“To sit here thinking that I could have (an estimated) $15,000 in my bank account at the end of the year, for what I’ve done, is a dream. I don’t think it should be a dream, I think it should be a reality…”

And there it is. That quote, by itself, demonstrates exactly what was wrong with Compulsory Student Unionism and why the vast (but silent) majority of students never supported it. Why should dirt poor undergraduates have to dig deep into their pockets to subsidise the lifestyle and politically partisan ramblings of some second year Arts students so they can stroke each others egos over a bong in some hovel in Newtown for being published in a student rag that no one else ever reads? I know most students would prefer to use that money on items that may actually benefit their own academic progress - textbooks, journal subscriptions, rent, food….