New alliances sought as OUSA faces VSM

A new era of collaboration between student representatives and the University of Otago is likely to emerge, given the expected introduction of the voluntary student membership (VSM) legislation later this month.

Preliminary discussions about how the Otago University Student Association will organise events for Orientation Week, the traditional scarfie initiation and introduction to campus life, have been under way with new partners as the student executive contemplates a cutback in funding.

Tentative talks involving the University of Otago and Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull have also taken place behind closed doors during a university council meeting this week, about how the two institutions may be involved with Orientation 2012.

OUSA president Logan Edgar said the student executive had not yet "entered into any formal discussions" with either party about the format of O-Week or how it would be organised.

It was "ignorant" to think Act New Zealand's Freedom of Association Bill, which is scheduled to have its third reading in Parliament on September 28 and will axe mandatory membership of student associations, would not happen, he said.

Under parliamentary process, a third reading "effectively" meant the legislation change was a done deal and OUSA needed to be proactive about how it future-proofed the management of its events, student services and facilities, Mr Edgar said.

"We are aware the new vice-chancellor wants to introduce an academic element to Orientation and also that the council would like to be involved again," he said.

OUSA's main concern was to ensure students would continue to receive the services and facilities they had now, Mr Edgar said.

University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne said the likelihood of voluntary student membership meant there would be more opportunity for the university and OUSA to work towards common goals.

The university's new chief executive had shared morning tea with members of the OUSA this week to discuss a "joint venture" to organise the 2012 Orientation, Prof Hayne said.

How the relationship between the respective organisations would evolve was an "open experiment".

"We are in uncharted waters right now and ... will be very strange bedfellows for the next little while," Prof Hayne said.

An "academic" element would part of next year's Orientation to ensure new students were introduced to the university's academic culture and its valued traditions, she said.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, who sits on the university council, said O-Week could include an expanded community element alongside the campus-oriented events.

Students had been formally welcomed at an event in the Dunedin Town Hall as part of O-Week earlier this year and presented with a gift bag containing vouchers for council-related services.

From a DCC perspective, a "welcome-cum-orientation" event was about helping students realise their move to Dunedin went beyond the north end of the city.

Mr Edgar said OUSA was prepared to work "hand-in-hand" with the university and the council, but questioned whether freshers would buy into an academic or community element at O-week.

"That's not necessarily what students come to Dunedin for in their first year. For a lot of them, they are here for the culture side of things, the going out, the socialising, and the building of new networks."

However, Dunedin was a wonderful place and was sometimes taken for granted by students, who needed to experience more of what the city offered, he said.