University of Melbourne Student Union
Encyclopedia
The student union, one of several student organisations
at the University of Melbourne
, Australia
, is divided into two parts. The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU), incorporated as University of Melbourne Student Union, Inc. (UMSUi) provides representation for students. The service provision arm is Melbourne University Student Union Limited (MUSUL). UMSUi was incorporated on 17 November 2005, following approval by the Council of the University of Melbourne in October of that year. Its first elections were held in October 2005 under the transitional clauses of the constitution.
, Barry Humphries
and Malcolm Livingstone; the Union Band Comp, which has kick-started the careers of several well-known Australian bands; and an annual comedy revue
which produced the Working Dog
crew.
is the official newspaper of the University of Melbourne Student Union. The name is included in the motto Quidquid agunt homines nostri farrago libelli est — whatever men do forms the motley subject of our page.
The newspaper was founded by Brian Fitzpatrick
in 1925. Noteworthy editors in the past have included E W (Bill) Tipping
, Geoffrey Blainey
, Amira Gust, Claude Forrell, Ian Robinson
, Morag Fraser, Garrie Hutchinson, Ross McPherson
, Lindsay Tanner
, Peter Russo
, Louise Carbines, Jim Brumby, Pete Steedman
, Arnold Zable
, Kate Legge, Nicola Gobbo, Cathy Bale, and Christos Tsiolkas
in 1988.
means that the ASF will not be charged from 1 July 2006.
Of the $14m (Aus) allocated for student services around three quarters goes to MUSUL. This allocation funds either fully or in part a range of student services and amenities including: the Rowden White Library; the Computing Centre; the Student Union Advisory Service; subsidised legal, health and dental services; a campus information centre; and common areas in Union House. This allocation also covers salaries, upkeep and development of the student union's buildings.
Somewhat less than $2 million is allocated to UMSUi. This funds (among other things) the Advisory Service, Clubs and Societies, Farrago
, the Women's Department and the Queer Department; it also includes funds set aside for payment of NUS
affiliation fees. In 2009 it has put aside $65,000 for NUS, under some controversy while all other departments budgets have been slashed.
Following passage of the VSU legislation, the University has signed a three year, $16 million, funding arrangement for all University of Melbourne student organisations, including MU Sport and the postgraduate association (UMPA). Of this UMSUi will receive a little over $1.1m in 2006, $1m in 2007 and $0.9m in 2008. The total income of UMSUi is expected to decrease to $1.3m.
The Associations Incorporation Act, 1981
, allowed incorporation of student bodies, among others. The Students’ Association in 1987 as the Melbourne College of Advanced Education Students’ Association-Carlton Incorporated, and the Students’ Representative Council was incorporated in 1988 as Melbourne University Students’ Representative Council Incorporated. On 13 October 1988 the two merged to form Melbourne University Student Union Incorporated (MUSUi).
warned in June 2003 that this could potentially create obligations beyond MUSUi's capacity to pay. The deal was for MUSUi to sublease student apartments to international students from the Optima Group. It did not proceed.
On 30 September 2003, Vice-Chancellor Alan Gilbert informed MUSUi that the University was terminating the 2003 Funding Agreement, effectively stripping it of any future money, citing "evidence of breaches by MUSUI of its obligations under the Agreement", (the agreement being "providing facilities, services or activities of direct benefit to students at the institution"). He also cited a "serious breakdown in governance, financial management and accountability structures within MUSU".
On February 6, 2004 the Union was placed into liquidation
by the Supreme Court of Victoria
after a vote by the Student Union Executive. MUSU's liquidator
, Dean Royston McVeigh, said in his provisional liquidator's report, that the Union owed debts of $4.3 million (mainly to the University of Melbourne) but only had assets of $3.5 million. McVeigh acknowledged that these "debts" were the result of creative accounting by the University, with the University ultimately relinquishing any claim to such "debts". As a result it was no longer student-controlled (a prerequisite for affiliation to NUS
) and was in any case unable to pay affiliation fees. A new constitution was approved.
Master Ewart Evans, who was presiding over the hearings of the liquidators' examination until his retirement in 2005, was critical of the "somewhat precipitative" timing of civil court proceedings, which McVeigh quickly settled out of court after much adverse publicity about his own fees and expenses believed to total more than $8 million prior to producing a Liquidator's Report and convening a meeting of creditors. The downfall of MUSU was satirised by the Union Players
in the play Friday Night at the Union in 2004.
and a group of Green-anarchist students called Activate. The positions won by the left groups were for an interim student representative committee established by the University to oversee student representation and advocacy until the incorporation of UMSU.
UMSU saw few changes in its power dynamic from 2005-07. In 2007 National Labor Students held the President, Secretary and Education (Academic) Offices. The makeup of the 2007 Student Council had no ALSF presence (due to the Liberal Student tickets withdrawing from the annual elections prior to the opening of the ballot). The 2007 UMSU budget, due to funding cuts caused by VSU, was reduced from just over $2m in 2006 to $1.23m in 2007. This resulted in reductions in funding for departments, particularly those which traditionally have been considered high, such as the Activities, Clubs and Societies and Media Departments.
In 2008, the National Labor Students and Grassroots tickets, running as StandUp! and Activate respectively, won most of the paid positions in the Student Union. Their tenure in 2009 was highlighted by difficulties in passing budgetary support towards the National Union of Students
and Students for Palestine
organizations.
2009 saw nearly all major elected positions won by a Labor Right-Liberal coalition called Synergy. On Student Council, Synergy were elected to four positions (two Liberals and two Student Unity) and five positions were won by iUnion, a newly established ticket run by international students and former StandUp! office bearers.
These student Working Group members consisted of both undergraduate and post-graduate members, and the overall composition of the Working Group was factionally diverse, with the incumbent Student Unity/ALSF coalition being reduced to opposition status. Due to a large number of inquorate meetings, the Working Group instituted a drop-off rule.
The Working Group persisted until mid-2005, when the final draft of the Constitution was presented to the Council of the University.
In September, 1052 out of 1240 students voted in favour of accepting the new constitution.
The Constitution itself was largely based on the MUSU Constitution, with a number of innovations, including affirmative action provisions, pay-parity and strict accountability mechanisms curbing the powers of the President and Secretary in particular. It also created the Clubs & Societies Department (which in the past had been a part of the Activities Department) and the Indigenous Department.
were active within Melbourne University student life, including Sir Robert Menzies
(former Australian Prime Minister
), Gareth Evans
(former Australian Foreign Minister), Lindsay Tanner
(Member for Melbourne
), Michael Danby
(Member for Melbourne Ports), and Sophie Mirabella
(Member for Indi).
Notable past presidents include:
Melbourne University student organisations
Melbourne University student organisations provide representation for students and a wide range of services. Currently, student services at the University of Melbourne are provided by the university-managed company, MU Student Union Limited. A separate body called the University of Melbourne...
at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, is divided into two parts. The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU), incorporated as University of Melbourne Student Union, Inc. (UMSUi) provides representation for students. The service provision arm is Melbourne University Student Union Limited (MUSUL). UMSUi was incorporated on 17 November 2005, following approval by the Council of the University of Melbourne in October of that year. Its first elections were held in October 2005 under the transitional clauses of the constitution.
Culture
Particularly noteworthy is Union House Theatre, out of which a large number of notable Australian celebrities have emerged, such as Cate BlanchettCate Blanchett
Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress. She came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 biopic film Elizabeth, for which she won British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Globe Awards, and earned her first Academy Award...
, Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries
John Barry Humphries, AO, CBE is an Australian comedian, satirist, dadaist, artist, author and character actor, best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the...
and Malcolm Livingstone; the Union Band Comp, which has kick-started the careers of several well-known Australian bands; and an annual comedy revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
which produced the Working Dog
Working Dog Productions
Working Dog Productions is a small film and television production company based in Melbourne, Australia. It was originally known as Frontline Television Productions Pty Ltd...
crew.
Farrago
FarragoFarrago
First published on 3 April 1925, Farrago is Australia's oldest student newspaper. Farrago is published by the Melbourne University Student Union.- Name :...
is the official newspaper of the University of Melbourne Student Union. The name is included in the motto Quidquid agunt homines nostri farrago libelli est — whatever men do forms the motley subject of our page.
The newspaper was founded by Brian Fitzpatrick
Brian Fitzpatrick (Australian author)
Brian Charles Fitzpatrick was an author, historian, journalist and one of the founders of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties....
in 1925. Noteworthy editors in the past have included E W (Bill) Tipping
E W (Bill) Tipping
Edmond William Tipping was an Australian journalist, social commentator and activist.-Early life and family:"Bill" Tipping was born in Moonee Ponds, and attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne where he was school captain in 1933...
, Geoffrey Blainey
Geoffrey Blainey
Geoffrey Norman Blainey AC , is a prominent Australian historian.Blainey was born in Melbourne and raised in a series of Victorian country towns before attending Wesley College and the University of Melbourne. While at university he was editor of Farrago, the newspaper of the University of...
, Amira Gust, Claude Forrell, Ian Robinson
Ian Robinson
Ian Robinson is President Emeritus of the Rationalist Society of Australia and immediate past Chairman of the Rationalist Association of Australia.-Biography:...
, Morag Fraser, Garrie Hutchinson, Ross McPherson
Ross McPherson
Ross James McPherson is a former field hockey goalkeeper from New Zealand. He represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games, 1968 and 1972. He also played first-class cricket for Northern Districst in the Plunket Shield....
, Lindsay Tanner
Lindsay Tanner
Lindsay James Tanner is a former Australian member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Melbourne, Victoria, for the Australian Labor Party, having first won the seat at the 1993 federal election. He was a member of the Australian Government from 3 December 2007, serving as...
, Peter Russo
Peter Russo
Peter Russo is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the VFL during the 1980s before finishing his career at St Kilda....
, Louise Carbines, Jim Brumby, Pete Steedman
Peter Steedman
Alan Peter Steedman was an Australian politician. At Melbourne University he edited Farrago, the Melbourne University Student Union paper. He also edited Lot's Wife at Monash University....
, Arnold Zable
Arnold Zable
Arnold Zable is an award winning Australian writer, storyteller, educator and human rights advocate, particularly in the area of migrant education. His writings focus primarily on migrant experience.-Life:...
, Kate Legge, Nicola Gobbo, Cathy Bale, and Christos Tsiolkas
Christos Tsiolkas
-Biography:He was born and grew up in Melbourne and was educated at Blackburn High School and the University of Melbourne where he completed an Arts Degree in 1987. www.austlit.edu.au. Retrieved 2007-07-22. He edited the student newspaper Farrago in 1988....
in 1988.
Funding
The student union had been funded by compulsory Amenities and Services Fees since 1911. The introduction of VSUVoluntary student unionism
Voluntary student unionism is a policy, notable in Australia, under which membership of – and payment of membership fees to – university student organisations is voluntary....
means that the ASF will not be charged from 1 July 2006.
Of the $14m (Aus) allocated for student services around three quarters goes to MUSUL. This allocation funds either fully or in part a range of student services and amenities including: the Rowden White Library; the Computing Centre; the Student Union Advisory Service; subsidised legal, health and dental services; a campus information centre; and common areas in Union House. This allocation also covers salaries, upkeep and development of the student union's buildings.
Somewhat less than $2 million is allocated to UMSUi. This funds (among other things) the Advisory Service, Clubs and Societies, Farrago
Farrago
First published on 3 April 1925, Farrago is Australia's oldest student newspaper. Farrago is published by the Melbourne University Student Union.- Name :...
, the Women's Department and the Queer Department; it also includes funds set aside for payment of NUS
National Union of Students (Australia)
The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...
affiliation fees. In 2009 it has put aside $65,000 for NUS, under some controversy while all other departments budgets have been slashed.
Following passage of the VSU legislation, the University has signed a three year, $16 million, funding arrangement for all University of Melbourne student organisations, including MU Sport and the postgraduate association (UMPA). Of this UMSUi will receive a little over $1.1m in 2006, $1m in 2007 and $0.9m in 2008. The total income of UMSUi is expected to decrease to $1.3m.
History
The University of Melbourne Union was founded in 1884 to promote the common interests of students and assist in social interactions between its members. The Melbourne University Students’ Representative Council was formed as an independent unincorporated association at a special general meeting called by the Sports Union Council on 19 September 1907.The Associations Incorporation Act, 1981
Associations Incorporation Act 1981 (Victoria)
Associations Incorporation Act 1981 is the act of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia to make provision for the incorporation of certain associations, for the regulation of these incorporated associations....
, allowed incorporation of student bodies, among others. The Students’ Association in 1987 as the Melbourne College of Advanced Education Students’ Association-Carlton Incorporated, and the Students’ Representative Council was incorporated in 1988 as Melbourne University Students’ Representative Council Incorporated. On 13 October 1988 the two merged to form Melbourne University Student Union Incorporated (MUSUi).
Voluntary liquidation
From 2002 some of the union's unprofitable commercial services were terminated, including U-Bar, and a property deal was entered into with Optima Property Development Group. A draft report from auditor PricewaterhouseCoopersPricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
warned in June 2003 that this could potentially create obligations beyond MUSUi's capacity to pay. The deal was for MUSUi to sublease student apartments to international students from the Optima Group. It did not proceed.
On 30 September 2003, Vice-Chancellor Alan Gilbert informed MUSUi that the University was terminating the 2003 Funding Agreement, effectively stripping it of any future money, citing "evidence of breaches by MUSUI of its obligations under the Agreement", (the agreement being "providing facilities, services or activities of direct benefit to students at the institution"). He also cited a "serious breakdown in governance, financial management and accountability structures within MUSU".
On February 6, 2004 the Union was placed into liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
by the Supreme Court of Victoria
Supreme Court of Victoria
The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...
after a vote by the Student Union Executive. MUSU's liquidator
Liquidator (law)
In law, a liquidator is the officer appointed when a company goes into winding-up or liquidation who has responsibility for collecting in all of the assets of the company and settling all claims against the company before putting the company into dissolution....
, Dean Royston McVeigh, said in his provisional liquidator's report, that the Union owed debts of $4.3 million (mainly to the University of Melbourne) but only had assets of $3.5 million. McVeigh acknowledged that these "debts" were the result of creative accounting by the University, with the University ultimately relinquishing any claim to such "debts". As a result it was no longer student-controlled (a prerequisite for affiliation to NUS
National Union of Students (Australia)
The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...
) and was in any case unable to pay affiliation fees. A new constitution was approved.
Master Ewart Evans, who was presiding over the hearings of the liquidators' examination until his retirement in 2005, was critical of the "somewhat precipitative" timing of civil court proceedings, which McVeigh quickly settled out of court after much adverse publicity about his own fees and expenses believed to total more than $8 million prior to producing a Liquidator's Report and convening a meeting of creditors. The downfall of MUSU was satirised by the Union Players
Melbourne University student organisations
Melbourne University student organisations provide representation for students and a wide range of services. Currently, student services at the University of Melbourne are provided by the university-managed company, MU Student Union Limited. A separate body called the University of Melbourne...
in the play Friday Night at the Union in 2004.
Recent Political History
Following the 2004 annual election, a coalition between the Liberal Club and the Labor right was defeated by a cooperative left, made up of National Labor Students (ALP Club), Socialist AlternativeSocialist Alternative (Australia)
Socialist Alternative is a Trotskyist political organisation in Australia formed by an expulsion from the former International Socialist Organisation in 1995. It is one of the largest groups of the Australian far Left, claiming to have the largest active membership. With branches across...
and a group of Green-anarchist students called Activate. The positions won by the left groups were for an interim student representative committee established by the University to oversee student representation and advocacy until the incorporation of UMSU.
UMSU saw few changes in its power dynamic from 2005-07. In 2007 National Labor Students held the President, Secretary and Education (Academic) Offices. The makeup of the 2007 Student Council had no ALSF presence (due to the Liberal Student tickets withdrawing from the annual elections prior to the opening of the ballot). The 2007 UMSU budget, due to funding cuts caused by VSU, was reduced from just over $2m in 2006 to $1.23m in 2007. This resulted in reductions in funding for departments, particularly those which traditionally have been considered high, such as the Activities, Clubs and Societies and Media Departments.
In 2008, the National Labor Students and Grassroots tickets, running as StandUp! and Activate respectively, won most of the paid positions in the Student Union. Their tenure in 2009 was highlighted by difficulties in passing budgetary support towards the National Union of Students
National Union of Students (Australia)
The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...
and Students for Palestine
Students for Palestine
Students for Palestine is a network of pro-Palestinian student activists based on various Australian university campuses. The group was set up in response to the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict...
organizations.
2009 saw nearly all major elected positions won by a Labor Right-Liberal coalition called Synergy. On Student Council, Synergy were elected to four positions (two Liberals and two Student Unity) and five positions were won by iUnion, a newly established ticket run by international students and former StandUp! office bearers.
Initial constitution
The Constitution of UMSU was drafted by a Student Representative Working Group, members of whom were elected in 2004 by electronic ballot; the University Secretary was appointed Returning Officer. The University was closely involved in the drafting process and provided free legal advice to the Working Group.| Faction | Leader | Seats held | 2004 - SRWG | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students for Change/Activate | Paul Donegan | 3 | ||||
| ALP Club - Labor Socialist Left | Paul Erickson | 3 | ||||
| Melbourne University Liberal Club (ALSF) | Christopher Jermyn | 3 | ||||
| Socialist Alternative Socialist Alternative (Australia) Socialist Alternative is a Trotskyist political organisation in Australia formed by an expulsion from the former International Socialist Organisation in 1995. It is one of the largest groups of the Australian far Left, claiming to have the largest active membership. With branches across... |
Rebecca Barrigos | 2 | ||||
| International Association | Huay Mei Lee | 1 | ||||
| Melbourne University Jewish Students (AUJS Australasian Union of Jewish Students The Australasian Union of Jewish Students is a federation of Jewish student societies at Australian and New Zealand universities and other higher education institutions. It was founded in 1948 at the University of Sydney and is affiliated with the World Union of Jewish Students. It is politically... ) |
Jason Rapke | 1 | ||||
| Melbourne University Labor Club (Student Unity) | James Rankin | 1 | ||||
| Independents | - | 4 |
These student Working Group members consisted of both undergraduate and post-graduate members, and the overall composition of the Working Group was factionally diverse, with the incumbent Student Unity/ALSF coalition being reduced to opposition status. Due to a large number of inquorate meetings, the Working Group instituted a drop-off rule.
The Working Group persisted until mid-2005, when the final draft of the Constitution was presented to the Council of the University.
In September, 1052 out of 1240 students voted in favour of accepting the new constitution.
The Constitution itself was largely based on the MUSU Constitution, with a number of innovations, including affirmative action provisions, pay-parity and strict accountability mechanisms curbing the powers of the President and Secretary in particular. It also created the Clubs & Societies Department (which in the past had been a part of the Activities Department) and the Indigenous Department.
Paid officers
UMSU has a number of paid officers, which are: Activities Officers; Arts Officer; Clubs and Societies Officers; Education (Public Affairs) Officer; Education (Academic Affairs) Officers; Welfare Officers; Environment Officers; Media Officers (Farrago editors); Indigenous Officer; President; Queer Officers; the Secretary and Women's Officers.Notable associations
Several Members of ParliamentParliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
were active within Melbourne University student life, including Sir Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
(former Australian Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
), Gareth Evans
Gareth Evans (politician)
Gareth John Evans, AO, QC , is a former Australian politician from 1978 to 1999 representing the Australian Labor Party, serving in a number of ministries including Attorney-General and Foreign Minister from 1983 to 1996 in the Hawke and Keating governments. He was president and chief executive...
(former Australian Foreign Minister), Lindsay Tanner
Lindsay Tanner
Lindsay James Tanner is a former Australian member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Melbourne, Victoria, for the Australian Labor Party, having first won the seat at the 1993 federal election. He was a member of the Australian Government from 3 December 2007, serving as...
(Member for Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
), Michael Danby
Michael Danby
Michael David Danby is an Australian politician and has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the Division of Melbourne Ports, Victoria...
(Member for Melbourne Ports), and Sophie Mirabella
Sophie Mirabella
Sophie Mirabella is an Australian federal politician. She has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2001, representing the Division of Indi, Victoria...
(Member for Indi).
Notable past presidents include:
- 1991: Andrew LanderyouAndrew LanderyouAndrew John Clyde Landeryou is an Australian political blogger, and online business consultant. In recent years, he has attracted attention initially through his blog "The Other Cheek: Andrew Landeryou's Blog of Freedom" and more recently VEXNEWS.-Background:Landeryou is the son of Bill Landeryou,...
- 1987: Evan ThornleyEvan ThornleyEvan William Thornley , former Australian politician and entrepreneur, was a Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Council for the Southern Metropolitan Region...
Student societies
- Melbourne University student organisationsMelbourne University student organisationsMelbourne University student organisations provide representation for students and a wide range of services. Currently, student services at the University of Melbourne are provided by the university-managed company, MU Student Union Limited. A separate body called the University of Melbourne...
- University of Melbourne Cricket ClubUniversity of Melbourne Cricket ClubThe University of Melbourne Cricket Club, often called simply "University", plays the sport of cricket in the elite club competition of Melbourne, Australia, known as Victorian Premier Cricket. The club was founded in 1856 and played its first season of premier cricket in 1906–07. Known as...
- Melbourne University Football ClubMelbourne University Football ClubMelbourne University Football Club, often known simply as University is an Australian rules football club.The club achieved prominence by being a member of the game's most elite competition in the early 20th century, the Victorian Football League between 1908 and 1914.Although there are no records...
- Melbourne University Sri Lankan Students' Association