Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association
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The Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association ("VUWSA") is the official students' association at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. VUWSA was established in 1899 as the Victoria University College Students' Society.
Organisation
Membership of VUWSA is compulsory for Victoria University students. A referendum to change to a voluntary student association was rejected in the late 1990s.VUWSA has a reputation as a radical left-wing students' association although this is no longer the case. Nevertheless VUWSA has had a heavy involvement in New Zealand social movements, such as the Vietnam War where VUWSA donated money to the Viet Cong (it is rumoured they used it to buy a tank), 1981 Springbok Tour, the Nuclear Free New Zealand Movement and in recent years the campaign supporting the Prostitution Reform Bill and the Civil Union Bill.
The executive is elected by the membership of the association. Turnout has been consistently less than ten percent in recent years, with roughly one-thousand students voting in 2005. In 2006, the President of the association is Nick Kelly, who had been Vice President (Welfare) in 2005 and has been involved in the New Zealand Labour Party until 2002 when he was removed for disturbing Prime Minister Helen Clark during her speech to the party's annual conference. He has since been involved in the Anti Capitalist Alliance. Other important positions in VUWSA include the Vice President (Welfare) which is held by Jules van Cruysen and the Vice President (Education) which is held Joel Cosgrove.
The executive consists of 13 positions in total, including the President, Education Vice President, Welfare Vice President, Treasurer, Womens Rights Officer, Clubs Officer, Activites Officer, Campaigns Officer, two Education Officers, Queer Officer, Enviroment Officer and International Students Officer. The last three positions were established by ammendments to the VUWSA constitution at the end of 2005. Previously the executive had only ten members.
Services
It provides a range of services to students including representation, clubs and various activities. It has published a weekly newspaper, Salient since 1941. Linked to VUWSA by a memorandum of understanding is Ngai Tauria, a group that works with Māori students.VUWSA has eight organisational goals which define its areas of activity:
1. Education: Student Support - To secure and maintain adequate state income, welfare and employment support for students.
2. Education: University - To ensure the university provides equity and quality in assessment, teaching, conditions and course access supported by sufficient resources.
3. Education: Equity - To promote equity for disadvantaged members in access to and within the university.
4. Services - To control the student union complex and provide quality cost effective (consumer) services for members.
5. Activities - To provide or assist sporting, social and cultural activities, for and by members; primarily through clubs.
6. Public Issues - To promote discussion and action as appropriate, on issues concerning students as citizens.
7. Finance - To maximise the benefits to members by minimising fees or user charges through internal efficiency and non member revenue.
8. Accountability - To ensure that the structures and procedures of the Association result in effective and efficient communication, management and accountability.
Previous Presidents
2006 - Nick Kelly2005 - Jeremy Greenbrook
2004 - Amanda Hill
2003 - Catherine Belfield-Haines
2002 - Fluer Fitzsimons
2001 - Chris Hipkins
2000 - Chris Hipkins
1999 - Hamish Hopkinson
1998 - Alistair Shaw
1997 - Alistair Shaw
1996 - Michael Gibbs
External links
- [Official site]
- [Salient site]
- [Nick Kelly on his explusion from the Labour party]
- [Nick Kelly's manifesto for Upper Hutt mayorlty]
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