Petition to stop university-subsidized student societies

Yes, I think student societies should cease to exist as bodies receiving grants from their host universities. After the various embarrassments featuring banning pro-life clubs and stopping fundraising for cystic fibrosis research on the grounds of the disease not being "inclusive enough", the least decent students can do is scream "You don't speak for me" and expect their money back.

Properly-run student unions will deliver for their members and represent their true views, and the hijacking of Union governance by hacks with a dead clam's IQ should immediately result in the Union going bankrupt as people withdraw their membership dues.

Every university should calculate how much money it gives the Union per student, and put that money where it belongs: in students' pockets. The users of the Union will then decide whether they want to stay in or keep the funds because the organization doesn't represent them and they can get the services elsewhere.

An alternative solution would entail student Union fees being accounted for separately, with the opportunity to withdraw from Union membership and be immediately refunded any unused membership credit.

Let's explain this with numbers. University X awards the Student Union a grant of 520 dollars per student per year, basically 10 bucks a week. Every student is free to opt out of the Union, thus renouncing all his rights as a member (e.g. access to bars when they are crowded, big deal!). In late November (11 weeks into term) the Union council shows its true face as a bunch of brainless lunatics and students are outraged. A student opting out would receive 520-110=$410. This $410 can then be invested in another student union on the same campus. To avoid opportunism, universities can provide that the student cannot cash any of the money, having to spend it in another way (other student organization, charity, etc).

I know this can sound radical, but we cannot allow campus student associations to misrepresent the student population so grossly, embarrass their University so greatly, abuse their powers so crassly, get away with it and still receive money to provide a dis-service. Seriously!