Massey Unniversity has responded to the Voluntary Student Membership Act by increasing its fees next year by an amount about equivalent to that paid by students to their Student Associations.
Just to note:
* It seems like the fees are compulsory.
* The government will have a big say on what the increase can be used for – not even the university.
* It looks like students through their association may be able to negotiate with the university about what services are kept – but no guarantees.
* It’s likely to be the model that will spread across NZ – I was in Waikato University yesterday and they are looking at something similar .
So all those who backed VSM will still pay the same, but you won’t have any real say about how your money is spent – even less if you decide not to belong to the student association. Taxation without representation it’s called.
And now you don’t even get the choice of a referendum.
What was wrong with an opt-out clause and accountability around association spending as we suggested?
Well done. Everyone loses.