yak november 2011

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ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2011 BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE U INSIDE: PROFILE OF A STALKER NOW PUT YOUR HANDS UP! ‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE HAIRY Leicha Stewart tracks down one of the most notorious figures on campus and extracts details only a stalker would know. Rowie & Jess jump feet first into the dating pool and discover the dos and don’ts of a first date. Lachie Leeming charts hairy waters by delving into the phenomenon that is Movember. WIN A $100 STOCKLAND JESMOND VOUCHER SEE PAGE 13 FOR DETAILS. YAK TO WIN! Cover: ‘Mohawk’ by Angela Geddes

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Yak is a cross-campus magazine written by students, for students at the University of Newcastle.

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Page 1: Yak November 2011

ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2011BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE U

INSIDE:

PROFILE OF A STALKER

NOW PUT YOUR HANDS UP!

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE HAIRY

Leicha Stewart tracks down one of the most notorious figures on campus and

extracts details only a stalker would know.

Rowie & Jess jump feet first into the dating pool and discover the dos and don’ts of a first date.

Lachie Leeming charts hairy waters by delving into the phenomenon that is Movember.

WIN A $100 STOCKLAND

JESMOND VOUCHER

SEE PAGE 13 FOR DETAILS.

YAK TO

WIN!

Cover: ‘Mohawk’ by Angela Geddes

Page 2: Yak November 2011

CONTENTS

STALKERSPACE16

WATTSPACE 05

GREEN U04 All about NUSEC

SPOTTED22 Caught at Eskimo Joe

VOX POPS23 What are your holiday plans?

SWEET CAROLINE19With Katie Burgess

SUPPORT U05 Careers, where is your path taking you?

THINGS I’VE LEARNTAT UNIVERSITY

11

With Alexandra Neill

PROFILE OF A STALKER

16

With Leicha Stewart

WHAT IS THE WORLDCOMING TO?

04

With Matthew Hatton

THE AWKWARDMOMENT WHEN...

11

With Claire Young

LAMAN STREET FIGS20With Matthew Hatton

EXAM SURVIVAL TIPS20With Katie Burgess

14 ‘TIS THE SEASONTO BE HAIRY

With Lachie Leeming

NOW PUT YOURHANDS UP!

07

With Rowena Grant & Jess McAneney

RIP STEVE JOBS18With Lachlan Stevens

Be responsible and dispose properly.

Yak magazine is a free publication of UoN Services Ltd © 2011. www.uonservices.org.au

Printed by PrintCentre on Callaghan Campus.

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY, OR WANT TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE? CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE (YAK MAGAZINE) OR DROP US AN EMAIL AT [email protected]

EDITORIALKatie Burgess - Managing EditorJess McAneney - Deputy EditorLachlan Stevens - Deputy EditorRowena Grant - Deputy Editor

SUBMISSIONSThe Yak editorial team is always on the look out for passionate student writers and graphic designers to contribute to the magazine. If you would like to take the opportunity to get your work published, please send a sample of your writing to [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORSAngela Geddes - Design Alexandra Neill - Contributing WriterBrooke Nash - PhotographyClaire Young - Contributing WriterEmily Wood - Contributing WriterJoshua Boaz - DesignJoyce Ching Yee Ho - DesignLachie Leeming - Contributing Writer

Come on, we know you’ve got plenty of time over the Christmas break, so take the opportunity to get your work published! If you would like to contribute an article or help with design and layout, email your interest to [email protected]

NEXT YEAR:First issue of 2012: February 20

ADVERTISINGFor advertising opportunities, contact YakAdvertising at [email protected]

Leicha Stewart - Contributing WriterMatthew Hatton - Contributing Writer

Page 3: Yak November 2011

Huzzah! You have made it to the end of another academic year. Hats off to you my friends! Yak will be back – bigger and better next year with a genuinely obese bumper edition, sorting you out with all your tips and tricks for surviving O-Week and your first month back on campus.

In our final edition of Yak for the year, we send our Features and General Content editors Rowie Grant and Jess McAneney on a man hunt to find a lover for summer. Entertainment editor Lachlan Stevens and Yak contributor Lachie Leeming go head to head growing patchy little lip sweaters for the Yak ‘Stache Smack Down’ and we get the lowdown on the new VC Caroline McMillen. We also have an unprecedented and exclusive interview with the elusive Stalkerspace Overlord, a tribute to Steve Jobs and a whole stack more!

How will you spend your summer break?The original plan was to go hunting for deposed Libyan dictators, but I’m not sure now.

What are you looking forward to most in 2012?Life outside the nest.

What songs would be on the soundtrack to your life?Something epic and orchestral. It’s a perfect description of me. Could be my theme music, even.

How will you spend your summer break?I will be spending my summer break celebrating the end of the only two exams of my degree, avoiding sunburn and working

hard to make a living

What is your secret talent?I am somewhat musically inclined, and can bake pretty much any recipe placed in front of me. You should see the birthday cakes I make, Women’s Weekly eat your heart out!

How will you spend your summer break?I plan to spend the majority of my summer seeking shade. My alabaster skin enjoys sunlight about as much as I enjoy a punch in the face. I would walk around with an umbrella, a flap hat and a rashie at all times if I could do so without being judged.

What are you looking forward to most in 2012?I hear the rapture is going to go off with a bang.

How will you spend your summer break?Hopefully I will be lazing on a beach, soaking up the sun and increasing my melanoma count. More realistically, however, I will be stuck inside, working hard to make a living, just like Dolly Parton advised against. I’m sorry, Dolly.

What songs would be on the soundtrack to your life?Anything INXS that features the smooth and sexy vocals of the late Michael Hutchence, and not that douchebag JD Fortune. INXS has a song for every occasion.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR :)While our Yak ladies took to the field to put together their comprehensive guide to dating, I put in a lot of quality time “researching” in front of the television with a glass of wine and my cat. Here are a couple of things I discovered on my travels.

When conversing with a member of the opposite sex, it is not necessary to introduce yourself when speaking on the phone, nor is it ever necessary to say hello or goodbye when beginning or ending phone conversations. Love means never having to bother with basic courtesy.

Candid truths are always revealed while riding in elevators or whilst at family dinners.

The more dysfunctional a relationship is, the more likely it is to succeed.

Your father-in-law’s craziness is directly proportionate to your girlfriend’s level of attractiveness. Conversely, your mother-in-law’s detestation for you is directly proportionate to your culinary proficiency. Chances are, if you can make a decent sandwich, she’s going to hate you.

All beds have L-shaped top sheets that reach armpit level on a lady, but

only waist level on the man lying next to her. Convenient...

For a woman to become infinitely more attractive to athletically-inclined males, she must remove her glasses and release her ponytail, preferably in slow motion. For a man to achieve a similar effect with a sexy neighbour, it is pertinent that he spend a lot of time in elevators.

All single women have a cat.

All women discuss relationship troubles during yoga.

All single men have a mildly obese housemate who provides them with a plethora of wisdom, an unending supply of beer and who is always up for a couple of rounds of one-on-one basketball.

During an emotional confrontation with a partner, it is customary to stand behind them and talk to their back.

While on a date, it is poor form to consume the meal you’ve ordered but always necessary to tip. And don’t even think about splitting that bill.

I hope these tips will help you land your summer boy or girl Take care over the break kids! - Katie B

> LACHLAN > ROWIE > JESS > KATIE

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Jessica McAneney with NUSEC President, Emily Wood

Along with the current hot topic of global warming, the tragedies of deforestation, droughts, loss of biodiversity and pollution are also scattered throughout our newspapers and dancing across our TV screens every day. It is important for students to be aware of these issues and even more important that we try and make sense of how they relate to our own lives and experiences and what we can personally do to address them. Many young people want to learn about how to make a difference and what they can do to have a positive impact, but knowing where to start is daunting and sometimes doing the right thing just seems too complicated and too confusing…until you find some help.

Initiated by the Tom Farrell Institute, Newcastle University’s Student Environment Club (NUSEC) aims to provide students with exciting opportunities to find practical solutions to environmental problems and to help make real changes on campus. The club is exploring technology and ideas that can be used to turn the environmental issues from issues of fear into issues of empowerment.

NUSEC is looking forward to working with UoN Services’ ESIS interns to help the University tread a little lighter (and maybe even go down a few shoe sizes) with its ecological footprint. If you would like to be part of some exciting new initiatives and events, if you like bikes, exciting new technology, meeting interesting people or getting your hands dirty then NUSEC is a club for you.

You can find our group on Facebook (type NUSEC into the search bar) or contact Emily Wood, who is also the UoN Services Sustainability ESIS intern at [email protected].

Editor’s Note: Keep an eye out for Green U in 2012, where Emily shall be keeping us up to date on ways NUSEC, the University of Newcastle student body and our faithful readers can help reduce the University’s ecological footprint.

We were all brought up being told that there was no such thing has a stupid question. That any and every question deserved a straight-forward, non-judgmental answer.

Given some of my experiences with students on campus these last nine months or so, I would beg to differ. Sadly, politeness dictates we usually can’t answer these stupid questions the way we would often like to.

“Is this room in class at the moment?”

“Well, if you’d bothered to look at the timetable that’s posted on the door of every damn classroom on campus you’d notice that yes, it is.”

Seriously, how do you not notice them? They’re at eye level on every single door to a classroom. The mind, she boggles. But I digress…

“Is this my tutorial?”

“Ummm… *does a Jedi hand wave thing* The force is telling me…no. Also, it mentions that you should compare the room number on your timetable to the room number on the door to this classroom as well as the time your class is scheduled to the current time displayed on either your watch, phone or the clock on the wall nearby.”

Do people really expect others, generally total strangers, to just know who they are and where they are supposed to be? I just don’t get this one. At all.

“Can I have a quarter-shot decaf soy latte that’s warm not hot?”

“No, sorry we make actual coffee at this shop.”

I actually heard this ordered. Seriously. I have no idea what exactly a “quarter-shot decaf soy latte that’s warm not hot” actually is, but I’m pretty sure the last place you should be asking for it is a coffee shop. I’ve got some two day old, used tea bags here. Maybe I can knock you up a brew with these?

But my point is this- your parents, your teachers and anyone you never looked up to who said that there is no such thing as a stupid question lied to you.

There are stupid questions. They’re everywhere. If anyone ever suggests to you again that they don’t exist, I’d be thinking seriously about the level of cognitive activity going on in that person. If they think everything around them is sensible, then they’re likely not firing on all cylinders.

Trolls

Day Beers

Moustaches

DaylightSavings

Energy Drinks

43%

98%

71%

88%

51%

57%

2%

29%

12%

49%

Page 5: Yak November 2011

CareersAs the assessments wind down and the exam period begins, there is a strong percentage of the student body thinking – what next? What do you do when your life does not revolve around the primary life choices of should I attend that lecture, or sleep in? Should I have Mi Goreng or frozen lasagne? What gives you that adrenalin rush when you are no longer racing the Turnitin clock at 11:58pm?

Never fear! The Careers Service at the University of Newcastle is here to help. It’s never too early to start planning your career, and the Careers Service can help you find your next challenge, adrenalin rush and life goals to pursue now that you’re graduating.

So don’t get lost in the graduate job-hunting maze! Follow these helpful tips put out by the Careers Service today!

• Visit CareerHub for the latest graduate programs and graduate positions being advertised by local, national and international employers.

• Actively research organisations and opportunities. A bit of background knowledge on a company, its culture and working environment can be invaluable and may give you a clearer idea of whether it’s a good fit for you.

• Actively ask questions and network. Many people have gone through a similar job hunting process – get their advice! Not sure how to network? See the info sheet on networking on CareerHub.

• If you’re not getting the jobs you want, review your approach with the people around you. Make an appointment to see a Careers Counsellor at the University

• Revisit your résumé and application. Why not make use of the resume checking service offered by the Careers Service?

• Ask for feedback from employers on why you didn’t make the cut.

• Don’t give up! 76.2% of bachelor degree graduates looking for full-time employment found a full-time job within four months of graduating. (Graduate Careers Australia, 2010.)

Careers Service, Callaghan – SC2.12 Student Services Building | Ourimbah – Student Support Unit.www.careerhub.newcastle.edu.au

SUPPORT U

Fine Art Honours Exhibitions byAbbey CecilAmy HillLeasha CraigRachel IrelandZoe Allen

OCT 26 - NOV 13

Visual Communication Design Graduation ExhibitionCurated by Madeleine Burke & Libby De Souza

NOV 16 - DEC 3

Thursday, Nov 17, 6.30pm

Watt Space re-opens for 2012 on Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 noon.

OPENING NIGHTS

EXHIBITIONS

Email: [email protected] Website: www.newcastle.edu.au/group/watt-space Facebook: Search: Watt Space Student Gallery of the University of Newcastle.CONTACT US

ARTIST

-IN-RE

SIDENC

EJEA

N-LOUI

S KOCH

ER -

Watt Space Gallery, University House, Auckland St Newcastle. Open 12 noon -6 pm, Wed - Sun. Ph: 4921 8733

with Jessica McAneney

Gany Erlano

Alex Chapman Barbie Procobis Self-Portrait

Manon Marguerite Sigourney Nicholson

Wat

t S

pac

e, S

epte

mb

er 1

4 -

2 O

cto

ber

P

ort

raits

of a

ll th

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tists

Yak Magazine -November 2011 05

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When searching for that ideal catch, we braved the many stereotypical locations where one may hook, line and sinker a possible date.

Being the college kids that we are, Jess set Rowie up with a single guy from International House, and Rowie did the same for Jess by setting her up with a Business student from Edwards Hall. Cue success in regards to already having a mutual friend, and the on-campus shenanigans in common.

With one date up our sleeve, we then braved the Huxley Library searching for that med student to sweep us off our feet.

Jess learnt the hard way that if your opening line is “I am writing a magazine article about dating…” with your giggling wing-woman in the background, then you are unlikely to be successful picking up the shy guy that you stalked through the library. Rowie found success, however, when Jess pointed

out the ‘guy with the nice arms sitting near the window’. A nervous trip on a dress later, and Rowie has secured two, Jess one.

Jess then braved the GT bar at the Shortland building, and with encouragement from Rowie, approached a Communication student with his Mac and schooner in the corner. Cha-ching, two dates each!

A possible third date was at least thought about when we both ventured out to The Beach Hotel with a group of friends on a Friday evening. While there was many a cute, single guy in our sights, we didn’t feel the need to raise expectations of our weekend with a third date. We definitely recommend the location to go looking though!

On a warm, spring afternoon, I was to spend an hour at King Edwards Park with my blind date from Edwards Hall – a sure fire way to have fun in the sun! While stereotypical, the park is a casual, easy going

setting to ease those first date jitters. As

one who prefers to

Location? Conversation? Activity? Creative? Stereotypical? We have placed our heads, hearts and an hour time limit with four lucky

guys to help (and hinder) our fellow students’ dating habits.

Yak Magazine -November 2011 07

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do something with my time, my top piece of advice for a date at a park is that an easy lunch and afternoon at King Edwards Park can only be improved with some sort of activity. Cue the kite flying!

The notion of flying a kite was a good idea in theory, but not in practice. Note to all ambitious kite flyers: please ensure said kite is NOT broken BEFORE you go on said date. Whilst Mr. Teds attempted to fix the kite, his efforts were in vain as it was not seeing any heights anytime soon.

Thankfully, the kite was not essential as conversation flowed easily well past the hour time limit, ranging from college shenanigans, favourite things and even biggest fears, as a bird tactically decided to swoop near us. Editor’s note: Jess’ greatest fear just happens to be birds.

Note to all male counterparts: walking your date back to her car, regardless of where it may be parked or time of day is a smooth move. Write that one down!

The fact that the date went over the one hour time limit without either party noticing is a good sign that my date with Mr Teds at King Edward Park was more successful than my other venture. Flow of conversation, plenty in common and a beautiful day is a good recipe for a first date.

While a little out of the way, Catherine Hill Bay was a location worth the 40-minute drive down the coast. On a beautiful, warm spring day Catherine Hill Bay was amazing, with the pier, rock pools, sand and waves offering potential for a fabulous afternoon.

While initial attraction with Mr. Comms did not cultivate in this wonderful setting, my afternoon only got better when spent with half a dozen friends, a football and some photo frolicking up and down the beach. I definitely recommend Catherine Hill Bay for those with a sense of adventure, plenty of conversation and a keen sense of finding joy in the simple things.

For some, an activity on a date is a sure fire way to avoid awkwardness when conversation is dying. I found this out the hard way on my date with Mr Comms, as our date at Catherine Hill Bay wandered in circles sitting in the sand. A walk, a frisbee, even the suggestion of building a sand castle (much to the disgust of my housemates) could have stimulated more conversation, or at least filled those awkward silences.

Note to all dating hopefuls: please do not be hung over for your date, and then proceed to talk about your ‘impressive’ ability to consume alcohol. It does not bode well for the sneaky Facebook friend request that should follow!

While my date at Catherine Hill Bay was a beautiful location, attractiveness only led to superficial attraction and the drive was only made worthwhile by spending the rest of the day at this fantastic location with friends.

When going on a blind date, ensure to at least let someone know where you are going and at what time. This avoids that entirely awkward moment of possible abduction. Our Mama editor Katie ensured that we were safe, and I took that extra precaution of taking an entourage of seven to Catherine Hills Bay and gave them strict instructions to keep their distance unless summoned. This contingency proved successful; when the date concluded friends, an afternoon of touch football, exploring, swimming and photo opportunities only cemented the fact that a single gal can always rely on her mates for a splendid afternoon in the sun!

Having recently joined the ranks of singledom, my fellow editorial team members have a running joke that ‘Win A Date with Rowie’ will be offered as a competition in the magazine, and when approaching young gentlemen for our Vox Pops section they love using the line ‘Haaaave you met Rowie?’ much to my embarrassment and/or disgust (at my fellow members, of course, not the gentleman being put on the spot).

And that is how the Yak dating challenge came about. Always looking for ways to challenge (and embarrass) our team, our Managing Editor set the lovely Jess Mac and myself a dating challenge. We both had to find two dates for the weekend – one a set-up and one a random at uni.

While going up to a random at uni was one of the most daunting things I have ever done, the adrenaline rush that followed afterwards was most definitely worth it. And so was the look on my unsuspecting prey’s face. While he thought I was going to ask him to move his uni work that was

Yak Magazine -November 201108

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taking up the table next to him, I instead led with “What are you doing this weekend?”

After explaining my circumstances, I was surprised to find that he was willing to go on a date with me. It seems that confidence is key in these matters. We exchanged numbers and as I turned to leave I tripped over my dress. It seems that coordination is not key in these matters, because he was still willing to meet up on the weekend. Dating tip number one: Huxley Library has a high proportion of med students.

Two days later, we went on our date. I had organised a classy game of croquet at King Edward Park followed by some cheese and bickies with juice. On the drive over, we found that we had a fair bit in common. The conversation flowed easily and I got flogged in croquet. If you’re competitive and a sore loser, then don’t date a natural athlete. While normally I would be pretty annoyed at failing at a sport, my natural athlete of a date and I were getting along like a house on fire and I didn’t mind losing. Clearly this was a good sign that the date was going well.

After croquet, we had a cheese and bickie picnic. I forgot the knife. I also forgot the guacamole. After explaining that the cups we were drinking out of were unearthed from the floor of Bacardi Express last year, I think I left a good impression. This leads to my second dating tip: always be yourself, no matter how much of a freak you really are. If your date can accept that you are awkward as all hell, and even think you’re amusing, you’re on the right track.

Though we had the time limit of an hour, Mr. Athlete and myself spent about two and a half hours together. Time flies when you’re being flogged at croquet by an attractive male.

My second date was with a lovely gentleman whom my good friend Jess set me up with. The blind date. I was most anxious about this date as I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Once again, I organised a date with an activity – ten pin bowling with a twist. Ever heard of Skittles bowling? It makes what is normally a cliché activity into a unique experience. Take a packet of Skittles bowling. When it’s your turn, carefully select a Skittle with your eyes closed. Whatever colour you pick dictates how you have to bowl the ball.

Featuring moves such as ‘eyes closed with two hands’, ‘backwards through the legs’, ‘non-dominant hand’, ‘normal bowling technique’ and, my favourite, ‘spin around three times and then bowl the ball’, Skittles bowling allows you both to relax and look like an idiot. It also allows you to get the worst bowling score in your life and be bagged out by the chick working there. And I quote: “Bumpers next time?”

Mr. IH and I got along quite well. He was lovely, courteous and a complete gentleman. He offered to pay, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. However, as is always the case with blind dates, there is always a chance there isn’t any chemistry. Unfortunately this was the circumstance. However, I still had a lot of fun and by no means did I feel like I wasted an evening! I would definitely do it again! Dating tip number three: never be disappointed if there is no chemistry; enjoy the date for what it is, not what you hoped it would be!

While Jess and I had agreed to do two dates, I found myself on a sneaky date while I was away for Australian University Games on the Gold Coast. While Surfer’s Paradise is known for being sleazy (and rightfully so), I somehow scored a date at the beach.

After some sneaky kissing on the DF and the exchange of numbers, Mr. Perth and I agreed to catch up on the Esplanade a couple of days later to get to know each other. After being thoroughly relieved that my drunken mind had stored the right face and this guy was actually the person I remembered, fish and chips were consumed, the basics were covered, and we chatted for a lengthy period. Dating tip number four: never assume that nothing can come of a hook-up. It’s my opinion that you’re attracted to each other for a reason, why not explore a bit further? You’ll be surprised with what you find. If all else fails, you’ve already hooked up before, you may as well do it again.

However, with all this said, here is dating tip number five: if you’re dating someone from Perth, it’s probably not going to go anywhere.

Ahh, the wonderful world of dating. For some it thrills, for others it terrifies. A month previous to this issue Rowie was in the latter. Having never been on a ‘proper’ date with a person she hadn’t a) hooked up with, or b) been in a relationship with, the thought of

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Have you wanted to be more involved in shaping Newcastle’s future? Are you interested in providing input into Council decisions and activities?

“There’s enough decision-making done on our behalf; younger citizens need their own voice heard and not have others speak for them.”

James, 16-24, Wallsend, Newcastle Voice member

Join today Register online at www.mynewcastlevoice.com.au

Newcastle

voice

Share your views

spending an undisclosed amount of time with a relative stranger where so much could go wrong terrified her! Now she recommends jumping into the deep end and having a fun time.

Having never been on an actual date with somebody she has never met before, when approached by the Yak team with the dating challenge, Jess was hesitant to say the least. Whilst one date definitely swam, and the other sort of sank, Jess’ top tip is to have a go, and see where the tide takes you. For all you know, that single gal/guy sitting across from you right now could be the perfect first ‘blind’ date. So go on, ask them!

Don’t be afraid! Jump into unchartered waters and have some fun. You never know who you might meet.

As cliché as it sounds, always be yourself! There’s no point in pretending to be different.

If a date is extremely awkward, embrace it and try and make it even more awkward. It’s extremely fun to do.

If all else fails, ask them the pineapple hand question. If you had to choose between having a pineapple hand and everything you eat tasting like pineapple for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

If even that fails, ask them what their favourite dinosaur is.

Don’t wear a short skirt on a first date. Unless you are trying the ‘awkward date’ maneuver as explained above. Especially the guys.

Never order spaghetti bolognese on the first date. NEVER.

Keep your legs closed.

Keep your mind open.

Mind your ‘meddles’. There is a difference between being interested in their life story and being a stalker!

Do it again! Whether it’s with the same person, or you try your bait on someone else, the only way you will find success is if you try,

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Alexandra Neill dishes out some extra-curricular advice you won’t get from your tutors.

1- Practice is the key to mastering all skills.

2- The answer to the question “should I have more tea?” is always yes.

3- Similarly, when someone offers you tea it is pointless to try and resist.

4- If you eat giant lollipop for lunch you will feel ill.

5- The more ridiculous the activity sounds the more you should consider participating in it.

6- If someone is not willing to discuss the zombie apocalypse at reasonable length it is unlikely we will become firm friends.

7- Nerds have more fun.

8- Living on campus isn’t for everyone. The internet connection, however, is pretty damned impressive.

9- When playing musical comedy in communal areas it is important to remember that housemates will invariably enter during the really bad bit.

10- On lonely nights the internet is both your greatest ally and worst enemy.

11- When you have a pool table in your living room, learning to play suddenly becomes a priority.

12- The less your social life consists of the more likely you are to live-tweet your existence.

13- Without decent recording abilities it is impossible to maintain both a social life and a television addiction.

14- Channel Ten’s online media player is a fetid heap of dingo’s kidneys.

15- Menial household maintenance can be incredibly satisfying.

16- A slow cooker is your friend.

17- The percentage of people likely to understand a specific reference is significantly higher than it was at high school.

18- Lectures are more enjoyable when you have someone to poke you occasionally and make sure you’re conscious.

19- An Arts Degree is mostly about reading.

20- People from Coffs Harbour think Grafton is a hole despite only having ever been to the McDonalds.

21- People who are not from Coffs Harbour or Grafton do not really appreciate loud arguments about both towns respective merits (or lack there of).

22- 24-Hour K-Mart. Amazing.

23- Anything bought in an op-shop is automatically better than anything bought elsewhere.

24- Spaghetti with vegemite, butter and cheese. Try it.

25- Very little of being at University is actually about University.

By Alexandra Neill

Newcastle isn’t a small town, yet I’m amazed at how many people I see on a daily basis that I recognise. It seems like the days where I drag myself out of bed, throw on some clothes, don’t brush my hair and quickly get to uni, are the days where I run into everyone I’ve ever known, worked with, gone to school with or spoken to. Funnily enough it’s on the days where I look half-human that there is not a soul I know in sight.

With student enrolments at the University of Newcastle reaching a record 35 500, why is it that I always seem to run into people I don’t necessarily want to see? When I’m coming out of a bathroom stall, I’m face to face with that mean girl from Year 11, instead of my best friend. When I’m opening a door, it’s for my friend’s ex-boyfriend instead of an old work mate. When I’m getting up from a computer in the AIC, the next person heading over to sit down is that feisty girl that scratched my arm on the indoor netball court on Tuesday arvo. Is it just me, or are the people on campus that appear most frequently the ones I’d rather not see?

My mother taught me from a young age to be polite, so friend or foe, if I see you on campus I’ll acknowledge your presence. I can deal with running into people I’m not besties with, but what I can’t deal with is seeing someone I know on campus and getting the cold shoulder. Last semester I did a course with more group work than you could poke a stick at. When I got back to uni for second semester I saw one of the girls from a group I was in, in the Shortland Courtyard. Just as I raised my hand up to say hello, she looked directly in my eye and turned her head. I had been snobbed hardcore and was forced to subtly turn my wave into a casual fix-of-the-hair move.

Four different stages of grief were hitting me in quick succession.

“She probably didn’t see me, I am sitting next to a tree.”

“Why didn’t she just wave?! She is messing with the wrong girl!”

“I’ll get some chocolate from Pinkies and chase after her.”

“I am ugly and I have no friends.”

I’m not expecting everyone on campus that I’ve ever met to stop and have a chat with me every single time we run into each other. That would be ridiculous. I would have happily accepted a simple nod of recognition. I am a firm believer that it takes more effort to ignore someone than it would to just wave. With summer rapidly approaching and the end of exams within sight I think we all need to stop and smile to our fellow acquaintances… if it’s not too much to ask.

Yak Magazine -November 2011 11

Page 12: Yak November 2011

31MONDAY/OCT

12/13SAT/SUN

05/06SAT/SUN

WEEK 13

EXAM PERIOD

16NOV

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

Wii Wars3pm - GT Bar

Watt Space Bachelor Fine Arts Honours ShowWatt Space GalleryRuns until November 13 Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

UCard Happy Hour4pm - 6pm - GT Bar

Queer Colloquium9.30am - Treehouse

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

Melbourne Cup2pm - GT Bar & Bar on the Hill

FREE Lunchtime Music‘Andrew McLaughlin’12.30pm- Derkenne Courtyard

First day of the University Movember ChallengeJoin the UoN Movacastrians on www.uonservices.org.au

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

UCard Happy Hour4pm - 6pm - Bar on the Hill

TEDxNewySaturday, Playhouse Theatre

Beijing Alumni CatchupSunday 6pm - Beijing

FINAL DAY - Watt Space Bachelor Fine Art Honours Show Watt Space Gallery

Ucard Happy Hour4pm - 6pm - Bar on the Hill

End of Semester Two

Faculty of Health Staff Awards4pm - University Gallery

Canberra Alumni - ANU Dinner6pm - Canberra

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

Wind Down WednesdayFREE MUSIC: ‘Gemma’3pm - 7pm - Bar on the Hill

Trivia1pm - GT Bar

FREE Lunchtime Music‘I.E.D’12.30pm- Bar on the Hill Lawn

Human Rights and Social Justice Lecture1pm - Griffith Duncan Theatre

Pool Competition3pm - GT Bar

Wind Down Wednesday3pm - 7pm - Bar on the Hill

07MONDAY

08TUESDAY

01TUESDAY

10THURSDAY

03THURSDAY

11FRIDAY

04 FRIDAY

09WEDNESDAY

02WEDNESDAY

FREE Lunchtime Music‘Brass Arcade’12.30pm - Bar on the Hill Lawn

Ucard Happy Hour4pm - 6pm - GT Bar

THE ENDWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16

SAM LA MORE& ALLEY OOP

FREE ENTRY FOR STUDENTS, GUESTS $107.30PM - BAR ON THE HILLF

EAT

UR

ING

Page 13: Yak November 2011

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

Hong Kong Graduation and Alumni Dinner6.35pm - Hotel Nikko, Hong Kong

21MONDAY

22TUESDAY

29TUESDAY

24THURSDAY

01THURSDAY/DEC

02 FRIDAY/DEC

Semester Christmas Holidays

Speech Pathology Alumni Lunch12pm - Isabella’s

28MONDAY

25FRIDAY

23WEDNESDAY

30WEDNESDAY

Singapore Alumni Annual DinnerSaturday, 6pm - Singapore

Reunion Bmed 2011Saturday, 1pm - Silo, Newcastle

Malaysia Alumni DinnerSunday, 5.30pm - Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

19/20SAT/SUN

26/27SAT/SUN

NOVEMBER

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

UCard Happy Hour4pm - 6pm - Bar on the Hill

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

UCard Happy Hour4pm - 6pm - Bar on the Hill

Melbourne Alumni Reception6.15pm - RACV City Club, Melbourne

Trimester three ends

18FRIDAY

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

Wind Down Wednesday3pm - 7pm - Bar on the Hill

2011 Visual Communication Design ExhibitionWatt Space Art GalleryRuns until December 3

The End Party Featuring Sam La More7.30pm - Bar on the Hill

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

Wind Down Wednesday3pm - 7pm - Bar on the Hill

Wind Down Wednesday3pm - 7pm - Bar on the Hill

2011 Visual Communication Design Exhibition Opening6.30pm - Watt Space Art Gallery

16WEDNESDAY

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

15TUESDAY

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

UCard Happy Hour4pm -6pm - GT Bar

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

UCard Happy Hour4pm -6pm - GT Bar

17THURSDAY

Solve Yak reader Andrew Brigden’s problem by posting your two cents on our Facebook page and go in the draw to win a $100 voucher to Stockland Jesmond! The winner of the most creative entry will be announced via Facebook at 5pm on Monday, November 21.www.facebook.com/yakmagazine

YOUR SENSE FOR OUR CENTS

Uni Examination Period

Exam Revivers - presented by the U.Great Hall & Hunter Building

14MONDAY

“Dearest Yak, I recently realised that after four years of university, I still have not found a nice way of telling someone in a group assessment, “Your work is terrible, do it again!”.

Please harness your publishing powers to enlighten myself and soooooo many others, how do you politely tell group members you loathe them?” Andrew.

EXAM PERIOD

EXAM PERIOD

Page 14: Yak November 2011

Whether you can sprout hair like current world record holder for the longest

moustache, Ram Singh Chauhan, (his bad boy mo measuring 4.29 metres) or stick to the classic Ron Burgundy basic, there is no mistaking the benefits of rocking the hairy lip.

The value of the moustache is obvious – instantly it makes one stand taller, whilst having an incredible effect on confidence and sex appeal. It has a long and noble tradition. Whilst there have been few constants in history, the moustache has gallantly stood the test of time, plastered upon the face of kings, war generals, the homeless, and Average Joe alike. All this even before we get to the charitable side of Movember.

“Movember” is an Australian-born concept that has snowballed massively in recent years, growing from its humble beginnings between a few mates in a Melbourne pub to an international event that generates

millions of dollars in charity. These hairy dollars go towards combating two major health issues for men – prostate cancer and depression. Working in tandem with its partner organisations the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Beyond Blue, over $25 million was raised during last year’s Movember.

The growth in popularity of Movember has seen a number of events established throughout the month to accompany the birthing of beards and moustaches. On the morning of November 26 there is the “Morning of the Mo” on the Byron-Ballina coast, a surf session dedicated to the 80s surf era with participants encouraged to bring along a pre-1980s board along with their facial hair. Folks are invited to have a surf, a sausage roll and a yarn in the name of a good cause and a good time.

If an early morning surf seems too serene, perhaps the “Running of the Mo’s” in Melbourne or Brisbane on November 13 is more your style. Amateurs and veterans alike are invited to join in and get the heart rate up in the name of men’s health, with the added bonus being that wonderful feeling when the wind flows through one’s mo.

Madeleine Farrelly, the Communications Officer of the Movember organisation, gives an impression of just how much

the movement has grown and the giant strides it has taken. Formed in just 2003, last year saw 447 867 men and women participate.

The campaign has expanded from its humble beginnings in Australia to now have 11 countries running official campaigns, including New Zealand, Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, and Finland, the moustache proving its handsome

Once again, the month of November has reared its hairy head, meaning men (and, in theory, women too) can now indulge in the

guilty pleasure of profuse facial-hair growth.

“That wonderful feeling when the wind flows through one’s mo”.

Written by Lachie Leeming - Designed by Joshua Boaz

Page 15: Yak November 2011

versatility and longevity across the world.

This year, just 45 men and women staff Movember offices worldwide, giving an insight into how close-knit and genuine the organisation is.

Farrelly also helps explain the interesting link between men’s health and moustaches – two things that, before Movember, probably would not have been associated with each other. “The power of the mo” is all about getting men to start thinking about their health and to get more open about it.

Although it is impossible not to be impressed by the growth of the organisation in such a short period of time, Farrelly insists it is not time to rest on their laurels. Movember has grand visions – they want to leave an

“everlasting impression on the face

of men’s health,” to the point where the moustache and men’s health become synonymous.

Of course, the ending of Movember must have an appropriate celebration for such a regal event. The Movember foundation endorses “Mo-Parties” to celebrate the conclusion of a month of grooming the face mane, and sends out free ‘Party Packs’ to registered parties to help kick-start the frivolities.

There are also a number of gala parties hosted by the foundation in the closing days of the month, Australia-wide. These events encourage people to dress to suit their moustaches, and hand out a wide variety of awards including Best Mo in Character and Miss Movember.

Newcastle currently doesn’t host a gala party, with the closest one being in Sydney (if anybody with

a great moustache is interested, it is on November 30 at Luna Park. Further details can be found on the Movember website). The aim of the gala days is too enhance the sense of community in the Movember group, while providing a great tribute to the moustache.

The best part is, as you read this, it is not too late for both mo-men and mo-sistas to register and do their part for the cause and participate.

The University of Newcastle is participating in the University Movember Challenge. To join the team or donate, please visit www.uonservices.org.au or search UoN Movacastrians at www.movember.com.au

Page 16: Yak November 2011

Yak Magazine -November 201116

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ROMESH I however am interested in both of those things... where did you say these ducks were exactly? I’ve been looking to expand my flock for some time now.

16 people like this

THE DUCKS THAT CHILL OUT AT THE DESIGN BUS STOP, NEWCASTLE UNI

Quack b*tch17 people like this

TRENT To the guy in SENG1120, stop trying, she’s obviously friend zoned you man.

23 people like this

CAMERON To the ducks outside Birabahn: I have no interest in contesting you to be the alpha male of your group. Nor do I want to steal your eggs. No need to panic.

32 people like this

LAUREN To the chick on the computer next to me who has begun to absentmindedly drink my coffee, I’m too awkward to tell you to stop... so please, by all means enjoy...

92 people like this

For most students at Newcastle University this person plays an important role; they facilitate our

procrastination. Whether you’re at home writing an essay that’s due in a few hours, or in the AIC pulling an all nighter, Stalkerspace is there to distract you with its banter.

Previous students that I know all wish that Stalkerspace was around for time wasting purposes in their university days, trolls troll it, first years flood it with already asked questions and every now and then it spawns a little piece of brilliance (the grape pun thread anyone?).

Our mysterious mediator is a second year psychology student. After visiting Sydney Uni’s Stalkerspace page they decided that we needed one too, here at UoN. Starting Newcastle University Stalkerspace was their first foray into the big wide world of virtual communication.

Anyone worried about the possibility of Stalkerspace selling out can relax, it’s not going to happen – although our administrator did admit that they wouldn’t mind getting paid for the time they spend keeping our delicate eyes safe from offensive material.

“I’m pretty active on it but I don’t sit on it like I used to” they admitted, “It seems to be a lot more self regulated now.” Since Stalkerspace started only three people have been removed for posting inappropriate material.

With a plan to be a child psychologist, our head stalker is all about helping people, particularly kids. For schoolies, while most of us were getting boozed up and sunburnt in Surfers Paradise, they were on a humanitarian mission in Vanuatu, taking a bunch of sporting equipment to the villages over there and playing games with the kids.

In July 2004, during a ceasefire in the Civil War in Sri-Lanka they went over with their family to one of the orphanages to work with the kids there.

“My dad’s an electrician by trade, so he did some electrical work and we played with the kids and taught them some English”.

They also support a sponsor child through Compassion Australia.

“I love supporting them because they do really important work,” they said. “There’s just so many things I wish I could fix about the world, I guess that’s why I want to do psychology”.

Although our Stalkerspace gatekeeper usually prefers to be shrouded in anonymity, they actually love the limelight, having performed in school productions of Beauty and the Beast and The Music Man. They have also just auditioned for and been accepted into the Newcastle

Showcase with a duet of the song ‘For Good’ from the musical Wicked.

As if they’re not already busy enough, they also have a side passion, or plan B, if you will. If psychology doesn’t work out so well, industrial design is ready to step in and take its place.

“It’s something that I really love, I follow a few blogs and stuff on Facebook like Eco Design, I really enjoy seeing what’s new in technology for that”. Other blogs of interest include historical fashion, psychology industry blogs, musicals and blogs of friends.

Their life philosophy: keep it simple. This seems to be a struggle for most of us these days, and must be hard for someone with so many balls in the air, but they’re optimistic. “Its kind of scary thinking about the future sometimes, but I try to look at it with hope.”

When asked about the future of Stalkerspace they admit that they’ve thought about what will happen when they leave Uni.

“It’d be really difficult giving it to someone else, it would change a lot.”

But with two years of undergrad study left, plus honors and masters, we can all be safe in the knowledge that they will be ensuring our distraction for many years to come.

See more @ Newcastle University Stalkerspace Facebook page.

Page 18: Yak November 2011

s we go to our design stage here at Yak, news has just come in that former Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs has passed away after a

long-fought battle with pancreatic cancer.

Taken long before his time, Jobs will leave both a huge legacy, and hole, in the computer field.

Chances are Jobs had an effect of your life, whether you loved his products or not. If you’ve ever listened to music on your iPod, called a friend on your iPhone or did some university work on an iMac or MacBook Pro, you have Jobs to thank for it.

And if you’re one of the very few people who has not partaken in any of these activities, there’s something else Jobs helped create which anyone reading this has surely seen.

After co-founding Apple in 1976, early success was met with tumultuous times for the company as sales slumped in the mid-1980s. It was during this time that Jobs was fired as head of the company’s Macintosh division. Jobs later spoke positively about this experience, saying that it led to “one of the most creative periods of [his] life.”

In 1985 Jobs founded a computer company called NeXT. The company’s products brought to the table many features that are now considered standard, such as built-in Ethernet ports.

In 1986 Steve Jobs purchased a company called The Graphics Group from LucasFilms. Intending to use this company to sell high end graphics hardware, the company produced a computer specialising in producing high quality animated graphics.

After failing to sell this piece of hardware, the company refocused its goals, and made a deal with a major film company to produce a number of animated films.

The film company was Walt Disney, and the first film of this partnership was Toy Story. The Graphics Group, which was renamed to Pixar, has gone on to produce a

further 11 features. The average gross of these films is the highest among any studio in the film industry.

2004 saw Pixar and Disney become involved in a disagreement which threatened to permanently sour the relationship between the two companies. It was Jobs himself who worked with incoming Disney CEO Bob Iger to create a solution to the issue which would ensure that Disney and Pixar would continue to create films together, brokering a deal which ended in Disney acquiring the animation company.

The NeXT computer company was purchased by Apple in 1996, bringing Steve Jobs back to the company he had founded. In financial disarray at the time, Apple named Jobs as interim CEO of the company, and he scrapped a number of projects in his first few months. But it was during this period that Apple once again became a profitable company. The innovation that Apple has brought to the music, telephone and computer industries over the past ten years has been contributed primarily to Jobs’ vision and drive within the company.

Following his 2004 diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, Job’s health had been patchy at best. Despite an operation later that year to attempt to beat the cancer, he suffered from stomach bugs and hormone imbalances over the next few years and even received a liver transplant in 2009. The transplant was deemed to be successful, and Job’s prognosis was stated to be good.

But once again in early this year, Jobs took medical leave again to deal with health issues. This leave continued until August 24, when he resigned as CEO of Apple.

Little over a month later, on October 5, Jobs was dead, a victim of complications of his earlier pancreatic cancer. He left behind his wife, their three children and a daughter from a previous relationship.

Who can say where so many industries would have been without the vision and guidance of Steve Jobs. He will be missed. - By Lachlan Stevens

A

Yak Magazine -November 201118

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Previous to my writing of this article, I assumed our University was run by giant, over-sized possums who

lived in that building along the path that connects the place I get sushi to the place I get beer (The Chancellery, not the Commonwealth Bank, just for clarification).

Turns out it isn’t possums – it’s actually people. A lot of people actually, who take care of all the big things so we can just get in and get out of this mosquito-infested scrubland, hopefully with diploma in hand and a first-rate story to tell.

Often, we don’t stop to think about who is actually in charge of this place or what it takes to run a university of this size. This month, Professor Nicholas Saunders (who has been our

By Katie Burgess

Professor McMillen is our uni’s first ever female Vice Chancellor! Although in this era of modern feminism, it may be a little crummy of me to kick off with this particular point, it is a tad exciting.

She is one smart cookie. Recruited after an international search, she has a whole plethora of publications with her name on them. Her background is in biomedical research and she is a champion of women in science, engineering and technology.

She’s well qualified. Professor McMillen graduated with BA (Hons) and Doctor of Philosophy at Oxford University before completing her medical degree at the University of Cambridge in 1981. She moved to Australia in 1983 to take up a lectureship at Monash University and has also worked with numerous national higher education committees and councils, including the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council and the Prime Minister’s Science Engineering and Innovation Council. She is also a member of the Science Advisory Panel of the Australian Science Media Centre to boot!

The lady is a serious boss! Previous to her appointment as our VC, Professor McMillen was the Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of South Australia and has nearly 30 years experience in the higher education sector.

VC since 2004) passed the baton onto to Professor Caroline McMillen. But what role does a VC play in a uni this size? And what the devil is a VC in the first place?

The term VC is short for Vice Chancellor. It is a ridiculously important position within a university and therefore it is of the utmost pertinence you get the right person for the job.

Essentially, a Vice Chancellor is like the chief executive of a business and in this case, the business is our university (seriously, where did you think your fees were going...). Unlike the role of Chancellor, which is typically a ceremonial role, the job of Vice Chancellor is more hands-on and may involve teaching or research roles.

Page 20: Yak November 2011

By Matthew Hatton

If I may borrow a meme that began on the Twitters: worst protest since Federation.

Every single aspect of last month’s protest against the felling of the Laman Street fig trees was a complete and utter disappointment.

I had high hopes for a genuine, passionate and violent vibrant protest. Instead I was delivered the most generic, boring and useless collection of people you would ever see outside a… err… I was going to make a reference to Parliament, but that’s not really going to work given the politicised nature of the debate around this particular subject …so I’ll move on.

If I’m going to be honest, I should have seen it coming.

My day began with perusing tweets (from the warm comfort of my bed, as all good people should catch up on the morning news) showing Save Our Figs protesters chained to light poles. Not the fig trees they wanted to save. Light poles.

Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the light poles on Laman Street that needed saving. Lit roadways are more common than not around these parts and I can’t see them going anywhere in a hurry.

Then there were the songs. In times past, protests have delivered music that has shaped generations. Think the American civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and the music that came from them: properly iconic.

Laman Street? Well, to put it nicely I would have been there about 10 minutes before I was reaching for the ear bleach. God-awful, out of key, out of tempo, out of… everything bastardisations of those previously mentioned world-changing songs.

There was at least one amusing moment to come from this shudder inducing aspect of the day. One brave, and possibly high judging from his swaying and slurring, soul attempted to serenade the lone female police officer present with the chorus of Skyhooks classic “Women in Uniform”. He lasted at least three-quarters of the chorus.

Even the protest signs left a lot to be desired.

The first I spotted merely read, “honk”. Which I guess demonstrates that at least someone out there had a grasp on the concept of onomatopoeia, so well done there.

Then there was this most perplexing effort: “Prune ‘em, don’t rune ‘em”. Now, I can only assume that this particular protester fears that once the trees are felled, Newcastle Council will use their chopped up bits and pieces to cast magic spells upon the people of this town to make them forget everything that has happened.

It was bitterly disappointing to see such long, hard-fought battle end with such a degree of lameness.

I mean, I didn’t even see a single tie-dyed t-shirt.

For shame.

Make a study schedule. Know which days you can study and allocate slots for certain subjects, set yourself a deadline for getting it done and make sure you stick to it! Try to give yourself some sort of incentive (tea works for me!) to follow it as well.

Eat healthily. Swap the sugary snacks for an apple or some nuts. Guaranteed to keep you fuller for longer and provide you with plenty of energy plus you will avoid that awkward end-of-semester jelly belly (it happens to the best of us…).

Plan your timetable well. Make sure you know when your exams are on well ahead of time and know where it is being held. By being organised, you will save yourself a lot of last-minute stress.

Chill out! Although this tip may appear to be counterproductive, it is vital to rest your brain every now and again so it can digest all that last-minute knowledge you’ve crammed in there.

Set yo’ goals. Know what marks you are looking to achieve and make sure your goals reflect your study habits! You can’t get an 89 if you’ve only read chapter two, three and six of your 13-chapter textbook and attended the last two lectures…

Exercise regularly. By ensuring you do consistent, light exercise you’ll be keeping your mind and body in peak condition! Plus it’s swell to let off some steam every once in a while.

Sleep. Although generally considered non-essential during periods of high workload and stress, it is really important to give your body a chance to recover. Aim for about eight hours a night and try not to overdo it with the caffeine.

3 45 6 7

1 2It’s that time of semester again that we all dread ridiculously. Whether you’re overdosing on Red Bull, showering in the sinks at the City Hub or eating only skittles (except the green ones, oddly enough), we all cope with this strenuous period in our uni lives rather differently. Although the sugar

high and sink-showering may be all good and well in short doses, it is a sure way to quickly burn out and epically fail when it comes to the crunch. However, by following these simple tips, hopefully you will feel better and do exceptionally well on your exams too.

EXAM SURVIVAL TIPS By Katie Burgess

This piece does not represent the opinions of the Yak editorial team, nor those of the U. But it is pretty damn funny.

Page 21: Yak November 2011

Big Day Out26 January 2012Homebush

The main event of the Australian festival diary, the Big Day Out has always had a habit of bringing big bands to our shores. Headlining the event for this year is someone we’re sure no one expected to see on the bill – Kanye West. While we’re assured he’ll let the festival finish, he should bring some of his trademark tunes to the event. Also playing are British band Kasabian, My Chemical Romance, Soundgarden and a host of Australian bands including Boy and Bear, Architecure in Helsinki and Frenzal Rhomb.

Homebake3 December 2011The Domain, Sydney

Showcasing the best of Australian music, playing Homebake is a requirement before an Australian band can claim to have “made it” in their country of origin. In 2011 there’s a vast array of quality talent coming to The Domain, with performances from Gotye, Eskimo Joe, Architecture in Helsinki, Cut Copy, Gurrumul Yunupingu, with plenty more.

New Beginnings14 January 2012Morisset Showground

If you’re after something a little bit closer to home, New Beginnings is always an option, located just down the F3 at Morisset. And as to the line-up, I’ve got one word for you to describe New Beginnings 2012 – Vengaboys! If that nostalgia hit wasn’t enough for you, there’s a whole heap of other talent lined up the day, including Hungry Kids Of Hungary, Rubix Cuba and the intriguingly named Kamikaze Thundercats.

Field DayNew Year’s Day 2012The Domain, Sydney

In Sydney for NYE? The perfect way to work off your New Year’s hangover is to head over to The Domain for the Field Day festival. Dance music is the theme of the day, and for 2012 there is a stellar lineup on the radar. The festival has managed to secure Justice, a French electronic duo, as the headline act. Backing them up are Tiga, Crystal Castles and Moby, along with a number of other awesome acts.

Soundwave26 February 2012Sydney Showground

If the mainstream isn’t quite your thing, Soundwave offers a selection of some of the harder stuff. After the collapse of Soundwave Revolution there was speculation in media as to whether the Soundwave crew could even pull their main event together, but in the end it seems they’ve gotten the pick of the bands for this year. Headlining the festival is System of a Down and Slipknot, and other bands on the huge bill for next year are A Day To Remember, Limp Bizkit, Trivium, Underoath, Dashboard Confessional, Dragonforce and Enter Shikari.

Breakout Festival2 December 2011Hodern Pavilion, Sydney

If you haven’t heard of Breakout, it’s because 2011 is the first year the festival’s running. Set up as an all ages day, there’s still no doubt a lot of fun to be had, with the festival specialising in Dance and Urban music. Heading up the bill are party rockers LMFAO, with others lined up to play including 360, Potbelleez and The Bloody Beetroots.

Written by Lachlan StevensDesigned by Joyce Ching Yee Ho

Yak Magazine -November 2011 21

Page 22: Yak November 2011

at Eskimo joe - Photography by Brooke Nash

Page 23: Yak November 2011

What are your plans for summer?Relaxing, I might try and get fit and start training for a marathon I am running in next year.

How do you feel about the impending exam period?Not overwhelmed, a bit underprepared. You know, I just take it as it comes.

What is your top dating tip?Remember their name.

If you were attending a festival, what is the one item you could not leave home without?My name.

EVANNURSING

What are your plans for summer?To get my knee reconstruction, go to the beach and learn to swim. As I am a sh*t swimmer and can’t run anymore because of my knee.

What is your top dating tip?If you go to a restaurant, don’t buy the cheapest bottle of wine, and don’t buy the most expensive one, find a happy medium. Don’t order the salad-as salad is for wimps.

If you were attending a festival, what is the one item you could not leave home without?A pair of thongs. The worst mistake to make is to wear a good pair of runners, as you always end up standing in sh*t. So many bad toilet experiences!!

JUSTINMASTER OF TEACHING

What are your plans for summer?Going home to Dubbo, working and relaxing.

How do you feel about the impending exam period?I only have one exam, so I’m not really worrying too much at the moment.

What is your top dating tip?I don’t know, treat them mean, keep them keen?

If you were attending a festival, what is the one item you could not leave home without?Water and comfy shoes!

JORDANFINE ART EDUCATION

What are your plans for summer?Vacation work and volunteering.

How do you feel about the impending exam period?Um, I only have one exam this semester, but come at me, y’know I’m not worried at all! I’m going okay, so…

What is your top dating tip?I think I commented on Stalkerspace about this! It was to learn how to make a sandwich!

If you were attending a festival, what is the one item you could not leave home without?Sunscreen because I’m pale.

HAYLEYENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & MANAGEMENT

What are your plans for summer?No uni work!

How do you feel about the impending exam period?I’m really nervous about it.

What is your top dating tip?I haven’t been on a first date in like two and a half years, so I am a bit out of practice, but always be yourself is a good one!

If you were attending a festival, what is the one item you could not leave home without?Water, and your ticket!

What are your plans for summer?Something big – I want to go overseas so travel for a bit with a few good friends, and relaxing sounds good to me!

How do you feel about the impending exam period?Nervous, we’ve just seen our proposed timetable and it seems a bit intense!

What is your top dating tip?Don’t tell her that she dresses like your mother, that’s probably a very good tip!

If you were attending a festival, what is the one item you could not leave home without?Good underwear, you don’t know where you could end up!

ALEXNURSING

MAXMEDICINE

> Rowena Grant

> Jess McAneney“their holiday plans!”This month, we asked the kids on campus

Page 24: Yak November 2011

THE END WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16

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