By Helen Jarvis
Students and staff at the St George campus of the University of NSW are mounting a strong campaign against the university's cutbacks and restructuring. Presented as "UNSW 2000", the plans are being dubbed "UNSW 200", or even "UNSW Year Zero".
St George formed a spirited contingent at an open forum held on October 24, with red and white T-shirts and banners proclaiming "Don't Axe St George".
UNSW vice-chancellor John Niland wants to cut $20 million from next year's budget, which he says is necessary to cope with federal cuts to the operating budget, and other costs such as outstanding salary rises. The National Tertiary Education and Industry Union maintains that such cuts are not justified; that UNSW will actually receive a slight increase in government funds next year before falling; and that the university made a profit in 1995 of $53 million, to add to its reserves of over $700 million.
Three "Options 2000" papers have all recommended the closure of the St George campus. A number of academic units on Kensington campus are also targets for closure, mainly in the faculties of Applied Science and Professional Studies. Many of the targets are units that deal with human and community services (such as teaching, sports science, librarianship, safety science) and have a higher percentage of female students and academic staff.
The options being considered also include replacing senior academic staff with postgraduate students (to do much of the teaching at lower rates); cutting study leave and other working conditions; and "outsourcing" much of what passes as student services (photocopying and counselling can be expected to cost more or be cut back).
A number of politicians at all levels of government in the St George area have supported the campaign. An Open Day on the campus on October 26 helped consolidate community support, which is already strong.
[Helen Jarvis is a member of the NTEU at UNSW.]