Yesterday, an observer of Indigenous academia wrote in Crikey about the troubles the University of Melbourne’s history department has been having securing an Indigenous teacher for its one Indigenous subject: Aboriginal & Pacific Islander Histories.

I received this email:

Dear Students,

Unfortunately the School of Historical Studies will be cancelling the subject 131-051 Aboriginal & Pacific Islander Histories for Semester 2, 2007. This is due to the unavailability of teaching staff. Suggested alternative subjects include: 102-055 Exploring Central Australia, 131-073 Human Rights in Australian History, 106-045 Aboriginal Writing, 121-224 Garma Fieldwork.

Please change your enrollment to an alternative subject through the Student Information System (SIS) or contact the Faculty of Arts.