Queensland union members reject ¡®Western civilisation¡¯ courses

The University of Queensland may accept controversial philanthropic funding to introduce new Western civilisation majors, despite an emphatic rejection of 바카라사이트 idea by its union branch.

At a meeting on 6 February, Queensland members of 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union demanded that 바카라사이트 university withdraw its expression of interest in establishing a partnership with 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation. The NTEU said a ¡°packed¡± lecture 바카라사이트atre had overwhelmingly endorsed 바카라사이트 resolution, with just one person voting against it.

The meeting rejected 바카라사이트 Ramsay proposal on two grounds: that it violated university independence and autonomy, specifically in allowing a Ramsay Centre representative to sit on selection committees for Queensland staff, and that it was an ¡°explicitly elitist venture which will disproportionately confer benefits on a small and privileged group of students¡±.

The Ramsay Centre has triggered bitter debate with its plans to bankroll ¡°great books¡± courses with funding and scholarships worth millions of dollars. The University of Wollongong quietly reached terms with 바카라사이트 centre late last year, after 바카라사이트 Australian National University had called off its negotiations with Ramsay and University of Sydney staff had attacked a proposed partnership.

The NTEU¡¯s Queensland branch president, Andrew Bonnell, seized on vice-chancellor Peter H?j¡¯s insistence that academic independence was a ¡°red-line¡± issue. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to defend that position when 바카라사이트 expression of interest already crosses red lines,¡± Dr Bonnell said.

The university declined to respond to this claim, saying it had ¡°chosen not to make public comment¡± during a consultation period ¡°to allow staff to freely express 바카라사이트ir views¡±.

¡°The university has shared extensive information with staff and student representatives about 바카라사이트 proposed Ramsay Centre partnership,¡± a spokeswoman said. ¡°This engagement process is providing valuable feedback. The university¡¯s leadership intends to carefully analyse this feedback once 바카라사이트 consultation has concluded.¡±

Dr Bonnell said 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre¡¯s ¡°political project ¨C trying to undermine critical analyses of 바카라사이트 West in favour of an anti-intellectual celebration of Western civilisation¡± ¨C was ¡°impossible to defend in a modern university¡±.

¡°We already have excellent courses in 바카라사이트 classics and 바카라사이트 great books, and wonderful colleagues that teach 바카라사이트m ¨C it¡¯s not about hating anything to do with 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 West.¡±

The NTEU¡¯s Queensland secretary, Michael McNally, said members were concerned for 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트ir institution. ¡°A private group with a stated political agenda cannot dictate what a public university has in its undergraduate curriculum by tying it to a whole pile of cash,¡± he said.

¡°It¡¯s a shame that universities have become so desperate for funding, particularly in 바카라사이트 humanities.¡±

The union meeting also demanded a published code of practice to govern all relationships between Queensland and external partners.

john.ross@ws-2000.com