Uni bombshell lost in translation | Not every MP drank at the Cranker
This week, InSider applauds a PhD pollie who called out how not to communicate axing face-to-face uni lectures, and discovers who didn’t find their inner Goth at the Cranker.
Comms tips from our PhD Deputy Premier
Deputy Premier Susan Close has some thoughts on Adelaide University’s decision to dump face-to-face lectures, or, more specifically, how it has been communicated.
As revealed by InDaily on Thursday, the new merger university will not require students to attend face-to-face lectures when it opens in January 2026. Tutorials, seminars, workshops and other typical university learning experiences will stay face-to-face.
The lecture revelation was contained within some internal staff materials that were – judging by the language used – not intended for wider publication.
The university said lectures will be replaced with “rich asynchronous Digital Activities” that will utilise “high-quality digital resources that students can engage with anytime and anywhere”.
Stumped? The university later explained to us that asynchronous digital activities refers to “learning activities that do not need to be completed with a teacher and that students can undertake at times that suit them”.
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Close, who has ministerial responsibility for higher education and happens to have a PhD in political science (from Flinders University), didn’t sound too impressed with the jargon.
“I have to say that when I read that yesterday I thought if only I had time to go through and were invited to offer them some feedback in the way in which they communicate,” she said on radio this morning.
“These institutions, they use the language that makes sense to them and then it goes out to the public and people go ‘what on earth are you talking about?’
“All they’re saying is that there’ll be things available online, and you can do it when you want, so the asynchronous is kind of you don’t all have to do it at the same time.”
If the Deputy Premier ever feels like vacating her post, a role in Adelaide University’s comm teams surely beckons. Perhaps even a lecturer in public relations. Online, of course.
More of a Mary’s gal
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This week, landmark laws designed to protect East End hotel and live music venue the Crown & Anchor passed Parliament.
Two weeks prior, the Bill was debated in the Lower House, with MPs standing up to speak in favour of the very bespoke piece of legislation.
At times though, the debate seemed less debate-y and more of a chance for our politicians to prove how hip and down with the scene they were.
Some reminisced about the bands they had seen at the Cranker, which hilariously led to veteran Sydney rockers The Hard-Ons being read into Hansard and thus attaining immortality, albeit of a slightly boring kind.
This trend continued in the Upper House too, but at least one Legislative Councillor admitted to not being all that hip to Cranker folklore.
Liberal frontbencher Michelle Lensink rose to speak in favour of the Save the Cranker laws on Tuesday, and admitted the grungy pub wasn’t her watering hole of choice.
“I followed all of the debate in the House of Assembly and I can’t say that I’ve got an extensive list of anecdotes like some members,” she said.
“I also can’t compare with some of the members with their university tales. Some of us are nerds who had a combination of Dutch parents and so many contact hours that we didn’t get out much in those days.
“And my preferred genres fit better with all things camp, disco and drag; the former Mars Bar and the old synagogue which is now Mary’s Poppin, which I have actually had a chance to visit in the last 12 months.”
While InSider must tut-tut Lensink’s lack of Cranker love, we’re also a diverse bunch and can’t blame her for her venue of choice. Shout us a vodka cranberry at Mary’s next time you spot us there, Michelle.
