One aspect of VSU

I never agreed with the Australian government’s proposed Voluntary Student Unionism legislation. Neither did I agree with the way the University of Queensland’s student union body chose to ‘fight’ it on campus. Their focus was wrong. If you follow any of those links you’ll get a good idea of what VSU is and arguments for and against.

The student union body’s focus was wrong because they trumpeted loudly the possible loss of unimportant aspects of university life. They talked about the possible loss of cafeterias, bookshops, and other food outlets, and their inability to provide low-cost alternatives. Sure, if pressed they could tell you about the more important losses, but that was all that appeared to be happening, on the surface.

And nobody cared. Why would they? The focus was on businesses run by the student union; businesses that, particularly in the case of food outlets, will continue to run – and at a profit. What then were the important things they should have been focusing on? Childcare facilities, crisis support, legal services, accommodation and employment services. These are the things that, if they’re gone or only available at market price, severely impact students who otherwise have no option.

Then there’s the aspect of the culture of university life. Personally I’m not too worried about whether Clubs and Societies can stay afloat and provide their members with free beer or marijuana. Of course that’s a wild generalisation, there are many great clubs and societies, but I’m sure they can meet together without the union’s money if they so choose. But the thing that led me to write this whole post was a regular email I receive from the Schonell Cinema. At the top of the regular email, as just another announcement amongst those about the musical RENT and a Comedy Film Festival, was this:

Schonell to CLOSE by June 30

It is with much regret that we announce that the UQ Union have proposed to cease The Schonell’s cinema operations by June 30 2006, as a result of funding cuts associated with the Federal Government’s VSU legislation….(read more)

Again, the Schonell’s relative importance is going to vary for different groups of students, and I’m not suggesting it’s the most significant loss, but as far as killing the university ‘culture’, that goes a long way towards it. If I actually had to list by importance (to me) the things that could possibly be lost due to VSU, it would go as follows:

1. Union – the body itself, if simply for its ability to advocate on behalf of students
2. Essential student support services
3. Cultural aspects – for example the Schonell, Semper Floreat (student paper), and I would consider Clubs and Societies to be at the bottom the important ‘cultural’ list
4. Union businesses – not important to students because they will still be able to get the food/supplies they need, even if from a commercial provider.

I said no long diatribes. This has been one.