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We the undersigned are writing to you with regard to the “Women’s” edition of the SRC publication the Tertangala. In particular we would like to draw your attention to the offensive and inappropriate content contained on the front cover and within. People acquire editions of the Terangala in the good faith that published content is appropriate, not offensive, and aimed toward its intended audience of the publication, the SRC levy paying student of the University of Wollongong. The “Women’s” edition is in breach of publishing content deemed to be not necessary, inappropriate and distasteful. This is clearly evident in one graphic of a pornographic nature, and other deprave images, such the back cover displaying a used female sanitary device.
Content contained in the “Women’s” edition of the Tertangala, is not appropriate for persons under the age of eighteen. On campus there are numerous persons below the age of eighteen, not only including UOW Student’s but also the children of staff and students, all of which have easy access to copies of the Tertangala. Such material as is published in the “Women’s” edition should be restricted, excepting parental or guardian guidance, and under Australian legislation administered by the Office of Film and Literature Classification, is restricted. While the edition in question of the Tertangala did carry a warning on the cover, it did little to foreshadow what was contained within the publication and the good faith placed in it by readers.
It is evident from the “Women’s” edition, the “Roots, Religion, Tradition, Believe and Faith” edition and the current edition “Sexuality”, the personal opinion and position of the Editor, Ms Annaliese Constable, are increasingly being reflected in the publication at strength. The motto of the Terangala is “The student’s voice”, though increasingly it appears to be very much the personal voice of the Editor, and not reflecting the general student consensus on campus. While the Terangala by its very nature should be a mouth piece for free speech, it should be such that it is not a continuous biased slander of established viewpoints held by the general student consensus, particularly those differing from the personal viewpoints of the Editor. Instead the responsibility rests in the Editor to ensure publication of well informed articles and an appropriate balance is struck between differing viewpoints, and where required other articles sought in order to provide such balance.
In an attempt to prevent further degradation and disrepute of the Terangala, and to prevent such offensive and inappropriate content from being published again, we ask that appropriate editorial guidelines and policies be put in place to disallow such content to be published. Also that prior to publication, that the final draft be scrutinised by a wider range of people, and the employment of current and future editorial staff be conditional to agreement and practice of such policies, with dismissal should they breaching them. The ultimate responsibility of what goes to publication rests in the Editor and as such they should be responsible for the entire editorial staff in ensuring policies and guidelines are followed.
The nature of some content published in the “Women’s” of the Terangala should never have made it to publication had the Editor exercised appropriate editorial controls. Hence the responsibility lies entirely with the Editor Ms Constable. Ms Constable is an outspoken and dynamic figure on campus, and her position on particular issues is well known. It can be determined from Ms Constaable’s well know stances, that such offensive and inappropriate aspects of the “Women’s” edition that made it to publication, did so at her own prerogative, with malice intent as part of her own agenda, including to communicate her own position. We ask as a result that appropriate disciplinary action be taken against the Editor of the Terangala, Ms Constable, or resignation or removal sought.
This petition has also been copied to the SRC President, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, and any reply to this petition may be sent to tertpetition@yahoo.com.au
Regards,
The Undersigned. |
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The Tertangala publication in question - "Women's" edition - and other past editions can be found at the link bellow.
WARNING: The publication contains content that may offend some readers.
http://src.uow.edu.au/tert/ind...
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If you would like to contact the people running this petition, please email us at
tertpetition@yahoo.com.au
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