"The Question Is..." - this is the stunningly provocative title of NZUSA's campaign leading up to the general elections this year.

The title, presented by Auckland's delegation, instantly filled the meeting with startling enthusiasm and answered all prayers for a gimmicky, universally acceptable slogan.

It was presented at Election Plenary on the third day of May Council after several hours of full and frank discussions both there and in commissions. Delegates were looking for a title for an umbrella campaign about students in the elections.

The campaign is designed to give context to the work that is already being done by NZUSA and its constituents rather than generate more work, Research Officer, Ian Powell assured the meeting.

Despite a comment from one Otago delegate to the effect that National Office was too busy to be socially progressive, delegates believed that NZUSA should get involved in the general elections.

Human Rights Beats Economic Crisis

It was debated whether the campaign should be based on human rights or on the economic crisis. Denese Black reported that in Women's Commission they had taken the overall framework of violence against women and the Working Women's Charter with abortion as a priority.

"It fits more into human rights than anywhere else," Denese said.

Brian Small reported that a combined Education and Welfare Commission had decided to focus on unemployment and human rights. Colin McFadzean reported that National and International Commissions had not had a chance to discuss it at that stage.

Victoria's Chief Delegate, Virginia Adams proposed drawing up a Youth Charter - a manifesto of students' position for the elections to be done in co-ordination with other resource groups such as the Wellington Unemployed Workers' Union (WUWU).

This proposal was rejected because of fears of "treading on other people's toes" as this had already been done successfully by the YMCA.

More proposals were presented and rejected - Otago suggested organising a youth conference, and Research Officer Mike Waghorne urged constituents to not think bit but think really big. Indecision caused the plenary to adjourn for discussion in commission.

Hit! Pow! Zap!

In somewhat of an anti-climax, Victoria's slogan "The Cost of Crisis: Who Pays The Price?" was thrown out by the after dinner Election Plenary, and Auckland's "The Question Is..." was adopted. For some inexplicable reason, having slept on it for a night, delegates seemed a little less enthusiastic about the slogan during the remaining days of council.

This change was reflected at Budget Plenary on the last day of council. Auckland's proposal of "Zap Paks" - a seemingly integral part of "The Question Is..." campaign - was zapped.

Zap Paks is the name given to a set of coloured folders which would hold information on a variety of areas to be covered by the election campaign. They would cost $1 each to be produced and were intended to be distributed to people working in specific areas at constituent level, for example a Zap Pak on Women for the campus Women's Rights Officer. About four hundred Zap Paks were to be produced.

The whole idea of special folders was almost scrapped with the information to be presented in ordinary manilla folders, but instead delegates voted to have the Zap Paks sold to each campus at $1 each and they could then decide whether to sell or give them away to the appropriate people.

No doubt "The Question Is..." is such a snappy little slogan people will be queueing up at the Studass office to buy their Zap Pak.

Michele A'Court