This week ANUSA’s Clubs Council held their third meeting of the year, where the issue of equity tickets was debated, and several new clubs were affiliated. This comes after clubs expressed concerns about delays in affiliating in the previous meeting.

Indigenous Officer Katchmirr Russel introduced a motion (to be voted on at the next SRC) to make it mandatory for Clubs to provide equity tickets to Indigenous undergraduate students at the ANU. This is in recognition of the systemic and generational discrimination that Indigenous students face. 

Some smaller clubs voiced concerns that they rely on the revenue generated from tickets in order to fund their operations. In response, the Clubs Chair clarified it was not expected that Clubs would absorb the cost of the tickets; rather, the Clubs Council or ANUSA would reimburse them. Another issue raised was whether ANUSA could fund alcohol-related equity tickets, as ANUSA cannot fund any tickets which contribute to purchasing alcohol. In the interests of time however, the debate was cut short, with the offer that Club delegates could email the Indigenous Officer for advice on the motion. 

Additionally, fourteen clubs were affiliated to the Clubs Council, including eight new clubs. This included the following new clubs: the ANU Bibliocnophil Society, the ANU Chess Society, ANU Golf, ANU Formula Sport, the ANU Musical Theatre Club, the ANU National Security Social Society, ANU Solar Racing, and the Refugee Action Campaign. Several other pre-existing clubs re-affiliated, as they did not renew their affiliation earlier this year or after a substantial absence.