Auckland Students choose choice

Auckland Students choose choice

Results released voluntary student membership (VSM) was the clear winner in a referendum held at Auckland University over the last month. 5545 students chose voluntary while 3814 students choose the compuslory option.

With many other campuses choicing to return to compulsory membership Auckland University remains as the only voluntary university.

"Students have had well over a year now with VSM and obviously have decided that it is their preferred form of membership." remarked Auckland University Students Association President Kane Stanford.

"This year, under VSM, AUSA has been forced to become a more efficient organisation and look at our association as one that provide services for students in a fiscally prudent manner. This has led to an exciting year with many challenges. It has also lead to some decrease in service, but that would happen to any organisation that had it's funding cut so drastically "

"It is always hard to read into votes and try and figure out why people voted either way, but I think we have a clear message from Auckland University students that they are happy with the way things are going."

With the change in the Education Act by the new Government, students can attempt to change the membership status of their association once every two years. Well over 9,000 students voted compared with over 12,000 last year.

for futher comment: Kane Stanford 021.656795

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