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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 25. 3rd October 1973

Discrimination Against Overseas Students

Discrimination Against Overseas Students

You're a first year overseas student at Vic. Before coming to this country you decide to try for accommodation through the Universities Grants Committee's body OSAC and Victoria University. When you arrive in New Zealand the University shoves a piece of paper in front of you and tells you to 'Sign!' You do so without understanding that if, you leave your accommodation you'll lose some or all of the $100 you paid to get to Vic.

You're a first year New Zealand student coming to Vic. Before arriving in Wellington you decide to apply for a place in a hostel or hall of residence. You're told you have to pay $30 in advance just in case you don't agree to live in the hostel where you've gained a place.

So overseas students have to pay 3 times as much as locals.

Next year things may change. The Welfare Services and the Students Association have been discussing the situation but to date they both have yet to recognise just what changes should be made. At present the university seems to assume that it has a right to 'compel' an overseas student to live where he or she is told to whether or not the place is suitable for them—at pain of a penalty not exceeding $I00. The NZ student faces a penalty of not exceeding $30.

Comic with cat, cockroaches and mice

An incident at Rudman House this year illustrated the problem.

Several students, both locals and overseas students, moved out. As a consequence the NZers lost their deposits ($10 each) but two Malaysian students had $60 and $33 respectively, deducted from their $100. When their case was taken up with the Welfare Services these sums were paid back to the two overseas students. But the Welfare Services should not have taken the money in the first place.

The University and the Welfare Services also fail to understand that the overseas student is just as likely as a New Zealander to find that hostel life docs not suit him, especially as he is coming to a new country. He must not be required to remain in a hostel for a full year if he doesn't want to — no student should.

The Students Association must take action to ensure that overseas students arc not discriminated against in New Zealand. For example overseas students should be contacted personally or in writing to ensure that they understand what their rights are.

The administration of overseas students' hostel accommodation has been only one area in which the Welfare Services have come in for criticism this year. The only real solution to this and other welfare problems is the establishment of the Welfare Services Committee, through which students can direct all the Welfare Services operations.

End of Term Dance

this Friday 8 pm Union Hall 1953 Rock and Roll Band Mammal