Benjamin Hourigan

Today I post the last of Michelle Smith’s responses to my comments on the “Women’s Edition” of Postgraduate Review. Here Michelle explains some more about how and why themed editions of PGR are put together, and writes about her opposition to VSU because of its impact on UMPA’s ability to provide services to students. A reminder that these words are Michelle’s alone, and aren’t an official statement from UMPA. Tomorrow: A final email from me in which I explain my most basic reasons for supporting VSU…

A further response from Michelle Smith

Thanks for your reply also. I would still beg to differ that the “women’s edition” or any of the other editions we’ve had on, for instance, international student issues have been irrelevant to all other students as we have always included significant other content (half the magazine or more) on issues/reviews unrelated to the particular group we may be focusing on. We have had other very tenuous themes such as “opportunity” and “new beginnings” which have just served as ways to tie the content together and to provide a cover image- there are always certain requirements for inclusion in every edition as mandated by UMPA policy (officer reports, higher education news, UMPA events etc.)

I would also suggest that we present these issues very differently to commercial publications, say in the instance of Cleo, because we specifically took up the concerns of women as postgraduates in the articles on mature-age women or women studying computer science in the student profile. These perspectives related specifically to the postgraduate experience of the students involved, and I can’t see why a man couldn’t read an article about a woman studying IT or a mature-aged woman coming back to study. I’d be equally as happy to look at men studying primary teaching or nursing in future editions.

It really is impossible for every one article to relate to every one postgraduate student, so we hope to cover a range of key issues for postgraduates in every edition as well as some that may only affect a certain proportion of them. There are specific issues of concern for international students that do not usually apply to local students (visas, say) and it seems strange that we shouldn’t look at subjects that may help these students because it won’t benefit local students who don’t face the problem. Or, perhaps we shouldn’t look at issues surrounding Research PhDs (I have a student who has volunteered an article on an alternate model of the PhD for edition 3), as the majority of postgraduates are actually coursework students.

As you have raised some of the reasons for your opposition to compulsory payment of the Amenities and Services Fee, I will just briefly go into why I support it. Many of the services a small organisation such as UMPA provides won’t be able to be funded on a user pays basis. Things such as independently representing students when they have a concern with their supervisor (the number one subject students come to us about), are faced with an allegation of academic misconduct, or are in a dire emotional state due to study/work/life pressures are not necessarily things that you can operate at market rates for students who may be on low incomes. Not every student has one of these problems, this is true, but if it were only students who could afford to pay commercial advocacy or legal rates who contributed to keeping these staff on the payroll UMPA would not be able to be paid their wages. In effect, the services would have to disappear or be scaled back to a bare minimum, thereby removing the “choice” to seek help if a student wishes to pay because it simply won’t be on offer. It will not be easy for UMPA to roll out memberships like the undergraduate union as postgraduates enrol throughout the year; we are not permitted to email them; at the Melbourne Business School postgraduates are enrolled on a trimesterly basis; and some postgrads enrol without ever setting foot on campus.

UMPA’s activities will most likely be reduced to about a third of their present level. While some things such as our 360 guide for postgraduates, lockers, study carrels etc. could still be provided if we charged individual students for them, other things which are less tangible, but probably more important for students’ completion rates, would disappear. Similarly, as with the advocacy services, students who could not afford to pay market rates ($100-$150 per hour times what could be more than ten hours work) would miss out.

I will consult with my manager and fellow UMPA representatives as to whether I will allow you to publish my email responses on your blog. I would be happy for you to do so, but need to bear in mind that UMPA does work as a representative student organisation and I need to take into account opinions as to whether this would be a helpful or harmful thing to do.

I also hope you will keep in mind that this was just one edition out of more than forty editions of PGR, and that our next will address how to get/cope with tutoring work, what Centrelink/Family Assistance Office benefits students may be entitled to, the
student union employment service, how to manage your study psychologically by the counselling service etc. -basically articles that are of potential import to most postgraduates. PGR is actually the only thing we know all postgraduates receive from us (as we cannot email them due to university policy), so it is our way of letting them know about our events and support services as well, not just a magazine for enjoyment.

I’ll let you know about the permission for your blog when I’ve spoken to my colleagues. I will also discuss the possible publication of your letter in PGR, although our next edition is in the layout stage right now and due at the printer quite soon.

Best wishes,

Michelle

In response to the email I sent to Postgraduate Review (posted yesterday), Michelle Smith sent me some detailed and thoughtful responses. Michelle has kindly given me permission to reproduce her words (unedited) here, so that her point of view can be represented. Please note that these are Michelle’s words, and they do not represent the position of UMPA as a whole. Tomorrow: More from me…

Michelle Smith responds

I am the UMPA Publications Officer and am responsible for the content of Postgraduate Review, as directed by the Publications Committee of the Association (made up of a number of postgraduates inside and outside UMPA who give suggestions and directions for content). Vyvyan Cayley is a staff member who copy edits the publication for accuracy, hence why I am responding to you instead of her.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to our edition. Ultimately UMPA’s existence and the future of the publications we produce is under threat as a result of proposed VSU legislation. While I understand that some students hold the view that they do not support compulsory student unionism (although no one is forced to be a member of UMPA under Victorian law), UMPA Council (made up of 17 students elected freely and fairly by over 1000 postgraduates via the Victorian Electoral Commission) has decided that we will seek to fight VSU because it will jeopardise the existence of the Association which we represent. It is just not logical that we would support the decimation of the services that we believe and know to be helping many postgraduates in need.

I am following the direction set out by UMPA’s Council, Research and Campaigns Committee and Publications Committee in reminding students that this publication will be very difficult to fund next year. If you believe that editions such as this one which included a number of articles on women’s issues are a misdirection of student funds, then you are entirely entitled to feel justified that VSU will ensure your money is not used for publications/events you do not support. Please note, though, that yours is the only such complaint we have received from the over 10 000 postgraduate students who receive this mail out.

I have looked after PGR for the past two and a half years and have really tried to focus the magazine on practical helpful advice for postgraduates rather than focusing on generalist articles that may simply be written by postgraduates. In response to feedback received, it seems most postgraduates are happy with this more practical focus of PGR. The fact that we have devoted one edition to women’s issues (as well as providing regular content such as higher education news, book reviews, relevant concerns such as plagiarism) in ten years of this publication hardly seems like a scourge of rampant Leftism.

Our Council, in fact, could not be described in this way at all, and is primarily (or almost exclusively) made up of students who have had no previous association with student politics, and who are not members of a political parties. We actually have a very large proportion of international students on our Council who are there simply because they want to contribute to bettering services and support for themselves and their fellow international students. They are consequently very worried about what will happen to the support they rely on from UMPA should VSU come in, and are not interested in advocating a left or right standpoint.

In this year of impending VSU legislation UMPA has a line item of a mere $2000 of its budget of over $1 million set aside for the campaign against VSU. Our focus has been upon delivering support, services and representation that is of direct benefit to students. The addition of the banner on the edition of Postgraduate Review you refer to did not cost any extra money, and a similar slogan has been used on a back cover of PGR in 2003.

It seems then that your primary concern is with the theming of the edition on women’s issues. We have had previous editions that have focused on international student issues, mature age students, coursework students and the upcoming edition is on “getting by” regarding employment and managing your degree psychologically. We try to cover in each edition issues as they relate to all students and also focus on issues that groups of students may face. We unfortunately do not have a women’s officer this year and I received many suggestions that including a number of articles on this subject in PGR may do well to redress the situation for the year. The article on the Women’s March Meet is always included each year, so really there were only three other additional articles included on mature age women postgrads, feminism today (at the request of the Publications Committee who were by no means Leftist, but interested to know what the state of feminism was today) and a profile of a woman studying in an area without many other women (we would normally run a profile of a student anyway). The article on parenting written by the Language and Learning Skills Unit was not specifically targeted at women, but intended as a help to all postgraduates managing work, study and raising their families- not all postgraduates are full-time research students in their twenties.

UMPA is an open and accountable organisation and you are entirely welcome to contribute to the direction of PGR via joining the Publications Committee or running for UMPA Council (you will find the election materials in the July edition of PGR). I believe if you were to participate in the running of UMPA you would see that there is no Leftist drum beating just people trying to work to make life easier for postgraduates. That said, it is not going to be possible to create a publication that is perfect for every postgraduate given they range from 23 years old to 80 years old, can be rich or poor, full-time research students or professionals doing an MBA at night, but we do try to meet the needs of as many of them as possible.

As for the existence of a letters page, because of the relatively non-contentious nature of our publications we have barely received any letters in my term running PGR - in fact, we received just one email concerning an election article that gave the policies of every political party in relation to higher education issues. After letting us know his concerns, I believe the student was happy just to have spoken with us rather than seeking publication of the letter.

Having worked at UMPA for over two years now and knowing what the organisation faces I am personally very upset and worried about the support and services postgraduates will lose next year. Nevertheless, I respect your position on VSU and will not argue with you on that matter. I am, however, certain that this edition of PGR reflects what students and UMPA’s committee structure directed me to do. Like our political leaders’ decisions, they may not please all of the people all of the time.

Please do suggest any articles that you would like to see in future editions and I will be most willing to bring them to the Publications Committee.

Best wishes,

Michelle

My web server has been down for most of today. And nary a word from my web host, not even once I could collect my email again. Not that I’ve been posting much lately, but if you tried to look and couldn’t, don’t worry, I’m still here. Or do worry, if you happened to go to one of those ridiculous anti-VSU … [coughs] ... uh, anti-freedom rallies today, since … [whispers] I am not on your side.

In case you’re wondering who my webhost is, it’s World Super Host. And no, I wouldn’t recommend them. Not unless you like unexplained downtime with your dirt-cheap hosting.

I just did the Geek test, which tells me that I am only 28.59961% geek. Apparently this still makes me a “total geek,” but I’m a little disappointed (though also relieved). Only 28.59961%! I think I ought to get at least an extra 0.00001% because these are the main things I’ve done today:

• Written a long email about videogaming on the Mac to a new postgrad in the English department.
• Taken my PC to get repaired, having correctly identified a problem (the smell of burning) with my power supply, though having failed to notice a couple of burned and melted capacitors on the motherboard.
• Posted on my blog four times, including this one, referencing a videogame at least once each time.

And that after cleaning my apartment a little I plan to play some more World of Warcraft.

In some ways, though, this is an atypical day, since I’m resting on my laurels after finishing the first draft of my PhD thesis. I will, however, shortly be off them, or else end up without either of a PhD or living stipend.

Anyway, do the test. I can highly recommend it: it’s much less stupid than most of the “self-assessment” tests on the internet, and you won’t feel like it makes you choose between alternatives that are all unsatisfactory. I hope you do better than me, whatever your idea of “better” is in this context.