Praise for VUWSA
I’ve been critical of VUWSA when members of their executive do stupid or obnoxious things. So it is only fair I should praise them when they do good.
VUWSA has been somewhat dysfunctional for many years – little reliable budgeting and expenditure control. But his year’s executive have done a change proposal they are consulting on.
I’ll summarise the proposal below. Ironically it aims to solve many of the issues that a group of centre right students (known as the A-Team) unsucessfully campaigned on last year.
- Orientation costs of up to $180,000 to be reduced, especially in line with falling participation. Students are more interested in events in the CBD which have greater variety. VUWSA could coat-tail on some of these, negotiating ticket prices. Also look to partner with Cuba Street Carnival, Jazz Festival etc.
- Reinstate Team Victoria MOU between VUIW and VUWSA to reduce duplication in clubs administration and facilities
- Relocate IT Support to VUW IT Services
- All the above are to focus VUWSA on core functions of advocacy
- Restructure the three full time staff roles of Advertising and Sponsorship Manager, Campus Activities Co-ordinator and Clubs Development Officer
- Recognise the Executive is not well placed to manage staff due to high turnover
- Proposed that they convert the latter two staff roles to contractors for specific roles such as an Events Organiser.
- Turn the Advertising and Sponsorship Manager into a Salient Business Manager
- Negotiate a SLA with VUW Student Union for clubs support
As I said, I am quite impressed with their analysis of a need to focus on core advocacy, to reduce staffing levels, and use a mixture of contractors and a relationship with VUW itself to provide other services to students.
I understand Sonny Thomas (VUWSA VP and Young Labour VP) was one of those involved in the plan, and is campaign for 2009 VUWSA President on the basis of implementing it (subject to consultation). I saw him at the Internet Debate last night and joked I was going to endorse him on Kiwiblog, this damning his campaign – he looked truly panicked at the possibility. So I’ll restrict myself to merely endorsing the reform proposal and saying I hope that whoever wins, is willing to implement it.