La Trobe SRC funding threatened

By Rachel Evans

MELBOURNE -- On July 27 La Trobe University vice chancellor, Professor Osborne, attacked students' right to control their own affairs by declaring that the university would not sign a funding agreement with the Student Representative Council.

Following the state government's anti-democratic Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation last year, SRCs have to enter into funding agreements with university administrations to access students' money. The La Trobe SRC was intending to sign such an agreement.

Osborne has used the publication of an article, “The Art of Shoplifting”, in the student newspaper, Rabelais, to attack student representation.

The vice chancellor has also proposed that the SRC install a university-appointed and controlled general manager to oversee its functioning.

Students have a right to representation without interference from university administrations or the government. The SRC and student activists are organising a general student meeting to explain the issues and decide on a course of action.

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