USyd Senate Election Results Announced
By Jossie Warnant
The Returning Officer announced that Gabrielle Stricker-Phelps and Lachlan Finch have been elected as student fellows of the University of Sydney (USyd) Senate. Stricker-Phelps will hold the position of undergraduate fellow and Finch has been elected as the postgraduate fellow.
The fellows will hold their positions for a two-year term of office which will commence on 1 December 2020 and conclude on 30 November 2022.
The elections were held online with voting concluding on October 26. In total there were 3876 valid ballots cast for the undergraduate fellow position and 2338 ballots for the postgraduate position.
Stricker-Phelps and Finch ran alongside each other during the Senate election, with a shared platform website and campaign materials. Finch and Stricker-Phelps sell this as an asset, saying, on their website, that having a shared undergraduate and postgraduate voice will offer “a more united, wide reaching and powerful student representative voice in the Senate.”
Stricker-Phelps ran as an independent but has previously worked with the Moderate Liberals in student politics. Finch is a member of the Liberal Party.
The duo ran with the slogan “Better Education. Better Service. Better Representation” with their policy platform focusing on improving the Student Centre, reviewing SSAF and ensuring transparency from the Senate. Their platform also has a strong focus on opposing trimesters, reviewing Proctor U and enhancing student administration.
The pair's plan to review the SSAF fee, which is used to fund USyd’s student unions, is likely to be controversial due to the potential implications for student activism and the campus experience.
Stricker-Phelps and Finch both oppose the Government’s recently passed HESA bill, saying that “a steep hike in fees mean that potential bright, talented and motivated students may not pursue humanities degrees due to the fear of an increased debt burden.”
Their platform also placed emphasis on improving communication and transparency between the University and students by promoting “feedback loops” and conducting round table discussions with heads of faculty clubs and societies.
The campaign was also focused on improving international student support with promises to explore concession Opal cards for international students and the possibility of flexible fee payment schemes.
Both Stricker-Phelps and Finch have experience in student leadership positions. Stricker-Phelps is a previous Women’s Officer and SRC Councillor and is currently studying a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws. Finch is a Master of Commerce student and is a previous Board Director and Vice President of the University of Sydney Union (USU).
At a time when university students and staff are facing immense pressure, it is integral that the elected Senate fellows prioritise student voices. Only time will tell whether Stricker-Phelps and Finch will be able to execute their ambitious vision as Senate Fellows.