Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 21. August 28 1978
OSO speaks! — The Overseas Students' Officer reports:
OSO speaks!
The Overseas Students' Officer reports:
As most of you realized, there must be something in the winds or I wouldn't be reporting. There is good news and bad news. The good But: NOSAC will be having (drum roll.....) a NOSAC Activities Week from 30th August to 2nd September. Tentatively, we will have Sports between local students and overseas students, a forum on the Third World, hopefully, with speakers from CORSO and World Vision, Get-togethers (they should be fun) and a slide show attempting to get local and overseas students to mix in an atmosphere of goodwill. Also a debate between overseas and local students, not forgetting a food fair to end the week.
This is an ambitious programme, its success depends solely on the response of participants and the general students, that means You. If you feel that you can contribute in any way, such as the food fair, or the get-together, don't hesitate to contact me (ask for Victor, ph 758099) or your own students' clubs representatives. Programmes for the Week's Activities will be given out later.
Now, for the grim news. The Labour department has decided to implement a new regulation concerning All overseas students:
At a recent meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee on Private Overseas Student Policy it was decided that overseas students should not be granted extensions to their Student Permits solely for the purpose of enabling them to attend graduation ceremonies. This will bring private students into line with Government sponsored students who are also required to return home shortly after the completion of their courses. This decision affects all students except those who complete their qualifications in the minimum time or the minimum time plus one year and are granted extensions to their student permits to gain practical experiences.
This policy was passed on 10/5/78. The old idea that the Gov't will allow us to stay 2 years to do practical work now is up for questioning. If you are interested in doing something about this unfair treatment of overseas students then come to the meeting (to be held on the first week of 3rd term). Especially those of you in the final year, this year — you will be the first batch to face this regulation — the first guincapigs. Are you prepared to be apathetic and face this policy (taking a gamble that the Gov't might not implement it at the end), or are you prepared to do something? If you are come to the meeting and help us to decide what to do, For your Sake, not for mine. Hopefully, we might get somebody to clarify the situation for us by then.
Regarding news around this campus and others, I have passed a motion in the SRC that VUWSA condemns the actions taken by the labour Dept. to attempt to forbid Overseas Students to extend their student permit solely for the purpose of attending their graduation ceremony, and that the Student Association release a press statement regarding the matter. And the SRC has asked our representative in the University Council to move a similar motion.
In Canterbury, there has been a NOSAC meeting regarding the same matter. In Waikato, the overseas students might go on a picket regarding this issue. The question, now, is What are we going to do about it? Until the next time, Cheerio!
OSO