The Call for Papers for
Traffic 11 has now closed and while
we are no longer accepting article submissions, we are still seeking book reviewers.
We're also planning a 'best-of'
Traffic edition, drawing together the most engaging papers from the past ten issues.
Registrations are now open for the ‘Students of Sustainability’ (SoS)
annual environment / social justice conference. This conference offers an
opportunity to participate in five days (with entertainment at night) of
skill-sharing, workshops, discussions, speakers and forums about creating a
more ecologically and socially sustainable world. The event usually attracts
400 to 500 people. For more information visit the web address below.
Date: 06 to 10 July
Venue: Monash University Clayton Campus
Cost: conference fees range from $150 to $300 depending on circumstances;
sponsorship is also available (check the website)
Register by 29 June at www.studentsofsustainability.org
The conference organisers are seeking participants with particular knowledge
and experience related to women. If you have special skills or knowledge in
the field of women’s rights, issues and concerns (or social justice in
general), please contact the organisers via the website.
GSA welcomes Universities Australia Call for International Student Transport Concessions
GSA President condemns police response to Indian student attacks
GSA President condemns police response to Indian student attacks
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The University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association
has today applauded the decision by Indian international students to
publicly protest against racist violence in Melbourne. A protest rally
and march to State Parliament has been called for tomorrow (31/05) by the Federation of Indian Students Australia (FISA,
www.fisa.org.au).
GSA President Paul Coats said “It is appalling that Victoria Police
refuse to acknowledge the racism that is inherent in violent attacks
against up to 70 Indian students in the last 12 months- they have
become part of the problem, not the solution.” Coats added, “it is now
up to the Indian students themselves to mobilise and show that they are
not the deserving victims the police seem to make them out to be.”
Download attachment(s):
[ Media Release (PDF) ]
Rally on the steps of the SLV
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About a thousand university staff and supporters rallied in Melbourne on Thursday, 21 May.
It was part of a 24-hour statewide strike over wages and conditions that disrupted five universities - Deakin, Melbourne, Monash, RMIT and Swinburne universities. Latrobe were set to take action on 28 May.
As well, Hawthorn Learning joined the action and the University of Tasmania walked out in what was said to be the first strike there in 20 years.
About 250 marched down from the University of Melbourne.
Download attachment(s):
[ Verity Burgmann speech at NTEU Rally ]
"What do we want? - FAIR FARES!! When do we want them - NOW!!"
"Full Fair - NOT FAIR!!"
(Chants from the crowd at the GSA 'Fair Fares' Rally, Wednesday 29/04/09)
The Fair Fares rally moves towards the city.
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Over 250 students and supporters gathered on the steps of state
parliament last Wednesday (29/04) to send a loud and vibrant message
that Graduate and International students need 'Fair Fares'. Earlier
that day graduate students had gathered in front of the Graduate Centre
at the University of Melbourne to participate in the associations
Annual General Meeting, at which a vote was taken unanimously in
support of the GSA campaign.
Download attachment(s):
[ Article in Sydney University's Honi Soit Issue 8-09 ]
The message coming back from Masters coursework students at this University is that class sizes of more than 50 students are just too big for a seminar. Do you agree? Come and discuss strategies for reducing our class sizes and increasing the quality of education at this GSA public consultation forum around the topic, ‘Class sizes: they’re just too big!’
Date: Monday 27 April
Time: 5:30 for a 6 pm start
Venue: Gryphon Gallery, Graduate Centre (1888 Building)
CAPA President Nigel Palmer writes
to affiliates of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations,
with an update on postgraduate eligibility for the Training and
Learning Bonus, as part of the Household Stimulus Package. We publish an edited version below:
Just a brief update regarding postgraduate eligibility for the Federal Government’s Household Stimulus Package.
Read more...
The Graduate Student Association encourages all students who wish to
show their solidarity with the people of Palestine to get involved in
the
Students for Gaza campaign group. President Paul Coats regularly attends along with other GSA reps.
Students for Gaza meets every Tuesday at 12:30pm on the 2nd floor of Union House.
Contact Paul Coats for more information:
president@gsa.unimelb.edu.au
And to really show your support, join in during Palestine Solidarity Week 30 March to 3 April
'Postgraduate and international students now pay, for example, the
full cost of a zone 1 monthly ticket ($109.60), while local
undergraduate students pay HALF that.'
...
'A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the system
was fair, and ensured that students "IN GENUINE NEED" were given
travel discounts.' [The Age, Wednesday Feb 25 2009, 6, emphases added]
The system is NOT fair.
A University of Melbourne graduate student signs the public transport concession petition
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Victoria does not grant travel concessions to postgraduate students, and is one of only two states that do not grant travel concessions to international students.
Sign the GSA petition (PDF petition download attached below), and then get your fellow graduate students, friends, colleagues or family to sign it. Return signed petitions to the GSA reception, Graduate Centre.
Or sign this petition on the web
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fairfares/
Get involved with the campaign, contact GSA President Paul Coats
president@gsa.unimelb.edu.au
Download attachment(s):
[ Download Petition.pdf ]
Traffic, GSA's interdisciplinary, refereed graduate student journal, is calling for submissions to its eleventh edition. Tailor your research to suit the theme 'Fact or Fiction?' and you could win a $1,000 prize.
Picture from the Red Cross Website
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The Councillors, Office-Bearers and Staff of GSA have been shocked and dismayed at the devastation and loss of life resulting from bushfires across Victoria over the last week. Along with hundreds of innocent victims, whom we mourn, we also understand that one University of Melbourne students and two staff members have been killed.
We strongly encourage graduate students to assist in whatever way possible. The GSA has already donated $5000 to the Bushfire Appeal fund, and we suggest that graduate students might be able to help in the following ways...
The Graduate Student Association has been inundated with phone calls and emails from postgraduates worried they may miss out on the $950 payment.
"We're concerned that the eligibility requirements in several categories ofpayment outlined in the Prime Minister's 'stimulus package' circumvent the actual financial arrangements of many postgraduates, cutting them out of the scheme entirely", said new GSA President Paul Coats.
Download attachment(s):
[ GSAStimulusConcern.pdf ]
