Attempts to revoke the life membership of former Otago University Students Association president Edwin Darlow were unsuccessful on campus this week.
At a student general meeting, attended by about 200 people, it was moved that the life membership of Mr Darlow, last year's president, be revoked, because he had voted to support a tuition fee rise at a University Council meeting last November.
The association generally opposes tuition fee rises.
Several speakers criticised the November vote in favour of the tuition fee rise, but other people strongly disagreed with the moves to revoke the life membership.
Some speakers said Mr Darlow's actions should be be seen in a wider context.
The motion was later heavily defeated.
Mr Darlow was not present at the meeting, but outlined his previous approach in a letter read out on his behalf.
He said he had previously discussed his intended actions with last year's association executive.
As a result of discussions involving him, the University Council had moved a resolution proposed by him that the university and the association work on a joint representation to the Government over the need for more funding for universities "to recognise the imposition on students from increasing fees and student debt".
The University Council would have supported higher tuition fees in any case, but his approach had resulted in a constructive joint initiative, he said.
