I have a
high regard for the Otago University Students Association
(OUSA) and Otago Polytechnic Students Association (OPSA). I
think they generally provide a good service to students,
represent value for money, and if I was an undergraduate
student again, I would probably join.
But that would be my choice. I see no rationale for being
compelled to join, and support the Education (Freedom of
Association) Amendment Bill, a member's Bill at present being
debated in Parliament.
I find the rhetoric by opponents of voluntary student
membership (VSM) somewhat confusing - almost doublespeak.
Opponents of VSM claim that choice would devastate services,
silence students and actually curtail freedom.
Indeed, OUSA president Logan Edgar has spent two nights in a
cage this week to make this very unusual point. VSM opponents
also claim that compulsory membership gives students more
freedom. It simply does not make sense.
We have long since dispensed with the idea of compulsory
membership of unions and I fail to see why student unions
should be treated any differently.
The question not answered by anti-VSM proponents is this: if
student associations are so important, if they represent such
good value for money, why the morbid fear that students will
take flight when association membership is made optional?
This labels students, our brightest young and our future
leaders, as lacking the simple skill of deciding for
themselves whether joining an organisation is appropriate or
valuable to them.
And if they do, associations should be more focused on why it
is that students see such low value in membership than on
maintaining compulsion.
One reason put up for the possible reduction in membership
under VSM is of financial constraints - that students,
otherwise keen to join, may not be able to afford the very
reasonable OUSA or OPSA subscription.
Readers should consider this in the context of the very high
spending behaviour of students during Orientation Week on
events costing much more than the subscription to OUSA.
Another argument against VSM is that organisations such as
OUSA and OPSA would need to spend a disproportionate amount
of their resources on marketing. This would be quite
unnecessary.
The best advertisement for membership of student associations
is satisfied students. But if associations are worried that
first-year students, in particular, do not understand the
value of membership, all they need to do is continue to
restrict attendance at orientation events to OUSA and OPSA
members. Problem solved.
Some VSM opponents argue that student membership fees should
be likened to rates paid by local ratepayers. I do not agree
with the comparison.
Ratings authorities are subject to a number of constraining
laws relating to consultation, planning and oversight, that
are not imposed on student associations. Further, student
associations are not apolitical.
They have clear political links.
Many students compelled to be members, are thoroughly sick
and tired of some associations' behaviours, for example:
• The burning of the New Zealand flag by a VUWSA executive
member in the grounds of Victoria University's Law Faculty on
Anzac Day in 2007.
• The expenditure of $40,000 by an OUSA staffer to spend a
year travelling the world researching student drinking habits
- then delivering a four and a-half page report on her
findings.
• Several high-profile financial misappropriations by student
association executive members.
Students' associations claim to provide an important advocacy
service by lobbying to the university council and the
Government on issues such as interest-free loans, the fee
maxima, and universal student allowances.
They do, but the problem with political advocacy of (in
OUSA's case) 22,000 students is that it is just not possible
to represent the common political interest of such a large
and diverse membership.
A significant cohort of students with differing views to the
executive is disenfranchised by the position taken. That is
not acceptable in an organisation where membership is
compulsory.
At the end of the day this comes down to a simple principle
of freedom of association.
No New Zealander should be compelled to join an organisation
of this nature against their will. On this principle alone, I
support the change to voluntary student membership.
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