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Students are condemning deplorable comments recently highlighted by Act on Campus which link the current situation of universal student association membership to rape.
On their public Facebook page, ACT on Campus quoted a Calgary Beacon opinion piece which wrote: “After all, if two men corner a woman in a dark alley and force her to have sex with them because they, the majority, have voted in favour of it, that would still be rape, not the exercise of their group right to freedom of association.”
The Tertiary Women’s Focus Group (TWFG) condemns this analogy. There are no similarities between Universal Student Membership and rape, nor will there ever be.
“These comments are deplorable. The fact that they continue to defend highlighting this analogy shows how little they understand of rape culture in New Zealand.” says Caitlin Dunham, National Women’s Rights Officer for the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations
“Act on Campus is trivialising the experiences of one in four women in New Zealand to make a tenuous point.
Currently, one in four women in tertiary education under the age of 25 are sexually assaulted, and are unable to ‘opt out’.
Currently, most tertiary students are automatically members of their Student Association, but can choose to opt out,” says Dunham.
The Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment bill currently before Parliament, sponsored by the Act Party, seeks to remove the current choices in the law by making all membership voluntary, without any regard to the impact on student services, welfare or representation.
“The irony is that the student Associations the Act Party Bill targets are the same associations who work tirelessly with students and the community to provide a number of services to those affected by rape, harassment, sexual assault and violence. These include campaigns such as ‘Thursdays in Black’ and ‘Reclaim the Night’, along with safety schemes such as ‘Campus Angels’,” says Dunham.
“We call on the Act Party leadership to condemn these comments highlighted by Act on Campus. Act on Campus need to think twice before comparing their experience as members of student associations to the traumatizing experience of sexual assault. Such thinking further tarnishes the reputation of the Act Party, and provides yet another reason why this Act Party Bill should be voted down by Parliament,” concludes Dunham.
The Tertiary Women’s Focus Group (TWFG) is an autonomous women’s advocacy and campaign group within NZUSA and serves to represent women in tertiary education. The TWFG exists to fight for barrier free education for women in Aotearoa/New Zealand and believes that education is essential and that the different needs and material realities of women must be recognised and addressed through education processes.
The post and user comments are currently available at: http://www.facebook.com/actoncampus/posts/178879098801699
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Comments
In my mind I always call the
In my mind I always call the ACT party The Greed Party. Greed is all they stand for.
It was just to make the
It was just to make the point that you shouldn't be forced to follow decisions of groups you don't associate with. Nobody is supporting rape in any way.
The point is stupid and the
The point is stupid and the analogy was disgustingly thoughtless and shallow.
The Tertiary Women’s Focus
The Tertiary Women’s Focus Group are not representative of the women on our campuses. They are run by hardcore Labour/Green supporting feminists who are not even elected to speak on our behalf.
TWFG force their opinions and beliefs onto women students and scream down any criticism of their work, incidentally while being funded by fees that they forced off us all. The rape analogy may be harsh, but there is a lot of forcing and compulsion involved with the TWFG. Pot kettle black.
What nonsense. The ACT party
What nonsense. The ACT party which got 1% of the vote is a lot less representative of the people of New Zealand than Labour or the Greens. They stand for selling off New Zealand assets and ripping off this country to make the rich richer. They are the party of greed.
The Student Union charges a very small fee per student for a huge range of benefits without which University Life would be a pathetic shell of what it is today and compare ridiculously to overseas Universities. The argument is like seeing people shouldn't have to pay taxes to fund libraries. But I suppose greedy ACT supporters would support the closing of libraries too. Yes of course you would *eye roll*.
What has it got to do with
What has it got to do with the ACT Party and this magical 1% silliness? Although 1% of what ACT is apparently polling is still more than combined all the votes going to compulsory student unions today :)
Thank you for admitting that all students will not choose to join a union if they are not forced to. Of course university life will be an empty pathetic shell if unions are not forced to represent all students.... LOL. I could add the Labour/Green parties are the selfish parties too, but as TWFG and NZUSA support them (and use my fees to support their policies) I have little say in this... as I am just one person up against a well funded union who have forced themselves onto me.
Oh I don't vote ACT either, but comparing student union membership to taxes is a rather inflated opinion of the importance of unions. Did we compare paying trade union dues to the CTU in the 80's to taxes as well?
It isn't inflated at all. It
It isn't inflated at all. It sounds like you don't have any idea of the myriad of activities and benefits the student union gives to students. BUt since extreme right wing people like yourself have the opportunity to opt out anyway it's hard to see what you're even whining about.
Name calling like "extreme
Name calling like "extreme right wing" isn't going to impress anybody. We don't have any extreme right wing parties in the NZ Parliament - in fact if we are to be correct about it, we have more people categorised as "extreme left" involved in the NZ Parliament both today and in our past. Name for me an extreme right wing politician in the NZ Government today.
A student union is an incorporated society, like bowling club. If you regard your bowling club as important as your Government then maybe you are the confused one. Why should a student have to go through the "opting out" process where they don't get their fee back, when it should be their democratic right to choose whether or not to join in the first place?
And I'm not the one whining, this article is the one whining about something ACT didn't even say. Grow up.
At least ACT PARTY has the
At least ACT PARTY has the GUT to voice out.......intead of chicken out.
ACT are a dangerous group of
ACT are a dangerous group of people. they were discredited with the
dead baby saga and rod Hide is unlikely to win a seat so it's good bye and get lost act.
98% of students voted to not support the bill.
1.6% of voters is all ACT got so clearly such a minority is near nil
support yet they walk around like bullies. students need representation for many things and the students union ,run for the people by the people has worked well.
ACT need to be told pull your head in and leave others alone.
a mini hitler youth group, hiding behind the pretense of a peoples rights group. well we have rights also so please go away or we will
ask for protection against ACT as they invade our rights to be left alone.
How many NZers have
How many NZers have considered the ACT Party dangerous? This is the first time I am hearing eversince this party was formed years ago.
"Rebecca" what nonsense. An
"Rebecca" what nonsense. An ex MP was involved with the dead baby saga, NOT entire ACT Party. Fail 1 to Rebecca.
Fail 2 = Rodney will win Epsom.
Fail 3 = 98% of students did NOT oppose the VSM bill, 98% of the clicks from a website run by NZUSA that allowed an automated "submission" were against the bill. (actually that's a massive fail)
Fail 4 = the only people/group telling people what to do is the COMPULSORY student unions (the trick is to understand what compulsory means). ACT is allowing people to make a choice about joining.
Fail 5 = You fail for calling ACT a mini hitler youth, I suspect you are probably very young as that is such a stupid statement and insulting the the Jewish members of the ACT Party and in fact all Jews.
Lesson over.
Rodney Hide is extreme right
Rodney Hide is extreme right wing. And Mary you started your post by accusing me of "name calling" when I was merely speculating on your political position and then end with the arguably childish and uncalled for "grow up".
I am 40 years old. Like many New Zealanders I see the ACT party for what it is and the view points you express for what they are. Greed. A complete lack of social responsibility and an interest only in money grubbing to the extent of selling off New Zealand to people Overseas. That is why ACT has only 1.6% of the vote. Unfortunately the National Party are using ACT to sneakily push through far right ideas while hiding behind another another party so as to keep voters.
The ACT party DID indeed make an insensitive comment about rape. Why are you now denying THAT Mary.
Rodney Hide is as extreme
Rodney Hide is as extreme right wing as a block of cheddar cheese, what utter silliness!
On the other hand, we have Keith Locke in Parliament and other MPs who have all sworn allegience to people like Pol Pot and other extreme left wing radicals. Do I need to give you a history lesson old boy?
Nobody in the ACT Party made that rape comment, you might need some glasses! They linked from a website in Canada, the trick is in the text where it says who wrote the article (a woman) the country (Canada). This is getting so silly its embarrassing.
"The ACT party DID indeed
"The ACT party DID indeed make an insensitive comment about rape. Why are you now denying THAT Mary."
One of the things we don't know on the net is who Mary is. Mary might be a male or female. Mary might even be Rodney Hide. We don't know who is saying they are a particular gender or category to create an illusion of support for Acts creepiness.
And you don't know who I am. I can tell you but you have no reason to believe or disbelieve what I tell you my gender or background is.
Hahaha, me Rodney Hide? I
Hahaha, me Rodney Hide? I don't even vote National or ACT. I am a centrist who fights stupdity from both sides. Today I am staggered by your stupidity. The article was written by a Canadian woman, IN CANADA. Not the ACT Party.
I would presume you read it wrong but as it is so obvious I suspect you're now just lying because of your flimsy arguement. That's just awful and I'm not surprised you're anonymous as I'd sue you if I was a member of the ACT Party.
Sounds like 06/01/2011 -
Sounds like 06/01/2011 - 17:56 — Anonymous (not verified) is really taking comment very suspicious of all writers, espcially Mary. You should handle this "rape" issue with proper facts and/or circumstances, and merely attacking other writers personally with your own belief.
associating this with rape
associating this with rape shows just how sick ACT is.
I stand by ACT on Campus'
I stand by ACT on Campus' decision to post that article on their Facebook page. It is acceptable to make the analogy that was made in the article they linked to. Here's my take on it: http://starstuddedsuperstep.com/2011/01/childish-reaction-to-act-on-campus-facebook-quote/
Most of you don't seem to
Most of you don't seem to understand what voluntary means, so let's look at the dictionary. Voluntary: of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled. So essentially it gives you the option of choosing whether you want to be part of a union. For those who want to be in a union, sweet as, nothing changes. But for people like me, whose views are misrepresented by the unions, it gives me a chance to opt out and have my own freedom and not be grouped with these idiots. The unions have never benefited me in any way.
"But for people like me,
"But for people like me, whose views are misrepresented by the unions, it gives me a chance to opt out and have my own freedom and not be grouped with these idiots. The unions have never benefited me in any way."
Are you a boss or self employed person? Are you a high salaried professional?
Many business people don't realize that the whole of society has benefitted from unions. Workers wages are the fuel of business. As wages rise there is demand for all types of new products. The west is a rich market because workers here can afford to buy things. This situation would not exist without workers fighting to increase living standards for a large portion of society. So as wages grow business opportunities grow. Anti union propaganda has a purpose and is being promoted by the media empire of the globalist elite. The agenda is to lower wages to the pont where low consumption drives small businesses into debt to banks and makes small enterprises uneconomic as lower paid workers cannnot buy in those businesses. This means the big boys can step in and take over everything. Once they have eliminated competition they can then charge whatever they like. This has happened in our retail sector. NZ small business sector should not believe the National party are helping them. They are helping the big boys destroy small business in NZ.
Of course 07/01/2011 - 23:38
Of course 07/01/2011 - 23:38 — Anonymous, but we're talking about student unions and not the ones that cropped up during the years of Soviet expansionism and helped balance out the power between employers and employees. Student unions nowadays are run by a handful of stroppy leftwing students with well over a million dollars of unaccountable guaranteed income coming in per annum and no need to work to improve services or persuade students to vote and this works for them just fine.
Time to drag it into the 21st (in fact the 20th) century like our trade unions that are doing remarkably well under voluntary unionism don't you think?
Since we had voluntary
Since we had voluntary unionism here in NZ we have seen the demise of our economy, the lowering of wages and at the same time the demise of small business with the rise of corporations.
The left need to have some money because the right wing have vast amounts of money in the hands of big business.
We are getting bombarded with right wing crap through our media on a daily basis.
Most workers including journalists are so afraid for their job would not dare do something political like join a union. They might be passed over for promotion or experience other forms of punsihment.
So we have workers who cannot speak for fear of loosing their jobs. How democratic is that.
We have vast corporations who own and control media and help us decide how to vote. There is no deocracy there.
I believe compulsory unionism is better for everyone. Without unions the vast majority of everyday workers cannot stand against the vast corporate machine which has unlimited money.
This is not an attempt at democracy but an attempt to kill socilism and free speech amoungst working people who cannot afford to speak.
Its a cynical attempt to crush disent of any kind.
The lowering of wages that
The lowering of wages that has seen the youth rate abolished and the minimum wage set at $12.75 an hour?
So what you're saying is
So what you're saying is that student unions are justified stealing money off all students (even the right wing ones) in order to build up a war chest for the trade union movement?
Wow.... simply wow. I bet you'd also be willing to use armed force in order to maintain this regime of yours.
Wages haven't been rising in
Wages haven't been rising in keeping with inflation. And more jobs are paying minimum wage or close to it.
NZ wages will forever be
NZ wages will forever be comparatively lower than Austalia, partly because there are too many restrictions in mining, now enjoying hugh returns from Aussie exports to developing countries like China. on the the hand, NZ open cast minings are openly objected by the DOC, for the sake of saving a few trees and creatures.
"NZ open cast minings are
"NZ open cast minings are openly objected by the DOC, for the sake of saving a few trees and creatures."
NZ earns a hell of a lot more money from tourism than mining. It makes econimic sense not to ruin our beautiful landscape that people are willing to pay to see.
The percentage of Open Cast
The percentage of Open Cast Minings to all NZ forrests is very negligible, say "one tree to a forest". By the way, the number of Aussie tourists is very much more than that of NZ...
The fundamental flaw in our
The fundamental flaw in our economy is that we import loads of goods from countries where workers have no rights. This has the effect of lowering wages here in NZ. Lower wages mean a lower tax take making it harder forn our government to pay for social services. Its an international trend pushed on us by the international banking business elite. Its part of a plan to take over our social services like health, water etc so the international elite can then have monoplies in all countries and charge what they like.
At the same time they are pushing a police state so we cant fight them when they destroy our democracy.
National have laid the first stones in the destruction of our democracy in legislation passed recently.
It was Labour signing this
It was Labour signing this kind of Free-Trade Agreement with CHINA, and you should be checking the fact first before commenting..
Who said I support the
Who said I support the Labour party. I'm definitly a socialist but both National and Labour have supported free trade. Its a matter of who are worse and I have to say the National Party.
National would like to destroy the working poor in NZ. They have done nothing to increase jobs and everyting to attack beneficiaries who have no jobs. They have deliberately given tax cuts so that they can say we have no money. Solution - lets cut benefits to the poor.
National know that cutting benefits to the poor when there are not enough jobs will increase crime when people cannot feed themselves. This is all for the multinationals like serco who won the 1st private prison contract and will make a tidy profit from the tax payer due to their being more poor people driven to crimes just to survive.
*I knew from the time National started talking about tax cuts what they were up to. That this would be an attempt to destroy the welfare state.
That is all they have tried to do. Give money to the rich and destroy the welfare state.
They are useless and worse they are traitors to the New Zealand people.
Perhaps Mon, 10/01/2011 -
Perhaps Mon, 10/01/2011 - 20:13 — Anonymous (not verified),
you should run for election....
Yes... run for parliament,
Yes... run for parliament, so we can all see how many people support your outdated far left ideology for what it is.
The sad thing is our student unions are stacked with people like you.