George Samuel
While university students fight the introduction of voluntary student unionism, the effect of management-controlled student organisations has hit home at Ultimo TAFE.
The annual general meeting and board elections for the TAFEs student association were held on March 15, with nominations being closed on March 8. Activist students interested in running for board were told the elections would be in April and advertising for the elections had been minimal in the extreme.
Using a TAFE employee to unconstitutionally chair the meeting, management ruled that conducting general business at an annual general meeting was unconstitutional. Because of this ruling, the motions put forward by members regarding student fees and education were moved to the next association board meeting, where members do not have a vote.
This disenfranchisement of the whole membership has exposed the real reason for the existence of the Ultimo student organisation. It is a mechanism to move hundreds of thousands of dollars of what would otherwise be student funds back to the TAFE.
As at universities, the association receives funds from services outlets like the cafeteria, bookshop and gym. But instead of this money going back to students as funds for the defence of their interests, the financial records show that the bulk of the expenditure was in fact covering the building expenses of Sydney Institute of TAFE.
While the association has approved expenditure of around $500,000, most of which goes to the institute, it hides behind a fa‡ade of a voluntary fee which gives the impression that it has minimal funds at its disposal.
As such, the majority of students who pay their $15 joining fee seem satisfied with little more than a diary, unaware of the amount they really pay. Conspicuously missing from the activities of Ultimo Association are the standard services students can expect: representation of their interests politically and to campus authorities, and support to cope with low income and other difficulties.
Armed with this information, TAFE students are demanding democratic student organisations committed to free education and student input into the running of their campus. TAFE students are also supporting the right of university students to control their own student affairs.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, March 31, 2004.
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