Media release – Student Choice
UCSA radio sale sinks more compulsory membership myths
The decision by the compulsory University of Canterbury Students Association (UCSA) to sub-licence the frequency for its
radio station RDU has debunked two myths put about by supporters of compulsory student association membership, Student
Choice says.
First, for years compulsory supporters have argued that compulsory membership is necessary to ensure 'student control of
student affairs', yet the sale of the licence happened without consultation with UCSA members, Student Choice spokesman
Mike Heine said.
UCSA president Warren Poh admitted that "there is nothing in our constitution or anything else that says we have to
discuss this sort of thing with the student body." So much for student control of student affairs, Mike Heine said.
Second, compulsory supporters regularly claim that compulsory membership is essential to providing so-called services.
Yet the sale of the licence is an admission that UCSA no longer wanted to subsidise RDU, an activity which some people
would regard as a service.
Warren Poh admitted that funding the station was financially untenable and the sale came about after "many years of
having to subsidise the station….UCSA has paid a substantial amount every year to keep RDU going."
The RDU sale is more evidence that compulsory student associations have become bureaucratic organisations controlled by
student politicians who pay little attention to the interests of the people who are forced to provide the associations'
income.
Moreover, Mr Heine asked, why should anyone be forced to subsidise a radio station in order to study at a university?
Ends