This is my Radio Journalism final project, I apologise but the audio clips have to be downloaded to listen to.
Part A: Edited Interview with Rose Gosper, NUSA President, Newcastle University
Part B: News Story (50-secs all up)
Newsreader Intro:
In light of September’s student attacks near the University of Newcastle, the effectiveness of the university’s Safety and Crime Committee has been called into doubt by local media.
Our correspondent today has spoken with Newcastle University Student Association president, Rose Gosper and International student Farzad Shahmoradi to get their thoughts on the committee’s progress.
Voicer:
Thanks to the efforts of NUSA, students at the University of Newcastle have better lighting and more shuttle bus hours to get you to and from campus even after dark.
International Student and NUSA member, Farzad Shahmoradi (Sha mor di) feels the implementation of the university’s Safety and Crime Committee has not only raised awareness within student body but is reaching out towards community members as well.
-Farzad “So we invited some of the security from the university and some of the police officer from the city and they came here and they gave us some very good and useful information.”
NUSA President, Rose Gosper, feels that students who know about the committee are glad it is there and have benefited from the combined efforts of local police and campus security.
-Rose “the perception that I’ve got is that they are happy that something is being done on an official level.”
This has been Chrystal Brand for twenty three hundred news.
Part C: NUSA – Helping Students Feel Safer
Universities across Australia are all faced with the same problem: how to keep the International students feeling safe and coming in. With racially guided incidents occurring around the world it is no surprise that students want to know that where they will be staying has a plan to help keep them safe. One university that has taken that need to an active level is the University of Newcastle.
In the 2011 school year, the Newcastle University Student Union (NUSA) President, Heather Richards, created and sent out a survey to the University’s International community in which they could report any verbal or physical incident. This survey indicated that most incidents occurred off campus and mostly towards students of non-Caucasian appearance.
What the survey started
From the results of the survey, NUSA leaders concluded that a committee for the safety needs of the students needed to be formed. The committee created focuses on crime prevention to help keep students safe both on and off campus. It is run by members of the University including security personnel, local police forces and city council members along with invited concerned parties. By the beginning of 2013, the university’s Safety and Crime Committee was put in place and together with NUSA has helped improve safety in the areas around campus.
According to NUSA member Farzad Shahmoradi, when International students first arrive they are overwhelmed with all the information they are given. Thanks to the efforts of NUSA, these students have a safe place to go and report incidents and are educated about how to stay safe both on and off campus.
NUSA works for students
Last month the Committee and NUSA held a workshop where students were able to meet and talk with campus security and local police. This workshop served to inform students about what to do if they don’t feel safe and who to talk to in case of an incident. Mr Shamoradi would like to see these workshops done every month as he feels they help students know what they are to do in case of not feeling safe.
Along with the many different workshops they offer, NUSA has lobbied for better lighting around campus and areas off campus that students commonly use. Campus security also offers a free shuttle service around campus operating Monday through Friday from 8am till midnight. With increased shuttle bus hours it’s not surprising that there has been a decline in reported incidents, students feel safer knowing they can be dropped off at home or taken directly to the shops.
However, after the attack of two students during the university’s China Festival, NUSA’s International convener Eduardo Carvajal spoke with Maddison Sharples of the Newcastle Star on September 9th. Mr Carvajal told them that “a third security shuttle bus, campus CCTV cameras and more police patrols of the Jesmond area were being discussed as early intervention strategies.”
Crime prevention is key
Current NUSA President, Rose Gosper, feels that the committee is doing what it was created to do, crime prevention. The number of reported incidents has decreased this year since the committee was formed and students have become more aware of what to do. Miss Gosper pointed out that when many students from overseas arrive they don’t know that even verbal abuse is something that can and should be reported to someone.
According to the Newcastle Herald’s poll on September 3rd the University Students, Jesmond residents and visitors are split over whether racism is rife. Sam Rigney of the Newcastle Herald writes, “Opinions among Jesmond residents and visitors to the suburb’s shopping centre were split yesterday, with half of those surveyed saying they thought racism was rife… Other domestic and international students told the Newcastle Herald they had never witnessed racist attitudes or behaviour in the suburb.”
Students thankful for NUSA and Safety Committee
Miss Gosper feels that while the committee cannot prevent every instance, they are doing their best to limit the number of incidents. She also believes that students who know about the committee are thankful it exists and as a whole benefit from the resources available to them through NUSA.
With racism being something that exists everywhere you go, organisations that exist to help prevent related crimes are essential to the continuation of societies intermingling. There is a decline in the number of International students coming into Australia, they do not feel safe coming to a place that has a high occurrences of racially motivated crimes. Organisations such as the University of Newcastle’s Safety and Crime Committee are a great example for universities around the country, keep your students feeling safe and they’ll encourage their friends to come study too.
