- United States Studies Centre
Infobox_Company
company_name = The United States Studies Centre
company_type = Non-profit
foundation =2007
company_slogan = New Opportunities Built on Understanding
location = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | key_people =Geoffrey Garrett ,CEO ;
Malcolm Binks ,Chair of the Board of Directors
homepage = [http://sydney.edu.au/us-studies www.sydney.edu.au/us-studies]The United States Studies Centre (Australia) at the University of Sydney was established in 2007. The stated aim of the United States Studies Centre is to deepen understanding of the United States by creating new knowledge on American culture, politics, business, government and society.
The Centre is governed by a board of directors with ten members. Half are appointed by the American Australian Association and half are appointed by the University of Sydney.
The five core activities listed by the Centre are:
* Postgraduate coursework leading to University of Sydney awards;
* Research and research training;
* Executive education and short courses;
* Policy debate and development think tanks; and
* Community outreach.History
The Centre was awarded to the University of Sydney after a competition between several Australian universities. According to a Sydney Morning Herald story reprinted in Sydney Alumni magazine [cite news | last = Lawson | first = Valerie | title = Heavyweight support for US initiative | publisher = Sydney Alumni magazine|date = Summer 2006 | url = http://www.usyd.edu.au/alumni/images/content/activities/magazine/2006-summer/news.pdf| accessdate = 2008-06-22] , the Centre was prompted by Rupert Murdoch after he read of the Lowy Institute poll reporting negative attitudes in Australia towards American foreign policy. After speaking to Murdoch, the Australian American Association championed the idea with the Australian Government.
Funding
The Centre is funded from an endowment established by the Australian Government of $25 million with additional funding from the University of Sydney, the NSW Government and the American Australian Association through contributions from business and private individuals.
Controversy
Sydney Alumni magazine and the university's newsletter published letters to the editor [cite web
title = Untitled letters
publisher = Sydney Alumni magazine
url =http://www.usscwatch.org/images/e/eb/Alumni_letters.pdf|accessdate = 2008-06-22] [cite news | last = Holcombe | first = Alex | title = Concern about the U.S. Studies Centre | publisher = Uni News|date =2007-10-19 | url = http://www.psych.usyd.edu.au/staff/alexh/politics/USstudies.html| accessdate = 2008-06-22] criticizing the involvement of the American Australian Association. Some of the letter-writers suggest that the American Australian Association is a partisan organisation hoping to promulgate pro-American views through the Centre. Concerns about lack of academic independence and possible bias at the Centre were also voiced by the vice-chancellor of the Australian National University [cite news | last = Illing | first = Dorothy | title = VC defends open debate | publisher = The Australian|date =2006-08-02 ] and politicial scientist Robert Manne [cite news | last = Lane | first = Bernard | title = Manne predicts bias at US centre | publisher = The Australian|date =2007-05-02 ]References
External links
* [http://sydney.edu.au/us-studies The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney]
* [http://www.ussc.org.au/index.php?title=Media Media reporting regarding the Centre, compiled by the U.S. Studies Centre Watch]
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