Keeping Up With The Rudds
Posted by savevca1 on January 3rd, 2010
Therese Rein and Glyn Davis - New Years Eve 2009
The Federal Government’s refusal to buy into the VCA debate due to ‘academic freedom’ has always been a bitter pill to swallow, when University of Melbourne’s Vice Chancellor Glyn Davis has such a well known friendship with PM Kevin Rudd. However when it gets to the point that Kevin and Glyn are spending New Years Eve together (see Sunday Telegraph article below), does VCA have a cause to be nervous? Is the Federal Government capable of objectivity here? Post your thoughts below.
03 Jan 2010 The-Sunday-Telegraph
And by contrast….
07/07/09 Julia Gillard’s Office to SAVE VCA Member: “The Minister appreciates your interest in the VCA. However, as an autonomous institution, the University of Melbourne is responsible for managing its internal affairs including the structure of its faculties and the nature of its course offerings within broad profiles agreed with the Government. The University is best placed to determine the structure of its courses and associated staffing needs in the light of student demand and its own strategic direction”.
01/07/09 Peter Garrett’s Office to SAVE VCA Member: “The Minister appreciates your interest in the VCA, however, as an autonomous institution, the University of Melbourne is responsible for managing its internal affairs including the structure of its faculties and the nature of its course offerings within broad profiles agreed with the Australian Government. The University is best placed to determine the structure of its courses and associated staffing needs in the light of student demand and its own strategic direction”.
The problem is we’re trusting politicians to be objective, when history shows they’re notoriously fickle. We really need to seek private and/or corporate sponsors of our cause.
Perhaps this is good news. He might have been checking out job opportunities should the UoM Council ask him to walk.