Sydney Life

Jack, my boy, I love to see first years getting involved in union politics. I had no idea that the union even existed in my first year.

VSU is a joke, quite simply. Like you said, it's like a tax. The money that the Union receives from compulsory student payments isn't just for things like parties, clubs and societies and coffee carts on campus. The money is also (and more importantly) used for those rudimentary aspects of uni life that we don't even think about. Like lighting our classrooms, and making sure the bathrooms are clean. Like keeping waste management under control, and ensuring an adequate stock of chalk (ok, maybe the chalk was a stretch, but you get my drift.)

VSU is such an important issue. It is not just about keeping our student social lives alive - it's about ensuring the quality of all the facilities on campus, especially the ones we most take for granted.

Even as the eternal pessimist (who sees the hole when others see the Krispy Kreme, thanks for that, Jack) I don't think it's too late to overturn this bulls$#t. If we can convince students that the Union needs their payments, or work out some other way for the Union to receive funding (and I am NOT talking about Coca-Cola-sponsored lectures....more like an instalment plan) I think we can keep the Sydney Uni life, alive.

As always, I think the answer is a question of degree.

A fee, which is however not too onerous on those less financially able, should be compulsory. I'm swayed by the idea that Uni is more than a degree factory, and I believe whilst we are all part of a University community we should be expected to pay a reasonable amount for essential services that will help us and others enjoy this time.

At the same time, the argument against VSU falls flat if that fee is soooo onerous that it actually makes it too difficult for less financially-able people to afford university in the first place. In which case, perhaps the government can do what it does so well and raise the HECS fees(now "Commonwealth Supported Place Fees") to allow students to differ Student Union membership, to make sure essential services, like child care, legal advice, anti-discrimination and welfare services, are funded.

I know my experience as a student convenor on the Union WAS the reason for why I got my current job. My Union experience showed that I was: engaged, committed, self-motivated, able to organise and time manage large scale events, able to work in a team as well as taking individual initiative.

Let's face it, if you don't get involved in something other than your classes, you will miss out, your CV will miss out and your social life will miss out.

For argument that no other industry forces you to join a union: that's trollop. You have to join the Law Society to become a solicitor, the Bar Association to become a Barrister etc. The Student Organisation are NOT predominantly political organisations. They provide cultural, welfare, social and sporting services. So the argument that compares Student Organisations to traditional trade union-like organisations is misleading.

The aspect of this legislation that constantly bewilders me is the apparent ease in which the government has been able to position it as providing financial relief to battling students. No, if they were serious about financial relief let’s talk about helping us with the thousands of dollars of debt hanging over our heads after we leave university. Suddenly $480 at the beginning of each year doesn’t seem like such a big deal.

What also astounds me about this whole issue is that the liberal party claims to be giving students options. That’s funny, because slipping such important legislation through in the closing hours of parliament for the year looks a lot like forcing it down our throats. If this government was serious about giving the student body choices it would allow us to decide if we want this legislation or not by giving us a chance to vote it up or down.

What is so irritating is that this legislation is clearly an ideological position that is going to ruin a lot of the aspects of my student experience. This university is my life and I resent the fact that some dusty old liberal with an ancient grudge against anything with the word 'union' in it wants to destroy it. You don't see me walking the streets of Kirribilli impeding the actions of a certain bald jogger.

If anyone in that party could offer a decent argument for VSU I would gladly listen. At present no politician seems to understand it beyond ideological terms. This legislation is not some inconsequential piece of bureaucracy whose effects will only be seen in the years to come. It will have very real effects on some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

A further problem with demanding all students pay a compulsory fee is that students at other campusses, especially the Law School, do not have nearly the same Union run-facilities and opportunities as those students at the Main Campus.

Students at the Law School are asked to subsidise the services that Main Campus students enjoy, and while it is true that the Union provides counselling, financial and legal services to all students in theory, the location (on Main Campus) of these services and the ability of many law students to access alternative serives of the same nature really mean that when we boil it down, law students are being asked to subsidise the facilities and services of Main Campus students.

In defence of USU and its role at the Law School, some might argue that the Union provides funding for the USyd Law Society, SULS. But, in reality, even a cursory perusal of SULS accounts reveals the the overwhelming bulk of SULS' budget is sourced from sponsorship that SULS itself secures from major law firms, and that, even without Union funding, most SULS activities and services would continue to run.

I have had no problem in paying my annual fee to the Union and the SRC all the years that I have been a student on Main Campus. But, when the Union so clearly neglects to offer comprable services to the students at Philip Street (take a look around the Union area on Level 5 sometime) why should I pay a week's wages to join?

PRO VSU

Yes, alot of students have to pay so that the few can participate in everything and that is highly unfair. Why should you have to pay for something that you do not adn cannot ever forsee yourself accessing?

A large part of the money also goes toward paying those union leaders. . . yes president etc are PAID positions, the money also pays for organising protests, some of which you may not believe in.

Yes the union fees go towards catering, but the subsidy is very low and it is often cheaper to eat outside or bring your own food. Also, if the union catering goes, never fear, there will be plenty of commercial outlets clamouring to take its place, in fact commercial outlets in Uni already exist.

Similarly for the sporting things. The compulsary joining of the sports union gives you basically nothing. To take a class at this union run faciltiy you must then join the union for that particular activity, join the gym, pay to rent the space, pay the join the activity and then pay for each class!!!! So where is the subsidy?

Yes, more than a degree factory certainly, but socialising and getting to know people can happen without paying through the nose.

And above all, if you believe that all or most students want the union and its activities, then you shouldn't fear VSU as if people need and love those services as much as you say, they will pay the fee anyway.