Otago Polytechnic Students' Association is an independent organisation founded in the 1960s that all Otago Polytechnic

Otago Polytechnic

The Otago Polytechnic is a public New Zealand tertiary education institute, centred in Dunedin with campuses throughout the region of Otago including Cromwell, Wanaka and Queenstown....

 students become members of when they enrol, it is the sole students' association at OP.

OPSA's aims include:

• Promoting and supplying services, facilities, support and amenities for students;
• Working towards removing barriers to education,
• Representing the needs and aspirations of students; promoting the advancement of education.

Facilities and services

OPSA provides access to many facilities and services like the student ID card, Clubs & Societies centre, a second-hand bookshop, UNIPOL Sports Centre, a free student newspaper (Gyro

Gyro (magazine)

Gyro is the official magazine of its owners the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association at Otago Polytechnic in Otago, New Zealand. Gyro is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association , and was the first polytechnic publication to fully join.Gyro is printed monthly and covers news,...

), free pool tables, free campus telephones, the Student Discount Directory, social events, and Student Job Search.

Student support

OPSA also provides support services like advocacy, campaigns, representation, financial assistance and advice. OPSA is often involved with local authorities representing a student view, especially in transportation and housing issues.

Education campaign

OPSA advocates everyone's right to tertiary education, and that user-pays education creates a significant barrier to this right. OPSA seeks a return to free tertiary education as it was before 1989

Recent events

In 2008 and 2009 OPSA took the unusual move of expelling it's members involved in illegal violence at the Undie 500. OPSA is in 2009 campaigning against the government removal of student representation from polytechnic councils.

President

OPSA is governed by an annually elected body of students.

• 2011 President: Michelle Fidow

OPSA Staff

• Office Manager: Lesley Scoullar
• Services & Communications Manager: Mark Baxter
• Gyro Editor: Lisa Scott
• Gyro Technical Editor: Mark Baxter

Past presidents

• 1966 Lindsay Laing
• 1967 Prue Cruickshank / Kay Stalker / Graham Dickson
• 1968 Brian Roff
• 1969 Peter White / M. Scott
• 1970 Reid Buchan / James Marlow
• 1971 James Marlow / Matthew Robertson
• 1972 Matthew Robertson / Lesley Grant
• 1973 Malcolm McCallum / Rodger Smith
• 1974 Keith Geary
• 1975 Scott Jarrett / Geoff Weston / Keith Geary
• 1976 Greg Gwynne / Barry Simpson
• 1977 Scott Jarrett / Wayne Barnett
• 1978 John Reid
• 1979 John Reid
• 1980 John Reid / Paul Gourlie
• 1981 Paul Gourlie
• 1982 Paul Gourlie
• 1983 Terry Stone
• 1984 Denise Jackson
• 1985 Wayne Everson
• 1986 Hilary Frankpitt / Warrick McNeill
• 1987 Garry van der Veen
• 1988 Alexina Finnie
• 1989 Trevor Fordyce
• 1990 Trevor Fordyce / Prue Edge
• 1991 Prue Edge
• 1992 Lissa Mitchell / Nicola Hall
• 1993 Nicola Hall
• 1994 Rebecca Parata
• 1995 Rebecca Parata
• 1996 Grant Dickson
• 1997 Grant Dickson
• 1998 Debbie Ruthven
• 1999 Debbie Ruthven
• 2000 Simone Montgomery
• 2001 Anna McMartin
• 2002 Phil Baskerville
• 2003 Michelle Watt
• 2004 Rachel Dibble
• 2005 Rachel Dibble
• 2006 Natalie Absalom & Richard Mitchell (co-presidents)
• 2007 Richard Mitchell
• 2008 Meegan Cloughley & Ryan Ward (co-presidents)
• 2009 Meegan Cloughley & Ryan Ward (co-presidents)
• 2010 Meegan Cloughley
• 2011 Michelle Fidow

External links

• OPSA's official site has comprehensive info about OPSA including a social events calendar, student services, news, and media releases, etc.
• Gyro student magazine
• Otago Polytechnic site
• UNIPOL Sports Centre
• Clubs & Societies centre
• Student Job Search
• NZUSA is the national student body OPSA is a member of.