Otago University Students' Association
Encyclopedia
The Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) is the Students' Association of the University of Otago
, New Zealand
.
OUSA provides "representation, welfare, advocacy, recreation, fun events and media" for its members. Via its wholly owned subsidiary Planet Media Dunedin Limited, OUSA funds a student magazine, Critic
, and a radio station, Radio One.
As well as providing facilities and student representation on university committees, the students' association began to provide services and facilities for its members. The first Student Union building, providing meeting rooms, men's and women's common rooms and a cafeteria
, was established in 1904 in Allen Hall, which is today the university's theatre department. In the 1960s a much bigger Student Union was built, and in the 1980s an adjoining building was added to house the OUSA offices, Radio One, Critic and Student Job Search. The Clubs and Societies building provides a home to over 100 student clubs and a variety of activities, with fitness and recreation opportunities provided at Unipol
, jointly owned with the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association
. OUSA also owns the University Book Shop and Student Job Search.
Over the years the Students' Association has had its share of controversy
, frequently around risqué activities during Capping (graduation) week. In 1990, student parties spilled over into the infamous "Dunedin Riot", which badly damaged public opinion of students at a time when student politicians were actively lobbying and protesting against the introduction of tertiary tuition fees. The arguments against tuition fees included researched predictions of massive graduate debt and increased "brain drain
" - graduates leaving the country for lucrative overseas positions. OUSA and students' associations around the country protested vigorously - up to 5,000 people marched in Dunedin alone - but were unable to stop the fees which were introduced in 1991.
The introduction of tuition fees has led to an increased focus on quality of education
, with improvements to the student representative system and more student input on teaching and assessment. At the same time, the growing student population has meant that OUSA services from recreation
facilities to student media have become businesses in their own right.
. However, Section 5 of the Constitution and Rules of The Otago University Students' Association Incorporated provides further details of membership including granting the Secretary ex officio membership, bestowing membership rights in perpetuity on the President, and allowing the Executive to elect up to two other people annually.
The Current Executive is as follows (http://www.ousa.org.nz/your-executive/the-exec/) :
President: Logan Edgar
Admin VP: Brad Russell
Finance and Services Officer: Vacant
Welfare Officer: Shonelle Eastwood
Education Officer: Katie Reed
Campaigns Officer: Dan Beck
Recreations Officer: Saran Van Ballekom
Colleges and Communications Officer: Francisco Hernandez
International Representative: Art Kojarunchitt
Post-graduate Representative: Thomas Koentges
In September 2008, president-elect Jo Moore was disqualified from becoming the 2009 president after a complaint she came within 20 m of a polling facility during voting was upheld.
In July 2010, the OUSA executive was controversially restructured. Initiated by President Harriet Geoghegan, the new executive would have ten members: President, Administrative Vice President, Finances and Services Officer, Education Officer, Welfare Officer, and five general representatives each holding a portfolio: Postgraduate Students, International Students, Campaigns, Recreation, and Colleges and Communications. A referendum
on the issue resulted in a 72.19% vote for the new structure caused a large amount of complaints, none of which were upheld, and divided the existing OUSA Executive.
The OUSA main office is run by a General Manager (Stephen Alexander), Association Secretary (Donna Jones) and Reception and Services Manager (Fiona Bowker) along with an Accounts Administrator and three part-time receptionist
s.
predates the association and was in fact members of this society who initiated the students' association in 1890. Other long-standing groups include the Otago University Tramping Club, the Otago University Rowing Club and the Otago University Medical Students Association. Today there are more than 100 clubs and societies affiliated to OUSA, representing the huge range of ethnicities, religions, politics, sports and interests of Otago students, from Otago University NORML to Roleplaying to the Young Nats.
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
OUSA provides "representation, welfare, advocacy, recreation, fun events and media" for its members. Via its wholly owned subsidiary Planet Media Dunedin Limited, OUSA funds a student magazine, Critic
Critic (magazine)
Critic is the official magazine of the Otago University Students' Association of the University of Otago. It is freely available around both the university's campus and selected sites in Dunedin city weekly during term time. It was tabloid in size until 2002, when it went quarterfold...
, and a radio station, Radio One.
History
OUSA was founded in 1890, and its colourful history has been documented in the book Ritual Songs of Defiance by Sam Elworthy, published for the 1990 centenary.As well as providing facilities and student representation on university committees, the students' association began to provide services and facilities for its members. The first Student Union building, providing meeting rooms, men's and women's common rooms and a cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
, was established in 1904 in Allen Hall, which is today the university's theatre department. In the 1960s a much bigger Student Union was built, and in the 1980s an adjoining building was added to house the OUSA offices, Radio One, Critic and Student Job Search. The Clubs and Societies building provides a home to over 100 student clubs and a variety of activities, with fitness and recreation opportunities provided at Unipol
Unipol
Unipol Gruppo Finanziario S.p.A. is an Italian financial services company operating principally in the insurance sector, in which it is the country's fourth-largest firm. Based in Bologna, the company was founded in 1962 as a cooperative provider of non-life insurance...
, jointly owned with the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association is an independent organisation founded in the 1960s that all Otago Polytechnic students become members of when they enrol, it is the sole students' association at OP.OPSA's aims include:...
. OUSA also owns the University Book Shop and Student Job Search.
Over the years the Students' Association has had its share of controversy
Controversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
, frequently around risqué activities during Capping (graduation) week. In 1990, student parties spilled over into the infamous "Dunedin Riot", which badly damaged public opinion of students at a time when student politicians were actively lobbying and protesting against the introduction of tertiary tuition fees. The arguments against tuition fees included researched predictions of massive graduate debt and increased "brain drain
Brain drain
Human capital flight, more commonly referred to as "brain drain", is the large-scale emigration of a large group of individuals with technical skills or knowledge. The reasons usually include two aspects which respectively come from countries and individuals...
" - graduates leaving the country for lucrative overseas positions. OUSA and students' associations around the country protested vigorously - up to 5,000 people marched in Dunedin alone - but were unable to stop the fees which were introduced in 1991.
The introduction of tuition fees has led to an increased focus on quality of education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, with improvements to the student representative system and more student input on teaching and assessment. At the same time, the growing student population has meant that OUSA services from recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
facilities to student media have become businesses in their own right.
Membership
Under the Education Act 1989, membership in OUSA is compulsory for students enrolled at the University of OtagoUniversity of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
. However, Section 5 of the Constitution and Rules of The Otago University Students' Association Incorporated provides further details of membership including granting the Secretary ex officio membership, bestowing membership rights in perpetuity on the President, and allowing the Executive to elect up to two other people annually.
Structure
The Association is headed by an eleven-member executive led by the OUSA President. Members are usually each August and serve from January to December the following year. The Executive consists of: The President, Admininstrative Vice-President, Finance and Services Officer, Welfare Officer, Education Officer, Campaigns Officer, Recreation Officer, Colleges and Communications Officer, International Representative and Post-graduate Representative. Weekly Executive meetings are open to all members, and Student General Meetings (SGMs) are held periodically throughout the year to consult with and engage the wider student body.The Current Executive is as follows (http://www.ousa.org.nz/your-executive/the-exec/) :
President: Logan Edgar
Admin VP: Brad Russell
Finance and Services Officer: Vacant
Welfare Officer: Shonelle Eastwood
Education Officer: Katie Reed
Campaigns Officer: Dan Beck
Recreations Officer: Saran Van Ballekom
Colleges and Communications Officer: Francisco Hernandez
International Representative: Art Kojarunchitt
Post-graduate Representative: Thomas Koentges
In September 2008, president-elect Jo Moore was disqualified from becoming the 2009 president after a complaint she came within 20 m of a polling facility during voting was upheld.
In July 2010, the OUSA executive was controversially restructured. Initiated by President Harriet Geoghegan, the new executive would have ten members: President, Administrative Vice President, Finances and Services Officer, Education Officer, Welfare Officer, and five general representatives each holding a portfolio: Postgraduate Students, International Students, Campaigns, Recreation, and Colleges and Communications. A referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on the issue resulted in a 72.19% vote for the new structure caused a large amount of complaints, none of which were upheld, and divided the existing OUSA Executive.
The OUSA main office is run by a General Manager (Stephen Alexander), Association Secretary (Donna Jones) and Reception and Services Manager (Fiona Bowker) along with an Accounts Administrator and three part-time receptionist
Receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office/administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business...
s.
Clubs and Societies
Many of the student clubs and societies operated under the auspices of OUSA have long traditions within Otago University. The Otago University Debating SocietyOtago University Debating Society
The Otago University Debating Society was established in June 1878 and is the oldest society of the University of Otago, the first university to be founded in New Zealand...
predates the association and was in fact members of this society who initiated the students' association in 1890. Other long-standing groups include the Otago University Tramping Club, the Otago University Rowing Club and the Otago University Medical Students Association. Today there are more than 100 clubs and societies affiliated to OUSA, representing the huge range of ethnicities, religions, politics, sports and interests of Otago students, from Otago University NORML to Roleplaying to the Young Nats.
External links
- Otago University Students' Association website
- Critic – weekly newspaper
- Radio One – student radio station
- Planet Media
- University of Otago site
- OUSA Clubs and Societies
- UNIPOL Sports Centre
- Student Job Search
- University Book Shop
- NZUSA is the national student body, of which OUSA is a founding member.