By Bernard Wunsch
BRISBANE — Around 150 students rallied outside the student union offices on April 30. Students stormed inside the offices and voted to maintain an occupation until the executive resigns. The occupation is continuing at the time of writing.
The demands of the occupation are that the union executive resign and fresh elections be held; that the union oppose the introduction of library fines and the closure of the undergraduate library; that the union fight against voluntary student unionism (VSU) and against any cutbacks in education funding; and that a referendum be held on affiliation to the NUS.
Last year the Young Liberals won control of the student union. Since their election, they have shown total disregard for students' rights. They used student money to produce Liberal Party propaganda for the federal elections and they failed to turn up to the university senate meeting where the vote was taken to introduce library fines. They support the state and federal Liberal governments which want to slash education funding and destroy student unions.
Around 20 students are conducting the occupation. Food and support are being provided by the Griffith University student union.
Students for a Democratic Union (SDU), the organising group for the campaign, has produced an alternative Semper newspaper to explain the issues. The current Semper editors are also members of the Young Liberals and have run articles supporting nuclear testing and nuclear power and supporting VSU.
Students have also been collecting signatures on a petition calling for a student general meeting. Enough signatures have been collected to force the current executive to call a general meeting. SDU plans to pass a motion of no confidence and force new elections.
Resistance activist Kathy Newnam explained to Green Left Weekly, "The student general meeting is important for the campaign because we have to build greater student support. Lots of students are really angry about the closure of the undergrad library and the cutbacks we know the Liberals are going to bring in. The student general meeting will be a chance for more students to have their say about the campaign.
"We have to be careful not to see the occupation as an end in itself", Newnam continued. "Our goal is to create a democratic student union that fights for students' rights. Occupations can be a useful tactic in this campaign. What we have to do is encourage more students to get active."