I guess my main response is fairly simple and one I have to a lot of events these days. <div><br></div><div>Where is the Union? </div><div><br></div><div>It seems almost totally invisible, and weaker than it has ever been, while working conditions become worse and worse, to the point it's beyond ridiculous. <div>
<br></div><div>regards, Andrew<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2008/5/21 Felicity Colman <<a href="mailto:fcolman@unimelb.edu.au">fcolman@unimelb.edu.au</a>>:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
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<p><font size="2">Hello list,<br>
<br>
What is the opinion/position of other academics on the recent events at the University of Melbourne, and the related public debate on academic freedom? (articles pasted below)<br>
<br>
What is the role of the academic in Australian society today?<br>
<br>
Are there historical precedents in Australia of this sort that might provide some insight?<br>
<br>
thank you.<br>
<br>
Letters (in the opinions section) in Age newspaper May 21, 2008 begin with this:<br>
<br>
'WHEN academic freedom — a fundamental principle of democracy — is compromised by a Labor government, it is time for all thinking Australians to be afraid ("Melb Uni demotes transport dissident", The Age, 20/5). I am no longer surprised by the arrogance and haughtiness of this Brumby Government, but I am stunned and outraged at the steps taken by a craven Melbourne University administration in demoting outspoken public transport advocate Paul Mees [...].'<br>
<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/letters/this-craven-move-should-frighten-us/2008/05/20/1211182799831.html" target="_blank">http://www.theage.com.au/news/letters/this-craven-move-should-frighten-us/2008/05/20/1211182799831.html</a><br>
<br>
as a response to this item:<br>
<br>
'MELBOURNE University has demoted one of its most outspoken academics after a complaint against him by the State Government. [ ...]<br>
<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/melbourne-uni-demotes-transport-dissident/2008/05/19/1211182704265.html" target="_blank">http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/melbourne-uni-demotes-transport-dissident/2008/05/19/1211182704265.html</a><br>
<br>
<br>
and further discussed here:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uni-accused-of-hatchet-job-on-lecturer/2008/05/20/1211182801445.html" target="_blank">http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uni-accused-of-hatchet-job-on-lecturer/2008/05/20/1211182801445.html</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uni-damaged-over-lecturers-demotion/2008/05/20/1211182764879.html" target="_blank">http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uni-damaged-over-lecturers-demotion/2008/05/20/1211182764879.html</a><br>
<br>
<br>
Dr Felicity Colman<br>
Lecturer, Screen Studies<br>
Honours Coordinator, Cinema Program<br>
School of Culture & Communication<br>
<a href="http://www.culture-communication.unimelb.edu.au" target="_blank">http://www.culture-communication.unimelb.edu.au</a><br>
The University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 Australia Tel: 61-3-83445565\tFax: 61-3-8344 5563<br>
<a href="mailto:fcolman@unimelb.edu.au" target="_blank">fcolman@unimelb.edu.au</a><br>
<br>
<br>
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<br>"I thought I had reached port; but I seemed to be cast back again into the open sea" (Deleuze and Guattari, after Leibniz)<br><br>Andrew Murphie - Associate Professor<br>School of English, Media and Performing Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 2052<br>
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