The University is Federal land. Anyone who wants to peacefully assemble on it may. Any organisation that seeks to prevent this is, to my reading, in violation of the UN Charter for Human Rights, the Constitutiion, Mabo and the vibe!

Steve,

I declare you King of “The Castle.” ;)

hehehe
Angela

I don’t know much about the O-week controversy but can I just pipe in here and say that I was in a bible study with Richard Wilson for a year, and found him to be a top, top bloke, with a cute little kid named Harry who played a starring role in a photo-shoot for Z-Magazine many years ago. (Wow, Harry Wilson must be approaching his teens by now!)

I can’t imagine Richard intentionally doing anything to aggravate campus life intentionally, so if there is any fault it must be some sort of “noise” interfering with good communication. “Noise” is a communication theory word for all manner of things that interrupt clear understanding. As we have already seen, there’s been some “noise” just in this thread alone, so if that can happen so easily in here, why not give Richard the benefit of a doubt? This thing will blow over.

Another article.

With more confusion, it seems to me. The head of St Martin’s college congratulates the uni for its policy - but it’s not uni policy at all. It’s just the student council.

And can someone explain to me why there’s no laughter? In defence of this indefensible policy I have more than once read that there is better access to students - because they all clubs are entitled to place a note in the O-week bag.

I can at least assure you that the problem is not on all CSU campuses. Here in Albury we have the immense joy of piece of paper in O-week bag and the trifing pleasure of meeting students face-to-face in O-week.

And can someone explain to me why there’s no laughter?

Chris, apparently we’re not allowed to laugh because sarcasm and its many variants will inhibit discussion and soak up genuine dialogue quicker than a Chux in a puddle of Passiona.

It does seem like a tough O-week though. From the article you linked:

“I think this is an appropriate level of operation in what is a long, draining week for new students. Rather than being a ‘negative effect’ as reported, this move by the university has in fact had an extremely positive effect this week.”

So there we are, and it’s a pity people like the lady quoted have been scared away from this forum. I mean, if only people had been a bit more reasonable, we might have had an answer to the question I asked about the busyness of O-week. Specifically the one I asked Alex about what happened at the O-week night time activities, to mean that students would feel excessively pressured by the presence of friendly Club reps on campus during the day.

In the absence of a clear answer, I can only assume that those first-years were attending further important sessions regarding how to access online information, and the many other detailed and difficult orientation details that mean

It is not possible to apply what happens at universities in the city to what happens here.

Maybe you could say a bit more about the Albury O-week, Chris, as that seems to be a better point of comparison.

Or would you, also, be viewed as too citified to really be able to understand what pressures those Rivcoll freshers are under from their O-week programme?

But please don’t hear me mocking. I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation, and it’s just a pity there doesn’t seem to be anyone left to provide it.

Anyway, while we wait for further comment, this is probably as good a time as any to mention that it would be good to pray for the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students as they start up their work on tertiary campuses ‘round Australia this year. I’ve just phoned the people at Rivcoll and they’ve assured me that I’m allowed to do this* without feeling that it will unduly burden the first years at Charles Sturt Uni.

*OK, I didn’t actually phone them. But if I had, I’m sure they would have agreed.

I understand that the Sydney Uni EU (which is the largest student group at Sydney Uni) was prevented from doing thier normal O Week thing yesterday by the Student Union because their presence up set O Week’s corporate sponsors and thus affected the commercial value of O Week.

Matt Moffitt - 29 February 2008 07:06 AM

I understand that the Sydney Uni EU (which is the largest student group at Sydney Uni) was prevented from doing thier normal O Week thing yesterday by the Student Union because their presence up set O Week’s corporate sponsors and thus affected the commercial value of O Week.

Hmm, yep. You know that a Student Association has lost its way when Corporate Sponsors run the show!

It baffles me that such a fuss has been created out of this, what harm can a Club, especially the Evangelical Christian one do to O-week?

I’d also like to reassert that if this policy is not on paper, then how can it be enforced? How can it legally be used against a Campus Group?

With regards to SUEU, I really do fail to see why the Corporate Sponsors would see cause for concern with the presence of a Christian group there (affect the commercial value, how?)

It really just leaves me wondering…

Matt Moffitt - 29 February 2008 07:06 AM

I understand that the Sydney Uni EU (which is the largest student group at Sydney Uni) was prevented from doing thier normal O Week thing yesterday by the Student Union because their presence up set O Week’s corporate sponsors and thus affected the commercial value of O Week.

How sad for the integrity of the University of Sydney....

Grace & peace,
Terry

Hi again,

I noticed that EU is listed on the Syd Uni O-week program,
so was this a spur of the moment decision?

Can someone give us some further background please?

I would be interested to know what “corporate sponsor” sought this kind of ban.....

Perhaps they would like some more publicity for their products or services?

Grace & peace,
Terry

I’d be interested in knowing who the sponsor was too, Matt. I wouldn’t mind writing a letter to them expressing an opinion, and there may be others who are interested.

I note the usyd oweek web site is http://www.oweek.com.au/

If you download the programme - it has sponsers listed there.  Including “Gold” sponsors.  I won’t mention them, as I have no idea who asked EU to shut down there stall (or even if this rumor is true)

There are also links there to becoming a corporate sponsor.

For only $1250 the Sydney Diocese could become a premier corporate sponger.  Perhaps then they could ask for other various clubs to be shut down.

Mike

Terry Gallagher - 29 February 2008 04:43 PM

Hi again,

I noticed that EU is listed on the Syd Uni O-week program,
so was this a spur of the moment decision?

Can someone give us some further background please?

I would be interested to know what “corporate sponsor” sought this kind of ban.....

Perhaps they would like some more publicity for their products or services?

Grace & peace,
Terry

Great post James! But I’m not sure what your point was ;-)

Hi Gordo,

I’m not sure which sponsor(s) forced the Student Union’s hand on this, although according to my wife (who was leading one of the EU teams) there was a certain large Big 4 bank that found the EUers annoying.

Maybe James R knows more?

I could have sworn James’ post had more info when I read it last night. Did it really happen? Was I awake? Do I really exist? ...