From my earliest days in China, I was sensitive to injustice, compelled by a deep-seated desire to stand up for the underdog and challenge bullies. This drive to act, often against the advice to only look after myself, was intrinsic to my character. Despite being discouraged from intervening, I couldn’t ignore the unfairness I witnessed […]
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On February the 29th, hundreds of UQ students marched through their campus chanting for a Free Palestine in the largest campus protest in over a decade.
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I hope this experience can serve as a lesson to some of you who participated, and – of course – I hope that you all find what you’re looking for.
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On 23 February 2024, Education Ministers (state and federal) agreed to the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education. The Action Plan recognises urgent action needs to take place to ensure the safety of higher education students and staff. Later on the same day, the Federal Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP, […]
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On the 25th of February 2024, the Australian Government finally released the University Accords Final Report. The TLDR version is: it’s been dubbed a ‘once in a generation’ reform/consultation process of what universities should be and how to support students. So why didn’t I know about this, and how was my voice heard, you may […]
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Here at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus, we are fortunate to learn and study in heritage buildings of rich historical architecture. The elegant exterior of the Goddard Building is decorated with sculptured features that are remarkable and well-maintained, but its interior might not get the same treatment. A shared office space between PhD […]
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To the dear flustered first-years: welcome to UQ and all the new firsts. Your first time sitting in the wrong class; the first time having your lunch snaked by an ibis; and this past Wednesday, your first staff strike. I’m here with a bit of an explanation. The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and associated […]
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Just yesterday a wall mural was painted in front of the UQ Union’s women’s collective and international collective room. The artwork painted by Lily Ghali, a fine arts student, conveys deep bittersweet meaning. The Semper Floreat team was incredibly lucky and honoured to be able to attend the artist’s painting process and interview her to […]
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Alan Smithee & Billie Kugelman UQ has sent out letters to students facing disciplinary action which claim that enforcing the Student Code of Conduct is more important than *checks notes* students’ human rights. The letters, apparently authored by so-called ‘Integrity Officers’, were sent with an offer: accepting the University’s proposed punishments would mean that students’ […]
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Despite its meticulously greenwashed public image, it turns out the University of Queensland is a recipient of significant funding from the Australian coal industry. For some this will come as no surprise, but the numbers are nonetheless interesting, and UQ has a lot to answer for.
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