I've always despised people who from the height of years of experience look down at you and say: "I can remember when I was in your position..."

However, I do remember my first year experiences quite vividly. I stumbled through enrolment, spent a quarter of an hour in a maths lecture which my timetable said was English, and I knew nothing about the Students' Association or its President, except that I'd just paid some money to belong.

While I appreciate that not every student suffers from such ignorance, it might be helpful to outline the President's role in the Students' Association. The President, along with the rest of the Executive is normally elected in August, for the following year. Last year the President-elect resigned and I was elected by a Special General Meeting to act as interim President until new elections could be held in late March.

The President is the only full-time elected position and s/he he paid an honorarium of $60.00 a week. S/he has the overall responsibility of seeing that the Union is run efficiently, that any Association policy is carried out, and that the cultural, sporting, social and political life of students is active and healthy. Obviously one person isn't expected to do all this by his/herself, hence the election of Executive and S.R.C. officers, and the need for involvement of all you 6,000 members.

What this really means is that if you need help in sorting out your bursary entitlement, or finding out where to buy cheaper books, or you've been laid off unfairly at work or you're just pissed-off with University, you can come and ask me at the Student Association Office.

Remember, you pay my wages, so don't hesitate to come and see me, even if it's just to say hello.

What Students Did in the Holidays

Judging from a superficial glance at the results of the questionnaire given out at enrolment, students have had a pretty difficult summer. On 2nd December 1977 there were nearly 200 students registered as unemployed in Wellington and the Hutt Valley. At the same time in 1976 there were only 37 students registered as unemployed.

However, Wellington was by no means the hardest hit area; Auckland and Christchurch showed a higher percentage increase in unemployed students.

Not only were jobs harder to find but they tended to be of shorter duration and fairly low-paid. According to the Welfare Services' records in the summer vacation of 1975/76 there were approximately 637 jobs lasting 6 weeks or longer ; in 1977/78 there were only 357 jobs lasting 6 weeks or longer.

Again it was women students who found found it particularly difficult. According to records taken of jobs which came in through the Students' Association employment centre only 42% of the jobs could be taken up by women, 58% of the jobs were for men. Added to this, most of the work for women tended to be low-paid domestic employment.

So, where does this leave the students facing living costs of 1978?

According to estimates prepared by the V.U.W. Welfare Services, an average student, budgeting carefully, will face expenses of approximately $1,800 during the year. Most students will have saved perhaps on average around $300-5500. If a student is lucky enough s/he will receive the anabated rate of $992. Add holiday earnings of $500 (average) and the student is still short by $400.

For many students this will mean greater parental reliance or a bank loan, or dropping out completely.

At the first SRC. (Students' Representative Council) we will be discussing these issues and what we can do about them. Come along and give your views.

Orientation

Orientation provides a rare opportunity to meet a wide variety of people and come into contact with new ideas. So, take some time off your studies to participate, even if it's from a chair in the Union Hall. However if you want to get somewhat more involved, either helping out at socials or leafletting come and see either Neil, Andrew or me.

Lindy Cassidy