On the 20th of March, Woroni attended a student community meeting to discuss the future ANU strategy. After listening to Lady Gaga on the loudspeaker for 15 minutes and the photographer taking crucial photos of us holding the Woroni jumper, Charley Elwood (ANUSA President) began to explain why we were all here.  Standing beside our interim vice-chancellor, Professor Rebekah Brown, and deputy vice-chancellor for education Professor Joan Leach, Ellwood told us they’ve “heard the university is currently without a strategy”. As “it’s important the strategy is reflected in the entire community” the 30-person crowd asked questions surrounding student issues. We noted interesting answers regarding student life, Renew ANU, and ANU’s call for divestment in weapons companies. 

Student Life

Ellwood began with a bold statement “we’ve been paying more than ever for degrees and not seeing the funding we need – how do we get out of there?”After some laughter, Brown agreed, acknowledging the pressure on universities for financial stability. However, Brown directed this question towards our politicians and government, encouraging us to ask “how much do we value being a knowledge economy?” Finance was discussed further, in particular regarding how ANU plans to grow and improve ANU accommodation. After acknowledging that “a university is a big complex beast,” Leach reassured that the goal of the university is to find the opportunity to “get more students living on campus in a financially helpful way.” On other topics, Leach made the first formal announcement of the ANU careers hub in the former Harry Harthogg space. The ANU careers hub is advertised to ensure there are more employers in all fields for students to meet, in fields including the government, private entities and NGOs. 

Renew ANU

Renew ANU, our past university strategy described by the ABC as throwing the “lives of students and staff at ANU into disarray, sought to cut $250 million in just over a year. In its aftermath,  Brown has announced that she will “ensure that the student voice is involved in crafting our next university strategy. After acknowledging her employment during the Renew ANU-era, Brown admitted that there was a “period of uncertainty across our university” that was disruptive to studies. Brown’s words of encouragement were that she has “no plans to pursue a Renew ANU approach ever again,” certainly under her leadership. There are promises to end “involuntary staff redundancies” and build a strong, sustainable university. Leach agreed with this approach, as a university with a global standing should not have a strategy based on what courses are most popular. Instead, Leach noted that ANU should be a place of compassion, as “what matters most is what matters to you.”

Divestment

Brown and Leach were also questioned on “what steps will it take [for the ANU to] divest from fossil fuels and weapons?” Brown responded that she was as “surprised as everyone else…about the investments” and that she “wishes it could be fixed.” She told the audience that the university goes through a broad consultation process regarding investment, and that the screens “did not meet [their] expectations.” According to Brown, the ANU has “put together a review committee chaired by the Chief Financial Officer, and is reporting directly to the ANU’s investment committee on council.” As such, the results from this review committee are expected “very soon.” 

While this meeting lacked turnout, ANU promised to students that they want to do better. The ability for ANU to keep these commitments impacts our lives, and students must continue to hold universities accountable.