Editorial 4: Speak up students, no one else will

Complaining is one of my favourite things to do. There’s no better feeling than having a problem, complaining about the problem, then doing fuck-all to solve it. It’s my guilty pleasure, but one that I know will endlessly screw me over during my lifetime.  

Taking action is an underrated skill - and one that I urge you to practice as a student. We have a beautiful democratic system in Aotearoa that allows us to speak our mind, and solve our problems through change. The holy word we are looking for is advocacy. 

Advocacy, in simple terms, is using your voice as an individual, or a collective, to create meaningful systematic change. Advocacy is particularly important in uncertain times, like we are living in today.  

Massey University, and other bodies of power, reiterate that they want to engage with students, but when asked why, far too often the answer is that “youth are the future” or that we “need to empower the future leaders”. Both of these statements fail to recognise the agency young individuals have, and the proximity we have to problems that affect us the most.  

Something I've always found interesting is that universities are for-profit organisations, and making money will likely hold precedent over addressing and solving student issues. This leads to blatantly unfair systems, a lack of support, and little communication between themselves and students.  

Are you happy with the education being provided? Do you think the University is doing enough to support students during Covid-19? If not, speak up. Students are in a unique place where advocacy services are just a fingertip away. Each campus (plus distance) has a students’ association that has dedicated advocacy staff, who want to help YOU.  

So, as you lay in bed and think about the week you have ahead of you, take the time to reassess how the University - an institution supposed to support you and your ambitions - is really treating students. And if you find something you don’t believe is right, use your voice and start advocating (or contact me and we can write a scathing story!). 

 Kia manahau, 

Mason Tangatatai