This afternoon, the student politicians at the University of Bergen decided to declare Ola Borten Moe “persona non grata”. This means that they believe he is unwanted at UiB and not suitable to be minister of research and higher education. When the students at the University of Oslo made the same decision last week, Borten Moe called it “a pubescent form of expression”. – We cannot have a minister who calls us “adolescent” when we raise objective criticism of his behaviour. I’ve had enough. That’s what Aksel Haukom, leader of the Student Parliament at the University of Bergen, says. He believes that the minister has shown no interest in either the students or the higher education sector. Leader of the Student Parliament in Bergen, Aksel Haukom. Photo: Henriette F. Thorkildsen Solidarity with the Oslo students On Thursday last week, the Student Parliament at the University of Oslo reported that the minister was undesirable. – These are difficult times for students with tight finances. Students feel that they are not given priority, and we think that this resolution is an expression of this frustration, said head of the Student Parliament at UiO, Oline Sæther, to Universitas then. Borten Moe then stated that he thought the declaration was the wrong way to go. – I of course also want to have a good dialogue with the students in Oslo, and thought of inviting myself to the next meeting of the Student Parliament, he said then. Nevertheless, the Bergen students are inspired by the capital. – This is an act of solidarity. The students in Oslo should not be alone in introducing something like this against a very unpopular minister, says Haukom. Before the decision from Bergen today, Borten Moe met the students at Dagsnytt 18. There he said that he thinks it is wrong that they are not doing anything for the students. – The fact that people refuse to talk to each other is fortunately something that until now has been a foreign element in the Norwegian vocabulary. We have a culture for meeting. He pointed out that refusing to talk together is importing a phenomenon from the USA. – I think we should stay far away from that in Norwegian social debate in general, and especially in academia. Do not want the minister to visit Even if an overwhelming majority voted for the declaration at UiB, it was not a unanimous decision. Out of 30 votes, 10 were against and one abstained. One of the dissenting voices came from June Trengereid Gruer. She is strongly critical of the decision. – This breaks with an important principle in Norway that we talk to each other, even when we disagree. It is sad that I have so little faith in democracy. June Trengereid Gruer on the Social Democratic List voted against the declaration and is very critical. Photo: Sandra Tenud/Privat She herself is on the “Social Democratic List”. Together with “Moderat liste”, she points out that it will now be more difficult for the students to be heard. – I think the most important thing is that we respond and invite to us. Leader Haukom does not agree. – In this case, the students at UiB do not want us to enter into discussions with the minister. I am rent, and now I am sending a signal that something must be done. Either in the government or with the minister himself. If the minister comes to UiB, do they not want to talk to him? – That is right. Then I have to find other arenas.
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Research and Education Minister Ola Borten Moe is unwanted at UiB and UiO – news Vestland
