Candidate nominations for student elections have hit a low and Otago University Students Association president Logan Edgar blames the poor turnout on a contentious and impending legislation change.
The move to introduce Voluntary Student Membership (VSM), which is due to have its third reading in Parliament today, when MPs are likely to pass the Act New Zealand party's Freedom of Association Bill, had put students off standing for election, Mr Edgar claimed.
"There's been a bit of a poor turnout for nominations. It's no great surprise, really, when you look at what is likely to happen," Mr Edgar, who is standing for re-election as OUSA president, said.
OUSA secretary Donna Jones said there had "certainly" been a significant drop in candidate nominations when compared with previous years.
"Most positions on the executive usually have at least two candidates standing," she said.
OUSA had advertised and run online campaigns seeking nominees.
"I wouldn't want to say it was because of VSM, but who knows? There has just been no-one [come forward]", Ms Jones said.
It was unusual for an executive role such as the international students officer not to attract any nominations, she said.
Some candidates would find themselves automatic selections to the executive, as theirs were the only nominations, she said.
Candidates can only be elected to one OUSA position, so those standing for dual roles would have to choose which role they preferred, should they secure the most votes, she said.
OUSA faces a massive drop in revenue next year if VSM, as expected, becomes a reality.
The association draws a huge part of its finances from mandatory student membership fees, which are used to provide services, administration, and campus facilities.
A new relationship between the University of Otago and OUSA is expected to be formed next year, as the two organisations contemplate closer co-operation in light of the decreased revenue for the student association, Otago vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne has said.
OUSA elections run from October 10, when voting starts at polling booths and online, until 4pm on October 13.
The nominations
President: Daniel Benson-Guiu, James Butler, Logan Edgar.
Administrative vice-president: Art Kojarunchitt.
Finance and services officer: Ryan Edgar, Daniel Stride.
Education officer: Aaspreet Boparai.
Welfare officer: Francisco Hernandez, Caleb Wicks.
Postgraduate students officer: Victoria Koszowski.
International students officer: Uncontested.
Campaigns officer: David Booth, Nicky Thomas.
Recreation officer: Daniel Benson-Guiu, Blake Luff.
Colleges and communication officer: Ryan Edgar.
