University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand's largest research-based university by student numbers. Established in 1883 as the third constituent college of the University of New Zealand, the university is now made up of eight faculties over six campuses, and has more than 33,500 students. University of Auckland's page.

Auckland University Students' Association

The Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) represents students at the University. AUSA publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student clubs and societies. AUSA also produces Craccum and bFM.

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The AUSA was founded in 1891. The constitution of the AUSA centers the organisation around student advocacy and the provision of welfare services.

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As required by new legislation, the University council conducted a student referendum in 1999 on whether membership in AUSA should be voluntary or compulsory. The majority of students supported voluntary unionionism, and so AUSA membership become voluntary. Referenda on the same issue were held in 2001 and 2003 (anyone can request a referendum and the University council must conduct one, provided no two referenda are less than two years apart), and in each case, the majority of students voted for voluntary unionism. The current position has AUSA contracted by the University to provide student services. Detractors of voluntary student unionism say that AUSA suffers drastically from VSU, and that VSU undermines AUSA's ability to advocate on behalf of students and provide welfare services. They also say that in controlling the flow of money, the University dictates the terms to some extent of its operations through a Student Services Agreement. Proponents of VSU, on the other hand, claim VSU means freedom of choice for students. They also paint AUSA executives under compulsory unionism as being wasteful, and cite examples of weekly Ski trips for executives. They claim that the level of intervention is very limited (for example, the conditions are only that AUSA must run orientation and the like).

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Craccum

Craccum is the weekly magazine produced by the AUSA. The name originated from the scrambled acronym of "Auckland University College Men's Common Room Circular".

Related Topics:
Craccum - Acronym

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Craccum is the largest student magazine in New Zealand, with a weekly distribution of 10,000 copies. It is anomolous as a publication due to the fact of it having annual student elections for the position of editor.

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The magazine is infamous for its delibrate attempts at being controversial, with certain editors choosing to publish stories on "Suicide and how to do it", as well as recipies for illegal drugs. It is also a popular proving ground for New Zealand mainstream media, with most of its alumni moving on to a variety of "serious" publications such as The Listener, The Herald and Metro magazine.

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In more recent years craccum has become a haven for fringe stories, reporting and discussing topics outside the eye of most mainstream media, and outside the scope of politically correct discourse. As one might expect of a student magazine, it is also a haven for photographs of naked students engaged in beer consumption competitions.

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Former editors of Craccum include -

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2004 - Allan Swann and Hannah Jennings-Voykovich

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2003 - Chris Garland

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2001 - 'Dr' John Marshall

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2000 - Ben Thomas and James Cardno

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1999 - Gareth Elliot and Thomas Shadbolt

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1998 - Alistair Bone

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1997 - Martyn "Bomber" Bradbury

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Alec Hutchison and Stian Overdahl are the editors for 2005. Ryan Sproull has been elected, and will commence his ten-month editorialship on 1 January 2006.

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bFM

95bFM (or simply 'bFM') is a typical student radio station that plays a lot of alternative music. Like other student broadcasters, it supports local artists well before they become mainstream. However, it is not 100% student owned and it is a commercial station, with paid advertising.

Related Topics:
95bFM - BFM

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