Environmental Committee

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CONTINUED...

Georgia Walton Briggs | Stand Up! Hey there! I’m Georgia (she/her), a third year Geography student, and I’ve been lucky enough to serve as your EdAc Officer in 2020. Here, I’ve helped fight for students, to make university policy fairer and more equitable. I believe adamantly in free and accessible education for all. The Education Department is very close to my heart and I can’t wait to continue advocating for students next year! Vote [1] Stand Up! Keep up the Fight!

Matthew Harper-Gomm | Stand Up! The Education Department is at the centre of a lot of the activism that UMSU does, and it is often the first point of call for students raising issues with everything from learning conditions on campus to broader issues that students want to engage with like climate change or education funding. If elected, I will ensure that we have an Education Department that is vocal and unapologetic in holding the university to account, while also empowering students to stand up for their rights at university and beyond. Vote [1] Stand Up! Keep up the Fight!

Shirley Killen | Student Resistance Hi I’m Shirley, and I’m running for Education Committee with Student Resistance. Student Resistance are left-wing activists at Melb Uni who will represent students against attacks on our education. The crisis in the university sector has revealed the backwards priorities of the billion dollar institutions and millionaire executives: to profit endlessly at the expense of students and staff. Equally outrageous is the Liberal governments’ attacks on students and the ability for disadvantaged students to access higher education. As an Education Committee member I will fight against every sacking, subject cut and austerity measure that the university deals out by mobilising staff and students to fight for their rights.

Emma Dynes | Student Resistance Hi I’m Emma from Student Resistance and I’m running for a position on the Education Committee. Student Resistance is a group of radical students who, in the midst of historic crisis and attacks on our education, are dedicated to transforming UMSU into a fighting body that opposes the government and university’s outrageous cuts to students and staff. I will use my role as an Education Committee member to fight for the rights for all students from all backgrounds, not just a privileged few, to attend well-resourced universities and receive a quality education without going into crushing debt. Jaan Schild | Student Resistance Hi I’m Jaan from Student Resistance and I’m nominating for the Education Committee. Student Resistance are anti-capitalist activists at Melb Uni who will fight attacks on our education from the University and the Liberal government. The crisis in the university sector has exposed the logic of education under capitalism – run by profit-driven executives and governments rather than for the needs and interests of students. Our University is the richest in Australia, with billions in reserves and assets, yet is currently in the process of sacking hundreds of staff. As an elected representative I will fight against these attacks on staff and students.

Raphael Duffy | Student Resistance Hi I’m Raph, and I’m running for a position on the Education Committee with Student Resistance. Student Resistance are dedicated education activists. We are committed to free education that is accessible to all, not just the well off. It is clear, however, that the government and university management are concerned with one thing only: profits. University executives are sacking hundreds of staff and cutting subjects, while the Liberal government pushes through historic fee hikes and attacks on the already watered-down HECS system. As an Education Committee member I will mobilise students to fight against these attacks on higher education.

Benjamin Fok | Student Resistance Hi I’m Ben, and I’m running for Education Committee with Student Resistance. The Liberal government’s plans to increase fees by as much as 113%, slash university funding for all students, and kick students who struggle with their first-year subjects off the HECS scheme represent a historic attack on students. As a left-wing student activist I am appalled by the government’s prioritisation of profits and cost-cutting over the rights of all students to an education. If elected I will use my position to fight for free, fully-funded education for all students, not just the wealthy.

Xavier Dupe | Student Resistance Hi I’m Xavier from Student Resistance and I’m running for Education Committee. Student Resistance are student activists and key organisers in the campaign against attacks on higher education. For years the university has made massive profits from charging international students exorbitant upfront fees, and now that some of those profits are in danger the millionaire executives are making up for it with attacks on staff and students. Already this year the Vice Chancellor has tried to slash staff wages and conditions, which members of Student Resistance played a key role in fighting, and we continue to organise the campaign against mass sacking, subject cuts, and attacks on students from the Liberal government.

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

Benjamin Cronshaw | Independents for Student Democracy I am passionate about sustainability and the environmental challenges of our time. Preserving and caring for the environmental is critical for ongoing human, but also recognising the intrinsic self-worth of animals and the environment. University is a great place to learn about taking on environmental challenges as young emerging leaders and advocating for a better future for ourselves and coming generations. I am keen reader on environmental challenges and public policy, including climate change. I am also a member of several community environmental organisations such as TreeProject, Greening Australia, and Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC).

Rubina Smith | Community for UMSU Heya! I’m Rubina, a third-year politics and geography student whose ‘hobbies’ include building grassroots coalitions to fight climate change, unionism, feminism, and environmentalism. I’ve helped build the climate strike movement here at the University to a five hundred strong contingent, fought for better response policies to sexual assault in colleges, and brought the Food Cooperative back from the dead. I know what it takes to run engaging collectives that people come back to week after week, and I know the ins-and-outs of the University’s Sustainability (mis)demeanors. I can’t wait to help keep the enviro office grassroots, active, and passionate.

Aashi Agarwal | Community for UMSU The quality of the environment determines the health of the people and the sustainability of this environment makes it easier for future generations. Unimelb is promoting companies like Rio Tinto for career affairs which are defamed for land and culture destruction and encouraging students to be a part of such companies. A policy of greater focus and promotion of green/environmentally conscious organisation would be ideal. To fight for a better and more sustainable environment we need to stand together and bring a change in such promotions and wastage. Vote [1] Community, your community fighting with you!

Laura Cardamone | Community for UMSU Hi! I’m Laura Cardamone, I am a third year arts student majoring in politics and philosophy. I want to join the environment committee to channel my disgust with large corporations, Melbourne Uni included, into something practical. To me, the biggest cause of inaction towards large corporation’s destructive agendas is a lack of awareness. Being selected, I want to raise awareness with disruptive protests, easy to understand info packs and crystal-cut

Laura continued... evidence of what the world will be like if we don’t act soon.Vote [1] Community, your community fighting with you!

Jeremy Lorenzo Larsen | Community for UMSU Hi there, I’m Jeremy, a third-year commerce student majoring in economics and finance! I’m very passionate about the environment, which can be seen from a large amount of zucchinis tomatoes and eggplants I am growing in my yard. I want to build awareness of climate change and other environmental issues throughout the university while contributing to long-term, environmentally friendly, sustainable measures on campus. Vote [1] Community, your community fighting with you!

Jacinta Douglas | Community for UMSU Hello, my name is Jacinta and I would like to be a part of the Environment Committee. I enjoy learning about other people’s perspectives on the world and sharing with them my own, which include the importance of conserving the land and cultural sites that traditional owners from generations ago until now have preserved, and fighting for our generation’s right to have a cared for earth, this being particularly close to my heart a Dja Dja Wurrung descendent. I want to be a part of creating positive change for the university through honest and genuine conversations.

Sanskar Bhatia | Community for UMSU I’m Sanskar, a second-year undergraduate student who is passionate about environmentalism and campaigning for a safe and sustainable future. I see the position of the Committee Representative as an excellent way to be a part of a team that makes a positive contribution to the student community. I feel I am an ideal candidate for the positions as I am a highly motivated, results-oriented individual, willing to go the extra mile to reach goals and learn along the way. If elected I will respect your support and pledge to work for the issues that are critical to all students.

Daniel Hutchinson | Community for UMSU Hi I’m Dan, and I’m running for Environment Committee. Environmental degradation is an unfortunate reality in Australia. I have been involved in campaigns about various issues in the past year particularly in defense of the Great Barrier Reef and against the Adani Coal Mine. I have been supporting protests and raising awareness about the consequences. I want to help run broad campaigns around local and global environmental damage as well as run forums to host discussion around how we can save the planet from avoidable disaster! Vote [1] Community, your community fighting with you! Ezra Bangun | VVholesome Do you want another plant fun fact? Well, plants are able to convert Carbon Dioxide and Water into Glucose and Oxygen. The formula is 6CO2 + 6H20 -> 6O2 + C6H12O6. Thank you for listening to my chemistry class! Always be VVholesome, and don’t forget to vote [1] (and [2], and [3], and etc.) for the ticket you prefer (it can be us, or anyone else)!

James Gallagher | Fee Remissions Now! Hi, I’m James and I want to fight to cancel fees until we can safely have in-person classes again. Online education is crap. We’re paying over $30 000 to read and watch Zooms. Plus the government wants to privatise education even more. They’re cutting funding to environmental science when we need it most. Obviously class has to be online until the pandemic is over. But why should students have to pay for it while Melbourne Uni has reserves of $74 million, plus cash to spend sponsoring mining conferences? Vote Fee Remissions Now! to fight for fee refunds.

Harry Syson | Stand Up! Hey everyone, my name is Harry Syson (he/ him) and I’m running for a position on the Environment Committee. During the pandemic focus has shifted, and rightfully so, to minimising lives lost. However, the global disaster of the rapidly changing climate still remains an issue of paramount importance and action is still needed, more so then ever. Our campus has a rare opportunity to be a force for good in the fight for a sustainable world and I’d love to be a part of that. So make sure to vote [1] Stand Up! Keep up the fight!

Jaslyn Potter | Stand Up! Hi I’m Jaslyn (she/her), I am a first-year Bachelor of Science student with a keen interest in Human Biology and Environmental Science. I believe that environmental sustainability should be equitable to all. As a member of the Environment Committee, I will prioritise the interests of students and advocate for progressive and sustainable climate action. Vote [1] Stand Up! Keep up the Fight!

Vishal Chopra | Stand Up! Hi! I’m Vishal (he/him) and I would like to inspire people to cultivate a connection to nature, whether it’s by growing a plant, or appreciating our local wildlife. There are many local issues that I would like to bring attention to - barriers to accessing green spaces, which is an issue that has been highlighted in COVID restrictions. I would also like to spread an awareness of native Australian foods that we can grow in our campus and local community gardens, such as Finger Lime, Native Sage, Saltbush, and more! Vote [1] Stand Up! Keep up the Fight! Emily Kaji | Stand Up! Hey everyone, I’m Emily Kaji, and I am running for Environment Committee. Issues surrounding the environment are really important to me, as to many students. Whether this is Unimelb investing in fossil fuel industries or our government denying climate change, in my position on the Environment Committee I will make sure that the Environment Office Bearers will be working on both internal and external campaigns. I can only do this if you vote for me and Stand Up! Vote [1] Stand Up! Keep up the Fight!

Edie Bush | Stand Up! Hi everyone, I’m Edie and I’m running for Environment Committee. The impacts of the changing climate is something that affects every single person, especially students. We can’t study on a dead planet, and with the university insisting on investing in companies that profit off the destruction of earth, fighting these is incredibly important. The university should be held accountable for these atrocious investments, and that’s something I want to fight. Vote [1] Stand Up! Keep up the Fight!

Desiree Cai | Stand Up! Hi everyone, I’m Desiree and I’m running for Environment Committee! I’ve been actively involved in running campaigns for UMSU and NUS for awhile now, and the environment has always been an issue that comes up consistently. Climate change is one of the scariest prospects for students, with many worrying for their future. I want to make sure the university is making good choices, and that we’re running incredible campaigns to fight for the planet. Vote [1] Stand Up, Keep up the Fight!

Xavier Dupe | Student Resistance This year began with unprecedented bushfires setting huge parts of the country ablaze, clearly driven by the effects of climate change. Meanwhile our government’s “National Covid-19 Coordination Committee” is stacked out by billionaire mining execs, who have signalled that Australia’s economic recovery will be led by a more vicious programme of extracting and burning fossil fuels, accelerating the already existing climate catastrophe. Clearly we have a fight on our hands. They have their committee, lets put radical activists in ours so we can organise protests and strikes to shut down this system that puts profits above all else.