Arts Council & Exec

SGM was taken up with two topics—elections and the New Zealand Students Arts Council. While the elections were to be noted for what must be a record lack of enthusiasm (with only one position out of five contested), the fate of Arts Council livened up the proceedings with the meeting sometimes degenerating into a mass shouting match accompanied by background vocals of "Order, order" from Lindy Cassidy and avid squirtings of a water pistol from an excited student.

Most of those present were for the retention of Arts Council. Those against were Steve Underwood and Peter Thrush whose vision had been replaced by dollar signs. The arguments for Arts Council were many and varied Arts Council provides opportunities for the promotion of New Zealand culture which would not otherwise be available a lot of the present 'Arts' are just wanking and Arts Council could help get rid of these by promoting art-types which are more relevant to the average New Zealander; the Arts Festival loss would probably not recur as much of it had been due to inefficient organisation and in experience on the part of those mounting it; we would gain nothing if Arts Council went on but would only make it much harder to set up another. These opinions resulted in an amendment to the motion so that it read:

"That VUWSA rescinds the motion to withdraw from NZSAC (inc); that in the light of the Arts Festival and the desirability of future such events it affirms the value of a national cultural body of students: and that it calls on all other student bodies to follow suit and in particular it affirms the need for such a body to foster the development of cultural activities which promote the particular interests of New Zealanders and reflect the needs of the bulk of New Zealand society".

The arguments against Arts Council all boiled down to the same thing—money. This consideration could not be overlooked but it could be got around, a fact which some ignored by refusing to take heed of suggestions as to how Arts Council could be made financially viable. One idea was to set up a trust fund for one year during which students would pay $1 instead of 45c. This would give Arts Council the financial backup it needs to stand on its own feet instead of having to run to the campuses every year for money.

When the time came to vote on the rescinding of our notice of withdrawal from Arts Council, the double appreciation of the Arts and fact that Arts Council could be made financially viable won out with only two dissents.

Elections were less exciting and provided a sad commentary on student's participation in their Association. The position of SRC Co-ordinator was the only one contested with the positions of President and Sports Officer being filled by the present encumbents, Lindy Cassidy and Peter Thrush. Steve Connor and John Hebeton became Cultural Affiars Officer and Secretary respectively. It was interesting to note that John Hebeton, who also stood for lack of anyone else willing to, had no idea of the duties of the Secretary such as the day-to-day running of the Studass office the calling of Exec, and General meetings and being the general dogsbody of the Exec.

Peter Winter and Richard Hellyer stood for SRC Co-ordinator with the major difference between the two being that Peter Winter was better at sweet talking the audience while Richard Hellyer said what he actually thought. The popular approach won out and Peter Winter was elected 96 -72.

This SGM was depressing in that while emphasising the importance of national student bodies on the one hand the unwillingness of the majority of students to involve themselves in themselves in their Students' Association was clearly shown, on the other. 250 out of 6,000 students attended—by the time the SGM had ended this had dwindled to 60 at the most.

—Lamorna Rogers.