Swinburne Student Union
Swinburne Student Union is the representative body for students at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia. It is a multi-million dollar organisation with 40,000 members at the university across four campuses.
It provides a variety of student services, including computer facilities, photocopying and entertainment. It also grants funding to more than clubs and societies at the university. It also publishes a student newspaper called Tabula Rasa.
Until recently it operated catering facilities, although in December 2005 the university declined to renew the Student Union's lease on catering outlets and has undertaken to provide catering services itself.
In March 2006 the union was the subject of controversy after the vice-chancellor, Prof. Ian Young, announced that the university would not renew the Union's funding for 2006 - an expected payment of A$1.5 million. Media reports speculated of the "collapse" of the organisation as a result. The organisation has been under considerable financial pressure, with job cuts reducing staff numbers by half last year. It recently terminated the executive officer, Balrama Krishnan for gross and willful misconduct. He had worked for the University for over 26 years.
The Swinburne Student Union has however risen from the ashes with the Council implementing a range of strategies to ensure long term survival. They are due to kick of their voluntary membership packages on the 1st of July 2006. The President Vicky Kasidis and the Part-time Representative Keith Warburton have both worked hard towards creating a viable, vibrant and student focused organisation.
The Swinburne Student Union describes its vision as:
- This union of students asserts that from our diversity emerges a collective truth. Through democratic processes and unity of spirit, each Swinburne student shall be heard. Together, we provide mutual support and service for all members of our educational community to achieve social justice.
Its mission statement mandates that its purpose is: To enhance the educational experience of students at Swinburne by facilitating responsible and effective representation, providing a responsive range of education and support services and building community through social and cultural activity.
2006 Officers
- President: Vicky Kasidis
- Education Vice President: Michael Kandelaars
- Secretary/Treasurer: Divyakumar Jain (Monu)
- Access/Equity Officer : Caspar Cumming
- Croydon Campus Chair : [vacant]
- Hawthorn Campus Chair : Kalaesh Subramaniam
- Lilydale Campus Chair: Charles Fernandez
- Prahran Campus Chair: Prue Challis
- Wantirna Campus Chair: Svetlana Metlenko
- International Representative: Bernard Wan
- Mature Age Representative: Darshan
- Part Time Representative: Keith Warburton
- TAFE Representative: Brad Green
- Undergraduate Representative: Martin Costello
- Environment Representative:
- Indigenous Representative: [vacant]
- Media Representative: Bita Riazati
- Queer Representative: Justin Kramer
- Womens Representative:Vacant
Former Presidents of the Swinburne Student Union
- 1973: Judith Ruddock
- 1974: Glenn Sargent
- 1975: Yolanda Benn
- 1976: Graeme Lambert
- 1977: Brian Watson
- 1978: Alida Helleren
- 1979: Michael Newman
- 1980: Marco Marcou
- 1981: Andrew Mahar
- 1982: Andrew Mahar
- 1983: Mark Smith
- 1984: Scott Wooden
- 1985: Kevin Smith
- 1986: Kevin O'Connell
- 1987: Kevin O'Connell
- 1988: Lisa King
- 1989: Lisa King
- 1990: Esther Abraham
- 1991: Esther Abraham
- 1992: Lisa Ferguson
- 1993: Simon Rayward
- 1994: Tomasz Koska
- 1995: Aseel Faraj
- 1996: Karen Brady
- 1997: Stephen Murray
- 1998: Antony McMullen
- 1999: Antony McMullen
- 2000: John Perrymeant
- 2001: Vicky Kasidis
- 2002: Gautam Gupta
- 2003: Jason V Ngam
- 2004: Jason V Ngam
- 2005: Adrian Cahill
- 2006: Vicky Kasidis