More than 100 students protested on Tuesday outside the library lawn of the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
The protest is the second one to have taken place to express objection to the University’s planned decision to close down its Modern Greek Department as of 2011.
The University claims low enrolment numbers to the program for the impending closure.
This is strongly disputed, however, by University students as well as Greek community figures. The UNSW Hellenic Society is accusing the University of avoiding any form of negotiations with interested parties.
“The university has refused to communicate with students, current and future, and refused to work with the Greek community to arrive at a win-win outcome,” James Theodoropoulos, President of the Hellenic Society of UNSW said in a statement sent to Neos Kosmos English Edition (NKEE).
“Discontinuing Modern Greek is yet another example of the declining academic and education standards at UNSW,” he added.
Greek community leaders had a meeting on Thursday September 10 with the Dean of Arts and Social Sciences Faculty, Professor James Donald who reiterated his resolve to close down the Department.
Among the people present in this meeting was the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales, (GOCNSW) Harry Danalis.
According to Mr Danalis, the UNSW Dean proposed that after 2011 only Greek classes for beginners could be available for a period of two semesters.
Additionally, a Greek mythology class will continue to be taught.
Yet, all intermediate and advanced courses will be suspended.
The Greek delegation asked Professor Donald to reconsider the decision and to grant them more time in order to try and raise enrolment numbers through targeted campaigns in the Greek community.
They even pledged to guarantee the financial viability of the program until enrolment numbers increase.
“He was adamant, however, and he told us straight out that he is running a business and that he is convinced that the Greek program is not viable either in terms of numbers, money or research,” Mr Danalis said referring to the exchanged arguments during the meeting.
The President of the GOCNSW did concede that for the last few years there has been a steady drop in the number of enrolments.
“If we don’t take interest in promoting the teaching of the Greek language to our children and grandchildren the days are numbered for the existence of similar programs in Universities throughout Australia,” Mr Danalis pointed out.
A pending issue to be resolved between University authorities and Greek community leaders is the allocation of $1 million that sits in the Modern Greek Department trust fund.
Suggestions were discussed at the meeting including the establishment of several post doctoral fellowships, but no decisions have been made.