President

The result of the budget for students so far as bursaries are concerned, was not exactly encouraging, though believe it or not it did have some positive aspects! Regretably it seems that these were outweighed by negative ones, such as having to pay 25% of our course fees next year.

The people I feel particularly sorry for are those students under 20 who are living away from home who are going to have to undergo a parental means test in order to obtain a decent level of bursary assistance. (That is the $17 hardship allowance over and above the basic tertiary allowance over and above the basic tertiary grant of $23.) In fact for those students who do need more than $23 a week to survive the outlook is not at all good.

Although students over 20 will only be assessed as to the amount they should get over and above the basic $23, based on their own budgets, one has to remember that, while some students may receive more than they are currently receiving, the object of the budget is to reduce the total bursary payment.

The means testing element in the new system is a cause for the greatest concern: if a restrictive set of criteria are applied then [unclear: meny] students will be faced with a drop in the level of bursary assistance and the resultant [unclear: f] financial hardship. Part time students may also be interested to note that many will not get a fees bursary in 1980 at all because obviously many part-time students will have a personal gross annual income in excess of $3000.

The financial situation of the university itself is not promising either. At a recent council meeting the acting Vice-Chancellor described the financial situation an "emergency one" in the context of the present 53 million cut recently announced for the university budgets (300,000 for Victoria in 1979.)

One of the more notable resultant cutbacks announced was the $15,000 "Devaluation Hedge" in Library funds which has been "placed on reserve." This has serious implications because this measure may result in a reduction of the purchase of necessary books and periodicals from overseas.

If you are concerned at all this, I suggest that you come to the Special Student Meeting on Wednesday 4th July at 12.00 in the Union Hall to discuss these matters - they will affect You directly.

The Executive, by the time this is printed, will have presented to the University a report on the future of the financing of the Union Building and the Recreation Centre. The present arrangement is that the Association and the University each pay 50% of the running costs of the Union facilities. This report is quite important because at present 52% or ($22.50) of the total $43. students association fee goes towards the union buildings every year. Many thanks must go to Steve Underwood, Lindy Cassidy and Lisa Sacksen for their work on this report.

The Executive, in light of discussion about the workings of the Association, after the SGM on 23 May, has called for a report to be presented by the Association lawyer and Mr John Blincoe on the consequences of the possible adoption of proposals to increase the quorums of General Meetings and SRCs to 200 and to introduce a binding referenda system. In connection with this I would emphasise that John Blinkoe is prepared to accept submissions from anybody on these proposals. Any contributions should be deposited at the VUWSA office.

Finally, I would urge everybody to pay due attention to the bursaries and education cutbacks situation. Read about it, and come along to the various meetings being held to discuss vital issues in the education are The first one is this Wednesday at 12.00. At the SCR the following Wednesday (July 11) a new treasurer for VUWSA will be elected as well as a new representative on the University Council, so if you are interested in these positions, get your applications in soon.

Andrew Tees.