Hi all, I’m Michelle Fidow and I am the OPSA President for 2011.

But I am also running for the position again for 2012. So here is a bit of background on me. I was born in Dunedin, and have been living here for the past ten years. When I started Otago Polytechnic in 2008 I became an OPSA executive and picked up the campaigns portfolio, where I helped organise various events including 10 Billion Dollar Debt Day. Then half way through the year I was co-opted on as Vice President. The following year I undertook the role of OPSA Women’s Rep.

In 2010 I was elected Vice President of OPSA by the student body. But the absolute highlight of my OPSA career was being elected President for 2011. This year has taught me so much, not only about how to do the job but also about myself. I have made a lot of networks over the last year and if I get elected President for 2012 I will put them to good use. I believe students need independent representation and advocacy, and OPSA is here to make sure all students are entitled to that, while having fun studying here at OP.

My name is Rebecca Hohaia and I am running for OPSA president 2012.

Having been a member of the OPSA executive for the past three years (as a social rep, Maori rep, and in 2011 vice-president) I feel that I have the knowledge and skills to lead the association through the turbulent times to come. Next year is going to bring a number of issues that will directly affect students. These include; changes to the student loan scheme and the possibility of Voluntary Student Membership (VSM). I believe that my motivation, passion and commitment to student issues will ensure that while I am president students will be represented, advocated and informed to the best of my ability. My priorities next year are to continuing to build the networks OPSA has built over the past year, to actively represent and advocate for students, and to ensure that all Otago Polytechnic students graduate knowing they have had the full support of their students association.

I am always willing to have a chat, so if you have any questions, queries, and issues or just want to talk feel free to stop me while I’m on campus, email me (OPSA.VP@op.ac.nz) or ring me (021 182 6274).

VSM or no VSM students need REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY and FUN! Vote Rebecca Hohaia OPSA President 2012

Rebecca HohaiaMichelle Fidow

How to Vote Check your student e-mail account for a voting form (closes 19 Sept).Or vote in person:

Tues 20 Sept Student Centre/Manaaki,11.30-12.30 L Block 10.30-11.30

Student President 2012 Elections All OP students get to vote for the president of OPSA.Make your choice...

Wed 21st Sept Student Centre/Manaaki, 11.30 till 12.30 Art School, 10-11am

Thu23rd SeptStudent Centre, 11.30-12.30

#7 The drunken slut Issue

March 2011

Presents

International Rugby Food Festival

$4* for a delicious international meal

every Thursday

at the manaaki / student centre*with OPSA student ID

Reason Should Win OutNZUSA Co-PresidentsMax Hardy & David Do

This year the British Conservative Minister for Universities and Science declared “students’ unions are an important part of the civil society within higher education institutions,” and that “without them, universities would be much poorer.”

Sadly, in New Zealand we have an ACT Party Bill making its way through Parliament that will end universal membership of students’ associations and remove the ability for students to ensure that there is a mandated representative organisation on their campus. If the institution decides it doesn’t want one – then there won’t be one.

The only thing that our Prime Minister can muster on the issue is a promise that the Government would implement a levy to replace students’

association services, but he doesn’t care how much you pay, or for what, just as long as there is no democratic control over it.

Debate on the Bill has been bogged down in an ideological quagmire. Students are stuck between the extreme positions: compulsory membership that

means some students must be members of organisations they don’t want to be, or the opposite approach which means there is no requirement to have student representative organisations at all.

At NZUSA we have come up with five simple ways to improve the current law:

1. You would still automatically become members of you local association when you enrol.

2. You can opt-out of membership at any time and without giving a reason.

3. If you opt-out within the first four weeks of term, you would get a full refund of any association fees.

4. Membership processes would be administered and promoted by the institution rather than the students’ association.

5. Associations would improve their governance and operations through a Code of Practice for democracy and accountability.

NZUSA has asked National to adopt a practical, enduring solution like this one. It’s a reasonable, win-win approach that has widespread support.

If the Bill is passed now, the implementation date of January 1st 2012 also means there won’t be enough time to prepare for the necessary and significant changes needed under a new system, meaning one big mess in the tertiary sector.

There is still time to stop this Bill, and there is an alternative. Make yourself heard on this issue by lobbying your local MPs and linking up with your local students’ association. Join us on Facebook – search ‘Save Our Services: Say No to VSM’ and ‘Demand A Better Future.’ Help make this issue too big a risk for National to support, and we can stop this Bill.

“NZUSA has asked National to adopt a practical, enduring solution like this one.

UPDATE: The bill will have its third and final reading at

Parliament’s next Member’s Day (28 Sept).

G: Who’s doing a good job?

N: The Greens, and the Maori Party. And despite his methods, I’m looking forward to having Winston Peters back in parliament. He may go about it in unorthodox ways, but at least he keeps his promises.

G: If you want to become a politician on a national scale, do you have to be ruthless?

N: The best of the best don’t change.

J: I’m just learning as I go.

G: Words of advice for political aspirants?

N: Know your facts.

J: Follow through.

N: Don’t just make things up ‘cos it sounds good.

J: Have achievable goals.

N: The more you drink, the less you think.

J: If you don’t vote, don’t complain.

G: What do you like best about what you do?

N: I like student politics, especially meeting Michael Woodhouse, because he’s the only politician I’ve met.

J: At the moment I’m taking opinions and getting to know my classmates.

G: I bet student politicians can’t afford to be shy?

N: Shy boys don’t tend to last.

J: Maybe they just don’t know enough to have anything to talk about.

G. What’s your story?

N: I’m Wellington born, Dunedin raised, grown up loving both sport and culture. I’ve always been interested in politics, and I was on the debating team at school. My dad was very blue collar, despite wearing a white collar. He let us go our own way.

J: Born in Auckland, I’ve spent most of the past years travelling around, working holidays in Europe. My mum’s a nurse and my dad’s an electrician. I’ve always believed that the more you help the people around you, the more you help yourself. That trying to improve the social aspects of your country is important. I was a student leader at school.

G: Is politics just a popularity contest?

N: If we were going to rate politicians by the promises they’ve kept, none of them would still be in government. People tend to get a bit bamboozled.

Male BondingMeet the boys of the 2011 OPSA ExecJosh Tunnicliffe & Nick Swindells

Congratulations to the winners of tickets to The Chills.Nikki Bone• Naomi Poole• Melanie White•

We hope you enjoyed the gig. Read Gyro’s review in issue #15, out 26 Sept.

Contact the exec boys: Nick — swindend1@student.op.ac.nz

Josh — Bobjosh1@hotmail.com

CHILL

ED O

UT

beyond the rainbow

The Long and Winding Road

With marriage equality and adoption reform on the books, we must take a sober note that they’re not the holy grail of LGBT rights. Many people see this as the last bastion of legal oppression, but it isn’t – there’s still a very long way to go.

Human rights are an interesting thing. More often than not, advances were made not by a majority, but by a small minority of people who managed to gain political power. Women’s Suffrage, African-American Civil Rights, Homosexual Law Reform: all these things were minorities fighting, sometimes tooth and nail, against fierce opposition, and came to pass after a handful of representatives or allies managed to squeeze into power and set the ball rolling (women being a ‘minority’ in the “politically disenfranchised” sense). But all these things were not the end of their various troubles. In each of these cases, the law came first, and afterwards the social change started to happen.

But it’s still happening. Women still face enormous amounts of misogyny; people of colour still have to deal with racism, both in society and institutionalised; queer people still have to face all kinds of bigotry – all of which can, in some cases, be very extreme.

Law change doesn’t make bigotry go away. It still takes decades, even centuries, to fight it. But it’s a start. It removes some of the bigot’s weapons and hands them to the oppressed. Even with legal equality, there will still be a long way to go.

Richard Girvan

Then join us on Facebook!

Want to make more friends?Got something to say?

Rugby Make it Stop

Rugby. It’s boring. Men shove their heads between each other’s legs and even that can’t make it interesting. Rugby. It’s unpatriotic to admit you hate it. I hate it.

Hating rugby in New Zealand is the equivalent of whipping out a Koran on the New York subway. Plus, we’re not actually any good at it. New Zealand always chokes when they get up against the big boys (particularly the French) — this year will be no different and the fallout will be devastating. And not just for John Key.

Alcohol-related domestic violence spikes in this country whenever NZ loses a test match. Richie Macaw may well have tears in his eyes when his team fucks up the final, but spare a thought for the solo mum in South D whose boyfriend will give her two black eyes and a split lip in Jagermeister fuelled post-match frustration.

Rugby. Rugby. Rugby. Everyone says the players are hot, and it must be quiet nice to date a man whose thighs are bigger than your own, but sooner or later you’re going to have to talk to him — and there hasn’t been a smart All Black since Rhodes Scholar David Kirk. Yes, I know Anton is well-read and sensitive, but he doesn’t count because I’ve had a crush on him since 2004, so it’s almost like he isn’t a rugby player.

I know you will be thinking that anyone who would write such an anti-rugby diatribe must be a couch-bound fattie with a severe emotional hangover from school PE classes. The truth is I like to run, bike, swim and paddleboard as much as the next moderately fit, outdoorsy New Zealander - I just don’t demand the whole country watch, or pay for it.

Lisa Scott

Tell us what you think of Gyro’s new cartoonist, Rebecca Lazarevic - gyro@opsa.org.nz

And like us on Facebook while you’re at it - “Gyro Zine”

Published by

www.opsa.org.nzAll material © OPSA 2011 unless otherwise stated. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of OPSA, the editor, or staff.

A proud member of

CreditsMichelle Fidow, David Do, Richard Girvan, Rebecca Lazarevic, Phil Ker, Fake Tan & The Folding Crew.

EditorLisa Scott(03) 477-6974gyro@opsa.org.nz

Technical EditorMark Baxter021-114-6753(03) 477-6974Mark.Baxter@op.ac.nz

AdvertisingNathan Millar021-181-3151(03) 477-6974advertise@opsa.org.nz

www.gyro.org.nz

The Prez Sez

Phone 477 4000

wwww.duneedin.ggovt.nzProudly supported by the Dunedin City Council

Public PlacesRecycling

– Glass Recycling

– Mixed Recycling (rigid plastics, metal)

– Rubbish (includes paper and cardboard)

CD Review Subject2Change Soundtracks & Inventions

“A two CD set of improve jazz from a Dunedin group of six talented musicians playing their known brand of Jazz-fusion. Disc two features percussionist Pedro Carneiro.*”

Whiney, self-absorbed, annoying yet somehow dull at the same time; Jazz has never been my cup of tea. I always find my self wondering why the musicians can’t just play ON the note, instead of under or over or through it. Would it kill them to stick to a tune?

The best I could recommend this CD for would be as a way to rid yourself of a bothersome flatmate (put it on high repeat and don’t forget to buy earplugs) or as a temporary cure for insomnia, although one’s dreams would probably be fitful and disjointed.

Email the OPSA office if you would like our copy.

Lisa Scott

*Pedro Carneiro is a Portuguese maestro who plays the marimba, vibraphone and piano. But sadly it doesn’t help.

Hi Everyone,

Yum!As some of you would have seen on Thursday,

OPSA started its “International Rugby Food Festival” at the Student Centre/Manaaki. I hope you all took advantage of the cheap $4 meal. Keep an eye out every Thursday in September for more delicious international meals.

Yuck!On the 21st of September OPSA along with other students’ associations

around the country will be making students aware that it has been 21 years since the government introduced user-pays tertiary education.

OPSA believes in everyone’s right to access a quality tertiary education. But user-pays education creates a significant barrier to this right for many people. User-pays effectively means Payer-uses, because only those who can pay are able to use.

Student debt is approaching $12 billion, and has continued to escalate since the student loan scheme was introduced by National in 1992.

Students should not be the only class of people forced to borrow simply to eat. The living allowance students can borrow today is $169.51 which has only increased $19.51 since 1999. According to the New Zealand Inflation Calculator $150 (which is the amount students could borrow in 1999) is equivalent to $270 today.

Student loans have allowed some people access to study that otherwise would not be able to in a user-pays system, but they have of course also transferred debt on to graduates, and the spectre of interest on your loans is always a concern.

Michelle FidowOPSA President 2011, president@op.ac.nz

Letters to the EditorPhil Ker, CEO, Otago Polytechnic

Is Otago Polytechnic Prof iteering?You would think so if you believed the TEU president, as cited in the

last issue of Gyro. That article alleged that the Polytechnic is salting away profits at the expense of students. The facts, for those of you who do not mind the facts spoiling a good story, are:

All polytechnics are required to generate surpluses of between •3% and 5%. If we do not we risk sanctions by TEC.

Last year Otago Polytechnic had a surplus of 3.4% - the highest •for 10 years. Hardly profiteering!

More importantly, we reinvest our surpluses in improved facilities •for students.

Goodness, we all can see how facilities have deteriorated over many years of grossly inadequate government funding. We are slowly but surely turning this

around - thanks to those modest surpluses. Watch this space for some exciting

improvements planned to get under way in 2012.

How good would it be if people got the facts right? And how hard is

it to do so?Cheers,

Phil Ker, CEO, Otago Polytechnic