Posted April 8th
The Sports Association has, as of yesterday, disaffiliated itself from the union, after over a hundred years as an affiliate. This has been in the works for a long time, though I'm still suprised to see it finally happen. When I asked SA President Andres Munoz-Lamilla about it, he said that the unwillingness or inability of the union to change its current structure (to give affiliates more say its operations), as well as the better funding provided by the university, were key factors in the decision. More news on this shortly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Makes one wonder what the union is actually useful for...
some of the facts in this are wrong, but the broad story is correct. an extended article shall be posted as soon as i get back from Brisbane
Rhys - the union is supposed to be useful?
Hi Rhys and Ash,
I find your comments quite offensive. In 2008, the AUU provided welfare support for approximately 6000 students via the Education Welfare Officers. We provided the Employment Service - the database which is we maintain receives about 14 000 hits per month. We printed 12 editions of On Dit last year and provided 6 hours per week of student radio. We provided funding for Clubs and Sports, including insurance. We also run things like O Week (which this year attracted 2000 people on the first day) and we run activities throughout the year like our members party last month which attracted 591 people. I think your comments are rude and unfair.
Well actually the funding for the Union's services comes from the University. A better system would have been the old Flinders one of having a Student Organisations Committee to disburse money and decide on common interests. The Union had a strangle hold on the AUSA for too long whilst never really helping improve sports facilities and services.
The AUSA board voted to seek disaffiliation from the Union.
The only reason it is affiliated is due to a hang over from the old funding arrangements.
The next step constitutionally is for this decision to go to the next council of sporting clubs and then onwards to the university. Though I'm sure the University is well appraised of the situation as they have a delegate on the board of the AUSA and go to Council meetings.
I imagine this will happen in time for next year. Of course the Uni will have to want it to happen. They may want to only deal with one Student Organisation.