By PAUL YANDALL
Waikato University's student union has voted to return to compulsory membership - two years after it became the first union in the country to become voluntary.
About 50 members of the union met on Wednesday to overturn its pro-voluntary stance.
Waikato became the first campus in the country to implement voluntary membership in 1998 after it was endorsed by both the union and two student-initiated referendums.
Auckland University became the second campus to go voluntary after a nationwide, Government- initiated student referendum last year.
Waikato union president Pita Cammock said the vote to overturn the stand was nearly unanimous.
A referendum would be held on the campus asking the larger student body if they wanted to return to compulsory member-ship.
Only 1500 of Waikato University's 13,000 students have paid the $10 membership fee to join the union this year.
Last year, just 120 students joined.
Services at the university had steadily deteriorated after two years of voluntary membership that had not worked in students' favour, said Mr Cammock.
"Where it's really made a difference is in our mandate. The university doesn't take us seriously any more - they think we're some kind of club."
Auckland University student association president Kane Stanford said he wanted another referendum on voluntary membership held by the end of the year.
"It's good that we can have a year to look at it, but at the end of the day it's going to make a difference to what sort of services we can offer."
He said only 3738 of the university's 21,000 students had paid the $30 fee to join the union.
NZ University Students' Association co-president Sam Huggard welcomed the Waikato union's vote.
After embracing voluntary membership the union had left the national body, accusing it of discriminatory behaviour.
"I see it as a very positive move," said Mr Huggard.
"We would welcome any move that gives their students representation and fosters an ongoing relationship with NZUSA."
The Government is drafting legislation that should be before Parliament in June to repeal the National Party's voluntary membership bill.
Student unions will be expected to hold referendums on compulsory membership again if the legislation passes.
Waikato student body reverses union stance
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