FIRST SPECIAL: The Rise and Fall of Genevieve Bell

SPECIAL: Recap 2025

2025 is over, and summer is just around the corner! With this episode, we want to take a moment and look back at everything that happened at the ANU in 2025: the events and processes, the highs and the lows. *Content warning: This episode touches on sensitive topics, including bullying, sexualization, miscarriage, and suicidal thoughts. Please listen with care. What we will be talking about: February (01:13): Time to return to ANU and O-Week! And at the first Senate Estimates of the year, ANU is again in hot water. March (05:09): ANUSA condemns the erasure of the BIPOC mural by the ANU and that infamous Genevive Bell interview is published. April (11:07): Albanese and ALP won the Federal Election – have they delivered on their promises to students? May (16:34): Let’s put our hands together for BNO! The shocking Nixon report is published. June (26:27): The first round of job cuts at ANU occurs. July (29:04): We are back from break for Bush Week! And ANU announces draft changes to the School of Music. August (32:58): After weeks of protests, ANU announces to pause forced redundancies for the remainder of 2025. September (35:24): VC Genevieve Bell resigns - Rebekah Brown takes over Bell's position. October (41:07): ANU ranks 73 on Times Higher Education Rankings. And misleads the Senate during Senate Estimates. Have a good break! *This podcast is produced by Katharina Graf, hosted by Anushka Vineet and Katharina Graf. All opinions expressed in the podcast by hosts are theirs alone and do not reflect those of the ANU Observer. Graphics by: Alex Mathews. Find more news and stories from us on our ⁠website⁠ [https://anu-observer.org/]!

Week 9: New Gen Sec Malakai King

This time, Mac and Katharina unpack the week nine news for you: ANU removes one-to-one performance teaching [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://region.com.au/anus-removal-of-one-to-one-performance-teaching-entirely-independent-of-restructure/906732/&ved=2ahUKEwir5vuc9ZiQAxVQsVYBHd_UD6AQFnoECB4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2BSrYxApRNkKRBVURp12-n] from Bachelor of Music, independent candidate Malakai King [https://anu-observer.org/2025/10/01/anusa-2025-rage-dominates-executive-first-year-claims-general-secretary-seat/] is the new ANUSA General Secretary, and students protest nationwide [https://anu-observer.org/2025/10/02/students-to-protest-nationwide-after-the-interception-of-the-gaza-freedom-flotilla/] after the interception of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. * This episode is hosted by Mac Watkins and Katharina Graf, produced by Katharina Graf. All opinions expressed in the podcast by hosts are theirs alone and do not reflect those of the ANU Observer. * Graphic by Fatima Usman.

FIRST SPECIAL: The Rise and Fall of Genevieve Bell

Our first SPECIAL EPISODE! Content warning: This episode touches on sensitive topics, including bullying, sexualization, miscarriage, and suicidal thoughts. Please listen with care. We are talking about: The Rise and Fall of Genevieve Bell. Who is Bell and how did she rise to the position as VC of the ANU? Why did she stumble? And what does her "fall" mean for herself and the university? Together, Fergus and Katharina unpack Bell's story and the bigger picture behind her journey as VC. Related links and information: Bell's statement about the NTEU' sexism stem from an interview by the ABC [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwup60t0AoE]. Allen's statement in front of the senate can be found here [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tiktok.com/%40abcnewsaus/video/7537879105253936402&ved=2ahUKEwjUm_z3y5aQAxU9f_UHHUv7C3kQwqsBegQIGBAF&usg=AOvVaw3F7eljC2aaBkeD7Dz2ixc-]. A related article by the Financial Review [https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/from-silicon-valley-to-anu-how-genevieve-bell-s-story-hit-a-wall-20250902-p5mrvt] about Bell's career and journey to become ANU's VC. *This podcast is produced by Katharina Graf, hosted by Fergus Wall and Katharina Graf. All opinions expressed in the podcast by hosts are theirs alone and do not reflect those of the ANU Observer. Graphics by: Alex Mathews. Find more news and stories from us on our website [https://anu-observer.org/]!

Week 7: Bell Resigned

This week we are talking about Bell's resignation, how it came about and what it means for the university. We then discuss the cease order issued for staff in ANU CASS, due to concerns about mental health deterioration and other psychological hazards. At the end we talk about ANU's Student Disciplinary Framework being reviewed, as only very few reports about sexual violence are proceeded, despite many disclosures. This episode is hosted by Saffron Gayle and Katharina Graf, produced by Katharina Graf. All opinions expressed in the podcast by hosts are theirs alone and do not reflect those of the ANU Observer.

Week 5: Our Grand Return

After a long break, Our Experts Have Observed is back – with the same beloved quality, but wrapped in a fresh new look. New hosts, new formats, new guests. Stay tuned! But for our very first episode, we’re kicking things off just the way we know and love: with a news episode featuring our familiar podcast hosts, Mac and Saffron.  So what was on in week 5? The ANU paused forced redundancies until the remainder of 2025. That means there will be no further forced stuff cuts in 2025, but what will happen afterwards is not yet defined. On the 21st of August, ANU students participated in a historical student referendum for Palestine.  Sticker‘s of the neo-nazi group NSN have been found around campus. The BIPOC department urges everyone to report the stickers, but not to remove them as raisers placed under the stickers might cause harm.  And lastly, the ANU removed the BIPOC mural for a second time, stating the mural would hurt the poster policy of the university See you after the break!