By Caris Horton

Most of us have now seen the images of the Syrian refugees trying to cross the Hungarian border as they plead for freedom and help.

I’m also sure that most of us have seen the articles documenting the numerous refugee boats that have capsized off our shores including the infamous and heart-breaking photo of a young refugee washed up on a Turkish beach.

The past few months have seen a multitude of revelations of cheating, academic dishonesty and sliding academic standards within Australian universities.

Commentary on these issues has, so far, focused on means of detecting and preventing fraud. Suggestions include revisions of the way we conduct assessments, or removing essays as tests of critical thinking. However, these measures treat the symptoms, not the cause.

We should bring Muhammed Sheglabo home, make him a cup of tea and talk to him.

Think about your life right now, you live in a safe, prosperous nation, you get to frolic around our beautiful Murdoch campus, surrounded by attractive, intelligent people and learning skills that will bring prosperity to your life and community. Compare that to an ISIS fighter, living in a shit, desolate, lawless desert fighting a futile, perpetual battle, mostly against people of the same faith, destined to die in ditch, hated by the world.

By Madura McCormack

Tear gas canisters spin on the street, the eyes of citizens burn, quelled slightly by the water that is poured into them. The sound of gunfire rattles bones. Bombs strapped onto bodies go off, people die. These are events that we read about in the news, we watch the three-minute news packages presented to us. We sit behind our screens, in the safety of our homes, so far removed. This breeds a certain kind of apathy. We are aware but we can’t act, so we don’t feel.

By Sigrid Edwards and Geoffrey Power-King

It is almost impossible to avoid the word “feminism” on the internet right now. Over the last few years feminist discussions and analyses of popular media and world events have become steadily more prevalent on social media such as Twitter. In response to this constant distribution of pro-feminist discourse, many anti-feminist or otherwise apathetic sentiments have begun to diffuse online. Hashtags and accompanying tumblr page(s) such as #womenagainstfeminism are representative of this. One needs only Google Emma Watson’s recent #HeforShe campaign or UN speech for further examples of anti-feminist, largely misguided perspectives on feminism.

By Troy Treeby

Dear Tony,

I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but you know that first budget of yours, well it’s a massive fail mate.

In a way though you really ought to be congratulated, because you have managed to do something positive for progressive forces in this country, uniting and firing up the left in a way that hasn’t been seen in a long time.

By Celia Lim (Murdoch University, Environmental Science Honour student)

Being environmentally friendly is cool. Well, it is a little cool. A lot cooler than not being environmentally friendly I suppose. However, this wasn’t always the case. It used to be us tree hugging hippy students who were the only ones attending protests against uranium mining and climate change– now you see your mom and her bridge club joining in on the fight. Also, you may even see a few of those corporate executives joining in with the fight. Yes, you know being environmentally friendly is the next big thing when corporations try to impress you with how “green” they are and executives and their other halves start sporting their “carbon neutral” stickers on the back of their Volvos and Ferraris. But let’s get real here – are they actually environmentally friendly?

By Jenai Tomlinson

Every night on the news we see devastating pictures of habitat loss and extreme pollution, it can really make someone feel small and insignificant (in comparison to nature, aren’t we?). Hopefully some of you think ‘what could I possibly do to change it?’ Well the good news is every little bit helps. No, really. We as humans are harming this earth, not only for us and our children and grandchildren to come, but also for the animals that we share the globe with. Animals can’t speak and protect themselves, so it’s up to us to step up and help the defenceless! Below are a few things you can do to help conserve animals and their homes.

By Brodie Lewis

Halfway through semester. How did that happen?

With one study break down, and another soon upon us, how are you tracking? On top of studies? Behind (I am!)?

The Guild’s had a great start to the year. Thanks to all of you, we’ve had some amazing events, but one I really want to thank you all for is Club Carnivale.

By Sonia Tubb

The Sea Shepherd is setup to enforce laws and regulations that protect marine ecosystems. Although the laws have been put in place by the Federal Government, they fail to manage the oceans. All Sea Shepherd campaigns are guided by the United Nations which gives non-governmental organisations the authority to uphold international conservation laws. Sea Shepherd’s Australian director Jeff Hansen says

Words by Phil Vlachou, Guild Council Sustainability Rep

Murdoch University – An analysis of its environmental awareness and implementation

Murdoch University publicises its sustainability objectives, which warrants an examination of how they are being achieved, as well as a comparison with other universities in WA, nationally and globally. Murdoch has listed sustainability as one of its four core values, alongside equity, social justice and global responsibility. I’m going to look at where Murdoch is meeting, falling behind and exceeding other universities in the area of sustainability.

By Sonia Tubb & Kyle Pauletto

In October 2002, with many years of retail experience behind her, Shelley Rigney helped the St Vincent de Paul Society open the doors to a small, vibrant store in Northbridge, now affectionately known as Vinnies Retro.

To awaiting buyers, the little shop with the eccentric window displays and smiling faces behind the counter seemed like the perfect match to their party themes and 1970’s housewife look needs.