15 May 2012

Pictures from the School of Music protest

| johnboy
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school of music protest

Orangedrummaboy has sent in pictures from today’s protest in defence of the School of Music and these words:

The usual quiet of the ANU campus was intruded upon by a large, loud though peaceful march, protesting the cuts proposed for the School of Music.

After meeting in Union Court for music and speeches of solidarity, the group of some 2000 (estimated) students, Union reps, lecturers, general staff, politicians and members of the public formed a procession to snake through the campus.

The destination was the Chancelry, with a brass section leading a rendition of “When the Saints go Marching in”, the python of protest slithered around to the entrance of the VC’s office block, and curled up on the grass outside. A circle of musicians played while others danced in support.

There was a brief unanswered chant, beckoning the VC to come out, but overall, it was one of the more vibrant and celebratory protests I’ve ever born witness to.

Here’s the full slideshow.


Additionally Overheard sent in this video:


And this one from Vimeo:


UPDATE 15/05/12 08:35:

SirGigGuy has created a comprehensive video record of the protest:

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Tetranitrate11:49 pm 15 May 12

dph said :

Seems like a worthy cause. Unfortunately, Uni students hold protests that often that it’s hard to keep up or care.

Rubbish. It’s very rare that any significant number of students come out to protest anything these days.

Do you want to give some examples of these amazingly frequent students protests? preferably ANU specific and this side of 1980, but I guess I’ll take what I can get.

Good work to Orangedrummaboy and the creator of the video on getting some really good coverage up very quickly.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back11:57 am 15 May 12

Jim Jones said :

johnboy said :

everything has to be paid for.

Universities are paid from the public purse, aren’t they?

There’s definitely some churn through the public purse, although student fees (HECS in my day) and full fee paying students defray some of this cost.

Lots of organisations are pulling their belt in at the moment, because there’s less money floating around. Presumably the ANU chose to reduce the music program as a measure for containing cost, and also reduced other programs and services also.

Fundamentally, an organisation can’t survive if its costs are greater than its income. So there are several choices available:
* reduce other programs and/or services
* increase fees
* seek other funding

Ultimately, the university will make a choice. Given the nature of universities, it probably won’t be a very efficient one.

Music is a wonderful thing, but it still has to be paid for somehow.

johnboy said :

everything has to be paid for.

Universities are paid from the public purse, aren’t they?

Baldy said :

Jim Jones said :

Deref said :

Jerry Atric said :

What a sad place the ANU has become. Welded to the teat of full paying student hopeful accountants, it has lost sight of what it should be accounted for. Principal musician off to Hong Kong! Talk about the two way trade! Canberra music festival in full swing while Llewellyn Hall burns!

+1

The business of universities should be eduction, not business.

+ another 1

Great turnout at the protest. Lotta talent there too.

If you don’t think that the arts are worth contributing public funds to, please stay inside and watch reality television instead.

My my, what a lot of smug comments. If you don’t listen to music then you must be a bogan that watches Reality tv * looks down on these philistines*. You by any chance aren’t related to the smug person who writes those holier – then thou “Canberra Creatives” are you?

Oh and by the way, though I am not one of those poor, underevolved Accountants who are insufferable dull apparently, even Ican tell you that the Uni is a buisness. Education doesn’t come free and the money has to come from somewhere.

Everything has to pay for itself or it has no value. What a horrible way to think.

everything has to be paid for.

Jim Jones said :

Deref said :

Jerry Atric said :

What a sad place the ANU has become. Welded to the teat of full paying student hopeful accountants, it has lost sight of what it should be accounted for. Principal musician off to Hong Kong! Talk about the two way trade! Canberra music festival in full swing while Llewellyn Hall burns!

+1

The business of universities should be eduction, not business.

+ another 1

Great turnout at the protest. Lotta talent there too.

If you don’t think that the arts are worth contributing public funds to, please stay inside and watch reality television instead.

My my, what a lot of smug comments. If you don’t listen to music then you must be a bogan that watches Reality tv * looks down on these philistines*. You by any chance aren’t related to the smug person who writes those holier – then thou “Canberra Creatives” are you?

Oh and by the way, though I am not one of those poor, underevolved Accountants who are insufferable dull apparently, even Ican tell you that the Uni is a buisness. Education doesn’t come free and the money has to come from somewhere.

You would think that student at an university level music school would come up with a better song/tune. Whoever sang it has a nice voice though. Nice protest as well. I enjoyed it, even if I did turn up because I was expecting a good music show.

I got this on a twitter yesteray – @SimonCopland: Jack points out that the #schoolofmusic has a huge impact on the Canberra community that will be lost of the cuts occur.

I can’t really agree with this. What have they done for the Canberra Community? And will anyone but musicians really notice?

And who was the guy in the mask and cap and why was he wearing it? I thought he was part of the act of something but he just hung back. Music students *rolls eyes*.

Deref said :

Jerry Atric said :

What a sad place the ANU has become. Welded to the teat of full paying student hopeful accountants, it has lost sight of what it should be accounted for. Principal musician off to Hong Kong! Talk about the two way trade! Canberra music festival in full swing while Llewellyn Hall burns!

+1

The business of universities should be eduction, not business.

+ another 1

Great turnout at the protest. Lotta talent there too.

If you don’t think that the arts are worth contributing public funds to, please stay inside and watch reality television instead.

Great video now in from SirGigGuy.

Some good pictures of a large group of people wanting someone else to pay for something they want.

Jerry Atric said :

What a sad place the ANU has become. Welded to the teat of full paying student hopeful accountants, it has lost sight of what it should be accounted for. Principal musician off to Hong Kong! Talk about the two way trade! Canberra music festival in full swing while Llewellyn Hall burns!

+1

The business of universities should be eduction, not business.

Overheard said :

dph said :

Seems like a worthy cause. Unfortunately, Uni students hold protests that often that it’s hard to keep up or care.

Awesome. Just stunning. Were you the muse for David Williamson’s “The Removalists”?

Apathy rules O…… nah, couldn’t be arsed finishing that bit.

dph has a point. Let it sink in before the indignation.

(And learn how to hold a camera steady you incompetent f*ck)

dph said :

Seems like a worthy cause. Unfortunately, Uni students hold protests that often that it’s hard to keep up or care.

Awesome. Just stunning. Were you the muse for David Williamson’s “The Removalists”?

Apathy rules O…… nah, couldn’t be arsed finishing that bit.

Seems like a worthy cause. Unfortunately, Uni students hold protests that often that it’s hard to keep up or care.

3/4 of the protesters were from GetUp! . They were handing out pamphlets

2000…? Art Degrees amongst them… maybe… but in the photos it doesn’t look like any more than 1000 people.

What a sad place the ANU has become. Welded to the teat of full paying student hopeful accountants, it has lost sight of what it should be accounted for. Principal musician off to Hong Kong! Talk about the two way trade! Canberra music festival in full swing while Llewellyn Hall burns!

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