Student Guild set to lose vital funding
Mon 22 May 2006
Byron Lawrie, Communication
The University of the Sunshine Coast Student Guild expects to lose more than $500,000 in funding after June 30, 2006.
In 2005 the guild received $543,837 from the General Services Fee that all USC students were required to pay. As of June 30, 2006 this fee will become voluntary because of the Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation adopted by the Federal Government.
When questioned about how much funding the guild expects to lose after VSU comes into effect, guild president Justin Raethel replied: “Essentially all of it.”
This opinion was reinforced by guild finance director Michael Buky who said he was expecting “no funding at all”.
Five people will lose their jobs as a direct result of VSU and the lack of funding.
The guild currently employs a receptionist, sports and events coordinator, health and welfare officer and an accountant. All will be jobless after June 30.
In addition to the loss of five jobs, other services expected to go include tenancy advice, sponsored sporting events, cheap barbecues, orientation week activities and the large 24-hour student room, complete with pay TV lounge and ATM.
The 24-hour student room will still exist, although in a greatly reduced form.
The guild will no longer be able to afford the $48,628 annual rent charged by the university, due to the expected reduction in funding. Under consideration for a future student guild room is a 6m x 2m demountable building.
Emma Kill, Health and Welfare Officer for the Student Guild, is one of five people who will no longer have a job after VSU is introduced. In the last month alone Emma advised and counselled 32 students.
She says when students deal with her there is “no stigma attached”.
“Students sometimes find it difficult or intimidating walking into Students Services and asking to see a counsellor,” she said. 
“There is also no conflict of interest as I am not employed by the university.”
With the lack of funding comes a lack of Student Guild control into what services students can expect to receive.
Barbara Lawrence, is the Director of Student Services at USC.
“The university intends to maintain the vast majority of services that are currently provided by the student guild,” she said.
One service that is not being taken away from the USC Student Guild is the ability to provide an independent voice for student concerns on campus. Many of the guild directors, such as Shannon Burza, agree that this is the most important service of all.
Image(s) designed by Byron Lawrie
Enter comments about this article
Submitted Comments
Call the shots: to be in charge; to be the boss in any given situation.
Money says they will call the shots.
Im glad that phrase was edited out of my article. Its too speculative and opinionated. :)
Byron
What does now call the shots actually mean?
journo
Who says they will call the shots?
anonymous
This bit of my article was edited out....
With the lack of funding comes a lack of Student Guild control into what services students can expect to receive at the university. VSU and the lack of funding for the guild will mean the USC Student Services department will now call the shots.
Barbara Lawrence, Director of Student Services at USC, said “the university intends to maintain the vast majority of services that are currently provided by the student guild” but could give no clear indication of what these services would entail.
Nice to see that censorship is alive and well at USC.
Byron