BDSM MEDIA NEWS!!!!
14 may 2012
Student union given a $1 million boost.
Source: www.heraldsun.com.au. - Herald Sun - Australia
AUSTRALIA - MELBOURNE - The student union which this month brought a prostitute to campus to perform a sex act for an "education" workshop will be given a funding increase of almost $1 million in students' money this year - bringing its total funds to more than $2.4 million.
An examination of University of Melbourne Student Union's expenditure reveals thousands of dollars spent on beer, entertainers dressed as fruit and a $500 trip for president Mark Kettle.
It comes after attendees of the union's Rad Sex and Consent Week witnessed a live penetration act by a professional dominatrix, advertised as sex education.
The student union maintains the act was an innocent external "massage". But witnesses say it was, in fact, an extreme sex act.
Presenters at last year's sex education event were given $300 worth of vouchers by the union.
This year's Rad Sex and Consent Week was supported by advertising, union-funded office bearers, and hosted in the union's student-funded headquarters.
University financial statements reveal $2.4 million was allocated to UMSU in 2012 from a pool of student amenities funds.
Compulsory fees were reintroduced in federal legislation last year, six years after the Howard Government made student unionism voluntary. It means the union gets almost $1 million more.
Approved UMSU expenditure in the past 18 months included $15,000 for Orientation Week entertainment featuring people dressed as fruit and thousands spent on alcohol including $2000 in a single spend on beer for the Activities Committee in January last year.
And $500 went towards flights, accommodation and registration for president Mark Kettle to attend a summit in January.
Mr Kettle said affordable student housing was one of many areas to benefit significantly from compulsory student union fees.
"(Compulsory fees) will go someway to restoring student activity on campus after the damage done by Voluntary Student Union legislation, but action on housing is needed, as well," he said.
Minutes from a meeting of the union's council in December show a proposal for Anzac Day activities was quashed because the union didn't want to "glorify war".
A later suggestion about displaying Christmas decorations in Union House was shut down as it was deemed not to be the union's responsibility and "inconsiderate" to non-Christian students.
The Vice-Chancellor's office said in a statement about the sex education week that union funding was provided on the condition it was spent sensibly.
"(We) are not usually advised in advance of UMSU activities, as it is an independent body," it said.
