New NUS Queer Officer takes a stand

They’re often seen yelling into megaphones on a street near you, but student union activists refuse to stop fighting their uphill battle for funding.
Incoming National Union of Students Queer Officer Liam Byrne is no exception when championing student rights. The Melbourne University arts student said it’s vital that services offered to queer students continue in the future.
The Rudd Government gave an undertaking last year that underfunded student services (a result of voluntary student unionism) would be a thing of the past.
On campus, however, queer activists say the Government’s proposed scheme is still not good enough for struggling groups.
Federal legislation currently before the Senate will allow higher education providers to impose an annual compulsory student services and amenities fee of up to $250 from July 1 this year.
Under the scheme universities, not student unions, will collect fees from students.
Student unions are concerned that this method will see the demise of certain activities and groups such as queer collectives.

Fresh from university Orientation Week, Byrne told Southern Star that provisions in the federal Government’s proposed student services fee will leave queer groups -œout in the cold.
He said the impact has already been felt with some universities having no queer representation at all.
Early indicators suggest services including child care, sport and societies, and student media will be likely to get the funding nod while student union-organised groups like queer collectives may miss out.

-œWhile it is varying from campus to campus, the indications so far are definitely very worrying, Byrne said.
-œA number of administrations think queer organising is not something which they see as going along with the marketable image of their university.
-œIf they are then funding student unions which are then taking up the issue of same-sex marriage rights which is putting pressure on the federal Government, I believe they are
going to be worried this will damage the relationship with the Government and they may be more recalcitrant in terms of funding.
At his home campus of Melbourne University, Byrne said the news is not looking bright and university administration has not considered the plight of queer students.
-œThere’s still a space to campaign around it. They haven’t categorically said no, but they haven’t included us in the key things that need representation.
-œHomophobia doesn’t stop at the university gates. It’s still alive on campus. It’s especially important that we have queer departments, queer collectives, places like this where students can find a safe space.

info: unistudent.com.au