Photos: Save SCA activists crash VC's Christmas party

December 13, 2016
Issue 

Sydney College of the Arts (SCA) students and supporters crashed the University of Sydney’s Vice Chancellor Michael Spence's Christmas party on December 13.

Singing carols and stripping down, they held up a banner — “USYD stripping us of our art school” — as people entered before going inside and jumping on the main stage.

The action was part of the ongoing campaign to save the SCA from being amalgamated with other arts schools and having courses cut. The campaign nvolved a 65-day occupation.

The campaign’s key demands are that: the arts college stay at Callan Park in Rozelle; there be no staff cuts; and the Bachelor of Visual Arts degreere be reinstated.

Here are photos and the carols sung:

Photo: Zebedee Parkes
Photo: Zebedee Parkes

An SCA Christmas

 

Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells, Spence smells, Garton go away.

They want to close our school but we say no way.

 

Michael Spence and Garton are closing down our school.

We are here to say that is just not cool!

We’ve pushed the deadline back but there is still a fight.

Raise up your hands and clap and sing for SCA tonight

 

CHORUS

 

We love our Callan Park, it’s where we want to stay.

We want our teachers too and studios all the way!

Art can change the world, so bring enrollment back!

Remember we have power, we gave the Dean the sack!

 

CHORUS

 

We stand here tonight to save SCA.

Closing down our school just is not the way!

We’ll be back again , we will not go away!

Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years Day!

Photo: Zebedee Parkes
Photo: Zebedee Parkes

Silent Night

Help save SCA, please tell us you will.

We’ll shout it from each window sill.

We do  not want to move.

We just want to save our school.

Save SCA, Save SCA

 

Spence and Garton don’t care, it is clear.

They will end what we hold so dear.

They want studios gone and our teachers out.

But money is not what life’s all about.

Save SCA, Save SCA

 

We will not be moved.

We will stay till you keep our school.

All we want is to practice arts.

We ask you from the bottom of our hearts.

Save SCA, Save SCA

Photo: Zebedee Parkes
Photo: Zebedee Parkes

Every body Pauses and stares at me
My university’s failing me as you can see
I know just who to blame for this catastrophe!
But my one wish on Christmas Eve is as plain as it can be!

All I want for Christmas
is my Art school saved
my teachers saved
see my studios saved!

Gee, if I could only
have SCA!
then I could wish you
"Merry Christmas."
It seems so long since I could say,
"My uni values education over money!”
Gosh oh gee, how happy I'd be,
if I could only make art freely!

All I want for Christmas
is my art school saved,
my teachers saved
see my studio saved.

Gee, if I could only
have SCA,
then I could wish you
"Merry Christmas!"

Photo: Zebedee Parkes

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