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Wellington, Nov 22 NZPA - Wellington students are having a party on Wednesday to highlight what could be lost if ACT's Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill passes.
The controversial bill that will abolish compulsory student union membership took another step to becoming law when it passed its second reading in Parliament earlier this month on a vote of 64 to 54.
The bill was sponsored by ACT's Heather Roy and was given the green light by a select committee in September.
National and ACT are using their majority in Parliament to push it through, against fierce opposition from the Labour Party.
Supporters say student unions are the only ones left that have compulsory membership and end up being controlled by political activists who run partisan campaigns and who don't represent the members.
Opponents argue it will destroy valuable associations which provide services at universities and polytechs because most students are hard up and won't voluntarily pay fees.
On Wednesday student radio station the VBC 88.3FM would host a gig at the San Francisco Bath House to highlight concerns that the bill would gut funding to students' associations and clubs like the VBC.
The gig was organised by the VBC, the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association (VUWSA) and the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations (NZUSA). Bands Glass Vaults, Jetsam Isles and Albert Mikoaj would play.
VUWSA President Max Hardy said the bill would cripple the VBC.
"Wellingtonians have enjoyed the support VBC provides to local Wellington music culture through giving local bands air time and holding regular gigs. It's important they know the student radio station could be at risk due to the government's actions."
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Comments
Oh my goodness, this party
Oh my goodness, this party is just adding even more weight to the pro VSM arguement!! So a student union (VUWSA) is funding a party? Helped by funding by NZUSA which if funded by all students in NZ!
This is supported by a student radio station funded by students too! So in effect students are forced to join a union in order for their petty political ambitions and for parties. VUWSA are indeed the main reason why VSM got so popular in NZ - they are so out of touch and left wing that the ball started to roll quicker for VSM.
Why should students be forced to save a student radio station or to subsidise Wellington music culture?? Good grief!
not all student unions waste
not all student unions waste student money, nor support this concept of a party.
You are right they dont get it, and are too narrow minded to look at it from any other angle, and because of their inabilities to look outside the circle, or to recognise that the general public do not care, or do not support the anti VSM campaign, it has made all of the students associations look like they are idiots.
It really isn't a party, its
It really isn't a party, its a show (that is being endorsed, not paid for by the radio station), to raise awareness of VSM.
In fact I am certain there
In fact I am certain there is no funding going into this at all.
FYI - VUWSA and NZUSA are
FYI - VUWSA and NZUSA are not contributing financially to the party.
So the VBC is paying for the
So the VBC is paying for the gig which is funded by VUWSA ?????
These comments kind of miss
These comments kind of miss the point, which is that students association have for many years been one of the greatest supporters of New Zealand music. Through student radio and gigs on campus, many many Kiwi musicians have had careers because of they support they had early on from students. The current law allows students to decide whether they're voluntary or compulsory - why should politicians have the power that students currently have?
Err hello??? Students don't
Err hello??? Students don't have a choice. They can ask to pull out but in many cases have to donate the fee to a charity of the Student Association's choice. Not very fair. Then on top of that they still claim they represent you. VSM is their own fault anyway. If they would of stopped pissing students off with pushing their radical left-wing views, like backing the Alliance Party, and stopped stealing money from the Associations themselves then they wouldn't be in this position.
Students can choose as a
Students can choose as a group to go voluntary or compulsory with a referendum. Actually, the politically radical group in this debate is a small handful of ACT people who are trying to push voluntary membership on everyone when there's no evidence that students want it. ACT are not happy with students deciding, they want MPs to decide how students associations are structured. That's because for the most part students have opted to go with universal membership.