In a first for Victoria University students, staff from Wellington branches of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) have set up a drop-in service at the university.

The drop-in service established late last month, is located in the Atrium at Kelburn Campus and is available to students 12.30 – 2.30pm every Tuesday. Students have this two-hour opportunity to discuss issues relating to legal, financial and employment issues. CAB also provide a Justice of the Peace service.

The service is staffed by Manager Nicki McLeod and veteran volunteer Cheryl McDonald.Although the service is off to a slow start, Area Manager Mary O’Regan says that the time spent with students is of great value and provides ease of access for those needing advice.

“The wonderful thing about our service is that no one is in a rush, so they [CAB Volunteers] will give people all the time they need.”

The drop-in is the first to be provided at a tertiary institution in Wellington, and CAB hopes that they can extend the service to other universities soon.

Waikato University currently has a permanent office on campus which is accessible to students and the public during term time. It is the only permanent on-site office at a tertiary institution in New Zealand.

Between 2008 and 2009, 208 students utilised the service.

A number of students spoken to by Salient were unaware that the drop-in service existed. A survey of a 300-level Politics lecture indicated that only four students knew about the service, but 17 said that they may use the service in the future.

The service has had four student enquiries each week since it started. Students Alex Benton, Shani Gray and their flatmate Kylie Benton used the service last week and said they found it useful for answering their query about tenancy issues.

Gray says that the ease of using the drop-in at Victoria was great and she may not have used CAB otherwise.

“I found it a lot easier to come here. I am not sure that I would have gone to another office to get the same information. I think I would have just left it.”

Advertising for the drop-in was limited to a MyVictoria announcement and a number of flyers posted around the university. McLeod hopes that advertising is increased soon and that the service can be extended to other campuses.

Maria Gonclaves-Rorke, Manager of Financial Support and Advice at Victoria University recognises the importance for ease of accessibility for students and believes that the service will complement services for students available on and off campus.

“The team at Citizens Advice not only have a large amount of information they can share, but they are also able to refer students to other places that can help, such as the Community Law Centre or to services within the university.”

Gonclaves-Rorke says the service is a pilot programme for Vic and it will be monitored to see if is worthwhile.

Wellington City Council sheds light on the issue

The idea of a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ has become a reality for students residing at the Botanical Garden end of Salamanca Road as a result of streetlight problems.

Residents say that the lights along the top end of Salamanca Road have been turning off and on through the night for quite a while.

“It’s been happening since we moved in at the start of the year, but has increased recently,” says Cherri Hartigan, a student resident of Salamanca Road.

“Almost every time I have left the house at night for the last couple of weeks it has been pitch black, which is quite dangerous.”

The safety issue around the seemingly broken streetlights is also a concern to the Wellington City Council.

The council is in control of the Wellington streetlight network, which includes approximately 16,000 streetlights.

Each year the council completes a number of street lighting improvements prioritised based on aspects such as night-time crashes, night-time pedestrian demand, vehicle volumes and the number of ‘high risk’ individuals such as children or cyclists in the area.

Council Communications Officer Richard MacLean says that a lack of lighting is particularly concerning around the university.

“The area around the university is a high priority for obvious reasons—it’s very busy and there are lots of students around.”

MacLean says that the street lighting staff were not aware of the problem on Salamanca Road but would immediately check out the situation and rectify it if necessary.

“Sometimes faults do occur, and lights go out when they reach the end of their working life,” MacLean explained. “Although the main arterial routes through the city are patrolled and inspected monthly, we also rely on the public calling us to let us know.”

VUWSA’s Campus Angels were introduced eight years ago in response to the dangers around Victoria University at night, following a “spate” of incidents and police warnings, says Welfare Vice-President Seamus Brady.

“We continue to provide the service to give those studying late on campus the option of being accompanied to an area safely.”

Brady says that although the Campus Angels report back to VUWSA, there have not been that many complaints about street lighting.

“We haven’t had any complaints about the lighting on Salamanca. However, the lights on Mount Street did turn off when I was leaving the office other night.”

Other problem areas include the Te Aro campus, which the Campus Angels now patrol, and the lack of lighting around the Boyd Wilson Field.

“VUWSA will be conducting a Campus Safety Audit later this month to make sure these issues are identified and we have the support of the university in getting them addressed.”

Brady says that many students do not take advantage of the Angels service.

“Overall usage of the Campus Angels service has not been as good as I would hope. But I think the peace of mind and point of contact they provide students is just as important.”

The council’s street lighting team says it is also important for people to let them know about any problems they notice with streetlights.

“If anyone spots a streetlight that’s off at night—or is ‘flashing’ and looking like it’s on the ‘blink’, then they should call the council on 499 4444 or message our info@wcc.govt.nz email address.”

Victoria University will be graced with the presence of both New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters and Labour MP Grant Robertson this Wednesday.

Following the recent visits of Prime Minister John Key, both politicians are visiting the university to talk to students.

Peters will speak in Meeting Room 3 of the Student Union Building at Kelburn Campus from 12 – 1pm. All are welcome and questions will be taken.

Robertson, Labour’s Spokesperson for Tertiary Education, is holding a Tertiary Talk in Cotton 118 at Kelburn Campus from 5.30pm. He will be discussing Labour’s views for tertiary education and will address current issues such as enrolment caps and restricted access to student loans.

Peters also visited the university’s Te Herenga Waka Marae last Monday for a Maori Business Hui. These visits follow New Zealand First’s recent calls for the government to ensure that domestic students do not miss out to international fee-paying students in their access to tertiary education.

University Considers Changes to Trimester Three

Victoria students may soon face a raft of changes to the university’s trimester three summer school programme.

VUWSA President Max Hardy told Salient last week that a proposal has been presented to the Academic Board to reduce trimester three to a six-week summer school for undergraduate courses. If changed, the trimester would run from January to March and bring Victoria into line with other universities, including University of Auckland and Otago University, which both have six week summer schools.

Hardy says that VUWSA will oppose the changes, which are currently with the faculties for comment.

“Students currently use the third trimester as a chance to fast-track or finish their degrees, and the option should remain available. The university should not make it harder for students to finish their degree by reducing the options available to students.”

Hardy says that this may also create difficulties for students applying for StudyLink funding.

“Students may also not be able to get student loans and allowances for the third trimester if they, for example, only have to study one course to finish their degree. At the moment they can do a final course in the same calendar year as their main courses.”

The proposal includes exemptions for some courses that will still run from October to December. It will return to the Academic Board at their next meeting at the end of this month.

Changes have already been made to some summer school courses. Last Wednesday the School of Accounting and Commercial Law announced changes to their trimester three programme via MyVictoria.

“Regrettably, there will be no undergraduate courses offered by the School of Accounting and Commercial Law in the summer trimester 2011/2012,” wrote Head of School Ian Eggleton.

Third trimester paper COML 203 ‘Legal Environment of Business’ had not been removed from the Course Catalogue when Salient went to print.

Students who feel strongly about these issues are advised to contact VUWSA.

Salient will follow up the proposal and course changes in the next issue.

Current problems in the tertiary sector will be able to be better addressed with a change of title, the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee announced recently.

The committee launched its new name, Universities New Zealand-Te Pokai Tara, at an event hosted by Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce at parliament earlier this month.

Universities New Zealand Chair Derek McCormack says that the change will help universities collectively address tertiary funding problems.

“More than ever, now is the time for our universities to speak with a unified voice as we respond to these challenges.

“The name Universities New Zealand-Te Pokai Tara will help us to accomplish this. It offers us easier name recognition as we seek to remind the public about the vital role that universities play in New Zealand society.”

Universities New Zealand consists of the vice-chancellors of New Zealand’s eight universities and carries out a number of functions, including academic quality assurance, funding applications, administration of scholarships and promotion and representation of the universities.

The organisation is funded almost entirely by the universities.

When questioned about the suitability of rebranding during the current tertiary funding crisis, Universities New Zealand Strategic Communications Manager Matt Huntington told Salient that he believes the cost will pay off over time.

Huntington says the total cost of rebranding was $20,054.50 and the cost of the launch was $4005. The agency that carried out the rebranding offered one of the lowest tenders the committee had received for the development of the new brand.

“From day one, cost was one of the parameters of the rebranding. The cost factor was one of the most important considerations.”

The aim of the rebranding is to create a body that the public can better recognise, relate to and understand.
The development follows rebranding exercises by similar university organisations in the United Kingdom and Australia. These changes have been largely successful and in Australia saw an extra $1 billion allocated to the tertiary sector, Huntington says.

The cost of the rebranding will hopefully be returned in a similar way in New Zealand, Huntington says.

New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) Co-President David Do says he has no particular views on the suitability of the costs associated with rebranding , but says that he thinks it is important that the universities develop a better relationship with the public.

Do says that NZUSA supports many of the goals that Universities New Zealand is trying to achieve.

“There is more that we agree on than disagree on.”

Huntington and Do both told Salient that it was important that Universities New Zealand could persuade the public of the important role of universities and graduates. With public support and a united body representing universities, they argue, it will be easier for problems to be addressed.

Recent issues such as high demand for university places, limited funding and enrolment caps have presented New Zealand universities with a number of challenges.

As reported in Salient, a number of universities have closed enrolments early this year due to inadequate government funding. In May Victoria University closed domestic undergraduate enrolments for the remainder of 2010. Managed enrolments will come into effect for 2011.

The new name, which in Maori represents a flock of caspian terns, was launched with associated visual imagery. The imagery depicts eight terns flying upwards together, said to represent the eight New Zealand universities, their role as a source of knowledge and a sense of awakening that education can provide.

Universities New Zealand will still operate under its former name to fulfill some functions, says Universities New Zealand Executive Director Penny Fenwick.

“While we retain the name New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee in order to exercise our statutory functions and powers, the name Universities New Zealand-Te Pokai Tara will be our public face, as it more accurately conveys the role we play as peak body representing New Zealand’s eight universities.”

An opportunity for students to have a direct input into their education will take place at next month’s Student Forum.

Held in the Memorial Theatre on Monday 6 September from 2 – 3pm, the forum will be hosted by Chancellor Ian McKinnon, Vice-Chancellor Pat Walsh and VUWSA President Max Hardy.

This forum is a follow-on from last year’s fee forum, but this year students will have the opportunity to ask questions about more than just fees.

Hardy says he thinks this development will be received well by students.

“VUWSA thought that some students would appreciate the opportunity to engage with the leaders of VUW about the general direction of VUW, rather than just about fees.”

The forum will cover government policies impacting the university, key developments in the university and the student fees process, including the setting of domestic fees for 2011.

The forum will also enable McKinnon, Walsh and Hardy to communicate the issues considered by the University Council when setting student fees and determining the university’s strategic direction.

This forum is similar to Massey University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Student Forum held in July, which also allowed students the opportunity to ask questions on a range of topics. Unlike Massey’s forum, the Victoria forum will not be accessible online.

He’s Dunne it again

The government will reduce repayment penalties for students living overseas with student loan debt, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne told students at Auckland University of Technology last Tuesday.

Dunne says that legislation will be introduced in the next few months to implement a number of changes, including an online repayments system. He says a number of students have been made “refugees” because of repayment penalties and hopes that the changes will encourage these students to return home.

“Student debt is a big factor in people’s decisions to leave New Zealand sooner and stay away longer.

“Of course we want many of our young people to go overseas and have those great life experiences, but we also want to attract them home.”

The changes will make it easier for students to repay their debt while overseas and in return will reduce the repayment penalties when they return to New Zealand. This is the first step in the government’s plan to reclaim overseas debt.

“We’re doing more work in this area to try and see if we can get better engagement with them and also keep a better record of where they are and what they’re paying.”

This announcement comes just weeks after Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce announced that the government would look at ways to reduce student debt by targeting students living overseas.

Currently, overseas students account for one fifth of New Zealand’s $283 million of overdue loan repayments.

Salient is still awaiting official turnout figures from the recent VUWSA by-election, a week and a half after the votes were counted and the results confirmed.

Salient was provided with the total number of votes cast in the by-election, but not the number of individual students who voted.

The turnout figures were requested from Returning Officer Sara Fraser the evening the results were released
Fraser responded to this email after last week’s issue went to print, saying she would be in the office “sporadically” and that she “may be able to provide them [the figures] then”.

A second email was sent to Fraser last Tuesday to remind her Salient had requested the turnout figures. There has been no response to this email.

Salient could be waiting a while, with Fraser only working a limited number of hours in the Returning Officer position. And we’ve got no idea when she’ll be back in the office. Sigh.

Labour MP Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban advised her caucus last Tuesday that she is stepping down from parliament and taking a new career at Victoria University in the newly created position of Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika).

Vice-Chancellor Pat Walsh is delighted with the appointment, which he announced in a press release on Tuesday.

“Ms Laban’s expertise and experience in Pacific Island affairs made her the ideal candidate for the role and we look forward to the contribution she will make in this newly created position.”

Laban is looking forward to the new role and tackling the issues that Pasifika students face in tertiary education.

“This enables me to continue my passion for Pacific people, young people and more importantly, having a role in education outcomes that will lead to stronger economic development for the Pacific community.”

Research shows that Pasifika students are increasing in number at tertiary level, however, completion rates are low. Pat Walsh says the newly created role is in response to the growing number of issues facing Pasifika in education.

“A number of plans and programmes are already in place at Victoria to improve participation, retention and the academic success of Pacific students. The new role of Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika) will provide leadership and vision for many of these projects.”

Laban has held her electoral seat with a strong majority over the years and Labour leader Phil Goff says that he is sad to see her go. Laban’s resignation from parliament means there will be a by-election held for the Mana electorate.

Things get SSALASTIC!

Results from the inaugural Student Services and Amenities Levy Advisory Committee (SSALAC) Consultation have been collated and are currently under review by the committee.

VUWSA President Max Hardy says the final recommendation to the Vice-Chancellor, based on student feedback, will be made in the next couple of weeks.

As reported in Salient, the SSALAC Consultation invited students to have their say in the student services levy and how it is spent. In 2010 the levy was $510 for full-time students.

More than 200 students took part in the survey, approximately one per cent of students.

Hardy says that the results were mixed.

“I can confirm that some students thought that the levy was too high, whilst other students thought the levy was necessary and good value.”

The consultation was developed following an agreement between VUWSA and the university to ensure students had a say in the levy.

Hardy says that VUWSA will ensure there is a wider annual survey from next year, with an official announcement on changes to be made soon.

The Marlborough Disctrict Council last week declined an application for a liquor licence made by Undie 500 organisers for their event in the Marlborough town of Seddon.

Organisers Canterbury University’s Engineering Society (Ensoc) will not be allowed to sell alcohol at the Undie 500 event, which was set to be held in Seddon after landowners Trish and Chris Redwood agreed to host the event on their property. As reported in Salient, the Redwoods offered their property after Ensoc were told they were no longer welcome in Dunedin.

A hearing was held early this month to determine whether Ensoc were eligible to serve alcohol on the Seddon property.

Marlborough District councillor Andrew Barker argued that the Marlborough District Council had made the decision out of an emotional response rather than on the facts. The reasoning behind the rejection is yet to be released. The council say it will be included in a full report of the hearing, due this week.

The police have been firm opponents to the Undie 500 tradition and made a submission against the organisers’ application for a liquor licence.

Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan of Blenheim says that the event is focused purely on alcohol consumption.

“It doesn’t contribute anything to the province and would have been a cost to the province through emergency services and health services.”

Ensoc President Michael Cook says that Ensoc were committed to successfully hosting an official Undie 500 this year but the liquor license decision will mean that they will need to start over again.

“Going somewhere else is an option; we just have to reassess and see what we can do.”

Cook also remained coy on the possibility of making the event BYO alcohol.

“If we decided to still have a BYO, the cops could still shut us down.”

Victoria University student and 2009 Undie 500 attendee Adam Clark says that the event was important for maintaining a fun and eventful image of student life.

“They shut down Gardies in Dunedin, now they want to shut down everything else that is fun to do whilst going through the hardships of student life.”

The Marlborough District Council can exercise their ability to enforce a liquor ban over the area if the event organisers wish to continue plans to have it in Seddon.

According to the Marlborough District Council website, the council maintains the power to ban liquor for one-off events.

“[The] council can use this power generally, to create on-going liquor bans in public places, or to ban liquor for one-off special events or occasions in public places.”

In May this year, after displays of public concern, the Justice and Electoral Select Committee sent the Search and Surveillance Bill back to the drawing board. In the last fortnight the bill has swooped back into the parliamentary picture.

The Justice and Electoral Select Committee has released recommendations for the bill in an interim report, suggesting changes including clarifying the “relationship between the bill and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990”.

The report indicates that the extent of power envisioned in the initial bill will be downsized, however, those opposed to the bill say the interim report does not correct fundamental problems.

“The Search and Surveillance Bill is an assault on every New Zealander’s fundamental rights and freedoms. There is simply no justification for this massive increase in state power,” says Lee Warren from Campaign to Stop the Bill.

In its current format, the bill will allow warrantless searches to be carried out on suspicion and grants ‘enforcement officers’ powers to seize items in plain view.

Other contentious provisions include agencies being given the right to search computers and email, and the introduction of examination orders, requiring individuals to report to the police for questioning. Circumstances where video and audio surveillance are able to be carried out will also broaden dramatically.

While supporters say the bill is simply a tool to consolidate existing powers, those opposed say this is not the case. Many of the powers that the Search and Surveillance Bill will grant to police and government agencies are previously unlegislated.

Further public submissions are being called for on the Search and Surveillance Bill.

Submissions can be emailed to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee Clerk at james.picker@parliament.govt.nz until Friday 3 September.

A public debate will be held on Monday 30 August between Michael Bott from the Council for Civil Liberties and National MP Chester Burrows, venue to be confirmed.

The Student Union Building’s (SUB) computers will be relocated to the Central Library on Saturday 21 August.

The library’s level 2 suite will also be closed on the Saturday while the computers are moved. Students will still have limited access to computers on level one of the library.

Over the next few months the SUB suite will be upgraded as part of the SUB refurbishment, and more computers will be added to the library.

These changes are part of the university’s Campus Hub Development, the first part of which is due for completion in 2013.

Stupid gaping hole filled with construction toys almost nearly close to being something, maybe.

The prolonged redevelopment of the Boyd Wilson Field is approaching its conclusion, with the project designated a new deadline of early October. It was originally intended for completion by the end of August, but consistent heavy rain since construction began on 15 March has pushed it further and further back.

Although the field currently resembles a muddy bog, it will be fitted with artificial turf and a new drainage system suited to the unique geological characteristics of the site. The new surface, along with accompanying floodlights, will create a safe, all-year playing surface for the university.

VUWSA President Max Hardy says an opening event is planned for the project’s completion. He says the finished product will greatly benefit the university.

“The project will dramatically increase the number of usable hours per week and the quality of the surface and games that can be played on it.”

The original proposal was made last year, outlining prospective use of the facility by students. A timetabled plan for its use is expected, with $50 an hour being the anticipated cost. Up to four teams will be able to use the turf simultaneously. Maintenance expenditure will be continuous to make sure the field remains in good condition.

There are still a few hurdles to jump over before the project is finished. The floodlights need to be completed, and asphalt paths ringing the field as prior to the redevelopment also need to be laid. Finally, 500 cubic metres of sand and rubber granules will be introduced to create the playing surface.

Any questions about the redevelopment can be directed to Satish Dahya, the project manager, at satish.dahya@vuw.ac.nz.

Many Maori living in Australia are struggling to maintain te reo Maori there, recent Victoria University research shows.

According to the research compiled by senior associate of Victoria University’s Institute of Policy Studies Paul Hamer, one in six Maori now live in Australia but struggle to maintain the language there.

“Six per cent of Maori in Australia speak te reo in the home, but Maori don’t all tend to live in the same neighbourhoods there—one of the factors that makes it difficult to maintain the language.

“Maori migrants who speak te reo are perhaps more in danger of losing their language than other immigrant groups because Maori fit so easily into Australian workplaces and communities, and they also have a high intermarriage rate,” Hamer said.

Melissa Thorne (Rangitane/Ngati Kahungunu) has been living in Perth for 15 years and says her knowledge of te reo Maori also deteriorated since she left New Zealand.

However, she does try to make her children aware of their culture and teaches them some basic phrases.

“Perth has yearly culture festivals that I love going to and really makes me feel at home. It’s just sad that because I live in Aussie my kids won’t get the same experiences I did with our culture,” Thorne says.

Hamer’s research found that many speakers of Maori, including some Maori language teachers, are leaving New Zealand, often in search of higher paid work.

Using Australian census data, he calculates more than 10,000 speakers of te reo moved to Australia between 1986 and 2006.

Are you a stingy student who still wants to enjoy the good life with a group of mates?

If so, you might just be interested in an initiative set up by Victoria University commerce graduate Daniel Taiaroa and postgraduate student Andrew Henry. Their new business, dealeater.co.nz , could see you and your mates receive up to 50 per cent discount from local businesses in Wellington.

While similar in concept to already established websites such as VoucherMate and Dailydo, dealeater.co.nz ’s point of difference is that it provides discounts on group bookings to protect the interests of businesses involved and encourages groups to dine together, says Taiaroa.

“It offers an incentive to share with family and friends.”

The pair are keen to promote the website among students, for whom discounted local goods and services could prove “very beneficial”. Henry has drawn on his own student experience for the website.

“Studying for several years has given me a masters in the economics of being broke.”

Developed as an innovative and cheap way for businesses to market themselves, by signing up to the website members stand to gain discounts at movie theatres, health and beauty stores, a range of eateries and on other activities around Wellington. Some businesses that dealeater.co.nz already has offers with include Paramount Theatre, coffee shops Memphis belle and Beach Babylon and the restaurant The Flying Burrito Brothers.

The website was launched last Friday and its creators are welcoming any suggestions from students on the places that they want discounts from.

Visit dealeater.co.nz for more information.

Your next text message could save your life, thanks to a new initiative by Wellington City Council.

The Wellington Emergency Management Office (WEMO) recently launched a service allowing locals to register to receive text message alerts prior to and during the event of an emergency or disaster.

The council’s Emergency Preparedness Manager Fred Mecoy says that the initiative is an important development.

“The ability to deliver timely warnings and alerts through mobile phones is an important step to ensuring Wellingtonians have the information they need to protect themselves and their families.”

Signing up is easy, just text ‘start’ to 8987 and follow the four-step process. Registration costs the price of four texts at the standard rate.

The council has also started a campaign to recruit and train large numbers of new civil defence volunteers. With 60 new volunteers, tasks include running the civil defence centres around the city and distributing information to the public.

For further information about getting involved with the seven-week induction course, see www.wellington.govt.nz.

Salient’s prized Brad Pitt’s Half-Eaten Garlic Naan arrived at the office last Monday mounted, framed and labelled with a printed sticker.

Although seemingly well preserved, its glass case prevents Salient staffers from harnessing Pitt’s genetic material from its chewed edges.

Its preservation also prevents Salient Chief Sub-Editor Michael Langdon from carrying out his plan to eat the month-old bread. This is fortunate, as it is probably hard to check grammar when afflicted with an acute case of food poisoning.

The framed naan features a grease patch, coriander and authentic chunks of garlic stuck to the glass. It currently appears to have no mould, although it is hard to tell how long it will remain fungus-free.

If it remains intact for a long time it can be kept in the Salient office and then later sold on for a higher price to fund the magazine if VSM is introduced.

Watch this space/Antiques Roadshow.

Angelina and Brad have Date Nights, Naan on the menu…

Angelina Jolie told Mail on Sunday that she schedules date nights with partner Brad Pitt to hold their relationship together.

The couple plan time away from their six children to spend time alone as a couple, sometimes having dinner together on the neighbouring property the couple own.

“We actually schedule them (date nights). We just had one the other night and we went next door so we didn’t have to worry about the paparazzi and the kids didn’t know where we were.”

If Angelina’s interested, Salient has a half-eaten naan for Brad to finish off. We might even throw in a butter chicken.

Tenacious Trickster scams one computer at a time

New Zealand Internal Affairs have warned the public to look out for a computer scammer targeting the public one computer at a time.

Last week a Christchurch woman was phoned by a man who asked if she had a computer, told her there was a problem with it and then said he needed to log on to fix it.

Internal Affairs are now investigating the incident and believe the man called from within New Zealand.

The man’s methods have surprised investigators, as scammers usually use technology to access millions of users, rather than calling one person at a time.

That’s dedication.

The mysterious appearance of a road cone on top of a Victoria University bus stop late last month has finally been explained.

Last week a first-year student admitted to placing the road cone on the roof of the bus stop outside Kelburn Campus’ UniStop, where it has remained for over a fortnight.

First noticed by a university cleaner, the cone had left university staff, students and Go Wellington bus drivers questioning how and why it had been placed on top of the bus stop.

A student, who wished to remain anonymous, approached Salient last week with information about the cone.

He says he and his friends threw the cone onto the roof of the bus stop after a “raging night” at student bar the Big Kumara. On the way home the group passed a set of cones left around at a local roadworks site.

“One of my mates grabbed it and was like, wearing it as a hat and stuff. Then we were pretending we had massive orange dicks. It was pretty funny, eh.”

The students did not realise how far they had carried the cone until they reached the university.

“It was pretty heavy and we’d all had a go with it, so we chucked it up there so we could laugh about it again on Monday at uni. We didn’t think anyone would notice and, like, care, you know?”

University Public Transport Manager Denise Sherold says she is glad to have the issue resolved.

“We like to monitor these developments and get to the bottom of them as fast as possible.”

She says that the university will take a stricter stance in future.

“Although the student will not be punished in this instance, we warn other students that this kind of behaviour is not funny, nor is it acceptable,” she chuckled.

Students spoken to by Salient say they had enjoyed the placement of the cone.

“Everyday when I walked past it to go to UniStop it’d crack me up. It was just so weird, I wanna meet the guys who put it up there!”

Salient understands that the cone will be removed and returned to the Transport Association as soon as possible.

The Transport Association’s Traffic Cone Division last month released a Traffic Cone Retention Report. Statistics indicated that theft and loss of cones in the last year has increased by 16 per cent since 2008.

The report could not explain the increase but did identify common causes and sources of theft and loss, including bus stop roofs, student flats, Facebook-initiated ‘Steal a Road Cone’ days and on top of drunken party-goers’ heads.

Ngā Mahi Hianga a te Tauira – Part One

Hey you! Yes, you, you Pukamata addict. YOU! I seen you up there stealing other people’s boyfriends, rowing your farm and feeding the whanau in that restaurant of yours. Then in the same hour taking your gang to bust out some jewels and travel the globe in search of mischief, clothes, boyfriends or points. Yes. Points. You guys know to what I’m referring to. Even though it’s banned from the upstairs computer room of *you know where* I seen people on those comps doing their ‘assignments’. Ha! So we got interested, and here’s some of the games our people have seen you people play… and here’s what we think. Part One.

Sorority Life

What is Sorority Life? Does it contribute to my university life? Can my achievement on this game be replicated in reality? The most important question I have thought of is why is there no skin tone option for “Māori” complexion when you create your model?

These are all questions that plague me before I go to sleep at night. So I have done extensive research to help me on my path to answering these questions (A.K.A. talked to fellow addicts). So what is Sorority Life? For all you harry hard-out academics out there who don’t add every single ‘new app’ on Facebook, Sorority Life is a world based around you and your desires to climb the social ladder. From the beginning the competition begins when you create your female model who lives on a college campus (no doubt in America), and the overall goal is to do whatever it takes to reign supreme over this world by socialising, networking and even fighting other players. It isn’t all hard work though, there are many games, and I must say there is nothing like buying a new piece of clothing or an accessory, and don’t even get me started on how enjoyable it is to steal someone’s online boyfriend… Scandal!

So for all dedicated procrastinators, Sorority Life provides a lifetime of reasons not to do your assignment that is usually due in an hour. It has also been known to keep people up til early hours in the morning so that they can continue their pursuit for the next level of sorority life greatness.

Can my achievement on this game be replicated in reality? I currently am a multimillionaire, own 150 modes of transportation and my wardrobe is the size of the Island Bay Warehouse, and don’t even get me started on how many boyfriends I have bought. In short, the answer to this question is stop dreaming, mate!

So in conclusion, if you desire the thrill of climbing the imaginary social ladder in cyberspace, then Sorority Life is the game for you. I play this game for the great clothes, but I would like to send out a warning to all people who are easily addicted—stop! Do not search for Sorority Life on Facebook! The consequences could be great.

These are the first signs of an addict: people who buy things for Sorority Life with their own money (brownie points), people who cut all contact with their friends because they stole their sorority
boyfriend, and, last but not least, those who have assignments due but are buying new clothes on Sorority Life.

Who Has The Biggest Brain?

Man who thinks he’s a gorilla “eats, shoots and leaves!”
Facebook application: Who has the biggest brain?
Users = over 1.2 million, 200,000 ‘likes’
Facebook “user-generated” rating = 4/5 stars

Apparently I have a brain the size of a gorilla, e kī e kī! Pokokōhua Facebook! Maka tiko bum!

I spent five years at this Whare wānanga to be told by a fourpart, two-minute quiz that I have the brain of a gorilla—I mean, a brain the “size” of a gorilla’s brain. Welcome all to the hype that is Who Has the Biggest Brain.

Another way to look at this sudden realisation is that I have spent these last five years to find out that I should not have bothered at all, that despite the two degrees that I have ended up with I cannot run from the size of my brain, and therefore hide from my genetically predetermined future… of foraging all day long? To be honest, I am relieved that something can be so blunt/honest and finally make me realise that my destiny is not that of ‘a leader of tomorrow’, or of ‘a mover and shaker’. Instead I should spend my time foraging for leaves and making a nest (usually out of my favourite food). A quick look on Wikipedia (key search ‘Gorilla’ if you were wondering) led to a fascinating discovery, that 98-99% of our DNA is shared with Gorillas. It also states that Gorillas are highly intelligent. Ana tō kai e Facebook! Therefore I am hopeful and encouraged that my gorilla brain will actually do just fine. Kia ora Facebook… Kia ora!

BTW this game is tiko tarau. My rating? 4/5 tikos.

Next installment…Family Feud, Geo Challenge, Mafia Wars, Word Challenge.

No Confidence misses out

Results of the VUWSA by-election were released shortly before 6pm last Thursday, with a candidate elected to each one of the five vacant positions contested.

Although students had the option of voting No Confidence for Vice-President (Education) and International Officer, these positions were won by Bridie Hood with 662 votes and Paul Zhong with 604 votes.

Other successful candidates were Richard Carr as Vice-President (Administration), 317 votes; Tom Reed as Queer Officer, 298 votes; and Timothy Parker as Publications Committee Representative, 753 votes.

Bridie Hood has held the role of Acting Vice-President (Education) for the first half of 2010. When spoken to by Salient, Hood seemed overjoyed with the by-election result.

“I am very very pleased and excited!”

As Vice-President (Education), Hood says she will create stronger ties with education rep groups, faculty delegates and create a strong base at the Karori Campus, with the goal of setting up an education rep group.

Richard Carr was also pleased with his new position.

“I am honoured to be voted as the Vice-President (Administration) for the rest of 2010 and I thank every student who voted in the election.”

Carr says he is dedicated to moving VUWSA towards a more “prosperous and cost-effective future”, so that the organisation is not crippled if Roger Douglas’ VSM bill is passed in parliament.

VUWSA Activities Officer Alan Young also stood for the Vice-President (Administration) position, coming a close second with 297 votes.

As reported in Salient, No Confidence was not offered as an option for Publications Committee Representative, despite there being only one candidate for the position. This is because the inclusion of No Confidence if this situation arises is not specified in the constitution. Students still had the option of selecting ‘no vote’ on their ballot forms.

This anomaly means that a candidate could win the position with just one vote. When Salient raised this with VUWSA President Max Hardy, he said he would look into the issue.

Salient’s Academic Idol competition has not received more votes in total than were cast in the by-election, however, votes cast for the competition last week alone exceeded the 317 votes won by Carr.

Salient requested voter turnout figures from VUWSA Returning Officer Sara Fraser. Salient was told that these were on the bottom line of the first page of the results, marked total.

However, the line specified by the Returning Officer was, in fact, the total number of votes that had been cast across all positions, not the actual number of students who voted.

Assuming that a student places a vote in each of the positions, they would have cast five votes each. Given there was also the option of selecting ‘no vote’ on the online ballot forms, it cannot be clearly determined exactly how many students voted.

Salient explained this to the Returning Officer via email, but no response was received by the time Salient went to print.

VUWSA handed out a total of $4125 in bonuses to six different executive members last week. Applications to a value of $1050 were declined, with a further $850 not assigned due to Fraser Pearce’s resignation late last month.

Members of the executive are entitled to apply for any amount up to $850 for their work in 2010. All exec members eligible, except for James Sleep and Kurt Sharpe, applied for the full amount.

Alan Young’s application for a total of $850 was finalised as $125.

When asked why he believed he deserved $850 by other members of the executive, Young responded that “everyone else” had written down a similar figure. He had no clear response when asked why he failed to put down a figure he thought was representative of his achievements.

In an interview with Salient last year, Young suggested that if he was elected as president he would look at cutting bonuses in order to make VUWSA more cost-effective. He also expressed confusion as to the nature of bonuses, asking his then-presidential opponent Max Hardy for clarification.

“Apparently you have executive bonuses? Is that correct? Like, executive bonuses? Like, do you have executive bonuses? I’ve been told you have executive bonuses.”

James Sleep received no bonus for his work in the first trimester, despite applying for $325. There was some confusion surrounding Sleep’s application, as he submitted his work report late and said he “didn’t expect” to receive a bonus at last week’s exec meeting.

Bonuses are granted for meeting and exceeding performance objectives for the trimester. An upper limit of $200 for the 2010 half of trimester three and $650 for trimester one applies.

Caitlin Dunham, Craig Carey, and Zack Dorner all received their full entitlement. Kurt Sharpe, Acting Queer Officer, received $600 for his first trimester’s work, and a special acknowledgement for taking up the role at such short notice.

Exec Bonus Box
First figure: what they applied for. Second figure: what they received for the last half of the summer trimester and trimester one 2010

BONUS BOXOUT
Caitlin: $800 $200/600
Craig: $850 $200/650
Kurt: $550 N/A/600
Alan: $850 $125
Fraser: NA
Zack: $850 $200/650
James: $325 $0/0

Complaints about the hardships of student life have come to focus on the price of textbooks at Victoria University’s vicbooks.

A common problem for students is that Victoria University Book Centre Ltd (vicbooks) does not provide a ten per cent student discount on textbooks as many other university bookstores do.

“It’s so unfair that we don’t get textbooks subsidised just so vicbooks can make a profit,” says third-year Frances.“We’re the ones that are already borrowing to live.”

Vicbooks General Manager Juliet Blyth says that the student discount was stopped about 15 years ago, ultimately for customers’ benefit.

“It was decided it was unfair to reward only those students who used the bookshop when all students should be able to benefit from the proceeds of their student-owned bookshop,” Blyth says.

“The majority of the bookshop revenue comes from textbook sales, therefore so does the profit, and by discontinuing student discount, the donation the bookshop makes to students through the VUWSA Trust for the benefit of all students has increased through the years.”

Labelled as ‘100% student owned’, vicbooks is a charitable company owned by the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association Trust (VUWSA Trust). Vicbooks’ donations contribute to the funding of developments such as the Campus Hub, administering the Student Trust Scholarship and supporting Student Job Search.

Student bookstores at other New Zealand universities follow quite different procedures.

The Auckland University UBS (University Bookshop Ltd) and Otago’s University Book Shop are both 100 per cent student owned and also offer a ten per cent student discount on top of their funding contributions to the university itself.

The University Bookshop Canterbury Ltd also provides a ten per cent student discount.

Blyth says that vicbooks often considers introducing a student discount.

“It is discussed annually at Bookshop Board and VUWSA Trust level, however, to date, the status quo has been the preferred option for the company’s long-term viability.”

Some students argue that the lack of discount at vicbooks in comparison to other universities reflects poorly on Victoria University as a whole.

“It is just another example of the Victoria establishment failing students in general,” says third-year student Lachlan.

Blyth says that vicbooks is making prices as low as they can.

“Vicbooks does not mark up to mark down as some of our competitors do, which confuses the market. Vicbooks aims to provide their texts at the best price possible whilst operating within pricing guidelines which will allow them to make their budgeted annual donation to the VUWSA Trust.”

Although vicbooks does not provide a student discount, they do have a ‘low price guarantee’ that many students are unaware of. If a student finds a cheaper price on a new, non-sale, identical textbook item at any Wellington retailer within 30 days of purchase, vicbooks will match the price.

“We appreciate the financial outlay students have to make on their texts,” says Blyth, “and are always open to suggestions from student customers as to how we could better recognise that investment.”

Students still see a problem with prescribed textbooks that can only be found at vicbooks.

“Quite a few lecturers prescribe their own books and then half of the content isn’t even relevant, which seems pointless,” a third-year BSc student says.

“They play on our anxiety about not having the most up-to-date edition so we can’t even buy second-hand.”

Blyth argues that vicbooks has no power over lecturers’ use of the texts, they simply work to find the lowest price for ‘essential’ texts prescribed by the lecturers.

“Provided the lecturer consults the prescribed text extensively then that student has made a valuable purchase as it has helped them to pass their course.”

Still warm from John Key’s lips and put up for sale on TradeMe, a stolen coffee cup used by the Prime Minister has revealed an unfortunate truth about our nation’s leader—he just isn’t worth that much.

Weir House resident Jackson Freeman swiped the cup as a “chance for prosperity” after Key visited his hostel for an early morning student leadership meeting.

The incident was reported by several national news sources, and was even picked up by the Sydney Morning Herald.

While there were multiple witty puns posted on the auction page, such as “Is that political dribble in the bottom?”, there was a distinct lack of monetary interest. One bid of $5000 was retracted as a joke, and the auction closed on Tuesday with the successful bidder getting the cup for a steal at just $20.

However, Weir House is now demanding Freeman pay for the ‘stolen’ whiteware, apparently worth $23.95, including tax of $2.66. Freeman has re-listed the cup in an effort to raise enough to pay back the invoice, which he feels is overpriced for a standard hostel mug.

UPDATE ONE: Salient has been informed that the invoice Freeman received was intended as a joke. We are currently trying to track down Freeman for comment.

UPDATE TWO: Jackson Freeman has told Salient that Weir House Head of Hall Simon Roughton informed him the invoice was a joke while he was at the Weir House Ball on Saturday—after Salient went to print.

“Unfortunately for him, he’d assumed I knew it was a joke,” Freeman says.

Freeman says the invoice “seemed very serious”.

“I figure that was the point.”

University Hall will no longer cater to groups of domestic students from 2011 onwards, Head of Hall Joy Schofield confirmed late last month.

In a letter to residents, Schofield said that domestic students currently living in the hall would be unable to reapply, and that family accommodation would be limited.

Currently any students except school leavers are eligible to apply for Univerity Hall. As of next year places will be much more limited for domestic students.

When approached by Salient, Manager of Student Accommodation Nick Merrett clarified and explained the changes outlined by Schofield.

“University Hall will still be catering to a mix of international and domestic students in 2011.

“What is changing is that we won’t be providing flats for groups of domestic students as we believe this market is already well catered for.”

University Hall consists of 52 self-contained houses and flats located close to the Kelburn Campus.

Currently eight of these properties are ‘Kiwi Mates’ flats, in which a domestic student lives with a flat of international or exchange students to help them become integrated in New Zealand.

Domestic students will continue to be hired and offered University Hall accommodation through the Kiwi Mates programme. They will assist Residential Assistants and will have an increased role from 2011 onwards.

Merrett says that the success of the Kiwi Mates programme was the principal reason behind the change.

“This is an innovative approach to providing accommodation to a mix of domestic and international students that has received positive feedback from all involved. Domestic students who wish to be part of a Kiwi Mate flat receive cultural and financial advantages, and international students get a fuller New Zealand experience during their time at Victoria.”

This development comes just months after Victoria University decided to close course enrolments to domestic students for the remainder of 2010 due to insufficient government funding. International students are still allowed to enrol as their fees are not subsidised by the government.

University Hall residents spoken to by Salient say that the higher accommodation fees paid by international students already affect the level of services offered to residents. When one resident asked for a heat pump to be installed they were told that these were only available to the Kiwi Mates flats, whose residents paid higher fees.

Another resident said that University Hall has failed to provide their flat with a working heater, but bought a brand new bed following a request from an exchange student.

When asked by Salient, Merrett said the amenities provided in the Kiwi Mates flats weren’t that different.

“The services provided in the houses will be slightly different as they will be fully furnished with utilities and internet included.”

According to the Accomodation Service website, all University Hall flats provide basic furniture but internet is at the expense of the residents.

Accommodation Service Halls of Residence Wai-te-ata Apartments and Te Kotahinga already give priority to international students.

Students spoken to by Salient say they are concerned about how the changes to University Hall will affect the availability of student accommodation.

“It’s already hard enough to find a flat in Wellington. Especially now that St. George has closed, it’s weird that they’re doing this to University Hall.”

Merrett believes that domestic students won’t be disadvantaged by the changes.

“In total, Halls of Residences offer more than 1500 places for domestic first year and returning students.”

She says that a number of measures will be taken to help students who may be affected.

“However, the Accommodation Service will be providing additional support to affected students seeking accommodation in the private market, and we also have a number of new apartments that have recently been completed which target the student market.”

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce confirmed on Tuesday last week that tertiary education funding will be linked to universities’ performance.

As reported by Salient in July, Joyce suggested in his speech at Victoria University that changes to the tertiary education sector could include linking funding to employment outcomes and publishing performance information online.

Joyce has now confirmed that from 2012, five per cent of tertiary providers’ funding will based on their performance in the previous year.

Indicators for performance include course completion, qualification completion, progression to higher study and the number of students retained in study.

Joyce says that these changes will encourage universities to improve the performance of students.

“Initially, performance-linked funding is about targeting the outliers—those institutions that stand out as poor performers in certain areas.”

Tertiary Education Union National President Dr Tom Ryan says that the government needs to be careful when implementing a performance-based funding scheme. Ryan says that tertiary providers may be encouraged to exclude students who are less likely to achieve or put pressure on staff with tough academic standards.

“We believe funding needs to support the right type of performance—helping and supporting students to learn, rather than risk New Zealand losing good staff and potential new students.”

The performance indicators do not include employment outcomes, despite Joyce indicating earlier this year that he would like to see universities assessed on student life after study.

“Ultimately, I want to see funding linked to employment outcomes, not just internal benchmarks,” said Joyce at Victoria in July.

A number of tertiary providers, the Tertiary Education Union and student representatives opposed the idea of tying funding to employment outcomes when it was first suggested.
The Tertiary Education Commission will discuss the changes to funding with tertiary providers later this month.

But isn’t an Academic Idol finalist

Victoria University’s Sara Kindon walked away $20,000 and one prestigious award better off following last Wednesday’s Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards 2010.

Senior Lecturer in the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Kindon was one of eleven winners at the event, awarded one of nine Sustained Excellence awards.

Held at parliament and hosted by Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce, the event celebrates tertiary educators for their commitment to teaching and students.

New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) Co-President Pene Delaney, a member of the awards panel, outlined the importance of the awards to tertiary education in New Zealand.

“Great teaching is vital to the student experience and the quality of education a student receives. It is wonderful to see teaching excellence continue to be recognised at a national level.”

This award marks Kindon’s award for second teaching excellence. In 2008 she was presented with Victoria University’s Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching.

Kindon has published 12 articles and books, supervised numerous postgraduate students and is well known for her innovative teaching practices.

Pat Walsh buys bananas

Victoria University might be one step closer to becoming a Fair Trade University with VUWSA President Max Hardy presenting Vice-Chancellor Pat Walsh with a fair trade information pack last week.

VUWSA has supported the Victoria International Development Society (VicIDS) fair trade proposal since September last year, when students voted for VUWSA’s advocacy on the issue at a Student Representative Council (SRC). The SRC was attended by over 150 students, and a number of clubs on campus collected signatures for a petition.

Hardy met with Walsh last Monday to outline the vote and provide him with the proposal.

VUWSA has invited Walsh to enjoy fairtrade coffee, chocolate and banana cake at the Student Union Building if he wants to discuss the issue further.

If the proposal is approved, Victoria will be New Zealand’s first Fair Trade Campus.

Walsh is currently considering the proposal, but Hardy could confirm Walsh was open to the idea of fair trade in general.

“Professor Walsh informed me that he did in fact buy some fair trade bananas at the supermarket in the weekend.”

Former Salient Editor and New Zealand Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer has been appointed to chair a United Nations (UN) enquiry into the Israeli attack on an aid flotilla earlier this year.

Palmer’s role was announced last week on the strength of recommendations from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The UN Human Rights Council will be investigating the Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound flotilla aid that led to the death of nine unarmed civilians and the capture and deportation of one female New Zealand aid worker. The investigation’s aim will be to prevent future conflicts rather than determining who is to blame for the incident.

Palmer was New Zealand’s 33rd Prime Minister and held office for one year between 1989 and 1990.

Palmer studied political science and law at Victoria University in the early 1960s and was Salient’s editor in 1963 with Ian Grant and Robin Bromby.

Victoria Univerity’s first Science Club had their inaugural meeting late last month after the club’s Facebook group received a staggering response. The club was founded last semester by three second-year students.

President William Guzzo, Vice-President Michelle Cook and Treasurer Felix Barber first came up with the idea for the Science Club during a casual conversation.

Guzzo says they wanted a forum that would bring all science students together because the faculty appeared to be fragmented.

“Other faculties have their clubs and groups, like Law and Commerce, but we don’t have one that brings all science students together.”

Science-based clubs set up in the past include Chemistry and Physics clubs, and there is currently a Geology Society on campus.

The Science Club’s founders eventually want their club to be of the same calibre as VUWLSS and VicCom representative groups.

So far 91 people have joined the group on Facebook, with 26 people attending Friday night’s event.

At the meeting, postgraduate and first year representatives were elected. The club now has a full executive committee which plans to meet next week to plan future events.

A new and revealing account of the 19th Century Taranaki land wars has come to light at Victoria University.

The written account of Harriet Gore Browne, the wife of the governor at the time, wasn’t published until 100 years later. This account was the topic of Professor Charlotte Macdonald’s inaugural professorial lecture ‘The Skeleton in My Life: Harriet Gore Browne’s 19th Century Problem’, presented last Tuesday.

Macdonald explored what drove Browne to write this narrative and the circumstances surrounding her at the time. The lecture aimed to place Browne and her account in the context of the changing views in society during the 19th century.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh was extremely pleased with Macdonald’s work.

“Professor Macdonald’s research has contributed much to our understanding of New Zealand history, particularly of the women who emigrated here in the 19th century.”

The lecture was part of the university’s Inaugural Lecture series for new professors.

Students escaping their loan debt overseas may soon have to face the long arm of the law.

The National Government announced last month that it was looking for ways to collect student loan debts from New Zealanders living overseas.

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce announced that officials were investigating ex-students living overseas.

“There are some big issues around how much we write off on student loans and one of the reasons is this long tail of borrowers who go overseas and don’t make their repayments.”

Prime Minister John Key announced recently that reclaiming debt from overseas borrowers was one of the ways to improve the student loan system.

National has recently indicated their intention to review the management of student loan debt. Late last month the government was questioned about its commitment to the interest-free student loan policy.

The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations Co-President David Do observed that National’s intention for an interest-free student loan policy seemed to be faltering.
“The government should focus on reducing the need for such debt in the first place.”

Several changes have already been made to student loans. This included requiring students to pass half their courses, a lifetime limit on borrowing and a two-year waiting period for Australians and new permanent residents.

Last year there were 82,337 overseas borrowers. In 2008, $54 million was owed by these borrowers, rising to $114 million in 2009. Those living abroad owe 20% of the national student loan debt.

A job description on the website PerkJobs could just be the answer to all your flatting worries for next year.

Wellington residents Dan Herbison and his girlfriend, both 29, aren’t ready to start a family, but are looking for two university students to move in and become their ‘trial’ family.

Aside from the fact that the successful candidates are required to share a room in a “sizeable Berhampore house”, it doesn’t sound all that bad. Also included in the deal are luxuries like a study area, Sky TV in your room, a spa bath, all whiteware, landline telephone and wireless internet.

The couple intends to take their role as trial parents very seriously, and will “listen to problems, help with homework and drop you off at afterschool activities”. Rent will be reduced in exchange for completion of allocated ‘chores’.

Herbison says that since he placed the ad on PerkJobs there has been a lot of interest from a range of young people, including a Czech waitress, an Irish plumber and a Kiwi student, all willing to share the room and the two positions.

Student responses were mixed on the advertisement, while some found it amusing and quite a good offer, one student described it as “creepy” and “a death trap, like Josef Fritzl”.

Although the positions have been filled, don’t panic, you haven’t missed out yet. When Salient contacted Herbison he confirmed that long-term positions would be re-opening soon, but the next lot of potential children would be subject to rigorous interviewing and physical testing.

If being part of a trial family interests you, Herbison describes an ideal candidate as “laid back, likes watching America’s Hardest Prisons and won’t moan about mashed potato and kumara for dinner”.

If you ever go to an exec meeting, you’ll come across a work report. Work reports are the way that members of the executive are held accountable for time spent in the office, and, at the most basic level, get paid. They are common practice for people who are self-employed or do work on a contract basis, allowing the end recipient of the goods or service to see a justification of their expense. The reports (or lack thereof) are a very easy target for Salient writers, as they represent the VUWSA bureaucracy and where everyone’s money actually is in an accessible manner. They’re especially easy to pick holes in when someone fails to submit one or formats it incorrectly.

This meeting was especially significant as executive bonuses were agreed on for individual members, taking into account their relative workload and responsibilities over the past one and a half trimesters. The half-yearly work report is obviously key to this, being a personally written record of the exec member’s last six months of achievements.

Which is why I can understand the meeting running for almost four hours. I’m told this isn’t as bad as during Jasmine Freemantle’s reign of terror, which apparently ran up to five with no bathroom breaks. At one point, Max Hardy spoke almost uninterrupted for upwards of 45 minutes—save Caitlin asking him to “summarise” at the twenty minute mark.

Again, I can understand this. It is no small effort to summarize every single thing you have been responsible for during the half-year running of an organisation representing the needs of now 20,000-plus students. My respect goes out to Bridie Hood, Caitlin Dunham, Seamus Brady, Max Hardy, Craig Carey and Zack Dorner (now with less beard) for their tremendous amount of hard work on various initiatives this year—and on their well deserved bonuses.

Their initiatives were outlined to me in tooth-grinding detail and served to greatly increase my respect for the members of the exec themselves. They don’t work for a whole bunch of money, and do everything from data entry to student advocacy. Not to mention being expected to manage events and activities that supplement their constitutional obligation.
A bonus is extra pay for good performance. There was only one member of the exec who said they “didn’t expect a bonus”. It’s hard to see this as a gesture of humility when it’s preceded by 25 minutes of explanation as to why James Sleep’s (late, poorly formatted) half-yearly work report wasn’t up to the standard of other executive members. In James’ 25 minutes, he outlined why it was unfair for him to do four hours of data entry per week, and generally implied that his own failings weren’t a result of his laziness/inability to manage time/lack of understanding of the concept of volunteering, but rather of the executive and the organisation.

This is ridiculous. You can’t come into a half-yearly meeting of the organisation you’ve been a part of for almost six months and level excuses for why you haven’t done your job—which is, by nature, ambiguous and designed for you to make your own—and expect other people to either fall over you making changes halfway through the year, or even worse, expect them to ignore the fact you’ve failed to meet your targets and goals.

The half-yearly work reports lasted almost three hours. As there was no meeting last week, two weeks of weekly work reports per member had to be summarised. Max had the brilliant idea to bookend his half-yearly report with his President’s Report. The rest of the meeting, including grant applications and the co-opting of a new Clubs Officer, took around 45 minutes. Masha Kupriyenko has returned to the role of Clubs Officer after filling it in 2009. Seamus forwarded the motion to co-opt her, which was seconded and carried by Caitlin and Max, citing her relative experience in and knowledge of the role as proof of her eligibility. Masha mentioned an interest in executing Fraser’s (tenuous) plans for Faith Week, and a repeat of last year’s Pulp Culture Expo as some of her goals for the second trimester.

A final draft of VUWSA’s Sustainability (previously Environmental) Policy, drafted by Zack, was presented and accepted in its current form. This is a fairly large (ideologically, at least) proposal for an an organisation to adopt, and it always astounds me how little time it takes for the executive to pass something that could, conceivably, affect someone’s future. It’s a pretty stark contrast to the amount of time which is spent making sure the organisation is as transparent and well reported as possible. It’s this level of transparency which makes three-plus hour meetings so tedious—but equally important. It’s too easy to forget that shit’s actually getting done.

At least we got pizza.

Thief’s Haul not a Steal

An Atlanta man who robbed a fast-food outlet later phoned the restaurant to tell them he was disappointed with the fruits of his labour.

The thief held the restaurant up at gun point and demanded that staff hand over the cash drawer.

He then called the restaurant twice to complain about the amount of money he’d received.

“Next time there better be more than $586.”

Hopefully he’ll ring ahead next time to ensure the restaurant prepares their cash drawers for his arrival.

Justin Bieber, Movie Star!

Pop sensation Justin Bieber will soon hit the big screen, website Deadline Hollywood reported recently.

Bieber has reportedly signed a movie deal to make a film about his life story. It is planned for release in February 2011 and will include live concert footage.

But wait, there’s more…

Justin Bieber, Author!

It gets worse… Bieber has also signed a lucrative deal with publishers HarperCollins to release an illustrated memoir.

The Pulitzer-worthy piece, titled Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story will be available from October.

It is unlikely that the book will be translated into German however, because they “don’t say that in America”.

Cupcakes get manly

New York’s Butch Bakery has found success in producing a range of cupcakes for men.

Instead of pink frosting and sprinkles, Butch cupcakes are flavoured with beer, whiskey, bacon and pretzels and decorated with ‘manly’ patterns including camo and houndstooth.

Founder David Arrick, a former Wall Street attorney, started his business nine months ago.

“It was born out of necessity and a love of butter cream.”

The business now sells up to 400 cupcakes a week.

The TradeMe auction of Brad Pitt’s half-eaten garlic naan ended last Tuesday, with Salient staffers bidding the top price of $8.50.

The naan, which was purchased with the staffers’ own money, will be delivered to Salient this week. The seller apologised for the delay but said that there was a good reason for it.

“…you will be very happy with it when you do get it. It’s quite the culinary miracle.”

The seller had earlier expressed doubt in whether Salient staffers would still want the naan, which was described as a “mouldy, fly-blown piece of filth”.

As reported in Salient last week, staffers plan to create an army of Brad Pitt clones from DNA found on the naan. It is Pitt’s DNA, not the state of the naan itself, that is important.

The naan is said to be a leftover from Brad Pitt’s rumoured whirlwind tour of Wellington late last month, during which he was reported to have been sighted dining at an Indian restaurant.

Victoria University’s Publications Design Department confirmed last week that the soon-to-be published 2011 Course Catalogue will feature Microsoft WordArt headings.

The department announced earlier this year that they would be investigating new directions for the design of the annual publication.

Several proposals, including those from design students and graduates, were considered. Microsoft WordArt was introduced as an alternative in May.

Publications Design Director Karen Schnell says the choice of WordArt over other offers was partly the result of funding cuts to publications across the board.

“Of course we would prefer to invest in the original creations of one of our students or graduates, but at this point in time that is not a viable option.

“The university needed a new image, and we’ve already paid for the technology through our subscription to Microsoft on the university’s computers, so we thought why not?”

Currently the department have only confirmed the changes to the Course Catalogue, but Salient understands that staff are looking to implement WordArt headings across all university publications.

The department originally opted to change the old design following feedback from students given in a survey about the university’s promotional material. Many students felt that the university needed to update their marketing and make it more relevant to a younger audience.

Schnell says that the department has investigated ways of appealing to the new generation of Victoria students.

“We found that new technology and online social networking sites were particularly important to these students. When appealing to them, it was obvious that we needed to use the same technology to keep it modern, relevant and interesting.”

As well as cost effectiveness, WordArt was chosen for its modern approach to design. The department’s designers were particularly impressed by the 3D range of titles, colour blending and shadow effects offered in the WordArt selection.

The department has opted to retain the signature green and white colour scheme and Victoria logo, but will adapt these features to WordArt templates.

The Course Catalogue will be released later this year.

New Zealand’s favourite family, the Wests, have descended on Mount Street Bar with screenings of Outrageous Fortune scheduled each Tuesday.

Starting last week, students made their way to the bar for their weekly West dosage, with a pull-out projection screen bringing the show to life.

Mount Street Bar Manager Pax Rattenbury said that despite little advertising, there was a positive atmosphere in the bar.

“There were about 30 students here to watch it so we’ll probably put up posters around campus more this week. A couple of people went out to order fish and chips before it started and it was just a really good night.”

Outrageous Fortune will be screening weekly at Mount Street Bar. All students are welcome.

Where in the world is Alan Young?

Voting for the upcoming VUWSA by-election opened last week and those standing were given the opportunity to speak at a Candidates Forum at Mount Street Bar on Wednesday.

However, only four of the nine candidates running in the by-election showed up to speak to an audience of just six students. No microphone was provided.

Advertising for the forum has been minimal. An advertisement featured in last week’s Salient was provided shortly before deadline and featured a significant typo.

“Candidates Forum. Here what they have to say!” read the promotion.

Missing in action from the forum were Bridie Hood, candidate for Vice-President Education; Kerry Brown, candidate for Queer Rights Officer; Paul Zhong, candidate for International Officer; Timothy Parker, candidate for Publications Committee Representative; and Alan Young, candidate for Vice-President Administration.

Speaking at the bar for the position of Queer Rights Officer, Cruz Johnson said he was concerned with making Victoria a safer community for people who identify within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Fellow candidate Tom Reed argued subliminal homophobia would not be tolerated at Victoria should he be elected.

Both nominees for the Queer Rights Officer felt that should the VSM Bill pass, the future of groups like UniQ would be jeopardised.

Running for Vice-President of Administration, Richard Carr reiterated the need for a sustainable VUWSA and, after explaining the organisation shares the same birthday as Tui beer, felt students would be bereft without alcohol.

“The VSM Bill is currently in parliament. Is it going to pass? We don’t know. But imagine no more beer. Students would think it was horrible if VSM happened to Tui.”

After dedicating himself to ridding computer labs of Facebook lurkers, Carr agreed there was a need to reassess the current spending of VUWSA.

“The current spending isn’t working. It’s important to look at the services VUWSA currently offers students and ask ourselves if they’re economical. We want things to be more cost-effective. For example, Campus Angels employs volunteers on-call. To cut back costs, I propose taking Victoria Plus volunteers and redirecting them to Victoria-related services, rather than outside organisations.”

His opponent Thomas Horrobin pushed for VSM to pass, arguing it would make Victoria a financially sound environment.

“I think cutting funding to the New Zealand University Students’ Associations is also a good idea. It’s just a waste of money. If we cut back on the less useful students’ services it would be better for the more important ones.”

When asked about specific examples, Horrobin referred to Carr’s previous notion of Campus Angels.

“There are some more, but I’ve just lost them in my brain.”

Students hoping to vote No Confidence for Publications Committee Representative will be sorely disappointed after it was not included as a voting option in online ballot forms for the VUWSA by-election.

The VUWSA Constitution states that where there is only one candidate standing for a position on the VUWSA exec, “you may vote ‘no confidence’ for that position”.

However, the Publications Committee is dealt with separately to positions on the VUWSA exec, in Schedule 2, 24 C of the Constitution.

This sub-clause reads “For the Publications Committee, you may vote for up to two candidates”. No mention is made in the Constitution of whether no confidence needs to be included as a voting option if there is only one candidate standing for the position.

The sole candidate for the Publications Committee Student Representative is Timothy Parker.

Students still have the option of selecting ‘no vote’ on their ballot forms.

Graduate employment website GradConnection has encountered barriers in promoting its services to students at Victoria potentially because of practices undertaken by the university’s career service.

Victoria graduates and GradConnection Directors Tim Watts and Robert Milne told Salient last week that their attempts to access students on campus had been prevented by Vic Careers.

GradConnection is a free online service that allows graduates to “research, compare and contrast” graduate employers.

Watts and Milne believe the difficulties may have arisen because Victoria University operates CareerHub, an online service featuring job vacancies, career events and career resources such as job seeking tips and career articles.

“We didn’t get anywhere with the career services. They saw us as direct opposition to what CareerHub was,” Watts says.

Watts and Milne claim that GradConnection, which simply allows graduates to research employers, is not in competition with CareerHub, nor is it a recruitment agency.

“The idea with us is we’re trying to help students plan careers, help students get up and going. It is a complementary service to what the career services are doing,” Watts says.

Manager of Victoria University’s Career Development and Employment Elizabeth Medford says that Vic Careers works with students and employers to provide its services.

“It does not offer any services for recruitment agencies or other similar third parties.”

Medford says that there are a number of other ways for companies to advertise career opportunities to students.

“All those organisations that wish to advertise directly to students have other options available such as advertising in student media, and asking to utilise digital media devices and public noticeboards around campus.”

It remains unclear whether GradConnection’s difficulties are as a result of university or CareerHub policy.

Victoria is one of seven New Zealand universities subscribed to CareerHub. Waikato is the only university not associated with the service.

At Waikato GradConnection works closely with the university and their career service. It is because of this close relationship that Milne doubts the problems have arisen from university policy.

“At their accounting careers fair we shared a stand with the careers services. At some of their CV writing workshops and interview skills seminars we’ve co-presented with them.”

Both GradConnection and CareerHub were developed in Australia. Watts and Milne started GradConnection in New Zealand in July 2009 following the success of the service in Australia, where the directors enjoy a close relationship with universities, including those who operate CareerHub.

Watts and Milne are confused by the response they’ve had from careers services at New Zealand universities.

“We thought anything to help students would be supported.

“We know that for a lot of the career services it’s tough, they don’t have huge staff numbers. If we could help them, that’s what we’re here to do,” Watts says.

They claim that the employers they work with are also confused by the reaction. Many of these employers are also associated with CareerHub.

Watts and Milne have also promoted GradConnection’s free services at a meeting with the heads of all the careers services who operate CareerHub. They have yet to receive a formal reply.

“We don’t expect them to be actively out there saying ‘you need to use this service’. It’s just that, hey, we are here, we’re a free service for students, and we want to help,” Watts says.

Career Development and Employment is one of the services funded by the student services levy. In 2010 the levy was increased to $510 for full-time domestic students. According to the university website, Career Development and Employment costs include the Vic Plus Award and CareerHub.

Students spoken to by Salient were disappointed that they had not heard about GradConnection through the university.

“We’re paying fees, so we should be getting access to every opportunity,” said one student.

“It seems like a really valuable service. I don’t know why I haven’t heard about it before,” said another student.

In April GradConnection held an information evening with the Victoria Commerce Students’ Association (VicCom). Unofficially promoted by VicCom, the event had to be held off campus and GradConnection were unable to email details to students via the department. In March they also held a barbeque outside Rutherford House.

Victoria University’s Kelburn campus got a taste of Highway Patrol on Monday night.

At approximately 9.45pm on Monday 26 August, local police stopped a car on Salamanca Road.

“It’s alleged the car had been stolen,” said Victoria Evans, Communications Manager for the Wellington District Police.

The occupants ran from the car in an attempt to escape the police and crossed onto the Kelburn campus.

Josh, 21, saw the scene as he walked home that evening after studying at university.

“They were close to the VicLink building on Kelburn Parade,” he said. “There were five [police] cars and cops everywhere… it was madness,” he said.

Police caught up with two offenders shortly afterwards on Glenn Road.

Students question the Victoria ID system

Problems with Victoria’s Student ID cards have come to light after recent cases of students being asked to leave university property by campus security.

VUWSA reported on their website recently that students had been asked to leave computer labs when they could not produce a valid ID. Students were advised to always carry their student ID card.

Campus Services have increased surveillance this year after an increase in incidents on campus.

As per the Victoria ID system, students must revalidate their identification cards every year that they continue studying.

The revalidation involves getting an expiration sticker from the faculty under which you study, lasting up until March of the following year. This has resulted in problems for various students who are unaware that they need to renew their card, or where to do it.

“I’ve had the same card since first year,” says third-year Monique Davies.

“And I still haven’t got around to renewing it because I’m not sure where to go and don’t really need it done.”

However, this may not be the case. Many students are unaware that under section 4.3.2 of Victoria University’s Security Management Guidelines, anyone who cannot produce a valid ID card can be asked to leave the premises.

Enrolment Manager Juliette Toma told Salient that the university would attempt to increase awareness of the issue.

“We do try and ensure all students are informed they must update their cards each academic year with an update sticker, but we can ensure we have signage up in future to reinforce this message.”

The fee for a replacement card at Victoria is $20, which proves another issue for some students.

“My card hasn’t been swiping properly since first year, but I’m not going to pay $20 to get a new one,” says Kate Everitt.

“It seems unreasonable that other universities provide an updated ID card for free each year whereas we have to make ours last through our whole time at university.”

The University of Auckland provides students with an ID card valid for six years after enrolment, as well as free replacement cards if it begins to malfunction or is stolen.

There is a $10 fee for lost or wilfully damaged ID cards.

Otago University students receive a new ID every year of their study, free of charge.

Malfunctioning cards are also replaced at no cost, which many students appreciate.

“It’s great that we get them for free,” says Abby Calder, a third-year Pharmacy student at Otago.

“It’s just one less cost for us students and a hassle-free way to make sure that everyone on campus is meant to be there.”

Toma said that unlike other universities, the first ID card provided by Victoria University was not paid for by students at all, either directly or through fees to the university. Only the cost for replacement cards was charged to students.

“The cards are expensive to replace given their functionality, and the $20 charge only covers the cost of producing it.”

Having an up-to-date student ID card is a necessity in order to receive student discounts at many Wellington companies, such as Reading Cinemas, Fusion clothing and the Cable Car.

“It is our policy that to get a student fare here, you need to have an unexpired student ID,” says Cable Car Manager Matthew Hardy.

“A lot of people are good about it now but we do still get quite a few students trying to get the fare without ID.”

Hardy explains that the ID is necessary as they changed the discount to only New Zealand students, so that prices would not have to go up.

“We started doing it because we reduced it down to New Zealand students only instead of having to increase the price. It’s important that students realise we need to see their ID.”

John Key at Vic, Salient’s invitation lost. Again.

Prime Minister John Key says student debt is a “disaster”, and has raised fresh debate surrounding the future of the current interest-free student loan model.

Key commented on the loan system during a question and answer session after a speech to students at Victoria University’s Weir House last week, explaining how he saw the dire state of collective student debt.

“If you’re an investment banker—not that I am these days—you’d say it’s a disaster of a loan book… It’s $11 billion, roughly, at the moment and we collect 53 cents in the dollar, that’s it. Fifty-three cents in the dollar. If you just sat there, logically, you’d say there has to be a better way of doing it.”

While Weir House residents may not have understood the significance of Key’s comments, they were quickly latched onto by the media and student politicians. Audience members said the comments were off-hand.

Throw-away or not, the comments are the latest in a string of what could be interpreted as hints. National backed the interest-free loan scheme in the 2008 election, but Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has since admitted it was a “political call” and Key, then in opposition, described the policy as irresponsible.

However, the sudden political talk surrounding student loans is unlikely to have any short-term consequences for students. In parliamentary question time the next day, Key, when bluntly asked if it was the National Government’s intention to introduce interest on loans, answered: “It is my intention to keep interest-free student loans.”

He did, however, signal that greater efforts would be made to chase up non-paying overseas debtors, saying the “Minister for Tertiary Education is looking at ways to improve collection of loans from overseas-based borrowers”. Late repayments by overseas debtors grew 111 per cent last year, the Dominion Post reported.

Student representatives spoke out strongly against any attempt to introduce interest on loans. Otago University Students’ Association President Harriet Geoghegan said she was concerned about the potential for greater numbers of students to leave New Zealand after graduation because the incentive to stay and pay back a loan without interest would be gone.

“The interest-free system, while not addressing the issues of affordability of education, is making staying in New Zealand a more attractive prospect for graduates. Key feels the government cannot afford to maintain interest-free loans, but New Zealand knows we can’t afford not to.

“Like Key, students agree the student loan system doesn’t stack up. Why would New Zealand want to produce generation after generation of graduates who are mired in a debt that is currently close to $11 billion?” said Geoghegan.

NZUSA co-President David Do said “The government should focus on reducing the need for such debt in the first place, and to let the budget’s changes regarding student loans pan out. While John Key has yet again reaffirmed the policy will stay, constant questioning of it is unhelpful and indicates National’s commitment to it is faltering.”

Also the only students still allowed to enrol…

International student enrolments at tertiary institutions have increased by seven per cent since 2009, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce reported last Wednesday.

In his press release, Joyce says he will spend the next few months focusing on continuing the growth of the international sector.

“International education contributes more than $2 billion in total to our economy each year—further development of the sector will bring real benefits in terms of economic growth plus additional income to allow our tertiary institutions to grow.”

This statement follows the early closure of enrolments at a number of New Zealand universities due to insufficient government funding. Both Victoria and Massey have continued to allow enrolments from international students, whose fees are not subsidised by the government.

As reported in Salient earlier this year, Victoria’s University Council has approved a three- to seven-per cent fee increase for international students across most programmes in 2011.

Cold, mouldy and mushroom-friendly student flats may be a thing of the past if a Green Party members’ bill promoting warm healthy homes gains footing.

Green Party housing spokesperson Gareth Hughes is touring universities this month to promote his My Warm Healthy Rental Bill.

The tour started in Auckland last week and will finish in Wellington on 20 August, with public meetings about the bill at both Victoria and Massey universities scheduled for that day.

The bill, which aims to help ensure everyone has a warm home, will be entered into the next members’ bill ballot.

“I will be touring around the country to see our coldest flats and homes to get a first-hand view of how people are living, and to talk about solutions for what is a big problem that affects a whole range of New Zealanders, especially the young and poor,” said Hughes.

He will also be talking to students about the substandard housing they often have to live in.

“Everybody deserves warm healthy homes; it’s only fair. My Warm Healthy Rental Bill will ensure that all New Zealand’s rental homes meet basic standards for warmth and insulation by 2018.”

The My Warm Healthy Rental Bill may sound familiar to Victoria University students, with the VUWSA Warm My Flat campaign gaining momentum this year.

VUWSA Environmental Officer Zachary Dorner says that as far as he was aware, Warm My Flat was unique to Victoria, although other universities had similar campaigns.

There had also been interest from Otago University Students’ Association in setting up their own version of the campaign.

Dorner believes the My Warm Healthy Rental Bill is an excellent idea.

“It’s crazy how we think it’s okay to freeze our asses off most of the year in this country. It’s not normal and something certainly needs to be done.”

As part of Warm My Flat, VUWSA is providing free flat warming consultations for cold, damp student flats where at least half the flatmates are at Victoria University. They also provide the tenants with advice on how to stay warm and tips on saving money.

More information can be found at the VUWSA website.

Students no longer able to sub-let the hot-water cupboard

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill was passed into law last month, introducing a number of amendments to the law governing rental properties.

The changes give more security to renters with greater clarity over rent hikes and multiple bonds, but also greatly increase the powers of landlords to deal with tenants who fail to pay rent for extended periods of time.

Tenants who leave a flat without making payment arrangements for outstanding rent can now be fined up to $1000 unless they have a ‘reasonable’ excuse. This has appeased property investors, but could make it harder for tenants to pay off their debts.

The legislation also covers rent increases and issues arising from tenants subletting their lounge/kitchen/sink to friends. Landlords may not increase the rent during the term of the tenancy “unless permitted by the tenancy agreement”, but tenants will be liable for damage to the rental properties and for exceeding the maximum number of allowed residents.

A landlord may not require a tenant to provide the landlord with any form of security or any payment in connection with the tenancy, including requiring an extra bond for keys.

If the tenant leaves goods that are neither foodstuffs nor other perishables, the landlord must make “all reasonable efforts to contact the tenant and to agree with the tenant on a period within which the tenant is to collect the goods”. This change will help students who have unwittingly left valuables at a former flat, but will also set a time limit for these to be picked up.

The amendments will affect all tenants of rental accommodation covered under the previous law, but will not affect premises which provide accommodation exclusively for students of one or more tertiary education providers. This includes most university halls of residences, but not boarding houses, which will now be covered under the law.

Whodunnit?!

Posters appealing for the “lost” Section 3 B: Goal 8 of the VUWSA Constitution mysteriously appeared on the Kelburn campus last Thursday.

As Salient went to print, no one had claimed responsibility for being the posters’ brainchild.

ACT on Campus President Peter McCaffrey and Chair of the Lower North Island Young Nats Lauren Brazier have both said they are not responsible for the posters.

There was speculation among some circles that Salient was behind the campaign.

“Uh, you do realise we have better things to do with our time, right? Like, make a magazine,” Salient Editor Sarah Robson said.

“Posters are, like, so last century,” she added.

Goal 8 of the VUWSA Constitution deals with accountability. VUWSA is constitutionally obliged “to ensure that the structures and procedures of the Association result in effective and efficient communication, management and accountability”.

The poster adds a final plea for this particular part of the constitution: “if found, please oblige”.

If anyone has any further information regarding the identity of those behind the posters, or the location of the lost clause, please contact Salient. We’re curious. All information will be treated as confidential.

Victoria University’s newly opened Alan MacDiarmid building has been gifted the Nobel Prize Medal which belonged to the late scientist of the same name.

The medal was gifted to the university by MacDiarmid’s widow Gayl Gentile, who acknowledges that having the building named after him is a huge honour.

MacDiarmid was a part-time student at Victoria before furthering his studies overseas and earning the Nobel Prize for his achievements in the field of Chemistry.

The medal will be placed in the foyer of the new $48 Million science building. Vice-Chancellor Pat Walsh described it as “an inspiration to the staff and students that study here”.