Free education, not privatisation!
By Bronwyn Powell
On March 22, students will take to the streets as part of a national day of action (NDA) called by the National Union of Students against education privatisation.
This year, students at several campuses have begun organising "log of claims" campaigns in which demands are placed on the university administration to improve conditions for students and staff.
Kate Carr, co-education officer at Sydney University, said: "It is a good way of directing student anger about increased fees and costs, cuts to classes and staff, overcrowding and so on. A similar campaign at the University of Western Sydney (Bankstown) last year showed that demands around these issues can be won if enough students get involved."
At Southern Cross University (SCU) in Lismore, campus collectives are collating demands for the campaign. The education collective is demanding more funding for the library and the parents' support group is demanding a parents' room on campus. The environment collective is campaigning against the industry bias introduced into a resource science course sponsored by State Forests and demanding that the genetic engineering laboratory on campus be closed down.
The SCU campaign will be officially launched next week with a speak-out and posters around the campus. A survey about campus conditions will be distributed to students and boxes set up for the forms to be returned.
The chairperson of the students' representative council at SCU, Bernie Wunsch, said, "This campaign can help to build cross-campus and national actions, which are necessary to mobilise community support and exert pressure on the federal government to restore and increase federal education funding." Wunsch explained that operating grants for universities around the country have fallen from $4.8 billion in 1996 to $4.2 billion in 2000.
At Murdoch University in Perth, staff are keen to be involved in the campaign. General staff went on strike on March 1 against the introduction of individual contracts.
Sarah Cleary, international solidarity officer at Murdoch, said, "The campaigns of staff for jobs and better working conditions, and of students for quality, free education, are inextricably linked. Solidarity between students and staff is essential. It is also inspiring and important to build links with similar struggles overseas."
On March 22, Resistance will be highlighting the campaign by students in Indonesia against cuts to education subsidies being organised by the National Student League for Democracy (LMND). The LMND has sent a solidarity statement to be read out at the rallies.
Resistance has been involved in education campaign collectives on campuses around the country. We will be holding stalls and distributing information about the NDA this week. Call your local branch to get involved.