Funding cut to overly political student body

A SYDNEY university is believed to be the first in the country to cut back and control funding to its student council for playing too much politics.

On the eve of orientation week, the University of Western Sydney suspended ordinary funding arrangements after complaints that the student body, called the Hive, was “too political”, according to Hive president Jacob Carswell-Doherty.

“It sets a very concerning precedent; the universities have the ability to turn the tap on and off as they see fit,” said Mr Carswell-Doherty, a five-year veteran of student politics.

National Union of Students president Carla Drakeford alsobelieved UWS was the first university to hogtie funding since the end of compulsory student unionism in 2006. She said it was more common for student representative councils to self-censor.

Those student bodies that have not collapsed have become dependent on money from university coffers since they lack the compulsory fees of students.

UWS paid $68,734 to consultants Gavin Anderson & Company (Australia) for advice on how to set up a student representative body for the new era of voluntary unionism. Mr Carswell-Doherty said the team elected last year to the newly formed Hive had run campaigns on same-sex marriage (UWS boasts an Equal Love Collective) and conflict in the Gaza Strip (UWS has more Muslim students than any other university).

Mr Carswell-Doherty made no apology for the politics, but said the Hive had recruited staff and made plans to expand the range of non-political groups and activities.

He said this imbalance had been pointed out to the student body in January by deputy vice-chancellor Rhonda Hawkins.

But on February 10, the body that governs the university, the board of trustees, suspended funding arrangements for the student body pending a report from the audit and risk committee, Mr Carswell-Doherty said.

In a brief statement, Ms Hawkins said UWS was giving the Hive money for “genuine and necessary expenditures” while it discussed “funding arrangements and budget” with the student body. Mr Carswell-Doherty said the Hive had half the money it would normally have in the busy, early part of the year, had lost autonomy in spending, and had to scale back orientation week activities.

Although the board of trustees made the decision in camera, it reportedly cited concerns about financial and accounting processes at the Hive, Mr Carswell-Doherty said. He queried whether “the financial explanation is being used as a justification to shut the student union up”.

The Howard government saw compulsory student unionism as an unjust system.

Source: The Australian