Student unions 'on brink of extinction' (1 Viewer)

[clarkecorones]

Although VSU meant that union membership would decline, a 95% drop in membership is massive. It demonstrates how irrelevant the unions were to most students, because if students felt that their money was going towards valuable services, there would not have been such a substantial drop.

I think most university students would believe that the services provided by the student unions are valuable in a way to certain people, however not valuable enough to them to shell out hundreds of dollars when said hundreds of dollars could go towards food or a new ipod.

I know a lot of people that fit this description.

Most student politicians tend to be chardonnay socialists from wealthy backgrounds who need titles to pad out their resumes. You know, to look well rounded. [to generalise] most of the kids who could be described as battlers are too worried about marks and making it through uni to to commit to office.

 

[Captain Gh3y]

Nice generalising there

 

[what971]

Thank the Lord.

I hope Krudd doesn't bring back compulsory membership. Student Unions are worthless and need to be destroyed.

 

[wrxsti]

Membership is still 5% too high

EDIT: mathematically that makes no sense but you know what i mean

lol n00b

 

[Trampoline Man]

The student unions shot themselves in the foot by politicising their positions. If they just provided services, it wouldn't have gotten to the point of VSU. They got too caught up in political activism though, so it was only a matter of time before the politicians they protest against fought back.

I'd say the best thing would be to reintroduce compulsory unionism in a different form, perhaps have the unis audit their unions to make sure money is being spent on services, not politics, and allow fees to be paid over time rather than up front.

 

[Evilo]

The student unions shot themselves in the foot by politicising their positions.

agreed.

I'd say the best thing would be to reintroduce compulsory unionism in a different form, perhaps have the unis audit their unions to make sure money is being spent on services, not politics, and allow fees to be paid over time rather than up front.

hmmm but when it comes down to it, unionism wasnt really a great value anyway. I'll take ANU for example.
* 20c off an ($)8 meal in the union area - thats great, i live in a catered college - 21 meals a week all built in
* $40 off gym membership - i run, don't need the gym. If i need to go i'll pay a small one off entry fee
* Volleyball club - $20 off membership - its still like $240 a year (plus shirt)
etc etc

So even without political bias, its still not a great deal anyway.

 

[dey-tuk-re-jobz]

UNSW Arc this year will cost $149. In order to force students to join, they will require Arc Membership for anyone who wants to join a Society on campus - in short, it's going to be much harder to get and keep members in my Soc this semester. If you don't join Arc, you pay $49 for each Soc you want to join.

 

[withoutaface]

Just keep an 'official' list and a list of people who are interested but not members of the Union.