SoSE vs AuSM

    He says SoSE may want to have bigger projects in the future like building vehicles or aircraft, and he does not want this to be an AuSM decision.
    SoSE want to add a clause to AuSM’s constitution. It says that instead of AuSM having the final say over what an affiliated club can do, it would need more than 50 per cent of other club members to agree.
    Mr Simpson is hoping this will protect SoSE in the future if AuSM wished to stop funding a club like SoSE.
    Jan Herman, president of AuSM, says AuSM currently has the veto rights because they give $30,000 from students’ association fees away each year to clubs. They want to ensure it is spent well.
    “Let’s say if a club went and did something disastrous with the money we had given them, or put a clause in their contract saying any funding provided to them by AuSM could be used to buy a Ferrari, obviously it would come back on AuSM and we’d be responsible.”
    However, Mr Herman says that if the proposed clause gets majority support when SoSE bring it to the next special general meeting in September, then it will go through.
    “Potentially down the track it could have some implications for the organisation (AuSM). But it’s up to the members what they want to do.”
    Ryan Waite, AUT’s clubs coordinator, says clubs can basically do what they want if they are unaffiliated but to be affiliated and eligible for grants then a club has to abide by AuSM’s regulations.
    He says the executive council is elected by students so they can choose who makes the decisions.
    “AuSM can’t control a club. It’s just a possible use of veto to block an unacceptable change proposed by a club.”
    Clubs wanting to be affiliated have to apply each year. They also have to fill out a five-page document detailing how money from AuSM would be spent if they intend to apply for a grant.
    Mr Simpson hoped people could vote to add the clause at AuSM’s last annual general meeting held on May 21. But as it had not been put on the agenda 10 days before the meeting, it could not be included. Mr Simpson did, however, briefly explain the issue once the meeting had closed.
    There are currently 22 affiliated clubs (including SoSE) and 10 unaffiliated clubs
at AUT.

The next grants round begins on June 16.