Also, if people want true representation, why not broaden the whole thing and go for something a little more … well, representative? Create viable representative groups – e.g. based on faculty OR student types (e.g. external students) – as a way of giving people a voice. So rather than voting for some nob you’ve never met or likely to meet, elect someone you are actually likely to pass in a corridor. That way you’re likely to get a more diverse range of people “on council” and perhaps a better chance at accountability.

Also, we don’t expect our pollies to “do the math” on budgets etc – all this is usually just a policy decision and treasury et al go off and come back with the detail. Why not do the same with the Student Associations? Take away their direct control of money and instead, allow them to set policy directions and hand over the funding the beauracrats who do it day in, day out?

I’d suggest that these student associations need to go out there and start advocating for students. I was at a block mode course a few years ago at JCU – during January when no-one else was there. Here we were paying full fees only to find no services available. The computer labs were all locked – the Library was closed – the only thing open (oddly enough) was the Union Bookshop. So everyone was complaining at having paid truckloads and not receiving any service and yet there was a) no-one to complain to (the Uni was still in “holiday mode”) nor was there anyone (other than the poor faculty staff) to hear our complaints. In this age of “user pays”, perhaps the Student Associations should be looking at “consumer advocacy” as a way of winning over punters!!!

They are saying students under the proposed scheme will be able to pay off in a HECS style deferred payment. If that is going to be the case why don’t they just increase all fees by a prorata amount which the Unis can then distribute – seems the same outcome for a lot less buggering around.

If they insist in bringing back CSU, then they should at least also impose compulsory voting in student elections (no vote – no exam results).

Hopefully the agrarian socialists (Barnaby!!) won’t kick the traces and the Independents won’t allow this retrograde step – which is a broken promise – the ALP said they would not reimpose CSU – liars.

Socrates with a lisp.

The libs have had a fetish about how Students deal with Union dosh since what currently passes for their leadership was at Uni in the ’70’s.

I well recall people like Costello and the Krogers at Monash trying to stop the U making pitifully-small donations to people like Fretlin, so that they could afford to keep Jose Ramos Horta in cheeseburgers while he traipsed around the world trying to drum-up some support for his people, all the while living out of a suitcase.

Outrageous, they said.

Well, I guess it worked-out OK in the end.

Horta got the Nobel prize and became President of his country while Cossie is a has-been who can’t even flog his turgid tome.

Tone at least writes his own essays. And it’s interesting to see that the NCC has adopted the Trots’ “entrism” technique and got Tone right into the heart of the Liberal Party.

Actually, the old BA Santamaria WAS a deep thinker, in an old-fashioned European style. Never fitted in here in Australia really, but boy: what an amazing conspirator.

I found the extra cash incredibly helpful, however, I did notice how difficult it was for the student organisations to keep going, particularly the office bearers who were suddenly paid a pittance.

Regarding this new proposal, I think it all comes down to what the money can be spent on. If the money can only be spent on upgrading computers or maintaining lecture theaters then there’s no point giving the money to the student union to spend unless the union performs those functions. If however, it can go to subsidising health or child care for students then it makes logical sense for students to be able at least able to vote for where their funds should go if not dispense it themselves.

As a random thought, if the money does go to the union may I suggest that students be able to vote for how much they pay? :p

With regard to restructuring for input, this year the Lib-controlled UQU changed all committees (except Admin, Clubs & Socs) to a collective style model where any student could participate and vote.

Specific committee structures to oversee particular services – for instance welfare and childcare and clubs & socs – can also be structured to draw on student input outside the party hack cohort.

It’s all doable with a bit of will, and a representative model is in principle far better than university provided services.

What I would like to see is non-political student reps getting involved.

Hmmm. Isn’t that just a teeny bit Capraesque for real life?

My real bone, is your ‘accountability’ call however. During my time at university I would say the student union was one of the most unaccountable bodies on campus. Only people who lived in college participated in the elections; so the majority of students didn’t have a say there. One union pres was actually charged with embezzlement (can’t remember if successful or all the song and dance about it). But I would say the idea that the unions are accountable to an apathetic and cynical student body is a very limited one.

Now, a university led consortium wouldn’t necessarily be more accountable, but that’s not to say the other student-led stuff is some panacea. What I would like to see is non-political student reps getting involved. Now that would be interesting.

I also think the level of funding given to sports clubs out of amenities fees was rather OTT.

I don’t really see the point of forcing all students to subsidise food/drink at universities. How many of the really poor students buy their food rather than making it at home for much lower cost? (None that I saw when I was going through uni in the 90s)

The Uni admins will ALWAYS do things like counselling and childcare better, so what possible reason would you give it to the guilds?

Anyone who’s had experience of university bureaucracy – either as a student or a staff member – might question its efficiency and superb managerial powers!