Radio 1 and VSM

Dunedin’s Radio 1 was told in early July that there were recommendations for its sale, in bureaucratic terms, a recommendation is more of a threat than an option. OUSA had taken a decision without any consultation, neither the students nor the radio station were contacted until the announcement was made. It was a shock to everyone in Planet Media, the umbrella company that controls Critic and the iconic student radio station. According to Sean Norling, producer of Radio 1, the decision has no taken into account the interests or desires of the students. It also sets a precedent though.

Radio 1 and all other student services are being attacked as a product of the threat VSM poses. The Voluntary Student Membership Bill was drafted by ACT initially in 2005 but it wasn’t drawn into parliament until 2008. Heather Roy says tertiary students are “forced to join an organisation and pay the fees that they set.”# For this reason ACT is seeking to amend the Education Act of 1989 to “uphold students’ right to freedom of association”#. Currently all university students except those at the University of Auckland are automatically enrolled into their respective student unions and in exchange receive representation and services, ranging from counselling and advice, to entertainment and interest groups.

ACT is hiding behind a façade of democracy, saying their bill would allow students to have a choice, however the introduction of VSM would actually lead up to a forecasted 90% reduction in membership. At the end of the day this would mean less funding and, as a result, students associations could disappear altogether and with them all the benefits one gets from being part of the student union. ACT says it “does not seek to damage or limit students associations.”# Its bill though would do exactly that. In Australia, VSM lead to “closure of health, counselling, employment, childcare, welfare and academic advocacy services.”# The universities were forced to take over the services hitherto provided by the students associations; fees increased dramatically meaning fewer students had the chance to attend tertiary education and those who could were getting worse services and were less protected against fee rises than previously.

OUSA contacted financial advisers Deloitte. The audit the company made recommended the sale of Radio 1, saying the station is economically unviable- a fact disputed by the Radio 1 staff. Who it can be sold to is a mystery, as it is a non-profit organisation and the buyer would be obliged to accept the charter attached to the non-commercial 91 fm bandwave. What’s more worrying than any potential buyers though, is the fact that OUSA can sell off services without having to consult its members. This is why Sean Norling considers OUSA undemocratic, and serious constitutional changes need to be made. If not, OUSA will be able to get rid of other important services such as the food bank, Clubs and Socs, Unipol or Queer support. Students should be able to have an active voice in OUSA, especially when it comes to decisions that affect them. If any service is to be removed from the students, we should be given a chance to hear the debate behind the brick wall and we should be given the chance to express our opinion on the issue- what is democracy about otherwise?

Radio 1 turned its dials to the pop music currently around for a week after the decision was anounced as a form of protest. Whether you like current music or not is not the issue, the issue is that without Radio 1 we will not have the choice of music and the rising talent currently in Dunedin and in New Zealand. Radio 1 is an alternative radio station, with its speakers booming the songs volunteers choose. Because Radio 1 is a student radio station, run by the students, with local music, giving ample opportunity for the diversity of expression existant in Otago. Losing Radio 1 would constitute a loss of culture and identity, it would also set a precedent: OUSA will prove itself to be an undemocratic institution, unconcerned with the people it represents and the people it affects.

OGNA supports all protest action taken by Radio 1, the symbolic switch off of its programing that took place between the 3rd and 9th of July is an effective form of protest that clearly achieved its goal: to get people talking. Right now though we need people acting, signing petitions, demanding their fair say. Democracy is at stake.

D. F. Benson-Guiu