Post by: squance on January 12, 2008, 10:47:36 pm
Is it worth it?
Post by: Eriny on January 12, 2008, 10:51:12 pm
Post by: brendan on January 13, 2008, 12:02:05 am
Post by: excal on January 13, 2008, 03:00:49 am
Otherwise, no.
Personally, I support the union.
Post by: Collin Li on January 13, 2008, 12:19:17 pm
Some people here are saying it's like an insurance policy in case you need it to support you, but I don't see how the student union can support you any more than just give you advice. They can't circumvent the rules of the university, and they don't have tutors. If you need to form study groups, you won't need a student union membership for that either. Advice isn't worth $200+ a year, you can come on FSN and get it for free.
However, if you believe you have a moderately high risk of becoming depressed or anything that requires counselling, I am pretty sure the student union provides that, and this would be the fiscally conservative way to get it (although I'm not sure about the quality of them, compared to private counsellors).
Post by: squance on January 13, 2008, 12:37:47 pm
I like discounts....
Post by: Collin Li on January 13, 2008, 12:48:14 pm
You need to spend
I'm not sure how the pricing works. For Melbourne University they say its $198 if you're new, but then there is a $17 monthly price, which means in your first year you're paying $402, and every year after it's $204.
Post by: excal on January 13, 2008, 02:04:45 pm
Discounts are nice, though. That said...coblin does make a very accurate fiscal analysis on discounts.
You can't actually pay yet at Monash...they've scrapped our 'Community Card'.
Post by: Mao on January 13, 2008, 03:36:10 pm
Post by: Collin Li on January 13, 2008, 04:29:36 pm
The only reason why they prospered under CSU is because they did not have to provide an excellent service for their customers, membership revenue was guaranteed for them.
Post by: excal on January 13, 2008, 05:40:37 pm
I would suggest you think about your own money before being charitable to the student union. They will (and should) receive a clear message at the end of this year (as they did at the end of 2007) about their services, and will need to make their prices lower, and/or their services more attractive in order to get more memberships.
The only reason why they prospered under CSU is because they did not have to provide an excellent service for their customers, membership revenue was guaranteed for them.
I think it's a matter of complacency - 'I don't have to pay because I don't'. Students are, generally speaking, inherently lazy to things they don't *have* to do and the rather dissociative nature of Uni culture further incubates this complacency.
I'm not saying that we should FORCE students to pay - but I think that the option to pay needs to be made much more apparent to students. In addition, the benefits that such membership can bring probably need to be clearly highlighted.
Post by: Collin Li on January 13, 2008, 05:44:07 pm
Only join them if it benefits you more than it costs. Simple as that.
Post by: nak on January 14, 2008, 01:27:17 am
I remember going there for TSFX lectures and on the microwaves it says something about Union people only.. i think.
Post by: Collin Li on January 14, 2008, 01:45:07 am
Yeah join, because for $200 you get to use the microwaves at Melb Uni i think :D
I remember going there for TSFX lectures and on the microwaves it says something about Union people only.. i think.
You can use them for free because they don't check. There's a place called the International Students Lounge with a microwave, and if you're Asian, you have the benefit of slipping in unnoticed :) There may also be other microwaves in other places that can be freely accessed.
Or, if you want a goody-goody no-slipping-through-unchecked option, you can buy microwaves for $100 these days, LOL. Get a microwave, and get a locker (yearly is like $10-20, depending which faculty), and find a power-point (there are plenty) and woo, it's cheap microwaving :D (absurd idea, I know). It's cheaper, but you should make sure that the microwave fits in the locker, LOL.
Post by: nak on January 14, 2008, 02:30:37 am
Yeah join, because for $200 you get to use the microwaves at Melb Uni i think :D
I remember going there for TSFX lectures and on the microwaves it says something about Union people only.. i think.
You can use them for free because they don't check. There's a place called the International Students Lounge with a microwave, and if you're Asian, you have the benefit of slipping in unnoticed :) There may also be other microwaves in other places that can be freely accessed.
Or, if you want a goody-goody no-slipping-through-unchecked option, you can buy microwaves for $100 these days, LOL. Get a microwave, and get a locker (yearly is like $10-20, depending which faculty), and find a power-point (there are plenty) and woo, it's cheap microwaving :D (absurd idea, I know). It's cheaper, but you should make sure that the microwave fits in the locker, LOL.
hahaha next thing it will be a fridge but except it needs constant power. Maybe an esky will be fine.
So they dont check at all? That is the only reason i can think of to join them but if the microwaves are easily accessed then no chance of joining them.
Post by: squance on January 14, 2008, 06:18:50 am
Think carefully about the costs versus the benefits. Let's say that the Student Union gives you a 10% discount on things:
You need to spendin order to break even. It depends how much of a consumer you are though. Over 24 weeks of university and 5 days a week, that's more than $16.65 a day. If you are going to buy breakfast and lunch, that will fulfil that quota, but then you've got to find union supported restaurants, because they don't give out discounts to everything.
I'm not sure how the pricing works. For Melbourne University they say its $198 if you're new, but then there is a $17 monthly price, which means in your first year you're paying $402, and every year after it's $204.
I thought it was $204 for the $17 monthly thing...$17x12 = $204
How did u get $402?
Post by: Collin Li on January 14, 2008, 09:48:55 am
Post by: Mao on January 14, 2008, 09:55:46 am
lol just make friends with someone who lives on campus, then u can use their kitchen!Yeah join, because for $200 you get to use the microwaves at Melb Uni i think :D
I remember going there for TSFX lectures and on the microwaves it says something about Union people only.. i think.
You can use them for free because they don't check. There's a place called the International Students Lounge with a microwave, and if you're Asian, you have the benefit of slipping in unnoticed :) There may also be other microwaves in other places that can be freely accessed.
Or, if you want a goody-goody no-slipping-through-unchecked option, you can buy microwaves for $100 these days, LOL. Get a microwave, and get a locker (yearly is like $10-20, depending which faculty), and find a power-point (there are plenty) and woo, it's cheap microwaving :D (absurd idea, I know). It's cheaper, but you should make sure that the microwave fits in the locker, LOL.
hahaha next thing it will be a fridge but except it needs constant power. Maybe an esky will be fine.
So they dont check at all? That is the only reason i can think of to join them but if the microwaves are easily accessed then no chance of joining them.
Post by: humph on January 14, 2008, 10:14:37 am
...if they're at a self-catered college, that is.lol just make friends with someone who lives on campus, then u can use their kitchen!Yeah join, because for $200 you get to use the microwaves at Melb Uni i think :D
I remember going there for TSFX lectures and on the microwaves it says something about Union people only.. i think.
You can use them for free because they don't check. There's a place called the International Students Lounge with a microwave, and if you're Asian, you have the benefit of slipping in unnoticed :) There may also be other microwaves in other places that can be freely accessed.
Or, if you want a goody-goody no-slipping-through-unchecked option, you can buy microwaves for $100 these days, LOL. Get a microwave, and get a locker (yearly is like $10-20, depending which faculty), and find a power-point (there are plenty) and woo, it's cheap microwaving :D (absurd idea, I know). It's cheaper, but you should make sure that the microwave fits in the locker, LOL.
hahaha next thing it will be a fridge but except it needs constant power. Maybe an esky will be fine.
So they dont check at all? That is the only reason i can think of to join them but if the microwaves are easily accessed then no chance of joining them.
we have cooked lunches at college :) and i invite townie friends over sometimes to scab a free meal when they're hungry and poor ;D
Post by: squance on January 15, 2008, 11:34:46 am
There is a joining fee of $198. I am not sure if it is merely a joining fee, or if it pays for the entire year (doubt it).
nah i think its just $198 upfront and thats it or $204 direct debit for one year
Post by: Sealock on February 14, 2008, 12:54:08 am
it's full of people you won't like
unless you like julia gillard
Post by: brendan on February 14, 2008, 11:39:35 am
Yeah join, because for $200 you get to use the microwaves at Melb Uni i think :D
I remember going there for TSFX lectures and on the microwaves it says something about Union people only.. i think.
for $200 you could buy your own microwave :P