Students lose their way

At times in the blur of heated rhetoric emanating from those who opposed the passage into law of the voluntary student membership Bill - properly entitled the Education Amendment (Freedom of Association) Bill - the impression left was that of legislation outlawing the existence of student unions; of student bodies having no recourse to representation and thus being deprived of a collective voice.

Such a move, it has been argued, was essentially anti-democratic. This is to misconstrue the situation. What the legislation does is change the status quo whereby all enrolling students, except those who previously took the time and trouble to opt out through "conscientious objection", were automatically joined up to student unions and paid for the privilege - whether they liked it or not, or were even aware of the fact.

It is still perfectly possible to belong to a "student union". But from now on that decision will be a conscious one. And perhaps with that conscious decision, and the concomitant investment, will come a greater awareness of the rights, privileges and possibilities of belonging to such an organisation.

For while the ideological torchbearers of Act New Zealand have spearheaded this new law - arguing among other things, freedom of association - the real reason it has come to pass is student apathy.

It could well be for a large number of students that, as Joni Mitchell once sang, "you don't know what you've got till it's gone", but that is hardly an excuse. The truth is that participation in student politics has during the past decade or two dwindled to the point of non-quorate farce, and the rest of the benefits of student associations have either been taken for granted, squandered or ignored.

Nor does the argument hold water that these young men and women - these "leaders of the future" - are too immature, or too busy, to appreciate what may become evident in later years. A tertiary education has always been about more than simply attending lectures, completing assignments and writing essays. What other collection of individuals has more time and the supposed inquisitiveness of youth with which to engage in a debate over the costs and benefits of student associations?

Were such "societies" held in esteem, or otherwise considered indispensable, who might have been expected to have the inclination to resist by campaign and public demonstration their potential demise?

There is now talk of continued action on the part of students, protesting over the passage of the Bill, but it comes as too little, too late.

What the new legislation will mean in practice is not yet clear.

Student associations - the term "union" is a something of a misnomer heightened by proponents of the new law - provide a range of services to their members.

These include student publications, radio stations, welfare services, general advice, subsidised sports clubs and activities, orientation activities and so on. Some associations are already voluntary, and certain services and facilities might now be provided by the institutions themselves, but at a cost to the students. Depending on the level of voluntary funding that student associations are able to attract through active membership drives, assets may need to be sold and activities scaled back.

The Bill, promoted by Act's Heather Roy and supported by the National Party, has split Parliament. Labour says it will repeal the law if and when it returns to power. It sought a compromise with National that would allow students to be automatically enrolled in the associations but be able to opt out easily and have the fees refunded. National rejected that proposal.

Does that amount to the tragedy some make it out to be?

Certainly for larger student populations - and particularly those such as exist at the University of Otago and which form coherent population centres around their campuses - it is inevitable something of the flavour of student life will be lost.

Leadership roles on student bodies, organisational skills developed through university clubs, self-expression through student magazines and radio, as well as the more intangible factors that arise out of a general sense of belonging to a community of students may be threatened as associations come to terms with dramatic and sudden losses of income. And if that does come to pass it will indeed be a matter of considerable regret.