Australian Greens Senator Janet Rice has added her name among those of politicians showing an outright support for Greek studies to continue at La Trobe University. She writes that the “two-week consultation period is inadequate” and more thought needs to be put into the decision to terminate the only Greek studies program offered at a Victorian university. “The Australian Greens acknowledge that the Morrison Government’s failure to support tertiary institutions during the COVID-19 crisis has left universities in unprecedented financial positions,” she writes.
Below is her letter in full:
Dear Professor Dewar,
I am writing to you as Australian Greens spokesperson for Multiculturalism. Many of my constituents have raised concerns with my office about La Trobe University’s proposed cuts to multicultural courses, including Greek, Hindi and Indonesian language studies.
The Australian Greens share these concerns, and condemn La Trobe University’s proposal to discontinue these courses which are of immense value to diverse communities across the country, and because of that to our whole Australian community. I am also concerned that a two week consultation period is inadequate for students and community members to provide feedback on the proposal.
I understand La Trobe University is the only Victorian university to offer a Modern Greek studies program, and one of few national universities offering Hindi and Indonesian language studies. The discontinuation of these courses will deny many students the opportunity to connect with community, family, history and culture, and leave Australia the poorer because of that.
READ MORE: Labor, Liberal and La Trobe University’s Greek studies: a political perspective
The Australian Greens acknowledge that the Morrison Government’s failure to support tertiary institutions during the COVID-19 crisis has left universities in unprecedented financial positions. This burden must not however be passed onto multicultural communities. We have advocated strongly for increased funding to Universities and are willing to stand with you in campaigning for extra funding if lack of funding is the underlying reason for these cuts.
Australia is one of the most culturally diverse countries on earth, and we are stronger when we celebrate this diversity. One of La Trobe University’s core values is “championing local communities in Melbourne’s north”, and so I ask that you act on the concerns of community members, and reconsider the proposed cuts to language studies.
Kind Regards,
Senator Janet Rice
Australian Greens Senator for Victoria