VSU
While VSU has not come in yet, student unions have been shedding staff since late last year in waves of redundancies.
In some instances, this pre-VSU phase has been used as a mechanism by the universities to influence the shape of student organisations to come by refusing to agree on funding arrangements next semester until student unions 'reform' their organisational (including staffing) structures. If this is not losing student voice and autonomy, I don't know what is.
Vannessa (RMIT Student Union)
See also Adam Morton's article at
http://www.theage.com.au/
Student rep challenges VC
A 2005 Staff-Student Consultative Committee student representative has analysed Dr Austin's wide-ranging enhancements of the Hispanic Studies program in less than one year. He challenges the VC to reverse this dismissal and instead find a just resolution to the dispute. See
here.
VC ignores student concerns
Dear Ms Gardner,
I refer to my previous e-mail sent to you at the end of the 2005 academic year. I note that I received a one-line e-mail in response from you which failed to address any of my concerns.
In my original e-mail to you I expressed my shock in learning of the potential sacking of Robert Austin. Such news was certainly disappointing but did not compare to my disgust in learning the purported grounds on which such action is being executed. As a mature age student I believe that it is imperative that young students be informed about events that impact on their learning experience and that they are provided with every opportunity to participate in activities that serve as a platform for voicing their views - after all, aren't universities meant to encourage free-thinking?
Upon my return this year, I was less surprised to learn that the university had strategically waited until students had left for the year (2005) to make the sacking of Mr. Austin official (despite tremendous student protest on Mr. Austin's behalf). I can't help but to reflect on the hypocrisy of values such as those listed in the RMIT Code of Ethics which state "We respect diversity within humanity including gender, spiritual values, sexual preference, age, disability and culture and provide services to support this." It would appear that conformity and conventionality are in-fact the preferred qualities for both staff and students at RMIT. The action taken against Mr. Austin is certainly consistent with the current political climate and as a Brazilian-born Australian I am unnerved by elements similar to those experienced under Brazilian military dictatorship creeping into institutions such as universities.
Robert Austin is infinitely knowledgeable in his chosen field and is extremely well liked by students. His unjust dismissal serves to highlight the insidious political nature of the university administration and if upheld will be a very significant loss to the International Studies program. I have enrolled in Latin American studies for this semester due to the fact that Mr. Austin is conducting the classes; were this to change I will most certainly choose an alternative course along with many fellow students. It is my intention to approach contacts in both written and electronic media to ensure that Mr. Austin's situation does not pass unnoticed.
Kind Regards, Vivian Green
RMIT Student, BA (International Studies)
Carta de protesta
Le invitamos a revisar y enviar la carta proforma de protesta a la rectora, agregándole sus cambios preferidos o enviándola sin cambios. Ver
http://www.unionsolidarity.org/phpmail/RobertA_Spanish_form.htm
