voluntary student unionism? good or bad? (2 Viewers)

[Korn]

They are just trying to get the Catholic church back to what it was in the prime. A money grabbing machine with huge and unquestioned power.

The Catholic Church is still pretty powerful, take a look at its membership

 

[my sharona]

Good job Asq! You've convinced me.

Although I do think that some provision should be made if you can't afford it... UTS is cheaper than Sydney Uni, but its still a good $200 per semester you have to cough up.

Sad thing is, i think VSU is still going to happen, with John Howard and other retarded wankers. And that means our HECS will probably go up again.

Damn.

 

[my sharona]

I can't believe my family voted for that Nelson loser.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Abbott was president of the usyd SRC once... who'da thunk it?

 

[withoutaface]

Good job Asq! You've convinced me.

Although I do think that some provision should be made if you can't afford it... UTS is cheaper than Sydney Uni, but its still a good $200 per semester you have to cough up.

Sad thing is, i think VSU is still going to happen, with John Howard and other retarded wankers. And that means our HECS will probably go up again.

Damn.

I seriously doubt HECS is going to go up much more within the time we're still in uni, that's unless your university hasn't increased it's own fees.

 

[llamalope]

The president of USYD SRC is still Felix right? He was my school captain.

Let me tell you something, you're going to get used to his incessant yelling. Every second class I had there in 2003 he would come in and rant for about 5 minutes, irritating the lecturer to no end while we were subjected to theatrical, exaggerated rhetoric about the Howard Government.

There is a forum for political discussion, and it is not in people's lectures when they are trying to learn. He is a nice enough person but in my opinion he brings no assistance to the 'feral lefty' stereotype.

Now regarding the actual policy, I'm for voluntary student union membership. The bullshit fee for the Sports Union at USyd, for example, is just a waste of money because I don't use any of their facilities.

no... the president is Rose Jackson..... ohh wait... am I allowed to name names on here?

And to whoever suggested I run a poll..... I was going to... but I think the public discussion is far more interesting..... besides... somebody decided to run one anyway, on a seperate thread

 

[Phanatical]

Rose Jackson is Felix's girlfriend, and the new President of the SRC.
Felix Eldridge has been appointed President of the National Union of Students.

 

[llamalope]

what a perfect pair they make

 

[Phanatical]

Yeah, asshole wanker and evil bitch. If either of them become Prime Minister before me, I'm moving to Tasmania and seceding from Australia.

 

[Minai]

Felix Eldridge has been appointed President of the National Union of Students.

Well that's very very bad.

Here are some arguments for VSU I've summarised from various sources
I'm pro-VSU. However! I do support a compulsory payment to fund NECESSITIES on campus. By that I mean services such as the clinic, O-week, facilities etc. A better way, rather than make everyone pay $600 a year, is to have every student pay the compulsory union fee to keep essential services, but have the option to have your fee distributed to the Guild/SRC. I'm for paying for services, but I would NOT like my money being spent by inexperienced, financially-inept student politicians who put their own interests ahead of the students. Why? They spend our money to fund campaigns against things that some students want! I want VSU, but I'm funding the Guild/SRC to campaign AGAINST it! Why can't I decide where my money goes? If the Guild/SRC want to campaign in such a way, why can't they use their own money?
The problem with SRC/Guild's is poor accountability. I remember the President of the Guild at UNSW used her power to draw thousands from "emergency funds" to fund her own legal battle. Where's the accountability?

I also hate how the Guild/SRC reckon that campus life will be dead if VSU was introduced. The union is a commercial enterprise, it doesn't just rely solely on student funds to keep afloat. According to the UNSW union president, sponsorship revenue is "several hundred thousand a year and rising".

Clubs and societies on campus will survive VSU if the clubs charged appropriate rates for its members. Campus life will live on through the funding from these clubs and socities. In my opinion, VSU is more economically rational, where voluntary student organisations will spend member's money more efficiently and more sensitively to their needs. If not, students join better run clubs. This is not unlike the society we live in OUTSIDE of uni.
At UNSW, anti VSU supporters claim that O-week, oktoberfest, foundation day etc etc will disappear with VSU. However, O-week is paid by the uni, and because of the amount of sponsorship the union recieves from these events, they make profits, and so, these events will survive.
Think of it this way, students will have an extra $600 a year in their pocket with VSU. They'll spend some of this on Clubs they join, and with increased joining fees for club members, these clubs will have the necessary funds to keep "campus life" going.

Under VSU, the Guild/SRC would probably die, which is a good thing. It's high time student politicans start paying their way, and learn to fund their own political careers themselves, rather than rely on ignorant students money. Remember, hardly anyone votes in SRC elections and yet everyone pays them.

 

[Xayma]

One of Abbots GF's (Costello's now wife) in his uni years slept with Peter costello in order entice him into the young Liberals...and Costello's gf ended up marrying Abbot.

Of course this is all totally untrue according to the defamation case brought.

May I ask is that a typo in the last bit, or was it actually printed as Labour Party.

Minai I believe that is the way the situation is in Victoria, however, that is impotent and weak, all that happens is those who contribute to the union have a greater % spent on the political campaigns. The same things pretty much happen and effectively you are still supporting them (well more correctly paying more for those services than others) except the university just puts it in for you.

 

[llamalope]

I have heard that src are the ones who get all the money anyway, but do nothing except voice their opinions... which just happen to be in disagreement with anything and everything

whereas the union just go about their quiet way, and making the money they receive go a long way

is this true or just heresay?

 

[MoonlightSonata]

Well that's very very bad.

Here are some arguments for VSU I've summarised from various sources
I'm pro-VSU. However! I do support a compulsory payment to fund NECESSITIES on campus. By that I mean services such as the clinic, O-week, facilities etc. A better way, rather than make everyone pay $600 a year, is to have every student pay the compulsory union fee to keep essential services, but have the option to have your fee distributed to the Guild/SRC. I'm for paying for services, but I would NOT like my money being spent by inexperienced, financially-inept student politicians who put their own interests ahead of the students. Why? They spend our money to fund campaigns against things that some students want! I want VSU, but I'm funding the Guild/SRC to campaign AGAINST it! Why can't I decide where my money goes? If the Guild/SRC want to campaign in such a way, why can't they use their own money?
The problem with SRC/Guild's is poor accountability. I remember the President of the Guild at UNSW used her power to draw thousands from "emergency funds" to fund her own legal battle. Where's the accountability?

I also hate how the Guild/SRC reckon that campus life will be dead if VSU was introduced. The union is a commercial enterprise, it doesn't just rely solely on student funds to keep afloat. According to the UNSW union president, sponsorship revenue is "several hundred thousand a year and rising".

Clubs and societies on campus will survive VSU if the clubs charged appropriate rates for its members. Campus life will live on through the funding from these clubs and socities. In my opinion, VSU is more economically rational, where voluntary student organisations will spend member's money more efficiently and more sensitively to their needs. If not, students join better run clubs. This is not unlike the society we live in OUTSIDE of uni.
At UNSW, anti VSU supporters claim that O-week, oktoberfest, foundation day etc etc will disappear with VSU. However, O-week is paid by the uni, and because of the amount of sponsorship the union recieves from these events, they make profits, and so, these events will survive.
Think of it this way, students will have an extra $600 a year in their pocket with VSU. They'll spend some of this on Clubs they join, and with increased joining fees for club members, these clubs will have the necessary funds to keep "campus life" going.

Under VSU, the Guild/SRC would probably die, which is a good thing. It's high time student politicans start paying their way, and learn to fund their own political careers themselves, rather than rely on ignorant students money. Remember, hardly anyone votes in SRC elections and yet everyone pays them.

Yes I agree

Scrap everything but necessities

 

[MoonlightSonata]

Yeah, asshole wanker and evil bitch. If either of them become Prime Minister before me, I'm moving to Tasmania and seceding from Australia.

He's not an asshole, he's just a bit how should we say... 'inappropriate' in his methods

 

[aim54x]

VSU is bad. d best analagy is voluntary tax:
some will pay 2 keep services, most will leach. therefore bad services 4 all.

 

[Xayma]

VSU is bad. d best analagy is voluntary tax:
some will pay 2 keep services, most will leach. therefore bad services 4 all.

Cool so because I am in the lowest income bracket I won't pay any Union fees?

Also I get to pay it over the entire year?

Comparing VSU to voluntary tax is fucking stupid.

Comparing it to donations to charity is a better example (in this case the compulsory donation towards campaigns that have nothing to do with fucking education).

Also the best language to use is generally English.

 

[Rorix]

VSU is bad. d best analagy is voluntary tax:
some will pay 2 keep services, most will leach. therefore bad services 4 all.

The argument from analogy can usually be countered based on the relevance of of the analogy or the correctness of the analogy itself. I can't decide which to choose.