Students oppose cuts to FASS, Business and Dentistry at ‘historic’ fourth ever SGM

Carmeli Argana reports.

207 undergraduate students passed a motion opposing proposed cuts to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), School of Business and School of Dentistry at this afternoon’s “historic” Student General Meeting (SGM). The meeting was coordinated by the Sydney University Education Action Group (EAG) in response to University’s latest Draft Change Proposals (DCP). 

The successful motion committed to opposing cuts, restructuring, casual job losses and USyd’s connection to the Australian military in light of the AUKUS submarine deal. Additionally, the motion pledged to support greater permanency conversion and striking staff amidst Enterprise Bargaining Agreements. 

Of the 252 attendees logged on at the time the motion was passed, 207 voted in favour of the motion.

SGM co-chair, Eddie Stephenson, described the meeting as “[perhaps] one of the biggest SGMs” in USyd’s history. 

SRC President, Swapnik Sanagavarapu, said, “today’s Student General Meeting is the resurgence of the student movement on campus... and the first sparks of a fully funded free and meaningful education in this University”.

The SGM was officially called on 1 October after an EAG petition “to oppose budget cuts across the University” reached 200 signatories. 

Honi Soit reported that up to 250 undergraduate and 240 postgraduate units are in danger of being axed due to low enrolment numbers under the proposal. Units at risk include those in Indigenous Studies, Languages, as well as Hebrew, Biblical & Jewish Studies. This is in spite of a forecasted surplus of $135 million in 2021.

A student testimony read by 2021 Sydney University Dramatic Society President, Alice Stafford noted that the first subjects affected are always those that “pertain to minority voices.”

“Indigenous studies, Gender Studies, and many more [are always the first to go], which only perpetuates a cycle of inequality and powerlessness,” the testimony read.

Amongst the proposed changes is the merging of the Department of Gender and Cultural Studies into the School of Social and Political Sciences, which has raised concerns regarding the department’s future autonomy over its unique learning culture, academic orientation, teaching and curriculum.

The proposed changes will also affect professional staff in the School of Business and School of Dentistry.

Catherine Sutton-Brady, a trade unionist and a Business School casual, said that a “different logic” is being used to justify changes to the Business School than what is being used to justify changes in FASS.

“None of our classes are small, so they’ve decided instead to start targeting our professional [rather than academic] staff,” she said.

Sutton-Brady called the proposals a “spill and fill”, where masses of staff are made redundant and asked to reapply for a smaller number of positions. She also said that many staff inevitably lose their jobs because the University will suddenly claim they “don’t have the qualifications” needed, despite having worked in similar roles.

“This is just their way of trying, as usual, to get rid of people who have been loyal to the University for many, many years,” Sutton-Brady said.

Ahead of today’s SGM, Interim Dean of FASS Professor Lisa Adkins sent out a faculty-wide email on Monday referring to the DCP as a “curriculum sustainability project” that aims to “reduce bureaucracy and repetition” while producing “flexible shared student experiences”.

The EAG condemned the email in a statement on Tuesday.

“The email yesterday reflects that management are concerned about the growing staff and student opposition to their planned cuts… Our collective opposition and resistance is the best weapon we have to defend our education and our lecturers’ and tutors’ jobs.”

There have only been three SGMs prior to today in the entirety of USyd’s history: the first in 1971 to protest the Springboks’ tour of Australia amidst South Africa’s Apartheid, the second in 2007 in response to Howard-era Voluntary Student Unionism reforms and the third this year by the Enviro Collective to support the Global Climate Strikes. 

The Education Action Group is organising a rally next Wednesday at Fisher Library against the cuts. You can find more information on their events page.