By Viviana Sacchero

MELBOURNE -- Rusden is an intimate campus of Deakin University on which a mere 2000 students reside. Last month its students came close to being losers in the federal government's agenda of education cuts.

On April 22, at a student general meeting attended by 500 students, it became clear that there was uncertainty surrounding existing courses. Planned course rationalisation was discovered via a leaked fax which clearly stated that 10 courses currently offered at Rusden would be moved to the presently overcrowded Burwood campus. We later discovered that these changes were part of Deakin's plan for one central metropolitan campus.

The proposal to relocate courses for new students to the Burwood campus would have severely jeopardised Rusden students' education. With about 500 students left on campus after the relocation, the level of services currently provided would no longer be feasible. There was no consultation with either the students or staff by Deakin administration.

On April 24 a charter of four demands was personally delivered to the pro vice-chancellor, Professor Geoff Beeson, and seven other Deakin decision makers:

• access to all information concerning all possible, likely and/or definitive decisions regarding all course rationalisation;

• consultation with students regarding all plans for course rationalisation prior to plans being finalised;

• student representatives at all meetings concerning the future or possible course rationalisation at Rusden;

• a range of existing courses still to be offered at Rusden next year and in the future.

We stated that if our demands were not met by noon on April 24, the students would cause major embarrassment for the administration.

At 11 o'clock a further student meeting was called. At 11.30am a document was received from Professor Beeson. It was unsatisfactory. Thirty minutes later the 500-strong crowd passed a motion to occupy the administration.

After three hours' occupation, the planning committee and Beeson proposed that they meet with student representatives on April 26 at 9.30am. The 250 occupying students agreed.

On Friday, from 8.30am students bearing placards began assembling outside Beeson's office. During the meeting many concerns and arguments regarding Rusden's future were strongly and repeatedly expressed.

One hour later the student representatives emerged victorious. Professor Beeson and Professor Wilson of the development committee confirmed in writing that Rusden would remain a "sustainable and interesting campus, for at least the next five years". In addition, the students received written guarantees that current services and conditions around campus would be maintained. Student representatives are to meet with the development committee on a weekly basis.

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