BY JOSHUA COFFIN
HOBART — Two students will be contesting the Tasmanian University Union elections under the banner of the Socialist Alliance. Shua Garfield and Sarah Cleary, both members of the socialist youth organisation Resistance, will be candidates in the election held on September 12-14. The ticket will emphasise supporting the global justice movement.
Garfield, who is running for both President of the union and National Union of Students (NUS) delegate told Green Left Weekly, "It is ridiculous to pretend that you can represent students' interests without fighting for broad progressive change. Right now, the unelected heads of the World Trade Organisation are hoping to push through the General Agreement on Trade and Services. This would be a step towards privatisation of our education."
Socialist Alliance members have initiated a referendum in order to create a campus international solidarity officer, and will use the election campaign to publicise the October protests outside the Commonwealth Business Forum and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Socialist Alliance is also campaigning to defend the women's officer position against moves to abolish it, and is opposing moves to create a men's officer.