University
This is a message to the 80, 000 or so high school graduates who will later today log onto the UAC site and find out whether or not they received a place at an Australian university for 2010.
Whatever happens don’t panic. Especially if you have spent the entire Christmas break avoiding the questions of (well meaning) relatives asking what you want to do with the rest of your life.
It is absolutely 100 per cent OK if you (a) you don’t want to go to university or (b)fall into the 30, 000 or so people who will miss out on a place this year.
Each year during Orientation week at Sydney University, boys from St Paul’s invite women from the all-female colleges to their bar, the Salisbury, for the “Tight and White” party.
The night pretty much does what it says on the tin. The tighter and whiter the clothes the better. Especially when the girls are soaked in water on arrival, their clothes now transparent and sticking to their bodies.
And even more so when they lie down on the bar while men drink shots of spirits off their bodies, off their bare stomachs, breasts and thighs.
Continue reading "Inside our sexist college culture, and how to fix it" »
Latest 2 of 124 comments
View all comments-
Elle says:
I can’t believe how many people actually disagree with this article . How do you know what really is going on there? these women are so insecure and want to belong they would do anything. And these men are seriously screwed up. Read more »
-
Leah says:
There are plenty of college students, male and female, who choose not to participate in these activities, and they still manage to have good reputations, friends, and a social life. Yes the guys involved in these activities are fostering a sexist attitude but that’s about it. Nobody is assaulting or… Read more »
On the table, a hundred cups and saucers (arranged neatly, ten by ten). The university has pegged its hopes on this meeting, emailed the entire student body three times, plastered the campus with large, full-colour posters asking – begging – students to attend.
The meeting is an attempt on the part of administration to give students direct input into proposed campus redevelopments. The idea: have a cup of tea with members of the university’s Strategy and Space Planning department, air your grievances, and put forward your vision for a better campus. As they tell us repeatedly, desperately, “We’re listening.”
I count three students. (Hannah and I don’t count – we’re student journos. We have to be here). Anne, who’s in her fifties, is a mature-entry student who volunteers at the library. Gunter is an ageing hippy who’s been drifting in and out of campus for the past thirty years. The final ‘student’, Angus, doesn’t even attend the university.
Continue reading "To a degree, it’s the end of university conversation" »
Latest 2 of 13 comments
View all comments-
Glenn says:
The biggest problem with University administration is they fail to acknowledge that the students are Customers. As someone that pays his fees up front, I continually roll my eyes when dealing with the administration level of the university. They seem to resent the students as an inconvenience to their job,… Read more »
-
RhysM says:
I came here essentially to write the same thing as Clare - they’ve scheduled it in the middle of SWOTVAC. I was interested in attending, but I had an exam on the first saturday, and the rest in the first week, and revision sessions scheduled at the same time as… Read more »
The Coalition will not support the Rudd Government’s planned changes to youth allowance while they retrospectively punish students who took a gap year based on advice last year from Government agencies. It’s that simple.
Young people, who on the advice of guidance counsellors, Centrelink and teachers have opted to take a twelve month gap year, working to earn enough money to qualify for independent youth allowance under the current rules with plans to study next year, will have the rug pulled from under them because of the Government’s changes.
The Government’s own figures show there are about 26,000 of them.
Continue reading "Killing off the Gap year will open up an education gap" »
Latest 2 of 18 comments
View all comments-
guenstiges hotel says:
Matter Great,define note damage including one quarter actual transfer reform area identify client engine video political art affair minister since deal sense creation race request which claim settle we resource responsibility belong neighbour industry food band period left play we often commitment factory area advantage contact concern mountain herself success… Read more »
-
Murray says:
Anna, Check the website. It says that Masters programs are approved for YA (well some, and since MArch is full time and very intense, I’m hoping that it will be approved.) Also UQ has had a 3yr Bachelor and 2yr Masters system for a couple of years now to come… Read more »
In a world of escalating costs of living, ever-rising unemployment and fluctuating economies, one group stands to be hit harder than any other.
Unlike other groups, this one will not be publicised by media, found protesting or walking off the job, or be seen throwing in the towel any time soon. Instead, far from it, university students around Australia and indeed the world will continue to front classrooms every day, opening their minds to the knowledge and pathways available to secure a sustainable future free from debt and money woes.
But, just how hard is it to attend university and what financial impact can students expect to be facing both through their studies and at the completion of the educational yellow brick road as they begin their dream career?
Continue reading "It’s a myth that everyone has access to tertiary study" »
Latest 2 of 39 comments
View all comments-
Terry says:
I completed an MBA part time whilst starting a new business and paying all the usual household bills. Whilst studying there was no extravagant spending, never ending socialising, travelling or complaining about how “unfair” it all is. I wasn’t on HECS or entitled to PELS so had the to fund… Read more »
-
ej says:
Why would anyone bother getting a degree in this country. Australia is not a country that values learning or education. My husband works in recruitment, and the amount of people right now with business, commerce, even MASTERS degrees who are applying for jobs like data entry and admin. is astounding. … Read more »
There are currently some 700,000 university students in Australia, which I would estimate represents 145,478 cases of Chlamydia, 49,678 one-night stands and 4,567,099 packets of instant noodles consumed in the last calender year.
We have institutions aplenty (39 at last count) which are excellent at pumping out graduates who have gained little beyond a vague understanding of post-structuralism and an impressive repertoire of drinking games involving Sambucca.
But Julia Gillard thinks we need even more university students: 300,000 more to be precise. All part of the Education Minister‘s plans to give the higher education system a bit of a face lift.
Continue reading "Tune in, drop out, get drunk, become a hairdresser" »
Latest 2 of 162 comments
View all comments-
JD says:
tafe course for hairdressing… NO!! do a 4 year apprenticeship so you can actually BE a hairdresser when you finish! Read more »
-
Ash says:
Heather there is something about the tone and the content of your post that makes me think you are deploying your aptitude for believable lies. You also sound smug and self righteous. For example ’ HD’s in two.. two what topics.. degrees ? And these degrees distance education and night… Read more »
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
Transparency policy not so candid in practice
Transparency’s all the rage these days. And accountability. Politicians and public servants promise… Read more
Most commented
The talk of the town
- What voters really think of Tony Abbott's religion 191
- Why there is no International Man’s Day 182
- Token ceremony openings must be brought to an end 88
- The Senate protects us from bad government 84
- Don’t bring your kids and other supermarket rules 65
- Ignore water, ignore women 56
- Why stop at binning welcome to country and prayers 54
- A lower voting age risks a lower voting standard 47
- Why are people so unkind, to Lada Gaga 41
- Yes to housing affordability, but don’t take my home 41
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
Don't bring your children and other "rules" of supermarket shopping. Got a gripe or two of your own? Add to my list: http://bit.ly/dBWydm
What voters really think of Tony Abbott, great piece by Nic Christensen & Tina Tek: http://bit.ly/bvLWSz#thepunch
Am actually going to miss the Blackhawks that have been stalking Sydney lately.
Gentle jabs to the ribs
Breaking news: Something is going on
Is this the greatest ever send-up of 24-hour news? Warning: contains strong language and hilarity. From… Read more
Latest 2 of 28 comments
View all commentsAdd your comment