BY GRANT COLEMAN
WOLLONGONG In the lead-up to the September 17 University of Wollongong student general meeting, activists have again met resistance from the Student Representative Council. The SRC meeting on September 13 reaffirmed its original decision not to endorse the general meeting that could declare the campus a refugee safe haven. It also refused to recognise any decision made by the meeting. The general meeting has been organised by the Refugee Action Collective because the SRC's August 30 meeting refused to do so.
Two hundred signatures calling for the meeting were initially submitted to the SRC, and since then, another 400 students have signed on. This reflects the interest in and support for the campaign among students, as well as the frustration many feel with the SRC's attempts to block the meeting.
The main block to the campaign has been the Young Liberals, who dominate the SRC. The Young Liberals' argument for blocking the proposals is that it is illegal to offer sanctuary to escaped refugees and donate money to the refugee sanctuary network, which aids escaped refugees.
Other university student organisations, however, have not been deterred by this. The Newcastle University Student Association (NUSA) has been supporting a similar campaign and will be holding a student referendum on September 16-19, in which students will decide whether to offer sanctuary.
NUSA education officer and Resistance member Peter Robson was dismayed by the actions of the Young Liberals in blocking the campaign in Wollongong.
"Illegality is not the issue", he told Green Left Weekly. "There is no evidence that any legal action would be taken against the SRC if the general meeting votes to offer sanctuary. The campaign is being adopted by an increasing number of campuses around the country and none have even been threatened with legal action.
"It is a symbolic campaign that aims to express the opposition that students have towards mandatory detention. It is unlikely that escaped refugees would even make it to Wollongong University. But by declaring the campus a sanctuary network, students can show that they are willing to break unjust and inhumane laws.
"If students decide that they are willing to break the law it sends a strong message to the government and the broader community. Even if particular members of the Wollongong SRC don't agree with the campaign they should still give students the chance to make up their own minds."
NUSA passed a motion on September 12 condemning the attempt by the Wollongong University SRC to block the referendum and donating money to help with publicity for the Wollongong general meeting.
The motion stated: "It is one thing to disagree with the political demands of the safe-haven campaign, but refusing to organise the meeting is outright political censorship and sabotage."
From Green Left Weekly, September 18, 2002.
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