The controversial question of voluntary student membership (VSM) was debated by politicians at the University of Otago Union Hall, yesterday.
Dunedin politicians Hilary Calvert, (Act New Zealand Party), Dr David Clarke (Labour), and Michael Woodhouse (National) and Auckland's Gareth Hughes (Green Party), argued their respective positions on VSM in front of more than 60 people.
A private member's Bill instigated by retired Act MP Heather Roy - the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill - is scheduled to come before Parliament for its third reading on Wednesday.
The Bill seeks to make university student association membership voluntary, a move its opponents say will have significant financial implications and undermine existing services, facilities and campus environments.
The debaters were split by their respective political party ideologies on the question of VSM. Mr Woodhouse and Ms Calvert supported the Bill, while Dr Clark and Mr Hughes opposed it.
Ms Calvert said it seemed students "weren't clever enough" to make their own choices, which VSM would let them do, by not requiring a compulsory sign-up to student associations.
"[Students] go from having mummy and daddy telling them what to do," she said.
"They don't back themselves enough to make their own decisions."
Mr Hughes said students did not want to be told what to do by "a small group of politicians with an ideological bent" and there was too much at stake for student associations if the Bill was passed.
Revenue streams for student associations would be lost and this would mean fewer services and less representation and advocacy for students, Mr Hughes said.
Mr Woodhouse said if students did not want to be told what to do then they should support VSM.
Associations effectively "do that now" by virtue of taking compulsory membership fees and then making decisions for students.
Dr Clark said was against VSM because he supported student associations and the services they provided.
The debate was organised by the Otago University Students Association, which is conducting a review of all its services as the decision about VSM looms.
