The Flinders University Student Association (FUSA) is a student union at Flinders University, South Australia. It provides free welfare services, academic advocacy, grants for clubs and societies, and funding for the student newspaper, Empire Times. It also organises an O'Week each semester, as well as various social events throughout the year.
| Abbreviation | FUSA |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Student Association of Flinders University (SAFU) |
| Formation | 1 January 2013 |
| Type | Student union |
| Location | |
President | Janageeth Logeswaran |
General Secretary | Nathaniel Winter |
Education Officer | Benjamin Grillett |
Main organ | Student Council |
| Subsidiaries | Empire Times (Student Publication) |
| Affiliations | National Union of Students (Australia) |
| Website | www |
| [1] | |
FUSA does not have a structurally separate student representative body, and is overseen directly be an elected Student Council whose members are responsible for providing political representation to students.
History
editBetween 1966 and 2006 the Student Association of Flinders University (SAFU) provided student representation on campus. When the Howard government introduced voluntary student unionism in 2005 the organisation lost the vast majority of its funding and soon collapsed.[2]
FlindersONE, a commercial company owned by the university, took over most of the services formerly provided by SAFU and a Student Representative Council (SRC) was created as a subcommittee of the FlindersONE board.[2]
After the Gillard government introduced the Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF) in 2011 representatives of the SRC began negotiations with university to create an independent student organisation. A funding agreement was reached with the university, and on 23 April 2012 the SRC voted to endorse the constitution of the Flinders University Student Association.[3] Student representatives completed their terms and the first FUSA Student Council began on 1 January 2013.[2]
Student Council
editNotable former members of student council included Kate Ellis, and Amanda Rishworth.
2024 Student Council
editIn 2023 student elections, FIRE-UP had a landslide victory with Activate and Left Action only gaining one General Council member each.[4] In 2024 student elections, FIRE-UP held their majority on student council, with General Council member and First Nation Students Officer as Independents and Fair Dinkums gaining Environment Officer after the withdrawal of the FIRE-UP candidate.[5]
FUSA Student Council | |
|---|---|
| 13th Student Council | |
| History | |
| Founded | October 1, 2012 |
| Preceded by | 12th Student Council (2024) |
| Leadership | |
Student President | Nathaniel Winter, FIRE-UP since 1 December 2024 (−9 days ago) |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 20 |
Political groups | Government
|
| Elections | |
First election | 2012 |
Last election | October, 2024 |
Next election | October, 2025 |
| Meeting place | |
| Alere Cafe, Bedford Park Campus | |
| University Council Room, Registry building, Bedford Park Campus | |
| Website | |
| FUSA Student Council | |
| Rules | |
| FUSA Constitution & Regulations | |
Campaigns and activism
editFUSA has called for better public transport to the university from the Government of South Australia, citing the high number of students driving to campus and the low number of car parks provided by the university.[6]
In 2015 FUSA and the National Tertiary Education Union organised an extended campaign against the Abbott government's plans to create a $4 million policy center at the university run by climate denier Bjorn Lomborg. The organisers claimed that the proposal was done with no consultation with staff and students, and threatened the academic reputation of the university.[7] In 2015 plans for the centre were dropped by the Turnbull government.[8]
Further reading
edit- Graham Hastings, It can't happen here: a political history of Australian student activism (Students Association of Flinders University, 2003).
References
edit- ^ "FUSA Student Council Results". FUSA. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ a b c "About us". FUSA - Flinders University Student Association. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ "SRC Minutes, 23 April 2012" (PDF). FUSA - Flinders University Student Association. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ "2023 Election Results". FUSA.
- ^ "FIRE-UP holds Fortress Flinders". [et]. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ Spencer, Sarah (12 May 2014). "Students demand better public transport to ease parking problems at Flinders University". News.com.au. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ Burrell, Andrew (25 July 2015). "Lomborg centre: Flinders uni students ready to fight". The Australian. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ Knott, Matthew (21 October 2015). "Bjorn Lomborg research centre dropped by Turnbull government". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 January 2016.