Salient. Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 41 No. 6. April 3 1978
AGM — How Do You Feel about 40 Bucks?
AGM
How Do You Feel about 40 Bucks?
What a crippling affair. The AGM started with 250 students eagerly awaiting executive and financial reports and degenerated to 69 enthusiasts fighting off clouds of sleep by 2.30 pm.
To get things going Leonie Morris, David Murray and other dubious types performed a sketch about the Royal commission and abortion.
People rushed around picking up the latest batch of minutes and reports that the valiant office staff were busy running off downstairs, and Neil Gray proposed that the Secretary and Treasurer no longer be referred to as "honourable". "But I like being called honourable," protested John Hebenton. Neil won his motion and John will have to look for some other way of giving himself airs.
One o'clock was rolling up as President Lindy Cassidy opened business proper with her report. All the questions arising were concerned with NZUSA. Gary Lewis wanted to know whether the "link" between NZUSA and its members (all of us) was fact or hope. He also complained about the lack of publicity for Friday's NZUSA forum and the quality of the NZUSA handbook.
It was obvious from other questions that more forums and seminars are needed in order to help students realise that they are part of a national union to which part of their $37 goes and that this union has an obligation in regard to student welfare. Gerard Winter asked if VUWSA would withdraw from the national union as Canterbury and Lincoln are planning to do. The bug seems to be catching.
All the discussion about NZUSA seemed to leave behind the important part of the President's report, i.e. exec activities Lindy didn't say much about them but probably not for any dubious reason.
Next up was Steve Underwood (who was afterward awarded a vote of thanks for his work as treasurer). 1978 will be a tough year financially (in case you didn't know). A tight situation exists in the association due to a drop in the student roll and the proverbial increasing costs. Steve reckons fees will have to be raised to at least $40.
Questions on the state of the catering services revealed an $18,000 profit in 1977, a $60,000 swing from 1976's $41,000 loss. Why then is food for students not subsidised to a level they can afford? Cultural affairs grant has been cut from $3,500 to $3,000 but could go up again depending on how much demand is shown, Steve reckons.
Hightlight (?) of the meeting was Man Vice-President Neil Gray's tirade about the "mamby-cramby cretins" making up the bulk of the students whose apathy leaves the organisation of social and political affairs up to a very small group of people in which his name was prominent. He did, I must say, give credit to the Fiji Club and the Irish Intellectuals who got off their asses and organised some decent activities.
A few people objected to Neil's approach. He told us nothing of what he had done until repeatedly asked to do so, and then revealed that he had run all the socials, been to all the meetings and done lots of other things. Neil's what you call a good fish, even if he docs flap his fins in a silly way sometimes.
A more optimistic report was given by Sports Officer Peter Thrush. More clubs i. e. boxing, rowing and aero have been affiliated to the association. Peter claimed his job was easier than Neil's as people who play sport are at least committed to what they do and don't need endless encouragement.
Alas, the Easter Tournament Ball left a pricey debt of $2,000 due to over-enthusiastic sportspersons using the Union Hall facilities. Apparently they were on the roof trying to get in and kept falling off. Must have been the rarified air. Peter ended his speech by endorsing the vote of thanks given to the office staff who suffer "rat-bag-students" and generally keep the association running smoothly at the front.
The Book Centre Board Chairperson's report prompted someone on the floor to ask why we need a university bookshop. Prices will never be lower than those in town because of the Bookseller's Association's power over its members and the clout weilded by the nasty dragon called Whitcoulls. We should hear more about this.
At 2.20 pm. a count of the remaining bodies in the room revealed that there wasn't a quorum and the motion to donate $200 to the work of Tenant's Union was approved by an "informal meeting" of students.
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Desparado six-gun Steve about to fire a forty dollar bullet
The final chord struck at 2.30 pm. and the the meeting ended.
Lorraine Robinson
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Lindy Cassidy keeps an eye on the right
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Who's the cleverest person at the meeting