Otago University Students' Association

The Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) is the student body of which all students enrolled at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand are members.

OUSA advocates on behalf of students within the university's administration and governing systems as well as providing a raft of facilities and services, from the Student Union with its cafes and social activities, to recreation centres and student media. Via its wholly-owned subsidiary Planet Media Dunedin Limited, OUSA owns and operates a student magazine, Critic, 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,^[1] 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, 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"^[2], 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 5000 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.

Structure

The Association is headed by a seventeen-member executive led by the OUSA President. Members are elected each August and serve from January to December the following year.^[3] The Executive consists of: The President, Finance and Services Officer (Vice-President), Education Officer, Welfare Officer and student representatives from the University's divisions (Health, Science, Commerce, Humanities), 2 general representatives, and representatives for women, Maori, Pacific Island, post-graduate, international, and (since 2009) Queer students. 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.

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.^[4]

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 (Natasha Mason) and three part-time receptionists.

Clubs and Societies

OUSA Clubs and Societies Centre in 2009

Many of the student clubs and societies operated under the auspices of OUSA have long traditions within Otago University. The Otago University Debating Society 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^[5] to Roleplaying to the Young Nats.

References

External links

• OUSA official website
• Critic - weekly newspaper
• Radio One - student radio station
• Planet Media
• University of Otago site
• UNIPOL Sports Centre
• Student Job Search
• University Book Shop
• NZUSA is the national student body, of which OUSA is a founding member.