Students force libraries victory
By Kylie Moon
HOBART — On June 10, the vice chancellor's executive at the University of Tasmania decided to postpone for at least 12 months a plan to merge the two main science libraries into the main library, Morris Miller.
The university was planning to begin the merger over the mid-semester break, as part of its cost-saving strategy, and to complete the process by the end of this year.
The majority of savings were going to come from staff cuts. Along with less space for the science libraries' books and for study, and a cut in the number of photocopiers, this would have dramatically reduced the quality of library services.
The plan drew a huge amount of student and staff anger.
On June 10, the administration said that it had "realised there are problems with the plan", such as space availability. Only a week earlier, students were told that the amalgamation was going ahead regardless of any opposition, and would be completed by the end of the year.
Resistance campus activist Mathew Munro pointed out, "The administration has become aware of the growing willingness of students to take action against the implementation of cuts".
A month ago, 400 students massed outside the administration building. Two weeks later, students again took action against library closures with a picket outside the administration building. Students were prepared to take part in this second rally even when the students representative council actively campaigned against it.
The SRC is peddling the myth that it backed this campaign from the start, and that its lobbying made the real difference. In reality, "student representatives" in the SRC and the National Union of Students here saw the issue as "irrelevant" because the decision had "already been made", and did all they could to prevent the picket. They plastered the university with posters and leaflets, spoke to lectures and even confronted students on their way to the picket, telling them not to waste their time.
"The challenge we face now is to use this victory to fuel a stepping up of the campaign next semester", said Munro.
[Kylie Moon is a member of Resistance and general representative on the SRC]