Consent, Cancel Culture, and Community
Dr Areti (Ari) Metuamate, Master and Head of College
"So when I talk about community, I mean this: you belong here. And by belonging here, you belong to something bigger than yourself. A global community that is connected to, not separate from, the word around us."
Thursday 13 November 2025 • 12 minute read
Tonight, I want to talk about three Cs: Consent, Cancel Culture, and Community.
OK, for those who were listening carefully, that is actually four Cs, but there are three points I want to make.ConsentGiven the issues I’ve had to deal with over my almost three years at Ormond, I felt I had to start this speech by emphasising the importance of consent. Not just because it’s the topical thing to do, but because it’s essential to who we are as a community.
Consent is not a new term for any of you, but it always surprises me how often people really don’t get it. At its core, it means that what someone does with their body is their choice, always. There is no situation, no friendship, no relationship, where a person has the right to force another person to do something with their body without their clear, full, and enthusiastic consent.
You’ve no doubt seen the videos, done the training modules, and heard the messaging, but I want to make this very clear: consent must be front of mind in everything we do. Whether you are willing to admit it or not, this remains a problem here and in colleges across the country.
We cannot ignore it. Too many people, most prevalently women, are forced to do things that they do not consent to. No means no, and an inability to say no also means no. We must talk about this more, face it, and lead change in this space. All of you in this hall tonight are best placed to do this. And let me be clear: people who do not respect consent cannot and will not stay at this College. It’s as simple as that.
So, now that I’ve dampened the mood with that more serious note, let me move to topics that are perhaps a little lighter. Still serious, but maybe not quite as confronting.Cancel Culture You all know by now that I am all for standing up for what you believe in. I promote having values and principles, and living by them. But I also believe in hearing other people’s perspectives.
Ormond was founded nearly 150 years ago as a place of learning, a college for the curious and the interested. We have a commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity, dialogue, and even debate. That has long been the role of a college and university.
Some of the smartest people I know spend more time asking questions than jumping to conclusions. They listen deeply, weigh up what they hear, and consider things from multiple angles before forming a view. At Ormond, we should all strive for that kind of thoughtful engagement.
So where does cancel culture come into this?
In my observation, I think that sometimes we are too quick to shut people down for holding views that differ from ours. I have heard or seen things (not necessarily here at Ormond, but amongst people of your age group) like: “You didn’t support the Voice to Parliament? Well then you must be against Aboriginal rights”. or “You’re pro-Israel? Well, then, I cancel you because I support Palestine”. “You vote Greens? That’s outrageous, I won’t talk politics with you ever again.”
None of that is helpful.
We should be open to exploring other people’s perspectives before cementing our own.
University is a time to explore, be curious and ask questions of others. And when you’ve asked the questions, listen meaningfully to the answers. You don’t have to agree with them, but you should make an effort to hear what the other person is saying.
The moment we stop listening is the moment we stop learning. And you are all here at Ormond, and the University of Melbourne, to learn. Colleges and universities must be places where ideas are tested, not silenced. Where disagreement is a sign of intellectual engagement, not a reason to shut someone down. Don’t get me wrong, I love to win a debate, but I often don’t. And I regularly, if not always, learn new things. A teacher of mine once said to me that it is all very well to be entirely certain about something, but is it always wise?
A college like ours is a place where people should be respected for their willingness to think, speak, and question, even when their views are unpopular. I am not saying we accept everything someone else says, but we should be open minded to learning from those who hold different beliefs, or make opposite arguments to our own.
Cancel culture runs counter to everything a place like Ormond should stand for. It replaces dialogue with judgement, and often punishes difference instead of seeking understanding.
None of that is good for learning.
We must reject the instinct to quickly cancel. Not because all ideas are equally right, but because all ideas should be examined. And by the way there is nothing wrong with healthy disagreement, it’s a normal part of life.CommunityThe third C I want to talk about tonight is community
This one probably seems obvious to you, given you have each chosen to become members of the Ormond community, but I want to explore it a bit more.
Each of you in this room comes from a community, or perhaps from many different communities. Some of those communities will look very different to others.
I know some of you are from beautiful Far North Queensland, others from the lovely eastern suburbs of Melbourne. A small number of you (far too small in my view) come from that glorious place called New Zealand (!). Some of you went to private schools, others to public schools. A few of you are from Sri Lanka, and just this week we welcomed exchange students from Scotland. There are Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and Atheists in this room, and some of you are Straight, others are not. Wherever you’re from, however you identify, you carry your community with you. And you bring parts of that community with you here to Ormond, a community you also belong to.
And let me emphasise that: you belong here. Whether you are the first in your family, or fifth generation, you belong.
Ormond is a place for people from all backgrounds, all walks of life. Every single one of you in this hall earned your place at Ormond, and you earned it in a highly competitive field of outstanding young people.
But earning your place in this community is a privilege, not a right. It’s not something any of us are entitled to.
You will have heard many times before, that with privilege comes responsibility. And so I say to you that you have a responsibility to contribute, to shape, to help make this College even better than how you found it. And when I talk about community, I’m not just talking about what exists here now, I’m talking about what you make it.
You stand on the shoulders of those who came before you, people who once sat in this hall in those very seats you now sit on. Community is about honouring that past, understanding it, and then building on it. But it is also about bringing your own unique contribution, something only you can offer, to help shape this place now and into the future.
Community is also about caring, for each other, for our buildings, and for the natural environment.
In a community, you say thank you when someone does something for you. For example, when our wonderful kitchen staff cook your meal, you say thank you. When a friend checks in and asks how you are, you tell them, and then you thank them for asking. When the maintenance team fix your light switch or broken door handle, you thank them.
This ties in to the Semester One letter I wrote to you about gratitude, and I wanted to touch briefly on that tonight because I think a community is strengthened when its members are actively and genuinely grateful. Grateful for the opportunities they have, grateful for the connections they’ve made, and grateful for the safety and security they’re surrounded by.
And let’s not take that safety and security for granted. In a world that increasingly struggles with both, we are extremely fortunate here at Ormond, in Melbourne, and in Australia.
And that is not by chance.
The lives we now live, and the communities we belong to are possible because of those who came before us. Our elders, our forebears, and ancestors. Those who built this society and our college.
Keeping community at the heart of your Ormond journey means honouring what we’ve inherited, and then building on it to shape what comes next. While you are Ormond, my job, and that of my team, is to support you to do well and to be well while you’re at university, and also to be best equipped to go out and make a contribution to the community and society at large when you finish here.
And here’s something else to remember: this community you belong to is bigger than the 500 students and staff. It includes more than 10,000 Ormondians across the world, people who once sat in these chairs, ate in this dining hall, and walked these same corridors you now do. Our alumni still (rightly) feel that they belong to this community. I see it every time I meet one of them. They ask about you. They ask how they can help make Ormond better for the next generation. Their generosity, their pride, their desire to give back is huge.
So when I talk about community, I mean this: you belong here. And by belonging here, you belong to something bigger than yourself. A global community that is connected to, not separate from, the word around us.
Each of you has the chance, right now, to help make our community stronger not just for your time here, but for everyone who comes after. You can contribute in big ways, or small. All contributions are welcome and encouraged.
That’s both a challenge and an invitation to each of you.
Now as we officially begin this new Semester, remember the Cs. Consent, Cancel Culture, and Community. Think about them often. Talk about them with your friends. And at the end of this Semester I will ask you if you remembered the Cs, but more importantly, I’ll want to hear how you saw them, how you practised them, and how they shaped your time at Ormond.
For 3rd years, your time at Ormond is coming to an end this semester.
For our new students (Re-Os), yours is just beginning.
For everyone here: generations before shaped this place for you. Now it’s your turn!
Enjoy it.
Thank you.
OK, for those who were listening carefully, that is actually four Cs, but there are three points I want to make.ConsentGiven the issues I’ve had to deal with over my almost three years at Ormond, I felt I had to start this speech by emphasising the importance of consent. Not just because it’s the topical thing to do, but because it’s essential to who we are as a community.
Consent is not a new term for any of you, but it always surprises me how often people really don’t get it. At its core, it means that what someone does with their body is their choice, always. There is no situation, no friendship, no relationship, where a person has the right to force another person to do something with their body without their clear, full, and enthusiastic consent.
You’ve no doubt seen the videos, done the training modules, and heard the messaging, but I want to make this very clear: consent must be front of mind in everything we do. Whether you are willing to admit it or not, this remains a problem here and in colleges across the country.
We cannot ignore it. Too many people, most prevalently women, are forced to do things that they do not consent to. No means no, and an inability to say no also means no. We must talk about this more, face it, and lead change in this space. All of you in this hall tonight are best placed to do this. And let me be clear: people who do not respect consent cannot and will not stay at this College. It’s as simple as that.
So, now that I’ve dampened the mood with that more serious note, let me move to topics that are perhaps a little lighter. Still serious, but maybe not quite as confronting.Cancel Culture You all know by now that I am all for standing up for what you believe in. I promote having values and principles, and living by them. But I also believe in hearing other people’s perspectives.
Ormond was founded nearly 150 years ago as a place of learning, a college for the curious and the interested. We have a commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity, dialogue, and even debate. That has long been the role of a college and university.
Some of the smartest people I know spend more time asking questions than jumping to conclusions. They listen deeply, weigh up what they hear, and consider things from multiple angles before forming a view. At Ormond, we should all strive for that kind of thoughtful engagement.
So where does cancel culture come into this?
In my observation, I think that sometimes we are too quick to shut people down for holding views that differ from ours. I have heard or seen things (not necessarily here at Ormond, but amongst people of your age group) like: “You didn’t support the Voice to Parliament? Well then you must be against Aboriginal rights”. or “You’re pro-Israel? Well, then, I cancel you because I support Palestine”. “You vote Greens? That’s outrageous, I won’t talk politics with you ever again.”
None of that is helpful.
We should be open to exploring other people’s perspectives before cementing our own.
University is a time to explore, be curious and ask questions of others. And when you’ve asked the questions, listen meaningfully to the answers. You don’t have to agree with them, but you should make an effort to hear what the other person is saying.
The moment we stop listening is the moment we stop learning. And you are all here at Ormond, and the University of Melbourne, to learn. Colleges and universities must be places where ideas are tested, not silenced. Where disagreement is a sign of intellectual engagement, not a reason to shut someone down. Don’t get me wrong, I love to win a debate, but I often don’t. And I regularly, if not always, learn new things. A teacher of mine once said to me that it is all very well to be entirely certain about something, but is it always wise?
A college like ours is a place where people should be respected for their willingness to think, speak, and question, even when their views are unpopular. I am not saying we accept everything someone else says, but we should be open minded to learning from those who hold different beliefs, or make opposite arguments to our own.
Cancel culture runs counter to everything a place like Ormond should stand for. It replaces dialogue with judgement, and often punishes difference instead of seeking understanding.
None of that is good for learning.
We must reject the instinct to quickly cancel. Not because all ideas are equally right, but because all ideas should be examined. And by the way there is nothing wrong with healthy disagreement, it’s a normal part of life.CommunityThe third C I want to talk about tonight is community
This one probably seems obvious to you, given you have each chosen to become members of the Ormond community, but I want to explore it a bit more.
Each of you in this room comes from a community, or perhaps from many different communities. Some of those communities will look very different to others.
I know some of you are from beautiful Far North Queensland, others from the lovely eastern suburbs of Melbourne. A small number of you (far too small in my view) come from that glorious place called New Zealand (!). Some of you went to private schools, others to public schools. A few of you are from Sri Lanka, and just this week we welcomed exchange students from Scotland. There are Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and Atheists in this room, and some of you are Straight, others are not. Wherever you’re from, however you identify, you carry your community with you. And you bring parts of that community with you here to Ormond, a community you also belong to.
And let me emphasise that: you belong here. Whether you are the first in your family, or fifth generation, you belong.
Ormond is a place for people from all backgrounds, all walks of life. Every single one of you in this hall earned your place at Ormond, and you earned it in a highly competitive field of outstanding young people.
But earning your place in this community is a privilege, not a right. It’s not something any of us are entitled to.
You will have heard many times before, that with privilege comes responsibility. And so I say to you that you have a responsibility to contribute, to shape, to help make this College even better than how you found it. And when I talk about community, I’m not just talking about what exists here now, I’m talking about what you make it.
You stand on the shoulders of those who came before you, people who once sat in this hall in those very seats you now sit on. Community is about honouring that past, understanding it, and then building on it. But it is also about bringing your own unique contribution, something only you can offer, to help shape this place now and into the future.
Community is also about caring, for each other, for our buildings, and for the natural environment.
In a community, you say thank you when someone does something for you. For example, when our wonderful kitchen staff cook your meal, you say thank you. When a friend checks in and asks how you are, you tell them, and then you thank them for asking. When the maintenance team fix your light switch or broken door handle, you thank them.
This ties in to the Semester One letter I wrote to you about gratitude, and I wanted to touch briefly on that tonight because I think a community is strengthened when its members are actively and genuinely grateful. Grateful for the opportunities they have, grateful for the connections they’ve made, and grateful for the safety and security they’re surrounded by.
And let’s not take that safety and security for granted. In a world that increasingly struggles with both, we are extremely fortunate here at Ormond, in Melbourne, and in Australia.
And that is not by chance.
The lives we now live, and the communities we belong to are possible because of those who came before us. Our elders, our forebears, and ancestors. Those who built this society and our college.
Keeping community at the heart of your Ormond journey means honouring what we’ve inherited, and then building on it to shape what comes next. While you are Ormond, my job, and that of my team, is to support you to do well and to be well while you’re at university, and also to be best equipped to go out and make a contribution to the community and society at large when you finish here.
And here’s something else to remember: this community you belong to is bigger than the 500 students and staff. It includes more than 10,000 Ormondians across the world, people who once sat in these chairs, ate in this dining hall, and walked these same corridors you now do. Our alumni still (rightly) feel that they belong to this community. I see it every time I meet one of them. They ask about you. They ask how they can help make Ormond better for the next generation. Their generosity, their pride, their desire to give back is huge.
So when I talk about community, I mean this: you belong here. And by belonging here, you belong to something bigger than yourself. A global community that is connected to, not separate from, the word around us.
Each of you has the chance, right now, to help make our community stronger not just for your time here, but for everyone who comes after. You can contribute in big ways, or small. All contributions are welcome and encouraged.
That’s both a challenge and an invitation to each of you.
Now as we officially begin this new Semester, remember the Cs. Consent, Cancel Culture, and Community. Think about them often. Talk about them with your friends. And at the end of this Semester I will ask you if you remembered the Cs, but more importantly, I’ll want to hear how you saw them, how you practised them, and how they shaped your time at Ormond.
For 3rd years, your time at Ormond is coming to an end this semester.
For our new students (Re-Os), yours is just beginning.
For everyone here: generations before shaped this place for you. Now it’s your turn!
Enjoy it.
Thank you.
