“The key to understanding the Ramsay Centre... is that it’s not merely about Western civilisation, but in favour of it”. This is a quote from Tony Abbott, a board member of the Ramsay Centre, which the University of Melbourne has just decided to partner with.

UMSU is deeply concerned by the University’s decision to partner with the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation to create a new scholarship. Funding should not come at the expense of the values of academic independence, diversity, and inclusion.

While the University has stated that "All elements of the Scholarship program will be administered and delivered by the University of Melbourne," the selection panel is planned to include a representative from the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation alongside three Faculty of Arts academics. UMSU is concerned that this raises legitimate questions about the influence the Ramsay Centre could have in determining which students receive scholarships at our university.

The Ramsay Centre has a long and well-documented history of controversy. For years, student unions have questioned whether the Centre’s ideological associations are aligned with the independence expected of higher education. For many students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the framing of “Western Civilisation” has historically been associated with the exclusion or marginalisation of other histories and lived experiences.

“In a time where racism remains a significant issue on campus and on the back of UMSU’s biggest racism survey ever, we urge the University to reconsider the message this partnership sends to students. This presents as a bid for a Eurocentric, right wing group to gain influence on our campus.” - Lushy Chinganya, UMSU President

“I question what a partnership of this nature welcomes into our university, particularly the Arts discipline in such trying times. Not all money is good money, we must be honest about what this model of right-wing philanthropy appeases, it is a dangerous compromise of integrity” - Anyang Wal, People of Colour Officer

We are calling on the University to end the partnership and support students in promoting antiracism, ensuring that higher education remains a place where all histories and perspectives can be studied critically, respectfully and without political interference.