By Jen Power
Student control of student funds, repeal anti-student unionism legislation and drop the charges against the Rabelais editors are the central demands of a student national day of action which has been called for March 28.
In NSW, an action has been planned at the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur campus in Campbelltown. This location was chosen to place direct pressure on the UWS administration, which is controlling the spending of money which should be controlled by the Students Association. Consequently, a variety of projects which should be funded by the university are being paid for by student funds.
What is happening at UWS is an example of the ways in which universities are beginning to charge fees indirectly. Another example is at the University of Technology, Sydney, where a $50 accommodation levy has been imposed, ostensibly to fund the construction of student accommodation. This levy, which should have been funded by the administration budget in the first place, was supposed to be charged only for three years. Five years later, it is still in place.
The demand to drop the charges against the Rabelais editors is central to defending the right of students to control the content of student publications.
The editors of the La Trobe University newspaper published an article titled "The Art of Shoplifting" in 1995. The four editors have subsequently been charged for producing material which "promotes, incites and instructs in matters of crime".
The charges represent a direct attack on the right of free speech.
In a world where the content of almost all media is determined by big business, it is difficult enough to produce and distribute independent publications. It is frightening to think that these publications can be subject to censorship by the means employed in the case of Rabelais.
Tightly linked with the whole issue of student control of student affairs is the demand to repeal voluntary student unionism (VSU) legislation.
VSU is a direct attack on student organisations, intended to destroy them by starving them of funds.
Defence of student rights in all areas, including the right to free speech and the right to control student funds and more importantly the right to free education, requires an uncompromising campaign to defend universal student unionism.
Sydney Resistance organiser Wendy Robertson says, "We have to rebuild a vibrant student movement that is able to defeat the attacks on our right to organise and our right to free education. The start of this campaign will be planning for this national day of action."
In NSW the rally begins at 12.30pm on March 28 at UWS, Macarthur campus. Free buses are being organised to take students there from other campuses. For more information contact the National Union of Students NSW on (02) 267 4463.