union fees (2 Viewers)

[Phanatical]

I haven't seen any such clause in the legislation that allows that.

 

[Sarah168]

recent statement from the Vice-Chancellor :

The legislation giving effect to the Government's policy on VSU was passed by the Senate on 9/12/2005. The Act will come into force on 1 January, 2006 but the Government has allowed for a transition period in the legislation.


The effect of this legislation is that commencing and continuing students who are enrolled at the University in 2006, prior to 1 July, that is, students who commenced their 2006 enrolment in Semester 1, will be required to pay the subscription for the relevant student associations for the calendar year 2006 in accordance with current University Senate resolutions.

I'm not familiar with the terms of the legislation but that's what I received in the email.

 

[Phanatical]

I wonder if I could ask the university for my fees to go towards the Independent Students' Association instead. We could really do with the funds, in providing the services that the SRC and Union SHOULD be providing, but aren't.

 

[MiuMiu]

At my uni you can 'conciensciously (sp?) object' to paying the union fees of $450. You still have to pay the fees, but it apparently (I say apparently because I spose you wouldnt have a way of proving otherwise) goes toward access scholarships.

 

[Phanatical]

At USYD, the same applies, except the fees go towards the Building Fund.

 

[Sarah168]

really? where do we find out about it?

 

[Mike iE]

Do you think the people who paid for your sports scholarship and your trips to unigames got their money's worth?

What you get: a sports scholarship and trips to unigames.
What your classmates get: you

It depends on whether they used the services that were offered to them. Honestly, if im going to be paying the fees, i'll be doing my best to get the most out of it.
The sports scholarship isnt a massive amount of money anyway (last year i recieved $500) but it does help cover travel, training expenses, shoes etc. I used most of it to attend the uni games and represent my uni. If we are succesful at sport it raises the uni's profile. If they can see a uni with no sports ovals and minimal facilities (compared Usyd, Maq and UNSW) can still be competitive (Eastern Universities Overall Champion) it may attract more students.

Then again, i think the union services at UTS seem to be alot more useful and has less division that USyd

 

[MiuMiu]

Im actually really thinking of concienciously objecting this year, Im fed up with our union making us all look like hippy dickheads.

 

[Phanatical]

There are a lot of students who don't oppose unionism per se, but do detest the ways our union exploits us for our money to push political causes and personal vendettas. At USYD, we just established the Independent Students' Association, and launched ourbloodysrc.com, an initiative intended to make aware the lies and corruption of our SRC, and at the same time promote the ISA as a viable force for reform.

I'd be happy to provide you with more information if you're interested. Students shouldn't have to conscientiously object from joining their own student representative organisations.

 

[Sarah168]

Do you know how we can direct our payment to the building fund if we want to?

 

[MiuMiu]

I'd be happy to provide you with more information if you're interested. Students shouldn't have to conscientiously object from joining their own student representative organisations.

That'd be cool but Im from UOW where most people are fairly laid back about the SRC (most would agree they're hippy morons but wouldn't take any action), I don't know that I'd be successful in forming another student organisation.

 

[Phanatical]

That'd be cool but Im from UOW where most people are fairly laid back about the SRC (most would agree they're hippy morons but wouldn't take any action), I don't know that I'd be successful in forming another student organisation.

There's no rush to establish an ISA branch down there. UoW isn't as influential in student politics as USYD, and we're going to be focusing our efforts up here. Nevertheless, it would be extremely beneficial to recruit members at every university possible, so that at least we're all kept informed about developments and such at each university - and that if necessary, we can provide members with information and publicity materials.

 

[MiuMiu]

Yeah they're not evil down at UOW so much as just stupid. Id say 80% of them are gay and so thats all they seem to represent--gay rights.

 

[Phanatical]

They actually use the term (as mandated by NUS) "Queer". So much for student representation, it all goes to campaigning for Queer Rights. ISA prefer the term "Gay", as many gay students find the term "queer" extremely offensive.

 

[Keen]

Well our fees are $362/sem. And I don't want to pay.
In the last two years all I've used is the gym (which costs ~$160 per year, which isn't too bad). Suddenly today the uni announces that they're doubling the size of the gym (with what money?!?).
Anyways, we've got a gym at college now so I don't need that. And being so busy the only things I use are the unibar (rarely drink much, but the prices aren't really better than most pubs) and the Medical Students Association (big time user of this one) but I don't think (I had a look at money allocation) that they'll be really affected by this.
So I think I'll save my $700 odd dollars and buy something nice to wear.


Keen

 

[Phanatical]

$362 a semester? That's gotta be the highest of any uni in the country.

I thought Sydney's was the worst, at $540 a year ($590 for first years).

 

[MiuMiu]

Yeah what uni do you go to Keen?

And phanatical I don't understand why people like to be called queer....to me queer means strange, which really should be offensive to gay people.

 

[withoutaface]

Keen goes to uni of adelaide i think.

 

[Phanatical]

We have an ISA branch there.

 

[Keen]

$362 a semester? That's gotta be the highest of any uni in the country.

I thought Sydney's was the worst, at $540 a year ($590 for first years).

I'm so sorry, it's actually $162.54/semester. Have no idea where that came from. But my argument still stands! Yeah I go to Adelaide uni and probably socialise with the union side of things more than most (due to friends on council etc) people in my course and still find it a waste and they really do throw away a lot of money.
Although it will be a shame to see the student magazine go (if it does) which kick started my foray into writing (with a film review and interview with the star of the film, which I'll never forget). But I think most of the essential activities can continue without this funding.

Hey it was only a few decades ago that uni's were entirely funded by the government, now we're paying a fair bit of it (as well as international students) the government (and uni) should have enough money to support the essential
services and stop supporting those stupid political protests (although they can be fun to have a drink at and meet people).


Keen