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Professor Annamarie Jagose . Picture : Hollie Adams / News Corp Australia
We ’ re exhausted and we want answers and security , not austerity and job cuts .
For art ’ s sake
USyd students oppose cuts in the arts and social sciences faculty .
By Wade Zaglas
University of Sydney staff and students recently met with the dean of the university ’ s faculty of arts and social sciences ( FASS ) Professor Annamarie Jagose to oppose a program titled “ Future FASS ”, but a spokesperson for Jagose said the faculty is involved in “ discussions , not decisions ” at the moment .
The group , who have launched a campaign called “ Save USyd Arts ”, said the aim of the program is to cut $ 3.6 million from the faculty ’ s expenditure . The group also says the dean has consulted with staff to propose axing both Theatre and Performance Studies and Studies of Religion from the faculty .
Before the Zoom meeting , the university student representative council highlighted that the university recorded a $ 106 million surplus in 2020 , despite making 250 permanent staff and many casual positions redundant . The council also states that the faculty of arts and social sciences is anticipating a surplus this year of $ 135 million .
The student council added that the faculty “ have justified these cuts by predicting future government funding cuts and the need for the university to remain competitive in the prediction of further cuts ”. It adds that whole departments may be cut , leading to the loss of jobs , careers and livelihoods .
“ The dean and university management are more concerned with paving the way for government cuts than they are with the quality of our education . They are more concerned with building a university empire through their $ 500 million investment in a Western Sydney campus than they are with helping overworked staff and stressed students to teach , study and research ,” Save USyd Arts activist and FASS student Rory Larkins said .
“ This is all within the context of austerity and job cuts last year and a $ 135 million surplus in the faculty this year . As if we didn ’ t have it hard enough all learning and teaching locked-down and operating via Zoom .”
Theatre and Performance Studies Student Representative Isabel Edwards said students “ need answers and security ”.
“ It has been more than disappointing to live through months of conjecture , stress and rumour about the closing of Theatre and Performance Studies without any transparency or student input into the discussions . We ’ re exhausted and we want answers and security , not austerity and job cuts ,” she said .
Student Representative Council education officer Maddie Clark added : “ This meeting is the result of weeks of petitioning from students . Students have had enough of the misinformation that the dean is circulating and want answers . We demand that our education be focused on learning instead of profits .”
During the meeting , which attracted some 300 Zoom participants , the following motion was put forward :
“ Students and staff oppose the ‘ Future FASS ’ austerity plan . We oppose any axing of FASS departments or staff jobs , including the potential axing of the Theatre and Performance Studies and Studies of Religion .
“ Students and staff reject management ’ s corporate priorities ; paying themselves huge salaries , accumulating surpluses and spending hundreds of millions on new infrastructure while attacking the staff and courses at the heart of the university and quality education .”
Students and staff believe that management should fight against future Federal Government cuts to education , rather than implementing them unopposed .
A University of Sydney spokesperson responded to the issues brought up in the Zoom meeting .
“ Since the middle of last year , executive dean Professor Annamarie Jagose has been speaking frankly with colleagues in weekly all-staff meetings about challenges the faculty of arts and social sciences ( FASS ) faces . At their request , today ’ s meeting was also open to students to attend and speak ,” the spokesperson said .
“ As Professor Jagose explained , FASS is currently forecasting a $ 135m surplus in 2021 , driven almost exclusively by increases in international student enrolments . However , as for many higher education institutions , COVID-19 has highlighted the need to ensure ongoing financial sustainability alongside continued high quality teaching and research .
“ The $ 3.6m FASS is seeking to remove permanently from its cost base is equivalent to one per cent of the faculty ’ s total expenses . Initial discussions have included the possibility of restructuring the current six schools as five , and closing some departments and programs . Both of these could have implications for Theatre and Performance Studies and Studies of Religion , as they could for other departments and schools in the faculty .
“ These are discussions , not decisions . Broad and thorough consultation is now underway across the Faculty about any changes , with staff welcome to propose alternate and creative responses to the current circumstances .
“ All faculties and portfolios are participating in a similar cost-restructuring exercise .” ■
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