People always ask me what the primary issues of concern facing our queer youth today are. In response, I usually reel off a list of concerns facing queer students in university, one of which is the threat to student representation.
There are roughly 8000 queer-identifying university students in Western Australia and each one of them faces discrimination and lack of representation at the hands of VSU. Voluntary Student Unionism (or VSU) sounds like a great concept at first: the idea that one joins a union, not out of obligation, but because one chooses to, appears reasonable enough. But this becomes a problem when it leads to the breakdown of funding for basic student rights and representation throughout the course of one’s degree. Currently 78% of all student unions in Australia are on the verge of dissolution because of inadequate funding, leaving queer students especially exposed with no suitable avenue to turn to for advice, counselling, representation and advocacy.
Queer departments are one of the most active of the guild networks. Not only do they provide the essential support and information that GLBTIQQOP students require, but they provide a social aspect. This gives queers a safe, non discriminatory atmosphere to relax from the stresses of university. Queer departments provide a necessary emotional support network at a crucial time in a person’s life. Queer safe spaces have, throughout the decades, provided visibility for the community and an outlet for youth expression. Naturally, the university environment these days is more open and accepting, and it is a great opportunity for queer students to become comfortable in their own skin.
Organisations such as the Cross Campus Queer Network (CCQN) – a collective effort of all four universities’ queer, gender and sexuality departments, which represent the rights of all GLBTIQQOP students in the state – the National Union of Students and the individual University Guilds (that haven’t been driven into the ground) are currently banding together to fight the good fight. They aim to combat the hangover of the Howard years, giving Student Unions and the diverse gender and sexuality student community a voice. Given the vulnerability and marginalisation of the community, it is our responsibility to make a stand and fight this battle together and bring VSU to a halt, not just for queer representation, but for that of our fellow students as well.
For more information contact State Queer Officers Emma Kingdon (0416 436 399) or Shamini Joseph (0423 951 635).
Emma Kingdom
