How to Win Friends and Simulate People

"This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.” For those…

ByRhiannon Hames6 November 2019

Opinion

PEP and the Coercive Culture of Employability

"I hate PEP." If any phrase has embodied my (brief) time as a first year engineering student at USYD, it's this. Muttered over laptops at 3 am, chanted across megadesks in PNR building, or proclaimed with gusto beside beers at the Royal, it has become the clarion call of a cohort. They're talking about the…

ByJohn Bivell18 October 2019

Opinion

A Discussion on Cultural Relativism

‘Discussing cultural relativism with cultural relativists is like playing tennis with some guy who says, “your ace is just a social construct.” ’ - Mark Steyn In an increasingly politically sensitive world, often we find ourselves judging other people, cultures and walks of life but then instantly asking, are we justified in doing that?…

ByIngrid Jones11 October 2019

Opinion

Perennial Flux of the World Order

In realising the complicated nature of the world around us, it is often too easy to dismiss geo-political interactions as random; perhaps devoid of logic. However in actuality, State behaviour can be characterised by specific ideological traits. The most common of these ideologies, that has stood the test of time, is Realism. As defined by…

ByWill Andrews4 October 2019

Opinion

College – a new perspective

The practices and even placement of colleges on university land has polarised wider media for many decades. Most people will already have a fairly fixed view on the colleges at the University of Sydney. While it is not my place to even attempt to change that, I believe that there is a story that is…

ByKiran Gupta29 September 2019

Opinion

Reflections on the School Strike 4 Climate

Last Friday, my sister spoke at Springwood’s School Strike 4 Climate. In fact, she was one of the main organisers of the event. She, at 15 years old, stood in her school uniform and spoke with the authority and respect many people claim that Cabinet lacks. She was meticulous, solemn and strong. And she has…

ByEmily Tyrrell27 September 2019

Opinion

Cultural Appropriation

In my experience, people do not appreciate being corrected. Whether it is the pronunciation of a word, the fastest route to a destination or even just an answer at pub trivia on a Tuesday night. It is so easy to take offense to anything, especially when it could bruise your ego. I for one am…

ByViolet Williams13 September 2019

Opinion

Growing up in the Church – a perspective

Throughout history, many people have considered faith and religion as a pillar in their everyday lives. For generations, the West has championed Christianity as their way of navigating challenges within their own families– even to the extent of implementing Christian principles in legislation and governance. My family was no different. Faith has, and continues to…

ByChristal Au-Yeung13 September 2019

Opinion

Super Cash Bros.

Amidst the static cracklings of vintage CRTV’s, titles like Pong, Space Invaders and Pac-Man sparked the imaginations of an entire generation. Although, I doubt any of those double-denim-clad teens, chasing the high-score in Donkey Kong down at their local Denny’s diner could have ever imagined video-games would someday grow into the most profitable entertainment market…

ByWill Cottle10 September 2019

Opinion

Social Media: Slow Down!

Silicon Valley’s tech behemoths are powerful. In 2018, the average time spent on social media per day for an internet user was 136 minutes.[1] If you think that’s alarming, consider that your average Australian spends 9.4 hours each day in front of an electronic screen. Combine the time you spend eating, travelling, working and being…

ByXavier Eales2 September 2019