Adelaide Student Politics

Posted April 7th

The Overseas Students Associations (OSA) AGM, which took place on the 6th of April, set new standards in transparency and openness. For the OSA at least. The meeting was publicized in advance, over a hundred people attended, and competition was fierce for the seven office bearer and eighteen committee positions on offer.

Several documents, including the OSA’s Profit and Loss Statement, were freely distributed at the start. The OSA operated on just under $22,000 last year, the bulk of this money going to catering at events, grants and promotional material. Also of interest was the Post-Graduate Students Association (PGSA) handing out a list of candidates they supported, along with ‘the points of our program to run the OSA for this year’. Hmm, this is more than likely to raise a few eyebrows in the coming days, though it didn’t in the end seem to hurt their Presidential candidate. At least the PGSA seems to have supported a lot of post-graduate candidates. They also supported local student Scott Oates (explaining to me that ‘the committee wants him’, more on that later).

The meeting was begun with a speech by outgoing President Dilan Moragolle (who’s been promoted up: now National Liaison Committee (NLC, national faction) State Convener). He was quick to point out the work done by the previous council, ‘without which there would not have been an [effective] OSA’. His opening speech was quickly taken over by questions regarding election procedure, which he referred to returning officer Emmanuel Njuguna.

Next to speak was someone from the NLC. I didn’t manage to catch his name. After he went through a brief history of the OSA, he mentioned, without really expanding on, his preferred model for OSAs, which he called the United Nations Model. I can only assume this implies set positions for each geographical region as opposed to proportional representation. Next, he outlined the NLC’s opposition to the student services fee, saying that ‘international students should not be double-charged’ (international students already pay a non-deferrable fee for student services).

Dilan took the stage again prior to the vote. He warned the new council against those who ‘want to pull your leg and strangle you’. Strong language, which I can only assume was directed at those within the AUU. A question is asked regarding whether local students can pay a fee to join the OSA. Dilan responds that he doesn’t believe it's in the constitution, but that would be a decision up to the new committee. The question is in regards to Scott Oates, a local student contesting a position on the Media Standing Committee. Constitutionally, one does not have to be an OSA member to have a position on a OSA Committee. Emmanuel settles the manner by saying that he plans to work under the assumption that Scott is an associate member, unless this is challenged. It is not, and the vote begins.

There were only two candidate statements submitted prior to the meeting for the Presidential vote. However, when Emmanuel opens up the floor to nominations, two more join. Pouria Aryan gives the first candidate speech. His platform is identical to that preferred by the PGSA, namely, having a annual events calendar, running tours state-wide, running cultural exchange programs, and hosting a series of festivals on campus. From these, he sees the multicultural festivals as the most important thing. He is soon cut off by Emmanuel, who’s strictly enforcing the one-minute speech limit. Next to speak is Xu Ting. He gives a very animated speech asking students why they are at Adelaide University, but is cut off before he has the chance to say anything substantial. Yang Yi speaks next. He says that he sees international students as the most important group at university, but that the OSA has unfortunately experienced some problems in recent months. The one-minute cut-off, once again, stops him saying anything substantive. The last to speak is Robert Qiao. He says he wants everyone to be happy, then stops, short of the timer. He seems nice.

There is a brief recess while the vote is counted, giving me a chance to mingle. From what I can see, none of the students at the vote entered this meeting yet to make up their minds. The whole thing seems heavily factionalized, which makes me wonder why everyone keeps insisting on giving speeches. Furthermore, the ability to nominate from the floor makes the whole concept of written candidate statements somewhat redundant.

The votes are tallied, and Pouria has a conclusive win. He chairs the rest of the meeting.

The other votes are conducted in much the same fashion, with nominations from the floor usually doubling the number of candidates contesting a position. Due to time constraints, and an insistence by those assembled on letting all candidates speak, Emmanuel puts off the vote counting until later in the day. I leave soon after the General Secretary vote, figuring it will be more of the same. When I return later, I find that the box with the ballots has been sealed, and they will be counted at a later date. As such, results for all other positions are pending.

The new OSA President is likely to be welcomed by the AUU, given the breakdown of the relationship that occurred between AUU President Lavinia Emmett-Grey and Dilan. From what I can see, Pouria appears to be an independent, and not overtly linked to any of the major factions in the OSA. Although, the PGSA endorsement, and the block Iranian post-grad vote, can’t have hurt.