By Bernie Brian
DARWIN — More than 50 students delayed a meeting of the NT University's planning board on October 24 to express their opposition to cuts to faculty funding contained in the university's draft budget.
Arts will be the worst hit, suffering a $500,000 cut. The budget includes job cuts of between 40 and 50, cuts to health and welfare services (including $20,000 from child-care), and the closure of facilities such as audio-visual production.
Disciplines such as history, English and politics may no longer be viable, despite the nearly 50% of Bachelor of Arts graduates from NTU with majors in these subjects in 1995.
The university recently released a report suggesting that it should be more "responsive to market needs". It called for a reduction in the number of courses offered and the downsizing of faculties, targeting humanities subjects over disciplines which attract outside funds or full fee-paying, overseas students.
On October 22, students and staff from the Arts Faculty met to discuss strategies to stop the plans. The meeting voted to hold the sit-in at the planning board and put a petition to the University Council and local politicians.
In 1997, the NT government will withdraw $1.7 million of funding for the university. On top of a current deficit of $650,000 and further federal funding cuts, this puts severe financial constraints on the university.
NTU vice-chancellor Ron McKay has expressed his willingness to listen to student concerns, but the planning board appears unwilling to accept anything but minor changes. Meanwhile, the university has just agreed to spend $20 million on new buildings next year.
[Bernie Brian is president of the NTU Postgraduate Students Association.]