BY BARBARA WHELAN
PERTH — After months of campaigning by students and staff at Murdoch University here, including a nine-day occupation in May, the university's Senate has backed off from plans to cut courses, imposed in a management drive to make the institution more "economically viable".
The Senate on July 10 voted to accept proposals from the Academic Council, which provides for yearly reviews of viability of courses with less than 70 full-time enrolled students but which also saves 16 courses from the chop.
The courses saved include those in women's studies, philosophy and environmental technology. Chemistry, physics, mathematics and Asian studies were also saved from forced collaboration with other Perth universities and the bachelor of psychology was saved from full fees. Five TAFE alternative entry mechanisms, due for removal, have also been continued.
The victory can be directly attributed to the active campaign by staff and students, who stuck to the belief that the university should offer a broad academic range and not simply concentrate on "profitable" courses and organised many protest actions throughout first semester.
The campaign, and its successful conclusions, has smashed through the apathy felt by many of the university's students and revived awareness and interest in students' rights.
Students have vowed to continue their campaign, both to save those courses still threatened and to demand better facilities and services for students. Plans are underway for a student log of claims to press the university administration further.