Students oust executive in university ‘coup’

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 7

Students oust executive in university ‘coup’

FA Auckland A coup has been staged at Auckland University. A group of students dissatisfied with the performance of the Students’ Association executive members has ousted them from power. The group has taken control of the association headquarters while the president, Mr W'ayne Mclntosh, and about 12 executive members are attending a student council. meeting at Massey University.

The executive members have been to'ld that when they return to the campus it will be as ordinary students, and new elections will be held early next term. A spokesman for the group. Mr David Kirkpatrick, who is also editor of the university newspaper, “Craccum,” said that the direction in which the association leaders were heading had caused concern for some time. The revolutionary group, comprised of nine third and fourth-year students, had had experience in student politics and would administer the association under an acting

president, Mr Robert Young, until new elections were held, he said. Mr Kirkpatrick said that because of the university holidays his group had no way of gauging how much support it had among the student body. “We will see how much support we have in the elections,” he said. “It doesn't mean that the people who organised this will be putting their names forward in the election. They just want to see them held." Mr Mclntosh said from Palmerston North last evening that the students were acting illegally, and he hoped they would channel their energies through the established means. Executive members were elected by students, and if students wanted a change in direction then it could bedone by a general forum or referendum, he said. “We are concerned about the coup, and hope when wc return to Auckland .in the next few days the leaders will take time to voice their complaints to us."