Vol. 2 No.3 - 28 March - Adm.monash.edu - Monash University

2 • Chisholm Gazette 28 March 1985Caulfield park- g: the ·squeeze is on Parking at Chisholm'sCaulfield campus is oneproblem that just won't goaway.This year the actual numberofspaces availabe to Chisholm'staff has declined, and thesituation looks unlikely toimprove, at least in the shortterm.Car Parking CommitteeChairman, Mr Ray Pugh, toldthe Gazette of the currentsituation as it relates to Areas 1and 2, the Caulfield Plaza,Queen's Avenue, the'free' areanear the railway station, inresponse to requests by stafffor more info·rmation.Area 1:This year the fee.to park herewill be increased to $150 peryear, and staff who wereprepared to take up parkingspaces in the area when theywere first offered will continw'to have first claim.Mr Pugh says it is unlikely thatany further permits will beissued for Area 1, other than forInstitute vehicles.A few spaces were lostbecause of the extension to DBlockArea 2:'The news relating to Area 2 isnot good,' says Mr Pugh.In 1984 the Area containedabout 180 parking spots, forwhich about 190 parkingpermits were issued.This year there are 100 fewerspaces (as a result of 27spaces being allocated toTAFE staff around two houses,and the demolition of thehouses for the student unionbuilding), with an estimated153 people eligible to apply forpermits.Mr Pugh says the Committeeagreed that the best solution tothe problem was to tell thosestaff with Area 2 permits of thelimited number of spacesavailable, and let each decidewhether to renew permits ornot.'It is obvious that if themajority of staff renew theirpermits it will be necessary toarrive at the Institute wellbefore 9am to be sure offinding a vacant Area2 parkingspof.Patrols of the Area bygatekeepers will continue, toensure only permit holderspark in the area....----LETTER---9 From Dr Bill Briggs Development DirectorThe issues behind Dr Graeme Lorimer's letter (Gazette, 28February, in support of the continuation ofgovernment/public backed fundamental research) areimportanttothe future of Australia and need to be opened upand debated If correct decisions are to be made.The questions which must be examined are not the intrinsicvalue of knowledge or the international reputation of Australia'sfundamentalresearch- those are not in doubt- but whether, in anenvironment of scarce resources and intense internationalcompetition, the knowledge being generated and the areas inwhich our research skills are being applied are bringing or vyillbring, appropriate benefits to the nation.These issues are now being considered very seriously in theU. K where it is contended that much academic research hascontributed very little except kudos to the nation.In this post-industrial era, the resource needed to maintain anation's wealth in the first rank is increasingly its ability togenerate and to use new knowledge. 'Australia has a poor record in this area in recent years, which isnot helped by the fact that while the Government now seems torecognise the need for a manufacturing sector based oncompetitive technology, it has paid scant attention to the need tofinancially support the growth of tertiary education and researchto provide that technology and the people to run it.Give support, the education and research must be relevant tothe nation's nep.ds.Much has been said about Australia'S dependence on importedtechnology and the unwillingness of many of its industrial leadersto take risks and exploit local inventions.Regrettably, much of that criticism is true.On the other side of the coin, industry sees most academicresearchers as interested only in publications and disinterestedin joining local industry in exploiting the results of their workThis is in sharp contrast to the U.S., Western Europe and Japan,where industry beats a path to academia's door and vIce versaAs a small nation in an intensely competitive Situation, Australiacannot afford the lUXUry of supporting every branch of scienceand learning.Hard decisions must be made between fields relevant to theeconomic and cultural needs of our children and those which arenot.Many definitions of relevance are possible and must bedebated; I propose the simple first question: 'Will the fieldcontribute to Australia's economic or social well-being within thenext 25 years?'Can we really justify the proposed investment of $50 million in asatellite telescope, for instance, or would the money be betterspent on, say, biotechnology or developing the next generation ofsteel-making technology?These sorts of questions are heresy to many of the science andacademic community, but I believe they must be addressed,priorities must be set, and funds distributed accordingly.To fail to do so is a recipe for disaster when our internationalcompetitors are attempting to answer the hard questions· and te..pick the winners!W. R. S. Briggs Chisholm Development Director Caulfield Plaza:Mr Pugh says the 40 spacesavailable at the Plaza have alsobeen lost, in spite of efforts bythe Committee to convincePlaza shopkeepers that staffwere more likely to patronisethe shops if they could parkthere.Those staff on the waiting listfor Area 2 permits and thosewho have lost their parking inthe Plaza will be given 'preference for any future Area2 permits.Queens Avenue:The student Union isundertaking a survey of peopleparking in the all day area ofQueens Ave, to find out howmany train travellers afe usingthe areaMr Pugh says the results ofthe survey will be used todetermine the best strategy tomaximise the availability of thisspace for Chisholm staff andstudents.'Free' Area:The 'free' area created by thedemolition of five houses at thecorner of Railway and PrincesAvenue, will be unavailable forparking in about two • threemonths when construction ofthe Student Union · building 'begins.Equality' all-clear: From Page 1 Mr Anthony Bailey told themeeting he strongly supported.the adoption of the policy andthe moves to implem~nt it.That was the only way to avoidthe problem of equalopportunity being dealt withpiecemeal - and 'swept underthe carpet because it is all toohard.While he wanted the numberof Council committees reduced,not increased, he supporteothe establishment of aStanding Committee on EqualOpportunity to ensure it hadthe 'political clout it needs',An Equal Opportunity Officerneeded to be 'appointed andappointed fasf, Mr Bailey said.But while a full time officerwould be needed at firstbecause 'I believe this personwill have a great deal to doinitially', there should beprovision for reduction of tI.. ~appointment to fractional timelater as the policy wassuccessfully implemented.Mr Tony O'Grady told themeeting that while theAcademic Board had not seenthe final policy draft put up toCouncil, ' he believed it had'fairly strong support from theAcademic Board and SchoolBoards in principle'.However, there were questionson the implementation of thepolicy.'There is strong opposition insome quarters to the appointmentof an Equal OpportunityOfficer', he said.Mr Bill Morton said he wantedto support Councirs adoptionof the policy and theimplementation proceduresproposed by the WorkingParty.There was no option otherthan to make the implementationbody a committee of Counciland to appoint an EqualOpportunity Officer 'if we aregenuine and wish to appeargeniune', he saidTHE POLICYThe policy as adoptedstates that Chisholm Instituteis committed to a policy ofEqual Opportunity with theobjectives:• To promote equalopportunity in all aspects of theInstitute's activities.• To eliminate direct andindirect discrimination andensure the continuing absenceof discrimination on thegrounds of sex, race,impairment, marital status,religion, political belief, sexualpreference and age in theareas of employment, educationprovision of goods andservices and accommodation.• To eliminate and ensurethe continuing absence ofsexual harassment in all areasof the Institute's activities.An Equal Opportunity Officerresponsible to the Director willbe appointed by CQuncil. TheStaffing Committee is toconsult with the Director todetermine the level of theappointment and whether itshould be fractional or full time.A Standing Committee onEqual Opportunity will be setup with at least 11 members,comprising four members ofCouncil (including one who is aStaffing Committee member),two Student Union members, arepresentative each from theAcademic Staff Associationand the Victorian CollegesStaff Association at Chisholm,a member of the AcademicBoard nominated by the Board,an officer of Staff Branchnominated by the Staff Officer,and the Equal OpportunityOfficer when appointed. Thecommittee will have the powerto co-opt additional membersto meet the target of havingeach sex represented by atleast two members and at leasttwo members from eachcampus.The terms of reference of theStanding Committee include:• Consider and advise onprinciples and proc:duresappropriate to the Institute'spolicy on Equal Opportunity.• Monitor the policy and itsimplementation.• . Direct and Equal OpportunityOfficer.• Ensure all persons in theInstitute are aware of theissues, problems, .and theirresponsibilities in implementingthe Equal Opportunity policy.• Recommend changes topolicy as necessary.• Prepare procedures to dealwith allegations of discriminationor harassment and ensure theyare investigated.Prized glass A stained glass panel,'Pictures of a Diary No.2'won a $500 acquistion prizefor part-time Glass Studiestutor, Mr Gerhard Emmerichsat the City ' of Box HillAcquistlon Prize Exhibitionon 7 March.A Graduate Master GlassPainter and Gradtlate GlassDecorating Technician (WestGermany), Mr Emmerichscompleted his Bachelor of Arts(Fine Art) (Craft) at Chisholmlast year.He has been teaching at theInstitute since 1982; and iscurrently based at theFrankston campus.Another prize winner in theglass category at the Box Hillexhibition was 1984 Bachelorof Art (Ceramic Design)graduate, Tanja Sioanwith, forher entry. 'Cold LaminatedFused and Painted Glass onEtched Background'.