By Natasha Simons
SYDNEY — Some 700 students and staff from the St George campus of the University of New South Wales (UNSW), plus members of the local community, attended a spirited rally at Oatley on November 7. Dotted with placards proclaiming "Victims of Vanstone" and "Elevate teaching: don't axe St George", the rally was part of a strong campaign against the recommendation by UNSW to close the St George campus.
Justified as necessary to cope with the federal government's cuts to operating grants and other costs, such as out-standing salary rises, UNSW vice-chancellor John Niland wants to cut $20 million from next year's budget. The National Tertiary Education and Industry Union maintains that such cuts are not justified. UNSW will actually receive a slight increase in government funds next year and the university made a profit in 1995 of $53 million, adding to its reserves of over $700 million.
The axing of St George would mean the closure of the only university campus serving the greater southern Sydney region. Fifteen hundred existing students would be affected by the shutting down of the schools of teacher education, sport and leisure studies, and applied and performing arts. One hundred and ten academic staff are in danger of losing their jobs. A number of academic units at Kensington campus are also targets for closure.
Susy Freitas, a first-year primary teaching student at St George, and one of the campaign organisers, told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly on November 7 that the timing of the proposals has left students and staff with little time to defend themselves. "Soon after tonight the academic year will finish and students will be on holidays", she said.
Several campaign actions were held prior to the rally, including a very successful "open day". The campaign has united the community and has support from all the region's state and federal MPs, and local mayors. The National Union of Students is also supporting the campaign, along with the NSW Teachers Federation.
The proposal to axe St George campus, justified in terms of the massive funding cuts to education imposed by the federal Liberal government, has meant that the emphasis of the campaign is on opposition to the UNSW vice-chancellor and administration, rather than on opposition to the federal government's cuts.
What happens at UNSW is a test case for other campuses dealing with the cuts. Barry Newman, the head teacher of education, called the December 2 UNSW council meeting which will decide the fate of St George "an exam of social and community justice".