Salient has heard that a number of Residential Advisers (RAs) from the residential complex—which includes Cumberland, McKenzies and Education House—are dissatisfied with the pay they receive and the conditions under which they are expected to work.

As part of the job, RAs are required to live on-site. But one RA has stated that they pay more back to the hostel in rent than they actually earn, meaning they are forced to rely on loans, allowances and other employment to cover the shortfall.

The RAs are also often required to work extra hours, especially when planning large events and dealing with significant problems, but are not paid for this extra work. They believe this is unfair, particularly as RAs from other university Halls of Residence receive a wide variety of benefits and compensation.

Earlier in the year, one RA left their role due to the conditions in which they were expected to work. The RA’s bedroom had a number of leaks which uStay management failed to resolve and on one occasion the RA was pressured to miss a class at university in order to attend a fire drill.

The RAs say they have approached management about their concerns but have been largely ignored. They also hope to raise awareness and secure fairer contracts for the RAs of 2012.

Formerly known as Unicomm, uStay has been plagued with problems in recent years. In 2008, many Cumberland residents spent the year in leaky rooms and on one occasion a sewage pipe burst, causing numerous issues. In response to these conditions, a number of students made national news as they protested at Study@Vic Day and prevented tours of the complex.

Official voter turnout figures were unavailable when Salient went to print, but it is estimated to be approximately 1800 students. Though this is only about ten per cent of the student body, it is almost double last year’s low turnout.

Bridie Hood was elected President for 2012, with 1449 votes to ensure a motion of no confidence could not pass against her.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support over their last few weeks and congratulate those who won their elections. 2012 is going to be a challenging year for VUWSA and I look forward to working with a strong Executive to insure VUWSA remains a strong and responsive students association,” said Hood following her election.

Hood also acknowledged the challenges VUWSA will face next year as the association adjusts to a voluntary environment.

“I will be spending the rest of the year alongside the current VUWSA Executive to ensure that appropriate structures are put in place for 2012. Although VSM poses a massive threat to the representation and services that VUWSA provides, we now need to look to the future and confront the challenge in front of us. VUWSA will survive VSM,”
she said.

Outgoing President Seamus Brady also congratulated Hood on her success.

“I have every confidence in Bridie’s ability to be a great President and lead VUWSA through a difficult year as they transition to a new environment. She’s achieved a lot as Vice-President (Education) so I look forward to seeing what she does next year,” he said.

Other results also came as no surprise. Ta’ase Vaoga held her own against a no confidence motion, succeeding in becoming Vice President (Welfare) with 1437 votes. Vaoga and Hood were the only Executive members from 2011 to seek re-election.

Josh Wright had a successful evening, winning each of the positions he stood for—Vice-President (Academic), Education Officer and one of two Publications Committee representatives. Assuming he takes up the Vice Presidency, Sam Vincent will become Education Officer.

The position of Treasurer was won by Science Society President William Guzzo. Former VUWSA President and 2011 NZUSA co-president Max Hardy was elected the Student Representative on the University Council.

Election night also saw the end of Seamus Brady’s tenure at VUWSA after being involved with the Association since 2008. He says it is a good feeling to be moving on.

“Despite losing my youthful good looks, I’ve loved (almost) every bit of my time involved and it’s incredibly satisfying to see how much VUWSA has grown over the past three and half years,” he said.

Alongside voting in the election, students were also asked about their opinion of VUWSA’s Strategic Plan, the first of its kind for the association. Of the 1827 who responded to this question, approximately 50 per cent felt “neutral” towards it. While only 32 per cent said they were “satisfied” with the Plan. This was the final round of consultation, which will now be discussed by the Executive and then voted upon at next year’s Initial General Meeting.

VUWSA Election Results

Position: President
Elected: Bridie Hood (1449)
Other Candidates: No Confidence (307)

Position: Vice President (Welfare)
Elected: Ta’ase Vaonga (1437)
Other Candidates: No Confidence (308)

Position: International Officer
Elected: Debbie Zhang (1407)
Other Candidates: Lisa Taylor (263)

Position: Vice President (Academic
Elected: Josh Wright (1038)
Other Candidates: Craig Carey (673)

Position: Queer Officer
Elected: Genevieve Fowler (1411)
Other Candidates: Emma Maddox (205)

Position: Treasurer
Elected: William Guzzo (902)
Other Candidates: Zanian Steele (473),
Bruno Simpson (309)

Position: Welfare Officer
Elected: Rory McCourt (871)
Other Candidates: Emma Anderson (526)
Kiran Matthews (339)

Position: Activities Officer
Elected: Andreas Triandafilidis (835)
Other Candidates: Kirin Matthews (463),
Lisa Taylor (371)

Position: Education Officer
Elected: Josh Wright (783)
Other Candidates: Sam Vincent (627)
Lisa Taylor (298)

Position: Campaigns Officer
Elected: Adele Redmond (1363)
Other Candidates: No Confidence (372)

Position: Women’s Officer
Elected: Sara Bishop (927)
Other Candidates: Isabella Whitfield (658)

Position: Clubs Officer
Elected: Reed Fleming (1460)
Other Candidates: Andrew Donnelly (261)

Position: Student Rep. on University Council
Elected: Max Hardy (1429)
Other Candidates: Lisa Taylor (244)

Position: Environmental Officer
Elected: Sophie Turner (1035)
Other Candidates: Harry Lusk (392),
Stu Miller (324)

osition: Publications Committee Representatives
Elected: Elle Hunt (1359), Josh Wright (673)
Other Candidates: Zanian Steele (275),
Keegan Platten (120)

The government has decided that it will no longer fund university preparation courses at universities but will continue to fund such courses at polytechnics and other training organisations. This means that Victoria University’s Certificate in University Preparation (CUP) will now be without funding.

Due to these cuts, Victoria management are proposing to cut the CUP altogether.

This means that students wishing to undertake university preparation courses in Wellington will have to attend Weltec, Whitirea, or a private training institute.

VUWSA is opposed to the closure and believes that students will be disadvantaged if they cannot complete these courses at university. They believe that an important part of these university preparation courses is being able to orient students at university and the services it offers, such as the library and support services.

Current CUP students are also opposed to the proposal.

“I took CUP in the first trimester of last year and it was the best decision I ever made. The skills they teach you in that course are so valuable to university as a whole,” said one student.

“Bridging courses into university mean that a diverse range of people can access university education. Moving these courses to polytechs removes this “bridging” function. Instead it creates another barrier to accessing uni if you are not being immersed in the campus lifestyle,” said another.

Despite facing the same funding problems, other universities have decided not to cut their preparation courses. The University of Auckland has chosen to fund their programme through its equity fund. The preparation programme at Waikato University is being run by Weltec but will be taught on the Waikato campus to allow new students to orient themselves with the campus.

VUWSA believes that Victoria should look into similar alternatives to avoid ending the programme.

The proposal to close the CUP is currently open for consultation before the final decision is made.

The Forum attracted a large crowd, many of whom appeared to be genuinely interested in the candidates’ ideas. Unfortunately time constraints meant a number of questions went unasked and the final few candidates were rushed through their speeches.

This was particularly problematic as the final speakers were those standing for the most important roles within VUWSA—Treasurer, the Vice Presidencies (Welfare and Academic), and the Presidency—and were the candidates most students wanted to quiz.

Lone presidential candidate Bridie Hood told the crowd she wants VUWSA to remain true to the goals it established 112 years ago. She focused on financial sustainability; student representation; student engagement; and an active student community.

Both candidates for Vice President (Academic), Josh Wright and Craig Carey spoke knowledgeably of both VUWSA and the university.

Standing unopposed for Vice President (Welfare), Ta’ase Vaonga plugged her catchphrase a “visible, vibrant and viable VUWSA” and highlighted plans to encourage work with the International and Clubs Officers.

The forum saw three lively candidates for the position of Treasurer. William Guzzo spoke with great enthusiasm about reviving VUWSA while Bruno Simpson touted his business and accounting experience.

Zanian Steele made sweeping promises, stating he would cut VUWSA salaries and will resign if he cannot achieve this. Also standing for Publications Committee Representative, Steele received rapturous applause as he waved a copy of Salient and stated: “If you don’t want controversy, get the bloody Economist!”

Also standing for this position, Salient co-editor Elle Hunt stated her experience working with the magazine will give her the knowledge necessary to be successful in the position.
“And if they decide to sell it I will make sure they get a good price,” she said.

Most other candidates spoke informatively and enthusiastically with most emphasising the challenges VUWSA will face in light of VSM. The exception was Kiran Mathews, who said he had no idea what the Activities Officer did and had “no opinions or passion.”

Students can vote online or in person in the VUWSA General Election from the 26th to 29th of October.

Check out the Salient Facebook page for a link to the candidates’ video manifestos and the centre pull-out in this week’s issue for more information

Victoria has recently released the results of its Student Experience Improvement Survey which it conducted in April and May this year. The survey aimed to give the university an opportunity to hear the ‘student voice’ in order to further understand students’ perceptions of the services the university provides.

Overall, 80 per cent of survey respondents rated all services and facilities at Victoria as ‘good’ or ‘very good.’ Students identified services that supported studying and living as the best performing and service areas, and services that supported enrolling and getting started as the services which need the most improvement.

However, there appears to be a disparity between students in taught courses and those engaged in research-based courses. The survey found “Research students appear to be somewhat dissatisfied with Faculty-based services.”

In terms of services and facilities that help students’ studies, the library was the big winner. Both students in taught courses, as well as research students, rated the library as the service that contributes most positively to their studies. Of taught students, 88 per cent were happy with the library resources and 86 per cent were happy with the library services.
Student computing services were also acknowledged to be of high value to students and their studies. However, 27 per cent of taught students also believed this to be the study-related service which needs the most improvement.

The survey found that the timeliness of information was a big issue for students and one that the university is underperforming in. In terms of enrolment, only 64 per cent of students were happy with the timeliness of communication over enrolment details.

Students also rated timely feedback on assignments as one of the most important features in helping their studies. However, alarmingly, only 47 per cent rated the timeliness of this feedback as ‘good’ or ‘very good.’

Communication of information with students was also found to be a particularly troublesome area. Students reported difficulty in finding information or the right person to talk to and generally lack confidence that information will be consistent across sources. Students also believe the University web site is targeted more towards prospective students than current students.

The survey also looked at the services provided which enhance student life at Victoria. vicbooks, Student Health Services, and cafes and food on campus were rated the most important in this regard. It was also the cafe and food services on campus which were judged most in need of improvement in this area.

Interestingly, in light of VSM, only 5 per cent of students saw services provided by the students’ association as the most important services on campus.

The survey results also included the university’s plans to improve in the areas identified by students—including the improvement of online information , research into what first-year students value at university, and the development of computing services.

The survey had 4150 respondents, all of whom are current students, and about 22 per cent of the student population at Victoria.

VUWSA’s ‘Chew the Fat with Pat’ invited students to ask questions of Victoria University Chancellor Ian McKinnon and Vice-Chancellor Pat Walsh.
Both McKinnon and Walsh emphasised that their key goal was to ensure a quality overall student experience.

“We want our students to leave universtity with a qualification but also with a whole experience, which gives them confidence to move into whatever field they choose,” McKinnon said.

“That quality, of course, has a price tag.”

Walsh then provided students with an overview of how Victoria works to achieve this within the financial constraints placed on universities.

“We have had, over the last ten years, probably longer, anually a decline in the real value of government funding per student,” Walsh said.

“We are now funded at about 60 per cent of the level of Australian students.”

Ensuring quality is difficult due to the capped funding system introduced in 2007. Prior to this, university funding was funded on a ‘bums on seats’ basis. Now universities have to maintain student numbers at particular levels and are not allowed to raise fees by any more than four per cent each year.

“This creates problems as our fixed costs rise faster than our revenue,” says Walsh.

The forum then moved to a question session. Only a handful of students asked questions but these took considerable time, meaning VUWSA President Seamus Brady was unable to ask a number of questions sent to him by absent students.

One student asked about the recent tripling of Trimester Three courses. Walsh replied that in 2010 the university had to limit courses due to high student numbers which they could not fund. Then, in 2011, because “students are an unpredictable bunch” student numbers dropped and the university feared it wouldn’t have enough students for funding quota. As a result, the university added a number of courses to the summer trimester.

Another student asked what the university is doing to address the issue of large tutorial sizes. Walsh acknowledged this is a big problem and said this is a excellent example of how reduced government funding affects quality of education.

One student asked why there was a security guard at the door of the forum, believing this contributed to the ‘culture of imtimidation’ at the university and discouraged the voicing of student opinion.

Walsh passed this question to a staff member who said fees issues invoke strong student opinion, which “students express in a number of different ways.”
Several students also used this opportunity to voice their concerns on changes to the Gender and Women’s Studies and International Relations programmes.

Walsh also acknowledged the challenges that the relationship between Victoria and VUWSA will inevitably face in an environment of voluntary student association membership.
“We work in partnership with VUWSA. Under VSM, our relationship is no longer entirely in our own hands and we can’t make as free choices,” said Walsh.
A video of the forum will soon be available at www.vuwsa.org.nz

Te Mana Ākonga, the National Māori Tertiary Students’ Association, attempted to lodge a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal, stating that the passage of the VSM Bill has not taken into account Māori interests.

The claim was been made by Te Mana Ākonga on behalf of Māori Students’ Associations, including Victoria University’s Ngai Tauira, and all Māori engaged in tertiary education.
“We have submitted this claim due to the negative impacts this Bill will have on Maori development and advancement. It highlights the prejudicial effects of this Bill against tauira (students) Maori in the tertiary sector and the impacts it has on the overall framework provided by students’ associations which assist in strengthening the support of tauira,” says Te Mana Akonga Tumuaki Jacqualene Poutu.

Te Mana Ākonga claim VSM prejudicially affects Māori students and defies the Treaty of Waitangi. They believe VSM will: diminish the right of Māori at university to form rōpū (a group or association); reduce the right of those rōpū to exercise Tino Rangatiratanga (self-determination); and weaken the right of Māori students to form a national representative entity.

They asked for an urgent hearing with the Tribunal and for it to recommend the Bill be abolished, and that provisions be made to protect Māori at university and their national representation.

They are also appealing to the Tribunal on the grounds that the government did not act in good faith by consulting with Māori students and did not conduct any research into the effects this bill would have on Māori students and their associations.

NZUSA support the claim and agree that research should have been conducted into the effects VSM will have on students.

The disgraceful fact remains that the government has done no analysis or real consideration of what impact this Bill will have on student services, student representation, and the quality of education for students as a whole,” says NZUSA co-President David Do.

The claim was presented to Parliament by Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell last Wednesday. He asked for the entirety of the Bill to be referred to the Tribunal. However, the motion was not supported by the House so will not be referred.

The Waitangi Tribunal was set up in 1975 and is designed to provide redress for actions of the Crown, such as legislation, which breach the Treaty of Waitangi. The Tribunal conducts a series of hearings and makes recommendations to the government who can then decide whether or not to act on them.

The objective of the proposal is to establish a framework for how compulsory fees and student services are administered by universities. This framework aims to create transparency and accountability in decision-making on these issues.

Part of the proposal states the categories of student services that can be funded by compulsory service fees. These categories exclude a number of services that universities currently offer and are in strong demand.

The proposal states that service fees could cover advocacy and legal advice; careers information and guidance; counselling services; employment information; financial support and advice; health services; student media; childcare services; and sports and recreation services.

The Student Services Levy at Victoria currently covers most of these categories. However, it also covers accommodation services, Maori mentoring service Te Putahi Atawhai, Student Learning Support Services, new student orientation, and information technology services. These areas are not included in Joyce’s proposal.

Because these services are not included in the proposal it is conceivable that the university would have to find alternative sources of funding for these or would have to cut them altogether.

VUWSA President Seamus Brady is concerned that these changes will ultimately lead to a lack of quality student services.

“We’re concerned that the categories prescribed by the Minister are too narrow and leave little room for services that students have said they want to be funded,” he says.
A good example of this is information technology services which provides students with internet, email and printing services. In 2011, $1,660,195 of the funding for this service came from the Student Services Levy. If information technology is excluded from student services fees then this money would have to come from another source.

The new restrictions on levy spending will limit how VUWSA could transition into a voluntary membership environment. The option of the University funding some services through the Student Services Levy was being floated. However the prescribed categories do not allow for funding of many of VUWSA’s core services—such as representation and welfare—meaning VUWSA will have to find revenue elsewhere.

The implementation date of the proposed changes has drawn criticism from NZUSA co-president, Max Hardy.

“[Joyce] is expecting associations and institutions to adjust to a massively altered funding environment in just a few short months. They couldn’t have done much more to make this as difficult as possible for the sector to manage,” Hardy says.

“We hope that the Government has made an oversight and will be fully engaged in the consultation process.”
The Minister is currently seeking submissions from anyone who is concerned about the proposed changes.

“Compulsory student services fees have increased significantly in the last few years, and I am sceptical that students have seen a corresponding increase in services. These changes will ensure students have a greater say in what these fees are used for,” says Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce.

The law allows the Minister to direct which services fees can be used for; make universities create decision-making processes involving students; and make them provide written statements for students which detail the spending on services.

If the Minister is not satisfied that an individual provider is complying with the directions he will have the power to place a maximum limit on the amount they may charge for student services.

Compulsory student services fees are charged by all universities. These fees are used to pay for services such as health providers, accommodation services and study support. At Victoria University, the Student Services Levy falls into this category.

The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) has welcomed the changes.

“It is essential that students have oversight over these levies. This is the best way to ensure that services are responsive to students and that levies are kept under control,” NZUSA co-President Max Hardy says.

The Bill also establishes Education New Zealand as a new crown agency to promote New Zealand as a destination for international students.

“International education is a vital part of our economy and we want to see that grow even further. The new agency is a key part of achieving this,” says Mr Joyce.

The meeting on 25 August saw one board member move motions relating to the Academic Board’s role at Victoria. The first motion sought to re-affirm the Academic Board’s role in decision-making related to the university’s strategic plan and the second moved that all future restructuring be discussed by the Academic Board in order to fulfil its statutory requirements.

Following these motions, debate ensued reflecting the different interpretations of the Academic Board’s role in the Change Proposals which seek to disestablish academic positions in the Education, Philosophy and Political Science and International Relations Programmes as well as the complete disestablishment of the Crime and Justice Research Centre.
Debate centred around the purpose of the Academic Board in strategic and academic decision-making. The Board’s statute states that it shall consider “academic matters, which are deemed to be: the academic consequences of the University’s strategic goals… [and] the academic consequences of changes to academic structures.”

The member putting forward the motion stated that many consider the changes included in these proposals to be of an academic nature and involving substantial changes to programmes which would affect students. He argued it was the duty of the Academic Board to guide the University Council to allow it to run responsibly. VUWSA President Seamus Brady agreed and seconded the motion.

Those opposing the motion argued that the Academic Board’s role is to consider the strategic decisions of the university. They argued changes in staff and academic focus occur continually and do not need to be discussed by the Board.

They also emphasised that changes in the International Relations Programme, which will see a shift in focus to the Asia Pacific region, are in line with the strategic plan which the Academic Board has already approved.

They stated that the purpose of the changes is to build the programme by enhancing the range of courses offered and emphasised that the changes will not remove any courses. But those in support of the motion argued that it is impossible to make staff changes without affecting students.

Tertiary Education Union Organiser Michael Gilchrist attended the meeting. Vice-Chancellor Pat Walsh said he would not set a precedent by allowing a union spokesperson to address the board, but Gilchrist argued he was enrolled at Victoria as a PhD student and therefore was entitled to speak.

Gilchrist accused the Board of making changes in the university’s academic direction under the justification of restructuring. He stated that interpretations of the change proposals are being used to form the basis of the recommendations and therefore these interpretations should be discussed by the Academic Board.

Despite few members speaking in favour of the motions, voting was fairly evenly split over the issue as both motions were defeated by only a couple of votes.

The meeting began when a quorum of 100 students was reached at 1.15pm. Of the executive, only VUWSA Education Officer Jen Fellows was absent and provided her apologies.

The meeting quickly moved through the procedural items on the agenda, passing the 2010 AGM Minutes, the 2011 VUWSA Half-Year Report and the Statement of Accounts in quick succession.

One student raised concern about students’ ability to really scrutinise the Half-Year Report.

“It’s a pretty detailed document… it would be good to have [more than] half an hour or so to read it first,” he said.
VUWSA President Seamus Brady said the reports would ideally be available earlier and blamed the delay on “production problems.”
At this point, the meeting shifted to technological problems as Brady failed to successfully change his powerpoint slide.
“The technology appears to have broken,” he told students.

The meeting then considered the proposed changes to VUWSA’s Constitution. The first was uncontroversial and students voted to support the title change from Vice-President (Education) to Vice-President (Academic).

There was a certain irony in the second amendment which saw Vice President (Adminstration) Daniel Wilson speak in favour of disestablishing his own position. Students supported the change which will see this position be replaced with the position of Treasurer in 2012.

Technical changes were also made to allow students the option of voting ‘no confidence’ in VUWSA elections when voting for the Publications Committee Representative and the University Council Representative.

The final change to be approved was to allow online voting for motions in Special Representative Councils, which received considerable debate.

At this stage one hungry student asked Brady, “Hey man, when’s the feed?”

Following this interruption, Brady attempted to move that all constitutional changes be adopted but stumbled over the motion and was saved only by Clubs Officer Jeremy ‘Jezza’ Peters, who managed to successfully express himself.

Daniel Wilson then moved a motion that VUWSA award Dave Guerin life membership, which was passed. Guerin is the current Chairman of the VUWSA Trust and was president of VUWSA in 1993.

The meeting then moved to other business which allowed students present to engage in significant debate.

VUWSA Queer Officer Tom Reed moved that VUWSA actively support the Legalise Love Campaign. This campaign seeks equality in marriage and adoption laws for same-sex couples as well as preventing homophobic bullying.

A motion was also put forward by student Stella Blake-Kelly which asked that VUWSA engage in a consultation process with students over the potential changes to the association, should it be forced to operate in an environment of voluntary student membership. It also asked for any recommendations from this consultation to be voted upon by students at a general meeting.

Both of these motions were met with considerable debate but were eventually passed.

The meeting was closed at 2.01pm which was the cue for students to dash for the free pizza, Red Bull and sausage sizzle.
“I had to wait an hour for this pizza so I’m glad there was lots,” said one student.

Some students were satisfied with the meeting. “I am really glad the Legalise Love thing passed, it’s a great cause,” said one such student.
Others were less impressed.

“At times they appeared to have no idea what they were supposed to be doing,” the student said.

The article on page 10 provides more information concerning the debate around motions on online voting, Legalise Love and VSM.

The amendment means that a motion which is put forward at an SRC can be voted on by students through an online system. If a motion is put at a physical SRC with at least 20 people, the motion can be debated and then put electronically to students. They will be emailed a link to a voting page, along with any relevant documents and video footage of the meeting.

For the motion to be approved, it requires support from a simple majority of 5 per cent (approximately 1000) of VUWSA’s members.
When this issue was opened to the floor for discussion, one student expressed concern for the requirement of 100 students’ signatures to call an SRC. She believed this was a potentially unattainable target for minority groups who may wish to pass a motion without the support of the executive.

Others in the crowd believed the target was set at a reasonable level.

“It seems reasonable relative to the whole Vic population,” they said.

VUWSA President Seamus Brady acknowledged the concerns but emphasised that the new online system would only really be used a last resort.

“It is really to provide better scrutiny of the issue as a safeguard,” he said.

“I’m very pleased that the motion allows for online SRC voting to be passed, as it will allow more students to actively engage in the policy setting of the Association and for that policy to be more robust and representative,” Brady told Salient.

Debate occurred again when VUWSA Queer Officer Tom Reed moved a motion for VUWSA to “actively support” the Legalise Love campaign. Legalise Love has been established to lobby for equal marriage and adoption laws for same-sex couples, as well as to oppose homophobic bullying.

Many students felt they needed more information about the campaign before they could decide if they wanted VUWSA to support it. Others were also concerned that “active support” would translate to financial support.

Vice-President (Welfare) Asher Emanuel pointed out that the goal of equality was already a principle held by VUWSA.

“The campaign’s principles align with VUWSA already… it doesn’t have any secret campaigning strategy like burning down buildings… if they do begin to act in this way, we can vote again to remove our support,” he said.

Finally, students engaged in discussion over VUWSA’s plans to respond to function under Voluntary Student Membership.

Student Stella Blake-Kelly moved a motion that VUWSA engage in a consultation process with students over the potential changes to the association in light of VSM

She further moved that the recommendations made in this process be voted on by students at a future general meeting.

“The debate is no longer if VSM is coming, but when,” she said. “And VUWSA has not yet presented students with options of how it could function in a voluntary environment.”

Some within VUWSA took issue with Blake-Kelly’s claim that VUWSA has not been planning for VSM.

“VUWSA has been consulting with the university but for many reasons, some legal, these plans have not been communicated with students,” said Emanuel.

Brady also stated that the University, “a slow-moving beast”, is unwilling to take action on the issue until the law is passed and it is certain that VSM will eventuate.

Despite the lively discussion over these issues, all passed with a large majority.

On Wednesday afternoon ACT MP Heather Roy moved that the Committee of the House ‘report progress’ on the Royal Society Bill. This meant that debate on the Bill was postponed until the next Member’s Day. As a result the VSM Bill was debated.

Labour attempted to delay the Bill but debate reached Clause 9 (of 10) before the House adjourned for the night. This means that the Bill is extremely likely to pass before the end of the year.

NZUSA are very disappointed that the Government supported Roy’s motion to debate the Bill and say it breaks the promise the National Party made with NZUSA.
“National MPs have told us as recently as two weeks ago that this Bill would not pass before the election,” said David Do, co-president of NZUSA.

“We have been negotiating very hard and in good faith with National and ACT to get better solutions on the table. The actions of the Government fly in the face of these discussions, reneging on commitments we’ve had from National Government MPs that the Bill would not pass,” said co-president Max Hardy.
They say they still want to negotiate with the Government to find a workable alternative to the current bill.

“Students’ associations will be continuing to seek a sensible solution and are imploring the Government to work with us on achieving this. We call
on the Government to see sense, to prioritise education over politics,”
says Hardy.

NZUSA say this will mean students’ associations will now not have adequate time to prepare for the massive changes VSM will cause. This
call has been echoed by VUWSA President Seamus Brady.

“The timing of the Bill’s current implementation date (January 1st 2012) is destructive and impractical. Institutional milestones have been missed—consultation on the 2012 Student Services Levy was completed three weeks ago.”

However, supporters of the Bill are celebrating its imminent passage.

“It’s fantastic that more than two decades after the end of compulsory trade unionism, student unions will also finally become voluntary and students will no longer be the only group in New Zealand forced to join an organisation against their will,” says ACT on Campus President Peter McCaffrey.

“VSM will mean that each year students will be free to decide, for themselves, whether to join their students’ association or not. They can find out what services the association provides, what issues they focus on, and what the benefits of joining are, and then compare that with the membership fee, and decide whether they think joining would be worthwhile.”

The Bill will again be debated on the next Members’ Day on 17 August,
with it expected to receive the Royal Assent in mid-September.

The protest was organised by the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) as a way to voice the opposition of staff and students to the restructuring of the International Relations Programme and the disestablishment of the Criminal and Justice Research Centre (CJRC).

About 350 students and staff members chanted “No voice, no choice” outside the Hunter and Murphy buildings to demonstrate the lack of consultation there has been on the proposals.

The crowd also used the University’s motto to show their opposition to some of the changes which are proposed for financial reasons.
“Wisdom is to be more desired than gold. Yeah right!” they chanted.

The group was addressed by a number of prominent speakers, including Head of the TEU Sue Kelly, President of the Council of Trade Unions Helen Kelly and Green Party MP David Clendon.
The changes were not driven by “anything sensible or justified” Kelly told the crowd.

In regards to the CJRC, David Clendon said “I cannot get my head around why they want to shut down such a rich resource.”

To much applause, one affected student also shared her views with the group.

“We don’t get to study things like human rights, international development and gender because it is not in the University’s strategic plan,” she said.
Salient spoke to a number of international relations students participating in the protest.

“I chose Vic for the international relations major. If I can’t do the courses I want to do I would consider dropping my BA,” one student said.
“The University is ruining the wonderful choices and diversity we have had at Vic until now,” another told Salient.

Many in the crowd also opposed the closure of the CJRC.

“The centre has produced over 100 amazing reports that have been recognised internationally,” says one student. “Are we just going to wave goodbye to that independent voice?”

VUWSA also took part in the protest with President Seamus Brady addressing the crowd. He described the proposal process as ‘disgusting’ and that it would have a “severe impact on both undergrads and postgrads.”

The CJRC completes research projects for external organisations. The university claims that the CJRC has shown a downward trend in external revenue and is unlikely to receive a substantial increase in projects and funding. Because of this, the University is proposing the Centre be disestablished.
Staff members within the CJRC believe the closure is misguided and the claims of declining revenue are inaccurate.

The CJRC state that total income has exceeded total costs in the last four years, with the Centre consistently producing surpluses averaging $56,000 annually.
“The Centre not only covers its costs, but also consistently generates surplus funds for the University,” says David Roguski, Director of the CJRC.

Staff of the CJRC also dispute the calculations made in the proposal. They claim the forecasted figure for ‘total income’ in 2011 is the revenue it has earned so far—$190,000. Since these figures were calculated, CJRC has secured a further $184,000 which is not included in the calculations.

Many oppose the disestablishment of the CJRC due to the contribution it makes to New Zealand. The CJRC was created in 2002 and has produced research on issues such as restorative justice and victimisation. It is considered a leader in the field of youth justice.

Tertiary Education Union Organiser for Victoria, Michael Gilchrist, believes closing the CJRC will have a serious impact.

“Disestablishing the CJRC would simply amount to academic vandalism. This centre has been a very important contributor of over 100 papers to Government and major positive influence on our criminal justice system,” he says.

Roguski also believes the closure would hurt many at-risk groups in New Zealand.
“It would be a particular tragedy for marginalised sectors of society (victims of domestic violence, women prisoners, at-risk youth) whose voice is so often represented in CJRC’s research,” he says.

VUWSA are also disappointed with the proposed closure of the CJRC.
“The closure of the CJRC would be a huge loss for the University. It would limit the opportunity for students further their education and be a part of the only research centre in the country dedicated to crime and its social responses,” says VUWSA President Seamus Brady.

The university has released three “Change Proposals” to the Faculty of Education, the Philosophy Programme and the Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) Programme.

“Proposals for change are needed to ensure we meet the needs of students and our strategic direction. Like all organisations we also need to work within financial constraints,” says a University spokesperson.

Within the Faculty of Education, the proposal would reduce the number of staff teaching Technology Education from two members to one due to low student demand.

The Faculty and the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) argue that because staff numbers were also cut in 2010 further cuts could mean the programme cannot meet student demand.

“Cutting another staff member will have a major flow-on effect as it will cut the 100-level courses available to students,” says organiser for the TEU, Michael Gilchrist.

Changes are also planned within the PSIR Programme, as a result of the integration of the Centre for Strategic Studies into the programme.

The proposal suggests the disestablishment of four lectureships within International Relations. These lectureships will be replaced with Senior Lecturers with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region, particularly security issues.

Staff in the programme believe this will undermine the programme and the narrower focus disregards student demand for a wide range of courses.
“The changes proposed will significantly narrow student choice as they propose to sack two lecturers who help provide the full range of courses for students,” says Gilchrist.
Changes in the Philosophy programme suggest a strong focus on non-western philosophy with one staff member made redundant.
The TEU is taking action against the proposed changes. It has written to the University as it believes the proposals breach the Education Act and the university’s Academic Board Statute because Faculties and the Academic Board have not been consulted.

“It would help if management complied with the Education Act and the University’s statute on Academic Board and consulted with Faculty and Academic Board on proposals for academic change,” says Gilchrist.

But the university argues the changes do not need the Academic Board’s approval.
“Academic Board is not an approving authority. It provides advice to the Vice-Chancellor and Council about academic matters, but not about the re-allocation of resources,” says a university spokesperson.

VUWSA is also concerned about the potential by-passing of the Academic Board on the issue.
“If TEU are correct and the said proposal was meant to go through Academic Board then we are very disappointed and the University should reconsider its process,” says VUWSA President Seamus Brady.

The University says concerned students should make submissions to be included in the decision-making process.
“Submissions from all parties are welcomed and all are considered by each decision panel,” a spokesperson says.But Gilchrist believes submissions will not change the outcome.

“The normal process of making submissions is usually pointless – the decision panel just tries to think of ways of rebutting any objections to the proposals they receive,” he says.

Consequently, the TEU are encouraging those opposed to the proposals to sign petition on their website and take part in a protest planned on Thursday at 1.15pm outside the Hunter Building.

“The theme for that protest will be ‘No voice, no choice’ – that is, no voice for academic staff and no choice for students,” says Gilchrist.
VUWSA is currently discussing the proposals with class representatives and will take action if it is what students want.

“VUWSA will be representing the voice of students in these programmes and looking to see what educational implications may flow from this,” says Brady.

At a Special Council Meeting last week it was decided that the Guaranteed Entry Score (GES) for 2012 enrolments would be raised from 120 to 150 points. The GES for the Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Building Science will be raised to 180.

Some believe that this is an attempt to signal that Victoria provides the highest quality education. The GES for Auckland University is 140.
But University Council Representative Conrad Reyners is concerned about the message this change is sending students.
“We don’t know what the deterrent effect of this will be,” he says.

“If you’re constantly changing this number then it will look bad if they put it back down. What signal does that send students?”
This year, Victoria introduced a managed enrolment scheme in response to a funding cap. This saw Victoria introduce the Guaranteed Entry Score which assigns prospective students a score based on their NCEA grades.

For the year ending 30 June 2011, petrol prices have increased by 20 per cent, food by seven per cent, and electricity by 7.8 per cent. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 5.3 per cent, the biggest single increase since 1990.

These increases have left many New Zealanders feeling the pinch this winter. Among this group are students who are finding their student loans increasingly inadequate.

Currently, a student receiving the student loan can claim up to $169.51 per week. In June 2010, the maximum entitlement was $160.63. This means the living costs payment has increased by only 5.5 per cent.

Despite the rise in living cost payments being greater than the rise in the CPI, students are still struggling to make ends meet. It is acknowledged that the rise in GST (to 15 per cent) has been a strong contributing factor in the rise of the CPI. However students have been disproportionately hit by the GST rise because most do not work (or work enough hours) so have not had the extra cost offset by tax cuts.

Because students have been disproportionately hit by the increase in GST, the money they have left after paying rent is not going as far as it did a year ago. According to the Department of Building and Housing, the average weekly rent for a four bedroom flat in Kelburn or Aro Valley is $146 per person. This means many students have only $23.51 to cover their remaining expenses.

This amount becomes increasingly inadequate when looking at the price of ‘student essentials’ at the supermarket. A loaf of supermarket brand bread is now approximately $1.70, two litres of milk $3.60, 500g of dried pasta $1.10 and a head of broccoli $3.40. Add to these the increased cost of power to heat a cold flat and the situation looks dire.

Many Victoria students have been expressing their frustration over these rising costs.

“Pasta is always a good cheap meal and at the start of the year I could get a bag for 70 cents. In some places it’s nearly double that now,” says one student.
“I never use my clothes dryer anymore, power makes it too expensive to run,” says another.

Other students are keen to share their money saving tips with others.
“I never buy veges from the supermarket anymore, the markets on the weekend are the way to go!” says one student.
Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei and Labour Party Leader Phil Goff have both voiced concern with the rising cost of living and the effect this is having on those who have not benefited from tax cuts.

“Many people on low-incomes and benefits are forced to spend their entire income on the basics like rent and power, while putting fresh, healthy food on the table is out now out of the question,” says Turei.

“Something needs to be done to help struggling Kiwis feel there is some hope,” says Goff.
The Labour Party’s recently announced tax policies could go some way to helping low-income earners with the cost of living. Their plans to remove GST on fruit and vegetables and make the first $5000 of income tax-free could take some pressure off struggling students.

For students who are suffering financially, VUWSA provides many services designed to lend a hand, including providing a food bank and free bread to students on Wednesday mornings.

Despite this opposition, the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill is currently progressing through Parliament with the support of the ACT and National Parties.

“They are locking us out, so I am locking myself in to make a stand to protect the wide variety of services students associations offer their students,” says Edgars.

NZUSA supported the protest and believe the cage also symbolises the ‘lock out’ from services students will suffer should VSM become a reality.
“Students would be locked out of the student services, campus life, and independent representation and advocacy that associations currently provide,” said Co-President of NZUSA, David Do.

ACT Party MP, and initiator of the Bill, Heather Roy, says Edgar’s protest shows the opposite of what he intended.
“Perhaps Logan is bored. His planned protest makes the opposite point to what he presumably intends. Voluntary Student Membership will free students from the cage of student associations, it won’t lock anyone in or out—as Mr Edgar is claiming,” Roy said.

Salient has heard from students in BMSC/BIOL 349 whose course grades were not posted until the evening of 11 of July, the first Monday of the trimester. Others, in LAWS 308 and PHYS 132, were still waiting for their grades on Tuesday.

This delay breaks University policy which states course grades must be returned by “the Wednesday prior to Tri 2.”

“It’s not affecting me majorly, as it was just an interest paper, but it’s still really frustrating. The Uni haven’t told me anything,” one affected student told Salient.
“It’d be interesting to know whether cost cutbacks have had anything to do with reducing the number of people involved with the marking process and if that has anything to do with it,” he continues.

VUWSA President Seamus Brady is similarly frustrated with the delayed return of grades.

“The University have broken their policy which is very disappointing – the deadline for posting course grades was July 6 at 5pm.”
Pam Thorburn, Director Student Academic Services, urges students to contact their faculty if they have still not received their grades.

“Currently enrolled students have until the end of the second week of trimester to add or drop courses. If any student still doesn’t have their grades they should contact their faculty office immediately,” says Thorburn.

VUWSA are also taking an active role in solving the problem.
“We’re working with Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic) in resolving cases we’re already aware of,” says Brady.

Brady also urges those affected to get in touch with VUWSA.
“I urge any students who have experienced delays in getting their grades back, to get in touch with VUWSA directly. That way we can take these concerns directly to the University and sort them out.”

The University released a consult-ation document last month that recommends the Levy increase by four per cent in 2012 to cover increased operating costs.
A four per cent increase would see the Levy rise from $522 in 2011 to approximately $542 in 2012. Expenditure on student services (excluding the Levy) are expected to rise to around $9,000,028 in 2012.

The increased cost of running the Student Health and Counselling Services’ new facility, Mauri Ora, has been identified as a key reason for the proposed rise. Salaries for medical staff have been increased to align with the rest of the medical sector, after the 2010 Review of Student Services voiced concern over the number of medical staff finding higher paid work elsewhere.

Some services are likely to see a decrease in their contribution from the Levy. The Accommodation Service will see a reduction of 50 per cent following a review that found the service could run with less funding. Early Childhood Education Services, which runs the creche, will also see less of the Levy due to an increase in fees to parents, a decrease in staff costs, and a reduction in demand.

The proposed changes have taken into account the preliminary results of the Student Health Experience Survey, completed earlier this year. The results suggest the need for improved access to computer services, as well as a growth in demand for Student Health Services leading to longer waiting times.

The report also acknowledges the impact the introduction of Voluntary Student Membership could have on the Levy and services provided by VUWSA.
“VUWSA will continue to manage and fund the services it delivers. If in the future the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill is passed, options will be considered at the time in consultation with students,” says Pam Thorburn, Director Student Academic Services.

The final decision on the 2012 Levy will be made in September by the University Council, based on the advice of the Advisory Committee for the Student Services Levy. Before this decision is made, students are encouraged to read the consultation document and share their views.

“Students have a strong say in how this Levy is set. This consultation is a great opportunity for students to tell the Committee if you think what’s being proposed is the right decision or not,” says VUWSA President Seamus Brady.

“A number of positive changes were enacted following the student consultation and research carried out on the 2011 Levy, so I strongly encourage you to exercise your right to have your say on the 2012 Levy.”

Students can read the consultation document and place feedback on the VUWSA website. Feedback must be given by 24 July.

The Student Services Levy was introduced in 2010 and helps pay for the delivery of student services at Victoria. Amongst others, these services include CareerHub, Financial Services, Disability Services and Student Learning Support. In 2011 the Levy increased from $510 to $522 to compensate for the increase in GST.

The awards provide an opportunity for University Sport New Zealand (USNZ) to officially congratulate those who excel at the highest level in their sport while balancing university life.

Victoria’s athletes and administrators recognised with NZU Blues Awards included: Derek Woolshere (Coach of the Year); Samantha Lee (Surf lifesaving); Gareth Kean (Swimming); Ella Edginton (Debating); Stephen Whittington (Debating); Sebastian Templeton (Debating); William Bishop (Fencing); and Michael Mercer (Fencing).

VUWSA President Seamus Brady was delighted with the success of Victoria students at the awards.
“It demonstrates that students can combine competing at the highest level in their chosen sport, while maintaining their commitment to their academic study. It is great that we can recognise that in this way,” he says.

USNZ consists of ten Universities’ students’ associations, including VUWSA, who fund and support a range of national sporting events including the University Games and the Snow Games.

The New Zealand Blues have been awarded since 1919 and are based on the traditional Blue of Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Last month, Victoria University sent a letter to the offices of all political parties asking them to inform the University if their representatives would be on campus. They also stated that “political visits to, or activities on Victoria campuses are restricted to the period 19 September to 14 October” to avoid clashing with the exam period.

What should have been a relatively straightforward issue was complicated when The Capital Times printed an article stating that student representatives were confused about whether parties were allowed to campaign in Trimester 3, which begins on 14 November.
“Whatever it [the article] says, we’re not confused,” says VUWSA President Seamus Brady.

“All the University wants is for political parties to let them know if they were coming on to campus (which is usual practice). And they asked that they avoid the campus during the study/exam period for obvious reasons.”

Some have also questioned if the restriction applies to the VUWSA-affiliated political groups on campus: Young National, VicLabour, Greens at Vic, and ACT on Campus. Brady says the restrictions were not intended for these groups.

“The letter was sent to external political party head offices and was never intended to include any activities undertaken, or guests invited, by political clubs on campus or student organisations.”

Despite political activities being discouraged during the exam period, there will be plenty of political action in the lead up to the General Election on 26 November.

“There is a lot at stake for students at the election. We are struggling with record student fees and student debt continues to rise. Students deserve to be fully informed about how political parties will deal with their issues,” says Brady.

“VUWSA is planning on hosting a number of different forums in the lead up to the Election in order for students to actively engage with the political process.”

ACT MP Heather Roy’s Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill, more commonly referred to as the Voluntary Student Membership (VSM) Bill, aims to make membership of students’ associations voluntary.

For several months, the Labour Party has filibustered so that the final Committee Stage of the Bill has not had a chance to be debated in the house. As there are only three Members’ Days left before Parliament dissolves, there is a chance the Bill may not pass before Roy retires in November. Should the Bill not pass by then, another member may pick it up at its current stage and carry it on.

“A number of MPs have asked me if I could transfer the Bill to them after the election,” says Roy. “So I have no doubt at all that, if it’s not passed before this election, it will be carried on into the next election.”

Roy is determined to see the Bill pass before the election and has accused Labour of wasting Parliament’s time. This determination has also led to calls for a compromise from both sides of the controversial debate.

Labour’s Tertiary Education Spokesperson David Shearer and Heather Roy have taken part in “constructive discussion”, but Shearer says the chances of achieving a successful compromise are looking less and less likely.

“The objective, from our point of view, is to ensure that students’ associations stay healthy, vibrant organisations. And, at the same time, that we try and get a piece of legislation through that would actually persevere into the future,” says Shearer.

“I think that the chances of it happening are more and more remote, frankly.”
Roy says she is willing to discuss alternatives as long as they remain consistent with her belief that students have the freedom to choose whether they join their students’ association.

“I will, when looking at any sort of compromise at all, have that principle foremost in my mind of freedom of association,” she says.
The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) has previously opposed VSM outright, but it has recently echoed Labour by asking for a “fairer alternative”.

Internet based prediction market iPredict has just launched stocks on the chances of the Bill or a compromised version being ratified before the General Election. As Salient went to print, the market thought it had a 63% probability of the Bill passing in some form.

The 2011 Budget was focussed on cutting debt and re-building Christchurch, meaning many government programmes, including student loans, were adjusted.

A key change means part-time full year students will be unable to receive the $1000 course-related costs component of the loan.

The government justifies this change by stating that part-time students are better able to meet their course costs by working.

There are 98,000 part-time full year students nationwide. In 2009, 24,200 borrowers were in part-time, full-year study and 13,600 of these accessed course-related costs.

One student believes this change goes too far.

“This change seems unfair,” she says. “Surely as part-time students they should get some money, maybe less though, like $500.”

The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) also opposes this change.

“We are very angry at the removal of course costs for part time students…For many it will make study just too expensive.” says NZUSA co-president Max Hardy.

Students over the age of 55 will not be able to access the living costs and course-related costs components of the loan from 2013.

In a joint press release with Grey Power, NZUSA stated this change is discriminatory.

“Shutting out older students for no other reason than to cut costs is discriminatory and unfair,” says NZUSA co-President David Do.

“At 55 many students have up to 20 years of work left—that is a hugely valuable contribution to New Zealand,” says Hardy.

Many Victoria students echo this view.

“Just because they are older, it doesn’t mean they can afford to go to uni, it’s expensive” says one.

Repayment thresholds have been frozen at $19,084 until April 2015. This means a graduate will have to begin paying back their loan once earn over this amount.

NZUSA believe this threshold is too harsh, especially compared to Australia’s threshold of $44,912.

The changes also reflect the govern- ment’s goal to encourage students living overseas pay back their loans.
Currently a student can take a loan ‘repayment holiday’ of three years whilst overseas. This has been reduced to one year.

“The change is restricting our right to a kiwi OE,” says one student.

Students who have $500 or more in overdue loan repayments for more than a year will have loan access frozen.
New loan applications must also have a “contact person” to help track down debtors.

Together, these changes will create $450 million in savings over four years. Of these savings, $150 million will be reallocated within the tertiary sector and about $300 million will return to the Government.

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce says the changes will allow more investment in tertiary education.

“The savings from the measures will be used to provide funding for new tertiary education initiatives and investment
in the Government’s other priorities to boost the country’s economic recovery,” he says.

Overall, students appear to be indifferent to the changes. Most spoken to by Salient did not know the changes had occurred. The few who were aware of them were unconcerned because they did not affect them.

Of the few who did care, some were in favour of the changes.

“I think the changes are good if means I won’t get landed with interest,” said one student.

“They are sensible choices that will allow the government to remain solvent and provide student welfare into the future,” said another.

Others were less impressed.

“The government needs to be invest- ing in students to help improve the economy,” says one.

“The government is just playing around with student loans because they don’t like the interest-free scheme,” says another.

Minister of Finance, Bill English, announced the 2011 Budget last Thursday. The Budget is the Government’s way of planning and estimating how they will spend their money for the financial year.

This year’s Budget was known as the ‘zero Budget’ due to the announcement earlier in the year that the government would be introducing no new spending. The Budget is reducing existing spending over the next five years by $5.2billion. This means there is $1.2 billion a year over the next four years for new spending.

The $5.2 billion reduction in spending has meant a number of funding cuts in key areas.

The student loan scheme has seen a number of changes. Students over the age of 55 will no longer be able to access the living costs component of the loan. Part-time students will also be unable to receive course-related costs funding.

Many changes also reflect the government’s goal to encourage students living overseas pay back their loans. Students who have $500 or more in overdue loan repayments for more than a year will have loan access frozen and the current three-year loan repayment holiday for overseas debtors will be cut to a single year. New loan applications must also have a “contact person” to help track down debtors.

These changes will create $450 million savings from the student loan scheme over four years. Of these savings, $150m will be reallocated within the tertiary sector, which has no new funding in this year’s Budget, and about $300m will return to the Government.

The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations believes the changes will disadvantage many students.

“Thousands more potential students were shut out of tertiary education in an enormously short-sighted budget today, and the students deliberately targeted today will be heavily disadvantaged,” NZUSA co-President Max Hardy says.

Government savings were also made in the successful Kiwisaver scheme. The Member Tax Credit was halved, from $1 to 50 cents for every dollar a member contributes. Employer contributions to the scheme will no longer be tax-free. After decreasing the employee and employer contributions to two per cent (from four per cent) in the 2009 Budget, the government has raised these to three per cent.

The popular Working for Families scheme has also been targeted with an estimated 7000 families no longer eligible for the programme. Abatement thresholds have been adjusted, meaning wealthier families will no longer receive Family Tax Credits.

The Government also outlined its plans for the partial sale of its assets. It plans to reduce its share in Air New Zealand and research will be conducted into the partial privatisation of energy companies Mighty River Power, Meridian, Genesis and Solid Energy.

Health and Education were the biggest ‘winners’ on Budget day, receiving $1.7 billion and $1.3 billion increases respectively.

The Government also announced the Earthquake Kiwi Bond as a way to help meet the $5.5 billion of government funding allocated to re-build Christchurch. The bond will act like a term deposit and allow New Zealanders to contribute to the costs of the re-build.

The Budget ran a $17.6 billion deficit. It is predicted it will return a surplus again in 2014.

The Labour Party has criticised the Goverment’s Budget for lacking any real planning.

“We needed a vision for a better future and a plan to get us there. We got neither,” Labour leader Phil Goff stated in his post-Budget speech.

“Today’s Budget does nothing to address the real problems facing our country—high debt, low wages, low productivity, high unemployment and poor economic growth.”

After the Budget was announced on Thursday afternoon, Parliament sat in Urgency for the remainder of Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the Budget to be debated and voted upon.

Close to 2000 students graduated in five ceremonies on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Michael Fowler Centre.

The graduation parades on Wednesday and Thursday went off without a hitch in sunny but chilly conditions.

Students walked from the Law School to Civic Square supported by their friends and family. They were met at Civic Square by Wellington City Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and Victoria University Chancellor Ian McKinnon.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh says Victoria‘s graduation ceremonies are a mix of tradition, pageantry and spontaneous celebration with a uniquely New Zealand twist.

“They are a perfect way for our graduates to celebrate their academic achievements and are an occasion to remember,” he says.

This year’s graduation season also celebrated a first for Victoria as its initial intake of Engineering students graduated. The engineering programme began at Victoria in 2007.

“We are obviously excited about having our first group of engineers graduate on Tuesday and that Abi Rajendran was chosen to give the graduation address,” says John Hine, Dean of Engineering.

“This first group of students have shared an adventure of discovery over the past four years as they pioneered the new programme year after year. We are really proud of them and we hope they are proud of their Victoria degree.”

Last week’s graduation was also somewhat of a family affair. Three members of the Reid family graduated with three different degrees at three different ceremonies. Hamish Reid (23) graduated with Bachelor of Design, Sarah Reid (25) with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Sociology, and Michael Reid (61) with a PhD in Public Policy. Their mother/wife attended each of the three ceremonies.

Salient co-editor Uther Dean and News Editor Hannah Warren were among those celebrating the completion of their studies.

“Even though it feels like I finished ages ago, it was really nice to have it recognised that we worked hard for three years and achieved something we can be proud of,” said Hannah.

As well as recognising graduating students, this year Victoria will award two Honorary Doctorates to pianist Michael Houstoun and physicist Dr. Bob Buckley.

Houstoun won every significant prize for pianists in New Zealand by the age of 18. He then went on to place at three of the world’s most distinguished piano competitions: Van Cliburn, Leeds Piano, and the Tchaikovsky Competition.

As well as receiving his doctorate, Houston performed at the Wednesday afternoon graduation ceremony.

Buckley is a world-leading physicist, working with superconductors. He is recognised as an IRL Distinguished Scientist, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. He has been awarded the Pickering Medal, Wellingtonian of the Year, and was jointly awarded the inaugural Prime Minister’s Science Prize.

In a speech to the Grey Power AGM in Hamilton last week, Peters announced New Zealand First wants to match student loan repayments dollar for dollar.

“We will introduce a scheme where government will make a matching dollar-for-dollar payment on student debt,” said Peters.

“So, if a student living in New Zealand has a student loan of say $30,000 (a not unlikely sum) and paid back $15,000, government would match that sum to extinguish the debt.”

Peters believes this would remove the incentives for students to look for greener pastures overseas.

He stated the programme would be self-sufficient because once students were in the workforce their taxes would cover the costs.

New Zealand First believes student debt is a problem that needs to be solved.
“The piling up of student debt into the billions has got to end,” said Peters.

“We will face up to it before it inflicts more damage on yet another generation of young New Zealanders.”

True to form, Peters’ speech also included benefits for SuperGold card holders, such as discounted power bills.

Finance Minister Bill English will announce the Government’s spending plan for the year on Thursday.

English says the Budget will focus on three areas: building faster economic growth around higher national savings; setting a path back to surplus and repaying debt; and rebuilding Christchurch.

This year’s Budget has been labelled the ‘zero Budget’ after the Government announced no new money would be spent. Instead, ministers were being asked to find ways to cut $600-$800 million. This money will be re-allocated to education, health and justice.

A number of announcements have already been made regarding the contents of the Budget.

Prime Minister John Key has signalled that programmes including student loans, KiwiSaver and Working for Families will face changes.

“The changes we are making in the Budget will make all of these programmes more affordable and ensure they survive into the future,” Key said.

Key has stated there will be some changes to the student loan scheme but loans will remain interest-free.

He has also announced changes to the KiwiSaver programme. Government contributions, through tax credits, will decrease and individuals and employers will be expected to contribute more to the scheme.

The $1000 ‘kick-start’ for each new KiwiSaver member will not be changed.

Working for Families will also change to be better targeted toward lower-income families and less generous to higher-income families.

Labour Party leader Phil Goff has criticised the government’s plans, saying they hurt lower and middle income earners and do not address key economic issues.

“These cuts will hurt hardworking Kiwis but they won’t address the economic problems created by National where we’re borrowing $380 million a week and are now facing our largest-ever deficit,” he said.

On the 8.45am bus from the Railway Station to Victoria University’s Kelburn campus, passengers paying with cash were charged $3.50 instead of the usual $2. Snapper fares were unaffected.

Commuters contested the higher charge with the driver who refused to listen to passengers, stating the computer said the fare zone ended at the bottom of Salamanca Road.
The driver’s claims contradict the signs at the bus stops and the Metlink website which both state the fare zone ends at Victoria’s Kelburn Campus.

The driver said the problem had occurred once before and he was told by the company to follow the computer.

Victoria University staff member Di Dickson was on the bus at the time and lodged complaints with Metlink and GO Wellington. Metlink said they passed complaints onto GO Wellington but the complaints process was about four weeks behind.

Dickson finds this unacceptable.

“The processes at the bus companies aren’t able to deal with the fact there could have been a mistake,” she says.

Dickson was not affected by the problem, as she paid with her Snapper card, but believed the situation was unfair.

“I’ve been a student and lived on a budget and it’s hard. Having to pay an unexpected extra cost like this means you can’t afford something else,” she says.

The controversial whistle-blowing site, Wikileaks, released cables which passed between the U.S and New Zealand on the issue.

A United States cable from February 2008, when the Labour-led Government was passing its equivalent of the current Act, suggests such lobbying.
The cable states the U.S “presented the list of noted shortfalls in the draft legislation to Minister Tizard (Consumer Affairs), Minister Goff (Trade) and to officials within the Ministry of Economic Development.”

The government later decided to scrap the requirement for Internet Service Providers to cut users’ internet access after three infringements due to public opposition. A cable from April 2009 shows the U.S was anxious to bring the provisions back proposing talks with government officials and offers to help drafting new provisions.

The U.S offered to “possibly help with drafting and as a public diplomacy tool to dispel public misperceptions about proper role of IPR [intellectual property rights] protection,” the cable states.

U.S influence dates even further back. An April 2005 cable reveals the U.S. willingness to pay over NZ$500,000 to fund a recording industry enforcement initiative.

This funding was to include four salaried positions, legal costs for investigation and prosecution, and training programs.

The project was backed by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society.

The Copyright Act was passed by Parliament under urgency last month. It aims to prevent internet file sharing and protect intellectual property rights.

The review is intended to improve the entire undergraduate experience at Victoria by creating a strategic vision and direction.

Over the next two years, faculties and schools will review all Victoria undergraduate degrees in terms of a series of key issues. The process will include significant student involvement.

“The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) has openly said she wants student consultation,” said VUWSA Education Organiser Fiona Beals.

“Students can have a say and see the benefits while they are still at university.”
It is hoped the review will create an undergraduate curriculum which improves student education and experience and enhances the reputation of Victoria.

“This is an exciting time. It is our chance to transform undergraduate degrees,” said Beals.

The review will include consideration of a number of issues which have arisen in overseas university reviews.

One idea is the broadening of general education requirements within degrees. This would require students to take courses outside of their chosen major and increase the diversity of their degree.

A key motivation for the review is the increasingly difficult funding environment universities are forced to work in.

Financing of tertiary education has been in the spotlight in recent years due to funding caps and decreased government funding.
Government funding per student in New Zealand has continuously fallen over the last two decades. In 2007 universities received $230m less per year in government funding than they would have under the funding levels of the 1990s.

The funding context will change again in 2013 when the government’s performance-based funding is introduced. This will see university funding based partially on student performance.

The plan for implementing the findings of the review will begin this December.

The Issues

Undergraduate degrees will be reviewed against a series of key issues:
• Maintaining focused high-quality degrees
• Integrating research into learning to develop student research skills;
• Creating a balance within degrees between specialist disciplines and general education;
• Encouraging deeper learning through assessment;
• Promoting broad education through internships, exchanges and volunteer work

In a meeting last month, the council gave its support to the Government’s roading project. This project is designed to improve roading from Levin to Wellington Airport.

The project includes several options for the central city, including duplicate Terrace and Mt Victoria Tunnels and a flyover at the Basin Reserve.
In a massive turnaround, Wellington City Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, supported the motion despite her preference for public transport.
She says she is happy the project now has a clear direction and is pleased it will take a consultative approach.

“I welcome the proposal by the New Zealand Transport Agency for a consultation committee… to ensure the views of all Wellingtonians are heard.”

Wade-Brown campaigned against roading projects in last year’s election and says she still supports public transport solutions despite the council decision.
“I remain committed to advancing a light-rail route between the Railway Station and the Airport—public transport has always been my priority.”

Councillor Simon Marsh told Stuff that support for the project does not mean public transport is not an option.

“It doesn’t mean that Darth Vader and the Death Star is going to be swooping down destroying cycleways and walkways. It is a broad approach that includes all forms of transport.”

This broad approach includes government funding for a $1 million study to consider options for a high-quality public transport route through the city to the hospital.

Students spoken to by Salient appear to favour public transport as an option.

“How do more roads help reduce carbon emissions?” asks one student.

“Better public transport would be great, although many of the roads into the city need to be improved too,” says another.

A ‘carrotmob’ is a consumer power that rewards environmentally responsible businesses with a ‘mob’ of customers. Using the well-known metaphor, the idea is to provide a carrot, rather than a stick, to encourage sustainability.

The idea began in San Francisco and has recently been taken up in Wellington by non-profit group Conscious Consumers.
In a recent bidding war, Memphis Belle Cafe won the pleasure of being ‘mobbed’ by pledging to spend 201% of the takings from the mob to increase the energy efficiency of the cafe.

“The carrotmob gives us a great incentive to make improvements we’ve been looking at since Memphis Belle opened,” said owner Matt Graylee.
Memphis Belle was mobbed on 9 April and received $1396 in takings. The cafe matched this amount, giving them $2792 dedicated to efficiency improvements including a new energy-saving coffee machine, replacing two old fridges, and sealing their chilled cabinet.

The music store has operated on Cuba Street since 1999, but will close on May 31.

Owner Mark Thomas cites a number of reasons for the closure, including the economic recession, big chain retailers selling at cut prices, file sharing, and competition from online retailers and auctions sites.

Students are disappointed that Real Groovy will be closing. “It had so much more variety than the other stores, which all have the same old stuff,” says one Victoria student.

Thomas hopes a small version of the store may be able to open in the future. He hopes this will allow him to re-employ some the 12 staff who have lost their jobs.

For bargain hunters, Real Groovy will be holding a sale until the store closes.

Real Time Information tells you when your bus or train will arrive, as opposed to when it’s scheduled to arrive, by using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) vehicle tracking.

Passengers can check the position of their bus or train on digital screens which will gradually be installed at main bus and train stops. It will also be available on the Metlink website.

The digital screens are currently running at the Wellington Station interchange. The next nine months will see about 200 screens installed at key bus stops, and 45 out of 50 train stations will have them on the platform.

Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Fran Wilde believes the Real Time system will have great benefits for passengers.

“It means that on a wet Wellington winter day we can check online when our bus will arrive and hole up in our offices then dash out to the bus stop just in time.”

She hopes it will help the public transport system run more smoothly and allow it to be improved.

“This technology will vastly improve people’s perceptions of bus and train reliability and will help us and the operators identify and hopefully fix problem areas more speedily.”

Frequent users of public transport are welcoming the change. “I am so glad they are doing it,” says a student. “Christchurch has had it for ages.”

“It’s fantastic they are doing this but it still doesn’t change the fact that the buses are always late,” says another.

The Student Experience Improvement survey covers the complete life cycle of students, from their first enquiry to the completion of their study.

It asks students to give feedback on the many services offered by Victoria University, including enrolment, admission information, campus food, disability services and learning support services.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Penny Boumelha says the survey is designed to improve the complete student experience.

“Improving the Student Experience is one of our key strategic goals, and if we are to achieve our planning objective, it is necessary to understand students’ perceptions of the value of services, whether they make use of them or not.

“The information will help us identify what we do well that is valued by students and what we could improve. We will be able to use this knowledge to develop a co-ordinated approach to continuous improvement.”

One student who completed the survey is happy the University is listening to student opinion.

“Students’ opinions are important, we pay a lot of money to be at university so deserve to be heard.”

Other students commented that the survey was too long and repetitive.

“It took forever to do, and it was badly designed. I sort of lost track of what I was saying. I’m happy to do it if it will help improve student life here, but maybe they could make them shorter and more user friendly.”

The survey has been emailed to all students and can be completed online.

Compulsory student services fees are charged by all universities. These fees are used to pay for services like health providers, accommodation services and study support.
Tertiary Education Minister, Stephen Joyce, says many tertiary education providers have recently made significant increases to compulsory levies.

“The increases charged in some cases have been dramatic and I am not convinced that they have all been fair to students.”

The Education Amendment Bill (No.4) will make the process of allocating service fees more transparent and allow student input. It will give the Minister power to direct how fees should be spent.

This direction includes categorising which services fees can be used for; creating decision-making processes involving students; and providing written statements for students which detail the spending on these services.

If the Minister is not satisfied that an individual provider is complying with the directions he will have the power to place a maximum limit on the amount they may charge for student services.

The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) has welcomed the proposed changes.

“It is essential that students have oversight over these levies. This is the best way to ensure that services are responsive to students and that levies are kept under control,” NZUSA co-President Max Hardy says.

In 2010, Victoria students were hit with a massive increase in the Student Services Levy when it jumped from $150 to $510. This occurred despite student involvement through VUWSA.

NZUSA has also pointed out the Government’s actions are ironic given its support for Voluntary Student Membership.

“The unfortunate irony is that the Government is in the process of severely undermining any independent student voice at institutions,” says David Do, NZUSA Co-President.

Labour MP Darren Hughes is currently under investigation after a complaint was laid against him. The complaint was made over an incident which occurred following The Great Debate, an event held as part of VUWSA’s O Week programme.

Much of the recent focus has been on Labour Party Leader Phil Goff’s handling of the issue.

Goff admits he had heard about the investigation in advance but did not publicise it because he did not want to interfere with the police investigation.
“What I was determined to do was allow the police to get on, do their job,” Goff told Q&A last Sunday.

Goff said he believed the investigation did not interfere with Hughes’ position so suspension was unnecessary. The following day, Goff relieved Hughes of his roles as Education Spokesperson and Senior Whip. The day afterwards, he announced Hughes’ resignation.

The media used this to create speculation about a leadership coup within the Labour Party. They were left red-faced last Tuesday following a meeting of senior party members which ended in strong support for Goff.

“I have the full and utter support of my front bench colleagues,” says Goff.

Interestingly, Hughes has yet to formally resign by writing to the Speaker, as required by the constitution.

Hughes’ position in the Labour caucus will be filled by the next member on the party list. This is currently Judith Tizard, but it is not yet known if she will take the job.

Council CitiOperations Manager Mike Mendonca says the project targeted removing graffiti and stickers, touching up paint and improving the look of gardens and street furniture. The project will not remove any legal artwork.

The Council has involved businesses in the project to ensure the street remains tidy. They distributed kits containing graffiti remover, sponges and brushes and information on how to keep their premises clean.

“We want to encourage retailers to keep their premises clean on an ongoing basis… and keep it looking great and feeling safe for both residents and visitors,” Mendonca says.
The Council also hopes to reduce graffiti by closing access from Left Bank except onto Cuba Street.
Council spokesperson, Emma Titcombe, believes the project has so far been a success.

“The areas that have been cleaned look great, and the kits were well received, but there is still a lot to do, including the paint-out of graffiti in Left Bank,” she says.
Titcombe says the project will have benefits for the city beyond the World Cup.

“It was also an opportunity to address the graffiti problem in Wellington, residents and retailers are hopefully more aware of what they can do to help and report graffiti.”
“Hopefully there will be some long term benefits in terms of a reduction of graffiti.”

Former Victoria University Computer Science student, Jared Armstrong, has teamed up with entrepreneurs Nicholas Wakelin and James Nisbet to create Flatmin, an administrative site for people living in flatting situations.

Launched in Wellington last Monday, Flatmin is free for students or anyone sharing a home, and allows users to manage their utility bills, rent, and send ‘IOU’s to one another.
By registering a flat, the site sends messages to remind flatmates when bills and other payments are due and lets you keep a record of spending.

“Basically, we found that money was coming between our good friends a lot” Armstrong said.
“We wanted a way that people could make sure the bills get paid—not a note on the fridge that would get lost, or everyone relying on a single member of the flat to sort everything.”

The founders plan to expand in the future to include listing “Chores” and expansion into the rental search market.
Flatmin is running a launch promotion from its Facebook page—‘Tell us your Ultimate Flatting Story’—with prizes from Orcon Internet and Powershop.

Minors have recently been formally introduced to undergraduate degrees at Victoria. This required the Academic Board to decide how these would be presented.

“A number of factors influenced the decision to not include minors on degree certificates including that in fact minors will be listed on transcripts and they are not a necessary component to a degree,” says Professor David Crabbe, Assistant Vice Chancellor (Academic).
“No other New Zealand university currently records minors on degree certificates and there is a risk that certificates would become cluttered if we did.”

This decision on “clutter” was made using a degree exemplar which included three major subjects and two minor subjects.
Currently students who wish to prove they have completed a minor they are required to obtain a degree transcript at a cost of $20. It has not yet been decided if this cost will still be incurred now minors have been formally introduced.

“The matter of charging for initial transcripts is an issue that will be considered as part of a wider review of transcript policy and procedures,” says Professor Crabbe.

This decision is likely to affect many of the university’s current students who are studying towards the completion of minors.
Education Vice-President Bridie Hood says VUWSA will pursue this issue.
“Free transcripts are something VUWSA has been fighting for for a really long time.”
From 2011, students are allowed to select up to two minors in their Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce and Administration degrees.

A minor comprises at least 60 points from the major requirements at 200 level or above, with at least 15 points at 300 level.

Green Party Tertiary Education Spokesperson Gareth Hughes released a statement stating students’ course-related costs entitlement should increase to $1500 a year to reflect inflation, directed at Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce.
“The course-related costs component of the student loan scheme hasn’t changed since 1992, but the cost of being a student has risen dramatically,” says Hughes.

He believes it is unfair that students today are facing increasing costs but receiving the same amount as students in 1992. Inflation means $1000 in 1992 has the same purchasing power as $1492 today.

“A more realistic figure for course-related costs in 2011 is $1500, and this should be indexed to inflation in future to ensure it doesn’t get so out of step again,” he says.

Students spoken to by Salient are in favour of the change.
“You could actually buy a decent computer with that amount,” said one.
Hughes believes an increase is even more important at present with the prospect of voluntary student membership (VSM).
Added to our fees is a $143.70 subscription to VUWSA (for full-time students). Should VSM eventuate, students choosing to join VUWSA will have to find other means to cover this cost.

“Having to pay student association fees out of course-related costs will create another strain on the already tight budget of $1000 for many students,” he says.

“Its very concerning that course related costs have not gone up since Shortland Street started airing,” Seamus Brady, President of VUWSA, said. “That statistic is almost as horrible as the show itself.

“Student costs have certainly skyrocketed. Some courses, such as Architecture and Design, Medicine or Nursing have had their course-related expenses go through the roof. The Government needs to recognise that if they want a ‘return’ on the investment they’ve made in tertiary education, they need to ensure that students are properly supported to successfully complete their degrees.”

In order for the IGM to proceed there needs to be quorum of 100 members. The official count of the meeting was 141. Salient understands this is the highest it has been in many years.

Most of the VUWSA executive was present, with apologies accepted from Clubs Officer Jeremy Peters and Environmental Officer Hayley Mortimer.

Chairing the meeting, President Seamus Brady managed to tear through the agenda and pass the 2010 IGM Minutes, the 2010 Annual Report and Statement of Accounts in a matter of minutes.

Only one student braved the crowd to question the 2010 report by asking what 2010 VUWSA President Max Hardy meant by “we significantly advanced our plans for our structure in a post-2012 world.”
“I can’t comment on what Max is thinking in his head,” Seamus replied. “The world is not going
to end.”

The main motion of the meeting was to make the Victoria University Science Society an officially affiliated VUWSA representative group.
Seamus said the aim of affiliating the society is to “make it a regular fixture within VUWSA so it can grow and be there for the science kids.”
After a brief description of the society from two of its members Seamus put the motion to the floor, which was seconded by Welfare Officer Ta’ase Vaoga. The motion passed to loud applause from the many members of the group who were present.
“I came to see the Science Society recognised and am stoked it is now,” said one student.

“Congratulations to the Science Society for becoming a recognised Representative Group,” says Seamus. “I hope this sets them up well to becoming a strong advocate on behalf of Science students.”

Students then lapsed back into silence as Seamus and Administation Vice-President Daniel Wilson (replete in suave suit) passed that VUWSA appoint Paul Chisnall as the association’s solicitor and BDO Spicers as the auditor.

University Council Representative Conrad Reyners then introduced the motion that Helen Sutch and Hugh Rennie be inducted as life members of VUWSA.

Sutch is currently Pro-Chancellor at Victoria University and was active in VUWSA in the 1960s. Rennie was editor of Salient in 1965 and is credited with reviving the magazine. The motion passed unanimously.

“It’s really great to see current Victoria students recognising the important contribution that former students have made in the past,” says Reyners, who nominated the pair for the recognition. “It’s really important to ensure that the association’s institutional memory is recognised, and the contribution both Helen and Hugh have made is a crucial part of that.”

The meeting ended with the prize draw which included two passes to the weekend’s MGMT concerts and passes to the movie Hall Pass.
The closing of the meeting was the cue for the mass migration to the free pizza—a possible explanation for the large turnout—which was demolished in approximately ten minutes.

Students appeared to be happy with the way the meeting was run but one spoken to by Salient expressed concern with the lack of information that is provided.

“It would be good to be given more information about things like the results of last year’s surveys and the progress of VSM. It would also be good to have more student input,” she said.

Others expressed an interest in running of VUWSA.
“I wanted to get more involved and find out more about VUWSA does,” said one student.

Seamus Brady and VUWSA were extremely happy about how well the IGM went.
“It was really great to see so many students attending today’s IGM. It was the most well-attended IGM in over a decade. That shows that student democracy is alive and well here at Victoria, and that students are interested and engaged in what VUWSA is doing (and that students still appreciate free pizza). But seriously, I’d like to thank all the students who took time out if their busy schedules to ensure VUWSA remains transparent and accountable to students.”

The aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake has encouraged many cities to now investigate the safety their public buildings.
The collapse of the Christchurch Television and Pyne Gould Corporation buildings in Christchurch prompted United Future leader, Peter Dunne, to call for a list of earthquake-prone buildings in Wellington.

“I think there is a fundamental public right to know the status of a building they might be working in or using frequently,” Mr Dunne said.
In response, the Wellington City Council (WCC) released a list of public and commercial buildings in the city which are earthquake-prone should a large quake hit the capital.
The list shows 808 buildings which the Council has identified as at risk in a major quake. Of these, 172 need urgent strengthening.

The list shows that if strengthening is not carried out it is plausible that whole streets could disappear. Most at risk are Cuba Street, Willis Street and Courtenay Place.
The Christchurch quake has also prompted WCC to review its earthquake policies and implementation requirements later
this month.

The WCC implemented the Earthquake-Prone Buildings Policy in 2009 which created an evaluation process and set timelines for the strengthening of at-risk buildings.
Wellington City Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, says it is well known that hundreds of buildings around the city have been strengthened over the past two decades—including major public buildings like Parliament, the Embassy, the City Gallery and the Town Hall.

Victoria University of Wellington has also reacted to the devastation of the Christchurch quake.
“In 2010, an assessment of all our buildings was undertaken by external seismic engineers and all our major buildings are above the current earthquake prone building standards,” Jenny Bentley, Director of Campus Services says.

“We continue to take a proactive approach and are working to increase our buildings earthquake resilience even further.”
This contradicts the list released by the Council which names 50 Kelburn Parade (School of Maori Studies) and 42-44 Kelburn Parade (Accommodation Service) as “Potentially Earthquake-Prone.”

Bentley disputes this.
“The list published did not take into account the most up-to-date information about these buildings. They are not classified as earthquake prone,” she says.
Earthquake strengthening is also an important part of the redevelopment of the Kelburn Campus.

“The Alan MacDiarmid Building, for example, uses a precast seismic structural system that allows controlled rocking of the building’s joints during an earthquake, softening its blow but springing the building back to upright without significant structural damage, even after a major seismic event,” Bentley says.

Friday night saw an excess of make-up and fake blood at the Zombie Disco Ball for those in Halls of Residence.
Monday on Kelburn Campus saw the beginning of Clubs Week, declared by Clubs Officer Jeremy Peters to have been “awesome”. Used by many as an excuse to raid the lolly jars of the sponsors, many more students also used it as an opportunity to sign up to clubs to enhance their time at university.

Its new home this year, behind the library, was a successful location on sunny days but the minor storm that hit the capital on Wednesday forced some booths inside the recreation centre.

The Hunter Lounge was put to good use each afternoon with the O Week Season of Afternoon Live. Featuring bands such as Afternoon Raj and Thomas Oliver Band, these concerts proved to be a good way for students to enjoy the new venue.
“The new bar is sweet, much better than the old one,” says
one student.

Comedy night on Monday featured well-known New Zealand comedians Jeremy Elwood, Justine Smith and Steve Wrigley and proved to be very popular.
“It was packed—we tried to get chairs from the Salient office but it was locked,” said one student.
The annual Debating Society Great Debate on Tuesday night continued the laughs and Wednesday night saw Vic clubbers unite to the sweet beats of Ministry of Sound.

The fun is set to continue. As Salient goes to print, students are preparing to fall under the spell of hypnotist Guy Cater in The Hunter Lounge.
The much-anticipated MGMT concert on March 19 will be followed by a second show on the March 20 after tickets sold out in just a few days.

The University of Canterbury Student Volunteer Army works with Civil Defence to help people in suburbs who are suffering from damage to their homes following the devastating earthquake in Christchurch on Tuesday 22 February.

The army has created ‘Batallions’—a group capable of undertaking hard labour. The main task the group has been involved in is the removal of silt caused by liquefaction in many Christchurch suburbs.

Organiser Louis Brown told TVNZ the clean-up of silt is important as it makes it easier for teams to fix infrastructure such as power, water and sewerage.
“Being able to get the silt out of the road makes it a lot easier for those teams who are fixing power lines under the ground or implementing other services,” he says.

The Army has also created ‘Squadrons’—groups of students helping out with more general clean-up duties. Christchurch residents are able to log help they need on their properties with the Student Army who will send volunteers to help out.
They have also organised a ‘Street Team’ which works with the Ministry of Social Development. These groups work to reassure residents and provide them
with information about the help that
is available.

The volunteers have also been helping with the clean-up effort in other ways. Last Wednesday strong wind caused dust and silt to be blown about. Student volunteers helped to distribute dust masks to protect those working around the city.
Residents who have benefited from the army’s efforts are extremely grateful for the help.

“It’s just a morale boost. It’s something we’d have to do at a later stage,” one resident told Stuff.co.nz.
“They are doing a great job. It’s brilliant. Thanks to the lot of them,” said another.
Founder of the group, Sam Johnson, said more than 3000 students have taken part in the volunteer effort since it began on the Thursday following the quake.

The Student Volunteer Army has received donations and support from many groups, including the Victoria University Students’ Association (VUWSA).

VUWSA organised an appeal to support the group during Orientation and Clubs Weeks.
When Salient went to print last Thursday, Victoria students and staff had raised over $5000 for the Student Army.
“We’ve had a great response from students and staff,” said VUWSA President Seamus Brady.
“We’ve been extremely lucky to have so many students offering their time to collect, running bake sales and people donating collection buckets and promotional materials for free.

“We’ve also been amazed at the generosity shown by those donating to the appeal. On one day we raised $2000. That’s huge. There’s more to do and we’ll be looking at other ways we can continue to support the recovery effort.

“We thought as a campus-based appeal, it [the Student Army] would be a great opportunity for Victoria University students to show solidarity with other students in Canterbury and assist the UC Student Army with exceptional work in the aftermath of the earthquake,” said Brady.
“It’s been great to see students’ associations and their students get out helping each other and their community during time like these.”
Students’ associations around the country have all mobilised to support Christchurch relief groups in some way.

“Students’ associations have often played an important role in fostering solidarity and harnessing the energy of students during times of crisis. We hope these appeals will complement the excellent and admirable work of the UCSA Student Volunteer Army.
“It’s great to see students band together in these times,” says David Do, co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations.

The shallow 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the Christchurch suburb of Lyttleton at 12:51pm last Tuesday.

When Salient went to print 98 people were confirmed dead, with the number set to rise. Many people were still missing and countless buildings were damaged, many beyond repair.

Soon after the quake the University of Canterbury’s campus was evacuated and those students who were able and keen to leave were told to do so.

The University is using its website and Facebook to keep in contact with its staff and students.

“They’ve said we’ll get at least 48 hours notice of uni starting up again, which is good, and the Facebook page for the UCSA has been posting updates,” says
a student.

A message from Vice-Chancellor Rod Carr appeared on the university’s website soon after the quake stating the campus will be closed until further notice. It also said there were no injuries or fatalities on site.

One Christchurch student spoken to by Salient was in the university library when the quake hit.

“At first I thought it was just an after-shock but it quickly grew in intensity, and soon everything around me was shaking violently. Books were falling from the shelves like rain,” she says.

Another student was in a lecture at the time.

“It was so bizarre; one minute we were hearing about the Australian interpretations of indefeasibility, the next we were trying to squeeze under the lecture desks while the room shook,” she said.

She also said people were surprisingly calm in the aftermath.

“People were pretty good, actually, I was surprised by how orderly the exit was.”
Some students have been lucky enough to escape the city.

“Our flat was structurally fine… We didn’t have power, so we’ve gone to Ashburton until that gets sorted.”

While huge numbers of people were left without power and water, many students who do have these facilities have shown kindness to those less fortunate.

“We were some of the lucky few who still had water, power, phone and internet,” says one student. “[We] will have a few extras staying with us for a few days too.”

Lincoln University is suffering similar uncertainty. On Thursday, a message from their Vice-Chancellor Roger Field on their website said that there is no guarantee they will be open next week.

“First, we are concerned about staff and students, their circumstances and ability to travel, particularly those outside Canterbury. The second issue is that decisions need to be made by Government and local agencies on whether the Canterbury infrastructure can support the opening of major institutions.”

The Christchurch community has shown remarkable spirit in the face of the disaster.

“We have decided to stay in Christchurch and help out those affected as much as possible over the next few days with shovelling/cleaning up debris etc,” said a student.

Such solidarity has also been seen in the wider New Zealand student community.
Within hours of the earthquake, Auckland University Student Association (AUSA) had begun a street appeal to raise funds for the devastated city.

“No words can express the horror of the scenes we have seen coming in from Christchurch,” said AUSA President Joe McCrory.

“The street appeal is being co-ordinated by the students’ association and will be running throughout Orientation next week and fresher’s orientation this week.

“Thoughts of every University of Auckland student are with the people of Christchurch, their families and friends.”

The Victoria University Students’ Association expressed similar feelings of shock and sympathy and is launching similar relief efforts.

“VUWSA will be doing as much we can to offer any help to students at both Canterbury and Lincoln University. [Last Thursday we started] an on-campus appeal for donations during new students’ orientation, at our Orientation gigs and during the free sausage sizzles throughout Clubs Week. Our Student Advocate is also available to offer any form of assistance needed by our students,” said Seamus Brady, president of VUWSA.

“This is quite simply horrific. There are many students from Christchurch at Victoria, including a large cohort who just moved into Halls of Residences on Sunday.

“I’m also aware of number of staff who have family in Christchurch, some of whom are still trying to make contact with them. Our thoughts are with
them all.”

Victoria is providing support to those students who need it. The Counselling Service is offering open support groups at 10am and 2pm each day this week.

If students need to see someone urgently they can pop into Mauri Ora (Level One, Student Union Building) between 9am and 5pm.

The Welfare Working Group was created by the Government in April 2010 to review New Zealand’s welfare system and identify how to reduce long-term welfare dependency.

The Group’s final report, which is released to the government last Tuesday, has recommended sweeping changes to benefits.

Its key recommendation is to scrap existing benefits, including the Domestic Purposes and Sickness Benefits, and replace them with a Jobseeker Support payment.

Mothers on the Domestic Purposes Benefit would be forced to look for work once their first child turns three and that age limit would be reduced to 14 weeks if a mother had a second child while on the benefit.

Prime Minister John Key says he will ignore the recommendation that parents should look for work when their child was 14 weeks old.

‘’Personally I feel a bit queasy about that. I think that’s a step too far. I think most New Zealanders would think that’s a little on the extreme side,’’ Key was reported saying.

Punishments would also be in place if parents failed to meet their obligations to find work.

The Group proposes benefits to be cut by 25 per cent for first failure, 50 per cent for second failure, 100 per cent for third failure and 13-week stand-down for any further failure.

These changes are designed to prevent people becoming dependent on benefits rather than just using them as a ‘safety net’ when necessary.

“The social and economic costs of the current New Zealand welfare system are unacceptably high and the potential benefits of reform are so significant that fundamental change is needed,” says Welfare Working Group Chair Paula Rebstock.

“There are currently few incentives and little active support for many people reliant on welfare to move into paid work,” she says.

The report states that its recommendations will increase the number of beneficiaries actively looking for work from 37 per cent to 77 per cent.

Many groups are opposed to these changes, one being the Alternative Working Group.

The Alternative Welfare Working Group was set up in June 2010 to look at New Zealand’s welfare system from the perspective of beneficiaries and community groups.

The group has drawn attention to the fact that despite the push to get beneficiaries into work there is a lack of jobs available for these people. They also stress the need to value the work parents do in the home, looking after dependents, as key to our community.

Group Chair Mike O’Brien believes that even if the proposed changes are successful they will fail to lift people out of poverty.

“There is no attention to issues about poverty, or the work of caring for children and dependent relatives,” he says.  “Even if their proposals were able to achieve their stated goal of reducing benefit numbers by 100,000 over the next ten years, many will still remain living in poverty.”

The Green Party also oppose the proposed reforms.

“At a time of rising unemployment and double-dip recession, harsh welfare changes will just widen the growing gap between those who have the most and those who need the most,” says Green Party spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

 “We need real job creation, and investment in skills and training for young people, not harsh policies that punish the vulnerable,” she says.
Chair of VicLabour, Rob Carr, agrees with this position.

“The issue with high numbers of beneficiaries is not due to the welfare system but due to a lack of jobs,” he says. “The government should be working harder on ways to create more jobs and up skill New Zealand workers.”

John Key says any changes are unlikely to be in effect by the November 26 election.

The current construction is part of the $67 million Campus Hub programme, designed to improve the Kelburn Campus.

The central building phase of the project was officially launched in November last year and considerable progress has been made since.

What is currently a mess of rubble and fluorescent vests was once an area known as the Quad—the intended heart of the university. Over summer this dark and depressing concrete courtyard, as well as the Easterfield lecture theatre, was completely demolished.

Summer also saw the refurbishment of the Student Union Building, where construction is currently being completed on numerous new student facilities.

While the project is long-term, students will gradually see the benefits of the upgrade from February. To provide outdoor spaces for students the Cotton Courtyard, Old Kirk Courtyard and Student Union Building deck have been refurbished. This includes the opening of Hot Wok and Mondo Subs and the relocation of the Krishna caravan in the Old Kirk courtyard.

Construction in the Student Union Building is also due to be completed in February. This sees the creation of Mauri Ora—a dedicated healthcare space incorporating student health, counselling and physiotherapy services. This will be operational from 21 February.

Also scheduled to be completed in February are a variety of club spaces and meeting rooms for student clubs and representative groups. A gig space, the Hunter Lounge, with the capacity to hold 1000 people, will be ready for Orientation events.

Jenny Bentley, Director of Campus Services, says the project is currently on schedule, with a number of further developments planned for 2011.

“During 2011, the foundations and the structure for the new central building will be complete and work will be underway to put up the cladding on the building. The staff and postgraduate café, Milk & Honey, will be completed and work will be well underway on Level 4 of the Library,” she says.

While some class disruption and construction noise should be expected, the project has been planned to minimise the impact this has on students.

“There has been much forward planning to anticipate lecture theatre or seminar room changes and these will be advised well in advance where possible,” says Bentley.

“The most disruptive work has been completed over the break and the new pedestrian links will enable students to move safely around the construction zone. There are other initiatives in place to minimise construction noise, such as fabricating the structure of the new central building off site.”

Bentley says the university is very happy with the way the project in progressing.

“The partnership with VUWSA and the Students’ Trust has been very successful, and our consultants and contractor are delivering a great facility.”

The Campus Hub project is scheduled to be completed in 2014. At this time the Central Building will be complete, providing students with new social, study and retail spaces. The Library will also be refurbished and connected to the Central Building.

Upon completion, the project is predicted to transform the Kelburn campus.

“The Campus Hub will significantly enhance the facilities for students and staff on the Kelburn Campus,” says Bentley.

“Great new student social and learning spaces will be created in the new central building. The refurbished Rankine Brown and Student Union buildings will also provide students with the latest in library, health and club facilities.”

More information about the Campus Hub can be found on Victoria’s website.