Sport's Complex Eligibility Problem

The New Zealand Universities Sports Union Contests Committee faced the big question of eligibilities at a recent Wellington meeting.

The constitution states that at least six hours attendance per week at University classes is necessary for a person to be eligible to represent a New Zealand University.

This requirement means, for example, that a student taking one unit with laboratory work is eligible, while a student taking one unit without laboratory work is not.

To help solve the problem, the committee considered that it should allow such factors as academic ability, intent to continue study, and work load, to be criteria used to determine whether or not a student is eligible.

This decision led to some very inconsistent results:

• One student, attending five and a half hours of classes per week was declared eligible. The six-hour requirement was waived.

• Another student attending four hours of classes was declared eligible because financial hardship made it impossible to take any more units. It was evident that the student intended to continue his university studies.

• A distinctly odd situation developed when the eligibility of a part-time student from Waikato was considered. The student was attending four hours of classes per week, but was held to be eligible. This decision was taken so that Waikato University could participate in at least one sport.

It was then pointed out that this decision was clearly unconstitutional. The motion was then recommitted and was defeated.

Massey moved a constitutional amendment aimed at altering the requirement from six hours of classes per week to two examination papers. The motion was withdrawn when it was realised that in all probability such an eligibility requirement would discriminate between arts and science students.

Finally a motion was passed directing the resident executive to consider suggestions forwarded by the universities and to circulate a report prior to the next main meeting.