[Greens-Media] Uni voices of dissent silenced

[John Kaye]

Uni voices of dissent silenced
 
Media release: 20 October 2011
 
Legislation passed by the NSW parliament this week will reduce the ability of academic staff and students to influence the future of their institutions, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
The Universities Governing Bodies Bill 2011 allows governing bodies to slash the numbers of elected student and staff representatives to one. It also removes the requirement to elect alumni representatives.
 
Greens NSW MP John Kaye said:  "The O'Farrell government is jumping to the tune of aggressive university administrators who want to run their governing bodies without the inconvenience of dissent.
 
"This legislation will neuter the voice of academic staff and students and hand over universities to the control of the senior administrators and their friends from the big end of town.
 
"It will accelerate the decline of universities into an increasingly commercial focus, reducing some institutions to nothing more than the consulting arms for big business and the mass broadcasters of existing knowledge.
 
"The values of scholarship, service to the community and social and cultural critique are being sacrificed to silence the voices of academics and students and smooth the way for yet more commercially-focused universities.
 
"Lone academic and student representatives will be in an impossible position. Without the support of like-minded colleagues they will have to face up to the intimidation of Vice Chancellors and their appointees. 
 
"Silencing academic staff and students will deny the governing bodies the practical and realistic understanding of the challenges of running a university and the commitment that goes beyond corporate profits and budget bottom lines.
 
"It is unreasonable to expect this crucial view to be articulated by just one or two individuals. It is particularly unrealistic to expect one individual  to represent both post graduate and undergraduate students.
 
"Every Vice Chancellor will be able to steer these provisions through their existing governing bodies. Those behind the legislation can do the numbers and know that the two thirds majority is an easy bar to jump over.
 
"Education Minister Adrian Piccoli is signing over the NSW's universities to big business and the small clique of administrators who currently run them. Silencing academic staff and students will have grave consequences for the institutions and for the future of the state," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455  
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000