The Student Volunteer Army in Christchurch has highlighted the desire of young people to serve others. Of course, that desire was always there but it was perhaps unexpected by the wider population, who often perceive the current generation to be more apathetic and self-entitled than previous generations. (Although which generation gave themselves high social services and then voted themselves tax cuts while burdening the next generation with user-pays services and debt? But I digress).
From a students' association perspective, volunteerism underpins everything we do. Radio One relies on volunteer student presenters. Our magazine, Critic, relies on volunteer writers. Student clubs and societies prosper because of the hard work of their committees, and often a few people who are the key organisational dynamos. Our events rely on volunteers to take care of coat checks, and lots of other roles that round out an event. Most critically for major events, the Are You OK? team of volunteers looks after students who have drunk too much or are not quite in the right vibe.
The class representative system to maintain feedback between students and lecturers, which supports the quality of education, is entirely volunteer based.
Students also benefit from volunteers from groups the OUSA works with such as the Combined Christian Group and Red Frogs who are key support groups in everything from small campaigns right through to our events.
I should also mention the student executive of OUSA. While they receive an honorarium, they often make commitments above and beyond their expected contributions. And then are the many roles which might be called quasi-volunteer, where there is some pay that covers some costs. This includes most of the Capping Show staff, some of our paid events crew, and more generally staff at the OUSA who are not paid ''market rates''.
The OUSA has recognised its special give-and-take environment in our employment policy. This policy recognises that the OUSA working experience includes: flexibility in work practice, acceptance of outside interests which other organisations are likely to see as conflicted, a high delegation of authority in relatively junior positions, and a high degree of personal control over work compared with other organisations.
So, at least for the OUSA, volunteerism and paid staff is a continuum rather than a dichotomy. And because of the responsibility and benefits, it is not always clear whether people view themselves as volunteers in the traditional sense of the word.
In terms of volunteering outside the student community, our experience so far is that students like short-term episodic commitments that fit with their studies. That said, there are also students doing great work on a long-term basis, such as tutoring at local high schools.
This generation does want to serve and that extends beyond the ''slactivism'' of ''liking'' campaigns against the latest injustice highlighted on Facebook.
Our experience is that to get students active, you need students in key roles deciding the form and content of the volunteering experience. That's why the OUSA is committed to working in partnership with the University of Otago, the Dunedin City Council and any other interested party, to enable our students to have volunteer opportunities.
It may also be the case in our less religious times that, for some people, volunteerism fills a similar need to play a part in things that are bigger than the self. Perhaps altruism in the act of volunteering has a spiritual dimension.
In any event, the trend of volunteering is up; volunteering is the new black.
