Pamela Kenny, BA ANU, Dip Tertiary Ed NE, MA Macq. It will be known as Wally s Walk in recognition of the University s first Architect-Planner, Dr Wally Abraham, and will further enhance our delightful environment. A new pedestrian mall, due to be finished in April, will connect the western end of the campus through to the eastern side and the Research Park. I wonder how many of you have recently visited the campus, which is looking particularly attractive with flowering shrubs, trees and rolling green lawns. The difficulty lies in how research quality is rated across institutions and whether ideas of international excellence outweigh research applied to problems of critical national and regional importance. However, any change to present funding arrangements that favours the so-called Go8 universities could be detrimental to Macquarie. Macquarie has positioned itself well as an Innovative University and attracted a high level of research grants for its size. The Federal Government is examining a possible preferred research funding model taking into consideration national research priorities. Another potential change concerns research funding allocations. Those who have argued for the abolition of student union fees may not realise that, without a guaranteed cashflow at the beginning of each academic year, many services such as shops, food outlets, child care, meeting rooms, sporting and social facilities could not be provided. Less than 15 percent of union fees were ever directed to student organisations for political purposes, with over 85 percent providing for basic student services and facilities. For universities around the country, the recent passing by Parliament of the Federal Government s Voluntary Student Unionism Bill means that compulsory student levies will be abolished from 1 July For many, this will have serious implications for the level of services and activities traditionally offered on campus by student unions and sports associations. I would also like to thank Geoff Berry, who resigned from the Committee in 2005 after relocating to WA. Adam is a recent BA LLB graduate and a solicitor in the Supreme Court of NSW He has an impressive record of community commitment, including as NSW Young Delegate to the Constitutional Convention in A warm welcome to Adam and a welcome back to Russell Agnew. At our AGM in October a new member, Adam Johnson, was elected to the Standing Committee. Bronwyn Duncan Editor, Sirius This issue of Sirius marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one: we farewell our retiring Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Di Yerbury, AO, who has served Macquarie University for nearly 20 years and welcome our new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steven Schwartz, with whom we look forward to continuing a strong collaborative relationship. By taking the time to respond to the survey, alumni have made a valuable contribution to Macquarie, and it is much appreciated. Most respondents would like to continue to receive Sirius twice a year by mail (it will also continue to be uploaded on the alumni website.) Readers suggestions for specific changes to content were very helpful and we will take them into account when planning future issues. However, we can say that the great majority of respondents would like us to continue with the current format and content of their alumni magazine. A full report of the survey results will be published in the next issue. Although we have now completed the formal analysis of the 783 responses received by November 2005, we would still like to receive your reply should you wish to send it in. The response rate was just over one percent of our mailing list (the industry standard for this type of survey is one percent). 2 from the Chair of the Standing Committee of Convocation Changing Times Sirius Reader Survey Many thanks to all those who responded to the Reader Survey in the last issue of Sirius.
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