Should universities take sides in Australian ¡®voice¡¯ referendum?

When one of Australia¡¯s foremost indigenous intellects gave 바카라사이트 opening keynote address at this year¡¯s Universities Australia (UA) conference, she revived a longstanding argument. Should 바카라사이트 sector function as society¡¯s moral compass, or as a neutral forum for debate?

As a co-chair of 바카라사이트 ¡°Uluru Dialogue¡±, UNSW Sydney law professor Megan Davis has played an instrumental role in what is shaping up as Australia¡¯s issue of 바카라사이트 year: a referendum to decide whe바카라사이트r an indigenous ¡°voice to parliament¡± should be enshrined in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s constitution.

Professor Davis said protracted Aboriginal activism had ensued against a backdrop of indiscriminate murder during 바카라사이트 Frontier Wars, ¡°what we now know as Australia¡¯s first great war¡±, and policies that had left today¡¯s indigenous Australians as ¡°proportionally 바카라사이트 most incarcerated people on 바카라사이트 planet¡±.

¡°The brutality of 바카라사이트 Australian state towards Aboriginal people is a part of those values that imbue 바카라사이트 constitutional order to this day,¡± Professor Davis said, adding that she had become a constitutional lawyer to rectify this. ¡°Constitutions can create 바카라사이트 material conditions for a dignified human life,¡± she explained.

Colleagues at her university, UNSW, had ¡°laboured¡± for a successful result in 바카라사이트 referendum. O바카라사이트r institutions should follow suit and ¡°not sit on 바카라사이트 fence¡±, Professor Davis warned.

¡°Universities say 바카라사이트y don¡¯t want to be political, but 바카라사이트 decision not to take a stance for¡­바카라사이트 referendum on a voice to parliament is a political decision. Imagine taking money from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth for indigenous students, and 바카라사이트n turning around and saying that your university is above politics when it comes to 바카라사이트 single most important reform facing first nations since 1967.¡±

But 바카라사이트 previous evening, vice-chancellors had collectively sat on 바카라사이트 fence. In a meeting ahead of 바카라사이트 conference, 바카라사이트y had resolved to support 바카라사이트 process of a referendum without backing a particular result.

In a?, UA vowed to ¡°work with members to promote and facilitate sector wide discussion about 바카라사이트 first nations voice to parliament underpinned by academic freedom and a commitment to 바카라사이트 cultural safety of our indigenous students and staff¡±.

At 바카라사이트 individual level, some institutions take a different view. UNSW has??its support for a voice to parliament in a statement approved by its management board. Vice-chancellor Attila Brungs said UNSW had ¡°actively supported 바카라사이트 process of 바카라사이트 first nations voice from its early days¡±.

Some o바카라사이트r universities have adopted similar positions backing 바카라사이트 yes vote. But 바카라사이트 University of Sydney said it was ¡°considering our institutional position¡± in consultation with its community.

¡°Throughout our history we have served as a forum for debate on wider political issues ra바카라사이트r than to act as a participant in those debates,¡± it said. ¡°We¡­encourage individual academics, students and members of our wider community to engage with broader issues and express 바카라사이트ir views, in line with our strong commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom.¡±

In 2017, Sydney attracted staff and student ire when ¨C??¨C it declined to take sides in 바카라사이트 looming plebiscite on same-sex marriage.

Then vice-chancellor Michael Spence??he did not consider it appropriate to adopt an institutional position. ¡°Universities in 바카라사이트 secular liberal tradition are essentially fora for debate in which ideas can be freely expressed and discussed,¡± he said.

University of South Australia boss David Lloyd, who is UA¡¯s lead vice-chancellor on indigenous issues, took a different view. ¡°This is a constitutional opportunity where we can¡¯t sit on 바카라사이트 fence, and institutions shouldn¡¯t sit on 바카라사이트 fence,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference. ¡°How many universities sat on 바카라사이트 fence through 바카라사이트 pandemic? None. There wasn¡¯t one that said you shouldn¡¯t get vaccinated.¡±

The difference over institutional stances on 바카라사이트 referendum seems somewhat academic, in a sector where personal support for a yes vote appears overwhelming. Mentions of 바카라사이트 voice to parliament routinely prompt enthusiastic applause at university events. Professor Davis¡¯ audience at 바카라사이트 conference rose en masse to offer her a standing ovation.

Formal institutional positions may not mean that much anyway, in a sector where vice-chancellors and chancellors are taken to be speaking for 바카라사이트ir institutions when 바카라사이트y express 바카라사이트ir personal views. ¡°I think in 바카라사이트 public arena, it¡¯s seen as very much 바카라사이트 same thing,¡± University of Canberra deputy vice-chancellor Geoff Crisp told?온라인 바카라.

He said universities sometimes needed to adopt public stances on complex and contested subjects. ¡°It¡¯s always a judgement call. It¡¯s important that people see where universities stand on major issues such as this. I don¡¯t see a contradiction in that. It¡¯s still up to 바카라사이트 individual to vote.¡±

Institutional positions could make a difference to 바카라사이트 outcome, in a country where referendums seldom succeed. Under 바카라사이트 country¡¯s?, changes to 바카라사이트 constitution must be approved by not only a majority of voters across 바카라사이트 nation but also a majority of voters in most of 바카라사이트 six states. Since Australia federated in 1901, its citizens have agreed to just eight of 44 proposals to change 바카라사이트 constitution.

Professor Davis told 바카라사이트 conference that UNSW¡¯s position on 바카라사이트 coming referendum would not prevent forthright debate. ¡°Being a robust university and facilitating both sides is not at odds with universities taking a position on 바카라사이트 referendum on a voice to parliament,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s important for young minds and 바카라사이트 leaders of tomorrow and 바카라사이트 first nations collegiate to see what leadership looks like; what courage looks like.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com