News

The Otago Polytechnic Student’s Association has acted on its threats to withdraw from the New Zealand University Students Association (NZUSA), calling for a referendum of its members to decide the issue of whether or not to remain part of the national body.


OPSA President Meegan Cloughley has been vocal in saying that OPSA is not getting value for its annual subscription fee of $31 000. “I have said the same thing for my three terms in this position: we have not seen financial accountability, their actions are not well communicated, and we have seen little proactive as well as reactive campaigning, so this isn’t a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction; it’s been going on for years,” Cloughley tells Critic.
    David Do, co-President of NZUSA, claims that these issues are now being addressed. “This year we have revised our financial policy to update the practices we have in the national office and we are pretty much close to completion, so we will be able to provide financial information faster and we have financial accounts and newsletters sent out to all the Exec committees to help them keep up to date with what we are doing.”
    Cloughley accepts that financial accountability is now being looked into but “the action of the policy needs to be implemented and followed.”
    Do believes it is ‘unfortunate’ it has to come to this, but has a key message for Otago Polytechnic students: “It is important to keep your strong national voice; we have delivered wins for the students and that can only continue if we stick together.”
    Cloughley meanwhile is of the opinion that NZUSA doesn’t appear to have a lot of concern for students: “I was told that changes to the tax, changes to repaying all student loans and also changes to Study Link, was not an issue.” While both sides agree the VSM campaign is of main concern this year Cloughley added, “this shouldn’t give reason to neglect other issues.” 
    The referendum will be held on either the September 15 or 16 to allow Polytechnic students to decide the issue.