Build fight back in UQ student union elections
Comment by Kathy Newnam and Tim Walgers
Student union elections will take place at the University of Queensland from September 15 to 19. At a time of increasing attacks on education and students' rights, the elections are an opportunity for raising political issues and campaigning to make the resources of the union available for a fight back.
One team that will certainly not lead a fight back is the Young Liberals, who are contesting as Reality.
The Labor left students' Focus ticket claims the main purpose of the union is to provide services, representation, fun and excitement. Building campaigns and involving students are largely ignored.
<%-2>RAGE (Resist, Agitate, Educate) was formed to campaign for a union that provides resources and strongly builds campaigns for students' rights. Central to its campaign is democratisation of the union through abolition of various committees and giving collectives run by students the authority to make decisions.<%0>
Members of RAGE are actively involved in campaigns ranging from the fight for free education to the anti-racist campaign. They are committed to activism, not gaining qualifications for political careers.
One ticket running for NUS is Ecology, Sustainability and Diversity. Formed through the UQ environment collective, ESD aims to reverse the abolition of the environment and education officers in NUSQ.
ESD is directing its preferences to Focus and Access (dominated by the Democrats) before RAGE, despite RAGE being the only ticket whose members actively campaigned against the abolition of NUSQ's environment and education officers.
Also running will be the Socialist Worker ticket and the usual array of "joke" tickets.
[Kathy Newnam is RAGE candidate for education vice-president and NUS delegate in the UQ student union elections. Tim Walgers is RAGE candidate for environment officer, NUS delegate and arts representative.]