La Trobe Student Union

The La Trobe Student Union (LTSU) is located at the Bundoora campus of La Trobe University in the Agora with associate organisations at the Milura and Sheparton campus. The LTSU is made up of elected student representatives who represent all La Trobe University students on general issues such as education, fees and student welfare, and also specific issues such as women's affairs and queer affairs. The LTSU also operates a Student Theatre, an Activities department, Rabalais (student paper), student adovocacy and legal service.

The LTSU was formed in 2011 with a merger of the Guild, the SRC and the La Trobe University Postgraduate Association. It also incorporated Mature Aged Student Organisation (formerly the Part Time, Evening Mature Student Organisation) and International Student Association as associated bodies along with the regional bodies the Mildura Student Association and the Sherparton Student Association.

History

During the 1960s and 1970s, La Trobe, along with Monash, was considered to have the most politically active student body of any university in Australia.^[1] The Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) was a prominent organisation on campus, often with the cover of a front organisation sometimes encouraging the name 'La Trot'. The following La Trobe alumni were all good friends at the time and took part in student politics: Bill Kelty from the ACTU and AFL Commissioner, former Treasurer Tony Sheehan, Don Watson, Geoff Walsh (Bob Hawke's press secretary, High profile union officials Brian Boyd, John Cummins and Garry Weaven, former federal treasury official and former Westpac CEO, David Morgan. Some other Labor figures and people from the left side of politics include Mary Delahunty, Phil Cleary and Michael Danby. Despite the general socialist/leftist atmosphere several conservative corporate/business figures and Liberal party members have come from La Trobe.

Though the student body at La Trobe is no longer as politically active as it once was, the trend is similar at all Australian universities.^[2] Nonetheless, Socialist Alternative, and National Labor Students (NLS) are still very active, with the Union President typically coming from NLS. The La Trobe Student union has largely been run by NLS over previous years, in coalition with various independent groupings.

The La Trobe University Students' Union is responsible for many Contact Student Services but its role has been considerably diminished as a consequence of Voluntary Student Unionism. There were previously three main student representative bodies on campus known as the La Trobe University Student Guild, The Student's Representative Council and the La Trobe Postgraduate Student's Association. The La Trobe University Student Representative Council, became the principal representative body on campus and a student advocacy group as well as student representatives for welfare, disability, women, queer, indigenous, environment, education and welfare and the Guild managed student services. In 2011 however, the Student's Representative Council, The La Trobe Postgraduate Students Association, The Students Guild and the University merged the three separate organisations into one body: The La Trobe Student Union.

Political groups and their election tickets

From 2011 - 2015 the LTSU is was held by the NLS run ticket Stand Up! made up with a coalition of Socialist Alternative and other independent groups. At the 2015 LTSU Election a broad anti-Stand Up! coalition of Labor Unity, Greens, International Student groups, and independent groups that had previously run with Stand Up! swept all office bearing positions in the LTSU. Labor Unity's Nathan Croft was elected President for 2016 with a large majority.

1995 SRC election postal ballot incident

During the 1995 SRC election, there was a major scandal involving postal ballots sent to Glenn College. A group of four candidates associated with the Australian Labor Party contested the election as the "Tin Tin for NUS" ticket. It was discovered that one of the students, Stephen Donnelly, had gained access to the postal ballots during the delivery process.^[3] When challenged to explain their behavior, all four candidates withdrew their nominations. The deputy returning officer writes that the candidates Stephen Donnelly, Robert Larocca, Nigel Rhode and Robin Scott were charged with Dishonest Conduct and Interfering with Ballot Papers. He escalated the matter to the Dean of Glenn College and then the University Secretary but found them disinterested and the matter was never formally prosecuted by the police. Stephen Donnelly has subsequently become the Assistant State Secretary in the Victorian branch of the ALP.^[4]

Past Presidents of La Trobe Student Union

La Trobe Student Union (2011 onwards):^[5]

• 2011 - Adrian MacMillian
• 2012 - Clare Keyes Lilley
• 2013 - Chris Wheeler
• 2014 - Rose Steele
• 2015 - Jasmine Ingram
• 2016 - Nathan Croft

References

External links

• La Trobe Student Union)