5 Things You Missed While You Were on Uni Break
By Jossie Warnant
Whilst you were away on summer break, plenty of things happened at Sydney University. Here’s our guide to some of the most important things you might have missed.
1. Manning bar closed its doors
Usyd’s iconic bar has officially shut its doors for day time trading. The bar will still be open for select gigs at night and will be available to be booked by student clubs and societies. Patronage of the venue has waned in recent years, with the University of Sydney Union board reporting that Manning and Herman’s bar ran at a combined loss of 245,000 in 2018. The decision reflects changing needs of the student population, with many choosing to eat and drink at places like Courtyard instead of Manning. The bar has seen international performers such as The Foo Fighters and launched the careers of some of Australia’s most well-known bands like the Jezabels and Cloud Control.
2. Michael Spence to resign at the end of the year
USyd Vice-Chancellor and Principal Michael Spence will conclude his 12 year term at the University of Sydney at the end of 2020. He will move to the University College of London, where he will take on the role of President and Provost. Spence was responsible for the introduction of a new 4-year undergraduate program, enhanced links with China and expanded philanthropic initiatives.
Read more here.
3. Students impacted by coronavirus
Thousands of USyd students have been impacted by the coronavirus due to the Chinese travel ban which has been in place since 1 February. The University is offering flexible online learning modules for students who are unable to return to campus, but it is unknown how long the travel ban will last. Some students have been able to return to campus after undertaking quarantine in a third country before arriving back in Australia.
Read more here.
4. USU board director Zimeng Ye Resigns
USU board director Zimeng Ye resigned at the beginning of February. In a USU press release, USU President Connor Wherrett, said that “after one and a half years of service to the Board, Zimeng Ye has taken the difficult decision to resign, citing concerns about obtaining a visa and visiting the University for board meetings”. Zimeng informed the board that restrictions imposed by the travel ban would make it difficult for her to attend board meetings. Her vacancy will not be filled as Zimeng’s term had less than 6 months remaining. There will be 10 USU Student Directors until June 30 2020.
5. USyd announced that the Nicholson Museum will close on February 28
The Nicholson Museum’s collection will be moved to the Chau Chak Wing Museum when the 160-year-old exhibition space closes on Friday. The museum’s collection was founded in 1860 by Sir Charles Nicholson and is home to over 30,000 artefacts from Egypt, Greece, Italy, Cyprus and the Middle East. The Chau Chak Wing Museum is set to open in August 2020 and will also house the Macleay and University Art collections.