A 48-year-old institution at the University of Wollongong looks to be coming to an end.
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And those who run Wollongong Uni Movies are from happy.
"It's like a slap in the face. I don't know why they are doing this after 48 years," committee chairman Peter Castle told the Mercury.
Wollongong Uni Movies were hoping to return to screenings this year on March 20 but this will now not happen after UOW Pulse declared them a non-UOW organisation
"The people who run our building have declared us to be a non-UOW organisation and will not deal with us until we become what they call a legal entity, which would put us as an outside organisation not a university organisation," Mr Castle said.
Wollongong Uni Movies cannot book University Hall until it resolves these issues.
"Up until three years ago we were considered to be an integral part of the activities run by UOW Pulse so we had priority over certain things like booking of the venue on a particular night and we also got the venue for a reduced price," Mr Castle said.
"Nowadays we are basically battling against outside organisations who are willing to pay more money to use the venue than we can afford, being a non-profit organisation.
"Unless we can find a solution to it, it will probably be the end of it."
A spokesperson said UOW Pulse was working closely with Uni Movies to resolve several insurance and operational issues "to satisfy contemporary business risk and management requirements".
"UOW Pulse hopes these issues can be resolved as soon as possible, and is looking at options to minimise the disruption to the movies offerings for students and the community in the meantime."
Mr Castle said Wollongong Uni Movies had always been a UOW organisation.
"We have always been covered by either the university or Pulse’s insurance," he said.
"We will continue our battle to convince the university that we deserve support from the UOW administration, perhaps as an affiliate of the Community Engagement division.
"We have a lot of equipment that is embedded in that building that we paid for. I'd hate to see that being put to waste.
"We don't want to exist off campus….maybe the university can find a place for us,, I don't know.
"Until this is resolved, Uni Movies will remain in hiatus."
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
