By John Sacchero
MELBOURNE — Students at Rusden campus of Deakin University on April 24 occupied the pro vice-chancellor's office and the surrounding administration offices. The 250-strong student protest was undertaken in response to administration plans to relocate courses currently offered at Rusden to the Burwood campus without any student consultation.
Earlier that day, 500 students attended a general meeting which overwhelmingly endorsed a list of demands, including student representatives at decision making bodies and a moratorium on all changes.
At a previous general meeting of students on April 22, the pro vice-chancellor of Rusden campus, Geoff Beeson, told 500 students that there would be no courses currently offered at Rusden moving to Burwood campus. This statement was later found to be untrue; students obtained a fax to the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre, advertising the courses at Burwood.
Staff represented by the National Tertiary Education Union also expressed their opposition to the plans and their disapproval of the lack of consultation.
After the occupation, the administration agreed to a meeting with two elected student representatives on April 26. The meeting was picketed by 100 students. At that meeting the administration agreed that there would be no changes for five years.