Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association

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The Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association (VUWSA) is the official students' association at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. VUWSA was established in 1899 as the Victoria University College Students' Society.

1 Organisation
2 The Executive
3 Services
4 Orientation and Re-Orientation
5 External links

[edit] Organisation

The Victoria University Of Wellington Students' Association (VUWSA) is the students' association for all Students enrolled at Victoria University.

Historically, VUWSA has had a reputation as a radical left-wing organisations. VUWSA has had heavy involvement in New Zealand social movements such as the Nuclear Free New Zealand Movement, and the Vietnam War where VUWSA donated money to the Viet Cong). In recent years, VUWSA has supported the campaign for the Prostitution Reform Bill and the Civil Union Bill and opposed initiatives to raise the legal drinking age to 20 years.

The executive is elected by students who are all members of the association. Turnout has been consistently less than ten percent in recent years, with roughly one thousand students voting in 2005. Despite this, many of the services provided by VUWSA are well used.

The current President of the association is Workers Party member and self confessed Communist Joel Cosgrove. The 2007 President, Geoff Hayward was a member and former President of the Victoria University Labour Branch. He stood against the 2006 President and Workers Party member Nick Kelly and won with the the unlikely backing of both Labour and Right wing Students (such as the Young Nats and Act On Campus.2

The current annual cost of membership is $120 which is a compulsory fee charged by the university when students pay their tuition fees. A referendum to change to make VUWSA a voluntary student association was rejected in 1999. Student levies are used to fund over 80 student cultural and sporting club, welfare services such as the VUWSA Food Bank, free bread for students, Campus Angels, and microwaves, advocacy on students behalf such as in cases of academic grievance, representative groups such as the queer rep group Uni Q, the environmental rep group Gecko and Can Do the disabled students rep group and various other forms of student support.

The student levies are also used to employ a full time Association Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Clubs Development Officer, and Activities Coordinator. As well as a Campaigns Coordinator and Women's Rights Coordinator.[1]

[edit] The Executive

The VUWSA executive consists of thirteen positions: President, Education Vice President, Welfare Vice President, Administrative Vice President, Women's Rights Officer, Clubs Officer, two Education Officers, Activities Officer, Campaigns Officer, Queer Officer, Environment Officer and International Students Officer. The last three positions were established by amendments to the VUWSA constitution at the VUWSA Annual General Meeting at the end of 2005.

The 2008 Executive is made up of President - Joel Cosgrove, Education Vice President - The Reverend Paul 'Danger' Brown, Welfare Vice President - Melissa Barnard, Administrative Vice President - Alexander Neilson, Women's’ Rights Officer - Georgie Dickson, Clubs Officer - Katie de Roo, Education Officer - Stefan Tyler, Education Officer - Seamus Brady, Activities Officer - Fiona McDonald, Campaigns Officer - Sonny Thomas, Queer Officer - Rachael Wright, Environmental Officer - Mark Newton, and International Officer - William Wu.

[edit] Services

VUWSA provides a range of services to students including representation, clubs and various activities. It has published a weekly newspaper, Salient since 1941. Linked to VUWSA by a memorandum of understanding is Ngai Tauira, the Maori Students Association.

VUWSA has eight organisational goals which define its areas of activity:

1. Education: Student Support - To secure and maintain adequate state income, welfare and employment support for students.

2. Education: University - To ensure the university provides equity and quality in assessment, teaching, conditions and course access supported by sufficient resources.

3. Education: Equity - To promote equity for disadvantaged members in access to and within the university.

4. Services - To control the student union complex and provide quality cost effective (consumer) services for members.

5. Activities - To provide or assist sporting, social and cultural activities, for and by members; primarily through clubs.

6. Public Issues - To promote discussion and action as appropriate, on issues concerning students as citizens.

7. Finance - To maximise the benefits to members by minimising fees or user charges through internal efficiency and non member revenue.

8. Accountability - To ensure that the structures and procedures of the Association result in effective and efficient communication, management and accountability.

[edit] Orientation and Re-Orientation

VUWSA organises annual an Orientation at the start of the academic year and a Re-Orientation after mid year break. These events range from live music, comedy, debates, pub crawls, parties and quiz nights. Past performers at VUWSA Orientation include The Shins, Interpol, Swervedriver, The Dirty Three, The Violent Femmes and NOFX. Performers confirmed for Orientation 2008 include Supergroove, The Datsuns and Tiki Taane.[2]