In the wake of the recent floods, regional town of Lismore is in devastation. A majority of civilians have lost their homes, belongings and businesses, and a week after the incident the town is still in crisis, questioning 'What is next for Lismore?'.

Lismore is home to one of three university campuses for 'Southern Cross University' (SCU) a campus that is currently being used as an emergency evacuation centre, and in the wake of all of this SCU has confirmed that classes with resume online for all students and staff from March 7, just a week after Lismore was it by the biggest flood in its recorded history. 

Students and staff of SCU are baffled by the push to resume classes for many reasons. Much of Lismore is still without power and internet, many staff members and students have lost resources (from books to electronics, including computers). Those directly effected by the flood are not yet in the position to move back to normal as many people are still without homes and have very different priorities. 

Resuming class this soon after the disaster will be a catastrophic waste of resources and an unnecessary stress on student and staff members in the community. Not only will the push distract from the Human Resources so desperately needed in this time of crisis (from cleaning homes to assisting at evacuation centres, caring for house guests, cooking and more) it will also clog the already limited or unavailable internet which the region desperately needs to focus on the recovery effort. 

In this petition we are asking that the Chair-people of SCU broadly consider the implications of starting term at this time and look to delay commencement date by a month. Special consideration should be made for students based in Lismore without these students (and affected staff) having to deal with further bureaucratic systems as they try to get their life together. 

Not only will this take an unnecessary stress away from the community, it will also insure less drop outs and show to staff and students that Southern Cross University has their best interests at heart.