What is VSU?
VSU stands for ‘Voluntary Student Unionism’, a friendly sounding term for something that’s actually pretty frightening. Basically, it means that the University will be banned from collecting universal fees like the Amenities and Services Fee, which fund activities run by the Student Guild. At the moment, all students pay the fee, which means the Guild can provide representation and services to everyone. The Federal Government has recently passed legislation trying to change this, so we must join together to fight for the survival of the Guild. This is a part of a broader attack on unions and the higher education sector, which has had around $1 billion cut from its budget since 1996. A universal fee is the only way of funding important services on campus like representation, welfare, and campus life. Without the Guild, there will be no-one fighting against HECS fee increases, or representing students’ views to the uni, government and broader community. Students will have nowhere to turn if they are sexually harassed at uni, no-one to help them if they want to appeal a mark, nowhere to go for a textbook subsidy, no-one to fund their clubs to create an awesome social life on campus, no tavern, no O’Camp, no cultural events, no queer department, no financial counselling, no grants, no club rooms, no end of semester show, no social justice week, no women’s department, no market days, no Pelican… no STUDENT CONTROL.
What can you do about it?
- Get Involved! Get Active! Join the Fight! Come to an Education Action Network Meeting, 1pm every Tuesday, Sue Boyd Room;
- Come to the National Day of Action – April 12;
- Contact Jess, the EAN Coordinator on ean@guild.uwa.edu.au
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