Outside the Clocktower Sociology lecturer Dave Bedggood spoke to the demo about the history of student resistance to the University becoming corporation like since the 1980s. In the 1980s and 1990s students occupied University buildings and held huge marches to oppose user pays, privatisation and constantly increasing fees. He said that the University’s limited entry destroyed opportunities for those who were not considered ‘right’ by the school system, even if they were intelligent. The age where students started competing to go to university would begin at a younger and younger age. Parents would compete to get their children into ‘elite schools’. Dr Bedggood described the nature of the university was to become more and more like a ‘business corporation’. Recent funding changes to the university now means the funding is based on the ‘quality’ of research rather than how many students were enrolled. Dr Bedggood noted this was a misleading term. Research that catered to the needs of multinational corporations takes precedent over research that caters to the needs of society.

Efeso Collins, who was Auckland University Student Association (AUSA) President in 1999 and a community liaison officer encouraging Pacific Island youth to enroll in University between 2000 and 2005, gave a stirring speech linking the decision to limit entry to university with the social problems plaguing Aotearoa. The decision to limit entry was going to especially hit the poor, Maori and Pacific Island communities. ‘Get scared’ he said because denying educational opportunities help turn youth towards gangs and violence. By denying educational possibilities you end social cohesion. Roger, a student and AUSA member, spoke about how this decision would hurt working class people.

After a little bit of caroling under the Clocktower Christmas tree ‘close the doors to university falalalalala’, the crowd headed upstairs to the University Council meeting. After attending that meeting I gained a new found respect for the Council’s two student representatives, David Do and Anna Crowe. Deputy Vice Chancellor Raweyn Dalziel gave a long double speak filled speech justifying limited entry. The members of the University Council, mainly pakeha, suit clad had an aristocratic air about them. While arguing Auckland University had to stay ‘competitive’ and remain in the ‘top 50 world universities, unlike Otago and Victoria’ they stressed there would still be ‘an equity policy’ that allowed ‘disadvantaged groups, such as Maori and Pacific Islanders’ to attend university. It reminded me of reading about European colonialists who would exploit people around the world but then wax lyrical about how much they cared about the natives. As Dr Bedggood noted in his speech this affirmative action would just mean that people who fail to get into university will instead blame poor Maori and Pacific Islanders, rather than the university and the government.

Student representative David Do made a speech to the Council criticizing the effect limited entry would have on students. He pointed out that it was extremely anti-democratic that a decision ‘which would change the university forever’ was being made so incredibly hastily without any student consultation. After he gave the speech he and the other student representative, were absolutely ripped into by the University Council. A suited Council member pulled a John Key by saying: “David I came from a poor rural background but I managed to get into limited entry university”. He and other Council members said that they were very saddened by David’s comments because there had been consultation with students because the decision had been mentioned at a previous Council meeting and other obscure gatherings! David politely replied that it had only been mentioned at a Council meeting after he had asked if such a policy might be adopted.

The out of touch suits (including a woman who looked like a vampire) addressed David and Anna in the most patronizing manner. “I have been a council member for five years but you have only been here for one year” one said. I was getting sick and tired of this nonsense so I got up and left the meeting. Outside there were several students, including 2008 Craccum editor Dan, trying to enter the meeting but they were blocked by security guards. The security guards claimed that there were not enough seats but this was a complete lie because several people had just left. One student started calling out in a raised voice “let me in let me in” but then suddenly an exodus of people came out of the meeting. The Council had just voted 14-2 to cut away the futures of many bright people.