Last year I actively campaigned to retain compulsory membership on the grounds that students stood to lose their collective voice under a voluntary regime. Currently we have student representatives on every University board and committee, ensuring that students interests are accounted for in every decision the powers that be make, our ability to do this under voluntary membership would be severely weakened. Student representation works because everyone is involved. Any individual can go to the University with a problem or suggestion and be ignored, but when the Association goes to the University, it has authority because we represent all students on campus. Under voluntary membership all that would be at risk.
Collective representation gives students considerable power to influence decision making.
But with this power comes a certain level of responsibility, and it is important that the Association exercises it in a manner that is accountable and democratic. From the Academic Board where some of the most important decisions are made, through to individual Faculty Committees, we need students to get involved. I thought you would have had to be here for years and know the University inside out and back to front in order to make a difference, but I was wrong. The only thing you need to be a student representative is a genuine desire to help people and make things better, all the information and support you need will come later. We employ a full-time Education Coordinator to assist reps in their preparation for meetings and assist individual students who are having problems.