UPDATE
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Against the Fees: Melbourne Uni Council Action
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On Monday, 400 students from Melbourne University voiced their dissent and opposition to the proposed 25% HECS increases. They gathered at 2PM at the publicised location for the University Council meeting (Old Law). The Uni Council has previously made it clear that it was entirely unwilling to listen to student concerns, or to engage in a dialogue with the students protesting the fee hikes.
This issue of correct and open governance of Melbourne Uni is a real and serious problem. The University is entirely unaccountable and unwilling to deal with its key stakeholder, the student body. They have fully exploited the demise of the largest student union in the country, and sidelined the motion proposed by the only student representative on the council, and also ignored concerns raised by the Melbourne Uni Post Graduate Association (UMPA). Universities, it is worth pointing out, exist entirely because of students. It is students who are the lifeblood of a university. For our emotional, social and (unfortunately most importantly) our economic investment in university, we, more than any other stakeholder, deserve a voice in the decision making processes of the university. All significant decisions made by the university should be made in equal partnership with the administration, the staff and the students of that university.
Melbourne University has demonstrated that any relationship between administration and students is unequal and worthless. Their meeting moved to an undisclosed location rather than legitimately address the concerns of a significant representation of our students. Their decision making took place covertly and behind closed doors, and the result is that there will now be a significant increase in the financial burden for the student body.
It was unfortunate that students had to resort to an occupation. Let me emphasise that occupations and protests are always the last resort taken by students.
Prior to this Monday, representatives from student unions across Australia, and individual students, sent Senate Submissions to an inquiry on Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson's "Backing Australia's Future" legislation. The vast majority of student submissions spoke against the legislation because of its dangerously regressive objectives. The Howard Government claims to be about lowering prices for consumers, yet the legislation allowed for and encouraged an increase in fees. This is on top of over 100 tax increases since coming into power in 1996, and many cuts to student benefits. The Howard government again showed no signs of addressing the concerns of the people who their legislation would affect. The "Backing Australia's Future" legislation was passed despite massive outcry from peak student bodies, from university student unions and from thousands of students across the country.
On a campus level, students again have sought to have their concerns addressed by the individual universities, and in almost all cases (certainly at Melbourne University) have been rebuffed. Issues of equity and fairness seem to have hardly entered the picture, and the scraps offered by Melbourne Uni in the form of a few scholarships does not benefit the 39,000 other students at Melbourne Uni who won't be the beneficiaries of the Uni Council's munificence.
Every other option exhausted, the only way in which the student body was able to make its voice heard was through direct protest. Violence is never on the agenda of students, and nearly all violent acts that take place at protests and rallies are started by outside forces, either conservative aggitators or the police and security. This was the case at Melbourne, it was the case at Monash and it was the case at the National Day of Action last Wednesday. All violance is regrettable, and when it is caused by a breakdown in communication between two parties, it is the responsibility of the non-communicative side to return to the table and talk.
It was encouraging to see that so many of the students who expressed their opposition to the unfair HECS increases on Wednesday 31st of March to again show their displeasure on Monday. Over 300 students from Melbourne Uni attended the National Day of Action on Wednesday. I encourage you all to continue to express your opposition to the actions of the University and to lobby for them to reverse their decision.
Only a Federal Labor government can give universities the funding and support they need. Only a Federal Labor governement will reverse the HECS increases and abolish domestic full-fee paying places. It is vital that the regressive Howard Government be voted out of office at the next Federal Election, and education must be made a major election issue. Students must be made aware that the crisis that our universities are facing has been caused by the neglect and ideological opposition to public education held by the Howard Government. For universities to remain open and public, it is essential that Labor be elected.
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Bullsheet #3
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Bigger than ever at 8 pages, the Bullsheet issue 3 came out on Monday. ALP Club members placed over 300 copies around university.
Unfortunately due to financial restraints, we are unable to mail a copy to all members. If you want a copy and can't find it around uni, please email Alex (aw@vurt.net) and we will try to get one out to you.
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Not Another Election?!
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Elections for the "constitutional committee" is approaching, and the ALP Club is contesting. There is a meeting today (1PM) and tomorrow (1PM). Email (paul_eric83@hotmail.com) Paul for details.
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Brunswick Branch Trivia Night
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1t 7PM on the 17th of April there is a Trivia Night for the Brunswick Branch of the ALP. The MU ALP Club has organised two tables to attend, and is trying to fill a third. If you are interested in attending, please contact Alex (aw@vurt.net) for details.
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Thats it for now.
