By Bronwyn Powell
Three hundred students rallied at the Southern Cross University in Lismore on March 15 to protest against a $50 late enrolment fee which was levied on 1000 students.
The university failed to give adequate notification that the due date had been moved forward. Students reported the issue to the Student Representative Council (SRC), which organised the rally.
The university backed down soon after the demonstration. Students who have not paid the fee will be re-enrolled and those who have paid the late fee will be reimbursed.
At the University of Technology, Sydney, the Students' Association has been reaching out to disgruntled students and helping organise actions against overcrowding and lack of reading materials.
Students occupied the office of the business faculty on March 8, demanding their lecture be moved to a bigger room. More than 150 students had been locked out of a full lecture theatre and told they would have to attend the night lecture instead. The lecture was moved.
First year arts students who were not provided with their book of class readings organised a walkout on March 1. Half the class, 150 students, marched on the university administration office, and succeeded in getting a guarantee that readings would be provided.
Bernie Wunsch, president of the SRC at SCU, told Resistance magazine, "Students are willing to take action against unjust fees, and declining education resources and conditions. Telling them about these successes should give impetus to campaigns on other campuses. The national day of action on March 22 should also help to bring these campaigns together, and focus attention on the issue of federal government funding."