Prosh (University of Western Australia)

Prosh refers to both a calendar fundraising event and the satirical annual newspaper written by students at the University of Western Australia to raise funds for nominated charities.

Annual event

Annual Prosh Procession through the heart of the city.

The annual tradition is the collaboration of a team of voluntary students who write, design and edit a spoof newspaper designed to poke fun at current events and political agendas. Content varies, but often contains elements of potty humour, black humour and social and political commentary. The paper has the slogan "Never Apologise, Never Explain!".^[1] Every April the paper is distributed to the public of Perth's metropolitan area by students dressed in costume in exchange for a donation, often a "gold coin" donation. However, most collectors are willing to accept any sort of small change or cash donation. The day is also marked by a procession through the streets of Perth. The event now involves many carefully designed floats, practical jokes and stunts which are played on the public by participating students. These activities have led to clashes with the Perth City Council.^[2]

History

In 1931, a small group of students compiled a small, satirical newspaper called the "SRUSS SRUSS Times" as part of graduation celebrations. Later in that week, the Perth newspaper The Sunday Times berated the creators of this newspaper, calling it trash and filth, and the creators were subsequently penalised, in the form of a fine payable to the local children's charity.^[3]^[4] Over the decades of the prosh procession through the city of Perth, various floats and vehicles of dubious form and function passed through the centre of the city prior to the Hay street and Murray Street malls existence. The procession is frequently bombarded with flour and eggs.

Currently, PROSH (which is now one of the oldest UWA traditions) is kept alive by volunteers writing, editing and distributing the newspaper annually in April. Each year a new group of charities are chosen as the beneficiaries of all money raised by Prosh. In recent years, over 115,000 papers are sold on the day, with proceeds often breaking the $100,000 barrier.^[5] In 2010, all 130,000 papers had been distributed to students by 7:00am.

Prosh Day

In 2001, Prosh fundraising broke records to that year^[6]

In 2007, Prosh took place on 4 April and made $109,000 was raised for charities.

In 2008, Prosh took place on 9 April and made roughly $125,000 for charity.

In 2009, Prosh took place on 1 April and made roughly $147,000 for charity.

In 2011, Prosh took place on 13 April and made $153,000 for charity, breaking all previous records.^[7]

Controversy

In 2013, the satirical newspaper published a 'dreamtime horoscope' that mocked Indigenous Australians with reference to excessive drinking and disproportional financial support from the government. The incident received national media attention and an apology was issued by the UWA student guild who committed to change policies and guidelines for Prosh publications.^[8]

References

^ http://www.prosh.guild.uwa.edu.au/2004/
^ The West Australian, 3 April 1985, p.4,
^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58686567?searchTerm=sruss%20sruss&searchLimits=l-state=Western+Australia%7C%7C%7Cl-title=93
^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58685832?searchTerm=sruss%20sruss&searchLimits=l-state=Western+Australia%7C%7C%7Cl-title=93
^ http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/04/01/2532368.htm
^ Prosh breaks another record.(Prosh for 2001 has raised more than $80 000 for charity).University of Western Australia news, 7 May 2001, p.4
^ http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/7089326/students-on-the-march-for-prosh-day/
^ http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/uwa-prank-paper-under-fire-for-racism-20130418-2i2y5.html