Words by Nicholas Birchall

Progress Presidential Candidate Oscar Zi Shao Ong has been banned from campaigning in the Annual Student Elections until Wednesday, over defamatory remarks he made about another student in his SRC presidential report to the AUU.

His report alleged negligence on the part of the other student, and has since been proven demonstrably false.

The Returning Officer investigated a complaint against Mr Ong over these remarks, finding that he had breached rules relating to conduct of campaigners and electoral candidates.

Mr Ong’s political party Progress were subsequently issued with a whole-ticket warning.

Despite his ban, Mr Ong has found innovative ways to continue campaigning.

In an effort to appeal to…actually we’re not sure in the slightest who he’s trying to appeal to, the below screenshot indicates that elections really can make someone do anything for votes.

More to come as this bizarre week unfolds.

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Words by Nicholas Birchall

Monday this week (12/10), the AUU Board voted to remove directors Arabella Wauchope (Unite), Ella Shaw (Unite), and Ashely Jayasuriya (Activate).

To be removed as a board director, one must be voted out by a three-quarters absolute majority of sitting members at two separate meetings. Monday’s meeting marked the first time for both Shaw and Jayasuriya, and the second time for Wauchope, who was subsequently removed from her position, less than 50 days before the end of her two-year term.

These decisions occurred in-camera, meaning that any discourse surrounding them will not appear on any publicly available record, effectively shrouding the Board’s reasoning. …

Words by Nicholas Birchall

On Dit can today reveal that three losing ‘Progress’ candidates, Harnoor Bandesh, Muskaan Gupta, and Angel Wadhawan contested the results of Education, Disability, and Ethnocultural Officers on the grounds that On Dit’s reporting on the AUU General election constituted a “defect in the conduct of the election which […] materially affected the results.”

The trio contested the tribunal’s previous findings that On Dit remained outside the jurisdiction of the RO, a per Clause 13.1 of the Rules Concerning Student Media, which states:

“Except where required by law or sanctioned by this Rule, the AUU shall not interfere with the editorial independence of the AUSM”. …

Interview by Felix Eldridge

Peter Malinauskas first served in the South Australian Parliament in 2015, filling a casual vacancy in the Legislative Council. He quickly rose up the Ministerial ranks, serving in various portfolios including Police, Health and Emergency Services. At the 2018 South Australian election, he won the lower house seat of Croydon, and after former leader Jay Weatherill’s resignation, he became the South Australian Leader of the Opposition. Peter graduated from Adelaide University with a Bachelor of Commerce and plays for the Adelaide University Football Club. …

Words by Felix Eldridge

Over the last few weeks, the University held an election to fill the vacant position of undergraduate representative on the Adelaide University Council for 2021. The University Council is the peak decision-making body at this University. It is responsible for the appointment of the Vice Chancellor, creating the University budget and approving important strategic decisions about the University.

In a hotly contested battle involving five candidates, Leah Schamschurin has been elected to the role until the 5th of March 2022.

Leah is a third year student studying a double degree of Arts Advanced and Environmental Policy and Management. She campaigned heavily on a platform of increased transparency, ensuring student voices are heard during any merger discussions and to ensure that the ICAC response to the former Vice Chancellor is handled in a transparent, representative and student focused way. …

Words by ex members who wish to remain anonymous

For many young left-wing students, Socialist Alternative (SAlt) appears to be the shining solution to the global inequality and systematic class issues found in our capitalist society, and on a surface level, I can’t blame them for thinking so. As a former member myself, I also thought along these lines. However, after going through the initiations, the group indoctrinations, and the cult-like manipulation, it becomes increasingly clear that under the surface, Socialist Alternative is nothing but a “family” (not unlike the Mansons) who employ cult-like methods to manipulate other leftists into joining their ranks. Within their newly recruited members, they destroy all sense of free though and debate, while restricting any opposition to their extremist agenda. …

Words by Taylor Jane Bardsley

Beauty standards have always determined what society deems as “desirable” throughout the ages: from the Flapper Girl of 1920 where a streamlined, up-and-down silhouette was the ideal shape, to the 1950s where screen-queen Marilyn Monroe dominated the beauty world with her enviable curvy, hourglass figure. Beauty ideals are nothing new, however, putting one body shape on a pedestal or fetishising a body part is becoming increasingly more prominent due to social media.

Ah yes, social media. We all know it has its pros and cons and this is especially true when it comes to perpetuating generally unrealistic and often harmful beauty standards. Although the body acceptance movement is growing largely due to social media’s influence, there are still specific beauty ideals running rampant on our newsfeeds. …

Words by Mikaila Stavrinakis

Last week I was stumped by something so simple as the act of reading a book. I sat lazily on the sofa, semi-upside down, reading Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. In my possession for two years, I knew Bourdain wrote like he speaks, so, I thought, Why read the book when I can just watch him on TV? An unfortunate and common sentiment among many people nowadays. I am not entirely innocent of this charge. …