University of Melbourne Student Union

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The student union, one of several student organisations at the University of Melbourne, Australia, is divided into two parts. The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU), incorporated as University of Melbourne Student Union, Inc. (UMSUi) provides representation for students. The service provision arm is Melbourne University Student Union Limited (MUSUL). UMSUi was incorporated on 17 November 2005, following approval by the Council of the University of Melbourne in October of that year. Its first elections were held in October 2005 under the transitional clauses of the constitution.

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[edit] Culture

Particularly noteworthy is Union House Theatre, out of which a large number of notable Australian celebrities have emerged, such as Cate Blanchett, Barry Humphries and Malcolm Livingstone; the Union Band Comp, which has kick-started the careers of several well-known Australian bands; and an annual comedy revue which produced the Working Dog crew.

[edit] Farrago

Farrago is the official newspaper of the University of Melbourne Student Union. The name is included in the motto Quidquid agunt nomines nosti farrago libello est — whatever men do forms the motley subject of our page.

The newspaper was founded by Brian Fitzpatrick in 1925. Noteworthy editors in the past have included Geoffrey Blainey, Amira Gust, Claude Forrell, Ian Robinson, Morag Fraser, Garrie Hutchinson, Ross McPherson, Lindsay Tanner, Peter Russo, Louise Carbines, Jim Brumby, Pete Steedman, Arnold Zable, Kate Legge, Nicola Gobbo Cathy Bale, and Christos Tsiolkas in 1988.

[edit] Funding

The student union had been funded by compulsory Amenities and Services Fees since 1911. The introduction of VSU means that the ASF will not be charged from 1 July 2006.

Of the $14m (Aus) allocated for student services around three quarters goes to MUSUL. This allocation funds either fully or in part a range of student services and amenities including: the Rowden White Library; the Computing Centre; the Student Union Advisory Service; subsidised legal, health and dental services; a campus information centre; and common areas in Union House. This allocation also covers salaries, upkeep and development of the student union's buildings.

Somewhat less than $2 million is allocated to UMSUi. This funds (among other things) the Advisory Service, Clubs and Societies, Farrago, the Womyn's Department and the Queer Department; it also includes funds set aside for payment of NUS affiliation fees.

Following passage of the VSU legislation, the University has signed a three year, $16 million, funding arrangement for all University of Melbourne student organisations, including MU Sport and the postgraduate association (UMPA). Of this UMSUi will receive a little over $1.1m in 2006, $1m in 2007 and $0.9m in 2008. The total income of UMSUi is expected to decrease to $1.3m.

[edit] History and politics

The University of Melbourne Union was founded in 1884 to promote the common interests of students and assist in social interactions between its members. The Melbourne University Students’ Representative Council was formed as an independent unincorporated association at a special general meeting called by the Sports Union Council on 19 September, 1907.

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[edit] Incorporation

The Associations Incorporation Act, 1981, allowed incorporation of student bodies, among others. The Students’ Association in 1987 as the Melbourne College of Advanced Education Students’ Association-Carlton Incorporated, and the Students’ Representative Council was incorporated in 1988 as Melbourne University Students’ Representative Council Incorporated. On 13 October 1988 the two merged to form Melbourne University Student Union Incorporated (MUSUi).

[edit] Recent History

[edit] 2002/2003 Controversy

From 2002 some of the union's unprofitable commercial services were terminated, including U-Bar, and a property deal was entered into with Optima Property Development Group. A draft report from auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers warned in June 2003 that this could potentially create obligations beyond MUSUi's capacity to pay.[1][2] The deal, the subject of substantial controversy, was for MUSUi to sublease student apartments to international students from the Optima Group. It did not proceed.

On 30 September 2003, Vice-Chancellor Alan Gilbert informed MUSUi that the University was terminating the 2003 Funding Agreement, effectively stripping it of any future money, citing "evidence of breaches by MUSUI of its obligations under the Agreement", (the agreement being "providing facilities, services or activities of direct benefit to students at the institution"). He also cited a "serious breakdown in governance, financial management and accountability structures within MUSU". These interpretations are disputed.

[edit] Voluntary liquidation

On February 6, 2004 the Union was placed into liquidation by the Supreme Court of Victoria after a vote by the Student Union Executive. MUSU's liquidator, Dean Royston McVeigh, said in his provisional liquidator's report, that the Union owed debts of $4.3 million (mainly to the University of Melbourne) but only had assets of $3.5 million. McVeigh acknowledged that these "debts" were the result of creative accounting by the University, with the University ultimately relinquishing any claim to such "debts". As a result it was no longer student-controlled (a prerequisite for affiliation to NUS) and was in any case unable to pay affiliation fees. A new constitution was approved.

Master Ewart Evans who was presiding over the hearings of the liquidators' examination until his retirement in 2005 was critical of the "somewhat precipitative" timing of civil court proceedings, which McVeigh quickly settled out of court after much adverse publicity about his own fees and expenses believed to total more than $8 million[3] prior to producing a Liquidator's Report and convening a meeting of creditors. As of May 2007, a meeting of Creditors is yet to be held, nor has McVeigh detailed his own fees and expenses in any report to those creditors or to ASIC, which regulates the conduct of liquidators.

[edit] 2005 and 2006

Following the 2004 annual election, the coalition between the Liberal Club and the conservative Labor Club was defeated by a cooperative left, made up of National Labor Students (ALP Club), Socialist Alternative and a group of Green-anarchist students called Activate. The positions won by the left groups were for an interim student representative committee (ISRC) established by the University to oversee student representation and advocacy until the incorporation of UMSU.

The downfall of MUSU was satirised by the Union Players in the play Friday Night at the Union in 2004.

[edit] 2007

The 2007 UMSU saw slight changes in its power dynamic although the body remains decidedly left-wing. The National Labor Students (ALP Club) hold the President, Secretary and Education (Academic) Offices, while most of the other paid positions are held by Activate who are the autonomist left, concerned principally with queer/women's issues and environmentalism and building radical community on campus, and More Activities! (who hold the Activities and Clubs and Societies Departments). Socialist Alternative was also returned to the Education (Public) Office in 2007.

The makeup of the 2007 Students' Council is changed from 2006, with no ALSF presence (due to the Liberal Student tickets withdrawing from the annual elections prior to the opening of the ballot). The right-wing group 'One', comprising Student Unity members wield a significant degree of influence with 4 voting representatives. A number of independent and non-aligned club representatives are also represented on Students' Council, including the Lebanese Students Society and the Independent Arts/Media Ticket, who both have one voting representative each.

The 2007 UMSU budget, due to funding cuts caused by VSU, has been reduced from just over $2m in 2006 to merely $1.23m in 2007. This has resulted in reductions in funding for departments, particularly those which traditionally have been considered high, such as the Activities, Clubs and Societies and Media Departments.

The UMSU completed its 2007 budget in December 2006, although Department Committees are yet to finalise departmental budgets, with widespread concern about the financial health of the organisation.

[edit] Initial constitution

The Constitution of UMSU was drafted by a Student Representative Working Group, members of whom were elected in 2004 by electronic ballot; the University Secretary was appointed Returning Officer. The University was closely involved in the drafting process and provided free legal advice to the Working Group.[4] These student Working Group members consisted of both undergraduate and post-graduate members, and the overall composition of the Working Group was factionally diverse. Due to a large number of inquorate meetings, the Working Group instituted a drop-off rule.

The Working Group persisted until mid-2005, when the final draft of the Constitution was presented to the Council of the University.[5] In September, 1052 out of 1240 students voted in favour of accepting the new constitution.[6].

The Constitution itself was largely based on the MUSU Constitution, with a number of innovations, including affirmative action provisions, pay-parity and strict accountability mechanisms curbing the powers of the President and Secretary in particular. It also created the Clubs & Societies Department (which in the past had been a part of the Activities Department) and the Indigenous Department.

[edit] Paid officers

UMSU has a number of paid officers, which are: Activities Officers; Arts Officer; Clubs and Societies Officers; Education (Public Affairs) Officer; Education (Academic Affairs) Officers; Environment Officers; Media Officers (Farrago editors); Indigenous Officer; President; Queer Officers; the Secretary and Wom*n's Officers.

[edit] Notable associations

Several Members of Parliament were active within Melbourne University student life, including Sir Robert Menzies (former Australian Prime Minister), Gareth Evans (former Australian Foreign Minister), Lindsay Tanner (Member for Melbourne), Michael Danby (Member for Melbourne Ports), and Sophie Mirabella (Member for Indi).

Notable past presidents include:

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Student union urged to abandon deal" - The Age 2003-07-09
  2. ^ "The deal that threatens to send a student union broke" - The Age 2003-07-20
  3. ^ "Landeryou threatened me, says liquidator" - The Age 2005-05-25
  4. ^ "Elected student working group will form a ‘constitutional convention’", UniNews Vol. 13, No. 4, University of Melbourne, 22 March–5 April 2004. 
  5. ^ Christina Buckridge. "Council gives go-ahead to student body’s constitution", UniNews Vol. 14, No. 15, University of Melbourne, 22 August–5 September 2005. 
  6. ^ "Yes vote on new student body sets scene for elections", UniNews Vol. 14, No. 16, University of Melbourne, 5–19 September 2005. 


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