Stronger student voice forecast

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32977, 25 July 1972, Page 3

Stronger student voice forecast

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 24.

More militancy and effectiveness in tackling students’ problems was predicted by the national president of the University Students Association (Mr D. Cuthbert) today.

He was commenting on moves to set up a national union of students for university and teachers’ college students. The proposal has been voted on by most college and university students in the country and most have approved the idea. A decision will be made in August, and, if approved, the national union of students will come into effect in January. Six constituent universities were in favour, but Victoria students . had voted against the proposal, said Mr Cuthbert. Another meeting will be held at Victoria University for a decision. All but two of 10 teachers’ colleges had voted in favour of the move, and four colleges had yet to vote. The combined organisation would be far more militant in pressing for student teachers.

In the past the Education Department had run roughshod over them. They were not represented on teachers’ college councils, whereas university student representation was a fact of life, Mr Cuthbert said. Principals of teachers’ colleges would find life a little rough for the first few years, but they had had life easy lately, he said. The organisation would benefit students in trade and travel concessions and it was hoped that some advances would be made in increasing students’ participation in the decision-making process. As well, a joint organisation would add immense strength to the antiapartheid movement, said Mr Cuthbert.

The organisation would be much bigger, and would have more full-time officers.