Adelaide Student Politics

It is likely that in July of this year, a $250 services fee will be charged to all students at Australian universities. While all taxes are inherently bad, I can personally live with this one, as it is deferrable through the HECS system, and does not automatically go to occasionally (or frequently, depending on who you talk to) corrupt student unions. Student unions face a monopoly situation to a much greater extent than do universities, which is why at the end of the day I prefer that my university have the final responsibility for spending the money wisely. The legislation and regulatory activity proposed to accompany the fee means that I am cautiously optimistic the money shall not be wasted. If student unions are indeed best placed to provide student services, one hopes that my university will recognize that and pass some of the cash on. Deferment is the clincher though. Given this fact, I was happy to encourage people to sign a NUS petition in O’Week calling on South Australian Senator Nick Xenaphon to pass the legislation.

Predictably knowing me, a thought nagged at me by the Tuesday. International students do not have the option of deferment of their fees through HECS. They pay their fees upfront, as outlined in their offer letters, for the duration of their degree. They are frequently placed at great hardship to do so. While some international students have everything paid for by mummy and daddy back home, many do not, and are forced to work to support themselves. This leads many of them to accept living conditions that would shock most domestic students.

This has been recognized by many of our student politicians, and is an issue many of them claim to care about. Indeed, when it was believed in late 2008 that the university was about to raise international student fees, they were quick to the rescue. Their outcry led the university to quickly respond to the concerns of international students, reassuring them that the fee rises would only apply to commencing students. At this, most were pacified. After all, international students are able to make a decision as to whether to attend a university or not, with their fees clearly outlined. That international students should be aware of how much their degree will cost them is only fair.

The student services fee will, like tuition fees, be paid by international students upfront. For struggling international students who are continuing their degrees, this will be an unexpected and unwelcome fee which they will have to scrap together the money for. Admittedly, it will only form a small part of their total fees. But the principle of unexpected and unavoidable fees remains the same. The government has dodged this in the case of domestic students by making the fee deferrable (and thus, no one out of pocket because of it). This is not the case for international students. A lot of them work, and are only at uni to go to lectures or to study in the library.

I have no doubt that the student services fee will be tailored to the needs of domestic students. One needs to look no further than the food selection at the Mayo to realize that the archetypical student who is catered for is typically western. The fact that internationals rarely complain must add to this attitude.

As such, I am somewhat disappointed in our student politicians. Those who have spoken on the issue have done so only to point out that the fee will be small in comparison to what international students already pay. As far as I know, few have looked into the effect that this fee will have on the budgets of internationals. There has been no formal campaign on the part of the AUU to educate 27% of the student population on the $250 they will shortly be slogged with. Given that this fee will cause disproportionate hardship to internationals over domestics, it should be especially targeted to provide services suitable for those from overseas. This is, given the proposed legislation, the responsibility of the university, and not the AUU. And yet, given that certain student politicians despair at the fact that international students are treated as little more than revenue raisers, I would wish see them taking a wearier view towards the university charging them an extra fee.

I understand most are happy to see some money going towards non-academic services. But not all students will benefit equally. And given the lack of deferment for internationals, they will pay the most.

** In other news affecting international students, Dilan Moragolle appears to have finally accepted his own resignation as OSA President. AUU Watch will miss the always colourful Dilan, and wishes him the best in whatever he gets up to. You can read more about the saga here, here and here**