Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) is the student union organization responsible for representing postgraduates at the University of Sydney, and is Australia's oldest student association for postgraduates. Postgraduate students were traditionally those that undertook higher research degrees, and SUPRA was traditionally a small organization representing PhD students, however with the emergence of postgraduate masters coursework degrees in the 1990's, its membership has grown to over 15,000 members. SUPRA is rare amongst student representative associations in Australia in that it represents postgraduates exclusively.
It is constituted under approval of the University of Sydney Senate (the governing board) and as such the University of Sydney Act.
Contents |
[edit] History
SUPRA was formed by Science postgraduates in 1970, as a forum to allow students to exchange news about approaches to and experiences in PhD studies in different parts of the University. It had no official status until 1974 when its constitution was approved by the University Senate. The reason SUPRA was formed initially was that candidates for higher degrees were not defined as members of the student body, but were considered to be junior academics, and therefore not eligible to be members of the SRC. In 1974, SUPRA held its meetings in the staff club, and a compulsory fee of $2 was applied to all postgrads; its income was $1,113 for the year. SUPRA grew rapidly in membership, and in 1977 the first staff member was employed. By the early 80's, SUPRA had been provided with dedicated office space in a Terrace House on Darlington St., by the University Campus.
By 1985 SUPRA’s income was over $100,000. In 2004 total student fees were at the $1 million mark, giving some indication of growth in postgraduate coursework degrees over the last 20 years. Given its large budget, and strong academic setting, SUPRA has traditionally had a strong influence on national student politics, through representation on the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA). This includes several SUPRA members who have been elected as President of CAPA, along with almost continuous presence on the CAPA council.
A stipend was introduced for the President in the 1991/2 council term ($90/week), while the President continued his/her degree. In the 1996/7 council term, the President deferred from study and the position of President became a full-time stipended position. The President is responsible for both the representative functions and the administrative oversight of the organization (guided by the elected SUPRA Council). The 2002/3 and 2003/4 SUPRA terms involved a co-Presidency scheme where the representative and administrative functions were split between two leaders. This was driven by necessity, as Council could not identify a willing suitable candidate to run SUPRA full time. In 2007/2008 SUPRA again has two co-Presidents.
[edit] Recent controversy
There was substantial organisational instability in the past few years for a number of reasons. The 2004/5 elections were marred by electoral fraud and fixing (see http://digest.idmedia.org.au/2004/29octb.html and other entries at idMedia) usually referred to a 'Gigi-gate', which has been associated with the notorious members of the Liberal Party Gigi Wong (from The University of Sydney) and Victor Ma (from Macquarie University).and subsequent destabilisation of the association. This continued in 2005 with presidency of Janet Lee. The student population rebelled against the corruption and mismanagement rife within the organisation and at the 2005 AGM motions of no confidence were moved from the floor and the meeting voted not to accept the returning officer's (Arraj's) report. Despite this, Lee and Wong refused to relinquish control of the organisation. Eventually after numerous attempts from students to reason with Lee and her refusal to call an Extraordinary General Meeting and have fresh elections the general student body took action. A group called SAVESUPRA, who organised to ensure SUPRA returned to safe hands. Through the Postgraduate Fellow of Senate, Mr Jack Clegg, SAVESUPRA were able to enlist the University's assistance.
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of over 100 students in the Stephen Roberts Lecture Theatre voted to remove the old Gigi-associated council from office and empower five students Roozi Araghi, Jack Clegg, Jenny Leong, Estelle Noonan and Rosemary Whitecross, as an emergency management committee to conduct new elections. These students took control and quickly established that during the Wong/Lee time that more than $200,000 had been misappropriated under the watch of the Financial Manager, the then Liberal Mayor of Randwick, Mr Ted Seng.
Wong and Lee, however, were not content with democracy and disagreed with the overwhelming views of students. They launched Supreme Court action in Equity against the emergency management committee, who were later dubbed The SUPRA 5. The SUPRA 5 engaged Lisa Doust from Morris Blackburn Cashman and eventually the case was dropped by Lee in the face of impending loss and the fear of damages.
Democratic elections took place in early 2006 and Jenny Leong became the first President of SUPRA after the Lee/Wong 'dark ages' with Roozi Araghi as Vice-President, Rosemary Whitecross as Secretary, Anthony Kachenko as Treasurer, Estelle Noonan as Director of Publications and Jack Clegg as Policy Officer.
In mid 2006 and mid 2007 further democratic elections took place. Ms Kate Barnsley and Mr Jack Clegg became the co-Presidents from July 2007.
Voluntary student unionism was introduced by Federal Act in 2006, meaning that students could choose to join, or not join, their representative association.
The SRC and SUPRA worked closely together and managed to secure a funding deal from the University to ensure both organisations survival for 2007. Negotiations for 2008 and beyond are in progress now.
[edit] Publications
SUPRA produces a range of publications for its members, the centerpiece publication being eXpress magazine, and the annual Survival Guide for students. The Thesis Guide produced by SUPRA is used by research students at many other universities in Australia, and is available at www.usyd.edu.au/supra/.
The organization also produces occasional major reports and submissions to Parliament on aspects of higher education, such as:
- 'Some socio-medical aspects of sex', Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, Sex Education Committee, 1976.
- 'Postgraduates and the tertiary tax : a survey of postgraduate students, HECS and fees at the University of Sydney', Kerri Watson, 1989.
- 'Report on Supervision Guidelines and Grievance Procedures', SUPRA report produced for the CAPA Annual Council Meeting, 1990.
- 'Report on Intellectual Property Regulations', SUPRA report produced for the CAPA Annual Council Meeting, 1991.
- 'Progress, What Progress?' (ed. with J. Wooding), Proceedings of the SUPRA Work in Progress Conference, 1992.
- 'They Came, They Spoke, They Progressed', (ed. with A.Vorsay and J.Wooding), Proceedings of the Second SUPRA Work in Progress Conference, 1993.
[edit] Past SUPRA Presidents
Unlike the undergraduate SRC, political affiliation has played less of a role in determining the President. As such, political affiliation is not noted here. Many SUPRA Presidents have progressed to academic roles (as one might expect of PhD graduates), and been elected to the University Senate.
Each council is elected to serve a 12 month term, from 1st July to 30th June. Prior to the commencement of presiding council, the elected council members meet to elect from amongst themselves members of the executive (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer) and chairs of sub-committees.
| Year | President | Vice President |
|---|---|---|
| 1985/6 | ||
| 1986/7 | David Burchell | |
| 1987/8 | Gail Reekie | |
| 1988/9 | ||
| 1989/90 | Jonathan Wooding | |
| 1990/1 | Carole Cusack | |
| 1991/2 | Carole Cusack | |
| 1992/3 | Carole Cusack | Louise Trott |
| 1993/4 | Shane Ostenfeld*/? | |
| 1994/5 | ||
| 1995/6 | Louise Trott | |
| 1996/7 | Kyle Oliver | |
| 1997/8 | Tom Clark* | |
| 1998/9 | Dave Trudinger | Kathy Esson |
| 1999/2000 | Kate Stenner | Tarrin Wills |
| 2000/1 | James Taylor | John Byron* |
| 2001/2 | Kristin Barlow | Arturo Bravo Nuevo |
| 2002/3 | Lilla Smee & Roberto Martinez/Matthew D. Hall (co-presidents) | - |
| 2003/4 | Kat Martindale & Matthew D. Hall (Co-Presidents) | |
| 2004/5 | Gigi Wong; Janet Lee | Benny Lee? |
| 2005/6 | Jenny Leong (post Supreme Court action and new elections) | Roozi Araghi (post Supreme Courst action and new elections) |
| 2006/7 | Jenny Leong | Roozi Araghi/Jodie Coleman(Acting)/Kate Barnsley & Jack Clegg (Co-VPs) |
| 2007/8 | Kate Barnsley/Jack Clegg | Richard Bailey/Emily (Lulu) Stewart |
- Subsequently elected President of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, CAPA.
Web-site: http://www.usyd.edu.au/supra/
