University Believes New Architecture Building Gift from Heaven MICHELLE SEE-THO he University is planning to demolish and reconstruct the Architecture building over the next three years. The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning recognised that a new building would be a better support facility for the future needs of the faculty and its students. In an assessment of the current buildings, the faculty was advised that the best longterm option would be to demolish the current facilities and replace them with a more sustainable building. According to a University spokesperson, the University is acting now to ensure that the Faculty transitions into appropriate and sustainable facilities, which can accommodate their expanding staff, student and research needs. The building’s design was chosen from a selection of architecture firms, which entered
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an international design competition in 2009. John Wardle Architects and NADAAA (previously known as Office dA) were chosen because of their ability to cooperate with the faculty’s needs. “They also bring a global understanding of design education, having designed several schools of architecture between them,” the spokesperson continued. The new building project is currently in the “decanting phase”, which involves the faculty moving in to temporary on-campus accommodation, for the duration of the construction phase. The demolition of the current Architecture building is set to start in December 2012, and construction of the new buildings will begin shortly afterward. John Wardle Architects and NADAAA, along with the University’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, aim to finish the project by 2015.
COMMENT
BLUESTOCKINGS: Celebrating Women in Higher Ed AMY JENKINS
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STUDENT UNION OFFICE BEARER REPORTS
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MARK KETTLE 2012 has been one of the biggest years in the history of the Student Union. With the introduction of the SSAF we finally have the money to begin delivering the activities and services that will build a campus life for all. This past semester alone has seen UMSU significantly expand our services and deliver results for students. • • • • •
ike all good things on this campus, Bluestocking Week is pretty retro. It started out with a bunch of upper class women in the 18th century whose fathers, brothers and sons were allowed an education, but since Greek and Latin were “unbecoming” for ladies, they got together and educated themselves in “literary circles” and dressed up in blue stockings—the standard garb for academics at universities at the time. “Bluestocking” then became a term of derision for learned women. “Bluestocking Week” started in the 90s in student unions to highlight how far we’ve come but also point out that it’s not really far enough. Following collaboration between the National Union of Students’ Women’s Department and the National Tertiary Education Union, it’s back! So why do we need to celebrate these women? Well, feminists and those who argue against them can see that we’ve come a long way. A really long way, in 2011 the proportion of women in Australia aged 25-29 years who had attained a Bachelor Degree or above (41 percent) was higher than men (30 percent). Women are the majority of the undergrad population, and have been since nursing training was included in the Bachelor’s program. Unfortunately, it then drops off. Women are the minority in post-grad, and even less represented in research as opposed to coursework-based Masters degrees. Of the women who are academics, they are further underrepresented in the higher levels of professorships. This isn’t because women aren’t as good as men, no really, some women might not be as good as some men, but overall it’s a bit bullshit. In addition to the gender divide there is an intersectionality of class, ethno-cultural background and (dis)ability
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YOU IS FOR UNION
which further affect women’s access to higher education. Academia is a demanding field, but inequality in household and parenting responsibilities, expectations of gendered leadership styles and a whole lot of structural and social obstacles make it harder for women in get ahead. Of the 39 universities in Australia, 10 have a woman in the role of Vice-Chancellor (VC). In the Group of Eight—which our own esteemed university is a member of—only one member has a woman VC. The Ivy League in the US—which the Group of Eight no doubt wants to be like, just a little—manages to have four of the eight universities have a woman in the role of President (VC-equivalent). Like wow, the USA isn’t great at giving women rights at the moment, so if they can do it, what’s Australia’s excuse? So that was some stats, now let’s get our Arts student on for a second. Universities are bastions of privilege, I mean it’s UNIversity, not DIversity, amirite? Men can find role models everywhere. The Western canon is inherently patriarchal. What we study- in history, in social sciences, in philosophy- is almost wholly written by men, expressing the world views of men, except for that obligatory week about women, or that one slide about sexual assault which touches on some radical feminist quote out of context about all penetrative sex being rape at the end of a criminology lecture—I’m looking at you, Assoc. Prof. Steve James. How are we meant to have role models for the present and future when we don’t even see ourselves in history? So in week three, let’s dress up, let’s celebrate, let’s engage, let’s thank our foremothers who got us here and look to a future where it’s even better... Equal even.
FARRAGO — EDITION FIVE 2012
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Free legal service Larger advocacy service Working group on implementing the compulsory recording of all lectures by 2013 Lobbied for maximum tutorial sizes Improved safety at the university with more lighting on campus Action on housing—worked with the University on student accommodation options. Lobbied Member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt and State Shadow Housing Minister for housing, Richard Wynne Ran National Student Survey on Quality in Higher Education with one of the largest responses in the country Worked with the University on a student mental health strategy Improved Student Union communications to expand reach to all students Built strong relationships across the University Expanded the number of students on University Committees advocating for student interests
Enough of what has happened so far, this year is all about building a student community at Melbourne. As a university we have lacked the campus experience of some other universities. Some of that is our location in Melbourne, an underfunded Student Union in the past, and a mismatch of student service and activity. The remainder of 2012 is about developing an integrated and expanded student activity program combining clubs, events, orientation, mentoring and peer support, theatre and volunteering. Some of these programs are already in place and will be expanded, others are new and in the process of development. Student run activities are crucial to a vibrant campus in forming friendships across degrees and interests, reducing isolation at university and developing people and skills that last a lifetime. Why? Because University is a lot more than study.