Wanna know something? It almost seems the Vice Chancellor, Pat Walsh, and his fellow members of the University Council (minus Max Hardly, Conrad Reyners, Fleur Fitzsimons and one or two others) don’t give a shit about our education and welfare. Why? They increase our fees every single year by 5%, and international students by much more (My innocent guess is 7%!). Not to mention they increased the Student Services Levy from around $100 to $500, like, what the fuck is with that?
They increase our fees and student levies and then they go and cut the number of lectures and tutorials we have per week. Ever wondered why your lecturer takes your tutorial? OK. Let me admit that it’s a little cynical for me to claim they don’t care and that it’s solely their fault for the rising fees. Why? The National Government led by John Key last year CUT tertiary education funding (instead giving $30million to elite private schools), and are set to cut tertiary education funding again in next month’s Budget, not to mention slowly undermining interest free student loans. Let me paint that picture nice and clear:John Key takes YOUR money which could be used to reduce YOUR fees and increase the standard of YOUR education and living, and instead gives it to the rich kids who you might find yourself sitting next to. The one’s that seem to think it’s a status boost to say they live in Weir House. How is that fair? Well, it’s not fair! That’s why we have the Education Action Group. The EAG brings together students from a range of backgrounds and interests to fight for quality education and living standards. The next meeting is on Thursday 13th May @ 11am in meeting room three in the Student Union Building. Come along!
As your Education Officer I work alongside the Education Vice President and Education Advocacy Organiser to ensure you’re getting the best education possible at VUW and that your life on campus is an enjoyable one.
Therefore, I am so pleased that over 1,300 submissions were received in opposition to Roger Douglas’ anti-student services Bill. Roger Douglas is once again be put into a box, along with his old ideas, and will hopefully soon be shipped off to some far fetched location, ‘cos, well, he is 72 after all.
Good work to those that have contributed to the fight to retain student services!
Feel free to flick me an email if you have any concerns, and be rest assured things going smoothly on the VUWSA front. Regardless of what other might say in this edition of Salient.