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Salient. Victoria University Students' Association Newspaper. Vol 42 No. 1. February 26 1979
Overseas Student Officer
Overseas Student Officer
The Overseas Students Officer at Vic has a two fold responsibility. On the one hand s/he must develop the activities of overseas students, bringing them into closer contact and co-operation with teach other and helping In the process of coping with New Zealand life. On the other s/he must encourage among New Zealand students a greater awareness of overseas students.
The Overseas Students Officer is elected by the SRC and unlike the practise at other campuses, is not the the Vic NOSAC rep. This person, as the represtative of overseas students on their national body, is elected through a network of overseas students clubs, not by all students.
There are several important aspects to the OSO's work:
| a) | the VUWSA Exec should be kept informed of developments among overseas students. If good relations with Exec are maintained the chances of success in pressing certain issues with the university authorities and other such bodies are increased. Conversely, the Exec must not be allowed to forget that overseas students, with their special problems, exist. Overseas students are, after all, full members of VUWSA. |
| b) | SRC should be kept informed for similar reasons. The problems of overseas students, as well as many of their activities, are or should be the concern of all. |
| c) | Liason between overseas student clubs should be encouraged; as should liason between overseas student clubs and other clubs on campus. |
| d) | In all fields (political, cultural, social, sporting and academic) this work is important and one field should not be allowed to preclude the others. |
| e) | Overseas student organisations (especially NOSAC) are moving towards greater independence. This is an important field in which the OSO must work, but it must be remembered that this does not mean isolation from NZUSA or the local associations. For best results, campaigns and other such work should often be conducted jointly. This is particularly important with the present Government Review of Overseas Student Policy. |