[unclear: SRC] Report

It started this week without Andrew [unclear: ss,] and looked promising, full of reports [unclear: d] nothing horrible and irrelevant like [unclear: aid] foreign governments. However [unclear: 10] end of the meeting, the circus had [unclear: ly] come to town, in a rabble of [unclear: disor-td] interjections, Gerard Winter, [unclear: proce- il] motions, Gerard Winter, [unclear: foreshado-d] motions, Gerard Winter, [unclear: ammend- nts], Gerard Winter........Enough!

[unclear: But] first, reports. Paul Norman, [unclear: En- oamental] Affairs Officer reported that [unclear: Environmental] Conservation [unclear: Organisa- ni] had held their AGM on Campus last [unclear: ek.] He also moved a number of mo—[unclear: ns] tightening Victoria's energy and [unclear: en- xunent] policy, and first motion giving [unclear: port] to the Native Forest Action [unclear: Coun- and] the Environment and Conservation [unclear: (solutions] of New Zealand in their at [unclear: lpts] to save the central North bland [unclear: ire] forests. The next two motions saw [unclear: 1WSA] opposing excessive, unnecessary [unclear: I] inappropriate packaging, while sup [unclear: ting] techniques and products that [unclear: al- i or] enable recycling.

The last motion condemned the [unclear: Govern- nt's] current avoidance of the [unclear: Environ- tal] Impact Procedures, especially in the [unclear: es] of the current proposals to introduce [unclear: k] products in cardboard containers and [unclear: e] establishment of the Ammonia Urea [unclear: nt] at Kapuni. The final part of the [unclear: mo- n] passed called for the procedures to be [unclear: lowed] in the above instances and also in [unclear: Wellington] Harbour Board's intended [unclear: velopotent] of the harbour by major [unclear: re- mations] without conducting an [unclear: Envi-mental] Impact assessment.

Next, Geoff Adams, Education Officer, [unclear: ported] that Prof Board was considering [unclear: e] introduction of a nine point grading sy- [unclear: m], to replace the present four point sy-[unclear: m], along with the introduction of a di[unclear: ctionary] pass for those who had com-[unclear: ted] all required course work, but who [unclear: d] not quite attained a pan in their fi-[unclear: 1] mark. This new grade would enable [unclear: e] course to be credited in the normal [unclear: y], but related courses at a higher le- could not be taken. Motions about [unclear: ese] proposals were tabled until the next [unclear: eeting] "so people could think about it" [unclear: d] so that the mover of the motions could [unclear: eck] on existing policy. It was felt by some [unclear: at] changes in Victoria's assessment meth-[unclear: s] could be more positively effected by [unclear: shing] the block of policy passed in 1977, [unclear: ther] than by tampering with such peri-[unclear: eral] issues like 9 point grading systems [unclear: d] comdiscretionary passes.

National Affairs Officer T. Rochford reported that next week was Economic Crisis Week, and that there would be a forum on Thursday 19 July, 12-2. See elsewhere in Salient for more details.

Simon-Education Fight back-Wilson outlined planned activities for the campaign: July 26, 11 am: Boycott of lectures and a rally in the quad, then the march to Parliament. $700 has been raised so far, 550 people have signed the petition, 495 buttons have been sold. People are still needed to speak in tutorials and in schools. On Sunday, 15 July, there will be a jazz concert in the Union Hall, featuring Colin Hemmingson. Please, we need all the help we can get for this campaign.

Brian Pike Commerce Faculty rep reported that the faculty restrictions would continue next year, which really came as no surprise.

Our erstwhile President then told us that the Union had been asked by the University to make more cuts. Formerly, the University and the Students Association shared the running cost of the Union 50% each. But now, with increased costs, the Union has to find $15,000 - the difference between the $168, 736 budgetted figure for 1979 union running costs and the $183,738 that will be needed to pay for increased electricity and telephone charges. So, cafe hours are to be reduced, some telephones will be taken out and the Rec Centre is already operating on reduced hours. One gets the feeling that this is really only the beginning.

Out of Reports

Lo, and behold! We are now up to the agenda. Again the proverbial fight to fill vacant positions. For now, we have no treasurer. However, Helen Aikman was elected for a two year term onto Council and the vacancy on the Commerce Faculty was filled by Brian McCulloch, a stage 2 Accountancy student who's "done all the faculty courses." Ah, but has he passed them.

Motion 6, (moved; Worth/Tees) established an SRC Officers Committee, with the SRC Coordinator as Chairperson, meeting at least three times a term and with the provision that failure to attend three consecutive meetings by any officer results in that officer forfeiting his/her position.

Much time had been wasted discussing the ambiguity of the motion as originally worded, and finally, "consecutive" was added in an effort to clarify this ambiguity.

Motion 7, proposing the establishment of two SRC reps committees was tabled. Not quite sure why.

Motion 8 was passed, supporting closer ties between VUWSA and the Wellington Trades Council, seeking ways in which VUWSA could pursue policies of mutual interest and benefit to both organisation, including making approaches for VUWSA to obtain observer status on the Council.

A procedural motion changed the order of the agenda and the meeting moved on to consider Education Fight back. Moved: Wilson/Adams (G) That this Association deplores the introduction of the Tertiary Study Grants system, which is both inadequate for student needs and rife with administrative problems; and protests the use of the Review of Financial Assistance for Post Compulsory Study as a diversionary tactic designed to keep students quiet about bursaries; and that telegrams be sent to the Prime Minister and the minister of Education informing them of this.

The "TSG", went the argument, "was something that emerged out of nothing, totally unlike anything that was ever discussed....." "something dreamed up and implemented without anybody knowing how it will work....." Administrative difficulties were such that if 2600 students at Massey University applied for the $17 hardship, it would take two and a half weeks full time interviewing; then all their applications would still have to be processed, and it would still have to be decided how much to give them.

Needless to say this motion was passed, as was Motion 1 moved Wilson/Adams (G) That this Association deplores the 10% cut in real terms in the Education Vote and the Minister's apparent unwillingness to make public the details of Government policy on how this cut is to be implemented and that telegrams be sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education informing them of this.

Motion 12, Moved Morris/ that VUWSA sees the threat of the PSA De-recognition Bill as a savage attack on the freedom of association managed to survive accusations of irrelevancy and outdatedness and was eventually passed.

Support fo the University Creche was shown in the form of a donation of $50 to the Creche Parents Association to help cover the difference between their recent grant allocation and the amount asked for. The motion was unanimous in its support.

John Penny's motion that SRC reports be published in Salient, rather than be given at SRC was definitely the most controversial of the meeting. The situation became complicated when the Chairperson accepted an ammendment that was contrary to the spirit of the motion. Peter Beach, in his capacity as Salient editor, not in his capacity as a private individual, (although we all realise he is entitled to his private individual capacity also - who of us isn't)?! said that he would be prepared to accept such reports, provided they be handed in to the Salient office by 3 o'clock on Wednesday. The only problem was that the motion as worded, implied that the publication of reports in Salient would replace their being given at SRC, except when the matter was of direct and immediate concern or interest to students. Peter Beach had intended that the publication of reports in Salient would be in addition to their being presented at SRC, since SRC officers were after all elected by and therefore accountable to SRC. This seemed obvious to all. What was not obvious was that the motion and ammendment were in direct contradiction, but when this was finally pointed out, the amendment was withdrawn, and put in the form of a foreshadowed motion.

There were many speakers, against the motion saying all that was necessary to reduce the time taken by (and therefore reduce the related boredom content of) reports was an effective Chairperson, who could limit the speaking time if necessary, and bring speakers to the point if they seemed to be wandering. John Penny eventually withdrew his motion in favour of the foreshadowed motion, which was subsequently passed and on that cheerful note, the meeting ended.

Rire Scotney and Paul Norman