Lot's Wife Edition 2 2016

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