CSU seems to run differently to other Unis, namley the bigger Sydney Unis. We pay $34 per subject - so that $136 a semester, which is more than reasonable considering what we get out of it - subsidised child care (which is rather important I've noticed in my course for my peers), UniBar nights, academic suport, student paper, CSUSAB jobs, gigs like Thirsty Merc, Jebediah and Eskimo Joe, Pub Runs (all residences and downtowners) the Balls held throughout the year, the massive sports clibs throughout the Uni, Uni Games, financial support, counselling, saftey bus which runs between Campus, downtown and off campus residences (MTG) after 5 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, subsidised food in dinning hall, rent help and advice for all downtowners - the list of facilities goes on, and I've taken advantage of most services.
For regional Universities, the Student Union does more than create a community and way of life - it aids students in moving into regional centres, many of which would be unable to do so if it didn't exist. This is partly why some nationals are against VSU. Using Bathurst as an example - people come to CSU for many reasons, but the social life in unsurpassed by city Unis - Sydney and New South, you can go through your degree and never really know anyone - I know just about all 1st year nurses, and then some - whereas CSU you can walk from the CSUSAB building to the library and greet every second person. CSU is friendly, relaxed and easy going - Uni just wouldn't be Uni with friday mornings on the library lawn (hung over) and still in your jammie pants, and nobody thinking it was odd. If theres someone you don't know at CSU, you've got a mate who does, and we have CSUSAB to thank - for an awesome O-week, for Bar nights, for gigs, for sports and any other function that brings the students together.
Furthermore, without the support of CSUSAB, many students from cities would choose to remain in Sydney, Newcastle or Wollongong, while students from remote and rural areas would not have the option to study at Uni because the support needed to move half way across the state would not exist. If CSU Bathurst was to loose CSUSAB that'd loose part of what made it a great Uni, and in the process loose a fair percentage of potential and current students. The social life and sense of community would essentially be lost, students would simply decide to either remain in urban centres for University, or do tertiary study via DE (which would be marvelous without the student unions support, I'm sure..) and thus towns such as Bathurst, Orange, Armidale and Lismore, which dervive a fair share of it's income from Uni students who use the towns facilities. Bathurst industry, esspecially pubs, supermarkets, property etc stand to loose millions if VSU is passed, with a decline in student numbers - which is now at 3000 (pretty much a town to itself) - Bathurst City will loose income, and it's something locals are worried about. Yes, they have Ag and other industry, but the fact remains, the Uni provides a substantial ammount of income for the town, and locals of Bathurst are worried that should VSU be passed and students elect others Unis or to study through DE, that the town itself stands to loose. The same is felt across other 'Uni Towns' like Lismore and Armidale. Thats partly why the Nationals are against it, because their electorate is also against it - they recognise the postitives of VSU for their regions.
Like I said however, Student Unionism is vastly different for regional students than it is for metropolitian Unis.
