[Muanet] University attempt to intimidate students blocked

[Chris Latham]

University attempt to intimidate students blocked
Luke Fomiatti, Sydney 
Students are claiming victory after the University of Western Sydney
allowed a forum with Iraqi trade unionist Farouk Isma'al to go ahead on
September 21 on the Bankstown campus. 
They had been told that the forum, to be held in a classroom, would not
be allowed to happen unless it was "approved" for "insurance purposes".
For it to be approved, UWS security manager Brian Castelli asked the
Students Association (UWSSA) to supply him with a list of everyone
expected to attend the forum; the subject matter of Isma'al's talk, or
preferably the talk itself; a list of books that would be referred to by
the speaker; and copies of any printed material that would be handed
out. 
UWSSA refused to comply, and took the story to the media. After being
contacted by the Australian, UWS management backed down. 
This is not the first time this intimidation has happened. 
The socialist youth organisation Resistance and the students association
were in the process of organising a speak-out a few weeks earlier when
they were told they had to pay for extra security, and that "the
relevant people" (presumably ASIO) would be informed. Years of
organising on-campus forums and demonstrations had never elicited this
response. The difference was that the star speaker at this forum on
human rights and the "war on terror" was the former guest at the US
military base in Guantanamo Bay, Mamdouh Habib. 
A UWS security officer told me that, "If we think someone needs to know,
we let the relevant people know, but we don't share that kind of
information with the students association". UWS later confirmed that
"the authorities" were informed of the forum. 
The Muslim Students Association have had similar requirements made of
them. They have Friday night events on campus and, according to
spokesperson Zena Nikro, for the last two years have been sent bills for
security, now totalling $1500. 
UWS security manager Brian Castelli told me that all events were managed
according to the Student Event Organisation Guideline. This covers "open
days, concerts, sporting tournaments, rallies, protests, orientation
activities, contests, and the like", and states that "event organisers
are responsible for ensuring that adequate security is provided at
events". It also notes that UWS security can be provided "at an
appropriate cost" and states that UWS will not allow "any activity that
is innately dangerous, unlawful, or detrimental to the University, its
image, or reputation". 
However, this policy seems to be enforced at the discretion of security.
Other UWS student clubs I contacted have not been asked to fill out the
four-page guideline form; they have simply been allocated rooms by the
university's timetabling department and run their events or, where the
events are outside, just run them without asking anyone. The Japanese
Animation Society which, like the Muslim Students Association,
frequently holds events outside normal uni hours and on weekends, has
had to fill out the form to gain access to rooms but has never had to
pay for extra security. 
In addition, the event guideline has not been through the normal
committee process, allowing staff and students a say, and it is not
listed on the UWS rules website. The copy I obtained was titled "4th
Draft". A UWS spokesperson told me that the policy was approved in 2002
by the university executive as a "working draft", but that changes have
been made since then. 
UWSSA president Amber Jacobus said, "It's outrageous that UWS would
bring in restrictive rules on students without even asking for student
input. We want the whole policy scrapped. UWSSA will be working with
clubs to produce an alternate policy." 
While the policy has, so far, not been used to stop a student event,
threats have been made. On September 8, the Bankstown Muslim Students
Association held a hotdog stall to raise money to help pay off their
security debt. They were told by UWS security that as they had not
filled out the appropriate form and been given permission to hold the
stall, they would have to shut it down. After an argument the stall was
allowed to continue, however they were told that they would not be
allowed to hold such an "event" next time unless they had permission. 
UWS denies there is any discrimination. Paul Woloch, director of policy
and governance told me, "The policy should apply to any and all events".
He said, "If there are concerns [with the guideline], we will take them
on board". 
The clampdown on student organising at UWS comes as the "war on terror"
is increasingly being used to justify restrictions on free speech and
the right to organise. While Muslims have been most targeted, with
suggestions that "radical" Islamic books and speakers should be banned,
all those who dissent from the war and globalisation agenda are being
scrutinised. 
The recent deportation of US anti-war activist Scott Parkin, for reasons
of "national security", and the cancellation of a conference at Sydney
University on the basis that its headline speaker, leftist Antonio
Negri, was a "terrorist mastermind", are cause for alarm. 
Michael Walton from the NSW Council for Civil Liberties told me that "in
Australia political speech is protected by the constitution. Making it
difficult for people to speak out by intimidating them by collecting
names and assessing content is outrageous. Political speech, short of
incitement to violence, should be free and uncensored ... especially on
a university campus." 
[Luke Fomiatti is the editor of Western Onion, the UWS student
newspaper. This is an abridged version of his article first published in
its September 28 edition.] 
>From Green Left Weekly, October 12, 2005. 

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