The discovery of what has been described as a "massive fraud" at the Christchurch Polytechnic Students' Association (CPSA) has stregthened the case for student association membership to be made voluntary.

According to an article in today's 'Press' newspaper, former CPSA office manager Helen Lenihan has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for stealing $175,000 from the association - $125,000 of which was unrecoverable. The CPSA case is just the latest in a series of thefts or misuses of funds from student associations throughout the country.

'December 1999 - Brendan McQuillan, president of Nelson Polytechnic Student Association, admitted stealing $8,004. November 2003 - Florence bailey, office manager of Massey Students Association, jailed for two years and three months after stealing $203,000. November 2005 - Victoria University Maori Student Association treasurer Wi Nepia jailed for stealing $161,000. 2005 - Otago University's Te Roopu Maori, the Maori students' association collapsed amid allegations of financial impropriety. Estimated fraud $21,000. April 2007 - Clelia Opie, officer of Victoria University Students' Association, spends $6,000 on phone calls.'

The fact is that compulsory student association membership creates a pool of money and a lack of accountability on how that money is managed. Misuse of funds in a voluntary organisation would result in a loss of confidence by members in the executive. But in student organisations, despite frequent fraud and theft, students are still forced to pay union fees whether they want to or not. Student associations are also often plagued by accusations of advocating only the views of their executives rather than those of their wider memberships.

Student associations don't representation, they provide mis-representation. Along with the financial improprieties, these associations are plagued with accusations that they advocate only the views and opinions of their executives rather than those of their wider memberships.

Student associations are one of the last kinds of organisation in New Zealand that can compel membership, and we are now reaping what has been sown. Students are able to choose what university or polytechnic they attend, and can choose what papers to take - it's time they were given the freedom to choose whether or not to join their local student association.