Post-graduate communication students from the School of Journalism and Communication are on a quest to find out more about the UQ community as part of the tenth Diversity Week celebrations.

The SJC is contributing to the Diversity Week program of events with two activities that support this year’s theme – Unity in Diversity.

Faces of Diversity is a Facebook photo-sharing activity designed to highlight diversity within the UQ community. Students and staff are encouraged to upload their photos and complete the sentence, “I am UniQue because….” Prizes will be awarded for post of the week and five contributors will be selected to share their story as part of a Diversity Week podcast on JACRadio.

Represent is an interactive discussion for students of journalism and communication co-presented by the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland.  It will explore representations of ethnicity and cultural diversity in the media.

Jeanette Shepherd, Communications Officer from the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland, says that cultural identity is often inaccurately represented in Queensland’s mass media, and “This forum will be a great opportunity for UQ students to hear the personal insights and media experiences of the guest speakers, and discuss the ways that students and practicing journalists can begin to change these damaging misrepresentations, address under-representation, and better reflect the fact that we are a multicultural society.”

“The guest speakers come from a wide range of backgrounds, and include Yasmin Khan, an eloquent spokesperson and representative of the Muslim community; Elijah Buol, a program manager at ECCQ and a previous dynamic youth leader for the South Sudanese community; Jimaima Le Grand, a strong advocate for Pacific Island communities in Queensland; and Robert Mukombozi, the 2006 Rwandan Investigative Journalist of the Year and now active member of the African community and refugee advocate in Brisbane.”

Head of the School of Journalism and Communication, Professor Michael Bromley, says, “We are very pleased to be working with the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland.  Events of this kind provide a new learning opportunity for our students and assist in building cultural awareness and responsibility in the next generation of journalists.”

Event:     Represent – free public discussion

Date:      Wednesday 23 May 2012

Time:      3pm

Venue:     Terrace Room, Sir Llew Edwards Building, UQ. (Building 14)

Abraham ONeil

UQ Students Demonstrating in St Lucia

University of Queensland students say $15 million of energy company funding compromises potential research findings at the new Centre for Coal Seam Gas (CCSG).

The students have been conducting a series of novel demonstrations at the University’s St Lucia campus after discovering that the Queensland Gas Company, Arrow Energy and Santos had each committed $500,000 annually to the CCSG for the next five years.  This represents 12.5 per cent of the CCSG’s total funding and demonstrators argue that this should not have been accepted.

It is also funded by the University of Queensland, and is currently seeking further funding from industry and the government.

A life-size gas drill rig was built at a central hub of the St Lucia campus, where campaigners wearing faux-mining attire aimed at involving the greater student body.

The demonstration was organised collaboratively by the National Union of Students, the UQ Climate for Change club, and the UQ Environment Collective.

National Union of Students Environment Officer Neha Madhok said students could not be assured of the objectivity of the research at the facility.

But CCSG interim director Professor Chris Moran says partner members do not need to be coal seam gas companies, and that industry collaboration is not unusual. “Globally, a great deal of world-class research is undertaken in partnership with private funding sources,” he said

“This is encouraged in Australia and is emphasised in two significant government programs, ARC Linkage and Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), as well as a myriad of other initiatives.”

UQ student and campus environmental campaigner, Abraham O’Neil claims UQ has been dismissive of student concerns about industry involvement in the CCSG’s governance up until recent media attention.

“The university has built a reputation as a research leader in renewable energy technologies, and as a recent signatory of the Tallories Declaration, has committed to integrating sustainability into its research, teaching, operations, and outreach activities,” he said

“The immense public controversy over coal seam gas mining, and the environmental and social issues at stake, means it’s crucial that the CCSG maintains its independence and scientific integrity.”

The CCSG, established in December 2011, is governed by university policy and procedures which were set up in order to provide integrity and peer-reviewing of research.

Prof Moran says it is governed by CCSG funding members, UQ academics and government representatives.

But this has not alleviated the concerns of students.

“Increasingly large numbers of students and staff are demanding that the University disclose whether the CCSG’s research agenda will be independent of the interests of its industry sponsors,” says Ms Madhok.

“The CCSG raises fundamental questions about UQ’s commitment to scientific research integrity.  The Centre’s research agenda must be independent of the interests of industry,” she said.

The CCSG claims to be the pre-eminent global authority on vital issues relating to Coal Seam Gas.

Prof Moran met with invited students on April 5 and 10 to discuss the centre and there was a public information session on April 16.

Carmel Rooney

From left: Bruce Redman, Melody Pedler, Lisa Machin and Kimberley Vlasic on a shoot

In November 2011, three SJC students embarked on a Work Integrated Learning project with Queensland Canegrowers. The students were given a brief to produce video news stories on the impact of pesticide run-off into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

Lisa Machin, Melody Pedler and Kimberley Vlasic worked under the guidance of SJC Industry Consultants – Skye Doherty, Dr Bruce Redman, Carmel Rooney and Anthony Frangi.

Over six weeks, the students researched, wrote and co-ordinated their stories in preparation for the location shoot in Far North Queensland. The shoot took place over four days in Cairns, Atherton, Tully, Innisfail and Babinda. Interviews were conducted with cane farmers in the region as well as representatives from CSIRO, Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, BSES (Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations) and members of Local and State Government.

The three news stories written and produced by Lisa, Melody and Kimberley were:

1. chemical usage and the temporary ban of the herbicide Diuron
2. legislation and subsidy programs for cane growers
3. environmental impacts on waterways leading into the Great Barrier Reef

The School of Journalism and Communication would like to thank Canegrowers for providing this unique learning opportunity. Lisa Machin and Melody Pedler are now working as reporters for regional news publications.

Y-Vote Ep 3 from UQ Journalism & Communication on Vimeo.

In this episode, YVote hits the LNP and ALP campaign launches. We find out if it’s impolite to speak about politics at the dinner table. And will you be voting on policy or personality? The results are in!  The final YVote of the series is a Live Election Night Extravaganza. We’ll be streaming live to our Facebook page from 19:00.

facebook.com/yvote
@Y_Vote

Steph Dooris

Arne Quinze talking at the Gallery of Modern Art about his proposed project with the Queensland Theatre Company (on screen)

Artist Arne Quinze has been commissioned by the Queensland Theatre Company to create an outdoor installation in South Brisbane.

The abstract structure will be outside the theatre headquarters on Montague Road and Mr Quinze hopes it will be used as an outdoor performance space.

The Belgian artist’s outdoor installations have appeared around the world, with projects currently underway in New York, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Miami and Moscow.

Previous works, such as The Sequence, a structure he built outside the Flemish Parliament in Brussels in 2008, are known for their towering, web-like quality.

QTC executive director Sue Donnelly says she is proud that Brisbane is punching above its weight in terms of art and culture.

“We want to make our home really exciting by bringing in some public art,” she says, “there’s a certain synergy between Arne’s work and QTC and his work has a big effect on communities… it allows people to come together to talk and share.”

Mr Quinze made the announcement at the Gallery of Modern Art during a talk about his work. He outlined the collaboration and showed some preliminary designs of a large, nest-like structure that is haphazard in appearance. However, like his other work, the installation will be assembled with mathematical precision.

“Today we have friends all over the world but we rarely talk to those around us, especially in large cities,” says Mr Quinze, “so what I aim to do is to bring people together in a space similar to a modern ‘market-place’ where people are encouraged to talk to one another.”

His aim for all his artworks is to create new spaces that allow for dialogue between citizens and that bring art to the public.

“This fight to bring art into the street is really important because only one or two per cent of the public go to operas and theatres,” says Mr Quinze, “so I think we need to reverse that and confront people with art in the streets so that the next step, to go to museums or the opera, is much smaller than before.”

Mr Quinze’s outdoor ‘museums’ are made of recycled material, generally wood or metal, and are weather proof. However, he says he will have to adapt the paint used on the Brisbane structure to cope with the harsh Australian sunlight.

His structures are recognisable by their trademark fluorescent red colouring, which he describes as the most human colour.

When asked whether everybody needs to like contemporary installation pieces such as his own, Mr Quinze responded by saying, “I have seen many people really enjoy my art but many have not liked it too. However, I see this as a good thing because as long as a response is invoked, it will encourage conversation.”

The installation will be built for the QTC and will be funded in part by the Queensland government through their Art + Place program. Mr Quinze and his team are expected to return to Brisbane later this year to begin construction.

Y-Vote Ep 2 from UQ Journalism & Communication on Vimeo.

It’s a bumper edition of YVote this week. We catch up with three young candidates and find out whether age has wearied them, or lack of years, condemned. Lock the Gate Activist, Drew Hutton, explains why we should “give a frack” about Coal Seam Gas and we catch up with former Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, on the hustings.

Watch here: http://vimeo.com/38193644

Twitter: @Y_Vote

Facebook: facebook.com/yvote

Y-Vote Ep 1 from UQ Journalism & Communication on Vimeo.

In the first week of the campaign, our YVote reporters hit Katter’s Australia Party launch and cross paths with Premier Anna Bligh at Keep Kate HQ. Dr Zala Volcic explains the importance of participatory democracy and why we should vote. And we find out how political parties are using the social media space.

Watch it here: http://vimeo.com/37572316

Y Vote is a weekly web-TV show being produced by UQ journalism students in the lead-up to the Queensland state election.

It includes news and views by young voters and the people trying to win their vote. There are opportunities for all students to be involved in the production team in front and behind the camera.There will be a live show streaming on election night with reports live from the tallyroom.

Get involved by watching the show on JACdigital, the SJC Vimeo site and joining @Y_Vote on Twitter stream and Facebook page.

Nico Battersby

Straight Edge teenagers ‘mosh’ at a hardcore music event.

Have you got the Edge?

I’m a person just like you
But I’ve got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don’t even think about speed
That’s something I just don’t need
I’ve got the straight edge

An American band called Minor Threat wrote this song in 1980. The track “Straight Edge” goes for 36 seconds, but its impression has lasted over three decades.

The name of the song would become a movement that has intoxicated young people all over the world as they claim; they too, have the Straight Edge.

In short, Straight Edge is a subculture that bases itself around hardcore music. People who are Edge do not consume alcohol; they don’t smoke, do drugs or have promiscuous sex.

They took a mark that was originally used by bartenders to identify teens as being too young to drink, and transformed it into a symbol of their lifestyle. The ‘X’ worn on their hands has become a trademark, as they set themselves apart from the norm, and show that they are loud and proud.

“What they were trying to say was ‘fuck you’ to every single norm. The norm is for teens to be passive, drunk and horny. So they say we’re gonna be violent, sober and celibate. Everything society tells us not to be, we’re gonna be that” says Dr Nick Carah from the University of Queensland.

The expert in popular culture has studied the Straight Edge movement and says it took a long time for it to hit Brisbane, and it came along by accident. The early 2000s saw a gain in momentum for hard core music at venues along Mary Street, and it was inevitable that the straight edge message would follow suit. Dr Carah says the venue owners only started noticing the movement as they began to ask themselves “why are we selling so much ginger beer?”

These days, Albion plays host to the Straight Edge scene. Every weekend the PCYC is awash with Straight Edge enthusiasts, mainly made up of teenagers and twenty some-things, there to enjoy the music that founded their life style.

“For me it was a promise that I wouldn’t do what other people did,” says Michael Bennett-Smith, 17.

“Were I go to school is a heavy, heavy drinking culture. It’s a private boy’s school; everyone plays rugby and drinks beer. And that always disgusted me… I really hated it,” his friend, Harley Scott, 16, adds.

For them, Straight Edge is not a temporary life style choice, and the notion of “selling out” (breaking the code of abstinence), is apparently one of the biggest insult you can give a Straight Edge person.

This draws attention to the violent undertones within the Brisbane Straight Edge subculture, in particular, their attitudes towards people who “sell out”. Kelly James, 19, is all too familiar with the violence within the community, but says “there is nothing you can do about it”.

She highlights the extreme opinions some people take to “selling out”, describing them as the more “militant” members of the Straight Edge community. “If you had an Edge tattoo and you sold out, they would take a cheese grater to it, or like sandpaper or whatever.”

She tells a story of a Straight Edge band member who broke the code, and the reaction this caused:

“People came to the show and saw his [the band member’s] car and ripped his car apart, set it all on fire. And when he came out there were five guys bashing the fuck out of him and he was in a coma … And then he just pissed off down to Melbourne, came back a year later and the minute he got to the airport, there were people waiting at the airport for him”.

Mr Scott says this is not a testament to the Straight Edge community, and these violent tendencies have nothing to do with being Edge; “If people are going to get into a fight, whether they’re in straight edge … if they’re gonna fight, this is what they’re gonna do. It’s not what they believe in; it’s just that they’re looking for a fight.”

His friend Bradley Young, 16, speaks against the misconceptions people have on Straight Edge communities because of the violent stories that people hear;

“People think that people that come to this scene are just going to end up poor and dead … a lot of people are actually smart that come here. They are normal people, not just people that come to fight.

Allan Reid, founder of What Remains Records, thinks Straight Edge is a great lifestyle and” sets an excellent example for younger kids that drinking, smoking, doing drugs and sleeping around aren’t activities that you need to do”.

Mr. Reid is a long time Edge member and is a keen supporter of the lifestyle.

“There’s another (lifestyle) option in the form of abstinence and it isn’t something that should be seen as unacceptable,” says Mr. Reid.

Whether people view it in a positive or negative light, the Edge community does not appear to be going anywhere; as their motto infers, “edge til dead”. Who would have thought a band that lasted 6 months would influence and change the way of life for so many young people over 30 years later.

Story by Brigid Amato & Nicholas Battersby

Brisbane’s taxi service is one that operates on demand, 24 hours a day, seven days a week yet their drivers are amongst the worst treated employees in the transport industry.

Every year over 3200 taxi’s travel nearly 440 million kilometres transporting more than 90 million passengers. However, these hard-working men and women have no access to superannuation, work cover, sick or annual leave, and are constant victims of racism, verbal abuse and assault.

A 2010 report to the Workplace Ombudsman found that the average driver works a 45 hour week and makes around $10.72 less GST per hour. In addition, 82 per cent of surveyed drivers reported verbal abuse from either patrons or employers, and 34 per cent being victims of assault.

Bill Parker, general manager of the Yellow Cab Company, is aware of driver discrimination.

“People tend to forget that drivers also deliver all sorts of things from plasma, blood, the disabled and elderly,” he said. “Cab drivers are out there providing a 24/7 service to your front door, at times when public transport does not run.”

Joey, a Brisbane Yellow Cab driver said he was one of the few drivers that enjoy the dreaded Friday and Saturday nights and finds intoxicated passengers quite funny: “They remind me of myself when I was young, I can handle the drunk people.”

John Busst, owner and founder of Ozecab, is concerned about the current state of the cab industry.

“You’re talking about an industry that does not want change,” he said. “There are staggering problems out there, believe me.”

Story by Natalie Linsdell