MONTY BENFICA | Amusements | CONTACT
A uni student in the final year of his degree has admitted that he’s a little disappointed he hasn’t once sat on a well-kept lawn surrounded by a happy and culturally diverse friend group, as promised by every uni ad ever.
Lachie Birche (23), a lifelong resident of the homogeneous Anglo-Saxon Australian suburbs, says half the reason he even went to uni was because the advertisements promised him friendly small talk on luscious lawns with a diverse group of friends.
“I just feel ripped off, you know?” Lachie admitted.
“I really envisioned myself talking to a racially ambiguous girl on a lawn while eating a green apple.”
“Neither of those things have happened over the last 3 years.”
Sadly, Lachie is not alone. In fact, the feelings felt by Lachie have been acknowledged as a psychological phenomenon known as Lawn Syndrome.
Based on the Paris Syndrome, a psychological condition experienced by some visitors who, upon arriving in Paris, become overwhelmed and disillusioned due to the contrast between their idealized expectations and the reality of the city, Lawn Syndrome has been experienced by many Australian young people.
“Many young Australians who have felt trapped in the suburbs really believe that going to uni might give them an opportunity to meet other walks of life. We find that they usually go even deeper into whatever bubble they came from,” explained Sandra Booker (77), a leading psychologist.
Calls for universities to end the false advertising have only continued, with many wanting the unis to advertise the true realities of the Australian uni experience—sitting on a discreet bench and scrolling TikTok alone while waiting for the next class.
