Monash University recently held an online question and answer session for students to ask the Dean of Arts about their semester two university experience. The forum was spruiked as way for students to get answers, but only succeeded in raising more questions.
After a student from the Monash Fightback campaign asked about the university sacking 277 permanent staff and the effect that was likely to have on education quality, they were ignored, muted and removed from the forum. Two other students were likewise muted when they challenged the moderators censorship of the first student. The moderator was hostile and dismissive towards the students’ concerns, arguing that the questions had not been “congenial” or “friendly” enough. Students did not agree, and the campaign has since experienced an explosion of online support.