Lovely day for a protest
Well, fellow students and other forgotten citizens, I have used my day wisely. What can be better, on a beautiful sunny April afternoon in this fine city of ours than to get out and exercise one's democratic right? If there's one thing I love on perfect autumn days, it's to take a stroll around town with 4000 of my fellow uni students, followed by free food, water and entertainment on the front lawns of historic Sydney University. I'd like to thank the current government for enacting legislation that allowed us to enjoy such a pleasant Thursday to the utmost.
Seriously, though, other than giving us a free Whitlams concert, what does the introduction of VSU (Voluntary Student Unionism, for those of you living under a rock) really mean? To answer that question, it may be best to ask another; what does USU really mean? What really are the benefits of forcing poor suffering students to pay hundreds of dollars a year? What does this so-called union actually do?
To listen to Mr. Nelson, one would think the union's main role is subsidising sausage rolls. You may be surprised to learn that this is not, in fact, the whole story. While sausage roll subsidisation is a vital part of uni life, this and other food subsidies are merely the most obvious of benefits. And lets face it, the food is still not that cheap. So where is all our money going? Well, it's all being gobbled up by commie pinko lefties furthering their political agendas and...hey, I kid, I kid.
In truth, the union spends its money in a very great number of ways, and the results are so all-pervasive in the structure and life of the university that they're almost invisible. Take, for example, the union buildings. It's all very well to worry about beer prices in Manning going up under VSU, but one must also remember that Manning would never have existed in the first place if it weren't for the money contributed by generations of thirsty students. Likewise for Holme and Wentworth. These buildings are maintained with union money, and filled with union services. Not just food outlets, but all sorts of places to go for help, whether it be with finding accommodation or work, borrowing money, or counselling. There is also childcare, queer space, the women's room...the list goes on.
In addition, the union provides funds and support that make it possible for clubs and societies of all flavours to flourish. Some people will ask the question; why should my money pay for a bunch of people get together and dress up like idiots, talk about some TV show I don't watch, or hit each other with sticks? Well, it's a fair point. The problem is that without all these groups, or at least the opportunity for them to exist if they'd like, the richness is sucked out of uni life. The true reason for going to uni - to get free barbecues - would disappear.
University is a blissful few years between the tedium of school and the drudgery of working life. I hold that the atmosphere made possible by our union fees fosters creativity, initiative and of course social skills, and has a permanent effect on anyone who passes through its, ahem, rigours. These attributes help to liven up the after-uni world; if we turn universities into corporate drone-factories, places where one goes to go to class, have lunch, go to class, then go home, then our brains will be stunted and personalities atrophied, and the country will lose all colour and life, and turn into a mind-numbing cultural wasteland. And I'm not exaggerating one bit.
Seriously, though, other than giving us a free Whitlams concert, what does the introduction of VSU (Voluntary Student Unionism, for those of you living under a rock) really mean? To answer that question, it may be best to ask another; what does USU really mean? What really are the benefits of forcing poor suffering students to pay hundreds of dollars a year? What does this so-called union actually do?
To listen to Mr. Nelson, one would think the union's main role is subsidising sausage rolls. You may be surprised to learn that this is not, in fact, the whole story. While sausage roll subsidisation is a vital part of uni life, this and other food subsidies are merely the most obvious of benefits. And lets face it, the food is still not that cheap. So where is all our money going? Well, it's all being gobbled up by commie pinko lefties furthering their political agendas and...hey, I kid, I kid.
In truth, the union spends its money in a very great number of ways, and the results are so all-pervasive in the structure and life of the university that they're almost invisible. Take, for example, the union buildings. It's all very well to worry about beer prices in Manning going up under VSU, but one must also remember that Manning would never have existed in the first place if it weren't for the money contributed by generations of thirsty students. Likewise for Holme and Wentworth. These buildings are maintained with union money, and filled with union services. Not just food outlets, but all sorts of places to go for help, whether it be with finding accommodation or work, borrowing money, or counselling. There is also childcare, queer space, the women's room...the list goes on.
In addition, the union provides funds and support that make it possible for clubs and societies of all flavours to flourish. Some people will ask the question; why should my money pay for a bunch of people get together and dress up like idiots, talk about some TV show I don't watch, or hit each other with sticks? Well, it's a fair point. The problem is that without all these groups, or at least the opportunity for them to exist if they'd like, the richness is sucked out of uni life. The true reason for going to uni - to get free barbecues - would disappear.
University is a blissful few years between the tedium of school and the drudgery of working life. I hold that the atmosphere made possible by our union fees fosters creativity, initiative and of course social skills, and has a permanent effect on anyone who passes through its, ahem, rigours. These attributes help to liven up the after-uni world; if we turn universities into corporate drone-factories, places where one goes to go to class, have lunch, go to class, then go home, then our brains will be stunted and personalities atrophied, and the country will lose all colour and life, and turn into a mind-numbing cultural wasteland. And I'm not exaggerating one bit.
posted by Nick | 10:14 pm
1 Comments:
Hear hear!
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