Apr 28
Notes from VCA Student Union “Emergency Meeting”
Notes from VCASU Emergency Meeting
Monday the 28th of April 1pm, CFI Tutorial Room, VCAAzlan McClennan, the General Secretary of the VCA Student Union introduced the agenda and spoke about the article from The Age that has been posted around campus on yellow posters. He spoke about the VCA funding cut of 35% in 2004, and explained that the VCA has never really recovered from it. He suggested this as a major reason the VCA have now joined Melbourne University.
Azlan pointed out that the University of Melbourne has shown a lack of interest, funding and support for the VCA Student Union, and that they would like the VCA Student Union to join the University of Melbourne Student Union. He explained that they wanted this to occur without providing an increase in funds to UMSU. He pointed out that this would be of disadvantage to students here at the VCA and at Melbourne University due to the increased demand on the already low funds. He explained that it is more about economic rationalisation rather than an interest in student representation and services.
A Rally (Day of Action) is being planned by the Student Union for Monday the 12th of May at 1pm outside the Café. Azlan spoke about the rich history of actions at the VCA, and spoke about the need for student input, involvement and support for this action. Campaign meetings to discuss the Melbourne Model and organise the Rally have been scheduled every Thursday at 1pm in the Student Union Office.
The meeting was then opened up for discussion amongst those attending. A 3rd year student spoke about the need for focus on the two main areas, funding of the student union and the introduction of the Melbourne Model. Allyson Hose, the Education Resource Officer spoke about a direct correlation between understanding the Melbourne Model introduction and student representation through funding of the VCA Student Union.
A 1st year student proposed the possibility of increased collaboration among the schools of the VCA under the proposed changes. Womans Officer (VCA Student Union) Rachael Sztanski spoke about her 8 years of involvement with the VCA. She highlighted that in the past they have had new heads of department, with the promise of improvements and the only thing that seems to occur is cuts to budgets and a decline in the services offered. Rachael spoke of an apparent focus on arts business rather than core creative subjects. The source of this was apparently from the Administrator of the Music School.
A student present asked if a cut to staff meant that there would be a cut to students. Allyson Hose responded and said that there seems to be no intention of cutting student numbers but that the university would not guarantee that there would be no cuts to staff, so they couldn’t really be trusted. Azlan McClennan reinforced that the university could not be trusted.
A 3rd year student spoke about the need for transparency and improved communication from the University. He commented that the track record on transparency was not good. He explained that Andrea Hull last year blatantly lied to the student body in an email sent on April 15th after the successful Melbourne Model Protest. This was in relation to the proposed scrapping of the undergraduate Film and Television Degree. He reinforced that going on the track record; the university cannot really be trusted.
A 1st Year student asked about the funding of the Student Union and the reasons behind its existence. Allyson Hose spoke about the university recording a 90 million dollar budget surplus and that they have given 5 million dollars to the student representation bodies (University of Melbourne Student Union and University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association). She also pointed out that it was most likely they didn’t want to fund an organisation that opposes their views. She spoke about the need to fund student unions on principal as they provide vital services for all students. She also spoke about the possibility of the Labor government reinstating funding for student organisations, and cited a major issue with unions around the country requesting funds from universities that didn’t necessarily agree with their policies.
A 1st year student questioned why support has not been sourced from the arts community. Graham Smith, the president of the VCA Student Union spoke about the main priority being student involvement. He spoke about the cuts to sessional staff a few years ago and explained that through actions run by the student union (a sit-in of the main office building) the staff were re-instated, and the arts school received an extra $30,000 of funding.
Melbourne University Council are planning to meet at 2pm on Monday the 12th of May at the Parkville Campus and as such Graham introduced the Rally to coincide. Graham pointed out that University of Melbourne Student Union were organising an action and that VCA Students could join the protest. Ally spoke about May the 12th as the first of hopefully many protests to put pressure on the University of Melbourne.
A discussion was had about the new vcastudents.com.au website and the importance of transparency and increased communication between the university administration and the student body. It was generally agreed that the website was a good thing and that a neutral information body was useful.
Azlan spoke about the latest information also being available on the VCA Student Union website (www.vcasu.org.au). Azlan pointed out that meetings will be held every Thursday at 1pm, and encouraged students to come along and bring friends. He also mentioned that they are always happy to explain things to people and that all people needed to do was visit the Union Office.
A 3rd year drawing student spoke of changes to staffing in the arts school, particularly that of technical support staff in the computer lab and developing lab. Allyson spoke about Melbourne University’s stealth in cutting staff by not replacing retiring staff members, or by cutting staff hours gradually. A student spoke about the cuts to staff numbers and members over the non peak period.
Unfortunately I was unable to remain at the remainder of the meeting.