BY MEGAN CONNOR
SYDNEY — On September 11, 100 students participated in a student general meeting at the University of Western Sydney's Bankstown campus. They voted defend the autonomy of the Bankstown Student Association, which is threatened by proposals from the university Board of Trustee's plan to amalgamate the student associations at the six US campuses.
The SGM also rejected a proposed indemnity fee and supported keeping the current facilities at US Bankstown in students' control. They also voted in favour of maintaining the current student association structure.
There was widespread disgust at the Board of Trustee's plan to close down the Bankstown Student Association. This would mean the complete loss of student democracy and curtailing of students ability to organise collectively, which, in the face of the Nelson Review, would be absolutely detrimental.
The meeting endorsed campaign proposals that seek to link struggle against the closing of the Student Association with resistance to the broader attacks on high education contained in the Nelson Review.
Kicking off the campaign will be a picket of the Senate inquiry into higher education which will visit the Parramatta campus of US on September 22. Students will picket the inquiry to show their disgust at the Howard government's proposed reforms.
Further actions planned for the campaign include a mock auction on Bankstown campus to visually demonstrate to students the proposed fee increases for degrees.
Members of the Bankstown Education Action Collective plan to demonstrate their support for the Bankstown Student Association on September 24 by attending the Association's annual general meeting.
Student activists will undertake a "shock" campaign — placing price tags on everything to show how the planned fee increases will impact on every facet of university life.
The Education Action Collective has also roped off the front two rows of university lecture halls and put up signs reading "Full fee paying students ONLY".
The Education Action Collective meets weekly. To get involved, call Megan on 0419 117 606 or the Bankstown Student Association on (02) 9722 6488.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, September 24, 2003.
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