On Monday 14th April, concerned students mounted the steps of Melbourne University’s Old Quad to protest the Arts Faculty’s approach to “projected deficits”.
To solve its money woes, the Arts Faculty has announced what your Student Union believes is a counter-productive plan: to seek redundancies from academics teaching subjects of less than 40 students and experienced administration staff.
This follows 24 staff redundancies in the Arts Faculty last year and the new Dean of Arts Mark Considine has not ruled out future sackings. Your Student Union has heard stories of overcrowded tutorials, underpaid tutors and overworked support staff. We wonder how more departures could possibly help the situation.
This approach belies a disturbing attitude towards the study of Arts. Instead of recognising the cultural and intellectual importance of university Arts Faculties, the University of Melbourne seems to have designated Arts a junk degree, suitable only as a pathway into “professional” degrees.
Universities have always been hotbeds of critical thought and rigorous intellectual debate. Arts Faculties are at the forefront of social theory and philosophical inquiry; they serve a vital role in questioning and investigating the very nature of humanity.
Your Student Union holds that the Arts Faculty must be fully funded and recognised as the basis of an open, critical and enlightened society.
Keep humanities human.
Come to the Speak-out Wednesday April 16th, 1pm Cussonia Court between Old Arts and Old Quad.
