Resistance wins Tas Uni women's officer
By Natasha Simons
HOBART — Resistance activist Jennifer Crothers was elected to the position of Women's Officer in the Tasmania University Student Union elections held August 25-27.
Resistance campaigned under the slogan "For an Active, Democratic union" highlighting five central issues: equitable, free education; a safe campus; increased childcare; action against sexual harassment and discrimination and a women's room.
"Women who want to study today face many barriers and disincentives," Crothers, who is also an activist in the newly formed Free Education Coalition, told Green Left Weekly. "One main disincentive for tertiary study is the Labor government's tertiary tax. The HECS, which is due to increase, means that many women, especially is they are part-time or mature age students, simply won't have the money to continue their studies."
Resistance has proposed an ongoing education campaign about issues affecting women on campus. "Now that the elections are over, we will be actively campaigning to help build an open, participatory women's committee," Crothers promised.