Calls for student
association freedom have been met with anger, disappointment
and fears of elimination from student leaders in Dunedin.
Act New Zealand MP Sir Roger Douglas' private member's Bill
calling for voluntary student membership passed its first
reading 64-58 in Parliament on Wednesday and will now go to a
select committee.
"For almost 20 years, no other group of individuals has been
forced to join an association - unfortunately, students are
the exception," he said.
Under current
legislation, it was compulsory for students to join a student
association if one existed on their campus.
Students could conscientiously object and leave the union,
but their fees were not returned to them.
They were donated to a charity of choice.
Because of this, Sir Roger believed compulsory membership in
student associations was a violation of individual freedom of
association.
"Many students are forced into students' associations that do
not represent their views, waste money on administration
costs, and indulge in resource mismanagement for personal
gain."
If the associations worked as well as
they claimed to, they would not have difficulty attracting
students to join, Sir Roger said.
Act on Campus vice-president Peter McCaffrey congratulated
Act, National and United Future for supporting the Bill.
"Students don't speak with only one voice, as student
associations claim. In fact, students have varying views on
all issues, just as the rest of New Zealand does. Forcing
students to join an association that claims to represent them
only leads to them being misrepresented."
However, Otago Polytechnic Student Association president
Meegan Cloughley was "saddened" and "really disappointed" not
just because the Bill had passed but because National had
supported it.
"National lied. They said last year they would not be
changing the status quo," she said.
Most of the association's operational budget, $440,000, was
raised from membership fees - about $335,000.
It provided recreational, advocacy and social services for
its members which would be put in jeopardy if the Bill was
passed.
"It will completely decimate [the association]," she said.
Ms Cloughley was concerned that if institutions gained
control of student services, the levies would skyrocket and
more pressure would go on staff to provide services which are
at present supplied by the association.
She remained hopeful the select committee would be convinced
of the "stupidity of full-blown voluntary membership", which
severely damaged associations and student services in
Australia, and either drop or change the Bill.
Otago University Students Association president Edwin Darlow
did not return phone calls yesterday.
University of Otago students approached yesterday largely had
no idea they paid a levy, let alone how much it was.
When Heather Osborne (19) was told she paid $175, she thought
it was "a bit much to pay" but said it was "cool" an
association existed for students.
Isobel Beamish (19) was not bothered about the cost because
she did not know about it but said if it did become voluntary
she may not pay "because I don't have much to do with them".
Jeff Bednark (24) said it should be voluntary.
He believed his money could be better spent on services he
wanted.
ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz
• Association revenues
Otago University Students Association
Operational and capital budget (2008): $2.3m
Income from membership levies (2008): $2.29m
Levy per full-time undergraduate student (2009): $175.55
Otago Polytechnic Students Association
Operational budget (2008): $440,000
Income from membership levies (2008): $335,000
Levy per full-time Dunedin student (2009): $170
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.