Kathy Newnam, Darwin
Postgraduate students at Charles Darwin University have declared their determination to continue to fight university management attempts to relocate 35 postgraduate research students to what they are calling "holding pens".
Students maintain that the new space on offer is not suitable for conducting research. The "holding pens" house 10 students to a room, have inadequate desk and storage space and no natural light, and remove research students from their schools and necessary contact with other students and mentoring staff.
The Charles Darwin University Postgraduate Students Association (CDUPSA) has expressed concern about reports of students being coerced by management to relocate quickly.
The CDUPSA maintained a protest action on the lawns of the university for three weeks, collecting over 500 signatures on their petition, which they presented to university management on October 15. The CPUPSA's protest action received widespread support from staff and other students, many of whom have been inspired to see a strong and public show of opposition to the actions of the university management.
CDUPSA campaign coordinator Trevor Le Lievre told Green Left Weekly: "We've had overwhelming support from across the board — amongst staff, from cleaners to associate professors to people involved in senior university management and of course postgraduate students and undergraduate students."
Helen Whitfield, the vice-president of education for the CDU Student Union, told GLW that the protest action has been a "very visible reminder to senior management that students will not stand passively by while our rights are eroded".
Postgraduate students have voiced the concern of many staff and students at the university about the lack of consultation and transparency in decision-making by the university management.
CDUPSA has also questioned where research-generated funding is being allocated. In a meeting with CDUPSA representatives on October 6, the university's deputy vice-chancellor of research admitted that federal funding meant to support postgraduate research at CDU has been redirected into other areas.
"This admission vindicates our concerns", said Le Lievre. "Postgraduate research students, who have for years struggled for basic resources, are now being thrown out of their offices and being told by the university 'we don't have any money'."
The admission from senior management also backs the information received by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) in late September that CDU management has held back approximately $4.5 million from operating expenditure on core teaching and learning activities in 2004 and has "siphoned off" another $5 million from traditional research funding and NT government funds earmarked for TAFE programs.
According to the NTEU, this money is being used to develop the underfunded Institute of Advanced Studies, which was initiated by CDU management in late 2003. The NTEU is calling for a formal inquiry into CDU finances to be conducted by the NT auditor-general.
The CDUPSA is planning further protest action. For more information, phone Trevor on 0401 813 288.
From Green Left Weekly, October 20, 2004.
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