Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · 22d

We're very proud of Zoe at ANU!

Reposted by Laura Rademaker

Francis Markham @francismarkham.bsky.social · Sep 7

Australian universities are in a governance crisis. VC pay blowouts, scandals, mission drift — these aren’t random, they’re structural.

This new working paper with @marijataflaga.bsky.social & Keith Dowding digs into why the system is broken, and how to fix it.

doi.org/10.25911/MWW...

A thread:

Neither corporate nor government: Why university governance needs to be different, and better
Marija Taflaga, Francis Markham and Keith Dowding.

Preprint, 29 August 2025. https://doi.org/10.25911/MWW4-9781

Abstract
Australian universities face a governance crisis rooted in failures of accountability. Unlike parliaments and corporate boards, university councils lack effective mechanisms for principals to discipline agents. In parliaments, voters can replace elected representatives; in corporations, shareholders can vote out directors. Both systems close the delegation–accountability loop, ensuring alignment between principals and outcomes. University councils, however, are self-perpetuating bodies dominated by external appointees, and in recent decades they are typically from corporate backgrounds. As neither producers nor consumers of universities’ core product—knowledge creation and dissemination—they have minimal intrinsic stake in academic outcomes leaving councils detached from the university’s core mission. This misalignment fosters mission drift, weakens oversight, and contributes to repeated scandals. Because councils largely appoint their own successors, they remain insulated from meaningful scrutiny, unlike boards or parliaments where underperformance is sanctioned externally. Restoring accountability requires giving academic staff and students a renewed oversight role, alongside clear safeguards for the public interest. Because academics and students are both producers and consumers of knowledge, they have a direct and enduring stake in its quality. We recommend two mechanisms to do this are:
1. Academic Senates empowered to appoint and review council members, ensuring councils reflect the university’s purpose.
2. Robust Committee Systems that embed staff and student voices in decision-making, reduce information asymmetries, and align incentives with academic purposes.

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Reposted by Laura Rademaker

Warwick Anderson @wombatscholar.bsky.social · Sep 4

Australian writers shocked and ‘disgusted’ by closure of 85-year-old literary journal Meanjin

Meanjin published the cream of Australia’s writers. With its sudden closure, a vital, 85-year thread of our cultural conversation will fall silent.

theconversation.com

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Aug 26

This is the big one. Anyone is welcome to sign, you don't have to be at ANU, you just have to care about higher ed. www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/pe...

Petition to ANU Council

In support of our petition, we observe that:  • ANU Council has the entire control and management of the University and is required to act in all matters concerning the ANU in the way it thinks w...

www.megaphone.org.au

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Aug 26

theconversation.com/universities...

Universities have lost their way, but cost-cutting and consultants are not the answer

Last week in Sydney, we saw a melodrama acted out that could stand in for the state of Australian universities more generally.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Laura Rademaker

Jon Piccini @jonpiccini.bsky.social · Aug 21

ANU and the Search Foundation are offering a PhD with $100,000 top up to complete the final (1970-91) volume of the history of the Communist Party of Australia. 👇

Calling for Applicants to the Australian National University-SEARCH Foundation PhD Scholarship | School of History

history.cass.anu.edu.au

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Aug 15

Chancel Culture, David Pope

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Aug 12

Courage @drdemography.com www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

ANU academic Liz Allen tells the Senate Education and Employment Education Committee that she's been "bullied into near suicide"

Follow the latest news headlines from Australia's most trusted source. Read in-depth expert analysis and watch live coverage on ABC News.

www.abc.net.au

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Reposted by Laura Rademaker

Jenny Frecklington-Jones #IStandWithWatermelon🍉🍉 @joneshowdareyou.bsky.social · Aug 3

It is massive. Thanks to Peter Deppeler on Twitter for the footage. #GazaGenocide #MarchForHumanity

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Reposted by Laura Rademaker

Ana Stevenson @dranastevenson.bsky.social · Jul 31

A shoutout to all the academics who are also working 9 to 9, 24/7 👩‍💻

History Australia @historyaustralia.bsky.social · Jul 31

Your #openaccess ☕📘 coffee read 📘☕ sorted! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #historyaustralia
@dranastevenson.bsky.social on ‘Workin’ 9 to 9, 24/7’: political humour about Australian politicians and ministerial staffers during the Rudd-Gillard era

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 31

We also have a fancy new website therha.com.au

Religious History Association

therha.com.au

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 31

Do you have some great work on religious history, but need financial support to get to a conference? The Religious History Association has a new Conference Bursary Scheme! therha.com.au/bursary-sche...

Bursary Scheme – Religious History Association

therha.com.au

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Reposted by Laura Rademaker

History Australia @historyaustralia.bsky.social · Jul 30

Your support is needed - sign the petition opposing the Job-ready Graduates Scheme www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...

@austhistassoc.bsky.social

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Reposted by Laura Rademaker

AHA (Australia) @austhistassoc.bsky.social · Jul 28

Job-Ready Graduates attacks the arts and humanities and presents an often insurmountable obstacle for those looking to undertake further study study. Follow the link for an Open Letter to @albomp.bsky.social calling for the repeal of JRG, and sign our petition. linktr.ee/aushistorica...

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 28

‘If Labor won’t act to defend equity in education, what is the point of them – I mean, what do they really stand for?’ www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Tim Winton among 100 high-profile Australians calling for university fees that don’t ‘punish’ arts students

Open letter urges Labor to reverse JRG scheme, introduced by Coalition in 2021, as cost of humanities degrees reaches more than $50,000

www.theguardian.com

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 22

"cultural vandalism on a breathtaking scale"

Jayne Persian @drjpersian.bsky.social · Jul 22

insidestory.org.au/the-jewel-in...

The jewel in the crown of the ANU • Inside Story

Celebrated by previous vice-chancellors, the Australian Dictionary of Biography and its fellow national project, the Australian National Dictionary, are threatened by university cuts

insidestory.org.au

Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 21

"These are just highly talented and idealistic young people... These are the kind of people the country needs, now and in the future."

Kate Fullagar @kfullagar.bsky.social · Jul 19

An especially good one today on the humanities in Oz. Every word true. graemeturner.org/2025/07/20/w...

Why do they hate us? That’s the question academics in the humanities are asking. - Graeme Turner

This is the question I was asked last week. Why are government, the media, even university administrations, so carelessly participating in the gradual demolition of one of the foundation stones of our...

graemeturner.org

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 16

"A threat to the health of Australia’s humanities sector" historycouncilnsw.org.au/anu-restruct...

ANU issue – HCNSW’s response to the proposed dismantling of national humanities and social science research infrastructure | History Council of New South Wales

historycouncilnsw.org.au

Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 15

Never mind that they're the top ranked anthropologists in Australia, and in the top ten in the world. This is how they're treated

Catherine Frieman @cjfrieman.bsky.social · Jul 15

i stand in deepest solidarity with my junior colleagues being put through this dehumanising process

'Hunger Games scenario': four ANU lecturers and only three jobs

Four lecturers going for three jobs speak out about the stress and the cost.

www.canberratimes.com.au

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 15

"Let the people who built this place do their work" #ourANU

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Reposted by Laura Rademaker

Kate Fullagar @kfullagar.bsky.social · Jul 9

humanities.org.au/power-of-the...

Australia can't withstand further humanities cuts

The Australian Academy of Humanities views with great concern the impact on staff, students and the wider community of the ANU’s plan for the humanities and social sciences. Now is not the time to red...

humanities.org.au

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 8

The Wild Australia Show, now out as a free download! Congratulations to the authors! doi.org/10.22459/WAS... doi.org/10.22459/WAS...

The Wild Australia Show

<p>The Wild Australia Show was a troupe of 27 Aboriginal performers recruited from northern Queensland in the 1890s for a world tour that would culminate at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago...

doi.org

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Reposted by Laura Rademaker

ANU Press @anupress.bsky.social · Jul 7

NAIDOC Week 2025 marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture and resilience.

Explore over 50 titles on Indigenous culture in our list, available in multiple formats: press.anu.edu.au

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 4

Kids four minutes into the first day of school holidays: "I'm boooooorreedd"

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Jul 3

But we're the poorer for not having you!

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