Dear Bull,
Just something quick in response to Ruchir's response to Dan's response to Justin's (the other one) article on VSU. Fee refunds were offered by both the SRC and the Union under compulsory student unionism, but both required students to show cause for why they should be given such a refund, and the Union's form informed the applicant that "financial hardship of itself is NOT sufficient grounds for the General Manager to exercise discretion and allow an exemption or a refund." [USU website, 2006]
It is true that students could choose not to be members of a student organisation, but they were still compelled to pay their $600 and it was instead directed to a scholarships fund.
Cheers,
Justin Simon
Union Board Director