Letter from the Co-Editor

Well everyone, The close of the year is fast upon us. And although the last copy of The Voice has already been published and distributed, we could not help but post this last letter to Student X. His fame seems to have spread both far and wide, bringing at least 2 students to fall for this strange and rugged Student X. Sadly, Student X's newest interest sent in her letter after the special edition had already been published. Thus, we bring you an exclusive online letter to Student X.

ENJOY!

Competition for Student Y

Dearest darling student X,

“First I was afraid; I was petrified...when I thought I might lose you to student Y…

Alas, I have tried but it is in vain. I can no longer contain the feelings which I have developed for you these past months. I don’t usually do this sort of thing but when I learned of ‘student y’ I felt threatened; as though I could lose my one true love. Although we’ve never met, I feel as though you are ‘the one’, someone whom I could grow old with, & call my schnookle pumpkin. Student X, you are everything I want in a man, with your dashing good looks and journalistic ability. Really, the only thing that could possibly make you better is if you played the bass, but I guess that’s asking a bit much- after all, no-one’s that perfect! “All I want is you!”
The decision is up to you- will it be yours truly or student y???

I wait in anticipation for your verdict,
Lots of love,
someone to get Xcited about

Your Parody Star Sign

Capricorn 22 Dec. -Jan 19.
Release your inner being. Batteries not included, accessories sold separately.

Aquarius 22 January - 18 Feb.
The stars indicate a special gift on its way for you. However, please report any unattended baggage or unmarked partials to security.

Pisces 19 Feb - 20 March
Your arms may fall off in the shower this morning. If they do not, it is an indicator that the day will be a positive one, and will continue in the same vein.

Aries 21 March -19 April
Don’t make decisions today! Decide to be indecisive! Take control of the inner indecisiveness, especially in the caff!

Taurus 20 April - 20 May
Modes of transport prove to be difficult for you. Do you take the bulls by the horns or the car by driveway?

Gemini 21 May - 21 June
You are in two minds about things today, but they say two heads are better than one, especially if you come from Chernobyl.

Cancer 22 June -22July
It is time for you to get down to basics but avoided doing so in the caff.

Leo 23 July -22 Aug.
Love is in the air but then again it might be Weetbix, so don’t inhale.

Virgo 23 August- 22 Sep.
You may find money today. Then again you may not. It is only a sign that your wealth is within instead of without.

Libra 23 Sep. -22 Oct.
You absorb both the good and the bad, provided neither are too much for you.

Scorpio 23 Oct. - 21 Nov.
Today the planets will align in your favour bringing hope and renewal. Tomorrow you will die. Or then again, maybe not.

Sagittarius 22 Nov- 21 Dec.
Matters of the heart are in your favour today, so prepare yourself for open heart surgery. Either on yourself or on someone else.

Of Nerds & Jocks- By Ben Anderson

Imagine the 80's, if you dare. Two groups at a high school, mortal enemies. On one side of campus you have the nerds, braniacs clad in glasses, braces and pocket protectors. On the other side you have the jocks, with muscles bulging and girls falling at their feet. And if ever the twain should meet it would typically end up in favour of the jocks. Nowadays nerds and jocks are still around, but they don't fit the stereotypical stereotype. Today's nerd is someone who is different from the current social norm. These people usually have a high amount of knowledge in a specific field and slightly above-average smarts across the board. Where they falter is their athletic ability, which is sometimes under par. They are also not afraid to be different and, with the right coaxing, they will try almost anything. On the other hand, the jocks are sports masters. Not content with just being on the sideline, they are out and about in all aspects of life. They are social beings and are dubbed “cool” by those in the middle ground. However, most jocks have merely an average, or even lower, intelligence. While they are seen to be very outgoing. they are often scared of new things and only those at the top of the social ladder can make something the next “thing”. If only one thing has remained the same, that is that the jocks are still beating down on the nerds. But this is in more subtle ways. The avoidance, the condescending looks, the occasional “helpful” advice. Remember, be nice to nerds, you might end up working for them. Which brings me to another point. Nerds are more likely to succeed. Even if they are not in the limelight like succeeding jocks, such as major sports people, Hollywood celebrities and presidential candidates. The nerds of yesterday are the secret rulers of the world today.One final note, what has been said here may not be entirely true since there is some blurring between people. And, of course all generalisations are false.

Do We Really Know What We Are Singing? - Anonymous

Do We Really Know What We Are Singing? - Anonymous
I have a problem with our song service at College Church. In fact, I have a problem with all the song services at every church, in every denomination, everywhere. I fee l we have lost the true emphasis of singing praises to God under all the commercialization and hip-pocket practices of the world today.

When we sing in church, we should be singing heartfelt melodies to Christ. We should understand and truly believe what we are singing or else we shouldn’t be singing. We often sing songs in our church of which we understand only little of their meanings.

When we sing “I would go to the ends of the earth”, would we?
When we sing “above all, I live for your glory” do we?
When we sing “Lord, have your way in me” do we really mean that?

Maybe it’s time we stop allowing only the singers up the front to choose our songs. Maybe we need to sing songs that touch other people, not just ourselves, not just what we like.

I’m sick of the same old songs with the same old airy-fairy message and annoying, repetitive lyrics. I think those who lead out in worship should stop only thinking about what they want and start catering for the wide variety of individuals who attend College Church. Why not step out in faith, take the daring plunge and try something new for once. If you’re stuck for ideas, I’ve begun a list to help you along.

1. Old hymns jazzed up (ask Andrew Harris if you need some help with this one!)

2. Old chorus songs such as Geoff Bullock

3. Old Primary school favourites like Sandy Land or Pharaoh! Pharaoh! You’d be sur prised by how many people would actually enjoy singing those songs

4. Songs written by College students or church members – try Mitchell Harris if you want somewhere to start

5. Rearrange the songs we are already singing – cut out all the repetitive bridge parts, try just listening to the cool instrumental parts without feeling the need to talk airy-fairy, unnecessary words throughout the non-singing parts.

Singing is not about the singers up the front. They are only there to lead the congregation in singing, so only two people up the front is actually ok! Singing is about individuals telling God how they really feel about him to music. Try to remember why you are singing and what you are singing next time you’re in church.


The song service shouldn’t be about what the worship leader really likes or what the band wants to play, or even what they have the most practice at. The worship song service needs to be as varied as the people who partake in the spiritual feast of praise and thanks. Next time we stand up to sing songs in church, think about what you are singing and why you are singing it.

Lashing out

-By Kristin Dewey

No matter what the faculty, the number of female students to male is never so prominently noticed as in the theology department. Clansi Roy, one of these female theology students, sat down to talk to me about the distinction between men and women in her class.

Do you feel that there is a gap between your male theology peers and your female theology peers?
C: What do you mean by ‘gap‘?

The gender gap. A psychological distinction between those who are ‘potential ministers’ and those who may never be ordained because of their gender.
C: In the behaviour of a minority of male theology
Students there appears to be an attitude of ‘you shouldn’t be here, this is not allowed’. With some of them I think this is an unconscious behaviour or thought pattern.There is of course the oft encountered mentality scattered among the members of the
Church that any female student who dares to believe herself called to pastoral ministry or the study of theology is indulging in a dream not possibly of God.

Do you feel that your inferior to your male peers?
C:No [indignantly] sometimes I feel that they feel that I’m inferior.

Do you think that too big of a deal is made of the gender issue in the theology faculty?
C:I don’t think the faulty makes an issue of it. I know the faculty doesn’t make an issue of it.

Do you think that those outside the faculty make an issue of it?
C:Sometimes. Sometimes, an issue needs to be made. But most of the time it is silly cat fights. Which don’t do any good for either side.

Some would say that you are taking over a job designated to men, do you think that your taking the place of men in the church?
C: Lets get one thing straight. I am studying theology, I am not at present applying for a job. But if I was, it is not my decision who gets employed. Any argument over “stealing jobs” should be taken up with those who employ and the Holy Spirit who we assume guides those who employ.

With the roles of women changing and expanding, is there any such thing as a man’s place in church?
C: That’s a joke, right? This is what the problem is, people see a few women taking leadership roles and all of a sudden freak out that ‘women are taking over the church’ that ‘they are going to kick all the men out!’. I don’t see how the two are connected. The church is neither a glorified women’s group, or a glorified boys club, rather it is the body of believers who come together to glorify the risen Lord. Yes I know there are things in the New Testament that appear to negate women in leadership positions, but it also talks about the priesthood of all believers and that there is neither male or female in Christ. And there is a responsibility to use the gifts we have been given to further the work of the Lord


There is a growing feeling in secular thought that the male role in the work place, at home, and in relationships is being blurred and thus putting them in the same position that women have been in for several generations. Do you think there should be an attempt by the church to help avoid putting men in this situation?
C:I have never, and do not suggest, that men and women are meant to do exactly the same things. I don’t really have an answer for this yet.

Is there anything you like to see happen in the next 10 years in relation to the gender issue in the church?
C:The issue I would like to see addressed in church in the next 10 years is members, male and female, being encouraged and empowered to use their gifts and talents to God’s glory. Gifts like hospitality, nurture and support, leadership, music, teaching, and the list goes on. Perhaps this is not so much a gender issue, but I think people need to wake up and get involved.


Our Christian community would often rather talk about the gender controversy in the theology factuality than get involved in an active discussion on how to make a difference to our community. Even this article used the controversy surrounding the issue to get you to read this, but the catch was in the last paragraph. Did you catch it?

PLEASE PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON!

To all North Americans (including Canadians): PLEASE PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON!

With the weather warming it seems that many of our northern hemisphere friends, specifically those coming from the continent of America, have decided to forgo many articles of clothing. Thus, a little lesson in Southern hemisphere etiquette:

For Men:
1.Shirts are required in all non-recreational places. This includes the cafeteria and the classroom.
2. Clothing is not EVER to be removed in the cafeteria. (You know who you are)

For Women:
1. There is no point wearing patches over your crotch and calling them ‘shorts‘. You might as well go naked. (please see above rule for men about wearing clothes in public places.)

In case you are tempted to ignore this lesson, don’t. Measures will be taken if you don’t head the warning we’re offering. Beware! BEWARE!

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor of the Voice,

Wasn’t it the famous Bard who penned the words “What is in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet?” Well what is in a name? A lot more than Shakespeare gives it credit for. A name is your identity, it is the title your parents gave you so that you could be distinguished from other people. So that we don’t hear parents walking around shopping centres saying, “look forth child of mine I have already told you…”

But it seems to me that there are a number of students and a few staff on campus who don’t see to understand the value of their name. Maybe this is because they are more concerned with the reputation that their “name” has. Each week in the voice I see more and more students and the occasional staff member using a pseudonyms to hide their identity and I ask myself ‘why?’ Why if what you have to say is so close to your heart, why can’t we know who you are?

This situation reminds of another cliché that I am sure we are all familiar with, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Penned and spoken by many mother Australia and worldwide. I am not discouraging people from voicing their opinions, whether negative or positive, but if you don’t have the guts to put your name to, it then don’t say it at all. Think of it like this, an opinion with out a name is as good as having no voice- your name is the facilitator of your opinions and your voice. Without your name you have no voice therefore you have no opinion. So if you want a voice then –USE YOUR NAME, please.

From
An Annoyed Student (aka Leonie Burrows)

Saved!- A review

-By Kristin Dewey

Controversial, provocative, and realistic. These are hardly the words to describe a Christian film, but somehow they are fitting for the new film Saved! This film is about students of a Christian high school in the United States who are suddenly asked to deal with issues such as homosexuality, pre-marital pregnancy, and the most difficult of all, God. Mary, a prominent spiritual leader at her school, is told by her boyfriend that he believes himself to be gay. This shocking revelation leads Mary to drastic measures to “save” her boyfriend from his “gayification”. Eventually his parents find out and he is sent to Mercy House, a Christian institution for “these issues”. It isn’t long after this that Mary discovers that she is pregnant. Her whole world view changes as she struggles with her previous understanding of God’s will and what it means to her now.

This film will challenge your religion. It will challenge your views of God. It will challenge what you have probably been taught about God’s will in your life. These challenges, however, should not scare you away from this film. This film is an ideal starting place for discussion about the challenges that face young people. These challenges need to be looked at seriously and prayerfully in our own life. We need to struggle with them and come to answers for ourselves. This film is an excellent starting point in dealing, realistically, with these challenges. I give this film five stars!

GET IN QUICK!

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Then click on the site and show your support to a fantastic author!

The last day to vote is Friday, 29 Oct, So get in quick!

Letter From The Editor

For those of you who were disappointed with the election result of October 9, here is something that might consol you, at least temporarily.

HOW TO START YOUR DAY WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE:

1. Create a new folder on your computer.

2. Name it "John Howard"

3. Send it to the recycle bin. (the bin must be empty prior to this step)

4. Empty the recycle bin.

5. Your computer will ask you: "Do you really want to get rid of John
Howard?"

6. Answer calmly, "Yes," and press the mouse button.

7. Repeat, as required.

The Week of Prayer Make-Over

By Kristin Dewey

Week of Prayer has long been held by students to be a week long mini-revival of spiritual life on campus. It usually entailed a speaker, a worship team, and maybe a couple of dramas. This year it is different. “No speaker,” says Bruce Manners, the new Pastor to College church, “We’re just praying”.

That’s right, it is time to try out what all the previous week of prayer speakers have been telling us about. We are gonna pray and we’re gonna pray a lot! Starting from 23 October until 30 October, prayer will be held in the Prayer Room of the College Church, for twenty-four hours a day. Yep, that is all day and all night!

So what are we going to pray for?

“uh…well, we don’t have a specific goal in mind.” Bruce said, “We just want to open up to God, have people meet with God in praise and adoration. We’ll take prayer requests to God. We hope to have college, the students, and the community, awash with prayers and then see what God wants to accomplish. Everyone knows they ought to pray more, we’re just saying that here is the opportunity.”

So you ready to try out a new kind of Week Of Prayer?

The Joy of Compulsory Worships -by Monkey

Compulsory worships don’t we just love them! Well I actually do enjoy going to them, but for reasons so unique to me, and probably others I am unable to attend worships left right and centre. This is due to class or other commitments (such as work) and really I am just that busy that they slip by occasionally. I’m currently going to get fined for not being able to attend the required amount. Now I am not saying that I dislike the worships in any way or the purpose of them. I love them so much and each one for different reasons.

Monday night I get to find out what is happening in my dorm and any important announcements. Tuesday I get to hang out with my loved one in the church praising God together and drawing closer to Him. And Wednesday I have the joy and privilege of studying God’s word in a friend’s room with a group of my friends. I ask you what could be better then having all these opportunities to worship my God? This is an absolute blessing. The one worship that is more commonly attended is not any of these compulsory worships but is instead on Friday night for first church.

But my question remains why should I have to pay for not being able to attend? Did God ever make anyone pay for not being able to attend due to reasons out of their control? I already lose out by not being able to attend and fellowship with committed friends who are praising their Saviour for all He’s done and is doing in their lives. And what God given right do they have to charge me?

Another question I have is why do we make them compulsory? God never made anyone worship Him- He only gave us the opportunity to. He gave us the freedom of choice to be able to choose to worship Him. And I intend to use the choice I have to make it to as many worships as possible because I desire to not because it is a requirement. Besides anyone who is forced to attend worship their heart is not in the right place thus there worship amounts to nothing more then human laws. (Isaiah 29 :13). Because of this, I will do wonders among these hypocrites. I will show that human wisdom is foolish and even the most brilliant people lack understanding.” (Isaiah 29 :14).

I asked a college staff member the other day if they were required to attend 2 of 3 worships a week in their faculty and they laughed at me because they don’t have to attend any because there is none to attend. Maybe us college students should put on some worships for the college staff members. I think it should be compulsory for them to attend 2 of 3 worships a week, and because they have full time jobs their fine should increase when compared to a meager student’s wages- lets say $300. They shouldn’t miss that each semester. But of cause they can organise their own worships as we have to. And to make it fair and put them on an hour after most college staff have finished work. Yes that will do - I’m sure that they will all be able to make it and there won’t be any complaints about that.

And then forums as well now I see some staff at the forums and to those staff I applaud you and take off my hat in appreciation you are setting great role models for the students of Avondale college and helping the young people in our church to grow with God. But really the same applies as I have mentioned above about staff members being fined for not attending regularly to forums, which is a separate fine.

Are the college staff meant to be setting an example to the students to give us some role models? Well what kind of role models are they being? They hardly turn up to forums and they are not forced to attend worships. Do they think they are perfect and do not have to attend worships? Or are they lazy and can’t be bothered taking worships for each other?

I grew in a Christian family and went to an Adventist school and have had so much religion shoved down my throat that I thought I would suffocate. Don’t shove religion down our throats or we won’t embrace religion. We have the right to make our own choices because we are young adults and many of us will go because we desire to worship and praise our all loving and omnipresent God.

The real reason for writing this is not to make the staff have compulsory worships which they must attend. It is to make us think of the actions we take in life. I don’t want administration to believe that since we are young we are not interested in attending worships unless there is a fine or school policy attached. We are interested in worship, we are not interested in dictatorships. WE ARE ADULTS.

Back to the Heart of Worship

By: Tammie Sperring

The Oxford Dictionary describes worship as: Homage or reverence paid to a deity (in our case, God), esp. in a formal service.

Paying homage to someone involves the acknowledgement of superiority as well as respect and dutiful reverence. Too often today we think of reverence as tiptoeing quietly through the church building and speaking in hushed tones. Most people who have grown up in any church will re member a well-meaning church brother or sister telling them as young children to speak quietly or walk slower because they weren’t being reverent if they didn’t.

Being reverent has very little to do with being quiet or walking slowly; being reverent has a lot to do with respect. This means, essentially, that worshipping God mean s showing him respect. The Bible has a lot of examples of people worshipping, yet they all worshipped in a different way. In Matthew, the Magi bowed down to the Christ Child and worshipped him (Matt. 2:11). In Mark, crowds of people followed Jesus, waving palm branches and shouting hosanna, hosanna in the highest. These people worshipped Jesus by shouting out praises to him (Mark 11:9-10). David combined worship with the act of sacrifice (1 Chron. 16:29). Moses and Miriam sang a song to the Lord in worship after He had delivered them from the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-18). Daniel, at the risk of his life, knelt in the window, facing his beloved Jerusalem, and worshipped God in prayer, three times a day (Daniel 6:10).

There are so many ways to worship God; through music, through prayer, through sacrifice (giving up something for God), through fasting, through shouts of praise. It doesn’t matter how you do it, it’s why you do it and who you do it for that is important. Worship is showing respect to God, our maker and king. It isn’t about getting about the front and showing everybody how spiritual you are. It is about coming before God, humble and very aware of our flaws, but more aware of Christ’s perfection and his power.

So many people forget who it is we are singing praises to. We forget that it is about Christ, only about him. If it wasn’t for Him, worship would be irrelevant and unnecessary. We don’t need fancy settings, loud instruments, lots of people up the front or flashing lights. In fact, these things only serve to distract people from the true reason for worshipping. We need to simplify our worship times, and come back to the heart of worship, who is Jesus Christ.

Worship leaders are dedicated to their cause, and it’s not for anyone but God to judge their hearts, but the impact of worship is often lost as many people contemplate the authenticity of their passion. Are they up there purely to worship God, to humble themselves before Him, or have they forgotten their true motivation and turned it into a performance for the audience of worshippers with themselves as the main characters?

If people stand up the front and pour out lots of spiritual, emotion-laden words in breathy, emotion-laden voices, but are rarely, if ever, heard talking that way about God in normal conversations, wouldn’t it seem natural to question their true reasons for being up the front? Worship leaders should be there to lead people in a prayer-filled, praise and thanks service to God. They are not there to show off their God-given talents, but to put them to good use, with a humble, Christ-centred spirit.

Worship comes only from the heart, and it can only be truly genuine if the heart has Christ at the centre. We cannot call what we do every Friday night and Sabbath morn ing in church worship unless we come before Christ with a humble spirit and a reverent, respectful attitude to God.

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL PARTY
John Anderson, the current leader of the National Party, is also the Deputy Prime
Minister. Their preferences will be going to the Liberals, unlike the Democrats and Greens
who are giving theirs to Labor. In general, the Nationals work with the Liberals in the
creation of legislation and share similar views, although with a country focus.

The party focuses on three main things, which are the community, security and
individual achievement. They represent the interests of those living in the country, and aim
to be there as a balance for the city-oriented politics of the other parties. Their focus on
regional Australia has helped to give people in rural areas better roads and transport, and
access to the Internet.

FOR MORE USEFUL INFORMATION ON THE ELECTION AND POLITICAL PARTIES, VISIT: Here or here or here!

AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS

The Democrats are a party that was founded to ‘Keep The B@#%&$#s Honest,’ although they haven’t done that great a job of it since backstabbing their previous leader, Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja. In spite of this, the party has regrouped to an extent, and seems to be becoming more focused.

Lead by Senator Andrew Bartlett, the Democrats this election are calling for great transperency in government dealings, working with the UN to help
Iraq rebuild and recover, creating equal opportunities for all people, ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, creating sustainable communities and creating a tax system that is more fair and balanced, along with a number of other policies.

The Democrats also make ‘No Political Advertising’ stickers that you can put on your mailboxes!

AUSTRALIAN GREENS

The Greens have announced that their preferences this election will
be going to the Labor Party. Although the party does not have a formal
leadership as such, it would be said that its leader is Senator Bob Brown,
who has been fearless in expressing opinions and taking stands for what he
and his Party consider to be right. Part of the global Green Party movement, the Greens are left-wing environmentalists, and have almost over-taken the Democrats as the ‘third force’ in Australian politics. They are far less likely to compromise on policies than the other ‘lesser’ parties are. The Party focuses on the environment and its protection, rights for all people no matter what their ethnicity or sexuality, looking after human rights, the arts and stopping war, amongst other things.

AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

The Labor Party is the oldest political party in Australia, going back into pre-Federation times, and was formed so that workers could have their voices heard in politics. This means that it has long been associated with the Trade Unions, although the party itself has become more aware of the middle class over the past forty years or so. In doing so, it has expanded its interests to things like women’s issues, conservation and quality of life.

Labor has been associated with Socialism since 1913, when that agenda was formally incorportated into the Pary’s ideology. However, many commentators, and even Lenin himself, did not really believe that the party was seriously about socialism, but more about the civilisation of capitalism. Times have changed, and the socialst ideology has been mainly retained out of a sense of tradition and for the sake of social justice.
Generally, Labor has a focus on social justice and liberalism (which has manifested itself in things like the Whitlam government’s commitment to equlity), ensuring that everyone has a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work, looking after workers and ensuring that everyone has a fair go.

The one detractor with the Labor Party is its relatively
untried leader in Mark Latham. Mr Latham has also got a
reputation as being somewhat of a lose cannon, although he has
calmed down a lot in his time as leader of the Opposition.
In this election, the Labor party is focusing on better
health care, schooling, funding for the ABC, Australian film and
television, saving the Murray River and Medicare amongst other
things. Whether the Labor party can actually ‘rebuild the ladder
of opportunity’ as they are setting out to do remains to be seen!

AUSTRALIAN LIBERAL PARTY

The Liberal Party is a fusion of two non-Labor parties, and basically started in 1909. However, the Liberal Party as we know it today was really established in 1944 under the late Sir Robert Menzies. There are many varia tions of ‘Liberal’ however, and this makes it somewhat hard to define what the party stands for, exactly, at any given time, except for the fact that they are
opposed to the Labor party!

In general, the principles that the Liberal party holds dear are such things as free enterprise, support for business, federalism, the family, individual choice and a a limimted welfare safety net. The current Liberal government, under the leadership of Prime Minature John Howard has proved to be more conservative than liberal in many ways, with many policies being introduced under his leadership that are somewhat draconian (such as the laws that allow people suspected of any involvement with terrorists to be arrested without charge and held for a prolonged period without lawyers present).

Funds for universities/tertiary insitutions/students/public schools have suffered under the Liberal government, but they have done a lot to build relations with other nations, such as the United States, and have worked towards holding up some of the moral fabric of society. Their refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol is worrying, but the Liberals are finally promising to do something about logging inTasmania. One thing that many people are interested in is who will be the leader for the next term - John Howard or someone else? Find out more for yourself by visiting the website.

On Vegans and University Organisations
Clinton Jackson, 2004

This semester I have the unique pleasure of being able to take a subject in at the University of Newcastle. Myself and three of the other third year Physics students have been travelling into the University of Newcastle twice a week. We have enjoyed a number of experiences, indulge me the liberty of relating some of the highlights so far.

By far the most exciting part of our time at Newcastle has been the Vegetarian Club. That's right the Vegetarian Club. As fully-fledged members we have now attended two meetings. By joining we are entitled to attend club meetings, which occur four times a week outside of the main library, Auchmuty. Each meeting costs $4 and consists of a eat all you can vegan meal. As I munched my rice, lentil curry, and salad I had to wonder why Avondale doesn't have a Vegetarian Club. Surely we aren't embarrassed by our health message?

Just a quick comment about parking: don't even ask! (By the way, aviations students might note that the cafeteria has a flat roof, convenient for priority helicopter parking).

Having marginal leanings towards the left (of politics that is) I relish the opportunity to explore the left-wing posters and publications that are often found on University campuses. Newcastle has not disappointed. I have in my hands, Issue 6 of Opus, the publication of the Newcastle Uni Students Association (NUSA). This particular edition has 67 pages of rantings relating to democracy. On the back page is the confronting picture of two Iraqis holding pictures of their servicemen children. In Army advertisement style writing the caption reads, “Serve the nation. / Kill these people for cheaper petrol. / The Army. The Edge.” It is refreshing to see people willing to take a stand and call a spoon a spoon. It is unfortunate when things take a nasty turn.

Those of you with an eye on the papers will be aware that the University of Newcastle has been the subject of some unwanted publicity. I am grateful that I have not witnessed any of the events reported. Briefly, an organisation called Patriotic Youth League has been associated with placing stickers oven the Newcastle campus suggesting that sexual exposure to Africans promotes the spread of AIDS. Several African individuals have been harassed both verbally and physically. The leaders of Patriotic Youth League deny responsibility. Notwithstanding, it is chilling to know that such violent manifestations of violence are occurring just outside our borders.
This brings me to sympathise with an anonymous poster I observed outside of Auchmuty, bemoaning NUSA, in particular Opus and its fascination with left-wing politics (yes, it seems that Newcastle and Avondale share an anonymous poster writer who delights in criticising student bodies and their publications!). The writer of the poster is frustrated at the persistent left-wing agenda of Opus, arguing that left wing views should confine themselves to Green Left Weekly. Although I have frequently lamented the parochial nature of Avondale, I wonder whether the regular diatribe of left of centre views given in Opus, is in part responsible for the frustration of the right turning to violence. Perhaps I should be grateful for Avondale's obsession with navel-gazing.

Top Ten Christian Pick Up Lines

10. Do u believe in miracles? Because I think I'm seeing one now
9. Do you know the song 'Bind us together'?
8. Would you mind laying hands on me?
7. Do you need help carrying your bible? It looks heavy
6. You know, I'm really into relationship evangelism.
5. You have the body of Amy Grant and the soul of Mother Teresa.
4. Did you know the Bible says to greet each other with a holy kiss?
3. Before tonight, I never believed in predestination
2. The bible says give food to the hungry and drink to the thirsty. So how ‘bout dinner?
1. Has anyone ever told you that your hair is like a herd of goats descending from Mt Carmel?