OMG, i just received an email from the President of the Union……and here is my response in red:
Dear Student,
I write to you to give you an update on proposed changes to the structure of the Melbourne University Student Union (MUSU).
As you will be aware, much attention was recently given to allegations of corruption and fraud within the Student Union. Ernst & Young were engaged by the University to investigate such claims. After months of investigation, Ernst & Young found no examples of fraudulent or corrupt behaviour by any office bearer of the Student Union. Have you ever thought about them not disclosing the allegations yet???
Despite the hype, claims of a Victoria Police investigation have not eventuated given the findings of Ernst & Young.
On the basis of these allegations – since found to be false according to whom??? you?? oh well, how am i not surprised
- the University promised to ‘reform’ MUSU on the back of headlines in The Age newspaper.
The ‘reform’ process called for students to make submissions to a working group. University appointees to the working group have admitted not reading the student submissions. The ‘consultation process’ was an absolute and total sham. Thats because you dont get you want, and you dont feel important enough???
The consultation process has also deliberately shelved a report prepared for the University by respected consultants. It seems that when these internationally renowned consultants proposed a different structure to the University, they were told their services were no longer needed. another misrepresentation, were you sleeping then??? what said in the meeting was, the new board will look into whether external help is needed, it is not up to the working group!
Despite disregarding the views of all students, in the same time period, the University has developed its own corporate and privatised ’student organisation’ solely owned and operated by the University. i think the students have spoken Scott, the student organisation as it exists today has incompetent people in it. to have reform you need radical change. unless of course, you have other motives?
In changes to be rushed through the University in the coming weeks, while all students are sitting exams and engaged in study, we will see student control over student affairs removed – forever. ohh… finally you are speaking about conspiracy??? who were the one interested saving himself, rather than having important discussion in between meetings. your constant SMS during the meeting is definitely despised by members of the group
The $12 million student budget that MUSU currently administers is dedicated to not-for profit activities such as clubs & societies, entertainment, theatre and the advisory service. unfortunately, these are being ruined by individuals in the union… sigh…
In the coming weeks, the University will turn student services into corporatised operations, lacking in student input and control. The role of the Union is to provide students with essential welfare and cultural services � provided by students for students. This is something University bureaucrats will never truly understand, their priority is not students, it’s the University.
With everything the Union is meant to provide and represent, about to be stripped away from it, your only student representative body is about to be left gutted and pointless. What do you mean??? it has already been stripped….. from what it should be…..The University cannot maintain the ideals of a student organisation, nor truly promote your interests because they are often the problem. You pay over three hundred dollars a year through your Amenities and Services fee good point… have you ever asked yourself how much student money has been spent on your credit cards???, this fee is meant to be used for your benefit, not the University’s. nor should the fee be used for ‘other’ purposes
Despite paying the highest Amenities and Services fee in Australia, student services will now be required to charge students even more with the University importing its own massive bureaucracy to administer student services and money. well.. too bad… you cannot control the ‘election’ of hopefully to be genuine student representatives
Student services in 2004 will be inaccessible and irrelevant Let see in a few months time.. who is right? your conspiracy theory???. The services students have worked so hard for over the past hundred years will be outsourced to University bureaucrats in the next week who are obsessed with squeezing the last dollar out of students to prop up their own inefficiencies. comparing them with MUSU… OMG, hypocrite!
While the newspaper has got its headlines and the Vice Chancellor has savaged student control, students, however, are to be left without adequate representation and services in Scott’s dictionary, adequate means ‘i have the majority control’ or ‘i am the chair’!.
A Union stripped of money and services will be unable to protect, represent and provide for students of the University of Melbourne It hasnt been anyway… what are you talking about??? the ‘rebirth’ of MUSU??? give me a break… Have you ever asked your office bearers on how many universty’s committee meetings they have been attending through out this year alone???? i will be surprised if you hit a double digit in your counter!.
I urge all students concerned for the fate of their Union to join our campaign to Save The Union I thought some students have already started this…. now you want to join in too??? please ask them how to save the union.. and you will be surprised that two of you will have different agendas of ’saving’ the union. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be publicizing the University’s corporatisation of the Union to current and future students.
You can help and join the fight by simply replying to this email today to Presidents.Office@union.unimelb.edu.au.
We need your support and we need it now! How i ever wonder, who is ‘we’
Yours in Union,
Scott Crawford,
President
)