Call For Dean Pretty To Resign / Vic Upper House Debate VCA
Posted by savevca1 on May 27th, 2010
Students at SAVE VCA Week Rally
NTEU WANT NEW LEADERSHIP AT VCA
The National Tertiary Education Union has today called for the resignation of VCAM Dean Sharman Pretty. Read The Age’s coverage here. Read the Screenhub coverage here.
The NTEU have also made available a forum by which VCAM staff can submit their feedback on all things VCA. Click here to access the forum (you can remain annonymous and do not have to be a Union member).
Flashback:
- The now infamous “siloed” “make their own costume” interview with Dean Pretty
- Geoffrey Rush on the Dean’s vision for VCA
- Noni Hazlehurst on the Dean’s vision for VCA
- ABC774 Jon Faine interviews the Dean
VIC UPPER HOUSE DEBATE VCA
In other news, last night (26/5/10) saw the Victorian Upper House debate VCA for a second time in less than twelves months.
Read the transcript here (from page 93 of the PDF)
A heartfelt thanks to the members of Parliament who spoke so passionately about VCA and called for immediate state intervention - Bruce Atkinson (Vic Libs), and Sue Pennicuik (Vic Greens). We completely endorse these members concerns with the Review Report, the University financial management of VCA (especially rental and admin fees), the threat to elite arts training and the Victorian arts economy, and the absolute need for the Victorian Government to take responsibility for VCAM (because the merger was an act of the Victorian Government!).
Labor speaker Jaala Pulford maintained the Govt line that no new funding was on the table for VCA, but Ms Pulford did draw attention to a suggestion the Uni Melb subsidy of VCA would not be withdrawn. Whilst this is not a lasting solution SAVE VCA would endorse (and quite easy for the University to work around by slashing budgets further to remove the need for a subsidy), the shift in tone from the Government is welcome and we hope will materialise into action.
We trust the words of all those who spoke last night were well heard at Melbourne Inc Headquarters. VCA will be SAVED this year.
What did you think of what the speakers had to say?
Do you endorse the NTEU demand for the Dean to quit?
Post your comments below or on Facebook.
Yes, she should resign immediately! How anyone can ‘lead’ a large institution of people who have zero confidence in her, and whom she has callously sought to undermine is beyond me!
And the Review reaffirming the VCA’s commitment to practical education must be embarrassing for her… given her comments about specialisation last year.
Labor has seriously dropped the ball here. It’s not only Bachelor who doesn’t give a damn about the VCA, it’s Bronwyn Pike as well. As Education Minister, she should recognise the need for a place like the VCA in this town. What she doesn’t realise is that it only takes a small swing in her seat to put her out of a job this November. The Greens candidate will only need an extra 2% or so.
The Liberals are obviously determined to save the VCA and while Bachelor is far to entrenched in his safe Labor seat, those who live in the seat of Melbourne should send a message to Pike that the indifference of people like her will not be tolerated by the Arts community. Just how far from the pack has the Labor party strayed when one of it’s highly supportive unions makes a demand contrary to the government’s position on this issue?
Agree. Dean Pretty should resign, although she probably has a ‘golden parachute’ clause in her contract, making a removal more lucrative. She can then write in her CV either a) her reputation for corporate slashing-and-burning is now internationally recognized or, b) she is yet another member of staff removed as part of Glyn Davis’ Melbourne Model.