The Sydney University (SU) Chess Club

Open Letter to All

Dear SU Chess Club Members and friends,

After 7 years of service and 6 years as president, I have decided to quit running the SU Chess Club. The main reason is the tyranny that is the University of Sydney Union (USU, or Union), which I feel I will be supporting if I continue to run the club. First, I will give you a summary of what I have achieved while serving the club, then I list my reasons why I believe the Union is so evil:

What the SU Chess Club has done since I got on the committee

• I have been part of the committee of the SU Chess Club since 2000, and president since 2001.
• When I first came to Sydney University in 1999, SU Chess Club membership was $4. Since 2002, it has just been $1.
• In my first year at Sydney Uni, there were about 60 members. In 2006 alone, there were 168 members.
• In my first year at Sydney Uni, the club had very little and poor chess equipment, such as old clocks (many not functioning), and floppy chess boards (which were not flat). Now we have many hard chess boards (always flat) and excellent quality, fully-functioning chess clocks.
• In my first year at Sydney Uni, there was just 1 tournament run in the entire year, and 7 people attended. In 2006 alone, I organised many tournaments, among them, 3 championship tournaments, a simultaneous exhibition, outdoor blitz tournaments, the Australian Universities Rapid Championships (in which players from 4 universities took part), and organised teams for 2 NSW Teams Challenge events. I have run many more tournaments in previous years.
• I have literally put in hundreds of dollars into the SU Chess Club without making a profit myself. In 2006 alone, I sponsored all the prizes myself (which totaled $600), and excluded myself from winning them except in 1 tournament.
• Most SU Chess Club members will already know just how much I have done for the club over the years, or at least in 2006. They will know that I fought tirelessly to get a room for us available in Wentworth, which we were initially promised by a board member, only to have it cancelled.
• See the website http://www.it.usyd.edu.au/~jchan3/succ for more information, such as tournament and event summaries, and newsletters from previous years.

• The ACCESS card will now cost $99 per year. It is supposedly used to give you 'discounts', but we all know that in reality, the Union simply charges extra on those without the card. This is easily confirmed by looking for the same products elsewhere, when the prices are much lower.
• If you cannot afford the ACCESS card, it will now cost you $37 to join each club.
• The Union is charging each club $50 just to have a stall during O-Week. This is unprecedented.
• The Union now requires all clubs and societies to have a minimum of 50% Union members and 50% ACCESS card holders. A question was raised in a Clubs and Societies meeting: "What if we don't have 50% of members who meet this requirement?"; the Union's answer: "You just have to find a way to meet it".
• A question was raised by another club: "Can we require all of our members to be ACCESS card holders?"; the Union's answer: "Let me get back to you on that. We support the spirit of that stance." Can you see how evil that is? To force students to buy an access card ($99), otherwise, not allow them to join a club?
• In order to donate their services, all committee members of all clubs and societies must hold an ACCESS card (that is, must pay $99).

• The Union strongly opposes the federal government's introduction of VSU (Voluntary Student Unionism, note the word *Voluntary*), and has literally spent millions of dollars of your money advertising to students to brainwash them into believing that they need and love the Union. Just look at the huge banners and posters around proclaiming that "I love USU"; "No VSU"; "These services will not be here with VSU" (this last one is a lie; now that there is VSU, there are still many of those services, such as the eateries, where they have these posters), etc. If it is so obvious why the Union is so good, why do they need to spend so much money justifying their existence?
• Only support for the Union can be found in the Bull, Union emails, the Union diary, posters, rallies, etc, but there is no open debate as to what is so wrong with VSU. The other side of the story is never given a chance to be heard.
• The Union (together with the SRC, or Student Representative Council, which has also been forcing each student to pay hundreds of dollars) wastes $20 000 of your money each time they hold a rally protesting VSU and spreading their propaganda. They spend much more in other areas to brainwash you.
• Their brainwashing is working: many students openly proclaim to love the Union, but I believe the silent majority do not support the Union. I bet most of those students who support the Union do not know that the Union is run by the board members, who are earning healthy salaries from your money, who control all the Union's money, and who cannot be elected by us, the students, so they control all the power.
• The Sydney University Sports Union has also been forcing students to pay hundreds of dollars a year. However, even if you have paid this outrageous amount, you are not allowed into their Sports and Aquatic Center, you have to pay more money (and it is very expensive). Why? Is that fair? Try yourself, bring your receipts proving you have paid hundreds of dollars to them, and see what happens!
• Remember the V in VSU stands for "Voluntary". Just why is it so wrong to allow students to decide if they want to join the Union? Why does the Union support the stance of forcing all students to join them? Keep in mind that university students are one of the poorest demographic in society. They usually have to support themselves financially, cannot afford to earn much money (since they are studying), and must pay for expensive things such as books, study equipment etc. Why should they be forced to pay hundreds of dollars a year?
• The government also forces citizens to pay tax, however, the government can be elected by the people, and only taxes income when it reaches a minimum amount (there is now GST, but the Union also charges more than necessary to make a profit; just compare prices of same products with stores elsewhere). The Union board members cannot be elected by you the students; they are the ones who make very comfortable salaries from your money, control the money, and hold all the power in the Union. The president (who is a student and elected by the students) does not control this money and has virtually no influence; they are just a puppet for the board members. The Union has been forcing all students to pay hundreds of dollars, not matter how poor they are. It's a monopoly!
• Level 5 of the Wentworth Building, once accessible to students, is now a restricted area. They even have a locked door at the stairs preventing students from entering. The whole purpose of the Wentworth Building is supposed to be to serve the students, but now only corporates and businesses with money have access to level 5 (they can hire rooms for a fee, so that the Union can earn more money). Why don't you try yourself to go to level 5 and see what happens?
• The Union blames everything on VSU, but their board directors are responsible. They have been running the Union for years with so much of our money and running so inefficiently. Look carefully at all the changes they are now finally making to make the system more efficient. However, they are also raising prices (as they always have), and will continue to do so much faster.

I know that there are many good people in the Union who genuinely care for students, and they do try hard to work for students. But the people in control, the board members, whom cannot be elected by us, the students, are the ones in power, and they run the Union to make a profit and to increase their power. Look at the evidence above. Look carefully around and you will see even more evidence yourself to support this view.

I do not intend to make life hard for my successor(s). I will still support them and make sure that the club is still in a good state. Currently, we have a healthy number of chess boards, sets, and fully-functioning clocks, as well as a healthy bank balance. They can still contact me and I will help them out. However, they should keep in mind the above difficulties introduced by the Union.

It has been a pleasure serving the SU Chess Club and its members for 7 years, making students and university staff happy by running many chess events, and making lots of friends there. I hope you can clearly understand from above why I can no longer continue to run the SU Chess Club. For me, it is not about money, but rather, because it would mean accepting the Union's monopoly, which is now getting much worse. Finally, with VSU, I have a choice to no longer support the Union. Thank you to all those who support me.

Jason Chan.
SU Chess Club President from 2001-2006.
http://www.it.usyd.edu.au/~jchan3/succ

P.S. I would love to hear your reply giving me your support. Please indicate to me if you allow me to post your email on my website.

Responses

Firstly, the Union board IS directly elected by the student population - the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary are then elected by the board (and there have been pushes to change that). Ergo, your analogy with government is more apt than you realise.

Second, the ACCESS card DOES offer a discount. Consider that I can get a Coca Cola (600mL) for about $2.80 in Redfern, and near where I live, the cheapest price is $2.50. Compare that, then, with the $2.40 offered to ACCESS card holders (although I know Doughnut King in Wentworth actually offers a cheaper price, $2.30, though I expect this to rise soon). This simple example provides a clear point against your "charge non-ACCESS card holders more" idea.

Third, ALL sports clubs are expensive - my local gym membership cost quite a bit according to my mother (it was a birthday present, so I won't ask exactly how much). It should not be hard to do the maths on both the Sports membership and the ACCESS card. Its very simple. You pay $55 (or however much you pay to get into SU Sports). You then get access to many different services at reduced prices (ie the sports clubs, eg Cricket, Football, etc). The same applies to ACCESS. They both turn out to be a very good investment in the long run. Believe me, the savings ARE there.

Fourthly, your accusation that the board is inefficient at running the union and prices will continue to rise is an utter farce. The Board has been forced to offer redundancy to several of its staff (if memory serves, the tally is 6). And of course the prices will rise you ninkompoop! They need to in order to stay in line with inflation. I remember being able to by a 600mL Coca Cola for $1.80! Now the cheapest I can find is $2.30 (at Doughnut King in Wentworth). So please, don't be so stupid as to think that prices remain static. The Harbour Bridge, if built today, would cost over $9 billion! And yet, it "only" cost 4 million pounds to make it in the 1920s and 30s. Don't be stupid - this is basic economics (and I'm not even an economist!).

Finally, while we all appreciate the work you have done for the club, I am sure I speak for many members when I say that we do not care for your politics all that much. There are some stupid things (like the aforementioned %50 quotas), but you are also being misleading by neglecting to mention that the Union Board is elected by the student population, and have also failed to provide any evidence to back up your claims regarding prices (I'd like to see you find access to a gym, much less three, for less than SU Sports offers).

If you can prove my analysis to be flawed in some way, then I would be only to happy to continue this argument."
(Liam)

(My response in italics)Thank you for your email. I respect your opinion and that not everyone will agree with me. It is good to see that you are at least thinking about how the Union operates and what is happening; I suspect most people do not. I will address the points that we disagree on:

I am not talking about the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. I am talking about the people in upper management at the top who have salaries and who control the Union. These people are not students like the President and other committee members. They are the ones who have the real power in the Union.

I did not claim that all other places sell products cheaper than Union outlets. I claim that it is possible to find the same products for cheaper prices elsewhere. You yourself have shown just one example.

Suppose the Sydney University Sports Union is cheaper, which i did not disagree with. Does this organisation have the right to force all university students to pay them so much money, even if they have no intention to use any of the facilities? They have been doing this for years.

I claim that the Union has and will continue to raise prices much faster than elsewhere.

I am not asking people to boycott the Union or to care about "my politics". I know that my views may be met with strong opposition and attacks from some people, even though I have not attacked any individual or called anyone names. I am simply explaining why I will no longer serve as President of the SU Chess Club.

Now that I have answered your questions, can you answer me 3 questions:

1) Why should students be forced to pay hundreds of dollars a year to the USU, SRC and Sports Union even though they may not use their facilities?
2) If I run a stall during O-week, what I should say to the poor student who is struggling to pay rent, textbooks, and living expenses, and who cannot afford the $99 ACCESS card or the $37 fee to join a club, who wants to join the SU Chess Club? Should I tell him or her that the SU Chess Club is only for the rich?
3) I have posted your email and shown the other side of the story. Can you find anywhere on the Union webpage, in the Bull, or other Union publication, where there exists healthy debate regarding VSU, where the opposing side of the Union is allowed to be heard?


"Even though I am not a very active member in the chess club, I would like to thank you for all for all you have done for the club and also congratulate you on the past and recent success of the club (which I believe has a lot to do with your time and efforts).

With regards to the union's actions, I believe it is unfair for them to pass on their financial burdens onto clubs and societies....

Another issue which I believe I should express my dissapointment about is: "The Union now requires all clubs and societies to have a minimum of 50% Union members and 50% ACCESS card holders." So if I want to join a club and I am not a union member, the club can refuse me membership to balance their numbers?? I know this is not the club's fault, but its either that or face the union.

Anyways thank you for the email, and your service to the club. I was considering joining the union and buying an access card, but I guess now I am forced to do so, as I want to join quite a few clubs and societies."
(Sri Harsha)


"You have my 100% support!! ... There is no way the club could have grown so much without your support. "
(Aaron)


"1 - I do not believe that the student should be forced to pay for the SRC (which they don't actually have to to get membership anyway). Also, I do believe that Union membership is also free this year (ergo, the $37 admin fee can be dropped) - it is the ACCESS card that is $99, but ACCESS =! Union member. That, at least, is my understanding of that affair.

And SU Sports... well, who doesn't want to stay fit and healthy? I mean, with that 3 gyms and access to 49 sports clubs, $55 looks like a good price to me.

Although if you don't use any of it altogether, I concede the point.

2 - Didn't I just tell you Union membership was free?

And also, might not the corporate services the Union now offers ensure that it remains so (or it only becomes peanuts)?

3 - Unfortunately, the nature of politics means that there is plenty of one side and very little of the other. Perhaps you should change that though.

I am pleased that we were at least able to have such a discussion about this, and having cleared up my basic problems (ie the facts you based your opinion on) regarding the initial letter, I think we can agree on the main problem - the requirements the Union has placed on the clubs and societies. While I can understand some sort of administration fee, $37 IS milking the cow, and the requirements of 50% ACCESS card holders and 50% Union members is unsustainable and unenforcable.

While I have decided to obtain membership of the Union and an ACCESS Card, I think we both agree that these requirements are just plain stupid (and I never said anything otherwise, I might add)."
(Liam, in response to my response above)


(My response in italics) I agree that we agree about the main problems.

Just to add to your answers:

1) Before semester 2, 2006, students were forced to pay the Union, the SRC and the Sports Union, totalling hundreds of dollars each year. The Union fought vigourously against the intended introduction of federal law to allow students to have a choice.

Regarding health, it is interesting to note that there are many alternative health and fitness techniques that are different to conventional Western methods such as using gyms or participating in physical sports and exercise. A lot of such practitioners would disagree that being forced to pay $55 per year is a good deal.

2) Only in 2007 has the Union made Union membership free. However, no 'discounts' are available unless they buy the $99 ACCESS card. Without this card, students must pay a $37 fee for each club that they want to join. Forgive me, but I'm not sure just how you have answered my 2nd question: what should I say to the student who cannot afford the above who wants to join the club?

3) I have said that there are people working in the Union who are genuinely caring of students and work very hard to help them. I know many of them personally. However, the people at the top of the hierarchy, the managers, they are the ones who have lost sight of the purpose of the Union, which is supposed to be to help students, and they are the ones who really control the Union. Have you ever seen anything by the Union (advertisements, publications, etc) stating a single good thing about VSU?


"This is a sad day for chess at USYD. You will be missed Jason. Damn that evil union."
(Ilia)


"Briefly, you do have my support, if only because I firmly believe in freedom of choice (which USU and others appear to be doing everything in their power to deny). It is sad that SU Chess Club loses such an asset as yourself as a result. But I fully understand your reasons."
(Charles)


"I strongly agree with you Jason. As an internnational student uni fees are sky high for us, so how can we afford another union fee every year.!!!(access card &.....) I 've been playing chess since just second semester of 2006. I saw how hard you've been working for the club."
(Prabuddha)


"As a first year student in 2007 and a keen chess player, I was looking forward to the opportunity to join your society, which seems to have prospered under your leadership. It's unfortunate that you are leaving, but I totally understand your position and my own attitude towards the union has changed as a result of reading your farewell letter. Hopefully, the corruption that exists at the higher levels of the student union will eventually be corrected, but it seems it's there to stay."
(Aaron)


"I don't play chess that often or that well but I fully support your stance on forced student unionism. Having paid over $360 a year at Maquarie for unionship it's a great relief not to be paying their ridiculous prices to save 20cents on a burger.... viva le revolution... It's weird that the union is still trying to force people to pay them money, I would have thought a better option for them would be to drop it entirely and encourage clubs and societies to hang around with more support than threats."
(Sameera)


"I've only been to Usyd for 1 year, so I don't know much about the history of the chess club. From what I've read, you've done an excellent job in both running the club and promoting it. I can say so myself that last year you did a great job putting up the tournaments and even co-hosting the Australian Universities competition."
(Jason)


"I generally agree with the points you made regarding the Union. I particularly despise the Union's hypocritical Orwellian double-speak ("discount card", "Union", etc), and the fact that people seem to accept it."
(Ben)


"Thanks for running the chess club. For me it has been two very fun years at the club. And you are right, the policies do sound quite ridiculous."
(Kenneth)


"Your argumentation makes a lot of sense. I agree that the Union's policy resembles the policy of a dictatorial regime.... I would like to thank you a lot for your dedication to the USYD chess club during the last five years."
(Thomas)


"Congratulations also on your presidency. I think I am the only one apart from yourself who really knows how bad it was before you took over. You should feel proud of the transformation you effected. You made it a real chess club instead of a bunch of guys with boards. Proper tournaments, simuls, better equipment, better advertising. Well done."
(Rohan, 1st year student at Sydney University in 2000)


"It is great to hear someone voicing a reasonable argument against the union and their policies, I am sick of all the crap we are constantly bombarded with. I have been at Sydney for 3 years now - I grew up in the west with not the most financially well off parents, and I wasn't aware that the union fee was upfront - my brother had gone to a different university and paid (a much smaller fee) over a series of months. Other friends of mine at least paid each semester instead of yearly. You also generally expect people to be fair minded and sensible. So when I received a letter a week before the registration, saying to bring $590 upfront union payment, I was quite suprised. Of course I contact the union straight away asking if I could delay the payment, or pay in stages, anything. The first 2 people I talked to flatly said I couldn't, and the third time I rang I asked to talk to a supervisor of somekind, who told me I wouldn't be able to attend the university unless I paid my uni registration fees upfront. My parents would only pay for the union fees if I had a job; I have a major movement disability that prevents me from doing many basic things, though I had been working from time to time at various places to help my parents. Incredibly I received a call that afternoon offering me a job at a local bookstore, hence why I am at university today.

I couldn't help laughing when I first came to the university and saw the "breakdown" of what your university union fees pay for - about half of the fees fund the sporting component of the university - which as a disabled student I would never be able to take part in.

To top it off, the following year, as the union defends itself from vsu, I read in the sydney bull (paraphrased) "For those students financially underprivlidged we obviously provide exceptions for" etc etc.. I couldn't believe it."
(Jason)