Sub-Editor's Letter - Issue 9

Kia ora, and welcome to Issue 9!

I’m not the best at introductions, but hi. I’m Jennifer. I’m in my second year of studying a Bachelor of Communication Studies, and I enjoy making music in my spare time. That’s usually what people say, right?

I never thought I’d have the ability to possess such prime real estate in a Debate Magazine, which just goes to show that you can truly be anything you want to be if you put your mind, heart, soul, body, spirit and every fibre of your being into it.

Exaggerations aside, I’m really honoured and excited to be a part of the Debate team. This is genuinely something that I’m really proud of and have wanted to do for a long, long time.

This issue is packed with pieces about something we all (hopefully) use – the noggin, the walnut, the noodle – the brain. I mean, it floats around in your skull all day and basically controls your entire being, so you could say it’s pretty darn cool. There’s just so much your brain can do. It controls your senses, your emotions, your bodily functions, your subconscious and tonnes more that we probably don’t even realise.

In this issue, we’ve conducted an insanely important investigation into whether AUT’s mental health services are failing students (which, spoiler alert, they are), as well as a scientific insight into why we procrastinate, interviews with male students about the negative effects of the ‘toughen-up’ culture, and what your brain does during sex. This issue is truly a spicy one.

In addition, I’ve tried to get to the bottom of why we barely have any microwaves on campus. I mean, what’s the dealio with that? I don’t know about you, but I’m working on my hashtag bikini bod, and like to bring my own meals to uni almost every day, but I just don’t have enough time to get to a microwave between classes. I’m a busy woman, alright?

All of our writers, artists and contributors have put their hearts (and brains!) into this issue, and I hope that you enjoy it. It was incredibly fun to be a part of.

See you lovely people in two weeks,

Jennifer