I support universal membership of students' associations because students' associations provide a host of key services. Because they are democratic institutions, students get to choose where their money goes. Independent advocacy services, student-led welfare services, events like Orientation, student media, representation, support for clubs and sports and student control of student services are all under threat from VSM. If services like advocacy and representation go, students will be left without a voice. If welfare services go, pressure will go on already stretched community providers like the Salvation Army. If events and support for clubs and sports go, I'm concerned that our campuses and the communities around them will become less vibrant and less engaging.
Students' associations run a heavy schedule of events. Research has shown that the first six weeks of a first year students' academic year are the most crucial in relation to student retention, and students' associations do a large part to help facilitate a positive environment. Events such as orientation are thus crucial aspects of the tertiary education experience and serve to induct many students into the campus community and onto educational success.
Events on campus also help local business and add vibrancy to the wider community.
Student associations provide free, independent advocacy services for students on internal institutional matters (such as harassment cases, enrolment issues, accusations of plagiarism, etc) as well as external matters that impact on student welfare (tenancy advice, International student support, Student Job Search services, health/counselling referrals, etc). This is an essential service and I believe that students' associations are the only groups that can provide a truly independent, student focused advocacy service.
These services are also an important watchdog against institutions and teaching staff abusing their power.
Students across the country put many, many hours of their time into building clubs and networks which are supported by students' associations. These networks provide enormous benefits to students, help to develop a campus community and connect students to the wider community. I worry what kind of position these groups would be in without this support, and how sterile life on campus could become.
Student Associations play a representative role representation on a range of committees throughout tertiary institutions. Students’ Associations train student representatives to ensure that students' needs will be heard.
Students’ Associations also represent their students at a national level through organisations such as Student Job Search, University Sport New Zealand and the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations. This representation ensures that students' voices are heard and taken seriously on the issues that matter.
Students' associations also make independent, student focused and student led campus media possible across a range of media. I don't want student magazines and radio to go.
Students are able to vote for the kind of membership they want under the current legislation as it is. Campuses could choose to go voluntary if pro-VSM campaigners got enough signatures on a petition, and individuals can opt out on the basis of a conscientious objection. If this happens, the association will not receive any of their money and they will not be members. This sensible compromise was introduced by the last National Government and it should be sustained to make sure students can choose what works best on their campus.
VSM has failed locally and internationally. In New Zealand, the University of Waikato went voluntary but students voted to return to universal membership after services were run down or lost.In Australia, VSM was imposed on all campuses. Headlines like "Uni service costs treble post VSU" (ABC) and "Unis forced to pay as student unions wither" (Sydney Morning Herald) say it all. Many students' associations have shut down or become reliant on institutions for funding even after the Government there put $120m NZD in to a "transition fund". Because institutions have had to step in, fees have been driven up - hurting the people who thought they would save money under VSM. It also means that some associations have lost much of their independence to scrutinise their institution.
I do not want New Zealand to adopt a system where students, institutions and Government pay more for less.
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