Angry students are descending on the ABC Ultimo studios this Monday night to protest against the ongoing privatisation and militarisation of universities. The QandA panel, titled ‘Defence, Diversity and Higher Education’, is set to discuss the recent unveiled atrocities carried out by Australian armed forces in Afghanistan, including the flying of the Nazi flag on Australian armoured vehicles.
University of Sydney Vice Chancellor Michael Spence is also set to be questioned about the university’s current plans to welcome the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation to establish a specialised Arts program on campus. The proposed Bachelor of Western Civilisation has been heavily criticised by Sydney University academics, who have described the Ramsay centre as ‘European supremacism’.
Students are demanding that universities cut all ties with the Ramsay Centre and the war industry, calling for more money to fund higher education and financial independence of academic institutions.
Con Karavias, National Union of Students Education Officer, said
“Sydney University has over $5 million invested in the arms industry, and yet Michael Spence has the gall to present himself as a progressive figure in the media. Why should our fees be funding wars overseas? We need books, not bombs. We want an education system that puts students and staff before the profits of war mongers.”
Hersha Kadkol, National Union of Students Ethnocultural Officer, argued
“The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, headed up by infamous conservatives John Howard and Tony Abbott, is not giving millions of dollars to universities out of benevolence. This is a propaganda machine that seeks to promote racism and erase the horrors inflicted by western ‘civilisation’ on this country and around the world. Universities shouldn’t be run by private donors with right wing agendas – we demand Spence follow ANU and ditch the Ramsay Centre for good”.
Con Karavias, National Union of Students Education Officer
