As part of assignment 3 for the Murdoch Blogging Competition we were asked to think of 10 things that Murdoch meant to us. I grabbed my camera and renowned hand model Callum Smith and headed up to campus to give you guys an idea of the things I like to see when I am on campus.

1. There are islands of peace on a busy campus

This should speak for itself really. Campus can get a little bit claustrophobic at times with so many people around so it's nice to have the option to retreat and find a bit of peace and quiet. This photo was taken at the Murdoch Peace Garden, there's a small open gazebo with a waterfall behind it's here I occasionally go when I'm feeling overwhelmed by assignments and the press of the crowd.

2. There is an honest-to-God Bank on Campus (I think)

I may be the only person who thinks this is cool but if you decide you desperately need to apply for a bank account and you happen to be on campus then you need go no further than the Refectory. I don't personally bank with Bankwest but I still get a lot of use out of the ATM they have installed just outside their branch, many is the time I would have starved were it not there.

3. Beers between lectures!

Perhaps one of the best/worst things about going to University is discovering that there is a bar on campus and that it is open during the time you are on campus. It can be a huge temptation to drop by in the gap between lectures and tutorials to have a few beers with some friends. I will neither confirm nor deny that I have ever done this but I definitely think it's a great part of Murdoch.

4. You can access the library 24 hours a day! (Sort of)

Again this is a bit of a double-edged sword. If you have any studying that needs to be done then you can access the library with your student card at any time. This has occasionally led to me being there till 4 a.m so I do advise only using the library in moderation because it can be habit forming.

5. Steamed BBQ chicken buns!

You may notice that the photo doesn't actually have any steamed BBQ chicken buns but I promise that is just an optical illusion and I didn't eat them. The steamed buns are perhaps my favourite food from the Refectory and for the price I could probably live off them for a semester. I won't for obvious reasons but it's nice to know that the option is there.

6. There is a lot of weird/cool art on campus

Case in point the photo above. I can't honestly say that I know what the sculpture is about/of but I still think that it is pretty cool. There is also a statue further down from Bush Court that regularly gets new clothes from willing donors. Most recently it was dressed in really colourful garments as part of Pride Week.

7. You can book a ticket home on campus!

Murdoch has a travel agent on campus and they are all really nice and helpful. I was able to book my entire flight home these coming holidays and pay for it on campus without any major dramas. They are also used to dealing with students who don't have much money so they try and find you a decent fare without making your flight a ridiculous series of stop-over's.

8. Students without Borders and Social Justice Centre

Feeling like you want to make a difference in the world? Look no further than the Social Justice Centre. They offer a really wide range of volunteer opportunities and ensure that you'll have a great experience. They are also there to help out any students who experience any sort of discrimination which still happens these days.

9. Wide variety of native flora and fauna

On my second night at Murdoch I got to meet a Southern Brown Bandicoot, also known as a Quenda, as it hopped around outside my flat. Murdoch is surrounded by lots of common Australian plants and gum trees so as an international student it is pretty cool getting to see some of the weird and wonderful plants around.

10.Chance of encountering Pirates!

There is a pirate flag hanging up at Murdoch University Village. Statistics show that you are 90% more likely to run into a pirate at Murdoch than at any other University in Western Australia and not the kind of pirates who use the internet to violate copyright law but the genuine article.

So that is my top ten list for why I like Murdoch. This kind of task is very subjective so there's a good chance that a lot of you won't agree with me on the particulars but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.