PGSA Statement on VUWSA Elections
The Post Graduate Students’ Association sent us this statement endorsing Barbalich for Council and Freemantle for VUWSA President:
The PGSA totally supports postgraduates Keiran Barbalich standing for University Council and Jasmine Freemantle standing for VUWSA President.
“Keiran has been an outstanding leader on the PGSA, He has been a key person in our negotiations with the University and VUWSA throughout the year. He understands the processes of the University’s political system and knows how to get things done. He’ll be an outstanding representative on Council for all students“, says Wayne Pihema PGSA President.
“Jasmine has had a long involvement in student affairs and the PGSA supports her particularly in light of the alternative, Sonny Thomas”, he says.
“The PGSA has had a long struggle to get a formal relationship recognised with the PGSA. In the last negotiation meeting with VUWSA President and Sonny, Sonny was quite hard-headed about funding for the PGSA and clearly signalled we would be hard-pressed to get extra funding”, says Pihema.
“He even suggested that Ngai Tauira’s budget could also be dramatically cut from its present level. It’s not really the message he is pushing in public. His stated ‘policy’ of increasing club funding doesn’t really match with our experience of him. It’s a matter of trust,” “says Pihema.
“We want students to vote carefully next week and think of who offers experience in getting things done in the university, and who might be able to offer the added benefit of postgraduate experience and the skills that brings. Keiran has been a real great team player and integral to the great progress we have made this year. He is able to grasp key issues quickly and give the issue strong critical analysis. Jasmine has the same skills,” says Annette Bolton.
“Jasmine is both a student and lecturer. She is against the whole change thing going on at the University – particularly within VUWSA. She stands for accountability and will fight for a Universal Student Allowance”, says Pihema.
