USyd students condemn "disgusting" welfare cuts

Maryama Vohradsky covers the Welfare Action Group’s demands for change. 

Impassioned students gathered outside Fisher library this morning to speak out about a range of welfare issues. The Speak Out, organised by USyd's Welfare Action Group, highlighted the need to address the sexual health crisis, cuts to university funding, insufficient welfare and the inaccessibility of university for people with disabilities.

SRC Women’s officer, Kimmy Dibben started off the speak out by bringing attention to the ongoing social issues that currently plague Australia, such as the “rampant violence against First Nations people every day” as well as the national conversation about sexual violence and consent education.

Dibben highlighted the disturbing fact that 1 in 8 sexual assaults on campus happen during orientation week. Sexual violence happens anywhere, in the workplace, at school even at home - the Speak Out emphasised the need for immediate action starting with the rollout of in school consent education. For Dibben, the everyday culture of university life is nothing to be proud of.

“This looks like rampant sexual violence, sexism and racism” Dibben said. 

 Emphasis was also placed upon the generations-long college hazing rituals and the insidious nature of learnt violence occuring on campus. 

“This looks like the auctioning off of college students and dumping them in a random location and told to find their own fucking way home.” 

Dibben continued by stating that “these are all very real occurrences of residential colleges” which have long remained hotbeds of terror and violence.

 “The cycle of violence must be stopped; how many times do survivors need to tell their stories before they are actually heard…we deserve a safe campus.”

 Welfare Officer Shreyaa Sundararaghavan, continued the rally by making mention of the Liberal government's penalisation of arts and social science students for wanting to think outside the box. Shreyaa argued that the government's funding cuts were "absolutely disgusting…and low for them to dictate our future.” 

 The Speak Out called for a fair rate of welfare at $80 a day, the need for safe and affordable housing and the necessity of standing in solidarity with survivors so they know that they are not alone.

 SRC Disabilities Officer, Margot Beavon-Collin protested against the inaccessibility of university, arguing that the vast majority of the disability community are unable to attend university. Beavon-Collin said that many people with disabilities are "pushed to the side" and treated unfairly. 

 As the event came to a close, SRC Education Officer, Madeleine Clark brought attention to the reality of students having to graduate with tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt whilst courses and funding are being cut. Clark argued that whilst students suffer, the nation's 1 percent continue to profit.

 The Speak Out ended with a more hopeful note - whilst these issues still remain pervasive, when students fight together they can create real awareness and change.