"The death of student unionism"
What a joke. The death of compulsory student unionism maybe. But why should anyone be forced to be a part of it? So much for freedom of association.

If student unionism is to survive it should survive on it's own two feet, not because people are forced against their will to join it. Otherwise, you are just forcing some people to subsidize the political activity of others.

Have you ever picked up a campus newspaper produced by the student unions? They are staggeringly, immodestly stupid. They are the most visible expressions of what student union activists think (if that's the word I want). If anything, I am amazed that the rest of the student population has not been out in force to demand their money back years ago.

You open the article with talk of "the end of student unions"? Please note, Mr Arts/Law student - the union has NOT been abolished, only the compulsion to join. You are free to spend your $136 on student union fees. Yes, it is true, look it up if you don't believe me.

The problem you ought to grapple with is that now the student unions have to provide something worth $136. Judging from the campus newspapers, do you think they can come up with any ideas?

Me neither.

I'm a recent entrant to uni as a mature age external student - the abolishment of compulsory union fees couldn't have come at a better time for me.

Textbooks and HECS are a big enough tangible expense without throwing in the intangible, hard to justify, fee for 'services' neither wanted nor unattainable.

The saying:" All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to stand around and do nothing..." or words to that effect.

Part way through as I am, a Bachelor of Laws, it astounds me to hear the support for 'inaction' on issues that have just as much significance today as did the Vietnam War in the late '60's.

I'm also a proud ex serving member of the ADF, single working dad, volunteer, etc etc. I find time for issues that matter, but don't necessarily have the time to organise rallies, marches or whatever.
Student politics have kept me in touch with the topical issues of recent years. But like some posters, I to am enjoying the few extra dollars I am not compelled to pay for Union Fees.

Too many of us today have a 'not in my back yard' mentality. How to get balance since compulsory student union fees were scrapped? The various clubs and societies on campus may need to be more proactive and get the students within their relative disciplines involved and into the 'politics'. The club/society costs per semester are usually much lower also.

The brokers are depending on that inaction to get their 'mandates'. Any breaking down of dissent can only mean to them - approval by default.

I wonder how things would have turned out had the Democrats stuck to their mantra of 'Keeping the bastards honest'

In the 60s/70s curricula were less modualarised and the courses harder and more intensive. Less dependency on a textbook and less emphasis on being "worked through" a programme. Authority was challanged and the students progressive, not conservative. The whole mix was different, back then, stimulating activism and civic mindedness. In those by-gone days, even the graffetti on the back of the toilet door was more erudite.