You probably paid about $1,015 to Otago as a Student Services Fee. Why do we do this? Where does it go?
Imagine a group of students wondering where all their money is going as they are sitting around eating instant noodles. And then, lo and behold: a $20 million student levy fund! The money that vanishes from our pockets into the fund goes to several causes. This is all available on the Uni’s website, but we know you’re not looking at that, so we’ve basically just reprinted it here.
Recreation (includes sports, fitness, Unipol, clubs and socs and internet): $8,420,538.46, or $425.96 each.
Because you can have all the Wi-Fi and Zumba classes you want for the cost of a few weeks’ rent.
Subsidised health support: around $8,408,855, or $424 each.
What, are we giving our campus doctors gold-plated stethoscopes?
Assistance with advocacy and accommodations: around $1,449,230.77, or $72.73 each.
You’re paying to help resolve flat disputes whether you like it or not.
Advice and information on careers: around $1,305,934.07, or $65.40 each.
Preparing us for the well-paying employment that will enable us to pay off our uni loans in a century or two.
Media: roughly $2,678,571.43, or $17.93 each.
Critic would like a word, and a raise.
Pastoral counselling and care; chaplain: around $144,615.38, or $8.00 each.
Ah yes, mental health: worth about half the media budget <3
Financial support: about $12,692.31, or $0.70 each.
Wow, what a spender! That should cover at least half a textbook, right?
The million-dollar (or, in this case, twenty million-dollar) issue is now: what would be a better way to spend $20 million?
Do students in Dunedin desire cosy apartments? Fresh food? Clothes? Trusted transportation? Dentistry? Alcohol/drugs? Or perhaps simply an additional $1,015 in hard currency?
However, students need not fret since the University Council is on the case. They’re like the referees in this grand financial brawl. They consider our fee-setting requests, compile survey responses (who doesn't like a good survey?), run discussion boards (better than a flat party, right? ), and even communicate with groups like OUSA. They serve as the guardians of our financial future, making sure that the following generation of students may continue to pursue their dreams of being students. Or something like that. I think they also make a lot of money.
For more info on where Otago spends our student fees go to https://www.otago.ac.nz/studentservices/otago626140.html