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Salient. Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 42 No. 6. April 2 1979

Compulsory Membership to VUWSA

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Compulsory Membership to VUWSA

Dear Sir,

For the information of students who object to the fact that membership of the Student's Association is forced upon them as a prerequisite to enrolment at the University, I submit the following extracts:-

United Nations declaration of Human Rights Article 20 Clause 2.

"No one may be compelled to belong to an association".

Human Rights Commission Act 1977.

Section 26.

"Educational establishments ...
(1)It shall be unlawful for an educational establishment, or the authority responsible for the control of an educational establishment, —
(a)To refuse or fail to admit a person as a pupil or student; or
(b)To admit him on less favourable terms and conditions than would otherwise be made available; or
(c)To deny or restrict access to any benefits or services provided by the establishment; or
(d)To exclude him or subject him to any other detriment — by reason of the colour, race, ethnic or national origins, sex, marital status, or religious or ethical belief of that person or of the colour, race, or ethnic or national origins of any relative or associate of that person.
(2)An educational establishment maintained wholly or principally for students of one sex, race, colour, or religious belief, or the authority responsible for the control of any such establishment, does not commit a breach of this section by refusing to admit students of a different sex, race, colour, or religious belief.
(3)In this section "educational establishment" includes an establishment offering any form of technical training or instruction."

Human Rights Commission Act 1977

Section 2

"Interpretation — In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,

"Ethical belief" means the absence of a religous belief whether in respect of a particular religion or religions or all religions ..."

It is therefore suprising to note that the Students' Association, which normally is very voluble on any issues of human rights, has, I have been told by the President of VUWSA, an Executive policy that exemption from membership will not be allowed on the basis of conscientous objection.

For the Benefit of All Students I Ask that the President of VUWSA Comment on the Association's Policy Regarding the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Answer the Questions:—

If it supports that declaration in principle shy not in fact also?

If it does not support the declaration — Why not?

For the benefit of students who objected to membership of the Association on the basis of conscientous objection, and who had their application refused by VUWSA and an appeal disallowed by the Vice Chancellor. I would point out that the Human Rights Commission (which proved very sympathetic and helpful when I visited recently) is situated at:—

2nd Floor, Chase — N.B.A. House, 163/165 The Terrace, P.O. Box 5045, Wellington telephone 739-981.

Yours faithfully,

B. Wardle.

Drawing of an old man with a bow tie

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