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FULL STORY
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60
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Title:
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Prosh: "No Apologies, No Explanations"
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Program:
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2005: Program 4
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Authors:
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Group 1
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Topic Expert:
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Not applicable
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Every April, a day is set aside where droves of UWA students come together and take to the streets for a crazy day of dressing up, street procession and fun(d)-raising. This event, known as Prosh, is an experience no self-respecting student of UWA should graduate (or drop-out) without having. A UWA iniative, Prosh is the annual newspaper produced by university students in order to raises funds for a variety of charities. Unfortunately, the idea of Prosh has degenerated somewhat overtime, and for some students it has become an excuse to skip uni for a day. Our documentary however, aims to enlighten people about Prosh by bringing attention to the fact that it really is much more than a day off school. Join us as we explore the organization involved in each Prosh publication, by exploring its history, aims and more importantly, what exactly happens behind the scenes! Find out how you (as a student) are also able to contribute to the making of this one-of-a-kind experience in UWA!
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Note: For reasons associated with copyright and intellectual property, the student work is only accessible from within the UWA network.
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Transcript
Annika: This is how one might expect the university to look in the early hours of
the morning, deserted and barren. But for one day of the year, a carnival
of costume and colour descends on the Oak Lawn to collect their handful
of newspapers to sell to the city of Perth PROSH Day.
Annika: The PROSH newspapers were started in 1931 and since then have
become a fundamental part of campus life. PROSH Day in itself, is in
many ways a rite of passage for the students of the University of Western
Australia a day in which hundreds of students take part in selling
PROSH newspapers for charity. We talk to one of this years PROSH
directors, Damien Stanton, for some insight into the origin of PROSH and
what really goes on behind-the-scenes.
How did PROSH start?
Damien Stanton: The original paper was called Sruss-Sruss, which was written
by a uni employee except it wasnt really sanctioned by the
university because it was really offensive to everybody. So the
university kicked him out and made him give all the money that
he raised to local charity, which was Princess Margaret Hospital
and so the next year, Princess Margaret was obviously stuck
with the idea and they decided theyd keep it going as a
tradition. These days we get 3 to 5000 students out on the
streets selling money or selling papers to raise money for the
charities.
What do you think PROSH is about?
Jackie McArthur: Well, it depends what you say PROSH is actually about
because I think most people are aware at some level that its
raising money for charity. But, um, I think everyone is aware
that PROSH is about um, having a good time and doing
something a bit crazy which I think is one of the primary things
that PROSH is about as well as just doing charity work and
giving money to a good cause.
Where do the proceeds of PROSH go?
Damien Stanton: We get a lot of people coming up and saying you know, youre
just raising money for yourselves, for students, for beer money,
all that sort of stuff. A lot of people dont understand that it is for
charities. Each year we get together all the submissions like the
charities sending in letters saying theyd like to be a beneficiary
and then we have a look through the proposal on what they are
going to spend the money on and try and pick out the ones that
will benefit the local communities most.
Why do people get involved in PROSH?
Josh Sims: It just dawned on me that this is a big experience and big tradition of
the uni and um, just something that I really want to be a part of.
Jackie McArthur: I think its um, mainly to do with the fun that it is. I mean its a lot
of fun to go out and sell the papers. Its something thats a bit
different, it pushes the boundaries of um, ordinary behaviour
and gets you to deal with the public in a way that you never
would usually, so I think thats the main reason and also, its for
a good cause and everyone loves doing things for a good
cause especially if they are fun.
Annika: With headlines such as "Man surprised after giving birth" and "Fergi
found dead", the Prosh newspaper has developed a reputation for
tackling taboo subjects. We take to the grounds of UWA and ask
students whether they think the paper is at all controversial.
Susie ONeil: Um, yea its a little bit but that sort of adds to its appeal. I think um,
people who are buying the paper sort of know that it is and its all for
charity so it adds up for it in the end.
Josh Sims: Well I think the paper definitely treads a fine line between controversy
and enjoyment for the reader out of entertainment.
Damien Stanton: Its, designed to pull the piss basically. Its a satirical
newspaper. Like it says on the front cover or just inside the front
cover, you know, it says that if youre gonna be offended by this
sort of stuff, dont read it. We had some people come in and tell
us about the political and racist undertones in a piece take on
that which is to the editor. So, yea, therell always be idiots
wholl get offended. Its not deliberate though.
Annika: This year Prosh raised close to $93000 for charity. Controversial though
it may be, the newspapers main focus is on providing a laugh, having
fun on the day and seeing the money go towards a good cause. Next
year promises to be even bigger and better so get involved! Damien
tells us how.
Damien Stanton: Several ways. Obviously the easiest is just to turn up on that
day, get dressed up in a costume and go sell the paper. Or, if
you are keen, you can come along to Writers Nights where we
take out all the newspapers and rip the shit out of them
basically. Or, if youre really really mental, you can come to loud
weekends where we spend a hundred hours without sleep and
actually put the paper together before it goes to the printer.
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