Student Association one step closer for SIT

The desks might have been stacked and computers switched off for the year, but the rumblings of democracy are still being heard loud and clear at the Southern Institute of Technology.

The holiday period might actually herald the most significant milestone of the quest to establish a student association, with confidence abounding in organisers that they have the numbers to force a vote in 2009.

SIT council student representative Erica Donovan said movement towards a fully fledged student association had progressed well since it was first mooted earlier this year.

"The idea was planted in my head, but I didn't really know about the process," Miss Donovan said.

"I gave out some flyers and put it out there that I was willing to be part of the student association and I think that really helped with the number of votes I got."

It didn't take long to convince her such an association and membership of the New Zealand Union of Student Associations (NZUSA) would be beneficial for students.

"I think accountability is a very big issue for students.

"Being part of NZUSA is really going to help SIT, just for the events you can go to and the sharing of experiences. We don't ever go to other sports events.

"Students have always been into politics so why not here?"

As the year went on Miss Donovan said she was encouraged by the support of other associations, particularly Otago Polytechnic and their insistence an association was the way forward for SIT.

"People from NZUSA and Otago Polytechnic came down and I've gone up to talk to student presidents, and other institutions are just wondering 'why not?' They even helped us collect signatures."

The signature collecting process began in earnest with the support of 10% of the student population required to force it to a referendum.

Miss Donovan is confident that has now been achieved.

"I believe we have, but we're still trying to drum up a bit more support to make our chances a bit better.

"We've gone further than other people who've tried and that's really exciting. The students are all for it, they don't really have anything negative to say."

She said the holidays would not stop the momentum of the association and in a few weeks the petition, with sufficient numbers, will be presented to SIT council who will preside over the vote, expected to take place early in the first semester.

"We need to put the petition forward in the same year it started. That will be in the coming weeks and next year it will go to a vote where hopefully students will say yes.

"[Orientation] Week will be very pivotal for us and obviously we need both student support and people willing to be on council."

What format the student council would have has yet to be determined, but Miss Donovan said it would look closely at other councils and make a decision based on the strengths and size of the student body.