Vice Presidents Laura Webster and Max Hall tell you why they “Stand with Raue”.

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It cannot have escaped your notice that a certain Vice President is faced with the likely possibility of being removed from Board. No, it’s not us. It’s Tom Raue. If last’s weeks edition of Honi Soit is any indication, we are not the only ones who support Tom and strongly oppose any motion which would have him removed from the University of Sydney Union Board of Directors. The events that have lead to this has already been thoroughly documented in this fine publication in great detail, so we instead will tell you why we stand with Raue…and why you should too.

Tom is an anomaly in student politics. He actually cares about students as opposed to building his résumé. USU executive would have you believe that Tom has committed a heinous crime and released a confidential report; however we would argue that Tom has done nothing but fulfill his obligation to the safety and welfare of students by releasing one line of a report detailing police and University cooperation during the violent 2013 strikes. May 14 has become synonymous with abuse, trauma, lies from the University and blatant police brutality.

We can’t help but question the integrity and motivation of anyone who suggests that documents proving direct cooperation between the University and the NSW Police Force should not be made public at the time of discovery. Tom made a judgment call and we stand by him. Tom’s attempts to protect students and his attempts to hold the University accountable for the violent acts committed by the NSW police on the picket lines have been met with a motion proposed by USU Executive to remove him from his position as Vice President, citing severe misconduct. Go back and check your duty statements because you’ve got it wrong.

Disappointment is not a strong enough word to encapsulate our feelings toward the USU Executive, Hannah Morris, Sophie Stanton and John Harding-Easson.

USU Executive, we do not support you. We do not trust you. You do not represent our wishes. If a motion to remove Raue from Board is passed, we have completely lost faith in you and you will have proven that the USU is more concerned with placating the University and it’s numerous corporate sponsors than listening to what its students want.

Show your support and keep updated at facebook.com/standwithraue.

Despite the rain over 200 Sydney Uni students rallied outside Fisher Library to oppose Abbott and Pyne’s cuts

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Last week was the national day of action for education! Despite the rain over 200 Sydney Uni students rallied outside Fisher Library to oppose Abbott and Pyne’s cuts to higher education. There we heard from a library staff member on the proposed restructuring and what it could mean for the workers in the library, and Sherry one of the International Student Officers in the SRC who spoke about the problems international students face at universities, stating pretty sharply that “international students are not ATMs for the government!”. Hear hear.

We then moved to the Quad, where we took to the precious grass to let our infamous VC know what we think of him and the decision of the Group of Eight universities to propose full fee places for Law, Accounting and Commerce. We also heard from SUPRA Education Officer Tim Scriven and SRC Enviro Officer Amelie while students chalked ‘education is a process not a commodity’ in solidarity with the Sydney Uni student facing suspension for chalking the same message at the strikes last year.
After that, we marched down Eastern Avenue pretty loudly, drawing in students along the way to UTS to join the main demonstration. Hundreds of students from Macquarie, UNSW and UTS were waiting there for us, for another lively rally and march into the city.

Across the country hundreds more students took part in the day, sending a strong message to the government that we won’t tolerate further funding cuts to universities, we won’t tolerate attacks on welfare, and we won’t tolerate the undermining of staff wages and conditions. The fight against Abbott and Pyne is just beginning though. Just last week the Liberals pledged themselves to implementing the conversion of Start-up Scholarships into loans when the take control of the Senate in July.
All in all, the first national day of action was a complete success, around the country and here in Sydney despite the miserable weather.

EAG activist Chloe Rafferty was quoted on the ABC declaring that “They’re carving up TAFE. They’re making the biggest cuts to university funding we’ve seen in 18 years…It’s protests like this and mass actions like the March in March that we need to challenge, not only this government, but the rotting system that brings about these corporate universities.

Hear hear. The anger and defiance that marked the protests put us in good stead to fight the Liberals the rest of their term.

Ridah Hassan and Eleanor Morley.

We want to talk about sexual assault and other forms of violence.

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Readers are advised our report will talk about sexual assault and other forms of violence.
Hi everyone! In our latest adventure, we are hosting a panel discussion to mark the launch of a poster campaign designed to raise awareness about the indispensable services of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sexual Assault Service. This panel will address sexual assault and violence against wom*n, including topics of defining sexual assault, rates, intersectionality, effective advocacy, unpacking victim-blaming and dismantling rape culture. We want to acknowledge what sexual assault is, what the issues are and brainstorm how we can work towards a violence-free future.

Joining us on the panel will be Rachel Moss, Program Manager and Sexual Assault Counsellor at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Sexual Assault Service; Moo Baulch, Project Manager at Domestic Violence NSW; and a representative from People with a Disability, Wirringa Baiya and the NSW Women’s Legal Service. The Panel will be held at 6pm, in New Law Seminar on Thursday April 3rd. 

Please be aware that the panel discussion will be addressing a variety of issues surrounding violence against wom*n. We realise that discussion may bring up traumatic experiences, discomfort and/ or distress for some individuals. We would like to extend support to those individuals. Leaving the room, tuning out or doing anything to make yourself feel more comfortable is entirely welcomed and will not be drawn attention to. If you or someone you know has either experienced sexual assault or feels confused/ unsure about an unwanted sexual experience and would like to speak with someone, please contact RPAH Sexual Assault Service on (02) 9515 9040 between 8.30-5pm weekdays or (02) 9515 6111 anytime if the sexual assault happened in the last 7 days.

We hope this event can impart essential information about the RPA Sexual Assault Service and start a campus dialogue, and in the world at large, about the widespread issue of sexual assault, particularly in regards to men’s violence against wom*n.
We’d also like to give a big shout-out to the wonderful organisers of Critical Race Discussion Group. They’ll be another discussion group that focuses on travelling, tourism and Diaspora in Physics Lecture Room 4, Monday at 6pm – we are really looking forward to attending and encourage everyone to come!

Georgia Cranko, Julia Readett and Phoebe Moloney.

Sexual Harassment Officers’ Report

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‘Sexual harassment’ is a term that many people have come to associate with women, and associate with unwanted physical attention of a sexual nature. In reality, sexual harassment is ANY unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, including (but not limited to) verbal harassment such as sexist jokes and catcalling, and physical harassment such as physical intimidation or assault. And while women are the most common victims of sexual harassment, it can and does happen to people of all sexes, genders, sexualities and cultural identities.

Considering the myriad contexts in which sexual harassment is experienced – workplaces, uni, online, on the street, in the home – it appears there are very few truly safe spaces where men and women can freely and autonomously go about their lives without being at risk of facing verbal, emotional, mental and physical sexual assault.

Sexual harassment is appallingly prevalent even into the 21st century, and calling out harassment is an active, useful way of challenging discrimination, as it assertively confronts the perpetrator as well as affecting onlookers who witness the harassment.In opposing sexual harassment, we must ALWAYS keep in mind that the victim is NEVER, not even partially, responsible for the crime committed against them, despite what media and popular culture propagate.In the coming year, we see education-based and consciousness-raising campaigns as essential in fighting sexual harassment both on and off campus. We will be looking to work alongside the Wom*n’s Collective to provide informational resources, help and advice to others interested in working towards a culture of zero tolerance towards sexual harassment.
The Wom*n’s Collective will be holding a panel discussion on Thursday 3rd April at 6pm to address sexual assault and violence against wom*n, with the aim of raising awareness about the RPA Hospital Sexual Assault Service. Panellists currently include Rachel Moss from the RPA Sexual Assault Service, Moo Baulch from Domestic Violence NSW, Carolyn Jones from Women’s Legal Services NSW and Mel Harrison from People with Disability. If you would like to know more about the services available to those who have experienced sexual assault then come along to learn how we can work towards a violence-free future.
There are also free autonomous self-defence classes and accompanying feminist discussion workshops for wom*n-identifying people held from 5-7pm every Friday from Weeks 3-12 at USyd. For details of location, follow facebook.com/womnsselfdefenceusyd.

Georgia Carr and Kitty-Jean Laginha.

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Hello Abe,
Even though it’s still really early in the semester I still feel that I’m heaps behind. I’ve got more assignments due than I know how to deal with. I’m starting to feel really stressed and finding my studies are suffering even more – it’s a vicious cycle. Can you give me some ideas that will help me?
Busy
_____________

Dear Busy,
This is the time of the semester when many students start to feel the pressure of assignments being due. Deal with each of those aspects one step at a time. Talk to your tutor now to see if you can arrange an extension. Talk to someone at Counselling and Psychological Services (Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building) or the University’s Health Service (Level 3, Wentworth Building).

The Learning Centre runs free courses for time management. This can help you get your uni work under control while still having a social life. Check out their website at: usyd.edu.au/stuserv/learning_centre. Go to Student Resources then Module 10. This is an online resource for you to work through in your own time. It’s all really commonsense stuff but makes a real difference when you follow it.

Look at the CAPS website. Workshops coming up soon are listed at: sydney.edu.au/current_students/counselling/workshops/list-of-workshops/index.shtml You can also make an appointment with a counsellor to get individualised advice or thoughts on specific strategies.

If you’ve done all of these things and still can’t cope with your workload you might like to talk to an SRC caseworker about the possibility of withdrawing from a subject. This may attract an academic penalty, but you can at least check out what your options are. If you are on a Centrelink payment tell your caseworker as this might alter how you reduce your workload.

A final word of caution, when students feel pressured they can sometimes be less vigilant about referencing and proper paraphrasing when they write essays. If you know that you are cutting corners it is best to get help before handing your essays in. Talk to a lecturer, the Learning Centre, counsellor or SRC caseworker and ask for help. This is better than putting in an essay you know is not up to your usual standard and then being found guilty of plagiarism.
Abe

Special Consideration

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What if I am sick for an assessment or examination? Is there any way not to get a fail?

You can apply for a Special Consideration. Go to the website for your faculty and download the application form. See your doctor (or if yours is not available, any doctor) and get your Professional Practitioner’s Certificate (PPC) completed. This needs to be on the same day that you are sick and should not be backdated. If your doctor is not available you will need to see another doctor. If you are too sick to go to the doctor, find a doctor that will do a house call. There are a few available – you can find them through google. Your doctor should also give a brief description of the things that you are unable to do, eg, attend university, leave bed, sit up for longer than 10 minutes, etc. The doctor will also have to assess the severity of your condition. If you are not severely effected by your illness you might find it difficult to get special consideration.

If you have a valid PPC, and the doctor has assessed that you are severely affected or worse you should almost certainly be granted special consideration. Be aware that you do not have to provide more details about you condition if you would prefer to keep that confidential.

Remember that Special Consideration is for a temporary illness, misadventure or exacerbation of a long term illness. It is not for long term illnesses per se. That should be dealt with through the Disabilities Unit.

What if I am sick for the supplementary examination or every assessment in a subject? Is there any way not to get a fail?

YOU SHOULD NOT GET A FAIL – assuming you have documented why you could not attend/complete each assessment and successfully applied for Special Consideration, as outlined in the policy.

What is the policy?

If they reschedule your exam and assessments, but you are too sick (for example) to attend any again, and you apply for special consideration each time and your applications are approved each time, you should not receive a “fail”. Instead you should be awarded a DNF grade.

A DNF is a Discontinued, Not Fail. Compared to a Fail (or Absent Fail or Discontinued Fail), a DNF is good for your transcript and good for your Annual Average Mark and good for your Weighted Average Mark (WAM).

SO if you can’t do any of the assessments in a subject this semester, or in the future, and you have successfully applied for special consideration EACH TIME, then check that your mark is recorded as a DNF. You should also apply to have a refund or recrediting of your fees. Ask at the faculty office or the SRC for the appropriate forms.

Contact SRC Help
9660 5222 | help@src.usyd.edu.au