voluntary student unionism? good or bad? (1 Viewer)

[Not-That-Bright]

...so...no one is allowed any space then?


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not based on race/religion/sexual orientation
Of course people with disabilities etc need their own special facilities.

 

[withoutaface]

People need to build a bridge and get the fuck over it. If it's going to happen at uni, it's going to happen in the workplace, and the university giving them their own special space is not going to help them once they're out in the workplace. I agree that it is a problem, but why bother removing them from the other students? This will just mean that they're not exposed to people of these particular groups as much and hence will know less about them and be more likely to discriminate.

 

[Enlightened_One]

For all the union at uni offers me for the meagre amount of money I'm offered I can say it's a good thing to have. Actual workers unions are another thing entirely. The union offers free publications, free food, free help finding employment, free condoms (fuck yeah) and a whole range of other things. I can pay 60 bucks (or 100 bucks) or whatever it is a year for that.

I think the whole idea of VSU is Nelson trying to make unis cost more to make them exclusive for rich kids only.

By the way I'm slighty drunk when I right this.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Yea the uni will fund things like that, but it won't fund the political campaigns.

 

[neo o]

I think the whole idea of VSU is Nelson trying to make unis cost more to make them exclusive for rich kids only.

The only payments that CAN'T be deferred under HECS are union fees. VSU will make it easier, not harder for poor kids to go to university, idiot.

Or do you think Sydney Universities $600 union fee (for example) somehow makes it easier for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to go to university?

 

[Not-That-Bright]

No i'm in favour of $600 of the students of usyd's own money not going towards political crap, at least if they don't want it to.

 

[withoutaface]

By the way I'm slighty drunk when I right this.

Onya mate, drunken political debating is the best thing ever

 

[Not-That-Bright]

No, i'd hate to run for 'office'.

 

[llamalope]

Wow... 3 hrs and already we are on a 6th page.

I support usu.... but I can understand why people don't. It's more money to pay for something that doesn't affect EVERYONE... and some people think they can do without eg manning, clubs and societies, etc etc etc

I only thought that the way usyd freshers were introduced to the topic was a little abrupt. aka "it has to be USU!!!! VSU is all about silencing the students" and all that crap.

I was reminded of this story my mum told me... she said that on her first lecture at usyd, some guys ran into her class and yelled "DOWN WITH THE VICE CHANCELLOR!!!! we're storming his office"..... somethings never change

 

[Generator]

I'm all for USU with its Union facilities, Sporting facilities (I really couldn't care about this one, but my dad is forever telling me to contest the fee given the sponsorship deals that the university teams and ovals manage to secure each season), and student representation through the SRC (it is available to all, despite the belief that it favours the vocal minorities), but at the same time is there any real need for USyd to slug its students with the subscription fees in their entirety at the beginning of the year? Surely it could be dealt with on a semesterly basis, and at least that would make the early days of the university year slightly more affordable for many.

We at USyd could also ask why there is a joining (well, 'building contribution') fee for all first years, but at the same time those students capable of campaigning for change have already been hit with the fee and they may see little point in questioning its purpose when they are no longer required to pay it. Oh well.

 

[llamalope]

There seemed to be a lot of apathy in the crowd at the welcome, and although I deffinately support usu.... I don't think I will be walking out of lectures to protest... maybe I'm just lazy

I personally don't like 'building contributions'. They have had them all through my school career, and I have never felt like they were really worth paying.

 

[Xayma]

The main issues I would have in paying my fees, is the political campaigns that are run (I don't care if they were right winged or not, I would prefer compulsory money that many find hard to afford, not go towards it) and the subsidised food (of which would only involve a 1/7 increase to break even) which isn't that cheap anyway.

Oh and the main womens society, which I don't see as much of a need for it, it is important but going through the publication in the SRC showbag a fair bit of it is rubbish. Women in Engineering etc I have no problem with, males can join, males can discuss issues relating to it.

 

[MoonlightSonata]

Ok, well from the very first day at o-week, it was drummed into my by president of the USYD SRC that voluntary student unionism is BAAAAAAAADDDDD to the bone.

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.

 

[ujuphleg]

For those of you who support VSU -

You are entitled to your opinion

but keep in mind that without the Union, if you can't go to a doctor, or if you get into a dispute with a land lord - don't expect Student Admin to stand up for you, because they don't give a shit.

And if you're sitting there thinking - I never get sick and I live at home then if you get marked unfairly in an assessment the Union will not be there to help you with an appeal - you will be on your own and will have to live with the consequences.

I understand that USU means that there are the $600 compulsory fees which not everybody can afford - and I agree that perhaps there should be a cap on this because it is unfair to have to pay SO much money.

But I think that those of you who support VSU have to understand that Unions don't just spout political rhetoric and give free BBQ's. Yes, they do those things. Yes they are a little leftist - ok, very leftist But they are autonomous. They are run by students, for students. They represent all students - women, racial minorities, gay/queer, and even the the males and the whites.

Without the USU students will be left entirely on their own. Face it, nobody is going to cough up $600 voluntarily. Without the Union, there will be nobody to protect the interest of students.

And then the present Government will be able to increase fees to as high as they like. Then it won't matter if you can afford the $600 or not, because if you can't afford $100,000 for your degree and become and academic vegetable you won't go to Uni anyway.

So as per usual, in the usual way of capitalist arrogance, who cares about the masses? Who cares about voting? Who cares about anyone but themselves?

Lets all just lie down and let the government fuck us anyway. Because unless everyone is behind USU it doesn't seem like we have a hope in hell anyway.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

If the students union wants to change our minds, maybe they should stop being loud mouthed leftist wankers spending all our money on crap. They basically stand for alot of things i'm either against or don't exactly wish to support, while i feel that they do offer a service in representing students I think you'll find that unions will still exist (look how many exist off smaller donations) to represent us.

 

[withoutaface]

ujuphleg: I will pay for fees for what I use. I will pay to keep Manning open, I will pay for representation for students. What I will not pay for are leftist protests, feminist propaganda and a sports union which I do not use.

In order to survive the union must realise that it has to itemise everything in order for people to pay, because I believe that many will pay to have access to the services they use.

EDIT: And with the number of people we have being anti VSU the union should have no problem sustaining themselves through voluntary unionism, unless of course these people are a bunch of hypocrites.

 

[MoonlightSonata]

Perhaps some fee is reasonable. But only to go towards things like student support services. The amount that is wasted on political sandcastles and unused or optional activities is absurd.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Yep, i agree with moonlight.
I think if every student payed say.... $20-50? that should be enough to support students

 

[withoutaface]

No mr bright ideas. How do you expect to implement that?

I actually wonder if you read a single thing in this thread or even if you get the idea that you sound like a selfish git when you say 'I dont want to pay for the sports assocication because I dont use it. But I'd pay to support the manning'

You have a bunch of boxes which you can tick to choose the services you want, put codes for those services on the union card's magnetic strip and away you go.

 

[MoonlightSonata]

I would gladly pay $100 if I knew it would be used properly