Advice for Student Associations

Graeme Edgeler has some pertinent advice for VUWSA and other SAs on finding ways to work wither tertiary institutes.

It seems VUWSA has put ideological purity ahead of common sense (such as when they supported lecturers striking for more pay which would increase fees for students) by refusing to support proposals for non-governmental funding from the private sector.

Graeme actually pens a devastating portrayal of all that is wrong in some student associations. To my mind this out of touch puritanical behaviour comes from the lack of accountability to their members who have no ability to resign if they don’t feel they are getting benefits.

I like Graeme’s analogy:

VUWSA operates under the fallacy that at all times it is better to fight for your principles and have them ignored, than to successfully fight for some of them and ignore the others yourself – as though ACT ought oppose legislation lowering the income tax rate to 30% because it wants it lowered to 25%.

I remain a fan of the role good student associations can play in campus life, but it is sad when they fail to act in the best interest of their members by pursuing an ideological purity which helps no-one.