Why are we undergoing a name change?
Tharunka was founded in 1953, and the first editors used an Aboriginal word that allegedly comes from a Central Australian Aboriginal Language. The word is most likely stolen and from linguistics research probably does not mean 'message stick' as the founders intended it to. Therefore, we believe based on the research conducted that a name change is necessary so that the student publication can continue to align with the values it sets out in its charter.
To find the full investigation done in 2023 read the following article: https://tharunka.com/why-tharu...
What is the name change process?
We are consulting with a variety of stakeholders involved in the student publication. This includes and is not limited to; the UNSW student population, local and UNSW Aboriginal organisations, media professionals and previous contributors/volunteers of the publication.