SCARFIE
No we are not a cheap bar in town that guarantees to get first years flat faced. Although we are known to share a few free beers from time to time!

So what are we then? Well SCARFIE is sort of like the militant wing of MUSA otherwise known as the campaign arm. We organise and promote some of the larger campaigns that are run throughout the year. Look out for and join in protests and other actions throughout the year that we put on to ensure that students’ voice is never lost.

This website is full of information as to why it is so crucial for the student movement to get vocal about issues. Sure MUSA has a bunch of representatives that goes around to a whole heap of meetings to get students’ way but sometimes that just isn’t enough and we need to get out there, united and strong.

Click on a link below for information about particular issues that are important for students to be informed about and what SCARFIE and other student movements across the country are doing about it.

STUDENT LOAN SCHEME
Well on the 1 st of April 2006 Labour will remove interest from student loans. This move, although a huge win for students, also has its pitfalls that we need to be aware of. Having no interest on loans will cost money and I’m sure many of us are familiar with the whole treasury estimates debacle. The point is that now Labour will throw this in our face about how much they have injected into student support and how there is “just not enough money” for further improvements to student support such as increase in allowances.

While we should be proud that we made student debt such a huge issue at the last general election such that Labour pulled this out of nowhere, we need to be cautious in not being too satisfied with this move. From Labour’s point of view how else could they help graduates who are already burdened with massive debts from the days when you could borrow as much as you want, when you want, and interest was compounded from day one.

STUDENT ALLOWANCE
We need to hold Labour accountable to their pledge of at least 50% access to allowances. We would like to see this done through lowering the age at which you are considered independent from your parents plus reinstating what was lost under Labour by so called alignment with the bill of rights ie independent circumstances and married couples.

See NZUSA for more details [ HERE ].

BETTTER STAFF PAY
We support staff unions calling for higher pay. Quality staff means quality education. Read http://www.aus.ac.nz/Funding/DeloittesReportSummary.pdf for more information.

FEES
We cop a lot of flack for demanding lower fees yet in the same voice support staff claims for higher pay. Basically our stance boils down to better management of the money they have. That is to say lower the advertising budget and stop wasting money on things such as the institute of rugby etc etc and spend the money you already have on quality education, the number one reason for a university’s existence, through things like increasing staff pay [More Info].

See NZUSA for more details [ HERE ].

THURSDAYS IN BLACK
Thursdays in Black is a campaign run throughout universities in New Zealand and around the world by students' associations (including MUSA). Supporting the campaign means that you are sick and tired of putting up with rape and violence in our communities: you wear black on a Thursday to show your disapproval. There is Thursdays in Black merchandise (short sleeved t-shirt, $25; long sleeved, $35) available from the MUSA shop. All the money raised goes to support 'grass roots' organisations that help survivors of rape and violence [More Info]

See NZUSA for more details [ HERE ].