Otago university students are leading the campaign to retain student associations in the face of a proposed controversial legislation change by Parliament, one of New Zealand's leading student politicians says.
New Zealand Union of Student Associations president David Do said the campaign against voluntary student membership (VSM) was on track to become an election issue, as students around the country woke up to the reality of what might be lost should MPs vote to adopt the Bill.
The Freedom of Association Bill, which was first put before Parliament by Act Party MP, Heather Roy, about two years ago, has faced stalling tactics by the Labour Party in a bid to delay a third reading and vote until after the election.
The Bill seeks to make university student association membership voluntary - a move opponents say will have significant financial implications and undermine student services, facilities, and campus environments.
Mr Do, who was in Dunedin yesterday with the NZUSA's co-president Max Hardy, and national women's rights officer Caitlin Dunham, said recent publicity campaigns by the Otago University Student's Association and its president, Logan Edgar, had put the issue in front of a wider audience.
OUSA faces significant revenue cuts if VSM goes ahead and the student association has already commissioned a review of its assets by international consultancy firm Deloitte.
The review has recommended student radio station Radio One be sold, while three positions within OUSA should be "disestablished".
"VSM will become an election issue," Mr Do said.
More than 5000 submissions have been made by people on the topic of VSM, since the Freedom of Association Bill was first proposed about two years ago, he said. Of those, 98% were against the Act Party's Bill, he said.
A recent publicity stunt, where Mr Edgar had locked himself in a cage for 42 hours in protest at VSM, plus attention gained by reports about the recommended sale of Radio One had generated nationwide media exposure, Mr Do said.
Ms Dunham said expressions of support from some well-known broadcast journalists, who had gained their first work experience in the medium of student radio, had raised awareness about the potential affects the loss of student supplied services would have.
NZUSA representatives have followed up the recent surge in interest by lobbying MPs, particularly National Party members, in Wellington, she said.
The publicity generated by the OUSA protests and backed by the expressions of support for Radio One and other threatened student services had "really struck a chord nationwide" Mr Do said.
The NZUSA hopes the rising tide of public opinion, which Mr Do says is against VSM, will sway some National Party MPs to reject the proposed Freedom of Association Bill.
However, given the Bill is not a conscience vote, MPs had to "tow the line" and vote according to party policy, Ms Dunham said.
"There are a few members in the National caucus, who have privately expressed their support for our campaign," Mr Do said.
However, he admitted the NZUSA had been unable to meet the "main players", such as Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce and Prime Minister John Key to discuss the matter.
The NZUSA's next move is to organise a "national day of action" on August 17, which will co-ordinate a protest effort from the 15 student associations representing New Zealand's universities and polytechnics, Mr Do said.
