The Ramsay Centre debate at the University of Sydney rolls on while standing still. This isn’t a debate over accepting millions of donor dollars to fund courses on the study of western civilisation but a discussion over terms for any negotiation. This week Academic Board met with neither side convincing the other. University top management says western civ is a legitimate subject of study, the university would never surrender its autonomy to a donor and the money would be good. Opponents say “western civ” is a synonym for “colonial values” and accepting the Ramsay money would reduce the university’s independence. Which is where the two sides were when the argument started.