will this magnificent building, an iconic symbol of theatre
and music, rise from the ashes as argued by the Melbourne
City Council and National Trust or become a distant memory,
charred and dismembered, replaced by a hotel?
It is a battle between tradition and change, performance
and convention, musicality and the ‘chink chink’ of
cash registers. Theatres in Melbourne are dying off, consumed
by dull, conventional businesses. The Pram Factory,
run by the Australian Performing Group, closed thirty years
ago and is now a Woolworths. The Eastern Arcade, a former
hub of nightlife and theatre in the early 1900s, also suffered
a similar fate when demolished in 2008.
If the Palace Theatre suffers the same end, an integral
part of Melbourne’s past will be lost, and given our
city holds few historical buildings, what remains should be
preserved. The site’s origins trace to the lavish era of the
Victorian Gold Rush, a pivotal part of the establishment of
Victoria, whereby Thomas Mooney built the theatre along
20-30 Bourke St. However, in 1911, the premises burnt
down only to be rebuilt and named the ‘Palace’. The interior
took on a whole new life when a new purchaser Benjamin
Fuller in 1916 paid theatre architect Henry Eli White to
make renovations consisting of a Louis XIV-inspired interior,
complete with a marble staircase. Take away the Palace
and these memories: those of an era where live theatre
reigned supreme, where horse and carts were the preferred
method of transport and people actually sent hand written
letters to one another, they’ll be all but forgotten through
the grey, stark walls of the present.
The era of the depression saw the Palace renamed as
‘The Apollo’ and used as a cinema. Indeed, over the next
Lot’s Wife | 45

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What a tragedy
would loom upon
Melbourne if the
theatre turns to
ash... another
loss of culture
in the name of
predictable, safe,
savvy corporate
enterprise.
century, the premises would gain a whole series of names
and identities. In 1973, as the world went through a cultural
revolution, the musical Hair was performed and the cinema
was again renamed ‘The Palace’. In 1987, the Palace flourished
in a golden age when the site was converted into a
nightclub, opened then by Molly Meldrum. It was, for twenty
years, a successful music venue.
So, is it only bricks and mortar then? This is the
opinion of Jinshan Investments, who in 2012 purchased
the premises for $11.2 million, with grand plans of turning
the theatre into a 30-storey, 5-star hotel. However,
these dreams were short lived as the now former planning
Minister Matthey Guy denied the plans over an eighteen
month battle. Jinshan conceded to build a seven-storey
hotel.
After the plans were announced to the public, the
National Trust and Melbourne City council, along with ‘Save
the Palace’, began rallying to prevent the building’s destruction.
Jinshan began work on the theatre. The Imperial
French inspired ceilings were plastered over, the amphitheatre
slowly dismantled and the beautiful roman-inspired
marble staircase jack-hammered, its remains found on a garbage
tip out the front of the worksite. A mutilation indeed.
In their ruthless conduct, the corporate giant has ignored
the wishes of the public, the historical significance of the
site, and the overall integrity of the premises.
Now Jinshan argues the Palace has no heritage value
and thus can be demolished.
However, the National Trust and Melbourne City
Council rightly claim that the building is something far
greater than a material object, only valued by aesthetic
qualities. They argue the Palace’s worth lies in its historical
and social significance.
Is this enough? Every building carries meaning: a past,
present and future. The Palace is one that should withstand
the years. Every stage show, theatrical triumph and flop,
films, spilt drinks, missing props, dancing, and – above all,
every person entertained and performer in their element.
What a tragedy would loom upon Melbourne if the theatre
turns to ash, like the Pram Factory and Eastern Arcade; another
loss of culture in the name of predictable, safe, savvy
corporate enterprise. To date, the ‘Save the Palace’ Facebook
page has over 37,000 likes supporting the theatre’s existence.
Evidently, the public want the building to remain. If
Jinshan is successful, their plan is to leave only the face of
the Palace mounted upon the entrance of the hotel. A shadow
of its former, glorious self.
In May 2015, the initial VCAT hearing occurred.
However, a judgement was not made as Helen Gibson, a
member of the Tribunal, owned a National Trust membership.
The case was re-heard with a different panel, in the
interest of justice and avoiding potential bias. Thus, the trial
was pushed back another six months to the final week of
February with the Palace crumbling, unloved, dejected and
silent after so many years of life.
Both sides have spoken. A decision should be handed
down over the next few weeks. So, what happens if Jinshan
loses? If the Palace remains, gutted of its interior, what
will the premises’ future be? There is no use if the ‘For Sale’
sign is erected on a part-demolished building site. However,
there are prospective buyers – thus, options to secure the
theatre’s safe journey through the next century.
The State Government could purchase the premises,
as they did in the 1970s with a fifty precent share in the
Regent Theatre, as premier Dick Hamer made a heroic move
to save the theatre. However, the State Government, in
2013, declared they would not purchase the site. So, another
alternative: the British based, Mint Group, who successfully
guided Camden Palace Theatre in London through a
2004 re-opening as a live music venue named KOKO, have
expressed interest in buying the Palace and performing a
similar renovation.
Thus, if Melbourne City Council and National Trust
are victorious from the secondary hearing, there is a potential
resurrection for the Palace. From the darkness, may rise
a new beginning, one to inspire the next generation of performers.
Indeed, the damage caused by Jinshan investments
could be repaired by a minute restoration argued by heritage
expert, Anna Foley at the hearing. Therefore, if VCAT rules
in favour of the Melbourne City Council, and National trust,
there is a bright future for the Palace.
Now, all we can do is wait. Have faith in the justice
system, that the people’s voices will be heard.
Or else, should Jinshan succeed, and demolish the
heart of the Palace, the premises will become merely another
commercial building, its uniqueness lost, the final theatre
on Bourke St all but ash, resulting in the death of an icon.
46 | Lot’s Wife

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April
gig
guide
by Layla Homewood
Illustration by Karla Engdahl
Like all other Melbournians, you're probably beginning to
suffer from what can only be described as "post summer
gig depression". The main cause perhaps boils down
to attending too many cheap concerts in quick succession,
only to be now left with too much study and work to even
find out when your favourite band is playing next. But good
news, children! We've found a cure for such a terrible illness.
In order to revitalise your thirst for live music and ease that
sadness, we've complied a quick list of cheap and free gigs
in Melbourne for April. So, while we cannot help with the
completion of mid semester assignments, we can at least
help you in forgetting that they exist by having a sick time
at the following events:
Saskwatch
Price: $17 | When: 8/4 | Where: The Corner Hotel
This Melbourne band is back, with a massive tour for
their third album Sorry I Let it Come Between Us, and this is a
gig that you won't want to miss. You can bet that Saskwatch
will bring a chill crowd with prime dance moves and vibes to
match their relaxed, soul sounds. With dirt cheap tickets for
this local band, you'd be mad to not snag one up quickly.
Modern Baseball
Price: $33 | When: 9/4 and 10/4
Where: The Rev and The Corner Hotel
This is a slightly steeper price, but for this band all the
way from America, you can bet that they'll give it their all.
We all remember their release of Your Graduation in 2014
which dominated Triple J radio for a solid four consecutive
months, and to see this live, along with the rest of their
pop-punk tunes would be one hell of an experience. Ensure
you wear comfortable shoes though, and prepare yourself
for a bit of a mosh.
Gang of Youths
Price: $46 | When: 21/4 | Where: 170 Russell
After their first show sold out well before they were
due to play, Gang of Youths have graciously announced another
Melbourne show. I know this isn't exactly considered
a cheap concert to go to (we're all uni students here, trust
me, I understand how many goon sacks 46 dollars can get
you), but Gang of Youths just keep getting bigger and better,
and before you know it, that $46 ticket will just get more
expensive as their fan base continues to grow.
A Secret Place
Price: FREE | When: now until 30/6
Where: Unknown
Fancy a trip to a 1950s New York club, complete with
an array of cocktails and live jazz music? Screw that $2000
plane ticket. Grab whatever shrapnel you can find under
the couch cushions, load up your myki card with it, and hop
on the train to Bourke Street instead. You're only told the
exact location of this exclusive joint when your booking is
confirmed, and if you're on the guest list you can skip the
entry fee. Only open to the public on Thursday nights this
underground jazz club is a perfect way to spend an evening
in style after a day full of mind melting lectures.
The Night Cat
Price: FREE | When: Fridays-Sundays
Where: Fitzroy
If music that you tend to hear on your way to uni day
in and day out isn't what you want to actively seek on your
weekends, maybe the Latin salsa and hip-hop at The Night
Cat is what you need. Who's playing when varies from night
to night, so you'll have to be sure to check what you're in
for on the night you decide to go. But no matter who's on
the stage, you'll be sure to have one hell of a boogie to some
incredible, fresh beats.
Lot’s Wife | 47

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Autumn
Adventures
by Melissa Fernando
Illustration by Elsie Dusting
The autumn season is a great time to get out and about
in Melbourne! Although many of us call this great city
home, I’m sure a few of us really know how many great
outdoor spots there are so close to us. The autumn months
bring with them a relaxing cool weather perfect for outdoor
activities as you won’t be too hot or too cold! So don’t be an
[April] fool, March on down to these fabulous locations and
you May find something special (see what I did there?).
Cape Schanck
Within an hour drive away from Monash Clayton,
Cape Schanck is the perfect place to enjoy a little bit of
everything. Throughout history, the coastline has been an
important location, especially for Aboriginal Australians
who gathered shellfish amongst other foods here for many
thousands of years. The beauty and importance of Cape
Schanck has not been forgotten today, as while it is a popular
spot for tourist activity, most of the natural sights and
beaches remain unspoiled by human interaction. Nestled
into the southern-most point of the Mornington Peninsula,
its uniqueness perhaps lies in its duality in terrain. While
some areas of the Cape are covered in continuous sandy
beaches, The Board walk towards Pebble Beach provide
adventurers with the rocky ruggedness of this coastal area,
with views such as Pulpit Rock, Elephant Rock and Castle
Rock. The Cape Schanck Lighthouse built in 1859 is also a
popular tourist destination with spectacular coastal views.
There are also arrays of scenic walks to explore, with ample
chance of greeting a kangaroo or an albatross. From monstrous
sand dunes near its coastline beaches to uninhabited
rock pools, Cape Schanck offers travellers the chance for a
true adventure.
48 | Lot’s Wife

CULTURE
Peninsula Hot Springs.
As the weather begins to cool, it’s only natural to
want to feel warm again! Well, you can do so naturally at
Peninsula Hot Springs in Fingal, Mornington Peninsula.
Hot Springs like this occur due to the fact that centre of the
Earth’s temperature is equivalent to the surface temperature
of the sun and just like the sun, heat radiates outwards,
and warms up any water sources with which it comes into
contact. The pools and baths at this award winning location
contain these natural thermal mineral waters and provide
ultimate relaxation. This hot springs experience will set
you back $35-40 for Bath House bathing, or $55-60 for the
pricier Spa Dreaming Centre option. Keep in mind though
concession prices are available. Depending on the day and
time you go you may have to book online first so be sure to
check the website for details.
Trentham Falls
Far away in the distant Daylesford area lies a spectacular
waterfall tucked away from human activity. Trentham
Falls is the longest single drop fall in Victoria which formed
5 million years ago. It lies one and a half hours away from
Clayton, North East of the city. The cooler months are a
great time to visit waterfalls as the water supply is abundant,
creating a wonderful flow, compared to the summer
trickle. The steep cliffs block out the sweltering sun for a
relaxing, cool shelter. The viewing point for the waterfall is
about 100 metres from the parking destination, and despite
multiple signs saying “NO ACCESS” beyond this point,
many people still continue down the cliffs to the base of the
waterfall for a soothing swim.
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay, a crescentic-shaped beach only 30
minutes from Monash is located in the suburb of Black
Rock. Being only 350 meters long and quite protected from
harsh sea waters, Half Moon Bay is a safe place to explore.
This sandy sea shore is the perfect place for tanning, relaxing,
fishing, swimming and surfing. The bay is surrounded
by impressive cliffs, where divers are often spotted taking a
plunge into the blue sea. If the scenery looks familiar to you,
it may be due to the fact that the beach was often shot in
everyone’s favourite 90’s children’s show Round the Twist.
The beach’s charm was also featured in the classic Mad Max.
Fruit Picking
If you feel like doing something that does not include
water then why not try fruit picking? Take advantage of
the abundance of fresh fruit and veggies available at farms
and paddocks close to Melbourne. Many find this activity
relaxing and satisfying, and, of course, you get to eat what
you collect! Although make sure you search each fruit picking
farm the day before you venture out to ensure that the
fruits are still in season.
Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm – Strawberries
(Nov-May) 244 Shands Rd, Main Ridge.
Paynes Orchads – Apples (March – May) 372
Bacchus Marsh Rd
Blue Hills Berries – Strawberries (Nov-May) 27
Parker Rd, Silvan Victoria
Fairy Cove
No fairies have been spotted (yet) at Fairy Cove,
but the beauty of this isolated, serene seashore is enough
to be wondered by. Hidden in the vast region of Wilsons
Promontory lies a beach so secret that google maps doesn’t
even register its existence. The trek to Fairy Cove includes
a drive to the Darby River where there will be parking, and
then about an hour’s walk on the Tongue Point Track to get
to Fairy Cove.
Lake Eildon National Park
This national park is the furthest location on this list,
as you will need two and a half hours to reach your destination.
However, to make up for the distance, Lake Eildon
provides us with a plethora of things to do at this versatile
location. You can hire a houseboat and float across the
dam, or decide take a swim or even water ski if you're lucky
enough to have one. If fishing is your thing, get there early.
And I mean early, like 6am early. If you’re in the mood for a
naturistic walk with wondrous sights, attempt the Blowhard
Summit walking trail, which should roughly take another
2.5 hours. Once you reach the summit you will be rewarded
with a spectacular view of Mount Buller in the distance.
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Deadpool:
A fresh look at
reinventing the
R-rated superhero
by Gazain Zia
Illustration by Ceitidh Hopper
Some of Hollywood’s box office successes over the past
year have heavily emphasized their ability to appeal to
a wide, family-friendly target audience. With this in mind,
it’s no surprise that many big titles such as Guardians of the
Galaxy, The Avengers and Star Wars rely on keeping their
content PG. It not only allows younger, upcoming fans to
view these movies, but also a large segment of the public
to involve themselves into the culture and fan base that
these movies have created. With the release of Deadpool and
its heavily appreciated R-rating, a new stream of fans has
emerged that Hollywood has yet to really take advantage of.
The tale of a bloodthirsty mercenary with a penchant
for juvenile humour, Deadpool challenges the previous trend
of comic book heroes that seem so focused on appealing to
the younger crowd, and potentially splits the demographic
between them, and older die-hard fans.
The idea of releasing a movie for one of comic book’s
most entertaining characters was surely about appealing
to a specific group. Fans of Deadpool were already familiar
with the character’s dark humour and gory violence before
the movie had even released. Using an R-rating was a matter
of staying true to the character’s origins, rather than altering
a story to allow for mass market appeal. It gave a sense
of ownership to fans who knew exactly what to expect in
the movie, along with allowing the director to play around
with the film’s comedy without the limitations of political
correctness. In fact, one of the biggest reasons this movie
had been so anticipated was because fans could finally see a
character that had no restrictions in his performance, and
could play out as extravagantly as the script required. One
of the drawbacks to any R-rated movie is the limited number
of viewers your movie could have.
Yet despite this, Deadpool has broken several box
office records such as biggest R-rated opening weekend,
and biggest opening weekend for a first-time director. This
could indicate that by bringing a purely fan-focused film
adaptation of a comic book character, viewers are left more
satisfied. They are also left more supportive of movies that
choose to go beyond the usual kid-friendly trend in comic
book movies. Film studios have already experimented with
R-rated comic book adaptations in the past, and produced
CULTURE
some titles such as Watchmen, 300 and Sin City that have
not been too memorable. While these movies did produce
some impressive numbers and gained a fair amount of critical
acclaim, their impact on the general public was limited
because of their R-rated content, with their ability to create
a fan culture (including demand for sequels, merchandise,
and cosplay) could only go so far without being exposed to a
younger generation of viewers.
However, Deadpool has been enough of a success to
possibly reinvent the R-rated comic-book genre early on in
2016, and could potentially open up a new era of hero and
antihero (I’m looking at you, Carnage) adaptations. This
could very well be a trend that has already taken its course,
as there has already been mention of a director’s cut edition
of Batman vs Superman with an R-rating attached.
Keeping a PG rating has also allowed these franchises
to break into merchandising via toys, books, and costumes.
This is a market that’s not as easy to be involved in as an
R-rated flick. Another arguably more irritating factor is criticism
from parents and other guardian groups looking out
for their own children. It’s pretty upsetting that despite the
maturity implied with every rating, there are still members
of the public that look to shamelessly demand censorship
and diminish the creative effort of movie makers.
The most appalling example I’ve seen has been a
petition by concerned mother Grace Randolph to release
a PG-13 version of Deadpool that already has nearly four
thousand signatures. “If there was a PG-13 version [young
viewers]... could be superhero[es] rather than... super-villain[s]...”
claimed Randolph.
It’s scenarios like these that raise the question:
When does the blame shift from the (openly specified)
violence and graphic nudity in movies, to the clueless and
unprepared viewer? There always seems to be a minority of
viewers that publicly go against the content of controversial
movies, and those in the R-rated genre are no strangers at
being criticized by the disapproving eyes of the internet.
Luckily, if done right, movies like Deadpool can satisfy
enough fans and like-minded viewers to overcome any
criticism from the unprepared. This movie has set an example
for directors and studios. It’s a successful comic book
adaptation that has taken a unique approach to storytelling,
allowing Deadpool as a character to play to his fullest
potential. Its R-rated antics have been accepted as a breath
of fresh air, and it’s made a large enough impact that’s continuing
to gain attention for its ability to break out of the
PG loop and into the zone of R-rated performances.
Despite all the backlash, a good comic book film
should only be judged by its appeal to its fans and mastering
the identity of a character that’s only previously been seen
on paper. While most comic book franchises continue to
remain loyal to the PG market, Deadpool has proven that a
movie can still be successful outside of the norm so long as
it remains loyal to its origins.
Lot’s Wife | 51

CULTURE
by Clarissa Kwee
Illustration by Natalie Ng
The (Norse) Gods have truly blessed us for choice in source
material for superheroes, and we aren’t shy about delivery.
Since the release of X-Men in 2000, an average six superhero
films have been released each year, meaning there have been
64 major superhero films in the last decade, on top of hours
and hours of small screen adaptations being consistently rolled
out. Superheroes have become ingrained into everyday culture,
with one of Comic-Con’s hallmarks being its cosplayers who
dress as their favourite caped crusaders without shame. Clark
Kent, Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker have become millennial
household names. But there are some who argue that the rapid
influx of superhero media to grace our screens has run the
genre into the ground. Even the noisy and dedicated comic-book
fandoms cannot prevent these movies and shows from
“cannibalising one another” (Dominick Mayer, Daily Dot); ‘Peak
Superhero’ seems to truly be upon us.
Though most superhero media shares the same bloodlines,
the source material is chopped and changed to suit new
mediums, and the tonal shift between each new franchise
means there is literally something for everyone. On the small
screen, Fox’s Gotham dabbles in the thriller-crime genre, CBS’s
Supergirl adopts a plucky and heartfelt register, while ABC’s
Agent Carter is a drama about spycraft in the forties. At the
same time, 20 new superhero flicks are poised in the movie
line-up until 2020. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has nearly
swallowed the market whole, bearing resemblance to a golden
goose that lays as many of its episodic, blockbuster eggs as
possible, like an ‘annual TV show’. Meanwhile DC lumbers light
years behind in terms of its commercial success, the transcendent
rivalry between the two Goliaths coming to a head with
2016’s Batman v Superman and the two Justice League movies
hope to rival the gargantuan Avengers: Infinity Wars of 2018.
The period up until 2020 may appease true comic-book
aficionados, being peppered with out-of-the-box releases,
like Aquaman and Dr. Strange. Or with remakes, including
Spiderman being dragged into cinemas for its third rehash
since 2000 by Sony. They say strength comes in numbers, but
most of these heroes hold up both buildings and box offices on
their own. At this point, aren’t there too many cooks in Hell’s
Kitchen?
In terms of both comic-book adaptations and modern
remakes, the variety of content has plateaued superhero media
into the same patriarchal universes, rhythmic execution, and
disintegrating save-the-universe plots. Matt Zoller Seitz, from
review site Roger Ebert is unabashedly cynical about the superhero
deluge, a genre “where the imagination goes to drown
itself”. Maybe he has a point. Our heads might not yet be fully
submerged underwater, but our lungs are slowly filling with the
string of special effects replicated per fight or flight sequence,
ebbing numbingly into one murky digital sea. It seems like studios
are merely trying to capitalise on the grand success they’re
already experiencing. But despite big budgets, this media isn’t
as invincible as the heroes it features. Early seasons of CW’s
Arrow and ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. received criticism for
uneven tone, one ridiculed for its soap-operatic tendencies
and the other for doing little but “Scooby-Dooing around the
Marvel Universe” (Grantland). Grantland’s Mark Harris likens
the superhero craze to a ‘tulip fever’, where the genre’s market
is speculated to have no limits and continue to grow exponentially,
so society mindlessly buys into the hype, with most
superheroes being commodified as brands rather than original
content. Every time a new Spiderman is cast, dolls have to be
52 | Lot’s Wife

CULTURE
remodelled, and new video games have to be released. The horizontal
convergence that spreads to other industries is almost
limitless.
But speaking literally, maybe we can’t say we have
reached peak – which infers best – just quite yet. Despite the
high-profile releases that much superhero media is treated to,
sometimes the least assuming heroes end up surprising us the
most (Guardians of the Galaxy excited very few people in its
pre-production stages). For starters, Marvel and Netflix have
buddied up to conceptualise a Defenders series; think of it like
a gritty, streetwise Avengers-esque ensemble, only set in the
big sprawling metropolis of Manhattan, New York. Only the instalments
of Daredevil and Jessica Jones have been released thus
far, but the latter in particular hints at the potential superhero
media has to climb higher and darker than it ever has before.
Daredevil is excellent in its own right, but Matt Murdock isn’t
so dissimilar to his other cinematic Marvel counterparts in that
he is a do-gooder trying to do right by the wrong people.
Jessica Jones, on the other hand, is the quintessential
anti-hero. Shows like the latter, in particular, are a paucity
because they nix the genre conventions. Popular construction
of superheroes features many hyper-masculine, philanthropic
men in an array of costumes. Jessica Jones is a leather-jacketed
angel forced to unfurl her wings; an unapologetically cynical,
broken woman who can throw a man across the room, has outbursts
of rage and self-medicates with hard liquor. Often the
genre chronicles the transformation of an unassuming young
boy into a hero; Jessica Jones can be described as a post-hero
story, where she tried the whole superhero thing, everything
went pear-shaped, and she left her dreams of valour at the
doorstep of Hell’s Kitchen. The show is as open and frank as its
eponymous star, refusing to be coy on the exploration of traditionally
taboo media topics like rape, post-traumatic stress disorder,
sexuality, and sociopathy. But Jessica is as far-removed
from the role of a femme fatale (a role undertaken by equally
enthralling villain Kilgrave) as can be. She’s an antihero, she’s
broken and she openly ridicules caped costumes– and the world
loves her for just being her. Even if she never gets her own
Barbie doll, Jessica Jones is considered unorthodox as a hero
for the exact reasons that make her a trailblazer in the genre.
At the same time, the young, white, heterosexual and idealistic
superhero demographic is slowly opening up to new faces
that continually upend superhero norms. Luke Cage is soon to
join Matt and Jessica to defend the streets of the Big Apple, as
the first lead African American superhero on the big or small
screens. Suicide Squad completely inverts traditional ‘hero’
archetypes; the reason they become heroes is because they were
villains first. And the Amazon Wonder Woman finally gets her
own movie in 2017 after countless years being one of the best
known figures on the DC stage. What Jessica Jones affirms is
that because superhero media also hybridises genres, storylines
aren’t only involved with supernatural origins, superhuman
abilities or supervillain foes anymore; the earthly world can collide
with the unearthly. We need to remember that qualifying
‘Peak Superhero’ is more important that quantifying it. Some
of the most poignant narratives to come out of the superhero
genre are not the birds and not the planes, but those that are
the antithesis of their name; the hero is not reliant on its super
preface, and likely never will be again.
Lot’s Wife | 53

CREATIVE
Illustration by Karla Engdahl

FICTION
The
Proposal
by A. Davis
She dabbed her forehead with her napkin, sure that her
hair would be like cotton candy by now, even just from
the humidity radiating from her own scalp. Her pocket felt
heavy as the decision weighed down on her. Hands shaking,
she tried to fold the napkin and place it back on the table.
He would be back from the bathroom any minute now.
Every nerve in her body was on fire. Her heart beat violently
against her ribs. Sweat glued her dress to her skin. She’d
never quite felt this kind of stress before, but there was no
more time for deliberation. She would have to choose.
“What’s wrong, Ella?” Dan asked, his arms wrapped
around her.
“Nothing, I’m fine.”
Dan snuggled closer, worried by her quick response.
He placed a hand on her cheek so she couldn’t avoid his
gaze. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Ella sighed, “I just…” She paused, she wasn’t sure how
much she could tell him without letting him know things he
shouldn’t.“I just have a big decision to make.”
He placed a small kiss on her nose. “You know you can
do anything you put your mind to, right?”
“I know… I’m just worried I might ruin everything if I
make the wrong choice.”
“Never,” He kissed her on the lips this time. “I will
always be here to support you, no matter what.”
Ella feigned a smile and rolled over, pretending to go
to sleep.
He said he would stay with her no matter what.
She wasn’t so sure.
Rain chilled her to the bone. Dripping, she entered the
impossibly white store nestled between a designer clothes
boutique and the café she’d been meaning to try for a while
now, but never thought to go.
“Long time no see, Ella.” The storeowner greeted her
as she tried to avoid getting any of the displays wet.
“How are you, Chris?” Ella asked, pushing damp
strands of hair out of her face.
“Good.” He replied, “I wasn’t sure you were coming
back, you know.”
“Are they done?”
“Of course.” Chris reached down and pulled a small,
black box out from under the counter. “Take a look.”
Ella nervously took the box from him and opened it. A
small gasp escaped as she gazed at the surreal beauty of its
contents. They were so much more than anything she had
imagined.
Fidgeting with her cutlery, Ella dwelled on all the
reasons why she shouldn’t do this, why she was making the
wrong decision. She sipped her wine, awaiting his return.
He returned from the bathroom, resuming his spot
across the table from Ella.
It was time.
She stood up from her seat.
Her knee collided with the table.
“Ow…” She mumbled as she rubbed her developing
bruise. The entire restaurant turned to stare at her, causing
her cheeks to burn.
“Ella! Are you okay?” Dan asked. His brow furrowed.
Ella’s blush deepened.
“I’m fine! I’m fine…”
“Are you sure you’re okay? Did you need to go to the
bathroom?”
“No! It’s nothing…”
Dan tilted his head like a puppy. Ella faltered. She
couldn’t lose those warm, hazelnut eyes.
Hesitating, she put her hand to the table to guide
herself back to her seat, knocking a glass of red wine over as
she did so. Tears stung her eyes. It was wrong, all wrong.
“Ella, what’s wrong?” Those eyes again; full of concern.
Ella knew what to do.
Ignoring the other diners, the staff and the spreading
stain over her dress, Ella moved beside Dan, her motions
full of purpose now, not a hint of a second-thought. She
dropped to one knee.
“Dan…” Concern turned to shock, “Will you marry
me?” Ella pushed the small, black box towards him and
opened it, revealing two, beautiful rings.
A silence fell across the restaurant.
Ella stared into Dan’s eyes which appeared to be glowing
with something. Was it… joy?
Dan grinned. “Of course I will, Ella.” He stood up and
pulled her up from the floor into an embrace. She relaxed
into his arms. Relief slowed her racing heart and a sense of
calm contentedness soothed her raw nerves.
“Do you like your ring?” She asked.
“It’s perfect.”
They exchanged rings as the restaurant cheered.
One problem still troubled Ella.
“You don’t mind that I proposed?”
He shook his head, “Ella, I want to spend the rest of
my life with you. I don’t care which one of us had the guts to
say that first.”
The knot in her stomach that had been plaguing her
for months finally unravelled.
He had said yes.
Lot’s Wife | 55

POETRY
Beware: the choice is yours
by Ed Jessop
56 | Lot’s Wife

Illustration by Karla Engdahl

FICTION
Impossible diplomacy
by Justin Jones Li
I
’ve almost certainly been sent to die. We’ve already sent
in tens of ambassadors, envoys, emissaries and diplomats.
They never come back. And if I recall, there was always
something not quite right about them. Wasn’t Jimmy
accused of embezzlement that one time?
Oh whatever. We’re past the gates to the city. There’s
the embassy! It’s so good to finally see someone not wearing
one of those creepy masks. The guards smile as we make it
through. Is there something behind those smiles? Do they
know what happens to our fine citizens?
The carriage stops at the front door. I get out with the
two local escorts who were keeping watch on me. They’ve
still got those white discs covering their faces, with those
pitch black slits for eyes and a thin smile painted on.
One of my escorts knocks on the door. It opens.
Another masked figure appears. We walk in.
The locals lead me through the building. The walls are
painted pink and decorated with little claw marks. I notice
the smell of mint in the air. I think it might be soothing me.
They lead me to a door with a smiley face painted on
in black. Just like on their masks. It’s starting to take effort
to breathe.
The door opens on its own, and the locals usher me
through. It leads to a corridor with open doors on either
side. The locals gesture towards each one as we walk past. I
think they’re letting me take a peek.
I see skeletons on the floor. The ground feels like it’s
being taken from under me. The locals hold me up, and they
basically drag me along. My legs shake as they slide across
the floor.
More skeletons. What will befall me? What do these
people want with us?
I see an emaciated man lying on his belly. Life returns
to my feet. I shrug off the locals and run back to the room.
It’s Jimmy! Thin and exhausted, but unmistakably it is
him. But why is he in this room?
I take a closer look. Right in front of Jimmy is a white
cat. He seems to be lifting his hand, trying to… pet this cat.
I have to get out of here. I turn around to fight off
my captors. Their mask and clothes fell apart, and two cats
emerged from each set. They all meow at me.
So cute! Why would I want to leave? Oh, I just want
to pat them all! Hey, where are they going? Come here,
kitty-kitty!
58 | Lot’s Wife

CREATIVE
Illustration by Emily Dang