A few weeks ago, I joined a Zoom meeting to meet some new media comrades from Macquarie University, eager to know more about one of the youngest student publications in Australia. However, this instalment of Student Media Spotlight ended up looking a little different than expected.
Meet Grapeshot — Macquarie University’s student publication since 2009, this fruity publication is known for variegated perspective pieces, thrilling creative short stories and captivating campus writings.
Where I expected bright-eyes, new events and vibrant stories, I was instead met with fatigue, recounts of censorship and demotivating budget cuts. Grapeshot is still all the former qualities, but have spent the last 8 months of their tenure battling intense editorial board reviews and decisive censorship of Palestine coverage from University management.
Meeting with me was the Editor-in-chief at Grapeshot, Clara who studies Environment Studies and English, and wittily described herself as “queer as fuck who loves to write”.
Joining Clara was Deputy Editor-in-chief, Zeinab — a budding Media and Communications and English student.
The name ‘Grapeshot’ (colloquially Grapey) refers to the mediaeval contraption that shoots small iron balls that sit tightly packed in an open structure, resembling a cluster of grapes. Clara revealed that “depending on who you ask, the publication started in 2015 when the name Grapeshot was instated.”
In recent times, Grapeshot has experienced significant pushback and alleged censorship from University management. Unlike Honi Soit, the publication does not have editorial independence and must get every edition checked and approved by the editorial board. Zaynab told Honi the editorial review has consistently stymied articles on Gaza.
Earlier this year a Macquarie student wrote an article about the University of Sydney Gaza Solidarity Encampment, explaining what the encampment was protesting for, discussions with USyd management and the overall student experience. However an image of a tent that had the liberation chant, “from the river to the sea”, was flagged for being allegedly anti-semitic, preventing its publishing unless the image was removed. Likewise, whole articles were being cut and editors were allegedly forced to change words such as “genocide” and “Gaza” to University-approved language.
Zaynab recounted working on a tribute to Aaron Bushnell and a timeline piece, mapping the events from October 7 through to the new year. She ran both articles by the team who agreed the article was robust and endorsed it but they were not approved to be published. According to Zaynab, the articles were “[the board said it was] supposedly not in the interest of students. Even though we have a Macquarie Students for Palestine and the article was written by a student”, she recalled.
“Macquarie is very neutral. They make that very clear in their statements and public presence claiming they represent every student. But that also means silencing the voices of Arab students like me who want to talk about what has been happening in the Middle East”, she stated.
But the pushback did not stop here. Grapeshot is supposed to put out six editions every year, divided between semesters, but the editorial review board did not get back to the editors regarding their first edition until later in the semester. The change of the Dean of Students, who oversees the publication, along with a lack of cooperation with the editors has only exacerbated their challenges.
At the time of the interview, Grapeshot had published two editions and remained fervently committed to publishing the remaining four despite the challenges. Even through their fatigue, a dedication to “student expression and holding the university to account” remains their priority. Grapeshot looks forward to two themed editions; FREAK (sex) and ROOTS (Australiana)
On top of this, no one gets paid. Editing and writing for Grapeshot is an entirely volunteer-based position. So far in this Spotlight, even if it’s minimal, Editors we have interviewed receive some form of remittance. According to Clara, there used to be an honorarium in 2023 but a major budget cut axed this funding.
Even though they are not paid, Zaynab noted this means the submissions and culture around Grapeshot is built from pure passion. “People view it as less of a job and view it the same way people are in bands together but we experience a lot of flaking and instability because it is volunteering.”, she said.
When asked how Grapeshot connects to their student community in spite of institutional challenges, the Editors remain hopeful for a fruitful future for Grapeshot. “We love our team, we love writing, we love this magazine, we are all here to do the same thing, which is to express ourselves and there is always a place for you.”, Clara added.
The editor’s commitment to their publication is an outstanding feat of perseverance and dedication. To show support head over to their Instagram and we hope to see Grapeshot and all student publications continue their fight for student expression.
