Passing Out

Most Presidents write their reports at the end of the year for consumption for the next Year's Annual General Meeting. However, I thought I'd write a few impressions of this and but year's experiences now so that the people who have contributed to the development and activity of the Students' Association can be thanked and those that haven't can be reminded (castigated?).

The primary role of the Students' Association it to look after the welfare and education of its members. This means, on the one hand, providing services and facilities such as SASRAC, Alms, cafe food, the efficient running of the Union Building and recreation centre. On the other hand it means fighting for a decent bursary, campaigning for compulsory lecturer training, lighter workloads and less onerous forms of assessment.

In the context of a broader definition of the word welfare, it also means closely monitoring Governmental activities, particularly the restrictions placed on civil liberties, for example, the SIS Act, Misuse of Drugs legislation and the Contraception, Sterilization and Abortion Act.

Another essential role of the Students' Association is to represent the opinions of its members, whether that is over the Wellington City Council's decision to build a Town Hall or over the invasion of Zaire. In order to represent the opinions of students, policy must be decided in the most democratic way possible.

Recently there have been attacks on the ability of the Student Representative Council, to adequately represent student views. Though I agree that it would be desirable that more students attended these meetings, at least students have an opportunity to decide Association policy. Not only does SRC give any student member the right to speak, vote, and move motions, it also gives students a forum where they can hear two sides and thus decide policy in an informed way. No other decision-making method that has been put forward can be as democratic.

VUWSA and New Zealand

Over the last two years New Zealand has started to feel the effects of the economic crisis. There has been a steady erosion of people's living standards, rising unemployment and increased restrictions on New Zealanders' civil liberties. This has meant that society generally and students in particular have tended to be more conservative and insular in their outlook on life.

Students can no longer afford to stay too long at University, so it is essential that they obtain a degree in the shortest possible time. However, in order to get a job in an increasingly narrowing market, the degree must be a 'good one'. The combination of continual assessment heavier workloads and increased competition has meant that students have had less time to participate in extra-curricular activity, whether it be social, cultural, sporting or political.

There is a tendency to wipe students off as completely apathetic, conservative and disinterested. However, over the last two years students have at times displayed tremendous interest and activity. The most obvious example is that of the SIS demonstrations in October last year, where a 1500 strong student march from Varsity joined the main demonstration, in spite of the fact that students were in the middle of studying for exams.

Students have also shown strong concern over the other questions of democratic rights, such as abortion and an education for all and not just the few that can afford it.

Perhaps the most promising event that has occurred is the formation of the Progressive Student Alliance which is the first real organised attempt to combat the growing trend to the right within the Students' Association and New Zealand society. It is to be hoped that the base that has been developed can be strengthened next year.

Leadership on Campus

It is a truism to say that the Students' Association can only be as effective as its membership but there is of course the other aspect — that of leadership. Leadership in our Association must be provided not only by the Executive, but also by the various SRC Officers.

According to the laws that govern bureaucratic committees, committees are composed of: Wish-bones — those that talk a lot but never do anything; Knuckle bones — people that knock things but do not do anything and back-bones — those that do all the work.

It is important to have backbones in all areas of the Association's work — culturally, financially, politically and socially. The acknowledged financial and administrative backbone has of course been the 1977 and 1978 Treasurer — Stephen Underwood. In 1977 the social backbone was Neil Gray who, as he so often pointed out, ended up doing a great deal of the shit work of organising socials, hops, concerts, etc. This year has seen a heavy turnover of Executive members due to vacancies existing at the end of last year being filled by interim people.

To their credit the Callinicos brothers (K & P) took their role as Executive members seriously from the time they were elected. They have contributed a great deal in terms of time and work, particularly in social areas and accommodation.

Politically with a few exceptions both 1977 and 1978 executives have been disappointing, particularly in popularising SRC's.

One of these exceptions is Caroline Massof, the Woman Vice President, who has worked hard and with a great deal of initiative in the field of women's rights. She too played an important role in the social side of the Association. The year's Sports Officer, Philip Sowman, was also enthusiastic - not only in his own area but also as a participant in Executive activities (especially after Exec. Meetings!).

On the whole this year's executive has worked more co-operatively and has achieved better results than 1977's. This is partly due to my own inexperience last year, but also to the personnel involved in this year's Executive.

The SRC OFficers' work can often be assessed in the campaigns they have co-ordinated or failed to co-ordinate. The Association relies heavily on SRC Officers for political leadership in their respective fields. Overall I think the work of SRC Officers has been disappointing, particularly in the areas of international and education. This is partly explicable in the conditions existing on the campus, but also to the lack of leadership and initiative. Exceptions to this are in the fields of Women's Rights (Lamorna Rogers), Environment (Paul Norman) and National (Jim Brown). These officers have shown enthusiasm and initiative, which has been reflected in the campaigns or forums they have organised.

It is essential that students critically examine their elected officers and the work they do. This serves not only to remind these officers that they are ultimately responsible to students but also to help them in their work.

The Relationship Between the Students' Association and the University

On the whole the relationship between the Students' Association and the University has been fairly co-operative and cordial, except in some cases where high level University bureaucrats have showed art arrogant disregard and contempt for students and their representatives. However, next year, as the economic crisis deepens and money becomes tighter, the University will try to make students help pay for University services, such as Student Health, the Creche and Counselling Services. In particular next year, the Students' Association and the University are scheduled to negotiate the payment of the finances and running costs of the Union and Recreational facilities. The University will try and pass the bulk of the payment onto students. It is vital that the issue be raised with students and that they give full support to their represtatives in the financial wrangle with the University.

Finally I would like to thank the real backbones of the Association - the Office Manager, Penny Booth, the Office Secretary, Anne Humphries, and Patsy Phelps our Telephonist who regrettably is leaving this year. Also the Union Secretary Nofo Falcalili and Jim Collins who give a great deal of assistance to students.

I would also like to thank all those students who I have worked closely with the Student Representatives, those students who regularly turn up to SRC's and forums, and Jo/Josephine student who's reading this in the library. Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable year. Good luck with your exams and job hunting!

Lindy Cassidy