The following is a response from Sonny Thomas to Nick Kelly’s previous post regarding the VUWSA Change Proposal:
Kia ora –
I am running for the VUWSA Presidency because VUWSA needs change.
Every four years like clock work VUWSA almost goes bankrupt until it’s bailed out, like an American investment bank by the VUWSA Trust.
The changes that I have put into a proposal for consultation make significant savings which will be spent more effectively on VUWSA’s main purpose, education support and welfare. There is no need to continue to spend $100,000 a year on Orientation and activities that attract very small student numbers. Nor is there any need to continue to provide administration when someone else can do it cheaper – and it’s only data entry.
I fully stand behind student control of student affairs – I just don’t think we need to control who enters the data, or have direct control over who negotiates subsidised tickets to events in the CBD.
Students will under the proposal retain control of what is most important – education support and welfare services. Things that can make a tangible difference to students studies.
I offer a new perspective for students – something fresh and untainted by the actions and inactions of the past.
Students should get more value out of their association and that is why I think people would rather have subsidised events in town that students are already attending – like the International Arts Festival, the Fringe Festival and the Sevens.
Nick Kelly is part of the problem, Joel Cosgrove is part of the problem and Jasmine Freemantle, who has offered nothing new will be part of the problem. Students didn’t trust her on their executive in 2002, opting instead to vote “No Confidence” – nothing has changed about her, why would they trust her now?
Vote for real, tangible change – vote for someone who isn’t part of the problem, or supported by those that reinforce the problem.
Thanks,
Sonny Thomas
for VUWSA President