News

My promise to stop reading the Age was effective for a little bit. However, life isn't right without the coffee and the paper to start the day. I've made the sacrifice to read on line, rather than in hard copy. That's probably not a sacrifice given the reduction in environmental waste. Who knows, here is some interested articles from the last week:

Rather amusing, however, I think the poms vs Aussies rivalry is a bit boring. I know it's entertainment. Read here.

Barry Humphries, always entertaining. Here.

I am against most recent changes to tertiary education, including but not exclusive to VSU, the introduction of Fee Help, the reduction of HECS places so on and so forth. This is one of the reasons why.

Dakota Fanning is unique. I do not believe she should be compared to other child stars, as described in this article.

Didn't really like the theme behind the advertising campaign but I would still encourage people to visit Australia. While I don't condone Lara's actions it does 'take two' and the media's assault on her has been unequal when compared to the other party. Thoughtful commentary here.

This weekend I haven't got around to much reading wise, but have read the weekend Australian cover to cover. A definite plus being back on campus the papers are at breakfast every morning.

The University Experience

This evening someone told me that you hadn't experienced 'university' until you had participated in a pub crawl. This was their justification for belittling me as I decided not to attend the Bond University Pub Crawl for 071. They didn't ask if there were reasons for this decision, they just passed judgement. Like me many of my friends decided, for a plethora of reasons, they didn’t wish to go. Likewise, I am sure many friends of the person who was so quick to judge me are going. I hope they have fun.


My choice not to go may have been related to the $30 odd dollars it costs. For this one receives a rather unattractive tee-shirt that most females cut up so it resembles something akin to a singlet or in some instances a bathing top. Most males manage to fashionably and strategically rip theirs, otherwise there is also the activity of writing offensive remarks. Alas, the thirty dollars only entitles one to a free tee-shirt and bus ride. The ‘team-leaders’ on the other hand don’t pay to go and get drink cards, which allocate them free drinks. While drinks are discounted for those wearing the pub crawl tee-shirt this is usually about fifty cents off the standard price. Apparently, the only event run by student associations that provides a free drink is Drink the Pub Dry.

Someone told me to 'stop acting so old' and go. I did have to inform them that I was old and content with that. I stopped short of telling them if I'd counted all the put crawls I'd been on then it would amount to more than the number of years they had been out of secondary school.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable time. If I am driving through surfers paradise at 2am I will keep an eye on the gutters. Furthermore, I will make sure that when you are telling me how terrible you feel on Saturday morning, I tell you how fantastic I feel.

However, the assumption that without experiencing pub crawl you haven't experienced university is what I wish to comment on. This is a farce. It may constitute an activity that could be considered important to the academic life of tertiary students, as too are enrolling, attending, partaking in, failing, passing, and topping a subject you actually still do not understand. However, I believe other activities are more significant components to this ‘experience.’ This may be related to the fact that I am sure none of the students on the pub crawl this evening will be drinking dry and dry (without the consumption of this it really isn’t a pub crawl.)

Events I consider integral to this experience include:
• taking part in a protest, even forming a picket line
• signing a petition
• be berated by a radical feminist who takes an instant dislike to you because you haven’t seen the light like them and still wear make-up, high heels, a bra, a skirt, or because you are a sexist pig
• become a vegetarian or vegan for at least a week because that’s what everyone is doing and you really think it is the right thing to do
• joining a political party
• dating someone with dreadlocks
• being thrown in jail then calling someone to bail you out, then dealing with the ramifications of suspension from University
• not attending class due to consuming far too much of what smells more like methylate spirits than vodka at a faculty ball (hey they were dishing the drinks out of green garbage bins)
• Having a crush on a lecturer/tutor and enrol in a subject they are teaching because of this infacutation

(to be continued)

Thus, I am of the opinion that in defining a 'university' experience, one needs to look at a great variety of events, situations and predicaments than partaking in a pub crawl.

the SNAKE is more scared of you, than you of it!

No matter how many times I've been told this I remain sceptical. I'm petrified of these creatures. There is nothing nice about them and people who own them as pets - well can't say I have, nor intend to have, any friends that do - must see something that I definitely do not. I'm glad that at the Hideout we have Glen 'the snake man' (from nearby Healesville Sanctuary on speed dial.) This proved useful a few months back when Dad saw a tiger snake in the garden. Glen the snake man dropped by on his way home from work caught the snake (not dissimilar to the actions employed by the Crocodile Hunter, he grabbed it by the tail and pulled it out of the crevice it was attempting to escape into, apparently it heard him coming.) He relocated the vile creature. I may have been happier if he had chopped it's head off, but snakes, like sharks, spiders, jelly fish and scorpions all play their part in the eco-system.

I was not happy that Glen informed my Father that stomping on the ground (in order to create vibrations, which in turn scare off the snake) was ineffective and did little more than confuse the creatures. At least my days of stomping around fiercely hollering go away snakey snakey have come to an end. Apparently, if you walk normally they will just slither away.

While I believe the Hideout is rid of reptiles, apart from Dad's friend the blue tongue lizard, Mum still maintains she hears a snake in the agapanthus. She also has in-depth conversations with the dogs and the cat.

It's sad when someone dies. It's even sadder when someone young does. This happened on the weekend when a young boy was bitten by an eastern brown snake. Attempting to seek help, he walked through bushland until he stumbled upon an oval, where a cricket match was taking place. Unfortunately, it was not possible to splint the bitten limb, nor wrap it in a compressed bandage, nor administer anti-venom in time (these are some of the guidelines to follow when treating a snake bite.)This young life was lost. It was a tragedy. There was much written about it by the press.

Australia is a land of very dangerous creatures. I not referring to those human beings that live in the northern territory, deny that global warming is a problem, treat asylum seekers abhorrently, misconstrue native title as land rights, attempt to argue that the stolen generations didn't exist or think that Australia doesn't own an almighty apology to the Indigenous people of this country. I am referring to the animal variety. The snakes, the spiders (including the red back on the toilet seat) the jelly fish, the scorpions, the sharks, and the jelly fish.

There is a fantastic account of the and other Australian terrors in Bill Bryson's 'Down Under.' I'd add some snippets from the text here. Unfortunately Gordon Prisco still has my copy. I lent him this over a year ago. Feel free to go and borrow it from him. He lives in North Tower. If you stand down in the student court yard and holla his name, he should appear at a window somewhere. Just tell him you came to borrow Emma's copy of Bill Bryson's book. If he tells you he doesn't have it, he is fibbing. Rather, than returning the book to him when your done, drop it back to me. I leave here in August, so anytime before that would be fine. Oh and while you are there you could also retrieve my copy of 'Dude where is my Country.'

Law School Day 1, Year 2007

If I was Sabrina, I would know how many days I had left from today until the end of semester and then the end of my degree. She would drive me batty when she had her days remaining here underneath her msn name.

The first day of the Academic Calender wasn't particularly stressful. Well I don't have classes on Monday, so it wasn't very stressful at all. I had to get a new student card (vile photo.) I was still using my 2005 one someone threatened to confiscate it and without it I 'officially' couldn't utilise my ten meal tickets, nor could I access the building I live in. Then I had to sign a document and place a sticker on my student card verifying that I had paid the voluntary student activities fee. I am vehemently against VSU. As far as I see it this fee is not voluntary, in my world it's compulsory. There are times I love my world, really! If you don't want to pay it, don't go to Uni, or the library, or use the drinking fountains, or see the Doctor, or take a lolly when the LSA come through during exam time, or if you need support from student council for academic reasons don't bother ask; if you don't believe in these support services then you shouldn't be at University.

Tomorrow I have class at 8 am. I rather enjoy going to lecturers. Most people opt for the video stream option, especially when classes take place before 10am. I've tried both. I've arrived at the conclusion that at the end of the day you do learn better if you go to class, providing the lecturer is not over-reliant on power point slides. If they are this adversely impacts on the level of interest in the lecture theatre. An over-reliance leads to a tendency to read straight from the slides hence all information is contained with these. Often there is little to no elaboration regarding the subject matter (everyone really does love a good story - even in the middle of lecturer. As law students we can actually read; if the lecturer is going to spend an entire class reading the power points they have constructed I don't see much point in attending. However, if they choose to use power points merely as a guide or teaching device or even to ditch them (and refuse student cry's for power points) and to engage and interact with the class well then I'll usually get out of bed and drop by.

Currently, the wireless connection on dear Apple is playing up. I thought I should log on and down load any information for the lecture tomorrow morning. I was rather impressed with what I found.


The lecturer had published the following on the homepage for the subject:
"Fri, Jan 12, 2007 -- Welcome to Evidence
Welcome to the evidence course. I think that you will find that the subject is one of the most interesting, yet challenging, that you will take at law school. You will be introduced to the key principles of evidence law. You will then be required to work with and apply these principles -- this is the challenge.

I will facilitate your learning ,as best I can. You will constantly be given problems to solve, evidence to apply, and rulings on the admissibility of evidence to be made. What I cannot do is teach you evidence -- no one can. YOU HAVE TO LEARN IT!

I encourage you attend class, be involved. My own experience over the years teaching at Bond is that the students get what they put into the course. Those who attend class and are engaged do well and those who do not -- do poorly. The choice is yours.

Welcome and I hope that you find the course stimulating.

Lee Stuesser"

Well he has my attention. My alarm is set for 6.30 am. Professor Struesser has set the bar high! Stay tuned for the debrief

Once again: the academic year resumes (part I)

PART I
Tomorrow Law school officially commences. I made the decision to take up residence on campus this semester. I have not unpacked much. In fact the majority of my possessions are still in one of two locations: the back of the blue car or my friend’s garage. I just wish I was aware of what was where, then I could locate specific items, instead unpacking is rather like a lucky dip.

Didn’t think I’d see myself back here, however, here I am. It’s not that bad. I am in South Tower, room 287 to be precise. I have my Mario’s coffee, so everything should be all right.

My room is actually rather impressive. I have my own large bathroom (issues with the shower), air-conditioning, wardrobe, desk and bed (albeit rather small - I’ve only rolled out twice since Tuesday, so I must be getting used to it.) The room is clean and the carpet looks practically new. I have a large window, 24 hour internet service, and I even get my room cleaned and sheets changed once a week by a cleaning service. I did argue with the Resident Office that I was perfectly capable of doing my own cleaning, and would it be possible to knock some $$$ off my weekly accommodation if I did my own. Apparently, it doesn’t work that way. It was worth a try.

Despite having parents who work-full time the only cleaning lady we’ve had since I was in year five is my Mum. The one we did have until that time was fantastic. She replaced Freddie the cleaning lady, whose idea of cleaning our rooms (that being my sister’s and mine) was to pick everything we’d chucked under our beds - presumably we had been instructed by Mum to clean our rooms before the cleaning lady got there – on top of our beds. I think Sarah was worse than me in that regard. I think Freddie must have done more than that, but I don’t really recall much vacuuming, dusting or polishing. Freddie’s replacement was a vast improvement. I can’t remember her name but we really liked her. If she had a bit of spare time she would even bake us an apple pie for dinner that night, and she didn’t chuck what we put under our beds on top of them either.

I still wonder how my mother manages to do everything. She works, cleans, cooks, gardens and look after 7 children (I’ve included Dad and the three pets in that number.) Yes, I know what the members in my immediate family are thinking; it’s because she insists on a whirlwind-cleaning spree at 9am on a Sunday morning. Hey, in her defence, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do (but do you really have to do it on a Sunday?)

When I’m home I try to help out. I get exhausted just cleaning up after Dad’s cooking adventures (yes, they are adventures) so I take my hat of to her. I must say the recent arrival of the new ‘Lindy’ (that’s our dishwasher) has reduced her workload. I don’t think there has been a dishwasher in our house, since I was in year 5 either. Oh there was in a place we rented in Lyndhurst Crescent.. That was for a year. However when we lived with my Grandmother she refused to install one as my Mum, aka ‘Lindy’ “was just as good as a dishwasher.” Hence, the label given to our lovely new appliance. As yet we haven’t named the new oven (submissions, by way of posting a comment are welcome.)

Given that cleaning services are not optional I will make sure enjoy this luxury!

Once again: the academic year resumes (part II)

PART II
PART II
While classes start tomorrow for most of us there is a small group of select and dedicated individuals who started back a lot earlier this year: the Jessup Moot Team for 2007. I really congratulate these 4 people.

They have all worked incredibly hard, and have not necessarily been given the support, encouragement or guidance (in my opinion) awarded to previous Jessup Teams. Last year’s Jessup Team were very successful. A team of 5 people (I think), their coach and an International Law Lecturer were fortunate to travel all the way to the northern Hemisphere to compete in the Final Competition. I was speaking to a member of this year’s Jessup Team, she didn’t think they had a chance to go to Washington, however, she always under-estimates her own abilities. If they don’t have a result like they did last year, and who cares whether they do or not because quite frankly putting expectations on people like that is stupid and they don’t need that sort of pressure. Nonetheless, I will be disappointed, not because they haven’t done well, but because I have seen how truly hard they have worked in a law school that has no International Law Lecturer, and despite being held in high regard when it comes to Mooting have more or less left this group of people alone.

The reason these four students (the 2 Kate’s, Cate and Brendan) had a week’s break and then were back up working is because the submissions for this competition are due this evening. Then in four weeks time the head down to Canberra to participate. When these individuals were selected they didn’t know each other, the students of the law school weren’t even informed of their selection. They met, they studied, they worked hard, then harder and then harder still. They did this all without an international law lecturer to provide guidance. They did have some support from two assigned coaches (Jodie and Joel.)

Often people talk about how team work is important. It’s considered very important at this University, as reflected in the many group exercises and assessments that are conducted. This years Jessup Team should be rewarded for their ability to come together and work as a cohesive unit. Obviously, as is the case with all groups, there have been issues, conflicts, disagreements and discrepancies, but the way in which they have dealt with these, overcome them and moved on and away should really be identified, rewarded and most importantly applauded.

Despite, the lack of recognition and support usually awarded to the Jessup team these 4 students have risen above the situation and done a superb job. I hope their efforts are rewarded. If their ability to work both independently and as the cohesive team they have become is any indication of their abilities they should be booking their plane tickets to Washington. Regardless, good luck for the last few hours this evening. I’m thinking of you. I think you are all amazing individuals. The way you have worked together, have supported and encouraged one another, as well as the effort, hard work, and determination you have all exhibited is a true reflection of what talented, intelligent and remarkable individuals you are.

To all the other law students, who bother reading this blog, congratulate Cate Martin, Kate Allen, Kate Mitchell and Brendan Scandrett when you see them. Give the some encouragement and let’s really support them in the few weeks leading up to their competition in Canberra.