WELLINGTON’S bastion of tertiary-level education, Victoria University, needs to take a class in getting a point across. A letter from the university was sent out to political party representatives on campus last week, asking that, “political visits to, or activities on Victoria campuses are restricted to the period 19 September to 14 October”, to avoid clashing with the exam timetable, and an extensive refurbishment project.  
Director of campus services Jenny Bentley says, “General elections invariably occur during exam time at Victoria, so during election years the university asks political parties to respect the fact students will be focused on their studies during that period. Political parties are more than welcome on campus outside of these times.”
Student representatives are confused, and don’t know if activities are allowed during the first two weeks of the third trimester, which starts on November 14, and is not an exam period.  
Victoria University Wellington Students Association (VUWSA) president Seamus Brady asked the university to clarify, and rethink their letter.  
“We struggle to see why they are seeking to limit activity during term time,” he says.
“There is a lot at stake for students at the election.  We are struggling with record student fees and student debt continues to rise - students deserve to be fully informed about how political parties will deal with their issues.
Young Nats Wellington chair Aaron Hape says the decision is “pretty silly”, especially restricting visits from party representatives during the beginning of term three.
 “It throws a spanner in the works, but obviously we’ll be respectful of the rules and try to fit everything round the time restrictions they’ve placed on us now.”
Young Labour president Ella Hardy says campaigning is usually sensitive to the needs of students, anyway.
“Exam time is an important time for students, however so are elections... When we’re facing so many specifically anti-student policies like interest being put back on our student loans and courses being cut, it’s necessary that students are addressed specifically by their concerned peers so they can make an informed vote,” she says.
Green Party MP Gareth Hughes studied at Victoria University ten years ago, and saw a decline in the political participation of students during that time.
“Universities should be a place for vibrant debate about everything, including politics,” he says.
“The university has opened a kettle of fish when they never really needed to; I don’t think anyone was intending to disrupt the exam period in the first place.”
Key dates
VUW trimester two study and exam period: October 17-November 12
VUW trimester three begins: November 14
General election:  November 26.
Political activities allowed: September 19 – October 14