LSS Approves Budget for Committee Party

8/9/2019

Special Issue: Melbourne University Law Students' Society Elections

Issue 7, Semester 2

Editor’s Note: This story was researched and written by members of the De Minimis editorial board in response to contact by a concerned member of the LSS committee. De Minimis does not advocate a specific position on this matter. We encourage all students to approach us for publication of their stories and thoughts about the goings-on at Melbourne Law School.

At the monthly general committee meeting on August 26th, the LSS committee approved expenditure of $2,500.00 on the annual end-of-year committee celebration party ‘End of Reign’ according to an anonymous source within the LSS committee. As per the minutes provided by LSS, the motion was passed with twenty-seven votes in favour, two against, one abstention, and one voting member not being present or allocating a proxy.

According to the source, the party to be held at Benjy’s Karaoke Bar on Lygon St in October, has had an expenditure breakdown approved of $2000.00 allocated for a bar tab, and $500.00 allocated for food. When reached for comment, the LSS clarified that $2000.00 was the minimum expenditure required by the venue to secure a booking.

It is not uncommon for student societies and non-profits to hold end-of-year parties for members. It is understood that in previous years, the LSS has approved budgets of approximately $2000.00 for similar events.

The entire LSS committee of ninety-one members, comprising of thirty-one voting committee members and sixty appointed co-opt positions, has been invited to the event, which constitutes a nominal expenditure of approximately $27.50 per attendee. However, the source has raised concerns that the expenditure may be disproportionate to the actual attendance. They have suggested that based on similar events in previous years, and attendance by co-opts at public events throughout 2019, the majority of co-opt members, who are generally less involved with the committee, are unlikely to attend, resulting in a considerably higher expenditure per person. The source also highlighted that other events throughout the year have been allocated substantially lower budgets, such as the Annual Queer Lecture with a total attendance of approximately seventy students being allocated $500.00 for catering, alcohol and speaker gifts.

When presented for comment, the LSS leadership team disputed these claims, stating that in previous years, many co-opts did choose to attend the end-of-year event. They clarified that the increased expense from previous years was due to a decision to move the event to a public venue, rather than the traditional practice of holding it a committee member’s home, and that they hoped with the move to a public venue, more members would choose to attend. They stated that the event had received seventy RSVPs on Facebook. They also suggested that other events such as the Queer Annual Lecture were not comparable in purpose or format, and that an appropriate comparison would be the annual trivia night, with an approximate expense breakdown of $27.00 per attendee including ticket sales. The LSS leadership team contends that the expenditure on the party is a reasonable reward for the efforts undertaken by volunteer committee members throughout the year on behalf of the LSS and wider student body.

Independently of the spending, the anonymous committee member suggested that this issue highlights concern over the transparency and accessibility of committee decisions and finances. At the time of publication, it is understood by De Minimis that whilst financial reports are delivered at the LSS Annual General Meeting, and financial documents and minutes of committee meetings are available to LSS members upon making a request to the secretary; that financial reports, agendas for upcoming meetings and committee meeting minutes are not published or made available outside of submitting requests. The reading and distribution of annual financial reports at the Annual General Meeting does not take place until after the election of the subsequent year’s committee. Concerns have been raised that this approach requires students to proactively request information on committee minutes and finances prior to being made aware of the subject matter of committee decisions. The LSS maintains that all students are entitled to request financial reports and committee minutes from the LSS Secretary, and has volunteered relevant documents to De Minimis in preparation of this story.

Presidential candidates for the 2020 LSS Committee, Sarah Watling and Daniel Bennett-Spark were contacted for comment on how they voted on the expenditure approval. Both declined to disclose their vote, stating that the vote was conducted anonymously, and they did not wish to pressure other committee members into revealing their own decisions. They encouraged concerned students to view the minutes of LSS committee meetings.

Official Comment from LSS Leadership Team

The LSS has always prioritised and substantially invested in its members. Committee members spend hours of time and effort to put on events and create opportunities that benefit students directly. Directors and co opts always aim to act with the best interests of LSS members, and through their actions have consistently shown a commitment to their peers. The End of Reign is a small token of recognition of all the hard work put in by students, in voluntary positions, to benefit their cohort and peers, whilst also juggling similar pressures of studies, clerkships, work and other extracurricular commitments.

This LSS receives funding from a number of sources and sponsors with student contributions being a very small percentage of this, student contributions are not used to fund the End of Reign event. This event was debated and discussed in detail to ensure that there has been no breach of the duties held by directors.

Concerns expressed about transparency will be taken on board, we are always aiming to work towards making the LSS’ processes as open to students as possible. If anyone has any additional questions or concerns about the End of Reign event or any of the LSS’ events or processes please do not hesitate to email either president@mulss.com or vicepresident@mulss.com

Stanislav Jokovic

8/9/2019 08:51:53 pm

As a co opt, who will not be attending, this is ridiculous! One can only assume that this is just another opportunity for LSS leadership team and their clique to hang out on everyone else's dime! The elitist and exclusionary attitudes exhibited by certain directors gives the LSS a bad name. You are not cool or special by being on LSS, get the fuck over yourselves! But anyway have fun with the 2k bar tab xoxo

The Grinch

8/9/2019 10:41:16 pm

Get over yourself mate. Their clique? Everyone else's dime? The only one excluding you is yourself. Sadly, screens deny us visual contact, but I can tell green isn't a good look on you honey x

oh please

8/9/2019 10:44:24 pm

Get over yourself, darling. It's a two way street - people are not expected to pander to your poor attitude just to put a smile on your face. This is the real world.

isn't that

9/9/2019 02:29:54 pm

the LSS is not the real world, good luck out there.

Brad

8/9/2019 09:03:28 pm

Pretty shameful, guys. Especially knowing the comparative figures for the queer event. Not good.

Question

8/9/2019 09:56:38 pm

I don't want to assume one way or the other, but was more money requested for the Annual Queer Lecture and denied? Or is it possible only a moderate amount was requested?

I definitely support the Queer Portfolio being supported to host more amazing events, so I'm wondering if there was a specific reason why that event was mentioned as a comparison?

Anon

8/9/2019 10:23:59 pm

The queer annual lecture is just one event and more funds were easily accessible if requested. Many other events of comparable size and nature match and even exceed the budget for a 91 person event.

Chad

8/9/2019 10:43:32 pm

If people cared so much about this issue and about the amount of money spent by the LSS AND emailed the generic secretary email account like you would any other organisation contact, you will find that the amount of money to host an annual lecture or panel night is roughly 250-600 dollars. That's the same for careers, education, womens, equality and social justice portfolios. It really is shameful that the LSS is using "student money" to run an event that celebrates their efforts to even provide the student body with support and opportunities. I write that sarcastically because membership is free and most of the LSS money is from sponsorship - which is earned through the voluntary work of the sponsorship director and Leadership team.

Reality check

24/9/2019 08:42:50 pm

Also, whoever gave 70 for the queer lecture is very wrong. We are lucky to get 30 attendees. So the spend per head is much higher.

One dime short of a dollar

8/9/2019 09:10:39 pm

Can you elaborate on what you mean by elitist and exclusionary attitudes? In every interaction I've ever had with a member of the LSS, everyone has always been warm, open and welcoming.

Stan

8/9/2019 09:56:34 pm

Is this sarcasm lol

One dime

8/9/2019 09:59:46 pm

No, it isn't. Genuinely curious to hear your view.

totally not an LSS committee member

9/9/2019 02:28:38 pm

they are truly great, the greatest!!! all of them are the NICEST and the BEST people

Entitlement

8/9/2019 09:10:43 pm

As someone who has watched friends working so hard as part of the committee and spending a crazy amount of time at events and competitions throughout the year, this article and the comment above is so unfair.

If you counted the hours of unpaid work that LSS people put in it would come out to being worth much more than 27.50 a head.

No one seems to mind when they are being served wine by one of their peers at an event but god forbid they get anything in return for their hard work.

The staggering entitlement of this cohort is the main reason many can’t be bothered running for things, because they know that it won’t be appreciated. No good deed goes unpunished, hey?

Co-Opt

8/9/2019 09:12:04 pm

I think it’s ok for committee to celebrate their hard work, but I agree - to my knowledge a lot of co-opts aren’t attending, the 70 responses on Facebook aren’t the real numbers. Still, I think the committee has done a great job this year, it’s just disappointing to make this decision without a lot of transparency to cap it off at the end.

thank you co opt link

10/9/2019 11:39:49 am

thank you for your contribution co opt. i wont be going either, but i wasnt invited, so thats why, enjoy the party - MT

Absolute Unit

8/9/2019 09:14:05 pm

Okay can someone please point out how fucked it is that they're calling End of Reign??? Yeah righto nice reign you've had champs!

chonky boi

12/9/2019 11:18:16 am

I agree, this was the part that miffed me the most. Are your positions really considered 'voluntary roles' to serve the student body? There's a difference in having pride in your work and bloating your ego. This is a universal issue recognized within student societies everywhere though, so perhaps it's unfair to have expected any better.

this article is so farrago

8/9/2019 09:15:40 pm

But having said that, I really dig it. As a third year who is almost completely out of the MLS loop, I’d have never known about this otherwise, so kudos to you DeMin. Kudos.

As for having an opinion, part of me thinks “Well they do the work that I couldn’t be bothered doing so they might as well celebrate” but a larger part of me thinks that this is just another piss up in a long line of student organised piss ups that allow the in crowd yet another opportunity to self-congratulate. Given that Spring Social, Valedictory and EoX (and various other parties that I’m not cool enough to be invited to) exist, there surely is enough opportunity for LSS members to congratulate themselves without plonking for this event.

PS: Absolute Unit pipped me to the post - ’End of Reign’ is a terribly tone-deaf name that just invites criticism.

A cool law student?

8/9/2019 09:36:42 pm

How is not being 'cool' enough relevant? You go on fb and click on the event and you can buy a ticket or just go if it doesn't have tickets. You don't need to be invited, we're all law students so we're all automatically invited (with a few exceptions for year level specific events etc)

TAISF

8/9/2019 09:48:55 pm

That sentence should be synonymous with "and various other parties that I am probably not aware of" but I can see how my self-depreciation muddied the waters.

8/9/2019 09:50:59 pm

and that should say self-deprecation

words are hard

squarebob spongepants

8/9/2019 09:19:09 pm

De Minimis is the best student-run publication; its great that both positions regarding this are given a platform without unfair editorial slant

Whistleblower

8/9/2019 09:23:19 pm

For those of you not in LSS, here's the tone deaf post by Hannah Gordon in their Facebook group (note that it's disappointing someone went to De Min rather than consulting them!):

"Hi Everyone,

We wanted to provide you all with a heads up that a de Minimis article is due to be published today regarding the LSS End of Reign Event. The article is a factual reporting piece and outlines the expenditure of the event and general details. The LT has been involved in the past few days in providing clarification and comment on the initial information upon which the article was based. We are always striving for transparency in our processes but are a little disheartened that this is the element of the LSS’ work that de Minimis has chosen to focus on.

We want to reinforce that the LT is so proud of all of you and what you have managed to achieve this year. We cannot thank you enough for all the hours that you have volunteered this year for the benefit of the students at MLS. End of Reign is our way of giving back a small token of thanks to everyone who has given their time. We really hope that this article does not overshadow all of your work and does not discourage you from attending End of Reign.

We understand and respect that there are varying opinions within the LSS about how funds are utilised and the events that we choose to run. While we are disappointed that an anonymous committee member reached out to de Minimis about their concerns instead of consulting us, we will not stand for finger pointing and hope that everyone continues to treat each other with the respect that they deserve. We’ve responded with an official comment from the LT, and while we don’t want to stifle debate/limit anyone's right to their voice we would ask everyone to please be careful and considerate with commenting on the article (and ensure that if you are doing so it is in a personal capacity).

All the best,

LSS Leadership Team"

Smart law man

8/9/2019 09:26:45 pm

I don't quite see what's tone deaf about this

Smart law woman

8/9/2019 10:59:49 pm

Same here – I don't get how this is tone deaf? It sounds quite reasoned and diplomatic imo

Insert pun here

8/9/2019 09:23:55 pm

I don't think this is so bad. Yes - 2.5k sounds like a lot, but when you consider that the overall budget and number of members, its equivalent to an average office Christmas party. That being said, I do agree with the final point - when students have to write an email to somebody they dont know to find out about the how the society is spending money before they've even been given a reason to think they should look into things isn't the best way to run an accountable union.

Props to De Minimis for the piece - my opinion of DM has gone up and down throughout the year, but I think this is actually a really fair and balanced piece of journalism on a divisive issue.

We are not amused

8/9/2019 09:29:13 pm

It's kind of sensationalist for DM to suddenly MAKE A BIG DEAL about a party for hard-working students, SPENDING ALL OUR MONEY. So they rewarded themselves a night off, get over it, aren't there more important things to write about.

Also pretty shameful for people to be leaking confidential Facebook posts. Do better guys.

8/9/2019 09:40:10 pm

> Also pretty shameful for people to be leaking confidential Facebook posts. Do better guys.

The committee represents all us students. Confidentiality should be the exception, not the norm. There is no reason why that post should be confidential, it is in the interests of us all to know the decisions being made by the committee - thats why we have a right to request minutes of their meetings etc.

JFC

8/9/2019 10:53:54 pm

Hi V

You clearly have no idea of how many confidential issues leaders on the LSS are made privy to and need to directly respond to as a result of their role. It takes shape in many ways: finances, mental health, criminality, bullying. The LSS responds silently every single day without anyone knowing.

Confidentiality needs to be the norm when you are dealing with human beings.

9/9/2019 09:49:30 am

I suggest you check the Constitution:

>(b) subject to subrule (2), the financial records, books, securities and *any other
relevant document* of the Association, including minutes of Committee meetings.
(2) The Committee may refuse to permit a member to inspect records of the Association that
relate to confidential, personal, employment, commercial or legal matters or where to do
so may be prejudicial to the interests of the Association.

Yes I agree with your statement about confidential issues, but generic posts directed at a committee of 30+ people are not such an issue.

Give us a spell

8/9/2019 09:39:32 pm

There is more salt in this comment section than in the Pacific Ocean.

Putting to one side that the LSS is free to join, 2.5k is hardly anything given how much money and time the club spends on the student body. Surely there are bigger stories out there for people to care about.

Sk8er boi

8/9/2019 09:44:46 pm

I concur! Surely the rampant spread of sk8ers in the Uni Square area is a more pressing issue

8/9/2019 10:18:52 pm

Nah I like the skaters, they can stay

see ya later boi

9/9/2019 05:07:58 pm

what??? they're so entertaining!

Mean girls

8/9/2019 09:48:23 pm

I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy

What are the odds that’s the “anonymous source” would have complained to de min if the LSS DIDNT throw some sort of celebration in thanks of their hard work this season?? The committee don’t get enough thanks for all their hard work that most of us take for granted

Sad Attitude

8/9/2019 10:06:42 pm

Honestly really disappointing to see the reaction some people have to LSS wanting to finish their term on a nice note and celebrate together. The countless hours the committee gives up of their lives so you all can enjoy events and make the most out of your degrees is astronomical. Hence the amount of complaining is completely unjustified, not a single person could show up to that party and the expenses would still be worth it. After all, $27pp isn’t a huge loss when you consider the tireless effort of the committee. It’s visibly apparent from the attitude at these events that no one has the slightest clue of the behind the scenes work going into the organisation, time that could be spent on studies, yet devoted to enhancing MLS. Furthermore, calm yourselves LSS is a free membership, none of your ‘hard-earned money’ is going towards this event.

clap emoji

8/9/2019 10:11:15 pm

**Applauds**

Retweet

8/9/2019 10:12:49 pm

Louder for the people in the back

Yep yep yep

8/9/2019 10:18:11 pm

Completely agree with this! One thing to note though is that the LSS does receive funding derived from the students services and amenities fee (SSAF). As mentioned in the article this is probably a negligible amount (I guess we'll find out when the financial reports are disclosed at the AGM) but it does mean that some student money does go to the LSS.

sad 300 dollar worse off gal

8/9/2019 10:32:23 pm

SSAF should be scrapped anyway. I'd rather keep the extra $300 and put it to better use - the MSU is a rort

Wot

8/9/2019 10:09:07 pm

Does De Min literally have nothing else to talk about? Woah, student group celebrates a year of hard work! In other breaking news: water makes things wet

reading and comprehension

8/9/2019 10:48:57 pm

You realise this piece was written by a member of the LSS right?

9/9/2019 10:45:23 am

*an lss co-op who is also editor on de minimis

Clay Jensen

8/9/2019 10:18:19 pm

Anybody who whinges about a $2.5k party is an ungrateful little hater. Don't get butt hurt because it's not coming out of your own pocket, it comes from sponsors. The MULSS committee put so much of their own time into improving many aspects of student life. Competitions, social events, sports, career seminars and networking are all run by volunteers. If you can't appreciate that these people deserve some sort of recognition, then you shouldn't partake in any of the services that the organization provides.

Future employment lawyer

8/9/2019 10:19:18 pm

$27 is not fair

I say give them more

Pay the directors?

8/9/2019 10:29:13 pm

From over at the Unimelb Graduate Student Association:

"Will directors be paid?
Yes. All members of the board and Students’ Council will receive appropriate pay for their time and expertise. They will be paid to work for GSA and for graduate students’ best interests.

We believe that remunerating our directors fairly means we’ll get the best people on our board, and thereby give GSA the strongest possible foundation to better serve students." https://gsa.unimelb.edu.au/faqs-on-planned-changes-to-gsas-governance/

I actually think there might be some sound arguments in favour of the GSA's approach, especially making directorships more accessible to people who are supporting themselves through uni and simply cannot afford to do hours of unpaid work!

8/9/2019 10:34:23 pm

Just to add to that, the GSA receives funding via the SSAF too and it exists to serve us as (as JD students are all grad students) https://gsa.unimelb.edu.au/about/governance-and-funding/

anti-capitalist future commercial lawyer

8/9/2019 10:21:51 pm

I demand an equal redistribution of this money to every member of the LSS and the destruction of hierarchies at LSS starting with the Committee.

Off with their heads! Vive la révolution!

Eye roll react

8/9/2019 10:22:57 pm

Champagne socialists. Everywhere. I *cannot* with some of these comments.

Filling a leadership position on the LSS can at times be a thankless job – and before anyone jumps down my throat, of course there are many perks. But most people wouldn't have the slightest idea of just how many hours and how much dedication goes into pulling off an event smoothly. Do LSS members enjoy special treatment in certain respects like jobs/clerkships? Absolutely. Do they deserve it? You bloody well bet they do.

The Fourth Estate

8/9/2019 10:24:34 pm

To those shitting on De Min for investigating and authoring this piece, I for one think this is a well-researched piece of writing, and am glad they looked into it after being approached by the source. They exist to publish pieces that are relevant and important to the student body, after all. Regardless on where you stand on this issue it's great that De Min have taken such a balanced position, seeking comment from all involved- IMO they're engaging in some actual journalism here.

Nas>Jay Z

8/9/2019 10:27:22 pm

Loving all the LSS coming out of the woodwork to defend their cronyism...

As far as I remember, and quoting from Hannah Gordon's presidents welcome on the mulss website, the aim of the LSS is "to enrich the degrees of their fellow JD students of the law school". In what way does this event do that?

If LSS wants to let their hair down (and they are entitled to!), they should do so with personal funds, not with funds acquired through SSAF and sponsorship.

This is especially relevant when current presidential candidates are running on platforms of subsidisation and refuse to disclose their votes. How can we trust the LSS to deliver in this regard? Where is the accountability?

Also, are these types of events what sponsorship money should be used for? Are sponsors really going to approve of a karaoke night with no advertising... So one can only assume that this funding was sourced from our fees.

Really expecting a better response from LSS on this one, disappointing!!!

CLAY JENSEN

8/9/2019 10:32:46 pm

Ah yes, a wild hater appears

Ignorant

8/9/2019 10:40:31 pm

This comment discloses such a lack of understanding of how the LSS is funded. Please read the financial reports, speak to people who are actually on committee and educate yourself.

To say that this party negates the LSS' main aim of "enriching the degrees of their fellow JD students of the law school" is to completely nullify all the work the LSS has put in, this year and in previous years. People benefit from subsidised textbooks, disability support and student advocacy to faculty on their behalf.

The LSS also, without seeking sponsorship to do so, funded 4 $5000 scholarships to help people who do not hold CSP or Bursary places with the financial burden of the JD. Read more here: https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/melbourne-university-law-students-society-scholarship?fbclid=IwAR26pYsRz_3rxHxCOhpdzItWUU2XeFPLdtUefwFUnaKhAUTRoejAW1-urIY

Get some perspective.

Lolwut?

8/9/2019 10:44:50 pm

"Are sponsors really going to approve of a karaoke night with no advertising... So one can only assume that this funding was sourced from our fees."

Bold assumption of you to make. And yes, yes they would approve – last time I checked, Allens/G+T/KWM et al. aren't tightarses and have nothing against letting a committee host a thank you celebration for its crew.

Also, I'd be really careful about making these kinds of allegations on little more than an ill-informed suspicion.

The Ghost of LT Past

8/9/2019 10:39:57 pm

To the members of the LT and LSS who are reading these comments instead of spending their already limited time (on account of the fact that they sacrificed countless hours, relationships and self care to benefit their cohort) on important things, please turn this off.

You have given so much without any thanks (its a lot of work for one line on your resume). You have put yourself in a position that enables you to make a better place for your cohort now, and cohorts in the future who will not even know you. You make decision after decision, and you pray that people will like them. You have stress that pits in the bottom of your stomach. You sit on the edge of your seat for your enter term waiting for a De Minimis piece like this that attempts to unravel all the good you have done. Well here it is, the wait is over. And it's pretty laughable, don't you think? Impeccable timing with the election I might add.

I promise you this: in a week, this will be forgotten. In a year, this will be nothing. But for the people who have published, informed and assisted in writing this witch hunt piece, in a week they will still have the unrelenting scorn and bitterness towards you that they had a week ago. I encourage them to question whether has filled whatever it is inside them that needs to be filled. I hope it has, but I know it hasn't.

Good luck for your final two weeks. Don't walk on eggshells waiting for this to pass. Don't let this jade your memory. And when it is over, you won't look back.

Oh come on

8/9/2019 10:50:52 pm

I approve the sentiment to committee members, rather than worrying about this piece, go get some sleep and enjoy your election week. As for the contempt this poster has for the people involved in running this piece - lest you forget, the issue was raised by a member of committee in the first place. I'm pretty i favour of committees being allowed to throw themselves a party as a reward for their work (and there is A LOT of work they do), but a lot of people seem to have concerns over it, I don't think it's just a witch hunt. Be a bit more charitable than just assuming that everybody else only feels bitterness and scorn for you.

Turn it up

8/9/2019 10:58:00 pm

bit over the top don’t you reckon champ

You right mate?

8/9/2019 11:08:45 pm

It's just a touch of criticism champ, no one's getting death threats hahahaha relax hey

All hail the reigning monarchs of MLS

8/9/2019 10:44:13 pm

Give them a few years and they’ll be doing this on a much greater scale up in Canberra!

Actually works for Government

8/9/2019 10:58:17 pm

that's vastly overstating both their ambitions and capabilities here imo.

rude

8/9/2019 11:07:46 pm

Why go after their capabilities?

8/9/2019 10:53:56 pm

Hannah,

You have poured your heart and soul into the law school as one of the women’s directors and as president. Myself and all of the people around you have seen you tirelessly commit to making the law school a better place. Nobody who knows you and knows how hard working you are would ever think that you are anything less than an incredible and inspiring person You have helped make the law school better for every single JD student and I thank you for that.

tirelessly

9/9/2019 02:42:39 pm

Maybe the $2500 should go towards tires for the LSS.

long time reader, first time commenter

8/9/2019 11:02:21 pm

This is such a joke of an article. I'd rather read the candidate profiles than this. People complaining about this are so entitled it makes me want to spit out my 7 Seeds latte. None of you care enough to send a simple email to receive the monthly minutes/financials etc. of the LSS, yet when De Minimis write an article about spending on a party everyone loses their minds. Can't wait to see all the people who care so much about LSS spending at the next AGM to raise your concerns xx

Also - I look forward to reading the De Min/Betoota Advocate article about these hypocrites who will indulge themselves during their firms/organisations/NGO/volunteer organisation/government department lunches/dinners/end of year parties etc. that will probably be funded by client fees or the like xx

HAHA!

8/9/2019 11:05:42 pm

LOUDER SIS! Give the LSS a damn break.

You are not immune

8/9/2019 11:48:39 pm

The comments really reveal that the unpaid nature of the committee makes members feel as if they are immune from criticism - I use unpaid because it’s very clearly as much an altruistic volunteering position as an unpaid internship which people only take to help them land a job. Notably, only those who don’t have to undertake paid work can possibly afford to take either of these things up.

What it comes down to is De Min has finally written an article that is of some actual interest to MLS students. This piece confirms everyone’s suspicions about the operation of the LSS - a bunch of spoilt kids leveraging their relative popularity to access a cute CV line while claiming an altruistic motive, then feeling like it allows them to pat themselves on the back at the end of their “reign” (just - ew) with a free piss up for their elite and exclusive gang. Meanwhile, everyone else is expected to pay $140 out of pocket to access an open bar and a meal.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

8/9/2019 11:56:22 pm

"Notably, only those who don’t have to undertake paid work can possibly afford to take either of these things up."

What a load of rubbish. Most of the committee work in multiple roles in addition to their roles on the LSS. Some of them work two or three jobs plus volunteer their time at CLCs as well as being on the LSS. They join the committee because they want to contribute, and lose study/personal time because of it.

Speak for yourself below

9/9/2019 12:03:33 am

Lol wish I'd seen this before commenting essentially the same thing haha

Speak for yourself

9/9/2019 12:01:32 am

"only those who don’t have to undertake paid work can possibly afford to take either of these things up"

I'm on the LSS, I've done unpaid volunteer work and I work 2 paid jobs to support myself. Most people on the committee work in paid employment on top of all the unpaid work they do on the LSS.

Maybe if you got out of your outrage bubble and actually had a conversation with members of the LSS who work tirelessly for your benefit (the cute cv line alone isnt worth the effort) you might not be so ready to stereotype and denigrate your peers as spoilt and elitist.

9/9/2019 12:06:53 am

If you don't like the LSS, don't engage with any of the services they provide. Judging by your ungrateful attitude, you won't be missed.

Hypocrite

9/9/2019 10:47:07 am

If you don't like the [Australian government], don't engage with any of the services they provide. Judging by your ungrateful attitude, you won't be missed.

You can't not engage with the LSS, lose your fuck off we're full type attitude

9/9/2019 11:10:41 am

LSS is a student society not the government (where people are paid). If you participate in any LSS event/service, you have to acknowledge that there's quite a bit work that goes in behind the scenes, the benefits of which you can just rock up and receive for free. This event acknowledges the people who make the effort, even when hypocrites such as yourself feel the need to belittle them.

Rein in your hyperbole

9/9/2019 12:11:00 am

If the directors were just in it for the line on their CV, why do they bother running so many events and initiatives? Wouldn't they just do the bare minimum if that was actually the case? I'm not discounting the fact that the experience is valuable and that provides an incentive, but are you really suggesting that none of the directors care about their portfolios?

Many of the portfolios - including the Queer, Women's, Equity & Social Justice portfolios - are providing essential services that the university would ideally be using its vast funding and paid staff to provide!

Quick Math

9/9/2019 12:14:09 am

What event are you even talking about here? Val is $80 and law ball was $120 for law students from memory. Where is this $140 coming from?

so much venom and projection link

9/9/2019 12:21:18 am

I think it's laughable for you to assume that people would engage in ANY activity at law school that doesn't help them in their career in some way. If joining the LSS didn't enhance a CV then there would be no incentive to participate in it at all. Being on the LSS is a tireless commitment, and there are tons of other pursuits that would be a) less time commitment, and b) more fiscally beneficial, but the fact is that they're willing to donate their time because they enjoy it.

I also rebuke your claim that people on the LSS who take up this 'altruistic volunteering position' only do so because they are 'spoilt'. I have a NUMBER of friends that are on the LSS Committee who balance school work, paid work AND the LSS. This comment has absolutely no credibility.

I'd also like to add that in many other organisations across campus, the Committee are offered free tickets to ALL events. The 'open bar' and 'meal' you referenced also costs LSS Committee members the same $140 that you pay. The only difference is that they've spent months preparing for these events for YOUR enjoyment, while you've clicked a button on a ticket site, put on an outfit and got pissed with your mates.

You absolutely REEK of the exact same privilege that you protest throughout your post - and while I'm not against DM investigating and reporting this issue, I AM against your bullshit attitude. So much venom - you should really consider thinking more about the way you project your own shortcomings on others, because it's very one-dimensional.

...

9/9/2019 12:25:57 am

Jesus...

Dollar dollar bills

9/9/2019 09:47:29 am

I was shook when I found out committee people still had to buy event tickets - apparently they even have to pay to go on camp even though they are basically working that whole weekend??

Ex LSS

12/9/2019 02:08:24 am

Past LSS member here. In my couple of years as a co-opt and director I had to pay to go on a camp I had organized and then ran. Paid to go to a law Ball I helped organize and run. Paid to go to a spring social... that’s probably enough examples. We paid and we got way less value because we either didn’t drink or we drank so much less because we had to be in a suitable state to look after the attendees.

I loved my time on the LSS and I made great friends. It probably was a bump on my CV compared to nothing but it certainly wasn’t worth the opportunity cost of the lost study, work and volunteering time. Anyone who thinks that wouldn’t survive being on the LSS. The workload is too much. Nearly every single committee member and co-opt worth their salt does it because they give a hoot about making law school better. In the same way de Min editors get involved to keep the law school, the LSS and any other activities, accountable.

We can do better everybody

9/9/2019 12:46:42 am

To the LSS committee who has put in an entire year of hard work and tireless work to bring us amazing events and opportunities, often without receiving anywhere near enough thanks or recognition - thank you.

To the De Minimis editors who have listened to a concerned student bringing them a difficult issue, and produced a piece of outstanding journalism that covers the topic fairly and honestly - thank you.

To everybody who has chosen to use these comments to belittle, insult and frankly be mean to other people trying to express their opinions in good faith - we should expect more of ourselves than that.

Disengaged

9/9/2019 02:53:08 am

A lot of people here acting like our beloved LSS team does all their hard work purely out of the good of their hearts rather than as something to put on their clerkship application. I realise they put in some hard yards but lets not pretend its an exercise in pure altruism.

Last time I checked you could celebrate the end of your 'reign' without embezzling LSS funds, go down to the Queensberry and have a pint on your own dime like a normal person.

Clearly never done anything to help your fellow students

12/9/2019 02:13:30 am

I’m sure it’s better than them sitting on their arse but if they were trying to make their CV better then there’s plenty of easier and more beneficial options.

LSS (past member) is ridiculously hard work. While I think I developed a lot of personal growth and project management skills spending all that time on LSS matters instead of studying or finding more career relevant work meant I had an uphill battle come graduation.

The LSS is not some magical CV fix so many people seem to think.

Disgruntled

9/9/2019 04:07:07 am

Also its very telling that:

A. The LSS' reaction to a $2,500 surplus is to throw a self-congratulatory piss up rather than donating the money to a worthy cause, particularly when so many LSS team members paid lip service to social justice during their election campaigns.

B. When faced with an iota of criticism the LSS team respond by closing ranks and ranting about how ungrateful all the other JD students are for not venerating them for their hours of selfless work. I can practically hear you shout "the peasant's are revolting".

9/9/2019 07:59:20 am

You’d be extremely surprised if you knew how much the LSS has donated this year from the Pay the Rent campaign, to small charities to even supporting smaller student societies financially. Tickets priced for activities events included a donation of part of the ticket price despite the fact the LSS was running these events at a loss to subsidise the cost for students. The LSS also had put 20k into a student scholarship and thousands into book fairy. I don’t have exact figures, but I know that the donations to both students and the community generally is well into the thousands.

I don’t blame you for not knowing all of this as it’s not well advertised, but to accuse this years committee in particular of not donating or not giving back is just plainly untrue

donating other peoples money?

9/9/2019 09:14:57 am

so ur argument is, mate, 'the lss has donated a lot of student money to random organisiations, therefore it is okay that the lss donate a bit of money to the lss directors as well'?

like, no one asked you to donate the money to any one in the first place. i think all students would be happier tbh if the LSS just cut us all a cheque out of that sweet sponsorship money and would stop distributing funds to random charities no one has heard of.

cheerio - aggrieved LSS outsider

Anon again link

9/9/2019 10:51:03 am

Im confused- how are hundreds of free events from activities to careers events to STS, plus book fairy and scholarship, plus subsidised tickets to events not benefitting you as a student enough?

Would you only be happy if somehow you got a random bit of cash allocated to every student? The entitlement of students is kind of astounding to be honest... $27 per person as a token of appreciation for hard work is hardly negatively impacting you in any way

DID YOU KNOW...

9/9/2019 06:42:58 am

The GSA committee members get paid upwards of $10,000/year. That's the organisation that funds this paper.

Looking forward to the spicy De Min piece on that!

Spill the tea sis

9/9/2019 09:43:06 am

SPICY INDEED

lmao

9/9/2019 02:24:17 pm

did u know that the organisation that funds the law school pay ppl too????? wow!!!!!! thats right melbourne uni.... pays professors...

DID YOU KNOW... (Aka DYK)

9/9/2019 03:22:50 pm

I feel like you missed the point that GSA is another student org that does similar work for graduate students (law kids included). I just found it amusing that DM complained about $27.50 a head while the organisation that funds them pays it's 'volunteers' ex gratia payments of $10k+.

IGNORE IGNORANCE

9/9/2019 06:55:39 am

What a stupid article.

I hope you bring the same energy to your readings as you do to being an ignorant person anon.

Thank you for your hard work LSS. It’s much harder to do what you do than to write rubbish. Just ignore this person.

Xx

NPJ

9/9/2019 07:33:42 am

Best article on the LSS in years!

the end of Law

9/9/2019 09:09:43 am

LSS = private feudal privilege society

they dont work for YOU they work for their LINKEDIN profile and you are a fool if u think they care about you?

look at how the LSS elections are going. all the pitches are 'i am already on the LSS, and therefore i am qualified to take up another LSS position'

you see the circle of privilege and simony? its worse than the papacy. its madness

Rogue

9/9/2019 10:15:27 am

You must be fun at parties (events subsidized by LSS and run at a loss to make more accessible for students).

Try again sweetie

9/9/2019 11:53:20 am

For most of the people on Committee, their LinkedIn would be fine without their Committee work. People who are involved (with law and the profession etc) tend to be the ones who get involved. It ends up being one line on a CV or an anecdote in an interview.

But in terms of time spent working for YOU, it ends up being in excess of 5 unpaid hours a week. Don’t you see those comps girls in the office late every night? Do you see the Careers people serving you wine every week and then cleaning up after you? If it was just for their CV they could do the absolute bare minimum. But they choose to have like 15 different comps and like 30 events so that we all benefit.

Don’t push your own inadequacy and laziness on to other people.

r/auslaw

9/9/2019 12:31:15 pm

snowy we know it's you

wow

10/9/2019 05:17:01 pm

I too am shocked, SHOCKED, that the election candidates are spruiking their experience as something that qualifies them for the position they are contesting!

How dare people who know what the job entails run for office?! Why would we want a President or VP who has already been in the position of the portfolios they will have to oversee, or a Sponsorship Director who has experience dealing with the sponsors?!

I personally would much rather vote for people who have no idea what they're doing, funny there aren't many of those running.

The floogates

9/9/2019 10:55:50 am

This article has almost as many comments as the LSS committee has members.

May the fourth (estate) be with you

9/9/2019 11:37:37 am

yeah look there are a variety of views around whether or not this expenditure is justified and that's fine, but can people stop criticising de minimis for the article???

The article is balanced and isn't pushing any particular point of view; it contacted the lss prior to publishing, and incorporated comments from them in it; it was based on a valid concern (some people may think it's different degrees of valid, but it's certainly not baseless).

I understand that LSS members feel protective of the work they do: it's a lot! But that doesn't mean they're not in a position of power, or that they should be immune to criticism. The amount of comments suggesting that just because people work hard, they don't deserve to be questioned (not even criticised! just questioned) has worrying implications for how these people understand power, transparency and accountability. Yikes

briliant comment

9/9/2019 11:53:05 am

This is a great article, and in no way "a joke", "ignorant", "stupid" or a "witch-hunt" as numerous commenters have already suggested.

The candidate profiles are there if you'd prefer to read those instead.

De Minimis, of course, could write other issues, but it's pretty clear that this is an issue that is pertinent to a lot of the student body, and therefore surely exactly the type of thing the student newspaper should be writing about.

Sticking our neck out is hard, especially when many of the De Minimis team will have close ties to the LSS. They should be commended for that.

All that is presented is the facts.

Is it objective though?

9/9/2019 12:25:53 pm

Even stories presented in a supposedly factual way can be biased when there's an obviously critical message behind them. Why would De Minimis run this piece at all if they weren't trying to send a message?

I'd note that one of the editor's Michael Franz is an LSS Co-Op. I won't say that its necessarily a conflict of interest but there's obviously possibility that this was motivated by something behind the scenes. Maybe he wasn't invited to the party or something?

@ objective though(t)

9/9/2019 12:41:33 pm

sure, I agree that things can appear factual but be biased, but I don't think it follows that everything has to be super biased always.

Re: "Why would De Minimis run this piece at all if they weren't trying to send a message" -- um, because a committee member raised this issue with them and was seriously concerned about it? There's a difference between deciding to run a piece because it appears to be a topic that students, including the LSS's own members, are interested in and feel is important (evident from the amount of comments on this piece!) and deciding to run a piece because DM has a fixed, negative view about something.

Re: "Maybe Michael Franz wasn't invited to the party or something?" -- oh, honey. If you are this deep into the baseless speculation game, I really don't know what to say to you.

--

Michael Franz

9/9/2019 01:20:30 pm

Your amazingly talented, erudite and shockingly handsome managing editor Mr Franz here - whilst it's true that at this stage I likely won't be able to attend the party, I think we can all agree that this is for the best, as when I try to sing karaoke in my particular brand of lisping vocals, it causes women and young children to cry.

Scomo

9/9/2019 11:49:40 am

LSS funds should be placed on cashless debit cards and the committee subjected to random drug tests.

DUTTON

9/9/2019 12:01:22 pm

I heard Britt Baker was planning a coup and was trying to rally votes to become Pres

Britt 4 prez

12/9/2019 10:01:57 pm

Four more years!

Environmentally concerned

9/9/2019 12:13:21 pm

Perhaps an EFTPOS-enabled frank green keep-cup would be more suitable?

I mean...

9/9/2019 12:31:58 pm

Also to those who are disgusted by the fact it's called 'End of Reign', that's what it has been called every year, no need to vilify the current members for calling it that...

Donald Trumpet

9/9/2019 02:22:19 pm

#draintheswamp

Popcorn Eater

9/9/2019 02:40:10 pm

Can someone host a People of Colour lunch with a 2.5k budget and invite the skaters outside MLS along to chat about lecture recordings and clerkships?

Will be the spiciest De Min comment section of the year xx

Thatsa spicy meatball

9/9/2019 03:29:29 pm

Only if we can host it in the designated Womyn's room

Conflict of interest?

9/9/2019 03:35:03 pm

For those of us who have forgotten our existence prior to law school, undergraduate and UMSU affiliated societies have strict conflict of interest rules around use of funds. We put in similar amounts of volunteer time, but had to put up our own money to organise end of year celebrations to prevent disciplinary action.
7.3.1 Conflict of Interest
a. A Club’s Committee members shall not profit or gain direct personal material benefit
from their running of the club.
b. No more than 20% of tickets can be sold in a committee presale.
c. Committee members shall not receive benefits for sponsorship contracts which are
not equally available to all club members.

Although it is not a big sum of money and committee members deserve to celebrate - why should the LSS be held to a different standard?

Boom

9/9/2019 03:45:12 pm

This is genuinely appearing more and more like genuine corruption on the part of the LSS. Given their lack of transparency, and secret police type attitudes to shutting down dissent, it makes you wonder what else they're pulling on the sky.

@LSS please respond with a genuine explanation rather than just calling non-LSS members ungrateful and telling people that you work TIRELESSLY

read the damn constitution

10/9/2019 10:59:36 am

Ah yes, arguing by reference to the wrong constitution. Well played, I am bamboozled.

I would refer you to s 52 'Conflict of Interest' of the MULSS Constitution available on the website (transparently, shock horror). It is in different terms to what you quoted above and was not infringed by approving this event. The MULSS is also not in breach of any general law duties by hosting an end of term event for volunteers.

If you want these bright line requirements in the MULSS constitution, you are entitled to exercise your right to motion for such a change. But you haven't, and you won't. Stop the lynching party. You're studying law, unhappy with the rules, have them changed.

LSS directors are the next coming of Jesus

10/9/2019 11:35:48 am

Nice reading and comprehension there! The above commenter obviously realises that what the LSS is doing is within the constitution, however is arguing that the LSS should be brought into line with undergraduate standards that prevent these things from happening.

Also, if this is how the LSS treats people who advocate change, it's no wonder people don't table motions at the AGM...

How do the constitutions interact?

10/9/2019 12:02:29 pm

I didn't attend UoM in my undergrad, so I have legitimately no idea how the constitutions interact. Is LSS a UMSU affiliate organisation and thus the constitutional requirements of USMU would take precedence? I would have imagined that if so, LSS wouldn't be free to just opt out of these requirements through its own constitution?

de minimis spy link

10/9/2019 11:24:49 am

hello i am the deminimis spy. this is fucked! LSS abuses students money?? Why is this happening to me? i want an ANSWER from our presidential candidates! nOW

Concerned Citizen

10/9/2019 03:24:48 pm

Hey whistleblower! We've thought of a few things you could do that would be more productive, and a better use of your time other than making a mountain out of a mole-hill!

1. Take a Zumba class
2. Learn to paint
3. Watch all movies starring Tom Cruise and write a feminist interpretation of them
4. Eat all the perishables in your fridge
5. Adopt a dog
6. Adopt a kid!
7. Learn a language
8. Learn Windings
9. Replace all your winter stuff for the upcoming spring season
10. Make a mix tape
11. Write a rap
12. Actually apply yourself to your studies, which you are almost definitely neglecting, and paying a bloody king's ransom for
13. Watch question time
14. Go back to 2009 and start a tumblr
15. Write an acrostic poem (we suggest the words 'GET-A-LIFE')
16. Sob
17. Read and memorise the AGLC4 requirements
18. Make a (one) friend
19. Papier-mâché volcano with coke and a mentos!
20. Please, please, for the love of God, smoke some weed and chill out

Hope you take us up on one of these, for your sake :)

10/9/2019 09:11:01 pm

How embarrassing is this comment lmao

Papier Mache Volcano

10/9/2019 09:38:34 pm

that whole comment list was definitely written by someone who used to wear cat ears in middle school and would say shit like "rawr means I love you in dinosaur"

12/9/2019 03:22:47 pm

Shut up Brad

12/9/2019 03:24:13 pm

Omg I am sorry, I take it back. This was actually really funny, I actually tried a zoomba class once and I couldn't keep up so I lashed out.

WOW

23/9/2019 12:08:16 pm

The fact that this article been written from information based on a "whistle blower" is concerning. This MIGHT suggest that there are other expenditures by the LSS which may also be questionable.

On another note, I doubt that the sponsors would be pleased about how their money is being spent like this.

Finally, there are many groups and volunteers which make MLS run like it does, OTHER than the LSS (such as De Minimis). I don't see any other group spending even a tenth on their "End of Reign"

Comments are closed.

LSS Approves Budget for Committee Party

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